DECLARATION OF WAR – SHAO CHIN'S ATTACK

Near the Volcanic Ring

Now that she is stationary Himawari notices just how majestic Emilie is in here appearance. Truly, she lives up to her own claims of being a princess. Never has she seen a predator so well turned-out, even in spite of the circumstances. Emilie is not even half her height, yet she has risen to the challenge when faced with adversity and she has come out looking like a giant.

Within a few seconds Emilie turned the situation on it's head. She honestly thought they were all about to die, that her father would be slaughtered before he even had a chance to awaken. This complete stranger saved them though, truly an act worthy of the nobility that she claims.

"I hate hunters," Emilie mutters to herself before turning around.

She takes in those behind her. One of them is clearly meditating on his element, another would appear to be a close relative of his, either his father or his son, he is getting back to his feet. From their smell she determines a lot, it seems the majority of them are part of the same family, including the baby. There is only one exception, that is the one with the heaviest injuries, he bears the scent of some terrifying people from her past, he is the only one from Homeworld.

"I am Princess Emilie of the Beast Clan. The man meditating on his element is the one wanted by Furst Jonas, isn't he. That is Uzumaki Naruto."

"Yes," Minato answers.

"I thought as much, he is famous amongst the members of the Beast Clan. Many of us distrust humans altogether, but some of us don't mind you pocket-worlders. For those of us who like you, he is very popular indeed."

"He is?"

"Nobody has got under the skin of the Emperor more than this man Uzumaki Naruto, he certainly has my approval."

"Well, that's a great relief," Minato says as he leans back into a tree to help him stand.

Emilie looks at Minato and judges what kind of man he is. Humans are not as easy to read as the members of the Beast Clan for her. Many times, she has laid eyes on famous humans who helped to put her clan in the terrible state it is in. To her they never appeared to be malicious by nature, the only exception being the Emperor. Minato is the same, he appears forthright in character, but her people have learnt the hard way not to take that for granted.

"The people of Homeworld have wronged the Beast Clan in the past," Emilie explains as Ming Dai lays pained on the ground, "We thought that the humans from this world were noble and kind, that they were ruled by a gracious man, but we were wrong. The Beast Clan has suffered greatly at the hands of the humans of Homeworld, just as you pocket-worlders have."

"Yeah, we've suffered a lot, it's only thanks to my son that we are still alive," Minato admits, "From what General Clyde told us other pocket worlds have not been as lucky as we have. Our worlds are populated before being eliminated one by one. It's a very cruel reality."

"Yes, I can't imagine what it is like to go through that, as I'm sure you cannot imagine the suffering that the Beast Clan goes through."

"I'm afraid we haven't had the chance to meet anyone from the Beast Clan before now. It is very fortunate that we have encountered you like this Princess Emilie and as the 4th Hokage I would like to thank you for saving us."

"Hokage?"

"I am the 4th leader of the Hidden Leaf Village from our pocket-world," Minato explains, "Naruto is the 7th leader. I am his father Namikaze Minato."

Emilie prowls backwards and forwards. The way he has spoken to her has done nothing to tarnish her initial impression of him. Instead he seems kind and straightforward perhaps to the point of being naïve. Perhaps this is why he has remained with a Homeworlder for so long.

"As you have also suffered at the hands of Homeworld I am willing to protect you from now on, and I will advocate for an alliance between your pocket-world and the Beast Clan. I have only one condition."

Minato smiles, it seems too good to be true. "What is your condition?"

"Abandon this human from Homeworld, he and his kind will only bring you trouble as they have my people in the past."

Minato looks back and forward, "You mean Ming Dai?" he says, pointing at the man in question.

"That's right."

Minato is lost for words, what is he supposed to do in this situation. He is effectively the leader for his group and it's up to him to decide. He has two children to protect and he is certain that Shao Chin will return again if he doesn't have Emilie's protection. Abandoning Ming Dai is wrong though, the disciple of Sora has been with them through thick and thin and has kept them safe while Naruto has been meditating. It's an impossible decision, does he be an idealist or a pragmatist.

