Author Note
Hi All,
Just a quick note to say that I am almost done with my part 10 plan.
It should really be done before the end of this week.
Once the part 10 plan is complete I will try to release the rest of part 9 in quick succession.
Once I get onto releasing part 10, I will continue weekly releases until the part 11 plan is complete, and the pattern will continue.
I hope everyone stays healthy in these difficult times.
Thanks for reading,
Me
BORUTO'S MASTERS – THE SHADOW HOKAGE
The Desert, Southern Aturia
Never. Sarada checks her memories for an opponent like the one she has just faced but she has never come across one. She has fought people with talent like Boruto, fought with people born into combat like Clyde and fought with people who worked hard to get where they are like Naruto. Fighting against Hannah was a completely different feeling, like nothing you could possibly do could make a difference. Shinobi are taught to waste little movement, to optimise their skills in combat, but every move against the experimental child was wasted. It seems that truly reaching her is impossible for a class 7 warrior.
Looking around the nearby fighters, both Boruto and Hashirama have suffered wounds slightly greater than her own. That's good news. That means if the two of them want to take the villagers away getting through her will be a considerably tougher proposition. Adding that to the evasive abilities possessed by Lord 2nd and Lord 6th the odds are definitely on her side. Hashirama may not have worked this out yet, but Sarada knows that Boruto has. He may act like a fool at times, but her fiancé has a high level of intellect when it comes down to it.
"Let's go," Sarada says to Mitsuki and Tsunade as she turns to walk away.
"I'm not going."
The 9th Hokage's shoulders slump as she hears the words from Tsunade. Just when it seemed like she was going to escape this terrible situation without any loss, the 5th Hokage has gone and ruined it.
"Tsunade?" Mitsuki queries.
"I'm going with my grandfather and Boruto," Tsunade says, "I don't really know if I agree with them, frankly I'm not sure that there is anything wrong with the people of Homeworld. I'm sure of one thing though, the power of 'death' is the only way I'm going to make a difference in the coming war."
"You saved Naruto's life!" Sarada's voice cracks, "If it weren't for you, we would never have gotten this far Tsunade. You're so strong and you haven't even found your element yet. When you do master your element, you're going to be just as strong as any of us."
"But that's just it Sarada. 'When'. I can't afford to wait for 'when' any longer."
Sarada may lack Naruto's empathy but she is quick to see from the look in the 5th Hokage's eyes that she is not going to change her mind. Yet another shinobi has turned against Naruto in his quest to save Homeworld. There's nothing she can do about it though.
"I'm coming with you," Mitsuki says.
"You don't have to do that."
"Tsunade, you're my student. Wherever you go I'm going."
Another blow for Sarada. Ever since Tao Ma came to their pocket world their generation has been split apart. First it was Boruto who jumped to the other side, then Shikadai, now Mitsuki is jumping ship as well. This makes her the last one of their team to stand by Naruto. Just what would their sensei think of this. All through his time as their teacher, then through his tenure as Hokage, Sarutobi Konahomaru sang the praises of the 7th Hokage. He had always talked about how Naruto had changed the world, how he was the shinobi that everyone should aspire to be like. Now he is dead, and two of his students have betrayed those ideals.
"I'll look after them Sarada," Boruto says gently.
"You better."
As the Rinnegan and the Tenseigan meet, they hide behind them a mountain of unresolved feelings. Nothing has changed for Sarada, even though Boruto has followed a different path the man she loved is still behind those eyes. She still harbours ambitions of bringing him back to the village, just as her mentor yearned to bring her father back. Now though, the path to doing that seems longer than ever. Her plans to bring him back in the past have all failed.
"Boruto, I have missing people I need to ask you about," Sarada says, "Mirai, Shikamaru, Ino, Choji, Temari, have you seen any of them?"
"I thought they were with you," Boruto admits.
Unbeknownst to the two of them, three of their five missing shinobi were killed by the opponent they just lost to. The tactical might of Ino-Shika-Cho, the strength of the Red Teardrop, the teamwork of two Hokage and a Shadow Hokage, none of them were able to stop her. As Hannah claims more and more lives, the deaths of their missing friends will surely only ramp up.
"Mitsuki, are you sure?" Sarada asks.
"I disagree with Boruto's perspective," Mitsuki says, "Frankly it's not like him at all, nor does it seem like Lord 1st. However, I won't leave Tsunade. I'm on her side right now."
"OK."
Using her meteor form to move more quickly, Sarada flies off after the villagers, leaving Boruto and Hashirama having made considerable gains from the encounter.
With a thud, Hashirama falls to his knees and rests his head on the sand. He did his best not to show it, but the blows Hannah landed really took a toll, much more so than they did on Boruto. He feels some sense of pride in that his student is getting stronger every day, but he also feels shame about how helpless he was in the fight.
It is of no consequence to him physically though, he will recover quickly and now he has more motivation than ever before. Tsunade is back on his side, he has got a family again after such a long time alone. Yet another shinobi will be granted the power of 'death', it will be another nail in Furst Jonas' coffin, another step closer to the death of the man responsible for his pain. Mito was a shining light for his family, Furst will pay dearly for extinguishing that light.
