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Artwork: jessejzette - The 7 Generations of Hokage - Find jessejzette on deviant art.
A NEW WORLD – CAN LARA STAY
The Circle
Shikadai looks around the table, the circle has never been quite so frantic as this before. Whether it is the wary look on Tobirama's face, the distance Shinki has put between himself and his neighbour, or Naruto's incessant scratching of his arm, nobody seems to be able to keep themselves calm. All because of these newcomers, they really shouldn't even be here. However, fate has conspired against them to make sure nothing can be easy, what else can they do but fight back? That is all they have ever done is it not?
"It seems like we are all here" Shikadai says as Hiruzen arrives and sits in the one remaining vacant chair. "Good, I'm sure you all realise that the situation is very… unusual".
Unusual is one way of putting it. Terrifying is another. The newcomer is enough to scare most members of the circle, how any of the shinobi or captains are keeping their nerve is beyond Shikadai's understanding. As for the villagers, he imagines it must be their ignorance to Lara's true power that is keeping them going. This decision was made by one 7th Hokage, one of the very few who have no reason to be afraid.
"Unusual is an understatement" Kakashi bluntly summarises, "Couldn't you have warned us about this Naruto?".
"I'm sorry Kakashi sensei, I should have sent a clone ahead to inform you of what was going to happen".
Shikadai directs the conversation. "I'm sure you all know by now that Lara and her subordinates have arrived and are setting up camp next to us".
This fact has not escaped the notice of the Hokage nor Clyde's generals.
"We have a representative of Lara's here" Shikadai continues, "This is General Elliot, some of you may remember him as the man who fought Mirai and…".
"I remember him" comes the disgruntled voice of Tsunade, "… he's the man who killed Dan, isn't he?".
"… yes".
The statement and the silence that follows it is the hardest blow that could have been dealt to Naruto. He remembers that day, remembers Dan dying and refusing to battle with Elliot for the sake of the children behind him. He remembers the suffering he caused by being too slow going in that direction and the suffering he caused by being absent in the other. Half of that suffering was caused by Elliot, and that pain is ten times worse for Tsunade. Now, for once, perhaps he cannot take the moral high ground in such a debate.
Tsunade holds the room's attention and makes best use of it. "Let's just get on with this discussion shall we".
"I am not here to apologise" Elliot says.
He and Tsunade share an intense look at one another. Tsunade hates the way he is. That neatly trimmed hair, the pristine uniform that puts everyone else to shame, the perfect posture which he maintains. This man isn't just in the military because of his circumstances, his manor of being is ideal for it. He was born to be a soldier. He has no emotional connection to any of his actions, he just follows orders. People who follow orders without question, the world has no need for people like that.
"I am not here to show remorse for my actions in the past" Elliot continues. "I am just a piece on the chess board and Lara is the player. With that said, I have no malicious intentions either. I simply want for your mightiest warriors to assist Lara and for the rest of us to keep out of the way".
A pair of heavy hands slam on the table and Peterson jumps to his feet.
"Who the hell do you think you are? Lara's pawn, what a joke?".
"Peterson…" Clyde says, attempting to calm his friend.
"I have worked my entire life, just as so many have, to put on this cape of gold, to earn the title of general. But, even now I cannot compare to you" Peterson says, his shoulders heaving as he shouts at Elliot. "You have status as Lara's second-in-command. You're a revered general known throughout the military, yet when you are asked who you are, you claim to be her pawn! Have some respect for that cape. You are a General of Endou Akashi's army!".
Elliot maintains his cool, crossing his arms to reply. "I know better than you what it means to wear this golden cape Peterson. I also understand, unlike you, that it calls to everyone in different ways".
"Alright!" Sheer, raises her voice to cease the conversation. Placing a hand on Peterson's shoulder, she ushers him back down into his chair. "We're not here to argue about your attitude, we are here to argue about whether you should be here at all".
"Of course, we should, we are a great asset to your military strength. You do wish to take on Furst Jonas, do you not?".
"We do" Naruto answers.
"Then working together is the best solution, isn't it?"
Peterson sits down, closing his eyes as he raises his hands up to straighten his cape. He lost his temper before but promises himself to act a bit more dignified moving forward.
"I disagree with you. Your presence here has already begun to cause cracks in the group. People are uneasy. Tensions are running high" Peterson says. "If it were not for the incredibly strong bond shared by the people around this table, we would already be at one another's throats".
