BACK TO SCHOOL – SEPARATED

Naruto's Group

Hinata solemnly deactivates her byakugan, lowering her head for a moment before turning to face Ming Dai.

"I'm sorry Dai, Sora is dead."

Of course they are all sad in this moment, but more than anything, Naruto feels hopeless. He knew that he would have to become strong to defeat Furst, but this is more than he ever imagined. Countless people are depending on him to go even further than Sora just did, to defeat the emperor. The headmaster couldn't even make him move, how is he supposed to do that? He is the only one without the most valuable reassurance available, he is the only one present without someone else to depend on.

"We need to turn around and unite with all the others, there's no point continuing to head this way," Naruto says.

Dai's head snaps around. "Are you insane Naruto? We need to put distance between ourselves and Jonas as quickly as possible."

"If we do that we put distance between ourselves and Sarada too," Naruto counters, "We'll only be getting further away from her, away from Clyde and Lara and-"

"If we go back that way we would be going through the eye of the storm," Dai says forcefully, "There is no point making that journey when we all know that we would die."

"We're not certain to die."

"We are certain to die. Didn't you just see what he did, how he dominated our master, our strongest ally in the fight against him," Dai desperately tries to get across his point. "Master had energy three classes higher than your own, the emperor four classes higher. We would be like toddlers trying to make it through a jungle."

"We'll never stand a chance against him if we don't reunite with Sarada."

"Then we do it later, when he's gone, years later if that's how long it takes! But Naruto, let me make this clear, I'm not going to let you throw away all hope for Homeworld by making a stupid decision now!"

"What makes you think you can stop me!"

Kushina slaps the two of them in the back of the head. "Both of you shut up!"

"Mother, listen."

"No, you listen. Everyone is putting everything on you right now Naruto and that sucks, I know," Kushina begins, "I can't imagine how you must feel, I can't imagine the pressure. But don't throw it away now. We've already lost this battle, we can only win the war if we make the right decision and retreat."

"She's right dad," Himawari adds.

Naruto turns around, walking three paces from the group before burying his head in his hands. "Damn, this is all my fault, how am I supposed to live with this. He is only dead because of me, you know that's true."

"You will find a way," Dai says, "You have to find a way, the rest of us need you to. It sucks but it's true."

Naruto takes a deep breath. He's the strongest amongst this group, it's up to him to lead them to safety, not to make any selfish decisions, he realises that now. He starts to ignore the pain and think of his next steps. Frankly, the other groups could be in any direction, they could have gone such a long way away that there is no point in even trying to pursue them. They need to communicate somehow, over a distance and for that they will need help. There are many people in homeworld, perhaps some with relatives in other parts of the world. There must be some mechanism they can use to talk to one another over a distance, he just needs to find the right people.

Suddenly, a man with red hair and red eyes appears, a man wearing a dark coat. He appears right behind Hinata, having used his powers of invisibility to approach her and strikes her in the back of the head, knocking her unconscious. Before anyone has time to react, he lifts the Hyuuga clanswomen onto his shoulder and begins to run away from the group as fast as he can.

"I can-" Minato begins only to be interrupted.

"Don't teleport!" Naruto yells furiously at his father, "He's stronger than you, you'll get hurt. Leave this to me and Dai, we will get him."

Naruto and Dai begin to run furiously after Mars. The two of them the only class 6 warriors in the group now that Hinata has been taken out of the equation. Facing a class 7 warrior will be an uphill struggle, but the two of them are tremendously talented and have great skill, if they work together they should be able to defeat him. The only thing that stops them is his superior speed. If Minato moved them closer with the flying thunder god technique they may be able to get him, but there would be no guarantee of protecting the 4th Hokage that way.

"What are you going to do," Dai yells as he runs, "He's a lot faster than we are, he's going to get away."

"I'll find a way!"

Minato yells after Sora's students as they gradually move into the distance, telling them that the rest of them will catch up as long as they can see them. Himawari activates her byakugan and Minato grips hold of his wife and granddaughter, dragging them forward after Naruto and Dai using his 'wind' enhanced speed.

