16 Best Naruto Filler Episodes & Arcs

Long-running anime are famous for having filler stories and Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden are no exception. In fact, fans have noted that the Naruto series even has a few fillers arcs over the years. There are also a few stand-alone filler episodes. Traditionally, they are made to flesh out the story and even give the creators time to develop the main plot.

Despite that, some of these can help flesh out minor characters, even revealing details about characters’ backstories. They can be used to answer long-running questions fans have about the story.

Naruto

Release Date

October 3, 2002

Cast

Junko Takeuchi , Noriaki Sugiyama , Chie Nakamura , Kazuhiko Inoue , Hidekatsu Shibata , Yoichi Masukawa , Masashi Ebara , Ryôka Yuzuki

Seasons

8

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In the end, some filler episodes have gone on to become huge fan-favorites. Of course, with a series as long-running as Naruto, it can feel hard for fans to keep track on how much filler there is. Ultimately, sometimes a guide could come in handy when it comes to remembering some of the different filler episodes, or even entire filler arcs, there are.

16 The “Land of Tea Escort Mission” Arc

During the “Land of Tea Escort Mission” arc, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura travel to the Land of Tea while helping the Wasabi family during a yearly race. They encounter a young man, Idate, who hates ninja and has a talent for running. Upon meeting with the Wasabi family, it turns out Idate is who they are meant to escort.

It comes to light that Idate is the younger brother of Ibiki, who failed him for the Chūnin Exams. Idate was then tricked into stealing a special sword and scroll. Naruto, who previously disliked Idate, begins to empathize with him and helps him regain his confidence. With Team 7’s help, Idate was able to win the race for his family, with Ibiki happy over Naruto’s influence on his brother.

Why You Should Watch It

The arc has many interesting aspects, from Naruto’s role as a mentor to the start of Sasuke’s insecurities. Idate can also be a fun character to watch because of his stubborness Ultimately, the arc represents one of the last times Team 7 goes on a mission together.

15 The “Land of Rice Fields Investigation Mission” Arc

The “Land of Rice Fields Investigation Mission” arc starts off with Naruto joining up with Sakura in the hopes of saving Sasuke from Orochimaru. Jiraiya intervenes, allowing them to follow him on a mission that could help them gain information on Sasuke and Orochimaru, which will also allow them to avoid getting in trouble leaving the village unauthorized. Naruto and Sakura meet a kunoichi named Sasame who wants to find her cousin, Arashi, after most of her clan went missing.

It comes to light that Orochimaru is gaining supporters from different clans and hopes to learn their techniques. Sasame helps lead Naruto to Orochimaru’s hideout. While there, Naruto is severely attacked during a fight between Sakura and Kabuto. It eventually comes to light that Kabuto is a disguised Kagerō, who is from Sasame’s clan.

The team finds Arashi, who has become one of Orochimaru’s victims, having been merged with other clan members during a technique. However, Naruto, Sasame and Sakura are able to help him. Arashi reveals that Sasuke is safe, but is in danger of becoming Orochimaru’s host.

Why You Should Watch It

The arc’s main selling point is exploring Orochimaru, who appears briefly. The arc also explores more of Sakura, ending with her decision to become Tsunade’s pupil.

14 The “Mizuki Tracking Mission” Arc

The “Mizuki Tracking Mission” storyline is an arc exclusive to the anime. Just as he is about to start his training with Jiraiya, Naruto learns his teacher is away on a mission for Tsunade. After spying on them Naruto learns that Mizuki has escaped from prison and has some connection to Orochimaru. Naruto decides to look for Mizuki in the hopes of finding Sasuke. Along the way, Naruto encountered Iruka, leading to the two facing off against a stronger Mizuki and the Legendary Stupid Brothers.

Although initially overpowered by the brothers, Naruto is rescued by Team 10, allowing Naruto to assist Iruka. With the help of Tsubaki, Mizuki’s former love, they discover that Mizuki’s use of a enhancement drug, which soon helps him to overpower Naruto and Iruka. Ultimately, Naurto and Iruka were able to defeat Mizuki thanks to his loss of speed. However, he proved to have no knowledge about Orochimaru.

Why You Should Watch It

The arc brings back the series’ first villain and also helps to explore Mizuki and Iruka’s past. The Legendary Stupid Brothers also provide good comic relief in the story.

