Watch Naruto first, then Naruto Shippuden. Shippuden continues the same story after a long training interval; it is not a remake or an alternate starting point. Starting with the original series gives you the characters’ earlier relationships and the context for what changes when Naruto returns. If you are choosing between the titles because one sounds like a sequel you can jump into, the key distinction is simple: Naruto establishes the story, while Shippuden resumes it later.
What’s the difference between Naruto and Naruto Shippuden?
The main difference is where the story is in Naruto’s life. VIZ describes the original Naruto around the young protagonist’s ambition to become Hokage. Naruto Shippuden picks up later: the Naruto Official Site says almost two and a half years have passed since the Final Valley battle, and Naruto returns to the Hidden Leaf after training with Jiraiya.
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That time away affects the whole group, not just Naruto. Sakura has developed into a notable medical ninja, and Naruto’s other friends have grown stronger. Shippuden therefore builds on relationships and events established in the original series rather than introducing a separate cast or starting the story over.
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That distinction matters when deciding what to watch. The title change marks a new stage in the same story, not a new continuity. The first series gives you the earlier context; the sequel expects you to recognize the returning characters and understand that their relationships and circumstances have continued during Naruto’s absence. Shippuden’s opening supplies the broad transition—Naruto trained and came back—but that is not the same as retelling the original series.
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The change is also visible in the opening conflict. In the original-series description, the focus is Naruto’s early story and his goal. In Shippuden, Naruto returns to find that Akatsuki is moving against Gaara, now Kazekage. The ensuing rescue mission gives the continuation an immediate plot and signals a wider threat: Akatsuki is seeking to capture the Tailed Beasts. So the difference is both a time jump in the characters’ lives and a shift to the conflict that drives the sequel’s opening.
| Question | Naruto | Naruto Shippuden |
|---|---|---|
| Where it fits | The original series, introducing Naruto and his goal of becoming Hokage. | The continuation, set after Naruto’s training interval. |
| Opening focus | Naruto’s early life and ambition. | Naruto’s return and a mission to rescue Gaara. |
| Best place to start | First. | After the original series. |
| What changes | The story establishes Naruto and the earlier relationships. | Naruto and his friends have developed during his absence, and Akatsuki’s threat comes into focus. |
| Where to check access | VIZ lists Part 1 streaming, digital, and Blu-ray/DVD options. | VIZ also lists Part 1 streaming, digital, and Blu-ray/DVD options; availability varies by region. |
How does Shippuden’s story begin?
Shippuden opens with Akatsuki targeting Gaara, who is now Kazekage. After Gaara is kidnapped, Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi set out on a rescue mission. The opening conflict also establishes Akatsuki’s effort to capture the Tailed Beasts, giving the continuation a broader threat than a simple reunion after Naruto’s return.
The change is also one of character stage: Naruto comes back older and stronger after training, while Sakura and the others have developed in his absence. The story relies on you recognizing who these people were before the interval and understanding why their changed abilities and responsibilities matter. The Naruto Official Site’s synopsis describes these developments as part of the transition, rather than presenting the sequel as a fresh introduction to everyone.
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For a first-time viewer, this is a practical reason to follow the original series first. The opening rescue plot may be understandable at the level of “Gaara is in danger and the team has to help,” but the continuing story has been built around characters who already know one another. The earlier series provides the starting context for that familiarity. Watching in order lets the change in Naruto, Sakura, and their friends register as development instead of as details you are simply told about at the outset.
It is useful to keep the scale of the claim precise. The official synopsis supports saying that the sequel opens with Gaara’s kidnapping, a rescue mission, and Akatsuki’s effort to capture the Tailed Beasts. It does not require a viewer to know a specific episode count, a complete timeline of every event, or a movie placement chart to understand the basic series handoff. The essential point is that Shippuden is a continuation with a changed situation and a larger immediate threat.
Do I watch Naruto before Shippuden?
Yes. For a first viewing, use this order:
- Start with Naruto. It establishes Naruto’s early story and his ambition to become Hokage.
