A/N: This is little something that appeared in the back of my head while I was watching Star Wars Clone Wars (the good animation, not the crappy one they did couple years back). In this fic, Naruto is a former Jedi knight of the republic who deflected/was expelled few years before the Clone Wars began. He took up a profession of a smuggler/mercenary/bounty hunter/helper/errand boy etc. He would basically do anything for couple of credits. He has been hiding from the Order for quite some time now and the war has been raging around the galaxy and the Order seeks out for his help in this time of need. But unknown to Naruto, the Order isn't the only one searching for him. Count Dooku has placed his eye on this special boy who was once one of the most promising padawans.
A/N: That's right! I'm a Star Wars fan! I've always been! Even before I learned to read the subtitles of the first Star Wars I ever saw with my dad. I think SW is one of the best themes out there (but still doesn't win against Naruto) and I was asked once if I were ever going to write a Star Wars xover so I thought giving it a shot. This is a one-shot like everything else on this site but I hope you like it.
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CHAPTER BEGING
A quiet sigh escaped lips.
"You seem trouble, everything alright?" A bartender of some small tavern in some remote place asks while cleaning a glass.
"Nothing much. Just lost my whole shipment again because of those stupid Republican raids." Young human male with blond spiky hair spit the words out with strong resentment. "This stupid war is ruining my business!" He didn't even bother to sit up but leaned to the counter.
"Hear hear!" Several mugs and glasses were raised in this tavern. This tavern was known smuggler den. And every day, more smugglers would come here just to drink themselves into oblivion after a lost shipment.
Bartender didn't say anything. Just kept pouring drinks and cleaning glasses. He didn't personally care what happened outside his bar, just long as his customers could pay what they drank, he would listen their problems forever.
"Can't be helped." Some nameless alien mumbled drunk. "Because of this stupid war, the border patrol is tighter than ever."
"Well, unlike you useless bunch, I don't suck at my job." A snarling voice filled the bar and everyone else turned to face an arrogant gran-alien laughing with a big smile on its face and even bigger bag of money on his hand that jingled so beautifully that it was painful.
"Shut up, Orrer!" Someone yelled and broke his glass into the wall. "We're having a mood over here."
"What? You can't be happy for a friend? How sad of you." Gran laugh got louder.
"If you don't ssstop laughing sssoon, I'm going to put a hole into your head." Another voice hissed angrily.
"Now, now boys. You remember the rules, no shooting inside the bar or inside the guild." A new voice commanded firmly. "We got enough problems already so we don't need to start killing each ot'er just yet." Another alien broke a glass into his grip while he read a memo-panel. "But if t'e business doesn't start to pull up soon, we mig't not have any ot'er choice."
"Is it really that bad, boss?" The blond man asked.
Alien spit and threw the memo-panel away. "What you t'ink?! Because of t'is stupid war, you can't go to a bat'room to take a piss wit'out running into eit'er clone troopers or droids." He stood up and glared. "It's because you're such a useless group. One sig't and you abandon your shipments t'at instant!"
"Yeah!" The gar smirked.
"Shut up, Orrer!" The boss yelled and the gar snapped back. "T'at was t' first successful job for mont's! Don't start acting all high and mig'ty! You were just lucky t'at when ot'ers usually face eit'er clones or droids, you faced bot' of t'em and t'ey decided to ignore you to fig't wit' each ot'er."
"So what we do now?" The blond man asked after a moment of silence. "Is there anything out there? I could use some money."
"We all could." Others joined.
"Well sorry to disappoint you but no! T'ere's no jobs for you!" The boss screamed. "We were supposed to receive a big client but this week but his ship was caug't in a battle and destroyed so no!"
The blond man sighed and walked away from the bar into a hallway. The man looked out of the window. Endless darkness surrounded the small space station which acted as the headquarters of the Correllian Run Smugglers Guild. Somewhere in the distance a desert planet, Tatooine lied in the middle of it. He kept looking out of the window deep in thought.
"Hi, big boy." He turned around to saw a purple twilek female smiling to him, seductively. When she got no reaction out of him, the girl only huffed and crossed her arms. "What now?"
"We're broke." The man sighed and ruffled his hair. "The guild has no more jobs. And boss is considering that he will have to start firing people."
The twilek saw the seriousness in his face and dropped her hands and hurried to lean close to him. "We will be fine. Trust me." She smiled. "Naruto darling."
"I hope so. I sure hope so." He sighed and wrapped his arm around her.
(())
A small boy was walking in back streets of the capital of Serenno in the Outer Rim. He had no one. His only memory of someone close was a sad smile of a woman who had left him behind. He had been alone ever since. Fighting for his survival. He would fight over food with other beggars. He would steal from others if he could. He would tell peoples secrets to others if they paid. He would do what he had to in order to survive.
And he was still always alone. People were scared of him. They were scared of his magic.
"Hey there, young one." He sprung around to see a man in capes. Boy hadn't known he was there. He always knew when someone was there.
Something shiny was strapped into mans waist. "Are you hungry?" Old man smiled and lowered himself to reach boys eyes and offered something small to the boy.
That something smelled good. And he hadn't eaten for days. It flew out of man's hand into his.
Man watched as the boy ate the ration bar he had given to him. "Force is strong in this one." Man smiled. "Do you like it?"
Boy nodded boldly and reached his hand again.
"Do you want more? I know a place where you can have lots of more."
The boy tilted his head.
