The Maelstrom Jedi

by LoneWolf-O1

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. While meditating, Jedi Master Yoda receives a vision of a young hero who will turn the tide for many battles in the future. Now, he's on his way to find the hero from his vision before it's too late. Rated M to be safe. Naruto/Harem. Challenge by Kuronodono12. Also on Ao3

9. Chapter IX: Rescue Mission

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

A/N: Remember to vote in the new poll if you haven't!

Beta: Chaos-PSD. Contributor: Kuronodono12.

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Chapter IX: Rescue Mission.

Truth Enlightens The Mind, But Won't Always Bring Happiness To Your Heart.

A galaxy divided! Striking swiftly, Count Dooku's droid army has seized control of the major hyperspace lanes, separating the Republic from the majority of its clone army. With few clones available, the Jedi generals cannot gain a foothold on the Outer Rim as more and more planets choose to join Dooku's Separatists. While the Jedi are occupied fighting a war, no one is left to keep the peace.

Chaos and crime spread and the innocent become victims in a lawless galaxy. Crime lord Jabba the Hutt's son has been kidnapped by a rival band of pirates. Desperate to save his son, Jabba puts out a call for help, a call the Jedi are cautious to answer…

Coruscant.

Palpatine, Mace, who has armor on his arms, Plo Koon who has the same, and Luminara was standing in Palpatine's office with a hologram of a protocol droid with Jabba the Hutt.

He's a slug-like alien who has a large mouth and stubby arms. He has leathery skin, which is wrinkled and slimy. And he has watery eyes and a slack facial expression.

"Jabba requested that anyone that could help us find his kidnapped son. To send any information they have immediately." The droid said in a female's voice.

"We must help Jabba," Palpatine said, getting the other's attention. "This is the opportunity we've been looking for. The Jedi must rescue Jabba's son." He finished as the hologram turned off.

"I don't like it," Mace said with a sigh. "Dealing with that criminal scum. This is a dark day for the Republic."

They then walked out of the office. "I agree, my friend, but what choice do we have?" Palpatine asked, clasping his hands at his waist. "The Hutt's control the Outer Rim and we'll need their space lanes to move our troops."

"There is more to this kidnapping… Then it seems."

"Then you must send as many Jedi as you can."

"Impossible, Chancellor. The droid General Grievous has our forces spread thin as it is." Mace replied as they stopped at the door. "Only ones we can spare are Skywalker, Kenobi, and Uzumaki. They just captured the planet Christophsis."

"They should be more than enough especially with how you all talk about how great Naruto did while training," Palpatine replied to the Master Jedi.

Space, Above Christophsis.

Wullf walked up to the console where a hologram of Mace and Yoda were up.

"We need to reach General Kenobi."

"We've been unable to reach him… It could be a solar storm or they're rebooting their communications. I'm sure the blackout is temporary."

"A messenger, we are sending. With important orders for General Kenobi." Yoda said before Mace looked back at the Admiral.

"See to it that she gets there, as fast as possible."

"Yes sir, as soon as we load the relief supplies," Wullf replied as Yoda looked down.

"No time, there is. Immediately, the messenger must go."

"I understand sir. I will personally take an unloaded ship and personally drop her off. And then return to pick up my reinforcements.

Christophsis Surface.

R2 and BD ran/rolled across the battleground past Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Naruto before BD jumped onto Naruto as they slid to a stop at a bridge.

"They're back!"

"I told you this victory was too easy," Obi-Wan said as he held his lightsaber, turned off. "We never should have sent the ship back with supplies.

"It's fine! We got this!" Naruto said, blocking a blast. "Alpha, battle position!"

"Same for you Cody!"

"Rex, with me!"

"Roger!/Roger!/Roger!"

The army of clones fired at the super battle droids and their tanks as they continued walking towards them. As they continued their attack at the bridge, they started firing cannons at the army consisting of B1 and B2 battle droids, and three octuptarra Magna tri-droids walked towards them with AATs following behind in large numbers.

"Keep their focus on us!" Naruto yelled to Alpha as he saw Anakin and his group get on a tower by them.

They surprised the octuptarra droids above, the clones using jet packs to land on the street, and Anakin landing on one of the droids. The team succeeded in taking out all three octuptarra droids and proceeded to attack the advancing droid forces from behind. The droids then pulled back to regroup in the Separatist-controlled area of the city, though the battle over Christophsis continued to rage as the Jedi got back together.

They then saw a ship landing near them as Zule ran up to them as well. "Did we finally get help?"

"Hopefully," Naruto replied as the group walked to the landing ship.

"New troops, supplies, and perhaps they brought my new Padawan with them," Obi-Wan said as they got near the ship.

