Naruto: The Mist Within-Chapter 100 - : The Dawn of a World Ablaze

[ We Hit 100 Chapters!!!! How many of you didn't belive we would reach so far? :) Thanks Everyone!]

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the windows of the Kage's private chambers, where the ANBU had silently arrived to deliver urgent reports.

Konoha – The Hokage's Office

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat wearily in his chair. He had barely begun to embrace his retirement when tragedy struck the village. Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, had perished, forcing Sarutobi to resume his old role. Before him lay a stack of ANBU reports detailing the devastation: hundreds of homes destroyed, dozens of ninja and civilians killed, and the Kyūbi sealed within Naruto Uzumaki.

"The fox has been contained, but at what cost?" he murmured, closing his eyes for a moment. The vivid image of Minato's sacrifice lingered in his mind.

One of his advisors, Homura Mitokado, approached hesitantly. "Hokage-sama, Fugaku requests an immediate audience."

"Suspicions against the Uchiha will rise," Hiruzen said, his voice tired but resolute. "For now, maintain control. Konoha must not show weakness. We must prevent internal conflict."

"And Naruto?" asked Koharu Utatane.

"He will be safe. Minato made his choice, and we will honor and protect it," Hiruzen declared, his gaze falling on the young, smiling visage of Minato in a portrait on the wall.

Iwa – The Council Hall

Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, sat on a massive stone throne, a symbol of the Rock Village's strength and stability. Though his body was bent with age and the weight of responsibilities, his eyes gleamed with sharp wit. In his hands, he held the report the ANBU had delivered earlier: the Fourth Hokage of Konoha was dead, and the Kyūbi had ravaged their village.

In the council hall, his advisors sat on stone-carved seats, each wearing a different expression. Some barely concealed their satisfaction, while others appeared concerned.

Ōnoki read the report carefully, weighing every word. Finally, he looked up and addressed his council.

"Minato Namikaze," he hissed, his voice a mixture of satisfaction and bitterness. "You have finally met your destiny."

A young advisor, his face marked by war scars, interjected immediately. "Tsuchikage-sama, this is an opportunity! Without their Hokage, Konoha will be vulnerable. We can reclaim contested lands and avenge our losses."

The advisor's words echoed in the hall, but Ōnoki raised a hand to silence him. "Opportunity, you say? Nonsense! Konoha is wounded but not defeated. Every time we underestimated them, we paid a steep price. Let us not forget what they leave behind."

An older advisor leaned forward slightly. "The clans of Konoha remain strong. The Uchiha, the remaining Senju, and their council will not allow this loss to destabilize the village. If we act too soon, we could face fierce resistance."

Ōnoki nodded slowly. "Konoha is a tree that has lost a branch, not its roots. And they still have that old fox, Sarutobi."

"But Tsuchikage-sama," the young advisor insisted, "if we do not act now, other nations will. Kumo, perhaps even Suna. If we fail to seize this chance, we will lose the opportunity to strengthen our position."

A cold smile crept onto Ōnoki's lips. "Oh, I'm certain Kumo will make a rash move. It's their style. But Iwa is not Kumo. We are the Rock. We observe, analyze, and then strike with precision."

The room fell into a tense silence, broken only by the sound of a chest being opened. Ōnoki pulled out a detailed map of the continent and placed it at the center of the table. He pointed to a region near the border between Iwa and Konoha.

"Strengthen patrols in this area," he ordered. "I don't want anyone crossing our borders without us knowing. Additionally, send new spies to monitor movements in Konoha. I want to know everything: how they manage this crisis, which clans ally or oppose each other, and if any internal dissent emerges. If there is a fracture, we will exploit it."

"And the Kyūbi?" asked a senior advisor. "Now that it's sealed again, this could complicate matters."

Ōnoki leaned on his staff, his face impassive. "The Kyūbi has always been a double-edged sword. If Konoha has sealed it in a newborn, as the reports suggest, that child will become a target for all. We will watch. If the seal weakens or breaks, the situation could become catastrophic for Konoha. That will be the time to act."

An unsettling silence fell over the hall. Ōnoki's plan was clear: not to attack, but to wait for the perfect moment to strike, exploiting the enemy's weaknesses.

