I'll admit it: Naruto starts out very well. The focus on Naruto's development and taking steps toward his dream are most of why the first half of the series is much better. The Zabuza arc, Naruto's fight with Neji, and Naruto's fight with Gaara were excellent. They radiated a good positive feeling in these moments where you really feel that the little Japanese-equivalent of Dennis the Mennis with a tragic past seemed to really progress in becoming more mature and getting closer to his dream. Naruto's fights in the first half of the series were also drawn much better: there was simply more motion in the action, and I felt the pacing was very nice too. Naruto and Sasuke's fight at the Valley of the End was also very nice. I like how he showed his progression from the beginning of the series in how he confronted Sasuke (Sure, it was a pretty corny friendship speech, but when I have to rate a mainstream shonen story, I try to take in consideration that it doesn't have to be some sort of masterpiece); and the fight was just packed with a great deal of emotion.

I felt that the series took a turn for the worse at the second half of the story after the time skip. The fights just lacked the same sort of inspiring energy, less motion (particularly in Sasuke's but he's a topic I'll get to later), and just dragged on. In addition, the story takes a big plunge. The amount of focus on Naruto trying to get Sasuke back, Sasuke himself, and trying to stop Akatsuki feels like the focus shifted from Naruto developing and reaching his dreams into something convoluted and stupid. Which brings me to another topic: Sasuke. I can't believe this guy even has a fanbase. He has the personality of a cardboard box, and honestly- I hated the chapters about his angst and wristcutting because it's absolutely boring and annoying to read. Worse yet, Kishi put way too much focus on him in large chunks of this later half of the series. So for weeks on and weeks on, you've got to put up with him in the chapters. Worse yet are the fight scenes. It feels less entertaining when I watch Sasuke fight because with Sasuke, fights lack motion and are put in for the sake of having a fight to cater to the fans and advance the story. In his fights, it just become about unleashing the strongest jutsu on each other than on willpower and spirit that some of the major fights in the earlier half of the series have. In other words, Dragonball Z with equally slow pacing, if not worse; and it becomes all about the abilities than on trying to truly entertain the audience- but I suppose there's a certain portion of the fanbase who finds these abilities cool, but to me, it's all stupid.

Oh well, I suppose it's at least a far better read than Bleach.