AFFLICTIONS AND ROYALS – NADIA'S PLAN
North-East Okarin
Naruto collapses in the sand, Queen Hirsch Nadia still on his back. Desert as far as the eye can see. This makes walking through the Hidden Sand seem pleasant. 'What would Gaara think about all this?' he wonders.
Nadia steps on Naruto's back as she walks away.
"Watch where you're walking!" Naruto says.
"Has the sun made you all grumpy?" Nadia asks.
"You're the one who has made me grumpy. Since when was my job carrying royals around Homeworld? You're way heavier than you look as well."
"Too heavy for a class 8 warrior?"
"Heavier than it would be to carry nothing. Where is the water? Is there no water? How are we supposed to survive without any water?"
Hinata throws her hand in Naruto's direction, silencing the whining Hokage with a splash of her 'water' energy. He had forgotten she could do that. It was her 'water' breakthrough in the Hidden Leaf that started Hyuuga Hinata on this path to swapping with Endou Hinata. He wonders if perhaps that 'water' energy is the key to getting her back. There is little that can be done about it now, and he is well aware that Endou Hinata may not be willing to switch control of her body back to the Hidden Leaf shinobi.
"Nadia, I've been thinking," Naruto says.
"Yes, I've noticed."
"How are we going to cure Fauna Blight in the Beast Clan? It's not going to be like CheoCho is it? We had everyone in a tight space in the city, I ran through and healed them all at once. Is it really possible to do something like that with the Beast Clan?"
"That's why we're not going to cure Fauna Blight," Nadia says.
"Nadia, you liar," Claude the Owl shouts. "You said that you would join us as a tactical advisor. You said that our best action now was to offer a cure for Fauna Blight in exchange for the Beast King's help."
"Are you suggesting that we offer it as a bluff?" Hinata asks.
Nadia laughs. "You are very cruel minded princess. No, I'm not suggesting we offer the cure as a bluff. What we're offering is just as good as a cure, but we will never technically cure Fauna Blight."
"What's the point then?" Claude asks, still outraged.
"Even Uzumaki has thought this through, use your head owl. There are beasts in the sky on the other side of Homeworld. There are fishes in lakes in both Fayoth and Gavaria. There are all the beasts currently residing in Max's laboratories, and there are a few who objected to the war, like Michel, who would refuse to come even if the Beast King himself called them. Do you really think that we can cure all of them just by organising ourselves well? My mind is impressive, but even I cannot think of a way to do that."
"Then how are we going to cure Fauna Blight."
"As you know the Beast Kingdom is now contained within the city of Fauna, which is in the borders of Seblix. The Beast Clan are mostly in that city and are therefore mostly in my country. What you don't know is that North-West of Fauna there is a bunker. Public knowledge of this bunker is forbidden, only the royals and a select few in the Imperial Guard are aware of its existence. This bunker is where we can make your effective cure happen. It won't be easy; you will have to listen to my every instruction but we can get inside that bunker.
"What you need to understand is that Fauna Blight is not a natural affliction, it was engineered by the emperor and King Max. As you know, when one animal becomes a beast, another beast dies to keep the balance, that is how Fauna Blight manifests. Have you never asked yourself how that is possible? How could an affliction present in the Beast King know that a fish in Gavaria had just become a beast?"
"I'm not a scientist, I let smarter people think about that," Naruto admits.
Nadia laughs. "I admire your honesty at least. There is a central station where information about Fauna Blight is sent to and received from every animal and beast in Homeworld. That is what is in this bunker, the brain of the affliction, not just an instance of Fauna Blight, but the living thinking being that binds all Fauna Blight together. It is apparently one of the greatest scientific inventions this world has ever seen."
"I see. We need to destroy this brain," Sasuke says.
"It's not as simple as that," Nadia explains. "This is an affliction, the exact antithesis of life as you understand it. If you attempt to destroy it using your regular powers then you may inadvertently make it stronger. To destroy this affliction brain, you need to do the reverse of destroying it, you need to heal it. That is why Uzumaki is important to this mission, he has the power to destroy Fauna Blight's brain. He can save all the beasts and all the animals at once."
Michel and Claude both look to Hannah, who has grown used to this routine by now. She nods confirmation to each of them that Nadia is telling the truth. If they want to cure Fauna Blight they only need to get Naruto inside a bunker for one day, for one moment. They can change not only the courses of their own lives, but they could also change the course of the war.
"This is great, in that case curing Fauna Blight should be easy," Naruto says.
"Don't speak too soon. The bunker is protected by an independent group. They are strong enough to protect it from this group and I cannot order them away. They are ready for the moment the Beast Clan discovers the bunker; they are trained especially for it. That's why we need this special team. With the crazy new team of rebels combined with the Beast King and his subordinates following a battle plan created by me, we can get past them. This is a situation that nobody could have foreseen. A team that not even those bunker guards can stop."
