THE FOUNDRY – TRUSTING HASHIRAMA
The Hertz Compound
"You must have heard about our victory then. I'm sure you were happy when you heard that we defeated the Imperial Guard in that battle."
"I was elated Naruto; you are my successor. From the day I stopped being Hokage the post has been waiting for you."
"Who is this?" Hinata asks.
"This is Senju Hashirama, the 1st Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village and one of our founding members. He was once my most powerful ally, then he became my rival. He was the one who joined Tao Ma and led Boruto astray."
Hinata doesn't need to hear anymore to dislike Hashirama. He is responsible for the single greatest shame in the history of her family. If it weren't for him then Boruto would have emerged as the ideal crown prince. He would be someone with similar powers to his father, a descendant of each world's greatest heroes, a man who could genuinely lead Homeworld one day. Boruto's former associates have called that into question though. Hinata is reluctant to even trust Boruto, given his old desire to kill her people, much less this man she doesn't remember meeting previously.
Hyuuga Hinata once positioned herself between Hashirama and Naruto. In that moment she either saved Naruto's life or endangered it. If there is one thing both Hinata's agree on, it is their dislike of what Hashirama did to their son. She wonders if Naruto feels the same way.
"I know you were being controlled by Tao Ma," Naruto says. "But I'm not stupid enough to believe you are completely back to the old Hashirama. How do I know that I can trust you? Hinata is the true Empress of Homeworld, how do I know you're not going to try to kill her?"
"The main goal of the Hive Mind was the total destruction of Homeworld. If I were under its control and I was this close to Hinata, I would be compelled to kill her."
"Or perhaps you know that I would stop you."
Hashirama frowns. Naruto is right. The Uzumaki clansmen has proved before that he is stronger than Hashirama. When Sarada reminded Naruto about the eternal hope which he holds onto, which inspires him to act, Naruto regained some of his lost resolve. After Naruto's resolve returned, he defeated Hashirama despite already being exhausted. The Hive Mind may not compel Hashirama to attack under these conditions, he will have to find another way to persuade Naruto.
"I'm not as strong as you Naruto," Hashirama admits. "And, it honours me as a teacher to admit that Boruto has now surpassed me as well. But I am powerful, more powerful than when you and I last met. Whatever your problem is I know that I can help you."
"I don't need you to convince me to trust you," Hinata says.
"Good."
"You need to convince me why I shouldn't execute you," she continues. "You indoctrinated the second in line to the throne of this world. You corrupted my son and if it were up to you, he would have killed me. Our family has had many great enemies, the Empress of the Dark Dimension, Mauer Sabine, Furst Jonas and now you. Why should I not eliminate you, the only one of those great enemies who is within my grasp?"
"I only heard news that Boruto was the Crown Prince very recently," Hashirama explains. "Though nothing would have change had I known, I was under the control of the Hive Mind. Besides empress, I founded a great village back home. People from your world came to mine declaring war. They had no problem using full force and to this day you haven't given me a reason to trust you."
"If you have no reason to trust me then why are you here?"
"Because I think I would have trusted you if I had my own mind from the beginning. I don't know that, but I know who I can trust when I can't trust myself, and he's standing right there."
Hashirama points to Naruto.
Naruto nods. Hashirama's reasons were similar to Boruto's when the Shadow Hokage first returned. That is promising at the very least. Also Hashirama is still expressing some doubts about Homeworld's leadership, that is also promising. If Hashirama returned and instantly trusted the people of Homeworld then that would be much more alarming to Naruto. He still isn't completely certain of the Senju clansmen's intentions, but what are his options. He can either send Hashirama away to cause chaos elsewhere, or he can keep him close where he can keep an eye on him.
But Hinata is seeing something.
Two warriors. One with 'life'. One with 'death'. They fight. One pauses. Two warriors step in. She recognises them. She's seen them before. In photos. History books. General Clyde. Head General Lara. She sees Himawari. She sees Boruto. A woman fighting Boruto. She is with the military. She leaps forward. She protects the 'life' warrior. She blocks the 'death' warrior. She loses her strength. The 'death' warrior attacks her. Then nothing.
That was Hashirama!
Hinata draws the Sacred Sword to her hand and a tremendous amount of energy begins to swirl about her person. Naruto yells to her but it is too late. She swings the sword with lethal intent, her mind confused by the memories coming from her other self. She is going to kill Hashirama. Naruto tries to activate his divine oddity but even as he begins to move he knows he is not going to make it in time.
