TBH the whole sage training and Konoha destruction wasn't handled very well in the Manag either.

There wasn't anything missing in the anime that was in the manga.

I rather liked it in the manga. I just love how powerful it showcased Pain to be. Naruto, even after his new enormous power up and more powerful techniques, was still not strong enough to defeat a Pain who started out their battle while not at 100%.

Had Pain come with the intention to kill, like was the case with Jiraiya, Naruto would be dead. He's very fortunate that he was the Kyuubi Jinchuuruki. I also love the way God Realm took control of the entire fight the moment his power was restored. He even seemed downright excited to test out the full extent of the Kyuubi's power, even planned on making Chibaku Tensei even larger than it already was. Guy was a real monster.

I thought it was really cool how Naruto managed to get through to such an individual with words. A lot of people didn't like the ressurection of Kakashi and pretty much all who Pain had killed during the invasion, but it was yet another profound example of the sheer power Nagato possesses.

It isn't that there was anything missing from the anime that was also in the manga, it's that what was put in the anime was as low quality as animation of a very popular anime franchise can get. I really looked about as bad as one of those fake youtube renditions of the Naruto vs Pain fight. It was horrible. Bad use of music, bad animation, no real appearance of momentum or power to anything that was taking place. I mean, to basically see it done right, all we need do is go back to the Chiyo, Sasori fight.

Or even go to the Hidan & Kakuzu fight with Kakashi and Shikamaru's team. Hell, even fights that took place in part 1 during the rescue Sasuke arc or Chuunin Exam arc.

Rock Lee vs Kimmimaro.

Gaara vs Kimmimaro.

Naruto vs Sasuke.

Neji vs Kidoumaru.

Rock Lee vs Gaara.

Neji vs Hinata.

Naruto vs Neji.

Sasuke vs Gaara.

Naruto vs Gaara.

Itachi vs Kakashi.

Itachi and Kisame vs Asuma and Kurenai.

It's just disappointing how weak the quality of the anime has become. Take Bleach, for example, even with all it's crap story stalls, plot development, ridiculous main villain that always seems ready for just about any and anything, when those guys do an anime episode they put some damn heart into it and do it justice. It's sad that this isn't consistently the case for the Naruto anime team.

There were even parts of the Sasuke vs Itachi fight that, while incredible, screamed amateur at the same time. The moment Itachi first used Amaterasu against Sasuke, for one. The way they handled Sasuke running away from the flames of Amaterasu and how slow and unthreatening they made a supposed instant kill move like Amaterasu was disappointing. But even with that complaint, the Sasuke and Itachi fight wasn't handled anywhere near as bad as this all important fight was. I mean, this is basically Naruto's first time in the manga where Naruto shows up and is the last resort to save the day against an opponent who made defeating Jiraiya seem almost like childs play, and I'm certain could make short work of any single kage, even if 2 of them decided to team up together. Pain was truly something else. Sad the major episodes with him aren't getting the respect they deserve.

Nah i don't get any of that really, pain didn't seem overly powered like the Jiraiya fight, Naruto took what seemed like 2 days to surpass Jiraiya (what kind of stupid shit is that), Tsundae was pretty useless although she used her powers to protect, I would have much liked to see her fight to be honest.

At least Garaa will be coming back on the scene in the future, the Naruto vs Kyuubi fight should be ineteresting enough aswell.

As for the quality of the anime you have to remember they are on a deadline with the episodes they run, so its quite easy to imagine why they need to cut corners like they do, although I'm not sure they should be doing that on the big fight scenes, I can't say I noticed the low quality animation either way.

Naruto has never been a showcase for animation anyway.

It's never been a showcase for animation, but you've got to admit what we are watching these days pales in comparison to the third vs orochimaru fight. Hinata vs Neji, Rock Lee vs Gaara, Gaara vs Kimmimaro, Neji vs Kidoumaru during rescue sasuke arc.

And numerous other examples, really.

Pain came to Konoha and brought it to its knees by himself. He was on the vurge of killing Konoha's Hokage, who he had bested because he used her love for the village against her, forcing her to exhaust herself to protect it. He even defeated Kakashi prior to leveling the entire village, a surefire candidate for Hokage, before all his other exploits on that day, even taking on the Kyuubi in 6 tail form and sealing it inside of a Chibaku Tensei. He was still showcased as immensely powerful, I think.

The only reason that Naruto even survived and wasn't killed, was because he was a Jinchuuruki and Pain needed him alive. Also, Pain's most powerful body, thanks to that massive Shinra Tensei, didn't have all its power restored when Naruto showed up in the village. However, despite that fact, the very moment God Realm's power came back, it became a total route in his favor.

Ma and Pa were defeated, All 3 gigantic toads, and Naruto was pinned to the ground helpless to do anything. If Pain, like was the case with Jiraiya, wanted Naruto dead, he would definitely be dead. Naruto didn't truly surpass Jiraiya or the Fourth, even though Pa made such suggestions. Naruto was also operating on far more information on Pain's secrets and abilities than Jiraiya was the first time around. Jiraiya was flying completely blind and paid with his life as a result. Naruto had a degree of support and back up that Jiraiya simply didn't possess at the time, and even then he laid there defeated on the ground receiving a lecture from Pain about the cycle of hatred. Were it not for Hinata's actions forcing a Kyuubi transformation from Naruto, who knows what his fate would be now.

Naruto, with regards to certain aspects of his abilities, likely surpassed Jiraiya, but surely not on a whole he didn't. Then again, Naruto always seemed more like Pain's natural enemy to me than did Jiraiya.

Episode 167 what the fuck is up with the animation/art in this episode, a 3 year old could draw better.

And more to the point I don't remember any of this shit where the ground breaks apart and those weird tree/roots come out of the ground or where pain gets hammered into the ground like a toy.

The most bizarre episode i have seen so far.

See what I'm saying, man? They have no respect at all for the manga. A ton of the crap in that episode never happened. I understand using a bit of creative license to do some extra stuff, but that's just way too much.

I don't know what in the hell they were thinking with some of the bizarre crap they allowed to take place. Pain being hammered into the damn ground like we are watching a Looney Toons cartoon, all that water coming literally out of nowhere. Their changing so many aspects of the fight, and actually making it seem like Pain and 6 Tail Naruto were going at it hand to hand or some crap. They totally screwed over the rules of how Pain's jutsu is suppose to work in the first place, the Shinra Tensei. He was shielding against the Kyuubi attacks for wayyy too damn long. The Kyuubi firing what seemed to be a damn gatling gun type weapon.

God, man, there's just too much to complain about. The only part of the episode I actually liked was the tail end when the Kyuubi told Naruto to remove the seal, then the sad/epic music came on signifying the fact that Naruto was about to do something potentially world ending in releasing the Kyuubi from its seal. I especially loved the creative manner in which they showed the Fourth with his eyes closed, standing high atop some mountain with the sun shining, signifying the fact that he was waiting for something to come, and that time was now. I really liked that part. A lot.

The rest? Oh please. It's sad that I can't rely on this anime anymore. I'll just continue to rely on the manga, until they somehow get their acts together. This weeks manga chapter was all kinds of incredible. Everything is coming full circle :D

Yea will probably do the same and stick with the manga for a while, at least the Bleach anime is getting quite good :D