"I would question bringing a Padawan into this but Naruto brought his Padawan," Anakin said as Naruto shrugged.

"She can handle herself, it's her maturity that needs to grow."

"Screw you, Master!"

"See."

"I've spoken to Master Yoda about it. You should put in a request for one Anakin. You'd make a good teacher."

Naruto snorted at Obi-Wan to look at him. "Oh, you were serious?"

"Teaching is a great privilege. And it's part of a Jedi's responsibility to help train the next generation."

"A Padawan would just slow me down," Anakin replied as the ship's door opened revealing a young female Togruta.

She has light blue eyes, dark orange skin, white facial markings, and brownish-gray lips. Her lekku are white with blue stripes. She's wearing a maroon tube top and mini skirt with white tights and brown combat boots and gloves. She has a lightsaber then and a Togruta Sash and Padawan braid.

"A Youngling?"

"Who are you supposed to be?" Anakin asked as the alien looked at him.

"I'm Ahsoka. Master Yoda sent me with a message. You're to return to the Temple immediately. There's an emergency."

"Our communication's been blocked and we've been trying to ask for help here," Naruto said before pointing behind him. "And as you can see, it's far from over here." He finished as BD jumped down, walked to Ahsoka, and scanned her.

"Hey!"

BD jumped back at that and ran to hide behind Naruto's leg. "BD's harmless, he was just getting info about you. He does it to everyone new."

"Master Yoda hasn't heard anything and that's why he sent me. Maybe you can relay your signal from the cruiser that just dropped me off?" Ahsoka asked as she looked back at the ship.

Getting a console out, they relayed a message to one of the Star Destroyers and after a moment had Yoda come up in a hologram.

They tried to tell him what was happening but the hologram disappeared as a clone came on and explained they were under fire and would try to get Yoda back.

"I'm sorry young one," Obi-Wan said to Ahsoka. "It's time for a proper introduction."

"I'm the new Padawan learner, Ahsoka Tano."

"And I'm Obi-Wan Kenobi… Your new Master."

"I'm at your service Master Kenobi. But I'm afraid I've been assigned to Master Skywalker."

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" Naruto laughed before pointing at Anakin. "Not so funny now that's it's you, is it?"

"No, no, no! There must be some mistake! He's the one that wanted the Padawan." Anakin said pointing at Obi-Wan.

"No… Master Yoda was very specific. I'm assigned to Anakin Skywalker and he's to supervise my Jedi training."

"We'll sort this out later when the droids are gone," Naruto said as BD looked at each of them from the console.

"I gotta check on Rex and the lookout post," Anakin said as Obi-Wan looked at him.

"Better take her with you."

Anakin stayed silent as he walked with Ahsoka following.

Separatist Base.

A cloaked Ventress was looking at a hologram of Dooku before she spoke. "I've brought Jabba's son to the abandoned monastery. He will be… Safe here."

"Good, good. Everything's going as planned."

"Yes my lord," Ventress said as a hologram of Sidious came up beside Dooku having her kneel.

"Soon the Jedi will not only be at war with you, Count Dooku… But with the Hutt Clan as well."

Rex's Group.

Rex without his helmet looked at another group of clones far away at another building before raising his hand as they nodded to him. He turned to see Anakin and Ahsoka walking to them. "What's the status, Rex?"

"Quiet, for now, sir. They're gearing up for another assault. Who's the Youngling?"

"I'm Master Skywalker's Padawan. The name's Ahsoka Tano."

"I thought you said you weren't going to get a Padawan sir," Rex said to Anakin who sighed.

"There's been a mix-up, the Youngling isn't with me."

"Stop calling me that! You're stuck with me Sky-Guy."

The clones chuckled at that as Anakin turned to the alien. "What did you just call me? Don't get snippy with me, little one… You know, I don't think you're even old enough to be a Padawan."

"Maybe I'm not, but Master Yoda thinks I am." She said with a grin.

"Well, you're not with Master Yoda now. So if you're ready, you better start proving it. Captain Rex will show you how a little respect can go a long way." Anakin explained before bringing Rex up.

"Uh, right. Come on Youngling."

"Padawan," Ahsoka said under her breath as she followed the Captain.

They then walked onto the bridge behind the cannons. "Have you thought about moving that line back, Captain? They'd have better coverage that way." Ahsoka said as Rex looked at her.

"Thanks for the suggestion, but General Skywalker says they're fine where they're at."

"So, if you're a Captain, and I'm a Jedi… Then technically, I outrank you, right?"

"In my book, experience outranks everything," Rex said looking at her.

