Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm – Book 2
NTLHOS-2: Chapter 6 – The Price of Freedom.
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Author's Note:
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War brings out the best in the few and the worst in the many, but it spares no one from its consequences."
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NTLHOS-2: Chapter 5 – First Wave. IS OUT.
NTLHOS-2: Chapter 6 – Price of Freedom.
NTLHOS-2: Chapter 7 – Crimson Storm.
NTLHOS-2: Chapter 8 – Retaliation.
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 9 – The Gathering Woods In The Pyre. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 10 – We Forgive, But We Never Forget. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 11 – The Dept Is Called. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 12- How Times have changed. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 13: A New Game Of Chess. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 14: The Power Of A Single Stroke Of A Pen. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 15: Back to Konoha IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 16: The Night of Falling Crows IS OUT!.
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 17: Did Uchihas Survive?. IS OUT!
Chapter 18: Politics at its best. IS OUT!
Chapter 19: Old Memory. IS OUT!
Chapter 20: Once A Legend Alway A Legend.!(NEW)
Chapter 21: Still Sharp As Ever. IS OUT!!!!!!!!!! (NEW) (Politics begins)
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Last Time On NTLHOS:
But off in the distance, another wave of invisible killing intent radiated—a mere taste of Nobinaga's power. It extinguished the regained morale of the defenders like a blown-out candle. The monstrous aura rippled across the field, causing veterans to tremble and novices to vomit in panic. Zabuza spat blood, momentarily kneeling from the pressure. Mei Terumi clutched a wound on her arm, cursing. On the enemy side, Yagura also stiffened at the unrestrained malice.
The stage was set. War had begun in earnest, yet the one orchestrating the darkest symphony had not deigned to step onto the killing field.
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Now:
The battlefield roared with chaos, but Orochimaru observed it all. Despite the tenacity of Uzushio's defenders, it was clear they were being pushed to the edge. It wasn't that they were weak far from it. But the overwhelming numbers of dead and powerful shinobis were wearing them down. Yet that damn barrier, annoying remained a unmoved.
Orochimaru couldn't help but smirk. The defenders weren't just fighting to repel the invaders, they were stalling, waiting for exhaustion to take its toll on the attackers. They are trying to playing them, betting on time and that barrier to hold until reinforcements could arrive or something else to happen.
He glanced at the reanimated First and Second Hokage, both pale shadows of their former selves. If they had even a sliver more of their true power, they would have brought that barrier down by now. But suppressing their free will meant limiting their strength greatly, and Orochimaru wasn't willing to risk with giving them even an inch more of their autonomy.
His musings were interrupted when he sensed that man, Nobinaga, who had been standing idly by till now, suddenly concentrated his chakra. Orochimaru stiffened, feeling the sheer pressure building up like a tsunami. Even non-sensors across the battlefield turned their heads, their instincts screaming at them, danger.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. What is that madman up to now?
Nobinaga's chakra spiked higher and higher until it became a tangible force, pressing against everyone on the battlefield. He casually placed a hand on the hilt of his sword, and the blade began to glow an ominous red. Orochimaru watched in fascination as the man unsheathed the weapon with a grunt. A wave of pure, ethereal energy erupted from the blade, forming into what could only be described as a massive, glowing sword.
It wasn't like the Susanoo's astral weapon, but something rawer, more unrestrained. The red energy extended to the size of the colossal wall before slicing through the air toward Uzushio's barrier. The collision was deafening. The shockwave from the impact knocked soldiers from both sides off their feet. The explosion that followed was a force of nature, more destructive, more overwhelming than anything that even Deidara's most insane attempts could possibly hope to achive.
For a moment, the entire battlefield froze. All eyes turned toward the wall, waiting to see if the barrier had held.
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And then, a collective gasp. A crack. A huge, unmistakable crack had appeared in the barrier of Uzushio. People didn't know what to think that should they be impressed that there is huge crack or be shocked that despite the large amount of chakra only a crack came to be.
