THE IMPERIAL PALACE – THE TERRIFYING LORD 7TH
Kakashi's Quarters
Kakashi lays back and thinks, staring at the canvas ceiling protecting him from the non-existent rain. It has been a while since they have been in this situation he realises. This is the first time in such a long time that they have felt truly hopeless. Since the captained-six contest when Naruto first understood 'life' they have always had a way to move forward. However, as everyone continued to increase their strength and develop new bonds the challenge only increased further in difficulty to the point where it became almost impossible to overcome. Defeating Furst Jonas is almost impossible, without Sarada it might as well be.
"Could I come in, Kakashi sensei?".
Kakashi sits up, "Ah Naruto, I was hoping that would come by and say hello at some point".
Kakashi didn't even have to look to know that Naruto is his visitor. In addition to an array if incredible sensory abilities, there is a depressing truth to the words the Uzumaki clansmen just spoke, he is now the only one left who would refer to Kakashi as his sensei. Kakashi has taught four students as part of his own team. Uchiha Sasuke who died battling his own daughter. Haruno Sakura who died at the hands of her own husband. Sai who died protecting the villagers from the incoming hordes of deceased warriors.
Now they are the only survivors of team 7. Kakashi never wanted to experience pain like that again.
"I'm afraid that my visit isn't going to be care free" Naruto says as he sits opposite his sensei.
"I figured as much".
"I really don't know where I should begin".
Kakashi has seldom seen Naruto directionless. From the moment he met the young man who dreamt of being Hokage the latter always moved forwards. Even if the odds were long, even if things seemed hopeless to everyone else, Naruto made it seem possible. People questioned their own senses and logic when he spoke because there was something behind his voice, a belief. He spoke not only with conviction but with an intangible power. That power doesn't seem to be present right now.
"Perhaps you should ask a question" Kakashi suggests, "I do still have a duty to answer as your teacher after all".
"Why did she betray us?".
"It's impossible to say for certain" Kakashi admits, "The most likely reason is that Boruto is on the other side. There is nobody in the world that Sarada adores more than your son. Love seems to make people go to incredible lengths".
"Yet you never even wavered when Obito fought against you, you stayed true to your beliefs" Naruto recalls, "You made him come back to our side".
"I did? I believe you were the one who did that Naruto".
"We did it together Kakashi sensei, it was teamwork, it always has been and always will be about teamwork".
The 6th Hokage wants to believe that is true but knows in his heart that he wasn't so unwavering in the face of Obito's conviction. He had doubts, he really questioned himself at points, but he always kept coming back. He knows why as well, because he had experienced something that Obito hadn't yet. He had experienced the unstoppable force of Naruto's will, the certainty with which he spoke. Whenever that young jinchuriki spoke he always sounded like he was right, like his words couldn't be refuted.
"If you truly think that is not enough, then you have to look at the other possibility, Naruto" Kakashi continues, "It is possible that Sarada joined the other side because she truly believes in their ideals".
"No! I refuse to believe that. She worked with Clyde and Lara before. She took down Carmen with us as a team of four. We became a team, I could feel it, I know that she could too".
"I'm afraid I don't have all the answers Naruto, I suspect there is more to this situation than meets the eye. It's not in your nature I know, but you should question everything right now, because something doesn't add up".
Naruto nods, pressing his head into his hands and remaining silent for a moment. Entering into deep thought, he relives the events that brought him here, some painful, some joyous, each helping to define who he is, and many helping to define Sarada as well. Is there something about Sarada that he has not seen, some event or occurrence that changed her or influenced her?
The main influences in Sarada's life have all come from team 7.
"Do you think Sasuke and Sakura are watching over us?" Naruto asks.
"Hard to say".
"Do you believe in an afterlife sensei?".
"Of course I do. After everything I have seen how could I not believe in such a thing, but it is their daughter we are now calling our enemy, Sasuke's student as well" Kakashi points out. "Where their loyalties would lie in this situation is something perhaps best left alone".
Naruto didn't consider that. Surely they would be on their side if they were here, wouldn't they?
He takes a deep breath. "I'm not going to give up you know sensei, this isn't the end".
"Oh?".
"I'm going to kill Furst Jonas, even if I have to do it all by myself. Guaranteeing freedom for the Hidden Leaf Village is my job, and I don't intend to let everyone down".
"Don't put the burden entirely on yourself, I am a Hokage too".
"But they arrived after you passed. I was the power that supported the village when the invasion came. Ultimately all of this is my responsibility".
"Naruto, calm down, it's not going to help you thinking like that" Kakashi says, "The last thing we need is for you to do something reckless and attack Furst without a strong plan, otherwise you will die, and all hope may go with you".
This situation is frustrating for everyone, but for Naruto it is especially so. All he can do right now is wait for better circumstances. Only once the stars align will he have a chance at doing the impossible. That is not the way he once championed. He always used to press forward, if the task were impossible he would do it anyway. Now that doesn't seem to be an option, not even for him.
"What do I do sensei?".
"The best chance we have right now is that Lord 1st will try to assassinate Furst. If there is any chance of him succeeding then we should probably help him from the shadows".
