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


GRS 4:10:2


Clashing with the creature was stupid, reckless, and something not even the brave should consider. Not without thinking through what they were doing. Considering the screaming, wild nature of both combatants, thought was the furthest things from both their minds.

Naruto ran towards the creature, quickly figuring that sliding under it was not his best option, as the creature was low enough to the ground to make that near impossible. So, instead, he ran at it, leaping towards it as it opened its vicious, dripping maw to attempt biting into him, he used its head like a footstool and leapt over it. Skidding to a stop behind it, the creature dug in its heels, snapping its head to look at him with a snarl.

Looking it over completely was something else entirely. The creature was maybe half Brutus height, with large, thick arms that ended in sharp, hooked claws. A pair of tusks jutted out from either side of its mouth, lined with carnivorous fangs. Its body was spiny, with a single spike jutting up its spine, with several others splaying out in such a way that made it clear that conflict up close was one that would be dangerous.

Slamming its claws against the ground, it grunted and snarled, then turned and looked back towards the two women. Cursing, Naruto moved towards it and threw a blast of the Force into its body, trying to throw it back and away from them as quickly as he could. As he did, his eyes widened as he saw it stay completely still, scooting maybe a foot back before it leapt towards them.

"Oh karking fork!" Naruto drew in the Force rapidly, sending it forward like a rippling wave of energy, slamming into the women and throwing them away from its impact. "Brutus!"

Brutus roared, throwing himself towards the creature and slamming it to the side. Immediately it was obvious that Brutus was not meant to be fighting a creature like this. It was covered in spines, defensively preventing Brutus from getting a grip on it to do more than knocking it around. With its tusks and claws, it was a predator, yet it was meant to hunt things that could hunt it back. A dangerous combination, that proved its worth as it threw its spine towards Brutus, forcing him to back off or be impaled.

Naruto rushed past it, throwing his hang out and trying to rip out pieces of the earth beneath the creature to throw it off. "Go! Run!"

"No, we will obey no order from you!" Ah'le growled from behind him, holding her hands out as she attempted to do some more of whatever trickery she'd used against him before. "That thing has killed out sister, and we will not let it live!"

Throwing her hands at it, the Force seemed to pull and weave as it snaked out towards the creature. Even as it struck into it, the weaves of the Force seemed to slam into the creature, buffering it, and then scattering across its seemingly stone hard hide. Ah'le flinched in shock, her eyes widening further when the creature whipped its head towards her, and smirked in its sinister manner.

"Oh come on." Naruto snarled, watching the creature moving in a rapid, loping motion as it raced towards the woman, and moved to intercept.

Both women on the rancor threw their power at the creature, coming up completely behind as it raced through all the attacks. After Naruto had forced the bow out of the other woman's hands, she didn't have anything else she could use, as she realized the danger and tried to get the rancor to begin moving and rushing it away. Despite her best efforts, and even Naruto's speed, the creature still managed to collide again, another rancor dropping as it screamed and was impaled by its tusks. This rancor, until its ally a moment before, was able to at least stay on its feet, keeping the two on its back from being thrown to the ground like their sister before them.

Naruto slammed into it, grunting as he was thrown back, staring at it. "Damn it all."

Pulling out his lightsaber, he snapped the orange blade on, illuminating everything in a orange hue as he slashed at the creature. As it slammed into the outer armor, it glanced off, leaving clear damaging marks, but not simply carving through its body. Naruto stared at it, horrific realization dawning as the creature looked towards him. With a heave, it threw him to the side with a backhand, its opposing tusk leaving a gash across the rancor's body, and leaving it wounded and limping away while the creature reached out with a tongue far too long, curling it around its tusk and licking off the blood on it, snorting in apparent disgust before it was struck by the rancor.

Moving and slamming his blade against its hide, Naruto growled and pushed against it. As it clawed at him again, Naruto snapped back, forced to dodge and weave through its strikes, it's size belying the speed of its strikes. Using its own body to give himself momentum, he shifted and threw himself around it, trying to keep its gaze away from the women.

