At the meeting, Mei Terumi, Kurotsuchi, and Burūi raised the most questions and suggestions.
Throughout the process, Gaara spent most of his time listening.
As noon approached, Shihōin Naraku pushed the final revised proposal into the middle of the table for each of the Four Kage to review.
"This is the final version, incorporating all the suggestions discussed yesterday and today."
"Please go through it again. If there are any remaining issues, raise them now."
The meeting room fell quiet for about seven or eight minutes.
There was only the sound of turning pages and the occasional soft clink of a teacup being set back on its tray.
Then Gaara was the first to put down the document. He looked up at Naraku. "Sunagakure has no objections!"
Kurotsuchi closed her document right after him and gave the table a light pat. "Iwagakure agrees!"
Mei Terumi took her time finishing the last page, then set the document on the table. "Kirigakure has no issues either."
Burūi was last. He flipped through the document once more from beginning to end, then snapped it shut and said gruffly, "Kumogakure approves."
Naraku sat at the head of the table, his gaze passing over the four faces in turn.
"Then I hereby declare-the first Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials are officially established."
"The date: May seventeenth of next year!"
"The location: Konoha!"
With that, he stood.
"This Five Kage Summit is now concluded!"
When the morning meeting ended, the sunlight outside the window had just reached the center of the conference table.
Mei Terumi stood and stretched. "So that settles it?"
There was a hint of feeling in her voice. "I thought we'd be arguing until evening, at least."
"Lord Hokage came well prepared," Kurotsuchi said. "There wasn't much for us to argue about."
She