Lol @ epic fail. It was totally obvious that all those other ninja weren't at the right place yet they wasted all that time showing everyone dramatically milling about just as an excuse to waste time. Go Team Naruto Anime!

The episode then proceeds to end at the most cock tease time possible, and then the preview ruins the tease setup by showing anyone with half a brain exactly what's going to happen to resolve the tease.

As to the mertis of the plan, how many ninja's have we seen who wouldn't fall to a dual knives through the heart surprise. The only ninja's that strategy wouldn't work on are immortal ninjas and ninjas who could see Shikamaru's shadow coming even while distracted by Asuma.