IMPERIALS – ENDOU VS ASHEN

North Okarin

Ashen sits down on a rock, looking out over the jungle environment around her. She reapplies 'healing' energy to herself, still feeling the affects of her battle with Furst. She never expected him to be so strong, now her options in protecting the Little Diamond are severely limited. Her first step will need to be recovering completely from that fight, the second will be consolidating her resources. She is sure that she can still do this as long as she plans out her next steps in detail. Things can go wrong but she will do her best to make sure they don't.

Then she sees three people approaching at speed and one watching from a distance. Judging by their speeds they are all class 9 warriors. As they get closer she recognises her new student Himawari and her brother Boruto, they are being accompanied by someone who has a similar face to Himawari. Ashen assumes that this is their mother, Akashi's daughter. She sighs and stands up; this is the last thing she needed with everything else that is happening.

The three of them stop in front of her.

"You are Helion Ashen?" Hinata asks.

"I am. I assume that you are Akashi's daughter. I was surprised to learn that your father no longer held the throne of this realm. I suppose that you are angry about that and intend to reclaim your throne very soon."

"I'm not here to chat," Hinata says, pointing the Sacred Sword at Ashen. "Uzumaki Naruto, you used a device to trap him in a different realm. Bring him back now!"

"Uzumaki Naruto… I assume that is your father Himawari?"

"Please undo what you did Helion-sensei."

"I have never even met your father; how could I have done anything to him?"

"You used that device to lock onto our grandfather's divine 'life' energy. Dad uses the same type of energy, that's probably why your device worked on him instead. Please, undo what you did and bring back my dad. If you do then we can help you with protecting whatever it is you want to protect."

"Your father uses divine 'life' energy, just like Akashi did? You said that you were from a pocket-world. If this is Akashi's daughter then your father must be a pocket-worlder. A pocket-worlder who understood 'life' energy? How can something like that be possible, how could you have encountered him? That is beyond coincidence, that is beyond what even enhanced 'fate' energy could achieve. What is going on with you people?"

"That doesn't matter right now," Himawari says. "Please sensei, bring our dad back. Then we will help you."

"You will not. If there is anyone who would refuse it is those at the top of the Homeworld command structure. Once you know the true nature of what I am trying to protect you will despise it."

"If you can't trust us to help you then you can trust my father," Boruto says, walking forward. "He is not from Homeworld. He has seen what has happened here and he has tried to change the world for the better. He has no grudge against you, against anyone but Furst himself. If you ask him for help protecting something, I know that he will help you. Please, give him a chance."

"Your father's counter-aspect is already someone who will listen to my commands. I have no reason to gamble on the original when I have certainty of controlling the replacement. I'm sorry, but until I have done what needs to be done he remains under my control."

"He will destroy Ewoa," Hinata says.

"That is a price I'm willing to pay."

The wind is the only sound as they all conclude that they have reached an impasse. Ashen will not give up control of Naruto no matter what. Hinata will not Ewoa be destroyed. Boruto will see his father returned no matter the price. Himawari wants everyone to trust one another as they should. It is she, the empress' student who walks forward first. She draws the Sacred Dagger and activates all three sources of her energy. She is ready to fight.

"Mom, bro, I am going first."

Himawari steps forward two steps before throwing the Sacred Dagger on a large arching path. She then uses her other hand to throw intense golden 'fire-lighting-wind' energy at Ashen. The empress easily blocks each of the elemental strikes with her bio-hardened skin and then catches the Sacred Dagger mid-flight. However, this is a more determined and tenacious Himawari than the one who fought her previously, this is a Himawari fighting for her father. She runs towards her teacher and uses her telekinetic control of the dagger to vibrate it microscopically, gradually slipping it from Ashen's hand and driving it into her shoulder. This stuns the empress for a moment and gives Himawari a chance to make the final approach. When that final approach is complete Himawari throws golden 'fire' at Ashen, forcing her to cover her eyes, and then uses the blind spot to land a solid hit on the empress.

