Naruto: The Last Harbinger Of Storm
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 12: How Times have changed.
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"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible." – Arthur C. Clarke
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NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 13: A New Game Of Chess. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 14: The Power Of A Single Stroke Of A Pen. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 15: Back to Konoha IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 16: The Night of Falling Crows IS OUT!.
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 17: Did Uchihas Survive?. IS OUT!
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!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 24: Mind Walkers. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 25: A Parting Backhand. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 26: A New Turn. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 27: A Turn ON A Turn. IS OUT!!!!!!!!(NEW) (Naruto's new path)
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Last Time On NTLHOS:
"So… are the others here as well?"
"They are," Mifune confirmed.
"And I assume they're not too pleased with what they've heard so far."
The samurai leader gave him a look that could only be described as that of a man observing a particularly foolish child. "I would hope not," he said dryly. "If you are referring to the fate of the Water Daimyo and how his contemporaries have reacted… you have set a dangerous precedent. One that they will want to make an example off for never being repeated again."
Naruto exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Then I guess I have my work cut out for me."
With that, he stepped forward, making his way toward the palace.
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Now:
In the austere, halls of the Hyūga Manor, the council of the Hyūgas had gathered. Sunlight filtered through the carved lattices. Within its chambers, the council had convened, the air thick with anticipation. The noble members of the clan sat on the floor in the tradition Japanese manner, all facing the head of the long, lacquered short table where Hiashi Hyuga, would soon take his seat. They all knew well the reason for this sudden meeting; after all, nearly every major clan in Konoha was holding similar gatherings, strategizing how best to approach the most influential man in the Elemental Nations, a man they had once had banished though not directly.
But for the Hyuga, this meeting bore even greater significance.
The tides of the world had shifted. Once, the Land of Fire held an uncontested monopoly over the economies of the whole continent being the centre of the world in terms of economy and finance, Konoha acting as its invincible arm. But that era had ended with the rise of Uzushiogakure. Where there was once a singular centre of power, there now stood two. The world had become bipolar, one axis remained in Hi no Kuni though veining, while the other had formed in the east, in the lands of Uzushio and its vast dominions. Trade, commerce, and influence had begun to flow like a river in that directions, and for the first time in centuries, the Land of Fire was forced to share its position.
The Hyuga, long accustomed to their status as Konoha's untouchable nobility, now found themselves at a crossroads forced rethink.
Hiashi entered the room, his presence alone enough to command immediate silence. As one, the gathered elders and nobles rose and bowed in unison.
"My Lord," they intoned in unison.
He took his seat at the head of the chamber, his pale eyes scanning the room, reading the tension beneath their rigid exteriors. "What are the agendas for today?" he asked, knowing fully what was to be discussed.
One of the eldest councillors, a man whose beard had long turned silver, cleared his throat and spoke. "My Lord, the most pressing matter is the arrival of His Grace, the Emperor Naruto Uzumaki, in three days' time."
A younger noble though in his thirties, brash and perhaps still too blind to the world outside Konoha's gates, stood up, a scowl lining his face. "Should we address him with such titles when the Land of Fire does not recognize them mainly the Emperor title? Have you all forgotten that just a few years ago, this 'Emperor' was nothing more than an upstart? A man who championed minor clans and commoners in Konoha, undermining the very traditions that have kept us strong....."
"Enough."
Hiashi's voice was calm, but the weight behind it slammed through the chamber like a hammer. His pale eyes fixed the young noble with an glare, silencing him instantly. Hinata who had taken the seat beside her father was shocked with such an outburst which was first time seeing her father in such a state.
"The 'upstart' you speak of has the power to reshape the world as we know it, and if he chose so, he can do so in mere days. Unlike what we tell the public, the Uzumaki clan is of high nobility, this has never been in dispute, not even by our own Daimyo. And only fools would think to contest it if they ever wish to sit at the table where true power is decided."
Silence reigned.
"The accusation that his title of Emperor remains unrecognized by the Daimyos?" Hiashi continued, his tone colder now. "True, none have officially acknowledged it. And yet, despite this, did any of them march to Uzushio's doorstep to challenge it? No. They attended his coronation." He let the words settle, allowing their weight to press down upon the more ignorant fools among them. "Despite what they claim publicly, the world has accepted that title. And the one Daimyo who openly opposed it? He has the privilege of being remembered as the last of his line. The oldest noble bloodline in the Elemental Nations, extinct at the hands of this 'upstart.'"
