Sarutobi Hiruzen was tired. The years had weighed down on him, and it showed. It couldn't be more obvious to himself now that he stares at the other Kage gathered in the Kage box. He wasn't the oldest Kage there, no that honor goes to Onoki. But looking at them, and knowing his appearance, he can see he looks the oldest. Perhaps it's the guilt that he sacrificed his successors child for the greater good, or lying to his student about her health. He would likely make the same decision again, he firmly believed he made the right choice. But still the guilt eats away at him, just like every time he sent one of his ninja away on a suicide mission. It had to be done for the greater good, but he never had to be happy about it.
Looking at the other Kage, and a special guest that Onoki seemed especially upset over he can't help but wonder how things change, yet always seem to remain the same. Like every Raikage before him A was a huge man of dark complexion. The man looked much like his father, the third Raikage. Not just in his face but in his general countenance. He held the same aura of power and surprising intelligence behind all that brawn. He was the only man who could ever match the fourth Hokage in speed, and is currently the fastest man alive. He had slicked back blonde hair and a thin mustache of the same color. Like every Raikage before him he was named 'A' though why they did so Hiruzen had no idea.
Raza, the Kazekage, hadn't changed in the slightest. He was still a stern man that didn't seem to look at even his children with affection. The man's face didn't seem to show it's age in the slightest despite the fact that he's been the Kazekage for the past 16 years. Like all the Kazekage before him he possesses the Jiton. Though unlike his predecessors he uses gold sand instead of iron. The man's hair had always reminded him of the Uzumaki clan, another pang of guilt goes through him at the thought of them, but his hair was always a little off to make him a true member. The man stared down at the floor of the arena with the same callous look as ever, his expression practically non-existent.
Onoki was the most obvious in his lack of change. The fence sitter looked just as he did fifty years ago, though now he just looks older with white hairs and a hunch. He still had the same bulbous nose that he was almost infamous for, Hiruzen had to stifle a laugh at that. Still the man was unchanged. Just as was his views towards Konoha. It's curious then, why the man had decided to send genin to their village for the first time in over a decade. Said man was currently complaining about the non-kage sitting in the box, she in turned just smiled at him.
The woman in question had blue hair and orange eyes, from the report of wave this is Konan. Normally Hiruzen wouldn't allow a non-kage to the box, but the leadership of Ame was a mystery and this was a good chance to probe for information about the normally mysterious country.
The final Kage in the box was another woman, she was in a blue dress and had long reddish orange hair tied in a top-knot. The woman was the youngest among them and was the first female Kage. Terumi Mei was a force to be reckoned with. She had become the Mizukage at the young age of 14 towards the end of the third shinobi war when the third Mizukage was killed in battle. Now she's 28 and undeniably deserves her seat among them. She and Konan were both quite attractive, but it's almost a given for Kunoichi to be attractive, it was in the job description.
Accompanying each Kage was a single guard, Hiruzen of course had Jiraiya guarding him, it would do no good to have anything less. For the Raikage he had a dark skinned man that Hiruzen recognized as Killer Bee, A's brother. For the Mizukage she had a blonde man with purple eyes accompanying her, he had a scar running down his face. He's Kiri's jonin commander, Yagura. Onoki had his son guarding him, a man that seemed fairly intent on glaring at the collective audience from Konoha. Next to Raza was one of his elite jonin Pakura, known for use of the Shakuton. Finally Konan had brought a guard in the form of a red haired man that was wearing, what he guessed to be, an Ame Anbu mask. Speaking of Anbu it went unspoken that Hiruzen had the box filled with hidden Anbu. The other Kage likely knew, but none commented on it, as was tradition for these events.
Jiraiya was eyeing Konan with a look of recognition and remorse. Ah so that was why he recognized the name. She was one of the Orphans he had trained during the Second War. Perhaps she would be receptive to forming an alliance then, or at least a treaty of some sort.
"I still fail to see why you allowed the leader of some minor country to sit with us."
"Kamizuru-dono I assure you she deserves to sit among us." She might not have, truthfully, but information was more valuable then Onoki's pride. Funny how that works.
"Thank you for your kind words Sarutobi-dono." Konan was making pleasantries, really she was here for Fuu and Naruko but Ame had plans to make waves soon and it would do some good to establish themselves among the greater powers. She had no doubt that with Nagato they could match any of them, and that's not even considering the other S-class nin at their disposal. She had to resist eyeing Nagato as he stood behind her. She still didn't understand why he chose to come and watch, or why he decided to pretend she's the leader of Ame. Well no harm done, it wouldn't hurt from him to see his objective.
Though looking at the toad to her left she can't help but wonder how long it will be for Jiraiya to confront them. He likely won't say it in front of the other Kage, he may have been a boisterous man, but he was a master spy for a reason. She'd consider it later, for now the matches were starting, and she had to admit she was a little curious about the Hyuuga that Naruko seemed to care about.