"That kind of boring stuff, I have no interest in it…" Hearing the Fourth Raikage's words, Kaoru curled his lips and let out a dismissive scoff. "However… as you just said, the position of leader of the allied forces requires a specific combat style. I'd like to know, with your impulsiveness, anger, and lack of brains, how can you possibly command the ninjas of the Five Great Ninja Villages?"
"What did you say?!" Hearing Kaoru's words, the Fourth Raikage roared and leaped from his seat, landing a short distance in front of Kaoru, glaring at him with a furious expression.
"What… Did I say something wrong?!" Seeing the Fourth Raikage's reaction, Kaoru's disdainful smile intensified. "To act like this at the slightest disagreement, looking like you want to throw a punch… Are all you Cloud Village guys' brains made of muscle?"
"Sixth Hokage…" Hearing Kaoru's words, before the Fourth Raikage could make a move, Ōnoki spoke up. "While I feel you have a point, perhaps… it's best not to say such things in front of the person concerned…"
As soon as these words were spoken, Mei Terumī quickly covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.
"Old man!!!" Hearing Ōnoki's words, the Fourth Raikage couldn't help but roar, wanting to attack directly.
However, as he raised his arm, the Fourth Raikage forcibly restrained himself. If he attacked now, wouldn't it prove Kaoru right? That he, the Fourth Raikage, was just an impulsive and angry individual?
He shot a cold glance at Ōnoki, then turned his gaze back to Kaoru.
After a moment of silence, he finally sat back down and said coldly, "In that case, Sixth Hokage, what are your suggestions?"
"Oh? You're actually asking for my suggestions…" Hearing the Fourth Raikage's words, Kaoru narrowed his eyes, a smile playing on his lips. "It seems you're not entirely brainless after all. Is it because you're too confident in your strength that you simply don't bother using your intelligence to solve problems?"
"Hmph, I don't need you to comment on my actions!!!" Hearing Kaoru's words, the Fourth Raikage snorted coldly and said loudly, "Just state your ideas…"
Nodding slightly, Kaoru stopped taunting the Raikage and said, "I know, Fourth Raikage, you want to be the leader of this ninja alliance, don't you?"
"That's right, I do have that intention. Because I don't trust the four of you, so what?" the Fourth Raikage continued.
"I don't object to you becoming the leader of the allied forces, but I want you to know that if the Five Great Ninja Villages Allied Force is successfully formed, the leader of the allied forces represents not power, but responsibility and obligation… Are you sure you can handle it?"
"I… Of course I can!!!" After a slight hesitation, the Fourth Raikage immediately declared with certainty.
"Very well…" Kaoru nodded and then continued, "In that case, I have a proposal. First, select ninjas skilled in strategy from each village to form a war council for the allied forces, to provide them with advice. The leader of the allied forces will then choose a course of action from the opinions given by the war council."
"At the same time, to prevent the leader from abusing power for personal gain, the Kage of the other ninja villages will have the right to deliberate. If more than one Kage opposes a decision made by the leader of the allied forces, it must be reconsidered!!!"
Hearing Kaoru's words, everyone present, except for the Fourth Raikage, was stunned and shifted their gaze to him.
If it were according to Kaoru's proposal, the leader of the allied forces would have no power at all, and would even be more troublesome.
In fact, upon hearing Kaoru's words, they had already given up any thought of competing for the position.
So, would the Fourth Raikage agree?
At this moment, the Fourth Raikage was staring intently at the nonchalant Kaoru, his face filled with anger. "According to what you're saying, if I make any choice, and two Kage disagree, then this ninja alliance will have to do nothing?!"
"That depends on you… Just come up with a plan that satisfies all of us." Hearing the Raikage's words, Kaoru let out a cold laugh and said loudly, "If you can't even handle such a small matter… then what right do you have to be the leader of the allied forces?"
As his voice fell, a strange look flickered in Kaoru's eyes. He looked directly at the Raikage and said softly, "Lord Raikage, you're not going to give up on becoming the leader of the allied forces just hearing this, are you… Or is it that you only want to be the leader for the power that position brings?"
