Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm

Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm

Chapter 70: Wrath of Darkness.

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"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground."

– George R.R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire

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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!!! 

NTLHOS: Chapter 83: I Don't Know!!! (New)

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Author's Note:

"Hey everyone! 🙌🎉 I can't believe we're at 70 chapters! 😱 This one's a long read—almost 8k words—with action across multiple fronts. I hope you're ready for all the twists and deeper looks into the characters and strategies at play! 💥💫 🌍

Thanks for sticking with the story! 🙏🌍😊

As always, thank you for reading, and don't forget to let me know your thoughts in the comments and like ! 😊

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Happy Reading:

Last Time On NTLHOS: 

"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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Now:

In the following two weeks after the Hokage's council meeting, the Elemental Nations were on edge, collectively holding their breath in hopes that the Fourth Great Shinobi War would not break out. The precarious peace threatened to snap as easily as a taut wire, and the political temperature was rising by the hour.

Then it happened. A small insult on the Kumo-Konoha front, a push too harsh and a glare too long, spiraled into a chaotic clash. A single punch thrown between a Kumo and Konoha chunin erupted into a brawl—fists turning to jutsu in an instant. In the snowballing chaos, the Raikage, swift and proud, took no hesitation. He ordered an offensive response, dispatching Darui, his most trusted and loyal jōnin, alongside a large reinforcement to bring Konoha in line.

The message was clear. This was no diplomatic warning; it was a demonstration of strength.

Konoha's response was no less fierce. Hiruzen Sarutobi—the Third Hokage, known for his restraint and preference for peace—had sent none other than Danzo Shimura himself to the front. There was no mistaking his decision: if Kumo wished to draw them into the light, Konoha would retaliate with the darkness they had always kept at bay.

At the Council of Clans

Inside the Hokage's council, the division among Konoha's leaders was stark. The clan heads argued intensely, debating Kumo's demands and Konoha's options for action. Some, like the Hyuga, felt a powerful urge to settle the dispute by delivering Danzo as a sacrifice to placate Kumo and avoid all-out war. Others vehemently argued that sacrificing one of their own—especially to the likes of Kumo—would be a grave display of weakness, an insult that would set a dangerous precedent.

In the midst of the debate, Hiashi Hyuga's voice rang out. "When it is one of us, there is no hesitation to sacrifice. But now, with one of your own, suddenly peace is not an option?"

All eyes turned to Hiruzen, waiting for the Hokage to weigh in. Yet the man they saw was not the gentle, grandfatherly figure they had come to expect. His countenance was hard, shadowed with resolve as he reminded them in a voice that brooked no argument, "I am the Hokage. My decision is final. If Kumo wants war, I'll give them one they'll never forget."

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The Kumo-Konoha Frontline

On the Kumo-Konoha frontline, veteran Jonin Iren commanded his troops with a hard-earned steadiness. A survivor of the Second Great Shinobi War, Iren had fought and bled as a young chunin back then, and he held no illusions about this conflict. He hoped it would not become the Fourth Great War, but the tension and desperation in the air were unmistakable.

When he asked for reinforcements, he'd expected battle-hardened shinobi. What he received was an elite jonin platoon including Kakashi Hatake, Maito Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, and a few others—and he even recognized Shinko Yuhi's daughter, Kurenai, among them. Time had taken these young hopefuls and shaped them into leaders, yet he couldn't help but feel a pang of unease. War was unforgiving, especially to the untested.

Adding to the challenge, Lord Hokage's latest order insisted on including recent genin in the field teams. Iren's lips twisted at the thought. It was reckless to throw these fresh genin into the crucible, but orders were orders. He sent for Kakashi, who arrived within minutes.

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As Kakashi entered the command chamber, his usual carefree demeanor was gone, replaced by a respectful alertness. No orange book in sight. Iren's stern gaze softened slightly as he regarded the son of Lord Sakumo, remembering the boy he once led in Anbu.

"Boy," he greeted with a nod. "Orders have come down that your squad is to be deployed with their genin."

Kakashi's eyes widened, his mouth tightening at the command.

Iren continued without pause, his scarred face hardening. "You know as well as I do what's coming. If we don't prepare them now, they'll be worse than useless when it counts." His voice softened, as though attempting to give reason to an impossible demand. "If you tell me your 'runts' aren't bloodied, I will have whipped for incompetence."

"They're bloodied, Captain," Kakashi replied, recalling the intensive training he'd already put his team through. "But it's… still early." There was a pause, a hesitation, as if he were about to ask for time, but he knew it was futile.

"No 'buts,' Boy." Iren's gaze hardened again. "When this goes full swing, you know as well as I do that it will bring horrors no one can prepare for. Better they learn now, with your watchful eye, before we're all knee-deep in it."

Kakashi nodded, resigned but not broken. "Understood, Captain."

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Later, in the shelter of the mess tent, Kakashi sat across from Guy, Asuma, and Kurenai, the grim nature of their conversation evident on each of their faces. The tent felt stifling, heavy with the weight of what lay ahead. Kakashi was the first to speak.

"Captain Iren's orders. They want the genins in war. No time for waiting," he said, his gaze distant.

