Disclaimer:

I do not own Naruto or Star Wars.

Chapter 9: The Dark Stranger

Exhausted.

That was the only word to describe how Kakashi was at this very moment. He has been chasing after this Akatsuki member for hours now in the Land of Rivers. Gai's team was preoccupied and Sakura and Lady Chiyo were still dealing with the other member that stayed behind while his partner flew off with Gaara's body. To make matters more complicated, Sakura and Gai's team were out of radio range. Kakashi was on his own.

Still, that did not matter, he had mission to complete and a goal to accomplish.

The former was to retrieve Gaara's body and to bring it back to Suna. It was with a heavy heart that they were not able to locate and break into the Akatsuki's base in time to save the Kazekage. Failing to save Gaara, a jinchuriki, reminded Kakashi too much of how they were not able to bring Naruto back to Konoha three years ago.

Which only pushed him further to achieve the latter goal. He had to capture this Akatsuki member. He wished it were Itachi but unfortunately the one he, Sakura, and Lady Chiyo fought earlier was an imposter of some kind. He still did not fully understand how it was done but right now it did not matter.

All that mattered was capturing the member he was chasing right now and interrogating him for any information on his organization and if they had Naruto in their possession.

Those reasons were why the Copy Ninja was racing after this Akatsuki member over these logs that were branching across this ravine. He knows this member was drawing him out but for what reason he did not know, and he did not like it. This member was a long range jutsu user and has been throwing oddly constructed clay creatures to explode when close enough to the Leaf jōnin.

However, Kakashi has been throwing him off balance with his new technique; the Kamui. A jutsu performed by his Mangekyo sharingan. The use of this higher level visual jutsu took its toll though. It was consuming a lot of Kakashi's chakra and he has not mastered it fully, yet. He just had to get that shot, that one shot, at the giant clay bird that the Akatsuki member was riding.

Then he would have nowhere left to run.

Deidara was starting to feel annoyed. He and Sasori were ordered by their leader to capture Kakashi and any other Leaf shinobi so that they could be interrogated on the whereabouts of the Nine Tails jinchuriki. Ever since Itachi and Kisame failed to capture it years ago their target suddenly vanished. He was nowhere to be found in the Leaf or anywhere else in the Five Great Nations.

They needed all the Biju if their leader's plan were to succeed. A plan that Deidara still had no way of knowing, but it did not matter because orders were orders. Yet, the pyromaniac still could not help but feel annoyed at the Copycat Ninja's perseverance and stubbornness with his art.

"Guess, I shouldn't be surprised. He is the Copycat Ninja after all, un. And I should consider myself lucky that I'm fighting him instead of that old bag of bones and that little girl he was with, un. I do not envy my man, Sasori, right now, un."

A cocky smile spread across his face as he checked his bag of clay.

"I only have a little clay left, un. Guess I need to be a bit more creative and careful with how I use my art, un. Not to mention that sharingan of his is starting to become a problem, un. Now, how to do this? I know, let's try a free expressive-"

UUUUUUURRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!

"Huh?"

"Hm?"

Both shinobi tilted their heads up in alert as a strange sound began to travel through the air. They both thought it was the wind blowing through the ravine at first. Accept there wasn't any wind at all right now.

The sound began to grow louder and louder to the point where they could pinpoint exactly where it was coming from. The Leaf jōnin and the Akatsuki member turned their heads around to look back to see what was causing it. They were both stunned speechless at what they saw streaking fast across sky.

It was some kind of strange metal object. It was large, about the size of a small house and it was dark blue in color. It had bent wings that were neither flapping nor performing any kind of movement at all. It's head or central part had what looked like a glass eye or rather a window of an intricate design pattern.

"What the hell is that?!"

"W-What is that?!"

Neither shinobi had a solid answer or even a clue. Whatever this strange winged metal object was it was coming in fast. Very fast.

Kakashi used his Mangekyo sharingan to try to look closer into the metal object's windowed central part to see what was inside. It was difficult considering how fast it was flying and due to Kakashi beginning to reach his limit with this visual jutsu. The Copycat ninja was able to pull it off though despite these hinderances. It looked like someone was inside. He couldn't make who they were, but he could tell someone was controlling this flying metal craft from within.

