Boruto Filler List: Every Episode & Arc You Can Skip

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Updated May 24, 2026, 11:46 PM EDT

The new age of shinobi continues to move forward into a bright new era, with Boruto: Naruto Next Generations representing this optimistic future in the world of Naruto. While familiar characters return, though, it's entirely likely that Naruto fans will find their favorite classic shinobi more in filler episodes rather than the main story, and this is by design. After all, as the very beginning affirms, this is Boruto's story now.

However, despite being Boruto's story, the anime stretches this significantly due to the difficulties of matching a weekly ongoing anime series to a monthly V Jump manga. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations' monthly chapters thus saw significant expansion which, while resulting in some spectacular fights in the anime and some truly welcome cameos not found in the manga, can make a confusing experience for those just looking for the primary plot. But even beyond identifying which episodes in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations are filler, it's important to keep an open mind on which ones are truly skippable, as many arcs can be quite enjoyable.

Boruto Filler List

Episode/Arc Title

Episode

Watch or Skip?

Reason

Academy Entrance Arc	16-17	Watch	Based on the light novel, it helps to establish all the new characters and build a repertoire.
Genin Mission Arc	40-41	Watch	As Boruto's team's first mission, it's a great insight into their teamwork and compatibility.
Byakuya Gang Arc	48-50	Skip
Chocho Arc	67-69	Skip
Mitsuki’s Disappearance	71-92	Watch	A great arc into one of the more underrated characters in the new Team 7, Mitsuki
Naruto Shinden Arc	93-97	Watch?	Centers on some sweet slice-of-life moments within the family.
Curse Mark Arc	98-105	Watch	Partially centered on Jugo, it features some good fights and holds some insights for characters in later installments.
Konoha Shinden & Konohamaru's Love Arc	112-119	Watch?	Not entirely necessary for the canon or overall story, but there are some good Konohamaru moments.
One Tail Escort	120-126	Watch	Serves to better Boruto's character by showcasing his growth and maturity.
Time Slip Arc	128-140	Watch	Referenced often, fans get to see a nostalgic return to Naruto's heyday.
Mujina Bandits Arc	152-156	Watch	Serves as a prelude to the Kara Arc
The Funato Arc	231-232	Skip
The Great Kirigakure Arc	256-260	Watch	Features some fascinating fights and a return to Naruto's themes of hatred fueling more conflict.
Kawaki & Himawari Academy Arc	261-273	Skip
Labyrinth Games	274-281	Watch	While not too flashy, the arc is filled with some creative writing and good moments that add to the cast's strong points.

There are a total of 206 filler episodes in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. While Naruto: Shippuden had about the same number of filler episodes, the latter series had a total of 500 episodes, whereas Boruto only has a total of 293 episodes. This means that 70% of Boruto is filler, which is quite high compared to Naruto & Shippuden's 41% and Bleach's 45% of filler episodes.

Studio Pierrot is notorious for introducing side stories not present in the manga, like in the case of Bleach and Naruto: Shippuden. Filler episodes and arcs are often used to give manga creators breathing room and time to put out more chapters. Studio Pierrot produces year-round episodes, so it makes sense that they're always catching up to the source material. When the source material is fully present, like in the case of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, there are zero filler episodes present, and the manga is faithfully adapted.

Should Fans Bother With The Boruto Movie?

Boruto caught using Scientific Ninja Tools in Boruto Naruto the Movie

Boruto: Naruto the Movie was the last Naruto movie in the franchise, releasing in 2015. While the arc adapts what'd become the Versus Momoshiki Arc, effectively chapters #1-10 of the manga and episodes 51-66 of the anime, the Boruto movie's story is not considered canon, as the subsequent manga and anime expanded the story significantly. However, Boruto: Naruto the Movie is also quite well-animated, and features the wildly satisfying Parent and Child Rasengan, ravaging everything in its path and hurling Momoshiki off the planet and exploding into space dust.

Naruto's Next Anime Is Going To Save The Franchise

Naruto's anime franchise needs more than its promised four episodes, with its true brightest future hiding in plain sight.

This is all to say, the Boruto movie is fun, but not necessary viewing. The canon arc from the manga and anime changed Momoshiki's appearance, featured the now-crucial Karma seal, storing Momoshiki's spirit like a sardonic backup file in Boruto's mind, while expanding lore on the Otsutsuki altogether. Watching the anime or reading the manga arc is totally fine without watching the movie, but one can't simply watch the movie, skip ahead, and expect the rest of the story to make sense without that added context.

