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Artwork: jessejzette - The 7 Generations of Hokage - Find jessejzette on deviant art.
A NEW WORLD – HOKAGE'S AGONY
The Hidden Leaf Hideout
Another horrendous explosion rocks the surroundings as the fight between Mirai and Sarada continues. To call it a fight is a great compliment to Mirai and is perhaps undeserved for Sarada. This is not a fight, this is a child lashing out angrily against an adult, fighting the fight despite knowing that it cannot be one. Each attack is yet another shove for the villagers, pushing them further from their comfort zone and closer towards panic. What else can be done, Sarada will not use lethal force against her friend just because it makes the villagers comfortable, nor will Mirai stop fighting and put their lives at risk.
"Mirai, you have to be realistic here, you can't beat me. This fight is pointless, and you know it is".
Mira's head dips out of sadness. She remembers that young girl, several years her junior but shining hundreds of times brighter. Sarada always looked like the village's chosen one, even more so than Boruto. Her background was soaked in blood and terror, yet she emerged from it as pure as any other child. Sarada was an inspiration back then. She was destined to be Hokage and Mirai knew that she had to do anything she could to help her to get there. Now that has happened, it has been done and there is nothing left that she can do. Sarada is no longer a student she can help teach and has instead become a deadly adversary, if only for this one fight.
Sarada looks at Mirai's dipped head, not moving an inch as she allows her old mentor to contemplate for a few moments. There is something about desperation, in Sarada's opinion, that can bring out strange old emotions, thoughts that you haven't had in a long time. That may just be what is happening to Mirai right now.
"… Mirai, shall we end this now?".
"… I know I can't win" Mirai finally speaks. "I know that it's almost impossible for me to beat you, but I still have to try, don't I? If I don't try, I really would be different from the rest of you! I would be going against what our village stands for".
Sarada nods, Mirai's heartbeat is starting to quicken, she notices, her breath is becoming more erratic. The master of explosions is only going to reduce the subtlety of her technique and become more animalistic with her attacks. As the remaining semblances of control slip away from the Leaf's military leader, Sarada resolves that she should at least be allowed to keep her dignity. One thing that will not change in this fight is the respect they have for one another.
"OK. Let's keep going then" Sarada says calmly.
Mirai holds her hands back, creating a couple of explosions to fire herself at Sarada. The latter doesn't flinch despite this burst of flame and wind, not moving until the moment it becomes necessary. Mirai's fists fly as she throws a quartet of punches, only for each one of them to connect with nothing but the air as Sarada dodges. With more and more close-range attacks missed, Sarada waits for just a few more moments before delivering a strong palm strike to Mirai's chest, sending her stumbling back twenty paces.
Space!
Mirai raises her hands and fires another of her huge explosions at Sarada.
Despite the almighty attack, Sarada simply uses her speed advantage to move to the side of the explosion. It was indeed a powerful attack that could do damage, perhaps even to her. However, when your advantage in terms of power is so absolute, why bother to test the waters by taking an attack like that.
Mirai throws herself wildly at Sarada once again, moving to within point-blank range and raising both her hands together in preparation for another attack.
Sarada makes a horrible discovery. Their fight has moved dangerously close to the group who retreated previously. 'If I counter the attack at this short distance, it will reflect back and hurt the villagers'.
Seemingly unaware, Mirai begins to build up heat on her hands.
"Wait Mirai!".
The protests fall on death ears as the Hidden Leaf's Military leader lets yet another explosion go. This one is different though, unblocked, undefended, this hits Sarada straight in the neck where it hurts most. The Hokage is left reeling as she tumbles backward, barely managing, thanks to her years of experience, to land on her feet. An undefended attack, that did the most damage of any attack she has suffered so far.
'That hurt…' she tells herself simply.
'Sarada. I wish it didn't have to be like this. But, I can't hold back just because you're my friend, I must protect the villagers'.
