Naruto 458

Page 1:
Gaara: I'll start.
Everyone listen up.
Text: Gaara's sharp words open the meeting!

Tsuchi: The makeup of the Five Kages has certainly changed over the years.
You're certainly something special to have earned your title at such a young age, Kazekage-dono.
It reflects well on your father and how he must have raised you...
although it seems he forgot to teach you your manners.
Title: The Five Kages Start a War of Words!

Gaara: I suppose.
I AM the Kazekage, am I not?
Tsuchi: Gahahaha, what an impertinent kid!

Mizu: Tsuchikage-sama, please don't interrupt.
Continue, Kazekage-sama.

Gaara: I'm a former Jinchuuriki.
Akatsuki extracted the tailed beast from my body and nearly killed me as a result.
Kank: What's the Tsuchikage's freakin' problem?
Temari: Quiet!

Gaara: Therefore, I consider Akatsuki the most dangerous organization in existence today.

Page 2:
Gaara: I've sought the cooperation of all five Kages, but have been ignored
with the exception of the previous Hokage.
And now, with so many tailed beasts in their hands, it's too late.

Tsuchi: Hmph...Who would want to tell the hidden villages of the five great countries their Jinchuuriki had been abducted!
It's shameful!

It's only natural you'd keep your attempts to recover them a secret!
Who asks another nation for help recover their own stolen weapon?

Gaara: Protecting status and honor...
A foolish way of thinking whose time has passed.

Tsuchi: Bah, damn kid...

Page 3:
Mizu: Even if they've stolen Tailed Beasts, there's no immediate threat.
It takes skill, knowledge, and above all time to be able to control them.

Tsuchi: One needs to grow with their beast, to find common ground and harmonize.
Even then, fully controlling them is no small feat.
Is it, Kazekage-dono?

Danzou: The only people to exercise full control over any Tailed Beasts
were Uchiha Madara, the First Hokage Hashirama,
The Fourth Mizukage Yagura,
and Raikage-dono's brother, Killer Bee.

However...
SFX: Twitch

Ao: Choujirou.
Chou: Right!
SFX: Step

Page 4:
SFX: CRASH
Raikage: ENOUGH OF THIS JIBBER-JABBER!

SFX: Tak tak

SFX: Dassssh

Page 5: Vwommmmm

Page 6:
Mifune: This is a forum for CONVERSATION. All parties will observe the appropriate protocol.

Danzou: Stand down Fuu, Torne.

Gaara: You too Kankurou, Temari.

Mizu: Ao, Choujirou, it's all right.

SFX: Nod
Kuro: 'Kay.

Raikage: Hrmph!
SFX: Nod

SFX: Sit

Page 7:
Raikage: Leaf! Stone! Sand! Mist!
Akatsuki is composed of rogue ninja from YOUR villages!
And that's just the start!

I've learned that the previous Kages, PLUS some of YOU,
have all been making use of Akatsuki!

Gaara: Using...Akatsuki?

Raikage: I don't trust any of you!
I didn't even WANT to talk to you people!

The only reason I requested we hold a summit
was to determine once and for all where your loyalties lie!

Gaara: What do you mean, we've used Akatsuki?!

PAge 8:
Raikage: Look at you, you're the Kazekage and you don't even know anything!
Go back to your village and ask those old relics!
They'll tell you that the Sand used "Akatsuki" during wartime!

Tsuchi: These days, the great nations have all achieved an equal level of peace...We've gone from expanding our arms to reducing them..
As relations improve and the threat of war grows smaller,
a large military becomes a drain on the budget.

Of course, there's a risk involved, as well.
All of a sudden a war breaks out! Then they're saddled with nothing but inexperienced shinobi to defend them.
The war's as good as lost.

Gaara: And the only option for mitigating that risk is mercenary groups with no loyalties.
...In other words, Akatsuki.

Page 9:
Tsuchi: It takes time, effort, and money to raise superior shinobi on your own...
Akatsuki are seasoned professionals in the art of war,
charged comparatively little for their services,
and ALWAYS gave us the best possible results.

Raikage: Don't try to defend yourself, Tsuchikage!
Tsuchi: Bah!

Raikage: The Sand used Akatsuki for the "Crush the Leaf" attack...
...Orochimaru!
Although I'll admit there's no proof either way indicating if he was still a part of them at that time!

