Naruto's Problem with Saving Face (Please Subscribe)

"Is this really the Shinobi World's number one ninja village?"

"It's so prosperous!"

"And the streets are so clean."

"The security is great too. I've seen several groups of ninja patrols on my way here."

Over the next few days, teams from Kusagakure and Takigakure arrived one after another. Without exception, they were all impressed by Konoha's prosperity and cleanliness. Add to that the scenery of the Land of Fire along the way and the registration form at the village entrance, and quite a few Genin with weak wills secretly began entertaining the thought of moving to Konoha. Those who felt ashamed didn't even dare look anyone in the eye.

"That registration form was a stroke of genius."

In the Hokage Office, Namikaze Minato clicked his tongue in admiration as he read the Anbu's surveillance report.

As it happened, the village's security was thanks to the Konoha Military Police Force, but everything else—the expanded village gates, hiring people to clean the streets on a regular schedule every day, and that registration form—had all been Hanfu's idea. And they'd worked remarkably well. They'd not only raised Konoha residents' standard of living and sense of pride in their great village, but had also subtly attracted ninja from other villages. If Namikaze Minato ever truly united the Shinobi World one day, that sort of allure would be invaluable.

Of course, the most important thing for Konoha right now was to make this Chunin Joint Selection Exam a success and carry it on as a tradition!

July 1, Year 57 of Konoha.

On a street in town, Naruto, Sakura, Hinata, Karin, Sasuke, and the others were out shopping during their summer vacation.

"Sakura, Sakura, have you noticed the village has been kind of weird lately?" Naruto, the lovesick fool, sidled up to Sakura with