Nobinaga jumped landed gracefully near Orochimaru, a lazy smile on his face as he muttered, "I must be getting rusty. I can only manage a crack? Decades of petrification had a toll I guess, Hiruzen would laugh himself to death at this pitiful attempt."
The people were still in shock, but before anyone could react further, another figure leaped from the parapets, landing with a solid thud in front of Nobinaga and Orochimaru.
Orochimaru's heard Nobinaga saying. "Still kicking, Lord Suifu?"
So this 'The legendary Grand Marshal' of Uzushio though Orochimaru, his presence still powerful even in his old age. Orochimaru studied him with growing interest. So this is the man of legend. The Grand Marshal who led Uzushio through its golden age.
Suifu's voice was steady, tinged with something. "I remember boy. How many times did I beat you across the training grounds for being tardy? You think I can't do it again?"
Nobinaga's lips twitched into a faint smile. "You'll always have my respect, Suifu. You've seen the true shinobi world in ways few living can claim. Even this young Sannin here doesn't get it like you do."
Orochimaru's eye twitched at the jab but wisely kept his mouth shut. He would be a fool refute Nobinaga, Lord Suifu's era and experience were leagues beyond anything he could comprehend. He would be seen as idiot who claims to have seen the world like a man who is as old as First Hokage.
"You've grown even older, Suifu," Nobinaga said. "Why not retire? Seek peace in some quiet corner of the world, find salvation before it's too late."
"My salvation is here, Nobinaga. It always has been. From the moment I was made Grand Marshal, my purpose and my salvation were tied to these very land and its people. You won't find me cowering in some forgotten corner."
Nobinaga's smile faded slightly, replaced by something colder. "So that's it. You'll make me kill you, then? Force me to commit one of the worst crime on this continent to kill my own master."
Suifu's voice remained calm, though it carried an tinge of bitterness. "You were my pupil, yes. But it was His Grace, who held your hand through the darkness and carried you toward the spirituality. And yet, even though you never had the strength to defeat him or kill him, you still tried. You had a hand in His Grace's death though indirect. This wouldn't be the first time you've betrayed your master."
Nobinaga's voice darkened, his smile gone. "My reasons for killing Ashina Uzumaki were justified. What would you have done, Suifu, if you were made to watch your own father killed by a man who then took you as his pupil? Forced you to speak against your own blood?"
"Your father was a traitor. He turned, sold Uzushio and conspired against us. He thought his connection to Lord Ashina, being son his sister would shield him. But his grace had his principles always come first. Even as a child, you knew the truth. No one forced you to speak against your father; you did that on your own to save your skin, to protect your future. Lord Ashina gave you everything took in his home, his teachings, his trust. And yet you waited, like a scorpion, hiding your venom until you could strike."
Nobinaga's hands clenched around his sword. Suifu pressed on.
"You call it betrayal? I call it ungratefulness. Lord Ashina treated you like his own child or even more. He taught you things he didn't even teach Lord Arashi. And yet, when he named his eldest Lord Arashi as his heir, you saw it as a betrayal. When you clearly knew that the throne Uzushio goes from father to son. And yet, you wanted his throne, You wanted be the next Ashina Uzumaki. But you were never worthy of it."
"In a way, Suifu, I am grateful to Ashina. After all, if he hadn't denied me the throne when I was clearly more worthy than his son—stronger, a better strategist, more loved by the people—and the only thing I lacked was not being of Ashina's loins. Yes, I am only a quarter Uzumaki, yet I exhibited all your so-called Uzumaki values. But as I said, I am greatly thankful to him for denying me the throne; otherwise, I would be sitting here, protecting and saving my father's killers. After Lord Ashina banished me from Uzu, I visited my father's ancestral home, where I found a letter addressed to me. It clearly stated that whatever he did, he did out of necessity, and Ashina Uzumaki, the self-righteous man he was, couldn't lighten his punishment—even though he was his own sister's son. My father's alliance with Madara Uchiha was not betrayal; it was simply that his clan—no, my clan—chose a different route than the Uzumakis. Yet your oh-so-precious Lord chose to kill my father rather than hear him out."
