Author Note:
Hi All,
Guess who's back? Have you missed me?
It was only earlier today that I got a couple of reviews questioning why I was taking so long. I've had a lot of work to do moving houses, so I apologize for how long I have taken.
I script each of the parts of "To the Future" that I write before I start writing them. This allows me to tell a consistent story through each arc that I write. This also means that the story is written in batches, I write intensively, disappear for a while, then start writing again. Despite the timing looking convenient in the face of these complaints, I genuinely only finished scripting this part a couple of days ago.
To reiterate, I'm sorry this has taken so long.
Now, with my grovelling out of the way, I really hope that you enjoy part 6 of this story. Part 6 is entitled "A New World".
Thanks for reading,
Cbehrills
A NEW WORLD – QUIET BEFORE THE STORM
The Pocket World
Peterson and Sheer stand at the edge of the pocket world, at the last camp that will ever be made within it. Indeed, the plan is to leave for their world, to take all the villagers with them for their protection. If they don't return, if there aren't enough people left to return to this world, if they simply decide to remain in the other world, then this pocket world will never again have human occupants. Each one of them is dead, save for the villagers and shinobi of the Hidden Leaf and the few survivors of the Hidden Sand village. Perhaps it was always destiny that this world would end in that way.
Clyde looks at the camp around him and then to the portal at the head of the camp. This spot had been chosen deliberately. This portal must have been the entrance that Lara and her followers used to enter the pocket world. It is their ticket back to the homeworld. It is the door they will go through to fix all their issues. Clyde and his subordinates had planned to smuggle Naruto through this door during the previous conflict, so that he alone may attempt to tackle the injustice beyond. That is no longer necessary, circumstances have placed them in an ironic position where they are stronger than they ever thought they would be when this moment came. They are going through the portal and they will be taking a small army with them.
Clyde takes in a deep breath of air and smiles.
"Is something getting to you sir" Peterson asks.
"Do you realise what we're doing?" comes the reply. "We're taking on Furst Jonas. We're taking on Emperor Furst! And logically I'm well aware that this is a bad idea but I'm excited. We're doing something right for a change. No matter what, I feel like I'm not going to regret that".
Sheer nods. It's a fantastic feeling that she is all too familiar with. Not too long ago, she lamented their fate as the cursed children. Too afraid to stand up to daddy. Now things have been turned around completely by an enormous collective effort. An effort unintentionally spearheaded by one young man. Naruto.
"It's something to be proud of, this crazy thing we're doing" Sheer agrees, "We can't really take too much credit. We simply followed the example set to us by these locals. But we are the first military group to rebel against the new emperor. So hopefully this will be the rebellion that brings him down".
"We've been blessed haven't we" Peterson says.
"Oh?".
"I'm sure you remember us describing ourselves as cursed. How we hated what had happened to us. Resenting the circumstances, we had matured in but having no way to reject them. But we have been saved from our own helplessness, and by our own victim no less, if that's not blessed I don't know what is".
It is good fortune, if nothing else, that this has happened to this group of pocket-world invaders. Other groups of survivors have violently rejected the people of their homeworld when given the choice. The group headed up by Hashirama, by Boruto and by Tao Ma. Each man and woman in that group aims to kill them, not to show mercy on them. A stark contrast to the people of the Hidden Leaf Village currently allied with them.
"He's quite something, that Uzumaki Naruto".
"I never should have asked you to keep him in that prison" Clyde says after a pensive moment of silence. "I fought him, yet I underestimated his strength and his value. I thought of him as something to protect. Something to protect, ha, Naruto is the heart and soul of rebellion already. He isn't a child we are waiting on to grow, he's already an adult".
"It's not just his maturity though" Sheer replies. "It's that feeling they had too. That feeling when they found out that Boruto and Hashirama had betrayed them. I can't imagine anyone choosing to be merciful to us in the first place, but they were disgusted with the two of them for making that choice. We were so lucky to bump into them".
Peterson smirks. "They could still lead us to certain death".
"Yeah but even then, I am happy to die having met people like that".
"Our world was that way once" Clyde says, gazing at the portal with a nostalgic glow to his cheeks. "It was a world full of m9orales and principles".
"The old man?".
"Endou Akashi".
"Doesn't he remind you of him General?".
"You mean Naruto?".
"Who else?".
"Yeah, he reminds me of Emperor Endou" Clyde concurs. Comparing the two, they are so alike to him. Not only in their beliefs and their element but in the way, they make him feel. "It's not just 'life' either, it's their whole attitude, their demeanour. I gave that speech about our backs before but when you're with Naruto… it's like you're constantly looking at his back. Like you never need to worry".
"Well, I hope that sensation stays with us forever" Sheer says.
"Yeah" Peterson agrees.
Clyde looks away from the portal back at the two of them. His two mightiest subordinates, his two most trusted allies. They have been through everything with him since they came to this world. They were their when war against Naruto was declared. They were there for the key moments of the battle, when it was won and lost. They were there for the first act of mercy they received. They were there for the battle to protect Naruto and the battle against Lara. Right until the bitter end, his two most trusted soldiers.