Kumo – Raikage's Hall

The Fourth Raikage.

"The Kyūbi has devastated Konoha," he murmured, his tone devoid of visible emotion. "And the Fourth Hokage is dead."

"Raikage-sama," a council member intervened, "this is our chance. "

The Raikage raised a hand, silencing the council. "This is a delicate move. Konoha may seem weak now, but ninja like Sarutobi and the remnants of the Uchiha clan are not foes to underestimate."

Suna – The Kazekage's Hall

Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, stood before a map of the Shinobi world. The desert surrounding Suna rendered the village isolated, but the Kazekage saw this as an opportunity.

"Konoha has suffered a devastating blow," he said, addressing his advisors with cold eyes. "But we must not act rashly. Alert our spies in Konoha to assess their true condition. And be careful: we are not the only ones watching."

One advisor, a thin man with a scar across his face, intervened. "Kazekage-sama, this could be our chance to strengthen our positions. If Konoha is vulnerable, the resources they defend at the borders may become more accessible."

Rasa shook his head slowly. "We must not act recklessly. Konoha is weak, but it will not fall. Even without Minato Namikaze, they have the Sannins and their Uchiha. A misstep on our part could provoke a devastating retaliation."

Another advisor raised his voice, more fearful. "Then what will we do, Kazekage-sama? Sit still while the other villages watch and act?"

Rasa fixed the advisor with a sharp gaze. "We will not sit still. But we will act smart. Reinforce our borders with Konoha and send scouts to the contested lands. I want detailed reports on their troop movements. And ensure that our trade ally in the Land of Wind does not face interference."

His eyes shifted to a specific point on the map, where the border with Konoha was marked by a thin line. "Konoha may turn inward to resolve its conflicts. If the Uchiha and the Council clash, it could mark the beginning of a fracture that weakens their control. But until then, we must prepare."

The room fell silent, the Kazekage's words hanging heavy in the air. Suna's strategy was clear: cautious observation, careful preparation, and opportunistic action.

Kirigakure – The Mizukage's Fortress

In the heart of the Village Hidden in the Mist, Yagura Karatachi read the report delivered by the ANBU about the devastation in Konoha and the death of the Fourth Hokage.

Yagura's advisors watched him silently as he calmly scanned the document. His gaze was impenetrable, but a shadow of tension crept into the room.

"Konoha has lost its Fourth Hokage, and the Kyūbi has ravaged their village," he finally said, placing the report on the table in front of him. "An interesting yet dangerous situation."

Advisor Fujino stepped forward. "Mizukage-sama, this could be our chance to consolidate our power. Konoha is vulnerable."

Yagura looked up, his tone icy. "Vulnerable does not mean weak. Their strength doesn't depend solely on a Hokage."

"And what shall we do?" another advisor asked, impatience lacing his voice.

"For now, nothing rash," Yagura replied, leaning against the armrest of his throne. "Our village is undergoing changes. We must strengthen our internal lines and keep a close watch on our allies and enemies."

When the room emptied, Yagura remained silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the mist seeping through the cracks in the walls.

If Konoha weakens, our village might grow stronger. But first, we must address our internal fractures. Kirigakure must be united, or we will have no chance against our enemies.

---

Ren observed Jun'ko and Aoi as they struggled to complete the weighted exercises he had assigned them some time ago. Both seemed improved: Jun'ko moved with greater speed, while Aoi displayed remarkable precision in his strikes.

"Alright, remove the weights," Ren said, watching their surprised faces.

"Really?" Jun'ko exclaimed, eagerly ripping the weights off her ankles with a bright smile. "Finally!"

Aoi, calmer, removed his weights carefully. "Technically, this should immediately enhance our relative speed... but endurance will temporarily decrease."

Ren watched them closely as they warmed up without weights. When they began sparring, he noticed evident improvements but found them still lacking in real combat experience.

They've improved, but they need more practice in live combat.

"I'll make you stronger," Ren decided aloud, his tone firm. "Both because you could become valuable allies and because I can't afford to babysit you during the exams."

"From today until the exams, we'll spar regularly," he announced.

Jun'ko looked at him, perplexed. "Every day? But we're already swamped with lessons and exercises..."

