*This story was a disaster from the outset and I got so much flak to the point I haven't touched it since. Never did figure that out. Given Lunar Eclipse is still ongoing I figure it's superfluous anyway. Regardless, here it is.
Enjoy!
Naruto: The Fingers of Plagueis
Blanket disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Star Wars.
AUTHORS NOTE:
Once again my attempts at jump starting my old Naruto/Star Wars story Lunar Eclipse came to nothing but I did come up with this instead. I really never figured I'd do another Naruto/Star Wars crossover but I guess I was wrong. This is a Naruto AU story set previous to and during the "Phantom Menace" era of Star Wars. Whether it gets into the other movies is debatable. This begins 10 years before the Battle of Naboo and a lot of canon events will be changed as a result. I'm using Narutopedia and Wookieepedia as my main references so if you aren't sure about a race name, technology, weapon, etc. they are the places to go. This story's concept was inspired by Vader's Fingers by Deathwatch Razgriz and by Shadows on the Horizon by Solvdrage. Be sure to check out those writers and their stories as well.
This is a one shot/prologue for now but I intend to update it occasionally like its Naruto/Star Trek sister story Infinity Divide. Here we go!
Chapter 1
Planet Kuat, Kuat System, Kuat Sector, Core Worlds
Uzumaki Naruto was hovering over his target in Kuat City holding on to an arch spanning a walkway over the main boulevard with chakra. He pulled a single hair's width senbon needle made of ice and saw his target, a rich philanthropist/industrialist named Firion Kless that crossed the wrong people at Rothana Heavy Engineering. With the precision borne of decades of experience, Naruto enhanced the senbon with wind chakra and darted it directly into the top of the wealthy man's head. The industrialist suddenly jolted and scratched the top of his head at the point of entry. 'The brain can't feel pain fortunately.' thought Naruto darkly. 'It will be a couple of hours before the chemicals dissolved in that ice take effect. After that I can pick up my credits.'
After taking a walk in the opposite direction from his target, Naruto stopped at a food stand and bought some local specialty soup made with dreblin meat; and animal native to Kuat. "Hmmm….this isn't too bad but I've had better." thought Naruto aloud. He suddenly sensed something through the Force. Someone he was acquainted with had joined the Force forever it seemed. Naruto reached out and felt it through his senses. 'It seems that Darth Plagueis the Wise has perished.*① I did not foresee this. I guess the old Sith Lord ran out of luck. I'll bet the others have sensed it too. We will have to have a meeting about this. He was a valuable source of income.'
Later that evening Naruto was walking along the streets of Kuat City looking up at Planet Kuat's two moons, Bador and Ronay as they glittered in the sky over the cityscape. He saw a large holographic screen showing the news flash of Firion Kless and the news of his tragic death. News of the wealthy philanthropist's sudden and untimely demise horrified much of the populace. Apparently he suffered some sort of brain hemorrhage. Investigators found no evidence linking foul play. Actually Kless had an Uncle that died under similar circumstances….a sad genetic problem that was nigh impossible to detect….One the blonde Shinobi had thoroughly researched before he erased Kless from this plane of existence. Naruto simply mused, 'Youth and vigor are no match for old age and treachery. Kless paid the price for upsetting the status quo. What a dirty business I'm in.' He sighed. "….Time to go pick up my paycheck."
….
Planet Coruscant, Coruscant System, Corusca Sector
Sheev Palpatine was a 42 year old human Senator representing the Planet Naboo in the Galactic Republican Senate. He was considered an unassuming and respectable man. Sheev had graying hair and the beginnings of a receding hairline. Palpatine's genteel nature gave him many friends in the Senate and his lack of want for power made him seem very trustworthy to others….He also led a double life as the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious -apprentice to his Master, Darth Plagueis the Wise. Or he was until he murdered his Master in his sleep mere hours ago….Darth Sidious was now the Master and in keeping with the 'rule of two' had his own apprentice; a Zabrak male that hailed from the planet Dathomir. The young Zabrak just turned 20 mere days ago and Palpatine bought the young man up on thoughts of hatred and lusting for revenge against the Jedi Order that defeated the Sith a millennia ago. The fledgling Sith was named Maul, or rather by his new title as a Sith Lord, Darth Maul.*②
Darth Sidious had plans for the galaxy –big plans to destroy the Jedi and create a new Sith Empire. One of the many things he had in mind was to take force adepts and train them to be his personal assassins or Hands. His late Master Plagueis had several of them already that Palpatine intended to have as his own. Oddly Plagueis referred to the force adepts as Fingers and considered himself the Hand behind them. Perhaps it was through self-aggrandizement or sheer arrogance but Darth Sidious considered himself the Mind that controlled the body and all the Hands. He would call his own servants his Hands just to prove this point….
