Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm

Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm

Chapter 38: Web of Influence

Author's Note:

Hello, dear readers! This chapter is all about web of politics and revalation. The lines between allies and enemies blur, and the stakes have never been higher. Thank you for your continued support and for walking this journey with me. Remember, in the world of shinobi, nothing is ever as it seems.

P.S:Please read the unknown old woman's part as if you're hearing an old Bellatrix from Harry Potter. For those unfamiliar with Bellatrix, imagine a childish, mad old woman speaking—but with an unparalleled intellect.

Join ThirdFireTriden on Pa(tre) on !

Chapter 39: Power Shifts and Rising Storms IS OUT!

Chapter 40: Choices? IS OUT!

Chapter 41: Confronting the Snake Sannin IS OUT! (7-8K LONG)

NTLHS Chapter 42: The Fires Of The Uzumaki IS OUT! (7-8K LONG)

NTLHOS: Chapter 43: Mother Daughter Duo IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 44 - The Stage Is Set IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 45: The Gambit Unveiled IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 46: ChangingAllegiance IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 47- The Gathering Storm Clouds IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 48: So the High Council Begins! IS OUT!

"When spiders unite, they can tie down a lion."– Ethiopian Proverb

Enjoy the read!

Last time on Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm:

Anko, codenamed "Serpent," accepted Naruto's offer with a sense of gratitude and determination. "Aye, Captain," she said, her voice filled with newfound resolve. For the first time in years, she felt like she had found a place where she could belong without the constant shadow of doubt hanging over her. With Naruto, she knew she would be given a fair chance—a chance to prove herself not just to the village, but to herself as well.

Despite assembling a strong team, Naruto was still two members short. Word quickly spread that he was creating a team of outcasts—individuals who had one issue or another with the higher-ups. Although it was not by choice, the last member would come from the ANBU Academy, leaving it up to fate to see who would join his unconventional but formidable team.

Now:

In a hidden chamber beneath the heart of Konoha, six individuals sat around a grand, rectangular stone table. The walls were lined with ancient scrolls, and the faint, glowing symbols etched into the stone exuded an ominous energy. The room was dimly lit by torches that flickered softly, casting long shadows over the austere faces gathered in the room.

At the head of the table, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat with a grave expression. His normally kind eyes were hard, reflecting the weight of the village on his shoulders. The flickering light accentuated the deep lines of age and worry etched into his face, making him appear every bit the war-weary leader who had seen more battles than most could imagine.

To his right sat Koharu Utatane, her silver hair tied in a severe bun. She held herself with a cold, stern demeanor, her piercing eyes revealing nothing but the iron will that had guided her decisions for decades. Her hands were clasped tightly on the table, her posture as unyielding as her convictions.

Next to her, Homura Mitokado was a silent observer. His white hair contrasted sharply with his dark robes, and his face was set in a permanent frown, as though every word spoken was a matter of grave concern. He had always been the more calculating of the two, his mind constantly assessing risks and benefits, always thinking of the village's future.

Danzo Shimura sat across from Hiruzen, his face mostly obscured by the shadows and the bandages that covered one side. His single visible eye, cold and calculating, flicked between the other members as they spoke, always considering, always judging. Beneath his robe, his arm remained hidden—a secret weapon, a testament to the dark sacrifices he had made for what he believed was the good of the village.

The two remaining figures were lesser-known to the village at large but held considerable influence in the hidden corners of Konoha's power structure:

The first of the two was a man who exuded an aura of quiet menace. His skin was weathered and his hair cropped short, evidence of a life spent in the most unforgiving environments. His build was solid, a testament to the physical demands of his profession. His sharp eyes, always vigilant, hinted at a deep-seated intelligence and a readiness to execute orders with ruthless efficiency. He was a man of few words, preferring decisive action over prolonged discussion, and his loyalty to the village was as unwavering as it was absolute. He was the kind of operative who thrived in the shadows, executing the village's darkest deeds without hesitation.

The last was a woman whose presence radiated cold precision and calculated intellect. Her hair was meticulously pulled back, emphasizing the sharpness of her features and the keen intelligence in her gaze. She possessed an analytical mind, constantly assessing and strategizing, always two steps ahead in any situation. Her ability to see the broader picture allowed her to make decisions based on logic and reason, where others might be swayed by emotion or sentiment. Yet, what made her truly dangerous was the subtle, almost deranged smile that occasionally flickered across her lips—a smile that hinted at a mind dancing on the edge of brilliance and madness. This unsettling expression, combined with her detached demeanor, made it clear that she was capable of making the coldest, most calculated decisions without a second thought. It was this blend of intelligence and latent instability that made her all the more formidable—and unpredictable.