Suifu chuckled. "Oh, is that what Shianaga wrote to you? That he was compelled for his clan? That man was a slimy one, even in his death, he shows his slipperiness. I was the one who caught your father in the act. Choosing a position for your clan is one thing, but trying to infiltrate the Mask Temple and steal the deity is another, especially when he came in guise as a guest, the son of a princess. And in Uzu's law, for desecration of a shrine, there is only one punishment, and that is death. You will never hear your late grandmother the princess complain about her son's fate, for she is an Uzumaki and knew well what her son had done."
"I know what you're doing, Suifu, you are delaying. But I don't mind, I gave you the chance to try and convince me not to extinguish the village for once and for all. And yet my answer is still the same, I want Uzu to burn completely."
"You said Lord Ashina could have shown mercy to your father, but don't forget while His Grace would never tolerate any action against the shrines, he kept his word. When the invasion happened, he honoured the promise he made to your grandmother and didn't kill you. We both know that if he had chosen to, he could have killed you very easily, especially when he was at the peak of his enhancements."
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What Nobinaga didn't realize was that Suifu had been preparing for this exact eventuality for two long months. Not that he knew he would going up against Nobinaga of all the people but if worse comes to worse…. While defending Uzushio, he'd been layering an enhancement seal over his own body, a complex network fueled by elemental synergy and his life force some thing similar to that which his grace used all those years ago. He had masked it well only a faint shimmer sometimes visible along his chest but now, as he stood before Nobinaga, the seal finally reached its peak.
There was no warning. One second, Suifu's chakra signature was that of a powerful veteran. The next moments, it erupted like a volcano. Azure flames of pure chakra licked across his skin, swirling up from his feet to his chest. A low rumble rolled through the air, shaking the rubble beneath them. All eyes, Uzushio defenders, invaders, even Orochimaru snapped to him in shock.
"Holy shit," an Oto-nin muttered, stumbling back.
"What the hell is that old man?" a Mist soldier gasped.
The barrier crack from Nobinaga's previous strike even shuddered, as though responding to this new power. Nobinaga's eyebrows rose a fraction. So he has decided this course this entire damn time and he grimaced thinking he shouldn't have given Suifu time, now he will pay for his damn tongue.
Suifu let out a slow breath, his eyes blazing with life once again. He flexed his fingers, and arcs of elemental energy crackled between them earth, fire, wind, water, lightning, all swirling in a chaotic dance. But fire and earth glowed brightest, the seals on his forearms sparking with raw chakra.
He lifted his gaze to Nobinaga and smiled, but it wasn't a friendly smile. It was the grin of a man who'd been waiting ages to settle this old score.
"Ready to dance, kiddo?"
Nobinaga smirked, unphased by the display of strength. "You're giving me your best shot, old man. Good. I'd hate to kill you without a proper fight."
In one fluid motion, Suifu drew Oath Keeper, the sword bestowed upon him by Lord Ashina himself. Elegant inscriptions spiraled along its blade, each a masterful seal that channeled Suifu's elemental mastery. Meanwhile, Nobinaga gripped his own blade, Cured Cure, which had once belonged to the Uzumakis also bestowed by lord Ashina. The hilt glowed, a faint red aura pulsating along its edge.
Suifu opened with a straightforward, powerful slash from above. Nobinaga slid sideways, using the momentum to bring Cured Cure around in a quick thrust aimed at Suifu's side. But Suifu, anticipating it, twisted his torso, letting the blade skim inches from his ribs. He retaliated with a sharp elbow aimed at Nobinaga's jaw. Nobinaga leaned back, the blow grazing his chin, which was followed by a reverse kick to his abdomen which sent him flying.
"Damn," Nobinaga hissed, rubbing the sting. The old still kicks like a mule. He countered by unleashing a small burst of wind-natured chakra from Cured Cure, a compressed Fūton blade that lashed out with invisible force. Suifu stepped back just in time, the gust slicing through his robe's sleeve instead of lopping off his forearm. A trickle of blood ran down his bicep, a small but telling mark.
"You're not too shabby yourself," Suifu muttered, ignoring the sting.
