I had hoped to get this out sometime last week, but then Rings of Power came out and I went on a huge Tolkien kick. I have my issues with the show, but I still think it's pretty good, especially considering they don't have rights to the Silmarillion. It's better than the Hobbit movies, that's for sure.

Updates may be a little sporadic through October. I'm trying to streamline this last arc before the start of the Clone War, but it's fighting me tooth and nail. I want the events of Episode II to start no later than chapter 40, but it may take a while for me to wrangle all the different threads into a state I'm willing to put out. Hopefully, I'll still be able to keep updating without interruption, but I can't promise anything. For now, this is the last chapter of the recovery arc.

As always, please support Ukraine however you can. Hopefully, with their counteroffensive going so well, this war will be over in the next few months.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Chapter 34

Mace left the Council meeting weary, but relieved. Weary because, as expected, the more conservative Masters had indeed raised a fuss. Oppo Rancisis, by far the most conservative member of the High Council, had even advocated confining Naruto to isolated meditation in the Temple indefinitely and confiscating his lightsaber. Yarael Poof had squashed the idea immediately, and criticized the Thispasian for his apparent callousness, but even that had not fully quieted the other traditionalists. Saesee Tiin and Eeth Coth had both suggested similar, if less extreme, measures. He suspected Adi Gallia and Even Piell had also been leaning in that direction, though they had at least kept their opinions quiet. The debate had been going nowhere until he brought up Master Fay's suggestion. As she predicted, it had mollified the traditionalists and satisfied everyone else.

After that was out of the way, there had been the matter of how to respond to the attack. Aurra Sing had been a problem for the Jedi for decades now, but she had never pulled something on this scale. From Naruto's report, her attack hadn't been a random act of violence. Someone had hired her to ambush the Gathering, and to kill him in particular. The Jedi needed to find out who, and why, but, with the Separatist movement growing ever stronger, the Order had stretched itself thin. Most of their experienced Knights and Masters were already busy, and those that weren't had little or no skill in investigation. In the end, Yoda had suggested they send Jiraiya to hunt down the elusive assassin.

It had been a controversial suggestion, to be sure, but a difficult one to argue with. Jiraiya certainly had the right skill set, and his experience as a warrior was unquestionable. He also had a network of contacts and informants spread across the galaxy, including many in… low places. While he remained a controversial figure with the traditionalists, other options had not been forthcoming. As a nod to their concerns, though, and because, even injured and running, Aurra Sing was dangerous prey, Yoda had agreed to have Master Unduli accompany his Padawan on his investigation. Neither Jiraiya nor Luminary would be pleased to be going on a mission while Naruto and Barriss were injured, but duty came first. Meanwhile, his mind was on how to tell Naruto about the Council's decision.

Though their bond was weaker than usual, a temporary side effect of the Kyuubi's chakra, he could sense enough to tell his Padawan was asleep. Loathe to wake him when he was recovering, Mace just poked his head in to make sure everything was well. To his surprise, he found Naruto and Ahsoka asleep in the same bed, the Togruta girl clinging tightly to Naruto while he wrapped her in a protective embrace. The tear tracks on Ahsoka's face and the stain on the front of Naruto's shirt told him they were likely sleeping off an emotional conversation. Both looked peaceful, and the Force hummed with warmth and affection.

Some part of him, the part that still clung to the letter of the Jedi Code, the part that still disdained Naruto's passionate emotions, balked at the blatant display of attachment before him. Another part of him, one that had watched Naruto defy Jedi convention for the last two years, noticed how the Force shone around the two of them. Their bond of friendship, if such a word was even adequate to describe what he saw between them, glowed in the Force, beating back the grim pall the events of Rago had cast upon them both. That didn't mean he approved of the two of them sleeping in such a position, but that was more because Ahsoka, at least, had obviously disobeyed her Healer's orders to stay in bed.

Mace shook his head and sat down. 'To think I once would have condemned this as dangerous and a path to the Dark side. It seems the Jedi need to rethink our definition of attachment, if this is the strength it can give.'

While he waited for Naruto to wake up, Mace meditated on the Code. It had been the guiding principle in his life since before he could walk. Seeing its flaws, or at least admitting now what he had seen for several years, wasn't easy. It had shaped him as a Jedi, and yet, his idea of what a Jedi should and could be had changed. Perhaps it was time the Code changed to reflect that. He knew Yarael had had similar thoughts, and Yaddle had outright said the Code needed updating several times. Of late, he found himself agreeing with them.