The women however, were not taking his actions into account it seemed. At least, the two nearest to him. Brutus had the other two nearby, having picked them up and begun moving them away. Good. He needed less people to worry about. Behind him, he felt them trying to throw more attacks at the creature, even as their rancor collapsed behind them. Their work was still distracting, and trying to throw off the creature. Some of their efforts were less than helpful, throwing Naruto around, making it near impossible for Naruto to get close to attack or strike it.

"Would you kindly not?!" Naruto screamed, brushing his feet against the ground for a moment to throw himself to the side, barely dodging another strike as the wind threw him to the ground as he ate dirt, throwing him around as he was forced to scramble and move before it attempted to slam down again. "Stop it!"

"You throwing yourself in our way is the problem!"

"I'm in the way because if I'm not it will ignore me and -" Naruto's words stumbled rapidly as he skid backward, its tusks swinging around to gore into him. "You are not helping!"

"We are." Ah'le held up her hand, another wave of Force energy gathering in front of her hand. "We're helping ourselves!"

Blasting the creature again and again, the creature almost seemed to look at Naruto with a look of complete annoyance rather than harm. The blasts of the Force beat into him, not seeming to harm it or even rattle its spines from the damage. Turning, it bellowed at them, moving up over towards them again, only to be stopped by Naruto.

"You're making yourselves a target!" Naruto snarled at the creature, orange blade whipping in front of its face, trying to force it back. As he struck its hide, it shoved its face forward, his teeth trying to chomp down on Naruto, forcing him back further. Of all the times for him to have left a lightsaber with reach behind, this was not one he wanted to consider. The shoto would do its job, but not near as much as he could've wanted.

Rolling back, Naruto threw out his hand, lighting arching between his fingers as he launched a volley of lightning at them, trying to strike it with electrified Force, hoping that might help more. As it hit, Naruto felt a pit form in his gut that weighed him down, as the creature seemed to almost lick its lips at the lightning, the sparks crackling and sparking, but doing near nothing to it. Worse, it ran through it, seeming more imposing as it barreled forwards, electrified.

Throwing their body towards him, Naruto was forced to flash off to the side, he small teleport throwing him free from the creature's path, his side searing as it managed to clip him with a claw before he was fully out of the way. Hearing it slam into a tree, he glanced back hopefully, only to wince as he watched it bounce off, with the tree coming out worse for wear from the look of it, the tree shredded from the spines raked across it.

Not good.

"Creature of Dathomir, you will bend to my will!" Ah'le snarled, throwing her hand towards the creature, attempting to bind the creature to her will in the Force.

"Are you fraking serious?" Naruto stared at her incredulous, watching her attempt something different with the Force; from the sound of it, something to dominate the creature's mind. After everything else, he wasn't sure if it would have any effect on it.

Watching the creature, he shifted, watching as the creature seemed to pause, making a soft noise as it turned towards her. Ah'le looked victorious, holding her hand out towards it, curling her hand as she twisted and wove her bindings of the Force tight around the creature. "Good... you see, you just need a proper."

Naruto reached out, pulling the sister from behind Ah'le away from her. As Ah'le let out a start, eyes burning with a hatred and fire, she missed what Naruto had seen; the creature was not under her control at all, as it screeched and barreled into her. She had only a brief instant to see its face as its tusks slammed into her lifting her off the ground as it pierced her through, held on its tusk before it slammed and pinned her between it and a tree. With only a faint twitch, she reached out, fingers curling across the creature's face before going limp.

"You, saved me..." The other witch stared up at Naruto, eyes wide as she seemed to struggle with his decision. "Why?"

"Because it's the right thing to do." Naruto groaned, blinking and staring at his hand as he pulled it from his side. Blood soaked his hand, and his vision wavered in and out of focus. "What the..."

