I think the reason there is not alot of death in Naruto is because, well this has become a long running series, with really no end in site. I'm surprised it has lasted this long, prob. because kishimoto is making a shit load of money. So if he were to kill off the main characters, then the series would have to end pretty quick, or else he would have to introduce a new character every few eps( kinda like monster, sometimes the people get introduced, then die the same eps).

And as for the villans dying, well Naruto and Sakura have been trained by two of the three legndary sanin. So, I dont think it is too far fetched that they are doing well against akatsuki( even though they havent really shown any major improvments, besides sakuras super strenth). But if you look at the two fights, it is really chyo and kakashi that did the major damage, with naruto and sakura to back them up.

As for this chapter, I'm surprised that it moved this quickly. Team Gai has already beat the clones, naruto used kage bushin, rasangan AND gone kyuubi, and another akatsuki member dies(maybe). nice, quick and informative, just how I like it.