Published at 18th of September 2024 10:53 am

Chapter 111 Destiny's Vow: 4 The Gathering Storm

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Naruto woke the next morning feeling the weight of the previous night’s battle pressing on him. His body ached from the chakra he had expended, and his mind was still racing with thoughts of the shadow—the fragment of Mōryō—that had almost overwhelmed them. He sat up in bed, staring at the morning light streaming through his window.

The fight wasn’t over. The world wasn’t as safe as he’d thought.

With a groan, he pushed himself out of bed and headed for the Hokage’s office. He needed to report what had happened. Tsunade and the others needed to know that the threat of Mōryō was still very real.

As he walked through the streets of Konoha, he could feel an undercurrent of unease settling into his bones. The village looked peaceful as always, but Naruto knew that appearances could be deceiving. There was something dark lurking out there, something waiting for the right moment to strike.

And he had no idea how many fragments of Mōryō were still out there, waiting to be awakened.

_______________________________________________________________

Tsunade listened to Naruto’s report with a grave expression, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Shizune stood beside her, her eyes wide as Naruto recounted the events of the previous night—how the shadow had nearly overtaken them, how it had fed off their chakra, and how Shion had recognized it as a fragment of Mōryō’s power.

Tsunade leaned back in her chair, her brow furrowing. “If there are still pieces of Mōryō’s power out there, this is worse than I thought. We may be dealing with something that could destabilize the entire region.”

Shizune nodded in agreement. “Mōryō was an ancient threat, and if fragments of his power remain, there could be other demonic forces trying to claim it.”

Naruto clenched his fists. “So what do we do? We can’t just sit around and wait for them to attack. We have to find these fragments and seal them before they get stronger.”

Tsunade gave a nod. “You’re right, Naruto. But we need more information. We don’t know how many fragments there are, or where they’re hiding.”

Naruto’s mind raced. If they didn’t act quickly, these fragments could grow in power, and if more shadows like the one he’d faced appeared, Konoha—and the world—could be in serious danger.

“Shion said there might be more fragments,” Naruto added. “She felt something last night, like there was a larger presence still out there.”

Tsunade turned her attention to Shizune. “We’ll need to call in some of our best sensors. If there’s any sign of demonic chakra or disturbances like the one Naruto encountered, we need to know where they’re coming from.”

“I’ll get on it right away, Lady Tsunade,” Shizune replied, rushing off to put the plan into action.

Naruto stood there for a moment, his mind swirling with questions. He didn’t just want to wait for more information—he wanted to act. He wanted to hunt down these fragments and make sure they could never threaten the village again.

But before he could voice his thoughts, Tsunade spoke again. “Naruto, I understand you want to charge ahead and deal with this threat. But we can’t afford to be reckless. We need a plan.”

Naruto bit his lip, knowing she was right. But that didn’t make the waiting any easier. “What about Shion? If these fragments are connected to her, she could be in danger.”

Tsunade nodded. “I agree. Shion’s abilities make her a target for these forces. That’s why I want you to stay close to her for now. You’ll be her protector.”

Naruto’s chest tightened. He had already agreed to help Shion in ways he still wasn’t sure he understood, but now this? Protecting her was something he was ready to do, but the threat looming over them made the stakes higher than ever.

“Got it,” Naruto said with determination. “I’ll make sure nothing happens to her.”

Tsunade’s gaze softened slightly. “Good. We’ll do everything we can to locate these fragments, but in the meantime, keep your guard up. The enemy could be anywhere.”

_______________________________________________________________

Later that afternoon, Naruto found Shion in the training fields, practicing her sealing techniques. She moved gracefully, her hands forming intricate seals as she concentrated on channeling her chakra. A faint glow surrounded her, and Naruto couldn’t help but admire her dedication.

He approached quietly, watching her for a moment before speaking. “Shion.”

She looked up, startled, but quickly composed herself. “Naruto.”

“Lady Tsunade told me what’s going on,” Naruto said, his voice serious. “She thinks there might be more fragments of Mōryō out there, and we need to be ready.”

Shion nodded, her expression grim. “I was afraid of that. Last night, I could feel something—a presence that was distant, but powerful. If it grows stronger, we could be in real trouble.”

Naruto crossed his arms, leaning against a nearby tree. “Tsunade wants me to stay close to you, to make sure you’re safe. If these fragments are coming for you, we can’t take any chances.”

Shion’s eyes flickered with a mixture of relief and concern. “I appreciate your protection, Naruto. But I don’t want to put you in danger. These forces… they’re not like anything we’ve faced before.”

Naruto grinned, trying to lighten the mood. “Hey, I’ve fought a lot of crazy things. I’m not scared of some leftover demon bits.”

But Shion didn’t smile. She looked away, her hands tightening into fists. “It’s not just that. Mōryō’s power is tied to dark thoughts and emotions. The more fear, anger, and hatred in the world, the stronger his fragments become. If we’re not careful, we could be feeding them.”

Naruto’s grin faded. “So, what are we supposed to do? We can’t stop people from feeling those things.”

Shion sighed, her gaze distant. “No, we can’t. But we can stop the fragments before they grow too powerful. If we seal them, they won’t be able to gather enough strength to become a real threat.”

Naruto’s eyes narrowed. “Then we need to find them. Fast.”

Shion gave a small nod, but before she could respond, a sudden gust of wind swept through the training field, and both Naruto and Shion froze.

Naruto immediately felt it—the same unsettling presence from the night before. It was faint, but growing stronger with each passing second.

Shion’s eyes widened as she turned toward the horizon. “It’s here.”

Naruto spun around, his fists clenched, ready for a fight. “Where?”

“I don’t know… but it’s close,” Shion whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Naruto reached for his kunai, scanning the area with sharp eyes. “Get behind me. Whatever it is, it’s not going to touch you.”

The air around them grew colder, and the sky seemed to darken, even though the sun was still high. Naruto’s heart pounded in his chest as he felt the sinister chakra drawing nearer.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows at the edge of the field—tall, cloaked in darkness, with glowing red eyes that seemed to pierce through the air.

Naruto’s body tensed. “Who the hell are you?”

The figure didn’t answer, but the oppressive aura surrounding it intensified. It wasn’t just any ordinary enemy—it felt like pure malevolence, like a physical embodiment of the hatred that Mōryō had once spread.

Shion gasped, stepping back as her legs trembled. “That’s… not human.”

Naruto’s eyes narrowed as the figure began to move, its form shifting and twisting as if it was made of the same shadows that had attacked them the night before. But this one was different. It was stronger, more solid.

“Stay back!” Naruto shouted, charging forward with a Rasengan ready in his hand.

He slammed the glowing ball of chakra into the figure, expecting it to be blown away like the shadows before. But instead, his attack was absorbed, the dark figure growing even larger.

Naruto’s eyes widened in shock as he was thrown back, landing hard on the ground. “What the—”

The figure laughed—a low, rumbling sound that sent chills down Naruto’s spine. “You think your attacks can harm me, boy?” it hissed. “I am more than just a fragment. I am the darkness that will consume this world.”

Naruto struggled to his feet, his fists clenched. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”

The figure’s red eyes glowed brighter. “We shall see.”

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