List of Naruto Story Arcs

This is a basic list of the the many story arcs in Part I of the Naruto series.

Part I
Introduction: Episodes 1—5, Chapters 1—8: This arc covers the introduction of Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi, followed by the formation of Team 7.

Land of Waves: Episodes 6—19, Chapters 9—33: This arc covers Team 7's first major mission: protecting an expert bridge builder from a shipping magnate whose oppressing financial stranglehold over the country would be broken if the bridge were to be completed. It also revolves around their fight against Zabuza Momochi and his apprentice Haku. It introduces the recurring theme that fighting for those you care about makes you stronger. Naruto also defines and adopts his own "way of the ninja".

Chunin Exam: Episodes 20—67, Chapters 34—114,: This arc covers Team 7's entrance into the Chunin exam and the exposition of several key characters, such as Orochimaru, Kabuto Yakushi, Jiraiya, Team Guy, Gaara, and the Rookie Nine (Naruto's old classmates). This is also the longest story arc in Part I, being 80 chapters long, with 48 episodes.

Invasion of Konoha: Episodes 68—80, Chapters 115—138: This arc covers the climax of Orochimaru's conspiracy to destroy Konoha, with a strong emphasis on the difference between fighting for one's own selfish ambitions as opposed to fighting for the sake of your important people. It is often grouped with the Chunin exam arc.

Return of Itachi: Episodes 81—85, Chapters 139—148: This arc covers a short visit of Sasuke's older brother, Itachi (and his partner, Kisame) to Konoha, in search of Naruto. This arc serves as exposition and introduction for Akatsuki and their interest in the tailed beasts, and sheds some light on the relationship between Itachi and Sasuke.

Search for Tsunade: Episodes 86—100, Chapters 149—171: This arc covers Naruto's and Jiraiya's search for Tsunade, so they can offer her the role of Fifth Hokage. In the meantime, Orochimaru and Kabuto also search for her, aiming to convince her to heal Orochimaru's arms. This arc also includes Naruto's introduction to and learning of his signature move - the Rasengan.

Unmask Kakashi: Episode 101, special omake: This story covers Team 7 trying to see the face hidden behind Kakashi's mask.

Land of Tea: Episodes 102—106 (anime only): This arc is the first of the filler arcs, which covers a small stand-alone adventure where Team 7 (without Kakashi) helps Ibiki Morino's younger brother, Idate Morino, win a race with very high stakes, and learn that he is more than the coward he thought he was. It also reinforces Sasuke's point of view in the next arc.

Sasuke Retrieval: Episodes 107—135, Chapters 172—238: This arc covers Sasuke's decision to seek Orochimaru for more power so he can avenge his clan, and his flight from Konoha. Most of the focus is on the team chasing Sasuke, consisting of Shikamaru, Naruto, Neji, Choji, and Kiba and those helping them (Rock Lee, Gaara, Temari and Kankuro) and it also includes the clash between Naruto and Sasuke. This arc concludes the first part of the Naruto manga series.

Anime Filler Arcs
Below is the year long Filler arc series, simply made to allow the manga series to get far enough to continue without the need for more fillers.

To allow the manga to produce more content, the anime switched over to anime-only filler episodes. These arcs fill in the three-month gap between Sasuke's departure and Naruto leaving with Jiraiya for two and a half years, during which Tsunade's biggest concern is keeping Naruto busy so he doesn't go after Sasuke on his own. As such, most of these are random adventures involving Naruto and the other Genin teams, and don't have any significant effect on later events.

Infiltrating Orochimaru's Lair: Episodes 136—141: This arc covers Jiraiya, Naruto and Sakura following up on a lead in an attempt to rescue Sasuke, which points to what is Orochimaru's former lair. Then, the Fuma clan gets in their way.

Mizuki Strikes Back: Episodes 142—147: This arc covers the return of Mizuki — a minor villain from the first episode — who is after Iruka and Naruto, who originally defeated him and foiled his plan to steal a crucial scroll from the village.

Bikochu: Episodes 148—151: This arc covers a joint quest of Naruto and Team Kurenai in search of a legendary scent bug which should be able to locate Sasuke by the faintest scent he left behind. However, there are others after the bug, too.

Raiga: Episodes 152—157: This arc covers a mission Naruto and Team Guy go on in an attempt to capture the maniac Raiga, a former member of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, who is terrorizing a small village and might have information on Akatsuki member Kisame Hoshigaki, and save the village that Raiga took over.

Survival Plan: Episode 158: Naruto, and the rest of Konoha's Genin shinobi take groups of younger ninja students on a survival training mission. Naruto gets stuck with Konohamaru and the gang, and leads them astray.

Bounty Hunter: Episodes 159—160: Naruto is unwillingly teamed up with Kiba and Hinata for a mission: they must capture a so-called common thief. However, a mysterious bounty hunter named Sazanami is also after the thief, which puts him and the Konoha shinobi at odds against each other.

Green Beasts: Episode 161: Two outsiders sneak into Konoha by impersonating Lee and Guy, in an attempt to learn its secrets (in order to impress the women of their village).

