Naruto Filler List (2025): Every Filler Episode You Can Skip or Watch

Last updated on October 30th, 2025 at 11:06 pm

If you have already watched Naruto Shippuden and Boruto, and now planning to watch the original Naruto anime, you have a very very very good choice!

Naruto introduced us to the Hidden Leaf Village, Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno, a trio that defined an entire generation of anime fans.

Before you start the binge watch, you must know that around 40% of the episodes are fillers. That means, you can skip those episodes and watch the ones that really matters.

This post will be helping you watch the core story without detours, breaking down every Naruto filler episode and arc, plus which ones are actually worth watching.

How Many Filler Episodes Are in Naruto?

Total Episodes: 220

Total Fillers: 91

Filler Percentage: ~40%

Most of the filler episodes appear after Episode 135, when the anime caught up to the manga.

Studio Pierrot added new side missions and mini-arcs to give the manga time to progress, a common practice in long-running shonen series.

Complete Naruto Filler List (Skip or Watch Guide)

Naruto Filler Episodes or Arcs	Episode Numbers	Should You Watch or Skip It?
Recap of the First 25 Episodes	26	Skip
Attempting to Recover Tsunade’s Debt	97	Skip
Trying to Discover Kakashi’s Face	101	Watch
Land of Tea Escort Mission	102–106	Skip
Land of Rice Fields Investigation Mission	136–141	Watch
Mizuki Tracking Mission	142–147	Skip
Bikochu Search Mission	148–151	Watch
Kurosuki Family Removal Mission	152–157	Watch
Gosunkugi Capture Mission	159–160	Skip
Cursed Warrior Extermination Mission	162–167	Watch
Kaima Capture Mission	169–173	Watch
Daimyo Heir Escort Mission	174	Skip
Buried Gold Excavation Mission	175–176	Skip
Stopping the Courier Ninja	177	Skip
Star Guard Mission	178–183	Skip
Kiba, Naruto, and Shino One-Off Episodes	184–186	Skip
Peddlers Escort Mission	187–191	Watch
Ino’s Princess Disguise Mission	192	Skip
Rock Lee’s Dojo Challenge	193	Skip
Daimyo’s Wife Search Mission	194	Skip
Third Great Beast Arc	195–196	Watch
Konoha Plans Recapture Mission	197–201	Watch
Recap of Top Five Battles	202	Skip
Yakumo Kurama Rescue Mission	203–207	Skip
Prized Artifact Escort Mission	208	Skip
Gantetsu Escort Mission	209–212	Watch
Menma Memory Search Mission	213–215	Watch
Sunagakure Support Mission	216–220	Watch
Total	91

Which Naruto Filler Arcs Are Worth Watching?

While most fillers can be skipped without missing story beats, several stand out for their creativity, humor, or emotional payoff.

Episode 101: Trying to Discover Kakashi’s Face

A classic comedy filler that became a fan favorite. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura go to absurd lengths to unmask Kakashi.

Why watch it: It’s pure fun and one of the most iconic lighthearted episodes in the series.

Land of Rice Fields Investigation Mission (136–141)

This arc feels closer to canon material, featuring strong character moments for Sasuke and Naruto before the story shifts to full filler mode.

Why watch it: Solid pacing and a meaningful setup before Sasuke’s departure arc.

Bikochu Search Mission (148–151)

Team 8 takes the lead in a quirky yet heartfelt arc as they search for a rare beetle that can help find Sasuke.

Why watch it: Good character focus for Hinata and Shino; a break from Team 7’s drama.

Cursed Warrior Extermination Mission (162–167)

A spooky, atmospheric arc where Naruto’s team helps lift a mysterious curse in a haunted village.

Why watch it: Strong visuals, emotional storytelling, and one of the most cinematic filler arcs.

Third Great Beast Arc (195–196)

Rock Lee shines in this short but intense arc featuring a powerful taijutsu rival.

Why watch it: High-energy fights and plenty of Lee humor.

Menma Memory Search Mission (213–215)

Naruto meets Menma, a boy who mirrors his own struggles with loneliness and identity.

Why watch it: Emotional depth and strong character parallels, arguably the best late-series filler.

Sunagakure Support Mission (216–220)

Naruto teams up with the Sand Village to handle a major crisis before the Shippuden timeline begins.

Why watch it: It’s the perfect lead-in to Naruto Shippuden, tying up loose ends from the original series.

Other Filler Lists:

Why Does Naruto Have So Many Fillers?

When Naruto first aired, the anime quickly caught up to Masashi Kishimoto’s manga.

To avoid overtaking it, Studio Pierrot produced filler arcs as a buffer between manga content.

These fillers gave side characters time to shine, but also stretched the story considerably, leading to the infamous “filler era” before Shippuden began.

Can You Skip All the Naruto Fillers?

Yes, you can skip all 91 filler episodes without missing any canon content.

But if you enjoy character-driven stories, humor, or world-building, the “Watch” episodes above are well worth your time.

The original Naruto remains one of the most influential anime ever made, blending heartfelt storytelling with unforgettable characters.

Whether you’re rewatching or starting fresh, this filler guide lets you focus on what truly matters while saving dozens of hours.

If you plan to continue the saga, jump straight into Naruto Shippuden after Episode 220 to experience Naruto’s growth into a full-fledged ninja.

Abhidept Singh

Engineering edified me dreams’ propelling. And being an Otaku, a superlative dream of mine engulfs experiencing anime to its deepest quintessence and inditing my perspective towards it. Ultimately, anime blogging carved a path towards my desire and made me stand up to you.

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