The journey back was becoming more of a chore than going in. Naruto's feet were heavy, they resisted his will to move forward. All he could think about were his phantom copy's words echoing throughout his skull. He wondered if this was the type of test the planet was supposed to give him, but rather than feeling elation and clarity of having constructed his lightsaber, he only felt turmoil from his own confusing emotions. The encounter had shaken him to his core. He had read about it countless times in his studies; the Dark Side corrupted, unflinchingly so. It tempted with power, with "release from the shackles of light". Freedom the Sith had called it, but to him it was just another binding, one that brought inner and outer destruction.

Power... that was something he had actually experienced for the first time. When he drew upon the Kyuubi's chakra, it scorched his veins. He could literally feel his body corroding under the onslaught of demonic energy, yet he felt a euphoria to hold so much in his fingertips. He felt invincible, untouchable, and he liked it. That was what frightened him the most.

"Is this what the Dark Side does?" he asked himself, staring at his clenching fist.

"Your master was not entirely wrong in what he taught you. What you saw was a manifestation of unchecked power."

"You again? In case you haven't noticed, I have enough on my mind."

"How can I not? I share your thoughts, mortal. Every thought, every feeling, every memory, I see and experience vividly. We are more intertwined than you think."

"And that's the problem. I nearly lost myself today, because you had to force yourself into my chakra!"

"Losing yourself would have brought this cave around our ears. No, if you remember, you had complete control over the situation. All I did was give you the means to the end."

"Bullshit."

"Bullshit? Hah! You humans are all alike. When confronted with something you don't understand, you either fight it or run from it. You are an emotional being, boy. You are going to have anger, you are going to have fear, hatred, and rage. They are not going away."

"Of course they aren't. I'm not naïve, furball."

"What you just saw is unchecked hatred. Luckily for your hide, you have such checks and balances to keep that from happening. I will give you credit for one thing; your will to resist that temptation thus far is something not many humans have. You have every right to be angry and exact vengeance on those who wronged you, yet you refuse. Whether it's some ass-backwards moral code, or simply the way you have been raised to think, even I don't know."

"What's gotten into you anyway? You've never been this talkative."

"Until now, I've had no reason to be. Heed this warning human; wise men are only wise because they've listened to those who came before. Call us tainted, call us monstrosities, but even I and my brethren follow a code of honor. It will behoove you to shut up if I or any of them have something to say."

"I'm not even going begin to wonder how I'd ever talk to them, so for now just leave me be. I have too much on my mind."

Kyuubi didn't respond to that, something Naruto was grateful for. He felt himself torn; one part of him, the largest part, remained steadfastly loyal to Revan, the man who took him in like a son. Another, much smaller part, felt pulled towards the Kyuubi, something he could always rely on when he couldn't count on anyone else. Then there was that dark corner which he had fought today. All the negative feelings, memories, and desires that he had long locked away were suddenly ripped out of him and thrown in his face. He had his lightsaber and could be considered a knight from now on, but he felt like his test had only started, like it was an empty victory. He couldn't wait to get off this planet.


Revan had made a point to pack up their gear when his apprentice ventured into the deep caverns. They both had enough of the sub-zero temperatures and lack of home comforts. All that remained was to wait for the blonde to return to the temple proper and they could be on their merry way. He stood at the entrance with his arms crossed, his eyes aimlessly sweeping over the vast white expanse past the Ebon Hawk. He turned when he heard the tell-tale footsteps of his apprentice behind him.

"Congratulations on your success," he said with a smile. Naruto paused before him and knelt. Despite his ordeal, he still felt many years more mature than he really was.

"A great trial has been tested upon your body and soul. You have entered the fire as a padawan, but no longer."

The jedi ignited a blue saber and let it rest above Naruto's left shoulder.

"You are now accepting a great responsibility. When the call of battle sounds, will you step up to the galaxy's defense? Will you swear to protect the innocent and uphold the Jedi Code?"

Naruto looked up and into the eyes of his master. "I do."

"Then I bid you stand, Uzumaki Naruto, Knight," the padawan braid was suddenly cut, "of the Republic."

And he stood. He felt proud, he felt elated. He could call himself a true Jedi now.

"How does it feel?" asked his master.

"No offense sensei, it feels great, but I'd just like to get off this planet."

"Hah, I can see that. Alright, the ship is loaded and ready to go."

Rather than running off towards the ship like the Jedi had expected, the boy bore into a power walk. He kept his head down and hardly said a word as he passed. A completed lightsaber hung at his belt, indicating he had completed his task, but the test he was given was something else entirely. Revan stalked after his apprentice as the boarding ramp disengaged.

