"What did you say? The Nine-Tails capture failed, Nagato betrayed me? And he used my Rinne Rebirth on a Leaf shinobi, what about Lixing? Wasn't Lixing in the Leaf Village too? Never mind the Nine-Tails, why didn't you stop Nagato?"
Upon hearing of Nagato's betrayal, Obito felt a flicker of anger. This was truly unexpected.
"Lixing was sealed by Nagato. By the time Lixing escaped, Nagato was already dead. Furthermore, both of the Leaf's elders are dead, likely killed by Lixing."
After hearing Zetsu's report, Obito fell silent for a while. He couldn't understand why Nagato would betray him, but Obito never intended to use Rinne Rebirth anyway, so the impact was not that great.
"Even if Sasuke can surpass Nagato, it will likely be a long time from now, and controlling him is another issue. Lixing cannot be eliminated with certainty, and Karin is unusable."
"Forget it. The Five Kage Summit will be held next. Notify Lixing and have him intercept the Five Kage. Kisame will be responsible for finding the Eight-Tails jinchuriki, and I will also be going."
After thinking for a while, Obito decided to make his formal appearance as Uchiha Madara.
Not long after, Lixing's Shadow Clone appeared before Obito and Zetsu.
"What is it? Another plan? I wanted to rest for a while."
Obito took out a letter, intercepted from a messenger hawk from the Five Great Nations, and threw it to Lixing.
"I want you to disrupt the Five Kage Summit and keep the Five Kage trapped in the Land of Iron for a period of time."
Lixing glanced at the letter and basically understood the situation. He then smirked, "I accept this task. However, I'm planning to do something big, to initiate the Fourth Great Ninja War. You have no objections to this, right?"
Obito also smirked from beneath his mask, though no one could see it. "It seems you are even crazier than I am! The Five Great Nations are not united, and even if all five Great Hidden Villages join forces, we have nothing to fear."
After receiving approval, Lixing dispelled his Shadow Clone. Some preparations were needed before initiating a war.
Just as Lixing's Shadow Clone disappeared, Sasuke suddenly came to find Obito, having tracked down the Akatsuki's hideout with Jugo's control over birds.
"Who was the person you mentioned last time who could perform Edo Tensei? Tell me, where are they?" Sasuke still had his arrogant gaze, but to Obito, such a gaze was perfect.
"What is it? Who do you want to Edo Tensei?"
"You just need to tell me where that person is!" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Obito stepped on a table. "Don't be so arrogant! Sasuke! Last time, the Eight-Tails jinchuriki you brought back was just a substitute. I haven't settled that score with you yet!"
Sasuke was stunned. He had clearly used his Sharingan to see it, so how could it be a substitute? He then remembered that he had severed one of the Eight-Tails' tails. It was probably then that he was deceived.
Obito continued, "I hope you can finish what you start. However, you don't need to worry about the Eight-Tails anymore. Everyone who knew Itachi's secret is dead. If you want to understand the truth, go to the Land of Iron and cause chaos at the Five Kage Summit. You will see that person there!"
Hearing about the Five Kage Summit, Sasuke was shocked, but it was also good news. Going to the Land of Iron would allow him to kill the Hokage and find the person Obito mentioned.
...
In the Land of Fire, at a hot spring inn, Samui's team was confronting Lixing and his two companions. Coincidentally, both parties had chosen to stay at the same inn.
"Lady Yugito, I heard you joined the Akatsuki. Then, was Master Killer Bee captured by you?"
Samui stood at the front, looking at Yugito, who was beside Lixing, and asked.
Seeing that they were from the Hidden Cloud Village, Lixing pulled Karin into a room. "Yugito, don't break this place, or we'll have to pay."
Yugito slowly drew her sword. "Understood, it will be over soon."
Then, Yugito looked at the three of them. "Come on! Let me see if your strength has improved. Kura, Omote, Ura!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Yugito attacked the three with extreme speed.
"Lightning-Fire Flash!"
In the blink of an eye, all three of them, Samui, were on the ground. However, they were only injured. Yugito did not want to kill them, as she had a good relationship with them in the past. But in future battles, she wouldn't hold back.
"Since I'm in a good mood today, you can leave. This strike is my last token of friendship."
The three were shocked by Yugito's speed. This speed was likely not much different from the Raikage. Knowing they were outmatched, they could only cover their wounds and leave.
...
"I thought you would kill them, but they are probably not here to hunt you down. They are here to deliver a message to Tsunade and to convene the Five Kage Summit."
In the room, Lixing, while drinking, shared this intelligence with Yugito. Yugito was stunned for a moment, then she laughed.
"That bet, you really won. The Raikage did this for his brother."
"Didn't I win long ago? In my hometown, I was called the God of Gamblers. I never lost." Lixing hugged Yugito and started boasting again.
...
A few days later, in the Leaf Village, Samui and her companions, after recovering from their injuries, arrived before Tsunade and handed over the Raikage's letter.
After reading it, Tsunade refused the Raikage's request without a second thought.
"Uchiha Sasuke is a ninja of our Leaf Village. Even if he is a rogue ninja, he should be dealt with by our Leaf Village. This matter is not up for negotiation. You may return. I will discuss it with the Raikage at the Five Kage Summit later."
"Hokage-sama, you need to think carefully. The one captured is the Raikage-sama's brother. This could very well lead to war between the Hidden Cloud and the Leaf."
Tsunade, being hot-tempered, immediately became angry upon hearing this. She slammed her hand on the desk. "Are you threatening me, Hidden Cloud?"
Shizune quickly pulled Tsunade back to her seat, urging her to calm down.
"Then, I will discuss it with the Raikage at the Five Kage Summit! You may return now. I will consider this matter."
Tsunade calmed down and thought carefully. With the Akatsuki constantly targeting Naruto, they absolutely could not go to war with another village now, or the Akatsuki might take advantage of the situation.
Seeing that Tsunade was willing to discuss it, Samui said for Tsunade to think it over carefully and then left the Hokage's office.
Coincidentally, the Seventh Squad, standing outside the door, overheard the entire conversation.
Naruto immediately rushed into the office, hoping that Tsunade would not pass judgment on Sasuke.
Tsunade did not want this either, but she heard that Sasuke had joined the Akatsuki. If Sasuke were to attack the Leaf Village one day, then he would have to be killed. For the sake of the bigger picture, perhaps killing Sasuke was the best choice.
"Then, I will go find the Raikage and have him withdraw the execution order for Sasuke!" Naruto made up his mind to go to the Five Kage Summit to plead with the Raikage.
"No! Naruto, I will go to the Five Kage Summit to discuss it. You must stay in the village now. The Akatsuki are watching you outside!"
"Kakashi, you keep an eye on Naruto!"
With that, Tsunade left the Hokage's office, preparing to pack her things and head to the Land of Iron.
However, could Kakashi really keep Naruto under control? After all, Naruto's "talk-no-jutsu" was the best in the world.
Meanwhile, Sakura, standing nearby, saw through Tsunade's dilemma and was lost in thought.