Welcome back, but I doubt anyone reads these so let's just get to it. (in case you do then know that Madara is leaving to prepare Marco since he won't be there to fix every problem he can't handle. Also, he has already been through so many situations that caused so much trouble for everyone only for it to be for nothing. Doesn't need to)

I also should mention I don't have anyone who can do a look through on my stories so I do it myself and I can miss a few things, sorry.

I have certain ideas for Marco but that will happen much later. Also, please pretend the Marco looking at the Beach Day photo before never happened on account of how that didn't happen until the future and would change thanks to time paradox and what-not.

The Forest of Death

Marco was breathing heavily while resting on a high tree branch back against the trunk of said tree. He had a thin layer of sweat on his brow with his shirt scratched up from an earlier hand-to-hand fight with his foe Nick. Marco knows he is above average in taijutsu but the difference is that the guy is physically stronger. This would be easier if he had his "Hot Bod". He could easily wrestle bears with that body, though he was a little faster without the bulging muscles slowing him down if only by a little.

Marco used his hand to wipe the sweat from his brow while planning his next move going over what he learned in their previous exchange.

Flashback 30 Minutes Earlier

Marco just stood there stumped. He barely gets any sleep when thinking about the men he killed prior to the trip and now he has to kill someone else? I'm not a professional killer!

"I know what you might be thinking and don't worry I have an alternative." Madara said causing Marco to look at him dead with hopeful eyes. "You feel guilty and that is good it means you care about life and others. Your sense of integrity makes you ask if it was necessary? I know murder is one of the furthest things from your go to way of thinking. There are bad people in the world, even universe from what you have seen in other dimensions. But can you honestly say that there wasn't one time a death took place that wasn't better for everyone?"

Marco thought back to Star vaporizing Toffee and how not one monster or mewman had a problem with it.

"I went to far in my desire for violence to be ended. There will always be someone to disturb the years of peace people have worked so hard for and hurting many in the process just because they can't let go or lost themselves. Some for no reason at all. If you hesitate to finish someone like that then they will not. Someone has to be prepared for the bloodshed. Will you Marco? Or would have another carry that burden after you came this far?" Madara finished.

Marco knew he was right. If this is how people are then he needs to be ready to deal with them if no other option is presented. Soldiers on Earth do that every day. He doesn't believe what he did was right, but most battles aren't won by NOT killing the enemy. Doesn't mean it'll be less traumatic for him to kill people, but it's a start to numbing it. He didn't know if a fact like that shook him up more or made it better.

He just hopes none of his loved ones have to know to much about that part. He decided to make all of this ninja stuff look more entertaining so he doesn't mess up his parents. Star made that look like fun when it was supposed to be the most powerful thing in the universe. He could learn from her.

"Now with that out of the way let's get started." Madara said snapping Marco from his thoughts.

Marco didn't get time to react to what Madara said when Nick kicked him over the fence and threw some shuriken at him. Luckily, Marco instinctively pulled out a kunai and reflected the incoming shuriken. When he landed, Marco immediately dodged to the left as Nick impaled the ground where he would have been standing with a tanto blade.

Marco knew he wouldn't get anymore answers from Madara at this point so he held his kunai in front of him like a knife. He barely blocked the next swing at his head from Nick's tanto. Marco reached in his ninja tools pouch and pulled out another kunai dual wielding them taking a jab at Nick who grabbed his wrist with his other hand stopping the kunai from piercing his abdomen.

Marco then brought up his knee to hit him in the stomach which he countered by headbutting Marco, stopping his kick, the kicked him deeper into the woods. Marco rolled for a bit then turned up in crouching position with his weapons crossed in front of him. "Damn! I wish I brought my sword." He thought in irritation. "I should keep my chakra usage low unless I need to. Last time I overdid it was when I fought those human traffickers." Marco thought thinking back to his spamming the jutsu in his arsenal. He needs to be careful and think of a plan, but doesn't have the time for it with this guy constantly attacking. So far, that seems to be his style is overwhelming his opponents.

