Part 1 Shikimaru was a great character. Side characters are beyond fodder at this point. Which sucksMadara the smartest ninja? and sadly yes, he is pretty much useless like most side characters. That's where Shippuden failed. In part 1 it felt more balanced and there wasn't a huge power gap between the main characters and the side characters and orochimaru was epic.
intellect is never useless
I am still wondering what part Shikamaru will play at the moment, if any. it's like the current war has gone beyond his IQ and Madara is like the smartest badass ninja because everything seems working for him.
Any thought?