Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm – Book 2
NTLHOS-2: Chapter 5 – The First Wave.
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5k Long chapter. The Authors note is in the bottom.
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"In war, truth is the first casualty, and the survivors carry its burden." — Aeschylus
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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! (NEW)
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 16: The Night of Falling Crows IS OUT!.
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 17: Did Uchihas Survive?. IS OUT! (NEW)
Chapter 18: Politics at its best. IS OUT!(NEW)
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 19: Old Memory. IS OUT!(NEW)
Chapter 20: Once A Legend Alway A Legend.!(NEW)
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Last Time On NTLHOS-2:
Ashina's expression softened. "No. You have to prepare yourself."
The old man's image began to recide into some corner of his mind, his voice echoing in the vastness of the mindscape. "Do not falter, child. The fates depends on you… and them."
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Now:
Sunrays struggled to pierce the thick clouds looming over Uzu's imposing walls. The morning air was thick with tension, and along the parapets, the defenders of the Whirlpool stood, their eyes trained on the enemy below.
From his elevated vantage point on the northern rampart, Suifu Uzumaki studied the enemy formations with furrowed brows. For the first time, he could see more than just the sprawling camp of soldiers, he could now make out the commanders leading this army. Below him, a vast host gathered on the narrow coastline, the forces of Mist, commanded by Yagura, bolstered by hundreds of mercenary groups and armies from minor villages. Scattered among them were remnants of Otogakure's forces, and at the edge of the formation was a rogues' gallery of powerhouses Kakuzu, Hidan, Deidara, Sasori each at one corner, and the figure of Orochimaru of the Densetsu no Sannin, perched atop Manda. Around Orochimaru swarmed a large army of his experiments, their forms marred by cursed seals.
As the drums of war began to echo across the battlefield, Suifu's expression shifted. The tension melted away from his features, replaced by an eerie serenity. He closed his eyes, his weathered face calm, and began rhythmically drumming his worn fingers on the pommel of his sword as if playing to some melody.
Beside him, Mithrusha Uzumaki lowered her small telescope, glancing sideways at the sudden change in his demeanor. She could see curiosity of the other generals standing nearby.
"Is the old man… okay?" Zabuza Momochi asked, his tone equal parts confusion and sceptic. Like the others, he was taken aback by the dramatic shift in Suifu's expression. A moment ago, the Grand Marshal had seemed tense, carrying the weight of the impending battle. Now, he exuded an almost unnerving calmness.
Rashirom's Lone Eye turned to Zabuza and answered with a faint smirk. "He's bred for this. It's always the same with him. Before the battle begins, he carries the tension of the whole army. But the moment the war drums sound..." He gestured toward Suifu, who continued his silent rhythm. "This is when he's in his element."
"They've come in greater numbers than we anticipated," she said. "Mist, Oto, and all these hired blades… I sense more than greed or conquest driving these fools."
"Indeed," Suifu murmured. "Mizukage may be the figurehead, but I doubt he's the sole puppeteer. Still… we must hold the line until his grace arrive or push back to the ocean."
Suifu gave a curt nod, stepping back from the edge of the rampart to address the assembled generals and commanders and army gathered along the stretch of the stone walls. The Clan heads, Mei Terumi, Zabuza Momochi, Ameyuri Ringo, Jinin Akebino, Pakura, Rashirom Uzumaki, Nori Yakushi, Anko Mitarashi, Fūka Uzumaki, Fuen, Fudo, Kanna Uzumaki, Tayuya...
Turning to face them fully, Suifu's commanding voice rang out like thunder, cutting through the air and carrying to the ears of every warrior assembled along the walls.
"Warriors of Uzu!" His voice was lound. "In this hour of need, as invaders stand at our doorstep, remember this, our mother Uzu, the land that has embraced us, the land that has sheltered our families and loved ones, now calls upon us! And yet, there are those cravens, those fools, who dare desecrate the very sanctuary that has given us life and purpose."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over them. The silence that followed was taut with anticipation, broken by the distant beat of the enemy's war drums. Then, a roar erupted from the assembled soldiers and commanders:
"NO! NO!"
