Konohagakure — Hokage Office
Tsunade slammed the message scroll onto her desk, her face contorted in anger.
"Damn it… that bastard Sarutobi Hiruzen!" she growled. "What right does he have to convene a Five Kage Summit!? He's no longer Hokage!"
Tsunade's hands clenched into fists. Her anger toward her predecessor had long been brewing, and now, seeing him overstep his authority once again, it ignited into fury. If Sarutobi stood before her now, she wouldn't hesitate to flatten him with a punch.
A voice spoke up beside her.
"Hokage-sama," said Nara Shikaku calmly, placing another scroll on her desk, "according to intelligence gathered from our outposts and intercepted transmissions… the Fourth Raikage, the Third Tsuchikage, and the Third Mizukage have all accepted Hiruzen's invitation."
"…What?" Tsunade's eyes widened.
"Additionally, the rebel Sand forces led by Rasa and Chiyo are also making preparations to attend. The Five Kage Conference will be held in the Land of Iron."
Tsunade's fingers trembled as she gripped the armrest. It wasn't just a summit—it was a coalition, a declaration that Hiruzen and the other villages no longer acknowledged her leadership.
"Find Byakuya immediately!" she barked.
Moments Later
The office doors opened with a creak. Uchiha Byakuya stepped inside with his usual composed expression. Despite the tension, he smirked slightly.
"Tsunade… did you miss me?"
He stepped behind her chair and, without warning, scooped her into his arms.
"Byakuya! What are you doing!? This is the Hokage's office!"
Tsunade wriggled in protest, her cheeks tinged with red.
"Relax. Just lightening the mood," Byakuya said with amusement, then finally set her down.
"We don't have time for this," she snapped, adjusting her robes and handing him the intelligence scroll. "Read this."
Byakuya scanned the contents, his expression growing cold.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen... So the old man's decided to poke the hornet's nest," he muttered. "Well then, I suppose I'll crush him myself."
Tsunade nodded grimly. She knew the threat Byakuya posed would only escalate now that the other Kage were uniting against him. But if they thought he would be taken down easily, they were gravely mistaken.
Land of Iron — Conference Hall
The Five Kage Conference had commenced.
In the snowy halls of the samurai nation, five figures sat around a circular stone table. Mifune, the stern-faced general of the Land of Iron, presided over the gathering. His dual katana rested against his armor as he opened the summit.
"The Five Kage Summit will now begin," he announced. "The purpose of this meeting: to address the threat posed by Uchiha Byakuya."
"Discuss?" the Fourth Raikage scoffed, slamming his hand on the table. "There's nothing to discuss!"
"We gather every shinobi army and march on him! What are we waiting for!?"
His thunderous voice echoed through the chamber. However, the other Kage remained unimpressed.
Onoki, the aged Third Tsuchikage, narrowed his eyes. "And what makes you think it's so simple, Raikage? This boy possesses both the Sharingan and Mokuton. We've seen what that combination can do. Or have you forgotten the First Hokage?"
The Mizukage gave a terse nod. "It's no longer just about brute force. If he's awakened true Wood Release, then we're not dealing with a child anymore. We're dealing with a monster."
Chiyo remained silent beside Rasa, her aged eyes contemplative. Rasa crossed his arms.
"If you attack blindly," he said slowly, "you'll just be the first to die. We've all seen the destruction he left behind in the last battle."
Raikage scowled but remained silent.
Mifune cleared his throat.
"Then let it be known," he said, "that the purpose of this summit is to form a united front. But victory will not come through reckless action. You must cooperate if you are to stand a chance against Uchiha Byakuya."
"Uchiha Byakuya must be eliminated..."
"But there's something even more urgent!"
Chiyo's voice rang out, silencing the conference room. All eyes turned to her.
"Because of Byakuya's assault on Sunagakure, Rasa's Kazekage succession ceremony was never completed," she declared. "I propose that we officially recognize Rasa as the Fourth Kazekage—right here, right now."
She placed a ceremonial Kazekage hat—one of the few symbols salvaged from the village—onto the table.
The implications were clear. With Sunagakure under Byakuya's control and Ye Cang installed as a puppet Kazekage, this was a political move to rally legitimacy behind Rasa as the rightful leader.
Everyone present understood what was at stake. Though they had no authority over the internal affairs of another village, their collective support would send a strong message—and more importantly, it would delegitimize Byakuya's hold over Suna.
"I support Rasa as the Kazekage," said the Fourth Raikage firmly, his voice sharp like lightning.
"I agree," added Sarutobi Hiruzen, nodding gravely.
"I have no objections."
"Agreed."
"Let it be so."
One by one, the leaders and their advisors voiced their support. Rasa, standing tall, stepped forward and took the hat. His hands trembled slightly as he placed it on his head.
Though his village was occupied and his forces scattered, he now wore the mantle of the Kazekage—with the backing of the other Great Nations.
"...Very well. With the Kazekage officially appointed," the Fourth Raikage spoke again, his tone rising, "can we finally discuss how to destroy that bastard Uchiha Byakuya?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen folded his arms and said solemnly, "We must tread carefully. Byakuya's power is extraordinary... He possesses both the Sharingan and Wood Release. Attacking him head-on would be foolish. We must plan—"
BOOM!
A deafening explosion cut Hiruzen off mid-sentence. The entire chamber quaked. Dust rained from the ceiling.
"What was that?! An earthquake?!" shouted one of the aides, reaching for a kunai.
Before anyone could answer, a samurai in silver armor burst through the door, panic on his face.
"Lord Mifune! We're under attack! The Iron Country has been invaded!"
"Invasion!?" Mifune rose to his feet, hand already on his katana. "Who would dare—"
"The intruder is—"
BOOOOOM!!
A second, more violent explosion tore through the building. The ceiling cracked and collapsed, stone and steel scattering like shrapnel. Screams and chaos erupted as the Kage and their guards leapt into action.
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