Naruto Filler List: Every Episode to Skip (and the Ones You Shouldn't)

With four new Naruto anniversary episodes expected in late 2026 and the Big Three all airing new content in the same year, a fresh wave of viewers is about to discover (or rediscover) the original series. If you're wondering what Naruto episodes are filler, you need a Naruto filler list before you hit play on Episode 1.

The original Naruto runs 220 episodes, and roughly 41% of them are anime-original content. That's about 90 episodes of filler, or around 34 hours. Some of those hours are genuinely worth your time. Most aren't. And a handful of episodes wear the "filler" label while being more rewatchable than half the canon arcs in the series.

This is the complete Naruto anime filler guide for the original series, with arc-by-arc verdicts, a quick-skip reference for speedrunners, and a spotlight on the filler you'd regret skipping. Consider this your Naruto filler episodes guide for getting through Part 1 clean.

Naruto Filler by the Numbers

So, how many filler episodes does Naruto have? The Naruto filler count for the original series lands at roughly 90 out of 220, putting it at the same percentage as Shippuden (also 41%). For context, Bleach comes in at approximately 45% filler while One Piece stays under 10%.

Naruto Skippable Episodes: The Quick-Skip List

If you're speed-running the original Naruto filler list and just want the episode numbers, here they are. These are all Naruto fillers in the original series you can skip without losing a single plot thread:

Episodes 26, 97, 101-106, 136-140, 143-219

A few of those deserve an asterisk, though. Episode 101 (Kakashi's True Face) is one of the most beloved episodes in the entire franchise, filler or not. The Cursed Warrior arc (162-167) has a mystery that genuinely holds up and lets Naruto be clever instead of just loud. Watch those if you have the time. Skip the rest guilt-free.

One more thing: Episodes 107-135 are NOT filler. The Sasuke Recovery Mission is fully canon and covers some of the most important fights in the original series, including the first battle at the Valley of the End. Don't skip those on your way to Shippuden.

The Complete Naruto Filler List

The original Naruto front-loads its canon arcs and backloads almost all of its filler. Everything from Episode 1 through 135 is nearly all manga-adapted storytelling, covering Naruto's journey from academy outcast to a genin willing to risk everything to bring his best friend home. After Episode 135, the anime outpaced Kishimoto's manga and filled the gap with over 80 straight episodes of original content. Below is the complete Naruto filler episode list, covering every filler episode in Naruto grouped by arc.

Secretly Peak: The Filler Worth Keeping

Most filler guides treat every non-canon episode as interchangeable background noise. But the original Naruto has a handful of filler arcs that earned their reputation through genuine comedy, sharp writing, or emotional moments the manga never had room to deliver. These are the episodes worth keeping on your schedule even if you're cutting everything else.

Episode 101: Gotta See! Gotta Know! Kakashi-Sensei's True Face!

Zero plot relevance. Pure joy. Team 7 spends an entire episode trying to catch a glimpse of what Kakashi is hiding under his mask, and every attempt fails in increasingly ridiculous ways. Naruto's stubbornness, Sasuke's reluctant curiosity, and Sakura's scheming all fire on every cylinder, and the payoff at the end is the kind of gag that rewards patient viewers. It's one of the most rewatched and most memed episodes in the franchise for good reason. If you only keep one filler episode, this is the one.

The Cursed Warrior Extermination Mission (Episodes 162-167)

Buried deep in the filler stretch that most fans skip on autopilot, the Cursed Warrior arc sends Naruto, Neji, and Tenten to the Land of Birds to investigate a ghostly suit of armor terrorizing a village. What sets it apart is the structure: it plays like a genuine mystery instead of a standard fight-the-villain-of-the-week setup. Naruto gets to be observant and resourceful, Neji's Byakugan can't solve the problem alone, and the twist actually earns its reveal. For a filler arc buried in no-man's-land, it punches well above its weight.

Episode 220: Departure

Classified as mixed canon/filler, Episode 220 is the emotional bridge between Part 1 and Shippuden. Naruto leaves the village with Jiraiya for his two-and-a-half-year training journey, and the episode takes its time showing what that departure means to the people he's leaving behind. Starting Shippuden without it skips the quiet moment that gives the time skip its weight. Treat this one as mandatory, regardless of what any classification says.

Hot Take: Episode 101 Belongs in Every "Best Naruto Episodes" List

Of all 220 episodes in the original series, Episode 101 is the one fans bring up unprompted in "favorite moments" conversations. It tells you more about Team 7's chemistry in 22 minutes than a dozen training arcs spread across entire seasons.

The fact that it has zero plot relevance is exactly why it works. For one episode, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura get to exist outside the weight of prophecy and world-ending stakes. The result is the purest snapshot of the team at their most natural, goofing off, bickering, and bonding over something completely pointless. No canon episode in the original series captures that specific energy better. A filler episode being this beloved, this rewatchable, and this quoted says everything about what the show does best when it stops trying to be epic and just lets its characters breathe.

The Fastest Path Through the Hidden Leaf (Without Missing What Matters)

If you're prepping for the 2026 anniversary special, starting the series for the first time, or cutting the fat on a rewatch, this Naruto filler list gives you the map. The canon-only path through the original Naruto runs about 130 episodes. The full ride runs 220. The best version keeps Episode 101, the Cursed Warrior arc, and Episode 220 on the schedule, because all Naruto filler episodes carrying the "filler" tag don't mean they all deserve the same treatment.

Now go get to the Valley of the End. That's where it all starts to matter.

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FAQ

How many filler episodes does Naruto have?

The original Naruto has roughly 90 filler episodes out of 220, a 41% filler rate. Shippuden adds around 205 more across its 500 episodes, landing at the same percentage.

Can I skip all Naruto filler and still understand Shippuden?

Yes. The canon storyline is fully intact without filler. The one exception worth making is Episode 220, which bridges the original series into Shippuden's time skip.

What is the best Naruto filler episode?

Episode 101 ("Gotta See! Gotta Know! Kakashi-Sensei's True Face!") is the consensus pick. For multi-episode arcs, the Cursed Warrior Extermination Mission (162-167) is the strongest in the original series.

Does Naruto have more filler than One Piece?

By a wide margin. Naruto sits at 41% across both series, while One Piece stays under 10%. Bleach, the other member of the Big Three, edges past Naruto at roughly 45%.

Should I watch Episode 220 before starting Shippuden?

Yes. It's classified as mixed canon/filler, but it serves as the emotional sendoff for Part 1. Starting Shippuden without it skips the moment that gives the time skip its weight.