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- The Naruto anime franchise is a sprawling epic tale of the “knucklehead ninja” that continues in the Boruto series. While it’s incredibly beloved by anime fans, there’s no denying that the storytelling certainly takes a meandering approach to filler episodes and arcs. That is largely a result of the anime being developed while the manga was still being written, something that’s happening to the Boruto series as well. As a result, there are quite a few arcs in the franchise that fans find oddly placed or with storylines that don’t really go anywhere.
Across both the original Naruto: Shippūden years, the iconic anime franchise has gone through plenty of story arcs, including both major narratives and occasional filler stories. With its enormous cast of characters and deep, twist-filled lore, Naruto has also had its fair share of strange and outlandish storylines.
Some of these story arcs are endearing to fans in their weirdness, while others are widely seen as frustrating for their emphasis on strange filler rather than central storylines. Either way, these arcs stand out to fans of the series as some of the weirdest additions to a series that already revels in an over-the-top ninja world.
Updated on October 9, 2022 by Amanda Bruce:
The Naruto anime franchise is a sprawling epic tale of the “knucklehead ninja” that continues in the Boruto series. While it’s incredibly beloved by anime fans, there’s no denying that the storytelling certainly takes a meandering approach to filler episodes and arcs. That is largely a result of the anime being developed while the manga was still being written, something that’s happening to the Boruto series as well. As a result, there are quite a few arcs in the franchise that fans find oddly placed or with storylines that don’t really go anywhere.
Twelve Guardian Ninja
Naruto Shippūden, Episodes 54-71
This particular string of episodes provides the audience with quite a bit of information about Asuma Sarutobi, and the time he spends away from Konoha in his youth. It also introduces the audience to Sora - a character that Naruto identifies with when he sees he’s ostracized and targeted for being unable to control his powers.
Learning about Asuma and Naruto finding another character he can empathize with are always good things for the audience. Asuma became a fan favorite sensei pretty quickly, but as soon as the audience got to learn more about him, he would be killed off. Those aspects of the arc are great. What’s less great is that Naruto and Sora form such a bond, and then Sora is never mentioned again. It’s a shame that so many characters who were considered filler in the anime weren’t used beyond their initial arc.
Yakumo Kurama Rescue Mission
Naruto, Episodes 203-207
One of the great aspects of this particular arc is that it allows the Naruto audience to get to know Sensei Kurenai a little bit better. She’s an often overlooked character outside the fact that she mentors Hinata and has Asuma’s daughter after his death. The series spends a lot of time telling the audience what a great shinobi she is, but this is one of the few times the anime actually demonstrates how powerful she could have been.
The arc follows Kurenai’s guilt at having locked away the abilities of a former student. The former student, a member of the Kurama clan, has such powerful genjutsu that she can actually make things happen in the real world, something Naruto witnesses and struggles to understand. The episodes are pretty fascinating as Naruto and Kurenai have to figure out what around them is real and what’s born from the genjutsu. The trouble is, the arc feels like a side story that never really gets any payoff as Kurenai never focuses any of her training with the new generation on genjutsu, which is her specialty.
Kurosuki Family Removal Mission
Naruto, Episodes 152-157
Though this particular arc is only six episodes long, it’s a pretty interesting one that combines elements from a lot of other filler arcs in the series. For one thing, Naruto is put on a mission with Team Guy to help liberate a village from the leadership of a dangerous gang. That’s pretty standard fare for a filler, but Naruto sees the mission as a potential clue-gathering one to search for Sasuke.
The mission itself is slightly side-tracked by Lee’s obsession with the Curry of Life, the discovery that the gang leader carries a young boy in a backpack to boost his own shinobi abilities, and that the same gang leader is so obsessed with funerals that he likes to bury people alive. It’s pretty dark for a filler arc, even by Naruto standards.
Cursed Warrior Extermination Mission
Naruto, Episodes 162-167
This particular anime arc is Naruto’s answer to an episode of Scooby-Doo. When Naruto, Neji, and Tenten are tasked with investigating a ghostly presence in a small village, the group is divided on whether ghosts even exist.
