The Five Kage Summit, huh?
Ryoma found the idea amusing.
If they knew that the shadow manipulating everything behind the scenes was him, what would their expressions be like?
Still, the next time he appeared as an Uchiha, he'd have to be more careful not to expose himself. The red armor had already been hidden away, to be used only when necessary.
As Ryoma pondered the best way to arrange the upcoming Summit, Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived.
Although Hiruzen had long since stepped down from the position of Hokage, he still cared deeply about the affairs of Konoha—and even the entire shinobi world.
Upon hearing that Uchiha Madara had supposedly been resurrected, he came straight to the Hokage's office.
"Fourth Hokage, are you free right now?" Hiruzen asked politely.
Ryoma looked up, slightly startled. "Ah, old Hokage… please, have a seat."
Hiruzen nodded and sat down. Though he now appeared to be just an elderly man in retirement, there was still an unmistakable aura of authority surrounding him—the residual presence of a man who had once carried the Will of Fire.
He coughed lightly. "I heard Uchiha Madara has appeared again? Are you certain the information is reliable?"
Ryoma nodded.
"Yes. But there's something off about this so-called Madara. His appearance is… suspicious."
Hiruzen frowned.
"Fourth Hokage, I believe it's time to convene a Five Kage Summit. After all, Kumogakure was destroyed overnight—tens of thousands of villagers and even the Third Raikage perished. This cannot be overlooked."
[Ding! Based on the current situation, the host has three choices:]
Option 1: Refuse to convene the Five Kage Summit.
Reward: S-Class Character Card – Hanzō of the Salamander.
Option 2: Hold the Summit in Konoha.
Reward: S-Class Character Card – First Raikage.
Option 3: Hold the Summit in Amegakure, the neutral land between the three great nations.
Reward: S-Class Character Card – Uchiha Itachi (Akatsuki).
Ryoma's eyes lit up instantly.
Uchiha Itachi's character card…!
As long as he chose Option 3 and completed the task, he could synthesize the SSS-level version—Uchiha Itachi (Susanoo Perfect Form)!
Compared to that, the other two rewards were insignificant.
He nodded thoughtfully. "You're right, Lord Third. The Summit must be held—it's inevitable."
Hiruzen smiled, satisfied with his successor's judgment.
But then Ryoma continued, "However, Konoha isn't the ideal place. I think Amegakure would be far more suitable."
"Amegakure?" Hiruzen frowned deeply. "Ryoma, holding the Summit there would require Hanzō's consent. That won't be easy."
Indeed, Hanzō of the Salamander was known as a demigod for good reason. He had once singlehandedly unified the warring factions of Amegakure, a small village caught between the borders of the great nations.
His poisonous mist alone was enough to cripple an army before the battle even began. In the rain-soaked environment of Amegakure, that poison's potency was unmatched.
For that reason, Hanzō's authority there was absolute. No one dared provoke him within his domain.
To force a Five Kage Summit in his territory would be tantamount to declaring political war—and that went against Hiruzen's peaceful ideals, which had been inherited from the First Hokage himself.
"Ryoma," Hiruzen said gravely, "offending Hanzō so openly… is that truly wise?"
Ryoma smiled faintly. "Offend him? Hardly. If he knows what's good for him, he'll cooperate. And if he doesn't…" His eyes narrowed slightly. "Then I'll make him cooperate."
The air in the office turned heavy.
Everyone present bowed their heads slightly, unwilling to meet Ryoma's gaze.
The Fourth Hokage was terrifyingly decisive. Even the demigod of Amegakure didn't seem to faze him.
Compared to him, the Third Hokage's gentleness now felt almost too soft.
During Ryoma's time as Hokage, both the shinobi and civilians of Konoha had grown far more confident—almost to the point of arrogance.
Hiruzen sighed. "Ryoma, I only hope you can avoid unnecessary bloodshed. In war, it's always the genin and the villagers who suffer most."
"I understand," Ryoma replied. "I'll go speak with Hanzō personally."
"…Very well," Hiruzen said after a pause. "Just… be cautious."
Truthfully, aside from Hanzō himself, Amegakure was a logical choice for the Summit. Its position at the crossroads of the great nations made it a natural neutral ground.