"If experience outranks everything, then I better start getting some." She said before seeing a red dome shield growing in the distance. "What's that?"

"Not good. It's an energy shield and it's gonna make things damn near impossible. If you want some experience, little one… It looks like you're about to get plenty."

Meeting at the Republic's comm station, the Jedi, Alpha, and Rex devised a plan of attack: While Anakin and Ahsoka would infiltrate the Separatist-held ground and eliminate the shield generator, Naruto, Zule, Obi-Wan, Alpha, and Rex would gain time for them by defending the base. With them marshaling their men in a defense of the Republic's position, Anakin and Ahsoka proceeded with multiple explosives to the advancing Separatist lines.

"Think they'll last?" Naruto asked Obi-Wan who looked at him.

"They'd better for all our sakes."

Anakin And Ahsoka.

Anakin and Ahsoka were on a bridge above the main one looking at the shield and droid army coming towards them. "So, what's the plan?" Ahsoka asked, adjusting her backpack of explosives.

"I thought you were the one with the plan?"

"No… I'm the one with the enthusiasm. You're the one with the experience. Which I'm looking forward to learning from." She said as he looked at her.

"First, we need to get past that shield. Then their tank and army."

"Why don't we go around? Outflank them?"

"That would take too long." He said looking at the army.

"Sneak right through the middle then?"

"Impossible… Unless you can turn yourself into a droid…" Anakin trailed off as he looked down.

"OK, you win. The first lesson will be to wait while you come up with an answer."

"Well, the wait is over… I got a plan."

The pair then went to and hid underneath a large box to sneak past the advancing droid forces. Once the shield and the droid troops had passed over them, the duo made their way to the generator but bumped into a Droideka along the way. Forced to abandon their cover, Anakin and Ahsoka drew their lightsabers, hers being green and held reverse grip, and succeeded in cutting the enemy droid to pieces.

Up ahead, Naruto and Zule started fighting droids as well once the shield passed them while keeping cannon fire out. "Hold them back as long as possible!"

"Got it, Master!"

Anakin and Ahsoka then reached the generator site, and missed antennas around it in the ground. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan and Rex attempted to use the base's heavy cannons to defend their position in Crystal City but only verified that the weaponry was indeed useless against the droids' deflector shield.

Over an un-encrypted comlink channel, Rex ordered the clones to fall back before switching back to a secure channel. Loathsom, meanwhile, ordered his troops to target the heavy cannons, and Rex learned of the Separatists' new targets by eavesdropping on their voice traffic.

As soon as the droids' deflector shield passed over them, Kenobi led a charge on the droids and jumped straight into the fray. Rex and his men began to lure the Separatist troops into the buildings, where the clones had the advantage. The droids fired a missile at the Republic's comm post and inflicted further losses.

With his forces overwhelmed by the Separatists, Rex was forced to order his men to retreat. Kenobi met with Rex at the comm station and ordered the captain to organize his troops in a defense of the heavy cannons while the Jedi General himself delayed the droids. Rex reluctantly agreed and retreated as Kenobi battled the droids alone.

However, Kenobi was soon surrounded by a large squad of B2 super battle droids and DSD1 dwarf spider droids, as well as an Armored Assault Tank. It opened and had an alien stand up from the hatch.

He has a long snout, long claws, and jutting teeth.

This is Whorm Loathsom.

"You must be the infamous General Kenobi?"

"Indeed I am. I surrender." Obi-Wan said as a super droid took his lightsaber and he used the Force to formed a table for them to talk about the terms of surrender. "General, have a seat."

Anakin And Ahsoka.

"Be cautious," Anakin said as they got to the generator.

Ahsoka ran to it and accidentally hit an antenna having a combat droid pop out of the ground.

It has a broad, cylindrical front that connects it to all four limbs, two arms, and legs. On either arm was a dual turreted rack that could pivot to shoot accurately.

As more droids emerged from their guard position just below the surface, Anakin engaged them in combat so that Ahsoka could place the charges around the generator. While evading one of the retail droids, Ahsoka cut off her adversary's cranial unit and Force-pushed it away, inadvertently activating more droids in the process.

"Sorry!"

"Whose side are you on anyway?!"

As Anakin was surrounded by the combat droids, Ahsoka noticed a wall behind her Master with a hole in the middle. She carefully brought the wall down with the Force, crushing the droids around Anakin without hurting him.

Naruto, And Zule.

"Get behind that wall!" Naruto ordered the men as he picked up his pistol and started blasting.

"When do I get a pistol?" Zule asked as Naruto shot a droid.

"When you're old enough."

