Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved (Keller).
(Read the Authors Note at the end of this chapter if you want to see what some of the character's weapons, armor, and clothing look like)
The Cost of Ambition: Chapter One
Naruto Uzumaki often dreamed of himself sitting on a throne, overlooking a kingdom of his own. However, it was rather unlikely that one of such low status would be able to make such a dream a reality. His ambition was well known within the military ranks, and while he was highly respected for his battle prowess and military genius, nobody believed he would ever have what he wanted. Well, except for one person, his best friend, Itachi Uchiha.
Coincidentally, upon thinking about his longtime friend, Itachi pulled up alongside him on his horse and got his attention, "The men are exhausted," the former Uchiha heir warned. "We've been traveling for nearly two days without rest. They will be useless in battle if we don't stop for the evening."
Itachi was his second in command and the only person in the entire world that he respected. Born as the eldest son of the Lord of House Uchiha, Itachi would have eventually become one of the most powerful Lords in the Land of Fire. However, when he swore his sword to Naruto, it resulted in his position as heir being revoked, which angered Lord Fugaku beyond belief.
"I intend for my force to be the first to reach the battlefield," Naruto countered resolutely without adjusting his pace.
"Then your force will be the first to die on the battlefield as well, if you don't adhere to my warning," Itachi stated in his typical stoic fashion. "You are our Commander, and we will follow you no matter what. But we are already days ahead of the others, so even if we rest for the night, we will definitely be the first to arrive."
Naruto didn't answer for several moments as he mulled over his comrade's advice. Itachi had never steered him in the wrong direction before, and he had long since grown to trust the Uchiha's opinion above those of all others. He directed his gaze back to his men and noticed that they all looked as though they would practically collapse at any moment. Upon seeing this, he realized that his right-hand man was correct, and nodded.
"Very well," he said. "Send two men to scout ahead for an adequate place to set camp."
Itachi saluted his leader by placing a closed fist on his armored chest before riding back to notify the scouts of their Commander's orders. Naruto looked towards the sky and noticed the thick dark clouds visible over the horizon. It was a sign of the fact that they would soon be entering Rain Country. Which would mark the beginning of all out battle.
One year ago, the Kingdom of Lightning invaded the Land of Rice, which was an explicit declaration of war against the Kingdom of Fire. The fighting was on and off for the entirety of the bloody year, with losses suffered on both sides, however, five months ago, the Kingdom of Lightning suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of an army led by Lord Hiashi Hyuga. Still feeling vengeful after an ambassador of Lightning Country attempted to kidnap his eldest daughter, Lord Hiashi pursued the enemy army until they were forced to fortify themselves in Rain Country. It was a last stand scenario. However, King Hiruzen Sarutobi decided that it was time to regroup his forces, but during that time it allowed for the enemy to replenish themselves.
Upon gathering the entirety of his forces, the King of Fire Country ordered an all out assault on The Kingdom of Lightning's defensive position in Rain Country. Immediately after hearing this, Naruto mobilized his forces almost three days before any of his peers. He decided that this was perfect chance to get his name put in the history books. Being credited as the man who ended the Lightning and Fire War single handed would be a huge step towards his ambition.
You see, Hiruzen was technically King Regent, since the last rightful King, Tobirama Senju, did not produce an heir. The last Senju King declared Hiruzen Sarutobi to serve as Regent, until his grandniece, Tsunade Senju, was old enough to rule. However, Tsunade had little interest in accepting her birthright and fled the capital, leaving the political landscape in shambles for quite some time. Therefore, nobody had any idea who would inherit the throne after the elderly Sarutobi king passed away; which to Naruto meant it was up for grabs.
It wasn't that Naruto was praying for the day of his King's death, but he was preparing for it. If Hiruzen died, there would be a scramble for power. Hopefully, once that day came, Naruto will have built up enough political and military power to stake a legitimate claim to the throne. Having Itachi backing him would give him some serious credibility, and being known as the man who won the war against Lightning Country would help as well.
Itachi returned to his position at Naruto's side and informed him that the scouts had returned with information regarding an area perfect for them to set camp. It was a clearing, adjacent to a river, which would provide fresh water for his men and horses. The idea was well received by his soldiers, who were clearly excited by the chance to get some rest. It didn't take them long to arrive at the river, and it took even less time to set up the camp. There were thousands of tents, and hundreds of campfires caking the landscape by the time they were finished.
