Declaration of War (Part 2)

"Please place your Bamboo Hats in front of you, Five Kage!!"

As a deep, authoritative voice rang through the room, the Kage of the Five Great Nations' ninja villages removed the Bamboo Hats from their heads and placed them on the tables before them in tacit unison.

Smack! The overhead lights suddenly became exceptionally glaring, illuminating the entire room, every Kage's face, and the banners behind them.

The atmosphere around them instantly grew utterly grave.

"Answering the call of the five Kage of Lightning, Wind, Earth, Water, and Fire, we have gathered here once again today for the second day of the Five Kage Summit to discuss important matters!"

General Mifune's gaze swept across the crowd. He then picked up a small hammer and lightly struck the table. After a soul-shaking thump, he said in a deep voice, "I am General Mifune of the Land of Iron. The second day of the Five Kage Summit now begins!"

As his words fell, the conference room instantly sank into deathly silence.

The Five Kage exchanged glances, their eyes lowered as though each were waiting for someone else to speak first.

Senju Tobirama stood quietly behind his elder brother, secretly appraising the new generation of Kage while preparing to use this summit to assess their respective strengths and personalities.

Hm? He suddenly frowned, abruptly raised his head, and looked toward the man standing behind the Mizukage. Staring intently at the bulging veins around the man's left eye, he frowned. "This feeling of being watched... the Byakugan?"

"Hey, Brother!"

Tobirama immediately bent down and asked in a low voice audible only to the two of them, "How could the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan be here? Did a main family member die unexpectedly, or did that clan produce a genius who solved the Caged Bird problem?"