The witch moved closer, placing her hands on his face. He struggled against it, but sensing no harmful intent - and with the sudden shift in his vision - he didn't fight it. "You don't look good. This creature may be venomous."

"Venom? It's already so... aw fierfek..." Naruto muttered, seeing the creature ripping apart Ah'le, swallowing it rapidly as it turned to stare at them. "Run..."

The woman glanced over her shoulder, eyes widening in realization as she quickly left him and began running. The creature stared at him, growling as he shifted and wavered. Slowly, it took a few steps forwards, towards him, then turned and began chasing her down. Cursing, Naruto moved.

He asdidn't think. He never did. He moved, he acted.

The sound of flesh being pierced, a woman scream, and then everything began to pulse, and fade.

[=-x-=]

Aayla and Aurra stared with the other two witches, staring at the creature that shoved its way up and out of the earth, part of the ground collapsing around it. Aayla breathed out shakily, staring at the creature as it pulled itself out of the collapsing ground. The creature, throwing its head back, screeched and began scrambling out; a wild, hungry look in its eyes as it barreled forwards.

Aurra snapped her blaster out of her holster, firing quickly into the creature. Watching it barrel through the steam of blaster bolts, Aurra's eyes widened in shock, barely knocked to the side by Aayla as she roughly shoved her to the side with the Force, keeping her from getting run over. Cursing and gripping her arm, Aurra hissed in pain as the creature skid to a halt, licking its teeth and sniffing the air.

"That is one ugly creature." Aurra snarled, watching as it shifted its gaze between the two, suddenly looking unnervingly interested in both parties.

"I'll say." The witch grunted, watching as it turned its head towards her. "What is that thing?!"

"You don't know?" Aurra's eyes widened, staring at them in confusion. "This is your world, how in the world do you not know what this is?!"

"Like you know every creature that exists on ever wo-" She started, then balked away as it turned her way and began rushing into them.

Aayla's eyes widened, watching at the woman's rancor caught the creature, trying to keep it away as it swung its head, trying to claw into it wildly. As their friend attempted to get a bead on it, Aayla turned to Aurra. "We have to help them."

"Uh, no, we don't." Aurra laughed, shaking her head and holstered her blaster. "They were chasing us, and now they're not. Like you said, we shouldn't be here."

"And neither should they!" Aayla gripped her lightsaber, looking at the creature with panic as she looked between her, the creature, and the rancor. "We have to help them."

"No. We don't." Looking at the despondent, weak expression, Aurra pointed a finger at her sharply. "That isn't a Jedi thing. They can absolutely abandon someone to their own demise if they brought it on themselves."

"... is it a Naruto thing?"

The question was a low blow, and Aayla must have known the moment she asked it. But as soon as she did, Aurra slowly glanced to them. The rancor was struggling, tusks moving closer towards it as it tried to curl its claws into its tougher hide. Watching the struggle, realizing that, between the two, this smaller creature was overpowering the rancor. In good time, it would lose, and it would be overpowered and killed by this thing. Even as the second rancor tried to assist, their rider firing at the creature, the spines kept it from getting a grip that would allow it to assist in any way.

"... son of a Hutt." Aayla scowled, jabbing a finger at Aayla. "I blame you for this!"

Running forward, Aurra ran around the creature to get a visual on the creature. Seeing her moving, Aayla blinked, then jumped into action as well, blue lightsaber blade igniting with a snap-hiss as she ran more directly at it. Two more fighters, six against one.

The creature seemed to like those odds.

Roaring, it tried to throw its back spines into the second rancor, causing it to roar in pain, backing off as it clutched at its chest. The first rancor snarled, pushing back then was suddenly thrown off balance when the creature pulled back as well, throwing the top of its head at it instead. The lashing of its spines didn't cut deep, but did leave a few gashes across its jawline as it was able to be relieved of its grapple, able to give itself and its rider freedom for a moment.

