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

A/N: There's a quick poll up for Shinobi on Board for the pairing. Then after Ch 33 goes up there'll be another poll for my RWBY story dealing with the pairing, then when I start Season 3 of USM. I'll put up a new story poll.

To everyone living in the US, I hope you have a safe, and happy 4th of July.

Beta: Chaos-PSD. Contributor: Kuronodono12.

Chapter XXIX: The Deserter.

For Everything You Gain, You Lose Something Else.

Shock and awe! Naruto stuns with his show of using the Force during the battle on Mygeeto. Now, after resting back on Coruscant, will have to talk to the Jedi Council. And though Republic victories outnumber their losses, the Jedi have been unable to stop Separatist advances in the Outer Rim. The ever-elusive General Grievous stays one step ahead of his opponents. With thousands of droid armies at his command, the Jedi can never predict where Grievous will strike next until now...

Coruscant, Med Bay.

Naruto woke up in a bed and groaned before seeing not only BD by his bed but Aayla as well. "Hey."

"Hey." She greeted grabbing his hand. "How do you feel?"

"Like shit." Naruto groaned as he laid down on his pillow. "What happened?"

"You don't remember?"

"Bits and pieces after I started running to Rivi-Anu to save her."

"Well… That's something you should talk to the Council about. They want to talk to you when you're able."

Jedi Council.

"Something wrong?" Naruto asked, looking at the Council.

"Wrong, nothing is Naruto," Yoda spoke as he sat. "Knowing what happened we do."

"And that is…?" Naruto trailed off before Mace spoke.

"What happened?"

"I don't remember much after I started running to save Rivi-Anu. Just bits and pieces really."

"Feel anything, did you?" Yoda asked as Naruto closed his eyes.

"I… Heard a wise and ancient-sounding voice telling me to give myself completely over to the will of the Force. But I don't know anything after that." Naruto replied, opening his eyes as BD looked over his shoulder.

Later.

Naruto was reading a report on how Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Adi were sent to rescue Eeth Koth after the Master was attacked and captured by General Grievous. While Obi-Wan went ahead to attack and gain Grievous' attention, Anakin and Adi followed after to sneak on board and rescue Eeth Anakin and Adi locate Koth captured in a containment field, but Grievous's tactical droid was expecting them and summons commando droids.

The tactical droid then sends electric waves through Koth, but the Jedi ultimately destroy all the droids present and release Koth. Meanwhile, as Obi-Wan fights Grievous, he Force-pushes Grievous into the window and gives him a chance to surrender, but Grievous escapes. Obi-Wan informs Anakin and Adi, the latter of whom goes to intercept him while Anakin carries Koth to his shuttle.

Grievous then arrives at his destroyer, but there, Adi Gallia engages him in a brief duel, before the docking tube is torn open, creating a powerful suction. Grievous climbs aboard his ship using his metallic claws and Gallia extends a cable to Cody and Kenobi, allowing them to get to safety. Anakin then picks up Obi-Wan, Adi, and Cody in his shuttle from the destroyer's hangar.

The Republic light cruiser eventually explodes and causes the landing ship to lose control and fall fast towards Saleucami with Obi-Wan plans to descend onto Saleucami with Rex and Cody to look for Grievous while Anakin cleans up the space battle.

He then looked up to see Alpha walking to him. "We're ready General."

"Then let's go help, Rex."

Fugitive! Though the Republic has won many decisive battles against the Separatist army in the Outer Rim, the Jedi have failed to capture the elusive General Grievous. After specifically targeting members of the Jedi Council, a trap was set. But following a fierce confrontation, the droid general managed to escape to the surface of the planet Saleucami. Now, the chase is on as General Kenobi and Uzumaki lead a squadron of clone troopers and close in on their desperate target...

Saleucami.

Naruto and Obi-Wan are walking with Rex and Alpha on going to a wreck they believe was Grievous' ship from when he escaped. "Instead of scattering our troops looking for all the escape pods, we shall head towards the wreckage of the landing transport first," Naruto said before looking to Alpha. "Get the men and let's go."

