Konoha·Hokage's Office.
It's slightly cooler at the end of summer, but the lights are still on inside Hokage Building.
Tsunade stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, frowning, holding a secret letter sent by Land of Lightning in his hand, which was stamped with Fourth Raikage's personal seal and emergency mark.
She exhaled slowly and looked back at the two senior consultants at the table.
Shikaku Nara and Inoichi Yamanaka were sitting quietly on both sides of the round table with extremely serious expressions.
"This is an invitation from Raikage." Tsunade put down the confidential letter, his voice cold and depressing, "He requested to hold a 'Five Kage Summit about stabilizing Shinobi World', and hoped that we, Land of Fire, would send a formal delegation to Iwagakure to participate."
"Stabilization Shinobi World..." Inoichi Yamanaka murmured softly, stretched out Teuchi to unroll the scroll, and after reading it carefully for a moment, a disdainful sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth, "Haha - this statement is really ironic."
He looked at Tsunade with sharp eyes. "Lord Hokage, this is obviously a lie."
Tsunade nodded slightly. "You think so too?"
"Yes." Inoichi Yamanaka said firmly, "What is disrupting the Shinobi World situation now is none other than Land of Lightning - they were trying to advance the strategic resource line at the Land of Iron border not long ago, secretly forcing Land of Iron."
"And now, they are trying to come up with some kind of 'stabilization agreement'... it's better to say it's a cover-up."
Shikaku Nara did not express his position immediately, but closed his eyes and thought for a long time, and then slowly spoke:
"Inoichi is right. This invitation looks high-sounding, but what is revealed... is more of panic."
Tsunade raised his eyebrows. "What do you think they are afraid of?"
"From a tactical point of view," Shikaku Nara spoke at a steady pace and his tone was always calm, "Fourth Raikage has always been strong. It is rare for him to bow his head and initiate talks."
"The last time was to defeat Akatsuki."
"Further back, three years ago, when Yemu emerged and overpowered Five Kage, Fourth Raikage obviously made a huge gaffe in order to dominate the talks."
"Now, he actually proposed to take the initiative to throw out the name of 'Anding Shinobi World'... This is not a negotiation, but a request for help."
Inoichi Yamanaka's eyes changed when he heard this. "What do you mean--Land of Lightning... what threats did you encounter?"
"And it's the kind of threat that can destroy a ninja village." Shikaku Nara said slowly with a solemn expression, "An enemy that can make Fourth Raikage surrender and also bring other Kage into the game is probably not a level that the 'Alliance' can compete with."
Tsunade tapped on the table and his voice sank:
"Who could that be? Akatsuki?"
"No." Shikaku Nara shook his head in denial, "Today Akatsuki has been split by Yemu. Many members have been recruited by various countries. The core combat strength is not enough to challenge Land of Lightning on its own."
He stared deeply at the ripples of tea on the table. "Only one person... meets this condition."
Inoichi Yamanaka and Tsunade raised their heads almost at the same time.
"Yemu." Shikaku's tone was calm, as if he was stating an unavoidable truth.
"Yemu?" Tsunade sat down slowly and pressed his fingers hard on the chair handle, making a soft "click" sound, "He has been missing for three years... Are you sure he is back?"
"Think carefully--"
"If it were just a small-scale conflict at the border, Raikage would not be able to bow his head."
"If Akatsuki or the exiled ninja join forces, he will directly mobilize his troops instead of calling us 'Five Kage' for help."
"And if Yemu returns..."
Shikaku Nara's eyes were deep and his tone was as cold as frost. "That means that Land of Lightning may have collapsed now."
"Yemu is probably no longer just one person."
"But... one person can crush a country."
"This can also explain why Fourth Raikage chose the location of Five Kage Summit at Land of Earth."
Inoichi Yamanaka frowned. "You mean, Yemu really has the combat power to 'destroy the country personally'?"
Tsunade did not interrupt, but her hands were already shaking slightly.
The memory of the last battle left by Yemu three years ago is still deeply imprinted in her mind:
Susanoo was destroyed by thunder, and several shadows had almost no ability to resist in a head-on confrontation.
Raikage was even tortured by Yemu until he lost his faith.
At that time, Yemu was already not a ninja, but the prototype of "Deity".
If he comes back now...
Then Five Kage Summit is probably going to discuss things about him again.
After a long silence, Tsunade took a deep breath and stood up, his eyes as sharp as a knife.
"You two, the recent affairs in the village will be left to you."
"As for me."