The Leaf jōnin however underestimated this object's speed and only just realized it as it made a sudden descent towards his location!

Kakashi's eyes widened and he attempted to find cover! He wasn't fast enough though as the object flew over right over him! The power of its momentum was so great that Kakashi was carried off his feet by the rushing air! Throwing him into a log that was directly ahead of his previous position!

The hard impact bruised and may have cracked a few of his ribs. Not having any strength to even mold chakra to hold onto the log's wooden surface, Kakashi fell into the ravine below! Luckily or unluckily he landed on another log, but the impact only worsened the pain in his ribs! Kakashi looked up with sweat running down his face and watched in shock as it appeared that this newcomer was now chasing after the Akatsuki member.

And whoever it was they were gaining on him fast.

Deidara's eyes widened in stupefied shock at how fast the giant winged craft was closing the distance between them! It would only be a matter of seconds before it caught up with him! He didn't what or who it was that was chasing him or what they even wanted but every fiber in his being was warning him that he couldn't let them catch up to him!

He began to dig into his pouch for more clay! Even though he was running low he had enough that should be able to blow it up. It was a shame though. Deidara actually sort of admired the artistic touch put into this flying object's design.

Unknown to Deidara, who was busy having his right palm's orifice chewing up the clay, the occupant within the flying metal object was looking at a targeting computer in front of him. Watching and waiting as Deidara's clay bird's movements became less sporadic on the screen. Finally, when the computer calculated the target within its crosshairs the occupant pressed the thumbs of his black gloves into the firing switches.

KAK!

Suddenly two green bolts of energy shot out of the central part of the flying craft! Piercing through the air at such impossible speed! Deidara couldn't even take a second to react or comprehend what was being shot at him before it tore through his clay bird in the blink of an eye!

Deidara and what was left of the clay bird's head began descending into the forest below! The bird's head was fortunately caught by some thick branches of a very large sturdy tree. It's creator barrel rolled and landed on the surface of a tree trunk before leaping down into the ground hiding under the forest's thick brush.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"

He panted trying to catch his breath and keep his cool.

"I don't know who they think they are but that little toy of theirs won't be able to hit me with that attack again if they can't even see me through these treetops!"

A gust of wind suddenly came out of nowhere and blew through the forest and treetops! Lasting for only a few moments before it died down as quickly as it came. It sounded and felt like something large and heavy just touched down upon the ground. Deidara could tell what with being an Earth Style user.

The forest became deathly quiet after that. Deidara took cover within a thick bush and kept low to the ground. The mouth on his right palm still chewing up the clay from earlier. He tried to listen for something. Anything at all.

The only thing that he could hear were birds flying off in the distance. It was like they were scared of something in the forest. Not long after a strange sound echoed through the woods. The pyromaniac didn't know what to make of it. It almost seemed like it was some kind of breathing.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

Deidara didn't know why but he felt a sudden chill running down his spine. This wasn't one of excitement though like when he fought the Suna's jinchuriki before capturing him. No, this was one of fear.

His body tensed when he saw movement in the shadows of the dense forest ahead of him. He could see someone was coming. It was hard to make out who they were, but it looked like they were wearing dark clothing with what seemed to be red and green lights. What struck him odd though was that he barely felt any chakra from this person. It was strange and very unnerving.

Deidara reached up to his mechanical eye so that he could try to zoom in to get a better look. He clicked it a few times till he was able to get a good view of the newcomer. Luckily, they stepped into clearing which made it easier to check them out. Deidara's eye narrowed at the sight.

This person was tall and wasn't just wearing dark clothing like he predicted but also armor as well. There were red blinking lights just below his chest and green lights on a belt he wore. He couldn't quite make out the face yet, but it looked like they were wearing a helmet with a very odd design. Deidara actually liked it. Even more so than the flying metal craft that shot him down.

Deidara shook his head to be rid of such blasphemous thoughts.

'True art is an explosion!'

Deidara watched through his mechanical eye as this dark newcomer raised his black gloved hand up to his waist before flexing his index finger.

'What is he-'

"ARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!"

Deidara's body was suddenly pulled into and sent flying through the air! Smashing through bushes, branches and even partially through several tree trunks! His short and painful flight ended when he tumbled into the clearing! Rolling till he was flat on his stomach with his face in the dirt!

