THE GENERALS – SAFURA VS HINATA

West Seblix

"We don't have much time, we have to work on the basics," Nina tells her student. "For you that is body and mind."

Hannah approaches Nina and Naruto, looking between them, receiving a nod of approval from each of them. Despite being a class 7 warrior she is a quick learner both her teacher, and her teacher's teacher agree that she would benefit from these lessons.

Nina continues, "Body training, we're specifically going to focus on Safura's greatest strength, defence. A quick demonstration, moral support, you and I are both class 8 warriors, if we hold back using only class 7 power then Hannah should be able to hurt us, right?"

"Yes."

Nina approaches the perfect-instinct warrior. She holds her palm out and invites Hannah to hit it. Hannah punches Nina's hand as hard as she can. Nina clutches her hand before shaking it from her wrist but then she shows it to Naruto. There are no signs of any significant damage.

Naruto and Hannah repeat this experiment themselves. Naruto decides to use his 'fate' cloak to simulate class 7 power, using 'life' energy would result in any wounds healing too quickly. Naruto feels the same pain that his teacher did, but he bears with it. When Nina prompts the Hokage to show his hand there is a large bruise on it, and he admits to still feeling some pain.

"Why did it hurt you less than me?" Naruto asks.

"It's a technique based on ideas you already know," Nina says. "If an opponent strikes you move away and the relative speed of the strike decreases, less damage and less pain. This is that technique on a much smaller scale. It is controlling smaller parts of your arm, down to the tiniest particles of your muscle. If you can apply the big principle on a much smaller scale you will be able to endure what you previously could not."

"Enough to match Safura's defences?"

"Ha-ha! Not unless we have a year to train. Safura has invented more of these techniques than I know. I can only bring you up to a certain standard using our techniques. Our advantage is that you are unique, moral support. You have pocket-worlder techniques, and lots of them. Safura has fought many opponents, but until recently she hasn't fought anyone like you."

"Nina-sensei," Hannah says, "This sounds very difficult to learn and we only have a short time. To control our bodies on such a small scale, can that be done quickly enough?"

"Normally it cannot, but I am the world's best teacher for a reason, and I have a way to make this a bit quicker." Nina summons 'lightning' to her hands. "Electrical signals control the movement of your body. Most people have to work hard to unlock control paths they didn't know existed before, but I can open them up for you quickly."

Nina does just that for both Naruto and Hannah. At first, they struggle to cope with the extra control they have been given. Nina chuckles at their clumsiness but understands it, learning this technique with this method is like handing the students an extra pair of legs and telling them to run. However, Naruto and Hannah are not average students, they both get past this clumsy stage very quickly. Naruto realises that this technique isn't entirely dependent on divine energy and uses a small army of clones to quickly master the necessary movements. Hannah is a prodigy with instincts that help her not only with fighting but with all kinds of things, this training included.

Within one-hour Naruto and Hannah exchange a series of strikes, each letting the other's attacks hit without dodging. Attacks that would previously have been very damaging now hurt much less and the damage is insignificant compared to before. Nina has taught people with no talent before, turning them into respected warriors, she has taught those with genius-level talent and helped them fulfil that potential, but none have ever advanced so quickly as Naruto and Hannah. This is a training dream team.

Next is the mind.

Naruto insists that having spent a long time in a time trap his mind is good. Nina smiles at her pupil's opinions, she has known him long enough now, she knows that his mind is a long way from where it could be. At his teacher's request, Naruto uses the minimum power he is able to and begins to dodge a series of 'fire' attacks from Nina. He dodges effortlessly as she holds back, his agility is not in question here.

"Now look at me." Nina raises her hands. "I am going to tell you a story. I have a friend with 'water' energy in Cheqitori, a friend with 'fire' energy in Seblix and one with 'earth' energy in Ewoa. We meet four times a year in Okarin."

Nina stops attacking.

"Was that it?" Naruto asks.

"What was the second number I showed you?"

"Showed me, you only said one number, you meet four times a year."

