BACK TO SCHOOL – SCHOOL'S OVER
The Military Academy, "Sarada's Room"
Sarada sits on an uncomfortable wooden chair in one of the spare rooms in the military academy, almost entirely hidden from the world. This deep into the academy not even the insects can find her, only those people who are deliberately looking for her. Here, she plans out the various different ways this can go in the back of her mind. They are going to begin their rebellion against Furst imminently, when she brought back the heroes of the past she never realised how far they would go together.
She hears the sounds of footsteps down the corridor and calls out that she is in the room. The footsteps are slow, calm and loud, evidently the people walking don't have any intention of hiding their approach, so she correctly deduces that they are allies. Specifically, it is a collection of the Kage. The door opens with a terrible creak and in step Tobirama, Hiruzen, Tsunade, Kakashi and Shinki.
Sarada looks over her shoulder at the new arrivals. "This must be something important. Half the members of the circle just walked into one room together, is there some kind of emergency."
"Of sorts," Hiruzen answers, "We think we should call an all-shinobi meeting to work out our internal struggles. We need to work out how to bring Hashirama's group back to our side, otherwise they could end up being the ones that crush the rebellion."
"Yeah," Sarada nods, "I love Boruto, if there was a way to bring him back I would, but I have tried and tried, I just can't think of anything that will work. He's a stubborn man."
"That's why we all need to be there," Hiruzen counters, "You may know Boruto better than anyone, but everyone knows him a little, Hashirama too. Shikadai, Inojin, ChouChou, we need to bring them all back. We need to gather what information we can so that we know what they're thinking."
"Very well, but I want to leave the Uzumaki family out of this, they've already tried everything, I don't want them to suffer anymore. If we can do this for them it will be a fraction of what they have done for us."
"Fair enough," Hiruzen concedes, "We may not have long left here, I will round up the others."
The Military Academy, Lara's Room
Lara returns to her room, immediately walking to the middle where she has previously made two tally marks on the ground. The walls are littered with thousands of these marks, each marking a victory she achieved over Clyde when they were rivals, since her return though she has only had these two marks.
Mirai enters after Lara, shutting the door and turning back to see her friend looking over those two marks.
"OK Lara, no more prying eyes, it's just you and I here. Tell me how you're feeling about this?"
"Tell you how I'm feeling? I don't know where I'm supposed to begin," Lara stutters, "I must have had a family once before when I was a young woman. That would have been before I understood 'light' energy and I was taken away. I don't remember anything about that life though. For as long as I can remember I have been a loner, it's just recently that everything has changed."
"And hasn't it changed for the better?"
"I don't know, I've enjoyed having friends," Lara admits, "But, having family seems more like a responsibility than a pleasure to me. If I didn't like you or Clyde I could just ditch you, I can't do that with Hannah, can I?"
Mirai nods. "So, you accept that she's your daughter, and you want to help her?"
"Isn't that what I'm supposed to do? What do normal people do in this situation."
Mirai laughs, holding her head in her hand in a way that draws Lara's ire. The shinobi can't help herself, referring to anything about this situation as normal snaps her back to reality. This is completely crazy, she's talking about a mystery daughter with a formally crazy soldier in a dimension she knows far too little about.
"Normal people don't become mothers in this way, I can't help you with that one," Mirai admits, "I would say that if you want to help her then you should. Normal members of the military don't get to have a family, you should embrace it."
Lara takes a breath of deep air. She looks at herself, she's panicking, she never panics. Mirai is right, normal people in the military don't get to have a family, in fact it's forbidden, a rule Lara used to enforce herself. She thinks back to the many people she spoke to just a short while ago, none of them could have a family due to the rules, but now as their boss she gets to have one? Then again it's not that simple, she didn't have children in the normal way, Hannah was created and she was given no say in the matter. Now that they're rebelling is there any reason a soldier can't also be a mother? She tortures herself with all these questions before bringing herself to one that worries her far more.
"How does this affect us?" Lara asks.
"Us?"
"Does my having a daughter change anything for you? Are you going to stand by me?"
