The autumn wind outside had picked up again, setting the wind chimes beneath the Hokage Building's eaves ringing.
The solemn atmosphere in the conference room eased a little with the wind as the Five Kage looked down at the detailed procedures Kakashi Hatake had drawn up for the Chunin Ninja Exams.
Shihōin Naraku, meanwhile, found himself with little to do.
Mainly, this was because he had already read Kakashi's plan more than once.
In fact, the document presented to the other Four Kage was a version Kakashi had revised several times.
It was fair to say that this plan covered every aspect, with practically nothing overlooked.
From venue arrangements to emergency coordination, from the division of authority among proctors to the detailed procedures for each round of trials, even the food and lodging quotas for each village's accompanying personnel were clearly listed.
Even Naraku could find no major faults with it. However much these people pored over it now, they would most likely just go round and round over details they had never seen before.
He sat at the head of the table, calmly watching the exchanges among the Four Kage gradually grow livelier.
Mei Terumi examined the plan in her hands carefully, occasionally directing questions to Shikaku Nara.
Shikaku, in turn, answered her questions diligently.
The other three did the same, repeatedly pointing at the document and asking questions.
It was not that they had found flaws in Kakashi's plan, but rather that there were some things in it they did not quite understand.
Time slipped away little by little amid this back-and-forth of questions and answers.
The bright, pale daylight outside gradually deepened into a gray-tinged dusk, which then slipped into thick, inky darkness.
Someone had long since switched on the conference room lights. Their warm yellow glow