THE FOUNDRY – STUDENTS OF 'FATE'
The Surface Above the Crystal Caves
Enri sighs as she looks down at the ground, wondering just how each of her potential students are doing below. So far, she has felt no hint of her element from below, no evidence of that any have succeeded nor that they will escape the Crystal Caves. This has happened many times before, she knows the disappointment of failure so familiarly now, but she honestly believed this time would be different.
This time Enri used so much stockpiled 'fate' energy. She summoned the most promising potential students from across the world, letting 'fate' energy pick out those most likely to be gifted in the element. She had thought that one of these ones would finally be the one to overcome all the obstacles in front of them. She had thought that this time she was going to find the student she has been looking for all these years.
"I wish that I had the opportunity to teach at least one of you a lesson. There are so many important lessons I could teach you. I could raise your skill level up so much higher; I could help you compete with the generals and maybe one day the royals. I could teach you tricks known to nobody else, history that only I am alive to recount. But there is something even more important than that.
"I could teach you the truth about 'fate'. Too many people mistake this beautiful element for predetermination, but that is not what 'fate' is about at all. I understood this wonderous power not by doing but by watching, by watching the most incredible people in the world, people like you. I understood this power when I saw the things that happened around them, things that didn't make sense.
"You see, there are people in this world like Queen Hirsch Nadia, people who can see through every logical event. Hirsch Nadia doesn't rule the world though, because some events are so bizarre, so coincidental, and convenient that they don't factor into her calculations. These events only happen to certain people, those with the power to overcome the predictions of someone like her.
"These people are special, unlike the majority of us. They spit in the face of predetermination and the logical reality of this world. They have a power that influences the world around them, they can talk armies out of fighting, they can turn a battle around on their own and they are blessed with breakthroughs at the most miraculous moments.
"Those people are the children of fate.
"I watched those people and for a long time I couldn't really explain them, but then I saw the 'fate' energy around them. It wasn't much energy, so insignificant that for years I didn't notice it was there. It didn't make much difference to them, so little that it was imperceptible. When they put their life on the line though, that's when it helped them most. Sharpshooters who would usually hit would miss, people who never would have listened pay attention, and those with unmovable hearts were themselves moved to tears.
"To use 'fate' as an element is to be able to manipulate these events at will. To understand 'fate' is to know that these people have that power. You see, the most incredible things in your life weren't inevitable, they weren't logical, and they were not planned ahead of time. Your willpower attracted this energy to you, and you changed reality itself. That's what makes you so special.
"When you master 'fate' as I have done, it doesn't guarantee your victory. Even the best of us can only overcome logical reality for so long. But you can draw more of that irrational good luck than you ever could before, you can draw it at the moments when you need it most, and you can win when everyone else would lose. That's what I'm looking for in a student, that one person who can do the impossible, who can change Homeworld."
Then there is a hint of it, just a hint of 'fate' energy deep below ground.
Enri smiles immediately. This amount is nothing to boast about, this amount is similar to that which she spoke about. This is the sort of 'fate' energy that helps those with incredible willpower at the right moments, the intrinsic power the universe lends to the worthy few. However, she has never even felt this coming from the Crystal Caves before. Someone down below caught a lucky break.
Then, the 'fate' energy amount begins to increase significantly, and it doesn't stop for another minute.
Enri chuckles to herself. She cannot believe it. Everything seemed hopeless, like there would be no student who could ever master 'fate' energy, but now she can feel it. There is no doubt that 'fate' energy has appeared in abundant quantities. Somebody down below isn't just blessed by the universe; they have actually understood 'fate' themselves. This is the most 'fate' energy she has ever felt coming from a third party. Judging from the people she met in the past that could only be possible for one reason.
Someone has just understood basic 'fate' energy below the surface.
In the Crystal Caves
Boruto toys with the yellow 'fate' energy in his hands. Suddenly he feels reinvigorated, like all the energy he lost through lack of food and water has been recovered an instant. He decides to quickly test out this new element. He slams his 'fate' covered fist into the wall of the cave and watches as the crystals from above tumble down towards him. He does his best to influence their fall path with 'fate' and observes an amazing change with the Tenseigan.
Each of the falling rocks is struck by a tiny piece of debris that also fell from the ceiling. Each crystal lands in a circle around Boruto. It appears that a one in a million coincidence just took place, none of the falling crystals hits him. It is a coincidence of his own making.
