Five Kage Summit (1)

The five figures entered the Meeting Room one after another.

A long table was placed in the center, with five chairs on either side, the backs of which were engraved with the emblems of various countries.

The Land of Fire is located in the center, slightly to the north, with the other Four Nations positioned to its left and right.

The reception staff from the Land of Iron led everyone to their seats, then stepped back to the wall and stood with their hands at their sides.

When the other four Kage took their seats, their gazes all lingered on Hashirama's back for a moment longer than intended.

The intelligence report clearly stated that a single bodyguard is sufficient for Hokage's travels. However, Hashirama Senju him, both of whom were Uchiha.

Madara Uchiha and Uchiha Izuna. One was Asura of the Ninja World on par with the God of the Shinobi World, and the other was the second-in-command of the Uchiha clan who recently caused a great uproar in the Land of Hot Water.

Logically speaking, these two people should have a very bad relationship with the Senju Clan.

But they just stood there behind Hashirama, with Madara standing beside him with his arms crossed, Izuna standing on the other side, pulling out a folding fan from somewhere and fanning himself idly.

Each of the Four Kage had their own thoughts swirling in their minds.

Was Hashirama Senju Uchiha? It doesn't seem like it. His composed demeanor doesn't suggest he was a puppet being manipulated.

Have the Uchiha and Senju truly reconciled?

That's even more outrageous.

Can a thousand-year-old feud really be resolved so easily?

Or... were these two Uchiha deliberately kept by Hashirama Senju for the other Four Kage to see?

No matter how you look at it, this scene is intriguing enough.

And then there was that red fox at the palace gate. Although its aura was suppressed, you could still feel an indescribable ferocity when you got close, like the Chakra of Tailed Beast.

The Hokage's team actually has this kind of thing in them? Are these people here for a meeting or to cause trouble?

As they were all speculating, Hashirama stood in front of the chairs, looking at the Meeting Room, the five chairs, and the four Kage, and suddenly took a deep breath.

His eyes were a little red.

"So this is the Five Kage Summit...?" Hashirama's voice trembled slightly, "Has my dream finally spread across the entire continent?!"

Izuna stood behind him, his expression suddenly becoming quite interesting.

He lowered his voice and whispered in Hashirama's ear, "Hashirama, if you kowtow later, I'll make Tobirama and Madara go on strike when we get back, and you'll have to face seven days' worth of paperwork by yourself."

Hashirama was shocked and whispered back, "How did you know! Wait, didn't you say we should show weakness?"

"I told you to show weakness, not to act stupid," Izuna said quickly and in a low voice. "In the eyes of the other higher-ups, you are our leader. What does it mean for a leader to kowtow to other leaders? It's beneath your dignity and humiliating."

Hashirama, his voice low, asked, "Then what do we do?"

You can bow.

Madara, standing on the other side, couldn't help but interject, "Isn't that still being inferior?"

"Eh~" Izuna shook his folding fan, "Kowtowing might make someone seem like they've lost their mind, but bowing makes it seem like something serious has happened."

Hashirama raised an eyebrow, understanding. "Oh, I get it. Leave it to me!"

They took their seats.

The people from the Land of Iron stepped forward and read out the opening remarks in a flat, monotonous voice. It was nothing more than a welcome speech, a thank you for your presence, and the usual platitudes about how the Land of Iron, as a neutral country, was willing to provide all the necessary facilities for the talks.

After he finished reading, he bowed slightly and stepped back to the wall.

The Meeting Room fell silent for a moment.

Reto spoke first, "I'm sure you all know why we've been summoned here."

Ai turned to look at him, her tone carrying a condescending tone. "Kazekage Fengying, please be mindful of your status. If you intend to speak disrespectfully of another country here, I believe everyone present will object."

Reto scanned Ai from head to toe. "Heh, this guy who caused trouble on someone else's turf and ended up losing troops and three Divine Artifacts, what nonsense is he spouting here?"

Ai's expression changed. "You!"

"I think you should be more mindful of your status." Reto gave him no chance to retort. "For a village chief to make such a disastrous decision is truly despicable."

Ishikawa tapped the table beside him. "Say less, Kazekage. We didn't come here to argue."

Reto pursed his lips, didn't say anything more, and leaned back, which was considered a way of ending the conversation.

Ai took a deep breath and decided not to argue with someone from this impoverished little country.

Ishikawa took over, his voice calm. "We are here at the joint invitation of the Daimyo. The establishment of the Shinobi Village was not easy, and I think none of you want to start a war at this time."

Byakuren leaned back in her chair and said, "We do have such concerns. However, the Ninjas of a certain country seem to be more united than ever before, which I don't think is a good sign. What do you all think?"

