Alright, here's the 13th Chapter. Sorry for the long wait, but with my 24th Birthday coming up in...2 days, I've been rather busy.

Also, because of the new GTA Update, I'm going to wait till that comes out and then write the next chapters for both fics, while also working on the One Piece fic, and the TQT fic.

Man, really busy.

Still, shoutout to LuciusWalker, and check him out.

Enjoy the chapter

Tense.

That was the accurate term to describe the middle of the camp. The self-liberated slaves of Ölüm found themselves being tracked by bounty hunters, and a simple command or action could trigger an early battle, alerting the Zygerrians of their position.

The air was silent, the atmosphere still and spine-chilling as guns trembled in boney hands. Jango, meanwhile, looked to be quite unfazed, even though a blaster was aimed for his neck - a deadly Achilles heel he'll have to correct if he ever got the chance later.

His eyes were onto a girl in Mandalorian armor. He studied the painted patterns, and recognized the clan tribe she was from. Of course, he'll have to confirm it later once the situation has settled.

"Naruto Uzumaki," Jango finally spoke. "That's you, right?"

A flinch betrayed his bandaged expression. Not taking his eyes off the bounty hunter, he asked Sabine, "Mind giving me some info about this guy?"

Sabine finally managed to completely study his armor, and her eyes widened.

"That's Jango Fett, hun," Sabine scowled, glaring daggers at the mercenary. "He's one of the galaxy's most notorious bounty hunters, perhaps the best."

"I'm guessing there's more."

"He's also a veteran of the Mandalorian Civil Wars," Sabine told him, having mentioned the history of her people to him whenever they had time. "Believe me, he's someone you don't want to pick a fight with."

"Your family sure knows a lot about that, right...Wren?"

"Don't dare say my family's name, bastard!"

"Or what, Wren?" Jango spat back. "You're lucky that your Death Watch-loving family's not here. I've got a lot of scores to settle for what they did to my people - as well as his."

Everyone's hearts pounded as the bloodlust in the air grew to the extreme. The weaker willed found themselves struggling to keep their firearms in the air, suddenly feeling several pounds heavier than they were.

"Wait, what?" Naruto looked at Sabine. "What is he talking about?"

"Let me guess - she failed to mention how her family originally fought with yours, before they decided to switch sides?"

Sabine's pistols trembled at this as Naruto's eyes narrowed.

"...No, she didn't…" he muttered.

"Naruto, I-"

"Save it," Jango cut in. "I'm not here for the rest of you lowlifes. No, I'm here for him."

"Wha-"

*CLICK*

Jango's right hand moved away from Naruto, pointing directly at Tayuya, who was still aiming her rifle at his head.

"If there's one thing I gotta agree with this metal asshole, it's that we should just cut the damn chatter," Tayuya gritted her teeth.

"Your back's still wide open to Marrok," Jango calmly reminded her. "One wrong move, and you'll be dead."

"Guess I'm taking you with me, then."

Without warning, she pulled out a thermal detonator from her pocket, activating it with a single flick of her thumb. Many of them gasped or backed away, with even the Anooba recognizing the deadly weapon in her hand.

"Is that a-"

"Jango!"

Nearly everyone jumped as another man landed in the middle of the standoff. This time it was a Duros man in a leather trench coat and a large hat, his pistols already out to join the standoff.

To make matters worse, reinforcements swiftly arrived, with a large, odd-looking ship with large cannons suddenly appearing into view. More of Jango's crew jumped out of cover, aiming their own firearms at the insurgents.

"Drop it, little lady," Cad Bane scowled at the redhead.

"Oh, I'll drop it alright," Tayuya gave him a mad grin. Her thumb inched dangerously closer to a certain button. "I'll drop it once you kill me, trust that!"

Bane glared at her. "Is that a threat?"

"No, it's a promise, bitch."

Sugi, Zam, and Embo also had their blasters drawn out. Aurra, meanwhile, took a sniping position as the Slave I adjusted itself to allow her to take aim.

"Someone keep an eye on that ship!"

"ROAAAR!" Chewbacca growled, a missile launcher already prepared to fire at the ship should things go south, backed up by a firing squad of his own.

Everyone was as still as a statue, with even the ship's quiet engines only serving to fuel the tension even further.

Imagination can be a powerful thing, especially in a moment of unity. At that very moment, everyone suddenly saw themselves standing in the middle of a dry grassfield. The sun was blazing, the rain hadn't greeted the ground in ages, and someone just released multiple crates of flour, and all it took was one idiot to light a death stick to send them all to kingdom come.