Sarada's mind continues to recover from the previous rattling attack when she sees Mirai running toward her. A fuzzy image, after the previously blast it is taking her mind a while to properly resync with her rinnegan. This fuzzy image will have to do though, she is a shinobi and must make a snap decision.
'I can't retreat, otherwise I will give the villagers room to flee and harm will come to Clyde's group'.
An incoming punch.
Sarada ducks to avoid it.
Mirai condenses a series of mini-explosions on her fist and slams it down toward the back of Sarada's head.
Sarada spins acrobatically through the air to avoid the punch, a sign of her slowly returning physical abilities. Unfortunately, her mental abilities return just a fraction of a second later. It immediately becomes apparent to her that such an exuberant evasion was a very bad decision.
'You can't control yourself when you're in mid-air Sarada' Mirai shouts excitedly in her head, 'I will beat you!'.
Once more, Mirai condenses a small series of explosions around her hand. Ready to detonate a much larger one once her fist decelerates.
'Think! You can either dodge it or take it Sarada. So, dodge. Dodge!' the Hokage tells herself.
Sarada's rinnegan enhanced vision fully returns and along with it the full clarity of her mind. Suddenly all her powers line up again and it feels like all the little details are perfect. There is a way to dodge this, even in mid-air. She instantly uses the powers of her rinnegan, increasing the effective gravity on herself. She manages to pull herself down to the ground with a sharp thud and just about avoids the incoming explosion.
This evasion doesn't help for long, as the ferocity with which Sarada brings herself down only serves to produce yet another opening for Mirai. All this from that single lapse in concentration where they drifted closer to the villagers. Is that Sarada's fault or is it perhaps Mirai's subconscious brilliance. Mirai proceeds to kick the downed Sarada as hard as she can, not daring to hold back because of the rotten nature of her attack.
This constant and relentless assault continues. Mirai assumes that her attack is having great success until a moment's action changes her mind.
Sarada's head moves, and her rinnegan look straight into the eyes of Mirai.
Mirai leaps back, momentarily terrified of the glare.
Something inside Sarada snaps in this moment. Something she would never understand. Maybe because of the savage way which Mirai attacked her. Maybe because the ever-growing stack of emotions she is experiencing. Maybe because she sensed for the first time that defeat is possible. Whatever the reason, she leaps to her feet with a miraculous speed she has yet to exhibit in this fight. Once on her feet, she pulls back her arm and focuses upon it the power of the sun, readying herself for a devastating solar punch.
The faces of two people flash before Sarada's eyes, first Boruto, second Naruto. She is forced in a split second to realise all that is happening around her and make a decision. If she attacks like this now, the villagers may get hurt. She hesitates. A battle of hesitations.
Mirai spots this hesitation and hits Sarada with another point-blank explosion, identical to the one that rattled her previously.
Sarada takes this attack head on but refuses to move, taking even more damage than previously. She stays in that position, resolute. Even Sarada doesn't understand her own determination to take the attack head on. She wonders if it is her own vanity or pride, if maybe she has been inspired by Naruto or Boruto or even Mirai. She only knows that she must stand. She must absorb all the abuse Mirai can throw at her, no matter what.
Sarada creates a Susano ribcage around herself but it instantly destroyed by another of Mirai's deadly explosions. The attacks continue to rain down upon the 9th Hokage.
'Is that it is like to fight without attacking' Sarada asks as the strikes continue. 'Is this how limiting it can be? Is this what it is to be the Hokage?'.
The Hidden Leaf Hideout
Hiruzen observes Brooks for a few seconds to make sure she isn't going to attack again immediately. He is like a wounded animal right now and it is quite likely she would be able to kill him if she attacked now. However, do-or-die scraps are risky for both parties, so Brooks wisely decides to wait.
'Good' Hiruzen tells himself as he turns to his own wound.
He heats his good hand as hot as he possibly can and presses it onto the wound, cauterizing himself. Few shinobi could heat their hand to this temperature and withstand it. Sarutobi Hiruzen, like his granddaughter, is no normal shinobi.