Mirai approaches Lara until she can feel the general's breath on her face, it's warm, and pleasant, the complete opposite of how Lara was when they first met. Back then, the Head General was terrifying, even from miles away. Now, when they are separated by just inches, Mirai feels safer that she has felt since before the invasion of homeworld. That is a feeling that Mirai would never throw away, no matter the price.
"You having a daughter doesn't change how I feel about you," Mirai whispers.
"And how do you feel about me?"
Mirai raises her hand, gently lifting it towards Lara's face as she begins to feel the pulsing of her heart in her chest.
"I…"
The door opens, cutting of Mirai. The shinobi quickly withdraws her hand.
"The generals have…" Elliot began before awkwardly stopping. "Sorry Lara, did I pick a bad moment."
Lara groans before stepping back from Mirai, "Spit it out you idiot, don't you think I have a good reason to be-"
"I'm sure you do Head General," Elliot says, raising his hands diplomatically, "The other generals have decided to help you out. They would like to speak with you now to plan out a strategy to take down Furst."
Lara nods. "OK, that's good."
"It's fantastic," Elliot replies encouragingly, "I didn't think anyone could ever rally them in that way, not even you, but you did it. If you would like to follow me Head General, I will take you to them."
"Alright, let's go Mirai," Lara says.
The two of them begin to leave the room, each doing their best to forget about what they were talking about just moments ago. Elliot doesn't know about Lara's daughter yet. He has been Lara's ally longer than anyone so Mirai holds her tongue on the subject. She is sure that once Lara is ready to tell people about it then Elliot will be the first person to know.
As they exit into the corridor, Mirai sees the people who have acted like family for most of her life. She sees Shikamaru waiting in the corridor, along with his wife and his teammates.
"Mirai, do you have a moment," Shikamaru says.
"Lara's got to talk to the other generals," Mirai replies, "They've agreed to help and I should really be-"
"Talk to the old man Mirai," Lara says, stopping for a moment, "I don't need you to hold my hand for everything."
Mirai watches as Lara leaves with Elliot. She wonders if Lara is just trying to avoid her answer to that last question. How does Mirai feel about her? How does Mirai put it into words? Should she answer honestly, or is it more important to tell Lara what she needs to hear on the brink of rebellion? What is it that Lara does need to hear?
"You've been hold her hand now?" Shikamaru asks with a grin.
"She was nervous about her big speech."
"It's good to know someone finds your presence so comforting."
"Uncle," Mirai groans.
"Relax, I'm just teasing you," the Nara clansmen says. "You need to get the other shinobi ready to leave, you're their commander and we can't all move as quickly as you can."
Mirai nods. "Yeah, OK, you're right. I'll coordinate with Lara to work out how would be best to leave from here."
"That sounds like a good idea."
Shikamaru and the others begin to leave, but Mirai stops them.
"Would you guys mind giving me some advice?"
They stop.
"We're always here for you Mirai," Ino says, "But, we're all in a hurry right now, can't this wait?"
"Lara just found out she has a daughter!"
Shikamaru sighs. "What a drag. Very well Mirai, perhaps we can spare a moment for a chat. So, how do you feel about that?"
The Military Academy, "The Uzumaki's Room"
Naruto sits in the centre of the room, meditating, taking in the world around him. He has become a source of hope for so many people off the back of his determination, but right now he is hoping to hone his mind and develop his strategies. Being a good person and a powerful person will not be enough to overcome Furst. From what he has heard the emperor has no conscience, no line that he won't cross. The emperor is a genius in every sense of the word, there is nobody else in the world that can keep up with him. Lastly, Furst is the most powerful person to have ever lived, defeating even the previous emperor who saved the world. That is the man who Naruto must overcome.
Clyde approaches the door, raising his hand to knock.
"Come in Clyde," Naruto says.
Clyde hasn't even had the chance to knock yet when he begins smiling. Of course Naruto knew it was him, he's using the one true sense. Without even checking Clyde's divine energy nature, Naruto could probably detect the full outline of the general's body by compiling his various sensory information. What Juan and Nina have taught him has clearly stuck.
Clyde enters.
"I was wondering if I could speak with you for a moment?"
"Sure, have a seat."
