Thanks to Konoha Ninja Village's swift response, the unease caused by the bombing had all but disappeared. People ventured out onto the streets again. Though the village was not yet as lively as before, it was gradually recovering. Konoha High Command considered this a good sign, and precisely for that reason, the Security Force and Anbu had to keep an even closer watch on what followed. If another incident caused disruption on the same scale as the bombing, public trust in Konoha Ninja Village would suffer a devastating blow.
With the Anbu and Security Force working together, no further incidents occurred within Konoha Ninja Village, and the day of the Joint Chunin Exams arrived without trouble. Ninjas from different countries gathered outside the examination venue, making for a bustling scene. The Joint Chunin Exams required teams of three. Since Tsunade would not be taking the exams, Hatake Sakumo and Heizo Hattori could not enter on their own.
After careful discussion, Kagami Uchiha decided to have Hyuga Kazuya join them, leaving his own two younger clansmen out of the Chunin Ninja Exams. It might seem strange that the prestigious Uchiha Clan would not be competing, but considering that even the Senju Clan's little princess was absent, it was not entirely unreasonable.
Hyuga Kazuya was chosen as their third member because the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan offered exceptional reconnaissance capabilities. For Hatake Sakumo and Heizo Hattori, both formidable fighters in their own right, a teammate who could provide support was exactly what they needed. They welcomed Hyuga Kazuya's addition.
Kazemori Masaki was occupied with his duties as an exam supervisor, so his wife, Satomi, came in the teacher's place to see the three boys into the venue. Their fathers naturally did not simply stay home either. After escorting their children there, they met