Author: Okay, I admit it, I was procrastinating, that's why the chapter only came out now! Yes, I could be using the excuse that I was on exam days, but I won't because I know I'm just lazy.
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As the minutes passed by like a flowing river, the students who had taken the test gradually decreased. All succeeded, though some had suffered injuries within the simulation, and a few had come close to being killed. However, in the end, they emerged victorious. Out of the 98 students, only 20 chose to kill, while the others opted to merely incapacitate Team 7 from the war by knocking them out, or in some cases, simply cutting off each member's legs. Yes, all simulated battles were against Minato's team at their peak as a unit.
The young girl with long, bluish-gray hair stepped forward before Haku could take his turn. She was known as "The Princess of the Immaculate World." It might seem like an audacious, even pretentious, title... but… no one would be wrong to call her that. Her aura was one of relaxed grace, yet held a dignified poise, like that of an elder princess among her sisters. This aura came purely from her abilities and skills.
As she made her way to the capsule, she closed her eyes while lying down, already finding herself in the setting—surrounded by trees, with not much space between them. It was the same place where Lyle had fought, though his fight had been closer to the center.
This was currently the "training" simulation against Obito, one of the quickest…
'The Princess of the World' contemplated with a thoughtful expression on each of her classmates, but the image of Lyle constantly came to mind. This was due to his aura, which was so sinister it was hard to believe he was human. Just from that aura, he would leave lasting impressions on many, like a burn left by a red-hot iron on human skin.
While she pondered, four blazing fireballs made of chakra quickly approached her, though she looked at them as if they were nothing. It wasn't just as if they were insignificant; they truly were nothing to her. The moment the fireballs touched her, an explosion erupted where they contacted her skin. As the smoke from the explosion rose, Obito's figure appeared, holding a kunai in his left hand.
"Not enough," the delicate voice of that 'Princess' echoed from within the slowly dissipating smoke, revealing her figure without a single burn or injury—not even a strand of hair was singed. On closer inspection, four shuriken could be seen embedded in the surrounding trees, which had been launched alongside the fireballs and were now lodged deep in the trunks, as though they had been forcefully repelled. The shuriken tips were buried at least four centimeters into the tree trunks, as if someone had hurled them with tremendous force.
In that moment, Obito's body no longer obeyed his commands, like a puppet trying to move without anyone pulling the strings. He stood there, motionless, until the young girl's voice echoed once again.
"Kill yourself," she spoke in a casual tone, as if she hadn't just given an outrageous command to her enemy. But… with his body under her control, Obito did exactly as ordered. He smoothly turned his kunai, plunging it into the left side of his throat while gripping it with both hands. Then, he made a horizontal slash from left to right. His throat opened, and blood poured from the wound, flowing like a small waterfall onto the grass below. He began to choke, and his body fell to the ground. After a few seconds, his body vanished from her sight. All of this had taken no more than ten seconds.
Her gaze remained serene, as if she were witnessing something routine and ordinary. The sight of her, paired with this scene, would send chills down anyone's spine. It seemed that a title like "Mad Princess" would suit her better, though no one would dare to call her that to her face in the end.
At that moment, Roan's voice echoed throughout the expanded simulation space again. The students watching had already gotten used to him speaking whenever someone managed to clear the first part of the training. "Very good, Yurika. But you're still relying too much on your Hadan and the Redirection Technique. While the latter requires a lot of concentration, which is useful to train here, don't neglect your other areas." He commented calmly as he observed Yurika through the three-dimensional image, continuing, "If you keep only using your Redirection Technique, you'll have to take a lap around the entire kingdom." Roan smiled as he said this, in contrast to Yurika, who, upon hearing his words, immediately turned pale, cold sweat running down her back and forehead.
What was Roan's intention in saying this? Simple — to make sure they improved their skills in real combat, as theory and practice are two different things. In practice, fighting against more than one opponent is an excellent way to ensure that the student remains alert to their surroundings and never lets their guard down, even when they think they've won the fight. Of course, he would ensure his students wouldn't suffer any lasting side effects.
"Ugh... fine, Roan-sensei..." Even though she accepted not to use her Hadan and to minimize the use of her Redirection Technique, she still felt uncomfortable with it, but she agreed, preferring to extend the fight than to have to take a lap around the entire kingdom.
