The Raikage's voice reinvigorated the morale of the Kumo ninjas.
The clan-oriented, gang-like management style of Kumo made the Raikage the most unifying figure among the Five Kage. This approach had forged a cohesion in Kumo that seemed almost inhuman from an outsider's perspective.
Of course, there were side effects—namely, the quality and quantity of top-tier shinobi were somewhat limited.
But on closer consideration, this limitation existed primarily because of the sheer anomaly that was Konoha. Compared to other villages, Kumo represented the peak of what the shinobi village system could achieve.
Without Ōnoki, their old nemesis Iwa would be no match for Kumo at all.
Masashi ignored the Kumo ninjas, his Sharingan revealing the true nature of the chakra before him.
Two flows of chakra merged within A's body, yet they did not interfere with one another. The chakra belonging to the Eight-Tails was incredibly stable.
Indeed, he had become a perfect jinchūriki.
With a physique like a cannonball, the Raikage descended from the sky, landing with explosive force. The stone tiles beneath his feet shattered into pieces, sending dust flying in all directions. Yet, despite the impact, the Fourth Raikage stood firm, exuding an overwhelming sense of power.
"Masashi, it's been a long time." A stared at his adversary, his heart boiling with rage, though his expression remained composed and his voice steady.
Masashi's expression didn't change as he stepped aside.
Behind him, Minato stepped forward.
"A, if this is a negotiation, you should show some sincerity," Minato said. "You're late."
"Hmph, ever since you became Hokage, you've become so aggressive. Where is Yugito?"
"You can meet her anytime, depending on how well we negotiate," Minato replied.
Masashi touched the scroll pouch on his chest—a gesture that made the implication clear.
A noticed this action and felt a pang of frustration.
It was a clear sign that Yugito was still in Konoha.
In the past, A might have considered contacting the sleeper agents Kumo had in the Land of Fire to organize a team to infiltrate Konoha's prison during the negotiations. They might even have tried to snatch a Byakugan as a bonus.
But the current Konoha was a different story. The newly reorganized security forces were as impenetrable as a fortress, and the once-constant infighting among Konoha's clans had been replaced by a unified alignment with the Hokage's office. Infiltration was impossible without deploying a large force.
Minato, as Hokage, was an absolute nightmare for Kumo.
"Fine, let's talk," A said.
The two current Kage exchanged glances and headed toward a nearby inn.
Halfway there, he suddenly stopped and looked at Konoha's negotiation team.
"Did your team gain an extra member?"
"We can't help it. Konoha has good food and a lot of people," Masashi quipped darkly. "Why don't you just add someone on your side too?"
"Didn't you say it was supposed to be five people?" A ignored Masashi's sarcastic tone and started scanning the group one by one.
He had no issues with Minato and Masashi participating in the talks.
Hiruzen, his father's old rival, was also present. He had no objections to that—he had to publicly respect the elder Hokage.
The two advisors were long-standing figures in Konoha's leadership and often appeared in diplomatic affairs, so their presence made sense.
That left a large man who stood out, somewhat of an eyesore.
"This guy isn't part of Konoha's leadership, is he?" A pointed at Torifu and asked, "Who are you?"
Of course, he knew exactly who this man was, but he feigned ignorance.
After all, during his tenure as Raikage, Torifu had been semi-retired. Feigning ignorance was a privilege of youth—not knowing the legends of the older generation.
"Go ask your dad," Torifu retorted bluntly.
As a former member of the Second Hokage's personal squad, he differed from Hiruzen in that his work focused purely on military affairs, making his words and actions more direct.
The Fourth Raikage idolized and deeply respected his father, so upon hearing this, his temper flared.
"Does Konoha not understand what respect is!?"
"Respect is reserved for people," Torifu replied. "If I see a rabid dog barking, should I bother asking if it's tired of barking?"
Masashi nearly burst out laughing.
Then he noticed the Kumo ninjas glaring at them, hands reaching for their weapons.
"If you don't need your hands, feel free to move them," he said coldly.
The air suddenly turned icy. Those Kumo ninjas who had reached for their weapons froze in place.
Frost began to form on the ground.
If not for the protective chakra surrounding them, their hands might have frozen over.
"Enough!" A commanded.
A surge of powerful chakra radiated from him, dispersing the encroaching chill.
"A, we're all familiar with each other. Let's skip the unnecessary posturing," Minato said. "At this point, let's be honest with one another. If you want to start a war, we can begin right now."
The tension in the air spiked again, as if the room was on the brink of explosion.
The veterans of the Second Hokage's squad stared daggers at the opposition.
"Hmph!" A snorted, waving his hand.
The Kumo ninjas reluctantly backed off.
A then strode toward the inn's entrance, leading the way.
Nobody mentioned the number of participants again.
---
Meanwhile, a few individuals observed the scene from afar.
Roughly a block away, four figures wearing black cloaks adorned with red clouds sat around a table laden with food and drinks, watching everything unfold.
None of them touched their chopsticks.
"They didn't end up fighting," Orochimaru said, licking his lips. "That brat Minato has really settled into the role of Hokage."
"I don't care. How long is this going to take?" Kakuzu asked impatiently.
As someone who valued every second, he despised sitting idle for too long.
