Just a short filler chapter to begin the Search for Tsunade, as well explain the so-far non-existent lightsabers.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor do I own Star Wars
"Gah!" shouted Naruto, throwing a sparking device to the floor, before it subsequently exploded. He had skipped wearing the Vader suit for the day at least, so his shiny black armor didn't get singed.
"Damn," said Kyuubi, taking a look. "Third one this week. I was hoping we'd be able to make this one work. Perhaps rather than the plasma blade of a lightsaber, we should focus on recreating the chakra blade used by the Nidaime Hokage."
"No," replied Naruto. "If memory serves, that sword isn't nearly as powerful as what a lightsaber is. The weapon of the Jedi would slice it to pieces. Do we know what the problem is?" Kyuubi sighed and furrowed his brow.
"The core of the lightsaber is its crystal, as you already know," replied the kitsune. "However, all the crystals we've acquired so far have not had the right qualities. Something about them makes them incompatible with the technology."
"Do you know of any type of crystal that might work?" asked Naruto, raising an eyebrow.
"No," said Kyuubi, before seeming to rethink that statement. "Wait, yeah...well, maybe. It'll be difficult to get though."
"How so," replied Naruto, leaning against the wall, crossing his arms.
"Well, the crystal is very special..." said Kyuubi. "However, it belonged to the Shodaime Hokage, and at this point, probably belongs to the future Hokage, Tsunade." Naruto frowned.
"I don't suppose the mind trick will work on her?" he asked, and a deadpan look from Kyuubi was his answer.
"I thought so," he finished. "Why must there always be something guarding the treasure? Why not just hide it somewhere where they think nobody will find it?" Kyuubi shook his head.
"Because the universe hates you, that's why," he deadpanned, making Naruto just sigh and palm his face. He turned his attention to the door however as his newest apprentice entered.
"Master," said Neji, bowing respectfully, before Naruto waved at him to continue. "The Hokage desires to see you in his office. He and Master Jiraiya are planning a mission and wish for you to undertake it." Naruto and Kyuubi looked at each other, before Kyuubi smirked and Naruto sighed.
"I guess it would be the best time to try it out," he announced, and Naruto could have sworn if the old fox didn't have a reputation to uphold, he would have done a small jig. In lieu of that, he did notice the kitsune had a bit of spring in his step as he moved over to his work-area. Pulling out a small, circular object, about a foot in diameter, he brought it back over to the two Force-users, before giving the object to the Sith.
"Take this to the Hokage, place this on his desk," he said. "I think he'll want to see if this works as much as I do." Neji quirked an eyebrow, but complied, turning and walking away, the clicking of his walking-stick the only thing that gave any indication of his lack of vision.
"You get a little too excited about this stuff, you know that?" said Naruto, crossing his arms.
"What can I say," replied Kyuubi, smirking. "After all my destruction, it's an amazing feeling to create." Naruto just smiled and shook his head. Turning, he moved out toward the balcony. After moving into his family home upon making Chuunin, he actually found there was almost too much space, but he did love the view. From the balcony, he could look out over the entire village, the house itself being built on top of the Hokage monument.
"Lord Hokage." Sarutobi raised his eyes from his business to see Neji enter the room, a strange disk in his hand.
"Lord Tyranus," acknowledged the elderly man. Jiraiya, who stood leaning against the wall also nodded to the hooded Sith. "Where is Vader? You told him that I sent for him, correct?"
"Yes Lord Hokage," replied Neji. "However, Kyuubi wished instead for me to bring you this." Placing the disk on the table, the center began to glow for a moment, before becoming dull once again. Jiraiya and Sarutobi gave one-another a look of curiosity, before both jumped back in fright as two miniature replicas of Naruto and Kyuubi appeared in a shimmer of light, every so often flickering like static on a monitor.
"Hey Old Man," said the Naruto miniature. "Sorry I didn't come in person, but Kyuubi-" As his name was spoken the fox at least had the decency to look sheepish. "-wanted to test out the new communication system."