Unlike the previous gathering, two and a half years ago, it was the genius with the rain-maddened smile who spoke first. The dimly lit room, heavy with the weight of clandestine dealings and old grudges, seemed to pulse with an almost tangible sense of power. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable, but the tension in his frame betrayed the growing unease he felt.

The aged woman, perched on the precipice between madness and brilliance, leaned forward, her lips curling into a deranged yet strangely charming smile. Her voice, lilting and playful, broke the silence. "How the mighty have fallen, eh... Saru. How the great Third Hokage has stumbled, hm?" She chuckled softly, a sound that sent a shiver down even the most hardened spines in the room.

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, she continued, her words spilling out in a rush, almost as if she couldn't contain the delight in her voice. "Oh, wasn't it your grand idea? Send the boy with Kagami's son, let him wither and die in that dreadful Mist, hmm? But what did he do, Saru? What did our little experiment accomplish?"

Her smile widened, her eyes gleaming with a mix of madness and cunning. "He thrived! You sent him on a suicide mission—barely a chunin!—and he didn't just survive, he excelled. He infiltrated the Mist, wriggled his way into their ranks, and then, oh, the audacity! He infiltrated the rebellion as well! And what did he become, Saru? Not just a jonin—no, no! He became a real jonin, arguably an elite jonin, a true one, Saru—not one of those fake titles you so generously hand out. Our little pawn, Saru, how he defied expectations! Instead of simply crossing the board as a pawn and becoming good loyal queen, he went and crowned himself a king! None of us saw that coming, did we, Saru?"

The woman leaned back, her laughter bubbling up again, but this time it was darker, edged with something that made even the seasoned veterans around the table uneasy. Her eyes, glinting with that dangerous mix of brilliance and madness, locked onto Hiruzen's. "And then, as if that wasn't enough, the boy escapes the Mist—oh, what a show that must have been—strolling through the Land of Noodles and Hi no Kuni as if he owned the place. And then, he defeats Ao—one of their most seasoned warriors—and brings back the Byakugan as a little souvenir. A gift to the Hyuga, Saru! Do you understand the implications? The Hyuga now owe him a debt, a favor that cannot be ignored. They see him as a hero, a shinobi who accomplished what most could only dream of. Oh, how beautifully tangled the web has become, Saru!"

Her voice lowered, taking on a conspiratorial tone, dripping with mock sympathy. "I watched him, Saru. Every move, every calculated breath he took when you summoned him—so careful, so precise. You knew it, didn't you? You knew the boy was feeding you half-truths and sugar-coated lies, spinning tales with that silver tongue of his, each word dipped in just enough truth to be untouchable. But what could you do, Saru? What could you possibly do? He boxed you in so perfectly, and he didn't even realize the extent of his own cunning! You couldn't call him out—oh no, not after you sent him on that delightful little death march. You didn't want our dear old comrades sniffing around, did you? A punishment? Ha! That would've been the end of you if our old friend caught wind of it and confronted you, which would have drawn the Daimyo's attention to the matter. And the Daimyo, Saru—what a nightmare that would have been! The mighty Hiruzen Sarutobi, undone by the very secret he's been so desperately hiding. The Daimyo, that fool, thinks the boy saved his life, blissfully ignorant of the truth.

Imagine his horror, Saru, when he learns that the boy he's indebted to is the very spawn of his family's executioner! Oh, the sweet irony—he thinks the boy is just another one of your snake's twisted experiments, never suspecting the blood that courses through his veins. And you, Saru, you played right into it. The delicious irony! The boy walked free, not because he outsmarted you, but because you couldn't afford to let the truth slip. He must have thought you were cowed by the Hyuga name, that he had you cornered, that he had pulled the wool over your eyes."

Her eyes gleamed with a wicked delight as she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. "Oh, how he must have laughed, Saru, at your perceived weakness! And all the while, he was dancing to a tune none of us played—one of his own making. The arrogance of it, the brilliance, the sheer audacity! And you, Saru, you sat there, helpless, watching as the little pawn grew into something far more dangerous, far more unpredictable than any of us could have ever anticipated. You thought you were playing the game, but oh, Saru, the game was playing you."

