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[RNZO] Ch 344: Black Zetsu Declares War
🕑 Added 2025-07-27 17:10:06 +0000 UTC— — — — — —
Minato stood up. "While I'm away, I'm leaving Konoha in your hands. Especially Naruto. Watch over him for me, alright?"
"Alright, fine! It's not like I'd let anything happen to them anyway! And besides, I doubt Uchiha Madara has the guts to come to Konoha at a time like this!" Renzo nodded in agreement.
"Let's hope so. I'm heading out first."
With that, Minato gave a quick nod to Renzo, Tsunade, and the others before striding away at a brisk pace.
---
Five Days Later – Land of Iron
The Five Kage Summit
Minato arrived in the Land of Iron with Kakashi and Obito. The other Kage followed shortly after, and the long-anticipated Summit officially began.
Right from the start, the Fourth Raikage didn't bother with small talk. He swept his gaze across the room and got straight to the point. "The reason for this meeting is simple—Uchiha Madara and his damned army of reanimated shinobi! We need to come up with a strategy to deal with them!"
His voice thundered with fury. "That bastard took both Yugito and my little brother, Killer Bee. I'll never forgive him!"
The Third Tsuchikage gave a slow nod, his sharp eyes darting toward Minato before he spoke in his usual lazy drawl. "I've got no objections. Our village lost two Jinchuriki as well."
Then he muttered under his breath with a hint of sarcasm, "Some villages, though, seem to be doing just fine. Not only are their Jinchuriki untouched, they're even thriving."
He paused dramatically before adding, "Word is, the ones behind the attacks were all reanimated legends—including former Kage from our own villages. Tsk tsk! Edo Tensei, right?"
His gaze sharpened as he looked directly at Minato.
"So? Fourth Hokage, don't you think you owe us an explanation?"
This old schemer never missed a chance to twist the knife.
Always calculating, always political—he didn't just want to deal with Madara. He also saw this as a golden opportunity to drag Konoha down a notch, maybe even push the other villages into ganging up on them.
Sure enough, the other Kage—except Gaara—shifted uncomfortably.
The Fifth Kazekage remained silent, his respect for Konoha's past help clear in his expression. But the Raikage and Mizukage? Their eyes flicked toward Minato, waiting for his response.
But Minato was no rookie anymore. Years of war and leadership had tempered him. He met their stares with a calm smile.
"Explain? I don't really see the need," he said casually. "I'm pretty sure everyone here knows the situation quite well."
"You all remember the Akatsuki's full-scale invasion of Konoha, don't you? We issued warnings. We even called for a summit back then. But none of you were interested."
"Maybe if we'd come together back then, we could've prevented everything that happened these past two years."
He shrugged. "So don't go pointing fingers now—it's not on us."
You want to pin this on Konoha?
Yeah, good luck with that.
Honestly, if he hadn't been trying to avoid massive casualties, Minato would've unified the shinobi world by force already.
Well… not that he's heartless or anything. Unlike Kushina—who, if left in charge, probably would've wiped out all five villages by now to avoid extra work.
…Ahem. Of course, that's not to say Kushina isn't kind! According to the Book of Minato: She's the most beautiful, adorable, and pure-hearted woman in the whole world.
"Still, that reanimation jutsu did come from Konoha!" the Third Tsuchikage cut in again, his tone cold. "And Uchiha Madara is one of yours, too!"
"Exactly!" the Raikage snapped, seizing the moment. "If your people hadn't dabbled with that forbidden jutsu, my brother wouldn't have been taken! You owe us a damn explanation!"
"And let's not forget," the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, chimed in, voice sweet but eyes sharp. "The whole 'Blood Mist' era in Kirigakure started because our Fourth Mizukage was put under a genjutsu—by someone from the Uchiha clan, no less."
It didn't matter who was right or wrong—these Kage were clearly rattled by Konoha's power.
"Tch…"
Before Minato could respond, a strange voice echoed from above.
A shadow emerged on the rooftop, letting out a hoarse, eerie laugh.
"What a show! I was wondering when you'd actually get something done... but here you are, still bickering like children. Honestly, I'm getting bored."
"In any case, I come bearing a message—from Lord Uchiha Madara himself!"
"The Fourth Great Ninja War... starts now."
The figure giggled in a way that sent chills down the spine.
"Look forward to it, won't you? Lord Madara is very eager to see what you all can do… Hehehehe..."
Just as suddenly, the shadow began retreating into the rooftop.
"Not so fast!!!"
In a flash of lightning, the Raikage surged upward, his body crackling with raw energy. In the blink of an eye, he was on the rooftop, slamming a punch down at Black Zetsu with explosive force.