Unknown to Naruto, Revan had sensed the entire fight. He knew what it was his surrogate son had to face in the cave. It worried him how badly his psyche had been damaged from his short, early years. He had also sensed the Kyuubi's chakra reveal itself. He wondered if the seal was weakening or advancing to the point of allowing Naruto free use of its chakra like Minato had intended.

"I think things just got much more complicated."

The pair settled themselves into the cockpit, T3 working on the navigation computer to punch in the proper coordinates as Revan piloted them out of the system. He could feel the inner conflicts his apprentice was having and as the ship lurched into hyperspace, he decided some kind of intervention was in order.

"Your test wasn't something your were expecting, was it."

"I feel sick to my stomach, if that answers your question."

"What you've seen was an embodiment of the Dark Side. It is not unheard of for a Jedi to encounter one. In fact, it has been a much more common occurrence in recent years during our wars with the Sith. It happens when the Jedi walks a fine line between light and dark, and tips into the darker of the halves.

The Dark Side digs into your consciousness and brings to the forefront your greatest fears and darkest desires."

"So that thing was me..." the blonde sighed dejectedly.

"I do not expect you to have the proper mental shielding to prevent such a thing from happening, but the figure you fought is a sign of an ongoing mental conflict."

"What must I do, sensei? I don't want to live the rest of my life in fear," he pleaded.

"Train yourself to let go of such desires. Find something more important in your life than revenge. It could be an ideal to rise up to, like becoming Hokage of your village."

"What was yours?"

Revan was slightly surprised at the question.

"Me? Mine changed from time to time. I can't really share the details, because honestly I can't remember them. But what anchors me now is a person."

"A person?"

"A special person, someone I'd give my entire life for."

The answer confused Naruto. Sure he'd fight at Revan's side against any opponent, and would probably die for him too, but the kind of devotion his master spoke of seemed to go far beyond what the boy knew.

"I don't understand."

"With time and patience Naruto, you will. You will."

They said no more after that. Without any further words to share, Naruto retreated to the cargo hold. He needed to meditate, to clear his mind so he could better understand the now ongoing trial he had to deal with. But first thing was a much needed shower. He stripped his nearly ragged cold weather garb and quickly jumped into the refresher. He shuddered as the steaming hot water hit his skin. It was absolutely heavenly. He spent over half an hour simply savoring the feel before actually scrubbing down. About ten minutes later, he was dressed in fresh robes and had settled down on the deck. Maybe he could get more out of the Kyuubi too. Despite the short time they had been conversing with each other, he was starting to see that the fox wasn't as terrible as everyone made him to be. Or maybe it was just manipulating him for its own ends.

"So little faith in me. That hurts kit, that really hurts," he heard it chide.

"Kit? That's a new one."

"Maybe it is. What do you want?"

"I have questions, and I need answers."

"I have not the time, patience, or desire to indulge you."

"I have to know. What really happened ten years ago? Why did you attack Konoha? Why did the Fourth seal you inside me?"

"Those are all questions you will have to figure out yourself. My answers are meaningless at this moment because frankly, your own view is warped. That and like I said before, I don't have a damn to give about your questions, so for now, speculate."

"Come on, there has to be something you can say."

"You're right; it's piss off. Goodbye, runt."

Naruto came out of his trance to find himself back in the cargo hold of the Hawk.

"Well, that could have gone better..."


"Are you sure of this?" asked Bastila as she flipped through the slides.

"I don't have a single doubt in my mind Bas... that's our man," replied Carth.

He had specifically asked for her to join him in his private quarters on the Sojourn after Mission's email. For the woman in question, her mind was racing. It had been at least five years since she had last seen or even heard from her husband. Five years since he had left to investigate old memories of a stronger, hidden Sith Empire, yet here he was, on Metellos of all places, with a boy nonetheless. She sat back in her chair, wondering just how she should feel.

On the one hand, she had felt relieved and joyous that her husband was alive and well. On the other hand, she wanted to be angry, pissed off, livid, whatever word you wanted to put to it, that he was instead, she could only guess, training his own apprentice.

"He could have done that here, damn it!" she swore.

"Bastila?"

"I'm sorry Carth, but that man just infuriates me sometimes. Do you know where he could have gone off to after that?"

"I wish I did. Mission only managed these snapshots before he disappeared again."

