Disclaimer: I own neither Star Wars nor Naruto. Those belong to others more powerful than myself. Although I wouldn't say to some of their extra royalty money, I'm sure they've got enough!
A.N. : After a far, far too long hiatus, I'm back! So yeah, I've had a crazy previous year, I switched jobs, am still job hunting, want to move out of state, and oh yeah...I'M A DAD! Two beautiful twin daughters. So yeah, that's my excuse for not posting anything in a long time. Now...onwards!
A Changed Hope
Chapter 4
Naruto sighed for what felt like the millionth time as he sat in a rapidly sinking shady spot next to Kenobi's hut. Today felt hotter than normal on Tatooine, which is why he abandoned his usual lazy spot on top of the building for one off to the side. The only problem is that it didn't give him the great view of the Dune Sea like the roof did.
Idly, he pulled a piece of japor ivory wood from one of his pockets and continued carving a design into it. He learned about the good luck charm during one of his forays into Mos Espa. He was surprised to find any sort of plant could grow on the desert world, and he admired the tenacious little rock tree. He saved an entire month's worth of water payments just to afford buying a fifteen centimeter length of wood. Since then he'd been carefully rationing it, learning to carve deliberately on the expensive plant.
The first piece he'd carved had been simple, reproducing the Uzumaki spiral from the shoulder patch on his old jacket. When it was done he'd attached it to his kunai holster.
The second was a little more complex, with Naruto doing his best to replicate the symbol of Konoha from his hitai-ate. He thought it looked nice enough, and had given it to Kenobi-sensei as a gift. Smiling, the old man had squirreled it away somewhere with his other small mementos.
Currently, he was working on a new one, with a new symbol, the old one used by the Jedi. Over the past couple of years Kenobi had been doing his best to educate Naruto on the history of the Empire, formerly known as the Galactic Republic. While a lot of it was boring, even the stuff leading up to the Clone Wars, what really caught Naruto's attention was the stories of the Jedi Knights. With their lightsabers, mysterious powers, and heroic deeds, they were like hero shinobi to him! He was pretty disappointed to learn they had been wiped out by the Empire.
Eventually, the high pitched whine of a speeder broke through Naruto's musings and he sat up, putting his work away. Dusting himself off he stepped into the sun and watched as Kenobi-sensei hopped out of a beat up looking speeder being piloted by a young, blond haired man. Strapped to the back were a pair of beat up looking droids, one gold and human looking, and muttering to itself about being damaged beyond repair, the other looking like a blue and silver rolling trash can, beeping and twittering at the other one. Seeing the young man struggle to easily lift the gold one off the speeder, Naruto quickly moved over and helped him lift it. After setting the muttering droid on its feet he turned to the newcomer and held out his hand.
"Hi there! Let me give you hand with that. I'm Naruto Uzumaki, who are you?"
Gratefully accepting the help the young man got the droid on its feet, and told it to head inside. Turning to Naruto he briefly shook hands with him, "I'm Luke Skywalker. These are my droids," he said, gesturing to each in turn, "C-3P0, and the astromech is R2-D2."
The gold droid looked over, "A pleasure to meet you, sir. I am C-3P0, human-cyborg relations, and this is my counterpart, R2-D2. Or it would be, if I wasn't in such a sorry state. I can't see much use for a broken protocol droid."
An admonishing blat, followed by a series of tweets and whistles came from the little droid.
A small smile on his face, Kenobi called everyone's attention, "I'm glad to see everyone getting along, but perhaps we should move this discussion inside. We have much to discuss, and repairs to be made."
After everyone had moved inside and gotten comfortable in the main seating area, Kenobi turned to Naruto, "I must apologize, Naruto. I've kept a secret from you for a long time."
Naruto waved him off, "It's okay, old man. I understand not wanting to talk about something personal."
"Thank you, Naruto, but these are things you must hear. It is soon time for you to make your own decision. My true name is Obi-Wan Kenobi, and I was a Jedi of the Republic. I served in the Clone Wars alongside another Jedi," he turned to look at Luke, "Anakin Skywalker, your father."
Luke laughed in disbelief, "No, my father didn't fight in the wars, he was a navigator on a spice freighter."
"That's what your uncle told you. He didn't hold with your father's ideals. He thought he should have stayed here and not gotten involved."
Naruto leaned forward, "Woah, old man, you fought in the Clone Wars?"
Obi-Wan smiled, "Yes, I was once a Jedi knight, the same as Luke's father."
Luke looked down, "I wish I'd known him…"
Reminiscing, Obi-Wan looked off into the distance, "He was the best star-pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior," He gave a knowing smirk to Luke, "I understand you've become quite the pilot yourself. And he was a good friend. Which reminds me.." With that he moved over to an old chest and began rummaging through it, leaving Naruto and Luke, along with the partially repaired C-3P0, with their thoughts. After asking permission, C-3P0 powered down.
