Transcending Realities: A Journey to Reclaim Home

Onoki, his frustration growing as he struggled to gain the upper hand, narrowed his eyes and pressed further, his voice tinged with suspicion. "So, you're saying it was an internal struggle... But tell me, Hokage, does your village have any involvement in this? Was your hand in this mess in any way?"

Tsunade's expression remained stern, but there was an edge to her voice as she responded. "Onoki, I've already explained the situation. There were no outside forces involved, and we had no part in this internal struggle. The death of the Fire Daimyo was a result of rebellion within his own people, a revolt that had been simmering for years due to his own failures as a ruler."

She leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing as she addressed the Tsuchikage directly. "You've known me long enough to know that I would never engage in such covert schemes. The Leaf Village is not in the business of undermining other nations for political gain. We have enough to manage within our own borders."

The Raikage's gaze shifted between Tsunade and Onoki. "We can't ignore the possibility that someone else might have been involved. There are too many uncertainties here, and we can't risk another disaster like this affecting the entire continent."

Tsunade held her ground, unflinching. "And that's exactly why we're here—to prevent such incidents from escalating. But we cannot afford to point fingers without evidence. Speculation only creates unnecessary tension. Our focus needs to be on rebuilding and stabilizing the Land of Fire, not questioning who's to blame without any proof."

Rasa, the Sand Kazekage, nodded in agreement. "Tsunade's right. If we keep digging into accusations without evidence, we'll just sow further division among us. It's better to focus on how we can ensure that this doesn't spread or inspire others to do the same."

There was a brief silence as the room absorbed the tension, and finally, Mei Terumi spoke, her tone softer but firm. "This summit is about finding solutions, not making enemies out of allies. We need to work together to prevent another conflict from breaking out, especially now that there's uncertainty in the Fire Country. That's the bigger picture."

Tsunade nodded in agreement, then turned her attention back to Onoki, who was still visibly dissatisfied with the situation. "If you want to believe there was more to it, then that's your prerogative. But the Leaf has no involvement in these matters. We have our own people to look after."

Just then, the door to the meeting room opened, and Naruto walked in, his confident presence shifting the room's dynamic.

A few minutes earlier, Naruto stood at the border, the vast landscape stretching before him. His mind was focused, but a flicker of restlessness lingered. He had hoped for a bit of time to himself, to wander and collect his thoughts before the summit began.

Then, The voice of his clone crackled through, urgent. "The summit has already begun, Naruto. Hurry up!"

Naruto's expression shifted, frustration flickering across his face. "Tch, I thought I could enjoy a little peace," he muttered under his breath, though his eyes narrowed with determination. No time for distractions now.

With a swift motion, he became invisible, his chakra cloaking his presence as he tapped into his mastery of Flying Raijin. In a heartbeat, he vanished from the spot and reappeared near the clone.

It was flawless timing. The moment the clone faded away, Naruto emerged from the shadows. Without a trace of suspicion from anyone, he seamlessly took his place in the meeting room, his arrival unnoticed.

Back to Present

As Naruto entered the meeting room, he observed the tense atmosphere. The Kages were already in discussion, with Onoki looking particularly irritable. Tsunade's attention shifted briefly toward the door as he entered, her gaze softening in recognition.

"Ah, finally," Tsunade muttered under her breath but loud enough for the others to hear, her tone a mixture of relief and frustration. "You decide to show up after all."

Naruto flashed a grin, his usual energy returning. "Sorry, got caught up with a few things. Didn't think the meeting would start without me."

The atmosphere in the room shifted when a new figure stepped into the summit. The Raikage, already tense from the heated discussions, glared at the newcomer, his anger flaring. "Who is this kid interrupting the summit?" His voice was a low growl, sharp with irritation, as he eyed Naruto, who walked into the room with the confidence of someone who belonged.

Mabui, ever calm and composed, stepped forward and whispered to the Raikage, her voice steady despite the tension. "Raikage-sama, he is with Hokage-sama."

The Raikage's eyes narrowed, briefly scanning Naruto with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. He then turned his gaze toward Tsunade, who stood poised and unbothered. His anger quickly dissipated as he realized the connection. With a deep exhale, he muttered, "Oh," before settling back into his seat, though his gaze still lingered on Naruto, his wariness not entirely gone.

The room fell into a brief silence as Naruto, without a care in the world, used his Wood Style to conjure a chair beside Tsunade. The chair materialized with a soft rustle of leaves and a steady crackling of wood, drawing the eyes of everyone present. Without a second thought, he plopped down in the chair, leaning back with the same relaxed posture as if he owned the room.

(He stretched his legs out lazily, placing them casually on the table in front of him, mimicking the posture of a Shichibukai like Mihawk. His confident and slightly cocky demeanor stood in stark contrast to the formal and tense atmosphere of the summit.)

Raikage, already irritated, clenched his fists, his eye twitching. "This kid…" he muttered, unable to hide his growing frustration. His gaze flicked between Naruto and Tsunade, but he didn't speak out immediately, clearly unsure of how to respond.

Naruto, as nonchalant as ever, looked around the room, seemingly unfazed by the weight of the gathered Kages. "Nice to meet all of you," he said with a wide grin, completely ignoring the formalities of the summit, further aggravating the tense mood.

Tsunade, sitting next to him, sighed softly, rubbing her temples. "Naruto," she muttered, "Can you at least act a little more serious during these things?" Her voice was a mixture of exasperation and amusement.

But Naruto just shrugged, still lounging in his seat. "Why? We're all here for the same reason, aren't we? Might as well be comfortable."

His words were met with uncomfortable stares, and even the Kages couldn't suppress their reactions. Onoki, the ever-grumbling Tsuchikage, raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "This brat…"

But Naruto's carefree attitude remained unshaken, his legs still propped up on the table, as the summit continued with an energy that shifted just a little bit in his direction.

The room grew tense as Naruto's words cut through the murmurs of the Kages. A heavy silence followed his challenge. Raikage's eyebrows twitched, and Onoki's gaze sharpened as Naruto, still reclining in his chair, casually turned to them with a smirk.

Naruto's voice was playful but edged with a subtle challenge. "Do you have any problems with my posture? If you do, feel free to come at me all at once—wouldn't want it to be a hassle if you take turns." He tilted his head to the side, his expression relaxed as if he were discussing something trivial, but the underlying arrogance was palpable.

Raikage's fists clenched, his veins popping as his temper flared. "You…" he growled, his voice low and threatening. He stood from his seat, fists practically crackling with chakra, but Tsunade's calming presence kept him from charging forward.

Onoki, on the other hand, scoffed. "What arrogance for such a young brat," he muttered, but there was a hint of respect buried beneath his words. The sheer audacity Naruto had displayed seemed to throw Onoki off guard, and it was clear the Kages were struggling to gauge how to react.

Tsunade sighed heavily, her face a mix of embarrassment and exasperation as she glanced at Naruto. "Naruto," she said firmly, "Not everything is a challenge, you know." Her voice was full of authority, yet there was an undertone of affection.

Naruto leaned back in his chair even further, resting his hands behind his head. "Oh, I know," he said casually. "But you know, a little fun keeps things interesting." His gaze was still locked on Raikage and Onoki, daring them to take the bait.

The atmosphere in the room was charged with tension, with the other Kages unsure of how to handle Naruto's antics. It was clear that while Naruto's confidence bordered on arrogance, his sheer audacity was something none of them had encountered before in a summit like this.

The challenge was out there, but the Kages knew that Naruto was more than capable of backing it up. The question now was whether anyone would take him up on it.