S-Rank Mission

Konoha was no longer as powerful as it had been under Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju.

The First Shinobi World War.

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

In the end,

under Tobirama Senju's leadership, Konoha had won a hard-fought victory 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 conquest and was the first to wage war on 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 were Amegakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure.

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

Konoha needed allies. Allies who could stand between it and its enemies!

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

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

That was why the mission's difficulty was S-Rank!

Merely passing the exam was not Kazan's objective. His mission was to pass the Chunin Ninja Exams with overwhelming 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 merely a test for promoting Genin to Chunin.

Established 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 Ninjas and Shinobi Villages.

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

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

The news had not spread outside the village, but plenty of people within Konoha had learned of it.

This round of the Chunin Ninja Exams would be held in Konoha. Others had to arrange the roster and venue; Hiruzen Sarutobi was the one issuing 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 shocked at first, too. I never imagined a child who'd never even left the village on a mission would go straight into the Chunin Ninja 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 with nothing to do.

His wife poured him more tea and knelt beside him. "Why?"

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

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

The little clues made the answer easy enough to work out.

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

Mrs. Yuhi could hardly believe it.

"He's the best choice. He's a genius who defeated Kakashi head-on. And don't forget, he's the Third Hokage's fourth disciple."

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

"Kazan's taking the Chunin Ninja Exams?"

Kurenai Yuhi had just come home from school as her parents were talking.

Lately, she had found herself missing the days when Kazan was always getting into trouble. Back then, she had an excuse to go looking for him.

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 trying to think of an excuse to see Kazan when she overheard her parents.

"Kurenai, you're home."

They turned toward her, but Kurenai Yuhi ignored the greeting and hurried over. "Dad, did you just say Kazan's taking the Chunin Ninja Exams?"

"...Yes."

There was no hiding it, so he nodded.

"How can he? Kazan's never even left the village!"

Kazan was strong, but he was still a student.

Even Kakashi had gained some experience outside the village and received permission from the Jonin leading his team before taking the exam.

"How could the Third Hokage do this?"

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

Before he could finish the last two words, Kurenai Yuhi turned and rushed out of the house. By the look of it, she was going to find that boy named Kazan.

"Aren't you going after Kurenai?"

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

They?

Elsewhere, sure enough, Kurenai Yuhi's small figure soon appeared on Back Mountain.

Kazan was still punching away with a steady thud, thud. She was startled to see him using a mountain as a training post, but right now she had 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 accepted."

"It's too dangerous. Kazan, you don't understand how dangerous the Chunin Ninja Exams are."

This was not a Ninja Academy graduation exam. People could die in the Chunin Ninja Exams.

Who said people couldn't die in a Ninja Academy graduation exam?

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

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

"The Third Hokage..."

That was Kazan for you. He dared to call Lord Hokage that.

No, this isn't the time for that.

"What mission?"

"It's not a secret mission. There's no harm in telling you."

He kept the impending war from her and told Kurenai only that he was doing it to help the village attract more mission requests.

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 old and worn either. Still, Kurenai had a feeling it was secondhand.

"The Third Hokage gave it to me." Kazan took off the Forehead Protector and casually tossed it to the curious Kurenai Yuhi.

She caught it in a rush. This was the Third Hokage's Forehead Protector!

It might as well have been a personal possession bestowed by a daimyo.

It told everyone that Kazan had the Third Hokage behind him.