Kimimaro, who'd been quiet until now, said, "I'd like to ask something."
"Speak freely," Ryugetsu replied, giving him permission.
"As you three lords know," he began, "my team and I have done our best to ensure security within these borders. If lord Arthur's missing, I suggest we continue our tasks until his return."
There was a pause. Then Ashina spoke with a hint of challenge in his tone, "And what gives you the impression that lord Arthur's not going to be gone a long time?"
"What was that?" Kimimaro asked, furrowing his brows at Ashina.
Brie was quick to intervene by adjusting her glasses and speaking with a tone of reason.
"Let's all relax for a moment. There's a lot of things lord Arthur had us working on before this happened. So I think we should discuss those before jumping to conclusions or halting any operations."
She was on point, especially considering the multifaceted responsibilities that each figure bore. Running a nation—particularly one as secretive and powerful as this—was not a matter of simply sitting on a throne; it involved complex processes, covert missions, and strategic planning.
The room settled into a more contemplative silence as they began to address the state of their country's affairs.
First, they discussed security.
Kimimaro, in charge of the sanctuary forces, reported that his team had been deploying patrols along the borders, preventing unauthorized entries, and maintaining surveillance over potential threats.
His leadership, which was first assigned by Arthur through Hoshikaze, had kept the borders secure since.
The other members of the former Sound Five—Kidōmaru, Jirōbō, Tayuya, and Sakon—confirmed their ongoing efforts. While their allegiance was primarily toward Arthur, their loyalty also extended to the stability of the country itself.
In truth, the main reason why the security had been so good was due to one man's intimidating aura: Lars.
"With Kimimaro's optimum efficiency," Hoshikaze began.
"We'll permit him to continue safeguarding the country's borders," Ryugetsu added.
"Alongside Lars, who we've deemed worthy to accomplish the task," John finished.
Not a single one debated against this. Even Lars remained quiet with his hood on.
After discussing security, the conversation shifted to internal affairs—most notably, the status of every clan within the borders.
"Shouldn't we start with the Uchiha clan?" Sakon snickered. "Don't you agree… lord Torikage?"
Fugaku, standing silently among the others, raised an eyebrow. He was used to being the center of attention, but his words seemed like a challenge.
"What would my lords like to know?" Fugaku asked, deliberately ignoring Sakon's comment.
The chamber remained hushed for a moment due to the clans' revival being a significant event. While most of the room had been resurrected or reformed, everyone knew that Arthur placed the Uchihas in high regard.
This was apparent when he decided to not only revive them first but also place their head as the first Kage.
Ryugetsu's voice broke the silence, "We assume your clan is behaving fairly, correct?"
It was a diplomatic way of asking whether the Uchiha's resurgence was stable, whether they posed a threat, or whether they were still loyal.
Fugaku knew this, so he looked around at the gathering to gauge their reactions. When Shisui saw this, he stepped forward and took a knee.
"If I may, my lords," he respectfully said.
"Proceed," Hoshikaze answered.
"I have been overseeing the training of the Uchiha members who are fit for combat, as instructed by lord Arthur himself. Out of everyone, Sasuke and Izumi Uchiha have shown the best potential."
While many understood who Sasuke was, Izumi was a different story. Her chakra levels had always been unstable, and her abilities were inconsistent.
This was due to her acquisition of her Sharingan early on. Couple that with the fact that her mental age did not match her physical age; she had a long way to develop.
If it weren't for that, she might not have survived the rigorous training or been deemed capable enough to stand as a valuable asset among the others.
Many wondered why lord Arthur even revived her or why he invested in her. No one knew the full story, and that only added to the questions swirling around her.
"I believe we should continue raising them," Shisui finished, projecting confidence.
"Then we shall," John agreed.
Shisui then returned to his position in line, glancing briefly at Fugaku. The clan head gave him a slight nod—a gesture of approval.
Shisui's allegiance had been complicated before the Uchiha massacre. He had opposed the coup, aligning more with the ideals of peace and stability. Now he was defending both the clan and Fugaku's leadership with quiet honour.
The next topic shifted focus.
Brie cleared her throat to say, "It'd be a good idea to discuss what we're planning to do with the Sannin."
She was referring to Jiraiya.
Most knew he was hidden somewhere deep within the Light Village, under heavy confinement. No one knew exactly what Arthur planned for him, but everyone understood that Jiraiya's capture was also a significant event.
"We suspect the Leaf Village will be made aware soon," Ryugetsu declared.
"But his capture has yet to be discovered," Hoshikaze continued.
"So keep him under," John finished.
"Serious?!" Brie pouted before sighing.
She had been working tirelessly on her experiments, trying to find ways to control Jiraiya's chakra. The shinobi was a legend, and his resilience was incredible. Every attempt to probe his chakra or extract information risked killing him, and Arthur had forbidden such measures from becoming lethal.
Plus, not many understood how troubling it was to keep a Sannin "under". Her team at the science facility was in charge of this. And to do that, they had to ensure his chakra levels remained extremely low.
This was hard on them because they knew that if it got too low, he would undoubtedly die.
Brie herself had wanted to experiment more on the Sannin. But because he was in an unconscious state, it complicated things.
"May we ask," Rin wondered, "what lord Arthur's ultimate goal is with Jiraiya?"
The room grew silent again. Why would she ask such a thing?
Little did they know, Rin had a soft spot for Jiraiya, the former teacher of her own former teacher. Her concern was merely genuine.
"You may not," John answered.
"Rest assured," Ryugetsu added.
"That we'll use him when the time comes," Hoshikaze finished.
Rin lowered her head in acknowledgment and understood her place. Perhaps it was best not to have asked.
"Speaking of Sannin," Ashina announced. "What has been transpiring with that other Sannin, Orochimaru?"
