Chapter 197: Convergence of the Five Kage
Shiraishi and Onoki had previously met briefly in the Revelation Mountains, but the Tsuchikage remained deeply impressed by this rising star, the Special Jonin once known as "Black Mist" Shiraishi.
During that ambush in the mountains, had it not been for Shiraishi's exceptional performance and his students', Rasa would likely have fallen into Onoki's carefully laid trap.
Furthermore, the three-man cell led by Hoshino Mai, which performed brilliantly during the Joint Chunin Exams, had been personally trained by Shiraishi. This fact alone was enough for Onoki to treat the newly promoted Kazekage with the utmost seriousness.
Following Shiraishi's outstanding performance on the battlefields of the Leaf and the Mist, the entire world had taken note of this rising supernova. Now, he stood as the Kazekage, attending the Five Kage Summit as a social peer.
Onoki chuckled, his body floating slightly off the ground as he looked Shiraishi over. "Young and promising... the 'Uchiha Madara' of our era."
"I am Aoki Shiraishi, not Uchiha Madara," Shiraishi replied calmly.
"The Aoki Shiraishi who aspires to create peace for the Sand that lasts a hundred generations?"
Shiraishi's speech at his inauguration had already spread throughout the shinobi world. Every village felt the ambitious pulse of the "New Hidden Sand."
Though the Kage had not yet fully assembled, the Tsuchikage had already resolved to align with the Leaf to suppress the Sand's further rise.
Onoki had even sent a private letter to the Fourth Mizukage, hoping the young leader would take his advice.
"Indeed," Shiraishi smiled.
As the two Kage engaged in a silent clash of pressure in mid-air, Onoki let out a few soft coughs. "The youth of today are getting more formidable by the second. Haha."
The two locked eyes for a moment before Onoki gestured for the Kazekage to enter first. Beside him, his son Kitsuchi followed with respectful silence, acting as a loyal guardian to his father.
The Five Kage Summit was officially scheduled to begin today. Shiraishi, Arashi, and Shikasa rested in the main hall, while Onoki's team occupied a separate area.
This summit was essentially a move by the Leaf to isolate the Sand. Among the other three Kage, Onoki was the most calculating.
The Mizukage and Raikage were both newly appointed, their personalities and patterns of thought still largely unknown.
However, the Fourth Mizukage's recent actions in the Hidden Mist didn't seem like those of a rational leader; he felt more like a ticking time bomb.
According to intelligence from Fuguki Suikazan, the Mist had little interest in this summit. Curiously, even Fuguki, as head of intelligence, didn't know the identities of the Mizukage's bodyguards, which was highly unusual.
Fuguki seemed to be losing his grip on power, and combined with the lack of detailed reports from Haigetsu, it was clear the internal situation of the Mist was descending into chaos.
The Raikage's attitude was more nuanced. While the Cloud was currently the Sand's most natural ally, their strength had been severely depleted after the southern war with the Leaf. "Ay" might not be as clear-headed in his strategic considerations as before.
The Sand itself was still in a transitional period. Though Shiraishi personally held the line, there were no standout talents among the next generation of Genin aside from his newly recruited disciple, Uzumaki Tomoki.
Other villages were producing many rising stars; the Sand desperately needed to recuperate and nurture its youth.
Inside the body of Tomoki's sister, Tomoe, Shiraishi had planted a specially cultivated "Sage Body" cell nucleus—the only successful fusion of Hyuga and Kaguya bloodlines.
Combined with Shiraishi's own genetic legacy, it was a hidden trump card. Along with Gaara and the child Maki was carrying, Shiraishi planned to forge these three into the "New Sannin" of the Hidden Sand.
"The Mizukage is here..."
At the entrance of the hall, a boy with green hair and purple eyes appeared. A stitch-like scar ran beneath his left eye, and he carried a hooked staff decorated with green flowers.
Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage, was accompanied by two Anbu bodyguards. Though they wore masks, they radiated an intimidating aura.
Yagura nodded to Shiraishi and Onoki with chilling indifference, seemingly unconcerned with the arrival of the other Kage.
Onoki sipped his tea, squinting at the boy. He inwardly mocked the Mist for being so depleted of talent that they had to appoint a "brat" as their leader.
Yagura's state is strange...
Not just Shiraishi, but even Onoki sensed something was off. However, both were veteran schemers; if the Mizukage was compromised or unusual, it would simply serve as an excuse to fuel internal strife within the Mist later.
As Shiraishi shifted his gaze from Yagura, he noticed the Anbu bodyguards. He felt a peculiar sensation from them.
Sensing Shiraishi's scrutiny, one of the masked Anbu's eyes turned grim. He had been modified via the Box of Ultimate Bliss; logically, "Black Mist" Shiraishi shouldn't be able to perceive him, yet that one glance felt as if it had pierced right through his disguise.
Suddenly, a brilliant light shone outside the hall as three figures entered like bolts of lightning. In a blur of extreme speed, the Fourth Raikage, Ay, appeared.
He was a massive man with dark skin, blonde hair, and a white cape. His shoulders bore green shuriken-style tattoos.
Wearing a broad belt and heavy armor, he exuded a boisterous and impulsive personality. Coated in his Lightning Style Armor, his speed and defense were legendary.
Ay's gaze landed immediately on Shiraishi. He sized the Kazekage up with sharp eyes before sitting proudly to the side. His two dark-skinned bodyguards also possessed staggering chakra reserves.
As if by design, once the four Kage had arrived, the final representatives appeared. Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, entered with his guards: Kakashi Hatake and Uchiha Shisui.
Interesting, Shiraishi thought. Bringing the Uchiha's most famous genius as a bodyguard... is Minato trying to show the world that there are no longer any internal prejudices in his Leaf?
"The Hokage certainly knows how to put on an act, making us wait like this," the Raikage remarked coldly.
Minato didn't seem to mind, offering a bright, signature smile. "My apologies, I'm late. Haha."
As he spoke, Minato's eyes met Shiraishi's. "Lord Fifth Kazekage, we meet again."
Facing Minato's gaze, Shiraishi took a sip of hot tea and replied tonelessly, "Yes, we meet again... Lord Hokage."
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