Got more reviews for last chapter than the rest of the fic. I'm touched. Let's keep the ball rolling.

Naruto looked down at Sasuke, stroking his rounded tummy with a contented expression. In his mind, one of the many compartments that awaited filling with his powers was now occupied by a representation of Sasuke. Like Hinata, he was an equal, no compulsion to obey Naruto built into the bond. Uchiha Sasuke was officially Naruto's Patriarch now.

"What do you mean by 'pack'?" Sasuke asked, standing up a bit shakily, his center of gravity much lower than usual.

Naruto reached up to feel the golden necklace he hadn't bothered taking off before entering the shower. "It's how I see what I'm doing. I was born a wolf, and meant to eat and slaughter the other creatures. Instead, I'm raising them to my level, building a pack that looks out for each other's backs. Hinata and I are the Alpha couple, and you're my Beta, the second strongest male."

"That's a charming metaphor," Sasuke mused. "And most wolf packs are polyamorous, so that works too. Though I doubt most have a randy bi Alpha that preys on both halves of the pack."

"Yeah, that's just something special about us we'll have to get used to." Naruto said. *Do you mind if we communicate by mind from now on unless in public? It's just what I prefer.*

Sasuke paused. *SURE, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT WORKS!*

Naruto hid a wince. *A bit quieter than that, Sasuke. It's not a telephone, you don't have to shout to be heard.*

*Sorry,* Sasuke projected hesitantly.

*Better. Now, Hinata's back. Let's meet up in the living room.* Naruto dried Sasuke off with a towel before drying himself. Sasuke kept poking at his distended stomach, as if he couldn't get over the novelty of it. They walked naked into the living room where Hinata was just setting down a few bags.

Hinata turned to Sasuke, a smile on her face. After a second, she frowned. Then, feeling like someone were knocking on his forehead, Sasuke heard *Can you hear me now?*

Sasuke nodded. *Yes, I can.*

Hinata turned to Naruto. *That's odd. I'm linked to you, and you're linked to him. By the transitive property, I should be linked to him too. Instead, I have to contact him like he was just another psychic.*

*Well, it's only the Uzu who has a direct Astral Bond to each Thrall. You two don't have one, and I must not be able to act as a bridge between you two,* Naruto told her.

*Well, that'll get annoying real fast. I don't suppose you know another way to form an Astral Bond besides three doses of Uzu jizz?*

*Sorry, honey, I don't.*

"Well, then, I guess we're using our outside voices," Hinata groused. "Welcome to the family, Sasuke. Do you need to get back to Olympus soon?"

"No, I can leave early tomorrow," Sasuke said. "Did I just miss something?"

"Hinata and I were discussing how and why she couldn't hear your thoughts the way I can. It's apparently not as easy as three-way calling." Naruto sighed. "Oh well, guess I get to enjoy one on one time with either of you but you have to talk like anyone else."

"That shouldn't be too hard," Sasuke said, taking a seat on the couch. "So, what's the plan for the rest of the day?"

"Well, there's really no point in going shopping for you until you grow into your new body. And since you're leaving for Olympus tomorrow to set up your retirement when the Invictus is finished, that won't be until we're back towards Karron. So I guess you can get by wearing Naruto's clothes. And you just had your third dose, so you can't really go out in public. I don't know, trashy movies? Space Chess? Ooh, I want to try Neo Go but Naruto doesn't want to play."

Naruto sighed as he saw Sasuke's eyes alight. "You said the magic word. Sasuke here is a 6th dan Neo Go champion."

"7th," Sasuke corrected.

So Naruto found himself playing spectator as Hinata played a 3D version of the most complicated board game in history against a master. Once Hinata grasped how to surround and capture her opponent's pieces, she seemed to get very good very quick. Sasuke's eyes narrowed and he even started to bite his nails towards the end. Eventually, Sasuke won, after a two and a half hour game. And they'd played on a smaller 32 x 32 x 32 board rather than the full 64 cubed board.

