At the same time, every shinobi village—except for Konoha—received news that the Raikage was convening a Kage Summit.
This news wasn't exactly a secret, and by now, even Konoha had been informed.
Bang!!!
"What is that stubborn old fool, the Raikage, trying to pull?"
Tsunade's expression was grim. A Four Kage Summit, and she—Konoha's Hokage—had been excluded.
"Lady Tsunade, please calm down. It's likely the Raikage already regards us as being in league with the Umbrella Organization. His actions make sense, considering the circumstances."
Shizune stood beside her, voice calm but concerned. Tsunade had recalled her back to Konoha—there was no one else she trusted more as her assistant. Shizune's steady presence helped her keep her temper in check.
Tsunade exhaled heavily, her golden eyes narrowing.
"Hmph… I know that much. Still, it's obvious that this summit has something to do with Naruto and the others. Maybe I was too hasty in exposing the Umbrella Organization…"
For a brief moment, regret flashed across her face. If she hadn't acted so quickly, perhaps the other villages wouldn't have been so alarmed. A Four Kage Summit was no small matter.
"Lady Tsunade," Shizune said softly, a faint smile on her lips, "maybe Naruto-kun already has a plan. Why not ask him before worrying too much?"
Her words made Tsunade pause. Then, as realization dawned, she chuckled quietly.
It was just like the saying—the emperor isn't worried, but the eunuch is. Naruto always seemed to have a countermeasure ready.
Without another word, Tsunade turned and strode out of the Hokage's office, leaving Shizune watching helplessly from behind.
Thankfully, thanks to recent administrative reforms, many of the Hokage's duties were now approved by senior clerks with Tsunade's authorization. Otherwise, Shizune would've had no choice but to stop her from leaving.
Land of Hot Water — Temporary Summit Grounds
The Four Kage Summit had been scheduled in the Land of Hot Water—an island nation lying between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water. Though convenient for those two nations, it was much farther for the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth.
After three days of travel, Gaara and his entourage finally arrived. Inside a temporary wooden structure, the young Kazekage sat at a low table alongside the Mizukage, Tsuchikage, and Raikage.
Mei Terumī's amber eyes glimmered as she silently observed the others, her thoughts unreadable.
She had long known about the Umbrella Organization—and even that the Seven Colors Trading Company was affiliated with them. But so what? The company had brought immense prosperity to Kirigakure. Trade boomed, commerce flourished, and for the first time in years, the Mist was rebuilding its strength.
A vast number of Kirigakure's citizens now worked for the Seven Colors Company. Local merchants had partnered with them as well. To sever that connection now would be like cutting off their own arm.
In truth, Mei was here less to cooperate and more to observe—to see what the Raikage's true motives were.
And in this meeting, she wasn't the only one with hidden intentions.
"Since everyone's here," said Ōnoki, the aged Tsuchikage, his gravelly voice echoing across the hall, "let's begin. Raikage, since you called this summit, what exactly are your intentions?"
Among those present, Ōnoki's seniority and experience far surpassed the rest. The Raikage, A, gave him a brief glance before speaking bluntly.
"I presume you're all aware of Konoha's situation," Ay began. "A new and dangerous organization has emerged—the Umbrella Organization. You've all seen their reach, their influence. Are you truly not concerned?"
He leaned forward, his tone cold and commanding.
"If we let them continue to grow unchecked, they'll soon become a power that rivals our nations. Do any of you wish to see the Five Great Nations lose their dominance? I say we unite now—send our forces—and eliminate this threat before it's too late!"
His words were sharp, and his intent unmistakable.
Gaara's calm eyes flickered, a faint frown creasing his brow.
"Raikage Ay," he said evenly, "you're exaggerating the threat. How much can a single organization truly accomplish?"
He leaned back slightly, his tone turning firm.
"Or are you trying to start the Fourth Great Ninja War?"