Naruto hops up onto his feet and sits across the table from the seat he just gestured to. He sits down next to his wife, the other side of the table entirely vacant as Himawari and his parents make use of the cosier furniture in the room.
"I've just received some news from Headmaster Sora, he told me about what King Max has been doing in the laboratories," Clyde explains, "It turns out that there is a girl named Hannah who was created there. Hannah is Lara's daughter, and my daughter."
Naruto takes a while to think of what to say.
"Wow."
"I thought that too," Clyde replies with a sarcastic admiration of Naruto's wit.
"I didn't even know that you and Lara-"
"We aren't, nothing like that," Clyde says nervously, "At least I thought we weren't, but I don't know anymore. Lara's changing so fast and before she spoke to Mirai and I differently. I don't know what to do. I don't suppose you have ever seen anything like this happen before?"
Naruto looks over at his own daughter.
"Believe it or not, I've experienced something quite similar," he says, thinking to his own time-travelling experience.
"Then what should I do?" Clyde asks, "She's my daughter so I want to do what's right for her, but how should I know what that is? She's not exactly normal, she's effectively a full-grown woman. There is no literature on what to do in this sort of situation."
Naruto thinks it over considering the few details that Clyde has given him. If he can't just go and find Hannah then there is clearly some reason that she won't just be happy to see him, it must be complicated. Things were slightly different for him, he was summoned to the future by his son's now fiancée, everyone was happy to see him when he arrived, his children acted like he was a hero. Clyde doesn't have the same privileges he did. However, the basics still apply, there must still be some love there somewhere.
"I don't know that there's any big secret to it, just trust your instincts," Naruto suggests, "Do you want to find her?"
"We need to find her. She's going to spiral out of control if we don't help her. Eventually she may lose her self-control completely, she may end up hunting us down out of hatred."
"It sounds quite simple then," Naruto says.
"Simple?"
"You just need to find her and help her. That's what you want to do anyway, right?"
Clyde laughs. "I wish I found the whole thing as easy to process as you seem to. If the royals find her before we do they will manipulate her, they would turn her into a weapon and use her against us."
"I wouldn't worry," Hinata speaks up.
Clyde looks at Hinata. "You wouldn't?"
"If Hannah is half as resourceful as her parents then it won't be so easy for the royals to hunt her down," Hinata smiles, "Have a bit of faith in her General, she will be powerful and she will be wise. She is your daughter after all."
Clyde smiles warmly. "If she's as stubborn as Lara then she'll avoid detection for the next thousand years."
"Of course she will."
Clyde relaxes, the first calm thoughts about Hannah entering his mind. He doesn't even know what she looks like, his daughter. Lara gave him a brief description following the original encounter but Clyde didn't even think she was real back then. What kind of personality will she have? Will she be calm like him or aggressive like her mother? Will she be a leader or a commander, or will she not want any authority to begin with? Is she talented as well as powerful? Is she kind or rude? So many questions.
"Naruto, if anything goes wrong, promise me that you will look after her."
Naruto starts. "Clyde, nothing will go wrong."
"We're taking on Furst Jonas, there will be some battles we lose, even if we win the war," Clyde says. "Please Naruto, you are the one person I know would never give up. Please, look after her if I can't."
"… I promise," Naruto says reluctantly.
"Thank you."
Hinata stands up and begins ushering Clyde towards the door. "Come on Clyde, you should be speaking with Lara about this, she's not so well-adjusted as you. She must be struggling with this news just as much as you have been."
"You're right. Thank you Hinata, your wisdom matches your remarkable powers."
Hinata looks back into the room. "I have someone I aspire to be like."
"You do well," Clyde says before departing.
The 'darkness' using general rushes through the corridors as fast as he can, doing his best to avoid the various people he encounters on the way. He is going to speak with Lara, and he is going to speak with her right away. Hinata is right, they need to help one another through this, because Hannah is their daughter after all.
The Military Academy, the Central Clearing
Ming Dai approaches the very centre of the military academy, the enormous clearing made by King Swen's psychic powers previously. This is the space where Juan sacrificed his life to bring the Headmaster back to them, where Naruto stood up to the royals. This is the epicentre of the upheaval that is likely being discussed by aristocrats all throughout Homeworld. This is where the change began.