"Not bad," Hinata acknowledged. "You have a ruthless cunning I'm happy will be on our side."

"Are you sure that was your first game? You played like a veteran," Sasuke demanded.

"Enhanced intellect, remember? I was getting better even as I played you as I analyzed and refined my play style. You'll see for yourself in a week or two."

Sasuke sighed. His stomach had flattened out, showing a respectable 4-pack for his age. "I can't believe I almost lost to a teenage newb. Itachi would never let me hear the end of it if he heard."

"Who's Itachi?" Hinata asked.

Naruto chuckled. "Sasuke's big brother, and the source of the shadow he's lived in all his life."

"Admiral Uchiha Itachi, Director of Olympus Shipyard. With some politicking, he could be next in line for Fleet Admiral." Sasuke sighed. "He's always made life look easy. He walked before he was a year old. Everything he wanted to do, he did. No matter what I do, I'll never measure up to him in our father's eyes. And he practically has a complex about protecting his precious little brother. I've always wondered how much of my career was my own accomplishment and how much was his influence."

Hinata made a face. "Yeesh. Well, can't help what you're born with. Is he going to be an obstacle to you coming with us?"

"No, I don't think. I'll have to write a very convincing note, but I should get his approval to leave the military. He only wants what's best for me, and if I decide that's life as a retired civilian, he'll respect that."

"Well, I don't know about you two, but I'm starving. I'm ordering room service. Either of you want to get in on this?" Naruto asked as he pulled up the hotel's menu on the free console.

"I'll go for something. Sasuke's the one who gets the honor of getting you for dinner until he's earned his ears," Hinata stated.

"Earn my ears?" Sasuke asked, bewildered.

"The final part of the transformation is getting Uzu ears. It's purely cosmetic, but I wanted my future family to look like me," Naruto admitted. "Once they're pointy, that's the mark that you don't HAVE to keep drinking from me. Whether or not either of us want that keep happening is another matter entirely."

"There's going to be a bloody rota once the crew starts getting big. Monday morning, Hinata. Monday afternoon, Sasuke. Monday evening, Tenten. Tuesday morning, Hana…" Hinata dissolved into giggles at her own joke.

Sasuke tilted his head. "Tenten is Hinata's friend from the asteroid with the Tyrenium, yes? Who's Hana?"

Naruto finalized the order, having confirmed Hinata's choices telepathically while she was busy laughing. "Inuzuka Hana is a Second Lieutenant Hinata and I saved from a pirate attack. Hinata grew a little attached, and now she's on a campaign to see to it that she becomes my Thrall by any means necessary. She's not like you, though, able to just retire and relatively few questions get asked. Plus, I looked up her file, and she has triplet brothers and a mother serving active duty. She's not going to abandon the Konoha Federation to sail with an Uzu, once she's aware that's the choice she'd have to make."

"That is your opinion, which just happens to be wrong," Hinata fired back. "You're the white knight who saved her life. She's already half in love with you, I can tell when we chat on vid-feed. Throw in immortality, a smoking hot body, and psychic powers, and she'd follow you to the ends of the universe. And besides, we'll need a Tactical Officer on the Invictus and she graduated with top marks for accuracy."

Naruto sighed. "Informed consent. That's what I need from her, Hinata. And I know you're smarter than to discuss Uzu secrets on an open comm channel."

"So let's stop by Port Heracles on the way back to Karron and make the offer!"

Sasuke was looking between them like he was tracking a tennis ball during a match. "You both have good points," he spoke up. "But I have to side with Hinata here, Naruto. We WILL need a Tactical Officer. I have over a decade of experience of fighting in the old gal, but I'm not the one who actually pulled the triggers. You were a Marine, you didn't even spend much time on the Bridge. And it would be pretty unreasonable to ask Hinata to pull double duty as XO and as gunner. I say you find this girl and lay out the facts and hope for the best. If she refuses, we wipe her memories or whatever to protect the secret. Otherwise, we get a new addition to the crew, and more importantly the pack."

