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Naruto Essentials: What to watch and what to skip in the original anime series and Shippuden

Don't get us wrong - there's still a lot of Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden to get through. But if you're looking to cut out the filler with a watch/skip list, this is the only one you'll need

Guides by Grant DeArmitt, Staff Writer

Published on Fri Jan 03 2025

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Minor spoilers for Naruto & Naruto: Shippuden.

Go to pretty much any major pop culture convention and you're going to see at least one Naruto headband. Maybe that's just because it looks cool, though we'd argue it's because Naruto is one of the most popular anime to make it over to western audiences. In fact, you may have clicked on this article because you have some passing interest in starting the series yourself.

There's just one thing getting in your way - the episode count.

Yes, Naruto is nearly as long as it is massively popular, with literally hundreds of episodes and dozens of story arcs under its ninja belt. It's a daunting task to get into the series, but don't worry - your pals at Popverse have you covered. We've put together this list of Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden essential episodes so that you can cut out the fluff (or 'filler,' if you're a pro) and get right to the heart of the main story.

But before we show you, a quick word on how we've put this list together. Firstly, we're using anime filler list for Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden watch/skip lists that can be found on the Anime Filler List website. Second, we've broken up these episodes by their corresponding arcs, since season breakdowns (as you'll see later) differ depending on who is streaming the shows. To do this, we've used the Crunchyroll arc breakdown, which Crunchyroll itself admits are not "official," that is.

With all that explained, let's get into the...

Naruto essential episodes

Originally airing from 2002 to 2007, the first show to bear the name Naruto (and to adapt the manga by Masashi Kishimoto) is a lot shorter than its forthcoming successor. But at 220 episodes, it's still quite a time commitment for anyone that wants to get right to the important bits. Fortunately, some 70+ episodes of the later series can be considered filler (plus a couple in the earlier batch), making the whole thing more manageable.

Naruto - Land of Waves arc essential episodes

Episode 1: Enter: Naruto Uzumaki!
Episode 2: My Name is Konohamaru!
Episode 3: Sasuke and Sakura: Friends or Foes?
Episode 4: Pass or Fail: Survival Test
Episode 5: You Failed! Kakashi's Final Decision
Episode 6: A Dangerous Mission! Journey to the Land of Waves!
Episode 7: The Assassin of the Mist!
Episode 8: The Oath of Pain
Episode 9: Kakashi: Sharingan Warrior
Episode 10: The Forest of Chakra
Episode 11: The Land Where a Hero Once Lived
Episode 12: Battle on the Bridge! Zabuza Returns!!
Episode 13: Haku's Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors
Episode 14: The Number One Hyperactive, Knucklehead Ninja Joins the Fight!!
Episode 15: Zero Visibility: The Sharingan Shatters
Episode 16: The Broken Seal
Episode 17: White Past: Hidden Ambition
Episode 18: The Weapons Known as Shinobi
Episode 19: The Demon in the Snow