The mention of Orochimaru's name caused a little unease. Mainly toward the former Sound Five.
Many in the room knew of him—another dangerous figure. His evil intentions had been talked about, and his obsession with forbidden jutsu and bloodlines had rubbed many in both the Eddy Village and the Light Village the wrong way.
Orochimaru's recent activities had been only a minor subject of concern. He was currently hunting for Sasuke, who had mysteriously gone missing after being assigned a mission.
Thanks to Arthur, of course.
The rumour mill suggested he was searching for what he believed Sasuke to be, his "property." Those in the room who've encountered the Sannin before in the past never quite liked him. And they still didn't.
"It's strange how Sasuke's still Orochimaru's favourite," Kidōmaru sneered. "Wouldn't you agree, lord Torikage?"
Fugaku's face was unreadable, but his eyes flicked toward the others subtly. Then he said, "I can assure you all that prior to lord Arthur's disappearance, he'd already taken steps to ensure my son's safety. I have no intention of letting him out of my sight again."
There was a brief pause. Then Ashina softly spoke, "And what about Itachi? Do you think he will still side with the Akatsuki after all that's happened?"
Fugaku's expression darkened.
"If he still wants to support the Akatsuki," he answered, "then we'll have no choice but to eliminate him. But only on lord Arthur's orders."
Jirōbō whispered, "That's harsh."
Yet Fugaku's gaze hardened, adding, "He's my eldest son, so I won't hesitate if the situation calls for it."
The idea of killing a family member was not one to be taken lightly, but in this world, survival often meant ruthless decisions.
Fugaku then turned to Ashina to say, "We should be asking how your progress is going with the leader my eldest son is working for."
All eyes shifted to Ashina. The leader of the Uzumaki clan was well aware of what Fugaku meant and who he was referring to.
The Uzumaki bloodline was powerful but also a tool to be manipulated. Naruto had his Tailed Beast, Nagato possessed the Rinnegan, and Karin was a unique healer. Their bloodlines were coveted, and their potential exploited.
As far as everyone understood, Ashina sought to take revenge upon those who betrayed his village. To do that, he first desired to gather the scattered remnants of his bloodline.
As for his progress? Slim.
Ashina's pride was also wounded by the question.
"We're still trying to adapt to this new timeline," he said, carefully choosing his words. "It's a complex process, and we're making slow progress."
Many in the room exchanged glances, recognizing the diplomatic dodge. They knew that the Uzumaki clan had more than enough time to adjust. They had been aware of the recent upheavals—the resurrections, Madara's role, Kaguya's involvement—and yet, they still acted as if they were behind.
Fugaku's gaze lingered on Ashina for a moment before turning away—a blow to Ashina's dignity.
The meeting moved on, with various leaders reporting on their respective areas—defense, intelligence, research, and diplomacy.
All three of Arthur's clones instructed that the matter involving Arthur's disappearance not be made public.
That caused the overarching theme to be brought up again: what will happen to the country if Arthur does not return in time or return at all? How could they prepare for that possibility?
Without him, the entire government seemed unmoored.
The throne sat empty, a symbol of authority that no one dared to fill.
Everyone knew that the three lords, who were also clones of Arthur, answered solely to Arthur. So if Arthur wasn't present, who were they even answering to?
Not a single one dared to ask that question. The only thing on their mind was who would take responsibility for everything and who could lead in Arthur's absence?
Everyone here desired someone to at least be sitting on the throne. And since neither of the clones had sat, they knew that neither was technically in charge. They were merely acting as spokesmen for what Arthur might say.
"If I may," Shisui said, drawing everyone's attention. "We should consider appointing an acting lord until lord Arthur returns."
His idea was practical since someone at least needed to hold the reins for emergency's sake.
Most of the room agreed. But then the question remained: who? The three clones up front finally looked at each other. Yet their attention returned to the main group, as neither desired to speak up.
What were they thinking? Surely they understood that they were the only ones fit to sit on the throne. Technically, they were Arthur in mind and spirit. So it was only appropriate that at least one of them take charge.
Yet, none of them dared to suggest it openly. That was a line they were not wishing to cross. Who would?
Finally, Fugaku broke the silence. He looked around, then declared with certainty, "It should be obvious who it is. Let lord John be the one to lead until lord Arthur returns."
The room responded with surprise.
Jirōbō burst out laughing, "Oh ho!"
"Something funny?" Fugaku asked, furrowing his brow.
Jirōbō shrugged, still smiling. "Don't take this personally, lord Torikage. I just thought you might suggest yourself."
Fugaku's expression hardened. "Nonsense. Not when lord John has a proven record of leading an entire country by himself."
The debate grew louder with voices overlapping as different members argued their case. Some said Ryugetsu, known for his diplomatic skills, would be the best choice. Others insisted on Hoshikaze, pointing to his strength and combat ability, believing that a shinobi's leadership was what they needed now.
Not a single one mentioned Kaito since that copy of Arthur hardly came to these meetings and was mainly doing Akatsuki missions.
The disagreement was obvious. No one could decide on who should take the reins.
Then, unexpectedly, all three clones—John, Ryugetsu, and Hoshikaze—raised their hands at the same time. The sudden gesture instantly quieted the room. Every eye turned toward them.
"For now," Ryugetsu said.
"You are all to remain on duty," Hoshikaze continued.
"Until we receive news on lord Arthur's whereabouts," John finished.
Their message was clear: in Arthur's absence, no one would claim the throne. The stability of the country depended entirely on him. Until he returned, they would keep everything running—barely, but they would try to hold it together.
Some members looked disappointed, others resigned. They understood the message: wait. Wait for news; wait for Arthur. Until then, this country would have to function without him.