Who would be the commander-in-chief of the joint ninja army?
This was the most crucial issue of the summit, and the one that had everyone's full attention.
Onoki had been the first to raise the question outright, and the room fell into silence once again.
Raikage clenched his fists and scoffed.
"What?! Do you want to be the commander, Tsuchikage? Hmph! You're just an old schemer who plays underhanded tricks. I won't let my brother be under your command!"
Onoki smirked, unfazed by the insult.
"Heh, that's still better than a musclehead like you who only knows how to charge in blindly. As Tsuchikage, I've fought in countless battles. Among all of us here, I have the most experience. Isn't it only natural that I take command?"
Gaara, his expression calm, spoke up.
"I don't agree. While the Third Tsuchikage has the most experience, age can sometimes be a limitation. What you call experience might actually lead to rigid thinking, making it difficult to adapt to new battle strategies."
Onoki's face darkened.
"Arrogant brat! Are you saying I'm too old to lead? I may be old, but I'm not senile!"
Tsunade, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, her tone even.
"I think the Fifth Kazekage makes a good point. Younger leaders often adapt better to changing situations."
Onoki's expression twisted.
"Hah! And what about you, Hokage? You're not exactly young anymore. Can you still claim to be flexible?"
A vein pulsed on Tsunade's forehead, but before she could respond, Terumi Mei stood up, her voice calm but sharp.
"As far as leadership goes, I believe Hokage is the most suitable choice. After all, didn't you just lose a war against Konoha, Tsuchikage?"
Onoki's face turned red with embarrassment, his words caught in his throat.
Gaara added, "I also support Hokage as commander-in-chief. Even if you question her qualifications, no one can deny her experience. As one of the Legendary Sannin, I doubt anyone here has grounds to challenge her abilities."
The momentum of the discussion had completely shifted in Tsunade's favor.
Raikage, however, was growing increasingly irritated. His patience was wearing thin.
Suddenly, he slammed his fist down on the table. The sheer force shattered it instantly, sending a loud crack echoing through the hall.
"Enough of this endless chatter!" he roared.
The tension in the room spiked. It felt as if a battle was about to break out at any moment.
The shadow guards immediately sprang into action, positioning themselves protectively in front of their respective leaders.
Kankuro and Temari stood before Gaara, ready for anything. Kankuro had already deployed his puppet, chakra threads glinting in the air, while Temari held her giant fan at the ready.
Chojuro and Ao shielded Terumi Mei. Ao gripped a kunai tightly, while Chojuro had begun releasing the power of his Twin Sword, Hiramekarei.
Raikage's guards, Darui and Cee, moved swiftly. Darui unsheathed his sword, crackling with lightning chakra, while Cee formed seals, preparing to react at a moment's notice.
Onoki's bodyguards, Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi, positioned themselves defensively, kunai drawn and ready.
The room was filled with tension, everyone poised for battle.
Then, all eyes fell on the girl standing in front of Tsunade.
Kakashi stood to Tsunade's left, kunai in hand. Shizune was on her right, equally prepared.
And right in front of them, standing with a determined but slightly panicked look on her face, was Sakiya—gripping a giant lollipop like it was a weapon.
A hush fell over the room.
Sakiya had meant to draw a kunai, but in her rush, she had grabbed the first thing she found in her pouch—a lollipop with a rough wooden stick. And now, here she was, standing in the middle of a standoff, brandishing candy.
A flicker of confusion passed over everyone's faces. The tension wavered.
Realizing the mistake, Sakiya's eyes darted around. Trying to salvage the situation, she reached back into her ninja pouch, fumbling for a weapon.
Instead, she pulled out a crunchy snack stick.
Silence.
Then, as she moved, a few pieces of candy spilled from her pouch and clattered onto the floor.
Plink. Plink.
The sound echoed in the heavy silence of the meeting hall.
Any lingering tension evaporated.
Everyone just stared.
Sweat beaded on Sakiya's forehead as she realized all eyes were locked onto her. Face burning with embarrassment, she hastily shoved the snack back into her pouch and desperately felt around again.
Finally, she found what she was looking for.
With a triumphant look, she pulled out a handful of kunai.
Her cheeks were still red, but at least now, she had an actual weapon.
Sakiya quickly switched the lollipop for the kunai in her other hand, trying to regain some composure.
However, in her haste, she fumbled again. More candy spilled from her pouch, clattering softly onto the floor.
Still, she kept her expression serious, standing tall as if nothing had happened. She held the kunai in front of her with forced confidence, trying to look like the perfect bodyguard.
But the damage was done.
The room was filled with exasperated silence.
Everyone stared, their expressions unreadable. Some had visible twitching at the corners of their mouths, while others were trying very hard not to sigh aloud.
This girl… Seriously?
Why was she even here?
Mifune, who had remained neutral throughout the meeting, visibly twitched at the sight of the scattered candy at Sakiya's feet. But rather than commenting, he chose the best course of action—moving things along.
Clearing his throat, he spoke in a firm, steady voice.
"This is the Five Kage Summit. Please remember to conduct yourselves accordingly. There is no need for hostility."
He let his words settle before continuing.
"We are gathered here as representatives of our villages. If we resort to fighting, this meeting loses its meaning. I ask that everyone remain calm and proceed with the discussion."
Raikage took a deep breath, regaining his composure. His voice was calmer now, but still firm.
"Darui, stand down."
With him taking the lead, Terumi Mei and Onoki followed suit, instructing their guards to retreat.
Tsunade, maintaining her authoritative demeanor, called out in a commanding voice, "Kakashi, Shizune, Sakiya—fall back."
Kakashi and Shizune immediately obeyed.
But Sakiya…
She was still crouched down, gathering the last pieces of spilled candy from the floor.
A vein visibly twitched on Tsunade's forehead.
I am not angry. I am NOT angry. I am absolutely NOT angry.
Luckily, Sakiya worked quickly, scooping up the last bits before hurriedly slipping back behind Tsunade.
As the Kage returned to their seats, the meeting resumed.
Raikage folded his arms, narrowing his eyes as he spoke first, directing his sharp words at Onoki.
"Hmph. No matter who ends up leading the alliance, I won't be at ease."
His gaze hardened.
"Onoki—your village worked with Akatsuki. You've already made deals with them before, and you lost to Konoha. How can I trust you?"
Then, he turned to Gaara.
"The Fourth Kazekage? A kid. You might be strong, but you have no real war experience. You're not qualified."
His eyes landed on Terumi Mei next.
"Mizukage, your village has been isolated for years. We've heard nothing from you until recently. And Akatsuki has a strong presence in the Land of Water. I wouldn't be surprised if they originated from within Kirigakure itself!"
Finally, he looked straight at Tsunade.
"As for you, I don't trust Konoha either. Akatsuki has too many ties to your village. Uchiha Itachi—one of their strongest members—is a Konoha ninja. Not long ago, he infiltrated the Land of Lightning and nearly captured our Jinchūriki.
Who's to say Konoha isn't involved in some secret deal with Akatsuki?"
His glare swept over the room, ending with a final declaration.
"In short, I will not put my brother's life in any of your hands. I don't trust any of you!"
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