Marco then smirked as an idea came to mind. Nick charged at him, Marco mimicked him. Right as they were about to clash Marco slid under him getting Nick to stumble before turning on his heel to see Marco finish flashing through hand signs.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"He shouted as the ground in front of Nick was torn open by the force of the flames. He could have been charred alive had he not substituted with a stone. As he looked around he noticed Marco was gone. This... is becoming difficult.

Present Time

"If I had my other equipment on me I could have used a smoke bomb instead of chakra." Marco looked down and noticed he was about 40ft in the air. He would have to be careful. Then looked up at the darkened sky through the thick tree tops. He can add the cover of night to his advantage with hiding.

"Maybe I could use what I have with me to help?" As he puled out some ninja wire, a set of shuriken, three kunai, his sword, and his dimensional scissors.

"..."

That last one may be more handy. Marco knew he had to work fast if this was going to work.

A while later, Nick jumped from the tree branches into the clearing surrounded by the roots of the large trees only illuminated by the moonlight. Marco was on one knee looking down from a tree above hidden by the leaves. "Okay, I just need to time this right." He muttered to himself while cutting one of the many ninja wires he had tied around the many tree branches.

Nick snapped his head where he heard a wire snap and three kunai had been launched at him to which he jumped to the right on a tree root.

As soon as he landed, however, he felt something bend under his foot. It was more ninja wire! He once again jumped away and stuck to the tree's side instead. He waited but the wire did nothing. Perhaps a fake out?

Nick looked around and noticed, from this angle, the moonlight reflected a good amount of ninja wire was covering the area. The wire covered up easy escape points, so trying to leave would only create an opening while he would dodge the wire or move around giant trees and the roots. Clever. Even if he did slash it open he didn't know what the wire is attached to.

To risky. He couldn't tell which one Marco was expecting him to do. Before he could react a kunai had pierced his skull.

Marco stood silently on a lower branch, his arm extended, he didn't cheer because he knew that it wasn't over. Nick's reflexes were better than that. As if to confirm his thought, "Nick" broke apart into chunks of dirt and rock. "An Earth Clone." Marco thought bitterly. He remembered glossing over it in the library along with other clone jutsus. "That means a few things and could mean others. For a fact, he knew Earth Style Techniques and most likely knows more. This could also mean something. One, He either sent it on recon. Two, he was nearby and saw the whole thing. Or three, he was underground and was waiting for me to screw up."

As Marco finished that thought, Nick burst from the ground behind his branch and launched a small rock from his mouth at Marco. "Earth Style: Rock Gun Jutsu!" Nick shouted as the rock grew to the size of a boulder and smashed the branch Marco was sitting on a split second before.

Marco landed on the ground where the boulder crashed beside him kicking up smoke blocking his vision. Nick took the perfect opportunity to rush at him and rushed through hand signs just as Marco's vision returned.

"Earth Style: Fist Rock Jutsu!" Nick yelled while bringing his left hand to the ground still running and the earth around it stuck on his hand encasing it in solid stone before slamming it directly into Marco's chest where a cracking noise was heard. Marco spit out blood midair as he was sent through the air and caught on the ninja wire he had previously set up.

Marco felt his ears ringing and head throbbing in pain. He definitely broke a rib if not more. Nick then ran through hand signs and launched another boulder at him. Marco would have been crushed had he not substituted with a leaf after Nick launched the attack.

"I am really going to need a medic after this." He said aloud as he appeared on a branch far above Nick.

"You say that like you're leaving alive." Nick said looking straight at Marco who was on his hands and knees resting on the branch. Marco wiped away the blood on his lips and turned his gaze to Nick who was looking to be in far better condition then himself at the moment.

"And you make that sound like the battle is already over." Marco spoke with an even tone and a blank look decorating his dirty face. Nick was a little ticked off with that comment and leaped right at him from below. Right when he was around 11ft away Marco smirked with his sharingan blaring to life. Nick froze midair.

Nick's eyes widened as a portal beside Marco tore open and a second Marco came out with a flood of water behind him. The second Marco punched him in the face then grabbed his shirt as they both were pushed to the ground by the improvised waterfall spewing from the portal.

