Chapter 11: The Old Yinbi Tsuchikage
Sasuke and his group were lying in ambush on the first floor of the tall tower. The first floor was very spacious, with stone platforms built on both sides, used for samurai to stand guard or patrol.
At that moment, the five of them—Sasuke and his companions—were hiding on a stone platform pressed against the wall. The low wall in front of the platform provided just enough cover, and the platform itself offered a wide field of view.
The five of them crouched behind the low stone wall, only their heads exposed. Below, about ten meters down, were numerous samurai. With two perception-type individuals, Karin and White Zetsu, among them, it was unlikely these samurai would detect them.
Three Kage had already entered the tower. These Kage did not come alone; each brought two trusted subordinates. This was an unwritten rule of the Five Kage Summit: at most, two attendants were allowed to accompany them to the meeting.
The Raikage, Kazekage, and Mizukage had all entered the tower. The Daimyo of the Land of Iron had shown great respect by dispatching his top general, Mifune, to preside over the meeting. Mifune was highly renowned among ninjas; the mere fact that he had survived a confrontation with Hanzo was enough to cement his reputation.
Who was Hanzo? He was a ninja known as the "Demi-God." As for the one called the "God of Ninjas," that was only Hashirama Senju.
During the Second Great Ninja War, Konoha had once defeated the Hidden Rain Village. However, Hanzo was simply too formidable. The Hidden Rain Village's army was defeated, but their leader, Hanzo, was not, so Konoha did not impose overly harsh war reparations.
Surviving a fight with Hanzo meant that Mifune was no small figure. Moreover, Mifune had not begged for mercy after his defeat, which further elevated his reputation.
Samurai General Mifune was now hosting the three Kage, waiting only for the Hokage and Tsuchikage to arrive.
On the first floor of the tower, slow, steady footsteps echoed. An old man entered the tower, followed by two ninjas. Seeing this, a samurai immediately stepped forward.
"We have been awaiting your arrival."
The samurai spoke with neither humility nor arrogance. The old man kept his eyes lowered and said nothing. His identity was obvious: it was Elder Danzo, who had arrived.
On the stone platform on the first floor, Sasuke, White Zetsu, and the others were watching.
"That old man in the middle is Danzo."
White Zetsu whispered.
"That guy... is Danzo!"
Sasuke's Sharingan had activated to the three-tomoe state, and his eyes held nothing but hatred.
About half an hour later.
On the sixth floor of the tower, in a room about seventy square meters in size, two conference tables were placed—one large and one small.
The larger table was arranged in a semicircle. Behind it hung five white banners, each inscribed with one of the characters: Water, Wind, Fire, Earth, and Lightning. The five Kage had already taken their seats, respectively:
Mizukage·Mei Terumi (a seductive mature woman, an enemy of Su Xiao).
Kazekage·Gaara (once taken hostage by Su Xiao, died after having his tailed beast extracted, then resurrected by Chiyo using a secret technique, at the cost of Chiyo's life; a mortal enemy of Su Xiao).
Raikage·A (temporarily no grudge against Su Xiao).
Tsuchikage·Onoki (the one who hired the Akatsuki the most times).
Acting Hokage·Danzo (once hostile to Su Xiao, his current stance is unclear).
The five Kage had already taken their seats in order, all expressionless. Behind the five white banners stood their guards, ten in total.
At the open end of the semicircular conference table where the five Kage sat, a half-meter-long table was placed. Behind it sat Mifune, with two samurai standing beside him.
Mifune sat facing the five Kage. This was the presiding seat, but not the head seat. As a representative of a neutral country, Mifune could only host the meeting, not dominate it.
"I am Mifune, the one in charge here. The Five Kage Summit will now begin."
Mifune sat upright, his gaze sweeping over the five Kage. As long as they did not attack each other, he only needed to observe.
"I'll speak first. Listen carefully."
Gaara began in a calm tone. In such a setting, he naturally had to be firm, especially with the other four Kage present.
"The faces of the Five Kage have changed a lot."
A slightly amused voice came from Tsuchikage Onoki, who interrupted at this moment. His words carried a hint of belittlement toward Gaara. Understandably, being a Kage who had been kidnapped was quite embarrassing.
"Becoming a Kage at such a young age is truly impressive, Lord Kazekage. It seems your father raised you well. Too bad he didn't teach you manners."
Onoki's words seemed like praise on the surface, but they were not. Moreover, did a Kazekage really need someone to compliment him to his face? This was clearly the tone of an elder speaking to a junior.
Onoki truly lived up to his reputation as an old yinbi, rivaling even Danzo. With just a few words, he had put Gaara in his place.
Hearing this, Mizukage Mei Terumi's lips curled slightly. She and Gaara were both newcomers among the Kage, and she was wary of this old fox who had held the position of Kage for decades. That was why she had not spoken first.
Gaara showed little reaction to Onoki's words, but behind the Wind banner, Kankuro was fuming, his eyes glaring.
"Indeed, but I am sitting here as the Kazekage."
Gaara's father was the Fourth Kazekage, who had died early and in a somewhat disgraceful manner. Still, Gaara could not afford to lower his stance.
"Hahaha, what an arrogant brat."
Onoki was not angry at all; instead, he laughed heartily.
"Lord Tsuchikage, please do not interrupt. Lord Kazekage, please continue."
Mei Terumi spoke politely. She was trying to form a temporary alliance with Gaara to prevent Onoki from turning his fire on her next.
"I was originally a jinchuriki. I was captured by the Akatsuki, and after having my tailed beast forcibly extracted, I nearly died. Therefore, I believe the Akatsuki is an extremely dangerous existence. I repeatedly requested help from the other Kage, but was ignored. It was only after the tailed beasts of the various nations were taken that they finally decided to cooperate."
Gaara cut straight to the point: uniting against the Akatsuki.
"Ha! Having the tailed beasts of the five great ninja villages stolen is a great shame if other nations find out. The common sense approach is to recover them in secret. Asking for help immediately after they are taken is impossible—it's a matter of face."
Onoki was not simply picking a fight; this was indeed the reality.
"Face... dignity... mutual suspicion... What rotten thinking."
Gaara did not agree with Onoki's view.
"Heh."
Onoki let out a low, cold laugh. He couldn't understand how such a young man had become a Kazekage. In their era, a Kazekage like this would have been ousted by his own people quickly.
"Let's not discuss whether it's rotten. The fact is, we are too passive right now."
Mei Terumi stepped in to mediate.
Only the Kazekage, Tsuchikage, and Mizukage were engaged in discussion. Danzo, the old fox, was observing and waiting for an opportunity. As for the Raikage, he was building up anger, which would soon explode.
Danzo's visible eye glanced at the Raikage, and he immediately sensed an opportunity.
"That said, we are not at a complete disadvantage. Although the Akatsuki already possesses many tailed beasts, controlling them requires technique, knowledge, and time. It is impossible to quickly convert them into combat power."
Mei Terumi's words seemed reasonable, but she did not know that the Akatsuki had no intention of cultivating jinchuriki; they simply needed the tailed beasts.
"A jinchuriki must grow together with their tailed beast and adapt to each other. But even so, controlling a tailed beast is very difficult. Am I right, Lord Kazekage?"
It was unclear what grudge Onoki held against the Hidden Sand Village, but from start to finish, he had been mocking Gaara.
"..."
Gaara fell silent. Even the most patient person would be worn down by Onoki's relentless taunts.
"Those who can truly control tailed beasts are only a handful."
Danzo suddenly spoke. Onoki's expression shifted. Gaara might be a greenhorn, but Danzo was a rival-level old yinbi.