Hiruzen Sarutobi's Forehead Protector

Under Hiruzen Sarutobi's guidance, Kazan threw himself into mastering the Monster Strength Fist.

He no longer attended the Ninja Academy.

Some of his classmates were puzzled.

Their Chunin teacher told them Kazan had graduated early.

Kakashi had graduated several years earlier, and he was already a Chunin, so Kazan's early graduation might not have seemed like much.

But Kazan was still only the second student in their class to become a Genin, and his combat strength was extraordinary. Asuka Hyuga still could not let it go.

Afterward, Asuka realized he might not even be able to defeat one of Kazan's Shadow Clones.

There was something else, too...

Many of these students came from the Konoha Clans, the village's inner circle.

They heard from their parents that Kazan was apparently receiving one-on-one instruction from the Third Hokage himself!

The Hokage's fourth student!

It was an extraordinary honor, and plenty of them were green with envy!

Obito was especially jealous. He trained so hard during this period that he nearly matched Might Guy.

Rain or shine, he completed his training every day.

He refused to be left behind!

But Obito was hardly the only one.

Asuma was furious when he heard the news!

He already resented his father, the Hokage, for always working and neglecting his son and family.

Now his father would rather spend time with another child than with him.

So Asuma trained hard too, determined to defeat Kazan and make his father regret it.

In short, the atmosphere at the Ninja Academy grew fiercely competitive. It got to the point where Might Guy shouted every day, "This is youth!!!"

Time passed like that.

During those days, Kazan created more than a dozen clones each day to practice different skills.

The Six Powers, the Monster Strength Fist, and the Fist Bone techniques could all be practiced that way. The Two Types of Haki—and eventually the Three Types of Haki—were things he had to figure out himself.

Every time he dispelled his clones, the flood of training memories left him dazed and miserable for a while.

When that happened, he ate a huge meal and slept soundly. Once he woke refreshed, he went straight back to training.

He loved the feeling of growing stronger!

As someone from a modern world without superpowers, he was captivated by what it felt like to leap through the air and move beyond ordinary human limits.

One day...

As usual, Kazan went to the Forest of Death for breakfast, then headed to the Back Mountain to train.

His strength had improved rapidly of late.

Tree Climbing, Water Walking, and the Monster Strength Fist had helped him bring together the power systems of the Naruto World and the Pirate world.

Kazan kept his head, though. He had not even punched a mountain apart yet.

Once he could smash two mountains like Garp, he would be able to go almost anywhere in the Shinobi World.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Kazan drove punch after punch into the surface of the Back Mountain.

Broken stone lay scattered all around him. Kazan had reduced a massive boulder to rubble one punch at a time.

With a whoosh, an Anbu Ninja wearing an animal mask appeared nearby.

"Lord Hokage wants to see you!"

With that, the Ninja vanished without a trace.

Typical ANBU!

"Man, what a show-off!"

Kazan decided to give that show-off a little shock.

Chakra surged through his body and gathered at his feet with astonishing speed.

In the next instant, he struck the ground so many times in 0.36 seconds that even he could not count them. The resulting force sent him hurtling forward like lightning.

"Shave!"

Whoosh!

The Anbu Ninja was racing back when something blurred before his eyes. A moment later, Kazan had shot past him and vanished.

"What was that?!"

He was stunned. Was a Genin supposed to be that fast?

Kazan reveled in the sensation of tearing through the air. This was what happened when the power systems of the Naruto World and the Pirate world came together.

By channeling Chakra into Shave, he had pushed its speed beyond that of the Body Flicker Technique.

Crash!

The sound of shattering glass rang through the office.

"What did you want, old man Third Hokage?" Kazan had arrived quickly; it was not far away.

He had a habit of skipping the front door.

He had come straight from the Back Mountain to the Hokage's Office, punching through the window of Hiruzen Sarutobi's office on his way in.

"You really ought to change this habit. A room needs fresh air, especially when you smoke."

Kazan's reasoning was sound, but all Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to do was kick him back out.

In all his years as Hokage, no one had ever dared smash his office window.

"This is what happens when you indulge him, Sarutobi."

Danzo stepped out of the shadows.

Kazan had sensed Danzo already. His Observation Haki had not awakened yet, but he could tell he was close to mastering it.

His senses were especially sharp now, as though he had a Chakra-based detection technique running at all times.

"You're here, Kazan." Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored Danzo and turned to Kazan with concern. "How has your training been?"

"Smoothly. My Chakra control has improved a lot."

He's ignoring me?

Danzo did not like that.

His opinion of Kazan sank even lower. Someone so reckless did not suit Root.

They were Konoha Heroes who walked in darkness, not clowns desperate for attention!

"Sarutobi, this isn't the time for small talk," Danzo interrupted.

Hiruzen Sarutobi shot Danzo a sidelong glance before speaking. "This is rather sudden, but I have a mission for you."

A mission?

Kazan was surprised. Was he supposed to leave the village with Danzo for training?

"You want me to take a mission outside the village?"

"No. Konoha will hold the Chunin Ninja Exams soon, and I want you to participate."

