well, it's just like Naruto to have his awesome training only as way to distract him.
remember how he wasted three years with Jiraya only to learn nothing?


other that that, I have a theory about how this shit came to happen

Guy from Marketing: Listen, some fans have been complaining that each Naruto game has the same 20 characters, most of which haven't done anything in the past eight years.
Kishimonto: Oh, so what's got to do with me? just allow them to play new guys.
GfM: here's the problem. the fans like the old characters, Haku and Zabuza are still considered favorites.
Kishi: tough luck for you. so, what do you want from me?
GfM: bring them back, with new moves so we could market them again.
Kishi: no.
GfM: so bring in their identical brothers.
Kishi: I did that already, Kisama, Kimimaru, Sai, and that watery boy.
GfM: they weren't identical enough. I can't see what's your problem with reviving them, you already revived the entire village.
Kishi: I NEVER SAID THEY WERE DEAD!
GfM: Who cares? just do something, we are running out of DLC for new games. Bring back Haku and let him have new moves.
Kishi: here's an idea, maybe, instead of that plot line I have been building over the past years, I'll just bring back everyone who died before chapter 200? and everyone else?
GfM: good, can you also bring back Orochimaru? we want to give him a MJ jacket?
Kishi: *__|__* , have you gone crazy?
GfM: just do it.

and that's my theory: Naruto has become a cash cow for making games.