Konoha, Hokage Building.
As Mei Terumi, the Fifth Mizukage, and her entourage were representing Kirigakure, courtesy and protocol both required Tsunade, the Hokage, to receive them personally.
Naturally, the Hokage Advisors also had to attend such an occasion, so Jiraiya and Minato were seated beside her. The final Hokage Advisor, however, was absent. All three knew Shinichi's temperament well and had not bothered to notify him.
"Hokage, I heard Konoha has three Hokage Advisors. Why are only two here today?"
A faint smile curved Mei Terumi's lips as she asked the pointed question.
"Ahem!"
Tsunade looked a little embarrassed and gave an awkward laugh. "You see, Mizukage, that advisor is a little unusual. Unless something major happens in the village, he generally doesn't show up."
These Chunin Ninja Exams were crucial. As Hokage, Tsunade felt obliged to give her a proper explanation.
It would hardly be worth letting Mei Terumi and her entourage think Konoha was slighting them over something so trivial.
"Really? So that esteemed advisor is too important to bother with us. He doesn't take Kirigakure seriously at all!"
Mei Terumi smiled sweetly, but her words carried unmistakable resentment.
"Well..."
Minato and Jiraiya exchanged a glance, both feeling that something was off.
They had heard of the Fifth Mizukage. Despite her youth, she was exceptionally capable, having single-handedly ended the era of the Bloody Mist Village and put Kirigakure back on track. She was certainly a worthy Mizukage.
But meeting someone was different from hearing about them. Why did this Mizukage seem so petty in person?
Was such a trivial matter really worth making a fuss over?
"Mizukage, you seem very eager to meet that advisor."
Unlike the slow-on-the-uptake Minato and Jiraiya, Tsunade had a woman's keen intuition. Her appetite for gossip stirred, and she asked curiously, "Could