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The Land of Iron. The Five Kage Summit convened.
Within the hall, the banners of five nations hung. Five colored hats were placed upon the round table. The Five Kage gathered. Their guards waited in the wings.
Sasuke's rebirth had reshaped the shinobi world. This summit convened over two years ahead of schedule.
The Akatsuki had begun hunting the Tailed Beasts early. Gaara had lost Shukaku long ago.
After being rescued by Sasuke and returning to Sunagakure, Gaara harbored no resentment for the village's initial abandonment. Instead, he worked even harder, striving to become Kazekage.
His supporters in the village grew by the day. Even Suna's stubborn old guard relented. On the eve of this summit, he was finally named the Fifth Kazekage.
Behind the curtain, watching the newly appointed Gaara stand before the other Kage without a hint of intimidation.
Kankurō muttered, "That deadpan face of his is actually a huge asset in a place like this."
Temari shot him a look. "Strictly speaking, our skills aren't yet at the level expected of a Kazekage's guard. Master Baki sent us here to gain experience. We represent Sunagakure's image! If something happens, we cannot falter, Kankurō!"
"Tch… of course not!" Kankurō puffed out his chest. "I'm the successor of Granny Chiyo herself!!!"
With no Pain invasion of Konoha, Tsunade was able to attend as the Hokage.
Her guards were Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi!
"Shikaku, do you think this meeting can forge an alliance against the Akatsuki?" Inoichi asked.
"Doubtful," Shikaku replied. "The grudges between the Five Great Nations run deep. Mutual hostility is the norm. Unless a common, overwhelming enemy appears, I can't imagine them unifying."
"But the Akatsuki has already hunted the jinchūriki of various nations," Inoichi pressed. "Isn't that a common, powerful enemy?"
"What they've shown on the surface isn't enough to be called 'overwhelming,'" Shikaku explained. "Unless it's proven that the Akatsuki can rapidly weaponize the Tailed Beast powers they've stolen, posing a direct threat to the entire shinobi world, then the nations might set aside their hostility and form an alliance."
Inoichi nodded, agreeing with the analysis. "So the Raikage might leave empty-handed."
"Not necessarily," Shikaku continued. "One month ago, Obito appeared in the village and took Kakashi's left eye. After compiling intelligence, it's highly likely this Obito is the same masked man who manipulated the Nine-Tails to attack Konoha and killed the Fourth Hokage and his wife. This proves the Akatsuki's designs on the Tailed Beasts are not new. They have a major objective."
"What concerns me more are Sasuke and Orochimaru's actions. After Kakashi awoke, he mentioned that Sasuke's actions seemed less like an accomplice of the Akatsuki and more like he was protecting Kakashi from Obito. Furthermore, Sasuke informed Lady Tsunade that Naruto was kidnapped by an Akatsuki member named Black Zetsu. This suggests Sasuke possesses firsthand intelligence on the Akatsuki and is, in fact, opposed to them…"
Inoichi interjected, "Orochimaru was once an Akatsuki member, wasn't he? It's not surprising Sasuke has intel. But to completely absolve him of involvement seems premature, Shikaku… Are you hiding something else?"
Shikaku sighed. "Alright. Suna's Temari mentioned to my son that Kazekage Gaara fell victim to the Akatsuki. The one who stepped in on Konoha's behalf was Uchiha Sasuke."
Inoichi's eyes widened. "What?! If Sasuke betrayed Konoha, why would he take such an ambiguous stance?!"
"I can't figure it out either…" Shikaku admitted. "I only learned of this recently. Haven't had the chance to fully brief the Hokage."
"The combat power Sasuke displayed that day was likely on par with our Hokage," Inoichi mused. "If he intends to aid Konoha, why not return to the village openly?"
"I can't be sure. He must have his reasons, his concerns…" Shikaku's gaze turned to the round table. "Regardless, this Kage Summit will largely determine the future course of the shinobi world. Let's observe quietly."
The host, Mifune, commenced the meeting.
"At the invitation of the Raikage-dono, the Five Kage have gathered here. I will preside over this summit. Now, let the Five Kage Summit begin!"
Behind Mifune, the great doors of the hall were flanked by two tall samurai.
The samurai on the left allowed a barely perceptible smirk to touch his lips. It begins. How novel, to witness the Kage Summit in person. Before Lord Orochimaru and Sasuke make their entrance, let me enjoy this… unique tea party.
Yes. This "gatekeeper" samurai was Kabuto Yakushi, here to scout the location.
At the round table, the youngest Kage, Gaara, spoke first. His voice was calm, firm. "Let me speak. You listen."
The eldest Kage, Ōnoki, eyed him sideways. "Boy Kazekage, if I recall, you're only 14 this year? Becoming a chūnin at that age is impressive enough. Yet here you sit as the Kage representing a Great Nation's village, our equal. Truly, the younger generation surpasses the old. Your father taught you well… though, did he not teach you what we call 'proper manners'?"
Behind the curtain, Kankurō fumed. "That old fossil of a Tsuchikage! Is he picking on Gaara because he's young? Damn him…!!!"
Temari hissed, "Quiet!"
On the floor, Gaara rested his chin on interlaced fingers. "I was once a jinchūriki. I nearly died when the Akatsuki forcibly extracted the Tailed Beast from my body. Therefore, in my view, allowing the Akatsuki to continue existing is extremely dangerous."
"The fact that I can sit here as Kazekage now… is thanks to Konoha." (Tsunade's mind raced: Thanks to Konoha? His rescue was due to Suna's Granny Chiyo, wasn't it? Why mention Konoha?) "At the time, I thought, to prevent the same tragedy from befalling other jinchūriki, once I became Kazekage, I must seek the cooperation of the Five Kage to eliminate the Akatsuki together. Unfortunately, the Akatsuki moved too fast. In less than half a year, from the Cloud's Two-Tails to its Eight-Tails, eight of the beasts have fallen into their hands. Forming an alliance to attack them now… seems far too late."
Ōnoki snorted coldly. "Hmph! Even if a Great Nation loses its jinchūriki, it must keep it secret. It's a disgrace. The only proper path is to reclaim it covertly. What logic is there in begging other nations for help?"
Gaara's reply was flat. "Dignity. Face. How truly obsolete."
Insolent brat… Ōnoki thought darkly.
Then, the young Mizukage, Mei Terumī, spoke. "Even if the Tailed Beasts are stolen, there's no need to panic immediately, is there? Controlling one requires considerable technology, knowledge, and time."
Ōnoki added, "A jinchūriki must grow alongside their beast to adapt. Even then, control is never easy. For a bunch like the Akatsuki, it should be impossible. Isn't that right, Kazekage-dono?"
Tsunade cut in. "Throughout history, the only shinobi truly capable of controlling Tailed Beasts were Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju, the Fourth Mizukage Yagura, and Kumogakure's Killer B…"
Just then—a fist like a stone mallet shot into the air!
BOOM!!!
The Raikage's fist slammed down. His voice, like a thunderclap, exploded through the hall!!!
――"ENOUGH…!!! YOU USELESS FOOLS…!!! STOP CHATTERING ABOUT NOTHING…!!!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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