Naruto : Cruel Rebirth

The Land of Iron, the nation of samurai, is situated near the Lands of Earth and Lightning on the ninja world map. It borders the Lands of Fire, Waterfall, and Fields. With a cold climate, it is perpetually blanketed in snow throughout the year.

Because the country has historically maintained a neutral stance in ninja conflicts, it has avoided war and became the ideal location for the Five Kage Summit. 

At this moment, near the border of the Land of Fire, Team Hawk rushed forward, about to enter the Land of Iron. 

"Hmm!?" Karin suddenly frowned: 

"An unknown chakra up ahead!" 

Sasuke and the others stopped and got on guard. 

Whoosh!

Countless butterflies flew in, forming Konan's graceful figure in mid-air. Her expression was cold: 

"This road is closed." 

Sasuke frowned: 

"That cloak... she's from Akatsuki..." 

Suigetsu looked at the White Zetsu guiding them: 

"Your comrades?" 

White Zetsu shouted: 

"Konan! You've already betrayed Akatsuki, why are you here?!" 

Konan calmly responded: 

"Akatsuki was an organization created by Yahiko in the Hidden Rain, but it was stolen by you. I can still claim to be part of Akatsuki whenever and wherever I choose." 

White Zetsu said: 

"Dammit... I didn't expect her to interfere!" 

Sasuke coldly said: 

"If she's not one of your comrades, then I'll take her down. No problem." 

White Zetsu replied: 

"Ah, if you're cleaning up a traitor for us, I won't object..." 

Sasuke gripped his sword and stepped forward, his eyes shifting from Three Tomoe to Mangekyou, his gaze cold: 

"Don't block my way!" 

But Konan's response was... a rain of paper arrows! 

"Scatter!!" 

Team Hawk scattered. 

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!!! 

Sasuke swung the Kusanagi sword, blocking the paper arrows coming at him. 

But Konan's technique was characterized by its wide range, strong continuity, and impressive power! 

While blocking, Sasuke's left eye focused on the figure in the sky. A trail of blood flowed down from the corner of his eye, staining the snow beneath, making it stand out... Spiderweb-like blood vessels spread across his pupil. 

---

—Amaterasu! Boom! 

The black flames of Amaterasu ignited Konan's paper body... The rain of paper arrows came to an end. 

"The eternal black flames of Amaterasu... Just like Itachi's eyes..." 

Konan muttered as her body was consumed by the flames. 

But as the paper fluttered down from the sky... more versions of Konan appeared! 

Jugo: 

"Just now... was that a clone?" 

Sasuke coldly asked: 

"Karin, can you find her real body?" 

Karin made a hand seal and boosted her perception with her Kagura Shingan, but then shook her head: 

"All the chakra reactions are the same!" 

White Zetsu said: 

"That woman's ability is quite troublesome... Sasuke, before you fight the Five Kage, try to conserve your chakra as much as possible!" 

Sasuke impatiently replied: 

"It doesn't matter, burn them all!" 

Boom! Boom! Boom! 

Black flames erupted in the sky, indiscriminately attacking Konan's clones... 

Karin was troubled inside: Ever since she heard that Danzo became Hokage, Sasuke's chakra had been different from before, now it was cold... 

On the towering snowy mountains, the Five Kage Summit proceeded as scheduled. 

In the meeting room, the flags of the five great countries—Wind, Fire, Earth, Lightning, and Water—were displayed. 

At the huge round table facing east and west, all five Kage had arrived. 

The Fourth Raikage, A. 

The Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei. 

The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki. 

The Fifth Kazekage, Gaara. 

The Sixth Hokage, Shimura Danzo. 

The guards for the Five Kage were currently behind the curtains, closely monitoring the progress of the meeting, ready to step in at any moment. 

The Admiral of the Land of Iron, the host of the meeting, sat in the center, with two tall samurai standing behind him, both named Chosuke and Rikaku. These were famous warriors with strength rivaling that of elite Jonin. 

However, the truth was that these two were disguised as Naruto and Orochimaru. 

"Naruto, I never expected you to be so familiar with the Land of Iron's environment. We barely had to try to sneak in here..." 

Of course, in his past life, Naruto, as the leader of the Five Kage, had led several Five Kage Summits and had been invited to the Land of Iron many times. 

For a stable country like the Land of Iron, its fortress rarely underwent any changes. 

The battle plan had already been set during their journey. 

Naruto said, "Danzo's right eye comes from Uchiha Shisui and has the ability of the Kotoamatsukami. That genjutsu is very dangerous, even for me. Unless we can strike before Danzo uses Kotoamatsukami, it's hard to deal with him. But Danzo also has Izanagi, so the chance of a successful strike is very low." 

"So, the basic strategy is to wear down Danzo's Kotoamatsukami before the battle starts." 

Orochimaru asked, "How do we wear it down?" 

Naruto replied, "If all goes according to plan, during the meeting, Danzo will use this genjutsu on the host, the Admiral. But it's not a technique he can use multiple times in one day..." 

With the Rinnegan, Naruto should be able to resist Mangekyō genjutsu, but he decided to be cautious. 

Konan said, "So, we'll strike after the Five Kage Summit ends, setting up an ambush on the road back to the village?" 

Naruto answered, "That's too late. We won't be the only ones watching Danzo. If we run into others, too many variables could arise." 

"Orochimaru and I will get to the venue first, blend in with the samurai maintaining order, and keep a close eye on Danzo's actions..." 

"Honestly, ninjutsu is my specialty..." 

"As for Sasuke, Konan, I'll need you to hold them off, but remember not to engage for too long..." 

... 

Back to the present. 

The General, Mifune, said in a deep voice, "Now, let the Five Kage Summit begin." 

