Uchiha Naruto: The Strongest

Chapter 28: Step Two

The Five Kage Summit room was shrouded in darkness, save for the glowing kanji on the walls behind each seated leader, casting an ethereal light that barely illuminated the hexagon-shaped table at the room's center. Behind Minato, the glowing kanji of "Fire" radiated softly, casting flickering shadows across his composed features. To his right sat the Raikage, A, his muscular frame tense and upright, the glowing kanji for "Lightning" pulsating behind him in a vivid blue. Mei Terumī of the Mist sat opposite A, her long auburn hair shimmering in the faint light of the "Water" kanji. Gaara, seated across from Minato, seemed the most at ease, though the "Wind" kanji behind him glowed with a subtle but persistent energy.

The seat meant for the Tsuchikage remained vacant, a quiet testament to the absence of the Stone's leader, with the "Earth" kanji softly glowing behind the empty chair, adding to the heavy atmosphere.

The hexagonal table's surface gleamed in the dim light, the edges of the polished wood catching the subtle glow of the room. Each Kage's presence filled the air with tension, their expressions a mix of anticipation and caution.

Standing behind Minato, Naori's black eyes calmly observed the room, her arms crossed. To the Raikage's side, Darui was alert but composed, ready for anything as he stood tall behind his leader. Behind Mei, Chōjūrō held his sword in a loose but prepared grip, his gaze shifting between the other leaders. Gaara, without a personal guard, sat alone, but the quiet power in his eyes made it clear he needed no one.

The shadows lining the walls were filled with hidden ANBU, each positioned like specters of the summit, their presence barely noticeable, save for the faint rustling of fabric or the occasional gleam from their masks. Their silent vigilance only heightened the already suffocating atmosphere of the room, as if at any moment, a single word could spark an irreversible chain of events.

Minato glanced around the room, his gaze briefly meeting Naori's before he focused back on the table, waiting for the discussions to begin in this charged, almost otherworldly setting.

Gaara leaned forward, his elbows resting on the polished surface of the table, fingers steepled in front of his face. His calm, unwavering gaze swept across the room. "It's time we formed an alliance to eliminate Madara, once and for all. He's been allowed to run rampant for too long."

A let out a deep, gravelly chuckle that seemed to vibrate through the walls. "An alliance? With you?" His broad shoulders shook with mirth. "For what purpose? Your village barely qualifies as one of the Five Great Nations, and you've only grown weaker since then!"

Gaara met the Raikage's mockery with a solemn nod, his expression unchanged. "Your assumption is understandable. It's true, if a village's strength is judged by sheer numbers rather than the quality of its shinobi."

Minato raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the Kazekage's calm response. "What are you implying?" he asked, his voice steady, though curiosity flickered in his eyes.

Gaara shifted his attention to Minato, his green eyes unwavering. "Sunagakure has merged with several smaller villages around Kaze no Kuni. We've gained not only more trained shinobi but also clans with unique kekkei genkai, hiden techniques, and even kekkei tōta. My suggestion to the Raikage is to do the same."

The room fell silent for a moment. Much to everyone's surprise, A didn't explode with his usual fiery temper. Instead, he leaned back slightly, arms crossed over his chest. "That's not a bad strategy," he admitted, his deep voice holding a grudging respect. "But that still doesn't tell us what we gain from allying with you. Madara's been around long enough to have faced all kinds of kekkei genkai."

Minato nodded, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "The Raikage has a point, Kazekage-sama. Even with the added strength, it doesn't seem like we'd gain much from an alliance with Suna as things stand."