Hokage World: Shadows Beyond the Leaf

Chapter 4: Storm Hands

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Reports and Resolve

In the Hokage's office, morning light poured over stacks of intercepted crates marked with Kuro's sigil.

Shikamaru tapped the papers with a kunai. "Storm Hands. A mercenary network tied to Kuro. They're spreading Resonance weapons to rogue groups."

Naruto's gaze was calm but heavy. "Fear is their product."

Boruto crossed his arms, his Jougan flickering. "Then we shut them down."

Sarada adjusted her glasses, focused. "If we stop the distribution, we slow Kuro's influence."

Ryo clenched his fist, the Resonance mark pulsing softly. "I can sense the energy they're using. Let me help."

Naruto nodded. "Then it's decided. You're going to intercept their shipment before it crosses into the Land of Rivers."

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Tracking the Storm

Dressed in field gear, Team Boruto moved swiftly across the dense forest.

Boruto's Jougan activated, detecting faint purple chakra trails.

"This way," he said.

Sarada followed, Sharingan spinning, reading chakra patterns around traps they disarmed quietly.

Ryo knelt, placing his palm on the ground, letting the Resonance hum through the earth.

"There are six ahead," he whispered. "One has a heavy chakra signature."

"Storm Hands leader?" Boruto guessed.

Sarada nodded. "We take them down quietly. We need them alive."

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Ambush at the Pass

The pass was narrow, cliffs rising on both sides, the river below crashing against rocks.

Storm Hands mercenaries moved in formation, crates strapped to their backs, guards scanning the treeline.

Ryo's vines snaked through the dirt, wrapping around the crates without alerting the mercenaries.

Boruto threw a smoke bomb, diving in with a blue Rasengan, knocking one guard into a cliff.

Sarada moved like lightning, kunai disarming another while a genjutsu dropped two more instantly.

The leader, a tall rogue in grey armor with purple Resonance tattoos across his arms, stepped forward.

"You Leaf brats don't know when to quit."

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The Resonance Clash

The leader slammed his palms together, activating the tattoos as they glowed, pulling unstable Resonance energy into a blade-like aura.

He slashed, the energy tearing a line through the ground, forcing Boruto and Sarada back.

Ryo stepped forward, eyes sharp, vines wrapping his arms.

The leader smirked. "You're the Resonance Child. Let me show you what real Resonance looks like!"

He swung again, sending a crescent of purple energy at Ryo.

Ryo inhaled, raising his arms as the vines caught the energy midair, absorbing it. The impact shook the pass, but Ryo held steady.

The leader's eyes widened. "What?!"

Ryo stepped forward, the energy swirling into his vines, stabilizing, turning from unstable purple to a steady green glow.

"My power isn't yours to control," Ryo said.

He thrust his hands forward, releasing the energy as controlled vines that wrapped around the leader, slamming him into the ground.

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The Truth Revealed

Tied and defeated, the leader glared up as Sarada interrogated him.

"Who's your supplier?"

The leader spat blood, laughing. "You think you can stop it? Kuro's giving the nations what they want—fear, power, the excuse for war."

Boruto pressed a kunai to the rogue's throat. "Talk."

The leader sneered. "The nations will come for your friend, Leaf. When they fear him enough, they'll beg Kuro to save them."

Ryo's eyes darkened, but he remained silent.

They bound the leader and prepared to return to Konoha with the crates and evidence.

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In the Night

That night, as they camped under the stars, Ryo sat apart, the mark on his wrist glowing faintly.

Sarada approached quietly. "Thinking again?"

Ryo looked at the stars. "He said the nations will turn on me. That Kuro will be their answer."

Sarada crossed her arms, her gaze calm. "Do you believe him?"

Ryo's fingers tightened. "I don't know."

Sarada sat beside him. "We believe in you, Ryo. Boruto, me, the Seventh. That's enough."

Ryo looked at her, the glow softening. "Thank you."

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Kuro's Next Move

Far away, in the darkness of a forgotten ruin, Kuro stood before the Resonance Core, its pulses reflecting in his eyes.

Aika approached. "The Storm Hands failed."

Kuro's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "Good."

Aika frowned. "Good?"

Kuro turned, the mask hiding the smile in his voice. "The world will now panic. They will fear losing control. And they will turn to me to save them."

He placed a hand on the Resonance Core as it pulsed, storm clouds gathering above.

"Let the storm come."