IMPERIALS – EMPRESSES

East Ewoa

"Mana, why are you rubbing powder on my robe?"

"It's red."

"Yes, I can see that its red. What are you trying to do?"

"You're functioning as the Crown Princess of Homeworld. If you want this to be an official private engagement you are supposed to wear the empire's colours. Those colours are red, blue and yellow."

"You have blue and yellow as well?"

"No, this will have to do."

"A white and red robe?"

"It's important not to be so selective sis. We only have so many resources to work with here. Besides you'll be with Naruto, and he won't have a clue about Imperial procedures. Now turn around, this isn't easy with you in that position."

Hinata turns around as Mana continues to apply the red powder like a dye. She hums a repeating tune to herself, a tune that Hinata remembers from years ago. Mana has always enjoyed doing this kind of thing. Nobody has ever relished being an aide so much as her sister has. Sometimes the Seblix native teases her a bit too much for her liking, but the rest of the time she is very good at her job.

"Of course it should be weaved fabric," Hinata says. "I remember thinking dad's robe was amazing, it really gave people a sense that they were talking to the emperor, it was glorious. I dread the day when I see Furst wearing those colours. I know that it will come, but it seems wrong. He does not deserve to wear the same robe, nor the same crown, nor sit on the same throne."

"It won't be much longer."

"No. It won't be. Then that robe and those colours will represent hope again. They will represent a better tomorrow for everyone. No matter what, Homeworld will owe the pocket-worlders a debt beyond what we could ever hope to repay. I will make sure that we do not forget their contribution Mana, especially his."

"That's good. Now, what shall we do with this hair?"

"Mana. I have told you a thousand times, do not touch my hair!"

"Oh come on, I'm your sister. You know it would look great if I—"

"Mana!"

"I'm joking, honestly."

Mana smiles, this is a nostalgic argument. When she first met the princess she offered to help with her hair, but Hinata hated anyone going near it. The princess has always been self-conscious about it. Mana assumes this is because of her sister's genetic defect, the stares she must have received when people met her for the first time. Mana asked their mother about this, Enri explained how it has always been a difficult subject.

"You know, now that there is some blue in there, you almost have all the Imperial colours in your hair alone," Mana teases. "If you understand 'fate' energy then you'll have all three. Are you planning a breakthrough anytime soon?"

Hinata laughs, "Maybe I'll ask Naruto for a lesson."

"Just promise me one thing. You have been hesitant around him until this point, distant even. No matter how awkward it might be, at least try to enjoy being with him today."

"I will try."

"Good."

"Oh by the way, whose permission is he asking to begin the engagement?" Hinata asks

"Mine of course!"

"Yours!?"

"Who else would he ask?"

"It's supposed to be my most senior relative."

"Well he could hardly ask father could he? Mother is on the other side of Homeworld if our latest information is to be believed. Uncle Sora is not here anymore. Boruto and Himawari aren't around. I'm 4th in line for the throne of Homeworld you know!"

"Yes. I suppose you are. We never did get around to giving you that title did we?"

"You can give it to me when we take back Homeworld."

"Princess Mana, that will be a sight worth seeing. I'll have to find another aide."

"You're not getting rid of me that easily."

Hinata chuckles, "Good."

Nearby

"Why have I got to wear this ridiculous suit again?" Naruto asks as he pulls at it.

"You are having an official private engagement with the Crown Princess of Homeworld," Michel tells Naruto. "In normal times Mana would have sent one of her assistants to prepare you. That assistant would have arrived with a suit chosen by the Empress Consort."

"I didn't know you were her assistant."

"I am not her assistant!" Michel says proudly. "I am the Imperial Steed. My job is to carry Homeworld's leader into battle. My rank is only one below the emperor's chief advisors, Mana's job is merely administrative. Or at least it was when the attack happened. She was to be made a princess herself."

"Why are there so many rules? Nobody wears stuff like this in Homeworld."

"Has anyone explained to you about our religious system?"