Kurenai's brow furrowed in a mixture of disbelief and worry. "They're barely out of the Academy, Kakashi. This could crush them."

Guy's jaw clenched as he thought of Lee, his young protégé, burning with the fires of youth but also still naive to the uglier side of war. "We've trained them, yes, but nothing—nothing—can prepare them for this," he said, his voice tinged with rare bitterness.

Asuma leaned forward, his hands steepled under his chin. "And yet, we can't keep them in the dark. We can try to protect them, but what happens if we're not there when it counts? Better they see it now, with us around."

Kakashi sighed, eyes fixed on her own hands, remembering Lord Uzumaki's unrelenting training regime. "Uzumaki…" she muttered, almost to himself. "I think he understood this better than any of us. He prepared them for moments like these. Maybe more than I'd like to admit."

Kurenai gave him a soft look, nodding in reluctant agreement. "I used to resent him for the harshness of his methods," she admitted. "But seeing Sakura on the field... She's managing because of him, because he pushed them in ways we wouldn't have dared."

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Days Later: The Konoha Twelve

As the days bled into each other, Konoha's young genin—now referred to as the Konoha Twelve—found themselves thrust headlong into the brutal reality of war. They no longer huddled together in hidden training grounds or squabbled over petty rivalries. They fought, they bled, and they learned the true price of shinobi duty. Every skirmish left an indelible mark, a new scar both on their bodies and in their minds.

One night, huddled around a small fire after a day of brutal clashes, Konohamaru glanced around at his friends, each face shadowed and hollowed by exhaustion. The easy smiles and bravado that had once defined them were gone. Even Ino's teasing, Kiba's cockiness, and Sakura's spirited retorts had faded under the weight of their shared burden.

Shikamaru, who had been silent for much of the night, finally spoke, his voice quiet but steady. "This… this isn't like what I thought. I knew war was harsh, but this..." He trailed off, shaking his head as if words alone couldn't capture the horror of it.

Kiba gave a dry laugh, devoid of humor. "Hah. You thought? I thought I'd be the hero, charging in, kicking ass," he said, his voice bitter. "But this… I don't know how anyone survives it. Sometimes, I close my eyes, and all I see are the faces… of those we couldn't save."

Hinata, eyes downcast, murmured softly, "I never realized… what we were truly training for. Naruto-sensei tried to tell us, to show us. I think, in his way, he was protecting us. Preparing us."

Sakura, rubbing her eyes as if trying to erase the images burned into her mind, nodded. "It's like he knew… Like he was waiting for this, and I hated him for pushing us so hard. But now… I wouldn't be here if not for him." Her voice cracked, and she quickly looked away, her hands clenched in fists at her sides.

Konohamaru, haunted by Naruto's betrayal and yet feeling a bitter respect welling inside, clenched his own fists. "I still hate him. I still think he's a traitor. But damn it," he whispered, "he was right about one thing. This is hell. And it doesn't care if we're ready or not."

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The day finally came when Danzo Shimura arrived at the frontlines with his force under the veil of darkness, his presence as formidable as a dark clouds gathering over dark waters. Scouts whispered of his arrival before he'd even set foot in the encampment, and soon enough, Jonin Iren, along with a few chief commanders, moved to meet him. A heavy mist—or was it something darker?—hung around the camp as Danzo approached, and the very air seemed to tighten.

The younger shinobi shifted uncomfortably, their eyes flicking toward Kakashi and the other jonin for any hint of reassurance. But even Kakashi, ever the mask of calm indifference, stood uncharacteristically still, his unease barely concealed. Murmurs rippled through the ranks, soldiers and medics, scouts and sentries alike, huddling in the shadows to catch sight of the man who had been, for most, an enigma—a dark legend whispered of in hushed tones.

Danzo moved through them like a shadow made flesh, his face a mask of hardened resolve, his one visible eye sweeping over the gathered shinobi with a calculating gleam. There was no cane only bandaged on side but the man walked as if he can fight. In a silent, swift motion, he drew a scroll from his robes and handed it to Iren, who held it with a slight unease before unrolling it. He swallowed, casting a wary glance at Danzo before reading aloud.

"To Iren Inaizen, Jonin Commander of the North Front," Iren began, his voice steady but tense. "You are hereby ordered to follow Shimura Danzo's lead from now on, as he will act as my voice and hand in the north front, with full authority to deal with Kumo as he sees fit. In retaliation to Kumo's actions, Konoha has decided to declare Code Red Clearance in this war."

Silence.

"Konoha will no longer hold back," Iren continued, voice growing fainter as he reached the final line, "and no methods will be deemed unfit in defense of the village. This clearance is absolute."

"Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage," Iren finished, his voice echoing in the stunned silence that followed.

Now even the older shinobi shifted uneasily. They understood what Code Red Clearance meant—it was a mandate for war stripped of all restraint, where no means, however dark or ruthless, were out of bounds. It was the blood-soaked permission Danzo had always been waiting for, the key to unlock the grim depths of his dark grimoire. And now, here he was, the unleashed hound, given free rein over their forces.

