Here's chapter 2, this showcases properly the empire and we won't go back to the Elemental Nations for some time.
"Live," Sasuke's voice brought confusion into his mind. It wasn't until the sharp pain in his abdomen that he realised his friend had kicked him.
His eyes med the black hair Uchiha's own three tomoe red orbed sharingan. Those eyes filled with regret and sadness. His own blue globes could only stare in shock as he fell.
Sasuke performed the hand seals necessary for the Chidori. He could only stare as his friend turned back around and ran out of view. The chirping sounds of a thousand birds and grunts of men fighting were the last things he coherently heard before he impacted the water.
"No, why are Konoha shinobi fighting each other? We're all a part of the same village, we all came from the same academy, the same home. Why would you all turn on us?"
"If it was me, I'd understand. But it wasn't just me, but granny Tsunade, pervy sage, Sasuke, Sakura, Shikamaru, Kiba, Choji, Neji, Hinata."
Deep within him, the nine tailed fox scoffed.
"This is the nature of humans brat. Don't be so shocked," his deep voice rumbled behind him. "Your third Hokage was both a naive fool and a hypocrite."
"Shut up," he yelled back. The sewage like space where he stood was filled be nothing but damp water. A single massive cage lay before him and within it, the nine tails.
"Don't talk about us that way, you don't know what you're talking about!" He screamed desperately.
"Don't fool yourself, you know perfectly well of which I speak. You don't live to be as old as I without witnessing these things first hand," the fox scoffed. His orange furred head moved back into the shadow.
"Wallow in your own pity for all I care, just make sure not to drag me into it."
Water, so much water. He was drowning, he realised. Water filled his lungs as he moved rapidly along with the current.
Bursting out of the surface, he thrashed around weakly to no avail. The river was too large and he was too weak, too injured. He soon fell back into the water.
This time, red chakra bubbled to the surface. The energy of the nine tails gave him the strength he needed to push to the surface.
As if it too was crying, the land of fire was covered in a thunderstorm. Trees had fallen over into the river and one so happens to be nearby. He gripped onto it with all he had.
Using it as support, he drifted helplessly further and further away from where he had fallen.
…
Naruto opened his eyes steadily. "That dream again huh," he whimpered. Pushing the blankets aside, he sat up from his enormous bed.
Naruto's room wasn't like his childhood home. It was big, massive, filled with luxurious furniture, mirrors, and a massive bed of silk sheets and pillows. A chamber for a king.
The morning sunlight drifted in from the window. Naruto glanced outside catching sight of some birds too far away for him to identify in his groggy morning mind.
Stretching, he got up and walked towards the mirror he kept at the edge of the room. One big enough for him to see himself fully.
Faint scars ran across his chest, long healed. His muscles visible and strong, unlike the often malnourished form he had in his youth. The miracles of a healthy diet.
His hair was longer now, stretching to his mid back similar to the style the native people often liked to dress. He still didn't know how to feel about that, it was too long for his liking.
But his wife insisted as well as his ministers. "Show that you're one of us," they said. Naruto sighed, at least it didn't usually get in the way too much.
Reaching to his cupboard, he searched for plastic bowls of ramen. Only to feel disappointment at having found none.
"None again huh. Heh, you'd think I'd get used to that by now ya know," he sighed. "Well, I'll see what other food's ready."
…
The emperor's chamber doors pushed open as Naruto, dressed in his imperial black and orange robes and a beaded crown strolled out. His posture was one of power, dignity, and demanded respect.
The two men, dressed in gold and silver armour in the style of a dragon bowed as he passed them. They each held long halberds, a circular shield. Crossbows hung from their sides.
Celestial dragon guard, the cream of the crop soldiers Huaxia had to offer. Imperial soldiers who personally protected the emperor and the capital. The bravest and most powerful of warriors.
Yet these proud men, hardened in battle bowed their heads in subservience and reverence towards Naruto. They trotted behind him weapons in hand, ready to defend him at a moment's notice.
More guardsmen stood lining the corridor leading towards Naruto's sleeping chamber. Men who'd been standing for the entire night dutifully guarding. Men who followed after their sworn emperor one after the other.