Continuing to defend the heavy cannons with their men from their cover behind some fallen rubble at the end of the city's main street, Rex discovered that Kenobi had been captured but rallied his men to continue fighting.

"He's buying time for Anakin and his Padawan so the droids won't attack them!" Alpha yelled, shooting from a rock.

At that moment, Anakin and Ahsoka detonated their charges and destroyed the shield generator, and the shield began to recede. Sighting the disappearing shield, Obi-Wan grabbed Loathsom around the neck. As the battle droids took aim, Loathsom ordered his troops not to attack and surrendered to Kenobi.

Back at the heavy cannons, Rex also saw the shield begin to dissipate and shot a Separatist Kerkoiden tank commander out of sheer relief. Rex proceeded to order the heavy cannons to target the exposed battle droids, and the clone artillery opened fire on the enemy forces and began to annihilate them. Yularen, accompanied by Master Yoda himself, returned to the system and dropped out of hyperspace with a fleet of Venator-class Star Destroyers and Acclamator-class assault ships as reinforcements.

Later, the Jedi regrouped with Yoda as Anakin explained he accepted Ahsoka as his Padawan before Yoda spoke on the other reason he came. "Kidnapped, Jabba the Hutt's son has been. Negotiate the treaty with Jabba, Obi-Wan will. Find the renegades that hold Jabba's son, your mission will be, Skywalker. And stay here for a few days Uzumaki in case another attack there is."

"It's a bit shaky dealing with the Hutt's but we need their allegiance to help give us the edge in this war," Naruto said arms crossed as BD was looking over his shoulder at the group.

Anakin, Naruto, and their Padawans then left as Obi-Wan looked at Yoda. "I hope Anakin is ready for this responsibility."

"Ready he is, to teach an apprentice. To let go of his pupil, a greater challenge it will be. Master this, Skywalker must."

Later, In Anakin's Star Destroyer, he and R2 walked in the hanger and up to a ship that opened showing two clones in grey splattered armor.

"Lieutenant, did the kidnapper see you?"

"No sir!" The clone said before bringing an image of the monastery up and explained that's where Jabba's is being held.

"Good work, go, and take a break," Anakin said before walking to the gunship with a pin-up alien woman painted on it that Ahsoka was standing at explaining her bringing the wall down on droids to save them.

"That true sir?" Rex asked among the chuckling clones.

"More or less. OK, we got a job to do!"

"You heard the General, move it!" Rex ordered having them disperse.

"Maybe this is the time to teach that Jedi are humble, my young Padawan?"

"Sorry, just trying to keep the boys inspired, is all," Ahsoka said to her Master as they walked down the hanger.

Tatooine.

Obi-Wan Landed at a large palace where he was greeted by Jabba's protocol droid and armed men who took him inside and down a stairwell.

Obi-Wan and the others walked into a large room at the end of the steps.

He smelled spiced t'bac smoke in the air and the sounds of music. He saw Jabba on a large dais backed by a rotisserie cooker, overseeing the gathered masses. Behind Jabba, his majordomo had their own private turbo-lift. At the center of the room, the polished stone floor gave way to a viewing grille which looked down upon there's a large pit.

"Mighty Jabba… One of our most powerful Jedi is on his way to save your son. He will not let you down." Obi-Wan said to Jabba who spoke in his native language with the protocol droid translating.

"The most gracious Jabba has just one small condition. He demands you bring back the slime that kidnapped his little… Punky Muffin."

Obi-Wan smirked at that before speaking. "Punky?" He asked before Jabba spoke again.

"Dead, or alive." The droid translated. "If you do not succeed, Count Dooku and his droid army will."

Teth.

Anakin and Ahsoka are in a gunship with the doors closed and wearing cloaks with the hoods up as the clones with them getting ready. A hologram of Obi-Wan came up and explained the situation with Jabba giving only one rotation to find his son. "Naruto will join you soon, I'll stay here in case I need to calm Jabba down."

They were forced to land below the monastery to avoid dwarf spider droids' artillery fire. Anakin and the others ran to the mountain blocking and dodging lasers.

A Commander Battle Droid then spoke up from above. "Concentrate fire on sector 1-1-3-7-4-2-6-5."

"1-1-3-7-... what was that again...?"

The Commander Battle Droid then grabbed the droid and pointed down "Just fire right there!"

"Follow me!" Anakin yelled, running to the mountain.

"So, this is where the fun begins," Ahsoka said as they got to the mountain

"Race you to the top."

Ahsoka smirked at that. "I'll give you a head start."

"Your mistake!" He yelled, jumping up.

"I'm right behind you Master!"