"There's gotta be a name for this situation," Zeb muttered, his rifle still aimed at the bounty hunters.

"They call it a Mexican Standoff," Jimmy snickered, somehow finding humor in this scenario.

"In here, they call it a Mandalorian Standoff," Jango added dryly.

Silence then befell the area, with everyone daring one another to do something.

"We're not here to fight, kill, or capture you," Jango finally said, looking directly at Naruto. "Believe it or not, I'm here as a friend."

"Yeah, right," Sabine snorted, earning a sharp glance from Jango.

"Was I speaking to you?"

"Now that you are-"

"Sabine!" Naruto snapped. "Let me handle this."

Sabine flinched at his glare, and she quickly backed down. Taking a deep breath, Naruto turned back to the Mandalorian Bounty Hunter.

"First, we lower our weapons," Naruto offered. "Then we'll talk."

Jango nodded his head. "Right."

"On three, lower your weapons!" Naruto shouted to the rest of the camp.

"That goes for you too!" Jango warned his group.

"One."

"Two."

"Three!"

In one swift, simultaneous moment, they all lowered their weapons, even Aurra and the Slave I, whose cannons retracted.

Tayuya and Cad Bane, however, stubbornly refused to put down their weapons, their deadly tools of war still aimed at each other.

"Bane, lower it now," Jango ordered.

"Tayuya, you too"

The two kept their glares as they finally lowered their weapons. Bane holstered his blasters while Tayuya deactivated the grenade.

Everyone suddenly found themselves able to breathe, loud sighs and gasps of air filling the heavy air.

Despite his proposal of peace, Naruto still stared at the Mandalorian in suspicion - something he couldn't blame, considering how he was the reason he was in this mess.

"Perhaps it's for the best if we discuss this in private," Jango offered. "There's many...personal things that need to be discussed."

The blond agreed, jerking his head towards the makeshift HQ.

…

The walk towards their cabin/HQ was somehow even more tense than the standoff they just had. Jango casually headed for their meeting area as if nothing was happening, while the others were resisting the urge to go for their blasters.

The bounty hunter named Zam joined Jango by his side, and before they knew it, the HQ was crowded again, this time with unexpected company.

*Cough!* * Cough!* *Cough!* *Cough!*

"...Is he okay?" Sugi the Zabrak finally asked.

"Pneumonia, ma'am." Yasser was the one who spoke up. "His lungs are suffering from a disease. That's all I can say."

"And you think it's wise to let a sick man be in charge?" Bane frowned, stepping away from Tarik. "I don't know how you people managed to free yourselves from that Hell hole."

Many of the freed slaves scowled at this, their fingers itching for the trigger.

"Bane…"

"I can speak for myself, but yes, Yasser is right," Tarik wheezed, raising his hand up to assure the others he took no offense to this. "But I advise you to not judge a person by their appearance. You never know what their background entails."

"Enlighten me," the Duros breathed, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wooden wall.

"Sure. To begin with Yasser as an example," Tarik pointed to the old man standing guard. "while he is certainly old, would you believe that he fought in seven armed conflicts in his lifetime?"

That made the bounty hunters turn their heads at him, with even Aurra chuckling a little at this trivia.

"Well aren't you full of surprises?"

"I only did what I had to do," Yasser grunted.

"There are others like him here, too." Tarik pointed out to several people. "Like Ibrahim, who, despite his age, has fought against terrorists in his hometown. Or Idel, who's ex-IDF, a military branch to put it simply. Then there are many stories to tell about our cleaver carrying introvert, Nathan."

TCHK!

All heads turned towards Ibrahim, who uncaringly lit up a cigarette with his lighter. Despite his seemingly-relaxed demeanor, his hands were near his blaster pistol tucked into his pants, ready to draw it at a moment's notice.

Even Nathan, the brown-headed tombstone, simply tapped his bloodied cleaver on his shoulder, his silent stare saying more than enough to those that would try them.

Jango said or did nothing, but his colleagues knew that under that helmet, he was observing the room and its occupants, testing out their threat levels and capabilities. After another minute of tense silence, he returned his focus back to Naruto, but not before he decided to speak with Tarik.

"What about you?" Jango asked him. "What background do you have that qualifies you as a leader?"

The question caused many eyes to be aimed towards Tarik, who replied without hesitation

"I've seen death from a very young age and accepted it as a part of life - something many in their younger years dare to think about," Tarik answered quietly. "I can guess you're from the same flock as mine, right? You Mandalorians aren't known to have peaceful lives."

