WAR NEVER ENDS – THE OLD MAN
Clyde's Headquarters
Besides Hinata and Clyde, everyone in the tent is shocked. They look as if a dormant volcano has just exploded right in front of them. She quickly realises that it must be something to do with the invaders' power, something that only they could feel. The temperature seems to drop by a couple of degrees as their creases in their brows deepen. It's like somebody has just died.
Hinata understands that Clyde likely foresaw this. Either that or he knew about this power previously. Those are the only ways to explain the unperturbed look on his face. To her, he appears more annoyed than distressed.
"Clyde… what is that power, what is happening?" Naruto asks.
"It's all coming true it seems" he says in reply, raising to his feet, "I am really opposing her, after so many years of silent animosity".
Clyde leans forward, pressing his knuckles into the wooden table as if to support him. He looks down at the table. His eyes aren't depressed as one may expect but behind them there is an intense focus. Something has changed, like Clyde is no longer the same man he was three seconds prior.
"Hey Clyde! Who is it, who is here?". The Hokage is in no mood for hesitation.
Clyde looks up at his former foe. "The one who has come here is named Lara. Of all the generals in our land, there is one who stands at the very top, one mightier than all the others. Her name is Lara and she has finally come".
Hinata finally understands. "The strongest general".
It is hard for her to imagine that there is someone stronger than General Clyde. Just a few years ago she had felt protected by the Hokage, like nothing could threaten her. What she once believed to be true power had changed. She had a new perspective granted by the likes of Pain. By Obito. By Madara. By Clyde. Looking to her Hokage she laments that this seems to be part of his destiny. Naruto will forever be fighting stronger and stronger enemies.
"So, this the power of our strongest enemy" Naruto nods. The Colonels thought he would be more scared but he is surprisingly calm, showing a maturity beyond his years. "But why has she come here now? Why would such a strong general come to our world?".
"This is something we have discussed before Naruto but I want to make it as clear as possible before we talk about Lara".
"Something we have discussed before?".
Clyde nods. "My element is 'darkness'. 'Darkness' is stronger than other elements like fire and water".
"Making the breakthrough to captain will put you on a whole new level. It will turn a commoner into a fighting machine" Sheer explains, knowing what the General is attempting to say, "That is what happened to me and the others when we broke through".
"It was different for the General though. The moment he first made the breakthrough to captain, he instantly became as strong as a colonel. It was as if his elemental cloak was invisible".
Clyde's face was stone like as his voice fell quiet. He spoke as if he were in a museum, talking about the ancient history that is his own past. "That is the power of the element that is 'darkness'. It allows me to transcend a whole level".
He continues.
"As a captain I could fight against colonels, because of 'darkness'".
"As a colonel, I could fight against generals, because of 'darkness'".
"As a general however, I am part of an elite class that most could never hope to reach".
Naruto remembers just how impressive this man is. He remembers that it is only because of his talents as a shinobi that he could defeat him.
"This General, Lara, is someone who can defeat even me" Clyde finished.
"Lara is an anomaly, just like the general" Peterson explains, his voice quiet and his eyes downcast. "She is also someone with an element that could push her to higher levels".
Sisto speaks next, agitated as he steps forward. "I remember the first time I encountered Lara, it was terrifying. It's not just her power either, I've met many people with overwhelming power. It's her attitude and demeanour. It's what her body language tells you when she isn't speaking. It truly feels like you are going to die at any moment".
"But that's the thing about Lara, she isn't lucky or hardworking, she is incomparably gifted. She doesn't have a better element than me but she can still beat me. It's her technique" Clyde says, "Her talent, her movements, her… fighting rhythm, they are the greatest witnessed in our military or well… in our history. And now she has come to defeat me".
"… incredible… a monster" Hinata murmurs.
She has heard this kind of tale throughout her life. Constantly in her world people had risen and fallen, the talented and the hardworking. Recently Naruto and Sasuke had filled these roles. Naruto had worked so hard to get to the top, training relentlessly, walking forward while everyone else stopped for a break. Sasuke was incredible in a different way, like he was the gods chosen shinobi. He made everything look easy.
Lara and Sasuke are different though, Hinata can tell that without even meeting her. Lara is incredibly dangerous, just as Sasuke had been. However, Sasuke had been understandable, logical in a way. Whether he was attempting to kill you or whether he was threatening you, it felt like there was a reason behind his misguided actions. Lara is completely different, a loose cannon with no logical restraint, someone who kills as a reflex rather than having to think about it. The most dangerous kind of person.