"Actually I said I had 'one' friend when I talked about the third," Nina says. "I'm not talking about what I said though Naruto. You have the One True Sense, yet you are still only focusing on one thing with that sense. You dodge the attacks because it is easy, you listen to my story because it is what you think is important. You don't know what is important, so you must act like everything is! Now, how did I show you numbers?"

Naruto suddenly realises that Nina's hands are still raised to shoulder height and that she is showing him seven fingers. Hannah who was not distracted at the time easily noticed that Nina was both talking and showing numbers with her fingers, but Naruto was distracted, he couldn't realise the same thing.

"Let me try again!" Naruto says.

That is exactly what Nina does, she tells the same story again with different energies and different nations. Unlike before Naruto keeps a close watch on how many fingers she is holding up, committing each count to memory.

"I'm ready," Naruto says.

"Where was the 'lightning' user?" Nina asks.

After a slight pause Hannah laughs. Naruto has done the wrong thing again, he may have been focusing on the numbers Nina was showing this time, but he didn't pay enough attention to the story to recite it at the end. This is only one combination of possible signals. As this training progresses over the following hours Nina asks her students exactly which fingers, she held up, she increases the length of the stories, she asks how many 'fire' projectiles she attacked with. There are countless details that could be important, too many for anyone to notice all of them. However, when this is over Naruto and Hannah will have made significant progress with her help, and the former's mind may make the difference in the inevitable fight to come.

The fight with Safura is drawing near, every second Naruto can train is now precious.

Nearby

Safura uses the One True Sense as she and her fellow generals sit waiting for the inevitable encounter with Naruto. She doesn't notice an approaching foe as she expected but does notice Sasuke flinching. She notices that he is using his visual powers, that is the only time his eyes turn this colour. Tiny expressions like the one she just noticed cannot be hidden, even by someone as skilled as Sasuke.

Safura looks in the direction Sasuke was looking, focusing all her senses with her powerful ability. Eventually she notices three tiny dots on the horizon. As they grow closer, she is disappointed that none of the dots are orange but when their identities become clear she begins to smile again. Shao Chin has returned to them. The man from the rumours, Ming Dai, has also accompanied him. Most importantly though, it is one of the leaders of the rebellion, the exiled princess, Endou Hinata. Naruto has already risked his life for Hinata before, if Safura captures her she is certain that Naruto will soon follow.

The rebels aren't allowed the stealthy approach they wished for. When they arrive the three rebels find themselves standing across from seven generals.

"Why are you here, fools?" Sasuke asks. "Without Naruto you don't stand a chance."

"I don't intend to lose," Hinata says.

"I won't give you a choice," Safura says.

Odion interrupts, "Head General, my King Swen would be angry if we harmed that man without cause. I would appreciate the opportunity to apprehend him and return him to the king's side where he belongs."

Safura gestures forward. Odion begins to walk forward when Dodi places a hand on his shoulder. Just like their royals Nadia and Swen, Odion and Dodi work best as partners. There is no need to overcomplicate this matter, today they will work together to capture Dai with minimum damage.

Odion charges towards Dai, throwing a series of punches and kicks at him. Dai has trained alongside shinobi, so he has little difficulty dealing with these strikes, they are strong but show no agility. However, Dai expected the exchange to favour him as time progresses, it doesn't go that way. Odion uses his golden 'time' powers to increase his perception relative to the speed of the fight granting him superior control in spite of his average speed.

Hinata watches on wishing she could interfere, but she knows the generals would do the same. The only chance she has now is to request single combat with Safura and hope she can defeat her.

Dodi uses his golden 'absence' powers to walk straight through Odion's back, continuing to walk through Dai, emerging behind the rebel. Dodi turns and grabs Dai's arms, holding them behind his back. Odion uses this opportunity for a single strike to Dai's chest, slowing him down for a moment, then he grabs his legs. Together the generals for Seblix and Gavaria have control of all Dai's limbs.

"Safura, bind him!" Odion shouts.