"This wasn't as easy to plan as you would expect." Marco said as he stood up. "There were several ways this could have gone wrong. You had the physical advantage, stronger jutsu, good strategy." He listed off while moving through hand signs at a slow pace. "I had to plan something unorthodox to gain an advantage. Though as is the case with a lot of battles" He held out his left hand close to the waterfall. "But at the end of the day..." He looked down at Nick who was pushed up against a tree trunk from the force of the water. "... I won." He finished as lightning covered his hand and surged through the water towards Nick.

Said man tried to jump away but suddenly found he was had ninja wire wrapped around his arms, torso, and legs wrapped around the trunk being held tight by Marco's shadow clone. He felt the lightning hit his body as he let out an ear piercing scream of pain as the water enhanced the electricity dancing across his body. He was unconscious in less than five seconds. The electrical current also coursed through the wire and popped the shadow clone.

Marco stopped the jutsu and closed the portal. He jumped down and let his body drop to a sitting position with a hand perched on his knee taking deep breaths.

He stared at the Nick blankly still breathing hard. "I guess I shouldn't have expected any different from an Uchiha, huh?" Madara said walking into the clearing. "I didn't know how you to win, but that strategy came as a surprise."

Marco shrugged. "Yeah, you said a ninja uses everything in their arsenal so I used a really effective pair of scissors." He said changing his gaze to the scissors in his hand. Madara nodded as he ran through hand signs for the release of the Reincarnation Jutsu. He started to be enclosed in light which Marco noticed.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm returning to the afterlife. I've trained you well so far and you even unlocked your Sharingan so early after training begun. I think you should find your own way from here."

Marco tried to stand up but grunted in pain. Madara continued.

"You can still learn from the people here even if it's not from me. I'm taking Hashirama's advice and passing on what I know to the next generation and hoping you can accomplish not only my vision but your own. I sought the forceful peace of my entire world by controlling them using the moon's reflection and keep them alive with the World Tree. They would all live out there own definitions of a perfect world without harming others. It wasn't how I wished for it to go but I saw it as the only option as there would always be the crushing reality we all wake up to."

Marco payed close attention interested by what he means. He's heard of plenty of misguided heroes who go to extreme lengths to do the right thing.

"He was a war child right? I guess he lost some people in it that made him bitter so I can't really fault him for that. I wonder if that's where the desire for true peace came from."

"Nothing ever goes as planned in this accursed world. The longer you live, the more you will realize that the only things that truly exist in this reality are merely pain, suffering, and futility. Listen... Everywhere you look in this world, wherever there is light, there will always be shadows to be found as well. As long as there is a concept of victors, the vanquished will also exist. The selfish intent of wanting to preserve peace, initiates wars and hatred is born in order to protect love. There are nexuses, causal relationships that cannot be separated."

That resonated with Marco remembering how he felt overprotective of his friends when he believed they could be in danger. His attempted murder to Toffee proved how much he hated him for taking Star away, even if she turned out to be fine. Even if Madara was talking about his world, Marco believed it could be applied with what's happened in other dimensions like Earth and Mewni.

"What would people back on Earth do for a solution to world peace?" He wondered sadly. So many more wars have taken place and for so many reasons. If people all got to live in their own separate perfect world would it really be that bad?

"You have others who support you so keep them close but don't let them solely dictate the choices most important to yourself."

His grin faltered.

"I did and it caused so much more unneeded violence in this dimension. It isn't much but I left a bunch of supplies back home for you and when you're ready it will reveal itself. Farewell Marco, and please beware of those who steal from those with doujutsu. You have talent and intelligence don't waste it and you can accomplish great things. " He said grinning and disappearing into a golden dust and blew away with the wind.

Marco felt a bit of bad. He knew it would've been selfish to keep him here after he had lived such a long troubled life and deserved rest. Madara gave him a direction to go that wasn't his boring regular future and a way of helping his loved ones rather than not being good enough to help them. Marco knew he wanted to finish his life plans on Earth but also be ready for anything that may take what he loves. In some cases he wonders what his life would be like had other dimensions not been brought into his life.(Though on another note he should check the family tree back home)

He wouldn't want to forget Star, though. Not after all they had been through together. He felt a strong pull at her name running through his head like how he felt about Jackie but more forceful. Being strong enough to protect people in his life is why he learned how to do all of this. He never wanted to murder and yet he had been found in a situation in which leaving them alive was not an option.

