For anyone wondering how many episodes of Naruto are there, the answer is surprisingly straightforward once someone cuts through all the confusion. But here’s the thing – it took one dedicated anime watcher nearly three months of evening binges to discover the numbers don’t tell the whole story.
That viewer learned something valuable: the total count is just the starting point. What actually matters is understanding which episodes are worth watching, how much time the journey really takes, and whether skipping certain parts ruins the experience. This entertainment coverage guide answers every question about the Naruto episode count in 2025.
The Quick Answer: Total Naruto Episode Count
Before diving into the details, here’s what every new viewer needs to know upfront.
Original Naruto: 220 Episodes
The original Naruto series premiered on TV Tokyo in October 2002 and ran until February 2007. Over those five years, the studio produced 220 episodes following a young ninja with a fox demon sealed inside him. Each episode runs about 23 minutes, making the original series roughly 84 hours of content.
Naruto Shippuden: 500 Episodes
Naruto Shippuden picked up where the original left off, airing from February 2007 until March 2017. This sequel series expanded the story significantly with 500 episodes – more than double the original. The math puts Shippuden at approximately 193 hours of viewing.
Total Combined: 720 Episodes
Complete Naruto Episode Count:
- Original Naruto: 220 episodes
- Naruto Shippuden: 500 episodes
- Grand Total: 720 episodes
- Combined Runtime: ~277 hours (11.5 days nonstop)
This 720 episode total doesn’t include Boruto, which follows Naruto’s son and adds over 1,000 more episodes to the extended franchise. For now, the focus stays on the main Naruto story that started it all.
Breaking Down the Naruto Series: What You’re Actually Watching
The confusion around Naruto episode counts often comes from not understanding how the series is structured. Someone new to anime might stumble across Shippuden first, or wonder why there are seemingly two different shows about the same character.
What’s the Difference Between Naruto and Shippuden?
The original Naruto series follows the main characters as children and pre-teens. Viewers watch Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura graduate from the ninja academy, form Team 7, and tackle increasingly dangerous missions. The story builds to a dramatic arc where Sasuke leaves the village – and that’s where the original series essentially ends.
Shippuden picks up after a two-and-a-half-year time skip. The same characters are now teenagers, more powerful and dealing with higher stakes. The storytelling becomes darker, the fights more intense, and the political complexities of the ninja world take center stage. Think of it like the difference between a coming-of-age story and a full-blown epic saga.
Where Does Boruto Fit In?
Boruto is a separate sequel series that follows Naruto’s son, set after Naruto has become the leader of his village. While it extends the universe, Boruto isn’t considered part of the main Naruto story that the 720 episode count covers. Fans often treat it as optional viewing.
Canon vs Filler: How Many Episodes Are Actually Essential?
Here’s where the naruto episode count gets complicated – and where many viewers make decisions that affect their experience. Not all 720 episodes are created equal.
Like with anime filler guides for other long-running series, understanding the difference between canon and filler episodes changes everything about how someone approaches this massive show.
Original Naruto Filler Count
The original series has 90 filler episodes out of 220 total. That’s roughly 41% of the show that never appeared in the original manga. The most notorious stretch? Episodes 136-219 are almost entirely filler, creating a massive 83-episode block that many fans skip entirely.
Naruto Shippuden Filler Count
Shippuden matches the original’s percentage with approximately 205 filler episodes out of 500 – again sitting at about 41% filler content. Some filler arcs span dozens of episodes, while others are single standalone adventures.
Canon-Only Viewing: If someone skips all filler, the essential Naruto story drops from 720 episodes to approximately 432 episodes. That cuts the viewing time nearly in half.
Why Anime Has So Much Filler
Filler exists because anime production often catches up to the source manga. The animation studio needs content to produce, but the original story hasn’t progressed far enough. Rather than take breaks, studios create original episodes that don’t affect the main plot.
Some fans actually enjoy certain filler arcs for their character development and humor. Others find them frustrating diversions from the main story. There’s no wrong answer – just personal preference.
How Long Does It Take to Watch All of Naruto?
The numbers sound intimidating, but breaking them down makes the commitment feel more manageable.
Total Runtime for 720 Episodes
With each episode running approximately 23 minutes, the full 720-episode journey takes about 277 hours. That works out to roughly 11.5 days of nonstop watching – not that anyone should try that approach.
Including all 11 Naruto movies adds another 17 hours, pushing the complete experience to approximately 294 hours.
Watch Time Without Filler
Cutting the filler drops the runtime significantly. Canon-only viewing clocks in at approximately 180 hours – just 7.5 days of continuous watching. That’s still substantial, but it’s 97 hours shorter than the complete experience.
Realistic Viewing Schedules
A viewer with a typical schedule who watches 3 episodes per day will need about 240 days to finish the complete series. That’s roughly 8 months of consistent viewing.
Practical Viewing Timelines:
- 3 episodes/day: ~8 months (full) or ~5 months (canon only)
- 5 episodes/day: ~5 months (full) or ~3 months (canon only)
- Weekend warrior (10 eps/week): ~18 months (full) or ~11 months (canon only)
Complete Episode Breakdown by Series
Understanding the structure of each series helps viewers know what they’re getting into. Similar to how complete episode breakdown guides work for other anime, here’s how Naruto organizes its story.