From the ranks, Ino leaned close to Asuma, her voice barely a whisper. "What… what does Code Red Clearance mean? And why does everyone look… uneasy? Isn't Lord Simura on our side and very powerful?"

Asuma's gaze was distant, his jaw clenched. "Code Red means there will be no clean war, Ino. Konoha will fight in the shadows, use methods… unspeakable means to win. And Danzo—" he shook his head, the hint of a smirk tugging bitterly at his lips—"Danzo is powerful, yes, but giving him Code Red Clearance is like giving a bloodhound the scent of blood and taking off its leash."

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By dawn, Danzo had consolidated command with brutal efficiency. He had wrested control from the hands of the other leaders without so much as a word of dissent. His orders were issued with the kind of cold resolve that left no room for objection, and soon enough, every shinobi understood just how merciless this war was about to become.

Danzo's first order was as chilling as it was simple. "Send a message to Kumo," he ordered, his tone laced with dark satisfaction. "Make it clear that Konoha does not bow, and will not yield. I want them to understand that fear of our retaliation should haunt them in their sleep."

A masked operative stepped forward, hesitant. "And… how shall we convey this, Lord Danzo?" Said Kakashi.

Danzo's single eye glinted. "Leave the bodies of their captured shinobi for them to find. And make it clear we hold no kindness. Mark them as reminders of what awaits all who cross Konoha." He paused, then added, "Raise the level of interrogation to my satisfaction. I want each captive broken, their secrets spilled without restraint."

The next morning, Kumo shinobi found the bodies of their comrades mutilated and strung up along the frontlines. Some were disfigured beyond recognition, left as macabre warnings on Konoha's side of the border. And in a more horrific display, some of the corpses had been hurled over the lines, landing in heaps like discarded refuse, their final expressions twisted in horror and agony.

The reaction was immediate. Word of Konoha's shift in tactics spread quickly through the Kumo ranks. Their initial pride and anger turned to unease and fear. They had heard tales of who took the command and Konoha's brutality, but never had they believed they would face it with such unrelenting cruelty.

Danzo's tactics spared no one. His methods infected the camp with fear as Konoha's own shinobi tried to reconcile their action.

From the backlines, Ino turned to Shikamaru, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is this really us? Konoha? This isn't how I imagined… defending the village."

Shikamaru's face was a mask of grim acceptance. "It's war, Ino. And Lord Danzo isn't someone who cares about honor."

Nearby, Neji's gaze hardened as he surveyed the mutilated bodies of Kumo shinobi from afar. "This is the reality of war," he said, his tone distant. "Danzo will do whatever it takes to keep Konoha on top. This is how it should have been the last time they demanded from us."

A few feet away, Asuma watched the reactions of the younger shinobi, unable to bring himself to offer them words of comfort. What comfort could he give? These were truths they would need to learn for themselves.

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Kumo Front:

At the Kumo encampment, Darui—the Raikage's trusted right hand, a hardened veteran of two wars stood at the edge of his assembled forces. His arms crossed, he studied the distant mist-shrouded horizon where the Konoha lines lay hidden, his mind turning over grim possibilities. He had seen and endured much on the battlefield: he had faced the sharpest wind-style techniques from Sunagakure and the mightiest shinobi Konoha had to offer and never felt disadvantaged. Yet, a shadow of unease settled over him as the reports came in, confirming that Danzo Shimura had arrived on the frontlines.

Stories of Danzo Simura haunted the shinobi world like whispers in the dark. In Kumo, even among hardened warriors, they spoke in hushed tones of captured shinobi whose corpses had been strung up as messages, skin carved with warnings meant to instil dread among their comrades. Danzo Simura was not just a man; he was a shadow, a specter of dread sent by Hiruzen Sarutobi himself—a far cry from Konoha's typical way of conducting war.

Kumo was known for its ruthless treatment of prisoners, never pulling back in interrogation or breaking enemy resolve. Tree-huggers, they'd often scoffed, as if Konoha was a village softened by their ideals. But Danzo alone had turned that reputation on its head, single-handedly making Kumo's shinobi seem almost like children in comparison when it came to brutality and depravity. In one night Danzo Shimura sent a wave of fear and dread through their lines. The faces of those captive shinobis were enough to send cold feeling through the most hardened veterans.

When the Raikage's orders came to meet Danzo's advance directly, Darui did not hesitate. With steely resolve, he gathered a small, elite squad, every step filled with the weight of Kumo's pride and his Raikage's expectations. As they moved across the battlefield, Darui's grip on his headband tightened, grounding him in the oath he had sworn to his village. Drui was not man of moral that was lord third but this man was no human he was downright evil and he should be eliminated at any cost. 

This was no mere skirmish.

Under the cold dawn mist, Darui's breath came in short, measured bursts as he charged to the front of the battlefield. His squad of elite Kumo shinobi flanked him, tension simmering beneath their silent stares. Darui's own gaze locked on the distant figure stepping through the haze—a figure all in black, the unmistakable shadow of Danzo Shimura.

Darui's resolve hardened. He would meet this monster come legend on the field.

