In one of the interviews following the conclusion of Naruto, we learned that Kishimoto had originally planned to include more missions of Team 7, facing new enemies after the Land of Wave to bond the team, including the leader of the enemy team being Kakashi's rival. But his editor urged him not to loiter and throw in a bunch of new characters at once. So we got the Chuunin Exams instead.
Personally, I think having more missions after the Land of Waves would have served the story well. Team 7 could have developed their skills, gained more experience and deepened their relationship before a potential promotion comes up.
I'd say there should have been two more missions, C-rank or higher, and should have involved shinobi from Kumo and Iwa in some way. That way we would have seen ninjas from all Five Great Shinobi Villages before the end of Part 1.
But aside from that, I'm struggling to think of what kind of missions they should have gone on, what kind of enemies they should have faced and what should have happened on them.
So what do you think should have happened between the Land of Waves and the Chuunin Exam?
Personally, I think having more missions after the Land of Waves would have served the story well. Team 7 could have developed their skills, gained more experience and deepened their relationship before a potential promotion comes up.
I'd say there should have been two more missions, C-rank or higher, and should have involved shinobi from Kumo and Iwa in some way. That way we would have seen ninjas from all Five Great Shinobi Villages before the end of Part 1.
But aside from that, I'm struggling to think of what kind of missions they should have gone on, what kind of enemies they should have faced and what should have happened on them.
So what do you think should have happened between the Land of Waves and the Chuunin Exam?