The day before the Chunin Ninja Exams, ninjas from the various villages began arriving at Konoha's main gate.
Xuanhui and Pakura were in charge of welcoming the visitors from Takigakure and Sunagakure.
They were the only two in all of Konoha who had dealt with Sunagakure many times. Never mind how those dealings had gone.
As for Takigakure, only three people were coming: two Jonin escorting Fū to the exams. So Xuanhui had volunteered to welcome them as well.
It was almost noon now, and most of the other Jonin had already met the teams assigned to them.
It seemed only Xuanhui and Pakura were left at the main gate.
Along with the two gate guards, of course.
"Why hasn't a single one of them shown up?"
Lying with his head in Pakura's lap, Xuanhui grumbled with his eyes closed.
"They should be here soon, right?"
Pakura sat on the bench, gently massaging Xuanhui's head with her delicate hands as she watched the road outside Konoha.
"Get up. I think they're here. Behave yourself."
"They're finally here?"
Xuanhui rolled over and sat up, following Pakura's gaze into the distance.
"Rasa came along after all!"
"I thought only the Third Kazekage would be leading the team..."
The Third Kazekage and Rasa had arrived with this year's ninjas from the Hidden Sand Village, about five or six of them.
Among them were Gaara and his two older siblings.
"Damn, so now we're only waiting on Takigakure?"
"Mm. Let's chat with them first."
The Third Kazekage spotted the two standing at the main gate and waved at them.
Rasa did not scowl at them, but he did not offer a greeting either.
His youngest son, Gaara, on the other hand, had already jogged over.
"This is the first time I've ever seen Gaara