Updating all my new stories today. Sometime within the next week updates for chapters of other stories will get post.

Planetary exploration was so fulfilling. There was so much to learn traveling throughout the cosmos. She was so thankful ever since she had been invited on this journey. It brightened her life immensely.

To continuously gather new knowledge and experience new adventures… The Nameless lifestyle had its perks, she must admit. Not that was the reason she accepted the offer.

No. There were many reasons why. Two friends, whose friendships she valued highly, happened to be part of the crew, and she couldn't say no to them. And to learn more about his story… Well, that was always worth the admission price.

Humans should not have the power to do what he was capable of. Yet there stood a man with a living Stellaron within him capable of being self-propelled within space… And the capacity to generate enough power to destroy a star.

Their Captain was a walking enigma. One she wished to solve… And help achieve his simple goal.

To return home.

It was a tall task when no one knew precisely where his world existed throughout the universe… Or if it still did.

"Have they not returned yet?" She heard her other friend's voice resonate within the luxurious observation room they stood in as she observed the majestic planet below, watching the thunderstorm that engulfed the planet rage on despite the Stellaron having been sealed. It took time for their effects to wear off.

"Not yet!" A chipper voice responded. "But you know the Captain! He's probably lingering back, trying to help as many people as possible before getting back!"

"I fear that is the case… The man is too generous for his own good." The man sighed before walking over to her side. "Heard anything back, Himeko?"

"Not yet, Welt." Himeko shook her head. She flashed a mild smile at Yang before continuing to gaze upon the planet in wonder. "You worry too much. Naruto may not have our pragmatic approach to a situation, but he is just as effective…"

"I would say his methods are more akin to the storm besieging the planet," Welt responded, holding his hands behind his back.

"In this instance, you are not wrong." Himeko giggled, her eyes sparkling in amusement. "Give him time. We may have solved the Stellaron issue; however, the planet's issue is far from being solved. And it's not like he is alone."

"Dan Heng is with him.

It wasn't often he could say he was underprepared.

Throughout his life, Dan Heng strived for perfection in every aspect of life, yet to enjoy the small, meaningful moments. He knew not to take anything for granted but to be weary of all possible outcomes. To always remember his previous mistakes and work to improve upon them. The Captain was beneficial in this endeavor. He could not thank him enough.

So, to still be caught by surprise when he suspected the worst-case scenario left him in a predicament. And of all things to catch him by surprise… It was this woman.

He had been taking his time, enjoying the planet's scenery before they left when she came upon him. For no reason, she drew her blade, and he was forced to answer. However, the longer the fight lasted, the more bothered he became. She didn't attack him out of malice. Her movements did not speak to such. So why launch an attack the moment upon seeing him?

And why did she feel familiar to him? Her presence… Did he know her? From the way she fought and moved, everything felt… Known to him.

It did not help him. She was faster. Stronger. Her ice was bitter cold, and he could barely scratch her with Cloud-Piercer. If it weren't for the currents of wind of his attacks, he wouldn't have believed he had made contact with his opposition once.

Where was the Captain when he needed him? They had just finished their Trailblazing expedition. He was somewhat exhausted, so the Captain gave him a break while he went out on his own to see how he could assist the locals with more localized problems… He was always a magnanimous person…

"I find this form of yours lacking, old friend. You used to push me to my limit, yet now I barely feel a challenge." The woman coldly responded as she strode toward him, sword in hand, undauntingly. A blindfold wrapped around her eyes as her icy white hair fluttered in the stormy winds.

Lightning crashed as Dan Heng's eyes flickered. He was correct. This woman knew him… No. She knew who he was… Before he…

"Your form is still proficient." She held out her sword, pointing toward him, almost as if challenging him to rise again. "But your speed is lacking. Your swing used to possess far more potency. I could have cut through your spear at any time."

Dan Heng's eyes narrowed. What was she trying to accomplish? It almost sounded like she was admonishing him… Wait… was her guard…

His eyes glistened with rage. Despite the feeling that she was challenging him, her form was relaxed. Was she… Inviting him to attack? Was this just a game to her?

Fueled with intensity, he struck as swift as the wind. Cloud-Piercer struck true, only for her blade to hold off his spear's end and drive it into the ground. "You finally broke your curse, yet I find you here, away from home? Why is that? What sin did you commit, my friend?"

Flicking her blade off his spear, he rolled and spun to increase his momentum and slashed her chest. Only for Cloud-Piercer to be knocked into the air as an icy wave of coldness snapped around him. Thrown back, sputtering against the damp ground, thunder roared as he clutched his chest. He looked up toward the woman slowly approaching him, sword drawn toward him. "You at one time were better than this. But I have continued to grow stronger. If I am to cut through a star, I must continue to grow… I must… Ugh…"

Watching her stumble and clutch her temple while an aura of darkness engulfed and swallowed her being, Dan Heng's eyes flickered as he scrambled to his feet, his eyes falling upon Cloud-Piercer and cursed. She was between him and his spear…

But that sensation… He knew what that was… She was inflicted?! She was Mara-Struck!