The former shinobi of the Stone shakily lifted his head up. Blood seeping out of the corner of his mouth. He looked and saw two black armored boots standing in front of him. He lifted his head higher and his eye widened in shock and awe.

"It's beautiful. This...this is art."

He fully took in the masked face of the imposing figure that stood before him. It was metal and black in color with no visible openings for the eyes. Had a triangular mouth, and two tusks at its lower corners. However, what was really captivating was how the sun shined directly behind him. Making his helmet glisten and shine brightly while the rest of his form remained almost pitch black.

Deidara narrowed his eye and grit his teeth.

'No, never! This is not art! I refuse to acknowledge it as that! No, true art is an explosion!'

The man in black tilted his helmet down a little and spoke.

"Tell me, are you the one who abducted and killed the Sand Village's Kazekage?"

Deidara leapt up and backwards across the clearing to put some distance between him and this newcomer.

'How did he do that?'

His mind just now trying to process how he flew through air like that. It was as if something grabbed and pulled him into this clearing. He knew this guy was responsible, but he didn't know how. Deidara put on cocky grin deciding that it wasn't important at the moment, and he would figure it out later.

For now, he had to buy himself some time.

"Love the voice! Really matches your outfit, un! And even though it's not any of your business but yeah, I was the one who captured the jinchuriki, un. He put up quite a fight. Even managed to take my left arm, but he underestimated my art, un. That and he wasted so much chakra protecting his village from my masterpiece, un. If he hadn't had done that things might've turned out differently, but oh well, un"

Deidara's right palm mouth spat out the clay which he proceed to mold with his fingers.

"As for killing him, well that was more of a group effort, un. Man, I have to tell you spending days dragging the Shukaku out of him was exhausting, un! I think I'll need a massage when this is all over, un!"

Deidara gasped and struggled to stay on his feet from the enormous amount of killer intent the stranger was releasing! It felt suffocating to the point where it was almost like he couldn't breathe! Sasori, Kisame, hell not even Itachi have ever displayed nearly as much as this newcomer was radiating right now. Still, Deidara wasn't going to allow himself to be intimidated that easily. Not when he still had his art.

The armored man's gloved hands closed into fists. His left fist tightening so much that his knuckles cracked. He tilted his helmet and mask up to look Deidara straight in the eye even though the member of the Akatsuki couldn't see it.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Then now, you will die!"

Deidara smirked.

"I don't think so tin man, for you see I'm an artist and when I look at you, my friend, I seen an unfinished piece of neglected art, un! Such a thing really annoys me and the only way I can rectify and truly make it sublime ...IS WITH AN EXPLOSION!"

Deidara performed a hand sign.

BOOM!

The area, where the man in armor was standing in, suddenly exploded! Sending up dirt and debris high into the air while leaving nothing but dust! Deidara grinned arrogantly at how his distraction worked.

Little did the newcomer know was that while Deidara was chatting his mouth off, he released a dozen or so clay spiders into the grass and had them crawl over to his opponent's position. The poor fool never saw it coming. The former shinobi of the Stone's smug expression never left his face as he watched the aftermath of his work.

Until the pyromaniac's smile slowly faded.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

As the smoke began to clear he could make out parts of his opponent's body through the gaps in it. When it finally evaporated, Deidara's eye widened with shock and frustration. The man was standing in the newly formed crater without a single scratch on him!

Deidara narrowed his eye.

'How the hell did he survive that?! Does he have some kind of defense jutsu like the Sand jinchuriki did? No, nothing rose or came to him when the explosion happened. But then what could it have been?!'

The dark stranger began to lift his right hand up and Deidara got into a combat stance. Preparing for whatever attack or jutsu this guy had up his sleeve. The man brought his hand over to his left shoulder and brushed some dust off before bringing it back beneath his cape.

Deidara growled at the stranger's act of disinterest with his art! Reaching into this pouch again for more clay. His right hand's orifice already began chewing it up.

'I only have enough clay for maybe one or two more attacks, tops! I can't afford to get careless with it. There's something off about this guy. I need to take him out now!'

"Impressive! I didn't think you would be able to survive that at such close range. At least not without losing a limb or two, un. Tell me, what's your name?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

The man didn't answer and Deidara still needed more time.

