Land of Water, Kirigakure.
Inside the Mizukage's conference room.
An elderly man with snow-white hair and beard trembled as he looked at the secret report in his hands, muttering:
"Chaos! There's going to be chaos again."
A woman with a stunning figure and her hair piled high stepped out from the others and asked:
"Elder, what happened?"
None of Kirigakure's senior officials in the conference room said anything about the woman's "overstepping."
The elderly man at the head of the room merely sighed and shakily handed over the secret report.
"Mei Terumi, take a look!"
Mei Terumi took the report and quickly scanned it. A slight change came over her face, most of which was hidden behind her hair.
She passed the secret report to the other senior Kirigakure officials.
"Elder, Kirigakure has been in turmoil for years, and things have finally settled down."
"I think... we should stay out of trouble this time."
The elderly man at the head of the room rose shakily and said:
"Quite right. I was thinking the same thing."
"I called everyone here to discuss a perfect plan."
"After all, with enemies surrounding us, we can't make it too obvious that we're just going through the motions."
Mei Terumi did not reply, lowering her head in thought instead.
For a time, the atmosphere in the Mizukage's conference room grew exceptionally oppressive.
At the Land of Fire's border, a group slipped into the country.
Their leader had a long, narrow face and a deathly pale complexion, making him look quite frightening.
After entering the Land of Fire, they deliberately chose concealed routes, as though terrified of being discovered.
After darting and weaving through the dense forest for a while.
The frightening-looking man in the lead abruptly stopped.
The several people following close behind him