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Artwork: jessejzette - The 7 Generations of Hokage - Find jessejzette on deviant art.
A NEW WORLD – WELCOME TO OUR WORLD
The Portal
Hiruzen stands amongst those closest to him as he looks at the portal before him. A large structure, circular, easily wide enough at the base for ten people to pass through at a time. It's black stony outline as thick as a tree trunk, it stands as the most prominent landmark for miles around. The circle is filled by a purplish haze, giving any who look at a semi-transparent window to look at the view beyond. Not being able to see through it into the other world has driven many to fear what they will see when they pass through, but most have been calmed by the Hokage's presence.
All around people are gathered into groups of family and friends. Some because this is their first step on a much greater adventure, some because this could well be their last few moments of life. They hope the Hokage can protect them. Even ten at a time it will take them a while to walk through the portal. Several thousand survivors from the Hidden Leaf and Sand Villages wait to go through, along with the soldiers under Clyde's command.
Naruto notes the portal's texture is slightly different to previously. Nothing significant, it's makeup and size remain the same, but the rock formations used to create it have clearly changed slightly. He has discussed his decision to destroy the last portal with Clyde previously, asking how Lara could have gotten to this world. It is likely that this portal is an entirely new one, made for the sole purpose of reaching this pocket world. The construction of the portal was likely driven by Lara's obsession to fight Clyde, otherwise the Leaf may well have been free for good.
Hiruzen, having looked at Naruto, feels calmed. He hasn't been fearing death in this situation, at least not his own death. He has been fearing the potential loss for the villagers, the possibility of the impending calamity for the village. While his face is a picture of concentration, Naruto's relaxed body shows how calm he is feeling, how confident of survival he is when they head through the portal. Either way, it would be a bit late to back down from this decision now. The tents have been packed, the supplies gathered and distributed, the shinobi and captains prepared. Now is the moment. This is the instant in time where the Hidden Leaf will realise its destiny and leave the pocket world from which it was born.
"Well then" Hiruzen nods, "This is it".
Mirai smiles at her grandfather. "Are you as excited as I am old man?".
"Kids these days, do you think we were so different in the past. I am excited, of course, I am excited".
"Hey, we're undertaking a difficult mission with low odds of survival" Shikadai tells the grandfather-granddaughter duo, "Try to take it seriously Mirai, lives could well be depending on your actions".
"Aww, come on Shikadai, light up for once. This may be a step into the unknown but it's also a big step forward".
"Then I hope we are not stepping off a cliff-edge".
Several puffs of smoke rise from amongst the villagers and captains as Naruto's clones dissipate. Information floods in his direction from the four corners of the civilian group. He's pleased with what he finds out, everyone is ready for this. With his checks on the others complete he turns his attention to his own family.
"Mom, are you alright, you look a bit nervous?".
Kushina pulls her hands from her hair, running them down over her face and leaving her with a dishevelled appearance. The bags in her eyes speak to her lack of sleep as another bead of sweat rolls down her head.
"I've got good reason to be nervous, haven't I?" she asks rhetorically. "This family keeps on suffering at the hands of this invasion. How do we know that one of us isn't going to die the second we get on the other side of the portal?".
"Because we've got a Hokage leading us through it".
"I… you… alright, I'll trust you".
Naruto understands Kushina's reluctance is sourced from her own familiarity. The Hokage has long since been an omnipotent figure for her. Her husband is the Hokage. Her son is the Hokage. Her grandson is the Shadow Hokage. Despite three generations of such a power, Boruto has been taken from them, Mito has been killed, Dan has died. Who knows what will happen next.
Clyde approaches them from behind. "Mrs Uzumaki isn't it?".
Kushina confirms her identity. "I'm Naruto's mother, yes".
"You don't have to worry, the other side of that portal is the military headquarters" Clyde explains, his air of confidence born from years of experience with the location. "No matter who is stationed there, I am confident that I could defeat them myself. With the group that we have here, with Naruto and with Sarada, we are well equipped to survive".
"That's what we thought when Minato was attacked…".
A hand then catches onto Kushina's shoulder, snapping her head around to see who it is. It's Sarada, here with the Uzumaki family for the first time since she was released from the medical facility.
