THE END WAR – THE REUNION
Otoriko, Gavaria
"Hello Swen."
"Hello Uzumaki, is my son doing well?"
"Ming Dai is OK. The attack on Dunstone could have killed him though. Why do you continue to let Jonas act this way? Do you want to stay alive yourself more than you want to protect Dai?"
"Do you believe that Dai's chances of surviving will go up if I join the rebellion? Don't be stupid," Swen says while acting more animated than usual. "Do you still not understand your predicament Uzumaki? You have reached the limit of your divine energy; you can't get any stronger without understanding a third double-transcendent element. Even for a genius like you that would be years away. You cannot defeat him!"
"Do you think that Jonas will spare him?"
"I doubt it, but that is his only hope. The chances of the emperor being merciful are greater than the chances of you winning this war. With Nadia's help I am sure that we can find a way to placate him."
"It's not too late to be a father to him Swen. Join the rebellion, tell Nadia to help us as well. With your insight and her genius I'm sure that we could find a way to win. "
"I disagree."
Naruto sighs. "Are you going to stay and fight, or are you going to run away?"
"I can't afford to get on his bad side. I have to try fighting you."
"I understand. King of Ewoa vs King of Gavaria then?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself, the empire hasn't acknowledged you as a king."
"Maybe not, but the people have."
The Hokage all brace themselves. The shinobi and the soldiers step back, away from the danger zone. They have all heard that Naruto can now fight on this level but they struggle to believe it. The last time they saw someone fight on the royal level was Muto Sora. People like King Hoffman Swen are fabled figures for them, transcendent beings who are impossible to defeat. Nevertheless, they are all quietly optimistic of their victory. They all hold Naruto in similar regard, the one who Clyde and Sarada promised them would make the difference between victory and defeat.
Swen activates his golden 'psychic' cloak.
Naruto activates his golden 'life' and golden 'fate' cloaks.
Unlike the soldiers and the shinobi Swen has no doubt about the outcome of this fight. It is inevitable that he will lose here.
Naruto power-transfers to both legs and throws himself at Swen. He power-transfers to both arms before striking the King of Gavaria. Naruto lands four punches, skilfully dodging both of Swen's attempts at counterattacks. He then power-transfers to one leg before landing a neatly-timed kick to the back of Swen's head. Swen turns to face his opponent one final time before seeing what Naruto has in store for him.
Naruto's arm is now powered not only with Detonation Martial Arts, but it is also enhanced by 'might' energy as well, the power that they have been warned about. Naruto bends his knees slightly to strike Swen from below, he then unleashes a powerful punch into the King of Gavaria's chest. Swen feels an intense pain throughout his entire body before the strike is even complete. When the contact between the 7th Hokage and his opponent ends Swen is sent flying through the roof and miles away into the distance.
The entire royal palace shakes a result of the strike, a symbol of Naruto's true power. Four powered-up punches, one powered-up kick, one final superpowered-punch, that makes for six strikes in total. Naruto does not just defeat Swen, he humiliates him. The shinobi and soldiers are reminded why they have such faith and belief in him, because he always finds a way to persevere in the most difficult situations.
Naruto looks over to Odion. "He has probably hit the ground by now. Go four or five miles that way. If you don't want to go the same way he did, run."
Odion immediately runs from the room. Although it was not in the way the shinobi and soldiers expected they have succeeded in their mission here today. The rebellion has taken Otoriko in spite of resistance from the empire. Gavaria has become the second nation to be liberated from the tyrannical empire of Furst Jonas.
Several shinobi and soldiers run to Naruto's side to congratulate, greet and thank him. Several embrace him emotionally, telling him of their years of anxiety, of their relief that he has finally returned to them. He assures them all that everything will be fine now, that he is going to protect them going forward.
Kiba, Shino and Tenten approach their old friend.
"You were gone for too long," Kiba says.
"I would have come sooner but you can't trust Sasuke with anything," Naruto jokes.
"You are King of Ewoa?" Tenten asks.
"Yes, it's a long story but Hinata is—"
Shino interrupts. "We have heard, she is a reincarnated soul, part Hyuuga part Endou, the daughter of the previous emperor. Having been her teammate for so long I can only apologise for not having realised."
"None of us knew, there were never any signs before all of this happened. Not even Boruto and Himawari knew. Don't worry though, the two Hinata's are now merging. They are becoming one person. It is kind of hard to explain."