Not long after Hiruzen left, Tsunade stormed into the office.
She slammed both hands onto Ryoma's desk—so hard that the wood creaked and splintered under the pressure.
"You're going to meet Hanzō?" she demanded.
Ryoma raised an eyebrow. "Yes. Why?"
Tsunade's jaw tightened as old memories surfaced.
Ten years ago, she, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru—three of Konoha's strongest—had led nearly twenty elite jōnin into battle against Hanzō.
They'd been utterly crushed.
In the end, Hanzō had spared their lives out of respect and mockingly bestowed upon them the title 'Legendary Sannin.'
Even now, Tsunade could still remember the suffocating haze of poison, the sharp sting in her lungs, and the way her muscles refused to move no matter how hard she tried.
Hanzō's poisonous mist wasn't just deadly—it disrupted a shinobi's reflexes, blurring the line between life and death in mere seconds.
The title "demigod" wasn't exaggeration. To the rest of the world, Hanzō was a man who stood just half a step below the gods of the shinobi era.
And Ryoma planned to face him head-on.
"Tsunade, I advise you not to mess with Hanzō," she warned sharply, frowning. "Do you have any idea how many people have tried to challenge him just to make a name for themselves? The bones of those fools are piled high in Amegakure by now!"
[Ding! Based on the host's current situation, three options have appeared!]
Option 1: Accept Tsunade's advice and cancel the plan to hold the Five Kage Summit in Amegakure.
Reward: S-Class Character Card – Orochimaru (Konoha Sannin). Tsunade's Favorability –10.
Option 2: Ignore Tsunade's advice and proceed with the plan to hold the Summit in Amegakure.
Reward: S-Class Character Card – Jiraiya (Konoha Sannin). Tsunade's Favorability +10.
Option 3: Make a bet with Tsunade.
Reward: S-Class Battle Simulation – Konoha Sannin vs. Hanzō the Salamander. Tsunade's Favorability +20.
Ryoma blinked, a wry smile crossing his lips.
Accepting her suggestion makes her like me less… but ignoring her increases her favor? And a bet gives the biggest boost?
Women are so confusing.
He looked up at her and smiled faintly. "Tsunade-hime, how about a little wager?"
Tsunade crossed her arms. "A bet? Hmph. I've never lost one yet!"
Ryoma raised an eyebrow. "Then let's see. You said Hanzō is unbeatable, right? If I can convince him to yield and host the Five Kage Summit in Amegakure…"
Tsunade hesitated, then smirked. "Fine. If you can make Hanzō submit, I'll treat you to dinner."
Ryoma grinned. "Deal."
The Legend of Hanzō
The name Hanzō of the Salamander carried immense weight throughout the ninja world. To most, he was a legend—an existence spoken of with both awe and fear.
After the Second Great Ninja War, the title of "Demigod" had even eclipsed the prestige of the Five Kage for a time.
In a world where only the strongest from the great nations rose to prominence, Hanzō stood apart. He was no Kage, merely the leader of a small, rain-soaked village trapped between superpowers—and yet his reputation stood equal to theirs.
His rise gave hope to countless minor nations, proof that even a small village could birth a legend.
But for decades since, no one else had reached his height. Hanzō's legend remained unmatched.
Under his rule, Amegakure had grown from chaos into order. With Kirigakure's decline, Kumogakure's destruction, and Sunagakure's surrender, Amegakure's reputation—and Hanzō's name—rose even higher.
Some whispered that Amegakure was now among the top three villages in the shinobi world, behind only Konoha and Iwagakure.
Among the Rain ninja, Hanzō was worshipped almost like a god.
So when news spread that the Fourth Hokage of Konoha wanted to hold the Five Kage Summit in Amegakure, outrage erupted across the village.
"What right does the Fourth Hokage have to make demands of us?"
"That's right! We're not some minor village anymore!"
"What Five Kage Summit? Tell them to get lost!"
"Hanzō-sama is the number one shinobi in the world!"
Amegakure was a city of steel and rain—its towers rising like iron spears through the mist. Unlike Konoha's earthy wood-and-mud construction, Ame was a blend of cold metal and stone, shaped by endless rainfall.
