THE IMPERIAL PALACE – THE RETURN

Over a Thousand Years Ago

Everything seemed right in the world for the man known once as little Jonas. He had become the guardian of his village, the saint, the protector, the man that they all looked to. Whenever a threat came to the village, whether it was from another village or from a group of bandits, he would repel them almost single-handedly. He refused to work completely alone though, recognising that it would be best to train those around him, particularly his one closest friend.

After years of protecting his village against all comers, something happened that even he could not foresee with his infinite intelligence and wisdom. He would eventually come to learn that the village was part of a larger world than he imagined possible, a place known as Homeworld. It was after many years that Homeworld was invaded, by people from another dimension.

These beings from another world had strange powers, unusual abilities harnessed in unusual ways. The conventional divine energy that the residents of Homeworld possessed was predictable and easy for them to match in many ways, so the people of this other dimension began to attack.

As the people from the other dimension came, their forces got stronger and stronger. Eventually, not even Furst Jonas could fully repel them. The warriors that he had been training for all those years of peace were finally forced to pull their weight in the defence of the village. They defended the village gallantly against the first wave, but the enemy from the other dimension just kept on coming and coming, there was no stopping them.

It was during one of these assaults that Jonas closest friend died.

Jonas had spent years earning the respect of many, but only two people had ever given him respect purely and honestly. The first was the young woman he met so many years ago, the second was this man. As he died in Jonas' arms, the village's protector wondered what he would feel. It had been so many years of peace and he had a life so devoid of connection that he had never truly experienced loss, and the first moment of loss was upon him. He watched as the light disappeared from his friend's eyes and listened to his soul, wondering what emotions would befall him.

But as Jonas closest friend died, Jonas felt nothing!

It was the same as with the animals Jonas would dissect in his youth. It was the same as hearing about the death of a villager back then or hearing about someone leaving the village. At times when others felt great distress he always felt nothing, he had believed it was because he had no connection but he was wrong. Even that connection could not make him sympathise with these people. He thought that he cared little for the deaths of the animals because they were lower beings than him, he thought humans were above animals, but he was wrong.

He did not feel the animals were below him because he was a human.
He felt that all life was below him, because he was a god!

Jonas stood from his friend's side, leaving him a broken mess and not caring what happened to him. For the first time in the life of Furst Jonas he realised the truth, he was not a man, he was a deity. Humans were insects compared to him, so little was there importance. They are people, he is a god.

After accepting himself as a deity, Jonas stopped threating over what the people of the village thought of him. He decided that respect was not something to be earned but taken. He started to behave more like a dictator, accepting that people should put him above them, that they would always respect and admire him because he is a god.

As Jonas became accustomed to a life of incomparable luxury, the citizens didn't complain. Despite Jonas' attitude, when he was in charge the village only became larger and more successful, expanding as he gave orders to his followers. Furst Jonas may have been a dictator, but he was simultaneously the greatest leader the village had ever seen. Because of his qualifications, Jonas quickly switched from protector to ruler. He had the skills to manipulate people like this from a very young age, he just never had a reason for it before, like he did now.

The conditions for the citizens gradually got worse and worse though as Jonas enjoyed his new title of divine more and more. Having never left the village, the world seemed like a very small place. Now, no matter what the people from the other dimension threw at the village, the defences created by Jonas could repel it. This land was his by divine right and nobody could take that from him.

Jonas had found his purpose in life. Nobody could take this away from him, or so he thought. The people of the village were coming closer and closer to revolting, but they were keenly aware that their chances of success were small. To truly become free from dictatorship once again, they would need a miracle, they would need someone who could show Jonas that he wasn't a god. Eventually, such a man would arrive.

One day, Endou Akashi came to the village.

The young Endou helped to push the enemy away from Jonas village. During the battle, Jonas realised something about Akashi. Jonas realised that Akashi was better than him. Akashi was the better leader. Akashi was stronger. Akashi was kinder.

Jonas began to act kindly to the villagers once again. He knew that this newcomer Akashi wouldn't tolerate his previous behaviour. Jonas promised to turn over a new leaf, claiming that Akashi had inspired him, something everyone at the time had believed.