Suifu's voice rose above their cries. "In the name of His Grace, the Emperor, we will fight! To the last man, to the last woman, to the last child if need be! We will protect these lands our lands until our very souls are burned into the stone beneath our feet or our bones decay in the soil like mu no our predecesors!"
A collective cry of defiance surged from the walls, reverberating like a tidal wave across Uzushiogakure. Suifu raised a hand for quiet, and the crowd instantly stilled.
"By the grace of the divine," he continued, "we house the Fourteen Shrines, the very embodiment of the divine within these walls. And I ask you this, will we allow this rabble, this ragtag assembly of cowards and mercenaries, to defile what is holy? Will we stand idle while they come skulking to our gates, thinking they can prey on us in the absence of His Grace?"
The warriors roared again, louder than before, their voices filled with righteous fury: "NO!"
Suifu's eyes swept over them. "Then let it be known, these walls, these people, this land shall not bend! Not to them, not to anyone! Let the invaders come. We will answer them with the churning strength of whirlpools and the wrath of the divine itself!"
With a final, resolute cry, Suifu unsheathed his blade and raised it high, the glint of its edge catching the faint light of the overcast sky. The soldiers below and along the walls answered with a deafening battle cry, their collective resolve hardening into a single cry, For Uzushiogakure!.
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In the plains below, the Mist army assembled in neat ranks, flags bearing Yagura's crest fluttering in the salty wind. Groups of Oto shinobi loitered near the rear, hunched low, while mercenaries in mismatched armor formed uneven lines on the flanks. Kakuzu, bandaged and grim, tapped his fingers with the impatience of a man who saw a profitable venture.
At the head of the formation, Yagura scanned the high walls of Uzushiogakure. His expression was impassive. He shouted, "Soon. We'll break them." Then he raised his hand to signal.
Suifu exchanged a quick glance with Mithrusha. She pressed her palm against a circular seal etched into the parapet. A thin column of scarlet light shot skyward: the prearranged signal.
Along the wall, hidden archer squads emerged, bows creaking as they let fly a volley of specialized arrows coated in seals. Each arrow bore a small paper seal, sizzling with chakra. As they arced overhead, the front lines of the Mist forces hastily threw up defensive Water-Release jutsu: Suiton: Suijinheki (Water Encampment Wall), Suiton: Suiryūdan (Water Dragon Bullet). This was done through the combined effort of nine specialized squads, forming one very massive, large water dragon that was nine times the size of a normal one.
Despite these efforts, a portion of the arrow volley struck home, exploding on impact and reducing small squads of mercenaries to ash. Screams mingled with the roar of crashing waves as soldiers fell, some incinerated, others maimed.
Yagura slammed the butt of his staff into the ground, eyes narrowing. "Forward!" he bellowed. The Mist army advanced in a practiced formation, siege engines groaning as they lumbered toward the colossal gates of Uzushio. Meanwhile, Yagura transformed into the Three-Tailed Turtle and launched a massive projectile of water that could easily have shattered any fortress walls, but Uzushio's barrier sprang up and blocked the attack.
High on the ramparts, Kidōmaru, the leader of the artillery unit, spat out sticky webs Kumo Sōka (Spider Web Flower) that splattered across the closest siege tower's wheels. The contraption lurched to a halt, immobilized by thick, golden threads. Jirobo grinned, seizing the opportunity to channel Doton: Chidōkaku (Earth Release: Moving Earth Core). With a thunderous rumble, the ground beneath the tower sank, sending it tilting forward. Its forward crew tumbled into a newly formed pit, screaming as the tower's weight crushed them.
From the sky, a high-pitched hiss drew everyone's attention. Deidara soared in on his clay bird, scanning for a strategic target. "Katsu!" he shouted, flinging a C1 explosive clay sculpture toward the ramparts. A compact explosion rocked the walls, forcing defenders to brace themselves. But again, the barrier of Uzu sprang up and shielded the defenders.
