[The Renegade] Chapter 23 - The Second Kage Summit (Patreon)

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Chapter 23 - The Second Kage Summit

The Land of Iron was also known as the Land of Samurai. Long before the creation of the Hidden Villages, the Samurai had organised themselves into a feudal state. It was one of the oldest countries in the world. Whereas the ninja used to be organised in clans and acted more like mercenaries for the highest bidder, the Samurai had always had a strong sense of belonging and loyalty to their feudal lord.

Located in the far north of the continent, the Land of Iron was geographically removed from the Five Elemental Nations and their conflicts over jutsu, territory, and resources. Nevertheless, due to its subarctic climate, which was characterised by long and very cold winters and short and cool summers, the Land of Iron was not self-sufficient when it came to food. They had to import it from the Land of Grass for the most part.

That being said, the Land of Iron couldn’t easily adopt an isolationistic policy. It still had to engage in trading and diplomacy with the Five Great Powers, and it still needed a powerful army to serve as a deterrent for those who would lust over their resources of iron and other ores.

Individually, shinobi were stronger and more versatile, but the samurai shone in group battles through their tactics, discipline, and organisation. And they were numerous enough for any would-be invaders to have second thoughts about starting a war.

“So you better don’t offend them for no reason, okay? Unofficially, they are the 6th strongest nation in the world,” Konan told Naruto once she finished explaining to him the background and history of the Land of Iron and their status in the Ninja World.

“I’ll let you do all the talking anyway, so don’t worry. I’m only here as your bodyguard,” Naruto said, smiling.

Once the two of them arrived at the entrance of Hofuna, the capital of the Land of Iron, they were unexpectedly welcomed by none other than Mifune and his two aides, Okisuke and Urakaku.

“We have been awaiting your arrival, Konan-dono. I am Mifune, the General of the Land of Iron.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Konan, the Leader of the Land of Rain and Rivers,” Konan replied.

“Please, come inside. The weather in our country isn’t kind to Southerners,” Mifune said, gesturing for them to follow him.

Although the three Samurai tried to be discreet about it, Naruto could feel their gazes on him every now and then, and his Negative Emotion Sensing betrayed how wary and anxious they were about him.

‘Looks like word of the Rinnegan's prowess has travelled all the way to this country too,’ Naruto thought as he followed behind Konan’s back. ‘This is a good thing. The more aware they are of how powerful I am, the smaller the chance that they would try to pull anything fishy while we are here.’

⁂

The Kage Summit’s venue was an impressive-looking pagoda, but the actual room holding the meeting was very small and modest-looking considering the impact it would have on the rest of the continent. It was a square room, barely 10 metres wide, and the only furniture inside was a U-shaped table with six seats and a small, one-seat table placed in front of it.

Behind each seat, there were curtains with a large kanji symbol painted on them, showing each leader’s allegiance: Fire, Wind, Iron, Water, Earth, and Lightning, in that order. As for the curtain behind the one-seat table opposite them, there were two kanji painted on it: Rain and Rivers.

Hidden behind the seven curtains were the bodyguards that each leader had brought with them to the summit. Temari and Kankuro were standing behind Gaara, Akatsuchi and Kitsuchi were behind the Tsuchikage, Chojuro and Ao were behind the Mizukage, Darui and C were behind the Raikage, and Shikaku Nara and Hatake Kakashi were standing behind Tsunade.

Naruto narrowed his eyes at the placement of the seats. He may not have been the sharpest when it came to understanding subtle things like that, but even he could tell that the fact that Konan had been seated away from everyone else did not bode well.

‘If I didn’t know any better, I’d be tempted to think this was an interrogation, not a summit between 7 World Leaders standing on equal grounds… I don’t like this.’

The fact that the Raikage and the new Tsuchikage were oozing malevolence directed at him and Konan didn’t help his wariness either. With his Negative Emotion Sensing, it was as clear as day that they didn’t have any good intentions.

In spite of his thoughts, Naruto didn’t act up and stood quietly behind the curtain at Konan’s back, waiting for things to unravel.

“In response to the Land of Rain’s sudden emergence as a developing country, I thought it would be wise for us, the Leaders of the Ninja World and the Land of Samurai to assemble here and discuss the current state of affairs. I, Mifune, the General of the Land of Iron, will be your moderator.”