"To Fauna City then," Naruto says.
"Yes, to Fauna City"
Two Days Later, Near Fauna City, Seblix
"What is that?" Naruto says, pointing at a huge body of water.
"It's a lake," Sasuke answers.
"I know it's a lake Sasuke. I meant I've never seen a lake that big. How are we going to cross it? The Homeworlders in this group can't walk on the water, and if we use a raft it is going to take months."
"You could each carry one of us," Nadia offers with a chuckle.
"We're not carrying all of you across the lake," Naruto insists.
Nadia climbs down from Naruto's back and sits at the top of the hill. She looks down from above assuming a position of authority. This is her right, she is the queen of this land. She has ruled Seblix for many years, but she has seldom taken the chance to sit down and admire its beauty. She has always believed that her home country was the most scenic of all the nations in Homeworld. Views like this only reinforce that opinion.
"Do you know what it's called?" Nadia asks Naruto.
"No, I don't."
"It's called the Lake of Big Fishes."
"What!? Why would anyone call it that?"
"There are lots of big fish in that lake Uzumaki. A lot of them are beasts there to guard the king. If you aren't careful you will slip into the water. When you're in there one of the huge fish will eat you and that will be the end of the rebellion."
"Couldn't anyone think of a better name for it?"
"It is not called the Lake of Big Fishes," Hinata says plainly.
Nadia laughs, "No, but hearing you say it is funny princess."
"The real name of this lake is Red Sun Lake. It is called this because if you stand in the middle of the lake the sun will appear red all through the day," Hinata explains. "Jonas told me why once but I can't remember the reason. Nadia is right though, there are plenty of large beasts in that water which will have an advantage over us if we fall in. Even if you ran across that lake it would be dangerous."
"There's a boat," Nadia says.
"A boat?"
"Of course, a lot of the Beast Kingdom can't fly or swim, their home is across that water. When land‑walking members of the Beast Kingdom need to cross they approach the ferry and a water beast pulls them across. The ferry would be our safest route into Fauna City."
"Nadia's right," Michel confirms. "But there is a problem, we won't be allowed across. If we are lucky they won't recognise me and I will be permitted to cross. Claude would definitely be allowed. The rest of you would not be accepted, even if we tried to pass you off as our prisoners. Lastly, Nadia poses the biggest problem of all. Everyone in the Beast Kingdom would recognise her, most of them would kill her on site."
"Yes. The Beast Kingdom isn't very hospitable to humans," Nadia admits.
"Then how were you hoping to get us all across?"
"I've heard that pocket-worlders have many unusual powers and tricks they can use. I was hoping that one of your powers would be able to fool them into letting us pass. Could you disguise us all as beasts perhaps? Mr Uchiha, I have heard rumours from the Imperial Guard that you use an illusion technique."
Sasuke nods, "Yes I can probably fool them into thinking that we look like animals. Genjutsu is not as easy in Homeworld as it was in the pocket-world, but most people would be fooled if I tried it now."
"Good."
"When we're over there we will need to speak with the Beast King," Mana correctly points out. "How are we going to get an audience with him? I'm sure that if he's anything like our royals then has lots of security. If we fight our way towards him in the middle of Fauna City it would be dangerous."
"Yes, even if we look like beasts getting an audience with the Beast King will not be easy," Nadia agrees. "Fortunately we are here at the right time of year. As Michel and Claude might remember, when an animal first becomes a beast they have a chance to participate in the annual newcomer fighting championships. The award for winning those championships is an audience with the Beast King himself."
"Are we strong enough to win?" Naruto asks.
"These are new beasts," Michel says. "The strongest entrant we have ever had was a class 5 warrior. Winning this championship shouldn't be a problem for someone as strong as you Naruto."
"Hold on," Sasuke says. "I can maintain an illusion so that we all look like animals, but in Homeworld my powers will only go so far. If we're walking about nobody will pay too much attention, but fighting is different. If Naruto enters this championship his movements won't match his body. If the Beast King is watching he is definitely going to notice that Naruto is a human."
"Would a transformation technique help?" Kushina asks.
"I doubt the Beast King would be fooled by that."
"What if we all used genjutsu," Minato suggests. "We may not all be as proficient as you, but if we all work together—"
"It wouldn't make much difference."
"Before I was a queen I was very good at face painting," Nadia sarcastically offers.
"Can't you demand an audience with him? You are the Queen of Seblix after all, surely you have some privileges?"
"If the I went into Fauna without any powers and without a disguise, there is no way the Beast Kingdom is letting me out alive."
Naruto smiles. "Don't worry, I have an idea."
