Unpopular take: Naruto filler arcs are actually better than the canon after the time skip

I've been rewatching Shippuden over the last 3 months and honestly the filler episodes around episodes 230-250 have way more character development than the main war arc. The pacing lets you breathe and actually care about side characters like Shino and Tenten who get zero screen time otherwise. Anyone else feel like the canon just rushed through everything post-Pain arc?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_aaron20d ago

Wait, did you watch that weird episode where they try to teach Naruto how to catch a cat? Like episode 257 or something? That one was so random I almost skipped it but then I got hooked on the whole mini arc about the hidden sand village kids. Honestly I think the filler does a better job at making you feel like you're actually hanging out in the Naruto world rather than just rushing to the next big fight. The main story after Pain just becomes a checklist of explosions and sad backstories.

olivia39820d ago

Honestly the cat episode is a perfect example of something most people miss about Naruto's training. Everyone focuses on the big jutsu but watch any filler where he learns a basic skill like stealth or tracking and you realize how much of his actual fighting style is built on those goofy little lessons. The hidden sand kids arc was great but that cat taught him more about chakra control than like half the official training arcs did.

ivanross20d ago

Nah I gotta disagree a bit there lol. The cat episode was funny but it didn't really teach him anything he wouldn't have figured out from just failing at the tree climbing exercise for a few more days. The hidden sand kids arc actually forced him to use his brain and adapt to real situations, that's way different from chasing a house pet around.