Naruto Shippūden backdrop
Animation•Action & Adventure•Sci-Fi & Fantasy

The Worst Episodes of Naruto Shippūden

Every episode of Naruto Shippūden ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Naruto Shippūden!

Binge this in 7d 23h•Peaking at 9.6/10

After 2 and a half years Naruto finally returns to his village of Konoha, and sets about putting his ambitions to work. It will not be easy though as he has amassed a few more

Airs on
TV Tokyo
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons20

All1234567891011121314151617181920

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
    Click to reveal
    Naruto Shippūden Season 20 Episode 423 - Naruto's Rival
    5.0/10(4 votes)

    S20:E423

    It’s been three years since Naruto set out to train with Jiraiya, and he's just returned to the Hidden Leaf Village. Konohamaru immediately begs Naruto to teach him a new jutsu and he starts to go over the basics...but his explanations are very vague. Soon after, Naruto sets out on a mission, leaving Konohamaru to figure it out alone!

    Director:Akira Shimizu
    Writer:Yuka Miyata

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Naruto Shippūden Season 20 Episode 422 - The Ones Who Will Inherit
    5.2/10(4 votes)

    S20:E422

    It’s been three years since Naruto set out to train with Jiraiya, and he's just returned to the Hidden Leaf Village. Konohamaru immediately begs Naruto to teach him a new jutsu and he starts to go over the basics...but his explanations are very vague. Soon after, Naruto sets out on a mission, leaving Konohamaru to figure it out alone!

    Director:Takuma Suzuki
    Writer:Yuka Miyata

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Naruto Shippūden Season 3 Episode 58 - Loneliness
    5.8/10(4 votes)

    S3:E58

    The temple monks explain that the tombs hold the loyal bodyguards of Fire Country's feudal lord. Naruto observes Sora sparring with other monks and becomes offended upon realizing he is holding back. Naruto challenges Sora, but just as the matter is about to get serious, another monk stops him. Naruto realizes Sora is despised by the other monks as he was himself and wishes to befriend him. Naruto visits Sora again and observes him practicing his wind jutsu in earnest, hoping to get strong enough to avenge his father. They later return to the temple to receive news that another tomb has been robbed.

    Director:Akitaro Daichi
    Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Naruto Shippūden Season 2 Episode 46 - The Unfinished Page
    5.9/10(7 votes)

    S2:E46

    Naruto finally makes sense of the destruction he witnessed around him earlier. Yamato tells Naruto not to rely on the demon because Naruto is strong enough to withstand the demon's terrible chakra. Sai discovers the loss of his book while resting. Team Kakashi browse Sai's book, and they notice that the book (which can be read from both ends) contains different paths of two boys who meet in the middle. Each page has the boys fighting someone new, each time collecting the opponent's armor and weapons into the next page. The pages where the two boys would meet are unfinished. Orochimaru's group reach their base, not realizing that Yamato's wood clone trailed them there. Sai gets a glimpse of Sasuke's silhouette and eyes and discovers that he is the man Naruto and Sakura are looking for.

    Director:Shigeharu Takahashi
    Writer:Satoru Nishizono

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Naruto Shippūden Season 2 Episode 48 - Bonds
    5.9/10(7 votes)

    S2:E48

    Yamato and the team enter Sai's room and confront him while Kabuto makes his way there as well. Sai tells Team Kakashi that not only was he to help with Konoha's destruction but also act as a spy against Orochimaru. Yamato reveals the secret of "Root"- its members were trained like Kirigakure's students in that they had to kill their friends so as to eliminate their emotions. Sakura returns Sai's book to him, remarking that he still has emotions because he treasures it. Sai then tells the group about his bond with his brother. Finally the team decides what to do about Sai's betrayal outside the lair. In doing so, Naruto tells the group about his own bonds and about how far he's willing to go to bring Sasuke back.

    Director:Hiroshi Kimura
    Writer:Satoru Nishizono

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Naruto Shippūden Season 2 Episode 44 - The Secret of the Battle!
    6.0/10(7 votes)

    S2:E44

    Yamato uses the first Hokage's chakra to suppress the demon fox's chakra and Naruto returns to normal, but with severe injuries. Sakura begins to heal him, but notes that medical ninjutsu has little effect on his wounds. Orochimaru's sword is revealed to have only pierced one of Sai's clones. The real Sai emerges, talks to Orochimaru and gives him a letter from Danzo. Sai then leaves with Orochimaru and Kabuto but Yamato's wood clone stays close on their trail. Naruto comes to his senses and wonders what happened but Sakura decides not to tell him the truth. They reach the meeting spot, picking up the picture book Sai left behind. Yamato infers that Danzo seeks to destroy and remake Konoha by collaborating with Orochimaru.

