S-Rank Mission

Konoha was nowhere near as strong as it had been under Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju.

During the First Shinobi World War,

Konoha had faced the other Four Great Shinobi Villages. After Hashirama Senju died, they had all coveted the Land of Fire's abundant resources and wanted a share.

In the end,

under Tobirama Senju's leadership, Konoha had narrowly won the war and held on to its territory.

By the Second Shinobi World War, Konoha was no longer at the center of the conflict. Amegakure was.

Hanzo of the Salamander, known as the Demigod, had sought to expand Amegakure's territory. He pursued a policy of expansion and struck first against the other Shinobi Villages.

Amegakure's first targets were the Land of Iron, Konoha, and Sunagakure.

Konoha had faced far less pressure in that war. Its main opponents had been Amegakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure.

But if war broke out again and Konoha found itself surrounded, Hiruzen Sarutobi was not confident he could lead the village through it unscathed.

Konoha needed allies—ones who could stand between it and its enemies!

The nations and villages bordering the Land of Fire were the ones Konoha needed to win over.

Hiruzen Sarutobi intended to keep the battlefields there, far from Konoha and the Land of Fire.

That was why this mission was S-Rank!

Kazan's task was not merely to pass the exam. He had to pass the Chunin Ninja Exams with an overwhelming show of strength!

"There's about half a month until the Chunin Ninja Exams begin. Prepare well, Kazan."

"I will."

Kazan promised to give it everything he had.

The Chunin Ninja Exams had never been simply a test for promoting Genin to Chunin.

Founded by the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, they were held twice a year.

Their purpose was to display a Shinobi Village's strength.

Missions were the main source of income for Ninja and their villages.

Showing their strength to attract missions from other nations—that was the true purpose of the Chunin Ninja Exams.

This time, though, the exams carried another meaning as well.

The news had not spread publicly, but quite a few people within Konoha had heard it.

This year's Chunin Ninja Exams would be held in Konoha. Others had to handle the roster and arrangements; Hiruzen Sarutobi was the one giving the orders.

As it happened, Shinku Yuhi had been appointed one of the examiners.

"What? He's taking the Chunin Ninja Exams at such a young age?"

"Yes. I was startled too. I never imagined a child who'd never even left the village on a mission would go straight into the exams."

"How could the Third Hokage agree to that?"

"From what I know, the Third Hokage personally named Kazan as a participant."

Shinku Yuhi sat in his backyard drinking tea, enjoying a rare moment of peace.

His wife poured him another cup and knelt beside him. "Why?"

"I'm afraid it has to do with the recent tension at the border..."

Shinku Yuhi was not as sharp as Shikaku Nara, but few who made Jonin were fools.

The little details made the answer easy enough to piece together.

"You mean the Third Hokage plans to use that child to intimidate the other Shinobi Villages?"

Mrs. Yuhi found it hard to believe.

"He's the best choice. He defeated Kakashi head-on, and he's a Genius. Besides, don't forget that he's the Third Hokage's fourth disciple."

"I see... But isn't that too risky? Kazan is still—"

"Kazan's taking the Chunin Ninja Exams?"

Kurenai Yuhi had just come home from school when she heard her parents talking.

Lately, she had found herself missing the days when Kazan was always causing trouble. At least then she had an excuse to seek him out.

Now she did not even know where he went. All she knew was that he seemed to be training under the Third Hokage.

She had been thinking of finding an excuse to visit Kazan when she overheard her parents.

"Kurenai, you're home."

Her parents turned around, but Kurenai ignored them. She hurried over and pressed her father. "Dad, did you just say Kazan's taking the Chunin Ninja Exams?"

"...Yes."

There was no hiding it, so he nodded.

"How can that be? Kazan's never even been outside the village!"

Kazan was strong, but he was still a student.

Even Kakashi had spent time gaining experience outside the village and received his Jonin leader's permission before taking the exams.

"How could the Third Hokage do this?"

"The Third Hokage has his own... reasons..."

Before he could finish, Kurenai had turned and rushed out of the house. From the look of it, she was going to find that boy Kazan.

"Shouldn't we go after Kurenai?"

"No. They'll both be back soon."

Both?

Sure enough, Kurenai's small figure soon appeared on Back Mountain.

Kazan was still throwing punches with a bang, bang. She was startled to see him using the mountain as a practice post, but right now she needed to make him withdraw from the Chunin Ninja Exams.

"Kazan, come with me. Tell the Third Hokage you won't take the Chunin Ninja Exams."

"I've already agreed to it."

"It's too dangerous. Kazan, you have no idea how dangerous the Chunin Ninja Exams are."

This was not the Ninja Academy's graduation test. People could die in the Chunin Ninja Exams.

Who said no one died in Ninja Academy graduation tests?

Kazan thought of the Mist Ninja graduation exam. Plenty of people died in that.

"I know there's some danger, but it's a mission the old man gave me."

"The old man..."

Only Kazan would dare call Lord Hokage that.

No, that's not what matters right now.

"What mission?"

"It's no secret mission. There's no harm in telling you."

He kept the impending war to himself, telling Kurenai only that the mission was meant to help the village attract more commissions.

After the Second Shinobi World War, he explained, the village needed a great deal of money.

"So that's why... Wait, Kazan, your forehead..."

Only then did Kurenai notice the Forehead Protector on Kazan's brow.

It was not brand-new, though it was not worn out either. Still, Kurenai had a feeling it was not new when he received it.

"The old man gave it to me." Kazan pulled off the Forehead Protector and casually tossed it to the curious Kurenai.

She scrambled to catch it. This was the Third Hokage's Forehead Protector!

She could practically treat it like a personal possession bestowed by a feudal lord.

It told everyone that Kazan had the Third Hokage's protection.