"Ooh! Where are my manners, of course!"Old man smiled. "My name is Dooku. I'm a Jedi Master. Would you like to come with me? There are many people who would just love to meat you."
Boy smiled widely and nodded. Man was nice. And had given him food. And now was promising more food. It was definitely his lucky day.
(())
In Corusant, the capital of the Galactic Republic, endless traffic of ships leaving and coming continued. Where the Galactic Senate continued its endless debate. Where the newly formed clone troopers prepared themselves for war. And from where the thousand year old Jedi Order tried to do its duty to protect the republic from the legendary Jedi Temple.
Inside the temple, in the highest tower, the Jedi Council was having its meeting as usual.
Already a year long war had taken its toll on both Jedi and clones. And they needed reinforcements for both. Unfortunately, unlike clones that were being born, raised and trained every moment, there wasn't many padawans, trained well enough to be raised into a Jedi knight or many younglings that could become a padawan or masters available to train them. And the war wasn't going to wait.
"And the Separatist have just invaded four new systems in the Outer Rim." Jedi Master Ki-Adi Mundi informed. "We don't have enough ships to retake all those systems."
"We can't just allow them to hold those planets." The newest member of the Jedi Council, Master Kenobi pointed out. "They hold a very important tactical meaning. We should do something about it."
"We are still recovering from the battle of Geonosis." Master Windu added. "And they manage to retake it so soon already."
"I… might have a solution." A new voice joined the conversation from the middle of the room.
"Master Jiraiya, speak your mind." Master Yoda nodded.
White haired human male, master Jiraiya had been giving his report but remained quiet for a while now. He was one of the leading members of the Order but not a member of the Council. He specialized in information gathering and undercover missions. He had contacts all over the galaxy.
"Well, considering the situation, I think we should try and ask my old padawan to come back to the Order."
"Minato Namikaze?" Mace Windu asked and narrowed his eyes. "There are many contradictions following this thought. One of them being the fact, that no one has seen your apprentice ever since he escaped four years ago."
"And he is a convicted criminal." Plo Koon added.
"For the first one: what can I say? I taught the kid well. Ever since Master Tsunade and her apprentice lost the sight of him all those years ago in Alderaan, there hasn't been any sightings of him. Expect that a smuggler escaped a clone patrol few weeks ago. Nothing special there. Expect that one of the troopers clearly remembers the smuggler waving his hand." Jiraiya fought back a proud smirk as he showed a hologram of a smuggler. The man was arguing with the clones about something in roughy Serennon gear and sure reminded of a boy known as a Minato Namikaze. "As for the second question: I have nothing either." He shrugged and put the hologron away. "Everyone knows the circumstances of that… crime."
"Hesitation in your voice I hear." Yoda pointed out. "Agree with us, you not?"
"No. Not completely." Jiraiya shook his head.
"But he did kill a republic senator." Ki-Adi Mundi pointed out.
"A corrupted and soon to be ex-senator who caused deaths of several hundreds of people in Juraran."
"And your padawan took a human life in anger." Eeth Koth said quietly. "As I remember, he was a very emotional one. Dark Side could easily lure him."
"I know all this but can we really hold back during this time of war?" Jiraiya tried one last ace in his sleeve. "And you might be right, he is easy to lure to the Dark Side. He might become a very dangerous enemy one day if not dealt with somehow."
"What is it that you know?" Yoda asked.
Jiraiya tugged his arms in his sleeves. "I interrupted a word from one of the Separatist operatives in the Outer Rim. It appears that Count Dooku is also interest in him."
This landed a silence in the council hall.
"Even if he was emotional, he was one of the most powerful padawans in the Order." Jiraiya continued. "If he were to turn to the Dark Side, he could oppose a dangerous opponent. After all, he might be an 'emotional one' but he was also an amazing fighter and amazing tactician and I taught him almost every trick about information gathering I know myself."
There was a moment of silence. "You really want to seek him out?" Mace asked.
"For many reasons." Jiraiya nodded.
Yoda closed his eyes for a moment. "Permission to seek him, you have. But your duties abandon you shall not. His fate discuss we will when brought him you have."
"I thank you, masters." Jiraiya bowed.
(())
"What you mean, you don't want any?" Tsunade asked frustrated from her friend. "You're supposed to take a padawan."They were standing in the Temples practice hall where younglings tried to prove their worth to masters.
"But I already had one."Jiraiya argued tired.
"Long time ago." Tsunade tapped her shoulder. "Why not take another? What harm will it do?"
"Expect slow me down?" Jiraiya suggested."Make me a baby sitter of another decade or so? Anything else?"
The woman gave up with a sigh. "Do as you wish." When she scanned the crowd. "Sakura! You're coming with me."
Pink haired girl run out of the crowd and quickly run after her new master. "Where are we going, master?" She asked excitedly.
"To save the universe." Tsunade smiled to her and patted her head. "Naturally."
Jiraiya snorted as he witnessed this from distance. He really didn't feel like having another apprentice. Especially when all he could see were just brats. Brats with no skill what so ever.
"You're not seeing anything satisfactory, Master Jiraiya?" He turned around.
"Luminara."He smiled to the woman. "I don't see you fighting over these brats."
"That's because I've already chosen my future padawan." She nodded towards a fellow Mirialan who was fighting with a blond hair human boy. Boy had a huge smile on his face even though the girl seemed calm as a wall.
"What is she? Clone of yours?"
"You have no need to get snappy with me, my friend. She will be an excellent Jedi one day. It is my duty to make sure that happens. Youngling Barriss! Come here please."
