WAR NEVER ENDS – TWO WORLDS' DESTINY
Clyde's Headquarters
Naruto takes a few moments to come to terms with what he is hearing. This world has always meant everything to him. He was in an unusual position in his world. So few people truly know the story of chakra and how it came to be. So few know about the story of Kaguya and of her two sons, about the Asura and Indra and the formation of the Senju and Uchiha clans. He and Sasuke alone have seen it all, heard it told by the people who lived it; they met the sage of the six paths.
The sage of the six paths, a man revered as a god by so many. The legendary ancestor which they all aspired to be like. A man who's two sons created two philosophies that would initiate a thousand-year struggle. His status to them seemed insurmountable, a figure that could never be outspoken. It had all been a lie though. Otsutsuki Hagoromo was simply a man, born to an artificial human, cultivating an energy invented by a mad man.
All their reality, is the invention of a crazy scientist.
"This Jonas guy, he really created the world we are standing in at the moment?".
"I know this must be a great shock but it is true" Clyde insists.
His group all feel a slight guilt as they look at the two shinobi. Their entire world has been shattered. They are like children who found out their parents have been lying. It's never been true, any of it. Are they heroes or warriors, champions or Hokage, or are they just toys for someone far beyond them to play around with. Trapped in an eternal genjutsu without even knowing it.
"We are here" Hinata finally says, taking hold of Naruto's hand. "It doesn't matter how we got here, just that we are here".
Looking at his fiancée, Naruto nods. "Yeah, that's right. We have friends. We have loved ones. It doesn't matter if we were created by a cruel god, we can keep moving forward".
Clyde smiles. These people have more resolve than he can imagine. For over a thousand years he has served the empire diligently, living through the reigns of two mighty leaders. He has never had the courage that this couple have accrued in a mere twenty years.
"I see" he whispers.
"What happened after he created these worlds" Naruto asks.
"At first the old man, Emperor Endou, agreed to the idea of creating these worlds. However, he had been misled".
Sheer takes over from her leader, her understanding of the process more detailed. "Furst told him that each world he created would be used to breed chakra based warriors, like yourself. The idea was that eventually we would befriend you and we would fight together against the coming threat. That we would fight together as allies".
Peterson sniggers, "Ironically, that now seems to have happened".
Naruto and the scar-faced man started this all. It was their battle. Naruto combined his might with Tobirama and Hashirama and together they fought this intimidating colonel. A man so talented his power has now reached the general level. That is how they realised how terrifying their fight would be in this new world. Back then he had no idea that they would become allies. It was unthinkable yet it has happened all the same.
"That wasn't the truth though, he created the fruits to do something else" Clyde says, "I'm sure you found out, each person who eats the fruit eventually becomes… compelled, to try and take all the chakra for themselves".
"Yeah, my teammates, Sasuke, Sakura and I, had to fight against Kaguya. She was the one who ate the fruit originally".
"You were very lucky to survive the encounter, many don't. It seems that you were beating the odds long before we even got here".
"What did the emperor do when he found out about the fruit" Hinata asks.
"He was a great man, of course he didn't want you all to suffer through that, so he demanded that Jonas stop. He said that all these fruits were to be taken back immediately. He said that we, the military, would go into each pocket world and save the locals. He said that no more pocket worlds should be made".
The Hyuuga heiress understands, he has done what she imagined. He seems like a man of true integrity who respects everyone. It's that unfortunate parallel with Naruto which gives birth to a horrible feeling in her gut, like she's going to see the same thing happen again.
"Emperor Endou claimed we did not need to gather power, at least not that way" Sheer explains. "He claimed that our people were above that. He was right, you certainly haven't seen us at our best".
"By that time it was too late, Furst told the old man that it doesn't matter what he thinks". Clyde gathers darkness energy in his hand, as if acting out what happened. "Furst attacked the emperor".
"He attacked him head on?".
"Yes. Our ruler was a good but naïve man who always trusted his friends no matter what. This was the first time he realised that Jonas was getting stronger. This was the moment he realised that he was no longer a match for him".
Naruto understands the limitation this presents him in fighting Jonas. 'Life' is supposed to be an incredibly powerful element, more powerful than even 'darkness'. However, that hadn't been enough for the emperor, a mighty hero, the only other man to control 'life'. Naruto would eventually have come face-to-face with the man who overcame that element and he would have to find a way to defeat him.
"The old man ran for as long as he could, knowing that for a lot of people he was their last hope. However, after a few months the most terrifying news possible was delivered to us all".
"The old man was dead".
"Furst Jonas had become the emperor".
Naruto shakes his head, still unable to understand how this could happen. Surely there were signs, surely even a completely naïve fool would detect something.
"I don't understand though, you said before that your power is one that transcends a level. When you use your power, I can feel it, I really know about it. Given that I can sense it when I'm this inexperienced, how could the emperor not sense that Jonas was getting stronger?".
