Terumi Mei's words left the room in shock. Even Tsunade studied her closely, wondering if the Mizukage truly understood the weight of what she had just said.
Ōnoki frowned, clearly considering whether her words carried any truth.
Gaara, still young and inexperienced compared to the other Kage, was visibly shaken. To him, Mei's statement felt entirely believable.
The Raikage's stern face darkened, though his mind was already racing. Despite his hot temper, hardened by years of Lightning Release training, he could still analyze the situation with clarity.
Behind Mei, Ao and Chojuro exchanged uneasy looks. Their Mizukage excelled at diplomacy and strategy, but whenever the topic turned to Kaito, she always lost her composure.
Kushina was astonished. Ino's eyes glowed with admiration.
The room had fallen silent, all eyes now on Mei. Though she quickly realized the gravity of her statement, she showed no hint of regret.
Mifune, the neutral host of the summit, cleared his throat loudly.
"Ahem! Everyone here is a leader of their respective nations. Time is precious. Let's return to the reason this summit was called. Raikage-sama, as the one who initiated the meeting, would you like to begin?"
The Raikage slammed his hand on the table, his voice thunderous.
"There's no need for flowery words. I called you all here to hold the Four Kage accountable—and to demand an explanation for my brother, Killer B's, so-called 'death'!"
His glare fixed on Tsunade.
"Hokage-sama, what do you have to say for yourself?"
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by that?"
Before she could continue, Kushina stepped forward from behind her.
"What are you implying? What does this have to do with the Land of Fire?"
The Raikage's eyes flickered toward her, recognizing her instantly. He knew she was no mere bodyguard, but Kushina Uzumaki, the former Jinchūriki of the Nine Tails. He responded coldly,
"My brother was killed by a shinobi from your village—Uchiha Sasuke."
Tsunade's face hardened. "Sasuke left the village four years ago. He betrayed Konoha to join Orochimaru. He has not been one of ours since."
"Don't play games with me!" the Raikage roared, his fist slamming against the marble table. A deep crack spread instantly across its surface. "If you knew he was dangerous, why didn't you declare him wanted? My brother died because of your negligence!"
Tsunade met his rage with an icy glare. "Then tell me, Raikage-sama, what exactly do you want?"
The Raikage's voice was sharp as lightning. "It's simple. Hand over Uchiha Sasuke, and compensate the Land of Lightning for our losses."
It was clear this demand had been planned long before the meeting.
At that moment, a loud crash echoed from outside. A samurai from the Land of Iron burst into the hall, shouting breathlessly,
"Emergency! Uchiha Sasuke has forced his way inside!"
"What?!" The Raikage's fury ignited like a storm. The one shinobi he hated most was now standing at his doorstep. With a single motion, he shattered the marble table into pieces and shot out of the room, followed by C and Darui.
The remaining Kage exchanged looks, then began to rise. The summit was clearly interrupted.
Suddenly, a spiraling ripple distorted the air in the center of the room. Two figures emerged from the warped space, cloaked in the red clouds of the Akatsuki.
One was Uchiha Sasuke.
The other—the masked man claiming to be Uchiha Madara.
"You!" Kushina's eyes burned with fury as her Nine Tails chakra erupted around her. "The masked man!"
It was him—the one who had unleashed the Nine Tails the night Naruto was born. Because of him, Minato and his wife had perished, leaving Naruto an orphan.
Her chakra flared violently as she instantly entered her Nine Tails mode. A Rasenshuriken infused with wind chakra formed in her hand and flew toward Obito.
For a moment, Obito's expression shifted, unsettled. Then realization dawned.
"Hmmm, Uzumaki Kushina. A pity..."
Before the Rasenshuriken could strike, his body distorted, vanishing into the Kamui space.
"You're insane!" Ōnoki shouted, quickly ordering his guards to retreat.
The other Kage moved as well, instinctively withdrawing their escorts as the Rasenshuriken detonated.
BOOM!
The blast ripped through the conference room like a cannon strike. Blinding light and howling wind filled the space as the Rasenshuriken shredded stone and wood alike, reducing the marble table into dust.
Kushina's crimson chakra cloak flickered, her sharp gaze locked on the space Obito had vacated.
"Is that all you've got, coward?" she spat.
Ōnoki's eyes narrowed, his voice low. "This chakra... this form... another Nine Tails Jinchūriki?"
Gaara stiffened in shock. "The Nine Tails? But... isn't that Naruto's burden? How could it be her?" His thoughts grew heavy. Naruto, the friend who had saved him, was the one he trusted most. But now... was there something Konoha was hiding from him?
Terumi Mei approached, frowning. "Kushina... you know this man?"
Kushina's voice trembled with fury. "Yes. He's the one who controlled the Nine Tails, who slaughtered my family and killed the Fourth Hokage."
Ao stepped forward, his face pale. "Mizukage-sama! That chakra... I recognize it. It's the same presence that once controlled our Yagura-sama!"
Terumi Mei's eyes darkened instantly. "Are you certain, Ao?"
"Absolutely. I saw it with my own eyes before Yagura-sama died. There's no mistaking it."
Mei's expression turned cold, her voice sharp as steel. "Good. I've hunted this shadow for years, and now he reveals himself... hiding under the Akatsuki's cloak."
The summit had officially transformed into a battlefield.
_____
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