13 The “Bikōchū Search Mission” Arc

The “Bikōchū Search Mission” arc starts off with Team 8 coming up with a plan to help Naruto find Sasuke: a beetle that can track a target through its scent. This mission is approved, with Naruto being placed on the team. However, the task is easier said than done. Not only does beetle prove to be hard to find, the Kamizuru clan is also after it.

Hinata is even held hostage for ransom for a beetle’s egg, with Naruto and his team getting captured while attempting to save her. Fortunately, Hinata ends up escaping herself and saving the team, which helps to impress Naruto, especially when he learns he inspired her new technique. Unfortunately, the mission proves to be a waste, as the newly hatched beetle becomes attached to the scent of Naruto’s fart and a new one won’t be born for another year.

Why You Should Watch It

The arc is mostly known for being one of the more comedic ones in the series and works for fans who want a little levity. Fans can also enoy Hinata and her teammates getting screentime in the story.

12 The “Kurosuki Family Removal Mission” Arc

In the “Kurosuki Family Removal Mission” arc, Naruto decides to find some way to train himself in spite of Jiraiya’s absence. He soon comes across three men looking for help saving their village from a gang. Naruto joins up with Team Guy, which he sees as a chance to find Sasuke. Before finding the village, they encounter an old restaurant owner, Sanshō, whose son, Karashi, had left in search of strength.

While at the village, the people of the village are too traumatized to even leave and Karashi turns out to be a minion of the gang leader, Raiga. The secret to Raiga’s power is a young boy he carries on his back, Ranmaru. Eventually, Naruto seemingly managed to subdue Raiga by separating the two. However, Raiga survived and was rejuvenated by Ranmaru. In the end, however, Raiga, realizing Ranmaru no longer wants to be used to kill others, took his own life. Ranmaru becomes Sanshō’s apprentice as Naruto returns to the village with his team.

Why You Should Watch It

The arc is generally regarded as a fan-favorite, especially for its focus on the memetic “Curry of Life,” a dish Karashi made before joining up with Raiga, which can give the eater strength and even revive the dying.

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11 The “Menma Memory Search Mission” Arc

The “Menma Memory Search Mission” arc starts out with Naruto searching for special bamboo for his new ramen, only to come across a young man in a river. The boy has no memory of who he is, with the only clue to his identity being an ocarina. When the hospital he is staying at catches on fire, however, the boy instinctively saved an infant using the ocarina. In time, the boy adopts the name, “Menma.”

When a mysterious man attacks Naruto, Menma’s music appears to increase his new friend’s chakra. Tsunade suspects Menma might be from the Land of Rice Fields, which is known for musical techniques. Upon travelling there, Naruto, Menma, Neji and Tenten are attacked by villages, who then withdraw and ask for help against a gang.

It soon comes to light, however, that Menma is a member of the group of bandits and had faked his amnesia to escape his former life. In the end, however, Menma sacrifices his life to end the conflict.

Why You Should Watch It

While many of the series’ filler arcs are dedicated to humor, this one stands out for being more emotionally driven, especially towards the end.

10 The “Sunagakure Support Mission” Arc

The “Sunagakure Support Mission” arc starts off with Kakashi investigating the deserted Takumi Village, finding that the founder’s remains have gone missing. During the time, Naruto, Sakura, and Shikamaru learn from Temari that she and her brothers are to be part of their village’s new training regime for shinobi. While the siblings lead a combat class, Gaara befriends a pacifist girl, Matsuri, by showing her how to use a weapon defensively.

A call for help comes from Gaara against the Four Celestial Symbols Men, who have kidnapped Matsuri and most of Konoha 11 is assigned to help. Hōki, the leader of the Four Celestial Symbols Men, traps Gaara and drains the chakra of the one-tailed demon inside him, Shukaku, with Hōki attempting to use the chakra to revive Takumi Village. This causes Gaara to transform into Shukaku, though he manages to suppress it, using his remaining chakra to stop the fighting and rescue Matsuri.

While recovering, Naruto learns from Jiraiya that he is ready to start his training. With this, Naruto becomes determined to help free Sasuke.

Why You Should Watch It

Ultimately, this arc is important because it serves as an end to the original series. It also allows the original main characters to have a story together.