'He's using fire to seal his own wounds?' Brooks watches on inquisitively. It has been a long time since she watched a medical technique so barbaric as this. 'He has a high pain tolerance level, he also has more guts than brains'.
"This wound is nothing. I beat you before remember" Hiruzen boasts confidently. Somehow, he manages to smile as if the pain is not affecting him. "Everyone else seems keen to remind me that you're a prodigy, but actually, I've reached this level at a younger age than you".
Brooks is incredulous. "Last time we fought you had an experienced general at your side. You also had that woman with the ludicrous strength. You will not be so lucky without any help".
"We shall see".
Brooks likes Hiruzen's boastful attitude. The fool is talking above his station, he is overconfident. She doesn't need any sort of intelligent strategy to use this to her advantage. His own vanity will be his downfall.
Brooks freezes the ground around them. "Let's see you back up that confidence". Creating a sword of 'golden ice' in her hand, she begins to glide over her icy grounding like a professional skater. Once this technique has been executed, the floor becomes hers, a complete advantage against any opponent.
Hiruzen's smile disappears is replaced by a firm look of focus. It's like all his non-critical thoughts evacuate his head at once and all that remains concentrates on a single purpose. He must concentrate on this opponent. He holds out his hand, drawing a kunai and coating it in his element, 'earth'.
'His focus is good' Brooks notes while continuing to glide, 'But even if he concentrates every fibre of his being, his mental prowess is weaker than my own'.
Suddenly Brooks has a burst of speed as she skates across the ground.
Hiruzen choses this exact moment to throw the 'earth' kunai at Brooks.
Brooks bends her knees, ducking her head just beneath the height of her arms and listening as the kunai goes whistling above her head. Her previous complacency disappears in an instant as she realises the move that Hiruzen just made. He deliberately waited for that increase in speed, knowing that her reaction time would be stretched further by any attack under those circumstances.
Having dodged the kunai, Brooks raises her head back above her arms. Hiruzen didn't stand still after launching the kunai. He ran at her. He is only two steps away from her, two steps he takes so very quickly. He grabs her by the head, his hand gigantic compared to her small child-like frame. He raises Brooks up and slams her down into the ground.
Blood and ice scatter as Brooks hits the ground. She instinctively raises her sword up towards him, desperate to create separation between the two. Hiruzen dodges it though, he steps to the side, grabs Brooks' wrist and shoves the sword away, fully in control of the weapon she wields. His control in this situation is godly, Brooks is quick to realise that. There is no way that someone should be able to control her weapon like this, not with such confidence.
"You may be faster than me in a straight line across this 'ice' but in this position, you're just as limited as I am" Hiruzen confidently declares.
He coats another kunai in earth, stabbing it down towards Brooks' head. She catches his wrist to save her own life and the two of them are brought into a strength-based struggle. For one of the few non-selfish moments in her life, Brooks thinks to her allies, to Lara and Elliot. If she lets herself die here, the two of them will die as well, something she is not willing to let happen yet.
"Given our elements, my raw strength is a great asset. I am stronger than you" the 3rd Hokage says as he continues to push the blade closer and closer towards Brooks.
Brooks pulls one hand away from the blade and lashes out at Hiruzen's one weak point, his injured arm. She allows instinct to take over, not punching or slapping the wound but tearing at it. She pushes her fingers into the wound, like a cat's claws or a dog's teeth and continues to push. She pushes as hard as she can until she feels something give and her adversaries pursuit of her neck end.
Hiruzen lets out a cry of pain, something he tried to prevent himself from doing. His failure to remain quiet is bad. Realising that she has got him, Brooks raises her leg quickly, throwing Hiruzen off her and back across the 'ice'.
Both warriors get to their feet. Once again, it's advantage to Brooks'. She proceeds to slide, one foot after the other, using her entire body to maximise her speed across the slippery surface. She is surprised when she does this. Hiruzen also begins to slide across the 'ice', using a technique all but identical to hers.
