Hayashi's words plunged the entire meeting hall into silence.
No matter how unwilling they were to admit it, everything he had said was true. The truth simply sounded too harsh to accept.
His uncompromising attitude served a single purpose.
He wanted the Four Great Nations to understand that the era had already changed.
The ninja world had returned to an age similar to that of the First Hokage, where one overwhelming power stood above all others, rather than the era of evenly matched great nations.
That was a reality everyone would have to accept.
Konoha had no intention of invading other countries, but that did not mean the other Kage had the right to question it. They simply were not in a position to do so.
That was the message Hayashi intended to establish from the beginning.
At the same time, he made another point perfectly clear.
He was neither the First Hokage nor the Third Hokage.
He would not be accommodating, and from this day onward, Konoha would lead whenever matters affected the ninja world.
Of course, while establishing Konoha's authority, Hayashi also directed everyone's attention toward the true threat instead of allowing Konoha to become the common enemy.
His expression eased slightly as he continued.
"Capturing the Tailed Beasts is only the first step of the enemy's plan, and the most basic one. They undoubtedly have greater objectives."
"As the Five Great Nations, we must remain vigilant. Judging from how deeply Akatsuki has infiltrated every major village, you should already have a general understanding of their strength."
"This organization is made up almost entirely of elite S-rank rogue ninja."
"Their combat power is unquestionable. In some respects, it would not be an exaggeration to say they rival an entire hidden village."
Although Hayashi deliberately shifted the discussion away from Konoha, his words left the room even quieter than before.
Most of those present felt he was exaggerating.
The Fourth Raikage and Rasa still remembered the Akatsuki from Yahiko's era.
Back then, the organization was composed primarily of rogue shinobi from Amegakure, with members of wildly varying strength.
Ōnoki understood Akatsuki somewhat better.
He knew they possessed numerous S-rank rogue ninja.
Even so, an S-rank rogue ninja was still just one individual.
Against the military power of an entire great village, they should ultimately fall short.
To claim they could rival a hidden village sounded far too exaggerated.
Hayashi merely smiled.
In his eyes, the four Kage were simply limited by the experiences they had accumulated throughout their lives.
Perhaps calling them frogs at the bottom of a well was too harsh, but there were realities far beyond their imagination.
The greatest display of power Ōnoki had ever witnessed was Madara's completed Susanoo.
He had never even seen the Perfect Susanoo.
After spending so many years fighting ordinary shinobi, how could they possibly comprehend battles fought on the level of gods?
Not to mention Nagato's Ultra Shinra Tensei, a single technique capable of reducing mighty Konoha to ruins.
Such a jutsu was beyond anything they had ever imagined.
"Since the enemy is truly that dangerous, Fourth Hokage, what do you propose?"
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, spoke at the perfect moment.
Hayashi answered without hesitation.
"I propose establishing a Shinobi Allied Forces to oppose Akatsuki."
"A Shinobi Allied Forces?"
The Fourth Raikage immediately rejected the suggestion.
"That is absolutely impossible."
"Even if Akatsuki truly poses such a threat, protecting each village's Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts remains that village's own responsibility."
"Every village should handle its own affairs."
"There is neither a need nor a reason for everyone to unite."
His position was crystal clear.
Each village would act independently.
The Fourth Raikage remained completely confident in Kumogakure's strength.
Previously, Akatsuki had operated from the shadows, making them difficult to track.
Now things were different.
Thanks to Konoha's intelligence, they had identified Akatsuki as the culprit.
If Akatsuki was truly based in Amegakure, Kumogakure could simply deploy its forces to the border.
To him, they were nothing more than a collection of rogue ninja.
Of course, those were merely his public reasons.
His true concern was his lack of trust in Konoha.
He had no intention of allowing Kumogakure's military capabilities to be closely observed by the other villages.
More importantly, Konoha had not lost its Tailed Beast.
If no allied force was formed, then Konoha would naturally stay out of the campaign against Akatsuki.
Without Konoha participating, whichever village recovered the remaining Tailed Beasts would depend entirely on its own strength.
The One-Tail.
The Two-Tails.
The Three-Tails.
He wanted every one of them.
Hayashi saw through the Fourth Raikage's thoughts instantly.
He could not help laughing.
He truly had no idea what he was facing.
In Hayashi's opinion, Nagato was still weaker than both the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara.
Even so, he was unquestionably stronger than the Five Kage.
Beyond Nagato himself, Akatsuki possessed seven S-rank rogue ninja, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path strengthened by seven sealed Tailed Beasts, and an enormous White Zetsu army continuously produced by White Zetsu.
Although the White Zetsu army was not as massive as it would become in the future, its numbers were still staggering.
Without the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's ability to distinguish friend from foe, White Zetsu's transformation technique alone could throw the Four Great Nations into complete chaos.
Other than Konoha, no village possessed the strength to withstand Akatsuki.
Then another thought crossed Hayashi's mind.
Perhaps this outcome was not bad after all.
The Four Great Nations could gather their own allied forces and exhaust themselves fighting Akatsuki.
Konoha would simply appear at the end and claim the victory without taking unnecessary risks.
"Fourth Hokage, what are you laughing about?"
Hayashi's sudden laughter sounded particularly out of place in the solemn atmosphere of the Five Kage Summit.
Noticing the Fourth Raikage's growing anger, Mifune quickly stepped in.
Hayashi smiled faintly.
"I was just reminded of something an outstanding member of the Uchiha Clan once said after watching the Fourth Raikage underestimate Akatsuki while remaining so wary of Konoha."
"He said, 'As long as people are human, they rely on their own knowledge and perceptions, and live confined by them. That is what they call reality.'"
"'But knowledge and perception are uncertain things. Reality itself may be nothing more than an illusion. Everyone lives trapped within their own convictions.'"
Hayashi looked directly at the Fourth Raikage.
"I think those words describe you perfectly."
"Arrogant, foolish, and convinced you understand everything."
"Don't you agree?"
"You..."
The Fourth Raikage's fury erupted once again.
Hayashi ignored him.
Instead, he turned his head toward the distance, as though sensing something no one else could detect.
"Very well."
"Since you think so little of Akatsuki..."
"The main force has arrived."
"You'll soon understand the difference."
Everyone's expressions changed instantly.
None of the sensor ninja had detected a single enemy.
Boom!
A deafening explosion shook the entire summit hall.
Before anyone else could react, Hayashi had already appeared beside Minato and Nawaki.
The roof exploded apart.
Countless chunks of stone rained down as dust engulfed the chamber, with broken debris crashing onto the Five Kage Summit table.
The other Kage immediately leaped away from their seats.
One after another, eight figures descended through the shattered ceiling.
Every one of them wore a black cloak decorated with red clouds.
At the very front stood the Deva Path, using Yahiko's body.
Behind him stood the Third Mizukage, the Fourth Mizukage, Hanzō of the Salamander, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki Yugito Nii, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki Roshi, Uchiha Fugaku, and Hiruko.
The Deva Path's emotionless voice echoed throughout the ruined hall.
"The Six Paths of Pain have arrived."
=≠=
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