Not even two seconds passed after the old general finished his words, and the Tsuchikage jumped in with a mocking tone:

“Amegakure has shown remarkable development in the last half a year. From a nation that was completely isolated from the world and in danger of going through a famine-”

“I assure you that even during the Third Ninja War, when Amegakure was at its lowest, our people didn’t starve,” Konan cut the Tsuchikage off right away, not taking in stride their disrespect. “After all, our production of rice and fish is the reason why Iwagakure tried to invade and pillage my country so many times.”

“Tsuchikage-dono, Konan-dono,” Mifune addressed the two of them before their verbal spat could escalate any further. “We haven’t assembled at this Kage Summit in order to re-open old wounds, but for the sake of forging a new future and consolidating the peace.”

“Old wounds? Consolidating the peace?” Tsuchikage spat in a voice quivering with anger. “Don’t fuck with me!” she screamed and slammed a lava-encased fist into the table, incinerating it.

As one, the 13 bodyguards hidden behind the tall curtains jumped in front of their leaders with their unsheathed weapons in hand.

“That bitch and her boy toy killed my grandfather, the 3rd Tsukikage, and over 100 of our elite Shinobi only a few months ago! You expect me to sit at the same table with her and smile? Fuck that!” Kurotsuchi screamed as she stepped through her bodyguards and started walking towards Konan, her fists coated in lava.

“Tsuchikage-dono! You’re on neutral land! Are you going to violate all the agree-” Mifune began to say, only for someone’s voice to cover all the noise in the room:

“Shinra Tensei.”

Kurotsuchi and her two bodyguards, Akasutchi and Kitsuchi, were suddenly slammed back and blasted through the wall of the conference room, thrown straight out of the building.

His lower face was hidden, and his voice was muffled by the rebreather covering his mouth, but the pair of ringed, purple eyes made it impossible for anyone not to know who he was.

Konan put a hand on his shoulder, stopping him from going after them.

“I was led to believe that this was a neutral ground and that we would have a civil conversation about the future of our countries, General,” Konan said coldly. “Or was it all just a ploy to take me out here?”

“That’s certainly not the case, Konan-dono,” Mifune said quickly.

The old samurai was at a loss, unsure of how to deal with this unexpected development. As much as he was confident in his own skills, only God knew just what kind of destruction would follow if 7 kage-level shinobi were to start a battle there, in the middle of the Land of Iron’s capital city.

At that moment, the Tuschikage and her two bodyguards ran back inside the conference room, looking as if they were about to pick up from where they left off, but Raikage’s scream stopped them in their tracks:

“Tuschikage, control yourself!”

With Tsunade and Gaara also looking at her pointedly, the Tsuchikage could do nothing but swallow her anger and stand down.

While everyone went back to their seats, Kitsuchi placed his hand on the wall and covered the hole in it with a low-rank earth technique.

In an attempt to defuse the tension and go back to the matter at hand, Mifune asked:

“I believe the next thing on the agenda would be to address the annexation of the Land of Rivers to the Land of Rain. Hokage-dono, Kazekage-dono. Seeing as the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire are the only other neighbours of the Land of Rivers, we would like to hear your thoughts on this matter.”

Considering the fact that Tsunade was closely familiar with what had transpired, she chose to speak first.

“The Land of Rivers’ feudal lord was killed during a diplomatic meeting between myself and Konan-dono by Hozuki Suigetsu of the Akatsuki.”

The Mizukage frowned at hearing that name, but she didn’t interrupt Tsunade.

“That was when we killed the self-proclaimed Uchiha Madara and three other members of the Akatsuki, Suigetsu included. But that is beside the point. The Land of Rivers has not had a proper military force in decades. With their daimyo dead as well, it was bound to become a lawless place, ruled by rogue nins and other criminal organisations, unless it was annexed by another country. Amegakure was simply the first to take the initiative. I have no qualms about it.”

“Myself and the Land of Wind’s daimyo have no issues with it either,” Gaara said.

Mifune and the other Kage didn’t find it strange that the Hokage and the Kazekage accepted the status quo so easily because if either Suna or Konoha were to cover the Land of Rivers, it could have led to a crack appearing in their alliance due to the balance of power being offset.

