could the series be ending anytime soon? i get the feeling that kishimoto's trying to finish it off. why else would he kill off so many of the main characters? it would be kind of lame if they all miraculously survived their fights. i know it and kishimoto probably does too. it would be a fitting ending if you think about it. the closures there and we get a ton of action in the inevitable naruto/sasuke rematch. also, 24 volumes is pretty long. he should end it now unless he plans to drag it out dbz style and milk its popularity for all its got..
my theory is that after naruto beats sasuke, the manga will fast forward to the future where naruto will be hokage (always regretting the deaths of his friends, of course) and the village is at peace again.