"A strong bond keeps you united? Don't be ridiculous! You are members of the military, not a social club" Elliot sternly says, "You are united by discipline, you function as one through years of drills and practice and you obey Lara. Lara is your commander, not Uzumaki Naruto".
"This ridiculous, everyone is just getting emotional because this issue is personal" Tobirama groans while nursing his injuries from before. "That should be evidence enough to settle this issue, shouldn't it?".
"I agree" Kakashi says. "Cohesion won't be possible here".
Sheer looks to two others in the room. First to Tsunade, then to Sarada. "… Elliot, you and I have caused great hurt to the people of this table. Could you at least try, for Lara, to apologise and improve unity? These Kage, they are not Lara's followers".
Elliot doesn't hesitate for a moment. "Very well, I apologise".
Minato doesn't know whether to laugh or cry. "That was hardly a sincere apology".
"I'm sorry, it can't go on like this, we're getting nowhere".
"Everyone, calm down, we need to…".
Once more the room is silence as two hands slam down onto the circular table at which they sit. Everyone is drawn to the key man in the room, the one who made the decision to bring Lara here. All eyes gravitate towards Naruto.
"If you would like to hear what I want to say" he says, quieting his voice now that the volume in the room has dimmed. "Then I think Lara should stay".
Clyde stops for a moment and enjoys what Naruto is, at least in this room. He hopes that one day, Naruto can have this sort of impact across the world. Naruto has the same effect on people as Endou Akashi did. It's not just his power, otherwise Sarada would have this unknown power too. The power to move people, not just with your words but the conviction behind them. A kindness, a determination, a collection of principles that can't be shaken or rocked. When he speaks people can't help but listen and realise that he is just so right. When Boruto and Hashirama stand opposite Naruto, they must doubt themselves because of this quality, everyone else does.
"Lord 7th, I know that your feelings on this matter are strong and you have good reason for them to be" Shikadai says, "But is the Circle not a place for rational thought? Isn't this where we make logical decisions that benefit the Hidden Leaf Village?".
"No, the Circle is a place where leaders of the3 people outside this tent can speak their mind equally. Everyone here has a turn, everyone must place every argument they can think of out there and whichever everyone agrees with is where the village stands? Isn't that what you said when you created the Circle?".
Elliot takes a passive moment to observe the interaction. He's no master of psychology, but he can detect the new-born tension between these two people driven by opposite instincts. One driven by his brain, the other by his heart. He determines that this is likely the first time they have clashed in this way and that they are currently jockeying for political position. An interesting occurrence to watch, something he can learn from.
"Lord 7th, you may speak" Shikadai says after a moment.
Everyone listens intently to what Naruto has to say.
"Listen, I know that you all hate these people working with Lara for what they have done to us. Frankly, I feel the same, they make me feel sick". Naruto points childishly at Elliot. "I saw this guy do something vile, take a friend right in front of me while I could do nothing to stop him. I had to stay where I was, I had to protect the children of the village from him… I had to protect children! But you can't achieve everything without help, no, to achieve the most difficult things, you need help from as many people as possible".
A central principle of Naruto's successful philosophy. Dozens of people he used to call his enemies, including Clyde, have helped him to get where he is today.
"You would argue that even your enemies can help you?" Tobirama asks incredulously, thinking to his family's battle with Madara and the Uchiha.
"It is because our enemies are so different to us that they can teach us so much" Naruto says passionately. "Opposites may seem incompatible but together they achieve more than they ever could apart".
"Lord 7th, you're speaking with metaphors instead of logic".
"And is there something wrong with that?".
Once more they clash, heart and mind.
Minato sighs as he watches the debate take place. For the moment, he and everyone else has forgotten that Shikadai is not here to debate. He speaks sense, he argues from a point of pure logic. Normally, Minato would side with Naruto in a situation like this, even at risk of his own life. However, trying to convince thousands of scared villagers to stay next door to their worst enemies is difficult. It is hard to persuade terrified people, especially when your rationale is moral, not logical.
"Logic is reality. Lara's strength may be great, but her attitude will harm unit in a way we can never recover from" the Nara clansmen says. "If this goes wrong, if hatred for her rises within one of us, or if she gets frustrated and kills one of us, this is all over. That small, seemingly insignificant moment could well lead to the downfall of this alliance".
"Of course, it could, we're already taking a huge risk with what we're doing. But while we are risking so much, we are achieving so little and there is an opportunity to change something right in front of us".
