Meanwhile.
Fish Ball and Candy slipped into the Hokage's Office.
There were three people inside.
Tsunade, Shizune, and Sakura—a teacher and her two students.
Shizune and Sakura helped Tsunade work through the documents piled high on her desk.
Tsunade was busy writing letters to coordinate with the Four Great Shinobi Villages.
Sand Village and Mist Village had both made it clear that they would take part in the Chunin Ninja Exams hosted by the Leaf Village.
Gaara, the Fifth Kazekage, and Mei Terumi, the Fifth Mizukage, would attend the third round in person.
They would watch the final matches alongside the Hokage.
By contrast, Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, and the Fourth Raikage were far less enthusiastic.
They would send Genin to the exams, of course, but neither Ōnoki nor the Fourth Raikage would attend in person.
To them, the Chunin Ninja Exams were just that. They had no intention of joining the Five Kage Summit Tsunade was quietly arranging.
As for Akatsuki—
Ōnoki had Dust Release and was full of confidence.
Even after Tsunade sent him all the intelligence on Akatsuki, he thought the Leaf Village was exaggerating the threat. He said Iwagakure would investigate Amegakure for themselves.
The Fourth Raikage was even more reckless. He showed no fear of the Rinnegan and even told the Leaf Village to hand over the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to Cloud Village.
Cloud Village would help the Leaf Village develop the Nine-Tails' power and protect him, he said.
"One is set in his ways, and the other is reckless beyond belief. The Tsuchikage and Raikage are still clinging to their old prejudices. They won't be easy to convince."
Tsunade rubbed her temples, her head aching.
Why had Sand Village and Mist Village been so eager? Because their villages ranked last and second to last.
Neither