Before anything else, I would like to thank all of you who left reviews on the last chapter. It was received far more warmly than I expected. You all are awesome, and make writing this story a far more enjoyable process than it would be otherwise. Quite a few of you also left theories and requests for lightsaber colors or designs for both Naruto and Jiraiya. I will only say that the color and design of their lightsabers was decided before I ever put word to page on this story. They also won't have much in the way of significance to the story beyond the fact that both Naruto and Jiraiya are getting new weapons.

Anyway, here we are, with the next installment of this story. This one didn't take so long for two main reasons. One, I didn't need to restructure an entire story arc at one in the morning. Two, I finished the most recent Dresden Files book the day after I posted the last chapter. Reading that series occupied my life for just over two weeks, though it was two weeks well spent. If you haven't read Jim Butcher's Dresden Files and you're a fan of fantasy, I cannot recommend them enough.

This chapter is where this arc really picks up. A few notes before you read, though. Due to the nature of the Crystal Caves and what Naruto and Jiraiya have to face while in there, this and the following chapters will have a touch of surrealism to them. They will also include more than their fair share of symbolic imagery woven into the narrative, so if something doesn't appear to make sense, it wasn't necessarily a mistake. I'm not claiming that it's Kafka's The Metamorphosis or anything, but dust off your literary analysis hats, because there is meaning beyond the strictly literal in some of the following scenes.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Star Wars. Just in case you were confused.

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Chapter 16

The journey to Ilum took nearly two whole days. Though not nearly as isolated as Tython, it was still deep within Wild Space. There were no major hyperspace lanes going near the system, forcing them to travel slowly, with frequent stops to adjust course. While he had known this prior to the trip, the reality of two days spent in the small confines of a T-6 shuttle was wearing on Naruto.

"Errrggghh."

Naruto slumped and groaned as he once again failed to sink into a meditation. "This is crazy. I can't move on this ship. Why do the Jedi have to get their crystals from some planet in the middle of nowhere? Aren't there any closer planets to get Kyber crystals?"

Luminara, who had been meditating across from him in the small mess area, sighed and opened her eyes.

"Yes, there are several other places with known Kyber deposits. However, none of them are as strong in the Force as the Crystal Caves of Ilum. You must have patience, Naruto. It is one of the most important aspects of being a Jedi."

Naruto grimaced, but nodded. "Yes, Master," he said, before trying to meditate once more. His efforts were in vain, however. He simply had too much energy, and with no way to burn it off while on the small shuttle, he could not find the inner peace necessary to sink into the depths of the Force. After several more minutes of trying, he grunted in frustration again.

"I'm sorry, master, but this is just impossible," he said, trying and failing to keep his irritation out of his voice. Luminara regarded him thoughtfully before nodding her head.

"Very well. Why don't you go practice building your lightsaber some more? That should give you something more tangible to focus on."

"Yeah, that'd be great!" Naruto exclaimed, before wincing in embarrassment at Luminara's raised eyebrow. "I mean, thank you, master. I'll just… go do that."

"Smooth kid. Real smooth," came Jiraiya's voice from the door. "I swear, every time someone gives you a lesson on manners and etiquette, it just bounces off that thick skull of yours."

Naruto turned to face his godfather, rolling his eyes.

"You're just still sore because of those times the Toads smacked you in the head," he said accusingly. Jiraiya frowned and rubbed the back of his head in remembered pain. He swore he could still feel a lump the same size and shape as Fukusaku's staff.

"You're damn right I'm still sore about that. It hurt!" he shot back. "Not to mention all the times you pissed off Tsunade and she took it out on me. Do you have any idea how hard she punches when she's mad?"

Naruto just shrugged. "You know, for being 'the greatest shinobi in the entire galaxy', you sure do whine a lot."

Jiraiya face-vaulted, while Luminara gave a light snort, which sounded suspiciously like a suppressed laugh. Naruto wisely took the opportunity to slip out of the mess and back to his cabin. He passed Jiraiya on the way out the door, and the older man rushed to sit in the seat Naruto had just vacated. He grumbled under his breath, and Luminara gave him a pointed look.

