AN: I don't own Naruto/Star Wars: Legends


4:9:21


Space above Kiffex

Aboard the Breakaway, Aurra's medium transport, the four took a bit of time to acquainted Aayla with the facilities aboard the ship. The droids were kind, and casual with the new addition, and Gonk was quick to depart from the other three, discussing something regarding what it had done on Kiffex. It didn't take long after that to finish showing Aayla around, but as they acquainted her, they found a sort of awkwardness when Aurra asked where they were going next.

Naruto had stood their awkwardly, trying to think of what to say before seeming to force out that they should head to Coruscant. After asking several times to be sure, Aurra finally got the admission from Naruto of what she already could tell from the moment they landed.

"I don't know where we should go next."

It was such a simple thing to admit, but the shame on his face was clear, and as they gave him some space to meditate and think on what to do next. Things were often so simple, and many of the times he'd figured what to do, it was at the bequest of someone else. Now, he had finished his duty, and while he was supposed to check in with the Council, and return to Coruscant. Yet, even knowing that, something kept him from saying it with any confidence.

Seating himself in his room - technically Aurra's room - he tried to meditate, and clear his mind. Breathing slowly, he attempted to follow standard seated meditation, rather than his Alchaka meditation forms. He didn't need to be dizzy, he needed to be focused.

"Hey kid, you did good back there."

Except he didn't have a chance to do that in peace. "Not now Jiraiya."

"What? You did. Why shouldn't I appreciate you when talking to yourself isn't strange or weird?"

He had a point; one that Naruto wasn't entirely happy to admit. It was better to not seem crazy after he'd just saved someone. Talking to a ghost, that none else could see or sense. Something he didn't need. "I'm trying to figure out where we're going next."

"I mean, why not just, travel around?" Jiraiya sounded like he was gently offering a suggestion, which Naruto considered briefly. "Come on, what are they gonna do? Tell you to come back? Isn't your whole thing protecting the galaxy? How are you going to do that sitting on your thumbs on this ship-thing?"

"I'm supposed to get Aayla back to the Temple. I..." Naruto stumbled, slowly dragging his hands down his face as he stood up. Meditation like this wasn't working. Alchaka forms it was. "I have to bring her back so she can be retrained. Given some semblance of balance again."

"Okay, but consider. What if you retrain her?"

Naruto began spinning, and near immediately tripped over his own feet at that. "What?! Me? I am not qualified for that!"

"Are we?"

The voice of his dark self suddenly reverberated through his head, making him clamp down his teeth harshly on his tongue. Had he made peace with himself? In that moment, had he actually found a center, and truly been able to overcome his darkness? Maybe. However, if it were true that he had, then he had to deal with another issue; he had no viable way to recreate how he had done it. He could remember it, think back, but the fight was what he remembered. His emotions, his thoughts, were all things that felt and seemed so distant. How could he train anyone if he didn't know how to do things himself.

"Hey, don't think like that." Jiraiya's voice was confident, yet kind. The kind an old mentor might have. It made Naruto mildly uncomfortable to think of the man as such, considering some of his outbursts. "You don't have to be amazing at it. Hell, telling them about your shortcomings might actually help them grow more! You just have to be confident. Give them something to work off of, and take it one lesson at a time. I should know. I've trained teams of three myself."

That caught Naruto's attention. He'd thought about it once before, but had never thought to bring it to the Jedi at the times he had to do so. Teams of three. When he'd seen the groups on his home world, he hadn't considered the reason why. Just, grouping of his people that had occurred by chance, or situation. With the training under his father, he'd been taught that often they would pass or fail their students by a matter of trickery, and subterfuge, but more importantly there would be three of them on a team. People to fall back on, to work with, and to help each other grow. The test helped determine if they could handle the responsibilities of their careers by seeing how would show leadership qualities, while also allowing them to see which would be the reckless ones to keep an eye on, and which were those who might be willing to sell out to get ahead.

