Filler episodes in anime are generally regarded as skippable by viewers. Many choose to skip any and all episodes that contain filler content, as they don't feel it's relevant to the story and take away the impact from interrupted, high-stakes moments. Naruto also has an absurd amount of filler to get through; both classic Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden are a whopping forty-one percent filler, and some of it can definitely be skipped.
Some of Naruto: Shippuden's filler episodes have interesting premises, meaningful character moments, or genuinely entertaining plotlines that make them well worth watching, despite being non-canon. The prologue to Naruto's highly-regarded Road to Ninja movie and the follow-up to the classic Naruto filler episode where Team Seven tries to peer under their sensei's mask are two of several great non-canon episodes that still deserve a watch.
10 Sora's Father And His Army Wage War On The Hidden Leaf Village
Naruto: Shippuden Episode 65: "Lockdown Of Darkness"
"Lockdown of Darkness" is the twelfth episode of Naruto: Shippuden's Twelve Guardian Ninja arc, focusing on Sora, a child who has traces of the Nine-Tails' chakra, making him a partial Jinchuriki. Sora's father, Kazuma, is alive and well as this arc's antagonist, returning after trying to assassinate Konohagakure's head to wage war against the village. Going under the alias Furido, Sora's father and his underlings, which include reanimated zombie ninja, begin their assault.
While the village panics as the attack mounts, Sora tries to leave the village and is stopped by Naruto, who believes Sora was the one who attacked Lady Tsunade. Thankfully, Asuma arrives and realizes that something doesn't feel quite right, and they have to get to the bottom of things before it's too late. This is a tense episode going into the end of the Twelve Guardian Ninja arc, raising the stakes before the final showdown.
9 The Power Arc's Final Episode Is A Cinematic, Explosive Conclusion
Naruto: Shippuden Episode 295: "Power - Episode Final"
Naruto: Shippuden's Power arc is a six-episode, semi-filler arc that's animated closer to the style of a Naruto movie than a typical set of episodes. Tonika Village was wiped out by Kabuto and a group of reanimated ninja, and Team Kakashi is sent to investigate. The people of the village team up with Team Kakashi and Team Asuma to fight back not only Kabuto and his gang but Hidan as well.
Kabuto's group has access to a powerful cloning ability that allows a clone of Four-Tails Naruto to be created, which eventually powers up into a fully-formed Nine-Tails version that nearly swallows the original. While trying to fight back against the clone's influence, Minato's voice urges Naruto on, which gives one of the children enough time to break through to Naruto and allow him to defeat his clone. It's always sweet to have Naruto's family mentioned in some way, and the animation in these episodes is top-notch.
8 Sai's Difficulties With Understanding And Working Through Emotions Are Highlighted
Naruto: Shippuden Episode 284: "The Helmet Splitter! Jinin Akebino"
Because of everything Sai's gone through, he has difficulty understanding and expressing emotions. This is a key part of his character when he's first introduced and comes up again in a later filler arc that's part of the Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation. In Naruto Shippuden's 284th episode, Sai and Rock Lee are tasked with sealing the reanimated shinobi by Kakashi, which ends up being an incredibly strenuous task for Sai.
Sai has to use emotional energy to use a special jutsu, but because he trained to suppress his emotions, this is incredibly difficult for him. He can be swallowed up by negative emotions if he isn't careful, and Sai comes to understand that he can feel negative emotions without being overwhelmed by them, which lets him use the technique. This episode marks a powerful moment of growth for Sai's character, and it's fun seeing Rock Lee act as his bodyguard.
7 The Bond Between Naruto And His Close Friends Is Heartwarmingly Showcased
Naruto: Shippuden Episode 311: "Prologue of Road to Ninja"
Naruto: Shippuden's 311th episode isn't part of a filler arc, but is rather a prologue episode to the Road to Ninja movie. The Akatsuki are briefly seen, using a telescope to look into Naruto's apartment and try to learn his desires, so they can use the Infinite Tsukuyomi against him. Naruto's alone in his apartment, entertaining himself by playing cards with his Shadow Clones. This showcases how his childhood loneliness still permeates into much of his life, but thankfully, a group of friends saves the day.
Rock Lee, Neji, Shino, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Choji all take Naruto to the bathhouse, although he's kicked out after a misunderstanding involving the women. Dejected, Naruto expects to spend the night alone in his apartment — but the guys show up to play cards with him. It's a heartwarming scene that stands in sharp contrast to the start of the episode where Naruto plays alone; it's a rare moment that showcases the relationship between him and the other male members of the Konoha Eleven.
6 Kakashi's Past With Minato And The ANBU Black Ops Is Revealed
Naruto: Shippuden Episode 350: "Minato's Death"
Kakashi has always been one of Naruto's fan-favorite characters, and any episode delving further into his backstory is a welcome one, whether it's canon or otherwise. In "Minato's Death," Kakashi is asked by Minato to guard Kushina, and he tells Rin the news afterward. He is unknowingly followed by Obito, though, who uses this information to unleash the Nine-Tails before it can be sealed inside Naruto and wreak destruction upon the village.