In the center of the camp, was a particularly large tent, reserved for the Commander. There was a cot in the corner, which Naruto would undoubtedly be using to sleep, and a desk closer to the back, in which he was currently seated. He had removed his elegant silver armor and crimson red cloak, which were the standard dress wear of Commanders within the Kingdom of Fire's military. With his armor removed, he was clothed in a black silk tunic with black trousers tucked into leather boots.
On his desk were messages, written to him by scouts he had sent ahead days ago, with the goal of gleaning any information regarding the opposing force. Apparently, one of them had been killed by an arrow to the neck, but the other two managed to escape death long enough to send this message. However, the fact that they hadn't returned for some time led him to believe that they were also now either dead or captured.
Lightning Country had a massive force awaiting battle, a force much too large for Naruto to defeat in a direct engagement. Therefore, auxiliary tactics would become necessary if victory was to be achieved. The smartest thing to do would be to wait for the grand total of the Kingdom of Fire's forces to arrive and to attack together. However, Naruto believed that lone victory tomorrow was his destiny.
The flap of his tent was opened, and Itachi walked in without hesitation. If anyone else were to enter announced, it would be classified as flagrant disrespect, and the perpetrator would be punished for insubordination. But Itachi had a significant amount of power within Naruto's army, which allowed him certain special privileges.
"The men are ready for a fight," he said after taking a seat in front of his Commander's desk. "They think themselves to be unbeatable."
"Perhaps, but we are currently at a disadvantage," Naruto commented while observing a map of Rain Country. "We will advance upon them with barrages of skirmish cavalry, thus coaxing them into taking the offensive. In preparation for their attack, we will amass our forces here, in this open field," he said while pointing at a section of the map.
Naruto looked directly into his right-hand man's eyes and spoke, "As I imagine the coming battle, I am certain our enemies arrogance will be their downfall. I know, they will believe their overwhelming strength should crush us. They will come at us in one large charge, an unstoppable wall of flesh and steel. In their minds, they will roll over us like an avalanche roaring down a mountain side," Naruto stated almost poetically.
Itachi, enraptured with the strategy, waited for his leader to continue, "Our enemies utter contempt for our army, will spell their doom. I will place the smallest number of our infantry in the center, creating a thin line. Brave warriors, they will make the enemy pay in blood for every foot of ground. However, there won't be enough of them to hold their ground. Slowly, our center line will be pushed back. Drawing the enemy mass ever tighter as they move forward, making it increasingly impossible to maneuver and ever more difficult to even swing their swords."
"On the flanks, to the right and left of the center line, there will be equal formations of my handpicked infantry," Naruto continued. "Battle hardened veterans all; they are the pride of our army. They will give no ground. Slowly, our army will begin to take the shape of a giant crescent. The enemy, in their bloodlust, will not notice the developing danger. Nor will they notice the masses of our cavalry hidden behind the wings of my army. These horsemen know no equals, and when they charge, they will act as an irresistible wave, thundering across the battle field."
In the conclusion of his strategy, Naruto finished, "I can see it all as clearly as if we have already won. Slowly, the wings of the crescent will begin to close around the enemies mass. Then will be the time to release the horsemen, who will flank the enemy army, attacking from the back, completely surrounding the enemy forces. There will be no survivors, and thus, the war will end in a single day."
"This is incredibly risky, Naruto," Itachi warned. "There is no guarantee that they will take our bait and attack. They have the superior position, and the numbers advantage, by all means, they should hold their ground and fight on the defensive."
"One must know their enemy before engaging them in battle," Naruto retorted. "And I know that 'A the Unruly' will not decline the chance to crush a smaller opposing force. His arrogance and battle lust will be his demise and our advantage."
"You may be right," Itachi said. "But if we are defeated tomorrow, we will be punished for going against the strategy of the King. But there is also the genuine possibility that we will be punished even if we win."
"If we win this entire war tomorrow, his Majesty would be foolish to condemn our actions openly," Naruto said in an attempt to appease his friend. "The common people will sing songs of our victory, and toast to our good fortune. Our military brilliance will be undeniable, and perhaps I will finally be given a position in the Royal Court."
"All this for a place in the Royal Court?" Itachi questioned with narrowed eyes. "You would risk the lives of our men to satisfy your ambition?"