Jango, seeing how his eyes are quite like his, just nodded.

"So, let's get to the point. From what I've collected, you're after one of my lieutenants named Naruto Uzumaki, correct?"

"Correct." Jango replied, turning back to him. "Kid, we've come all the way here to get you."

Naruto's eyebrow frowned. "For what?"

"To get you out of this damned place, brat," Bane huffed. "Come on, grab your things and head to the ship. The sooner we leave, the bett-"

"I'm not going."

His swift response left the others in the room quite stunned, even amongst the other survivors.

"Um, can you repeat that, kid?" Zam finally asked. "Did you just say that you're not coming with us?"

"You heard me correctly. I'm not going anywhere," Naruto repeated, turning back to Jango and Bane. "First reason: Did you really expect me to just go with strangers who I barely know about?"

Aurra let out a small groan of frustration.

"So Jango, are we gonna force the kid to come with us or not?" she asked. "I'm getting a little bored of this."

"We're not taking him by force," Jango shook his head. "Nobody's shooting anybody."

"And yet you paid us to come all the way here to collect this one kid who you apparently owe a debt to," Bane grunted.

"He's got a point there," Aurra agreed. "You paid us to do this job, so one way or the other, he's coming with us-"

"Please."

Boba stepped forward towards Naruto, who looked at him with mild curiosity.

"Can you tell us why you don't want to leave? We're not here to hurt you, and my dad is here to apologize for what he put you through. So why do you want to stay?"

Naruto stared at the boy that was much younger than him, who did what the rest of the adults around him wouldn't do. Finally, he spoke up.

"Look around you kid, what do you see?"

Boba did what was asked of him and looked around, seeing a sea of heads and bodies who watched from a distance.

They were a combination of beings of many races, men, women, children, humans of all colors, species of different shapes, sizes, and ages. And yet, they all had the same thing in common.

"People?"

"Yes, people. My people. Who, like me, went through hell to set ourselves free when the world refused to help us."

He waved his hand around at his people, who gave him nods of acknowledgement.

"We suffered together, ate together, survived together, died together. If I'm getting out of here, I want to at least leave knowing that they can do the same too. That's why I'm staying to seize the castle and their ships. After that, you may do whatever you want with me."

Silence then filled the air as Naruto sat back, waiting for their response.

"...Let's say we help you," Jango finally said, much to the other's surprise. "Would you be against us keeping half the loot?"

"That's fine," Naruto nodded. "All we want is some money and ships to get off this hellrock. After that, I'll come with you, no questions asked."

"This isn't what we signed up for," Bane growled. "Besides, we're no freedom fighters. We're-"

"Mercenaries, I know," Naruto nodded. "Then how about this? We offer you all a job on making sure that we take the castle and all of its ships and loot. Your reward would be half of all the spices, treasures, and whatever else they're stuffed their pockets with. If it helps, we'll take all the credit for the incursion, and nobody will have to know that you lot were involved."

Naruto then stuck his hand out to Jango.

"So? Do we have a deal?"

Jango fell silent. Then, for the first time in ages, he let out a genuine chuckle.

"I like you, kid. Alright, I'm in."

Bare flesh met crush gauntlets as they shook hands. And so, an very-unplanned temporarily alliance was formed.

"Did we really just agree to work together with the Cad Bane and Jango Fett?"

"I think so, yeah," Sabine replied, shaking her head. "Unbelievable."

Tarik then approached the two handshaking warriors and made a quick announcement to the rest of the group.

"As much as I'd hate to interrupt this moment, we've got only a few hours before night falls, and thus, a few hours until they all take off," Tarik reminded them. "So prepare yourselves. We leave in half an hour."

"You heard the man, back to your duties!" Adrik ordered around. "No time to lose!"

The crowd started to disperse, with all of them going back to what they were doing earlier, while some were grabbing their gear, preparing themselves for the endgame to their freedom.

The only ones who weren't moving were Jango and Naruto, who still were standing there looking each other in the eyes.

"I need to discuss a few things regarding our history, although given how we're pressed for time, I guess I'll give you the rundown while we gear up for war."

"That's fine," Naruto replied. "Lead the way."

Coruscant - Jedi Temple

Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi walked through the temple's vast, empty hallways. It was quieter than usual, with the other fellow Jedi either sleeping or meditating during these late hours.

The Jedi looked wearier than usual, since he had just gotten out of a crucial meeting in the Jedi Council Chamber. Evidently, Grand Master Yoda had just informed the other masters about his departure from Elementia with a team that was specialized in tracking down their targets.

