On the brink

The Raikage shouted, "What is it?!"

Danzo said, "The leader of the Akatsuki is very likely Madara Uchiha."

"What?!" All four Kage were shocked.

Ōnoki spoke guardedly. "Hasn't that man been dead for a long time?"

Danzo said, "The details are still unclear, but the intelligence is reliable."

Ōnoki said, "I can hardly believe that Madara is still alive..."

Just then, Mifune suddenly spoke. "As the leader of a neutral nation, I would like to say a few words. The leader of the Akatsuki understands the changing times well. He has exploited the distrust between nations to build his own power during this period of peace."

"Still, blessings and misfortunes go hand in hand. It is fortunate that the Five Kage have gathered here today."

"I propose that we form the Allied Shinobi Forces to confront the threat of the Akatsuki together."

Ōnoki said, "The Allied Shinobi Forces... That isn't something we can accomplish just by talking about it. The Five Great Shinobi Villages are evenly matched. Who would command this alliance?"

Mifune said, "The only Jinchūriki remaining now is Konoha's Nine-Tails... Shouldn't our highest priority be deciding how to guide him?"

"..." The Kage fell silent.

Mifune said, "Then how about having the Hokage command the Allied Shinobi Forces?"

His words stunned all four Kage.

After all, no one outside Konoha knew yet that Naruto had defected!

"What did you say?!" The Raikage reacted most fiercely of all.

Danzo said without betraying any emotion, "If there are no objections, then I shall graciously accept..."

The Raikage shouted, "Why the Hokage?! He's the very embodiment of this world's darkness! How could we entrust this to someone like him?!"

Mifune glanced at him. "Then whom would you suggest, Lord Raikage?"

The Raikage shouted, "Not a single shinobi from our village has joined the Akatsuki! Someone who can't be trusted can't shoulder this burden. I'm the best choice..."

Mifune said, "I'm afraid that isn't very convincing..."

The Raikage said, "What?"

Mifune pointed at the shattered table in front of the Raikage and reasoned, "Do you think it is appropriate to govern shinobi with such methods and force? If you let your emotions rule you and place strength above all else, won't the alliance end up falling apart just like this table?"

Crunch, crunch, crunch!

The remark hit its mark, and the Raikage ground his teeth in fury.

Mifune withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "Of course, that is merely my objective assessment as an outsider."

"Lord Kazekage is rather young to shoulder this responsibility, and may have difficulty earning everyone's respect. Besides, his duties as Kazekage are already burdensome enough."

"As for Lord Tsuchikage, his age speaks for itself. He clearly lacks vigor. Moreover, his inclination to use the Akatsuki makes it difficult to trust him."

"As for Lady Mizukage, Kirigakure was the birthplace of the Akatsuki. The possibility of intelligence leaks is concerning, and there is also the matter of spies."

"Although we do not yet understand why the Akatsuki is collecting tailed beasts, we cannot let them have the Nine-Tails under any circumstances."

"And since the Nine-Tails belongs to Konoha, we believe appointing the Hokage would be the safest choice..."

With Mifune laying out such sound arguments, the Raikage knew he had no hope of becoming commander. He shouted, "I only came here to show you Kumogakure's strength! These Allied Shinobi Forces have nothing to do with me!"

Ao, the Mizukage's guard, kept a clear head. He noticed that Mifune's bias was far too obvious for the leader of a neutral nation...

"Something's wrong. Under these circumstances, I need to check... Chōjūrō, prepare for combat."

"Huh?" Young Chōjūrō was not so seasoned and could not immediately grasp the situation, but he tightened his grip on the great sword Hiramekarei nonetheless.

Hiss! Ao formed a two-finger hand seal, and the outlines of the chakra pathways around his right eye appeared beneath its black, seal-marked eyepatch.

Byakugan!

The color of Danzo's chakra appeared clearly before Ao's Byakugan.

He was inwardly stunned. How could this be... The color of the chakra in his right eye and the surrounding pathways-there's no mistake. That's Shisui Uchiha's color! He was a formidable enemy I fought once. I will never forget that color as long as I live!

Whoosh!

Ao landed behind Mei Terumi and addressed Danzo. "Lord Hokage, would you let us see your bandaged right eye?"

"!?" All four Kage were astonished.

Danzo said, "..."

Ōnoki asked, "What's going on?"

Ao demanded of Danzo, "That right eye... It was transplanted from Shisui Uchiha, wasn't it? Shisui's visual jutsu can enter another person's brain and manipulate their thoughts without their awareness."

"The person being controlled remains completely oblivious. It is a visual jutsu of the highest order!"

The Raikage caught on. "Hokage, don't tell me you used it on Mifune..."

Mifune said, "!?"

Ao said, "This right eye of mine was also a rare trophy from a past battle with the Hyuga, so I'm hardly in a position to criticize others. But the genjutsu affecting Lord Mifune was broken just now... And another thing."

Ao abruptly glanced behind Mifune. "You two can show your true forms now!"

"Hm?!" Everyone present turned their gaze toward Chūsuke and Rikaku!

Orochimaru, disguised as the tall samurai Rikaku, thought, Heh heh... We've been discovered after all. Even you couldn't have anticipated this, Naruto-kun-that one of the Mizukage's guards would possess the Byakugan.

"..." Naruto, disguised as the one-eyed samurai Chūsuke, wore a stony expression.

After all, it had happened so long ago. Naruto had only learned what transpired at this summit from other people's accounts, so naturally, he could not have known every last detail.

But his objective had already been achieved... Danzo's Kotoamatsukami had been used up!

Poof! The Transformation Technique was released.

Naruto, wearing a mask, and Orochimaru appeared before everyone!

Shing!

Without a word, Mifune drew his sword and slashed...

Naruto drew the sword at his waist and blocked Mifune's fierce strike!

Naruto smiled faintly. "Just what I'd expect from the leader of the samurai. Such swift swordsmanship."

Mifune demanded, "Where are Chūsuke and Rikaku?"

"Well, who knows?"

Naruto pushed against the blade with his left hand while reaching toward his ninja tool pouch with his right.

"Hm?!" Mifune's gaze sharpened, and he pulled back his sword and retreated.

But Naruto merely took a Ninja Smoke Bomb from his ninja tool pouch and hurled it to the ground.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The sounds of fists and feet colliding rang out through the smoke.

Then, with a boom, the wall shattered... Clutching his shoulder, Danzo fled swiftly, with Fū and Torune close behind.

Naruto and Orochimaru were about to pursue them, but Ao of Kirigakure had already blocked their path.

"Even with that mask, you can't hide your chakra. You're Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, aren't you?"

"And you... You're Orochimaru, one of Konoha's Sannin, a dangerous rogue from Konoha who was rumored to be dead. I never imagined you were still alive-and together with your own village's Jinchūriki."

"Heh heh..." Orochimaru gave an alluring smile.

Naruto thought, Ao of Kirigakure... I haven't dealt with him much, but seeing him now, he really is a perceptive shinobi. I'm beginning to understand why Kara recruited him after he survived the Fourth Shinobi World War.

Just then, the Raikage demanded, "Nine-Tails Jinchuriki-then you're Naruto Uzumaki, aren't you? Tell me, do you know where Sasuke Uchiha is?!"

Naruto said, "I do."

The Raikage said, "Where is he?"

Naruto said, "I'm not telling you..."