When Yagura entered a state resembling a perfect Jinchuriki form, everyone was even more shocked.
Especially Killer B, since he was also a perfect Jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails, he felt it most clearly.
He couldn't help but warn, "Lord Raikage, be careful! The opponent is a Jinchuriki, and not just that, he's in a complete Jinchuriki form."
The Third Raikage wasn't blind. His expression grew serious, though he still snorted coldly, "So that's it, a Jinchuriki. No wonder you're so arrogant. But it's not just your Land of Water that has the Three-Tails, we in the Land of Lightning have both the Eight-Tails and the Two-Tails."
"Besides… even tailed beasts, before me, have only ever known how to behave themselves."
Yagura gripped the massive staff-like weapon in his hand, his gaze fixed on the Third Raikage. Though a Jinchuriki's base strength was already formidable, being able to use Tailed Beast Bombs after transformation, with both speed and power skyrocketing, the greatest benefit Yagura gained from the Three-Tails was the enormous increase to his total chakra reserves, letting him perform techniques that had previously existed only as ideas.
For example, that Water Mirror Technique he'd comprehended while following the masked man, it was now almost perfected, ready to become his trump card.
So, he didn't back down in the slightest as he said, "Then I'd like to find out, Lord Raikage, whether your offense is sharper, or your defense is stronger."
The Third Raikage's face changed slightly. Yagura's words touched on a certain… embarrassing secret of his.
He wasn't sure why Yagura brought it up now, but to avoid social death, his arrogant demeanor softened immediately.
At that moment, Namikaze Minato, who had felt unable to intervene so far, realized it was time to calm everyone down. Otherwise, if they kept bickering like this, when would the Five Kage Summit ever officially begin?
So, seizing the moment when Raikage's attitude softened, he stood up with a bright, easy smile on his face, "Everyone, we're here to talk peace, not to fight. How about we all dial down the heat a bit? Whatever problems we have, let's sit down and talk them through properly."
The moment those words left his mouth, Yagura and the Third Raikage immediately stopped fighting, but both turned their heads to look at Minato. Onoki and Rasa also turned their attention toward him.
Being stared at by the other four Kage, Minato wasn't worried about handling them by strength, he just found the situation a little strange.
So he asked, "Is there something on my face? Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Onoki looked at Minato with a meaningful gaze and said, "I've long heard of the Yellow Flash's great name. You alone killed so many of our Iwagakure shinobi, you even forced me to add a note on the very first page of our mission manuals: if you see him, you may flee."
"Now that I've seen you, it's just as the rumors said, compared to your speed, your mind runs far deeper. I can't see the slightest flaw behind that smiling face of yours."
Minato felt a wave of strangeness rise in his heart, 'This feeling again, I haven't done anything, yet they are already making wild assumptions in their heads. What exactly are they imagining? I really can't understand.'
The Raikage A nodded seriously, "When we were arguing, you stayed quiet. But just when things needed to calm down, you spoke up, your timing was perfect. You stepped in exactly when we couldn't ignore your gesture. As expected of someone who specializes in space-time ninjutsu, you're good at slipping into the perfect moment!"
"But I'm not falling for your act. You think you can keep pretending to be a nice guy in front of me? Hah! Konoha's Hokage all have filthy hearts, from the First Hokage to you, not a single decent one among you! I've already seen through your schemes!"
Hearing that, Yagura and Rasa also nodded slightly. They deeply understood how this Fourth Hokage schemed and maneuvered to secure benefits for Konoha. Yet since they both had dealings with Konoha, they couldn't really say it aloud.
Minato felt deeply wronged. He could only show an innocent expression and say, "I really don't understand a single word of what you're all saying. But even if I don't understand, that doesn't stop us from sitting down and talking properly."
Seeing this, Rasa immediately gave a look of understanding, "Then let's sit and talk properly. Since we all have our own conflicts and differences, it seems only the Fourth Hokage is suited to serve as the mediator here. None of you have objections, right?"
Only then did the other Kage realize Minato's true intention behind speaking up earlier, and immediately cursed in their hearts: 'How despicable. How cunning.'
But that old fox Minato was exactly dangerous for that reason. He didn't show any emotion on the surface, leaving no cracks to exploit. They had no better move for now, so they nodded reluctantly, accepting Rasa's proposal.
However, Onoki still had something to say. He looked at Minato deeply, "Fourth Hokage, it's not that you can't take on this mediator's role, but this old man has one question, something you'll have to answer."
Minato actually had no desire to be any kind of mediator, but seeing everyone so "enthusiastic," he could only agree. With some confusion, he said, "What doubts does the Tsuchikage have? Please, go ahead."
Onoki floated in the air, slowly extending a hand, "First, rumor has it that you, Lord Hokage, have very close ties with Uchiha Madara's Akatsuki. And since Madara himself came from Konoha, it's only natural people are concerned. With you as the main representative of the Five Kage, how can we be sure our interests will be protected?"
Pausing, he then glanced at Yakura behind Rasa and at Hozuki Mangetsu behind Yagura.
"Second, Akatsuki has already sent so-called ambassadors to Sunagakure and Kirigakure, and these ambassadors have even become personal guards of their Kage. But Akatsuki has sent no one to our Land of Earth, your Land of Fire, or the Land of Lightning. What exactly does that mean? Surely, Lord Hokage, you understand that better than we do?"
Minato's heart tensed slightly. Onoki's words weren't entirely false, there was a connection between Konoha and Akatsuki.
And even regarding why Akatsuki hadn't sent ambassadors to the Land of Lightning or the Land of Earth, he'd heard Obito mention it before.
It was simple: Obito just hadn't found suitable candidates.
Of course, that wasn't something he could admit openly, so he only said vaguely, "I don't know. But Tsuchikage, if you claim Konoha is linked to Akatsuki, what proof do you have?"
Onoki immediately grew angry, "Proof? Do you take the other four great nations for blind fools, Lord Hokage?"
"The chakra converters Akatsuki sold us all contain a unique sealing formula. Though I admit my own knowledge of sealing is limited, I've lived long enough to recognize the hand behind it, it's clearly the unique style of the Uzumaki clan!"
"Tell me, in today's entire ninja world, who else but someone from your own household still wields the Uzumaki clan's sealing arts?"
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