October 10, SC 188
Earth I, outskirts of Konohagakure no Sato
Solar System, Milky Way
A Marseille III-class transport ship gently pierced through the atmosphere of the planet that was the birth place of Man, leaving glowing trails as it descended towards its destination.
Planet Earth I—once the cradle of humanity, now a place of mythos and untamed magic—was the target of this secret reconnaissance mission.
Marcus Walker, an nobleman and officer of the Terran Dominion, [1] more specifically a officer of the Dominion's combined armed forces, the Dominion Armed Forces was tasked with exploring and gathering intelligence on this ancient world.
This interstellar imperial parliamentary monarchy ruling over a significant section of the Milky Way was created following a rebellion against the Terran Confederacy, which was nominally an interstellar confederation but functioned as a centralized plutocratic oligarchy ruled in all but name by the Old Families of Tarsonis, the interlacing network of old money and oligarchies which had been ruling the Confederacy since its inception.
The Confederacy governed a region of space far from the section of space intended for Earth I settlers, with the latter being managed by what was now known as the United Earth Government (UEG) and the UEG's military and exploratory arm, the infamous United Nations Space Command (UNSC) [2].
The original set of settlers who were the ancestors of the residents of the Terran Confederacy and later, the Terran Dominion space, were stranded in a sector of space then-unknown to the UEG and UNSC, then known as the United Nations Space Alliance (UNSA) and Solar Associated Treaty Organization (SATO) due to a malfunctioning AI in the colony ships sent out by the UEG and UNSC, and subsequently built what would become the Terran Confederacy from what SATO and UNSC technology worked.
The Confederacy was primarily run by the Old Families of Tarsonis until the Sons of Korhal rebellion lead by the renegade member of the Old Families turned charismatic rebel leader, and then first Emperor of the Terran Dominion after the fall of the Confederacy to the Sons of Korhal Arcturus Mengsk led to the establishment of the Terran Dominion as the government of the section of space once run by the Confederacy.
Since then the Dominion had changed dynasties from the Mengsk dynasty, to the regency of Scholar Visari as its first Autarch, then the current era of relative peace under the Edenian dynasty under the Dominion's current Empress, Sindel [4] and her daughters, the current Crown Princess Mileena and Mileena's older twin sister, Kitana [5] after the Dominion and the UNSC had a rather nasty reunion.
In the ship's mobile suit hangar, Marcus prepared for descent aboard a custom-built GAT-04 Windam mobile suit, its black and gray chassis gleaming under the hangar lights.
The AQM/EX01 Aile Striker attachment ensured that he had the agility and speed required for both exploration and quick extraction if necessary.
"Marcus, are you ready for this?" his colleague, David, inquired over the comms.
"Of course," Marcus replied confidently.
"It's fascinating to think that once, this planet was at the forefront of human civilization. Now, it's a tapestry of tales and energies we have little understanding of.
But we mustn't reveal ourselves to the locals; it could disrupt their natural growth."
"Affirmative. Launch when ready, and stay safe out there. Raudery out."
The Windam touched down softly in a dense forest.
Marcus adjusted to the sturdiness of Earth I beneath his feet, stepping out of the cockpit with clothes reminiscent of Earth's 21st century to blend in.
As he approached the village known as Konoha, two shinobi guarded the entrance, their foreheads marked with protectors.
The village thrummed with a life force, seeming impossibly ancient and vibrant.
"Welcome to Konoha," one guard greeted sternly. "State your business."
Marcus feigned a traveler's curiosity, "Good evening. I'm just passing through, hoping to find a place to rest for a night."
The guards, seemingly satisfied, directed him inside, mentioning accommodations and the village's attractions.
Marcus thanked them, making mental notes of the villages' defenses and layout for his report back to the Dominion.
As the days passed, he observed Konoha's unique blend of mysticism and rudimentary technology, piecing together the remnants of humanity's ancestral practices.
Yet it was here, amidst the cobblestones and shadows, that Marcus would find more than he had ever anticipated.
The streets of Konoha bustled with life, a sharp contrast to the mysteries lurking just out of sight.
Marcus, clad in simple attire to blend in, navigated the evening throngs.
His eyes, seasoned by experience, caught every quirk and detail in his inspection.
It was a village alive in ignorance and ancient customs.
His communique to the Raudery detailed observations of chakra, a mystical force entwined with the humans of Earth I like a spectral current.
Their "shinobi" spoke of demons and energy, concepts that challenged his Dominion sensibilities.
It was a world distant from interstellar conquests and gunmetal skies but alive with a peculiar charm.
