For their own safety, the Five Kage brought quite a few members from the Dark Department.
These Dark Department members sat next to the conference room, ready to rush in to protect their village's Kage, all meticulously arranged by the elderly Salamander Hanzo.
"Now..."
"Please enter, Five Kage."
The large lights lit up one by one.
This vast conference room was slowly illuminated.
In between the five paths of the conference room, a figure appeared in each.
Fifth Kazekage Gaara from the Hidden Sand Village of the Land of Wind, Third Tsuchikage Onoki from the Hidden Rock Village of the Land of Earth, Fifth Mizukage Terumi Mei from the Hidden Mist Village of the Land of Water, Fourth Raikage A from the Hidden Cloud Village of the Land of Thunder, Fifth Hokage Tsunade from the Konoha Village of the Land of Fire.
The five wielders of power in the Ninja World all walked toward their positions along their respective paths, each harboring different thoughts.
Konoha's area.
Tsunade's guards were Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
Because this meeting was vitally important, Tsunade trusted only her close friend Jiraiya, who simply brought Orochimaru along.
Tsunade agreed.
After all, when Akihara Kagura served as Hokage Assistant in Konoha, Konoha had offended quite a few Ninja Villages, and at that time, the other villages dared not make a sound...
Now that Akihara Kagura has defected...
These villages inevitably seek to provoke conflict.
"That man Hanzo..."
Jiraiya observed the conference room and couldn't help but compliment, "He's certainly made this meeting ceremonious..."
"Looks like he went to great lengths..."
Orochimaru smirked gently, nodding lightly, "Let's hope if a fight breaks out later, it won't be too embarrassing..."
"..."
Jiraiya instantly fell silent.
Because Jiraiya understands Konoha's reputation in the Ninja World.
Akihara Kagura's presence suppressed all the Ninja Villages' discontent toward Konoha, but now these villages will certainly target Tsunade, or at the very least, add insult to injury against Konoha.
"Let me speak first!"
Fifth Kazekage Gaara straightforwardly expressed his demands, "Right now, our Hidden Sand Village demands that Konoha must return all ninjutsu and kinjutsu obtained from the Hidden Sand Village, compensate us for all previous losses, and revoke all previously signed agreements..."
Fifth Kazekage Gaara's gaze fell upon Tsunade, solemnly speaking, "I am very grateful to Konoha for sending aid to the Hidden Sand Village, but the burdens Konoha imposed on the Hidden Sand Village are too heavy..."
"The Hidden Sand Village does not wish to initiate war..."
Fifth Kazekage Gaara closed his eyes without speaking further, simply quietly stating his demands, "I am only making fair and reasonable requests..."
"The Hidden Mist Village's demands are the same."
Fifth Mizukage Terumi Mei loudly voiced her demands, her tone somewhat heavy, "In the past, we were forced to become Konoha's vassals. The Hidden Mist Village needs more independence, and we also demand the annulment of all agreements signed with Konoha, return of our ninjutsu and kinjutsu, and compensation for the losses in rebuilding our village..."
"Humph..."
Fourth Raikage A glanced at Tsunade, speaking sternly, "Tsunade, Konoha also needs to return our Hidden Cloud Village's ninjutsu and kinjutsu, and send all of Konoha's ninjutsu and kinjutsu to the Hidden Cloud Village. This is the last ultimatum before the two villages go to war..."
Actually...
Fourth Raikage also considered making Tsunade a hostage in the Hidden Cloud Village.
However, the Fourth Raikage remembered that Tsunade once saved him during her travels, so he decided to cancel that demand, only wanting to reclaim the Hidden Cloud Village's Secret Techniques first, "Also, prohibit Konoha Ninja from using and spreading all our Hidden Cloud Village's Secret Techniques!"
"..."
Third Tsuchikage Onoki also appeared notably grave.
The Third Tsuchikage actually wanted to say something too, yet couldn't really identify any losses on his part, mainly losing face, as the Hidden Rock Village had actually endured the least difficulties.
