"How's the situation now?"
In the Hokage's office in Konoha, the hot-tempered Fourth Raikage, the cunning old Tsuchikage Ōnoki, the alluring Mizukage Terumī Mei, and Gaara were all present.
Wait—Gaara.
The Fourth Raikage frowned at him. "The Two-Tails Jinchūriki from our Kumogakure has already been captured by the Akatsuki. I want to know how Sunagakure managed to protect you."
"If your explanation isn't convincing, I might have to assume you've sided with the Akatsuki and betrayed the shinobi world."
The Raikage appeared rough and aggressive, but deep down he was quite perceptive. It was just that his explosive temper sometimes made him lose control. By bringing up Gaara's situation at this moment, Terumi Mei, Ōnoki, and Tsunade naturally couldn't stay silent.
In truth, this was a doubt shared by all of them.
Faced with their doubts, Gaara remained calm and composed.
"If I'm not mistaken, I was the first one they targeted. However, our Sunagakure's Elder Chiyo later used a forbidden technique to revive me. Now I am the Fifth Kazekage of the Sand Village. Raikage, our positions are the same. After I answer this, I hope you won't push too far."
A Kage could not be disrespected.
Even though Gaara was young, he was still the nominal leader of Sunagakure—his status was equal to the Raikage's.
Upon hearing that Gaara had been revived by a forbidden technique, the Raikage lost interest. Most forbidden techniques in the shinobi world had severe drawbacks, and one that could bring someone back to life would have even worse consequences.
Chiyo was probably dead now.
With that thought in mind, the Fourth Raikage glanced around before speaking. "The Akatsuki's strength is overwhelming. They're collecting the tailed beasts. Right now, our village's Eight-Tails Jinchūriki Killer B and the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki Uzumaki Naruto are still safe. There shouldn't be any others left!"
"I am the Three-Tails Jinchūriki," Terumī Mei said frankly. "As for why I didn't die, it's because Orochimaru already figured out how to harness the Three-Tails' power and turned himself into a substitute small Three-Tails. The Akatsuki must have extracted his chakra."
There was no point in hiding it at this stage.
The Akatsuki was simply too powerful. If the Five Kage didn't unite, they would likely be picked off one by one.
"The Mizukage has good luck," Gaara remarked with a sigh. Then his gaze shifted to the Raikage and Tsunade. "Since the Akatsuki wants the tailed beasts, and our goal is to protect them, we are on the same side. There are still the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails left. Do you know where they are?"
Tsunade replied, "The Nine-Tails has been placed somewhere the Akatsuki can't reach. The Eight-Tails is currently in Konoha. We just need to protect him."
"Then why not send the Eight-Tails there too?" the Raikage demanded. "Or is the Hokage planning to use Killer B as bait to draw the Akatsuki's attention?"
Ōnoki remained silent, watching the younger generation argue with an air of detachment.
"That location must remain confidential, and ordinary people can't enter it anyway. Besides, the Eight-Tails is in Konoha right now. If the Akatsuki comes, they'll face us first. Does the Raikage really think Konoha's forces are less valuable than Killer B alone?"
"Naruto was moved to prevent the enemy from resorting to desperate measures. And anyway, do you have the right to question my decisions?"
By the end, Tsunade's tone had grown increasingly firm.
She was the Fifth Hokage now—the strongest among the Allied Shinobi Forces. A defeated opponent like the Raikage should keep his mouth shut.
The Raikage fumed, but there was nothing he could do.
In terms of strength, Tsunade could overpower him single-handedly.
Even with the Eight-Tails, he wasn't confident.
Not everyone was as good-natured as Hashirama. Tsunade had roamed the shinobi world for years, and no one had ever called her temper mild.
"Enough, let's stop arguing," Ōnoki finally spoke up.
"While we've been in Konoha, the Akatsuki has probably already absorbed most of the tailed beasts' chakra. What we should be thinking about now is how to deal with them, not standing here bickering."
He had no choice—if he didn't intervene, Tsunade might actually start fighting the Raikage again.
Internal conflict at a time like this was the last thing he wanted to see.
"Since we're going to unite against the Akatsuki, shouldn't the rest of you bring your village's elite forces?" Tsunade said, her own calculations clear. "This time, you've only brought fewer than a thousand shinobi, most of whom are average in strength. Ōnoki, your granddaughter Kurotsuchi didn't come. Raikage, your capable subordinate Darui isn't here. Mizukage, Chōjūrō didn't accompany you. In contrast, Sunagakure has sent quite a few of their main younger forces. With the three of you acting like this, it puts me in a difficult position."
The Akatsuki was indeed targeting Konoha—that much was true.
But Tsunade couldn't just stand by while the other Kage tried to fish in troubled waters.
In her eyes, they had already prepared to sacrifice themselves. By leaving their successors and most of their young talent back in their villages, they were preserving their own strength.
If Tsunade died in this battle and Konoha lost most of its combat power—but the Akatsuki was wiped out—then war against the Land of Fire would break out soon after.
Such scheming made Tsunade's heart run cold.
"Tsunade, don't be angry!" Ōnoki said quickly.
"Kurotsuchi stayed behind to protect the rear, so the front-line shinobi like us can fight without worry. Besides, I even brought my son Kitsuchi. What more could you be worried about?"
Worried about what?
Tsunade really felt like negotiating with the Akatsuki to just wipe out the other villages first.
It was obvious they were treating her like a fool.
But she had no choice.
Even if they didn't come, Konoha would still have to face the Akatsuki's assault. What she needed was to stay calm and maintain peak condition for the coming war.
"To better protect Killer B, I'll keep him hidden from now on. The Akatsuki has someone proficient in space-time ninjutsu. If he ambushes us, I don't think you'd be able to stop him."
At this point, Tsunade looked at the Raikage with a playful glint. "If the Fourth Raikage thinks this is unacceptable, then you're free to take Killer B and leave Konoha. I'll find you another place to station yourselves. As for supplies, rest assured—Konoha will cover everything."
The offer was downright vicious.
Tsunade's intent was simple: since they were willing to sacrifice their lives for their villages, she'd make it happen. And the Raikage's Killer B had become her leverage.
If the Raikage refused, he'd have to face the Akatsuki alone. If he agreed, he'd have to surrender control over Killer B.
Glancing around, the Raikage looked at Mei, Gaara, and Ōnoki—only to find them pretending not to see him.
At that moment, he understood.
He had been abandoned.
More precisely, Killer B had been abandoned.
Now that the other villages Jinchūriki were done for, and Mei Terumī's Three-Tails had a substitute, the Raikage, who still possessed the Eight-Tails, appeared utterly detestable in their eyes.
As for the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, no one else had any designs on him. The final battlefield was in Konoha precisely because of the Nine-Tails.
"Fine, I agree. However, Hokage, you must also ensure Killer B's protection. Do not let him be taken by the Akatsuki."