Under the setting sun, the gates of Konoha cast long shadows in the fading light, as if telling of the day's end and the quiet of night. Nearby, the two shinobi assigned to guard the gates for a long time, Sarutobi Ichiro and Shimura Shianyu-ro, leaned against the wall and chatted. They didn't look tense at all. Compared to the other shinobi bustling around the village, the two of them might as well have been on vacation.
"Look at those guys. They're running around like mad," Shianyu-ro said with a pout, holding half a piece of uneaten food.
Ichiro shrugged, unconcerned. "We've got it easy. At least we don't have to run all over the place like they do."
"Exactly. We're just gate guards. Nothing else to worry about." Shianyu-ro took a big bite of his sandwich and chewed contentedly.
A group of shinobi hurried past them, pinning an exit application to a post with a Kunai. Shianyu-ro watched the large team rush by, then took down the application to check it. All the paperwork was in order, and it bore the Hokage Office's personal seal. Their destination was Kirigakure.
"I heard things have been pretty tense over in Sunagakure lately. Why's our village still sending people out?" Shianyu-ro muttered, frowning.
Ichiro leaned closer, his voice low and mysterious. "I've heard a few rumors. Sunagakure may be the focus right now, but the other villages are secretly mobilizing too. The elders of the Sarutobi Clan warned us to be extra careful lately."
Shianyu-ro sighed. "So war really is about to break out. Still, we probably don't need to worry. We're just gate guards, after all."
"Konoha! Nawaki's back!!!" A loud shout shattered the quiet at the village entrance, startling Sarutobi Ichiro and Shimura Shianyu-ro as they whispered about gossip. They