I wouldn't have changed a thing about the novel or the film regarding Michael killing Sollozzo and Capt. McCluskey. However, if the Corleone Family already knew the meeting place was going to be Louis Restaurant in the Bronx, they could have done an execution ala Masseria: Lucky Luciano and Masseria went to a Coney Island restaurant...Luciano excused himself and went to the Men's Room, then Bugsy Siegel and several other "pals" of Luciano's walked into the restaurant and gunned down Masseria.

This is to say, Michael wouldn't have even needed to "make his bones" and flee to Sicily for a one-to-two-year exile. Santino could have had reliable men walk into the restaurant, sit down casually to eat their meal...then boom-boom-boom, do the job.

But then there'd be no Godfather story, so Nah.

I know we talk about the novel in another section, but I do want to mention that the novel says that Santino's sending of Michael to commit the murders was wrong.

They would have went after Michael nevertheless, as he would have a major role in the hit. I think this scenario would have further escalated the war.

Besides, it was a good thing, Michael making his bones.

Use your heads. The hit on Masseria was only possible because his bodyguards betrayed him and because there was no need or attempt by the assassins to hide their identity. It was a very different situation.