In contrast, the Land of Rain was a small nation, so whether they annexed the Land of Rivers or not, it would not amount to much in the grand scheme of things. The two small nations united were still far from becoming a serious contender for the Five Elemental Nations.

“Now that we have established that Hokage-dono and Kazekage-dono have no disagreements in regards to the Land of Rivers’ annexation, let’s talk about the elephant in the room,” the Mizukage said. “The Akatsuki and the bijuu.”

The atmosphere became heavy as all five kage turned their eyes towards Konan. The Raikage was the first to open his mouth:

“Let’s not beat around the bush. I know that you used to be a member of the Akatsuki. You were Pain’s right hand! If anyone is to know what happened to the bijuu, you are the most likely suspect!”

Konan didn’t let his accusatory tone get to her and merely replied in the same calm, stoic voice of hers:

“I am no longer a member of the Akatsuki. I left the organisation once Pain died half a year ago and focused on rebuilding my village.”

“Don’t screw around with us!” Tsuchikage shouted and slammed his fist on the table.

“Ao! Is she telling the truth?” the Mizukage asked.

At her words, the man in question stepped from behind the curtains and explained:

“Every time someone tells a lie, there is a disturbance in their chakra flow. I’ve been observing Konan-dono with my Byakugan from the start; she has only spoken the truth so far.”

“We’re just playing around with words here!” Kurotsuchi said impatiently. “The Nine Tails jinchuuriki has the Rinnegan. That doujutsu is definitely connected to the bijuu one way or another.”

“I agree. Bee told me that the bijuu were being absorbed into a large statue, a weapon of sorts. Byakugan or not, I have no reason to trust you either. For all I know, Kirigakure could be colluding with them too! Don’t think I haven’t forgotten how several members of the Akatsuki came from your village!” the Raikage shouted.

“Ao merely stated the truth. We haven’t taken Amegakure’s side,” the Mizukage said with a frown. “We want our bijuu back just as much as you. One village owning 7 of the 9 bijuu is madness. Such a thing cannot be allowed to happen!”

“We might be barking up the wrong tree,” Tsunade unexpectedly intervened to help Naruto’s and Konan’s case. “Konan-dono has not been part of the Akatsuki for half a year now, and the Akatsuki are still out there, plotting in the shadows.”

“What do you mean by that?” Mifune asked. “Didn’t you inform us all that Uchiha Madara died at Uzumaki Naruto’s hands and that Uchiha Sasuke was captured and his comrades killed?”

“That was indeed the case. However, Uchiha Sasuke managed to escape with the help of Zetsu, the last member of the Akatsuki that we know of. It seems like Zetsu has a way of bypassing even our best sensors nins.”

“It could be that, or it could be that there are traitors in your midst. Leave it to Konohagakure to screw it all up and show the world again how soft and incompetent they are,” the Tsuchikage said.

Everyone around the table became tense when Tsunade’s hand clenched into a fist and a vein started pulsating on her forehead. The Slug Sannin’s monstrous strength and her violent temper were infamous.

“I advise you to get some etiquette lessons when you go back to your village, little girl,” Tsunade said dangerously. “You would do well to remember that your actions represent the entirety of Iwagakure now. You are a kage now. Act like one.”

In other words, she was calling her a spoiled and immature brat, and Kurotsuchi didn’t miss that if the way she gritted her teeth in anger was anything to go by. However, she didn’t fire back any retorts. She just let out a condescending scoff and crossed her arms to her chest.

Whereas the bratty Tsuchikage managed to restrain herself, now it was the Raikage who looked like he was on the verge of blowing up.

“Enough of this chit-chat!” he screamed and slammed his fist so hard against the table that he made a dent in it. “This isn’t going anywhere! I want to know what you did with the bijuu!”

“You’ll have to ask the Akatsuki that question,” Konan said indifferently. She wasn’t intimidated in the least.

“You think we’d believe that? You were part of the Akatsuki yourself! Don’t even think we’ll let you weasel out of this so easily!” Kurotsuchi also shouted.

⁂

The Kage Summit lasted several good hours, but it bore no fruit. Due to the fact that Tsunade explicitly stated that Sasuke had escaped and that the Akatsuki were still around, the Raikage and the Tsuchikage didn’t have a well-founded reason to insist that Konan was hiding the bijuu.

