After a few days, Uzushiogakure disappeared behind us one piece at a time as we got farther and farther away from it. Currently, we were on a ship, heading back to Konoha, while I stood towards the back of the boat, watching it shrink on the horizon. It felt a bit strange, watching an entire hidden village disappear behind us, especially knowing it probably wouldn't be inhabited ever again.
"Stop looking so depressed." A voice told me, and I glanced toward Jiraiya-sensei, who appeared from nowhere. He was leaning against the railing next to me, with his arms folded, looking towards where I was gazing.
"I am not depressed, Sensei."
"Your face says otherwise."
"I'm appreciating the scenery. If anything, I'm still just tired," I smiled, shaking my head. "After all, we did good, didn't we?"
"That we did indeed." Sensei nodded, while Minato also appeared next to me, patting me on the back.
We were aboard one of Konoha's larger military vessels, carrying many seals and items the Uzumakis were bringing to their new home. Naturally, this meant we were also traveling with a bunch of ANBU and Uzumaki specialists. Probably with even more Uzumakis now that they weren't sure which ANBU members they could trust. Thanks to it, the deck was crowded with shinobi and crates with probably hundreds of scrolls in them tied to every possible part inside and outside of the ship.
"So what happens when we get home?" I asked while Minato glanced toward me.
"You mean besides your parents killing you?" He joked, so I stopped stretching and looked at him flatly.
"No, they wouldn't. I think." I argued, "Why would they? They wouldn't... No?"
"It will be your job to handle it," Jiraiya chuckled. "It is your mess."
"Don't worry. I'll give your funeral speech if things go wrong." Minato added, making me roll my eyes.
"Stop copying me! It's my job to make fun of you!" Shaking my head, I turned to Sensei once again, being a bit more serious. "After that, though. What's going to happen? Are we going to get some free time?"
"Free time? Now? No. We will have to work, a lot..." Jiraiya's smile faded as he said it, then he looked toward the sailors nearby, then toward the upper deck.
"A lot?" Minato also asked, as we were both glaring at him now. "Does this mean that..."
"Both of you can shut up." He looked around one more time before jerking his head toward a spot where we could be alone. "Come on."
Oh... That was definitely something. What new secrets are we going to be told? Minato and I just exchanged gazes as we followed him toward an emptier section near the stern where Jiraiya leaned against the railing again.
"When we get back to Konoha, don't make plans."
"..." I blinked slowly, feeling a headache developing. "That doesn't sound good, Sensei."
"With all that happened here, you two are in a precarious situation. I was told not to let you out of sight. However, I am now also obliged to attend a meeting. So... It was decided that, because of everything, you will come with me. After all, it will be the safest, because you will be around the Hokage, Sakumo, and me."
"With..." Minato raised an eyebrow. "With Hokage-sama?"
"What kind of meeting?" I asked, and I did not expect his answer after a long sigh. Does he enjoy making things more dramatic? Because it was working!
"We are holding a Kage summit."
"..." I just stared at him along with Minato before he asked my question out loud, "A what?"
"A meeting between the Kage."
"I heard you." I chuckled, interrupting the two, shaking my head. "It's just..."
"Then why ask?" Jiraiya asked, crossing his arms.
"Because that's insane!"
"Why?" Minato looked between us. "Has that never happened before?"
"I—"
I stopped before I would say something stupid. It was, after all, a very good question. Canonically...? Maybe? There had probably been diplomatic meetings before; I know Hashirama held one, obviously. But the only actual full Kage summit I distinctly remember from the show was held in the Land of Iron. Is this going to be my version of the Five Kage Summit? I don't even have the eyes yet, man! But we are also missing Danzō pretending to be Hokage, so that's a plus.
"I don't remember..." I muttered in the end.
"Weren't you listening in school?" Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, smiling. "Well, I won't blame you; it has been a hot minute since the last one..."
"So..." I asked, clearing my throat. "Is it really all of them? I mean, will everyone be there?"
"All five." Jiraiya nodded. "Even I was surprised when Sensei told me they all agreed."
"What caused them all to agree?" Jiraiya's eyes moved toward the horizon when he heard my question, and he took a long time to answer.
"Uzushiogakure... and its survival."
"So what?" I frowned. "They're just going to admit it? Or complain they failed? Are we walking into a trap, Sensei? Because if so, I don't want to go!"
"Hah!" Jiraiya laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, that's definitely not out of the question! It may be a trap, but that also gives too much credit to the others, who also pretty much hate each other."
"Then what's the point?" Minato asked.
"The point is preventing the next immediate attack, or at least trying to do so." What Sensei was saying sounded fair, but also stupid. I was about to bring that up when Jiraiya pushed himself away from the railing. "Konoha has evidence tying forces from three Great Villages to the assault, and we want an explanation."
"For what? Good boy points?" I snorted. "We literally fought them," I added, grimacing. "Plus, captured them too."
