The shouting match grew more heated by the second, as if every ninja present wanted to vent years of battlefield resentment through a single, guttural roar.
Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, bore the heavy responsibility of maintaining order during the summit. Yet, faced with this chaotic mess, even he began to feel the weight of exhaustion. He maintained a mask of calm professionalism while inwardly lamenting the sheer difficulty of his task.
To prevent the summit from descending into a literal brawl, Minato had racked his brain and come up with a rather "gossipy" strategy. He surreptitiously leaked a series of scandalous rumors—half-truths and absurd fabrications—into the crowd. People, by nature, are drawn to scandal. Once the "tea" was spilled, it successfully diverted the crowd's attention. The tension outside the hall softened; it wasn't a perfect fix, but it stabilized the situation for the time being.
However, no one could have predicted that within this whirlpool of rumors, the "romantic exploits" of Hiruko would spread across the shinobi world like wildfire.
The tales grew taller with every retelling—from street corners to tea houses, everyone was talking. Rumors claimed he was having a secret affair with Mikoto Uchiha, Fugaku's wife, and that he shared an "ambiguous" relationship with Hiashi Hyuga's wife. Some even swore with straight faces that Chiyo-baasama and Biwako, the wife of the Third Hokage, were among his secret conquests.
Ironically, the heroines of these rumors all belonged to families that had, at some point, received significant favors or "assistance" from Hiruko.
Faced with this overwhelming tide of slander, Hiruko was livid. He slammed his desk and roared, "This is all fcking fake news! I only like young girls, beauties, and lolis! Old hags aren't even on my radar!"
Far from silencing the storm, his outburst only provided more fuel for the shinobi world's collective laughter. Ninjas from the Five Great Villages doubled over, treating this as a rare moment of vulnerability for the legendary and otherwise terrifying ninja.
The venue for the summit was a lavish, high-end hotel within Konoha. Built during Minato's reform era, it utilized Hiruko's advanced reinforced concrete technology. Its exterior was magnificent, and the interior was the height of luxury.
On the day of the meeting, the Kage, the Daimyos, and various intelligence assets arrived early. They sat in small clusters based on their political leanings, whispering in a scene that appeared harmonious but was fraught with hidden daggers.
As the host, Minato was busy greeting guests in the lobby, a gentle yet authoritative smile fixed on his face. Hiruko, true to form, was the last to arrive.
The moment he stepped into the hall, the cacophony of voices dropped a few decibels as every eye in the room locked onto him.
"Tsk, tsk. Hiruko certainly has a diverse appetite, doesn't he?"
"Look at him go!"
"Impressive... no wonder he could take the Raikage's arm. The man is a beast in every sense!"
Hiruko walked in, his forehead covered in black lines of irritation.
The first to offer a nod of greeting were the representatives from Sunagakure. The Sand had suffered heavy losses in the war, and their ambitious plans had mostly crumbled, leaving the village in a sour mood. However, thanks to Hiruko's mediation, they had managed to secure substantial benefits from Konoha. Beyond his unrivaled combat prowess, Hiruko had shown an uncanny eye for business, making a killing in the commercial sector. With the Sand and Leaf currently in a "honeymoon phase"—and with little Maki acting as a frequent bridge between the two—the Sand's opinion of Hiruko was overwhelmingly positive.
Not everyone was so friendly, though.
The members of Kumogakure looked at Hiruko with pure, unadulterated venom. Not long ago, Hiruko had engaged in a world-shaking clash with the Fourth Raikage. In that encounter, Hiruko's methods had been ruthless; he had literally severed the Raikage's arm, effectively crippling him. This act had earned him the eternal hatred of the Hidden Cloud.
Since being brought back from the battlefield, the Raikage's transplanted arm had proven incompatible with his explosive physical constitution. Known for his "all-out" brawling style, the Raikage's combat effectiveness had plummeted by at least 50%. Despite his temper, the Fourth was loved in his village for his "big brother" sense of responsibility. Whether it was the eccentric, rapping Killer Bee or the cold, regal Yugito Nii, the Raikage accepted them all. Seeing him in this state left a bitter taste in every Cloud ninja's mouth.