"We need to be careful, his battle class is higher than ours, if we fight him there is no guarantee we will win," Dai says.

"There is never a guarantee."

"Alright then, it's likely that we will die. Don't you see why that's a bad thing for a rebellion."

"We won't die, we're going to live. You and I have the skill to beat this fool," Naruto shouts as he runs, "And you may be able to make me give up on going back for the others, but you are never going to make me give up on Hinata."

"Then what do you want me to do?"

"You need to work with me to beat him, we have the best chance if we coordinate to bring him down. We'll have a far better chance in the long run with Hinata on our side, so we're going to take him down right now."

"Alright, I'll follow your lead," Dai nods, "But how do we catch up to him?"

"I'm thinking!"

Naruto's furious pursuit of his wife and the mercenary continues. But it won't last forever, not unless he can think of a way to close the gap between them. If not this may be the last time he ever sees Hinata.

The Crater where the Military Academy Was

Nadia and Swen gradually make their way back to the centre of the crater. They walk slowly, nursing minor injuries from the blast despite their best attempts to block it and the distance they put between themselves and Sora. Side by side they continue until they reach the middle of the crater where Furst Jonas awaits them. Jonas head is lowered, fixated on the body of the man he once called his friend. This is the world's greatest loss since the death of Endou Akashi, for a lot of people this will symbolise the loss of all hope. However, Jonas remains unsatisfied, hope is not dead yet, not while Uzumaki Naruto still walks the surface of Homeworld.

"He died fighting for what he believed in, even if he was mistaken to do so," Nadia says, "There is honour to be found in what he did. Bravery in standing up to an opponent he could never hope to defeat is foolish, but it is bravery nonetheless. He will forever be remembered as a hero of Homeworld for his actions in the last conflict. Muto Sora, me he rest peacefully."

"Very poignant," Swen nods, "The old man would have probably liked it."

Swen looks at Jonas who has still not said a word. He dares not look into the mind of his superior, but he wonders if this is Jonas displaying sadness. He doesn't recall the emperor ever being sad, if it has ever happened. Perhaps, on the contrary, the emperor is always sad and has never been happy. The emperor lives by a terrifying yet irrefutable philosophy, one that grants him rights as the mightiest being in existence, one that marks him as superior to the rest of humanity. Swen likes to think he is fairly good at reading people, even without his 'psychic' powers, but like Nadia, Jonas is a difficult person to read.

Nadia's view on the emperor is different. As far as she is concerned what he is experiencing right now isn't sadness, he's pausing for inspiration. He's searching for just a hint of humanity deep within his soul, seeing if he feels anything just like he did when his first friend died all those years ago. She knows that soon Jonas will stop doubting his status, that he will consider himself a god more than ever before. His mind will quickly return to tactics and science, just like it always has done. How will he reach his next goal?

"Sora was a useful pawn to begin with," Jonas says, "Given that it was his intention kill me putting him down was the right decision."

"I agree, it was tactically correct," Nadia concurs, before trying to tease out something more interesting, "Are you OK with it personally?"

"It was the same as every other kill I have ever made," Jonas remarks, "It was just like stepping on an insect, I felt nothing. He was a human, I am a god."

Nadia resists the urge to sigh. It's just as she thought. If the emperor didn't feel anything when he killed Headmaster Sora then he is never likely to feel respect for another human being. The world is on a dark path now, even darker than before. Those with strength may try to resist but it will be fruitless. Those with wisdom will stay on the emperor's good side because that is the only way to limit the damage of his beliefs.

"If you want to put down the rebellion quickly then what you need to kill isn't people, it's hope," Nadia says calmly, "The fastest way to kill hope is to kill Uzumaki Naruto. I suggest we put a price on his head and leave it to the mercenaries. When the bounty disappears it will be a clear sign to all the rebels that he is dead."

Jonas nods, "Very well, but don't provide any details about why he is wanted, just say that the reward will be tremendous. If we turn him into a hero the rebellion will be much harder to crush."

"My emperor, I have a favour to ask" Swen suddenly says while bowing.

"That's unlike you Swen, go ahead."

