DECLARATION OF WAR – NARUTO IN TAIGAI CITY

The Volcanic Ring

Rana waits on the largest bridge on the volcanic ring, across one of the many lava lakes that the Imperial Guard keep a close eye on. She is highly intelligent, and this is where she has determined an enemy is most likely to try entering into Taigai. Of course, Naruto is likely to realise the same thing and try crossing elsewhere, but this is a good position with easy access to most points of entry. This is the perfect spot to catch Naruto.

She considers what she will do once she has caught the young pocket-worlder. That would doubtless be the highlight of her career, but would it make much difference? King Max is not the type of man to treat his subordinates more considerately if they perform well. The emperor is very unlikely to promote her to head general, a role that Safura was born to fill, that nobody could ever wrestle from her grasp. Still, she would forever be known for the capture, it would be a slice of history for her own. Most importantly of all, she would retain her position, and see of the challenger that currently haunts her.

Rana sits cross-legged in the middle of the bridge, alone, patient, waiting.

Then, from the other end of the long bridge, someone approaches. Rana can feel the vibrations in the bridge. While she is not a sensory adept like Carmen or Naruto, she does have a higher level of skill than most. It doesn't take her long to realise who is approaching. It is her rival, Colonel Zahra.

Rana waits until Zahra is stood straight before her, reaching the end of her breathing exercises before bothering to stand for one she considers her inferior subordinate. Zahra sees straight through this mind game though, grinning sarcastically at Rana as she bows lowly and courteously removes her top hat.

"Why have you left your post Colonel?" Rana asks.

"I've come to inform you that once more you have embarrassed the Imperial Guard, you've failed in protecting Taigai," Zahra explains. "My sources inside the city told me that Uzumaki Naruto has already gotten past your scouts. Who knows how much damage he has caused by now?"

"Who are these sources reporting to you before me?"

"I couldn't possibly reveal them."

"I am your general, you will reveal them to me, or you will face the consequences."

"If I reveal my sources, I fear they will flee or become unreliable," Zahra shrugs, "If that were to happen on your watch, it would be my duty to report it to the king. We wouldn't want that, would we?"

Rana looks Zahra over. What the colonel doesn't realise is that she is only superior to Rana in one aspect, and that is cunning. In this force, the Imperial Guard, the requirement for reaching the top is one thing only, power. Zahra's cunning may be a form of power, but compared to the overwhelming skill advantage Rana possesses, it is inconsequential. At least, that is the opinion of the general. Whether or not Zahra has ever revealed her true prowess, that is only known to the colonel herself.

"Naruto could only have eluded our patrols if he crossed a lava lake," Rana concludes, "That is impossible. We haven't had any reports that these shinobi are capable of flight, nor do they have a divine ability allowing them to do so. I can't help but feel your source was mistaken."

"My source is not mistaken. They described the man they saw in Taigai, there is no doubt in my mind that the one they saw is Uzumaki Naruto. And if I may be so bold, it is obvious why sources like this are now coming to me and not to you. It is because the Aturia Imperial Guard no longer trusts you Rana. They trust me."

It isn't hard for Rana to work out what Naruto is likely doing in Taigai. Of all the capitals in Homeworld, it is significant for one very special reason, that is the War Council. The War Council has no official position on the empire, it is a body designed to help make decisions in conflicts against other worlds. Decisions like that have not been necessary since the invasion of the Dark Dimension. However, the leader of the council, Yuuki Terukatsu, was a long-time ally of both Endou Akashi and Muto Sora. It is possible that Terukatsu would take a position in this conflict, and it is highly doubtful he would side with Emperor Furst.

Yuuki Terukatsu has done nothing for years to stop Furst controlling the empire, so most would think the possibility of him allying with Naruto is not worth thinking about. However, it is said that the emperor fears Uzumaki Naruto is similar to Endou Akashi. That is the remarkable thing about Akashi, he didn't just win the war with his power, he had an intoxicating charisma. Before he came along Homeworld's army was scattered, with none of the different factions willing to work with one another, with no coherent plan and no hope of victory. He changed that single handed.

Uzumaki Naruto may be the one person who can change the position of the War Council and bring their power to bear against the empire. That in itself would not be a concern, one royal would probably be able to deal with the council by themselves, but it's the possible knock-on effect. What if the aristocrats begin to rebel? What if a resistance movement gathers serious numbers to its side? That could cause a few serious problems to the structure of Homeworld.

"So, how are we going to resolve this issue?" Zahra asks.

"I'm going into the city to retrieve Naruto," Rana answers, "You are going to return to your post and if you receive any more information you will let me know with a communication stone. Is that clear Zahra?"

"Crystal clear general. Don't embarrass us again."

Rana waits for Zahra to leave before taking out her communication stone, sending a message out to several of her most trusted subordinates in the immediate area. She is gathering a team to take Uzumaki Naruto himself.

