Months have passed since Naruto joined the Imperial Army. Matthew had taught Naruto how to use a sword in battle, but he has never had to use it yet. Matthew's men were always kept in reserve by orders of General John Phillip. John had wanted to keep one regiment in reserve and Matthew's men were always asked to be the reserves.
This annoyed Naruto to no end. He wanted to get out there and help win the war, but was always stuck watching as Imperial forces were sent reeling in retreat from the Knight Armies. Knight forces had invaded the Southern Imperial Provinces and gained a major foothold. Now with John not putting the full might of the army against them, they were able to win multiple battles against much smaller Imperial forces.
"Can't we do anything?" Naruto asked. John had ordered an attack on a Knight fort during the night. The attack had begun the way it was planned with Imperial twelve ponders opening up on the fort. As the bombardment ceased, the assault force marched out, only getting hit by the remaining Knight siege equipment. Flaming rocks traveled through the night sky as they landed on the columns of Imperial forces.
Matthew could only watch as his comrades were suffering in the field while he stood back and watched. He closed his eyes and listened as the bugles began to sound a retreat for many of the regiments. As he opened his eyes again, the rain began to pour.
"Looks like we'll have to deploy the reserves after all," Matthew said to his men. "Make sure the nipples to your guns are covered men. We'll uncover them when we get to the fort and unleash hell upon these invaders. We will take this fort or die trying."
Naruto's face brightened as he heard those words. Now he could show what he was capable of. Matthew mounted his horse and turned to the men.
"If I go forward, follow me," He began. "If I retreat, shoot me. If I die, avenge me. AVENGE ME!" He turned and began to ride towards the front line, his men marching behind him.
Naruto stayed close, knowing that when the fighting got fierce, Matthew would be in the middle of the action. He was a fighting officer, always leading his men from the front. Just the type of officer that he thought should be leading the Imperial Armies.
Drums sounded as the reserve force marched into battle, encountering their retreating comrades as they marched on. Seeing the reserves march on, they turned around and formed up behind them, marching back into the battle.
Just as they neared the fort, the first flaming rock hit the ground near the marching forces. Matthew's horse became startled and reared, knocking Matthew off, the horse running off. Matthew got up and turned to his men.
"Keep marching!" he shouted. He turned and began to march faster to the fort, the men following. Naruto ran up to the front ranks and ran into a trench that was in front of the fort, just as Matthew and his forces ran in, barely dodging the cannon fire that hit a few ranks of the Imperial forces.
"We're under their guns!" he exclaimed. "Uncover!" His men uncovered the nipples of the guns and charged out of the trench, firing at the Knight archers on the small wall of the fort.
"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto exclaimed, as a large puff of smoke appeared on the field. What the Knights saw forced many of their recruits to retreat. The Naruto army charged over the wall and began to engage the Knight forces as more Imperials ran through the holes for the cannons, bayonets forward as they ran into the fort.
"Naruto!" Matthew yelled. "Take out that catapult!" Naruto nodded and charged forward, taking out the crew. Before he could got any further, he was stabbed in the leg by a Knight officer with a knife. Naruto howled out in pain, but took his sword and cut off the officers head, before collapsing to the ground from his injury. An Imperial medic ran over, as Naruto attempted to look up, seeing the Imperials chase the remaining Knight forces away, securing the fort. Naruto smiled before losing conscious.
Naruto woke the next day in the hospital tent as Matthew was sitting next to him in the nearby chair.
"Glad to see you're awake," Matthew said. "You'll be happy to know that we won the battle."
"So is the invasion over?" Naruto asked.
"Yep," Matthew replied. "Turns out the remaining forces that got away told their generals what happened and when it was multiple of their invasion force stating the same thing, they called it off and fell back to their ships. Jeff's army entered the city and is now preparing it for anymore invasions."
Jeff was a good friend of Matthew. One of the few officers that Naruto actually thought could one day be the King.
"Yet for you hiding what this boy is capable of," another voice said. "You will be charged with treason and this boy put to death." Matthew groaned as he heard that voice. They looked to see General Phillip enter the tent with a small guard. "This little victory you gained will be given to me." As the guards went over to the two men, another voice stopped them.
"Halt!" Everyone turned to see a man with a more regal army uniform enter. Everyone but Naruto bowed before the man.
"King Smith!" Phillip exclaimed. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"I came here to see the battlefield and to see the men who gained this victory," he said.
"I gained this victory," Phillip said. "It was an honor to gain this great victory." Smith just looked at him like he was crazy.
"You did nothing," he said. "You lost us these territories from your stupid tactics. You are hereby fired." He walked past Phillip, who by now was in shock. Smith walked over to Matthew and Naruto. "Matthew, thanks to you, we were able to force the Knights back. You are henceforth promoted to Colonel." He turned to Naruto. "Thanks to your secrets, we captured the fort and forced the Knights out. What is your name young man?"
"Naruto Namikaze," Naruto replied, now using his father's last name. "I'm from a region in the Dragon empire that has people with abilities like mine."
"Interesting," Smith said. "I heard about you when you first arrived, but to see you in person, I must say you're shorter than I expected."
"What will happen now?" Naruto asked.
"Well, I think the rank of SSgt will work for you," Smith said. "You proved to be a strong fighter, but I also see that you may one day lead a strong army of your own. You'll be placed under Matthew's staff as a reconnaissance and fighter officer." Smith turned and walked out. "Matthew, I hope your new command works for you. You earned it for your last victories. Keep it up, you'll be full commander of the Imperial Armies." He walked out the tent, leaving everyone to their own devices.
"I must go," Matthew said. "I'll have you a new uniform ready by tomorrow. Get some rest cause I think we'll be going into battle again real soon." Naruto nodded and drifted off, wondering what was happening back in the Leaf village.
Thousands of miles away, Tsunade was looking through the archives, hoping to find some way to reverse what the Dragon Emperor ruled.
"Any luck?" Danzo asked. While Danzo would normally want to taunt Tsunade, even he would be more direct on him wanting her job. Now, he was helping her get the Leaf Village's independence from their new masters.
"Nothing," Tsunade said. She wasn't the only one looking. Many of the Shinobi Council were looking. "I pray we can find some way to end this."
The Rookies were at the training field having a picnic when Hinata ran over.
"Sorry I'm late," she began. "I had to get away from my so called husband." The others looked down, knowing that she was going to be married by her eighteenth birthday unless they did something to help.
"I just hope Naruto is alright," Sakura said. "He was never found by the Dragon armies and we all know how vast the empire is." The others were all thinking the same thing when another voice called out.
"Hinata!" They all turned to see Toneri walking over. Neji got up between him and Hinata.
"I suggest you leave," Neji said. "This is a private picnic and you are not invited."
"Don't you talk to me like that peasant!" Toneri exclaimed. He reached out, about to attack Neji when Lee got in the way and was hit with the full force of the attack.
"LEE!" Tenten exclaimed. Toneri walked away, but not before walking over to Lee and kicking him in the stomach.
"Weak," he said, heading back to his mansion. As he left, another person jumped from the trees.
"I bring news of Naruto," he said. "He's still alive. In Fact, he helped turn the tide of a war of where he lives now." The others breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thanks, Sai," Ino said. "Can you help us get Lee to the hospital?" Sai nodded and went over and picked up Lee, just before he jumped off to the hospital. The others followed, except for Hinata.
"Naruto," she said. "I hope you make it back in time to help me." She followed her friends, thinking of her one true love. Little did Naruto and Hinata know, they would soon be reunited in a few years, on opposite sides in the largest civil war to ever hit the Imperial Empire.