"They know what they fight for," Naruto countered. "They understand the magnitude of my ambition. Do you think I don't lose sleep over the deaths of my men? However, I know that if I am to achieve my dreams, I must be able to think objectively."
The tent was engulfed in several moments of silence before Naruto sighed, for once letting his exhaustion show. Itachi knew how stressful his Commander's life truly was. Years of enduring ridicule and snide remarks forced the blonde Uzumaki to gain an insatiable desire for glory. The fact that Naruto was an illegitimate child served as the reason behind his mistreatment. However, despite what the majority of people thought, Itachi never held the circumstances of Naruto's birth against him.
They attended the same military academy, in which they both received the highest marks. Eventually, Naruto was given command of a small legion of soldiers. After never losing a single battle, his greatness could no longer be ignored, and in spite of his status, he was given the title of Commander and was gifted a much larger force of men; the men who currently fought for him today. His charisma created absolute loyalty within his men, and his almost infallible reputation as a military leader led to his soldiers viewing him as an almost otherworldly being.
"You have long since proven that I should never doubt you," Itachi said with a rare smile. "I'll put my faith in you once more."
After bidding his Commander good night, Itachi made his way out of the tent, but not before he heard Naruto speak once more, "You are invaluable to me, Itachi. I wouldn't be where I am today without you by my side."
It was a pleasant ending to a rather tedious day. But tomorrow would prove to itself to be a bloody one. Of this, Itachi was confident.
~Break~
At dawn, the forces of the Kingdom of Lightning were awoken to the sounds arrows whistling through the air. Upon gauging the attack force, they realized they were up against a small number of skirmisher cavalry. After several of their men were killed by these nuisances, King A became enraged and decided that it was time to attack their enemies with full force. General Darui advised against it, but when their King made up his mind, there was no deterring him. Soon, the entire army of Lightning marched towards their perceived enemy.
Despite that fact that it was early in the morning, it was so cloudy that it almost seemed as though it was evening. The ground was caked with wet mud, which was caused by the constant torrential downpour of this depressing country. Fighting in Rain Country was extremely difficult, which was partially why A maneuvered his army there in the first place. Not only was he able to build up an acceptable defense, but the weather would also make it much more difficult for the Kingdom of Fire to successfully invade. However, it seemed that a small force of their enemies had managed to arrive much earlier than expected.
Darui was extremely unnerved by the circumstances of this battle. Unlike his King, he was very calm and composed in his decision making. Which was why he felt that it was rather evident that the earlier cavalry attack was initiated in an attempt to rile King A up, to force him into attacking. If that was the case, Darui was worried about what he was marching his men into.
Surprisingly, when he initially saw the opposing army, he noticed that he outnumbered them significantly. He sighed in relief when he realized that he wasn't being forced into a fight with the entire Kingdom of Fire's forces. Darui was now confident in his ability to win this fight since he specialized in commanding scores of men. After observing the size of his opponent's army, he ordered his men to form their ranks. He imagined that the enemy forces were getting incredibly intimidated at seeing the large army amassing before their very eyes. This was how the Kingdom of Lightning defeated their enemies, through brute force and intimidation.
Upon realizing that his enemy would not attack first, Darui signaled for his men to advance, and the massive army began their march with heavy, purposeful steps. The rain cascaded off the armor of his troops, and he saw several of them being forced to wipe the water out of their eyes. It seemed that the wind was blowing the rain directly into his men's faces, and a small, worried, part of him wondered if his opponent chose this battlefield knowing that the wind would act in such a way. However, he immediately purged the thought from his mind. Such a brilliant military mind didn't exist.
Speaking of strategy, Darui's was rather simple. His army would break through the center of the enemies line, thus dividing his opponent's army into two. Then, he'd use his superior numbers to overpower the two halves, which would then result in resounding victory.
They had employed this strategy before against the Kingdom of Fire, and to great success. Typically, the Armies of Fire, as they were commonly referred as, were significantly smaller than that of the Kingdom of Lighting. King A believed that the larger and better-equipped army would always win, and for the most part, he was correct. In fact, before their defeat at the hands of Hiashi Hyuga, they had been winning the war using these tactics. For those reasons, among others, Darui placed the strongest and most experienced of his soldiers at the center of his own line, so they'd make quick work of the enemy.