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a Mist shinobi ducked behind a crumbling barricade to catch his breath, blood trickling from a gash on his temple. Beside him, a wide-eyed mercenary, panting heavily, clutched his broken sword.
"Hey," the mercenary gasped, his voice trembling, "what the hell are those two? Are they even human? I can't see them move most the time! One second they're here, and then boom! someone's flying."
The Mist shinobi, still trying to steady his breathing, gave him a sideways glance. "You think I know? Hell, I'm just trying not to get obliterated by the damn shockwaves every time their blades clash."
"They're monsters, man. Freaking monsters. That old dude what's-his-name Suifu? He's supposed to be pushing a hundred, right? How the hell is he keeping up?"
The shinobi snorted bitterly. "Keeping up? He's not just keeping up he's trading blows with the other old man, the guy who makes our Mizukage look like a damn genin. You think a random merc like you has a chance against that?"
The mercenary's grip tightened. "I… I thought we were just supposed to deal with some old fogeys defending a wall, not whatever that is! This isn't a war; it's a freaking nightmare!"
The Mist shinobi smirked grimly. "Welcome to a real fight. If you survive, you'll have a story to tell—assuming you don't piss yourself first."
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The ground around them trembled as Suifu stomped his foot, activating a hidden seal that pulsed with earth chakra. Instantly, pillars of rock erupted in a circular formation around Nobinaga, attempting to box him in. Nobinaga responded with a flick of his wrist, channeling Suiton chakra into Cured Cure. A cascading wave of water formed at his feet, crashing forward and dissolving the earthen pillars with a roar. Steam hissed where the water met residual flame from Suifu's earlier attack.
With the pillars neutralized, Suifu blurred forward again. This time, he swung Oath Keeper horizontally, the blade trailing orange-hot sparks. The old grand marshal poured fire chakra into the strike, giving it a scorching edge. Nobinaga parried, but hissed in pain as the heat singed his fingers through the hilt. He retaliated by channeling Raiton into Cured Cure, delivering an electric jolt that forced Suifu to break contact.
Nobinaga's eyes narrowed and said "let notch thing up", as he traced a quick pattern in the air with his left hand Fūin: Kaze Shikaku (Seal: Wind Deadlock) and the wind around them twisted into elongated blades, slashing at Suifu. In response, Suifu slammed his palm onto a seal tag hidden on his belt. A shimmering barrier formed around him, Fūin: Kaji Kabe (Seal: Fire Wall), neutralizing the wind blades with arcs of flame.
But Nobinaga was already in motion, dashing around the barrier's perimeter with frightening speed. Lightning crackled in his free hand, shaping into jagged knives of Raiton that he hurled at Suifu from a blind spot. The old man dropped the flame shield just in time to weave a quick Doton hand sign, raising a slab of rock to block the electric knives. Sparks flew, rock shattered. The battlefield beneath them split, cracks zigzagging in every direction.
"You're combining fūin arts with elements. Impressive," Nobinaga said, genuine respect lacing his voice. But it won't save you."
In a flash, they were back to swordplay. Oath Keeper and Cured Cure clashed again and again, ringing out with each collision. Each parry, each riposte, was a masterclass in kenjutsu. Suifu's earth-enhanced strikes threatened to crush bones with a single impact, while Nobinaga's lightning-infused counters could fry a man's nerves from the inside out. They darted across the battlefield, kicking up dust and debris, their footsteps leaving craters where they landed.
Suifu feinted high, then twisted low, aiming a slash at Nobinaga's thigh. Nobinaga deflected, a brilliant stream of water swirling around Cured Cure, the Suiton wave absorbing the impact. He followed up with a palm strike crackling with electricity aimed at Suifu's chest. Suifu threw his left arm up, a hastily drawn seal glowing on his forearm. The seal dissipated most of the shock, but not all, and Suifu bit out a curse as sparks danced across his torso.
"Bastard," he growled, staggering a step.
