One and a half months later...
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
Fireworks erupted, dazzling and colorful.
The sides of the Konoha gates were packed with a crowd of onlookers, all craning their necks in anticipation. The crowd consisted not only of Konoha villagers but also participants from various ninja villages across the Land of Shinobi.
Today was the last day before the Chūnin Exams commenced. Apart from the four great ninja villages that were cutting it close, most other villages had arrived in Konoha early and, naturally, received a warm welcome from Konoha's reception staff.
However, compared to the current welcoming ceremony, many were grumbling in secret.
"It's just a village of one of the Five Great Nations, what's so special about it? Maybe they're not even as strong as me!" a somewhat obese ninja observed from the roadside, his three tufts of orange hair particularly conspicuous.
"Jirobō, don't underestimate the Five Great Ninja Villages. Lord Orochimaru is a Konoha ninja," Kidōmaru said, arms crossed. Although he was reminding Jirobō, there was no hint of blame in his tone.
"Alright, enough talk. We'll just beat them in the Chūnin Exams when the time comes," Sakon, who had a more fiery temper, said. He wasn't keen on watching the welcome ceremony and turned to walk into an alley.
"Where's Tayuya? Didn't she come too?"
"Tayuya went to find that person. I really can't do anything about her!"
Jirobō and Kidōmaru shook their heads at each other, then followed Sakon into the dark alley. They were both unaccustomed to such lively scenes.
...
"Alright, now let's give a warm welcome to the Hidden Cloud Village, one of the Five Great Ninja Villages!"
Shikaku Nara stood at the Konoha gates, holding a new type of microphone. Having served as the head of reception for so many years, this was the first time he had welcomed other villages in such a manner.
This was so awkward!
But it was what the head planner had arranged, so he, a lower-ranking official, could only comply!
Shikaku Nara took a deep breath and spoke loudly into the microphone, "Let us welcome the esteemed members of the Hidden Cloud Village! Let's give them a huge round of applause!"
Clap, clap... clap.
A wave of response surged from the crowd, but it wasn't pure cheers; it was mixed with laughter and hushed conversations.
"Is that a Cloud ninja? Their skin is so dark."
"The one leading the front, isn't that the Fourth Raikage!"
"No way! If you hadn't said anything, I would have thought it was a gorilla!"
The sudden spectacle from Konoha caught the arriving Cloud ninja by surprise. However, one of them was immensely appreciative of the atmosphere!
"Oh yeah! This is Konoha, this is the vibe, I love it! Yeah!"
Killer Bee flashed into the center of the crowd, dancing and grooving. The pupils beneath his sunglasses sparkled with excitement. If he could hold a concert here, it would surely be packed!
"Get back here, Bee!"
Thwack!
The Fourth Raikage darted forward and pinned Killer Bee in his arm. His rugged face was a mask of embarrassment and anger. Konoha was now a gathering place for ninjas from all over the ninja world, and making a fool of himself here was equivalent to making a fool of himself in the ninja world. Did this brat understand that at all?
"Mmph, Big Brother... can't... breathe."
Fortunately, Shikaku Nara stepped forward to ease the awkward atmosphere. "Raikage-sama, accommodations for the Hidden Cloud ninjas have been arranged. Our receptionists will escort you there."
A reception ninja stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Raikage-sama, please follow me."
"Thank you for your trouble."
A could also didn't want to make a scene in front of everyone with Killer Bee. He tightened his grip on Bee's neck and led the Hidden Cloud ninjas away with the receptionists.
"Mmph! My concert..."
After a while, another group of figures appeared on a path through the forest. Shikamaru Nara once again jumped to the entrance and shouted, "Let us give a warm welcome to the esteemed members of the Hidden Mist Village!"
But unfortunately, with the Fourth Raikage as a cautionary tale, Mei Terumī didn't want to be exposed in front of the public and had already left the group to enter Konoha through a special passage.
This left the other members of the group to face the "curse of being gawked at."
