Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm

Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm

Chapter 26: The Bond of Loyalty

Author's Note:

Thank you for your patience and continuous support. This chapter delves into the complexities of heritage, loyalty, and the ties that bind us. Your encouragement keeps me going. Enjoy the journey!

Join ThirdFireTriden on Pa (tre) on !

Chapter 27: The Turning Tide is out!

Chapter 28: Clash of Loyalties is out!

Chapter 29: Return to the Leaf is OUT! (Mist Arc is completed!)

Chapter 30: Political Crossroads is OUT!

Chapter 31: A Fitting Punishment IS OUT!

Chapter 32: Embracing Change IS OUT!

Chapter 33- Monster of a Sensei IS OUT!

Chapter 34: "The Uchiha and the Tower" IS OUT!

Chapter 35: "Convergence of Fates" IS OUT!

Chapter 36: "The Metamorphosis" IS OUT!

"True strength is found in understanding our past and using it to forge a brighter future."

Happy reading!

Meanwhile, in the cave, Naruto sat by the fire, processing the revelations about his heritage. The weight of his clan pressed heavily on him. Pakura watched him with a mixture of curiosity and a tinge of concern.

"Naruto," she said softly, breaking the silence. "What's next?"

Naruto nodded, his thoughts still on Jinin's story. "It's just... a lot to take in. I don't know."

As he stared into the flickering flames, Jinin continued the story. "Uzushiogakure was a fortress, nearly impregnable, surrounded by natural whirlpools that acted as a deterrent to invaders. Despite its defenses, it was destroyed in a brutal assault. Mist, Stone, and Lightning villages joined forces to bring down Uzushiogakure. The attack was swift and merciless, overwhelming our defenses. The Mist brought formidable water-based techniques, the Stone used their earth manipulation to breach the walls, and the Lightning struck with devastating speed and ferocity."

Naruto's heart raced as he absorbed the story. "But wasn't there an alliance between Konoha and Uzushiogakure?"

Jinin nodded. "There was. The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, married Mito Uzumaki, cementing the bond between the two villages. Mito became the first jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, using her Uzumaki sealing techniques to contain the beast's power. This pact promised mutual support, yet when Uzushiogakure was attacked, Konoha did not come to their aid."

Naruto's mind swirled with questions and emotions. "Why didn't they help?"

Jinin sighed. "Political complexities and the distances involved played a part. Konoha was engaged in its own battles and couldn't spare the resources for a timely rescue. The Uzumaki clan was scattered, their village reduced to rubble."

Naruto felt a deep sense of loss and betrayal. "I can't believe it. Our own allies..."

Jinin, who had been quietly tending to the fire, looked up. "It's never easy to learn about your past, especially when it comes with such weight. But use it as a source of strength, not a chain. I will join the rebels; it's high time I take a stance and stop running from reality. That is if you don't have any plans and wish to return to the Leaf."

Naruto was shocked and asked, "How did you know I'm from the Leaf?"

Jinin smiled slightly. "Some moves you used in the fight and multiple Shunshin, which is a Leaf technique, along with the infamous Shadow Clone of the 2nd Hokage. I don't know what makes those clones special, but they are guarded jealously by all Leaf shinobi."

Naruto shook his head, trying to process the information. "If you are from the Uzu village, then why are you loyal to the Mist after all it was the Mist that had a major hand in Uzu's destruction?"

Jinin's expression turned serious. "I am and always will be loyal to Uzu. I was part of an exchange program due to which my schooling and education were in the Mist. I was to act as a spy for the Uzukage and make everyone believe that my loyalty was to the Mist through their brainwashing. I was not told about the attack on Uzu; only six of the seven swordsmen's mentors took part in Uzu's destruction. I wanted to take revenge then and there, but the second Mizukage was a shrewd man. He had my sister captive for my loyalty. I would have even sacrificed my sister if it was before the attack, but since all was lost, I prioritized my sister's safety. She lived a normal life, but she had a seal on her chest, a kill switch. She was not imprisoned nor tutored. She died of a disease during the Third Shinobi War. Even the Sage forgot about my old loyalty since I was in a coma for long after I escaped the last stand of Might Dai. I think I have some loyalty to this village left. That's why I didn't go rogue and didn't lift my hands even when the village was tearing itself apart. I think it's justice from the gods for their actions against Uzu."

Naruto absorbed Jinin's story, feeling the weight of his own choices pressing down on him. He then turned to Pakura. "What about you, Pakura?"

