The first issue at hand was an urgent one. Only the leaders of the Five Great Nations' hidden villages had the right to bear the title of "Kage." Despite the rapid development of the Land of Waterfalls under the new daimyo, it was still far from matching the power of the Five Great Nations.
Damn it... another tricky challenge. Ruri sighed inwardly. While the daimyo had bestowed upon him the title of Takikage, it was a double-edged sword.
The new daimyo of the Land of Waterfalls was an ambitious man, something that Ruri had valued in him. Most daimyo of smaller nations wouldn't dare to establish a ninja village with a "Kage" at its helm. Even Orochimaru, with his powerful Sound Village, never took the title of "Sound Kage." It wasn't a matter of personal strength but national standing.
By appointing Ruri as the Takikage, the daimyo had boldly declared his intent to compete with the Five Great Nations. It was a bold move, and one that left Ruri shaking his head—his old friend had no shortage of confidence in him.
"So, nobody has anything to say now?" Ruri's voice cut through the silence. A few moments ago, these very same elders had been loudly demanding that he relinquish power. Now that a real crisis was on the horizon, not a single one dared to speak.
The elders exchanged uneasy glances. When the daimyo had suddenly appointed Ruri as the Takikage, they had only seen the benefits: control over the village's resources and power. None of them had anticipated the burden of managing external threats.
Steeling his gaze, Kanemae Mamoru—the elder whose arm had been severed by the Truth-Seeking Ball—frowned deeply. He knew the reality all too well. The other villages had powerful bloodline clans and elites at least at the quasi-Kage level. His own Kanemae clan was dwindling, and he, their strongest, was merely at the elite Jonin level.
Mamoru had brought his clan to Takigakure to lay low, hoping to rebuild in peace. He had been swayed into challenging Ruri by Shusaki Ichiro, believing that controlling more village resources would benefit his clan. But with the threat of the Five Great Nations looming, his dream of quietly rebuilding seemed further away than ever. The only way forward now would be for the Land of Waterfalls to back down and renounce the Takikage title.
"I suggest discussing with the daimyo the possibility of abolishing the title of Takikage," Ichiro proposed, stroking his beard. His voice was measured and calm. "You would still remain the village's leader, of course. But this way, we can avoid provoking the Five Great Nations."
This suggestion, though seemingly reasonable, was a cunning move. If Ruri agreed, the elders would retain influence over village affairs without having to face external pressure. If Ruri refused, he would have to bear the full brunt of the Five Nations' ire, leaving him isolated.
Many of the elders nodded subtly in agreement. Mamoru, too, seemed to favor the idea—so long as Ruri was left to shoulder the diplomatic fallout, his Kanemae clan would remain safe.
Ruri didn't respond immediately. He was waiting—for the perfect opportunity to strike back.
Just as the tension in the room reached its peak, the door creaked open, and a masked young man entered.
[Name: Kakuzu]
Overall Strength: Elite Jonin
Talent Level: Quasi-Kage
Attributes: Earth, Water
Special Abilities: None
Evaluation: A formidable talent with exceptional skill in ninjutsu and creativity. If he encounters a breakthrough, he has the potential to become a Kage-level threat.
"Kakuzu?" one of the elders whispered, his eyes widening in surprise.
"The Ninjutsu Monster, Kakuzu?" murmured another. "Isn't he supposed to be second only to Ruri—no, I mean, Takikage-sama—in strength?"
"Why would he be here...?"
The elders' expressions soured. Both Ruri and Kakuzu were notorious figures in the Land of Waterfalls, though Kakuzu's reputation extended beyond its borders. They were well aware of the close relationship between the two men. Many of Kakuzu's most advanced techniques bore traces of Ruri's influence. While Kakuzu was widely known as a fearsome ninja, he had never once complained about Ruri being recognized as the strongest in the land—a testament to their deep bond.
Ichiro had planned today's coup based on the assumption that Kakuzu was away from the village. His sudden appearance dashed any hope of forcing Ruri into submission.
Kakuzu's absence from the village had been part of Ruri's strategy all along. He had anticipated that the elders might make a move, and Kakuzu's return marked the next step in his plan.
"Takikage-sama," Kakuzu said, ignoring the tense atmosphere as he knelt before Ruri. "Three days from now, the Five Kage Summit will be held in the Land of Iron."
His words were concise, but the implications were clear. He had gathered far more information than he had stated aloud—details that would be shared privately with Ruri later.
The Five Kage Summit...
Ichiro's eyes gleamed with newfound opportunity. If Kakuzu's information was accurate, they might be able to use the summit to their advantage.
"Takikage-sama," Ichiro spoke up again, feigning indignation. "It is a great insult to exclude you from the Five Kage Summit. As the leader of Takigakure, you must attend and demand recognition alongside the other Kage!"
Ichiro's tone was filled with righteous indignation, as if he were a loyal supporter fighting for Ruri's honor. In reality, he hoped to push Ruri into a dangerous situation, believing that the summit would expose the limits of his power. If Ruri failed, the elders could claim that they had only followed his orders.
Ruri's eyes narrowed, seeing through Ichiro's ploy instantly. But he also knew that this was the opportunity he had been waiting for.
"The Five Kage Summit..." Ruri muttered, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on the table. "If the other villages seek to divide the tailed beasts among themselves, there may still be a way to secure our position."
He remembered the events from the original timeline. The first Five Kage Summit was, at its core, a meeting to distribute the tailed beasts, with the hope that shared power would prevent future wars. While the notion of peace was laughable, the distribution did present an opportunity.
For Takigakure, that opportunity lay with the Seven-Tails. If the Seven-Tails were still under the control of Takigakure, or if they could secure another tailed beast, the village could gain leverage against the Five Great Nations.
Even if they didn't obtain a tailed beast, the summit was a chance to establish political connections with the other villages—connections that could strengthen Takigakure's standing.
Ruri leaned back in his chair, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Very well. We shall attend the Five Kage Summit."
Ichiro and the other elders exchanged uneasy glances, realizing too late that they had been outmaneuvered. Ruri wasn't walking into a trap—he was seizing an opportunity.
With Kakuzu by his side and a plan in motion, Ruri felt confident. Though his current strength was only at the level of an elite Jonin, the knowledge, strategies, and alliances he held were more valuable than raw power alone.
And if things didn't go as planned? Well, he still had his trump card—the Truth-Seeking Ball—hidden within his system.