Because Kirigakure's current priorities were peace, reform, and population growth—and because they'd already plucked two extraordinarily powerful bloodline "seeds" from Konoha and had no intention of returning them—this draft agreement didn't include anything outrageously demanding.
But to Hiruzen's seasoned eyes, Kirigakure's proposals were almost unnatural.
Open trade.
Lease port access.
Regular exchanges between young shinobi…
Was Kirigakure really planning to throw away the "Bloody Mist" name and transform into an open, normal country?
To reform this drastically—did they not fear backlash, revolt, internal coups?
As Hiruzen's incredulous gaze drifted toward the Mist delegation, the Third Mizukage—who'd had little chance to speak—cleared his throat and said weakly,
"The Land of Water is an island nation. We are not resource-poor… but we are not rich either."
"If we continue to seal ourselves away—developing only with our domestic market and population—then no matter how hard we try, the number of shinobi we can sustain will always be limited."
"Since I've already decided to entrust Kirigakure's future to the young," the Third Mizukage continued, "these outdated, stagnant beliefs should become history—along with an old man like me."
Hiruzen sighed, a mixture of helplessness and envy.
If even the conservative leader—the Third Mizukage himself—was backing Ren's reforms, then whatever conservative remnants remained in Kirigakure would struggle to form a true opposing faction. Scattered resistance could not slow Ren's pace or break his will.
"Hah…" Hiruzen's mind drifted. "I used to think Kirigakure's 'might makes right' obsession was crude and backward. But if a young man like Kaguya Ren rises—radical in thought and overwhelming in power—then perhaps only Kirigakure can tolerate someone ruling with such absolute force."
"Minato is excellent too… but when the time comes to cut into Konoha's rot, could he really do it the way Ren would? Offending countless people and still pushing forward with a hardened heart?"
Hiruzen was lost in those comparisons when Minato suddenly rose, brows knit, eyes fixed on the corridor outside.
Having built his combat habits around special kunai and close-range assassination, Minato had caught the crisp sound of metal striking metal.
"Third Hokage-sama," Minato murmured, "it seems assassins have appeared—trying to disrupt our talks."
Hiruzen's expression didn't change. He set down the scroll.
"Be careful," he said to Minato and Jiraiya. "The other three great villages will not want to see Konoha and Kirigakure reach peace."
"The assassins they send won't be ordinary. They'll be people capable of threatening a Kage."
"And when you respond," Hiruzen added, voice low, "be wary of Kirigakure's intentions as well."
"I understand," Minato replied, producing a Flying Thunder God kunai.
But Jiraiya's hand clamped down on Minato's shoulder.
"Minato," Jiraiya said grimly, "don't rush."
"…The sounds outside—don't you think they're too intense?"
"It's probably the Land of Iron's samurai," Minato said instinctively. "They detected the infiltrators and are resisting—"
"That's the problem," Hiruzen cut in. "The samurai still cling to their pride. Only a few are willing to train chakra."
"In so little time, they can't have raised warriors strong enough to contend with jōnin."
"Could the daimyo have hired a neutral shinobi group?" Minato offered. "For the Land of Iron, this summit is significant. If their own defense is insufficient, hiring reliable neutral guards would make sense."
"But to clash head-on with assassins selected to kill a village's Kage…" Jiraiya's gaze sharpened. "Even the Five Great Villages don't have many who can do that."
Minato's expression tightened.
"…S-rank missing-nin?" he whispered.
On Kirigakure's side, Yagura remained on guard, but he lowered his voice toward Ren.
"Those guards outside—powerful, and unknown. Do you know who they are?"
"More than that." Ren spun a kunai between his fingers with lazy precision, listening to the escalating clangs outside. "They're here because I invited them."
"Why?" Yagura frowned. "Putting an obscure organization on the stage of a Kage-to-Kage summit—what's the point?"
"The point is giving them a résumé with real weight." Ren's tone stayed unhurried. "Something impressive enough to frighten people when they speak of it."
"Then I'll have their base in the Land of Rain go make trouble for Sunagakure and Iwagakure—places my reach is still a bit long."
Ren's gaze narrowed.
"The reforms I'm pushing in Kirigakure require a broadly peaceful environment. At the very least, the Five Great Nations must maintain surface-level peace. No more direct wars between great powers."
"To do that," Ren continued, "someone with overwhelming strength has to step forward and make the hawks in the other villages behave."
"But it can't be me."
"If I step forward, the nature of the situation changes. Kirigakure becomes the common enemy of the other four nations—bad for my plan."
Ren's smile turned faintly amused.
"Fortunately, I found someone who shares that kind of thinking—and has the potential to do it."
"Why wouldn't I lend him a hand and sell him a favor, if it means he'll willingly draw fire for us?"
Yagura stared at him, baffled.
"But… to force the great villages to fear war with one man's strength?" he said slowly. "I'm not trying to flatter you, but in this era… the only person who can do that is you."
"About that~"
Ren's lips curled as he sensed the battle outside reaching its end. He flipped the kunai into a reverse grip.
"You're about to understand why I said he has the potential."
A cold, indifferent voice sounded from beyond the corridor.
"Shinra Tensei."
A wave of irresistible repulsion exploded outward.
With the shattering of stone, a body—surrounded by shattered shuriken—was hurled through the corridor like a broken doll and slammed onto the floor, blood streaming from every orifice.
"That's…" Minato's eyes snapped wide. "Kumogakure's Magnet Release shinobi—Troy?!"
Minato knew Troy's strength well. He turned instantly toward the corridor, every nerve on edge, bracing against the unknown attacker who had crushed Troy so easily.
Then, in the corridor's shadow, a pair of pale violet eyes opened—
Rippled in concentric rings.
The legendary dōjutsu said to belong to the Sage of Six Paths himself.
The Rinnegan.
"Banshō Ten'in."
A violent pull followed the repulsion. Troy's limp body was yanked back into the darkness as if by an unseen hand.
Nagato stepped forward, serene amid the hall's stunned silence. He handed Troy off to a companion, then faced the gathered eyes without flinching.
"Please continue your negotiations in peace," he said calmly.
"Any assassins who attempt to enter this hall and disrupt the summit…"
"We of Akatsuki will drive them all back—every last one."
advance Chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/Inkveil_