Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 227: The Alliance

"That may be true, but we must remain vigilant," Tsunade said, her tone shifting as she turned to Shikaku, who was listening intently. "I'll need your help to keep an eye on things for a while."

With the upcoming summit demanding all her focus, Tsunade had no choice but to delegate her other responsibilities to Shikaku.

"Understood, Lady Tsunade."

Shikaku nodded but hesitated briefly before voicing a concern. "Is it really safe to host the summit in the capital of the Land of Rain?"

The Land of Rain was far from stable. Ever since Hanzo's death, the region had grown increasingly chaotic. Moreover, both the Kazekage and Hokage had met their ends there, giving the location an ominous reputation among the great nations.

Allowing their own daimyo to travel to such a place made Shikaku uneasy.

"It'll be fine," Tsunade assured him. "Given that this summit aims to forge peace among the nations, holding it in a country scarred so deeply by war is symbolic."

Hearing this, Shikaku sighed and nodded reluctantly, setting his worries aside. Changing the subject, he asked, "Do you think he'll send anyone to participate?"

"Our alliance is meant to counter him. Do you think he'll cooperate or send someone to disrupt it?"

The two exchanged glances and shook their heads in unison.

It was impossible. Hyuga Fuji wouldn't bother with something like this.

Tsunade smiled wryly. "Then let's leave it at that. I need to get ready."

…

A few days later, Tsunade arrived at the Land of Rain's capital, accompanied by her escorts.

By then, the city was already bustling with delegates from various nations, including ninjas, kages, and daimyos.

Thanks to the tacit approval of a certain organization and the Land of Rain's officials, everything had been meticulously arranged. Without such support, disputes might have broken out long before the summit began.

To accommodate the attendees, the Land of Rain had spared no effort. Every detail—from comfortable lodging to the flow of the summit itself—had been carefully planned.

Upon Tsunade's arrival, she and her entourage were escorted to a private residence to rest until the meeting commenced.

"Tsunade is here. The summit should be starting soon, right?"

Konan stood by the second-floor window of an inn, watching Tsunade pass by on the bustling street below. She bit her lip, then let the curtain fall and turned around.

"Nagato, what should we do? Should we involve ourselves in this?"

"Leave it to the daimyo," Nagato replied, shaking his head. "Our presence would only complicate matters. We can't openly attend, nor can we manipulate the daimyo into participating. If we're exposed, the Land of Rain could be excluded from the talks entirely."

Konan frowned but eventually nodded in agreement. Nagato's reasoning was sound.

Still, she couldn't help but lament, "It's ironic that the push for peace in the shinobi world comes from the shadow of a powerful enemy."

Indeed, while the nations might be putting on a front of desiring peace, Konan doubted such a state could last.

In her mind, once Hyuga Fuji was dealt with, the world would likely revert to its old ways.

"…"

Nagato reached up to touch his eyes, sighing softly.

An overwhelmingly powerful enemy…

The realization stung. At this point, he couldn't even play that role himself.

Shaking his head, Nagato recalled Hyuga Fuji's parting words:

"You know nothing of chakra!"

Those words had haunted him ever since his return to the Land of Rain. He had been pondering their meaning incessantly but still couldn't decipher them.

He had even consulted Konan and White Zetsu, but neither could provide any insight.

As for Obito?

The man had gone off to recruit his clansmen and hadn't been around to ask.

Nagato hadn't chosen Obito for this task for any special reason—simply because Obito was fast enough to get the job done.

…

When the day of the summit finally arrived, delegates from across the shinobi world converged on the designated venue within the Land of Rain's daimyo palace.

The conference hall was uniquely designed, resembling a semi-circular amphitheater. In the center stood three seats, surrounded by tiers of gradually rising rows, each slightly higher than the last.

The spacious and well-lit hall buzzed with the presence of representatives from various nations, all seated around a large circular table. They were dressed formally, their expressions serious.

At the center sat the Fourth Raikage, Tsunade, and Onoki.

"Longevity does have its perks. You get to witness so much change," Onoki murmured, surveying the gathering with a hint of nostalgia.

The attendees came from a variety of backgrounds. Nations with ninja villages sent their kages, while those without dispatched their daimyos or high-ranking officials.

For many, this was their first time participating in such a significant event. Though some felt overwhelmed, they understood the gravity of the occasion and maintained a tense, composed demeanor.

Their solemnity didn't escape Onoki's notice, and it brought a rare smile to his face.

Good. It shows they're taking this seriously.

As Onoki observed the crowd, the representatives, in turn, studied one another, trying to glean insights from their behavior and anticipate the summit's direction.

At that moment, the Fourth Raikage turned to Tsunade. "The floor is yours."

Since the Fire Country had initiated the summit, it was only natural for them to lead the proceedings.

If circumstances had allowed, the meeting would have been held in the Fire Country rather than the Land of Rain.

Tsunade nodded, rising to deliver the prepared opening address:

"Throughout history, the shinobi world has been plagued by conflicts and grievances, both between nations and within them. The purpose of this summit is to mediate these disputes, to reduce the likelihood of war, and to prevent unnecessary bloodshed.

"While we may not be able to eliminate war entirely, we can strive to extend the intervals between conflicts—by hundreds, even thousands of years.

"Achieving peace is a responsibility we all share—not only for ourselves but for future generations. Through this summit, I hope we can establish a more enduring framework for peace, ensuring that our descendants can grow up without the shadow of war. We must not allow the tragedies of the past to repeat themselves…"

Tsunade's lengthy speech didn't bore the audience. Instead, it compelled them to reflect deeply.

Even those who weren't genuinely invested in the idea of peace knew they had to at least appear to take it seriously.

When three of the great nations called for peace and convened a summit of this scale, refusing to participate simply wasn't an option.

Moreover, a united shinobi world benefited everyone.

The mere act of bringing representatives together in one place for dialogue was a rare opportunity. To squander it by failing to voice one's concerns or goals would be foolish.

"…And so, as the daimyo of the Fire Country, I assure you all that this is a safe space for open dialogue."

Tsunade concluded with a warm smile.

(End of Chapter)