The girl broke the fight so suddenly that her opponent fell on his face. He had just been in a middle of a maneuver which wouldn't work if his target wasn't there anymore. The boy huffed annoyed and started to scan around to see if there were anyone else he could spar with.
Meanwhile Barriss walked up to the Luminara and she took her away.
The boy she had been sparring with seemed a little left out because he couldn't find anyone else to fight with but didn't show it too much. Jiraiya wasn't interested in him anyway and walked out of the practice hall. The only reason he had been there, because he had promised to consider getting an apprentice. That didn't mean he had to get one. And after careful consideration, he had come to a conclusion. No point what so ever.
He walked towards the landing platforms in the upper levels of the Temple. When he reached there, the blond youngling was sitting on the edge, legs hanging over. Jiraiya looked behind himself slightly confused. He was sure he had used the fastest way to the platforms.
"This sucks." The boy sighed.
Jiraiya didn't bother himself with him more than that.
"Is it because your padawan left you that you won't take another?"
Jiraiya sprung on his feet. "What did you say?"
The boy leaned back so his head was pointing downwards. He was smirking. "You're Jiraiya, right? You had a padawan, Nagato but he left the order because his home world needed him."
"How do you know all that?"
Naruto turned around and smiled widely. "I asked around. I'm Minato. Make me your padawan."
(())
Meanwhile on a secluded base in the Outer Rim, leader of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, (CIS) Count Dooku was giving an order to a bounty hunter, Aurra Sing to seek out Naruto Uzumaki, formerly known as Minato Namikaze.
"I want you to remember that this is not an assassination. I only want you to find this man and deliver him a message from me."
"Why do you want me to seek out a lowly smuggler, is beyond me. But long as you pay, I will deliver a message on a silver platter." The assassin hissed and closed the communication link. "Naruto Uzumaki is a Jedi eeh… he fooled me." She rubbed her chin narrowing her eyes. Aurra Sing had met Naruto on few occasions, after all, they did move among the same crowd. Well, the guy sure acted like a bad smuggler. Aurra only sought him out when she needed information which he could find much easier yet avoided that line of work best he could. So he worked as a smuggler even though he could hardly smuggle a candy bar into children's playground.
Well, if he was a former Jedi, then it made sense. There was a well-known Jedi Master going around in the 'information world'. And Aurra knew from experience that aw former Jedi facing a current one was never a good thing. Well, expect when she was able to view of a dying Jedi.
Then she activated another her com link. Naruto wasn't easy to find, if you weren't on his 'buddy list'. And being probably the only one in the galaxy who actually used his services, she was on that list. With the exception of his guild, he didn't get any other jobs.
"Naruto Uzumaki. What can I do for you?" A voice came from the machine.
"I have a message I'm paid to deliver but I don't know where this person is. Could you help me?" Aurra purred into the microphone.
"Aurra? What the second most beautiful woman in the galaxy wants with me?"
"Ooh, you may be a third grade smuggler but you're definitely a first class flatterer."
"Just don't let Hiina to find out." Narutos voice laughed.
"Anyway, I have a message to be delivered to a person who has been hiding for years now. I thought you might know where he is. Will you help me?"
"Anything to my beautiful bounty-huntress. Just say his name and I'll ask around."
Aurra smirked. Ooh, how she wished she could be there right now or she had at least had used a holocom but unfortunately, she could only voice-only communicator with Naruto. Well, she could always imagine. "Minato Namikaze."
There was a moment of silence. And it felt like it could last forever. Finally, the light on the com link light up and much waited voice spoke up. "You're not after him, are you?"
"Not at the moment."
"What kind of message you have for him?"
"There is a third party that is paying me a lot of money delivering a message to him."
"A third party?"
"Separatist leader, Count Dooku."
There was another moment of silence. "We need t to talk. Meet me in Drall in Correllian system."
"I can't wait."Aurra closed the com link.
(())
"For the last time: THIS WEAPON IS YOUR LIFE!!!" Jiraiys voice echoed through theTemple.
"Yada yada yada." Minato wondered around bored.
"Show me some respect!" Jiraiya yelled and smacked him on the back of his head.
"You two are energetic as always."Dooku laughed as he walked past them. "How are you, my young friend, Naruto?"He leaned closer to the blond boy who smirked back.
"Naruto?"Jiraiya asked confused.
"It's his Serennoan name." Dooku explained and ruffled Narutos hair. "We are from the same world after all."
"How cute." Jiraiya muttered. "Why don't you take him as your padawan then? You two seem to have a connection. I'll even buy you a dinner if you take him."
Dooku started walking away and laughed. "I couldn't bring myself to come between such a perfect Master-disciple relationship as you two share."
Minato and Jiraiya glared at each other. "That friend of yours is old senile man."
"I'm thinking so too."
(())
In a small space ship somewhere in the galaxy, Naruto disabled the communications and leaned back in his pilot chair.
"Minato Namikaze…" He whispered. That was the name he hadn't heard since he had run away. It wasn't a surprise to hear it like this. After all, he even had a bounty on his head for the 'crime he committed' years ago. It was amazing how little his past had caught up with him so far.
Now he had to track his steps to figure out how he was discovered. Then he remembered how he had been caught by a clone patrol. He had to use Force to get away from them. Well, it had been either this or Republic holding cell. It would remain yet to be seen whatever the better solution was.
