10 Worst Filler Episodes in Naruto

It’s indisputable that the anime series, Naruto, is legendary in part due to its extensive filler content. These additional episodes play a crucial role in developing the series’ main characters, such as the “Kakashi’s Anbu” arc, and they also highlight aspects of the storyline and world-building that might otherwise be overlooked. Some of Naruto’s most memorable moments, which truly define its unique identity, are indeed filler episodes.

In essence, Naruto is so deeply ingrained in the anime world that any potential remake would likely include a substantial portion of its filler episodes. However, this brings about a dilemma: what about the subpar filler content? Regrettably, even Naruto has its share of poor quality filler episodes. Here, we’ll discuss the absolute worst of the worst in Naruto’s filler and pinpoint moments that should be eliminated for any future adaptation.

1) “Ino Screams! Chubby Paradise!” (Naruto Episode 192)

As a die-hard Naruto fan, I can’t help but express my strong feelings about the episode “Ino Screams! Chubby Paradise!” This filler is undeniably one of the most contentious in the series, if not the absolute most. In this episode, it’s all about Ino being hired for a rather unconventional task: posing as a catfish to win over a man! Fuku, a plump princess look-along, is too self-conscious to reveal herself to her fiancé for the first time. That’s where Ino steps in, aiming to charm the man instead. But just when you think things are getting predictable, Naruto enters the scene, transforming into the princess and causing chaos as only he can!

The episode contains several humorous scenes, though it may not appeal to those sensitive to bathroom humor. However, “Chubby Paradise” feels outdated overall; much of it fails to resonate. Instead, the portrayal of Ino comes off as negative, particularly when her Elvis-like fiancé expresses a preference for larger women, which Ino struggles to understand. The issue with “Ino Screams! Chubby Paradise!” isn’t its potential offensiveness (it could be seen as such by some); rather, it’s that the fat-shaming humor is now tiresomely unoriginal, feeling more like an antiquated artifact than an engaging watch. Only if you’re extremely bored might you find enjoyment in it.

2) “The Allied Mom Force!!” (Naruto Shippuden Episode 281)

Some folks hold a strong fondness for “The Allied Mom Force!!”, but they’re not easy to come by. Members of this group, who are from the village of Konoha, unite in preparation for a potential assault; however, the assailants turn out to be a group of sumo wrestlers instead. Meanwhile, Konohamaru mobilizes the children of Konoha to remain vigilant against an upcoming attack, only to find themselves surprised by a circus troupe.

Within the Naruto community, Konohamaru is divisive; he’s often seen as a character with great promise who is consistently underutilized in the series. The sting of this frustration deepens when one considers his appearance in filler episodes that lack depth and excitement. In this specific episode, while it doesn’t primarily focus on Konohamaru, he does play a significant role. As for your opinion on the episode, it will largely depend on how tolerant you are of Naruto’s eccentricities. For many viewers, however, “The Allied Mom Force!!!” can be described as a half-hour that would have been better spent on virtually any other activity.

3) “Rain Followed by Snow, with Some Lightning” (Naruto Shippuden Episode 313)

Yota is generally considered one of the most irritating and downright eerie characters to appear in Naruto. Despite his background being tragic – he passed away young, was resurrected by Orochimaru as an experiment, formed a few friendships in Konoha before leaving due to a miscommunication with Naruto during a round of hide-and-seek, and then reappeared years later during the Fourth Great Ninja War – this is where this episode takes place.

These episodes serve as a brief sequence centered around Yota, where White Zetsu duplicates of him create trouble for shinobi in three different places. Eventually, the authentic Yota enters the scene. This series of episodes delves into more details about Yota’s past and offers some nostalgic moments, showcasing his unique ability to control weather. However, unfortunately, Yota lacks the charisma needed to make these episodes engaging, let alone appealing. Similar to many Naruto filler episodes, Yota’s arc is poorly timed; unlike most of them, watching Yota’s arc can be quite uncomfortable.

4) “Impossible! Celebrity Ninja Art: Money Style Jutsu!” (Naruto Episode 174)

In this episode, Naruto is assigned to babysit a wealthy boy named Kunihisa, whose abilities lie in spending his father’s money on expensive items rather than using jutsu. The storyline follows a familiar pattern: an individual who has never had to earn anything encounters someone with a strong work ethic and determination, who helps guide them towards the right path. The episode concludes on a heartwarming note, hinting at Kunihisa’s minor transformation, before he fades into obscurity among other filler characters, never to reappear again.

In simpler terms, the character Naruto finds another character, Kunihisa, irritating and spoiled. Ideally, viewers would identify with Naruto’s frustration towards Kunihisa, finding satisfaction in his eventual redemption as it mirrors their own feelings. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case because Kunihisa is excessively annoying, and the episode doesn’t manage to be engaging or offer a payoff worth enduring that annoyance. I apologize, Naruto.

5) “The Appearance of Strange Visitors” (Naruto Episode 161)

Eagerly preparing for my upcoming training with the legendary Jiraiya, I was thrilled at the prospect of learning from Konoha’s esteemed taijutsu masters, Rock Lee and Might Guy. Unfortunately, they were away on a mission when I arrived to seek their guidance. To my dismay, I stumbled upon two unscrupulous individuals posing as Lee and Guy: Potcha and Mondai, who aimed to infiltrate Konoha and gather secrets for personal glory within their own village.

In this episode, Naruto can’t tell the fake duo apart from the genuine ones, but the villagers of Konoha easily see through them and assign them tedious tasks. Naruto considers these chores as training and participates enthusiastically. This episode serves an important purpose in expanding the underdeveloped world of Naruto, but it’s not particularly enjoyable to watch. The emphasis on characters Mondai and Potcha seems unnecessary because they don’t appear again later, and overall, it feels like filler for the sake of filler. If you’re in the mood for it, it’s fine, but otherwise, it might not be appealing.