Hiruzen's fists clenched, his knuckles whitening as he fought to keep his composure. He began to rise, but the woman's smile vanished, replaced by a look of cold, calculating menace. "Ah, ah, ah, Saru," she purred, her tone dripping with deadly sweetness. "Today, you will let me finish. I warned you—don't put the boy under Shisui Uchiha's wing, but you ignored me, didn't you? And when I cautioned you again, when the boy started getting too close to the Tower, what did you do? Nothing. The very first day the ANBU reported his meeting with Kammado Sura, I told you—send a battalion of ANBU, or better yet, go yourself, and stop that fool from spilling anything he shouldn't. But you, Saru, you thought you knew better. You thought you could control the situation. Well, listen to me now. Listen carefully."

Her voice turned deadly serious, though the glint of madness never left her eyes. "That boy has learned the game. The drivel he fed you about his time in the Mist, about his precious feelings—it was all a lie, Saru. A beautiful, shining lie. And now, he's dangerous. There's a reason why that clan has always been feared, Saru. And he's showing the signs. Shisui introduced him to the Uchiha, and that fossil, Mahiro Uchiha, has begun teaching him the old ways—the ways we buried deep. The boy is learning to act, Saru, to think ahead, to strike with ruthlessness and purpose. That old relic Mahiro Uchiha has done to the boy is something you couldn't do with your own flesh and blood."

Her eyes narrowed, her tone laced with venom. "Two outcasts, the Uchiha and the Tower. And what did he do? He united them, Saru. He brought them together under his banner. He revived the commerce in that wretched Tower, something we've been trying to crush for decades. And who does he partner with? The Uchiha, of all clans! How did he gain their trust? Fugaku is predictable, Saru—loyal, yes, but predictable. You have his son under your thumb, but not the boy. My agents tell me there's friction between Fugaku, his heir, and the boy, but the clan—they don't share that disdain. No, they admire him, Saru. They follow him."

Her smile widened, twisted and dangerous, a reflection of the dark delight simmering within her. "And now, Saru, the Kurama clan has thrown in their lot with him. The Kurama! A clan once known for their formidable Genjutsu, now rallying behind a boy who was supposed to be nothing more than a pawn in our game. But no, he's turned the tables on us—he healed their heiress, Saru. Their precious heiress, who was as good as lost to that monstrous bloodline limit of theirs, now walks free of her curse, all thanks to him. And what did he gain from it? Their loyalty, their friendship, their undying gratitude. He's not just building alliances, Saru, he's creating a bloc—a powerful bloc that's shifting the very balance of power in this village."

Her voice dropped to a whisper, yet the intensity in her tone only grew. "With the refugees from that wretched Tower, the Uchiha, and now the Kurama, he's weaving together a coalition that has the potential to destabilize everything we've worked for. It's not just about shifting loyalties—it's about redirecting the flow of power, of commerce, of influence. The heart of the village, once the thriving center of trade, is now bleeding out to the periphery, to his stronghold. He's turned that cursed Tower into a nexus of trade and power. The brilliance, Saru, the sheer brilliance of his strategy! And to think, we once dismissed him as just a child playing at being a shinobi."

She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, her eyes gleaming with malevolent glee. "It's not just about making trinkets in the Tower, Saru. Oh no, it's far more complex than that. He's cataloged everything—every item that's sold, how it's sold, where it's sold, who's buying it, who's using it. He's mapped out the entire economic network, Saru. He knows which goods flow to which parts of the elemental nations, who the end consumers are, and how the market dynamics shift with each transaction. This is not just the work of a clever merchant, Saru. This is the work of a strategist, a tactician. He's playing the long game, and he's playing it to win."

Her smile returned, more twisted and dangerous than before, as if she were savoring the irony of the situation. "And now, with the Kurama clan backing him, he's solidifying his power base. He's not just selling goods; he's selling influence. Every transaction, every deal that leaves the Tower is a thread in his web of control. These aren't just economic exchanges, Saru. They're strategic moves. He's creating dependencies, forging alliances, turning every deal into a pact of loyalty."

She let out a low, derisive laugh. "They're not just buying wares—they're buying into his vision, his control. And soon, they'll be dancing to his tune, not ours. The heart of Konoha, the central hub of power and commerce that we've controlled for so long, is slowly being siphoned away, piece by piece, to the periphery where he reigns. He's turning the Tower into a new center of power, one that rivals the very heart of this village."

