You're ready. You’ve finished the original series, you've seen Naruto and Sasuke clash at the Final Valley, and now you’re diving into the massive, sprawling world of the timeskip. But then it hits you. There are 500 episodes. Roughly 40% of them? Pure fluff. If you're looking for a Naruto Shippuden filler list that doesn't just list numbers but actually explains why some of this stuff exists (and why some of it is low-key great), you're in the right place.
Honestly, the filler situation in Shippuden is legendary for all the wrong reasons. We’re talking about a show that interrupted the climax of a global ninja war to show us what a mechanical version of Naruto would look like. It’s jarring. It’s frustrating. But if you navigate it right, the pacing becomes a masterpiece.
Why Does This Show Have So Much Filler?
It’s a simple case of the anime outrunning the manga. Back when Studio Pierrot was producing these episodes weekly, they’d get dangerously close to Masashi Kishimoto’s latest chapters. To avoid stopping the broadcast—which is a huge no-no for TV slots—they’d just... invent things.
Some of it is basically fanfiction. Other parts are "canon-adjacent," where they take a tiny mention from the manga and stretch it into a twelve-episode arc. You’ve probably heard of the "Twelve Guardian Ninja" arc. That’s a prime example. It’s technically filler, but it gives Sora some spotlight and expands on Asuma’s backstory. Is it essential? No. Is it better than the "Mecha-Naruto" episodes? Absolutely.
The weirdest part is how the filler is placed. You'll be in the middle of a high-stakes emotional beat, and suddenly, the next episode is about a cooking competition or a flashback to the Chuunin Exams that we've already seen three times. It kills the momentum. That’s why a reliable Naruto Shippuden filler list is basically a survival tool for any self-respecting fan.
The Absolute Skip List (The "No-Go" Zone)
If you value your time, you're going to want to jump over these specific blocks. These add almost zero value to the overarching plot of the Fourth Shinobi World War or the growth of the Akatsuki.
Episodes 57 through 71 involve the Twelve Guardian Ninja. Look, if you love Asuma Sarutobi, maybe give it a glance. Otherwise, it’s a slog. It tries too hard to introduce a "Naruto-like" protagonist in Sora, and it just doesn't land. Skip it.
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Then there’s the Three-Tails Appearance arc (Episodes 89-112). This one is controversial. It features Guren and the Crystal Style, which is honestly a cool power. But 23 episodes? That’s nearly half a year of original broadcast time just to find a turtle. If you're binge-watching, this is where most people lose interest.
Episodes 144 to 151 cover the Six-Tails Unleashed. It’s okay, but again, it’s not written by Kishimoto. You can skip directly to the Pain Assault arc (Episode 152) and lose nothing but a few hours of sleep.
The real "filler hell" starts after the Five Kage Summit. Episodes 223 to 242 are the "Paradise Life on a Boat" arc. It’s literally just Naruto on a boat. For twenty episodes. It’s widely considered the lowest point of the series' pacing. Avoid it like a paper bomb.
The Filler You Should Actually Watch
Not all filler is trash. Some of it actually fixes the manga’s mistakes by giving side characters the screen time they deserved.
The Kakashi Anbu Arc (349-361)
This is the gold standard. It’s technically filler because it’s not in the source material, but it feels 100% canon. It dives into Kakashi’s trauma after the death of Rin and Obito. It shows his time in the Anbu Black Ops, his relationship with Itachi, and the foundations of Yamato’s character. Honestly? It's better than some of the canon arcs. Don’t skip this.
Itachi Shinden: Book of Light and Dark (451-458)
If you’re an Itachi fan—which, let’s be real, everyone is—this is mandatory viewing. It’s based on official light novels and fleshes out Itachi’s childhood, his friendship with Shisui, and the actual logistics of the Uchiha massacre. It’s dark, it’s well-animated, and it provides the emotional weight needed for the final stretch of the show.
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Chikara (Power) Arc (290-295)
This was originally intended to be a movie, and the animation quality reflects that. The budget here is insane. The story is self-contained and doesn't matter for the plot, but the fight choreography is some of the best in the entire franchise. It's six episodes of pure eye candy.
Navigating the War Arc Minefield
The end of the series is where the Naruto Shippuden filler list gets really complicated. The Fourth Shinobi World War is interrupted constantly.