Naruto (2002-2007): Full Episode List
The original 220 episodes cover several major story arcs:
- Episodes 1-19: Introduction and Land of Waves Arc
- Episodes 20-67: Chunin Exams Arc
- Episodes 68-80: Konoha Crush Arc
- Episodes 81-100: Search for Tsunade Arc
- Episodes 107-135: Sasuke Recovery Mission Arc
- Episodes 136-220: Mostly filler content
That final stretch of 84 episodes is where most viewers start skipping or quit entirely. Pushing through those fillers tests patience, but Shippuden’s quality makes the journey worthwhile.
Naruto Shippuden (2007-2017): Full Episode List
Shippuden’s 500 episodes tell an even more complex story:
- Episodes 1-32: Rescue Gaara Arc
- Episodes 33-53: Tenchi Bridge Reconnaissance Arc
- Episodes 54-71: Akatsuki Suppression Arc
- Episodes 113-143: Tale of Jiraiya Arc
- Episodes 152-175: Pain’s Assault Arc (fan favorite)
- Episodes 243-256: Confining the Jinchuriki Arc
- Episodes 261-479: Fourth Shinobi World War (with filler scattered throughout)
- Episodes 484-500: Final episodes and epilogue content
The Pain’s Assault Arc is widely considered some of the best anime storytelling ever produced. Many viewers who pushed through slower sections report that arc alone justified the entire investment.
What About the New Naruto Episodes in 2026?
Exciting news for fans: the total naruto episodes count is about to grow. In late 2026, four new special episodes will release as part of the franchise’s 20th anniversary celebration.
These aren’t sequels or spinoffs. According to announcements, the new episodes return to Naruto’s roots and are supervised by original creator Masashi Kishimoto himself. Production wrapped up in 2025, suggesting these episodes received significant care and attention.
This means the 720 episode count will become 724 by the end of 2026 – assuming all four specials count as individual episodes rather than one extended special.
Where to Watch All Naruto Episodes (2025)
Finding a legal streaming source for all 720 episodes used to be challenging. That’s changed significantly.
Streaming Platforms
Crunchyroll hosts the complete Naruto and Naruto Shippuden series. Viewers can access all episodes with subtitles in multiple languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and the original Japanese.
Other platforms like Hulu (in some regions) carry portions of the series. Netflix occasionally has select episodes, though the catalog varies by country and changes frequently.
Dubbed vs Subbed Options
Both the English dub and Japanese original with subtitles are available on major platforms. The English dub took years to complete but now covers the entire series.
Some fans prefer subtitles for the original voice performances, while others find the English dub more accessible for casual watching. Neither choice is wrong – it’s about personal comfort.
Should You Watch All 720 Episodes? (My Honest Take)
Here’s where the discussion gets real. Someone starting Naruto today faces a genuine time commitment. Is it worth it?
The experience of watching long-running anime teaches patience. There are stretches that feel slow, filler arcs that seem pointless, and moments where the pacing frustrates. That’s all true. But something special happens when a viewer sticks with characters for hundreds of episodes.
Similar to how series timeline guides help viewers navigate complex franchises, having a plan makes the Naruto journey more manageable. Consider this approach:
- Start with canon only using a filler guide
- Note which filler arcs interest you based on descriptions
- Return to select filler after finishing the main story
- Don’t force yourself through content that bores you
The core Naruto story – the one that made millions of fans worldwide – lives in those 432 canon episodes. Everything else is optional enrichment.
What makes the investment worthwhile isn’t just the action or the plot twists. It’s watching characters grow, fail, and keep trying. It’s the themes of friendship, perseverance, and finding one’s place in the world. Those messages resonate regardless of whether someone is 15 or 50.
For new viewers starting in 2025, the timing actually works perfectly. The complete story exists, no waiting required. Stream at any pace. Skip what doesn’t work. Return to favorites. The 720 episodes aren’t going anywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Naruto episodes are there in total including Boruto?
The main Naruto franchise has 720 episodes (220 original + 500 Shippuden). Including Boruto: Naruto Next Generations adds over 1,000 more episodes, but Boruto is considered a separate sequel series rather than part of the original Naruto story.
Can you watch Naruto Shippuden without watching the original?
Technically yes, but the experience suffers. Shippuden assumes viewers know the characters, relationships, and backstory from the original series. Starting with Shippuden means missing crucial context that makes emotional moments land properly.
What percentage of Naruto is filler?
Both Naruto and Naruto Shippuden run approximately 41% filler content. The original has 90 filler episodes out of 220, while Shippuden has about 205 filler episodes out of 500. Combined, roughly 295 of the 720 total episodes are filler.
How long would it take to watch all of Naruto if I watched 4 episodes per day?
At 4 episodes daily, watching all 720 episodes would take 180 days – exactly 6 months. Watching only canon content at the same pace would take about 108 days, or roughly 3.5 months.
Is there new Naruto content coming out?
Yes. Four new special episodes completed production in 2025 and are scheduled for release in late 2026 as part of the franchise’s 20th anniversary celebration. These are supervised by original creator Masashi Kishimoto and return to the original Naruto story rather than continuing with newer generations.
Whether starting the journey for the first time or returning for a rewatch, those 720 episodes represent one of anime’s most beloved stories. The numbers might seem daunting, but every fan who’s completed the journey has their own moment when Naruto’s story clicked – and they understood why millions of viewers made the same commitment.
