"X105 Strike! Respond!"

The Strike was floating through space, in the cockpit Kira was hyperventilating.

"X105 Strike! Can you hear me? Respond!"

He completely ignored the call. His hands were shaking. The monitor was showing him the remains of Heliopolis.

He spoke just above a whisper.

"Heliopolis… destroyed?"

His fists tightened around the controls.

"Why?"

Archangel

In the bridge the entire crew were looking at the damage they caused. Mu was moving towards the front of the bridge.

"Amazing how simple… and fragile it was." He said.

Muurue clenched her fists. Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes. This wasn't the plan. The plan was to temporarily store the G-units at Heliopolis. The units and the earth forces would have been gone in less than 24 hours! The people of Heliopolis were never meant to lose their homes.

In the sub-bridge Natarle was still trying to contact the Strike.

"X105 Strike! X105 Strike! Kira Yamato please respond!"

"This is the Lightning. I've found Strike. Moving to bring it back now and to check on Kira."

Natarle was relieved to hear Naruto's voice. After everything that happened, after all the suffering this so called secret mission has caused, she refused to let ZAFT win.

"Roger. Please hurry. The surrounding area is not safe."

Lightning

The Lightning was in its wave rider mode and was closing in on the Strike. Naruto was incredibly angry but he knew that he had to remain calm. In the battle field you will make foolish mistakes that could lead to your death if you let your emotions take over. Still, the destruction of Heliopolis reminded him of his failure in the elemental nations. If he took the threat more seriously this may not have happened.

'Naruto! This isn't the time to become depressed. Get Kira and head back to the Archangel! Hurry!'

'Thanks Knight. I'm glad that you're with me.'

With his mind back in the game, Naruto increased the Lightning's thruster output. When he got near Kira he changed to mobile suit mode.

"Kira! Kira!"

Kira snapped out of his daze.

"Naruto?"

"Kira are you okay."

"Yes I'm fine."

"Good. Archangel, Kira is fine. We're heading back now."

The Lightning began to slowly head back to the Archangel. He didn't want to leave Kira behind. Just before Kira began following Naruto he noticed a flashing light on his monitor. He zoomed in on the source. When he saw it he stopped. Naruto noticed this.

"What's wrong?"

"It's a Heliopolis lifeboat."

"Hmm… It must have been damaged. Well, we can't leave it here."

"I'll get it Naruto."

Archangel Bridge

"So, what do you plan to do now?" Asked Mu.

Murrue replied, "Our ship is still in battle. Can you detect the ZAFT ship's movement?"

"Impossible. There a to many heat sources among the debris. We can't find the enemy ships with it scattered around."

Murrue began to think. "That means that they will have the same problem." AS she continued to think of a plan Mu said.

"You think they'll come after us?"

"We should move on that assumption. Although if they attack us right now, we'd be finished."

Mu sighed.

"You're right. All we have is that precious Strike and my damaged Zero. Let's not forget the fact that the ship is severely understaffed."

"You forgot about the Lightning."

"That's right. The unknown factor. Man, have you seen the reports that the mechanics have sent us. No one has been able to move it, and any scan turns up nothing. We have no idea what it's made of or what powers it. Then there's the pilot. Something about him is off but I just can't but my finger on it."

Murrue couldn't help but agree with Mu. She was grateful that Naruto was here but there are too many unanswered questions. She would question Naruto later. Right now she had to get the ship out of harm's way.

"Wait a minute! Who gave you such authorization?" shouted Natarle.

"What's the matter, Ensign Badgiruel?" Asked Murrue.

"Both mobile suits have returned, but they brought a lifeboat with them."

With the mobile suits

"What do you mean you can't accept it?" said Kira

Naruto continued.

"The propulsion system is damaged. Are you saying that we should have left them to die?"

"Reinforcements are on their way!" Said Natarle, trying to reason with the pilots. "Right now the Archangel is fighting a battle!"

Murrue began to rub the bridge of her nose.

"Alright. I'll allow it!"

Natarle was surprised.

"Captain!"

"You said it yourself; we are in the middle of a battle. I don't want to waste time arguing over such things. Bring it in quickly!"

Natarle had to agree with Murrue's logic. No matter how much she didn't like it they needed to sort out this mess quickly and there was little chance that to civilians would listen to her if she orders them.

"Understood captain."

Launch bay

Naruto got out of his gundam a few minutes ago so he is casually watching the lifeboat that Kira had just put down. The hatch was opened at eh same time that Kira opened the Strike's hatch. His attention was also on the lifeboat.

The first person out of the lifeboat was someone with distinctive red hair. Kira's eyes widened and he momentarily froze. He didn't notice his mechanical pet Torii leave his clothes until it already happened. He leaned forward to try and catch it but he missed and began floating to the lifeboat.

"Torii!"