Nobinaga seized the moment, stepping in for a finishing blow a diagonal slash from Oath Keeper's shoulder to hip. But Suifu wasn't done. He stomped again, Doton: Retsudo Tenshō (Earth Release: Tearing Earth Turning Palm) flaring beneath Nobinaga's feet, causing the ground to spiral and buckle. Nobinaga stumbled, forced to redirect his slash. Instead of a lethal blow, he only grazed Suifu's side, drawing blood but missing the kill.
Suifu leaped back, exhaling painfully. "I'd say you've improved since last time, kid. But I'm not done." Tapping into his seal, he momentarily fused fire and earth in his palm Yōgan Seishin (Lava Spirit) conjuring a globe of molten rock swirling with flame. The intense heat warped the air around them, forcing nearby fighters on both sides to retreat or risk incineration.
Nobinaga, undeterred, combined Suiton, Raton and Fūton with a slash of lightning chakra Taifū Tonneru (Typhoon Tunnel). A vortex of water, wind, and electric arcs shot forth, colliding with Suifu's lava sphere. The resulting explosion sent shockwaves throughout the battlefield, knocking grown men flat on their asses. Columns of steam and smoke rose, momentarily obscuring the two warriors.
Through the haze, they lunged at each other again, swords flashing. Oath Keeper and Cured Cure locked, and their owners glared at one another across the crossed blades.
"You'll tear this place apart," Suifu hissed. "Uzu's people have suffered enough."
Nobinaga's eyes blazed with something between fury and sorrow. "That's the point, old man. Let it all burn."
He broke the sword lock by surging lightning along Cured Cure, sending Suifu stumbling. Suifu responded with a savage punch, using the solid mass of earth-nature chakra in his left hand to smash Nobinaga's ribcage. Nobinaga gasped, blood flecking his lips. Yet he twisted his body, slamming the hilt of Cured Cure into Suifu's temple. A starburst of pain exploded in the old man's vision, and he staggered back, ears ringing.
For a moment, they separated, panting. Suifu's hair hung in sweaty clumps, blood seeping from multiple gashes. Nobinaga's breathing was ragged, one hand clutching his side. Both men sported deep cuts, scorch marks, and bruises. The ground around them was a shattered mess of rock, glassy patches of molten earth, and pools of water. The air hummed with residual elemental chakra.
"Give up," Nobinaga muttered, sounding almost bored despite the blood on his teeth. "You're strong, but that body of yours is old. You can't keep this up forever. And you know I am holding back"
Suifu spat a wad of blood and saliva. "And you're an arrogant brat. You think your thirst for revenge justifies this shit? You're not the only one who's lost people, grow up kid."
Nobinaga's jaw tightened, but he didn't reply. Instead, he charged, putting all his strength into a downward slash. Suifu raised Oath Keeper to block, and the collision sparked a massive shockwave, blowing away nearby debris. With a roar, Suifu pivoted, using Nobinaga's momentum against him, and nearly drove the tip of Oath Keeper into Nobinaga's chest. The younger swordsman twisted away at the last second, the blade slicing through cloth and grazing skin.
In a burst of chakra, Nobinaga unleashed a swirling mix of lightning and wind Raiton: Shippū Boruto(Lightning Release: Hurricane Bolt) that caught Suifu off guard, sending him careening backward through a crumbling stone wall.
Sensing he had the upper hand, Nobinaga pressed forward. Suifu struggled to stand, dust and rubble clinging to his sweat-streaked face. The enhancement seal over his body flickered, cracks forming in the inscriptions. Two months of prep, and it was already showing signs of strain after just a few minutes of this brutal battle.
Nobinaga rested Cured Cure on his shoulder, flicking the blood off its edge. "You did well, old man," he admitted, almost sounding respectful. "But it's over."
Suifu straightened. Oath Keeper still glowed with fire and earth chakra, but it was dimming, reflecting the weakening seal on his body. "Don't count me out yet, kiddo."
Suifu knew the truth: the fight was tipping Nobinaga's way. He could feel the drain on his chakra reserves, the searing pain in his ribs, the quiver in his arms. Dammit, he thought, cursing his own old body. Damn it. 14, Just a little more time…
"This barrier's about to crumble, and then I'll reduce Uzushio to ash. You can die knowing you tried your best, old friend."