Naruto is a fool himself, always wanting to believe in his friends. He thinks of Hashirama, who has only died recently. While on the surface he appeared on content at the current situation, the village had a firm grip on peace. However, Naruto could tell that under the surface he was unhappy. He would have felt more secure if Naruto had killed the invaders three years prior, guaranteeing everyone in the village a safe sleep every night. Still, it's hard to know if that would have saved them. Would they have been spared the arrival of Lara and the other generals, would the forces of the heavens be bearing down on them, or would they have just sent a weaker general in to clean up Clyde's mess? Naruto trained every day for the sake of the village, but also to prevent Hashirama from going on a killing spree should his power increase.
"This is something you don't know about our world yet. We have more than one way to get stronger" Clyde explains.
"While we can train our understanding, we also have incredible rare manuals. Books if you prefer. If we study from them we can get stronger".
"As well as books there are also the legendary divine abilities".
"What are divine abilities?" Hinata asks.
Clyde raises his as if to stop Hinata. "Let me first explain the power which you are using. The power you are using has always been chakra. I imagine you have used it since your childhood".
"Yes, we both have" Naruto answers.
"But you, Uzumaki Naruto, have combined chakra with our own power. Our power is called divine energy".
"Divine energy…".
Naruto first felt divine energy during the captained-six battle. Upon the appearance of the stone tablet, he recalls the euphoric feeling of it flowing through his body. After reading the word on the stone tablet, an energy, divine energy had leaked from it, coursing through his entire being. From that moment, the energy has been his to do with as he wishes.
"We can both learn how to use divine energy up to the general level. The general level of understanding allows you to use a golden cloak. Like my golden darkness cloak or Peterson's golden lightning cloak. However, we cannot learn chakra and you cannot learn divine abilities or use strength training manuals".
Sheer points to her head with her right index finger, tapping it twice to draw Naruto's eyes. "There is a subtle difference in our biology. Our brains are connected differently. That difference is why we were able to resurrect your deceased warriors to fight on our side".
The revived warriors had been a pain during Sarada's period of leadership, an eternal thorn in her side. After victory in the captained-six contest they had been allowed to die. Before that Sasuke had been revived, he fought against Sarada and Boruto. That was the day that Sakura died and that Sarada became the last member of her family. Thankfully, Clyde's group no longer do that.
"Strength training manuals improve our raw power, using it you could transcend another one, or even two levels" Clyde explains. The effect is similar to his transcendent element. "Divine abilities are different".
He continues. "Divine abilities grant us supernatural powers. It could be the ability to stop time momentarily, the ability to camouflage ourselves, it could be anything. As well as this, divine abilities also fill our body with more power, allowing us to transcend yet another level".
Hinata holds her head in frustration, that could be why Boruto's captor was so strong. The people from their world have the ability to grow as well. Just when it seems they can see the top there is always an even greater height to reach. They are climbing a mountain of false peaks. Someone could be at the general level, they could have ascended another two levels from reading manuals, and again by absorbing a divine ability. How strong would such a person be. They would likely be able to destroy their entire world.
"So it was using one of these divine abilities that Furst was able to overcome Emperor Endou? He used one of these to surpass his strength?".
"That's right".
Sisto laughs as he looks between the tent's occupants. "Divine abilities aren't given to people like us though".
Shaking her head, Grace says, "No. Nor are strength training manuals. Our power is achieved purely through understanding our elements and upgrading our own divine energy".
"These abilities and manuals are only granted to members of the aristocracy" Peterson explains, leaning back and looking at the roof. He stares into the far away realm of his imagination. "Those people are all born rich and talented. They have curried favour with Emperor Furst. They are far stronger than us".
"Interestingly, Peterson and I came across a broken divine ability in this world" Clyde explains, a wry smile on his face, a child showing off his weekend adventure. "It had gained a consciousness of its own and referred to itself as a god. You might have heard of Jashin?".
"Jashin is from your world?".
"Jashin is simply a tool meant to grant us power. He was a failed experiment. Evidently it's construction went wrong somewhere" Clyde says. "Strangely it was almost able to merge with one of your own warriors, Shinki, something that shouldn't be possible".
An ominous silence arises, several of the colonels stroke their chins. The others look to Sheer, citing her biological expertise.
"It was probably because of an error in construction".
"Yes, that's more than likely the reason" Clyde concludes.
"But if these abilities are so rare that even you don't have one, how did it get into this world" Hinata asks.
A divine ability is incredibly rare. Given to spoilt children rather than the hard-working members of the military who visit the pocket worlds. If they never had one, how could it possibly get into a pocket world.
"That's a good question" Clyde says, leaning forward. "And I have absolutely no idea. It's as much a mystery to you as it is to me".
"It does seem strange" Sheer nods.
"This world is the only one I have ever seen where the residents have understood our power. While I have no idea what makes this world so unique, it's special, there is definitely something special about this world".
Hinata looks to her side at Naruto. He has his thinking face on. Not one of serious contemplation but one almost of irritation. She loves that face, he puts it on when he hears about bad things. It's a face that questions why things have turned out so stupidly. It's a face about the new emperor. Naruto has already rejected Jonas' reasons for doing what he has done.
