THE FOUNDRY – ESCAPE FROM RARA PRISON
Rara Prison, Outside the Walls
Hannah loses sight of Boruto completely. She doesn't fully understand his Death Mask technique yet, but it is giving her a familiar feeling. She has only felt this way once before, that was when she fought Naruto. To her it seems very likely that what Boruto has developed a divine oddity. Even if this technique is not a divine oddity it makes him practically undetectable, it is clearly very powerful.
Hannah's next obstacle is knowing how to fight with Boruto now that he is using this technique that makes him undetectable. For normal people collaboration would be difficult, but she is the exception. Her movements can be driven by instinct, just as they always have been. Due to this strange combination of her divine ability and his divine oddity, they are the ideal pair to take on Yasmine right now.
Obeying her instinct, Hannah runs towards Yasmine. She watches as Yasmine readies herself to counter any attack she may attempt. This is all within expectation, halfway between her starting point and Yasmine Hannah creates a curtain of 'light' energy between the two of them. This obscures their vision, not allowing either of them to see what the other is doing.
One would think this gives the advantage to Hannah, but that is wrong. Yasmine doesn't care about the curtain of 'light', all she needs is superior reaction time and speed. The general lunges through the curtain, grabbing Hannah by the arm. She immediately throws a series of four strikes to Hannah's abdomen, not the sort of attack that will defeat Hannah but definitely one that will weaken her as the fight goes on.
Everything is not what it seems. Hannah is smiling. Yasmine looks around and takes a moment to realise why. Previously Michel, Claude and Kushina were still on the battlefield. While the curtain of 'light' distracted her though, Boruto went around and brought them all to safety on the other side. The 'light' wasn't a distraction for Hannah's advantage but for everyone else's.
Yasmine watches as Hannah's feet lift off the floor, this is in spite of the general's grip on the rebel's arm. It is a pose for a kick, but one that would do just as much harm to Hannah as it would to Yasmine. The general can't work out why to begin with, the first self-sacrificing attack made sense, it was to protect the others, but this time there seems to be no logic behind it. By the time Yasmine's worked it out, it is too late.
A 'death' enhanced hand chops downward, striking Yasmine's elbow. She experiences a brief moment of pain, brief but long enough for her grip on Hannah to loosen, and for Clyde's daughter to break free. Having gotten free Hannah kicks Yasmine powerfully in the ribs, knocking her back a couple of steps.
With Yasmine off balance, Boruto charges towards her, using the cover of his Death Mask on the way. He uses a kunai to perform his unique attack. He throws the kunai towards Yasmine, converting it to a 'death' Rasengan on route to its destination. Of course, out of the cover of Boruto's Death Mask, Yasmine is able to detect the kunai and knock it off course, but even the kunai is a distraction. It allows Boruto to get behind Yasmine and kick her in the rear of the head.
The kick pushes Yasmine forward a short way, back within Hannah's reach. Hannah is quick to attack, throwing two solid punches before Yasmine is able to counter and knock her away. Hannah's attacks generate a further opening which Boruto uses to attack with a 'death' enhanced Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion.
When attacked Yasmine is quick to find Boruto's position. She reaches back and grabs him by the wrist, throwing him in the same direction as Hannah. She groups her two adversaries together so she can attack them with a single blast of 'water' and 'lightning'.
Hannah pushes Boruto out of the way and evades the attack herself. It is only thanks to her quick reactions and her powerful instincts that they are able to escape unharmed.
Boruto can't help but marvel at his opponent's power. Even going up against his divine oddity and Hannah's remarkable divine ability Yasmine is getting the better of them. Her attacks hurt more, her power is enduring better, and her technique is superior in a straight-up fight. He had thought that Death Mask would protect his location better, but it seems even relying purely on her intuition Yasmine is a fearsome foe.
Yasmine tries her best to concentrate on Boruto's position, now convinced that he is more of a threat than Hannah. Taking down the warrior of perfect instincts will be near impossible until she has reduced this to a one on one fight. That means that she needs to take out Boruto first, but that is not easy. The technique he seems to be using is far beyond any divine ability that she has ever seen. She supposes that it must be a technique from the pocket-world, one that is very difficult to master. She manages to focus on Boruto's position for a short while, but the second he takes a sideward step she loses sight of him and is forced to fall back on her reactions.
Boruto runs towards Yasmine from the right. He takes one of the truth-seeking balls from behind his back and coats it in 'death' energy, ready to force it into his opponent's side. As he arrives next to the general, she finally catches sight of him and reacts. She lunges for his hand with her own. At this key moment Hannah reveals that Boruto passed her a kunai behind her back. Hannah throws that kunai towards Yasmine, forcing her to move her other hand to block it.
This is exactly what Boruto planned. Boruto transforms the kunai heading towards Yasmine into a 'death' enhanced rasengan. This knocks Yasmine's hand aside, putting her off balance. Boruto sways to the left, a move that when combined with his Death Mask gives the general no chance to react. He fires the truth-seeking ball into Yasmine's abdomen, a strike that is both clean and powerful.
