What if the reason Naruto has been more about talk than awesome jutsu lately is becasue the state of Japan has taken over the production of Naruto in order to not only create a better image of Japan but also to exert soft power over China? It may sound crazy but try to follow my logic.
1) Soft power is a concept created by Joesph Nye that states that countries will try to create power over other countries using attractive qualities of the state. Meaning that just by looking cool, Japan could be trying to exert power over other nations. Scholars have largely concluded that this hasn't worked too well for Japan, even though Japan is rated as having the top ten highest soft powers of all nations.
2) Naruto's message since the Pain arc has been to forgive and end the cycles of hatred that have been going on. Forgive and forget. Then the world will know true peace.
3) Japan was one of the most vicious nations before WWII, when it attacked China. It's wartime atrocities were legendary. To this day, Chinese and Koreans distrust and hate the Japanese.
4) Despite this, the Chinese and Koreans still consume anime.
5) What if the Japanese government has influenced Kishimoto to write about ending the cycles of hatred, forgiving and forgetting; in order to better relations with China and Korea, using Naruto as a soft power resource? Its possible that this is all an elaborate plot to bring world peace, or to better relations with other countries for economic and political benefit.
I developed this theory while writing a research paper on the soft power of Japan, which sadly I need to return to writing. As for the Naruto chapters lately, I can't wait to see what happens with Madara. Also I don't like that Obito is being forgiven so easily, but it is the entire moral of Naruto to end the cycles of hatred. Although no one liked Obito, people would still be mad at Kohnaha for his death, either because he came from Kohnaha or becasue they will be jealous that only leaf village shinobi actually killed him. So it works, and improves the overall story, even though it lessens the action currently occurring. I do want to see a rasenganori, or Karin, or something from Sasuke. Let's see if Madara can be defeated!