Jonas remained allied with Akashi for years, fighting alongside Sora and many more allies all of whom rallied around the same man, the greatest leader in all the land. Akashi inspired the world, Homeworld was united for the first time in living memory. Endou Akashi was the one who led them to victory, he won the war against the invaders from the other dimension and Homeworld was saved. In the war to save Homeworld, Jonas was one of their greatest assets.

Many years later, after the war was won and Homeworld was saved, Jonas, Akashi and Sora travelled together to see a woman from a now-famous clan. The clan had begun to have visions of the future, with the most talented amongst them being able to make incredible predictions.

The elderly woman made a prediction for the three of them. She looked into their future and told them of the coming of a god. Jonas perked up when he heard that, knowing that his time would soon come again and that he would be rid of the heretical Akashi once and for all. His birthright would soon be his once again.

It was a few years later that it happened. Jonas found a way, through the powers of science and experimentation, to surpass Endou Akashi. Jonas killed the man he once claimed to respect, his former friend and leader. With Akashi out of the way and nobody around more powerful than him, it paved the way for Jonas to become emperor. Jonas divinity had expanded, he was no longer the god of a village, he was the god the whole world.

Jonas had gained more might, knowledge and power than anyone in history.

Furst Jonas was the foretold god.

The Imperial Palace, the Present Day

In the aftermath of Carmen's self-destruction, four of the empire's most powerful individuals stand in the remnants of the building. Amongst the fire and the ash, they say very little as they stare at the spot where she was just moments previously. Each of them may maintain a blasé attitude, but they know that Carmen was a loyal ally to Endou Akashi, and that she wouldn't do something like that without reason, unless she had found someone truly worthwhile.

This Uzumaki Naruto is serious.

Queen Petra eventually dusts down her blue robes before wiping her brow. "That was a fairly violent explosion, have you been hurt at all my emperor?"

"In the future you would do well to avoid such stupid questions," the emperor answers, "Attempts at kindness appear unnatural coming from one such as yourself."

Petra chuckles. "Very well, then I'll just say that she was stupid for being disloyal to you."

"Indeed."

"What do you make of this Uzumaki Naruto then?" Petra asks, "Should we be doing anything about him. It doesn't sound like he's a threat to you right now, but in the future…"

"Keep a rational mind," Petra says, "Think through his potential based on his previous accomplishments, then you will the truth."

"The truth?"

"Even if Uzumaki Naruto reached his full potential, he would still not be strong enough to defeat the emperor," Nadia explains, "He's not a threat so much as he is pest."

The three royals remain silent as Jonas considers the situation before him. Of course, Nadia is right, doing the maths on the maximum potential of a pocket worlder, it should be impossible for someone such as Naruto to reach the same level as him. Carmen surely knew that as well though, there must have been some reason for her faith in him. Perhaps her self-destruction was to withhold that knowledge. Or perhaps Carmen simply fell into a trap, realising that Naruto was similar to Akashi and being taken in by his charisma.

"Swen, did you manage to read any of Carmen's thoughts during her last moments?"

"Yes my emperor, but I don't think it's anything useful."

"I'll be the judge of that."

King Swen gulps. "In her head she was repeatedly calling for your death at the hands of those who will come later. Specifically, she was hoping that you would come to regret the many deaths you caused when you…"

"Silence Swen, you were right, that was nothing useful."

Nadia covers her mouth with her hand, pretending to hold back her laughter at her emperor's expense. If nothing else, she will always support what Swen says when he is speaking seriously.

"Nadia, I value your power greatly, but don't mistake my approval of your methods for leniency," the emperor demands, "Any further laughter at my expense will result in you losing land to your neighbour."

"I'm very sorry Emperor Furst."

Petra rolls her eyes. "You don't sound sorry."

"Now-now Petra let's not bicker."

Jonas would sometimes interrupt if the royals were to bicker like this in front of him, but right now he appears lost in thought. Even though they are close to him in power, he considers them below him in principle, he has done with most people throughout history, with one notable exception. Jonas has accepted that Akashi's ability to inspire his subordinates was even greater than his own, that is why it was essential to eliminate the former emperor. This Uzumaki Naruto may be the same, or he may be malleable, perhaps he can be turned into yet another weapon.

