At dawn, a thin mist still shrouded the mountains, hazy and fantastical, forming an impressionistic scene.
The Sunagakure delegation arrived at Konoha's gates just as the sun began to rise.
"So this is present-day Konoha. The living conditions really are much better than in Sunagakure."
Through Konoha's gates, Chiyo could see part of the village within and sighed with feeling. Ever since Rasa had become Kazekage, she and her younger brother Ebizo had withdrawn completely from public affairs. By now, they had not left Sunagakure for nearly twenty years.
If she had not heard that her grandson Sasori had been captured by Konoha's ninja, she likely would never have left Sunagakure again for the rest of her life.
Looking at Konoha's towering buildings and bustling streets, then comparing them to present-day Sunagakure, Chiyo could not help marveling at Konoha's prosperity. From one spot, one could glimpse the whole; from a single leaf, one could know that late autumn had come. From the sight before her alone, Chiyo could imagine Konoha's current strength. The gap between Sunagakure and Konoha was growing wider and wider.
"People from Sunagakure? Envoys?" At Konoha's entrance, the guarding ninja spotted Chiyo and the others. After murmuring to himself, one ninja quickly stepped forward to question them.
After confirming Chiyo's group's identities, the four Sunagakure ninja were allowed into Konoha. But once they entered, two Anbu swiftly appeared before them and blocked their path.
"What does Konoha mean by this? You're even sending Anbu to keep an eye on us?"
"Do you not trust us ninja from an allied nation?"
Seeing the two masked Anbu, Chiyo frowned slightly. Deeply displeased, she questioned them directly.
"Elder Chiyo, please don't misunderstand. We naturally have complete confidence in all of you from Sunagakure."
"We were ordered by the Hokage to