About this guide
A practical order for watching Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden without losing the character moments that make the long story work.
Watch the original Naruto first
Start with Naruto before Naruto: Shippuden. The original series establishes Team 7, the village politics, rivalries, and emotional history that Shippuden assumes you know. Its early missions also explain why later reunions matter.
Continue directly into Shippuden
After the original series, move to Naruto: Shippuden and follow release order. Use a reputable episode guide if you want to skip optional filler, but avoid skipping character-focused material automatically. Some quieter episodes provide context for relationships that otherwise seem to change too quickly.
Movies and side stories
Most films are optional. Treat them as bonus adventures after the television episodes released around the same period instead of interrupting an ongoing climax. The main emotional throughline is best experienced through the series itself.
After Naruto
For another long rivalry-driven shonen story, try Bleach or Black Clover. For a tighter complete adventure with a comparable focus on friendship, responsibility, and power, try Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
Recommended Naruto viewing sequence
| Step | Series | Purpose | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Naruto | Team 7, the Chunin Exams, and the original pursuit of Sasuke. | | 2 | Naruto: Shippuden | The post-training return, Akatsuki conflict, and main conclusion. | | 3 | The Last: Naruto the Movie | Watch late in Shippuden, after the principal war storyline. | | 4 | Boruto-era material | A sequel generation, not required to complete Naruto's core journey. |
The official Naruto site maintains separate episode catalogs for Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden. That division is the clearest first-viewing path. Starting with Shippuden saves time initially but weakens nearly every reunion, rivalry, and callback involving Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi, and the wider Leaf Village cast.
How to handle filler without losing useful stories
Use filler lists as filters, not commands. Long anime-original blocks can be skipped when you want the manga's central plot, but some standalone missions give supporting characters space the main story cannot. A practical method is to keep episodes that feature a favorite teammate or expand village life, and skip multi-episode detours when momentum matters more.
Movies and specials
Most Naruto movies are optional alternate adventures. Watch them near their original release point if you enjoy the featured team lineup. The Last is the important exception for viewers following Naruto's later personal relationships. Do not insert a film in the middle of an arc climax just because a numerical list places it there.
Frequently asked questions
Can I watch Naruto Kai fan edits instead?
Unofficial edits vary in completeness and legality. For a dependable first experience, use licensed episodes and a transparent filler guide.
Should I skip the original Naruto ending filler?
You can move to Shippuden after the main original-series conflict if pacing is your priority. Return later for character-focused missions that interest you.
Sub or dub?
Both preserve the same story order. Consistency matters most during lore-heavy stretches, so choose the version that keeps you engaged.
The linked Naruto: Shippuden hub and canonical character pages provide a safer route to relevant clips and profiles than broad web searches containing spoiler-heavy autocomplete suggestions.