Mifune calmly looked around the conference hall.
"Now that all Five Kage have arrived, we can officially begin the negotiations..."
Before he could continue, Tsunade interrupted.
"There's no need to delay. We've all traveled a long way, but I don't think we need to waste another night resting. Let's get straight to the point."
The Fourth Raikage snorted.
"Fine by me."
Mifune nodded before inviting the Five Kage and their bodyguards into the meeting chamber. The Kage took their assigned seats while their guards stood silently behind them.
Once everyone had settled down, Mifune began speaking.
"This Five Kage Summit was proposed by Hokage-sama to discuss a united response against the terrorist organization known as the Akatsuki."
He turned toward Tsunade.
"Hokage-sama, please begin."
Tsunade stood and addressed the gathering.
"I don't need to explain how dangerous the Akatsuki Organization is. Every one of you already understands the threat they pose."
"Although we still don't know their ultimate objective, their relentless pursuit of the Tailed Beasts and Jinchūriki has already thrown the entire ninja world into chaos."
"So far, they have captured Iwagakure's Four-Tails and Five-Tails, Kumogakure's Two-Tails, and Kirigakure's Six-Tails."
"If we fail to stop them now, the entire ninja world may face a catastrophe unlike anything we've ever seen."
"I'm not exaggerating."
"To demonstrate Konoha's sincerity and commitment to this alliance, I'm willing to share all of the intelligence Jiraiya gathered on the Akatsuki with every nation here."
She then revealed everything Jiraiya had learned over the years, including information obtained from Orochimaru.
The conference hall fell silent.
Every Kage was visibly shocked.
Ōnoki's expression changed.
"Deidara..."
"So that brat joined the Akatsuki after all."
Mei Terumī frowned.
"Kisame Hoshigaki... He's truly a dangerous man."
Baki sighed.
"Sasori of the Red Sand... the greatest puppet master our Hidden Sand Village has ever produced."
"I never imagined he would betray the village and join the Akatsuki."
The Fourth Raikage crossed his arms and spoke coldly.
"The real problem is all of you."
"How did every one of your villages produce so many rogue ninja who ended up joining the Akatsuki?"
He turned toward Tsunade.
"Konoha is no different."
"Orochimaru and Uchiha Itachi were both once Konoha ninja."
"It seems Kumogakure is the only village that didn't raise traitors."
His words carried more than simple criticism.
He intended to pressure the other nations, establish Kumogakure's authority, and position himself as the natural leader of the alliance.
Tsunade immediately slammed her hand onto the table.
"Don't pretend your village is innocent!"
"When the Third Kazekage disappeared and Sunagakure fell into chaos, wasn't Kumogakure the one that took advantage of the situation and invaded, helping ignite the Third Great Ninja War?"
"And have you forgotten your attempt to kidnap the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki from Konoha?"
Naruto remembered Hinata telling him about that incident.
A trace of anger flashed across his face as he looked toward the Raikage.
Although he still didn't know Kushina was his mother, the thought of Kumogakure attempting to kidnap both his future wife and his mother filled him with resentment.
The Fourth Raikage remained completely unmoved.
"That was then. This is now."
"Don't change the subject."
"Should villages that produced Akatsuki members really be leading the alliance against them?"
Everyone understood what he truly meant.
The Five Great Nations had already accepted the idea of an alliance.
The only remaining question was...
Who would lead it?
Ōnoki smiled quietly without saying a word.
He was perfectly content to watch the others argue while he waited for an opportunity to benefit.
At that moment, Mei Terumī spoke.
"Raikage-sama, I believe you're mistaken."
"If producing rogue ninja disqualifies a village from leadership, then none of the Five Great Nations are innocent."
"Besides, villages that once produced those rogue ninja naturally understand them better."
She smiled calmly.
"Konoha provided nearly all the intelligence we've received about the Akatsuki."
"How much information has Kumogakure contributed?"
The Raikage fell silent.
Seeing the opportunity, Ōnoki joined the discussion.
"While Mizukage-sama makes a fair point..."
"According to Hokage-sama's report, even the mysterious Rinnegan leader of the Akatsuki was once Jiraiya's student."
"Doesn't that make Konoha partly responsible for the Akatsuki's rise?"
Tsunade laughed sarcastically.
"The Rinnegan user came from Amegakure."
"What does that have to do with Konoha?"
"And the endless wars that gave birth to the Akatsuki weren't fought by Konoha alone."
"Iwagakure played its part as well."
She looked directly at Ōnoki.
"Besides, don't think we've forgotten that Iwagakure secretly hired the Akatsuki as mercenaries."