A sharp breath from one of the nobles, another shifting uneasily in his seat. The truth of it was undeniable.
"This is the most unprecedented event in centuries. A high noble line of the Elemental Nations erased from history. The only person who ever came close to such a feat?" Hiashi allowed a small pause. "Ironically, his own mother."
Gasps echoed through the room which also included hintas, as not many associated Naruto Uzumaki with his mother anymore at least. Where the former was associated with greatness and a man larger than life, the latter is always linked with madness. Many had even forgotten that he was an Uzumaki by virtue of his infamous mother. Few ever dared to speak of Kushina Uzumaki's crime against the Fire Daimyo's house, and fewer still dared to compare it to her son's ascension.
"At the time," Hiashi pressed on, "what she did was the greatest blasphemy ever committed by ninja or otherwise. Yet even she left the Fire Daimyo's youngest son alive. And for that single mercy, Konoha nearly fell to war. The Fire Capital nearly brought us to our knees, demanding her blood in return. It was only the madness of the Fourth Hokage that stopped it." He let out a slow breath. "Do any of you know why Lord Third abdicated his seat to the Fourth?"
A tense silence.
"Oh yes, Minato Namikaze was powerful, but that wasn't why. It was to keep the Fire Daimyo in check. The Third had a clan to protect and legacy that tied him down. He was strong, yes, but not enough to march on the Capital and take the Daimyo's family hostage without consequence. He knew they would tolerate his defiance only so long as he lived, and the moment he died of old age or otherwise, they would hunt every Sarutobi to the last man to make an example of him. After all as the common saying goes, the old families have really long memory, and the one of the oldest of them have the longest."
The elders sat rigid, silent, absorbing every word.
"But the Fourth?" Hiashi gave a humorless chuckle. "He had no legacy to look after. He was mad enough to threaten the Fire Lord for that woman. Above all, he was an SSS-ranked shinobi, an army killer. And now, what even Kushina Uzumaki, the madwoman, couldn't achieve?" His gaze swept the room. "Her son has done it and he did it with a whole village to look after, knowing the consequence."
No one moved. No one dared to even breathe too loudly.
"Rather than hearing the war drums of the Fourth Shinobi War, we hear peace talks and new accords to redefine the very foundation of the world order." Hiashi's tone was absolute, each word a final nail in the coffin of those still living in ignorance. He turned his attention back to the younger noble who had dared to speak so foolishly before. "So if you do not know better, then you best shut up and sit down."
The noble gulped and immediately lowered himself back into his seat, his face pale.
Hiashi's voice dropped to a deadly whisper, his tone leaving no room for misunderstanding. "I will not tolerate any Hyuga bringing the eye of the Emperor upon our clan in an unfavourable light. Should any of you be foolish enough to do so, I will see you hanged, and your family branded in disgrace."
Silence. Nothing but the flickering of candlelight.
Hinata took it all in, her posture straight, her face unreadable. But inside, her emotions churned.
She was grateful- No, beyond grateful for Naruto Sensei. No matter how many titles he held now, no matter if the world called him Emperor, to her, he would always be Naruto-sensei. The one who truly pulled her out of her shell. Not her father, not her team, not Kurenai-sensei. Him. The only person who had ever shattered her self-imposed shell and forced her to step into the world not as a timid heiress, but as a warrior and a leader.
Even now, few to none knows of the training she had undergone under him. Fewer still would believe it.
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Flashback - The Second Day of the Academy after Naruto started teaching.
The classroom was empty when he asked her to stay behind. She had thought he would berate her like her clansmen, or at the best possibility help her with her form, maybe correct her posture. But no. What he had given her was something far worse.
He pushed her.
Some days it was combat, fighting him with the intent to kill. That had been torture, not because of the exhaustion, but because of what he made her do.
One day, after a particularly brutal session, she had snapped. He had taunted her, pressed on every insecurity, every doubt, every lingering shadow of self-hatred and daught that lived inside her. And in that moment, she had thrown a kunai at him, blinded by raw, unchecked rage.