With a swift hand-seal, Darui called upon his signature technique, Black Lightning (Kuroi Kaminari)—darkness crackled around his fists, condensing into deadly arcs as he lunged forward, unleashing a barrage of black lightning bolts that tore through the air toward Danzo. Each bolt hummed with lethal energy, sharp enough to slice through steel.

Danzo responded instantly, weaving through hand seals with terrifying speed. With a deep inhale, he released Vacuum Serial Waves ( Shinkū Renkyoku)—a rapid series of compressed wind blasts erupted from his mouth, cutting through Darui's lightning attacks with scalpel-like precision. The vacuum-infused wind wasn't merely defensive; each gust sliced forward, aiming to sever limbs and maim flesh with clinical accuracy.

Darui skidded back, narrowly avoiding the brutal wind slices, his mind racing. He'd never seen wind-style used with such efficiency. But he couldn't afford hesitation—not now.

He launched himself forward once more, calling upon Storm Release: Thundercloud Technique (Ranton: Raiun no Jutsu)—dark clouds formed around him, emitting a storm of electrified rain. Each droplet crackled with chakra as they poured down, each one a tiny, deadly surge of electricity. Darui's strategy was simple: overwhelm Danzo with a field of charged rain, trapping him within a storm of his own making and also electrocute the entire Konoha front.

Danzo sneered, "Do you think this cheap imitation of the Uzumaki clan's kekkei genkai can do anything to me? It's pathetic."

But Danzo's gaze remained cold, unflinching. With a flash of his hand seals, he summoned Wind Release: Mega Vacuum Sphere (Fūton: Shinkūgyoku). The sphere spun out from his mouth, forming a concentrated vortex that exploded outward, dispersing Darui's charged rain in every direction. The force of the vacuum was so intense that it tore through the field of electricity, neutralizing the attack in a gust of destructive wind.

"If it weren't for you and your ambition, we wouldn't be at war right now," Darui accused, his voice edged with barely restrained fury.

Danzo's response was as cold as his gaze. "If I had truly been behind the attack on Kumo, you wouldn't know it was me," he replied, a smirk curling at his lips. "But perhaps it's for the best. Now we have the opportunity to show the world why we are the most powerful village, to remind everyone that while Hiruzen may show mercy, Konoha's strength is absolute. And don't think we've forgotten the Hyuga incident," he added, his tone darkening. "This is the price for all of it. The debt will be repaid."

Before Darui could regroup, Danzo performed another series of seals, summoning his terrifying ally. "Summoning Jutsu: Baku," he intoned, and a massive form materialized beside him—a monstrous beast with the body of a tiger and the trunk of an elephant. The Baku opened its gaping maw, releasing a powerful suction that pulled everything around it toward its core. 

The Baku's suction force roared across the battlefield, amplifying Danzo's wind techniques and twisting them into devastating arcs of pressure. Each breath the Baku took created a relentless pull that left Kumo shinobi struggling to hold their footing, their armor and defenses torn apart as if they were made of paper. Danzo's jutsu merged flawlessly with the Baku's power, each gust becoming a slicing cyclone that left no escape.

In a seamless motion, Danzo formed two clones each of which used Wind Release: Vacuum Sword (Fūton: Shinkūken), transforming his kunai into a blade of razor-sharp wind chakra that extended the reach and lethality of his weapon. The wind-enhanced kunai cut through Kumo shinobi with ease, leaving torn bodies and shredded armor in its wake. Danzo moved with cold precision, gliding effortlessly as his enemies who were struggling to stand against the Baku's pull. In his hands, the wind blade became a tool of pure massacre, cutting down shinobi left and right without so much as a pause.

Without missing a beat, one of his clones unleashed Wind Release: Vacuum Shuriken (Fūton: Shinkū Shuriken), infusing his shuriken with slicing wind chakra and then multiplying them with Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu (Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu). The storm of wind-infused shuriken filled the air, each clone carrying lethal wind chakra that shredded through anything in its path. As the shuriken struck, they created shockwaves, the wind scattering debris and forcing Kumo's forces to retreat in disarray.

"Resistance is pointless," Danzo muttered coldly, watching his opponents buckle under the combined might of his summoning. With the Baku at his command, he had become a force of nature—unleashing the ancient beast's power to consume everything in its path.

The suction yanked Darui's lightning-infused attacks, bending them, warping them, until they dissipated entirely. Eyes narrowing, Darui formed another series of hand seals, drawing on his reserves as he activated Black Lightning: Black Panther (Kuroi Kaminari: Kokuyō)—a massive panther of black lightning materialized beside him, roaring as it charged toward Danzo and the Baku. The beast's jaws snapped, its dark energy crackling as it tore through the air, aiming directly at Danzo's summoned creature.

Darui knew without question that Danzo Shimura was one of the worst possible opponents he could face. While Darui himself was a seasoned mid to high S-rank shinobi, respected and feared in his own right, he knew that Danzo's power went beyond mere rank. In his prime, Danzo had been classified as low SS-rank, and though age had tempered his raw strength, his current high S-rank with years of mastery, ruthless tactics, and numerous enhancements that made him a formidable force.

Even without his former SS-rank power, Danzo's mastery over Wind Style and vaccum manipulation alone was terrifying, and it rendered Darui's Black Lightning and Storm Release almost useless. 

