The Parting of Ways

I don't own Naruto or Star Wars.

Naruto awoke in his new penthouse/stronghold before dawn and showered before getting dressed in his new clothes. They resembled his Jedi robes but were modified with Mandalorian iron plates in them. He attached all his lightsabers and went into Elie's room. He gave the sleeping Cathar a kiss on the forehead before he fed Ranmaru and left with R2.

(Several Hours Later)

"So, I guess that's it for now." said the Exile as she, Master Kaeden and Master Bakarn finished their meeting with the Chancellor.

The Chancellor looked beyond them and shook his head.

"I believe you all know my new bodyguard." said Tenebrae as the Masters turned around.

They all stared in shock as Naruto walked past them without giving them a second glance and stood behind the Chancellor.

"Chancellor, you do know he's a criminal, right?" asked Master Kaeden.

"I've pardoned him and granted him immunity." said Tenebrae, "If you attempt to arrest him, I have all of you arrested for treason."

The Jedi glared at Naruto as they left and Naruto looked away from them.

"You should have let me know they were coming." said Naruto calmly.

"I didn't want to bother you from your other duties." said Tenebrae, "Now, I would like you to actually deliver a parcel to an contact of mine on Ryloth."

He handed Naruto a package and the young boy looked at it.

"What is it?" asked Naruto.

"Something that will help one of our spies in the Empire." said Tenebrae as Naruto bowed and left.

(An Hour Later)

Naruto and R2 strolled through the deserts of Nightlands of Ryloth and entered the cantina where the drop would occur. Naruto sat back and watched the slave auctions while also keeping R2 close.

"Fancy meeting you here." said Lazarus as she stepped next to Naruto and watched as a young red Twi'lek girl was put up for auction, "Eighty thousand!"

"I'm guessing your the Chancellor's contact?" asked Naruto as someone outbid Lazarus.

"Correct." said Lazarus as she continued to watch the auction, "One hundred and fifty thousand!"

"Here." said Naruto as he shoved the package into Lazarus's hands, who was outbid again.

"Thank you." said Lazarus, "One million!"

"Ten million!" shouted Naruto and everyone parted to look at him.

Everything was silent and Naruto went up to the podium and tossed the bag of credits to the accountant as he took the girl's arm and walked out with her and R2.

"Naruto!" called out Lazarus as she went after him, "Naruto, wait up!"

"What?" asked the disgruntled Naruto as he looked back at Lazarus.

"I'm sorry for what I made you do on Ilum." apologized Lazarus.

Naruto looked away and Lazarus held out a card.

"That's my personal holofrequency." she said, "Give me a call if you ever need help."

She then left and Naruto headed to the spaceport with R2 and his new slave. As soon as they were in space and R2 had the controls, Naruto went into the back and looked at the scared and frightened Twi'lek. He shifted into his older form and knelt down in front of the Twi'lek and hugged her.

"Ni kyr'tayl gai sa'ad." whispered Naruto and he closed his eyes. (1)

(Another Hour Later)

"Elie, I'm..." began Naruto as he entered his penthouse with R2 and the Twi'lek to find the placed was ransacked.

Naruto rushed through the penthouse and found Elie was on the ground next to Ranmaru. He hurried to her side and checked on her.

"Artoo, call for help!" ordered Naruto as he started healing Elie with the Force.

After several minutes, medics rushed into the penthouse and carried Elie out in a medical capsule. Naruto then went around the penthouse to find if anything had been taken and clenched his hands when he found that one particular item was gone.

(Ten Minutes Later)

"She was drugged with Glitterstim." said the doctor as Naruto looked at the unconscious Elie, "Thanks to the treatment you gave her before we arrived, she'll pull through but it's a mystery as to when she'll wake up."

Naruto stormed off with R2, Ranmaru, and Talon, as he had learned the Twi'lek's name while waiting for the doctor.

(Half an Hour Later)

"These charges are ridiculous." said Satele as she looked at the Chancellor, "I never ordered a mission to retrieve the holocron."

"Well, someone did, Master Jedi." said Tenebrae, "The Sith still don't know that the holocron even exists."

"I assure you Chancellor that we had nothing to do with what happened to Elie." said Satele, "I gave specific orders along with the Council that no one was to go after that holocron or Naruto."

"Was the order unanimous?" asked Naruto angrily.

"Look, I'll investigate this myself and find out what happened." said Satele.

"You'd better or the the Jedi will be charged with treason." threatened Naruto as he ended the call.

"I'm sorry for your friend." said the Chancellor, "I will have the SIS look into this as well."

"I've got to make a call." said Naruto, "And I'm sorry, Chancellor, but I can't have you in the room or any of the listening devices active."

"It's no problem, my boy." said Tenebrae as he pressed a button and left.

Naruto took out Lazarus's card and put in the frequency as he made the call.

"What is it?" asked Lazarus when she picked up.

"Remember that holocron that I took from the Jedi?" asked Naruto.