When they saw that consistent attacks on the barrier by Deidara could be fatal, Fuen countered with a volley of illusions Magen: Kairō (Demonic Illusion: Corridor), creating ghostly corridors that flickered across the battlefield. Deidara's aim faltered as his bird swooped down, colliding with illusions that distorted distance. Explosives detonated harmlessly away from the main gates, spraying seawater and sending columns of spray into the air.
Zabuza Momochi leaped down into the fray along with an army of Uzu shinobi, his massive Kubikiribōchō gleaming. He engaged a squad of Mist shinobi who recognized him instantly, their faces contorting into rage and a tinge of fear. "Demon of the Mist indeed," one soldier spat, raising his blade shakily but with anger. Zabuza answered by slashing in a swift arc Dekopin Satsu (a heavy-lift slash enhanced by his water-chakra flow). The soldier toppled, blood spraying across the sand.
Zabuza clicked his tongue, remembering his disillusionment with Kiri's old ways. "No more foolery. This time, I'll bury my past for good," he muttered.
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On the southern rampart, Anko was in her element. Her movements were sharp, purposeful, and terrifyingly fluid. The snakes from her Sen'eijashu (Hidden Shadow Snake Hands) lashed out, sinking their fangs into a group of Oto-nin who had dared breach the wall using grapples. The moment those serpents snapped into view, the invaders who didn't have info on Anko froze, panic etched across their faces. Who wouldn't be scared? There was only one other shinobi infamous for using this technique, and that man was supposed to lead them, why turn on them?
One poor soul didn't stand a chance, caught in the coils of the vipers, screaming as venom burned through his veins. Anko's smile wasn't of joy it was of grim satisfaction. There was no delight here, no sadistic pleasure that once used be ever present. This was necessity, war in its purest, most brutal form. A lesson hammered into her by Lady Mithrusha during the years of healing and rebuilding from her past and trauma. This was how Anko fought now not for vengeance, but for her home but she had to keep appearance or people may think she has grown soft.
Not far from her, Tayuya perched on the broken edge of a parapet, her flute steady in her hands. Her lips curled into a smirk as she brought the instrument to her lips. She signeled to the squad she was lead comprised of the genjutsu support unit to ttack. The haunting, grating melody of Mateki: Mugen Onsa (Demon Flute: Illusionary War Ensemble) poured out, wrapping around the advancing mercenaries like a sinister mist. The effect was immediate. Swords dropped, and confusion spread like wildfire as soldiers turned on one another, slashing wildly at allies, driven mad by the genjutsu.
"Idiots," Tayuya muttered, shifting her melody to deepen the illusion. Around her, the Doki her cute and grotesque summons moved like harbingers of death. Their gaping maws consumed those too dazed to defend themselves, a symphony of chaos and carnage orchestrated by her flute. "You're making this too easy," she scoffed.
Meanwhile, Ameyuri Ringo was chaos incarnate. Her twin blades, Kiba (Fangs of the Thunder God), sparked and crackled with raw electricity as she carved her way through Mist infantry. Every swing sent arcs of Raiton: Ameyuri Gatana (Thunder Blades) leaping from one target to the next, leaving blackened, smoking corpses in her wake. Her strikes were fast, precise, and relentless—a storm of steel and lightning that couldn't be stopped.
"You thought you could take Uzu?" Ameyuri snarled at a trembling Mist shinobi who'd dared charge her. "Wrong move." In one clean stroke, the electricity surged, and the man crumpled, lifeless. Ameyuri's grin widened. This was her battlefield, and she was its queen.
Leading the charge below was Jinin Akebino, his Kabutowari (Helmet Splitter) an unstoppable force of destruction. The hammer and blade combo was devastating, and Jinin wielded it with the ease of a master. When he used Tsūga Hō (Hammer Drill), it was like watching a natural disaster unfold. He spun with incredible force, smashing through chakra-reinforced shields, barriers, and even the stone defenses the enemy had brought with them. Every swing sent shockwaves rippling across the ground, toppling soldiers like leaves in a hurricane.