Ren pondered.

But I don't have that much free time myself... unless... An ingenious idea struck him, and a small smile formed on his lips.

As Ren walked back after training, the voices of a group of villagers caught his attention.

"Did you hear? Konoha... they've lost the Fourth Hokage... and the Kyūbi has devastated the village!"

Ren stopped, listening carefully.

So, it's already come to this... If I'm not mistaken, in five or six years, the Uchiha massacre will occur.

If all goes well, I should be a Chunin or maybe even a Jonin by then. I might have an opportunity to infiltrate... and who knows, maybe obtain a Sharingan.

A darker thought crossed his mind.

But I doubt Obito will let me act freely... fine, there's time to think about it.

With those thoughts, he headed to his fuinjutsu master, Tatsumi.

Ren entered Tatsumi's workshop, greeted by the familiar scent of ink and incense. As usual, the old Sealmaster was bent over a scroll, drawing precise lines with his brush. The light from the lanterns created dancing shadows on the walls lined with scrolls and tools.

"Ah, Ren," Tatsumi said without looking up. "Your orders are on the top shelf to the right."

Ren simply nodded.

I haven't yet had a chance to work on sealing techniques. I could use this opportunity to gather some information, he thought.

"Tatsumi-sensei," he began cautiously, "I heard news about the incident in Konoha. The Kyūbi... has been sealed again, right?"

Tatsumi paused briefly, his brush suspended in midair. "Yes," he finally said, his tone more serious. "At least, that's what they say."

"And the seals used for Tailed Beasts?" Ren pressed, studying the master carefully. "I've read they're extremely complex. Have you ever worked on something like that?"

Tatsumi's face darkened, and for a moment, silence filled the workshop. He then deliberately placed his brush down. "No, not directly," he replied slowly. "I'm not an expert in those types of seals."

Ren sensed there was more to the story. Tatsumi's distant gaze and tense shoulders suggested painful memories he didn't wish to share.

"I see," Ren said, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "I'm just curious. It must be fascinating to study them."

Tatsumi nodded briefly and resumed his work. "Focus on what's in front of you."

The rest of their session proceeded in silence, with Ren diligently noting the details of the seals he needed to complete.

As Ren walked home, he mulled over his interaction with Tatsumi.

Strange. I've felt this same impression before... Could he have a trauma related to those kinds of seals?

He shrugged, letting the thought go. There were more pressing matters to focus on.

Let's see... the upcoming events include Zabuza's slaughter and the Kaguya clan's attack.

He thought about Zabuza, his violent past, and the massacre that would mark the Village Hidden in the Mist.

If I could form a connection with him and influence him somehow, perhaps I could prevent it.

Then his thoughts turned to the Kaguya clan.

Their attack depends on when it will happen. Until I become at least a Jonin, I won't be able to contribute much... but I wonder what triggered their attack. An internal rivalry? Or a political failure?

Shaking his head, he allowed his reflections to fade away.

Once home, Ren dedicated himself to his usual evening training session. Sitting at the center of his room, he began concentrating his chakra, visualizing its flow splitting into two separate currents. His hands quickly formed the seals for the Shadow Clone Technique.

A faint glow filled the room, and for a moment, he felt the chakra responding as he wanted. But once again, the flow collapsed, leaving him breathless. "Still unstable," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

He took out his notebook and began jotting down observations:

Progress: I can clearly perceive the two separate flows.

Problem: Instability when maintaining the division during the final seal.

Hypothesis: The issue could be in visualization or the flow of chakra to my hands.

Next Session: Try with deeper breathing and slower seals.

"Good," he murmured, storing the notebook in his scroll. Then, he turned toward his futon, blew out the small lantern with a soft breath, and lay down. With his arms crossed behind his head, his gaze drifted to the ceiling.

[ Hi there! Ito-kun here ^.^

Thanks everyone specially Jayroy_63 , Braden_T, Acnol, Overlord_Of_KARMA,Cordell_Clinton, Ian_Clark_6978, DaoistAZmi17, Strandarn, AKIB19, ERRO4004, BagusPardana, DarkGambit,Diegoa, Desert_Dust0 , Daoist0thxiB, and Miguel_024!

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