Naruto - Chunin Exams arc essential episodes

Episode 20: A New Chapter Begins: The Chunin Exam!
Episode 21: Identify Yourself: Powerful New Rivals
Episode 22: Chunin Challenge: Rock Lee vs. Sasuke!
Episode 23: Genin Takedown! All Nine Rookies Face Off!
Episode 24: Start Your Engines: The Chunin Exam Begins!
Episode 25: The Tenth Question: All or Nothing!
Episode 27: The Chunin Exam Stage 2: The Forest of Death
Episode 28: Eat or be Eaten: Panic in the Forest
Episode 29: Naruto's Counterattack: Never Give In!
Episode 30: The Sharingan Revived: Dragon-Flame Jutsu!
Episode 31: Bushy Brow's Pledge: Undying Love and Protection!
Episode 32: Sakura Blossoms!
Episode 33: Battle Formation: Ino-Shika-Cho!
Episode 34: Akamaru Trembles: Gaara's Cruel Strength!
Episode 35: The Scroll's Secret: No Peeking Allowed
Episode 36: Clone vs. Clone: Mine are Better than Yours!
Episode 37: Surviving the Cut! The Rookie Nine Together Again!
Episode 38: Narrowing the Field: Sudden Death Elimination!
Episode 39: Bushy Brow's Jealousy: Lions Barrage Unleashed!
Episode 40: Kakashi and Orochimaru: Face-to-Face!
Episode 41: Kunoichi Rumble: The Rivals Get Serious!
Episode 42: The Ultimate Battle: Cha!
Episode 43: Killer Kunoichi and a Shaky Shikamaru
Episode 44: Akamaru Unleashed! Who's Top Dog Now?
Episode 45: Surprise Attack! Naruto's Secret Weapon!
Episode 46: Byakugan Battle: Hinata Grows Bold!
Episode 47: A Failure Stands Tall!
Episode 48: Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes!
Episode 49: Lee's Hidden Strength: Forbidden Secret Jutsu!
Episode 50: The Fifth Gate: A Splendid Ninja is Born
Episode 51: A Shadow in Darkness: Danger Approaches Sasuke
Episode 52: Ebisu Returns: Naruto's Toughest Training Yet!
Episode 53: Long Time No See: Jiraiya Returns!
Episode 54: The Summoning Jutsu: Wisdom of the Toad Sage!
Episode 55: A Feeling of Yearning, A Flower Full of Hope
Episode 56: Live or Die: Risk it All to Win it All!
Episode 57: He Flies! He Jumps! He Lurks! Chief Toad Appears!
Episode 58: Hospital Besieged: The Evil Hand Revealed!
Episode 59: The Final Rounds: Rush to the Battle Arena!
Episode 60: Byakugan vs. Shadow Clone
Episode 61: Ultimate Defense: Zero Blind Spot!
Episode 62: A Failure's True Power
Episode 63: Hit it or Quit it: The Final Rounds Get Complicated!
Episode 64: Zero Motivation: The Guy with Cloud Envy!
Episode 65: Dancing Leaf, Squirming Sand
Episode 66: Bushy Brow's Jutsu: Sasuke Style!
Episode 67: Late for the Show, But Ready to Go! The Ultimate Secret Technique is Born!

Naruto - Konoha Crush arc essential episodes

Episode 68: Zero Hour! The Destruction of the Hidden Leaf Village Begins!
Episode 69: Village in Distress: A New A-Ranked Mission!
Episode 70: A Shirker's Call to Action: A Layabout No More!
Episode 71: An Unrivaled Match: Hokage Battle Royale!
Episode 72: A Mistake from the Past: A Face Revealed!
Episode 73: Forbidden Secret Technique: Reaper Death Seal!
Episode 74: Astonishing Truth! Gaara's Identity Emerges!
Episode 75: Sasuke's Decision: Pushed to the Edge!
Episode 76: Assassin of the Moonlit Night
Episode 77: Light vs. Dark: The Two Faces of Gaara
Episode 78: Naruto's Ninja Handbook
Episode 79: Beyond the Limit of Darkness and Light
Episode 80: The Third Hokage, Forever...

Naruto - Search for Tsunade arc essential episodes

Episode 81: Return of the Morning Mist
Episode 82: Eye to Eye: Sharingan vs. Sharingan!
Episode 83: Jiraiya: Naruto's Potential Disaster!
Episode 84: Roar, Chidori! Brother vs. Brother!
Episode 85: Hate Among the Uchihas: The Last of the Clan!
Episode 86: A New Training Begins: I Will Be Strong!
Episode 87: Keep on Training: Pop Goes the Water Balloon!
Episode 88: Focal Point: The Mark of the Leaf
Episode 89: An Impossible Choice: The Pain Within Tsunade's Heart
Episode 90: Unforgivable! A Total Lack of Respect!
Episode 91: Inheritence! The Necklace of Death!
Episode 92: A Dubious Offer! Tsunade's Choice!
Episode 93: Breakdown! The Deal is Off!
Episode 94: Attack! Fury of the Rasengan!
Episode 95: The Fifth Hokage! A Life on the Line!
Episode 96: Deadlock! Sannin Showdown!
Episode 98: Tsunade's Warning: Ninja No More!
Episode 99: The Will of Fire Still Burns!
Episode 100: Sensei and Student: The Bond of the Shinobi

