Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 26: A New Turn.
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🖋️ Author's Note8k Chaser!! An extra, extra-long chapter! 🎉🔥
I truly enjoyed writing this one and I hope you all enjoy reading it just as much! I poured a lot into this chapter, and I hope it helps make up for the two-week delay. 🙏
Last week, I couldn't post due to a health-related procedure. While I was able to compensate in the paid platform with a massive 18k chapter two weeks ago, I couldn't do the same here, as the free chapters are pre-scheduled. However, now that the gap has been bridged, you'll start seeing the extended-length chapters here too! Going forward, since I'll be posting once a week, most chapters will be around 8k+ words to give you more content per update. 💪
I'm still in recovery, but gradually adjusting to a new rhythm and way of life. Thank you so much for your patience and your kind messages. ❤️
Also, I've received a lot of DMs and comments asking whether I've abandoned the story. Let me make this clear: I absolutely will be finishing this story even here on the free platforms but it may take time due to many factors like my education and health mainly. ✊
📬 Let me know your thoughts in the comments , I read every single one of them, and your feedback keeps me going.
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"You all did love him once, not without cause: What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him now?" —Mark Antony, Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 2
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Previously on NTLHOS-2:
The next day at noon, a large contingent departed Konoha—led by the Emperor himself. Alongside him were members of the Uchiha, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Kurama, and several minor noble clans, including the lesser-known Clan of Furen. Its leader, Lord Uendao Furen once a hunter and butcher by trade had feuded with the Mitokado clan and lived in poverty due to it, until Naruto extended them aid and welcomed him into his alliance back then.
This was no small procession, it was a force the size of a well-formed army.
Their departure stunned the village. Shock, disbelief, and even horror rippled through the streets of Konoha, soon giving way to bitterness and resentment from its people.
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Now:
It took 4 days of travel before Naruto and his contingent reached Uzushio. A large army for the protection of the Emperor and the clans that followed him to Uzushio met them at the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Noodles. The almost entire army that was stationed in the Mist, which was ordered by Naruto to leave the Mist met them at the border for their protection and escort. Naruto wouldn't put it past Danzo or Hiruzen to give it a try, since the agreement was only valid until the border. There was a step-by-step withdrawal from the Mist. Many of the civilians in the Mist, who were fed up with it, also accompanied a contingent of screener troops led by Kanna Uzumaki, who checked the intentions of the people willing to move to Uzu from the Mist. The same group also gave in-depth screening of the contingent from Konoha also.
He stood there, at that precarious borderline, watching as the forces from the Mist and Konoha immigrants trickled in. Men, women, and children in small clusters, carrying their lives in bundles, trudged along behind Shinobi scouts who wore the swirl emblem of Uzushio. Naruto's expression remained calm, though an undercurrent of tension lingered in his eyes. He glanced at Kanna, who stood at the front of a screening tent, quill in hand, asking pointed questions of each group that arrived. She offered him a brisk nod of acknowledgment, one clan finishing its check so the next could be processed. Naruto returned the nod, measuring the sheer number of people who had chosen to uproot their lives and follow him.
"Oh, there are many people who are still loyal to Konoha," he muttered, half to himself, half to a few of his guards who stood behind him. He was reminded that some of these migrants had grown up in Konoha perhaps not all felt animosity toward it. In the Uchiha, it was a different story. They harboured a deep hatred for everything Konoha. But the rest were complicated in their views.
"And the Yamanaka," one screener added quietly, stepping forward. "They're not exactly trusting Konoha anymore, but some of them carry old memories. A few harbours guilt of betrayal, while some are just sentiment."
Naruto nodded. "It's only natural," he said, turning to watch the line of tired travellers. For some reason, the Akimichi were more militaristic than anyone had given them credit for; with one order from their ex-lord Torifu, everyone, including the present lord chose to follow him. They seemed eager, even, about joining Uzu, not because they disliked Konoha or liked Uzushio, but simply because their lord commanded it. It was truly a sight to behold, the centuries of ingrained trust passed from father to son of their lords.
He found himself genuinely shocked by the development. He had expected it to be reluctant, a drawn-out negotiation, followed by comforting, then easing and coaxing the proud Akimichi into Uzushio. But instead, the entire clan had moved as if commanded in a battle field without any reservation. He had expected this from the minor clans, whom he had helped greatly, along with the Kurama clan to be more than willing and loyal, and they had proven exactly that. It was the Akimichi who surprised him the most.
He caught a glimpse of Torifu, the former clan lord, standing with his arms folded, his broad frame as imposing as ever. For the first time, Naruto saw the aged veteran in a new light. When their eyes met, Torifu offered a small bow. In response, Naruto acknowledged him with a respectful inclination of his head.
Torifu's subordinates, noticing the Emperor's attention, snapped to attention almost instantly. It was almost comedic how quickly they moved but the seriousness in their eyes made it clear: every rigid posture was a sincere gesture of respect.
