IMPERIALS – FIGHTING ASHEN

East Ewoa

Naruto and Hinata arrive at the spot Claude mentioned. It is a spectacular view. A slightly warmer climate than the one they just left, no snow on the ground. The hills are as tall as the rest of Homeworld, much taller than anything in the pocket-world. There is a large group of colourful birds flying over the top of the area, and a winding river meandering through the peaks. Claude was right to suggest this place to them, it is nice.

"It's not bad is it?" Hinata asks.

"Not bad?"

"Homeworld. When you're not fighting for your life you can use your normal eyes and just look at it. That's one of the great things about this world. You can find spots like this, where you could just stop and look at the view for hours, finding new beauty everywhere you look. I think it's good to be reminded sometimes that leading this world is not just a duty, it's a privilege."

"You did this sort of thing before the coup?"

"Sure. I was weaker back then and I couldn't ravel as fast as we can now. My mother would go ahead. You know what class 9 warriors are… well you know how fast you can move. After a day or so of travelling she would summon dad, Mana and me to the spot. He found it difficult not intervening in the business of the other countries, but he would explain to me that it was worth keeping that promise. He told me about how Homeworld was once ravaged by war, and then he would show me things like this. He said that people see things like this because of a united Homeworld, a Homeworld for all people, he told me that was why duty was important. But duty is not without its privileges."

"I agree. One day soon I will see that you get those privileges."

"I'm here with you Naruto, that is a privilege itself."

Naruto smiles, that is one of the nicest things Endou Hinata has said to him.

"Do you remember anything about the pocket-world?"

"A few flashes but nothing really, it's all just information and one-off emotions. I don't have the context for the memories."

"When I was young I wanted to be the Hokage. I didn't really understand about duty and privilege at the time, but I saw that they were always acknowledged. The people trusted the Hokage and they respected them. The Hokage's heads were carved into stone and they watched over the village. When Sarada brought us here the village had been mostly destroyed, but I went there and saw the remains of it. That felt like a privilege to me, an honour, I was acknowledged by all the people of the village. I had the acknowledgement I always wanted as a young man."

"Now you are acknowledged by more people than you ever knew existed."

"Do you know what Boruto did to that monument?"

"No."

"He objected to the idea that his father was spending too much time in meetings. He waited until I was meeting with the leaders of the other village and painted insulting messages on it!"

Hinata laughs. "I wish I had been there to see that."

"I doubt we found it very funny at the time. It was an important meeting I was supposed to be attending."

"I wish I could see that side of Boruto more."

"So do I. I was a lot like him when I was young. We had different reasons for what we did, but we did the same things. We craved acknowledgement, me from the people of the village, and him from me. When this is over I'm sure we can meet that Boruto again, the one who smiles and laughs with us. Yes, I'm certain that will be the case, I promised that I would help him with that strange energy after all. My job is not done until he is free."

"I know that you will succeed."

"Yeah?"

"One thing I've learned is that it's always wrong to bet against you."

"I don't know if everyone would always agree. When Furst attacked the academy I couldn't do anything. When we ran I was captured by Mars and I exhausted myself fighting against him. It was because the others were taking me away that you fought against him. It was my fault that he nearly killed you that day. If you didn't have two souls I would have lost you there."

"Nobody's perfect," Hinata says. "I think you've done alright though."

"Thank you Crown Princess."

Hinata laughs. "So, what do we do now?"

"You've not been on any official private engagements before?"

"No, you are the first. I think having three class 9s in my immediate family might have been quite intimidating to most people."

"Back when we were in the pocket-world we would have ramen together," Naruto explains. "We would spend a lot of time talking about Boruto and Himawari and the amazing things we have seen them do. I'm sure that they're doing something amazing right now, but unfortunately there is no ramen around here. Have you got any ideas?"

"My parents used to dance together," Hinata says.

"Are you asking me to dance, Hinata?"

Hinata stands and nods slightly to Naruto. The 7th Hokage gets to his feet and offers his hand to Hinata. They begin a slow dance together, the stunning view in the background ignored as they lock eyes with one another. Hinata observes the way he moves, a dance unlike any she has ever seen but it feels surprisingly familiar, perhaps from one of her flashbacks. She feels great comfort with Naruto like this, more so than she has felt in a long time. However, after a minute passes she realises something about his movements. He is awful at dancing!

"I thought as a shinobi you would be better at this," she says.

"I'm doing my best."

"Have I found one of your weaknesses Lord 7th?"

"After we fought against Clyde we tried dancing in our free time. We took a couple of lessons but eventually we had to stop."

"Oh why?"

"I thought we were getting better, but Boruto and Himawari kept laughing at us."

"It's no wonder they laughed if we were both moving like that," Hinata chuckles. "Use the One True Sense for a moment, look me in the eye and sense where my feet are moving. It's just like following the rhythm of a fight, I know you are good at that. Now all you do is move at the right time, as easy as that. I'm sure that it's nothing you can't do."

