THE FOUNDRY – THE OTHER WAY

The Hertz Compound

Sasuke stands at the doorway to one of the empty buildings the rebels have been using. In the middle of the building he sees Hashirama sat on his knees, looking directly to his front. He doesn't need to see the 1st Hokage's eyes to know that they are shut. Hashirama is currently in deep contemplation following their disastrous attempt to destroy the Foundry.

It is only natural to worry about Hashirama's motives. Sasuke has seen the true Hashirama, he met him during the war in the pocket-world. The 1st Hokage is a good man, an honest man who would die to save the people he cares about. However, the last time he saw him Hashirama was a killer, trapped into doing the bidding of a powerful entity, forced to seek the death of this entire world.

Now Hashirama seems to have come out of his trance. He seems like he is genuinely trying to help them save Homeworld. The good-natured Senju Hashirama, the true Hashirama, is just the man that Sasuke wants to talk to right now. He needs to find a way to finish what they started, to stop the endless source of divine abilities flowing to the Imperial Guard.

"What are you thinking?" Sasuke asks.

"I'm thinking of a way that we can get to the Foundry without the key. I suppose that King Erik must have a key as well, the emperor too. The problem is that we are too weak. There is no way that we could take the key from either of them."

"I've been thinking about this problem as well."

Sasuke walks around in front of Hashirama and sits. Hashirama has seen the innovative ways that Sasuke has used his powers. The Uchiha clansmen is a clever shinobi, just like his best friend. Together Sasuke and Naruto are difficult to stop. That doesn't mean it's impossible though, and right now Hashirama can't help but feel there may not be a way to reach the Foundry.

"I don't suppose you've thought of anything?" Hashirama asks hopefully.

"That depends. I believe you are telling the truth, but if you have been lying since you returned then I have nothing. I need you to be honest with me now, have you lied to us since you returned?"

"I haven't lied to you Sasuke."

Sasuke nods. "It's been mentioned that you found your Sacred Armor in a cave. It's also been mentioned that when you were in that cave you found another artifact. A vehicle that could be driven with divine energy."

"Yes. It's not much but there is nothing else I can compare it to. To put it simply it's a platform. I can change the size of it so that I can carry it around in my pocket, or I could use it to transport dozens of people. When I supply it with divine energy it moves forward. It's good for moving around my subordinates at a speed they normally wouldn't be able to reach."

"Is there a limit on its speed?"

"Not that I have achieved."

"Then it may be possible."

Hashirama watches Sasuke's eyes move. The Shadow 7th Hokage is thinking. Judging by his whispers he is doing calculations in his mind. Speed calculations most likely. When he shakes his head it becomes clear that the variables are beyond what he can summarise with simple mathematics. Whatever Sasuke is thinking about is just a theory right now.

"What are you thinking?" Hashirama asks.

"We can't get to the Foundry through the portal, but we don't need to go through the portal."

"I'm afraid we do, Sasuke. Between worlds there is the void. The space between one world and the next is enormous, that's why the military attacked us through a portal. We can't cross the void on foot. If we went into the void unprotected, it would tear us apart. We would die."

"But that's exactly what I'm proposing, we travel directly through the void."

Hashirama is unsure at first if Sasuke is serious. There is a glimmer in the Uchiha's eye though, a smugness and confidence about his suggestion that doesn't escape the Hokage's notice. Sasuke is deadly serious.

"That's insane. We would die."

"Not if we had energy to protect us. We would need something solid to keep us on your vehicle. You could use your wood release to create a protective barrier around us. If you reinforce that with your 'death' powers than it just might be able to protect us from the void."

Hashirama shakes his head. "No, it's still not possible. The way this thing works in this world is by pushing energy against the air. The air resists and because of that we move forwards. There is no air in the void, even if we took the vehicle, we would just be stuck floating there just outside Homeworld."

"You need air to push the vehicle forwards, but I wouldn't," Sasuke explains. "My power is 'spacetime' energy, moving through space is easy for me. In the void I could probably move much faster than I can here. If we combine your strength and your vehicle with my powers, I think we can do the impossible. We can reach the Foundry through the void."

Hashirama pauses before smirking.

"The odds are that we will die. However, there is an outside chance that what you're suggesting might work. Let's do it!"

Nearby

Hinata sits around a table, eating with Naruto, Boruto and Himawari. In the same room Terukatsu is still prompting the Seer Twins for their opinions and insights about various scenarios that could happen as the war continues. Despite the Leader of the War Council's best efforts he seems to be getting very little out of Theresa and Philip who seem content confusing him with unsolvable riddles.

Hinata sees Naruto resting his chin on his hand as he looks down at his food. He is considering other ways of reaching the Foundry. Hinata knows he must be putting a lot of pressure on himself to find a way.

She remembers what Sakura said about Naruto. He is putting too much pressure on himself and if she doesn't find a way to do something about it, that pressure could prove fatal. She considers telling him to calm down. She knows that she could try bringing up Boruto's strength to calm him. Boruto is just as strong as Naruto and has a divine oddity of his own, he could one day defeat the emperor.

