Look, we’ve all been there. You decide it's finally time to tackle the mountain that is Masashi Kishimoto’s masterpiece, but then you see the sheer volume of content. It's daunting. Seriously. Between the original series and Shippuden, you're looking at over 700 episodes. If you’re searching for a Naruto full episodes list, you aren't just looking for a sequence of numbers. You're trying to figure out how to actually watch this thing without losing your mind to "filler hell."
Naruto isn't just an anime; it’s a cultural monolith. But let's be real—Studio Pierrot had a habit of catching up to the manga way too fast. Their solution? Plug the gaps with stories about ninja ostriches or repetitive flashbacks to that one swing set outside the Academy. You know the one. It’s the most famous piece of wood in anime history.
Breaking down the Naruto full episodes list by the numbers
The original series, simply titled Naruto, runs for 220 episodes. It covers Naruto Uzumaki’s childhood, the formation of Team 7, and that legendary clash at the Valley of the End. Honestly, the pacing in the beginning is tight. The Land of Waves arc? Masterclass. The Chunin Exams? Iconic. But then you hit episode 136, and things get... weird.
From episode 136 all the way to 219, the show is almost entirely filler. That’s nearly 100 episodes of side quests that don't affect the main plot. If you're using a Naruto full episodes list to binge the story, you can basically skip from the middle of 135 straight to the final scenes of 220. You won't miss a thing regarding the actual plot, though you might miss some goofy character interactions if that's your vibe.
Then we get to Naruto Shippuden. This is the big one. 500 episodes. It picks up after a two-and-a-half-year time skip. The stakes are higher, the characters are taller, and the Akatsuki are finally moving. But the filler problem didn't go away. In fact, it got more complex. Sometimes filler is shoved right into the middle of a high-stakes war. Imagine waiting years to see the climax of a battle, only to have the show pivot to a 20-episode flashback about a character’s childhood friend you've never met. It happened.
Why the filler exists and why it matters
Standard broadcast schedules in Japan required a new episode every week. Manga artists like Kishimoto, however, only put out about 18 to 20 pages a week. An anime episode usually consumes two or three chapters. You do the math. The anime team eventually runs out of source material.
Some people actually like the filler. It fleshes out side characters like Tenten or Shino who barely get any screen time in the manga. But if you're trying to reach the "The Last" movie or move on to Boruto, sticking to the canon path is usually the way to go.
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Navigation for the original 220 episodes
To keep it simple, here is how the original run is structured. You start with the Introduction/Land of Waves (1-19). This is where the emotional hooks get set. Then the Chunin Exams (20-67), which is arguably some of the best shonen tournament content ever made. The Konoha Crush (68-80) follows immediately.
After that, we get the Search for Tsunade (81-100) and the Sasuke Recovery Mission (107-135). If you want the "pure" experience, those are your targets. The stretch between 101 and 106 is a small filler arc about a race in the Land of Tea. It’s harmless, but unnecessary.
Everything after episode 135 is essentially a collection of "Monster of the Week" stories. You’ll see Naruto teaming up with various classmates for missions that never get mentioned again. If you’re a completionist, go for it. If you have a job and a life, skip to the last half of episode 220 where Naruto leaves the village with Jiraiya.
The massive Shippuden roadmap
Naruto Shippuden is a different beast. It’s divided into roughly 32 seasons depending on which streaming service you use (Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Netflix all label them slightly differently).
The heavy hitters are:
- Kazekage Rescue (1-32)
- Tenchi Bridge (33-53)
- Twelve Guardian Ninja (54-71) — This is filler, but it actually expands on Sora and the nature of Naruto's chakra. Kinda worth watching.
- Akatsuki Suppression (72-88) — The Hidan and Kakuzu fight. Pure gold.
- Itachi Pursuit / Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant / Fated Battle Between Brothers (113-143). This is the peak for many fans.
- Pain’s Assault (152-175).
The middle of Shippuden is where the Naruto full episodes list gets messy. The "Power" arc (290-295) was actually intended to be a movie, but ended up as a high-quality filler stint. It looks amazing visually, even if it doesn't "count."
The Great Ninja War starts around episode 261 and carries through to the end. But wait. Within that war, you have massive chunks of filler like the "Seven Ninja Swordsmen" stories and various character backstories. The final battle between Naruto and Sasuke takes place in episodes 476 and 477. The episodes following that (478-500) are mostly adaptations of light novels, showing the characters as young adults getting ready for Naruto’s wedding.
Common misconceptions about what is "Canon"
There's this idea that if it wasn't in the manga, it’s "garbage." That's not always true. The Kakashi Anbu arc (349-361) is technically filler because it wasn't in the original manga chapters, but it provides essential backstory for Kakashi and Itachi that most fans consider vital to the experience.
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On the flip side, people often think the movies are part of the main Naruto full episodes list. They aren't. Except for one. The Last: Naruto the Movie is the only film that is officially canon to the timeline. It takes place between episodes 493 and 494 of Shippuden. If you skip it, the romance in the final episodes feels a bit rushed.
Managing the watch time
If you watched every single second of the 720 episodes plus the canon movie, you're looking at roughly 250 hours of content. That’s over 10 days of straight, non-stop watching.
By cutting the filler out, you trim that down by about 40%. That makes the mountain a lot easier to climb.
Here is a practical way to approach the viewing:
- Focus on the core arcs first.
- If you find yourself bored during a flashback that lasts more than three minutes, check a filler guide. You’re probably in a non-canon stretch.
- Don't feel guilty about skipping. The creator didn't write those parts.
- Watch the "special" episodes like the Kakashi backstory even if they are labeled as filler.
The technical side of streaming Naruto
Finding the Naruto full episodes list on streaming platforms can be frustrating because of licensing. In the US, Hulu has the entire original series and all of Shippuden, but only a portion of Shippuden is dubbed in English. If you want the dub, you often have to hunt down physical media or use specific digital storefronts like Vudu or Microsoft Store.
Crunchyroll is the go-to for the subtitled version. They have everything, including the HD remasters of the early episodes. Watching the original 2002 episodes in 4:3 aspect ratio is a trip—it really shows how much the industry has changed in terms of digital coloring and line work.
Actionable steps for your binge-watch
Stop worrying about seeing every single frame. The "true" story is Naruto’s journey from an outcast to a hero.
- Check the filler status of your current episode block using a community-verified site like AnimeFillerList.
- Prioritize the "Kakashi Shadow of the ANBU" arc in Shippuden (349-361), even though it's technically non-manga material.
- Watch "The Last" movie after episode 479 of Shippuden but before you finish episode 500.
- Skip the "Paradise Life on a Boat" arc (Shippuden 222-242) unless you really, really love Guy and Yamato's banter. It’s notorious for stalling the plot right when it gets interesting.
Getting through the entire story is a marathon. Pace yourself. The impact of the finale only works if you've spent enough time with the characters to care about their growth. Whether you follow the Naruto full episodes list to the letter or trim the fat, the core message remains one of the most powerful in all of fiction.