At those words, the atmosphere in the conference room abruptly tightened.
Everyone's gaze turned to the Fourth Raikage at once.
The Fourth Raikage's expression remained unchanged. Resting his lone arm on the table, he slowly began:
"What Iwagakure said differs from the information we have."
His voice was steady, but carried an unquestionable firmness. "Some days ago, I did receive a message from Iwagakure, saying they wished to renegotiate the reparations and inviting me to talks at the border."
"But when I arrived with Killer B and some of Kumogakure's elite, what awaited us was not Ōnoki, but an ambush by Dragon Release Village."
The Fourth Raikage raised his eyes to Kitsuchi, his gaze sharp as a blade:
"In that battle, Killer B was captured, I escaped with serious injuries, and every elite who accompanied me died in combat."
"And the reason I survived... was that they seemed to have deliberately spared my life so I could bring back a message."
"What message?"
At that, those present all began asking.
The Fourth Raikage leaned forward slightly and said, emphasizing every word:
"The collection of the tailed beasts is nearly complete. The age of a unified shinobi world is about to arrive."
Boom-
The conference room erupted in an uproar.
"Unify the shinobi world?!"
"Dragon Release Village really intends to do that?!"
"Lin Ze... has ambitions that great?"
Amid the discussion, Tsunade's, Rasa's, and Kitsuchi's expressions kept shifting.
Mei Terumi sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap, her gaze deep. She said nothing.
Mifune raised a hand to quiet the discussion and asked gravely, "Fourth Raikage, do you have evidence for these claims?"
"Yes."
The Fourth Raikage raised his hand slightly, signaling Mabui behind him.
Mabui took a Memory Crystal from a document pouch, placed it on the table, and