Dai reaches the middle of the academy where Headmaster Sora is stood waiting for him.
"Master, I hate to speak up in this manner."
"Please, speak your mind Dai, I would hate to think that I have made you afraid to do so."
"You haven't, you've always been good to me like that," Dai says awkwardly. "I just think that the time is now. We should be leaving the academy, there is nothing more for Naruto to learn here."
Sora stands in the open air, the wind blowing in his face. It's all so quiet at the moment, despite the countless people that have now gathered here from the military to start a rebellion. The wheels have begun to turn on a conflict that may turn into the second great war for Homeworld.
"I suppose you are right, it just feels so wrong, abandoning this place," Sora admits, "The military academy is my home. This place is all I have left from the old days. Oh well, I suppose I just have to let go."
"Should I give the order to evacuate?"
"Yes, give the order to evacuate. The sooner the better, safety first at this stage. Naruto's safety above all else."
Dai nods but still feels uneasy. So few people from Homeworld are able to use divine energy, it is a rare blessing, most people are weak. Those with transcendent elements are labelled as a genius. In his life he has seen many geniuses come and go, but never has he seen one go as great as Sora. As he watches his master look into the wind, he recognises his expression. The headmaster has accepted the inevitable, he has accepted his own death.
"What will you do master?
"I am going to remain here until I am sure that everyone is away safely. Once I know that everyone is safe, I shall follow."
Dai lowers his voice. "You're lying aren't you. You're like the captain who goes down with his own ship. You intend to disappear along with the academy."
"I have no intention of dying today Dai," Sora responds, "I wouldn't lie to you when it mattered, you know that don't you."
"OK."
"I want to thank you for the years you have spent at my side though, just in case. I haven't told you this enough, but you have been more than a student to me, you have been like my own son. If anything goes wrong during the evacuation, if we don't see each other again, I want you to know that raising you has been the most worthwhile thing I've ever done."
Dai sniffles and rubs a tear from the corner of his eye. "Old man. Don't start. Listen, I'm glad it was you, nobody could have done a better job. Thank you, for everything."
"Alright, let's not go overboard," Sora says with a smile, "First, tell Naruto that we're evacuating immediately, the others will follow him."
Dai nods to Sora and runs in Naruto's direction. There is no time to waste, there are so many people to evacuate and they must get started right away if they are going to escape. He dashes from the central clearing and enters into the corridors, recalling the necessary twists and turns to find the room allotted to the Uzumaki's so that he can get them to safety.
Sora smiles as he is left alone in this clearing. During his time here there have been many aristocrats, many great teachers. He recalls the rare smiles that have been put on faces here during terrible times. He remembers allowing Carmen to experience joy again after her losses during the war when she became a teacher here. He remembers giving Juan his big chance to be a hero here. He remembers all the students who felt lost after they arrived having forgotten about their previous lives only to be comforted by their new commanding officers. He remembers the creation of this place. He remembers the team spirit that Clyde fostered amongst his subordinates and the pride that Lara gave to her superiors. There are so many memories in this place, but it will be gone soon, he is certain of that.
Then he feels it, an ominous energy in the air. Sora's eyes open widely, 'It's too soon, how can he be hear so soon?'. He doubts himself only briefly, but then he casts aside all doubt in his mind, this is it.
Sora uses 'enhance' energy to louden his voice and begins to scream.
"Run! Run away! Everyone run now!"
He continues to shout as the energy bears down on the academy.
"Get away from the sound of my voice! Run as fast as you can! Don't wait for anyone else just run!"
It's so far away at the moment that maybe nobody else can sense it, but Sora's skill is tremendous. Still, even for Sora, to feel a divine energy source this far away it must be enormous. There is only one man who can command divine energy on such a scale.
The ground shakes!
An earthquake with an epicentre miles away.
The ground shakes again, only this time more violently. This happens again and again, and four times more after that. While most of the evacuees have worked out what must be happening, they don't understand what Sora does about these earthquakes, how frightening they are.
'They are his footsteps,' Sora realises.
