AFFLICTIONS AND ROYALS – GENERAL ELLIOT

Aturia

"Do you think the Beast King is like Naruto imagines," Mana asks Michel. "I've never thought about them in any way other than as an enemy. You're the expert on them after all."

"I don't think he is."

"Have you ever met the new Beast King?"

"I don't recall having met him as such," Michel answers. "He and I know one another by reputation. He is a great warrior who ascended to the top of the Beast Kingdom's hierarchy very quickly. I was known for being a traitor. That seemed to be what diplomacy was equal to during the war, treachery."

"I rebelled against the Tyrant King and the human emperor saved me, welcoming me with open arms. I cannot imagine being treated as a traitor by an entire species like you are Michel."

"We don't all dislike him," Claude says, flying over and landing on Michel's back.

"You seem to have a very different view than me on Fauna Blight."

"I don't want to have Fauna Blight for the rest of my life, but I certainly don't blame you for it Michel. Hearing about the war from the human point of view does make me think we were all unfair to one another at the time. As far as I can see you were the only beast who actually wanted to solve our problems. The plan our leader created seemed to have conquest as our main objective."

"Claude, your reputation in the kingdom never suffered as mine did. It may fall to you to negotiate with the new king. However, if even your words cannot reach the king I need you to promise me that you will protect Hinata. Grab her and fly away as fast as you can. I promised Akashi that I would always look after her, if she dies this will all have been for nothing."

"You can rely on me Michel."

Nearby Boruto and Himawari finish a discussion before looking at their parents. There is still an awkwardness between Naruto and Hinata. After their victory over King Max the siblings hoped that this would change, but it clearly has not. If anything the previous discussions about Fauna Blight have driven them further apart. The two of them have very different views on peace. They can't help but question what Hyuuga Hinata would say if her voice could reach them now? Would the other half of their mother favour seeking peace, or would she be afraid of the potential conflict?

"Come on," Boruto says, gesturing to his sister.

The two of them approach their parents with something to say.

"Boruto, Himawari, is something wrong?" Naruto asks.

"Yes, something is still wrong here," Boruto answers. "Before we were all happy when we defeated Max, it was a high point for both the rebellion and this family. We have to realise that we are still fragile though, and that is my fault. Ever since I went with Tao Ma it has caused nothing but problems for this family. Himawari is still living with one of those problems. It is still possible that the Hive Mind could manipulate her actions at any moment."

"We can find a way to help with that," Hinata says.

"No, no you can't," Himawari says, shaking her head. "Mother, father, you are both so incredible. The rebellion needs you. Peace talks with the Beast Kingdom will need you both. We are not needed for those peace talks; we are needed elsewhere. We need to find a remedy for my situation. Right now we cannot walk the same path as you because we have our own problem to solve. Once we have overcome that difficulty, then it will be time for us to walk with you again."

"We could ask the Beast King if he knows how to help," Naruto says.

"No, you all need to focus on the war. Please, let us do this."

"You have your own problems anyway," Boruto says. "Father, currently the emperor is on a level that you cannot reach. Something must change if you are going to become stronger. You need to find a way to reach that next level. I truly believe that you are the only one who can do it.

"And mother, you need to learn to let go of the past. You are shackled by these thoughts of what your father would have done, what your duty as the empress is. You need to learn to listen to your own thoughts, to let your actions as the empress be decided by you and nobody else."

"It usually sounds like people expect me to agree to Naruto's methods," Hinata says.

"No, that is just a coincidence," Himawari counters. "Mom, when you argue with dad it is usually because of your duties as the empress. Dad doesn't want to speak with Endou Hinata the Empress of Homeworld, he wants to speak to Endou Hinata the person. When you speak from your heart, you two are very alike. Please, learn to let the real you speak more often. Endou Akashi's daughter cannot make peace with the beast clan, but I think Endou Hinata might be able to."

Hinata exhales, "I want you to be free Himawari. That has nothing to do with you being the Blaze Princess, it is because you are my daughter."

"Thank you."

"That's why I am going to ignore my duty as the true empress when I tell you this. Very few people know this information so please don't tell anybody. My father did not kill the Empress of the Dark Dimension he sealed her. I don't know where, I'm not sure that anybody does. However, if you are going to be freed from the Hive Mind she is probably the best person to ask."

"We will find her," Boruto says.

"When you do, come and find me and your father. The empress is not like the royals, she is not like any opponent you have ever faced before. Before your grandparents discovered divine energy she almost brought this world to its knees, and if she had succeeded none of the Homeworlders you know today would be alive. Do not fight her on your own, it is a death sentence."

"We will not take any unnecessary risks," Boruto assures his mother.

"Good. Boruto, Himawari, I know I'm not the mother you grew up with, but I am trying. When this is over I'm sure that Naruto and I will be close friends."