So, the new Master Sith Lord set about identifying the many force adepts that were sworn to serve the Dark Lord of the Sith. Many were on assignment but those that weren't were recalled to Coruscant to be informed they were under new management -so to speak. Palpatine was reading various dossiers and found eight very odd individuals that were actually hired mercenaries rather than sworn vassals. Finding this odd, Sidious went about studying them to find out what brought about this unusual set of circumstances. He read some of his late Master's personal entries:
The group known as the Shinobi is very mysterious and best kept at arm's length. They are very powerful force adepts who could easily match a Master Jedi or a Sith. Much like the Miriluka they have a natural affinity for the force beyond those of other races. Whether the actual name Shinobi is the true name of their race is debatable. According to them the word Shinobi refers to an occupation which translates loosely into a spy or assassin of sorts. The small group of eight I am in contact with are strictly mercenaries and have no interest in joining the Sith. I find myself puzzled at their true motives. They had some contact with my late Master in the distant past which indicates they are very old individuals even though they appear very young. According to my old Master's records their work is virtually guaranteed but they are very expensive. I have rarely called upon their services but what few times I have they have given stellar results.
What the origins of the Shinobi are is a matter of great personal interest to me. They have indicated they are the last of their kind and their planet was devastated by a plague in the distant past. I am unable to read their thoughts but they show no indications of lying. They move in mysterious ways and I cannot follow them through the force. I have the codes to summon them but they generally show up of their own accord before I call them. Who they are and what they are is indeed a riddle I would like to solve….
Sidious looked rather nonplussed at the entry. 'Master was always so thorough in investigating everything. This is very strange. What was his exact relationship with these Shinobi?' As the new Master Sith Lord read the many entries regarding the missions the Shinobi performed he could not help but be impressed. They charged exorbitant fees but did jobs that Darth Sidious considered impossible personally. -And they left no traces. Several events that Plagueis had conveniently happen for him -accidental deaths, political scandals and corporate sabotage just to name a few -were no longer a mystery to Sidious. The Shinobi had done it and no one save Plagueis knew the truth. "How interesting." the Sith Lord thought aloud.
He looked at pictures on their dossiers. The first was a blonde young man with spiky hair and whisker tattoos. He had blue eyes that seemed to burn even in the picture as Sidious looked at it. 'Uzumaki Naruto -Apparent leader of the Shinobi, powers unknown. Age unknown but appears to be in his late teens. He has shown to have speed and reflexes beyond those of Jedi and Sith.'
Palpatine looked at the second dossier and saw a beautiful young woman. She had pearl like eyes and long indigo hair. 'Hyūga Hinata. Powers unknown but seems to have the ability to see through solid objects as well as 360 degree vision.' Her facial expression indicated a slight smirk that -"I remember her!" said Sidious taken aback.
Flashback….
20 years ago Darth Plagueis the Wise was sitting back in his chair overlooking the sparring ring that Darth Sidious often used to practice destroying enemies that his Master placed before him. Sidious was only 22 and had arrogantly declared that he could defeat anybody in that ring (except his Master of course). "You are growing stronger in power my young friend." said Plagueis approvingly to his apprentice. "Unfortunately you are also growing conceited. You must learn your limitations. I brought in a friend to face you in the sparring ring….Are you up to the challenge?"
"Bring this friend of yours in and I will prove that they are no match for a Dark Lord of the Sith." declared Palpatine without hesitation.