"Roger."

Later, the two Knights are looking over a hillside as BD stood on Naruto's shoulder looking out as well. "(Woo-Beep.)"

"General Kenobi, General Uzumaki!"

They two looked to see Rex on a speeder bike. "Sir, the cruiser's returned to orbit."

"Any sign of Grievous?"

"I believe we've found Grievous' ship," Rex replied before they went through the jungle and came up to a downed ship.

Several clones moved some of the wreckage before one yelled out. "Thermal housing intakes are still warm. This couldn't have happened too long ago."

Obi-Wan then brought a hand to his chin as Rex holding his helmet walked up. "The crew compartment's almost destroyed."

Obi-Wan then turned to him before speaking. "We'll split into teams. Rex, take Jesse, Hardcase, and Kix and search those wetlands."

"Yes, sir."

Naruto then spoke up. "Cody, you, Crys, and Obi-Wan will pick it up from here. Alpha, I and the rest will check the jungle."

"Yes, sir."

"And if you get a visual on Grievous, contact Obi-Wan or me before you engage." Naruto finished having the clones nod and leave.

Later, Rex and his company rode their speeder bikes through the wetlands when two surviving commando droids aim with a sniper rifle. "In range."

"Take the shot."

BANG!

The droid shot Rex in the chest, causing him to fall off his speeder bike.

"Protect the Captain!" Two clones speed after the droids firing at them before shooting them. "Commando droids."

Up ahead, Hardcase pulled Rex's helmet off and then spoke. "Jesse, you better get back here."

The two clones then sped back to them before Jesse spoke. "How bad?"

"Pretty bad."

"I need to remove his armor to see the full extent of the damage," Jesse said before the other clone took a quick look around.

"Those snipers might have called for backup. Unless we want to start getting picked off one by one, we should find better cover first."

They then heard snorting before seeing animals standing by them, not afraid.

"Wait a minute. Those critters are domesticated. Sir? I think we're on farmland."

"And where there's a farm, there's usually a farmer. Let's find his homestead." Hardcase said before picking Rex up and placing him on a speeder.

Later, they came up to a farm and stopped by a small house. And had a pink-skinned Twi'lek woman point a rifle at them. "We want no trouble here."

"Easy with that weapon, ma'am. We're here as friends."

"State your business."

"Our captain's been hurt. We need-"

"I'm no doctor, so just-"

Hardcase then took off his helmet before speaking. "We have a medic, ma'am. We just need a place to tend to him overnight.

Suddenly, a Twi'lek girl and human boy ran up behind the woman's legs. "Mommy, who's…"

"Get back inside, both of you!"

"Oh!"

"Mom!"

"Look, there are some benches out back in the barn." The woman nodded her head to the nearby barn. "It's the best I can do."

"That'll be fine, ma'am. Thank you."

After nightfall, Rex wakes up as Kix is bandaging his wound, and is quickly filled in on what happened. He's startled to realize he can't feel his left arm, and Kix tells him he has some nerve damage. Rex tries to order Kix to just patch him up so they can get back on patrol, but Kix refuses, stating that when it comes to the health of the men, he outranks everyone.

"Excuse me."

They turned to see the woman with a tray of fruit. "If there's not enough..."

"That's plenty. Thank you, uh..."

"Suu." She said as her daughter ran in after a ball. "I told you to stay in the house."

"I couldn't help it, Mom. It got away." She said before picking the ball up and looked at Rex for a moment. "You look like my daddy."

"Shaeeah, don't bother the soldier," Suu said to her daughter. "Now get inside with your brother."

"Yes, Mom."

"My husband is away delivering our first harvest. "Do you require anything else?

"No. Thank you, Suu."

Jesse took the plate as Hardcase put a pistol by Rex's side who looked to them. "Resume the search without me. Jesse, you're in command. I'll be fine."

