Minato's expression was incredibly serious.
"Although I cannot be one hundred percent certain, the 'source' nature of both powers is extremely similar."
"If the Rinnegan's repulsive force is a dōjutsu, then the possibility of The Collector possessing the Rinnegan... is by no means empty talk!"
This conclusion caused everyone's hearts to sink.
The Six Paths of Pain were already so troublesome; if another 'Collector' appeared with the same terrifying eyes...
The crowd also tacitly did not assume that the person controlling the Six Paths of Pain whom Minato encountered was The Collector.
Because, based on the intelligence from the meeting earlier, If it truly were The Collector, then the outcome of this sudden battle would not have been like this.
It was very likely that the Eight-Tails would have already fallen into the hands of the Akatsuki, and very few of them, the Five Kage, would have survived!
After all, although they each had their own enemies and were unable to look after others, The traces of Minato's battle with the Six Paths of Pain were right there.
They believed that if any of them had been in his place, they probably wouldn't have lasted long before being defeated.
Yet Minato had forcibly stalled the Six Paths of Pain; although he was at a disadvantage, it already spoke volumes about his strength.
But even a Minato like that had failed to protect the Nine-Tails from The Collector.
The Collector's strength was easily imaginable!
Minato did not give everyone much time to digest this, as he dropped the most heavyweight piece of intelligence:
"And the wielder of these Rinnegan, he is also..."
Minato's voice took on a hint of complexity and heaviness, "He claims to be... Jiraiya-sensei's disciple!"
"Jiraiya's disciple?!"
Ōnoki blurted out in shock; this twist left him more stunned than the Rinnegan itself.
"Yes," Minato nodded, a flash of regret in his eyes.
"Although I haven't been able to confirm it with Jiraiya-sensei, he admitted it personally."
"When I questioned why he committed such evil acts as instigating war and capturing Tailed Beasts, he gave... an extreme and insane plan."
Word by word, Minato repeated Tendo Pain's cold declaration:
"He wants to end this 'cursed world'!"
"He believes that people can never truly understand each other and that hatred will only cycle infinitely. To achieve his so-called 'peace'..."
"He plans to collect all the Tailed Beasts to create a 'Tailed Beast Weapon' capable of destroying a nation in an instant!"
"Then, he will use this weapon to inflict 'ultimate pain' upon humanity!"
"He intends to use this fear and pain imposed upon the whole world to suppress war and reshape order!"
"Utterly ridiculous!"
"Madman!"
"Unforgivable!"
Before the words even finished, Raikage Ay's violent roar erupted like a thunderclap!
The residual lightning on his body surged uncontrollably, sending the surrounding rubble flying!
"Rule the world with pain and fear?! How is that any different from the most brutal tyrants?! It's a total desecration of the word 'peace'!"
Mei Terumī's beautiful face twisted with rage. Thinking of her Village's desperate decade, she clenched her fists so hard her nails nearly dug into her palms.
"Reshaping through destruction? Building peace on a pile of corpses?"
"This kind of 'order' built upon the despair of others is even more evil than war itself!"
"He is trampling upon the dignity of all life!"
A raging fire burned in Ōnoki's cloudy eyes as he supported his body, his voice low but full of power.
"Ending the world? Bringing peace through pain? How arrogant, how foolish!"
"This isn't a peace plan at all; it's the declaration of an out-and-out dictator who fancies himself a god!"
"It is a blatant declaration of war against the Five Great Nations and every living being in the Shinobi World!"
Even the consistently calm Gaara now had a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Having experienced a painful childhood, he felt a visceral aversion to this twisted ideology of 'saving the world through pain'.
He raised his hand, and the surrounding sand churned violently, reflecting his extreme internal unrest.
"Pain only breeds more hatred and revenge... His approach is exactly what creates a deeper hellish cycle of hatred."
Mifune remained silent, but the chilling sword intent radiating from him was stronger than ever before.
As a samurai, maintaining order and peace was his conviction, and Pain's plan to drag the entire world into an endless abyss of fear had completely ignited his fury.
Moreover, if this truly was the Akatsuki's plan, Then the Land of Iron, which had always been a neutral nation, could absolutely not stay out of it!
In the side hall, the Five Kage's rage surged like a physical force, directed straight at the Rinnegan-wielding Tendo Pain and his destructive plan.
