Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 15: Back to Konoha
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"A tree without roots is just a piece of wood." — Marco Pierre White 🌳✨
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Chapter 16: The Night of Falling Crows IS OUT!.
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!
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!!!!!!!!!(NEW)
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Last Time On NTLHOS:
Then, Danzo finally leaned back in his chair, his expression grim. "So, then. What do we do now?"
Hiruzen's gaze flickered toward the door, his expression unreadable.
"We prepare," Sarutobi said, his voice steady, yet carrying an edge of steel. "While it will be difficult, it is not impossible. It's time to remind the Daimyo that I may not be the First Hokage, but there are few who could stop me today."
Because tomorrow, Naruto Uzumaki would arrive in Konoha.
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Now:
As the sun dipped beyond the horizon, the next day dawned with a storm that shook the Elemental Nations to their very core.
The news that the Uchiha were officially leaving Konoha spread like wildfire, leaving nothing but shock and disbelief in its wake. But that was nothing compared to what followed. One of the most powerful men in the world, the man who had carved an empire from the ruins was relinquishing his throne, stepping away from power for four years.
Many dismissed it as a jest, a political manoeuvre that couldn't possibly be real. But those delusions were shattered the moment the Fire Daimyo released the official proclamation.
Uzumaki Naruto would no longer rule Uzushio post the next full moon.
The implications of that single decree sent tremors through every court, every hidden village, every seat of power. To some, it seemed like the end of Uzushio. Without its architect, its visionary, many believed it would crumble like a castle of sand in a storm. But those who had played the political game long enough… they were waery. A man like Uzumaki Naruto did not step down unless it served a greater gain.
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Meanwhile at the Uchiha Compound, a gathering was held.
The hall was packed with every clan head of Konoha and the rich nobilities and merhcants. Lady Mikoto, standing with the poise of a queen, addressed them all.
"As most you by now heard the Fire Lord has made his decree," she announced, her voice carrying an almost sorrow tone. "The Uchiha are to leave Konoha. Effective immediately."
A collective murmur spread through the room. Shikaku Nara, ever the strategist, kept his expression carefully neutral, though his mind was already racing ahead, mapping out the repercussions of what this would mean for Konoha. He had received a private message from his aunt, detailing the true events of the Daimyo Summit, but here in this room, Mikoto Uchiha played a differently.
The Uchiha weren't just leaving.
They were painting themselves as victims.
Mikoto spoke of how their loyalty had been questioned, how the Fire Lord had sold them like livestock, how they were forced out despite their service. To the sharper minds in the room, it was clear what was happening. But for the merchants, the younger clan heads, the civilians who had managed to be invited into this gathering it was a masterful performance and they gobbled the bullshit.
"The Uchiha," she continued, voice thick with emotion, "have served Konoha since its very foundation. We have bled for this village, defended its gates, and honoured its leaders. Yet we were deemed unworthy of even a seat at the table now."
Shikaku saw how the radical Uchiha those who had always chafed against Konoha's rule were nowhere to be found. Most likely they won't be able hide the grin on their faces. They were likely preparing for their departure, leaving the stage to the elders and the skilled actors who remained behind. The ones who could sell a story so convincingly that even the best of them might start to believe it.
There were those who masked their emotions with practiced skill. Shisui, Lord Mahiro, and a few others kept their expressions controlled. But one figure stood out among them Itachi Uchiha. The boy's face carried the only true sorrow Shikaku could see in the entire clan.
"We have spent generations in Konoha," an elder spoke solemnly, addressing the gathered clan heads. "Despite all that has happened, despite the burdens we have carried, we were proud to call this village our home. We have fought alongside you, bled alongside you, and built this village together."
And then came the final dagger.
Lord Mahiro, the eldest Uchiha still alive, stepped forward. His presence commanded instant silence. His voice, aged that remined that this man had seen Konoha from its infancy.
"I was there," he began, his voice slow, deliberate, "when the first stone of this village was laid. I watched as my brothers and sisters fell, fighting to protect it. I have seen our clan make sacrifices time and time again… for what?"
He turned his gaze to the assembled clan heads.
"For this?"
"For this village, we even abandoned our Clan Head and chose the first Hokage, putting the village above our own."