Huh?

The Chunin Ninja Exams, at a time like this?

Tensions along the borders were rising fast. War could break out at any moment.

And Hiruzen Sarutobi had chosen now to hold the Chunin Ninja Exams?

What was he thinking?

Was it simply meant to deter their enemies?

Did he want the other Shinobi Villages to see that even without the deadly Hatake Sakumo, Konoha's next generation had arrived?

But would that not expose his village's geniuses to the other Shinobi Villages?

Once the Third Shinobi World War broke out in full, Kazan would certainly become a target. Damn it, this would put him in danger.

Hiruzen Sarutobi offered no explanation, but Kazan accepted the mission anyway.

If he performed well in the Chunin Ninja Exams, might he complete an achievement or two?

Besides, judging by Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression, he seemed to be hinting that he would explain later.

Sure enough...

After Kazan returned to the Back Mountain to train, Hiruzen Sarutobi finished his official duties and appeared before him.

"You're wondering why I'd send a Ninja with no mission experience to take the Chunin Ninja Exams at a time like this?"

"Yes, I don't really understand. Kakashi's already on the other Shinobi Villages' kill lists. What's the point of sending me to the exams too? To intimidate the other villages?"

The boy was clever, but he was not looking far enough ahead.

Still, thinking that much through at his age was impressive.

"You've only guessed part of it."

Hiruzen Sarutobi lit the tobacco in his pipe with practiced ease.

"Pacts between Shinobi Villages are fragile! Especially pacts among the Five Great Shinobi Villages!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi had learned that lesson when he was young.

His teacher, the Second Hokage, had died on the journey home.

Kinkaku and Ginkaku had rebelled and staged a coup, but from Kumogakure's perspective, the death of someone as important as Tobirama Senju had been welcome news.

"So?"

Kazan understood the point, but he still did not see why Hiruzen Sarutobi was doing this.

"After the Second Shinobi World War, we formed strategic alliances with the Land of Lightning, the Land of Wind, the Land of Rice Fields, the Land of Grass, and others. My teacher, the Second Hokage, personally signed the alliance agreement with the Land of Lightning."

"In peacetime, alliances like these bring both sides considerable benefits. Trade creates wealth and helps us develop. But in wartime, those agreements are worth no more than the paper they're written on."

"If war breaks out in full, the Land of Lightning and the Land of Wind won't hesitate to tear up our agreements. They may even attack us outright."

That was the crucial detail. Kazan noticed that Hiruzen Sarutobi had mentioned only the Land of Lightning and the Land of Wind.

"What about the other villages?"

"I was right about you, Kazan. You're perceptive and intelligent."

Appreciation showed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes. He exhaled slowly, then continued.

"The other Shinobi Villages are why I want you in the Chunin Ninja Exams. We need to demonstrate our strength and win their support."

Now Kazan understood. Hiruzen Sarutobi was worried those expendable allies might refuse to do Konoha's bidding.

Every Shinobi World War brought enormous casualties.

Even Kage Level fighters risked dying in battle.

The Second Mizukage and the Second Tsuchikage had killed each other during the First Shinobi World War.

Ninja who had been painstakingly trained entered the meat grinder of war, where their lives became as brief and fragile as flowers.

But victory brought unimaginable rewards.

Territory, reparations, or both could benefit a village for decades. The losses of war could be replaced in a short time.

Smaller Shinobi Villages, however, lacked the power to shape a war. Once drawn into one, they had no choice but to attach themselves to one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Konoha therefore needed to display enough strength to persuade those villages to fight and die for it, helping Konoha win the war.

Among Konoha's current powerhouses were Hiruzen Sarutobi himself; the Sannin, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade; Shimura Danzō; and the Uchiha and Hyuga Clans.

The younger generation included a genius like Minato Namikaze and a brilliant strategist like Shikaku Nara.

But that was not enough. Hiruzen Sarutobi also wanted to show those villages Konoha's even brighter future—its next generation—so they would believe that siding with Konoha was their best path forward.

No wonder he suddenly taught me the Monster Strength Fist. So this is what he had in mind.

Kazan grew a little more wary of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

This Hokage never did anything without a reason.

"I understand. I'll carry out the mission."

"Good."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had high hopes for Kazan's future. Otherwise, he would not have taken the time to explain so much.

"By the way, I took the liberty of graduating you from the Ninja Academy early. You're now a Konoha Genin."

"Of course, you'll need this."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took something from his robes and handed it to Kazan.

It was a Konoha Ninja's Forehead Protector.

"This Forehead Protector has been with me for many years. I'm giving it to you now. I hope it brings you luck."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's own Forehead Protector?

Kazan was taken aback. The man really did have high hopes for him.

But this also meant Hiruzen Sarutobi had effectively tied him to the Hokage's faction.

Kazan accepted the Forehead Protector and tied it around his forehead.

He had already made up his mind. For now, joining Hiruzen Sarutobi's side offered him benefits and no drawbacks.

At the very least, it would keep Pot Kage Danzo from targeting him. More importantly, he would not have to worry about being stabbed in the back by his own side.