In the wooden hall stood a hexagonal table, perfectly suited for the six Kage. Hashirama and the others each took their seats, leaving their guards to stand watch from behind.
This Taki Kage's mindset seems similar to mine... I wonder if he'll agree with my vision?
Hashirama tapped the table thoughtfully. The house was undeniably made with Wood Release, and its structure aligned exactly with what he had envisioned. This gave him a strange sense of camaraderie toward Ruri.
(Though in reality, Ruri had just copied the layout from the first Five Kage Summit because he was too lazy to come up with something original.)
As the six Kage settled into their seats, they placed their hats on the table. It was clear that, even in this unconventional setting, the weight of politics was heavy. Hashirama, as the strongest ninja and the God of Shinobi, began the discussion with the air of someone who held undeniable authority.
"It's truly an honor for all of us—the Five Great Nations... ah, I mean, the six of us—to come together for this summit."
He shot an apologetic glance at Ruri. While Hashirama could acknowledge Ruri as a capable Kage, granting the Land of Taki the same political recognition as the other Great Nations was beyond his authority—it required approval from the daimyo.
Ruri shook his head slightly, signaling that it wasn't a problem. Although Taki's economy was rapidly growing and catching up to the Great Nations, its territory was still far smaller, limiting its growth potential.
Then, to everyone's surprise, Hashirama suddenly lowered his head and slammed it against the table.
"Thank you so much!" he exclaimed loudly.
The other Kage were stunned. They had never imagined that the God of Shinobi would bow his head like this. Even Tobirama, who was already displeased with Ruri's presence, couldn't believe what he was seeing. He hurriedly leaned toward his brother, his voice sharp with frustration.
"Brother, you represent the Land of Fire and the Hidden Leaf. How can you bow to other Kage so easily?"
Hashirama, however, seemed utterly unbothered by his status. He lifted his head slightly, his eyes full of sincere joy.
"But I... I'm just so happy!"
The Raikage, A, crossed his arms and spoke sternly. "Hokage-dono, raise your head. That is not the behavior of a leader."
"I may have come here to recognize your agreement, Hokage-dono, but that doesn't mean I'll sign anything without consideration," said Ishikawa, the Tsuchikage, stroking his beard. Hashirama's ideals were too optimistic—just because they could sit together peacefully now didn't mean peace in the ninja world was guaranteed.
"If you act too submissively, it makes it look like you're hiding ulterior motives," Byakuren, the Mizukage, added coldly. He eyed Hashirama with distrust and looked toward Ruri with even more suspicion. After seeing Ruri's use of Wood Release, Byakuren found it difficult to trust anyone.
"It seems the Hokage has an overly optimistic view of the other Kage," Ruri said nonchalantly, his tone neutral. While the Land of Taki didn't have the same clout as the other nations, Ruri himself had the strength to make his voice heard.
Retto, the Kazekage, glanced at Ruri and added, "It seems the Taki Kage is familiar with the terms of the agreement, so no further explanation is needed. The condition for signing the treaty is the distribution of the captured Tailed Beasts among the villages. This is a trade, not a matter of goodwill."
"That's right," Tobirama interjected, trying to steer the conversation back on track. "While the distribution of Tailed Beasts will account for the balance of power, all villages will need to provide payment."
But before he could finish, Hashirama interrupted, his voice full of sincerity.
"We don't have to charge anything! We can give the Tailed Beasts for free..."
"Shut up!"
Tobirama clenched his fists, resisting the urge to punch his brother. While peace was the goal, maintaining strength through strategic negotiation was essential. Selling the Tailed Beasts would fund Konoha's development, ensuring it remained the strongest. Even if the other nations violated the treaty, the Land of Fire would stay ahead.
Ruri, seizing the opportunity, asked, "The Tailed Beasts... there are nine in total. How many have you captured, Hokage-dono?"
Hashirama replied candidly, "All eight, except for the One-Tail sealed in Suna." He placed eight scrolls on the table, each labeled with the numbers two through nine.
Retto glanced at the scrolls indifferently. He didn't know much about the true power of the Tailed Beasts, and since Hashirama had captured them alone, he assumed their strength wasn't far beyond his own expectations.
"We already have the One-Tail sealed at Monk Morino Temple, so we don't need another," Retto said. "However, if we're to sign the treaty, we'll need compensation. Is that acceptable?"
"What do you want?" A asked, eager to secure the Eight-Tails for his village. He knew Konoha would likely keep the Nine-Tails, but fewer competitors for the Eight-Tails worked in his favor.
"Our country is covered in desert. We want fertile land from the Land of Fire, not a Tailed Beast. Additionally, we want thirty percent of the funds other villages use to purchase their beasts."
The room erupted.
"You've got to be kidding, Kazekage!"
"That's outrageous, Kazekage-dono!"
Both A and Byakuren slammed their hands on the table. Thirty percent was no small amount, and across multiple villages, it would be a significant fortune. They couldn't allow Suna to gain such an advantage.
"If our terms aren't met, we won't sign the agreement," Retto said firmly. "Our village is in the desert and can't sustain itself through production. To compete with the Great Nations, we must maximize our advantage with the Tailed Beast we already have."
Ruri tried to interject, "I think—"
But Byakuren cut him off. "Kazekage, if you insist on these demands, the five of us can unite against the Land of Wind. Isn't that right, Taki Kage?" He shifted the conversation toward Ruri, clearly aware of the prior dealings between Taki and Suna.
A and Ishikawa remained silent but turned their gaze toward Ruri, silently endorsing Byakuren's threat.
Ruri, however, didn't flinch. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but the Land of Taki doesn't betray its friends."
Retto gave Ruri a grateful look. The tension in the room was palpable—if things went wrong, a coalition against the Land of Wind could spell disaster.
"We're willing to assist with the purchase of Tailed Beasts if the Land of Taki lacks the funds," Retto offered. "But my conditions are non-negotiable."
Ruri knew exactly what Retto was hinting at: the Hero Water. But such a precious resource wasn't something Ruri intended to part with easily. While Taki lacked the funds to buy a Tailed Beast outright, Ruri himself wasn't short on money. As the founder of the underground trading network, his wealth was immeasurable—enough to rival nations.
The room grew heavy with tension, the air thick and stifling. Just as the confrontation seemed ready to explode, a loud BANG shattered the silence.
4o