"Vader...this is incredible," said Jiraiya, waving his hand through the two holographic figures. "This could revolutionize the way we not only communicate between the main villages, but how troops on the battlefield get their orders and communicate with one-another."
"That's the general idea," replied Kyuubi, a bit visibly miffed at Naruto getting the praise for his creation...well, he didn't invent it, but damn it, he still was the one who built it.
"You needed me for a mission?" asked Naruto, getting back to the matter at hand. Sarutobi put aside his shock for the moment as he cleared his throat and announced the affirmative.
"It would seem," he said. "That my former student Tsunade has refused the call to return. As an active shinobi, she and her apprentice and travel companion, Shizune, cannot ignore a recall to the village. As it stands, even with our prior knowledge of the invasion, we still have quite a bit to deal with when it comes to internal and international affairs of the village regarding it, and our forces are stretched thin. That is why I would like Jiraiya and yourself to locate the two and return them to the village. Regardless of whether or not she refuses the Hokage position, Tsunade still has a responsibility to come back."
Back at his home, Naruto was intrigued by this latest development. It appeared that when Anakin had told him that what he needed would be provided by the Force, the statement wasn't limited to Kimimaro alone. Looking at his own holo-link, which displayed Sarutobi at his desk, with both Jiraiya and Neji standing close enough to viewed, he answered the old Hokage.
"Alright, I accept the mission," he said. "However, I wish to bring Lord Tyranus as well. I am his teacher after all, and while Ahsoka is indeed strong in the Force, she cannot teach him the ways of the Sith, as I can. She can instruct Tenten in my absence, but only I can teach the darker ways which my apprentice yearns to use." Sarutobi nodded in agreement.
"Indeed," he said. "The council wishes for your two apprentices to be trained in your ways as soon as possible. While they really have much less power than they think, they do have a point. They, as well as members from the other villages, saw how you fought in the exams, as well as held your own in the invasion. The invasion itself, while having a low impact to us, still will make others think we are easy pray. The sooner we begin putting out shinobi of the highest caliber, like yourself, the sooner we regain that lost ground in the eyes of our rival villages."
"I understand," replied Naruto. "When exactly do we leave for this mission?"
"Two hours," replied Jiraiya, all serious. "I trust that will give you ample time to pack and be ready at the gate." Naruto nodded.
"As you wish, Master," he replied. "You may keep the holo-link for the time being, Lord Hokage. It will allow for more frequent updates of our progress in tracking down Lady Tsunade." Sarutobi nodded, seeing the logic in that."
"Indeed, though I may need Kyuubi to instruct me in how to properly use it," he said, and Kyuubi smirked, nodding.
"My pleasure, Lord Hokage. Always nice to be appreciated," he announced, putting extra emphasis on his word choice while glaring a bit at Jiraiya. If the old toad sage noticed, he didn't show it.
"Lord Tyranus, return here at once and collect anything you may need for this mission. We will both meet Master Jiraiya at the village gates at the appointed time." His voice fizzled out to the three in the Hokage's tower as the transmission ended, the two holographic images deteriorating and disappearing, the holo-link deactivating.
"Would you like me to assign an escort back to the Namikaze estate, Lord Tyranus?" asked the Hokage. He knew that their abilities let him have a semblance of sight, but he still felt bad for the ex-Hyuuga.
"I thank you for your concern, but I will be fine on my own," he replied, already half way out the door, his walking stick quietly tapping the space in front of him as he walked.
"My Lord." Naruto turned to the door at being addressed by his right-hand man. Or cyborg, as the case was. Grievous had to crouch to fit through the door into Kyuubi's work-shop, but once he was through, he stood up to his full, menacing height.
"What is it Greivous?" asked Naruto, his yellow-eyes staring at the cyborg intently. His voice was level, speaking to the enhanced warrior as though speaking to an equal. Unlike Orochimaru, and even the original Vader, Naruto led through respect, not fear, and in order to do that, he needed to show his subordinates a measure of respect. However, he wasn't afraid to put the fear into those that refused to adhere to his command.