"Cheeky little brat," Jiraiya muttered, though with no real ire. "I doubt he'll ever learn manners."

"He is certainly rough around the edges," Luminara said, her tone even. "I thought he was better at meditating than that."

"Normally he is," Jiraiya said. "But he has so much energy that he needs to burn it off before he can focus on something like meditation. In a ship this small…"

"He has no way to do that," Luminara finished, nodding in understanding. "I see. Well, he is hardly the first youngling with that issue. There are several techniques that can help him deal with that. I'm sure whoever takes him as their Padawan will quickly teach him some of them."

"So they don't get driven to distraction by his hyperactivity, you mean," Jiraiya said with a snort of amusement. Luminara gave him a tolerant look before shaking her head.

"Now, he isn't that bad. Merely young and energetic. He has great potential."

Jiraiya raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. "Careful now. It almost sounds as if you think he might make a good Jedi one day."

"I do believe that," she replied. "I think both of you will make excellent Jedi."

This time Jiraiya's surprise was genuine. While they had developed something of a teasing friendship over the past eight months, Jiraiya had never really gotten the impression that Luminara entirely approved of him and his ideals. She certainly never said it aloud, but there was often a certain reticence, almost reluctance, about her when they talked. Curious, he told her as much.

"It's not that I disapproved of you, but rather that I was unsure of what I thought of your beliefs," Luminara said. "When we first met, you challenged some of the core tenants of the Jedi Order, our abstention from attachments and powerful emotions. You were quite… passionate in your beliefs, if I recall."

Jiraiya nodded, thinking back to their first meeting. He had been quite outspoken with her then, even more so than with most Jedi. He supposed it had to do with how willing she had been to hear him out. She hadn't dismissed him as dark or rebellious, even though she had clearly been confident in her own position. That confidence had sparked a fire in him, a determination to meet her unspoken challenge.

"I admit, at first I thought your beliefs were mistaken, dangerous even," Luminara continued. "But then, just a few short hours later, Naruto went and demonstrated that it was possible to draw strength from your attachments and emotions without inviting the Dark side in. Shortly thereafter, I found out that Skywalker was allowed to visit his mother, and that rather than exacerbate the conflict within him, it calmed it. Having my ideals challenged like that was…"

"Disconcerting?" Jiraiya asked. Luminara nodded.

"Yes, very. Our later talks only further convinced me that the Jedi Code is missing something, that it does not address the entire picture, if you will," she said. "I still am not sure if you are wholly right, but I am sure that both you and Naruto will do great things as Jedi."

Jiraiya blinked dumbly for a second before a broad smirk crossed his face.

"Well, with a vote of confidence from a woman as wise and beautiful as you, I suppose I can't possibly fail," he said. Luminara rolled her eyes, ignoring his compliment. Ever since she had met him, he had regularly given her similar compliments. She supposed it was his way of teasing her for asking about his past as a pervert. Regardless, comments on her appearance meant little to her.

Jiraiya's smirk dissolved into a smaller, but far more genuine, smile. He reached out and gently squeezed one of hands.

"In all seriousness, though, thank you," he said, the teasing quality gone from his voice. "I have a great deal of respect for you, Luminara, and your belief in Naruto and I means a lot. I'm also glad to hear that you've taken the time to think about my beliefs. It's more than a lot of Jedi have done. You're a good friend, and I am glad to know you."

Now it was Luminara's turn to blink in surprise. She didn't quite know how to respond to his statement. Jiraiya was very rarely so genuine, and something about his gratitude made her feel as if she couldn't brush it off as her merely doing her duty as a Jedi Master. She wasn't sure what to make of it, but she decided being forthright was probably the best course.

"You're welcome, Jiraiya," she said, giving his hand a squeeze in return. "You have been a good friend as well, and I look forward to working with you in the future."

Jiraiya's smile broadened upon hearing that. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but shut it again without speaking. Pain and grief swirled behind his eyes like a sudden storm before he hid them behind one of his masks. This one displayed none of the genuine forthrightness that had been apparent not ten seconds earlier. Now Jiraiya once more seemed the vaguely disinterested and sarcastic man he so often pretended to be.