When her thoughts finished, her eyelids opened, revealing her deep blue eyes that seemed as if one could fall into an endless ocean abyss if they looked too deeply. She looked to the right and, as if predicting it, she kicked upward with her right leg, seemingly aiming at nothing. But as she executed the movement, Obito descended from the trees above her, preparing his right fist, while Kakashi appeared at her left flank with his chakra blade ready in an extremely swift Shunshin.
Her kick struck Obito square in the head, and as Kakashi's blade was about to hit her neck, it was suddenly deflected upward, leaving Kakashi entirely exposed for a clean strike from the 'princess,' who didn't waste this opening. Shifting her center of gravity, she followed her right kick with a circular motion, lifting both feet off the ground and executing a kick with her left foot. Her leg moved at a speed that even Shunshin couldn't match, connecting with Kakashi's chin, lifting him even higher into the air after he had already been slightly elevated from the deflection of his chakra blade's trajectory.
Before she could connect another attack against both, she quickly had to jump backward from her previous spot to avoid kunai thrown at high speed from her right, aimed at her legs to incapacitate her movement.
However, as always, such attempts were futile against an opponent even minimally alert. Just because Yurika wasn't the top three in Taijutsu didn't mean she was weak. In fact, she almost immediately resumed close combat against Kakashi and Obito with her eyes closed after seeing the Uchiha activate his Sharingan, all to avoid falling into genjutsu. Despite her high resistance, there was still a possibility of momentary paralysis. She even seemed to dance amid Kakashi and Obito's combined attacks, and even when Rin tried to strike at her blind spots, she always dodged at the last moment and countered at the right time, targeting pressure points. But, realizing that this could continue indefinitely, she decided to end it. Pausing, she spoke.
"Kill yourselves..." If she had said this to her enemies normally, they would probably just laugh and refuse. That would be the common sense response, but since she had already activated her Hadan, all three Team 7 members obeyed Yurika's command without hesitation. Kakashi raised his Chakra Blade to his neck, and in a smooth motion, his head fell to the grass below. Obito and Rin cut their own throats with kunai, blood pouring from the open wounds, revealing exposed tissue — a blend of flesh, muscle, and traces of the open trachea, pulsing with the last remnants of life as their bodies collapsed to the ground.
Yet Yurika remained unscathed, her clothes and expression serene as ever. Her eyes reflected Obito's fallen form as she closed her eyelids and instantly found herself back in the capsule. She stood up quickly as the sound of the opening greeted her, and upon stepping out, she was promptly congratulated by her other classmates.
But she wasn't too concerned; her family had been doing this for generations. Hearing this from her peers meant little to her, especially since none of them had any ties to the kingdom's "elite" (Flame Guardians or higher). She noticed that only Lyle hadn't come to congratulate her on her victory. He stood in the corner of the room, observing everyone with a certain indifference, as if paying no attention to something so trivial.
"All right, all right. Haku, it's your turn now!" The man with long blue hair called out to Haku. His robes seemed to sway with the wind as he enthusiastically struck his armor with his right hand. A broad smile adorned his face as he continued, "I hope you surpass your limits, Haku!" His words carried a simple truth: from the very beginning, this training was designed to push the students beyond their boundaries.
"Hai, Roan-sensei…" Haku responded, nodding slightly as he began to walk calmly toward the capsule. Upon reaching it, he opened the door and lay down. He couldn't deny how soft the interior felt, but just as he thought that, he suddenly found himself standing atop a small lake. His subconscious and reflexes had already gathered chakra beneath his feet, preventing him from sinking into the water. Glancing around, he saw that he was on the lake, but 30 meters ahead lay a dense forest.
In an instant, his figure disappeared as though through teleportation. Mere fractions of a second later, several shuriken, concealed within a Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu, shot out from the forest toward where the androgynous youth had been standing. Haku had used a combination of Shunpo and Shunshin. Normally, this would exert significant pressure and require incredible chakra control as well as extreme spatial awareness.
Haku launched a senbon into the forest. Its speed was so great that it tore through the air and disappeared into the darkness of the woods. He murmured, "Missed by a little." Again, he vanished, reappearing among the trees, only to vanish once more. His expression remained calm as his gaze fell on Obito, whose shoulder had been pierced by the senbon. Blood dripped slightly from the wound, but Obito hadn't removed it, ensuring the injury wouldn't worsen.