"Lady Ahsoka wishes to see you when you are finished here," he announced, bowing before his lord and master. "She awaits you in your room." His sentence was punctuated by a fit of coughing, but it didn't seem to bother the large cybernetically-enhanced shinobi.
"Tell her that I'll be there momentarily," replied Naruto. "I just need to pack some things for a mission. It won't be long."
"I'll give her the message," said Grievous, standing back up and leaving the room, once more ducking under the door frame. Grabbing a few of the lightsaber prototypes, Naruto sealed them into a scroll, before pulling on his Vader suit, sans helmet, which he threw under his arm. He nodded to Kyuubi, before leaving the room, navigating the corridors of the large house, arriving at his own room. Opening the door and peaking into the room, he saw the form of his wife looking out at the village from their own balcony. She wore a brown Jedi robe that covered most of her body.
He came up behind her, throwing his supplies on their bed, and wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning around and planting a kiss on the Togruta girl's cheek, and she smiled. Turning around in his grip, the two locked eye for a moment, their foreheads touching before she returned his kiss, this time on the lips. It lasted a full two minutes before the two parted, and smiled at the other.
"You wanted to talk to me?" said Naruto quietly, moving in to kiss the former Jedi's neck. She giggled a bit at Naruto's antics.
"Well, technically I said that I wanted to see you," she announced, and Naruto's teasing of her managed to loosen her robe, revealing that underneath she was wearing...nothing. Naruto just smiled, using the Force to shut the door to their room.
"Well, I see you," he replied. "And I like what I see." She giggled again.
"Well, you'll just have to wait to see it again til you get back from your mission," she said, closing her robe once more, grinning in pleasure at the high-pitched whine that resonated from Naruto. While Jedi generally frown upon relationships, she had to admit she did enjoy the reactions she could get from her husband.
"But whhyyyyyyy?" he whined, continuing to kiss her neck, every now and then nibbling her flesh a bit.
"Because," she replied, smiling a bit and almost outright laughing when he looked up at her. Somehow, the yellowed eyes made his pout very cute. Almost like a big blonde cat. She left her answer at that, but did add another note.
"But, maybe if your mission goes good, I may have to let you do a bit more than see," she said, making Naruto smile.
"Oooh, a bit of incentive?" he asked, returning his attention to her lips. As the two parted, he continued. "You drive a hard bargain, but alright."
"Besides," said Ahsoka playfully, moving in tight to his body. "It's not like you don't know what you're missing." Naruto sighed, but also smiled at the girl.
"That's what's going to make waiting so hard," he replied, and the two rested their foreheads together once more. "But you are definitely worth it." Ahsoka smile became even larger. She absolutely loved the way Naruto talked. He just made her feel like she was the only one in the entire Galaxy. The entire Universe. She was his whole world.
"Just come back soon, alright?" she said, getting a nod from her husband.
"I will. Will you be alright keeping up Tenten's training while I'm away? Neji will be traveling with Master Jiraiya and I, so you won't have to worry about him." Just as he had done moments later, Ahsoka nodded.
"Alright," he said, cupping her chin with his hand. "I'm going to meet Neji and Jiraiya now. Kyuubi has the holo-link up and running, so we can stay in contact."
"Good, cause I'd miss you too much otherwise," replied the Togruta girl. "Be safe."
"I will," replied Naruto, pulling his wife in for a kiss. As they broke apart, continued. "I love you, I'll be back soon." Ahsoka just nodded before motioning him out the door with a smile. Once outside, Naruto slid his Vader mask on, sealing the helmet shut with a hiss, before the raspy breath that was so unnerving to all that heard it. Taking off toward the gate, he was an intimidating figure with his dark, regal cape flowing in the wind.
Off in the distance, two figures, cloaked in robes and shadow, stood silent, watching the village. On their cloaks was a pattern of red clouds. Without saying a word to each other, they began walking toward Konoha, their feet barely creating a sound as they did so. They were men on a mission. And they would not fail their mission.
Chapter end.
Hope you all enjoyed.
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