Naruto held up his hands on surrender. "Okay, okay! I hear you! We'll go and try to recruit Hana on the way to Karron."

"Yay! Sasuke, I could kiss you!" She blinked. "So I will!" With that, she darted over and, before either of the men could react, planted one right on Sasuke's lips. Hinata pulled back, licking her lips. "You taste different than Naruto," she mused.

"That's normal," Naruto said, an involuntary smile on his face.

Sasuke blinked like he'd been smacked in the face with a fish. "I think this raises the very important topic of how relationship dynamics are going to work on this crew."

"That's simple. We all belong to Naruto, and he's gracious enough to let himself belong to each of us in turn. And we all belong to each other. Basically, it's a free-for-all when it comes to who you do what with." Hinata posed seductively. "In other words, I'm Naruto's bitch, but I can be your bitch whenever you want, Sasuke."

Sasuke's pale skin turned tomato red. "That's… a wonderful offer, dear. But I think I'll wait until Naruto has finished upgrading my equipment. After a month with him, you must be ruined for average Konoha men." Sasuke turned to Naruto. "And it doesn't bother you, seeing your Thralls get together without you?"

"You kidding? It just warms my heart, seeing my crew get along. Plus I know you're both eternally loyal to me, and that I can join in whenever I want, so there's no reason to get jealous."

"Okay. But what about… children?" Sasuke asked, suddenly hit with a piercing need to see a little boy who looked like him walking around.

"I get dibs on the firstborns for each female Thrall," Naruto stated unequivocally. "After that, up to the couple in question."

"Our family tree is going to be a mess. We'll have siblings who have no blood relation to each other. And they'll all be Uzu, so they'll all be immortal just like us. What happens if some of them want to pair off? Does it count as incest if there's no genetic risk? What happens if some of them want to join US, their parents' pack? We're going to have the biggest, most complicated family dynamic in the galaxy," Hinata moaned, just now considering the logisitics of an open harem settling down.

"We'll cross those bridges when we come to them. For now, we're still building up the pack in the first place." At that moment, there was a warning chime from the elevator doors. Naruto threw a blanket at Sasuke and pulled on his shorts from earlier. The poor female attendant who delivered the meal was treated to quite the feast of her own as Naruto gave her a nice tip and took the dishes from her.

"Okay. Fish and chips for Hinata, complete with old-fashioned newspaper wrapping. Burger for me. Since you've never had it, I'm allowing you to have soda pop with your meal. Just know this is a special treat. I was raised against the dangers of sugar water," Naruto lecture as Hinata cautiously sipped from her cola.

Her eyes lit up. "I see what you mean. Anything that tastes this good must be bad for you. Is there drugs in this?"

Sasuke chuckled. "Actually, one cola brand used to have cocaine, a refined stimulant derived from the coca leaf, as part of its recipe. I forget the name. They eventually removed it."

"I forgot what a history buff you are. Wasn't that back during, like, the 20th century?" Naruto asked before taking a bite of his juicy burger with all the fixings. Except pickles. Don't ask him why, Naruto simply hated pickles.

"If we don't remember the mistakes of the past, we are doomed to repeat them. Just look at the Ganymede Incident!"

Hinata looked up from dipping a potato wedge in the offered vinegar. "Ganymede Incident?"

"I'm not surprised you didn't pick it up when scrolling the Holonet, the military kept it mostly under wraps." Naruto put down his sandwich and sighed. "Ganymede is one of the moons around Jupiter, in Konoha's home system. Two hundred years ago, the K-Fed was experimenting with A.I. to control a fleet of remote-controlled ships. That's when we 'discovered' the first law of robotics."

"Any sentient Artificial Intelligence will wage war against any and all organics," Sasuke stated darkly. "The A.I's killed the entire staff of the research facility and began building a fleet to wipe out humanity. We had to bring in orbital bombardment and half the Homeworld Fleet to wipe out the threat they posed. And every few decades since, some idiot in R&D dabbles in A.I. and the whole thing starts all over again."