For instance, right as the climactic battle is heating up, the show throws in a second Chuunin Exam arc (Episodes 394-413). It takes place during the two-year gap of the original series. It’s jarring to jump from a world-ending threat back to genin fighting in the desert.
Then there are the "Individual Stories." Episodes 427 to 450 are mostly dreams within the Infinite Tsukuyomi. While some are interesting—like "Tsunade’s Ninja Notes," which re-imagines the story if Naruto’s parents hadn't died—they are entirely non-essential. You can skip the majority of these and jump straight to the final confrontation.
A Quick Reference Guide for the Streamlined Experience
If you want the "Canon-Only" experience, here is the breakdown of what to watch. Keep this list handy while you’re scrolling through your streaming service of choice.
- Episodes 1-56: Canon (The Kazekage Rescue and Long-Awaited Reunion)
- Episodes 72-88: Canon (Hidan and Kakuzu—essential viewing)
- Episodes 113-143: Canon (The hunt for Itachi and the Jiraiya/Pain saga)
- Episodes 152-196: Canon (The Pain Assault and its immediate aftermath)
- Episodes 200-222: Canon (Five Kage Summit)
- Episodes 243-256: Canon (Nine-Tails training)
- Episodes 261-270: Canon (War begins)
- Episodes 272-289: Canon
- Episodes 296-310: Canon
- Episodes 321-348: Canon (Madara’s grand entrance)
- Episodes 362-375: Canon
- Episodes 378-388: Canon
- Episodes 391-393: Canon
- Episodes 414-415: Canon
- Episodes 418-421: Canon
- Episodes 424-426: Canon
- Episodes 451-458: Itachi’s Backstory (Recommended Filler)
- Episodes 459-469: Canon (Mostly)
- Episodes 470-479: The Finale (The must-watch climax)
- Episodes 484-500: Post-War Novels (Canon-adjacent, worth watching for the endings)
The Mixed Canon Complexity
Some episodes are "Mixed Canon/Filler." This means the studio took a few pages of manga and padded them with 15 minutes of original content. Episode 1, for example, starts with a flash-forward that wasn't in the manga yet.
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Generally, if an episode is labeled "Mixed," you should watch it. You might have to sit through a few extra minutes of characters eating ramen or walking through the woods, but you’ll miss actual plot points if you skip them. The "New Chuunin Exams" arc is a great example of where this gets messy—there are tiny snippets of canon dialogue buried in hours of filler. For a first-time viewer, it's better to just stick to the main list above.
How to Handle the "Post-Series" Content
Once the main fight ends at Episode 479, you’ll notice the show keeps going for another 21 episodes. Are these filler? Technically, no. They are adaptations of the "Hiden" light novels.
They cover Sasuke’s redemption journey, Shikamaru’s work in the new world order, and the preparations for Naruto and Hinata’s wedding. If you've spent 400+ episodes with these characters, these final episodes are the emotional payoff you deserve. Don't skip them. They transition the world perfectly into the Boruto era (if you're brave enough to go there).
Practical Advice for New Viewers
The best way to tackle the Naruto Shippuden filler list is to keep a tab open with a tracker. If an episode starts and it feels like a flashback to something that happened ten years ago, check the list.
- Trust your gut. If the animation quality suddenly drops and the characters start acting like caricatures of themselves, it's probably filler.
- The "World War" padding is real. During the war arc, the anime producers were desperate to keep the show on air until the manga ended. If you feel like the war is taking forever, it's because it was designed to.
- Don't feel guilty. You aren't a "fake fan" for skipping the "Guren/Crystal Style" arc. Life is short, and there are better things to do than watch Naruto chase a giant turtle for twenty episodes.
The real heart of Shippuden is the cycle of hatred and the bond between two friends who can't stop hurting each other. Everything else is just noise. Focus on the Akatsuki, the Uchiha history, and the growth of the Hidden Leaf.
Your next move is simple: find where you are in the series, cross-reference the episode blocks above, and start skipping. If you're currently on the boat arc (Episodes 223-242), do yourself a favor and jump straight to 243. You can thank me later when you're watching the legendary animation of the Madara fight instead of watching Guy get seasick for the fifth time in a row.
Focus on the Kakashi and Itachi backstories if you want the full emotional experience, then head straight for the finish line. The story is incredible when it's not being interrupted by a talking ostrich.