Naruto found himself faintly scowling at that particular thought. People who had trained their whole life to fight, to kill, and could dance circles around three children tried to put them through a psychologically challenging test. Children, for better or worse. Nearly adults, but only by the standards of Mandalorians, whose age of adulthood was fourteen. Worse the test could potentially cause them to then question each thing that was said or done by their mentor, someone they should trust, as being something that might be another way to see who was capable of what. Useful, perhaps, but dangerous at the same time.

Still, that did also mean Jiraiya also had some experience in the subject. Centering once more, Naruto began moving through his forms slowly. "... alright, I'll bite. Explain to me what you're thinking."

"... okay, so..." There was a faint pause, and an audible struggle from Jiraiya before he sighed. "Can I at least give the suggestion you'll turn down first, or do you want the actual advice?"

"What other advice?" Naruto frowned, uncertain what Jiraiya meant. Then, recalling how Jiraiya had been on Ryloth, "No, stop, don't answer that. I think I know. Just the actual advice."

"... heh, you're quicker than you give yourself credit for." Hardly a compliment, since Jiraiya tended to be predictable in that regard. "Look, start by taking them into that big open room, and tell them to try and kill you with their light swords."

Naruto slowed to a stop, staring forwards with that sentence processing through his mind. Then, finally, he held up his hands to his head as he let out a soft, annoyed sigh. "... okay, give me the full rundown of why this will work out in my favor, and why this isn't a stupid idea."

"Well, there's a low power setting on those things right? So, just use that, then have them show you what they can do in a situation where they're trying to get just one tap on you. If they can get it faster than you think, then maybe the fighting isn't the area they need focus in. However, your whole Jedi thing is based around emotions and such, so if you can test and see what will frustrate them to anger, you can see how long that takes, then move on and see how you can help them fix that."

Not unsound, and certainly had logic to it that didn't make Naruto want to punch the sage. "And what about their connection to the Force?"

"Look, I'm still figuring out that Force stuff myself. Just, I dunno, give them the basics. If they get frustrated by the easy stuff, then clearly they need to learn the whole 'calming your emotions' stuff. And if they just fly right by that, then just teach them how to have a good time."

"Jiriaya..."

"Huh? Oh! I mean, if you can convince them... but not what I meant!" Jiraiya could almost be felt waving his hands, Naruto preparing to dive inwards to punch the ghost in the face. "What I mean is to just... relax. Your Jedi people aren't great at that, and you sure as hell could use it yourself. Just, take a moment... fucking breathe. Relax. You'd be amazed how much just taking time to yourself can help clear your head and let you just kinda 'be' for a bit. Who knows, maybe your whole Force-thing will give you more to work with then."

Silently considering his words, Naruto found them... surprisingly sound. He'd expected more perversion, and advice that involved things that made it hard for Naruto to think or concentrate, let alone speak to some of the women he knew without having to fight his own mind. These were good, solid, actually helpful ideas and thoughts. Things he could use, and work with.

"I uh, would say one thing." Naruto almost threw back his head; always something. "Don't forget to... you know, check in sometime. The leaders of a place tend to get a bit antsy if they are feeling like their in the dark for too long, regardless of the reason."

Naruto stared vacantly, thinking that over before suddenly he perked up. Of course! After all he'd done, he should be reporting back to the Council. That must've been why he was feeling so out of sorts; he'd been so wrapped up in figuring out where to go next that he hadn't done the first thing he should've upon arriving aboard the ship. Cursing himself, and giving Jiraiya a quick word of thanks, he made his way out of the room towards the communication area. Just maybe, he could get some clarity that way.

[=-x-=]

Aayla fiddled with a few of the various components that were scattered off to one side of one of the hallways. The area was partly secluded, letting her curl up while she worked out of sight of everyone else. Hearing a few of the droids skittering past made her push herself deeper into the crook she had hidden in. Each time they passed by, she slowly poked her head out to watch them waddle or rolling past before sighing softly and returning to her hiding.

She curled in on herself more, exhaling slowly as she tried to sort things out. Working with her hands felt right, but she couldn't piece together what was wrong with the contraption in her hands. It just felt like there was too many moving parts, and to many pieces. Like her mind. Trying to raise barrier after barrier to defend her mind, but in turn simply blocking herself from organizing her mind.

