A few days later, at Konoha's gates, hundreds upon thousands of ninja from all across the Shinobi World passed through.
Every one of them was an outstanding genin from their village. Some even possessed the strength of a Special Jonin, yet in order to participate in these Chunin Exams, they had all used various means to lower their ninja rank.
For no other reason than to witness the strength of ninja from other villages of their generation—or to display their own village's fangs and claws.
The first to arrive in Konoha were the ninja from the Land of Rain's Amegakure. They were the closest to Konoha, so it was only natural that they arrived first.
Konan had disguised herself, dyeing her purple hair black and painting pale purple patterns across her face to conceal her identity.
After all, disguising oneself with ninjutsu still carried the risk of exposure. Only the simplest, most unadorned disguise was least likely to be discovered.
Behind her followed thirty outstanding ninja from Amegakure. Right behind her was a cute girl with distinctive short dark-purple hair.
"Lady Angel, is this Konoha?"
"It's so big..."
Konan placed a hand on Ajisai's head and quietly rebuked her.
"Don't call me Lady Angel during the mission. Call me Chiori."
Ajisai stuck out her tongue, somewhat embarrassed as she scratched her head.
"Hehe, I forgot."
But in the next moment, she put on a solemn expression.
"Yes, Lady Chiori!"
As for why she had chosen the alias Chiori, it was because Konan often folded paper cranes herself. But calling herself Paper Crane would have been rather strange, so she took only the first two characters and altered the tone slightly, becoming Chiori.
After Konan led the group of ninja behind her into Konoha, the first thing they saw was its