[Inside The Hidden Mist Village]
"Hmph. Uchiha Madara sure is arrogant."
Gengetsu Hozuki swept his eyes over the overwhelming arrogance dripping from the letter's wording and curled his lip in disdain.
He casually handed the letter to Fukasaku beside him.
"Great Toad Sage Fukasaku, have a look."
"Allow me a moment to consider it..."
Fukasaku took the letter, fingers brushing through his thick eyebrows as he closed his eyes and pondered briefly.
Watching those heavy brows, Gengetsu couldn't help feeling a little envious inside.
"Let's go. We'll meet him ourselves and see what exactly Uchiha Madara is plotting."
Fukasaku spoke in a deep voice, having made up his mind.
Gengetsu nodded.
"Alright."
———
[A Few Days Later]
Konoha had become lively because of the upcoming Five Kage Summit. Even Senju Hashirama got excited upon hearing about it and wanted to attend together with Madara.
But Madara feared Hashirama would embarrass himself by acting too humble, so he assigned him simple reception duties instead and refused to let him join the meeting.
Outside the village, Gengetsu stood with Fukasaku perched on his shoulder, while Black Zetsu hid within Mu's bandaged arm. The two groups finally met up.
"Heh, mustache guy, long time no see. Weren't you always obsessed with fiddling around with seashells? Why've you got an old toad squatting on your shoulder now?"
Mu chuckled softly, his tone teasing.
Gengetsu snorted.
"Bandage freak, mind your own business. Want to taste Lord Gengetsu's Water Gun Technique?"
Mu folded his arms over his chest and replied calmly, "Let's go. We're entering Konoha."
Gengetsu gave a slight nod.
The two of them were both enemies and friends, old rivals who had known each other for years.
Hidden between the gaps in Mu's bandages, Black Zetsu glanced at Fukasaku with a grin.
Fukasaku quietly blinked back at him without changing expression.
———
[Inside Ichiraku Ramen]
"Old man, the Five Kage Summit's about to begin."
Kakuzu held a newspaper in his hand, eyes fixed on the front-page headline as he spoke.
Arisu stroked chin nodded faintly.
"The Five Kage Summit, huh. Quite the spectacle..."
"Old man, when you were Hokage, why didn't you ever hold a Five Kage Summit?", Kakuzu asked.
Arisu smiled, "Kakuzu, you seem to have forgotten. Back when I was Hokage, quite a few ninja villages hadn't even been established yet."
As the two chatted casually, two tall figures pushed open the ramen shop door and walked in.
"Boss, two signature ramen bowls!"
Mu and Gengetsu entered side by side and found a table to sit at.
The moment Kakuzu recognized their faces, his pupils shrank.
"It's actually the Mizukage and Tsuchikage!"
"Nothing to be surprised about. Konoha's stingy as hell. Right before the Five Kage Summit and they won't even arrange a proper meal."
Gengetsu complained with a curled lip.
Mu nodded along.
"Probably trying to let their own restaurants squeeze money out of us."
After sitting down, both of them looked toward Arisu at the same time.
Arisu raised his eyes toward them and lightly lifted a brow.
Gengetsu and Mu remained calm.
But Fukasaku and Black Zetsu's pupils contracted instantly. Every trace of laziness vanished as they straightened up in respect.
'Holy shit! Why is the Great Sage here?!'
Black Zetsu and Fukasaku both tensed internally.
'A hidden master among the common folk...'
'Who could've guessed the Great Sage was hiding in a place like this?'
"So many familiar faces...", Arisu let out a dry laugh.
At that moment, the First Raikage barged in with his attendants, radiating imposing momentum as he shouted loudly, "Boss! One signature ramen!"
Mu and Gengetsu lazily raised their eyes and immediately recognized him as the First Raikage.
"Oh? You two are here too."
The First Raikage casually sat down beside them.
Kakuzu grew even more shocked. Even the Raikage had come. Could this all be because of Arisu's prestige?
Arisu glanced at him and waved his hand.
"Stop overthinking it. This is the only restaurant near the Hokage building. If they don't eat here, where else are they supposed to go..."
After the three of them finished eating, the First Raikage looked eagerly at Mu and Gengetsu, clearly itching for action.
"Heh heh. Since I'm here in Konoha this time, I'm definitely going to see just how strong Konoha really is."
Gengetsu and Mu glanced at this reckless brute from Kumogakure and couldn't even be bothered replying.
"Hey! Boss! Who's the strongest fighter in Konoha?"
The First Raikage turned toward the counter and shouted with battle intent written all over his face.
Arisu slowly looked up at him and answered casually, "Obviously Senju Hashirama. Who else would it be, me?"
———
[Inside The Hokage's Office]
Senju Tobirama pushed open the door and reported in a deep voice, "Madara, the Kage from Kirigakure, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kumogakure have all arrived in Konoha."
Uchiha Madara crossed his arms and nodded indifferently.
"At least they know what's good for them."
"Convene the Five Kage Summit immediately."
Madara issued the order at once.
Before long, the summit hall had already been prepared.
The other four Kage had been waiting for quite some time, yet Madara still entered at an unhurried pace.
Watching Uchiha Madara's arrogant and unruly demeanor, all four Kage present felt faint dissatisfaction rise in their hearts.
"Hokage, you summoned all of us to Konoha this time. What exactly is this about?"
Mu was the first to speak calmly. His tone sounded peaceful, but curiosity lingered deep within his eyes as he tried to figure out what tricks Uchiha Madara was playing.
Madara glanced at him indifferently and said in a deep voice, "Recently, certain ninja villages have been relying on their strength to bully weaker villages at will. Their actions have already begun threatening the stability of the Land of Fire's borders."
"The greater the strength, the greater the responsibility."
"Konoha is already the strongest village in the ninja world, and as Konoha's Hokage, I, Uchiha Madara, had no choice but to convene this Five Kage Summit in order to maintain peace in the ninja world."
Madara's tone remained calm, yet carried an unquestionable sense of superiority.
The expressions of the Kage present shifted slightly.
Over the years, every village's strength had rapidly grown, and with that came expanding ambition. Everyone wanted to prey on the weak. Attacking neighboring small ninja villages for profit had already become an unspoken rule.
Everyone knew it. There was no need to drag it into the open.
None of them had expected Uchiha Madara to suddenly interfere and stick his nose into these matters.
"Hokage! Are you trying to interfere in our villages' internal affairs?"
The First Raikage already had a fiery temper and immediately snapped back loudly.
"We attack small countries, but we haven't touched Konoha. What right do you have to interfere?"
Madara's eyes instantly turned cold. His sharp gaze shot directly toward the First Raikage.
"If something happens in the ninja world, then it concerns Konoha. If you're allowed to stir up wars recklessly like this, the flames of war will eventually spread into Konoha itself!"
"Especially you people from Kumogakure. Don't think your secret military expansion and hidden schemes can escape my notice."
Madara rebuked him coldly as invisible pressure spread throughout the room.
As he spoke, Madara slowly activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, the tomoe beginning to rotate faintly.