The moment the three Kage stepped inside, they saw the hall already arranged: lacquered wood, iron pillars, banners of neutrality flapping in the cold air.
Reto of the Wind exhaled calmly.
"Seems we're first."
Tsuchikage Jirō clicked his tongue.
"Hmph. That brat from the Land of Thunder and the Fire Country kid aren't here yet? Insolent little punks."
The Mizukage's grin widened, shark-teeth glinting under the lantern light.
"I heard the Fire brat's been missing for two months. Only Senju Hashirama is attending. Shame. I wanted to see the runt."
Everyone turned and stared at him with the same expression people reserve for someone who proudly announces they've just eaten mud.
Of course they knew why Hashirama was here.
Of course they knew Raizen had vanished.
The entire world had been shaken by it.
Only the Mizukage could make stating the obvious sound like a crime.
"My lord," the black-haired guard whispered earnestly, "they're judging you."
"Shut up," Mizukage muttered, face flushing red as he shuffled away and pretended to inspect the wall.
Reto and Jirō exchanged a mutually exhausted look and sat down.
They waited.
Ten minutes.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Still no Raikage. Still no Hashirama.
Jirō slammed a fist on the table.
"Damn them! Do they think we're their subordinates?!"
Reto nodded once. Even Mizukage gave a low grunt of agreement.
But before Jirō could work himself into a full volcanic eruption, the doors burst open with laughter loud enough to shake the rafters.
"Hahaha! Forgive my lateness!"
A dark-skinned man strode in, muscles coiled with lightning, a massive bearded warrior following behind him.
First Raikage.
Ai of the Thunder.
He paused, saw he wasn't last, scowled, then immediately went back to laughing as if nothing had happened, taking a seat.
"Lord Raikage is very busy, apparently," Reto said flatly.
Ai smirked. "And yet not last."
All the other Kage scoffed at the same time, a chorus of contempt.
Hashirama had proposed the meeting, yet Hashirama was late.
That alone left a bitter taste in their mouths.
But no one left.
They wanted their tailed beasts.
Every leader here had the same thought:
If my village doesn't walk away with a beast today, this room might become a battlefield.
Another thirty minutes dragged by.
Then—
Footsteps.
Voices.
The doors opened.
Senju Hashirama entered, Tobirama shadowing him like a loyal blade—expression unreadable, mind no longer his own.
"My apologies, everyone. I've kept you waiting."
The leaders inhaled sharply, ready to bite back, but Hashirama bowed first—an immediate, disarming surrender.
Mizukage pounced.
"Hokage-sama—ah, no, wait. You're not a Hokage, are you? Just Konoha's clan leader. Tell me… did something happen back home? A little 'unrest' you needed to clean up?"
Tsuchikage and Raikage snorted with open disdain.
Only Reto frowned at the needless bravado.
Hashirama just smiled sheepishly, like a man meeting coworkers after tripping down the stairs.
Reto waved a hand.
"We're here for the tailed beasts. Not petty insults."
The room quieted. Even Hashirama gave a grateful nod at Reto's blunt sense of order.
Once everyone was seated, Reto spoke first.
"Hashirama-dono. I fought your predecessor before. Takamura Naruto was strong—I lost. Because of that, One-Tail was taken. I request that it be returned to the Land of Wind. The beast was ours to begin with."
No posturing. No pride. He admitted defeat plainly.
Everyone straightened.
This was the real summit finally starting.
Hashirama rose slowly.
"This meeting exists for that very discussion. Your request will be considered fairly, Lord Kazekage."
He glanced across the table—Mizukage, Jirō, Ai—all hard faces, sharp eyes.
"To gather the five nations in one room, without blades drawn… it's a dream I never thought I'd see. I—"
His voice cracked.
Then Hashirama slammed his head against the table.
"I truly appreciate this!"
The room fell silent.
Tobirama twitched violently beside him.
"Brother," he hissed through clenched teeth, "you represent the entire Land of Fire. Please stop bowing to people who insult us."
Hashirama leaned back, smiling innocently.
"But I'm really happy."
Raikage Ai groaned.
"This is not behavior for a leader."
Tsuchikage folded his arms.
"I came for negotiations, not sentiment. I won't agree to anything that doesn't benefit my nation."
Mizukage nodded.
"Keep lowering your head like that and you'll look like prey."
Every Kage present aired their stance openly.
Hashirama stood there, hand still on the table, absorbing every word.
But Tobirama—behind those calm eyes—watched everything like a machine waiting for activation.
Waiting for Raizen's shadow to whisper:
Now.
...
Read up to 100 chapters ahead and access exclusive novels by joining my Patreon!
patreon.com/Zyxxar