Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 19: Old Memory
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Author's Note:
Thank you all for reading and unwavering support. Please Like and comment. 🙏🔥
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The past is a place of reference, not residence. Growth is measured not by how much we remember, but by how well we move forward.
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Previously on NTLHOS-2:
"What consequence?" Naruto asked with a gulp. "Punish me physically lashes, anything. I am willing to submit."
The old man gave him a sad look. "The punishment will suit the crime. When you reach Uzushio, you will bear the sadness."
Before he could ask what sadness, the old man just vanished.
Naruto swallowed, a lump forming in his throat.
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Now:
Naruto walked through the streets of Konoha, disguised, blending in with the sea of faces as the lockdown had been lifted and preparations to receive the Daimyo had begun. Whispers of the "Uchiha Massacre," as it was now called, reached his ears. He sensed the presence of someone trailing him but chose not to acknowledge it, nor did he give any sign that he was aware.
His steps carried him toward one of the old training grounds, the one where Kakashi had once failed him. A forlorn expression appeared in his face as he approached a particular tree, running his fingers over an old kunai mark. Here, in this very spot, was where his kunai had passed harmlessly through the air, missing Kakashi by inch. He reminisced about how much had changed since that time. Back then, his greatest worry was where he would find his next meal or whether he would have a roof to sleep if he failed Kakashi's test. The orphanage was no longer an option after his graduation from the Academy.
Now, those concerns seemed almost laughable. The worries of a single meal or a roof over his head had been replaced by the burdens of millions. His people's survival depended on him. Once, he had struggled just to lay a finger on the bells in Kakashi's test. Now, he could dispatch a hundred Kakashis without breaking a sweat. If he wished, he could toy with Kakashi just as he had once been toyed with. But he was not petty to something like that.
As he turned to leave the training ground, a voice cut through the silence, halting him in his tracks.
"So, Sensei, you won't even acknowledge your student?"
Naruto turned toward the direction where she was concealed. A small smile ghosted his lips.
"I thought you didn't want to be disturbed, so I let you follow me in peace. It has been a while, Hinata."
At his words, a figure materialized in front of him. Hinata, clad in her battle gear, regarded him with a composed gaze.
"Indeed, Sensei, it has been a while."
Naruto examined her for a moment before nodding approvingly. "You've grown into a fine woman. From the things I hear, 'Hinata, the Iron Princess of the Hyūga.' Hm. It has a nice ring to it."
A faint blush dusted her cheeks. "Rumours can be just that—rumours." She observed him keenly. "You've changed, not just in appearance. You've found some kind of balance within yourself which was not there the last time."
"I have," Naruto admitted. "But what is the Princess of the Hyūga doing following a lowly man like me?"
Hinata let out a quiet scoff. "The lowly man before me is an emperor in truth, while I am only a princess by nickname."
Naruto chuckled and sat down on a low rock in the middle of the training ground. "How has life been treating you?"
"Life has been good, Sensei. I have achieved almost everything I once envisioned. The Hyūga no longer practice slavery. I have made a name for myself, grown confident… Nothing compared to you, though."
Naruto smirked. "Flattery, Hinata. Never in a million years would I have guessed that the meek, shy girl from before would be so good with words. Bold. Outgoing. You've done well for yourself. Tell me, is there someone special, or should I be expecting an invitation to my old student's wedding anytime soon?"
Hinata blushed again, though this time there was also something distant in her gaze. "I've been seeing Konohamaru lately." She hesitated, her expression betraying the briefest flicker of something unspoken, something that could have been before she quickly shifted the topic. "But I don't think Lord Hokage would allow you to receive an invitation to his grandson's wedding."
Naruto laughed. "True indeed. That boy and I in the same room would yield nothing good."
Hinata's gaze grew serious. "So, Sensei… Are you truly planning to abdicate your claim?"
"Yes."
Hinata studied him carefully before shaking her head. "I know you. There is something we are all missing. Naruto Uzumaki doesn't make foolish decisions. And this is a foolish move. Anyone with a sane mind can see that."
"Perhaps I have lost my sanity. Tsunade always complains that I am growing more insane by the day."
At the mention of Tsunade, something flickered across Hinata's face, an emotion gone as quickly as it had come. She exhaled slowly, shifting gears. "How has your training been going? Or have you been slacking since becoming an S-rank threat? I really want to know, what does an SS-rank shinobi do for training?"
Naruto smirked. "Oh, I never slack. But don't change the topic, Hinata. I know you too well. You're worried about what I'm planning and how it will affect Konoha… and the Hyūga."
Hinata frowned. "Of course I am. You don't do things without reason, and whatever reason you have, it can't be good for Konoha or my clan."
Naruto chuckled. "Oh, Hinata, you wound your old Sensei with such serious accusations." At her unimpressed look, he continued, "It's for me to know and for you to guess."
Hinata sighed, recognizing that she would get no answers today. Instead, she pivoted to a different matter. "While many might have forgotten, the Hyūga clan still owes you a debt. When are you planning to claim it? For you to have not claimed it when you went toe-to-toe with Lord Third in the Konoha High Council, nor during the council of your banishment in the Fire Court, means it will be something we wouldn't like that you plan to ask of us."
