DECLARATION OF WAR – DIVINE ABILITIES
Near the Volcanic Ring
Naruto looks into Kushina's arms at the small child she is holding. His sister. It's been a long time since Naruto was in school, and things have become more complicated to keep track of since he came forward into the future. However, he is fairly certain that since he has a younger sibling, a long time must have passed while he was meditating on his element.
"She's very cute," Naruto says, "I must have been out for quite a while."
"You were out for far too long," Himawari responds.
"I tried to go as quickly as I could, I promise."
"Next time please don't leave us like that."
"OK, I promise, I won't leave you again."
Naruto's leg now healed, Ming Dai looks at him, still not having spoken since he displayed his supposed divine oddity. The moment he used it Naruto's power increased significantly on his leg. While it came at a great cost, the boost in strength he experienced is beyond any that Ming Dai could have foreseen. The power increase was such that a hit from Naruto would probably hurt even more than one from himself, and he uses 'strength' energy. This is beyond anything he has ever seen. Naruto is truly a genius beyond even his master.
"While you were out both Ming Dai and grandpa broke through," Himawari explains.
Naruto looks at them, thinking what that would mean given their respective strengths last time he saw them. Last time he saw Minato, the 4th Hokage was able to use a divine 'wind' cloak and was a class 5 warrior. Minato must now be a class 6 warrior with a golden cloak. Ming Dai must have a golden 'strength' cloak, making him a class 7 warrior.
The Uzumaki clansmen is proud of both his allies. They have advanced greatly since he saw them last. That is what is going to be needed if they want to seriously take the fight to Furst Jonas. If Naruto reaches the absolute pinnacle of his potential, he has an outside chance of giving Jonas a good fight. He will need others on his side, strong allies to take on the royals. Then they will all need to work together to overthrow the emperor. That is a group that only he can assemble, but that requires hard work by so many other people.
Naruto scratches the back of his head, "I guess you two used your time a bit more effectively than I did."
As Minato laughs along with Naruto, Ming Dai stares at them in disbelief. It still doesn't seem to have sunk in just how incredible a feat Naruto has achieved. Nobody has ever survived what he just survived. Not Sora, not Akashi, not even Jonas. If he spent a hundred years meditating, then it would have been worth it to get a divine oddity in exchange. To do it in one year is unparalleled.
Ming Dai decides to make an excuse for Naruto.
"Your element is 'life' Naruto. It's much harder to understand than 'strength' or 'wind', that's why it's double-transcendent. Personally, I believe your element may be more complex than any other. So, don't kick yourself for taking a year. You're a genius."
Naruto grins childishly. In his pocket-world things were different for him. He was never considered a genius of chakra in the same way that Sasuke was, he gained power through hard work and cooperation with others. In Homeworld things are different. In terms of divine energy, he has a natural talent. When that natural talent is combined with the work ethic and cooperation skills he developed in their pocket-world, it makes him one of the most formidable people to have ever lived. He can't help but feel happy about that.
"So, what's her name?" Naruto says, looking down at his sister.
"It didn't seem right for us to give a name without you being here," Kushina answers.
"That's brave. I might have been meditating for another five years."
"If you made us wait that long I would have woken you up by force."
Minato grins. "It hasn't been very long anyway Naruto. She was only born a short while ago. As we keep telling you, your timing really was impeccable."
"Have you been talking about it?" Naruto asks.
"Yes."
Minato and Kushina have seen a lot since coming to the future. The former very nearly lost his life, the latter lost one of the people closest to her. Minato was the one who had faith in Boruto during some of the darkest days in his life. They've been there with Naruto through thick and thin. They've watched him and their grandson compete in the most terrifying sport their world had ever seen. They've watched their grandson betray them and almost kill his own father.
Throughout this time there have been so many people who have meant so much to them. Of course, Naruto has worked harder than anyone else for them. Sarada has become part of their family. Sakura and Tsunade worked together to save Naruto's life. Hashirama and Tobirama protected them from the people who wanted to kill Minato. There are so many people who they owe so much to, not just as Minato and Kushina, but as citizens of the Hidden Leaf, as the Hokage and his partner.
"We've spoken about this quite a bit, and we think it would be nice to pay tribute to our predecessor," Kushina says.
"Our predecessor?" Naruto asks.
"As Kurama's Jinchuriki, because in so many ways we are all together now because of the two of them. I would like to name her after Mito."
"Uzumaki Mito," Minato nods in agreement.
"The Second," Kushina adds.
Naruto smiles. "Uzumaki Mito, I think it's a lovely name. I never really knew Mito that well but I'm sure she would be happy."
"I like it," Himawari adds, making funny faces at her young aunt.
Ming Dai, never having met Mito, is unable to understand the emotional weight behind the name. Regardless, he ensures the new parents that he is fond of the name, that it sounds nice. It's a name that sounds like it belongs to someone from their pocket-world. It's a name fitting for this little girl whose life brings much hope into a world filled with death.