Naruto - Sasuke Recovery Mission arc essential episodes

Episode 107: The Battle Begins: Naruto vs. Sasuke
Episode 108: Bitter Rivals and Broken Bonds
Episode 109: An Invitation from the Sound
Episode 110: Formation! The Sasuke Retrieval Squad
Episode 111: Sound vs. Leaf
Episode 112: Squad Mutiny: Everything Falls Apart!
Episode 113: Full Throttle Power! Choji, Ablaze!
Episode 114: Good-bye Old Friend...! I'll Always Believe in You!
Episode 115: Your Opponent Is Me!
Episode 116: 360 Degrees of Vision: The Byakugan's Blind Spot
Episode 117: Losing is Not an Option!
Episode 118: The Vessel Arrives Too Late
Episode 119: Miscalculation: A New Enemy Appears!
Episode 120: Roar and Howl! The Ultimate Tag Team
Episode 121: To Each His Own Battle
Episode 122: Fakeout: Shikamaru's Comeback!
Episode 123: The Leaf's Handsome Devil!
Episode 124: The Beast Within
Episode 125: The Sand Shinobi: Allies of the Leaf
Episode 126: Showdown: Gaara vs. Kimimaro!
Episode 127: Vengeful Strike! The Bracken Dance
Episode 128: A Cry on Deaf Ears
Episode 129: Brothers: Distance Among the Uchiha
Episode 130: Father and Son, the Broken Crest
Episode 131: The Secrets of the Mangekyo Sharingan!
Episode 132: For a Friend
Episode 133: A Plea From a Friend
Episode 134: The End of Tears
Episode 135: The Promise That Could Not Be Kept

Naruto - Last essential episodes

Episode 141: Sakura's Determination
Episode 142: The Three Villains from the Maximum Security Prison
Episode 143: Tonton! I'm Counting on You!
Episode 220: Departure

That's all the essential Naruto episodes you need to check out, but as you likely already know, it's not the end of the Naruto saga. Let's keep this barebones bossfight moving by talking about...

Naruto: Shippuden essential episodes

Maybe the first Naruto series is preferred by some fans, but even they would have to admit that there's simply more story in that series's sequel. that sequel is Naruto: Shippuden, which ran from 2007 to 2017, and aged up the main characters of the original series by a few years. Shippuden shatters the episode count of its predecessor, coming in at a whopping 500 episodes. And even though we can pare that down significantly, you'll still have to be ready for quite the binging session.

Naruto: Shippuden - The Kazekage’s Rescue arc essential episodes

Episode 1: Homecoming
Episode 2: The Akatsuki Makes Its Move
Episode 3: The Results of Training
Episode 4: The Jinchuriki of the Sand
Episode 5: The Kazekage Stands Tall
Episode 6: Mission Cleared
Episode 7: Run, Kankuro
Episode 8: Team Kakashi, Deployed
Episode 9: The Jinchuriki's Tears
Episode 10: Sealing Jutsu: Nine Phantom Dragons
Episode 11: The Medical Ninja's Student
Episode 12: The Retired Granny's Determination
Episode 13: A Meeting With Destiny
Episode 14: Naruto's Growth
Episode 15: The Secret Weapon is Called...
Episode 16: The Secret of Jinchuriki
Episode 17: The Death of Gaara!
Episode 18: Charge Tactic! Button Hook Entry!!
Episode 19: Traps Activate! Team Guy's Enemies
Episode 20: Hiruko vs. Two Kunoichi!
Episode 21: Sasori's Real Face
Episode 22: Chiyo's Secret Skills
Episode 23: Father and Mother
Episode 24: The Third Kazekage
Episode 25: Three Minutes Between Life and Death
Episode 26: Puppet Fight: 10 vs. 100!
Episode 27: Impossible Dream
Episode 28: Beasts! Alive Again!
Episode 29: Kakashi Enlightened!
Episode 30: Aesthetics of an Instant
Episode 31: The Legacy!
Episode 32: Return of the Kazekage

