Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm

Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm

NTLHOS: Chapter 69: Strategy- The Great Heist

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"In times of war, the most brilliant strategist is not the one who marches with his troops but the one who makes his enemy march to the beat of his drum."

—Sun Tzu

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 Join ThirdFireTriden on Pa(tre)(on) the link is in description or type my name in google search with pat (tre) on remove the space and bracket!

NTLHOS: Chapter 70: Wrath of Darkness IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 71: "Echoes of Thunder IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 72: The Silent Rebellion IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 73: Glimpse of the Kami no Shinobi IS OUT !

NTLHOS: Chapter 74: Tempest of Despair and Hope IS OUT! 

NTLHOS: Chapter 75: The Great Assembling IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 76: The Whirlpool's Dominions IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 77: The Grand Ploy IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 79: Part -II- A Pawn Crosses the Board to Become a Queen IS OUT !

NTLHOS: Chapter 80: Introspection And Good Times IS OUT ! ( Lemon Tsunade)

NTLHOS:Chapter 81: The Past Collides With The Seeds Of The Future. IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 82: The Great Board Takes Shape IS OUT!!! (New)

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Author's Note:

This chapter went better than I'd hoped—there's something about building the tension and weaving these layers that just makes the story come alive! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it! 😊

Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and don't forget to like if it hit the mark for you! 📖🔥

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Last time on NTLHOS:

Tonight, Kosuke Maruboshi found his answer to a question that had lingered in his heart since the Second Hokage had once asked him if he'd serve the village by giving it his future. And tonight, as the flames danced before him, he realized that his duty had changed. The future belonged to a new generation now, a generation molded by a boy he had once given a chance—a boy who had grown into a man who could shape history with a single decision.

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Now:

Across the village, another young shinobi sat in the familiar back courtyard of the academy, where he and his friends once swapped dreams of greatness. Now, however, Konohamaru sat surrounded by the rest of the Konoha Twelve. Even the warmth of his old friends couldn't cut the unease hanging in the air as they gathered there, faced with the questions they had all tried to avoid.

The world was shifting around him in ways that felt impossible to ignore. Memories of his recent mission clung to him—how, as soon as they'd returned, word of the confrontation with Uzumaki Naruto had spread like wildfire through the village. How 'that man' had subdued a jinchūriki in a four-tailed state and defeated the famous Copy Ninja Kakashi. He had barely had time to process it himself before Sasuke had brought it up to a patrolling Uchiha. Soon, it felt like the whole village was talking about the encounter.

It was Ino who finally voiced what had been on everyone's mind since the mission had returned. "Is it true?" she asked, her voice edged with unease. "That… monster-sensei, they said he fought your sensei?"

Before Konohamaru could reply, Kiba scowled, his fists clenched. "Don't call him sensei, Ino," he said, sharp and bitter. "He's nothing but a traitor now."

Shikamaru sighed, crossing his arms as he leaned back. "Troublesome…" he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Sakura glanced away, fidgeting with her gloves, but her voice was clear when she finally spoke. "Yes, it's true. We had a run-in with him."

Lee's brows knit with worry, his voice uncharacteristically solemn. "Uzumaki Naruto is a dangerous opponent," he said, his usual enthusiasm softened. "Guy-sensei once said that when it comes to strategy and willpower, he's one of the most dangerous foes a shinobi could face. His mind alone is an asset as deadly as his strength."

It was Sasuke who broke the silence, his voice calm, but his words carrying an edge. "Yes. He's powerful. He took down Kakashi like he was… nothing."

From across the courtyard, Tenten leaned forward, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Is it true that he possesses the Raijin no Ken? And what about his main legendary sword, the Arashi? Did you see either of them?" She bit her lip, thinking. "Or even… the sword he won from the Snake Sannin?"

Konohamaru stiffened, his mind still clouded with the fight, as well as the row he'd had with Sasuke about the breaking of the team's trust by leaking information. "He had the Raijin, yes," he replied, a bitter note in his voice. "But I didn't see the other swords." His gaze hardened as he looked around at his friends, his frustration flaring. "And don't talk about him as if he's something great or heroic."

