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Chapter 102 - NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 17: Did Uchihas Survive?

Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm

 

NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 17: Did Uchihas Survive?

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Author's Note:

Hey guys! I changed my mind, I'll be posting another chapter tomorrow to compensate for the missed Wednesday chapter. So, get ready for a 3-day marathon of chapter releases! 🎉🔥

Hope you all enjoy the ride. Don't forget to comment and reply your support means everything! Let me know your thoughts! 🙏💥

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 "Power is not just in the might of one's hands, but in the weight of one's words and the will to see them through."

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 Join ThirdFireTriden on Pa(tre)(on) the link is in description or type my name in google search with (p)(a)(t)(r)(e)(o)(n) remove the space and bracket!

Chapter 18: Politics at its best. IS OUT!

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!!!!!!!!!(NEW) (End of the Arc) 

Chapter 30 – Aftermath. IS OUT!!!!!!!!!

 Chapter 31: The Growing Crown, The cracking Roots. (NEW)

 Chapter 32: The Wandering Monk. (NEW)

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Previously on NTLHOS-2:

"No. Not that," the masked man said, his eye narrowing. "How did you disrupt my space-time jutsu?"

"Oh, that? Now, that would be telling. You used a seal to punch a hole in my containment seal, and I hijacked that seal the one you had tied to your realm to bring you back. Alas, I wasn't lucky enough." What he didn't tell was this was one time shot, since the seal was deactivated by the masked man.

The masked man clenched his fists. "We will meet again… Uzumaki Naruto."

And then he was gone.

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Now:

Naruto exhaled slowly as the masked man vanished, the suffocating tension finally easing as silence reclaimed the Uchiha compound. The devastation around him was stark the once proud Uchiha compound lay scarred, and smoke curled gently from smouldering ruins. Luckly it won't matter, since the Uchiha's will soon shift.

Naruto's senses were too sharp to miss the eyes watching him from the shadows. Slowly, one by one, figures began to emerge Uchihas, hesitant but armed, weapons held cautiously.

None had dared to intervene in the battle between Naruto and the masked pretender. The paralysis poison that had poisoned the Uchiha water supply was finally fading, thanks to Naruto's clones administering emergency medical care throughout the compound. Yet, even with such efforts, casualties had been severe more than Naruto had anticipated.

The silence finally broke as a voice, firm yet strained, echoed across the ruins.

"Stand down," Shisui commanded softly, his face pale but resolute as he stepped forward. "Lord Naruto is not our enemy."

One by one, the Uchihas lowered their weapons, slowly emerging from the cover of darkness. Each of them bore haunted expressions, gratitude mixed with grief etched into their faces. Several approached Naruto cautiously, murmuring their thanks, bowing deeply as they placed his hand atop their heads a gesture of profound respect and gratitude. This was very rare from Uchihas of all the people.

Naruto nodded quietly in response, eyes shadowed by the heavy realization of how much had been lost.

As he stepped further into the open, the crowd parted. Lady Mikoto Uchiha emerged, her usually regal bearing shattered. Her eyes, usually steady and commanding, were glazed with disbelief and anguish.

Naruto paused, allowing her to approach. Her steps faltered for a brief second before she broke into a sprint, wrapping her arms tightly around him, her whole frame trembling.

"Naruto…" Mikoto's voice cracked. "My son… Why? How could he do this?"

Naruto's expression softened as he gently placed his hand on her back. He felt the subtle trembling of her shoulders, the silent sobs that shook her slender form.

"Lady Mikoto…" Naruto spoke quietly. "This isn't your fault. Itachi made his choices. I promise you… I will find answers."

Mikoto pulled back slightly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, pain etched clearly on her face. "He even killed Fugaku," she whispered bitterly, her voice heavy with unspeakable sorrow. "His own father… dead at the hands of my own child. While there was little love lost between us… but Itachi… a kinslayer… a patricide."