Plagueis chuckled and said, "Very well, please come in Lady Hinata." A voluptuous young woman appeared out of nowhere in the ring. She was wearing skintight black chainmail with clawed metal gauntlets. Her long, waist length hair flowed behind her in gentle waves as she walked. "My apprentice needs a sparring partner. You are not allowed to kill him as he is my heir."
Hyūga Hinata's pearl like eyes examined Palpatine and she said, "I will fight this boy as you asked but if you don't want him crippled for life it will cost you triple."
The Master Sith Lord boomed with laughter and he said, "Done!"
"You act like you've already won!" spat out Palpatine angrily. "Who do you think you are bitch?"
Hinata smirked. "I'm the one who is going to bring you down to your bended knees in defeat boy."
"I'll wipe that smirk off your pretty face." growled Palpatine as he ignited his red light saber.
She yawned at drew her own saber. "You can try." she said in a bored tone. She activated her light saber only to reveal the purple blade was flexible. It was a light whip. Palpatine looked a bit taken aback. He'd heard of these weapons but he'd never seen one. "Are you ready weakling?" asked Hinata. "Come at me whenever you wish."
Sidious growled and enhanced his speed with the force. Then he charged with his saber blazing in the Juyo-Kos offensive position. Just as he was about to make contact he was parried effortlessly by Hinata. She then moved her whip wielding hand in a blur and Palpatine was struck in the thigh, the abdomen and the wrist causing his red light saber to careen across the room. She spun and landed a crushing mid kick to the apprentice Sith Lord's ribs causing him to skip like a stone across the arena and making him slide to a stop by his light saber. He was reaching out with the force to drag his light saber towards him while Hinata spun her light whip in front of her in a figure eight pattern. "Go ahead and pick it up." said Hinata. "We're not through yet since you can still stand."
Palpatine growled and scooped up his light saber. The three burns he had from that whip were purely cosmetic but damn they hurt like hell. He also noticed the kick left him breathing heavily. 'I wonder if some of my ribs are broken.' He pondered. He charged her and leaped at the last second to avoid her whip strike. As Sidious passed over her he tried a downward slash only to have it blocked by that infernal purple light whip again. As he came in and landed behind her she batted his saber aside behind her and struck his opposite shoulder. Palpatine cried out as Hinata spun to face him and she followed up with a six hit combo with her free hand that hit the young Sith Lord in the face and chest. She then brutally kicked his jaw with a flip kick that sent Palpatine airborne. As he fell Sidious felt the brutal sting of the light whip as it struck him multiple times.
The apprentice Sith Lord groaned in pain and reached for his light saber after he managed to get up on his hands and knees and crawled towards it. That was when Hinata's purple light whip cut the top half of his saber off just before he could grasp it. Darth Sidious looked up at his opponent and saw her still smirking down at him. He shivered. Sidious said in a harried voice, "I yield to you."
Hinata's smirk turned into a manic smile and she said, "Whoever said you could yield boy?" Palpatine's world exploded into pain as she whipped, kicked and beat him for the next forty-five minutes….
The last thing he remembered was Hinata walking away with a soft sway in her hips and saying to Darth Plagueis, "I believe that I have a check to cash…."
Flashback end….
Darth Sidious looked down as he cringed and thought aloud, "I was in bacta for weeks after that fight. She utterly destroyed me. It was a harsh lesson in humility."
….
Planet Zoist, Zoist System, Esstran Sector, Outer Rim Territories
On the icy, tundra filled world of Zoist were the remnants of the Old Sith Empire. It was considered to be the Capitol of the Sith Empire after the fall of Korriban. After the Great Hyperspace War, this desolate world was virtually forgotten about. However, a few Sith and humans still scrounged out an existence there, mainly people who needed a place to hide….like pirates. It was here that the Shinobi Uchiha Sasuke lived. Sometimes his erstwhile mate Haruno Sakura visited him but she preferred her own base of operations on Kashyyyk.
