The Konoha of today was no longer as powerful as it had been under Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju.
During the First Shinobi World War, Konoha had faced the other four great hidden villages.
After Hashirama Senju’s death, the other villages coveted the Land of Fire’s abundant resources and all wanted a share.
In the end, under Tobirama Senju’s leadership, Konoha barely managed to win the war and preserve its territory.
By the time of the Second Shinobi World War, however, Konoha was no longer the main instigator.
That role belonged to Amegakure.
Hanzō of the Salamander, the man known as the Demigod, sought to expand Amegakure’s territory and pursued an aggressive policy of territorial expansion, taking the initiative to wage war against the other hidden villages.
Amegakure’s first targets were the Land of Iron, Konoha, and Sunagakure.
During that Shinobi World War, the pressure on Konoha had been considerably lighter.
Its main opponents were Amegakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure.
But if this coming war broke out and Konoha once again found itself surrounded, Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn’t confident that he could lead the village through it safely.
Therefore, Konoha needed allies.
Allies who could stand between Konoha and its enemies!
The countries and hidden villages bordering the Land of Fire were precisely the forces Konoha needed to win over.
Hiruzen intended to keep the battlefields in those territories, far away from Konoha and the heartland of the Land of Fire.
That was why the difficulty rating of Kazan’s mission was—
S-rank!
Simply passing the Chūnin Exam wasn’t the objective.
Kazan’s true mission was to dominate the Chūnin Exam and pass in overwhelming fashion!
“There are roughly two weeks left before the Chūnin Exam begins. Use that time to prepare yourself properly, Kazan.”
“I will.”
Kazan made it clear that he would give it everything he had.
The Chūnin Exam had never been merely an examination for promoting genin to chūnin.
It had been created by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, and was held twice each year.
Its true purpose was to demonstrate the strength of a hidden village.
The primary source of income for shinobi and hidden villages came from mission commissions.
Showing off one’s strength and attracting clients from other countries to commission missions—
That was the real significance of the Chūnin Exam.
And this particular Chūnin Exam carried another layer of meaning as well.
The news hadn’t been made public, but quite a few people within Konoha still learned about it.
This Chūnin Exam would be held in Konoha itself.
The participant lists, venues, and countless other arrangements all required people to handle them.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was merely the one issuing the orders.
Coincidentally, Shinku Yūhi had been selected as one of the examiners.
“What? He’s participating in the Chūnin Exam at such a young age?”
“Mm. I was shocked at first too. I never imagined a child who hasn’t even left the village on a mission would be allowed to enter the Chūnin Exam directly.”
“How could Lord Third agree to something like that?”
“As far as I know, Kazan was personally selected by Lord Third.”
His wife knelt beside him and poured him another cup.
“Why would he do that?”
“I’m afraid it has something to do with the recent atmosphere along the borders…”
Shinku Yūhi might not have possessed Shikaku Nara’s intelligence, but very few people capable of becoming jōnin were truly foolish.
With enough scattered clues, it wasn’t difficult to arrive at the correct conclusion.
“You mean Lord Third intends to use that child to intimidate the other hidden villages?”
Mrs. Yūhi found the idea difficult to believe.
“He’s the best candidate. After all, he’s a genius who defeated Kakashi head-on. And don’t forget—he’s now Lord Third’s fourth disciple.”
“I see… But isn’t that too risky? Kazan is still—”
“Kazan is going to participate in the Chūnin Exam?”
While the couple were talking, Kurenai Yūhi happened to return home from school.
Recently, she’d actually started missing the days when Kazan constantly caused trouble.
Back then, at least she always had some excuse to go find him.
Now she didn’t even know where Kazan spent his days.
All she knew was that he seemed to be receiving personal instruction from Lord Third.
She had originally been thinking of finding some reason to visit Kazan.
Instead, she overheard her parents’ conversation.
“Kurenai, you’re home.”
The couple turned toward her.
Kurenai ignored the greeting and hurried over.
“Dad, did you just say Kazan is going to participate in the Chūnin Exam?”
“…Mm.”
There was no point hiding it from her, so Shinku simply nodded.
“How can they do that? Kazan hasn’t even left the village once!”
Kazan might be strong, but ultimately, he had still been a student until recently.
Even Kakashi had gone outside the village, gained practical experience, and received his jōnin team leader’s approval before participating in the exam.
“How could Lord Third do something like this?!”
“Lord Third naturally has his… reasons…”
Before Shinku could even finish the last two words, Kurenai had already turned around and rushed out of the house.
Judging by her expression, she was probably going to look for that boy named Kazan.
“Shouldn’t we go after Kurenai?”
“No need. They’ll be back soon.”
They?
…….
Elsewhere, sure enough, Kurenai’s small figure soon appeared on the mountain behind the Hokage Building.
Although she was shocked to see him using an actual mountain as a wooden training post, that wasn’t what mattered right now.
She needed to convince him to withdraw from the Chūnin Exam.
“Kazan, hurry and come with me. Go explain things to Lord Third and tell him you don’t want to participate in this Chūnin Exam.”
“I already accepted.”
“It’s too dangerous! Kazan, you don’t understand how dangerous the Chūnin Exam is.”
This wasn’t the Ninja Academy’s graduation test.
People could die during the Chūnin Exam.
Who says no one dies during graduation exams?
Kazan thought to himself.
Kirigakure’s graduation exam killed plenty of people.
“I know there’s some danger, but this is a mission Old Man Third assigned me.”
“Old Man Third…”
As expected of Kazan.
He really dared to address the Hokage like that.
Wait.
That wasn’t the important part right now.
“What mission?”
“It’s not some classified mission. There’s no harm in telling you.”
Kazan concealed the fact that war was likely approaching.
He only told Kurenai that the mission was intended to help the village attract more commissions.
His explanation was that after the Second Shinobi World War, Konoha desperately needed funds.
“So that’s why…”
Then Kurenai suddenly noticed something.
“Huh? Kazan, your forehead…”
Only now did she notice the shinobi forehead protector wrapped around Kazan’s forehead.
It wasn’t brand-new.
Of course, it wasn’t particularly old either.
But for some reason, Kurenai could tell it wasn’t freshly issued.
“Old Man Third gave it to me.”
Kazan removed the forehead protector and casually tossed it toward the curious Kurenai.
She hurriedly caught it.
This was the Third Hokage’s own shinobi forehead protector!
It could practically be treated like a personal item bestowed by a daimyō himself.
By giving Kazan this forehead protector, Hiruzen Sarutobi was effectively telling everyone—
Kazan was under the Third Hokage’s protection.