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While most of the clueless idiots around him were gawking at the blur of Suifu and Nobinaga tearing into each other with eyes wide, mouths hanging open. Orochimaru just sighed. Sure, the fight was awe-inspiring, practically two gods throwing down. But he wasn't about to wet himself over it. After all, he wasn't some random grunt drooling at a shiny object.
"If either of those two decided to come for me," Orochimaru mused to himself, "I wouldn't even have time to run."
A dark chuckle escaped him as he remembered just how vast the power gap still was between him and his old sensei or his generation. The old Grand Marshal wasn't even at his peak, and Nobinaga, well, that rusty lunatic had been a statue for decades. Yet here they were, slugging it out on a level that made Orochimaru feel like a toddler with a wooden kunai.
Some half-witted Otogakure shinobi standing nearby muttered, "I thought there'd be a massive explosion or something. That old guy's fast, but if he stands still even for a second, we can totally take him."
Orochimaru didn't bother to turn around. He merely flicked two fingers, launching a kunai that lodged itself in the idiot's throat, cutting off any further commentary. The unfortunate soul gurgled and collapsed, earning exactly zero pity from Orochimaru.
"Babbling morons," he muttered under his breath. "What do these fools know about an 'economic fight'?"
The truth was, Suifu and Nobinaga weren't just throwing around raw power to show off. They were using it only where it mattered pure lethal intent, no flashy spectacle. If either of those sword's chakras had gone beyond a couple of inches past the blade, they'd have sheared a whole damn mountain in half. Yet they were keeping it tight, controlled, and unbelievably deadly.
"And these insects think they can even scratch the old man, let alone kill him?" Orochimaru sneered. "Hah, they deserve torture just for letting that ridiculous thought cross their minds."
He knew this was the old-school shinobi way pure efficiency. Not some half-baked notion of "conserving" chakra, but the maximum, most precise use of every ounce of strength. No fireworks, no pointless wasted motions, just cold, calculated, and terrifyingly effective. That, Orochimaru realized, was exactly what he was witnessing efficiency at its blood-soaked finest.
He folded his arms, watching the titans clash. "Compared to this," he mused, "everything else is just child's play."
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In the underground chamber, Naruto watched helplessly as things unfolded above. His hands were raw, trickling blood from the relentless punches and jutsu he'd thrown at the walls. Every strike, every attempt to break through had been futile. But seeing Suifu on the ground, struggling, and the barrier barely holding it was too much. Naruto was at his wit's end.
No more waiting. No more following the damn rules. If saving the village and its sacred shrines meant taking a gamble, then he'd bear the consequences. He'd deal with the fallout when it came crashing down.
Naruto turned toward the wall where the Uzumaki masks hung. His eyes scanned past the lower masks, dismissing them without a second thought. Not even the Shinigami's mask caught his attention. No, his gaze locked onto the fifth mask the one no Uzumaki lord had ever dared to touch. The 5th most powerful mask. It wasn't just dangerous; it was a goddamn disaster waiting to happen. Awakening the being bound to that mask could spell ruin for everyone.
Naruto didn't care. His people were dying, and Nobinaga was tearing through everyone and everything. If there was even a sliver of a chance, he was taking it.
As his hand reached out to grab the mask, a figure materialized before him, gripping his wrist with an unyielding hold. Startled, Naruto turned, and there he was his master, calm as ever, a staff in one hand and that infuriatingly serene expression on his face.
"How…?" Naruto managed to stammer, his voice cracking. How could his master even be here? No one, not a single mortal could enter or leave this chamber without permission. And then it hit him. Of course. His master wasn't bound by the mortal plane. He was an enlightened being, beyond all of these things.
"Are you sure, Naruto," his master said, his voice. "You're five hours away from completing the ritual. Five hours, that's all. Don't risk humanity itself for impatience. Some beings are better left untouched. This realm can't withstand their presence."
Naruto yanked his hand back, his desperation boiling over. "I don't have a choice, Master! Even the damn Shinigami can't get me out of here. But the Bhishonin can. He's the only one strong enough to break this barrier."