Clicking a few of the pieces together, she slowly set it to the side, dragging her hands down her face. The ship was vastly larger than the one she'd hidden away on before, and it gave her enough places to hide away. It was safe. Large. Maybe if she expanded her barriers like that? But, that didn't make sense. She wasn't a ship. She couldn't just build herself outwards to give herself more room. Life wasn't that simple.

Resting her head on her arms, she let out slow groan. "This is all so... stupid."

"Customer? You in need of assistance?"

Aayla leaned into the wall, eyes wide at the voice. Staring out of the opening she'd crawled through, she could vaguely see the top of some flat surface. Slowly moving forwards, she peeked out, staring down in mild confusion, to mild amusement at the droid peaking up at her. "... um, hello there, little Gonk droid?"

"I am Gonk. Am here for helping. Sadly no stock for the customer. Boss said no more stock. Bad business. Can still talk. No lips to slip secrets."

"I mean, you're not wrong..." Aayla said, shifting and leaning out to stare down at it. "... boss?"

"Mm. They go under designation Naruto Uzumaki, but they are boss. Did not like master. Master was Jabba. Master was vanquished and sent to rancor. Good times."

An idle memory came back to her, again from that desert planet of Tattooine. Someone, a powerful individual, and they were... "... Jabba... the Hutt?"

"No. Jabba is dead. Cannot be Hutt. Jabba the corpse."

Aayla blinked, then shivered at the way that was said. It was humorous in a way, yet the simplistic way it spoke of their death was truly robotic. "I, suppose."

"Is better that way. Disgrace to Hutts."

"I... was he?"

"They." Gonk shifted from foot to foot, seeming to consider for a moment. "Hutts are Hutts. To be called The says representing. Says you are what they be. Are. Hutts are not good. Never been good. But Jabba was... hm, named for them. That is bad too."

"... and that makes it okay that he's dead?"

"Being gone is no good for any. Jabba being dead was simply better."

"Hm..." Aayla shifted and sighed. "A lot of people seem to be better off dead. All those smugglers, the man who got me caught, Quinlan, Volfe..."

She mumbled an additional person under her breath, but it was clear that Gonk heard by the sound of Gonk making a perplexed beeping. "... seems you need some help. Perhaps getting assistance would be best?"

"No, I don't need assistance."

"I have called for assistance. They will arrive shortly."

"No, I don't -" Aayla shoved herself back, moving back further into the crawlspace. Curling back in on herself, she tried to make herself as small as she could, staring back at the wall as she heard Gonk still shifting about outside. She didn't need help; she didn't.

Gritting her teeth, she gripped her head, feeling the sting of pain her head would get. Her uncle would give her something for it, and it made it better. But now he was dead, and she was alone. Then there was Volfe who had helped her, making her feel... something. She couldn't even remember what it was. Hadn't it just been recently when he'd helped her? Let her feel free, and thoughtless? Or had that been the guardian's? A brief touch from them could give her mind a moment of thoughtless clarity, and... and...

It was simply too much. The halls were remarkably quiet, and yet even the hum of the machinery around her was too loud. Everything made such grating sounds that she wanted to simply carve her way out of the hull until she was free of it all. She'd been sipping on the Force to push it away, but now that she was finding her meditation impossible, it was all crashing down on her all at once. A galaxy with silence between stars, and yet her mind was as loud as a supernova ripping apart worlds - making no noise, yet so destructive that one would say that it was loud enough to be heard in star systems light years away.

Hearing a faint knock against the side of her crawlspace made her flinch. Someone was there. Couldn't be Gonk, unless it had an appendage that allow it to knock in that manner. A medical droid? She could work with that. Peaking out from her curled ball, she immediately shoved her face back in upon seeing who it was. "Go away..."

"I mean, sure." Aurra shrugged, leaning into the crawlspace to better stare in at Aayla. "To be fair, if you aren't careful Gonk is going to go up the its line of authority. Honestly, probably already had. And if Naruto comes by, he's going to crawl in there and make you sob your eyes out."

"He has..." Aayla muttered, recalling a few nights where he'd seemed to just appear, letting her shove her face into his chest to keep from waking the others. It was uncanny, how despite every barrier she'd built, he seemed to just know, and be there. "It's, strange, how he seems to just sense my emotions, even when I've hidden them as deeply as I can..."