Swen rises. "I would like you to spare my son. He is amongst the rebels but I can convince him to switch sides with Nadia's help. One day he may be just as powerful as a royal, he would be a valuable ally and could give us a lot of information about the rebellion."

Jonas pauses. "Taking in someone who has sworn to kill me would be a stupid move tactically, why would I agree to that?"

"My emperor," Nadia steps forward, "Please give me responsibility for Swen's son. If he targets you I will kill him myself and accept whatever punishment you deem necessary."

"That is very generous of you Nadia, you clearly value Swen highly if you are willing to take on that kind of responsibility for his family."

"He is my friend."

"Friendship," Jonas pauses once again, looking back at Sora's body. "It's a strange and irrational concept. Very well, I will have you take responsibility, you can do with your son what you will Swen."

"Thank you my emperor," Swen bows once more, "And thank you Nadia, yep."

Nadia simply nods to Swen.

"Have you found any other people of interest Nadia?" the emperor asks.

"No, they all got away too quickly," she answers, "Sora's early warning was about the only effective move he made against you, but it was very effective. The students all ran straight away as fast as they could, I think even you would struggle to find them now. However, I can put bounties on all their heads if you wish."

"Go ahead," Jonas assents, "Additionally, this would be a good time to test the new communication stones."

"Of course my lord."

"Then begin right away."

Naruto's Group

Naruto and Dai continue to run after Mars, their legs getting heavier and heavier as the distant figure of the mercenary gets smaller and smaller.

"He's getting away!" Dai shouts at Naruto.

"I know!"

"If you're going to think of something you've got to do it now!"

"I know! Alright, come on," Naruto says, egging himself on. "Your element is 'strength' isn't it. Your raw power is a lot greater than your speed."

"Yeah, so?"

"Then throw me at him!"

Dai looks at Naruto wide-eyed for a moment before even considering the calculations behind this task. To throw Naruto hard enough to have the 7th Hokage catch up with the mercenary he would need to seriously risk injuring him. An injured Naruto couldn't survive more than a few seconds against Mars. Throwing someone that hard is practically an attack, it's the sort of thing Dai would do when he intended to kill someone. However, now that he considers it further it may just work. Naruto uses 'life' energy, if anyone can endure such a thing it would be him, plus if the angle is right he would come down with relatively little damage, difficult as that angle may be to achieve.

There are still problems with this plan.

"That would leave you fighting him alone and he would have your wife as a hostage," Dai points out, "The plan is completely ridiculous, your chances of winning are appalling."

"I've already lost too much today," Naruto says, practically growling.

Dai is once again stunned by Naruto's reaction; this time is different though. This time he looks not a madman who has lost control but at the Naruto he has been wanting to see all this time. He is looking at the man with a heart of a lion, who won't let anyone get in his way no matter how strong they are. This is the Naruto they need if they are going to defeat Furst.

"Alright," Dai says, "Let's do it!"

Naruto leaps a short way into the air, gliding slightly sideways so that he falls towards Dai's outstretched arms. He gathers a small amount of 'life' energy in his legs, preparing them for the sheer blunt force they are about to endure. As he falls, his feet land perfectly on Dai's arms. Dai twists to the side, generating as much power as he can from his hips. He then focuses his 'strength' energy into his arms and spins, launching Naruto forward like a rocket.

Mars turns his head and smirks, dodging to the side as the 7th Hokage comes flying over his shoulder.

Naruto lands on the ground, feeling the crunching of bones and the tearing of flesh in his legs as he slows himself down, each second frantically cycling 'life' energy through his limbs to prevent them from giving up on him. He knew Dai was powerful, that his 'strength' powers would propel Naruto quicker than he had ever been propelled, but even he didn't except anything this dramatic. Regardless, he comes to a halt.

Naruto readies a rasengan.

Mars throws Hinata at Naruto.

The 7th Hokage quickly dissipates the rasengan and catches his wife. The second he does he feels that Mars has begun to move, not even needing to look thanks to the one true sense. But even Naruto's mighty new sensory powers can't help him to stop everything, some things he has to do with sheer grit and determination.