"I'm sure you can tell us another time," Tenten says, pulling her two fellow shinobi away to let others have a turn speaking to Naruto.
"It's good to see you again Naruto," Tobirama says.
"A relief," Hiruzen adds.
Naruto nods to each of them and shakes hands with Shinki and the soldiers he met in his pocket-world. Then he turns to the person who he has saved until last. He looks at his teacher for the first time in years, he looks at Kakashi. Naruto feels his shoulders drop and relaxes as he sees Kakashi. He knows that he is much stronger than the 6th Hokage but seeing him again makes this feel like old times, back when everything was safer. It also brings forward complicated emotions.
"Do you know about Sakura?"
"Yes."
Naruto lowers his head. "I did everything I could sensei, I promise. I had fought Erik and saved Himawari and I just had no energy left to spare. I did everything I could to save her, but I blacked out. When I woke up I thought Sasuke hated me and everyone left, but I didn't stop trying. I kept going and going until now. I hope that I have done enough."
Kakashi rests his hand on Naruto's head. "You have done more than anyone could have ever asked Naruto. I am proud of you."
"Naruto!" Nina says, interrupting the emotional reunion. "Sarada has been taken by Jonas. He said that he was interested in one of her powers. I don't know what he has in mind but it can't be good."
Naruto nods. "You mentioned to me that you have used these communication stones to setup a network. Send out the message to the rebellion that Sarada has been captured."
This message will prove to be one of the most important messages ever sent by the rebellion's new network. In years to come Sarada's capture will be recognised as a catalyst. The End War has already begun, but the final stretch of that war will be started by this message. Uchiha Sarada is a very important person, to Naruto, to the shinobi, to the soldiers, and to so many others. Not even Naruto anticipates the speed of the response it generates.
One Hour Later, Otoriko, Gavaria
Otoriko gets yet another set of major guests. This time it is a group led by the Imperial of another realm, specifically the Empress of the Dark Dimension. Although she is the most powerful of them and usually takes charge of their actions, currently Boruto is leading their dash towards the royal palace. He is naturally followed by Himawari, Ashen, Shikadai, ChouChou, Inojin, and Temari. They all quickly enter the palace and run to the throne room where Naruto and the shinobi are.
The return of Boruto at first causes some alarm from the shinobi and soldiers. Remembering the faked betrayal of Shikadai, ChouChou, and Inojin also gives them the same anxious feeling. They still remember when they were the enemy, and now they are here with a woman who is clearly not from Homeworld. Ashen may appear strange to them, but most are very excited to see Himawari and Temari, two people who have remained allies to the shinobi and Homeworld throughout the course of the war.
Boruto approaches Naruto ahead of the others.
"Boruto…"
"Where is she?"
"Sarada was gone before I arrived," Naruto explains. "You probably heard the message, I'm sorry but it's true. Jonas has taken Sarada. She's probably in Okarin now. Everyone says that he was interested in her power, but I don't know exactly what he wants from her."
"Why didn't you save her?"
"It was already too late."
Boruto grabs Naruto's shirt angrily but stops himself from acting any further. The shinobi and soldiers are clearly afraid of him already, the last thing he needs is to make them view him as hostile. However, this is the first time he has come close to meeting Sarada in years, yet she has slipped away. Things are looking bad for her now, and if the worst comes to pass he will never see his fiancée again.
Himawari approaches Boruto and places a hand on his wrist. Boruto seems to snap awake and removes his hands from his father, thanking his sister for the prompt. Still, he doesn't know what they do now. Is it already too late to save Sarada? Even if they try something are they strong enough to save her? He tells himself to reject those thoughts. He doesn't care if the odds of success are good. He will throw away everything he has worked for if he can help Sarada, he cares too much to give up now.
"You think she's in Okarin?"
Naruto nods. "The Imperial Palace probably."
"Then… I am going after her."
"There is no 'I' in this situation," a new voice says. "Boruto, you are not going after Sarada alone. If she is in danger I am coming with you."
It is Senju Hashirama!
Half-an-Hour Ago, West Seblix
"If Sarada is in trouble then we must help her," Hashirama told Mitsuki.
"I don't know that I can help her in this battle."
