WAR NEVER ENDS – BORUTO'S REASONS
The Battlefield
The despair permeates over the battlefield. While Lara's subordinates are confused, the shinobi and Clyde's captains understand the situation all too well. For half of them the two traitors overhead are the ones who have fought against them before. The one who struggled but persisted and overcame all challenges placed in his way. The one who dominated all who stood in his way, held back only by his inability to keep up with his spiralling power. For the Hidden Leaf these two represent something very different. The man who found the village, who gave them all a place which they could call home. The man who inherited his fathers will and protected them when all others faltered. That is who they had believed them to be, it seems incorrectly.
The revelation of Hashirama's treachery is crushing for morale and in terms of the battle. Nobody would be able to stand up to him now. The same goes for Boruto of course. They are two of the most talented figures in the village, a duo who spearheaded their philosophy that distrusted the invaders. Hashirama is a leader though, one on par with Naruto in terms of importance, his treachery stings more than they imagined possible.
For a small group, although Hashirama poses the greater threat, Boruto has more of an impact on them. Many grew up knowing not of the honour of the Senju clan, nor of the deeds of the revered 7th Hokage, instead watching Boruto protect them. For many, just as they have been watching Clyde's back on this battlefield, they have watched his back for years. Then there are those who struggle even more than that, the ones who always struggle the most when there is a huge change in someone's life. Their family.
Kushina, outgoing as ever, is the first to raise her voice at him.
"Boruto. What the hell do you think you are doing up there?".
"Grandmother…".
"These people, do you know the terror that they spread through this village, through this world? We thought they were going to harm you, we thought they had killed Hashirama" she bellows at her grandson. "And now you're really going to side with them? Tell me Boruto, are you really going to do that to us? Are you going to do that to your family"?
The young Uzumaki feels the tear in his heart as he looks at them. He never wanted to see this, these emotions from his family, certainly not caused by him. For years, he and his father had been the cause of that. During his childhood each argued with the other, each pulled and pushed the other, trying to make them deviate from their present course. That had caused pain, for Hinata and Himawari alike, something he never wanted to see again.
"I've always supported you having a different point of view, Boruto" Minato reminds him.
While all others doubted Boruto, Minato did support his view. The 4th Hokage even went so far as to support Boruto's analysis when that analysis deemed his death necessary.
"Yeah, I remember your support well, grandfather".
"But this is going too far! These people came to our village and were willing to show to us that they had killed the 1st Hokage" Minato explains. "They have spread fear through the hearts of the people you swore to protect. I can't accept that, not as Namikaze Minato, not as your grandfather and not as the 4th Hokage".
Boruto groans at the situation presented to him. So many people to avoid hurting. The more responsibilities you gain the more souls you have to protect. Sometimes that is impossible, even for the shadow Hokage.
"I can understand why you're upset".
"Upset is putting it mildly".
"But I can offer an explanation for everything they have done".
The ears of many perk up when hearing this. Boruto's attitude is certainly not antagonistic as they feared. On the contrary he has not made a single hostile remark and is now willing to offer an explanation, a justification for the actions that came prior. Perhaps, the wonder, if this is a good explanation then there need be no more bloodshed, and they can all go home together.
The wiser ones amongst them are not so convinced.
"To put it simply, these men and women are not your enemy" Boruto says, his arms open in a wide encompassing gesture. "The true enemy is who it has been all along. The true the enemy are the people who invaded your world; this new group, Clyde's group, all of them. My master, myself and all of the people we have brought with us, we are all here to protect the hidden leaf".
Despite the dark and intimidating manner of Boruto and his followers, the tone of his voice convinces many that he is telling the truth. Looking around those who have accompanied him, they don't seem to have any intention of attacking. Previously as well, none of them had assaulted a shinobi without being provoked previously. That is of course with one exception, the man who is floating above them, the leader, Senju Hashirama.