"Kimimaro, why are there so many people in Konoha? I'm a bit scared," Suigetsu Hōzuki whispered, sticking close to Kimimaro. The gazes of the crowd made him uneasy, especially those dozens of people with rolling eyes. So unlucky!
"If you're scared, then go back. This time, I will definitely achieve great results in front of the boss!"
Kimimaro's eyes shone with excitement. Aside from Toneri, he didn't believe any other peer could defeat him. Even Toneri, without using those eyes, wasn't his match. After all, he had learned his taijutsu from him.
"You two, stop arguing and hurry up and leave here."
The masked stranger, his face wrapped in bandages, shot a cold glance at Suigetsu Hōzuki and then said to another person, "Haku, you too, hurry up!"
"Yes, Lord Zabuza!"
The gentle and delicate-looking young boy obediently quickened his pace slightly, following closely behind Zabuza.
"Tch! Follower!" Suigetsu Hōzuki muttered under his breath, then also hurried along. He didn't want to be stared at either; it felt unpleasant!
As time passed, the Hidden Stone and Hidden Sand villages also arrived one after another. However, Ōnoki and Rasa weren't as clever as Mei Terumī. They endured the scrutiny of Konoha ninjas along the way, feeling quite embarrassed. Yet, it also showed Konoha's respect for their arrival, so they couldn't get angry.
...
Konoha Hokage Office Conference Room.
"Fourth Hokage, why did you arrange so many members of the Hyūga clan to welcome us? Is there some deeper meaning behind it?"
The old man, Ōnoki, floated into the conference room and his first question was directed at Minato Namikaze.
As expected, this question was immediately met with responses from the other two Kage.
Aī also asked, "Good point, why arrange so many members of the Hyūga clan?"
Rasa didn't speak, but he also cast a questioning gaze at Minato Namikaze.
"This, well... the Hyūga are a great clan of Konoha. Your identities are all extremely distinguished, so of course, Konoha must extend the utmost courtesy to welcome you."
Minato Namikaze was sweating profusely internally. Arranged the Hyūga clan? I didn't know about this! I didn't arrange it!
Ōnoki looked at Minato Namikaze suspiciously but couldn't find any reason to refute him, so he sat down. "Then let's put this matter aside for now. You didn't summon us here just to give the rookies fame, did you?"
The top ten ranked participants in this Chūnin Exams would receive their Chūnin certification personally presented by the Five Kage, gaining their recognition, something every genin aspired to.
"That's right. This meeting is no less important than a Five Kage Summit. Fourth Hokage, if you have something to say, please do so," Aī said, placing his hat on the table, his gaze deep.
"No rush. Isn't there still one Kage who hasn't arrived?"
Rasa said, "That new Mizukage? I heard he's quite capable, possessing a double Kekkei Genkai."
Minato Namikaze nodded. "Actually, the reason I invited you all here under the guise of the Chūnin Exams is to discuss something with you."
The three Kage frowned and looked at Minato Namikaze, waiting for his next words.
"Have you three considered what the future direction of the ninja world will be? Will it still be five great nations coexisting, or will it... be unified!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the entire conference room became extremely serious.
...
As dusk arrived, on a mountain several kilometers outside Konoha Village, several ninjas stood in a straight line on the mountaintop, their red cloud black robes fluttering in the wind.
"Honestly, that kid Toneri is so ruthless even I can't beat him. Him participating in the Chūnin Exams is just bullying!"
Kisame Hoshigaki grinned, his shark-like face showing schadenfreude.
No one responded to Kisame. Sasori and Deidara gazed at the afterglow of the sunset, sighing at the beauty of art.
After a small figure disappeared from their sight in the distance, Nagato turned his back to the sunset and said,
"Deidara, Sasori, Konan, Itachi Uchiha, Kisame Hoshigaki, Kakuzu, Hidan, Black Zetsu."
"It's our turn!"
...
Above the dark forest canopy, a faint voice sounded, "Lord Tobi, are we going to..."
Thwack, thwack!
"Call me Lord Madara, Obito!"