Yasmine sacrifices a bit more of her divine energy, activating her concentrated defence. Normal warriors would focus on this action alone, but Yasmine is comfortable multi-tasking even with such complicated actions. While she defends herself from the truth-seeking ball, she lands a powerful punch to Boruto's skull. She sends him reeling back, forcing Hannah to steady him. This gives her another ideal moment to try a ranged attack, but thankfully for Boruto Hannah drags him aside. The two live to fight on.
"Your fighting style is rather unique," Yasmine remarks to Boruto. "I've never seen an ability like that one you're using before. I've never read about it in any of the military reports on pocket-worlders either. Say, why don't you tell me, what is it?"
"I doubt you would believe me if I told you."
"Oh go on. You can try me. You know what they say about me. Yasmine always believes you."
"Nobody says that," Hannah says, her instincts taking over.
Yasmine grins. She wishes that she could study these two all day long. They might be of even greater interest to the empire than Naruto. The ability to move undetected even by the most battle-hardened veterans, and the instinct to foresee every move that will be used against you. If these abilities could be understood, if they could be used as part of the Imperial Guard's greater strategy, the Guards would become unbeatable.
"This is my technique; I call it Death Mask. It is a divine oddity."
"Nope," Yasmine says.
"My father and I have both worked out divine oddities. When you send word to your emperor make sure you tell him that. Its time for him to be afraid for a change."
Yasmine can only assume that by father Boruto is referring to Naruto. She mutters to herself about his this is confusing though. The pocket-worlders only came to Homeworld in the last few years. Even if they had possessed divine energy for the last five years in their own world, that doesn't explain why Boruto looks so much older than his father.
"But you see, Emperor Furst uses a divine oddity, that's what makes him so strong," Yasmine explains. "He's the only person who can do that. Muto Sora, he couldn't do it. Mauer Sabine, she couldn't do it. Endou Akashi, he couldn't do it. Power like that doesn't choose people like you. Your abilities pale in comparison to the emperor's."
"Maybe I can't compare to Furst yet, but I am much younger than he is. I have a long way to go and I am only just starting to get to grips with this power. My father is the same. When we have finished, our techniques will be just as powerful as Furst's. No, when I'm done my powers will be beyond any the emperor has! You may underestimate me for now, but I am certain that he will not."
Naturally Yasmine is bluffing. She doubts that what Boruto has grasped right now is a complete divine oddity, but it is certainly the start of one. She has heard rumours that even now Furst has not completely mastered his divine oddity, that he spends a lot of his time alone, trying to master the next level. If he and Naruto are at this level now, then it bodes poorly for the future. If they are not crushed soon it will no longer be a job for the Imperial Guard but a job for the royals.
"Who are you?" Yasmine asks.
"My father is Uzumaki Naruto, 7th Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. My mother is Hyuuga Hinata, a dedicated shinobi from that same village who never stopped fighting for her family. My mother is also known to the people of Homeworld. In this place my mother is not known as Hyuuga Hinata, but as her other-self, Endou Hinata."
"Are you trying to tell me that Endou Hinata and Uzumaki Naruto are married?"
"Yes. I bet that strikes fear into your hearts doesn't it."
"It's a real romantic story, but it doesn't make me feel afraid. Today you cannot beat me. Tomorrow maybe you can, but you can't beat the royals, not good enough. The day after maybe you beat the royals, but you can't beat the emperor, not good enough. Another day passes, and another, and another, but the day you're waiting for never comes. You assemble the greatest warriors in Homeworld, they all work together against Furst, it's not good enough. You won't win this war; we have no reason to fear you."
"Then if you don't fear them, fear me. I am the child of your two greatest enemies. I am also the true Crown Prince of Homeworld. I swear to you now, I am going to make sure my mother sits on the throne where she belongs."
Rara Prison, Inside the Walls
Naruto and Hinata stand beside one of the enormous outer walls of Rara Prison with their backs to it. They work together to fight off the many captains and colonels that are attacking them. Hinata had worried that Naruto was going to collapse before now. He has fought through so many of these guards now that anybody else would have collapsed. Her concerns were unfounded, Naruto has kept going in spite of everything and he shows no signs of stopping any time soon.
The size of the enemy force is keeping them pinned against the wall with nowhere to go. They are trapped and Naruto realises that even if they can hold on, it won't be long before Yasmine defeats the others. He must find a way out of this situation now. He thinks that he has one, but he warns Hinata under his breath that it will cause a lot of destruction. She confirms to him that destruction to enemy territory is no concern of hers, she gives him the go ahead.
Naruto uses a technique has seldom used since arriving in Homeworld. He activates Tailed Beast Mode, taking on Kurama's form and tremendous size. Being so large and cumbersome is usually a disadvantage in Homeworld battles which rely heavily on speed, but right now it is an advantage. The nine-tails form leans into the wall they are trapped against, trying to push it down and give them a path to escape. It doesn't budge though, no matter how hard Naruto and Kurama try.
"Hey, Naruto, I have an idea," Kurama says.
After hearing the idea Naruto thinks it is crazy. He approves. It is a reversal of the way they usually use his divine oddity. This time Kurama directs energy to the nine-tails leg after partially detonating his core, and Naruto uses 'life' energy to heal it. The gigantic form of the nine tails bursts through the wall, sending the tremendous bricks it is built from scattering in all directions.
