The Five Daimyō Summit convened in the Land of Iron, the neutral heart of the shinobi world—just as the Five Kage Summit had before.
Inside the grand hall, banners of Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and Lightning hung proudly. Beneath each flag sat the daimyō, their fan-shaped hats adorned with their nations' crests.
Fire Country's daimyō: Kamikawa Ichikyū.
Water Country's daimyō: Uesugi Kenkazu.
Earth Country's daimyō: Fujiwara Daichi.
Wind Country's daimyō: Abe Kazutaka.
The newly appointed Lightning Country daimyō, Yamashita Jishin, was absent due to the turbulent times, but the Lightning banner still fluttered in the hall.
Unlike the tense, high-stakes atmosphere of the Five Kage Summit, the daimyō were deep in a marathon card game. From noon until dusk, not a single word of business had been uttered—no matter how urgent the world's problems, nothing seemed more important than the tiles in their hands.
Mifune, the stoic samurai leader and mediator, finally lost patience. "Your Excellencies, perhaps it's time to address the actual matter at hand?"
Ichikyū, fanning his wrinkled face, looked as if he hadn't slept in days. He gave Mifune a bored glance. "Mifune, impatience never solved anything. Your bushidō teaches restraint, doesn't it? Or was it something about holding your breath before drawing your blade—strike only when you're sure, and end it in one move. Like this!"
Suddenly, Ichikyū's lazy air vanished—replaced by razor-sharp intensity. He slammed a winning hand onto the table.
The other daimyō groaned.
"Damn… you actually drew the heavenly tiles!"
[Author's note: I don't play cards, so let's just roll with this~]
Ichikyū waved his fan, feigning modesty. "Heh, the wheel of fortune always turns…"
"Another round!"
"Shouldn't we eat dinner?"
"The Land of Iron's hot springs are famous. We'd be fools not to enjoy them."
"Let's bathe and dine, then come back for more cards."
"Mifune, you don't mind, do you?"
Mifune sighed, resigned. "As long as you're not in a rush, please follow me…"
So the daimyō retreated to the baths, enjoyed their evening meal, and returned in bathrobes and wooden sandals. The chill in the air prompted Mifune to order braziers for the center of the hall.
Cards resumed. Idle chatter drifted between hands.
Ichikyū asked, "Colleagues, what do you make of the Kage's joint petition?"
Kenkazu replied, "I was just wondering where to cut the budget. Now they've handed me a perfect excuse."
Daichi snorted, "That Ōnoki—always the reasonable one. But this time, he's unyielding. Guess he's not ready for a peaceful retirement."
Kazutaka scoffed, "Eat but don't work—is that their message? Ridiculous. They're just watchdogs, but now they want to sit above us."
Ichikyū concluded, "Seems none of you are keen. Regardless, we should stand together."
Kenkazu agreed, "Exactly. The ninja are banding together against us. If we don't unite now…"
Mifune could stand no more. "Your Excellencies… may I speak?"
Ichikyū waved his fan. "Mifune, if you've got something to say, say it."
Mifune bowed slightly. "Then I'll be direct. Regarding the threat from beyond—do you truly believe it's alarmist nonsense?"
Kenkazu eyed him. "Aren't samurai supposed to be neutral? Why are you speaking for the ninja?"
Mifune replied, "Neutrality doesn't mean indifference. This is about more than the five nations—it's about all humanity. Frankly, your evasiveness won't solve anything."
Daichi sneered, "A washed-up samurai teaching us governance? Go ahead, let's hear your master plan."
Mifune's gaze hardened. "Right now, you must set aside status and prejudice. Disaster makes everyone equal—no one's noble birth will spare them."
Ichikyū mused, "Shikaku from Konoha said much the same. He even offered his clan's fortune as collateral… But let's be honest, the Nara's wealth can't guarantee much."
Kenkazu dismissed, "This so-called threat from space is just Uzumaki Naruto's story. Time travel? Please, pure fantasy!"
Daichi added, "And knowing Infinite Tsukuyomi was coming, he only warned the ninja—never let us evacuate. That kid's got too many schemes."
Kazutaka said darkly, "Maybe he's behind Infinite Tsukuyomi himself—spreading panic for his own gain!"
Mifune's weathered face fell into shadow. "So, you're not planning to approve the Kage's request?"
Silence.
Mifune looked around. "Then, as mediator, I'll inform the Kage. They can make their own arrangements. I won't ask you to help in future disasters—just don't be an obstacle. Is that acceptable?"
Still, silence.
Mifune exhaled sharply. "You won't support them, but you won't let them go. As decision-makers, what are you afraid of? Let me, an outsider, spell it out."
He rose slowly, voice cutting through the room. "You're indecisive and afraid of responsibility—that's why you called this summit. But now, you're just passing the buck. No one will step up and break the deadlock!"
Shing!
Mifune drew his katana.
The daimyō flinched, startled. "M-Mifune, what are you doing?!"
Shing!
Mifune planted his blade upright, voice ringing with resolve. "If that's the case… then let the samurai take the lead!"
Kenkazu stammered, "Mifune… you wouldn't—"
Mifune declared, "Don't worry. The Land of Iron is absolutely neutral—I won't favor any side. I treat all of you equally."
Ichikyū's hand froze over his cards. His voice dropped. "Have you considered the consequences?"
Mifune nodded. "I have. The samurai will stand with the ninja. I support Uzumaki Naruto's position."
Ichikyū set his cards aside and sat up straight. "Fine. Personally, I'm willing to believe Shikaku and Naruto."
"But belief is one thing—practicalities are another."
"How long until these threats arrive? A year, ten, twenty? What if it's a hundred years? Should we support ninja freeloaders for a century? National finances aren't infinite—they come from the people's taxes. How do we explain this?"
"And who can guarantee, once ninja gain freedom and military power, they won't turn against us? Yes, if disaster strikes, we'll need ninja. But if ninja become the threat, who holds them in check?"
"Unless we sort these issues out, how can we agree to their demands?"
"This is my statement as Kamikawa Ichikyū, representing the Land of Fire. Is that clear enough, Mifune?"
Mifune replied, "So, Ichikyū-sama, you're saying you're open to negotiation—but only if we find a solution that works for both citizens and ninja, correct?"
Ichikyū flicked his fan lazily. "If you say so, then so be it."
Mifune turned to the Water, Earth, and Wind daimyō. "Your thoughts?"
Fujiwara Daichi answered, "I still say the threat from space is nonsense, and Uzumaki Naruto is just an opportunist abusing his power. I won't let the ninja leave simply because I don't want the century-old bond between our nations and villages destroyed by his lies."
Abe Kazutaka agreed, "I feel the same. I hope Sunagakure reconsiders, but if one village leads, the rest will follow. This is a matter of common interest—we must decide together."
Uesugi Kenkazu hesitated. He'd witnessed Naruto and Madara's power firsthand, and feared saying too much—lest it get back to them and cost him more money or land.
So he played it safe. "Minority should follow majority. Ichikyū-sama is open to negotiation, Daichi-sama and Kazutaka-sama are not. I'll reserve judgment. Sigh, if only the new Lightning Country daimyō were here—maybe he'd…"
A polite, unexpectedly youthful voice echoed through the hall. "Honored predecessors, the snowy roads were slippery—I apologize for arriving late…"
Everyone turned. A dark-skinned, short-haired man entered, flanked by a one-eyed middle-aged strategist and a cold, black-robed youth.
The newcomer was none other than Yamashita Jishin, the newly appointed Lightning Country daimyō—accompanied by Kumogakure's tactician, Dodai, and… Uchiha Sasuke.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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