"The one that leads to the Force Nexuses?" asked Lazarus, "Of course."

"It was stolen." explained Naruto.

"That is troubling." said Lazarus, "I'll be at your penthouse in a few hours."

Naruto then ended the call and left.

(That Night)

Naruto watched Talon sleep when the intercom went off. Naruto went over and pressed a button.

"What is it?" he asked the guard downstairs.

"Sir, there's a Kaori Uchiha here to see you." said the guard.

"Send her up." ordered Naruto as he pulled his Darksaber out of the case he kept all his lightsabers in and attached it to his hip.

Lazarus entered the penthouse and whistled in awe.

"Nice." she said as she walked over to Naruto, "Where are R2 and Ranmaru?"

"Guarding my adiik." said Naruto.

"So, that's why you bought that Twi'lek." said Lazarus as Naruto led her over to a coffee table surrounded by two couches.

They each took a seat and looked at each other.

"I checked with Darth Jadus before I came here." explained Lazarus, "He's the head of the Sphere of Imperial Intelligence. Our spies saw some Jedi Sentinels around this building the other day and they left in quite a hurry."

"I always hated those guys." said Naruto, "They have no honor at all."

"We've also got reports that several members of the Jedi Council recently started moving about the Galaxy in an odd manner." said Lazarus, "We believe that they're trying to locate Force Nexuses."

"Do we have any idea where the ones who ordered them are?" questioned Naruto.

"Of course." said Lazarus, "The closest ones is Masters Nikil Nobil and Giffis Fane on Balmorra."

Naruto stood up and made about three dozen Shadow Clones before getting his double-bladed lightsaber and leaving with Lazarus.

(Half an Hour Later)

Naruto and Lazarus stepped out of the spaceport in Sobrik and Naruto looked in the direction of the Balmoran Arms Factory.

"What is it?" asked Lazarus as Naruto shifted into his older form and stole a speeder bike before heading toward the factory.

Naruto narrowed his eyes and grabbed his saberstaff.

Jedi Masters Nikil Nobil and Giffis Fane were going over some intelligence they had recieved when a section of the roof exploded and they jumped to their feet. A person fell through the hole in the ceiling and sent them flying back with a massive Force Wave.

"You!" exclaimed Master Nobil when he recognized Naruto's older form.

A squad of soldiers entered the room and Naruto flicked his wrist, sending all of them flying into the wall and knocking them out.

"You've both got three seconds to tell me why you ordered the attack on Elie before I arrest you both and have you tried for treason against the Republic." said Naruto as he attempted to quell his anger.

"You'll get nothing from us, traitor!" shouted Master Nobil as he and Fane drew their lightsabers.

"I didn't want to have to do this but I guess I have no choice." said Naruto as he ignited his saberstaff and gave it a quick twirl.

The two Jedi Masters ignited theirs and rushed forward. They engaged Naruto in an intense duel and Naruto decided to go off the books and used Vaapad. He had managed to hold them off extremely well but finally got the upper hand when he blocked Nobil's overhead strike from behind while also destroying Fane's lightsaber at the same time. He elbowed Fane away as Nobil tried to wrestle his lightsaber from him. He kneed Nobil twice then improved as he blocked Fane's lightsaber. Once Naruto got all three of them on one side of the lightsaber, he slammed his robotic arm into Nobil and the Jedi Master hit the other before Naruto ducked and got on the other side of the saberstaff. He and Nobil jumped apart as Fane's lightsaber came between them.

"Forgive me." said Naruto as he kicked Fane's arm and made him execute sai tok on Nobil.

Fane looked in shock as Naruto turned away and starting walking toward the hole he had made in the ceiling. Fane gave into his rage and charged Naruto, who turned around and went into a combination of Soresu and Vaapad. Fane eventually got behind Naruto and tried to stab him in the head while Naruto had his saberstaff over his head but Naruto tilted out of the way. He then brought it down and snapped Fane's arm before spinning and performed sai cha.

Naruto stared at his work and panted as the soldiers started to stir. He said a quick prayer then jumped out of the hole.

(Several Hours Later)

Satele looked through a holoalbum of images of her and Naruto before the Sacking of Coruscant as tears filled her eyes.

"I didn't think you cared after you abandoned me." came Naruto's voice behind her.

Satele spun around and found a hologram of Naruto leaning against the wall.

"When did you put that there?" she asked.

"The fox put it there before I took control back from him." said Naruto, "I'm guessing you heard of what happened to Masters Nobil and Fane. I was only defending myself and they attacked first."

"I could tell that from the disturbance in the Force I felt." said Satele.

"I got a tip that those two and Master Kaeden were the ones who stole the holocron from me." reported Naruto.

"Where's you proof?" asked Satele.

"Where is Master Kaeden right now?" asked Naruto.

"He's training Tara on Nar Shaada." replied Satele.

