THE FOUNDRY – RARA PRISON
Above the Crystal Caves
Hannah approaches Naruto in the middle of his practice. She has not talked to him as much as she used to lately, having gotten over the initial phase of first having human friends. Now she has approached with a look of concern on her face. Naruto being her teacher cannot let her be worried, it is against his nature.
"Is something wrong?" Naruto asks.
"I don't know," Hannah admits. "My instincts are telling me something, but I can't quite make it out. I think that maybe something went wrong somewhere else, something that's bad news for us."
"I don't suppose there is any chance that you are wrong?"
"No, there is definitely something, I just can't tell what it is. Do you think this will ever end for you? Do you think there will be a day when you don't have to fight against bad people anymore?"
"I believe that day will come Hannah, it might be a long time yet, but it will come. Eventually there will come a time when I can stop, when I can believe that if I don't fight for it the world will be fine on it's own. One day I will stop fighting and leave everything to the next generation. This time they decided they needed my help, but eventually they won't need me anymore. Someone will be born who surpasses me and protects the world. Then I will be able to stop running towards my goals, I will have reached that dream I've been chasing all my life. Yes. I can stop running and just look at the world that we are building. I am sure that will be a nice world."
Naruto pictures it for a moment and relaxes, truly relaxes like he hasn't in such a long time. Then he hears the voices of his allies, reporting to him that a member of the Imperial Guard is approaching.
Naruto sighs, "Just not today."
The 7th Hokage gets to his feet and stands ready to face the approaching enemy. Flanked by his many comrades he is confident that he will be able to take on any comers, especially when he sees that the approaching enemy is unaccompanied. It turns out that this is just a lone captain.
They let the captain approach, knowing that someone of this skill and power level couldn't possibly concern such a powerful fighting force. Most of them are capable of defeating a captain alone, together it would be easy.
"I have a message for Uzumaki Naruto," the captain says.
"I am Naruto. Who are you?"
"I am a Captain of the Imperial Guard. I am here on behalf of General Yasmine of Cheqitori. We have taken Princess Endou Hinata into custody in our secure facility in the capital. The false empress is being held in Rara Prison."
Naruto groans. This is what Hannah sensed was wrong. Her instincts were telling her what the approaching captain was going to say. The information was most likely deduced from Sasuke's reaction to the nearby enemy, the direction they were approaching from and the amount of time Hinata has been missing. This is of course not good news. If Furst's subordinates have Hinata in custody it is only a matter of time before she is executed as a potential rival to the emperor.
"Why shouldn't we just kill you?" Sasuke asks.
"I would be helpless if you tried," the captain admits. "My commanding officer made me assurances though. She assured me that Uzumaki Naruto would not allow me to be executed. Apparently, it isn't in his nature."
"Why tell me all this?" Naruto asks.
"There is a squadron ready to take you into custody. If you do not hand yourself over to us, then we will execute Endou Hinata. If you do hand yourself in General Yasmine has promised that she will speak to the Head General of the Imperial Guard on your behalf. She will ask that the two of you be allowed to live."
"Do you really think we would let him do something so stupid?" Sasuke asks.
"I cannot read General Yasmine's mind. If I could though, I bet she thinks that now the false empress is in custody Uzumaki Naruto has assumed command here. Mind you, the interrogation may have revealed more specific reasons that Naruto would be willing to do this."
Naruto sighs. Of course they have interrogated Hinata, that is how the Imperial Guard knew that they would be here. If they have had time to ask Hinata questions it is possible they know that the two of them were married in a previous life of Hinata's. With that kind of information it is only natural they would attempt to blackmail her husband, seeing him as their greatest threat.
"How could you possibly get a message to Yasmine quickly enough to prevent the princess' execution?" Naruto asks, "The distance between here and Rara is enormous. Only a class 9 warrior could possibly cover the required distance in such a short time."
"Communication stones. The resistance to the south knows about them so I am surprised news has yet to reach you."