He took a deep breath as he tasted iron on his tongue. He wondered why it was so different for him to kill those men than it was from Star killing Toffee. Not one person had a problem with that, including him. So why was the concept of people like him dying and killing them so strange now? Is this what he does now, decide who lives and dies?

...

Meanwhile in The Hokage's Office

Naruto sighed as he was finished up with the stacks upon stacks of paperwork. Well people did tell him world peace wouldn't be easy, guess he figured that they meant bringing them together instead of dealing with the world's problems on paper.

Who's idea was it to give this part to the Hokage!? Shouldn't he only get missions literally no person could handle and treaties from the paper stacks?

As he contemplated his life position, someone entered his office, getting him to look up.

"Sasuke?" Naruto raised an eyebrow to his friend. "What are you doin here so late?"

Sasuke put his hand on his hip. "Can't I just check up on our Lord Hokage late into the night?"

Naruto put his pen down. "It must be serious with the way your talking. So spill it." He said simply.

Sasuke sighed. "I had a chat with Madara a while back. He is very adamant about finishing Marco's training." His eye narrowed. "I can't help but worry if he was manipulating this Marco kid like he did with Obito. Kakashi was worried to. So I decided training him would be a good way for us keeping an eye on him. " He looked to the side. "I didn't try to put him down the moment he stepped into the office because he was a reincarnation so nothing would've worked and he could use the kids as leverage. Yet after he left you didn't chase him. I wanted to know why you haven't tried to stop him." He finished putting his hand in his pocket.

Naruto stared at Sasuke before answering. "Kurama gives me a sense for negative emotions including lies. He didn't lie or try to deceive us once." He turned his chair and looked out the window. "I don't know what purpose this could serve with all of that involved. I think he is trying to redeem himself a bit by showing this kid a path that could help him and give him the strength to go down that path." Naruto turned to Sasuke.

The Uchiha Monarch looked at Naruto with a focused eye before smirking. "When did someone as braindead as you become so perceptive?" This caused a tick mark to appear on the Hokage's head. Sasuke's smile dropped as he thought to himself. "I hope Marco and Sarada don't turn out like the other Uchiha. For everyone else's sake if not their own."

Naruto sighed letting this one go. "Whatever. Now can you help me with these plans for the Chunin Exams or did you want to distract me from work?"

Konoha Motel 7:18 AM

He had passed out the minute he got home after a visit to the hospital and dropping off the ritual guy. He had gotten bandaged up and told he would need three days to heal. Marco didn't bring this to Janna and Jackie's attention and just hide it beneath clothing for the next few days, they had seemed worried enough already. Jackie was no surprise but Janna had never even once said they were friends. She was still nicer than usual. He couldn't blame them. If one of them had been through half the things he had he would never let them go somewhere alone.

Marco flinched as he knew how creepy and suffocating that would be. He wondered how long he could keep up the charade of being okay. He had to explain to them that Madara gave him a life or death challenge and he came out unscathed? They aren't stupid, he would be lucky if that worked on Oskar had he known what's going on. Where is he anyway? It's the Summer and he usually just played bad music at the school so what could he possibly- you know this isn't even worth thinking about.

Marco sighed as he got off the soft mattress. He was currently shirtless with just his pants and the bandages wrapped around his chest. He looked at the text from Star asking when he would show up today. He got dressed in his regular clothes but a black shirt instead of a grey one incase he bled through and texted Jackie and Janna that he wouldn't be around today. They are currently with the others on Earth (luckily for him) hanging out since everyone needed to calm down after last time. He would ask them if they needed a therapy session with him later.

He cut open a portal with his scissors to Mewni Castle and stepped through into the throne room. He didn't see anyone there. No guards, queen, or king. It is early so they most likely are eating breakfast right now. God how much he dreads this meeting. Marco sighed to himself as he walked through the hallway.

He looked around and either found pictures of corn or beating monsters with highly trained warriors as they cowered. That... doesn't feel very right to look at. Marco got flashbacks to all the racial wars he heard about in class. He has his doubts about monsters being completely bad after his experience with Buff Frog... and that one time with Lobster Claws.