One Hour Later, A Boat on Red Sun Lake, Seblix
This is a day of new experiences for Queen Nadia. It is fun. She wishes that things had been different, that Akashi would have remained emperor and she would have greeted the pocket-worlders to this world as friends. Things haven't turned out that way though, and this is a strange alliance. Regardless, she has enjoyed being carried by Naruto as he jumped about Homeworld, learning about their strange powers, and now being disguised as a beast by one of Sasuke's illusions. However, what she enjoys most is the amusing sight before her. There is only one amongst them whose appearance is not an illusion. A tiny fox.
"You're very cute," Nadia says.
"I am not cute!" a tiny nine-tailed fox replies.
Kurama has taken control from Naruto but has been miniaturised to the size of a regular fox. This way he appears to be a beast. In their shared inner-world Naruto laughs uncontrollably at all the attention his partner is getting. Normally when the nine-tailed beast takes control the situation is serious, but this time things are much more entertaining.
"Naruto, why do I have to do this?" Kurama asks.
"You know why, we need you to fight in the newcomer championships."
"Why can't you do it? This Nadia won't stop laughing at me."
"Kurama, has anyone ever told you that you look like a fox. In this world a fox would pass for a beast. I am a human."
"Don't patronise me Naruto."
"Who are you anyway?" Nadia asks, "You don't sound like the same person."
"I am the mighty nine-tailed beast. I have brought villages to their knees and forced people to run in terror. I am Kurama."
"You're not very tall. How do people run in terror if they can't see you?"
"I can be as tall as a mountain if I desire, I am only this size because of a transformation technique. And remember, I have powers of my own, you have none. If you annoy me too much I will eat you before my partner has time to take control again."
"A regular fox with nine tails?"
"We'll have to pass it off as a genetic defect," Hinata says.
"It is not a genetic defect!" Kurama insists.
In spite of Kurama's many warnings, Naruto continues to laugh from their inner world as events unfold. He wishes he had let Kurama take charge more often. Still, the situation is serious but he is confident. Kurama is a strong warrior even without Naruto's energy. Using chakra alone Kurama has a good chance of winning the newcomer championships.
Hinata walks to the edge of the boat and sees a hawk falling from the sky. It appears to be a beast. She watches as another beast, an eagle, flies down and saves its fellow bird just before it hits the water. The eagle brings the hawk aboard the boat and begins to tend to his wounds, asking if he is alright before offering to collect food for him.
"Different to what you remember?" Minato asks Hinata.
"All my life I have pictured the members of the Beast Clan as our enemies from that war. I knew that they have hated us for most of their history. I assumed that since they were at such a disadvantage to us in terms of resources and land that they would be continuously preparing for war. I've heard lots of stories about beasts over the years, war stories mostly, but never have I heard about them being kind to one another. Michel was the only one I ever heard of being kind like that. I assumed that Claude picked it up from a human."
"Did you know that when we were fighting the Beast Kingdom I offered an alternative to Fauna Blight," Nadia says.
"You did?"
"I suggested that instead of joining the battle himself the emperor should make me the leader of our armies. I admitted that defeating the Beast Kingdom was not very likely with the rate their numbers were increasing, but I thought that I could reach Fauna City and eliminate their leader quickly enough. I thought that we could combine tactics with political influence to end the war. In the end the solution was rejected. Putting one queen in charge of Homeworld's forces would have looked bad. Science Advisor Furst pointed out that if I was wrong then more people would die in the war than Fauna Blight would kill for the next thousand years."
"You thought you could achieve a lasting peace?" Michel asks.
"I thought so," Nadia confirms. "I don't think Akashi believed that killing each new Beast King until a human-friendly one emerged was particularly ethical."
While the others continue to debate how they should have proceeded in the last war, Hinata uses her Byakugan to watch the water. She pays attention to how the fish move about, both with and against the currents as they make their way towards their destination with great efficiency. There is a lot she feels she can learn from them, applying their knowledge not only to battles involving water, but also as a life philosophy. Go with the current when it is the right thing to do, fight against it when necessary.
Hinata feels a rush of energy from her inner world. She has understood tier 2 'water' energy. A small blue 'water' cloak appears around her, and those who can see through Sasuke's genjutsu observe another change. Her genetic condition causes a larger portion of her fire-red hair to turn water-blue, now in an approximately seventy-thirty ratio. Overall this makes for a relatively insignificant change to her power, she remains a class 8 warrior, but takes one significant step closer to class 9.
Naruto wishes he could speak to congratulate Hinata, but for now he most focus on the challenges to come. If Kurama wins the newcomer championship they will switch back control so that he has a chance to speak with the Beast King. When that time comes he will need to find the right words. What he says, or does not say, in the next day may determine the result of the entire war.