The captain produces a communication stone and explains it to Naruto.
"This is a communication stone. One simply squeezes and applies a tiny amount of divine energy to the stone. One can direct a message to anyone that they know if they are within the range of the stone. This particular stone is low-grade, befitting of my rank. We have a string of officers between me and General Yasmine, and we will pass the message along from person to person. News of our encounter will reach her almost instantly. She will be able to use her high-grade stone to give me any further instructions."
"It sounds like you've thought of everything," Naruto says.
"General Yasmine may act easy-going, but she is our leader. She is as meticulous as her position demands."
"It sounds like it. Would you leave, I need to discuss this with my comrades. Once I have reached a decision, I will let you know."
"Very well," the captain says, "Uzumaki, I admire you from a military standpoint. You are a worthy enemy even for the Imperial Guard. A friendly warning though, you aren't going to win this one. Do what the General asks, it is the only route to a painless death for you."
"Time to go," Minato says.
The 4th Hokage grabs the captain's shoulder before using the Flying Thunder God technique to send him a short distance away. This is just enough distance to give them privacy but close enough that they can reach the captain on short notice.
Michel the Horse takes the lead in the conversation, having the most experience of any of them, he feels that he is best suited to advise Naruto on his options. He also has his own loyalties to speak for. He is loyal to the true empress of Homeworld in all things.
"We don't have time to wait for the Crown Prince, nor do we have time to catch the Empress' Mother to ask her for help. The captain was right, this situation was considered carefully by the Imperial Guard. It seems like a perfect trap. It's a pity they overlooked our trump card."
"Trump card?" Mana asks.
"The enemy doesn't know about Mr Uchiha and his ability to move through space."
"Oh of course, based on the position of the sun in the sky I can tell us which direction it is to Rara Prison and exactly how far away it is. Good thing I was brought up in the Imperial House otherwise I would never have learnt that."
"It will be difficult," Sasuke admits, "But if you can tell me which direction to point and how far away it is, I should be able to open up a portal between here and the prison."
This would take most people years of work, but Mana is not normal. She was raised a sister to the princess. She felt she had to fight far harder than most for even small amounts of recognition. Homeworld geography was one of her favourite subjects. She knew all the lands that Emperor Endou ruled over. Rara Prison, a famous facility not far outside the city of Rara, the capital of the nation to the north, Cheqitori. These are the Crystal Caves, a location of great significance that nobody outside the Imperial Family would have known about. Only she, raised in that family with such a powerful drive to learn could do this now.
Mana grabs Sasuke by the shoulders, unperturbed by his reputation and his power. She spins him around, acting as his compass and points him in the right direction. She quotes a long distance to him, far longer than Sasuke was expecting, even considering the enormity of this realm.
Sasuke raises a single hand. Viridian energy dances on that hand, briefly appearing in his eyes. He feels the energy strain increase as he tries to project his energy further and further away. This is to open a tiny portal, a portal that only one speck of dust could fit through. When he opens the portal at the full distance required, he gets a sense of how much energy this is going to take. Rara Prison is a long way away, to bridge the gap would be difficult, even for someone of his skill.
"This is going to be a struggle," Sasuke says.
"Are you going to persuade me not to do this?" Naruto asks.
"No, it honestly will be tricky. Think this through, divine energy doesn't work well for what you're asking me to do here. Each time I open up a portal I need to use a start-up energy. The further away I intend to open the other portal, the greater the start-up energy. Keeping open a portal is easier, but the greater the distance the harder my energy is to control. At this distance I won't be able to open a portal twice, I will have to keep it open. That means I won't be able to help you. I will have to concentrate on keeping the portal open as long as I can."
"That's more than enough Sasuke. If you can open that portal, I will get Hinata, I swear."
"Slow down, it won't be that easy," Michel the Horse says. "Most likely when you open this portal, we will encounter resistance. General Yasmine herself will probably be waiting on the other side. We have a strong team here, but we probably can't beat a general, at least not within the short time frame we have."