Elsewhere, the Cloud and Stone forces caught each other's eyes and silently agreed to a truce. Both sides had been nearly dismantled by Hiruko's schemes; if they actually started fighting now, it would lead to nothing but total annihilation.
Hiruko strolled through the hall, his arm around his little darling Temari, with the quiet Maki following beside him. He came across Ohnoki, who was currently nursing a massive bucket of ice-cold cola. The Tsuchikage looked as if he were in another world, focused entirely on the refreshing beverage, his mind seemingly miles away.
In this war, the Cloud was the clear loser, their pride shattered along with their leader's arm. The Stone wasn't much better; after seeing Hiruko's terrifying power, they had retreated in a panic, only to be chased and harried by Konoha's forces. Ohnoki was a man of character; he knew he bore the responsibility for this failure. Others might have preferred to die on the battlefield than face such humiliation, but Ohnoki had already stepped down as Tsuchikage.
Now, "Leg-影" (Kurotsuchi) was still just an innocent little loli, and the future Kage would likely be Kitsuchi. Kitsuchi was an honest, steady man—someone who would be easy to get along with. Perhaps the Earth-attribute chakra gave them that grounded, mild temperament. However, "kindness does not command armies, and generosity does not manage wealth." Kitsuchi was a good man, but he was not a good Kage candidate for these turbulent times.
As for the Raikage, Hiruko's "remodeling" had left him so battered that it was doubtful he could ever restore the Cloud to its former glory.
Then there was the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura. Beside him stood a stunningly beautiful woman with an air of elegance—Mei Terumi.
In theory, the biggest winner of this war was Yagura, who had kept a low profile and remained dormant during the heaviest fighting. He was petite—barely 140cm tall and weighing less than 40kg. Combined with his naturally cute baby face, he looked like an innocent young boy. In reality, he was a battle-hardened veteran whose true age was a mystery.
Currently, Yagura was the undisputed authority of Kirigakure. Obito hadn't made a move against him yet, and during the Fourth War, Yagura had maneuvered brilliantly against Konoha. His reputation was currently at an all-time high.
Yagura and Hiruko locked eyes and shared a knowing, hearty laugh.
"Lord Yagura, what was so funny?" Hiruko asked curiously.
Yagura smirked playfully. "Nothing much. I was just discussing marriage with Miss Mei Terumi. Since she's at a marriageable age and so eager to walk down the aisle, wouldn't a handsome and dashing man like Lord Hiruko be a match made in heaven?"
"Oh? Is that so?" Hiruko turned to Mei, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "Then it would truly be my honor."
"Hahahaha!" The entourages of both sides erupted in laughter. Only Mei Terumi blushed furiously, lowering her head in silence—a far cry from her usual decisive and fierce persona.
Both Hiruko and Yagura knew this was mostly banter. The Hidden Mist would never marry off a future Mizukage candidate to a Konoha powerhouse.
As other factions began to scurry about, organizing side-talks to further their own agendas, Hiruko knew the situation wasn't that simple. The Five Great Nations were a mess of internal contradictions, and none would allow two nations to merge their interests too closely. Konoha had to balance external pressure with the need to avoid provoking collective outrage; every move had to be calculated.
Furthermore, Hiruko never believed that "mutual understanding" alone could solve everything. Forcing people together only led to awkwardness.
"Every generation has its mission," Hiruko said, stepping up to the podium to give a speech. "Our current priority is to build a foundational platform for exchange and cooperation. Let us first establish basic trade and interaction."
Yagura nodded in agreement. He liked the way Hiruko thought.
As the speech ended, Hiruko slipped a small note to Yagura: Watch your back. Someone is planning an ambush.
After a few more verbal jousts between Minato and the other representatives, the Five Kage Summit officially began. Since it was the inaugural meeting and everyone still harbored deep grudges, they didn't touch on any massive, world-changing topics. It was mostly a formality to finalize and deepen the existing armistice.
The Kage of the Five Great Nations signed the peace treaty, clarifying their respective rights and responsibilities. As the host and the nominal victor of the war, Hiruko then put forward a bold proposal:
"The Five Great Villages should exchange permanent diplomats to foster communication."
At first, the room fell into a hesitant silence.
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