On July 10, Konoha Year 59, the Land of Iron, surrounded by Three Wolves Mountain, once again hosted the Five Kage Summit.
Unlike the previous summit, large 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 gathering.
Most had arrived at the beginning of the month. Over nearly ten days, while 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, and ninja now had a way to escape their dependence on commissioned missions. With another path available, even sworn enemies no longer faced each other with the hostility of wartime.
The Five Kage Summit would officially begin at nine to discuss trade. Apart from the core members permitted inside the venue, most of the ninja were mingling in the outer city.
Many Sunagakure ninja were trying to persuade the Konoha ninja to show leniency and ease their crackdown on imitation goods. Elsewhere, Iwagakure ninja were complaining that Kumogakure was driving down the prices of ore from the Land of Earth 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 ever noisier.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had also been forced to attend as the Sarutobi Clan's representative. Accompanying him was his youngest 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 topic with his father.
"Uh... I never expected the shinobi world to change so quickly. Mr. Shikaku really is impressive.