For anime fans, few numbers are as daunting—or as satisfying—as the total episode count of a long-running series. When it comes to Naruto Shippuden , the sequel to the original Naruto story, the number is a testament to the show’s massive cultural impact. But if you’ve ever searched for a straight answer, you know it’s not always simple.
So, let’s settle it:
| Series | Episode Count | | :--- | :--- | | (Original) | 220 | | Naruto Shippuden | 500 | | Total (Naruto + Shippuden) | 720 | The Filler Factor While 500 episodes sounds like a marathon of pure plot, veteran fans will warn you about the filler. Like its predecessor, Shippuden famously caught up to the ongoing Naruto manga, forcing the anime studio to create original, non-canon story arcs to give the source material time to advance.
Depending on your definition, roughly (around 205 episodes). These episodes range from self-contained comedic adventures (like the "Power" arc) to long, meandering detours (such as the infamous 22-episode stretch of "Chikara" and the endless flashbacks during the Fourth Great Ninja War).