Dan Heng cursed. This was bad! With how the fight was turning out before this, without his weapon, it would get infinitely worse. She was dominant before the influx of Mara…

There was no choice. He took off, dashing Cloud Piercer as the darkness swarmed her, and he had to take the chance. Without it, there was no chance of victory.

"Ugh!" Dan Heng was knocked off his feet as a shattering of ice and shadows ruptured, rolling on the ground several times before catching himself. Scampering to his knees, prepared to continue his dash, Dan Heng's eyes flickered at the sight before him.

"Captain?"

"Sorry, I didn't act sooner…" His captain responded as he held the giant blade in the woman's hands off with a pitch-black katana. Blonde locks wavered within the gales of the shadowy yet icy shockwave as cerulean eyes stared into crimson eyes as the woman's blindfold fell from her form. "I didn't recognize she was Mara-struck until it was too late…"

"Allow me to handle this."

In a blink, Dan Heng couldn't keep track. He knew the Captain far surpassed anyone he had ever met in ability. He was the one person he felt comfortable asking for advice despite his years of experience… The man possessed unworldly strength and skill.

But the woman… Did she hold that much back against him before? Was her claim to cut through a star as her goal within reach?

No… The fight was over before it started.

Before it started, he knew who the victor was as ice winds ceased and thunder crackled. The Captain stood tall, his hand on the woman's head as she knelt before him.

What was he doing to her?

A sword. Two feet, eight inches. Small and sleek but dense in matter. Forged from the molting metals from a star's core. The blade is pitch-black…

The man is the complete opposite. Bright and vivid. …Too much orange.

But he was strong. Defeat was not expected but was surely handed to her. The woman was humbled. Clouded with strife and madness, her mind cleared after his hand left her head.

The woman… She felt relief from her sickness. Gripping her lunar blindfold, tying it around her crimson eyes before the madness returned, the woman took a deep and labored breath. "I accept my defeat… Do with me as you will."

The bright man scoffed. He sheathed his sword, and she felt his eyes upon him. "I didn't fight you because I wanted to… You attacked me first."

"I am aware of what I have done. My sanity is waning… The madness will return." The woman shook her head as the weight of the world pressed down upon her. She was so exhausted.

"It will not… I purged the mara from your system. You are free from it."

"What?!" The woman stood shakily to the bright man who had just defeated her. "You… I've been searching for a solution to my affliction… Yet my head feels… Clear."

The man observed the woman grasping her head with an overwhelmed and confused expression. "I've dealt with those who have been mara-struck over the last century. After several encounters, I recognized what the problem was and how to heal it within individuals before it completely consumed them… It's a Yin/Yang imbalance caused by an accumulation of natural energy over the years for those with extensive life spans living within space without having a way to release it naturally. I restored that balance and released the negative energy stored within you."

The woman stumbled away from the bright man, shaking her head in disbelief. Her breathing labored, and she tripped onto her knees, staring upward toward Naruto. She felt so disoriented… The Mara within her… Was gone…

So why did she feel worse?

"…Who are you?" The woman muttered, catching her breath while clutching her chest.

"Oh, right. Where are my manners? Name is Naruto Uzumaki. Captain of the Astral Express." He smirked, rubbing the back of his head. "Now I have some questions for you, mostly about your history with my crewmate and why you attacked him… But before you pass out and I take you back to the Express, got a name?"

"Jingliu." "The woman simply stated, her breathing deepening as she furrowed her brow and fixed her gaze."

This man was an enigma. But she could feel it in his words. There was no ill intent within. He simply wanted answers. He had bested her. He had healed her. So she would abide by his words as she felt her world slipping from the waking world.

This was a blade she could trust.

"Captain."

"Hm?" Naruto gently lifted the limp form of the woman that had attacked him in his arms and met Dan Heng's stern gaze. "Eh, sorry for being late…"

"What are you doing with her?" Dan Heng questioned with his gaze as he stared at her prone form as he cradled her in his arms.

"Taking her back to the ship!" Naruto chirped without hesitation, a broad grin on his face.

Dan Heng's gaze sharpened. He scrutinized his Captain's demeanor and cheerful manner of response and took in his lax posture. He was serious.

"She attacked me without warning or provocation. She's dangerous."

"Is that what you felt?" Naruto's demeanor shifted. The calmness remained. But with a soft smile as he looked over the woman in his grasp, he exhaled, and his eyes glistened. "You know I would have stepped in if I felt she was a threat. Given your current form…"

"You know who I was?" Dan Heng stiffened. The last thing he wished was for his past to haunt him. And here he was. A guardian of the Astral Express…

"I have knowledge of who you were." Naruto corrected with a shake of his head, meeting the gaze of his crewmate. "We had an idea of who you were. Sure, you have your past and secrets. That's fine. Keep 'em. We all have our agendas while we travel the galaxy. None of us have the right to judge ya. However…" His gaze shifted in his arms momentarily before glancing back at Dan Heng. "There is one thing I am good at judging is character… I knew you were of outstanding character, so we brought you in. And with her, I saw someone who saw an old friend and, in their own way, was attempting to help them. So I'm taking her back to the ship so she can rest."