Her eyes flicked to the others around the table, gauging their reactions, before settling back on Hiruzen. "And do you know what the most infuriating part is? He's done it all right under our noses. While we were focused on his missions, his training, his little rebellions, he was building something far more dangerous—a network of alliances, an economic base, a power structure that we didn't even see coming. He's turned the Tower from a symbol of lost hope into a beacon of strength, and he's done it with the backing of the Uchiha, the Kurama, and all those other little factions we've kept in check for so long."

The tension in the room thickened, the weight of her words pressing down on everyone present. Hiruzen's face was a mask of barely contained anger, his mind racing to process the implications of what he was hearing. The woman's words were more than just warnings—they were a clear sign that the balance of power within Konoha was shifting, and not in their favor.

"He's not just playing the game, Saru—he's rewriting the rules. And if we don't act soon, everything we've worked for, everything we've built, will be in his hands. He's not just selling goods; he's selling influence. Every transaction he makes, every product that leaves the Tower, carries more than just its physical value. He's weaving a network of loyalties, dependencies, and power plays. They're not just buying wares—they're buying into his vision, his control. And soon, they'll be dancing to his tune, not ours."

Hiruzen, now visibly shaken, slammed his fist on the table, his voice trembling with suppressed anger. "Enough! You speak as if the boy is beyond our control. He's still young, still inexperienced. We can guide him, bring him back in line."

The woman's deranged smile widened, her eyes glowing with a twisted joy. "Oh, Saru, you still don't see it, do you? He's not beyond control, but he's beyond your control. You underestimated him, and now you're playing catch-up. He's learned from the best—us, the Uchiha, the Tower. And now, he's carving his own path. The question, Saru, is how much longer can you pretend you're still holding the reins?"

The room fell into a heavy silence, the air thick with the weight of the conversation. The twisted smile of the woman who had been speaking slowly faded, replaced by a more contemplative look as she leaned back into her chair, her eyes never leaving Hiruzen. The others in the room exchanged glances, each of them absorbing the gravity of the situation.

It was Danzo who broke the silence, his voice low and dangerous, cutting through the tension like a blade. "I have more news," he began, his eyes narrowing as he looked around the table. "My spies have recently uncovered something that changes everything. The boy—Naruto—has developed a seal, similar to the Hyuga's Caged Bird Seal, but with one significant difference: it lacks the slavery component."

Koharu leaned forward, her brow furrowing. "A seal? What exactly does it do, Danzo?"

Danzo's lips pressed into a thin line as he continued. "From what I've been able to uncover through Itachi, Fugaku was strongly against this seal. But to the shock of the entire Uchiha clan, it was Mikoto Uchiha who volunteered to test it."

Homura's eyes widened slightly. "Mikoto Uchiha? Volunteered? That's… unexpected. She's always been a more reserved figure."

Danzo nodded, his gaze shifting to Hiruzen. "Indeed. This move was an indirect defiance of her husband's wishes. Fugaku has been attempting to undermine the boy's influence within the clan, but Mikoto's actions suggest that she's aligning herself with him instead."

Hiruzen's expression darkened, but before he could speak, the woman who had spoken earlier let out a soft, almost mocking laugh. "Oh, how the tables turn," she murmured, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "Mikoto Uchiha, of all people, defying Fugaku? This is getting more interesting by the minute."

Danzo ignored her, pressing on. "From what I can gather, Mahiro Uchiha was the one who proposed this test, but it was done at the boy's insistence. And let us not forget who Mikoto Uchiha is. Despite Fugaku being the Lord Regent of the clan, it was us—this council—who declared Lady Mikoto as the true Lady of the Uchiha. Her influence should not be underestimated."

Koharu frowned, her tone skeptical. "But what does this seal actually do, Danzo? How is it different from the Hyuga's?"

Danzo's eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "From the blueprint I've managed to obtain, this seal is designed in such a way that it cannot be removed or modified by anyone who doesn't meet certain, yet unknown, specifications. This isn't just a testament to the boy's growing power and influence within the Uchiha clan—it's a direct challenge to us. Clan members are already wearing the seal on their bodies, relying solely on their trust in him, even before Fugaku could prove it safe in the eyes of the clan."

Homura leaned back, concern etched into his features. "And we were kept in the dark about this? There was no indication in the previous council meetings of such a development. The boy… he's acting outside our control."

Hiruzen's gaze hardened as he turned to Danzo. "The police force—what of them? How deeply have they been compromised?"

