The Five Kage Summit convened in the Land of Iron.
Inside the conference hall, five banners hung overhead and five colored hats lay on display. The Five Kage gathered around a round table, while their guards withdrew behind the curtains.
Sasuke's rebirth had changed the landscape of the Shinobi World, bringing the Five Kage Summit forward by more than two years.
Akatsuki had begun hunting tailed beasts early, and Gaara had lost Shukaku long before he otherwise would have.
After Sasuke rescued him and he returned to Sunagakure, Gaara bore no resentment toward the village for leaving him to die. Instead, he worked even harder toward becoming Kazekage, proving himself through his actions.
His supporters in the village grew by the day, and even Sunagakure's hardliners relented. At last, on the eve of the Five Kage Summit, he was chosen as Kazekage.
Behind the curtains, they watched Gaara, a newcomer who showed no trace of nerves before the other Kage.
Kankuro said, "That expressionless face of Gaara's sure comes in handy at a time like this!"
Temari said, "Strictly speaking, we're not strong enough yet to serve as the Kazekage's guards. C-sensei sent us here to give us experience! We represent Sunagakure! If anything unexpected happens, you'd better not lose your nerve, Kankuro!"
Kankuro said, "Ah... of course I won't! I'm the successor to Sunagakure's Granny Chiyo!!!"
Without Pain's invasion of Konoha, Tsunade was able to attend the summit as Hokage.
Shikaku Nara and Inoichi Yamanaka served as her guards!
"Shikaku, do you think this summit can bring about an Alliance to Defeat Akatsuki?"
"It's doubtful. The Five Great Nations have built up years of resentment and hostility toward one another. Unless a powerful common enemy appears, I really can't imagine them forming a united front."
"Akatsuki has been hunting