7 Worst Naruto Episodes We Wish We Could Forget

I’ve noticed not everyone gets the hype around Naruto, but for those of us who watched it growing up, and really connected with Naruto’s journey from underdog to hero, it’s hard to find another anime that feels quite the same. Honestly, even when I compare it to other popular action series, nothing really measures up.

Wow, the original Naruto series is massive – over 500 episodes! It really took you on an emotional rollercoaster with Naruto’s quest to become Hokage, full of amazing highs and heartbreaking lows. But let’s be real, with that many episodes, a few just didn’t hit the mark. There are some that fans definitely consider the weakest links in the whole series, episodes everyone kind of wishes they could forget!

7. The Ultimate Battle: Cha!

Naruto Episode 42

Many fans consider Sakura and Ino’s fight during the Chunin Exams to be one of the least impressive in the series. It wasn’t that either fighter lacked skill, but rather that their battle didn’t have the same level of spectacle and intense action as other fights, like those between Gaara and Rock Lee, or Hinata and Neji.

Many fans also dislike the reason behind Ino and Sakura’s rivalry. Because it centered around both of them liking Sasuke, a lot of viewers find their conflict insignificant compared to other rivalries in the show. Furthermore, people were disappointed with how their fight ended – it was a tie, despite most believing Ino had clearly won.

6. Naruto vs. Mecha-Naruto

Naruto Shippuden Episode 377

Mecha-Naruto is a powerful robot created by Orochimaru. In the anime, Nagato used it to try and steal the Nine-Tails spirit from inside Naruto Uzumaki. This mecha looks like Naruto and is skilled in hand-to-hand combat. It can even enter a Nine-Tails mode if it absorbs enough of the Nine-Tails’ energy.

Although Mecha-Naruto looks impressive, many fans don’t think it fits into the Naruto series. The advanced technology of this combat robot feels out of place in a world of ninjas. It also caused frustration by easily defeating powerful characters like Kakashi, Might Guy, and even Naruto himself.

5. Sakura’s Feelings

Naruto Shippuden Episode 206

As a longtime fan, I’ve always noticed how Sakura consistently shows her feelings for Sasuke, even though he rarely seems to reciprocate! It’s heartbreaking, honestly. And because we see how much she cares for Sasuke – especially through Naruto’s eyes, who really gets it – when she pretended to have feelings for him, it felt like a real betrayal to a lot of us viewers. It just didn’t ring true and felt a bit disrespectful to both characters and their established dynamics.

Naruto deserves honesty, particularly from Sakura, who understands his struggles so well. A false confession from her only adds to the emotional burden he already carries. This often leaves fans frustrated with Sakura’s self-centered behavior, but impressed by how mature Naruto is in comparison.

4. Truth

Naruto Shippuden Episode 458

Just as fans believed Madara Uchiha was the final enemy, Black Zetsu unexpectedly betrayed him, exposing a centuries-old secret puppeteer who had been waiting in the shadows.

Honestly, as much as I loved Madara’s intricate schemes, it was a real gut punch to find out he was just a tool for Kaguya all along! It felt like everything he’d built up for years was actually serving her plans. I get why some people were blown away by the reveal, but I’ll admit, the whole ‘alien’ angle with Kaguya felt a little out of left field and rubbed some fans the wrong way – me included!

Many fans believe Madara should have been the series’ ultimate villain, rather than Kaguya. They feel Kaguya is an underdeveloped character, and her sudden display of immense power doesn’t fit with the long-established threat of Madara.

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3. Animal District

Naruto Shippuden Episode 185

Tsunade asks Naruto, Shino, and Rock Lee to help Kotetsu recapture an escaped ostrich named Condor – it’s actually the second time Naruto’s been called upon to catch this particular runaway bird, making the job seem pretty straightforward.

Condor independently learned some difficult and unusual fighting skills, making it hard for Kotetsu’s team to catch him. He easily outsmarted Naruto and the team, mocking their attempts and turning an easy mission into a total failure.

Although this episode was funny, many dedicated fans found it disappointing because it didn’t advance the main storyline. Instead of moving the plot forward, it felt like an unnecessary detour.

2. The Allied Mom Force

Naruto Shippuden Episode 281

The mothers of Konoha’s ninja, like all residents, share the village’s strong spirit, demonstrated in this episode when they worked together to defend against a surprising threat: a team of sumo wrestlers.

This episode felt like a detour for many viewers. While some enjoyed seeing Ebisu and Konohamaru manage things in Konoha while others fought in the war, others found it interrupted the main storyline and slowed things down. Ultimately, their actions didn’t feel impactful enough to fully satisfy audiences.

1. The Sixth Hokage Danzo

Naruto Shippuden Episode 197

Honestly, Danzo is a character who really gets under my skin – and I know a lot of other fans feel the same way! He’s just such a schemer, always pulling strings and messing with everyone’s lives. It’s frustrating to watch how he creates distrust within Konoha, all driven by his relentless pursuit of power. He’ll do anything to get what he wants, and it’s infuriating!

Danzo always wanted to be Hokage, and he finally achieved his goal after the attack by Pain. Lady Tsunade was severely injured and unconscious, with no clear sign of waking up. Although Shikamaru’s father recommended Kakashi for the position, Danzo persuaded the Fire Daimyo to appoint him instead.

2026-04-05 16:15