Danzo's expression grew grimmer. "The police forces are proactively protecting the businesses that engage with the Tower and the Uchiha clan. It's a blatant misuse of power, one that we can no longer ignore. And it's not just that—the training of the younger generations of Uchiha has intensified significantly. They're being trained as if preparing for war."

The room fell silent once more, the implications of Danzo's words hanging heavily over them. It was Koharu who finally spoke, her voice quiet but firm. "This… this is not just about the boy anymore. It's about the power shift within the village. He's amassing influence, and if we don't act, we could be facing an insurrection."

Danzo leaned forward, his eyes cold and calculating. "Let me be direct. I'm not here to place blame on anyone, but it's time we deal with the boy—not by sending him on more suicide missions, but by eliminating him altogether, if needed we both can do it ourselves. Quietly, before the Daimyo catches wind of any of this."

Homura hesitated, his voice betraying a hint of uncertainty. "But what about the repercussions? If we eliminate him now, what happens to the Tower? The Uchiha?"

Danzo's eyes hardened, his voice cold as ice. "Once the boy is dealt with, we'll take back control of the Tower. The Uchiha will be handled as planned—without their newfound leadership, they'll revert to their aggressive ways, inevitably reigniting their old plans of rebellion. Then we eliminate them. We cannot allow this boy to continue his rise to power."

The unnamed man, his presence imposing and authoritative, stood up. His gravelly voice, laced with power and authority, cut through the tension in the room like a blade. "Before we make any decisions, I need a few points clarified," he began, his gaze sweeping over the other members of the council. "What of our old colleagues? And what of Jiraiya? Eliminating the boy might be a challenge, but what about the Tower? Have you forgotten why we allowed it to stand in the first place? It wasn't out of any love or mercy. They refuse to share their knowledge of seals with anyone outside their walls, and Lady Mito ensured that only those within the Tower can operate the village's barrier to its fullest. What happens to the seals they provide to the village if we destroy them?"

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "Unlike what Sukino believes, there's a high possibility that the boy's actions, while clearly aimed at uplifting the Tower and the Uchiha, may not be intentionally harmful to the village. Let's not forget that we didn't kill him at birth—not out of kindness, and certainly not to honor his fool of a father. We hid the truth because only he can access the Uzumaki islands, only he can unlock the wealth of Uzushiogakure, which could exponentially boost the village's development."

The room remained silent, the words hanging heavily in the air. Koharu's expression was unreadable, but her eyes were fixed on the unnamed man, her mind racing through the implications of what he had said. Hiruzen, too, was deep in thought, his brow furrowed in concentration as he considered the ramifications of their next move.

Finally, Sukino Nara, one of the nine students of Tobirama Senju, regarded as one of the most dangerous minds in the elemental nations, rose to her feet. Her presence was electric, a combination of genius and madness that made her feared even among her peers. Shikaku Nara, despite his own formidable intellect, avoided crossing paths with her whenever possible. Sukino's reputation for her unparalleled strategic brilliance, which often bordered on the edge of insanity, was well-known. Now, her eyes glinted with a dark intelligence as she addressed the man.

"Oh, Raya," she began, her voice dripping with a mix of condescension and twisted amusement, "do you think I'm unaware that the boy might not fully grasp the consequences of his actions? Or perhaps you believe I've underestimated him? Let me be clear: whether by intent or ignorance, that boy is carving out a path to power. He tried to play politics, to manipulate us during his debriefing, and while he may not be the mastermind I've painted him as—yet—he is still far more dangerous than you realize."

Her smile twisted into something more sinister, a reflection of her sharp mind. "There are very few people whose intellect I've ever truly feared. Tobirama-sensei was one, and Mito Uzumaki another. She was one of the few who could see right through me, who could dissect and dismantle my plans with ease. There were others in that godforsaken village of hers, too. The boy may not yet fully understand the extent of the threat he poses to us, but I believe he knows who his mother was, and what she did. With that knowledge, he can never be truly loyal to this village. He knows the sword of Damocles hangs over his head—the Daimyo would hunt him to the ends of the earth if he knew his true lineage."

Sukino's voice dropped to a near-whisper, the intensity of her words palpable. "I know exactly what he is, and what he's capable of. The complexity of his economic strategies is far beyond anything taught in our pathetic excuse for an academy. Even the most brilliant minds in my clan would struggle to match his ingenuity, especially given the information he's gleaned from Mahiro Uchiha and Kammado. And you, Raya, where is your vengeance? Where is the blood-boiling hatred you once held for the Uzumaki? Has it diminished with time, or have you accepted their superiority in the art of sealing?"