Safura begins to approach, adrenaline rushes through Dai's body. 'No,' he yells in his head, 'I can't be captured by Swen. Never by him!' Dai feels his strength raise to its utmost, just as it did on the day he blocked Swen's attack on the compound. Golden 'strength' energy forms a tremendous aura around him, and he feels his arms start to move with purpose. After a couple of seconds he manages to wrestle limb control away from Dodi, instead grabbing the general's wrists and throwing him into his partner. He forces both Dodi and Odion away from him.

For one brilliant moment Dai is in control, winning a fight against two generals.

One successful attack doesn't make a victory. Dodi approaches Dai first this time, punching him several times. Dai is shocked by how weak the attacks are, failing to realise it is part of Dodi's strategy. After easily enduring a few strikes Dai retaliates, attacking Dodi with as much power as he can muster. Golden 'absence' energy is extremely useful, it allows Dodi to slip through attacks like this, attacks that he can see coming, attacks that he incited.

To start with Odion hangs back and lets Dai pointlessly attempt these attacks on his partner. Next, he uses his Hover divine ability, jumping three times to position himself above the two other fighters. He then deactivates his ability, dropping down on Dai from above. He expects this attack to work but is surprised by Dai's ability to divide his attention. Dai grabs Odion out of the air.

Dodi doesn't wait for Dai to slam his partner to the ground, striking the would-be Prince of Gavaria in the face. Dai drops Odion gently to the ground. The two generals are well coordinated in their attacks, Odion moving forward and backward perfectly, allowing Dodi to move through him with his golden 'absence' energy striking at all the perfect moments. After ten seconds of unanswered attacks Odion trips Ming Dai to the ground. Once more Odion and Dodi hold their opponent down, and this time Safura is able to bind him successfully.

The other generals all laugh at Odion and Dodi's efforts. For two generals working together to struggle so much against a warrior of Dai's reputation is embarrassing. If it were not for reward they will receive, they would keep it quiet from their royals.

"Single combat," Hinata mutters, "I wish to challenge you to single combat, Head General Safura."

"Of course," Safura nods.

Safura's motivations have always confused Hinata. The Head General has more tactical know-how than the War Council, she fought with distinction in the last war, correctly predicting the movements of the Dark Dimension in ways that nobody could understand. Under Akashi's rule Safura's loyalty was never called into question and she has always been an honourable warrior, even under Furst's rule. The princess still doesn't understand why Safura is loyal to Emperor Furst Jonas.

Safura approaches Hinata away from the other generals and makes her an ominous promise.

"This will be quick, princess."

Hinata looks around her allies. Sasuke is bound in place, Ming Dai is in the same position and he has lost a portion of his energy, and Shao Chin is still class 7, too weak to make a difference in this fight. She will just have to do her best. She draws the Sacred Sword, everyone observes as golden 'fire' forms around Hinata, but a different energy surrounds the sword, an energy they cannot identify.

Hinata raises her off-hand and emits a stream of golden 'fire' at Safura. The general answers with a wall of pure golden 'diamond'. Hinata walks forward, closing the distance with the wall, and with Safura behind it. When the princess arrives at the wall, she slams her sword into it at full strength. It is a tremendous clash of energy, a wave that catches most of the generals off-guard. Among them none could hit the wall with such strength except for Nero who rivalled Safura for her position as head general.

Despite the attack Safura maintains her smile, even the Sacred Sword cannot pierce her defences. She waits for Hinata to withdraw the sword before removing the wall and stepping forward. Hinata attacks twice with the sword but to the Head General they seem like wild slashes, she doesn't even need to move from the spot to dodge them. Next, Safura steps around Hinata before delivering a powerful elbow to the rear of her head, after that she sweeps the legs, momentarily disconnecting Hinata from the floor.

Hinata tries to swing the Sacred Sword towards Safura once more mid-air, but she isn't fast enough, she can see that. As Safura's hand reaches her abdomen Hinata questions what she is seeing, this shouldn't be happening. She saw the reaction of those generals to her shinobi powers, she is strong, stronger than most class 8s. How could Safura defeat her so readily?