Their steel footsteps rang louder than Naruto's own. A retinue of a dozen celestial dragon guards followed Naruto by the end.
The celestial palace was an enormous structure, more of a city then a palace really. It was wholly unlike anything from Naruto's youth. Grand building complexes adorned with the iconography of the dragon and the phoenix. Symbols for virtues, texts of great deeds.
It was a place of grandeur and authority. Any who'd come to this place will instantly feel overwhelmed, tiny in comparison. A power play if there ever was one. A grand home for a grand king.
The courtyard leading up to the main Grand Heavens Pavillon stood at the centre of the celestial palace. Naruto and his retinue arrived passing over many maids and servants who'd bowed as he passed.
A red haired man wearing a loose orange hanfu stood with his arms folded. His features were rough and aggressive. This man was not large, but he still felt very imposing. There was just a naturally aggressive air around him.
"Ah, you're finally here brat," he said. Naruto smiled, this was one of the few men who'd dare call him that. It was something he felt like he needed nowadays.
The celestial dragon guards behind Naruto made no response. They were like solid carvings of stone in the way they acted.
This wasn't a normal occurrence however. If it was any other man, even a noble, the guards would rip them apart for showing such disrespect. But this man, the duke of Qi was different, he was a brother to their emperor and a famed hero in the nations unification wars.
"It's very early in the morning Kurama," Naruto sighed. "Besides, I'm never late. The designated time is when I arrive," he said with mirth.
"Heh, whatever you say, whatever you say," Kurama shrugged. The nine tailed fox had changed greatly over the decades. He'd long learned the shapeshifting magic of the local demon clans and mainly stayed in this human form.
Naruto turned his head around. Another squadron of celestial dragon guardsmen were approaching. Naruto nodded and turned back towards the dozen soldiers following him.
"Men, thank you for the hard work and make sure to get some rest," he instructed. "For your hard work, you may take an extra cut of silver when you leave. If nothing else? Dismissed."
"We thank your majesty for your grand generosity," his guards said saluting in reverence. One by one, they left the courtyard, replaced by a fresh batch who'd arrived for their shift to begin.
"Come on, I've a court to host," Naruto called Kurama over and the two began ascending the steps towards the Grand Heavens Pavillon.
His friend ship with his former prisoner was an odd one. In his youth, Naruto would've never thought of befriending the fox. It was just something that wasn't done, you don't just befriend a demon, a monster.
But here in huaxia, where demons walked among men. People like Kurama were dime a dozen. Not tailed beasts of course, but animals who learned the ways of magic and learned to transform into men. They were closer to yokai of his homeland's myths than true demons.
Thinking about his homeland brought melancholy to him. The Elemental Nations were always on his mind. Fleets of ships sailed out of Qi all the time on expeditions in search of it. Yet none had garnered any results.
It was simply not there. He'd looked upon ancient maps that possessed the Elemental Nations, maps thousands of years old. He'd even spoken with grand astromancers, experts in the field of studying stars, known wisemen who used magic of the heavens in combat. Yet still, he had gained little grounds.
Even Kurama had not been of much help. That land existed, of that the two were certain. But it seemed impossible to reach. He wondered how his old friends were doing. It had been two decades so he was sure they would've been able to retake Konoha.
He would love to show them all what he'd built in the past five years. More than a decade of war and five years of peace. The Golden Empire of Huaxia was one he was proud of.
Naruto sat upon his celestial dragon throne. A step above all others, even Kurama who respectfully stood to the side. The blonde appeared very imposing. His friendly warm expression froze in an ice cold mask.
Ministers trailed in carrying the days reports. These old men and women, some magistrates of their own provinces, others nobles of ancient clan, former powerful military personnel were also present. Men and women from all sorts of backgrounds be they rich or poor.
Yet they all shared one commonality. They all served Naruto, or as they knew him, Emperor Gaotai, the highest supreme.
…
Naruto's head rested on his knuckle. He idly listened to the chatter going on around him. The representative from the order of astromancers reported the movements of the stars, the fortune for the year, and anything stellar related.