Behind him, the loyal Swordsmen of Uzu brought their weapons to bear. Manjutsu, wielding Shibuki (Splash), was a walking explosion. Every swing of his blade sent waves of detonations rippling outward, shattering formations and leaving craters where enemies once stood. His strikes were chaos personified, unpredictable and destructive, scattering the Mist ranks like startled birds.
Suijutsu, with his Nuibari (Needle Sword), was a grim artist. His blade moved like a needle through cloth, sewing his enemies into macabre clusters of strung-together corpses. The sight was enough to shake even hardened warriors, but Suijutsu moved with a cold detachment, his focus entirely on dismantling the enemy line.
Beside him, Chojuro, armed with the Hiramekarei, was a precise counter to Suijutsu's gruesome efficiency. While Suijutsu strung enemies together, Chojuro cleaved through them in fluid, calculated strikes. The duo's synergy was unmatched, their coordination turning the battlefield into a death trap for anyone foolish enough to get close.
Elsewhere, Fūka Uzumaki moved like a deadly storm. Her Fūton: Tatsumaki Kaze (Wind Release: Tornado Gale)whipped through the battlefield, shredding her enemies with slicing winds or hurling them into the air like ragdolls. But it wasn't just the wind she commanded. Fūka combined her mastery of the five elements seamlessly, creating bursts of fire, crackling lightning, and jagged spikes of earth to annihilate those in her path. She was chaos wrapped in elegance, a force of nature that left her enemies no chance to regroup.
Behind the chaos, Nori Yakushi worked tirelessly in the medical camp. Her hands glowed with the soft, healing light of medical ninjutsu, sealing gashes and stabilizing wounds with the precision of someone trained by Lady Tsunade herself. But even here, the enemy came, desperate to break through and eliminate Uzu's medics.
Their attempts were futile. Fūka, Fuen, and Fudo formed a protective ring around the camp. When enemies approached, Fūton: Reppūshō (Gale Palm) sent them flying, their bodies tumbling into the moat below like discarded toys. The three shinobi worked in perfect tandem, their precision and ruthlessness making it seem as though the enemy were fighting an immortal force that simply refused to fall.
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While the first wave of Mist and Oto forces faced brutal resistance, the main Otogakure shinobi made their move near the eastern gates. Orochimaru's presence sent chills through friend and foe alike. He led a squad of monstrous, half-human creations, each sporting grafted limbs and cursed seals. They slammed into the walls, testing their structural integrity. One hulking figure roared, generating a sonic shockwave that cracked the stone.
Rashirom appeared, weaving a rapid series of hand signs. "Try this," he hissed, launching Shōkoku no Gen (Illusion of Binding Chains) that manifested as spectral chains, coiling around the monstrous constructs. They howled, clawing at the invisible restraints. Orochimaru merely smirked.
"Kukuku… an interesting trick. But let's see how it fares against my pets."
A slick, serpentine shadow slithered from Orochimaru's sleeve as he performed Mandara no Jin (Myriad Snake Net Formation). Countless snakes erupted, snapping at the illusions and forcing Rashirom to retreat slightly. The cursed constructs, partially freed, resumed hammering the walls with renewed ferocity.
To contain this threat, Pakura joined Rashirom at the eastern battlements. "Rashirom, focus on illusions or detection. I'll handle the pests," Pakura said, activating Shakuton: Shinku Mōdo (Scorch Release: Crimson Shimmer Mode). The air around her shimmered with intense heat, forming orbs of superheated plasma. With a swift motion, she hurled them at the monstrous constructs, dissolving flesh and armor alike in searing blasts.
Rashirom, his single eye glowing faintly, called out, "Behind the third turret two Oto squads sneaking through a genjutsu path!" Pakura shifted her stance and unleashed a wide arc of heat, scorching the infiltrators and reducing them to ashes.
Still, Orochimaru pressed forward, his cackling unnerving the defenders. "Such vigor, Uzushiogakure. Now, amuse me further!" he taunted, unfurling a scroll and performing Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei (Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation). Though incomplete, his effort raised two coffin-like constructs from the ground. Deprived of full resources, he summoned twisted, zombified forms of lesser shinobi, sending them to attack the defenders in a horrifying display of necromancy.
