DECLARATION OF WAR – HANNAH'S ALLEGIANCE

West Aturia

"Is it over?" Naruto asks the fallen Hannah.

"Yeah," she whispers in reply, "It's over."

Naruto grins but then his legs fail him. He collapses down to the ground in a massive heap. This entire fight he has been holding back all the pain with sheer determination. He has kept moving forward when nobody else could have done, just as he always has done in the past. As his body hits the floor he groans. Every hit from Hannah was hard and precise. She favours that kind of style, a constant barrage of offense rather than a single powerful blow. It has certainly taken it's toll on the young 7th Hokage.

"You did it!"

"Congratulations!"

Naruto's family run over, following quickly behind the airborne Claude. They all congratulate Naruto on his monumental victory. If Homeworld is ever free they will probably look back on this as one of the most important battles in that push for freedom. The champion of their liberty has defeated someone it was supposed to be impossible to overcome. This is his single greatest victory since he arrived in Homeworld.

Naruto once fought a class 7 warrior named Carmen, determined to stop him moving forward and wasting his life. Now he has come so far. Not only has he become a class 7 warrior himself, he has worked out a divine oddity. In all the world, his position at the top of his class is now totally undisputed. Through all the pain, Naruto looks back on how far he has come with a lot of pride. He hopes that Carmen would be pleased. He hopes that if there is another world that she is watching him, next to Juan and Headmaster Sora, and that she is smiling.

Claude lands next to Naruto. He hops around excitedly like a child.

"Well done Uzumaki! This is amazing! Amazing! I never thought anybody would be able to do it," Claude says. "This is the best thing I've ever seen a human do. I've never really thought much of you but that was something special! Thank you! Thank you for defeating her!"

The more Naruto relaxes the more the pain sets in. However, he lets himself smile. He knows now that he is surrounded entirely by friends. His parents. His sister. His daughter. His sibling student. The hunter. The owl. The girl with the perfect instincts. They are all on his side now. Being surrounded by people who are entirely grateful of the result is something he has rarely experienced after a battle, it is blissful.

There is still a tiny bit of resentment the 7th Hokage can sense from Hannah, but that is good, she is annoyed that she is less skilled than Naruto. Mostly he feels an overwhelming warmth emanating from her, a great relief that the long night is finally over. Now that she is free, she can work on becoming stronger, on learning lessons that she could never have learnt before. That is his responsibility. He promised Clyde that he would look after Hannah back in the academy, that's a promise he intends to keep.

Minato offers his hand and his son takes it. The 4th Hokage drags the 7th to his feet.

"I'm proud of you, Lord 7th," Minato says.

Naruto simply smiles, taking the compliment wordlessly as he closes his eyes. He starts to feel the pain washing away from his body. Already he has started to recover from the vicious battle. His recovery speed is the stuff of legend, and while Hannah is still struggling greatly, he feels that it won't be more than a few minutes before most of his injuries are gone. It is recovering his divine energy that will take longer.

Hannah let's out a cry of frustration. She begins to try and force herself up.

Claude flies over to his companion. He grips her hooded jumper by the shoulders and drags her upwards, bringing her onto her feet. He remains in position for the first few seconds, refusing to let go until Hannah assures him that she is steady on her own two feet.

"Didn't take you long to get up," Naruto says with a smirk.

Hannah can't yet reply, she is still trying to get air back into her lungs. Five attacks from his divine oddity, then one from the life-gathering rasengan, all in rapid succession. That could probably put down some of the weaker class 8 warriors. Her pain by this point is doubtless greater than his, but she forces herself to stand. This is the respect afforded to a superior predator.

"Now you must remember your obligations Uzumaki," Claude says, "Hannah has recognised you as her leader now. You must not order her to do anything that would cause her too much pain. All I ask is that you be reasonable with this new power."

"Huh?"