They used their extension cables to climb the side of the cliff. As they climbed, Ahsoka got on a tank to deflect blasts before the tank got hit forcing her to grab on when she lost her balance. They continued as they were able to defeat the battle droids' outer defenses.

"Too many droids here for them to be renegades," Anakin said as they looked at the destroyed droids. "Let's find Jabba's son."

Upon arriving at the monastery, they found a protocol droid with a different head.

"I am the caretaker... You've saved me."

"where's the Hutt?"

"This way." He then took them to where the droids were keeping prisoners. "I must warn you, it's dangerous. No place for a servant girl." The droid said looking at Ahsoka.

"Would a servant girl have one of these?!" She asked, turning her saber on the droid. "I'm a Jedi Knight!"

Anakin looked at her having Ahsoka turn it off. "Or soon will be."

"Captain, we'll get the Hutt. Stay here and keep your eyes open."

"Roger, sir."

Anakin and Ahsoka make their way through the Separatist defenses. "Master, you know you're walking us into a trap, right?" Ahsoka asked noticing droids hiding in the empty rooms of the hall they're in.

"Yeah, I know."

"We walked past two more droids… Can I just take care of them?"

"If you feel that strongly about it."

Ahsoka then turned and attacked the droids that started following them.

They then found Rotta, a backpack-sized Hutt who was sick. As they get Rotta into a backpack, not noticing Ventress and 4-A7 recording them stuffing Rotta into a backpack, with Skywalker saying he hates Hutts. Ventress sent the recording to Count Dooku, who ordered her to rescue the Huttlet.

Tatooine.

Dooku showed up at Jabba's palace, convincing him that the Jedi had kidnapped his son. Dooku told him that his droid army was planning to rescue his son. When Jabba asked Dooku what he wanted in return, Dooku asked if he would consider allying the Hutt Clans with the Confederacy. Jabba then captured Obi-Wan who was outside at his Delta-7 and held him inside where he saw Dooku.

"Jabba has ordered you to be imprisoned here until his son has been saved." The droid said as Obi-Wan looked at him.

"I'm fine staying here, but you should know not to trust Dooku." He said before Anakin came upon his comms about finding his son and that he was ill.

"They're the ones lying," Dooku said as Jabba spoke before his droid translated.

"You both will stay here until his son is safe."

Konoha.

"You're sure this will work?"

Tsunade asked as she stood at her desk and leaned on it looking at Jiraiya finishing the seal. "Move your eyes, or I'll rip them out!" She said noticing his eyes drift to her cleavage.

"Yes, this will work," Jiraiya said, rolling the seal up into a scroll before a man walked in.

He has spiky silver hair oriented to his left-side, dark grey eye, his left being covered by his hiate worn over it, and has a relaxed and lazy expression. He's wearing a half mask that prevents most of his face from being visible. He's wearing a flak jacket, dark blue pants, and a long-sleeve shirt. He also has fingerless gloves with metal plates on the backhand and sandals.

This is Kakashi Hatake, a Jōnin of Konoha.

"You called for me?"

"Hai, (Yes,) three hours ago," Tsunade said with a sigh as Kakashi closed his eyes with a smile.

"There was this old woman who needed help with her grocer-!"

"I don't care what your excuse is! We're ready to send the message to Naruto!"

Kakashi walked over as Jiraiya held the scroll as Kakashi pulled his hiate up showing a vertical scar over his left eye that's red with three tomes around his pupil.

"OK, the seal should be locked onto Naruto's and Kyūbi's chakra so open a Kamui. (Space-Time Migration.)"

Kakashi did that as his tome swirled and had a tear open up in front of them before Jiraiya threw it in.

Christophsis.

Naruto was with Alpha and Fordo looking over the losses they took in the battle. "15 dead, 27 injured 5 of which are critical," Fordo said before they heard a tearing sound, and looked back to see what looked like a portal.

"What the hell?" Naruto asked walking up to it before a scroll shot out of it like a bullet hitting him in the crotch.

Naruto let out a silent scream of pain as his hands went to his groin and he fell to the ground on his side, BD jumping off and hovered over to land in front of Naruto to tilt his head at him.

"Sir, are you alright?" Alpha asked Naruto who slowly nodded before speaking in a high pitched voice.

"Yeah just admiring the ground for a moment… And we are never speaking of this again."

A few minutes after recovering, Naruto picks up the scroll and sees not only his name but Konoha's insignia on it. "What the fu-!"

Teth.

A clone sergeant reported to Rex that all remaining battle droids had been destroyed. Anakin then contacted Obi-Wan about Rotta. He informed Kenobi of Rotta's medical condition and the Separatist involvement. Obi-Wan told them that he would bring Republic reinforcements to the planet.