"Alright then, answer me this, un. Why do you want to kill me? Is it because of what happened to the jinchuriki? I gotta say that's a first us. Running into someone who's angry about the death of a jinchuriki, un. Honestly, no one has ever bothered to try to rescue or avenge them before or even cared what we did with them, un. In fact, they seemed glad to be rid of those monsters, un."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"You talk too much and your attempts to distract me while preparing another worthless clay bomb jutsu are futile. For an artist, you severely lack imagination."

Deidara's eye narrowed and he grit his teeth.

"You dare say that I lack-"

"There is also no point in telling my name to a corpse of a foolish weakling."

Deidara was seriously starting to get pissed off and he growled at the stranger.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST SAY?!"

Deidara's hand orifice spat out the clay. Then he proceeded to mold it a little roughly with his fingers. Not giving it as much of a gentle touch like before due to his anger. Normally, he kept his cool when it came to opponents trash talking him but if anyone ever insulted his art or his creativity and imagination, he would take it very personal!

"Well, let's see if I lack imagination after I blow you to smithereens!"

Deidara threw small clay objects that poofed into smoke to be revealed as large clay birds with spinning wings! They all flew fast towards the man in armor and had a higher yield of explosive clay then the previous ones! Deidara grinned and was preparing to do the detonation hand sign.

When something happened.

The dark being suddenly raised his right hand up and all the birds stopped in midflight! He closed his hand into a fist and the birds exploded! However, it wasn't the kind of explosion their creator was hoping for. No, they exploded into bits of clay that rained down to the ground!

Deidara was speechless at first before totally having a tantrum.

"WHAT?! HOW?! HOW DID YOU TAKE THEM OUT?! "

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

Deidara was getting annoyed with only being responded by the man's strange breathing.

'How the hell did he do that?! All he did was raise his hand and he just took them all out without any trouble! He didn't perform any hand signs or jutsus at all! It was the same when he pulled me over to him and survived my last attack! I don't know what's going on but it's obvious I need to change up my tactics!'

The armored man slowly walked towards Deidara which fueled the tension in the area.

"Time to put an end to this."

Deidara leapt backwards out of the clearing through several branches and bushes! If he was going to take this guy out then the first logical step would be to put more distance between them since Deidara was a long range type jutsu caster and if he could get to his giant clay bird's body then he would be able to stock up on his nearly depleted supply. He reached into his pouch for more clay to prepare a distraction to keep this intrusive stranger at bay.

Until he felt a hand painfully grabbing hold of his shoulder!

Deidara turned his head and his eye widened as the man in armor was behind him and had a tight grasp on him while he was still in the air! The dark menacing figure brought his right hand up and his fist collided into Deidara's face! Smashing him straight into the ground and creating a large crater which sent up a large plume of dust and smoke!

The dark armored man landed heavily on the ground and blew away the dust and smoke with an outstretch of his hand. When he looked down into the newly formed crater he found that the Akatsuki member wasn't there but rather a deformed mass of clay.

The man tilted his helmeted head up and saw what appeared to be the real Deidara running towards the massive clay bird that laid a few yards away.

The pyromaniac bit down into the massive clay body and proceeded to chew it up like a madman! His body then began to inflate and bulge out everywhere! Looking like it was going to burst.

The newcomer in armor could sense what was going on. The fool was concentrating all of his chakra into single point. Making his body into a bomb capable of wiping out the entire forest. Any other opponent would be terrified and running for their lives.

This man though wasn't even a little intimidated but was rather annoyed.

Knowing there wasn't much time, he raised his hand out and the Deidara was suddenly pulled into the air, levitating! The man then outstretched his gloved hand and the rogue Stone shinobi was sent flying high and far into the sky! Where after his body continued to expand before eventually exploding in a blinding flash!

Meanwhile Nearby

Kakashi was leaping through the trees trying to reach where he saw the Akatsuki member and Gaara's body fell. Wincing from the sharp pains his ribs were sending with every movement his body made. He ignored it though while focusing on finding that Akatsuki member and at the same time, trying fruitlessly to wrap his head around what just happened earlier.

That flying metal craft was like something out of a dream only it was real. So real it brought down that Akatsuki member in an instant while he spent hours attempting to do the same. Kakashi didn't like it. He didn't know who they were, but it was obvious they were after the Akatsuki like him. Whether they were a new enemy or not, Kakashi knew one thing.

