Far from being an otaku, I've experienced maybe half a dozen manga/anime over the years. But this series has long been a guilty pleasure of mine, and I say that as someone unashamed by his enjoyment of the Posleen and Honorverse books.
There's just something about a hyper orange hero with the power to multiply himself. Or the vast and varied cast of secondary characters. I do like how the themes are accessible, without beating you over the head. Usually. The themes themselves are something I support wholeheartedly, never give up, effort and determination mattering more than natural skill, revenge vs. forgiveness, even the recent navel-gazing about war and peace that never went anywhere. There'd better be a hell of a payoff for that.
People say it's derivative, the recycled plot of a dozen better manga. I can't really say one way or the other. Does it have every little thing that drives me nuts, from every minor character having an episode long flashback telling their life's story to "secret ultimate attacks" that are objectively less useful than just stabbing someone? You bet.
Still, I like it. This is something of a theme with me lately.
Not literally. But I can enjoy a flawed story, even a seriously flawed one, without denying it's faults.
That said, this seems like an auspicious time to start a thread. If you read the manga there's a real sense that things are finally moving towards endgame. If you follow the show, you can believe that this is the beginning of the end. The nations (though since they're led by Daimyos, perhaps Baronies would be more appropriate) of the world have forged an alliance to resist the Akatsuki, and even the assembled armies of the world are outnumbered and outgunned as the remaining members pull out ever more absurd powers, including Kabuto who resurrects every dead Kage, jinchuuriki, former Akatsuki member, or famous ninja to fight on his side.
Also:
Spoiler
So does anyone else care one whit about this?