Naruto: Talent Entry Perks

January 1st, Konoha Year 61.

Today is a day others celebrate the new year.

But for the Five Kage and their guards, it is a day of travel.

To prevent accidents and losing initiative, the Five Kage Summit is not held in any of the five great nations.

So, just like in the original story, the Five Kage Summit is held in the Land of Iron, with General Mifune invited to host the meeting.

Only the Land of Iron, with strength second only to the five major villages, has the power to protect and earn the respect of the Five Kage.

The day after Samui's team left Konoha, Tsunade departed for the Land of Iron with two personal guards.

Her guards were Izayoi and Hatake Kakashi.

"Wood Release is really convenient."

At night, while camping, Kakashi sat inside a wooden house created with the Four Pillars House Technique, eating roasted meat from a hunt, and praised Izayoi. "You use Wood Release better than Tenzo. That experimental subject is no match for someone from the true Senju bloodline."

Before Izayoi could speak, Tsunade, chewing on a boar leg, proudly smiled, "Even though I've never seen that Wood Release test subject, Wood Release isn't an ordinary kekkei genkai. Ohnoki's Dust Release is a fusion of three elements, a Bloodline Selection. But Wood Release, which seems like just Earth and Water, has its core in Yang Release chakra."

"In terms of vitality and powerful Yang chakra, no one can compare with the Senju or Uzumaki clans — not even the Akimichi. That test subject, or any accident-born user, can't compare to Izayoi's Wood Release. The gap in Yang chakra is just too wide."

As she spoke, Tsunade subconsciously reached to pat Izayoi's shoulder. Izayoi dodged with a look of disgust.

Glancing at the grease on her hands, Tsunade continued eating and added, "Izayoi awakened both Senju and Uzumaki bloodlines. Not only did he inherit his grandfather's Wood Release, but also two unique abilities of the Uzumaki clan. His bloodline purity may even surpass his grandfather's."

Kakashi's eyes flickered. He looked at Izayoi meaningfully, "So this is why Sasuke awakened Wood Release?"

"Sasuke awakened it too?" Tsunade was stunned. She looked at Izayoi, "Did you transplant your cells to him?"

"Yeah."

Izayoi nodded and lied calmly, "Itachi's return to the village was too big of a blow to Sasuke. I was worried he wouldn't withstand Orochimaru's temptation. I had to help him."

"A few years ago, I sensed a very unique chakra with my Kagura's Mind Eye. It had both Sharingan and Wood Release. Unlike Kakashi, who constantly consumes chakra, this person's chakra was stable and balanced."

"Combining that with what we know about the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara, I had a theory: Sharingan and Wood Release might be able to counterbalance each other, allowing one to possess both."

"Turns out, I was right."

Izayoi smiled at Kakashi, "Sasuke's strength shouldn't disappoint you, right?"

"More than that, he surpassed expectations." Kakashi sighed, "If this continues, I won't be his match for long. When the Chūnin Exams finish, maybe I'll pass on Team 7 to him like Kurenai did."

Tsunade frowned, then looked at Kakashi's covered left eye and asked, "Since Wood Release can suppress Sharingan, do you want Izayoi's cells too?"

"No. My eye isn't as powerful as Sasuke's. I'll just keep things as they are," Kakashi refused.

With so many comrades gone, he no longer desired more power. With strong younger generations like Izayoi, Sasuke, and Naruto, he didn't need to take risks.

Tsunade didn't push it. She was already impressed that Kakashi didn't collapse or defect.

After dinner, Tsunade dragged them to play cards again.

Kakashi didn't refuse — it was a chance to earn some pocket money for Jiraiya's books.

Izayoi also joined. He was a big creditor.

And whenever Tsunade wins too much... something big always happens.

The Land of Iron, bordering the Land of Fields, lies to the north of the Land of Fire.

Unlike the Land of Fields, which is mostly plains, the Land of Iron is mountainous and perpetually snowy.

Especially in winter, the snow is a big challenge for ninja travel.

Even Tsunade's team took over two days to reach it.

"Mifune, long time no see."

Receiving word, Mifune came to greet them and greeted Tsunade informally.

"Mifune, I almost didn't recognize you."

Tsunade, who met him in the Second Ninja War, sighed.

"Time is cruel, but Lady Tsunade is still as beautiful as ever."

"Haha... that's my special skill. Jealous?"

After small talk, Tsunade asked, "How many are here? Am I first?"

"Lord Raikage and Lord Tsuchikage have arrived. Only Kazekage and Mizukage are left," Mifune replied.

"Expected." Tsunade nodded. Then, frowning, "The Sand hasn't elected their Fifth Kazekage yet, so that old woman Chiyo must be coming. I really don't want to see her."

Mifune smiled awkwardly, then spotted Izayoi — rare to see in formal attire — and brightened, "Is that Lord Izayoi?"

"Of course," Tsunade teased. "His fame even reached your neutral country?"

Then introduced, "This is General Mifune, head of the Iron Country samurai. You might work with him someday."

This also let Mifune know: this young man is our future Sixth Hokage.

"General Mifune." Izayoi greeted politely.

"You're truly young and promising. I've always admired Hashirama-sama, but never got to meet him. I hope I'll live to see this new era," Mifune said.

As a leader of a neutral nation, Mifune hopes most for peace — and for Izayoi's rise.

Izayoi smiled, saying nothing.

Mifune then led them into the city and arranged their lodging.

