Hey everyone! Zeratide here, and I must say that a lot of people are commenting on how much of a hypocrite Anakin is. I realize they are correct, but he just can't come out and say he's married, now can he? Cut at least a little slack; it makes it easier for me to weave my tales. Also, I beg your forgiveness ahead of time for my attempt to write Yoda's anastrophe-style of speaking. Without further ado, here is Chapter 14 of Under The Stars.
Previously…
The duel couldn't have lasted more than thirty seconds, but Ahsoka found that she was unsurprised with its outcome; Naruto had once again thoroughly trounced his friend, and his lover. He did a single Jar'Kai flourish, swinging the blades around his body, before he deactivated them.
He helped both Padawans back to their feet, and reattached the hilts, swinging the activated blade in an arc around his body. "Ready to go again?"
Roughly a week after his rescue, Naruto stood in the Council Chambers, wearing the robes he had worn in the coliseum. He had added a matching hood, and said hood was now covering his features in shadow, allowing him to hide from the Masters staring silently at him. No one else was there to distract them from him, and he felt their eyes boring into him. Matching their silence, he remained stationary, his stance strong and unmoving, like a statue of some fearsome warrior of eons past.
"Pull down your hood," Windu ordered, and the Padawan hesitantly obeyed his Master. There was a collective intake of breath from every Master present in the room, save Obi-Wan, who had already seen his new appearance.
The third duel had just begun when Obi-Wan strode into the area, glancing casually toward the spar. His face paled as he recognized a double-bladed lightsaber spin in an impossible flourish, disarming Gaara, and in a heartbeat, he had used a Force leap, flipping into the ring and activating his saber. "How do you live, Maul?" he demanded, quickly stepping between Ahsoka and the Sith. He paused, however, when he saw that the details were wrong. The lightsaber was not the Sith red, but rather a frosty green; the Zabrak's skin was not red with black tattoos, but rather tan with silver tattoos; and the face was not that of Darth Maul, but rather that of Naruto. Surprise flitted across both men's faces, before they lowered their blades.
"Naruto?" Obi-Wan whispered, cautiously walking toward him. "What happened to you?" Naruto was silent for a moment, before he turned to the troops gathered around the ring.
"Could you give us some privacy?" he asked them respectfully, and they grumbled under their breaths, but did as he asked. Once the area was cleared of all except the Master and the three Padawans, Naruto launched into the story of his captivity, the genetic experiments, and his subsequent changes therein. Obi-Wan listened silently the whole time, displaying surprise, horror, and pride at various words. Once Naruto was done and the last words had faded into silence, Obi-Wan clapped him on the shoulder.
"You did very well to keep your mind your own, Naruto. I believe that you are that much closer to becoming a Jedi Knight."
Standing before the Masters now, he saw that they weren't quite so impressed. Several arms tensed, longing to draw lightsabers, and even Master Windu seemed concerned. Yoda gave him a strange smile, before rising from his seat, and slowly walking toward him with his strange gait.
"Changed, you are," he stated, pointing at Naruto with the tip of his walking stick. "But change, not so bad, is it always. Your changes, what are, hmm?" Naruto listed them off, both physical and mental, while Yoda remained silent. "Of Geonosis, tell us." So Naruto listed a report of everything that had happened while he was there. Only three things were omitted; he did not tell them of Kurama, of his longing for Ahsoka, or allowing Dooku to escape; he merely said that Dooku had managed to disappear in the tunnels.
"So our mission was a failure," Shaak-Ti said, speaking for the first time around him. He had a moment to appreciate her voice before she continued. "And despite this fact, we have gained much in return. We have put fear into the hearts of our opponents, and we now have someone whose power is possibly on par with Dooku's, if not greater. The fact that Dooku ran from a child states that he realizes how much of a threat you pose." She was silent for a moment, before she spoke to the Masters present. "I believe that Naruto has passed the necessary Trials, and that he is prepared to join the ranks of Knights."
Shock emanated through Naruto, increasing as Obi-Wan added his own vote of confidence. The remainder of the Masters spoke, and several minutes later, he strode out of the Council chamber to where Gaara, Ahsoka, Itachi, Ara, and Senshi were waiting for him.
