The air in the Five Kage Summit chamber was heavy as iron.
Yemu had long since left, but the shadow he cast over their hearts weighed on them like a mountain.
Tsunade broke the silence first.
Her gaze swept across the faces of the other Kage.
Ōnoki snorted, his eyes brimming with displeasure and wariness.
His aged body leaned forward slightly, but his voice rang out firmly. "Tsunade, surely you aren't still naive enough to think Konoha can stay out of this?"
"That brat Yemu isn't anyone's 'pet.' Konoha let him grow this powerful, and now you're asking us how to deal with him?"
"You should be asking yourself-is Konoha going to resist, or keep playing the coward and appease him?"
His words instantly tightened the atmosphere in the chamber.
Tsunade frowned, her expression visibly darkening.
"Are you... suggesting Konoha is in league with Yemu?"
Ōnoki answered without backing down:
"I'm not making accusations. I'm being cautious."
"Yemu left your village three years ago, yet you never declared him a missing-nin, never issued a wanted notice, and even did nothing when he returned."
"As far as I'm concerned, that amounts to acceptance, or even... tacit approval, to some extent!"
"By refusing to deal with him, you gave him confidence and time. And now look-he's become someone who can practically subjugate the entire shinobi world!"
"Konoha cannot escape responsibility."
Tsunade's eyes turned cold. She was about to retort when Gaara interrupted her.
"...There's no point in blaming each other now."
"We've all seen how powerful Yemu is."
"If we keep fighting among ourselves and bickering, he'll simply pick us off one by one."
"So I suggest we agree on one thing first-are we prepared to accept his 'invitation' and face him head-on at the Land of Iron's border in seven days?"