When his men made contact with the enemy, the battlefield was filled with the sound of clanging steel. Surprisingly, the opposing army put up a respectable fight, and Darui's soldiers were forced to use every bit of effort to gain any ground. Knowing that the battle would take several hours to reach its resolution, Darui sighed. He would never become used to the horrors of combat. Even as the thought crossed his mind, hundreds of people were dying, in both the Army of Fire and the Army of Lightning.
Thankfully, he was too far back from the conflict to be able to smell the metallic odor of the blood or hear the gurgled screams of those who lost their lives. However, he was grateful for the fact that his plan seemed to be working. In spite of the enemies efforts, Darui's forces were slowly but surely pushing the enemies center line back. Eventually, it would break, and in a few more hours the battle would finally be over.
Darui was close enough to the fighting to see a young blonde man, riding a beautiful white horse, trotting behind the center line of the Fire Army. Upon seeing the man's silver armor and red cape-like cloak, he realized that he was looking at the enemy commander. Admirably, the blonde general was giving commands and repositioning his soldiers in the center line, even as they were being forced back by Darui's superior forces. It seemed that the smaller army had bitten off more than they could chew. Regardless, Darui still found himself respecting the composure and bravery of his blonde opponent.
However, Darui began to get concerned with the fact that the right and left sides of the enemy army were still holding strong against his assault. As his forces continued to push the enemies center line back, Darui noticed that the previously mentioned right and left sides of his opponent's line began to pivot inward. Darui immediately noticed the mistake he had made but realized that his forces were too committed to attacking his opponent's center to adjust their strategy.
While his opponent's center had been pushed back significantly during the battle, the right and left sides of the Fire Army remained in the same position they started the battle in. Now that they pivoted towards the center, and faced the sides of Darui's army directly, he realized that his forces were surrounded on three sides. The numbers advantage he had been relying on earlier was being crushed before his very eyes.
Darui was about to prepare to bark an order when he saw a large number of enemy cavalry revealed themselves on the battlefield. They must have been hiding behind the Fire Army, waiting in reserve. At the head of the cavalry, Darui was able to make out the face of a handsome young man with black ponytailed hair and high-quality steel armor. The black haired man looked remarkably calm, which only served to unnerve Darui even more. Seeing as he had no cavalry support, Darui could only watch in horror as the enemy horsemen flanked around the Lightning army and attacked the back of his already weakened forces. His army was now officially surrounded on all sides, which spelled certain doom for them.
After narrowing his eyes in determination, Darui commanded his horse to ride forward. He and his guards charged into the battle with valor, and it was utter chaos. Thousands of people were dying all around him, and he couldn't help but noticed that almost all of them were his men. Darui felt an arrow narrowly miss his head and continued to ride forward to the center of the battle. Along the way, he killed several Fire soldiers and was nearly killed by a spear that almost pierced him in the chest. Thankfully, he survived, and in the midst of the chaos, he saw something utterly amazing. Situated on his horse, with his elegant silver armor completely unmarred by any dirt, blood, or damage, was the enemy commander.
His blond hair made him very easy to notice, which made Darui wonder how he managed to not get hit by a stray arrow. The blonde general was young, even younger than the black-haired man he had seen leading the enemy cavalry earlier. Darui couldn't believe it, he had been utterly outclassed in battle by a kid, no older than nineteen years. He began to trot towards the blonde teen on his horse. The slow trot soon sped up into a gallop of impressive speed, and Darui only had murder on his mind. He may not be able to win this battle, but he would take the enemy commander with him. With every second he inched closer and closer to his target but was surprised to see the blonde calmly turn his head to face him. Before Darui could express his shock, he felt something stab into his shoulder, and he was launched off of his horse.
Before he could make to stand up, he was struck in the head and lost conciseness completely. It was over, he had lost.
~Break~
Hours had passed since the battle, and all that remained were the thousands of enemy corpses. Naruto's plan worked to perfection, and his army suffered minor causalities throughout the engagement. In the end, the entire remaining army of the Kingdom of Lightning had been wiped off the map. Now, 'A the Unruly' would be forced to retreat back to his own country, with his tail tucked between his legs.