Gasps rippled through the chamber. The weight in Gaara's voice was enough to silence even the Mizukage for a moment.
"You brat!" Ay slammed his fist against the table, lightning chakra crackling faintly around his arm.
"Watch your tone! You think being made Kazekage means you can speak out of turn? When I was fighting on the front lines, you were still playing in the sand!"
He looked down at Gaara with open disdain. To him, the boy was nothing more than an inexperienced child given a title too soon.
Had Chiyo still been alive and present, perhaps Ay would have shown some restraint—but facing Gaara alone, he had none.
The tension in the room thickened, chakra flaring faintly between the two Kage as the summit began to heat up.
"Raikage Ay, you're far too arrogant. Is this how a Kage should conduct himself?"
A sudden surge of chakra burst from Gaara, his killing intent sweeping across the hall like a desert storm. The pressure in the room spiked instantly, locking onto the Raikage.
"Brat! Are you provoking me?"
Blue lightning crackled across Ay's body as his own chakra flared, the air humming with violent tension. The floor beneath him trembled, small arcs of lightning jumping between the wooden planks.
Mei Terumī, the Mizukage, blinked in surprise. Her sharp eyes darted toward the young Kazekage, astonishment flickering in them.
This boy… only thirteen, and yet his presence is strong enough to stand against the Raikage himself. No wonder he became the leader of a village so young.
"Enough!"
Ōnoki's gravelly voice cut through the tension.
"We're here to discuss the Umbrella Organization—not to start a fight! If you want to brawl, then this summit ends right here and now!"
The weight of his authority forced both men to stand down. Slowly, Gaara retracted his chakra, and the lightning around the Raikage dissipated. The two returned to their seats, though Ay's glare still lingered with thinly veiled hostility.
In truth, the Raikage's aggression wasn't without purpose. He had recently received classified intelligence—reports that the Umbrella Organization possessed a unique ninja tool, one rumored to rival the Chakra Cannon Kumogakure was secretly developing.
Their current prototype was still in its theoretical phase, far from completion. But if they could acquire Umbrella's research data, Kumogakure might leap ahead of the other Great Nations and cement itself as the strongest village in the shinobi world.
The Chakra Cannon's concept had originated from the Tailed Beast Ball, weaponizing its principles through technology. By Kumogakure's projections, full development would still take at least three or four more years.
If one followed the timeline, the cannon would only be completed after the Fourth Great Ninja War. That meant Umbrella's advancement in similar fields was far beyond what any village had achieved so far.
"With all due respect," Gaara spoke up again, his voice calm but firm, "this so-called 'Umbrella threat theory' doesn't hold water. Their number of shinobi is limited, and surpassing the power of the Five Great Nations isn't something so easily done."
He looked directly at the Raikage.
"Chakra potential isn't something that can be mass-produced. No matter how advanced their research or how many shinobi they train, decades of our accumulated strength and tradition cannot be replaced overnight."
His logic was sound, and even Ōnoki nodded slightly, his expression thoughtful.
Mei Terumī also gave a faint smile, silently agreeing with Gaara's reasoning.
The Raikage, however, didn't relent. His eyes narrowed, a spark of ambition flickering within them. In truth, it wasn't Umbrella's numbers that worried him—it was their technology and their economic power.
"Kazekage," he said in a deep voice, "you're too naïve. You should already know that the Umbrella Organization has Uzumaki Naruto—the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki—on their side!"
The room fell silent for a moment.
Gaara slowly rose to his feet, his tone resolute.
"Raikage Ay, Sunagakure's current strength is still recovering. The villagers are weary of war, and we cannot afford to be dragged into another conflict."
He turned toward the exit, his sand gourd shifting lightly against his back.
"Therefore, Sunagakure withdraws from any proposed joint operation against the Umbrella Organization."
Without waiting for a response, Gaara walked out of the temporary conference hall, leaving behind three silent Kage—each lost in their own thoughts.
...
TN:
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