He didn't have long to think on it. Even when mentally exhausted and recovering from severe injuries, Naruto was still a trained warrior. Before long, he stirred, no doubt having noticed a third presence in the room. Mace knew it was only because Naruto subconsciously recognized it as him that the boy hadn't snapped awake the moment he opened the door. His movement woke Ahsoka, too, who groaned at the sudden return to consciousness. Naruto glanced around the room, his eyes searching for whatever had woken him up. When his gaze landed on Mace, he stiffened in shock. Ahsoka's reaction when she noticed him was even more extreme. She yelped in surprise and tried to leap out of the bed. The sudden movement must have aggravated her injuries, because she clutched her abdomen and grimaced in pain, nearly losing her balance. Before she could fall, though, Naruto's arm snapped out and gently pulled her back up, taking care not to jostle her injuries. He performed the whole action automatically; seemingly unaware he was even doing it.

"Master! I- uh, didn't expect you."

"Clearly," Mace deadpanned, before raising an eyebrow at Ahsoka. "I assume there is a good reason you ignored your Healer's advice, youngling?"

"We were just- I…" She babbled for a moment before regaining her composure. "I didn't want to be alone, Master. We were talking and just fell asleep."

He had suspected as much and nodded. "Very well. Be sure to mind instructions from your seniors more carefully in the future, though, particularly Healers. Now, I need to speak to my Padawan. The Council has come to a decision."

Just like that, the warm, comforting atmosphere of the room wilted. Tension crept across Naruto's face and shoulders, and his eyes dimmed, as if a door had swung shut behind them. It wasn't as bad as he had been when he'd first woken up, but clearly the reminder that the Council had met, and why, had disrupted whatever fragile peace he had found. Through their bond, Mace sensed a flicker of fear. He didn't let it show on his face, but Naruto was nervous about what the Council had decided.

"She can stay. It's fine. I already told her about the Kyuubi. I'm done keeping secrets from my friends." Mace frowned at his flat tone, but nodded. If Naruto wanted to let Ahsoka listen to their conversation, he wasn't about to gainsay him. He didn't want Naruto to feel as though he were alone in this, after all. Also, it wasn't as though they could keep the Kyuubi a secret from the other Initiates anymore, and not even Master Rancisis could deny it was Naruto's secret to keep or tell. His Padawan had always been very clear about that.

"The first thing you should know is you are not being punished. You made a mistake using the Kyuubi's power, especially in anger, but the Council recognizes there were mitigating circumstances."

Some of the tension left Naruto's shoulders at that, though his hands clenched into fists. Clearly, despite Yoda's earlier words, he had been expecting some sort of repercussion for his actions.

"So… what, then?" He asked. "I mean, I used the Dark side. The Council isn't just gonna ignore that."

"You brushed the Dark side, but no, we are not ignoring it. Once Master Fay clears you to travel, you and I will go to an ancient Jedi Temple on Lothal."

Naruto cocked his head. "What's in there?"

"If the Force wills it, wisdom for the both of us. Jedi who brush up against the Dark side have often gone there, seeking renewed balance. The trial within will be difficult and dangerous, but I believe you will succeed and emerge stronger than before."

Naruto seemed to turn the news over in his head for a while. Ahsoka glanced between the two of them, but said nothing. Eventually, Naruto nodded and forced an eye-smile. It was clearly fake, but Mace took the effort as an encouraging sign.

"Sounds good, master."

"Very well. Focus on healing, for now," Mace said. "Both of you should also know, Viir's funeral is tomorrow. If you feel up to it, you are welcome to attend."

Naruto tried to respond, but no sound came out. After a moment, Ahsoka tapped him on the elbow to get his attention. Something unspoken passed between them before she looked back at Mace.

"We'll be there, Master Windu." Naruto nodded.

"As you wish," Mace said. "Now, however, you should get some rest. In your own beds, this time. Understood?"

Reluctantly, they nodded, and he carried Ahsoka back across the room to her own bed. While he wasn't going to give them a lecture on attachment, and he trusted Naruto to maintain propriety, the fact remained that sleeping in their own beds would be better for their healing. However, mindful of their close bond, Mace wheeled Ahsoka's bed over next to Naruto's, so they could at least take comfort in each other's proximity. It seemed to work, as they were both asleep again within minutes.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

True to Mace's prediction, Luminara was not happy about going to track down Aurra Sing. While someone had to bring that madwoman to justice, she was loath to leave Barriss in her current state. Though she was not yet her Padawan, Luminara already cared deeply for the girl, and it pained her to see her so badly injured. Three years ago, she would never have dreamed of allowing herself to feel such an attachment to another being, even her future Padawan. Now, though, she had seen just how strong such attachments could make someone. The worry and grief at seeing someone she cared for injured was unpleasant, yes, but it was also part of being alive. Nevertheless, she had a duty to fulfill, and a Jedi always put duty over their own desires.