'I have a bad feeling about this.'

BOOM!

Kakashi stopped and looked up and saw a huge explosion high up in the sky! It was so massive it parted away the clouds! His eyes widened and he took cover under some thick branches while holding his arms over his head as huge shockwave came down upon the treetops! Sending leaves everywhere and birds flying for safety! When it finally stopped, he lowered his arms and narrowed his eyes.

"What in the world is going on over there?!"

Back at The Battle Zone

The dark figure looked on as the explosion in the sky subsided. He lowered his helmeted head down and just stood there like a statue without moving a muscle. Then moments later he slowly lifted his right arm and stretched his hand out. Looking like he was preparing to catch something.

Suddenly the ground nearby burst open and Deidara came flying out of it into the man in armor's grasp!

He proceeded to lift the Akatsuki member higher! Slowly crushing his throat in his gloved grip! Deidara's eyes looked like they were ready to pop out of there sockets due to the increasing pressure on his windpipe!

"Sacrificing your clone in hopes that it would destroy me while you slip away. Clever, but far from a brilliant plan."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

Deidara glared down with vicious intent at the man.

"JUST-ACK-WHAT THE HELL-URGH-ARE YOU?!"

The man answered.

"I am the one that is chosen by fate to destroy you and the other members of the Akatsuki. To eradicate your entire organization until there is nothing left! However, before I do, there is one thing I wish to know."

The man brought Deidara down closer to his mask.

"Where is the rogue Sannin of the Leaf Village? Where is...Orochimaru?"

Deidara's eye widened briefly before closing again due to pain of his windpipe being crushed.

"Where is he?!"

HOOOOPUUUURRRR!

Deidara cracked his eye open as he answered.

"I-HARG-don't-UCK-know-AHG-where that bastard-ACK-is!"

The man in armor tightened his hold.

"Then who would know?"

Deidara looked down at the man.

"Hard to-ACK-answer when-URGH-you're choking me!"

The stranger tightened his grip for a brief moment before relaxing it so that the sadistic Akatsuki member could breathe. Deidara coughed trying to get air in and relax his throbbing throat. While doing so he was mentally preparing for his final jutsu and greatest masterpiece. He knew what would happen if he used it but anything at this point was worth killing this man with no taste in art!

For now, he answered the man's last question.

"My partner Sasori might know where he is. However, he's a little busy right know taking care of an old woman from the Sand and a girl from the Leaf Village, so I wouldn-ACK!"

HOOPUURR!

"What girl?!"

Deidara was cut off as the stranger started throttling him again! Deidara felt like his throat was in vice from how hard this man in armor was choking him. Not wanting to incur the man's impatient wrath further, he tried his best to answer.

"I don't-ARK-don't know who-HACK-she is! She-UGH-she was with-ACK-a Leaf jōnin!"

The man in armor tilted his head down to contemplate something before throwing Deidara into a thick tree trunk! A sickening crack was heard and Deidara felt the breath knocked out of his lungs! The pyromaniac tried to move but couldn't due to the impact obviously breaking his back. He was in so much pain that he could barely move his arm.

Yet, he was laughing.

It was hoarse and a little guttural, but it was laughter. The man in armor tilted his head slightly wondering what the maniacal explosive artist was planning now. Deidara stared at him wide eyed like a madman and gave a vicious snarl.

"YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE IGNORED AND INSULTED MY ART! I CAN NEVER FORGIVE ANYONE WHO LOOKS DOWN UPON MY WORK! DO YOU REALLY TAKE ME THAT LIGHTLY?!"

Using his good arm Deidara ripped away his shirt! Revealing his bare chest with what appeared to be some sort of seal where his heart would be. It was sewn shut but Deidara used his hand's orifice to bite and tear out the thread. Then he took hold of the thread's tip in his hand before yanking it out! After it was fully unstitched, the area on his chest that was sewn shut, burst open with teeth and a long gnarly tongue!

He then reached into his pouch and took out large handful of clay that he managed to gather from his clay bird's body before his clone blew up. He then stuffed the clay into the disgusting chest mouth and chuckled as it proceeded to hungrily chew up the clay!

