Naruto: Drop System

"Lord Tsuchikage! Something terrible has happened!"

On the second day, before the Five Kage Summit could resume—or even formally begin—an Iwa-nin in standard shinobi attire, forehead protector bearing the Hidden Stone emblem, rushed into the Samurai City from outside. Guided by sensory capabilities, he quickly arrived before Ōnoki, dropping to one knee with an anxious expression.

Before he could speak, Ōnoki—who had sensed an ominous feeling since yesterday—asked gravely,

"Something happened to the village?"

"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage…"

The Iwa-nin gasped, struggling to catch his breath:

"The village was attacked by the Akatsuki. They deployed six members all at once—they all had identical eyes, incredibly strong—and they seized Lord Han right away!"

"Their strength is overwhelming. Neither Lord Han nor all of us combined were any match for them."

"Six members… with the same eyes!"

Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi turned pale, recalling the intel Tsunade had provided yesterday.

Ōnoki likewise remembered that intel. His face darkened.

"Damn that Akatsuki leader… he snuck an attack on Iwagakure while I was away!"

At that moment, he realized the source of his bad premonition. It was seeing Killer Bee by the Fourth Raikage's side. Ōnoki obviously knew about the AB Combo that gained fame in the Third Great Ninja War. Now that the Fourth Raikage had brought his younger brother (the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki) to the Five Kage Summit, Ōnoki sensed something was off.

Konoha had already warned them that the Akatsuki's target was the Nine Tailed Beasts, yet he left his own Five-Tails Jinchūriki behind in Iwagakure, bringing only his son and granddaughter to attend the Summit. He'd assumed that fortress-like Iwagakure was "the safest," but to the Akatsuki—who had barged into Sunagakure and taken the Fifth Kazekage—it was simply the perfect opportunity. Sure enough, the same tragedy that befell Sunagakure had now struck Iwagakure.

Realizing this, Ōnoki felt both regret and fury. He never imagined that after years of using the Akatsuki for his own ends, he would fall victim to them himself!

Having hoped to scheme during the Five Kage Summit—perhaps to limit Yagyu—he now found his desire to eradicate the Akatsuki dominating all else. As Tsunade had said, that terrorist group was far too dangerous. One team—or just its leader—could treat two of the Five Great Shinobi Villages as though they were nothing, appearing and vanishing at will. If they truly collected all Nine Tailed Beasts, they would inevitably reshape the shinobi world. A single Great Village could never handle them alone—only an alliance could triumph.

Ōnoki came to this resolve. Meanwhile, an armored samurai approached and spoke respectfully:

"Lord Tsuchikage, Lord Mifune invites you to move to the hall and continue yesterday's conference."

"I understand."

Ōnoki nodded. He said to the Iwa-nin,

"Stay here. Once we've finished this meeting, you'll accompany us back."

"Yes, my lord!"

Before long, Ōnoki—flanked by Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi—arrived in the meeting hall. By then, the other Four Kage, Mifune, and their guards were already assembled. Once he took his seat, Tsunade spoke with a grave expression:

"Not long ago, Konoha received word that Takigakure's Seven-Tails Jinchūriki was attacked. With Yagyu's Flying Thunder God aiding us, the Yamanaka clan helped Takigakure read the memories of the Anbu who'd guarded the Seven-Tails. Their killers turned out to be the same culprit who orchestrated the Nine-Tails' rampage in Konoha—he was dressed in the Akatsuki's uniform."

"Now the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki has fallen into the Akatsuki's hands."

Finishing that grim statement, Tsunade continued heavily:

"From the Akatsuki's incursion into Sunagakure to capture the Kazekage—yet ignoring Tailed Beasts and Jinchūriki wandering outside—to their ambush on Kumo's Two-Tails, it appears the container they use to seal Tailed Beasts must follow a strict sequence of sealing."

"If that's correct, then this assault on Takigakure's Seven-Tails is all the worse, because it implies the Akatsuki already obtained the One-Tail through Six-Tails and has now gotten the Seven-Tails as well."

As Tsunade's final words fell, her gaze—along with the other Kage and their bodyguards—turned to Ōnoki. His expression looked terrible, but he still nodded:

"I just received my men's report. The Akatsuki leader attacked Iwagakure and took Han, our Five-Tails Jinchūriki. If the sequence idea is accurate, then I'm sure they captured old Rōshi—who was also outside the village."

Mei Terumī wore the same grim look:

"In that case, our rogue from Kirigakure, Utakata—who hosted the Six-Tails—may likewise have been found and taken. Possibly even the Mizukage's Three-Tails has already fallen to them."

She didn't reveal that the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, had been dead for years, but implied why she'd succeeded as the Fifth Mizukage recently, fostering the notion that Yagura's defeat was recent—like Gaara's.

Finding that three villages were struck—two Kage themselves having been captured—Gaara, and indeed all the other Kage including the Fourth Raikage, felt their hearts sink. Their petty arguments dissipated.

A moment later, Gaara propped his chin on clasped hands, speaking slowly:

"In other words, out of the Nine Tailed Beasts, the only ones not in the Akatsuki's grasp are the Eight-Tails and the Nine-Tails. The other seven have all fallen to them."

"Iwagakure and Takigakure were both ambushed," Tsunade said, her palms slamming the table as she stood and surveyed the Five Kage. "Based on the intel from the Kazekage and from our own Sand support mission, the Akatsuki needs at least three days and three nights to seal one Tailed Beast."