"I don't believe that Lara nor any of her subordinates were behind the disappearance of your son" Clyde explains, his voice raising once more, "However, I do strongly believe that she is the greatest threat to this world".
Naruto's entire world feels like it has been twisted around in a matter of moments. He had come here looking for his son but by the end of the conversation it had slipped to the back of his mind. He feels guilty, he should be thinking of Boruto now but that power was incredible. He knows that it was a power different to Clyde's. Both sets of energy haunted him, they let him feel the raw killing intent behind them. However, there had been a difference in that last one, a greater magnitude, a lack of the desperation that Clyde had disguised in his.
Now all that Naruto can think about is Lara. Where did she come from? What does she look like? How did she become like this? How did she get this far?
Sheer is the eldest colonel, she has superior judgement to the others. While they look at Naruto and see fear, she sees something else. She notices that Naruto is not afraid, at least not for himself. He is assessing the situation, working out what will happen. He is not concerned about a potential loss, he only cares about how he is going to win.
'It's only natural' she thinks to herself as she leans back against one of the tent posts. 'This man defeated the general at such a young age. There is no way that he could be someone ordinary'.
Clyde can see the same things in Naruto that Sheer can, it only convinces him further that he has assessed the man correctly. He has never seen Naruto function in a civil meeting before, his fighting style made him seem brash and childish, like he couldn't focus for more than a few seconds at a time. However, in person he notes that Naruto is impressive, when the cards are down he is subtly calm. He is the finest calibre of person, one who looks for solutions not problems.
Naruto lifts his hand to his chin and scratches it. "Your world is so hidden and mysterious to us. It seems like you know everything about us and yet we know nothing about you, or about the people of your world".
"General Clyde, exactly who are you?".
Clyde frowns. "You want to know about us, huh?".
"Yes".
"Before that I think we would all like to speak of what your people have done for us".
Hinata starts. 'What our people have done for them. Are they serious?'.
The flame-headed Burns speaks first. "In the captained-six contest, you taught us the value of never giving up".
Of course. Naruto never gives up.
Next Sheer takes her turn. "In that contest you taught us that if something is impossible we should try anyway".
Naturally, that was the lesson he helped Sarada to learn.
Sisto expresses his gratitude. "You taught us that there is hope even in the darkest of times".
Naruto has experienced darker times than most. He has fallen deep into the pit of despair repeatedly and has risen every time.
Peterson is next. "Thanks to that contest, we learnt that even those who seem weak can rise up to be great".
That was the power of working together. It's unity with Kurama that helped bring Tobirama to new heights, that helped him defeat Peterson. He appreciated that unity with the hated tailed-beast because of Naruto.
Lastly, Grace takes her turn. "In that contest, you made us understand how you felt, what it was like to truly fight for your lives. And then you showed us mercy".
Their faces tell a story to previously. While they looked glum and downcast at different points, these clearly-rehearsed lines have restored their morale. Each of them wears a smile, a smile of true gratitude to the man who beat them, who forced them to become rebels. They look at Naruto not as their greatest foe but as their greatest liberator.
"These things are all true but they are all part of the same thing. Like nobody else you showed us the one thing we knew all along" Clyde says, "Uzumaki Naruto, you and your allies showed us that what we were doing was the wrong decision".
Naruto snickers, looking out the corner of his eye cynically. "I'm glad that you are willing to admit it". He wants to say more, to claim that it is too little too late but he can't. There's something inside him, stopping him, like a small voice reminding him that he is the Hokage. He wonders if perhaps this is the will of fire.
"Of course, I am willing to admit it. I think that each and every one of my subordinates is too" Clyde says, "Truthfully you terrify the captains and even some of us here are scared of you. But you also showed us hope for the first time. It's because of that I wish to speak to you, as a representative of your people".
The cold reception from earlier has disappeared. Hinata now understands that there was no resentment in the captains' eyes, only fear. There now seems to be a golden chance to not only alleviate their fear but to stop walking alone.
She pushes her fiancé in the small of the back. As Naruto takes two steps forward he looks back to see her smiling lightly. "Go and represent your people, Lord Hokage".
Naruto understands, these good relations, these words of help, explanation and encouragement, Hinata wants him to take the credit for them. It is because he made that decision. It is because he chose the merciful path. It is because he was right.
The Hokage smiles and steps forward, "What do you want to ask, General Clyde?".
"Uzumaki Naruto, representative of the Hidden Leaf Village, will the Hidden Leaf form an alliance with my division?".
The smiles seem to be wiped from their faces in unison. It's clear that they are nervous. Is it because they are doomed without the Hidden Leaf's help. Or do they have some ulterior motive? Hinata senses it, perhaps it is paranoia or perhaps she is biased. However, Hinata thinks that there is something in their eyes, a hidden motive, an unexplained sadness.