Black vein like cracks began to spread everywhere on Deidara's body all while he continued to grin like a madman.

"This is my ultimate art! This time I'm going to detonate myself without using any substitution!"

The man in armor just stared at him without even being a little intimidated by what he just proclaimed and calmly spoke.

"You're insane."

Deidara laughed while the man in armor still stood nonchalantly as he slowly reached into his left side beneath his cape.

"SPOKEN LIKE A TRUE IGNORANT FOOL WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND A THING ABOUT ART! IN DEATH I SHALL BECOME ART ITSELF! NO ONE'S SEEN AN EXPLOSION LIKE THIS! ONE THAT SHALL LEAVE BEHIND A SCAR ON THE VERY EARTH ITSELF AND THEN I SHALL RECEIVE MORE ADMIRATION FOR MY ART THEN ANYONE HAS EVER SEEN BEFORE! BUT WHILE I WILL BE ADMIRED YOU WILL MOST DEFINTELY BE DEAD! YOU CAN'T SURVIVE THIS ONE, UN!"

SWASH!

Deidara's eye widened and his face was left with horrified shock as his upper torso, chest mouth, and both arms were cut clean through and severed from the rest of his body. He looked and saw that the dark armored man was wielding some kind of blade that was glowing with a ruby red color. As Deidara's upper torso began to slide off of the rest of his body and descend to the ground, his mind began to reel over in denial.

'No! NO! THIS IS MY MASTERPIECE! MY GREATEST WORK! IT CAN'T BE IGNORED! IT CAN'T BE DENIED! I CAN'T BE DENIED! I AM AN ARTIST! I AM ART! I AM AN EXPLOS-'

FWISH!

Deidara's final thoughts were cut short as the man in dark armor's red blade sliced his head in half and finally ending the pyromaniac's life.

Meanwhile

Kakashi was still closing in. Sensing the direction of the battle between the Akatsuki member and whoever he was fighting. Until he stopped when his body began trembling.

"Wha-What is this?!"

There was a strong dark feeling in the air. A desire to kill and destroy that was beyond intense. It was more terrifying than when he was in the presence of Orochimaru years ago when he was sealing Sasuke's curse mark during the chuunin exams.

He would go as far as to say that it may even rival the Kyuubi's evil blood lusting presence.

The copy ninja had to take a kunai out and stabbed himself in the arm! It was only lightly though and away from any vital points. It got the job done though and helped snap him out of his daze. He took the time to take a sniff of the air and caught a scent of what smelled like burning flesh. He then pushed on towards his target.

After a few more minutes, Kakashi finally arrived. Taking cover in the treetops, so that he could find out what the current situation was. He looked down and saw an imposing looking man in armor, who was taller than he was, standing over what appears to be the cut up remains of the Akatsuki he was pursuing previously. The Copy Ninja would've cursed his luck of having all of his efforts pursuing the member wasted but he was too busy staring down in shock at the weapon the dark being was wielding.

'That looks like...'

There was no question that red energy weapon was the same as the blue blade Naruto had before he left the village. He's never seen the weapon firsthand but Lady Tsunade and Master Jiraiya both gave detailed descriptions of it when they told him of Naruto's battle with Orochimaru. Kakashi's mind began to race with so many questions. All of which were either to do with who this man was and where did he get that sword.

He shook his head of these distracting thoughts so that he could focus and find out what the mysterious stranger was doing now.

The man in armor looked at the lacerated Akatsuki member before him. He was disappointed and angered that the insane fool didn't have the information he was seeking and that he wasn't able to ask him any further questions regarding his organization. He didn't know why he wasted his time asking about that girl from the Leaf Village, but he was curious.

Curious as to whether or not it was her.

None of it mattered now. What's done is done. Frankly, he was glad the self-proclaimed artist was dead, for he was far too much like the late Sith Lord, Darth Momin, that helped construct his fortress on Mustafar, all those years ago. That and at least he gave him a lead on who might know where the Rogue Sannin was and perhaps his other target.

The hunt would have to wait for now though, as he had other more important matters to contend with.

Kakashi watched as the man lifted his free hand. Outstretching it upwards above his helmet. He remained still after that without any movement whatsoever at all.

'What's he doing?'

Kakashi didn't understand it. It was almost like he was reaching for something. His pondering was cut short however as began to hear the treetops nearby rustling like something big was moving through them.

