Pursuit of the Kage Assassin

Throughout the history of the ninja world, there have been countless times where the Kage of the five great nations had to stand before their respective villages, sometimes other villages as well, and give speeches. Some of these speeches were praise for the village's accomplishment, while others served to rally the village in preparation for conflict. Some of the most prominent speeches of the last hundred years include the Fifth Kazekage's speech to rally the Allied Shinobi Forces and the induction speech of the Seventh Hokage. Both reached unprecidented audiences for their time, addressing previously unheard of numbers of people. Today, that record was once again about to be broken. For the first time in the history of the ninja world, the Kage of all Five Great Nations were gathered in Konohagakure, to deliver a speech that would be broadcast in a record breaking sixteen countries, almost the entire continent.

Nestled in the massive balcony of the Hokage's mansion, the five Kage, dressed in their traditional robes and hats, sat discussing the final details of their speech. Outside the voices of thousands upon thousands of eager listeners filled the air. Each Kage was fully aware the deafening sound represented only a fraction of their listeners. Many thousands more listening all across the continent.

The door to the balcony opened and a woman dressed in formal business attire walked out between the kage. Each recognized her as the representative of the television station that was broadcasting the event.

"We're on in five." She informed the Kage, holding up a hand with all five digits extended in case she couldn't he heard over the noise outside. "Is there anything..."

The representative's thought was interrupted with the sudden appearance of a hooded figure in black fatigues. The body type suggested a male, but with every part of their body covered it was difficult to determine for sure. The representative had opened her mouth the call for security when the figure suddenly vanished, leaving a coil of strange circular tags in his wake.

Terror ensued outside as a ear splitting explosion rang out form the balcony. Where the entire country had expected to see the Kage appear in mere minutes was now a mass of blue flames and debris. Several spectaters that had been pressed against the barricade established by the Konohagakure's military were crushed by a large piece of debris that had separated form the balcony. Dozens of ninja bearing uniforms form all villages began rushing towards the explosion, while the mass of civilians scurried away from the blast.