Then Naruto's mind flickered back to the subject of Danzo's drones, a few more remained in the Yamanaka and Kurama, unmarked but still loyal to the old coot. At times, he felt frustration that such infiltration even existed. But for the Uzumaki clan, it did not matter who had a seal or not they had ways of testing loyalty, thank to Mind's eye of the Kagura.
He waved over one of his Uzushio screener cloaked in the Uzushio swirling crest and said, "I'm ordering Kanna to make a precise profile of each member and their degree of loyalty to Uzu and Kriya. Make sure it's all recorded carefully."
"Yes, Emperor," the guard replied, inclining his head.
Naruto continued, "Kriya must be kept in the loop. Their degree of acceptance into Uzushio's system and to her or her clan... it'll be recorded on a case-by-case basis. We can't let infiltration in our home."
A swirl of dust rose as a fresh group trudged closer. The day was hot, the sun beating down with relentless heat, and Naruto wiped at a bead of sweat on his forehead. He recalled from the report earlier that 78% of the clan had been convinced by Kriya in the past five years to leave Konoha, and they were eager to do so. That left 22%, and while 22% might not sound like a large fraction, it was more than enough for him to worry about potential sabotage. If nearly a quarter of the clan was disinterested or actively traitorous, it could break the system from within.
He made sure that most families of suspect loyalties would be relocated to the Hokubu region in the next week after everyone arrived at Uzushio. His idea was straightforward: separate them from the clan's loyalists, to avoid strife. He also didn't want the other loyal Yamanaka to be taunted or cornered by the presence of these 22%, many of whom were close relatives to the loyal ones, complicating matters further. He will being the others back as they prove themselves loyal.
He exhaled and told his Kimmimaro, "Moving with such a large contingent of people slows me down, I have very limited days. If it were only me, I could've reached Uzushio in a single day. Or…" He gazed at the horizon. "With the new space-time ninjutsu, even in seconds. But that would defeat the entire purpose. I can't leave these people behind. If we arrive separately, the masses of Uzushio might not see them as equals. They might treat them like outsiders. I want them welcomed with open arms. If that means four days of travel, so be it."
In the days that followed, Naruto chose not to waste time. He decided to stop in each of the principal province in Hokubo. While the ships made their way toward Uzushio, Naruto teleported to each province over the course of three days. Though the governors were no longer present having already travelled to the capital for his final arrival, Naruto's letters had ensured that the second-in-command in each region had arranged a stage for his addressing.
He remembered each meeting clearly, stepping onto makeshift platforms in small cities flying Uzushio's banner, addressing crowds that looked upon him with a mix of awe and dread. They knew he was leaving soon, exiling himself.
"What will become of the empire if you go?" asked one of the merchants, voice trembling. "What if ….?"
Naruto forced a reassuring smile. "Uzushio will endure. I know, I have… no we've laid the groundwork, made laws, and trained loyal men and women. My absence is necessary... this peace require certain sacrifices. But don't forget, Uzushio is the oldest of all the villages, now bigger with Hokubu integrated. Even before the very idea of a village was conceived in the minds of the clans, we had a proper settlement. Uzushio existed long before I arrived, and it will still stand long after I'm gone."
Some looked angry, some sad. He could see tears in the eyes of a few older men, who remembered how Naruto had rebuilt these lands from ruins. He told them how important it was to maintain peace, that Uzushio would do its part. Eventually, the crowds would calm, though the tension never fully left the air. He gave them all words of encouragement, promising that he will return.
At the end of the fourth day, the teleportation finally neared its conclusion with the last teleportation back to his ship. As the large armada of ships appeared along the shores of Uzushio. Naruto stood on a high vantage point, scanning the horizon.
He teleported from the Land of Keys to the deck of his flagship. The shift made a few sailors cry out in surprise, though they quickly bowed once they saw the Emperor. He had once thought speed was everything, that with enough speed snd skill he could outrun any threat, the same way he fought masked man who slipped away in an instant. Yet seeing the raw usefulness of space-time ninjutsu now as he travelled, amazed him.
He remembered the battle with Nobinaga, how he had started hitting his limits. His father, Minato Namikaze, had been an SSS-rank shinobi. To reach that same level, Naruto knew he still had progress to make.
He let out a quiet chuckle at the memory of how so many fools believed Minato Namikaze was just a one-trick pony. The Hiraishin, which Lord Second had once used, was, in truth, a single jutsu. But what his father created from it was so much more a whole branch of shinobi arts that included everything from instantaneous teleportation to advanced space-time barriers, from splitting his presence across multiple points to relocating anything he had marked with his special formula.
On top of that, Minato had mastered three of the five elemental natures, redefined shape manipulation to its peak, was the summoner of toads, and had even achieved Sage Mode. Truly, only the ignorant believed he was limited to a single technique.
Naruto's eyes narrowed as he recalled an old conversation that still echoed in his mind. Minato had never boasted about his abilities; he had quietly shaped them into an art that dwarfed simpler feats of speed.