"That's nonsense". Shinki spits on the ground, a gesture to reflect his disgust for Boruto's actions. "Your follower here has been fighting with Shikadai and myself all along. He has shown himself to be the village's enemy".
Tao Ma is the man in question. Laughing loudly and swaying back and forward as he has always done, he pauses for just a moment to bow lowly to his two opponents from moments prior. It seems mocking but many wonder if this his way of showing respect to two people who actually made him do some work.
"Tao Ma is far stronger than you are Shinki. Yet somehow you are alive, that's funny, isn't it?".
The man himself speaks on the matter. "I was ready to intervene, ha-ha, for the Hidden Leaf of course. I was prepared to protect your shinobi. But it appears, it wasn't needed. I was merely using you to warm up a bit, ha-ha, waiting for my leader to arrive at the opportune moment".
"Why" Kushina asks. "Why not just fight alongside us from the start? Why not declare their intentions innocently?".
"Originally, they were going to pay this world no attention at all" Boruto explains, "However, a small group of people drew their attention".
Minato draws the obvious conclusion, looking to the four people with the greatest power in the village. "You four…".
"Actually, it was only three of us. My father, my master and me. These people are not invaders from the other world like you believe. Seeing that my master and I thought like they do, Tao Ma recruited us, knowing that we were the leaders they had been waiting for. They waited a long time for us".
"You thought like they did? What does that mean?".
"They also believe the invaders should be killed, just like we do".
"Each person here is someone who has escaped an invasion through a portal".
"Each person here is from a pocket world, just like we are".
"Each person here is a survivor, an escapee of an unjust war, just like we are".
To the captains serving under Clyde and Lara, this begins to make sense. They have never heard of any people escaping a pocket world invasion through a portal but concede that it is bound to happen from time to time. They also concede it is likely the ones who escape would be strong and tenacious. Lastly, they concede that those who have escaped, the sole survivors of their respective pocket worlds, would have unmatched thirst for vengeance.
To the shinobi this is all a lot more confusing. They have never heard of pocket worlds and not many know the true nature of the portals either. They manage to decipher that there are other worlds like their own that have been invaded. Also determining that all those siding with Boruto share his ambition, they begin to understand. This group before them is a large group of people with one common goal, to fight back against their oppressors and to kill them.
"You expect me to just accept that?" Minato asks. "They didn't come to us and try to explain themselves?".
Kushina too is distraught. "What about Naruto? You said they were interested in all three of you so why not him? I know that he thinks differently to you but he is the strongest person in the world, why not approach him?".
"It was all part of master's plan" Boruto gestures to the man of the hour. "It was a plan that I wasn't even aware of".
The hearts of many shinobi from the village begin to shift. At first, they were sympathetic towards Boruto, believing him to be misguided rather than malicious. Perhaps that is still the case, but those last few words threw them off. A plan, a secret plan by the 1st Hokage behind the back of his friend and his student. A plan with a man who didn't know to deceive so many. How could something like that be viewed favourably?
"I met Senju Hashirama before that night, we discussed a plan then". Tao Ma recounts the events with a childish glee. "If we were to defeat the true threat, these invaders who have plagued your world, we would need to take special measures. That General, Clyde, he is a truly unique talent, someone that not even I could defeat. However, Hashirama and Boruto could do it, they would be capable, if we planned things well enough".
Capable of defeating Clyde? To those who witnessed the captained-six contest this hardly seems plausible. During that contest, nobody on the locals' side could stand up to Clyde, he seemed unbeatable. Except, there was one man. A man who was different to everyone else, who destiny seemed to eternally favour. That was Uzumaki Naruto. But he was alone, the only one who could fight Clyde and live. That is something that not even Hashirama could do. So, they have to wonder, just what sort of planning could place the shinobi duo on such a high plateau.
"Every element has its uses. The more powerful the element, the more beneficial they are, as you have seen with my father's 'life'. Tao Ma used his powers to create a fake body. A body that not even my father, with all his might, could see through. That is why you all believed him to be dead. Tao Ma, why don't you explain why you didn't contact my father first".
