Athrun was making his way to the deck of the Minerva as he had been brooding ever since he had battle with Kira and his Gundam had been destroyed. He wasn't brooding because his Gundam had been destroyed, but more like thinking over what Kira had said to him during their fight. His words had reminded of him why he had turned against ZAFT during the first war and now he wasn't so sure he was fighting for the right side.
The Chairman spoke about peace and unity, but his actions of lately didn't reflect such beliefs. Athrun had reprimanded Shinn and Rey for what they did involving the escape of a prisoner and instead of them receiving any type of punishment they were let off scott free. It wasn't that Athrun had anything personal against the girl, but she was an enemy whether a willing one or not. By releasing that girl, he had returned to the Earth Alliance someone who had the power to handle a Gundam and potentially become a threat to them in the future. Shinn was foolish to believe they wouldn't try to involve her back in the war. Despite this fact, the Chairman had excused Shinn's actions and now the boy was walking around with a smug look in his eyes.
Further thoughts were interrupted when Athrun saw Commander Uzumaki already on the deck staring up at the clouds. This surprised him because he had thought he would be with Lunamaria as the two started to spend increasing more time together. Now that Athrun thought about it, Commander Uzumaki didn't act so cold anymore like he used to, and he actually seemed to be nice, but everyone still kept their distance from the man.
"Commander," saluted Athrun, causing Naruto to glance at him then nodded his head slightly at the young FAITH member.
"It seems we are both confused," stated Naruto much to the surprise of Athrun. He didn't expect the man to try to speak with him, but now that he was he felt maybe the Commander might understand where he was coming from.
"I remember you told me when I was with ORB not to join ZAFT and I am starting to wish I took your advice," sighed Athrun as he leaned on the railing.
"When I first joined it was to help bring a swift end to the rising war, but now everything has become so complicated. I used to believe that ZAFT was fighting merely to ensure peace, but it doesn't seem like that anymore. Now I am powerless to do anything," explained Athrun with a hint of anger.
"You are not part of ZAFT," said Naruto. Athrun looked at Naruto with a confused look on his face, but before he could reply, his Commander started to speak again.
"The Chairman didn't recruit you to join ZAFT, but to become a member of FAITH. FAITH is an organization separate from ZAFT that only takes orders from the Chairman as is free to exercise their own actions so long as it doesn't start an unnecessary battle or war with another country or nation," explained Naruto.
"What are you trying to imply?" asked Athrun as his brow creased in thought. Naruto didn't know why he was helping this boy, but maybe it was because Luna admired him or maybe it was some other reason. He would think about it later after he finished talking with the boy.
"If you wish to leave, then as a member of FAITH you can turn in your badge without suffering any repercussions as you do not serve as a part of the ZAFT military. All you would have to do is swear to never reveal any knowledge of what you have learned while on board the Minerva," said Naruto as he started to leave. He paused right before he got to the door and said one last thing that caused Athrun eyes to widen.
"It isn't too late for you to join your friends," whispered Naruto, but Athrun heard him loud and clear.
Minerva Hangar
Luna calmly sat in her cockpit and was going through another simulation, but unlike before, she wasn't having that much difficulty. Ever since, she had used the ZERO in battle, she felt her senses had increased, and especially her awareness. It was as if she could feel when she was about to be attacked and it was an exhilarating experience.
The only real problem with these new senses was that she had to learn to control her senses so that she didn't go crazy from them. The more she learned about the ZERO the more she was amazed at the abilities of her Commander. She had thought Athrun was an amazing pilot because he helped end the war at Jachin Due, but as of lately, he hadn't really impressed her. In fact, if she remembered correctly, her Commander had fought against the Freedom and Justice at the same time, and was still able to beat them. The man was just simply a god when it came to fighting in her opinion.
"Damn," cursed Luna, as she was destroyed because her thoughts had drifted off the simulation.
"Your mind is drifting," pointed out Naruto calmly. Luna just sighed before removing her helmet and glaring playfully at her Commander.