As he said this, his gaze was fixed directly on Hashirama.

Madara frowned, but Hashirama didn't seem to care, his smile remaining unchanged.

Seeing his appearance, Byakuren snorted, "And you even brought two guards with you. Hokage, are you that afraid of being ambushed?"

Izuna stood Hashirama and slowly blinked twice.

That old Deng, he really knows how to talk tough.

If it weren't for Hashirama's undeniable Strength, people would probably be saying things like, "Is the Hokage position just a puppet position?"

The Meeting Room fell silent. The only sound in the empty room was the soft crackling of the charcoal fire in the brazier in the corner.

All eyes were on the Hokage, on Hashirama Senju.

Hashirama stood up.

He straightened his kimono, took two steps back from the chair, placed his hands by his sides, bent down, and bowed deeply.

Everyone was stunned.

They had no idea what Hashirama Senju's personality and style of doing things were like.

The intelligence report described him as "kind and benevolent, decisive in handling matters," but intelligence is ultimately just a thin layer of paper, and none of them had ever actually interacted with Hashirama face to face.

Moreover, no one dared to truly challenge him; after all, he was the God of Shinobi, and even within their Capital be seen.

The Mizukage's subtle probing was already the limit; if Hashirama were to lose his temper at this point, they would definitely smooth things over and let the matter drop.

But Hashirama, without saying a word, immediately bowed deeply to them, a gesture he made after the Mizukage's provocation.

They certainly didn't think this was a bow to the Mizukage; Hashirama must be performing this grand gesture for something else.

They realized that the issues to be addressed in today's talks might be far more significant than they had imagined.

Hashirama straightened up and spoke, "Over the years, I have been pursuing the path of peace. Now, seeing you all, heroes who share the same ideals, I, as the Hokage, feel deeply honored."

The Four Kage immediately stood up and echoed their agreement.

"It is our honor. Without your first step, we could not have achieved this great feat."

Please lift your head.

"Yes, Hokage, although we are all your followers, we are actually the ones who want to meet you in person."

"That's right."

Izuna hid his face behind the fan, his lips curving into a wild smile. Wow! As expected of Hashirama, he gets it right away!

Hashirama was deeply moved. "Thank you all! But the good life your country's Ninjas enjoy is all thanks to your efforts. Without your decisiveness and pursuit of peace, we wouldn't be gathered here to Discussion what's to come."

Everyone took their seats.

Ai rested her arms on the table and asked, "What happens next? What do you mean?"

"It concerns how to maintain this hard-won peace," Hashirama said.

Reto looked at him. "Hokage, perhaps you could explain it more clearly."

"We wish to sign a peace agreement with you all."

The other figures were all stunned.

Hashirama, "I understand why you have come here. You have all surely witnessed the ins and outs of the situation in the Land of Hot Water. In the eyes of the nobles, this meeting is a prelude to our Settlement of the Raikage and Mizukage. It is certain that the Raikage and Mizukage harbor hostility towards us."

Ai frowned. "Hokage is certainly outspoken. Isn't he afraid we'll retaliate with such a blunt statement?"

"I'm not worried," Hashirama said, "Because I know you've come here not to start a war, but to resolve a problem."

Byakuren leaned forward slightly. "That's easy for you to say. But Land of Fire let our two families go? Just like I said, your Konoha is thriving right now, but our territory is still divided. If you want to send troops to attack someone, we won't have any room for resistance. Are you really going to let such a good opportunity pass by?"

"That's impossible," Hashirama said.

Byakuren choked up.

"And there are some things we really want," Hashirama said sincerely, "So I'm here to negotiate."

Byakuren sneered, "Are you sure you can trade it away?"

As soon as Byakuren finished speaking, Hozuki Gengetsu behind her immediately released her aura and assumed a defensive posture.

Everyone else immediately assumed a fighting stance, except for Madara and Izuna. Madara even yawned, but Izuna grabbed his hand and pulled him down.

It's incredibly arrogant, but they have the right to be.

Hashirama the guards, said earnestly, "Of course we can. And we won't let you suffer losses; on the contrary, we'll help you strengthen yourselves, so that the invitations to the next Five Kage Summit won't still be issued by the nobles."

Upon hearing this, everyone's pupils contracted.

The first time Hashirama mentioned nobles, they would have thought it was just a necessary part of the explanation, but this is the second time, and it clearly indicates that he and the nobles are at odds.

Ishikawa leaned forward. "Hokage, you can't say things like that lightly."

Ai raised an eyebrow. "Are you planning a rebellion?"

