The roar hit like thunder, and Ryoma's face twitched as irritation and impatience spilled out openly. He raised his muscular arm and slammed his fist down onto the stone table. The impact echoed as the table caved inward, cracks spreading out like a web from the fist mark.
A violent gust tore through the hall, sending the colored curtains flying back. Ten figures appeared instantly in front of their respective Kage, each taking a guarded stance. Maki and Yura moved to shield Third Kazekage, hands forming seals, while Chakra activated Pure Byakugan in front of Fourth Mizukage.
Mei Terumi crossed her arms as Chakra surged, and Kurotsuchi's large frame blocked the way before Onoki. Deidara raised a palm with a crack forming into a mouth, his face showing an excited and dangerous smile. Darui's lazy eyes sharpened as his hand rested on his blade, while Two-Tails Jinchuriki's eyes turned into vertical pupils as she reached toward Ryoma's face, only to have her wrist caught by Kakashi.
The guards of the Five Kage Summit all took their positions, and the air inside the Shrine seemed to freeze. The atmosphere tightened to the breaking point, as if a chaotic battle could erupt at any second. Then, at that critical moment, a clear chime rang out.
The bell's sound was crisp and pure, echoing through the Shrine like clear water striking jade. It carried a calming power that brushed over everyone's taut nerves, loosening them in an instant. All eyes turned toward the layers of gauze behind the curtains.
"This is a place for talks," Miroku said, her voice gentle and composed. "Please conduct yourselves with proper restraint."
Hiruzen Sarutobi showed no expression as he spoke to Ryoma and Kakashi in front of him. "Ryoma, Kakashi, stand down." Kakashi released Two-Tails Jinchuriki, and Ryoma smiled at Two-Tails Jinchuriki before receiving a sharp glare in return. The two figures flashed back behind the curtains.
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi take the lead, the other Kage also spoke in turn and withdrew their guards. Ryoma snorted heavily and yanked his fist from the table, scattering stone fragments across the floor. Without a word, Darui and Two-Tails Jinchuriki understood and retreated behind the curtain.
"Hmph. Unity? Sharing?" Ryoma crossed his arms and glared at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "You people of Konoha love talking nonsense. We all know the 'Crimson giant' first appeared in Konoha. Who knows if this isn't something you cooked up yourselves."
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt the mixed gazes of mockery, scrutiny, doubt, and hostility, but did not argue. He spoke slowly instead. "I understand Ryoma's concerns. That is why we will show our sincerity."
He raised a hand and gestured to Kakashi behind him. Kakashi stepped out from behind the curtain, carrying five thick food storage scrolls, and handed them to the other four Kage. The final food storage scroll was delivered by an attendant to Miroku.
"This is all the intelligence we have collected and organized on 'Crimson giant', obtained through costly battles and in-depth research," Hiruzen Sarutobi said evenly. "It includes their physical structure, energy traits, attack patterns, known weaknesses, countermeasures, and a preliminary analysis of Espada-class-level individuals."
"Konoha offers this information as the foundation for cooperation, and as proof of our goodwill in facing this threat together."
Silence filled the Shrine. The eyes of the Four Kage were fixed on the food storage scroll in their hands. Third Kazekage's expression did not change, but he flipped through the pages quickly and carefully.
Fourth Mizukage read with a grave look, and when he reached the analysis involving Naruto Uzumaki, his pupils shrank as memories surfaced. Onoki picked up his food storage scroll at an unhurried pace, reading line by line as the crafty smile on his face slowly faded. Ryoma grabbed his copy without hesitation, scanning it rapidly despite his earlier suspicion.
When he reached the key sections stating that the mask was a core weakness and that Chakra-infused attacks were effective, his tightly knit brows relaxed for a brief moment. For a time, the only sounds in the Shrine were the turning of pages and the deepening rhythm of breath and heartbeat.
"'Crimson giant' do not appear out of nothing," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, his voice steady in the quiet hall. "Their origin is closely tied to human souls after death, and to the negative emotions that grow within living beings. Obito, Zetsu, hatred, fear, Greed…"
"These negative emotions act as nourishment. When a soul leaves the body while wrapped in intense negativity, it can become twisted and transformed, eventually turning into a 'Crimson giant'. If the person possessed great power in life, the resulting 'Crimson giant' will be far more terrifying."
"This is the source of the 'Crimson giant', and of what we call 'Espada-class'." His tone grew heavier. "As for the 'Moryo' anomaly mentioned by Miko, I believe everyone now understands the cause."
His explanation left the room in silence. They had known that 'Crimson giant' were linked to souls, but they had not realized they were born from human negative emotions. Nor had they expected the power held by 'Espada-class' to be so great.
"Espada-class, Void Realm Realm, and some so-called 'lord'…" Ryoma frowned deeply. "Is this really the work of some hidden force?" If a power called 'Void Realm Realm' was acting deliberately, what was its goal, total destruction of the Five Great Nations? Yet since that incident, 'Void Realm Realm' had remained inactive for a long time.
"Hokage," Fourth Mizukage suddenly spoke, breaking the silence. "According to the intelligence you provided, 'Espada-class' are formed from the souls of those who were powerful in life. Combined with what we already know, Espada-class Four was your Konoha's Fugaku Uchiha, and Espada-class One was a member of the Naruto Uzumaki Clan from Kusagakure."
He paused briefly before continuing. "Then is it possible that the other 'Espada-class' were also Ninja we once knew?"
As the words fell, everyone froze, and almost in unison their gazes turned toward Third Kazekage and the red curtain beyond. Espada-class Two, Ryoma. Espada-class Three, Puppeteer. Their traits, names, and abilities brought two familiar figures to mind at the same time.
The so called Espada-class No.3 Puppeteer. Its abilities focused on controlling Chakra Threads, a style that clearly matched the Sunagakure school of Puppet users. The implication hung openly in the hall, sharp enough for everyone to notice.
"Third Kazekage-dono." Onoki spoke at an unhurried pace, yet his words carried a thin edge of mockery. "If I remember correctly, your Chiyo's grandson seems to have died at the hands of Hanzo, didn't she?"
Chiyo's grandson, after the famed "Monzaemon" of Sunagakure, was the only remaining Puppet master to fully grasp the Ryoma Secret Technique Chikamatsu Ten Puppets. Her mastery of Chakra Thread Control Technique had reached its peak, and her reputation was well known.
"Her abilities and traits seem to line up quite well with the intelligence description of the 'Espada-class No.3 Puppeteer,' don't they?" Onoki added, his tone deliberate.
As soon as those words fell, the seemingly reckless Ryoma flickered with calculation, then let anger surge across his face. He slammed the table and pointed straight at Third Kazekage, his voice booming. "That's right!"
"Third Kazekage, don't you owe all of us an explanation, and owe one to the Konoha and Kumogakure who were killed by that 'Puppeteer' on the Land of Hot Water battlefield?"
A moment ago he had been shouting in Hiruzen Sarutobi's face, and now he was suddenly speaking on behalf of the Konoha. The shift was blatant enough to sting.