Jiraiya's presence on the mission was a balm to her discontent, at least. In the three years she had known him, the former shinobi had become her closest friend and confidant. He'd shown her, both by argument and example, how to accept and even embrace her emotions. For that alone, she would always be grateful to him. The thought of spending time with him, even on a mission like this, sparked something warm in her chest she couldn't name. She wasn't sure what she felt for him, but friendship didn't quite describe it. What she did know was that being around him made her happy, even as it also had her often gritting her teeth in frustration at his antics.

Barriss was in a room with Trilla, who was off being treated at the moment, and looked to be meditating when Luminara walked in. Her leg was wrapped in a thick cast, with a status panel on the side giving a readout on the bone weld underneath. Despite her calm appearance, Luminara could feel Barriss' hurt, and see it in her slightly hunched posture and not quite steady breathing.

"Barriss?" She asked, careful to keep her voice soft. "May I speak with you?"

Barriss gasped and looked up, surprised by her voice. She had been deeper in meditation than Luminara thought. "Oh, Master Unduli. I'm sorry for not noticing you earlier."

"That's fine. How are you feeling?" For a moment, Luminara thought Barriss had not heard her. She seemed distracted by something, her attention elsewhere. It took a few seconds longer for her to answer.

"I… I don't know. It doesn't seem real. I can't believe Viir is…" Her voice trailed off into a silent sob before she took a shaky breath. She wouldn't meet Luminara's eyes. "I apologize, Master. I know Jedi aren't supposed to develop attachments. My control should be better than this."

Luminara moved closer and rubbed soothing circles on Barriss' back. She tensed at the sudden contact, but made no move to reject it. Slowly, as if wary of a trap, Barriss leaned back into her hand. Luminara just sat and silently offered what comfort she could until she decided on what to say. While Barriss was correct about standard Jedi doctrine, that wasn't what Luminara believed in anymore. She wanted her soon-to-be Padawan to know she wouldn't reprimand her for having emotions. "Barriss, it is okay to feel sorrow at the loss of a friend. That doesn't make you a poor Jedi. It means you care. That is a good thing, do you understand? It is okay to mourn."

Barriss bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut. Her hands fisted in the blankets. "Master Yoda always said we shouldn't miss the dead. That they've rejoined the Living Force."

"For all his wisdom, Master Yoda is nearly a thousand years old," Luminara sighed. "He experiences loss differently, and I think he forgets that at times. Yes, the dead have returned to the Living Force, and we should take comfort in that, but their loss still hurts. Accepting Viir's death doesn't mean feeling nothing. She was your friend. Honor that by grieving for her."

Barriss finally looked up at her, her eyes wide and shiny. Those eyes, already far too old for a girl her age, Luminara realized, searched her face for something. Whatever she was looking for, she must have found it, because the next thing Luminara knew, her arms were full of crying Mirialan teenager. Great, wracking sobs shook Barriss' body, and Luminara had to move quickly to position her so she wouldn't strain her injured leg.

"It was so… I fought but- and now…" Her words melted into incoherence, and eventually she gave up talking altogether. Luminara stroked her head as she cried. She didn't know what else to do. She had only begun accepting her emotions a few years ago, and wasn't sure how to comfort a crying child beyond just being there for her.

'What words could I even say to help her?' Luminara hated how helpless she felt. 'Anything I say would feel inadequate.'

Eventually, Barriss ran out of tears. Her sobs turned to gasps, and then sniffles. Finally, they petered out altogether. She stayed in Luminara's arms for a few minutes longer, her shoulders still trembling, but bit by bit, she pulled herself back under control. When she pulled back, her eyes were dry, though swollen from crying. Luminara reached out and gently straightened her headscarf, and wiped the salt off her cheeks with her thumbs. Once again, Barriss stilled at the touch, before letting herself relax into it.

"Thank you for, well… thank you, Master." Barriss' voice was hoarse from crying, and Luminara passed her a glass of water from her bedside table. She gulped it down before continuing. "I knew there was evil in the galaxy, but how could anyone be so- so vile? Viir was innocent. How can people do such things?"

She seemed to be speaking mostly to herself, but Luminara answered anyway. "People like that are why the Jedi exist. It's our job to protect the galaxy from such violence and evil. It's what the Force calls us to do."

"I don't know if I can fight," Barriss said, and hung her head. Luminara could feel the shame burning in her heart. "I want to be a Jedi, but I can't stand hurting people. Even evil people. I'm not a warrior."

"You don't have to fight in order to help people. You told me before, you want to be a Healer. That is a noble calling for any Jedi. I think you will help a great many people like that." Luminara tilted Barriss' head up to look her in the eyes. "Follow your heart, Barriss, and you will find your path. I'm confident of that."