"The Hiraishin Lord Second used was a jutsu," Naruto thought to himself, "but what my father made of it wasn't one jutsu—it was an entire discipline of shinobi arts…"
His mind drifted to the next step. Rather than spending years trying to replicate his father's technique from scratch, Naruto had taken a different route. He used his blood to unlock the master seal that Minato had etched onto his own abdomen—an ingenious secret the world had completely overlooked. While others obsessed over decoding his specialized kunai, they never suspected that the real key had been hidden within his own body.
"When fools around the world tried to decode his kunai," Naruto mused, "they never realized it was only reacting to the signal he emitted from his body. The master seal was in his abdomen all along."
His gaze drifted to the horizon, remembering the day he broke into the Namikaze compound's secret bunker. Only he could have accessed that chamber. Inside, he had discovered the blueprint of the master seal. Two drops of blood, and the seal expanded, revealing a labyrinth of design so intricate that even a Uzumaki seal grandmaster like himself would need years, even with shadow clones, to unravel it fully.
He had to admit, while his father might not have been a "true" Uzumaki seal grandmaster, in the realm of space-time jutsu, he stood above even the greatest seal masters and mistresses of the Uzumaki.
So Naruto had only taken the rudimentary pieces, fragments of the technique. He layered them with modifications on top of the original model by Lord Tobirama and tapped into the electromagnetic waves generated by his own Plasmic Storm Release, which, at least in theory, could bridge continents at near-light speed.
"I could move without markers, like my father did without his kunai… in theory," he murmured to himself, leaning against the flagship's rail. "But in practice, the distances are so vast, and the electromagnetic streams so dense and powerful, that I'd risk losing my sense of self in those streams of currents… just dissolving into them."
He had devised rods embedded in the earth to "retrieve" him before his consciousness could dissolve. It was his own personal teleportation jutsu… unrefined, but workable. Not suited for combat yet, but effective for escape. He had sworn on his father's grave that he would master it, perfect it to a level that might one day even rival the Hiraishin.
Glancing over the side of the ship, Naruto saw the capital's gates in the distance, the city he had rebuilt, the place that had once been battered nearly to destruction. He closed his eyes for a moment. Time seemed to stretch.
On the shoreline, a large crowd had gathered, Uzushio's citizens, her children both old and new waiting to greet him. Some days, he forgot that he was no longer that nameless orphan. And though he knew he would soon relinquish his rule, he felt a deep warmth at their love.
Despite being the master of Uzushio's barriers and seals, he still felt something renewing in his spirit as the city's great barrier, arguably the greatest marvel of sealing jutsu still in existence washed over him. It was as if Mother Uzushio herself was embracing him in her bosom.
He was loath to part with it… and that parting, he knew, was only a few days away, days he could count on one hand.
He closed his eyes once more, hearing the roar of waves, letting the sound wash over him. Then, opening them, he prepared to teleport onto the pier.
"Home," he murmured, voice thick with emotion. "Finally home."
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Zabuza had to curse His Grace's ideas of public appearnece, it was a true headache. The people of Uzushio got bonus-level excited whenever they heard they might catch a glimpse of the Emperor, and now, with the news of his self-imposed exile spreading like wildfire, the entire city had shown up. Controlling this crowd, in every sense of the word, was a real and very, very real pain in the ass.
He wasn't overly concerned about malicious threats. Four ANBU squads were dedicated solely to the Emperor's protection, so an assassination attempt wasn't high on his worry list. But Lord Suifu and Rashirōm-senpai had carved paranoia into his very bones. They always warned him that even the Mind's Eye could be circumvented with enough cunning or by just time, that loyalty wasn't static, time and circumstance could shift someone's worldview in ways you might never predict. And so, even if Uzushio prided itself on thorough screening, it was not infallible.
None of that, however, was what truly churned Zabuza's gut. He feared a stampede more than any stealthy dagger in a crowd. He'd seen it happen elsewhere, when the Emperor waved or flashed his easy smile at a smaller gathering, they'd surged forward, falling over each other in a clamour to reach him. That was the real risk: innocent people being crushed underfoot by thousands of frantic people. So he and an entire army of ANBU and shinobi had set up a carefully designed walkway for the Emperor to traverse. The Yuki Clan's assistance was invaluable, the Yuki had crafted an elevated ice barrier, so transparent that everyone could see the Emperor walking behind its gleaming surface, better than the best glass yet thick enough to prevent anyone from breaking through. A perfect solution, or so Zabuza hoped.
But there was always one more complication. The Emperor was, after all, the Emperor. Plans, protocols, sealed-off walkways… none of those mattered if his grace decided he wanted to step off the path and shake hands with the crowd. It wouldn't be the first time he'd marched straight through carefully laid security formations. No one could order him otherwise. If he felt the urge to greet his people face to face or worse walk among the crowd, he would do it, forcing his guards to improvise. Today, given the palpable fervour coursing through the masses, Zabuza was on even higher alert.