The simulation reacted immediately, pushing the limits of the simulated body, but soon rendered it completely inoperative after another senbon was embedded into its neck, aligned with the spinal cord. Behind Obito, a rudimentary ice mirror had formed, its surface shimmering in blue with hints of white. It was one of Haku's ice mirrors, enabling translocation between them. However, Haku hadn't moved from the spot where Obito had initially seen him. Something only Lyle, Yurika, and Roan noticed was the small ice mirror floating at chest height two meters to Haku's left.
After a few seconds, Obito disintegrated into colorful particles, like a time-lapse of a Lego structure coming undone. None of the participants paid much attention to this, as they were already preparing for the next battle. But Haku had a moment to observe, finding it a beautiful visual effect.
Forming the confrontation hand seal, with only his index and middle fingers raised, Haku created an ice wall 4 meters tall and 1 meter thick. From the other side, a powerful explosion could be heard, causing the ground to tremble slightly. Judging by the crackling sounds and the smoke rising to the sky, Haku was certain it had been a combination of fire and lightning releases.
Haku heard the sound of footsteps rushing toward him. The son of the Demon of the Hidden Mist formed a hand seal that would later become characteristic of him—a variation of the Tiger Seal. In this version, the middle fingers curved around the index fingers, meeting at their tips, so that the middle and index fingers appeared crossed when viewed from the side. At that very moment, the footsteps closed in to just one meter from Haku. Within a 5-meter radius around him, several mirrors formed. This was his jutsu: Makyou Hyoushou.
Mirrors surrounded the source of the footsteps—Kakashi and Obito—who had used a combined jutsu to move in tandem. Without hesitation, Kakashi struck the mirror where Haku appeared, but Haku translocated to another, causing Kakashi's chakra blade to bounce harmlessly off the ice. Realizing this, Kakashi formed hand seals and prepared his *Chidori*, but he was immediately pelted with countless senbon. Obito moved in front of him to shield Kakashi, buying him time, but even that wasn't enough. Within the ice domain, Haku could attack from any angle. In moments, both were subdued and rendered unconscious.
Haku stepped out of one of the ice mirrors, made a hand seal, and dispelled the jutsu. He quickly pulled more senbon, positioning them between his fingers. Almost instantly, a shuriken was launched in his direction. Deflecting it with one of the senbon, he used another with pinpoint precision to strike Rin's trachea, rendering her unconscious. The battle had ended in an instant.
"Well, well… not bad at all," Lyle remarked with a smile, watching Haku's performance. His grin was genuine, tinged with a hint of anticipation for a future battle, though he would save that for after their academy graduation.
Yurika, on the other hand, simply applauded Haku's display. Her claps were slow yet the loudest among all, a clear acknowledgment of the refinement in his technique.
"All right, class, I'll see you on Monday. Enjoy your weekend," Roan announced in his usual cheerful tone, even brighter than before. He was proud that all his students had succeeded in the simulation training, which would greatly aid their growth. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the students, who disappeared with proficient *Shunpo*, their residual figures fading into the air like mirages. Watching them go, Roan sighed softly and smiled, imagining the brilliant futures that lay ahead for his pupils.
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Alice sat on her throne, her expression thoughtful. She was truly deep in contemplation, even though some time had passed since she had received the report that made her realize she was in an alternate Naruto universe. The words of one of her many spies in the shinobi world echoed clearly in her mind.
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[Some Years Ago]
"Alice, the Yondaime Hokage managed to seal Kyūbi into two of his three children, and he used a powerful sealing jutsu from the Uzumaki clan, which apparently requires dual cooperation, as his weakened wife helped him with it. It was probably his wife who taught him this sealing technique." Many who heard the casual way this feminine voice addressed the queen by her name might have considered it disrespectful, but Alice seemed unfazed.
The light coming through the castle window cast a shadow, within which stood a short, cute-looking young girl with long black hair that reached her hips and black eyes. Her ears differed from those of a normal human, as they had pointed tips, although her long black hair made this feature hard to notice. Her black eyes had reptilian pupils. She wore a black gothic Lolita dress. What stood out in her chest was a badge symbolizing something...