And the previous Kazekage and Hokage were killed as a result.

I'm not about to discount THAT as possibly being part of someone's grand scheme, either.

Page 10:
Raikage: Crafty old bastard...

The Hidden Mist is the worst of the lot!
You refuse to negotiate, and I've heard tell that Akatsuki was born on your soil!

Mizu: I suppose I must clear the air...
Ao: Fifth, you can't seriously intend to tell them-
Mizu: I've always had suspicions that the Fourth Mizukage was being controlled by someone...

It may very well have been Akatsuki.
That's why I don't want things getting out of hand...

Raikage: Every last one of you...

Page 11:
Tsuchikage: Hold your tongue, Raikage!
While the rest of us have been disarming, YOU'VE been seeking more strength and developing all kinds of new ninjutsu!
Almost as if to leave the rest of us with no CHOICE but to hire Akatsuki!

Raikage: What was that?!
Danzou: Before you two say another word,
I'd like to finish what I was TRYING to tell everyone earlier.

Raikage: WHAT?!
SFX: Roar

Danzou: It's almost certain that Akatsuki's leader is Uchiha Madara.

Tsuchi: Hasn't he been dead for years...?

Danzou: I don't know any details myself...but I've been given solid intel.
Tsuchi: Talk about a living, breathing monster...

Page 12:
Mifune: Speaking from our position as a neutral country,
I feel Akatsuki's leader has studied the lessons of the past well.

He has observed exactly how comfortable each nation is in trusting the others...and exploited his knowledge to build his power.
At this rate, he'll even get to the Iron Country...
However, all clouds have a silver lining...it is almost unheard of for all five Kages to be in agreement on any issue.
I propose that, until Akatsuki is completely eliminated,

the five great hidden villages, for the first time in history, create a single joint military force.

Raikage: A joint force?

Danzou: ...I concur.
This is an emergency situation...we need unity.
...Excellent.

Mifune: Command should be given to a single individual.
We must avoid any more chaos.

Tsuchi: So...
Who do we put in charge of this historic event?

Page 13:
Mifune: It can only be one of you five.
I am bound to ensure our country remains neutral in these matters.
Which of the five kages is most qualified?

Danzou: And with that...Tsunade's time is over.

Sakura: Naruto really...?

Sai: Yes...as badly as they beat him up,
he refused to reveal anything about Sasuke.

And he didn't want you worrying either, so he asked me not to say anything to you.

Sakura: Naruto...

Sai: He's gone to ask the Raikage to pardon Sasuke...
Though I doubt he'll get anywhere.
Shizune: Why would he do something so crazy?
Especially with Kakashi-san there!

Page 14:
Sai: Kakashi-sensei believes in Naruto.
Even IF his request is impossible, I think he wanted to give Naruto his chance.

I was added to Team Kakashi as Sasuke's replacement,
so I don't know the team's whole history...
and I'm still not good at understanding the emotions of others.

Naruto: ...How could?
I can't even keep my promises to her...
Sai: ...And I don't know what this "promise" was that he made to you...

Sakura: Naruto...this is the biggest thing...I'll ever ask you...
Please...please bring Sasuke-kun back!

Sai: ...But...

Page 15:
Sai: Even I can tell how much Naruto
really loves you!

Naruto: I know how much you like Sasuke, Sakura-chan...
SFX: Smile

SFX: tears

Naruto: And I know how upset you are...
how much it hurts.

I'll bring Sasuke back no matter what it takes!
That's the biggest promise in the world!

Naruto: Sakura-chan! I...
I couldn't keep my promise...

I don't go back on my word.
That's my ninja way.

Page 16:
Sakura: Uuh-
SFX: drop drop
Sakura: *sniff*

Shizune: Sakura...
Sakura: Nnhn-

Sai: Naruto's been focused on keeping his promise for years.
He seems prepared to carry the burden his whole life.

I don't know what you asked of him...
but when it comes to the subject, you act just like me...

As if YOUR tongue has been sealed, too.

Sasuke may be causing Naruto a lot of pain...

Page 17:
Sai: ...but don't you think YOU are too?

Mifune: The only Jinchuuriki left is the Leaf's Nine-Tails...
And its host is still just a child.

Therefore, should we not have the Hokage lead this joint military force?

Raikage: Say WHAT?!
Tsuchi: What the-
Text: The summit takes an ugly turn!