NOVEL NEXT Chapter 144: Kage Tensions
Mifune's voice rang out, steady and authoritative, attempting to break the charged silence. "Raikage-sama, Tsuchikage-sama, please calm down. He's just a kid," Mifune said, his gaze sweeping across the room, trying to diffuse the palpable tension.
Raikage's eyes narrowed at Naruto, his posture still rigid with barely contained anger. But Mifune's words seemed to reach him. Slowly, the Raikage's fists unclenched, and he lowered himself back into his seat with an audible sigh of frustration.
Onoki, who had been fuming silently, scoffed, muttering under his breath. "A kid, huh? This kid doesn't seem like the average brat." Still, his tone had softened, if only slightly, and his eyes flicked between Naruto and the other Kages, assessing the situation.
Tsunade let out a small sigh of relief. She gave Naruto a look—half amused, half exasperated. "Naruto, not every moment is about showing off your... charm," she said, her voice low but stern.
Naruto shrugged, not the least bit fazed by the reactions around him. "Hey, I was just having a bit of fun. No harm done, right?" he said, his tone lighthearted despite the lingering tension.
"Hey kid, you've got guts," Mei said to Naruto as she stood beside him. Naruto, sitting between Mei and Tsunade, gave a confident smile.
"If you were older, I would have definitely fallen for you," Mei continued with a playful grin.
Naruto chuckled lightly at Mei's words, not one to shy away from playful comments. He turned towards her with a smirk, clearly enjoying the attention, but his tone was lighthearted.
"Well, I guess U'll just have to wait until I get older then I will definitely come for u," Naruto responded, winking teasingly. "But hey, I'm flattered."
Tsunade, who had been listening closely to the exchange, sighed and shot Naruto a side-eye. "Focus, Naruto," she warned in a low voice, though there was a hint of amusement in her tone. "We're in the middle of something important here."
Mei laughed softly, clearly amused by the dynamic between Tsunade and Naruto. "I like the energy you bring, kid. The world could use more people like you."
Naruto shrugged nonchalantly. "I just speak my mind, Mei. No point in holding back."
The light-hearted banter momentarily broke the tense atmosphere, allowing for a small break in the serious mood. The other Kages exchanged glances, some still holding onto their reservations about Naruto's brashness, but there was a subtle understanding that this young Hokage had a way of making even the most tense situations a little easier to navigate.
"Alright, enough with the flirting," Onoki muttered, clearly not interested in continuing the casual exchanges. "Let's get back to business."
Tsunade shot him a knowing glance, clearly grateful for Naruto's ability to lift the mood, even if it wasn't the most traditional method.
"Let's proceed," Mifune suggested, attempting to steer the conversation back to the matters at hand. "There are more pressing issues to address." His voice carried the weight of his leadership, a reminder to everyone present that the summit had more important goals than a young Hokage's playful challenge.
Tsunade gave Naruto one last look, a mixture of pride and mild irritation. "Behave," she muttered, before turning her attention back to the other Kages, signaling the official start of the summit's serious discussions.
With the tension somewhat eased, the focus returned to the future of the shinobi world, but the seeds of discomfort sown by Naruto's playful interruption would remain for the rest of the meeting.
Onoki began, "Hokage, you haven't proven that you're not involved in the Fire Daimyo's demise."
"Hey, we were just as caught off guard as you when we heard about the revolt in the Land of Fire," Naruto responded calmly. "But by the time we reached there, it was already over. If you want proof, ask the person beside you; he can answer that," Naruto said, pointing towards A.
"What do you mean by that, brat?" A retorted sharply.
Naruto met his gaze steadily, "Do you think I don't know your little schemes? You sent three of your shinobi to infiltrate the Land of Fire. I think their names were Samui, Karui, and the other guy—can't quite remember his name."
"Omoi!" Mabui interjected loudly, having overheard the mention of her friends' names.
"Yes," Naruto continued, "I think this makes you and your people potential culprits behind this incident. What do you say, A?"
Raikage's face twisted into a scowl, his temper flaring as Naruto's words hit their mark. He stood up abruptly, slamming his fist on the table with a loud crash. "You think I was behind that?!" he growled, his voice full of venom. "You have no idea what you're talking about, brat! Those three were on a mission, nothing more! They were there to gather intel, not to incite rebellion!"
Naruto didn't flinch, his gaze unwavering. "Really? Then tell me why three of your strongest shinobi were sent to infiltrate a country already dealing with internal strife? That sure doesn't sound like a simple reconnaissance mission to me. In fact, I would call that meddling."
The room fell silent as all eyes turned toward Raikage. He was about to speak, but Naruto cut him off before he could say another word.
"I'm not accusing you directly, A, but there's a pattern here," Naruto said coolly, "You sent them there for a reason. And now that the Fire Daimyo's death is causing a ripple effect, we have to look at everything, even things you don't want to admit. So, no more games. You want peace? Then stop playing with fire."
A's muscles tensed as he glared at Naruto, the weight of his words sinking in. For a moment, it seemed like the tension would snap. But just as things were about to escalate further, Tsunade stepped in, her voice calm but firm.
"Enough, both of you," she said, her tone commanding respect. "Naruto, while you may be right in pointing out that something feels off, accusing the Raikage without solid proof isn't helping anyone. A, if you've been using your shinobi in such a way, then explain yourself. Otherwise, we'll move on."
A's eyes never left Naruto, but after a moment, he slowly sat back down, his anger simmering but not yet boiling over. "Fine," he muttered, his voice tight. "I'll explain. Those three were there for a specific mission. They were to gather information, and nothing more. But I'll admit, I didn't know about the inner turmoil that was brewing. We're not perfect either, Hokage."
Naruto smirked, leaning back in his chair. "See? All it took was a little honesty."
The tension in the room was still thick, but for now, it seemed like the summit had taken a small step forward. The Kages would need to address the situation more thoroughly, but at least they weren't tearing each other apart—yet.
"Anyway, it's better to leave that Daimyo part behind," Naruto said, his tone growing serious. "Those guys don't have real power; they think just because they have money, they can control everything. If I had the chance, I'd personally deal with all the corrupt daimyos."