Konoha was more crowded than ever. From above, the village was a sea of people, bustling with energy and noise.
Ninjas from all over the world had gathered, making the village livelier than ever. But it wasn't just shinobi—civilians, wealthy travelers, and curious onlookers had all flocked to witness the first-ever World Ninja League Exam. With no restrictions on visitors, Konoha was packed beyond belief, to the point of causing foot traffic jams in the streets.
For Sakinoko and Kitahara, this was both a blessing and a headache. Their shop—already known for its exceptional food—was constantly packed with tourists eager to try their famous dishes. Business was booming, but it also meant they barely had time to spend with their daughter, Sakiya.
But Sakinoko wasn't about to go without seeing her beloved child.
And so, she came up with a plan.
That morning, on Konoha's bustling commercial street, a large storefront displayed a sign reading: "Konoha's Most Famous Dango Shop!"
Standing at the entrance was a small figure dressed in a dinosaur costume.
Yes—Sakiya.
Peeking out from the mouth of the hood was her delicate face, with her signature eyepatch covering her left eye. Her expression was completely blank. The little dinosaur tail on her costume swayed slightly as if moved by some unseen force.
A couple, dressed in foreign clothing, strolled by and noticed her. They exchanged glances, intrigued, and made their way over.
The young woman crouched slightly, smiling warmly.
"So cute! Can I hug you?"
Sakiya remained expressionless. Her visible eye, calm and indifferent, held no emotion. Her tail twitched slightly.
"No. Mortal."
The woman blinked in surprise, disappointment flashing across her face. Her boyfriend chuckled and leaned in.
"What if we buy something? Can we hug you then?"
Sakiya stared at him, then shifted her gaze back to the woman. Her voice remained utterly flat.
"Oh. Then… welcome, mortal."
Silence.
The man scratched his head awkwardly.
"…That's it?"
Sakiya had already lost interest in the conversation.
The girl sighed, a little disappointed, but she still planned to go inside. The store was incredibly popular—there was no way she was going to miss out on trying its famous food.
"So cute… It's really a shame I can't hug you."
She took her boyfriend's hand, casting one last reluctant glance at Sakiya before heading into the shop.
Sakiya, meanwhile, remained where she was, staring blankly ahead.
At that moment, a group of four appeared on the street, their excitement palpable.
"Konoha is amazing! It's so lively!"
"I'm so glad we came! This place is incredible!"
As they chatted excitedly, one of them suddenly noticed Sakiya in her dinosaur costume. Eyes lighting up, they rushed over.
"So cute! Can we take a picture?"
Without waiting for a response, one of them pulled out a camera and snapped a photo of Sakiya.
She remained blank-faced, her expression unchanging.
"…Eh?"
The man handed his camera to a friend and crouched slightly beside her, flashing a peace sign. The friend grinned and clicked the shutter.
Click.
As soon as the photo was taken, Sakiya's gaze shifted slightly, her visible eye narrowing.
"What are you doing?" Her voice was flat but carried an edge. "A mere human, leaving behind my image without my permission…"
The group froze, momentarily confused. Then, realizing they might have upset her, they quickly apologized.
"Sorry! We got a little too excited," one of them said sheepishly.
"It's our first time in Konoha, and we got caught up in the moment," another added. "Ever since the World Ninja League was established, things have been so peaceful. If it weren't for that, we'd never have dared to travel this far."
The man holding the camera lifted it slightly.
"If you don't like it, I'll delete it right away."
Beside him, a girl stepped forward, looking genuinely apologetic.
"Sorry about them—they can be a bit much sometimes. If we scared you, I sincerely apologize."
She bowed deeply.
"…Eh?" Sakiya blinked, caught off guard.
After bowing, the girl clasped her hands together, looking at Sakiya with hopeful eyes.
"But… would you still be willing to take a picture with me?"
"…Eh?"
The three men turned to her in shock.
"Not fair, Mei! We want a picture too!"
Without hesitation, they bowed as well.
"We're really sorry for being rude! But please—can we take a picture with you? Please!"
Sakiya's eyes widened in disbelief.
"…What?"
She scratched her cheek with the small paw of her dinosaur costume, staring at the four excited travelers. After a brief moment of thought, she sighed.
"Fine. But don't overdo it."
"YES!"
The girl jumped up excitedly.
The group wasted no time, taking pictures from multiple angles, capturing every possible pose. Once satisfied, they happily made their way into the shop.
As time passed, more and more people gathered on the street, and with Sakiya standing there in her dinosaur outfit, she quickly became the center of attention.
Of course, a few familiar faces, who had been out enjoying their day, also noticed the commotion. When they reached the crowd and saw Sakiya in full mascot mode, they couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Ino, seeing the blank, almost lifeless look on Sakiya's face as she unwillingly entertained the customers, grinned.
"I never thought I'd see the day."
Sakura chuckled and nodded. "Yeah… this is rare."
—
Meanwhile, inside the shop, Sakiya's family was feeling extra motivated.
"These are all customers brought in by our lovely daughter! We have to take this seriously!"
Sakinoko turned to Nanako, who was dressed in a bear costume, and called her over.
"Nanako!"
Nanako ran up, her expression serious. "Yes! I'm here!"
Sakinoko held out a tray of dumplings. "Table five."
"Got it!"
Nanako grabbed the tray and ran off, moving as quickly as her small legs allowed.
Sakinoko called after her, "If you get tired, take a break!"
"Understood!"
Nanako didn't look back, but as she approached the table, she glanced toward her older sister, still surrounded by people outside. Her expression grew solemn.
"As expected… even the strongest can't fight against this."
She sighed, steeling herself as she reached the customers at table five. She had to raise her arms just to pass them the plate.
"Here are your dumplings!"
The customers looked at her in surprise, charmed by her enthusiasm but also a little concerned.
"Little one, why are you the one delivering this?"
Nanako straightened up. "This is part of my training!"
She turned to glance at Sakiya again.
"It's also a battle."
The customers exchanged confused looks.
"Uh… what?"
But Nanako wasn't paying attention anymore. She turned and rushed back to Sakinoko, her mission complete.
Truthfully, the store had plenty of staff, and Nanako wasn't actually needed for deliveries. But she was always eager to help, so Sakinoko would give her small tasks to keep her occupied.
And so, the family ran the shop happily, tending to the flood of customers.
—
Meanwhile, in a quieter part of town, Kitahara Kira sat alone at a barbecue restaurant, enjoying his meal in peace. He had no intention of getting involved.
There were already plenty of workers at the shop—why should he do anything?
—
Outside, a familiar figure casually strolled past the bustling street.
Kakashi glanced at Sakiya, still standing there in her dinosaur outfit, overwhelmed by customers.
"…She's supposed to be the adjudicator for tomorrow's matches," he muttered to himself. "And yet she's spending today like this… How carefree."