"We don't need to beat a general," Hannah says.
"She will definitely be there," Mana assures Hannah.
"I see what you're thinking," Himawari says, "All we need to do is keep her busy while dad frees mom. We may not be able to defeat a general together but we're strong. Hannah may be able to survive this fight alone using her instincts."
"The chances are she will kill one of you," Sasuke says.
"Sakura is a healer. If she stays on this side of the portal, then we will have a safe space to retreat into. It isn't certain but I trust her to prevent any of us from dying. We would also need someone to bring the injured through the portal to safety. I can't think of anyone better than my grandparents for this job."
"I'm ashamed to admit it but we would hold you back right now," Minato admits. "I can promise that the two of us will do everything we can to make you safe."
"You can count on us," Hinata says.
"This is a very good idea," Michel says. "In that case we have our plan. Naruto will rescue Hinata. Sasuke will keep the portal open. Sakura will heal the injured. Minato and Kushina will bring the injured to safety. That means the rest of us have the tough job. Mana, Himawari, Hannah, Claude and I will fight General Yasmine."
They all take a moment to ready themselves. They have risked their lives countless times now in order to protect the future of this world. They have each fought battles against tough opponents, from members of the military to mercenaries to other Imperial Guard generals. They have become desensitized to the risks they are taking every time they undergo such an operation. The opponent they are about to face has a good chance of killing them, even when they work as a team.
"Naruto, you better not mess this up, you'll be embarrassing the Hidden Leaf if you can't do this," Sasuke remarks sarcastically.
"I know," Naruto answers.
Sasuke was not expecting that. It was only a joke.
"Naruto, you need to calm down," Kurama says.
"I don't know what you're talking about Kurama. I'm perfectly calm."
"You're worried, I can tell."
"Of course I am, they have Hinata. Aren't you worried?"
"That's not what I mean. You are worried that if your every action isn't perfect that everything will fall apart. You may be unique Naruto, but you are not perfect, and you never will be. Just be yourself, that is all anybody expects."
Naruto doesn't answer Kurama. He simply watches with the others as Sasuke summons forth his viridian 'spacetime' energy, forming it into a portal a couple of people wide. It is obvious from the sweat on the Uchiha's brow and the deep breaths he is taking that this is a great struggle, even for him.
Despite Sasuke's struggles, the portal opens. With the One True Sense Naruto can perceive the world on the other side. He is confident enough that the enormous structure on the other side is Rara Prison. If it is not Mana is sure to say so when they head through. Naruto takes the lead, charging through first.
The others follow in Naruto's wake, moving the enormous distance from the Crystal Caves to Rara Prison instantly. Their new surroundings, minus the massive prison structure before them, are not in keeping with such a terrible place. They are on one of many smooth rolling hills, with small groups of short trees, providing the occasional bit of shade from the sun in this grassy area.
A few moments after the group has made their way through the portal, they sense a powerful warrior approaching. As predicted, it is the class 8 warrior, General Yasmine. She arrives very quickly from inside the prison structure, she stands before them meeting them for the first time.
Yasmine is not what Naruto pictured. Somehow, he pictured his latest adversary as being scary to look at, as someone who gives off the sense of being cruel. Yasmine's actions aren't in keeping with her appearance. Bronze skin, long white hair, a cat-like grin. Naruto has seen people with this sort of look before, troublemakers, people who like to toy with their opponents and make fun of them, but often lacking for killer instinct. He didn't picture someone like this siding with the Imperial Guard.
"I am General Yasmine. I am the General of the Imperial Guard in Cheqitori. I serve as a second-in-command to King Hertz Erik."
"I couldn't care less," Naruto says bluntly.
Yasmine feigns a look of hurt. "I put in so much effort to meet you, I thought you would be a little happy. Oh well. When I first heard about you, I didn't think you would amount to much, not with such powerful enemies fighting against you. I expected you would be dead by this point. I am pleased that you are not."
