'That freak... she's already become this strong?'
Behind the falling curtain, Kurotsuchi's gracefully curved legs were propped up on a wooden table. She bit her nails unwillingly. "At this rate, when will my revenge ever succeed!"
Beside her, Akatsuchi's forehead creased into a grimace as he reached out to steady her chair, preventing her from falling.
"I've decided!"
Kurotsuchi spun around and leaned on the chair. "Akatsuchi, you come with me later. We'll find a sack, put her in it, and beat her up!"
"Stop it. Do you want to start a war?"
Akatsuchi grabbed Kurotsuchi by the scruff of her neck, lifting her like a kitten.
Covering her mouth, he carried her away from the center of the venue.
At the round table, Gaara, resting his chin on his clasped hands, was the first to speak as the atmosphere grew tense. "Since no one else is speaking, I'll begin."
"As a former Jinchuriki from whom the Akatsuki took a Tailed Beast, I know their danger. Therefore, I hope all nations can unite to face the challenges brought by this terrorist organization. So..."
Before Gaara could finish his words, a voice interrupted him.
"Heh, but as far as I know, their leader, Pain, was already killed by Konoha."
Onoki gave a contemptuous light laugh, his chin jerking towards the Land of Fire. "For a great nation to have its Jinchuriki taken is a great humiliation in itself."
"With such a good opportunity now, instead of secretly recovering them, you want to rely on the power of other countries. Is Sunagakure no longer worthy of being called a great power?"
"Decorum, authority... It's precisely because the great powers cling to these things that the Akatsuki could break them so easily."
Gaara lowered his hands, leaning forward as he looked at Onoki.
"Speaking of humiliation, Tsuchikage-sama, surely you haven't forgotten that your own village lost two Tailed Beasts, and that too after Sunagakure and Konoha publicly shared intelligence on the Akatsuki's actions with you."
Onoki's nose reddened at this remark that struck a raw nerve, silently cursing the two unruly Jinchuriki, Han and Roshi, in his heart.
"Hmph, sharp-tongued brat!"
But the situation was already settled, so he could only snort coldly and turn his head away.
"From the Mizukage's perspective, we have indeed been too passive."
Mei timely picked up Gaara's words. "But even if the Tailed Beasts were taken, we can't immediately regard them as a threat, after all, controlling a Tailed Beast requires technique, knowledge, and time."
As the group delved deeper into discussing the Tailed Beast issue, the Raikage's clenched fist bulged with veins on his forehead. Finally, uncontrollable anger vented itself as sheer force.
"Enough! Stop this useless chatter!"
The Raikage raised his fist and slammed it hard onto the wooden table.
The stirred-up shockwave and dust just happened to conceal the figures of the Kage's bodyguards from each village, allowing them to rush into the venue and stand before their respective Kage.
"Everyone, this is a place for negotiation, not a battlefield."
Seeing the situation becoming tense and ready to fight, Mifune had no choice but to step in and mediate.
"Kakashi, Asuma, stand down!"
Sakura looked at the two who had positioned themselves in front of her with kunai and Chakra Trench Blade, casually gesturing with her thumb towards the area behind her.
The other guards, upon their respective Kage's instruction, also retreated to the seating area in the rear.
"Konoha, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, Kirigakure… the Akatsuki is formed from the Missing-Nin of your villages!"
The Fourth Raikage grew more agitated as he spoke, finally bursting into a tirade. "Not only that, I've also found out that some bastards among you hired the Akatsuki during the war!"
The destruction of half his village, the betrayal of his most trusted close retainer, plus the disappearance of his brother, who was a Jinchuriki.
Such things had tormented him for a long time. And when he discovered that this massive monster called the Akatsuki was actually raised by the other great nations, his anger burned even hotter.
"I think, perhaps among those present, some Kage or former Kage have already joined the Akatsuki, leading to the leak of each village's Jinchuriki information." As he spoke, A's gaze swept back and forth between Sakura and Onoki, the implication clear.
"It seems the Raikage-dono already knows?" Mei sighed lightly.
A: "???"
"We previously staged a coup d'état. Only after defeating the Fourth Mizukage did we realize he had been under the Akatsuki's control. This caused all the intelligence Kumogakure previously shared with us to be leaked. We are truly extremely sorry."
A looked at the bowing Mei, wanting to speak but hesitating.
'Seriously, buddy? Can't you read the room?!'
'We're targeting Konoha and Iwagakure here! Why is your Kirigakure jumping out to take the blame?'
'Are you worried your country has too much money and are rushing to pay compensation?'
Onoki, overhearing this, naturally wouldn't miss such a good opportunity.
He sarcastically jabbed at Kumogakure, saying they had spoon-fed intelligence right into the Akatsuki's mouth.
Then, the several of them started arguing, plunging the meeting room into chaos.
Sakura found these people's bickering somewhat amusing. She leaned back in her chair and yawned.
Onoki caught this from the corner of his eye during the argument and immediately felt a surge of irritation.
'Everyone here is analyzing the Akatsuki, offering strategies… why should Konoha get to be so leisurely?'
'Oh, right, their Tailed Beast didn't get lost!'
"Speaking of which, we haven't yet heard the Acting Hokage's esteemed opinion on this matter~" Onoki's smile grew subtle as he drew out his words.
"After all, among the five great nations, yours is the only one whose Tailed Beast remains safe and sound. Don't you have any experience in dealing with the Akatsuki to share with everyone?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the arguments of the other Kage subsided. Their gazes fixed deeply on the pink-haired girl.
Why? When the four great nations have all lost their Tailed Beasts, why did Konoha alone hold out?
What's more, the Akatsuki's leader was even defeated in your village. Worldly fortune and immense prestige have all been monopolized by Konoha. Could there be some trickery behind this?
"Experience? Of course, it's about being strong enough to slaughter any foreign enemy who dares to invade!"
Sakura's cheerful gaze swept over the assembled Kage. The corners of her mouth curled up as she sighed lightly. "Ah, sometimes I really envy you villages for having so many Tailed Beasts to manage. Unlike Konoha, which only has one, our defensive capabilities are more than sufficient~"
On the high platform, watching the show, Kakashi turned his head away and pulled down his forehead protector. Asuma choked on his own smoke and tightly covered his mouth.
The entire venue fell into a deathly silence. The Kage and guards of each village were frozen in place.
If they opened their mouths to shout, they'd look like clowns. If they kept silent, it seemed to confirm their own incompetence.
"Everyone, now is not the time for accountability."
Seeing that negotiations were about to collapse, Mifune coughed and stepped forward to offer everyone a way out.
"With the Tailed Beasts taken and balance overturned, peace is about to be swallowed by the vortex of war. I believe none of us wants to see this happen, right?"
"That's hard to say."
Onoki's aged gaze glanced at the Raikage. "After all, in this era when everyone is reducing military arms, there are still those who seek power and collect Ninjutsu at any cost!"
"What!"
The Fourth Raikage rose in anger, knocking his chair over behind him.
Seeing the argument flare up again, Sakura, who only wanted to finish the mission quickly and slack off, looked up.
The dark thunder condensed from Haki rang out once more, making her will the sole authority in the meeting hall.
She had to admit, Haki was extremely effective, both in being unreasonable and in being reasonable.
"Arguing back and forth isn't getting us anywhere!"
The girl in the thin-waist dress shirt stood up, her smile arrogant.
"How about... you listen to my opinion for a change..."