The line outside Ichiraku Ramen showed no sign of getting any shorter.
The owner of the dumpling shop chatted with her customers as she skewered dumplings, her voice loud enough to carry down the entire street. The Ninja Tools shop owner had hung his "Out of stock, restocking" sign outside again, but a crowd still clustered at the entrance, asking when new stock would arrive.
Watching this scene, Shikaku Nara suddenly recalled the figures he had calculated for Tsunade yesterday.
The direct and indirect revenue from the Chunin Ninja Exams equaled Konoha's fiscal revenue over the past five years.
In fact, the benefits, both overt and hidden, of this Five-Nation Joint Chunin Ninja Exams went far beyond that.
"Lord Shikaku."
A voice brought him back to reality.
It was an Anbu ninja, his voice muffled beneath his mask.
"Lord Hokage asks that you come as soon as possible. The meeting with the Four Kage is scheduled for three this afternoon."
Shikaku nodded.
He had almost forgotten about that.
The Four Kage had not left yet.
The door to the Hokage's Office stood ajar. When Shikaku pushed it open and entered, Tsunade was standing by the window.
Jiraiya was sitting behind the desk.
"You're here?"
"Yes. Departures from the village are proceeding normally. Three groups left this morning, and another two will leave this afternoon. Kakashi reported that everything is stable, with nothing unusual."
"Good." Tsunade turned, her gaze settling on Jiraiya. "Have the Four Kage all been notified?"
Jiraiya nodded. "They have. Gaara of Sunagakure, Mei Terumi of Kirigakure, Kurotsuchi of Iwagakure, and Burūi of Kumogakure have all confirmed their attendance."
"And the venue?"
"The same conference room we used before."
Shikaku paused. "As for Lord Jiraiya..."
"He's already prepared," Tsunade said first.
Jiraiya rolled his eyes. How could he