Ashen takes two steps back as a result of the attack and smiles faintly. It seems that Himawari is just as talented as she thought, she is learning in a very short space of time. She creates a dagger of her own from golden 'diamond' energy and ties a tether of golden 'lightning' around the handle. She then swings the dagger over her head with an ever-widening perimeter, eventually releasing it in Himawari's direction. Himawari raises the Sacred Dagger to block it but is astonished by how much power her opponent's dagger has behind it. Even though they are both class 9 warriors it is apparent how much stronger Ashen is than her. Even for class 9s Ashen is an outlier, someone with an almost impossible strength.

Driven back by the force of Ashen's attack, Himawari realises that this is a fight she won't be able to win on her own, no matter how much she might want to, so she nods to her mother, inviting her to join the fight. Ashen realises at this point that Himawari is nodding to Hinata and not Boruto because the Shadow 9th Hokage has already started to move. He is wearing the Death Mask so she cannot perceive where he is. Himawari throws the Sacred Dagger, forcing it to regularly move at ninety-degree angles so that it matches the speed of her mother who is approaching Ashen. The empress is not worried about the dagger thanks to her bio-hardening, instead focusing on the princess. Hinata times her run perfectly, swinging the Sacred Sword at Ashen like a bat, connecting at the same time as the Sacred Dagger.

Even as she is struck by both sacred weapons Ashen manages to stand her ground. This is Hinata's first time fighting against her and it stuns her. This is the monster her father fought against during the previous war. How could he have overcome someone like this? Nevertheless she must, the fate of Ewoa depends on it. Otherwise countless people will die. She is in luck, Boruto suddenly appears having been undetectable thanks to his Death Mask. The Shadow Hokage uses a golden 'death-fate' enhanced Rasengan and strikes Ashen with it, combining his strength with his mother's and his sister's. Together the three of them manage to push her back.

Ashen groans. She hoped that they would be less competent than this. All these class 9 warriors working together are a real pain. Regardless, she must win and she is determined to do just that. She focuses on Hinata first. She uses golden 'light' energy to fire a beam towards her three opponents. Halfway towards reaching the opposition trio she splits the beam in half, diverting it towards Boruto and Himawari, each of whom retreat away from that beam. Ashen then uses golden 'speed' energy to rush towards Hinata in the centre and tackles her to the ground. Next she enhances her arm strength with golden 'strength' energy and begins to strike at Hinata furiously. At first the Endou clanswoman blocks with the Sacred Sword, but Ashen uses golden 'earth' energy to tie her hands to the ground. She attacks relentlessly, not stopping until she is forced to do so.

The attacks are eventually stopped by Boruto who appears before Ashen and drives a knee into her head. As she is forced to get up he then begins to exchange strikes with her himself. Being undetectable to her until just before his strike connects give the Shadow Hokage a tremendous advantage, allowing him to connect with the majority of his strikes with very little in the way of reply. Eventually he takes his attack to the next stage, he creates a golden 'death-fate' Rasen-bomb, the technique his grandfather invented, and drives it into Ashen's chest. The explosion forces her back a few more steps and gives Hinata the chance break free of her restraints and return to her feet.

Himawari throws the Sacred Dagger towards Boruto. He catches it for a second before releasing it back into Himawari's control. She then moves the dagger around Ashen in a rapid flurry of strikes, doing little damage but severely restricting the empress' movements. Boruto waits until the dagger is behind Ashen before using the Flying Thunder God technique to teleport to the marker he just left on it. He then begins to attack her from behind. When Ashen turns to counter Boruto she is attacked from behind again, this time by Hinata with the Sacred Sword. She is impressed with their abilities, every one of them, they have cornered her, a mighty opponent. If Himawari weren't here she would fight with the intent to kill and activate her divine ability, but she decides against it as a mercy to her student.

Ashen uses golden 'absence' energy to force Boruto and Hinata's attacks to pass through her. The mother and son end up striking each other, knocking each other to the ground. The empress then uses golden 'sound' energy, firing a deafening sonic beam towards Himawari, distracting the Blaze Princess and forcing her to cover her ears. She then stamps on Hinata's leg, causing the would-be empress to cry out in pain and lean up. As Hinata leans up Ashen strikes her on the head, forcing her back down towards the ground. She then detects an attack coming towards her back from a Death Mask using Boruto. She grabs him by the wrist and swings him over her head, slamming him down into Hinata.