Naruto felt the weight of those words settle heavily upon him. While he and Fugaku had never seen eye to eye, the man had been strong and honourable in his own right. Naruto's fists tightened involuntarily, his chakra flaring for a brief moment before he forced himself to calm. For in Naruto's eyes, Fugaku's greatest fault had always been his blind love for his son and that made Fugaku's death more tragic, to fall by his own son's hand was a betrayal too bitter to bear.

Shisui approached carefully, the ever-pragmatic shinobi appearing beside them. His usually calm expression was replaced by grim, a hardness that was rare in the gentle warrior.

"My lord," Shisui began respectfully, bowing slightly. "The evacuation is complete, though…" He hesitated, eyes darkening further. "The losses were severe. At least a quarter of the clan has been killed. Many of them…" His voice faltered slightly. "…were children."

Naruto's heart clenched painfully. Children innocent lives extinguished in this senseless madness.

"And Lord Fugaku?" Naruto asked, though he already knew the grim answer. Still, he needed to hear it explicitly from Shisui.

Shisui's jaw tightened. "Killed in his own house. Lady Mikoto survived only because Itachi allowed it. But we now suspect the reason was more practical than merciful."

Naruto's eyes sharpened. "The wards."

Shisui nodded grimly. "Precisely. Mikoto-sama's death would have collapsed the final protections around the compound. Itachi wouldn't risk alerting the village before he could take out his primary targets. And…" Shisui's voice dipped low. "I fear there's something more sinister behind his actions... Lord Fugaku's eyes"

Naruto met his gaze, already suspecting what Shisui was about to reveal. "You believe he took Fugaku's eyes. What about the seal?"

"Yes," Shisui confirmed. He leaned in and whispered into Naruto's ear, "Itachi, as the heir, was given the key by Lord Fugaku when he was still the Clan Head. If he has it, then the next time we meet, he will possess the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan."

"I'll change the key once everyone is safely in Uzushio."

A silence stretched between them, heavy with implications.

"I underestimated him," Naruto admitted, quietly but with cold certainty. "I was too lenient, I should have foreseen such an action. Itachi was always talented, but now… he has willingly walked the darkest path."

Naruto glanced up, sensing the encroaching chakra signatures ANBU and village shinobi were finally coming out.

"Shisui, take control here," Naruto instructed firmly. "Keep everyone together and accounted for, especially in this chaos and hubbub. Do not let anyone and I mean anyone enter this area at any cost."

He then turned to Mikoto, gently guiding her toward Shisui. "Lady Mikoto will need your support," he said, his tone softer but no less commanding. "Protect her with your life."

Shisui gave a nod. "As you say, Your Grace."

Naruto knew as the masked man was forced to remove the seal that had punched through Naruto's containment seal, his control over the Uchiha clan's ward seals was also broken, and then war wards collapsed. Residual chakra from the clashes spread outward from the clan compound, like smoke pouring from an opened room. Naruto could sense Konoha's ANBU and shinobis, who had by now surrounded the compound, and Hiruzen standing quietly behind a tree, observing the aftermath with an expressionless face.

Naruto nodded. "Good. Now go. ANBU will be here soon keep the so called calm. I'll handle the explanations."

Shisui moved swiftly, organizing the survivors, his voice taking charge. Mikoto lingered a moment, her eyes haunted.

"Naruto…" Her voice trembled slightly. "Thank you."

He nodded once more, a ghost of a sad smile touching his lips before she stepped away.

As the remaining Uchihas fell into order, Naruto stood alone in the ruined courtyard, his expression hardening again. He turned to face the approaching figures from Konoha.

A squad of ANBU materialized around him, their captain stepping forward warily.

 

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Hiruzen Sarutobi was finally about to retire to his chambers after a taxing evening. He had spent hours deliberating, searching for loopholes and a viable way out alongside his advisors, then Sukino and her brother, and had even summoned Shikaku Nara to gain additional perspective. The discussions had revolved around managing the fallout and rewriting the founding charter. On top of that, there was still the pressing matter of the Kage Summit scheduled for the following evening.