Taigai

Naruto eagerly awaits Terukatsu's answer. If he is going to have any hope of winning this war, he needs to get the War Council on side. On the bright side, Terukatsu doesn't seem to have any interest in being their enemy. If he wanted to be Naruto's enemy, the council leader could easily have killed him by now. Additionally, he also seems like a true military figure who would be ready for war at any time.

"So, are you going to help us?" Naruto asks.

"No, I'm not," Terukatsu answers.

Naruto looks to Ming Dai in confusion. Ming Dai is confused as well. Why did Yuuki Terukatsu even bother to come here if he wasn't prepared to declare war? Headmaster Sora always spoke very highly of the leader of the council. Why is one not prepared to declare war when the other was prepared to sacrifice his life? Was Sora's belief in Naruto misplaced? Can Terukatsu see something which the Headmaster of the Academy couldn't?

"Why not?" Ming Dai asks, "My master always thought you would do the right thing, no matter the circumstances."

"Surely you must see that it is needed," Naruto says, "Headmaster Sora gave his life so that I could escape. You must you realise that he did that for a reason."

Himawari, Minato, Kushina, they all join in with the protest. Terukatsu's expression doesn't change though, his determination is strong that he will not be part of any war, no matter what these pocket-worlders say to him.

"I'm afraid, no matter what you say, I won't partake in your conflict."

"Why not?" Naruto asks.

"You told me that Furst killed Sora, I don't think the magnitude of that has really set in yet," Terukatsu argues. "When Sora appeared with Akashi during the last war, that's when everything really began to change. Furst Jonas is a man who was able to kill both of them, the only class 10 warrior to have ever lived. The emperor is the strongest, the smartest, the most devious person I've ever met. It doesn't matter what we do, who we bring to the fight, we cannot beat him."

This is when Naruto gets angry. He seemingly forgets the gulf in power between himself and Terukatsu and storms up to him, putting his face not a foot from the council leader's.

"Do you think we don't know that? Do you think these guys have been hanging on all this time because they thought we were definitely going to win? You don't need the odds to be on your side to hope, all you need is a chance. I believe in never giving up, in never giving in. You're not even willing to try in the first place, that is insulting!"

Terukatsu looks unperturbed in the face of Naruto's rant. The young shinobi is doubtless very special, and he can tell just from this short burst of anger that he has a charisma that can surely move people in time. But he is the leader of the council, he has told Endou Akashi that his ideas are bad, he has advised Muto Sora and Furst Jonas. Yuuki Terukatsu is not a man who easily changes his mind.

"A war with no chance of victory is not worth it," Terukatsu explains, "I don't think you really understand about what wars are like in this place, in Homeworld. You know, our view of the world used to be a lot smaller. We used to live in communities about the size of a pocket-world. Sometimes we experienced civil wars, they would be about the same size as a world war for you.

"The type of war you are asking me to participate in is entirely different from anything you have experienced. I fought in the last war, a war that engulfed all of Homeworld. I've seen bodies rack up, and I watched cities burn. I stood at the head of my unit when a runner came to me and told me the next town over had fallen. I delivered the news to my comrades, that the village they were born in had been taken by the Dark Dimension. I read reports of death counts higher than any you have ever known as the tide turned and it didn't subside until one day three crazy fools from small towns, we had never heard of came to save us.

"They were just the start, during the last war so many incredible people emerged. People were being born and coming to power who have now advanced to become the kings and queens of Homeworld. They are the ones who went into the land of bloodshed and emerged victorious, they are the most successful combatants that have ever lived. Forgive me if I'm not willing to start all of that up again and place my bets on a class 7 pocket-worlder who I only met for the first time today."

Ming Dai knows of everything that Terukatsu who has just spoken. He was not alive during the previous conflict, but he has heard the horror stories from his master during his time at the academy. He has met countless aristocrats and heard many stories, few of them positive. However, throughout all of this something stands out.

"My master, Headmaster Sora knew this as well as you," Dai says, "But, he backed Naruto back when he was a class 6 warrior. He risked his life for him. He knew that to back Naruto we would be making sacrifices, but he chose sacrifice over oppression, and I think he believed when the time came you would be doing the same thing."

"I'm sorry," Terukatsu says, "I can cope with being responsible for oppression. I cannot cope with being responsible for the countless deaths if I were to declare war on Furst."

Ming Dai begins to lose hope that Homeworld will ever be free, but Himawari is less worried about the situation. He may not be willing to help them at the moment, but she is certain that when the time comes, Terukatsu will realise as all the others have done that Naruto is different. More than anybody else, Naruto can bend destiny, he can change people's minds and shape the whole world as he chooses, because he is right.

"I know you have come a long way and I do not mean to be discourteous," Terukatsu assures them, "Perhaps I could offer you a tour of the city."

