Chapter Thirty-One: The Peace Negotiations

When the Hidden Cloud, Hidden Mist, and Hidden Stone villages received Konoha’s invitation for a summit, their leaders immediately gathered at the border to discuss their response.

“Are you going?” The Fourth Raikage, A, glanced at the other two Kage. The Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, smiled noncommittally. She had only just driven out the Fourth Mizukage and taken over, with the help of her advisor, and wasn’t clear on the real reasons behind this war.

To put it simply, she’d been pushed out by the village elders to take the blame!

Onoki, the Tsuchikage, carefully examined the documents in his hand… If they went, there was the risk Konoha had set a trap to wipe them out. But if they didn’t go, what did it say about their courage as Kage, unable to even attend a meeting? That would be far too shameful.

“We’ll go!” Onoki declared forcefully. “With the combined strength of the three Kage, escaping from Konoha is hardly a problem! However, as for escorts…”

“I suggest we don’t bring any bodyguards,” A shook his head and explained. “Our intelligence network has gathered a lot of information about Konoha. Given their current strength, they could crush the three of us without breaking a sweat. They don’t need any tricks.”

“Huh? Then why did you even organize a coalition army?” Mei Terumi was stunned. What was he saying? Were they just being sent to their deaths? Or was this just an empty show of allegiance?

“It’s just posturing, so we’re not underestimated. Don’t tell me you don’t want a part of the Land of Fire?”

At those words, both Onoki and Mei Terumi fell silent.

Given the old state of the ninja world, the five great villages—Konoha, Cloud, Stone, Mist, and Sand—were less the military protectors of their nations and more like vassals to their respective feudal lords. Whenever a village grew even a bit stronger, the daimyo and nobles would incite conflict, weakening the village, then provide funds for rebuilding—thus maintaining control over the villages’ development.

In fact, almost all the missions assigned within the villages were issued by the daimyo or nobles! Their aim was to make sure the villages never broke free from their grip.

Yet, both Onoki and A had grown up in their villages. Did they really want to see their homes dragged into endless war, watching generations of young and old perish?

Now, with the Land of Fire undergoing a coup and offering a chance for future peace, how could they not want to join?

Forming the coalition and pressuring Konoha was just a show for the daimyo and the nobles, to mislead them.

“Hmph! Do you really think I don’t know? This so-called war, the daimyo—weren’t they all manipulated by that strange man who calls himself Madara Uchiha?”

Onoki sneered. In truth, he had a good relationship with the Tsuchikage’s daimyo. But this time, for the sake of Iwagakure’s future, he chose the Land of Fire!

“Quiet. We still don’t know how many spies the enemy has planted in the coalition.” A reminded Onoki. Mei Terumi, who had said little, glanced at the two men… Honestly, these old men are even more devious than us women!

Mist is better: from the start, they’d never really planned to attack Konoha. Hadn’t anyone noticed they didn’t even bring the Seven Ninja Swordsmen?

“That’s enough. Let’s talk inside Konoha. Three days from now, we attend as agreed!”

Unfortunately, the entire conversation was overheard by White Zetsu, concealed underground. That very night, the coalition was thrown into chaos, and the three Kage vanished without a trace… The next day, each nation’s daimyo sent their senior nobles to take over the coalition.

…

Three days later, to the surprise of Tsunade and the others, the Raikage, Mizukage, and Tsuchikage arrived at Konoha without a single guard, alone.

When they revealed their faces at the village gate, the guard Shinteiko Yun was so startled he nearly jumped out of his skin. He hurriedly called Tsunade and rushed with the Konoha leadership to greet them.

“A, Mei Terumi, Onoki—you all came just like that?” Tsunade, ever the old rival, didn’t stand on ceremony and asked bluntly.

“Tsunade.” A removed his hat, revealing his face. “It’s been a long time.”

“Please come in!” Before Tsunade could say more, Jiraiya quickly intervened and led the three into the Hokage Tower—now the government office of the Land of Fire.

As soon as they sat down, Tsunade couldn’t hold back any longer. “What happened? From what I know of you, there’s no way you’d come to Konoha without a single guard unless something serious occurred.”

The three Kage exchanged glances. After a long moment, A finally spoke.

“We… have come to ask for help!”

“What happened?” Shikaku inquired. “A few days ago we received word from the front lines that there was chaos in the coalition army. Is this related to you?”

“Yes,” Mei Terumi nodded. “That night, while we were discussing when to formally visit Konoha, we received urgent messages from our respective daimyo… and then…”

At this, Mei Terumi, Onoki, and A simultaneously lifted their shirts—everyone gasped in horror. Each had a gaping hole in their abdomen, with their internal organs visible!

If not for their profound chakra reserves barely sustaining their lives, their entrails would have spilled out and they’d have died on the spot!

“Tsunade!”

“Take them to the research institute immediately!” Tsunade rushed over, her hands glowing green as she pressed them to the wounds. “There’s a force constantly stopping the cells from regenerating. I’ll need Orochimaru’s help!”

“I’ll do it!” Naruto grabbed two of them, activated Flying Thunder God, and in a flash, the four vanished from the office and appeared in Orochimaru’s research department.

…

After Orochimaru and Tsunade joined forces and finally managed to save the three Kage, Haoyun was the first to burst into the ward, desperate to find out what had happened to the coalition.

He’d meddled with the plot so much, he couldn’t just watch the ninja world perish, could he?

“Lord Onoki, what exactly happened to the coalition?”

Onoki looked at Haoyun, then at Tsunade and the anxious leaders behind him. Though he was suspicious, he didn’t voice his doubts and instead recounted the events of that night.

“Three days ago, we received letters and planned to secretly discuss how to join the Land of Fire and begin reforms together. But just as we gathered, each of us received urgent messages from our daimyos.

“We had no choice but to return to our tents to read the letters. But as soon as we opened them, we were struck by genjutsu… The messengers transformed into bizarre, white, plant-like beings and stabbed through our bodies.

“After we managed to kill the creatures, we found their wounds couldn’t be healed with chakra. Coming out of the tents, we saw our guards being taken away, and the area was swarming with those white humanoid plants.”

Onoki’s voice trembled with pain. The entire coalition had been overrun by the white creatures, their ninjas vanished… only the three Kage had survived!

Fortunately, their supposed assault on Konoha had been just a feint, and their main forces had stayed behind. Otherwise, the power of the three hidden villages would have been drastically reduced!

“The beings you describe are called White Zetsu.”

By this point, after hearing Onoki’s account, Haoyun didn’t dare conceal anything any longer. He immediately played a recording and revealed to the three Kage the schemes of Black Zetsu and Madara Uchiha.