Chapter 58.5- Gamer of the Desert

“Seven tailed beasts? Can anyone even control such a force?” Tsuyashiro asked

“There’s little need for control when he could just point them our direction or release them in our vicinity” Chiyo sniped back.

I agreed with the woman. Kabuto, one way or another, had Madara under his control. I had no idea how he was doing it, but he had maneovered himself into a position where he had the world at his feet, and the entire continent for the taking. I knew the meeting he called was going to be for nothing else than to threaten all of us in the same place. But it did open a glimmer of opportunity.

“Do you know what he could want from this meeting he has called?” Another asked, directing the question at me this time.

“Nothing good to be certain”

“Will You be honouring this audacious request?” Ebizo asked, easily getting to the meat of the matter.

“I must. There are no other options before me. Either go and bear my neck to this fool that thinks he can dictate terms to the Sand, or resist and have seven tailed beasts at our gate. Assuming there was some way to reach a consensus with the other Kage to oppose his terms completely, then we could cooperate on a resistance to deal with the threat he poses, but that is unlikely at best.”

“Unlikely? Surely the other Kage will understand the threat being posed to the status quo here. For a criminal organisation like Akatsuki to dictate terms to the Royal Five would be madness” Jinpei burst out. I chuckled at the thought. He was the youngest here, a master of Agriculture with a green thumb like no other, but woefully inexperienced when it came to matters like this one.”

“Even at the best of times, the Five have been a contentious lot. This is nowhere close to the best of times” Ebizo said, giving me a look out of the corner of his eyes.

“Why do I feel like you’re insinuating any of that is somehow my fault?” I shot at him.

“In the last ten years, you have; destroyed an island in the Mist, destroyed several landmarks in the Leaf and been involved in the destruction of the village itself, destroyed the Hidden Stone, and caused the death of two of its previous Kage. The number of dead Kages that can be traced to your actions is an astounding four. A number that never ceases to beggar belief” Chiyo replied, looking unimpressed even as she rattled off an impressive list of achievements.

“Four?”

“Ohnoki, Kitsuchi, Hiruzen, Danzo. It’s perfect that you’ve managed to keep your murderous tendencies limited to the elites of our immediate neighbours.” She replied to my query with sarcasm dripping from her mouth like venom.

“For the last time, I didn’t kill Hiruzen.” I asserted.

“Of course, Kazekage-sama” The fake demure note in her tone made it clear that she didn’t believe a word that dropped from my lips.

“Beyond the point, we must come up with a strategy. Our first option is to send letters to our closest allies among the other ninja villages to harmonise foreign policy and strategies before the meeting begins.” I started.

“What allies, Kazekage-sama?” Inasa asked, looking actually confused.

“What do you mean? Our allies. Surely we have some” I started sure, but trailed off when I realised that I wasn’t actually personally aware of any alliances we had.

“Fubuki-san. Please educate us on the state of our alliances” I said, turning to the Councillor that my father had used as what was essentially his Minister of Foreign Affairs.The old man seemed to quiver under the gazes that turned to him, but when he rose and spoke, his voice was strong.

“There are no alliances, kazekage-sama”

“None at all? That’s impossible.”

“It very much is. Under Yondaime-sama, the village had alliances with the Land of Rivers, the Land of Grass, the Land of Steam, and the Land of Fire, as well as a basic trade treaty with the Land of Stone. Since Godaime-sama took the hat, however, these alliances have whithered.”

“Whithered? How did that happen?”

“Lack of attention, Kazekage-sama. The treaies with both Konoha and Iwa perished violently, but the others had slower ends. Roughly falling apart due to a lack of maintenance on our ends”

“Lack of maintenance? What precisely are you employed for if you can not do something so simple.”

“I tried, my Lord. But your Secretary rebuffed any attempt I made to see you on the matter as you were busy. I made multiple attempts. The delegation from the Land of Rivers came in to the village to discuss renewing a water supply contract, but your Lordship was occupied with the raid on Iwagakure for the period and was occupied further upon his return with medical concerns. There was nothing to be done about it, my Lord” He said, and I had no choice but to sigh. Mebuki.

I couldn’t even blame her entirely. I’d been negligent, that was the truth of it. And it was a scary truth. For what else had I been neglecting in my search for building the strongest village possible.

“There is nothing to be done about it then. We will make attempts to repair the relationships, but we must proceed without them for the time being. That means that we must proceed alone. The details for the meeting are yet to be communicated, but assuming that standard protocol is observed, I will be taking two guards with me. For that role, my brother Kankuro, and my secretary Mebuki will suffice.” I said.

“Kazekage-sama must take powerful Jounin with him to secure his safety” Fubuki shot up to his feet at my words, like y choice of guards must have been some personal affront to him.

“To what end? I could kill every Jounin in this village at the same time without breaking a sweat. What would they add to my security that I can not add to myself”

“Every Kage must be escorted by powerful Jounin, Kazekage-sama. It is not merely for protection, but also to act as a message to the other villages. The Raikage did not travel with his brother for years because he needed to lean on the protection of the Eight Tails.” Chiyo added in.

“I see. So it’s all posturing”

“Everything is posturing, my Lord” Ebizo replied in his sister’s stead.

“Of course, it is. But is there any message stronger than the fact that I have my family united behind me? That the sons of Rasa stand as one?”

“I agree with your point, Kazekage-sama. And if this were a normal meeting, then I would support the idea wholeheartedly, but the truth being danced around by my fellow councillors is a simple one. This meeting is too dangerous to risk both you and your brother. We have every condolence in your strength but feel it would be safer if you were to go with someone a little less essential” Tsuyashiro was the one to give that cold take.

I stared her down as she spoke, but she did not back down. Looking around, I could tell that most of then others were in agreement with her. They nodded to the words they hadn’t the courage to speak from their own lips. What a village.

“Fine. I will take Dragon to guard my back”

A/N; Just had to finish this chapter today