Credits
Artwork: jessejzette - The 7 Generations of Hokage - Find jessejzette on deviant art.
A NEW WORLD – NARUTO'S RESOLVE
A Moorland Ecosystem
Naruto and Sarada wander towards the peak of the hill, following closely behind Clyde. This sort of setting shouldn't feel threatening but there is an ominous silence about the place. Largely devoid of the wildlife you would find in the equivalent climate in the pocket world. In fact, on the way here, Naruto noticed several wild animals, but for the last twenty miles or so there has been nothing. If it weren't for the short grass and bushes he could swear this area would be completely lifeless.
As they reach the top of the hill, the object of their attention finally comes into view.
"This is it" Clyde says.
Down below is a great drop, perhaps over one hundred meters, leading to fields filled with huts and tents. With her rinnegan, Sarada is able to identify many items that make such a location easy to identify. It's a training field, just as they had been expecting. At the end of the drop, another hill rises, even higher than the one they just climbed, atop which stands an enormous building, a castle of proportions far greater than they had ever seen.
The castle is perhaps just a bit smaller than the military headquarters they arrived in but not much. This place seemed to have more activity going on. In contrast to the prior lifelessness of the environment, Sarada notes the flicker of lights through the windows and through the little gaps in the walls. She notes the patrolling guards around the edge and the men and women wearing capes of bronze, silver and gold. They wear uniforms much like Clyde.
There is no mistaking where this place is.
"This is the military academy". Clyde opens his arms wide, welcoming himself home. "People are brought here when they are just young. They are separated and trained in groups. They are destined to one day work with one another on dangerous missions, guided by a general who will choose groups to work under him".
Naruto contrasts it with his own training as a warrior. He was brought into a team, not by his own choice but that of the 3rd Hokage. It had been for the best though. Hiruzen likely saw the influence that Kakashi and the three of them would have on one another. United, their incredible teamwork and chemistry changed the lives of all four of them. This place doesn't facilitate that kind of learning, it's a survival of the fittest environment. Even with a kind headmaster and good people like Clyde, that kind of philosophy is not easily changed.
"When I first achieved my golden cloak, I walked the corridors of this very building" Clyde explains. "I interviewed some people, looked at their records, assembled my command. I found a promising scientist named Sheer, a man with incredible talent named Peterson. It all started here".
Sarada allows Clyde a moment of nostalgia before speaking. "Previously we were attacked when the people from your world saw us. Should we be worried about that again?".
"I suspect that only a small group were informed who tried to make things difficult for us. I can't imagine Lara spreading news of our betrayal far and wide" Clyde answers, surveying the landscape. "There is a chance we will be attached, of course there is. If it happens, then we should run as fast as we can".
"Understood".
Naruto feels out of his comfort zone, further than he ever wanted to be. Normally, he and Sarada have a power that gives them a position of importance. That isn't the case here. The teachers are members of the aristocracy, people who could well be on the same level as Carmen. The three of them proved unable to defeat one such individual, never mind several. If the students or teachers get suspicious, they could well die here.
They begin to walk, using their power to enhance their speed. They dash up to one of the academy's many entrances.
As they get closer they slow their pace down to a leisurely walk. It's important they appear calm Clyde insists.
The entrance they have chosen is one of the less guarded ones, protected by three captains. Their ages appear scattered, but Clyde has met many people in his time, ages ranging from children to elders of over a thousand years in age. He can judge roughly how old people truly are. These captains are not much older than one hundred, relatively inexperienced.
"General Clyde" one of them shouts, "General Clyde has returned!".
The one to his left is somewhat calmer. She tells the third member of their group to inform the teachers of his arrival immediately.
Naruto nods his head gently. He figured that Clyde must be a big deal here.
"My General, will you need a guide today" the enthusiastic captain asks, "Or would you like to speak to anyone specific, someone I could get for you?".
"It's private today Captain" Clyde says politely, "I have two very important guests with me, I shall guide them through the academy".
"Of course, sir".
The more level-headed captain opens the door for Clyde. "You and your guests may enter General" she says, bowing her head slightly in recognition of her superior.
