"Who are you?" Kakashi asked warily, looking at Yakumo.
In his knowledge, there was no shinobi in Konoha named Yakumo.
And the fact that someone could break through the ANBU perimeter and reach the Hokage's office directly — that was not an ability an ordinary shinobi possessed.
"Who am I?"
"My name is Kurama Yakumo. You big shots probably wouldn't care about a small fry like me, right?"
Small fry?
If you're a small fry, then what the hell are the rest of us?
Tsunade inwardly mocked herself before continuing to ask:
"What is your relationship with Kamizuki Hikari?"
"My relationship with Hikari-senpai is... rather complicated. Explaining it would be troublesome with your level of intelligence. However, when he left, he instructed me to protect Konoha. That's why I came out to greet you all."
"Although I don't particularly care about Konoha, it is still the village that Hikari-senpai and Kurenai-sensei care about. I can't just sit back and watch everyone here die, can I?"
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. His sharp instincts told him that this "Kurenai-sensei" was most likely Yūhi Kurenai.
"According to the records left by the Third Hokage, Yūhi Kurenai once accepted a child from the Kurama clan as her student. However, later it was determined that the child's body was unsuitable for becoming a shinobi, so she gave up on the training. I presume that person is you."
Tsunade recalled the information in her mind and immediately understood Yakumo's identity.
"So? Are you planning to use Kurenai-sensei to threaten me and make me work for you?" Yakumo looked at them with a hint of mockery. "Don't even think about playing those kinds of dirty tricks. If you really do that, I'll only end up hating Konoha even more."
"Of course not. We're not that kind of people!"
Tsunade naturally wouldn't admit that for a brief moment she had indeed considered using Yūhi Kurenai to get Kurama Yakumo to serve Konoha. However, realizing how dangerous such a person could be and that it might very well backfire, she had dismissed the idea.
"Since you're being so sensible, I can share some intelligence with you. For example... about that masked man. Kakashi, are you interested?"
Yakumo smiled sweetly at Kakashi, her eyes carrying a trace of amusement.
Faced with such a Yakumo, Kakashi instinctively took half a step back.
The ominous premonition in his heart was growing stronger and stronger.
"Little sister, if you have information then just say it. There are no outsiders here," Tsunade decided for Kakashi.
Yakumo spoke:
"That masked man is Uchiha Obito — your former teammate, Kakashi-san. That's also why he took your left eye. Because that eye originally belonged to him."
"Uchiha Obito... you're saying he's Obito?!"
Kakashi looked like he was about to break down.
When he lost his eye, he had considered this possibility... but instinctively, he chose not to believe it.
Kakashi truly could not accept that the Obito who used to help everyone, that kind and silly boy, could have become such a person.
He couldn't believe it.
"Is it really that strange?"
Yakumo propped her chin on her hand, looking at Kakashi as if she were watching a clown.
"Not long ago, he used 'Limited Tsukuyomi' on Hikari-senpai. And since my genjutsu ability happens to be quite strong, I managed to seize partial control of that genjutsu world. In that world, Hikari-senpai met all of you, as well as the Fourth Hokage and his wife. In his heart, all of you hold very important positions."
"And conveniently, in that world, I also saw Obito. I saw him peeping at Rin's private life... he didn't even let her be when she was taking a bath."
This guy...
Kakashi was grinding his teeth in fury.
He couldn't believe that the idiot Obito from his memories could do something so despicable.
"Let me tell you this first: I can deal with Obito's space-time ninjutsu. But that Nagato who possesses the Rinnegan... I have no way of handling him."
After saying this, Yakumo stood up directly.
"I've told you everything that should be said, and even some things that shouldn't have been said!"
"From now on, I will only be responsible for keeping that Obito from causing trouble to Konoha afterwards. You do whatever you need to do. Don't come looking for me for other matters. Even if you do come find me, I won't help."
After finishing her words, Yakumo slowly faded away like an illusion before their eyes.
The four people in the room fell silent.
Then, almost instinctively, Kakashi reached up to touch his left eye. In that moment, he still wanted to use the Sharingan to check whether there was any ambush around them.
But the bone-deep pain reminded him — that eye was already gone.
Kakashi's eye socket hurt.
But what hurt even more was his heart.
"Alright, everyone go do what you need to do. Yakumo's appearance is actually a good thing. At the very least, we can be certain that Konoha won't be broken from the inside." Tsunade said. "Shikaku, prepare the documents. Inform the Mizukage and Raikage to protect their jinchūriki well, and ask them to come to Konoha for a Five Kage Summit."
---
Iwagakure.
Kurotsuchi quickly returned with a small squad, leaving most of the others behind to clean up.
When she arrived at the Tsuchikage's building and saw the somewhat mournful expressions on the guards at the entrance, she immediately knew something was wrong.
"Tsuchikage-sama!"
Rushing into the Tsuchikage's office, Kurotsuchi felt slightly relieved.
Ōnoki was still sitting there completely unharmed... just smoking his pipe continuously, looking clearly in a very bad mood.
"Tsuchikage-sama, I have urgent intelligence. I hope—"
"It's the Akatsuki, isn't it?"
Ōnoki interrupted Kurotsuchi.
"Just now, the Four-Tails and Five-Tails jinchūriki were taken!"
"Then why didn't we go get them back?" Kurotsuchi was puzzled.
With so many shinobi in Iwagakure, could they possibly be afraid of a few Akatsuki members? Back then, even the Third Raikage — who was called the strongest spear and strongest shield — was still overwhelmed and killed by their Iwa shinobi!
A mere Akatsuki... could they really turn the world upside down?
"The one leading them was a masked man. He just glared at the two jinchūriki, and then took them away. According to the intelligence... I suspect that person possesses the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan."
Those who never experienced the true terror of Uchiha Madara would never understand how terrifying the real power of the Uchiha clan could be.
That masked man could control tailed beasts with a single glance — he clearly already possessed the Mangekyō. And the god-like, demon-like abilities that came with the Mangekyō were more than enough to inflict devastating damage on Iwagakure.
For the sake of the village's strength, Ōnoki didn't dare take the gamble.
He couldn't afford to gamble.
"Tsuchikage-sama, when I was coming back, I received an invitation from Konoha's advisor Hatake Kakashi. They want to convene a Five Kage Summit."
A Five Kage Summit?
The last Five Kage Summit was held back in the era of Senju Hashirama.
"We'll go. We must go."
Ōnoki knew that his village had to participate.
If they didn't, and Konoha fell — next would be them.
He understood very well the principle of "when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold."
Participating in the Five Kage Summit would at least allow them to push Konoha forward as a shield, reducing the potential losses for Iwagakure.
If Tsunade died — then afterward, Iwagakure might even be able to demand some extra benefits from the Land of Fire.
And if Konoha managed to survive... then all would be well.
In any case — at such a dangerous moment, Iwagakure absolutely could not step up to be the leader.
Let such a glorious role be played by the Fifth Hokage.