Chapter 92: Declaring War
The Land of Iron.
Feather-light snow drifted from a slate sky, the wind sharp enough to bite through armor. Footprints vanished as fast as they were made, swallowed by white.
Renji and Sai followed Danzo into the warmth of the underground corridor, their steps echoing off stone.
A chakra signature brushed Renji's senses—familiar, predatory.
He flicked a glance toward the heavy crossbeam above. Nothing but darkness met his eyes, yet chakra didn't lie.
Sasuke was here.
Obito had clearly set the boy on a collision course with Danzo. Renji's gaze slid to the man in front of him.
Tragic. He finally puts on the Hokage cloak, only to walk straight toward his death.
They entered the chamber prepared for the Five Kage Summit. The other four Kage were already in their seats, banners of each village hanging behind them. The air was tight, weighted with history and distrust.
Mifune stepped forward, voice steady. "Please place your hats in front of you."
Cloth rustled as the order was obeyed.
"At the Raikage's request, we meet today," Mifune continued. "I am Mifune, moderator for this summit. Let us begin."
Guards stood in the shadows behind each banner. Renji propped his chin on one hand, content to watch Danzo play his hand.
"I will speak first," Gaara said, cold and controlled.
Renji's brow twitched. Nice acting clone.
"The Five Kage truly have changed," Ōnoki drawled, eyeing Gaara. "So young to wear the title. I suppose your Father's guidance helped. Pity the manners didn't take."
The room tightened.
Mei Terumī frowned. "Tsuchikage, enough interruptions. Kazekage, please continue."
Gaara drew a breath. "You know my past. I was a Jinchuriki and a prisoner of Akatsuki. Their threat is real. I warned all five villages—most of you ignored me. Only the former Hokage listened."
His eyes cut briefly to Danzo.
"If we wait until every Jinchuriki is taken, it'll be too late. When the Five Great Nations lose their Jinchuriki, they lose power. That is a disgrace."
"Ordinarily we'd prioritize quiet retrievals," Ōnoki said, scowling. "A great nation must keep its dignity. We can't go begging the neighbors."
"Dignity and prestige are relics," Gaara shot back. "In a life-and-death crisis, are they worth more than peace?"
Mei sighed. "We've been too passive. Even so, a Tailed Beast isn't a weapon you just pick up. Control takes time, technique—compatibility."
"Those who truly controlled them are few," Danzo added. "Uchiha Madara. Lord First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura. And the Raikage's brother, Killer Bee."
That name lit the Raikage's temper like flint. His fist hammered the table. Wood exploded; guards dropped from the shadows to shield their leaders.
Renji didn't move. Danzo could stand on his own.
"This is a council chamber," Mifune said tiredly. "Stand down."
Steel rasped as tension eased.
"Konoha, Iwa, Suna, Kiri," the Raikage barked. "Akatsuki is built from your missing-nin. Worse, some of you—former leaders included—used Akatsuki for your own ends."
His glare speared Ōnoki and Danzo. "I don't trust you. I didn't come to negotiate. I came to hold you accountable."
"Before the shouting resumes," Danzo cut in, "one fact: the Akatsuki's true leader is likely Uchiha Madara."
Silence fell like a dropped blade.
"Alive?" Gaara asked.
"He should have died decades ago," Ōnoki muttered, sweat beading at his temple.
"I don't have the details," Danzo said. "But the source is reliable."
Voices rose again until Mifune lifted a hand. "As a neutral party, I offer this: form a unified Ninja Allied Forces."
"Agreed," Danzo said at once. "Extraordinary times demand a single command."
Renji's eyes slid to Mifune, then to Danzo. Too neat.
"Then we must choose a commander," Ōnoki said.
"If you choose among yourselves, we'll argue until dawn," Mifune replied. "Allow the neutral nation to propose. The Nine-Tails remains in Konoha. Handling him is central. Therefore, I propose the Hokage command the Allied Forces."
The Raikage's jaw clenched. Mei and Ōnoki stiffened.
"Thank you for your confidence," Danzo said smoothly. "I accept."
Renji bit back a sigh. Shisui's eye on Mifune—wasted, but recoverable.
"Why the Hokage?" the Raikage snapped. "He embodies the darkness you all whisper about."
"Then who?" Mifune asked.
"Our village has no Akatsuki among our ranks. I should lead."
"You lack the temperament," Mifune said evenly. "To lead the strong, one must be more than strength. A man led by impulse will shatter command—like that table."
He went on, calm as winter. "Kazekage is too young. Tsuchikage is too old. Mist has credible exposure to Akatsuki and faces intelligence risks. The Nine-Tails is Konoha's; the Hokage is best positioned."