"I'm proud of you both, you know that, don't you?".
"Sir?".
"You've matured so much since coming here to this pocket world. Not just reaching the General level but mentally too. I am proud of each of you and Emperor Endou would have been too. That is something that cannot be taken from you".
They each have their own separate reasons. Ascending at the right moment, saving the right person. Having a rivalry with the second Hokage, encouraging those behind them by shaking his hand. Becoming friends with Sarada, learning a lesson about true perseverance from her. There is no end to what they have learnt.
"Thank you, sir" they both say.
They don't say it aloud, but they know that Clyde himself has matured the most of all. Thanks in part to Naruto, thanks in part to Lara, but mostly thanks to them. By being the cursed children, they have drawn something out of him. Something that can never be hidden away again.
Tsunade and Tobirama
Tsunade stands with her fists raised and faces the invisible opponent in front of her. General Brooks. Despite winning the fight against her child-like opponent, it never felt like much of a victory to Tsunade. What she did that day she didn't do alone. Most of the credit, in her mind, had to go to Peterson. If Peterson hadn't compared Tsunade's durability and speed with Brooks in the way he had, she would never have been able to defeat her. Other than that, she also had the help of her own teacher, the third Hokage. Without the help of these two people, she would never have been able to win.
Hashirama has 'death'.
Tobirama has 'water'.
Hiruzen has 'earth'.
Minato has 'wind'.
Kakashi has 'lightning'.
Naruto has 'life'.
Sarada has 'creation'.
Shinki has 'sand'.
She has nothing. No element to rely upon. Just her raw strength. That is why, despite having one ace up her sleeve, she cannot claim to be on the same level as the other Kage. She could never fight against a general alone and hope to win. Against a high-level general, an elite like Blackburn, Elliot or Lara, she wouldn't stand a chance. That's why it haunts her even now that her grandfather made the offer he did. She had a chance not only to learn an element but a transcendent one, 'death'. Was turning him down the right thing to do? Should she have made the decision emotionally or rationally?
Regardless, she throws her fists at the imaginary opponent in front of her, occasionally weaving her head side to side or ducking beneath a kick that nobody else can see. She switches between an array of opposing mannerisms. She imagines fighting Brooks, Elliot, Clyde, even Naruto. Slowly but surely, she increases her pace, throwing punches and evading imaginary ones faster and faster, practicing for the high-speed battles she will be inevitably roped into. The air flows through her body as fast as she can force it, but she still tires of the repeated strikes. Fighting at this speed may not be possible without using divine energy.
Tobirama approaches her tentatively, aware that a sudden distraction at the wrong moment may prompt a terrible accident.
"Tsunade" he calls.
"Uncle".
"How are you holding up? You've been through a lot recently and I would understand if you just wanted to give up".
Tsunade stops punching, allowing her arms to drop. They have been feeling like dead-weight for a while now. "I resent giving up. I hate the mere idea of giving up with every fibre of my being. Those of us fighting at the very top level must never give up".
Tobirama can sense the pain in his niece's words but knows not how to tackle it. "Very true" he eventually says.
"How about you Uncle? I know you always try to seem distant, but my grandparents were your closest family. Are you coping well?"
People have seldom asked Tobirama that question through his life. They have asked it even less since he came to the future. He has endured his brother's death in his previous life. It never felt like this though, not so painful. In this time though, there have always been more important people. Naruto, who has carried the entire village on his back. Boruto who has suffered through the death of those around him. Sarada who was entrusted with being the villages last line of defence. Even his brother, who suffered more than anyone when Mito died.
"I don't want to believe that my brother could come to the conclusion he has done" the 2nd Hokage says, "Personally, I believe it is a solution more suited to my school of thought than his own. However, all I can do is hold on to my memory of the incredible person that he was and fight for the Hashirama of yesterday".
"Yeah, that's right, we just have to keep moving forward". Tsunade lowers her head and wipes the sweat from her eyes with her sleeve. "For him, for my grandmother, for Dan, for everyone who has died as part of this stupid invasion".
"Together Tsunade. I know that I may seem distant and solitary, but I believe that while people may seem incredible individually, they can move mountains when they work together".
This strikes Tsunade as true. After all, working together with Peterson and Hiruzen, she moved such a mountain just a short while ago.
"Especially a pair of Senju Hokage" she muses.
"That's right" Tobirama nods.
Tsunade finds the strength to raise her arms once again, so Tobirama turns and walks away, leaving her to train. "Talk to me if you need anything, we will never get anywhere if we don't work together".
"Yes".
As Tobirama walks a short distance away, he sees a close friend watching from a short way away. He walks over to join him, the Hokage that he has been closest with in the last few months. Hatake Kakashi.
"She's still training I see" Kakashi says, gesturing to the invisible punches that Tsunade throws once more.
"Yeah".
"Still no hint of understanding an element?".
"None".
