Border Inspection, Uchiha Taichi

On the hillside outside Nagano City, Neji withdrew his gaze from the city gates, turned around, and lifted his chin at the group of Konoha youths behind him, each wearing a different expression.

"Let's go. We'll register before entering first."

Naruto tugged his backpack strap higher on his shoulder and turned to glance at Sasuke.

Sasuke did not look at him, because he was staring at the neat rows of gray tents below the slope and the blue-uniformed staff weaving among them. His expression showed no real change, but he had already stepped forward.

Naruto grinned and hurried after him in a few quick strides.

The soles of their shoes crushed dry grass and gravel, making a faint rustling sound.

A few steps behind, Shikamaru had both hands in his trouser pockets, his fingertips tapping lightly against the inside of the fabric.

In his mind, he went over every scrap of information from the journey between Fukuyama City and Nagano City.

Kimimaro leaving halfway meant the pursuers Konoha had sent after them had already been stopped; Neji's attitude toward them had shifted from surrounding and suppressing them at first to now guiding them along, which meant they were at least not prisoners, but visitors allowed a limited degree of free movement.

"Stay cautious," Shikamaru said in a low voice to Ino and Choji beside him.

Choji and Ino nodded slightly.

Kiba took Akamaru down from the top of his head and held him in his arms. Akamaru's ears were flattened back against his head, his nose twitching rapidly in the air. There were too many unfamiliar scents packed together, and his sense of smell was somewhat overloaded.

Everyone in the group was a ninja, and once they started moving, they were fast.

Neji led them around the long, slow-moving line