Ten days flew by, and the Five Kage successfully gathered in Iwagakure Village.
"Is this the newly built Iwagakure Village? It's indeed quite different from before, much more magnificent," Namikaze Minato said, his tone tinged with emotion.
"It's what you call breaking down to rebuild,"
Nara Shikaku added, knowing full well why Iwagakure Village had undergone such significant changes.
"It's all thanks to the ninjas from Konohagakure," a female voice suddenly said from in front of the group, sounding a bit helpless and somewhat angry.
Hearing this, Kakashi sheepishly scratched his head, knowing all too well who was to blame and his unusual connection to the situation.
The newcomer looked at Kakashi with a resentful gaze, making him even more embarrassed.
"Hello, Hokage-sama. I am Kurotsuchi, a Jonin from Iwagakure Village. Tsuchikage-sama sent me to welcome everyone from Konohagakure Village," the newcomer said.
She was Oonoki's granddaughter, and her being sent to greet them showed how much Oonoki valued the Hokage.
"You've had a long journey," Minato said with a smile. Seeing Minato's smile, Kurotsuchi's cheeks turned slightly red. Despite being in her thirties and a mother, her charm was undiminished, appealing to both young and old.
"Please follow me, Hokage-sama. The other village Kage have already arrived."
"Is that so? It looks like we're the last to arrive, which doesn't quite fit my title," Minato said self-deprecatingly. Despite being known as 'The Flash,' he was the last to arrive.
"Not at all. Your strength, Hokage-sama, is well-known to everyone in the ninja world. Even if you're the last to arrive, I'm sure no one would have any complaints," Kurotsuchi said.
"Really? Then why do I feel like there's a hint of complaint in your words?" Minato teased.
"No, not at all," Kurotsuchi quickly waved her hands.
"Alright, I didn't mean to blame you. It was just a joke, don't mind it, haha," Minato said, then laughed a bit sheepishly, as if joking with a younger person was a habit common to all elders.
"Hokage-sama, you're really too much."
Kurotsuchi inwardly grumbled to herself.
Then, she led Minato, Shikaku, and Kakashi to the front of a rather impressive building.
"Hokage-sama, please come in; the others are already inside."
"Alright, I understand."
Without needing further explanation from Kurotsuchi, Minato could sense the powerful presences inside, especially the familiar aura of the Fourth Raikage.
"Hokage, you're too slow," a blue figure suddenly appeared in front of Minato as he opened the door and said.
At that moment, Kakashi swiftly positioned himself in front of Minato, his kunai charged with lightning chakra, effectively blocking the blue figure.
"Is this how the Raikage greets people?" Kakashi asked, eyeing the figure enveloped in a Lightning Release chakra armor.
"Oh? Since you can block my Lightning Release with your own, you must be the rumored Hatake Kakashi. How about it, any interest in coming to my Kumogakure Village? I guarantee that in my Kirigakure Village, your abilities will improve even further."
The Fourth Raikage showed a look of surprise when his Lightning Release armor was blocked by an outsider, a feat not many in his own village could achieve. Recognizing Kakashi, he realized that there were only a few ninja skilled in Lightning Release, and Kakashi was certainly one of them.
"Thank you for the generous offer, Raikage-sama, but I have no plans to switch allegiances at the moment," Kakashi declined the Raikage's invitation.
"That's a pity," the Raikage retracted his fist, and the Lightning Release chakra armor disappeared.
The Mizukage and Kazekage, who had been watching, both wore serious expressions.
"Such incredible speed," they thought simultaneously, their eyes barely keeping up with the collision between the Raikage and Kakashi.
"Hatake Kakashi? Indeed, he is a very dangerous man," the Mizukage thought as he looked at Kakashi.
"It's been a long time, Raikage-sama," Minato said as Kakashi stepped back behind him, and the Raikage withdrew.
"Yes, the last time we met was during the Third War,"
the Raikage replied with a hint of nostalgia.
"Just as you said, the next time we meet, we both carry the title of Kage. However, it seems there won't be an opportunity to test who is faster this time," the Raikage said with a tinge of regret.
After all, Minato was the only person he respected for his speed and the only man he wanted to outpace.
"Haha, there will be a chance in the future."
Minato chuckled and said, "Honestly, I'd rather not fight the Raikage. Battling him is just too exhausting. His speed is only slightly less than mine, and if we were to fight, I'd have to be on high alert at all times, which is a test for anyone."
Among the Five Kage, the only one the Raikage takes seriously now is the Hokage. The Tsuchikage is an old man who often throws out his back in battle. The Mizukage is a woman, and although there are strong women, there's an inevitable underestimation. As for the Kazekage, he's just a kid to the Raikage. Maybe in a few years, he'll be worthy of attention, but not yet.
"Our main target this time is Akatsuki."
At these words, the faces of the other three Kage instantly took on a grave expression. For them, Akatsuki has become the greatest threat, even more so than the other major ninja villages.
"Hokage-sama is right, our target this time is Akatsuki."
A somewhat blue and dignified voice came from behind Minato. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice to see a very short old man floating behind Minato, the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure Village, Oonoki.
When Oonoki saw Kakashi, his pupils dilated in shock, but they quickly returned to normal. Clearly, seeing Kakashi had brought back some unpleasant memories.
(End of chapter)