"Well, I'd best check on Naruto before he somehow blows us all to pieces," Jiraiya said, the humor in his voice nearly passing as genuine. "I'll see you later, Luminara. Thanks for the talk."

Luminara made to ask what had perturbed him so, but he had already left the mess. She frowned, but elected not to pursue him. For all his talk of building bonds with others, Jiraiya could guard his own privacy more fiercely than a Rancor did its cave. He would talk to her when he was ready. Or he would not. It was all the same to her, she told herself.

Luminara ignored the slight niggle of pain that bit at her. Having Jiraiya shut her out like that, even if she didn't know why, had hurt a little. Closing her eyes, she reached out to the Force, seeking her balance once more. She was a Jedi Master, and being unbalanced by emotional pain was unbecoming of her, she thought. For once, however, the feeling failed to vanish so easily.

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As soon as the door hissed shut behind him, Jiraiya stopped dead in his tracks and closed his eyes. He took a deep, shuddering breath, held it for a minute, before exhaling slowly.

'Stupid, stupid, stupid,' he thought, his mind a whirl of chaos. 'Of all the dumb things I could let myself do, developing feelings for her has got to be up there with the worst of them. Or down there, I suppose.'

When he had grasped Luminara's hand, his intentions truly had been nothing more than to express his gratitude to her for her friendship. She had become both a good friend and an excellent verbal (and physical) sparring partner. Yet when he had actually been there, holding her warm hand, looking into her shockingly blue eyes, he had felt the stirrings of something familiar.

Affection.

More than just what he would feel for a friend.

It wasn't love. Not yet. Jiraiya was no child, falling in and out of love as if someone had installed a revolving door, but he also was no fool. He had to face facts, and right now the fact facing him, and probably laughing its wretched ass off while doing so, was that he was developing romantic feelings for one Luminara Unduli. And that was unacceptable.

'You'd think after nearly forty years of pining after Tsunade, I would have learned my lesson, but no!' he thought bitterly. 'No, I just had to start falling for yet another woman who won't have me. Ha! It seems my list of failures is about to grow longer still.'

A muffled curse from the cabin where he knew Naruto to be shook him from the black mire of his thoughts. It sounded as if his godson had flubbed his practice. Knowing him, Jiraiya had no doubt that he had gotten impatient and tried to rush the process. Judging by the faint sounds of metallic clicking and whirring, he had started again, hopefully with a modicum more of patience. Staring at the door, a fond smile crept stealthily over Jiraiya's face, heedless of his prior grim mood. It seemed Naruto's ability to bring out the best in people extended even to those he wasn't talking to, or even aware of. It consistently astonished Jiraiya how hard it was for anyone, himself included, to remain ill-tempered while around the hyperactive young shinobi. Giving the door one last look, Jiraiya squared his shoulders and nodded his head firmly.

'So what if I'm destined to always fail at love?' Jiraiya thought. 'So be it. For over forty years, I failed at that, and damn near everything else. I'm used to it. I only need to succeed at one thing. Naruto. I won't let him down again, as I have so many others. Whatever feelings for Luminara I may have buried in my heart can stay there. For now, I have a godson who I have to help grow into the best damn Jedi this galaxy has ever seen. And that's exactly what I'm going to do.'

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It was nearly six hours later that they finally dropped out of hyperspace for the last time. Naruto was in the cockpit, eagerly awaiting his first glimpse of a new planet since arriving on Coruscant a year prior. As he watched the blue tunnel of hyperspace fade into smeared star lines before resolving into a clear view of the fabled world, his first reaction was one of disappointment. Compared to the intricate, globe spanning cityscape of Coruscant, or the beautiful, eclectic variety of Tython, Ilum seemed plain, almost boring. It was mostly frozen, with vast swathes of blue-white ice fields stretching from both poles, encircling most of the planet in a frigid embrace. Nearer to the equator, a few dark green bands of what were presumably forests girdled the planet's warmer clines. Even from space though, Naruto got a sense of stillness, of emptiness. This was a cold, stark, unmoving world; frozen not only in ice but also seemingly in time.

