Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm

Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm

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

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Author's Note:

🎉 Welcome Back! 🎉

This is the second chapter in a row that I've completely scrapped after writing over 4,000 words and started anew. 😅It's been a real challenge 💪, but I couldn't settle for anything less than what this story truly deserves. 🖋️✨ Every chapter needs to align with the vision I have for it, and I hope this one exceeds your expectations! 🌟

Let me know how you're enjoying the journey so far—your feedback means the world to me 🌍💖 and keeps me inspired to continue delivering my best! 📝🔥🙏

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"Sometimes, the hardest part of storytelling isn't the writing—it's knowing when to start over and make it better."

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Naruto Uzumaki was a genius, Sukino mused, capable of orchestrating a scenario so flawlessly balanced that it left no room for error. He could always be relied upon to present a true challenge. 

The balance of power as they knew it had once again shifted, and all present knew it.

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A quiet dusk settled over the Uchiha compound, where a gathering of clan members convened at the Naka Shrine. Once, the Uchiha had stood proud—their strength balanced the Senju's, their power a threat even to armies, feared even by the Daimyō. But those days of glory had vanished into memories and ashes. Now, even their survival had become a battle. Decades of suspicion and accusations over the Kyūbi attack had pushed them into scorn and isolation. The alliance forged with Naruto Uzumaki years ago had restored much of their lost prestige, lifting them from the accusations and blame cast by the Kyūbi's rampage and granting them a foothold among Konoha's elite once more.

Yet the reprieve had been painfully short-lived. With Uzumaki's banishment, old wounds reopened, whispers of treachery resurfaced, and their political and economic influence was systematically dismantled. This time, the Hokage's faction made no attempt to maintain even the semblance of civility. Accusations and slander were openly directed at the Uchiha, sanctions imposed directly without the veil of diplomacy, leading to strained relations with other clans and the erosion of their hard-won alliances.

In the five years since Naruto's banishment, they had endured again—the same slander, but now delivered openly. Harassment continued beneath a fading veneer of civility, growing bolder with each passing day. The Fire Court and the Daimyō bore down on them, stripping away financial privileges and political influence. Without Naruto's presence, the Uchiha found themselves once more whittled away, losing allies amidst the village's political crossfire. Were it not for the removal of certain barriers and the clan's remaining connections, they might have been crushed entirely. How far they had fallen from those times when even the Daimyō considered them a threat worthy of appeasement.

In the firelight of the shrine's interior, Mahiro Uchiha sat, his ancient bones creaking as he settled into a place of quiet observation. He was old—unthinkably so. He once was called the the Fire Typhoon but now just old man. Ancient by the standards of the younger generations, his years surpassed even the eldest of the village. Age had left him stooped and reliant on a cane in the past five years, but his mind remained sharp as a blade, his presence commanding even the rowdiest assembly. Each month etched changes in him that would take years to show in younger men. Yet his mind remained keen, sharper than most realized. 

His gaze drifted over the assembly. He saw Her Grace Mikoto, and near her stood Shisui, once mild and appeasing. Now, Shisui had become a force unto himself, earning the rank of a mid- to high-S-rank shinobi after single-handedly dismantling three regiments of Oto and Suna forces during the invasion. Shisui's presence counterbalanced the influence of Itachi, who, if rumours were to be believed, was next in line to become the ANBU Commander—a man whose unwavering loyalty to the village often created friction with his duty to the clan.

On another side stood Fugaku Uchiha. Though no longer the clan head, he still commanded respect within the clan. His tempered demeanor often supported the more reasonable facets of Itachi's views, lending credence to his son's suggestions without fully endorsing the extreme.

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The ceremonial gong rang, and the low murmur of voices diminished into silence. First, they addressed trivial matters—small motions of commerce and local disputes. But impatience hung in the air. Finally, Yashiro Uchiha stood, voice cutting through the stillness:

"We must address the elephant in the room—Lord Uzumaki himself. He has returned, triumphant and unbound by the old shackles of subservience. He's no longer a fugitive on run, but a emporor in his own right. How can we ignore his invitation? Are we to spurn one who was once our ally, who promised us succor in times of need?"

An uneasy hush followed. Itachi responded first, measured and calm, "True, Lord Uzumaki is no longer hounded by banishment decrees or his ex-status as a missing nin. But if we embrace him too openly, how will that appear in Konoha's eyes? They think us seditious even now; aligning with a known anti-Konoha figure who was beligerant to attack the very safety of the village could confirm their suspicions. We risk what little standing we have left."