Bastila sighed. Still, she had her own methods. She relaxed her mind and closed her eyes, letting her will reach out across the Force and through their bond. It had gone dark when he entered the Unknown Regions, but now it was back. It was fading fast again, but it was back. Just a bit longer and... there! Her eyes flew open and she let out a gasp.

"Are you alright?" asked a concerned Carth.

"I'm fine. I think I know where he is."

"How?"

"Don't forget. We share a bond. As long as he was in known space, I could always find out where he was."

"Until he went into some uncharted regions, right?"

"That's right. This whole time until now, the other end of the bond has been dark, but his recent foray into the galaxy proper opened the gates once more. I was also able to pick up on the last planet he's been on after leaving Metellos. It was Ilum."

"Ilum? There could be only one reason why he'd go there..."

"Exactly. That boy he had with him is a student. He has no other reason to go to that planet with such company otherwise."

"But what about after? It seemed like you had a bead on him and then all of a sudden, he just dropped off the map."

"He went back into the Unknown Regions for who knows what. I would say to continue his searching but recent information just changed that viewpoint. If I had to, I could go after him right now and track him down. It'd be a bit of a stretch but it would be possible."

"Why do I get the feeling there's another "but" in there."

"Because if he needed help he would have come for it. I have no idea what else he could be doing out there, so showing up unannounced could ruin his plan of secrecy."

"We have to make some kind of decision though, Bastila."

"Then it will be to keep an eye out for him in case he either shows up again or calls for help. For now, despite how absolutely frustrating he's being, I'll keep out of it until he needs us."

"Are you sure that's a good decision?"

"It's the only decision. He entrusted us with strengthening and protecting the Republic in case whatever it is he's planning fails. I won't go against that trust. The Order needs a leader, and with this odd darkness I've been sensing creeping up on us, we need to be on our guard now more than ever."

"You don't think those Sith soldiers were from this Empire he's been looking for, do you?"

"No. At best, they're remnants from the Civil War. What concerns me is who their ring leader might be. Obviously he has good connections just for having a presence that deep in the core systems. Hopefully it was just luck that they stumbled upon Revan and his boy."

"The high brass aren't going to like this..."

They could never catch a break.


It had been almost a day of travel when the Ebon Hawk fell out of hyperspace next to a familiar blue planet. Joy filled Naruto as he looked upon his home once more. He had no idea how many months had passed since they left, but seeing it once again made the trip worth it. He had a good glimpse of what the rest of the galaxy had to offer, but right now he just wanted to get back into the warm forests of Fire Country. The Hawk made its steady descent into the planet's atmosphere. Out of habit, Revan switched on the cloaking system as they rushed over an expansive ocean.

"So good to be home..." breathed his student.

"Nostalgic isn't it," chuckled Revan.

"Except, I sense something odd. It's almost like... someone's in trouble."

"You might. You are much more attuned to the Force than when you left."

"It seems to be coming from that direction."

Naruto pointed his finger to give a better idea. Revan checked his maps. Oddly enough, that area was home only to a sleepy fishing village. He couldn't understand what could be making it danger. Still, now that Naruto had said something, he could sense it too. He slowed the Hawk down to get a better approach. They were still a mile in the air though so anything visual would be impossible for the natives.

"Sensei, I have to get down there. That mist doesn't seem natural," voiced the boy as they came into approach of the islands.

"You're really hellbent on this aren't you."

"You had me swear to protect innocent lives when I became a Jedi Knight. What would that say about that oath if I turned my back on this?"

Revan had no answer for that. He simply smiled and brought the ship down where the mist had accumulated. He swore he could barely make out the outline of a massive stone bridge. Why did that seem familiar? Naruto in the mean time had gone to grab his gear. Once again, he was dressed in his familiar Jedi tunic and robes. He may have had his lightsaber, but a blaster wouldn't hurt either. Why waste a good tool? He nestled a little radio in his ear and grabbed the release latch for the ramp. Wind filled the cabin as the Hawk steadily touched down to the ground.

"We're about hundred meters up," said Revan through the radio.

They were descending faster, the steady expanse of trees and the shore beyond it rapidly coming up to meet them.

"Fifty."

Naruto stepped out onto the ramp itself, grabbing onto the side of the Hawk for support against the whipping winds.

"Twenty five."

"I'm out," replied Naruto, lightly jumping from the ramp and into the trees below.

He turned around to watch the Hawk roar back to life. Placing a hand to his ear, he radioed Revan he was in one piece.

"Sensei, how far would say is the target?"

