The characterization is often fairly deep and nuanced, but there's some rough spots. For one, it's fairly obvious who the author likes (Kurenai verges on Creator's Pet given how many people talk her up and how rarely she is proven wrong), and doesn't like (Hiashi becomes an Abusive Parent who's implied to be part of a Government Conspiracy against Naruto, and Team 7 is portrayed as arrogant jerks, even if they do also become something of the Butt Monkey). This bias is fairly noticeable and often drives the fic.
Second, Hinata is an issue. She may have more power than at this point in canon, but she also has less confidence and agency. Even her Determinator nature from canon is treated as a flaw, indicative of not valuing her own life. Viewers who admire her for her canonical determination to improve herself, as I do, may be disappointed by her.
By comparison, Naruto is characterized better, although he does come off as a bit more cynical and less exuberant than in canon, as well as being more in awe of Kurenai than he was toward any of his canon mentors. The author also seems to make him learn jutsus far more quickly than he does in canon, to the point at which it doesn't always seem believable.
The setting is nicely fleshed out and expanded upon, even if it does use a great deal of Fanon (albeit possibly helping establish many of those cliches).
The fic has a bit of an odd relationship with canon. Sometimes it adheres to canon quite rigidly (for example, having Hinata fight Neji again), while other times, it may deviate for no good reason (ending the Search for Tsunade arc without the heroes fighting Orochimaru). Still other times, though, it achieves a better balance, and is often better off when it goes into purely original territory.
All in all, this is worth a read, provided that the flaws don't turn you off, and you're willing to wait a year or more for updates.
Well written fanfic, but not without flaws
Team 8, perhaps the most popular and influential Naruto fic, is quite well written, although it does have some fairly significant flaws,
The fic has a simple concept; Naruto and Kiba switch places, with the former ending up on the eponymous Team 8 under Kurenai's tutelage. Naturally, this has wide-reaching ramifications, especially when it comes to Kurenai's past.
The characterization is often fairly deep and nuanced, but there's some rough spots. For one, it's fairly obvious who the author likes (Kurenai verges on Creator's Pet given how many people talk her up and how rarely she is proven wrong), and doesn't like (Hiashi becomes an Abusive Parent who's implied to be part of a Government Conspiracy against Naruto, and Team 7 is portrayed as arrogant jerks, even if they do also become something of the Butt Monkey). This bias is fairly noticeable and often drives the fic.
Second, Hinata is an issue. She may have more power than at this point in canon, but she also has less confidence and agency. Even her Determinator nature from canon is treated as a flaw, indicative of not valuing her own life. Viewers who admire her for her canonical determination to improve herself, as I do, may be disappointed by her.
By comparison, Naruto is characterized better, although he does come off as a bit more cynical and less exuberant than in canon, as well as being more in awe of Kurenai than he was toward any of his canon mentors. The author also seems to make him learn jutsus far more quickly than he does in canon, to the point at which it doesn't always seem believable.
The setting is nicely fleshed out and expanded upon, even if it does use a great deal of Fanon (albeit possibly helping establish many of those cliches).
The fic has a bit of an odd relationship with canon. Sometimes it adheres to canon quite rigidly (for example, having Hinata fight Neji again), while other times, it may deviate for no good reason (ending the Search for Tsunade arc without the heroes fighting Orochimaru). Still other times, though, it achieves a better balance, and is often better off when it goes into purely original territory.
All in all, this is worth a read, provided that the flaws don't turn you off, and you're willing to wait a year or more for updates.