Amidst the flickering streetlights of Konoha's meandering paths, he found himself navigating a world both alien and familiar.
Though the technology here was rudimentary, the spirit of humanity whispered in every corner.
This was his final survey before he intended to depart, his mission complete.
But destiny had other plans.
One night, while returning to his temporary quarters, Marcus heard a muffled sobbing coming from an alleyway.
The moon was high over Konoha on that clear night, casting a silver glow across the village nestled amidst ancient forests and vast mountain ranges.
Shadows stretched long in the alleyways, where whispers of myth spoke of hidden powers and hidden dangers.
Unbeknownst to the villagers, this ordinary night would mark the beginning of an extraordinary journey for a battered boy huddled in the shadows.
This night, however, was different. There was a sense of restlessness in the air—a gathering storm of destiny about to change the path of one young boy forever.
Hidden away in an alley near the village's heart, Uzumaki Naruto, battered and bruised, sat in the dark, nursing his wounds.
His usually vibrant black-brown hair [3] tinged with reddened hues, evidence of a power and curse that pulsed within him.
His blue eyes, exceptional as they were, hinted at an inner strength that went unrecognized by the villagers who condemned him.
Naruto, through gritted teeth: "Why? Why do they hate me so much? I never asked for any of this…"
The boy's sobs were faint at first, merely a gentle echo against the eaves of the bustling village life.
Yet they persisted, pulling at Marcus's conscience, drawing him inexorably to the shadowed alley.
The sight that greeted him stopped him cold.
A small figure, with messy blackish-brown hair lay curled on the ground, each shiver a testament to the torment the child had endured.
He was no older than ten.
"Hey there…" Marcus began, his voice gentle as moonlight. He crouched, maintaining distance but offering his warmth. "Are you alright?"
The boy flinched, his haunted eyes gleaming with a hue that seemed almost otherworldly—bright blue yet rimmed with the weight of suffering, of stories too old for such a young soul.
"Stay back!" he screamed, though there was little power behind it.
The child was too scared, too broken.
Marcus, undeterred, extended a simple chocolate bar, a bridge built from sweetness. "It's safe, I promise. See?" He took a bite to demonstrate, the act more effective than any words.
Tentatively, starving both in body and soul, the boy accepted the offering.
Precious moments passed before the boy reached out, curiosity sparking in place of fear.
He devoured the chocolate — a taste of warmth in his otherwise cold, miserable world.
The candy melted under his touch, and with it, the walls around his heart crumbled ever so slightly.
As the sweetness melted away, the boy's voice emerged, trembling but resolute. "They say I'm a demon. A monster."
Marcus frowned, easing closer. "Who says that?"
"The villagers. Because of what they call the Kyuubi." The boy lifted his tattered shirt to reveal mystical seals etched across his skin, marks pale against his bruised flesh. "They say it's my fault."
Marcus's heart clenched. Here was a cursed child, shunned for reasons far beyond his control.
"Because… I house a demon," the boy replied quietly, looking down in shame.
"A demon?" Marcus echoed, intrigued. He listened as the boy explained, at times pausing as if listening to another, unseen.
"A woman," the boy continued, "said she was controlled when she attacked the village ten years ago. They sealed her inside me when I was born."
Despite himself, Marcus's curiosity piqued—a gut instinct honed from years of service whispered there was more to this than met the eye. "And what's your name?"
"I don't like it. I don't want it."
Marcus's heartbeat quickened with a resolve inspired by the inconceivable cruelty before him. "Well then, would you like another? I'm Marcus, by the way, and you can come with me if you want."
Hope flickered amidst the immense skepticism in the boy's gaze. "Really?"
Before Marcus could answer further, a dazzling eruption of crimson light enveloped the alley, startling both man and boy.
From within the boy, chakra poured forth, spilling miasmic against the ground, only to coalesce into a diminutive vulpine creature with nine long tails and an odd, mischievous gleam in its eyes.
"What's happening?" Marcus demanded, his instincts screaming at him to reach for his hidden weapon, yet hesitating as the mysterious creature watched protectively over the boy.
"Easy, easy," the fox said, its voice a honeyed combination of warmth and trickery. "No need for violence. I've kept him safe this long, haven't I?"
The little creature turned to the boy, its eyes softening. "You're free now, kit. No more chains. Live well."
It shot a brief, knowing glance toward Marcus. "Take care of him."
And just like that, the fox vanished through a scarlet portal, leaving the boy gasping for air at the sudden absence of a lifelong presence.
"I will name you Richard," Marcus announced gently. "Richard Walker, after a son I lost but never forgot."
