I've been wondering this for a while. Why did kishimoto go to such lengths to have sasuke run around and assemble team snake and then not even bother giving them something interesting to do.

Seems kind of pointless to introduce three new characters only to give them nothing to do. I mean when sasuke goes to finally fight itachi he says their only purpose was to ensure that nothing gets in his way. Be seeing how Itachi practically gave him an open invitation with no interruptions or traps what is the point of having them?

I mean maybe if they helped him out during the Diedara fight they would have a justifiable purpose but that didn't happen.

I hope kishi comes up with something interesting for them to do or else he just wasted several chapters introducing new characters when he could have spent the time developing old favorites (cough cough shino cough cough).

Maybe they'll do something against tobi/mandara just hope they find some purpose soon.