Flay knew that cry. She had defiantly heard it before. She turned toward the cry and saw a green mechanical bird heading towards her. Following the bird was a boy that she has seen before. If she was right his name was…

"Kira! You're one of Sai's friends!"

"Flay! Is it really you, Flay Allster?"

She launched herself at him and when they reached each other she clung to him and began to snuggle into his chest. She was so glad that she knew someone. She looked up at him with tears in her eyed.

"I…I… I got separated from my friends and I ran to the nearest shelter alone." She noticed the two gundams.

"Isn't this a ZAFT ship? What are they going to do to us? What are you doing here?"

"Th-This is an earth forces ship."

Flay breathed a sigh of relief. She was not the biggest fan of coordinators. She hugged Kira again. She may not be very close to Kira but just the fact that she wasn't alone made her feel better. Kira hesitantly hugged her back. After a few moments they heard someone chuckling behind them. They turned to the source and saw an amused Naruto. Once again Flay didn't know him but she had heard of Naruto. He was probably the most popular guy in there age group.

After Naruto stopped chuckling he looked at the two.

"Well you two seem very… close."

He gave the two of them a knowing smile and wiggled his eyebrows. After they realised what he meant they both separated from each other quickly with a blush on their faces. Kira's was much more intense then Flay's. Looks like he has zero experience with girls. Naruto had a glint in his eyes. Looks like this journey wasn't going to be as boring as he initially thought.

ZAFT ship

"Who would've expected this?" Spoke the Captain. "What will you do Commander? The council won't look lightly on a neutral nation's colony being destroyed."

"How can you call a colony that's manufacturing new weapons for the earth forced "neutral"?" Responded Rau, "Most of the residents have escaped. So we really have no problem."

"Do you still plan on going after them, even though we have lost all our mobile suits?"

"What do you mean? We have the four we took from the Earth forces. Now that we're finished with the data extraction, we can go ahead and use them."

In the corridor Athrun Zala was staring out a window in to space. His suspicions have been confirmed. The pilot of the white earth forces mobile suit was Kira Yamato.

Back on the bridge Rau and the captain were looking over a map of the area.

"Perhaps because of the debris from the collapsed Heliopolis they've already left this area, unnoticed." The captain suggested.

After a moment of silence Rau spoke.

"No. We can rule that out. They're likely sitting very quietly somewhere. How about setting up a net? The Vesalius will take off first and wait here for the enemy ship. Gamow will follow along the course, intersecting the orbit searching for the enemy, staying hidden."

"Why are you so certain that they are heading to Artemis? What if they were to leave for the moon?"

Rau simply smirked at the captain.

Archangel

Naruto, Kira and Flay were walking to the room where the other students were. After Flay found out who else was on the ship found up her friend Miriallia and fiancé Sai were here as well she was ecstatic and practically dragged Kira away so she could go see them. Kira still had a slight blush and Naruto was still had that knowing smile on his face.

The group of three entered the civilian area. When the students saw who entered, they all smiled at the three, happy that they were safe. Then they noticed the extra addition. Sai stood up immediately as Flay ran to him and embraced him. Kira smiled at the scene, Naruto did as well but he couldn't help but feel sorry for his friend.

A while later, the earth forces soldiers were registering the civilians so they know who they have as well if anyone could be of use to them right now, like a doctor. The students moved to a small room after they rgistered.

"I wonder where we're headed." Said Kuzzey

"They changer course, didn't they? I wonder if ZAFT is still around." Said Sai.

"They're after this ship and those mobile suits, right?" Said Tolle. "Then maybe they are still after us."

Hearing this news made Flay worry.

"Are you saying that we are less safe now that we boarded this ship!?"

"Would you ave rather stayed on that broken lifeboat?" Countered Mir.

"W-Well, not exactly…!"

"I hope my parents are safe." Said Kuzzey.

Hearing Kuzzey mention family made Naruto remember that he had to check in with the girls. He closed his eyes and entered the shared mindscape.

Mindscape

The shared mindscape was the same as the one where Naruto meat the tailed easts and their jinchuriki.

When he was there he began to call out to Kushina. The tailed beasts, Kaguya and Kushina no longer lived in within him. They were currently staying on the ORB mainland. However Kushina was a problem to get out. You see all the tailed beasts already had their bodies sealed in him and Kaguya had a new body given to her by her son Hagoromo. But Kushina didn't have anything. In the end he used the same technique the sage used to create the tailed beast to create a new body for Kushina, in the process turning her into a pseudo tailed beast and therefore immortal, like the rest of them.

Kushina appeared in front of him. The reason why aruto only summoned her was because he didn't have the time to answer all their questions and when Kushina was angry she sacred all of them. Even Kaguya was scared of her. So if there was one person to give information to tell the others, Kushina was the best choice.

"Yo, Kushi-chan."

Kushina crashed in to him at incredible spend knocking him on his back and began to kiss him passionately. He responded with an equal amount of vigour. After a few minutes they separated.