"Of course not!" Hearing Kaoru's words, the Fourth Raikage immediately retorted without any hesitation. "How could I, the Fourth Raikage, be someone greedy for power?!"
"Oh?" Kaoru chuckled and continued, "In that case, you believe you are qualified for the position of leader of the ninja alliance?"
"Of course!!!" Without any hesitation, the Fourth Raikage sneered and shouted, "I said earlier, besides me, the four of you probably don't have the qualifications to be the leader of the allied forces!"
"Very well." Kaoru nodded, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Ōnoki, Mei Terumī, and Gaara. He then said softly, "Everyone, I think letting the Raikage be the leader of the allied forces is also a good choice. Do any of you have any objections?"
"Of course not!" Ōnoki showed a hint of a mischievous smile on his face. "I'm old and can't handle such a heavy responsibility. It's best for the Raikage to do it."
"I agree too!" Mei Terumī said softly after glancing at the Fourth Raikage. "I'm young and probably can't command respect. It's great for the Raikage to be the leader of the allied forces!"
"Agreed!" Seeing the attitudes of Kaoru and the other two, Mei Terumī knew perfectly well that this was a trap for the Raikage. She immediately parted her lips and said the same.
...
"This is bad… Lord Raikage has fallen into the trap!" Darui, standing behind the Raikage, couldn't help but show a worried expression as he looked at the Five Kage in the center of the conference room.
"Yeah, the leader of the allied forces' decisions still need the approval of the other four Kage, and they have to handle numerous actions of the allied forces on a daily basis. This is essentially letting Lord Raikage do all the work, while they make the decisions…" Another guard, C, said helplessly.
Not only Darui and C, but even the guards behind the other Kage saw that the position of leader of the allied forces was simply a grueling task.
Because of this, they weren't worried that their respective Kage hadn't become the leader, but instead looked at the Raikage with smiling faces, their eyes filled with schadenfreude.
And the Fourth Raikage, who had inexplicably gone from being a potential candidate to a position that was solely responsible for labor and not decision-making, had a completely flushed face.
Staring intently at Kaoru, the Fourth Raikage's lips curled slightly, and he said directly, "Since the plan for the ninja alliance has been approved, and I have become the leader of this alliance… the next step is to form the members of the allied forces."
The ninjas of the Akatsuki are all notorious S-rank rogue ninjas. Not only that, but there are also various powerful reanimated ninjas. To deal with them, we must have corresponding elite ninjas. Konoha Village is full of talented individuals, are there any suitable candidates?
As he spoke, the smile on the Fourth Raikage's face grew wider. Although he was reluctant to admit it, the overall strength of Konoha Village ninjas was currently the strongest, a fact that could not be denied.
Since Kaoru had put him in such an awkward position, the Fourth Raikage intended to maximize Konoha's contribution to the war effort. He wondered if Kaoru would still be able to smile so happily when he saw the casualty list of his village's ninjas in this battle.
Seeing the Fourth Raikage's expression, Kaoru understood his intentions immediately. He let out a cold laugh and said directly, "Fourth Raikage… please, discussing the members of the allied forces should naturally be left to the Jōnin of our respective villages to discuss in detail, arranging them based on each ninja's abilities. It's not something the five of us can decide casually by gathering here. Rushing to decide the participating members is a completely brainless decision…"
"Sixth Hokage, you!!!" The Fourth Raikage was so angry he almost fainted. He had tried to set a trap for Kaoru, but Kaoru completely refused to take the bait…
"In that case, let this meeting conclude here. The remaining matters regarding the formation of the ninja alliance will be left to the subordinates to discuss in detail," Ōnoki nodded and said.
"Agreed…"
"I concur…" Gaara and Mei Terumī also said.
Seeing that the other Kage had all agreed with Kaoru's words, the Fourth Raikage could only snort in dissatisfaction and reluctantly nod in agreement.
...
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