Twenty of the most powerful shinobi currently in existence reside in a room with one of the most powerful samurai and all eyes seem to gravitate toward one person. It's amazing, Minato thinks, that the attention seems to direct to his son. Not a Kage, nor an advisor and yet everyone is aware of where he is, of his every mannerism. Having trained under Jiraiya for so long, there are only a few things Minato never mastered. One was senjutsu but that was more a timing issue, wars and being Hokage just don't allow one to commune with nature. Another was Jiraiya's ability to not to appear to give a shit when in the presence of S-Class shinobi. It was that reason that made the disciple question if he could ever truly defeat his master, even when Jiraiya would openly claim Minato as the better shinobi. The man had a way of undermining confidence and that he didn't bother to acknowledge it only worsened the effects. Naruto had seemingly mastered this subtle art to perfection.

If Minato didn't know of his son's talents and abilities, he'd think the boy an unobservant fool. No sixteen year old should be this free from preoccupation in a room of seasoned Kage and yet Naruto didn't appear to have a single fuck to give. It was impressive and maddening. But maybe that lack of worry and deference is what allowed him to befriend so many people in this room. It's obvious the Kazekage held his son in high regard and the two had an easy rapport. He also seemed to be on good terms with the Raikage and the Mizukage as well. Minato can't help be think how close to real peace they all are, if his son's budding friendship with these village leaders is any indication but notes how fragile it all is. If these talks go south, a war is almost guaranteed and if Naruto reveals his abilities then peace talks are impossible. No village would feel comfortable with anything but the chance to increase their military power in preparation.

"I call this meeting to order." spoke Mifune. "As requested by the Tsuchikage, the leaders of the Five Great Shinobi Villages have convened. Tsuchikage-dono, please tell us why you have called this meeting."

"Thank you, Mifune-dono" Kitsuchi replies. "We are here to list and hopefully curb the aggressive actions of Konoha not only against us but the other major villages as well. We hope to address these issues now so as to avoid another war."

"And what exactly are you accusing Konoha of?" Ay asked, who had attended with Darui, Shi and Kirabi as his advisor.

"For one, conducting illegal operations within the borders of Earth Country, including killing my predecessor. Secondly, the hoarding of the Bijuu. Their actions seek to undermine all of us here and make no mistake, that's exactly what they tend to do."

"Hokage-dono, would you like to answer to these charges?"

"Thank you, Mifune-dono," Tsunade started, "I have very little to say about the charges levied by the new Tsuchikage. If my shinobi are able to undermine his village so thoroughly to cause a setting Kage to turn Rogue then my shinobi are simply better at being shinobi than yours. I feel no need to defend that and I question why the Tsuchikage would want to broadcast his ineptitude and my village's prowess." She said, causing Kitsuchi to scowl at her words. "As for the charge of hoarding the Bijuu, we have not. The Bijuu that are not reforming and not currently sealed are free. Where they are I have no idea but they are not in Konoha nor are they controlled by Konoha."

"You lie!." Kitsuchi nearly yells, only to receive a scoff from Tsunade. "The Hokage lies, spins a false tale. Could we all really miss such large beasts?"

"They Bijuu are sentient masses of chakra, do you really believe they can't change their size or shape? Everyone in this room can perform a henge and we aren't comprised primarily of chakra. I am starting to think this has been a waste of time."

"I would have to agree with the Hokage." said Gaara. "In fact, I have spoke with Shukaku, the Ichibi as he currently resides in the deserts outside of Suna."

"Do you have any proof of this?" Asked, the Mizukage.

"I'm not entirely sure how one would prove this beyond you simply seeing it but the Tsuchikage offers no more proof to the contrary when it is his burden to do so." stated Gaara.

Minato watched as Kirabi whispered something to Ay which caused Ay to stare at his brother as if seeking confirmation. Once received he spoke, "I believe both the Hokage and the Kazekage."

"Then it is a simple matter of finding and resealing them." replied Mei.

"No, none of the Bijuu that are currently free will be sealed again." stated Tsunade.

"That's not for you to decide, Hokage-dono." The Mizukage replied back.

"It isn't my decision, it isn't that I'm going to stop you, they can't be resealed. Attempting to do so will only enrage them and cost you lives in the process." Tsunade shot back.

"How is that possible?" questioned Ay.

Tsunade then waved to Naruto to approach the table to speak.

"When I released the Bijuu from the Gedo Mazo in Ame, I applied a seal so none of them Bijuu would be resealed. They are intelligent beings that don't wish to harm any of us and deserve to be more than weapons of war, they deserve a peaceful existence like the rest of us."

