As discussions reached their conclusion, Hashirama smiled with satisfaction. "That's settled then! The summit is adjourned!"
Hashirama was thrilled with the results of the Six Kage Summit. Not only had they successfully established a peace treaty, but they also laid the foundation for future cooperation between nations. With such mutual interests, starting a war would no longer be so easy.
Even though the Land of Fire didn't receive specific development policies from Ruri, the summit wasn't without gains. Hashirama secured material and financial support in exchange for building bridges for the Land of Water and planting forests in the Land of Wind. With the profits from Tailed Beast sales added to the mix, the Land of Fire's coffers swelled even further. Hashirama could confidently say that, financially, no other nation could compare to the Land of Fire.
As the Kage began to take their leave, Ruri was abruptly stopped.
"Taki Kage-dono," Tobirama called out, his voice sharp and deliberate. "Though the Five Kage may acknowledge your strength, the daimyō of each nation do not know you."
Ruri felt the familiar twinge of annoyance—once again, Tobirama was targeting him.
But Tobirama had a point. While Kage held significant power within their villages, the real political authority still rested with the daimyō. A Kage was akin to a minister of defense, while the daimyō remained the ultimate decision-maker. Earning the respect of the Kage was one thing, but convincing the daimyō required tangible achievements.
"If you want the title of Taki Kage and the Land of Taki to be acknowledged by the entire ninja world," Tobirama continued slowly, "you'll need to achieve something notable."
The meaning behind his words was obvious.
So, you want to fight? Ruri thought, suppressing a grin. He wasn't opposed to the idea. With the Seven-Tails now sealed within him, his chakra supply was virtually endless. With this reservoir backing him, he could extend his use of the Truth-Seeking Orbs significantly.
He wasn't confident he could defeat all the Kage at once, but holding his own against them would certainly be within reach. And as for Tobirama, who wasn't yet at his peak, Ruri was sure he could take him down.
The Kage, meanwhile, seemed to agree with Tobirama's reasoning. Though they respected Ruri's strength, they recognized that mere words wouldn't be enough to sway their daimyō. A reputation needed to be earned, not given.
Even Hashirama, standing behind his brother, understood the logic. The only ninja widely acknowledged as the strongest in the world was himself. If anyone was going to fight Ruri, it made the most sense for it to be him.
And truth be told, Hashirama found the idea thrilling. His heart stirred at the thought of a worthy battle. Though he was a peacemaker at heart, strong warriors often enjoyed the thrill of combat.
After all, power grew through battle. A person who disliked fighting could never become truly powerful. It had been years since Hashirama had found someone who could spark his fighting spirit—most of his recent efforts had been spent building the village and promoting peace.
"Taki Kage-dono, fight me!" Hashirama declared with a booming laugh.
Ruri didn't hesitate. Achieving a high-profile victory would help solidify his reputation. In the past, he'd kept a low profile because his strength was insufficient. But now things were different—now, he was ready.
The other Kage looked on with interest. They were curious about the fight's outcome. They knew Hashirama's strength well, but it had been years since he last fought. Perhaps he had grown even stronger.
Meanwhile, Ruri's abilities remained shrouded in mystery. While he had demonstrated his sealing prowess and briefly used Wood Release, no one had seen him fight in earnest. In times of peace, understanding the strength of other nations was crucial.
Ruri mentally activated the system. If I'm going to fight Hashirama, I'd better use those lottery pulls right now.
Though the system's rewards were usually village-focused, the Wood Release technique he previously received proved that some prizes could be directly useful. He hoped for something like Deep Forest Emergence, a powerful Wood Release jutsu that Hashirama often used. That would surely aid in both battle and village development—Taki Village could always use more greenery!
[Ding... Congratulations, Host! You have obtained a complete steelworking manual.]
[Ding... Congratulations, Host! You have obtained a Michelin three-star sushi chef.]
Ruri blinked. A steelworking manual is great... but a sushi chef?
The system chimed again:
[Sushi is a source of happiness! Good food improves villagers' morale. Please don't underestimate the importance of cuisine.]
"So... this Michelin three-star sushi chef is a real person?" Ruri asked mentally.
[Correct! The chef is a wandering culinary ninja with excellent skills—and decent combat abilities. They'll arrive in your village soon. Be sure to welcome them!]
Ruri sighed. Well, food does bring happiness. Maybe I'll get lucky next time and pull a master of Sichuan cuisine.
[Apologies. Sichuan cuisine isn't native to this world's culinary traditions, but you can always invent it yourself.]
Ruri chuckled. With my terrible cooking skills, the best I'd make is a chaotic mess. He decided to draw one last time.
[Ding... Congratulations, Host! You have obtained Amaterasu.]
Amaterasu?! Did I just hit the jackpot?
But the system clarified quickly.
[Don't get too excited. This is a civilian version of Amaterasu. The black flames can ignite anything—except people. It's perfectly safe to use as an open flame!]
Ruri sighed. A fire that can burn anything except humans? Well, at least it's good for cooking or construction work.
He rolled his shoulders, mentally preparing himself for the battle with Hashirama. Whatever the outcome, he knew that proving himself in front of the Kage would elevate both his reputation and the standing of Taki Village.
"Shall we begin?" Ruri said with a smile, his chakra surging, the Seven-Tails lending its strength from within.
Hashirama grinned, his fighting spirit ignited. "Let's see what you're really made of, Taki Kage-dono!"
The other Kage watched intently as the two warriors prepared to clash. This battle would not only determine Ruri's standing in the ninja world but also test whether the balance of power truly lay with the God of Shinobi—or if a new contender was rising.
With their chakra blazing and the air crackling with energy, the fight was about to begin.