"Then they must have twins because Lazarus and I just saw them enter a cave on Hoth." said Naruto.

"Don't move." said Satele, "I'm on my way."

"I said it before." said Naruto, "I can't count on you to look after the galaxy. Leave this to those that follow the Potentium."

Naruto ended the call and walked into the ice cave with Lazarus. He walked across a narrow walkway in the path that Kaeden and Tara followed when a large chunk of ice fell from the ceiling and seperated him and Lazarus.

"Go on, Naruto." ordered Lazarus urgently, "I'll find another way."

She ran off and Naruto climbed up a pillar of ice to avoid the Jedi Sentinels on the ground. He soon met up with Lazarus deep in the tunnel and walked down a stone path and soon came upon Master Kaeden and Tara looking upon Datacron.

"No." said Kaeden as he stopped Tara from reaching for the Datacron, "Naruto was right."

"What would he know?" asked Tara.

"More than me." said Kaeden.

"About time!" declared Naruto and alertting them as they turned around, "These structures hold the galaxy together, not a weapon to control it. The deaths of Masters Nobil and Fane would have been been avoided if you had just listened to me!"

"Disrespectful to the end." said Kaeden.

"Quite typical of an Uzumaki." said Lazarus as she walked around Naruto.

"Right or wrong, Naruto, you betrayed the Order, Satele, and me." said Tara.

"Says the person who said that I could always count on her to back me up." retorted Naruto.

"That was years ago and you had already killed hundreds of Jedi on Ilum." said Tara as she put the holocron that Naruto was after in her robes.

Naruto instantly felt something and countered Tara's Force Wave with a stronger one that sent her and Master Kaeden staggering into the Datacron, knocking it off the podium. The entire place began to shake and pieces of ice fell from the ceiling. Master Kaeden and Tara went up different slopes to the surface and Lazarus chased after Kaeden while Naruto went after his old friend.

As they ran, Naruto drew his Darksaber and activated it as he darted from side to side as he avoided falling icesickles. They made it outside while the ice continued to fall apart and Naruto took a side path with a burst of Force Speed to get ahead of Tara and jumped off the cliff overlooking the one she was on and stabbed her in the chest where the Holocron was. He then picked her up and jumped to a stable piece of ice as he watched her die.

"I didn't want to do this." cried Naruto as he stared down at his dying friend, "I didn't want any of this."

"Yeah... right." said the dying Tara, "You slayed two Council members. Betrayed... everyone who called you a friend. You sided with... a Sith... and for what?"

"To save the galaxy and my home." said Naruto as Tara weakly laughed.

"I hope that home is a good one." she said before she took her last breath and moved no more.

"Ni su'cuyi, gar kyr'adyc, ni partayli, gar darasuum, Tara." said Naruto in Mando'a as he closed her eyes and picked up her body. (2)

He jumped up to the top of the crevice they were in and ran until he came upon Lazarus winning a duel against Master Kaeden.

"Wait!" shouted Naruto just as Lazarus disarmed Kaeden and forced him to the ground.

She held her lightsaber at his neck and Naruto sat Tara's body down several yards back.

"Why?" asked Lazarus as she glared down at Kaeden.

"Master Kaeden is harmless now." reasoned Naruto, "He's a man with no support on the Jedi Council. What kind of Potentium are we following if we cannot show mercy? Besides, he understands what these Force Nexuses are now. Without him, the Jedi may continue their search."

"Valid points." said Lazarus as she removed her lightsaber and put it away.

However, a moment later, as she was walking away, she drew her lightsaber and cut Kaeden's leg off just above the knee. The Jedi Master roared in agony and clutched his stump of a leg.

"Never forget what has happened here." said Lazarus sternly.

"I won't." said Kaeden in anger as Naruto pulled Tara's lightsaber into his hand and left with Lazarus.

(Ten Minutes Later)

Lazarus took the Rogue Shadow into hyperspace and turned on the autopilot as Naruto stepped into the cockpit.

"What happens now?" he asked.

"The Emperor has banned the search of these Force Nexuses so we won't have to worry about the Imperials finding them and the Jedi are likely to follow after this." said Lazarus as she sput her chair around to face Naruto, "I'm surprised by you."

"How so?" asked Naruto.

"The Font of Power was what the Son got his powers from but he became corrupt and yet you managed to keep a hold of the light." said Lazarus, "Normally, you would have turned to the Dark Side right about now."

"That will never happen." said Naruto as he stared at the stars, "I may not agree with the Jedi on a lot of things but I still believe in the Light Side."

"I see." said Lazarus, "I wonder how you'll feel once you know Satele's secret."

"Secret?" asked Naruto in surprise, "What secret?"

Lazarus brought a finger to her lips and smiled before she turned around and checked all the gauges.

(1) = I know your name as my child.

(2) = I'm still alive, but you are dead. I remember you, so you are eternal.

For the full lightsaber duel, go onto YouTube and look up the Ferocity Lightsaber Duel.

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