"I know, and it is all your fault," pouted Luna cutely. Naruto merely raised an eyebrow at that comment, but didn't say anything.
"Hey Commander, how come you didn't push for Shinn to receive some type of punishment for what he did? I thought you hated traitors," asked Luna suddenly.
"I had other problems to deal with lately," replied Naruto, not bothering to elaborate.
"Hmm, well, I know this may seem cold, but I think what Shinn did was incredible foolish. I understand he cares for the girl, but how can he trust them to take care of her after everything we have learned about Logos?" sighed Luna with a shake of her head.
"Sometimes, our emotions for our precious people cloud our mind to the truth," whispered Naruto.
Flashback
"Sakura-chan, stop," yelled Naruto desperately. A beautiful woman with short pink hair turned around to face Naruto.
Naruto had just got done killing Kisame and Konan, and was kneeling on the ground trying to catch his breath. He was now nineteen years old and possibly the strongest ninja in Konoha now that Jiraiya had been killed by Pain.
"I'm sorry Naruto, but I love him," apologized Sakura.
"Why? Why do you go to him after everything he has done to us? That bastard doesn't care about anyone other then himself," glared Naruto angrily, as he slowly stood up.
"It isn't his fault, it is that cursed seal warping his mind, and I know if I go to him I might be able to save what is left of him," argued Sakura. Naruto clenched his fists in anger before he replied to the girl that he first loved a long time ago.
"I know very well the effects of the curse seal as I am a seal master, which is why I am telling you he is lost," said Naruto calmly.
"No, he isn't," yelled Sakura angrily.
"Do you think this is easy for me to admit? I grew up all alone and always dreamed of having some type of family. You have become like a sister to me and Sasuke a brother, and I love you both, but it is time we both accepted the truth," yelled Naruto.
"The Sasuke we know is no more and I can no longer let innocent people get harmed even if he is like a brother to me. Jiraiya-sempai once told me that the hardest thing a ninja had to do was make a decision against someone they love, but sometimes it has to be done. As future Hokage of Konoha I can't afford to let my personal feelings for Sasuke get in the way of my duty. The same is for you Sakura as you are a ninja of Konoha as well," said Naruto calmly.
"I am sorry Naruto, but you are right so there is only one thing to do," whispered Sakura before using a kunai to create a slash mark through her headband. She was about to take off when Naruto's next words caused her to pause.
"If you leave, don't ever come back. I love you, and I love Sasuke, but I will not let either of you harm any more innocent people. If I hear that either of you two have entered the borders of the Land of Fire I will come for you both and I will show you no mercy," promised Naruto with a hard look in his eyes.
"Goodbye Naruto," said Sakura with a sad smile before taking off.
End Flashback
"I guess, but I still think giving that girl back to the Earth Forces is a bad idea," said Luna. Naruto just nodded his head, but remained silent while Luna started up another simulation.
Earth Forces: Russia Base
"How do you like the new weapon I have sent you Captain?" asked Lord Djibril with a smirk.
"It is impressive, but I can not hunt a ship like the Minerva with such a large unit," replied Neo.
"Forget about the Minerva for now. I want you to use that unit to quiet down the west as those damn Coordinators have started to take over things there, and it is starting to annoy me," smirked Lord Djibril.
"Hmm, very well, I have the perfect pilot in mind to use the Destroy Gundam," smiled Neo, as he thought of Stella.
"Good, and don't fail this time," said Lord Djibril before closing the link. Neo just leaned back in his chair with a small smile on his face before he got up to take a shower.
Minerva
Talia was not in a good mood and it was all because of that boy, Shinn. She understood that he seemed to care for the extended girl, but to injure members of the crew then take the Impulse without permission and contact the Earth Forces was unacceptable. What is worse, is that the Chairman excused him for his actions, and that just pissed Talia off. She liked the boy and was grateful for everything he did, but by letting Shinn off, he had become arrogant and started to walk around as if he was above the rules.