The three of them enter and begin walking the corridors following Clyde. The light here isn't source-less like at the military headquarters. Several balls of light float around the corridors, patrolling like tiny little fireflies. Naruto places his finger on one of them and detects a vague hint of divine energy.
This is 'light' divine energy.
Clyde smiles as he stops and watches Naruto touch one the little flies.
"An initiative I helped to start" he explains. "It helps teach new students how to control their powers of 'light'. We use it to illuminate the corridors".
They keep moving. Past many such similar innovations, unnatural yet beautiful springs of water. Heat generated by fire and flame. Glass formed by the combined powers of several students. It looks surprisingly fun. Perhaps once, this was a good place to learn.
"Those guards were very respectful to you" Sarada says after walking the corridors for a while.
"I often return to teach groups of them. I tell them stories of the worlds I have conquered".
"How… noble of you".
Clyde sighs, momentarily forgetting who he is with. "I didn't want to do it you know. Stories like that lift their morale though. Very often, they have nothing else to strive for, nothing but the conquest of pocket worlds like your own".
"It's fine, I understand".
The group continue to walk for a while longer. The shinobi remain largely silent, but internally are amazed at the sheer population contained within these walls. Naruto admits that this would be boring if he hadn't been discussing his observations with Kurama the entire time.
Often, captains, colonels, and even some generals step aside and salute Clyde as he walks on his path. There is a look hidden unsubtly in the backs of their eyes though. It is a look Naruto saw not long ago in the eyes of Clyde's followers. Disdain, disgust, distrust, and a fundamental dislike for him and Sarada.
"It looks like none of them know" Naruto whispers to Clyde.
"Yeah but I wouldn't mention it again, just in case" Clyde says.
"They're not giving us very kind looks".
"Your capes aren't bronze, silver or gold. They're not even purple. You're not wearing any kind of uniform. They probably think you're civilians, peasants compared to them. It would likely terrify them if they knew how strong you were".
As Naruto resists the urge to pat himself on the back, Sarada looks over at the young blonde. 'It's true. We've been walking for quite some time now and we've only seen a few generals. Clyde is supposed to be the strongest general now. That means Naruto is the strongest person we have seen so far'.
Sarada's thinking is optimistic and positive. It's also a jinx for what unfolds a moment later.
A man, clad in a purple cape, walks out into the corridor, blocking their path.
This man is a member of the aristocracy.
His eyebrows, each angling sharply downwards, highlight the sharp look in his eyes. His face is stern, as if he has worn a frown upon it for a thousand years. Naruto notices that there are a few grey strands amongst the man's largely black head of hair and that at the corner of his mouth he has a deep scar, likely a result of a fight from a long time ago. He holds himself with a hardened rigidity. You could tell just by looking at him that he is a strong disciplinarian. Most attention is drawn by his attire though, a purple cape with a red button. He is an aristocrat.
"Clyde" the man says, his voice droll and without inflection.
Clyde smiles, perhaps slightly forced. "It's good to see you again Santiago. You are still teaching I see".
"Indeed I am. Tell me Clyde, what brings you back to the academy?".
"This guy clearly doesn't like Clyde much" Naruto says internally.
"Let's just wait and see what happens" his nine-tailed counterpart replies.
Clyde takes a deep breath. "I would like to speak with Headmaster Sora".
Headmaster Sora!
Sarada takes note of the name. Sora, that is the Headmaster's name. That is the name of the man who could well prove to be their salvation.
"I'm afraid that Headmaster Sora is elsewhere at the moment" Santiago says, his tone less apologetic than his words. "He is acting on business that I am not privy to. And as you well understand Clyde, sometimes it is better not to ask the Headmaster what he is doing".
"This time, I am bringing him that sort of business".
Santiago looks past Clyde at the two people he has brought with him, narrowing his eyes even more if such a thing were possible. In an instant, both Naruto and Sarada find themselves under his intense scrutiny. He wonders just who these people are. No uniform, no cape of any colour. They wouldn't be following Clyde if they were haughty enough not to wear their uniform. Are they just ordinary citizens, or is there background something far more interesting?