Danzo's eye glinted. Swiftly forming hand seals, he released Wind Release: Vacuum Blade (風遁・真空刃 Fūton: Shinkūjin), coating a kunai in razor-sharp wind chakra. With a flick of his wrist, he launched the kunai at the Black Panther, the wind-enhanced weapon slicing cleanly through the lightning construct, shattering it into crackling fragments.

Frustration etched onto Darui's face. Danzo's techniques were merciless, crafted to dismantle even the most powerful attacks with ease. The elder shinobi's face betrayed no emotion, only a steely determination to obliterate everything in his path.

"Enough games," Danzo muttered. He performed yet another hand seal, unleashing Wind Release: Vacuum Great Drilling Sphere (Fūton: Shinkū Taigyoku)—a massive orb of Vacuum and wind chakra condensed in front of him, growing larger and in the shape of drill by the second before hurtling toward Darui and his squad with frightening speed. The sheer force of the attack was undeniable, tearing through the ground and Kumo shinobi alike sending shockwaves outward.

Darui had no choice but to counter with his strongest technique yet. Forming the seals, he summoned Storm Release: Chain Lightning (Ranton: Kaminari no Kusari)—bolts of concentrated lightning shot out, branching into dozens of tendrils that converged to create a vast storm front, crackling with raw, unfiltered chakra. The storm surged forward, colliding head-on with Danzo's Vacuum Great Sphere in an explosion of wind and lightning.

The blast that followed was deafening, the battlefield shaking beneath their feet as smoke and debris filled the air. Darui staggered back, taking advantage of the smokescreen to signal a retreat for his remaining men.

In the distance, Kakashi, Gai, and Asuma were locked in their own battles, fighting Kumo's reinforcements with relentless precision. Kakashi's Lightning Blade ( Raikiri) flashed as he cut through Kumo's ranks, his Sharingan tracking every movement around him. Gai leaped forward, performing leathal taijutsu with his third gate open, unleashing a barrage of fiery punches that created a wall between him and his enemies. Asuma, wielding his chakra blades, activated Wind Release: Wind Blade (Fūton: Chō Shinkūha) to clear the field, his slicing wind technique leaving no survivors in its path.

As Darui fell back, he glanced over his shoulder one last time at Danzo, his heart heavy with grim realization. Kumo's forces would have to regroup—and prepare for the darkness that was coming. With a final burst of Storm Release: Tempest Cloud Explosion (Ranton: Arakumo Bakuhatsu), he created a massive diversion, allowing his squad to disappear into the cover of the mountains.

Danzo watched, his lone eye cold and calculating, as the Kumo forces retreated. His message had been sent, and the field was his. His voice, low and commanding, rang out over the blood-soaked battlefield: "This is the fate of those who dare to defy Konoha."

As Darui retreated to the mountains, a new, deeper fear settled within him—not for himself, but for his village. The Raikage had challenged a monster, and Darui now understood there were depths to that monster even he couldn't fathom. Darui now held deep respect for the leader, Hiruzen Sarutobi. "How did Sarutobi keep such a monster in check all these years, especially while that monster was after his throne?" he muttered under his breath. This was a man bred in war, forged in darkness by the Second Hokage, a shinobi whose loyalty to Konoha was inseparable from a willingness to sacrifice anything—or anyone—that stood in his way.

With each clash, each night that passed, Danzo's tactics grew darker. He'd order attacks in the dead of night, giving Kumo no room to breathe, no chance to recuperate. He ordered the cave tunnels set ablaze with oil and explosives to root out stragglers, leaving no safe havens. It was psychological warfare, pushing Kumo's forces to their limits. And it was working. Morale among Kumo shinobi began to crumble as they faced an enemy who fought without a shred of honor, with unyielding savagery. Shinobi may not have been known for honor, but even in the brutality of battle, there were unspoken rules—a bare minimum of mercy. Danzo, however, had no such limitations, no such regard.

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As the Days Passed

Konoha's retaliation shocked the Elemental Nations. None expected the Third Hokage, who had spent his later years as a figure of peace, to order such a savage counter-offensive. Nations watched from the sidelines, horrified and transfixed, as one of Konoha's most feared commanders reminded the world why the Leaf was the strongest hidden village. For the first time in decades, Danzo had received a mission akin to those from the days of the Second Shinobi War: By any means necessary, bring Kumo to its knees.

It was a taste of war that Konoha had not unleashed in years, and Danzo intended to carry out his orders to their fullest extent. For the soldiers who fought under him, and those who faced him, he was a man who embodied the darkness of Konoha's past—a living reminder that, beneath the Village Hidden in the Leaves, there lurked roots that would tear down any threat to survive.

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The battlefield stretched before Kakashi as he made his way through the thick smoke and blood-soaked earth toward Lord Danzo's command center. Despite Konoha's relentless hold on the border, the war's brutality gnawed at him. The tide had turned in their favor, yes, but the taste was bitter—dammed rivers lay poisoned, scorched bodies a constant, and atrocities once only spoken of now openly unleashed. Even with Konoha holding strong against Kumo's seven rounds of reinforcements while they had only received three, the haunting shadow of Danzo's tactics turned every victory sour.