Naruto: Shippuden - The Long-Awaited Reunion arc essential episodes

Episode 33: The New Target
Episode 34: Formation! New Team Kakashi!
Episode 35: An Unnecessary Addition
Episode 36: The Fake Smile
Episode 37: Untitled
Episode 38: Simulation
Episode 39: The Tenchi Bridge
Episode 40: Nine-Tails Unleashed
Episode 41: The Top-Secret Mission Begins
Episode 42: Orochimaru vs. Jinchuriki
Episode 43: Sakura's Tears
Episode 44: The Secret of the Battle!
Episode 45: The Consequences of Betrayal
Episode 46: The Unfinished Page
Episode 47: Infiltration: The Den of the Snake!
Episode 48: Bonds
Episode 49: Something Important...
Episode 50: The Picture Book's Story
Episode 51: Reunion
Episode 52: The Power of the Uchiha
Episode 53: Title

Naruto: Shippuden - The Guardian Shinobi Twelve arc essential episodes

Episode 54: Nightmare
Episode 55: Wind
Episode 56: Squirming

Naruto: Shippuden - Hidan and Kakuzu arc essential episodes

Episode 72: The Quietly Approaching Threat
Episode 73: Akatsuki's Invasion
Episode 74: Under the Starry Sky
Episode 75: The Old Monk's Prayer
Episode 76: The Next Step
Episode 77: Climbing Silver
Episode 78: The Judgment
Episode 79: Unfulfilled Scream
Episode 80: Last Words
Episode 81: Sad News
Episode 82: Team Ten
Episode 83: Target: Locked On
Episode 84: Kakuzu's Abilities
Episode 85: Terrifying Secret
Episode 86: Shikamaru's Genius
Episode 87: When You Curse Someone, You Dig Your Own Grave
Episode 88: Wind Style: Rasen Shuriken!

Naruto: Shippuden - Three-Tails Appears arc essential episodes

Episode 89: The Price of Power
Episode 90: A Shinobi's Determination

Naruto: Shippuden - The Master’s Prophecy and Vengeance arc essential episodes

Episode 113: The Serpent's Pupil
Episode 114: Eye of a Hawk
Episode 115: Zabuza's Blade
Episode 116: Guardian of the Iron Wall
Episode 117: Jugo of the Northern Hideout
Episode 118: Formation!
Episode 119: Kakashi Chronicles: A Boy's Life on the Battlefield, Part 1
Episode 120: Kakashi Chronicles: A Boy's Life on the Battlefield, Part 2
Episode 121: Assemble Episode 122: The Hunt
Episode 123: Clash! Episode 124: Art
Episode 125: Disappearance
Episode 126: Twilight
Episode 127: Tales of a Gutsy Ninja ~Jiraiya Ninja Scroll~ Part 1
Episode 128: Tales of a Gutsy Ninja ~Jiraiya Ninja Scroll~ Part 2
Episode 129: Infiltrate! The Village Hidden in the Rain
Episode 130: The Man Who Became God
Episode 131: Honored Sage Mode!
Episode 132: In Attendance, the Six Paths of Pain
Episode 133: The Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant
Episode 134: Banquet Invitation
Episode 135: The Longest Moment...
Episode 136: The Light & Dark of the Mangekyo Sharingan
Episode 137: Amaterasu!
Episode 138: The End
Episode 139: The Mystery of Tobi
Episode 140: Fate
Episode 141: Truth
Episode 142: Battle of Unraikyo
Episode 143: The Eight Tails Vs. Sasuke

Naruto: Shippuden - The Two Saviors arc essential episodes

Episode 152: Somber News
Episode 153: Following the Master's Shadow
Episode 154: Decryption
Episode 155: The First Challenge
Episode 156: Surpassing the Master
Episode 157: Assault On the Leaf Village!
Episode 158: Power to Believe
Episode 159: Pain Vs. Kakashi
Episode 160: Mystery of Pain
Episode 161: Surname Is Sarutobi! Given Name, Konohamaru!
Episode 162: Pain to the World
Episode 163: Explosion! Sage Mode
Episode 164: Danger! Sage Mode Limit Reached
Episode 165: Nine Tails, Captured!
Episode 166: Confessions
Episode 167: Planetary Devastation
Episode 168: Fourth Hokage
Episode 169: The Two Students
Episode 172: Meeting
Episode 173: Origin of Pain
Episode 174: Tale of Naruto Uzumaki
Episode 175: Hero of the Hidden Leaf

