Hoshi to Arashi – Stars and Storms

Stars

Despite the turmoil engulfing the Shinobi world during the Second Shinobi World War, the Hoshikage and Hoshigakure remained outside the influence of the major villages. Consequently, things in the small village remained relatively peaceful.

At present, Arashi's only advantage was that Hoshigakure had yet to appear on Black Zetsu's radar.

As the morning sun slowly rose over the horizon, an announcement echoed through the village, leaving the residents and Shinobi stunned.

"The son of the second Hoshikage has challenged the third Hoshikage to a battle to the death, for the position and power of Hoshikage."

The shock and disbelief were palpable among the villagers.

"Is that boy out of his mind?"

"Just because his father was the previous Hoshikage doesn't grant him the right to challenge the village leader!"

"Hah! What can a snotty brat do against the strongest in the village!?"

Protests and criticisms rang out one after another, with not a single soul in the village believing that he could emerge victorious.

This only fueled his desire to prove these villagers wrong by disposing the third Hoshikage and ascending to the position of the fourth Hoshikage. In his previous life, he had been a navy commander, and as such, he wouldn't allow anyone to look down on him.

As the village gathered at the small training ground inside the forest, they were about to witness a new era dawning in Hoshigakure.

Standing opposite each other, the third Hoshikage was a young man with brown hair concealed beneath his kage hat. He stood there with a confident grin, his demeanor radiating self-assurance.

He wore a purple haori representing the village, and underneath it, his ninja attire included a flak jacket and ninja pants.

Facing him, a thirteen-year-old boy brandished a kunai. His striking red hair, with two bangs hanging in front of his face turning the signature golden blonde of the Chinoike clan, caught the eye. Although he wore a grin, it didn't quite reach his eyes. Instead, a cold, piercing gaze bore into the third Hoshikage.

Among those gathered in the training area was a Shinobi, his hands poised at his sides in preparation for the battle. He cast a glance at the boy, filled with pity, for he knew that the third Hoshikage was a master of star chakra manipulation.

'The boy is surely going to meet his end, though it's admirable that he had the courage to challenge the village leader,' he thought, wearing a grim expression.

"I hereby declare the battle for the title of Hoshikage and the power to lead the village, officially commenced!"

Hearing the loud proclamation, the third Hoshikage attempted to end it quickly by making a run for Arashi. However, in doing so, he unintentionally locked eyes with the red gaze, featuring horizontal rectangles within dark red irises.

He found himself immobilized on the ground, falling victim to a massive genjutsu akin to that of a Sharingan, cast by Arashi.

Seizing his opportunity, Arashi didn't pay attention to the villagers and Shinobi, who watched in shock. He just disappeared and appeared in front of the Hoshikage, extracted a blood kunai, and lightly scratched the older man's wrist, infusing his chakra into him.

Intentionally, he ended the genjutsu after putting a safe distance between himself and the man. With his back turned toward the man and the villagers as witnesses, he spread his arms wide and declared, "I win."

The man's body began to swell, and shades of purple emerged on his skin, gradually covering him in a shadowy, purple surface. Finally, he exploded, resembling a chakra-infused human bomb.

Shocked by the spectacle unfolding before their eyes, the villagers, many of whom were battle-hardened Shinobi accustomed to gruesome sights, could only hear the declaration: "I hereby proclaim myself as the fourth Hoshikage of Hoshigakure."

–ROS–

Storms

The village had a new Kage, and within just two weeks, everything began to transform. The initially apprehensive people gradually warmed up to him, accepting him as their new leader, despite the fact that he was merely a thirteen-year-old child.

He was trying to create a new way to utilise the meteorite that fell there a two hundred years ago, it has such pure chakra that it would be poisonous to anyone but him.

His Uzumaki lineage granted him the ability to withstand tailed beast chakra without succumbing to chakra poisoning. However, this was only the case for him. The chakra poisoning would still affect the villagers if they continued practicing the mysterious peacock method.

He was determined to find a way to make the best use of this precious power. Wasting an asset like this was something he could never forgive himself for.

"This won't do," he muttered, tossing another scroll aside in the Kage's mansion, where a mountain of scrolls had accumulated.

As he reached for another scroll to read, there was a knock at the door. "Come in," he said, granting permission. The door opened accordingly.

A middle-aged man with a poker face entered his office. He offered a single bow before his gaze shifted to the mountain of scrolls, and he maintained a stoic expression.

Despite recognizing his Kage's wisdom, even at such a young age, he had doubts about the possibility of finding a solution to their shared fate, the chakra poisoning. While not widely known, he was acutely aware of the looming threat it posed.

"Lord Arashi, there is a letter from land of waves, it is from Yugakure."

Upon hearing the man's words, Arashi's interest was piqued. Yugakure, the Land of Hot Water, where the Valley of Hell was located.

"Give it to me." Taking the scroll offered by the man, he unsealed it and started reading.

News had been send that a child had assumed the role of Hoshikage, a fact that might invite mockery. However, the villagers were not easily provoked into anger by jests aimed at their Kage, though they might harbor grudges.

He read the letter, and his expression shifted multiple times as he perused its contents.

"The letter is from the Chinoike clan, one of the clans to which I belong. I'd like to arrange for two of our finest Shinobi to accompany me... to the Valley of Hell."

Apparently, they had somehow learned about his Chinoike lineage and wanted to inquire about it. However, whoever had leaked this information to them must have also sent details to the Uzumaki clan.

They didn't appear as concerned as the Chinoike, likely due to the perceived safety that the Uzumaki enjoyed outside their territory. However, this sense of security was an illusion that veiled their true situation, as the Shinobi nations were secretly plotting behind the scenes.

Once the war ends, their security would also come to an end, with Danzo ensuring that their letter asking for help to Konoha would never be received.

However, he would be there to recruit them to his village as their savior when all their allies abandoned them.

This was his chance to shape his own version of the Uchiha and Senju clans right here in his village.

A wide smirk spread across his lips as the middle-aged man shivered while looking at his Kage.