The strike connects.
A loud thunderclap-like noise erupts from the point of collision, but the sword does not hurt Hashirama. The 1st Hokage stands his ground, planting his feet and not shifting.
Naruto's divine oddity finally lets him catch up and he knocks the Sacred Sword from Hinata's hand. He is surprised when he looks at Hashirama and sees that even his armor hasn't been penetrated. That surely shouldn't be possible. Even if the 1st Hokage is the stronger of the two, he cannot use energy to protect something else from the Sacred Sword with such success.
Hinata looks at Naruto. Naruto shakes his head at her. She has calmed down now. She knows that was impulsive, so she takes a breath and walks over to collect the sword.
"That's the Sacred Sword, isn't it?" Hashirama asks.
"How would you know that?"
"When Boruto killed Tao Ma I suspected he would come looking for me next. I knew he had no reason to believe I was free from the Hive Mind, so I hid. We found a cave to hide in. While I was in there, I found a couple of items. One was a platform, it's some kind of vehicle that can be driven with energy."
"And the other?"
"The other was Sacred Armor," Hashirama says, gesturing to his armor. "It has taken the shape of the armor I wore previously, but it is much tougher. This power made me a class 8 warrior. Just like it seems you are Naruto."
Hinata picks up the Sacred Sword.
"Hinata, that Sacred Sword hasn't truly blended with you yet. That is why you have yet to see a true boost to your power. You need to change the way you're thinking about it. You are not using the sword's energy. The energy of the sword is your energy. Reshape it, use patterns that you use with your own energy. Then the Sacred Sword will really be yours."
"Why tell me this?"
"Because if I am right you may become stronger. I am serious about becoming your ally, and if I weren't then there would be no reason for me to want you to get stronger. Try it, and when you are stronger than before maybe you will believe me."
Hinata pushes her energy into the sword, reshaping the intrinsic energy patterns to match the shape of her own. As she does so her thoughts about the sword become reality. The colour of the blade changes to a brilliant shining white and it's shape and weight change, better matching her preference.
Hinata raises the blade in the air and swings it downwards. 'Fire' energy flies from the edge of the blade launching in Hashirama's direction. As the 'fire' energy hits the 1st Hokage, he is lifted from his feet and driven back into the opposite wall. This time the impact is more powerful.
There is a clear change in the quality of Hinata's power. She is now a class 8 warrior!
Hashirama coughs as he returns to his feet.
"Do you trust me now?"
"You at least seem capable and knowledgeable," Hinata admits. "But the Hive Mind is cunning. I don't know why it would want me to be a class 8 warrior, but I do not know you well enough to judge if that is your will. There is only one shinobi I trust enough to make that distinction. We are going to wait here, and Himawari is going to decide."
Later that Day
Himawari and Boruto enter with an old comrade at their side. Mitsuki is with them. It has been too long since Himawari saw them together last. Now that the two good friends are on the same side, she is sure that things are looking up. However, Mitsuki has explained the situation, and it doesn't look promising for Hashirama.
"Mother," Himawari says as she enters the hall.
Himawari glares at Hashirama. She knows that Mitsuki thinks he is free of the Hive Mind now, but she can't help doubting it. He has caused her so much pain. He stole her brother, nearly killed her parents on multiple occasions and has tried to kill the people of Homeworld. There are many people in this world she now considers friends. Hashirama's ideology since coming to Homeworld could not be more opposed to her own.
"Himawari," Hinata says. "I need to know your opinion on—"
"I've heard. You want to know whether or not you can trust Senju Hashirama."
"Please."
"My instinct is to say no, but if he can help us it would be foolish to turn him away."
"I can help you," Hashirama tells her. "I am now a class 8 warrior and I helped your mother to achieve the same thing. When Boruto killed Tao Ma I was freed from the Hive Mind's control. I want to help the people of the Hidden Leaf, and I know I should probably help Homeworld too. So, let me."
Himawari shakes her head. "He seems sincere enough mother. If you want an expert opinion you would be better off asking Boruto."
"Boruto once conspired against Homeworld himself. He is my son, and I will come to trust him in time, but this is one thing I cannot trust him about. You know about what happened and you are my daughter, I trust your judgement."
"Mitsuki?" Himawari asks.
