Well the manga is considered more cannon because Kishimoto-sensei draws it and the anime is drawn by other people. The reason why that anime has fillers and add more background information is to make sure they don't catch up with the manga.
If you want to discuss about Naruto, it's better to read the manga, instead of only relying on the anime.
Well, I've always prefered reading over watching anyway. I always read the manga first before I watch the anime of it. Reading it makes it easier for me to connect and understand the characters.