Naruto's idea about what to do with the element is completely different though. He turns 'fate' into a string, running parallel with the light that is now shining into the caves. He takes hold of the string with one hand and grabs onto Boruto with the other, dragging his son with him along the length of the string.
In what seems like an impossible coincidence only ten minutes pass before they can see light at the end of the tunnel. They walk to the end and find themselves on the surface.
Just moments prior they had thought they were certain to die, now they have escaped. The impossible has happened and once more they have altered reality. It is the blessings of the universe that Enri spoke of, a manifestation of their willpower that they were never able to see before.
The Surface Above the Crystal Caves
As Naruto and Boruto emerge, Enri assesses them and sees that they have indeed both understood 'fate' energy. She can only guess what this means for their souls. In her estimation it is likely that these two individuals have the greatest willpower of anyone to have ever lived. It is quite possible that they are the most capable duo of changing reality, of contradicting logic and predetermination, of creating the world they want to see.
At long last she has students.
Enri quickly makes her way to them and hands each of them a water bottle and something to eat. Even for people so powerful as these two there are limits to what they can do without energy.
"Are the two of you OK?" Enri asks.
"I'm fine," Naruto answers.
"Yeah, I'll live," Boruto says.
Enri smiles. She had questioned if they would hold a grudge against her. After all, she condemned them to the Crystal Caves knowing that they would almost certainly never return. However, that is the price that must be paid for an opportunity to learn 'fate' energy. This is perhaps the greatest offer of training available anywhere in Homeworld now, offered by one of the strongest individuals not in Furst Jonas inner circle.
"I've been waiting years for a student who could escape the Crystal Caves. It is something that can only be done with 'fate' on your side. I really have been blessed since two of you emerged."
Boruto thinks on the 'fate' of this encounter. If they were all chosen by 'fate' to come here, then it is no mere coincidence that both he and his father were summoned together. It's possible that they could only have survived this tribulation as a team. Thinking about it now, their relationship to one another has defined a lot of their actions since coming to Homeworld.
Hashirama moved as he did because he was under the influence of the Hive Mind, but Boruto was different, he was consumed by hatred when he went on his own path. The son saw only the sins of this world, desperately searching for proof that his father was missing something. The father saw nothing but reasons to forgive, redeeming features amongst all the evil, eagerly finding something to prove to his son that it was not too late for him.
"I would be honoured to take you as my students," Enri says, "May I ask your names?"
Boruto is about to speak, but Naruto wisely cuts him off.
"Before we tell you our names, I have to know. Enri, what side of this war are you on? Do you side with the resistance, or do you side with the empire?"
Enri's face lights up as he says these words. She knew it, he is exactly as he was described by everyone. This man is the rebellion's leader-in-waiting. This is the man who came to Homeworld as the leader of the pocket-worlders, who uses 'life' as his element and was trained by Headmaster Sora. This is the one Sora described as the greatest hope for this world, the man who the emperor wants dead more than anyone else, even than her. This is Uzumaki Naruto, the spiritual successor to Endou Akashi.
"I intend to fight with the resistance," Enri answers.
"In that case I will trust you. My name is Uzumaki Naruto. This is my son Uzumaki Boruto."
"Please show it to me. If you really are Naruto, you will know what I am talking about."
Naruto knows exactly what she is speaking of, he holds out his hand and brings forth the 'life' energy that only he and Endou Akashi have ever used. It's influence is great, appealing to the Emperor, the Headmaster of the Academy, and now to Enri. It makes her legs weaken; the Uzumaki duo mistakenly think she is going to faint. This is the power that his element gives him, everywhere he goes. It makes him a unique commodity not seen since Akashi left.
"Wow," Enri says silently. "And you are his son, may I see your element too."
Boruto brings 'death' to his hand, but the effect is quite different from his father's element. This element brings a feeling of terror to Enri, a feeling that the end of all things is near. While she knows that this power is not as strong as the emperor's, it feels worse. This power of 'death' is unnatural, one that humanity should never have touched, the opposite power to Naruto's with the opposite emotions conveyed. Nevertheless it is powerful, a power she is happy to have on her side.