"... and he will be here any minute now." He heard a voice say at the end of the hall. As he walked in the doorway he noticed Queen Moon at the very end of the table, River on her left, Star on the right side. The MHC were there as well but closer to the middle part of the long table. Omnitraxus was on the left side with Rhombulas next to him on the right and Hekapoo across from them. Marco had just walked in at the opposite side of the table. He also took notice of famous knights seated while their squares helped get their food with the cooks. No one had noticed him walk in yet.

"Sweetie I know you are excited to see him again, but don't forget your princess duties today. Marco is the guest and don't dump any work on the boy." Moon told her daughter in a half accusing tone half worried tone.

"Moooom, I know I just won't get it done as quick since I want to make time for Marco." Star groaned.

River was stuffing his face with corn before he stopped to swallow his food. "Moonpie, Star will be fine. She can handle a visiting friend and some princess work at once. I was honestly happy he called because I thought we would never see him again after he left. Wonder why it took over a month though?" He wondered rubbing his corn covered beard with his free hand as the other held a chicken leg.

Moon put a napkin to his mouth so he could clean his beard. "I admit I didn't think so either but it seems your friendship can last through a lot." She said looking at Star who then looked uncomfortable.

"You have no idea..." She muttered while scratching her head looking away and spotted Marco. "Marco!" She said a bit louder then intended hoping to brush off that topic.

Everyone turned and looked at the teen in the red hoodie. Marco felt unnerved by the stares of everyone in the room until Star crashed into his chest almost making him spit blood and cringe in pain. He managed to force a smile and keep them standing. Good thing he put a genjutsu around his eye to hide the scar.

"H-Hey Star. Did I interrupt something?"

"No! We were just talking about after you left. We had a funeral for Lekmet and Glossaryck came back to life. But thanks to some rearranging The Silver Bell Ball won't be till next week." She said still holding onto him. Marco didn't mind to much. He also noticed her new blue narwhal dress. It looked good on her.

"Wait. Glossaryck is alive? Actually considering I watched you come back to life this isn't to off." Marco deadpanned and Star looked thoughtful for a second then shrugged.

"Oh, Marco! These are the best knights in the kingdom right here." Star pulled him to the table and motioned to the knights currently seated. "Lady Whosits" The dark skinned muscular woman waved from her seat while eating a porkchop. "Sir Scarsguard oldest soldier here," He didn't seem to here her as he was still stuffing his face. "Sir Stabby," 'Pleasure!' The man briefly greets before returning to look at his reflection in his shield. "Sir Muscletan" The knight had sparkling eyes and handsome face (sits next to Stabby bc both egos) turns to them.

Then proceeded to say the dumbest thing witnessed or heard by anyone in the room.

"What's up baby girl?"

…

Marco's eyes shrunk and his mouth tightened into a thin line. He quickly glanced to Star who had released him and now stared dazed at Muscltan. "You dumbass!" He screamed in his head.

Marco remembered someone on Earth called her that trying to be flirty. He doesn't know if Star hates certain pick up lines or found the one degrading in some way, all he did know was that guy had a new found fear for narwhals and where they can put their horns. And judging by the looks on her parents face they knew what was coming. Although, Moon didn't look like she would stop this outburst for some reason. Wonder if there's a story there.

"What did you call me?"

"Dude. Run. NOW." Marco said desperately but the knight was either deaf or ignored him.

"I think I called you... baby girl-AAAHHH!" As he was blasted back by a pink laser from Star's wand.

"Alright, so Muscletanis not available for conversation right now." Star said lowering her wand and looking back at Marco who had nervously taken two steps away.

"Star it is not princess like to blast the staff in rage." The queen spoke in a harsh tone.

River turned to her. "Moonpie didn't you do the same thing when Count Mildrew asked you out using that same phrase?" River said quirking an eyebrow as Moon's face gained a pink hue and her cheek marks lightly glowed.

"Star why don't you give Marco a brief tour around the castle since you finished breakfast." She said coughing lightly into her fist.

"Good idea!" Star grabbed Marco's arm and pulled him through the door. "You didn't get to see everything because of Ludo's take over."

Marco caught Hekapoo's brief wave and returned it but failed to see a pair of green eyes glaring in his direction as they left the room.