With both of them off it, Aurra began peppering it with blaster bolts, firing into its hide first with single bolts, then automatic fire. At first it appeared to push it back, causing it to block the bolts and lean away. Then it turned and bellowed at her, moving her away with a loping run. Cursing, she used the Force to throw herself up towards the tree branches, keeping its attention as Aayla ran alongside it.

The lightsaber did not cut deep into the hide of the creature. Like some form of durasteel, it deflected just enough of the blow to avoid it from digging too deep, but did sear into it, causing it to howl in pain. As it turned to lash out, another rain of bolts fired into the side of its head, causing it to stumble. These ones though were not from Aurra.

The two witches drew from their bows, firing rapidly into the creature as rapidly as they could. Aurra, pulling her blaster from the branch, firing down upon it as it screamed up at her. With its attention distracted, Aayla quickly moved back in, scraping her lightsaber across its body before rushing off. The creature whirled to try and get another swipe on her, only to cover its face to avoid further blaster fire.

As it backed away, Aayla shifted, considering another strike. Upon stepping closer, the creature turned, slamming its arm down and throwing on her back. Snarling, it moved as though to grab Aayla, only to rock back when a long log slammed up against it, shattering across its spines as the rancor began picking up a rock to throw at it. The creature snarled, covering its face again as it was pelted and knocked back, giving Aayla a chance to slash at it before backpedaling.

Seeing Aayla back near them, the wounded witch stared down at her before turning back to keep firing. Moving off her rancor, she tried to move towards cover, only to curse as the creature began immediately lumbering towards her. "What is this creature's hunger?!"

"It's aiming for the wounded." her sister called, pointing between her and Aurra. "Both of you were shot, but you're bleeding. Stay strong and we have a fighting chance."

"More than a fighting chance, we could kill this thing if we wanted." Aurra growled down, reloading her blaster and continuing her blasts down. "I'm staring to think Aayla was right. We really shouldn't have come here."

Aayla shifted and ran around, moving between the creature's strikes as best she could to try and get in a blow where she could. The creature was fast, and possibly out-sped Naruto in some ways, but it was predictable, making it slightly easier to move around and clip smaller blows that she could begin to add up over time. If they were patient, they could kill this creature. Or, if not that, at least drive it off.

Blade spinning rapidly, she clipped it a few more times, then managed to get within its guard. As its eyes seemed to refocus on her within close proximity, she struck. It let loose a snarl, trying to bite at her, biting through the air as she stepped back, carving away again before moving around again, a rising slash and shout moved it up and through one of the creature's tusks, breaking it off and sending it flying. Moving down and out of its reach, she gasped and panted. As she glanced back at it, she yelped as she was struck and sent flying by its arm. Tumbling and trying to roll to her feet, she stared up at it from her back, scuttling backwards as it bore down on her.

Before it struck her, a force pulled her back and away, keeping her from its grasp, his snarling cut off when it walked face first into another log. This time, the log was being used in an almost club-like manner by a rancor, as it slammed it into the creature's face, forcing it to back away. When it snarled and tried to scream at the rancor, the rancor shoved the log into its mouth. The creature tried to push it out of its maw, but was pushed back when another log slammed into its head, the other rancor seeming to catch onto what the first had done, beating the creature back with makeshift weaponry.

"What in the..." The witch who hadn't been wounded muttered, watching their rancors react and fight off the creatures. Noting Aayla glancing to them, she motioned to her creatures. "We, lost control, and... they began doing this."

"You didn't do this?"

"No, we didn't."

Aayla watched the creature snarl, seeming to recognize that the rancors were steadily advancing on them. Screeching, it lumbered back, moving into the shadowed woods as it hid itself away from its assailants. As it did, the rancors slammed the logs to the ground, screeching and roaring after it, almost as though they were showing some sign of dominance, or victory over the creature. Both of them glanced to each other, seeming to come to some agreement, then moved back towards the others. Taking defensive positions, one of them slowly reached up a clawed hand towards Aurra, making soft noises as it stared up at her.