Tsunade paused and turned to look out the window at the Konoha street.
"I will personally lead the team to Iwagakure for talks."
"If Yemu is really coming back, then this time... I won't stand idly by."
Inside Hokage's Office, the atmosphere was heavy.
Tsunade gently pressed his temples and said in a low voice, "Five Kage Summit is deeply involved. This time we are not just going for the sake of face. The selection of the escort must be foolproof."
Inoichi Yamanaka nodded in agreement. "That's true. Especially when talks are held in a remote place like Iwagakure, security must be upgraded to the highest level."
Shikaku Nara thought for a moment and then said, "Lord Hokage, do you still plan to maintain the last standard? Three-person formation escort?"
Tsunade nodded.
Without Yemu by his side, Tsunade would feel very insecure.
Inoichi Yamanaka frowned. "Then we need to select ninjas who can support you in extreme situations and adapt to the battlefield situation... The standard is almost close to 'Kage Level'."
"Then I guess... you already have someone in mind, right?"
Tsunade looked at the table and nodded slightly, then slowly said two names:
"Kakashi Hatake, Naruto Uzumaki."
The two consultants looked at each other and fell silent almost at the same moment.
After counting, Shikaku Nara nodded. "Kakashi is experienced and has strong intelligence capabilities. He is the most reliable Jonin I have ever seen. He is calm and composed, and has a good way of handling complex diplomatic situations."
"And Naruto Uzumaki..." He hesitated, "Although he has an impulsive personality, the connection between him and Yemu may be the biggest bargaining chip in the negotiation."
Inoichi Yamanaka added, "Don't forget, Naruto is Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, a former friend of Yemu. Naruto is easier to access his judgment logic than any of us."
Tsunade nodded in affirmation. "That's why I chose them two."
"One is the calm and strategic Dark Blade of Shadow."
"One is the inheritor of Will of Fire, which symbolizes peace and hope."
"One plays in front, and the other stays behind."
"My Land of Fire attitude will be reflected by these two people."
Tsunade said this, stood up and spoke firmly:
"Give an order now to prepare the two of them to leave. In three days, we will set off for Iwagakure."
"This time--no matter what lies ahead, Konoha must stand firm."
Konoha·Hokage Building Behind the training ground
Sunset sets westward, and the orange-red light falls on the mountain wall of Hokage Rock, soft and quiet.
Kakashi stood on the edge of the training ground with his hands in his pockets, looking lazily at Naruto in front of him who kept pumping his fists and palms. Nine-Tails Chakra was surging faintly on the surface of his body.
After a while, Naruto noticed his gaze, wiped his sweat, and walked over.
"Kakashi-sensei, are you looking for me?"
Kakashi had gentle eyes, took out an order letter from his pocket, and threw it to him lightly.
Naruto took it and opened it. As soon as he glanced at it, his eyes were shocked.
"Five Kage Summit's escort? And I also want to participate?"
His tone was full of surprise, and then a smile appeared on his lips, "Wow, are you finally going to be treated like a real adult?"
Kakashi didn't smile, just walked to him and said calmly:
"Do you see clearly the key to this meeting?"
Naruto was stunned for a moment, lowered his head to read the letter again, and his eyes fell on the key sentence:
--"The important resolution regarding the stabilization of Shinobi World is suspected to be related to Yemu."
The atmosphere suddenly became a little quieter.
Naruto clutched the letter, his eyes drooped slightly, and he spoke in a low voice after a long time:
"As expected... is it about Yemu?"
"What do you think?" Kakashi asked.
"Yemu hasn't appeared in the past three years... Everyone thought he was dead, but I don't believe it."
"He won't die that easily."
Naruto's voice gradually became firmer.
"Back then, he could stand in front of Five Kage and the entire Allied Shinobi Forces, defeating all enemies with almost no effort. How could a guy like that... if he was still alive, be silent?"
Kakashi nodded and looked at him. "Are you scared?"
Naruto thought for a moment and shook his head seriously, "It's not that I'm afraid."
"Just... worried."
"What are you worried about?" Kakashi continued to ask.
Naruto paused for a moment and looked at the sky with complex and steady eyes:
"I'm worried that Shinobi World... will start another war."
"Yemu is so strong that it is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. It is normal for everyone to be afraid of him, but as long as there is fear, they will definitely take action first."
"But if you could talk... and have a conversation..."
"Kakashi-sensei."
Naruto spoke slowly, with a calm tone, but more mature than three years ago:
"I feel that war must be wrong."