Shikamaru, who had been watching quietly, tilted his head, his eyes thoughtful. "Troublesome. Heroic? No," he said softly, shaking his head. "He may not be a hero to this village—he's branded a traitor. But greatness? That's something no one can argue against, Konohamaru." His tone carried a rare edge of respect, tinged with a warning. "There aren't many who inspire that level of fear or respect at nineteen. The only other names in recent history who came close at that age are the Fourth Hokage, who was already on his way to greatness, and the Third Hokage, who became Hokage at that age. No one else has achieved what he has." Shikamaru paused, looking each of them in the eye. "In my clan, it's said that unless you have a death wish or are truly sure of yourself, you don't play shogi with Uzumaki Naruto. I'm not glorifying him. I'm just saying… don't underestimate him because of hatred. He's dangerous, and you'd do well to remember that."

The silence was palpable. They had never seen Shikamaru this serious, his tone this somber. Even the normally talkative Ino and Kiba were left without a retort, glancing away uneasily.

But Konohamaru's jaw clenched as he broke the silence, his voice firm and unyielding. He brought his hands together in a sharp clap, drawing their attention. "You'll see," he said, his eyes blazing. "The next time we cross paths, I'll take him down for this village."

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After the Wave confrontation, where Naruto had faced Kakashi and his former teammates, he could feel Sukino's influence closing in. Relentless and calculating, she had begun to investigate his every move, pinpointing exactly how he'd disrupted Konoha's plans. She discovered that Naruto had thwarted Konoha's attempts to secure an alliance with Wave, and now, Konoha's iron grip of scrutiny pressed down on him.

But what troubled Naruto most was Lord Third's decision to reactivate Root—and, even worse, to grant Danzo Shimura full clearance to hunt Naruto and his people. In other words, Hiruzen had removed the leash he had always kept on Danzo. Naruto understood the message: this was permission for Danzo to bring out every tool in his hidden arsenal. Normally, Naruto would have treated Danzo's efforts with little more than amusement. In the light of day, where secrets lose their power, Danzo was weak. Naruto could mock the man in public because Danzo's true vulnerability lay in daylight itself. His darker dealings—the blood-stained pathways he walked daily—would horrify the village if they were exposed. But Danzo, the "Yami no Shinobi," was a true threat in the shadows and even Naruto feared him in his terrain. It was there, in the darkness, that his strength lay, unbound by morality or loyalty, operating with impunity.

With Hiruzen's seal of approval on this hunt, Naruto knew better than to underestimate the depths of the village's darkness. It had been Lord Third's control that kept Danzo in check, but now, Root's relentless onslaught was being unleashed. Naruto's network of allies began to feel the pressure; cracks were forming. The effects were immediate and ruthless. Root agents swept through smaller towns and village trading posts, systematically unraveling Naruto's ties to Suna's economy. They struck quickly and surgically, assassinating key allies and sabotaging projects just as they neared completion, stalling Naruto's progress and creating chaos in the ranks of his fledgling network.

But Sukino's efforts went beyond mere disruption. She had approached Lord Jeramy Aethil, using the grudge he held against Naruto to fuel her cause. With deft manipulation, she informed Jeramy exactly who was responsible for his partner's death in Wave and the sudden loss of funds flowing from the region. Furious, Jeramy acted swiftly, using his influence to stir the Fire Court into action. The Fire Court, ever-sensitive to economic disturbance, invested heavily in competing businesses, aiming to choke out Naruto's interests by bolstering his rivals and discrediting his alliances.

With the Fire Court now intervening, Naruto's influence over Wave—a foundation he had carefully laid—was thrown into jeopardy. And with Danzo's mindless drones lurking, a dark cloud of sabotage loomed over Naruto.