Naruto's mind is elsewhere. "You killed our friends, you slaughtered the people of this land and you made life hell for my village".
"I know and I'm sorry".
The blonde Hokage holds his hand out. "You have a lot of making up to do, General Clyde".
Relief. All around there is relief. Every colonel, even the hardened Peterson and the experienced Sheer. They are all smiles after just a moment. They are not alone, they are not helpless. Now they too can experience what the people of the Hidden Leaf has. They can experience what it is like to have Naruto protect them.
Clyde shakes Naruto's hand firmly. "Of course, Lord Hokage, I will do what I can.
"I still want to hear it. I want to hear the full story of why you are invading my world".
"Of course, I will tell you the full story. It starts over a thousand years ago".
Colonel Dred leaves the tent before returning with a collection of chairs. The chairs are foldable, cheap chairs in the Hidden Leaf. This sort of furniture was outdated during Naruto and Hinata's youth. Regardless the couple gratefully accept and sit with their new allies around the wooden strategy table. Perhaps somewhere in this story would be the secret to their salvation, or their son's.
"Now, I may struggle to explain this in a way that makes sense. I've never had to explain it before". Clyde claps his hands on the table, speaking like a teacher to a classroom. "Do you remember the details?".
"I couldn't forget if I tried. That is one of the most brutal fights I have ever been part of".
"And yet you won. You defeated me by controlling an element. Captain level power, no elemental cloak, certainly no golden cloak".
"I used that power to beta you and save Sarada's life" Naruto recalls. "I understood an element, just as you all did. A stone tablet appeared in my inner world and it was adorned with the word 'life'".
"I still struggle to believe that it is 'life' now but I have no choice. I was truly shocked when you understood it. I couldn't get over it, no matter what I did".
Hinata, being the only one who hasn't understood an element, is curious about the ins and outs of it. Leaning forward she enquires as to how remarkable this. After all, Clyde makes it seem like Naruto has won three lotteries in a row.
"Why are you so shocked" she asks, "Is it truly that rare?".
Clyde's looks through the corner of his eyes before refocusing. "My world… our world, is much bigger than this one. So much bigger You could fit hundreds of worlds like this in ours and still not match its size".
Sheer smiles, this sounds like hyperbole but it's actually an underestimate. "If you were to attempt to cross our world, you would struggle to do so within your lifespan. Most likely you would be able to get just under half way".
"Amazing…". Hinata is an elite shinobi, capable of moving quickly across the ground but she couldn't even get half way.
"Now, imagine a world of that size, filled with people in cities towns and villages" Clyde continues. "The path to greatness is the same for everyone. It's straight but challenging. Everyone hopes of living a better life and they can do that by working hard and understanding an element".
Naruto understands. "So, it is like a world full of students, just like the ones in our academy".
"Exactly".
It is a good comparison in Clyde's opinion. That world is an academy. A brutal one but an academy nonetheless. An academy where those who graduate reap the richest rewards available and live a life of luxury. An academy where those who fail… they don't live lives worth thinking about.
"Now image all these students, these uncountable numbers of students. Only one of them ever understood the element of life. One! That is until we came to this world and finally discovered the second one, a local, you…".
Now Hinata understands the looks he has received, she understands why those outside fear him. It would be like being born the second coming of the sage of the six paths. It is how people must have looked at Nagato his entire life. For these people who were absolutely terrified, Naruto had become Pain.
"The other person to understand 'life', you mentioned them before".
"I may have referred to him as the 'old man'. That is because we are not allowed to refer to his true title, such a thing is treason". The darkness general gives his best look of defiance. "I am no longer afraid of that. That 'old man' he was the previous emperor of our world".
"The previous emperor?".
"His name was Endou Akashi. He was a popular ruler who cared greatly for his citizens. He was an inspiration who cared even for the most helpless members of society". Clyde's smile, innocent and child-like, shows his thoughts as clear as day. This emperor is his hero. "He had a beautiful wife and a talented daughter. He rose to the pinnacle of society despite starting life with nothing. It seemed like there was nothing he couldn't do".
Hinata looks to her side. She notes the definite similarities. If nothing else, fate links Naruto and this emperor. For her, hearing the name of this former ruler brings an inexplicable pain to her heart, like she is hearing about Naruto's downfall.
"Something happened, didn't it?".
"Yes. He is our previous emperor".
Clyde sighs.
"Despite his great power and influence, the peace did not last. Something terrible happened".