It's not a dark hole, just an exhausting one, it definitely would have been easier to just read the manga, that's for sure x3. (Also, I have no idea why my brother started watching Naruto, he's not a cartoon/anime guy at all x3)
Luckily my brother is ahead of me and informed me of the entirety of season four of the first series being filler so I didn't even bother with that x3. Not that I necessarily mind filler, but it needs to be entertaining in some way, and aside from one or two that were interesting I couldn't be bothered x3, if I want to I can always go back to interesting sounding ones. I just skipped to the last six episodes because he said those were fun to watch (which they were *nodnod*). I'll probably end up reading the manga eventually just because I'm weird like that, what do I care if I know what happens? I already knew quite a few major plot points anyway just from cultural osmosis, and having caught some of the series when it was still airing on Cartoon Network x3 Honestly this is the only time I've completely in the dark about what's going on, it's kind of nice not knowing what to expect x3 (I mean there are some things that I knew/know, but they were/are small things) x3. (Of course my brother has the worst poker face ever and so whenever I joke about something happening I find out if it does or not, I've taken to not looking at his face/having him say 'don't look at me!' to prevent spoilers x3), we've got a system. Now he only 'spoils' things if I've guessed them correctly or I say I don't mind
Also, honestly, at this point I feel like I'd be a total quitter if I just stopped watching the anime, I'm 171 episodes into Shippuden, only like...200blahblah left to go! (I sound crazy saying that, don't I?)
I...was not expecting to have so much to say...whoops x3.