As they approached the village gates, Kūga glanced around and noted, "Looks like they've multiplied the guards. Last time, there were only two here."
Tobirama gave a slight nod. "Makes sense. With high officials from every major village gathering, it's only natural for them to tighten security."
They continued forward until a samurai in charge stepped up, scrutinizing each of them. His expression was cautious but respectful as he asked, "State your names and purpose."
Hashirama calmly stepped forward and introduced himself. "I am Hashirama Senju, First Hokage of Konoha. These are my high officials."
The samurai's eyes widened slightly, clearly recognizing the title, though he still seemed wary. "Forgive me, Lord Hokage, but… why does your security detail seem so… sparse?"
Hashirama scratched his head, chuckling a little, not quite sure how to respond without sounding overly confident. But before he could think of an answer, Madara stepped forward, crossing his arms with a smirk. "Security? With the five of us here? That's amusing."
Hashirama let out a sigh, shaking his head as Madara's words left the samurai looking even more confused.
Kūga stepped in with a quick wave. "Don't mind my emo friend here," he said dryly. "Just let us in already."
The samurai, still processing the group's dynamic, nodded and motioned for them to enter, still casting a curious look over his shoulder as they walked by.
.
As they walked through the streets toward the venue for the Kage Summit, Hashirama couldn't hide his amazement. Every corner seemed to hold a story, merchants selling exotic goods, children laughed and played, and people exchanged greetings and traded stories.
It was like a miniature version of Konoha, albeit under a mountain.
He glanced around, taking in the sights, sounds, and people filling the village.
"You know," he began, smiling a little ruefully, "I regret not including places like this on our last journeys. We missed so much."
Madara gave a low "hn" of acknowledgment but kept his attention on the path ahead, while Kūga grinned and kept walking, looking as laid-back as ever.
Tobirama and Izuna exchanged a quick look, each noting Hashirama's reaction in their own way.
It didn't take long for them to encounter another group of samurais, who were stationed outside a specific building.
Among them stood a familiar figure that caught Kūga's eye.
"Yo! Kojiro-san..." Kūga called out with a friendly wave.
The man turned at the sound of his name, revealing a scarred but handsome face that lit up in a broad smile upon seeing Kūga.
"Seiryu-san!" he greeted warmly. "Here again? I've lost count of how many times you've shown up this month!"
Kūga chuckled, shaking his head. "Stop exaggerating. This is only my third visit."
Kojiro laughed, then looked beyond Kūga at the group of shinobi approaching him. "Well, this is the first time I see you with a crew like this," he remarked with interest.
Kūga motioned to each of his companions in turn, introducing them with a hint of pride.
"This is Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage of Konoha," he began, and Kojiro gave a respectful nod.
"And this here," Kūga continued, gesturing to Tobirama, "is Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage."
Kojiro's eyes widened slightly as he turned to the next introduction. "Madara Uchiha, Head of the Uchiha Clan," Kūga went on, nodding toward Madara, who returned the look with a small nod.
"And last but not least, Izuna Uchiha, Captain of the Uchiha Task Force."
Kojiro took them all in, clearly impressed by the distinguished company Kūga had brought along. "My name is Kojiro Sasaki... it's an honor to meet you all," he said sincerely. "Welcome to the Land of Iron."
.
Kojiro Sasaki led them through the gates and into the impressive round stone building, taking them past another set of samurais until they reached the main hall.
Inside, the Kages of the other major villages were already assembled, each seated at separate tables spaced carefully apart. The Kazekage, Tsuchikage, Mizukage, and Raikage all looked up as Hashirama and his group entered.
A murmur passed through the hall as the Hokage and his companions stepped in. Kūga caught sight of the Raikage narrowing his eyes, clearly impatient.
The dark skinned man pushed his chair back and opened his mouth to speak, irritation flashing in his gaze.
"We've been waiting for hours!" the Raikage began, his voice rising. "As a Kage, where's your sense of—"
The sentence died on his lips as he noticed Kūga standing just behind Hashirama. Kūga's relaxed posture and the faint, casual smile on his face were enough to silence the Raikage, who immediately thought better of his complaint.
Hashirama offered the room a friendly smile and moved to his seat, his companions following suit, standing a respectful distance behind him like the other shinobi had for their Kages.