7) “Eat or Die! Mushrooms from Hell” (Naruto Shippuden Episode 229)

The “Life Aboard Paradise” storyline has been met with mixed reactions. It’s lengthy, it seems to have poor timing, and for the most part, it doesn’t align with the main storyline (when it comes to relevance). While not all aspects of this storyline are negative, it often pushes viewers to their limits, a breaking point that many eventually reach. This episode is widely considered one of the weakest in the series due to some unfortunate moments.

Toxic Tussle: Mushrooms from the Netherworld”

In this episode titled “Toxic Tussle: Mushrooms from the Netherworld”, characters Naruto and Guy mistakenly consume toxic mushrooms, leading to a loss of control and an unfortunate altercation between the two. While there are some additional scenes interspersed throughout, the main focus is on their brawl, which lacks depth or purpose. Compared to episodes like “The Cursed Ghost Ship” (Episode 225), with its enchanting ghost boy character and intriguing ghost mechanics, or “Revenge of the Shadow Clones” (Episode 230), known for its endearing silliness and cherished by many fans, this episode falls short in terms of entertainment value and narrative significance.

6) “Animal District” (Naruto Shippuden Episode 185)

The renowned episode, often spoken of in legend: “Naruto Shippuden”‘s memorable ostrich ninja adventure. This episode unfolds following Pain’s attack on Konoha, echoing another filler episode titled “Naruto’s School of Revenge” (Episode 181). To provide some background, this earlier filler episode depicted a flashback to a past time when Team 7 had been tasked with caring for an ostrich named Condor. In the episode entitled “Animal District”, Condor makes a return, armed with speech and ninja abilities refined over time.

If something seems absurd, that’s because it likely is. Condor heads a group known as the Four Ninja Animal Warriors, and to be honest, they’re quite powerful. However, this episode lacks appeal, and it represents nothing more than an inexpensive diversion at a time when viewers and Konoha are grappling with the aftermath of its greatest direct threat yet. Some spectators appreciate the recurring ostrich joke, but a few laughs don’t compensate for the 20 minutes you invest.

8) “Meeting” (Naruto Shippuden Episode 257)

In the anime series Naruto, did you realize that for some time, Naruto harbored a desire to be friends with Sasuke? If, while watching Naruto, you happened to overlook certain events, you’ll appreciate the four-episode recap leading up to the start of the Fourth Great Ninja War. This sequence begins in Episode 257 and continues until Episode 260, titled “Meeting.” This filler arc, known for its divisiveness among fans, is often suggested to be skipped due to its significant disruption of the story’s flow.

Just as every experience has its advantages and appropriate moments, “Meetings” and their associated groups have their unique benefits. Although many Naruto enthusiasts might advise against starting with Naruto Shippuden, it’s fair to say that numerous individuals do so. For these fans, there are certain advantages to the recap, such as a revisit of Naruto and Sasuke’s early days depicted in Shippuden’s artistic style and enhanced production quality. Moreover, there is an enrichment of context and minor characters. However, for most fans, the “Meeting” arc and its sequels are typically skipped over.

9) “The Weight of the Prized Artifact!” (Naruto Episode 208)

Experiencing ‘The Weight of the Prized Artifact’ wasn’t merely dull; it was a disappointing demonstration of how filler content can drain enthusiasm. Among the least favorite episodes in the Naruto series, this one, titled ‘The Weight of the Prized Artifact,’ revolves around our heroes Naruto and Kiba undertaking a mission to safeguard Shin’emon, a man with an overbearing attitude, and his cherished artifact at all costs. The artifact in question? A humble tea bowl that has Shin’emon so convinced of its worth, he demands Naruto and Kiba be prepared to sacrifice their lives for it.

In a surprising turn of events, the damaged bowl in the episode’s climax reveals that Shin’emon was its creator. Given his skill, he could effortlessly craft a new one. This additional layer of annoyance from such an irritating prop pushes this episode so far into “skip” territory that it seems impossible to redeem. Ah well, at least Studio Pierrot can easily produce another episode.

10) “Naruto vs. Mecha-Naruto” (Naruto Shippuden Episode 377)

Did you know that the Fourth Great Ninja War spanned across just two days, yet it filled over 200 episodes! Even setting aside the filler scenes, that’s quite a stretch of time. The pacing throughout those 200 episodes is leisurely, to say the least. Now, episode 375 of Shippuden featured one of Naruto’s most iconic battles—Kakashi versus Obito—which concluded with Obito transforming into the jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails. Quite an exciting turn of events, don’t you think?

First, there are two episodes that serve as fillers, focusing on a retroactive storyline featuring a mechanized version of Naruto (Mecha-Naruto). Although it might seem outlandish initially, things become even more far-fetched with the inclusion of additional gimmicks such as Mecha-Kurama. Despite the entertainment value of everyone attempting to defeat Mecha-Naruto, it fails to alter this widely disliked filler’s outcome. Unfortunately, these episodes are not only monotonous but also distract from a critical juncture during the Fourth Great Ninja War.

At ComicBook Anime, we’re eager to express our undying affection for the Naruto filler episodes! We believe they’ve been unfairly criticized and deserve more recognition. However, it’s important to note that they aren’t flawless. If you have a specific instance where you feel they fell short, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Lastly, for those Naruto fans still craving more, delve deeper into the series by exploring ten characters that revealed Naruto’s hidden shadows.

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2025-07-21 19:25