NOVEL NEXT Chapter 34: ch 29
Chapter 29: The Gathering of Powers
Shinsui's POV
The world was changing.
For the first time in history, the great clans and nations were not meeting as enemies on the battlefield but as leaders shaping the future. Hashirama had called for a gathering—a summit where the strongest would decide how the world should be governed.
The First Kage Summit.
I did not hesitate to attend. Uzushiogakure had flourished under our leadership, standing as a symbol of knowledge and power. If decisions were being made that would shape the future, I would not allow my people to be left behind.
When I arrived at the designated meeting place—a neutral ground between the Five Great Nations—I was met with the sight of leaders unlike any the world had seen before.
At the head of the gathering sat Hashirama Senju, the newly declared First Hokage of Konohagakure. His presence radiated warmth, his optimism clear in the way he greeted each of us with a smile, as though he truly believed this summit would bring peace.
Beside him stood Tobirama Senju, sharp-eyed and rigid, analyzing every movement, every word. Unlike his brother, he did not trust easily.
Then there was Madara Uchiha, his expression unreadable, his arms crossed as he observed the room. He was here, but there was an unmistakable distance in his posture, a lingering doubt that clung to him like a shadow.
Across the table, the other leaders took their places.
The towering First Raikage of Kumogakure, his piercing gaze sharp with ambition.
The First Tsuchikage, an older man, wise but wary, his experience evident in the way he measured every word.
The First Mizukage, his face partially obscured by a mist-cloaked hood, his allegiance and intentions difficult to read.
And the First Kazekage, lean and fierce, his presence like the desert itself—harsh and unyielding.
I took my seat among them, my robes marked with the insignia of Uzushiogakure. We were not one of the Five Great Nations, but we were known. Our knowledge of seals, our mastery of longevity and chakra control—our power was not something to be ignored.
Hashirama stood, his voice steady and full of purpose.
"We are gathered here today not as enemies, but as leaders," he began, his eyes moving across the room. "The wars of the past have taken too much from us. Too many children have died before they could even live. We now have an opportunity to change that—to unite, to create a system where future generations can grow without fear."
A murmur passed through the room. Some nodded in agreement, others remained silent, guarded.
I watched carefully, analyzing the reactions of the men around me. The way the Raikage's fingers drummed against the table in impatience. The slight narrowing of the Tsuchikage's eyes. The way Madara's hands remained still, his fingers curled just enough to suggest hidden tension.
Something was wrong.
I didn't know what it was, but the air in the room shifted.
A subtle, almost imperceptible change.
The kind of change that came before a storm.
As the discussion began, I kept my eyes sharp, my senses heightened.
Something was about to happen.
And I intended to find out what.
To Be Continued…