As Hiruzen was winding things up with Shikaku, preparing to finally retire for the night, he sensed it, a massive ripple of residual chakra erupting violently in the direction of the Uchiha compound. No ordinary barrier could contain this much power, except perhaps the old war wards the Uchihas had relied on for generations. Before he could even process the implications fully, his senses were assaulted, and he instinctively winced as the village's barrier relayed a chaotic flood of information directly into his mind.

"Lord Hokage?" Shikaku questioned sharply, sensing the sudden tension.

"The Uchiha compound," Hiruzen replied immediately, his voice urgent. "It's Naruto, and another... perhaps Itachi. Move!"

Without another word Hiruzen changed to battle armours, both men vanished in a burst of speed, hurtling through Konoha's darkened streets towards the Uchiha District. As they closed in, Hiruzen could feel the lingering chakra saturating the air, a storm of unimaginable strength unleashed. The remnants of the battle were everywhere shattered stone, scorched earth, and flickering remnants of seals that had finally failed under the strain.

As they arrived, the chaos resolved into clarity. Naruto stood, cloaked in a red storm chakra that rippled violently around him, facing a masked figure whose form was twisted and intangible. Nearby, Itachi lay motionless, leaning on some strange, plant-like creature.

Hiruzen's pulse quickened. He gathered chakra, ready to leap into the fray, when abruptly the masked man's form shimmered and vanished, his space-time ability spiriting him away from the battlefield.

The Hokage froze, mind racing furiously as snippets of the conversation he'd overheard between Naruto and the masked figure echoed ominously.

"Uchihas war seals… Madara Uchiha… Itachi masscareing" he murmured, dread pooling in his stomach. The situation was spiralling beyond his control faster than he'd imagined possible. If their words held truth, Konoha was now entangled worst kind politics ever.

Before he could intervene the masked man vanished.

His mind was running a mile a minute. The implications of this event were staggering, leaving him nearly breathless with dread. If the masked man truly had ties to Madara Uchiha, the situation was far worse than he'd feared, but Uzumaki claimed him to a imposter…. And now, with the massacre Itachi had committed under that man's influence, their troubles had only compounded.

The Fire Daimyo would be furious, and Hiruzen had no idea how far he would have to go to appease the emperor. And then there was the issue of the other Kage currently present in Konoha. Thankfully, he'd imposed a curfew, restricting their movement within the village. They wouldn't see the immediate chaos tonight, but tomorrow… tomorrow would be another matter entirely.

The Uchihas could easily accuse him of orchestrating this massacre. The animosity between the Uchiha and the village leadership had never been a secret. Before, he could have blamed their actions on the planned coup attempt, but now, after they'd willingly chosen to leave, that excuse no longer held weight. Even unfounded accusations would be enough to irrevocably shatter the fragile trust between Konoha and its clans.

Hiruzen let out a heavy sigh, his fists tightening at his sides.

He glanced at the ANBU captain who had appeared silently at his side, awaiting orders. Hiruzen straightened his posture, gathering the last threads of his authority.

"Request an audience with the Emperor," he instructed firmly. "Make sure it's away from the crowd."

"Hai, Hokage-sama," the masked ANBU confirmed and vanished instantly.

Hiruzen turned sharply toward Shikaku, his voice clipped and precise. "Inform Sukino and your father immediately of what's happened here. Begin preparing strategy immediatly."

Shikaku nodded once, understanding the implications. "Right away."

He vanished into the night without further question.

The Hokage pivoted, addressing the remaining ANBU around him. "Dog," he called, addressing Kakashi directly. "Assemble the elders excluding Sukino and inform them of this incident. Confine them to the council chamber once you inform them."

The Dog-masked ANBU stiffened visibly, hesitating. "Is that truly necessary, Hokage-sama? To confine the elders, of all people?"