After all...
Akihara Kagura had only kidnapped him back then.
Nonetheless, now Konoha is like a collapsing wall everyone pushes, so Third Tsuchikage Onoki greedily demanded, "We demand the Land of Fire to cede territory to compensate for the inequitable agreements signed with Konoha over the years, also serving as the last ultimatum before war..."
"..."
Tsunade closed her eyes without replying.
Before the Five Kage Conference convened, Tsunade had already anticipated some excessive demands from these major countries, but she didn't expect that they would be so eagerly impatient!
Previously under Akihara Kagura's support, Konoha suppressed the whole Ninja World, extracting even hard-to-digest benefits from other major nations. Now, in the aftermath of Akihara Kagura's defection, the rebound came unbelievably fast...
"..."
Everyone in the conference room looked toward Tsunade.
This Fifth Hokage took a deep breath, slowly placing her hand on the table, "I hope everyone here understands something, Konoha is reaching out to other major nations to jointly prevent the crisis of Ninja World's destruction, not to hear you all looking to bite a chunk off of us like hyenas, do not think Konoha fears war..."
"Tsunade, this is a mess caused by your Konoha's people..."
Fourth Raikage A huffed discontentedly, slamming his fist onto the table, "Konoha should have killed that Akihara Kagura long ago!"
"You young ones..."
Third Tsuchikage Onoki looked at Tsunade, sternly questioning, "If Konoha can't resolve the mess it caused, wanting everyone in the Ninja World to help solve it, isn't this unfair to the Ninja World?"
"..."
Fifth Kazekage Gaara and Fifth Mizukage Terumi Mei both nodded in agreement.
No matter how you say it...
This is indeed something Konoha Village brought upon itself!
"I understand your thoughts."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, her gaze turning sharp, "You all wish to start a new Ninja World War before Akihara Kagura destroys it, clearing the path for him, right?"
"Calm down..."
Salamander Hanzo hurriedly interrupted Tsunade, actively maintaining order in the meeting, "Everyone, the purpose of this meeting is to discuss preventing Akihara Kagura from destroying the Ninja World. Discussing those things now feels like a post-war division of benefits..."
"Before the war begins..."
Third Tsuchikage Onoki, being the most seasoned, held the qualification to chat with Salamander Hanzo for a bit, "Allocating the benefits in advance is reasonable. Can't let the whole Ninja World foot the bill for the mess Konoha made..."
"Humph..."
Fourth Raikage agreed with Onoki's viewpoint.
However, this Tsuchikage and he had a vendetta over killing his father, so Fourth Raikage would unlikely openly admit to supporting his words!
"Forget it."
Tsunade shook her head, looking at the other Kage present, speaking sternly, "The benefits Konoha gained due to Akihara Kagura will also be returned in full after stopping him from destroying the Ninja World, such as Secret Techniques from the Hidden Sand Village, Hidden Mist Village, and Hidden Cloud Village, as well as some unreasonable agreements we set..."
"As for any other absurd demands!"
"Konoha categorically refuses!"
"This is Konoha's final line!"
Tsunade's eyes swept over everyone present one by one, her voice cold, "Before dividing benefits, whether the Ninja World can stop Akihara Kagura is another matter entirely!"
"Moreover..."
"Those present also aren't completely without responsibility..."
"Back then, you all had many opportunities to kill Akihara Kagura, yet you ended up forced to sign a castle under siege agreement with Konoha, even becoming his captives at some point!"
"To my knowledge..."
"Third Tsuchikage Onoki was forced to teach Akihara Kagura the Dust Release, which led to Akihara Kagura using Dust Release in a recent battle to defeat Uchiha Madara..."
"..."
Third Tsuchikage Onoki's face turned from anger to a deep blush, this short old man's small fists heavily smashed onto the table, wanting to express his grievances!
"I taught him a fake technique!"
"What I taught him then was all fake Dust Release!"