Other Shinobi came there from time to time. Naruto's mate Hinata did some research at the Sith Citadel that Sasuke used as his home and discovered the lost technology to create her light whip a few decades back. It was there in the Sith Citadel that Sasuke sat meditating and sensed the death of Darth Plagueis. "Hnnnn….I need to contact the others. Unless I'm mistaken Plagueis's apprentice must have killed him at last. What a waste the 'rule of two' is. Plagueis wasn't called 'The Wise' for nothing. Surely he could have retired and became some sort of elder to the younger generations. Oh well, it's not my problem."
The Uchiha looked around his desolate room and saw his crimson bladed light saber sitting on his bed end table. Lifting his hand the saber in question flew to him and he caught it in the ready position. Sasuke stood up and activated it before he went through the various light saber forms that he knew. Activating his sharingan, Sasuke rapidly went through his preferred light saber style, Makashi. It was a form specifically designed to duel others and was considered obsolete. However, unlike his friend Uzumaki Naruto's Djem So form which was as wild and unpredictable as Naruto's personality was, Makashi was elegant, fast and precise. Ever the pragmatist, Sasuke had no desire other than to dismantle his foes quickly and efficiently. Naruto generally wrecked the whole room in the process….
Finishing his light saber routine, Sasuke put away his light saber and activated a small holographic transceiver that he used to contact the others. "I suppose it would be best to contact Sakura first…."
….
Planet Kashyyyk, Kashyyyk System, Mytaranor Sector, Middle Rim
The Shinobi Haruno Sakura made her home on the life filled forest world of Kashyyyk which she shared with the native Wookiees. Unlike the other Shinobi she existed openly with the natives and was on friendly terms with them. She was considered something of a reclusive pink furred sage and a great healer. Sakura lived deep in the forest in a home she crafted over the decades and was known to help Wookiees that were injured or ill provided they could find her. Her home had a force field reinforced landing pad that her two seat Z-95 Headhunter*③ was docked at.
The rosette was brewing up an herbal tea she'd created years ago that she used to relax. 'The Force has been telling me I will hear from the others soon….and Sasuke-kun.' she thought depressed. Sakura loved Sasuke and had been overjoyed when he'd chosen her to be his mate. Sadly it was a marriage of convenience for Sasuke and he really didn't reciprocate her affections. Sakura assumed he was faithful to her but honestly she had her doubts. Any time she brought up her concerns about their so called relationship he would simply say, 'I married you didn't I?' and blow her off.
She quietly checked her twin light sabers and activated them with the typical snap-hiss associated with those weapons. Twirling the magenta blades with expertise only decades of practice could give; she deactivated and holstered them in an instant. She cracked her knuckles and slipped on her fighting gloves. "I always did prefer taijutsu." she said to herself with smile. Sakura was about to head out to practice when a transmission came in and set her transceiver off. Immediately activating it she saw a hologram of her mate Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun….I thought you would be calling." she said quietly.
Sasuke nodded noncommittally and said, "Hnnnn….I sensed Darth Plagueis is dead. Did you feel the same?"
"I sensed a disturbance in the dark side of the Force." said Sakura. "That would explain it however."
"As always you lean towards the light…." said Sasuke flatly.
Sakura's eyes hardened. "Don't act like I'm a weakling for that. I've killed as many as you have over time. Why don't you come out here to Kashyyyk and visit me Sasuke-kun?"
"It would be easier if you came to Zoist." replied Sasuke.
"You know I hate that decrepit place with all its death and darkness." said Sakura.
Sasuke simply said, "Hnnnn. We need to tell Naruto and Hinata about Plagueis's death. I'll try to call Naruto given he's basically a nomad. You call Hinata. She probably already knows but since Hinata's in charge of our finances she should be informed that one of our chief benefactors is dead."
The rosette sighed, "I'll get in touch with Hinata-chan. What about the others?"
"Just have Hinata call me after you've contacted her." said Sasuke.
"I love you Sasuke-kun." said Sakura.
"Hnnn." answered Sasuke as the transmission ended.
Sakura hung her head. 'I'm really pathetic thinking he'll ever love me like I love him….' she thought sadly to herself.
….
