"Alright, I'm heading out to the Five Kage Summit."
"During the summit, except under special circumstances, I am only allowed two bodyguards."
"Fū Yamanaka, Torune Aburame, the two of you are considered top-tier elites even within the Root."
"You will be responsible for this matter."
"Masks aren't permitted, so take them off."
"Send someone to keep an eye on Naruto Uzumaki."
"Even though Sai won't betray the Root, we must prepare for any eventuality."
"Understood!" Torune Aburame nodded.
"The Nine-Tails must not leave the village under any circumstances!"
…
Naruto, who had been beaten into a pulp by Karui and Omoi, lay on a rug wrapped in bandages.
"Thanks..."
"Don't mention it," Sai said with a smile.
"You really took a beating, didn't you?" Kakashi remarked helplessly.
Enduring the pain, Naruto turned to Kakashi and Yamato. "I need to see the Raikage!"
"What are you talking about? The Five Kage Summit is about to be held!"
"Every ninja village is avoiding travel or extreme missions right now!" Yamato scolded, bewildered.
Kakashi, however, shifted the tone, asking Naruto, "And once you see him, what do you plan to do?"
"I'm going to convince him to forgive Sasuke," Naruto said firmly.
"You don't have the necklace to suppress the seal anymore! As a Jinchūriki, you can't leave the village."
"And in the last battle, you even grew eight tails," Yamato added gravely.
"We only suppressed the Nine-Tails because the seal activated. What will we do next time?"
"Moreover, I've been entrusted with the heavy responsibility of rebuilding the village."
"I can't stay by your side forever."
Naruto closed his eyes, then spoke to the two of them. "I met the Fourth Hokage."
At those words, the eyes of the other three widened in shock.
"It was the Fourth Hokage who stopped my transformation into the Nine-Tails earlier."
"How... how is that possible? The Fourth Hokage is already..." Yamato looked toward Kakashi in confusion.
"The Reaper Death Seal is a sealing technique full of mysteries."
"He must have sealed his own spiritual energy within the formula," Kakashi pondered, making a silent guess.
Naruto nodded slightly, smiling at the two of them. "At that time, the Fourth Hokage told me that the Nine-Tails incident sixteen years ago was caused by a masked man in the Akatsuki."
"Even the Fourth Hokage was helpless against him."
"That guy is the real mastermind! Even Pain was being used by him!"
"If Sasuke and Kanon joined the Akatsuki, it means they're being used by him too."
After hearing Naruto's words, Kakashi's expression turned grim. "It's just as Jiraiya-sama feared."
"I never imagined that incident sixteen years ago was that guy's handiwork."
"He possesses the Sharingan and holds a grudge against the village."
"Among the Uchiha who left the village, only Madara could have summoned the Nine-Tails."
A cold sweat broke out on Yamato's brow.
"If it's Madara, then nothing is surprising anymore."
"This means he's still alive."
Naruto also remembered that when Kanon was once in his mental world, the Nine-Tails had mentioned Madara's name.
"Who exactly is Madara?"
Kakashi nodded and explained for Naruto.
"A former Konoha shinobi who was defeated in a battle with the First Hokage."
"He was once the leader of the Uchiha clan."
"This information needs to be reported to the high-ranking officials."
"Sai! You'll be the one to contact the Hokage," Kakashi ordered before turning back to Naruto.
"Naruto, what else did the Fourth Hokage tell you?!"
"A father must have a lot to say to his son," Kakashi teased with a grin.
"Yeah... he said he believes in me!" Naruto showed a genuine, radiant smile.
"Alright! Naruto, let's go find the Raikage!" Kakashi gave a thumbs up.
"Eh!?" Yamato was stunned.
"Yamato and I will go with Naruto."
"Eh!! No, that's too reckless, Senpai!"
"What? Are you going to disobey your senior? Tenzō?"
"Hey, Senpai, didn't we agree not to call me by that name?!"
…
"I see. Infinite Tsukuyomi, huh?"
"A massive genjutsu that plunges everyone into a dream." Kanon let out a light, mocking laugh.
"Once everyone enters the dream world, true peace will come to the shinobi world," the masked man said, spreading his hands.
Kanon wore an enigmatic smile. "Then I'm truly looking forward to it."
"Does that mean you're willing to assist me?"
Kanon neither agreed nor refused. In the future that Konin desired, the success of the Infinite Tsukuyomi was a necessary option, hence Kanon's current attitude.
"Agree to it."
"Though I find her annoying, the Infinite Tsukuyomi must be activated," Konin's voice echoed softly in her mental world.