Dissent immediate. Some among the Uchiha had worked alongside Naruto. They would not see him cast aside without cause. Yet it was Shisui's words that resonated above the tumult, his voice carrying.

"This debate is folly. Rejecting Lord Uzumaki's hand of friendship would be a mistake. Consider what he now wields—vast territories, influence rivaling the major Daimyō themselves, and a personal invitation extended to many of us individually also. I, for one, intend to accept his call and attend his coronation ceremony. This event, I sense, will not be a mere pageant of wealth or power—it will mark a turning point in history. My gut say indicts say this will mark the birth of a new era. The world we know is crumbling; new power structures, new systems, are forming. Refusal to engage will leave us on the wrong side of the history that is to be written."

Fugaku cleared his throat. "While I concur that we should not reject his gesture entirely, let us not overstate the matter. Comparing this new governance to that of the old Fire Daimyō's line is premature. Yes, the Uzumaki Clan once ruled these seas, but that lineage has lain dormant for decades. Uzumaki Naruto's realm is not a continuation of old Uzushio's—it is something new, untested, and unproven. Let's not be carried away by illusions of ancient grandeur returned. While I agree that the old blood of the Uzumaki will show its mettle, this will still be a new system, not the tried and tested one of the Uzumaki Clan."

Mahiro stirred in his seat, leaning forward on his cane. A hush fell over the gathering as the old man began to speak, his voice soft but heavy with authority.

"Before the village system came into being, I remember a life of bloodshed. I remember fathers sending their seven-year-olds to war, mothers weeping daily for children lost to endless violence. Then I saw two legends—two men who spoke of things we could not comprehend, as if in another language. Instead of killing each other, as we all expected, they joined hands and formed a village. They forced the entire world to adapt to their way or perish. Because of them, the old ways ended, and the world changed for the better. While true peace was not achieved, it was the most significant step anyone had taken.

"Time grinds all things—great clans, great kingdoms—into dust. And then, nearly a decade ago, I met a young boy. My grandson, who admired him, first brought that Uzumaki boy into my home. I only agreed because he bore the Uzumaki name. Once, that name meant something to my generation, but by then, it had become little more than a hollow shell. Yet when I first met him, I saw in that boy a spark like the one I had seen in those legends' eyes.

"When I looked closer, I realized it was simply the play of light, a trick of my aging vision. But still, I saw something in him—greatness I had not seen in decades. He may not yet equal those legends in strength, but I tell you this: he has their spark."

Now, he speaks a language we cannot fully understand, spinning visions we dismiss as a madman's ramblings. Many scoffed then, as they scoff now. They call his ambitions madness—dreams of forging not just a minor feudal holding but an empire to stand alongside or even above the Five Great Nations. From the dawn of the elemental nations, there were always five great lands. The families ruling them have changed, but the number never has. No one since the Sage of Six Paths has dared to create a sixth major land from scratch. We call it impossible, madness. Logically, I would agree—But I recall how the world mocked those two legends once.

"There is but a sliver of parchment between madness and visionary brilliance. I trust my heart and my experience. I believe we are seeing the dawn of a second reshaping, a second forging of the world. Perhaps it will fail, perhaps it will founder—but it may just create an age unlike any before it. We Uchiha should not be absent from this turning point. Let us stand ready to witness and, if fortune allows, contribute to what he will build.

"I have been blessed not only to witness the birth of the village system but now, possibly, the birth of something more. Would we be so blind to shun this moment?"

The hush that followed was profound. Even Itachi—ever the pragmatist who revered the village system as the salvation of countless lives—found himself shaken. To see Mahiro, who had once seen Hashirama Senju reshape the world, now speak of Naruto Uzumaki in a similar vein… It was awe-inspiring.

Itachi's mind churned. Was Naruto truly a nexus of such change? Itachi had admired Hashirama Senju from afar, the man who had elevated humanity beyond unceasing strife. To think Naruto Uzumaki, once a boy scorned and cast out, could stand in that same hallowed lineage of visionaries, made Itachi's heart uneasy. He had no desire to undermine Konoha, which he loyally served. Yet how can one dismiss a tide that seems poised to reshape?

All around the shrine, the clan stirred, whispers rising and falling like soft wings in the twilight. Others began to murmur in agreement. Mikoto's eyes gleamed, her lips curved in a subtle, knowing smile. Now it was formality on her side, if the Uchihas will accept or not.

