Unlike the previous gathering, this time vast numbers of ninja from the Five Great Nations and the smaller nations had arrived early. Their own interests were at stake, and none wanted to miss this grand event.
Most had arrived at the beginning of the month. Over nearly ten days, although the Five Kage had yet to make an official appearance, exchanges between the ninja clans had grown increasingly frequent.
The shinobi world's circumstances had changed dramatically. Ninja now had a way to free themselves from commissioned missions. With another path available, even blood feuds no longer made the atmosphere as tense as it had been during wartime.
The Five Kage Summit would officially begin at nine to discuss trade. Apart from the key representatives permitted inside the venue, most ninja were mingling in the outer city.
Quite a few Sunagakure ninja tried to persuade the Konoha ninja to ease their crackdown on imitation goods. Meanwhile, Iwagakure ninja complained that Kumogakure was driving down the price of ore from the Land of Earth far too aggressively...
At that moment, the ninja seemed to have become traveling merchants, arguing and cooperating at the same time. The outposts provided by the Land of Iron in the outer city grew increasingly noisy.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had also been obliged to attend on behalf of the Sarutobi Clan. Beside him was his younger son, Sarutobi Asuma, whom he had not seen in years.
Father and son sat silently beneath an awning. Sarutobi Hiruzen did not know what to say, while Asuma could find no common ground with his father.
"Uh... I never thought the shinobi world would change so quickly. Mr. Shikaku really is impressive. He's signed several contracts in just a few days!"
"Old Man, we can't always ask the three clans for help. You