Land of Birds: Episodes 162—167: This arc covers a trip to the Land of Birds. Naruto, Neji and Tenten must solve the mystery of the ghost of Noroimusha. They soon get involved in the Land of Birds's inner conflicts.

Burning Pot: Episode 168: This is a one-shot episode involving Naruto, Sakura and Choji helping out Ichiraku's owner in a cook-off against Ryōnin (aka ryōri-ninja, "cooking ninja") to rescue his daughter.

Land of the Sea: Episodes 169—173: Naruto, Ino Yamanaka, and Shino Aburame, led by Anko Mitarashi, go to the Land of the Sea to defeat what is said to be a sea monster. There, Anko gets the chance to regain the memories she lost when she was Orochimaru's student. Also has a brief Sasuke cameo.

Money Element vs. True Element: Episode 174: Naruto has been given a mission to play with Kunihisa, the highly spoiled son of a rich jeweler, along with some other minor missions.

Treasure Hunt: Episodes 175—176: Naruto is yet again teamed up with Kiba and Hinata for a mission to dig up a hidden treasure. However, if Naruto and crew fail this mission, they will be sent back to the academy.

Hotspring Village: Episode 177: Naruto finds Jiraiya in a hotspring village, struggling to finish his latest novel. Naruto decides to help Jiraiya writes his manuscript, which he entrusts to a special Courier Ninja. However, it gets mixed up with a very important parcel. Naruto and Jiraiya have to retrieve the manuscript before it causes a war.

Hidden Star Village: Episodes 178—183: Naruto rejoins Team Guy on a mission to Hoshigakure to guard a special meteorite with a mysterious power. Here he meets Sumaru, a boy who, like Naruto, is determined to become the Hoshikage. However, many problems and secrets lie within the Hidden Star Village.

Kiba's Long Day: Episode 184: Akamaru is infected with a biological weapon which makes him go berserk, and it's Kiba's job to save him.

The Legendary Onbaa: Episode 185: A strange creature clings on to Naruto's back which he can't get off. Tsunade speculates that it must be the legendary "Onbaa". Once it sticks on to you, you can't get it off until it's an adult.

Laughing Shino: Episode 186: Naruto and Shino are escorting Fuuta, the next in line heir to the Kagetsu clan. Even though Fuuta will inherit all assets from the late head, a special condition is attached: He must not laugh in his seat at the funeral.

Konoha Moving Center: Episodes 187—191: A request comes from the lord of the Land of Vegetables to escort a group of peddlers. Naruto, Choji, and Hinata are forced to team up and join the peddlers on their journey, and later on they are attacked by three mysterious Jonin ninja.

Chubby Paradise: Episode 192: Ino is picked for a mission by the daimyo's daughter, Princess Fuku. Her task is to go to a wedding meeting in place of the princess, who has been getting fat from eating too much.

Lee's Dojo: Episode 193: Lee builds his own dojo and trains by challenging others. Guy had planned to challenge Lee but was distracted by Shikamaru's accidental emergency call. An intruder disguises himself as Guy and hopes to discover Konoha's secrets.

The Cursed Haunted Castle: Episode 194: Naruto, Hinata, and Kiba are sent to the Land of Honey to search for the Daimyo's wife. There, they find an eerie castle, and journey inside to search for clues.

The Third Great Beast: Episodes 195—196: Guy is asked to look after a boy named Yagura by an acquaintance. However, this boy seems to only be interested in getting revenge against Guy for defeating his father.

The Konoha 11: Episodes 197—201: An old carpenter named Gennou steals plans for important facilities in Konoha. Worried that he may be allied with someone planning on invading Konoha, Tsunade appoints Shikamaru as the leader of the ten prominent Genin to investigate the situation.

The Best 5 Battles: Episode 202: A special episode showing certain battles from the show. Sasuke also makes a short appearance in this episode.

Kurama Clan: Episodes 203—207: Kurenai temporarily leaves as Team 8 leader to take care of some old business with a former pupil.

Kacho Fugetsu: Episode 208: Naruto and Kiba have to protect a man and a famed clay bowl; however, the client treats them like dirt. Meanwhile, some people are trying to steal the bowl.

Shinobazu: Episodes 209—212: Naruto, Lee, and Sakura oversee the transfer of a member of "Shinobazu" — a group of rogue ninja who commit crimes for a living — to a prison.

Menma: Episodes 213—215: Naruto finds a strange boy with amnesia and a special ocarina. Since he can't remember his name, Naruto calls him Menma. Naruto tries to help him regain his memories.

Shitenshonin: Episodes 216—220: Ninja candidate Matsuri is kidnapped from Sunagakure. A mysterious group calling themselves the 'Shiitenshounin' (lit. 'Four Heavenly Directions People') sends Gaara a challenge. The Konoha Eleven (Tenten excluded) are sent to aid the Sunagakure ninja in debt to their aid in the Sasuke Retrieval arc. Shikamaru divides the group into teams of two: Naruto and Lee, himself and Ino, Choji and Kiba as the main force, and Sakura, Neji, Hinata, and Shino as medical support and scouts. This is also the arc in which Naruto starts his time to leave with Jiraiya so he can continue his training until the beginning of Part II.