"Mana said it was personal to each family, changing slightly with each generation."

"Exactly. Our customs in this sort of thing aren't so different, changing each generation. When the war ended and the empire was formed a lot of customs were merged into one. These procedures are designed to adhere to as many cultural normalities as possible. Endou Akashi dedicated his life to uniting Homeworld and Hinata has done the same. It is important to her that you observe these customs."

"Fine. If that's what she wants. It just seems like a strange way to unite people."

"Not everyone can cure lethal afflictions like you can. These little things go a long way."

"So I have to say fancy words when I approach?"

"Nothing too fancy," Michel answers. "You turn to Mana who will be acting as the senior Imperial Family member. You call her by her full title, which for the moment is just Senior Aide Yoshida Mana. You then ask for permission to accompany Crown Princess Endou Hinata on an official private engagement."

"Were things with Hinata this complicated in your world?" Hannah asks.

"Apparently I chased her to the moon and back."

"Is that a metaphor?"

"No."

Thirty minutes later Michel and Mana are satisfied that Naruto and Hinata respectively know the role they need to play. Mana returns to Hinata's side and awaits the arrival of the gentlemen in question. Naruto is accompanied by Michel to the top of a hill where Hinata and Mana are waiting. Normally Naruto would smile at this point, but Hinata resists the urge to laugh when she sees him trying to remember all of the things that Michel told him.

Naruto begins to bow to Hinata.

"No," Michel whispers.

Naruto quickly returns to an upright position. He first bows to Mana who nods to him in reply. Naruto then stands again before bowing to Hinata.

"Rebellion Leader Uzumaki Naruto requesting an audience with Crown Princess Endou Hinata."

"Crown Princess Endou Hinata welcomes Rebellion Leader Uzumaki Naruto, you may rise and approach."

Naruto stands and walks closer. He uses the One True Sense to check that Michel is nodding. He is. That is good, it seems that besides the first slip up everything is going well so far. He focuses on what he needs to do next. The others have many years' worth of knowledge about these kinds of ceremonies, he has only had a short while to learn it.

"Senior Aide Yoshida Mana, I request your permission to accompany your sis… the Crown Princess on a… official private engagement."

"As sister to the Crown Princess I grant the Rebellion Leader permission to accompany her on an official private engagement."

Naruto approaches and offers his hand to Hinata, finally smiling.

"Have you nothing else to say, Rebellion Leader?"

Naruto panics, has he missed something? He desperately consults with Kurama who reminds Naruto that he requested privacy in this matter. Neither of them can think of anything he missed. The 7th Hokage can feel the pressure building, a bead of sweat beginning to form on his head. He uses the One True Sense to monitor Michel, but the horse is not giving him any clues about this. Instead it seems that the horse is holding back a laugh. Naruto checks Hinata and Mana, they seem to be doing the same.

"I beg forgiveness Crown Princess; I am not aware of any…"

The others begin to laugh.

"You can relax Naruto, there is nothing else," Hinata says. "Well done, that was almost perfect. I promise that from this point you can just call me Hinata. The only procedural requirement left is that Mana waits until you and I return safely."

Naruto groans as the others laugh at him. "I hate formalities," he says in his mind. However, Kurama's reaction is the just as bad, he laughs louder than anyone at how nervous Naruto became.

Naruto offers his hand to Hinata once more and this time she takes it. They make their way South to a spot where Claude has told them there is a spectacular view. From this point on for Naruto it need not be an official private engagement. This is another date with Hinata, with the woman that he loves. Now he finally feels at home once again.

West Gavaria

Clyde and his subordinates meet with the Hokage under one of Sarada's creations. They are having yet another planning meeting. Now that they know Naruto is alive the war situation is very much different. With him having defeated two royals, he is in a position to fight for territory. With recent developments they consider that the most likely country he will be fighting for is Fayoth, ruled by Queen Huen Petra, Furst's student.