Mars throws his fists at Naruto, the Uzumaki clansmen unable to use his hands in his defence. Naruto is a shinobi though, not like the warriors of this world, he is far more versatile. Despite the pain still present in them, he lifts his legs, kicking Mars in the wrists to deflect the incoming punches. Each punch hurts his leg slightly more than the last, the difference in the class of their divine energy becoming more evident by the second.

Naruto forces a brief reprieve for himself, a moment when even Mars couldn't find an opening to attack. During this moment, the shinobi jumps backwards, gently releasing Hinata and letting her fall unceremoniously to the ground. At worst Hinata will get a bruise, nothing a shinobi of her calibre can't endure. Naruto's more concerned with protecting her from any further damage, about enduring until Ming Dai can catch up. That's all he needs to do.

Mars begins to circle Naruto and Hinata, levying attacks of 'fire' towards them. Naruto relaxes, focuses all of his senses just like Juan and Nina taught him to do. If there is one thing he learnt in the academy it's the one true sense. Naruto's skill as both a shinobi and as a divine energy user is superior to Mars. The Hokage feels each of the incoming attacks from the moment the mercenary releases them, instantly foreseeing what path they will take and if they will hit him or Hinata. He keeps his motion to a minimum, making sure that he doesn't dodge unless he must and that he doesn't block an attack unless Hinata requires him to do so.

One of the attacks hit's Naruto in the face, blinding him momentarily as the burning pain crawls across his skin. However, as Naruto's sight disappears his other senses magnify to compensate, such is the beauty of his technique. As Mars continues to launch balls of 'fire' at Naruto he continues to dodge them, even after falling to his knees he continues, moving using his waist alone. This frustrates the mercenary greatly, embarrassed at getting outperformed by a low class warrior like this, by a pocket-worlder.

He still has an ace up his sleeve though. He launches a 'fire' attack at the defenceless Hinata.

Naruto jumps into the path of the attack, taking the brunt of it himself as he is knocked down onto the floor. This tactic is totally transparent and cowardly but there is nothing he can do about it. Mars has caught onto his weakness now and he exploits it fully. As the mercenary throws attack after attack at Hinata, Naruto keeps putting himself in the way, enduring them on her behalf. He takes a beating that only a 'life' user could take, holding in despite the pain for as long as he can.

But not even Naruto can last forever when he's being tortured like this. A chink in his armour shows itself and Mars does not miss it.

Dai looks on, still running as fast as he can, unable to help his friends as they get cheated by this villainous mercenary. Unable to do anything as he watches Mars rush towards Naruto who is totally consumed with healing his burning wounds.

Nobody can do anything as Mars delivers a powerful strike to the back of Naruto's head and knocks him out. Nobody can do anything as Mars swaps his former hostage for a new one, as he lifts Naruto on his shoulder and continues to run away.

Dai finally arrives, just too late.

Sora's pupil curses as he watches Mars carry Naruto into the distance, knowing that he will not be able to catch him no matter what he does. He looks at the fallen Hinata, knowing that the best he can do now is to stay by her. It is as they feared, they are too weak and it has cost them.

Naruto is gone!

Dai realises now that this was Mars plan all along. That he only took Hinata to lure Naruto in and weaken him. There is no way that invisibility trick would have worked on Naruto, not with the one true sense aiding him. When the mercenary visited previously he was sizing up Naruto because he knew that he would become the most valuable prize in the history of Homeworld. Now the mercenary has gotten what he came for.

Now Mars is going to hand Naruto over to Furst Jonas!

Author Note

Hi All,

Guess what. I have just finished the planning for part 8 and am moving onto planning for part 9.
Because of this I intend to start releasing chapters more regularly again.

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it), because of the increased regularity the end of part 8 will come relatively soon.
I'm going to try a new planning method to try and finish planning part 9 a lot sooner, we'll see how that works out.

Thanks for your support,
Me

Response to Guest Review

One piece fan: Thank you, it's good to know that you've drawn comparison to something I personally enjoyed, I hope that means you liked it too. Thanks for your support.