But Kūga, as usual, did things his own way. Conjuring an elegant looking stool out of nowhere, he plopped down and crossed one leg over the other, appearing completely at ease.
The other shinobi couldn't help but exchange wary looks.
The tension was almost palpable, as they glanced between Hashirama, the strongest Kage alive; Madara, whose strength had recently left a huge impact on Iwa; and Kūga, whose recent feats had quickly spread like wildfire.
Tobirama and Izuna, though equally impressive, were somewhat overshadowed by the sheer reputation of their companions.
It was Kūga, however, who seemed to hold their attention the most. He sat there with a kind of casual arrogance that unnerved the others, his mere presence drawing their glances every few moments.
Most of them knew of the Konoha shinobi's reputation, and more than one shinobi couldn't stop the involuntary gulp of nervousness.
After a moment, a figure at the head of the hall stepped forward, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. He was a dignified man with gray-streaked hair and a strong, steady gaze.
Okamura Tsunemori, the General of the Land of Iron and the neutral host of this gathering. He surveyed the room, his presence calm yet commanding as he raised a hand for silence.
"Welcome, all of you," Tsunemori began, his voice carrying easily throughout the hall.
"Today marks an unprecedented event. For the first time in our history, the leaders of each major shinobi village are gathering to discuss peace and unity. Allow me to formally introduce each Kage." He turned to the assembled leaders, gesturing respectfully.
"The Kazekage, leader of Sunagakure," he said, motioning to a lean man with a solemn expression sitting quietly at his table.
"The Tsuchikage, leader of Iwagakure," he continued, nodding to a broad-shouldered figure whose intense stare didn't waver.
"The Mizukage, leader of Kirigakure," he added, gesturing toward a figure shrouded slightly in mist, whose sharp eyes seemed to appraise every detail of the room.
"And lastly, the Raikage of Kumogakure," he said, acknowledging the large, muscular man whose earlier impatience had now given way to wary silence.
Tsunemori then turned, his gaze falling on Hashirama. "And, of course, our final guest—the Hokage of Konohagakure, Hashirama Senju."
Hashirama gave a warm nod of acknowledgment, and Tsunemori's expression softened slightly before he looked out over the entire room once more.
"Each of you is here because of your unique strength and the importance of your village in maintaining peace across the land. Let us begin this discussion as equals, with the shared goal of creating a safer world for our people."
There was a pause as everyone held their breath, each leader sizing up the others in the room. Tsunemori's voice broke the silence one final time.
"The First Kage Summit in all of history will now commence."
.
Okamura Tsunemori, the General of the Land of Iron, addressed the assembly with a formal bow. His gaze swept across the Kages.
"The first point on the agenda: The recent conflict between Konoha and Kumogakure. We hope to address the causes of this conflict and discuss potential reparations to prevent future bloodshed."
The Raikage leaned forward, his scowl deepening as he locked eyes with Hashirama. "If we're talking about recent conflicts, it's only fair we start with Konoha's actions," he said, his voice laced with anger.
"Kumogakure attempted diplomacy. We wanted to discuss a mutually beneficial exchange of resources, particularly Konoha's abundant wood supply. But the Hokage here refused us outright. And not just that—your shinobi attacked our diplomat!"
Hashirama listened, keeping his expression neutral, though the accusation made Madara scoff. Kūga rolled his eyes, arms crossed, looking more bored than anything else.
"I'll have to correct you there, Raikage," Hashirama replied, voice even. "We never attacked any Kumo diplomat. And you know it."
He leaned forward, meeting the Raikage's glare with a calm but steely gaze. "What's more, it's no secret that Kumo forces attacked and massacred civilians living in a small settlement within the Land of Fire's borders. We have records of these unprovoked assaults on innocent lives."
The Raikage's face darkened further, though he held back for now, glancing at his guards. "And Konoha expects us to believe it was unprovoked?"
"There are many witnesses still alive from that attack who can testify. And it's no coincidence that your forces were seen trying to lay claim to a piece of the Fire Country right after."
A tense silence followed, broken only when the Kazekage, who had been watching the exchange, spoke up. "The matter of taking land without consent is something I believe Konoha has every right to address."
The Raikage's glare shifted to the Kazekage. "And what would you know about it?" he snapped.
