The weather in the Land of Earth was unusually clear today.
On Third Avenue in Iwagakure, bright red lanterns hung all along the street. Even the roadside lampposts were wrapped in red silk.
Mutton soup bubbled away in huge iron barrels, steaming hot.
Its overpowering fragrance, mixed with cumin and chili powder, could drift for miles on the wind.
Iwagakure villagers and ninja packed the streets, holding large coarse porcelain bowls as they shouted themselves hoarse playing drinking games.
At the village entrance.
Rows of Chakra Hover Trains sprayed blue tail flames as they came to a stop before the specially built platforms.
When the doors opened, the Fourth Raikage of the Land of Lightning stepped out.
A's arm was still wrapped in a thick cast. Yellowish-brown medicinal stains seeped through the bandages, carrying the pungent smell of iodine.
His face was black with rage as he gritted his teeth and trudged unevenly across Iwagakure's bluestone pavement.
Behind him came the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi.
She wore a relatively understated dark gown today. Fatigue lingered at the corners of her eyes, and none of her usual seductive charm remained.
Sunagakure was in even worse shape.
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, was carried in on a wooden stretcher by Baki.
He was wrapped head to toe like a mummy, with an oxygen tube still stuck in his mouth, making rasping, wheezing sounds.
Ōnoki stood on the steps outside the Tsuchikage Building.
For once, the old man had even put pomade in his hair, combing his few sparse white strands smooth and glossy.
Looking at the Kage standing there with lowered heads, he split his mouth in a wide grin, exposing two rows of yellow teeth.
"You're all here? I thought you'd get lost on the way."
Ōnoki laughed wantonly, the sound making