"You are both remarkable. For pocket-worlders your power is unbelievable. You have risen to great heights as quickly as I have ever seen. You know, I was a fan of yours before this Naruto. You remind me of a great man I once met long ago."
"I hear that a lot," Naruto says.
"Yes, I'm sure you do. Boruto, are you hoping that one day your name will carry great weight, that it will inspire hope in the same way your father's does?"
Boruto lowers his head. "I have done terrible things, I'm not sure that it is possible anymore. However, if I can inspire even one person in the way he does it will all have been worth it. I will try to live up to the name he has given me. I'll try to make him proud."
"Well said," Enri remarks. "I guess for now there is only one duty I have now. I suspect I am the latest in a long line of teachers for the two of you."
She is not wrong. Hatake Kakashi. Sarutobi Konohamaru. Jariya. Uchiha Sasuke. Killer Bee. Senju Hashirama. Muto Sora. Each of them have learned many things from many different people.
"My duty," Enri continues, "Is to train you to kill Furst Jonas."
South Fayoth
Nina limps into the encampment that she and Naruto left several days previously. She left with a great anxiety and expectation, hoping that she would at long last be able to kill her greatest rival, but that is not how things ended up. Instead Naruto disappeared in a swirl of yellow energy and Nero survived.
"Where is Naruto?" Kushina asks.
Nina looks around. "I thought he would be here. I thought you summoned him Minato. If he's not here then, I don't know what to say. I guess he is gone."
"What does 'gone' mean?" Hinata asks.
"Oh yes, I'll answer your questions right away your highness, wouldn't want to disappoint you your highness, live to serve you your highness. Why don't you back off for one minute and let me catch my breath?"
Hinata scowls at Nina. This woman spent years on the run having broken the law numerous times. She stole from countless people; she ruined the lives of many and spat in the face of the empire that her father formed. Her uncle was kind enough to offer Nina a pardon in exchange for her help in teaching the pocket-worlders to defeat Furst. In spite of that kindness, she continues to show such disrespect to the Imperial Family.
"Marti Nina, let me be clear. If you wish to continue fighting for this rebellion, then you serve at my pleasure and you will answer my question."
"I serve the true rebellion. I serve the great man who will free this world from the tyrant who pushed you into hiding. I do not serve you princess, I serve Uzumaki Naruto because unlike you he has earnt my respect."
"Perhaps we should all calm down," Michel the Horse says.
Hannah hangs awkwardly as this argument continues. She is unsure how she should proceed given who is arguing. On the one hand Hinata is Naruto's wife and one of the leaders of the rebellion, on the other Nina is known to be the strongest fighter on their side. Both have strong ties to Naruto, and she has little experience being diplomatic. However, like Hinata she desperately wants to know what happened to her teacher.
Minato senses Hannah's awkwardness, and like her he wishes to know the answer. He steps in to ask the question.
"Nina, please tell us. Where did my son go?" Minato asks. "Is he dead?"
"It looked like we were doing well. I thought that between us we were finally going to defeat Nero. My rage made me impatient and I overlooked what I should have seen from the beginning. Queen Huen Petra was there and she turned us against ourselves. It looked like Naruto was about to die but then this strange energy appeared. Suddenly Naruto disappeared, like he had been summoned away."
"A strange energy?" Sasuke asks.
"I thought it was 'spacetime' energy at first."
Sasuke raises his hand, bringing forth his own viridian 'spacetime' energy. This is enough for Nina to do a comparison with what she saw before.
"No, it was different to that. It was yellow energy."
"How did you escape?" Kushina asks.
"When Naruto disappeared, I ran as quickly as I could. I just wished really hard that Petra wouldn't chase me because I would have been finished if she had. Thankfully she didn't, she was just staring at the spot Naruto disappeared from. I recovered for a short while and then I came back here."
Hinata groans, "Why did you take so long to come back here?"
"Listen princess, I'm not Uzumaki Naruto. I don't have any miracle recovery power so it took me time to get moving at speed again, even now I'm not fully healed, but I came here as quickly as I could to see if he was OK. If you're supposed to be some kind of leader, why don't you show some appreciation."
"I can heal you," Sakura says as she offers to tend to Nina.
Nina takes the shinobi up on her offer. At Sakura's command she lays down and lets the skilled healer get to work.
"Sasuke, do you think you could work out where Naruto has gone using 'spacetime' energy."