Boruto's Second Part is Going to Fix the Series' Huge Filler Problem

The good news for fans is that the filler-heavy days of Boruto might finally be over. Following the anime’s conclusion in March 2023, Studio Pierrot confirmed plans to adapt Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, the manga’s time-skip sequel. However, the studio is reportedly shifting to a seasonal release model, a move that could drastically reduce filler content.

Instead of airing continuously all year long, the new series is expected to follow in the footsteps of Demon Slayer and Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, both of which have thrived under a seasonal structure. This approach allows the manga to stay far ahead, letting the anime team focus on quality over quantity.

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Naruto Uzumaki carries an immense burden — a powerful Tailed Beast sealed inside him since birth by the Fourth Hokage. This fox demon’s chakra gives Naruto extraordinary power but also makes him an outcast. What is the name of this Nine-Tailed Beast?

AShukaku BMatatabi CKurama DGyuki

✓ Correct! Kurama is the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed within Naruto by his father, the Fourth Hokage. Initially a source of fear and hatred, Kurama eventually becomes one of Naruto’s closest allies. Their bond is one of the most emotional arcs in the entire series.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Kurama. Shukaku is the One-Tail sealed in Gaara, Matatabi is the Two-Tails, and Gyuki is the Eight-Tails sealed in Killer Bee. Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox, is Naruto’s legendary partner.

Naruto’s greatest rival is a prodigy from a prestigious clan who possesses a powerful eye technique called the Sharingan. Consumed by a desire for vengeance against his older brother, he defects from the Hidden Leaf Village. Who is this rival?

ANeji Hyuga BSasuke Uchiha CGaara DRock Lee

✓ Correct! Sasuke Uchiha is Naruto’s eternal rival and best friend. After the Uchiha massacre, Sasuke’s obsession with killing his brother Itachi drives him to leave the village and seek power at any cost. Their rivalry is the emotional backbone of the entire series.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Sasuke Uchiha. Neji is a Hyuga clan genius with the Byakugan, Gaara is the Sand Village’s jinchūriki, and Rock Lee is the taijutsu specialist. Only Sasuke wields the Sharingan and defects to join Orochimaru.

Naruto’s signature jutsu is a spinning sphere of concentrated chakra formed in the palm of his hand. Originally created by the Fourth Hokage and taught to Naruto by Jiraiya, it becomes the foundation for many of his most powerful attacks. What is this technique called?

ARasengan BChidori CShadow Clone Jutsu DSage Art: Lava Rasenshuriken

✓ Correct! The Rasengan is a pure chakra manipulation technique that doesn’t require hand signs. Created by Minato Namikaze and passed down through Jiraiya to Naruto, it evolves into many variations including the devastating Rasenshuriken with added Wind Release nature transformation.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is the Rasengan. The Chidori is Sasuke and Kakashi’s lightning technique, Shadow Clone Jutsu is a different Naruto staple, and the Lava Rasenshuriken is a late-series variant. The base Rasengan is Naruto’s iconic spinning chakra sphere.

Team 7’s leader is a mysterious, mask-wearing jonin known as the “Copy Ninja” for his ability to replicate over a thousand jutsu using his borrowed Sharingan eye. He’s always reading a certain novel. Who is this legendary sensei?

AMight Guy BAsuma Sarutobi CJiraiya DKakashi Hatake

✓ Correct! Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja of the Sharingan, leads Team 7 (Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura). His Sharingan was a gift from his dying friend Obito Uchiha. Always cool under pressure and perpetually reading Make-Out Paradise, Kakashi eventually becomes the Sixth Hokage.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Kakashi Hatake. Might Guy leads Team Guy, Asuma leads Team 10, and Jiraiya is one of the Legendary Sannin who later trains Naruto. Only Kakashi is the masked Copy Ninja with a borrowed Sharingan who leads Team 7.

Sasuke’s older brother massacred nearly the entire Uchiha clan in a single night, then joined the criminal organization Akatsuki. It was later revealed he did it all on orders from the village to prevent a coup — sacrificing everything to protect his brother. Who is this tragic figure?

AMadara Uchiha BItachi Uchiha CObito Uchiha DShisui Uchiha

✓ Correct! Itachi Uchiha is one of Naruto’s most complex characters. A pacifist genius forced into an impossible choice, he bore the hatred of the entire world — including his beloved brother Sasuke — to protect the Hidden Leaf from civil war. His final words to Sasuke remain iconic.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Itachi Uchiha. Madara is the legendary clan founder, Obito is the masked man behind much of the war, and Shisui was Itachi’s best friend. Itachi alone carried out the massacre to prevent the Uchiha coup and protect Sasuke.

