Chapter 494: Just a Tailed Beast

What happens to a Jinchūriki after the tailed beast is extracted from their body?

The answer is simple—it's not good.

"It seems Tsuchikage is furious with you, Raikage-sama," Shinki remarked with a wry smile.

Ōnoki and the Third Raikage were lifelong rivals, constantly finding new ways to frustrate each other. One would scheme and humiliate, and the other would retaliate in kind.

Their feud seemed to thrive on the principle of mutual irritation.

"Hahaha..."

The Third Raikage let out a triumphant laugh, clearly pleased with himself.

Eventually, he followed Shinki to the VIP residence arranged for him by Konoha—a quiet courtyard near the Hokage's office.

Unlike the towering buildings of the Cloud Village, the Raikage preferred the serene simplicity of a courtyard whenever he visited Konoha.

Sitting in the courtyard with a cup of tea, the Third Raikage crossed his legs and sighed.

"Shinki, your Konoha isn't very sincere. You didn't go all out in the war."

Though the alliance between their villages remained intact, the Raikage couldn't resist voicing his dissatisfaction. Konoha's performance during the war had been lackluster, to say the least.

It wasn't that they hadn't helped at all, but their contribution had been far from wholehearted.

"Senior, Konoha was in a period of Hokage transition at the time. It's a miracle we sent troops at all. Don't expect too much," Shinki replied matter-of-factly.

He added, "If this had been any other village, they wouldn't have sent a single soldier to help, let alone hold off Iwagakure's forces for you. Be grateful we maintained the alliance at all."

The Third Raikage grumbled, but deep down, he knew Shinki had a point. Konoha had been in turmoil after the Third Hokage's retirement. The new Hokage, Tsunade, had inherited a village burdened with unresolved issues.

In that situation, any other village would have found a pretext to dissolve the alliance. Konoha's decision to assist was more than most would have done.

"Ahem! I'm just venting. Don't take it too seriously," the Raikage said, coughing awkwardly.

After a moment's pause, he shifted the conversation.

"Shinki, about the Four-Tails... Can Konoha support the Cloud Village?"

The Raikage's tone turned serious.

It was clear he wanted Konoha's backing to keep the Four-Tails. Without their support, the other villages—particularly Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure—would oppose him.

Shinki shook his head. "Senior, it's not worth it. It's just a tailed beast."

"'Just a tailed beast'? Easy for you to say," the Raikage grumbled inwardly. Konoha, blessed with the mighty Nine-Tails, could afford such nonchalance. The Cloud Village, however, didn't have that luxury.

His expression betrayed his disappointment.

Shinki chuckled at the Raikage's disheartened look. "Senior, my point is that there's no need to fight over the Four-Tails right now. Bigger issues are on the horizon."

"Bigger issues?"

The Raikage frowned. He set down his teacup, suddenly more alert.

"What do you mean, Shinki?"

Shinki poured more tea for the Raikage and spoke calmly. "To be honest, I've been planning to invite all the villages to Konoha for another Five Kage Summit. Your visit spares me the trouble of sending someone to the Cloud Village."

The Raikage stiffened. A Five Kage Summit?

Such gatherings were only called for matters of great importance. Skipping the neutral Land of Iron to host the summit in Konoha made it even more unusual.

"Can I know what this is about?"

The Raikage's voice carried a hint of unease.

Shinki took a sip of tea, then answered. "Of course, senior. After extensive research and investigation, I've uncovered something shocking: Uchiha Madara, the legendary rival of the First Hokage, did not die in the Battle of the Valley of the End."

The Raikage froze.

Uchiha Madara. A name synonymous with terror and power.

This revelation felt like a punch to the gut.

"Wait a moment," the Raikage said, trying to process the information. "Madara is from Konoha. Even if he's alive, that's your village's problem. Why involve the rest of us? Why call a Five Kage Summit?"

Shinki's expression grew solemn. "Because Uchiha Madara is planning a conspiracy that affects the entire ninja world. This isn't just Konoha's issue—it's a threat to all five great villages and even the Taki ninja village."

The Raikage's eyes narrowed. "A conspiracy? Let me guess—it's about the tailed beasts, isn't it?"

Shinki nodded. "Exactly. Based on the evidence I've gathered and the Nine-Tails' testimony, Madara is after all the tailed beasts in the ninja world."

The Raikage's brow furrowed. "Why? What's his goal? If he's after power, the Nine-Tails alone would suffice. Why target the others?"

Shinki didn't answer directly. Instead, he continued. "Years ago, in a distant land, I encountered something remarkable—a pair of eyes that exist only in legend. The Rinnegan."

The Raikage stiffened again.