"If I could, I would try my best to prevent them from starting a war."
"Even if they regard Yemu as an enemy, I have to stand up and say: He is not an existence that we should treat as an enemy."
"Like Sasuke, he once left Konoha, but I know that his heart... was not really betrayed."
Kakashi looked at Naruto with a hint of relief in his eyes.
He knows that after three years, Naruto has not only grown in strength, but also in psychological maturity, which is what really makes people feel at ease.
"You're right."
"Perhaps you are the only person in this meeting who can stand in front of Yemu without being directly attacked."
"So you must go."
Kakashi patted Naruto on the shoulder with a gentle but firm tone:
"Go tell everyone, and also tell Yemu."
"This Shinobi World, there is still hope."
Naruto nodded with a smile on his face. "Yeah! Just like I convinced Sasuke back then, I will definitely try to bring back Yemu!"
The sun shines on his blond hair, and his firm blue eyes seem to reflect the new Hokage will.
Kakashi lowered his head and smiled, "Well, Naruto you really didn't disappoint me."
Above Land of Iron, Tower.
The dim light filtered through the heavy curtains and reflected on the brocade-covered couch.
Qingxue Uchiha is wearing a black gauze, leaning on the arms of Yemu. Her figure is soft and graceful, her outline is picturesque, and her messy hair exudes laziness and charm.
Her cheeks were slightly red, her breathing was still warm, but her eyes had regained their cold and sly look.
"My men just came to report..."
Qingxue Uchiha whispered softly, in a lazy but clear tone, "Raikage, that old guy, is going to do Five Kage Summit again."
Yemu was half leaning on the edge of the couch, with a calm expression, his arm lightly resting on Qingxue's shoulders, the golden light flowing in his eyes without any disturbance.
"About what?" Yemu said calmly, as if he had expected everything.
"The reason is still the old-fashioned 'stabilization Shinobi World'..." Qingxue narrowed his eyes and said in a contemptuous tone, "But I dare to conclude that the real purpose is nothing more than to discuss how to deal with you."
Yemu heard this, his eyes narrowed, and he patted her back lightly, speaking in a calm tone:
"Since they want to discuss how to attack me..."
Yemu stood up, his short silver hair slightly raised, his body slender and straight, his golden eyes reflected Kakkō, as calmly but oppressively as Deity whispered.
"Then I will go there myself."
"But it's not about negotiating."
"It's time to go -- declare war."
Qingxue looked up at him, the corners of his lips raised slightly, the scarlet Sharingan pair flashed with dangerous light, and he chuckled softly:
"Ha... I knew you wouldn't just sit back and ignore it."
Yemu put on a black cloak, his back was as straight as a knife, and said coldly, "This time, we must let them... taste the pain."
The cold wind was howling outside, but there was a strange temperature inside the house.
A few scattered pieces of clothing on the ground and the marks of an overturned tea cup all vaguely indicated what had just happened.
Yemu was sitting lazily on the edge of the bed, with one arm around Qingxue's slender waist, without a trace of emotion between his eyebrows.
"Click--"
The door was gently pushed open, and a gentle but urgent voice broke the silence of the secret room.
"Yemu, I heard you..."
Halfway through, Hinata Hyuga paused.
She stood at the door, wearing a white and blue ninja uniform, and holding an information scroll in her hand.
But her eyes were fixed on the two people beside the bed.
The air suddenly seemed to freeze.
Hinata Hyuga's eyes gradually began to lose their highlights and looked broken.
"Qingxue... Didn't you say you went to the front line to take command?" Hinata said in a restrained tone.
She bit her lip, her eyes quickly turned to Yemu, and her voice became lower, "Yemu... are you secretly with her again?"
Although the word "stealing" is not stated clearly, the meaning is clear.
Yemu's brows moved slightly, but remained calm.
Qingxue Uchiha heard this and raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a pouty smile.
"Humph." She gently straightened her hair that was messed up by Yemu, deliberately moved closer, and said in a calm tone with a victor's attitude:
"I can command the battlefield here, isn't it okay?"
Qingxue slowly lifted up his cloak and wrapped it around his delicate body. His confident and arrogant posture seemed to be declaring sovereignty.
Hinata was so angry that his cheeks were slightly bulging and his eyebrows were furrowed. A pair of Byakugan seemed to be able to see through Yemu.
She has obviously been working hard for three years, and her fighting ability and body and temperament are growing, but why does she still lose to this cold-tongued woman every time?
She gritted her teeth and flew towards Yemu.