Meanwhile, inside Hanzo's residence, a long table stretched beneath hanging lamps as rain drummed against the outer walls. Food was laid out in heavy servings. A the Raikage sat with his aides—Amai the medic-nin and Karai—while Tsunade sat across with Shizune at her side. At the far end, Danzō sat rigidly with his escorts standing behind him like shadows.
Danzō spoke first, voice dry. "I expected only myself to be summoned to the head of Amegakure. I did not anticipate the presence of a runaway Leaf shinobi like you, Tsunade."
A the Raikage snorted instantly, temper flaring. "Hmph. You always pick on someone smaller than you, Danzō. What is it now? You want to start a fight with me here?"
Before the tension could flare further, Amai leaned in close to the Raikage and whispered urgently, "Raikage-sama, remember—your left arm is still stiff. The wound from Tiel hasn't healed. Even Tsunade-sama couldn't restore it."
The Raikage's jaw tightened.
Tsunade's eyes shifted to the Raikage's left arm, unease flickering through her. That red spear he used… she thought. It carried a pressure I've never felt before. Worse than Kirigakure blades. And he has countless weapons like that.
The doors slid open. Hanzo stepped in, cloak damp from the rain. "My apologies for the delay," he said evenly. " I must admit—seeing leaders of different villages gathered in Amegakure like this is a day I will remember."
Danzō's cane tapped once against the floor. "Hanzo-dono. Our discussion regarding Akatsuki under Yahiko remains unresolved."
Hanzo nodded. "It does. However, there is still one more individual I intended to invite." His gaze shifted slowly toward Tsunade. "That Tiel fellow… he will come, yes? It would be a shame if he did not."
Before Tsunade could answer,
A the Raikage slammed his palm on the table. "He'll come. I can feel it. He's my rival now—the next D under me."
Hanzo's eyes narrowed slightly. "So you intend to recruit him, Raikage?"
A the Raikage grinned, teeth flashing. "Of course. Someone with Minato's potential—no, someone who surpassed Minato—belongs under Kumogakure."
Hanzo's eyes dimmed slightly as realization settled in the Raikage himself wanted Tiel, pressing too hard would only put Amegakure on the wrong side of Kumogakure. That was a risk he couldn't afford.
Danzō leaned forward, curiosity mixed with disdain. "Who is this Tiel you all keep mentioning? Another missing-nin? If so, allow me to dispose of him."
The air warped. gold, star-shaped portal unfolded beside the table.
Naruto stepped out in his apostle form—muscular young frame, pale blue high-collared jacket, black pants, black shoes—golden eyes calm, unreadable. "Sorry I'm late," he said lightly. "Had some work to finish."
A the Raikage's grin widened. "You're late, Tiel. I've been waiting for a rematch."
Hiraishin…? Danzo mind raced. But there's no sealing tag here . His gaze sharpened as the implication hit. A rematch… so the Fourth Raikage was beaten by this man. A chill crept through his spine. Terrifying power. But for Konoha's sake… I will use you, Tiel.
Naruto's golden eyes shifted silently to A the Raikage's left arm.
A the Raikage noticed the glance and scoffed. "Just a scratch. I'll feel better later."
Naruto's gaze moved to Tsunade. "You can't heal it, can you."
Tsunade's lips tightened. "I don't understand it. His cells aren't regenerating at all. the damage is rejecting recovery."
A golden portal unfolded beside Naruto. From within, a purple vial shot into his hand with a soft chime.
Shizune blinked. "That gold thing he uses is really bright… it makes him look insanely rich."
"It's a golden portal, Shizune," Tsunade muttered. "Not thing ."
Naruto ignored them both. He murmured an ancient phrase under his breath, the vial glowing faintly in response. Then he flicked it toward A the Raikage. The Raikage caught it instinctively.
"Drink it," Naruto said flatly. "It'll restore your left arm to full condition."
A the Raikage didn't drink it immediately. He straightened instead, pride flaring through the pain. "That wound is proof. You and I are destined rivals. You surpassed me in speed and beat me head-on. Even Minato never did that—he always relied on Hiraishin."
Naruto's eyes stayed flat. "I'm not into warrior drama, brown boy. Either you drink that potion… or your heart gets blasted by Gáe Bolg within the hour. Your condition is that bad."
Amai's breath caught. Raikage-sama's condition is that critical…
A the Raikage snorted dryly. "Just how many weapons do you have that can cripple me in the future? That golden chain and that giant arrow alone are already too much."
Naruto answered without hesitation. "Many. A lot. Understand?"
A the Raikage stared at the vial for half a second longer… then tilted it back and drank it in one motion. The liquid flared bright inside him. A green aura erupted around his body, washing through torn muscle, fractured bone, old scars, even fatigue buried deep in his cells. His wounds sealed in seconds. The stiffness vanished. His posture straightened as raw vitality surged back into his frame, younger, heavier with power.
Karai's eyes widened. "Raikage-sama… how do you feel now?"
A the Raikage laughed, thunderous and wild. "POWERFUL! Hah—this is what my prime felt like! I bet I could Iron Claw B with my feet right now!"
Hanzo studied the changes in silence, eyes narrowing as they shifted to Naruto. Not only does he move like the Yellow Flash… he summon weapons through golden space-time… he can restore youth and amplify power itself. His gaze hardened with resolve. It's worth the risk—even against a Raikage.
Across the table, Danzō said nothing. His visible eye remained calm, but his thoughts churned cold. Other methods still exist beyond Izanagi. I came here for the Rinnegan… but if I can obtain both… that would be true success.
