Mei Terumī was stunned for a moment, then immediately fell into deep thought.
The Five Kage—oh, no!
It should be called a Four Kage Summit now; unexpectedly, Konoha hasn't been invited to participate.
Why?
Her mind instantly began racing, trying to figure out why Ōnoki would do such a thing.
Although she hadn't attended the meeting yet, she knew it absolutely had to do with the Akatsuki Organization. After all, due to Akatsuki's various acts of destruction lately, almost the entire Ninja World was in a state of mourning, except for Konoha's Land of Fire.
Therefore...
This meeting was definitely intended to deal with the Akatsuki Organization!
But looking at the current state of the Ninja World, Konoha was the strongest among the Five Great Ninja Villages. For an operation like dealing with the Akatsuki Organization, why wouldn't they invite the strongest village, Konoha, to participate?
However, after thinking carefully for a while, she belatedly realized the reason.
Indeed!
Konoha should not be allowed to participate.
Because the current Konoha was too strong—stronger, even, than the Four Great Shinobi Villages combined.
Furthermore, regarding those 'Akatsuki members' who had suddenly popped up at various national borders recently, even if the Great Shinobi Villages lacked concrete evidence, their high-ranking officials were no fools. Everyone was almost certain that those were actually Konoha members.
It was only because their respective villages lacked sufficient strength that they all feigned ignorance, not wanting to openly break ties with Konoha.
After all, the Akatsuki Organization alone was enough to make the Great Shinobi Villages suffer. If the strongest village, Konoha, were added to the mix, those villages would likely be on the brink of destruction.
And more importantly, Konoha had broken the traditional rules!
Although the Ninja World had experienced three Great Ninja Wars in the past, in reality, everyone only fought to secure 'Mission Shares.' At most, they would demand some War Reparations; essentially, no shinobi village had ever thought of occupying another country's territory.
On one hand, this was a long-established unspoken rule; on the other, the Daimyos of the various great nations would never have agreed to it.
But what about now?
Konoha's covert maneuvers and their desire for territorial expansion had begun to make the other Great Shinobi Villages wary.
Perhaps no one said it out loud, but everyone could guess Konoha's intentions.
To Unify the Ninja World!
In the past, the Great Shinobi Villages lacked the foundation for this, as the Daimyos would never have permitted it. But the problem was that the Daimyos were long gone, and there was no longer anyone to morally condemn Konoha...
Coupled with the fact that Konoha was now so powerful—so powerful that even if the Four Great Shinobi Villages joined forces, they might not be Konoha's match.
Therefore...
Other than feigning ignorance to stall for time, they couldn't think of any other way.
With the addition of an Akatsuki Organization causing havoc everywhere, it seemed it was indeed time to convene a Four Kage Summit to properly discuss how to deal with both Akatsuki and Konoha.
"Fine, I understand!"
"Reply to Iwagakure; I will attend on time!"
"You may leave."
Having figured it all out, Mei Terumī waved her hand, dismissing the Anbu member.
And to this...
The Hidden Mist Anbu didn't waste any words, leaving after a respectful bow.
Only after the Anbu had completely departed did Mei Terumī finally collapse back into her chair, her face etched with exhaustion and uncertainty.
What should she do?
Faced with an overbearing Konoha and a rampaging Akatsuki Organization, she truly couldn't see a future!
Would she end up being the very last Mizukage?
"Konoha! Uchiha Jin!"
"What a terrifying Uchiha, paired with such a formidable power as Konoha..."
"I really miss the days when Hiruzen Sarutobi was in power; back then, one didn't need to worry about such things at all."
"..."
Mei Terumī's expression was full of bitterness as she couldn't help but mutter to herself.
Especially when she recalled the young Uchiha Jin sitting not far from her during the last Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron; she truly hadn't expected such massive ambition to be hidden within him.
And having ambition was one thing, but the crucial point was that he had the capability to carry it out, which made her feel incredibly stifled.
However, it was a pity.
What she failed to notice was a pale figure hidden within the Mizukage's Office.
It was—White Zetsu!
This White Zetsu emitted no Chakra fluctuations whatsoever, having completely merged himself into the wooden structure of the room.
...
Land of Fire, Konoha.
Hokage Office.
Uchiha Jin entered with his usual yawn, dragging his tired body along. Just as he sat down, Konan, who was beside him, spoke up: "Hokage-sama, new intelligence has arrived from the Akatsuki side."
"According to reports from White Zetsu hidden in the Great Shinobi Villages, Ōnoki has suddenly convened a Five Kage Summit, to be held in a small town on the border of the Land of Lightning."
"This Five Kage Summit is classified as top-secret, but it appears we in Konoha were not invited."
"Nagato has sent word asking if we should intervene in this Five Kage Summit?"
"If it is inconvenient for Konoha, Akatsuki is willing to act alone!"
Eh.
Upon hearing Konan's words, Lin Mo's eyes suddenly narrowed, and his seemingly listless demeanor instantly became serious.
A Five Kage Summit?
Interesting!
And it was a Five Kage Summit that excluded Konoha; Uchiha Jin instantly understood the implications.
"It seems there are still some clever people in this world after all!"
"That old fossil Ōnoki seems to have caught wind of Konoha's plans. It appears I still underestimated the people of this world."
"So, they're preparing to unite the Four Great Shinobi Villages to jointly face Akatsuki and Konoha?"
"Hmph, a bunch of fools who can't see the situation for what it is!"
"Even if you really manage to unite, do you honestly think you can resist Konoha?"
"Ants are just ants; even a pile of ants cannot change their fundamental nature!"
"The reason I didn't choose to unify the entire Ninja World by force wasn't because I lacked the ability, but because I didn't want to cause too much slaughter."
"I really don't know whether to praise that Old Man Ōnoki for being clever, or say he's so stupid his brain has short-circuited—he can't even grasp something so basic!"
Uchiha Jin gave a light chuckle.
His eyes were filled with disdain and mockery, clearly not taking the alliance of the Four Great Shinobi Villages seriously at all.
Yes!
Although the opposition could use the clues scattered across the Ninja World to keenly perceive some of Konoha's movements and even guess his ultimate goal, the problem was that the Ninja World was a world where martial prowess reigned supreme.
Compared to the other shinobi villages, Konoha's strength was far too great!
It was a crushing level of strength. Unless that fellow Uchiha Madara appeared, or those old monsters plotting in the shadows made their move, there was absolutely no way they could withstand the current Konoha...
Now, Uchiha Jin's public reason for not wanting to use force was to reduce slaughter, but in reality, he was wary of those masterminds hidden in the shadows.
So from this perspective, Ōnoki's actions this time truly did cause him a bit of a minor headache!