Naruto: Shippuden - The Assembly of the Five Kage arc essential episodes

Episode 197: The Sixth Hokage Danzo
Episode 198: Five Kage Summit's Eve
Episode 199: Enter the Five Kage!
Episode 200: Naruto's Plea Episode 201: Painful Decision
Episode 202: Racing Lightning
Episode 203: Sasuke's Ninja Way
Episode 204: Power of the Five Kage
Episode 205: Declaration of War
Episode 206: Sakura's Feelings
Episode 207: The Tailed Beast vs. The Tailless Tailed Beast
Episode 208: As One's Friend
Episode 209: Danzo's Right Arm
Episode 210: The Forbidden Visual Jutsu
Episode 211: Danzo Shimura
Episode 212: Sakura's Resolve
Episode 213: Lost Bonds
Episode 214: The Burden
Episode 215: Two Fates
Episode 216: High-Level Shinobi
Episode 217: The Infiltrator
Episode 218: The Five Great Nations Mobilize
Episode 219: Kakashi Hatake, The Hokage
Episode 220: Prophecy of the Great Lord Elder
Episode 221: Storage
Episode 222: The Five Kage's Decision

Naruto: Shippuden - The Taming of Nine-Tails and Fateful Encounters arc essential episodes

Episode 243: Land Ahoy! Is This the Island of Paradise?
Episode 244: Killer Bee and Motoi
Episode 245: The Next Challenge! Naruto vs. The Nine Tails!!
Episode 246: The Orange Spark Episode 247: Target: Nine Tails
Episode 248: The Fourth Hokage's Death Match
Episode 249: Thank You
Episode 250: Battle in Paradise! the Odd Beast vs. the Monster!
Episode 251: The Man Named Kisame
Episode 252: The Angelic Herald of Death
Episode 253: The Bridge to Peace
Episode 254: The Super Secret S-Rank Mission
Episode 255: The Artist Returns
Episode 256: Assemble! Allied Shinobi Forces!
Episode 261: For My Friend
Episode 262: War Begins!
Episode 263: Sai and Shin
Episode 264: Secrets of the Reanimation Jutsu
Episode 265: An Old Nemesis Returns
Episode 266: The First and Last Opponent
Episode 267: The Brilliant Military Advisor of the Hidden Leaf
Episode 268: Battleground!
Episode 269: Forbidden Words
Episode 270: Golden Bonds
Episode 272: Mifune vs. Hanzo
Episode 273: True Kindness
Episode 274: The Complete Ino-Shika-Cho Formation!
Episode 275: A Message from the Heart

Naruto: Shippuden - The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist arc essential episodes

Episode 276: Attack of the Gedo Statue
Episode 277: Unison Sign
Episode 278: Medic Ninja in Danger
Episode 282: The Secret Origin of the Ultimate Tag Team!
Episode 283: Two Suns

Naruto: Shippuden - The Fourth Great Ninja War arc essential episodes

Episode 296: Naruto Enters the Battle
Episode 297: A Father's Hope, a Mother's Love
Episode 298: Contact! Naruto vs. Itachi
Episode 299: The Acknowledged One
Episode 300: The Mizukage, the Giant Clam, and the Mirage
Episode 301: Paradox
Episode 302: Terror! the Steam Imp

Naruto: Shippuden - Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax arc essential episodes