'He's matched me for speed'.
Hiruzen lets himself fall onto his back, using it as his medium to slide along the ground.
'Now he's…'.
Brooks' thoughts are interrupted as Hiruzen sticks his arm out, taking her legs from under her and bringing her down to the ground. He gets to his feet as quickly as he can, turns around and runs at Brooks again. Once more, she forces herself to her feet.
'Not now. Not with their lives on the line. I won't lose now' Brooks tells herself.
For the third time in their skirmish, Hiruzen creates an 'earth' kunai. The weapon of choice for the shinobi of this battlefield.
Brooks thinks as fast as she can, she must find a way to defeat him, otherwise it will be all over for them. She comes up with the best solution she can in this short period of time and summons up her 'ice' diving energy to execute it.
Hiruzen throws his hand over his shoulder in a perfect arching curve. He is certain that he has rattled Brooks, he is certain that this kunai will be the one to put her down. With this victory he can help one of the others, he can turn the tide, he can get the villagers away from here and back to safety.
But the kunai doesn't fly.
It's frozen! Frozen to his hand.
Brooks punches Hiruzen in the head, clearing it of all thoughts but one. 'The fight is over'. She then executes the quickest lethal combination she can. She pulls her leg backwards and pushes her arm forwards to trip Hiruzen over. She stamps on his wounded arm to distract him and then creates a 'golden ice' sword.
Hiruzen is defenceless.
Brooks has won.
"You were right. You're learning faster than me and that's frightening" Brooks admits. "However, that all ends here. I have beaten you".
Hiruzen feels the terror of the freezing cold sword looming over him.
"Pull the weed out at the roots. All traitors must die".
'Am I going to die?'.
The Hidden Leaf Hideout
Each second is more agonising than the last for Tobirama as he continues to battle with Tsunade. In this village, they are the last two survivors of the Senju clan. Each of them is the only family left for the other to turn to. The fight itself isn't what causes the pain though, they could both deal with that. What hurts is Tobirama's absolute supremacy in the battle. No, it is not Tsunade who feels that pain, it is Tobirama himself.
The 2nd Hokage teleports to the mark he once placed on his niece, appear directly before her. He watches as she starts to raise her fist for a punch and makes a calculation about what he can do to counter this. First, he throws two punches into her other arm, weakening it should she decide to use this later. Second, he takes a single long stride back, placing himself just out of the punch's range. Third, he steps back into Tsunade and jumps to kick her in the head. Fourth, he teleports to her rear, takes her legs out from under her and punches her in the throat.
Tsunade, grounded, slams her fist down into the ground, creating a small localised earthquake a substitute for any other attack she may wish to carry out. It is easily dodged by her teleporting uncle, but it does give her some breathing room. She slowly gets to her feet, clutching at her throat as she struggles to breath. She can taste the blood in her mouth, nothing knew, she has dealt with greater injuries than this before and in sage mode she can barely feel the pain.
Upon getting to her feet, Tsunade weaves a quick series of signs, something Tobirama hasn't seen her do in a while. With the final sign woven, she exhales a small ball of fire, a projectile headed straight for the armoured shinobi.
Tobirama surrounds himself in a ball of 'water', easily taking the attack.
"Tsunade, you knew that wouldn't work" he sighs. "Even if your techniques were on the same level as my own, fire wouldn't overcome water".
Tsunade uses the time it takes Tobirama to make this speech to rush him. She punches forward and finally connects with a punch in this fight. She feels a brief euphoria as she continues to push. It's a solid hit, she can feel the shattering of bone, the friction of his flesh wearing against itself. But that euphoria leaves her in an instant with a noise she has heard so many times before.
Poof!
That Tobirama was a clone.
The real Tobirama teleports to Tsunade's rear, gently touching her back. For an instant, he feels like an ally again, not an enemy. Tsunade never realised before just how comforting an ally her uncle was. His reality may not have always been the brightest or most pleasant, he may have never shined like Naruto or Hashirama, but he always fought for what he believed in. Just like he still does.
