I disagree : D Okay, just a random example. Take Rock Lee and his team. They were a huge part of the story in terms of attention, writing quality, and emphasis. Like, ask anybody who watched the show about what they remember from the pre-time skip, and they will likely, among other things, remember Rock Lee vs Gaara fight or maybe Neji vs Hinata, and all the emotions and the background around these stories. I even think the animators noticed them as key moments, judging by how flashy the animation was done. Both Rock Lee and Neji got proper arcs, with all sorts of detail and more or less satisfying endings. Ino didn't, but well, Kishi doesn't know what to do with girls, so.
Anyway, now when their arcs were over what did Kishi do with them? It is hard to describe even. Rock Lee, Neji and Guy are nonsensical in Shippuden. They have neither story nor motivations, they lack any progress or dynamics, they didn't even change after the time skip. It is a mess. Even Rock Lee vs Kimimaro makes no sense, it is just a random fanservice to Rock Lee fans or something. It would have been exactly the same with Hinata, except her arc didn't end properly pre-time skip, and versus Pain fight was a perfect opportunity to finish it.
I can give more examples of characters whose stories were messed up from the writing perspective, be it in different ways. Tsunade, Gaara, Orochimaru to name a few. And it is not just characters, I can also talk about the world being weak and making little sense, the arcs being independent and "episodic", the charcka system being almost as messed up as the magic in other popular shonens, etc. Kishi is talented at creating medium length fascinating stories, mixing in references and allowing in cool influences; he is also good at setting the mood for scenes, and he can do lots of different ones. But that is not the same as perfect writing.
Wano is an eventful introduction so far : D I wouldn't be spoiling anything major like a revolt of whatever anyway :angel: My impression of the art style is a safe territory I think, but I don't want to reveal any plot points.
