THE FOUNDRY – AN UNSEEN POWER
The Crystal Caves
Above the Crystal Caves everyone takes a few moments to recover. They have done it. They pitted themselves in a battle of strategy against General Yasmine and they won. This shows that they can outmanoeuvre an opponent stronger than themselves. It shows that even if it proves impossible to reach Furst's level of strength, they may still be able to take back Homeworld. Hope for Homeworld, that was always what this campaign was about, they have achieved it. Word of this battle will surely spread far, just as the rebellion in Taigai will in time.
Boruto props his father's back up against a boulder, letting him see them rather than the vacant blue sky. This is his moment of victory just as much as theirs, even if he needed Hinata to pull him through the portal at the end. It was the moment of unity that the Uzumaki-Endou family were all waiting for.
"Thank you," Hinata says to him.
Naruto smiles. "You know the people of our world aren't naïve about the risks of this war Hinata. When Clyde first invaded, he barely had to do any work. Only the future versions of Sasuke and I were able to make him fight. We lost, or so I'm told. Imagine that, we saved the world, we changed history, we had a legendary battle in the valley, just as Hashirama and Madara did before us. Sasuke and I were echoes in time in our world, we were supposed to fight forever but the two of us changed that. We changed everything. Yet even then we couldn't stand up to Clyde, Homeworld's military was just too strong.
"Our world had several powerful nations of shinobi. We had a few smaller ones as well. Only the Hidden Leaf and a few people from the Hidden Sand survived. Most of us died, because Homeworld was too strong for us. It was a miracle that we won the captained-six contest. When Lara attacked, we all thought we would die for sure, but we somehow survived again.
"Clyde asked us to come here, to defend his world like he did ours. We didn't come here thinking we would win, but we did come here to fight. We came here because it was our choice to do so. We knew that we would probably die. I think there was something that we all felt though when we made that decision. We had a faith in one another, a belief that we may be able to change things if we risked our lives. That's why we came here."
Hinata understands a lot of what Naruto is saying. For a moment back there she felt that same unwavering faith, maybe not in all of the pocket-worlders but certainly in Naruto himself. She felt that together with him she could make a big difference to this world, a difference that neither of them could make if they were apart.
"When I came to this place, I started to realise how bad things were," Naruto said. "The more I see the more convinced I am. The people here need my help. I have seen people suffering and I have seen the way they look at me when I say I'm fighting for them. I can't give up on them now. It's not just the people of this world either.
"Now that I'm here I know that I have to fight for my family. I have seen my little sister's life endangered; I have seen my daughter fighting against desperate odds, I have seen my son turned into a killer and I have seen my wife die. The Imperial Guard and Furst Jonas have attacked the people I care about again and again. They have done things that I couldn't possibly overlook, no matter how hard I try. This isn't just because what they are doing is wrong, this is because they have done bad things to them.
"Hinata, I know I have kept things from you, and from everyone else. I shouldn't have done that, but after everything we've been through, I was just being overprotective. But, surely by now you must realise that this isn't only your war. My pocket-world is at war with Furst as well. I think we have become friends to the people of your world, and they have been great friends to us. For the last time, I'm asking you, not as my wife, but as the Empress of Homeworld, please, let us help you with this war."
Hinata isn't blind to Naruto's strife anymore. She realises how much she ignored him in the past. She let her other-self's relationship with Naruto overwhelm her and stopped looking at him as the person he is. Even if she doesn't love him, she does appreciate that he is the leader of the people from his pocket-world. He is fighting a war on their behalf and so far, he has done more for the people of Homeworld than anyone else in this war.
"I have been stubborn," Hinata admits. "I couldn't see things clearly, partially because of my relationship to you, but partly for another reason. I'm a proud person myself, but as the Empress of Homeworld I am even more proud. This empire is a mighty one filled with great people who have achieved much. I didn't want to accept help from others because I thought doing so would bring shame to the empire.
"But I was wrong. Accepting your help doesn't bring any shame to this empire Naruto. Working with someone like you, no, with people like the shinobi of your pocket-world, it is something to be proud of. Before the Dark Dimension invaded there was no empire, Homeworld was divided. People identified with factions, they hated their rivals, but that all changed when my father emerged. People who hated the Endou family before worked happily with him, they even accepted him as their emperor. They were proud of him.
"I am proud to work with you, Uzumaki Naruto. I would like to ask you, on behalf of your people, to enter a formal alliance with Homeworld."
Hinata extends her hand to Naruto.
