The Land of Iron, a nation of samurai, is situated near the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning, bordering the Land of Fire, the Land of Waterfalls, and the Land of Fields. Its climate is cold, covered in snow year-round.

Due to its historical neutrality in ninja conflicts, it has avoided war and become the ideal location for the Five Kage Summit.

At this moment, Team Taka is swiftly approaching the Land of Iron's territory from the Land of Fire's border.

"Hmm!?" Karin suddenly furrowed her brows. "There's an unknown chakra ahead!"

Sasuke and the others halted, on guard.

Whoosh!

Countless butterflies flew in, forming Konan's graceful figure in mid-air. Her expression was cold. "This path is closed."

Sasuke frowned. "That cloak... she's from Akatsuki..."

Suigetsu glanced at White Zetsu, who was leading the way. "One of your comrades?"

White Zetsu shouted, "Konan! You've betrayed Akatsuki, why are you here?"

Konan calmly replied, "Akatsuki was founded by Yahiko from Amegakure. You merely usurped it. I can claim Akatsuki's name anytime, anywhere."

White Zetsu growled, "Damn... I didn't expect her to interfere!"

Sasuke coldly said, "If she's not your comrade, then I can kill her, right?"

White Zetsu replied, "Ah, clearing out traitors for us? I'd be more than happy..."

Sasuke gripped his sword and stepped forward, his Sharingan transforming into the Mangekyō Sharingan with a hiss. His gaze was icy. "Don't block my way!"

Konan's response was a rain of paper bullets!

"Scatter!"

Team Taka dispersed.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sasuke swung his Kusanagi sword, intercepting the paper bullets.

But Konan's technique was vast, sustained, and powerful!

While intercepting, Sasuke's left eye focused on her figure in the sky. Blood trickled down his cheek, stark against the snow... spiderweb-like blood vessels spread across his pupil.

—Amaterasu!

Boom!

The black flames of Amaterasu ignited Konan's paper body... the rain of paper bullets ceased.

"Unquenchable black flames, Amaterasu, the same power as Itachi's..."

Konan's body burned to ashes as she murmured.

But with the falling paper fragments... more Konans appeared!

Jūgo: "Just now... was that a clone?"

Sasuke coldly said, "Karin, can you find her real body!?"

Karin formed a seal with two fingers, enhancing her sensory perception with the Kagura Mind's Eye, but finally shook her head. "All the chakra reactions are identical!"

White Zetsu said, "That woman's ability is quite troublesome... Sasuke, conserve your chakra for the battle with the Five Kage!"

Sasuke impatiently said, "It doesn't matter, I'll burn them all!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Black flames erupted in the sky, attacking Konan's clones indiscriminately...

Karin worried internally: Ever since hearing that Danzō became Hokage, Sasuke's chakra has been different, so cold...

On the towering snowy mountain, the Five Kage Summit proceeded as scheduled.

In the venue, the flags of the five great nations—Wind, Fire, Earth, Lightning, and Water—stood tall.

At the large circular table facing east and west, the Five Kage were present.

The Fourth Raikage, A.

The Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumī.

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The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.

The Fifth Kazekage, Gaara.

The Sixth Hokage, Danzō Shimura.

The Five Kage's guards were behind the curtains, closely monitoring the summit, ready to intervene at any moment.

The Land of Iron's general, Mifune, the summit's host, sat in the center, flanked by two renowned samurai, Chōjūrō and Kurotsuchi, both with strength comparable to elite jōnin.

However, these two were actually Naruto and Orochimaru in disguise.

"Naruto, I didn't expect you to be so familiar with the Land of Iron's environment. We infiltrated here effortlessly..."

Of course, in his previous life, Naruto, as the head of the Five Kage, had convened multiple Five Kage Summits and had visited the Land of Iron at Mifune's invitation.

In a stable country like the Land of Iron, fortresses rarely change.

The battle plan was devised on the way.

Naruto: "Danzō's right eye, from Shisui Uchiha, possesses Kotoamatsukami. That dōjutsu is dangerous, even to me. Unless I can kill Danzō before he activates Kotoamatsukami, but he also has Izanagi, making a decisive kill nearly impossible."

"So, the basic strategy is to deplete Danzō's Kotoamatsukami before the battle."

Orochimaru: "How do we deplete it?"

Naruto: "During the summit, Danzō will likely use it on Mifune to gain the upper hand. That dōjutsu can't be used multiple times a day..."

With the Rinnegan, Naruto could theoretically resist Mangekyō Sharingan's genjutsu, but he decided to be cautious.

Konan: "So, we ambush Danzō on his way back to the village after the summit?"

Naruto: "That's too late. We're not the only ones targeting Danzō. If we encounter others, it will complicate things."

"Orochimaru and I will infiltrate the venue, blending in with the samurai maintaining order, closely watching Danzō's actions..."

"Honestly, transformation jutsu is my specialty..."

"As for Sasuke, Konan, you'll need to stall them, but don't engage in a prolonged battle..."

...

Back to the present.