Naruto follows Hinata's instructions and after a few minutes he does begin to improve. She smiles though, Boruto and Himawari were right, they must have been awful dancers. She will need to give him another lesson it seems. She reviews that thought in her head. Does she want to give him another lesson? All this time she has been a reluctant admirer of his, but now is she feeling the beginning of an attachment? She realises that maybe this was not all a coincidence, maybe fate has been working for them all this time. Maybe she does want to give him another dance lesson.

Several Hours Later, East Ewoa

Mana smiles at the returning couple, still walking hand-in-hand. If the smile on her sister's face is anything to go by, this has been a successful official private engagement. That is just what everyone has been hoping for, a true bond between the would-be empress and the would-be saviour of this world. But Mana was hoping for something more personal, she was hoping to see her sister relax for once, to enjoy the company of someone else during these trying times. It seems that her hope has been fulfilled.

"What do I say?" Naruto asks as they approach.

"You bow to her. You address her by her title; you then explain that the engagement is done and then you thank me and my family. Remember, call us both by our official titles. Have you got all that?"

"I'll try."

Naruto and Hinata take a few more steps before standing in front of Mana. The 7th Hokage bows properly before returning to a standing position.

"Senior Aide Yoshida Mana, the official private engagement is complete. I extend my gratitude to Crown Princess Endou Hinata and her family."

Mana nods her head. "You have the gratitude of the Imperial Family, Rebellion Leader Uzumaki Naruto. If the Crown Princess has any words she wishes to speak on the record she will now have time to do so."

Mana grins at her sister. This is where her thoughts must be spoken aloud, thoughts that will be recorded in history. If Hinata wants to do this again procedure would be to say so now. If the offer is extended for recurring private engagements then follow-up measures will be taken. Specifically, the members of the Imperial Family, in this case Mana herself, will have the duty of announcing the relationship between the two of them to the world. That is a moment Mana has always wanted to see, a moment she may be about to witness now. She crosses her fingers and hopes that her sister is as happy as she looks.

But Hinata hesitates.

"Rebellion Leader, I feel that I can trust you, more so than anyone I have ever met. You are a good and honest man, a friend to the Imperial Family. No, you are the closest friend the family has ever had. That is why I feel that I should reward you in keeping with the strength of that friendship and loyalty. As reward for your valour in battle, I see fit to offer you the position… of King of Cheqitori."

Mana's shoulders slump. Hinata has messed up.

"You want me to go to Cheqitori?"

"The Hertz clan is the most influential in Cheqitori. Along with the Seer Twins you have made many friends and contacts in that country, a nation that borders with Seblix and Fayoth. It has quick access to the Crystal Caves and it would be easy for you to visit the capital. I feel that of all the places you could be sent it would be the most convenient for you and your people."

Naruto feels tearful.

He shakes his head and answers, "No…"

With his final word on the matter spoken, Naruto turns and departs.

"Sis, why did you do that?" Mana asks.

"Cheqitori is a fine kingdom."

"Don't be stupid. You know that making him King of Cheqitori means he would hardly ever see you. You did that on purpose so that you would be separated. Why? I saw you smile with him; I saw you happier than you have been a long time. When you walked towards me with him, I saw past this mask you wear for a change. I didn't see the princess fighting for Homeworld, I saw my sister and she was happy. Why didn't you want another date with him sis? What went so wrong?"

"Nothing went wrong."

"What did you do?"

"We went to the beauty spot Claude suggested. We danced together and spoke about the future. It was nice, to imagine a time when this is all over. He made me feel hope, he made me smile."

"Then why not…" Mana sighs as she realises. "You're not scared of doing it again because it went poorly. You're scared of doing it again because it went well. That's good sis, why don't you want to feel that way again? Why are you putting up these walls between the two of you?"

"Because the last time I got closer to a pocket-worlder she—"

"Hinata…"

"Sakura died because she was fighting for my cause," Hinata says. "My father, my uncle, my friend, I have already lost too many good people for this cause. I never wanted him to fight with us in the first place, but gradually I learned to accept the pocket-worlders as allies. But I can't grow close to someone again and lose them, especially not him. It's better not to feel that pain."

"You're afraid."

"Yes, I'm afraid!"

"Then as your Senior Aide I encourage you to fight your fear, for the people of Homeworld. As your sister, I beg you to try again. You and he are meant to be, and I think you know that. If anyone can make you smile like you were before, please don't turn them away. Because if I can't see you happy I don't know what I'm fighting for."

"How do I know that he won't die like the others?"

"You don't, and that's why living with him is so worthwhile, that's what makes it so special. Try again one more time sis, let him make you smile again. If you still feel the same way afterwards then we can think again."

"Mana."

"Yes?"

"He is… different."

Mana smiles, "Yes."

"Send him an invitation to a second official private engagement."

"Right away."

The Dark Dimension

Himawari throws the Sacred Dagger towards Dark Dimension Empress Helion Ashen. She arches it through the air, curving it left then right until it eventually approaches the empress head-on. Ashen lifts her hand to stop it, seemingly falling into Himawari's trap. However, when the Sacred Dagger strikes her hand it doesn't do any damage. It is like the dagger has flown into a concrete wall, the only difference being that the wall would have sustained more damage.

