Five Kage Summit main hall.
A massive U-shaped conference table stood in the room, with the Five Kage seated across from one another. The Hokage sat in the center, while a separate seat had been placed directly opposite him. Mifune, general of the Land of Iron, sat there as the host and overseer of this meeting.
The lights focused on the conference table, illuminating everyone's faces. The ceremonial hats representing the Kage's status rested atop the table.
No one spoke first. Or rather, everyone was waiting for the man seated in the middle to speak.
Mifune cleared his throat and said, "Thank you all for answering the Hokage's invitation to attend the Five Kage Summit. I am Mifune, the host of this meeting. The Five Kage Summit now officially begins."
Each Kage had brought two guards, all elites chosen from their respective villages. They stood on the second floor of the pyramid, vigilantly watching the situation below and ready at any moment to rush down and protect their own Kage.
Hyuga Shin's gaze swept over the Kazekage, Raikage, Mizukage, and Tsuchikage. He said with a genial smile, "Most of you are unfamiliar faces."
Pakura chuckled softly and replied, "If we're talking about unfamiliar faces, shouldn't that be you, Lord Hokage?"
Shin suddenly understood. "You're right. Compared to all of you, I'm merely a junior."
Ōnoki, Killer B, and Karatachi Yagura all watched him with solemn expressions.
Just a few years ago, those three villages had still been enemies of Konoha.
Iwagakure had nearly crushed Konoha completely. The two sides had fought bitterly for a long time, suffering countless casualties.
Killer B bore the grudge of his brother's death against Konoha, while the Two-Tails Jinchuriki had been captured by Konoha.
The previous generation of Hidden Mist Village's Seven Ninja Swordsmen had