Naruto's smile turned knowing. "Bravo, but you are mistaken about why I haven't claimed it yet. In the first case, I didn't need the Hyūga to win against the Hokage. And in the latter… there was little the Hyūga could have done against the Daimyo." His smile deepened. "But you are correct about one thing. Before I leave… I will collect my debt."
Hinata narrowed her eyes. "And it will be something we won't like, won't it?"
Bye, Hinata. We shall meet in the council, come with your father. It will be interesting," Naruto said, giving her a cryptic smirk as the winds shifted around them. Then, without another word, he vanished from sight, disappearing even from the Byakugan's gaze, as if he had never been there.
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Onoki sat in the spacious chamber alongside A and Gaara, sipping tea.
"I never thought a day would come when an Uchiha would turn against their own kind," Onoki mused, his voice carrying the weight of decades of experience.
Gaara, his gaze shifted, responded without hesitation. "Itachi Uchiha was not just any Uchiha. He was the heir to his clan."
A exhaled sharply, his large hands gripping the cup as though it might shatter beneath his fingers. "I cannot imagine what the Fire Daimyo and Hokage will have to do to appease Lord Uzumaki, Now."
Onoki smiled at that. Indeed, for the Fire Daimyo to come on short notice and postpone the Kage Summit for two days… I think the Fire Daimyo will make Hiruzen jump through hoops like a trained monkey to entertain and appease Lord Uzumaki. After all, it cannot be seen that the Fire Daimyo broke a treaty whose ink has not even dried, one that was signed by all the Daimyos.
A scoffed, shaking his head. "I wouldn't want to be Lord Third in this moment."
The amusement faded from Onoki's expression, replaced by something colder. "That is what concerns me. Hiruzen is truly cornered now. And in my experience, Hiruzen Sarutobi is most dangerous when he has no way out. Throughout every past war, when Konoha has been pushed to its limits, it is Hiruzen who has done unspeakable things, shedding his morals and grandfatherly veneer to reveal the shinobi beneath it all. That is the man the Elemental Nations fear."
Gaara frowned. "But what can he do when even his own Daimyo will order him?"
Onoki sighed, setting his cup down. "Losing the Uchiha itself is already a heavy blow. Men of my generation like Hiruzen understand that the Uchiha are among the three most powerful clans. It is only because Konoha domesticated them that they grew weak. For the Uchiha, Konoha was a cage that dulled their claws. Left in the wild once more, they will become the boogeymen of the Elemental Nations again in generation or two. Unlike us shinobis, the Daimyos does not understand the full value of shinobi. But we do. And the Uchiha… they are more valuable than almost anything in this world. Given time, they will make S-rank shinobi like students graduating from an academy."
Gaara narrowed his eyes. "If that's the case, why didn't Konoha use them optimally?"
A remained silent, though the way his jaw tightened spoke volumes. Onoki, however, met Gaara's gaze directly. "Only an Uchiha can control an Uchiha. The moment Hiruzen utilizes the Uchiha to their full potential, they grow strong enough to stop taking orders from anyone who is not one of their own. That is one of the reasons. There are other rumors whispers of how Madara Uchiha attained an advanced version of the Sharingan. Konoha always feared that allowing the Uchiha too much freedom would make them uncontrollable."
Gaara's brow furrowed. "Then why is Lord Uzumaki eager to take them in?"
Onoki leaned back, his expression unreadable. "Because there are exceptions to that rule. Like Senju Hashirama. That man commanded enough respect from the Uchiha, that they left Madara and follow him. While Lord Tobirama was not a fan of the Uchiha, he respected power, which Uchiha also did. Naruto Uzumaki… he is cut from the same cloth. He has some insurance, something that ensures the Uchiha will follow his descendants even after he is gone. What that is, I do not know. Otherwise he wouldn't gamble with such a clan. Rest assured Lord Uzumaki understands exactly what he is getting upto."
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In another part of the village, the villagers gathered at the main gate, their murmurs of anticipation rising as the scouts confirmed the Daimyo's chariot was nearing Konoha's entrance. To welcome him, Lord Third, his advisors, and the clan heads stood in solemn formation, awaiting his arrival.
As the Daimyo's chariot the very same from which Naruto had once rescued him rolled to a stop at the gate, the entire village, including the Hokage himself, dropped to one knee in reverence.
Yet, the Daimyo who got out of the chariot, neither smiled in acknowledgment nor offered a wave. His voice, cold and impassive, rang through the tense silence. "Rise."
Without further ceremony, he strode forward on foot. Hiruzen fell into step just behind him, his expression carefully neutral.
"Hiruzen, you better have some good news for me."
The Third grimaced. "There has been no new information, except that it has been confirmed beyond doubt that someone attempted to frame Danzo. They bypassed Lady Mito's and Lord Tobirama's recognition seals and authorized an illegal change in ANBU patrols. That is why we had no knowledge of the war barrier."
The Daimyo did not slow his pace, nor did he appear impressed. "Excuses. That is all I hear. Could you at least capture this Itachi Uchiha or the other masked infiltrator?"