He felt a flicker of grim satisfaction, though, as his gaze swept the harbour. The flagship was just now lowering its ramp, and a hush fell over portions of the crowd anticipation building. Then, a collective roar went up when the Emperor himself stepped into view. His posture was calm, as though none of this fuss could ever frazzle him, and his red hair caught the midday sun. Standing to his right and left were members of his personal ANBU guard, ever vigilant, as well as Rashirōm-senpai, who had previously lead the Mist troops but now oversaw the Emperor's personal detail. Zabuza's eyes tracked them carefully, knowing that in moments, Rashirōm-senpai would take over the command from him, relieving Zabuza of the burdens of crowd control. That alone made him breathe a little easier.
Then he spotted the new arrivals, the infamous ones. To the Emperor's left strode Shisui Uchiha- Shisui the Teleporter, Lord Torifu Akimichi, and Lady Kriya Yamanaka. They were legends being two of the three most dangerous individuals from one of the most formidable three-man squads in the entire Elemental Nations. Ex- elders of Konoha, and members of the storied Squad Tobirama.
Trailing behind them was the current Lord of the Kurama Clan, along with Lord Chaza Akimichi, the present head of the clan, who still walked behind his father. Ex-Lord Inoichi Yamanaka was also among them, as were several other minor clan heads.
Rumors had already begun swirling through Uzushio about the upheaval in Konoha, stories of revered or feared clans breaking away. And with every retelling, the stories only grew more dramatic.
Zabuza smirked to himself. The Emperor had sent a message through official channels, ordering that land be cleared for the new arrivals, particularly for the Uchiha. That piece of news alone had caused a frenzy. For years, countless clans had vied for the central zone near the Uzumaki district and the palace, the innermost ring of Uzushio. Two clans already held territory encircling the palace walls: the Senju and the Kaguya. But there had always been a third sector, conspicuously left empty despite numerous offers and persistent petitions.
Now, everyone understood why the Emperor had never granted it to anyone else.
He had, it seemed, always expected and envisioned that the Uchiha would one day be part of Uzushio.
Zabuza shifted his weight, scanning the entourage as it moved off the flagship and onto the docks, then into the city proper. His vantage point allowed him to see the swirl of activity below: Shinobi, civilians, newly arrived refugees. The Emperor advanced at the centre of it all, flanked by Shisui, Torifu, Kriya, the Lord of the Kurama Clan, and other new lords. Behind them, at a measured distance, followed the crowd of new immigrants or newest member of Uzushio some stoic, some visibly nervous, each step taking them closer to be part of Uzushio, here in the capital of Uzushio.
Zabuza took a breath. He was nearing the final steps of his assignment as crowd-control lead. The plan: funnel the Emperor and his entourage to the large stage that had been set up in the heart of the city. The stage was constructed precisely to the Emperor's specifications broad enough to accommodate the newly arrived lords and their retinues, high enough for all to see him clearly, and easily defensible in the event of a surge.
A cluster of Yuki shinobi formed a second line of ice barriers as the group passed. Families craned their necks, cheering, waving banners that bore Uzushio's swirl insignia. Flower petals spiraled in the air, thrown from upper windows by eager onlookers, drifting down like confetti. Zabuza's men tensed, but the Emperor just smiled and waved, as though showered in quiet celebration. The crowd roared with redoubled energy.
Winding through the main avenue, they reached the center of the city a wide, circular plaza where the stage awaited. Zabuza's mind flickered through the worst-case scenarios: if the Emperor decided to break away from the walkway, if a pocket of the crowd tried to push forward. People wanted to see their Emperor. They wanted to know he was still with them, even if some claimed he'd be stepping down. In that electric atmosphere, a single slip might spark chaos.
And yet, the Emperor seemed entirely at ease. He paused a moment on that shimmering ice walkway glancing over his shoulder at the rest of the new arrivals. He gestured for them to close the distance. Shisui stepped forward and Torifu exchanged a few words of greeting with him. The next moment, the Emperor resumed walking, nodding at Zabuza with a stern expression. It was enough to tell Zabuza that the final approach was set to begin.
The hustle and bustle continued, and at last, the Emperor and his party arrived at the foot of the grand stage. The crowd's volume rose to a near-deafening crescendo. Shinobi barked instructions, urging people back, creating a protective semicircle. Then, with one fluid motion, Naruto ascended the stage steps. Shisui, Torifu, Kriya, and the others followed. Step by step, the new immigrants trailed in the Emperor's wake, fanning out behind him in a wide arc at the back of the stage.
As he climbed the stage, he was met by the Empress, accompanied by her retinue of governesses and clan heads, all of whom knelt before the Emperor. The Emperor smiled, gave the Empress a quick hug and a kiss on her cheek, and then ordered the kneeling lords to rise.
Zabuza wove his way through the crowd, eventually making it to the base of the stage on the left side, close enough to watch the Emperor. A few moments later, he felt a hand on his shoulder, Rashirōm-senpai, tall and imposing as ever. The older shinobi gave him an approving nod. That was the signal, Zabuza knew: his direct oversight of crowd control ended here. He was free to breathe at last.