His guiding light in this situation comes as a voice from within.

"What would Naruto do?" Kurama asks him.

"Kurama?"

"That is the advice you would give the others if they were making this decision. It's only fair that I help you out in this situation, right, partner?"

Minato smiles.

"I know what Naruto would say if he were awake Princess. He would say that Homeworld cannot be blamed for the decisions made by Furst. Ming Dai is our friend and as far as we know he has never done anything to harm the Beast Clan. We will stand by him, even if we put ourselves in harm's way."

"As I thought," Emilie sighs, "You are too trusting for your own good."

The Beast Princess turns her back on the pocket-worlders she wished to befriend and begins to walk into the enormous forest outside the volcanic ring. For now, it seems that an alliance between their two factions is impossible, she only hopes that things can be different when Naruto is able to speak for himself.

She offers them one final warning.

"Furst wasn't on the throne when the Beast Clan was wronged."

Minato starts, does that mean that it was Endou Akashi who upset the Beast Clan?

"I have warned you. The Beast Clan wishes you the best of luck, 4th Hokage Namikaze Minato."

Emilie leaves.

Now there is nobody left to protect them.

The Imperial Palace, The Throne Room

Max arrives in the throne room to see Emperor Furst waiting for him, Petra at his side just as she was the day the experiment escaped from the laboratories. He can tolerate the Emperor berating him, who would dare tell him not to, but having Petra at his side when he does so is demeaning. At the end of the day, Petra's rank as one of the six royals is no different from his own, should he not be afforded the courtesy of a private meeting with his superior.

Petra grins at Max, as if able to read his mind. Everyone knows that she is Furst's favoured royal, that he taught her to be strong during the most difficult period of her life. No matter what ill intentions Max may have towards her he will not act on them. Even the most powerful of the royals, Queen Sabine would not be willing to risk the consequences of harming Queen Petra.

"Why are you here Petra?" Max asks, "This is a highly important meeting and the information I am about to give is for the Emperor's ears only."

"Oh, it must be embarrassing, I think I'm going to stay here."

"It is none of your business, why draw conclusions with no prior knowledge?"

"I know you Max, if you were here to deliver good news you would want everyone to hear. Frankly, you're one of the most insecure men I've ever met."

"You are calling me insecure? You're here all the time because you need the Emperor's approval for everything you do. You're obsessed like a little child."

Furst's hand comes down against the arm of his throne, shaking the entire chamber. Both Petra and Max fall silent instantly. Without getting to his feet, without uttering a word, Jonas reminds them both that he is in command here. Both of them are insecure compared to him, as is everyone. From the day that he acquired his power he has yearned for the approval of nobody for he has not cared about the desires of others, only about his own.

"You two do not amuse me," Jonas says.

"I'm sorry Emperor Furst."
"I'm sorry Emperor Furst."

Jonas leans forward, inspecting Max as if he were an exhibit in a museum, caring little for how uncomfortable it makes him. When he is trying to see through you, there is a terrifying efficiency to the Emperor, he can see what most others cannot. Only Queen Nadia's mind surpasses his in this way, but she is far less menacing with her sarcastic demeanour. When the Emperor gazes at you, when he tries to work you out, you pray that he doesn't find anything he disapproves of.

"You are here to speak about Shao Chin," Jonas determines before leaning back on his throne.

"Yes."

"I hope you are not here to waste my time. Spit it out!"

"Shao Chin was stopped by a member of the Beast Clan when he was attacking Uzumaki Naruto," King Max explains. "We are not entirely certain of who it was, but one of best colonels, Colonel Zahra believes that Naruto was saved by the Beast Princess."

"Emilie?"

"Yes."

"It has been a while since the Beast Clan has caused trouble, these pocket-worlders have made them arrogant. Nevertheless, given Naruto's loyalty to Headmaster Sora there is no way he could have made an alliance with the Beast Clan. I trust that Shao Chin is still alive."