Kanon nodded slightly. Since this was the ending Konin wanted, she would do her best. She looked back at the masked man.
"What if those people refuse to hand over the Eight-Tails and the Nine-Tails?"
"Then war will be the only option. I will personally declare the Fourth Shinobi World War."
Kanon hummed coldly, staring calmly at the masked man.
"I will assist you in completing the Eye of the Moon Plan, but I have two conditions."
The masked man was shocked, and even Zetsu beside him looked confused. Did Kanon just agree?
"You don't need my help? Then forget it."
"Of course I need it!" the masked man barked.
"Don't get so excited." Kanon flashed a beautiful smile. Combined with her exquisite features, it left both the masked man and Zetsu dazed for a moment.
She was truly the Uchiha's number-one beauty. But in the masked man's eyes, she overlapped with Rin, the Rin of his dreams who acknowledged all his efforts.
For some reason, a single, unhideable tear escaped from the corner of his eye beneath the mask.
"What are they?" the masked man asked.
"First, you must hand over Izumi Uchiha and her Sharingan to me."
The masked man nodded slightly. He had only killed Izumi; her body had been preserved perfectly in his cold storage without a trace of decay. Furthermore, Izumi's Sharingan was part of his collection. Having a wall full of Sharingan, he didn't mind losing one pair.
"And the second?" The masked man's nod signaled his acceptance.
The corners of Kanon's mouth lifted slightly. Within her pitch-black pupils, a three-tomoe Sharingan appeared. Her voice was melodic yet chillingly detached:
"If they do not hand over the Eight-Tails and the Nine-Tails, I will be the one to declare the Fourth Shinobi World War."
…
Sunagakure.
Temari and Kankuro stood beside Gaara.
"Kankuro-sama, Temari-sama, we're counting on you!"
"We got it!" Temari nodded with a smile.
"Honestly, Gaara doesn't really need bodyguards, does he?" Kankuro remarked.
"Among the Five Kage, Gaara is likely the youngest."
"At the Five Kage Summit, it's our duty to ensure the Kazekage isn't looked down upon."
"Let's go," Gaara said, heading toward the outskirts of Sunagakure.
"The Five Kage Summit..."
"I wonder what the leaders of the other villages are like?" Kankuro mused curiously.
…
Iwagakure.
An elderly man resembling a potato, carrying the Tsuchikage's hat on his back, was currently clutching his waist.
"My back!!! At my age, attending a summit is a struggle."
"I even have to carry these 'explosives' on my own. No one shows me any sympathy."
"Young people these days are far too rowdy!" Onoki grumbled in annoyance.
"You should be thinking about retirement soon, old man."
"You can't hog the Tsuchikage seat forever," Kurotsuchi laughed.
The scene ended with Onoki throwing his back out again. After Akatsuchi hoisted Onoki onto his back, the old man stubbornly refused to admit his age.
…
Kirigakure.
Mei Terumī adjusted her Mizukage hat and looked at Ao and Chojuro beside her.
"I'm counting on you both."
Chojuro nodded, clutching the Hiramekarei and whispering, "On the way, I will..."
"Be ready for combat at a moment's notice!"
Ao nodded slightly. "Understood."
Mei looked firmly at the crowd seeing her off. "On my name as the Mizukage, I will ensure this mission is a success."
"Chojuro, be more confident during the escort. You are very strong."
"That's why you were chosen as a guard for the summit."
"Yes... I think I'll try my best."
Ao was dissatisfied. "Just say 'yes'! What's with that half-hearted attitude?!"
"Young people these days have no backbone."
"Ao, stop preaching. We'll miss the summit if we don't leave now."
Just as Ao was about to say more, Mei approached him with a dark, menacing expression.
"Shut up, or I'll kill you."
Cold sweat poured down Ao's face.
"Then, Chojuro, Ao, let's head out!" Mei proposed.
…
Kumogakure.
"Is there still no word from Samui's team?!" the Raikage yelled anxiously.
"No, sir. But wait a bit longer, news should arrive soon."
The Fourth Raikage, A, sat with his legs crossed, flanked by his guards Darui and C. His secretary, Mabui, was reporting the route.
"The route for Raikage-sama to reach the summit has been relayed to Samui in advance."
"Regardless, even if you don't cross paths, a messenger bird will be sent."
The Raikage nodded, performed a backflip, and landed in front of C and Darui.
"Let's go, C! Darui!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Right."
The two responded in unison.
"Keep up!" With that, the Raikage smashed through the window. The sound of shattering glass left Mabui speechless.
"Here he goes again..."