"But…".
"My enemy's enemy is my friend, Naruto" Kakashi shrugs, "We must consider what is best for the villagers, even if it involves swallowing our pride, don't you agree".
"… yes, I agree".
Outside the Tent
A shinobi chases after one of her many leaders as he storms towards the tent, his temper clearly long-since out of control. "Please wait Lord 2nd, you're not thinking rationally, right now is not the time to bother Lord 7th with…".
"I know what I am doing" Tobirama says, his eyes dangerously alert, "Move out of my way".
"I can't let you when you're…".
A hand comes down on the shinobi's shoulder and she looks around to see the comforting sight of one of the village's leading shinobi. It is Mitsuki.
"Don't worry, I will go with him" Mitsuki says, "Truth be told, I am angry as well, but I won't let my emotions get in the way, you know me well enough to understand that, right?".
The shinobi nods, "Yes sir" and lets the two of them pass.
Inside the Tent
Tobirama storms inside, paying no heed to the privacy of the occupants. Mitsuki follows closely behind him, both of them with clear looks of displeasure on their face. Kakashi knows straight away that he is not the target of their anger, much as he would prefer to take the heat away from his student.
"Tobirama, what are you doing here?" he asks.
"I'm here to speak with Naruto, and to tell him that he has lost sight of the biggest issue here" the 2nd Hokage shouts, "Tsunade has been taken against her will by three stronger shinobi and a group of people who have previously attacked the village. Whatever they have in mind, whatever they are going to do to her, it can't be good".
"Tobirama, calm down" Kakashi requests, "You're becoming hysterical".
Naruto forces himself to look Tobirama in the eye. He is not meeting the eyes of the 2nd Hokage. No, these are the eyes of a Senju Tsunade's uncle. These are the eyes of citizen of the Hidden Leaf, desperately lashing out but seeking help eat the same time. He hasn't come to see Naruto as his colleague, he has come to see Naruto as a superior.
Tobirama realises that he has become hysterical, he just no longer cares. "Naruto, I beg you, not as a Hokage but as Tsunade's uncle, save her. Don't just let them take her like this, we have to do something".
"I would make the same request Lord 7th" Mitsuki adds. "I am aware that the loss of Sarada is a greater impact on our military might and the destiny of the village but… Tsunade is the 5th Hokage, she is important to many people here, bringing her back must be our top priority".
Naruto nods earnestly to both of them. "Of course, I am sorry, I should have given this a higher priority than I have. I just thought that since Hashirama is Tsunade's grandfather we could trust him to at least keep her safe".
Mitsuki scratches his chin. "I only wish that were true".
"My brother is no longer the same man he was in the past" Tobirama explains, "He's no longer the man who loved his family unconditionally and protected them to the last second. He is a dangerous maniac, driven mad by the death of his wife. Anyone who disagrees with his view point is an enemy now".
"Then why hasn't he killed me yet?".
"Perhaps the opportunity has not truly presented itself, perhaps others could always have fled and spoken of what he did to you" the silver-maned Hokage begins, "But I think the true reason is his followers. He is afraid of showing his true self to Boruto. Your son may be the one who is saving your life".
"You don't think the same things have happened to Boruto?"
"I don't think so" Mitsuki answers.
Kakashi recognises Mitsuki's insight into this situation. The shinobi is a lot like himself and Tobirama, a thinker, someone who analyses the situation before he goes charging in, unless the situation forbids it.
"Please explain your view, Mitsuki" the 6th Hokage requests.
"Hashirama was turned by vengeance. Boruto was turned by a unique sense of justice" Mitsuki begins. "Hashirama is serving the screaming angry voice in his head. Boruto is serving the voices of the deceased he served with on the front lines. It's a warped sense of justice, but Boruto is fighting for others, his viewpoint is purer than his new teacher's".
"I see" Kakashi nods. "If Boruto fights citing the will of the dead, that makes him your opposite in many ways Naruto".
"Either way, that is likely why Hashirama hasn't killed you yet" the 1st Hokage's brother decides, "If he could have done, had the circumstances been right, he would happily have justified it as protecting the village".
"Lord 7th" a voice calls from outside.
The crowded tent gets even more crowded as Ino pushes her way inside, almost out of breath as she rushes around looking for her friend.
"Ino, what's wrong?".
"It's a scouting report Naruto, a scouting report. Boruto and Sarada were seen taking Tsunade south, back towards the secret entrance".
Naruto nods, this is a chance. "In that case we can work on a rescue plan".
"There is no time, the scout report said more" Ino continues, "I think the two of them are trying to force 'death' upon Tsunade. They're trying to make her just like Lord 1st".
Naruto quickly gets up onto his feet and considers the situation rationally. Heeding the words of his teacher from previously, he thinks it through, something is clearly out of place here. Would Sarada agree to this so quickly? This doesn't feel right. If he goes south, will he really be able to stop Boruto and Sarada? Should he take Lara and Clyde with him to increase his odds? Wouldn't that just be risking their deaths?
No, he decides to take a stand.
He steps forward and as if flicking a switch summons 'life' energy to his legs.
