Quote Originally Posted by CapsuleCorpJX
The last few chapters is really screwing things up for me. Come on? S-Class criminals being beaten one on one by Shikamaru and Naruto? Thats ridiculous. A good chapter, good action, even decent tactics, but still ... the two chars should not be on the level of Akatsuki, and should have used every member of their team to kill off those Akatsuki (and even then maybe only kill one).
Shikamaru won simply due to preplanning and knowing Hidan's one true trick. Where as Hidan really didn't know Shikamaru's true talent - his genius. As far as Hidan knew, he was just some punk kid trying to get revenge for Teacher.

As for Naruto.. Him, Sakura, and Sasuke are basically the Sannin reborn - another trio of Kage level Ninja. Though Sakura is lagging behind compared to the guys. As for her strength, it's apparent she's still leaps and bounds above your ordinary Chunin, and most Jounin. Add that together with Chiyo's experience and wisdom, there in lies Sasori's defeat. If she had a wider range of talent, she would probably be the most dangerous one of the bunch as far as unassisted(Kyuubi/Sharingan) skill goes.

Akatsuki may have talent, but they aren't Kages(theories aside) and lack any proven Kage-level ninja since Orochimaru left. Given that, and despite being a Genin with Kage level Chakra, Stamina, and Techniques, Naruto better be able to bust some Upper Jounin-rank skulls.