In the following days, Shintaro worked hard to train in [Hachimon] while completing tasks with everyone in Team 8.
Time often flies quickly when people are busy.
In the blink of an eye, it was the 47th year of Konoha.
Shintaro's strength had increased rapidly, and he could now open the Gate of Pain of [Hachimon], with progress even surpassing Guy.
During this period, Shikaku was clearly busier than ever, and he didn't have time to accompany Shintaro and the others on missions.
After all, Shikaku was a Jonin, so he couldn't accompany three Genin on simple missions every day.
Fortunately, the strength of the three of them was not ordinary, so these usual Genin tasks could easily be completed by the three of them alone.
Needless to say, Shintaro's strength had reached the Jonin level in all aspects.
It was precisely because of this that Shikaku felt relieved to let them carry out their missions on their own.
Asuma's strength was also impressive; he had reached the Chunin level at the age of 11, and his power was considered strong even among Chunin.
His training in Wind Element, Fire Element, and Ninjutsu had started to bear fruit, and he would not be in vain against weaker Special Jonin.
Such talent was indeed considered top-tier in the village, but it wasn't as dazzling compared to Shintaro, who was in the same class.
Among the three, Kurenai was the weakest.
However, Kurenai's situation was quite special; her ninjutsu talent was not high, but her genjutsu talent was good, so she chose to become a genjutsu ninja.
For most ninjas, it was not unreasonable to use more ninjutsu than genjutsu.
Because if genjutsu did not reach a high level, its effects would not be significant.
Many people could see through genjutsu and use various methods to break its effects.
Therefore, the mid-Genin period was a transitional period for genjutsu-type ninjas. During this time, genjutsu-type ninjas were often not as strong as ninjutsu-type ninjas and might even lose to taijutsu-type ninjas.
Fortunately, after ninjas passed this period and reached the Jonin level, genjutsu-type ninjas would become a significant force against weaker ninjas and could achieve surprising victories against ninjas of the same level.
Kurenai's genjutsu level had actually reached Chunin level, but if she only used genjutsu against other Chunin of the same level, she had almost no chance of winning.
Fortunately, under Shintaro's guidance over the years, Kurenai had mastered good taijutsu and [Rasengan].
In terms of overall strength, she was already comparable to an average Chunin, and perhaps even slightly better. Therefore, all members of Team 8 had reached Chunin level or higher.
Taking on Genin missions was naturally easy.
As for why the three of them had not taken the Chunin Exam to be promoted to Chunin, that was something to ask Shikaku.
Originally, Shintaro planned to take the Chunin Exam immediately after graduation, but the Chunin Exam required three people to take the exam together.
So he waited until Kurenai, the weakest of the three, reached the Chunin level and then asked Shikaku to take the Chunin Exam.
But Shikaku refused.
At that time, he frowned and said seriously, "The current situation is not peaceful; it would be better if you were promoted later."
"The higher the level of the ninja, the more dangerous the missions. You are still too young; I can't let you take the risk."
"Just wait another year."
Shintaro could understand Shikaku's thoughts, but he still had personal experience with what was called a turbulent situation.
After all, as a Genin who lived in Konoha and the Land of Fire all year round, he couldn't feel the series of changes quietly happening in the entire ninja world.
However, sometimes situations tend to change unexpectedly. When people were immersed in the long-standing peaceful atmosphere built by Konoha, traces of war suddenly appeared.
On this day, because there was no mission, Kurenai suggested going shopping together.
Shintaro agreed.
So the two started wandering around Konoha's shopping street.
It must be said that Konoha's commerce was very developed, with various shops springing up along the streets and a dazzling array of products.
The energy a girl puts out while shopping is limitless. Kurenai dragged Shintaro into every shop and enjoyed it as a visit even if she didn't buy anything.
Along the way, from time to time, women who had been there would tease the pair of boys and girls on the street.
"Handsome boy and beautiful girl, truly a perfect couple."
This made Kurenai blush immediately, and she quickly tried to explain, but those people often left with mischievous smiles, leaving her there in annoyance.
