People filled both sides of the long table in the Jonin Meeting Room.
Genya sat beside the head of the table, with Kaguya on his right and Hashirama opposite him, awake for once.
Tsunade sat at the head of the table, her arms folded and her expression stern.
Minato Namikaze and Kushina sat side by side. Beneath the table, Kushina held Minato's hand, her gaze occasionally drifting toward Genya.
Itachi and Shisui sat in a corner, both wearing expressionless poker faces.
Kakashi leaned against the wall, without his little orange book in hand.
Jiraiya held an unlit cigarette between his lips. Orochimaru sat beside him, his golden slit pupils roaming over everyone's faces.
Konan sat a little way to Genya's left.
Black Zetsu huddled behind Kaguya's chair, showing only half his face.
The other Elite Jonin, including Guy, Shikaku, Kurenai, and Asuma, had all arrived as well.
Genya got straight to the point.
"I asked Tsunade to gather everyone because there's something important to discuss. The Shinobi World's conflicts didn't end after what happened with Madara Uchiha. I'm sure you've all seen that..."
He paused.
"Everyone here is the best of the best."
No one disputed that. Any single person in this room could make half the Shinobi World tremble.
"I brought Minato back partly for Naruto and partly for his Flying Thunder God Technique. But what comes next is the crucial part."
Everyone nodded.
The Third hadn't come. He knew about today's meeting, but he didn't want to be invited.
Genya looked at Kaguya and nodded.
Kaguya fell silent for a moment, her gaze sweeping over everyone present.
"Back then, I wasn't the only one who came to the Shinobi World."
For an instant, the air in the meeting room froze.
Orochimaru's forked tongue slipped from the corner of