Konoha's guests had arrived. Yahiko, leader of the Rain Village, had come along with quite a few Rain Village shinobi, including Konan and Nagato.
The third stage of the Chunin Exams was about to begin, and they had come to observe the event.
The moment they reached Konoha's gates, they were drawn to the towering structure atop Hokage Rock. It stood over ten meters tall, built upon an already lofty cliff, while the massive orb of light at its peak radiated dazzling purple brilliance.
They had not seen such a structure when they last came here.
Yahiko asked the Konoha shinobi assigned to receive them, "When did your village build such a distinctive watchtower?"
"That is the Sunlight Tower, not a watchtower. The Hokage only ordered its construction not long ago."
"The Sunlight Tower... what is its purpose?" Yahiko could not help asking.
"It keeps petty threats at bay," the Konoha shinobi replied succinctly.
Yahiko narrowed his eyes. At first glance, the tower looked like little more than an ornament, and the enormous orb of light resembled a giant lamp.
Yet as shinobi, they could clearly sense the terrifying energy contained within it.
Nagato in particular stared unblinkingly at the orb. Purple light swirled around a beautiful white void, giving him a strange feeling. That thing seemed to share the same origin as his Rinnegan.
Byakuryu, Yahiko's guard, was likewise studying the tower thoughtfully.
Yahiko sighed. "Konoha's foundation and technology are truly admirable."
"You flatter us, Mr. Yahiko."
The streets were crowded with pedestrians, with shops and vendor stalls lining both sides of the roads. Many outsiders had come to Konoha today. Such prosperity and liveliness were beyond anything the Rain Village could compare to. Konoha did not even need to advertise deliberately; these merchants had submitted applications long ago,