Hum, there is one point i disagree with your reviwer: the problem, in my mind, is that the new characters are still drab, bland. I love yukiko, and your iruka and naga are very interesting. But the new ones seems too...telegraphed. Not enough feelings there, i think, and escusing the akatsuki isn't something i condon lightly.
Don't misunderstand me, i love your fic. And i love stories where there are new characters, as long as there still are some semi familiar faces (i wouldn't read HunterxHunter otherwise), but i can't help but feel disappointed by how you are weaving those new characters. The reason may be that i want those OC to have some link the the main character (naruto), and sometimes i feel the link is strenuous.

Sorry for my rant :/