She was sure he would dodge. Oh, he dodged all right. But he substituted himself with a living, breathing man who was tied up.
The kunai had embedded itself deep in the man's throat.
Hinata watched in horror as he fell, blood gurgling from his lips, his last moments captured in her Byakugan in perfect clarity. She had closed her eyes, but the Byakugan saw through eyelids. She couldn't unsee it.
Her stomach churned, her breath came in gasps, but he had stood there, arms folded, watching.
Later, he told her with joy that it was Genjutsu—a powerful one, crafted specifically to bypass the Byakugan's natural resistance. A jutsu that had forced her to witness every agonizing detail, to burn it into her memory, and prevented her from deactivating the Byakugan. She tried Kai, she stabbed her hand, yet it still happened. This was no ordinary illusion—the illusion was on her mind, not on her eyes, forcing her to witness the event. What sort of perverted mind… an innocent man's death…the look in his eyes…. what kind of sadist…?
For two days, she had gone to class like a ghost, an empty shell. Tainted. Stained. A murderer.
She wanted to scream at him, and she did it too. She wanted to hate him, but the hatred burned inside her, misplaced and unfocused. She wanted answers, didn't know the question. Misery was her constant companion for two days.
And then, without warning, he had dragged her to the outskirts of Konoha to a settlement she had never visited. The poor commoner lived here. The place where the forgotten lived.
He had pointed at a woman, her face a frozen mask of agony and sadness.
"Do you know why she looks like that?" he had asked.
And for the first time, she had snapped at him, unleashing every insult, every ounce of venom she could muster. She called him a monster, a sadist, a lunatic who enjoyed breaking people. She had screamed that he had probably tortured that woman just as he had tormented her.
He had not reacted. He had simply looked at her and said, "Go talk to her."
She had refused.
"If you don't," he had said, voice eerily calm, "then by sunrise, six more will die by your hands. Either by seals that will force your body… or by my own method."
She had believed him. Everyone in Konoha spoke of him in hushed whispers. She understood why now. He wasn't a hero. He wasn't a savior. He was a monster.
So she had spoken to the woman.
And the truth had shattered and releaved her.
The man she had thought she had killed? He had raped this woman and daughter who didn't survive. He had taken everything from her. Everything. And the only regret she had was that he had not died a more painful death.
Hinata had felt something that day. Not guilt. Not shame.
Relif.
And when she had returned to the training ground that night, her voice was quiet. "Why?" she had asked him. "Why didn't you just tell me?"
He had smiled. That same infuriating, knowing smile.
"Because if I had," he had said, "you would have still grieved for him. Even knowing he was filth, you would have felt regret. So I gave you something worse… let you believe you killed an innocent man for days. A shock. A burden so great it shattered your shell. And now look at you. You're still standing."
She had bowed. And for the first time, she had apologized to him.
That night, he had given her no training. No instructions. He had simply handed her a scroll. A style of fighting her clan would never approve of.
She had taken it without hesitation. Though despite that day, they never had any special training again. However, he would occasionally check on her, criticize her form, and give her scrolls on certain styles and jutsu that the Hyūga would certainly not appreciate.
Flash Back End
Now, she was one of the most powerful Hyūga, surpassing both Neji and her father, and it was all because of one man. Konohamaru.
Her Sensei Naruto Uzumaki.
It would be a lie if she said she didn't idolize him or that she didn't have a mountain-sized crush on him, despite being in a relationship with Konohamaru.
Oh, she had confessed once. He had smiled, politely rejected her. Told her she was still a child. Which she was when he was banished, that she had duties to her clan, to her bloodline. She had even offered to leave with him that night.
His answer had been firm.
"You are the Hyuga heiress. You have a role to fulfill."
And when she had asked, "What if one day I stand against you?"
His smile had not wavered. "Then that day, Hinata Hyuga, my student, will step aside for Lady Hinata Hyuga, the heiress of her clan. Duty comes first. I taught you to the best of my ability while I was Konoha's shinobi. I can say, proudly, that I gave my all for Konoha while it was my duty. And I hope that my teachings will win over your personal feelings."
