Hinata arrived at the Sage Summit… This place… it was different. The natural energy here was purer than anything she had ever felt before—dense, vibrant, alive. It thrummed through her skin and into her bones, far more potent than anywhere she had visited in the past.
Naruto's sharp intake of breath at her side confirmed he felt it too.
"This place… the natural energy here is stronger than even Mount Myōboku."
The astonishment on Tsunade's, Sasuke's, and Sakura's faces told Hinata they felt it as well. For them, this might be the first time truly sensing the natural energy of the world. This place was different.
Even Kuro could feel it—something Hinata had thought impossible. The great wolf only stayed still when sleeping… and only when utterly exhausted. Mitsue, by contrast, seemed to have found a revelation in the air itself.
It was as if they stood in the center of a vast ring of mountains—like the earth had formed its jaws and was raising its fangs toward the sky. At the center of those colossal 'fangs' was a plateau, and beneath her feet, Hinata could feel the breath of the world itself.
Around them stood the sages: a massive owl; the familiar forms of Kaorumi and Nurehime among the toads and serpents—sages she had once fought in the Land of Hot Water; an impossibly large Katsuyu; a towering wolf; a tiger radiating the aura of a predator even among sages; and a single crow that seemed anything but ordinary in such company.
Each one drew in the natural energy of the world effortlessly here. Sages, all of them. Some had not come alone, bringing their summoners along as marks of prestige.
Their arrival silenced the low murmurs. Perched on Tsunade's shoulder, Katsuyu spoke softly.
"Forgive the attention, but it's expected that all summoners stand with the ones they are contracted to."
Tsunade's gaze fixed on a figure in the distance.
"Orochimaru…" she murmured.
He smiled faintly, standing atop a boulder, surrounded by the sages of Ryūchi Cave.
Naruto tensed at the name, snapping out of his awe. Sasuke stayed still, but his Sharingan came to life. Beside him, Sakura shifted—tense, then easing, ready for trouble. Hinata…
Before anything rash could happen, Katsuyu's voice cut in quickly.
"This is neutral ground. Combat is forbidden here. Now, go to your summons so we can begin. It seems we are the last to arrive."
Naruto moved toward Fukasaku's call. Tsunade and Sakura approached Katsuyu's immense form. Sasuke hesitated until Hinata murmured,
"Go. I'll be fine."
Only then did he walk toward the serpents of Ryūchi Cave.
That's when she felt it—a colossal presence rising from beneath them. The ground trembled as a black dragon soared upward, wings whipping powerful winds. Its very form radiated heat.
Hinata didn't know how the others saw him, but to her, this being was staggering: a silver soul housed in a Plasma Body—or their equivalents. The world's energy, the energy of this place—the earth's fangs striving to devour the sky—fed him constantly. He had mastered Sage Mode even in motion. His power made lesser beasts quail, even other sages; their souls seemed to shiver under his presence.
Kuro moved to Hinata's side protectively, Mitsue coiling her tail around Hinata's feet and lowering her head on the other side. Their souls stood clear and protective where they belonged, even as the Ryūchi serpents eyed Mitsue strangely, and the great wolf regarded Kuro with a curious look.
Hinata smiled faintly, resting her hand on her katana, Shinsei. She drew a breath and began her Breath of the World, pulling Yumegakure's natural energy into herself—not to gain any real advantage, but as a symbol. She too was a Sage.
The dragon flew to a nearby peak, settling like a sovereign taking his throne. The sun crowned his head with radiant light, and all eyes turned toward him.
"We are gathered here because something new has shaken the foundations of the natural world," his voice rumbled, deep and resonant. "It has moved the bedrock on which all sages stand… Someone, and something, has altered the natural energy of the world."
In that moment, silence claimed the hall. Countless eyes shifted from the dragon's majesty to me—the Silver Lady.
"Many of you do not know me," I began, my voice steady but carrying through the chamber. "My name is Hinata Gin… though some of you may know me as the Silver Lady." I drew another measured breath, letting the Breath of Yumegakure flow through me, its silvered natural energy manifesting in this place where the world's own natural energy was at its purest. The two forces touched, and gentle sparks began to glimmer in the air. In the distance, I saw Kaorumi and Nurehime take a step back.
I extended a hand toward one of those sparks, guiding it with threads of silver until it hovered over my open palm. "It is true that when Yumegakure was born, the natural energy of this world was affected—shielding and nurturing a new realm beneath its wing. But this world has grown, taking what it was given and returning it in kindness. It has always been so. Even now, as it receives, it gives back."
"You see this as the possible end of days," I continued, "but it is the dawn of a new era. The natural energy of this world is aligned with Yang—vitality, physical change, transformation. The natural energy of Yumegakure is aligned with Yin—dreams, enlightenment, spiritual growth. Together, they complete each other." The thought struck me like a revelation: if one world's breath was not enough… perhaps the breath of two would be. Instinct told me I was right, but reason warned me to be cautious. I could not rush this. I had to learn from past mistakes.
Calling upon the seal that linked me to Yumegakure's reservoir of natural energy, I drew more of it into myself and released it into the environment, my silver threads gently guiding it so it flowed in a strange and wonderful network showing its wonders before each figure gathered at the summit. "You here, sages who have lived through the ages—surely you can feel it. The joy of the natural world as these energies touch, completing one another, strengthening each other. A virtuous cycle—where both sides leave stronger for the exchange."