9 The “Power” Arc

The “Power” arc helps to commemorate the series reaching 500 episodes. Team Kakashi are tasked with investigating an incident involving deaths at Tonika Village, dividing into two groups. At a place dubbed “The Hole,” Kabuto Yakushi is able to create a clone of Hidan using its water. Through it, he has reincarnated multiple shinobi.

As Team Kakashi investigates, Naruto is swallowed by a giant snake, but escapes with the help of shadow clones, having ingested snakes himself. The Tonika Village Head soon turns out to be one of the reincarnations and the snakes leave Naruto’s body, transforming into his clone. After absorbing more chakra, the clone becomes a powerful, destructive beast. As Naruto fights the clone, the beast nearly takes over his body. However, Naruto is able to ultimately obtain new power and destroy the enemy.

Why You Should Watch It

It’s rumored that this arc was originally intended as a movie and it shows. The episodes are especially well-known for its intense animation and visuals, in addition to the powerful fight scenes.

8 “The Appearance of Strange Visitors”

“The Appearance of Strange Visitors” sees Naruto wanting to hone his strength in preparation for Jiraiya’s return and hopes Might Guy and Rock Lee and help train him. However, the two are away on a mission and Naruto ends up falling for a pair of imposters, Mondai and Potcha. Fortunately, while Naruto is tricked, the rest of the village sees through their bad disguises and get the last laugh by putting them to work. All the while, Naruto believes the whole thing is a training session.

The story is resolved when the real Might Guy and Rock Lee show up. Mondai and Potcha try to attack them, but are defeated by the pair’s Double Dynamic Entry technique. Still none the wiser, Naruto thanks the real pair for their help.

Why You Should Watch It

Ultimately, this funny story uses Naruto to his full comedic effect, having him both be the only character to fall for the disguise and still be fooled towards the end. The impostors getting put in their place by the real deal also neatly ends the story.

7 “A Shirker’s Call to Action: A Layabout No More!”

In “A Shirker’s Call to Action: A Layabout No More!,” Kakashi has ordered Pakkun, Naruto, Sakura and Shikamaru to catch up to Sasue. It soon becomes clear that nine Oto-nin are trailing them. While hiding in the trees, Shikamaru decides to serve as a decoy while the others finish the mission. However, while Shikamaru first seems successful, he realizes that one of the opponents has escaped.

Sensing the ninth Oto-nin had planned to stay behind, Shikamaru braces for the worst. Fortunately, Asuma arrives in time to save him. As the story reaches its close, the fight of the Hokages is about to begin.

Why You Should Watch It

Shikamaru started out the series unmotivated with little ambition in life, but this episode helps mark his transformation into a more dynamic character. The story also helps mark Shikamaru becoming more prominent.

6 “The Rogue Ninja: Orochimaru”

“The Rogue Ninja: Orochimaru” starts off with Orochimaru being forced to flee after his illegal experiments to obtain immortality are exposed. Hiruzen plans to capture Orochimaru with Anbu. However, Orochimaru escapes, ultimately going on the run. Upon reaching the country’s border, he is attacked by Kakashi, though he defeats him.

Meanwhile, Danzo fears that Orochimaru’s capture will expose his own involvement with the experiments. Sent by Danzo, Kinoe attempts to help Orochimaru with crossing the border, with the true goal of capturing him, but he encounters the Iburi Clan, which serves Orochimaru. While there, he encounters Yukimi, a young girl who believes he’s her brother Tenzō.

Why You Should Watch It

The story takes a look at Orochimaru’s past, particularly exploring his relationship with his former teacher, Hiruzen. Ultimately, Hiruzen is portrayed as a teacher who could not completely abandon his student.

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5 “Ino Screams! Chubby Paradise!”

“Ino Screams! Chubby Paradise!” sees Ino hired to pose as a princess who is about to meet her fiancé for the first time. The real princess, Fuku, has become self-concious over some recent weight gain and Ino is otherwise her doppelgänger. Ino tries to conduct herself like a princess, but problems arise when she meets the princess’ intended, the flamboyant, Elvis-like Chikara.

Worried that the mission isn’t going as planned, Naruto goes as far as to disguise himself as the princess, too. After Fuku is accidentally revealed as the real princess, everything ends happily enough when it turns out Chikara prefers the real her. Naruto’s happy that the mission was a success, while Ino is upset over getting rejected, even when it was a setup.