Before he could give voice to these initial impressions, however, Naruto felt the presence of the icy planet wash against his Force senses. He had not even needed to consciously reach out with the Force to feel the vast beacon of power that emanated from the planet below. In stark contrast to its rather forbidding physical appearance, Ilum's Force presence was bright and clear, shining sharply against the backdrop of empty space. It rivaled even the presence of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant for sheer power and luminance. Unlike the Temple, however, Ilum's Force presence was much more evenly distributed throughout the planet. There were areas where it concentrated, certainly; those spots glowing like hot embers against a warm background. Even away from those places, though, the planet just shimmered in the Force, like a vast diamond lit from within.

"Whoa," Naruto breathed. "It's… amazing. It's so bright."

"Indeed," Luminara replied as she piloted their shuttle towards the icy surface. "Ilum has always been exceptionally powerful in the Force. That is why the Jedi Order has always favored using Kyber crystals found here, rather than those available on Adega or Jedha."

Naruto just nodded silently, still in awe of the feeling of the planet. As they descended, he noticed that Luminara was piloting the ship towards the largest and brightest of the embers. Its power felt at once as high as a mountain peak and as deep as an ocean trench. The closer the ship got to it, the more overwhelming it felt, almost as if he were drawing nearer and nearer to a sheer cliff face, a perilous drop into the unknown mere meters away. Finally, he had to draw his sense back somewhat, lest he pitch off the edge.

"Careful youngling," Luminara warned. "You are still inexperienced with the Force. Places such as this can overwhelm you if you aren't ready for them. When the time comes, reach out slowly, and let the Force be your guide."

"Yes master," Naruto said, feeling somewhat humbled in the face of such a Force nexus as this. He suddenly had a lot more respect for the various Jedi Knights and Masters he had met. If powers such as this were the sort of things that they could handle so casually, then there was clearly even more to them than he had previously thought. The thought that he would one day join such an elite group filled him with excitement.

The rest of the landing cycle was silent, with Naruto eagerly contemplating the challenge ahead of him, while Luminara focused on navigating the often treacherous winds of Ilum's gelid atmosphere. Fortunately, she proved to be more than equal to the task, and a few turbulence filled minutes later the shuttle touched down, the landing struts crunching through the deep snow. Looking out the front viewport, Naruto could see what he assumed was their destination.

A few hundred meters away from their landing site, a large cliff face rose from the windswept tundra. It stood as an imposing frozen monolith, the blue-white gleam of the icy rime standing in stark contrast to the smooth gray of the bare stone. Though the cliff appeared barren and featureless at an initial glance, the Force told a very different story. Somewhere beyond those blocks of ice and stone lay the source of the power Naruto could feel. Even so, Naruto was still surprised, and a little disappointed, at the lack of any obvious entrance.

"I thought there was supposed to be some huge, ancient Jedi Temple here," he said, frowning suspiciously. "All I see is a bunch of frozen rocks. You're not messing with me, are you?"

"Have patience, young one," Luminara said, dryly amused at Naruto of all people suspecting a prank. "I know you can feel the nexus behind the cliff. Trust that we are in the right place."

Naruto squinted at her for a second, before deciding to accept her words.

"Yes, Master," he said.

"Good. Now go get your gear. We do not want to waste time."

Shivering with excitement, Naruto ran to the entrance ramp, stopping only to grab a parka to ward off the bitter chill beyond the ship's hull and his pack full of supplies. He had all the equipment needed to build his lightsaber in his small backpack, save for the vital crystal. Once at the hatch, he saw Jiraiya standing near the exit, his own parka already zipped up. Naruto gave his godfather a concerned look, as the man had been unusually quiet for the last leg of their journey. Jiraiya clearly spotted the look, as he rolled his eyes and poked him in the shoulder.

"What's with the frowny face, brat?" he asked. "Focus up. We've got important stuff to do."

Before Naruto could reply, Luminara walked up, also wearing a thick coat.