"My Eternal Sovereign, you likely have more to report, right? Little Ophis," Alice asked patiently, looking at the small gothic loli. Her voice was calm, but internally she was surprised that Kushina had had three children, as this wasn't supposed to happen, along with a sealing technique involving Minato. Her green eyes shone slightly as Ophis continued.
"Exactly. I initially thought the Yondaime Hokage would die, as when Kyūbi went to attack the babies with its claws, she stopped midway." Ophis, for the first time, shifted from her usual apathetic expression to one of mild thoughtfulness and said something she had been considering. "Perhaps she managed to detect me somehow, but that's just my hypothesis."
"In summary, the village of Konoha is partially destroyed, but its military power shouldn't have decreased much, even though many of its Jōnin and Chūnin are likely dead." Her calm words spread throughout the hall instantly, and Ophis nodded in confirmation.
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From that day on, Alice always remained in a state of concern about the future of the current world. Even with this power by her side, she knew one could never save someone who didn't want to be saved. She stared into what seemed like nothingness until a feminine voice with a touch of childlike innocence echoed beside the throne.
"Milady, is something troubling you?" The voice carried a perceptible sense of concern yet remained monotone, making it hard to describe. The owner of the voice was revealed, first through her strikingly vibrant red eyes, whose pupils resembled a sniper scope with intricate patterns surrounding them. She had flowing white hair that reached nearly to her elbows and pale skin—not a literal white, but the typical pale tone. Her attire was decidedly gothic: a long, asymmetrical black dress with wide sleeves that moved as though they embodied darkness itself. Her shoulders were bare, and she wore large black trousers beneath. If one looked, it was undeniably gothic. Her emotionless expression made it hard to believe such a concerned voice had come from her.
"No, it's fine, Chikage. I'm just reflecting on the future…" The Queen of Camelot replied casually but with a touch of seriousness in her tone. Her expression was serene, deep in thought. After all, the greatest weapon of someone transported to another world is their knowledge of that world, allowing them to anticipate events and create countermeasures. But she also pondered the butterfly effect her presence might have caused.
Hearing these words, Chikage furrowed her brow slightly. She felt there was more to it, that something was missing, but chose not to press further. "I still remember that day, how I admired you." She let out a soft chuckle at the end, recalling the moment when she and her father were saved by Alice, whose appearance hadn't changed at all since then. From that time on, she trained relentlessly to stand by her idol's side. Not only had she discovered her kekkei genkai, but she also received the Queen's blessing. Only then did she feel she had truly become someone worthy of standing beside Alice.
Alice spoke in a nostalgic tone. "I still remember how excited you were when you came to me with your discovery." At the end of her words, a low laugh escaped her lips, echoing throughout the royal hall. Even the pillars seemed to tremble at the sound, despite how soft it was.
"Well then, Milady, I shall take my leave." Chikage's words were now serious, her voice once again adopting its apathetic tone. Alice nodded and told her to take care. Upon hearing this, the young woman vanished into the shadows, leaving only one final remark before disappearing entirely. "Milady, if you need anything, just call." And with that, her presence vanished completely—no trace of her chakra remained.
"Perhaps I should have a discussion with the other Eternal Sovereigns about the future of our students? Maybe to better organize the teams as well, though this is usually Director Sirius's responsibility. I hope he doesn't mind." She shuddered slightly at the mention of Sirius, recalling that he was one of the few blessed ones who had acquired an incredibly powerful model—that of the King of the Sacred Kingdom, Sirius. Even though he had been the weakest of the three Heroes in his youth during the Avesta, he had achieved a pseudo-hadou (as he hadn't reached Taikyoku) in Volume 4, making him the second strongest, surpassed only by the monstrosity that was Varhram.
Alice knew that if Sirius ever chose to rebel, even with 100% of the Artoria Template, she wouldn't be able to stand against him in a one-on-one fight or even hold her ground.
Alice moved her hand to the armrest of the throne, appearing to type into the air as a holographic keyboard materialized. She sent a message to all the Eternal Sovereigns, particularly Sirius, explaining her reasoning. The response was almost immediate. Even Sirius agreed with surprising ease, contrary to her expectation of resistance.
