Chapter 115: Parting on Bad Terms, Letting the Ninja World Suffer Again

Chapter 115: Parting on Bad Terms, Letting the Ninja World Suffer Again

The hall remained silent for a long time before Ōnoki finally spoke, his voice measured. “So you’re saying the Sage’s Eye is like the Uchiha Clan’s Mangekyō Sharingan—some abilities overlap, while others differ?”

“Hmph, who knows if that’s true or not,” Fourth Raikage scoffed coldly. “The Sage’s Eye has always been a legend, unrecorded even during the Warring States Period. Now it suddenly appears, and two sets at once? That’s hard to swallow.”

“You can believe it or not,” Tsunade retorted, rolling her Byakugan eyes. “The reason I came to the Five Kage Summit was to share this intelligence so you don’t fall into the trap of some unknown enemy.”

“This incident is clearly tied to your Hidden Leaf Village,” Fourth Raikage shot back. “I’ll let Root and Danzō Shimura slide, but why are these Human Puppets using your village’s signature ninjutsu and forbidden techniques? Danzō even possessed a Mangekyō Sharingan and could use Wood Release and the Flying Thunder God Technique. Hokage, you owe me an explanation.”

Before Tsunade could respond, Fourth Raikage’s glare swept across the other Kage. “And you lot—nearly every Akatsuki member exposed so far is an S-Rank missing-nin from your villages. You all need to answer for this.”

As the blame shifted onto them, the other Kage’s faces darkened.

Chiyo stayed silent, but Ōnoki fired back, unimpressed. “Unbelievable. Is this the talk of a Kage? Did Kumogakure’s shadow forget basic diplomacy? Since when do villages bear responsibility for their missing-nin? Should we erase their records or issue bounties for every rogue ninja?”

“By that logic, shouldn’t Kumogakure answer for Hidden Leaf? Your missing-nin killed the Second Hokage, yet you offered no explanation. And don’t forget—the golden and silver horns used in that attack are still in Kumogakure. Shouldn’t those weapons be returned to Hidden Leaf?”

“Watch your tongue!” Fourth Raikage roared, his eyes blazing.

Ōnoki snorted. “Boy, you’re still a pup compared to your father. Challenge me to a duel or a full-scale war—I’ll oblige either.”

*

Before the two could erupt, Samurai General Sanshō rapped his knuckles on the table, his voice calm. “Raikage-dono, Tsuchikage-dono, please focus. Our priority is deciding how to handle Akatsuki, who’ve crossed all lines.”

Fourth Raikage sat back, still scowling. “I doubt Hokage’s intel. My proposal stands: unite to destroy Amegakure. Wipe out this terrorist group built from your missing-nin.”

“I disagree.” Ōnoki crossed his arms. “Akatsuki is an S-Rank missing-nin syndicate, taking secret contracts on the black market. I’ve dealt with them before—they’ve always been secretive. Now they’re flaunting themselves, even revealing their base. That reeks of a trap.”

“I suspected they were plotting something big, but Tsunade-hime’s intel confirms it. There’s likely a hidden third party manipulating us against Akatsuki.”

“Just a guess,” Fourth Raikage muttered.

“Perhaps,” Ōnoki shrugged. “But I trust Tsunade-hime’s intel. Iwagakure has no quarrel with Akatsuki—we won’t join your crusade.”

Fourth Raikage’s brow twitched. “Hope you don’t regret it when Akatsuki targets Iwagakure next.”

“If they do, we’ll handle it,” Ōnoki replied with a smirk.

Tsunade leaned forward, her expression grave. “I trust Jiraiya’s intel. He’s the only one who infiltrated Amegakure and spoke to Akatsuki’s leader. Whether their leader lied or not, if Akatsuki truly orchestrated the Hidden Leaf Destruction Plan, the Blood Mist crisis, and the Kumogakure attack, then someone in Akatsuki controlled Danzō’s Flying Thunder God Technique.”

“After the Hidden Leaf attack, we lost the Forbidden Scroll and a Wood Release test subject,” she continued. “That was August. Kumogakure’s attack was late December—only four months later. In that time, they mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, a skill only the Second and Fourth Hokage wielded in 61 years of Hidden Leaf history. They even revived Danzō’s corpse to use Wood Release. Imagine what else they’ve learned from the Forbidden Scroll.”

“Even united, we’d struggle to defeat Akatsuki with the Flying Thunder God Technique. If they don’t have it, that proves a third party exists—and pushes Akatsuki fully into our enemy camp. Wiping them out would be ideal, but if we fail, we risk retaliation from a second Sage’s Eye.”

The room fell silent, save Fourth Raikage.

“You’re afraid?” he barked. “And you truly believe a Sage’s Eye-wielding Akatsuki will stay content as mercenaries?”