"I think he has free will," Mitsuki says. "I don't know if he really wants to help Homeworld, but I do know that the former Senju Hashirama would have. I've never used 'death' energy, so I don't really think I'm qualified to make any judgements about the Hive Mind. If it were up to me Boruto would be making the final decision."
Suddenly, there is an explosion of 'death' energy.
Boruto appears behind Hashirama having used his Death Mask divine oddity to attack the 1st Hokage from behind. A rasengan to the back powerful enough to deal serious damage to any class 7 warriors, but not powerful enough to hurt Hashirama it would seem.
"If the Hive Mind were in control, he would have killed mother and ran," Boruto says. "If father had fought back, he might have subdued Hashirama, but there is no way the Hive Mind could have known he was so strong. There is no way this is the influence of the Hive Mind."
Hinata looks to Himawari. Himawari looks to Mitsuki. They all exchange nods with one another.
"Very well, we will accept your help on a trial basis," Hinata says.
Hashirama bows his head politely to the princess and explains that he will have his subordinates set up camp outside the compound. As he leaves the room Mitsuki stays to talk to the 7th Hokage. Boruto follows his master from the room though, curious about what happened following Tao Ma's death. Whether he was acting of choice or not, Hashirama was an important mentor to him for several years.
"Hashirama, I wanted to check—"
Hashirama grabs Boruto's arm tightly.
"Boruto, I can resist it but it's still there. The Hive Mind. It's whispering to me constantly. It's waiting for the moment I let my guard down. It's going to try and wrestle back control."
"I understand," Boruto says.
"I am here because I need you to keep an eye on me. You are my student. I trust you to keep me in line. And if the Hive Mind takes over again, I'm sure you will do what is necessary."
Boruto pauses. Hashirama's last suggestion sounded very final.
"Hashirama, it sounds like you regret your actions before, that is good. But you had no control over those actions, I had full control over mine. I made a mistake, not you. I hope I can start atoning for my past with my actions in the future. I will make sure the Hive Mind doesn't take control. I will help you."
"Thank you."
The Next Day
Sasuke stands ready to open the portal. He never expected Hashirama and Tsunade to be here with them on this attempt on the Foundry. It was not so long ago that he and Sakura were fighting the two of them. Hashirama seems to have changed, but Tsunade's mental condition doesn't seem to have improved. At least now Hashirama is providing her instructions, rather than Tao Ma. Sakura will doubtless keep a close eye on her master.
Sasuke gets a nod from Naruto and opens a portal. A portal to another portal. A portal to the gateway for the Foundry.
The attack team step through and Sasuke keeps the portal open. Naruto, Hannah, Hinata, Mana, Michel, Sakura, Boruto, Hashirama, and Tsunade. They move through the first portal and stand before the second.
The second portal is not yet open, but the outline is clear. An enormous circle supported by pillars to the left and right. The portal must be at least twenty people wide, it's size correlating with its ability to displace people from this realm. A gateway to a floating hideout within the void.
Hinata lifts the gemstone that her children retrieved. Energy begins to flow from that gemstone to the portal structure. Slowly but surely, the circle is filled with glowing energy, rotating in a circle, not dissimilar to Sasuke's own portal. It is ready to use.
On Hinata's command they all step into the portal together. They are instantly teleported through the void.
The Foundry
The attack team arrives and is astonished by what they see. There seems to be a central spire to the Foundry but no outer walls. If one looks towards the edge of one of the many floors coming from that spire, they see only the darkness. It is the void, endless in size and scope. The void is an endless nothingness, the gap between worlds. Naruto realises just how amazing the portal technology is.
But then the situation turns in an instant.
A figure approaches. Many present are gifted with great sensory powers, but Hinata is the first to identify the man who is approaching.
It's King Hertz Erik!
"I've been looking forward to meeting many of you, but I didn't imagine you would be so stupid as to come to me. Endou Hinata, the empress in exile. Uzumaki Naruto, the last hope of the great Muto Sora."
Boruto activates the Death Mask the moment he saw Erik coming. This is not like the fight against Yasmine. If they are going to win against Erik, even should they all fight together, they are going to require a miracle. His surprise attack might be the only possible route to that miracle.
Just as Boruto is about to reach Erik, the king grabs him by the neck and lifts him from the ground.
"That technique is impressive, I only just noticed you approaching. If you were on my level, I bet you would have been practically invisible."
Naruto activates his own divine oddity. He powers-up his leg and fires himself towards Erik as fast as he can go. On-route he powers-up his arm, all while creating a rasengan in his hand. As he reaches the half-way point between his starting position and Erik, the king throws Boruto at his father. The two of them end up collapsing in a messy heap.
