Chapter 36: The Five Kage Summit

The Five Kage sat in the Hokage's office, the weight of their responsibilities bearing down on them. Tsunade had called the summit to discuss the appearance of the new Tailed Beasts—cubs and pups that were far different from the older Tailed Beasts they had known. The old Tailed Beasts, while immensely powerful, were subjugated to their hosts and the will of the ones who had controlled them. But these new creatures were different. They were born from Kaguya's chakra, but they had minds of their own. They weren't tools or mindless weapons—they were beings with desires, thoughts, and decisions of their own.

Tsunade spoke first, her tone firm and serious. "We need to address the issue of the cubs and pups. These new Tailed Beasts are not like the ones we know. They have free will, and they have their own minds."

Gaara leaned forward, his expression thoughtful. "The older Tailed Beasts, like Kurama, were once seen as tools, powerful and dangerous but bound by their hosts. But these new Tailed Beasts, they have their own personalities, their own wants and needs. They're not just weapons to be wielded."

Sasuke nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. "They're living beings with minds of their own. They might have been born from Kaguya's chakra, but they're not bound to her will the way the older Tailed Beasts were. They will make their own decisions."

Naruto grinned, a little sheepish. "Yeah, my cub—the yellow one—keeps telling me I'm too loud. It doesn't seem to care much about Kaguya. It just wants to hang out with me and train. It's not like it's gonna attack anyone. It's its own creature, like Kurama was."

Mei raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "But if they have minds of their own, can we trust them not to turn on us? Kaguya might still have influence over them, even if they do have free will."

Onoki, ever cautious, was the next to speak. "That's what concerns me. These cubs and pups are born of Kaguya's chakra. Even if they aren't controlled by her like the older Tailed Beasts, they still have a connection to her. What happens if she calls them to do her bidding?"

Naruto's face turned serious for a moment. "I get it. You're worried they'll follow Kaguya if she commands them. But these cubs are different. They have their own free will. My cub doesn't care about Kaguya. It cares about me, and it cares about being able to live its own life."

Sasuke spoke up, his tone calm but authoritative. "The Tailed Beasts we knew, like Kurama, were bound by their relationships with their jinchuriki. But these new creatures are different. They have the ability to choose. They don't have to follow Kaguya or anyone else—they'll choose to fight for her or anyone else, but only if they want to."

Black Zetsu, who had been quietly observing from the shadows, now stepped forward. His voice was low and almost reverent. "The cubs and pups are not tools. They are beings with minds and desires of their own. They are not bound by fear, and they will not simply obey commands. They have free will, and that is what makes them unique. They will aid Kaguya when needed, but only if they choose to."

Tsunade frowned, but her gaze was steady. "So you're saying that they are free to choose? They're not bound to Kaguya's will, even though they're born from her chakra?"

"Exactly," Black Zetsu replied, his tone calm. "Kaguya's chakra flows through them, yes. But that doesn't mean they are mindless. They are independent beings, and they will choose their own path. They may assist Kaguya when the time comes, but they are not puppets."

Gaara stood up, his eyes now filled with determination. "Then we can't treat them as enemies right away. They are not weapons to be controlled. They are creatures with minds of their own, and we should respect that. We will keep watch over them, but we mustn't assume that they will automatically turn on us."

Ay, still concerned, crossed his arms. "And what about the older Tailed Beasts? Do they still have minds of their own?"

Tsunade nodded. "Yes. Kurama, Gyūki, Chōmei, and the others—they all have minds of their own, and they all have their free will. They may not have been as independent in the past, but they've been freed from their past bonds. They've become their own entities, just like these new cubs and pups."

Naruto added, "Kurama's always been his own guy. We don't control each other anymore. He's my partner, not my tool."

Sasuke nodded in agreement. "The older Tailed Beasts have chosen their paths. They're not our enemies anymore. And neither are the cubs or pups. They will make their own choices."

Black Zetsu gave a small, knowing smile. "As Kaguya's creations, they may still feel a bond to her, but that doesn't mean they're her slaves. They are free to choose how they will live. And if they ever do choose to assist her again, it will be because they want to. Not because they are forced to."

The room fell silent as the Kage processed this information. There was a sense of unease, but also understanding. The Tailed Beasts, new and old, were beings with minds of their own. The world was changing, and the Kage had to adapt.

Tsunade finally broke the silence. "So, what do we do now? We can't ignore the fact that Kaguya still has some influence over these creatures. But we can't treat them as enemies just because they are her creations. We need to find a way to coexist with them, or at least neutralize the threat they pose."

Onoki nodded slowly. "We'll need to keep an eye on them, but also give them space. If they have free will, then they are not the same as the older Tailed Beasts. We need to allow them the freedom to choose their paths while being cautious about their potential."

Gaara spoke up, his voice steady. "And we need to trust the ones who have bonded with them. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura—those who have trained with them. They know the cubs and pups better than anyone else."

Sasuke added, "They may have free will, but they are still new to the world. They will need guidance. And if they decide to fight, they will fight alongside those they trust. Just like the older Tailed Beasts did."

Tsunade nodded. "Then it's settled. We will monitor the situation carefully and prepare for any potential conflict. But we will not treat the Tailed Beasts as enemies unless they give us reason to. For now, they are to be left in peace."

With that, the Five Kage reluctantly agreed. They understood that the world had changed. The Tailed Beasts, once viewed as nothing more than dangerous weapons, had evolved. They were now beings with minds and wills of their own. And while that brought new challenges, it also brought new possibilities.

As the summit adjourned, the Kage left with the heavy knowledge that the world they once knew had shifted. And with that shift came the responsibility of ensuring that the Tailed Beasts, new and old, could coexist in this new era.