A few days later, at the gates of Konoha, hundreds of ninjas from across the shinobi world passed through one after another.
Each of them was a top-tier Genin from their respective villages—some had even reached Jonin-level strength but temporarily suppressed their official rank just to participate in the Chunin Exams.
After all, there was no better opportunity to assess the strength of peers from across the shinobi world… or to show off the might of one's own village.
The first to arrive in Konoha were the shinobi from the Land of Rain and Amegakure. Being the closest, it made sense they'd be the first to arrive.
At this time, Konan had disguised herself—dying her purple hair black and painting faint lavender markings on her face. She had no intention of relying on a Transformation Jutsu; such things could be disrupted. A plain and unassuming physical disguise was far less likely to be seen through.
Behind her marched thirty elite ninja from Amegakure, and closely at her side followed a cute girl with short dark purple hair, styled uniquely.
"Angel-sama, is this Konoha?"
"It's huge..."
Konan placed her hand on the girl's head and gently scolded her.
"Don't call me 'Angel' during the mission. Call me Chiori."
The girl stuck out her tongue sheepishly, rubbing her head with a guilty look.
"Oops, I forgot..."
Then, she immediately stood upright, adopting a comically serious expression.
"As you command, Lady Chiori!"
The alias "Chiori" wasn't randomly chosen (definitely not because the author plays Genshin Impact). Konan often folded paper cranes, so naming her "Senbazuru" would've been too on-the-nose. Thus, she simply took the first part and tweaked the tone slightly—hence, "Chiori."
After Konan led her team into Konoha, they were greeted by towering buildings and a bustling, peaceful atmosphere. The entire village exuded a kind of harmony not often found elsewhere.
On either side of the Konoha gates stood two rows of well-equipped shinobi police officers, constantly vigilant. Konan could also sense two powerful chakra signatures concealed nearby—each no weaker than her own.
"So this is the strength of Konoha—the number one shinobi village in the world..." she murmured to herself.
Just then, a Konoha ninja approached and guided her group toward the first examination hall for the Chunin Exams.
After Amegakure came delegations from Sunagakure and Iwagakure.
Ōnoki immediately locked eyes with the masked Kazekage and launched into sarcasm.
"Well, if it isn't the proud Fourth Kazekage himself!"
"What's with the cloak and mask? What, hiding from someone? Or just too ashamed of your face to show it in public?"
"Or maybe you're afraid the other villages will see what a joke you've become."
Rasa's body stiffened instantly.
He still harbored deep resentment over the previous joint invasions by Iwagakure and Kumogakure. Seeing this old fossil only worsened his mood, and he nearly lost control right there. But this was Konoha territory—he had to restrain himself.
That restraint lasted about three seconds.
He clenched his right hand halfway and immediately drew a stream of gold dust from the earth beneath his feet. With a sharp chakra infusion, he turned it into a needle and launched it straight at Ōnoki.
"Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!"
Kurotsuchi, following behind her grandfather, quickly made hand seals and stomped the ground with her slender legs. A thick wall of stone surged up and blocked the golden needle with a heavy thud.
Ōnoki chuckled dryly, completely unfazed.
"As expected of the Kazekage who's mastered Magnet Release. Pulling gold straight from the soil..."
"Your Sand Village must be loaded."
"Unlike us poor folks in Iwagakure—hardly any sand, much less gold! Must be nice, huh~"
Rasa's face behind the mask twisted.
Of course he understood the deeper meaning behind Ōnoki's words.
The old man was mocking the Sand Village's poverty—suggesting that Rasa was basically a glorified gold miner, keeping his village afloat through manual labor.
But before the tension could escalate further, two streaks of blue lightning struck the ground between the two delegations with a deafening boom. Earth and stone flew in all directions, and a thick cloud of dust spread outward.
A booming voice followed.
"This isn't the place for your squabbles."
"If you want to fight, wait for the Chunin Exams—let the kids have at it."
"Ōnoki, you crusty fossil, stop barking just because you've been alive longer."
"And you, Kazekage—get a grip. Everyone knows what kind of shape your village is in."
"Yo~ yo~"
"The kind and mighty Raikage will settle this now~"
"It's all good fun~!"
"No need to boast~!"
"Chunin Exam is the real showdown~!"
"Yo~ yo~!"
As the dust cleared, the figure of the Fourth Raikage, A, came into view. He wore a white cloak, arms crossed, his presence radiating intimidation.
Beside him was Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, bobbing his head to an invisible beat.
The Raikage's arrival cooled things down—temporarily. But it was obvious to everyone present:
The air around the Konoha gates felt like a powder keg.
One spark, and it would all go up in flames.
Konoha gatekeepers Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki stood stiffly nearby, practically holding their breath. They had no idea how to deal with this bunch of ticking time bombs.
And then it happened—
A crushing wave of chakra, thick with killing intent, suddenly swept over the entire gate.
Everyone froze.
A calm, commanding voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"You're all here for the Chunin Exams… so what's with the hostility?"
"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were here to start a war."
"How about giving Uchiha Hikaru a little face… and cooling it down?"
"There'll be plenty of chances to prove yourselves in the Exams."
"And if you're still not satisfied—well, we can arrange a little Kage-level showdown afterward."
"What do you say?"
The Raikage and Killer Bee both looked up toward the gate, expressions serious.
There stood a tall, imposing figure—arms crossed, long hair whipping in the breeze. His crimson eyes glowed like blood under the sunlight, flawless tomoe spinning slowly in his pupils.
Though he exuded no outward chakra, Raikage Ai recognized what that meant.
It was perfect chakra control.
"Hahahaha!!"
Raikage A laughed heartily, breaking the tension like shattered glass.
"Hikaru, long time no see!"
"You're right. Let the kids have their battle."
Killer Bee broke into a freestyle, striking a ridiculous pose:
"Yo~ yo~
Brother Hikaru's here~
Got any good sake, for your bro over here~?"
...
...
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