He exhaled a sigh of relief, stepping back a pace or two. Zabuza bowed to Rashirom with the standard ANBU gesture for handing over command and removed the brooch on his chest that signified him as the temporary ANBU commander, presenting it to the rightful Supreme Commander of the ANBU.
----------------{XX}-----------------------{XXX}-----------------------------{XX}---------------And then he saw him, the Supreme Commander of Uzushio's forces, Lord Suifu who had been away in the Hokubu region on a highly classified mission. He appeared suddenly before the Emperor, flanked by the decorated high generals of Uzushio's military. All of them knelt, fists pressed to their chests in salute.
Across the entire city, wherever they stood, every member of Uzushio's military force shinobi or samurai trained with the discipline kelt in unison before the Emperor. Even those stationed along the crowd's perimeter, tasked with security, bowed their heads in silent reverence, as they had their duty. Others dropped to one knee, offering a full salute.
His Grace raised a hand and said, "Rise." And with that single word, First Lord Suifu stood up and the entire Uzushio military, from elite ANBU to foot soldiers and watchmen, stood tall at once.
Lord Suifu took two steps forward and whispered something into the Emperor's ear. The people watched with wide eyes, overjoyed to see their Grand Marshal, their Supreme Commander hale and healthy after weeks of silence.
Naruto whispered something back, then turned and waved to the crowd before stepping forward.
Zabuza couldn't explain the sense of relief he felt at seeing the old relic, upright, strong, and alive. For the first time that day, he let himself breath of relif.
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Naruto walked to the edge of the stage, gently enhancing his throat with just a sliver of chakra so that every syllable would ring out. The rest of the sound would be handled by the sealing array specifically crafted for this event, carrying his voice to the very last row of the crowd. The colossal sealing screen behind him and in other points had already been displaying his live appearance from the moment he'd set foot on Uzushio's soil. But now, as he stood on that raised platform at the city's heart, he could sense the hushed whispers. He took in one final breath, then began to speak:
"My people, children of Uzushio. It wasn't so long ago that many of us entered this holy land through a passage we carved into His Grace Lord Ashina, my predecessor's great barrier. We rebuild these lands. We brought back the deities. We brought Uzushio back to its old glory, and we even improved it in some ways. While I know we still have a long road ahead before we match what Uzushio once was in terms of seals and devotion to the deities, in terms of our status, we are now an empire, more powerful than we ever were."
The crescendo of the crowd was instantaneous, some cheered, some raised their hands in a silent salute. Others stood teary-eyed, remembering how far they'd come from war-torn days. Yet Naruto continued:
"Many of you might have heard rumours of my self-imposed exile, and my stepping down from the helm. It's true."
Suddenly, the cheers turned into a gasp that thundered through the sea of people. Naruto saw confusion and resignation ripple across countless faces, and he felt the wave of alarm that followed, but he raised his hand for silence. Bit by bit, the roar faded. Mothers clutched children, men stiffened their backs, and shinobi from all corners of Uzushio's territories watched with bated breath. Naruto's expression remained resolute:
"But today, I'm not here to discuss my departure."
A handful tried to speak, to protest, but he lifted his hand again, palm open, stilling their voices. Quiet fell like a veil over the plaza, broken only by the sound of distant seabirds.
"I want to tell a story," he said at last. "This happened years ago: an orphan boy, just five years old, wasn't allowed into Konoha's main force despite graduating at that age. Instead, he was placed in the reserves, thanks to what we'll politely call the incompetence of his team. No one is blaming anyone here.
That boy kept going. After boot camp, he found he didn't even have enough money for food. He almost resigned to his fate and was about to give up. Reserve cadets were rarely given missions, so there was no income.
Then one day, an old man, seeing this starving child, offered to let him join a mission. That old man just happened to be the most sought-after partner for missions, commanding the highest pay. Yet he gave the boy a chance. That day, the boy had his first meal in three days.
Slowly but surely, that old man took the boy under his wing. With his guidance, the boy absorbed everything he was taught. And the old man taught him, not like a recruit, but like a son."
Naruto let the hush linger for a breath. He noticed a stir among older men and women in the crowd; some might recall hearing rumours of a certain orphan in Konoha, a certain "no-name" who rose quickly.
"But that boy still with food taken care had little hope," Naruto went on, voice echoing against buildings. "He was in the reserve force, which at best could make him a chūnin if he was lucky. Fate, however, smiled on him. Like a twist straight from a story, he got a chance to save the land's king. For that feat, he was promoted to tokubetsu jōnin without ever being a chūnin. That only happened because the great man the old man, with his vast heart, chose to teach and support this orphan boy, even going against powerful figures. So the boy became a tokubetsu jōnin, then entered the ANBU, worked diligently, and graduated at the top of his batch. He was assigned to a team led by another jolly, young, and powerful man someone who, by then, had made a name for himself across the Elemental Nations with a vibrant, unstoppable spirit."