Planet Talus, Corellian System, Corellian Sector, Core Worlds
In the Capitol City of Dearic on the temperate and scenic world of Talus lived Lady Hyūga Hinata. Over the decades she'd built up a huge amount of capital and passed herself off as a Noble Heiress in Talus Society. She bought an old home of some bankrupt aristocrats well over a century ago and currently was passing herself off as the great-granddaughter of the "original" Hyūga Hinata. Her home was filled with the opulence one would expect of a noblewoman of her standing. It was all a façade of course. Under the house was a vast training complex that all of the Shinobi used as a military staging base when they weren't at their own homes throughout the galaxy at large.
Given Hinata's actual origins were of nobility on her home planet Kage she was the obvious choice to play the part of a rich noblewoman. Basically Hinata was considered the 'beautiful but reclusive Heiress of the Hyūga fortune.' She was currently relaxing in her private chambers talking to her mate Naruto via a coded hologram transmission. Hinata was combing her hair and wearing a white yukata as she spoke. "Naruto-kun, it's been nearly a month since you've come to see me. This whole bit with Plagueis kicking the bucket is a pain in the ass. I want you here my love. You just finished a job. Must you investigate?"
Naruto smiled at his beautiful mate. "Hinata-hime, you know as well as I do this means a new Sith Lord is in control. We need to ascertain the full scope of this situation….though I'd rather be there in a hot tub with you of course."
Hinata leaned forward and accentuated all her glorious feminine curves for her lover. "Are you absolutely sure you don't want to come home? It's only a short hop home from Kuat in that old Incom UT-20 gunship*④ of yours….and a shorter hop into our bed."
"Mmmm….You play so dirty Hinata-hime. Now I'm going to be all hot and bothered the whole time." said Naruto. "You are such a dangerous vixen."
She giggled. "I aim to please. Now how about –oh damn it! I have a call incoming from Sakura-chan. I have to go my love. Be safe for me."
"I will my love." said Naruto. "I'll be home in your arms sooner than you know."
….
Kuat System, Naruto's UT-20
Naruto was thinking x-rated thoughts about his wife when Sasuke suddenly called. 'Well, there went all my arousal….' thought Naruto dryly. He activated his transceiver. "Hello Sasuke; to what reason do I owe this ray of sunshine you've put into my day?"
The hologram of Sasuke visibly sweat dropped. "Did I interrupt you and Hinata again Naruto?"
The blonde growled, "I'm out on assignment; not with Hinata-chan. (Though I wish I was). If you'd just treat Sakura as your real mate I'll bet she could help you dislodge that ten foot pole that is shoved up your ass."
"How I handle my relationship with my wife is my business Uzumaki." said Sasuke haughtily. "Besides, I didn't call you to talk about my wife; I called to talk about-"
"The death of Darth Plagueis the Wise." finished Naruto. "I'm already laying in a course to Coruscant to see what happened."
Sasuke smirked, "Then you're already on it? I figure his apprentice finally offed him. Darth Sidious I believe."
"That's what I figure." agreed Naruto. "Plagueis killed his Master all those years ago and now he got killed in turn. That's how the Sith work. It also means Sidious has his own apprentice now. I have to figure out how this is going to affect our business."
"You know, sometimes you actually act like a responsible leader Naruto." said Sasuke. "You have me worried." he added mockingly.
"Kiss my ass Uchiha." said Naruto with a twinkle in his eye. "I'll leave it to you to fill in the others while I take care of business. After that go to Kashyyyk and fuck your wife. Then at least you can both go home happy."
Sasuke blushed and said, "Now wait a minute you-"
"End of transmission." said Naruto as he cut Sasuke off with a smile….Naruto sighed. 'I haven't had romantic feelings for Sakura in over a century but I hate to see her so unhappy….'
….
Senate District, Planet Coruscant
Inside the Senate Rotunda Senator Palpatine was sitting in his office sending out 'invitations' to his many contacts under a nom de plume. 'It is so wonderful that the Republic Senate has among the best of communication arrays in the galaxy. Even better it is encoded so no one can see the point of transmission.' Stepping out on the balcony he watched as thousands of citizens crawling over the building like a giant hive of insects. 'How fortunate it is for governments that people do not think.' he pondered. It was with these thoughts in mind that Palpatine started transmitting the first batch of codes to Plagueis's former fingers.