"How'd it go?" Ahsoka asked, chewing nervously on her lip. Naruto looked at them with a blank expression, and opened his right hand, revealing his severed Padawan braid. Gaara slowly grinned, and Ahsoka embraced him, nearly knocking him over. They all laughed, before they eventually parted ways; Gaara to go and train, Ara and Senshi to familiarize themselves with their new home, Itachi to drop off a delivery from Naruto to Boba, and Naruto and Ahsoka to go "celebrate."
After his promotion, time seemed to pass by so quickly for Naruto. A shift, subtle but noticeable (if only in the morale of the troops) became apparent; the war was changing. Two years passed, and The Republic was getting closer to winning the war, and Naruto found that he began to actively participate in battles. Ara, Senshi, and Itachi joined him in each battle, armed with whatever they preferred. Whenever he was sent onto the frontlines, he tended to use Shadow Clones in conjunction with his double-bladed lightsaber to create an impenetrable wall his opponents couldn't shoot through. As a result, the casualty rating of the battles he fought in greatly decreased.
Time changed each of those in Naruto's party. Naruto found that his new Zabrak horns would keep growing, so he allowed them to grow to approximately two inches before he would maintain them at that length, looking as though he wore a jagged crown. Stubble appeared frequently on his chin, requiring him to shave daily. His hair lengthened, and he allowed it to grow in silver-blond waves to his waist, tying it back in much the same manner as Jiraiya. After learning the Needle Jizo jutsu from said Sage, Naruto made an effort to keep his hair at that length. Thanks to his new Zabrak DNA, his muscular system was greatly amped up, and as he upped his physical training regimen, noticeable muscles carved their way across his body, turning him into a prime example of a warrior.
Gaara remained much the same. His hair grew longer, and his body became more muscular. His already deep voice deepened even more considerably, and now that he had the Shikaku under control, he was finally able to get a full night's sleep. All these factors combined turned the heads of many female Padawans, and more than a few female Knights.
Ara had changed her revealing attire for a more practical outfit. She wore black, skintight leggings underneath a segmented Kama. A skintight black shirt rested underneath a form-fitting plastoid chest plate, near-identical to those of the clones. Fingerless gloves covered deadly hands, and cinched to her waist were a Naboo-model blaster, vibro-blade, and a set of beskar knuckles. When he asked her where she had found the beskar, she merely smiled.
Senshi changed even less than Gaara. His only apparel was a bandolier with attached boltcaster. His main change was in his bearing; he walked taller and prouder, having finally overcome his dishonor.
Itachi had gotten used to his new eyes, and changed out of his sandy robes for a much more practical outfit as well. He wore baggy black pants with a half-dozen pockets, each filled to the brim with senbon, kunai, shuriken, ammunition, and other assorted weapons. Storage seals were tattooed on the back of his hands, holding DC-17 hand blasters, standard blaster rifles, and a high-powered sniper rifle. A sleeveless black muscle shirt covered his torso, and a katana was strapped to his back, residing in a simple leather sheathe. His hair had cut in a simple military buzz.
Ahsoka by far had grown the most; her montrals were even taller, reaching a full eight inches above her head, and her lekku now extended to her waist. Her breasts had grown to match those of Aayla Secura, and her hips had widened to their full womanly measurements. All in all, she was a prime example of beauty, and she offered all of it to him.
The other Jedi, however, began to regard him with suspicion. When he walked through the hallways of the Temple, he could feel the eyes on the back of his head, staring at his horns and silver-blond hair. More than once, he caught two people whispering to each other about him, only to stop when they realized he was there.
It looks like my fate is to be a pariah, no matter where I go, he told Kurama on his sixteenth birthday. He was sitting atop the Temple, watching the sun set on Coruscant as he enjoyed a gentle breeze. On Kironia, I was outcast because I am a Jinchuuriki. But here, where I fully expected to be accepted, I am once again believed to be guilty of something that was beyond my control. Had I but had the choice then, I would not appear as I do now.
Try not to go maudlin on me, boy, Kurama replied, lying on a sofa. Since they had become friends, Naruto had gone into his mind and changed the parameters. Now instead of being a cold sewer, his mind was formatted like a cross between the Hokage Tower and the Jedi Temple. Grand statues of Jedi and past Kage dotted the walls, while Kironian furniture rested in each room. Rooms were large, but not overly so, and it had an all-around friendly feel. Take a look at what you have done here alone; if you can reshape your mind, than why should you allow yourself to believe that there is any reason to listen to those who cause you pain? You are strong Naruto, and I don't just mean physically. You are sixteen, and you have faced darkness the likes of which these Jedi have never seen. You lived an orphan, fought for a home that would not love you, and yet you still loved it and those around you. You will be just fine.