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Haku walked back home, moving through the warm and bustling streets of the kingdom. People recognized him because of his attire and face, which had earned him the nickname "The Handsome Prince of Ice." He was eating a skewer of meat held in his left hand as he walked slowly, occasionally waving at some of the townsfolk. Everyone greeted him with friendly smiles, which warmed Haku's heart, one that had been shattered since that day.
As he walked, he suddenly felt a presence behind him. Turning around, Haku smiled warmly at the person approaching him, someone whose clothing stood out among the crowd. It was a tall and muscular man with pale skin, short spiky black hair, and brown eyes framed by small eyebrows. The lower half of his face was covered by a bandage mask. His attire consisted of a sleeveless black shirt and matching pants, completed with a belt, striped wrist and leg warmers, and a small golden emblem in the shape of a crown over the chest area of his shirt, where his heart would be. The emblem was metallic but small enough to resemble a ring-sized decoration for an index finger.
"How was the new training?" The man now standing in front of Haku was none other than Zabuza Momochi, known in this world as his father. Although Zabuza's tone remained stern due to his past life, there was a faint warmth in his words when speaking to Haku. However, he maintained his seriousness, as he rarely showed his emotions—even to Haku, who understood why Zabuza behaved that way.
"A bit 'brutal,' in a sense," Haku replied. For a brief moment, Zabuza froze, his blood boiling at the implication. But he controlled himself, knowing there was likely more Haku hadn't yet shared. He waited for Haku to continue.
"But it was very useful for me to test my abilities in real combat, and it favored my style of not having to kill," Haku added, looking at his right hand, clenched into a fist. His hand was slightly rough from the academy training and, most notably, from the sessions he had with Zabuza after school.
Hearing this, Zabuza felt a slight relief. The two continued walking home together, as father and son. Even though they weren't related by blood, they acted as if they were a real family. During the walk, Zabuza even ruffled Haku's small head, showing a rare display of affection.
He hadn't been wrong in his choice to serve and become a part of this kingdom.
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[Secret Location Within the Castle]
At the far right end of the table sat Alice, calmly gazing forward toward the left end. There stood a tall elder, measuring 1.88 meters in height, with long, silver hair and a well-groomed gray beard. His posture was relaxed, yet his presence exuded an extraordinary wisdom, a reflection of countless years of experience. His attire consisted of an ornate suit of armor in dark purple and gold tones, complemented by a long white cloak with golden details, decorated with intricate and symbolic motifs, and lined with dark fur. In both hands, he held a massive sword that rested on the floor. The blade was adorned with golden embellishments that harmonized with his regal appearance.
This elder was none other than Sirius, who, with his deep voice, was the first to speak in the room.
"Your Majesty, for you to personally summon us here and hold a meeting like this, it must mean that the formation of these teams is a matter of great importance, correct?" he asked seriously, adjusting himself in his seat. He placed the sword between his knees, resting his hands on its hilt as he stared deeply into Alice's eyes.
"Wise as always, Sirius," Alice remarked with a composed expression. Though it might seem like a trivial matter—merely organizing teams among the students—it was a significant decision for the kingdom. Even though it would still take six years before this plan would come to fruition, it was always better to prepare in advance than to leave things to the last minute. "You all know better than I do how important this is," she added.
The atmosphere in the room was tense, and after Alice spoke, silence prevailed. Everyone present understood the gravity of the situation, especially Sirius, who picked up a few sheets of paper with his left hand and began naming each student. Though he had memorized every name, he did this as a reminder for the others.
"We are fully aware of the situation," Sirius began. "Especially with this generation, which is exceptional in many ways. Initially, I thought a few of them would fail during the second stage of the simulation, but all of them emerged victorious."
When Sirius revealed this information, the reactions were mixed. Some were surprised that the students had managed to win a three-against-one battle against adversaries like the genius Kakashi, a Sharingan-wielding Uchiha with two tomoe, and a skilled healer. Others, however, displayed pride, hearing about the students' accomplishments in completing the training.
"Understood. Let's return to the main topic. But thank you for that information, Director Sirius," interjected a voice.
The speaker was a woman with short, golden hair that fell to her shoulders. She wore a large, intricate crown detailed with gold and adorned with pink crystals. Her attire featured a predominantly black, gold, and red color scheme. A red cape with a white interior and fur-trimmed edges draped over her shoulders. She also wore parts of a golden armor, most notably the robust, ornate pauldrons. Her outfit was further accentuated by pink crystal details that matched her crown, and a golden shield with elaborate designs partially encased her torso. Her lower garments consisted of white pants with golden accents, paired with dark boots featuring golden trim. This was Canaban.
