Outside Kumogakure, a three-person squad slowly made their way through a winding canyon towards the village hidden in the clouds.
Swoosh, swoosh~
"Halt! Identify yourselves!" With two sharp sounds of air being cut, two Kumogakure ninja in full uniform landed, blocking the path of the three-person squad.
"We are ninja from Konohagakure, under direct orders from Lord Hokage. We have an urgent matter requiring an audience with Lord Raikage." At the front of the small Konoha squad, Ishii Shi stepped forward and announced their purpose. Ishii Shi was a Jonin and the captain of this particular diplomatic ninja squad.
"Please come with us." After hearing his declaration, the two Kumogakure ninja looked Ishii Shi's squad up and down once, their expressions stern, then turned and said gravely. With that, one of the two Cloud ninja gestured for them to follow and began to lead them towards the interior of Kumogakure.
Before Ishii Shi's squad had even arrived at the outskirts of Kumogakure, news of their entry into the Land of Lightning and their stated intention to seek an audience with the Raikage had already been relayed back to the village's command center. The two Kumogakure ninja's interception just now was merely a standard procedure for reconfirmation and escort.
Not long after, Ishii Shi's squad was brought to the Raikage's office.
"Speak. What business does your Hokage have sending you all the way here?" The Fourth Raikage, A, looked at the three Konoha ninja, his powerful arms crossed, and spoke in a gruff, booming voice. His tone was not particularly friendly.
Although several years had passed since the official end of the Third Shinobi World War, relations between Konoha and Kumogakure had never truly eased or warmed. The peace treaty they had signed back then was largely a product of circumstance and necessity, rather than genuine reconciliation. Barring any unforeseen special circumstances, it was highly probable that these two major hidden villages, with their long history of conflict, would go to war again in the foreseeable future. This was the almost inevitable result of deeply conflicting interests between the two villages and the accumulated, bitter hatred from the previous Shinobi World War.
"Lord Raikage, this is a letter handwritten by Lord Hokage himself. Please peruse it at your convenience." Ishii Shi was not surprised by the Raikage's abrasive demeanor. He calmly took a formal letter from within his robes and presented it respectfully to the Fourth Raikage.
The Fourth Raikage took the letter, unfolded it with a grunt, and began to read its contents carefully, his brow furrowed in concentration. In just a few short minutes, the Fourth Raikage had finished reading the entirety of the letter.
After absorbing its contents, he pondered in silence for a moment, then said decisively, his voice firm, "Go back and tell your Hokage that I will attend on time."
Hearing the Fourth Raikage's unexpectedly swift and affirmative reply, a flicker of surprise passed through Ishii Shi's eyes, though he maintained his composure. He quickly responded with utmost respect, "Yes, Lord Raikage." After confirming the Raikage's answer, Ishii Shi signaled to his two companions, then turned and efficiently left the Raikage's office.
After Ishii Shi's squad had departed, C, who had been standing silently in the office all along, finally spoke, "BOSS, is the Third Hokage of Konoha inviting you to some kind of private gathering?"
Beside them, Mabui, the Fourth Raikage's ever-efficient secretary, also wore a puzzled expression. For the Fourth Raikage, known for his deliberative and often forceful nature, to make such an important decision in such a remarkably short time after reading a single letter—this was the first time either of them had witnessed such a thing.
The Fourth Raikage shook his head, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "Not just me and the Hokage. It's an invitation to a Five Kage Summit."
"A Five Kage Summit!" Hearing these words, C exclaimed in genuine shock.
Ever since the devastating outbreak of the Second and then the Third Shinobi World Wars, how many long, fraught years had it been since the Kage of the Five Great Shinobi Villages had last convened a formal Five Kage Summit? To suddenly hear the term "Five Kage Summit" now, after such a prolonged period of strained inter-village relations, was quite staggering.
However, C, ever astute, quickly grasped the crucial underlying point. "BOSS," he pressed, "is this because of Akatsuki and the Divine Court?" In the current volatile state of the ninja world, who else but Akatsuki and the Divine Court—the two mysterious organizations that had just reportedly fought a world-shaking, cataclysmic battle on the Moon—could possibly compel the proud and often adversarial Kage of the Five Great Villages to sit down for a unified meeting?
"Mm! It's precisely because of these two wantonly acting, power-hungry rogue ninja organizations," the Fourth Raikage confirmed, a sharp, dangerous glint in his eyes. Judging by the sheer scale of power displayed in the recent Moon battle, the true strength of these two clandestine organizations, Akatsuki and the Divine Court, was simply too terrifying to ignore. Even the Fourth Raikage, who was supremely confident in his own formidable strength and speed, instinctively felt that he couldn't compare to the forces at play in that conflict. Faced with these two mysterious and profoundly dangerous organizations, there was indeed a genuine, pressing need to convene a Five Kage Summit.