"Mm," Aurra hummed softly, nodding slowly. "He's had to deal with... problems. He knows what it's like to be hurt." Shifting slowly, Aurra slowly glanced to the side. "Believe me... I've been allowed to see how much he's been hurt in the past. And more recently too."

"... I remember a little bit." Aayla shifted, looking for all the galaxy like she wanted to just shove her face into the corner to hide herself away. "He mentioned it to me, in a... a story. I was there with people... someone else. I don't - only -"

"He told you about... what part of his life? His homeworld, his training, the time he befriended a rancor on Nar Shaddaa, the war he waged on Abbaji, the decisive battle of Naboo, the way he terrorized Tatooine..." Aurra tapped her fingers against the metal slowly. "He's been so many places, and done so many things... I wouldn't be surprised if he told you some of his dark secrets honestly. He doesn't exactly keep tight lipped about what should be emotionally scarring details."

"...he tries to smile."

Aurra seemed to consider it, then laughed hollowly. "Yeah, I guess he does. He talks about it casually, sometimes like it's so casual. But the feeling..." Shaking her head, she slowly laid it against the edge. "... need to be alone?"

"... please?"

"Alright."

As Aurra turned to leave, she paused, glancing back to Aayla. "He's likely on his way already. I know you want to be alone, but... he has a way of making you want to let him in. And, honestly? I say... let him. He's got good intentions, even if he doesn't know what he's doing."

Aayla slowly nodded, glancing back to Aurra as she turned to walk off. As she did, she tapped Gonk, getting the droid to follow too. Left alone, for just a moment, she sunk into herself, her mind awash with thoughts, emotions, and then an emptiness as she wished to disappear, if only for a moment more. A small speck, in this big, big galaxy.

[=-x-=]

Naruto ran over what he wanted to say again. Just, that he wanted to help give Aayla a bit of time to train before she came back. Simple. Yet each time he went over that thought, he immediately discarded it. No, he had to do better than that. Partly because of who he'd decided to reach out to.

Breathing deeply, he stared at his communicator, finally breaking down and activating it, reaching out to the Master in question. When it flickered to life, he tried - and felt himself failing - to smile naturally. "Hello Master Yoda."

[Good day, Knight Uzumaki.]

Naruto had the whole thing thought out, ready to place before the Jedi Grand Master to get it out of his head and clear the air. Then, his train of thought was lost and his smile became far more sheepish when, upon hearing his name said, an echoing chorus of young voices suddenly resounded through the communicator. "Oh, I am so - are you in the middle of a lesson master?"

[Soon done, but yes.] Master Yoda smiled cheerily, hearing a few of the younglings behind him giggle. [Much to say, this Clan has. A good example, it seems you are.]

"They're talking about me? Listen, I - good example?" The words floored Naruto with surprise. Floundering for a moment, he finally managed to clear his mind as found his words again. "Me?"

[Mm, yes. A good example of a level head to keep, but also of one who the Force in action can be seen.]

"... ah." Naruto flushed, recalling that fiasco. Straightening himself a bit more, realizing he likely could be seen by the younglings even if he couldn't see them, he gave his best 'stern' expression; not as stern as the one he used as a general, and still playful enough to let them know he wasn't overly serious with it. "Are you all being good for Master Yoda?"

[Yes Master Uzumaki.]

Naruto choked up a bit at that, the chorus of small children calling him master. Smiling, he nodded to them all slowly, before pausing as he noted Yoda's bright-eyed, beaming expression and faltered. Had he done something amusing? Trying to think of what he'd done, he slowly shifted about before finally asking Master Yoda, "... what?"

[Recall I do, when a troublemaker you could be. Honored I am, to hear you inform younglings to be good for me.] Laughing in amusement, Yoda shook his head. [The robes you dyed, still have I do. Kept for festive outings.]

"... you know, the more I hear that, the more I begin thinking I got punished for something everyone enjoyed."

[Enjoyed it we might have, but meddling with the droids you did. Unpunished you could not go.]