Elsewhere, Kenobi and his men locate a Separatist escape pod but find no one there. Deducing that Grievous must be headed to another escape pod, Kenobi attempts to contact Rex and gets Jesse, who informs him of the captain's condition and that they found him shelter for the night. Kenobi orders Jesse and his patrol to swing around so they will meet up with his forces at the final escape pod.

Later in the night, Rex is briefly woken up by an eopie licking his face, forcing him to shoo it away. Not long afterward, however, a man enters the barn by the side door, grabbing a farming implement as a weapon. The man slowly advances across the room. Rex, waking up again, slowly grabs his pistol and shuts his eyes again, waiting until the man gets close enough before sitting up and pointing the blaster at him, only for it to be smacked out of his hand.

"Who are you?" The man asked, stepping into the light revealing he's a clone with long brown hair tied into a small ponytail. "What are you doing here?"

"You're a clone," Rex said as he slowly leaned up.

"So, I see the war has finally made its way out here. And I guess I can expect a visit from some droids soon." The clone said as Rex sat up and groaned from the pain.

"What's your number and rank?" He asked, having the clone chuckle.

"My name is Lawquane. Cut Lawquane. And I'm just a simple farmer."

"You're a deserter," Rex said, narrowing his eyes, having Cut chuckle nervously.

"Well, I like to think I'm merely exercising my freedom to choose. To choose not to kill for a living."

"That is not your choice to make. You swore an oath to the Republic. You have a duty."

Cut nodded at that. "I have a duty. You're right. But it's for my family. Does that count, or do you still plan to turn me in?"

"Do I have a choice?" Rex asked just as the kids ran in.

"Daddy, you're home!"

"Look what I drew you, Dad!" The boy said having Cut kneel.

"Well, well, well. That's great, Jek." Cut said, taking the paper from his son and rubbing his head before Suu walked in "I see you two have met."

"He looks just like you, Daddy. I told him." Shaeeah said to her father who smiled.

"Oh, you did, huh? I was just making our guest, Captain, um…" Cut then turned to Rex before speaking to him. "What's your number?"

"Rex. I also have a name, believe it or not."

"He was injured. His men brought him here." Suu said to Cut who stood and looked at her. "I told them he could stay just for the night."

"Course he can." Cut said before looking down at his children. "We never turn away those in need, do we?"

"No, we always help anyone we can."

"Right. You, um... You look hungry, Rex." Cut said to Rex who shook his head.

"No, I'm fine. I'll stay here." He said before the kids started bouncing on their feet.

"No, you have to eat with us, please! Please! Please!"

"Please!"

Cut chuckled before looking at Rex. "They're never gonna stop till you say yes."

"All right, I'll join you."

Later, at the diner table, Rex was talking to Cut. "Yes, well, you and I may be clones, but we're still individuals. You have a name rather than a number, Captain. Why is that?"

"Perhaps our leaders feel it's a more efficient way of distinguishing us," Rex replied before Cut raised an eyebrow.

"More efficient than a number? I doubt the Kaminoans think that way. Still, a name has to make you feel unique. Especially in an army where everyone looks like you and talks like you..."

"Actually, I've never really thought about it," Rex said as Cut made a plate of food.

"Yes, you have."

"Well, how would you know?" Rex asked Cut who sat down.

"Because I am as close to you as any life form can be. I've seen how you look at my family, our home… Come on, Rex, admit it. You've thought about what your life could look like if you were to also leave the army, choose the life you want."

"What if I am choosing the life I want? What if I'm staying in the army because it's meaningful to me?" Rex asked Cut who took a drink from his glass.

"And how is it meaningful?"

"Because I'm part of the most pivotal moment in the history of the Republic. If we fail, then our children and their children could be forced to live under an evil I can't well imagine."

"If you were to have children, of course. But that would be against the rules, wouldn't it? Isn't that what somebody programmed you to believe, Captain?" Cut asked with a shrug.