"At least my village didn't start a war out of selfish ambition. Iwa could learn a thing or two about diplomacy. But where was Kirigakure during all this?" His gaze shifted to the Mizukage, clearly eager to turn the tables.
The Mizukage, who had been listening with an amused smile, raised a brow at the Raikage's attempt to redirect. "The war wasn't a particular concern for us at the time," he answered smoothly. "We had our own issues. Picking fights with other villages would have been reckless, given our situation."
"So you'll just sit back and wait, while the rest of us handle the real fights?" the Raikage retorted. "Sounds convenient."
The Mizukage chuckled, clearly unfazed by the jab. "It was a choice for survival, Raikage," he replied, his voice calm. "But I didn't come here to explain myself to you. We're all here to discuss reparations."
"Reparations?" The Raikage's eyes flashed with anger as he directed his attention back to Hashirama. "Kumo has lost thousands of lives in battle against Konoha. My jinchuriki was taken from us, the very strength of our village crippled. If there's to be peace, Konoha should compensate for what we've lost—with either money, the Nine-Tails, or its jinchuriki."
Hashirama's face remained calm, though a dark edge seemed to fall over him. His normally gentle eyes hardened, and a sudden, powerful aura filled the room—a crushing sense of killing intent that sent a shiver down the spines of everyone in attendance.
Kūga glanced over, that easy smile of his unfazed but his eyes glinting with something sharper, more dangerous.
Hashirama's voice was low, but the threat in it was unmistakable. "You're asking Konoha to hand over our village's power? Our people? If you want to discuss what Kumo lost, then know it was by your own aggression. Any more of this and I'll have no choice but to send Kūga to Kumogakure… and this time, he won't stop at your soldiers."
Kūga's relaxed smile never wavered. "Well… I could do that," he said, looking thoughtful as he tilted his head. "Didn't get to stretch properly with just three thousand shinobi last time."
The Raikage clenched his fists, visibly swallowing down his rage, but he didn't dare press the issue further.
Tsunemori, ever watchful, quickly stepped in, raising a hand. "Please, everyone," he said in a calm but firm tone. "This meeting is not meant to threaten or instigate further conflict. Let us instead focus on resolving the damages caused."
Hashirama nodded, releasing his killing intent, and the weight in the air dissipated. "Very well," he said, turning to the Raikage. "Then let's discuss reparations. Kumogakure should be the one to pay reparations for the lives of those innocent civilians and the damages caused to our land. Konoha cannot, and will not, bear the blame for what your village started."
The Raikage's eyes flared with indignation. "Reparations? You want Kumogakure to pay reparations? We've suffered massive losses as well! That's unreasonable!"
"You speak of losses," the Kazekage interjected, shifting his attention to the Tsuchikage, who had remained silent so far. "But Suna has faced losses too. Iwagakure's forces have pressed hard against us in the West. I want reparations from Iwa for the damages caused to our people and our borders."
The Tsuchikage bristled, shooting a glare at the Kazekage. "Resources are limited, Kazekage. Iwagakure is in desperate need, and I did what I had to do to secure my people's future. You would do the same."
The Kazekage scoffed. "Don't pretend to be desperate, Tsuchikage. We all know you're not fighting for survival—you're fighting to control trade routes, for power and control over the region."
The room seemed to tense even more, with accusations and counterarguments flying across the room, each Kage defending their actions with heated words.
The Mizukage, for his part, leaned back with an amused expression, watching the other Kages clash with mild interest.
Tsunemori raised his voice again, louder this time, trying to steer the conversation back. "Kages, please! Let us not lose sight of the purpose of this summit. We are here to prevent further bloodshed, not incite it."
The arguments slowed, but the tension didn't ease entirely. Hashirama seized the moment, directing a calm look at the Tsuchikage. "If Iwagakure's need for resources is truly so dire, then Konoha would be willing to discuss a trade agreement. But we will not stand by while innocent people suffer because of your ambition."
The Tsuchikage scowled, clearly reluctant to accept such an offer, especially one that involved any kind of reliance on Konoha. The Raikage, still fuming, looked from one Kage to the next before grumbling under his breath.