Naruto sighed. "You're not going to want to hear this, Sasuke, but one of the tech schematics the Uzu have is for an A.I. Mainframe."

Sasuke sat up explosively. "Absolutely not! Naruto, you can't seriously want to unleash one of those monsters on your own ship!"

Hinata raised a hand. "Maybe it's like Thomas Edison and the lightbulb. There's hundreds of ways to get it wrong, but only one way to get it right. Konoha A.I have all been unfriendly; that doesn't follow that ALL A.I are unfriendly."

"Then how come no civilization in the entire Galactic League has published anything about A.I research almost since its inception?" Sasuke challenged the teenager.

"Because they all have their own version of the Ganymede Incident or heard of it and abandoned the research as a dead-end. But again, absence of proof of friendly A.I. is not the same as evidence it's impossible. And if anyone could have gotten A.I. right, it's the Uzu. They were capable of wormhole generation when Konoha were still sharpening sticks to make spears." Hinata swallowed a fry. "I say we build the Mainframe, turn it on, see what comes out. As long as we open it in a closed network, it won't be a real threat. If it turns out to be a dud, we destroy it and settle for soft automation for all our software like the K-Fed does. But I have a feeling it won't be a dud."

Sasuke turned to Naruto. "Uzumaki, side with me here."

Naruto shrugged. "Like Hinata said, there's no harm in a controlled experiment. And if it turns out friendly, then the crew will have gained a valuable ally."

Sasuke looked like he's swallowed a lemon. "... So be it. But I'll be first in line with the crowbar to smash it to bits once it tries to kill you."

"He really is a pessimist," Hinata commented. "Maybe getting laid will cheer him up a bit."

"He got a blowie from me this afternoon. What else would you suggest?" Naruto asked leadingly, a filthy smile on his lips.

"I'd say learning what it feels like being a sleeve for your colossal cock should brighten his day," Hinata said brightly. "He's had three doses, he'll stretch for you."

Sasuke was wide-eyed. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. It fit in one end, but that end has a much bigger entrance. If you stuck that up my rear, you'd perforate my intestines!"

"The first physical changes I make to my Thralls are to make them more malleable so they can take me fully," Naruto assured. "I've fucked Konoha men in the ass before without killing them. They enjoyed it, actually. But we don't have to start off with my cock. You could just take HInata's."

Sasuke double-blinked. "Come again?"

Hinata shucked off her clothes and stood up. Her brow furrowed for a second, and then a transparent white phallus appeared where her clit originated.

"Oh, fuck," Sasuke breathed.

Naruto came to his side and kissed his shoulder. "She's very gentle, I guarantee. It feels amazing."

"You… let her…" Sasuke sputtered.

"A little role reversal is healthy every now and then in a relationship."

"You think he comes a lot normally, it's nothing on when his prostate gets milked. The sheet's were dripping when we changed them," Hinata said in a voice made of sin.

"What do you say, Sasuke? For your last time until you join us on the Invictus, getting spitroasted between Hinata and I?" Naruto reached down to stroke Sasuke's leaking cock. "SOMEONE likes that idea."

Sasuke gulped before nodding hesitantly.

Naruto and HInata led him to the bedroom. Sasuke then found himself sandwiched between Naruto's 6'2 bulk and Hinata's 5'9 lithe frame. Naruto was kissing him the way Sasuke had always wanted to be kissed, like he was treasured. Hinata's hands played over his shoulders and back, before cupping his ass. Sasuke tensed, thinking Hinata was just going to rush into it, when he felt her get on her knees. Then he felt a wet, lapping tongue on his hole for the first time in his life. Sasuke would never be able to use the phrase 'kiss my ass' the same every again. While Hinata did her best to reach his prostate with just her tongue, Naruto took Sasuke's erection in his big hand and began to languidly stroke. Sasuke had never had a threesome before, but he suddenly saw the appeal, two people paying singular attention to your needs.