"I propose that we arrange the students into the classic three-person team format used by the shinobi world," she suggested.
Before anyone could question the reasoning behind such a formation, Canaban continued her explanation.
"This will serve as preparation for future participation in the Chūnin Exams. Even though our system differs, it would still be an excellent test for our students. Of course, the missions themselves are already good training, and as always, we have at least one person in the shadows accompanying each team, minimizing the risks."
"Wait!" another feminine voice rang out. The speaker was a slender woman with fair skin—not sickly pale—her long, vibrant red hair cascading down her back in loose, voluminous locks. She wore a complex suit of armor predominantly in shades of black, red, and gold. The armor was highly ornate, featuring large, sharp pauldrons with metallic golden details. The upper section resembled a robust breastplate, while the lower section combined armor and fabric, with red accents especially prominent on the flared ends of the attire, adorned with flame-like golden motifs. Her ensemble was a blend of fabric and armored plates, and her boots followed the same color scheme, with sharp points and golden embellishments. On her arms, she wore dark gloves.
Floating beside her was an intricately designed sword, primarily black, with a vibrant red blade edge. This was none other than Elesis. She continued, her tone firm:
"Even though they all have great potential, wouldn't it be wiser for us to avoid exposing ourselves to the Shinobi world? You remember what they did to Uzushiogakure just because of their sealing techniques. Imagine what they'd try to do to us. Even with our numerous seals preventing unauthorized entry and the invisible barrier that shields the kingdom from any attack, it probably wouldn't withstand more than two Bijūdama. Furthermore, we all know the rotten truth—that the Five Great Nations would undoubtedly attempt to capture our students the moment they set foot outside the kingdom!"
Elesis made valid points, but Sirius was the first to respond. "I understand your concerns, Elesis. But that barrier won't be so easily broken; it would take at least one of us to destroy it. I agree with you that when we reveal ourselves to the world, we'll become targets for the nations. But tell me—how many Kage-level combatants do they have active? Konoha, only three. Kumogakure, just two. Sunagakure, a mere one. Kirigakure, also one. And lastly, Iwagakure, just three." Sirius spoke calmly, his deep voice filling the room.
As he listed each village, a red hologram sprang to life at the center of the table, triggered by a concealed device. Each Kage-level figure appeared as he named the villages. Sirius continued, unshaken, "And no, you needn't worry about this. No regular ninja would be able to defeat the Shadows who guard our kingdom. You're well-acquainted with their strength, aren't you?" His calm gaze met Elesis's fiery eyes, undeterred by the heavy atmosphere of the room.
The silence that followed was shattered, as though by a hammer striking fragile glass, by another voice.
"Both sides raise valid points, but I think taking our students to the Chūnin Exams in the future would prove our supremacy to the world. With our level, it would be the simplest thing to annihilate them before they even realize they're already dead."
The voice carried a serene confidence, drawing all eyes to its source. This was the third most powerful among them. The man had soft features and short brown hair, styled back with a single strand falling over his face. His fair skin was complemented by a haori so pristine it seemed to embody the very essence of purity. His "aura" radiated, generating a current of air that caused everyone's hair to sway. He did this intentionally, commanding the full attention of the room.
"I propose something better: we'll keep Canaban-dono's idea, but the instructors must be of a level higher than Supreme Paladin. What do you all think?"
"As always, an excellent idea, Aizen," Alice praised the brown-haired man, who wore a confident smile at her words. There was sound logic in assigning such powerful mentors to the students. Anyone above the Supreme Paladins operated on a level so vast it defied measurement. While this didn't apply to the Eternal Sovereigns, it certainly did to the Grand Archons.
Mari spoke next, offering her suggestion:
"I think it would be a good idea to continue with simulated training, especially by pitting them against stronger enemies. We could even make the Astral Field available, allowing them to fight one another without any real risk to either side. That way, they can truly let loose."
Her glasses glinted unnaturally, almost as if reflecting some ethereal light, given the dimness of the room. A wide, eager smile played on her lips as she awaited the others' responses.
Silence lingered for a few seconds as everyone arrived at the same conclusion.