A hand comes to rest on Hashirama's back and he feels a warm healing chakra spread through his body. It's Tsunade, it has been too long since he felt such a pleasant sensation and he hopes never to go without it again.
Later that Day
Mitsuki watches wordlessly as Tsunade undergoes the ritual. He worked countless hours with the 5th Hokage to develop her into a powerful shinobi. When her mighty powers were combined with sage mode it took her to another level, but even then, he continued to drill her in every way he could think of. From what he understands now, he managed to take her from a class 2 warrior to a class 3. This ritual won't be like that. With this ritual alone, Tsunade will become proficient not just in an element, but in a doubly transcendent element. She will instantly jump from a class 3 to a class 6, an improvement thrice as good as he managed.
A class 6 warrior, Tsunade will be just as strong as Lara was. She will join a very exclusive club of shinobi who have reached that level, putting her name next to some very high achievers. Senju Hashirama. Uchiha Sarada. Uzumaki Boruto. Uzumaki Naruto. That is the kind of power that makes a difference, the kind of power that she wanted.
As the power of 'death' enters Tsunade her mind is filled with images of the people who have gotten her this far.
Back when she arrived in the future she was confused; she had no idea that she would go on to become the 5th Hokage. It was a job that she never wanted but that she was persuaded into. She was thought of in the same light as these other legendary shinobi. Sarada was the one who brought her back and the Uchiha clanswoman assigned Tsunade just as much importance as her grandfather, as her uncle and as her sensei. She was humbled by the responsibility, by the respect.
At first it was a dream, even though it would turn out very differently in the end. During those moments of paralysis, she had regained everything that she had ever lost. She was reunited with her grandfather and her grandmother, with her sensei and her uncle. Dan was there, while he hadn't died yet, being brought forward in time gave her a chance to save him. It was perfect.
She learned of the most revered Hokage as well, a young man from her grandmother's clan. He was loudmouthed and far from the smartest of the Hokage, but he was determined and had a strong spirit, just like her grandfather used to. It made her feel warm and safe, knowing that a man like him was there and that he was fighting for them. He had a good sensei too, the son of a famous shinobi, that was reassuring.
Her grandmother's death changed everything though. It was the day that hateful coward who use 'poison' arranged for them to be attacked. His men were the ones who killed Mito, who almost killed the 4th Hokage too. Her grandfather was out of action at the time and it was her uncle who was there when Mito died. Tobirama was the one who took responsibility, but not the one who took Hashirama's blame, the 1st Hokage assigned the blame to himself.
Hashirama had been a positive man, one of the two mightiest warriors they had at their disposal. Tsunade believed that her grandfather was happier than anyone about Naruto's emergence, like the young Uzumaki was his life's work. They were friends for a while, just like one another, with similar stories about how they endlessly chased after their lost rivals. Madara and Sasuke, their stories alike in many ways. The 1st Hokage's attitude changed dramatically when Mito died. He disappeared, nowhere to be found, and the man who came back didn't resemble him at all.
Only Dan was left to make her smile each day, but he did. He was diligent and made excellent use of his second opportunity at life. He was quick to understand his element, the first shinobi to ever achieve a divine cloak. He would have been a very powerful warrior now if not for his encounter with General Elliot. Lara's team were too strong, even for him, and in his role as headmaster of the academy he fought to the death to protect his students. Naruto was too slow to save him.
Dan's death happened on the same day that Tao Ma apparently killed Hashirama. That was the day when Tsunade lost everything, the day which changed the course of the Hidden Leaf forever. That was the day that made this moment inevitable.
For a moment, Tsunade's mind goes blank and she enters the restless sleep of death. All part of the procedure that is necessary. It is only seconds later that life reclaims her body and energy rushes into her inner world. A stone tablet drops from high above with the word 'death' engraved upon it and divine energy begins to flow from it to her body.
Tsunade has ascended and become a class 6 warrior.
Boruto and Hashirama were watching along with Mitsuki. The later approaches his granddaughter, placing a hand on her shoulder as he checks that she is OK.
As Tsunade is about to respond, she suddenly cries out in pain, a cry that quickly escalates into a loud groan. She continues to groan for a few moments before the pain calms down and she grasps at her head.
Mitsuki is surprised by this sudden pain but Boruto dismisses it. He too felt pain when 'death' first plagued his body, this is probably the same pain.
That Night
Three of Tao Ma's subordinates approach their master, having been promised instructions earlier that day. This is to be their most important mission in a long while they understand and it comes the same day that their power has increased significantly.
"Commands?" one of them requests.
"We only need 'death' users around here, the others will just get in the way of our plan," Tao Ma declares, "Shikadai, Inojin, ChouChou and Mitsuki, they're out on patrol A. Execute them immediately."
The trio bow their heads and begin to run the length of route A. Finally, the time has come to shed some dead weight.