"Everything okay, honey?" Twilek, Hiina, his partner (in many ways) and the pilot of their ship put her head into the cockpit holding couple mugs. He had met him when about a year after his grand escape. He had just failed his first job as a smuggler and Hiina had come to demand a refund. Of course he didn't have anything to give. Then a person who Hiina had borrowed the money from to buy the cargo had arrived and demanded his money. And Hiina was also broke putting all her savings into this fail-proof business idea that Naruto had somehow screwed up. So she made a deal, she would forgive Naruto if he would protect her. Now that was something Naruto knew how to do and easily managed to dispose the threat opposing her.
When everything was cleared, he was about to say good bye when she had demanded that he would have to pay every credit he owned by working for her. So they had formed a partnership. Then, years and many adventures later, it was much more than just a simple business proposition.
"Everything okay." Naruto nodded quietly and took a cup from her.
"Who was it?" She asked innocently looking at the com link.
"Aurra Sing."
"Ooh. Her?"
Naruto rolled his eyes. "What now?"
"Ooh, nothing." She took a zip. "I think she is… nice."
"For the last time, nothing happened between me and her. She is just a regular client." Naruto sighed. "And she's too pale for my taste." He added innocently. "I like my women more… bright colored." He smirked.
"Hush you." She smiled. "Well?"
Naruto looked confused. "Eeh…oh! Love you." He leaned over to give her a peck on the cheek which she gladly accepted.
"Thanks. But I didn't mean that." She giggled. "What did Aurra want?"
"Ooh that? She had an… inquiry to make."
"Nothing else?"
"Nothing." Naruto nodded. "It's a simple job (if I take it)."
"Why wouldn't you take it? You got kicked out of the guild a week ago and we have barely enough money to refuel ourselves at the next stop."
"I don't know the details but what I think it is about… doesn't exactly excite me."
"But we are going?" Hiina confirmed.
Naruto shrugged. "As you said, we have no money. So, my beautiful captain, would you mind and take us to Corellian system. I have to find out if my fears are correct."
(())
"What you mean you left the Order!?" Minato chased after Dooku as he walked away. "How can you do this? Dooku! What were you thinking? Reconsider! Please! Dooku!"
Old man turned around slowly a sad look on his face. "Naruto, don't you see it? The corruption that circles the senate. How many Jedi have died because of this?"
"You're talking about Galidraan?"
"No. Not anymore."Dooku shook his face. "My own student was killed because of that corruption. He died while the senate was 'talking' about procedures!" He shook his head to control his inner rage. "I can hold on any longer. This destruction! Corruption! Filth! And the Jedi only watch from sidelines and do their bidding!"
"Qui-Gon Jinn… is dead?" Minato whispered.
"Died on a mission in Naboo." Dooku whispered and they stepped out of the Temple doors. Sun was setting in the distance. "I'll be waiting when you will see it too. Come and find me then, Naruto. We will do something, together." Dooku stepped outside of the Temple.
Naruto gulped his tears down when his first friend, his mentor and the very person who had brought him back to the Temple left the Order without looking back.
(())
"Droids have moved around this sector." Jedi Master Luminara Undulli showed the star system in the holomap. Vibrating figures around the table followed. "I've moved my fleet next to the Corellian System and I'm currently on stand-by. But I'm afraid my troops have suffered heavy losses and I'm not completely sure we can hold on against a full-scale attack."
"Sending reinforcements we will." Yodas hologram figure nodded. "Master Asumas fleet to you guide we will."
"And Masters Fisto and Jiraiya should be in Correllia already on a diplomatic mission. If you can contact them, feel free to ask them to assist you." Mace Windu added.
"I thank you, Masters." Luminara bowed and cut off the communications.
At the same time, the doors to the com-room opened and Luminaras apprentice, Barriss Offee walked in with a clone captain. "Master, the wounded are stabilized enough for the transport."
"Good work, Barriss." Luminara nodded and turned her attention towards the captain. "How's the fleet?"
"Pretty banged, sir." Captain stated. "Cruisers Liberator and Salvager need a full work-up. Escalator and Moralion work just fine."
"Send the damaged cruisers back to the centre. We will hold this position until the reinforcements arrive."
"Yes sir!" Clone captain saluted and walked away.
Then another clone officer walked in. "General, we just received a word from Correllia. It's from general Jiraiya."
"Put it through." Luminara turned to face the table and all too familiar smirking face Jiraiya appeared front of them. "Master Jiraiya." Luminara greeted him. "I heard you were in the area."
"And I was so looking forward to surprise you." Jiraiya acted pouting. "Well anyway, we just finished the talks with the delegation and are about to go and celebrate in Drall. Want to join us?"
"I'm afraid I'm in no position to celebrate anything."
"Ooh, c'mon!" Jiraiya argued. "A small break from the war won't hurt anyone. And I got my scouts flying all across this sector. If they by any chance decide to invade in… next couple of hours, you can tell everyone that I was wrong to think that you and your padawan could use a little break."
There was a moment of silence until Luminara sighed and smiled. "I see that your persuasions skills are fine as ever, my friend. We will meet you on the surface."
Jiraiya smirked and showed the victory sign as the link was cut.
"Master Jiraiya really is… unique as always." Barris added quietly.
"That he is. Captain, prepare my shuttle."
"Right away, sir." Captain hurried to give out the orders.
"Anything were to happen while we are away, I'll leave admiral Kees in charge. Contact me if anything happens."
"Yes, sir."
"Barris, would you care to join me?" She asked, turning to face her padawan. "You haven't met him for quite some time, haven't you?"
"No, our paths haven't crossed since the… that time." She added quietly.