As Itachi watched Naruto delegating over his victorious army, he couldn't help but imagine that day that Naruto would become King. The events of today couldn't possibly be ignored, and historians would discuss the strategies of Naruto Uzumaki hundreds of years from now. Naruto had said that he would defeat the entire Lightning Army in a single day, and he did just that. Itachi wouldn't help but admire a man who called his shot and then was successful.
The men were celebrating their victory, and Itachi was happy that they had received a well-deserved break. While Naruto's genius battle tactics were what won them the day, it was the men who risked their lives in the battle. They were drinking, singing and dancing, which brought a small, almost unnoticeable smile to the former Uchiha heir's face. Today, nearly twenty thousand men had died, but at least they could say that they were on the winning side.
Naruto would no doubt spend the remainder of his evening resting in his tent since he no longer possessed what he considered to be a 'childlike' desire to celebrate. The battle had taken a few hours to end, and Naruto exerted a tremendous amount of mental and physical energy throughout the entire process. His Commander never ceased to amaze him, not even for a moment.
Suddenly, the sound of a loud horn could be heard ringing in the distance, and every soldier in the camp rose to their feet and stood at attention; they all knew what the sound of the horn meant. As expected, a small number of the royal guard first trotted through the entrance of the camp. Soon after, five men also arrived on horseback, and the entirety of Naruto's army kneeled as one of the guests was King Hiruzen.
The King observed the camp with an unreadable gaze and the men didn't know whether or not to be afraid. Thankfully, Hiruzen soon ordered his subjects to rise and continue on with their celebration. The sounds of the party soon echoed throughout the area once more and Hiruzen, along with his companions, dismounted their horses. Itachi recognized the other four men as Lords Danzo Shimura, Hiashi Hyuga, Shikaku Nara, and last but certainly not least, Fugaku Uchiha.
Naruto approached his King directly before placing a closed fist over his heart, the universal salute of the military of the Kingdom of Fire. Hiruzen returned the gesture but did not speak. He continued to stare into Naruto's eyes, with his hands folded behind his back. While Naruto was significantly taller than the Sarutobi King, it didn't make the elderly man's presence any less intimidating.
"I don't recall you requesting permission to engage the enemy, Commander Naruto," Hiruzen said, finally speaking.
"I apologize, your Grace," Naruto calmly responded. "But I saw an opportunity to end this war here, today. My men were clamoring for a fight, and I was completely confident in my ability to lead them to victory. And we were succes-"
"I am very much aware of your success," Hiruzen interrupted. "As we made our way here, some of the locals described the 'incredible' battle they just witnessed. Imagine my surprise when I discover that one of my men, engaged the enemy without my expressed permission. Do you think victory makes you insubordination acceptable?"
"I believe that anything done in the name of victory is acceptable, your Grace."
"Even treason?" Hiashi cut in, in a disgusted tone. It was clear that he did not approve of Naruto audacious act. Or perhaps it was because he had always hated Naruto to a particular degree, especially after what happened with Lady Hinata.
"I fight for his Majesty, and the Kingdom of Fire," Naruto stated. "I have always done so, and tonight, I proved my mettle. Regardless of what you think of me, my actions have brought an end to this bloody conflict, with minimal casualties to our forces."
There was no response, which made sense since it was difficult to argue against Naruto's logic. It was clear that Lord Hiashi was allowing his personal feelings to cloud his judgment, and Itachi didn't appreciate the man's attempt at insulting his Commander's accomplishment. Unsurprisingly, Itachi had yet to hear his father utter a single word, which was very much like the man.
"I hear that you left none of the enemy alive," Danzo commented, breaking the silence with his typical stoic, unreadable voice. However, there was an underlying layer of admiration that Itachi managed to notice. "Twenty thousand dead."
"Yes, Lord Danzo," Naruto clarified. "However, I did manage to capture one of A's high ranking generals. I've identified him as Darui, the leader of the Black Lightning Army."
The Black Lightning Army was legendary in the Land of Lightning. They were considered to be the very best of the best, capable of annihilating their enemies in very short periods of time. Knowing that Naruto made quick work of them was a testament to his talent.
"I will be taking custody of your prisoner," Hiruzen stated calmly. "Allow your men to continue resting. I will lead the remainder of our forces and make sure that A, and the rest of his troops, are driven from this country."