Later that night, after he had celebrated his birthday with his friends, Naruto lay in bed, trying to sleep. Ahsoka lay curled next to him, her breathing soft, and he kept shifting slightly, to try and get more comfortable without waking her. After a half hour, he finally abandoned any notion of sleeping, and sat up, sighing tiredly as he rested the heel of his palms against his eyelids.
"Can't sleep?" Ahsoka asked him, sitting up in the bed. She gently wrapped the covers around herself to keep warm, before she pulled him closer and wrapped him into the cocoon. He smiled softly and kissed her nose. She giggled slightly at that, before she kissed each of his eyelids twice.
His long-range commlink, the one he had made himself, beeped at that particular moment, and they turned to look at the ID. "It's Kakashi," Naruto said, reaching over her to press the button. The image shivered in place for a moment, before focusing into the white-haired shinobi.
"Naruto! Ahsoka!" he exclaimed, giving them his signature eye-smile. "It's so great to see you. Naruto, I wanted to call and say Happy Birthday to you. As usual, I sent a gift to you via the Jedi Temple, but whether or not they let you have it is up to them." Naruto laughed at that. Every year on his birthday, Kakashi would send him some present or other from Kironia, and Naruto would get a lecture on how he wasn't supposed to have ties as a Jedi. Naruto pointed out that Jedi doctrine did not permit him to contact Kakashi and ask him to cease the presents, but seeing as he was in contact anyway, (albeit secretly) they had decided to keep up the game to see just how long it would be until the Council had had enough.
"I have some other things to tell you," Kakashi continued, and his face grew more serious, though he was obviously still happy. "First off, I got married four months ago. Shortly after you left, I began a relationship with Anko – you remember, from the Chunin Exams? – and last year I asked her to marry me, to which she said yes. We had our wedding, and we're expecting a child in six months." Naruto smiled, imagining his Icha-Icha-reading sensei married.
"Also, after two years of diplomacy and war, Kironia has finally managed to form a planetary government. The Five Kage have shaken off the Daimyo who held us as servants, and we have managed to form a Council of sorts. They are electing a Head as we speak, and have elected me Senator to the Republic." Naruto managed to utter surprised congratulations before Kakashi continued. "Tomorrow morning, I'm sending a message to the Chancellor that, as Senator, I am going to visit Coruscant and request Jedi and Senate representation to the coronation, to further cement relations. I would like to bring you back."
Naruto fell silent for a moment, rubbing his stubble in thought. "Secret messages and birthday presents is one thing, Kakashi, but the Council will not be happy about this." Silence reined for a full minute before Naruto spoke again. "Regardless, your first action would be to get Senate representation. I would recommend requesting either Senator Organa, or Senator Amidala. They both have an outstanding reputation for diplomacy; there are no better people to have. Only after that should you request me. Personally, I think Gaara ought to go, but the choice is yours." He turned back to Ahsoka, and gently pulled her closer, kissing her lips.
"I will think on your words, Naruto. I understand that you are doing great things with the Jedi, but it pains me to see my only remaining student be separated from all he has known."
"Your only remaining student?" Naruto asked quickly, snapping his head back to his sensei. The expression of rapt attention on his face made Ahsoka pull slightly away from him to gaze into his eyes with concern. A pained expression crossed Kakashi's face, before he bowed his head, his hair obscuring his eyes.
"After Sasuke's death, all that was left of Team Seven was you and Sakura. However, we did not discover Sasuke's death until just last week, due to the fact that we had little contact with the outside world during our own war. Without you here, Sakura never grew out of her attraction to the monstrosity, and committed suicide… I'm sorry Naruto."
As Kakashi's image faded away, Naruto leaned back in shock, his skull thumping quietly against the wall of his room. "Are you okay?" Ahsoka asked him, wrapping her arms around him. He bawled pitifully in her embrace, not for a lost love, but for what he viewed as the loss of the last shred of his shinobi childhood, before finally falling asleep after an hour of tears.
