There any reason the time skip can't be longer?

I wanna utilize the time between Naruto and Shippuden but I'm unsure if that would mess with anything major in the timeline.

I dont think so, things would just happen a little more spaced out in that period and then shippuden kicks off as normal in 4 or 5 years instead of 3.

But is there a hard time limit on anything that would greatly mess with the story? Like the Akatsuki NEEDED to complete their plans in a certain time frame? I get Nagato is sick, but that can easily be extended. I feel like most thinks can very easily just be brushed off to happen at a later time.