Meanwhile, outside.
Tsuchikage Building.
Since the Chunin Exams began, the four Kage had been invited by Ōnoki to this highest seat of power in Iwagakure, each bringing one person to discuss topics for the upcoming formal meeting.
At this moment, the four parties sat around a circular table, each with a guard standing behind them. Despite all harboring ulterior motives, they sat calmly, appearing to be getting along splendidly.
"Since the end of the First Ninja World War, our nations have been in constant conflict. To be able to sit together like this today, at my age, I've only seen it twice, and my heart is truly filled with relief."
Ōnoki sat in a noticeably elevated position, looking at the younger faces around him. He naturally adopted his usual senior attitude, speaking in the tone of an elder, his expression gentle: "Iwagakure is truly fortunate to host this meeting."
"In today's Ninja World, there are external threats like the Renegade Union and the Moon Organization causing chaos, and internally, there are historical conflicts between our nations. It is truly not easy to maintain the current situation."
"I came here this time to discuss with everyone the economic exchange and information sharing between our nations for the next ten years. Deepening economic exchange and information sharing will help maintain this hard-won peace, to prevent the tragedies of the previous two great wars from happening again."
Ōnoki's words, given his level of education, were clearly carefully considered, and seemed to show genuine sincerity for cooperation.
However, the others present remained seated, listening to him as if he were spouting nonsense.
Among them, the least experienced, Fourth Raikage A, had indeed inherited his father's fiery temper. After listening to just a short This paragraph, he was clearly impatient.
At this moment, he slammed the table with a 'bang', his fan-like hand hitting the tabletop. The marble surface seemed to slightly dent, and his voice was dull, like thunder:
"Hmph!"
"Cooperation, my ass!"
A straightened his upper body, his dark, door-like physique even taller than Ōnoki, who was sitting in the elevated seat. His gaze was fierce: "How come I don't know that the Ninja World is so peaceful?"
"In recent years, our Kumogakure has spent half its budget on military expenses just to suppress the endless rogue Ninja within the Land of Lightning. All those who instigate rebellion are Ninja that our Villages cannot afford to support."
"Leaving aside other matters, our Village cannot even manage the most basic recovery after the war, and we can barely afford to pay compensation—if not for the fact that most of the industrial funds within the Land of Lightning have vanished to who knows where, to the point where even our Daimyo can't support us, why would our Kumogakure be in this state?!"
Though he said 'vanished to who knows where,' his bell-like leopard eyes stared directly at Tsunade, his expression fierce.
It wasn't just A opposite him.
Gaara, who was sitting to the side, also looked indifferent, completely unresponsive to Ōnoki's words.
This woman, whose expression originally showed a hint of immaturity, now sat with a puppet heavily wrapped in bandages on her back, her voice indifferent:
"I don't care what others think about participating in this meeting."
"Our Sunagakure is here to demand money this time."
"Kumogakure at least has a Daimyo to provide for them, but the new Daimyo of the Land of Wind is now struggling to protect himself. The Noble Elder Council of the Land of Wind has almost stripped 'That Person' of power. For three consecutive years now, Sunagakure has not received its full funding, and the remaining deficit can only be covered by our own subsidies, leading to an operating deficit."
"If not for certain events after the last great war, Sunagakure wouldn't actually be in such dire straits."
"In recent years, public opinion has grown increasingly turbulent, and my position as Kazekage is becoming unstable."
"If this meeting also yields no results, I cannot guarantee what will happen to Sunagakure after I step down."
Gaara's gaze remained fixed on the tabletop in front of her, and she continuously held a cup of tea that she hadn't even taken a sip from, her tone indifferent.
However, every word she uttered directly pointed its spearhead towards Konoha.
It was well-known.
They were the defeated nation in the last war, and even their Village and the sole Jinchuriki were personally eliminated by Sawara Kiri.
In addition, her beloved was also eliminated by Sawara Kiri.
And this chief perpetrator now stood less than five meters away from her, watching the few people like a monkey show, with a smiling expression.
Ōnoki, at this moment, looked troubled, his expression one of deep worry.
"Yugito, although the main purpose of this meeting is to communicate about the upcoming peace proposal, these matters cannot be resolved by one nation or one Village alone."
He said, raising his head towards the opposite side of the round table:
"Tsunade."