Pakura sighed and looked into the fire, the flickering flames reflecting the turmoil within her. "I don't know," she began, her voice tinged with the weariness of her soul. "When you were unconscious, I was thinking about it. Initially, I wanted revenge. I wanted to burn Suna to the ground for what they did to me. But as Jinin said, when I thought with a cool head, I didn't know what to do. How can I take revenge on a village that has my student in it, people who have looked up to me, and many who once adored me or now likely hate me?"

She paused, her eyes distant as if she were seeing the faces of those she left behind. "I'm sure by now my name would be printed in every bingo book, listed as a traitor and a threat. I can't go back to Suna. Despite my popularity and the respect I had earned on the battlefield, I never played politics. I don't have the power or political backing to challenge Rasa, the Kazekage. And even if I tried, what good would it do? It would just bring more pain and suffering to those who still care about me."

Pakura's voice grew softer, almost introspective. "Nor can I go to Konoha, which is an ally of Suna. They wouldn't harbor someone like me, not when it could jeopardize their alliance. The Mist and Rock both hate me. They see me as a weapon that once threatened their villages, and they would sooner kill me than trust me. And Kumo... Kumo would use me as a breeding stock at worst and kill me after I have a child with one of their shinobi at best. The thought of being used like that... it makes my skin crawl."

She shuddered slightly, her eyes reflecting the horror of that possibility. "Even if I offer my skills to another village, no one will trust a turncoat. I would always be looking over my shoulder, waiting for the day they decide I'm more of a liability than an asset."

Pakura took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I think I will join the rebels. It's the only place where I might find some semblance of purpose again. If or when they form a ruling section, I may ask for a post within the rank of the Mist shinobi. Perhaps I can help shape a new future for this village, one where people like us aren't discarded so easily."

She looked at Naruto, her eyes filled with a mix of resolve and uncertainty. "I never thought I would end up here, fighting alongside people I once considered enemies. But maybe this is where I'm meant to be. Maybe this is where I can make a difference."

Her mind drifted back to her student, Maki, the young girl she had taken under her wing. Maki had looked up to her with such admiration, always striving to meet Pakura's expectations. The thought of never seeing her again, of Maki believing she had betrayed their village, was a knife in her heart. "I trained Maki to be strong, to survive. I hope she can forgive me one day, and understand why I had to leave."

Pakura's thoughts turned to the countless battles she had fought, the lives she had taken in the name of her village. Each face, each name haunted her, but she had believed in her cause, believed she was protecting her people. "I fought for Sunagakure, I bled for them, and in the end, they threw me away like I was nothing. It's hard to reconcile that, to accept that my loyalty was worth so little."

The fire crackled, filling the silence that followed her words. Naruto watched her, understanding the agony of her pain and the conflict raging within her. He saw in her eyes the same uncertainty he felt, the same struggle to find a path forward amidst the chaos of their lives.

Naruto felt the weight of words. He knew he had to make his own decision. "What about you, What's your real name?" Jinin asked, his eyes piercing through the flickering light of the fire.

The next morning, Naruto left the hideout in disguise. The dawn's light barely penetrated the dense canopy of trees, casting long shadows over his path. He wore a plain, weathered cloak with a hood that obscured his distinctive features, allowing him to blend seamlessly into his surroundings. Each step was calculated, quiet, and purposeful, ensuring he left no trace of his presence.

For two days, Naruto traversed through the mist-covered terrain, heading towards the designated hideout where Shisui awaited him. The journey was fraught with danger as patrols scoured the area in search of Jinin. Wanted posters of Jinin were plastered on trees and buildings, but fortunately, Naruto wasn't a priority target amidst the sea of missing shinobi the Mist had produced in recent years. The pervasive mist that shrouded the land worked to his advantage, concealing him from the patrols and preventing them from recognizing him as the wielder of the Storm Release.

After long, cautious travel, Naruto finally reached the hideout. Shisui had set up multiple perimeter seals and detectors around the area, which Naruto expertly bypassed. To alert Shisui of his presence, Naruto tripped certain detectors in a specific pattern, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. Despite his playful nature, Naruto knew better than to spook Shisui, especially given the current tense circumstances.

Shisui shrouded in shadows, his voice distorted from all directions as he asked for the code phrase. Once Naruto responded correctly, Shisui used the Body Flicker Technique to appear right in front of him, pulling him into a tight hug. Naruto could feel the tension in Shisui's body, a stark contrast to his usual jovial demeanor.