The magistrates reported on their cities, growth and income and whatnot. Various other things that while tedious, were also necessary for the running of an empire, especially a newly created one.
Though five years old, the empire had just been able to stabilise its economy with a unified currency measured in silver. Many of the technological and societal advancements Naruto wanted to establish were still in the process of gaining ground.
Huaxia was in some ways much more advanced than the Elemental Nations, yet in others, they lagged behind.
Huaxia was extremely advanced in the ways of magic and the use of gunpowder. They could do things the chakra using shinobi never could such as fortune telling and enchanting. Yet they lacked computers, toilets, lights, things he'd taken for granted as a child.
It had been a true challenge figuring out how such things worked with the local engineers and artisans. Eventually though, he'd gotten the toilets made to a usable degree, otherwise he wouldn't know how he'd exist here.
"Your majesty, news had arrived concerning Prince Yang," someone said.
Naruto perked up at the mention of his son. Thirteen years old and yet already a highly skilled warrior, Natsuo Uzumaki was his eldest son. He'd previously stayed in the palace before asking to go on a trip.
Being the man he was, Naruto offered his son a great many freedoms. One of them was the ability to decide for himself. Call it a remnant from his training as a ninja, but his allowed his son to make adult decisions.
"What of him?" Naruto asked.
"There was a bit of incident regarding the prince's party. It was in relation to the city lord of Nan Chen," that minister said.
"Nan Chen, that is a major town in Chu, that's very far south," Kurama looked curiously at Naruto. "What's he doing all the way down there?"
"My son wishes to get familiar with the southern provinces. He's already familiar with the north east and hence decided to make a trip south," Naruto said.
"Hm, if I recall, Nan Chen is very close to the shadow lands. Those aren't exactly what I'd call safe lands," Kurama said.
"I trust Natsuo to make his own judgement," the part where nobody will be dumb enough to attack the crown prince was left unstated.
Naruto's grip on power wasn't a weak one. Secret police, black ops units, spys, a powerful military, in order to maintain the peace and harmony he sought, these were necessary steps.
As much freedom as Naruto gave him, it was still necessary for Natsuo to travel with a mini army. Five hundred men consisting of a hundred celestial dragon guards followed him. Each of them were worth more then a hundred elite warriors.
Not to mention the famed Liu Han, one of the greatest warriors in all the lands, was with him. Someone Naruto trusts with his life.
"What was the issue he faced," Naruto asked.
"According to City Lord Ye, he interfered with the handling of justice and blew things out of proportion," the minister said.
Naruto sighed. 'Of course it was,' he couldn't say it was a surprise. That son of his always had a strong sense of justice.
In southern parts of the land, far away from the capital, his laws weren't obeyed as thoroughly as the imperial provinces. It was also a learning experience for the prince.
"Thankfully, both sides came to an agreement. But the city lord did file a complaint that arrived late last night," that same minister said.
"Cheh, a mere city lord of an unimportant southern town thinks he has the right?" A nobleman spat. "Your majesty, give me the order and I'll personally go and discipline them."
"No need, this is a small matter," Naruto waved the concern away. Some of these men were always a bit overzealous when it comes to violence.
"My son is able to make decisions on his own. If he cannot deal with this then he has no right being crown prince," Naruto said harshly.
Though deep down he resented those words. The world of monarchs was tough. He had to constantly put on a show of strength. Only in private could he be more relaxed.
…
Later that day, Naruto sat in his office going over reports on the state of Chu. The southernmost part of Huaxia was also the furthest away from the central imperial power.
But at the same time it was also one of the strongest states economically speaking. This was because it housed the massive port city of Yin lay there.
It was an economic powerhouse bringing in trade from the western parts of the world. The final destination of many trade voyages by way of sea.
At the same time, it was also the city where former great dynasties chose for their capital. Their current reigning duke was also the former self styled emperor Zhang Jiao who was among the last to bow to Naruto.
Naruto sighed, things were much changed in Huaxia in the times since he arrived. During his early years, the southern lands constantly split between being united under one dynasty or split into several states.
These lands would almost always start successfully with their proud emperors before eventually declining. These rulers styled themselves after a multitude of colours such as grey, white, red, pearl.