Then he had vanished.
And she had become serious.
She had risen in the clan, become a major voice, overthrown the old fossils, abolished the Cage Bird Seal with an alternative based on Uchiha's made by her sensei. She had secured an trade thruogh Shisui Uchiha, on the usage of the seals.
And now, here she sat, her face unreadable, her body still. She was the strongest Hyuga since her grandfather's time. If she pushed for now, she could even overthrow her father and take leadership.
But she had a duty.
She was thrilled to see her sensei again. But deep down, she prayed this kage summit would not place them on opposite sides of the battlefield. If it does then Uuzmaki Naruto's Student will win over the Hinata Hyuga and will do what necessary for her clan.
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The halls of the Land of Iron's grand plaza were filled with opulence as Naruto Uzumaki approached the chamber where the five Daimyo awaited. His steps echoed against the polished stone. He had made it a point to avoid private audiences with any of them before this moment, subtly avoiding without being rude to ensure that his first meeting with the rulers of the elemental nations happened here, in full view of them all.
As he neared the chamber, he took a deep breath. The samurai stationed at the entrance bowed in unison and swung open the heavy doors, allowing him entry.
Inside, the Daimyo sat in their seats, robed in opulent silks, their posture straightening ever so slightly as he entered. It was only a fractional movement, but Naruto caught it. The mere presence of the Lord of Uzumakis was enough to put them on edge, how the times had changed since he was last in the Fire Daimyo's presence. Though he himself was nervous, he simply hid it better.
Behind him, Fūka and Kimimaro moved, vanishing into the shadows of the high ceiling along with the hidden ANBU detail. Mei Terumi trailed slightly behind, her posture poised, her presence mirroring the personal attendants of the other Daimyo, Mei is his assistant come advisor for today.
He approached his designated seat, nodding in acknowledgment to each Daimyo in turn, addressing them by name and title. After being acknowledged in return, his gaze flicked to the advisors beside the Fire Daimyo, his sharp eyes locking onto a familiar figure.
"Nice to see you again, Lady Sukino. To this day, In Uzushio I give my advisors your example of what a true strategist and mastermind looks like" he said smoothly.
She bowed deeply, as custom demanded. "Your Grace honours me with his attention and praise."
Then Naruto turned to the second advisor, feigning curiosity. "And you… You seem familiar. Who are you exactly?" His voice was light, almost casual, but his eyes held an unmistakable edge.
The man's fist twitched at the insult, his jaw tightening, but he bowed nonetheless. "Your Grace, I am Lord Jeramy Aethil."
Naruto tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "Oh. A minor lord." He turned away, dismissing him without another glance.
A flash of anger crossed Aethil's face, but he did not dare respond.
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The Earth Daimyo cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "I would like to thank Lord Mifune for hosting us," he began, his voice thick with authority. "The samurai, unlike the barbaric shinobi, have always upheld honor."
Mifune, standing at the head of the hall, bowed his head slightly. "The samurai are honored by your words, my lord," he replied. Despite being a powerful figure, Mifune remained below the Daimyo in station. The land of iron had no Daimyo of its own, and yet by hierarchy, he was expected to defer.
But all knew better. Mifune's neutrality had always been a choice, not a limitation.
The Earth Daimyo wasted no time. "My fellow rulers, let us not waste time with pleasantries. There is an order to this world, an unspoken pact that has stood for thousands of years. The rule of our families is sacrosanct, the foundation upon which our civilization is built." He leaned forward, his expression dark. "And yet, what do we see before us? The so-called Lord Uzumaki has shattered every law we hold dear. He has invaded the domain of a high noble, taken his capital, seized his palace, and hoisted a foreign flag upon it! That alone is an affront to the order we have preserved for generations."
His voice rose, gaining strength. "But what cannot, will not, be tolerated is his execution of a Daimyo let alone a major one. He did not merely defeat Lord Matsugeva Amorian, he wiped his line from existence. He has done what no ruler in history has dared to do, ended the oldest of the noble house that ruled in these lands." His eyes burned with outrage. "This is the greatest crime ever committed against the order of the elemental nations!"
Naruto sat in silence, hands still clasped in front of him as the other four Daimyo nodded in agreement.