"The droids were fine, they just had a different wash they used. Once... or twice."

[Nine times they did. Many robes, colored they were. Many festive occasions I can now go to.] Yoda chortled at that, then waved to Naruto. [Call you back I will. Another meeting I have to attend, and finish training, I must.]

"Of course. No rush. I'll see you soon Master."

As the communication ended, Naruto slowly sunk down and sighed. Master. The word ran through his head, and he had to close his eyes at that. It was the symbol of mastery in the Jedi Order. Simple. But occasionally, especially more as of late, he recalled his time more and more. It wasn't a bad word, but the association wasn't great. It even had gotten to the point he'd asked for Anakin to call him his world's word for "teacher" rather than Master. He was no one's master... and at least the word teacher was more honest in his mind.

Seeing a new blip on his communicator, he slowly pulled it up and stared at it. Sighing, he sat up, flicking it on to listen to the transmission message.

[Boss, new customer made a comment about harming themselves. Do not have stock to treat, as is not policy anymore. Is in hideaway past hanger near engines. Please help. Cannot assist. Gonk.]

Naruto blinked, processing the message. Might've been a subroutine he'd messed up that got Gonk calling people customers again, but the rest...

Eyes widening and leaping to his feet, Naruto moved with elongates strides out the hallway at high speeds. The words echoed and felt like they reverberated through his skull as he raced as quickly as he could, mind going through worst case scenarios.

"Ah, we remember... so many ways, and all of them wrong. Isn't that right?"

Naruto ignored the call from himself. After the fight, he'd begun realizing that, perhaps it wasn't normal to have a second voice in ones head. Though, that might also have been in part due to constantly having many voices badgering for his attention. Or, perhaps it was from the war, and having to find ways to cope. It certainly didn't help that it seemed to sound like it relished the thoughts, reveling in their memory. Memories that made him near physically ill.

"Do not make poor assumptions. I revel in the one time our failure to commit was a good thing. After all, some things are better to never follow through on, never commit to, or never attempt, don't you think?"

There was no answer to that; both knew the answer all to well. Still, that did not mean Aayla did as well. So, racing back towards the engines, Naruto began reaching out through the Force, trying to find her.

As it was, it took a bit more than he thought to find her. Her presence was surprisingly small in the Force, to the point he almost missed her. In doing so, he found his panic spike. If her presence was so low... he couldn't bear to consider the possibility. He had to find her.

Racing up and down the halls, he peaked into each hideaway he could, trying to follow the faint sense of her he could feel, reaching out to it imploringly, almost begging for any kind of response. Eventually, he felt it reach back, gently tugging at him back towards a piece he'd overlooked. It wasn't that it was small, or that he hadn't checked. She had simply managed to get him to look over her, until she called him back.

Approaching slowly, he peaked his head back in. Forcing his vision past the barrier in the Force she'd apparently made was difficult, but Naruto slowly caught sight of her, curled up, making herself small, but otherwise unharmed. Sighing, Naruto slowly leaned back against the bulkhead, letting his head rest against it as he smiled weakly at her.

"Hey."

"... hi."

"You're alright."

"... no I'm not."

Naruto closed his eyes, nodding slowly. "That's fair."

"I don't need you to convince me to leave."

"I'm not going to." Sliding down to seat himself, he slowly got comfortable. "I will stay around, in case you want to talk, but you don't have to. You can ask me to leave, or to stay, or to not talk. I'll just... be here."

Aayla slowly turned and stared at him, and for a moment, Naruto thought she just might ask him to leave. Then, she turned away, shifting and trying to readjust herself, but said nothing else, letting him stay. A silent offer, and one only vaguely given, but there unspoken all the same. A silent admission she wanted help, but didn't want to ask outright either. So, he sat, and he waited.

The silence built between them, seeming to stretch through the halls as they both sat there. There was a mix of tension and serenity, a moment to consider, and to wait. Aayla, trying to watch and figure out what would be motivating Naruto. Naruto, simply waiting and watching for Aayla to decide whether she wanted him to stay or leave. Likely the silence could have persisted longer between them, had Naruto's communicator not gone off.