"You know that it will hold her back, don't you" Kakashi sighs, slipping his gloved hands into his pockets. "Her power is incredible but manifests as strength alone. A freakish attribute brought about by Mitsuki's crazy training regime. Soon she will not be able to keep pace with our speed".
"I know that of course. I am mindful of my brother's offer to teach her 'death' as well. But, no matter what, I must prevent that from happening. If Tsunade learnt 'death', I wouldn't be able to look Mito in the eyes in the other world".
"Don't be so morbid". Kakashi removes one hand from his pocket and pats his friend on the back. "After all, you're not heading to the other world for a long time yet".
"Of course not. We're going to win this war!".
Naruto and Hinata
This is the camp on the edge of the world. Even the Hidden Leaf has now switched to using tents. It is not ideal, but they are good for temporary accommodation and Clyde's group have put up with them for years. Previously, the village stayed in wooden huts constructed on demand by the 1st Hokage. That is obviously no longer an option.
One tent belongs to the Uzumaki family. Given the size of the family in its unusual circumstances, the Circle did offer Naruto, Hinata and their relations additional quarters but they turned it down. The Uzumaki's reasoned that in a time such as this they should stay closer to family than ever before.
Two people sit alone in the tent, each perched on a small weak chair around a table a few inches taller than is convenient. These two are, of course, Naruto and Hinata.
"So, what will we do now?" Hinata asks.
"What do you mean?".
"I'm talking about the Leaf, Naruto. Something like this isn't easy, moving this many people around, keeping them safe".
Naruto groans, understanding the logistical problem in greater detail than he would like. The Circle meetings can be awfully boring for him sometimes, but he admits that Shikadai is nothing if not thorough.
"I'm overseeing most of the preparation with my clones" Naruto says, explaining why he has been so exhausted lately. Maintaining so many clones constantly was difficult before but when factoring in the benefits of 'life' it became somewhat more plausible. Still, not even the 7th Hokage himself could keep it up without exhausting some stamina.
"Are you doing it alone?".
"No, of course I'm not doing it alone. The other Hokage are all trying really hard too. And Mirai is starting to organise military input, she should be calling on you soon".
Hinata nods. Technically, she is part of the military too. It's strange for her and Kushina. They came forward in time, surrounded by people who would determine the fate of the world in the years that followed. On the other hand, the two of them haven't had such a great impact on the fate of that world. They have each offered morale support as Sarada always intended, and Kushina had saved Minato's life by transferring Kurama to him. Unlike the other family members who have participated in the Circle, the two of them have duties as shinobi, just like any other.
"Doesn't this feel different from before?" Hinata asks.
"How do you mean?".
"I mean that I feel like we have a semblance of hope. We're part of a far larger group and this time we're going on the offensive" she says, her eyes lighting up. "We're not opposing another world, we're trying to help it".
Naruto smiles. "Yeah, I suppose it is kind of different".
"It's been a crazy journey hasn't it. We were brought forward in time by the woman who became your student. It's been crazy meeting our children, you are saving the world over and over again. And despite all that, it feels like we're just getting started".
"Don't worry, it will be over soon" Naruto says, placing a comforting hand on his fiancée's arm. "I will put everything back to the way it should be. Then, when we are free, the real adventure can begin".
Shaking her head, Hinata takes Naruto's hand and lifts it into the air above them. "Naruto, every step we take together on this journey, it feels like we're flying. Every second with you is an adventure".
"I don't have to fix the other world if you don't want me to" Naruto jokes. "But Hinata, I promise, I won't ever let you lose this feeling. Every second we spend together, I'll make it an adventure".
Hinata smiles before kissing Naruto lovingly. "I better go if Mirai is gathering shinobi. I don't want her to have to call on me".
With her final words, Hinata gets to her feet and leaves the room.
Naruto smiles as he watches her leave. He wonders how he got so lucky, considering that perhaps it is because he never gave up. Coming to a dystopian future and being asked to fix everything for his descendants, it should be impossible for things to have gone well. It's not like there haven't been drawbacks. His son and friend have abandoned him and almost killed him. Good people have died around him, Konohamaru, Mito, Dan. There will likely be more. Yet, he has seen been reunited with his parents. He has seen the incredible people his children have grown up to be. He has met a student who he works well with. And, despite how different everything is, he is still together with Hinata. It's as if destiny has tied the two of them together.
As Hinata leaves the room, Minato enters it. Initially the 4th Hokage smiles at Hinata but after she leaves his smile disappears.
"Hey dad" Naruto greets his father.
"We need to talk about the elephant in the room" Minato says immediately.
"Oh… that…".
"We can't afford to ignore it Naruto. We can't ignore it as her family and we can't ignore it at the Hokage".
"I know" Naruto says, nodding his head reluctantly. "But she doesn't even realise that she did it. I couldn't bear it if the knowledge brought harm to her in some way".
"Then you better keep an eye on her and work it out Naruto, otherwise she could do anything. She could hurt the villagers for all we know. We may just have been lucky so far".
"I know" Naruto says once again. "I want to find out more too…".
"… just what was it dad… that power she used…".