- Continue with Naruto Shippuden. It resumes the same story after the interval and assumes familiarity with the characters and their relationships.
This is the straightforward series order supported by the official franchise synopsis. You do not need to stop for every movie to follow the basic transition from one television series to the next. The Naruto Official Site’s synopsis places Shippuden after the Final Valley battle and describes Naruto’s return following training with Jiraiya; that is the bridge between the two series.
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For someone beginning from the start, the simplest plan is therefore to finish the original television series and then move to Shippuden. That keeps the story’s two main stages in sequence without asking you to pause for side material whose placement has not been established here. If you prefer the unabridged anime experience, follow the broadcast episode order rather than trying to construct a custom sequence from unsourced placement claims.
The official sources cited here do not establish a definitive movie-placement guide or a filler-by-filler skip list, so a specific movie or episode-skipping order cannot be confirmed from them. That does not mean a particular movie or episode is required to understand the transition; it means there is no verified placement recommendation here. If your priority is a faster watch, consult a separately verified episode guide and check what its labels mean before skipping. If your priority is to watch the anime as broadcast, keep to the series’ episode order and move from one series to the next.
There is no need to complicate the core order with a claim that the films must be watched between particular episodes. The reliable first-watch answer remains the two television series in sequence: Naruto, then Naruto Shippuden. That recommendation is enough to follow the main handoff without treating every extra release as a prerequisite.
Can I skip straight to Shippuden?
You can begin there, but it is a poor first starting point if you want the story to make sense in context. Shippuden begins after a substantial time jump and moves directly into a rescue mission involving characters who already have histories with Naruto. Its setup tells you that Naruto has been away training, but it does not make the original series’ introductions and relationship-building unnecessary.
If you have already watched the original series and only want to refresh the transition, the essential orientation is that almost two and a half years have passed since the Final Valley battle, Naruto trained with Jiraiya, and his friends have also grown stronger. That summary is a refresher, not a substitute for the earlier story. The Naruto Official Site supplies those points in its franchise synopsis, including the return to the Hidden Leaf and the changes to Sakura and Naruto’s other friends.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Starting with Shippuden may still be a personal choice if you have a particular reason to begin there, but it changes what you are asking the sequel to do. It is not presented as an alternate edition or a remake that retells the original’s starting point. You will be meeting a later version of the group while the story proceeds as though their earlier experiences and connections already exist. For a viewer who wants the full narrative in order, that is why skipping the original is not the recommended route.
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If you are deciding based on the names alone, do not read “Shippuden” as a separate series that replaces the first one. Think of the titles as consecutive chapters in the same television story: the original introduces Naruto’s goal, and the sequel follows after the training interval. That framing also answers the practical question of where to start: begin with the original series rather than trying to use Shippuden as an entry point.
Where can I watch or buy the series?
VIZ lists streaming, digital, and Blu-ray/DVD options for Part 1 of both series. The listed services differ between the two pages, and a listing is not proof that a service carries every episode in every country.
| Series listing | Options listed by VIZ for Part 1 |
|---|---|
| Naruto | Hulu, Netflix, Pluto TV, YouTube, Prime Video, Apple TV, and Blu-ray/DVD. |
| Naruto Shippuden | Hulu, Crunchyroll, Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango, Amazon, and Blu-ray/DVD. |
Before subscribing or buying, check the service’s catalog in your country for the complete series, the episodes you need, and your preferred language options. The Naruto Official Site warns that streaming availability varies by region. VIZ’s pages describe Part 1 listings; they do not establish that every listed provider has every episode available where you live.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIt is worth checking each of those points separately. A platform name on a distributor’s page is a lead for where to look, not a promise that the full run is currently available in your territory. Confirm that the catalog entry is for the series you want, that it includes the episodes you plan to watch, and that the language options work for you. If you intend to watch both series on one service, check both catalogs rather than assuming that a listing for Naruto also covers Shippuden, or vice versa.
