Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-1018594-20140908173055/@comment-25349026-20140910054934

Yalocalsupahero wrote:

There's just not enough time in the main story for all million characters who've had screen time. I'd love it if the universe got filled in. The story wouldn't be as good if it was just Naruto Gokuing people in one on ones.

And this is why the story fails. Mangaka lost the MacGuffin, introduced too many subplots, too many characters that just aren't relevant enough to have that kind of story. Look at B for instance. Here is a character whose only purposes are, 1. short term plot device for Sasuke 2. Training device for Naruto, 3. Minor part in war.

We really didn't need to know about B's childhood, that he made friends with Motoi (I had to look his name up because he has that little impact on the story), that he met a guy with a giant f-ing racoon (didn't even bother to look him up) to try and make enka rap. But we got shittons of B because Kishimoto was going through his 'black' and 'rap' phases which fine, whatever. But, now he suddenly had to make minor supporting characters to this supporting character he was making more and more into a main character. So now you have characters like Darui, Omoi, Karui, Shee, Atsui, Samui (the teleporty chick), and all these other Kumo ninja that don't really need names or backstories as they don't serve enough purpose to warrant one. And I even like some of those characters, Omoi is like ganguro Shikamaru.

The point is you end up with a lot of 'underrated' characters because so many of those named characters should be listed in the credits as 'Kumo Nin #2' etc.

And its not just Kumogakure, practically every ninja that has ever lived in Konoha has been named and given some sort of relation.