<em>"Very well, then. Your mission will take you into the very heart of the Land of Lightning: Kumogakure. As I'm sure you know from the tales of the previous Hokages, it has been noted that the best manner in which to contain the Tailed Beasts and avoid abuse of that power is to seal them within ninja, and then raise them with care, rather than loathing. Each of the major five countries has one such nin. The one who bears the Nibi no Nekomata will be involved in the next Chunin exam. If one of the five countries thinks to break the treaty that holds us all in tenous peace, now would be the time, by slaying the Genin and weakening Kumogakure considerably. As powerful as our village is, I want to avoid war.<br/><br/>"What concerns me is that Iwagakure has deployed a squad of ninja into Kumogakure already, far before the Tsuchikage will arrive there, which has prompted both Sunagakure and Kirigakure to do the same. Any of them could be attempting to set up an assassination during the Chunin exams, or, conversely, worried as we are, attempting to prevent assassinations... by any means necessary, which would, in the end, have the same effect, starting a war between the countries once more. I want you to go and discover the truth of this, and, if necessary, dispose of the situation, but, if at all possible, without indiscriminate killing. However, of greatest importance will be preserving the host of the Demon Cat. Should that Genin die, chaos and bloodshed will reign again."<br/><br/>His eyes, dark and serious, watch for the reaction of the four Chunin.</em>