Hannah kneels before Naruto. He is the leader of the pack now and his orders are absolute. She wonders just what he has need for from her. He is fighting the most important war in the history of this land, and she is perhaps the most valuable resource to have ever appeared. Doubtless it will be something important, but will it be for a cause she believes in? Will it involve hurting someone who she has never met before, or hunting people across Homeworld?

"What are your orders?" Hannah asks.

"I don't have any orders." Naruto says, "You're free."

Hannah immediately starts laughing. She falls back onto the dune, throwing the sand frivolously into the air. She starts to roll around like this is her first time ever feeling it. She is no longer just happy, she is overjoyed. For the first time in her life she can do what she wants. She can do whatever she wants. This is the best thing ever. She celebrates what others take for granted, hugging her liberty like it is the best thing in Homeworld.

Naruto sits cross legged on the floor and smiles. Seeing a young person so happy is always nice. He can't recall any time he has ever seen anyone happier than Hannah is right now. She looks so full of joy that she may burst at any moment.

Hannah sits up and looks at Naruto, not sure what to do with herself.

"I hope that you'll choose remain with us," Naruto says, "I hope that you will come with me. I hope you that you will take on a sensei who can teach you lessons you have yet to learn. I hope that you will use your power to help me liberate Homeworld from the terrible people who rule over it. However, I won't force you. If you would rather, we go our separate ways, that is up to you."

Hannah smiles widely. "I will follow you to the end of the world and back, sensei."

Naruto and Hannah discuss exactly what they will be doing from now. They talk about the sort of things that Naruto could teach Hannah, the lessons a shinobi learns that a Homeworld fighter might not. This is when Hannah's curiosity about Naruto increases several times over. She wonders just what sort of hardship this man has gone through, the only class 7 warrior with more skill than her.

"Naruto," Ming Dai calls to his sibling student.

"Ah Dai, you used some of your true power," Naruto responds, "That was very impressive."

"I know, but I still don't intend to use my full power going forward. My true power makes me sick to my stomach, that's why I've never used it before now. I hope that you will respect my wishes and let me keep moving on as I have been up to this point."

Naruto nods, "Very well, I'll respect your privacy."

Now Shao Chin takes his turn.

"Congratulations Naruto. I've never seen a fight like that before, you've given this old hunter some spectacular new memories," he says. "I never thought I would see any class 7 warrior move like that. Maybe what everyone believes about you is true, and you will go to defeat Emperor Furst and free Homeworld."

Naruto chuckles at that. Defeating Hannah was the next stop on a very long and tricky road. There are still many people standing between him and that fateful encounter. He thanks Shao Chin for his praise but admits that he has a long way to go yet.

"Now, we must discuss what to do next," Shao Chin says.

"What to do next?"

"Yes, he mentioned it to me just now and sadly, he is right," Ming Dai begins. "Naruto, we are at war with the empire. You are our greatest weapon in that battle, striking critical targets, doing the big exciting things. The thing is if you want to do that then you need to go undetected. You shouldn't be moving around in a big group."

"No, I suppose I shouldn't," Naruto admits.

Ming Dai continues. "There are many people who will be fighting with us in this war. There are those who will ally themselves with the War Council, veterans of previous wars, undiscovered experts. They can't fight this battle alone though; they need strong people to help them on the front lines. People like Shao Chin, and people like me."

"You're leaving, aren't you?"

Ming Dai nods. "Shao Chin and I both have room to get stronger. When we become class 8 warriors, we will be able to make a big difference on any battlefield. We're not the same as you and Hannah though. You two are on that next level. You arrive and the situation is turned on it's head. We are one in a million warriors, but you are once in a generation. I can count on one hand the number of people with your talent to have emerged in Homeworld. That's why I can't afford to slow you down anymore. There are other fights that we must fight."

"I hate to see you go," Naruto tells Ming Dai remorsefully. "You have kept my family safe for so long now. All that time when I was unable to move on my own, I always had confidence that you were there, protecting them. Ming Dai, you are my sibling student and you have become one of my closest friends."