He looks back at Tobirama. "I'll save her… I promise".
"You better".
With a single powerful kick of his leg, Naruto hurtles off into the distance, on his way to save his fellow Hokage.
To the South
Sarada stands with her back to her partner and her captive, choosing to look anywhere but at the horrible deed she is helping to commit. It happens by coincidence that her gaze moves to the north, and then the tremendous power starts to come towards her.
The power is incredible, all-encompassing, unstoppable. It moves towards her with what seems like infinite momentum and she shudders at the very feeling of it. This is Naruto's power. It is far greater than the last time she felt it. Is it because this time he is angry? Does he accept that she is his enemy now? Or is it because he is fighting for something different? Either way, there is something terrifying about it.
"He's coming Boruto, my master, your father" she says, almost admiringly, "He's coming so incredibly fast and his power feelings like nothing I have ever felt from a shinobi".
Boruto continues to circle around the bound Tsunade, drawing small patterns of divine energy on the floor around her. The divine energy is completely devoid of any element, no 'death' has been applied to it, it is merely harmless empty power. After finishing his markings on the floor, Boruto begins to draw similar markings on Tsunade's skin, despite her obvious protests.
"Are you worried Sarada, you should relax, there's two of us".
"Don't you feel that?" Sarada asks. "It's like staring straight into the sun and knowing you can do anything. A relentless force is moving towards us as if there is nothing that we can do. Is it always like this when fighting him?".
Boruto stops drawing the symbols for a moment, hesitating to recall his previous encounters with his father as an adversary.
"I haven't really fought him directly, but I have felt like this every time I've felt him coming. My father is a monster".
"A monster?" Sarada wonders, "I suppose that's one way of describing him. I've sparred against him before, but I've never fought him as an enemy. But he is my enemy now isn't he, and I don't think I've ever felt anything so terrifying".
Boruto finishes drawing the final pattern on Tsunade's forehead before walking over to Sarada's side. He squeezes her hand with his own for a moment, just to calm her down. It is an unusual experience having to calm down a Hokage, even for him. However, when he looks to the north, he considers that she is right to be afraid, because deep down he is as well.
"Fighting my father is one of the most painful things I've ever gone through, it's second only to fighting you" Boruto explains, "But fighting you is so much worse, a thousand times worse, compared to that agony this is nothing. Now there are two of us and only one of him, so say it with me, we can beat him".
Sarada nods, "We can beat him. There are two of us and only one of him".
"It doesn't matter if it's Naruto, Hashirama or Furst, nobody can stop us".
Sarada repeats Boruto's statement again. "Doesn't matter if it's him, Hashirama or Furst, nobody can stop us".
Having repeated that she doesn't really feel much better. Boruto's presence is an eternal comfort to her, but he was there before, and she knows it. Naruto is only getting closer, and the Uzumaki clansmen's power is not waning at all.
"Do you really think we are doing the right thing" Sarada asks, the last few moments she has to do so, "We are forcing 'death' on Tsunade at the end of the day".
"Well, 'death' was forced upon me" Boruto recalls.
"And was that right?".
Boruto questions it for a moment, that is enough to make Sarada happy. She is not entirely convinced that Hashirama is still the sane minded person he once was, but Boruto still has that independent mind. Even if he is making conclusions she doesn't necessarily agree with, he is thinking of those conclusions himself.
"Yes, it opened my eyes, made me who I am right now" Boruto explains, "It made me someone who could fight against the empire".
"But weren't you that man already?".
"I don't know, but Tsunade definitely wants to make a difference as well. You know that she yearns to fight on the front lines, that she has begged to make a difference. She wants to take the fight to the people who killed Dan. Helping her to do that can't be wrong, can it?".
Sarada shakes her head. "I don't know what's right anymore. I will just trust your judgement".
Deciding to leave things at that, Boruto activates his tenseigan.
Sarada joins in, activating her rinnegan.
Together the two of them make an unexpected discovery.
"Am I hallucinating or…" Sarada begins.
"… he's coming even faster than we…" Boruto adds, before he is cut off.
With a tremendous bang, two feet hit the floor thirty meters ahead of them. They dig into the floor leaving a trail in the ground where the friction tears the shrubbery from the planes of grass. The man making the trails stops with precision control, bringing himself to a halt not ten meters away from the two of them. Two on one, yet he stands before the mighty warriors not the least bit frightened. Perhaps it is bravery, or perhaps he is a fool, or maybe both.
Stood within the gaze of the rinnegan and tenseigan, he rises up to his full height, gasping for breath with sweat pouring from his head.
It is Uzumaki Naruto.
"Are you tired already?" Kurama laughs at his host, "Are you sure you're the Hokage?".
"Now isn't the time Kurama" Naruto responds.
"Oh, do you have something better to do than talk to an old friend?".
"Yeah" the jinchuriki replies. "I have to beat some sense into these two".
Author Note
Apologies for the delay in releasing this chapter.
I've been rewriting some of the plans for the story in light of recent reviews and it has taken quite a lot of my time.
This shouldn't slow me down too much but I apologise in advance in case it does.
Thanks for your understanding,
Cbehrills