So, Naruto, along with Pakura, Fūka, Zabuza, and Fūdo, had infiltrated Kumogakure, moving like shadows through its high mountain paths and dense forests. A month had passed since they slipped into the hidden village, each of them adopting different identities and subtly embedding themselves into the routines of Kumo. They knew the risks—Kumo's security was daunting, second only to the impenetrable vigilance of Konoha with its dojutsu weilding clans and the senseos like inazuka and aburame- only if the leadership wills it so can some one infilterete konoha. But the stakes had left Naruto little choice.

Naruto assumed the appearance of a Kumo jōnin he'd encountered, a solitary figure who raised no suspicions due to his reclusive nature. His chakra cloaked beneath the chakra of the jonin a seal of his own making, Naruto's disguise was flawless. The seal not only masked his chakra but also replicated the jōnin's unique energy signature and scent down to the finest detail. Even Kumo's elite sensory ninja would be unable to tell the difference. The man's habit of recluseness meant Naruto had fewer patterns to imitate, making his movements in the village much less conspicuous.

To secure the necessary information, Naruto had taken the real Kumo jōnin and used a genjutsu-based seal to extract Kumo's internal pass-codes and passwords from him. The seal created an illusion so convincing that the jōnin believed he was simply going about his daily routines, entering codes as needed. This allowed Naruto to access restricted areas and gather information without ever raising alarms.

It was during his careful reconnaissance that Naruto confirmed the rumours. Somewhere deep within the fortified village lay the preserved remains of Hizashi Hyuga. Though his body had been bound by the Caged Bird Seal, Kumo had undoubtedly kept it, a twisted prize taken from a life they had stolen. For Naruto, retrieving the body was non-negotiable. However, the chamber holding Hizashi was rigged with alarms—seals and chakra constructs powered by the Eight-Tails' chakra. A silent heist was out of the question. This would need to be loud, chaotic, and perfectly timed.

Naruto turned to his team. "You all know your roles. Pakura, Zabuza, you're up first," he said, voice low but unwavering. "Draw them out, and make it loud."

Pakura and Zabuza nodded, donning Root ANBU masks emblazoned with seals from Naruto's advanced sealing techniques. These seals were not only complex in structure but expertly deceptive, projecting the impression that they were operatives from Konoha's infamous underground branch. Any investigation would trace this act back to Danzo's shadowed forces, concealing Naruto's true hand in the infiltration.

The target was Kumo's central monument, a towering structure in the heart of the village, dedicated to its heroes. On Naruto's signal, Zabuza slowly unleashed his signature Hidden Mist Technique, a slow, creeping shroud that wrapped itself around the area, reducing visibility to mere inches. Then, Pakura's S rank Scorch Release ignited within the haze, her mastery creating a wall of blistering heat that set even the dense fog ablaze, turning it into a smoldering illusion of mass destruction. A thunderous crack echoed as the monument, weakened and destabilized, began to collapse in the blaze, each stone crashing down in a monumental display of chaos.

Imediatly entire village was thrown into an uproar. Shinobi poured into the streets, their attention locked onto the crumbling monument, desperately searching through the mist for the attackers. Civilians fled from the area in a terrified swarm, and in mere moments, the Raikage himself thundered onto the scene, his chakra blazing, eyes seething with fury as he scanned the chaos for the culprits.

In the midst of the commotion, Pakura and Zabuza smoothly transitioned into the forms of Kumo shinobi, blending into the crowd undetected, slipping further away from the heat of the scene as other Kumo nin surrounded the monument to search for clues.

Across the darkened village of Kumogakure, the heavy tension was abruptly shattered by the piercing call of an alarm—a signal sent from Yugito Nii's bijū containment seal, a security measure designed to alert the village to any unauthorized interference. The Raikage, reacting with instinct and fury, became a streak of blue light as he launched himself toward the disturbance, his Raiton chakra cloak crackling in the cold night air. He knew instantly that this was no mere act of sabotage but a calculated strike, a direct assault on the strength of Kumo itself.

