In just a few days, a single piece of news stirred undercurrents throughout the Ninja World.
No one knew where the news had originated, but it spread like a plague through the underground intelligence networks of the Five Great Nations: Hyuga Tianyi of the Leaf Village was collecting tailed beasts, and he had already obtained more than one.
His latest target was Takigakure's Seven-Tails. According to the rumors, Hyuga Tianyi had already captured it. Together with the One-Tail and Eight-Tails he had defeated on the battlefield earlier, the Leaf Village held at least three tailed beasts.
The reports made no mention of whether the Three-Tails, Nine-Tails, or others had also fallen into his hands. Still, those three alone were enough to keep the Kage of the major ninja villages awake at night.
Four nearly identical invitations arrived on the desks of the four Kage of the Hidden Sand Village, Iwagakure, the Hidden Cloud Village, and the Hidden Mist Village.
The letters were courteous and formal. Their gist was that, to promote peace in the Ninja World and exchanges among young ninja, the Leaf Village had decided to hold an unprecedented Chunin Ninja Exams event. The other four major ninja villages were invited to participate, and their Kage were cordially invited to visit the Leaf Village and witness the occasion together.
Iwagakure, the Tsuchikage's office.
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki of Both Scales, hovered in midair, his small body leaning slightly forward. His cloudy old eyes fixed on the letter from the Leaf Village in his hand, and his brows drew into deep furrows.
"Rumors have been spreading lately that the Leaf Village is collecting tailed beasts. Now they've sent an invitation for some Chunin Ninja Exams with all Five Kage gathered. It even mentions discussing economic matters."
Ōnoki tossed the letter