Naruto: The new beginning

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Ōnoki shook his head. "It's not that simple. Attacking the enemy's home base means walking into a battlefield filled with traps. And aside from the members we already know about, we have no way of knowing if they have additional hidden forces."

His tone grew heavier.

"Not to mention… Akatsuki has already captured four jinchūriki. If they've found a way to harness the power of the Tailed Beasts, we could be walking into a disaster."

He gave the room a meaningful look.

"As representatives of the Five Great Nations, our decisions shape the world. Declaring war is no small matter. It's not something we should rush into."

Raikage scowled, slamming his fist on the table. "Akatsuki already declared war the moment they started stealing Tailed Beasts! What's the difference?!"

He glared at Ōnoki. "What, are you going to wait until Iwa is wiped off the map before you decide to act?!"

Ōnoki met his stare without backing down.

"Listen, boy. If we rush into this without a strategy, do you know what will happen?

War.

Not a battle, not a mission a full-scale war. Missions will halt, economies will collapse, and shinobi will die in numbers you cannot even begin to imagine. You can't erase those consequences with a single battle."

Raikage growled. "Then what do you propose?!"

"The smartest move," Ōnoki said firmly, "is not to attack head-on. Instead, we let Akatsuki make their move and let them come for the remaining jinchūriki."

His eyes gleamed.

"We pretend to keep our jinchūriki in their villages under normal protection. Meanwhile, Kumo and Iwa will station hidden reinforcements outside, waiting for an ambush."

His voice turned cold.

"When they come, we capture them one by one."

It was a highly inefficient plan but it was the best strategy for Iwa's benefit.

After all, Iwa had already lost its Tailed Beasts.

If Akatsuki targeted another village first, Ōnoki could wait and swoop in at the last moment, reaping all the rewards while the other villages suffered losses.

A's hands clenched into fists. "You conniving old fox…"

He turned away from the smug Tsuchikage and looked at the other Kage.

"Mizukage. Kazekage." His voice was sharp. "You two are also jinchūriki. Are you really going to just sit in your villages, waiting for them to come capture you?"

Yagura's gaze was steady.

"I refuse to let my village be a battleground. That is not what it means to be Mizukage."

Gaara nodded. "I agree. We should strike first."

His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.

"I may be young, but I understand my responsibility as Kazekage.

My duty is to keep danger outside the village, not invite it in.

Perhaps… the older generation has a different philosophy?"

His words were respectful, but there was an undeniable jab at Ōnoki's cautious approach.

From the upper level, Kankurō gave an approving nod.

"Gaara's speech is solid. That's our Kazekage."

Temari grinned, slapping the railing. "He's really grown into his role, huh? Way better than a certain puppet-obsessed little brother."

Kankurō groaned. "Can't you just praise him without dragging me into it?"

Nearby, Kurotsuchi snickered. "Hah! The old man got played. This Kazekage kid is impressive."

Akatsuchi scratched his head. "Should we really be mocking our own Tsuchikage?"

Kurotsuchi waved him off. "Oh, it's fine. Maybe he'll finally learn to loosen up."

Ōnoki sighed, rubbing his temples. "It seems today's youth refuse to listen to wisdom."

Raikage scoffed. "Drop the wise elder act, old man!" He turned to Minato.

"Fire Shadow. What's your stance?"

Minato's expression was thoughtful.

"I agree that Akatsuki must be dealt with as soon as possible."

Raikage smirked. "Glad to hear it—"

"But."

Minato's gaze sharpened.

"I don't think you all understand just how serious this situation is."

Raikage frowned. "What do you mean? They already flattened a major Hidden Village what could be worse than that?!"

Minato's voice was calm but absolute.

"Raikage, earlier you described Pain's eyes his Rinnegan."

Raikage scowled. "Yeah. But those bodies were just puppets. For all we know, the eyes were fake."

Minato shook his head.

"No. The Rinnegan is real.

And more importantly, the Sage of Six Paths was real."

If this were an anime, the scene would have frozen.

Minato is in the centre.

The other Kage's shocked faces formed a shattered, puzzle-like background.

Ōnoki's voice was sceptical.

"Are you trying to exaggerate this situation just to make your case?"

Minato's voice remained firm.

"Years ago, my master Jiraiya met a boy in Amegakure with the Rinnegan.

He believed that child could be the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths."

Raikage's first thought was:

What a waste!

If it had been him who met that boy, he would have dragged him to Kumo immediately!

Or, at the very least, killed him and taken his eyes.

Yagura narrowed his gaze. "So… you're saying that this child is the one who created Akatsuki?"

Minato nodded.

"From all available intel, yes.

There's one more source of confirmation… information from Shimura Danzō."

Raikage's fists clenched. "Danzō… that bastard. The so-called 'Darkness of the Shinobi World'."

Ōnoki and Yagura exchanged glances.

They, too, had heard of Danzō's infamy.

Minato exhaled.

"Yes. He was involved in many morally questionable actions. I won't make excuses for them. But one thing he did that matters now, He allied with Hanzō of the Salamander to eliminate Akatsuki's original leader."

The room grew tense.

Minato's next words would change everything.

"Danzō… and Hanzō…

Orchestrated the death of Akatsuki's first leader, Yahiko."

The room fell silent.

A storm was brewing.

And this war was no longer just about Akatsuki.

It was about the sins of the shinobi world itself.

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