Hiruzen's voice turned to steel, leaving no room for debate. "Yes."

He pulled out a sealed scroll, tossing it firmly to Kakashi. "My orders, should anyone question them. No one leaves or speaks without my express permission."

The steel in his voice left no room for argument.

"Understood, Hokage-sama," Kakashi replied stiffly, vanishing along with the visibly troubled Shikaku.

Did the elders have a hand in this foolishness?

He clenched his fists tightly, frustration gnawing at him. If the elders had any part in this madness, the repercussions would be severe. 

"If the Elders had a hand in this madness…" Hiruzen murmured darkly, fists clenching so tightly his knuckles turned white, "I swear upon every soul I've ever lost, this time Danzo or his friends won't hides behind their friendship. I'll gut them myself and hang them out to dry myself if that's the price I must pay to restore a semblance of sanity in this situation."

As silence fell upon the ruined courtyard, Hiruzen stepped toward the trees, to the quiet clearing nearby. His mind raced. Naruto had managed to isolate the fight outside the residential zone, preventing greater collateral damage, yet the political damage was far from contained.

"Itachi," Hiruzen whispered bitterly. "Of all people did this foolishness now of all the time…"

The Kages gathered here, even under strict curfew, wouldn't stay ignorant for long. Tomorrow's summit would reveal Konoha's dirty laundry to the entire Elemental Nations.

"And I thought things couldn't get worse," he muttered darkly, shaking his head as he moved deeper into the shadows.

He was proven wrong again.

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Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped into the clearing, the moonlight filtering softly through the canopy, casting ethereal patterns across the forest floor. Naruto Uzumaki stood waiting, his storm cloak crackling subtly with latent power, his cerulean eyes glowing slightly.

"I can't exactly wish you a fine night, can I, Lord Hiruzen?" Naruto remarked dryly, his voice laced with a dangerous undertone.

Hiruzen exhaled slowly, meeting Naruto's gaze. "Indeed, that would be inappropriate given tonight's tragedy, Your Grace."

Naruto's eyes narrowed sharply. "Tragedy? That's an understatement, Lord Hokage. Tell me," Naruto's voice was deceptively calm, "how exactly did this happen? The Uchiha clan, a founding clan, guaranteed safe passage by your own daimyo in writing was nearly slaughtered under your watch. And it was I, an outsider, who intervened to stop it, though not without considerable loss."

Hiruzen's jaw clenched briefly, the muscles twitching beneath his skin. "I assure you, I had nothing to do with this atrocity."

"That's difficult to believe," Naruto countered instantly, stepping closer. "It seems awfully convenient, doesn't it? The night before the Uchiha are due to leave, one of their most vocal supporters is responsible for a massacre? And let's not forget, your Daimyo had promised their safety. It raises questions, doesn't it? Especially considering Itachi's younger brother, the one who could legally inherit after him wasn't targeted. Quite convenient indeed that founder's charter wouldn't be touched by his survival."

Naruto's chakra pulsed slightly, reflecting his emotions. "Now, the Uchiha lie in ruins, many dead, just as they were about to fulfil an agreement your Daimyo personally guaranteed. An agreement recognized internationally."

"I have no reason to betray such an agreement," Hiruzen asserted, his voice hardened by frustration. "Especially now, when all eyes are upon us."

Naruto tilted his head, a dangerous smirk ghosting his lips. "Oh? Yet history says otherwise, Lord Hiruzen. Or have you forgotten how easily the Treaty of Siajin was discarded? Your promises haven't always held true in the past. Was the Uzumaki Clan given safe haven here or in the capital, as per the treaty? And what about my own ignorance was that merely an opportunity for you to one day take over the Uzushio Isles? Just like young Sasuke could have been made to be? The world remembers, and there is a pattern now."

Hiruzen's fingers twitched, his anger flaring briefly before he schooled it, forcing a measured response. "You know as well as I do that was different."