The Senator thought to himself, 'Soon I'll be meeting the first of my hands that will enforce my will in the shadows. Most of them aren't worth seeing in person but the higher ranked ones need to know exactly who is in charge. I need to establish that I rule over them with an iron fist.' A page from Naboo arrived with a message that Palpatine graciously accepted. Checking it over carefully he thought to himself, 'Naboo is so peaceful and quiet these days; who would ever guess that it's going to become the center of such a tragedy on the galactic stage?'
"All is going as I have foreseen…." thought the Sith Lord aloud….
….
Planet Jakku, Jakku System, Inner Rim
The Shinobi Sabaku Temari lived on the arid desert world of Jakku. She grew up in the desert on her home world and preferred the solitary life of the desert. The locals considered her a very dangerous hermit who only came to the various towns and outposts when she needed parts for her CloakShape*⑤ fighter that she maintained out in the buttes she lived in. At this point in time she was talking to her old friend Hyūga Hinata. "I'm glad I caught you at home." said the hologram of Hinata. It has been too long."
Temari smirked. "So do we have a big job Hinata-chan? Not that I mind but most of the time you don't make calls just to be sociable."
Hinata sighed. "Sadly you are right. Since our group spread out through the galaxy for protection we don't keep in close contact anymore. That may change soon."
"What do you mean?" asked the sandy blonde Shinobi.
"It seems the Sith have had a changing of the guards; Darth Plagueis is dead." said Hinata.
"So that's what I sensed." said Temari. "I was awakened by a disturbance in the dark side but I couldn't put my finger on it. What does this mean for us as a group?" asked the sandy blonde.
The indigo haired beauty answered, "In a sense it means nothing other than our contract with the Sith is null and void. Naruto-kun is going to Coruscant to negotiate a new contract that is more in our favor."
"Assuming the Sith cooperate." said Temari with a smirk.
Hinata smiled coldly. "If the Sith don't cooperate them odds are Naruto-kun will make them deeply regret it. That much I can easily foresee."
"How many of the others know?" asked Temari.
"I've spoken to you, Sakura-chan and Sasuke." said Hinata. "Naruto-kun knows of course. That only leaves Yugito, Darui and Shizuka."
"At least Yugito and Darui are under the same roof." said Temari. "Of course they are also hard to reach depending on their place in orbit around Bespin."
….
Hinata's Mansion, Planet Talus
When Hinata finished talking to Temari; she decided to call Yugito. 'Hopefully Yugito and Darui are home.' thought Hinata. 'Tibannopolis sometimes is on the opposite side of Bespin and can't be contacted because of the gas giant.'
….
Senate District, Planet Coruscant
Deep below the luxurious building known as the Senate Apartment Complex was a Sith Shrine where Darth Sidious dwelled. It was not the main Sith Shrine on Coruscant; heaven's no! That shrine was buried under the foundations of the Great Jedi Temple itself. Sidious was slowly but surely manipulating a link between his Sith Shrine and the much greater one so he could blind the Jedi to his presence. It was slow and tedious work but Sidious had learned to be a patient man under Darth Plagueis's careful guidance. As it stood Sidious was busily putting his former Master's house into order. Thanks to Plagueis's network Darth Sidious already had every resource he needed to make this place his central nerve center….
….Ironically to become Sheev Palpatine; all Darth Sidious had to do was don his Senator's garb and take the elevator upstairs to where he lived in a comfortable but austere 3rd floor apartment suitable for the modest Senator of Naboo….
Currently Darth Sidious was looking into a Neimodian who he had foreseen would be moving up through the ranks of the Trade Federation; A power hungry male named Nute Gunray. Sidious had offered the greedy Neimodian his support in return for a few 'favors' later. Sidious wasn't about to tip his hand but two of Gunray's competitors were already marked for death by Sidious….Just as a friendly display of power of course. There was no doubt in the Sith Lord's mind that Gunray was a devout coward and would be easily controlled once he became the Trade Federation's Viceroy. It would take time but Sidious was looking far into the future.
