Ling's reverse transmission of information was like a pebble dropped into still, deep water. The ripples were faint, but they spread nonetheless. Over the past few days, he had continuously monitored the seal inside Uchiha Itachi and keenly detected an exceedingly slight instability in the connection between the darkness source and Sasuke, far away. It did not stem from the seal weakening. Rather, it seemed that the consciousness at the other end-Sasuke's-had begun stirring in some indescribable way.
"He received it... or at least, it had an effect." Ling wrote that assessment in his experimental notes, feeling somewhat reassured. It proved his approach was viable: senjutsu energy could indeed interfere with that dark connection. But the next questions were more difficult. How could he turn this fleeting interference into something more effective? How could he convey clearer information to Sasuke without alerting the Sacred Lord?
He began a new round of research, attempting to shape senjutsu chakra into a more complex, more resilient "information carrier," while searching for possible "gaps" in the dark connection that would be harder to detect.
Meanwhile, Konoha worked like a machine running at full speed, preparing for the Five Kage Summit. Tsunade accepted Kakashi's suggestion and passed "rumors" of possible Akatsuki activity along the Land of Earth's borders to Iwagakure through covert channels.
The effect was immediate.
Two days later, Iwagakure formally replied, agreeing to attend the Five Kage Summit. Although the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, remained cautious in his wording, stressing that Iwagakure needed to "assess the specific threats" and "clarify the terms of cooperation," his change in attitude undoubtedly removed the greatest obstacle to convening the summit.
With that, the Five Great Nations had reached a formal agreement, and the beginnings of an alliance to confront the Akatsuki threat emerged.
The neutral Land of