The "Naruto" manga concluded on November 10, 2014, and it has been 12 years since then. ComicBook.com recently revisited this controversial ending, arguing that while related issues still exist, the addition of supplementary content and changes in reading habits have led to a more positive evaluation of the ending compared to its initial reception.
This retrospective mentions that the long-running series left several issues that are still discussed today. Plot points such as Hashirama's death were not clearly explained, and there are questions regarding the power system and certain storylines; details like Itachi's illness and Orochimaru's change of attitude were also not fully explored.
The controversy mainly centered on the final stage of the story. Madara was long portrayed as the final antagonist, only to be manipulated by Black Zetsu, with Kaguya Otsutsuki appearing shortly thereafter in the epilogue. The article argues that this twist lacked sufficient foreshadowing at the time, disrupting the pacing of the finale and giving readers the impression that it was setting up the world for a sequel.
However, the sequel later developed the sci-fi background and Otsutsuki clan settings introduced in the finale into significant plot points, and some readers have found possible foreshadowing in earlier chapters. The difference in pacing between weekly serialization and binge-reading also influenced readers' perceptions of the ending.
The anime adaptation also expanded on certain scenes and supplemented the characters' post-war experiences through an epilogue and novel adaptations, which to some extent alleviated the issue of the manga's rushed conclusion. The above viewpoints are from media retrospectives and reviews 12 years after the work's completion, not new official settings.