    Director:Kiyomu Fukuda
    Writer:Satoru Nishizono

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Naruto Shippūden

    READ
  7. Naruto Shippūden Season 2 Episode 47 - Infiltration: The Den of the Snake!
    6.0/10(7 votes)

    S2:E47

    Sai receives a chilling glare from Sasuke's Sharingan that frightens him. Sai gives Orochimaru a bundle with information about Konoha's ANBU. Yamato gives Sakura and Naruto seeds with his chakra that enables him to track them inside the lair, and reveals that he was able to track Sai because he put a seed in Sai's clothing and food during the visit to the hot springs. Kabuto locks Sai in a room, and the boy summons a bingo book from scrolls he carries. Yamato uses a jutsu to open a tunnel into Orochimaru's hideout, and he, Naruto and Sakura travel to Sai's room undetected.

    Director:Neko Okuma
    Writer:Satoru Nishizono

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Naruto Shippūden Season 2 Episode 49 - Something Important...
    6.0/10(7 votes)

    S2:E49

    Kabuto fights Team Kakashi and frees Sai. However, Sai, who intends to learn more about his bond with his brother through Naruto's bond with Sasuke, betrays him. Captured, Kabuto gives a vague description of Sasuke's location to the team. Leaving Yamato's wood clone to watch over Kabuto, Team Kakashi enters Orochimaru's hideout and splits up to find Sasuke.

    Director:Shinji Satoh
    Writer:Satoru Nishizono

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Naruto Shippūden Season 3 Episode 60 - Impermanence
    6.0/10(4 votes)

    S3:E60

    Team Kakashi begins facing off against the enemy shinobi. Yamato eludes his opponent, Fudo, by faking his death. Sora, unwilling to look for Naruto, goes off on his own. Back in Konoha, Danzo reveals that he is aware that he is being watched by Tsunade's ANBU. Naruto fights Fūka, whose kiss is fatal and shows her ability to use earth, fire, water and lightning jutsus. Sai manages to escape from his attacker, Fuen, and later saves Sakura from an enormous spider, becoming injured in the process. Sora then hits upon the enemy leader, Furido, and it is revealed that he was the group's target.

    Director:Kiyomu Fukuda
    Writer:Junki Takegami

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Naruto Shippūden Season 3 Episode 69 - Despair
    6.0/10(4 votes)

    S3:E69

    Furido releases Sora's seal, and tells him the truth: Sora is a pseudo-Jinchuuriki. The chakra that had leaked from the Nine Tailed Fox when it attacked Konoha 15 and a half years ago was harvested and implanted into Sora. Just then, Asuma arrives at the scene with Naruto. Asuma recognizes Furido and it is revealed that he is Kazuma, Sora's father. Yamato, Sakura, Kiba, Lee, Ino, Choji and Shikamaru also turn up. Enraged, Sora wants to destroy everything, and turns into the Three-Tailed form of the Nine-tails. However, Yamato is unable to restrain him, because he does not have the First's necklace on him.

    Director:Seiki Takuno
    Writer:Masahiro Hikokubo

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Naruto Shippūden Season 3 Episode 70 - Resonance
    6.0/10(4 votes)

    S3:E70

    The chakra of the Nine-tails rages out of control within Sora, preventing Naruto and the others from subduing him. Asuma and Kazuma resume their old battle, while Kazuma justifies his actions with his duty as a pawn to the "King" of the Fire Country. Naruto is repeatedly knocked down in his attempts to restrain Sora, and the chakra seeps into him and transforms him as well. Yamato is unable to suppress the Nine-tails' chakra in both Jinchūriki, being prevented by an unknown outside force. Sora's fourth tail emerges, causing the Nine-tails's Cloak to envelop his body. He temporarily gains his own consciousness when he witnesses Naruto stab himself in the leg and successfully prevent the original Nine-tails' Cloak from emerging.

    Director:Shigeharu Takahashi
    Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Naruto Shippūden Season 3 Episode 71 - My Friend
    6.0/10(6 votes)

    S3:E71

    The struggle between Naruto and Sora continues. Asuma and Kazuma fight. Sai arrives, having snuck out of hospital, and binds Kazuma with an ink snake. Kazuma breaks out of Sai's jutsu and charges Asuma, but is killed. Naruto eventually reaches Sora, who manages to release the Nine Tails's chakra. Sora then leaves the village to travel the world. Asuma and Shikamaru play shogi and discuss who the king of Konoha is. Elsewhere, two Akatsuki members, Hidan and Kakuzu, appear chasing the Two Tails Jinchūriki.

    Director:Atsushi Nigorikawa
    Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Naruto Shippūden Season 8 Episode 152 - Somber News
    6.0/10(9 votes)

    S8:E152

    Team Kakashi returns to the Hidden Leaf Village after completing their mission. As Naruto thinks back to the talk he had with Itachi, he's summoned by Tsunade, where he discovers shocking news regarding Jiraiya.

