Naruto Editor Says Chunin Exams Were Inspired by Hunter x Hunter After Masashi Kishimoto Had No Next Arc Planned

The Chunin Exams became one of the most recognizable storylines in Naruto, but the arc was not originally mapped out as part of Masashi Kishimoto’s long-term plan. Former Naruto editor Kousuke Yahagi has now offered more detail about how the iconic tournament storyline came together, revealing that Kishimoto had no concrete idea of what should follow the Land of Waves arc. Yahagi discussed the manga’s development in a recent interview with YouTuber Mugen, explaining that he asked Kishimoto about the…