Himawari runs at Ashen and begins to exchange strikes with her in a rage. Ashen easily outperforms her in this strike exchange, moving faster thanks to golden 'speed' and striking harder thanks to golden 'strength'. She feels pity for her student who is only fighting to protect her father, but she is fighting for something just as important to her, and when this is over she is happy to return Naruto to this realm. Himawari's strikes are becoming slower and every few Ashen counterattacks with a single powerful strike. After ten seconds have elapsed Himawari collapses to her knees, gasping for air and looking for that extra gear that her father always seems to find. She wishes that she had some other power to call on, but she can't find any more strength.

Willpower fills Himawari and she gathers golden 'fire-lightning-wind' on her hand. She then uses her telekinetic control of the Sacred Dagger to throw it at Ashen. Ashen notices that the dagger is moving much more slowly than before and easily dodges it. It sails over her shoulder before she remembers the other use of the weapon. Boruto uses the Flying Thunder God technique to teleport to the dagger and once more creates a golden 'death-fate' enhanced Rasen-bomb, driving it into Ashen's back. This pushes her forward into Himawari's fist, an attack that stuns the empress at best. Ashen pats down her back and whispers an apology to Himawari, who she knows desperately wants to win this fight.

Ashen turns and takes Boruto to the ground, repeatedly striking him with golden 'strength' energy. She then uses golden 'diamond' energy to push all four of his limbs to the ground, refusing to allow him to stand. Then she continues to strike him until she sees the fiery determination leave him, until she is sure that he will not stand again. She then gets up herself, exhausted from all the fighting she has done, and applies golden 'healing' energy to herself. Today she has fought through the Imperial Palace guards, fought against Furst, then fought three members of the exiled Imperial Family by herself. She has had enough.

However, Hinata forces herself to her feet again.

"Why? Why do you keep doing this? Don't you care that Ewoa will be destroyed? Why do you fight for this Little Diamond?"

"I fight because it is what I have chosen to protect. I have something that I value that has nothing to do with me being the Empress of Homeworld. I am fighting to protect it because I am Helion Ashen. What do you have like that? Nothing, you are fighting to protect Ewoa because your title says that you must, you are fighting for nothing!"

"I am fighting for nothing?"

"Let this end daughter of Akashi. Since Himawari is my student I am willing to help you retake one of your nations if it would help, but the protection of the Little Diamond is a subject on which I will not compromise. Stand still and I will knock you out with this next blow, I will take that as a sign that you accept the deal."

"And you will help me take back one of Homeworld's countries?"

"That is the deal."

"Mother… mother… don't… don't…" Himawari tries to warn her mother against taking the deal but can barely summon the energy to speak. She sends the Sacred Dagger flying towards Ashen again but the empress easily deflects the weapon.

Boruto teleports to the dagger as it arrives before Ashen. He tries to throw a punch but has no energy to speak of. He places his hands on Ashen's shoulders and tries to push her away but it is not successful. As he falls to the ground Ashen catches his hand and lowers him gently. Boruto looks at his mother with pleading eyes, pleading her not to accept this deal. When Ashen has lowered him to the ground she tells him that he has done well to put up such a resistance against her.

Hinata walks to her fallen children and takes each of their hands, insisting to them that they have done well and that she is proud of them. She tells them that she thinks in the grand scheme of the war this deal is worth it. She knows from the looks in their eyes that they hate her even considering a deal knowing what it will do to their father. However, it looks like Hinata has no choice, this is the only way she has of continuing the war against Furst.

Hinata turns back to Ashen and kneels before her, a sight that would horrify those who came before her, those who swore to fight against the Dark Dimension. She has resigned herself to defeat here and she gives Ashen the go-ahead to knock her out, to solidify their deal to take at least one of Homeworld's great nations back.

A 'gale' arrow flies towards Ashen and hits her in the back, an attack that doesn't remotely hurt the empress. She turns and sees that Shao Chin has just attacked her. She retaliates with her own haphazard blast of golden 'gale' energy before walking over and inspecting him. He appears to be no threat to her so she feels no need to kill him. Meanwhile Hinata turns back to Boruto and Himawari, holding their hands one more time and apologising to them. She then feels a strong rush of emotion from her other-self along with a single word.