It still bothers her, the similarities and his potential fate. She can't frown when looking at that face though. When everything seems like it is over, when darkness has fallen, Naruto keeps on going anyway. He can react badly when the pressure is on him but ultimately it changes nothing. The world has been dark for him since the beginning and while the sun rises and falls it changes nothing because he only ever goes in one direction and won't change no matter what's in his way.
"Now you know, Uzumaki Naruto, that is our story. Furst Jonas did indeed go on to replace Akashi Endou as our emperor. However, he is much more overbearing than our last emperor. Perhaps it would indeed be more accurate to describe him as our god".
"Were you forced into the military by him?".
"No. Most of us served happily before the emperor switched" Clyde explains. "Back then we had two names, just like you. We had clan names and family names, just like Akashi Endou, Furst Jonas and Uzumaki Naruto. We had our own families. But our names were taken from us and our families placed under constant surveillance".
Naruto has only recently truly had a family. Hinata has had one all her life but they have been distant. She understands though, the terrible burden of their suffering. When a child is hurt, the one who is truly hurt is the mother. That is the emotion she is feeling now that Boruto has gone.
"Is there no way you can find your families and help them" she asks.
Grace answers. "Even if we did find our families, they would be killed, probably along with us. Besides that we've been… conditioned to forget them, and our former names".
Hinata has no idea what this conditioning includes but comes to an obvious conclusion.
"… that's barbaric".
"Whereas before our job was to protect and defend our land, when the new Emperor took over, our job became something else".
Peterson takes a deep breath.
"Our job is to head into pocket worlds, just like this one".
"We kill every single person who has a shred of chakra".
"Usually it is just the one, that would have been Kaguya in this world".
"Once we have killed them all, we use a special method to create a new chakra fruit".
Naruto gets it, why their powers are as they are. Kaguya was an incredibly difficult foe to overcome. He is confident that with 'life' he could defeat her but as a shinobi alone, he never reached such a level. That is why someone like Clyde is necessary. The captains and colonels couldn't defeat Kaguya, someone truly powerful would be needed. A general, someone with a golden cloak. They could defeat a single mighty opponent.
"The final fruit is a lot stronger than the original one we sent to each pocket world. Through the generations, so much chakra is produced, so many warriors are forged by the flames of war. All for the sake of accumulating this power we harvest".
"We have no idea what he does with the fruit" Clyde admits, "But we do know that it can't be good".
"Is Jonas stronger than you?".
Clyde laughs aloud. Like he has heard the best joke ever. "You may think that I obey because I am scared for my family's life but that isn't true. I don't even remember if I had a family. I obey because I know that until now, we have had no way of defeating him".
"Until now?" Naruto asks, cocking his head to the side.
"Yes. Until now".
Clyde nods his head.
Suddenly, a heavy object is dropped. The ground shakes and a loud bang fills the surrounding area. It's like a small earthquake.
Sheer raises to her feet and using the power of wind, blows the canvas of the tent away, revealing the object.
Naruto looks back over his shoulder. It's a black cube with a single opening in one side. The opening is formed by the division of the face down the middle, each part to the side of the cube. Like doors. This is the unescapable prison from the captained-six contest.
"What is…".
Clyde instantly activates his darkness cloak, leaping over the table and kicking Naruto.
The Hokage flies backwards, not having prepared himself for combat. He lands inside the cube after his head violently strikes the rear wall.
"Naruto!" Hinata shouts as she runs after him, only to be stopped by Sheer.
Everything seems groggy to him. He hit his head hard. "Clyde… what are you doing… I thought we were allies…".
"We are allies, Uzumaki Naruto".
The doors begin to close, dramatically swinging inwards to trap Naruto. Only Kakashi can escape these prisons from inside.
"I did say that there was no hope for my world until now. A new hope for my world has arrived" he explains.
Clyde raises a single finger and points into the prison.
"The last hope for my world… is you…".
"Please… don't do this… don't shut me in here" Naruto mumbles. He wants to shout but can't summon his voice.
He tries to move forward but the second he instructs his legs; his head hurts immeasurably. He cannot move. 'I won't be ready to move for another few minutes, but I'm going to be trapped in here'.
The strike to the head was deliberate. Naruto just about brings himself to notice that. This is the only thing Clyde could possibly do to him. A debilitating strike to the head when he has no power enhancement. No sage mode, no nine-tails chakra, no 'life'. This is the only state that he could be subdued in.
"Don't worry. Your healing ability is supreme. I know you will recover" Clyde says.
"After the battle is done here, my subordinates will smuggle you through the enemy's portal".
"Uzumaki Naruto, I will keep your world safe, so you go and save mine".
"Stop!" Naruto screams, willing his legs to move.
He cannot do anything though. It is over. The doors shut. He is trapped in the inescapable prison.
Clyde takes a deep breath. "OK. OK, it's done. Let's go Peterson".
"Yes" the scarred man nods.
The two most powerful members of the Clyde group begin to walk away. They pass Hinata, still being held back by Sheer.
Clyde looks at her momentarily as he passes. "Don't worry, I will do everything in my power to save your world".
"It is Naruto's destiny to save mine".