Even Zhang Jiao used to call himself the Azure Emperor before Naruto put an abrupt stop to that.
The north on the other hand had always suffered incursions from the chaos plains. The land where the Jogos Nhai Khaganates were largely the western portions. But what truly posed a danger were the eastern portion.
Chaos demons roamed those lands, monstrous creatures serving darks gods that made even Naruto uneasy. This was why his seat was so far north, to forever hold vigil against these creatures.
"Hm," Naruto held up a paper detailing the current state of Chu. He read it, then double checked it, then read it again.
"Zhang Jiao rules his lands well," he sighed. "I find no faults in his style. He has taken to my laws well and I do remember him calling them the pinnacle of righteousness."
The emperor looked towards the other guest in the room. Kurama, who sat opposing the emperor of Huaxia.
"It's not Zhang Jiao that's the problem. Chu traders who come to my ports sometimes sow dissent among my own. They call you a foreigner undeserving of the mandate of heaven," Kurama said after taking a sip of his tea.
"According to Xian Yin's agent's reports, some of the lords under Zhang Jiao has also shown similar sentiments. I say we nip the problem in the bud before it grows to an all out rebellion," the fox said.
"They haven't done anything overt," Naruto shook his head. "No crimes had been committed. I can't in good conscience condemn innocent people."
"They stopped being innocent the moment they thought ill of you brat," Kurama scoffed. "The shoguns of old of the Elemental Nations thought the same as you, why do you think the Daimyos rule now?"
Naruto mulled over Kurama's words. Perhaps he was optimistic but he thought those lords would come around eventually. It's already been five years since he was enthroned.
"Not to mention their proximity with the shadowlands. Those connections bode ill for us," Kurama added.
Naruto nodded. That unease regarding those lands was perfectly justified. Even Kurama was creeped out by those parts when he visited all those years ago.
Asshai, the city of sorcerers and capital of the shadowlands. A place where dark magic run rampant, where the foulest of experiments were permitted.
Unlike Huaxia, where magic was strictly regulated, the shadowlands suffered no issue. As such, many aspiring sorcerers were lured away and joined the shadows away from Huaxia's light.
A festering disease that was allowed to grow too strong. An act allowed by the previous dynasties too busy with internal and immediate northern threats.
Even for a united Huaxia under Naruto, fighting a war against Asshai was extremely difficult and taxing. A consequence of having enemies on all borders. The size of the empire had also become its weakness.
"I wouldn't worry too much at the moment. Xian Yin's agents report no such plans brewing within Asshai. And what's more, the Shadow Pan follows Natsuo's footsteps. But you are right Kurama, I'll look into your concerns," Naruto said.
"That's all I ask," Kurama placed down his cup of tea. "I gotta head home soon, the eastern fleet would be returning by the end of the month and I need to be there to greet them."
"That's fine," Naruto said. "Do…do you think they'll have news. About the Elemental Nations?"
Kurama looked at Naruto for a few moments. Then his eyes went downcast.
"I don't know Naruto," he admitted. "I wouldn't hold out much hope for it. It's been twenty years, not a short time for you humans. I don't know if we'll ever see it to be honest."
Naruto joined him in silence. He crossed his fingers across from his face as he contemplated. Twenty years of searching, any free time in between the wars he'd do so. Twenty years spent trying to discover just how he got to these lands.
Naruto glared his own somewhat tanned skin in frustration. These lands had records of his home, he'd seen it. But he just can't find the damn place.
"Keep searching, we'll find it no matter what," Naruto said with resolve.
"Very well, wasn't going to stop in the first place," Kurama grumbled. "Whatever the case, even my old man wasn't aware of Huaxia. I won't hold out hope, but the possibility is still there."
Kurama turned back to Naruto. "By your leave, your majesty."
"Heh, get outta here, Qi needs you."
…
"HRAAAAAAAAARRHH!" A youth with blonde hair that ends with silver tips yawned loudly, uncaring about his surroundings.
"My prince, cover your mouth when you yawn," a gruff asian looking man with a sheathed sword said with disapproval evident in his eyes. He was tall and broad with muscles fitting neatly into his armour.