Her eyes narrowed, her tone becoming more accusatory. "Or perhaps it's greed that drives you now, the desire to access the wealth of Uzushiogakure, to comb through the countless forbidden jutsu and sealing techniques hidden within those islands? Was your vow of vengeance against the Uzumaki just a façade, a convenient excuse to hide your true intentions? You hide behind your mother surname Higen, but let's not forget your true lineage, Surugi. Has your thirst for revenge been quenched now that the heir to the main Uzumaki line still breathes? Or are you willing to let it slide, as long as you get what you want?"

The old man, now named as Raya, or more accurately, Lord Aluraya Higen—known to a select few as Aluraya Surugi—rose from his seat, anger blazing in his eyes. His chakra flared, filling the room with a palpable sense of danger. "My vendetta with the Uzumaki is far from over. It will only be finished when the last of them is buried and decomposed. I will never forget the humiliation we suffered, the way we were driven from our own village by those redheaded monsters. I am one of the few survivors of that massacre. I know what it's like to watch your kin and kith die before your eyes."

His voice was a growl, his rage barely contained. "But I am not blind to the reality of the situation. The wealth of that village, their forbidden jutsu, their unmatched knowledge in sealing—it's priceless. So I urge you to reconsider your decision. I will not lose a single night of sleep if the boy dies; in fact, I would rejoice, knowing that the main Uzumaki line is finally eradicated. Unlike his mother, he's not a container, and I have no qualms about finishing him off. But I recognize the value he holds, the power he represents. So tell me, are we truly ready to eliminate him, knowing what we stand to gain—or lose?

Furthermore, I would like to remind you that my knowledge of seals surpasses even that of Kammado Sura, but I cannot enter the Tower. Mito Uzumaki has warded it against anyone of my blood. Nor do we have the numbers to maintain the seal work necessary for the village if we were to wipe out the Tower. Have you forgotten that it's my daughter's son who contains the Nine-Tails? It's proof enough that the Surugi body is as strong as any Uzumaki's, but without access to those seals, the village's defenses will be crippled. Are we truly prepared to face that consequence?"

The room fell into a tense silence, the implications of their conversation hanging heavy in the air. Each of them knew that the decision they made today would not only determine the fate of one boy but also the future of the entire village. The stakes had never been higher, and the line between genius and madness had never been thinner.

Hiruzen's chakra flared, filling the chamber with an overwhelming pressure that sent shivers down the spines of even the most hardened council members. His eyes, once weary with the weight of his years, now burned with a fierce resolve, a reminder of the power that had earned him the title of Hokage. "I will bring the Tower, the Uchiha, and the Kurama to their knees," he declared, his voice cold and commanding. "It is high time this village remembers who rules over it. My benevolence, my kindness—these should not be mistaken for weakness."

The force of his words hung in the air, a final decree that left no room for dissent. Hiruzen Sarutobi had made his decision, and the village would soon feel the full weight of his authority.

Join ThirdFireTriden on Pa(tre) on !

Chapter 39: Power Shifts and Rising Storms IS OUT!

Chapter 40: Choices? IS OUT!

Chapter 41: Confronting the Snake Sannin IS OUT! (7-8K LONG)

NTLHS Chapter 42: The Fires Of The Uzumaki IS OUT! (7-8K LONG)

NTLHOS: Chapter 43: Mother Daughter Duo IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 44 - The Stage Is Set IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 45: The Gambit Unveiled IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 46: ChangingAllegiance IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 47- The Gathering Storm Clouds IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 48: So the High Council Begins! IS OUT!

Unlock exclusive access of chapters, detailed lemons, and stunning illustrations by way images! Be the first to dive into the latest adventures and enjoy content not available anywhere else.

What you get:

Early access to new chapters. Exclusive, detailed lemon scenes. High-quality artwork and illustrations. Voting rights to influence the story's direction. The opportunity to provide suggestions and feedback.

Become a pa (tr)on today and be part of the story!

Since this is my first fan fiction, I am eagerly looking forward to your thoughts and feedback. Your comments and suggestions are invaluable to me as they will help me improve and grow as a writer. I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Your support means the world to me, and I am grateful for every reader who joins me on this journey.

I will post every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Thank You