On some silent signal, Naruto and Hinata both withdrew. Sasuke was led to get on his hands and knees on the bed. He complied, feeling very submissive and for once not hating the feeling. Naruto was in front of him, leaking prick on full display, looking almost too big to be allowed. Hinata was behind him, he could feel her hair tickling his ass cheeks.

*No offense, but Hinata's going first. Wouldn't want you to bite down on me,* Sasuke heard in his head.

*Tell her I'm ready as I'm ever going to be,* Sasuke projected back. Sasuke then braced himself.

*Rookie mistake, don't tense. That'll just make it hurt. Relax from the top of your head to your toes, and stay there,* Naruto instructed.

Sasuke huffed a sigh, but he attempted progressive relaxation of all his muscle groups. At the end, he was much less tensed. Apparently deeming him ready, Hinata pressed the tip of her Psychic Construct to Sasuke's rosebud. Sasuke was aware of a warm pressure, as if it were a flesh-and-blood cock asking entrance into his body. And then, with a soft feminine hand stroking his lower back, Sasuke felt her push in.

Sasuke wasn't sure what he expected, but it wasn't a warm rush of fullness that made him feel complete. He'd expected some amount of pain. But no, nothing but contentment, if not real pleasure, at the sensation of being filled. And then Hinata brushed something and Sasuke saw stars. He let out an involuntary moan. And then Hinata's wide hips were pressed against his ass cheeks, and that warm weight was leaning on that magic spot.

"Good boy," Hinata crooned, massaging Sasuke's hips. "You took me in so well. You sure this is your first time?"

Sasuke couldn't be bothered to answer her, because Naruto had begun to feed his swollen length down his throat. Sasuke had never felt so… plugged, before. He had a wild moment imagining Hinata's cock growing until it touched Naruto's in the middle of his throat.

*Maybe one day, but that complicated a Construct is beyond either of us at the moment,* Naruto assured. *Now, to make you feel absolutely amazing.*

Hinata and Naruto began to withdraw and re-enter, developing a rhythm between them, with Sasuke passively taking it in the middle. Every stroke of Hinata in his ass sent Sasuke flying higher. Every pass of Naruto down his throat filled him with a bone-deep sense of satisfaction at pleasing the man he'd dedicated his new life to.

Finally, when Sasuke was shaking and his release was soaking into the sheets, Hinata pulled all the way out as Naruto finally unloaded his quad. When Naruto withdrew his shrinking shaft from Sasuke's mouth, the Vice Admiral collasped to his side. Big, bronze hands maneuvered him under the covers, and then Sasuke found himself face-to-face with HInata while Naruto began to spoon him.

"Sorry that I got to fuck you before you could fuck me," HIniata whispered.

Sasuke just grinned goofily. "Just think of it was I owe you one. Now, can someone set the alarm? I'm about to pass out."

"Sure, when do you need to be up?" Naruto asked.

"0500, that'll give me time to get back to Spaceport Alpha and from there to Olympus. I'll deal with everything on my plate and make the arrangements for my rushed resignation. I'll make sure the Invictus is ready for the three of us, especially." Sasuke began to nod off.

"Our thoughtful Beta. Don't worry, we'll be with you the whole time in spirit," Naruto whispered, before silently setting the alarm. In the next ten minutes, they all succumbed to slumber.

The next five days passed in a busy blur for our trio. Sasuke woke with the dawn after his one day with the couple, returning to the Shipyard for duty and to set up his own departure with them. Naruto was in constant mental contact with his new Patriarch, as much from a need to cement the relationship as concern for the man. Like Hinata, Sasuke learned to love having the Uzu's presence in the back of his mind. It was a wonderful distraction during dull logistics meetings to have the playful ex-Marine cracking jokes in his ear. Hinata returned to self-study on the Holonet, trying to get a decent grasp in every conceivable field so she could cover any need the crew had until finding an appropriate expert. She hadn't applied for any more degrees or doctorate-level exams like she'd done with her Navigator First Class license, but she learned enough she could probably pass all the tests if she had to. Naruto used the safety and large open areas of the hotel room to really begin to practice his psionics. When that proved boring, he either distracted himself with sex with Hinata or going back to the gym to break a few more machines and build his mythos among the hotel clientele and staff as a strongman.