"... are you helping me down?" Aurra asked, slowly moving onto it's hand after a moment. She didn't have much else of a choice with Aayla between rancors and witches, and herself in a tree. As she landed on its hand, she was surprised by how dexterously it shifted, keeping her from having to keep her own balance to much as she was lowered to the ground. "Uh, thanks?"

"What did you do?"

Staring at the witches, Aurra considered whipping her blaster on them and getting them to stand down. However, she suddenly got the impression that she wasn't the one in danger. Glancing back, she shifted as she realized that, despite having come with them, the rancors were posturing behind them - Aayla and Aurra, not the witches.

"We didn't do anything." Aayla held up her hands, trying to placate the women. "We just stopped to help you, okay? If you're still chasing us..."

Aayla paused, freezing up when she suddenly heard the two rancor beginning to growl behind her. Slowly lowering her hand, the rancors tone dropped, and she glanced to Aurra. Both of them slowly turned to the witches, both parties just as confused by what was going on between them and the rancors. Aurra, curious, slowly reached out to the rancors through the Force, trying to see if she could sense what was going on. She wasn't sure exactly how to do it, and felt what she did wasn't exactly correct, as what the Force told her wasn't exactly what she'd expected.

{... spoke of. Prince?}

{They are not Prince. Not fighter same as.}

{But fought, and scent of ... Brutus.}

Brutus? So they knew him. Aurra paused at that thought as realization dawned on her. They knew of Brutus?

{They did not slay. Fought. Not Dragon Fighter. But scent of is on them.}

{Protect?}

{Keep watch. Dragon Fighter will be near.}

Dragon Fighter. They'd called its name so often, had Brutus understood that it and Naruto had killed a krayt dragon? Or, at least that it was called a dragon, and then somehow told other rancor? Aurra slowly turned and stared at the witches. The rancor were aware of Brutus. They were aware of Naruto.

Hearing a soft chanting from the witches, Aurra brought her blaster to bear on them, slowly turning to them when they stopped. "Don't. I don't know what you're saying under your breath, but stop." Taking a deep breath, she shifted and grit her teeth. "There's a rancor, not this one, but one that'd be smaller than them. Maybe a different color, or... unique. A fighter."

The two looked at each other, seeming to try and understand what she meant. "There... was an odd rancor that Ah'le picked up, but what does it matter to you? It's just a rancor."

As she said that, both rancor snarled, getting them to back up as they seemed to lean forwards. Aurra didn't say anything, simply lowering her blaster and closing her eyes. "Oh, you all have no idea..."

Before she could finish, she fell to a knee, staring off towards the sky as her breath suddenly felt like it was knocked out of her. Aayla next to her gripped her chest, eyes fluttering as she tried to look around as well. Slowly, their eyes locked onto each other, and one thing managed to slip past their lips before a new wave of energy washed over them all.

"Naruto..."

[=-x-=]

Coruscant: Jedi Temple

Yoda smiled as he watched the younglings moving through their forms, giving gentle instruction as they worked. Blast shields down, they could see nothing, yet many of them moved their training sabers about with a methodical ease. It was heartwarming to see, especially one figure who stood out a bit more than the others.

Anakin was shifting his lightsaber about slowly, managing to quickly outpace many of the younglings of the younger groups. Now, in a group closer to his age, he kept up with some of the top of his class like Ferus Olin, Darra Thel-Tanis, and Tru Veld. Each of them had gone through rigorous training, and Anakin had jumped and eagerly learnt quickly, becoming more than a tad headstrong, as he'd been able to learn and overcome what many found more challenging with ease. He'd need a hand with keeping him from thinking that made him somehow better with others, but it wasn't impossible.

"Keep centered you must," Yoda said as he moved between them. "Focused. Concentrate."

A chorus of 'yes master Yoda's' resonated, with Anakin still having his lightsaber form forcing him to focus more. His response was belated, but he still managed his own reply. Concentration was good, but he would need to learn to focus and recognize what was happening outside of himself as well.