While the Uchiha engaged in this discussion, most of the other clans in Konoha were also deliberating the same question: What does Uzumaki Naruto represent for the times ahead?

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In the deep hush of the Fire Court's private chamber, the Fire Daimyo sat flanked by his most trusted ministers and the Grand Monk of the Fire Temple. Light from a handful of oil lamps danced on polished marble floors, while heavy curtains muted the world outside. They had all received the same perplexing summons—the invitation to witness the resurgence of a once-lost noble bloodline, an Uzumaki now risen to claim power.

Lord Jermany Aethil, the chief ministers, broke the silence first. "Your Grace, we should forbid any citizen or family of the Fire Nation from attending this coronation."

Another minister barked a laugh. ""Are you out of your mind, Aethil? This is not the act of a petty lord reclaiming a feudal holding. Every Daimyō, major or minor, is attending this event. "

 Another minister, younger but no less influential, slammed his hand on the table. "They won't risk insulting one of the oldest noble name now with real power, unlike the last time when he was in fire court, when it was just an empty title. If we refuse, we set a dangerous precedence that one daimyo can ignore the other at his continence, the law is clear, an already acknowledge high noble name can't be de-recognised."

A third minister frowned. "And what of the Uzumaki's claim to the Hokubu islands? Your great-grandmother was a princess of Uzu, though she was not in the line of succession. You relinquish your claim to isles by attending the event. Refusing this coronation would ensure we maintain claim over those lands. "But if we go, are we not conceding that he holds these lands by right? What of the old grivance—didn't we strip the Uzumaki line of claim ages past because of… her?"

They all knew who "her" meant. A name that sparked unease in these halls. The first minister grimaced. "It's unavoidable. He is her son, after all. No one forgets what she did. She was of the old blood, directly descended from Uzushio's Graces. We removed their seat and barred inheritance. Yet now…"

An advisor's voice trembled with old resentments. "Did we not make him vow penance, that he'd hold no land if ever allowed back? Did not the Daimyo enforce that?"

The Daimyo's face clouded at the memory. He'd hoped never to revisit that day. But Lord Wallaby, a prominent noble, spoke up. "If we openly challenge the Uzumaki, they may well turn the tables on us, Your Grace. He could accuse us of orchestrating Uzushio's fall. Old codes say you do not kill daimyos, only dethrone them. We broke unspoken laws. He could hurl accusations that we acted as butchers, not of nobility, which was reciprocated by his mother."

The Fire Daimyō shifted uncomfortably in his high-backed chair, his gaze narrowing at the implications. The room fell quiet for a moment before Lord Wallaby, a seasoned noble, spoke in measured tones.

An advisor scoffed. "So the Uzumaki dares to challenge all five daimyos at once? That's madness."

Lord Weelby's tone was sober. "Perhaps not, but he doesn't need to challenge us militarily. He can wield his words, his influence. Kushina Uzumaki wasn't some raving lunatic when she struck down our predecessor. She acted in calculated vengeance. Even now, the Uzumaki name carries weight—more than we'd like to admit."

The Daimyo sighed. "We have little choice. Ignoring him is impossible. I must attend the coronation, but I will not acknowledge his right to the Hokubu oceans. As for this marriage to the Senju princess… that is a matter I cannot dismiss lightly. This union legitimizes his rule further and ties two of the oldest noble bloodlines together. It's a move that strengthens his position immeasurably."

 "What of the Senju assets, Your Grace?" asked an advisor.

Jermany added after a pause, "Princess Tsunade has been moving her wealth away gradually for some time, main those which may had contested. Not the landholdings, but liquid assets and companies. Slow enough not to trigger economic collapse, but we'll still face an economic downturn."

The Daimyo stared down at his clenched hands. "Prepare for economic stagnation, though not a collapse. Her gradual approach spares us from the worst effects, but it will still hurt. Better a downturn than a crash. She's too shrewd to force our hand against her future husband. She's easing out. We must brace ourselves for lean times."

One of the ministers turned to the Grand Monk, who had been silent until now. "Your Holiness, what does the Fire Temple intend?"

The Grand Monk, face calm but not smiling, answered. "The Fire Temple and its brother temples celebrate the revival of the fourteen Uzumaki temples. We have been invited to the coronation of his assentation as Grace and. Three days hence, Lord Uzumaki will himself be re-consecrating those 14 shrines. He also mentioned if reshaping spiritual system.