The morning of Sasuke's retirement, Naruto was discussing the conflict with the Kumo Empire with him while Hinata chatted with Hana in the other room. There was a pause in the chatter of female voice, and then Hinata strode into the room.

"Hana's in trouble," she said simply.

*What's the problem?* Naruto asked with thought since it was faster.

*According to her, her old commanding officer is accusing her of 'dereliction of duty' and said something about a possible court martial. Can he do that?*

Naruto snorted. *Not unless Konoha Federation protocol radically changed in the last month without me knowing. The AAR I submitted should have cleared all this up. Is Hana still on the line?*

*Yes, I said I'd come ask your advice. She's really upset,* Hinata added, as they walked into the living room. Naruto sat down on the couch in front of where the Holonet reader was stood up, Hinata taking her place beside him. Hana's worried face filled the screen. Her black eyes had only gotten worse, and she still seemed not to have all her color. The bags under her eyes hinted at troubled sleep.

"Don't worry, Hana, we'll get this straightened out," Naruto promised.

"I can't be court-martialed Naruto! It would destroy my family!" Hana sounded near hysteric, she was clearly at the very edge of her tether.

*Sasuke, run a search at Port Heracles for any whisper of a court martial for Inuzuka Hana* Naruto commanded.

*There's nothing. Not even a disciplinary comment or note on her record. She's squeaky clean. Why the hell would she think she's getting court martialed?* Sasuke replied a few seconds later.

*Her old CO is apparently menacing her, saying she commited 'dereliction of duty' during the pirate attack.* While thinking that, Naruto managed to say, "You're not getting court-martialed, Hana. I just checked myself. There's nothing on record about any disciplinary action against you."

"That doesn't mean it can't be coming! Oh, fuck, what am I going to do? I SO don't need this right now," Hana muttered, looking in danger of mental breakdown.

Naruto put some steel in his spine. "Hana, calm down. Hinata and I are enroute to Port Heracles. We'll clear all this up in person. You have nothing to worry about except getting better. Okay. Please, calm down and leave this all to us."

Hana seemed to gather herself shakily. "Yes, Naruto." With that, she ended the call.

Hinata and Naruto shared a look. *Still think she'd never betray the K-Fed to come with us?*

*Her circumstances are not what I expected, I'll admit. We'll save her, one way or another, I promise.* Naruto switched 'channel's in his mind from Hinata to Sasuke. *Sasuke, we're headed up. The trip to Port Heracles just got bumped up in priority. Can you have everything arranged by the time we get up there?*

*I should be done in a couple hours, which is how long that rust bucket you call a Freighter will take to get up here. Speaking of, what do you want done with her? I can put in a final set of orders before my retirement kicks in.*

Naruto considered what to do with his home for over a decade, and knew exactly what to do. *Retrofit it to modern specs, then gift it to Umino Iruka.* Naruto gave a list of contact information. *I want a note to go with the transfer: 'Thanks for the tip about the worm girls'.*

*Will do, Naruto. When you get up here, I'll be a civilian. I don't suppose you have a job lined up for me?* Sasuke joked.

*You're my Chief of Staff, naturally. Third-in-Command, second only to Hinata and myself.*

Sasuke blinked, but he recovered. *A step down from Vice Admiral, but it will do. See you soon.*

Naruto sent the mental equivalent of a kiss before refocusing on Hinata in front of him. While he'd been talking with Sasuke, they'd been gathering all their new purchases into one spot. They were substantial. "We should have bought luggage," Naruto groaned, before fitting as many bags on each arm as he could.

"Next time," Hinata promised, before dutifully taking her own half of the bags.