Barriss didn't say anything, but she seemed to accept what Luminara had said. Certainly, the shame she had sensed earlier was gone. She gave the girl a few more minutes to process things and clean herself up before she mentioned her upcoming mission. Barriss took it with equanimity, though Luminara noticed some of her earlier tension return. No doubt she was nervous about her pursuing someone as dangerous as Aurra Sing.

"Please be careful, Master," she said, confirming Luminara's suspicions. "That assassin is a madwoman. I felt it."

"I will do my duty Barriss, but don't worry. I'm not going alone. Jiraiya is coming with me. Between the two of us, I'm sure we will handle anything that comes our way. I promise I'll be back as soon as I can," she said. "When I return, I will formally take you as my Padawan."

Barriss relaxed again when she heard Jiraiya would accompany Luminara on her mission. "I look forward to that, Master." She smiled at her, and Luminara smiled back.

"So do I, Padawan mine."

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Jiraiya wasn't any happier than Luminara to be leaving his godson while he was still processing what had happened, but he understood Yoda's reasoning. He did have better underworld contacts than just about any other Jedi, and tracking an elusive target in hostile territory was more-or-less half of what he'd done as a shinobi. Quinlan was likely the only Jedi more skilled than him in that area, and he was busy doing whatever it was Jedi Shadows did most of the time. Probably gathering intel on the rising Separatist faction. He also trusted Mace to look after Naruto. For all his reserve and grim stoicism, he knew Mace cared deeply for Naruto. He would do right by him, no matter what. None of that changed his reluctance to leave, though. Only the fact that he knew Yoda hated having to give him the assignment kept him from raising his voice. Leadership demanded difficult and, at times, callous decisions. That was one reason Jiraiya had refused to become Hokage. He'd seen what it had done to Hiruzen, and later Minato, and he wanted no part of it for himself.

Fortunately, Naruto took the news well. He was eager to see the people responsible for murdering his sister brought to justice, and had said so most enthusiastically. Jiraiya suspected that, were it not for his and, more importantly, Ahsoka's injuries, Naruto would have demanded a spot on the mission himself. There was a cold fire in his eyes when he mentioned Aurra Sing and the Mandalorians, one Jiraiya did not at all like the look of. Such icy rage was out of place in his godson.

'Just as well he doesn't come. He's in a dark enough place as it is. The last thing he needs is the temptation for revenge thrown on top of that.' Naruto has always been impulsive, more inclined to go with his gut than wait and analyze a situation. He'd improved tremendously over the years, but Jiraiya wouldn't vouch for his godson's self-control if he were to confront Aurra again so soon. He would be hard pressed himself to keep from crushing the vile assassin like a bug when he found her. Viir had practically been family, and an innocent child beyond that. For a moment, Jiraiya missed the barbaric methods of the shinobi world. If anyone deserved to spend some quality time strapped to a table in T&I while Ibiki and Anko had their jollies, it was Aurra Sing.

His black mood stayed with him until he reached the local hangar, where he saw his partner for the upcoming mission. He couldn't help but smile a little at the sight of her. 'If there's one silver lining to this whole nightmare, it's that I get to spend some time with Luminara. Not very romantic circumstances, but at least I'll have good company and a partner I know I can trust.'

Luminara returned his smile when she saw him, and the sight brushed away the last of his malaise like cobwebs. Though he had yet to tell her of his feelings, over the last two years, Jiraiya and Luminara's friendship had deepened into a close bond of trust and camaraderie. He could safely say that, aside from Naruto and Yoda, there was no one in the Order he trusted more to have his back.

"How did it go with Barriss?" He asked.

"As well as I could expect. She's traumatized, but I got her to start grieving, at least. How's Naruto?"

"About the same. I hope this training trip Mace has planned will help him." He frowned when he remembered the dangerous look in Naruto's eyes. "He's furious right now; at himself most of all."

She put a reassuring hand on his elbow, a rare gesture of physical intimacy from her. "He will get through this, Jiraiya. Naruto's strong, and he's had some outstanding teachers. I believe in him."

"Thank you, Luminara." He placed his hand over hers and squeezed it gently for a second before letting go. "Now, let's go deliberately look for a dangerous, half-crazed, Jedi-hating assassin. There's only, what, ten billion or so planets she could be on? Should be easy enough for two dashing adventurers like us."

Luminara rolled her eyes, which only made him grin wider. "I see you plan on treating this mission with your customary professionalism, then?" The sarcasm in her voice could have etched metal, and she set off towards their shuttle. He followed after her, still smiling.

"You know me; professional to the bone. Not a drop of humor in me."