The search of Konoha's Jinchuuriki may be finally coming to an end, much to everyone's relief. The capture of the blond boy tarnished the Republic's name and credibility, especially since their partnership had just been born when the kidnapping occurred. The Hokage held them personally responsible for the failure of locating the boy, and Yoda himself worked tirelessly in the front to search for the potential Jedi.

This, however, wasn't the only subject that was discussed within the Council. The divide within the galaxy continued to spread, with even parts of the planets beginning to divide from the inside.

Elementia was the best example, where three of the five big villages that ruled the continents had allied themselves with the Confederacy, with the Hidden Mist having just made its statement last night to the representatives of the Republic, one of which was the Senator of Naboo Padmé Amidala, who could do nothing but accept her diplomatic defeat.

The village had repeated the Republic's failures towards them, reiterating their failure for being unable to provide military support during their struggle against their tyrannical leader. The CIS had seized the Republic's lack of formal military by eagerly providing their battle droids to help them win the war. Cheap, easy to produce and repair, the village happily accepted their gift which came in the form of a single Lucrehulk-hulk class battleship filled with battle droids for both aerial, naval, and ground combat. The village's fight to end the dictator came to a swift end, using the new technology to swiftly crush the genocide inducer, and the rest was history.

Ignoring the Iwa and Kumo village and their reasons for joining the CIS, the situation on the planet Earth was far more delicate. Multiple countries were stalling their decisions as long as they could, undoubtedly equally unsure about which side to pick.

It was honestly too much politics for the Jedi Master, who just wanted to make his way back to his own quarters where he will sleep the night off.

Just before he could do so, he spotted a person staring through one of the temple's many windows that gave them a great view of the planet of Coruscant.

"Anakin."

His padawan Anakin Skywalker turned his head to see his master approach him.

"Master."

Obi Wan frowned at the bags under his eyes. It had gotten worse, he noticed.

"Unable to sleep my padawan?" Obi Wan frowned, his arms in his sleeves. "Being out of your room and wandering around isn't helping, you know."

"It's nothing like that, master."

"Then what is it?" Obi Wan asked, concerned. "If there is something that's bothering you, please tell me."

Hearing that from his own master, Anakin squinted his eyes in for a moment, before he finally told him what was on his mind.

"Remember the night I abruptly left the Jedi Temple a few years ago?"

Obi Wan frowned as he remembered what he was referring to. He remembered when he went AWOL without warning, returning to his home world of Tatooine.

…

Having just arrived through hyperspace, Obi Wan's Delta-7 Interceptor starfighter had just arrived at the Outer Rim's desert planet of Tatooine.

His astromech R4 let out a series of beeps to his master.

"I know, R4, I know. This is entirely random. But this is Anakin we're speaking of," Obi Wan replied, pressing the button to contact the Jedi Temple. Holographic figures of Master Windu and Grand Master Yoda appeared on the screen.

"Masters, I've tracked my padawan down to Tatooine. I'll be landing now to search for his direct location."

"We still do not know why exactly your padawan decided to go off without notifying anyone." Windu spoke. "Do you think it has to do something about his recent restless nights we've been hearing of?"

Skywalker's restlessness was reported to the council, prompting them to assign Kenobi the task to keep watch over him. He had been getting less and less sleep for a few months now, raising some concerns for Obi Wan.

"I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I've got a strong feeling that it is related," the Jedi Master responded. "I'll contact you at once when I've found him."

"Find answers you must, Master Obi Wan. The Force disturbed in Skywalker, it is," Yoda repeated, before the transmission ended, leaving Obi Wan to detach his ship from the Hyperspace transport ring to make his way towards the desert planet.

"What are you doing, Padawan?

…

Following the last coordinates of Anakin's ship, Obi Wan tracked his ship to a desolate place far off Mos Eisley that looked like one of those moisture farms. It was there that he spotted another Interceptor ship just like his.

"Found you," Obi Wan muttered, suddenly feeling like a bounty hunter. "Let's find out why you're here."

His ship landed noisily next to Anakin's, scattering a cloud of sand throughout the area. His arrival did not come unnoticed.

He saw a protocol droid covered in rusty gray parts waddling out of the farm, walking leisurely towards the Jedi Master's ship.

"R4, stay here and watch the ship," Obi Wan told the droid while getting out. "I'll warn you if there's something."

R4 made a series of bleeps in response, acknowledging his master's orders.