"The restoration of Yin-Yang imbalance, or Mara-struck as people here call it, takes a lot out of a person."

"Well, now, isn't that an interesting find… Are you thinking what I am?"

"No, but I'll go ahead with it. The girl has been stuck in space for too long as it is. Someone needs to find her."

"Good. My favorite Stellaron vessel is about to get two new crewmates… Let's see how this shakes things up."

How long must this journey go on? How many years had he been banished to this endless void of stars?

Letting out a yawn, his blonde locks shifted. A cerulean gaze dully peered through a thick transparent hull that opened to the vast ocean of stars. The sight was always breathtaking, but he had grown weary of it. Was it a hundred years since he first beheld this sight? Two? Three?! …He had lost count, lost in the timeless expanse of space .

Back home, he felt he would have died of old age. Yet here, traveling through the endless void on this vessel, hoping beyond hope that maybe he could find his home, he felt he hardly had aged. He knew he had. He wasn't a kid anymore like he was when he fought his brother, lost his arm, and found himself caught in a Stellaron Burst on a space station, nearly accused of the crime and harboring a Stellaron himself.

At the time, he did not know what they were talking about. Kurama wasn't a Stellaron! Now, he knew far too much about everything! Three hundred years of living as a Trailblazer gave him plenty of time to learn everything he needed. And now that he and Kurama had learned more about the universe, they had come to learn… Kurama was indeed a piece of a Stellaron.

That was what the Ten-Tailed Beast was… This left a lot of questions about what Kaguya happened to be and another reason he wanted to find his home.

But alas, the sea of stars was vast. Finding his home seemed nigh impossible. He wasn't even sure if a course had been charted to his home world. He would venture out independently since he could survive the vacuum of space… But returning would be an issue.

So until then, Trailblazing felt like the correct thing to do and would lead him back to his home. To continue to connect worlds. Reestablish connections with older worlds that the mass outbreak of Stellarons had disrupted. Seal them and help assist the local populace as best they could…

No situation was truly hopeless.

"Seems like someone is lost in thought again."

"Hm?" Cerulean eyes regained their luster as the man with spiky blonde locks turned in his seat to meet a tall, busty woman with brilliant red hair, a warm smile, and shining orange eyes. "Oh, Himeko. …It's just the usual. Mulling over my past."

"And where in the vast sea of stars your home happens to exist?" Himeko supportedly smiled, attempting to comfort her age-old friend, who sat on the lounge chair beside him.

Naruto exhaled but nodded, his gaze faltering before he looked back out into space longingly. "Yeah. Can't help but think of my homeworld. Even though my people don't live nearly as long as I strangely have, I want to return and see what happened. I need to know. And learn what precisely brought me here."

"I do wonder about that myself." Himeko showed concern while wondering aloud. "The story of your arrival and your state of being all those years ago is quite complex but utterly fascinating. If only Welt and I were there to observe it personally. To see it with our own eyes to get a better understanding…"

"All we have are the records to go by."

"Ah, joining the conversation, Welt?" Himeko turned to see a distinguished gentleman wearing a weathered gray dress coat strolling toward them along with Naruto. "Or is there something else? Our meeting isn't until morning. Dan Heng and Naruto had only just returned from their recent Trailblazer expedition, and he was quite exhausted, as expected. When the captain gets involved…"

"The adventures pick up. He's earned his rest. Very few can keep up with the captain's pace." Welt Yang responded monotonously, although if one paid close attention, one could see the wrinkling of a wry smile on his lips. However, his expression straightened, and he sighed. "I apologize for the interruption. However, there is something you both need to see. I've come across a strange occurrence nearby."

Sharing a glance with one another and a nod, Naruto folded his hands and interlaced his fingers together before resting his chin on them. "Just how strange of an occurrence?"

"A very peculiar one, I must say." Welt crossed his arms and furrowed his brow. "Nothing was unusual at first glance. Sensors were only picking up the usual debris… However…"

"I've caught biometric signals which indicate something is alive amongst the debris and ice floating around the Astral Express."

He didn't do this often. Naruto didn't quite enjoy the feeling of flying through the vacuum of space, but he was more than capable. He technically didn't need oxygen… For a while.

His and Kurama's chakra rejuvenated his cells so he could sustain himself for quite some time. But for substantial periods, he eventually would need to replenish his oxygen supply as chakra could only support his system so much… He wasn't a natural space-faring being, so his body wasn't inclined to last in the void forever.

It didn't matter, as Naruto could stay out long enough for search and recovery missions like this. Gathering strange objects and bringing them back to the Express…

Or finding a giant block of ice…

With a girl with pink hair curled into the fetal position inside.

Tapping his ear as he placed his glowing hand on the eternally frozen ice, Naruto's shimmered. "Himeko, Welt… I think I found it…"

"And she's alive."

R & R