The Lightning Daimyo spoke next, his voice grave. "The execution of Lord Amorian and his family will not go unanswered, Lord Uzumaki. What say you?"
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Naruto finally moved, his eyes flicking to the Lightning Daimyo before scanning the room. His hands remained clasped, his expression unreadable, but when he spoke, his voice carried the storm.
"Yes," he said simply. "Lord Amorian was executed by my own hand, by my ancestral sword 'The Arashi'." He let the words settle before continuing. "Yes, his family was also killed in the halls of the Whirlpool Court."
Silence. The Daimyo were waiting, expecting justification, excuses. Instead, Naruto leaned forward ever so slightly.
"But tell me… where was this outrage when your Kages marched on Uzushiogakure all those years ago?" His voice was calm, yet it cut through the air like a blade. "Where were these 'sacrosanct' laws you speak of when my homeland was razed to the ground? Where was this righteous fury when Uzushio's capital was besieged, when His Grace Ashina was surrounded by not one, not two, but four SS-rank shinobi?" His voice hardened. "Where was your solidarity then, when the likes of 'Sansho no Hanzo', Nobinaga Yukesen, the Third Raikage, the Tsuchikage, and god know how many S-rank shinobi descended upon a single nation? Don't insult my intelligence by telling me you ordered them to capture him."
The Daimyos froze.
"Every soul in the elemental nations knew what that mission was," Naruto continued. "You didn't want to capture Ashina Uzumaki. You wanted to erase him."
His fingers drummed once against the table. "But let's assume, for the sake of diplomacy, that I am willing to bury the past till then, till the invasion." He gave them a cold, sharp smile. "Then tell me, where was your concern for preserving noble lines when mine, arguably the oldest in this room was sentenced to extinction?" His voice dropped lower, more dangerous. "Your orders were clear back then kill the Uzumaki to the last child, this was post invasion mind you."
Silence. Uneasy, suffocating silence.
"I didn't kill children," Naruto said, his voice deceptively soft. "But how many Uzumaki children were hunted through out the elemental nations? How many were slaughtered like animals?"
The Daimyo shifted uncomfortably, their postures tightening.
"And now you come to me, preaching about order?" He let out a short, humorless chuckle. "You expect me to abide by the very conventions that never applied to my people?" His gaze sharpened, cutting through their facade. "Do not mistake me for a fool. Do not mistake me for a coward either."
He leaned back, allowing his words to settle.
"Before any of you attempt to claim ignorance," he said, his voice laced with quiet warning, "before you start feeding me the same tired lie that you had no knowledge of your Kages' plans, let me make one thing clear." His smile was razor-sharp. "No one in this room is foolish enough to believe it. Not even you."
He let that sink in.
"If, by some miracle, you truly were unaware that the largest force ever assembled in the shinobi world was raised to attack Uzushio…" His voice dripped with mockery. "Then you should abdicate your families' claims to your lands. A ruler so blind, so incompetent as to be unaware of such a grand mobilization, has no right to sit upon a throne."
The hall was deathly silent.
Naruto's expression was unreadable as he finished. "For the respect you owe your forefathers… it would be better for you to exit in grace in that's your reason."
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To be continued. Stay tuned and let me know your thoughts! Like and comment! 🙏🔥
Author's Note:
I'm not dragging the story, Hinata's relationship with Naruto will have a significant impact on the plot . The next chapter will conclude the Daimyo Summit, where the Daimyo will counter, and deals will be proposed between them and Naruto from both sides. After that, Naruto will enter Konoha. ⚡🔥
This was a 4.3k-word chapter, and the next one will be just as crucial. 🤯 I don't know what to think of this chapter since I wrote it while still sick. 🤕 Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 📝💬 Your support means everything! 💖✨
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!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 13: A New Game Of Chess. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 14: The Power Of A Single Stroke Of A Pen. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 15: Back to Konoha IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 16: The Night of Falling Crows IS OUT!.
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 17: Did Uchihas Survive?. IS OUT!
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!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 24: Mind Walkers. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 25: A Parting Backhand. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 26: A New Turn. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 27: A Turn ON A Turn. IS OUT!!!!!!!!(NEW) (Naruto's new path)