They hadn’t expected Tsunade to support Amegakure considering the fact that Konoha lost their Nine Tails Jinchuuriki. It had thrown a wrench into their plans. Now, the two Kages didn’t know how to proceed because Raikage wasn’t skilled in diplomacy and Kurotsuchi was still too green and immature, lacking experience.

Eventually, Mifune brought the Kage Summit to an end, understanding that it was leading nowhere.

Naruto and Konan decided to leave the Land of Iron on the same day. The entire thing had been just a waste of time. Not only that the other Kage didn’t acknowledge the Land of Rain and Rivers to be on the same level as their countries, but they did not formulate any plans on how to deal with Akatsuki’s threat in the future either.

Not wanting to reveal to the enemy the fact that he could summon himself and Konan anywhere on the continent through the use of his Rinnegan and Shadow Clones, the two of them left the capital city on foot, like regular shinobi.

“I don’t sense anyone around us. Do you think we’re far enough now to summon ourselves back home?” Konan asked.

They were already a few kilometres away from Hofuna, and a powerful blizzard made it difficult for one to see even 20 metres in front of them.

“I’d rather not take the chance. Let me double-check with my Sage Mode.”

Konan’s sensing ability was exceptional for a sensor Nin, but Naruto’s senses could extend far wider than hers when his Sage Mode was activated. For the sake of making sure they wouldn’t reveal their cards to the enemy, Naruto decided to be cautious.

His decision to be cautious saved them at that moment because, just outside the range of Konan’s sensory ability, Naruto detected more than 10 chakra signatures.

“We’re being followed,” he said, making Konan frown slightly. “How can this be? Do they have an Uzumaki with them, or is it a Hyuuga?”

As far as she knew, aside from Naruto’s Sage Mode, only an Uzumaki’s Mind’s Eye of Kagura or a Hyuuga’s Byakugan could have a larger sensing range than her.

“Their chakra feels familiar. I think they’re from Konoha,” said Naruto.

He felt the beginning of a headache.

“We could just avoid them and fly away until we’re out of their detection range,” she suggested, recognising the expression of annoyance that flashed on his face.

“… Let’s see what they want. There’s a chance that Tsunade sent them to us.”

Once he said that, the two of them started snow-running towards the group of chakra signatures that he had discovered.

⁂

Seven people wearing greyish-white cloaks were waiting, hidden in the thick and tall trees of the ancient boreal forest covering most of the Land of Iron’s mountainous territory.

“I think they have discovered us; they’ve started snow-running towards us,” one of them said. His peculiar, pupilless eyes betrayed the fact that he was a Hyuuga.

Next to him, a beautiful girl with long black hair and similar eyes was watching the incoming silhouettes with great attention too.

“I don’t know about you, guys, but I’m getting kinda nervous,” a boy in his late teens said, and the large white hound next to him barked in agreement.

“I don’t know why I agreed to follow y’all here in this crazy weather. How troublesome.”

“Do you ever stop complaining?” Sakura rebuked Shikamaru in a harsh tone.

“Don’t let your guard down,” the only adult accompanying them said in a serious voice. “He’s not the same Naruto that you used to know.”

“Hey, Yamato-sensei, we haven’t seen Rock Lee for hours already,” a fat and burly teenager said in a worried voice. “Maybe we shouldn’t have let him go for a run all by himself…”

“That training maniac surely got lost in the forest,” Sakura said. “But what were we supposed to do? Who is crazy enough to join him in his inhuman training in this kind of weather?”

At that moment, Naruto and Konan appeared in their field of view. At the sight of him, the chatty teenagers quieted down like a miracle.

A flash of emotion glimmered in his eyes when he saw the faces of his former comrades after all this time, but it was gone in the blink of an eye.

For a moment, the two groups looked at each other in silence, not making a move.

“Did the Hokage send you after us?” Naruto asked, cutting straight to the subject.

“We aren’t here on Lady Tsunade’s orders,” Sakura replied. “We… We just wanted to talk to you, Naruto.”

As Naruto didn’t reply right away, the rest were starting to feel uneasy.

“It’s been so long, man; are you not going to even say hello?” Kiba said, rubbing the back of his head, betraying how awkward he was feeling.

