Naruto : The ultimate Troublemaker

The Council of Kage - Year 66, A Few Hours Before the Declaration of War

The walls of the meeting room resonated with the murmurs of the guards posted outside. Inside the room, a heavy silence had settled in. The room was large, decorated austerely, with a long circular table at its center, marking the supposed equality between the present nations. Around this table, the four Kage were seated with their advisors.

Gaara, the Kazekage, was accompanied by Temari and Kankuro, his loyal advisors. By his side, Terumi Mei, the Mizukage, was flanked by two Mist Swordmasters, their expressions serious and alert. A, the Raikage, imposing as usual, had brought Darui and Omoi, both ready to intervene at the slightest threat. Finally, Shikaku Nara, the Hokage of Konoha, was accompanied by Inoichi Yamanaka and Tsunade Senju, his calm demeanor masking the palpable tension.

Shikaku broke the silence.

"I greet you all. There is an urgency, so let's get straight to the point."

The Raikage, A, furrowed his eyebrows, his impatience visible.

"What's this bum talking about?!" he roared, suddenly standing up. "Call that DarkRai so I can tear him to pieces!"

"I'd like to see that," Tsunade said, stepping forward slightly.

The tension rose a notch, but Gaara, with his usual calm, intervened.

"Raikage, you must calm down," he said in a cold and measured voice.

A clicked his tongue and sat back down, but his clenched fist showed that he was on the verge of exploding.

Mei Terumi, crossing her arms, added in a sharp tone:

"The responsible party is already dead, Raikage. It's pointless to fuel the hatred further."

A scoffed bitterly, casting an accusatory glance at the Mizukage.

"Yeah, that must be it. You're sleeping with him, aren't you? That DarkRai... Wasn't he an Hiruzen's spy sent to kill you? Konoha only wants one thing: to rule this world. I even suspect them of collaborating with the Akatsuki."

The silence in the room was deafening. All eyes turned to A, whose words were as shocking as they were senseless. Gaara furrowed his eyebrows, his piercing gaze fixed on the Raikage.

"Be careful what you say, Raikage. Those are very serious accusations," he said in a sharp but controlled tone.

Shikaku, remaining unperturbed, spoke up.

"It's true that Konoha has a complex history, and I won't deny that some of Hiruzen's past actions were questionable. But accusing our village of collaborating with the Akatsuki is an insult not only to us but also to the memory of those who sacrificed themselves to protect this world."

The memories of the war in Year 62 still loomed in the room. A few months after Orochimaru's attack on Konoha, Kumo, allied with Suna, had taken advantage of the village's vulnerability to attack it. But this attempt had ended in a resounding failure.

DarkRai, Konoha's secret weapon, had led an elite troop and exterminated the enemy forces. It was said that he had killed nearly a thousand shinobi single-handedly, putting an end to the war as quickly as it had begun. In the image of his sensei, Minato Namikaze, DarkRai had become a living legend.

A, who had lost an arm to Shikai Nara, could no longer cross his path without feeling a visceral hatred. Gaara, on the other hand, was more measured. Despite their defeat, he owed a debt to Shikai, who had saved his life after Shukaku was extracted from him, with the help of Chiyo.

Mei Terumi straightened up slightly, fixing a firm gaze on A.

"If DarkRai is the man you hate so much, then you should know that his actions helped preserve a fragile balance, by eliminating two Akatsuki members. And as for your insinuation, Raikage, my alliances are not dictated by hatred or personal feelings."

A's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"Of course. And your 'fragile balance' happens between the sheets, doesn't it?"

Shikaku Nara, who had been silent until now, sighed deeply.

"Raikage, your anger is understandable, but I invite you to direct your energy towards our true enemy. This council has not been convened to settle personal quarrels but to prepare a coordinated response to an imminent threat."

Omoi, A's guard, murmured to Darui:

"DarkRai, that guy... I've heard he's as good as Minato, maybe even better."

Darui nodded.

"Yeah, I'd like to fight him."

Shikaku continued, his tone becoming more grave.

"The world is on the brink of collapse. The Akatsuki has intensified its operations, capturing several Jinchūriki. Only Hachibi and Chomei have not been captured yet."

Gaara nodded.

"Their target seems to be the remaining Bijuus. We must act before they attack Kumogakure or Konoha, which is protecting the Chomei jinchūriki."

Mei Terumi, more pragmatic, intervened:

"If we must collaborate, we need a clear strategy. Raikage, you are free to express your grievances, but if this alliance is to work, we must set aside our differences."