Having finally exited the ship, Obi Wan walked towards the moisture farm, being halted by the protocol droid.

"Good day to you Jedi Master Kenobi," the rusty droid bowed. "I am C-3PO, human/cyborg relations-"

"Excuse me, but I need to go-" Obi Wan froze as he heard the droid mention his name. "Wait, how do you know my name?"

"Oh, from Master Anakin, of course. He informed me of your inevitable arrival so I took the duty to come and welcome your arrival."

"Is Anakin here right now?"

"Oh, he certainly is. He's inside with the Lars family and his mother who they just bought."

"Wait, bought?" This made Obi Wan frown at the news.

"The Lars family has purchased Miss Shimi Skywalker from Master Watto just a few weeks ago."

Well this certainly explained Anakin's restless behavior as of late.

"Can you please escort me inside?" Obi Wan asked.

...

The protocol droid introduced Obi Wan to a human man and woman - the farmers who owned this land.

"Master Owen, Miss Beru, this is Jedi Master Obi Wan Kenobi," C-3PO introduced the three people to one another. "Master Obi Wan, they are Owen Lars and Beru Whitesun. They're both now legally Master Anakin's stepfamily."

"A pleasure to meet you." Obi Wan extended his hand.

"Yeah, you too." Owen shook his hand. "My step brother told me you would come by. Sorry if he's in any trouble. We heard you Jedi are the kind of folks who don't deal with family much."

Obi Wan had to hold back the urge to frown a little, being more than familiar with how negatively the Jedi were viewed in the galaxy.

"I promise you that Anakin isn't in trouble. We were just concerned about his sudden departure. He could've at least informed us before his trip."

"Really, even for stuff like this? A family matter?"

"Owen, please, that's enough." Beru tried to stop her beloved boyfriend from asking sensitive questions. "The Jedi might find those questions uncomfortable."

"No, it's alright, ma'am." Obi Wan said, wanting to answer the moisture farmer's question. "I understand how it may seem from your perspective, but this is how we Jedi keep our personal emotions out at best."

Owen seemed to accept this response, letting out a defeated sigh.

"If you say so. But I still think it's wrong. I mean, you can't just break a bond between a mother and her child. That's just me personally speaking."

"And you have every right to say what must be said." Obi Wan bowed his head.

"A civilized disagreement in the Outer Rims? Now I've seen everything."

Obi Wan turned to see a bearded man approach him, who extended his hand to greet the Jedi Master.

"Cliegg Lars," the man introduced himself. "You must be my stepson's Jedi Master, right?"

Obi Wan nodded and accepted his hand. "Yes, I am."

"Please forgive him for whatever troubles he might have caused you folks." Cliegg let out a sad smile. "He's concerned about his mother's health. Can't say I blame him."

"Of course." Obi Wan nodded. "May I see my Padawan?"

"Oh, certainly, of course."

...

"Here, mom." Anakin gently wiped his mother's forehead with a cool rag. "I hope you'll get better soon."

Shmi could only let out a weak chuckle. "Oh Ani, don't act like that. It's just a little fever, that's all."

"Still, I can't just let you get sick," Anakin repeated grimly. "Now that you're free and you have a family-"

"Who are your family too, Ani," Shmi repeated a little sternly, cupping her hand over her son's face. "The Lars family takes good care of you. You don't have to worry about me, honey."

Her hand trailed over her son's, who gratefully accepted it, holding onto it as if she would disappear forever if he let go.

"I missed you, Mom…" Anakin bowed his head into his mother's lap, much like how he would always do as a child. "I'm just so glad to know you're doing okay…"

Shmi, unable to keep herself from tearing up in joy, ruffled her hand through her son's hair as those old, precious moments were coming back to her.

"You've grown up, my son…" Shmi told him, pride overflowing in her voice. "My little Jedi…"

As the mother and son held each other in their warm embrace, Cliegg Lars and Obi Wan could only watch them in silence, a small smile etched into their normally stone-cold faces.

"You were under a lot of scrutiny for that little stunt by the council."

"I haven't forgotten, master," Anakin nodded slowly, remembering just how unpleasant the council's judgement over him was. "Master Windu certainly had a few words for it. Still, I don't regret it because…"

Obi Wan frowned as his student suddenly began trailing off. "Because what?"

"I…I kept having these visions about some kind of animal, and it somehow connected me to my mother." Anakin frowned as he began to recall the disturbing imagery. "This creature was strong with the Force too. I could've sworn that it looked at me just before I kept on waking up."