His words rose and fell with the cadence of one recalling cherished memories. Some folks at the edge of the platform looked at each other, lips parted in recognition; they sensed they knew this story's main character. Naruto carried on, letting emotion seep into each phrase:
"While the old man did everything he could for the boy, he was still only one man. He couldn't protect the boy from all the political monsters lurking in the shadows. Yet, that jolly young captain in ANBU brought the boy to his clan, a clan notorious for being reclusive, a clan that never accepted outsiders easily. But the moment the boy stepped into their compound, they took him in, even though he didn't share a drop of their blood. They shielded him from the machinations swirling within the higher echelons.
An elderly, wise man within that clan, a man some called an extremist and an isolationist because his ideologies reflected the Warring Clans era he had survived took the boy under his wing. He gave him access to their library, one of the greatest in the Elemental Nations."
A hush settled again, the crowd entirely in thrall. Naruto paused, letting them wait a beat before continuing:
"I see many of you have already guessed who that boy is, and some are still uncertain. Well, that boy was me, the one you now see as your ruler, who was once a nameless orphan, despite carrying a clan name as old as the Elemental Nations themselves, and despite having one of the most legendary shinobi as a father.
But it isn't me who's important here.
The great man with a heart vaster than the skies, the one whose statue many of you have admired along the 'Lord's Walk' is none other than Kosuke Maruboshi. The man who, with nothing but kindness, gave a lost boy refuge and a chance. He refused to come here when I invited him, but he will always hold a place and a piece of and in my heart."
He let that sink in, glimpsing nods, Ohs, Ahhs and murmurs from the recollection of Kosuke's statue.
"And that larger-than-life, jolly ANBU captain who took me to his clan? He's the current Lord of the Uchiha clan, Shisui Uchiha. The old, wise man? That's Lord Mahiro Uchiha."
Naruto half-turned, gesturing to the white-haired elder Uchiha among the retinue. The crowd's gaze shifted, a collective intake of breath.
"And that clan who took me in, though I bore no blood relation to them, was indeed the Uchiha."
Some of the Uchiha women who remembered Naruto as a scrawny child had tears in their eyes, especially after all they had lost just days ago.
Naruto continued, "And here I stand, paying tribute to the clan that once helped me."
The Uchiha men stood tall and proud, their eyes filled with affection for Naruto.
He swept his gaze across the throngs of newly arrived Uchiha who had come from Konoha. He could see the admiration and sorrow flickering across their faces.
"Later," Naruto resumed, voice resonating strongly, "as many of you know, I became an influential figure in Konoha. That's when Lady Kriya and Lord Torifu and also the Kurama clan crossed paths with me. We formed alliances, overcame obstacles. The Kurama clan was actually the second clan to join me, forging a bond when we realized we were all pawns in the same ugly game."
He pointed to some of the minor lords on the stage, including Lord Uendao, who bowed politely:
"These people showed me I could lead. And look at where we stand now."
At this, Naruto's expression grew solemn:
"There's something you might not be aware of. Many of you know that when we resurrected this village and built up the Hokubu region, we needed capital, massive sums for building roads, forging advanced seals, reestablishing everything from scratch. We got that money from our businesses, from the Uzumaki vaults, from the Namikaze accounts, from my mother's Uzumaki vault which was inherited from Lady Mito and from my father's war spoils. My wife, lady Senju, also secretly contributed, wanting to rebuild her grandmother's homeland. But what very few know is how Lady Mikoto and Lord Mahiro despite the Fire Daimyo's persecutions, still lent their resources to me when the Uchiha themselves were in dire need of help. I recall meeting Lady Mikoto in secret, not daring to ask for anything, because I knew their clan was already facing crippling sanctions. Yet she insisted on giving me a scroll containing documents of vast tracts of Uchiha-owned land in the Land of Fire and the Land of Tea, telling me to sell it for Uzushio's growth. Of course, I refused, I knew how badly they needed those funds themselves. But she said, 'If I sell the land, the Daimyo will impose more sanctions and take our money anyway. Better that you use it for something worthwhile.' That generosity given in their time of suffering, went so far toward building what you see around you today."
He glanced over the crowd, letting that revelation linger:
"In time, fortune smiled on us, and I repaid them a hundredfold, but it wasn't a real repayment. She gave it to me when they desperately needed it themselves, not the other way around. Now, by bringing the Uchiha to the Empire, they become part of the legacy they helped create. If there was a debt there, consider it paid in full. That's the Uchiha for you, if they love you, they love you until the end, no matter what some Hokage's propaganda might claim otherwise."
He inhaled, his shoulders lifting in a show of silent pride:
"Then Next, we have the Yamanaka—the foremost experts of the mind. I have shared a very close relationship with the clan, especially with Lady Kriya. We've helped each other in times of need, both politically and personally. I even trained her granddaughter as part of my ANBU team.