From the very first episode, Naruto declares his lifelong dream to earn the respect of his village and prove his worth. He vows to achieve the highest rank in the Hidden Leaf — its supreme leader. What is this title that Naruto dreams of?

AKazekage BJonin Commander CHokage DAnbu Captain

✓ Correct! Hokage is the title of the Hidden Leaf Village’s leader, and Naruto’s dream of becoming Hokage drives the entire series. After years of struggle, he finally achieves his dream and becomes the Seventh Hokage in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Hokage. The Kazekage leads the Sand Village, Jonin Commander is a military rank, and Anbu Captain leads black ops. The Hokage is the Hidden Leaf’s supreme leader — and Naruto’s lifelong dream since he was a lonely academy student.

Naruto’s father was the Fourth Hokage, known as the “Yellow Flash of the Leaf” for his incredible speed using the Flying Thunder God technique. He sacrificed his life to seal the Nine-Tails inside his newborn son. What is his name?

AMinato Namikaze BHiruzen Sarutobi CTobirama Senju DHashirama Senju

✓ Correct! Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage and Yellow Flash, sacrificed himself using the Reaper Death Seal to seal Kurama inside baby Naruto. His love for his son and faith in Naruto’s potential made him one of the series’ most selfless characters.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Minato Namikaze. Hiruzen Sarutobi is the Third Hokage, Tobirama Senju is the Second, and Hashirama Senju is the First. Minato, the Fourth Hokage, is Naruto’s father who sealed the Nine-Tails at the cost of his own life.

A shy, kind-hearted kunoichi from the Hyuga clan admired Naruto from afar since their academy days. She boldly confessed her love while fighting Pain to protect him, and eventually became his wife. Who is this character?

ASakura Haruno BIno Yamanaka CTemari DHinata Hyuga

✓ Correct! Hinata Hyuga went from a timid girl who could barely speak around Naruto to a fierce warrior who stood against Pain to protect him. Her confession during the Pain arc is one of the series’ most emotional moments. They marry in The Last: Naruto the Movie and have two children, Boruto and Himawari.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Hinata Hyuga. Sakura is Naruto’s teammate who loves Sasuke, Ino is Sakura’s rival from the Yamanaka clan, and Temari is a Sand Village kunoichi who marries Shikamaru. Only Hinata loved Naruto from the very beginning.

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By adopting this format, Pierrot can avoid the production crunch that forced the first Boruto to rely so heavily on filler. Fewer episodes per year mean more consistent animation, tighter storytelling, and better pacing overall. And with Two Blue Vortex already dozens of chapters ahead, the studio has plenty of material to adapt without resorting to side content.

In short, the Boruto sequel is poised to fix one of its biggest mistakes. If all goes according to plan, Two Blue Vortex could mark a fresh start for the franchise that honors Naruto’s legacy without getting lost in the weeds of endless filler.

While Boruto may go down as one of the most filler-heavy anime in history, it also serves as an important case study in adaptation strategy.

While Boruto may go down as one of the most filler-heavy anime in history, it also serves as an important case study in adaptation strategy. The show’s filler was not purely a creative misstep; it was a logistical necessity. But now that the industry has shifted toward seasonal releases, Boruto’s second act has a real chance to shine.

If Two Blue Vortex can maintain focus on its core narrative, balance its pacing, and resist the urge to overextend, it may finally achieve what its predecessor could not with a streamlined, tightly written continuation worthy of the Naruto name. For long-time fans, that is a Boruto: Naruto Next Generations future worth waiting for.

Release Date 2017 - 2023-00-00

Network TV Tokyo

Directors Yusuke Onoda, Tazumi Mukaiyama, Michita Shiraishi, Youichirou Aoki, Shigetaka Ikeda, Taiki Nishimura, Rokou Ogiwara, Mitsuo Hashimoto, Hikaru Sato, Akira Shimizu, Norihiko Nagahama, Takashi Asami, Hodaka Kuramoto, Kiyomu Fukuda, Yoji Sato, Masatoyo Takada, Hazuki Mizumoto, Natsumi Yasue, Hideaki Ōba, Masaaki Kumagai, Mihiro Yamaguchi, Shigenori Kageyama, Nanako Shimazaki

Writers Masaya Honda, Atsushi Nishiyama, Hideto Tanaka, Touko Machida, Kyōko Katsuya, Kiyomune Miwa, Ukyo Kodachi, Masahiro Okubo