“I killed Gai-sensei.” As Naruto said that, it was as if he poured a bucket of ice-cold water over their heads. “I don’t think we’re in a position where we can act friendly with each other anymore.”

“That’s not true, Naruto!” Sakura was quick to contradict him. “You can still come back to Konoha! Lady Tsunade misses you. And I miss having you around too… we all miss you. Especially Hinata. Tell him, Hinata, you’ve travelled hundreds of miles in order to meet him. Don’t be shy! Now it’s the time; it’s now or never!”

Hinata’s face flushed a deep red, but she clenched her hands into fists and mustered all her courage before stepping out of her group.

“Naruto-kun, I-”

But Naruto didn’t let her finish her words.

“I can’t come back, Hinata-chan. You’re a good girl, and I told your father the same thing a few months ago. But I have a different life now.”

He took Konan’s left hand into his and raised it a bit for them to see the blue-gem silvery ring around her ring finger.

“I am engaged. I love Konan, and I’m going to marry her soon,” he said, bringing Konan’s hand to his mouth and pressing a soft kiss on the back of her palm. “I love Amegakure. The Land of Rain and Rivers is my home now. It’s been half a year since I left Konoha. I have already moved on. You should do the same too.”

Neji took Hinata’s hand and pulled her back, rubbing her shoulder as he tried to soothe her. Her body was shaking from her silent sobs.

To say nothing of Hinata, even Shikamaru was stunned speechless because, merely half a year ago, the blonde had been a loud-mouthed knucklehead, an overgrown kid that Shikamaru couldn’t imagine marrying and settling down even after 10 years.

‘Is he really the same guy? Before the whole Blood Prison fiasco, he was still having Sexy Jutsu contests with Konohamaru, for god’s sake!’

Kiba’s and Choji’s feelings were no different either. They couldn’t wrap their minds around the fact that a goofball like Naruto could change so much in only half a year. He was unrecognisable.

But while the rest had somewhat expected to see a different Naruto due to Yamato repeatedly reminding them that he had changed, Sakura couldn’t easily accept it.

“What about your promise? You said that you'd bring Sasuke back! You-”

“I did bring Sasuke back, didn’t I? I’m the one who defeated him and handed him over to Lady Tsunade.”

“What about your dream? You said you would become the Hokage! That you would make everyone acknowledge you!”

“Time change. People change,” he said calmly. “I wasn’t good enough for Konoha. But the people of the Land Rain and Rivers love me. I may never become the Hokage but I’ve become a Daimyo’s right-hand man and fiance.”

“But-”

“It’s time for you to move on, Sakura. It’s time for you to grow up and realise that life isn’t a fairy tale. We don’t always get what we want.”

Shifting his attention to the rest of the Konoha group, he said:

“I will not come back to Konoha. You should understand that sooner than later. There is no place for dreamers in the Ninja World, and fools don’t get to live for long. Such is a ninja’s life.”

As he turned around to leave, Yamato, who had been silent until then, asked:

“Naruto, have you seen Rock Lee by any chance?”

Naruto paused his steps. He was quiet for a few seconds, making Yamato think that he wasn’t going to answer.

“Yes. He ambushed us not long before we arrived at Hofuna.”

His unexpected answer set everyone on edge.

“Did you…,” Choji swallowed a node in his neck before continuing: “Did you kill him too?”

He turned around to look at them before saying sincerely:

“I tried not to hurt him. I subdued him. But he was so obsessed with killing me that he opened the Gate of Death.”

At first, Neji wanted to shout, ‘Lee would never do something like that!' but he swallowed his words as his mind went back to Rock Lee’s uncanny behaviour ever since their sensei’s death. His daily visits to Gai’s grave even months after the tragic event, his exaggerated obsession with training, and his increasingly taciturn personality. Thinking about it, Neji realized that he wasn’t surprised that Rock Lee would do something like that.

“Rock Lee opened the Gate of Death?” Yamato said in disbelief before shaking his head and letting out a long sigh.

“Gate of Death? What is that?” Choji asked.

“It’s as the name says,” Neji replied to him. “It’s the last of the Eight Inner Gates. Opening the Gate of Death gives one tremendous strength at the cost of their life. It’s a suicidal jutsu.”

If someone had still harboured a glimmer of hope that Naruto might one day come back to Konoha, they realised the hard truth at that moment: he was gone forever.