Himawari gestures back with her hand, intending to pull the Sacred Dagger back towards her, but Ashen closes her hand around it. The empress squeezes the blade tightly but thanks to her own bio‑hardening powers she does not suffer a scratch. She locks eyes with Himawari and smiles, recognising the shock of a new experience on the shinobi's face. She continues to tighten her grip, experimenting on what will break first, her hardened flesh or the dagger.

Ashen suddenly releases the Sacred Dagger having sensed something approaching from behind. She turns and grabs Boruto's wrist. He is usually detectable for a fraction of a second before he attacks with the Death Mask, but she detected him in plenty of time, faster than anyone ever has before. Boruto is just as shocked as his sister was, their grandmother was right. Ashen is an absolutely terrifying opponent.

'Backwards,' Akashi's voice says.

Boruto uses his grandfather's Step Burst technique to retreat, pulling his wrist free of Ashen. This amuses the empress for a moment, but no longer. She is the possessor of the Dark Dimension's Crown, a stone that gives her access to all standard and transcendent elements. She uses 'speed' energy to pursue Boruto, quickly grabbing hold of his wrist again. She uses 'strength' energy to consolidate her grip this time, refusing to let him go. She swings him up into the air, ready to slam him back towards the ground.

Boruto takes a kunai from his pocket. He use his wind chakra to give the air an elastic quality. He throws his kunai towards Himawari but bounces it back towards Ashen who is directly beneath him. He coverts it into a Rasengan using his unique powers and then applies golden 'death' and golden 'fate' to it as it passes. Ashen lifts her hand and coats it with 'diamond' energy and uses it to block the Rasengan, a momentary distraction that allows Boruto to wriggle free and jump back to his sister's side.

Ashen grins. "Strange power that you two use, it's clearly not divine energy. Tell me, are you two from the Dark Dimension?"

"We are from a pocket-world," Boruto explains. "Furst Jonas created it using science that he learnt from the Dark Dimension during your invasion of Homeworld. Our power is a mixture of divine energy and chakra."

Boruto and Himawari see Ashen's hostile intentions disappear as the empress relaxes.

"When I suggested that only an Endou can defeat me you claimed that this was my lucky day. What did you mean by that? Are you suggesting that you are members of the Endou Clan?"

"Emperor Endou Akashi's daughter was sent to a pocket-world. She went through a cycle of reincarnations before meeting our father in that pocket-world. She is our mother. We are half-Homeworlder and half-pocket-worlders. We are Endou's in a manner of speaking, Endou Akashi is our grandfather."

"That would explain where you learnt the Step Burst technique."

"Yes, he taught me that," Boruto says, half-truthfully.

"Tell me, after the war a lot must have happened. Did your grandfather or anyone else ever discover anything about the Little Diamond?"

"What's the Little Diamond?"

"Just answer the question."

"No, I don't think so," Himawari says. "We have never heard anything about a Little Diamond."

"That's good."

Ashen turns to look at the shrinking Dark Dimension. This place was still large enough to sustain an empire when she left it to fight in the war, now she looks at it in horror. This is the realm that she was entrusted with protecting, but there is nobody here. That is a symbol of her ultimate failing. It seems that hiding the Little Diamond may have been her only success.

"Did anyone from my world survive?" Ashen asks.

"No. I'm sorry," Boruto answers. "You are the last survivor of the Dark Dimension."

"I see."

Moments ago Himawari was terrified, but now she feels sorry for the empress. This is how her mother must have felt for a long time, an empress who feels that she has failed. When Ashen realised they weren't a threat to her she stopped attacking them, she tried to learn about them. Even now that she knows they are Akashi's grandchildren she is not acting with any hostility. The Little Diamond might be Ashen's reason for calming down, perhaps there is one thing left that is worth her fighting for it.

"Why did you unseal me?" Ashen asks.

"Have you heard of the Hive Mind?"

Ashen laughs, "Oh is that still around?"

"It is stuck in my former teacher's head," Boruto explains. "Right now he has some self-control, but occasionally the Hive Mind takes over. One time it took over and my sister killed one of our close friends by mistake. We need to find a way to eliminate the Hive Mind, and you are the only person who can help us. Please, save my sister from the Hive Mind."

"I would be in your debt," Himawari says.

"We both would."

Ashen thinks about it.

"OK," says the empress. "The war ended a long time ago; the Hive Mind has no purpose anymore. I will help you."

In Response to Many
Who send congratulations on reaching 300 chapters

Thanks all, getting to 300 chapters does feel like a big milestone.

I know the story is getting towards the end now, but it has been a lot of fun to write.
There have been times where it has been hard to find time to write, but the encouragement you have all given me has been fantastic, very motivating.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to Sarada chan san
Who asks several questions

Q1: Would Hinata approve of Boruto and Sarada's engagement?
A1: I suppose she would want them to go through certain formalities.

Q2: How many chapters do I plan to have?
A2: I know how many chapters I plan to have, but I don't want to reveal it at risk of removing some tension from the end of the story. Sorry, I hope that is OK.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to NicoFics
Who asks how many chapters part 14 will have

As above, I don't like to reveal the number of chapters.
I worry that it makes the ending obvious and takes away some tension.

Sorry about that.

Thanks for reading.