Inside the command tent, Danzo stood with his back to Kakashi, a scroll in his hand, his posture a grim silhouette against the torchlight. Kakashi entered and bowed.

"Lord Danzo," he said.

Danzo's lone eye turned to him. "You disappoint me," he said. "Your father, Sakumo, would have turned the tide single-handedly by now. You've rusted over the years, Hatake. You're soft."

Kakashi's hand clenched at his side. But he didn't respond, forcing his eyes to meet Danzo's, his face carefully composed.

Danzo continued, the disdain evident in his tone. "If you wish to stay useful, you'll need to remember what it means to be a shinobi of Konoha. Begin your training again, Kakashi. Or are you content to let your father's legacy sink into dust?"

"On a different note, you and the other jōnin—Asuma Sarutobi, Maito Gai, and Yūhi Kurenai—have a new mission from the Hokage." Danzo's fingers unrolled a scroll, revealing a map with markings leading to the Land of Rice Paddies. "You're to leave tonight. There, you will rendezvous with Itachi Uchiha. Once in position, you will........…" He trailed off but continued with chilling precision. "There is no room for mercy, understood?"

When he heard what the mission entailed, Kakashi's jaw clenched.

When he finally spoke, his tone was low, almost hesitant. "What about our genin?" he asked.

Danzo didn't flinch, his response icy and without hesitation. "What about them? They're shinobi of Konoha. They will do their duty here. If they perish, then they weren't worthy of wearing the leaf." He waved a dismissive hand, as though the lives of the young shinobi were nothing more than expendable pieces on a game board. "Your orders are clear. You leave tonight."

"Understood," Kakashi said quietly, his voice tight with restraint.

"Dismissed," Danzo said, already turning his back on Kakashi, his attention drifting back to the battle plans laid before him.

--------------------{XXX}---------------{{[XXXXXXX]} ---------------------------------{XXX}------------

"The old monkey has finally done it," muttered Ōnoki, the Fence-Sitter of Iwagakure, his voice tinged with both surprise and begrudging respect.

"I never expected the peaceful Third Hokage to have it in him, not for stories like these," Akatsuchi added, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Nor did I," Kitsuchi scoffed, folding his arms. "Who'd have thought the tree-huggers could be this brutal?"

Ōnoki let out a short, knowing laugh. "Oh, don't be fooled by Hiruzen's soft exterior. I've known him a very long time—while he wears his mask of peace and passivity well, there's a core of steel within him. This is a man who's led his village through two wars. What astounds me is his ability to leash someone like Danzo for so long. But make no mistake—Hiruzen Sarutobi is capable of much more than this, or people give him credit for."

Kurotsuchi leaned in, her eyes narrowed in thought. "But what could have pushed the Professor to take such drastic measures?"

Kitsuchi shrugged dismissively. "They dared to attack Kumo right on its home turf. For a move like that, this kind of response is hardly unexpected."

Ōnoki shook his head, watching his younglings with a hint of frustration. "It's not that simple," he said. "This was not Danzo's work, nor was it Konoha's. They're not the type to be caught so brazenly. It's not that they don't conduct such operations, but they would never be so careless as to get caught like this. By now, I'm sure even Kumo has figured that much out. No, this reeks of manipulation, a carefully laid trap. My guess is that someone orchestrated this to spark a war, and the Raikage likely received intelligence that Danzo's standing in Konoha was at an all-time low, believing the Third Hokage would bend the knee for peace once more. But Hiruzen has clearly reached his breaking point—and the Raikage missed it entirely."

"Fools to challenge Konoha without full mobilization. Konoha's strength lies in its ability to rally full force in no time due to their terrain, while Kumo, with its mountains, requires much longer to mobilize," Ōnoki continued, a sigh of disappointment in his tone. "These younger leaders—so much bark, so little bite. It's a recipe for disaster."

--------------------{XXX}---------------{{[XXXXXXX]} ---------------------------------{XXX}------------

In the heart of Kumogakure, the Fourth Raikage sat at the head of his council chamber, tension weighing heavily on the room's air. Around him sat the most important figures of Kumo: Killer Bee, Yugito Nii, the clan heads, elite shinobi, and Dodai. As the Raikage's frustration surged, he struck his table, splintering the wood with a single fist. A new table was quickly brought forward, but the silent replacement didn't ease the simmering tension.

A deep, commanding voice cut through the silence. "Breaking tables won't fix this, A," said Hounda, an elder of Kumo and the previous Raikage's brother. The old man's gaze was steady, unflinching. Though he sat as regent head of the Yotsuki clan—the Raikage's own clan—Hounda's influence ran deep.

Bee broke the silence with the question on everyone's mind. "Why now, bro? Why has the Third Hokage suddenly gone berserk on us?"

Dodai, usually a silent observer, leaned forward. "It's because you underestimated him," he said plainly. "You thought he'd bend the knee again. That he'd choose peace at any cost, even when it meant bowing to Kumo."