The Next Day
As Naruto's group head towards the volcanic ring that surrounds Aturia's Capital of Taigai, they are attacked by a patrol of Imperial Guard captains. This used to be a significant problem, but now, for this increasingly elite group, this sort of attack is all too easy to deal with.
The Imperial Guard try to coordinate as they approach from the North. However, they have yet to fully grasp the abilities and talents of their opponents. As they approach across the tops of the trees, suddenly they're feet are taken out from underneath them. Trees fall in unison and each of the captains who jumped from to top fall to the ground. They look to the centre of the fallen trees to see the 4th Hokage waiting there.
Each of the captains scramble to try to get to their feet, but Minato, being one of the fastest shinobi to have ever lived, doesn't allow them to do that. He uses his incredible speed strike them all before they get to their feet, a single blow enough to knock most of them out. For the remainder, he allows them to get to their feet.
Now, standing alone in the middle, Minato stands waiting for his assailants. His golden 'wind' cloak surrounding his body, a breeze begins to gather. The captains had felt confident of their abilities before attacking, but now they are left feeling frightened. They had expected to fight with Naruto and to be fine, they were wrong.
Minato counts his remaining opponents, five left. He throws a kunai towards one as a distraction and runs towards another. As the first captain tries to dodge the incoming kunai, the other four charge towards Minato. Knowing the superior hand-to-hand abilities of most pocket-worlders, they try to work together to defeat him. However, this is exactly what Minato expected. He teleports to the first captain, before the kunai reaches him and uses a rasengan to take him out of the fight.
That's one down.
The other four line up in a straight line, ready to charge Minato again in a way that he won't be able to escape. This is exactly what the 4th Hokage was hoping they would do. This gives the two in the middle no time to dodge. He holds his hands out in front of him and pools chakra and divine energy into an enormous tailed beast bomb, firing it at the group. As he predicted, the outer duo were able to dodge, but the inner duo succumb to his attack.
That's three down, two left.
Minato creates a rasengan in each hand. He walks slowly towards his two remaining adversaries, leaving them wondering which method he will use to attack them. They each feel they have a fairly good grasp on his style now. However, what they didn't expect is for Minato to use an entirely new tactic. He uses 'wind' to push the two of them towards him from behind. When they arrive in front of him, he hits them both with a rasengan.
Five down, none left.
With a flash of gold, Minato re-joins his family and Ming Dai.
"You made quick work of them father," Naruto says.
"I've been working hard while you've been out of it."
Naruto nods before turning his attention to Ming Dai. Sora's other student has lost his concentration ever since he saw Naruto try out his divine oddity. There was something before Naruto even showed that though, something wrong with him that held him back from winning the previous fight. Naruto resolves that while they are on the move, he will get to the bottom of it.
"So, why did you lose to Shao Chin?"
"I guess I just had a lot on my mind," Ming Dai shrugs.
"You've had a lot on your mind since the day we met. There is something else, I know there is. You've got a strong mind Dai; you always have done. Did something happen during the last year that significantly affected you?"
"Not especially."
"Then?"
"I don't know what to say Naruto. I'm sorry that I lost, I wish I hadn't."
Naruto remembers something about Ming Dai that gets him closer to the answer he is looking for. His sibling student is a class 7 warrior. He has mastered all three tiers of his transcendent element, giving him class 4 energy. He has understood two parts of his manual, giving him another 2 levels. The remaining 1 level of energy comes from his divine ability. A divine ability that Ming Dai has never used in his presence.
"Dai, you never told me, what is your divine ability? Why don't you ever use it?"
Dai remains silent for a moment before answering. "My divine ability is repulsive to me. If it is up to me, I'm never going to use it, even if my life is on the line. I hope you will respect my privacy and not ask about it anymore."
"You have a right to privacy, but you have to know the truth," Naruto says, "There will come a day, when we come up against the toughest opponent we've ever fought. Against Furst Jonas if we hold back it won't just be us who dies, it will be all hope for Homeworld, it will be the will of our teacher that dies. I hope you will be prepared to use your power when it is necessary."
"I would never put myself above Homeworld."
Naruto pats Dai on the shoulder and they resume their journey towards the volcanic ring.
South-East Aturia
Amongst the majority of the Homeworld Military there is an elite group of generals who keep things running. At the head of this group is the man who was selected to replace Lara as Head General, Clyde. Head General Clyde and his loyal followers are waiting for the day they will be able to help Naruto and the other shinobi again. However, there is one shinobi amongst their group who they can help straight away, that being Sarutobi Mirai.
Mirai approaches the group of generals closest to Clyde. Within this group are General Peterson, General Sheer and Lara's right-hand Elliot.
"Hey guys, can I see Clyde?" Mirai asks.
"Clyde is trying to get his head in the right place," Elliot explains. "He's left me in charge for the moment. What do you need?"
"I need to speak to Clyde, it's about his emotional state."
"There are countless people in the military who think they have the secret to his mental wellbeing. We've all lost people at some point. I can't just let everyone who wants to see him do so. We'd have a queue from here to the edge of the country."
