The day after the plan succeeded, at Konoha's gates.
"Hey, Iron, a whole lot of people got eliminated in this round of the Chunin Ninja Exams."
While standing guard, Kotetsu Hagane struck up a conversation with his best buddy.
"That's normal. These are large-scale Chunin Ninja Exams, after all. Only the elite make it through."
Looking at the unusually quiet gates, Izumo Kamizuki couldn't help remembering his own Chunin Ninja Exams.
"But our Konoha entrants this time are the elite of the elite. Didn't Kakashi's team capture that guy, what was his name-Zabuza?"
"It's been ages since we saw anyone from Kirigakure. Maybe we'll get to see some this time."
"Hey, with positions like ours, doesn't anyone who wants to enter Konoha have to get our permission first?"
"Pfft... ahem. You've got a point."
As the two chatted and laughed, a figure approached from the distance.
"Stop laughing. Someone's coming."
Izumo Kamizuki cut off Kotetsu Hagane's laughter, and both focused on the approaching figure in a black cloak.
"Who are you? Show your face."
Izumo Kamizuki found the figure inexplicably familiar, but couldn't place who it was right away.
"That's quite a presence. Just looking at that stance gives me the shivers."
Kotetsu Hagane cracked a joke to ease the awkwardness, while a kunai had already appeared in his hand.
After all, most people who came this close without showing their faces were up to no good.
These were Konoha's gates. Anyone who dared cause trouble here was either out of their mind or... exceptionally powerful.
There was no helping it. Even if they knew the other party might be terrifyingly strong, security guards had to act like security guards!
The two exchanged a look, as though they could see flames burning in each other's eyes.
Are you ready, partner?!