"Don't worry Lady Kushina, everything will be alright. I'm not going to let anything else happen to the Uzumaki family".
Naruto nods to his apprentice in appreciation. "You are feeling alright now then? Exhaustion all cleared up?"
"Yeah, I'm alright. I have to be alright for this after all, don't I?".
"Yes. You are going to lead us through after all".
It is what the Circle agreed long ago. Sarada believed that Naruto would be leading them through the portal, a symbolic leader for the village. That was not what the Circle agreed. The Circle believed while Naruto was a good leader, his greatest strength is his status as the village's hero, an icon they all look to in times of trouble. As a leader, Sarada is more qualified to lead them through the portal, for it is her decision making that brought the other Hokage back and brought the village to this point.
With this in mind, Sarada steps to the front of the group and raises her voice to speak to those behind her. Not just the civilians, not just the shinobi or the Hokage but for everyone present. She is now their leader.
"Everyone!".
"Thank you for gathering here. I know that some of you didn't want to make this journey but I'm glad that you have come".
"I know that a lot of you… that most of you are scared about what we are about to do".
"I won't lie, this is a step into the dark, but you should look around you. This is the first time for such a long time that this world has been united. Everyone here today, look around you, there are no enemies, only allies!".
"Whether you are a villager, a shinobi, a captain, a colonel, a general, a Hokage, right now we are all equal in our battle against the unknown".
"That is why we will all step through this portal together, the next big step in the history of both our great worlds".
"It won't be easy, but we have to have faith. The Hokage are here for you, Clyde, Sheer and Peterson are here for you".
"So, no matter what, we are moving forward hand-in-hand from now on".
"From this moment, we are one family, a family who won't lose anyone else".
"From this moment, I beg of you once again, not to believe in me but to believe in one another".
"Step with me, once again, into the unknown"
With her piece spoken, Sarada turns to look at the portal. In her mind it's three times bigger than before with a magnetic field meant to drive her away from it. Now, anything that happens on the other side, good or bad, is her responsibility.
Naruto walks up to her side and the two looks into the purple haze together.
"He's through there you know" Naruto says, "Boruto is through there, so let's not hesitate".
Sarada extends her fist, "Together".
Naruto bumps his fist with hers in reply. "Together" he agrees.
The 7th Hokage and the 9th Hokage make history by walking together, leading the village into the unknown.
A Few Minutes Later
The last of the civilians are ushered through by shinobi as the act of mass world-crossing is completed. What has been done cannot be undone, the people of the Hidden Leaf have now crossed into another world.
The Hyuuga clan, as per the plan, are the first to act. Each member of the clan begins to exercise their visual prowess, looking out for any incoming attackers coming from any direction. Amongst the clan are Hinata and Himawari, doing their best to set an example for the many clan members who look up to them.
The silence is ominous as the pocket-worlders look around the original world for the first time. This world has no known origin, it is unlike their world that was created by a mad-man. Many look around and consider that this is their first time seeing the real world.
"Am I the only one who's really scared right now?" one of the civilians asks as he hugs his terrified daughter close to him.
"What if that Lara attacks us again?" another asks.
"Don't worry!" Mitsuki barks uncharacteristically. He knows that it is important to calm any nerves before mass panic breaks out. "We have beaten Lara before, we have people here who could do that again if need be".
For the first time since arriving in this place, Naruto gets over his shock and looks to the general he once fought.
"Clyde, what is this place?".
In every direction the ground is grassy, sustained by a light that seems to have no source, as if born from the air itself. Some people just start to notice that the grass is not born of the sun, because they aren't outside, they are indoors. They are in a building so large that they cannot see both walls at the same time with a ceiling almost a mile above them. A building so large it has an atmosphere as if it were outdoors.
One wall that is visible is the wall they just emerged through. The rear of the portal is pressed up against it and either side of it other portals can be seen. There are hundreds of them, going on for further than the average shinobi could see. Each portal a gateway to a unique pocket world. The invasion into their pocket world was just one of many and for Naruto it finally becomes clear the scale of operations that the military has performed. Clyde himself has been through dozens of these gates and previously slaughtered countless people all because he had been forced by Emperor Furst Jonas.
