As Kūga passed the gates of Konoha, he noticed people pausing to watch him. Whispers followed him—nothing new. He could feel the mix of awe and unease in their stares.
He didn't acknowledge it much, he was too used to it. He headed straight to meet Hashirama, Madara, and the council, where they were waiting to debrief him.
Inside the council room, Hashirama was the first to greet him, that warm smile always finding its way through the stress lines on his face. Madara gave a respectful nod, arms crossed, while the rest of the council looked on with expressions that varied from admiration to worry.
Kūga took it all in stride, a small smirk playing on his lips as he leaned against a wall, waiting for someone to break the silence.
Hashirama finally spoke up, his voice full of the warmth and respect he always seemed to have for Kūga. "Good to have you back, Kūga. You did incredible work out there… maybe too incredible, if I'm being honest."
Kūga's smirk widened. "Only did what needed to be done. War isn't a place for half-measures, right?"
Some council members shifted uncomfortably, as though his words struck a nerve.
One of them cleared his throat. "About that… Kūga-san, your methods—particularly the scale of them—are getting noticed outside the village. Not everyone sees things your way."
"And what of it? He kept countless Konoha lives from being lost. Power is necessary in times like these." Madara stepped forward, defending Kūga before he could even respond.
Kūga watched Madara with mild surprise, though he hid it well. The Uchiha Clan head might have a competitive spirit towards Kūga, but Madara's respect for him was clear, and it amused Kūga to see that someone as intense as Madara would come to his defense.
Hashirama interjected gently, calming the rising tension. "We're all on the same side here."
"Kūga, we're about to attend a Kage Summit, where the other villages will want to discuss the war and Konoha's… impact on it. I'd like you to join us. I think your presence alone might prevent any unnecessary threats." Hashirama's voice was serious, but his eyes held a trace of something else—a hint of trust that Kūga would, in his own way, help maintain peace.
Kūga shrugged. "Fine by me. I could use some entertainment."
"Good!" Hashirama grinned.
.
A few hours later, Kūga found himself wandering the village streets, greeted by those who'd heard of his victories. He caught sight of Kenta training nearby, hammering through a set of drills with determination written on his face.
Kūga approached the red-haired, crossing his arms as he watched the boy's form, occasionally critiquing with a raised brow or a slight nod of approval. After a while, Kenta stopped, panting heavily.
"If I was stronger… maybe I could've helped more," Kenta admitted, avoiding Kūga's eyes.
Kūga laughed lightly, a sound so casual it seemed almost out of place. "That's just the start, kid. You can't go into war expecting to be like Madara or Hashirama right away. It takes time. Those two grew up harsh so they had to train hard." He patted Kenta's shoulder. "If you're worried about getting stronger, then train harder. No one's stopping you."
Kenta looked up at him, a mixture of admiration and doubt in his eyes. "Right… I'll keep that in mind."
As he walked away, Kūga allowed himself a moment to think back on his journey, the years it took him to master Aether.
He couldn't deny there was some pride in being the strongest, but there was also a weight—a responsibility he didn't always welcome but accepted.
.
Meanwhile, far from Konoha's borders, the other villages were stirring.
Word of Kūga's devastating tactics had spread faster than wildfire, and the leaders weren't taking it lightly. Letters were exchanged, messengers dispatched, each village sending representatives to the long-awaited Kage Summit.
The summit wasn't just about hashing out battle strategies; it was a moment for each leader to size up the others, to see who would back down and who would fight to the end.
Kūga learned of the summit from Madara himself, who seemed almost eager for the meeting. "Finally, a chance to look those cowards in the eye," Madara muttered, the fire of challenge burning in his gaze.
Kūga laughed. "Not that it'll change anything. Talk is cheap."
"Maybe," Madara replied, shrugging. "But I'm looking forward to seeing who's too weak to make demands."
.
The next morning, Kūga prepared to leave for the summit with Hashirama and Madara. He was ready to put on a show if it came to it, knowing that his very presence would speak volumes.
As they made their way out of the village, he noticed the tension in the air, not just among his companions but also from the shinobi watching them go.
It seemed the whole village understood the weight of this meeting, that the future of Konoha might well hinge on it.
The destination was the Land of Iron, where the Kage Summit would be held.
The people going were the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju; the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju; Kūga Seiryu; Madara Uchiha; and Izuna Uchiha.
Only the five of them.
The decision seemed odd at first, especially considering Konoha's influence and the importance of the summit, but Kūga trusted Hashirama's judgment.
He had a feeling, too, about the reason...
Their travel was slow and steady, their pace almost as relaxed as a stroll through the village. As the sky darkened and the smell of rain thickened in the air, they came upon a small cave nestled among the trees.
Kūga offered to use his power to shield them from the storm, but Hashirama held up a hand and shook his head.
"You know why it's just us?" Hashirama said, looking at each of them with a sheepish smile. "I miss this—us, traveling together like old times."
A mix of reactions crossed their faces. Madara raised a brow, and Tobirama sighed, while Izuna gave a small, amused smile.
Kūga just chuckled and, with his usual easy-going grin, chimed in, "You just miss my cooking, don't you?"
The laugh that followed was loud and genuine, echoing through the forest and lightening the weight of the journey.
Kūga sensed something nearby with his Aether ability, expanding his senses out into the wilderness. A deer was grazing not far from them, hidden within the trees.