"I saw the First Hokage build this land with his own hands, forging peace from war. I witnessed the Second Hokage uphold that dream, ensuring that Konoha stood strong," his voice wavered, more for effect than true emotion, Shikaku suspected. "And then… I lived to see the Third Hokage dismantle everything they built. I had hoped for better when Lord Fourth came into power, but alas, the gods can be cruel."
The room was silent. Not a whisper, not a breath.
Shikaku's fingers twitched at his side.
They're not even pretending anymore, he realized. They don't care to hide their animosity toward the Third and his council. Why would they?
The murmurs started then resentment bubbling to the surface. Many in the room held Lord Mahiro in high regard, and his words struck a chord. The veteran Uchiha had lived through the village's greatest ages and its steepest decline. His words carried weight, and the crowd reacted as expected.
Shikaku let out a slow breath.
Damn. I never thought I'd see the day the Uchiha could act this well.
If his aunt hadn't already briefed him on the truth of what transpired at the Daimyo Summit, he might have believed them himself. They weren't lying exactly, they were simply reframing events with expert precision, masking their satisfaction behind a thin veil of sorrow.
Masterfully played.
By the time the gathering ended, Shikaku knew one thing for certain.
Hiruzen Sarutobi would be blamed for this.
The civilians would say he had failed to protect the Uchiha. That he had pushed them too far, letting their enemies turn them into scapegoats. They would blame the professor for painting a bad picture of the Uchiha in front of the daimyo, due to which the daimyo cast them out. The merchants and less strategic clan heads were already eating up the story, and soon, public sentiment would shift.
And the Uchiha?
They would leave Konoha as martyrs. Since if a founding clan can be ousted then what about rest of them. This make Uchihas the martyrs
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The next morning, as the first light of dawn touched the village, the streets of Konoha were already bustling with anticipation.
Because today, the Emperor of Uzushio was returning to Konoha.
For the first time in years.
Even those who had little love for Naruto Uzumaki gathered in the streets, drawn in by curiosity, by the sheer weight of the moment. The Anbu were struggling to control the crowds, their forces stretched thin due to soon departure of the Uchiha.
Hiruzen had never expected this. Not this many people. Even Konoha's own Daimyo had never received such fanfare.
Standing at the gates, the five Kage waited.
Though they were guests in Konoha, they were still bound by protocol. Their Daimyo had signed the accords acknowledging Naruto Uzumaki as an Emperor. And though he may be stepping down soon, until that moment arrived, they were required to show respect.
And so, though they would not kneel…
They would have to bow.
As the first sign of movement came from the western road, Hiruzen took in a slow breath. He could already feel the tension mounting. The other Kage stood at his side, their expressions unreadable. But he knew better. They were watching closely, studying every shift in the wind, because Naruto Uzumaki did not move without reason.
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And then, in a flash of red, he appeared.
Kakashi Hatake barely had time to suppress a gasp. He had been controlling the crowd, ensuring the influx of civilians didn't turn into a riot. With the Uchiha refusing to work a day beyond their obligations, the regular forces Jonin, Chunin, ANBU had been stretched thin filling the gaps left by the absent police force.
But none of that mattered now.
Because standing before them was not the boy Kakashi had known, nor even the young man he had last seen at his coronation. No, what stood before them was something else entirely.
Naruto had always carried presence, a certain weight to him even as a child, but this? This was different.
The red-haired emperor exuded supreme confidence, as if the world moved by his will. Every movement radiated authority, his presence undeniable. The light struck his features just right, accentuating the regal lines of his face. He looked… older. Wiser.
Minato-sensei would be proud.
For the first time, the resemblance between Naruto and his father was uncanny. Until now, while Kakashi had always noticed their similarities, there had been something fundamentally different, as if, despite all of Naruto's accomplishments which in many way eclipsed his fathers, he was lacking something his father had.
But now, that difference was gone.
It was control. Confidence.
Naruto had always carried himself with certainty, but there had been a subtle edge to it, a faint mask as though his confidence was something crafted, worn as armour. He had always been wary of those stronger than him.
But now?
That wariness was gone.
Because he knew he was the apex predator.
Just like Minato-sensei did.
Kakashi's gaze flickered to Naruto's guard detail, and his stomach twisted. Sozin. His cousin. The now Hatake heir, standing among Naruto's men with the air of someone who had found his true place. He didn't look out of place. No, he looked like he belonged there. Like he had never belonged in Konoha in the first place. Kakashi felt something bitter settle in his chest.