"Are you foolish, boy! Your very Shodaime handed out the Bijuu to prevent war and you unilaterally undo that!" shouted Kitsuchi.

"While not as vehement, I have to agree with him, kid." replied Ay.

"Since the hidden villages started creating jinchuuriki, there have been three shinobi wars. Had Konoha not defeated Akatsuki, with minimal help from the rest of you, there would have been a fourth but instead of a fight over land, it would have been one for the survival of humanity. The Shodaime was a great man but he was not infallible and he made a mistake. If you want the power of the Bijuu, then find them and befriend them. Respect them and they may become guardians of your lands but if they choose not to get involved then leave them be and let them enjoy their freedom."

"Naruto, are you sure they mean us no harm?" asked Mei.

"Absolutely. They may be skittish around humans but given the years of imprisonment that's understandable but if you should happen across them just talk to them."

"I'll withhold judgement for now." stated Mei.

"Are you all foolish? You take the word of this boy? You believe a child could apply seals to the Bijuu?"

"If you cannot disprove the claims of my shinobi then it is best of we move this alone, Kitsuchi." Tsunade said, starting to lose her patience with the brash man.

"Fine, what will happen when the Yonbi and the Gobi return?"

"I'll free them as well if that's what they want." replied Naruto.

"You have no right, they belong to Iwa. Can you not all see this? Konoha weakens us but they keep their jinchuuriki so as to have a trump card against us."

"Is that why your agents were in Taki, looking for the container of the Nanabi?" asked Tsunade, which surprised Kitsuchi. "Didn't think I knew about that? Guess it was lucky the leader of Taki decided to relocate Fuu to keep her safe from you. Irony of ironies, given your accusations of our activities within your borders."

"Which you have yet to deny." spat back Kitsuchi.

"Even if I did have an agent where you claimed I did, hundreds of missing Nin were headed to the borders of Ame, our ally and we have every right to defend an ally from an occupying force. Maybe you should have controlled your shinobi forces better so as to not experience a mass defection."

"A defection you caused."

"Proof?" asked Tsunade.

"I don't need proof, I know you did it. Everything was just too neat, the evidence was just hard enough to find and just clear enough to paint a connection. You did that and if she could do it to Iwa what is to stop her from doing it to everyone in this room?"

"No one else in this room has sent assassins to my front doorstep with the intention to kill my family and me along with a Clan head."

"This is getting us nowhere, let's please stay focused on the issues at hand." stated Mifune.

"Konoha is the issue. They work against Iwa, how long before they start in on the rest of you? If you're smart, you'll side with us. They have not only gotten a Daimyo to act against a sitting Kage, they've unilaterally have taken away Bijuu. Surely you all see the threat Konoha poses. If they go unchecked how long before we are flying a Konoha flag over our villages?" said the Tsuchikage.

"The Tsuchikage would lead you to believe the sky is falling and his only proof is the lack of clouds in the sky. See, it's so clear! It'll happen at any moment! Konoha has never initiated a war, this is a fact. Why we'd start now is beyond me. Kitsuchi-san states we've acted unilaterally and we have. We defeated the Akatsuki with minimal involvement from any of the other villages. Now some of this was just happenstance but I did request assistance and the sharing of intel. Except for Suna, my call went unheeded. I understand why but there was a threat to us all and a mess to clean up. Don't look at the clean floor and bitch about the mop I used, damnit.

If any of you would have been in my position would you have simply set the Bijuu free or hoarded them for your own benefit? But I'm a power crazed imperialist looking to squash the other villages? The accusation is absurd. The evidence is nonexistent and frankly I am beyond offended that the Tsuchikage called us here to scold me as if I were a child." replied a visibly annoyed Tsunade.

"Tsuchikage-dono, what ultimately would you like to achieve here?" asked Mifune.

"It's very simple, I want Konoha to agree to pay restitution for their actions and if not, I seek alliances as Iwa will go to war."

"Surely Tsuchikage-dono, we can come to an accord without resorting to hostilities." said Mifune.

"No, we cannot. We will not bend the knee to Konoha. Oonoki saw the Namikaze's bastard as a threat and it took him dying to prove as much. Either Konoha admits they killed him, names the agent and turns him over along with a cash transfer or it is war. There can be no alternative. The only question is, what will you all do. Save your villages or not."

"We will need time to confer with our advisors on this matter." stated Gaara. Mifune nods and the five groups separate.

IWA

"Dad, are you sure we haven't overplayed your hand?" asked Kurotsuchi.

"I had to, Kuro-chan. Too many vested interests back home are pulling for this. If I present my strongest case and nothing happens, we can move on and I can start cleaning house. I'm just lucky that it appears Konoha is on better terms with the other villages, this gives us cover to finally free Iwa of its lust for war and revenge.

