[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/N3oAGuf.png[/img]

[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200622/26e6e7bb676cca892676d1d32660b1d9.png[/img][/center][hr][indent][indent][b][color=#51d0a7]“You know, Masuyo, you didn’t have to address the children, that isn’t something we [i]typically[/i] do. I thought you had proctors for just that reason?” [/color][/b]Ikeda Junko, the [url=https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/652656683373297665/668663544585125889/176c915c9b88eb14ff7b0548cf1457e6.png]Mizukage[/url] questioned with a glance toward the Hokage. The Five Kage were gathered together in an observatory room, alone and without their attendants. In a time of peace like this, the Five Kage were friends, more than they were peers. The Five Kage had all served in the last Ninja War and were united in their pursuit of a long, and decidedly uneventful time of peace.

[b][color=#f7f02a]“Maybe not, but… I couldn’t help myself. It’s not every day you get to see your child in the chūnin exams, Junko. Please forgive me.” [/color][/b]Masuyo said, offering an apologetic smile to Junko. She knew it wasn’t the norm, but she hadn’t been trying to show the others up. Though the appearance was as official as any other she made as Hokage, she had been less ‘Lady Hokage,’ and more ‘proud mother.’

The others couldn’t deny it either, they’d seen her personally swell with pride when, somehow, Hikaru had fumbled his way through the initial exam, and found his way into the forest. Now watching the proceedings with her fellow Kage, Masuyo was in a good mood.

Junko looked at the other Kage, [b][color=#51d0a7]“are you three going to weigh in, or…?” [/color][/b]There was no response. There rarely was — in situations like this, Masuyo and Junko were easily the most talkative, with only the Kazekage being as chatty as they were… when he wasn’t eating, which he was currently preoccupied with. Rolling her eyes as she turned her head back to Masuyo, Junko spoke again. [b][color=#51d0a7]“Oh very well. You’re forgiven.”[/color][/b]

There was a quiet pause for a few moments, with the Four Kage watching the monitors — the Kazekage was still focused on the more important thing in the room: the catering table. Before long, the Tsuchikage spoke up, [b][color=#a76060]“do the children of the Leaf always act like this, Masuyo? There was one pair who was late… there was nearly a fight before the exams began… Perhaps it’s just this youngest generation. Are you sure they’re [i]ready?[/i]”[/color] [/b][url=https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/652656683373297665/668663266628861983/43680a5bae8c48de30c71f2e9cb888a2.png]Akiyama Shinsuke[/url] questioned in the Hokage’s direction.

Masuyo turned to look back at Shinsuke and shrugged her shoulders. [b][color=#f7f02a]“I wouldn’t say they’re [i]always[/i] like this… but maybe… look at Team 7!” [/color][/b]She protested, pointing at the screen where her older son’s team was, with Yosuke speaking. [b][color=#f7f02a]“You see? Listen to him. ‘Don’t let pride get in the way of what we worked for. Some battles aren’t worth fighting.” [/color][/b]Masuyo quoted, making a mental note to ensure she thanked Kenshin later.

The Tsuchikage’s response was to raise a finger and point at the Hokage’s son’s team, who ha dall three split up on their own — with one of them already getting in a fight on her own. Masuyo sighed, and gave up. It was the [url=https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/652656683373297665/668664190545690644/5cb3844dcc9cff1878ca14bf84ab6367.png]Raikage[/url], Haito Amano, who spoke up next, coming to the rescue of Kaminari Masuyo, one of his longtime best friends. [b][color=#f46060]“I like it. I think it keeps this interested. Let’s wait and see how the forest unfolds before judging the Konoha kids, alright, Shin? Besides, they’re kind of like the children of the Cloud…” [/color][/b]The last part was added almost regretfully.

[b][color=#f7f02a]“Thank you… [sub]I guess.[/sub]”[/color][/b]

There was a loud belly laugh from the other side of the room, as the [url=https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/652656683373297665/668663444660027412/aa71a75f505fc82ed4d951c68a805d2c.png]Kazekage[/url] finally joined the conversation. Bounding over, the massive man still had food in both hands — an onigiri in one hand, and an anpan in the other — Rikuto Watanabe was taking turns eating a bite of each of them. When he spoke, his loud and booming voice filled the room. Easily the most approachable of the Kage, if he wasn’t wearing the headpiece, people weren’t likely to guess he was a powerful shinobi, let alone a Kage level one.

[b][color=#e7872a]“Come on, Shin! Let’s not argue while we’re all here for an event such as this! Konoha hasn’t hosted the chūnin exams since the end of the war. Have you tried the food? You should! The fruit sandos are fantastic!” [/color][/b]The Kazekage even spoke with his mouthful, almost like he didn’t even care about his image, or the company he was keeping. [b][color=#e7872a]“Don’t worry, the Children of the Stone will get their chance to show their stuff! All of them will. We’ve got the finals to go yet.” [/color][/b]He laughed again, and beamed at the other Kage, as happy as ever.

[b][color=#f46060]“The Kazekage has a point. The finals are still up for grabs, any one of the villages could have the best showing here. That's still the point, right? To be the best? We may be in peacetimes, but... Kumogakure is still going to have the best performance. You can bet on that."[/color][/b][/indent][/indent]