"Was it?" Naruto's voice sharpened. "An oath broken is still an oath broken."

Hiruzen's eyes flashed with frustration. "Your Grace, consider this carefully. Itachi Uchiha was one of my most vocal supporters against his clan's departure. Why would I order such an attack, especially knowing the suspicion it would invite?"

Naruto tilted his head slightly, mockery evident in his expression. "Like I said before Itachi's brother, Sasuke, was conveniently not present at the compound tonight. Interesting, isn't it? If he survives, he can be easily installed as regent, repudiating the treaty with the Daimyo. Clever, Hiruzen. Ruthless, even for you."

"That's preposterous," Hiruzen growled softly, frustration bleeding through his composed facade.

"Is it?" Naruto pressed, stepping forward menacingly. " There is a glaring hole in your argument. Why was there no guard within a 10 km radius of the Uchiha Clan District who could have informed you that the war wards had been activated? I can understand that I sensed the activation of the war barriers because I am a Uzumaki seal master. And I don't begrudge you for not sensing it, since the war wards have a concealing mechanism that only a proficient seal master can detect. Which, apparently, the masked man didn't know. But anyone patrolling could have seen the barriers going up. The greatest weakness for the concealment ability of the war wards are the sight. Which coincidently no was there to witness."

Hiruzen's thoughts raced furiously. The absence of the police force had stretched his shinobi thin. But could that oversight be accidental, or was it Danzo at work again?

Naruto, noting his hesitation, scoffed in disgust. "You're pondering excuses already? Fine. You do that, Lord Hokage." He stepped back, his gaze hardening further. "Meanwhile, I will summon the Fire Daimyo to answer for his blatant violation of our agreement."

Hiruzen's unleased his chakra in frustration. "Wait, Naruto—"

"Wait, what, Hiruzen?" Naruto began, his voice laced with a chilling calmness. "How the times have changed. In the past, when you lost an argument or were pushed to your limits, you would flex your power to cow people into submission. You would make them bend to your will with sheer force. But unlike before... you can't do that anymore. At least not with me."

"Remember my words in that Fire Court," Naruto continued, his tone dropping to a dangerous whisper. "I said then: Mark my words, a day will come when I will have you by the neck, and I will do what you once did to me. You will see how it feels to be the one trapped in the web of your own making. I will have another meeting with the Four Daimyo. If I don't have your precious Fire Lord sweating and bleeding enough to fill a fucking river, I'll personally walk up to the Uzumaki shrine and hand over my clan name."

The Hokage's aging features tightened in a subtle show of restraint, the only indication that Naruto's words had hit their mark. He had been the one to hold the reins of power for so long, but now, it was clear: the tables had turned.

Naruto wasn't just a child anymore. He was a man. Despite Hiruzen's intelligence, despite his years of experience, the truth was undeniable: Naruto was no longer someone he could intimidate with words alone.

Hiruzen knew that Naruto, despite knowing or hypothesizing the innocence of the people involved, held the power to unleash his wrath on the Daimyo. That wrath would then ripple to Konoha, where it would be felt by the masses. 

But Naruto had already vanished in a flicker of red, leaving only the fading echoes of his storm cloak.

Alone in the silent clearing, Hiruzen exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the night press heavily upon his shoulders. His fists tightened involuntarily, and a rare, grim resolve settled upon him.

He straightened, the steel returning to his gaze.

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To be continued. Stay tuned and let me know your thoughts! Like and comment! 🙏🔥

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 Join ThirdFireTriden on Pa(tre)(on) the link is in description or type my name in google search with (p)(a)(t)(r)(e)(o)(n) remove the space and bracket!

Chapter 18: Politics at its best. IS OUT!

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!!!!!!!!!(NEW) (End of the Arc) 

Chapter 30 – Aftermath. IS OUT!!!!!!!!!

 Chapter 31: The Growing Crown, The cracking Roots. (NEW)

 Chapter 32: The Wandering Monk. (NEW)

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