Naruto Arcs in Order: The Complete Story Guide

Naruto’s story spans two series and over 700 episodes, but the actual canon arcs are surprisingly tidy once you strip out the filler. Here is the order with episode ranges.

Naruto (original series)

Introduction (episodes 1 to 5) forms Team 7. Land of Waves (6 to 19) introduces Zabuza and Haku. Chunin Exams (20 to 67) is the series’ first great arc. Konoha Crush (68 to 80) follows Orochimaru’s invasion. Search for Tsunade (81 to 100) introduces Jiraiya properly. Sasuke Recovery Mission (107 to 135) ends the series with the first Valley of the End fight. Episodes 136 to 220 are filler.

Naruto Shippuden

Kazekage Rescue (1 to 32) opens with the Akatsuki. Tenchi Bridge (33 to 53) introduces Sai and Yamato. Akatsuki Suppression (72 to 88) covers Hidan and Kakuzu and Asuma’s death. Itachi Pursuit (113 to 118) and the Sasuke and Itachi fight (134 to 143) resolve the brothers. Pain’s Assault (152 to 175) is the emotional peak. Five Kage Summit (197 to 222) sets up the war. Fourth Shinobi World War runs in stages across episodes 261 to 479 with heavy filler mixed in. The final arc, Kaguya and the last Naruto versus Sasuke fight, covers episodes 458 to 479, and episodes 494 to 500 adapt the Konoha Hiden epilogue.

Best arcs to prioritize

Chunin Exams, Pain’s Assault and the war’s Madara stretch are the three most people cite as the series’ finest.

My take: Pain’s Assault is the best arc in Naruto and one of the best in shonen. If someone doubts the series, show them episodes 152 through 175 and let it argue for itself.