"No way!" they all said in perfect unison, their voices synchronized like a flawless choir. Even Ophis, who had been asleep, woke up just for this and immediately went back to slumber. Mari's previously eager expression shifted instantly to one of sadness, and even her hair seemed heavier, as if the world itself shared her sorrow.
"B-But why?" Mari asked, still downcast, and continued her argument. "You allowed the Battle Simulator, so why not the Astral Battle...? Both deal with fighting in a simulated world where no one actually gets hurt!" She raised her left fist, poised to strike the table, but stopped herself just in time.
"I understand your frustration, Mari," Alice began, her tone serious as she glanced at Mari out of the corner of her eye. "But the Simulated Battle will already help the young ones avoid freezing in real combat situations. Moreover, I think it's better to reserve the Astral Battle for major events, so we can keep everyone safe, and participants won't have to hold back."
Alice's words mirrored what Sirius had been about to say, though he didn't mind. In fact, he smiled, his graying beard softening the gesture.
"Does anyone else have suggestions?" Alice asked in a firm, commanding voice that echoed through the meeting hall. Her aura spilled out, causing the walls to tremble slightly. It was as though a crimson dragon had descended, bringing hellfire to the world. This oppressive aura would have terrified most, but not the people in this room. Alice wasn't doing it to intimidate but to prompt everyone to speak up.
Everyone shook their heads. Ophis, still half-asleep, opened one eye and murmured that she had no ideas. Sirius and Aizen pondered for a few seconds before shaking their heads simultaneously. Mari merely whispered in a still-dejected tone that she had none. Elesis and Canaban reflected for a brief moment but also shook their heads. Even Chikage, who had remained silent the entire time, simply nodded in the negative.
Seeing this, Alice inevitably spoke. "You are all dismissed!"
"Yes, ma'am!" they all replied seriously, bowing slightly as a gesture of respect and loyalty to the queen—the person who had changed the lives of everyone in that room.
Afterward, each left the hall in their own way. Elesis, Canaban, and Mari exited together at a slow pace (Mari floating along). Ophis, Aizen, and Sirius tore through space to depart. Alice remained seated, accompanied by Chikage, who stayed close to her. The two women sat in silence, finding comfort in each other's presence.
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[In an Unknown Base]
The base was dimly lit, with a heavy, humid atmosphere. The ground beneath was nothing but compacted dirt, and the walls were built from rough stone. The poorly illuminated environment exuded an eerie aura, the kind that could send shivers down an ordinary person's spine and incite an inexplicable sense of despair. It was, indeed, a strange and foreboding place. Footsteps echoed through the still air.
"Danzō-sama. The pressure from the new village known as Camelot has increased against us!"
The speaker was a Root ANBU ninja, one of those who operated in the shadows, driven by the twisted ideology of their leader, Danzō Shimura. His philosophy was deceptively simple yet deeply warped: "Everything for the sake of Konoha!"
Danzō remained silent for a few moments, his expression unreadable. Over the past years, he had been unable to act against the Uchiha due to the growing interference from this so-called "village." Camelot's pressure had forced him into a defensive stance, something that deeply irritated him. Danzō often wondered how they had even discovered Root's existence.
Thanks to this, the Uchiha had gradually regained some political influence in Konoha, despite the efforts of Homura and Koharu to keep them in check. Without Danzō's schemes undermining them, the clan had begun to claw back some power.
Finally, Danzō's cold expression hardened further as he spoke. "We must disappear from their radar for now."
Though Danzō was many things, a complete fool was not one of them. He trusted Konoha as his shield, but he also understood the risk of underestimating this new ninja village. Deciding it was best to bide his time, he chose to retreat into the shadows until the situation calmed.
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Author: Hello, my dear readers. How have you been? I hope you are well. I came here to ask a question. I initially planned to have Haku carry some template of some character, initially I thought of Satoru Gojo because of his mugen and rokugan, but now I'm thinking of changing it to Emiya Shirou. The question is: Shirou or Satoru? Or if you don't want either of them, do you have any suggestions for another character? Like Esdeath, Aokiji, Rukia, etc.
Another thing, have you watched "Possible Stories"? If not, I recommend you go watch it to see the outline of the idea. If you have any questions, I will answer any that are within my reach.