Suddenly, Ventress and droids in ships attacked, having Anakin, Ahsoka, Rex and their forces retreat into the monastery, sealing the doors.

"Captain, we'll wait here until General Uzumaki and Kenobi arrive with reinforcements."

"We need to get the baby back to Jabba!" Ahsoka said to Anakin.

"You have a plan?"

"Yes, I think so, R2 willing."

"Alright Snips, I'll trust you on this one. Captain, hold them here as long as you can."

"Will do, sir. You heard the General, get ready to turn those Clankers into scrap metal!"

Anakin left with Ahsoka and Rotta, while Rex and his men stayed behind to hold back the enemy forces. Ventress cut the locks, and the droids stormed the monastery, subduing the clones.

"Here they come!"

"Lock the monastery down! I'll go after Skywalker." Ventress ordered her troops as Rex attempted to shoot her but was stopped as she pulled a droid in front of her and showed she had on a dress.

Ventress then Force choked Rex and demanded that he reveal where Skywalker went. When Rex refused, Ventress used a mind trick to make him contact the Jedi Knight. However, Rex ended up alerting Anakin instead, by using his first name.

As the Jedi moved to rejoin Rex, Rotta spotted a ship at another landing platform.

"Anakin to Naruto. Lock on to my position! I need a medical ship immediately." Anakin said seeing Naruto's custom Delta-7 with a fox on it.

" An-Can y-!"

Ventress ran to them as R2 closed the doors and had the Jedi run to a platform and jumped onto a swarm of alien dragonflies and flew to the ship.

Naruto dodged a missile before cursing. "Damn. Zule, I'll get to the ground, you help clear the air for Anakin to escape with Jabba's son."

"Got it, Master!" Zule replied flying past him.

With the clones, Naruto, Alpha, and their reinforcements arrived and rescued Captain Rex and Torrent Company from Ventress' battle droids. Naruto then confronted Ventress, engaging her in a lightsaber duel. "How predictable." She taunted as she attacked.

The two fought through the monastery before she jumped in the shadows as he turned on his blue blade on his shoto. "You can't hide forever." He said turning as BD used his light over his shoulder. "You're after Jabba's son too, right?" He asked before turning and blocked Ventress with both of his blades.

She then took off her dress revealing her other outfit and threw it at Naruto before he sliced through it and blocked an attack. "You know, you've been undressing around me a lot lately… Anything you'd want to get off your chest?" He asked as they continued parrying each other before she knocked his saber out of his hand and had him turn his red blade on and blocked another attack. "Color me impressed."

He then jumped back and called his saber back as she attacked again. She kicked him back into a pillar having BD jump on his shoulder before he dodged a series of attacks from Ventress and used the Force to push her away. She jumped at him, having Naruto backflip away and then jump up to the upper floor.

"We know Dooku's plot to turn the Hutts against us," Naruto said as their blades served as the only light. "It won't succeed."

"It will when the truth dies with you!"

She then attacked, forcing Naruto to block her attacks before jumping out of a window. Both of them didn't feel Anakin or Ahsoka in the monastery as Naruto turned to her. "I sense it too, Anakin has left the planet. You failed Ventress. Turn yourself over now." He said to Ventress who jumped onto a vulture droid.

Naruto sighed before running back to the clones to help while telling Anakin he'll meet up on Tatooine when finishing with the droids. He then contacted Yoda who was with Palpatine.

Coruscant.

Yoda sat in a chair as a hologram of Naruto was on Palpatine's desk. "Anakin has reached Tatooine with the Huttlet Master. But Separatists are after him and Ahsoka. I think this plot is Dooku's doing to blame us for taking Jabba's son."

"If believe this, the Hutts do. End our chance at a treaty with them, it will." Yoda said looking at his former student. "Join Dooku and the Separatist, Jabba will."

"That will be a disaster," Palpatine spoke up from his seat. "We must have this alliance with the Hutts if we're to win the war in the Outer Rim."

"In Skywalker, is the Republic's only hope. Return Jabba's son, he must."

"Anakin should be able to do it and I'll meet up with him when finishing up here," Naruto said before the hologram turned off as Padmé walked in wearing a purple and gold-trimmed dress and her hair in a metal headdress styled up.

"Greetings Senator Amidala."

"Master Yoda, it's good to see you."

"Good, it is to see you, Senator," Yoda said before leaving as Palpatine explained he had put up extra security at Naboo due to the war on the Outer Rim and about the mission with Jabba.

She argued that she could reason with the Hutts with Jabba's uncle Ziro who runs a club on the planet.