"No way to tell. If it's quick, it could be over in a few words. If they're thorough, even a full day isn't out of the question," Orochimaru shrugged.
Among the group, he was the only one who truly understood how negotiations between major shinobi villages worked.
The others might have strength, but they had zero experience in this arena.
"That's too long," Kakuzu muttered. Even though his face was covered by a mask, everyone could tell he was irritated.
"Do as you please. I don't mind." Orochimaru leaned back, unconcerned.
Kakuzu shifted his gaze toward the red-haired young man sitting nearby. His green eyes narrowed behind his mask as he studied the youth's transformed appearance.
Truth be told, his suspicions had only grown stronger since the young man had shown up.
In this world, besides money, no one could be trusted. The fact that he'd been approached by a puppet during recruitment only reinforced that belief.
However, the young man's strength was undeniable. His true body was even more powerful than the puppet. Initially frail and sickly, he had bounced back into a vibrant and lively state after clashing with the Fourth Raikage.
"Nagato," the woman next to him spoke up, "I still stand by my earlier opinion. You shouldn't have revealed yourself this early."
"Konan, the situation in the shinobi world has shifted. Akatsuki must display its strength in a more impactful way. Exposing these eyes is a necessary sacrifice," replied Nagato.
As Konan had pointed out, appearing here in person carried risks. It wasn't just about temporarily disconnecting from the Gedo Statue.
Remaining linked to the Gedo Statue constantly drained his chakra, leaving him frail and skeletal. However, it also accelerated his adaptation to the power of the Rinnegan.
The price was steep, but the rewards were worth every moment of pain.
With time, he had grown increasingly adept at controlling the Rinnegan's power. Now, not only could he wield it with mastery, but the Gedo Statue was fully under his command.
The Fourth Raikage's attempt to seize the Rinnegan had been predictable. As soon as A laid eyes on the eyes, his instinct had been to grab it.
That worked out perfectly. A brief dose of the Eight-Tails' chakra had brought Nagato's body back to peak condition.
Much appreciated.
He'd responded with a casual Shinra Tensei. The force had sent the Raikage flying through three walls, leaving perfect circular holes in his path.
If it were the right time to collect the tailed beasts, there wouldn't even be a need for payment. He'd have taken out the Fourth Raikage and moved forward with the plan.
The current Raikage had only recently become a jinchūriki and couldn't yet fully control the immense power he now possessed. While his strength had surged, it wasn't enough to handle Nagato at his peak.
"Then again," Orochimaru interjected, "I think this Raikage is genuinely interested in achieving peace with Konoha."
"If that happens, the shinobi world won't see large-scale wars for the foreseeable future. Would Akatsuki still have a purpose? After all, military contracts are our main source of income, aren't they?"
"As long as people exist, conflict will follow. If peace pushes the battles underground, that will benefit Akatsuki even more," Nagato said coldly, looking at Orochimaru.
The man sitting across from him was entirely different from Jiraiya, despite being one of the Three Legendary Sannin. Where Jiraiya had been warm and inspiring, Orochimaru was cold and calculating.
Nagato had nothing left to say to Konoha. Whatever debt of gratitude he owed Jiraiya was nullified when Konoha collaborated with Hanzō to crush Akatsuki. They were even now.
"So, what's the plan?" Orochimaru asked, leaning forward slightly.
"Kumo's contract is simple: if anything goes wrong, we're to protect the Raikage and eliminate Konoha's forces. Regardless of the outcome, the payment for this mission is non-negotiable. Meanwhile, Akatsuki's reputation will be solidified," Nagato declared. "For the greater goal, we'll stockpile funds and immerse ourselves in conflict. That's our current focus."
He laid out his vision for the group.
"The first phase is building our reputation. After this mission, Akatsuki will be a household name. Then, we'll move to the second phase: overthrowing Hanzō and bringing peace to the Land of Rain. That will take time. The Five Great Nations won't remain peaceful forever, but the final war will be initiated by us."
"Chasing your ideals is admirable, I suppose," Orochimaru said, earning a glare from Konan as he began poking holes in the plan again. "But without money, nothing gets done. Based on my experience, if Konoha and Kumo achieve peace, Akatsuki won't get many contracts for a long while. Kumo might even try to cut our pay for this mission. How do you plan to deal with that?"
"They wouldn't dare!" Kakuzu slammed his hand on the table, rattling the dishes. "Once a contract is signed, payment is mandatory, regardless of the outcome! I won't accept a single coin less!"
"They are a major village, with strict budget controls," Orochimaru reminded him, clearly enjoying the reaction he'd provoked.
"Then we kill the Raikage! If they still don't pay, we kill the next Raikage! Keep killing until they do!" Kakuzu declared, his intensity practically blinding. He turned to Nagato. "Pain, what do you think?"
"You both make valid points," Nagato said with a nod, a bit bewildered by his fervor.
Truthfully, he found Kakuzu's aggressive approach hard to counter. The man's zeal for Akatsuki's finances made it difficult for Nagato to outright dismiss his suggestion, no matter how extreme it was.
So he decided to appear open-minded and decisive, embodying the image of a leader.
"Alright, if Kumo fails to pay in full, we'll deal with the Raikage."
On the side, Konan observed the group's interactions with a blank expression.
Yahiko, if only you were still here... Would you recognize what we've become?