Swen tugs Nadia's sleeve. "Bickering is pointless, yep. Can we go now Nadia?"

"Not yet" Nadia groans, "Honestly Swen, we haven't got to the best part yet."

The three royals return their gaze to their leader.

"Petra, your mastery of 'control' energy will need to improve," Jonas decides, "I will expect your interrogations to be more effective in future. And Nadia, you seem particularly interested in this situation."

"I am."

"Then you go and find Uzumaki Naruto. Bring him before me and I will decide what to do with him."

Nadia hugs herself mockingly. "You want me to find the big-bad pocket-worlder all by myself?"

"I'm certain that Swen will be as willing as ever to participate in your search," Jonas replies, "And I expect you to get on with it straight away."

With his orders delivered, Jonas asks Petra to accompany him as the two of them return towards the imperial palace's core, where most of the world's treasures and resources have been focused around the emperor's throne. This leaves only Nadia and Swen, the duo who found Carmen, standing amongst the ashes of her detonation.

Swen sighs in relief. "The emperor is as scary as ever; can't you say something to calm him down Nadia?"

"You expect me to get in the head of the emperor, that would be treason Swen?"

"I suppose so, you probably shouldn't then."

Nadia laughs. "So fickle. Aren't you excited, we're going to hunt a big-bad pocket-worlder. This is the most interesting assignment we're ever going to receive."

"I would rather stay at home."

"Come on Swen," Nadia says, pushing the young man by his shoulders. "We've got a pocket-worlder to find, and I need your help. Your 'psychic' powers will be crucial to the search."

"I don't really know how to focus my abilities to find someone, yep," Swen says, "I can read people's minds but I would have to be lucky to find someone who knows where this one is."

Nadia stops pushing Swen and lifts her notebook in front of her face. She turns the page to three times, moving to three completely separate pages in the book. With each page she reads she recalls more and more key information about the world. Information is her currency and her brain becomes richer by the second as she comes closer to determining the truth of Naruto's location.

"You don't need to worry Swen," Nadia says, tucking her notebook away, "I'm fairly certain that I already know where Uzumaki Naruto is. All I need is your ability to confirm my suspicions."

"Then I'm glad that something easy is finally happening, yep."

"First thing's first, we have to safeguard against reinforcements," Nadia says, "They probably don't have any reinforcements but if they do, we can cut it and their escape off at the same time!"

"We can?"

"Yes," Nadia grins, "Because they're both through the same portal."

The Imperial Guard Headquarters

Safura remains in the central chamber of the imperial guard's headquarters, her legs crossed, meditating and reflecting upon recent events. She wonders just what was said between the emperor and King Max behind closed doors, and why Queen Petra was invited to stay for it. She wonders what the truth is behind the breakout incident, and what exactly was let loose that shouldn't have been.

As she is the imperial guard head general, she answers directly to Furst Jonas and has a responsibility to connect him to his many subordinates. She also feels somewhat that she should do her best to keep the people of the world happy as they are dictated to by the emperor. She also knowns that there is only so much that she can do, and that she is just caught up in the storm, that her actions will be determined by those with more power than herself.

She reaches up and fiddles with her single diamond earring, an eternal comfort to her, as she feels the platform raise behind her. Evidently, one of her generals has something to say to her. She sits there, unmoving, waiting for her subordinate to speak first before she can be bothered to turn around.

"Were you expecting someone else Safura?"

General Safura turns around urgently, recognising the voice. "Queen Nadia, King Swen."

Swen waves sarcastically, "Hello Head General Safura," he says before walking over to her chair and sitting in it, resting his legs on the armrest.

"Don't worry about him Safura, he's just being lazy as always," Nadia explains as she takes out her notebook, "The emperor has received news of a traitor to the empire, he has asked me to track him down. The game has started once again."

"I see," Safura says.

Safura patiently awaits any orders she may be about to receive from the royals, looking respectfully towards Nadia. She has always liked working with Nadia and Swen, their taste for cruelty only extends to people much weaker than her, the two royals respect power like hers. Nadia has always written down her predictions and conclusions after their conversations, sometimes offering to read them to Safura. The head general has always been amused by Nadia's supernatural powers to predict and foresee.