Later, she walked into a club in the clothes she wore at Geonosis with a mask and hood before walking up to a Hutt with green eyes, purple skin, and green tattoos. "Greetings. I am Senator Amadala of the Galactic Congress.

"A Senator?" Ziro asked in English. "In this neighborhood? I thought I'd seen it all with that Jedi that hangs out here with that small droid on his back." He said taking a drag from a hose before blowing out smoke.

"I know you're the uncle of Jabba of Tatooine. I've come to ask a favor of you." She said before explaining what happened and asked for a treaty only to be turned away when Ziro explained that the Jedi stole Jabba's son.

When a droid took her to the metal tube that's an elevator, she knocked it to the ground when it started lowering and ran back to hide where she saw an empty club and Ziro taking to Dooku revealing that he was in on stealing his great-nephew and blamed it on the Jedi. And that would have the Jedi arrest Jabba when he fights them so he would get control of the Clan.

Padmé tried to walk away, only to get spotted by a droid that forced her to shoot it and another to knock her pistol away before throwing her in front of Ziro and the hologram of Dooku.

"Count Dooku. So, the poisonous traitor reveals his ugly head yet again?"

"I'm delighted to remake your acquaintance again Senator… Amadala, isn't it?" Dooku asked as she stood up.

"I was just leaving." She said before turning into a droid that grabbed her.

"That cannot be permitted now. Ziro, this particular Senator is extremely valuable to my Separatist allies. They will pay handsomely for her."

"I like the sound of that. Take her to the dungeon!"

"You will regret this, Ziro!"

"No, I will become rich with this!" Ziro said laughing as Padmé was dragged away.

Later, she was brought back after C-3Po contacted her before droids blew up and fell from the entrance as C-3PO and a group of clones ran in and attacked and arrested Ziro.

Tatooine.

Anakin and Ahsoka crash-landed on the desert planet and looked out at a hill. "Jabba's palace is on the other side of the Dune Sea. We'd better hurry if we're going to make it by morning." He said as Ahsoka put a better feeling Rotta in his backpack after finding medicine for him in the droid ship.

All of them jumped down and started walking towards Jabba's Palace as little aliens wearing cloaks ran to the crashed ship. On the way, Ahsoka tried to talk to her Master about his past on his home planet now that they have a mission on it. Anakin spent the time dodging the questions before the sun started to set and they stopped feeling someone with the dark side near them.

Anakin gave Rotta to Ahsoka and had her continue on while he walked slightly off course hoping to get the person's attention instead.

Later, as night fell over the desert, Count Dooku intercepted Anakin who still had his backpack on a speeder bike. As Dooku dismounted his speeder bike, Anakin ignited his lightsaber. "Hand over the Huttlet or die!" Dooku said as Anakin said nothing.

He then shot lightning at Anakin who absorbed the attack with his lightsaber. Seeing the futility of his assault, Dooku stopped the barrage. Pulling off his hood and brandishing his lightsaber, Dooku quickly saluted Skywalker before the two charged each other. As the combatants met, Dooku opened the battle with a rapid overhand, Anakin parrying before countering.

Dodging, Dooku quickly lunged forwards, though Anakin batted aside the attack. Anakin remained defensive until he dodged a slash at his neck, at which point he seized the offense. However, Dooku easily evaded and held off Anakin's wild attacks, and unleashed another overhand, forcing his opponent into a blade lock. "Your training has come a long way, boy!"

Angered, Anakin broke the lock and hacked at Dooku's waist. As their bout resumed, Dooku momentarily shifted to a one-handed hold of his blade. After a series of power-struggles, the two disengaged. Using the second pause, Dooku again taunted. "Now I remember… This was your home planet. I sense your strong feelings. Feelings of pain, and loss."

Dooku's taunts confused and enraged Anakin, who in a fit of anger, unleashed a massive Force push. Dooku was momentarily thrown off balance and driven back by the sudden blast. Crouching for a moment to protect himself from the flurry of sand kicked up by Anakin's push, Dooku flourished his blade and countered with his own push.

With Anakin knocked off his feet and disarmed by Dooku's counter-attack, the Count seized the moment and leaped at the Jedi, blade raised for the kill. However, Anakin managed to summon his weapon back to his hand in time to block Dooku's attack. However, as Skywalker pushed Dooku's blade aside and regained his feet, the Count managed to slash the Jedi across the back, cutting Skywalker's backpack in half and supposedly killing Rotta.

"You failed Jedi… I just killed Jabba's son."

"No… You've fallen for my little trick," Anakin revealed that the backpack was full of rocks. "The Huttlet is with my Padawan safely at Jabba's palace by now."

"I expected such treachery from a Jedi… I assure you my web is strong enough to catch your insignificant little Padawan."