Naruto returns to his own form. Now he and Hinata have a route to escape. They each leap over the remnants of the fallen wall. The true empress berates Naruto for his foolish idea, asking what would happen if it had fallen on their allies. The 7th Hokage simply smiles as he runs over the wall with his wife. Doing crazy stunts like this to escape from danger reminds him of a time when life was a little bit simpler.
Both Hinata and Naruto have strong senses. They can see the portal that Sasuke has open. Except for Yasmine, there are no guards between them and the portal. As long as they can muster the energy to keep running then they will be faster than any of the guards who try to pursue them. It is a straight run to the portal, so they run beside one another, they run towards the portal as fast as their legs will carry them.
The Crystal Caves
Sasuke flinches as he feels his energy reserves drop critically low. He doesn't say so, but he can feel that he won't be able to keep the portal open much longer. He uses his Rinnegan to look forward into the portal. Naruto and Hinata are coming as quickly as they can, he doesn't have to hold on much longer. He just has to find the energy to keep going.
Sakura notices, "Sasuke, you don't have much more energy to—"
"I know."
"If that portal closes…"
"I'll keep it open."
"But—"
"I will keep it open," the Uchiha clansmen insists.
Rara Prison, Outside the Walls
Now Yasmine is put in a difficult position. What Boruto told her has given her a tricky choice. She can either focus on keeping Boruto and Hannah here and trying to exploit their abilities for the Imperial Guard, or she can try and keep Naruto and Hinata here.
Boruto quickly takes the decision out of Yasmine's hands. Still using his Death Mask, he grabs Hannah by the shoulder and drags her back through the portal with him.
Yasmine now has only one job. Naruto and Hinata are rushing towards her and the imminently closing portal. She just needs to make sure that they don't make it through. The student of Muto Sora, the daughter of Endou Akashi, even considering Boruto and Hannah's abilities these two are the greatest threats to the empire. She must stop them getting through the portal at any cost.
Naruto and Hinata approach Yasmine fast. Naruto's foot gets caught on a rock, an unusually clumsy move from such a skilled warrior. Hinata catches Naruto and picks him up without slowing down, dragging by his arm to keep him moving. Eventually this helps Naruto to resume his former pace alongside her.
Yasmine notices Naruto's fatigue. She finds him to be the greater threat of her two opponents. This bodes well for her. If her estimation of these two is correct, neither of them will be willing to leave without the other. All she has to do is keep one of them here and the other will remain. All it will take is a single solid attack and the portal will close. Just seconds left, she can do this.
Yasmine fires a combination of 'water' and 'lightning' energy in their direction. The energy collides with the ground at their feet, creating an explosion that throws the married couple up into the air. She watches their trajectory, estimating where each of them will fall. She moves into position, ready to attack Naruto as he descends.
Hinata immediately recognises Yasmine's tactic. She grabs Naruto by the hand, giving him a look to convey her intentions. Naruto understands Hinata's intentions immediately. He tightens his hand around hers. He uses his divine oddity to power-up his arm. Naruto swings Hinata beneath him like a pendulum as he falls. Hinata cuts Yasmine's arm as she swings past her, delivering the powerful strike with the Sacred Sword.
Naruto lands just in front of Yasmine, Hinata just behind her. The 7th Hokage creates a 'life' enhanced Rasengan, intending to push to drive it into Yasmine's torso, but he feels all energy leave him at this crucial moment. He doesn't have the strength to finish his attack.
'Got him!' Yasmine tells herself as she swings her fist towards Naruto.
She is wrong.
Naruto feels the grip on his hand tighten.
Hinata has got him!
Hinata drags Naruto forward, dragging the Rasengan into Yasmine as a consequence.
Yasmine is stunned, just for a fraction of a second.
As the last drops of Sasuke's energy slip away, the portal begins to close. At the very last second Hinata and Naruto make it through hand-in-hand.
Naruto feels so much in this vital moment. Just the feel of Hinata's hand in his is enough to bring back so many pleasant memories. It also reminds him of a time he once felt like giving up in the past, but she persuaded him to keep going. He feels so much closer to her now, closer than he has ever felt to Endou Hinata before.
Today Naruto saved Hinata.
Today Hinata saved Naruto.
This is the day the empire found out about their true identities.
This is the day the empire learned about the Crown Prince.
This is the day when the empire's most powerful enemies finally put up a united front.
In Response to Demon90340's Question
About the Uzumaki family
Hinata can still use her Byakugan.
I've never thought about whether it could be used with divine energy, I'm afraid I don't have an answer for that.
Boruto and Himawari can use divine energy but like other pocket-worlders they can't use divine abilities or training manuals.
I may explain more about why this is later.
Thanks for reading.
In Response to Guest's Questions
About various subjects
There may well be a progenitor.
I may or may not write more about this later.
There isn't a divine energy equivalent to the tailed beasts.
At least not one that I have revealed yet.
I'm not sure how the edo tensei would work on Homeworlders.
Who knows, maybe we will find out.
Thanks for reading.