"What do you mean by that? Do you want to stay here while I go after her? On your own in Homeworld, that isn't a good idea, not even for someone as strong as you Mitsuki. Besides, I know how much you care about your comrades. You wouldn't be able to forgives yourself if you did nothing and she died."
"I don't intend to do nothing!" Mitsuki shouted. "I just can't help in that way. I think I can help in a different way though. Would you mind taking a slight detour?"
"We can't afford to waste time on detours!" Hashirama said.
"Lord 1st, Hashirama, I can't help in the same way you can, but my help may be just as valuable as your own. You are a class 9 warrior, this detour may slow you down slightly, but it could mean the difference between life and death for Sarada. Please, a small detour, let me help the only way I know how."
Present Time, Otoriko, Gavaria
Himawari grabs the Sacred Dagger and prepares to fight. She quickly realises that this won't help and removes her hand from the dagger. If Hashirama loses control and the Hive Mind takes over she wants to be as far away from her weapon as possible. Nevertheless she still doesn't trust herself in his proximity. His very presence makes her nervous, something that the Empress of the Dark Dimension notes. She understands now how anxious Himawari must be, how upsetting it is that any second she could lose control of her own body.
"Naruto, you're going to Okarin aren't you?" Hashirama asks as he approaches his successor. "If you're at the limit of your strength then there is no sense in delaying any longer. The difference between attacking the Imperial Palace today and tomorrow is simple. If we attack tomorrow we may save Homeworld, if we attack today we may save Homeworld and Sarada."
"Of course I'm going," Naruto says.
"Then take me with you!"
"How do we know that you can control the Hive Mind?" Himawari asks. "If you lose control there is no knowing what I could do. The key moment may arrive, my father may finally have a chance to defeat Jonas, but if you lose control then I could attack him and cost us all our lives."
"I have only lost control a few times."
"That is a few times too many. What happened to Mitsuki, and Tsunade?"
"Mitsuki went his own way, he had some crazy idea."
"And Tsunade?"
"She attacked me when I… lost control," Hashirama admits.
"Can we really afford to take a chance on something like that happening again?" Himawari asks. "The fact is Lord 1st if you go into battle then I become a liability. If you come with us we are trading one reliable class 9 warrior for another. I have known Sarada all my life, would you really make me stay behind."
"I know that I have been wrong in the past, that I have cost you all something. I know that I terrified everyone when I almost killed you Naruto. I lead Boruto astray, I shouldn't have done that. I allowed myself to be killed by Tao Ma, to be controlled by the Hive Mind. Sakura's death was my fault. But let me make something clear, I have fought as hard as I can for this village, for its people. I helped to create the Hidden Leaf Village, Madara and I built the foundations.
"I failed when Sakura died. That may be the greatest failing of my life. But I will not fail her again! Even if I die on this dangerous road, I will walk it with you all to help save Sarada. I know that you all have reasons to distrust me, but I stand before you ready to help. I know that this is almost impossible to believe, but please have faith for just a moment.
"I am still the 1st Hokage!"
Himawari looks at him. Her fear slips away. He is right, he is not here as a threat to her. While it is theoretically possible that the Hive Mind will control her, the likely outcome of this is that he will die. Despite knowing that, Hashirama is ready to give his life to protect Sarada. These are not the actions of a villainous manipulator; these are indeed the actions of the 1st Hokage.
"You can come," Himawari says.
Boruto trusted Hashirama when he shouldn't have done, while the former was controlled by the Hive Mind. The Shadow Hokage hopes that during some of their time together Hashirama's words and thoughts were his own, that his tutelage and advice was real. They have been a force for evil for too long. Now they can work together once again with a different aim in mind. They are not here to destroy or to kill, they are here to protect another, to protect the village they love. That is why he is reluctant to declare the findings of their recent search.
"We found the answer to destroying the Hive Mind," Boruto says. "But it isn't possible."
"What is it?" Hashirama asks.
"The Hive Mind becomes vulnerable when it has completed its mission. When every Homeworlder has been killed it will take control of your body. The only way to destroy the Hive Mind forever would be to kill you after that has happened. I am sorry Hashirama-sensei, but that isn't possible. You are going to be stuck with the Hive Mind forever."