"Try to move forward, my apprentice. What he made is inexcusable for a Jedi."
"I know. It's just that Minato and I were younglings together and became padawans together." Barris sighed. "We were friends for so long and, I always dreamed that we would become masters together. Like you and Master Jiraiya. And have padawans together."
"It was unfortunate that it didn't work out, my dear." Luminara comforted her as they walked through hallways. "But even when life seems to be repeating itself, it's not. Minato wasn't Jiraiya. You are not me. Jiraiya made his choices and Minato his. That's how life is. Everyone makes their own choices. What's left for us is to wish that they make the right ones."
"Yes, master." Barris nodded.
(())
"Isn't it beautiful?" Minato leaned back leisurely.
"I have to say that I agree, Minato."Barriss agreed as she sat down next to him. They were on a diplomatic mission in some Mid Rim planet. Masters were just honing the details and padawans were relaxing.
"Do you ever dream, Barriss?"
"Dream?"
"Dream like what you want to achieve in your life."
"To be a great Jedi Master and maintain the peace in the Republic. Don't you?"
Naruto stood up not taking his eyes of the starry sky. "I… do. I want to keep the peace. But that's not enough. Even though there's peace, people are suffering. Those who work day after day without a choice to do anything else, only fatten up the corrupted politicians who don't care at all about them." He turned to look Barriss into eyes. "I grew my first years on the streets. My mother abandoned me while I was too young to even remember her face. But still… I don't hate her. I learned a lot of those times after I came to Temple and people suffered greatly during that epidemic. My mother must have thought that there was no other choice."
Barriss looked at Minato with starry background.
"I want to give the whole galaxy a chance to choose. Something we didn't have. Something my mother didn't have. A chance to choose what they want of their lives."
"That's a grand idea." She whispered and smiled. "And I wish I can be there to see it when you make it true."
"Don't worry. You'll be there." Minato smiled. "We are friends."
(())
Meanwhile on a small restaurant in Drall.
"I don't care what critics say, this place does not have the best food." Naruto complained.
"Hush! They hear you!" Hiina snapped.
"Sorry," Naruto looked around carefully before continuing with a lower voice. "but they still can't make even a decent ramen." He glared at the cup of noodles front of him. "We should've gone to Narriaan system instead." He sighed. "They know how to make ramen."
"But you're the one who told Aurra to come here. So shut up and eat your noodles." Twilek smirked satisfied.
"Yeah yeah." Naruto pouted and took his chopsticks. "But that's not the only reason I would prefer to change the location."
"It's that Republic fleet that's getting on your nerves isn't it?"
"Yeah." Naruto looked around again. "I didn't think they would be fighting over this place."
"Let's just get over this meeting and be on our way." Hiina nodded. "I'm sure we can find better paying jobs in the Outer Rim."
"I wish we do."
"Don't be so hasty, my dear. I still haven't eaten." Naruto felt a blaster barrel sticking into his head.
"Aurra." Naruto looked up and smiled. "How're you?"
Bounty hunter put the blaster away and sat into the table. "Fine as always. People still want other people dead and are willing to pay for it. Makes my life that much easier." Then she turned to face Hiina and smirked. "Be a darling and fetch me something to drink while I talk with your master."
"He is not my master you –" She jumped up angrily.
"Hiina, go." Naruto raised his hand. "Please."
Huffing angrily, she walked away towards the bar of the restaurant. Naruto didn't want Hiina to know more than she absolutely had to about his dealings with Aurra. Even if they were on somewhat favorable terms, she wouldn't hesitate killing either of them if her own survival was at stake. That was partly a reason why Naruto trusted her. When person had clear motives like Aurra, they could be easily read and manipulated.
"I don't understand you." She looked after Hiina and he looked up from his food into her. "Someone who is practical as you still keeps someone as useless as her around."
"What you mean? She is a good pilot." He argued. "And she is a pretty good shot."
"She's an average pilot and an average shot with luck on her side. Only use I could find for her is distracting males. Which is I believe is the real reason you keep her around."
"Cold as always, Aurra." Naruto laughed. "What can I say? Love works on mysterious ways."
"I used to hear it was the Force." Aurra narrowed her eyes slightly.
Naruto sighed and put her cup down. "Those days are behind me now."
"I heard." Aurra purred. "I might not know how to gather information like you do, but I could still find this." She showed a memo-panel. "After all, how could rival with you when I didn't have a master teaching me like you had the great Investigator, Master Jiraiya to teach you. Jedi apprentice, Minato Namikaze."
"Former Jedi apprentice." Naruto corrected.
"Yes, after murdering a galactic senator run away from captivity." Aurra leaned into her hand. "No sightings ever since he jumped into hyperspace over Alderaan after escaping a group of Jedi that were sent chasing him."
"And has a pretty good bounty as well." He pointed out after reading few lines. "So, what will you do?"
Aurra smirked. "Normally I would be tempted but considering how useful you've been to me so far, I think I can overlook this one. And if you're really Jiraiyas apprentice, you just might be too much trouble for me to try to kill you, take you to the Opaeril system and collect a bounty from people who would very likely try to catch me in the process. No thanks. And I hate Jedi more than anything and since you're not one anymore, I have no need to kill you. Of course, if that were to ever change…"
"Glad to hear it." Naruto smiled. "So, what does the mighty Count Dooku want from a lone smuggler like me?"
Aurra placed a hologram pad on the table and activated it. Tiny blue version of the Separatist Leader appeared on the table.