Naruto saluted his King once more, and Hiruzen and his generals remounted their horses and rode out of the camp. After their guests finally left, Itachi was able to notice that his Commander was rather miffed, likely because the King hadn't complimented his victory. For Naruto, this battle was his opportunity to move up the political ladder, but all he received was a stern lecture and accusations of insubordination.
The blonde Uzumaki calmly walked into his tent and Itachi followed soon after. He was welcomed by the sight of his Commander leaning back in his chair while running his fingers through his spiky blonde locks. Naruto had taken a gamble by fighting here today, and it seemed that nobody respected his accomplishment.
"Your father would have been proud of your victory against a larger army, Naruto," Itachi said in an attempt to cheer his friend up.
Naruto scoffed, "My father would have been disgusted with me," he argued in an exhausted tone. "You were correct earlier, Itachi. I did risk the lives of my men for my own ambition. My father would never have approved of my selfishness. And even with a resounding victory, I still receive no respect. Hiashi and the other Lords still look at me as if I am some mangy dog."
"Hiashi will always hate you, Naruto," Itachi stated. "He needed someone to blame for Hinata's death, and you were the easiest choice."
Two years ago, when Hinata Hyuga and Naruto were seventeen, they both fled the capital. The two teens had loved each other for years, but Hiashi would never allow them to marry. To counter that, the two ran to a lone priest and were married in secret. In practically no time at all, Hinata was pregnant with Naruto's child. However, she soon grew sick, and when giving birth to the infant, her body could not take the strain, and she died. The child, a boy, managed to survive, but Naruto was devastated by his wife's death.
Hiashi was beyond enraged, and he immediately declared war on the blonde Uzumaki, who he accused of kidnapping and raping his daughter. Thankfully, King Hiruzen put an end to the animosity by arranging a meeting between Naruto and the Hyuga Lord. Hiashi had always wanted a son, so he said he'd pardon Naruto's actions, if he and Hinata's son, Boruto, were given to House Hyuga, to be raised as Hiashi's grandson and successor. Naruto initially refused; however, the King forced him to agree to the terms and the rest is history.
"I haven't seen him since he was born," Naruto stated. "He's barely over a year old, and he will grow up not knowing his father."
"Boruto will be strong, like you," Itachi said in a calming tone. "This separation between the two of you won't last forever. At least Hiashi has been treating him well."
"The man isn't foolish enough to blame an infant for the sins of their father," Naruto responded. "And Boruto is still his grandson, so I don't doubt that Hiashi loves him. However, he is my son and heir, I should be the one raising him."
Itachi didn't respond, but he couldn't help but be sympathetic to Naruto's plight. The blonde Uzumaki's dream was to establish a dynasty in his name, and having a son and heir was a large step towards that goal. Itachi wasn't really sure if Naruto genuinely loved Boruto as a son, or if he only viewed him as a valuable political piece. Since Boruto was now the heir to House Hyuga, Naruto could use that as a way to get the noble house's support if he were one day to become King.
After several hours of partying, the camp was soon engulfed in silence as the men slept. In a few days, they would travel back to the capital city. Hopefully, things would simmer down a bit by then. But Itachi, ever the realist, knew that things were only going to get more chaotic from here.
~End~
If there is any confusion regarding the strategy Naruto used in the battle, it was based on the tactics Hannibal Barco employed in the Battle of Cannae. I highly recommend you research the battle as it was a fascinating moment in history.
This story will be a bit different from my other one, which is set in the normal Naruto Universe. I have decided to write this story in a medieval setting. The geography of the Elemental Nations is the same, but now King's rule rather than Kages. There is no chakra in this story, so characters will have to rely on intelligence, large armies, and alliances. In the beginning, I wanted to allow the characters to utilize chakra, but it would make the need for armies useless. If Naruto had chakra, he wouldn't need an army to become king, since in canon he has godlike power. This story will be a sort of political drama with a lot of battle and actions scenes. I realize that some of you may not be as interested in this genre, so I understand if you decide that this story isn't for you, but I'd appreciate it if you gave this a chance. However, worry not, since The Monster Within Us All will continue to be updated reguarly.
If you want to see what Naruto's armor looks like, Google Griffith Hawk of Light Armor. For this picture make sure you are looking through Google Images, otherwise, you may not be referencing the image I am talking about. I know a lot of you may hate Griffith, and for good reason, but you can't deny that his armor looks amazing.
Thank you all very much.