It was the day of the third round of the Three-Village Joint Chunin Exams.
"Wow, so this is how Konoha does things... how grand!"
Led by Kurenai Yuhi, Kazahana Koyuki, the Daimyo of the Land of Snow, arrived at her viewing box. Gazing at the lavish furnishings of the Viewing Stand, which rivaled those in her own mansion, she looked utterly astonished.
Her years as an actress had taken her far and wide. She had seen plenty of the world, including major nations and shinobi villages.
But the sheer scale of these Chunin Ninja Exams still amazed her.
The entire venue consisted of Viewing Stands arranged in a ring around the central arena.
Each Viewing Stand seemed to have been treated with a special barrier. When Kazahana Koyuki turned to look, she could only make out silhouettes in the neighboring Viewing Stand, not the identities of the people inside.
Nor was it all grandeur without attention to detail. As someone who worked in film, Kazahana Koyuki had an eye for such things—the intricate carvings across the wooden walls, the unusual triangular prisms at each upturned corner of the wooden eaves, and the patterns on the wooden tea sets...
Huh, why is everything made of wood? Is wood their specialty because they're called Konoha?
"You're too kind. The Land of Snow trades frequently with Konoha, so naturally, we want you to feel at home."
Kurenai Yuhi, who was responsible for protecting Kazahana Koyuki that day, smiled. Of course, she did not mention that a certain Anbu member seeking "atonement" had spent a month making all of this without rest or sleep.
Santarō Asama, who had visited Konoha more times than he could count, put on the air of a well-traveled man, though he was muttering inwardly too—
*I never received treatment