"That is most assuredly true. You are not at all funny." He gasped and placed a hand over his heart and gasped in mock outrage. Luminara remained spectacularly unmoved by his display, so he pouted at her instead. That, finally, broke through her facade, and she gave a quiet chuckle, one which grew into a full grown laugh when he silently cheered and patted himself on the back. When they reached the ship's boarding ramp, she stopped and looked up at him, a strange, tender expression on her normally serene face.

"Thank you for that, Jiraiya. It has been a trying day. Laughing felt… wonderful. I appreciate it, even if you insist on acting the fool. It makes days like this far easier to bear."

Jiraiya let his goofy grin drop, and gave her a much smaller, but far more sincere smile instead. He reached out and brushed back a strand of hair that had escaped her headdress. She inhaled softly at his touch, but made no move to avoid it.

"Acting like a buffoon is worth it if it means I get to see you laugh more often," he said. Luminara's eyes widened, but she said nothing. "Now, let's get going. We have a mystery to solve." He walked up the ramp into the shuttle. She stayed put, frozen for a moment with her eyes wide, before whatever spell had held her broke and she followed him onboard.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

The next day, everyone gathered for Viir's funeral. Naruto, Ahsoka, Barriss, Trilla, Knox, and Galdos were all there, though Galdos and Barriss were both in hoverchairs to avoid straining themselves. Ahsoka, much to her displeasure, was on crutches. She had protested that she didn't need them, but Bant had been unyielding. She could either use the crutches or join her two friends in a hoverchair. Reluctantly, she agreed, though Naruto was sure he would end up standing in for those crutches at some point during the day.

They held the funeral in a stone amphitheater carved into a hill outside the city. It had a beautiful view of the endless, rolling prairies that covered most of Ansion's landmass, while the slope of the hill sheltered it from the constant wind. It was apparently a sacred site for one of the Alwari tribes, the nomadic locals who roamed the plains. Naruto didn't really know or care. It could have been the birthplace of the Rikudo Senin himself for all it mattered to him. It was where he would say farewell to his sister. Nothing about it could be more significant than that.

Viir's body was laid out on a wooden pyre in the center of the amphitheater, covered in a white sheet. She looked unbearably small, lying there, and Naruto had to fight down a sudden wave of nausea. He felt a profound sense of wrongness, knowing her body was there and yet she wasn't. He should have been sensing her, hearing her quiet voice and watching her try not to fidget, but he wasn't because she wasn't there. The weight of her death hit him again and stopped him dead in his tracks. His legs wouldn't move, no matter how hard he tried. It suddenly became difficult to breathe, and a strange buzzing filled his ears. Naruto couldn't take his eyes off the pyre and the shrouded body that lay upon it. The rest of his surroundings felt as if they were falling away from him. Just when he thought everything would fade completely, leaving him all alone with his sister's body, he felt a small, warm hand slip into his own. When he looked, he saw slender orange fingers wrapped around his larger ones.

"Naruto?" She didn't ask if he was alright, or what was wrong, or why he had stopped. She didn't need to. Ahsoka put all those questions and more into just his name. He could hear her concern, her curiosity, and her sympathy all in just those three syllables. He gave her hand a squeeze, and all at once, the world rushed back. His legs moved, he could breathe, and he kept on walking, still holding her hand.

"Thanks," he said, and that was it. He didn't need to say anything else. Ahsoka understood, he could tell, and Naruto loved her a little for that.

Neither of them let go of the other's hand for the rest of the ceremony. He had never been so grateful for another person's touch as he was right then. Mace walked over and stood behind them, his presence a reassuring bulwark of strength and composure. He didn't say anything, but Naruto could feel him reaching out through the bond, offering whatever comfort he could.

When everyone had arrived, Yoda stepped forward and raised one gnarled hand. His presence thrummed through the Force, and several more bundles of wood floated up and laid on top of Viir's body, covering it and completing the pyre.

"One with the Force, Viir's spirit has become," he said. His voice sounded far older and more tired than Naruto had ever heard it. "Now, farewell we say."

As one, every Jedi present lifted a hand and concentrated on the Force. Yoda linked with the Initiates, guiding them through what to do. Mace had taught Naruto the technique over a year ago. At the time, he had never thought he would use it like this. The Force hummed with power, and, with a sharp pop, Viir's pyre burst into flames. Naruto bowed his head, and Ahsoka's grip on his hand turned almost painful. He welcomed it, though. It felt as if, were she to let go, he'd drop back into the frigid waters of grief that had consumed him earlier.

The pyre burned hot and bright, and for a long while the only sounds in the amphitheater were the crackle of sparks and the ever-present howl of the wind. Though he stared at the pyre the whole time, after a while, Naruto stopped seeing the flames. Instead, he let his mind drift into the Force. Memories of Viir, of her eagerness to learn Nihongo, her smile when she first molded chakra, him teaching her how to throw a kunai and set a trap, all floated before him. For a single moment, he thought he felt the star-bright candle flame of her presence, but then it was gone. Naruto let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, and looked at the pyre again, now burning down to coals.