Sarada raises her hand slightly from the table, politely begging to speak. "If I may say something, I do think we need to change, otherwise we will never defeat Carmen".
"Yes, that's true" Clyde agrees.
Suddenly, a far more logical point supports the idea of Lara staying. Nobody can argue with these three since nobody else can stand up to Carmen. The three of them alone have the power to fight against this protective aristocrat and Lara is the only other person who can help them.
With all the talk of killing Furst, a few people in the room began to overlook Carmen. Carmen is nothing to be overlooked though. A blind warrior who rebalanced her senses and is revered as a genius of five principles. Someone who brought technique into a world ruled almost solely by raw power. Together, Naruto, Sarada and Clyde could not defeat her, perhaps adding a fourth person to that battle would make the difference.
"We risked everything by coming here, we bet on our ability to pull off a miracle and kill a god" Naruto admits, "And if there is one thing I can tell that Lara is good at, that one thing is killing people".
"And how will you take responsibility when she ends up killing us?".
"The same way I will take responsibility if we don't accept her help and fail. Either way, I will die, I will lead the Hidden Leaf Village into its final battle".
"And is that good enough?".
The Kage in the room reflect on that question. They have all felt a dread that Shikadai has never had to feel. They have all had to worry that they may be the one to lead the village to its end. Shinki very nearly did that with his own village, an experience which lead him to a dark alliance with Jashin. Nobody would want to be the last Kage, such a thing would surely make you the worst Kage of all. It would be a great irony if that worst Kage turned out to be Naruto.
The Kage then have to reflect on themselves. They all worry about whether this is the right decision as the village leaders but are failing to look at Naruto himself. He is taking a tremendous risk, gambling on his own judgement and placing his entire life's work on the line. He is the only one who is being proactive in trying to solve this situation. The youngest of them all and he is doing the most. What right do they have to complain?
"Myself, Sarada, Clyde, we are the only ones strong enough to fight Carmen" Naruto says, "But we can't do it alone, and Lara is the only one who can help us. I believe that the best thing we can do is give her a chance. That is what I will always believe".
Shikadai nods, taking a deep breath. "What do the members of the Circle say".
"I'm willing to bet on it". Tobirama surprises Shikadai and he is not alone.
"You're betting on Lara?".
"No, I'm betting on Naruto's belief".
"As am I" Hiruzen says.
"And me" Minato nods.
"Of course" Peterson smiles, "How could I not bet on it?".
"Yes" Sheer adds her voice.
Kakashi is the next to speak. "I believe Naruto will go down as history's greatest Hokage. So yeah, I will bet on him too".
"I agree" Clyde says.
"And me" Sarada adds.
"As the leader of the Hidden Sand, I agree" declares the last Kazekage, Shinki.
Elliot raises his hand, symbolically signalling his agreement which they had already taken for granted.
"Lord 5th?" Shikadai asks.
Tsunade looks at Elliot but her mind lingers on Dan, the man he killed. She has more cause than anyone to hate Lara and her followers. If it weren't for them, she may never have lost her grandmother, her grandfather may never have betrayed them, and Dan would never have died.
She overlooks her hatred though. "I'll bet on Naruto every time, that's what Dan would have done".
Shikadai, seemingly the only opponent of the idea, nods reluctantly. "OK, OK, Lara's group will remain here for now".
"Emergency meeting concluded".
The tension slowly dissipates as the meeting ends and each member of the Circle heads their separate ways.
The Uzumaki Tent
Outside the tent Minato holds his son by the shoulders for a moment and gives him a firm shake.
"It'll be fine Naruto, if anyone can make the right call in a situation like this, it's you".
"Yeah. I hope you're right. You know, I always wanted to be someone who would do what is best for the village. I wanted to be someone who the people would look to when they felt like they were in danger".
Minato smiles. He wasn't there for Naruto's childhood. He and Kushina, because of their time-travelling nature, weren't even there for their son's birth. In spite of that, his chest swells with an incredible pride when he hears what his son has achieved. He strived for so many years to be acknowledged, to become the Hokage, to be different to those who came before him and finally make the world a better place. He had been the one to tackle the cycle of hatred that Jariya had spoken of.
"You've accomplished your dream Naruto. You convinced a room full of Kage and Generals to follow your plan".
"I impressed them with my history and attitude though. Shikadai was right to doubt me, my logic didn't make any sense".