The group - and the audience - is in for a wild ride that involves secret tunnels below the leaders' castle, a stay in a dungeon, and a lot of impersonating others. The ghostly warrior in the village is actually a plan by the teen who inherited the role of village leader, investigating who killed the rest of their family. That teen, however, also isn’t entirely who they say they are. There’s a new reveal in every episode to keep the audience interested, but the story of the village is never referenced again in the series.
Shikamaru Hiden: A Cloud Drifting In Silent Darkness
Naruto: Shippūden, Episodes 489-493
Following the events of the Fourth Shinobi World War and the defeat or rehabilitation of every major villain in the series, Naruto: Shippūden turned to the future to show what would happen with the show's main characters moving forward. One such forward-looking arc is "Shikamaru Hiden: A Cloud Drifting In Silent Darkness."
The main story of this Naruto arc involves a mission to the Land of Silence to take down Gengo, leader of an army of brainwashed ninjas. Ultimately, though, this is a story about the always relatable Shikamaru, generally a ing character from the franchise, as he reflects on his past and future, making this an oddly personal chapter in the largely ensemble-driven saga of Naruto.
Star Guard Mission
Naruto, 178-183
Not only is this anime-exclusive arc one of the most unique of the series, but it's also an all-time fan-favorite filler arc. A team of Neji, Lee, Tenten, and tag-along Naruto are sent to Hoshigakure in this arc, where they are tasked with protecting a meteorite that emits chakra from being stolen.
With memorable characters like the mother-daughter duo of Sumaru and Natushi, "The Star Guard Mission" may not have had a lot of plot impact, but it certainly sticks in fans' minds to this day. The fact that it's centered on the use of the meteorite's chakra through special "star training" not mentioned elsewhere in the series makes it quite unusual, too.
Land Of Tea Escort Mission
Naruto, Episodes 102-106
Amidst Naruto's vastly important "Search For Tsunade" and "Sasuke Recovery Mission" arcs comes this relatively lighthearted filler story that takes place in the innocent-sounding Land of Tea. This arc sees Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura assigned to protect Idate Morino in a potentially dangerous race following rumors of sabotage.
The highlights of this arc's strangeness are its footrace setting and the budding rivalry between Naruto and Idate, a pair of hotheads. While this short-lived arc may not sound the most exciting, it's actually action-packed and features the surprise return of minor characters like Ibiki and the Ame genin from "The Chūnin Exams" arc.
Kakashi’s Anbu Arc: The Shinobi That Lives In The Darkness
Naruto: Shippūden, Episodes 349-361
Amidst the Fourth Shinobi World War, many filler arcs fill in the cracks of that larger, more pressing story, like this one focusing on Kakashi's past as a member of the mysterious Anbu special ops team. In addition to the fact that this arc comes in the middle of a major event, it also provides a unique look into history.
In particular, the arc shows fans how several characters' pasts in Konoha have affected their lives and inform who they are by the time fans first meet them. The arc is notable for its darkness, as the reflections on characters like Hiruzen, Itachi, and, of course, Kakashi, exacerbate the moral complexities of the ninja world.
Buried Gold Excavation Mission
Naruto, Episodes 175-176
A two-episode arc with a unique premise and some interesting character development, "The Buried Gold Excavation Mission" follows Naruto as he is teamed up with Kiba and Hinata. Tsunade is dissatisfied with these three ninjas, as their success rates on missions are low. So, she gives them one last chance before sending them back to the academy.
Although the trio has its difficulties at first when searching for hidden treasure, they ultimately come together when they are captured by the Kedōin clan, who can imitate others' appearances. As it turns out, Tsunade is the one that hired the clan to test the trio, putting a final twist on this intriguing and unique story arc.
Bikōchū Search Mission
Naruto, Episodes 148-151
This short arc from the original Naruto years sees the young ninja teaming up with Kiba, Hinata, and Shino to find the mysterious bikōchū beetle, that can apparently track any target. As this arc occurs during the early days of Sasuke's disappearance from Konoha, Naruto is desperate to find that beetle in order to find his friend.
Not only does this story arc depict a unique and unusual mission, but it also features some characters who are typically relegated to ing roles in a more prominent light. Shino's leadership abilities and Hinata's combat prowess particularly transform fans' notions of the characters.
