Konoha, Hokage Building.
Shihōin Naraku stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at Konoha below.
Night had deepened, but the village remained brightly lit. Three times as many ANBU members as usual patrolled the streets, and the barrier around the village had been raised to its highest level.
All of this had been arranged by him.
Though he did not particularly care about the threat posed by Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
And Naraku also knew that Isshiki would not come attack Konoha pointlessly like an idiot.
Because doing so would be tantamount to seeking his own death.
"All the villages have sent confirmation letters."
Shikaku's voice came from behind him. "Gaara and Mei Terumi arrived today. Kurotsuchi's team will arrive tomorrow afternoon, and Burūi's team the morning after."
"Mm."
Naraku did not turn around. "How have they reacted?"
"Reacted to what?"
"The villages' reactions to this incident." Naraku turned around and asked.
"They've tightened security, sealed their borders, and expanded their sensory coverage!"
"All as expected."
Shikaku thought for a moment, then added, "To be honest, everyone's nervous."
"Ōtsutsuki Isshiki made too big a move this time, destroying so many bases in one go. That kind of scale and audacity has left every village uneasy."
"If the exam date hadn't already been set, and the nations' daimyo and senior officials weren't already on their way, someone probably really would have proposed postponing it."
"No, they've already brought that up."
"They have?" Shikaku Nara was somewhat surprised.
He had been busy with other things earlier, so he did not know the details and had thought it was only a joke.
"Yes."
"Kurotsuchi and Burūi hinted at it, but I rejected it outright."
"You should know what canceling the exams now would mean."
Shikaku nodded.
Of course he knew.
Konoha had personally spearheaded the