"Yes."

"And what is happening now?"

"Shao Chin isn't working directly with the Imperial Guard, but it would appear that he is getting ready for another attack," Max says. "We believe that Uzumaki Naruto is currently meditating on his element and do not anticipate any more interference from the Beast Clan."

"He's meditating on his element?"

"We believe so, yes."

"Excellent. It is possible that Swen's son is among the group with Naruto, but if Princess Emilie needed to interfere, I doubt that he is still capable of putting up a fight. It seems that there is nobody left to protect him."

"That was Colonel Zahra's assumption too. I have told her that Naruto should have been caught by now, she is very motivated to be the one responsible for his demise."

Jonas nods and dismisses Max. Twenty seconds pass before Max walks the length of the hall and shuts the door behind him, in that time both Jonas and Petra who stands beside his throne, remain in silence, waiting for him to leave. It is during these moments that Petra notices something strange about her superior.

"You don't seem very pleased about the situation," Petra says.

"Don't mistake my concentration for misery."

"Isn't it time to relax yet?"

"You don't know this type of man like I do," Furst says. "From what I have heard, Uzumaki Naruto is very similar to my predecessor Endou Akashi. They are the type that you can never count out, the one type of person that I cannot understand. Science and mathematics should predict all of reality and looking at the odds Naruto has endured he should have been dead long ago. He is still here though because things change around him. There are these events that defy all reason, some people call them miracles. Naruto and Akashi, they are the kind of men who attract those miracles. That's why I won't relax until I see him dead before me, only then will I know that I have won."

Petra has known Furst for many years but has never seen him hold someone in such high regard. Could it be that right now this young man from another world is really such a threat? Why does he concern Furst more than Sora ever did? Why does he have such sway on Homeworld?

Near the Volcanic Ring

Ming Dai sits with his back against the tree that Minato was using before, having not moved from the clearing. Kushina continues to haphazardly tend to his wounds in the vague hope that he will be combat ready again very quickly. In her heart she knows that is unrealistic though. Minato is just about ready to put up a fight again, as is Himawari, but they won't be enough against Shao Chin.

It would appear that they are doomed.

"He's here!" Himawari yells out in warning.

Kushina sighs, it seems that she is right. She prays, to anyone who will hear her, that after this attack is over that at least her daughter's life is spared.

Minato steps over to Ming Dai, lifting him up to his feet at the latter groans in pain. He stands behind Sora's student and places a hand on his back. To make up for Ming Dai's lack of mobility, for the moment Minato will be his legs.

Minato teleports, bringing Ming Dai face to face with Shao Chin for a very short moment. In that moment, Ming Dai moves in about the only way he can, throwing a half-hearted punch at his opponent which only has power because of the 'strength' energy he brings to bear.

Shao Chin winces slightly as the blow lands but it is nowhere near as painful as he knows Ming Dai could have made it.

With a flash of gold, Minato and Ming Dai appear behind Shao Chin. Ming Dai punches again, using the same laboured right-fisted swing. This time he loses his strength part way through his attack, his fist landing lower than intended and striking Shao Chin in the elbow.

Shao Chin barely feels any pain this time, instead striking Ming Dai twice in the face with his elbow. Minato teleports away, hoping that he can rescue Ming Dai. It is not going the way he wants though; his reaction time is far slower than it was last time and that is going to cost the two of them.

As Minato and Ming Dai appear in front of Shao Chin once again, the hunter grabs Minato's wrists and powerfully throws his arms downwards, creating separation between his two opponents. He strikes towards Ming Dai's neck, his hand flat like a blade, ready to knock him unconscious with this blow.

Thanks to a rush of momentum, Ming Dai is able to block Shao Chin's attack, replying with two of his own. Each of Ming Dai's strikes have more dexterity than those that came before it, but that is not enough to break through the hunter's defences.