"We should go," she said. "It's best if we get this done before dark. Taking off at night is impossible on Ilum with the blizzards, and spending the night in the Temple isn't exactly comfortable."

Naruto nodded and slipped his parka on over his tunic and flak vest. While he was far less bothered by heat and cold than even most Jedi, even he would find the temperatures on Ilum intolerable. As soon as he was zipped up, Luminara opened the hatch to the outside. All thoughts of Jiraiya's odd behavior were instantly forgotten as the wind whipped them.

Cold.

Loud.

White.

Those were the thoughts that went through Naruto's head as he hustled down the ramp and onto the snow covered ground. Every exposed bit of flesh instantly screamed in protest of the biting cold. His eyes squinted against the wind; wind which drove snowflakes into his skin like a cloud of biting flies. Even through the insulating material of his parka, Naruto could feel the chill of the air.

"Is it always this bad here?" he heard Jiraiya ask.

"No," Luminara answered. "It's the middle of winter here right now. Normally, younglings only come during the spring and summer."

"I guess we're just lucky then," Jiraiya griped, pulling his hood tighter over his head. Naruto couldn't help but agree with his sentiment. This place sucked.

Luckily for them, it was a fairly short walk to their destination. Even with the driving wind and cold clawing at them and slowing them down it only took ten minutes before Luminara held up her hand to stop their march, halting them a few meters from the base of the cliff. As she did, Naruto felt the texture of the ground beneath the snow change, becoming smoother. Upon closer inspection, he saw the vague outline of a circular carving embedded in the rock beneath the snow. He could make out faint traces of intricate carvings, but the covering of snow made discerning any details impossible.

"We're here," Luminara said as she knelt to dust off part of the carving. "We must work together to access the Temple. Reach out with the Force and let it guide you. You'll know what to do."

Eager to be out of what was rapidly becoming a blizzard, both Naruto and Jiraiya closed their eyes and did as she instructed, feeling out with their Force senses. As soon as they contacted the nexus of the Temple, Luminara's words became clear. Like water flowing through channels carved in rock, their power wound its way through paths in the Force until it met what felt like a lever, waiting to be pulled. Working together, along with Luminara, they did just that.

As soon as they did, a bass rumble boomed forth from the cliff. Shedding their coating of snow, the icy blocks of stone before them began to shift, sinking into unseen shafts in the ground. As they descended, they revealed the true entrance to the Temple. Two large slabs of rock, carved from the cliff face and polished smooth, rose above them. A circular cutout adorned the top third of the facade, and a thin dark line marked the separation between the two halves. In less than a minute, the rumbling ceased, and the entirety of the entrance was exposed.

"Well done, both of you," Luminara said. "Now follow me."

She led them through a doorway at the base of the vast stone carvings that marked the entrance to the ancient Jedi stronghold. As soon as they were out of the reach of the wind, the difference was apparent. The air may have been barely any warmer, still well below freezing, but without the constant assault of the wind, the cold was far easier to tolerate.

The doorway led to a long hallway chiseled into the side of the cliff. They followed it as it speared deeper into the rock formation, until it opened upon a vast cylindrical chamber, clearly hewn from the solid rock of the cliff. A set of four enormous statues, all hooded and cloaked, stood guard at equal intervals throughout the cavernous room. Each carried a stone lightsaber, held as if in salute to those who stood before them. Above their heads hung a large crystal, suspended within an ancient-looking mechanism, with several smaller crystals around it. Together, the crystals and the ice cast the entire chamber in a blue glow.

Lowering his hood, Naruto took in the sight of the ancient temple. Now that he was actually inside of it, he could feel how different it was from the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. There the Force was warm, welcoming, and vibrant with the echoes of the many millennia worth of lives that had been lived in its halls. Standing in the Coruscant Temple felt like standing in a forest at the height of spring. Compared to that, standing here Naruto felt more as though he were in a very small boat sailing upon a deep, calm ocean. It was pleasant enough, and there was no obvious danger, but this was not a place for beings to live. To visit from time to time perhaps, to learn from certainly. But not to live. The Force shone here like a crystal, with cool, clear light. It was bright, yes, but also harsh and unforgiving.