They each try to get to their feet quickly, but they feel disoriented. Erik's attacks were not normal, it's like they somehow weakened them, destabilising their mind and their energy. It's clear that Erik is not just more powerful than Yasmine, his skill is worlds above hers. This is the power of a royal.
Hinata lifts the Sacred Sword above her head. Suddenly energy from everyone pours into her sword. A new energy is formed, one that none of them have ever felt before, but they know to be incredibly powerful. Hinata strikes with the sword, the energy rolls of the end forming into a whip. At first the whip strikes Erik powerfully. While the king has more than enough power to deflect the strike, it does distract him. On the way back, the whip collects Naruto and Boruto.
They all know what to do. They try to escape as quickly as possible.
As they make their escape attempt, Erik creates a ball of 'cosmic' energy in his hand. He throws it as hard as he can, watching it sail through the air towards his chosen target. The gemstone! The key!
Erik hits his target!
The key is destroyed!
Hinata looks down at the broken pieces of the key, the only way for them to enter and exit the foundry. She considers picking them up but reforging something so specific as this is no easy task. It would take an expert at making things, and none of the famous experts are currently helping the rebellion.
Erik smiles tauntingly at the rebels before using his barrier power. He pushes them all back through the portal to the Foundry. They are each pushed back to Homeworld and away from their goal. Now he has the only key to this place in his possession. Now there is no way for them to return.
The Hertz Compound
The attack team, having failed, steps back through both portals, returning to the compound thoroughly defeated. Even Hinata is surprised by Erik's powers. Her father was once the most powerful individual in this world, she thought that she had an appreciation for how strong he was. She was wrong. If Erik is that strong then her father must have been a true monster.
After their return Sasuke closes his own portal and asks what happened.
"We failed," Hinata says. "That was our only chance and we failed!"
Naruto frowns and looks at his feet. An expression Hashirama shares. Sasuke is pleased, it seems the two Hokage are still adopting a never-give-up attitude. They seem to be considering if there are any other ways to attack the Foundry. He decides that he will do the same. With all his powers, he is sure there must be another way.
Boruto is not considering how to get back to the Foundry like his father and his teachers though. He is looking at the sword in his mother's hand, wondering what just happened. Just now she wielded a power strong enough to give King Hertz Erik pause. Just what was that power?
Battle Classes of Note in this Chapter
Hertz Erik (9) = Cosmic (3) + Transcendent (2) + Manual (3) + Divine Ability (1)
- Divine ability: Can summon barriers
Uzumaki Naruto (8) = {Life + Fate} (2) + Combo (1) + Transcendent (2) + Shinobi (3)
- Divine oddity: Allows him to detonate part of his core and immediately fix any damage with Kurama's help
Endou-Hyuuga Hinata (8) = Fire (3) + Shinobi (2) + Divine Ability (2) + Sacred Sword (1)
- Divine Ability: A warped divine ability that jumps two levels but gives no strange power
Uzumaki Boruto (8) = {Death + Fate} (2) + Combo (1) + Transcendent (2) + Shinobi (3)
- Divine oddity: Makes it exceptionally hard to notice his presence
Senju Hashirama (8) = Death (2) + Transcendent (2) + Shinobi (3) + Sacred Armor (1)
In Response to m'j doom's Question
About Naruto's illness
It is only known to apply to Naruto.
If it were related to Kurama, I couldn't spoil it now.
Thanks for reading.
In Response to sarada chan san's Question
If Boruto can use the vanishing rasengan
Yes he can, but it might not have been effective against Yasmine.
Yasmine can't detect chakra, but she can detect divine energy.
Boruto's Death Mask only disguises energy he is in contact with.
If Boruto added energy to the vanishing rasengan and threw it, Yasmine would have noticed.
Good thought though.
Thanks for reading.
In Response to S's Questions
About various energy types
Together, a 'life' user and 'creation' user may be able to 'create' a person.
It's not something I've considered to be honest.
Furst's 'destruction' energy can be touched, but you have to be very powerful to do it.
King Swen was the first person to be made younger as a result of using the age altering sphere.
Thanks for reading.
In Response to S's Question
About if Sasuke could time travel with his 'spacetime' energy
I suppose it might be possible.
I cannot reveal whether or not that's going to happen without giving away spoilers.
Thanks for reading.