Amidst all the chatter and banter around Yue Yan, the Chunin Exams continued without interruption.
As previously mentioned, the Chunin Exams weren't a simple martial arts competition to select the strongest. It wasn't necessary to fight until a clear winner emerged. Once a certain number of candidates met the requirements, the exams would end.
Yue Yan originally thought that based on his performance, he should have been promoted to Chunin. However, it wasn't long before he learned that his opponent in the next round was Kurenai Yūhi.
Looking at Kurenai Yūhi across the arena, Yue Yan had only idly thought about surrendering if he faced a fellow villager. Now, that idle thought had become a reality.
After all, she was his good teammate, and Yue Yan wasn't overly fixated on the Chunin title. So, before the fight began, he announced his forfeit.
Knowing that Kurenai Yūhi's current strength was at most that of a Genin, Yue Yan realized that defeating her would only earn him a green treasure chest. There was no need to risk hurting his teammate for the sake of such a chest.
Kurenai Yūhi had managed to reach this stage purely by luck. Her opponents hadn't been too strong. Even more fortunately, after Yue Yan forfeited, the Chunin Exams came to an end. Now, they just had to wait for the final decision from above.
Of course, those who lost the last match might still be promoted to Chunin. The assessment of whether one could become a Chunin wasn't solely based on strength but took into account multiple factors.
Chunin were the front - line commanders on the battlefield. More important than combat power were their intellect, decision - making ability, and the ability to stay calm in unexpected situations.
Naturally, each ninja village had different requirements for selecting Chunin. This Unite Chunin Exam was more like an opportunity for each village to show off its future potential, a mere show of sorts.
When Hizashi Hyuga's team gathered the next day, Yue Yan learned that, apart from Kakashi, none of the people he knew had successfully been promoted to Chunin.
After Yue Yan silently cursed the dirty politics in his heart, he went back to his normal routine of learning. Occasionally, when there were missions, he would go with Hizashi and Asuma.
...
In the forty - third year of Konoha.
This was destined to be an eventful year.
The Mother and Father of a red - haired young Puppet master were killed by the White Fang of Konoha. After the White Fang committed suicide, with no one left to hate, the young man began his pursuit of eternal art.
The Third Kazekage of the Sand ninja village, who possessed the Kekkei Genkai and was hailed as the strongest among all the Kazekage, became the target of the young man. Without a sound, the Third Kazekage was assassinated, and no one was aware of it at the time.
After more than half a year of complete silence, the leaderless Sand ninja village gradually descended into internal chaos.
Rasa, the leading candidate for the Fourth kage, and Yagura took advantage of the Third Kazekage's disappearance to amass power and became rivals.
Just as it seemed that the Sand ninja village was on the verge of self - destruction, they changed tactics and flatly accused the Third kage, Hiruzen Sarutobi of Konoha, of being responsible for the Third Kazekage's disappearance.
This news quickly hit the top of the ninja world headlines and stayed there. All ninja villages learned of this matter.
Third Hokage (Hiruzen Sarutobi), who was just staying at home peacefully, suddenly got hit with this unjust blame. He was still scratching his head, thinking, "We agreed the blame was Tanzō's. Why on me?" Then, the Sand Ninja Village launched a sneak attack and invaded the Land of Fire.
After seeing the Sand Ninja Village start the war, the other ninja villages were itching to jump in, rubbing their hands in anticipation.
In no time, the frictions along the borders of the countries, which already existed, became even more intense. It was as if a storm was coming, and it seemed that the war would soon sweep across the entire ninja world.
The war was almost inevitable. The Third Ninja World War seemed more like a continuation of the Second Shinobi World War. The ninja villages that suffered losses in the previous war had recovered and were already itching for action.
However, in peacetime, no one wanted to be the first to start the fight. Otherwise, they'd end up being the target of everyone. Now that they had a reason, taking advantage of the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, they officially started sending out ninjas.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had commanded the Second Shinobi World War and led Konoha to a great victory, earning the name of a ninja hero, woke up from his confusion after being hit with the blame. He immediately saw the essence of this war.
Under Hiruzen Sarutobi's command, Konoha quickly stabilized the situation and drove the first batch of Sand Ninjas out of the Land of Fire.
But even after repelling the Sand Ninjas, Konoha didn't dare to send a large number of troops to invade the Land of Sand. They could only gather their troops in the Land of Rivers and stare at the Sand Ninjas.
After all, in the previous war, Konoha had been too aggressive. Now that they had lost the White Fang of Konoha, who was as powerful as a nuclear weapon and could intimidate ninjas from other villages, it was certain that the other ninja villages had their eyes on Konoha. The Stone Ninjas and the Cloud Ninjas also wanted to take a big bite out of the fertile Land of Fire. Even the Mist Ninjas, who were located in a remote area, had thoughts about Konoha.
Now, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Konoha was surrounded on all sides. They had to be ready to face the other four major ninja villages at any time.
Yue Yan received a notice. Along with Asuma and Kurenai Yūhi, with Hizashi Hyuga as the team leader, they were ready to go to the front line at any time. Moreover, all three members of Hizashi Hyuga's Squad were promoted to Chunin.
The title of Chunin during the war didn't actually have much practical use. Its greater significance was to boost morale and scare the opponents.
After all, in the ninja world where there were countless types of sensory ninjutsu, it was impossible to hide large - scale ninja deployments. Their actions were almost transparent.
Also, it sounded less threatening to say that a few Jonin were leading hundreds of Genin than to say they were leading hundreds of Chunin.
It's like in old - time wars when there'd always be talk of new weapons. Whether it was just an old gun with a shiny new coat of paint, the point was, it was billed as new. Well, a new paint job also counted as new.
Doing this could not only boost their own morale but also confuse the opponents. After all, you didn't know if their "new" was really "new". What if it was? Wouldn't you have to be more careful?
The same principle applies in the ninja world.
As for Yue Yan, he was organizing the things he might need on the battlefield at home and sealing them into Scrolls.
Although supplies like Kunai, Shuriken, Explosive Tags, Military Rations Pills, trauma medicine, and bandages are all provided by Konoha's logistics, organizing his own ninja - tools, which he is most familiar with and uses most smoothly in normal times, always brings some comfort to his nervous mind before going to the battlefield.
"Yue Yan, with your proficiency in Mystical Palm Technique, you can definitely stay at the farthest - back Konoha Hospital. There's no need to take risks on the front line."
Aunt Natsuki looked at Yue Yan organizing his equipment, her eyes full of worry. Recalling Yue Yan's Mother and Father and how their bodies were carried back, Aunt Natsuki's heart was filled with sorrow, and at the same time, she deeply hated the war that had taken away Yue Yan's parents.
"I... don't want you to die on the battlefield."
Sensing the sadness and reluctance in Aunt Natsuki's words, Yue Yan, who had finished packing his equipment, turned around and showed a bright smile.
"Don't worry, Aunt Natsuki. I won't die on the battlefield."
Looking at Yue Yan's smile, his figure gradually merged with the images of the two people in her memory. In excitement, Aunt Natsuki stepped forward and hugged Yue Yan.
Feeling the wetness on his shoulder, Yue Yan gently patted Aunt Natsuki on the back. She regarded him almost as her own child.
"I definitely won't be in trouble. I promise you."