Summary

Naruto's filler arcs may not be the most compelling, but fans will love spending time with their favorite characters.
Filler episodes can actually enhance the storytelling and character development, adding depth to the main plot.
Naruto's filler arcs like the Land of Tea Escort Mission and Six-Tails Unleashed offer unique jutsu and emotional depth.

The sheer impact that Naruto had as a series can't be stated enough, with people loving the show to bits despite some flaws here and there that people have noticed after they take off their nostalgia-tinted glasses. One of the biggest complaints fans have with this show is that the series has way too much filler for its own good, which is understandable. The pre-timeskip portion of the anime is loaded with filler after Sasuke joins Orochimaru, while Shippuden itself has a lot of ill-placed filler that can make certain narratives hard to follow.

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By Rei Penber

Still, there's no denying that fans of Naruto can find something to love about Naruto's filler. Sure, it may not be the most compelling viewing around, but most fans will be more than invested in the characters of this show and not mind the fluff surrounding these additional storylines as long as they get to spend time with their favorite characters. In fact, some people will go so far as to say that some of Naruto's filler elevates the quality of the storytelling, which is pretty impressive in its own right.

1 Land Of Tea Escort Mission

Expands On Ibiki's Character And Is A Pretty Solid Side-Mission

Land Of Tea Escort Mission arc in Naruto

Episodes: 102-106 of Naruto

Despite all the things being said about ninja being sent on missions, the vast majority of Naruto involves the main characters doing their own thing and barely following the instructions of the Hokage unless it suits the plot. So, it's nice to see the filler actually send the ninja on missions from time to time, and a great example of this is when Team 7 is sent to the Land of Tea on an escort mission.

By this time, most viewers will have formed a bond with the three characters in this team, and it helps that the new characters introduced in this filler arc are pretty decent in their own right. Ibiki's character is also expanded upon a bit in this filler, which is very much welcome given how much of a muted role he plays after the Chunin Exams, even if there are some inconsistencies in the plot told here.

2 The Twelve Guardian Ninja

Builds Up Asuma's Character For A Pivotal Moment Later On

Naruto Twelve Guardian Ninja Chiriku Asuma

Episodes: 54-71 of Naruto: Shippuden

At the start of Naruto: Shippuden, the filler arcs are pretty decent and worth checking out. A great example of this is when Asuma's character is built upon during the Twelve Guardian Ninja arc, making him one of the more compelling characters around after not getting a lot of screen time beforehand.

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However, the best reason why so many people love this filler arc is because of how much weight it adds to the events that follow. Watching Asuma die at the hands of Hidan hurts way more after fans have spent a long time watching Asuma and his backstory.

3 Three-Tails' Appearance

Explores The Three-Tailed Beast's Character, With Naruto Having To Work With His Toad Summons Extensively

Episodes: 89-112 of Naruto: Shippuden

The Jinchuriki are some of the more interesting characters in Naruto, and it's easy to see why any arc elaborating on these figures and the creatures they house inside of them is bound to be exciting. In the manga, the Akatsuki acquire most of the tailed beasts off-screen. It's not the worst idea in the world for one or two of these Jinchuriki to be captured in a relatively elaborate storyline.

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By Ritwik Mitra

It doesn't hurt that Naruto has to work with his toad summons extensively during certain sections of this arc, which makes for a fresh change of pace. It's not something fans usually get to see, which is why most people don't mind checking out this arc and what it has to offer despite the storyline being stretched just a bit too much for most people's liking.

4 Six-Tails Unleashed

Features A Bunch Of Unique Jutsu While Expanding On The Character Of The Six-Tailed Jinchuriki

Six-Tails Unleashed arc in Naruto Shippuden

Episodes: 144-151 of Naruto: Shippuden

For a show named after the eponymous character, even its biggest supporters would argue that it isn't the worst thing in the world for the anime to move away from the setting of Konoha and focus on other aspects of the rich world that Kishimoto has created. After all, the worldbuilding of Naruto is sublime, and viewers would want to see more than just one solitary village and the events relevant to it.

The Jinchuriki of the Six-Tails Utakata is a fascinating character whose bond with his student Hotaru is explored poignantly. This makes the character's death all the harder to witness, and anyone who loves Naruto knows just how much this series loves to play with the viewer's emotions.

5 Power

Celebrates The Milestone Of Naruto Reaching 500 Episodes

Episodes: 290-295 of Naruto: Shippuden

Any anime that completes 500 episodes deserves a celebration, but only Naruto could think about creating a high-budget filler arc full of some of the most stellar animation the series has ever produced. It may only be six episodes, but any fan of Naruto will be hooked from the get-go after checking out this beautiful arc.

The storyline in Tonika Village is pretty engrossing, with Naruto's tailed beast forms being a treat to witness as always. However, the biggest highlight here is undoubtedly the incredible animation that fans simply can't get enough of. Even now, after Naruto's end, fans love to revisit this arc and see the glorious work Pierrot served to its fans.

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