Butterfly Castle 7:46 AM

"So this is the training room where the guards train." Star said leading Marco having previously let go of his hand to lead. The room had weights, weapon racks, punching bags, wooden dummies, arrow targets, and a grindstone. There were a few regular Mewnie guards training or getting ready to start working out. Marco wasn't really interested as his training sessions are for more spread out areas. Though all things considered it was a very big gym.

"Neat." Marco said simply as he gently rubbed his chest and wincing at the sensitivity of the injury. Star then lead him to the next room which was the entertainers chambers. Guess who they ran into there?

"Marco!"

Said teen hardly had enough time to jump back when three figures crashed onto the spot he was previously standing in. "Ruberiot, Foolduke, and Mime Girl! It's good to see you three again." He said embracing them as they eagerly returned it.

"I didn't think we would ever see you again!" Foolduke said smiling ear to ear.

"I knew you couldn't stay away from us for to long dude." Ruberiot said patting his back. Mime Girl made a gesture for a tissue wiping her non-existent tears.

"She missed you to."

Marco smiled and backed up. "It's great to see you guys again. How have you been?"

"Pretty good actually. Ruberiot and me can stand being in the same room now at least." Foolduke pointed at him who shrugged and grinned.

"What can I say? You seem less annoying recently for some reason. Perhaps your company has grown on me."

Mime Girl smirked behind the two and made gestures at them then a heart with her hands. That made Star 'Awww' and Marco happy crossing his arms. He's glad to see them doing better after the battle where they seemed pretty hopeless and annoyed with each other.

"Guess I'm not the only one improving."

As he finished that thought his eyes moved to Star. She seemed more responsible if her mom was giving her actual work and Star didn't seem to hate it as much. Maybe she wants to help the Kingdom? That's a good cause and good sign for a future leader.

"Although." His mind turned to the monsters he remembered seeing on the outskirts with Star trying to find the other half of the wand. "The monsters don't seem to have it as great with them living in the Forest of Certain Death. I want to say it's called that for racial discrimination towards monsters but seeing how a few plants and a hydra almost killed me there I doubt it's just that. Though that also means Mewmans intentionally gave monsters the worst area on Mewni if that history book from Mewni-dependance Day was anything to go by. Solaria was one messed up woman."

Marco frowned at the thought process. He knew Star better than that though, after he pointed out the unfairness and propaganda the history book had Star became sympathetic and even friendly with some of them. Buff Frog even let her babysit. If that didn't show some level of trust, he didn't know what did.

"Star has always been amazing, heck, she was my inspiration to getting better. Kind, caring, energetic, helpful, stubborn, cute, se-" He shook his head. Where did that come from? He felt a pull to Star being so close. Star seemed to sense something on his mind since she turned and looked at him curiously.

"You have something on your mind Marco?"

"Uh-Yeah, I'm just wondering if we're going to spend all day here or if you're gonna show me around?" He said playfully trying to through off where his mind was going with that. Star blinked before taking his hand and pulling him along.

"Sure! We'll catch you guys later, Marco didn't get to enjoy the castle last time he was here."

The trio waved goodbye and went to go... entertain Marco supposed. He looked up to see where they were going and the sign above the stairway said.

'Knight of the Wash'

Sorry for taking so long hope you enjoyed. Also, please no comments on how the caster has to undo the Reincarnation jutsu. Madara wants to return to the afterlife and Marco can't rely on him forever. Madara has seen the best of the best come into power via their own struggle and hardships and would feel Marco needs to do the same.

Also, at the end of your comments please vote on which other girls you want Marco to be with or just be friendly with. Only one of you have to mention a girl for her to be considered for the harem. I can think of a few ways to add monster girls and girls from Earth and Mewni, so they are all acceptable choices. Except for Princess Spiderbite since I actually do lik how some kingdoms didn't mind a monster and princess relationship. Though, I get the feeling most of you agree for Hekapoo and/or Kelly so I will work on those two later. (Let's face it Tad isn't really a good boyfriend and kind of a leech. Don't hate him but was never really glad to see him at all.)

I will also ask for ideas for future skills when the time comes and will be including some new Boruto stuff way later.