"Thanks."

"So, when we get to the end of this war, when the day comes when we take the fight directly to Furst, you make sure that you are still alive. I want you to come, I want you to be there, fighting with me when it happens. I want you to see the moment when he is finally defeated. If you make it there, I will beat him for you."

"I will be there," Ming Dai answers.

Now Naruto turns to Shao Chin. "You know where to go?"

"War Council Leader Yuuki Terukatsu."

"You did the right thing Shao Chin, getting him to dig deep like that. Right now, he has a problem with his true power, but you helped him to use it, even just a little bit. I hope that you can do that again."

"I certainly intend to."

Naruto nods before bidding the two of them farewell. A man trained by the world's greatest teacher, who wields strength unlike anyone else, a prodigy of battle with power yet untapped. The man who has spent countless years stalking prey through the Jungle of Jakka, who can find you no matter how far you journey or how much you want to hide. Together, they will turn the tide of many battles, they will keep the war effort alive long enough for Naruto to become strong. He swears that when they most need him to step up and arrive on the battlefield he will. Naruto swears that he will become strong, and he will take the fight to Furst.

As the hunter and the warrior walk into the distance, Naruto notices something with the One True Sense. At the same moment, Hannah's instincts warn her about a potential danger. The two of them turn around, prompting the Uzumaki family to do the same.

Behind them they see a terrifyingly powerful monster. It steps back and forward, completely unperturbed by their power. Anyone for miles around must have felt the impact of their fight. Any warrior with any common sense at all should know not to go near them. But this beast is no ordinary warrior, this beast is more powerful than they are, a class 8 warrior.

However, Himawari smiles.

"It's Princess Emilie."

Princess Emilie? Naruto does recall the name. Of course, this is the Beast Clan Princess who saved his family from Shao Chin once. She is a noble class 8 warrior who helped them because they are not from Homeworld. An act of altruism that Naruto hopes to repay. An act of power that should intimidate any who heard of it. Emilie's element is 'speed', in a straight line there is no way they could keep up with her. If she wanted to turn this encounter into a fight, with both Naruto and Hannah exhausted there would be little chance of victory.

Himawari doesn't seem worried.

Claude on the other hand suddenly becomes very subdued. His behaviour becomes courteous and subservient in front of his princess. This leopard is the second in command of the entire Beast Kingdom, a truly mighty warrior who none would dare to defy.

"You must be Uzumaki Naruto," Emilie says.

"Yes."

"I enjoyed watching that battle, it was most impressive. I saw this young lady's battle instincts, greater than any I have ever seen in my clan, she reacted in ways I never imagined would be possible. I also saw you overcome it, doing things with that strange power of yours that can break down any obstacle. You are both worthy of the praise that your colleagues have afforded you."

Hannah looks at Naruto for a prompt. The shinobi shrugs his shoulders, having no idea how to respond either.

"Yes," Hannah answers.

Naruto rolls his eyes. Of all the things to say after receiving such praise from the Princess of the Beast Clan, that wasn't the one he would have gone with. Now he's worried that she will be offended and continue with an adversarial tone.

Thankfully, Emilie is not so ill-spirited.

"It seems you have much to learn still," Emilie comments to Hannah. "If you require any help from me, don't hesitate to ask it. Your instincts are clearly created to mimic we beasts, since you were born like us, I very much consider you to be part of our clan."

"Thanks…" Emilie says, looking again to Naruto.

Naruto nods approvingly, that was a much better response under the circumstances. Nearby his family all curse this circumstance. Of all the people in Homeworld to learn tact from, Naruto is one of the worst, opening his mouth and saying what he thinks is second nature to him.

"In the past the Human Empire of Homeworld wronged the Beast Kingdom. They treated us with no consideration and doomed us for the rest of our days. This is why I have come to you Uzumaki Naruto because you may be human, but you are not from Homeworld. It's time for you to decide who you wish to side with."

