Ten days later, in the Land of Iron.
"Minato, you finally made it. I've nearly frozen to death these past ten days."
"Everything about the Land of Iron is great except the cold. Look how thinly I'm dressed. If Admiral Mifune weren't supporting me, I might have frozen solid."
Minato Namikaze stared at Kazuyama, now bundled in a thick padded coat with rosy cheeks. His mouth twitched nonstop.
Accompanying him was the Flying Thunder God Squad—his personal guard. No one else came. After all, the Five Kage Summit was expected by all; there was no reason to anticipate surprises.
"Kazuyama, have the other villages arrived?"
"Of course. You're the last one here. According to them, 'the fastest man in the ninja world' managed to be the slowest to show up. Tsk tsk. Minato, they're all talking about you."
Minato sighed helplessly. With one sentence, Kazuyama had understood exactly how difficult his situation had been.
"It's my sensei. He actually went to counsellor Sarutobi."
"Can you believe it? He dragged that still-recovering counsellor straight to my office and insisted I send people to capture Orochimaru."
Kazuyama couldn't help but admire Jiraiya's persistence, though he figured the old Sarutobi probably refused. In his heart, Orochimaru was always his prized student—even after leaving the village.
After all, in this lifetime, Orochimaru hadn't betrayed Konoha nor harmed the ninja world.
"In the end, counsellor Sarutobi opposed it too."
"But you know how my sensei is—stubborn to the bone. When he saw no one agreed with him, he ran off on his own."
"Who knows if he'll find Orochimaru. But I did explain the current situation to him."
"He promised that once the war starts, he'll immediately return."
Find Orochimaru? He probably wouldn't. Orochimaru should have already departed for Takigakure.
Little did Kazuyama know—this time, he had misjudged his sensei's whereabouts.
At that moment, Orochimaru was sitting in a teahouse with Sarutobi Hiruzen, chatting and laughing in perfect harmony.
"Hehehe, Orochimaru, you've succeeded after all."
"The reincarnation technique, huh? Ah… I should have noticed your intentions long ago. But back then, as Hokage, I couldn't support such research."
"But I never doubted your talent."
Even with only one hand left, Sarutobi was still a former Hokage; the strength in his foundation remained. Seeing his favorite disciple return warmed his heart.
"Hehehe, Sensei, after all these years, you've finally let go."
"In my pursuit of ninjutsu, I've gone far, yet never lost myself. That is fortunate."
"I've heard about the turmoil in the ninja world. I'll do my part."
"This visit is because of something unresolved in my heart. I came simply to ask—if Danzō had not intervened back then, would you have chosen me as the Fourth Hokage?"
Orochimaru rarely showed such seriousness. It was a question he had buried for many years.
Sarutobi's hand trembled as he set the teacup down.
He sighed.
"Ah…"
Then he lifted his head and looked at Orochimaru with the same seriousness.
"Yes."
Seeing the firm resolve in his teacher's eyes, Orochimaru smiled.
"That's all I needed."
"Sensei, many things aren't as simple as we imagine."
"But I don't regret my choice. If I had another chance, I'd still pursue the pinnacle of ninjutsu."
Leaving those words behind, Orochimaru stood and departed. Since he had already left Konoha, it was better not to invite unnecessary trouble.
As he watched Orochimaru leave, Sarutobi couldn't help seeing another person's shadow in him.
"Kazuyama…"
"Heh, no wonder he mastered Earth Release so thoroughly. To fool so many eyes in Konoha…"
"Orochimaru, I'd wager the one thing you never regretted was taking that brat as your disciple."
"Old… I'm getting old. Time to go home and enjoy my remaining years."
...
Unlike the quiet meeting between Orochimaru and Sarutobi, the Five Kage Summit was lively.
Inside the grand assembly hall of the Land of Iron, the representatives of seven villages were already gathered—along with Admiral Mifune himself.
"Everyone, welcome to the Land of Iron."
"I, Admiral Mifune, hereby declare the Five Kage Summit officially open."
With that, the meeting began.
Kazuyama sat behind Minato, narrowing his eyes as he whispered to Namiashi Raidō and the other two beside him:
"Hey, want to bet the Fourth Raikage—that brute—will speak first?"
"Seriously? Kazuyama Sensei, you're that confident?"
"Of course. Want to bet? A round of drinks in the Land of Iron."
Betting with the Raikage as the subject—only Kazuyama would dare something like this.
Raidō and the others knew the Raikage well. Though he looked small-headed and big-muscled, he was still a Kage—nothing that simple.
"I don't think it'll be the Raikage. I bet the Tsuchikage will speak first."
"I agree with Genma. I'm betting on the Tsuchikage."
"Tch. You two already said what I wanted to. Fine, I'll bet on the Wind Shadow."
Three people: Raidō and Tsurugi picked the Tsuchikage, while Genma chose the Wind Shadow.
"You three are still too young. Get ready to buy me drinks."
Kazuyama sat calmly. They didn't know the Fourth Raikage—he would definitely be first.
Right after they settled their bets, the first words of the summit rang out.
"Hmph! I've got nothing else to say except this—I'm going to kill Akatsukigakure!"
"And save my brother!"
That rough voice, that explosive fury—who else but the Fourth Raikage?
Raidō and the others stared in disbelief. Kazuyama had nailed it perfectly.
"You three owe me a round of drinks!"
"Hehahaha!"
Kazuyama nearly died laughing. Three free rounds—nothing made him happier.
Raidō and the others exchanged a helpless glance and shook their heads.
One thing was certain—never bet with Kazuyama again.
The guy was cursed.