"Konoha, as one of the Five Great Nations still in existence—oh, now it's four nations—as the most powerful and prosperous among our four nations, you must have many thoughts on the current issue of Ninja World peace, right?"
Hearing this old man finally speak in such a pretentious manner, Tsunade leisurely put down the veil she was holding between her fingers, a gentle smile appearing on her face:
"Yes, I do."
The moment they heard this answer, a flicker of doubt clearly crossed the eyes of the other three. They glanced at each other but said nothing.
Immediately following, they heard Tsunade's 'answer.'
"As long as, starting today, all nations end the one-nation, one-Village system, dissolve local Ninja Villages and merge into Konoha, and unify the Ninja World, Konoha and the Land of Fire's economic and military aid will be sent out as a draft at the fastest speed to complete integration and assistance plans, just like the Land of Water is now."
"Three days ago, 'That Person' already reached a retirement agreement with our Land of Fire, planning to announce it to the public a month from now. The Hidden Mist remnants have also begun to live lives immeasurably better than before, with everyone having work and housing, leading fulfilling and happy lives—all of you should be able to see this."
"You see, the answer to Ninja World peace is within reach."
"Isn't it?"
If one were to disregard Tsunade's identity and true age, as well as her explosive temper, which was not far off from A's, and only look at her youthful appearance, which at most seemed to be in her early twenties, in her prime and full of vitality, along with the almost fantastical and naive words spoken from beneath her soft features, if this weren't a joint meeting representing the highest military organizations of the entire Ninja World, the Kage present might have laughed helplessly.
How could things in this world be so simple?
However, when these words came from Tsunade's mouth, and at the same time, a young man named 'Sawara Kiri' stood behind her.
Everyone else present felt a chill down their spine.
Not only the Kage, but even their excellent guards, who were being trained as successors, subconsciously cast their gazes towards Tsunade, their expressions a mixture of astonishment and indignation.
Finally, Ōnoki cleared his throat and interjected:
"Tsunade, there's no need for jokes in this kind of setting."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Tsunade slammed the table with a 'bang' and stood up. Her originally gentle and soft tone suddenly escalated, turning into a deafening roar, like a lioness's roar:
"You damn Konoha youngsters were the ones who started joking with me!"
"How dare you, a few rotten fish and shrimp, treat Konoha as a fat sheep to be exploited?!"
"I haven't been to a gambling table in years!"
"What?"
"Do you want to have a round with me?! How much money do you have in your pockets?!"
"Can you afford to lose?!"
This unreserved roar, like thunder, made everyone present's faces turn pale.
A, the most hot-headed among them, immediately stood up without showing any weakness, pointing at Tsunade and raising his voice as well:
"Do you think I'm made of mud?!"
"Since we're all going to die anyway, what's so scary about fighting? Are we supposed to wait for death like that idiot Karatachi Yagura and the Hidden Mist people?!"
This remark seemed to be directed at Tsunade, but A's spearhead was subtly pointing towards his two less-than-firm allies beside him.
Everyone had witnessed the fate of Hidden Mist.
Ōnoki sat in his seat, his previous conciliatory tone now a few shades more serious: "Tsunade, A, I didn't call you all here to argue."
"I came with sincerity, and I hope you all will not betray this intention."
"You—"
A was about to continue speaking when his voice was suddenly interrupted by a voice from behind Tsunade.
Sawara Kiri stood beside Tsunade's seat, his expression as gentle and elegant as ever, and even his tone was calm and steady:
"Since Tsuchikage-sama claims to have come with sincerity."
"Then, how about you all reveal your true forms first?"
Although this person always stood beside Tsunade like a subordinate, everyone's attention was always on him, with a priority even above Tsunade.
Just this single sentence brought the meeting's atmosphere, which had been like a powder keg ready to explode with just a spark, to a sudden silence.
Sawara Kiri's expression remained amiable.
That's right.
Whether it was at the initial Iwagakure Train Station reception, or the several figures who had stayed within Iwagakure these past few days, all showed clear Chakra construct structures.
From the very beginning, none of them had ever appeared before him in their true forms.
Of course.
Sawara Kiri didn't actually care whether they were in their true forms or not.
After all, just as Ōnoki and the others imagined, he had never truly paid attention to these few rotten fish and shrimp.