Suddenly, a portion of the academy's outer wall evaporates, turning from solid stone to dust in a fraction of a second and allowing the man with the loud footsteps easy passage through the newly opened clearing. It's much cleaner than Sora's forceful entry to the academy from before, with just a flick of this man's the superstructure changed on a microscopic level.
The man rushes into the academy, decelerating from a tremendous speed to a complete stop incredibly quickly and with unrivalled precision. He comes to a halt just five meters away from Sora.
His body is mostly covered by his ceremonial robes of the empire, the most important garment to have ever graced homeworld. Red underneath, blue in the middle, covered on the top by another layer of gold. The only parts of his body that show are his hands and his head. His skin is a pristine jade-like colour and completely unblemished as if crafted by a generous god. However, his eyes are not so warm and appealing as the rest of his body, jet black, just like his hair, and so calculating. It is often claimed that you can see the turning of the mind in someone's eyes, Sora knows that is not the case for this man, because the mind is turning faster than he can see.
This is Furst Jonas.
"… hello Jonas," Sora says, eventually breaking the silence.
"Hello Sora, you evidently know why I'm here given all the shouting."
Sora thought that Naruto's appearance would have changed his reaction to seeing Jonas, but nothing has changed. As he stands across from the man who killed his brother-in-law, he feels the same fear he did the last time, perhaps more so. Jonas is vengeful and Jonas is powerful beyond what anyone else can imagine.
Sora knows though, that bravery is not the absence of fear, it's the courage to act despite fear.
The headmaster takes in a lung-full of air and prepares to shout again.
"Don't!" Jonas says, instantly silencing the headmaster. "Anyone who didn't hear last time must have been born without ears."
Sora gently exhales the air, trying his best to remain calm.
"So, what happens now?" Sora asks, "I'm grateful to still be alive, knowing you there must be a reason for that."
Suddenly, a group of aristocrats emerge into the central clearing of the academy, they coordinate, moving in formation towards Jonas. Together they command a complimentary array of elements, each prepared in advance with care. A series of divine abilities are activated simultaneously in a confusing collage that makes Sora question exactly where they are going to attack from and how powerful their attack can be.
However, secretly the headmaster is terrified. He didn't feel them prepare this attack, and that is not because they did a good job of keeping it a secret. He didn't feel them prepare because Jonas' tremendous energy is so all-consuming that he couldn't even feel the aristocrats energy in comparison. He watches helplessly, knowing that he doesn't have time to stop them from attacking, that their fate is already sealed as they hurtle towards the emperor.
Furst Jonas doesn't even need to move. Crimson energy seeps through the pours on his skin, unprompted by gestures from the emperor. That energy swirls in a powerful whirlwind and the launches at the aristocrats with speed. When it hits them they evaporate just as easily as the academy wall did. They are gone, just like that, a whole group of aristocrats dead in an instant, class seven warriors, dead.
"You clearly didn't teach them very well," Jonas mutters, "It seems you were losing your touch anyway."
"You didn't have to kill them," Sora complains, "They fought with us during the war for heaven's sake, they looked at you as a friend once!"
"Do you think you can talk me around?" Jonas asks.
Sora pauses, "Of course not, you're not so weak-willed that I can change your mind."
Sora looks over Jonas shoulder to see two more people arriving. It seems that Jonas didn't come alone, he brought Queen Nadia and King Swen with him. The headmaster feels tempted to roll his eyes, is this Jonas big attempt to show off to the royals? Clearly, the headmaster doesn't need two royals with him to handle this or any other situation.
"Just in case you aren't enough by yourself?" Sora asks, "Very cautious of you."
"We came by our own choice," Nadia answers.
Sora nods, "I see.
"OK then. I guess we should get this over with."
As the children of the rebellion flee, Headmaster Sora readies himself for the defining moment of his life. He readies himself to fight Emperor Furst Jonas.
Author Note:
Hi Guys,
It seems like I've been getting a lot of support lately, either that or I've been noticing it more, so I would like to say thanks.
I will try and get out another chapter quicker than usual. I hope that you enjoy it when it comes.
Thanks as always,
Me