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Meanwhile, cloaked in Kumo attire, Fūka and Fūdo had already positioned themselves near Yugito's quarters. In her room, the Two-Tails jinchūriki lay peacefully asleep, entirely unaware of the storm brewing around her. Fūka carefully unfurled a special seal Naruto had crafted, placing it on Yugito's body with surgical precision. The seal activated instantly, latching onto the jinchūriki's chakra and momentarily overriding the containment seal. Yugito's form tensed briefly, then fell completely still, her breathing reduced to a faint murmur as the bijū's power was locked down. The seal would ensure her immobility while simultaneously triggering Kumo's security systems—a double-edged play designed to draw the village's attention.

At that moment, Fūdo stepped in, wielding his gruesome skill in corpse animation. These weren't ordinary corpses but Root operatives Naruto had slain and preserved in stasis, each with their original self-destruct seals meticulously replaced. Under Fūdo's control, they moved with unsettling obedience, each corpse bearing the trappings of Root's black ops—silent warriors outfitted for a grim purpose. With Naruto's seals adding lifelike attributes, they looked disturbingly real as they moved through the compound, carrying Yugito's paralyzed form.

But Fūka's role was far from over. The animated corpses had limitations—unlike the Second Hokage's legendary reanimation technique, these could not use any jutsu, their movements bound to basic commands. So, Fūka, having absorbed the life force and chakra of four Root ANBU operatives, summoned special clones that wielded each unique elemental transformation. These clones unleashed a flurry of Konoha-specific jutsu when they encountered opposition, their techniques unmistakably tied to Konoha's signature styles. The spectacle was designed to implicate Konoha, to sow confusion and deepen the enmity between the villages.

When the Raikage arrived, his mere presence electrified the air as he tore into the compound, his Raiton armor blazing like a storm brought to life. With minimal effort, he tore through Fūka's clones, his strikes cleaving the ground as he moved. The clones, powered by stolen chakra, didn't dissipate but fell, leaving behind bodies that added weight to the illusion of Root's involvement. Even the animated corpses were obliterated with ease, the Raikage's lightning-coated fists reducing them to shattered remnants.

The Raikage lunged toward the last of the animated bodies, gripping its throat with enough force to splinter stone. With a brutal strike, he shattered the mask, revealing the face of a Nara Root operative, eyes rolled back, foam bubbling at his mouth from the Root's kill switch. Recognition flared in the Raikage's gaze, followed by an overwhelming fury. He swiftly severed the Nara's left foot, hoping to prevent the body's self-destruction. Yet, the moment the body slumped, the final mouth seal activated, a last defense placed by Naruto. The operative's features slackened as his body fell limp, void of life, the sealing jutsu withdrawing.

For a brief moment, silence hung heavy over the destruction. The Raikage's hands shook with rage as he surveyed the remains, his village's honor marred by an enemy that had slipped through his defenses with such ease. Turning to his ANBU, he roared, his voice carrying across the compound, "I want their heads on spikes by dawn!"

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While his companions executed their diversions across Kumo, Naruto and his clones moved with meticulous precision, deactivating the layered seals leading into the chamber's innermost vaults. This was an opportunity to undermine Kumo—a village that had once held a hand in the fall of Uzushio and the plight of his people.

As they breached the final door, Naruto released a mist laced with a powerful paralyzing agent, a poison derived from his own blood after absorption of Orochimaru's poison. The few shinobi left behind to guard the chamber, those who hadn't been summoned by the Raikage, fell silently, immobilized before they could sound any alarm. Without hesitation, Naruto stepped inside, eyes scanning the walls lined with shelves of scrolls, each meticulously labeled. He searched for the one containing Hizashi Hyuga's body, but in the center of the room, something else demanded his attention, something far more important.

