Naruto starts slow and rather crappy... but it gets better.

Yes.

And honestly, I haven't even gotten to the stuff that you mention. Although you description of Itchigo getting owned was wintastic.

And I don't even wanna talk about Rukia. It makes me cranky and when I get cranky I do things like rant... *points to above*

Now I'm morbidly curious. Don't worry about spoilers, I highly doubt I'm going to read it ever again.

And wouldn't you say that killing Kiba yet leaving his dog alive is the cruller punishment?