They now find themselves in Gavaria, a land ruled by King Hoffman Swen. Swen is a royal they are familiar with. They have seen Headmaster Muto Sora defeat the King of Gavaria before. They know what he is capable of, but they also know that he is lazy. Swen is the least active royal in ruling his own territory, leaving most of the work to General Odion. If there is anywhere they can readily make their presence felt it is here.

"I think it's time that we stop running away," Clyde says. "We have spent long trying simply to survive against the Imperial Guard. Now it is time we took the fight to them, and not just by attacking weak points."

"Lord 3rd, do you agree with that?" Sarada asks.

"In better times I would ask a representative from the Nara clan for advice," Hiruzen admits solemnly. "However, I believe that Clyde is right. If we go by this map Gavaria has several cities. We are closest to these ones, Naree, Tamade, and Sotuki. Given King Swen's lack of activity, I believe there is a real possibility that if we capture one of these cities we could hold it for long enough for the rebellion to consolidate there."

"I'm not suggesting we take one city," Clyde says. "I think we should take Gavaria itself!"

Shinki disagrees. "We can't take an entire country; we don't have the strength. Defeating General Odion may be possible for you and Sarada but defeating King Swen is not possible. As soon as we move on him he will not just kill us, he will read our minds and use that vital knowledge against the rebellion."

"There is a way around that problem," Sheer reveals. "Swen is not only the least active of the royals, but he and Nadia are the closest of any two royals. Being such good friends they often visit one another. That means that every time Swen leaves there is no royal to protect Gavaria. If we took the capital city Otoriko at the right time, we may be able to hold it. If we get enough rebellion attention we may even have enough warriors to fight off a royal attack."

"That's our plan?" Sarada asks, "We just wait until Swen leaves?"

"It wouldn't work anywhere else," Clyde acknowledges, "But it just might work here."

Sarada nods. "OK then, that is our plan. We will wait until Otoriko is undefended and then we will take the city. We will send out information about the battle as quickly as possible, drawing as much rebel attention as we can. We then use that rebellion support to protect the city with everything we have. Does everyone agree to this plan?"

Everyone agrees and the meeting is adjourned.

Sarada walks into an open space and creates a large tent around herself. She creates a chair, a table and a fireplace to sit beside. She then uses her chakra powers to light a fire. She sits back and relaxes, thinking about the danger of this situation. She wishes that her Future Sight extended far enough to prevent her friends from getting hurt. There are so many eyes on her now, even knowing that Naruto is out there fighting for them. This must be the pressure that her predecessor had to deal with, an expectation placed on him even when Konohamaru and Sarada succeeded him.

She cannot help but wonder what Naruto is doing now. No doubt he is preparing to fight a mighty opponent, to take one step closer to victory in this war. She wishes that she could help him in that fight, that they could be reunited again. There must be so much he could tell her that she doesn't know. Even now that she is a class 8 warrior she wants to learn from him and his experiences. He is still the Hokage she is aiming to surpass, and perhaps he always will be.

The Crystal Caves

Boruto and Himawari make their way through the Crystal Caves. Before navigating these lightless, soundless caves was impossible for Naruto and Boruto, but now the Shadow 9th Hokage finds it easy. Using tier 3 'fate' energy he effortlessly picks the correct direction every time. The journey is long, making it difficult for Himawari to comprehend how he is still so confident in his choices, but she believes in him. They keep moving, going deeper and deeper for over an hour. They eventually reach the bottom of the cave.

They see it, the portal to the Dark Dimension.

"Good luck," Boruto says to Himawari.

"You too brother."

They both walk into the portal. They experience a terrifying few seconds delay. Normally portals work instantly, but the distance between Homeworld and the Dark Dimension is tremendous. They question if they have died at first, but eventually they arrive at their destination. They each quickly check that the other has made it to this place before looking in front of them.