"All of that was an act?"

"Of course it was. Iwa has been too focused on its past. I was never meant to be a Kage but I'll do everything I can to make sure it is strong and steady for when you are prepared to lead. But I have to break those factions that are either obsessed with the Namikaze or the faction that simply values war and conquest. Both facets stand in the way of progress."

"But Grandpa wouldn't have been fixated on Konoha if it weren't a threat."

"That's not true. Deidara wasn't really a traitor, he infiltrated Akatsuki for your grandfather. When Oonoki learned he was killed by Naruto and saw the obvious resemblance to Minato something in him snapped. He wanted Deidara to be his successor but his decisions caused it to not happen. That broke him, Kuro-chan and he couldn't let go."

"Oh" is all she could say in response.

Kumo

"What do you think, Bee?"

"Going to war with Konoha would be a mistake. Gyuki says Naruto feels different, it reminds him of something very old and very powerful. Konoha could manage a two front war with the powerhouses they have." replied Kirabi and Ay knew he was serious by his lack of rhyming.

"If you fought him alone, could you beat Naruto? I hate to ask it, I like the kid but Kumo comes first."

"No. I don't. He has a lot of tricks in his bag before he gets to his bijuu cloak, which I have yet to see but a fuinjutsu wielding Sage isn't something to take lightly and he's gotten stronger since then. He likely knows the Hirashin as well. But, Naruto by himself is only one of many problems. Minato is back, Kushina is back. Tsunade, Jiraiya, Hiruzen and Danzo. The last two may be old but they still have a great deal of power and wisdom.

Potentially seven Kage level shinobi, four fuinjutsu masters. Each likely has the ability to restrain Bijuu chakra. Two of them can match your speed, Jiraiya can make it irrelevant. Three Toad summoners, one Slug summoner. That's just the tip of the poisoned kunai. You'd still have Kakashi to contend with, all of their clan heads and clan heirs. Konoha might be the strongest they've been in years. There's no profit in us going to war. If Kitsuchi pushes this it will end poorly for Iwa.".

Ay could only grunt in response.

Kiri

"They Tsuchikage has overplayed his hand. I see no benefit to joining him."

"I agree, Mei-sama. There's not a single reason to get involved over old grudges. They'll have to do this all on their lonesome" replied Ao.

The Mizukage hears, "single, old, lonesome" and replies, "Shut up, Ao, or I'll kill you."

Suna

"When we get home, we will have to fortify our border with Iwa. I don't know the Tsuchikage's plan but if he thinks Konoha will back down he's sorely mistaken." stated Gaara.

"Is there more to this? Maybe them attempting to provoke something and gaining allies out of fear of Konoha?" asked Temari.

"I don't know the new Tsuchikage but he seems prideful, too prideful for that kind of play. Especially with how hard he's been in his position, no one will be come to his defense when he's asking for it."

Konoha

"The Tsuchikage is faking it." Naruto stated simply. "His emotions are all wrong, he's acting. He likely wants war no more than you do."

"Being able to sense emotions comes in handy. I'll see if I can talk with him after this, get a real measure of him." replied Tsunade while Minato and Jiraiya nodded in agreement.

Mifune soon called the Kage back to the table so the meeting could commence. "You have had time to confer with your delegation so let us please continue. The Tsuchikage has put forth a call to arms if certain conditions are not met, what do you three unaffected Kage say?" asked Mifune.

"Kumo votes no to hostilities. Losing the Bijuu is a blow but there is no proof Konoha is doing anything more than being their tree hugging idealistic selves." responded Ay.

"Kiri also votes no, I've seen enough war for the time being and can't pledge my forces to conjecture. However I will state, that Konoha has decided to free on the bijuu without any input or consideration from any of the major villages is distressing. I don't believe this was a power grab and you may feel it hypocritical to be admonished given how you came upon them but isn't demonstrating the ability to prevent future sealings a demonstration of your power? How are the others suppose to respond to that? What could you do next? What your shinobi have done may ultimately be for the best, Lady Hokage, but if you want to achieve that long sought after peace you always speak of then please remember the other villages exist as well." Mei stated. Tsunade just managed not to roll her eyes.

"It should go without saying but Suna also votes no for hostilities. I need not criticize nor admonish Konoha for its actions." Gaara said, receiving a head nod from Tsunade.

"It appears we have a consensus. Tsuchikage-dono, I hope you can heed the words of your fellow Kage and avoid unnecessary strife. If there is nothing else, I call this Gokage Summit to a close."