The whole ambiguity is just there, and because it's something that isn't really harped on you just sort of forget about it. Really quite interesting. Overall, 'Naruto' is a very formulae shounen series, except one must give credit to the mangaka. The man is firm believer of giving every character their development time.

I read the manga first and liked it very much. The first arc of the anime series wasn't overly spectacular, and to tell the truth didn't impress me much (although it made cry like a baby. I'm trying to figure out how the end of the first arc made me cry when I'm not even remotely impressed by it). But it gets BETTER!! Give it a try.