And then, the formalities began.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, clad in the robes of Hokage, was the first to bow his head, voice steady but holding an edge of something unreadable. "Lord Emperor, it is an honour to host you in our village."
Naruto's eyes met his, unreadable. Then he inclined his head, his voice smooth, even. "Lord Hiruzen. It has been a while."
The other Kages, standing one by one gave the formal reception line, bowed in unison. "Your Grace, an honour to have you among us."
Naruto responded to each kage. Cool. Measured. Not unkind, but distant.
Then came the elders walked forward.
Each of them, one by one, addressed him by his title. Naruto's acknowledgment was fleeting, little more than a passing glance, until he came face to face with Sukino.
The smile that graced his lips was sharp, calculating. "I did not get the chance to speak with you at the summit, except of our introduction" he said smoothly. "I hope my only true threat is faring well these, I presume."
Sukino, despite herself, felt a flicker of something dangerously close to worry. She inclined her head. "As well as can be expected, Your Grace."
Naruto's gaze lingered for a fraction longer than necessary before he moved on.
He reached the last two elders, Lord Torifu and Lady Kriya, and for the first time, his expression softened. "I have not forgotten my friends."
The old shinobi bowed, voices carrying quiet reverence. "We are humbled by your words, Your Grace."
"There is nothing to be humbled about, it was, and always will be, my privilege to call you my friends."
Naruto's next stop was the clan heads.
Mikoto Uchiha stood at the forefront, resplendent in deep blue robes, her head held high. Naruto addressed her first. "My lady, it has been some time since we last met. I trust my humble request to the Fire Lord was not seen as an offense against the mighty Uchiha?"
The Uchiha in the crowd stood taller at his words, pride swelling in their chests.
Mikoto's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Not at all, my lord or rather, soon to be my liege lord, Your Grace."
The murmurs rippled through the gathered villagers. Sadness, regret there was a weight to the moment. The Uchiha were truly leaving.
Naruto's smile was small, but unmistakable. "I assure you, my lady, in Uzushio, the Uchiha will stand where they have always belonged at the very top, alongside the Senju, as was always meant to be."
A flicker of something passed across Mei Terumi's face. It was gone in an instant, but Naruto didn't see it.
He continued, tone quieter now, but no less resolute. "Many may have forgotten, but it was your brother, Shisui, who first took me under his wing in ANBU. It was he who dragged me, quite literally, into the Uchiha compound, who taught me what it meant to be part of a family."
His eyes turned to Fugaku, then to Itachi.
"It was Lord Mahiro who trained me, who taught me more than just jutsu. I have been called many things, but an ungrateful cur will not be one of them."
Fugaku gave him a short nod of respect.
Naruto turned to Itachi, whose expression remained unreadable.
Itachi simply bowed in acknowledgment.
And then, there was Sasuke.
The youngest Uchiha stood stiffly, his shoulders squared, but there was a nervous sheen to his skin, a flicker of sweat at his brow. He swallowed thickly as Naruto's gaze settled on him despite the fact that now he is grown up man.
"It has been a while, hasn't it, Sasuke?" Naruto said.
Sasuke inhaled sharply. "Yes, sensei… I mean, Your Grace."
A slow, approving nod. "Sensei will do. That is a title I hold dear to my heart." Naruto's gaze softened just slightly. "Alas, these days I have little time to train the next generation a fault of mine I hope to correct."
Sasuke straightened, but Naruto had already moved on.
Each clan head was met with the knowing familiarty, but Shikaku Nara felt the weight of Naruto's gaze linger on him just a moment longer than the others.
He had never been able to put his finger on why, but Naruto Uzumaki had always made him uneasy, even before he became the man he was today.
Perhaps because, out of all the powerful men Shikaku had encountered, Naruto was the only one who made him feel like prey when it comes to mind games.
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And then, Naruto turned to the gathered civilians.
The crowd, which had been holding back at a respectable distance, erupted into cheers the moment he raised a hand as if he was Konoha war hero. Hands reached out toward him, waves of voices calling his name.
He gave them a wave, the barest touch of warmth in his expression.
And then, he paused.
There. In the tree line.
A familiar shadow.
Naruto's smile shifted into a truly genuine this time.
"How long do you intend to skulk in the shadows, Kosuke?" he called out.