"Goodby, imōto."

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

After the funeral, Naruto spent some time talking with the other Clawmouse Initiates. They all reassured him they didn't blame him for any of what had happened. Hearing their support eased some of the ache in his heart, and he spent a comfortable half-hour just being with them. Eventually, though, Knox asked the inevitable question.

"Naruto, what happened to you after Viir died? You turned into… something else."

Naruto sighed. 'Well, I suppose if I told the story once, I can do it again,' he thought. 'They deserve to know.'

Telling the story of how his father sealed the Kyuubi inside him was easier the second time. Just like Ahsoka, the others looked shocked and horrified. When he told them about his life in the village, and how the adults had ostracized him, he thought Barriss would actually curse. He'd never seen her so angry.

"That is just evil, treating a child like that," she growled. To compound his surprise, she moved her hoverchair over to him and grabbed his hand. "I promise, none of us are going to abandon you because of that thing."

All the others sounded their agreement, and Naruto properly grinned beneath his mask for the first time since the attack. Love for his friends, fierce and protective, kindled in his chest, stoked by the sincerity he sensed from all of them. He had never gotten the chance to tell his friends back in Konoha about the Kyuubi, but in his brightest dreams they reacted like this. For a few moments, the universe seemed right again. Then Galdos spoke up, his gravelly voice breaking the spell.

"There is one thing I don't understand. If the Kyuubi is sealed inside of you so well, how did it come out back on Rago?"

Naruto bit his lip as the happy feeling faded away. There was no malice or judgement behind Galdos' question, just genuine curiosity. Nevertheless, the thought of explaining how he'd willingly given in to the beast made his stomach clench.

"I…" The words froze in his throat. He took a deep breath and tried again. "That was my fault. I made a mistake."

If telling the story of his birth and childhood had grown easier the second time, talking about his failure on Rago had become twice as hard. Viir's death may not have been his fault, but using the Kyuubi's power definitely had been. He ground his teeth as he told them how it had hurt Ahsoka, and had tried to kill them all. Anger burned in his gut, a fierce rage at the beast that had dared hurt his friends. In the dark recesses of his mind, he heard a deep growl, but he ignored it. That monster wasn't worth his time.

Eventually, he finished recounting his struggle against the fox. Again, none of them blamed him, and again it warmed his heart that his friends believed in him so much, but he excused himself shortly thereafter. Between Viir's funeral and telling his friends about the Kyuubi, he felt emotionally wrung out, and there was still one thing he needed to do.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Twenty minutes later, Naruto sat cross-legged on the floor of his hospital room, meditating with his lightsaber floating at eye level in front of him. At his side lay the tools he would need to add another engraving to his hilt. As he sat there, immersed in the Force, the door hissed open and Ahsoka hobbled in on her crutches. He opened his eyes and blinked at the sudden intrusion, and his lightsaber dropped into his lap.

"Sorry, I didn't know you were meditating," Ahsoka said. "I can come back later, if you want."

Naruto shook his head. "No, that's fine. I was done, anyway."

She eyed him curiously. "What were you meditating about? I didn't think you had the patience for sitting still and all that."

He used the Force to grab a pillow from his bed and toss it at her face. It bounced off her montrals with a muffled wumpf, eliciting a startled squawk from his snarky best friend. "I've got plenty of patience," he sniffed, before growing serious again. "I'm adding another carving to my lightsaber hilt, and I always meditate before I do that."

"Why?" Ahsoka scooted the pillow he had used as artillery over next to him and tossed her crutches aside to sit on it. She seemed to have sensed how serious he was about the situation, because her teasing smile was gone, and her voice was genuinely curious. Naruto took a moment to choose his words carefully before he answered. It wasn't an easy thing to explain, but he wanted Ahsoka to understand why he chose the carvings he did.

"Because they're not just mementos or souvenirs. They're more important than that." He held his lightsaber out to Ahsoka, and she took it and examined the carvings that spiraled down the hilt. "My lightsaber is my life. It's the tool I use to protect people. It's also the weapon I use to hurt people. Sometimes even kill people. That's a lot of power, and the carvings help me make sure I use it properly."

"How?" Ahsoka breathed, still transfixed by the images engraved into the copper hilt. Naruto took her hand in his and guided her fingers over the carvings. She shivered at the sudden contact, but said nothing.