"Greetings, young Naruto it has been a long time. I'm sure you remember me. I am Count Dooku from Serenno world. I found you from those streets when you were just a small boy and brought you to the Temple as a youngling. Even back then I sensed that you had makings of a great man. I still remember with warm the time you spent training to uphold the noble ideals of the Order and the senate. I was devastated after hearing your fate after delivering well deserved justice on that rotten senator Raer-Ri. Like you, I too saw the corruption that plagued the Galactic Republic and the Jedi who served it. I assured you, you would see it too one day. I'm sorry I didn't contact you earlier but I've busy as you must've known. Whatever you might've heard, I'm a man of honor and only wish to bring peace into the galaxy. A peace we both know won't happen if we allow Republic to continue this war. I'm going to end it. But I cannot do this alone. I need men like you around me to help in this task. I've given a disk with coordinates to a meeting place. If you decide to help me to bring justice and peace into the galaxy, we can meet there. And rest assured, your actions would be well compensated." The hologram Dooku disappeared.
"There you have it." Aurra kept leaning into her hand. "What do you think?"
"It is tempting." Naruto shrugged. "That much I admit. But I've heard some rumors that he might've turn to the Dark Side. I would prefer to stay clear of both Jedi and Sith.
"So, no go, eh?"
"Not exactly. I could go and check what he has to offer. But then again, I promised Hiina to do everything I can to avoid this war."
"I see." Aurra stood up. "Well, I've delivered the message. I'll go and collect my fee now. I guess I will see you again sometime."
"You never know." Naruto nodded absentmindedly.
She walked away, leaving Naruto to think.
"Are you done doing 'business' with her or did she just step aside to kick puppies?"
"I don't know. It could be either one." Naruto shrugged. "But you can stay now."
"Finally." Hiina sat down and huffed. "I just can't understand why is it that you can't let me be part of your little 'business conversations'?" She pouted.
Naruto didn't answer. As amazing as his lover was, she had some serious trust issues. Well, it was probably her Twilek nature. He just kept eating what was left of his food and Hiina followed his example reluctantly.
"Naruto…" She started quietly. "I've… never asked you anything about your past, have I?"
"Never." He agreed.
"And never pressured you to tell anything you didn't want me to know." She continued. "I even comply when you ask me to walk away so you can talk with Aurra or some other 'friend' of yours, don't I?"
"Yes." He didn't like the way this was going. "And I really appreciate that."
"But I need you to answer me this one. Are we in danger?"
"We are always in danger, aren't we? So why you ask that."
Flash of worry reflected through Hiinas eyes but she smiled kindly. "Because I know you, darling. Something is up."
Naruto took a deep breath. "We're not in any greater danger than normally. I just received a message from… an old friend who works with the Separatists. He's offered me a job."
"Separatists? Did you say Separatists? What did he want then?"
"Nothing so far."
"But you know how I feel about this war." Hiina argued. "And you promised me to stay out of it."
"I don't know how long I can." Naruto gulped. "Remember those things, you never asked."
"Yeah?"
"I think they're about to show themselves." Naruto whispered. He had just felt something. On this planet he felt something… something had just landed. Something that he hadn't felt for a long time.
(())
"What you mean we can't prosecute him?" Minato yelled. "I saw him to receive payment from Trade Federation representatives! He was in the plot!"
"It's not enough, Minato." Jiraiya tried to calm him down. On the other side of the room, group of senators and representatives were smirking triumphantly.
"Don't worry." His friend Sakura smiled. "We will find new evidence and he will face justice."
"I think not!" Senator Raer-Ri yelled loudly. "I demand the immunity in this matter to compensate for my lost reputation."He laughed loudly. Jiraiya, Obi-Wan and Tsuande all glared at him but couldn't do nothing. Anakin and Sakura just tried to stay calm.
Minato couldn't take it. "Because of you… all those people died." He whispered warningly. He stepped forward. His hand slowly found its way on his light saber. Everyone suddenly stopped laughing. Senator lost all his color. "Because of you… you and the rest of the filth in this senate!"
"Jedi! Control your padawan!"
"Minato!" Jiraiya tried to step forward but it was too late. Minato jumped forward and activated his light saber.
"I WILL DESTROY THE FILTH IN THE SENATE FOR ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!" He stabbed the senator into his chest.
(())
On the street outside the restaurant, four Jedis made their way through the crowd. "I'm glad you took the time to come here, Luminara." Jiraiya smiled to his old friend.
"Even with this war going on, we sometimes have to remind ourselves what we are fighting for." She answered. "Peaceful worlds like this one should never see horrors of war."
"But let's not get too comfortable." Kit Fisto pointed out. "There are Separatists everywhere who just seek out an opportunity to destroy our fleets."
"Its fine, isn't it? Once in a while." Jiraiya dismissed those ideas.
"Master Jiraiya, I heard a rumor that you are going to chase after your old padawan." Kit said suddenly. Luminara felt her own padawan to stiffen slightly.
"Yes, I finally got a lead on him." Jiraiya nodded.
"Why would you want to chase after him, or perhaps you feel guilty for what has happened to him?" Luminara asked.
"I have many reasons." Jiraiya smiled sad hint in his eyes. "But first one foremost, he was a great Jedi-to-be once. We need more Jedi to deal with this ever-growing threat of the Separatists. And… I'm afraid…"
"Afraid? Of what?" Kit asked.
"That he might be lured to the Dark Side in a middle of all this."
"No!" Barris said before she could stop herself. "Minato would never fall to the Dark Side. He always fought for justice. He… he had his dream."