Naruto awoke alone the next morning, finding a note in his hand under his pillow, explaining that Ahsoka had needed to leave in order for them not to be caught. Getting up, he strode over to the small bathroom and turned on the faucet, running his razor underneath the steaming water. Drawing the blade across his chin, he hissed in pain when it suddenly slipped, opening a long, bloody gash from the bottom of his chin to the left corner of his mouth. He watched as the flesh knitted back together seamlessly before his eyes, courtesy of Kurama's chakra, before he washed the blood off and tried again. "Frak!" he swore as the blade slid again, opening a thin line following the right side of his jaw from chin to ear. He slammed the blade back into the sink, giving up on shaving, and rinsed the blood off again. Looking in the mirror, he groaned in frustration as he saw that he had failed to actually shave any of his stubble.
Now in a bad mood, he dressed in a set of white outer robes with gray trousers and an inner gray hooded robe. Pulling on his combat boots, he shouted in anger as the laces on the right boot snapped. What the hell is going on? he thought to himself, fusing the string back together with chakra. He re-tied the laces, making sure they would hold this time, and checked his seals to make sure his lightsabers were still there. Satisfied that they were, he went to the meditation rooms, seeking to relax from his misfortunate start to the day.
After an hour of sitting silently on the cushioned chair, he was unable to stop his raging thoughts. With the news that he was headed home, that there was peace of Kironia at long last, and that he was the last of Team Seven, he was just unable to focus. Or, not focus. He never had quite figured out which it was.
Your mind is wound like a like a toy, Naruto, Kurama told him. If you wind it up anymore, it's going to break. Empty your mind of all thoughts but what you choose to meditate on. Ask yourself a simple question, and then focus on nothing but the answer. When you have the answer to that question, try another. Only when the waters are clear can you see the lake's depths.
Thank you, O Wise Master Yoda.
Welcome, you are, hmm? Kurama replied in a spot-on imitation, and Naruto couldn't help but laugh. He sighed, before trying Kurama's advice. Focusing on a particular part of a simple Jar'Kai flourish, he slowly dissected each part of the move, watching as he mentally brought his left-hand blade across his body to deflect a slash toward his right leg. Catching the blade, he made circular swipe to send it over his body and left shoulder, before he turned, allowing it to slip past his right shoulder. Reaching across with his right hip, he ran his opponent through in the gut. He smiled, and did the maneuver again.
After two hours of meditation, Naruto came to when the door to the room slid open, revealing Obi-Wan standing in the doorway. "May I join you?" he asked, clasping his hands lightly behind his back. Naruto nodded, turning in his seat to face the Master as he sat in the opposite chair. They sat silently for several minutes. Naruto nervously ran his hand through his hair, habitually dancing around the Zabrak horns. "You've no need to be nervous," Obi-Wan told him, smiling slightly as he scratched his newly-regrown beard from his mission disguised as a bounty hunter.
"I'm not nervous."
"When you're nervous, you run your hand through your hair. Gaara blinks before his gaze flicks left for a moment, Master Windu's fists tighten, and I outright say when I've a bad feeling. Everyone gets nervous." Obi-Wan leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. "I wanted to talk to you about Darth Maul again."
"I've heard enough rumors and accusations, Master. I am not going to join the Dark Side, no matter what Darth Maul may have done."
"I know the difference between you and Darth Maul, Naruto; I killed him. Darth Maul was a savage. I see before me a young man, struggling to put behind him a past as a pariah, and struggling to remove another's hold. You are very brave to have gone through such challenges and remain true to the Jedi Way."
I don't deserve such praise, he thought, his mind drifting for a half heartbeat to Ahsoka, before he realized his mistake. He quickly reeled in his thoughts, praying that Obi-Wan hadn't seen the images. If he had, he said nothing.
"As I was originally saying, I wanted to talk to you about Darth Maul. More specifically, I wanted to educate you on the weakness of his fighting style. The saberstaff is extremely effective at offensive combat, and as you've displayed on the battlefield, it is very useful at deflecting blaster fire. However, due to the dual nature of the weapon, it is very dangerous to try and block a melee weapon, as there is a chance you will cut yourself with the opposite edge. The same risk is run with attacking. One also faces difficulty if they fight someone skilled in the use of Soresu, like me. When I fought Darth Maul with my Master, my primary style back then was Ataru, which as you know is a very offensive style. I barely survived the fight; Qui-Gon did not. After that, I dedicated myself to mastering Soresu, so that I would be able to defend myself and others whenever the need arose. What I'm trying to say is that you should try to use another style as often as possible, Naruto."