It was about that time when one Uzumaki Naruto arrived and requested an audience with 'Darth Sidious provided he was home to visit.' Sidious hadn't sent out an invitation to the leader of the Shinobi and he certainly didn't expect Uzumaki to show up at his new, very secret base of operations out of the blue. The Sith Lord saw his two force adept guards were affected very differently. One seemed terrified to the core and the other was under the effect of the mind trick -He acted like an old friend had come to visit Sidious and just hang out.
'Was this confusion intentional on Uzumaki's part?' wondered the Sith Lord. 'I can't even sense his presence and according to them he's right inside the hidden door.' "Show my old friend Master Uzumaki in." said Darth Sidious with false confidence. 'To affect one of my adepts with the mind trick shows just how powerful he is.'
A moment later Naruto came in laughing and joking with the adept whose mind was muddled and the frightened one was nowhere to be seen. Naruto was dressed in casual street clothes and sported a dark gray leather jacket with black pants. He had no weapons visible on his person. He turned the adept and said, "I will speak with Lord Sidious alone." The adept immediately bowed and left while closing the door behind him.
Sidious looked warily at the blonde interloper in front of him and said, "Welcome to my humble abode Leader of the Shinobi. I am Darth Sidious, Lord of the Sith. I have a feeling you already know that though."
Naruto shrugged and said conversationally, "When Plagueis the Wise kicked the bucket it was obvious that his apprentice had done it. I'm sure you have an apprentice of your own now with the 'rule of two' and all."
The Sith Lord felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. 'This one is dangerous.' he thought.
Naruto smiled disarmingly. "Nice place by the way. I'm sure it will be worthy of a Dark Lord of the Sith when it is completed." Naruto got a gleam in his eye and asked, "So how did you kill the old man anyway? He was no slouch as I recall."
Darth Sidious said darkly, "It's really none of your concern but for the sake of friendly relations I'll simply say he died in his sleep."
'He's a touchy one.' thought Naruto. "Well, anyway, I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd say hi to the new Lord." Naruto took a seat opposite Palpatine's desk.
The two men stared at each other for a few moments and Sidious finally said, "What is it you really want Master Uzumaki?"
"That's very simple." said the blonde. "With Darth Plagueis terminated the contract between the Sith and the Shinobi is also terminated. I wish to see if you intend to keep our services. If so we need to create a new contract."
"So you would like to negotiate a new contract between the Sith Lords and the Shinobi?" asked Sidious.
Naruto shook his head. "No, the contract would be between the Shinobi and you Darth Sidious. Your new apprentice is irrelevant to us. Speaking of…."
Darth Maul came in with his light saber at ready. "Master, the guards are down! One is foaming at the mouth and the other is-"
"Talking incoherently?" asked Naruto innocently.
Maul practically jumped and activated his red light saber. "Who are you?" growled the apprentice Sith Lord.
Naruto looked at him coolly and said, "I'm Naruto, Zabrack. I'm conducting business with your Master. Nice tattoos by the way."
Sidious face palmed. "Lord Maul, put away your light saber. I'm negotiating."
Darth Maul blinked and then sweat dropped at Naruto's completely cavalier handing of the situation. He deactivated and put his light saber away and said, "Of course Master, forgive my bursting in."
"No problem!" said Naruto with a smile.
Maul growled and said, "I wasn't taking to you!"
"That will be enough Lord Maul." said Darth Sidious. "I will send for you later. You are dismissed."
Maul looked conflicted for a moment and then said, "Of course Master." He then bowed to Sidious and left.
Naruto hummed and said, "A lot of anger there. It rules him and he should rule it. I guess you'll have to beat it out of him before his impulsiveness gets him into trouble."
Palpatine sighed. Naruto was right of course. "He has much to learn." agreed the Sith in a resigned tone.
Naruto pulled out a data pad and said, "A proposed contract." He then handed it to Palpatine and pulled out his own copy. "Hopefully we can get this done quickly. We are both very busy men."
….