The 4th Hokage laughs playfully, "Naruto, you're not the logical Hokage. You're not the Hokage who thought everything through and made the right choice every time. In all honesty, you may be the most flawed Hokage we've ever had".
"Wow, thanks dad" Naruto snorts.
"That's why people respect you though. Because in the situations where we are confronted by the impossible, where it seems like the world is against us, we turn to you. It's not because of how brilliant you are, nor how powerful you are. It's because we know you had to overcome so many obstacles before and that nobody is better at it than you".
The son smiles, happy to receive a compliment from his father. "Thank you, dad, that means a lot".
The two of them, having shared their kind words, enter the tent. Naruto is immediately confronted by Hinata who approaches him and hugs him tightly. He hasn't seen her since he got back and the second they reunite it feels to him like a year's worth of stress washes away.
"I thought something terrible had happened when Lara came back with you".
"Don't worry, there's no way anything bad will happen while I'm here" Naruto grins.
He and Hinata hug once again before he sits down and pours himself a drink of water.
"Has Sarada come back yet" Naruto asks after looking around.
"No, I don't think she has been here at all today. She got up before me and left to do some work".
Naruto sighs. This morning he got up and immediately met with Clyde and Sarada to head to the academy. It seems now that Sarada was working before he had even woken up.
'What are you doing Sarada?'.
Lara's Camp
Sarada looks over the lists she has in front of her. Dozens of lists scattered across tens of papers. She looks through them all one more time, double-checking that she hasn't missed anything.
"OK, so you have adequate supplies of water and food?".
The man she is speaking to is General Elliot, her former adversary.
"Yes, we have enough food and water".
"Do you have any spare if we need it?" she asks.
"We have enough out here to last for weeks. We also have easy ways to stock up on supplies should we need it" Elliot summarises.
Sarada wonders just how they intend to do that. Is this military man also a farmer in his spare time? Suddenly, a wave of exhaustion washes over her and her eyes almost shut before she forces them open. She decides this isn't the time to be wondering about things like that and asks the important questions to keep her mind focused.
"Your camp sticks our more than ours from afar. I will send a group of specialists to assist with camouflaging it".
Elliot raises an eyebrow. "Do you think your techniques are superior to ours?".
"Stealth and hiding are specialties of shinobi. We spend our entire life training like that" she explains. "Is morale high for your troops or do you need provisions to improve it".
"We have ways to keep morale high. You may not believe me, but my subordinates do share a sense of camaraderie, much like Clyde's".
Sarada raises her pen to the paper instinctively, only to realise that isn't on her checklist. Self-consciously, she scribbles something down, so she won't appear a fool. She knows now that her mind is drifting, that she is far too tired to deal with things like this. However, she can't afford to lose focus, not now, she doesn't want to.
"That's good. It looks like we have no problems there" Sarada says, raising a hand to her swaying head. "Patrols and scouts! You can obviously patrol further away than us with your superior speeds but the Hyuuga and Inuzuka clans are superior sensors to your own. We will coordinate the two groups to increase our area of coverage".
"… you're a good soldier" Elliot offers, waking Sarada from her near-automatic routine.
"Sorry?".
"It is a pity that you were born a shinobi. Your determination, comprehension skills and your work ethic would all make you an admirable member of our military".
"I wouldn't want to be a soldier, I'm happy as a shinobi".
"Are you, you seem exhausted?".
Sarada activates her Mangekyo Sharingan. It appears an aggressive stand-offish gesture at first, but Elliot never interprets it that way. It is simply a façade that he sees straight through. The 9th Hokage on the other hand, is grateful for the sting at the back of her eyes for the first time in her life. That pain keeps her awake, putting her just a tiny bit more alert. It staves of unconsciousness for just another moment, helps her to avoid the elephant in the room that is her life.
"I don't need you worrying about me!".
"Is that not what you believe comrades do?" Elliot asks.
"I… the other Kage are under a lot of pressure, especially Naruto" Sarada eventually manages to say, "Anything I can do to relive that pressure will be a boost to our aspirations".
Elliot looks questioningly at Sarada. He does so for just a few seconds, but it feels like a lifetime to the Uchiha clanswomen. Eventually, the general says, "OK, as long as you're telling the truth, you will be fine. As for the others, who knows?".
"Are you done" Sarada growls at Elliot.
"I'm just reminding you that your duties lie with your family as well as your subordinates".
"Everyone in the village is my family… I'm the Hokage".