novelraw Chapter 176 - 176
Chapter 176 - 176
"Enemy attack?!"
As Naruto activated his chakra and manifested six tails, it was as if he had kicked a hornet's nest. The elite guards behind the Water, Earth, Lightning, and Wind Kage sprang into action like a conditioned reflex. They appeared instantly in front of the conference table, positioning themselves defensively between the blazing threat and their respective leaders.
Even Kurotsuchi was no exception. Although she loved to verbally undermine her grandfather, that didn't stop her from shielding him when it truly mattered.
'Huh? What does that stinking brat want with my chakra?'
Inside the seal space, Kurama ears twitched slightly as he snoozed heavily on a soft cushion. He felt a tiny bit of energy being 'borrowed' by Naruto from within his massive body.
It really was just a microscopic amount. Given the beast's current strength, it was about as much as a single strand of fur.
'Forget it, who cares. Sleep is more important.' Kurama didn't even open his slitted eyes. He mumbled something unintelligible, turned over, and went back to snoring loudly.
He had spent the past year training with Kid Goku and Goku during the day, and then sparring with Naruto at night. It was high-intensity torture that had lasted for a whole year. Now that he had finally caught a rare chance to rest, if he didn't get some good sleep, Kurama felt like he was going to drop dead from sheer exhaustion.
Aside from the Kazekage's guards, who remained completely still where they were, the guards of the Water, Earth, and Lightning Kage drew their respective weapons and advanced warily toward Naruto.
Two figures, one in black and one in white, blurred to block their path.
Sasuke silently drew his tachi. A terrifying, chilling aura emanated from him as the three tomoe in his crimson eyes spun rapidly. With just a single sweeping glance, he froze six elite guards completely in place.
It was as if cold iron nails had been driven directly through their limbs, no matter how hard the six struggled, they couldn't move an inch.
'Temporary Paralysis Jutsu!'
With Sasuke's current strength, he could easily cast a Genjutsu of this overwhelming level with just the basic three tomoe. This was one of the brutal achievements of his training over the past year.
The six guards staring helplessly into the Sharingan were deeply shocked. Every single one of them was a hardened elite of their respective villages, yet they had been restrained with a single look, and he had controlled all six of them simultaneously without breaking a sweat.
"Apologies for the interruption. This is a place for peaceful negotiation, for discussing important international matters. Please, everyone, exercise some restraint." Mifune spoke slowly from the center, as if he had only just realized what was happening.
Hearing the mediator, Naruto gave a light physical shake, and his Tailed Beast Cloak immediately receded back into his skin like the tide.
"Sasuke, Neji, that's enough. You can both come back now."
He was clearly showing respect to Mifune's authority.
Hearing the command, Sasuke released the visual Genjutsu and returned to his seat alongside Neji, his face an emotionless mask.
'To be able to control the unstable power of a Tailed Beast with such terrifying ease... it seems the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of Konoha is exactly the same as Killer Bee, a perfect Jinchuriki.'
'And that last brat of the Uchiha Clan... the Sharingan is truly formidable.'
Ay nodded inwardly at Naruto's controlled actions, then cast a surreptitious, wary glance at Sasuke.
'With this level of strength, it's no wonder Danzo dared to let these brats come here alone.'
"I underestimated you. C, Karui, return."
Ay recalled his two sweating bodyguards, tacitly acknowledging Naruto's group. "Since you can represent Konoha, please sit down."
"That's enough, Kurotsuchi, Akatsuchi." Onoki nodded at the two, signaling for them to return. At the same time, he shot a deep, calculating look at Sasuke. That small display earlier had not only cowed the six elite guards but had slightly shaken the Kage themselves.
'The power of the Nine-Tails is indeed formidable. With just six tails, he is already stronger than Roshi and Han.'
'That Uchiha brat... he is equally formidable.'
Onoki thought, casting a long, hard look at the boy in black. The sheer suppressive power the Sharingan had just displayed stirred up some very bad memories for the old man, reminding him viscerally of a certain someone.
"Ao, Chojuro, stand down." Mei also recalled her tensed subordinates.
Rasa nodded curtly. "Baki, Yura!"
Once their respective guards had returned to their defensive positions, the representatives of the Five Great Shinobi Villages finally took their seats in tense silence.
"Now then, we can continue the discussion we left off earlier, Raikage," Rasa said smoothly, looking across the table. "What did you mean regarding the future of the shinobi world?"
"I doubt any of you have missed the tragic events befalling Kumogakure recently." Ay swept his gaze across everyone present and spoke frankly. "That's right. Kumogakure was attacked by unknown persons. The losses were heavy, even my personal Guard Platoon was completely wiped out."
"Raikage, surely you aren't suggesting that these unknown individuals who attacked your village threaten the entire shinobi world?" Onoki said, a distinct hint of disdain in his raspy voice.
'Does Kumogakure suffering a loss suddenly constitute a threat to everyone else? If you want to be the police of the ninja world, just say it out loud.'
"Onoki, do not turn a deaf ear to my warnings." Faced with the mockery, Ay's expression remained grave. "You haven't seen those monsters, you don't know the absolute terror they inspire. Even the Elite Jonin of Kumogakure are no match for them in a single exchange."
"The intelligence you have gathered is true." Ay then dropped another massive bombshell. In a deep, strained voice, he continued, "My brother, Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, was not heavily injured. He was captured by them."
"The Eight-Tails was captured?" Rasa was genuinely startled.
The Eight-Tails was an existence second only to the Nine-Tails among the great beasts. Although he didn't want to admit it, it was indeed slightly stronger than the One-Tail. Especially since this particular vessel was rumored to be a perfect Jinchuriki.
An ordinary vessel who can merely use the beast's power and a perfect vessel who can flawlessly mobilize it are two completely different concepts. The former can only draw upon the raw strength, while the latter represents the true combination of beast and man, stronger than the Tailed Beast alone.
Mei froze. "Captured inside the village?"
Being ambushed outside and being captured deep inside the village were two completely different security concepts. This meant Kumogakure's impregnable defenses had been completely breached.
Even Onoki stood up from his seat in shock. "Raikage, you aren't joking, are you?"
Although the other four Great Villages were unwilling to admit it publicly, judging by the political situation before the Konoha Crush, Kumogakure was indeed the strongest in terms of overall military power.
Yet this strongest village had been breached, and even its ultimate weapon had been taken.
"You bastard, why would I joke about something like this?" Ay shouted, his expression twisting in grief and anger. "This is the village I cherish, and that is my brother."
"Raikage, do you have concrete intelligence on the enemy?" Mei asked hurriedly.
If Kumogakure could be breached so thoroughly, it meant the enemy could easily breach Kirigakure as well.
"Naturally. Those people have attacked our home twice in succession," Raikage said slowly, reigning in his temper. "I was fortunate enough to cross blades with one of them."
Saying this, he displayed his mechanical arm to the silent room. "I lost this arm to that man."
"That man possessed a physique and raw strength far greater than my own. His terrifying brute force is such that he outstrips not only me, but even Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin."
"He..."
"...called himself a disciple of Madara Uchiha!"
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