Boruto and Himawari acknowledge their mother's efforts. Then they leave. Together they will find the Empress of the Dark Dimension. They will find a remedy for Himawari's current condition. They will return to their parents and they will help them to free Homeworld.

The Ewoa-Gavaria Border

Sarada and Biwako are sharing some food. Since Sarada confessed to Biwako that she can't repel many more attacks it has become easier to confide in her about other difficulties. Most Hokage have had someone they felt comfortable talking to about the problems the job brings, but Sarada has not had anyone like that for a long time. Biwako has listened to more stories of troubled Hokage than anyone else, she is more than happy to help in this way.

Tobirama teleports to Sarada's side.

"Lord 2nd, the 9th Hokage and I were having a private conversation," Biwako says.

"There is somebody coming," Tobirama says. "Sarada, I believe that we are about to come under attack again."

Sarada confirms that Tobirama has ordered an evacuation. She walks in the direction the threat is coming from, ready to try defending them yet again. She fears that this time the Imperial Guard won't underestimate her, that this time they will finally send a force strong enough to defeat her. If that is the case then this could be the end for the Hidden Leaf Village.

Genzee, Ewoa

General Alaa awaits comfortably in the office of the colonel who usually defends Genzee. He has a great many extra guards stationed in the city, today they will be witness to his crowning achievement. He had hoped to be part of eliminating Uzumaki Naruto, but that proved more difficult than he expected. If the latest information is to be believed then Naruto is dead, so he can't help with that anymore. However, Clyde was one of Naruto's main allies in his invasion into Homeworld, and perhaps the most significant of that first group of rebels left alive.

One of Alaa's top scouts walks by. A colonel named Tirra.

"Tirra," he calls to her, "Come in here."

Tirra enters, greeting him informally before performing a half-hearted salute and taking a chair. Alaa has always liked Tirra, but recent events are forcing him to compare her to Elliot. Her observance of procedures and formalities falls far short of his. She is someone he would enjoy a conversation with but is not well suited to a high-level position in the command structure.

"You have contributed a lot to the observation of Clyde. After this I will see to it that you receive a pay increase Tirra."

"Thank you Alaa."

"Recently Cheqitori has suffered from rebel activity. There is a real lack of discipline in their Imperial Guard. Here in Ewoa we have many experienced officers, they Cheqitori Imperial Guard is not so good. If promotion would interest you I can speak with General Yasmine, she would likely be able to promote you to a higher position than I can. Would assignment to Cheqitori interest you?"

"I haven't been to Cheqitori for some time sir, I understand there are many caves. I have always liked exploring. I would be sad to leave you but I would love to see what another nation has to offer."

"Excellent, I will speak with Yasmine when I have the chance. When are we expecting Clyde to arrive colonel?"

"Actually he is late as it stands sir. We were expecting Clyde to grace us with his presence almost two hours ago. It is likely that he has taken a pause to organise a strategy."

Alaa gets to his feet and slams his hands on the desk. He is seething with rage.

"Why didn't you tell me this before!"

"It seemed insignificant sir, I thought that Clyde posed no threat with you here."

"Clyde thought that he was coming here to fight Colonel Farid! He would have come here expecting to defeat him. If he had needed a plan he would have formulated it long ago. He would have rushed into the city with the element of surprise. Two hours, he may as well be a week overdue."

"Sir. I will take my scouts and search for him immediately," Tirra says.

"Go!"

Tirra immediately runs from the room, leaving a furious General Alaa behind. Then he begins to put together the pieces in his mind.

'How could Clyde have known that we would be waiting for him in Genzee city. Did the scouts somehow give themselves away? Impossible, the scouts have never given themselves away before and Clyde happily continued his march on Genzee while they were watching, so what changed? It's almost as if nothing changed and this was his plan all along. But that doesn't make sense why would he plan something like this?

'Could he have sent us here because he wants to go somewhere else and he doesn't want us to stop him? Where would he go, Dunstone? Ridiculous, Queen Sabine herself would stop him if he tried to go there, and there is still a heavy Imperial Guard presence there. Then, the border…'

The Ewoa-Gavaria Border

As the threat reaches attack range, Sarada activates her Rinnegan and her golden 'creation' cloak. However, as soon as she does so and her sight improves dramatically she realises that there is no need to defend herself. Instead relief washes through her body and she deactivates all her powers.

"We don't need to evacuate," Sarada tells Kakashi. "Lord 6th. It's not the Imperial Guard. It is General Clyde!"

Genzee, Ewoa

'This is impossible. How could Clyde have known that the other rebels were at the border? They have both been roaming Ewoa for a while now and they have never known that the other group was there. After so long it would be impossible for them to suddenly locate each other?'

But someone did know that both groups were in Ewoa.

'Elliot!'

The images appear in General Alaa's mind. Elliot was all for formalities and on that front he only had one shortcoming, he leaned on the general's desk. He placed his hand on the desk, he tapped his fingers and contracted his thumb.