Unsure of how to proceed in this situation, they accept his offer. He hands each of them a hooded cloak and insists they use it to disguise themselves. In a big city like Taigai, the name Uzumaki Naruto is spoken quite a bit, after all he is a wanted man. However, nobody is likely to look under the hood of a cloak like this and recognise him in a large crowd.

Yuuki Terukatsu takes the group around the city, showing them it's beauty. They climb to the top of one of the tallest buildings, this time more subtly by using the stairs. They look at the skyline and observe the city in all its majesty.

Though it is large and may look picturesque from this great height, Terukatsu explains that the city struggles greatly with poverty. The population of the city is too great for it's size, with people cramped into small areas and left with no room to develop. The countryside is owned entirely by aristocrats, who have miles of land per person. This was not a problem in the past, but when Furst came to power building cities vertically was the solution he opted for. Creating an overwhelming difference between those with power and those without, that only helped to solidify his control of the world.

As they wonder through the city, Naruto sees some orphans running through the street, which reminds him of a story from his time at the academy.

"We had a teacher at the academy, her name was Nina," Naruto recalls. "She was an orphan once, and because of that she went on to become a bandit. Perhaps the same thing will happen to these children, all because of the way this world is structured. You could make a difference to that though; the War Council could help to change that."

"Yes, I met Marti Nina as she was at the time," Terukatsu recalls, "I fought her at the height of her powers. She was a challenging opponent. A very unique personality, I expected her to be more abrasive and less cheerful."

"That sounds like her," Naruto nods.

Still, Terukatsu refuses to budge on the subject of declaring war. He takes Naruto and the others to the middle of the city and shows them another of the tall structures within, this time the hospital. He explains that this hospital was built recently, citing it as evidence of Furst's capacity for goodness.

"There are many structures like this hospital all throughout Taigai. Public services that aren't perfect but were put here by the orders of Furst Jonas. He isn't completely and utterly selfish. He is not absolutely evil nor is he absolutely good. He offers us something that we didn't always have and that is stability. Once a society is stable it can slowly improve, bit by bit, if you allow it to. That is part of the reason it isn't worth declaring war on him. Many people believe that he has made Homeworld what it is today, a vast improvement on what it was before the Dark Dimension invasion."

Naruto failed to consider that before. Furst was indeed part of the war against the Dark Dimension before which Homeworld was split and chaotic. The stability he has brought to this world has improved it. Naruto quickly determines this to be false equivalence though.

"Do you think he's wrong, Naruto?" Kurama asks.

"From everything I've heard, he is wrong," Naruto says, "The one who brought stability to this world wasn't Furst Jonas, it was Endou Akashi."

"I agree."

As the last stop of his tour of the city, Yuuki Terukatsu takes Naruto and the others into an underground bunker. He tells them that the existence of this bunker is a secret not known to even the Imperial Guard. This place is known only to a select few members of the War Council. The reason for that is the great object that he has hidden down here.

Terukatsu lights a candle in a very dark room and then walks to the opposite end of the room, opening an enormous ornate chest. He takes an object from the chest, a long decorative horn.

"This is the horn that belonged to Endou Akashi," Terukatsu says, "Its sound was so distinct, and it was said that it can bring hope to any battlefield. This sound was feared by the Dark Dimension and adored by Homeworld. It was this sound that heralded the changing of the tide, and the turnaround of the war."

Naruto walks over and inspects the horn. This may be the last remaining relic of the previous Emperor of Homeworld, something truly special that perhaps even Headmaster Sora didn't know about. Many people hope that he will one day leave artifacts like this to the next generation, that he will go on to be Homeworld's next great liberator, but at the moment that doesn't seem to be possible. Not unless he can convince Terukatsu or the War Council to change their mind.

"This horn will never be sounded again," Terukatsu says, "And that is what Emperor Endou would have wanted. It will remain down here, a sombre reminder to all we bring down to see it. This horn symbolises the losses of the previous wars. It is symbol for us in the War Council, an eternal reminder that we must never allow such losses to happen again."

Naruto takes a deep breath. Convincing the War Council to go to war again will be a real uphill struggle. He hopes that he is up to the task, because if he isn't, perhaps nobody will ever be, and Furst Jonas will rule forever.

In Response to AyyMD VEGA's Question
About Naruto and Deku from MHA

Their powers are very similar, but don't worry, I have different plans for them going forward.
Hopefully they will be distinct enough.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to ultimusred's Question
About double-transcendent elements and about Kurama

Truth be told I don't know how many there are.
I could count how many I've written about so far but I'm not sure that would answer your question.

I've not written every possible element into my plan for the story, just the ones significant characters will use.
Who knows, perhaps in future I will introduce new ones in a sequel.

I can't comment on Kurama without giving away a potential spoiler.

Thanks for reading.