Mifune solemnly said, "Now, let's begin the Five Kage Summit."

Gaara, supporting his chin with his hands, addressed the other Kage. "I'll start, and you listen."

Ōnoki said meaningfully, "The Five Kage have changed quite a bit. To become a Kage at such a young age, truly impressive. Kazekage-dono, it seems your father taught you well... though he didn't teach you manners."

"Damn old man!" Behind the curtain, Kankurō, Gaara's brother and guard, gritted his teeth.

Gaara calmly responded, "Yes, that's why I'm sitting here as Kazekage."

"Hahaha..." Ōnoki laughed. "Such arrogance."

"What's with the Tsuchikage!!" The hot-headed Kankurō wanted to rush out and argue.

"Calm down..." Temari, more rational, reached for her ninja tool pouch, ready to act.

"Tsuchikage-sama, please refrain from interrupting," the young Mizukage Mei Terumī intervened. "Kazekage-dono, please continue."

Gaara said, "I was once a jinchūriki, captured by Akatsuki. I believe Akatsuki is extremely dangerous."

"I've repeatedly requested the Five Kage's attention, but was ignored... except by the former Hokage."

"By the time all the jinchūriki were captured, it was too late to join forces."

Ōnoki offered his perspective: "When the Five Great Nations' ninja villages lose their jinchūriki, it's a disgrace. Normally, they would try to recover them secretly. It's unlikely they'd seek help immediately after losing them."

Gaara disdainfully said, "Dignity? Prestige? Such outdated, pointless ideas."

Ōnoki thought: Young people...

Mei Terumī said, "Whether outdated or not, as Mizukage, I admit we were too passive. But even if the tailed beasts are captured, they can't be seen as an immediate threat. Controlling them requires knowledge, technology, and time."

Ōnoki said, "Jinchūriki need to grow with their tailed beasts, adapting to each other. Even then, control is difficult. Right, Kazekage-dono?"

Gaara remained silent.

At this point, Danzō spoke, his tone meaningful. "Speaking of controlling tailed beasts, only Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju, the Fourth Mizukage Yagura, and the Raikage's brother Killer B have succeeded. However..."

Crack!

Hearing Danzō mention his missing brother Killer B, the Raikage clenched his right hand under his arm guard, his killing intent evident...

"!" Sensing the change in the atmosphere, the guards behind the curtain almost simultaneously sprang into action!

"Enough of this nonsense!!!!"

The Raikage raised his fist and smashed the table in front of him.

Crash!!!

The table and chairs shattered...

The guards had all entered, the scene tense!

"Sigh..."

Mifune sighed helplessly.

"This is a place for discussion."

"Please refrain from inappropriate actions."

The Kage dismissed their guards, and the summit continued.

The Raikage loudly said, "Konoha! Sunagakure! Iwagakure! Kirigakure! Akatsuki's members are your rogue ninja! Not only that, but our investigation shows that some of you have used Akatsuki!"

Gaara was surprised. "Used?"

The Raikage shouted, "How can I trust you! Let alone join forces! I called you here today to ask you face to face, what is your definition of trust!!"

Gaara asked, “What do you mean by ‘used’?”

The Raikage pointed at Ōnoki and shouted, “As the Tsuchikage, you should know! Ask the old man beside you. He used Akatsuki during the war!”

Ōnoki said, “Now that the great nations are stable and have reduced their military forces, ninja villages have become a financial burden. But the risk of war still exists. If a sudden conflict arises, inexperienced ninja might not be reliable, leading to potential defeat…”

Gaara said, “To mitigate this risk, one method is to hire experienced mercenaries like Akatsuki, correct?”

Ōnoki replied, “Training skilled ninja requires significant financial and time investment. Akatsuki, as a professional mercenary group, offers their services at a low cost, providing the best results…”

The Raikage interrupted, “Stop sugarcoating it, Tsuchikage!!”

“Hmph!” Ōnoki snorted.

The Raikage continued, “Sunagakure used Akatsuki to try and destroy Konoha. Orochimaru’s involvement, whether he was still with Akatsuki or not, resulted in the deaths of the previous Kazekage and Hokage. There might be a mastermind behind this…”

The Raikage glanced at Danzō, thinking: This old fox.

“The strangest case is Kirigakure, almost isolated from the world, with rumors that Akatsuki originated there!”

Mei Terumī lowered her eyes and said, “At this point, I must speak frankly. I suspect someone was manipulating the previous Fourth Mizukage.”

Her guard, Ao, with his Byakugan, was shocked: Is the Mizukage going to…

Mei Terumī raised her eyes and said, “This might be related to Akatsuki! So, we can’t say much…”

The Raikage, surprised by her admission, still said firmly, “You’re all the same…”

Ōnoki, getting angry, said, “Don’t go too far, Raikage! While everyone else is reducing their military, only Kumogakure is expanding, collecting jutsu everywhere! Hiring Akatsuki was a last resort to counter you!”

“What!?” The Raikage exploded.

At this moment, Danzō, with a somber expression, said, “Before you continue arguing, I have something to say…”