Jiraiya looked at the other Four Kage and continued.
"You all know the situation outside."
"The threat of the Ōtsutsuki Clan hasn't gone away. So during this time, there must be no gaps in any village's defenses."
"We must maintain intelligence sharing and joint defenses at all times."
This was actually something Jiraiya did not need to emphasize.
The visitors and wealth brought by the Joint Chunin Ninja Exams were certainly tempting, but if they relaxed their village's defenses to host the exams...
That would be trading lives for money.
No one would do such a thing.
Jiraiya waited a few seconds, then slowly nodded once he was sure no one else was going to speak.
"That settles it, then."
"We'll adjourn for now."
Shikaku's gaze swept across the five Kage. "At seven tonight, we'll resume discussing the vote on the host location."
"You can use this time to... take a short break."
The five people in the conference room-no, the five Kage-along with the guards and advisers standing behind them, all understood what those words really meant.
A break.
In other words, it was time to canvass for votes.
Whoever secured a majority first would win the right to host the Second Joint Chunin Ninja Exams.
The Four Kage wasted no time, leaving the conference room as they each pondered something.
The conference room door closed behind the last guard, shutting out the sound of footsteps receding down the corridor.
Tsunade let out a long breath, leaned back in her chair, and raised a hand to rub between her brows.
"Some peace and quiet at last."
Jiraiya slumped in his chair, an expression of weariness utterly at odds with his age appearing on Shihōin Naraku's far-too-young face.
Of course, that was an act. After all, he was wearing someone