As they walked into the hideout, neither let their guard down. Naruto, wasting no time on pleasantries, began relaying the events of his last mission—their encounter with Shakuton no Pakura, the ensuing battle, the betrayal by the Mist, Jinin's lose allegiance to the rebels, and their final escape. Shisui listened intently, his expression growing more serious with each passing detail.

Shisui was particularly shocked to learn that one of the most storied bloodlines of the shinobi world had reared its head in a twelve-year-old. Naruto briefly mentioned his talk with Jinin but concealed the part about the Uzumakis. He told Shisui about Jinin's insights on his clan without delving into specifics. Understanding the unspoken agreement, Shisui asked Naruto not to elaborate further. As an ANBU, Shisui was bound to report whatever he heard from Naruto, but if it was only a hunch, he needn't report it. This allowed Naruto to keep certain personal matters confidential.

"Shisui, what's next?" Naruto asked, his voice heavy with concern. "I had a hard time convincing Jinin to come here alone. I need to inform him if we are returning to the Leaf."

Shisui's face was grim as he relayed the new orders. "You are to join the rebels. According to the bingo book, you are classified as a C-rank threat, but since you are a genin and Jinin Akebino is a high A-rank threat, you are ordered to follow Jinin as he joins the rebel camp. This mission will last for four months."

Naruto's eyes widened in shock. "What about you?"

"I've been tasked to return to the village," Shisui explained. "My cover is blown, and I can't follow you to the rebel camp as it would raise suspicion."

Naruto felt a wave of disbelief wash over him. They had started this mission with six people, and now, after a year and two months, he was to continue alone. "Shisui, I really don't want you to leave," Naruto admitted.

Shisui placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "What option do we have? We both know that in ANBU, insubordination is tantamount to going rogue."

With that said, they discussed Naruto's future plans. Shisui made Naruto promise that he will return to the village in four months safely. Naruto, looking back on his life, saw it filled with both beautiful and unpleasant experiences.

That evening, they sat by the crackling fire, the dense mist swirling around them as the sun set in a blaze of orange and pink. The atmosphere was heavy with the scent of damp earth and burning wood. Shisui and Naruto shared stories, reminiscing about their time in the village, recounting tall tales, and indulging in memories of the things they missed most. Naruto was given a rare moment of freedom, knowing that conversations like these would be a distant memory in the months to come, as he plunged into the heart of a war.

Naruto couldn't help but compare his present and future. Currently, he was on the periphery of war, but soon he would be thrust into its very core. The uncertainty of survival was a grim reality he would have to face daily. But for this evening, he allowed himself to enjoy the company of the closest person in his life. Every mission until now had Jinin by his side, planning and executing from the sheltered walls of the Mist Village. Now, he would be in a rebel camp, constantly on edge, waiting to be ambushed or killed, just like many he torched in the past.

The land of Water had a unique beauty. As the first rays of the sun hit the morning dew and mist, the whole landscape was set aglow, the light refracting and reflecting in myriad colors, creating a surreal, almost magical scene. The next morning, at the break of dawn, Naruto and Shisui parted ways. Naruto ran swiftly towards the hideout, his heart heavy yet resolute. Shisui, on the other hand, blended in with the civilians, ready to take a boat back to Hi No Kuni and then to the village.

As Naruto ran, the path ahead would be treacherous, filled with uncertainty and danger at every turn. But the memories of the evening spent with Shisui, filled with laughter and camaraderie, gave his zeal to return. The scent of the campfire, the sound of Shisui's voice recounting tales of old, and the warmth of their bond would be his solace in the dark days to come.

Shisui, navigating his way through the crowd, couldn't help but glance back in the direction Naruto had gone. His heart ached at the thought of leaving his brother in all but blood to face such war alone.

In the land of Water, where the mist cloaked the landscape and the dew shimmered with the morning light, two shinobi set out on different journeys, their hearts united by a shared purpose and unwavering loyalty. The fragrance of their friendship and the essence of their bond would linger in the air, guiding them through the trials ahead.

Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm!

Join ThirdFireTriden on Pa (tre) on !

Chapter 27: The Turning Tide is out!

Chapter 28: Clash of Loyalties is out!

Chapter 29: Return to the Leaf is OUT! (Mist Arc is completed!)

Chapter 30: Political Crossroads is OUT!

Chapter 31: A Fitting Punishment IS OUT!

Chapter 32: Embracing Change IS OUT!

Chapter 33- Monster of a Sensei IS OUT!

Chapter 34: "The Uchiha and the Tower" IS OUT!

Chapter 35: "Convergence of Fates" IS OUT!

Chapter 36: "The Metamorphosis" IS OUT!

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