An advisor, stunned, shouted, "He knows the occult and divine arts? We had no idea. And what of the Fire Lord not acknowledging him as emperor? Are you going against...?"

At that, the Grand Monk's eyes hardened. "Mind your tongue, advisor. I am a monk, not a fool. I have personally studied some of Lord Uzumaki's works. He is the foremost authority on divine and occult arts in this age. I saw his deeds in the Land of Demons myself. As for recognition, the Fire Temple predates the daimyo system. We serve the spiritual needs of the land, but we are not his vassals. If Lord Uzumaki builds temples and honors the old ways, he earns our respect. We owe loyalty to the Fire Lord, yes, but the temple stands apart, older than your bloodlines and armies."

Lord Weelby felt tension rise. The Fire Temple held sway over masses and nobles alike. They would not betray the Daimyo due to the oths, but their neutrality was power in itself. "Your Holiness, no one doubts the temple's independence. Let us not quarrel. We must find common ground."

The Grand Monk gave a curt nod, as if to say he understood.

The Daimyo exhaled slowly. "Prepare for my attendance at the coronation. I will go, acknowledge his ascent without granting him what he might crave. 

As the meeting concluded, the Daimyo rose from his chair and looked out a window at the setting sun. The world was changing, and he could no longer ignore it.

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Kosuke Maruboshi sat beneath a weathered oak, the late afternoon sun filtering through leaves in gentle, shifting patterns. He had settled into retired life, embracing a quiet life away from the chaos of shinobi duties. The forest around him hummed with soft life—birds calling in the branches, distant water murmuring over stones. In this peaceful seclusion, it was easy to forget that the world beyond still turned and changed.

Now, in his hands, he held an ornate golden scroll, its edges catching the light with a subtle gleam. He could scarcely believe it had come to him. That someone of his humble standing would be invited to attend a coronation, let alone as a guest of honour equalling that of the high lord like the Fire Daimyo, felt almost surreal. Yet the familiar swirl mark on the seal and the gentle warmth of the paper beneath his fingertips told him it was no mistake.

Taking a steady breath, Kosuke broke the wax seal and unrolled the letter. The handwriting inside was neat but carried a personal touch, the ink flowing in a way that felt sincere:

To my old friend, Kosuke Maruboshi,

Hey, it's been a long time, hasn't it? You might still remember a scruffy kid always running around, trying to get stronger, trying to matter. Back then, I didn't have much—no family anyone cared about, no future that felt secure. And you… you were one of the few who treated me like I mattered, not because of my name or any special power, but simply because I was me. You showed me a kindness that I never forgot.

A lot has changed since those days. I've walked a long road, stumbled through forests of doubt, forged alliances, battled enemies, and uncovered truths I never imagined. Now something big is on the horizon: I'm going to ascend as the lord of Uzushiogakure. They're calling it a coronation, something grand and formal. The world might talk of "Grace of the Uzumaki" or even "Emperor" of these lands we've shaped, but deep down I'm still that boy you believed in, the one who learned from every stumble.

I know you live quietly now, far from the noise of power and politics. But I want you there. This event—no matter what others call it—isn't truly about titles. It's about who I've become and the people who helped shape me. You were part of that. You showed me decency when it was hard to come by.

So I'm asking, as someone I care about: Will you come? You'll have a seat of high honor, as precious to me as any daimyo who attends.

I hope you'll accept, old friend. I want to stand before everyone and know that people who knew me as just Naruto are there. Because the moment I am coronated, the Naruto Uzumaki you knew will, in a sense, have to dye, making room for the ruler I must become. That moment—knowing I'm not alone in this change—is what's truly worth celebrating.

Your friend always,

Naruto Uzumaki

When Kosuke finished reading, he felt his throat tighten. He remembered that scruffy kid—a boy whose smile through hardship, who never gave up even when the world offered him nothing. And now that same boy invited him to witness his greatest moment, treating him like an honored guest. Kosuke smiled, folded the letter gently, and rose from beneath the oak

He would go.

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To be continued: Stay tuned for the next chapter of NTLHOS.

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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 ShapeIS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 83: I Don't Know!

NTLHOS: Chapter 84: The Coronation Begins IS OUT!

NTLHOS: Chapter 85: Epilogue IS OUT! (Conclusion of Volume one of the NTLHOS)

NTLHOS-2: Chapter 1: A New Era. IS OUT!!!!!!!!!!! 

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