Tall spires, connected by massive steel pipes, pierced the gray sky. The architecture was gothic, industrial—almost alien.
The villagers lived in the shadows of these towers, while the dead were entombed near the heights, their remains sealed in the upper levels. The city itself felt like a graveyard wrapped in clouds.
At its center stood the tallest spire—a massive iron structure topped by a statue of Hanzō standing upon his salamander summon. It was his fortress, his seat of power.
Inside, the main chamber was vast, divided by partitions and dimly lit. Elite jōnin guarded each corner.
A messenger kneeled before a large viewing screen.
"Reporting to Lord Hanzō—Konoha once again requests to hold the Five Kage Summit here in Amegakure, and…"
Hanzō's deep voice echoed from the shadows. "And what?"
The messenger swallowed nervously. "The Fourth Hokage also said… 'Those who know the times are wise.'"
"Hahaha!"
The sound of Hanzō's laughter filled the chamber, echoing against the metal walls.
"The Fourth Hokage… barely twenty years old, and already dares to talk big?" he scoffed. "He kills one old war hawk like Danzō and a dying Uchiha, and now thinks himself a god?"
His tone cooled. "Ignore Konoha's request. If they wish to hold a Summit here, it must be for their own schemes."
He snorted. "The other Kage proposed Konoha, yet the Fourth refuses and insists on my village? Does he take me for a fool?"
Meanwhile, Ryoma had already arrived alone at the border of the Land of Rain.
His shadow clone remained in Konoha, maintaining the illusion that he was still there.
The rain was unending—silver threads falling endlessly from the clouds.
Tick… tick… tick.
Raindrops struck the eaves and ground, merging into wide puddles that blurred the line between land and water.
The whole country felt drowned in gray.
Though the wars had ended years ago, the scars remained. At the outskirts of Amegakure, Ryoma passed crumbling houses, half-collapsed shelters, and broken streets littered with debris.
The contrast with the glittering steel towers in the distance was striking.
Near the village border, a group of refugees huddled together. Seeing Ryoma's sudden appearance, they flinched and hid behind the ruins.
As he walked deeper into the district, Ryoma noticed corpses strewn along the roadside—some starved, others slain.
"So much for a thriving Amegakure," he murmured. "Why is the edge of the village this miserable?"
His curiosity drew him forward—until he heard soft splashes in the puddles around him.
Footsteps.
In an instant, seven shinobi emerged from the mist, forming a loose circle. Their expressions were hostile, hungry. They were low-ranked—genin and chūnin—but clearly desperate.
The leader, a scarred man with a cross-shaped mark on his nose, sneered. "Hand over everything you've got. We're just robbing you—don't make us get rough."
Ryoma smiled faintly, saying nothing.
Because he'd already noticed something. There were others nearby—stronger ones.
In the next moment, several sheets of white paper fluttered down from above, piercing the wet ground like kunai.
The seven bandits froze in panic.
Three figures leapt down from the rooftops, cloaked in black.
At their lead was a young man with bright orange hair and determined eyes. On either side stood a red-haired boy with rippled eyes—the Rinnegan—and a blue-haired girl with a paper flower in her hair.
Ryoma's eyes widened slightly.
Yahiko… Nagato… and Konan.
They were so young.
The bandits snarled. "Yahiko! It's your group again! That damned organization—always meddling!"
"Organization…?" Ryoma murmured.
Then it clicked.
This was Yahiko's Akatsuki—the original group formed not as a mercenary band, but as a peace movement. Their goal was to end the cycle of war through cooperation between nations.
A beautiful dream… that would one day be shattered by betrayal.
Back then, Hanzō had joined forces with Danzō to trap them. Yahiko had thrown himself onto Nagato's kunai to save his friends.
He had been only fifteen years old.
Ryoma's gaze softened. But now… Danzō is already dead.
That alliance between Hanzō and Danzō would never happen again.
The entire future of the Hokage was thrown into disarray by Ryoma's sudden arrival.
In such a situation... would Yahiko still die?
Ryoma couldn't help but feel curious.
Meanwhile, Yahiko was still arguing with the starving rogue ninja who had come to rob them.