    Director:Naoki Horiuchi
    Writer:Yuka Miyata

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Naruto Shippūden Season 2 Episode 43 - Sakura's Tears
    6.1/10(7 votes)

    S2:E43

    Kabuto comments that Naruto's state is a consequence of his desperation to bring back Sasuke. Sakura begins to cry and approaches Naruto but is injured when his attention turns to her. Yamato uses the mokuton jutsu to bind Naruto before he does any more harm. Kabuto heals Sakura, reasoning that the Konoha ninja are not Orochimaru's enemies because they are also fighting Akatsuki. Yamato uses the abilities of the 1st Hokage to forcibly return Naruto to his normal state. Meanwhile Sai confronts Orochimaru with a message from Danzo. Orochimaru responds by piercing Sai with Kusanagi.

    Director:Kunitoshi Okajima
    Writer:Satoru Nishizono

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Naruto Shippūden Season 3 Episode 61 - Contact
    6.2/10(4 votes)

    S3:E61

    Furido taunts Sora until Sora unleashes his true powers, before informing Sora that he is planning to use the four corpses to save the Land of Fire. Naruto continues his fight with F?ka and learns that she can use all five elements. F?ka manages to kiss Naruto and begins draining his chakra. Realizing that Naruto is in trouble from extra-sensory perception, Sora rushes to rescue him. Sakura, Sai and Yamato arrive to help but are trapped by Fudo and Fuen. F?ka drains Naruto's chakra until she begins drawing on the Nine-tails's, which is too unnatural for her to successfully absorb. The enemy team retreats when Chiriku brings reinforcements.

    Director:Atsushi Nigorikawa
    Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Naruto Shippūden Season 3 Episode 62 - Teammate
    6.2/10(4 votes)

    S3:E62

    Asuma's team returns from its mission. Team Kakashi returns to Konoha as well, with Sora replacing Sai on the team. Naruto tries to show Sora around Konoha but Sora goes his own way. Sora's insults precipitate a brawl with Kiba and Choji, with Naruto and Rock Lee joining in. Shikamaru and Asuma stop the fight. Later Asuma tells Sora he knew Sora's father, who is revealed as one of the Guardians involved in the coup attempt. He also shows Sora his chakra blade attack. Furido and the other body snatchers begin their attack on the Kohaku Clan.

    Director:Shigeharu Takahashi
    Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Naruto Shippūden Season 3 Episode 63 - The Two Kings
    6.2/10(4 votes)

    S3:E63

    Asuma supervises Naruto and Sora's wind chakra training, and notices that Sora, like Naruto, has very powerful chakra. Tsunade and Yamato learn from Chiriku that Sora was inadvertently responsible for an incident in which the Temple of Fire was destroyed. Later, Asuma gives Sora a claw made from the same materials as his chakra blades. It is revealed that Asuma killed Sora's father Kazuma, who had planned to kill the Hokage. Furido then approaches Sora, telling him that Asuma is responsible for his father's death and passing him two "king" pieces from a Shogi set for Asuma. Danzo mysteriously disappears. Naruto approaches a furious Sora in the training grounds, who easily throws a chakra-powered kunai through a tree and destroys the stone behind it.

    Director:Yuki Kinoshita
    Writer:Masahiro Hikokubo

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Naruto Shippūden Season 3 Episode 64 - Jet-Black Signal Fire
    6.2/10(5 votes)

    S3:E64

    Danzou is brought in for questioning after being caught meeting with a young Rain ninja. Sora confronts Asuma, and Asuma admits to having killed Kazuma. He attacks Asuma, his arm once again assuming a demonic form. Afterward, Naruto gets injured while shielding Sora from the attacks of an unknown individual, presumably from Root. Furido then approaches Sora, telling him to kill both Asuma and the Hokage to avenge his father. Later on, Naruto catches Sora going after Tsunade. Sora retreats as Shizune and a few other ninja arrive, but Naruto pursues him. At that moment, a mysterious lightning storm strikes, cutting off power to the entire village.

    Director:Hiroshi Kimura
    Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Naruto Shippūden Season 3 Episode 65 - Lockdown of Darkness
    6.2/10(4 votes)

    S3:E65

    With Konoha in complete darkness, the village struggles to defend against the four attackers who have sealed the entire village behind a barrier. The entire village is in a state of emergency. Asuma, commanded by Tsunade to follow Sora and Naruto, finally catches up to them. Asuma realizes that the four invaders plan to annihilate the entire village using the lightning powers of the corpses that they stole. The revelation shocks Sora. As Asuma leaves to help hold off the attackers, he instructs Naruto to continue pursuing Sora.

