Five Kage Summit

The Kage Summit was a meeting between the five Kage of the ninja world to discuss recent developments concerning Akatsuki and the tailed beasts.

Background
Since its formation, Akatsuki had been working on capturing the nine tailed beasts or their jinchuriki. At the start of Part II, Akatsuki had captured two tailed beasts. As Part II progressed the organization also obtained the One-Tailed Shukaku, the Two-Tailed Monster Cat, the Three-Tailed Giant Turtle, the Four-Tailed Monkey, and a fifth beast. The capture of seven tailed beasts had come with great loses for Akatsuki, so the organization's founder, Madara Uchiha, dedicated extra resources to the remaining beasts' capture.

To capture the Eight-Tailed Giant Ox, Madara sent former Konoha ninja, Sasuke Uchiha, and his team to the Land of Lightning to apprehend Killer Bee. Much of the Valley of Clouds and Lightning was destroyed during the battle, and at its conclusion Killer Bee appeared to be captured. Killer Bee's brother, Ē, the Raikage, was enraged by the news and demanded a meeting of the Kage to finally do something about Akatsuki and possibly save Bee. In reality, Bee only pretended to be captured, and Akatsuki continued searching for him.

As summons for the summit were sent out, Konoha was attacked by the Akatsuki leader, Pain. Madara had sent Pain to find Naruto Uzumaki, the jinchuriki of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. Naruto was able to elude capture and Pain died, but most of the village was destroyed. Additionally, the Hokage, Tsunade, was left in a coma, necessitating she be replaced by Danzō.

Meeting
For the meeting, the Kage were allowed to bring two bodyguards. The Kage and their bodyguards departed for the Land of Iron, a neutral, samurai-controlled country. When all were present, Gaara, the Kazekage began the discussion. As the former host of the One-Tailed Shukaku, Gaara had long considered Akatsuki a serious threat and requested cooperation between the villages, something only Tsunade had agreed to. Onoki, the Tsuchikage, scoffed at the idea of the villages working together, citing the need for the villages to look after themselves. Nevertheless, he expressed concern for how many tailed beasts Akatsuki had obtained.

The Raikage, frustrated with the discussion thus far, crushed the table in front of him. The bodyguards came to their Kage's aid but order was quickly restored. A voiced his distrust of the other villages, all having previously employed Akatsuki and all having had an Akatsuki representative at some point in time. Only his own Kumogakure had never had the same vices. Onoki defended Iwagakure's actions, Danzō made no comment, and Gaara, having been unaware of Sunagakure's use of Akatsuki, was disgusted. Mei Terumī, the Mizukage, when confronted with allegations that Akatsuki had been created in Kirigakure, offered only her desire to find out how Akatsuki worked in to her village's history.

To get the meeting back of track, Danzō revealed Madara Uchiha's involvement with Akatsuki. Because of this revelation Mifune, the samurai mediator, proposed having the ninja villages join forces against Akatsuki, to be led by one of the Kage. For this position he nominated Danzō, believing Konoha's demon fox to be the only tailed beast not yet captured by Akatsuki. When questioned by the remaining Kage, Mifune pointed out why they were unfit for the job: Gaara was too young; Onoki was too old and had used too much of Akatsuki in the past; Kirigakure had suspicious connections with Akatsuki; A's destruction of the table showed him to be too easily overcome by his emotions.

Before the Kage could come to an agreement, Ao, one of Mei's bodyguards, revealed that Danzō was manipulating Mifune. Before he could be pressed on this matter, Zetsu of Akatsuki appeared and told the Kage that Sasuke Uchiha was nearby. A and his bodyguards left to fight Sasuke, and Gaara followed with his own bodyguards soon afterwards. While A was gone Danzō explained what he perceived to be a need for the ninja world to be brought together in order to stop the endless conflicts. When Sasuke arrived at their location Danzō fled with his bodyguards, he being Sasuke's target.

Sasuke was unable to follow Danzō, being stopped by Mei and Onoki. Before he could be killed by the latter he was saved by Madara, who sent him away to recuperate. When A and Gaara returned, Madara told those in attendance about his Moon's Eye Plan: his desire to unite the tailed beasts back into the original Ten-Tails so that he might bring the whole world under his control. To that end he requests the Kage give him the Eight-Tails and the Nine-Tails. When the Kage refuse, Madara declares the start of the Fourth Great Shinobi World War and leaves.

Resolutions
With these new developments, the Kage and Mifune agreed to form a Shinobi Alliance, pooling their resources to battle Akatsuki and their seven tailed beasts. With the revelation that Kumogakure still had Killer Bee, and the Hokage's previous actions, Ē was selected as the group's leader. They choose not to work with Danzō but, knowing Konoha's contributions would be vital to the war effort, agree to inform Konoha of their plan through other channels: Kakashi Hatake.

In terms of tactics, the Kage decide to immediately secure Bee and Naruto to make sure they do not fall into Akatsuki's hands. Onoki suggests using the two on the battlefield to bring the war to a swift end, but the other Kage disagree, believing that would make it too easy for Akatsuki to capture them. Instead, protecting them both will become a top priority. The Kage Summit ends, and the Kage depart to inform their respective villages and daimyo of their decisions.