June 23, 60th Year of Konoha — Outside the Gates of Konohagakure
A luxurious carriage rolled steadily along the dirt road, its finely carved wood glinting in the summer sunlight. The carriage wheels creaked softly as they approached the grand gates of Konoha. Flanking the vehicle was a man clad in traditional samurai armor, his arms folded tightly across his chest. He narrowed his eyes at the massive gates ahead and let out a sigh.
"Never thought I'd see the day I'd walk into Konoha's gates... like this," Zabuza muttered under his breath, half in disbelief.
Walking beside him, a young woman dressed as a maid covered her mouth and chuckled gently.
"All thanks to Master Carl," she said with a knowing smile. "If not for him, we wouldn't be here like this."
At that moment, Carl pushed open the velvet curtain of the carriage and stuck his head out.
"Keep your identities in mind," he reminded them sternly. "Zabuza, you're now Captain Zhan of the Royal Guard. Haku, you're the maid Tsu . We can't afford any slip-ups. If your true identities are exposed, we'll be in serious trouble."
After his previous visit to the Naruto world, Carl had returned to his own universe, only to receive a summons from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. The daimyo had tasked him with escorting noble dignitaries to Konoha to observe the upcoming Chunin Exams, under the title of "Prince Carl."
Knowing this mission was more than ceremonial, Carl had quickly brought Zabuza and Haku—trusted allies—into the Land of Fire and had them disguise themselves using the Transformation Jutsu. Their roles: his personal guard and maid.
Technically, high-ranking nobles and dignitaries only attended the final matches of the Chunin Exams. But Carl had insisted on arriving early. He needed time to study the village's structure, gather intelligence, and prepare for any unforeseen developments.
Zabuza rolled his eyes. "You're preaching to the choir. We've done deep cover infiltration before you ever learned how to hold a kunai."
"As long as we avoid using chakra-based ninjutsu, even someone like Kakashi won't recognize us," Haku added in a soft, polite voice, his transformation into a delicate maid entirely convincing.
Carl nodded in approval, closing the curtain once more.
Honestly, Carl found Haku's transformation eerily flawless. From his gestures to the cadence of his voice, he embodied the image of a refined young lady. It was both impressive... and slightly unsettling.
As the carriage neared the gate, two Chūnin in standard Konoha uniforms stepped forward to intercept it.
"Halt! Please present your travel documents and authorization," said one of them, standing firmly.
Haku gracefully approached, producing a scroll with the Daimyo's seal.
"My master is Prince Carl of the Land of Fire. He comes on official business, under direct orders from the Daimyo, to observe the Chunin Exams. An advance message should have been sent to your Hokage."
The Chūnin—Kamizuki Izumo—examined the seal and accompanying pass. After confirming their authenticity, he softened his posture.
"Welcome to Konohagakure, Your Highness. The Hokage has already briefed us this morning. My name is Kamizuki Izumo. I've been assigned to escort you directly."
"No need for such formalities," Carl said, stepping down from the carriage. He wore the ceremonial robes of a Fire Nation prince, regal yet functional. "We're all part of the same great nation, after all."
As he landed, Haku—still playing the role of Tsu —hurried over to support him.
"Your Highness, are you alright?" Haku asked, playing the concerned maid perfectly.
Carl smiled lightly. "Just need to stretch my legs. Sitting that long made my back stiff. Besides, I've heard much about Konoha's beauty—it would be a waste not to see it for myself."
Izumo and his companion, Kotetsu Hagane, quickly bowed.
"Your Highness," they greeted.
Carl waved them off with a friendly smile. "Just Carl is fine. No need for all the bowing."
Izumo and Kotetsu exchanged glances, visibly relieved by Carl's informal tone. It seemed this prince might be far easier to host than they had feared.
Escorted by the two Chūnin, Carl and his retinue passed through the outer barrier and high walls, entering the heart of Konoha—widely regarded as the most powerful and prosperous of all the ninja villages.
Inside, the streets were clean and vibrant. Shops bustled with activity. Children played while shinobi moved with purpose, and civilians chatted happily. The contrast was stark compared to other hidden villages.
Zabuza, walking beside Carl, couldn't hide the glimmer of envy in his eyes.
Despite its tragic past, Konoha thrived. Its education system for shinobi was unmatched—kids started at the Ninja Academy, trained by professionals, and formed bonds with peers their own age. Missions were assigned carefully, with young ninjas slowly exposed to real combat under the guidance of Chunin and Jonin.
In comparison, other villages faced droughts, civil strife, or forced children into combat as young as six . Hidden Sand faced harsh environments; Hidden Mist had a brutal culture; Hidden Rain was plagued by war. Only Hidden Cloud came close to rivaling Konoha in stability and economy—and that was during Konoha's weakest years, after the death of the Fourth Hokage.
"Look up there," Carl said, pointing. "The Hokage Rock."
Far in the distance, carved into the cliffs overlooking the village, loomed four massive stone faces—those of the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Hokage.
"Kamizuki, have all the other villages arrived yet?" Carl asked as they continued walking.
"The Sand, Sound, and Grass delegations arrived earlier this morning," Izumo replied. "We're still waiting on Rain and Waterfall."
Carl nodded. "I'm hoping to see a few familiar faces. Some friends from my travels might be participating in the exams."
"Friends from Konoha, Your Highness?" Kotetsu asked, surprised.
"Yes. Met them on the road not long ago. If I'm not mistaken—ah, there they are!"
Under the shade of a large tree not far from the Academy, three young Genin stood talking—Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha.
Carl raised a hand and called out cheerfully, "Naruto! Sasuke! Sakura! Long time no see!"
"Carl!!!" Naruto shouted, eyes wide.
The trio turned in surprise and excitement, recognizing their eccentric but charismatic friend from their journey not long ago. They ran toward him, smiles beaming.
As Naruto darted forward, Carl opened his arms for a friendly embrace, not caring about titles or formalities. Behind him, Zabuza and Haku shared a knowing glance.
This mission was more than political.
Carl wasn't just a prince. He was a man with ties to both worlds—one foot in the diplomatic halls of the Fire Nation, the other in the gritty reality of shinobi life.
And now, with new forces stirring from other dimensions—such as the magical creatures and hidden powers of the Fantastic Beasts world—the lines between realities were beginning to blur.
Carl had come to Konoha not only to observe—but to prepare.