Gaara was stunned. No Five Kage?
What was going on?
"What do you mean?"
Zhou Cheng smiled and patted his shoulder. Couldn't he see it yet?
"After losing their tailed beasts, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure have suffered a huge drop in strength. Their standing in the Shinobi World isn't what it used to be."
Other shinobi villages might catch up and push them out of the ranks of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Gaara was dumbfounded. You're still smiling? I'm the Kazekage of Sunagakure!
Reading his expression, Zhou Cheng gave him a reassuring smile. You've got me.
"Don't worry. Once the dust settles, I'll assign you another tailed beast!"
Gaara's eyes widened. Assign tailed beasts? You?
You've got to be kidding.
The tailed beasts are all in the Akatsuki's hands right now. What, are you going to wipe out the Akatsuki?
"Do you think you're the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi?"
"Assign tailed beasts? Stop dreaming!"
"Think about how to deal with the Akatsuki's next attack instead!"
Zhou Cheng looked helpless. Why won't he believe me?
"All right, all right. You'll understand later."
"Just remember not to agree to attend the Five Kage Summit for now!"
"Unless Ōnoki swallows his pride and begs us to attend."
"And it can't be held within the Five Great Nations. That's the only way it'll be fair!"
Gaara felt that made sense and nodded, agreeing to Zhou Cheng's plan.
Indeed, if he simply went along with it this time, he would definitely be placing himself beneath Iwagakure.
But why should I? Our villages are both among the Five Great Shinobi Villages. We're equals!
Neither of us has a tailed beast now. Why should I bow to you?
When Zhou Cheng left Sunagakure, he left behind the blueprints for the Chakra Cloak. A united