All Naruto Arcs Ranked From Worst to Best

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Masashi Kishimoto’s manga, Naruto, is considered one of the most popular and impactful anime and manga series ever created, earning its place among the “Big Three” Shonen titles. It first appeared in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 1999 and quickly gained a massive following. The anime adaptation, produced by Studio Pierrot and launching in 2002, further boosted the series’ popularity, eventually making it a worldwide success. Even people who don’t usually watch anime are likely familiar with Naruto, the young ninja known for his orange jumpsuit.

The first part of the Naruto anime ran until 2007, and was immediately followed by Naruto: Shippuden, which picks up the story two and a half years later. The original series has 220 episodes, while Shippuden boasts 500, including filler episodes not found in the manga. Fans generally prefer the story arcs that directly follow the manga, as they are considered higher quality. Over the course of the series, many arcs were created, and while they are all enjoyable, some are stronger than others. This list ranks all the main story arcs, written by Masashi Kishimoto, from both parts of the anime.

18) Sasuke Recovery Mission

During the Chunin Exams, Orochimaru caused chaos in the Leaf Village, tragically leading to the death of the Third Hokage and the kidnapping of Sasuke Uchiha. Naruto and his friends refused to abandon Sasuke, so they set out on a rescue mission. However, consumed by his need for revenge, Sasuke wouldn’t let anyone help him return.

17) Search For Tsunade

The effort to find a new Hokage after Hiruzen Sarutobi faced a major crisis when Orochimaru and his assistant, Kabuto, attacked Tsunade and her allies. Tsunade was deeply affected by past losses during the war, and it took Naruto’s encouragement to help her heal. Despite her initial reluctance, she ultimately accepted the role of Fifth Hokage and skillfully guided the village through a period of significant challenges.

16) Tenchi Bridge Reconnaissance Mission

After Sasuke left the Hidden Leaf Village, Team 7 was never quite the same. When Kakashi was injured in a battle with Itachi, Naruto and Sakura were assigned a new leader, Yamato. Around the same time, Sai joined the team as a spy for Danzo, and they were sent on a mission to capture Kabuto, one of Sasori’s agents. But the mission took a surprising turn when they unexpectedly ran into Sasuke, who had changed a lot over the years.

15) The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist

During the fight against the revived ninja, the Allied Forces come face-to-face with the famed Seven Swordsmen of the Mist – warriors once considered the strongest in their village. This part of the story also reveals the close, brotherly bond between Killer Bee and the Fourth Raikage. Meanwhile, Naruto discovers the full extent of the war and immediately races to join his friends and offer his support.

14) The Taming of Nine-Tails and Fateful Encounters

I watched as Naruto trained relentlessly, trying to master the incredible power of Kurama. He was hidden away in a secret location with Killer Bee and a small group of other ninja, and they were all instructed to keep the war a secret from him. He was a prime target for our enemies, and they couldn’t risk him being captured. It was amazing to see him working to connect with Kurama, and during that process, he actually met his mother – she had been the Jinchuriki before him.

13) Kaguya Otsutsuki Strikes

The fight against Madara Uchiha takes a surprising twist when it’s revealed he was secretly controlled by Black Zetsu. This leads to the introduction of Kaguya as the final enemy, though she doesn’t quite have the same strong presence as Madara or previous villains. Despite this, the arc delivers some of the most memorable scenes in the series, like the teamwork of Team 7 and the epic battle between Naruto and Sasuke. The anime continues beyond this point, showing what happens with Sasuke and Shikamaru after the war, and even Naruto’s wedding, but these later storylines come from novels written by different authors.

12) The Fourth Great Ninja War – Attackers from Beyond

The war started tragically when Kabuto used a forbidden technique to bring legendary ninja back to life. He controlled these revived warriors and forced them to fight against the Allied Forces. At the same time, Naruto joined the Allied Forces, using his recently developed abilities to help them however he could.

11) Konoha Crush

Orochimaru’s attack during the Chunin Exams was carefully planned to ensure he couldn’t be pursued. He had already killed the Fourth Kazekage, Gaara’s father, before the exams began, setting his scheme in motion. Even the skilled Hiruzen was no match for Orochimaru and had to resort to a dangerous technique to weaken him – the Reaper Death Seal. Sadly, this technique cost Hiruzen his life, and he could only manage to seal Orochimaru’s arms, not his entire being.