Gaara rested his chin on his hands and spoke to the other Kage, "I'll speak first, so listen up." 

Onoki said with a hint of amusement, "The Five Kage have really changed. At this age, to be a Kage, it's impressive. Kazekage-sama, it seems your father taught you well... It's just a pity you weren't taught manners." 

"That damn old man!" Kankuro, as Gaara's bodyguard, gritted his teeth as he heard his brother being mocked from behind the curtain. 

Gaara responded calmly, "Yes, that's why I'm sitting here as Kazekage." 

"Hahahahaha..." Onoki laughed loudly. "What a proud person." 

"Then what about Tsuchikage?!" Kankuro, hot-headed, nearly jumped up to argue. 

"Quiet," Temari said, more calmly. Although she spoke those words, she reached for her ninja tool pouch, ready to act at any moment. 

"Tsuchikage-sama, please don't interrupt," said the young Mizukage Terumi Mei, stepping in to mediate. "Kazekage-sama, please continue." 

Gaara said, "I was once a Jinchuriki and was captured by Akatsuki. So, I believe the existence of Akatsuki is very dangerous." 

"I've made repeated requests to the Five Kage, but they were ignored... except by the former Hokage." 

"By the time the Jinchuriki from all the nations were taken, it would be too late to join forces."

After giving his advice, Oonoki shared his unique perspective: 

"After the tailed beasts were taken from the Five Great Nations' ninja villages, it's like they can't set an example for others, which is a huge humiliation. Normally, it would be better to quietly recover them, and it's impossible to seek help from other countries immediately after they were taken."

Gaara scoffed, "Etiquette? Reputation? These are just boring and outdated ideas."

Oonoki thought to himself: *Young people these days...*

Terumi Mei said, "Regardless of whether it's outdated, as Mizukage, I admit we've been too passive. But even if the tailed beasts were taken, they don't immediately pose a threat. Controlling the tailed beasts requires knowledge, technology, and time."

Oonoki responded, "A jinchuriki needs to grow with their tailed beast and adapt to each other, but even then, it's hard to control them. I've said too much... right, Kazekage-sama?"

Gaara remained silent.

At this moment, Danzo spoke up with a meaningful tone: 

"Speaking of which, the only ones who can control the tailed beasts are Uchiha Madara, the First Hokage Senju Hashirama, the Fourth Mizukage Yagura, and Raikage-sama's brother, Killer Bee. However..."

*Crack!*

Hearing Danzo mention his beloved brother Killer Bee, Raikage's right hand, hidden under his arm guard, clenched into a fist, revealing his murderous intent...

"!?" The atmosphere shifted, and the guards behind the curtain almost immediately sprang into action.

"Enough with the nonsense!!!"

Raikage raised his fist and slammed it down on the table.

*Crack!!!* The table and chairs shattered...

The guards had all entered, and the atmosphere was tense.

*Sigh...* 

Mifune sighed helplessly. 

"This is a place for discussion." 

"Please be mindful of your manners." 

The five Kage dismissed their guards, and the meeting continued.

Raikage loudly declared: 

"Konohagakure! Sunagakure! Iwagakure! Kirigakure! Members of the Akatsuki are all your rogue ninjas! Not only that, investigations show that some of the Kage present here have used Akatsuki in the past!"

Gaara was surprised, "Used them?"

Raikage barked, "How can I trust you guys! Let alone form an alliance! I've called you all here today to ask you to your faces, what does loyalty even mean?!"

Gaara responded, "What do you mean by 'used'?"

Raikage pointed at Oonoki and shouted, "As Tsuchikage, don't you know?! Ask the old man next to you, he used Akatsuki in the war!!"

Oonoki said, "Now, all the major nations are stable and are tightening their military. There's no longer the same tension between them, and wars are rare. Ninja villages, which exist as military forces, have become a heavy burden on the nation's finances."

"But despite this, the risk is still present. If war suddenly breaks out, can ninjas who haven't seen real combat be trusted? It's uncertain. Losing the war may be inevitable..."

Gaara said, "And to avoid that risk, one option is to hire mercenary groups with battle experience, like Akatsuki, right?"

Oonoki replied, "To train excellent ninjas on your own requires a lot of money and time, but Akatsuki, as a ready-made professional mercenary group, works for war, and can be hired for a very low cost to achieve the best results..."

Raikage interrupted, "Stop sugarcoating things, Tsuchikage!!"

*Hmph!* Oonoki snorted.

Raikage said, "Sunagakure used Akatsuki, intending to destroy Konohagakure, and Orochimaru's involvement... Although it's unclear if he was still part of Akatsuki at the time, the result was that the former Kazekage and Hokage both died. There's likely a hidden mastermind behind this..."

Raikage paused, glancing at Danzo with meaning in his eyes, thinking: *This old fox...*

"Most suspicious of all is you Kirigakure. Almost isolated from the world, there are even rumors that 'Akatsuki' was born there!"

Terumi Mei lowered her eyes and said, "Now that it's come to this, I'll say it all. I suspect... someone secretly manipulated the former Fourth Mizukage."

Her guards, with Byakugan eyes, were shocked: *Could it be...*

Terumi Mei looked up and said, "This is very likely related to Akatsuki! So, we can't really say anything..."

Raikage was also surprised by Mizukage's statement but still firmly said, "What a bunch of crooks..."

Oonoki, getting irritated, said, "Don't go too far, Raikage! Now, everyone else is reducing their military, but you Kumogakure are still expanding, collecting ninjutsu everywhere! Hiring Akatsuki to deal with you is the only choice we have left!"

"What!?" Raikage immediately exploded.

At this moment, Danzo said with a gloomy look: "Before you two start arguing, I want to say something first..."

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