Naruto - Shippuden - Season 16

: Details his defection from Konoha and his early sinister ambitions. ⚡ Technical Highlights

✨ : If you usually skip fillers, don't skip this one. It is a masterclass in character development that makes the final arcs of the war feel much more impactful. Naruto: Shippuden: Season 16 - Rotten Tomatoes

: Provides essential context for the Uchiha Massacre, showing the political tension from Itachi's perspective.

(Episodes 349–361) is widely regarded as one of the best "filler" or backstory arcs in the entire franchise. Known as the Kakashi: Shadow of the ANBU Black Ops arc, it steps away from the Fourth Shinobi World War to dive deep into the tragic history of Kakashi Hatake. The Master of Tragedy

: Explores his origins as an experiment of Orochimaru and how he eventually joined the Leaf's elite.

: The animation is notably more cinematic and darker than standard filler, fitting the sombre tone of the ANBU.

: The arc concludes beautifully by bridging into the start of the original Naruto series, showing Kakashi meeting Team 7 for the first time.

While Kakashi is the lead, this season serves as a dual origin story for several fan favorites: