DECLARATION OF WAR – THE PRINCESS
West Aturia
"So, the man who looks like you, is he related to you?"
"Of course he is," Naruto answers, "That's my father, the 4th Hokage."
"Do I look like my father at all?"
"You have similar eyes."
Naruto guesses that relaxing causes the childish side of Hannah to come out. She has been excitedly asking him about all kinds of things since they started to move after the Sacred Sword. Most people would have gotten bored of answering by now, but he is patient with his student, knowing that she has gone through much to earn this freedom.
"And Kushina is your mother?"
"Yes."
"And the baby is your sister?"
"That's right, her name is Mito."
"And Himawari is your daughter?"
"Yes, she is."
"You're probably asking yourself why I look older than my father," Himawari remarks.
"He probably understood divine energy younger than you, right?"
Himawari is reminded of this truth. Most people from Homeworld don't know that this version of her father is actually from the past, arriving from the aftermath of the war. Fortunately, the mechanics of divine energy have given them a feasible explanation as to the age difference between them. She decides it's best not to correct Hannah for the moment, the whole situation is at times so confusing that even she loses track of it all.
"Hannah, what do you like to do in your spare time?" Kushina asks.
"Spare time? I've been moving around on instinct all this time, so I haven't had much control over what I've been doing. I've never really had much time to get a hobby."
Kushina rests her head in her hand for a moment. Having been moving around for over a year and not even having a hobby, that's immensely depressing. They were running from the Imperial Guard at that time, but at least they had each other. At least they could draw in the dirt, cook with local herbs, or sing.
"What do you like to do Claude?" Minato asks the owl.
"I like to fly above the water and watch the fish."
As the hours pass and Hannah's questions continue, they soon get to know each other very well. Their conversation stops only when they see an enormous tower beginning to creep into view. It is made up of a strange dark material and seems to be split into several tiers, almost like a cake. They presume that this is where the Sacred Sword is waiting for them. They send Claude up above to scout it out as they continue their approach.
Claude descends five minutes later, reporting a more detailed description of the tower. He tells them that the architecture is ancient but is a known Homeworld style from the past. This tower was almost certainly crafted by humans and not beasts. He tells them that if the content is half as grand as the exterior then it will be worth investigating for them.
Claude also reports one more peculiar thing. There seems to be a horse waiting at the bottom.
They pick up the pace, running at the speed of the slowest movers in their group. They approach the tower, their view getting better every moment they do so. It takes about ten minutes before they enter the shadow of the spire. They estimate that in another two they will be at the entrance to the structure.
"I don't believe it," Claude says.
"What?"
"I recognize that horse."
"You recognize him?"
"Yes, he's not just any old horse, he's a beast, he uses divine energy like me."
Claude offers his assurances that this horse is unlikely to harm them. They continue their approach, after a short while they get to the base of the tower. From here it is no longer possible to see the top as it is so tall. They do not gaze up though, but instead at the stallion next to the entrance.
"Good day, can I help you?" the horse says.
Naruto is surprised, he did not expect such a courteous reception. Frankly, he was ready to start fighting if that was required. It appears that Claude's prediction was correct though, this beast is very friendly.
"We'd like to—" Naruto begins.
"Michel, is that you?" Claude asks.
"Oh, you are from the Beast Clan," Michel the Horse notes. "I apologize, I thought you were just a regular owl. It is unusual to find a beast who is willing to travel with humans these days."
"You know each other then?" Hannah asks.
"Michel probably doesn't know who I am," Claude admits. "But I know he is. He is a famous traitor to the Beast Clan."
Naruto frowns and looks back at Claude.
"Famous traitor?" Kushina says questioningly, "You told us we should expect a friendly reception."
"He defected to the empire."
"Then why should we trust him?"
"Not this empire!" Claude exclaims, "The previous one, he betrayed the Beast Clan and sided with Endou Akashi."
Kushina grabs Minato's shirt, threatening to bang her head into his chest before letting out an anguished howl. She has only known Claude the Owl for a very short time, but she has already found a major flaw in his behavior. Claude needs to learn to give a full explanation straight away, the last few minutes have been an up and down experience.
"I am loyal to the Imperial House, a steed to Emperor Endou Akashi," Michel explains, sensing Kushina's frustration. "Mr. Owl, if you had met the emperor you would likely have been loyal to him as well."
Naruto is less worried about the confusion.
"I've heard a lot of people talk about Endou Akashi since I came to Homeworld," Naruto says cheerfully, "What was he like? I've heard that he was a great man."
"Yes, he was as great as everyone would have you believe."
Michel thinks over what Naruto just said. Since he came to this world? There are only two places Naruto could have come from then. He is certain he would have heard about it by now if anyone from the Dark Dimension had emerged in Homeworld. That means he could only have come from a pocket-world. A group did arrive from a pocket-world in recent years, he wonders if he is part of that group.
"May I ask your names?" Michel says.
"Oh right, I am Uzumaki Naruto and this is—"
"You're Uzumaki Naruto!"
Naruto did not expect such shock at the mention of his name. Could it be that Michel intends to capture him and hand him over to the empire? Has he remained loyal to that organization despite his former allegiance to Endou Akashi?
"Fantastic! It's great to meet you, Mr. Uzumaki!"
Naruto is pleasantly surprised.
"I'm a big fan!" Michel continues. "I heard that you have convinced Yuuki Terukatsu and the War Council to declare war. What a marvelous achievement, I could hardly believe these old ears of mine. Hearing about that filled me with joy, I've been cheering you on ever since!"
"Thanks," Naruto says earnestly.
"I don't think the Princess was very happy about it though."
"Princess? Do you mean Princess Emilie?"
"Heavens no! I am considered a traitor to the Beast Kingdom if you recall. No, I'm talking about the human princess of course. She who will one day sit on the throne and be known as the Empress of Homeworld."
Naruto still sees two possibilities in that statement. After all, there have been two emperors of Homeworld.
"Which emperor's… uh…"
"I am talking about Princess Endou," Michel answers, sensing Naruto's unease, "Endou Akashi's daughter is in this tower. I imagine she is here for the same reasons you are."
"The Sacred Sword?"
Michel nods. "If you have questions about Akashi there is nobody better to ask. No doubt a man of your talents will ascend the tower quickly and catch up with her."
"You said she wasn't very happy about war being declared?"
"I think she believes that earning freedom for Homeworld is her responsibility and that since the oppression of the pocket-worlders was perpetrated by our military, we should be the ones to bring an end to it. I'm sure that if anyone can change her mind it's you though. You're the most famous pocket-worlder of all. Uzumaki Naruto in the flesh, I can hardly believe our luck."
"We should probably get moving if we want to catch up," Minato says, "It looks like it is a long way to the top of this tower."
Michel steps aside, revealing green swirling energy. Given the shape of it, Naruto assumes that it must be a portal of some sort.
"Go ahead," Michel says. "You guys go on, if you want your chance to grab the Sacred Sword, I will not stop you. You will have to be swift though. And watch out, after we arrived a group of mercenaries entered the tower."
"You're going to wait out here?"
"I will guard the entrance," Michel explains. "A sword is of little use to me; I doubt I could even hold it. No, I'm more valuable down here. Go now, it's a tough road to the top I am assured."
Naruto and the others thank Michel for his guidance and step into the portal. The world around them seems to spin as they enter it. As the rate of rotation increases, their surroundings begin to grow more and more transparent, slowly disappearing and being replaced by an entirely red landscape.
They suddenly find themselves in this entirely red world. There are no buildings here, no hills, no floor. They simply float, surrounded by thin cloud-like strands of this red substance. Naruto groans, it's almost as bad as the pit, he wouldn't want to get stuck here.
Thankfully, in some way in the distance, he detects another portal with the One True Sense. He supposes that if they enter that portal, they will emerge some way up the tower. He informs the others and together they begin to walk in the direction of that direction.
After taking the first few steps, they all hear a shriek. From the ether, several ghostly spirits emerge. They move towards them menacingly before attacking them haphazardly. Despite their lack of dexterity the ghosts are blessed with strength, and Naruto notices that after the first couple of attacks he is starting to feel a sting.
The attacks are received differently by each of them. Naruto and Hannah barely even notice them, each swatting the ghosts away like flies. The others are struggling more though, having to make a conscious effort to fight back their ghostly attackers.
Naruto decides this is a nuisance. He asks Hannah if she can deal with the spirits for all of them. Naturally, the being of perfect instinct is up to the challenge. She weaves through them, striking each of the ghosts in turn with a smile on her face. Naruto sees her treating this more like a game than a serious challenge. Still, with her help, the nuisance is taken care of and they can move through this red environment much more quickly.
Halfway to the portal, the ghosts seem to give up. Hannah seems disappointed, but Naruto can't blame them. If countless ghosts attack and they are all stopped by a single foe it would be fruitless to continue the assault.
They continue towards the other portal.
"That was very impressive Hannah," Naruto remarks.
"Thank you."
As they get closer to the portal at the other end, they notice that the resistance to their movements is increasing. It is as if a divine wind is trying to blow them away from their exit like the gods don't want them to get there. This is no problem Naruto and Hannah, but the others begin to struggle. If they work together this is no obstacle; Naruto and Hannah help the others to move forward. Together they drive towards the portal slow but steady.
Eventually, they reach their exit. They all step in together and the world spins once again. This time the red world is fading out and one of marble is fading in. It is the interior of a luxurious building, almost like a palace from days gone past. It is bright, with light shining all around, illuminating their beautifully crafted room.
They seem to have made it.
