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Naruto seasons

On TV, Naruto has two main series and one follow-up. Naruto (2002) runs 220 episodes, and Naruto Shippuden, set two and a half years later, runs 500 episodes and ended in 2017. Together that is 720 episodes, all animated by Pierrot, broadcast on TV Tokyo and directed by Hayato Date. The first series adapts the 27 volumes of Part I of Masashi Kishimoto's manga, and Shippuden covers Part II, so the whole manga has been animated. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations followed with 293 episodes about the next generation. Both main series include filler episodes with original stories not found in the manga.

Season	Premiere	End	Episodes	Studio
Naruto	October 3, 2002	February 8, 2007	220	Pierrot
Naruto Shippuden	February 15, 2007	March 23, 2017	500	Pierrot
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations	April 5, 2017	March 26, 2023	293	Pierrot

Naruto

The first series follows Naruto as a kid, from graduating the academy to forming Team 7 with Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi. It covers the Land of Waves mission, the Chunin Exams and the search for a new Hokage. It ran for 220 episodes from October 3, 2002 to February 8, 2007, and its final stretch is mostly filler.

Naruto Shippuden

Naruto Shippuden picks up two and a half years later, as Naruto returns to Konoha after long training away from home. The cast is older and the Akatsuki becomes the main threat. It is the longest series in the franchise, with 500 episodes broadcast from February 15, 2007 to March 23, 2017.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is the follow-up about Boruto and the children of Naruto's generation in a more modern Konoha. It ran for 293 episodes from April 5, 2017 to March 26, 2023, again animated by Pierrot. It works as a spin-off, so the Naruto story is complete without it.

Next season Announced

On October 10, 2026, at the NARUTO: What's Next? panel at New York Comic Con, NARUTO x NINKŪ was announced: a four-episode anime crossing Naruto with Koji Kiriyama's Ninku, directed by Noriyuki Abe with character designs by Tetsuya Nishio. No release date or platform has been given yet. The same panel revealed PROJECT RASENGAN, with more news set for Jump Festa 2027 on December 19 and 20, 2026, and teased a new Naruto manga by Kishimoto. The Boruto: Two Blue Vortex anime has been in production since 2025, with no premiere date.

FAQ

How many episodes does Naruto have?

The original Naruto has 220 episodes and Naruto Shippuden has 500, for 720 in total. Adding the follow-up, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, brings another 293 episodes. Movies and specials are not included in these numbers.

What order should I watch Naruto in?

Start with the original Naruto (2002), then move on to Naruto Shippuden (2007). Boruto: Naruto Next Generations comes last and follows the next generation. Viewers who only want the manga story can skip the filler episodes.

Is there a new Naruto anime?

Yes. NARUTO x NINKŪ, a four-episode crossover directed by Noriyuki Abe, was announced on October 10, 2026. As of October 2026, its release date and streaming platform have not been announced.

Is Naruto finished?

Yes. The original series ended in 2007 and Naruto Shippuden on March 23, 2017, adapting the manga to its last chapter. The story continues in Boruto, whose anime stopped in 2023; a Two Blue Vortex adaptation is in production without a date.

Who is the main character of Naruto?

The main character is Naruto Uzumaki, a ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village who wants to become Hokage. He is voiced by Junko Takeuchi in Japanese. His rival and teammate Sasuke Uchiha is the second central figure.

Naruto characters →

Naruto games →

Sources

Updated October 22, 2026