He realized what he had said as soon as it left his mouth.

No, if he really wanted to rebel, he would have done it already. With his Strength, those weak nobles couldn't even withstand a single blow from him.

Moreover, management is also a problem. No matter how arrogant Hashirama, he still has to consider how to develop the country without the nobility.

They Ninjas are not the type to give up their current lives to concern themselves with farming and politics.

Hashirama waved his hand. "You can't use the word 'rebellion,' I don't have such grand ambitions."

Ishikawa withdrew, his voice turning deep. "But Your Excellency, isn't this a thankless task for you? No matter how wealthy we are, we can't compare to the Land of Fire."

He didn't say the rest of the sentence.

But everyone present understood.

With Hashirama and Madara currently in charge of the Land of Fire, these people dare not act rashly, so the Land of Fire is relatively safe.

However, if any generation in the Land of Fire is inferior to the others, then the Land of Fire will be besieged.

Or rather, they would start a war as soon as Hashirama and Madara died.

It's simply because they want to seize resources. That's an indisputable fact.

Aren't they digging their own grave by being friendly to other countries now?

Hashirama also had similar concerns.

He glanced at Izuna out of the corner of his eye.

Izuna's gaze was hard to describe; it held a hint of disdain, yet remained calm.

It was as if what Ishikawa said was completely outside his consideration, and mentioning it was as if it were an insult to him.

Oh yeah, Izuna seems to have come from the future. Judging from his appearance, could it be that the children of Konoha in the future are all very powerful?

Hashirama smiled. "I just hope that peace can last a little longer."

Four Kage: "..."

Is this person mentally challenged?

Reto stared at Hashirama for a long while, his mind replaying the words he had just heard.

Is this person's dream of peace so grand that even personal interests can take a backseat?

Forget it. Getting something in Hashirama is what matters. What Hashirama is thinking is none of their business.

Hashirama continued, "The Mizukage said that Konoha is thriving, and even you people living in other countries know this very well. Do you know what this means?"

Reto snapped out of his daze, his tone now tinged with wariness. "What, is Your Majesty showing off your achievements, Hokage?"

"No." Hashirama shook his head. "What I mean is, this means that the Daimyo and nobles of your country will also know this. The Konoha Special Administrative Region is a gathering place for Ninjas. You think we are from the Land of Fire and have nothing to do with you. But the nobles won't think that way."

Reto's eyes widened: "You mean—"

"That's right," Hashirama said. "Now, in their eyes, we Ninjas are one entity. The reason they had Ninjas attack the nobles in the Land of Hot Water was twofold: first, to force the Land of Hot Water to compromise and then annex the Land of Whirlpools; and second, to instill fear of us Ninjas in the world. This would lead to the world distrusting Konoha's Ninjas, and return them to the narrative that 'Ninjas are inhuman killers.'"

After listening, the Four Kage figures all looked somewhat bewildered.

Ai frowned. "This... isn't this our Ninja code of conduct? What's the problem?"

Hashirama's brows furrowed.

He hadn't expected that even after things had come to this point, these people wouldn't realize they were being spoken ill of.

Izuna stood behind, closed his folding fan, and spoke, "It means that in the eyes of the world, we Ninjas are nothing more than dogs kept by nobles."

The pupils of the Four Kage constricted.

Without a stern rebuke. "What nonsense are you spouting!"

Ishikawa raised his hand to block him. "No! Step back!"

Wu retreated, but stared at Izuna with an unfriendly gaze.

Izuna blinked twice, thinking to himself, "This guy has a lot of opinions about me. It seems he heard that Ōnoki became Madara's apprentice because he played my game, which is why things turned out this way."

Dude, how was I supposed to know your kid could immediately do a sliding kneel? Besides, it wasn't me who made him become the apprentice; I even tried to stop him.

Ishikawa took a deep breath, turning his gaze from Izuna to Hashirama: "I understand what you mean Hokage. So you mean we can't let those nobles ruin our reputation, is that right?"

"That's right." Hashirama nodded. "In any case, we can't let the name of Ninja continue to be synonymous with executioner. If we truly want to live a peaceful life, we must fundamentally change the situation of the Ninjas."

Byakuren snorted and leaned back in her chair, the scar across her left eye appearing particularly deep in the Kakkō.

"We don't need to change," he said. "Ninja is Ninja. We decide what we're like. You want us to abandon our Ninja identity to pander to Ordinary People? Dream on."

Standing by the wall, Ban listened to these words and felt a greater sense of approval for the old man.

It is or it isn't. Trying to prove something will only make you seem like you're just copying others, lacking integrity and appearing ridiculous.