Two days later, Sand and Mist representatives arrived. The Five Kage Summit began in the Iron Country's hall.

A beam of light illuminated a round table.

Five bamboo hats lay on it, each marked with "Wind," "Fire," "Water," "Earth," and "Thunder."

The light spread, revealing six figures: four men and two women.

They were the Fourth Raikage (summit initiator), Mifune (host), Tsunade (Fifth Hokage), Chiyo (acting Kazekage), Ōnoki (Third Tsuchikage), and the Mist Village's Master — not acting Mizukage, but someone of equal authority.

Behind them stood samurai and guards from the villages.

Tsunade's guards: Izayoi and Kakashi.

Chiyo's: Maki and Gaara.

Ōnoki's: Koji and Akatsuki.

Raikage's: Darui and Nozomi.

Mist's: Mei Terumi and Ao.

Seeing Ao beside Mei, Izayoi leaned toward the serious-faced Kakashi and asked, "That eyepatch guy — he's the 'White Eye Killer' from the golden bounty list?"

"Yes." Kakashi nodded, adding, "This is neutral territory. Don't start trouble."

"Just asking." Izayoi grinned.

While Izayoi watched Ao, the others were also watching him.

Before Pain and Sasori's bounties soared, Izayoi was the black market's most wanted.

And before Akatsuki crossed the line, many villages considered Izayoi the biggest future threat.

Gaara looked at Izayoi with complicated eyes, recalling the Konoha Collapse Plan.

Temari thought of Hinata, wondering how strong the busty, white-eyed girl had become.

Mei Terumi, now 28 and full of queenly grace, whispered, "That's Izayoi? Graduated just last March? Doesn't look like it."

Ao's veins bulged, his left eye behind the mask twitching. "His chakra's powerful — not weaker than Sand's One-Tail Jinchūriki."

"Not weaker? At that age?" Mei grew solemn.

If nothing changed, the next Five Kage would include her — and Izayoi.

Facing such a monster... even as a dual kekkei genkai user, she felt pressure.

The Five Kage began to talk.

"Master," Ōnoki said, "I didn't expect you to represent the Mist. I'm surprised."

The others also guessed — like with Chiyo, something had changed.

The Master didn't hide it: "The Mizukage has passed away. I came for the sake of dealing with Akatsuki."

"What?" The others were startled.

"Yes, the Mizukage was killed by Akatsuki," he said. "The Blood Mist Village was manipulated by Akatsuki. The Mizukage had been under genjutsu for a long time."

"I see..." Everyone understood now.

The cruel training in the Mist wasn't just for creating killers — it was because the Fourth Mizukage was under control.

"What kind of genjutsu can control a Kage — a perfect Jinchūriki?" Chiyo asked. Everyone turned to Tsunade.

Tsunade's expression darkened.

Sharingan can control tailed beasts — specifically, the Mangekyō Sharingan.

But thirteen years ago, Itachi was just a child.

Could there have been another mastermind during the Nine-Tails incident?

On the surface, Tsunade said, "Mangekyō Sharingan can control tailed beasts. But the Mist incident doesn't match Itachi's age. Also, the Rinnegan's abilities are unknown. It's possible the Sage's Eye could also do this."

"The Sage's Eye? Unlikely," the Master said. "Ao's Byakugan saw that the chakra controlling Mizukage was very similar to Uchiha Sharingan."

Boom! The Fourth Raikage slammed the table.

"It's Konoha again!"

Guards moved to defend, alert.

"You need to give an explanation!" he shouted at Tsunade.

"Is your brain made of muscle? What's this got to do with us?" Tsunade frowned. "Konoha was a victim too."

"The Uchiha clan is extinct. Only Itachi remains. If it's Akatsuki's work, either there are two Mangekyō users, or the Rinnegan can also control beasts."

"Or... maybe it wasn't Akatsuki at all."

"What do you mean?"

The Kage all looked at her.

Tsunade folded her arms. "This might sound crazy, but listen carefully."

"According to Jiraiya's intel, there are not one — but two Rinnegan users."

"What?!"

Two such beings would be like returning to the age of the Ninja God and Madara.

Tsunade continued, "Jiraiya's shadow clone infiltrated the Rain Village. The leader admitted there's a second Rinnegan user."

"But the Rinnegan can also create puppets — with black rods and Rinnegan eyes. These puppets don't match the ones that attacked Konoha or the Hidden Cloud."

"Wait, puppets? Isn't that Sasori's technique?" Raikage asked.

"And can we trust Akatsuki's words?"

"That's why I'm not fully convinced. But..."

Tsunade looked at Chiyo.

"Puppet masters can't control puppets without chakra threads, right? And they don't use ninjutsu or forbidden jutsu."

Raikage's expression changed.

Yes — those puppets had five-element ninjutsu and insane chakra.

If it were Sasori, he'd have to be both a puppeteer and a top ninjutsu user.

Chiyo realized someone framed her grandson. "That's not puppetry. Metal control eats chakra and doesn't work at long range. This was not puppetry."

"But Rinnegan puppets are wireless." Tsunade confirmed. "Jiraiya saw them summon and use ninjutsu. Their traits didn't match the ones attacking the villages."

"So this third party is impersonating Akatsuki to trigger war between us," she concluded. "They want both sides to destroy each other... and then step in to dominate."

The Five Kage were speechless.

The implications were terrifying.

If this mysterious third party existed, and they were used to destroy each other, what would be left?

A chilling silence filled the room.