Planet Bespin, Bespin System, Anoat Sector, Outer Rim Territories
Tibannopolis was a Tibanna Gas mining colony in the atmosphere of the enormous gas giant Bespin. Like its chief competitor Cloud City it relied on tourism and gas mining but simply couldn't compete with the much older and larger Cloud City. This was where the Shinobi Yugito and her mate Darui lived. The city was suffering a loss of population to Cloud City but having a few less neighbors suited the pair just fine. They'd just heard the news from Hinata and agreed that it could be good or bad news depending on how things went with Naruto.
"I don't know babe." said Darui over a drink. "Losing the Sith contract could be really bad; they've always been good to us."
The blonde Shinobi shook her head. "We had an understanding with Plagueis. This new Sith Lord may be bad news. I guess we'll just have to trust Naruto's judgment on the matter."
Darui grinned. "Well, other than that crazy disaster at the Maw; Naruto has never led us wrong."
Yugito cringed. "That was the most insane stunt he ever pulled. It worked but everyone but Hinata-chan wanted to kill him afterwards."
"It's pretty funny now." chuckled Durui.
"Almost falling into a black hole is not funny." countered his wife….
….
Hinata's Mansion, Planet Talus
Hinata was trying to contact Shizuka and got her holographic voicemail instead. The ponytail wearing Shinobi appeared and said in her always serious tone, "You have reached Nadeshiko Shizuka, I'm probably out killing somebody right now or perhaps I'm monitoring your call. Please leave a massage after the tone. *beeep*
The indigo haired beauty sweat dropped and wondered, 'Did Shizuka develop a sense of humor or is she serious?' "Shizuka, it's Hyūga Hinata. Please call me at home at your earliest convenience. Something important has come up. End of transmission." Turning off her transceiver, Hinata thought aloud, "What a day. All there is to do now it wait to hear from Naruto-kun."
….
Darth Sidious's Lair, Senate District, Planet Coruscant
It took nearly three hours to hammer out the details of the Shinobi Contract before both sides were satisfied. Sidious wanted the Shinobi to become his Sith acolytes but Naruto adamantly refused and said the Shinobi were free agents and would not be tied to the Sith -or anybody else's- agenda. Palpatine was a keen debater but found that Naruto was quite adept in that arena himself. 'Actually he'd make a damn good politician.' mused the Sith Lord. Finally the two men came to an agreement on the final details and the both signed each copy. Sidious foresaw great things could be possible in the future. "I have two Neimodian Officials I need eliminated." said Palpatine. "I believe it would make a good trial run for our new contract."
Naruto simply said, "Give us the time and we'll do the crime."
Sidious grinned. "I think we're going to get along splendidly Master Uzumaki."
….
POSTSCRIPT:
*① According to Wookiepedia "Legends" Plagueis died 10 years later, according to the new "Canon" it was simply before the Battle of Naboo and isn't specific. I made it 10 years before Naboo for plot reasons.
*② Darth Maul's actual age isn't stated but I made him 5 years older than Obi-Wan Kenobi meaning he would be about 30 years old at the Battle of Naboo.
*③ Incom Z-95 Headhunter. This is a very early model retrofitted with a very basic hyperdrive for interstellar travel. It was still a new type before the Clone Wars.
*④ Incom UT-20 Gunship. Author designed forerunner to the Rebel UT-60D U Wing as seen in Rogue One. Basically a more primitive U-Wing with buried engines and fixed wings. Can haul 8 passengers plus a crew of 3.
*⑤ Kuat Drive Yards CloakShape or CS fighter. A contemporary of the Z-95 Headhunter. Again an early model retrofitted with a hyperdrive so Temari can scoot around the galaxy as needed.
Believe it or not I actually started writing this before I saw Rogue One (which is far better than Star Wars VII in my humble opinion). Naruto and the gang aren't exactly going to be at the beck and call of the Sith but they will be working with them. The Shinobi are gray in this, not good or evil. The truth of their backgrounds will be discussed eventually. There will be the occasional scuffle with known groups such as the Jedi but not every chapter. See you next time. Blue out. 12/24/16