I was appalled when I heard what was happening to the clan that had stood by me—being branded like slaves by the very thing we all cherish: seals. And this, done by Konoha's leadership.
I promised her that I would bring her to Uzushio. That I would not allow her clan to be enslaved in the hands of an ambitious madman. And so, I fulfilled that promise. I used one of the treaty compromises to bring her and her clan safely to Uzushio.
I know the Yamanaka clan very well, they are loyal, they are kind, and they are strong. Their Ino-Shika-Chō alliance is a prime example of how they've always been willing to look beyond clan boundaries and embrace others. I know it in my bones, the Yamanaka will be a key figure in Uzushio in the days to come. And they will be treated not merely as a major clan, but as a noble clan, due to their long and proud lineage.
I trust that all of you and Mother Uzushio herself will embrace them as one of us. Not as a new clan, not as immigrants, but as part of our family, as if they have always been one of us.
We are not Konoha, where prejudice runs deep. Here, we make enemies wholeheartedly, similarly we make friends just as wholeheartedly. And so, to the Yamanaka, and to every other clan that now stands with us, you are one of us. And we welcome you with open arms."
He paused as applause rippled through the square. A group of Yamanaka, their distinctive hair shining under the sun, bowed their heads in grateful acknowledgment.
"Then we have the Akimichi clan. What can I say about them? The more I speak, the less it captures the big-hearted men and women of this clan. It's no secret that I used to butt heads with Lady Sukino Nara—a person I deeply respect—despite us always finding ourselves on opposite sides. And by proxy, that put me at odds with the Nara clan and Shikoku Nara during my younger days, which in turn made me, again by proxy, opposed to the Ino-Shika-Chō alliance."
"But Lord Torifu, the big-hearted man that he is, never forgot the ties and friendship they once shared with the Senju. And since the Uzumaki and the Senju have always been two sides of the same coin, we've had many dealings with the Akimichi."
"I recall a story in the archives, where Lord Ashina once told Lord Torifu's grandfather—before the village system was even founded:
"If you were good at seals, you'd be an Uzumaki, since we both have red hair and big hearts."
At the time, the Akimichi and many spectators got a good laugh out of it."
"Like you are now," he added with a smile, glancing at the laughing crowd and the Akimichi.
"But it was true though.
So, when I found myself in conflict with the Ino-Shika-Chō alliance, it struck a chord with Lord Torifu. He remarked that their priorities had been misplaced and reminded his people that the Akimichi have always been friends of the Uzumaki. They welcomed me like one of their own, serving as another strong pillar of my alliance much like the Yamanaka. They are not outsiders.
They are not newcomers.
They are family now."
The Akimichi and the crowd clapped and cheered.
"Then the Kurama clan. Our encounter was unique. Their heiress had a rare condition I was able to cure, but Konoha's leadership had every intent of keeping them weak, the same way they tried to break the Uchiha and cripple me. So, we formed an alliance from necessity. At first, I admit, I didn't have high hopes. Yet through every hardship even at and after my exile the Kurama Clan never wavered. They stood by me at every turn. And with their genjutsu prowess, suppressed for so long in Konoha, they can now flourish here in Uzushio. I'm certain they'll prove again why the Kurama clan is the foremost authority on genjutsu and they'll play a vital role in our future as one among us, a major clan."
Naruto's gaze swept across the stage, from the newly arrived Mist refugees to the minor clans and lords. And he spoke about them, their inclusion and trust he have for them. Another wave of applause ensued, before the crowd finally stilled, awaiting more. He exhaled, almost sighing, and pressed on:
"I know what's on everyone's mind my exile. I'll speak on that in five days, on the eve of my departure. Don't act like I'm dying. I want you to celebrate, to laugh and cheer, so that when I leave, I do so with a genuine smile, confident I can return one day to find Uzushio just as joyful as it is now."
With that, a hush draped over the plaza. Several in the crowd appeared crestfallen, this was the first time he'd confirmed the date. The swirl of sadness at the mention of his impending exit was almost tangible, but he refused to let them dwell on it. He took a step back, the slightest curve on his lips, and spoke one final line:
"In the meantime, revel. We're forging a new path. Stand with me in these last few days, so I can stand with you in spirit, even in my absence."
Before the crowd could surge forward before the wave of emotion could break security lines or cause a frenzy, Naruto vanished in a flicker. Some among the throng blinked with tears, scanning for him, but the Emperor had teleported, presumably to the palace. From Zabuza's vantage point, it was the safest choice, and he exhaled sigh of relief, for the fervour among the audience was swelling dangerously. If his grace had tried to exit on foot, a stampede was all but guaranteed.
In the aftermath, the entire square erupted, half in thunderous applause, half in anguished cries. Yet a sense of unity remained. The Emperor had delivered his message: recognized each clan. Even as they reeled at the idea of his leaving, they clung to the hope that he would return.
