HOPE, A THING OF THE PAST – I HAVE A TECHNIQUE
The Tunnel's Exit
The tunnel is a dark, damp place. It has been poorly maintained for so many years, it was expected to never be used again following Pain's attack on the hidden leaf village. Yet now running through it are the final two, the last two ever destined to leave that tunnel. The 8th Hokage Sarutobi Konohamaru, the 9th Hokage, Uchiha Sarada.
As the duo exits from the tunnel Sarada's body begins to regain its ability to move. She limply raises her hand to cover her eyes, even the Mangekyo Sharingan is stunned by the change in lighting. For someone who knows what Sarada knows it is an unfitting feeling, leaving a dark place and moving into the light because just around the corner, her world is about to get a lot darker.
"Sarada" ChouChou yells as she begins to run over to her friend. Seeing Sarada being carried is a worrying prospect for the entire village, it's even more saddening for her long-term friend from the Akimichi clan. "Are you alright?".
Sarada ignores ChouChou as Konohamaru gently rests her down on the grass. She looks at the face of her sensei, to see that despite everything, despite his impending death and the destruction of the village he is still smiling.
"Sensei…".
"Sarada" Konohamaru begins with a smile.
The 8th Hokage feels a warmth in his heart as he looks down at his student. He recalls all the great times he had teaching her, Boruto and Mitsuki. All the arguments and petty disputes between four people who would all go on to be heralded as legendary shinobi of this village.
Thinking back Konohamaru recalls a lot of achievements from his past. He mastered the rasengan at a very young age just like the 7th Hokage. Having mastered the rasengan he then used that technique during the invasion of Pain to defend his own sensei Ebisu. Then after so long, after so much adversity and after so much association with the 3rd Hokage he was acknowledged for who he was.
Sarutobi Konohamaru, the 8th Hokage.
"I'm really proud" he continues, the emotion clear in his voice, "I'm really proud to have been your sensei".
BOOM!
One huge explosion sounds.
It's an explosion far greater than any of the civilians have ever witnessed. An explosion that makes the older generation think back to the 4th Great Shinobi War. An explosion large enough to devastate an entire village.
As some people begin to scream, some people cower in fear and some people cry, the 8th Hokage firmly maintains his smile as his student looks at him from below.
Poof!
"SENSEI" Sarada shouts. Though she shouts only at an empty space.
He is gone.
Nearby another woman shares the feeling of loss but on a much greater scale. Yamanaka Ino slowly walks away from the unconscious body of her son Inojin and looks towards the village.
"… Sai" she murmurs with a tear in her eye.
Though some people had lost friends and family, everyone had a reason to be upset. Before the villagers of the hidden leaf village, the oldest and most legendary village, their home is disappearing. Vanishing into a sea of flames. Once more the hidden leaf is gone.
While many would give in to despair, the 9th Hokage doesn't have that option. With a shake of her head she turns to her closest friend, "ChouChou, could you help me onto my feet".
ChouChou offers a hand to Sarada and pulls her Hokage onto her feet. The now sole surviving Hokage of the hidden leaf village.
The first sight that greats Sarada after getting back to her feet is an approaching member of the Hyuuga clan, one that she is particularly familiar with. This elderly lady is Hyuuga Hanabi, or since she was married, Sarutobi Hanabi.
"Sarada… my husband… is he…" Hanabi just manages to get out.
"I'm sorry, Konohamaru sensei is dead" Sarada answers quickly.
It is an unfortunate truth that has effected the two most recent leaders of the hidden leaf, during the reign of the 8th and 9th Hokage the village has suffered more deaths than ever before. The current holder of the red-hat has long since gotten used to telling people that their loved-ones had died. When you must tell your mother that your father is dead, little else can compare in emotional difficulty.
"OK" Hanabi sobs as she wipes the fresh tears from her eyes, "I… OK…". It is clear to Sarada and ChouChou that Hanabi doesn't know what to say. She cannot be blamed, to lose so much in such a quick time-frame was something that none of them are used to. Not even veterans of the 4th Great Shinobi War had suffered so many losses without being able to fight back.
A morbid thought runs through Sarada's mind.
'At least we won the 4th Great Shinobi War'.
Indeed, there was hope during that war, such was the essence of the war. For the first time in generations, all five villages fought together, died together and triumphed together. Nevertheless, when so many people joined together and put their lives on the line only one person could truly take the credit for the victory in that war. Uzumaki Naruto.
After the war, had finished, after Otsutsuki Kaguya had been sealed there were but two left who could fight. Her father Uchiha Sasuke and her inspiration, Uzumaki Naruto. When they thought each other, had her father won, Sarada would have never been born, the world would have never blossomed into a place of hope, peace and happiness.
All because of Uzumaki Naruto.
Suddenly another member of the Hyuuga clan approaches, also the spouse of a deceased Hokage. Uzumaki Hinata. Hinata is quick to hug her sister, to comfort her. This war has brought similar suffering to Hinata, who lost her husband in one of the first battles.