"I'd give it about four clicks northeast of your position. Keep in mind I won't be able to link up with you for quite some time while I find a safe place to put the Hawk down. I may even have to go back to the hideout, so no heroics. You just started as a knight, don't throw it away on something stupid."

"You won't have to worry about me. I know my limits. See you in a few. Out."

Naruto released the pressure he placed on the radio's button and sped off. To have tree branches underneath his feet, humidity instead of ice, he couldn't have been happier. And the wellspring of Force energy that was his home planet, he felt tons stronger than he ever had out in the galaxy. He let it fill him to the core, his body reveling in the long lost source of energy. Now, as for his target...

The area he was looking for had been coated in an odd type of chakra. As he grew closer and the trees thin, he could spot the faint outlines of a bridge that was absolutely saturated with a thick mist. It was unnatural, and he had a feeling some powerful shinobi were fighting in the middle of it all. As he reached the shore, he could then pick up the many spikes of killing intent. He reached out into the Force and could sense... five major presences. There were two weaker ones but they had stayed out of whatever fighting the others were in.

The shore took a steep incline towards the cliff the bridge had been connected to. With the Force running through his body, the boy barely became a blur to the random villager he passed as he entered town. The most they noticed was a gust a wind, but even then it might as well have been a ghost town. As Naruto made his way into the mist, he slowed to a walk when he heard the clanging of steel on steel. Remembering his own training, he swept his senses across the bridge to get the most accurate picture possible.

Two very large chakras were bouncing against each other. He figured they were both at least jonin level so he opted out of that particular exchange. Then there were the other three. From what he could gather, it was a two on one battle, and the two were losing. Naruto made his way closer to the group and the sight of mirrors came into view. In fact, the mirrors formed a dome, and inside were the two losers he was sensing.

"Great, how am I getting them out of there...?" he muttered. He thought for a moment and shrugged. Why the hell not?

He grabbed the pistol at his leg and thumbed it for full power. With a brilliant flash from the muzzle, a red bolt erupted and bore itself into the closest mirror. Time seemed to slow as all the combatants paused at the sound. Three more bolts fired into the mirror, causing it to crack. A final shot shattered it completely.

"One down," he thought as he sped into the gap, holstering his gun as he went.

As he passed the "threshold" into the dome, he ignited and threw his saber at the mirror directly in front of him. With surprising strength, he grabbed the boys, both riddled with senbon needles, just as the saber carved a clean cut through its intended target. A quick Force push shattered what remained of it and Naruto, with a completely dumbstruck Sasuke and Kenji, found themselves in safety outside the bizarre trap. The blonde settled them down carefully, trying his best not to aggravate the needles. The spinning lightsaber blade soon found itself back in his hand as he turned to face the ninja responsible for the mirrors.

"Who the hell are you and how did you break those damn mirrors so easily?" demanded Kenji, both blades loose in his hands. Sasuke remained silent but had the same train of thought.

"We can do introductions later. Right now, it looks like you need some help," replied the hooded blonde.

At an instant, Kakashi was at their side. After checking over his students to make sure they were not hit anywhere or with anything lethal, he approached their odd rescuer.

"Might I ask who you are? I'd at least like to know the name of the one who just saved my students' lives."

"Uzumaki Naruto," he replied curtly, his full attention on the ninja who exited the mirrors.

Kakashi however had to do a double take at the boy in front of him. He hadn't heard about him in years since that man Revan took him in. After that, he made a few appearances in the village but even those he could count on a single hand.

"Haku, that boy made mincemeat out of your mirrors." Standing beside the ice nin was a giant of a man with an equally large Zanbatō on his back. His face, save for his eyes, was completely bandaged, yet he spoke clear as day.

"I know Zabuza-sama."

"The bridge builder can wait. Right now, we have a much more interesting target, money be damned. I know you wanted to fight those two brats on your own, but this is a chance I can't pass up." A cold chuckle escaped his lips.

"As you wish."

Kakashi stepped forward to join Naruto, a kunai in hand as the blonde ignited his lightsaber once more.

"I have a lot of questions for you if and when we get out of here alive. Did you have a plan b?" asked the copy-nin.

Naruto looked at him and shrugged with a small smile. "Not really."


A/N: Aaand here's chapter nine. Haha, I'm on a roll! It's almost 11:30 and I got work tomorrow at 5. I'm an insane bastard :3 Keep the feedback up, and to kinda answer the biggest concern people have been having, I really don't know how and when the Exile will fit in. And to keep the perspectives the same for both sides, if I do bring Kotor2 into the mix, it will be happening five years earlier than in canon. Stay tuned for the next chapter!