A's eyes narrowed. "After all he's done to Kumo, the nerve of him to act righteous…"

"Let's be honest here, A," Hounda interrupted, his tone dangerously calm. "This was never the Leaf's work. Whoever orchestrated this went to great lengths to mimic their jutsu and seals, yes, but we've analyzed the evidence at the site. The signs we found don't align with Konoha's. Those bodies were long dead before they were used. It's more akin to the rumoured jutsu of the Second Hokage, or perhaps a variant of the puppet technique. By the time we had proof, you'd demanded reparations, deployed our forces, and sparked a war."

A's jaw clenched, his gaze falling. If anyone else had spoken to him this way, he would've answered with a fist. But he knew his uncle's reputation all too well, and there was a sobering truth in his words. For some inexplicable reason the autopsy was delay and that had cost them, and Kumo's belief that the Leaf would yield had been a costly misjudgement. They'd expected a simple pushback, not a precise, brutal retaliation, nor that Hiruzen would unleash Danzo Shimura with no restriction, who is feared even among Kumo's ranks.

"It's mad," A said finally, his voice a low growl. "Giving Danzo free rein is madness, even by Kumo's standards. Even our fiercest warriors—Kinkaku and Ginkaku—weren't as depraved as that man."

Dodai raised an eyebrow. "Can Konoha afford to ruin their reputation as 'righteous' protectors, even if it's against us?"

Mabui, seated near the Raikage, answered. She was not only his secretary but also head of Kumo's intelligence, and her reputation had taken a hit over the miscalculation of Konoha's response. "No. The Third Hokage has cultivated Konoha's image of peace and restraint for decades. These measures will be seen as long overdue, Konoha finally answering Kumo's aggression. Their strategy has always been diplomacy and subtle manoeuvring, they have goodwill to burn before their image suffers. And our recent actions have already put us in a negative light with the nobles and investors. If it weren't for the Daimyo's backing, we'd be facing economic strain."

A's frown deepened. "So, what you're saying is that we're trapped."

"If Konoha would've shown weakness and bent the knee, then we could have been the righteous once" Mabui said quietly. "Now it's the opposite."

One of the clan heads looked over, his voice quiet but firm. "Can we afford a prolonged war, Mabui?"

"No," she replied without hesitation. "We challenged them without full mobilization. Konoha may have only a quarter of their forces on the border, but they struck before we could gather our own strength. That's why Danzo Shimura is already on our doorstep, not in Yugakure where this all began. They outmanoeuvred us."

The Raikage looked around the room, his face steely with resolve. "Then what do you suggest?"

Mabui's eyes flickered with thought. "We need a decisive victory. Something to push them back hard and fast. Then, offer peace terms from a position of strength. That way, we don't appear the weaker side. An all-out war…that may not be feasible. Not without full preparation."

The room fell into silence as Mabui's words sank in. Finally, A stood, his towering figure casting a shadow over the council members. His gaze hardened as he turned to Bee and Yugito. "Bee, take Yugito with you. I want you both at the front lines by tomorrow. We'll drive every last Leaf shinobi out of our lands in three days. I'll join you at the border by 5 days from now."

Bee nodded, his usual humor absent as the gravity of the situation set in. 

--------------------{XXX}---------------{{[XXXXXXX]} ---------------------------------{XXX}------------

While the Elemental Nations burned with the fires of war and the anticipation of it, Naruto found himself profiting in ways that fed not only his coffers but his influence. He had secured a small iron mine in the Land of Fangs, one with limited reserves, but that hardly mattered, since he ordered to empty the mines. As long as the village prepared for conflict, weapons were in high demand. With Naruto's production steadily increasing, he sold each shipment at a steep premium. The nations prepared for battle, and Naruto minted money—not in the literal sense, but close enough.

The news of the escalating conflict between Konoha and Kumo reached him quickly. He was also shocked, knowing Third Hokage a man of peace, to hear that he had not only sent Danzo to the front but granted him free rein, a move that was as provocative as it was ruthless. 

But Naruto had his own conflicts to manage. Since recovering from the taxing heist in Kumo, he had made careful adjustments to his equipment, meticulously stripping away the residual Eight-Tails chakra that clung to his weapons. The lingering chakra had caused the weapons to draw on his reserves whenever touched or moved, as though constantly in use. Through trial and error, Naruto also discovered that smearing his own blood onto the weapons greatly reduced the chakra drain, stabilizing them and making them far easier to handle.

Amid his efforts to expand his network and recruit new allies, Naruto received a troubling report: his scouts had detected a significant and unusual chakra disturbance in the mountain range between the Land of Birds and the Land of Marsh. The information had first come to Kanna and Karin—now both skilled fighters, trained interrogators, and expert lie detectors—who handled verification and often led Naruto's security and intelligence efforts in the Land of Marsh. Any new recruit not explicitly approved by Naruto was sent directly to them, as their sharp instincts made deception nearly impossible. When Naruto's own schedule didn't permit him to personally vet someone, the mother-daughter duo took the task upon themselves, ensuring only loyal allies joined their ranks. They also patrolled the territory diligently, intercepting threats and maintaining order across the borders.