"If you are bringing business of that nature, perhaps I would be better ignoring you" Santiago says, his eyes finally returning to Clyde. "However, I feel compelled to ask, who are these two you have brought here with you".
"Ah". Naruto steps forward.
"We haven't been introduced have we" he says, his hand outstretched, "my name is U…".
The moment the 'U' leaves Naruto's mouth, Sarada's arm strikes him firmly in the side of the ribcage, silencing him. He looks at her only to be immediately intimidated by the fury in her eyes. 'Idiot'.
"Idiot" Kurama shouts in Naruto's head, echoing his student's sentiment.
"What did I do?".
"The people of this world only have one name. Don't announce yourself as Uzumaki Naruto!".
"Nice to meet you" Sarada says, making the save. "His name is Naruto, my name is Sarada".
Whether that worked or not they do not yet know. It doesn't look hopeful though as Santiago lowers his head and closes his eyes, his face as stern as ever.
"I see now" he says, "It all makes sense".
The entire corridor seems to go silent as the trio attract unwanted attention from the dozens of nearby captains and colonels. Eyes fix to the backs and fronts of Naruto and Sarada and the intention behind the eyes gets more hostile every second. That's not what's worrying though, as Clyde pointed out previously, Naruto's true power would be enough to terrify any of these people. The problem comes with the man who was charismatic enough to move them. The problem comes with Santiago.
Clyde, detecting the atmosphere, steps forward and whispers to Santiago. "May I have a private word".
The four of them head into a room at the side. Naruto assumes that due to the layout of desks around a desk, this was likely used as some form of classroom.
As they enter the room, Clyde seems to relax. His change is posture is so open that it induces the same relaxation in Naruto and Sarada, as if the weight of the stares has been literally removed from their back. Accompanied by the change in Clyde's voice, it is enough to assure them of their safety.
"Naruto, Sarada, this is Santiago, a teacher here at the academy and a member of the aristocracy" he says. "Santiago has spent a lot of time teaching Lara, he is credited with turning her into our military's greatest leader".
That attracts mixed feelings from the shinobi pair. So, this man is Lara's teacher.
"That praise is perhaps no longer valid" Santiago admits.
"Santiago, these two and I, we are going to attempt an assassination on Emperor Furst" Clyde says. He pauses for a second, silently canvasing for a response but getting surprisingly little. "Carmen is blocking us from…".
"I am well aware" Santiago says, interrupting Clyde impolitely. "Carmen sent me news of the incident. It may be a surprise to you that I too am aware of the rear entrance. Carmen said I should know in case anything ever happened to her".
"Why is she trying to stop us?" Naruto asks.
"Because that is what Emperor Endou would have done. She is loyal to him, even after his death, and she always will be". Santiago's stern attitude now has the opposite effect from before. He no longer feels like an oppressive ruler, but instead a protective parental figure. "Endou Akashi would not have wanted you to discard your life so pointlessly, not even for his empire. Any attempt you make on Furst Jonas' life is almost certain to end in your death".
"Santiago, you don't understand…".
"No Clyde, you don't understand! Stronger people have tried and failed. These two you have brought here, they may be gems but they are unpolished. It is you who is robbing them the chance to reach their full potential. Carmen is right to stop you, you should reconsider your actions".
Clyde felt before like he was a crusader against someone stuck in their ways. He understood Carmen's actions but felt that she was wrong and that he had to overcome her to do what is right. Now, hearing Santiago echo her opinion on the matter makes him doubt himself. Is he actually trying to do what is right or is he just overconfident because of his inexperience? Is he failing to realise how deep the ocean truly is?
However, his uncertainty is quickly cured by the man he learnt to trust.
Naruto steps forward, putting himself between Clyde and Santiago.
"Listen. I don't really understand why you people are acting the way you are, but I do understand one thing".
His next words send a sting into Santiago's brain.
"You never succeed if you give up, and not trying in the first place is even worse still".
With a polite bow, Naruto thanks Santiago for his advice and leaves the room.
Sarada immediately follows Naruto.