"I understand, Master," he responded, rubbing his hands together. He moved to get up, but Obi-Wan shook his head.
"We're not done yet." Naruto sighed, before returning to his meditative position. "Now," Obi-Wan began, "I realize that you have been having a hard time in the Order, and I know that you are becoming very powerful in the ways of the Force. I have decided to display a great deal of faith in you, Naruto. There is an opening on the Council, and I have recommended you to take it."
Naruto's jaw dropped as he took in Obi-Wan's statement, and he nearly fell off of his seat in shock. "A place on the Council?" he shouted in surprise and excitement. "Master, I-I-I'm too young. I'm nowhere near ready to be a Master, let alone be a Council Member."
"You don't give yourself enough credit, Naruto," Obi-Wan said, leaning forward. "Despite your youth, you have faced a Sith Lord in combat, and matched him with ease. You then fought two Sith simultaneously, alone, and still managed to match them for a great deal of time. You strive for balance, both within and without. The loyalty Gaara and Ahsoka have in you is commendable, as well as the loyalty displayed by Arana'samura, Itachi, and Senshi."
"Master, I thank you for your words, but I don't think I'm ready."
"And it is exactly that reason that I believe you are. Naruto, a message came to the Chancellor this morning from your planet. Your former teacher, Kakashi, has become the Senator, and he has requested a Senate and Jedi representative to witness the crowning of their new monarch, to cement relations. He requested Senator Amidala, and she has graciously accepted. He also requested you. If you become a Master, we will let you attend this event. You can teach the Senator your planet's customs on the trip as well."
Naruto was silent for a moment, considering the offer. Do you believe I'm ready for this? he asked Kurama.
While it does come as a surprise, consider this: in order for the Jedi to have come to you shows that they have a great deal of faith in you, especially whilst you are still so young. Humility is a good trait to have, Naruto, but not when it causes a lack of self-esteem, and causes you to pass over a great opportunity.
But what about my secrets? I have not lived the Jedi Way; I have a lover, I have servants, and I have a connection with my home. The Jedi teach that you are not to have connections, and yet I am a tangled web of them.
You think you would be the only Master to have secrets? Besides, if you were on the Council, you could work to change the policies, Naruto! Teach them of Kironia, of how powerful you became by fighting for those you love. Teach them of Sarutobi, who died for his Village.
You're right. I suppose I should give Obi-Wan an answer then. Exiting his mental conversation with Kurama, he bowed low to Obi-Wan. "It would be a great honor to become a member of the Council, Master."
"Then come with me."
Naruto knelt in the center of the Council Chambers in ceremonial white robes. The windows had been covered, and every light was extinguished, save for one pillar of light in the center of the room, in which he knelt. The Ten Masters stood in a circle around him. Mace Windu stepped forward, and recited the Jedi Code. The other Masters repeated it, before they all focused back on Naruto.
"Who here will vouch for this man's?" Mace Windu asked, his face impassive as he went through the ritual.
"I will," Obi-Wan replied, stepping forward. All eyes turned toward him, and he raised his head higher.
"Would you fight with this man by your side?"
"I would."
"Would you trust this man with your life?"
"I would."
"Would you discuss philosophy with this man, and expect to gain illumination?"
"I would."
"Very good. Is there another who would speak on his behalf?" Mace intoned as Obi-Wan stepped back to his space in the circle.
"Speak, I will," Master Yoda said, hobbling forward. The other Masters looked startled at the turn of events, but remained silent out of respect.
"Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate… leads to suffering," Yoda said, speaking to those present. Turning to Naruto, he spoke directly to the young Jedi. "Suffered, you have. In darkness, found, you were. For something unknown, cursed, hated, you were. Far have you come. Ready to join us, do you believe yourself?" Naruto silently shook his head. "Not ready, you believe yourself? But ready, you are. Rise, Master Naruto, and your seat, take."
Doing as bid, Naruto rose, and the circle parted before him. Striding with slow, measured steps, he reached his seat, running a hand over the smooth shape. Turning, he slowly sank into the seat.
He was a Master.
Well, there you have it folks! I truly hope you enjoyed it. Since I was unable to find a lot of information on the induction ceremony, I made one up. Otherwise a slow chapter, I know, but they can't always be epic. Review, and tell me how I did.
-Zeratide, out.