But it didn't stop there. Orochimaru summoned two additional coffins, and as they emerged from the ground, the battlefield fell into a stunned silence. From the fourth and fifth coffins stepped two figures that sent chills through the defenders Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, the legendary brothers themselves. Their mere presence radiated an aura of unparalleled hopelessness.
"Why, Orochimaru? Why attack Uzu of all places? I thought your beef was with Konoha? When the Emperor hears about this…" said Rashirom, his voice laced with both accusation and curiosity.
"Kukuku… Yes, my lone-eyed swordsman," Orochimaru drawled, his signature smirk widening. "As you might have heard, for lack of better words my hands were….. indisposed after my unfortunate battle with sensei. But my new patron… oh, he has healed them and corrected the flaws in my body I was unaware of with seals. In return, I offered my support for this little venture. It's just honest business, my friend. And the fact that you poached my shinobis didn't exactly help your case. Kukuku…"
Rashirom's grip on his blade tightened, his glare sharp enough to cut stone. "And of the Emperor? Do you honestly believe he'll stand idly by after hearing this?"
Orochimaru chuckled again, his laughter as unsettling as ever. "Ah, yes… your Emperor. Rest assured, I've taken suitable assured that Naruto Uzumaki will not be a part of this war. You see, my dear Rashirom, strategy isn't just about fighting it's about knowing where your opponents are weakest… and when they won't be watching. Kukuku…"
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On the western side, the Akatsuki and the mercenaries decided the time was ripe to flex their strengths. Hidan prowled the battlefield, laughing maniacally. With a flick of his scythe, he drew blood from an unfortunate defender, quickly performing his Jujutsu: Shiji Hyōketsu (Curse Ritual). Circles of blood stained the ground, and Hidan's eyes rolled back in ecstasy. The hapless victim collapsed in agony as each wound Hidan inflicted on himself manifested on the victim's body.
Kakuzu, unimpressed by Hidan's theatrics, tore off his cloak, revealing writhing black tendrils beneath. "More hearts," he grumbled, launching into Jiongu (Earth Grudge Fear). His masked constructs emerged, each spewing a different elemental blast: Fūton: Atsugai (Wind Release: Pressure Damage) followed three more in conjunction Katon: Zukokku (Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work) Raiton: Gian (Lightning Release: False Darkness) and Suiton: Mizu Heki (Water Wall) from a fourth masked form.
These elemental barrages hammered the walls, forcing defenders like Kidōmaru and Jirobo to scramble for cover. Jirobo stabilized collapsing sections of stone with Doton jutsu, while Kidōmaru returned fire with spider-silk arrows laced with paralyzing toxins.
Sasori advanced more methodically, releasing an Aka Higi (Red Secret Technique) army of puppets. Like a silent wave, they scaled the wall, razor limbs cutting down hapless defenders. Zabuza and Ameyuri joined forces to slice through them, water and lightning combining in arcs of lethal brilliance Suiton: Mizuame Hari (Sticky Water Needles) interlaced with Raiton surges that fried Sasori's wooden minions.
Deidara, frustrated by illusions that masked real targets, soared overhead. "I'll show you art!" he shouted, forming a C2 dragon from his clay. Bombs rained, turning segments of the battlefield into craters. Fuen conjured illusions of decoy towers that successfully misdirected half the explosives, but the concussive blasts still shook the foundations, knocking archers off the parapets.
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Despite the relentless onslaught, Uzushiogakure's defenders held firm. Kanna Uzumaki engaged in sealing-based warfare, flicking out Fūinjutsu tags that neutralized incoming ninjutsu. One Oto jōnin lobbed a Katon: Gōkakyū(Great Fireball) at the parapets, only for the scorching mass of flames to fizzle into inert smoke under Kanna's well-placed seal.
Blood ran along the base of the walls, turning the surf a sickly red. The thunder of jutsu and screams filled the air with a maddening din. For every Mist shinobi struck down, another took his place. For every puppet destroyed, Sasori summoned two more. For every monstrous creation halted, Orochimaru unleashed a new abomination.
