Three days later, after more than two years, the Five Kage gathered once again.
This time, however, the meeting location was set in the Rain Country.
This summit was not limited to the Five Kage alone. It also included the leaders of every village and small nation in the ninja world that had joined the Ninja Alliance.
Not only that—all nine Jinchūriki were present.
The format returned to the original round-table discussion, except that this time, more than a dozen seats surrounded the table.
The Five Great Nations, the Land of Iron, Rōran, the Land of Snow, the Land of Demons, the Land of Bears, the Land of Rivers, the Land of Tea, the Land of Rainbows, the Land of Grass, and Takigakure—all of their village leaders had arrived.
They simply did not bear the title of "Kage."
As for the old man from the Land of Bears who usually called himself the "Star Shadow," he no longer dared to use the title "Shadow" at all this time—and he didn't even wear his bamboo hat.
Aside from countries like the Land of Waves and the Land of Hot Water, which lacked armed ninja forces, nearly everyone was present.
As for the Moon Country, the Ninja Alliance had issued an invitation, but its leader did not dare to attend. After all, the Moon Country was one of the few regions that had never joined the Alliance and was essentially a haven for missing-nin.
The fact that it had not yet been destroyed by the Five Great Nations was already a blessing—attending this meeting was completely out of the question.
Uchiha Hikaru sat at the center of the round table, with the Five Kage and Konan seated on either side of him.
On his left were Konan, Rasa, and Ōnoki.
On his right were Tsunade, Mei Terumi, and A.
Originally, Mei Terumi had wanted to compete with Konan for the seat beside Uchiha Hikaru.
However, Konan calmly stated:
"I am the Secretary-General of the Ninja Alliance. Seating arrangements for this summit are determined by official positions, not personal feelings."
With that, Mei Terumi could only give up the idea, clicking her tongue inwardly (｀へ´).
As for the guards, each stood silently behind their respective leaders.
Uchiha Hikaru glanced around. Seeing that everyone was present and seated, Konan raised the gavel and officially opened the meeting.
"Honored allies," Konan began, her voice steady.
"Since the founding of the Ninja Alliance, each of you has chosen to join us one after another. For that, I am deeply honored."
"I am pleased that you are willing to stand together with the Five Great Nations to build a ninja world based on unity, friendship, mutual assistance, and shared progress—and to jointly maintain lasting peace."
"Over the past two years, every nation has achieved development to varying degrees. The Five Great Nations serve as examples."
"Iwagakure has built roads. Kirigakure has constructed bridges. Kumogakure has expanded commerce. Sunagakure has restored greenery."
"Time is limited. In just two years, we have not yet been able to support every village equally."
"But going forward, we will gradually extend aid to all allied nations."
"Our goal is to create a peaceful and prosperous ninja world—one where children can grow up without fear, and war no longer returns."
"Following the principle of the strong supporting the weak, the Five Great Nations will begin assisting surrounding small countries and villages."
After Konan finished speaking, the leaders of the smaller nations—many attending such a summit for the first time—lit up with excitement.
When had they ever witnessed something like this?
More importantly… how had Uchiha Hikaru addressed them?
Like-minded allies.
To be acknowledged as equals—by the strongest man in the ninja world, no less—was something they had never dared to imagine.
Yes, everyone understood that there was no such thing as a free meal.
But over the past two years, the founding members of the Ninja Alliance had developed at a visible, astonishing pace. Their prosperity had even revitalized their entire countries' economies.
They could all see it clearly.
No war. No bloodshed. Just sitting down and negotiating peacefully.
Who could have imagined such a future would actually arrive?
This was genuine mutual benefit. True shared progress.
Just as the atmosphere brimmed with optimism, Uchiha Hikaru suddenly spoke.
"Although I know you are all pleased," he said calmly, "I must now deliver some unfortunate news."
"Uchiha Obito—the former missing-nin of Konoha—has, according to our investigation, begun preparations to ignite another Ninja World War."
"He intends to declare war on the entire ninja world."
"I, Uchiha Hikaru, formally apologize to all of you—both as a shinobi of Konoha and as the President of the Ninja Alliance."
"It is my failure that I did not capture this criminal in time, allowing him to escape and bring us to this point."
Silence fell over the hall.
Then—Mei Terumi abruptly stood.
"President Hikaru, you need not blame yourself," she said, her voice sharp with suppressed fury.
"Uchiha Obito plunged Kirigakure into the Bloody Mist era. Tens of thousands of our shinobi died because of him."
"He is not merely Konoha's enemy—he is Kirigakure's enemy!"
"Kirigakure will stand with the Ninja Alliance and Konoha to eliminate the most brutal missing-nin the world has ever known!"
Ōnoki, A, and Rasa soon rose as well.
"Uchiha Obito desecrated the ancestral graves of Iwagakure," Ōnoki said grimly.
"Such a crime demands death. Iwagakure will fight alongside the Alliance and Konoha!"
"That coward who only knows how to flee dares start a war again?" A snarled.
"Kumogakure is the first to object. Anyone who destroys peace deserves death. We stand with Konoha!"
For a moment, Rasa realized everyone else had already said what he might have spoken.
He hesitated.
Then, through the reflection on the metal tabletop, he saw the figures behind him.
Gaara.
Kankurō.
Temari.
Gaara's cold, distant gaze pierced his back, causing his chest to tighten painfully.
After several seconds of silence, Rasa finally spoke.
"I do not have lofty ambitions like the other Kage," he said slowly.
"I only wish to tell a story."
Every eye in the room turned toward him.
"Once, after the Third Ninja World War, there was a father who sealed the One-Tail Shukaku into his unborn child… all to protect his village from invasion."
"He believed that with a Jinchūriki, his village would gain strength—and that he could live peacefully with his wife and child."
"But disaster favors the unfortunate."
"His wife died in childbirth. The child was born weak. The tailed beast went berserk again and again."
"His wife's death hollowed him out. He became a man who cared only for the village—so much so that he ordered assassinations against his own child, just to test the stability of the seal."
Rasa's voice trembled.
"That man… was me."
Gaara stared at his father's back, emotions tangled and unreadable.
The room remained silent.
Many present felt their hearts grow heavy.
No one had expected such madness from the Kazekage.
Rasa turned toward Uchiha Hikaru.
"But now… things are different."
"Since the founding of the Ninja Alliance, Konoha has stabilized the One-Tail's seal, helped Sunagakure restore greenery, solved our water and food shortages—"
"They even built an oasis."
"Children no longer die of thirst. People no longer starve."
"In the past, Sunagakure joined three Ninja World Wars—all for land, water, and food."
"But now… we have everything."
"I know I am unworthy of calling myself a father. I do not dare ask for forgiveness."
"But Uchiha Obito seeks to drag my village back into that hell."
"Even if it costs my life—even if every Sand shinobi falls—I will never allow that to happen!"
"Sunagakure will mobilize all forces and stand with the Ninja Alliance and Konoha to erase those who would destroy peace from this world!"
...
...