Arrangement

By the time Qi Shuang and the others returned to Kirigakure, it was already the following evening.

Traveling at full speed, they had spent nearly a day and a night on the road.

The many high-ranking officials of Kirigakure who had received advance notice were already waiting at the village entrance to welcome them.

"Mizukage-sama..."

A group of people crowded around, but Mei Terumi immediately stopped them and ordered, "Go to the conference hall. I have something important to announce!"

Before long, all the high-ranking officials had gathered in Kirigakure's conference hall.

"Mizukage-sama, you summoned us in such a hurry right after returning. Did something happen?" Hozuki Clan Head Hozuki Kaisuke asked solemnly.

Mei Terumi sat in the principal seat and said seriously to everyone, "At this Five Kage Summit, the Five Great Shinobi Villages reached an agreement and are preparing to launch a joint campaign against the Akatsuki!"

"Is a mere rogue-ninja organization worth such a huge effort?" Hoshigaki Family Head Yusuke Kaki clicked his tongue in disbelief.

Gathering the strength of the Five Great Villages to attack a rogue-ninja faction was an unprecedented lineup.

Behind Mei Terumi, Qi Shuang explained solemnly, "The Akatsuki isn't as simple as it appears on the surface. In secret, they have also raised a White Zetsu army numbering nearly one hundred thousand!"

"Even if we gather the strength of the Five Great Villages to attack them, the situation will still be far from optimistic!"

He had told everyone about White Zetsu before, but to keep them from panicking, he had never mentioned the exact number.

Thus, like the Five Great Villages before them, they still thought the Akatsuki was merely an ordinary rogue-ninja organization.

"One hundred thousand???"

Everyone present was stunned speechless.

After all, even the combined ninja forces of the Five Great