How did the Chairman expect her to control her own ship if he let Shinn get away with such stunts without any kind of punishment? Talia was really starting to question the Chairman's actions of lately. She didn't get to think any further on the Chairman's actions when Meyrin said something that stunned everyone.
"Ma'am, reports are in that the Earth Alliance is advancing from central Eurasia and three cities have been destroyed already," reported Meyrin.
"What did you just say?" gasped Talia with wide eyes.
"All ZAFT forces are to remain on standby until further orders," finished Meyrin with a look of disbelief, as she looked at all the causalities and deaths.
"Get me Commander Uzumaki immediately and have all hands at level 1 battle stations," ordered Captain Gladys, as she gripped her chair tightly.
"Hai Captain," saluted Arthur before relaying the orders and hitting the alarm to alert anyone who didn't hear him over the intercom.
Battle of Berlin
"I will destroy all the bad people," yelled Stella, as she destroyed every ZAFT mobile suit along with any civilians.
The once great city of Berlin was now being reduced to nothing but a graveyard. Everywhere one looked, there was nothing, but death and destruction as the Destroy Gundam used its massive arsenal of weapons to wipe out all life. It was a horrific sight and only a monster like Lord Djibril would order for such destruction.
Stella was about to continue her assault, but stopped when a massive energy reading was detected from above and she had to activate her shield to deflect the particle beam. All of the Earth Forces that had come along with the Destroy Gundam looked up to see the Freedom coming out of the cloud and the Archangel right behind it.
"Stella be careful, that's the Freedom," warned Neo, as he started to open fire upon the Freedom.
"I don't care who he is, I'll kill him," yelled Stella before transforming the Destroy Gundam into its mobile suit form to the shock of the Archangel and Kira.
"It's a mobile suit?" gasped Kira before his eyes narrowed. No matter what, he couldn't allow this monstrous mobile suit continue to destroy innocent people.
Minerva
"How horrible, I can't believe that one unit could cause this much destruction," gasped Luna, as she had to resist the urge to throw up at the scene.
"It seems the Freedom and Archangel has engaged the enemy," pointed out Naruto, causing Athrun's eyes to go wide in surprise.
'Kira,' thought Athrun before his eyes clouded over in shame. It seemed the Archangel and Freedom truly was fighting for peace if they engaged in a battle that didn't involve ORB.
"Captain," said Naruto, as he opened the link with the bridge.
"Yes Commander?" asked Captain Gladys curiously.
"When we get within range, I only want Epyon and Impulse to be launched, and you are to ignore the Archangel and Freedom. As of now they are our allies in helping to destroy that machine," ordered Naruto.
"Understood, and I agree with you," nodded Captain Gladys before closing the link.
"What do you mean that only you and the Impulse are going to launch? My ZAKU is in good enough condition to launch as well," argued Luna angrily.
"This is not an ordinary fight, and not even I know if I can take down that unit until I am able to fully analyze its defensive capabilities. Should the Impulse and I fall the Minerva will need one usable unit to protect it while it makes its escape," said Naruto before heading towards Epyon.
"He is right," said Athrun, causing Luna to look at him in surprise.
"Commander Uzumaki is the best pilot I have ever met and I don't think there is anyone who can match him in a straight up fight when he is at his best, but lately, there has been something different about him," stated Athrun. Luna couldn't argue with that logic because Naruto had been acted differently as of lately and had been walking around with a conflicted look in his eyes.
"Whatever is happening to him, it may affect his fighting abilities, and there is a slight chance he might not succeed in defeating this new enemy. If that happens, the Minerva will need to make a quick escape and you will have to be able to protect the ship should they give chase," said Athrun.
"He won't fail," stated Luna suddenly with a hard look in her eyes. Athrun looked at the girl in surprise because he had never seen her with such a look in her eyes.
"I may not know the Commander as well as you, but I do know that despite how hard he tries to hide it, he cares for people. The Commander will not allow that machine to continue to harm innocent civilians who aren't even apart of the war, especially when he has the power to stop it," finished Luna, as she watched the Destroy Gundam battle with the Freedom.