What he cared about, always, was the fellow silently standing behind these few people.
And, the Ōtsutsuki Clan, which he had only observed in countless future timelines, not knowing when they would emerge from hiding.
However, while he didn't care about these people, it didn't mean these people could disregard Sawara Kiri's opinion.
The atmosphere in the meeting room remained stagnant for a long time before Gaara spoke indifferently:
"Sawara-kun's prestige is legendary, how would we dare to gamble the survival of our Village and our own lives?"
"Is that so?"
Sawara Kiri's clear blue eyes swept over everyone present, and he suddenly smiled: "But, why do I feel that all of you lords are quite bold?"
Almost the instant these words fell, the expressions and bodies of the few people present noticeably tensed up.
Just this faint hostility made a long-forgotten, strong sense of threat rise within them.
Coupled with the terrifying, undefeated record of the man before them, it made everyone present feel as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
Sawara Kiri, however, seemed completely oblivious to their change in expression, his voice showing no fluctuation whatsoever: "Since you dared to use my student as bait, that means you should have already prepared yourselves, right?"
"What bait?"
"What do you mean by that?!"
Ōnoki's expression was tense, yet he showed no hint of unusual emotion, his voice urgent with a touch of confusion, as if he truly didn't understand.
"Boom—!"
Almost the moment his words fell.
A towering blaze suddenly erupted from the direction of Iwagakure's southern industrial zone, the spreading smoke drifting like a ring. Even the ground beneath their feet faintly trembled, and countless newly erected factories and chimneys were instantly leveled, staining the previously barren yellow earth with a sudden touch of blood.
"Bang!"
Ōnoki and the others immediately stood up from their seats, a strong sense of foreboding suddenly surging within them.
How did Sawara Kiri find out?
Or was he just this lawless?
However, no matter what the answer was now, Ōnoki, as the Third Tsuchikage, could not stand by and do nothing.
He immediately floated up from his seat, looking down at Sawara Kiri, his voice sharp and stern:
"Sawara Kiri!"
"Does Konoha intend to wage war on Iwagakure?!"
Sawara Kiri looked up at him, a dangerous smile spreading across his lips: "That question should be asked by me—Ōnoki, do you really think I'm a second Senju Hashirama? That even if I win, I won't exterminate you?"
"Daring to play such petty tricks in front of me, are you tired of living?"
"Starting war mobilization and military production preparations three months ago—only a fool would turn a blind eye."
"This time, I'll just collect some interest from you."
"As for the rest, we'll settle it on the battlefield."
"Sawara Kiri?!"
Ōnoki immediately roared.
However, before his clone could even condense the compressed core unique to Dust Release in his hands, a sudden impact blew off the entire top floor of the Tsuchikage Building.
"Rumble—!"
Dust and smoke billowed.
Everyone in Iwagakure was drawn to these two consecutive explosions.
They did not know.
War had begun at this very moment.
The next moment, Akatsuchi Mountains.
Sawara Kiri, sitting calmly in the rock cave, opened his eyes.
Beside him, Tsunade, who was also sitting, opened her eyes at the same time.
Further out were the accompanying Ninja who had traveled with them to Iwagakure—these people had already been moved to this location by Sawara Kiri on the night of their first arrival.
That's right.
Just as Ōnoki and the others met them with special avatars.
Sawara Kiri, who appeared in the Tsuchikage Building, was also just a special White Zetsu clone—this was also one of Orochimaru-sama's research results from these past few years, meant to be destroyed after use.
The only drawback was that it couldn't bear much power.
The moment Tsunade beside him opened her eyes, she cursed. She couldn't stand these idiots for a second; they seemed to have believed their plan was flawless until just now, that no one had noticed.
"We should have killed these bastards a long time ago!"
"Kiri, you're just too cautious!"
"Yes~ Yes~"
Sawara Kiri responded with a helpless tone.
If he wasn't cautious enough, would he have lived to this day?
However, there was no need to say these things to Tsunade.
"Next, it's Kakashi and their side."
"Fourth-sama, please lead everyone to evacuate first."
Sawara Kiri said as he stood up from the ground and walked towards the outside.
From this rock cave, one could just see the Akatsuchi Mountains, heavily surrounded in the distance.
"This time, I might go a little overboard."