The man shouted furiously, "Yahiko! Every time you talk about how wonderful the world will be—but look at us now! We're starving to death! What kind of 'ideal future' is that?!"
"We're tired of living in these broken-down shacks! We want real homes! We're tired of eating cold, dried rations every day! We want hot meals, warm food! You talk about peace and love, but what good are those when we're dying of hunger?"
Ryoma clapped his hands lightly and said with a smile, "He's right. When you're starving, ideals don't mean much, do they?"
The rogue ninja froze in confusion. A second ago, this guy had been the one being robbed—and now he was agreeing with him?
Everyone else stared blankly at Ryoma. This man's audacity was almost unbelievable.
"What?" Ryoma asked, looking at their stunned faces. "Did I say something wrong?"
Konan frowned. "Do you even understand your situation? You're being robbed."
Nagato, meanwhile, had been silently observing Ryoma. His Rinnegan eyes focused sharply on him—then widened in shock.
"Yahiko! Konan! Get back!" he shouted suddenly.
Konan's expression shifted instantly. She stepped back, widening the distance between them, her eyes filled with suspicion.
The others followed suit, retreating quickly after hearing Nagato's warning.
Only Yahiko remained still, his gaze fixed calmly on Ryoma. His eyes were filled with the same gentle conviction as always.
Even among them, Yahiko had always been the heart of the group—the one Nagato followed with unshakable loyalty.
He had strength, ideals, and a charisma that made people believe in him. "Love and peace" might sound naïve to others, but from Yahiko's lips, it inspired hope. He was the kind of man who could have been the protagonist of his own story.
If fate had been kinder, perhaps he really would have achieved his dream.
Nagato, however, couldn't see through Ryoma at all. The man's presence felt bottomless—his power immeasurable.
"Who... who are you?" Nagato asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Ryoma smiled. "Me? I'm the Fourth Hokage—Ryoma."
"The Fourth Hokage?!"
Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief.
The poor and isolated people of Amegakure had heard the rumors: that the Third Hokage had retired and the Fourth had risen in his place. But none of them imagined he would be this young.
The rogue ninja who had tried to rob him stammered, "You—you're saying you're the Hokage?!"
Yahiko and Konan both turned toward Nagato.
Nagato's expression was grim. "His chakra… it's beyond even Kage-level," he muttered. "He's not lying."
At those words, Yahiko and Konan's eyes changed completely.
The robbers, on the other hand, began to tremble. Their disbelief was quickly replaced by terror.
Suddenly, roots and vines burst from the ground beneath their feet—wrapping around their legs and dragging them back into place.
"Let us go!"
"Help! Please, we didn't mean it!"
They struggled desperately, but the more they resisted, the tighter the wooden tendrils constricted.
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan all stared in shock.
"Mokuton…?" Konan whispered.
He really was the Fourth Hokage.
The rogue ninja who had been shouting moments ago dropped to his knees. "Lord Hokage, please forgive me! Spare this worthless fool!"
The others followed his lead, bowing and begging for mercy.
As they did, they noticed something strange: despite the rain pouring down all around, not a single drop touched Ryoma's body. The falling raindrops shimmered briefly—then bounced off the thin layer of chakra surrounding him.
He stood there spotless, untouched by the storm.
They realized, with a cold shiver, how blind they had been.
"Lord Hokage," Yahiko said quickly, stepping forward. "They meant no real harm. We stopped them, and they've already apologized for their disrespect. Please, let them go."
Ryoma looked at Yahiko, and for a moment, he saw what Nagato saw—the charisma that made others follow him without hesitation. Even in silence, Yahiko's presence was warm and magnetic.
Ryoma chuckled softly. "Did I ever say I wanted to kill them? I just wanted to ask a question."
He looked around at the rain-soaked slums. "Why does Amegakure look like this? Why is everyone here so poor?"
Yahiko's face fell. He looked ashamed.
Of course. The Hokage of Konoha—one of the most powerful villages in the world—had come here, only to see this poverty.
It made Yahiko's chest tighten.
Why was there a slum in Amegakure? Why was the outer village suffering like this?
...
TN:
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