'Naruto' Filler List: Every Episode You Can Skip

There's no shortage of enjoyable "Naruto" filler episodes, but sometimes you just want to get to the core of the plot. Nicole Antonio / DALL-E

Before jumping into "Naruto Shippuden," many fans start with the original "Naruto" anime. While it laid the foundation for one of anime's most iconic journeys, it also featured many filler episodes.

This "Naruto" filler list breaks down which arcs are skippable and which might be worth watching.

The original "Naruto" series ran for 220 episodes, and a substantial chunk of that was filler. These episodes aren’t part of the manga’s storyline but were added by the anime studio to give the manga time to stay ahead.

Contents

Land of Tea Escort Mission Arc (Episodes 102–106)
Land of Rice Fields Investigation Arc (Episodes 136–141)
Mizuki Tracking Mission (Episodes 142–147)
Bikochu Search Mission (Episodes 148–151)
Kurosuki Family Removal Mission (Episodes 152–157)
Gosunkugi Capture Mission (Episodes 159–160)
Cursed Warrior of the Hidden Leaf (Episodes 162–167)
Kaima Capture Mission (Episodes 169–173)
Buried Gold Excavation Mission (Episodes 175–176)
Star Guard Mission (Episodes 178–183)
Peddlers Escort Mission (Episodes 187–191)
Third Great Beast Arc (Episodes 195–196)
Konoha Plans Recapture Mission (Episodes 197–201)
Yakumo Kurama Rescue Mission (Episodes 203–207)
Gantetsu Escort Mission (Episodes 209–212)
Menma Memory Search Mission (Episodes 213–215)
Sunagakure Support Mission (Episodes 216–220)
3 Standalone Filler Episodes
Should You Watch the Filler?

1. Land of Tea Escort Mission Arc (Episodes 102–106)

Sometimes called the "Tea Country Arc," this mini-arc follows Team 7 on a mission to escort a ninja through a tournament. Filler, but some enjoy it for the fight sequences.

2. Land of Rice Fields Investigation Arc (Episodes 136–141)

The first arc following the Sasuke Retrieval Arc. It loosely ties into Orochimaru’s story but is non-canon.

3. Mizuki Tracking Mission (Episodes 142–147)

Mizuki, from Episode 1, returns as a villain. This is entirely filler and generally considered skippable.

4. Bikochu Search Mission (Episodes 148–151)

Team 8 searches for a rare insect to help find Sasuke. It includes moments for Shino and Hinata fans.

5. Kurosuki Family Removal Mission (Episodes 152–157)

This features a mysterious curse and introduces Raiga, a non-canon member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Raiga was later incorporated into the series’ official canon by Masashi Kishimoto (he even appears in the manga as one of the Seven Swordsmen).

6. Gosunkugi Capture Mission (Episodes 159–160)

Most viewers skip this quick, two-episode arc due to lack of relevance to the main plot.

7. Cursed Warrior of the Hidden Leaf (Episodes 162–167)

This arc blends ninja lore with a ghost mystery. It's atmospheric but not part of the manga.

8. Kaima Capture Mission (Episodes 169–173)

A sea-based arc where Anko leads a team to investigate strange happenings in a coastal village. It adds depth to Anko’s character but not much to the overall narrative.

9. Buried Gold Excavation Mission (Episodes 175–176)

Here's another lighthearted, mostly comedic arc. Not essential.

10. Star Guard Mission (Episodes 178–183)

Team Guy investigates a village that harnesses energy from a fallen star. There's some character development but mostly filler.

11. Peddlers Escort Mission (Episodes 187–191)

The team protects a group of merchants. The arc introduces transformations and deception, but it’s skippable.

12. Third Great Beast Arc (Episodes 195–196)

This arc focuses on Might Guy and a rivalry with a young Hidden Leaf genin named Yagura. Fans of Team Guy might enjoy this arc.

13. Konoha Plans Recapture Mission (Episodes 197–201)

Naruto and friends defend the village from an internal threat — pure filler with moderate action.

14. Yakumo Kurama Rescue Mission (Episodes 203–207)

These episodes deal with genjutsu and forbidden jutsu, centering on Kurenai and a student named Yakumo.

15. Gantetsu Escort Mission (Episodes 209–212)

Team 7 guards a former gang member. The arc has some good character moments but is all filler.

16. Menma Memory Search Mission (Episodes 213–215)

Naruto helps a mysterious amnesiac boy — emotional and somewhat enjoyable.

17. Sunagakure Support Mission (Episodes 216–220)

Naruto and friends assist the Sand Village. Though filler, it acts as a smoother bridge into "Naruto Shippuden."

3 Standalone Filler Episodes

While a lot of episodes are part of larger filler arcs (this goes for both "Naruto" filler episodes and "Naruto Shippuden" filler episodes), this anime series also has a handful of one-offs that don't feed the larger plot.

1. "Gotta See! Gotta Know! Kakashi-Sensei's True Face!" (Episode 101)

This fan-favorite comedic episode remains a classic despite being filler.

2. "A Legend from the Hidden Leaf: The Onbaa!" (Episode 185)

Naruto raises a creature on his back in this cute but entirely skippable episode.

3. "Ino Screams! Chubby Paradise!" (Episode 192)

Here's a bizarre episode featuring body swaps and comedy. Most fans skip it.

Should You Watch the Filler?

If you're watching for the main plot or catching up quickly, you can skip most of these. However, arcs like the Kaima Capture Mission or Star Guard Mission offer decent animation and minor character development.

For fans who enjoy seeing more of side characters like Anko, Kurenai, Shino, or Tenten, some filler episodes add enjoyable background. Still, they’re not necessary to understand the main story.

This Naruto filler list helps streamline your viewing so you can dive into "Naruto Shippuden" with a clean understanding of the manga canon.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.