"It's about Lara," Mirai explains.
Elliot sighs. Of course, it would be about Lara. Ever since she died the military has been far less effective. Considering she was so destructive by nature; she was good at moving the minds of her many followers. Lara had a presence that neither Clyde nor Elliot have been able to replicate, a leadership style that seems to be unparalleled throughout their group. When she died, she likely left a hole in the military that can never be filled.
"If it's about Lara you should tell me," Elliot says, "She was a close comrade and I deserve to know."
"She was more than a comrade to Clyde and me," Mirai says.
Peterson and Sheer each glance at Elliot. He knows what they mean by their looks. The feelings that Mirai is talking about are supposed to be forbidden in the military, it is one of the reasons Clyde first wanted to rebel. While it's a feeling that he has not experienced himself, he knows it's one that both Lara and Clyde have. He feels he has no choice but to let Mirai pass.
"Very well, the green tent over there," Elliot points, "You will find him in there. Do help him if you can, the military needs its Head General now more than ever."
Mirai nods and approaches the tent in question. She calls in to let Clyde know she's entering and then does so. As she enters, she sees him sat on a makeshift chair staring at the canvas around him. There is hardly anything behind his eyes, clearly, he has been struggling with Lara's death just as much as she has.
What really pushed Clyde over the edge was the subsequent death of Shikamaru, Ino and Choji. They were shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village whose safety was entrusted to Clyde. The 'darkness' user has been very loyal to Naruto ever since he first joined forces to him, he is obviously upset with having failed him in this way.
Both of them know that they have idled for too long though. The day that Headmaster Sora died this was the largest group to flee from the Military Academy. They should be doing more to advance the war effort than anyone else and with Clyde like this, barely anything is getting done.
"Hello," Clyde weakly says to Mirai.
"Hi," she replies awkwardly.
"Can I help you Mirai?"
"You know why I'm here Clyde. It's time for you to move on and start leading our recruitment efforts again. You're going to be vital to any war effort."
Clyde childishly turns away from Mirai, hiding his face behind his hands. This prompts her to walk over and rest her hand on his shoulder. She does her best to be reassuring, though it's not as easy for Clyde as it was for Lara.
"We've done nothing but lose people since we came back to Homeworld," Clyde says, "We lost Headmaster Sora, we lost those shinobi and we lost Lara."
"Lara loved you Clyde, she loved us both, you know that. That's why we have to keep going. She gave up everything because she believed in what we're fighting for, she changed because of it and because of us. We need to keep going."
"I'm too weak to keep going," Clyde says.
"I know that's the way you feel, that's why I have brought something for you."
Mirai takes from her pocket a glowing orb of light. She pulls Clyde's hand back from his face and shows it to him. Many people wouldn't recognise an object of such significance, but Clyde recognises it straight away, it is an item that indirectly changed his life. This glowing orb is a divine ability. It's an orb with the power to grant not only an increase in battle class but to grant a whole new innate ability. Looking at the way it shines and at Mirai, Clyde has a feeling he knows what divine ability this is.
"This is a divine ability," Mirai explains. "I believe it grants its master the power of teleportation. This was Lara's divine ability."
Clyde takes the orb in his hand. This is the last thing that links he and Mirai to Lara. Perhaps the heavens have intervened to bring this to them. Perhaps this is the will of Lara from beyond the grave that the divine ability would fall into their hands.
"You should use it," Mirai says, "Master teleportation, take this divine ability and become a class 7 warrior. That way maybe, maybe together we can bring Hannah back. Maybe we can fulfil her dying wish."
Clyde pulls the divine ability to his chest, hugging it like a child would a toy. This is what they need. This is their way forward. He looks Mirai in the eye and earnestly thanks her for what she has done for him. Together, they can make a difference in this conflict. Together they can help put another nail in Furst's coffin.
He accepts the divine ability.
In Reponse to YondaimeKamikage's Question
About detonating your core and surviving
Yes you're right, it's the same sort of effect.
Both are supposed to be impossible to survive.
The difference between Might Guy opening the 8th gate and Naruto surviving is that Naruto can do it without any assistance.
Thanks for reading.
In Response to sarada chan san's Question
About Naruto and Carmen's powers
Yes, Naruto could have beaten Shao Chin without using the life-gathering rasengan.
It was certainly quicker to use it though.
Carmen was class 7 when she died.
When the protaganists fought against her their levels were as follows.
Naruto: 6
Sarada: 6
Clyde: 5
Lara: 5
Thanks for reading.
In Response to jenuzumaki's Question
About the Uzumaki family
If Ming Dai were to be paired with Himawari it would be a spoiler for me to tell you.
I'd like to think everyone is confident I have a plan by now though.
I have all sorts of plans for the Uzumaki family's future, but I can't reveal them.
Thanks for reading.
In Response to m'j doom's Question
About future powers and battles
Well I can't say much about future powers and battles without giving spoilers.
Of course, I'd like to reassure you that I do have many plans for future developments.
I hope you will enjoy reading them.
Thanks for reading.