Naruto settled the bill with the Magnus, and received a complimentary hover-limo ride back to Gravitus Spaceport Alpha. Naruto and Hinata walked the considerable distance to the Fool's Gold, and then left the bags in the Cargo Bay before going to the Cockpit and beginning the trek to Olympus Shipyard.

Hinata leaned back in the Co-Pilot's chair. *This is our last time in this ship. What do you say? One last romp in the sack to bookend our trip together?*

Naruto chuckled. *I'm saving up for 'marking my territory' once I'm on the Invictus. It's going to be a head-trip, owning the vessel I once served on. For some reason, I think blowing you and Sasuke up like balloons aboard will really put my mind at ease.*

Hinata shivered in anticipation.

They endured the two hour flight up to the Shipyard, enjoying the sight of all the traffic and the various ships going to and fro. Once they were in hailing distance, the intercom began to beep incessantly.

"Incoming freighter, please identify yourself and your business at Olympus" a military communications officer requested politely.

*He sounds exactly like the last one!* Hinata gaped, causing Naruto to chuckle.

"Commander Uzumaki Naruto, requesting clearance to land at the docking bay housing the Invictus," he answered the communications officer formally.

"One moment please Commander" The disembodied voice replied.

After a short pause, the voice came back. "Please proceed to Docking Bay 13" it stated, before the communication officer closed the channel.

*Is that supposed to be lucky or unlucky?* Hinata thought superstitiously.

Naruto rolled his eyes and began to guide to Fool's Gold around the Shipyard. Docking Bay 13 was part of the dry-dock, meant for retrofitting old vessels and repairing damaged ones. This side of Olympus saw much less traffic. Hinata looked with sharp eyes as they passed ship after ship, all showing similar signs of scorched metal.

*What kind of weapons caused that?* Hinata asked.

*That's Plasma damage. Kumo Empire. The conflict must be going worse than we thought,* Naruto explained.

They passed the damaged ships and reached Docking Bay 13 proper. Hinata gasped when she got a good look at the Invictus.

The Assault Cruiser was docked in the center of the gigantic bay. Massive maintenance gantries were slowly backing away from the flanks of the vessel, as though wary of the lethal looking warship. The sleek lines and bristling gun ports clearly identified the ship as a ferocious predator, one that was not to be trifled with. The craft was painted a dark military grey, with soft blue lighting illuminating the name "Invictus" in 20 foot high lettering along the hull. In shape, it resembled a kite most. A sharp nose, backing away to two sharp sides, which came back to end with the engines. The bottom deck had half the weapon housings as the top deck, and the tower of the Command Module rose up near the back towards the engines.

*I always thought it looked like a big metal shark, myself,* Naruto confessed to Hinata.

The couple touched down in the Fool's Gold and made for the Cargo Bay. Gathering their bags again, they went out the rear-facing doors, only to look up and marvel at the 500 meter long vessel towering over them.

"You two look ridiculous," Sasuke said, coming up behind them. He was dressed in a suit like last time, only with his Konoha Federation uniform jacket conspicuously absent. He gestured at an anti-grav sled that was following obediently behind him. "Put those on this, I don't want to look silly when I board her next to you two."

"You've gotten crabby since you've been away. I know a vitamin smoothie you can take that would do wonders for your disposition," Hinata said archly as she dumped her purchases on the sled. "And why are you back in the sling?"

"I figured spontaneously recovering the use of my dead arm would raise a few too many questions. If we ever revisit Olympus, I'll claim I got private treatment as part of the perk package of the crew." Sasuke looked up at the Invictus. "Just us three, and she's not even mine this time. This is going to feel strange."

"Well, no time like the present," Naruto figured. Taking Hinata's hand in his right and Sasuke's in his left, Naruto led the Uzumaki Pack towards their new home.

I want to assure my readers that this is purely fanfiction. I in no way profit for this, and I fully acknowledge using Tefler's John Blake Chronicles as inspiration. I hope that clears up any confusion.