"Each one represents a part of my life; something that helped make me into who I am. Whenever I see them, when I feel them under my hands, it reminds me I have to be true to who I am when I use my blade. When I protect someone, I'm protecting them with my whole being. When I strike someone down, it's not just some weapon or random Jedi killing them. It's me, and it has to be the right thing to do, or I'm betraying myself. That's why I always meditate before I add a new carving. I want this to represent the best of who I am, so I know what standard to hold myself to."

Ahsoka looked up at him, a hint of surprise on her face. "Wow. I never really thought of a lightsaber like that. It's kinda intimidating when you put it that way." She took one last look at his lightsaber before she handed it back to him. "So, did you decide what you're gonna add?"

"Yeah, I did. Wanna watch?" She nodded and scooted closer to him to get a better view. Naruto grabbed his tools and used the Force to hold the lightsaber steady. Slowly, with far more care and delicacy than most would have expected from him, he etched a new design into the hilt. The Force guided his hand, granting him greater precision than any normal human could possess. Ahsoka sat next to him, silent and still, a hint of awe tinging her presence as she watched him work. Naruto blocked her out, though. All of his focus rested on his lightsaber and the tool he held.

Though the carving was relatively small, only about 3 cm square, it took him the better part of 30 minutes to finish etching it into the copper-duranium alloy of his lightsaber hilt. Only when he was satisfied that every detail was as close to perfect as he could make it, did Naruto finally shut off the plasma engraver and let his lightsaber fall into his hand. He blew on the new carving to cool it and then traced a finger over its contours. The still warm etching was the Nihongo symbol for Viir's name, followed by the symbol for sister.

"Can I see?" Ahsoka asked. Wordlessly, he offered her the hilt to examine. She looked at the new engraving for a moment and then back at him, puzzled. "That's it? Why just that?"

"Because that's what's important." He took the lightsaber back and clipped it to his belt. "I don't want to let Aurra or the Mandos or the Kyuubi define me. Like I told you, this is supposed to be the best of me. I want my memories of Viir to be what I carry, not all this anger. I… don't know if that'll happen, but at least I can try, right?"

"That actually sounded… wise." She sounded surprised. A little too surprised, actually. Naruto shot Ahsoka a glare.

"Hey, I can be plenty wise. I'm full of wisdom. I've got wisdom coming out my ears."

"You're full of something alright." She rolled her eyes and gave him a playful shove. He gave her one right back, mindful not to jostle her too much.

"You'll get it when you have your own lightsaber," he said. "Speaking of which, I can't wait to see what you build when I get back from Lothal. I'm sorry I won't be there. I was really looking forward to watching you guys build your lightsabers."

"What are you talking about? You're still gonna be there." Naruto cocked his head, not sure what she was talking about. She giggled, which only confused him further. "You didn't think you would get out of being our guide for the Gathering that easily, did you?"

"What are you-"

"After you left earlier, we all agreed. We're not going through the Gathering unless you're there with us." She poked him in the chest, a mischievous glint in her eye. "After all, it was your mission to guide us, and it's still not complete. We'll stage a mutiny if we have to."

Naruto's jaw hung open beneath his mask. He didn't know what to say. Sure, none of the others had blamed him for what had happened on Rago, but this was different. They weren't just being supportive, they actually wanted him there. Not just wanted, they were demanding him over any other guide the Council might assign. He tried to talk, but his throat felt constricted. He hadn't known happiness could actually choke you.

"You guys are awesome," he finally choked out. Ahsoka's grin threatened to split her face in half as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"I know," she said. "You're pretty awesome, too."

When she said it like that, Naruto could actually believe it.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

The next three days passed in a blur. Much to Ahsoka's envy, Naruto's physical wounds had all completely healed by the night after Viir's funeral. The chakra contamination was rather more stubborn, though. Even with multiple sessions with Master Fay every day, it still took until the morning of the third day after the funeral for the last excess traces of the Kyuubi's chakra to leave his system. The seal still released tiny amounts of chakra constantly, but they were too small and too quickly absorbed into his body to interfere with his connection to the Force. Fay estimated that, without her helping purge the toxic chakra, it would have taken at least two weeks for his connection to the Force to return to normal.

Finally, though, she declared him fit for travel, and Mace informed him they would be leaving that same afternoon. Naruto had mixed feelings about that. On the one hand, he was eager to get out of the hospital he'd been trapped in for the past five days. While he wasn't necessarily looking forward to whatever the Lothal Temple held for him, if it could offer wisdom, then he was all for it. Guilt and anger still plagued him, gnawing at his mind like rats. If whatever trial the Temple offered could help him deal with that, then the sooner the better.