It is a different way of talking to Hinata than Naruto is used to, but it still makes him happy. He shakes her hand gladly, entering the rebellion and the Hidden Leaf into a formal alliance at long last.
"I look forward to working with you Empress."
"And I you, Lord 7th Hokage."
Two Days Later
Naruto watches Hannah climb to the highest point in the immediate area. She is trying to get a better view. That means that there is something coming. Hannah's instincts are never wrong, they are a signal to everyone else that something is happening and that they should pay attention. Many of them have sensory powers they rely on, for Naruto that power is the One True Sense, taught to him by Nina.
As Naruto begins to use the One True Sense, he realises what triggered Hannah's reaction.
It is Enri!
She is coming back.
Class 9 warriors are not like everybody else. The gap in power between each class grows greater the more powerful you become. Yasmine, a class 8 warrior was able to outfight some of the strongest class 7s in Homeworld, that is not only because of her skill but because of the raw power difference between the two classes. The gap to a class 9 is even greater, they form a great wind as they tear through the air, they move with a whooshing sound accompanying when they do so. The reason Enri has got here so much quicker than they could is because of that power difference, that speed difference.
Enri seems to fly, each of her powerful steps carrying her for miles. When she comes to a halt before them, she doesn't remain alone for long. She uses her divine ability for it's most powerful purpose, to move people great distances during a time of war.
Suddenly many people from the War Council start to appear around them. Naruto recognises Yuuki Terukatsu among them, the leader of that council. Enri also summons a couple more familiar faces, her brother's other student Ming Dai and the world's best tracker Shao Chin. Whatever their next move is going to be they have just gained a lot more allies.
"You made it back here so quickly Enri, you are just as quick as I remembered," Terukatsu praises her.
"I work well when I am serving a righteous cause Mr Yuuki."
Naruto detects some animosity between Terukatsu and Enri. During the previous war Enri was in the same group as Akashi that took over the war effort, many people started looking away from the War Council and to the future imperials for leadership. In recent days Terukatsu has been upset that Enri has remained hidden for so long when she could have been helping Homeworld. Without Akashi, his brother and his wife have been far less effective at serving the people of this world. The Muto clan is nothing without the Endou clan it seems to him.
Enri continues. "The War Council is still in charge of the war effort for now. I have never been much of a tactician. Council Leader Yuuki will be taking the lead on our next moves."
"Thank you," Terukatsu says. "Since the Empress' mother has re-emerged after such a long time in hiding we now have a lot more freedom. As Lady Enri has previously met each of the royals, she can summon them away from areas they were previously protecting. This gives a licence to attack crucial zones under the enemy's control."
"You have a plan?" Hinata asks.
"Yes Princ-
"They are from the same clan as King Hertz Erik," Hinata explains.
Terukatsu continues. "Lady Enri has never met either of the Seer Twins before, so naturally we cannot summon them to our current position. We can get to them in a way previously inaccessible to us though. We can use Lady Enri's powers to summon King Erik away from the compound, then we will take it by force."
"I have been to the Hertz compound before," Hinata says. "The clan is well known throughout Homeworld for their ability to see into the future. Most clans gained fame for their powerful warriors, the Hertz clan is famous for warriors and for Seers. They were a legendary family even before Erik was the king. That compound will be heavily guarded, there will be casualties if we take it. Are you sure there is no way we can help you to summon them mother?"
"Even if I were teleported right into the middle of the compound, I wouldn't know the twins," Enri admits. "King Erik wouldn't just let me stay there either; he would try to kill me. No, we have to take the compound so that we have time to act methodically."
Enri has also heard rumours about seers in the past. It is said that their powers work best in certain places, places they usually make their homes. The Hertz Compound is built in such a place, that is why their family has been blessed with many great seers over the years. She doesn't know if she believes it, but Furst certainly does, after all, he made the trip with Akashi and Sora to see that Seer so many years ago. That seer changed their fortunes for the worse, she hopes the twins can change it for the better.
"I'm reluctant to risk so many lives," Hinata says.
"It wouldn't be for nothing," Enri assures her daughter. "Your father travelled with your uncle and Furst to meet a seer many years ago. That seer was said to be the most powerful Homeworld had ever known. Seers aren't like us warriors, they only live a normal life, they age. There have been many seers since that one, but it is said that none are so powerful as the twins."
"Shao Chin, could you find the Foundry?" Naruto asks.
