The meeting once again reached a deadlock. Both sides argued their positions with conviction, and neither showed any intention of backing down.
Rasa watched the exchange from the sidelines, looking thoroughly entertained.
The Fifth Mizukage of the Hōzuki Clan wore an extremely grim expression. He looked toward Hayashi, his eyes filled with an unmistakable plea for help.
Hayashi smiled faintly before speaking.
"Who says that if the attackers were the Third Mizukage and Fourth Mizukage, then the Hidden Mist Village must be responsible?"
The Fourth Raikage frowned.
"Hokage, what exactly are you implying? Are you saying those two Mizukage became rogue ninja?"
His voice was filled with anger. Although he had been irritated throughout the meeting, Hayashi's casual response made it seem as though he was trying to absolve the Hidden Mist Village of responsibility.
Hayashi shook his head.
"I mean nothing of the sort. I simply think you're making a mountain out of a molehill, Raikage. Or perhaps you're just too inexperienced."
He smiled faintly.
"Jumping to that conclusion only reveals your ignorance of ninjutsu."
His words dripped with sarcasm, as though he were lecturing a newly graduated Genin who knew nothing of the world.
Had Ōnoki spoken those words, they might have sounded like advice from a respected elder. Coming from Hayashi, however, they carried nothing but open disdain.
The worst part was that Hayashi was actually younger than the Fourth Raikage.
"Don't push your luck, Fourth Hokage!"
The Raikage finally lost his patience.
With a thunderous crash, he slammed his fist onto the conference table, shattering it. Lightning Release chakra surged across his body as arcs of electricity crackled around him.
In the next instant, the curtains fluttered.
Minato and Nawaki appeared in front of Hayashi without hesitation, while the guards from the other villages also moved into position.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Hayashi remained seated.
"If you want to fight, I'm available at any time."
His calm voice echoed throughout the room.
"Konoha's standing wasn't handed to us through charity or empty words. We earned it through victories in multiple Great Ninja Wars."
He looked directly at the Raikage.
"Of course, if you know you can't defeat me, you can always declare war instead. I'm perfectly willing to accept that."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"To be honest, the Hidden Cloud surrendered far too quickly during the Third Great Ninja War. I fought every other great village, but your village gave up after I released the Three-Tails. It was honestly a little disappointing."
A chill spread through the conference hall.
That was no subtle warning.
It was a direct threat.
No one could refute his words.
This man had fought across multiple battlefields, faced several great nations, and never suffered defeat.
More importantly, he had infiltrated two hidden villages alone and inflicted catastrophic losses on both.
Hayashi had become the Fourth Hokage not because of inheritance or politics, but because of overwhelming strength and unparalleled achievements.
The Fourth Raikage clenched his fists.
He wanted to attack.
He knew he wasn't Hayashi's opponent.
But he still wanted to throw that punch.
"Ahem."
Mifune finally cleared his throat.
"The Five Kage Summit forbids all acts of violence."
Hayashi glanced at him with a faint smile.
Whether Mifune was truly powerful remained uncertain, but his judgment was excellent.
He hadn't intervened immediately. Instead, he waited until the Raikage had already begun restraining himself before speaking.
That way, neither side lost face.
At the same time, Ōnoki quickly stepped in.
"We're here to discuss the Hidden Mist Village. Hokage, Raikage, let's not damage relations between our villages."
He genuinely feared another Great Ninja War.
The Fourth Raikage glared at Hayashi for several moments before finally lowering himself back into his seat.
A shinobi had to maintain emotional control.
Even if they intended to settle their grievances after the summit, they couldn't do so here.
Personal grudges were one thing.
Official business between villages was another.
No Kage would openly violate that unspoken rule.
Mifune immediately turned toward Hayashi.
"Your Excellency, Fourth Hokage, please share your thoughts."
He was afraid Hayashi would provoke the Raikage again.
If that happened, the meeting might truly collapse.
Hayashi nodded.
"I believe the Third Mizukage and Fourth Mizukage are already dead."
"As far as I know, there are several techniques in the shinobi world capable of manipulating the dead."
Ōnoki's expression changed immediately.
"Are you referring to Edo Tensei?"
Rasa looked puzzled.
"Edo Tensei? What's that?"
Ōnoki crossed his arms and adopted the demeanor of an experienced elder.
"You youngsters really lack knowledge."
He continued.
"It is an S-rank Forbidden Jutsu created by the Second Hokage."
"The technique uses biological material from the deceased along with a living sacrifice as a vessel. It summons the soul of the dead back from the Pure Land and binds it to the vessel."
"The vessel's body is then covered in ash, transforming into the appearance the deceased had in life."
"More importantly, the reincarnated individual retains all the techniques they possessed while alive."
"And because they are already dead, they cannot be killed through conventional means. They can only be sealed."
Rasa's eyes widened.
"A technique like that actually exists?"
Ōnoki snorted.
"The shinobi world is vast. There are countless strange techniques. You younger generations still have much to learn."
The Fourth Raikage let out a cold snort.
"Only Konoha would create such a disgusting technique."
Hayashi immediately replied.
"Watch your words, Fourth Raikage."
"Should I take that as an insult toward the Second Hokage?"
Without waiting for a response, he continued with complete seriousness.
"The Second Hokage didn't create Edo Tensei for warfare."
"He developed it to give those who had lost loved ones a chance to see them one last time and find closure."
Ōnoki rolled his eyes so hard they nearly disappeared into his skull.
He clearly didn't believe a single word.
Hayashi ignored him and turned back to the Raikage.
"If you'd like to meet your father, the Third Raikage, I could arrange it."
He smiled.
"Of course, my services aren't cheap."
The Fourth Raikage's expression darkened.
"You wouldn't dare."
Hayashi simply smiled without answering.
A new business idea suddenly crossed his mind.
Perhaps Orochimaru could open a Dream Fulfillment Company.
It would probably make a fortune.
As for the living sacrifices required by Edo Tensei, the shinobi world had no shortage of rogue ninja and death row criminals.
Finding innocent people would be difficult.
Finding villains who deserved execution certainly wouldn't.
Watching the Fourth Raikage and Hayashi edge toward another confrontation, Mifune felt a headache coming on.
No wonder his master had retired the moment he heard a Five Kage Summit was being organized.
If he had to preside over several more meetings like this, he felt certain he would retire as well.
"So, Your Excellency Fourth Hokage," Mifune said carefully, "are you suggesting that someone used Edo Tensei to resurrect the Third and Fourth Mizukage and then sent them to attack the Hidden Cloud Village?"
He deliberately avoided implying that someone from Konoha had learned the forbidden technique.
Hayashi nodded slightly, then shook his head.
"The scroll containing Edo Tensei was destroyed by the First Hokage long ago."
He smiled with complete sincerity.
"Everyone in Konoha is an upstanding person. No one here would ever use such a forbidden technique."
Hayashi delivered the lie so naturally that not a trace of guilt appeared on his face.
Far away, inside a hidden Root laboratory, Orochimaru suddenly sneezed.
The figure lying before him slowly opened his eyes.
Orochimaru smiled warmly, though the expression somehow remained deeply unsettling.
"Lord Danzō... it's been a long time."
"Welcome back to Konoha."
Danzō remained completely silent.