Even so, the defenders inflicted catastrophic losses on the invading forces. The coastline was littered with fallen mercenaries and dismembered puppets, testament to the courage and ferocity of Uzu's generals.
Mei Terumi herself took to the walls, unleashing Yōton: Yōkai no Jutsu (Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique) in molten waves that swallowed groups of mercenaries. Juugo, partially transformed, hurled boulders the size of wagons, crushing siege engine after siege engine. Rashirom signaled flares whenever he detected infiltration points, enabling Tayuya and Anko to ambush infiltration squads.
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Yet even as they fought with valor, the Uzushio shinobi felt the weight of each passing moment. They had come prepared for this invasion, but not for it to be sustained by so many powerful rogues at once. The major seals, intended to ravage the enemy ranks long before they reached the walls, had been neutralized by unknown means. The defenders were paying for that advantage lost.
Between bouts of fierce combat, Suifu reappeared at a vantage point, breathing heavily. Mithrusha stood next to him, eyes filled with concern.
"We're holding them…..barely," Suifu stated. "But do you feel it, Mithrusha? That sense of an even greater menace closing in?"
Mithrusha pressed her lips into a thin line. "Yes. Every instinct I have cultivated through the century warns me the true threat isn't even here yet."
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As if on cue, a wave of suffocating pressure washed over the battlefield. It was a surge of chakra so malevolent that even the most battle-hardened shinobi paused mid-swing. Kakuzu, Hidan, Deidara, Sasori, Orochimaru all of them turned as one, eyes scanning for the source. Yagura visibly tensed, his gaze darting over the crest of a nearby ridge.
On the Uzushio side, Zabuza hissed, "That chakra… it's thicker than blood. I can barely breathe."
Pakura's eyes glimmered with alarm. "It's like a demon's presence," she whispered.
Suddenly, the horizon seemed to warp. In the distance, the silhouette of a lone figure flickered into existence, standing atop an outcropping of jagged rock that protruded from the sea. The man was too distant to see clearly, yet every shinobi on the battlefield sensed his aura. A hush fell, broken only by the crackle of fires and the groans of the dying.
Suifu felt his heart seize. "So it's him, my worst nightmare" he murmured. "Nobinaga."
The figure on the rock shifted, but did not advance. It was as if Nobinaga waited, savoring the spectacle below like a feast yet to begin.
A sudden drumbeat from the Mist lines shattered the silence. Yagura, regaining composure, howled at his troops. "Attack! Don't falter!" Fear crept into his voice, but he masked it with authority.
And so the violence resumed.
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Far below, in the sealed training chamber, Naruto Uzumaki knelt in absolute darkness. Sweat traced lines over his face, his muscles trembling. Ashina Uzumaki's warning haunted him: "If the village you have built is not strong enough to stop him, it will perish…"
He was allowed to sense and perceive the violence above, somehow connected to the crescendo of destruction consuming all he had worked for—all his people. But he was helpless. He had tried every jutsu he knew on the door, the roof, the floor, the walls. From E-rank to SS-rank, from elemental jutsu to kekkei genkai to kekkei tōta, yet the door didn't bear a single scratch. What was this fucking thing made of? Locked in this chamber until he completed the ritual to master his kekkei tōta, he was powerless.
The swirling mixture of silence, pressure, and the faint pulse of his own chakra were all that remained. And Naruto wept for the lost men and women, for the helplessness that was crushing his very spirit. If anyone ever asked Naruto, he would admit he dreaded helplessness more than failure.
He could see it all like he was standing there, his mind's eye showing every gruesome detail of the battlefield. Uzushio's walls were a warzone, besieged by nightmares. War horns blared, steel clashed, and the winds howled. It was chaos, raw and unrelenting. The defenders? They were giving everything they had, spilling blood to hold the bloody line.
Anko was a damn force of nature. Her Hebi Kuda Ichiyō (Snake Devour Formation) unleashed massive serpents, ripping into monstrous constructs like they were paper. Those snakes?