The same caution applies if you are comparing subscriptions. The sources list services, but they do not establish current prices, free-trial terms, catalog duration, or whether any particular plan is the best value. Check the current offer directly with the provider before paying. The useful access question is not only “Is the title listed?” but also “Does this listing cover the series and episodes I want in my country?”
Physical editions are another option, but the listings cited here do not verify complete-set contents, stock, language tracks, region compatibility, or current prices. Check those details on the specific product listing before purchasing. If you are searching for Naruto Shippuden Blu-ray, treat the search as a starting point and confirm the exact volume or set, its episode coverage, format and region compatibility, and language information. Do the same for the original Naruto Blu-ray/DVD listings. Do not assume that a Part 1 listing is the complete series or that every seller has the same edition.
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The franchise site credits the manga to Masashi Kishimoto and Shueisha / Jump Comics; printed volumes may suit viewers who want to read the source story, though a particular edition or its availability is not established here. If you are weighing manga against the television series, the practical difference is that the article’s recommended order is about the two anime series. A manga volume can be a separate way to explore the story, but the specific edition, inventory, price, or reading-to-episode mapping has not been verified here.
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The Naruto Official Site credits Masashi Kishimoto with the original story and art, and identifies Hayato Date as a director of Naruto Shippuden. Those are distinct credits: the director credit does not change the fact that Shippuden continues the story associated with the original series.
These credits help clarify the relationship between the titles without turning the comparison into a ranking. The original-story and art credit identifies Kishimoto’s role in the source story, while the Shippuden page’s director credit identifies Date’s role on that animated series. The available credits do not support a claim that one show is superior, nor do they change the recommended order. For a first watch, story continuity—not a comparison of creative credits—is the reason to begin with Naruto.
VIZ’s descriptions and the Naruto Official Site serve different practical purposes for a new viewer: VIZ provides series descriptions and Part 1 viewing or ownership links, while the official franchise synopsis explains the time jump and opening setup. Together, they support a clear answer about what these titles are and where to start, while leaving current platform access to be checked in each viewer’s region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between Naruto and Naruto Shippuden?
Naruto is the original series, centered on Naruto’s early story and ambition to become Hokage. Naruto Shippuden is the continuation, set almost two and a half years after the Final Valley battle. Naruto returns after training with Jiraiya, his friends have developed, and the opening conflict involves Akatsuki’s kidnapping of Gaara.
Do I watch Naruto before Shippuden?
Yes. For a first viewing, watch Naruto first and Naruto Shippuden second. Shippuden continues the same story and assumes familiarity with the characters and their relationships.
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Where do I start with Naruto?
Start with the original Naruto television series. When you are ready to continue the same story after Naruto’s training interval, move on to Naruto Shippuden.
Can I skip straight to Shippuden?
You can, but it is not the recommended first starting point. Shippuden opens after a time jump and begins a rescue storyline involving characters with histories established in the original series. Its opening gives some transition context, but it does not replace the earlier story.
Do I need to watch Naruto movies between the two series?
The recommended basic order is the two television series: Naruto, then Naruto Shippuden. The official sources cited here do not establish a definitive movie-placement guide or say that a specific movie is required for that transition.
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A filler-by-filler skip list is not established here. If you want a faster watch, consult a separately verified episode guide; if you want the unabridged anime, follow broadcast episode order.
Where can I stream Naruto and Naruto Shippuden?
VIZ lists Part 1 streaming options for each series, including Hulu and other services, but availability varies by region and listings do not prove that every episode is available. Check the catalog in your country for the complete series and your preferred language before subscribing.
Is Naruto Shippuden available on Blu-ray?
VIZ lists Blu-ray/DVD options for Part 1 of Naruto Shippuden. Before buying, confirm the exact set and episode coverage, stock, language tracks, region compatibility, and current price on the product listing.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Watch Naruto first and Naruto Shippuden second. Shippuden resumes the same story almost two and a half years after the Final Valley battle, with Naruto returning from training and Akatsuki’s threat coming into focus. Movies and filler guides are optional territory to verify separately; for streaming or discs, check episode coverage, region, language, and edition details before paying.
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