"So did Dooku once." Luminara pointed out. "And young Minato did commit a crime inexcusable for a Jedi."
"That's pretty harsh." Jiraiya laughed nervously and sweat dropped.
"But true."
"True or not, we have a problem." Kit interrupted them. "I feel a disturbance in the force."
"And I see an old acquaintance." Jiraiya whispered and nodded towards a figure making its way through the crowd. "Aurra Sing."
"Who?" Both Luminara and Kit asked.
"A Jedi hunter." He answered and pulled his light sabers hilt ready. Just then, Aurra saw the group of Jedi in the middle of the road. "Don't underestimate her."
Woman suddenly pulled a blaster and started shooting. All the Jedi activated their light sabers. Then she threw a flash bang and run away. While the crowd turned into chaos, she took her time to disappear. Jiraiya was nearly blinded by the flash but could just see her activating a communicator. She was alerting someone. She disappeared into a backstreet.
"Should we chase after her?" Kit asked as he rubbed his eyes.
"I think we should. I've heard of her. She was once a Jedi but turned dark and now kills Jedi for fun. We must not let her escape." Luminara said. "She might be too much for a padawan to handle so you should stay back and contact our fleet."
"No." Jiraiya stated.
"What?" Luminara asked.
"She was here for a specific reason. Most likely a contact. Why don't I and your padawan try and locate that contact while you two chase after her. We will contact fleet to try and form a blockade if she manages to escape."
"Agreed." Kit nodded and he and Luminara ran after Aurra.
"Master Jiraiya, where do you think we can locate this contact?" Barriss asked as they walked among the emptied street. Blaster fire and light saber had scared all the people in panic.
Jiraiya didn't answer but stopped front of a restaurant. Here was something that disturbed the Force. "Here. She came from here. Be ready. I feel like there's someone waiting for us."
"Of course, master."
(())
"Drop your weapon, Minato!" Minato was surrounded by his friends with activated light sabers. "What have you done…" Jiraiya whispered.
"I've only done what the Order was too weak to do." He said quietly and raised his own blade.
"Are you going fight against the five of us?" Obi-Wan asked in shock himself like everyone else.
"Of course not." Minato snorted sadly and locked the eyes with his master. "First thing you should always do before entering a room is to check the best escape route. Like you taught me." He suddenly called upon the force and smashed the large window in the room and jumped right through to the busy streets of Corrusant. He guided his flight over the streets and landed on a moving speeder. He stood up shakily and looked up to the senate building. He could still recognize the standing figures in the window. Then he turned around and faced the owner of the speeder. "Sorry but I need to borrow this." He threw the driver on a landing platform and speeded away. There was no turning back now.
(())
"Naruto!" His communicator suddenly voice up with Aurras voice. "There's a problem."
"The one you mentioned earlier had decided to pay us a visit?" Naruto said quietly.
There was a lot of unrecognizable disturbance on the link. Aurra must've been running. Every once in a while he heard a blaster shot. "Yes. Well, just thought you would want to know. There are four all together but two are currently on my tail."
"Need any help?"
"No. I can deal with these two myself." She cut the link of.
"Hiina, I want you to go and warm up the ship." Naruto whispered to the Twilek who had just sat there confused expression on her face.
"But we hardly have any fuel left." She said. "What's going-"
"Then steal some. I don't care. You've stolen half of the things we own."
"But I will always feel so awful afterwards." She tried to argue.
"Hiina, honey." He smiled. "If you do this, I promise to get a job at the next stop so we can fuel ourselves. And when we get paid, I will buy you something nice. Okay?"
"Really?"
"Really, really." Naruto smiled assuring. Twilek squealed excited and run away. Just when she passed the door, two figures walked in. And Naruto saw the people he had wished to avoid at all cost.
(())
Minato landed to an abandoned hangar in Corrusant. A small spaceship covered with a cloth waited him there. This was also one of the ideas of his master. Be prepared for anything.
"So, you've finally come." Jiraiyas voice filled the dark hangar.
Minato used force to throw the cloth away and uncovered the spaceship. "I couldn't take the straight road here. After all, I had to loose my tail first."
"Well, you did. I came straight here."
Minato closed his eyes. "I don't sense anyone else around. They are covering the city?"
"Yes. I made sure not to let anyone else to interrupt us." Jiraiya gulped. "Why did you do it Minato? Why?"
"Because I couldn't take it anymore!" He yelled. "This place is covered with people suffering while the senator's who claims to do something about it only use the very people they are supposed to serve! I couldn't let that man go just like that! I needed to serve the justice!"
"What you did was not justice. It was murder." Jiraiya took his lightsaber in his hands. "Come peacefully."
"You would actually attack your own student?" Minato whispered.
"If you give me no other choice." He answered and activated his sword.
"You said yourself that I should protect justice!"
"What you did was murder! That's wrong!"
Minato gulped. "I will do what I should've done years ago!" He activated his own saber and charged forward. "I will choose myself what is right and wrong!"
(())
Naruto didn't raise his eyes from the mug he was holding. "So, after all this time, you've finally sniffed me out, Jiraiya."
"Minato." Jiraiya whispered and looked down to a young man with a blond hair. "I see that you're doing well."
"Naruto." He corrected.
"Eh?"
"My name is Naruto." He raised his eyes. The same blue eyes looked up like many years ago. "Minato was given to me by the Order."
"I see…" Slowly, Jiraiya sat to a table and Barriss followed. "You remember Barriss?"