Safura's hand connects with the abdomen of the mid-air Hinata, then she uses her golden 'diamond' powers to create a solid platform beneath the princess and slams her down into it. The strength of the head general's arm combined with the hardness of the surface below makes the hit devastating. Despite having exhausted tiny amounts of energy Hinata is utterly defeated.

Safura binds Hinata as she did Sasuke and Ming Dai.

"That… that…"

"Take a moment princess, a knock on the head like that would keep most people quiet for days."

"Not possible," Hinata mutters. "How can you be this strong? You are only class 8. Not even the strongest of us should be this strong."

"It is understandable. When you were in Homeworld before you were too weak to truly understand how powerful a class 8 could be. But I am the head general Hinata, you should have guessed that I would be too strong. Now you should rest princess, not much longer left until the end."

Hinata lets her head rest back against the golden 'diamond' platform below her. Then her attention turns to Shao Chin. Now, if they are to survive Naruto is the last chance, no matter how much she doubts him. If Naruto is going to fight as his best, he will need to be ready when Safura is nearby, he will need Shao Chin to pinpoint Safura's exact location. If that encounter is the result of a random search Naruto will be at a huge disadvantage. Shao Chin must escape, but the odds aren't in his favour. Escaping seven generals is almost impossible.

"Ah Shao Chin the hunter," Safura recognises him. "I remember you interrupting the royal conference. We sent you to eliminate Uzumaki, you clearly didn't do a very good job of it. You fought me before, didn't you try warning these two how strong I would be?"

"I never was very persuasive," Shao Chin says flippantly.

"You need to let him go Safura," Hinata says. "He is the only one who can lead Naruto to us."

"Perhaps you should lead us to Naruto," Safura says.

"I won't take you to Naruto," Shao Chin says.

"You wish to lead Naruto here on his own terms, rather than take me to him on my terms. I would be a fool to accept that, and I don't believe that he has no other means of finding us. It was a mistake to let you go free the first time Shao Chin, a mistake that we will not be making a second time."

Hinata manages to touch the Sacred Sword with her toes. She has an idea, but it is a long shot, and it requires that Ming Dai, Shao Chin and Sasuke are thinking the same thing as her. If everything falls into place Shao Chin can survive. She gestures in Sasuke's direction with her fingers and mouths something to Shao Chin, hoping beyond hope that he understands what she is signalling and goes along with it.

Shao Chin doesn't see Hinata's signal, but thankfully he does have the same idea as her. He draws his dagger, surrounding it in his 'gale' energy and throwing it towards Sasuke. Hinata funnels all the energy she can through her foot into the Sacred Sword, but once more the energy appears to be more than her own, and this time it is even stronger than before. The energy then hops from her sword into the dagger that Shao Chin threw towards Sasuke.

The dagger crashes into the diamond bind around Sasuke's wrist. It doesn't destroy it, but with this strange power from the Sacred Sword it does manage to move them. The binds move just enough for Sasuke to pull his hand free.

There are requirements for Sasuke to use the most advanced 'spacetime' techniques. What he requires now is absolute concentration, to remain still and for his energy control to be sublime. He holds his hand perfectly still and uses a technique for Shao Chin's escape that he could not for his own. He opens a portal!

Shao Chin leaps into the portal and before Safura can follow him Sasuke closes it.

Safura quickly rebinds Sasuke before glaring at Hinata's sword. She never believed that weapons like that were real, weapons that integrate with the wielder's energy and grant unique powers. She runs over and kicks it away from Hinata before the princess can do any more damage.

"Where did you send him?" Nero asks.

"I will never tell you that," Sasuke answers.

"It's too late anyway," Safura says. "He could tell us the wrong direction; if we head that way Shao Chin would have had enough time to find Naruto on his own. This encounter will be on the rebel's terms."

"Then he could just run," Nero says.

"He won't run. He will do exactly what he did last time Princess Endou got into trouble. He will make his way here as fast as he can. He may have a hastily constructed plan, but no plan will work against us. He will try to fight me, just like his friends and he will fail. Then when they all realise his failure, we will end their rebellion permanently.

"Uzumaki Naruto and Endou Hinata. Before tomorrow the last threats to the empire will be eliminated."