"No."

Hinata turns back to Ashen as the empress approaches once again. The Dark Dimension warrior apologises for the interruption and Hinata does the same, claiming responsibility for Shao Chin and thanking the empress for her mercy. Hinata closes her eyes, still considering her options one final time before telling Ashen that she is ready.

Ashen strikes towards Hinata.

"No."

Hinata catches Ashen's attack.

"Actually Ashen, I do have something I'm fighting for."

"The princess fights for Ewoa."

"Yes, but Endou-Hyuuga Hinata fights for something very different. I am fighting for Naruto. That's why I have to keep going. Your offer of helping us take back a country was impossible for the empress to refuse, but it is impossible for me to accept. I must fight for Naruto; I can't risk letting you control him. I must fight!"

Suddenly Himawari gets up, her energy rejuvenated. This makes no sense to the empress, but it was something observed by Enri previously. When Hinata touched her shoulder she was able to donate her energy, she just did the same thing when she held Himawari's hand. The Blaze Princess uses this last bit of energy to throw the Sacred Dagger at her teacher as hard as she can. This time Ashen is too tired to block completely and is pushed back by the dagger.

Next Boruto uses the Flying Thunder God technique to teleport to the Sacred Dagger. He creates a third and final golden 'death-fate' Rasen-bomb and drives it into Ashen's abdomen. He collapses once again having spent the energy that his mother donated to him. Now only Hinata is left and he watches his mother press on. The princess seems to be moving on adrenaline alone yet somehow she looks more powerful than she ever has before.

"I won't let you have Naruto!" Hinata says.

Ashen aims a wild punch at Hinata's head. Hinata ducks beneath the punch, creating a clear opening upon the exhausted Dark Dimension Empress.

"Because I love him," she finishes.

Hinata slams the Sacred Sword powerfully down into Ashen's shoulder, instilling it with more divine energy than she ever has before. The empress looks at the daughter of her most famous enemy with resolve in her eyes, she cannot go down here, not when the Little Diamond is depending upon her. However, Hinata's eyes are filled with the same determination, she cannot fail with this attack when Naruto's life is depending upon it. Ashen is certain that her bio-hardening will protect her, even against an attack as powerful as this.

But then the bio-hardening gives!

Ashen sees something in Hinata, something that the two of them share. Hinata cares about this man just as much as she cares about the Little Diamond. It is a ferocity of resolve that she cannot compete against, not in this state. She is forced down to one knee and she laments that she was too weak to protect that which she cares most about. She is forced down to the second knee and looks at Endou-Hyuuga Hinata one final time.

'Well Akashi, your daughter is quite remarkable.'

Projected by the explosive force behind the Sacred Sword, Ashen is slammed down into the ground. Working together the Endou family have defeated her.

Hinata is about to fall when she uses the Sacred Sword to steady herself. She shouts loudly, emptying her lungs in a guttural roar.

'Just a little more now Naruto. We can still save Ewoa. We can still be happy when this is over. We just need to stop the other you. I know that you can do it, because I believe in you, because I love you.'

In Response to m'j doom
Who suggests I write a compendium after completing this story

I will do my best.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to NicoFics
Who asks what the tailed-beasts' elements are

I can't reveal that yet as it would give away spoilers.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to S
Who asks if there is a double-transcendent counterpart to 'chaos' energy

As you say, it is 'order' energy.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to Sarada chan san
Who asks how much time has passed since Muto Sora died

With everything that has happened I think that at least two years has passed since then.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to Engineer
Who asks how Tsunade is class 8

You're right, I've messed up.
I was supposed to write her understanding tier 3 'death' energy and I wrote her understanding tier 2 energy.
I'll correct it when I have time.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to Guest
Who asks where the Ugokanai Mada name comes from

It was supposed to be the opposite of Naruto's name. But my Japanese isn't very good and now I notice I've mis-used a translation engine.

Naruto's name means whirlpool. Mada's name was supposed to be mean still, but Mada means still as in 'remains' rather than still as in 'unmoving'.

The name seems OK though and it's already in use now so it's too late to change it. That's a strange way to name a character isn't it, by making bad Japanese-English translations.

Thanks for reading.