In a way, the Raikage was a man of simple principles…
The moment he learned Sasuke had not actually captured Killer Bee, he immediately called off Kumogakure's manhunt.
Whether his decision was also influenced by a lingering wariness toward Aoi, however, no one could say for sure.
Still, while the bounty was revoked, the Five Kage Summit could not be dismissed so easily — to do so would be interpreted as a deliberate slight against the other four Kage.
In the dimly lit meeting hall, five wide‑brimmed hats — symbols of the highest authority in each village — were arranged in a circle around a large round table. Standing in the center was a samurai, sword at his side.
"I am Mifune, leader of the samurai. The Five Kage Summit will now commence."
While there was always debate over which shinobi was the strongest, when it came to the art of the sword, none could rival Mifune.
That was why the Five Great Nations all respected the Land of Iron enough to choose it as a neutral ground for their talks.
Calling it a "summit" was mostly just a polite term — in reality, it was nothing more than an opportunity for the leaders to bicker and posture.
Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage, used his seniority to sneer and belittle Gaara at every turn.
But Gaara did not back down, and matched the old man's jabs with sharp retorts of his own, leaving Ōnoki secretly fuming.
Yet unlike the original timeline, this time the Raikage did not storm around the room shouting at everyone. Instead, he stood calmly to one side, a faint smile on his face.
Now that he knew Killer Bee was safe, the Raikage was far from foolish enough to pick unnecessary fights.
"Well? You summoned us all here, Raikage — do you have nothing to say?" Danzō was clearly dissatisfied with how things were unfolding.
If all they did was exchange empty words without bringing up the idea of a combined shinobi alliance, how could he advance his own ambitions?
But even when challenged, the Raikage remained relaxed and unhurried.
Kumogakure had no missing ninja, and his brother was unharmed — he had no reason to push for conflict.
The Raikage may have been brash and impulsive, but that did not make him stupid.
For now, he was happy to let Danzō enjoy his moment of self‑importance.
"Besides," the Raikage thought to himself, "that boy claiming to be Hashirama is going to give him plenty of headaches very soon."
Whether the child was truly the First Hokage or not, he was more than enough trouble for Danzō to handle.
Even so, the momentum of events could not be easily changed.
Before long, the five leaders reached a consensus: they would form a unified Shinobi Alliance to deal with the growing threat of the Akatsuki.
But just then…
"Glurk, glurk…"
A large green pitcher plant suddenly burst up from the center of the table. Out from its center, like a flower blooming, emerged a White Zetsu.
"Helloooo~" the creature said cheerfully, stretching its limbs like a leafy succulent.
"Uchiha Sasuke is somewhere nearby… but where exactly, I wonder?"
"Let's all go and find him together!"
White Zetsu was having far too much fun — but his joy lasted barely a second.
The Raikage leaped over the table in a flash, grabbed him by the neck, and snapped it cleanly.
When dealing with the Raikage, anyone who tried to act cocky would meet a swift end.
"C — track down Uchiha Sasuke!"
With that order, the Raikage smashed through the wall and charged outside.
Even though Killer Bee was alive and well, he would never forgive anyone who dared attack his village.
Revoking the manhunt was not the same as offering complete pardon…
If an enemy came knocking at his door, to let them walk away unharmed would make him no Raikage at all.
Meanwhile, inside the inn in the Land of Iron… "Hey there, Naruto — let's have a little chat."
Tobi — wearing his masked Obito guise — suddenly appeared in Naruto's room, interrupting his thoughts of Sasuke.
Naruto immediately flew into a rage.
"Rasengan!"
But without the blinding speed needed to make it truly effective, the Rasengan posed no threat at all against someone who had mastered the Kamui.
"Wood Release: Earth Prison!"
"Chidori!"
In an instant, Yamato and Kakashi moved to shield Naruto, ready for battle.
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