Elliot was using the general's communication stone!

'That traitor! He only told me that Clyde was heading to Genzee after he learned about the other group. This entire time he has only been working with me for information about other rebel groups. He orchestrated Clyde's movements so that it looked like he was marching on Genzee, then they changed directions at the last moment. All this time, he has been sending instructions to them with my communication stone!'

General Alaa realises it at long last, but it is all too late. Elliot has made a complete fool of him.

The Ewoa-Gavaria Border

Clyde approaches Sarada.

"Hello 9th Hokage. It has been a long time since we saw each other last. I believe Headmaster Sora ordered us to run."

"Yes he did. You were supposed to run the other way."

The two of them laugh for a while before shaking hands. It has been so long since they saw each other last and since that time they have been responsible for their subordinates' safety. It has not been easy for either of them, they have both suffered greatly. Yet now, these two leaders who once lead their worlds into battle against one another, are comforted by each other's presence. For the first time since the day they evacuated the academy, they feel that they are no longer alone.

Mirai is quick to hug her grandmother and grandfather having not seen them since the evacuation.

"It's so good to see both of you," Mirai says. "All this time we've been fighting, but Lara died and when I tried to fuse my powers it didn't work. We've almost been killed several times, and I don't know how much longer we could have kept going."

"It's good to see you Mirai. You don't need to worry anymore, you're with your family now."

Sheer, who spoke with Sarada often after their fight in the Captained-Six contest, reunites with her friend. They speak about how things have changed since they last saw each other, how they have both grown immensely in strength and as people.

Everyone is delighted. Something good has finally happened for these two groups. They are no longer alone.

Local Imperial Guard Headquarters, Ewoa

General Alaa bursts into his office where he left Elliot. He is almost surprised to find the traitor is still there, searching through papers and tactical documents that he left behind. Even now Elliot is using the general's communication stone to send as much information as he can to Clyde. This was his plan from the beginning. What they were doing before was ineffective, but now Elliot has created a resistance group that can genuinely fight back against the Ewoa Imperial Guard, that can really make a difference.

"Elliot you traitor! How long have you been fooling me?"

"I fooled you right from the beginning! Since the moment we first met I played you like the fool you are!"

"Did Clyde know? Did he make you do this?"

"I discussed it with him and Mirai. The others were in the dark. You might have been watching, we needed to make you believe I really was a traitor. If you were as smart as they were you might have noticed what was happening."

Alaa clenches his fist tightly, activating his golden 'sound' cloak. Divine energy much stronger than Elliot's fills the room and the double-agent knows that he has no chance of fighting back against it. This is the power of a general from the Imperial Guard.

"I am going to end you, Elliot."

Elliot stops looking through Alaa's documents. "No, you will not."

"Do you think you can defeat me?"

"If you survive this, I want you to remember my words, I want you to remember the truth. Serving Head General Lara and Head General Clyde was never difficult for me. They are both competent, intelligent and noble officers beyond what you will ever be. Serving them only became easier as they developed as people and as warriors. Serving them never bothered me at all, it was the greatest honour of my life."

"If I survive this? Do you actually think you kill me?"

Elliot smiles and his entire body starts to glow ice-blue. This is the colour of his 'cold' divine energy. He is detonating his core.

Alaa panics and leaves the room as fast as he can.

Elliot shouts after him. "I will not die as Colonel Elliot of the Imperial Guard. I am General Elliot of the Homeworld Military!"

Alaa runs down the corridor. A core explosion from a warrior as strong as Elliot may even hurt a royal, there is no way he can take a blast like that from close range.

Elliot squeezes Alaa's communication stone one final time.

"Clyde, Mirai, we did it, it has been an honour serving with you. Avenge Lara and me, win this war!"

Elliot detonates his core. The explosion spreads throughout the Ewoa Imperial Guard Headquarters, collapsing corridor after corridor, spreading a level of destruction that only a royal could rival. The boundless 'cold' chases after General Alaa, hitting him with such force that it pushes him through one of the walls and out the building. This attack is surely the most devastating this building has suffered since it was created.

General Alaa takes a deep breath of air, surviving but with numerous broken bones and severe damage throughout his body. He looks back and sees that his headquarters have been flattened. Medics run to his aid as he groans in pain. Countless guards will have been lost in that blast.

This is the ultimate humiliation to him. He will need a lot of rest before he can battle again. He will need to report this failure to Head General Safura, and to Queen Mauer Sabine. Colonel Elliot did not help him to crush the rebellion. Instead General Elliot has performed the greatest act of rebellion in the history of Ewoa.

In the end, Elliot was loyal to the rebellion.

In Response to S
Who asks if someone with 'body' or 'cells' could re-write DNA?

If such a person existed it would be possible for them.
However, if a pocket-worlder were re-written into a Homeworlder they might lose their chakra.

Thanks for reading.