Two of the Five Treasured Tools of the Sage of Six Paths—the Bashōsen (Banana Palm Fan) and the Benihisago (Crimson Gourd)—rested on a pedestal, artifacts of myth and unimaginable power. Naruto's pulse quickened. These relics were protected by a complex chakra construct, one that would alert the Eight-Tails the moment they were disturbed. He could disable the chakra-based security without the Eight-Tails knowing, but it would take time—time he didn't have. Yet the reward was too great to leave behind.

Turning his attention back to the shelves, Naruto's gaze settled on other scrolls of significant importance, and his eyes glinted. He found one detailing the construction of the Lightning Armor, a technique Kumo guarded fiercely, and another containing extensive research on Storm Release. Naruto was practically salivating at the discoveries.

As he proceeded with his search, his anger began to rise when his eyes caught sight of another section—scrolls that held sealed bodies of various Uzumaki. The seals on these bodies rendered them inert, useless for study, yet Kumo had kept them as trophies, relics of power stolen from his people.

Rage simmered beneath the surface, but Naruto kept his focus. Finally, he found what he had come for—Hizashi Hyuga's body, sealed in a scroll. He quickly gathered each valuable item and sealed them into his own storage.

After deactivating the chakra construct, he reached for the Bashōsen and Benihisago. Naruto knew that removing the relics from the chamber would alert the Eight-Tails, who, even though distant, would likely alert the ANBU through their seals. But he had come this far. The instant his fingers touched the fan and gourd, a fierce drain on his chakra began, as though the tools were devouring his reserves. Naruto, though a veritable chakra reservoir, felt the chakra drain intensely. Every second he held them sapped his strength, forcing him to stagger out of the vault with his spoils before he was entirely depleted.

Hours later, Naruto stumbled into the forest. He had run without rest, his chakra dangerously low. His team had prepared a small cave network as a fallback location, and he collapsed there, dropping to his knees as he carved a containment seal into the earth. The large-scale seal would stabilize the artifacts, channeling nature chakra from the environment to satiate their hunger. The technique, an extension of his study of Anko's cursed seal, required precision and constant monitoring. By tapping into ambient energy, he risked alerting any nearby sages—or worse, the Eight-Tails himself. He could only hope that his intel was correct and that the jinchūriki was far from the village.

For three days, Naruto and his team pushed through the unforgiving landscape toward the Land of Snow, each step an ordeal as Naruto's chakra continued to drain dangerously low. Every four hours, the seal binding the Treasured Tools faltered, demanding another pulse of chakra that chipped further away at his reserves. Blood dripped from his nose, and with each release of energy, Naruto's steps grew slower, his body weaker. Exhaustion settled deep within him, forcing his companions to take turns supporting his weight as he struggled on.

Zabuza and Pakura, both powerful shinobi, recognized Naruto's deteriorating condition and offered to ease his burden. Zabuza, with his usual smirk and confidence, attempted to carry the Treasured Tools, the Bashōsen and Benihisago. But he, with his impressive chakra reserves, managed barely an hour before the tools sapped him so thoroughly that he fell to one knee, breath ragged and chakra dangerously low. "Damn," he muttered, begrudgingly handing the tools back to Naruto. "These things are cursed, alright."

Pakura, concerned by Naruto's growing pallor, stepped up next, determined to share the weight. She took up the fan, her determination evident. But the weapon drained her chakra with relentless greed in two hours, and she too found herself stumbling, knees buckling under the drain within the time. The experience left her visibly shaken, her breaths labored. "No wonder these tools are legendary… They'd kill anyone who isn't a monster like you, Naruto-sama," she admitted, handing them back with a mix of awe and worry.

Naruto gave them both a strained smile, his face pale. Despite their efforts, he had to shoulder the Treasured Tools himself, and the strain was beginning to take its toll. His eyes glazed with fatigue, and even his breaths came shallowly. His companions could only watch, their attempts to lessen his burden short-lived. So, they kept a close guard as he stumbled on, knowing that each step brought them closer to safety—and Naruto closer to complete chakra depletion.

Finally, they reached the shelter of Snow Country's frigid mountains. They remained out of public sight, cautious even here, despite the country's alliance with them. As Naruto's body sank into a fitful rest, his breathing was shallow but steady. His mission had been a success, though his own strength had nearly been the price.

