The Five Kage Summit

Land of Fire, Konoha.

Konoha was festooned with decorations, as though it were about to celebrate the New Year. Five-pointed maple leaf flags of Konoha hung along both sides of the streets.

The first Five Kage Summit in the ninja world would be held in Konoha in a few days, and Konoha had made preparations well in advance. As Minister of Rites, Sarutobi Sasuke was in charge of foreign affairs and had been run off his feet these past few days.

To showcase Konoha's cultural soft power, Sarutobi Sasuke had collected Uchiha Madara's everyday speeches, printed them into booklets, and placed them in Konoha's public library stands, allowing visitors to learn about the Will of Fire at any time.

As for Uchiha Yan, Sarutobi Sasuke had arranged for a large bronze statue of him to be erected in the center of Konoha's streets.

It had to be said that Sarutobi Sasuke had become increasingly skilled at flattery. Sometimes Uchiha Yan knew perfectly well that he was being buttered up, yet it still felt good, and he enjoyed hearing it.

Take the statue, for instance. Before it was cast, Uchiha Yan had clearly said, "It's too showy and against the rules. Even the Hokage doesn't have a statue." It needed further discussion. Yet Sarutobi Sasuke and Shimura Yuno had somehow gotten it done overnight.

Because of the statue, Tobirama had impeached Uchiha Yan more than once in meetings, saying that he had overstepped his bounds. Sarutobi Sasuke promptly produced a "Konoha Residents' Petition," while Uchiha Yan also stated that he had not approved of the matter. However, Konoha's people sincerely recognized him, and he could only reluctantly agree.

Uchiha Yan liked Sarutobi Sasuke. Whenever he entrusted something to him, there had never been anything Sarutobi Sasuke did that Uchiha Yan disliked. Sarutobi Sasuke handled matters with care, considering the Uchiha in every detail. Take the statue, for example: not only had it elevated Uchiha Yan to great heights, but it had also done so with perfect justification.

Three days later.

The Kage of Wind, Earth, Lightning, and Water arrived in Konoha without incident.

The Raikage, Tsuchikage, Kazekage, and Mizukage had each brought personal guards and accompanying ninja squads. This had been agreed upon before their arrival, and Konoha intended to use the opportunity to promote its culture and local customs.

Sarutobi Sasuke had also arranged for a group of elementary school students to perform "The Ninja World Will Be Better." Uchiha Yan had written the song out of his hatred for war, expressing his hope that the ninja world would never again know war and that peace would endure forever. The lead singer was none other than his son, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Konoha White Palace, People's Conference Room.

The five Kage sat around a pentagonal table, with guards standing behind each of them. Konoha's side consisted of the Konoha Five Elders, along with Chancellor Nara Shikato and Chief Minister Hyuga Tennin.

Uchiha Madara spoke first.

"The main purpose of this Five Kage Summit is to establish the 'Ninja World Peace Alliance' and safeguard peace in the ninja world. Today's meeting will discuss the following matters."

"

As his words fell, the other four Kage secretly breathed sighs of relief.

Konoha's proposal was far better than they had anticipated. There were no excessive terms. As long as Konoha showed no intention of starting a war, everything could be discussed.

The five great nations did not directly border one another, so there were no direct border conflicts. Small nations lay between the great powers, serving as buffer zones. For example, the Land of Rain and the Land of Rivers lay between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire, while the Land of Waterfalls and the Land of Grass stood between the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire.

These small nations had always been fence-sitters, following whichever side had the stronger wind. With Konoha dominant today, small nations such as the Land of Rain, the Land of Rivers, and the Land of Rice Fields naturally wished to follow Konoha. When Konoha declined someday, they would switch sides on their own without anyone needing to act. There was little point in discussing which side the small nations belonged to.

As for the second point, Konoha's current strength was off the charts. It was best if problems could be resolved through negotiation without fighting. Konoha might take advantage of them, but they could not win in a real war anyway. What could not be gained on the battlefield could not be gained at the negotiating table either.

No one had much to say regarding rogue ninja in the third point. As for mission commissions, everyone mainly accepted missions from within their own countries.

The fourth point was exactly what the other four nations wanted. The specific details of trade in the fifth point could be negotiated gradually.

"I agree."

"Hidden Sand Village is willing to participate in regular talks."

"Hidden Stone Village agrees as well."

"Hidden Cloud Village has no objections."

"Hidden Mist Village agrees."

"Very good. Next, we will discuss the specific details of each item." Seeing that no one objected, Uchiha Madara nodded.

In contrast to the tense atmosphere of the meeting, things were far more relaxed elsewhere.

In a guest room at Konoha's post station, Kui Lian and the other two hugged each other and wept. Ever since they had returned from their second hometown to their first, the sand and hot winds of Hidden Sand Village had made them dream of returning to Konoha.

Since Kui Lian and the other two had previously visited Konoha, Reto had selected them as accompanying personnel for this Five Kage Summit, and they had come to Konoha together.

The moment they arrived, they secretly slipped out of the post station while the Kazekage and Shamon were absent. Sarutobi Sasuke had already arranged a room for them and prepared all kinds of delicacies.

The instant the three entered the room, they found the table covered in their favorite foods.

"Look! My favorite pickled cabbage and tofu stew!" Lie Ju had been craving this bite back in Hidden Sand Village.

"And my braised shrimp oil mixed tofu!" Fan Shuo cried out as well.

"Look at how little ambition you two have." Kui Lian was practically drooling too, but he considered himself an old hand at eating. He first poured himself a small dish of sesame paste and stirred it clockwise one hundred and twenty-eight times, then peeled several pieces of sweet pickled garlic. He picked up a slice of hotpot mutton with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth, closed his eyes, and nodded in satisfaction. "Mm, this flavor is authentic."

"Lord Sarutobi, is this the Left Assistant Minister Tofu that Lord Momoka mentioned last time?" Kui Lian noticed a plate of tofu containing large shrimp, which looked very much like the Left Assistant Minister Tofu Senju Momoka had described.

"That's right. Lord Yan specially prepared this for you. Knowing that you suffered in Hidden Sand Village, he specifically instructed the cooks to make it."

"Delicious! Delicious! It truly lives up to the name Left Assistant Minister Tofu!" Lie Ju picked up a piece and put it into his mouth, praising it endlessly.

"What is this dish called?" Fan Shuo asked curiously, looking at a fish topped with a roll of noodles.

"This is carp baked with noodles, also from the Uchiha recipe collection. Give it a try."

Before long, the dishes on the table had been completely wiped out.

"That was satisfying!" Kui Lian and the other two said with grins, patting their bellies.

"This is Konoha's specialty, Little Leaf Tea. Put some in your mouths and chew it," Sarutobi Sasuke said, bringing over a small dish of tea leaves.

Kui Lian froze. "Lord Sarutobi, this is...?"

"You three ate until it was practically up to your throats. Don't let your Kazekage smell it on you when you go back."

"Lord Sarutobi truly thinks of everything." The three happily picked up the tea leaves and began chewing them.