Naruto: The Cross Roads

With specials or OVAs I'm open to different things and adjust my expectations accordingly. I'm okay with the classic slice of life episodes and am also fine with the ones that add further characterization or plot depth. But with these varying expectations, the common thread is always a sense of value added--the sense that this is something that contributes an additional element I can enjoy outside of the main series. This does not have that expected value added. It's not a slice of life, and it also doesn't add anything to the current characters and plot, though it does attempt to do the latter. Ithas a generic battle with generic opponents and the end goal is to introduce a plot line and characters that are already introduced in the main anime. As a result, it feels completely redundant. Its placement in relation to the main series also confuses me. Chronologically speaking, it is situated right after the Zabuza arc and right before the first Chuunin exam. But if we watch it this way, the central antagonists of the Chuunin exam arc are spoiled for us. On the other hand, if we watch it after we've already watched said arc, it feels (like I said) redundant and unnecessary because at this point we already know about the antagonists and their plan. So what really is the point of this special? The animation here is also different and resembles that of a video game, and it distracted me throughout the special. One thing I did like, however, was watching Sasuke and Naruto work together in battle. Too often we see them fighting individually or against each other, so this was a breath of fresh air.