High Heaven Palace, conference room.
The conference room was located on an upper floor. A long table stood in the center of the hall, and with no decorations whatsoever, the room appeared exceptionally solemn.
At that moment, the table was filled with people.
Yagura sat to Kou's left, his expression calm. Yet whenever he occasionally glanced toward the seat of honor, an imperceptible excitement flashed through his eyes.
Jiraiya sat to Kou's right, his bold features far more somber than usual.
Behind him stood Kakashi and Might Guy. The former looked grave, while the latter, unusually, made no exaggerated gestures and remained very quiet.
On either side of the seat of honor sat A, Ōnoki, and Chiyo.
Ōnoki sat in a tall chair specially prepared for him, his hands braced on his knees. His wrinkled old face was filled with disbelief.
Chiyo's eyes were half-closed as though she were dozing off, seemingly unconcerned by everything Kou had just explained.
A, meanwhile, frowned deeply with his arms folded across his chest. Though his Lightning Release Chakra Mode had not appeared, that heavy sense of oppression still silently radiated from him.
C, Darui, Kurotsuchi, Akatsuchi, Killer B, and all the other attendants behind them were without exception still too shocked to recover their senses.
Nearly everyone's gaze was fixed on the slender figure seated at the head of the table.
Kou looked calmly at them, as though waiting for something.
Just moments ago, he had told them everything: Uchiha Madara was still alive, the full scope of the Eye of the Moon Plan, and Madara's impending move against all Jinchuriki.
Kou had clearly anticipated the intense reactions of those before him.
"Everyone, don't you have anything to say?"
"That legendary Uchiha Madara... is actually still alive? How could that be?!!"
A was