This post contains spoilers for "Naruto."

The tale of Naruto Uzumaki is a special one. Almost every Hayato Date-helmed "Naruto" episode etches out an essential aspect of the titular teen troublemaker's life while laying the groundwork for the impressive worldbuilding that "Naruto: Shippuden" would later flesh out. The sheer breadth of "Naruto" — which only constitutes Part I of the overarching arc — spans over 220 episodes, mimicking the hero's journey that is quintessentially rife with growing pains, the power of friendship, and the increasingly troubling realization that the Shinobi World is a bleak, ruthless space where only the most powerful emerge victorious. However, the reason "Naruto" is so deeply loved is its tendency to balance out its darker aspects with lighthearted slice-of-life adventures, leading to a mix of episodes categorized as canon and filler.

The term "filler" can evoke complicated and diverging reactions, as some view filler episodes as completely skippable...