Episode 321: Reinforcements Arrive
Episode 322: Madara Uchiha
Episode 323: The Five Kage Assemble
Episode 324: The Unbreakable Mask and the Shattered Bubble
Episode 325: Jinchuriki vs. Jinchuriki!
Episode 326: Four Tails, the King of Sage Monkeys
Episode 327: Nine Tails
Episode 328: Kurama
Episode 329: Two-Man Team
Episode 330: Promise of Victory
Episode 331: Eyes That See in the Dark
Episode 332: The Will of Stone
Episode 333: The Risks of the Reanimation Jutsu
Episode 334: Sibling Tag Team
Episode 335: To Each Their Own Leaf
Episode 336: Kabuto Yakushi
Episode 337: The Izanami Activated
Episode 338: Izanagi and Izanami
Episode 339: I Will Love You Always
Episode 340: Reanimation Jutsu, Release!
Episode 341: Orochimaru's Return
Episode 342: Secret of the Transportation Technique
Episode 343: Who Are You?
Episode 344: Obito and Madara
Episode 345: I'm in Hell
Episode 346: World of Dreams
Episode 362: Kakashi's Resolve
Episode 363: The Allied Shinobi Forces Jutsu
Episode 364: The Ties That Bind
Episode 365: Those Who Dance in the Shadows
Episode 366: The All-Knowing
Episode 367: Hashirama and Madara
Episode 368: Era of Warring States
Episode 369: My True Dream
Episode 370: Sasuke's Answer
Episode 371: Hole
Episode 372: Something to Fill the Hole
Episode 373: Team 7, Assemble!
Episode 374: The New Three-Way Deadlock
Episode 375: Kakashi vs. Obito

Naruto: Shippuden - Birth Of The Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki arc essential episodes

Episode 378: The Ten Tails' Jinchuriki
Episode 379: An Opening
Episode 380: The Day Naruto Was Born
Episode 381: The Divine Tree
Episode 382: A Shinobi's Dream
Episode 383: Pursuing Hope
Episode 384: A Heart Filled With Comrades
Episode 385: Obito Uchiha
Episode 386: I'm Always Watching
Episode 387: The Promise That Was Kept
Episode 391: Madara Uchiha Arises
Episode 392: The Hidden Heart
Episode 393: A True Ending
Episode 414: On the Brink of Death
Episode 415: The Two Mangekyo
Episode 418: The Blue Beast vs Six Paths Madara
Episode 419: Papa's Youth
Episode 420: The Eight Inner Gates Formation
Episode 421: The Sage of the Six Paths
Episode 424: To Rise Up
Episode 425: The Infinite Dream
Episode 426: The Infinite Tsukuyomi

Naruto: Shippuden - Itachi Shinden Book: Light And Darkness arc essential episodes

Episode 451: Itachi's Story - Light and Darkness: Birth and Death
Episode 452: Itachi's Story - Light and Darkness: The Genius
Episode 453: Itachi's Story - Light and Darkness: The Pain of Living
Episode 454: Itachi's Story - Light and Darkness: Shisui's Request
Episode 455: Itachi's Story - Light and Darkness: Moonlit Night
Episode 456: Itachi's Story - Light and Darkness: The Darkness of the Akatsuki
Episode 457: Itachi's Story - Light and Darkness: Partner
Episode 458: Itachi's Story - Light and Darkness: Truth

Naruto: Shippuden - Ikaguya Otsutsuki Strikes arc essential episodes

Episode 459: She of the Beginning
Episode 460: Kaguya Otsutsuki
Episode 461: Hagoromo and Hamura
Episode 462: A Fabricated Past
Episode 463: The No. 1 Most Unpredictable Ninja
Episode 469: A Special Mission
Episode 470: Connecting Thoughts
Episode 471: The Two of Them...Always
Episode 472: You Better...
Episode 473: The Sharingan Revived
Episode 474: Congratulations
Episode 475: The Final Valley
Episode 476: The Final Battle
Episode 477: Naruto and Sasuke
Episode 478: The Unison Sign
Episode 479: Naruto Uzumaki!!