"No, Cut, it's simply what I believe. It doesn't matter if it's my children or other people's children. Does that meet with your approval?"

"Perfectly. To each his own. That's what I always say." Cut said with a grin before Shaeeah spoke.

"What does that mean, Daddy?"

"It means you can do anything with your life that you want to."

Meanwhile, Grievous manages to reach the remaining intact capsule and prepares to send a distress call. Informed by a droid already at the pod that lifeforms are approaching from the east and west, Grievous orders his forces to prepare for battle. When Kenobi and his men catch up, a battle ensues. When a Separatist shuttle arrives, the last AT-TE is unable to take it down, and Kenobi engages Grievous in personal combat to prevent him from leaving.

However, Grievous hooks himself to the shuttle by a grappling cable and manages to escape yet again.

Later, Rex and Cut are playing a game of dejarik. "Good move. Very good move." Cut said to Rex after an attack from the hologram game.

"So what was it?" Rex asked Cut who sighed.

"What made me decide to leave the corps? Shortly after the Battle of Geonosis, our troop transport got caught between two Separatist gunships. They fired on us with everything they had. We crashed. Most of us were either dead or severely injured. So when they started working their way through the wounded, killing us off, I knew there was no hope. I ran. (Sighs) It still haunts me." Cut explained to Rex.

"I'm sorry."

"It's the day I felt my life didn't have any meaning. Everyone I cared about, my team, was gone. I was just another expendable clone waiting for my turn to be slaughtered in a war that made no sense to me. Can you understand that, Rex?"

"I've been in countless battles and lost many brothers," Rex said as Cut had stood up to look out a window. "They were my family, my home."

"Daddy, we finished our chores. Can we go outside and play?" Shaeeah asked as Jek put his hands together.

"Please."

"Okay, only for a few minutes."

"Thank you, Daddy! Come on, Jek."

"Okay."

"And keep the house in view."

"We Will.

"You have wonderful children," Rex said to Cut as Suu walked over to them.

"I know you think I'm a coward, Rex. But believe me, I'll fight to my last breath to keep them safe."

While playing outside, Shaeeah and Jek stumble upon a crashed Separatist escape pod in one of their fields and accidentally activate a platoon of damaged, but still-functional commando droids inside. The droids promptly attack the farm, and Lawquane prepares to defend his family. Rex offers his help, and although the droids manage to invade the farmhouse, the two clones put up a brave fight and destroy them all, with Lawquane saving Rex's life.

Morning.

Naruto stopped his speeder bike at the farm with the clones and stood to see Rex and Cut walking out of the house. "Hey, Rex. Glad to see you're OK." Naruto said before looking at Cut who had thick brown hair. "And you are?"

"Cut Lawquane, Sir."

"Nice to meet you," Naruto replied before Rex sighed as he walked up to Naruto.

"Sir, he's a deserter."

"You aren't a soldier stationed here?" Naruto asked the clone who shook his head.

"No sir."

Naruto noticed the kids before looking at Cut. "Then I'm afraid I'll need to put you on a mission then."

"I understand sir."

"Your mission: Protect your family with your life."

Cut looked surprised at that before nodding. "Roger Sir."

To Be Continued.

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

Beta: Chaos-PSD. Contributor: Kuronodono12.

There's a quick poll up for Shinobi on Board for the pairing. Then after Ch 33 goes up there'll be another poll for my RWBY story dealing with the pairing, then when I start Season 3 of USM. I'll put up a new story poll.

Kuronodono12: Naruto's moment/feat where he went all glowy last chapter is an actual thing that has happened before in Star Wars though it is incredibly rare as only a handful of Jedi have done it before with only about 3 having achieved a state like Naruto was in.

To everyone living in the US, I hope you have a safe, and happy 4th of July.

Next to be updated will be Avatar Maelstrom.

Nothing else to say.

Talk To You Later,

Lone Wolf Out.