"If we're assigning blame, your village bears plenty of responsibility."
The Fourth Raikage nodded.
"That's right."
"Our intelligence confirms it."
"You cooperated with a terrorist organization and even paid them."
"How do you explain that?"
Facing accusations from both Konoha and Kumogakure, Ōnoki remained calm.
He simply smiled.
"As Raikage-sama said..."
"That was then."
"At the time, I didn't realize how dangerous the Akatsuki would become."
"I merely hired them as mercenaries."
"And tell me honestly..."
"Haven't all of the Great Nations employed mercenaries at one time or another?"
The Raikage growled.
"At least we didn't continue working with them after they captured Yugito!"
Ōnoki shrugged.
"Speaking of losses..."
"Iwagakure has suffered the most."
"Both of our Jinchūriki were captured."
"Shouldn't our priority be stopping the Akatsuki instead of arguing over the past?"
Despite his words, the meeting rapidly descended into chaos.
The Five Kage began accusing one another.
The entire summit was on the verge of falling apart.
Naruto couldn't help sighing.
Although everyone had predicted disagreements before arriving, he never imagined things would become this chaotic.
Even Mifune looked helpless.
Just as he was about to intervene—
Naruto suddenly shouted.
"Enough!"
His voice echoed through the chamber.
The room instantly fell silent.
Everyone turned toward him.
Even Gaara looked surprised.
Normally, Kage bodyguards had no right to speak during a Five Kage Summit.
Naruto was merely a teenager.
The Fourth Raikage frowned.
"Hokage."
"Why did you bring a child here?"
"And if you're going to bring him, at least teach him proper manners."
"What right does he have to interrupt this meeting?"
Tsunade immediately slammed the table again.
"Whatever Naruto says represents my opinion."
"And disciplining him isn't your responsibility."
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Behind both leaders, the Kage guards instinctively prepared for battle.
Darui and Dodai stood behind the Raikage.
Shizune and Naruto stood behind Tsunade.
Meanwhile, Mei Terumī and Baki subtly moved closer to Konoha's side.
Even the Raikage could clearly see that the Hidden Sand and Hidden Mist now supported Konoha.
No matter how confident he was, he knew Kumogakure couldn't fight three Great Nations at once.
He snorted.
"Konoha has truly declined."
"The fact that a blond brat like him is attending the Five Kage Summit proves it."
Tsunade immediately replied.
"The 'blond brat' you're mocking defeated Orochimaru."
"He killed Hidan."
"He severely wounded Kakuzu."
"And he rescued the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Meanwhile, you allowed the Akatsuki to capture the Two-Tails practically under your nose."
"What gives you the right to look down on Naruto?"
The Fourth Raikage exploded with anger.
"Hokage!"
"Are you trying to provoke me?"
"Fine!"
"Let's settle this with a fight."
"If I lose, you'll become the leader of this alliance."
"But if I win..."
"Konoha will follow Kumogakure's command."
Without hesitation, Tsunade threw off her outer robe.
"Fine."
"I accept."
Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Shizune hurried forward.
"Hokage-sama, please calm down!"
She knew the Raikage's anger was likely deliberate.
Everyone knew Tsunade's weakness for accepting reckless bets.
Mifune sighed deeply.
"This is the Five Kage Summit."
"If the Five Kage start fighting here, what kind of example will that set?"
"The Akatsuki would probably laugh themselves to death."
Naruto stepped forward.
"Exactly."
"As the Five Kage, you shouldn't be fighting each other here."
He looked at the Raikage.
"So..."
"I'll fight in Grandma Tsunade's place."
Tsunade's eyes widened.
"Naruto..."
Naruto looked around the room.
"The Akatsuki is already watching all of us."
"They've captured your Jinchūriki."
"And instead of working together, you're arguing over power and leadership."
He clenched his fist.
"If someone wants to lead the alliance..."
"Then defeat me first."
This time, even Mifune didn't object.
"A battle between the Kage Guards to decide the alliance's leadership..."
"It's not an unreasonable solution."
Naruto faced the Fourth Raikage directly.
"Raikage-sama."
"Would you like to accept?"
The Raikage snorted.
"I'm the Raikage."
"I'm not going to fight a blond kid."
Darui lazily rubbed his nose before stepping forward.
"If the Raikage won't fight..."
"Then I'll entertain you instead."
"What do you say, Uzumaki Naruto?"
Naruto's eyes shone with excitement.
His fighting spirit surged.
He grinned confidently.
"Perfect."
"Let's begin."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)