United Once More

Then Sasori changed tack. "But there is good news."

"So far, these monsters have shown no clear resistance to purely physical attacks."

"I suspect the civilization behind them has hit a technological barrier: it can't achieve both sheer biological strength and immunity to energy attacks."

Sasori's reasoning was clear, and the evidence behind it was thorough. Darui was momentarily speechless, though he still seemed ready to raise objections from another angle.

Just then, the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, who had remained silent until now, slowly stood.

He looked around at the four other Kage, his expression more solemn than they had ever seen it, with even a trace of guilt.

"Before anyone says more..."

"I, Naruto Uzumaki, owe you all a sincere apology on behalf of Konoha."

To everyone's astonishment, he bowed deeply to the other four Kage.

The meeting room fell silent. The Kage exchanged puzzled looks, unsure what the usually cheerful, optimistic Hokage was getting at.

Naruto straightened and looked at each of them. "The truth is, Sasuke Uchiha and I learned during the Fourth Shinobi World War that an Alien Civilization called the Otsutsuki Clan had long had its sights on our world."

"One of the clan's defining traits is its ability to absorb, resist, and even control most Chakra-based Ninjutsu."

He paused, his voice heavy. "At the time, the Konoha Leadership decided not to share this information with you, weighing the need for stability against the risk of panic."

"I failed in my duty as Hokage. Once again, I apologize."

He raised his head, his gaze resolute. "And now, the attack on Iwagakure may well have been the Otsutsuki Clan sending a vanguard to test our strength."

"So, on behalf of Konoha, I formally propose that the Five Great Nations unite once more, as we did