Naruto reached out and gently punched Luke on the shoulder, "Hey, don't worry about it! I'm an orphan, too! I didn't have anyone growing up, other than the old man Hokage, but he was super busy running my village, so he didn't have much time for me. You've still got your own dreams, right?"
Frowning, Luke looked to Naruto, "I guess. Right now I just want to leave home and get off this rock. I want to apply to the Academy, but every year my uncle says he needs more help on the farm. Most of my friends have already left."
"That sucks. But hey, when I joined my academy I finally made some friends. You will too, I'm sure of it!"
The closing of Obi-Wan's trunk grabbed their attention. He came back holding a small, metal cylinder, and held it out to Luke, "Your father wanted you have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it. He feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some damned-fool idealistic crusade like your father did."
Luke stood up and took the item, "What is it?"
"It is your father's lightsaber."
With a snap-hiss a blue blade extended from the hilt. Both Luke and Naruto stood transfixed and Luke gave it an experimental swing, hearing it hum as he shifted it.
"It is the weapon of a Jedi Knight," Obi-Wan explained, "It's not a clumsy or random as a blaster. An elegant weapon for a more civilized age."
Naruto was almost as entranced by the blade as Luke. But while it was awesome, it wasn't personal for him. He knew if he had anything of his father's he'd hold on to it as tightly as he could.
Slipping into the role of teacher, again, Obi-Wan told them about the Jedi, not from a historical view, like the files Naruto had been studying, but from the point of view of someone who'd been there. He told them how the Jedi were guardians of peace for over a thousand generations. He told them how his student, Darth Vader, betrayed and murdered Luke's father, as well as hunting down and destroying any hint of the Jedi that survived the purge of the Clone Troopers. At first both Naruto and Luke asked questions about the Clone Wars and listened raptly to the old war stories, but they quickly lost interest when Obi-Wan began talking about the trade negotiations and treaties that sparked the initial skirmishes. Smiling ruefully at once again teaching reluctant younglings, Obi stood and moved over to the R2 unit.
"Now, let's see if we can't figure out what you are, my little friend. And where you come from."
With a flicker of blue light, a hologram appeared on the table between them. Naruto moved in for a closer look, and saw a beautiful woman in a white robe and hood.
"General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid my mission to bring to to Alderaan has failed.
I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of the R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You mustsee this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour.
Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope," the image faded away.
Luke leaned back, awestruck that he had a droid that belonged to a princess. Naruto was similarly star struck, he saw an actual princess! Sort of. It still counts as far as he's concerned.
Obi-Wan turned to Luke, "You must learn the ways of the Force, if you are to come with me to Alderaan."
Before Luke could reply Naruto jumped up, waving his arms for attention, "Hey, old man! What about me? Can you teach me the Force too! I'll be the best Jedi! Believe it!"
"I'm sorry, Naruto," Obi-Wan chuckle, "but I can not teach you the ways of the Force. In our time together I have checked to see if you have any Jedi potential, but I'm afraid you lack the necessary talents to be a Jedi."
"Hold it," said Luke, "I'm not going to Alderaan, I need to go home, I'm late enough as it is."
Naruto looked agape at Luke, "What!? A princess, an actual princess, needs your help and you want to stay? Or do you want to go to the academy so bad you'll let the Empire get her?"
"I can't get involved, I've got work to do! And it's not like I like Empire, I hate it, but there's nothing I can do about it," he looked out a window, "It's so far from here."
Obi-Wan placed a calming hand on Naruto's shoulder, "Calm down, you two." He looked to Luke, "And that attitude is what I expect to hear from your uncle."
Luke scoffed, "My uncle! How am I going to explain this?" He stared off in thought, "Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead. From there you can get a transport of Mos Eisley or wherever you're going."
As Luke moved to get the droids packed into the speeder Naruto went to stop him. Obi-Wan's hand on his shoulder prevented him from chasing the young moisture farmer and brought his attention back to the old Jedi, "It's not your place to make his decision for him, Naruto."
Naruto looked after Luke, "I know, but...how can he just walk away from her?"
"He has lived a relatively comfortable life with a family that cares for him. It's hard to leave that behind, especially when he has responsibilities. He must do what he feels is right."
Naruto sighed, "I get it, but I don't like." He turned to face Obi-Wan, meeting his eyes, "Don't worry, old man! I'll go with you! With Naruto Uzumaki around the Empire won't know what hit it!"
"I don't doubt it, Naruto," Obi-Wan laughed, "I do believe the Force is with us."