NOVEL NEXT Chapter 147: Uniting under Konoha
The room fell into a stunned silence at Naruto's bold statement. The Kages and their entourages exchanged glances, unsure how to react to such a declaration.
Tsunade's face turned crimson as she slapped a hand to her forehead. "Naruto! You can't just blurt something like that in the middle of a summit!" she hissed, though the faint hint of a smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
Shizune, equally flustered, avoided eye contact with everyone, her cheeks glowing red. Meanwhile, Temari crossed her arms, trying to maintain her composure, though the slight twitch in her eye betrayed her embarrassment.
Mei, however, burst into laughter, her melodic voice breaking the tension in the room. "Oh, Naruto, you truly are one of a kind. A harem, you say? That's quite the compensation request. I admire your ambition, though!" Her tone was playful, but her eyes gleamed with curiosity.
Raikage A raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "A harem? That's your great plan for clan revival? And you think we'll support you in this?"
Naruto leaned back casually in his chair, smirking. "You're all here discussing alliances and peace talks. What's the difference between that and building relationships to strengthen my clan? It's practical. And besides," he added with a wink, "I'm not forcing anyone. Everyone in my life is there because they choose to be."
Onoki grumbled under his breath. "Brash and arrogant, just like his predecessors. But... he's not entirely wrong."
Rasa, who had been quiet until now, cleared his throat. "Naruto, while your... method of clan revival is unconventional, I cannot deny the legitimacy of your request regarding any surviving Uzumaki. I will ensure the Hidden Sand cooperates."
Naruto nodded in acknowledgment before looking at Mei. "So, Mizukage, does this mean the Hidden Mist will also agree to send any Uzumaki they find to Konoha?"
Mei smiled slyly, resting her chin on her hand. "Of course. And perhaps, if you're still looking to expand your... alliance, we can discuss that further another time."
Naruto chuckled, unbothered by her teasing. "Deal."
As the other Kages reluctantly nodded their agreement, Tsunade exhaled deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Naruto, you're going to give me gray hairs before my time."
"Relax, Tsuna. Everything's under control," Naruto replied with a grin, his confidence unshaken.
With the atmosphere somewhat lighter, the summit moved forward, the Kages coming to terms with Naruto's audacious yet strangely effective approach. Despite his unorthodox methods, it was clear that Naruto's determination to rebuild his clan—and his unique charisma—had left a lasting impression on everyone present.
"So, everyone agrees upon my compensation, then?" Naruto asked, scanning the room. Seeing no objections, he nodded.
"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll take my rest. I traveled from the Land of Hot Water to here all in one day, and I need some time to recover. Excuse me," Naruto said.
Naruto stood up from his chair, stretching his arms as if the weight of the summit had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. The Kages watched him, some in disbelief and others with a hint of admiration at his audacity.
"I'll leave the rest of the politics to you all for now," Naruto said casually, turning to Tsunade. "If you need me, you know where to find me."
Tsunade, still flustered but resigned, nodded. "Fine, Naruto. Go rest. But don't cause any more trouble."
Naruto grinned. "Trouble? Me? Never." With a mock salute, he headed for the exit, but not before glancing back at the group. "Oh, and don't drag this summit out for too long. Peace is important, but so is dinner."
Mei chuckled softly, shaking her head. "What an interesting young man."
Raikage A crossed his arms, scowling. "Interesting is one way to put it. That brat has no respect for formalities."
Onoki sighed. "He may be a brat, but he's a clever one. He's got all of us on edge, and he knows it."
As Naruto walked out of the room, Temari, unable to hide her concern, excused herself. "I'll go check on him," she said, earning knowing looks from Shizune and Tsunade.
The room fell silent for a moment before Mifune cleared his throat. "Shall we return to the matters at hand, esteemed Kages?"
The summit resumed, but Naruto's bold presence lingered in everyone's minds, leaving them both impressed and wary of the future he was shaping in his own unique way.
As Naruto walked outside, he suddenly paused, a thought crossing his mind. "I mainly came here to talk about uniting the whole world under Konoha, but I forgot," he realized, a hint of frustration in his expression.
Without wasting another second, he activated the Flying Raijin and reappeared in the meeting hall, directly landing in Mei's lap.
His sudden arrival shocked everyone in the room.
"Naruto, you've already become so bold," Mei said, her initial shock fading. She quickly regained her composure, though her heartbeat was racing. A playful smirk crept across her lips as she glanced down at him.
Naruto smirked as he leaned back slightly, resting comfortably on Mei's lap, much to the amusement and surprise of the other Kages. Mei's cheeks were tinged pink, though she masked it with her usual confident demeanor.
"Well, Mei, I figured I'd make my point in style," Naruto quipped, winking at her. "Plus, your lap seemed like the perfect place to gather my thoughts."
Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering under her breath. "This brat is going to give me a heart attack one day."
"Naruto!" A barked, his voice echoing through the hall. "What kind of nonsense is this? This is a Kage Summit, not a playground!"
Naruto raised a hand lazily, silencing the room. "Relax, A. I came back because I forgot the most important thing I wanted to say."
The Kages exchanged wary glances as Naruto stood up from Mei's lap, turning to face the group with a serious expression. The air grew tense as the jovial energy shifted to one of gravity.
"The reason I came here," Naruto began, his voice firm, "isn't just about compensation or past grievances. It's about the future. A future where we're not divided by borders or grudges. I'm talking about uniting the entire shinobi world under one banner—under Konoha."
The room erupted into murmurs and protests, with Onoki immediately raising his hand to speak. "Unite the world under Konoha? Boy, do you even understand what you're proposing?"
Naruto nodded, his crimson hair swaying. "I do. And I know it sounds crazy, but think about it. Every time we're divided, it leads to war. Petty rivalries, mistrust, and manipulation—it all stems from this flawed system. What if we stopped thinking of ourselves as separate villages and worked together as one nation?"
Mei, still flustered but intrigued, folded her arms. "You're suggesting we dissolve the sovereignty of our villages? That's a bold claim, Naruto."
Naruto turned to her, his gaze unwavering. "It's not about dissolving sovereignty. It's about creating something greater. We can still keep our unique identities, but we'd work as one unified force. No more wars between villages. No more betrayals or invasions. Imagine a world where the strongest shinobi fight side by side, not against each other."
Raikage A slammed his fist on the table. "And Konoha would lead this so-called unity? How convenient for you."
Naruto smirked. "Konoha is where this vision starts, but it's not about dominance. It's about trust. I'm willing to put everything I have into making this work, and I'm not asking you to blindly follow. I'm asking you to consider the possibility of a better world."
The room fell silent as Naruto's words sank in. Even Onoki seemed deep in thought, his usual skepticism momentarily replaced with contemplation.
Tsunade, who had been watching quietly, finally spoke. "Naruto, this is an ambitious dream. One that won't be easy to achieve. But if anyone has the willpower to make it happen, it's you."
Naruto turned to her, his trademark grin returning. "Thanks, Tsuna. I'll prove to all of you that this isn't just a dream—it's the future."
The Kages exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of doubt and intrigue. The meeting, originally fraught with tension, now carried the weight of a bold new possibility.