With a smirk, he asked, "Anyone up for a roasted venison?"
"Yes!" Hashirama's enthusiastic shout resounded, making Tobirama shake his head in amusement.
"All right," Kūga nodded, taking charge with a playful authority. "Madara, you're on hunting duty. Think you can handle that deer?"
Madara rolled his eyes but stepped forward, arms folded. "Piece of cake."
"Izuna, gather some herbs if you spot any—we're not doing this halfway," Kūga continued
Izuna nodded, already scanning the area for anything useful.
"Hashirama, table and chairs. And some wood for the fire," Kūga ordered, and Hashirama instantly began weaving hand signs to create wooden furniture with his Wood Release. Kūga smirked at the sight. "Tobirama, give him a hand with the firewood."
While the others set off to fulfill their tasks, Kūga conjured a metal grill, cooking tools, and plates with a subtle flick of his hand. Soon enough, Madara returned with the deer, a lean but sizeable catch.
Kūga cleaned and prepared it with practiced ease, working quickly to cut up portions of the meat and marinate it with the herbs Izuna had found.
The smell of sizzling venison soon filled the air, rich and mouth-watering. He seasoned each piece with precision, laying them on the grill, and searing each side to perfection.
Hashirama, unable to contain his curiosity, leaned closer.
"So, Kūga… 3,000 Kumo shinobi?" he asked, eyes wide with disbelief.
Madara's interest was piqued as well. "Yeah, Kūga. Two thousand down by yourself? Care to explain?"
Kūga shrugged, poking at the venison as he spoke, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather. "Wasn't much to it, really. They attacked; I responded. Just so happened I responded a little harder."
Izuna laughed softly, shaking his head. "You always make it sound so easy."
"Come on, now," Kūga grinned, flipping the meat. "I had a few hundred helping. Gotta give credit where it's due."
He didn't go into detail, letting them imagine the rest. The smell of the venison crisping up and the warmth of the fire set a comfortable, nostalgic mood.
When the meat was ready, Kūga plated it, giving each of them a hearty portion. They all sat around the makeshift table, silent as they took their first bites.
The venison was perfect—tender, juicy, with a smokey, savory flavor heightened by the wild herbs Kūga had used.
The small sounds of appreciation from his friends and the calmness of the forest around them made the moment feel timeless.
For a while, they just ate, savoring the food and the company in a way that words couldn't express.
Eventually, Madara looked up, a rare soft smile on his face. "It's been too long since we've done this."
Kūga merely nodded, his usual smirk softened into something almost like a smile. They didn't need to say more.
.
The journey had taken a week so far, and Hashirama hadn't been kidding about missing their time together—he refused to let them rush. Not once did they run; they walked at a leisurely pace, stopping whenever they needed to find shelter or hunt for food.
With all the hours of travel, they shared stories and dove into deeper conversations, talking smack against each other endlessly and enjoying a kind of carefree companionship they hadn't felt in a long time.
As they finally reached the snowy terrain of the Land of Iron, the cold bit at Hashirama, Tobirama, and Izuna, leaving them visibly shivering.
Only Kūga and Madara seemed unaffected—Kūga, wrapped in a subtle Aether barrier that kept him warm, and Madara, who skillfully used his fire nature chakra to keep himself toasty.
Hashirama shot them both an envious look, while Kūga sighed, clearly amused, and expanded his barrier around the group. In an instant, the cold vanished, and the shivering trio could breathe easy.
"About time," Tobirama muttered, pulling his cloak closer out of habit.
They continued on, making their way through the icy landscape, when suddenly...
*GROWLLLL*
A massive polar bear charged toward them, roaring loudly as it sprinted straight into Kūga's barrier.
With a dull thunk, the bear rebounded off the invisible shield, dazed and groggy, a few teeth scattering onto the ground.
"Look at this poor bear! Ha!" Hashirama burst out laughing, clutching his sides.
The polar bear, after seeing Hashirama's pointed laughter, actually looked a little insulted. Its eyes teared up as it gave one last confused look and turned to run off, stumbling on the snow. Tobirama just sighed in exasperation.
"Only you, Hashirama," he muttered, shaking his head as Madara looked on in mild disbelief.
Moving on, they soon spotted three enormous, snow-capped mountains that looked almost like wolves howling toward the sky. Hashirama grinned and pointed at them. "This is it! The summit is right past those mountains. Bet you guys have never been here before!"
Kūga raised an eyebrow. "Actually, I have."
Everyone turned to him, surprised. Hashirama's face brightened in sudden realization. "Oh, that's right—during that alliance negotiation a while back."
Kūga gave a quick nod, casually adding, "Yep. Even picked up a sword from here."
He shrugged like it was nothing, but the others stared at him in disbelief.
Madara folded his arms, quirking an eyebrow. "They crafted you a sword?"
"Uh-huh," Kūga replied, lifting his hand slightly.
From the void, his blade, Infinite Severer, appeared, gleaming against the snowy backdrop. The sword's sleek design and faint glow drew everyone's gaze.
Tobirama's usually composed face softened as he admired the weapon. "It's beautiful. Hard to believe they'd actually make something like this for anyone outside their own."
Hashirama and Madara both nodded, unable to hide their admiration.
Kūga shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "What can I say? I gave them some fresh drinking water as a gift."