Hinata is hesitant though. For now she decides against trying to calm Naruto. He is putting a lot of pressure on himself, but he is both powerful and a creative thinker. If the 7th Hokage keeps working this hard he may be able to find something that the rest of them can't, a solution to a problem that may result in Homeworld's freedom. This is her judgement, and she must take that over Sakura's.

Just as Hinata decides against talking to Naruto, Sasuke and Hashirama enter. They draw everyone to them as they talk about their clever plan to use Hashirama's vehicle and Sasuke's power to cross the void.

"With my 'spacetime' powers, I believe I could get us there," Sasuke says.

Naruto smiles. "I like it. That's a good plan."

"It's dangerous," Boruto admits. "But attacking the Foundry was always going to be dangerous. King Erik will be protecting it no matter what we do. I think this plan is as good as it's going to get."

"Yeah, I agree," Himawari says.

Hinata and Terukatsu watch the pocket-worlders agree one after another. To the two of them it is astonishing. Hashirama and Sasuke, Naruto's former rivals, are talking about crossing the void between worlds.

"It's clear you have no idea how dangerous this is," Terukatsu says.

Hinata concurs. "My father once told me about a group of adventurers who tried to build a vessel to cross the void. They were supposed to revolutionise how we explore the rest of reality, to open up new worlds for us. They were supposed to be these brilliant experts, but when they left that was it. We never saw them again. We can only assume they died in the void."

"I remember it," Terukatsu says. "We were very excited about it. The Council was asking me for constant updates. Who knew how our duties would expand when we could visit other worlds? We imagined all the possibilities, dreamed about a larger universe. When we realised they were dead, it was shocking."

"Are you really going to go down this route Naruto?"

Naruto looks at Hinata inquisitively. He then looks to Terukatsu in the same way. It's like they don't know him at all. A dangerous mission that could help to save the world, something daring and exciting that has never been attempted before, of course he is going to go along with it. Looking to the other shinobi they all seem to be thinking the same thing as him. To sacrifice and endure for the village is what they swore to do.

"I don't see any other way," Naruto says. "This may be risky but it's a risk we need to take. I made a promise to the people of my village that I would protect them. I intend to keep that promise."

Theresa and Philip leap forward. They run over to the others with big grins on their faces.

"We knew this would happen," Philip says.

"We foresaw this plan long ago," Theresa adds.

"The former rivals of the great Uzumaki Naruto will create a plan together."

"A plan that they can only survive by doing the impossible and crossing the void."

"A plan that nobody from Homeworld would approve. That only the pocket-worlders could even begin to think of doing."

Terukatsu rolls his eyes. They're talking in patterns again because the two of them think it makes them sound clever. All they're doing right now is recapping the conversation, they seem to have no new insights to offer. He is tempted to shout when they finally begin to say something that wasn't already known.

"This plan is a dangerous one, and if you go ahead with it there will be a great cost," Theresa says. "If you venture into the void together you may well reach your destination. But when you come back one of you will return to us dead."

"Who?" Naruto asks.

"That much is uncertain," Philip admits.

Hinata sits down at the table and holds her head. The twins just practically confirmed that travelling to the Foundry through the void was possible for the pocket-worlders. That much was unthinkable to her prior to today. But if they go into the void one of them will return dead. Going ahead with this plan guarantees death.

"I'm the true empress of Homeworld," Hinata says. "I know I've agreed to share some of my responsibilities, but I am not willing to go along with this. Going into the void someone is certain to die, the twins just confirmed that. I can't let anyone from Homeworld go into the void. I know by separating our two worlds like this I have no right to tell you not to go, but I seriously urge you not to. This is too dangerous."

"You're saying we're on our own with this?" Naruto asks.

"Yes. If you go into the void, I will order the citizens of Homeworld not to go with you."

Naruto sighs. Hinata is correctly assessing that the situation. This will go wrong. There will be a great cost to this mission. However, there will also be a great reward to this mission. Divine abilities are one of the Imperial Guard's greatest advantages over the military and the rebels. They've been given a great chance to take that advantage away, they can't just ignore that.

"I don't want to risk anyone's lives, but I can't stand by and do nothing in this situation. Anyone who doesn't want to come doesn't have to. For those who do come with me, I will try to find a way to save everyone. As usual, I won't give up."

Later that day

Himawari and Boruto head to the outskirts of the Hertz Compound where Hashirama and his subordinates have been camping. It looks far from luxurious, but Himawari feels far more comfortable walking here now. Fortunately for her it seems like Hashirama really has changed things.

They approach the centre of the camp where Hashirama is staying and wave at him. He smiles when he sees them, he gets to his feet and approaches them.

"Have they been discussing the plan?" Hashirama asks.

"No, but I've been thinking about it," Himawari says. "I've come up with an idea and I want to discuss it with the two of you. I've come up with a way that we can attack the Foundry without any of us dying."