Archangel
"Captain, we have detected several incoming heat signatures. It is the Impulse and Epyon," relayed Miriallia.
"Receiving incoming message from Epyon," reported a tech. Murrue nodded her head and soon a familiar blond-haired pilot appeared on their screen.
"Captain Murrue Ramius of the Archangel, the Minerva, Impulse, and I wish to form a temporary alliance in order to help take down the Earth Forces located in Berlin. Do you accept?" asked Naruto.
"You have my word that no ZAFT forces shall attack you even after the battle and will allow you to leave the city without following you," reassured Naruto, as he saw the hesitation of the crew.
"Very well, I will let our own forces know, and we shall not engage any of your forces," agreed Murrue. Naruto just nodded his head before closing the link and heading off to engage the Destroy Gundam.
Battle of Berlin
"Damn it, what is with this monster?" mumbled Shinn, as his beams were easily reflected by the Destroy Gundam's armor.
Naruto was off helping the ORB forces to destroy the Chaos and the Freedom was fighting against Neo. Neo noticed that Shinn had managed to score a strike on Stella and disengaged the Freedom then started to attack the Impulse.
"You," gasped Shinn before using his shield to deflect the blasts.
"What are you doing boy? If you continue to attack the Destroy then you will only harm someone you care about," yelled Neo. Shinn froze and his eyes widened in horror especially at the next thing Neo said.
"The one piloting that suit is Stella," said Neo before kicking Shinn in the chest. Once Neo noticed that Shinn had stopped attacking, he went to reengage the Freedom.
"No, Stella," gasped Shinn in disbelief. The man had promised him that he wouldn't involve Stella in the war anymore, but now here she was piloting that monster mobile suit.
Shinn was quickly snapped out of his daze when he heard an explosion and saw the Freedom take out Neo. His eyes widened in horror as he saw the Freedom head towards Stella and he quickly went into action. He raised his beam rifle and started to fire at the Freedom before blocking its path.
"I won't let you harm her," yelled Shinn, as the Freedom floated in front of the Impulse.
"What is going on?" wondered Kira. He thought that ZAFT was on their side in stopping that machine, but here he was being attacked by the Impulse.
"Just leave her alone," demanded Shinn and was about to fire upon Freedom again, but a familiar heat rod came from his left and destroyed his weapon. Shinn and Kira turned their heads to see Epyon floating in the air as its heat rod retracted back to it.
"Shinn, you are to stop attacking the Freedom at once and help with taking out that mobile suit," ordered Naruto, as he appeared on the boy's monitor.
"No, I won't let either of you hurt her. She is just a victim, don't you understand?" said Shinn before drawing his beam saber.
"I understand better then you think, but thousands of civilians have lost their lives and that is unacceptable," replied Naruto.
He understood that the girl was probably tricked and manipulated into piloting that machine, but they could not sacrifice thousands of lives because of one person. If he had too, Naruto would take out the Impulse and the Destroy Gundam, just as he did with Sakura and Sasuke. To save the lives of thousands of innocents he would do what was necessary even if it meant taking out a girl who was forced into a war against her will.
"If you do not stand aside then I will take you down as well," promised Naruto, as he swung his heat rod above his head.
"I will not let you harm Stella," yelled Shinn before charging right at Epyon with its beam saber poised to strike.
Author's Note: Ok, so I managed to finish this next chapter almost completely on my own, go sexy! . Actually, the only reason I am releasing this chapter so quickly is because Tgobg thought it would be funny to take a break from the story right before the battle between Impulse vs. Epyon. I told him he was going to get alot of hate messages for doing it, but his stupid self still wanted to do it anyway. So, just remember, it was HIS idea to leave you all hanging for a few weeks and not post the next chapter that will be a fight most of you and even I have been waiting for! Anyway, the next chapter won't be out for awhile so take care and remember don't be mad at me .