The intelligence brought by Minato stirred up not just ripples of shock, but a towering inferno capable of incinerating everything!
This sudden encounter had completely torn away the cruel veil of the Akatsuki's ultimate goal.
It unavoidably pushed a massive storm that would sweep across the entire Shinobi World in front of everyone.
After a long while, once everyone had digested the intelligence Minato brought, Mifune was the first to speak, his voice raspy from the ordeal.
"My Lords, the threat of the Akatsuki, the terror of its leader 'Uchiha Madara', and the potential stance of that mysterious 'Collector' have been fully demonstrated today."
"Even with the Five Kage gathered, it was this difficult; if we fight separately, what future is there for the Shinobi World?"
He looked around at everyone, his gaze finally landing on Minato.
"Unification is the only way to survive. The matter of an alliance leader is urgent!"
"Hmph!"
Raikage Ay let out a grunt, breaking the potential silence.
His tall frame stood straight; despite the bandages wrapped around him, his aura was still imposing.
He no longer looked at the others, his sharp eyes staring directly at Minato, his tone resolute and carrying undeniable weight.
"Hokage! I'm a man of my word! This position of Alliance Leader, you, Minato, shall take it!"
He paused, his voice lowering slightly but becoming even more heavy.
"To save Bee, you used that elusive Ninjutsu."
"To get one over on that 'Uchiha Madara', you calculated down to the bone and almost succeeded! I trust you!"
"Kumogakure recognizes you as the Supreme Commander!"
This was the most direct recognition of Minato's ability and responsibility, and even more so, gratitude for saving his brother at a critical moment.
Gaara spoke with a composure and determination that transcended his age:
"Sunagakure fully agrees with the Raikage's proposal."
"The Hokage's command, support, and final tactical arrangements during the battle demonstrated wisdom, responsibility, and strength far beyond the ordinary."
"In this moment concerning the survival of the Shinobi World, we need a leader capable of coordinating the entire situation and who is trustworthy."
"The Hokage is the most suitable candidate."
Mei Terumī coughed lightly and stood up, looking slightly exhausted but still elegant.
Her emerald eyes swept over Minato, then looked at Ay and Gaara, finally settling on Ōnoki.
"Hidden Mist Village seconds the motion."
Her voice carried a hint of raspiness from the ordeal, yet it was clear and powerful.
"The Hokage not only saved me on the battlefield but also, in the previous talks, preserved the dignity of the Hidden Mist regarding that unbearable past."
"His strength, character, and grasp of the big picture are all convincing."
"The Hidden Mist is willing to fight against the Akatsuki under the Hokage's leadership."
Everyone's gaze finally focused on the Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.
With the support of his son Kitsuchi, Ōnoki slowly flew up, hovering before the crowd.
The wrinkles on his aged face were deep, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.
He first looked at Raikage Ay, then gazed deeply at Minato.
"This old man..." he began, his voice carrying a hint of fatigue but remaining exceptionally firm.
"I said during the meeting earlier that the Hokage, Minato, is the more suitable candidate for Alliance Leader."
"Not just because of his strength, but because of his character!"
"Look at how he acted today to save the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, to plot against that 'Madara', and to support the other Kage..."
"Where did he place his own safety? How many of Konoha's trump cards did he expose?"
Ōnoki's voice suddenly rose, carrying a soul-piercing power:
"The brat Ay might be reckless, but at critical moments, he knows what's important and knows to hand the burden to the most suitable person!"
"The Kazekage boy and the Mizukage girl see it clearly too! An Alliance Leader doesn't need to show off personal bravery."
"But rather someone who can unite hearts, look at the big picture, and make the most correct choices in moments of crisis!"
He took a deep breath, and a sharp light erupted from his cloudy old eyes.
"Minato! Who else but you?! Iwagakure likewise supports you as the Supreme Commander of the Five Kage Alliance!"
"Lead us, crush Akatsuki's ambitions, and protect the future of the Shinobi World!"
The statements of the four Kage were resounding and their goal clear.
Mifune also bowed slightly.
"Although the Land of Iron is not a Shinobi Village, as a neutral nation and the convener of this meeting, I also recognize the Hokage for this role."
"We are willing to provide whatever support we can to the Alliance."
Minato stood at the center of everyone's gaze, his golden hair moving slightly in the wind.
His azure eyes swept across every face—some determined, some tired, some expectant.