As he moved to begin saying something, Yoda froze, eyes widening as he turned to look towards the window. A sudden yelp dragged his gaze back to the group, as a few kids laughed while Anakin threw off his blast shield. Sweating and panting, he looked around with such a wild look, Yoda could only come to one conclusion; he'd felt it too.

"What's the matter, miss a shot?" one of the younglings said, his blast shield still over his eyes.

"Master..." Anakin's eyes were on the window, looking anxious as he lifted himself up and panting. "I-"

"Feel it, I do." Yoda's voice stopped the laughter, getting some of them to hang their heads, while others lifted their blast shields and looking at the two in confusion.

Then, the two of them felt it. Yoda did not need to guess if Anakin felt it; he knew. Anakin's eyes widened, and suddenly his face grew red, eyes clenched as he grit his teeth.

"I should be there... I can't... Naruto..."

"Uh, master?"

"Quiet, please children." Yoda slowly gripped his cane, moving up to Anakin and placing a hand on his arm. "Concentrate, on the here and now, young Skywalker."

"But - but he needs help..."

"Concentrate... on the here and now."

Anakin stared down at Yoda, the Force suddenly seeming to pulse and stretch outwards. Slowly, Anakin seemed to refocus himself, seeming to regain control of himself, and calm himself down.

Yet, Yoda could only shiver himself, reaching out and trying to make sense of it all. Such a strong influx of the Force, like a pulse of the dark side, yet without the shadowy intent. It pierced the veil the dark side had over the Force, and in that moment, Yoda found himself silently worried.

There was a disturbance in the Force... one that could be felt, and would cause potentially much issues in the future; especially with the fact he could sense that it was Naruto who was at its epicenter.

Yet another thing for him to meditate on.

[=-x-=]

Naboo: Theed Palace

Padme walked away from the throne room, trying to keep her composure. There were a number of them who had been sent by the Gungans, while others were from the Naboo. She'd had a time trying to balance it out, especially when it had been found that a number of the Naboo had, allegedly, been attempting to sneak into the Gungans' swamps, where they'd been simply looking to see if the area was worth expanding into. From the fact that the Gungans had been there had made many of the Naboo argue that meant there was something of value and thus caused a greater deal of issue between both races.

Idly, she wished that Jar Jar had stayed on planet. With his help, she could have sorted this much faster. He was their senators aide before becoming the de facto Gungan leader, but he'd been needed on one of the colony worlds and that was stealing him away. This had left them in a melting pot of discourse and discontent. Idly, she thought back to her promise that she'd made to Naruto - to take a break. The more things like this kept coming to the forefront, the more she began wondering how much she'd be able to keep that promise.

As though in response to her thoughts, she suddenly stopped, staring blankly forward as her heart suddenly felt like it skipped a beat. Breathing out, she noted a few of her aides moving around her in worry, asking is she was alright. She couldn't form proper words, trying to wave them off as she tried stepping forwards.

The sudden image of Naruto fading away, falling into an abyss, or some other event flashed in her eyes. She knew she couldn't actually see him, and that she couldn't actually sense him. There wasn't any sensitivity to the Force she knew of, so that settled that. Except-

Nearly stumbling, she felt a new resurgence of energy. Like a pulsing fire, racing from nowhere, yet rising within her as much as the one who it originated from. Seeing their looks again, Padme slowly leaned to Sabe.

"I think... I might actually take his offer..." Padme said after a moment, getting a faint look of confusion from Sabe, as she continued. "Naruto's. If... If I can get a message sent to him. A request, if you will."

"Yes your majesty." Sabe nodded quickly, moving alongside her with a slight spring in her step.

Padme had no such spring, keeping her pace steady, hiding the worry and overwhelming sense of dread that filled her. That hadn't been an illusion, or a feeling that she'd made up. Those were beyond her, out in the galaxy, and it had come from Naruto. She was certain of it. Now she had to make sure.