There was a rustle of leaves, and then, with a reluctant sigh, the man dropped from his perch.
"Your eyes are still too sharp, Lord Emperor," Kosuke murmured, stepping forward.
Naruto's grin widened as he pulled the man into a firm embrace.
"That is the first true thing anyone has said to me all day. It's always Naruto, never the emperor to you."
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The rest of the day passed in a whirlwind of formalities and manoeuvring. Naruto met with various lords, clan heads, and merchants in more private settings, where every one of them, in their own way, tried to curry favour. It was the fate of those who held power, people gravitated toward them, seeking their favour, trying to gauge where they stood in the grand scheme of things.
Some of his old allies had invited him to their compounds, extending the courtesy of familiarity from the days before he had risen to his current position. He agreed, indulging them as much as was politically possible.
The evening found him sharing tea and snacks at the Yamanaka compound, where Inoichi Yamanaka made pleasant conversation while subtly trying to pry into Naruto's thoughts. But it was Kriya who took the lead. Afterward, he visited a few minor clans who had once allied with him before his departure from Konoha. He ended the night with a grand dinner at the Akimichi compound, where Lord Chōza, ever the gracious host, ensured Naruto had more than his fill of rich, tasty yet hearty food.
It was there, between bites of curry and seasoned rice, that Naruto's senses sharpened.
A flicker in the air. A shift in chakra then the sudden extinguishing of a young presence, one that was all too familiar to him.
His hand stilled mid-motion as he set down his chopsticks.
"Now of all the times" he mused aloud, a slow, almost amused smirk curling his lips. "This is…."
Chōza, ever perceptive despite his easy-going demeanour, furrowed his brows. "Something wrong, your grace?"
Naruto exhaled slowly, as if weighing the importance of his next move. Then, rising to his feet, he straightened his robes. "Lord Chōza, may I be excused? There is an urgent matter I must handle."
Chōza nodded instantly. "Of course, my lord. It has been an honour hosting you. I can have some of my guards escort you."
Naruto waved off the offer with an easy chuckle. "No, no. I know this village like the back of my hand. Besides," his gaze flickered past Chōza for the briefest of moments, "the ANBU trailing me, both from Uzushio and Konoha, will do a fine job of keeping me safe."
With that, Naruto turned and left.
Or at least, that was what they thought.
For in truth, the Naruto who had walked away had been merely a clone, seamlessly substituting himself to evade his guards.
The real Naruto had long since slipped away, unnoticed, moving through the shadows of Konoha with practiced ease.
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In another part of the village, within the nearly abandoned Uchiha compound, a grim silence hung in the air. Almost all the houses were sealed, their exteriors lined with protective barriers that had been woven into their foundations by Uzumaki seal masters from the clan wars era.
The Uchiha were a warrior clan. Their homes were built to be moved when necessary, sealed, deconstructed, and transported with precision.
And now, many of them stood empty.
Naruto moved silently through the compound, his footsteps barely making a sound against the stone pathways.
He wasn't alone. He honed in his senses. "There."
Within one of the house of the compound, a scene unfolded one that stopped him in his tracks.
Itachi Uchiha stood with his blade pressed against the throat of a paralysed man. His sharingan spun violently, tears of blood trailing down his cheeks.
His hand trembled, just for a second. And went for the kill.
Then, before he could make the fatal cut—
A hand caught his wrist.
A grip like iron.
Itachi's breath hitched, his sharingan snapping toward the intruder. But before he could react, before he could even think of activating a genjutsu, a brutal kick slammed into his chest, sending him crashing through the wooden doors of a nearby hall.
Splinters scattered across the floor.
Itachi coughed, wiping the blood from the corner of his lips as he forced himself back to his feet.
And there, standing in the wreckage, blue eyes burning with raging fury, was Uzumaki Naruto.
The weight of his chakra filled the air like a crushing tide.
Naruto's voice was low, measured, yet laced with an unmistakable anger.
"Why?"
Itachi met his gaze, something flickering in the depths of his blood-red eyes.
"You wouldn't understand."
Naruto's expression hardened.
"Then I'll have to make you."
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To be continued. Stay tuned and let me know your thoughts! Like and comment! 🙏🔥
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Author's Note:
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Signing out! ✌️
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 16: The Night of Falling Crows IS OUT!.
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!
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!!!!!!!!!(NEW)