It's two hours later when they finally catch up to the group of targeted shinobi. ChouChou is bringing Mitsuki up to date with what they do on a daily basis, the rationale behind their patrol routes and whether they should set up their own equivalent of the Circle again. After all, Shikadai is the founder of that organisation originally.
The trio of 'death' using warriors do not wait any longer. This location is isolated, right on the intersect of the desert and the marshes. There are plenty of places they could get rid of the shinobi around here, places where they will never be found again. They leap towards the four of them in formation and the leader fires a powerful arrow of 'death' at them.
Shikadai, the most in tune with divine energy of the shinobi group, notices the arrow coming. He quickly spins and uses his 'darkness' shield to block the arrow. Even though he manages to raise the shield in time, he is still sent rolling back through the sand. These warriors are well trained and are from pocket worlds themselves. Shikadai has no on-level advantage against them as he does with Homeworlders.
The Nara clansmen quickly stands and shouts at his friends to run. They do, as quickly as they can, appreciating that Shikadai is the only one amongst them with any chance of fighting back.
Shikadai watches as they approach him in a shifting formation, it's going to be a three-pronged attack. The one in the front will attack the head, the one in the middle the legs and the one in the rear will throw everything he can into hitting Shikadai's torso. He may not have a skill advantage here, but Shikadai still has the power of his mind on his side, a brilliant shinobi thinker and battle strategist, he instantly sees through this rudimentary attack formation. Ino-Shika-Cho always master this in their childhood, it's just a game to him.
Shikadai puts his hand down into the sand and throws it up the air with a powerful sweep of his arm. While the three attackers are blinded, he dashes between the forward and middle attackers, gripping the rear assailant by his face and pushing him back down into the floor.
Unfortunately, Shikadai's counter is not a certain, it's a gamble. The first attack is easy, but the second and third are the important ones. If he can incapacitate the other two to some degree, he will be able to take down all three of them in one go. If one of them manages to clear their eyes and counterattack too quickly, then he's done for.
He turns and faces the first one, quickly tripping him and landing a powerful right-handed punch on his jaw. Shikadai feels the crunch as his fist connects, that was a good hit, all is going well so far, he only has to take down the third one and then they will have survived this ordeal.
The gamble was always a long shot though, Shikadai selected the best of a series of bad options, but even that doesn't work. The forward member of the formation has cleared his eyes in time, and his hand snaps forward and grips Shikadai by the neck. This 'death' user lifts Shikadai a short way from the ground before using his other hand to land three blows into the Nara clansmen's ribs.
Shikadai feels his breath getting away from him and knows that he will not be able to keep up this fight. The attacker obviously knows this as well, as he throws Shikadai back next to his friends, grouping them together so that he may finish this with a single killing blow.
As the 'death' user gathers energy in his hands, Shikadai apologises to his friends for not being able to protect them from this imminent death. It seems that like their parents, they too will become casualties of this endless conflict.
As the projectile of 'death' is launched towards them, they pray for a miracle. A miracle is just what they receive.
A sword flies over their shoulders, coated in viridian divine energy. The sword pierces the 'death' projectile and narrowly passes over the shoulder of the warrior who cast it.
The warrior is confused, none of the group in front of him possess the strength to overcome his attack. As his two comrades get back to their feet, they are shocked when the sword disappears and is replaced by a woman.
The woman gives a loud battle cry before striking the 'death' user in the back. Her arm clad in thick green energy, the single punch is enough to elicit the sound of cracking ribs, a strike for more powerful than those used on Shikadai before. This one strike is enough to take down the attacker and to send a huge cloud of sand into the air.
The two remaining attackers are educated fighters, they decide to use a trick straight out of the shinobi playbook. They used the send as cover as they work together to create a single more powerful projectile. Whoever this newcomer is they're going to kill her with this blow and then finish off the shinobi as they intended.
When they finish preparing their attack, they fire it at the newcomer.
Suddenly, the sand in the air clears. They can see clear as day that the energy they fired at the woman has been stopped by the same viridian energy they observed in the first place. This is not her energy, this is a much more potent and terrifying energy, coming from an assailant they have not yet seen.
This unknown party waves his hand, causing the viridian energy to expand, engulfing the 'death' energy before moving towards the two 'death' users. The energy swarms them, tearing them apart at an atomic level before it is done.
The miracle that the shinobi prayed for has arrived.
The woman runs a hand through her pink hair, removing her head protector.
"Wow, that was pretty tense," she says almost cheerfully.
She looks past the four shinobi at her partner in crime.
"You four," he says, "Are you shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village?"
Shikadai can't keep his jaw from the floor as he turns around and confirms he is hearing what he thought. Short black hair, a terrifying presence, a single arm, dark clothing and the signature head protector of a Hidden Leaf Shinobi. Then there is the uncanny family resemblance with the 9th Hokage.
Shikadai's suspicions were right.
This man is the Shadow 7th Hokage.
These are Uchiha Sarada's parents.
Haruno Sakura is here, and so is Uchiha Sasuke.