The Four Kage exchanged glances.
This really was a coincidence.
They had only just gathered, preparing to go to the Hokage Building to ask Shihōin Naraku about the battle at the border.
Yet they had barely taken a few steps before Konoha's ANBU found them.
The smile on Mei Terumi's lips deepened slightly, and she said softly, "Lord Hokage certainly reacted quickly."
Kurotsuchi frowned and looked around.
The afternoon sun was blazing, and Konoha looked peaceful and prosperous beneath its light.
Dense crowds streamed along the distant streets, which looked extremely lively.
Nothing was any different from usual.
She withdrew her gaze and looked at the other three. "Since Lord Hokage has invited us, let's go."
"All right," Gaara replied succinctly.
Burūi said nothing more, merely giving a heavy grunt of assent before striding forward under the guidance of the Konoha Anbu.
The Four Kage pondered as they walked.
The Hokage was going to explain in person...
But would someone like Shihōin Naraku really be so reasonable?
Mei Terumi recalled the times she had discussed matters with Naraku...
An indescribable sense of pressure always surrounded this young Hokage, as though he stood somewhere far above them at all times, looking down on everything.
He had always been forceful in how he handled things.
If the trouble would not involve Konoha, Naraku was reasonably easy to talk to.
Otherwise, Shihōin Naraku would take an extremely uncompromising stance.
And the Four Kage could only keep giving ground, letting Shihōin Naraku make the decisions.
There was nothing they could do; their position was weaker than his now.
Konoha's strength far exceeded that of the other shinobi villages. Even if they were dissatisfied, they had no way to resist.
What was more, other shinobi villages stood in Shihōin Naraku and Konoha's camp.
That left