A group is all crowded together nearby, looking at something in the middle of their huddle. They glance over at the new arrivals momentarily but don't seem greatly concerned by their presence. Some of them mutter something to one another while some of them go back to looking at the huddle's center.
Naruto checks that the others are OK before inspecting the huddle with the One True Sense. There is no consistent uniform nor any sign of discipline from them. This is not a military force; these are the mercenaries that Michel described to them. Naruto stops using the One True Sense, he doubts that these guys pose any sort of threat.
"Hey, we have newcomers, do we?"
An enormous man with bulky muscles walks over to them. His lack of uniform and his manners suggests to Naruto that he is a mercenary as well. The other mercenaries don't pay their comrade much head, looking at him for just a few seconds before returning their eyes to the center of their huddle.
"There is a tax for entering this floor, and I am here to collect it!" the bulky mercenary says.
"I don't have any money," Naruto shrugs, "Claude, do you have any money?"
"I don't carry human currency."
"We don't have any money," Naruto answers the mercenary.
The bulky mercenary smiles delighted with this answer. He draws back his enormous arm, gathering red energy on it which Naruto guesses to be 'fire' energy. Even with this energy, he is no threat to Naruto, who just stands and waits for the attack to hit him. Hopefully, the shinobi's lack of reaction will be enough to make this brute think twice about fighting them.
However, before the bulky mercenary can hit Naruto, Hannah stands between them. She strikes the mercenary in the chest, blasting him through a nearby column. The building shakes in the wake of the attack, making some worried that the ceiling will collapse on them. It doesn't though, they are safe.
The bulky mercenary is not OK. The attack almost killed him!
Naruto walks over to the mercenary and uses 'life' energy to save him.
"You can't just go around hitting weak people like that," Naruto tells Hannah. "You could have killed him. You're too strong Hannah, you've got to be considerate to weak people like this."
"Weak people!" the bulky mercenary repeats angrily, "Why don't you fight me next shorty! The others can watch as I grind you to paste."
Naruto rolls his eyes, tapping the mercenary's head with two knuckles to knock him out.
The other mercenaries look at their fallen comrade and laugh at him before returning their attention to the huddle. Naruto observes a total lack of comradeship, but on the bright side, it looks like these mercenaries have no intention of hurting them. This is good, climbing to the next floor will probably be harder and they could do with a rest before they attempt anything difficult.
Naruto suggests that they all sit down on the opposite side of the room and have a rest before attempting to ascend further. He goes around the group one-by-one, using 'life' energy to restore their vitality. While this drains him slightly it won't be long before he is back to full strength.
"I'm going to go and see what they're looking at," Claude says.
The owl flies over to the huddled mercenaries.
"Naruto, even as I stand here, I can feel the inherent energy of this place," Kushina says, "I don't think I will be able to go up any higher. Mito definitely won't be able to."
"I understand."
Naruto half expected this. It was always going to be a struggle to keep moving forward with Mito. Thankfully, Michel is waiting at the bottom of the tower. He seemed to be strong enough. The 7th Hokage has some confidence that if anyone were to remain with the horse, they would be safe. He must keep moving forward though. He is certain that if nobody else can, Hannah will be able to match his progress. She has done well today.
Naruto taps his foot a couple of times and notices that Claude is still looking into the huddle.
"What is he looking at?" Naruto asks rhetorically.
The 7th Hokage gets to his feet and walks over to the mercenaries. He asks them if they don't mind him having a look and they allow him passage. Thankfully, they have seen sense following their comrade's defeat.
As Naruto investigates, Minato puts his arm around Kushina, holding her tightly. He assures her that they are all going to be OK. He says that now Naruto and Hannah are both fighting to defend them they won't run into any problems. Kushina nods, signaling her agreement. They will be fine.
Suddenly, they hear a scream from over by the mercenaries. Minato rolls his eyes, wondering if another of them tried to attack Naruto. He begins to make a joke but Hannah barges past him, making her way quickly towards the huddle. The others all look as well and are shocked at what they see.
The mercenaries have parted and are looking down at Naruto. He is sat on the ground, looking into the center, clearly traumatized by what he has seen.
They all run over to Naruto, Claude and Hannah having gotten to him very quickly. They check him for physical injuries but there are none. Instead, he is transfixed. The mercenaries were all huddled around some kind of moving images, Himawari thinking it is like television from back home. She pays little attention to the images though, instead choosing to focus on her father.
"What's wrong?" Hannah asks.
Naruto points wordlessly at the images.
"What's that?"
"Moving pictures, probably someone's divine ability," Claude says, "That woman is the princess."
Himawari inspects the moving images again, her eyes suddenly snapping wide open. She gasps, taking a step back.
"That's impossible!" Kushina says.
"What's going on?" Hannah asks, "What are you talking about?"
"That can't be Princess Endou," Minato answers.
"Why not?"
"Because that's his wife…
"Hyuuga Hinata…"