"Presumably starting from the Five-Tails, sealing the Five-Tails to the Seven-Tails fully would require at least nine days and nine nights—maybe longer."

"People, this is our best chance. We must set aside our grudges and unite to wipe them out once and for all."

The other Kage sank into silence, hesitant to commit. Then, as the meeting's moderator, Mifune raised his hand:

"I, as the Land of Iron's general, support Lady Hokage's plan. The Nine Tailed Beasts were distributed by Lord Hashirama among the Great Villages to maintain a balance of power. Now more than half of them are in Akatsuki's possession, and they hold the mythical Rinnegan. Their brazen methods threaten the entire world. A terrorist group like that must not exist. The Land of Iron can't remain neutral any longer; we'll offer our aid for free."

When he finished, Mifune glanced at Gaara and the other Kage. His statement was not to pressure them but an earnest stance. With a group that roamed freely among three major villages and even managed to capture two Kage, few Great Nations could handle them alone—especially since they possessed the sealed Tailed Beasts and the Rinnegan.

Sensing a dire threat, Mifune cast aside neutrality to stand alongside Konoha.

"Sunagakure agrees too."

Seeing the nominally neutral Land of Iron providing free assistance, Gaara, an ally of Konoha, spoke at once.

As Tsunade said, this is the prime opportunity. If they failed to annihilate the Akatsuki while they were sealing Tailed Beasts, later they might face not only S-rank rogues but as many as seven Tailed Beasts, an ultimate force Gaara couldn't begin to match. Even Konoha's Yagyu seemed a lesser worry in comparison.

Mei Terumī realized that as well, nodding:

"Kirigakure also supports Lady Hokage's plan."

They adhered to the principle of majority rule. Seeing three of the Five Great Villages aligned, plus the Land of Iron's free support, the Fourth Raikage no longer acted as harshly as yesterday, giving a cold snort:

"Kumogakure also agrees to assault the Akatsuki. But let me be clear—if we succeed in destroying Amegakure, I won't consent to destroying the Rinnegan and that special container. Everyone can fight for it on their own."

"Mine's the same view," Ōnoki said flatly. "And time is short—no point with official mobilization. Let's treat it like… that matter from the past."

Hearing that, Tsunade's face sank. She knew exactly what "that matter" was: multi-nation cooperation by tacit agreement to wipe out the Land of Whirlpools and destroy the Uzumaki clan!

"Fine, I hope you won't regret it," Tsunade spat, then donned her Hokage hat. Turning to Yagyu, she ordered, "Yagyu, Sasuke—let's go!"

"Wait, Lady Hokage!"

Mei Terumī stood up, calling out Tsunade's name but actually glancing toward Yagyu as he approached. Smiling with enchanting grace, she said:

"Kirigakure is outside the mainland. If we head home to mobilize our ninja for an attack on Amegakure, we may not make it in time. So… may we ask Lord Yagyu to send us on our way?"

"All right."

Seeing Mei so eager to crush the Akatsuki, Tsunade warmed to her:

"Yagyu, first take me and Sasuke back, then return for the Mizukage."

"Yes, My Lady Hokage."

Yagyu nodded respectfully, then offered the Mizukage a kunai marked with the Flying Thunder God seal. He placed a hand on Tsunade and Sasuke's shoulders, and the three of them vanished instantly.

Only seconds later—just as Mei beckoned Ao and Chōjūrō to come—Yagyu reappeared by her side.

"That was quick. So this is the Ninja World's fastest jutsu, huh?" Mei murmured with some admiration, using a phrase that might have a certain double meaning, though Yagyu—knowing nothing of that pun—didn't mind. Spotting Ao and Chōjūrō, their expressions wary, Yagyu nonchalantly placed a hand on Mei's exposed shoulder while extending his other hand toward the two men:

"Come closer to me."

They hesitated, glancing at Mei. Though her face showed no outward reaction, she inwardly felt a momentary flutter. Having grown up, this was her first time being touched like that. Feeling the warmth of Yagyu's hand, an odd sensation flickered in her heart.

Before she could steady herself, the scene around them changed drastically in an instant.

"Kirigakure is just a few dozen kilometers ahead. You can walk from here. Farewell."

Leaving a polite parting, Yagyu vanished before Mei could thank him. Mei drew a breath, eyes still on where Yagyu had stood:

"You heard everything at the Five Kage Summit. We must gather all our active ninja immediately, have the retired ones guard the village, and prepare for the possibility of a Fourth Great Ninja War."

"Yes, Mizukage."

Similar instructions were given back at Konoha, where Tsunade had just returned. Among the Five Kage, she alone most strongly regarded the Akatsuki as a dire threat. She had Shizune and Karin convey her commands, then called for the kunoichi in the dark corners of the Hokage Tower (the female Anbu) to summon the heads of the major clans for an urgent meeting at the Hokage's office.

Now that the Elder Council and the four major clans of Konoha were gone, Tsunade effectively ruled single-handed. With Yagyu's backing, she was as powerful as the Daimyō regarding village affairs—indeed, even more so in Konoha itself, where the actual Daimyō held no authority over her decisions regarding war. As for the war effort, the Five Kage could decide on their own. Only when battle commenced did they need to place the Daimyō under protection.

"Yagyu, bring Hinata with you. Use your Wood Clones and Flying Thunder God to monitor the Land of Rain, find out if the Akatsuki has abandoned its base, or discover where they're hiding."

Once everything was arranged, Tsunade told Yagyu:

"Got it."

Nodding, Yagyu vanished into thin air.

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