Watch Naruto first, then Naruto: Shippuden, keeping episodes in broadcast order within each series. To avoid anime-only detours without accidentally skipping story material, use one episode guide consistently: skip episodes it marks as pure filler, but keep episodes marked canon or mixed. A practical main-story route through the original series is to finish episode 135 and then start Shippuden episode 1.
What order should you watch Naruto in?
- Watch Naruto, episodes 1–220, in episode order—or use the main-story route below and stop after episode 135.
- Continue with Naruto: Shippuden, episodes 1–500, in episode order.
The two series follow the main story across Naruto’s early years and the later timeskip period. You do not need to insert films to follow this series-to-series order; this guide focuses on the television episodes.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![Naruto Shippuden Set 1 (BD) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51mBL5I8TaL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Naruto Shippuden Set 1 (BD) [Blu-ray] | $21.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Naruto BD Set 3 (BD) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51OO0T2f8FL._SL160_.jpg)
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Naruto BD Set 3 (BD) [Blu-ray] | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Naruto Shippuden Set 2 (BD) | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Naruto: Set 4 (BD) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51th1L7Lx5L._SL160_.jpg)
|
Naruto: Set 4 (BD) [Blu-ray] | $20.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Naruto Shippuden BD Set 9 | $36.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Which Naruto arcs come first?
The original series’ early story arcs run in this sequence:
| Arc | Episodes |
|---|---|
| Prologue / Land of Waves | 1–19 |
| Chūnin Exams | 20–67 |
| Konoha Crush | 68–80 |
| Search for Tsunade | 81–100 |
| Sasuke Recovery Mission | 107–135 |
These are the core early arcs, not a claim that every episode in the series belongs to one of these five named blocks. The story moves from Naruto’s Academy graduation toward Sasuke’s departure from the village.
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Where should you stop Naruto and start Shippuden?
For a time-saving main-story route, finish Naruto episode 135 and start Naruto: Shippuden episode 1. Episodes 136–220 are largely anime-original material, and the cited watch-order guide recommends making the transition after the Sasuke Recovery Mission. Those episodes can still be worthwhile if you want additional anime-only missions and character stories; they are optional for this route, not an extra arc you must watch before Shippuden.
Do not treat every episode from 136 onward as pure filler by default. Episode labels vary by guide, and some episode listings identify mixed material. If you are following a classification list, check the individual episode rather than assuming an entire late-series range has one label.
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How to skip filler without losing mixed story material
- Choose one episode guide that labels episodes as canon, mixed, or filler.
- Keep canon and mixed episodes; skip only episodes the guide explicitly labels pure filler.
- Follow the remaining episode numbers in their original order, especially in Shippuden’s later war material, where adapted story and anime-original episodes are interleaved.
“Filler” is an editorial classification, not a universal official standard. Fan-maintained guides can draw the canon/filler boundary differently, so switching between lists can produce confusing or conflicting skip advice. NarutoHQ’s pages provide one consistent set of labels; use them as navigation, not as an official ruling on canon.
On the NarutoHQ pages accessed October 8, 2026, the original series is classified as 74 canon, 56 mixed, and 90 filler episodes out of 220. Its Shippuden page lists 233 canon, 64 mixed, and 203 filler episodes out of 500. NarutoHQ does not state a publication year on those pages, and these figures describe that guide’s classifications rather than official totals.
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Shippuden arcs to use as landmarks
Once you begin Shippuden, keep the show’s broadcast order. These named arcs can help you orient yourself as the story develops:
| Arc or story section | Episodes |
|---|---|
| Kazekage Rescue Mission | 1–32 |
| Long-Awaited Reunion | 33–53 |
| Hidan and Kakuzu | 72–88 |
| Itachi Pursuit | 113–126 |
| Pain’s Assault | 152–175 |
| Five Kage Summit | 197–214 |
| Fourth Shinobi World War and concluding arcs | Continue in broadcast order through episode 500 |
The landmark ranges are not a complete skip list. Consult episode-level labels before omitting episodes in the later war material, since a broad range can include both anime-original episodes and mixed episodes containing adapted story content.
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Choose between the short route and the full anime
| Approach | What to watch | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main-story route | Keep canon and mixed episodes, skip pure filler, and move from Naruto episode 135 to Shippuden episode 1. | Viewers who want the central adapted story with fewer anime-only detours. | Leaves out anime-original missions and side stories. |
| Full anime route | Watch every episode of Naruto (1–220), followed by every episode of Shippuden (1–500), in broadcast order. | Viewers interested in the complete animated run, including anime-original material. | Takes longer and includes stories outside the manga’s main adapted plot. |
The episode guides map the original series to manga chapters 1–238 and Shippuden to chapters 245–700. If you would rather read the source story than watch anime-only episodes, the manga is an alternative; it is not required to follow the anime order.
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