Naruto: Shippuden - Sasuke Shinden: Book Of Sunrise arc essential episodes

Episode 484: Sasuke’s Story: Sunrise, Part 1: The Exploding Human
Episode 485: Sasuke’s Story: Sunrise, Part 2: Coliseum
Episode 486: Sasuke’s Story: Sunrise, Part 3: Fuushin
Episode 487: Sasuke’s Story: Sunrise, Part 4: The Ketsuryugan
Episode 488: Sasuke’s Story: Sunrise, Part 5: The Last One

Naruto: Shippuden - Shikamaru Hiden: A Cloud Drifting In Silent Darkness arc essential episodes

Episode 489: Shikamaru’s Story, A Cloud Drifting in the Silent Dark, Part 1: The State of Affairs
Episode 490: Shikamaru’s Story, A Cloud Drifting in the Silent Dark, Part 2: Dark Clouds
Episode 491: Shikamaru’s Story, A Cloud Drifting in the Silent Dark, Part 3: Recklessness
Episode 492: Shikamaru’s Story, A Cloud Drifting in the Silent Dark, Part 4: Cloud of Suspicion
Episode 493: Shikamaru’s Story, A Cloud Drifting in the Silent Dark, Part 5: Dawn

Naruto: Shippuden - Konoha Hiden: The Perfect Day For A Wedding arc essential episodes

Episode 494: Hidden Leaf Story, The Perfect Day for a Wedding, Part 1: Naruto’s Wedding
Episode 495: Hidden Leaf Story, The Perfect Day for a Wedding, Part 2: A Full-Powered Wedding Gift
Episode 496: Hidden Leaf Story, The Perfect Day for a Wedding, Part 3: Steam and Food Pills
Episode 497: Hidden Leaf Story, The Perfect Day for a Wedding, Part 4: The Kazekage’s Wedding Gift
Episode 498: Hidden Leaf Story, The Perfect Day for a Wedding, Part 5: The Last Mission
Episode 499: Hidden Leaf Story, The Perfect Day for a Wedding, Part 6: The Outcome of the Secret Mission
Episode 500: Hidden Leaf Story, The Perfect Day for a Wedding, Part 7: The Message

Phew! That was one hell of an episode list. Somebody call the Days of Our Lives people and tell them to watch out.

Above, you have everything you need to know to get through the essential viewing of both Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, but if you're new to the anime, there may be some questions you still have before diving in. Allow us to attempt to answer some.

Where can I watch Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden?

There are a few options for streaming the Naruto saga, the first of which we've already referenced. That is, Crunchyroll, who provided us the arc breakdown for this guide. Next is Hulu, which has got every episode of both series, and if you're only feeling like watching the first series (we get it, even with just the essentials, this is a lot of anime), Netflix has the episodes of the 2002 Naruto to stream.

How many total seasons are there in Naruto?

Ah, that is the question, isn't it? Here's the thing - Naruto seasons depend on who you ask. For example, when Naruto was first broadcast on TokyoTV, it existed across 5 traditional TV seasons. However, neither of those are what's generally accepted by the fans, which is the main reason we've broken the show down into arcs rather than seasons. Generally, however, fans refer to Naruto as having 9 seasons.

How many seasons are in Naruto: Shippuden total?

We'll give you the same answer as above. Even though it can very depending on the platform (Hulu, for example, clocks Shippuden at 9 seasons), the general fan consensus is that Naruto: Shippuden consists of 22 seasons.

How many episodes of Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden are there in total?

OK, here's one we can answer for sure. There are 220 episodes of Naruto and a neat 500 episodes of Naruto: Shippuden, capping the whole anime show at 720 episodes. And with that, we can put the questions about Naruto and its sequel series to rest, as there's surely not anything way the saga could continue outside of the shows with Naruto in the name.

Huh? What the hell is a Boruto?

Each week, Popverse's resident anime expert Trent Cannon runs down the latest and, dare we say "greatest," in anime and manga in Popverse Jump. Some recent columns have included...

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Grant DeArmitt: Grant DeArmitt (he/him) likes horror, comics, and the unholy union of the two. As Popverse's Staff Writer, he criss-crosses the pop culture landscape bringing you the news and opinions about the big things (and the next big things). In the past, and despite their better judgment, he has written for Nightmare on Film Street and Newsarama. He lives in Brooklyn with his partner, Kingsley, and corgi, Legs.