To the extent that she finally punched Shintaro's chest with her fist to express her anger.
Shintaro said it didn't hurt or itch.
When Kurenai saw that he wasn't cooperating at all, she immediately pouted angrily and turned to the side.
Shintaro smiled bitterly at this, then saw a flower shop next to him and said, "Let me buy you a bouquet of flowers."
Hearing this, Kurenai could no longer pretend, and immediately showed a surprised expression.
But after seeing Shintaro's half-smiling expression, Kurenai held back her expression and only said, "Okay."
With a smile on his lips, Shintaro led her to the flower shop on the side of the road.
The two of them looked around the flower shop. The flower shop's area wasn't very large, but it had all the necessary items and was very neat.
Flowers of various colors were placed inside and outside the shop, both beautiful and elegant, giving the entire flower shop a charming fragrance.
"Welcome to Yamanaka Flower Shop. What kind of flowers do you need?"
A young, brown-haired shop owner asked with a smile. She stood behind the counter, dignified and graceful.
Shintaro replied, "Please help me wrap a bouquet. I'm giving it to her."
He pointed towards Kurenai, who was looking at the flowers.
So the shop owner asked, "Does the guest have any preferences?"
Kurenai came back to her senses and replied, "I don't have any particular preferences, as long as it looks good."
The shop owner came out from behind the counter and said, "Then I'll recommend a few flowers, and you can choose."
She went to the arranged flowers and introduced them.
"Roses, these are the standard gift for lovers. Our shop has red roses, pink roses, yellow roses, purple roses, white roses, and many other varieties."
Kurenai couldn't help but feel embarrassed again when she heard the word "lovers."
Seeing this, the shop owner smiled and then introduced, "There are also lilies that symbolize purity, as well as harmony. Suitable for sending to friends and relatives."
Kurenai nodded repeatedly.
At this moment, a man with yellow hair and a long ponytail wearing a Jonin vest walked out from the back yard of the flower shop. He looked at Shintaro and Kurenai and said, "These two young guests look familiar. Are they Shikaku's two students?"
Shintaro and Kurenai immediately understood that they had met a senior, so they bowed slightly.
The man said, "No need to be formal; we're all family. The reason I recognize you is because I saw you and Shikaku sitting together when he took you for barbecue last time."
"At that time, I saw you chatting happily, so I didn't come up to disturb you. I just greeted Shikaku."
"By the way, my name is Yamanaka Inoichi, and this is my wife, Yamanaka Hayase. Shikaku and I have been teammates for many years."
Only then did Inoichi remember to introduce himself, and he introduced the flower shop owner, who was his wife.
When Shintaro and Kurenai heard that the other party was their teacher's friend, they immediately became closer.
Inoichi smiled and said, "Alright, I'm ready to go out. Just leave the flower purchase to Hayase. She has good taste."
He was about to leave when suddenly the sound of crying and tears came from outside the door, approaching the area.
Several people in the shop were suddenly stunned.
After a while, they saw a group of people wearing pure black funeral kimonos walking past the shop door. Many people in the group were already crying.
Inoichi saw the body being carried inside and murmured, "Is it him? He was transferred to the Kumogakure defense line a few days ago. He's already dead?"
"It seems that even with the Yellow Flash there, casualties are inevitable."
Inoichi's words made Shintaro suddenly realize that war was approaching.
At this time, the ninja world was in a tense situation, and local conflicts had broken out in several places. Some people said that this was the beginning of the ninja war.
In the northeastern part of the Land of Fire, ninjas from Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning often invaded the territory without permission, and the northeastern border defense pressure of Konoha was very high.
Fortunately, Namikaze Minato had made a name for himself with the title of Yellow Flash. He alone had repelled the invasion of Raikage's son and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki a few days ago, and he was in the limelight for a while.
However, even so, it couldn't change the brutal fact of war: for ordinary ninjas, border conflicts were not an opportunity for fame but a danger that could kill people.
"Help us wrap two bouquets of white chrysanthemums." Kurenai whispered.