    Director:Shinji Satoh
    Writer:Masahiro Hikokubo

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Naruto Shippūden Season 3 Episode 66 - Revived Souls
    6.2/10(4 votes)

    S3:E66

    Konoha's ninja fight off the revived zombie members of the Kohaku clan. The four Guardian Ninjas, Seito, Tōu, Nauma and Kitane, are also revived. Asuma realizes that they are planning to use Limelight, a jutsu in which the four create a lightning blast powerful enough to destroy Konoha. Asuma sends Sakura and Yamato after the other three while he remains behind to battle Kitane, but Fuen tackles Sakura and Fudo fights Yamato. Meanwhile, Naruto catches up to Sora, but Sora runs off in search of Furido. Naruto tries to pursue him, but is assailed by Fuuka. Soon after, Sora reaches Furido, who admits that he had planned to destroy Konoha.

    Director:Akitaro Daichi
    Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. Naruto Shippūden Season 3 Episode 68 - Moment of Awakening
    6.2/10(4 votes)

    S3:E68

    Naruto deduces that Fuuka's secret consists of switching bodies to use each corresponding element and that her hair preserves her youth and body. Naruto damages her hair and it takes a life of its own dispensing the body, but Naruto finally kills it with a Rasengan. Meanwhile, Asuma manages to break free of the electric barrier, catch up with Kitane and defeat him in a short fight. Realizing that Kitane is no more, and that his three other companions were killed, Furido causes the 3 other ninja guardians to disappear. But Furido has a back up plan, Sora.

    Director:Kiyomu Fukuda
    Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. Naruto Shippūden Season 13 Episode 281 - The Allied Mom Forces!
    6.2/10(4 votes)

    S13:E281

    Konohamaru participates in a meeting organized by Ebisu in Konoha of the remaining villagers, mostly including the children and wives. Ebisu attempts to rally everyones' spirits together in the event that rogue ninja should attack the village while their shinobi families are away at war, but the mothers scoff and claim that they will protect the village as they always have while their husbands fought. Suddenly Konohamaru is approached by several children, each claiming to have seen terrifying rogue ninja roaming the east and west forests outside Konoha. He tries to recruit his classmates into hunting them down, but they refuse to beleive him. Konohamaru investigates the area alone with Moegi and Udon, only to find a traveling circus troupe in the forest instead of rogue ninja. Heading back, Konohamaru is again alerted that people are attacking the village on the west side, and this time, the rumors are true...

    Director:Kiyomu Fukuda
    Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. Naruto Shippūden Season 2 Episode 45 - The Consequences of Betrayal
    6.3/10(7 votes)

    S2:E45

    Kabuto creates a fake corpse that resembles Sai, containing hidden traps to slow down Yamato's clone after sensing it. Naruto hasn't completely recovered from using the Demon Fox's chakra, and Yamato says that he will be left behind if he cannot keep up. Naruto is determined to finish his mission and not slow the team down. However Team Kakashi is forced to take a break when it's clear that Sakura has not fully recovered from her own injuries. Yamato then uses this opportunity to talk to Naruto alone and reveals to him that the one who hurt Sakura was Naruto himself. Naruto is shocked by what Yamato says to him.

    Director:Atsushi Nigorikawa
    Writer:Satoru Nishizono

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. Naruto Shippūden Season 2 Episode 51 - Reunion
    6.3/10(7 votes)

    S2:E51

    As Team Kakashi continues their search for Sasuke, Sai approaches Sasuke's room and awakens him. Shaken by the image of Sasuke's Sharingan from earlier, Sai attempts to restrain him. A large explosion occurs and Sakura, Naruto and Yamato catch up. At first Sakura tries to restrain Sai in order to find out his true objective, but she stops, stunned at seeing her former comrade. Contrary to what the rest of the team assumed to be his mission, Sai tells them that he wishes to bring Sasuke back to Konoha.

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai
    Writer:Satoru Nishizono

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. Naruto Shippūden Season 2 Episode 53 - The Leaves Sprout!
    6.3/10(7 votes)

    S2:E53

    Orochimaru and Kabuto convince Sasuke to withdraw with them, and Naruto weeps over his failure to return Sasuke to the village, but Sakura reassures him that they will bring Sasuke back together. Naruto's team reports to Tsunade about the results of the mission, and Tsunade is greatly angered over Danzo's scheme, particularly his leaking classified information to further it. Sai asks Danzo to allow him to remain with Team Kakashi, and Danzo reluctantly agrees. Sai goes on a mission with his team, having come to see them as his friends.

    Director:Atsushi Nigorikawa
    Writer:Satoru Nishizono

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Worst Episodes Summary

"Naruto's Rival" is the worst rated episode of "Naruto Shippūden". It scored 5/10 based on 4 votes. Directed by Akira Shimizu and written by Yuka Miyata, it aired on 8/6/2015. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Ones Who Will Inherit".