The illumination jutsu in the main hall spread down evenly from above, falling across the stone tabletop to form a smooth layer of light that neither reflected nor absorbed light. The long table was over three zhang long, its fine stone grain resembling frozen running water beneath the light. Three bodies lay side by side: Momoshiki on the left, Kinshiki in the middle, and Urashiki on the right, their heads facing the same direction and their feet pointing toward the other side of the hall.
Urashiki's fishing rod still rested across his chest, the shaft lying over his abdomen. Its line dangled from the tip, with the hook hanging beside the table's edge, a palm-width above the floor. Kinshiki's axe blade lay along the outside of his right arm, its broad side facing upward. The dark-red Chakra patterns along its edge had mostly faded, leaving only faint traces like ink repeatedly washed thin by water. Momoshiki's right hand remained raised in that same posture. Takamimusubinokami's layer of light had completely gone out, but the fingers of that hand still held their half-curled shape, suspended roughly a palm-width above his chest.
Zhi Li stood beside Urashiki, Light beside Momoshiki, and Shisui beside Kinshiki. Each stood about one step from their respective target, heels together and posture upright. The others in the hall had already withdrawn to the walls. Kagami leaned against the stone wall at the eastern passage entrance, arms folded across his forearms. White Fang stood beside him. His short sword remained sheathed, but its hilt had been shifted from his waist to the front of his body. Cang sat in a seat on the eastern side, leaning slightly forward with both hands resting on his knees, his gaze fixed on the long table without moving.
"Begin," Cang said.
Zhi