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The Worst Episodes of Naruto Shippūden

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

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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

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#1 Worst Episode
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5.8/10(4 votes)
#1 - Loneliness
S3:E585/8/2008
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
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Director:Akitaro Daichi
Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki
5.8/10(8 votes)
#2 - Somber News
S8:E1523/25/2010
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
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Director:Naoki Horiuchi
Writer:Yuka Miyata
6.0/10(4 votes)
#3 - Impermanence
S3:E605/22/2008
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
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Director:Kiyomu Fukuda
Writer:Junki Takegami
6.0/10(4 votes)
#4 - Despair
S3:E697/31/2008
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
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Director:Seiki Takuno
Writer:Masahiro Hikokubo
6.0/10(4 votes)
#5 - Resonance
S3:E708/7/2008
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
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Director:Shigeharu Takahashi
Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki
6.0/10(6 votes)
#6 - My Friend
S3:E718/14/2008
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
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Director:Atsushi Nigorikawa
Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki

The 20 BEST Episodes of Naruto Shippūden

6.0/10(3 votes)
#7 - Naruto's Rival
S20:E4238/6/2015
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
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Director:Akira Shimizu
Writer:Yuka Miyata
6.2/10(6 votes)
#8 - The Secret of the Battle!
S2:E441/24/2008
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
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Director:Kiyomu Fukuda
Writer:Satoru Nishizono
6.2/10(6 votes)
#9 - Infiltration: The Den of the Snake!
S2:E472/14/2008
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
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Director:Neko Okuma
Writer:Satoru Nishizono
6.2/10(6 votes)
#10 - Bonds
S2:E482/28/2008
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
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Director:Hiroshi Kimura
Writer:Satoru Nishizono
6.2/10(6 votes)
#11 - Something Important...
S2:E493/6/2008
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
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Director:Shinji Satoh
Writer:Satoru Nishizono
6.2/10(4 votes)
#12 - The Two Kings
S3:E636/19/2008
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
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Director:Yuki Kinoshita
Writer:Masahiro Hikokubo
6.3/10(6 votes)
#13 - Sakura's Tears
S2:E431/17/2008
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
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Director:Kunitoshi Okajima
Writer:Satoru Nishizono
6.3/10(6 votes)
#14 - The Unfinished Page
S2:E462/7/2008
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
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Director:Shigeharu Takahashi
Writer:Satoru Nishizono
6.3/10(6 votes)
#15 - The Leaves Sprout!
S2:E534/3/2008
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
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Director:Atsushi Nigorikawa
Writer:Satoru Nishizono
6.3/10(4 votes)
#16 - Contact
S3:E615/29/2008
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
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Director:Atsushi Nigorikawa
Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki
6.3/10(4 votes)
#17 - Teammate
S3:E626/5/2008
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
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Director:Shigeharu Takahashi
Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki
6.3/10(4 votes)
#18 - Jet-Black Signal Fire
S3:E647/3/2008
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
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Director:Hiroshi Kimura
Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki
6.3/10(4 votes)
#19 - Lockdown of Darkness
S3:E657/3/2008
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
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Director:Shinji Satoh
Writer:Masahiro Hikokubo
6.3/10(4 votes)
#20 - Revived Souls
S3:E667/10/2008
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
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Director:Akitaro Daichi
Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki
6.3/10(4 votes)
#21 - Moment of Awakening
S3:E687/31/2008
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
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Director:Kiyomu Fukuda
Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki
6.3/10(6 votes)
#22 - The Quietly Approaching Threat
S4:E728/21/2008
Asuma apologizes at the grave of the Third Hokage for not understanding his advice concerning what the "king" of the Fire Country is. At the hospital, Naruto and Sai recover, despite Naruto's desire to resume his training. Tsunade receives a report from Kakashi that Akatsuki is on the move. Elsewhere, Yugito Nii, the Two Tails Jinchūriki, struggles against Hidan and Kakuzu and unleashes the Two Tails, but is defeated and captured. Hidan and Kakuzu then turn their attention to the Fire Country for their next target.
Director:Hiroshi Kimura
Writer:Masahiro Hikokubo
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Director:Hiroshi Kimura
Writer:Masahiro Hikokubo
6.3/10(6 votes)
#23 - Under the Starry Sky
S4:E749/4/2008
The second stage of Naruto's training continues, while Tsunade sends out twenty teams composed of four ninja each to deal with the Akatsuki members in the Fire Country. Shikamaru leaves with Asuma, Izumo and Kotetsu, whereas Ino and Choji leave with Raido and Aoba. After putting in considerable effort, Naruto clears the second stage of his training, but collapses from hunger and exhaustion almost immediately afterward.
Director:Akitaro Daichi
Writer:Masahiro Hikokubo
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Director:Akitaro Daichi
Writer:Masahiro Hikokubo
6.3/10(6 votes)
#24 - The Old Monk's Prayer
S4:E759/11/2008
Asuma mourns Chiriku's death, and realizes that Hidan and Kakuzu are trying to claim the bounty on his head. Meanwhile, Hidan and Kakuzu take Chiriku in for their payment. Meanwhile, Kakashi shows Naruto what the true goal of his training will be.
Director:Masaaki Kumagai
Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki
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Director:Masaaki Kumagai
Writer:Yasuyuki Suzuki
6.3/10(6 votes)
#25 - The Five Great Nations Mobilize
S10:E2186/30/2011
The formation of the Allied Shinobi Forces is ratified by the Feudal Lords of the Five Great Nations. Each Kage returns to their village to prepare for the coming war.
Director:Masato Kitagawa
Writer:Yuka Miyata
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Director:Masato Kitagawa
Writer:Yuka Miyata

Worst Episodes Summary

"Loneliness" is the worst rated episode of "Naruto Shippūden". It scored 5.8/10 based on 4 votes. Directed by Akitaro Daichi and written by Yasuyuki Suzuki, it aired on 5/8/2008. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Somber News".