"If you're serious about peace, then each village must own its part in this," Hashirama continued, his gaze firm as he addressed them all. "Each village involved in these conflicts must contribute to reparations for the damages caused, whether through resources, monetary support, or strategic agreements. That is the only way we can begin to heal the rifts between us."
The Mizukage chuckled lightly, earning a few wary glances. "I must say, it's refreshing to watch all of you bicker like this. So much for peace-loving shinobi villages."
Hashirama's gaze met the Mizukage's with a look of challenge, though his tone remained calm. "You may find amusement in our differences, Mizukage, but it's those differences that we must overcome. We are not here to pick at old wounds but to find a path forward."
After a tense pause, Tsunemori cleared his throat, his expression one of resolution as he addressed the room. "The First Kage Summit has brought forth many issues, but we must not let those divides keep us from finding peace. Each village will be required to provide reparations, as the Hokage has suggested, but specific terms will be discussed further in the days to come."
A weight seemed to lift, though the atmosphere remained charged with unresolved tension and the lingering power struggles among the Kages. Tsunemori took a deep breath and looked around the room, his voice steady.
"With this, the discussions are open to further deliberation among each Kage, but remember, any aggression from here on may very well bring consequences none of us want to see."
The Kages exchanged guarded looks, each clearly understanding the weight of Tsunemori's words, but for now, the meeting had reached a tentative ceasefire.
As they filed out of the room, the Mizukage's amused smile lingered, while the Raikage glared daggers at Hashirama, who remained as composed as ever.
Kūga stifled a yawn as he stood. "Good meeting, huh?" he said with a grin. "Can't wait to see who actually follows through."
.
After stepping out of the venue, the group exchanged glances as the weight of the summit lifted. Hashirama turned to them, his relaxed expression returning.
"I'm going to have a chat with General Tsunemori for a bit," he said. "Roam as you like, but don't leave the village just yet—there's going to be another negotiation in a few days."
They all nodded in agreement. Tobirama on the other hand, gave his brother a sealing tag. "Can't stay away from Konoha too long. If you need me, just channel some chakra into this, and I'll appear immediately." With that, Tobirama vanished in a flash, heading back to the village.
Madara stretched his arms behind his head, smirking. "I'm going to the marketplace. I want to see what the merchants here have."
Izuna immediately perked up. "I'll join you."
Kūga grinned, nodding in agreement. "Count me in."
.
The three of them strolled through the marketplace, weaving between stands filled with jewelry, weapons, and trinkets from all across the nations. Vibrant fabrics hung overhead, casting colorful shadows as vendors called out their wares.
Madara paused here and there to inspect a particularly shiny weapon or intricate piece of jewelry, while Izuna seemed more interested in taking in the sights of jewelries for his *ehem* lover.
As Kūga turned from a stall selling delicate jade figurines, he caught a glimpse of the Mizukage approaching. Biyakuren's sly grin widened as he recognized Kūga.
"Well, well," Biyakuren greeted with an easy, almost playful tone. "You're the one who decimated Kumogakure's forces, aren't you?"
Kūga smiled, giving a light nod. "One and only, Mizukage-sama."
"That serves that black-bastard right!" Biyakuren chuckled, throwing a smug look in the direction of the Raikage's chambers. "But please, just call me Biyakuren. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Kūga scratched the back of his head, internally chuckling. 'Back in my world, you'd be canceled for that,' he thought. Outwardly, he maintained his polite smile. "The pleasure's all mine, Biyakuren-sama."
Biyakuren's shinobi, positioned nearby, eyed Kūga with an appraising look, likely trying to gauge his strength. However, unlike the Uchihas nearby, Kūga didn't give off any obvious chakra signals, leaving them perplexed.
Biyakuren glanced back at them before addressing Kūga again. "Well, I won't keep you, but good luck out there. I hope you suck Kumo dry."
Kūga felt a bead of sweat form as he laughed lightly, thinking, 'That sounded… so wrong.'
"That's the plan, Biyakuren."
Madara, who had been watching the exchange with a faint smirk, chuckled as the Mizukage departed. "What a character," he mused. "I wonder if he can dance."
Izuna glanced over at his brother, a wry smile on his face. "There's only one person I know who refers to fighting as 'dancing,' and that's you."
Kūga and Madara both let out low chuckles, sharing a glance of mutual understanding.