"It is said that the Foundry is not of this world," Shao Chin answers. "I may be the best tracker in all Homeworld, but there are countless other trackers who have failed. Between them they've covered everywhere I would know to look. We need someone who knows if we're going to find the Foundry. Philip and Theresa are our best hope if you ask me."
"Some believe you have to go through the void to reach the Foundry," Enri explains. "It's impossible. We can't go through the void. I bet even Furst wouldn't risk going through the void. There must be a safer way to reach the Foundry. The twins will help us find it."
"Will they agree to help us?" Naruto asks.
"Seers will know a lot about you, stuff that even you don't know. They will know that you are pure of heart. I hope that is enough to make them talk to you."
"OK, it's a plan then."
Later that night
Naruto and Hinata discuss their opinion about the plan to the take the Hertz Compound. They each foresee problems; each predict that the losses in the battle may be too great. There is also the other issue, General Yasmine. They couldn't defeat her before; now they have Terukatsu, will he be able to defeat her? At least they are in agreement about the risks this time. Unfortunately, despite being the spokespeople for their respective factions in this war, neither of them are in charge of the rebellion right now.
Enri approaches.
"I hear the two of you have been through quite an ordeal together. You were kidnapped by the resistance Hinata. You had to escape Rara Prison, going through General Yasmine in the process. That is quite an achievement."
"I didn't do it alone," Hinata admits.
Enri smiles. Whatever happened while Hinata was incarcerated, it seems she has come to understand something. It looks like a weight has been lifted from the shoulders of the true empress. If she has learnt to work with Naruto that is great news for the rebellion. There are two important hurdles before the two of them can be left in charge of this movement. First, they have to become powerful enough, stronger than Yuuki Terukatsu so they can inspire loyalty in their followers. Secondly, they have to learn to find common ground, so that they don't clash when an important decision must be made. Unfortunately, she still senses something weighing Naruto down.
"I am not going to be with you much from now on," Enri tells them. "I am the rebellion's most powerful warrior, and Erik won't be the last royal I need to draw away from a key position. There are weaker people who need my help, but the two of you will soon have the power to make a big difference all by yourselves."
"It won't be easy," Naruto says.
"No it won't. You fought Yasmine; you know what a general is like now. The royals will be harder to fight still, much harder. I will be with you in spirit, but from now on things are going to be much harder for you. You two need to be ready to deal with that. If you can't rely on me learn to rely on each other. Can you do that?"
"Of course," Naruto answers before leaving.
"There are going to be so many difficult moments Kurama," Naruto says. "Now I can't afford to make any mistakes. Boruto, Himawari, Hinata, they will all be with me during those battles. I need to be perfect, or one of them will die."
"Not this again Naruto. I thought you had got over this," Kurama replies. "You've got to stop putting so much pressure on yourself, you get enough of it from everyone else."
"Do you think he's OK?" Hinata asks her mother as she watches Naruto leave.
"Do you?"
"No. I think this is all too much for that Naruto."
"That Naruto?"
"I had a few memories of my other life as Hyuuga Hinata. I remember the way Naruto made me feel in that life. He felt like he could take on anything and keep moving forward, like there was nothing that could hold him down. When the other me saw him walking forward with all that pain, it inspired me to do the same thing. This Naruto is distracted though, distracted by the possibility of pain. Until he lets go of that distraction, I don't think he can be his old self again."
"It's good that your memories are returning," Enri says, placing a hand on Hinata's shoulder. "I trust you will be happier working with him moving forward?"
"Yes."
"Good."
"Mother, he has been through a lot in his life. He's suffered more than I ever have. I think I'm coping well under the circumstances, especially considering how much is expected of me."
"Yes, your father would be proud."
"Thank you. But Naruto, this is what he's like when there is something wrong with him. He's distracted by the possibility of loss, but he is moving forward anyway, getting stronger, helping to take back Homeworld one step at a time. His mind is so well suited to this, he's a freak of nature. How does one learn to have that mental strength?"
"I don't think even he knows in all honesty," Enri answers. "I did once think that your father was the same, but now I'm not sure. If there is anyone other than Naruto who has this mental strength it is probably Furst."
"Furst?"
"I don't like him, but he managed to conceal his true intentions from us all those years. He fought on our side during the war and we never had a clue that he was aiming to become a god. Even now he continues to improve himself and strengthen his empire when others would have stopped long ago. He is extremely determined. I don't understand how Jonas became like that.
"In a way Furst Jonas and Uzumaki Naruto are the same. Their willpower is transcendent. I'm glad we have someone like that on our side. I hope that when it matters, he has the strength to beat Jonas, because he may be the only person who can."