Anime you loved but not anymore?

Do you remember Zabuza's arc? That one where strategy and shit was still important. With Shippuden all the overpower bullshit started to make the show more absurd, unbelievable and boring. Ninjas destroying whole villages, and what a coincidence, nobody but a teen can't stop the bad guys.

And Naruto/Sasuke only had to train a bit to gain a new superpower to beat the bad guy who was training and killing people for years.

What to say about characters? Naruto and Sasuke bitching all the time, Sakura almost forgotten like all the other characters. Wasn't Neji one of the best young ninjas of Konoha? Who cares, let's show him dying.

tsudecimo said:
While I think the execution of Neji's death was bad, and underwhelming for two reasons. One, he didn't have any significant screen time, and was neglected after the time skip, for no valid reason. Two, the actual way he died, was really meh (getting stabbed by those things)

But one thing for certain. His death was most definitely not even remotely for shock value. And had several layers of depth, and meaning to it. And had it's purposes. If it was for shock value, why not Chouji? why not Lee? Why not Kiba? why not the other side characters? Why only kill him, and not kill some other support characters too?

The answer to those questions, are because, it was supposed to mean something for Naruto specifically, and Hinata. Before that death, Naruto stated, while Obito was trying to break Kakashi's spirit ''I will never let my comrades die''. He has been going with those past words that were taught to Kakashi by Obito. This is why, Neji died in front of Naruto. It served a purpose to drive Obito's speech home, so Obito can shake down Naruto's resolve, to kick him while he was down sort of speak. Death of nameless ninjas, won't work to crush Naruto spirit, and dwell him in despair, any human no matter who he is, won't be as broken down, by the death of other people, compared to the death of someone he actually knows. It had to be someone who he had a personal connection with, an actual comrade. And it had to be Neji, because of Naruto and Hinata. No other person was suited to break Naruto from the despair, that was going to overcome him, and make him believe that his words are not empty, that Neji's sacrifice had meaning and wasn't in vain, other than Hinata, because Neji also means something to her, Neji's death should affect her too, and while Naruto was momentarily broken down in shock and panic, and was about to be consumed of fear, and despair, she remained calm for the sake of him, you can argue that Hinata, understands Naruto the most, since she watched him, from so long ago, and continued doing so. This is all references, and expansion of previous details, of the relationship between Naruto, Neji and Hinata, back in the Chunnin exam, and how their relationship with each other developed so much.

The layers of complexity and depth, I earlier mentioned were.

Neji's finally understanding what his father meant, what true freedom is like, his purpose, resolve, and ideals. Choosing your own destiny. A final conclusion to truly get what his father meant.

Neji's words to Naruto, and their reference to their meeting back then, and how Naruto significantly changed him, why he decided to save him and Hinata. Naruto ''Because you called me a loser'', Neji ''Because you called me a genius'''.

The relationship between Naruto, Hinata, and Neji and how it's completely different in so many ways, from the Chunnin exam.

Gave a chance to put emphasis on Obito's annoyance, and irritation of Naruto. Because he sees his former self in him. He is bitter, and wants Naruto to have a similar experience to his. Wanting validations, that it's not his fault, that he became this way, that anyone would become like him, at due time, because of the world they live in. To validate his ideology and to feel he is right in what he is doing, and that his plan is the only right course of action.

Obito's speech, and why Naruto was shaken down by Neji's death. Obito brutally attacking Naruto's biggest insecurities and fears, that we all know of, since the beginning of the series. Loneliness, if his comrades die, one after another like Neji, what will be left for him, and his hopes and ideals, what will those possibly do, if that truly happens. Acknowledgement. The speech, really got to Naruto and made him speechless, until Hinata snapped him out of it.

His death fulfilled what it's supposed to do, and had it purposes, all of what I wrote above, happened because of that particular death, and wouldn't have worked with other characters. The execution of the death itself was the only thing that was lacking, his death alone would have been more impactful if he had more screen time, and relevance, and wasn't basically neglected after the time skip. It was not random, or for mere shock value. Heck, I don't think that '' everyone can die in a war'' was one of the main reasons for it to happen.

Why the fuck did Orochimaru return? Well, nobody gives a fuck so let's just don't explain anything. The whole Tobi/Obito thing was so farfetched, and he wasn't even looking for revenge..