Safura looks at Swen and smiles. "Your friend is as relaxed as ever Queen Nadia."

"Yes he is, hey, do you want to wait for him to go to sleep and draw on his face?"

"I heard that!" Swen yells back

"You were supposed to."

Safura shakes her head. "Do you want any help from the imperial guard, if so I am always happy to provide it for you my queen."

"Splendid Safura, I need a group of captains to go to the military headquarters and destroy the last portal Military General Clyde used."

"That's a relatively easy task," Safura nods, "Something that you would normally ask the military to do."

Nadia grins, "Keep going Safura."

"I'm curious as to why you want the imperial guard to do it, aren't we overqualified?"

"You're a smart woman Safura, you can figure it out."

"Well, you're hunting a traitor," Safura begins, "Since there is something on the other side of the portal that we want to cut off access to…".

"Yes?"

"I'm guessing that Military General Clyde has neglected his duty. I'm guessing that he made some allies in that pocket world."

"Yes?"

"The reason you didn't ask the military to do this is because you can't," Safura finishes, pleased with her own deductions. "There are traitors amongst the military, so we can't trust them not to go against the emperor again."

"Well deduced Safura," Nadia claps with a grin, "This is why you were selected to lead the imperial guard, I'm glad that I've always spoken on your behalf."

"You praise me too highly Queen Nadia, I should be the one praising your genius, your status as a royal is well deserved. So, tell me, is there anything else I can help you with?"

Nadia closes her notebook, and walks around Safura, inspecting her from every angle with the sadistic grin on her face. Nadia laments that Furst has already taken Safura as his representative in the imperial guard, she would love to have taken Safura herself. Safura is the being closest to the royals outside of the royals themselves. She is kinder than the royals, more intelligent than most of them, and Nadia wishes for every opportunity for them to work together in the future, despite what she has deduced.

"Just let me know when you have finished," Nadia requests, "Come on Swen, we have places to go."

"Eh, can't we just use Safura's portal?" Swen asks, "I don't really feel like going for a run, yep."

"Come on, it will do you good to stretch your legs."

"Fine."

Swen and Nadia step onto the platform, causing Safura to bow to them politely. She rises as the platform begins to descend, watching the two royals drop out of view. Swen waves his hand vertically at Safura, saying "bye-bye" childishly as he disappears. Safura breathes a sigh of relief as they disappear. She likes working with the two of them, she has yet to put a foot wrong while doing so, but she knows that if she were to do so it would be fatal. There is no royal one can afford to be complacent around.

Safura waits a few minutes before using the platform herself. She descends and speaks to the generals under her command, organising for the portal to be destroyed.

Military Headquarters

Within the military headquarters, a group of imperial guard captains dash along the ground, running past dozens of portals at tremendous speed, bearing down on the portal Clyde last used. Bearing down on the portal to Naruto's pocket-world.

But suddenly, one of them sees something.

"I think I see someone stood in the portal sir!"

"It doesn't matter what you think you see, destroy it now, this is the command of the head general!"

Simultaneously, each of the generals cast their elements forward. The portal is bombarded with fire and water, darkness and light. Buried under an incredible amount of divine energy, the portal is bound to be destroyed.

The woman stood in the portal shields her face with her hands, protecting her eyes and recognising there is nothing she can do against this onslaught.

Just as the portal is about to be destroyed, the woman teleports away. The portal is destroyed, and access to the pocket-world is cut off, perhaps forever.

The woman watches as this happens, taking several deep breaths of air and realising that she could have shared the same fate as the portal if she had been there for just a few moments longer. It is lucky that she had an ally there to teleport her away at the last moment.

She runs her hand through her bright pink hair and looks over her shoulder at her saviour.

"Thank you… Sasuke…"

Author Note:

Hi All,

This chapter marks the end for Part 7 - The Imperial Palace.
I have now begun to work on Part 8 of this story which I hope you will all enjoy.

I hope that you have enjoyed reading Part 7 as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Thanks as always for reading it.

See you all soon,
Cbehrills