His metallic armour was stylised in the style of a tiger. His hair was tied into a short ponytail and his beard neatly trimmed. This was the ferocious Liu Han, the emperor's personal bodyguard. Or at least he normally was the emperor's personal bodyguard.
"Meh," Natsuo, the young prince dismissed with a wave of his palm. "There's no one around us in the first place, so what're you worried about?"
"It's proper etiquette, your mother will be most displeased if she finds you doing this," Liu Han lectured.
"Dad lets me," the prince argued.
"Your father lets you get away with too much," Liu Han said.
The prince smiled with mirth and scratched the back of his head. And stretched his back until a piping sound was heard before he hunched over the table again.
The two were currently staying within a merchant's compound in Nan Chen. After what happened with the city lord, Natsuo opted to just stay at the largest place that was large enough to house the celestial dragon guards.
It was childish and he knew it, but the city lord really ticked him off with his snobbish attitude and his treatment of civilians.
Of course, the merchant clan was overjoyed to get imperial attention. He gladly succeeded parts of his own home. Though some of the dragon guards still had to find inns on their own around town.
The room they were in wasn't anywhere near as luxurious as the Celestial Palace. While high class, it was quite ordinary in Natsuo's eye. The round table they sat around was some supper for the prince.
The trial of the thief had taken well into the evening. Overextended for a simple common thief if one were to ask the nobles. But Natsuo was determined to help the man.
"But still, that trial took forever," he wined. "Are trials always like this?"
"You kept pushing on, that's why it took so long," Liu Han said.
"It was justice. That man was forced into it. His family lives in poverty and his mother's sick. Why should he get the same treatment as those despicable bandits in the mountains?" Natsuo said. "It's an affront to my father's laws."
"It's an unfortunate reality we have to face. That thief crossed paths with and offended City Lord Ye. Such things were fairly common. He was lucky to have met you, luckier to get out with his life," Liu Han said with a downcast look.
"Were things really that bad?" The prince asked.
"I can't say, it was simply life as we knew it. The high lords did what they wanted. Maybe in Qin, things were different. But in my homeland in Qi, it was arguably worse," Liu Han sighed.
"His majesty did a lot of good things for Huaxia. Much of them relates to the peasantry. But the dynasty is still too young, stretched too thin. These things take time," Liu Han said.
Natsuo frowned and ate his food in silence. "Mother should've done something about it."
"Her majesty wouldn't care, she still doesn't. If his majesty wasn't so adamant about it she and her family wouldn't even bother. That's the reality of the situation. The powerful are often disconnected from those below them," Liu Han said.
"Thank you for the wisdom master Liu," Natsuo said.
"It's what I'm here for my prince."
…
Later that night, while Natruo slept, Liu Han walked into an alleyway discreetly. He wasn't wearing his armour, rather he was adorned in peasant clothing. His hair was dishevelled making recognising him, extremely difficult.
Another man was already waiting for him. One cloaked in black, a red scarf and a large bamboo hat. He wore an emblem on his chest, one split into four quadrants each depicting an animal.
On the top was a turtle, on the right was a dragon, on the bottom was a pheasant, and on the left was a tiger.
"Lord Taran Zhu," Liu Han cupped his hand and saluted the figure.
"Master Liu Han," Taran Zhu greeted back. "I'll admit, I didn't think much of this mission. Took it as a vacation of sorts. But it seems I was wrong."
"Is the lord Ye truly conspiring with shadowland sorcerers?" Liu Han asked.
"Not Asshai itself, otherwise her majesty definitely would've informed us. I suspect it's another subfaction within the city or perhaps even outside of it. Asshai is hardly the only power in the shadowlands," Taran Zhu said.
"Will he be a danger to the princes life?"
"Hard to say, as much as I hate to admit, not all Asshai sorcerers are monsters. This'll warrant further investigation," Taran Zhu said looking towards the distant Ye clan complex.
"I'll have to trouble you then," the royal guard said.
"It's the Shadow Pan's duty after all," Taran Zhu said before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Liu Han blew away the smoke and made his way outside. 'Things are getting a bit complicated,' he thought to himself.