“Believe what you want,” Tsunade said, rolling her Byakugan again. “Hidden Leaf won’t join your reckless war.”

With Iwagakure and Hidden Leaf—the two strongest after Kumogakure—refusing to attack, Chiyo quickly added, “I trust Hokage’s judgment. Sunagakure, still reeling from Orochimaru’s betrayal, lacks the strength to act.”

Fourth Raikage’s face darkened further.

Seeing three villages withdraw, Master Yuta sighed. “Mist Hidden Village just ended the Blood Mist crisis and is in transition. But if a coalition forms against Akatsuki or this third party, we’ll abide by the majority’s decision.”

The words sounded diplomatic, but the unspoken message was clear: the Mist Hidden Village would also be withdrawing.

"Hmph, you'll all come to regret this!" the Fourth Raikage snarled, smashing the table with a single palm strike before storming out without a backward glance.

The remaining five Kage, recognizing his outburst as mere frustration, paid no mind.

"Hokage, let's make a deal."

As Tsunade prepared to leave with Izayoi and Kakashi, Chiyo suddenly called out.

"What kind of deal?" Tsunade asked, her expression tinged with disdain.

Chiyo ignored Tsunade's cold gaze, glanced meaningfully at Kakashi, then said, "Sunagakure wishes to strengthen our alliance with Hidden Leaf Village and cede command authority to you when confronting external threats."

"And what do you want in return?" Tsunade pressed.

"A complete Barrier system", Chiyo replied gravely. "If this mysterious third party truly exists and aims to ignite war across the ninja world, they'll eventually target Sunagakure and Iwagakure. We need protection against Meteor Rain attacks."

Ōnoki, who had been preparing to depart, floated closer with a wry smile. "Princess Tsunade, Iwagakure would also like to propose a similar arrangement."

"And count us in too", Master Yuta added, joining them.

Under normal circumstances, Tsunade would have scoffed at their desperation. But memories of Akatsuki's threat, the mysterious stranger, and Kumogakure's devastation kept her expression serious. After a brief pause, she spoke.

"Fine. Send representatives to Hidden Leaf Village to negotiate details." With that, Tsunade left with Izayoi and Kakashi.

They wasted no time leaving the Land of Iron, returning directly to Hidden Leaf Village. Other Kage followed suit, eager to return to their villages. With Akatsuki's threat looming, none dared leave their homeland vulnerable.

As Izayoi followed behind using Body Flicker, his gaze appeared forward while his thoughts lingered on the Land of Iron. A faint smirk tugged at his lips. They've gotten smarter, he mused.

Back at the summit, samurai resumed their posts after completing their protective duties. One samurai slipped into solitude, his body morphing into a pale White Zetsu Clone. Akatsuki had clearly been monitoring the Five Kage Summit. With uncertainty surrounding the Leaf Village incident—whether Izayoi's Wood Release or a Zetsu clone had caused it—White Zetsu had opted for direct infiltration rather than risking detection through Mayfly Technique.

Izayoi's Wood Release had initially failed to detect the clone, which tipped him off. The Five Kage Summit couldn't possibly stay hidden from White Zetsu. Knowing Akatsuki would desperately seek the summit's outcome, the only viable eavesdropping method left was Mimicry Technique.

Obito Uchiha's dramatic declaration of war from the original timeline was impossible now. Without the Ten-Tails' Statue, Edo Tensei army, or Kabuto's assistance, even Nagato—though self-proclaimed "God"—would hesitate to provoke the five villages before reviving the Three-Tails.

The summit's outcome pleased Nagato. Without a united front against Akatsuki, the villages remained divided. Izayoi had anticipated this. In the original timeline, the villages united against common enemies: Mist's Blood Mist trauma, Gaara's capture, Pain's assault on Leaf, Killer B's abduction, and Ōnoki's humiliation by Deidara. Now, with a mysterious third party sowing doubt, cooperation crumbled.

Even with Akatsuki's threat, the villages' mutual distrust prevailed. Ōnoki wouldn't confront Akatsuki knowing Deidara remained hidden. Suna and Mist, weakened by recent events, feared retaliation if they aided Kumogakure. The Leaf and Iwa might exploit their vulnerability. Kumogakure stood utterly isolated.

"The timing's still off", Izayoi mused. "Don't disappoint me, Raikage."

War's profits had become addictive. Originally aiming to accumulate 990,000 Points to upgrade his Otsutsuki Bloodline (Crimson), Izayoi now craved more—pursuing unknown levels for both his Red Inherited Traits. Achieving this meant further turmoil for the ninja world. When extraterrestrial threats eventually arrived, those like Izayoi with Otsutsuki ties would bear the burden. For now, he simply demanded their investment.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end