Across from them stood another doorway, this one blocked by a wall of ice. Naruto walked towards it, carefully extending his senses, mindful this time of Luminara's earlier warning.

"That's the route to the Crystal cave, isn't it?" He asked. "How are we supposed to get through there?"

"Yes, it is," Luminara responded, nodding approvingly. "As for how you two are to gain access, just watch."

With that, Luminara waved one hand, reaching out with the Force. A shutter opened in the wall above them, casting a ray of sunlight on the large central crystal. The gem glowed a brilliant yellow, scattering beams of light all around. Another gesture shifted one of the smaller crystals into the path of one of the beams. It redirected it into the carved stone frame surrounding the sheet of ice blocking their path. The whole lintel lit up blue, and the ice rapidly began to melt and flow down the steps. In only a few seconds, the doorway was clear, while the meltwater drained out of sight.

"Through that passage lies the Crystal cave," Luminara said. "As you can see, the entrance is already freezing over again."

She spoke the truth. Even as they watched, Naruto and Jiraiya could see the wall of ice begin to slowly reform from the top of the carved doorway.

"At this time of year, the entrance will freeze over completely before you find your crystals and build your blades," Luminara continued. "Once you have completed your lightsaber, you will be able to use it to cut through the ice. Until then, you will be trapped inside the caves."

Jiraiya looked skeptical as he examined the entranceway.

"I'm pretty sure a good Rasengan would smash through that ice, no problem," he said.

"You may be surprised," Luminara said cryptically. "Now, from here on, you two are on your own. You will probably face fierce challenges while in the caves. No Jedi gains a crystal without proving themselves. The Crystal Cave is a mysterious place, so be ready for anything. Focus on finding your crystals and remember what you have been taught, it will guide you to your goal. May the Force be with you."

Tightening the straps on his pack, Naruto confidently stepped forward and strode through the door.

"Just you wait," he said loudly. "I'm going to make my lightsaber, I guarantee it. No old cave is going to beat me."

"Damn straight brat," Jiraiya said, following right behind him. Luminara shook her head at their brash confidence, but said nothing. She merely watched silently as they walked into the caves until they passed out of sight.

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Naruto exhaled with a shiver, his breath fogging in the chill of the cave. The sound of footsteps, both his and Jiraiya's, echoed off the hard rock walls that surrounded him, adding even further to the unsettling atmosphere that pervaded the ancient tunnels. Glancing around at the icy rock walls, eerily washed in blue light, he had to fight down a sudden burst of nervousness. The reckless confidence he had felt before entering seemed far away now, but stubborn determination took its place. He was Naruto Uzumaki, dammit, and he wasn't about to let fear start controlling him now. He'd finished with that back in the woods outside Konoha, after his first encounter with the Demon Brothers.

After a few minutes, though, he felt the need to break up the echoing silence. Nervousness he could deal with, but boredom remained a mortal adversary.

"Aren't we supposed to feel drawn to our crystals?" he asked Jiraiya, his voice shockingly loud in the quiet tunnels. It added itself to the echoes, lending a hint of faint whispers to the distant clatter of their steps.

"What are you asking me for?" Jiraiya asked back. "I know I'm awesomeness might make it hard to remember, but I'm not a Jedi Master. I know as much about this stuff as you do."

"Ugh, fine," Naruto groaned. "Hold up, let me try to sense… whatever it is I'm supposed to sense."

"Okay, but hurry up, brat. My balls are freezing," Jiraiya said.

"And you think mine aren't?" Naruto muttered just loud enough to hear. He ignored his godfather's chuckle and closed his eyes to focus on the Force. His senses had grown significantly over the past year, but for something like this, he still felt more confident while lightly meditating. Fortunately, he didn't need to go very deep, as he wasn't trying to glimpse the future or find anything too far away. It took only a few seconds of calm, even breathing before he sank lightly into the surface of the Force. It wasn't really even a true meditative trance, but it sufficed to grant his Force senses extra clarity.