"An animal, you say?" Obi Wan asked. "What kind of animal?"

"For a while I was unsure myself," Anakin stated. "But then I recognized it as the same creature Master Yoda described. The Ten-Tailed beast."

"Are you saying that you had visions of this Ten-Tailed Beast, Anakin?"

"That…and that of a rabbit woman."

This sent chills down the spine of the Jedi Master. It would seem that the Force was warning them of this creature far before the discovery of Elementia, and of all the people to grant this warning to, it just happened to be his padawan.

"I only wish to speak of this with Master Yoda," Anakin finally continued. "He knows about this better than anyone else, master."

"On that we both agree," Obi Wan stated. "For now, let us get some rest. It's been quite a day."

The two Jedi briefly bowed to each other before they retreated to their quarters. They needed to relay this information to the council about this.

Kessel: Partisan Camp

The sun was falling, and another ship had just left the planet. Everybody was scrambling like ants, preparing for the last minute assault before their window of opportunity flew away like the ships.

A large crate was placed in the middle of the camp, which was swiftly opened with a touch of a button.

"What's in it, Zeb?" one of the partisans asked.

"A nice present, courtesy of Jango Fett," Zeb smirked, pulling off the metal lid, revealing it to be a load of thermal detonators. "Give two for each fighter."

It didn't take long for the crate to have been empty, with the raiders now more deadlier than ever. Every able fighter, every gun, every ounce of will was being assembled as the turning point of their lives were inching closer. Some were excited, some were fueled by rage, and others were trembling to the core.

Click!

Sabine Wren was not one of these men, who said nothing as she checked and prepared her twin blasters before holstering them. She took a look at Ibrahim and Nathan, who were also preparing for war.

Click-Clack!

"Jimmy and Hera are already with the second group," Ibrahim said as he put down his Kalashnikov rifle. "They're with some of those bounty hunters."

"Third group - us - is going last," Nathan said as he held his cleaver over the fire. "Soon, the soil will be watered by the blood of our oppressors, just like they watered this planet with our tears."

"Never took you for a poet," Sabine chuckled. "Are Canadians known for that?"

Ibrahim just chuckled at this. "While Canadians are known for their more peaceful and friendly nature, in war they've rivaled the Americans…"

"Speaking of Americans." Nathan put his cleaver away and pointed. "Look over there."

The three turned around to be blessed to witness something only a few individuals would be able to claim to ever watch.

Alongside each other, two different men of two different faiths were making a special prayer right before they'd go to battle.

Tarik's group were seen on their knees, bowing and praying in Arabian tongue. The old man Yasser, who himself was an observant follower, was right behind Tarik who led the procession.

Interestingly enough, some of the non-human faces could be found within the two groups, converts who sought to find meaning and salvation from their tragedy as well.

A similar ritual was conducted right next to them, with Joseph leading his people in their prayers done in both Latin and Basic. While their prayers were mixed together in a confusing cocktail of noises, none sought to overtake one another, simply recognizing and coexisting with one another.

"I'm honestly surprised that this has gone as long as it has," Nathan noted. "In a galaxy full of many strange ideologies, sciences, and people, Christianity and Islam would probably be scoffed at in a heartbeat. I don't get it, honestly."

"Faith is just more than that, my friend."

The onlookers turned to see Bellatrix the Nightsister nurse walk up to them.

"Faith is the drive they need to stay together in a time of crisis. A group of people who band together for hope and purpose, in order to keep their spirits up when all seems lost. In a way, it's no different than what we all are doing right now."

The two needed a minute for it to sink in, but Sabine nodded at this right away.

"Also, it's a way for them to get over the fear of death or whatever's after that," she threw in her two credits. "If it helps their chances on the battlefield, then I say go for it."

Her bittersweet smile turned quite sour as she thought about Idel a few miles away, who was praying in Hebrew over her fallen brother Levi.

"I guess it also gives us the strength needed to move on during and after this mess too…"

1st Group - Uzumaki Squad

The 1st Group (or the "Uzumaki Squad", as dubbed by the blond himself) were the closest to the Royal Palace, having been the first to leave. Adrenaline and nerves were high as they worked hard to avoid having their hearts beat out of their chests.

Having stopped a few clicks away from the target, the group began splitting into smaller groups as previously planned in order to divide and conquer.

