NOVEL NEXT Chapter 142: Summit Begins
3rd POV
Time passed, and the summit was about to begin. The Kage gathered in the meeting room, preparing for what was to come.
As the room began to fill, the atmosphere turned heavy with tension and unspoken rivalries. The round table conference, set with six chairs, awaited the leaders who were about to decide the future of the shinobi world.
Entrances
The Fourth Raikage, A (Cloud Village)
The door opened with a commanding presence as the Fourth Raikage, A, strode in. His towering frame and confident stride immediately drew attention. Beside him were his trusted companions: his younger brother Killer Bee, the Jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails, casually humming a rap verse under his breath, and his assistant Mabui, calm and composed as always. A took his seat, his aura radiating strength and impatience.
Mei Terumi (Mist Village)
Next came Mei Terumi, the Fifth Mizukage. Her beauty and grace were accompanied by her sharp gaze, hinting at her determination to protect her village's interests. Following her were Ao, the experienced veteran with a sharp Byakugan eye, and Chojuro, her quiet but skilled swordsman. Mei nodded politely to the others as she settled into her seat.
Rasa (Sand Village)
The Kazekage, Rasa, entered with his signature golden sand gourd on his back. Behind him walked his children: Gaara, the Jinchuriki of the One-Tail, Kankuro, the puppet master, and Temari, the fan-wielding wind-user. The tension in the room seemed to rise as the Kazekage calmly took his place, his eyes briefly meeting the Raikage's in acknowledgment.
Onoki (Stone Village)
The door creaked open again, revealing the diminutive yet powerful Third Tsuchikage, Onoki. Despite his age, his sharp eyes and confident smirk revealed he still had plenty of fight in him. With him were his granddaughter Kurotsuchi, who carried herself with a mix of confidence and curiosity, and his assistant Akatsuchi, whose solid build and cheerful demeanor contrasted with the room's tense atmosphere. Onoki floated to his seat, refusing to let age hinder his entrance.
Mifune (Land of Iron)
Finally, Mifune, the samurai leader and protector of the Land of Iron, stepped into the room with quiet authority. His calm presence immediately commanded respect as he took his designated seat.
Tsunade (Leaf Village)
The last to arrive was Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage. Accompanied by her assistant Shizune, she entered with her usual confident stride, but her eyes subtly searched the room for any sign of Naruto. She nodded at the others before taking her seat, her demeanor showing she was ready for the challenges ahead.
With all six chairs occupied, the room fell silent. Each leader assessed the others, their minds racing with thoughts of alliances, betrayals, and strategies.
Mifune, as the neutral party, finally broke the silence.
"We gather here today to address the growing threats to our world and to find a path toward unity—or at least understanding."
The stage was set for what would undoubtedly be a tense and decisive summit.
With all the Kage present, the summit began in tense silence. Mifune, representing the neutral party, stepped forward, his voice cutting through the stillness.
"Honorable Kage, you have gathered here not only to address the pressing issues that have shaken our world, but to forge a peace that may one day prevent the chaos of the future. The fate of our nations hangs in the balance," he said, his words heavy with significance.
Onoki, his patience worn thin, couldn't contain his frustration. He leaned forward, his voice sharp and accusing. "The Daimyo of the Land of Fire has fallen! What message does that send to the other Daimyo? They are gripped with fear, wondering if they too will suffer the same fate. What will you, Hokage, say in response to this crisis?"
Tsunade's gaze was unwavering as she stood to answer. Her voice, calm but filled with unspoken weight, echoed through the room. "I understand your concerns, Onoki. But you must understand this—the death of the Fire Daimyo was a blow we never anticipated. The village was already reeling from the aftermath of the Suna attack. We had no time to focus on anything else. The revolt that led to the Daimyo's death... it was not an outside force, but the anger of their own people, their own rebellion. They were the ones who chose to rise up, and they dealt with their own leader in the end."
She paused, the room falling into tense silence as the gravity of her words settled in. "By the time we received word of the attack, it was already too late. Our shinobi arrived to find nothing but death and destruction. We could not protect the Daimyo, but I promise you this—our efforts are now focused solely on stabilizing the region and ensuring peace in the wake of this disaster."
Tsunade's explanation resonated through the room, her voice steady despite the heavy nature of the topic. Her eyes swept across the room, meeting the gaze of each Kage present, clearly understanding the gravity of the situation. The room grew quiet for a moment as the Kages digested her words.
Onoki narrowed his eyes, his posture still tense. "So, you're saying the death of the Fire Daimyo wasn't an external attack? That it was a rebellion from within?" he asked, skepticism evident in his voice. "And the timing, it's too... convenient. Especially after all the chaos in Suna."
Tsunade responded, her tone unwavering. "It's unfortunate, but the truth. There were no external forces behind it. The Fire Daimyo had many enemies within his own people—discontent with his rule had been growing for years. But I assure you, we have not left the region in turmoil. We've started to rebuild and restore stability."
Raikage A leaned forward, crossing his arms. "I'm not sure I believe in that so easily. Political unrest, especially among Daimyo, tends to escalate quickly. You say you're stabilizing, but how can we trust that the fire won't spread to our own lands?"
Tsunade's gaze met the Raikage's with an intensity that matched his. "We have a responsibility to ensure peace within the Land of Fire, Raikage. The Leaf is no different from any other village. If that unrest were to spread to any of your lands, you would find us just as fierce in protecting it as we did with our own."
The tension between the Kages simmered, but it was Mei Terumi who spoke next, her voice cutting through the tension with its calmness. "Tsunade is correct in that the Leaf Village will act to prevent unrest from spreading. However, we must understand that the death of the Fire Daimyo could present a larger, more strategic concern. If the Fire country is in flux, other powers may try to capitalize on that. Are we prepared for such a move?"
Mifune nodded, his calm demeanor never wavering. "We all have to be vigilant. It's not just about internal strife but about preventing any opportunity for other powers to exploit the weakness of any one nation. The Land of Iron itself may face the repercussions of these growing tensions."
As the conversation shifted back and forth, Rasa, the Sand Kazekage, spoke up. "The collapse of the Fire Daimyo's rule may be more interconnected than we think. The power vacuum it creates could invite outside forces. We must also be cautious of rogue elements or mercenaries who will try to fill the void. How are you planning to manage that, Tsunade?"
Tsunade let out a deep breath before answering. "We've already sent scouts to gather information. Our priority is to secure the borders, especially from rogue mercenaries and groups that may attempt to gain power from the instability. If needed, we will make use of diplomatic channels to reach out for help. I'm not blind to the risks, and I won't let my village—or any of our allies—fall into chaos."
Mifune, the leader of the Land of Iron, spoke up, his tone steady. "I agree with Tsunade. If there is an opportunity to stabilize the Fire country, we must take it. The repercussions of allowing it to fall into further turmoil could be disastrous for the entire shinobi world. That said, it is important that all villages remain on alert and coordinate, rather than acting individually."
The atmosphere in the room remained tense as the Kages weighed in on Tsunade's plans. But before anyone could respond further, the door creaked open, and Naruto entered the room, his presence immediately commanding attention.