Agreed they really did need at least an arc of essentially filler episodes that show Sasuke and Naruto growing as friends maybe even 1 or 2 flashbacks that show them becoming friends before the academy with the friendship becoming strained in the academy because of Sasuke getting all the praise and attention while naruto struggles to even be noticed acting out when he does which causes triouble
then post massacre with Sasuke basically wanting to be alone Naruto tries to reach him but is pushed away which naruto takes badly because he doesnt understand so the rivalry grows stronger espeically when Sakura enters the picture which creates the infamous triangle