Shao Chin draws his blade, stabbing it into the rear of Ming Dai's leg, dropping him down to the ground. As Ming Dai falls, Shao Chin strikes his head with his knee, rattling him with a severity he is confident will render him unable to fight. Now only the feeble pocket-worlders stand in his way.

The first to fall is Minato. His teleportation abilities make him elusive as always, but even when bringing his full power to the floor, Minato is no match for the much more experienced Shao Chin. When the white-maned Homeworlder gets his hand on Minato he needs only one strike to take him out of the fight.

Another one down.

Himawari walks slowly towards Shao Chin, hoping to create a tension and unnerve him. Hoping that she can buy just a few more seconds so that they can be saved once again.

Kushina has the same thought, there is only one person who can save them now. She takes her daughter in her arms and holds her tightly to her chest as she crawls over to her son, still absorbed in his meditation.

"I know you probably can't hear me, but I'm begging you Naruto. Wake up! Wake up Naruto!"

Himawari bravely stands her ground in the face of a much more powerful opponent. Not budging an inch, she activates the byakugan and searches for any sort of opening in Shao Chin's stance. There are no openings. She searches for Princess Emilie in the hope that she might mercifully react to their cries for help. Princess Emilie is not in sight. Now it is only them.

"It would be much more of a challenge for you if you waited for my father to wake up," Himawari says.

"Oh, I'm sure it would," Shao Chin admits, "But I don't have time to wait for that."

Himawari runs at Shao Chin punching him four times without response. The hunter just stands there and takes the attacks, each of them nothing in the face of his power. He reacts for the first time when Himawari draws a kunai and thrusts it towards his neck. Shao Chin powerfully swipes his hand sideways, shattering the metal weapon into dozens of tiny pieces.

Himawari stands in his way, helpless yet defiant.

Shao Chin respects her in this moment, but he still attacks. A single merciless blow to the head, dropping Himawari onto her back.

As Shao Chin walks past Himawari, he inches closer to Naruto, Kushina and her daughter. Himawari, taking her father's mantra to heart grabs hold of his ankle, slowing him down just a tiny bit more. She is rewarded with a firm stamp on her hand, painfully shaking her grip loose.

Kushina turns her back on Shao Chin to keep her daughter safe and looks one last time in desperation to her son.

"Naruto!" she shouts, begging him to help them.

Shao Chin leaps at Naruto, blade in hand his hunt finally ending.

Nobody knows what took so long, but it was at this moment that Kushina's daughter finally woke to the fight. She stayed silent through the battle and the bloodshed. She stayed silent through the cries of her mother and through the beating Himawari took. She stayed silent in spite of Ming Dai's suffering and her father's defeat. Perhaps it is the desperation of the moment that woke her to the world, but all that matters is that she did.

Naruto's baby sister cries.

And finally, after more than a year's wait, it happens.

Naruto's eyes open!

Author Note

Hi All,

Just an update on the planning situation, I've made very good progress this week.
I don't think it will be long before I have completed the plan for part 11, I may even finish it this week.

Once the plan for part 11 is complete I will aim to release a chapter for part 10 every weekday.

Thanks for reading,
Me

In Response to Phieleia's Question
About Minato and Kushina's daughter

Sorry, I think I missed this question last time.

Truth be told I haven't given thought to whom she resembles more.
I wouldn't have thought she would resemble either parent particularly strongly at this point in her life.

This may be developed as the story continues.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to sarada chan san's Question
About whether opposing elements increase the chance of winning

I would say some elements give you an advantage over others.
For example 'water' would have an advantage over 'fire'.

However, as far as direct opposites go, such as 'creation' and 'destruction', no one has an advantage over the other.
Though they would compliment each other well if their users worked together.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to m'j doom's Comment
About Himawari's breakthroughs

I haven't written anything about Himawari having any breakthroughs.
That doesn't mean that she hasn't had any though.

This response may make more sense as the story progresses.

Thanks for reading.