Kakashi's eye widened as he saw that it was the head of the giant clay bird the Akatsuki was riding earlier! He watched as it somehow floated through the treetops and the air. Shortly, before descending gently down towards the man in armor.

'It's him! He's making it move! But how? What kind of jutsu is he-'
Kakashi gasped.

Flashback

"SEE?! SEE?! HE'S A DEMON! NO HUMAN BEING COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT! HE'S THE ONE THAT SHOULD PUNISHED NOT US! IF WE DON'T DRIVE HIM OUT OF THE VILLAGE, HE-...gak-ack-gakurrr!"

The man started clawing at his own throat and started choking! Not just him but the others in his group also were grabbing their own throats gagging! Tsunade and the others didn't understand what was going on. She was about to leap over her desk to perform her medical jutsu when suddenly the group of criminals started to float into the air!

Tsunade and the others looked back at Naruto and saw that he had his right hand curled upwards. They watched as the boy lifted his arm higher and with it the arsonists! He flexed his fingers a little which made them choke and gasp for air even harder!

Finally having enough, Naruto threw his hand back which caused his captives to be thrown back as well.

BAM!

The criminal scum were flattened hard against the wall! Each of them slid down and slumped over one another clearly knocked out. The boy then turned his vicious gaze to the Hokage, his sensei, and his master.

Flashback End

"It can't be!"

The man in armor lowered his arm and gently brought the clay bird's head down next to him. When it touched the ground, he took his red blade and made two diagonal slashes on its upper jaw. Making a glowing sizzling X mark.

He then deactivated his weapon. Attaching it to his belt before he plunged his right fist through the X on the bird's upper jaw. Effectively breaking through it. He raised his hand and the broken bits of clay levitated out of the hole in the bird's head and were cast aside.

He looked at the body that laid inside the bird's mouth. It was a young boy that he recognized instantly. The last time he saw him was when they fought during the Sand and Sound invasion. To think that he had already became the Kazekage at his age. That he managed to fulfill the dream that he could not. It was impressive and worthy of recognition.

And the Akatsuki took that away from him along with the Shukaku.

How he was filled with rage by their actions. He reached down wrapping his arms under the boy's back and legs. Lifting him out of the clay bird before gently laying his back onto the grass.

This would not be end for the boy. The man in dark armor would not allow it. The Akatsuki may have taken the Biju but they will not take the boy's life as well. He's suffered through too much and achieved too much just to have his life cut short by these cowards and traitors.

Everything else can wait until he brings the boy back, but first he must deal with an old friend.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"How long do you intend to hide up there in the shadows and do nothing, Kakashi Hatake?"

Kakashi's eyes widened and he gasped! The man in armor knew he was here the whole time! Seeing how there wasn't any point now in concealing himself Kakashi leapt down to the stranger.

Kakashi's eyes narrowed at the man or what he could only assume was a man. The clothing and armor he was wearing were unlike any he has ever seen. However, what was more mysterious was that Kakashi could barely feel any chakra from him at all.

All of that along with his weapon and powers just begged one question.

"Who are you?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

An odd sound was all that answered Kakashi. It was very unsettling. It sounded vaguely like the sound of respiration or something like it. The Leaf jōnin didn't think he was going to get an answer, so he was going to ask his other question.

Until the man spoke.

"My name will sound rather foreign to you, but I am known as...Darth Vader."

A flock birds flew away from a nearby tree just as the stranger mentioned his name.

Foreign was an understatement. In truth Kakashi has never heard of any name like this stranger's before. Even people from the other side of the world would not have names like this one. Still, Kakashi felt very tense around this stranger.

"Alright then, 'Darth Vader', what are you doing here?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"I am here to do what you weak minded fools have always failed to do."

Kakashi's eyes narrowed.

"And that would b-"

"None of your concern."

The being called Darth Vader looked down at the boy that laid at his feet.

"He is dead."

Darth Vader's voice sounded like it had a hint of sorrow with that remark. Kakashi couldn't really tell for sure though. Darth Vader's voice sounded so mechanical and unnatural much like everything else about him.

Kakashi forgot about the other questions he was going to ask as he too looked at Gaara's body solemnly.

"I know."