Shikadai notices what appears to be a collection of papers in a box next to the portal. As he picks it up he realises that what he is holding is thicker than paper with more rigidity. He immediately feels it has a sense of permanence. Reading through the notes he realises that it lists details about their world, climate, gatherings, population status, even the names of the villages.
"… we were so small to you" Sarada whispers to nobody in particular.
"The keyword being 'were'" Clyde says, "Compared to us you seem like giants now".
Naruto takes a few steps forward and looks at the ground to search for traces of habitation. He finds a few weak traces of divine energy and after a few seconds of scratching away grass notices an old footprint. This must have been where Boruto came when he first encountered Lara. This is the place that haunted Boruto for so long that he only told his father about. The most terrifying experience of the shadow Hokage's early life took place right here.
Many among the group take notice when they sense approaching divine energy. Nothing spectacular but Naruto judges that it is likely a group of colonels.
"They're coming" Hinata says to her husband, confirming what he already knows.
"Prepare to defend the villagers" Naruto shouts as loudly as he can. Those without the protection of chakra may be injured by stray divine energy, a fact he is keenly aware of.
Clyde steps forward at the head of the group.
"Colonels! Cease your offensive immediately. This is General Clyde speaking!".
The colonels do not stop, much to Clyde's surprise. Lara's group had been informed of General Georgia about his betrayal, but he didn't think she had informed anyone else. It was possible that Lara could have told someone, but he concedes that is unlikely. Lara wouldn't want to advertise her failure to defeat Clyde, she would keep the information close to her chest. Unknown to Clyde, several colonels died patrolling this area days previously, killed covertly by Lara. Since that incident, the military have been ordered to keep this area clear with the exception of this group of patrolling colonels.
"It seems that your word doesn't have much weight" Peterson glumly assesses.
Sheer agrees. "It looks like we will have to deal with them the hard way".
Clyde steps even further forward, ahead of the group by some way. He sighs as he continues away from them, his composure relaxed in spite of the situation. It's the first time in a while that Sarada remembers being afraid of Clyde.
"Do these people not remember who I am? How amongst all of them, I am the only one who has risen to defeat Lara?". He summons the power of 'darkness' to his hands, sending a shiver down many spines, "Of all the people in this army, there is one they should fear above all others… me".
Just as Clyde readies himself for combat, a series of kunai fly past his shoulders at great speed. Using the kunai as markers for teleportation points, Minato and Tobirama teleport around the colonels, dancing through their ranks and defeating them with their powers of 'wind' and 'water'.
"Oh…" Clyde begins.
Sarada explains to him. "General Clyde, you need not bother yourself with adversaries like these. The Hidden Leaf is more than ready to deal with them".
Minato and Tobirama continue to take out the colonels, themselves being on the general level, it never takes them more than a couple of blows to defeat their opponents.
The duo's combined assault appears perfect until the final moment when a seemingly fatal punch flies towards the rear of Minato's head, one wise colonel who sees through the teleportation method is the one to deliver it.
However, just as the punch is about to connect, a hand grabs the colonel's wrist. A hand with a mighty force behind it that can stop the force of the punch from the unusual angle. The colonel looks to his side and for the first-time spots Hatake Kakashi.
"One day you people will learn to take your eyes away from what is flashy and focus on what's effective".
Using 'lightning' to enhance his raikiri, Kakashi effectively assassinates his teacher's assailant and finishes off the group of patrolling Colonels.
Minato smiles. "Kakashi are you competing against me?".
"Yes".
"That's good. I'm your teacher. Never stop competing against me".
The 2nd, 4th and 6th Hokage's quickly return to the main group where Sheer explains the situation.
"More will be along soon. This headquarters is the home of thousands of mighty warriors, those deaths will likely attract attention".
"Then we had better move soon" Hiruzen declares, "Otherwise we will be overwhelmed by enemies. Which way is the best exit from this headquarters?".