"I'm afraid I can't hold back any longer" Tobirama whispers gently. "I have something important I am fighting for".
Tobirama cots both his hands in 'water' and punches Tsunade three times in the small of the back. Each blow lands slightly lower down her back until she is sent falling backwards uncontrollably. She looks at him slightly tearfully as she falls onto the back, pain still travelling the length of her spine.
Tsunade somehow finds a small bit of energy and gets back to her feet. She turns and kicks at her uncle but misses. He retorts with open handed strikes, not slaps but vicious slams repeatedly. His strength cannot compare to hers, but that isn't to say that each hit doesn't hurt. Each of them stings on a physical and emotional level, with the pain only getting worse with each hit.
'Why must I be like this?' she asks herself.
Tobirama lands a single stunning punch to the tip of Tsunade's nose before grabbing her left arm and dragging her over the top of his head. He skilfully raises her high into the air and slams her down into the ground at his feet. Regrettably, this is as much mercy as he can offer in a fight like this. Not in a fight against a strong opponent but in a fight against an opponent who won't give up.
He creates a miniscule ball of 'water' in his hand. "I'm afraid this will hurt but against a sage mode user, it is necessary to keep you down".
Tobirama begins to push the ball of 'water' down into Tsunade's leg. He closes his eyes and wishes he could do the same with his ears. Anything to block out the deafening screams he is bringing from his own relative. Tears intermingle with the water for a few seconds as he continues to push down and down until he feels the cries of pain reach a crescendo and feel something in Tsunade's limb break. That's when he stops, unable to continue any further he steps away.
Tsunade miraculously pushes herself up, relying on her one good leg. She throws a punch but it is no good. Tobirama simply catches her incoming fist.
"Tsunade, don't you realise yet? Your punches won't hurt me anymore. You've lost sage mode. This fight is over".
"Dammit… dammit…" Tsunade curses, collapsing to the ground. "Why is it like this? Why am I the one who hasn't mastered their power? Why must I be the weak one amongst us".
"I don't know" Tobirama admits. "Since you have come forward in time, the world has been unfair to you. Perhaps there is some higher power toying with you, seeing how much you can take".
"… it's cruel" Tsunade says as her eyes begin to flutter. Her consciousness is on the verge of fading. Not even she could keep going forever in such pain.
"I know. All we have left is one another and yet we have fought again. I concede that this may be our lowest point, but Tsunade, it will only get better from here" Tobirama insists.
"You promise?".
"I promise. We're family after all".
Tsunade weakly nods her head. No matter the context or the situation, that reminder that she has one family member left may be all that she needs.
"After this is over, we should talk more often, OK?".
"Yes".
With those final words of promise spoken, Tsunade loses consciousness and her head slowly rolls to the side. This fight is over, but the battle continues.
Tobirama raises his head, walking away from Tsunade to assess what must be done next. Anything for an advantage in this battle, they must keep the villagers here. They must also keep them safe. Villagers or escapees. Where will his attention turn first? As it turns out, neither of them. For another incident is more urgent than either.
The Hidden Leaf Hideout
Hiruzen watches as Brooks raises the sword over her head. When the executioners blade begins to fall, he closes his eyes and says his final goodbye.
'Biwako, I'm sorry'.
Whack!
He opens his eyes. "Lord 2nd…".
Tobirama thankfully arrives at the perfect moment, saving Hiruzen from the impending blade.
"As if I would let you do that!" Tobirama groans before throwing Brooks arm back, away from him and his successor. "Even if that man makes bad decisions, that man is still a citizen of the Hidden Leaf Village. I won't let you hurt him".
Author Note:
Hi All,
Sorry for posting the wrong chapter previously.
I don't think I've ever done that before so I don't know what made me slip up this time.
Anyhow, thanks to everyone whose pointed out that the wrong chapter was uploaded.
Hopefully the right one will be with you now.
Regards,
Cbehrills