Confusion was etched across Naruto's young face, but hope found fuller form between deep breaths. "Richard…" the boy finally breathed, tasting the word anew.
"Then Richard Walker it is," Marcus affirmed, smiling like a man reborn.
It wasn't the name of a lost son; it was the beginning of a new legacy.
Marcus rose, extending a hand."Shall we go?"
Against a backdrop of twinkling stars and a village dimmed by its own darkness, ignorance and rank stupidity, Richard took the offered hand.
And as dawn stretched its golden fingers across the horizon, Marcus and Richard departed Konoha.
Quiet as wraiths, they slipped through the gates, the guardians none the wiser.
In a silent pact with destiny, they vanished into the forest, toward a future painted with starlight and sobering promise.
Together, they walked back towards the Windam, a figure of metal and power hidden among the trees.
As they ascended into the cockpit, the vastness of space beyond, Marcus pointed towards the Raudery drifting silently above. "Our home," he promised. "Hold on tight, son. We're leaving all this behind."
The Windam roared to life, and with a leap, they soared towards the stars.
For Richard, every second was a promise realized; for Marcus, a pledge fulfilled.
Marcus glanced back towards the village as they ascended in the mech.
The future was vast and open, waiting for their footsteps.
As they left Earth I behind, the echoes of a hushed farewell whispered on the winds, carried by Kiyone's soft, ethereal laughter.
Eyes wide with wonder, Richard watched as Earth fell away behind them, the blue planet shimmering down in the journey of moments that lent larger lessons of family and belonging.
He was no demon.
He was a star set to blaze against the darkness—a star newly freed to find his place amidst others just like him in the ever-expanding cosmos.
As they neared the Raudery, the ship that would carry Richard to new horizons, Marcus heard his son gasp in awe.
Richard, looking at the vastness around him: "It's… beautiful."
Marcus, smiling gently: "Yes, it is. Welcome to your new life, Richard Walker. Welcome to the stars."
As the ship docked with the Raudery, Marcus communicated with the crew, "We have a guest onboard. Prepare the med-bay; he's had a rough journey."
In the safety of their new home among the stars, Richard Walker, once known as Uzumaki Naruto, began anew—a life filled with untold adventures and endless skies.
"Hail the Terran Dominion," Richard found himself whispering, a new resolve stirring in his heart.
End of Prologue
[1] The Terran Dominion is not just the Empire of the Mengsk family we all know and love from Starcraft, it has elements of other similar interstellar Empires from other famous franchises in this scenario.
[2] The one and only protagonist human space faction from the Halo franchise, with elements from many other space shooter video games and animanga from the period.
[3] I know that Naruto has blonde hair in canon, but since Kishimoto-baka could never make up his mind with the lore of his own franchise and seems to have given all hope on it after Naruto defeated Pain, I'm just going to go with what I got from the lore, and say that the descendants of Hamura split off and eventually became the Uzumaki and the Hyūga over the centuries, like how the descendants of Hagoromo through Asura became the Senju and the descendants of Hagoromo through Indra became the Uchiha over the centuries.
Like the Hyūga and pure-blooded Ōtsutsuki, the Uzumaki in this story have the Byakugan as a kekkei genkai, and like the Kaguya clan in canon Naruto and the pure-blooded Ōtsutsuki, the Uzumaki also have the Shikotsumyaku along with their canon abilities of high regeneration, longevity, and skill with fūinjutsu.
Why? Because Hamura, his descendants and the Uzumaki clan and even the pure-blooded Ōtsutsuki were all massively underutilized in canon Naruto, both lore and plot, and I want to fix that here.
[4] Sindel and her daughters, Mileena and Mileena's older twin sister, Kitana are the current imperial family of the Dominion in this story, after Arcturus was backstabbed and then killed by Sarah Kerrigan, and then Arcturus's son Valerian Mengsk, ascended the throne and worked to rebuild the Dominion after Arcturus's death, enacting laws to eliminate corruption and abuse of power.
However, Valerian and his ally, Jim Raynor, a straightforward and honorable former marshal, disappeared while searching for Sarah Kerrigan, which is what lead to the regency under Scholar as its first Autarch, then Sindel taking power from the regency government and Autarch Scholar.
[5] Mileena doesn't have her ugly Tarkatan features and rather looks just like Kitana here, albiet with a different hair and eye color. As for how Sindel even took over the Dominion in the first place?
Let's just say that a certain simp pyrokinetic monk messed around with not only time, people and destiny, but dimensions as well when he was resetting the world.