Pulling out the communicator, Naruto casually answered it, smiling lightly as the form of Master Yoda returned to the screen. "Back so soon Master?"

[Finished my time is. Dealt with what was needed, I have. Hours later it is.]

"... ah, I guess I didn't realize the time." Hours. Naruto blinked slowly at that, needing a second to process that thought. Another thing he disliked about space; no sun with which to tell the time. "How uh, are you?"

[Well I am. And you?]

"I..." Sighing, he rubbed his neck, shifting and letting his head bang against the bulkhead. "I've been struggling with a thought master. Not a bad...well, not a really bad thought, but something that's been running through my mind."

[Oh?] Yoda slowly shifted, seeming to settle in more before motioning for him to continue. [Speak your mind young Uzumaki. Important it is, to keep clear your mind, and to seek council where you can. I am curious, what council you need at this time.]

"It's partly about Quinlan, partly about Aayla."

Aayla, hearing both her and Quinlan brought up, slowly shifted closer, leaning forward to hear better. It wasn't like Naruto was being subtle, or quiet. However, more than her curiosity was piqued; a hunger for knowledge, understanding, and some kind of substance to fill in the blanks of her mind with.

"You see... the thought began after I landed on Kiffex-"

[On Kiffex? Thought to Ryloth you had gone?]

"Well, yes, but I followed a lead from Ord Mantell -" Naruto held up his hand, looking flummoxed. "I, had a lot that happened since we last spoke."

[Indeed. Looking forward to the tale, I am. When time you have. This issue, more pressing it seems. Continue, if you will?]

"... thank you." Slowly sighing, he rubbed his face slowly. "I met with a Jedi Master, Master T'ra Saa? I don't want to assume..."

[Know her I do. A request from Master Windu was given most recently... on Kiffex she was stationed. Jedi Watchman she is.] Yoda hummed loudly, ears twitching as he seemed to be putting the pieces together. [Met her you did? Encountered Volfe Karkko, did you?]

"Yes master. I, killed him, and had to fight my way through a large number of Anzati he'd brought to the planet. He had a wide reaching influence, for someone who was in stasis."

[Indeed. A powerful Jedi he was when a member of the Order. Killed several Council members in a battle, when trying to hide his crimes. Killed many Jedi, he did. Terrible his crimes were, what he became.]

"But, before then, he was a Jedi..."

Yoda's ears slowly quivered, seeming to have something sink in at that. [Mmmmm... disturbed you are, by his death. To kill a Jedi, and not try to redeem them. Sound right, does it?]

"... I..." Naruto paused, considering that. He hadn't before, but now that it was brought up to him, he had to mull that over. If it wasn't an issue before, it was possible that it could be now. Especially after he'd managed to subdue Maul without killing him. Shaking his head, he sighed. "Partly, Master, but it brought to mind a different thought. About Quinlan, and Aayla."

[Oh? What thought did this give you?]

"That they were given a clean slate, but Quinlan got most of his memories back through his psychometry." Pausing, Naruto picked at his pant fabric gently. "I, took the time to ask, and touch base with him when I could. To understand how to help Aayla, and himself better. Speaking of, can you let him know I'll get back to him? I've been busy between some of the star hops to get back to him... actually, I haven't heard from him in a while either. Is he alright?"

[Away he is. On a mission, he was given.] Seeing Naruto's eyes widen, Yoda held up his hand. [Trained he has been, and control he has shown. Well he has done in his retraining.]

Aayla watched Naruto struggle, suddenly looking for all the galaxy like he wanted to shout and curse. How long had it been? A few months? Half the year? Had they done enough in that time to change him from the man who'd killed her uncle?

"I see..." Naruto breathed out slowly, seeming to take the moment of silence before nodding. "You trust him. Despite everything, he got enough memory back to be... a functioning Jedi again. Despite everything."

[Mm, in a way. Much he still is learning, much he must learn. A Jedi Knight he became before, a Jedi he still is.]

"But he will not be the same man he was before." Naruto's voice was soft, his eyes distant. Bad memories resurfacing, recalling a number of times where people had changed, and where things had gone wrong because their friends thought they hadn't changed. "And, with all that will have happened in these months, even with those memories back, she'll - Aayla, she'll be a different person. More herself, with her memories, but... I worry about her. I just wonder..." Slowly, he let his eyes shift and focus back on Yoda. "What if, even with her memories back, she chooses to not be a Jedi?"

