Iruka's Decision
Episode 178 · Naruto Shippuden
SKIP
Filler or Canon?
No — Naruto Shippuden Episode 178 is filler. It's anime-original and has no impact on the main story. Safe to skip if you only want canon. The rare filler this site rates A — a genuinely tender Iruka-Naruto character piece slotted into the war prelude, skippable for plot, costly for heart.NEXT CANON → SHP EP 197 · The Sixth Hokage Danzo
Series
Naruto Shippuden
Episode
178 / 500
Status
Filler
Arc
Locus of Konoha
Anim. Tier
A — Notable
LOCUS OF KONOHA · EP 176–469 · 77 EPISODESYOU ARE HERE · 3 OF 77
Episode Summary
A breath between wars. As Konoha rebuilds from Pain's crater, Iruka receives a mission that has nothing to do with combat: talk to Naruto, the way only he can. The episode loops back to their shared history — the orphaned troublemaker and the teacher who lost his parents to the fox that boy contains — through ramen, report cards and the night everything changed. It is filler by classification, but built entirely from the series' founding relationship, with an A-tier production polish the recap episodes around it never received.
Frequently Asked
What arc is it in?
It's part of the Locus of Konoha arc.
Can I skip it?
Yes, you can safely skip it without missing main story.
Locus of Konoha · Ep 176–469 · 77 episodes
176Iruka the Novice TeacherFiller177Iruka's OrdealFiller
178Iruka's DecisionAFiller
179Kakashi Hatake, the Jonin-in-ChargeFiller180Inari's Courage Put to the TestAFiller181Naruto's School of RevengeFiller182Gaara's BondFiller183Naruto: OutbreakFiller184Deploy! Team TentenFiller185Animal DistrictFiller186Ah, the Medicinal Tonic of YouthFiller187Master and Student: The TrainingFiller188Record of the Ninja Leaf ScrollFiller189Sasuke's Paw EncyclopediaFiller190Naruto and the Old SoldierFiller191Kakashi Love SongFiller192Neji ChroniclesFiller193The Man Who Died TwiceFiller194The Worst Three-Legged RaceSFiller195Team 10's TeamworkFiller196Rush Toward DarknessFiller223Young Men and the SeaFiller224The Ninja of BenisuFiller225The Ghost ShipFiller226The Cursed IslandFiller227The Forgotten IslandFiller228Fight! Rock Lee!Filler229Eat or Die! Mushrooms from Hell!Filler230Revenge of the Shadow ClonesFiller231The Closed RouteFiller232The Girls' Get-TogetherFiller233Naruto's ImposterFiller234Naruto's Favorite PupilSFiller235The Kunoichi of the Hidden Village of Hot WaterFiller236Friends You Can Count OnFiller237Ah, the Myosuke of DestinyFiller238Sai's RestFiller239The Legendary Ino-Shika-Cho TrioFiller240Kiba's DeterminationFiller241Kakashi, My Eternal Rival!Filler242Naruto's VowFiller257MeetingFiller258RivalsFiller259RiftFiller260PartingFiller389The Beloved DaughterFiller390Hanabi's DecisionFiller422The InheritorFiller423The RivalFiller432The Loser NinjaFiller433The Search MissionFiller434Team JiraiyaFiller435PrioritiesFiller436The Man Who DiedFiller437The Forbidden JutsuFiller438The Cursed PuppetFiller439The Child of ProphecyFiller440The Caged BirdFiller441ReturnFiller442The Path of Mutual EngagementFiller443The Difference in PowerFiller444Leaving the VillageFiller445PursuersFiller446CollisionFiller447Another MoonFiller448ComradeFiller449The Shinobi UniteFiller450RivalFiller451To Being BornMixed Canon/Filler452The GeniusMixed Canon/Filler453The Pain of LivingMixed Canon/Filler454Shisui's RequestMixed Canon/Filler455MoonlightSMixed Canon/Filler456Darkness of the AkatsukiMixed Canon/Filler457PartnerMixed Canon/Filler458TruthMixed Canon/Filler469A Special MissionMixed Canon/Filler720 episodes — canon, mixed, filler and best animation moments.
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