"Side with?"

"Will you side with the humans of Homeworld, or will you side with the Beast Clan?"

This is not a difficult decision for Naruto.

"Sorry, I'm a friend of Homeworld," Naruto answers. "I have friends here. I've looked after people; I've been saved by people and I've watched these people do the most amazing things. Clyde, Lara, Carmen, Juan, Nina, and there are so many others. I don't think any of them are bad people. Then there was my master from this world, Muto Sora. He trusted me, he believed that I would free Homeworld from Furst Jonas. That's why I will side with them."

"That's a pity," Emilie sighs.

"But, you're not my enemy," he continues, surprising Emilie. "When I have liberated Homeworld, I am going to make sure humans and beasts can be friends again. I don't care what mistakes we have all made in the past, lets just make sure we don't make them again."

"I fear that by the time you have liberated Homeworld, it will be too late."

"I don't intend to waste time. I'm going to save both kingdoms."

Emilie observes Naruto, trying to gauge whether he is sincere. There is a rare honesty in his eyes, he makes all these outrageous claims and yet still believes that he will deliver on them. He is naïve, a dreamer the likes of which this world hasn't seen in many years. She doesn't dislike him. She wishes even more now that he had decided to ally himself with her kingdom. Nevertheless, she cannot agree to coexist with the humans of Homeworld, not after what they have done. The animosity between their factions is too much for her to overlook.

"You are a most curious man, Uzumaki Naruto," she says. "Very well, the Beast Clan still has its honour, so I will not strike you down where you stand. However, the next time we meet I will treat you according to the side you have chosen. As an enemy of the Beast Kingdom, you are also my enemy, and I will attack you."

"That's just stupid," Naruto retorts.

Minato, Kushina and Himawari all cringe. This is exactly what they were worried about a minute ago. This man is supposed to set an example to Hannah now that he is her teacher. If he keeps going like this soon, they will have two people in their group who don't know when to be quiet.

"You can call me your enemy if you want, but that doesn't make it true," Naruto tells Emilie, "Even if you want to reject me, I will never give up. By the time I am done, humanity and beasts will cohabit this world once more. I will create an alliance between us that will last forever."

Emilie is taken aback by Naruto's remarks. She walks away with her position clearly stated, a position she most follow as the Princess of the Beast Kingdom. However, even if she cannot openly admit it, she is glad that there is one person like Naruto left. There is one person who is still trying to help them. She doesn't feel that she can let her hatred towards the humans of this world go, but if anyone can change her mind, it will be Naruto.

Battle Classes in this Chapter

Emilie (8) = Speed (3) + Transcendent (1) + Manual (3) + Divine Ability (1)

Uzumaki Naruto (7) = Life (2) + Transcendent (2) + Shinobi (3)

Hannah (7) = Light + Darkness (3) + Transcendent (1) + Combo (1) + Manual (1) + Divine Ability (1)

Ming Dai (7) = Strength (3) + Transcendent (1) + Manual (2) + Divine Ability (1)

Shao Chin (7) = Gale (3) + Transcendent (1) + Manual (2) + Divine Ability (1)

Namikaze Minato (6) = Wind (3) + Shinobi (3)

Claude (6) = Flight (3) + Manual (3)

Himawari (?)

Kushina (?)

In Response to S's Question
About flashbacks

First of all thanks for your kind words, it means a lot.

I can't say what will be shown because of potentially spoiling the story, but yes, I do intend to show flashbacks to the past.
If my notes are correct there was a flashback conversation between Endou Akashi and Carmen in chapter 122.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to Kignuuu's Question
About Sasuke potentially keeping up with Hannah

It would help but it wouldn't bring him up to the same level.
Sarada used the rinnegan in conjunction with the skill she was taught to look a short way into the future, but she wasn't able to keep up with Hannah.
There is nothing to say that Sasuke couldn't reach that skill level in the future though.