The violent yet promise-keeping Raikage, the resilient young Kazekage, the elegant Mizukage who survived the ordeal, the calculating Tsuchikage who ultimately backed him, and the General of the Land of Iron.
Sasuke and Neji stood in the corner, complex lights also flashing in their eyes.
He knew this was not just a position, but a heavy burden concerning countless lives.
Recalling Nagato's twisted concept of peace, Obito's unfathomable spatial abilities, and the Akatsuki's frantic actions to seize the Tailed Beasts...
The crisis facing the Shinobi World was unprecedented.
Refuse? The alliance needed a core; division meant destruction.
Personal concerns were insignificant in the face of the survival of the Shinobi World.
He took a deep breath, the last trace of hesitation in his eyes completely vanishing, replaced by unprecedented determination and responsibility.
He slowly raised his right hand, palm upward, as if to hold up the weight of the entire Shinobi World.
"I thank you all for your trust," Minato's voice was steady and powerful, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"In this battle, although the Akatsuki has temporarily retreated, their threat is now clear for all to see."
"Uchiha Madara is not dead, The Collector's stance is unclear, and the Tailed Beast collection plan is still moving forward..."
"The Shinobi World has reached a moment of life and death!"
His gaze became incredibly sharp as he scanned the room:
"At this moment, we have no way back! We must set aside past grievances and work together with one heart!"
Minato's voice suddenly rose, carrying a power that united people's hearts:
"I, the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, Minato..."
"Hereby accept the position of Supreme Commander of the Five Kage Alliance!"
"From this day forward, the Allied Shinobi Forces of the Five Great Nations are officially established!"
"We shall assemble all our strength, swearing to protect our homes unto death, to eliminate the 'Akatsuki' organization, and to crush its conspiracy!"
As his words fell, an invisible air of solemnity and resolve spread through the area.
Despite being scarred and bruised, and despite the treacherous path ahead, An unprecedented Shinobi Alliance, led by the 'Yellow Flash' Minato, was officially declared established amidst the ruins.
The history of the Shinobi World turned a new page in the confrontation against 'Akatsuki' and the shadows behind it.
...
On the other side, in the Akatsuki's base.
Obito's figure emerged within the dark tower of Amegakure, the spatial vortex slowly dissipating.
He clutched the stump of his right shoulder with his left arm; although the bleeding had temporarily stopped, the intense Pain and chaotic chakra made his face under the mask look exceptionally grim.
He suppressed his churning rage and weakness, the Mangekyo Sharingan in his lone eye spinning as the twisting power of space was activated once more.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
Four spatial ripples appeared one after another in the open space in the center of the tower.
A slightly disheveled Deidara, Kakuzu whose Earth Grudge Fear tentacles were writhing to repair him, Sasori whose Hiruko puppet shell bore scorch marks, and Hoshigaki Kisame carrying the great sword Samehada were 'spit out' from the Kamui dimension.
The four landed and instantly tensed their nerves, scanning the familiar environment and only relaxing slightly after confirming it was safe.
Deidara tossed his long golden hair and gave a dissatisfied 'Tch';
Kakuzu's green eyes scanned the surroundings, calculating losses and potential rewards;
Sasori's Hiruko made a slight mechanical grinding sound;
Kisame bared his shark-like teeth in an expression that wasn't quite a smile.
"You're back, Mr. Madara."
Tendo Pain's figure also walked silently out of the shadows, his cold purple Rinnegan scanning the four returnees.
It then fixed on Obito, or rather, on his empty right sleeve.
Pain's voice was like cold stones striking together, without a hint of emotion:
"Where is Hidan?"
Obito's remaining left arm hung down, his lone eye meeting Pain's gaze through the mask, his tone equally cold and carrying a hint of suppressed ferocity.
"Dead. To be precise, he was completely sealed by Minato using the Four Symbols Seal."
"Sealed?"
Pain's Rinnegan shifted slightly, as if digesting this information.
"Hmph!"
"Minato used Hidan's torso as bait, pre-planting a Flying Thunder God kunai and a Sealing Jutsu Formula."
"It was a trap designed for me! Hidan, as the core of the 'bait', along with my right arm... were both completely annihilated by that Sealing Jutsu."
A brief silence fell within the tower.
However, the expected shock or anger did not erupt from the other Akatsuki members.
Deidara raised an eyebrow, a look of slight disdain in his eyes beneath his golden bangs.