How to Read Naruto in Order: Complete Manga Guide (2026)

Naruto is a complete manga series by Masashi Kishimoto, published by Shueisha from 1999 to 2014. The 700-chapter series spans 72 tankōbon volumes across two parts: Naruto (Part 1, Vols 1–27) and Naruto: Shippuden (Part 2, Vols 28–72). The story follows Naruto Uzumaki, a loud, hyperactive ninja who dreams of becoming his village’s leader (Hokage). Naruto is one of the three best-selling manga series of all time (the “Big Three” alongside One Piece and Bleach) and spawned a massive anime, films, games, and a sequel series in Boruto. Both parts are complete and all 72 volumes are available in English from Viz Media.

Quick Answer See the arc breakdown below — read all volumes in publication order from Vol. 1 to the latest.

Use the sections below for the full reading order, volume list, and follow-up recommendations.

All 72 Naruto Volumes in Order

Vol 1–27 = Naruto (Part 1) · Vol 28–72 = Naruto: Shippuden (Part 2). Read sequentially.

Naruto Manga Reading Order

1. Land of Waves Arc — Part 1 (Volumes 1–4)

Naruto graduates from the Academy and joins Team 7 with Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and their sensei Kakashi. Their first serious mission — escorting a bridge builder to the Land of Waves — pits them against the ruthless swordsman Zabuza and the mysterious Haku. This arc establishes the series’ emotional core: the meaning of bonds, sacrifice, and what it means to be a ninja.

2. Chunin Exams Arc — Part 1 (Volumes 4–13)

The longest and most acclaimed arc of Part 1. Naruto and his teammates enter the Chunin Exams — a massive multi-village tournament — where they encounter Gaara of the Sand, Rock Lee’s tearful battle, and the sinister Orochimaru. The arc climaxes with the invasion of the Hidden Leaf Village. Introduces the Legendary Sannin, the Akatsuki, and deepens Sasuke’s rivalry with Naruto.

3. Search for Tsunade Arc — Part 1 (Volumes 16–19)

Following the Third Hokage’s death, Naruto and Jiraiya search for the legendary medical ninja Tsunade to become the Fifth Hokage. This arc introduces Itachi Uchiha and Kisame of the Akatsuki and features Naruto mastering the Rasengan. Tsunade’s backstory adds emotional weight to the series’ themes of loss and perseverance.

4. Sasuke Retrieval Arc — Part 1 (Volumes 20–27)

Sasuke defects from the Hidden Leaf to seek power from Orochimaru. Naruto forms a retrieval squad to bring him back. The arc ends with Naruto vs. Sasuke at the Valley of the End — a landmark battle in shonen history. The emotional devastation of losing Sasuke drives Naruto’s motivation for the entire second half of the series.

5. Kazekage Rescue Arc — Part 2 / Shippuden (Volumes 28–32)

After a 2.5-year time skip, Naruto returns stronger and joins the new Team 7 alongside the mysterious Sai. Gaara has been made Kazekage and is captured by the Akatsuki. This arc reintroduces the world post-time-skip and sets the tone for Shippuden’s darker, higher-stakes battles.

6. Itachi Pursuit Arc (Volumes 38–43)

Sasuke hunts his brother Itachi to take revenge for the massacre of the Uchiha clan. The revelation of the truth behind the Uchiha massacre is one of manga’s greatest plot twists and recontextualizes everything from Sasuke’s origin story onward. Essential reading.

7. Pain’s Assault Arc (Volumes 43–50)

The Six Paths of Pain launch a devastating attack on the Hidden Leaf Village, destroying it entirely. Naruto’s battle with Pain is the series’ emotional and action peak — featuring Naruto’s mastery of Sage Mode and a resolution that cements his role as the village’s hero. Widely considered the best arc in the series.

8. Fourth Great Ninja War Arc (Volumes 53–72)

The entire ninja world unites against the resurrected Madara Uchiha and the mysterious Tobi. A sprawling multi-volume war arc with major revelations about the series’ mythology, the Ten-Tails, and the Sage of Six Paths. Naruto vs. Sasuke’s final battle concludes their rivalry and the series as a whole.

Naruto Spinoffs and Extras

These are optional companion works. The main series is self-contained.

Naruto Gaiden: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring

A brief 10-chapter miniseries set after the main story, bridging Naruto and Boruto. Collected in Vol. 72 as bonus content. Best read immediately after finishing the main series before starting Boruto.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations

The sequel series following Naruto’s son Boruto. A separate ongoing series (manga by Mikio Ikemoto, original story by Kishimoto). Read only after completing all 72 volumes of the original series. The Boruto manga has since been retitled Boruto: Two Blue Vortex for its second part.

Naruto Light Novels

Several official light novels expand on the stories of Shikamaru, Kakashi, Itachi, and others. All are optional and best read after the main series. The “Itachi Shinden” novels are particularly recommended for fans who want more on the Uchiha massacre.

Should You Read Naruto or Watch the Anime First?

Naruto has one of the most filler-heavy anime adaptations in history. The original Naruto anime is roughly 40% filler — 90 of its 220 episodes are filler arcs not present in the manga. Naruto: Shippuden is similarly padded, with large chunks of filler that frustrate many viewers trying to follow the main story. The manga is significantly recommended over the anime for first-time readers — you will finish the story in a fraction of the time without the pacing issues. If you do watch the anime, use a filler guide to skip non-canon episodes. Filler-free anime guides are widely available online.

Where to Read Naruto Manga

Manga Plus and Viz Media both offer free access to the first and latest three chapters. A Viz subscription ($2.99/month) unlocks the full 72-volume run. All 72 physical volumes are available from Viz Media; box sets covering Part 1 and Part 2 separately offer good value for physical readers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Naruto

What order should I read Naruto? Read Naruto in publication order — Volumes 1–27 for Part 1 (the original Naruto), then Volumes 28–72 for Part 2 (Naruto Shippuden). Both parts are published as one continuous numbered series by Viz Media. Start at Vol. 1 and read straight through.
How many Naruto manga volumes are there? Naruto has 72 volumes total: 27 for Part 1 and 45 for Part 2 (Shippuden). The series is complete, ending in 2014. All 72 volumes are available in English from Viz Media.
Do I need to read Naruto before Boruto? Yes. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations assumes familiarity with the events of all 72 Naruto volumes. Do not start Boruto until you have finished the main series.
How much filler is in the Naruto anime? Approximately 40% of the original Naruto anime and 30% of Naruto Shippuden are filler episodes not present in the manga. The manga contains none of this and is the recommended way to experience the story for the first time.
Where does the Naruto Shippuden anime end in the manga? Naruto Shippuden covers Volumes 28–72 of the manga. The anime ends at the same point as the manga (though with significant filler padding along the way). Boruto continues the story afterward as a separate series.

What to Read After Naruto

Dragon Ball
The classic tournament-and-adventure shonen that defined the genre Naruto built on
My Hero Academia
Superhero shonen with a large cast and a similarly complete run
Bleach
The third member of the “Big Three” alongside Naruto and One Piece; 74 complete volumes
One Piece
The other pillar of the Big Three era and the best-selling manga of all time
Fairy Tail
Guild-based magic adventure with themes of friendship that echo Naruto’s best arcs