"I have been awaiting your arrival, Lord Hokage. I am Mifune, general of the Land of Iron."
When Madara arrived at the venue for the Five Kage Summit, the first to receive him was a short old man with a fierce gaze. Behind him, two attendants wrapped in scarves stood guard.
"Hokage, Uchiha Itachi."
Madara calmly gave his name, and Mifune escorted him inside.
Only after entering did Naruto withdraw his Tailed Beast Cloak, but he had already drawn the attention of those inside.
"You know perfectly well that the Akatsuki is hunting Tailed Beasts, yet you still take the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki everywhere with you. You certainly are confident, Fifth Hokage."
Since the Raikage had chosen the venue and convened the Five Kage Summit, he naturally would not keep the others waiting. After receiving confirmation that the Kage of the other villages would attend, he had brought his guards, Darui and C, and arrived first.
The Raikage did not know that, rather than Madara taking Naruto out being dangerous, Madara taking the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path out was far more dangerous. After all, the only Rinnegan capable of summoning the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path now belonged to Madara.
"There is no need for you to concern yourself, Fourth Raikage. Our village's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is one of our most valuable combat assets. I have complete faith in his strength. The mere Akatsuki does not have what it takes to defeat Naruto."
In front of outsiders, Madara staunchly defended Naruto's dignity. Hearing his words, Naruto immediately grinned with pride.
"Old man Raikage, I'm really strong, you know."
After hearing Naruto say that, the Fourth Raikage carefully studied him and Sasuke. To his surprise, both were so young.
*Damn Konoha. Having a young Kage is one thing, but even