"The armor's a bit heavy," Naruto complained as he continued walking with the rest of his subgroup. After bidding his subgroups good luck, himself, Jango, Mugabo, Maori, Sugi, and thr others moved to infiltrate the South of the palace. Before they could go execute their mission, Jango stopped him to give him some ancient Uzumaki armor that looked a lot similar to his. Although he was a little hesitant on wearing it (since it could compromise his natural speed and stealth), Jango promised him that Mandalorian armor could protect him from blaster bolts, slugthrower shots, and even something called lightsabers. When asked what it was, he described it as a superhot sword that could cut through most things, including metal.

"Get used to it, kid," Jango replied flatly. "Besides, it's your heritage. You have more right to it than myself or Boba, and it'll help keep you safe."

He grumbled a little at this, but said nothing as he gently stroked the ancient metal that coated his being. It could've been just his imagination, but for a moment he thought he could smell blood, sweat, and tears as he felt the many hands of his ancestors touch him, bidding him luck and wishing him victory.

He shook his head at this. Maybe all the spice dust had gone to his head. He decided to pay attention to something else, like the bounty huntress Sugi, who was having a conversation with the Rwandan man.

"So you survived a genocide by your own people?"

"Yes. This took place back in '94," Mugabo reminisced. "I'm what you would call a Tutsi, with my neighbors being called the Hutus. I was a minority despised by some of my neighbors who were listening to that damned radio calling for my people's death."

He paused to take a drink of water from his canteen, licking his dry lips.

"The day it all began, I was lucky enough to play dead when I was hit in the head. Had to play dead for a long time. Long enough for me to know what my relatives smelled like when their bodies turned rotten."

Sugi just nodded at this as she continued listening to his story.

Conversely, Maroi had no interest in sharing his life story for the moment, opting to watch and listen to their leader Naruto who spoke with his kidnappers.

Drawing a map in the sand with a stick, Naruto and Jango went over the plan.

"Boba and Aurra will be the air support. Between Boba's piloting skills and Aurra's deadly aim, they can come in hot if things go very south."

"We'll slip in from the front just like what Tarik told us to do," Naruto reviewed. "Hera and Adrik will strike from the back to cause confusion while we'll be attacking the communication tower, security posts, and securing the landing platforms with all the ships on it."

"Or what's going to be left of them," Cad Bane added. "The moment shots are fired, they're going to turn their slimy behinds and fly away, radioing for help while doing so."

"That's why we're going to be doing all three at once," Jango threw in. "We've divided our forces precisely for this reason. And in case any of them slip by, Aurra and Boba will take care of them before a single ship prematurely leaves this planet."

"That'll leave your ship rather exposed, you know," Bane said, his toothpick nodding up and down in his lips. "Even if it's not shot down, everyone will know it was you."

Jango said nothing at this, with the Mandalorian simply staring up at the palace behind his helm.

"Jango, you aren't planning to-" Sugi's eyes widened

"People won't buy that a bunch of slaves managed to single-handedly take down their former owners twice, especially with the fortifications they have. Chances are that someone will go snooping around for more details, and there's a chance that you all will be discovered in the process. If, however, I proudly and unashamedly claim that I, a former slave, decided to have a moment of morality by helping out fellow slaves, then all eyes will be on me."

"But-"

"I told you guys earlier, my time as a mere bounty hunter is over. I've found a new purpose now, and that is to continue Jaster's legacy and work. My reputation is nothing but a small price to pay to resurrect the True Mandalorians if that's what it takes to get it done."

"Won't that make you a lot of enemies?" Mugabo asked curiously. "Sure, you're a bounty hunter, but I'm sure that this crosses a line."

"He's right about that," Bane warned him. "Once word comes out of your direct involvement in toppling the spice trade, the bounty on your head will be so high that you'll never be able to show your face anywhere in public and private."

Everyone held their breath at the implication of his words. Sugi bit her lip, as she was one of the many bounty hunters who genuinely respected Jango.

"Jango, please reconsider -"

"I know the consequences of my choice, Bane. I wasn't born yesterday," Jango replied. "I'll say it again, the Uzumaki's my top priority now."

"What about your son Boba, is he not your top priority?"

"...If everything goes right, he'll be fine too," Jango finally responded. "My mind's already settled."

"But-"

"Fine." Bane stood up, cracking his neck. Everyone took a step back as they blinked at his acceptance.

"I know you, Jango, and I know that no matter what we say, you won't back down," Bane sighed. "Just a heads up, once the price on your head goes up, I'll be coming to collect the prize one day."

"...I invite you to try," Jango said simply, turning his head slightly to stare at the Duros through his visors. The two of the most dangerous bounty hunters stared at each other for a moment, two partners who'll become enemies in the future using their temporary moment of truce to look each other in the eye without having to worry about the ends of each other's blasters.