The words brought a moment of silence between them all. Not be a Jedi? Even Aayla herself hadn't considered it. However, as Aayla thought of it, she realized that a more important thought just now occurred to her; she had never considered being a Jedi, or returning to them. If that were so, what Naruto said had merit, and weight. A reality that was there for her to take, if she wanted it.

Yoda frowned, seeming to have not thought of that. [The Force, guide her it will.]

"Master, if the Force is guiding her, what's to say she'll miss where it's guiding her to? I-" Naruto closed his eyes, shaking his head. "I don't want her end up like Volfe, and fall to the dark side in ignorance."

[Volfe, not in ignorance fell.]

"But that's not the problem - I mean, let me explain. The problem is, if someone who is a Master fell, then if someone tries to get to her, and tries twisting her memories..." Naruto grit his teeth, exhaling through them rapidly in frustration. "I just, keep finding more people who've fallen to the dark side, and the more I do, the more sure I am that they'd try and pull her in. If she doesn't want to return though, I won't have it in me to just force her back. That's not... that's not freedom. We're Jedi. We help the Republic with the law, and the freedom of all people. That, in my mind, includes our own. Even the lost..."

Yoda shifted, seeming both to consider that, and to have a note of approval in his eyes. [Wise you are, in this thinking. Put much thought into this, you have?] Tapping his staff in front of him, he leaned forward slowly. [What then, would you do then?]

Naruto looked away, clearly in thought, though not for the reason either watching might think. It was not the idea, but the wording that was important here. Thinking he had an idea of how to phrase what he wanted, he started off slowly. "I'd, speak with her. Try to understand, and if possible, work with her. If she doesn't want to be a Jedi, I can at least stress the necessity of learning control, and how the Temple can help. If not..." He leaned back; the question he'd been sitting on, now there to present before Yoda. The Grand Master. Here went nothing. "I would offer to train her myself. She would need it, to ensure she didn't fall, or harm others even by accident."

A moment passed, then Yoda hummed softly. [Perhaps, a way it may be. But, forgetting you are, a padawan waiting you have?]

"It wouldn't be long, and Anakin and I are expected to partner and head off by the beginning of next year at earliest, which should give me time if... I..." Naruto froze, thinking over that before rolling it around in his head. "... or, so I was told. Was I incorrect?"

[Thought to allow you to take Anakin as your padawan learner, upon your return, we did.]

The words made Naruto's eyes widen lightly, and internally he felt like screaming. It was the best case scenario, and yet that also made it the worst. Training Anakin was important, and he knew that Anakin was awaiting his return to learn how to help the galaxy much like Naruto himself did. Yet, if he abandoned Aayla, how would he trust himself not to do the same should it come up with Anakin.

[Unless, proposing to take her as a short term apprentice, you are? Seeing if she chooses to come back to the Temple, and receive training? Master Tholme, greatly appreciating her return, and willing to retrain her he is.]

Naruto blinked, nodding slowly. He had heard of Master Tholme, but at the same time he could work with that. "If I were to offer it, to see if she would allow me, up until we return to the Temple, where I take Anakin and give her training to Master Tholme...?"

Yoda considered it silently, ears twitching as he considered in thought what Naruto was asking. Humming after a long moment, he shook his head. [Much you may think on this, but offering too much as well. Dangerous to leave too many options, to one in need of guidance.]

"If she's backed into a corner, she will more likely choose the wrong one. I know. I've seen it."

Opening his mouth to reply, Yoda seemed to pause and consider that. Aayla flinched and backed away, knowing what Naruto meant. When she'd run from Quinlan, she'd run almost headlong into Volfe. A corner, and a wrong choice to make.

[... certain you are, she will need training immediately?]

"No."

[Then this discussion, for what purpose does it serve you?]

"Letting her have that option, so she knows that she's free, and not being forced into a corner. So that I can be honest."