Silence returned, now lit by a web of shimmering sparks drifting back to their origin, a young human woman. All present could feel it: the world's fangs around them seemed to stir with new life as the two energies intertwined. What had once been the absolute pinnacle of natural energy now had a higher ceiling, the world itself answering with vitality never before seen.
<<<< o >>>>
The morning in Kirigakure began under a blanket of clouds, but Mei Terumī's mind was far from the usual mist. As she reviewed the reports on Yumegakure, her lips tightened. It was a war in another world, a conflict in which few of her shinobi had taken part and that seemed to benefit others more than her own village. Still, when the Raikage's summons came to discuss Akatsuki's increasingly aggressive actions, she could not refuse.
The meeting point would be the Land of Iron. Mei knew its reputation: a place where the sword and martial honor were valued more than the common shinobi styles. Swordsmen were revered figures in Kiri, and the history of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist still weighed heavily, even after their legacies had scattered under the Fourth Mizukage. Recent rumors about the Land of Iron, and Takama Gin's rise as daimyō, had stirred her curiosity. A leader chosen for both political skill and martial prowess was something Mei had never expected to see. And, deep down, she admitted she was impressed.
That impression had led her to pay closer attention to recent past events in the Land of Iron. It went without saying that the travel pattern of Hinata Gin—Takama's adopted daughter and current heir across the elemental nations—excluding the territories under Kirigakure's supervision—had been clear. When the reports from regions most influenced by Yumegakure began to accumulate, all of it pushed Mei toward seeing the Land of Iron with new eyes.
Her arrival was uneventful. Wandering samurai kept the roads free of criminals, and in every town the people lived in evident peace and prosperity. The architecture, the quality of the fabrics, and the attention to detail all confirmed the rumors of the Land of Iron's craftsmanship—something comparable to their noticeable increase in martial ability in their local samurai.
In the capital, Takama Gin greeted her personally. He was a man of about fifty, yet with the vitality and appearance of someone far younger. His impeccable bearing, the energy he radiated, and the intensity of his gaze left Mei momentarily speechless. She knew he was no stranger to the harshest conflicts, and he was single… She didn't dwell on the thought, but the way her heartbeat quickened when his hand lingered a second longer in greeting did not go unnoticed.
The days before the meeting reduced their encounters, but whenever they did meet, there was something in their conversations—the subtle tilt of his head when he listened, the warmth in his voice—that sharpened the air between them, warming Mei's blood in the winter cold. Meanwhile, her bodyguard Chōjūrō tested his skills against the local samurai, and to Mei's surprise, lost more than once to Takama's personal guards.
On the day of the meeting, the atmosphere was charged. The barriers and seals in place were so dense they made the skin prickle. Takama, alongside General Mifune, arranged the seats of the five Kage with precision. The greatest surprise for all was seeing Jiraiya of the Sannin representing Konoha. His presence instead of Tsunade's spoke of serious events, though no one commented. There was a tacit respect among several present, like that of old comrades in arms.
Before Takama could speak, the Raikage leaned forward, fists on the table. "Let's get to the point. Akatsuki's threat is escalating—we cannot waste time." The Tsuchikage gave a gruff nod, muttering about information leaks, while the Kazekage's eyes narrowed, clearly measuring each face in the room.
Takama then began with a firm voice: "We are here because Lord Raikage has called this meeting. The threat of Akatsuki is global. They have captured eight of the nine Bijuus; the only one they do not possess is Konoha's. I will act as moderator."
Then, applause echoed from the ceiling. A masked figure, clad in black with red clouds, had breached the defenses undetected. The single eye visible through the orange mask was a Sharingan.
"I am Madara Uchiha. You are here because you think united you have a chance… you do not. Hand over the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, and this conflict will end."
The guards of each Kage reacted instantly. The Raikage rose halfway from his seat, chakra flaring, while the Kazekage's sand shifted protectively at his side. Mei felt the heat spike suddenly; her keen senses told her the source: Takama Gin. The air around him distorted, his gaze locked on the intruder, and Mei noticed her own pulse matching the quickening thrum in the room.
The Mizukage's fingers brushed the table's edge, poised to act. The Kazekage's sand hissed forward a few inches. The Tsuchikage's eyes narrowed further, a low grunt escaping him.
Jiraiya replied coldly: "Just as we eliminated Pain, impostor, I assure you we will eliminate you."
A flash crossed Takama's eyes—Blooming Fire Breath – Ninth Form: Dying Nova—before he vanished from his spot and appeared beside Madara. His sword carved a vertical slash that tore through the roof, floors, and barriers, leaving an enormous rift that exposed the winter sky and let snow fall upon them. Madara's arm dropped… but when it hit the floor, it passed through as if it didn't exist. Madara had evaded Takama's strike while projecting a vortex that began to pull Takama in, and Mei saw something she didn't understand: a smile. Not from injuring the enemy, but as if executing his own plan. He released his sword, its impossible edge biting into the stone floor, halted only by the guard, as he disappeared into the swirl.
Attacks rained from all present—sand, lava, lightning, and water—but they passed through Madara like smoke. His presence and killing intent, however, were undeniable. All had seen him take the daimyō of the Land of Iron.
"I declare the start of the Fourth Great Shinobi War. This will weigh on your heads," he said before vanishing into a vortex.