"Lieutenant." The moment was shattered when one of the other armed volunteers ran up to them. "It's time."

Mugabo checked his watch with a nervous chuckle. "Time flies when we're discussing our attack."

"Let's move," Naruto said simply, pulling out his own blaster and turning to Mugabo and the volunteer. "Tell everyone we're moving in now."

This reignited the fire that quickly consumed the fear and tension that were in the air, with the group's eyes turning narrow with determination. Steeling their nerves for the final time, they all said nothing more as they marched through the forest.

The thick, Kessel forest was silent, save for the muffled crunching of leaves and twigs and the sound of a Kalashnikov rifle being reloaded over and over again. Shrunken, Zygerrian heads dangled on his hips, occasionally banging against one another.

Sugi chose to pay attention to the other trophies the other fighters wore, from stolen watches, jewelry, and more body parts like shrunken heads, fingers, or ears littered around their bodies.

Sugi was no amateur, having been more than used to violence like this, but she still wished Embo was here to make this easier. Perhaps she should've gone with him in the 2nd Group instead of letting her inner fangirl lead her towards the Mandalorian.

Up in the front, Maroi observed Naruto, Jango, and Cad Bane as they led the group. Naruto was seen staring at the clear, orange atmosphere, where the uncountable amount of stars were seen filling the sky.

"Never took you for a stargazer," Jango remarked.

"Well, once you realize that there is a lot more out there in space, it really makes you wonder just how large it is."

"Once we close this chapter of our lives, I'll let you sit in Boba's seat if you want a tour of the great beyond," Jango offered. Naruto smiled a little at this, having something to look forward to after all of this mess.

"That sounds great." Naruto's eyes never stopped looking at the infinite beyond just above them. "Heh, funny. Looking back, I always used to look up at the night sky. It helped take my mind off of other things as I imagined what else could be out there. You know, I actually had a talk about that with the old man"

"You did?" Jango asked. "Is your father still alive?"

"...No. The old man was the leader of the village I lived in." Naruto's words trailed off as he recalled the conversation he had with him in one particular lonely night. He frowned as he realized just how many fond and disappointing memories he had of the 3rd Hokage, particularly ones where he refused to tell him who his parents were. "...He died before he could ever tell me who my parents were."

"...You never knew your parents?" Jango was taken aback at this.

"No, no I didn't." Naruto just shook his head. "I was always told that I was a no-good orphan from no-good parents, and that I should've been grateful that the village kept me around like the other nobody orphans."

Hearing this, Jango couldn't hold back the glare that twisted his battle-worn face. It just didn't make any sense. From what the stories had told him, they should've been great allies with the village, helping them grow and develop from the sidelines while choosing to take none of the credit, preferring to live quietly in peace while they continued their work. Hell, their very symbol was eternally engraved into their forehead protectors and onto their jackets. So why was the kid so mistreated and disregarded?

"Tell me…" Naruto's voice fell into an uncharacteristic low whisper as his face finally lowered back in front. "Is what Sabine said true about my lineage? That I'm a descendant to a clan of warriors?"

"Not just any clan, Naruto, but a great one," Jango replied to him. "The Uzumakis were a group of great warriors to ever exist in Mandalorian history. Honorable, fearless, and honest people, they were the founders of the True Mandalorians, who sought to tame our senseless violence to try to unify us. They never turned their backs to those they saw as friends, comrades, and family. The day that their clan fell was the day that the galaxy grew colder and darker."

Hearing this brought a smile to the blond's face. He sniffed as he felt his eyes water a little.

"Then…I'll promise to do the same!" Naruto's conviction spread through his group like wildfire. "I swear on my life that I'll help my friends and family get out of this damned place if it's the last thing I'll do!"

This gained him many smiles from the group as they felt their determination grow tenfold from his promise. Their footsteps grew more energized and their grips on their weapons tightened as they silently vowed to help their young leader escape alive to fulfill whatever destiny awaited him.

This included a small boy in the middle who was seen carrying many weapons and equipment on him, acting as a mule instead of being a direct warrior for this fateful assault. While disappointed that he didn't get to directly help in their suicidal cause, he understood just how important his role was and was determined to do his part.

Still, though, if the opportunity ever arose, he wouldn't mind getting his hands dirty for some revenge.

That's if for this chapter.

Believe me, next one's going to be big.

Please leave a review, follow and support this story.

Peace!