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The days that followed Naruto's infiltration into Kumogakure sent shockwaves rippling across the Elemental Nations. Kumogakure had been publicly humiliated, its secrets raided, and its prized relics stolen. Yet, the true blow lay in the sheer audacity of the attack. With his heist complete, Naruto's plans had taken root in a way that left Kumo scrambling, enraged, and humiliated in equal measure.

Word spread swiftly—Kumo's forces amassed on the border of the Land of Fire, ships patrolling dangerously close to Hi no Kuni's waters. Shinobi missions issued by Kumo became noticeably more aggressive, tension bleeding into every encounter. Killer Bee, Kumo's famed jinchūriki, was recalled to the village immediately, his presence demanded as a counter against any perceived threats. The Land of Lightning's Daimyo threw his weight behind Kumo's efforts with fervor, ordering the Raikage to take drastic action. The recent scandal surrounding his economic ventures had left his pride fractured, and Naruto had orchestrated every piece of it with silent amusement.

Naruto had seen to it that Lord Jeramy and the Fire Court's aggressive targeting of his businesses coincided with Kumo's interests, pushing the limits of Kumo's patience. With careful moves, Naruto had invested his own funds into one of the largest ventures secretly backed by the Lightning Daimyo, funneling the money through anonymous channels until the project was deeply intertwined with the Daimyo's own ambitions. But the twist came when he let the secret of his investment slip to Jeramy's agents, who, in their vendetta, unknowingly sabotaged this venture, triggering a massive economic fallout. When it became public that the Lightning Daimyo had used this venture as a means to secure wealth for a paramour of low birth and his illegitimate child, scandal erupted. The affair spread like wildfire, casting the Lightning Daimyo into a humiliation that he would not easily forgive.

To reestablish his dignity, the Daimyo supported the Raikage's increasingly bold stance against the Land of Fire. The Fire Daimyo, sensing the hostility, had no choice but to permit Konoha to prepare for possible conflict.

Within days, a formal letter from the Raikage arrived in Konoha, its demands steeped in both fury and blatant accusations. He also included photos of the slain ANBU operative. The Raikage called for the immediate return of all items stolen from Kumogakure, including the body of Hizashi Hyuga, the scrolls, and the two stolen artifacts. In a final, biting demand, he stipulated a sum so exorbitant it bordered on extortion as compensation for the damages, along with one final demand—the head of Danzo Shimura.

The Raikage's allegations were as specific as they were damning. With the body of the slain Nara Root operative as proof, he held Konoha's most elusive leader directly responsible. Danzo's involvement, Kumo claimed, was an undeniable act of war.

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The tension in Konoha was palpable as each of the village elders gathered in the Hokage's office. The threat of war loomed like a dark cloud over them, each member's face etched with varying degrees of frustration and fear. They had received a flurry of troubling reports: Kumo amassing forces at the border, Iwa mobilizing in response, and other villages following suit in a domino effect that threatened to engulf the entire continent in flames.

Koharu's voice sliced through the tense silence, sharp and unforgiving, as she turned to Danzo. "What is this? What have you done this time, Danzo?"

Danzo, his own face drawn and tight with barely restrained anger, glared back. He hadn't yet wrapped his mind around the fact that Root was now at the center of this international catastrophe. "It's not my work," he growled, eyes narrowing. "If it were, there would be no evidence left to trail back to us."

Homura leaned forward, his voice low. "Regardless, we have a high council meeting in less than an hour. The evidence points to Root—proof in the form of a dead Nara, of all people, by the Raikage's hand no less. What do you propose we tell them, Danzo? Shikaku will be livid."

Aluraya added, "If it weren't for their oh-so-precious monument to their heroes being blown to pieces, I'd have thought Kumo was making up stories."

Danzo said, "How do we even know this truly happened? Who's to say Kumo isn't playing their usual games, stealing from their own vaults and destroying their own property just to extort compensation?"

