Stinking Outsiders

After days of travel, the Ninja from every nation had finally reached the end of their journey.

Led by the four great villages—Cloud Hidden, Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure—teams from the surrounding Small Shinobi Villages arrived in Konoha throughout the day.

The long columns of visiting Ninja filed into the village along its main road, instantly disrupting its peaceful atmosphere.

On the surface, the village was as lively as ever. Crowds filled the streets, and vendors called out their wares. But amid the bustle, the tension was palpable as the different factions tested one another and kept their guard up.

With the Joint Chunin Exams about to begin, Asuma and the others had paused their grueling training. They were chatting in Tsukimi's Courtyard, a quiet, secluded place that shut out the village's noise for the moment.

Tsukimi reclined lazily in a wicker chair, eyes half-closed and expression relaxed, listening as the others caught up.

"Over the next few days, practically every rising Ninja in the Shinobi World will be here," Asuma said from where he leaned beneath the veranda. His voice held a note of awe, but also concern. "These exams are on an unprecedented scale. Every Anbu member is on duty, and patrols have doubled. The old man's really on edge this time!"

Kurenai nodded slightly, her gaze calm. "Ninja from multiple nations are gathering in one place. They say they're here for the exams, but they all have their own agendas. Everyone's probing for intelligence behind the scenes. The slightest friction could start trouble."

"My father is back too!" Kakashi said, his silver hair stirring as he dropped the news.

The courtyard fell quiet. Even Tsukimi opened his eyes, waiting for Kakashi to continue.

"It's been eight months since that incident," Kakashi said in a subdued voice. "To make