On the other hand, he had gotten used to spending time with Ahsoka again. In the years he had been Mace's Padawan, Naruto hadn't realized how much he missed spending his days with his best friend. Just being around her gave him a measure of peace from the doubts tormenting him. That wasn't even getting into the fact that she had freaking kissed him! Yes, it had been on the cheek, and yes, it had probably just been a friendly gesture, but still. She hadn't brought it up again, and he found the idea of asking her about it even more terrifying than the idea of stealing Anko's dango and eating it in front of her. Ahsoka was his best friend. Messing that up- even thinking about messing that up- was unacceptable.

As much as he enjoyed the uninterrupted time with Ahsoka and his former clanmates, for all that it had come about because of tragedy, Mace had drilled the importance of duty into his bones, and that meant leaving for Lothal. Reluctantly, he said his goodbyes to his friends. Galdos, ever reticent, merely nodded and said he looked forward to continuing the Gathering. Trilla and Knox both wished him well and told him to hurry back. Barriss, after a little grumbling, folded and gave him a hug.

"Thank you for always being there for me," she said. "May the Force be with you."

"You're my friend, Barriss. I'll always be there for you." She shot him a fleeting smile, her equivalent of a full on grin, before she let him go. Her face was flushed green, and he could feel her embarrassment. Even with the more relaxed approach to emotions the Order had been taking recently, she was still very reserved.

Ahsoka waited until last to say goodbye. When it was her turn, she pulled him in close and pressed her forehead against his.

"You come back, okay?" She whispered fiercely. "You had better come back, or I'm gonna come get you."

Naruto swallowed and hesitated. He hated the idea of making a promise he might not be able to keep, and Mace had said the trial would be risky. In the end, though, there was no arguing with that look in her eyes. It was the sort of burning determination that could reshape the cosmos.

"I will. I promise I'll be back." There was no turning away from it now. No matter what, he had to pass the upcoming test. Ahsoka pulled back and nodded, apparently satisfied. He gave her a quick eye-smile before heading off towards the hangar.

To his surprise, when he reached the hangar, Naruto did not see his master standing in front of a T-6, nor even one of the roomier, if slower, Eta-class shuttles. Instead, he stood near the boarding ramp of a mid-size yacht. Naruto didn't recognize the design, but it was a thing of beauty; all sleek lines and curves. Just from looking at it, he could tell it was faster than any typical transport. It occurred to him that Anakin would give his left foot to play with this ship.

"Whoa," he said, the yacht's beauty momentarily overriding his tenuous manners. "It's gorgeous. Whose ship is this, master?"

Mace said nothing, but a familiar voice sounded from inside the ship. "She's mine, Padawan. This is the Dawn Wind."

Master Fay walked down the ramp, much to Naruto's surprise. "I will accompany Master Windu and you on your trip to Lothal," she said in response to his unasked question. The mention of Lothal forcibly reminded him of just why this trip was necessary and doused his momentary enthusiasm. Nevertheless, Naruto put on his mask of happiness. He doubted it would fool either of the Jedi Masters, but it certainly beat acting all mopey. That was Sasuke's shtick.

"Cool. Can I fly her?" He asked, his earnestness only partially fake. Fay let out a small breath that might have been a laugh. It might also have been a snort, but Naruto chose to think of it as a laugh.

"Maybe on the trip back. For now, you had best prepare for what you'll face on Lothal."

"And what exactly will I be facing? No one's told me anything." A hint of frustration colored his voice, despite his efforts to hide it. Mace cut in and sent a mild warning through the bond.

"Whatever is pulling you off balance. Things you fear, or things you hate. Do not worry about it just yet, though. It is still in the future. For now, it is best if we depart. It is a long way to Lothal. If your friends are going to insist on you guiding them through the Crucible, then we had better not keep them waiting."

Only someone intimately familiar with Mace's particular brand of dry humor would have caught the wry amusement in his voice when he mentioned the Clawmouse Initiates and their threatened mutiny. Fortunately, Naruto was such a person, and he shot his master a snarky eye-smile.

"No, I guess not. Let's go."

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

And that's it for Ansion. Next up is the last Arc before the start of the Clone War. Naruto's headed off to Lothal, and Luminara and Jiraiya are off to hunt down an assassin. What will happen, I wonder? (Well, obviously I don't wonder. I know what's going to happen. But you lot get to live in ignorance for a little while longer.)

I chose to hold Viir's funeral on Ansion because, from what I can gather, the Jedi tend to dispose of their dead on the same planet where they fell, if possible. The only Jedi we see cremated at the Temple itself are those that died on Coruscant. It makes sense, considering their disdain for physical attachments and the lack of importance they place on pomp and circumstance.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. If you have any clever, cutting, or witty remarks, please leave a review. Feel free to ask any questions you have, and I will do my best to answer them. The alert system for reviews and PM's is still screwed up, though, so it may take me a while to get back to you.