... she had to.

[=-x-=]

Coruscant: Damask Holdings

Hugo Damask shifted a few bits of his bit of his work around. Most of it could be done automatically, but there was something calming about doing it himself. A way to break away from the monotony of meditation, teaching, or otherwise. It made for a way to control his frustration, to angle it into better, more useful avenues.

Sending a few new waves out, he paused as he considered a few pieces that he'd received, humming softly. Kamino was doing well it seemed, and getting a report that Master Sifo-Dyas had made the requisite visit and handed off the payment. As expected of his sparring partner. Made for good progress in his plans, and had he the ability, he would have smiled. All according to plan.

As he moved a few things to the side, he closed his eyes, letting himself sink into the Force. It was wondrous, having blocked the view of the Jedi, allowing him to be able to do this even on their home world - near enough to their own Temple that they should have noticed him by now. Yet, each time he did so, it was a silent declaration that the Sith had already won, the Jedi simply had no way of knowing it.

Noting a faint disturbance in the Force, he idly followed it in his minds eye. A vision, or perhaps Farsight, of young Naruto. His body wounded. A poison in his veins. Humming, he sighed and shook his head. Promise, wasted. The Jedi did not know what they had given up, or lost.

Then, suddenly, like a bubbling cauldron, something began boiling beneath the surface. A red miasma, curling and boiling from Naruto's body, pushing out the poison, snapping his skin taut, his body rising and a cloak beginning to form around him. Suddenly his breath caught, and eyes opened, revealing a red hue that send a sudden chill through his heart.

He'd conquered fear. Long ago, he knew he no longer was one in need of it to control his dark side ambitions. The true mark of a Sith who had mastered the Dark Side. And yet a pang had clenched his heart. Not of fear, no. Danger. That's what it was. The recognition of danger, of something threatening, that could potentially destroy him. Whether in the raw power, or in the level of control this pulsation of dark side energy churned forth, he could not say. But if not those, then what else could it be.

Putting down his forms to the side, he slowly interlocked his fingers, thinking over what he'd just come to the realization of. Naruto was more than a potential ally, or a potential threat; he was an entirely certain now that, regardless of if Naruto chose to be Jedi or Sith, he was ultimately going to be a linchpin in tipping the balance in the others favor. However, whether it was to their benefit, or detriment, he no longer knew.

"... how fascinating..."


AN: These are some buff, stocky enemies, and Naruto can only do so much before he makes a move that requires him to get help from the one who healed an arm through the chest. Because, those aren't really fun to have, and neither is a venomous tusk rammed through your back/gut either. We haven't had this kind of fun in a while, so let's see what we can do when we let Kurama have some fun.

Plus, it was a nice little bit of fun, where I got to give more details and info for some other characters not specifically interacting with Naruto at that moment, but are in some way affected by it. Obviously others are as well, but... well, those don't have to be explicitly stated. Those can be inferred though their own thoughts/actions later on. As you do.

For those of you who worry that I'm heaping bad thing after bad thing on Naruto, that has been what Part 2 has been about in a way; having Naruto face the various forms of darkness, and have to have them to consider for later. I have planned for a few "filler" chapters after this arc that are precursors to the final arc of Part 2, and those will be things to remind Naruto of more of the light. That said, while Naruto gets sideswipped and knocked over all the time, I have included many parts where he's had time to reflect, to smile, and to grow. Hell, during all of these things, he and Aurra have grown quite close as just one such example. He'll be okay, mostly, but Part 3 will definitely have a few more moments where he can "win" more and just, have a bit more fun - at least, in most ways. It's the galaxy, and the Force (and I) still need him to bump into the bad things to change them or move them along.

Thank you all for your reviews, they are always great to read. If you haven't seen, the Naruto poll is done, and now there is a poll to go over the pairing options for Anakin on my Profile page. 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.