Not far from her, Tayuya stood with her flute pressed tight to her lips. Her Mateki: Mugen Onsa (Demon Flute: Illusionary War Ensemble) spread chaos through the enemy ranks, turning hardened mercenaries into crazed lunatics who slashed at allies like they'd lost their minds. The Doki, monstrous and unrelenting, tore through those unfortunate enough to be caught in the genjutsu's grip. Tayuya barely flinched, her scorn evident in the venomous mutters between notes and forfanity. She was in control, commanding destruction with every twisted melody.
Then there was Zabuza, now bloodied, beaten, and still swinging that massive Kubikiribōchō like it was an extension of himself. But even Zabuza couldn't fight forever, and Naruto could see the cracks forming. Each swing slowed, each dodge grew closer to failure.
Juugo was a walking killing machine. He had just faced the senju brothers and now his body filled with wounded and barely holding, but he was smashing siege towers and scattering enemy formations like leaves in a hurricane. But there was something tragic in his roars, the anguish of a man forced to embrace the very rage he hated. Naruto felt the pang of guilt like a knife twist, Juugo deserved better than this.
Pakura and Rashirom were trying to hold back the tide, but against the Senju brothers? It was an impossible task. But they had to after Jugo was almost killed by them. Pakura's Shakuton orbs scorched everything in their path, but Hashirama's Wood Release and Tobirama's otherworldly strikes made it feel like her attacks were barely making a dent. Rashirom's illusions gave brief moments of reprieve, but Naruto could see the strain etched into his face. They were holding, but just barely.
Jinin, with his hammer-sword Kabutowari, was locked in a grim dance with Sasori's puppets. He smashed through them with raw power, but Sasori's supply of reinforcements seemed endless. The exhaustion in Jinin's movements was impossible to miss.
And the enemy? They weren't letting up. Kakuzu's elemental blasts tore through defenses like they were nothing. Hidan cackled with bloodlust, dragging his scythe through the chaos like a madman painting a masterpiece. Deidara's explosives rained down like fire from the heavens, and Orochimaru… Orochimaru's Edo Tensei monstrosities, hammering away at Uzushio's defenses with cold, unfeeling corpses.
And the distant figure of Nobinaga. Perched above it all, his chakra radiating malice, he didn't even move. He didn't have to. His presence alone was enough to crush morale, to make every defender feel like this battle was already lost.
Naruto clenched his fists so tightly his nails bit into his palms drawing blood. Helplessness burned in his chest, threatening to consume him. He was supposed to be there, fighting alongside them, protecting them. But he couldn't.
This isn't fair. I'm supposed to be there, their Emperor. I'm supposed to save them.
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Naruto could see the moment when every fighter, Uzushio or invader understood a single, universal truth: this battle was only the start. That war has no winners on the backs of dead people.
Suifu gritted his teeth and raised a trembling hand. "HOLD THE LINE!" he roared, his voice cracking through the conflagration. Torches along the battlements burned bright even under the daylight gloom, a symbol of Uzushio's resilience. The swirling patterns of light, a trick of the seals, formed an optical illusion to boost morale.
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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Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter of NTLHOS- Book 2!
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Author's Note:
The stage is set, and I truly enjoyed writing this chapter. Some of you might feel there's a lot of repetition of the same character or wonder why I haven't included others, say Kimimaro. That's intentional if you read closely, you'll notice that each time a character is mentioned, it's in a varying context that shows the stages of hopelessness. ✨
Next chapter tomorrow, Nobinaga enters the battlefield. ⚔️🔥 Let's see what Ashina's apprentice can do. Stay tuned for the next installment of NTLHOS-2—the storm has only just begun! 🌩️💥 Your support means everything, so don't forget to like, comment, and share your thoughts! 💖🙏
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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! (NEW)
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 16: The Night of Falling Crows IS OUT!.
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 17: Did Uchihas Survive?. IS OUT! (NEW)
Chapter 18: Politics at its best. IS OUT!(NEW)
NTLHOS BOOK 2: Chapter 19: Old Memory. IS OUT!(NEW)
Chapter 20: Once A Legend Alway A Legend.!(NEW)
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