He stretched out slowly at first, wary of being overwhelmed by the vast whirlpool of power that permeated the cave. Once he had acclimated himself to the feel of the nexus, he opened himself up to the Force, asking for guidance. For all his practice in making a lightsaber, he had no actual idea what his crystal was supposed to feel like through the Force. He cast his net wide, hoping he would somehow just know which feeling indicated his crystal.

The Force was smiling on him it seemed, for no sooner had Naruto begun his search than he felt something in the Force. Something that was, in some undefinable but incontrovertible way, his. He could not have said what it was he actually was feeling at that moment, but he knew beyond any doubt it was his crystal.

"I've got it!" He said. "At least, I think that's it."

"It's your crystal," Jiraiya said. "If you think you feel it, then I trust you. Which way is it?"

Naruto frowned and reached out for it again. After a moment's hesitation, he pointed confidently down a branching tunnel to his left.

"That way," he said. "But it feels… deeper, I think? Lower down? Like it's below us somehow."

"Well, lead on," Jiraiya encouraged, gesturing him down the tunnel.

"What about your crystal?" Naruto asked. "Don't you need to look for it?"

"Don't worry about my crystal," Jiraiya said. "If you're right, then it's going to be a long walk to get to yours. I'm sure I'll feel something on the way. Now get going. We stay in here much longer and my testicles are going to be sharing living space with my kidneys."

Naruto rolled his eyes at Jiraiya's moaning, but started down the tunnel. Unlike their earlier path, this one didn't seem to have any forks or offshoots. It wound deeper and deeper into the ground, stretching on without end. He could still sense it was taking them towards his crystal though, so Naruto persevered.

It was after perhaps fifteen minutes of walking down the path that Naruto noticed something strange. The echoes caused by his and Jiraiya's footsteps changed. What was once a clamor following them down the tunnel faded and grew distant. The sounds of his breathing and his heartbeat became louder, and also distorted, as if he were hearing them underwater.

"Do you hear that?" He asked. No one answered. He turned around to ask again and froze, eyes wide. Jiraiya was gone.

"Hey! Where'd you go?" He yelled. "This isn't funny, you know. Come on out."

There was no reply.

"Jiraiya-sensei? Jiraiya-sensei, where are you?"

Nothing. Just his own heartbeat, now racing in his ears. He was alone.

Naruto raced back down the way he had just come. Maybe he had missed some side passage or hiding spot where his godfather was lurking, waiting to spring one of his stupid jokes. That had to be it. He'd find Jiraiya, kick his ass for pulling a prank at a time like this, and then everything would be fine.

No matter how much he searched, though, there were no hiding spots. No side passages. No Jiraiya.

"Ok, what the hell?" He yelled. "What's going on here?"

"Isn't it obvious, Naruto-baka?" a female voice said from behind him. A very familiar female voice. Naruto whirled around, only to start in surprise at what he saw. Rather than the relatively narrow tunnel he expected, he was looking at a large cavern, strange formations of rock and ice twisting out of the walls and floor. Even more startling than that, though, was the figure who stood before him. With her red dress and pink hair, it could only be one person.

"S-Sakura-chan?"

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Dun, dun, duuunnnh. Behold, a cliffhanger! Now I admit, the cliff is only a dozen feet high or so, but by Jove I'm going to dangle my characters over it anyway, because that's just the sort of sadist that I am. In all seriousness, though, I'm sure most of you will be able to figure out more or less what's going on pretty easily. By all means, leave your theories and questions in the review section. If you don't mind spoilers, say so, and I'll let you know if you were right, close to right, or way off the mark.

On a different note, while writing this chapter I re-watched the Ilum arc of Clone Wars and replayed Jedi: Fallen Order to get a sense of what the Temple on Ilum looked like. I tried to match that for the outside and the main atrium, but I gave the caves my own spin to better serve the story.

As always, any criticisms, questions, or comments are welcome in the reviews. If you leave a flame, I'll just give it to Naruto and Jiraiya. I'm sure they can use it, it's cold on Ilum. Until next time, goodbye.