It's here that Hiruzen promises Kushina and Minato that he'll take care of Naruto after they're gone, in a heartbreaking scene. After they pass and Hiruzen takes over as the Third Hokage once again, Kakashi is recruited into Root by Danzo. This is where he meets another ANBU member with the ability to use Wood Release, who turns out to be Yamato.
5 Team Seven's Formation Is Retold With Extra Details From Kakashi's POV
Naruto: Shippuden Episode 361: "Team 7"
"Team 7" is a fittingly-named recap episode that aired after detailing Kakashi's tragic past and his time in the ANBU and Root. "Team 7" goes over Kakashi meeting the members of Team Seven and performing the bell exercise with them. In addition to covering the bell exercise and Team Seven's first victory together, this episode includes additional details from Kakashi's point-of-view that make it worth watching, even for viewers who are intimately familiar with this early Naruto arc.
For one, when Kakashi is approached about becoming the sensei of a team, he's hesitant — and it's the fact that Naruto is Minato's son that piques Kakashi's interest. This episode also shows the reason why Kakashi was late for his first meeting with Team Seven; he was spending time at the Memorial Stone honoring his fallen comrades and exchanging words with Yamato before heading off to meet his team.
4 Fans Finally Get To See Kakashi's True Face
Naruto: Shippuden Episode 469: "A Special Mission"
One of the best Naruto filler episodes involves Team Seven trying and failing to see what's under Kakashi's mask, and though they still fail in the Naruto: Shippuden follow-up episode, audiences finally get to see Kakashi's true face. Shikamaru tries to help Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke restrain Kakashi so they can look at his real face, along with a strange photographer named Sukea. Kakashi vanishes, actually a mere shadow clone, and Sukea is revealed to be the true Kakashi once he's alone.
Kakashi removes his disguise, enabling viewers to get a look at Kakashi's true face. This episode is a fantastic follow-up to the original, with plenty of the same wacky and frustrating hijinks from other characters that stop Naruto and company from completing their mission at every turn. This episode is smack-dab during the fight against Kaguya and makes for a more lighthearted breather.
3 This Semi-Filler Episode Ends With Madara's Monumental Reveal
Naruto: Shippuden Episode 321: "Reinforcements Arrive"
The end of Naruto: Shippuden's 321st episode, "Reinforcements Arrive," includes one of the series' most impactful canon moments. Much of what happens in this episode is skippable; Naruto and the others spend the episode tracking down a masked man who they believe to be Madara, and they're both mistaken and never find out who that other masked man actually is. This episode is worth watching just for the ending, though, as Madara is finally revealed.
Madara's domineering power is evident as he glares down, arms crossed — and though fans note this episode's animation quality is on the lower end, Madara still feels imposing and his entrance is impactful. The entirely canon episode after looks much better, and dives deep into the heart of matters, making "Reinforcements Arrive" a mostly filler episode that builds excitement for everything to come.
2 The Conflict Between Asura And Indra Is Further Delved Into
Naruto: Shippuden Episode 468: "The Successor"
Naruto: Shippuden's 468th episode is the final episode of Hagoromo explaining the history of Asura and Indra to the four Hokage; it also explains the connections their rivalry has with Naruto and Sasuke. Asura is chosen as Hagoromo's successor instead of Indra, and when Indra's followers suggest that they get on Hagoromo's good side, Indra doesn't hesitate to kill them.
Indra awakens the Mangyeko Sharingan and attacks Asura, but with the help of Hagoromo and the other followers, Asura can defeat Indra. Defeated but alive, Indra escapes and becomes obsessed with amassing power in a tale that sounds incredibly similar to Sasuke's abandonment of the Hidden Leaf Village in search of more power.
1 Itachi Awakens The Mangekyo Sharingan After His Close Friend's Death
Naruto: Shippuden Episode 358: "Coup d'Etat"
This Naruto: Shippuden filler episode delves into the past of Shisui and Itachi, and the events that lead to Itachi taking one of Shisui's eyes. Because of the abilities the Sharingan possesses, the Uchiha Clan is put under surveillance, suspected of being responsible for the Nine-Tailed Fox's attack. This only increases tension further, and Shisui gets permission to try to clear the suspicion surrounding the Uchiha name.
During a meeting with Danzo, Shisui's attacked by him and stops Danzo's attempt, but not before Danzo can steal one of his Sharingan eyes. After this, Shisui decides to entrust his other eye to Itachi, who's irreversibly transformed after his best friend's suicide and determined to honor his wishes. Getting to see more of Itachi's past is heartbreaking, helping fans empathize further with the older Uchiha sibling.