"You will wish I had died soon," Naruto says.
Yasmine laughs. "I doubt it. You may sound scary, but you're weak right now."
Naruto doesn't care for Yasmine's laughter. He activates his divine 'life' cloak. With Kurama's help he powers-up his right leg. He launches at Yasmine as fast as he can, generating a 'life' enhanced rasengan on the way. He arrives before her and powerfully swings the attack towards her.
"Oopsie!" Yasmine says as she slides backwards.
Yasmine watches as Naruto passes her. Her ability to fight at high speed exceed his greatly. It almost looks like he is standing still to her. While the 7th Hokage may be able to move quickly with his powers, they do not grant him the boost in perception rate that he would receive on becoming a class 8 warrior himself. She waits until he has moved forward a sufficient amount before extending her foot, tripping him to the floor.
Naruto tries to quickly kip up from the floor, but as his back straightens, he finds his chest blocked by Yasmine's palm. She grins at him, a smile that conveys the complete humiliation in the difference between them. This is not a battle Naruto is ready for, at least not yet.
Yasmine pushes Naruto gently, sending him down onto his back.
Naruto kicks himself back along the ground using his divine oddity. He uses the increased space between him and Yasmine to get to his feet. The General quickly makes her way behind him though, planning a single strike to the back of the head to incapacitate him once again. Toying with him like this is the most fun she has had in ages.
As Yasmine's hand is about to connect with Naruto's neck though, another hand catches her arm, stopping the attack.
"Oh?"
Yasmine is surprised. There should be nobody among this group with the reactions to keep up with her. If someone were to stop that attack, they would have to have seen it coming. There are some people who learn skills that allow them to see a short way into the future, but she has not heard about anyone with that skill among this group. This is because the attack was stopped with the help of a divine ability.
Hannah stopped the attack!
"I think you have other things to be worrying about, right?" Hannah says.
Naruto simply nods before running towards the prison structure.
Yasmine develops a theory about this young woman who stopped her last attack. To test her theory she tries a kick to the rear of Hannah's head. This attack is fast, faster than a normal class 7 could hope to dodge, yet Hannah dodges it, nonetheless. She is a strange woman with reflexes faster than anybody on her level should possess. Yasmine's theory is confirmed, she knows who this must be.
"I'll be taking this fight from here," Hannah says.
New Power Ratings in this Chapter
General Yasmine = [Lightning + Water] (3) + Combo (1) + Manual (3) + Divine Ability (1)
In Response to rasengan1245's Questions
About Naruto's kekkai genkai and rasen-shuriken
As far as I am aware he wouldn't have them currently as they were dependent on the other tailed beasts. Currently only Kurama is with him.
He currently has the skill to use the rasen-shuriken without the assistance of clones.
Thanks for reading.
In Response to Engineer's Question
About my health
My health is a bit better thank you.
I'm trying to get back into the habit of writing more regularly but as my situation has changed with lockdown I have less time available.
Thank you for your prayers and kindness, they are much appreciated.
Thanks for reading.
In Response to m'j doom's Thoughts
About various subjects
1) It's an interesting thought. Naturally I couldn't say if it were true or not.
2) Wow indeed. I hope I'll live up to your expectations.
3) It may or may not be possible. You will see in future chapters, I hope you enjoy finding out.
4) The Mirai situation will be addressed again in the future.
5) I'm glad you are hoping for that because that's what I've been planning right since the beginning.
Thanks for reading.
In Response to Guest's Question
About if Hashirama is now a class 8 warrior
Hashirama is currently a class 7 warrior.
The in-world reason for this hasn't been elaborated upon yet.
Perhaps Mirai's power would have been the scorch release.
Her power is complicated and hasn't been fully explained yet.
Because this is being left to future developments, I can't explain Mirai's level cap.
Thanks for reading.