Hashirama sighs. "It's not your fault Boruto. I would rather it was stuck with me than anyone else. I don't know how but I will find a way to supress it. If I must then I will stay in a pocket-world alone. This is disappointing but it isn't the end. We can keep moving forward, as long as we have hope. We will fight this together, all of us. I've noticed something recently. When we fight apart, sometimes we lose. But, when we fight together as the Hidden Leaf Village, we have never been defeated."
Boruto smiles, taking encouragement from what Hashirama says. That's right. They fought together in the captained-six contest, they fought together when they attacked the Foundry, both times they were victorious. United they have never failed. Perhaps even overcoming the Hive Mind and defeating Furst Jonas is possible.
Naruto claps his hands loudly.
"Let's do it then. There is no time to waste. We attack Okarin now!"
The shinobi and soldiers all smile.
"Nina, inform the rebellion," Naruto says.
"You know that Nadia will anticipate this," Nina says.
"I know."
"They are well aware that you have several class 9 allies. They will have reinforced Okarin with all their forces. The generals, the royals, the emperor himself, they will all be waiting for you in the Imperial Palace. If you attack now this is the end of the war. You either win or you die."
"You once told me that people see me differently. You said that I look into their eyes, I tell them that we can win and that they believe me. We can win Nina. We will win! Do you believe me?"
Nina glances at Naruto and smiles. He is right to remember those words, she was right to speak them to begin with. She is filled with confidence from the moment she sees his eyes. The chances are that they will lose, but somehow he has persuaded her otherwise. She believes him, they can win this fight, they will win this fight!
"I'll let them know," Nina says.
"Hold on one moment," Ashen says, walking forward. "This plan is crazy. Shikadai, you're supposed to be a strategist, is this plan a good idea?"
"Not at all," Shikadai admits. "But we should do it anyway."
"Who are you?" Naruto asks.
Ashen approaches Naruto, standing only a foot from him. "I know more than anyone about fighting these people. I am Helion Ashen. I once brought these people to the edge of their demise, I fought their strongest to the brink of death, and I changed this place forever. I am your daughter's teacher, and I am the Empress of the Dark Dimension."
Naruto is not intimidated. This impresses Ashen.
"I am Uzumaki Naruto. I'm the student of Kakashi, Jariya, Nina, Sora and Enri, teacher of Sarada and Hannah. I am the 7th Hokage, the King of Ewoa, the Pocket-Emperor, Leader of the Rebellion and the Free People of Homeworld. I am going to save Sarada, and the rebellion will follow me into battle.
"Will you join us Helion Ashen?"
Ashen smiles.
"Very well. If there is going to be a final battle to determine the fate of Homeworld I want to see it."
"Then you will."
The full might of the empire stands ready. The mighty generals, Alaa, Rana, Odion, Yasmine, Dodi, Nero, and Head General Al-Aziz Safura. Noble King Hertz Erik of Cheqitori, Science King Weiss Max of Aturia, Thinking Queen Hirsch Nadia of Seblix, Lazy King Hoffman Swen of Gavaria, Puppet Queen Huen Petra of Fayoth, and Crazy Queen Mauer Sabine of Ewoa. They also have the most powerful warrior of all, Emperor Furst Jonas himself. They stand with countless soldiers from the Imperial Guard, ready to fight in the final battle of the End War.
But the rebellion has come a long way since Muto Sora gambled on them. Naruto moves to invade Okarin, bringing with him 1st Hokage Senju Hashirama, Blaze Princess Uzumaki Himawari, Crown Prince and Shadow 9th Hokage Uzumaki Boruto, and Empress of the Dark Dimension Helion Ashen. They stand with the oppressed people of this world, with the weak who have suffered at the hands of Furst, the oppressed who will surely come to their aid when ready.
This final battle has been brewing for years.
Rebellion vs Empire.
Naruto vs Jonas.
Today is finally the day.
In Response to m'j doom
Who asks several questions
Question: Is Furst's element 'destruction' and is Sarada's 'creation'?
Answer: Yes, both are correct.
Question: Will this arc be long?
Answer: If I said how long it would potentially take away some tension. I couldn't possibly do that.
Thanks for reading.
In Response to BusGrunts
Who asks if Naruto has told Minato about Kurama needing to understand an element
Yes. I didn't think the dialogue worth including.
Thanks for reading.
In Response to Sarada chan san
Who asks if Petra can use 'control' to make someone else use divine energy
Yes she can, but she needs to be significantly stronger than them in order to do so.
Thanks for reading.