A figure appeared behind Mei.
Ao stepped forward, eyes locked on Danzo. "Hokage, show me your right eye."
"That eye—Uchiha Shisui's, isn't it?" Ao said. "Shisui's genjutsu burrows into the mind and makes you think the command was your idea. The victim never notices. It's the highest tier of genjutsu."
Murmurs rippled.
"My right eye—taken from a Hyūga—once dispelled such control from the Fourth Mizukage," Ao added. "You won't fool me."
Renji—who had taken Kakashi's Sharingan, Shisui's, and a pair of Rinnegan—kept his face blank.
"Reckless," the Raikage growled, taking a step. "Did you control Mifune?"
Before the pot could boil over, a pitcher plant split the floor.
"Hi there! Uchiha Sasuke's here!" White Zetsu cackled.
The Raikage crushed his neck in one hand. Ōnoki sputtered. "We could have gathered intel!"
"Akatsuki don't talk," Gaara said flatly.
"Chōsuke, Ryokaku—pursuit, now!" Mifune barked.
The Raikage was already moving. "Ao—watch the Hokage."
Mifune turned. "Is the genjutsu still active?"
"No," Ao said, Byakugan veins standing out. "Flow is stable. The jutsu's gone."
"That technique can't be used repeatedly," Danzo said, almost bored.
"We'll judge that," Ao snapped. "You are not to be trusted."
Danzo's eyes thinned. "The Byakugan has fallen into poor hands. Renji—kill him."
The order came sudden and cold. Renji didn't hesitate.
Steel flashed.
Pfft.
His blade punched through Ao's heart. Renji plucked the Byakugan cleanly from its socket and palmed it.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +100,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100,000]
[Chakra (276,100,002 / 400,000,000)]
Ōnoki's pupils shook. "That movement—Flying Thunder God…"
"Hokage!" Mei shot to her feet, fury burning.
Danzo's mouth curled. "Village property is best handled by its owners."
Mei's hands trembled. "This is a provocation. Are you declaring war on the Hidden Mist?"
"Mind your tongue," Danzo said, cane tapping once. "He questioned the Hokage. Am I to accept humiliation?"
"Enough," Mifune cut in. "We haven't dealt with Akatsuki and already we're cutting each other down."
Gaara's gaze frosted over. "Focus."
Renji felt a probing touch on his chakra—delicate, familiar.
Karin. Good. Time to give Sasuke his opening.
"Lord Hokage," Renji murmured, "there are sensory types with Sasuke."
"Then we leave in the confusion," Danzo said. "Now."
The floor trembled as distant fighting spilled through the fortress. Gaara and the Raikage had engaged, but Sasuke—eyes spinning—slipped their net and arrowed toward the summit chamber. Danzo was his goal, and Renji would take him to the appointed ground.
From the corridor, the Byakugan in Renji's hand showed the battlefield through stone. The curtain above split cleanly; a pair of scarlet eyes fixed on Danzo like blades.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000]
[Chakra (277,110,002 / 400,000,000)]
Renji exhaled. Seeing Danzo, and he still hates me?
Ōnoki and Mei struck to pin Sasuke down; in that heartbeat of chaos, Danzo vanished. Sasuke broke off and followed—he knew exactly where Renji would take his prey.
…
Back in the chamber, the one-armed Raikage smashed through what remained of a wall. "Where is Uchiha Sasuke?!"
No answer came. Mifune said, "He followed the Hokage out."
Lightning crackled across the Raikage's shoulders as a spiral-masked man stepped into the gap.
"Who are you? What is Akatsuki's goal? Where's my brother?" Questions flew.
"I am Uchiha Madara," the man said. "Akatsuki's aim is the Moon's Eye Plan. We will gather the Tailed Beasts to revive their whole—the being with the greatest chakra. The Ten-Tails."
He spun a tale of the Sage of Six Paths and a world remade under illusion. How much of it was true, only he and Zetsu knew.
"Control the world with genjutsu. End conflict in a perfect dream."
"Keep your fantasy," the Raikage snarled. "Give me my brother."
None of the Kage would accept peace scraped out of a lie.
"Hand over the Eight and Nine-Tails willingly," the masked man said, "or we start a war. Here and now, I declare it."
The four Kage's faces hardened in unison.
War—the outcome they least wanted—had arrived.
-----
HAND OVER YOUR GODDAMN INFINITY STONES!! 💎
Every 100 stones = +1 extra chapter!
If you want to read chapters early and show some support, check out my Patreon!
Just search "Demonic_Fiction" on "P4trƐon" (link in the synopsis)