"Yes" he obeys. "I ignored Uzumaki Naruto because not only did he strongly oppose our principle that the invaders must die but there was something wrong with him. He was completely incompatible with our power".
"Incompatible with your power?".
"We all share an element" Boruto says. "You must realise it by now, it was hidden within me all along, that same element they use".
Boruto opens his hand, a position he formerly used to demonstrate the function of his rasengan. Flowing from his body like torn paper sheets, a grey wispy substance spirals around an epicentre floating just an inch above his palm. Unlike the trouble he has had for the past three years, he now seems to have it completely under control, marvelling at the grey substance as he toys with it. A beauty so obvious to him but is lost on everyone else.
"It is beautiful, don't you think. 'Death'… 'Death' is my power".
Even those without control of an element can feel something from the element as it dances in Boruto's hand. It shouldn't be there, something like this, this sort of power, it should never be in the hands of man. It should be confined to the control of the gods.
Kushina watches anxiously. 'It's perfectly within his control and I can practically feel the strength of it. Just like Naruto'.
"Now you must understand. My father's 'life' could never be compatible with this 'death'. The two simply don't mix. He could never grasp this power". Boruto waves his hand back and forward, dissipating the powerful divine energy as if it is nothing. "Still, just like his, it is a truly transcendent element. A power that can cross two levels. Even stronger than 'light' and 'dark'".
Minato cannot stand it. "You would embrace the power of 'death' over 'life'? Can you even here yourself? Would you go along with this murderous regime of theirs? That's sick, completely sick, Boruto".
"I wish we had room to be sentimental about it but you have only seen the tip of the iceberg here. Against an enemy as strong as ours, I have no choice but to embrace this power, they have forced it on us".
"Is that the conclusion you have come to after being raised by Naruto, after meeting him again and seeing what sort of man your father is. I guess I can only say I am disappointed, I'm truly disappointed in you".
"… I will save the Hidden Leaf, no matter what I have to do".
He wonders if perhaps, unlike with his father, fate is conspiring against him, delivering him repeated bad luck. He knows that his choices are what is best for the hidden leaf and that while there is some idealistic argument against it there is no such realistic argument. His family though, they all fall on the side of the idealistic argument, enchanted by the magic that seems to follow his father around, a magic that has captivated the entire village. That is what he can see from the looks on their faces. The journey they have been on with him may blind them to all other possibilities. He wonders if this is what Sasuke once felt.
Sasuke, that reminds him of something.
"You may remember my former master being revived and sent against the Hidden Leaf, he was brought back from the dead" Boruto says. "But when a sage mode user is revived, they cannot be controlled by the invaders. Sage mode users like my master and I retain our free will".
Few understand the significance until he finishes his next sentence.
"We will also come to understand something. Their method eliminates your very soul, if only for a moment. And is in that moment, that you are guaranteed to understand 'death'. That is why a sage can easily learn this power".
It is Shikamaru who realises it first. "So, if Naruto had been revived alongside Sasuke… if they had sent him against us…".
"That's right Mr Nara. You are as sharp as your reputation says. If my father had been revived alongside my master, he would have retained his free will. He would have been alive again and would have had the element of 'death' on his side".
Peterson remembers the day. Though he is only just understanding the significance for the first time. "That experiment failed, I remember visiting Sheer when she did it. She talked about her most significant experiment, saying that one of them failed".
"Isn't destiny incredible" remarks the blonde shinobi. "If Colonel Sheer had succeeded my father would have returned with the element of 'death' and killed you all. But she didn't succeed because, much like my mother from the present, my father from the present disappeared at that most vital moment. The moment Sarada brought them both forward to the future".
Shikadai, like his father, realises that this is beyond a coincidence. Even a man of facts like himself questions whether destiny played a part in these events.