Why You Should Watch It

Serving as one of the series’ funnier escapades, the ending allows it to be a cute little love story. In a way, the story has the message of being comfortable in your own skin. Chikara also steals the show as a lovable parody of Elvis.

4 “Laughing Shino”

“Laughing Shino” sees Naruto and Shino sent on a mission to Motoyoshi Village, where they are tasked with helping a man, Fūta Kagetsu, protect his inheritance from his sister Tsukiko. Their father’s will states that Fūta will forfeit his inheritance if he laughs at the old man’s funeral, so Shino is asked to stand in for him. However, during dinner that night, a drug added to the food causes the normally stoic Shino to start laughing.

Naruto is then forced to take Shino’s place, as the guests try their hardest to get him to laugh, though Shino’s insects manage to help. In the end, it turns out that Fūta’s father faked his death the whole time, with the whole funeral being part of a scheme to get the family to laugh again. In fact, the drug had been a last ditch attempt to get the family to laugh if nothing else worked.

Why You Should Watch It

Shino is a character that rarely gets explored, so fans enjoyed seeing him as the focus of a story, especially one where he doesn’t have to be so serious. Of course, one thing funnier that him laughing is him swearing Naruto to secrecy over what happened towards the end.

3 “A Special Mission”

“A Special Mission” is notably an adaptation of the manga omake, “The Real True Face…!!” Team 7 starts off wishing for a high-ranking mission, causing Naruto to suggest uncovering Kakashi’s real face, in spite of previous failed attempts. When Naruto suggests there could be a photo showing him unmasked, a photographer named Sukea suggests finding his ninja registration photo.

While searching in a storage unit containing secret documents, the team is ambushed by Anbu and reprimanded by the Third Hakage. Soon, Teams 8 and 10 get involved. A plan to get Kakashi to perform CPR on a drugged Naruto fails when he decides the best option is sending him to a hospital. Ino even goes so far as to attempt switching bodies with Kakashi. The story’s twist, however, is that the Kakashi involved was a shadow clone while the real Kakashi was disguised as Sukea the whole time.

Why You Should Watch It

The audience gets to see Kakashi unmask himself, as he notes the team’s teamwork has been improving. In the end, the big unmasking is granted to the viewers even before the character, all while reflecting the journey they have gone through.

2 “The Mask That Hides the Heart”

“The Mask that Hides the Heart” takes place after the Third Great Ninja War and sees Kakashi deal with the death of his friends, Obito and Rin, causing him to become more withdrawn. During this time, Hiruzen also plans to step down as Hokage and, rejecting Orochimaru for the position, wants Minato to take his place. Kakashi is sent on a mission to deliver a scroll.

Once more, Kakashi is still dealing with trauma, nearly causing him to be killed during his mission, only to be saved by Might Guy. While Kakashi is in the hospital, he is visited by Anbu, who convinces him to join the Anbu. Now taking on this new role, Kakashi also dons a mask.

Why You Should Watch It

The episode explores Kakashi’s past, particularly his struggles after suffering the loss of his friends. Ultimately, it gave viewers a very emotionally driven story, particularly the symbolism of the ending, in which Kakashi hides his emotions through a mask.

1 “Minato’s Death”

“Minato’s Death” is the episode following “The Mask that Hides the Heart.” Ninja posing as members of Iwagakure attack village guards. However, Kakashi manages to kill them all with the use of his Chidori. Upon hearing this, Minato arranges for Kakashi to guard a pregnant Kushina.

However, a Nine-Tails attacked the village before being sealed away into a baby Naruto, with Kushina and Minato ultimately sacrificing their lives to protect their child. Before dying, Kushina has Hiruzen swear to protect Naruto, as he assumes the duties of the Third Hokage for the time-being. Meanwhile, Danzō persuades Kakashi to join the Anbu’s Root branch. Soon, he also meets Yamato, whose Wood Release technique allows him to keep the Nine-Tails sealed inside Naruto in check.

Why You Should Watch It

As with the previous story, the episode focuses on Kakashi’s past, while still focusing on a pivotal and heartbreaking event in Naruto‘s past from a new perspective.