Right now, Naruto is the only class 7 I have written about who can defeat Hannah.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to Nagato's Question
About Jonas' skin colour

I admit, I don't recall writing that. If I did it was a mistake.
I have images I have created to help me picture what the characters look like, he's definitely not green.

If you could point me to the chapter where I wrote that I will correct it.

Sorry about this mistake.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to sarada chan san's Questions
About various topics

Naruto cannot use 'life' energy to revive the dead (including himself), at least not now.

I don't recall a blade storm exactly, though I have written more than 750,000 words, I'm bound to forget a few things.
I think that may be how I described the 3D labyrinth-like creation of hers.
Either way, since Sarada herself is now class 7, that would work on the vast majority of class 7 warriors.

I can't answer the questions about Hannah or Ming Dai without giving spoilers sorry.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to Guest's Question
About if it is possible to use two elements

Yes, it is possible to use two elements. That is how Nina was a class 8 warrior.
If you can balance two elements, then there is a boost from combining them.
However, they have to be balanced, for example, you have to have a golden cloak in both, or a cloak in both.

Nina (8) = Fire + Lightning (3) + Combo (1) + Manual (3) + Divine Ability (1)

Thanks for reading.

In Response to till74's Question
About when Naruto and Sasuke will meet

I can't say too much without giving away spoilers.
I'll say sooner than you might think, that's as much of a hint as I can give.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to Guest's Question
About how Kurama's presence didn't discount Naruto's victory

OK, you're right, perhaps that is slightly cheating, but I can give a couple of excuses.

Hannah wasn't aware of Kurama's presence in Naruto's inner world until he mentioned it, so her instincts were likely unaware of him.
Also, you could argue that Kurama is a member of the beast clan and therefore doesn't count.

It's important to note, Hannah had to be defeated by a fellow human, a member of her own species.
That's why Claude didn't defeat her back when they were fleeing Lara.

I'm sorry, you're right, these reasons probably aren't adequate.
I will try to learn and do better next time.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to tarunfiction's Question
About if Naruto will ever dominate his enemies

I don't see why he wouldn't from time to time.
I haven't specifically planned the event, but I haven't planned not to do it.

So far I have only planned up to the end of part 11.
It may well happen after this.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to 4Sigma's Question
About if Kurama could understand divine energy himself

I don't know if it would be possible. I've never given it too much thought.
Divine energy was thought to be exclusive to Homeworlders physiology once, until Naruto proved otherwise.
It may or may not prove possible. And answering may or may not give a spoiler.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to Engineer's Question
About a variety of subjects

Hannah will retain her instincts, and have an undying, almost unnatural loyalty to Naruto.

I can try and write Boruto rapping again. Though I must confess I would be terrible at writing rap, which I suppose is appropriate.

Hannah may be able to beat some of the weakest class 8s, but probably not someone as skilled and experienced as Yuuki Terukatsu.

Nobody can have multiple divine abilities.

I can't say about other broken divine abilities without giving away potential spoilers.

Sensory ninjas are still useful in Homeworld.

Naruto's divine oddity works by him detonating part of his core, the tablet in his inner world. This is a last ditch attack for most people as they die after using it.
Naruto is the only one who has ever survived detonating even part of his core, he uses 'life' energy to stop himself from dying.
His latest breakthrough works as follows: Naruto detonates part of his core, redirects the energy to a limb, Kurama sends 'life' energy to that limb to avert damage.

Endou Akashi's divine ability will most likely be discussed at some point.

I can't say much about divine abilities without giving away spoilers, but they are physical items which are acquired.

Lara's divine ability did indeed leave her body then re-appear in a physical form for Mirai to find.

And thanks for your kind words. The fact that people are dreaming about this story is one of the greatest compliments I have ever recieved.

Thanks for reading.