His master's eyes narrowed. "And what of his demand, Naruto? If it were your life, or even the lives of your people, I wouldn't caution you. But this? He could unmake the balance of this world. His awakening threatens to rip apart everything, the spiritual, the mortal, even the chakra itself. Do you understand what that means?"
"I don't care!", his voice cracking. "My people are dying! The shrines, our connection to salvation they'll be destroyed! We don't have the luxury of waiting five more hours! Nobinaga will tear through everything before then!"
His master's hand loosened, but his expression didn't soften. "I see… so you're truly willing to take this leap. Very well, Naruto. But know this: I didn't come her to stop you, I will not chose the path you walk but keep in mind my warnings were not fabrications. If you awaken him, the consequences will ripple through."
"I'll deal with the consequences. If there's even a sliver of hope for the shrines and my people, I'll take it."
The sage released Naruto's hand, stepping back. "I was testing your conviction". "But that doesn't make this any less dangerous. You've chosen your path, Naruto. Go on, then. See it through."
Naruto turned back to the mask, his hand trembling slightly as he reached out and grabbed it. The moment his fingers brushed its surface, the entire world seemed to shudder. He lifted the mask and placed it on his face.
The ground beneath him quaked violently, and the air grew thick with an oppressive force. The world itself seemed to pause. The very time froze, bending to the will of the being.
Naruto could feel the energy coalescing in the room, forming into a massive, tribal warrior-like figure made of pure etheric energy. Its presence was suffocating, immeasurable. When the figure spoke, its voice boomed in echoes and thunder in an endless void.
"Why have you summoned me, mortal?"
Naruto bowed. "I seek your favor to protect the divine shrines and my people."
The being laughed. "Foolish mortal. Do you think destroying a few shrines would erase the divine? We are more than stones with our essence. We are eternal."
Naruto clenched his fists. "I know that. But without the shrines, we'll lose or will 1000 times harder to establish our connection to you. People won't find salvation. They'll be lost."
The being's laughter echoed again. "Time is an illusion, mortal. Salvation does not depend on your fleeting lives. Where I dwell, a thousand lifetimes mean nothing."
Naruto's jaw tightened. He didn't know how to argue with a being that saw existence as a mere ripple in a boundless ocean. But he couldn't let go of the purpose his ancestors had upheld. "I want people to find their salvation. Quickly. Just as my ancestors wished."
The being regarded him for a moment. "You cannot comprehend the enormity of what you ask. But very well. What do you seek from me?"
Naruto's voice didn't waver. "I want you to complete the process I've started to make me whole and get me out of this chamber, fully healed."
The being's eyes narrowed, glowing brighter. "It is within my power to bypass this barrier. Not even the Shinigami could escape it. But such power does not come freely. There will be a price."
Naruto swallowed hard. "What is it?".
The being's grin widened.
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Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter of NTLHOS- Book 2!
Join ThirdFireTriden on Pa(tre)(on) the link is in description or type my name in google search with (p)(a)(t)(r)(e)(o)(n) remove the space and bracket!
NTLHOS-2: Chapter 5 – First Wave. IS OUT.
NTLHOS-2: Chapter 6 – Price of Freedom.
NTLHOS-2: Chapter 7 – Crimson Storm.
NTLHOS-2: Chapter 8 – Retaliation.
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 9 – The Gathering Woods In The Pyre. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 10 – We Forgive, But We Never Forget. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 11 – The Dept Is Called. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 12- How Times have changed. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 13: A New Game Of Chess. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 14: The Power Of A Single Stroke Of A Pen. IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 15: Back to Konoha IS OUT!
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 16: The Night of Falling Crows IS OUT!.
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 17: Did Uchihas Survive?. IS OUT!
Chapter 18: Politics at its best. IS OUT!
Chapter 19: Old Memory. IS OUT!
Chapter 20: Once A Legend Alway A Legend.!(NEW)
Chapter 21: Still Sharp As Ever. IS OUT!!!!!!!!!! (NEW) (Politics begins)
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