dont understand why people say naruto is all power and no skill or smarts

[Transcendence]

I've already explained it quite explicitly regarding Naruto. Naruto has consistently shown in the manga to be a battle genius, not a book genius. He is extremely adaptable to battle and is quick to devise tactics in the heat of battle, roughly on Sasuke's level of analysis. An example of this? People like to bring up how he was given intel on the Pein fight, when in reality he was given the intel on the run from the mini-Katsuyu. The second he figured out Preta's abilities he devised a tactic to take him out. He was never given intel on Naraka path, and he immediately figured out that it was the one that revives the Paths and it was the key to the longevity and subsequent success of the Paths. The Nagato battle (Edo version) was nothing more than a convenient plot device that Kishimoto used to get a laugh out of people. But, Naruto is not good with book related smarts, which is clear to all.

 

[Honord Sage]

Don't forget too Naruto became a perfect Sage look at the statues those were the failures.