This report, however, was unlike any they had encountered before. Without hesitation, Naruto set off to investigate the source of the disturbance himself, prepared for whatever awaited him in the mountains.

What he discovered at the mountain facility made his blood boil. Inside a dimly lit chamber, restrained in a complex array of chains, lay an Uzumaki woman named Honoka. Her vibrant red hair marked her heritage unmistakably, but her features were gaunt, drained. Golden chains of her own bloodline—*Kongo Fusa*, the fabled adamantine chains—had been forcibly extracted from her, feeding a grotesque experiment. A mutated creature, a monstrous fusion of chakra-enhanced animals, had been connected to her lifeforce, the chains pumping her vitality into the abomination. The cruelty of it was sickening.

Naruto's decision was immediate. Unsheathing his blade, he tore through the lab's inhabitants with a precision that left no room for mercy. Within minutes, the entire facility fell silent, save for the chief scientist and one other, whom Naruto spared for interrogation. He intended to extract every piece of information the man knew—about the twisted experiment, his scientific methods, and the forbidden techniques used to create such monstrosities. Naruto would force him to teach his techniques to his own scientists, and then discard him into this volcano. Every record, every sample, was seized.

With the scientist bound and his sword sheathed, Naruto turned to Honoka. He approached her carefully, his face a mask of restraint as he released her from the seals that kept her unable to call back her chain. Weak but resilient, she managed a soft thank you, introducing herself as Honoka Uzumaki. A descendant of a branch line within the Uzumaki clan, she explained that she had been forced into participating in the research. She had a deep affinity for birds and animals, which made her uniquely suited for the creature's creation, though it had come at a great cost.

When Naruto asked her to describe the beast, her eyes darkened with sorrow. She explained that the creature—a monstrous summoning chimera—was the result of fusing countless beasts together, bound by intricate seals and infused with her own life force. Naruto frowned but nodded, assuring her that he would handle the creature personally. Honoka protested, clearly concerned about the monstrosity she had helped create, but Naruto insisted that she leave for safety while he dealt with the beast.

Naruto ventured deeper into the facility, entering a large cavern where the monstrosity lay sleeping. Its many heads and limbs twitched as it sensed his approach. The grotesque creature, a fusion of various chakra-infused animals, was unlike anything Naruto had ever encountered. It was the culmination of tampering with the summoning arts, and the vitality of an Uzumaki.

Naruto was shocked when he saw it. This beast was very large and had immense chakra reserve. So Naruto changed the plan of just throwing the thing into volcano or just killing it.

Naruto drew out the Marici Mask—one of the Uzumaki clan's powerful artifacts, designed to bind uncontracted entities. With swift, decisive movement, he placed the mask onto one of the still-living scientists, using him as the sacrifice. Reddish-grey chains burst forth from the mask, binding the scientist before turning to the creature, which struggled futilely against their grasp. Naruto smeared his own blood across the mask's markings, activating its power through the seal. The creature roared, thrashing violently, but it was no match for the Marici's binding force. As Naruto's blood was absorbed into the mask, he felt control over the beast solidify, and the scientist was reduced to ashes, his sacrifice complete. 

"Enough," Naruto murmured, leaping onto its massive head. He then placed the Sealing Guard of the Sage of Six Paths on its forehead. The creature stilled instantly, sealed into a dormant state. For now, the beast would remain inactive. Naruto considered the possibility of turning it into a summon, one that would follow his commands completely, but first, he would need to find a proper place for it to live.

As Naruto returned to the base, he took time to learn more about Honoka. She was twenty-four, skilled in sealing arts like most Uzumaki, yet she possessed a particular affinity for creatures and contract-based seals, an ability that set her apart. Honoka shared that she had always felt a unique connection to animals, especially birds, and had been training in summoning techniques before she was captured. Though her brother had been the one groomed for combat, she had focused her abilities on seals and nurturing bonds with creatures. But her brother, along with her parents, had been missing for a very long time.

When Karin and Kanna introduced her to Naruto, Honoka's demeanor shifted from relief to reverence. She knelt before him, bowing deeply, her voice filled with conviction as she spoke, "It is an honor, my lord, to finally serve the royal line of the Uzumaki."

Naruto blinked in surprise at the formality, but Honoka continued, her voice soft. "My parents taught my brother and me where our loyalties lie," she said, her eyes steady as she looked up at him. "From the earliest age, they told us of the royal family and of Lady Kushina. When we heard that she was in Konoha, my family left to search for her, hoping to offer our loyalty."

A shadow crossed her face as she continued, "But on our journey, we were separated. My parents were lost, and later… I heard the rumors of Lady Kushina's death. I was captured not long after, forced into servitude in that wretched facility." Her voice cracked slightly, her eyes glistening with the weight of her memories. "I thought the line was lost, but seeing you, my prince… there is hope again."

Naruto placed a hand on her shoulder, both honoring her loyalty and accepting it. In Honoka, he saw more than just an Uzumaki survivor; he saw untapped potential and family. 

--------------------{XXX}---------------{{[XXXXXXX]} ---------------------------------{XXX}------------

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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!!! 

NTLHOS: Chapter 83: I Don't Know!!! (New)

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