In just an instant a series of things stunned Santiago. The raw determination of a young man never to give up. The power behind his eyes when he delivered the message. The unafraid unwavering stance he had has he left. The way the woman followed behind him. The look in her eyes that showed she had absolutely no doubt in him. Santiago doesn't believe in destiny, or at least he hasn't for a very long time. However, in one instant, Naruto forces him to reconsider a thousand assumptions he has made regarding a greater destiny for this world.
"I don't know if you feel it as strongly as I do".
Santiago hears Clyde's voice and looks to him.
"But I truly believe that Naruto is Emperor Endou's successor" he salutes his superior, "Thank you for seeing us".
Clyde leaves the room, leaving Santiago alone.
The slip up was fairly obvious. He is almost certain that this man Naruto was someone from a pocket world. Someone from a pocket world who could defeat Clyde must have mastered divine energy. If such an individual were to have emerged after so many years, then it would prove a symbol of hope. It such individuals could truly be born, then it may be possible after all for somebody to defeat Furst, given time. There are a lot of assumptions there, but Santiago is confident in most of them.
He sighs, certain of one thing. "I don't know if I agree with you Clyde, but indeed, that man's presence was remarkable".
He walks out through the only door to the room and heads along the corridors to one of the rooms set aside to him. This room is private, he can use it for whatever he wants, and nobody would dare ask a soul. A perk of being an aristocrat, sharing part of the monopoly on power. He enters through the door and shuts it gently behind him. The room is dark, deliberately, like it is hiding something terrible.
"I just saw Clyde, he brought two people with him, does that interest you?".
"Who were they" a female voice croaks back to Santiago.
"One was a woman, red and grey clothing, glasses, shoulder length black hair, about average height" he recalls, "The other was a man, orange clothes, spiky blonde hair, about the same height".
"I see" the voice replies with a small delay.
"Well, were they the ones from the pocket world… Lara…".
The aforementioned Lara rolls on the mattress her teacher has been kind enough to provide, looking straight into his dark eyes as she is forced to tell yet another detail of her embarrassing time in that world.
"Yeah, they were from the pocket world".
"Tell me about them".
Lara is reluctant at first but does, after a few moments begin to tell the story.
"When I went to the pocket world, I expected that Clyde had developed a conscience. I expected that I would have to finish his job for him after finally killing him. I expected some local resistance sure, but I went there with it fixed in my mind that Clyde would be the mightiest opposition there".
"Were you wrong?" Santiago asks.
Lara nods. "The locals helped Clyde to overwhelm me. That was before the strongest two had even arrived, that Naruto and Sarada".
"Yes, that's what they said their names were".
"I've never met locals like them, probably never will again" Lara says, her eyes downcast as she thinks of the humiliation. "They are anomalies, quite frankly people like them shouldn't exist, people who make myself and Clyde look so… small".
Santiago is taken aback, not for the first time today. Lara is a serial winner in life. The most talented in her village, in her class, in the school. She had the best teachers, she had an attitude that assured she would live an easy life. She even had a chance of working her way into the aristocracy, something practically unheard of. Humble isn't a word that has ever been used to describe her. However, to him, that's how she appears now. She has been overwhelmed by another warrior in a way he has never seen before.
"People like that will always exist" he says.
"I lost to Clyde. I lost to Sarada. I lost to Naruto. That makes me a complete failure".
"I suppose you could say that".
"Do you disagree?" Lara asks her teacher.
"What I feel is irrelevant. What matters is what you will do moving forward" he explains, doing his job as her teacher even in this dark time. "Will you crumble into nothingness? Will you disappear? Will you give up?".
Lara's breathing accelerates. Her breathes, almost like an animal, straining to kill it's pray. She gets to her feet, raising her hands to her head and pressing her own fingertips firmly into her skull. Crazed. Insane. This is what Lara has become. This is where her life has taken her.
"This feeling of inferiority grinds me" she howls, scratching at her head, "It feels so unnatural, I am going to get rid of it forever".
"How?".
"I will aim above Clyde, yes. I will aim far above him" she says, a sick smile coming to her face. "I will achieve something so far beyond his means that I forget ever feeling this inferiority that I do now".
Santiago almost fears his student for a moment. "Dare I ask what that means for your future?".
"It means…".
"It means…".
"It means…".
She calms herself, going silent for a moment.
"It means more blood".