BOOM!!
The rooftop shattered on impact, sending shockwaves through the entire structure. The building groaned under the pressure, already starting to collapse.
"Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder!" (Teleportation Barrier)
Minato leapt into action. With a swift hand sign, he activated the perfected version of his signature jutsu. In an instant, the falling debris vanished—teleported several hundred meters away to an empty field.
Even the collapsing sections of the building were blinked away, one after another, as if the destruction itself had been erased.
"Dammit! He got away!" the Raikage growled, landing back on the ground with a furious snarl.
"Slippery little freak!"
The Raikage landed hard, his body crackling with electricity and his face twisted in rage.
Meanwhile, Onoki and Mei Terumi weren't paying him any attention—they were still staring at Minato, visibly shaken by the terrifying spatial jutsu he'd just used.
They'd known Minato was strong, sure. But ever since he became Hokage, he rarely took the battlefield himself. No one had a clear idea of how far his power had actually grown.
And now, even though that was just a glimpse, it was more than enough to leave a lasting impression—and put them both on edge.
"Well, Lord Hokage, that was quite the technique. You've taken the Flying Thunder God to a whole new level—it's downright terrifying in your hands."
Onoki hovered calmly in mid-air, but his eyes were sharp with unease.
In fact, he was beginning to suspect that Minato no longer even needed seals to teleport anymore. If that were true… it would be an incredibly dangerous ability.
Minato smiled disarmingly. "Haha, it's nothing that special. I'm kind of a one-trick guy—I just happen to be good at this one."
Hearing their exchange, the Raikage finally snapped back to the matter at hand. He gave Onoki and Minato a look full of hidden meaning before cutting the conversation short.
"Enough with the small talk. You all heard what that freak said."
"There's no point arguing anymore—we need to unite and prepare for war. This situation is way beyond what any one village can handle on its own."
"I propose we form a joint Shinobi Allied Force—and launch a direct assault on Uchiha Madara. Who's in? Who's against?"
His focus was razor-sharp. Right now, all he cared about was crushing the shadowy bastard who humiliated them—and tearing Uchiha Madara to pieces for taking his brother and Yugito. And of course saving them.
Everything else could wait.
"I'm in," Gaara spoke up first, his voice calm but firm.
Honestly, he'd been sick of listening to the pointless bickering for a while now. Onoki had been stoking tension from the start.
"I agree as well. In fact, the Allied Force was Konoha's idea in the first place." Minato gave his usual easygoing smile as he nodded.
Seeing that the momentum had shifted, Mei Terumi quickly followed up with her support too. No need to stay silent now.
"But—" Onoki interjected, not missing a beat, "if we're forming an alliance, we'll need a Supreme Commander. I believe I'm the best fit for that role. Just follow my lead, and we'll get through this."
"Heh. Yeah, no thanks."
The Raikage's grin was all teeth, and it didn't reach his eyes.
"Let's be real—when it comes to strength, Kumogakure has the edge over Iwagakure. Why should you be the one calling the shots? And frankly, I don't trust you."
Onoki had always been a schemer, and the Raikage wasn't about to hand him any more power than necessary. If anyone should lead, he'd rather it be himself—or even Minato.
"I support the Hokage," Gaara said without hesitation. "He has the strength, the character, and the wisdom for it. He's someone we can trust."
That statement earned him a sharp glare from both the Raikage and Onoki.
This brat really didn't know when to keep quiet.
"Fufu~"
Mei chuckled lightly. "I think Gaara-kun makes a good point. Lord Hokage really is a reliable choice. And frankly, he's far more trustworthy than either of you."
She hadn't planned on throwing her support behind anyone. But deep down, she knew the truth—her own village simply wasn't in the position to take the lead.
Trying to seize control would just be a headache she didn't need.
Besides, neither the Raikage nor the Tsuchikage appealed to her. Both were too volatile in their own ways.
Konoha might be powerful—and yes, that made them dangerous—but it also made them the most capable.
"You... you two—!"
Onoki and the Raikage turned toward her, their faces livid.
What the hell was wrong with everyone? How could they cave so easily?
Didn't they understand how dangerous Konoha really was?
But in moments like this—when the fate of the world was on the line—petty grudges and power plays didn't matter anymore.
That's when Mifune, the General of the Land of Iron, finally spoke up.
"I agree as well. Lord Hokage is the most suitable choice."
...Not that it mattered.
Neither the Raikage nor Onoki even acknowledged him.
The Five Kage Summit may have been held in the Land of Iron, but that didn't mean they saw Mifune—or his country—as equals.
In their eyes, this was still a shinobi matter.
And the real decisions would be made between the strongest villages—like it or not.
.
.
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