"There are several non-official 'back entrances' made by training accidents" Peterson says, smirking as he recalls his days training here, waiting for an assignment. "I've memorised the location of several 'back entrances', follow me and I will take you to the closest one".
Sarada turns to the masses.
"Everyone, follow Colonel Peterson!".
Twenty Minutes Later, Outside the Headquarters
The escape has succeeded.
Each civilian was carried by a shinobi or captain. Significant weights were divided between those most capable of carrying it. Everyone pulled their weight, whether they be Hokage, Shinobi, Captain or General. By working together, demonstrating the unit that Sarada spoke of previously, they have escaped from the military headquarters unharmed.
"Naruto, is everyone here?" Sarada asks, aware that Naruto has the most active clones and is therefore the most aware of the situation.
"Give me a few moments" he replies as he replaces and destroys the clones, returning their experiences to his mind and adding their memories to his own. "Yes, everyone is here safely, including the elderly, the disabled and the children".
"Excellent, your plans worked well". Clyde sings the praises of the Leaf's planning team, "Your people will have to get used to travelling great distances, soon they won't have a choice".
Hinata stands at the top of a small and steep grassy hill, looking in each direction, marvelling at the sights. "This place is incredible".
Naruto takes the opportunity to enjoy the surroundings as well, not something he expected to be doing. This is the first time since arriving in the 'homeworld' that he has been able to relax. Now that he is outside with a view in each direction he admits that the sights here are truly spectacular. Minus the nostalgia, this is a view as good as anything he ever saw back in the pocket world.
Every direction is covered in idyllic grassy plains, well-kept grass of just over an inch height. The entire world appears garden-like despite the lack of maintenance. He wonders if the divine energy of this world is responsible for such an incredible environment because in the pocket world such a scene would surely be impossible to find.
"Is the entire empire like this?" he asks.
"No". Sarada surprises Naruto, answering in place of Clyde. She uses her rinnegan and reports what she sees in the distance. "It's a land of large ecosystems. From this vantage point I can just about make out some others, mountains, volcanoes, lakes, waterfalls. It's truly beautiful".
"It's a pity we don't all have a rinnegan to look at it with" Shikadai says while rolling her eyes.
Sarada is left to chuckle to herself and awkwardly scratch the back of her head. Unfortunately, vision is not something she can share.
"Tell us about this world Clyde".
"I will tell you what I can" he begins. "This world is not entirely mapped but compared to yours it is enormous, thousands of times larger. The military headquarters is a testament to that. While it is one of our larger buildings, it still dwarves your largest building".
"It felt as if it had an atmosphere of its own" Sarada says, "It felt like you were outdoors even when inside".
"Strange, isn't it?".
"Are all your buildings like that".
Clyde smiles, like educating a naïve child. "No, many are like your own, small little family houses, containing groups of three to six".
Clyde decides to explain the family dynamic of his world.
"We grow up with families as I have explained before, but those who serve in the military are forced to forget about them. Still, most people will stay with their families forever, working to expand the empire for the man who sits at the top".
"… family houses, I never would have imagined it".
"We also have taller buildings, several kilometres tall" Clyde continues, "It allows us to house families one atop another, it's better use of the space".
"Better use of the space? I can't see a village or town for miles, how much space do you need to save?".
Sheer steps in to answer her friend, "Our illustrious leader has predicted that one day we will, even in a world this large, have a problem with overpopulation".
Clyde nods, "Besides, large swathes of land like this are owned by wealthier members of society".
"Land like this?" Minato's curiosity is peaked as he and his wife join the conversation.
"Just how much land are we talking here" Kushina asks.
"A typical member of the aristocracy would pick their preferred type of biome. They would be given a small ecosystem to match, similar in size to this one we're in now".
Kushina gasps, "You mean this entire area, as far as I can see and beyond, is owned by a single person".
"Our society is different to yours. It's weighted in favour of the powerful" Clyde explains. "If we were to take the people of your world and assume their power, I imagine that Naruto, Sarada, Boruto and Hashirama would own 95% of the land between the four of them".
"That's absurd…".
Clyde nods, the unfortunate truth of his life.
"Welcome to tyranny Mrs Uzumaki… welcome to our world".