When it became clear how strong the invading force was, Naruto and Sasuke came out of retirement to fight. Up to that point ninja history had seemingly revolved around one inevitable conflict and it wasn't the Akatsuki against the Alliance, it was Naruto against Sasuke. Yet these two shinobi, the most famous in history had died in the first battle, killed be a single opponent.
One man had been enough.
One man killed both Naruto and Sasuke.
"Sarada!" Hinata says with a raised voice, snapping the Hokage from her stupor.
Sarada concludes that she must have phased out for a moment.
"What do we do now?".
The Hokage takes a moment to gather her thoughts, to analyse how to proceed. The attackers had come from the west, so it would be best to head east towards the hidden steam village, or it's ruins at least.
"We need to get as far from the enemy's forces as possible" Sarada announces confidently, "We'll head east towards the hidden steam".
The hidden leaf village had been the last village to perish. The Kage first learnt of a potential invasion when the Kazekage, Shinki, stopped returning their calls one day. Shinki, along with the rest of the hidden sand village. That is when the Kage knew something was coming, something more serious than ever before. Since then the villages have disappeared one by one, as they were devastated by the enemy's onslaught.
"Shikadai" Sarada calls as she looks at her advisor standing nearby. "I would appreciate it if you lead the way".
"Of course".
Shikadai approaches Ino, respectful of the fact she has just lost her husband yet still needing to ask a favour of her. Ino has always been a close family friend for the Nara family, especially since she was a teammate of his father's.
"I'm sorry to bother you at such a difficult moment" Shikadai offers, "But I haven't brought any speakers or anything like that. I need to speak to the whole village at once, to tell them our plan".
Ino nods her head gently, knowing that Shikadai means to speak through her. Even now there is nobody in the new generation capable of contacting so many people at once as Yamanaka Ino.
As Shikadai places his hand on Ino's head his voice is projected to the entire village.
"Everyone, this is Nara Shikadai".
"Please remain calm, I'm about to lead you away from here".
"We are heading eastwards, towards the hidden steam village".
"We will be moving as fast as possible so please help the elderly and those with less mobility than yourselves".
"If you need anything please ask a shinobi, we will do our best to accommodate your requirements".
"Now please, follow me to the east".
Shikadai removes his hand from Ino's head before whispering a quick "Thank you", then immediately begins to walk to the front of the villagers.
"Shikadai" a voice sounds as its owner bears down on him. It's his mother, Nara Temari, "What's the situation, how bad is it?".
"Mother… the situation is terrible" Shikadai answers honestly.
"How terrible?".
The chief advisor to the Hokage looks to his left and right before lowering his voice so that nobody can hear. "I think that we are probably all going to die".
"Probably" Temari reacts incredulously, "You mean there is still hope?".
"Sarada mentioned that she had developed a… technique… but I don't know what it is".
"Then let's hope that she is as incredible as her father was".
That Night, East of the Hidden Leaf Village
Gathered near the camping villagers of the hidden leaf are the most elite group of active shinobi remaining. The defenders of the hidden leaf and the children of the most legendary group of all.
Mitsuki, with his snake sword and his flexible body. While he has some flaws that Orochimaru's test subjects didn't none of them could claim to be his son. Prior to Mitsuki's birth Orochimaru had never gazed at someone and proclaimed to have achieved perfection.
Uzumaki Himawari, the daughter of the 7th Hokage, the most legendary Hokage of all. With visual prowess rarely seen even amongst the Hyuuga clan. A prodigious talent who had earnt the respect of all her peers.
Akimichi ChouChou, Nara Shikadai, Yamanaka Inojin, the latest generation of the Ino-Shika-Cho, forever the most cohesive team the hidden leaf could put on the battlefield. Forever a formidable opponent to any enemy they came across.
Metal Lee, the inheritor of a youth passed down from master to student, from father to son. A ball of enthusiasm with taijutsu powerful enough to make a Kage shake in their boots.
And Uchiha Sarada, the first Uchiha to become Hokage, succeeding where both Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Madara had failed before her. The third Uchiha clan member to bear the eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
This is the moment that the Hokage makes her final decision, perhaps out of desperation, perhaps out of hope.
"I've decided I'm going to use the technique I've been developing" Sarada declares.
"I considered the jutsu formula when you first showed it to me" Mitsuki replies with a shake of his head, "It's dangerous, very dangerous".
"What do you mean by dangerous" Himawari asks, not out of naivety but rather looking for specifics. During this period of war, they have all come accustomed to using dangerous jutsu. So much so that the word dangerous has almost become obsolete.
"If either the jutsu caster or the… others don't have enough chakra, they will die".
"I have plenty of chakra" the 9th asserts.
"Just how confident are you Sarada?" Shikadai asks with a look of concern, "If you die then it's over for the village, if you die we all die".
"If I don't perform this jutsu it will have the same consequence".
ChouChou shrugs her shoulders, displaying the same casual attitude she has always done with Sarada's crazy ideas. "In that case go for it".
"Don't be so eager" comes the scolding tone of Inojin.
"If Sara says it needs to be done and that she is capable why are you hesitating" ChouChou retorts.
"There has to be another way"
"THERE IS NO OTHER WAY".
