Main World.
Year 29 of Konoha, winter.
The top-floor conference room of the Hokage Building.
A huge map of the Shinobi World lay across the long table, with pins of different colors marking the movements of the various powers. Hiruzen Sarutobi stood before the map, his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze moved from the Land of Lightning to the Land of Earth, from the Land of Water to the Land of Wind-no, the Land of Wind no longer existed. That desert was now the territory of the Country of Roran.
Mitokado Homura sat on the left side of the long table, a thick report spread out before him. Utatane Koharu sat opposite him, holding a cup of tea that had gone completely cold.
"Kumogakure first." Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed at the Land of Lightning.
Mitokado Homura opened the report.
"Third Raikage Kinkaku. Strong Kage strength. His Lightning Release Armor can withstand a Tailed Beast Bomb head-on. Both Kinkaku and Ginkaku have practiced special cultivation methods-not ninjutsu, but some kind of secret taijutsu method that enhances their perception, offense, and defense. Their exact origin is unknown, but their effects are extremely powerful. Ginkaku can anticipate his opponent's movements in battle, and Kinkaku's attacks can penetrate conventional defenses."
He turned a page.
"Kumogakure currently has approximately eighteen thousand ninja. Around two hundred are Elite Jonin level or above. That isn't the most frightening part."
He looked up.
"The most frightening part is that Kinkaku has turned the entire Land of Lightning into Kumogakure's military camp. The Land of Lightning's daimyo has been completely stripped of power. All military and political authority rests in Kinkaku's hands. The Land of Lightning's tax revenue goes straight into Kumogakure's storehouses. Its smithies forge only Kumogakure's ninja tools. Its children are taught from an early age