"That's impossible. Theresa and Philip can see the future, if they say that one of us is going to die then one of us is going to die."

"They said that 'one of you will return to us dead'. They didn't say that whoever returned had to remain dead. The two of you both know sage mode, I want you to teach me how to use it. I'm sure given my current power reserves it will be much quicker than it would have been before all this."

"You want to learn sage mode? Why?" Boruto asks.

"Because you both know the technique to bring pocket-worlders back from the dead. Normally it brings you back at the cost of your mind, but if you know sage mode you retain your sanity."

"But the Hive Mind—"

"The Hive Mind is no longer controlling those brought back using that technique," Himawari smiles. "If you are telling the truth Hashirama and you are acting of your own free will then there is no risk to bringing me back. You can kill me before we return to Homeworld and then bring me back to life the moment we return."

Hashirama raises his chin. Himawari is a true shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village and is every bit as brilliant as her parents. This is a plan that she is suggesting at great personal risk that may well be able to save everyone. He is proud to have found a village that created a shinobi like her. There is only one downside to her plan, one that she may not fully understand with what she knows at the moment.

"Himawari, the Hive Mind is not fully dead," Hashirama admits. "It's still alive inside my brain. I have control at the moment and since I have taken over none of my subordinates have attacked anyone from Homeworld. I seem to be in control for the moment, but if we bring you back, I can't guarantee that the Hive Mind will leave you alone."

"I don't like this plan either," Boruto says. "First of all it means you have to die. I'm not comfortable with that in the first place. Even if we look past that, there is a very real risk that you could fall victim to the Hive Mind. Unlike me you don't understand 'death' energy, you wouldn't be safe from it."

"I don't like it," Himawari admits, "but it might be our only chance to all come out of this alive. That is better than any of the alternatives."

"Have you seen Tsunade recently? She's not at all like her former self, she barely says a word. The Hive Mind used pain to re-shape her brain, it's only because Hashirama is in control that she isn't still killing people. If the choice is between someone dying and you turning into that, I'm not sure which option is worse."

Hashirama looks over Himawari's shoulder and sees Tsunade wondering past. A lot of what has happened to her is his fault. He wasn't able to protect Mito. He wasn't there to protect Dan. He betrayed her and made her feel like she made the wrong decision. She learned 'death' so that she could be on his side again. Boruto is worried about doing that to his sister and he should be. Hashirama can't help but feel that his student is a better person than he is.

"What about using that resurrection technique as a last resort," Hashirama says. "Of course bringing someone back from the dead is normally impossible, but this isn't a normal group. I'm here. Tsunade's here. Sakura is here. Naruto is here. That's possibly the strongest group of healers that has ever been assembled."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that we might be able to bring someone back from the dead without using that technique. Three of us have 'death' as our element, we can control how your systems shut down, make sure you die in exactly the right way. Then when we get back to this world, who better to overcome the effects of 'death' than Naruto, the master of 'life' energy."

Boruto has seen something like this before. Naruto used 'life' energy to save Sarada from 'death' energy during the captained-six contest. Sarada wasn't completely dead at the time but Naruto is much stronger now than he was back then. There is a real possibility that he may be able to revive someone who only died recently. Hashirama has never confirmed if the Hive Mind could control someone resurrected using a different method, but if it works then Himawari would probably be safe.

"It's a risk," Boruto admits. "But Himawari is less likely to get absorbed into the Hive Mind this way. It's the best choice we have. In the worst case we would use the resurrection technique the military used in our world. If Hashirama can control the Hive Mind everything will be OK either way."

"This is your risk to take Himawari. Are you certain you want to do this?" Hashirama asks.

"I trust you Lord 1st. I trust you Boruto. And I definitely believe in my father. Let's do it."

Author Note

Hi All,

Sorry that I haven't written anything already this week.

I've had to travel a lot for work and that may continue for the next few weeks.
I'll try and keep up with writing this story but I'm afraid it may slow down even more.

Sorry,
Me

In Response to Anon's Question
About why Hinata and Hashirama can't give Naruto the Sacred Artifacts

The items are now bound to the two of them until death.
I probably should have foreseen this question coming up earlier and written about it, sorry that I missed it.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to Madara uchicha's Question
About if I'm going to continue writing this story

Hopefully this chapter is evidence that I am going to continue.
I intend to keep writing until the story is finished.

Thanks for your support, it's always nice to read.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to The Darkest wizard's Question
About various subjects

I don't have any short term plans to go into Erik's background in any more depth.
I have long term plans to expand on all the royals' backgrounds though.

Head General Safura couldn't subdue a royal. But she has the best chance of any class 8.

There will be more dialogue between Yasmine and Erik but I can't say when.
I'm glad you like their interactions, I've been trying to improve my dialogue writing.

Thanks for reading.

In Response to m'j doom's Question
About if Mitsuki has worked out an element yet

No he hasn't yet.

Thanks for reading.