Originally posted by: angryinjun
...they sent a bunch of gennin with a rookie chuunin leader to get back an extremely valuable leaf member that is part of an extinct clan ...
that is my exact point, the villiage is cranking out overpowered characters. The leaf villiage sent out a bunch of kids who should not be albe to hang with these sounds elite (more like e-lame) four.[/quote]

there are two reasons why the genins were sent.

1. how else would have naruto and crew tied in with the story? what would kishimoto have them doing while other ninjas go after sasuke? he can't show naruto and crew training again, too boring.
2. most of the upper level ninjas were already doing missions.