Mitsuki interrupts the bickering members of the Ino-Shika-Cho, not interested in their squabbles at a time where his teammate could be risking her life yet again. "Are you going to tell us what this jutsu does Sarada?".
This question draws everyone's attention; it is a secret technique that Sarada once discussed with her father. That only once has she shown to Mitsuki and that only Boruto fully knows what it does. This technique is perhaps the hidden leaf village's greatest secret since the disbanding of the foundation.
"It would be best if I didn't" Sarada replies to their disappointment, "It might give you false hope and…".
Mitsuki looks her in the eye, "And…".
"It might not be ethical".
Shikadai turns his back to Sarada as he puts his hand in his pockets and begins to walk away, "In that case I think it's best we don't ask any more questions".
"Do it" Mitsuki encourages with a smile, "I'll look after the villagers until you return".
"Thank you Mitsuki".
"I need some space to perform this technique to guarantee everyone's safety so I'm going that way".
"I'll be back afterwards… I promise".
A Nearby Clearing
Sarada arrives at a clearing, just as she had planned. Though reluctant to go ahead with the plan she had always intended to do it, hence why she told one person to wait for her in the clearing. Uzumaki Hinata.
"Miss Uzumaki" Sarada approaches Hinata.
"We've been friends for so long, please call me Hinata" the elderly lady replies.
"You're right of course Hinata… but are you still prepared to go through with this? If this technique works, if I am to stop people being torn apart from their loved ones, you will be the only victim".
"I am prepared Sarada, I am not afraid" Hinata replies with a smile, "I love my children, I love the hidden leaf village and all of its inhabitants. It's the village Naruto once died to protect… I want to die to protect it as well".
"I understand" nods Sarada. The young Hokage knows the emotions that her senior is expressing all too well. For those who love the village so much, who have given so much to protecting it, it hurts even more to see it destroyed, it's citizens thrown into disarray.
"Is there anything you want me to tell them?" Sarada asks.
"Tell them…".
"Tell them to never give up… because that's his ninja way".
"I will".
After listening to the final request of the 7th's wife, the 9th begins to draw a circle around the two of them. The circle is huge in diameter, spanning the entire clearing, the symbols are wide ranging and intricate, such is the complexity of the jutsu.
Hinata recognises the technique type… it's a summoning.
As Sarada bites her thumb to draw blood Hinata asks one last thing of her.
"Sarada… look after them".
A tear glimmers down Sarada's cheek just behind her red-rimmed glasses. "I will".
She slams her thumb into the ground, to perform a summoning of hope. To perform the technique, she firmly believes is the last chance that she has got to save the village and all its inhabitants.
As Sarada begins to pour chakra from her body through her thumb, she is instantly hit by the effects of such a quick loss of energy. She can feel her vitality slipping away from her, such a summoning of such impossible difficulty demands a penalty like this. This is not the only penalty, as white light gathers around Hinata's body, the Hyuuga clan leader gradually begins to disintegrate as her body disappears.
The jutsu hasn't worked yet, causing Sarada to worry. She has only one thing she can do, keep pouring in more chakra.
More chakra.
More.
More.
This is… the last hope.
A Medical Tent, The Day After the 4th Great Shinobi War
A group of four is gathered in the medical tent. Normally far more people would be crammed into a space this large, the war having had such high casualty numbers. Yet the people in this tent were no ordinary patients.
Two of them not actually injured are the eventual 6th Hokage, Hatake Kakashi and the disciple of 5th Hokage, Haruno Sakura yet two people even more famous are on the beds before them. The heroes who used their powers of nature chakra and visual prowess to seal away Otsutsuki Kaguya; Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke.
"What will you guys do now" Sakura asks with a playful smile, "I hope the two of you aren't going to start fighting again".
Sasuke groans as he momentarily looks over to his missing arm, "I don't want a fight like that ever again" he complains before chuckling to himself.
Sasuke looks over to Naruto, for so long how could he be ignorant of why Naruto cared for him, of why he considered him his best friend. It took far too long for Sasuke to understand just what sort of person Uzumaki Naruto was, a person who could be summarised in a single statement, never give up.
At that moment, a huge amount of chakra appears around Naruto's body, a huge white light engulfing his orange-clad frame as he falls back onto the bed unable to move. His perception leaves his body as he looks down to see his own ethereal hand. It is as if he is a ghost but he is not a ghost. This is his soul.
Naruto looks around to see another floating soul, the soul of the one he loves, Hyuuga Hinata.
"What's going on Hinata" Naruto asks.
"I have no idea" the Hyuuga heiress replies with an expression of confusion on her face.
After their brief exchange of dialogue, the entire world becomes fuzzy to the two of them, all that they can see clearly is one another. One thing is clear to them though, they are moving.
In the tent Naruto's body slowly sits back up, much to the amazement of team 7's other members.
"What just happened" Naruto asks.
"How the hell should I know" Sakura asks as she looks between Kakashi and Sasuke.
"Sasuke, your visual prowess is the greatest in the world, what was that white light" Kakashi questions looking towards his most talented student.
"I haven't a clue" Sasuke shrugs.
"But the chakra felt… it felt like hope".