A Lively Village

At the main gate of Konoha, countless Konoha, all beaming with joy, held red flags and stretched long banners, welcoming the returning Konoha.

"Welcome! Welcome! Long live the Hokage! Long Hokage Konoha! We, Konoha, have defeated Kumogakure!" A large number of Konoha shouted this, their voices echoing through the sky.

Countless children shouted excitedly, "Long live Konoha! Konoha has defeated Kumogakure! Long Hokage the Hokage! Konoha will win!"

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, leading a squad of Anbu Ninjas and members of the Police Force, went directly outside the main gate to welcome the triumphant ninjas.

Mitokado Homura looked at Hyuga Changchun the team, and said with a smile, "Nagaharu, you've worked hard. Guarding the border of the Land of Lightning must have been very tiring. We've prepared a welcoming ceremony for you, heroes of Konoha."

Utatane Koharu asked with a smile, "Hasn't the Hokage returned?"

Hyuga Changchun nodded directly and said with a smile, "The Hokage, along with Kakashi, the Assistant Hokage, and the others, went to the border of the Land of Earth. We parted ways halfway there."

The welcoming party, which had been so lively just moments before, quieted down considerably upon hearing that the Hokage hadn't arrived.

The Konoha had been cheering loudly stopped clapping and said one after another, "The Hokage didn't come, so all our cheering was a waste of our emotions."

Some of the Konoha children immediately put away their little red flags and said with serious expressions, "The Hokage isn't here, so we can't ruin my little red flag. We'll wave it again when the Hokage comes back in person next time. My little red flag isn't for them to wave."

Sakura's Mother and Sakura, upon hearing that the Hokage hadn't come, but only the border ninjas had returned, also gave Sakura a look.

Sakura nodded, lowered the flag she was holding, and said with a regretful expression, "I've been preparing for so long, it's a pity I didn't get to see the Hokage. He even smiled at me last time."

Seeing that the surrounding villagers had dispersed, Sakura's Mother immediately put away the welcoming flag in her hand and said with a serious face, "Sakura, let's go back now. Everyone, please disperse. Next time when the Hokage returns, I'll hand over my father too, and we'll all come together to welcome the Hokage."

Upon hearing her Sakura's Mother's words, Sakura said awkwardly, "Mom! Dad ruined Hiruzen Sarutobi's Konoha Beautification Plan last time because he was too ugly. He was arrested and taken to the Police Force. Now he's afraid to go out without shaving, and he's been traumatized by the beating. He still hasn't recovered and feels scared when he sees those Police Force members. Will Dad come out with you?"

Upon hearing Sakura's words, Sakura's Mother said with a serious expression, "You still have to come out and meet people! What kind of behavior is it to hide at home Tenten? Besides! The Hokage has already reorganized the Police Force, and those Police Force members are no longer being fined. They still hide at home all the time; they are really useless."

Sakura watched as all the villagers scattered like birds and beasts, leaving the area. Then she called out, "Mom, let's go! There are only a few of us villagers left. Let's come back when the Hokage returns!"

Sakura's Mother simply replied "Okay," and then the two of them left.

At the village entrance, Mitokado Homura greeted Kuroki Ichi Ichika and Kamizuru Kurosa.

Mitokado Homura greeted the two clan leaders with a smile, saying, "Welcome to Konoha. Your housing has been prepared, and the funding for you has also been arranged by the Konoha High Command."

Utatane Koharu immediately spoke up, saying, "On behalf of the Konoha Advisors, I extend a warm welcome to your Kuroki Clan and the Kamizuru Clan. We have prepared a welcoming ceremony for you."

The clan chief of the Heicha clan, beaming with excitement, said to Mitokado Homura and the others, "Thank you for the welcoming ceremony from Konoha. I heard it from a great distance; it was truly magnificent. Our Kamizuru Clan is extremely grateful for your welcoming ceremony from Konoha! We really enjoyed it."

Kuroki Ichi was overjoyed and said with a flattered expression, "Thank you Konoha, for giving our Kuroki Clan a new life. And thank you, Hokage- sama!"

Samui maintained his aloof demeanor and said directly to Mitokado Homura, "Even if you give me a warm welcome, I will never admit that I am Konoha Ninja."

Charlotte Reiko and all the Charlotte female ninjas smiled and said, "The Konoha are so hospitable. We could hear the welcoming ceremony from the other side of the forest."

Mitokado Homura called out again, "New villagers, I'll lead you into the village."

Immediately Hyuga Changchun, the Kamizuru Clan, the Kuroki Clan, the Charlotte Clan's female ninja, and Samui followed Mitokado Homura directly into the gates of Konoha.

Mitokado Homura and the others looked at the empty gate. The Konoha had been cheering just moments before had already taken their things and left, leaving behind a pile of trash, broken red flags, and torn banners.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu both looked ashamed, as did some of the Anbu Ninjas on the deserted street, all of them with black lines on their faces, thinking to themselves, "Where did all the villagers who were supposed to be welcoming us go? Didn't anyone tell them to leave?"

Homura thought to himself, "What's wrong with these villagers? I called them all over to welcome the hero, but they've all left. They're really making our Konoha High Command lose face."

Utatane Koharu said directly to Heicha clan leader, "The villagers are all at mealtime and have gone home to cook. But don't doubt it, Konoha is a kind and virtuous village, and we warmly welcome you."

After saying that, Utatane Koharu, gave an awkward smile.

The already embarrassed chieftain of the Heicha looked even more awkward upon hearing these words. He then said, "I understand. We're all from the same village, and we have to eat when it's mealtime, right?"

Hyuga Changchun and the other border ninjas were all dumbfounded, thinking to themselves, "Weren't these villagers here to welcome us? At least wait until we entered the village gate before you left! We didn't even go in, and you left so much trash behind. It's so embarrassing."