Hiruzen inhaled deeply, steadying himself. "No, Your Grace. The masked man is a user of space-time jutsu. The moment he slipped from Lord Uzumaki's grasp, no trace of him could be found within miles of the village."
"More incompetence." The Daimyo's voice carried anger and a tired, scathing disappointment. "Has Lord Uzumaki or Lady Mikoto given any indication of when they expect an audience?"
Hiruzen hesitated before answering. "About that, Your Grace… Lady Mikoto has abdicated her position. Shisui Uchiha, her younger brother, has assumed leadership."
The Daimyo's expression darkened. "One more of your foolish decisions coming back to bite us. Until now, we could use the fact that Itachi was their heir and son of their lord, we could have shifted part of the blame. Now, we cannot even do that. Shisui Uchiha has been a loud detractor of Itachi. He will claim that he was the rightful heir and that this entire disaster is a direct result of your interference by proxy, mine. If he had assumed the clan head position, as their laws dictated, this would have never happened."
Hiruzen had reached the same conclusion, and the thought made his stomach twist. There were many more and disastrous arguments that could be levied against him things the Daimyo had not even considered, things that had already been speculated by Sukino and her brother.
"Has Lord Uzumaki given any word on the meeting?"
"Yes, Your Grace. He relayed a message signed to me, he will meet with you in two hours."
The Daimyo's scowl deepened at the power play. To be made to wait within his own village, at the leisure of another, was an insult. But alas, at this juncture, he could no longer afford to be prideful.
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As Naruto left Hinata behind, he ventured through the familiar streets of Konoha, drawn by the pull of nostalgia. His path led him to an old haunt the Shinobi Lounge. Cloaked in a disguise, he adopted the identity of a nameless Konoha shinobi, and tricked the guard with an ANBU identity, an old trick from his ANBU days.
Stepping inside, he was met with a scene that stirred something within him. Raido, Iwashi, and Genma sat together, their laughter carrying across the dimly lit room. It brought back memories of a time long past, when camaraderie had been simpler. Seated among them was Guy, his boundless energy as ever, his animated gestures punctuating whatever story he was telling. Something doesn't change or diminish with time though naruto And then there was Hayate…alive. The last Naruto had heard, the man had barely survived an assassination attempt during the Sand invasion. Seeing him here, laughing in the warmth of old friends, was an unexpected sight.
For a moment, the past and present blurred together. His mind wandered back to the days when these men had been his comrades in arms—before the banishment had hardened his soul and given him new responsibility, before his name had become so infamous. He had once sat among them, laughed with them, trained with them, bled with them. He had been young then, full of promise, full of dreams, and they had helped him in more ways than they would ever understand. For that, he would be eternally grateful to them. He wondered if they had aged the way he had, if they had missed him the same way he missed them.
Time had stolen those days from him, carving its mark on his spirit, his heart. He was no longer the wide-eyed shinobi eager for recognition, no longer the boy who had once fought for a village that now feared even his shadow. Yet, sitting here, even in disguise, there was a ghost of that boy still within him. Watching them was like staring through a looking glass into a world that no longer belonged to him. Now, the moment he removed his disguise, he would either be swamped with admirers or the area would be locked down out of fear of him.
Naruto took a seat in the corner, his drink in hand, watching the moment unfold before him. For a brief time, he allowed himself to simply exist within the past. There was comfort in the familiarity, yet pain in knowing that it was no longer his place. He had become something totally different. A harbinger of storms as they dubbed him, a force that could not afford to be tied to a sentiments that would never truly be his again.
But sentimentality could only hold him for so long. With a quiet exhale, he set his drink down and stood, making his way out of the lounge, leaving behind his past or at least that's what he thought.
As he stepped out into the cool air and walked to the abandoned bridge, a figure appeared before him, blocking his path a shinobi clad in a green spandex suit, his stance unwavering, his presence unmistakable.
We have talked in while Naruto said the now grinning Guy.
Naruto rubbed his temple and preparing for Guys exuberance when he sensed the other four appear few meter behind him unlike guy they were all reserved.
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To be continued. Stay tuned and let me know your thoughts! Like and comment! 🙏🔥
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Chapter 19: Old Memory. IS OUT!
Chapter 20: Once A Legend Alway A Legend.!
Chapter 21: Still Sharp As Ever. IS OUT!!!!!!!!!! (Politics begins)
Chapter 22: The Negotiation. IS OUT!
Chapter 23: Mind Game Through Mind Readers.IS OUT!
Chapter 24: Mind Walkers. IS OUT!
Chapter 25: A Parting Backhand. IS OUT!
Chapter 26: A New Turn. IS OUT!
Chapter 27: A Turn ON A Turn. IS OUT!
Chapter 28: Farewell. IS OUT!!!!!!!!
Chapter 29 – The Oath of the Oath-Keeper. IS OUT!!!!!!!!! (End of the Arc)
Chapter 30 – Aftermath. IS OUT!!!!!!!!!
Chapter 31: The Growing Crown, The cracking Roots.
Chapter 32: The Wandering Monk. 8k long
Chapter 33: A New face Or phase. (NEW) 8k long
Chapter 34: Chinamaki. (NEW) 5.5k long