Plot: Naruto Gaiden is basically all about Uchiha's family drama. And if we're left with more questions than answers, what was the point?
Sasuke's Absence: Sasuke fell so far below my expectations as a parent and husband, it hurt. I assumed that he actually lived in Konoha after he finished his journey but went on missions frequently. At worst, I thought he was on the road for months but would still return home a few times a year.
Instead he hadn't been back in Konoha for so long that Sarada couldn't even remember him. The excuse that he'd been traversing dimensions just made it worse for me; if he can make his way to other dimensions (and fly) then he can make his way home sometimes. Damn, dude, send a letter or something.
And then he just leaves again anyway after trolling his wife. If it wasn't obvious from the murder attempts and traumatic genjutsu, Kishimoto really hammers it in that SasuSaku is a terrible thing.
Sakura Fainting: It was a remarkably clever way of undermining what little cred Sakura may have had left. And couldn't we have had a small mention of Sakura being in charge of the Medical Corps? It seems like all she's done since the end of the war is get pregnant, chase after Sasuke and housework.
Sarada's Mother: The Karin/Sakura issue was kind of amusing but mostly annoying. The fact that Sarada's parentage was even a question, let alone a major plot point, bothered. And I don't see why no one told her that Sakura had given birth to her outside of Konoha with help from a friend?
Seriously. Sarada growing resentful of her father for his absence would honestly have been enough drama by itself.
Chouchou: She was my favourite next-gen in the Epilogue for this alone: "Yeah, I'm fat. Deal with it. Peace, sucka."
And now I'm utterly sick of her. She should have been left behind, just appearing enough to show that she and Sarada are friends but nothing more. Her entire reason for being there grated and her attempts at comic relief just grew worse and worse.
Despite being a prick from what we've seen, I really would have preferred Boruto being there. He would have made so much more sense (especially since he was meant to deliver the lunch box) and at least then he could have developed some during the Gaiden or have shown a better side of himself.
Mitsuki: This freaking kid. Kishimoto's seriously dragging out the mystery of his heritage after he popped up out of nowhere but I really don't give a damn anyway. I wish Metal Lee was the third teammate of the new Team 7. If not, then Himawari should have been Boruto's fraternal twin and been on the team instead.
Orochimaru and Kabuto's Status: He should be dead or just have vanished from the story. They literally could have said "Orochimaru vanished after the war and no-one's seen or heard anything of him since" and I would have been totally cool with it. Yamato being stuck on guard duty and Naruto and Sasuke just having some casual chat with him was all kinds of bizarre.
Kabuto running the orphanage was exactly what I expected, to be honest. But I would preferred imprisonment or execution considering the extent of his crimes. One scenario I plucked out of my head was that he'd actually spent a decade or so in prison but when Naruto became Hokage, he made him carry out the rest of his penance by running the orphanage. I'm not sure if I find that fitting, or if the idea just pisses me off. :huh:
Suigetsu and Juugo: Suigetsu should have gone back to Kiri to reform the Seven Ninja Swordsmen like he was moaning about the
entire time. Instead he's Orochimaru's bitch despite the kidnapping and experimenting thing. Juugo could have gone into the wilds for solitude, joined a monastery or even went to find those afflicted by the curse seal. Hell, he could have stuck by Sasuke's side and it would have been cool. Instead he went back to the guy who never did a damn thing except exploit him.
Karin really should have just moved to Konoha but I find her going back to Orochimaru the least irksome. She didn't really have anything against him in the first place.
Only good thing that came out of those three here was that I didn't get to see them in the Epilogue, so my curiosity is now sated.
That Damn Shin: If it weren't for how much the very existence of Kaguya ruined Naruto, Shin would be the worst villain around. A wannabe Uchiha obsessed with Itachi and Akatsuki and has too many damn Sharingan. It's nothing we haven't seen before. His pseudo-Kamui bugs me on principle and his weapon telekinesis is pitifully unoriginal and weak considering it comes from a
Mangekyou of all things. I genuinely would have preferred Shin having a different power with each eye just for the variety. It'd make more sense given he's stuff his body with them and it would at least give us an idea of what other Mangekyou jutsu existed in the past. Then again, Kishimoto would probably mess that up anyway.
On the whole, he was terrible from start to finish. It's ironic that his basic motivation - that conflict is necessary for humanity - is perfect an antagonist of the new era and would have been great if it belonging to a proper new villain for the Gaiden instead of this rehash of our old ones.