This world is small, far smaller than their pocket-world. Using their respective visual techniques they can see the place where world transitions into void. They can just about see the gradual shrinking of the dimension. This is an empty world with nobody left in it except for one person. In front of them they see something that looks like a cocoon. That must be where the Empress of the Dark Dimension is sealed.

"Looks like this is it," Boruto says nervously.

"Are you scared?"

"Yes."

"Me too," Himawari admits.

"Together?"

"Together."

They tentatively approach the white cocoon. They glance at one another questioning how to release the seal, something they realise they should have asked their grandmother. They decide to test the most obvious ways first. After a couple of attempts they succeed when they place their hands upon the cocoon and apply a small amount of divine energy to it. The cocoon begins to break apart.

The empress is being released!

They leap away from the breaking cocoon.

From the cocoon emerges a woman who looks very different to them, the main similarity being her largely humanoid shape. Her skin is orange and looks less like flesh and more like metal, possibly as a result of the bio-hardening the empress has been through. Her eyes are red and have vertical markings above and below. Her uniform is that of the Dark Dimension's Imperial Family, black and red. She has long blue hair with two orange horns emerging from it atop her head and larger ears than a human. She wears a silver and ruby necklace, perhaps the most human thing about her appearance.

This is the Empress of the Dark Dimension. She was the most feared enemy their grandfather faced in the war. She was part of the reason that Homeworld united, an enemy so terrifying that she could only be defeated if they all work together. This is she who intended to massacre every resident of Homeworld making way for a new world for her own people. She was the reason the War Council were succeeded as the power that protects Homeworld, the reason for the creation of the pocket-worlds, and the inspiration for many of the greatest powers Furst Jonas helped to create.

Having emerged, she smiles at her hands. It has been a very long time since she was sealed, that much she can tell. The situation must be interesting if her waking has been permitted. Nevertheless she has her own motivations, she still has something she wants to fight for, and nobody can stop her from doing that. She glances up at the duo who have released her, not recognising them. They are clearly not of the Dark Dimension, so the first thought that enters her mind is simple. They are her enemies.

"Are you the Empress of the Dark Dimension?" Himawari asks bravely.

"Helion Ashen," she answers.

Boruto and Himawari do not react.

Ashen smiles. They do not know her by name, a long time must have passed. Two warriors powerful enough to find her in spite of Akashi's best attempts to hide her. They are at least somewhat impressive. However, she does not fear them. She has heard enough from Seers through her life to know that her bane is not these two. She knows that her end will come by someone of a specific name.

"If you are the empress, we need your help," Boruto says.

"I have no intention of helping the people of Homeworld."

Boruto imagines his father being present, the words he would say if he were here. He wishes he could copy them, but then he feels like his heart has stopped. He catches a glimpse of Himawari reacting on instinct. His sister is just as afraid as he is, and she has reached for the Sacred Dagger.

"Idiots, only an Endou can defeat me!" Ashen proclaims.

The empress leaps towards Himawari with hostile intent. Himawari freezes. Boruto throws a marked kunai between the two of them and teleports to that kunai. 'Hands on shoulders,' says the voice of his uncle Sora. Boruto follows the instructions, placing his hands on the shoulders of the incoming empress before pushing her back forcefully.

The first attack may have merely been a test, but Boruto has blocked it.

"Only an Endou can defeat you?" Boruto smirks. "Well then, today is your lucky day!"

In Response to vellisavet
Who asks various questions

Q1: Will Boruto stop at class 9?
A1: I might have misled you here. The potential level doesn't directly correspond to class level. Sora had a potential of 8 and a battle class of 9.

Q2: What was Himawari's potential measured at?
A2: It wasn't measured, or at least no measurement is recorded in my notes.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to Phieleia
Who asks about Sabine

Q1: If Sabine were killed would the rebels acquire her divine ability and training manual?
A1: It would be coincidence where they would re-appear. It is possible the rebels could acquire them.

Q2: Would any of the new beasts be able to use a divine ability or training manual?
A2: A beast could use them in theory.

Thanks for reading.