"I've missed you Naru-kun. The girls have as well."

"I know. We don't have much time. I'm going to update you on the situation, tell the others."

Naruto then went on to tell her everything that has happened recently.

"I'll get in contact with you guys when I reach earth."

Kushina nodded but you could see the sadness in her eyes.

"I understand Naru-kun. Be safe."

With that done the two began to leave their shared mindscape. He came to just in time to hear his name being called.

"Kira Yamato, Naruto Ōtsutsuki."

The two turned to the doorway and saw Mu standing there.

"Petty officer Murdoch is furious. He doesn't have enough people. He says you're responsible for maintaining your own machine."

"Wait! What do you mean "my machine"?" Asked Kira.

Kira wanted to protect his friends, like Naruto, but he was hoping that someone else would be able to pilot the Strike.

"The fact is, you're the only one capable of piloting the Strike, and no one has been able to move the Lightning."

"C'mon, Kira." Said Naruto. "Don't you remember what you told me before."

Naruto was about to head to the launch bay to check his gundam. However, he was stopped before he could go.

"Wait." Said Mu. "Naruto the Captain would like to speak with you. Alone."

"Where is she?"

"In her quarters. I'll take you to her."

Naruto nodded and followed Mu. Just before he left he gave his friends a reassuring smile. As they were walking the two were having a nice chat. They weren't really saying anything important but still it was a good way to pass the time. He liked Mu, he was a fun guy. When they reached the door Mu left Naruto and he went back to the bridge. Naruto knocked on the door and when she replied he went in.

Murrue was sitting at her desk. She knew this wasn't a good time but she needed to know more about the unknown, known as Naruto Ōtsutsuki. Naruto entered the room and stood in front of her. Before she could speak Naruto started. He brought his hands to his mouth and gave her a slightly sultry smile.

"I wonder what the captain ones with a simple civilian like me. Hmm I wonder what it could be."

He took a thinking pose for a moment.

"I know. You must have missed the feeling of my body against yours. If you wanted more you just had to ask."

Murrue was blushing right now. She stood up from her chair and was about to tell him to knock it off but in an instant he appeared behind her. He wrapped his hands arms around ere waste and brought her closer to his chest. His hot breath in her neck caused shivers to run down her neck. He brought his lips close to her ear and began to talk huskily.

"I wonder, was this you plan all along? Well was it M-Ur-Rue."

By this time Murrue was blushing up a storm. She was somehow able to regain some composure.

"Please Naruto, This is serious."

He let go of her and moved in front of her desk. However he was no longer smiling. He know had a serious expression.

"Naruto. Where did you come from?"

"Well you see when a man loves a woma-"

"You know that's not what I meant. You just happened to be at Heliopolis with an unknown unit. A gundam type as well. So just who are you."

"You see I've been living at Heliopolis for the last few years. I moved from the mainland on earth."

"So were you an agent working for ORB?"

"No. I'm just a regular civilian."

"If you're a regular civilian then where did the unit come from?"

Naruto smiled at her. Of course he wasn't going to tell her the truth so he simply said one word.

"Knight."

After a moment Murrue's eyes widened. Before she could question him further the alarm went off.

"Looks like we'll have to continue this later. See ya later captain."

Naruto ran out the door and as he was moving through the corridors he bumped into Kira. Together they moved to the locker room.

"Kira! Naruto!"

The two pilots saw Mir, Tolle, Sai and Kuzzey in earth forces uniforms.

"What's with the outfits?" Asked Naruto.

"We've decided to help out with tasks aboard this ship." Said Sai.

"They require us to wear military uniforms if we're gonna be in the bridge." Said Kuzzey.

"ZAFT's uniforms are cooler, aren't they?" Chirped Tolle. "We can't have you guys do all the fighting."

"Given the situation we're in, we'll help." Mir Added.

After the small conversation they rushed to the bridge, while Kira and Naruto went to o put on their pilot suits.

Timeskip

Kira was in his pilot suit and was in the Strike. It was being fitted with the Aile striker pack. On the other catapult was Naruto wearing his pilot suit. It looks like a white version of celestial beings pilot suits. The Lightning was ready to launch. The only problem was that he still had no idea what was wrong with his eyes. He used a diagnostic jutsu but it didn't show anything wrong with him. He just hoped it didn't happen again.

"Let's go Kira! Naruto Ōtsutsuki, Lightning Gundam, let's go!"

"Kira Yamato, Gundam, Launching!"

So that's the end of this chapter.

For those who were wondering what happen to the tailed easts and co. now you know. They are on ORB and won't be making another appearance until the archangel reach ORB.

The scene with Murrue, doesn't mean she is in the harem. I'm still deciding. Naruto just enjoys teasing her. I'll try to make who is in the harem pretty obvious when someone new is added.

Next time I actually post a pairing list will be at the beginning of seed destiny.