"She's more skillful than you think, Dooku."

"You're just deceiving yourself!"

Dooku then charged, and the two continued their battle. However, after another long and vicious bout of swordplay, Dooku blasted Anakin aside with a Force push. Stating that he had a message from Skywalker's Padawan, Dooku produced a hologram of the MagnaGuards he had left in wait at the palace attacking Ahsoka. An enraged Anakin attacked Dooku, managing to kick him in the face, knocking him down the dune side.

As Anakin looked down at the seemingly defeated Dooku, the Count looked up. "My droids have killed Rotta, And your Padawan will be delivered to Jabba for punishment for the Huttlet's murder. I can't imagine he'll be merciful. "

Anakin then left to save Ahsoka, departing on Dooku's own speeder. As Anakin vanished into the distance, Dooku mounted the dune and observed his departure, engaging in a fit of laughter.

Earlier, Ahsoka.

Ahsoka with her own backpack carrying Rotta approached the cliffs leading up to Jabba's Palace. As she followed the roadway up to the palace, she suddenly sensed danger. Quickly brandishing her lightsaber, she found herself faced by three MagnaGuards, who sprang up from concealment under the sand.

They're 6'5" tall, with a humanoid body shape, wearing a cloak, and have electrostaff.

As the MagnaGuards pursued her, R2-D2 brandished his charge arm and attacked one of the droids. However, his bravery was short-lived, as the MagnaGuard absorbed R2's attack with its electrostaff and quickly disabled the astromech with a strike from the weapon, knocking the unfortunate droid further down the cliff.

"R2!"

With R2-D2 out of the battle, the MagnaGuard quickly rejoined its brothers. As the droids bracketed her, Ahsoka managed to hold her own against them.

"Three against two? Stinky, you watch my back. However, they began to drive her further back, and while leaping to evade an attack, Tano lost her footing, falling to the bottom of the cliff. As she landed in a dell at the foot of the cliff, Rotta coughed up some sand. "I thought you liked playing in the sand."

The MagnaGuards skidded down the cliff into the dell, Ahsoka quickly concealed herself on an overlooking ledge. As the droids reached the foot of the cliff and began looking for her, she quickly leaped from concealment and cleaved one of the droids in two with a powerful overhand as she landed. Turning to face the droids, she suddenly heard the sound of a speeder bike and looked up to see Anakin riding past on the roadway above.

"Master, over here!" She yelled only for him to continue on, not hearing her. "He never listens." She complained before looking at the droids. "You stick-tinnies are going back to Dooku in pieces!"

As she Charged one of the MagnaGuards, she knocked it to the ground and took its electrostaff, ramming it through the second droid's chest. She quickly bisected the impaled MagnaGuard as the other regained its feet, taking up its fallen brother's weapon and attacked Ahsoka. She fell backward as she dodged its attack, landing in a crab-walk position to protect Rotta.

As the MagnaGuard resumed its attack, Ahsoka regained her feet. Blocking the attacks, she suddenly skirted around and behind the MagnaGuard, quickly slicing it in two. Ahsoka fell to her knees, exhausted. "Being a Padawan is harder than I thought. Let's get you home."

In the palace, while Ahsoka fought the MagnaGuards, Anakin was met at the palace entrance by a group of guards led by Jabba's interpreter droid. Demanding Ahsoka's location from them, Anakin was led inside, after being asked to surrender his weapon. Taken before Jabba, Skywalker learned that Ahsoka wasn't present.

Taking Anakin's questions about her to be a flimsy attempt at deception, Jabba ordered Anakin's execution. Anakin reclaimed his lightsaber and held it to Jabba's throat.

Before things got even more out of hand, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka walked in and returned Jabba's son to him. However, Jabba continued to believe that the Jedi had plotted against him, and ordered all three to be killed immediately. Suddenly an alarm from Ziro came up with a hologram of Padmé who explained Ziro helped Dooku kidnap his son before Ziro came up and confirmed what she was saying was true.

After dealing with his uncle, Jabba made a treaty with the Republic letting the Jedi use his routes.

Up in the atmosphere, Dooku was talking to a hologram of Sidious in his ship explaining that Jabba has a treaty with the Jedi.

"Allow the Jedi their small victory my friend. The tides are turning in our favor."

Down below, Naruto arrived in a gunship with Yoda and walked up to the three with Jabba who was at the door. Naruto then picked up the scroll from earlier and looked down at it. "Guess I finally have time to see what this is."

To Be Continued.

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A/N: Thanks for reading and let me know of any mistakes.

Beta: Chaos-PSD. Contributor: Kuronodono12.

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