In the Raikage's office, the Fourth Raikage then began to earnestly discuss various matters and strategies related to the upcoming Five Kage Summit with his trusted aides, C and Mabui.
Kirigakure, the Village Hidden in the Mist.
In the Mizukage's office, Elder Genshi, a respected and wizened figure in the village, was seated upright on a long bench, his aged hands resting on his knees. Terumi Mei stood respectfully to the side, her demeanor attentive.
"Mei, my dear," Elder Genshi began, his voice slow and carrying the weight of years, "what are your thoughts on this proposed Five Kage Summit?"
"Elder Genshi," Terumi Mei replied after a moment of consideration, "I believe we should attend the Five Kage Summit. According to the intelligence reports circulating throughout the ninja world, the strength of these two organizations, Akatsuki and the Divine Court, is indeed far too great for any single village to handle alone."
"Especially Akatsuki," she continued, her voice firming with conviction. "Its members are all rogue ninja of exceptional power and notoriety. Our village's own infamous rogue ninja, Kisame Hoshigaki, and the shadowy individual who was secretly manipulating the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, back then are both confirmed to be part of this organization. With those two among their ranks, Kirigakure and Akatsuki are already, by de facto, enemies. As the Third Hokage stated in his missive, it is necessary for us to unite and deal with them collectively."
Elder Genshi listened intently and nodded slightly. "Mm! You speak well, Mei. I also agree that we should attend the Five Kage Summit. However, the village currently faces another pressing problem: we have yet to officially select a new Mizukage. Who, then, should we send to represent Kirigakure at such an important assembly?"
Terumi Mei responded without hesitation, "Elder Genshi, naturally, you should be the one to go personally. Only you possess the experience and authority to properly represent Kirigakure at this critical juncture."
Elder Genshi didn't reply immediately upon hearing her suggestion. He merely gazed quietly and intently at Terumi Mei, who seemed eager and perhaps a little too quick to state her position. Feeling Elder Genshi's sharp, penetrating gaze, Terumi Mei's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, but she stood her ground, her outward expression calm and composed. For everything she had striven to do for Kirigakure over these difficult and turbulent years, she had a clear conscience and no regrets.
"Heh heh," Elder Genshi chuckled softly, a dry, rasping sound. "I'm old, Mei. I can't travel like I used to! Mei, you've done exceptionally well these past few years, guiding the village through trying times. It is high time for the village to select a new Lord Mizukage." After gazing silently at Terumi Mei for a long, contemplative moment, Elder Genshi's gaze gradually softened, and he spoke slowly, his words carrying profound significance.
"Elder Genshi, I…" Terumi Mei clearly understood the meaning behind Elder Genshi's words. Her expression changed slightly, a mixture of surprise and perhaps a touch of apprehension, and she opened her mouth as if to refuse the implied offer.
"Enough!" Elder Genshi said, raising a hand gently, interrupting Terumi Mei's unspoken words. "This matter should have been decided long ago! The selection of the Fifth Mizukage has been delayed for far too long, and this uncertainty is also a factor of instability for our village. Mei, you are currently the most outstanding, most capable individual among Kirigakure's younger generation. If even you are unwilling to step forward and shoulder this heavy responsibility, then who else possibly can?"
"Elder Genshi… please rest assured," Terumi Mei said, her voice filled with newfound resolve after taking a deep breath. "I will definitely not disappoint your expectations, nor the hopes of the village."
"Good! I believe in you, Mei." Seeing her determination, a rare, warm smile spread across Elder Genshi's aged face.
Because Kumogakure and Kirigakure were the villages located farthest from Konoha, these two hidden villages were the last to formally agree to the Third Hokage's proposal to convene a Five Kage Summit. The Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, the stubborn Onoki, and the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure, Rasa, had both, after their own deliberations, agreed to the Third Hokage's invitation several days prior.
Faced with the sudden, dramatic emergence of the overwhelmingly powerful Akatsuki and the equally mysterious Divine Court, the Five Great Shinobi Villages, after so many long years of rivalry and mistrust, finally had the tangible possibility—for the very first time in decades—of setting aside their deep-seated prejudices and historical enmities to cooperate for their mutual survival.
The location for the historic Five Kage Summit was chosen to be the neutral territory of the Land of Iron. The time for the momentous meeting was set for two months later.
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