Hanzo exhaled once and straightened. "Right. Enough tension. We are here now—so enjoy the feast I prepared."
Then Naruto drifted toward the far wall, boots soft against stone. He sat with his back to the pillar and opened a thin golden portal beside his hand. Gae Bolg slid out of the light. He rested the spear across his knee and began sharpening it with his bare fingers, sparks of red-gold energy hissing along the edge. It wasn't for battle—just restraint. A habit carved into him by Bernkastel. Readiness against anomalies. Against betrayal. Against everything.
Mostly… he was doing it to get under Danzō's skin.
Naruto didn't even look back as he spoke. "You can all continue without me. And no—before anyone gets paranoid, I'm not assuming Hanzo plans to poison the food." A faint smirk tugged at his mouth. "He actually wants to talk."
The spear rang softly as he turned it in his hand. "And as for me… my life's already complicated beyond repair." He shrugged lightly. "That's all."
Shizune leaned closer to Tsunade and whispered, unsettled. "It's that red spear again… it gives me chills."
Tsunade's gaze stayed on Gae Bolg. " weapon that nullifies healing ninjutsu … The natural enemy of every medical ninja."
A the Raikage let out a sharp huff. "Hmph. You won't hit me with that spear again. Mark my words. Not even your weapons will be able to match my speed next time."
Naruto glanced at him lazily. "Raikage… I was only playing with you when I used it." He lifted the spear slightly, the red edge breathing with a quiet curse. "This is Gae Bolg. A spear so cursed it denies regeneration completely. Once thrown, it strikes the heart—no matter how fast the target is."
Naruto's golden eyes flared as he smiled at the table. " demigod-killing weapon," he added calmly. "Thrown with the right momentum… it becomes an anti-army execution. At that point, the target can only pray."
Danzō's visible eye narrowed, righteousness coating his tone. "Weapon like that has no place in the shinobi world. Anything that dangerous should be destroyed. Just like the Akatsuki under Yahiko—things that threaten order cannot be allowed to exist."
Naruto turned his head slightly toward danzo , smile thinning. " I once met someone just like you, far from this place. A liar. And liars recognize liars." He tapped the spear once against the floor. "You try to play silver tongue with me? Sorry. I'm platinum. And I'm very, very good at it. I might even reach mithril soon."
Hanzo's eyes sharpened. "Lies? What do you mean by that, Tiel?"
Naruto looked back at Danzō. "I mean people always use 'justice' as a cover. Especially you." His voice stayed calm, almost lazy. "You lost to Hiruzen, didn't you? Outlasted. That had to hurt so badly you ran all the way out here."
Naruto looked back at Danzō. "People always use 'justice' as a cover. Especially you." His voice stayed lazy. "You lost to Hiruzen, didn't you? Outlasted. That had to hurt badly enough that you ran all the way out here."
Hanzo's gaze shifted to Danzō, suspicion flickering across his face. Whatever image of a righteous man he once held cracked slightly. He exhaled and raised his hand. "Enough. Ignore what just happened and continue with the feast. There is a time to fight. This is not that time."
Danzō leaned in and whispered urgently, "Hanzo-dono, your rule is threatened by the Akatsuki—"
Hanzo slammed his palm onto the table, tired irritation flashing through his eyes. "Akatsuki this, Akatsuki that. If they are traitors, karma will fall on them. If they are not, then they are a group preserving peace in Amegakure." His glare hardened. "No more talk of Akatsuki at my table. Unless you wish to fight me here, Danzō-dono."
Danzō fell silent, already calculating his next angle.
Across the table, A the Raikage and Tsunade exchanged quiet smiles. For once, Danzō had his ass handed to him without anyone lifting a hand.
Naruto set Gae Bolg down. "If you're done eating, I've got something to talk about."
A the Raikage's eyes lit up instantly. "I knew it. You're joining Kumogakure after all. Don't worry, Tiel—we'll throw the biggest welcome party you've ever seen."
Naruto looked at him like he'd just said something deeply stupid. "Not that, moron . I'm a merchant first and a fighter second. My purpose here is business." His eyes flicked lazily toward the Raikage. "Until a certain brown boy kept nagging me into a fight."
Hanzo gave a dry, amused hum. "From where I'm standing, you already look richer than anyone at this table, Tiel. You hardly seem like someone who needs to sell anything. Still—Amegakure welcomes anything that has value."
Naruto's golden eyes narrowed slightly, reflecting the lantern light. "There are things that can't be measured by gold. Not even by the strongest ninjutsu of this era." His gaze moved slowly across the leaders at the table. "I'm here to see what can stand as the equivalent of that."
An hour passed.
A the Raikage leaned back with a satisfied grunt. "I'm full. Hah. Amegakure food's good—but still not as good as Kumogakure."
Tsunade crossed her arms. "Free food is the best food. But Shizune—why did you ban me from sake?"
Shizune didn't even blink. "Because you're stupid, Tsunade-sama. If you get drunk, Konoha, Kumo, and Ame will be at war by morning."
Hanzo gave a tired breath. "It would only be a drunken brawl. No need to turn it into a catastrophe—if it happened now."
His gaze shifted to Naruto. "Now, Tiel. We've finished the meal. What exactly is your offer?"
Golden star-shaped portal snapped open at the center of the table. Naruto stepped out mid-spark, boots touching wood without a sound. "About time you all finished."
Shizune pinched the bridge of her nose. "Tiel, I insist—you walk like a normal person instead of showing off how fast you are ."
Naruto glanced at her flatly. "Nope ."