"How can I forget?" Naruto nodded slowly to the young woman who had remained silent until now. "Still doing what the senate tells you?"
"I'm glad to see you're doing fine, old friend." Barriss bowed slightly.
"So stuck-up as always." Naruto laughed and closed his eyes. "So… Kit Fisto and Luminara chased after Aurra."
"So she was here to meet you?" Jiraiya narrowed his eyes.
"Well, she pays well for information and she is trustworthy." Naruto glared back. "Unlike some other people."
"That Jedi killer, bounty hunter, assassin?" Jiraiya asked. "Trustworthy?"
"As long as she gets what she wants and you don't piss her off, she lets you live. That's trustworthy enough to me. Unlike some people who hunt down their so called friends like some Sith Lord."
"You killed a senator."
"I delivered justice to a murderer! And people who I saved, people I fought with, people who I grew up with hunted me like a dog! Sakura and Tsunade tried to slice me in Alderaan. Kiba almost threw me of that cliff in Rodia. Obi-Wan and Anakin almost crushed my speeder to a building." He glared even harder. "All those times, I thought I was going to meet up with my friends who actually wanted to help me."
"They all tried to help you." Barriss joined in the conversation for the first time. "We could've arranged you a fair trial."
"Trial in corrupted court." Naruto huffed. "I was fool to think that Jedi could have friends."
This left an uncomfortable silence in the table. Restaurant around them didn't seem to notice the atmosphere. Neither did the droid that came asking if anyone wanted anything.
"What did Aurra want with you?" Jiraiya reopened the conversation.
"Why should I tell you?" Naruto smirked. "It's not like I gain anything out of this."
"Minato… I'm going to ask you only this one time." Jiraiya gulped. "Have you fallen to the Dark Side?"
There was a moment of pause. Naruto leaned slightly back. "What if I have? Will you try to kill me again?"
"Jedis duty is to uphold the laws of the republic." Jiraiya answered quietly. "You refused to come quietly. I was trying to subdue you."
"By slicing my head off." Naruto shot back and took a deep breath to calm himself down. "If that was all, I'm on my way. I have a meeting to get to."
"With Dooku?" Jiraiya asked.
Naruto smiled. "You're well informed as always." Then he stood up. "It was good to see you Barriss. You're coming more beautiful every passing day." Then he quickly looked around. "I hope she didn't hear that? She would never let me the hear end of it."
"Who?" Barriss asked quietly.
"No one." Naruto cleared his throat. "Anyway, for the sake of our friendship, Barriss, I'm going to answer your question that's written all over your face. I still have my dream. Just the means have changed." He smiled sadly. "Good bye." His communicator just light up and he was about to pick it up when he heard light sabers light behind his back. "So you still want to have a fight?"
"Minato! This is for your own good." Barriss said strongly. "I don't want you to be lured to the Dark Side. I'm your friend and this is what I have to do."
Naruto sighed. "Fine. Be that as it may." He raised his hand and his own light saber appeared out of his sleeve. "But remember I was strong before. And it has been four years."
(())
Jiraiya watched as Minatos star fighter sprung up to the space and disappeared. In his hands he was holding a braid. He had taken it in their last attack. At the same time, reinforcements arrived fashionably late but he didn't bother to look up. First Nagato and then Minato. Where did he go wrong?
In a space shuttle, Naruto gulped his sorrow down. There was no turning back. From now on, he would be a hunted man. All over the Republic galaxy, he would be hunted. And the people of that senator who he had killed would want revenge so they would most likely hire bounty hunters.
"It can't be helped." Naruto smiled. "Good bye." He jumped up to the Hyperspace.
(())
Hiina directed their space ship over the restaurant they had just eaten. She prayed in her mind that Naruto was okay. Then she saw three figures fighting on top of that restaurant. They were Jedi. And her Naruto was among them. "Should I be surprised?" She huffed to herself and activated canons. Everyone turned to face the ship. "Get in, Naruto. Get in please." She mumbled to herself when she opened the cargo hold. Their ship wasn't that big but it could hold some cargo. It was designed to be fast, not big.
And what Aurras opinion might be, Hiina was an excellent pilot. She saw from the window how Naruto jumped over landed on the cargo hold. She was about to close the doors and fly away when she heard his voice through the halls of the ship. "Pull up! Don't close the door! Pull up!"
She didn't understand why but she did as was told and guided their ship high above clouds. She could see Jedi watching them obviously disappointed that they lost their target.
When they were about to leave the atmosphere, she closed the cargo hold and Naruto appeared in the cockpit. "There are no beacons stuck to us." He answered slowly. "Why is that every time we try to have fun, someone comes and try to ruin it?"
"It's your attitude, I bet." Hiina whispered. "So… you're a… Jedi?"
"Was."
"Is it true what they say about them?"
"What?"
"That it goes in a family?" She asked carefully.
"Yeah, that's what I've heard. Not always of course." He shrugged. "Why?"
"No reason!" Hiina hurried to smile and innocently rubbed her stomach. "So, where next?"
"I need to go to that meeting with my friend. Take us to the Mustafar system."
"You're not breaking your promise, are you?"
"Of course not. But I owe him at least to hear him out." Naruto smiled. "I owe him that much."
(())
"Remember, Minato. No matter where you go, Force will help you find the answer."
"How I know it's the right answer?"
"You will know. In the end, you will know."
CHAPTER END
A/N: So here it is. My first attempt of SW Naruto xover. Hope you liked it. And remember to review.