10) Land of Waves

Initially, Team 7 was assigned simple tasks like finding lost pets. Naruto became frustrated with this and wanted to prove himself on more challenging missions. When Hiruzen gave them what seemed like a standard C-Rank mission, they quickly discovered it was far more dangerous – an A-Rank threat – and the person who hired them hadn’t been truthful about the risks. Despite being misled, the team understood the client was trying to protect his town and continued to offer their help. However, the arrival of Zabuza and Haku threw them into a life-or-death situation, forcing everyone to fight beyond their normal capabilities.

9) The Kazekage’s Rescue

Once the Shippuden arc began, the Akatsuki organization quickly focused on capturing those who possessed powerful tailed beasts, starting with Gaara. Despite being the newly appointed leader of his village, Gaara bravely defended it, even at the risk of his own life, which allowed the Akatsuki to take him captive. News of his capture reached the Leaf Village, prompting a rescue team to be sent. During the mission, they battled members of the Akatsuki and discovered the heartbreaking destiny that awaits a Jinchuriki after their tailed beast is removed.

8) Akatsuki Suppression Mission

This story arc centers on Team 10’s quest to avenge their leader, Asuma Sarutobi, who was killed by the Akatsuki members Hidan and Kakuzu. Shikamaru develops a clever plan to defeat the seemingly immortal Hidan, and Naruto later joins the fight against Kakuzu. Through the teamwork of the Leaf Village ninja, these two dangerous Akatsuki members, who had been causing trouble everywhere, were finally defeated.

7) Birth Of The Ten-Tails’ Jinchuriki

Like Madara, Obito spent his life deceived and manipulated, acting as a tool for another’s ambitions. He gained the power of all nine tailed beasts, becoming the host of the Ten Tails – a power that overwhelmed him. Meanwhile, Naruto was unexpectedly reunited with his father, who returned to the battle after being brought back to life by Orochimaru.

6) The Assembly of the Five Kage

Obito didn’t reveal the truth about Itachi’s sacrifices and the reasons for his suffering until after Itachi had died, sharing it with Sasuke. Discovering Danzo Shimura’s involvement in the Uchiha Clan’s destruction, Sasuke took revenge on both his clan and his brother by killing him. Meanwhile, a meeting of the Five Kage to address the growing danger of the Akatsuki organization fell apart when Obito announced his intention to wage war against all ninja villages.

5) Chunin Exams

This second story arc expands the world of the series, introducing the other ninja teams from Konoha and the characters from the Sand Village, including Gaara and his siblings. It’s known for its exciting battles and is where Sasuke’s difficult journey truly begins, as he first meets Orochimaru and starts to fall under his dark influence.

4) Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax

The Allied Forces nearly lost all hope when Madara returned to life and revealed his incredible power. He single-handedly battled tens of thousands of ninja, defeating countless in his pursuit of a misguided goal. Despite how unrealistic his aims were, his fight against the Allied Forces remains one of the most epic battles in Shonen history.

3) Itachi Shinden Book: Light And Darkness

Even before fans learned the full story behind his choices, Itachi was a very popular character. His backstory, covered in just eight episodes, shows his life both before and after the terrible night the Uchiha Clan was destroyed, and explores the difficult life he lived after leaving his home. The story also introduces Shisui Uchiha, another skilled ninja whose life was cut short because Danzo wanted his unique abilities.

2) The Master’s Prophecy and Vengeance

Just before the climactic war, both Naruto and Sasuke faced major challenges. Naruto experienced the loss of his mentor, Jiraya, in a battle against Pain, the leader of Akatsuki. Meanwhile, Sasuke achieved his long-sought revenge by killing his brother, Itachi, only to soon discover the full truth behind Itachi’s actions. This arc also explained the surprising link between Jiraya and Pain.

1) Pain’s Assault

Many fans consider this the best story arc in the series. It centers around Pain’s devastating attack on the Leaf Village and his attempt to capture Naruto. When Naruto returns from training – now able to use Sage Mode – he finds the village in ruins. The arc showcases an epic fight between Naruto and Nagato, but also reveals the heartbreaking events that led Nagato down a dark path.

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2026-01-25 02:42