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Kriya stood there, witnessing history in the making. She knew Naruto was speaking from the heart, but the way he captivated the audience was masterful, reminiscent of how she'd once seen Lord Hashirama hold crowds in her youth. Any worries she'd harboured about Uzushio rejecting them had dissolved despite Naruto acceptance. Naruto was determined to prevent another fate like the Uchiha had faced in Konoha, where a clan was shunned or isolated for their differences. He wouldn't allow those old prejudices to take root here.
She found herself in awe of the sheer influence Naruto held over people's emotions. It struck her that if Naruto were to tell the crowd to die for him, a staggering majority, perhaps eighty percent would unflinchingly go through. It was a power she had rarely seen, and it reminded her that in Uzushio, her own clan would be acknowledged as nobility under the feudal Uzumaki system, a revelation that both comforted and astonished her.
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As Naruto kept a foot into the palace's grand foyer, a sudden vision gripped him with the force of a lightning strike. His mind spun back to a distant memory, his master's warning echoed like a phantom in his ears:
"Know this, child. You have been entrusted with great power and the burden of great responsibility, yet you remain but an executioner of the divine. If you err, your mistakes will be judged harshly, for the cost is higher than most can fathom. Losing control and using divine energy to break the genjutsu will not be without repercussions, so be prepared to bear them."
Over and over, the word "repercussions and consequence" rang in his head, each reverberation sending a chill through his spine.
He shook off the sensation and carried on, but the unease lingered. Later that day, back in his private chambers, he lay with his head on Tsunade's lap while she absentmindedly stroked his hair. The room was lit by soft lanterns and the calming scent of chamomile lingered in the air. Naruto, though relaxed.
"I want to tell you something," Tsunade said, voice tinged with excitement.
"Mm?" Naruto murmured, still half-lost in thought.
She leaned closer, allowing a playful grin. "I'm pregnant."
It took him several heartbeats to register what she'd said. When the realization struck, he jolted upright like he'd been shocked by a stray bolt of lightning. "What?!"
In an instant, the ever-calm, composed Emperor of Uzushio became a bundle of nerves. "M-my child? Are you sure?" he blurted, words stumbling over each other. "Am I… a father? Me? A father?"
He began pacing in tight circles, raking his hands through his hair. "A father… boy or girl… oh god, what if I'm terrible at this? Me? A father… oh no—what if they're allergic ..? What if I can't even hold them right? Or—"
Tsunade gave him a pointed glare, a small vein throbbing on her temple. "Are you sure?" she repeated icily, mocking him for daring to question her. "I'm the best medic in the world. I think I know how to handle a simple pregnancy test!"
She grabbed a throw pillow and hurled it at Naruto with pinpoint accuracy, hitting him squarely in the chest. Startled, he flailed, losing what little composure he had left. But the impact also snapped him out of his tirade.
A beat later, his eyes went wide with a new wave of panic. "Wait.. stop standing! Sit down, will you be okay if you keep moving around? The baby might—!"
"Naruto," Tsunade growled, her patience thinning.
In a rush, he shouted for servants, demanding they fetch Lady Mitrusha to verify Tsunade's state. Tsunade slammed a hand against his head before he could bolt off to Mitrusha himself. "I am the best medic in the world," she repeated emphatically, "and I know exactly what I'm doing. Stop acting like I'm about to drop any second."
She reached out, catching him by the collar to hold him still. He half-froze, locking eyes with her, his face still shell-shocked but slowly calming. Yet as soon as Tsunade's grip tightened around the lapels of his robe, that ominous vision seized him again, his master's voice whispering the word 'consequences'.
Naruto felt his stomach twist.
He saw Tsunade's expression shift from mild annoyance to concern. Her hand on his collar loosened, and her features softened. Gently, she squeezed his shoulder. "You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
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To be continued. Stay tuned and let me know your thoughts! Like and comment! 🙏🔥
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Next chapter will dive deeper into what this consequence really is, along with other events (and yes, the pregnancy arc continues👶🍥).
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Chapter 26: A New Turn. IS OUT!
Chapter 27: A Turn ON A Turn. IS OUT!
Chapter 28: Farewell. IS OUT!!!!!!!!
Chapter 29 – The Oath of the Oath-Keeper. IS OUT!!!!!!!!! (End of the Arc)
Chapter 30 – Aftermath.
Chapter 31: The Growing Crown, The cracking Roots.
Chapter 32: The Wandering Monk. 8k long
Chapter 33: A New face Or phase. 8k long
Chapter 34: Chinamaki. 5.5k long
Chapter 35: Cross Roads. IS OUT!!!!!!!!!!! 9K LONG
Chapter 36: The New Field. IS OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9k LONG
Chapter 37: Loyalty. IS OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!! 7 K LONG
Chapter 38: Diversion. IS OUT!!!!!!!!!!! 7K Long
Chapter 39: Destruction. IS OUT!!!!!!!!!!! 12K Long
Chapter 40: Power of a God. 10K Long
Chapter 41: Perspectives. 12K Long
Chapter 42: Confluence of Storms. 18K
Chapter 43: Deception. (NEW)