Once more, Yoda was silent. Yoda had seen more than his fair share, and understood more clearly than Naruto likely expected or understood himself. With that knowledge, he understood that some decisions had to be made in the moment by those who were there, and understood the situation more fully than he could back in Coruscant. It was not something that any would wish to make the judgement for, yet Naruto needed Yoda to do so now. For young Aayla, who - by Naruto's way of speaking - had been found, and was safe, but was questioning where she was in the galaxy.

Slowly, Yoda closed his eyes and sighed. [... trust in your judgement, I will. Much you have learnt. Strong you have become. Stalwart, and kind you are. Should this happen, entrust to you in Aayla Secura's training, I shall. Until such time as you return to the Temple, and Master Tholme, your place take.]

Naruto bowed his head, exhaling slowly. "Thank you master. I..." Naruto let that sink in. Yoda trusted him. After all that had happened, the turmoil within the Jedi Temple, the war in Abbaji, his actions on Naboo, and so forth... Yoda trusted him. "I won't let you down. I promise."

[Know that you will, I do.] Yoda smiled. It was a fond smile, one that had the knowing twinkle in his eye as he inclined his head to Naruto. [May the Force be with you.]

"And with you Master..." The communication ended, and Naruto stared at it silently. Slowly, he peaked up at Aayla, who was still half-leaning forwards to listen in on what was going on. "So..."

Aayla flinched, but didn't pull back, instead staring back at him with a hint of defiance. "...so."

"How do you want to do this?"

"I..." Aayla shifted, moving more towards her crawlspace's entrance. "... can I say no?"

"Yes."

"I can just, ignore all these memories, and just... I don't know, become a table dancer?"

"You'd make a pretty one, though some might say it'd be a waste of talent."

Aayla couldn't help but snort softly at that, quickly covering her face and shaking her head. "Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Make me laugh. This is serious. I'm - I'm trying to be serious."

"If I don't make you laugh, then this is too serious, and there's more life-or-death going on than just a little bit of training. Exercises here and there, and a bit of control. Easy things."

"Easy." Aayla sighed, completely aware of what her own answer would be from what she'd heard, and from what she saw of the man before her. "And, if I say yes?"

"Then I ask if you want to start tomorrow, or right now."

"I..." She breathed out slowly. So soon, yet it would give her time to think. "Can I give an answer tomorrow?"

"Sure." Naruto pushed himself up, holding out a hand to her.

Slowly, she reached back out, taking his hand and letting him pull her out of the crawlspace. Once more, he was reaching out, defending her, protecting her. She didn't know if she truly needed it or not, yet the fact he was trying to do so, and was willing to put himself in what was clearly a troubling position with his senior... saying no didn't feel right. Now, removed from hiding, and pulled out of the shadows, she found a faint smile on her face as Naruto grinned as well.

"Try to get some sleep... because when we start this, I have no idea what I'm doing."


AN: Hopefully the ending bits come out alright. I had to rewrite the last part due to losing the entire section during one of FFN's blackout moments. That wasn't fun, but I lived, got over it, and got it done. Huzzah~

I know some people don't like Jiraiya, what with his perverted nature, and over the top goofiness... but honestly, he's a good guy at the end of it all. Trying his best, and doing a hell of a lot of good, considering how much he went through. Plus, for Naruto, he'll be able to give good advice and allow for some more interesting dialogue options later. I haven't forgotten about his poke to Aurra from before; there'll be a few more bits like that, and I'm going to have fun with that.

That said, first, some light stretches! Then, combat. Or, meditation, I dunno, I'll come up with something. Doing some work with the ladies, getting a feel for things, and then we should start heading towards the destination of this arc. I'm honestly excited!

I now have a Discord server for this story; if anyone wants a link to it, say so in either a PM or review (whichever is more convenient for you). It'll have a section where as each chapter goes up I'll post that it has, so those who don't want to always check their email will know when the next chapter is up.

Thank you all for your reviews, they are always great to read. If you haven't seen, there's a poll to go over the pairing options for Naruto for everyone, as well as those new to the story on my Profile. I look forward to seeing who you choose, and how I'll be able to consider and use it through the building story.

May this chapter find you well, and may the Force be with you.