"If we go to the same place, I may be able to find some way to trace him, but I doubt it. Too much time has passed. Even if we could go back, with Queen Petra there we would almost certainly die. It's not worth the risk of going back."
"We don't need to go back," Mana explains, "Hinata-sis, tell them."
"Tell us what?" Kushina asks.
"We don't need to go back to the same place. If what Nina has told is an accurate account of events—"
"Are you doubting me princess?" Nina asks.
"No, given current events everything you have told me makes sense. It was bound to happen sooner or later," Hinata explains, "If this phenomena is what I believe it to be, then I know exactly where Naruto is."
Author Note
Hi All,
Since the release of the last chapter this story has received view number 1 million!
As boring as it may sound I want to sincerely thank everyone who read this story at any point.
Writing this has been the main focus of my spare time for a few years now and while it has sometimes been hard I have thoroughly enjoyed it.
Unfortunately health issues have slowed me down lately but I promise I am still trying to write.
Hopefully one day I will manage to give the story a satisfying ending.
Again, thanks for all the support that you have given me over the years.
Without all the encouragement you have given me the story wouldn't have made it this far.
Thanks,
Me
Battle Classes in this Chapter
Uzumaki Naruto (7) = Life (2) + Transcendent (2) + Shinobi (3) - Also has tier 1 fate understanding
Uzumaki Boruto (7) = Death (2) + Transcendent (2) + Shinobi (3) - Also has tier 1 fate understanding
Enri (9) = Fate (3) + Transcendent (2) + Manual (3) + Divine Ability (1)
Marti Nina (8) = [Fire + Lightning] (3) + Combo (1) + Manual (3) + Divine Ability (1)
Hannah (7) = [Light + Darkness] (3) + Transcendent (1) + Combo (1) + Manual (1) + Divine Ability (1)
Claude the Owl (6) = Flight (3) + Manual (3)
Namikaze Minato (6) = Wind (3) + Shinobi (3)
Endou Hinata (7) = Fire (3) + Divine Ability (2) + Shinobi (2) - Also has tier 1 water understanding
Uzumaki Himawari (6) = [Fire + Wind + Lightning] (1) + Combo (2) + Shinobi (3)
Yoshida Mana (6) = Lightning (3) + Manual (2) + Divine Ability (1)
Michel the Horse (6) = Serenity (3) + Transcendent (1) + Manual (2)
Uchiha Sasuke (7) = Spacetime (2) + Transcendent (2) + Shinobi (3)
Haruno Sakura (6) = [Healing + Strength] (1) + Combo (1) + Transcendent (1) + Shinobi (3)
Kushina (?)
In Response to m'j doom's Question
About who Enri is
I couldn't possibly say who Enri is at this stage but it will be revealed soon enough.
Hopefully this chapter makes it clear she isn't an enemy.
Sorry for my potentially misleading statement about Kurama.
By crucial role I meant that he is the only reason Naruto can freely use his divine oddity.
Thanks for reading.
And in light of the recent milestone thanks for your long-term support of this story.
In Response to Thatguy2502's Question
About the ages of Homeworlders
I have thought about that but I can't give details about the answer at this stage because I may want to reveal it in-story later.
I do know the answer, which explains how Akashi could be Hinata's father despite being, as Clyde referred to him, an "old man".
Thanks for reading.
In Response to Engineer's Question
About various subjects
Petra's element is mostly useful against weaker opponents but it could slow down a royal slightly.
As you say her power would make her weaker in a head-on fight than Nadia and Swen.
You are exactly right about how the divine energy combo bonus works.
Although the addition of a third weaker element probably wouldn't take away the combo bonus, as long as the strongest two are equal.
That's a technical complication I never thought about.
Himawari needs to master all three elements to the same level to get two combo points.
If she masters two elements to a higher level she would probably only get one combo point.
Thanks for reading.
And, assuming all the "Engineer" reviews have been you, thanks for your long-term support of this story.
In Response to Guest's Question
Asking if Kurama understands Naruto's elements
Kurama doesn't understand Naruto's elements, but he can use them as a proxy.
Thanks for reading.
In Response to Reader's Question
About how Enri escape the cave
I couldn't possibly say without giving away spoilers.
Naturally I will be revealing this in a future chapter.
Thanks for reading.