"Then what of the operative?" Koharu pressed, her voice cold.

Danzo looked down at the damning photograph of his operative. He'd operated in the shadows for decades, untraceable and unassailable. And now? Now he was blindsided. Someone—somehow—had orchestrated this to perfection. His thoughts twisted as he considered who could have turned the tables on him.

Sukino watched him, her mouth a thin line of restrained fury as she spoke. "Who did you send this Nara after, Danzo?"

Danzo hesitated for the briefest of moments. "Uzumaki," he finally admitted, his voice low and edged with frustration. "I sent that operative to eliminate the Uzumaki woman they retrieved from Grass. I received intel that they were sighted in Wave about a month ago." He nearly growled the name. "I know he's involved in this somehow. But the question remains—how did he manage to turn the village's own assets against us?"

At this, Sukino's expression darkened, her voice growing hard. "Isn't it obvious? It's his doing. We've grown complacent with our victories, too comfortable in the idea that he was scattered, cornered. But we've forgotten the truth, Danzo," she said, her words as sharp as steel. "Naruto Uzumaki is at his most dangerous when he's cornered."

Aluraya's voice cut through the tense silence. "So, you think the Raikage and Uzumaki are in on this together?"

Sukino's eyes glinted with something far more dangerous than amusement as she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. She didn't respond immediately, closing her eyes as if piecing together an invisible puzzle. The room waited, breaths held, as her lips curled into a slow, chilling smile. Then, without warning, a laugh bubbled up, escalating into a delighted cackle that echoed off the stone walls.

"No," she finally said, her tone almost gleeful, "he's playing the Raikage. Oh, it's brilliant, really. I could never quite understand why he'd invest in the same ventures as the Lightning Daimyo; the profit margins were laughable. And the humiliation of the Lightning Daimyo—I thought it was a fluke, something Uzumaki couldn't leverage any further. After all, a scandal like that couldn't hurt us and might even bolster the Fire Court's reputation and power." She shook her head, eyes gleaming. "But now? Now it's clear. He set up Lord Jeramy, baited the Fire Court, and orchestrated this chaos. All to put Kumo and Konoha at each other's throats, using our own operative to trigger the fire, and then pinned the whole fiasco on Danzo here... and by extension, on the Leaf."

She leaned forward, her gaze practically alight with fervor. "It's all Uzumaki—every last piece, every maneuver. He's cornered the Lightning Daimyo, forced Kumo's hand, and implicated us in their eyes, and all while keeping his own hands clean." She broke into another fit of laughter, an unsettling mixture of admiration and malice.

"Ingenious," she purred, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper, savoring each word. "He's given us a masterclass in shadow warfare by turning it into outright war—and I almost wish I'd thought of it myself. He knew he couldn't take Danzo in the shadows, so he forced him into the light."

"What's your stance on this, Hiruzen? Will you act against Kumo?" asked Aluraya, his voice heavy with anticipation.

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Stay tuned for the next chapter of NTLHOS.

 Join ThirdFireTriden on Pa(tre)(on) the link is in description or type my name in google search with pat (tre) on remove the space and bracket!

NTLHOS: Chapter 70: Wrath of Darkness IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 71: "Echoes of Thunder IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 72: The Silent Rebellion IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 73: Glimpse of the Kami no Shinobi IS OUT !

NTLHOS: Chapter 74: Tempest of Despair and Hope IS OUT! 

NTLHOS: Chapter 75: The Great Assembling IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 76: The Whirlpool's Dominions IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 77: The Grand Ploy IS OUT!

Chapter 79: Part -II- A Pawn Crosses the Board to Become a Queen IS OUT !

NTLHOS: Chapter 80: Introspection And Good Times IS OUT ! ( Lemon Tsunade)

NTLHOS:Chapter 81: The Past Collides With The Seeds Of The Future. IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 82: The Great Board Takes Shape IS OUT!!! (New)

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