"In that moment then… Sarada…".
"Sarada turned our bright future into a bleak one. Had she done nothing, my father would have returned, stronger than ever and killed the invaders. Yet she did something, she brought him forward in time and instead of 'death' he ended up with the element of 'life'. Instead of being our Hokage, our salvation, he became something else".
They all hang on his condemnation of his father.
"He became too forgiving and he started to forsake our world. All because, for a moment, Sarada panicked. And destiny itself changed".
As a silence engulfs Boruto's family, his old friend is the next to interview him. Mitsuki steps forward. Usually more inquisitive than judgemental, this time there is a difference in the snake shinobi's features. Something that Boruto has not seen many times but recognises very well, anger.
"It was that day you achieved this power wasn't it…".
"You have good memory Mitsuki" Boruto praises. "I was the sole survivor of an attack by the invaders. I woke up and found my entire squad dead. It's only now I realise that I didn't survive that day, I died, just like all the others".
It's a hard reality to hear for many. So many shinobi stayed back while the defence was done by Boruto and his elite squads. Many remained in the village, under Sarada's command, and prepared for the inevitable assault. All the while, Boruto and Mirai had been out there, experiencing death on a scale they couldn't comprehend. Everyone knows somebody who died in those attacks, a son, a mother, a wife. Now they understand that the hero who lead them in those attacks, even he did not emerge unscathed.
"Sheer must have started the revival process on us. Only, I didn't return under her control, I returned with this disjointed power. But now, I finally have it under my control and things can start to change".
"You idiot!".
The strong outburst comes from Boruto's sister.
"Himawari…".
"For three years we were happy. For three years, Clyde and his followers remained in this world and did nothing to harm us. Today they even fought for us, Clyde protected us against the most terrifying woman I have ever seen".
"Himawari, you have to understand…".
"Shut up! You're going to listen to me" she demands, her finger angrily pointing at the ground.
"You know, I was scared during the invasion, truly scared" she begins. "I wondered every day if it would be our last. If we were finally going to die. I would cry when I was alone, when I went to bed, when I ate. And do you know what changed that. It was you, you and dad working together, defending us. Together you changed things and I was no longer afraid".
Kushina looks solemnly towards her granddaughter. 'I never realised it was so hard on you…'.
"Together, you brought us through such difficult times. Are you really going to throw it away in a mad quest for revenge?".
It is the same mistake Sasuke made. Or at least that is what the majority think. Boruto, on the other hand, has someone at his side which is more than Sasuke ever did. He is certain that he and Hashirama respect one another, that they respect the lives of all the villagers and that they will eternally continue their quest to protect the village. He considers all these things he has that his teacher didn't, a loving family, something to return to, people who he cares about, a noble goal to strive towards. This is not a mad quest for revenge in his mind, it is the most difficult quest that has ever been undertaken. It is a quest to protect his loved ones.
"I'm listening to the wills of my deceased comrades. I am listening to the will of my master, of Sakura and of Mito. And using this new power, I am going to protect everyone, including you Himawari. I'll make it so that you need never be afraid again".
"I'm already afraid brother… I'm afraid of you…".
Words cannot shake these people, he concludes, their souls are resolute in a way that could never be shaken with conversation alone. Only one person can move the hearts of the masses in such a way, something that even he and Hashirama cannot do.
"It looks like words can't change your mind. In that case I will have to let my actions speak for me. So, together, my master and I, will save this world".
The captains under Clyde and Lara all tense, sensing their impending doom. Their reckoning is here and there is nothing to stop it.
Author Note:
Hi All,
I am sorry if you aren't very fond of long pieces of exposition and dialogue like this.
I'm afraid its necessary so I hope you can bear with me, their will eventually be a pay-off.
With that said, thanks for all the nice reviews from yesterday's chapter, I'm glad you liked it and I hope you will continue to enjoy the story going forward.
Thanks for reading,
Cbehrills