"I know, Renji." He shrugged, looking into my eyes. "But the Hokage believes in talks before acting harshly."
"Tell that to the bodies everyone buried," I said, crossing my own arms, looking sour. "Their spirits will be very satisfied, I think."
Jiraiya's expression changed slightly; clearly, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Hiruzen was still his old master... and his Hokage. Haahh... Seeing him like that, I felt a bit of guilt for snapping at him like that, so I kept my mouth shut and let Jiraiya continue. Well... I tried, but I failed the moment I heard his next words.
"Kiri is claiming the operation was primarily theirs and that foreign shinobi were acting independently."
"What?!" I laughed. "They expect anyone to believe that? Are they being thrown under the bus? Hah!"
"Maybe," he continued, "But then Kumo says its forces were operating in response to Uzumaki interference with maritime trade. They are already contradicting each other, so something is going on."
"And Iwa?" Minato asked.
"Hasn't issued a public explanation."
"Smartest one so far," I said with a scoff while Minato rubbed his chin.
"Every Great Village is mobilizing," Jiraiya continued, ignoring the looks on our faces. "This includes us, too. Border patrols have already been doubled, and the key merchant traffic is in chaos. Most of our borders are being closed down... Minor countries stuck between the greats are asking for guarantees from their larger neighbors, and all missions involving foreign territory are being reviewed and, most of the time, denied."
"So we're already heading toward war," Minato muttered, rubbing his face.
"Yes," Jiraiya said with no hesitation.
"So... Who called the summit?" Minato asked again.
"We did... and the one offering to be a neutral host was... Hanzo."
"Wait..." I slowly looked at him, trying to comprehend. "Hanzo? That one? Hanzo of the Salamander?"
"How many Hanzos do you think have that kind of pull? He runs Amegakure, and the other Kages also accepted him as the head for this meeting." Jiraiya said, getting a bit frustrated, which was understandable; he fought the man...
"Oh, fuck me," I whispered while rubbing my face, because the last thing I needed was a new version of Akatsuki to pop up right now.
"Why would Hanzo host it?" Minato asked, thinking out loud. "He doesn't have the best relationship with us."
That was a very good question, and Jiraiya looked toward the western horizon, even though Ame was nowhere in sight.
"Because everyone agreed Amegakure was the least terrible option, and probably because they all are against us. They hope that Hanzo's previous conflict with us will be to their own advantage."
"Heh!" I snorted. "That's reassuring..."
It was such a lucky strike that the Land of Rain was right between major powers and easily accessible to all. No wonder the place repeatedly got turned into somebody else's battlefield.
"I guess Hanzo doesn't want another war rolling over his country." I muttered in the end, "And if there is one, he knows he will be in the grinder again."
"Exactly." Jiraiya nodded. "He sent invitations to every Great Village immediately after word of Uzushio spread."
"Invitations?"
"More like demands." Sensei explained, "He argued that if the Great Nations are preparing to fight, then they can look each other in the face before turning the minor countries into battlefields again. It coincided with the Hokage's wish to talk, so..."
"And everyone agreed? Just like that?"
"Yep." He nodded, glancing at me, then at Minato. "So you'll attend as part of his delegation. You will be one of the deterrent forces, to show our current generation is just as dangerous as the old one. The Hokage hopes it can delay or cancel the coming conflict."
I just shot a glance towards Minato, who understood at once that I thought this was beyond idiotic, and that Hiruzen was losing his marbles.
"Look," He shrugged, looking at us, "They will ask about you two, no other way about it. We are trying to avoid a massive war, so we are showing our strength. You did it; thank yourselves! However, this time around," He pointed directly at me, "You will speak when spoken to."
"Sure."
"And you will answer questions honestly." He added, making me cross my arms. "Wait..."
"Within reason," I said with an understanding smile.
"Yeah... And most importantly, you will not challenge anyone. Understood?"
"Okay." I nodded again, but then he snapped his fingers, adding a new stipulation.
"You will not insult anyone! And you will absolutely, under no circumstances, bring up Danzō... That matter stays inside Konoha. Especially in a meeting like this."
I hesitated, because who knows how much he had to do with everything. What if... Ah... okay. Whatever. I will shut my mouth!
"Okay."
He looked mildly surprised I didn't argue... Whatever Danzō was doing, letting Kiri, Kumo, Iwa, and Suna know Konoha suspected one of its own highest officials of stealing corpses and doing God knows what with them would be suicidal. They could use it against us big time, so... Internal problems stayed internal. That was indeed the best decision.
"So..." Minato was still thinking, raising a hand. "When will it happen?"
"Eleven days after we return," Jiraiya said, looking over us, making us surprised again.
"That soon?"
"Hanzo doesn't want mobilization continuing for months while diplomats exchange letters. The talks will happen now, while everything is fresh. So... As I said. Be ready, okay?"
"We don't really have a choice." I joked, glancing at Minato, knowing that things were starting to roll down the hill, faster and faster.