Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-31278419-20170331010234/@comment-31675701-20170405183027

I'm not saying to get rid of the Chuunin Exams arc. No, it is very important for the storyline. The big problem was that there was literally no growth of skills between that arc and the previous one. The way I see it Kishimoto could have used the Exams as a follow up lesson on the things we were shown in wave.

For example. The Land of Waves arc showed us how far people can go to accomplish their goals. So the Chunnin Exams could have shown us how low some can sink due to their ideals, like Neji and Gaara and that following your goals can be dangerous, like how Lee was nearly crippled by Gaara.

Then there is the war of Oto and Suna against Konoha. Which would hammer down this lesson with the death of the Sandaime, whose sole wish was to protect Konoha and Orochimaru losing his arms as punishment for his ambition.