The Leaf jōnin wished that he and his team had made it in time to save him. Seeing Gaara like this reminds him too much of how they lost Naruto and worse fills him with dread that perhaps the same fate might've happened to him. He wasn't sure since the Akatsuki member he was chasing was dead now and with any chance of interrogating and questioning him lost.

"The boy did not deserve this. He had such promise. A potential to rise above the previous leaders of his village and to rectify their old customs and mistakes. However, in the end like the jinchūriki of the other hidden villages, he was only used and thrown aside for his power. Left to die in the dirt because the villages and people like you care more about the ridiculous notion of the Great Nations maintaining a balance of power rather than the children you force to become vessels for demons."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

Vader could not help but also feel anger towards himself for his hypocrisy. After all he has done the exact same thing towards many others both who were under his command and were not. How many former Jedi and Force sensitive children had to suffer by his hands so that he could make use of them as Inquisitors? Far too many. And if they failed him or outlived their usefulness he just threw them away like they were trash.

The memories of his own actions made all the more reason to hunt the Akatsuki down and destroy them.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes at Darth Vader again.

"I can't speak for everyone in my village or in the other villages but you're wrong about me. I do care."

Darth Vader turned to him.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Really? So, you care about your own village's jinchuriki, do you?"

Kakashi nodded.

"You can bet your life on it!"

Darth Vader folded his arms beneath his chest plate.

"If that's true then what has become of this jinchuriki that you care so much for?"

Kakashi's eyes softened before they shut closed as he answered.

"I don't know."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"As I expected."

Kakashi opened his eyes again where they laid upon the weapon attached to Vader's belt.

"Tell me, where did you get that weapon and how did you come to have these powers?"

The dark lord answered.

"Where? From a powerful opponent that I defeated in combat. I took his saber and made it my own. As for my abilities with the Force, I trained myself and learned from others to hone and strengthen them to beyond anything this world has ever seen."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

Kakashi's eyes widened.

"The Force?!"

There was no question. That was what the mysterious power Naruto wielded was also called. Could there have been more people out there who wielded this power?

Tsunade said that there was indeed another besides Naruto before he left the village. There was speculation as to the identity of the second one, but it was always thought there was only just Naruto and this other person. Perhaps, there were more.

Or perhaps there was more to this "Darth Vader" than meets even Kakashi's sharingan eye.

"Indeed, it is a power only one from this world has ever achieved until it drove him to his forsaken fate."

Kakashi narrowed his eyes.

"What do you mean only one from this world?! Who are you talking about?!"

Darth Vader unfolded his arms and turned around.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"It does not matter. It would be meaningless to tell you. I suggest you and your squad head back to Konoha, Hatake. Your mission is a failure, but you can all still walk away with your lives even though you do not deserve to. I will handle the boy."

Kakashi tensed but remained firm.

"No, we were assigned to bring him back and that's exactly what we're going to do! Even if at this point it's to ensure he's returned to his people where they can mourn and bury him properly!"

Darth Vader turned his head slightly to the left towards Kakashi.

"There will be no burial for this boy. I will see to that!"

Kakashi narrowed his eyes.

"I don't think so!"

Kakashi lunged at Darth Vader, who merely responded by raising his hand and closing it into a fist! Kakashi then exploded into a puff of smoke! Vader lowered and relaxed his fist before turning his helmet to the right.

"It was foolish of you to challenge me without witnessing my battle with the Akatsuki!"

Vader flexed his finger and the ground burst open with the real Kakashi unable to move in midair!

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Because if you had, you would've known that such a deceptive tactic would not work against me!"

Vader bent his finger and brought Kakashi closer to him.

"I could destroy you right here and now if I wish. In fact, I should. However, I have far more important engagements than ending your worthless life. That is why I am going to give a message to you and to the rest of your village."

The cybernetic dark lord brought Kakashi closer till he was staring right into his black abysmal eyes.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"The Akatsuki are mine! Orochimaru and his wretched Uchiha dog are mine! If you or anyone from you village dares to stand in my way, then I will not hesitate to destroy every man, woman, and child within in Konoha!"

Kakashi suddenly began choking but couldn't move his arms to grab his throat!

"Your village's Will of Fire will be consumed by the very flames that burn within me! There will be nothing left of the Leaf! Nothing but a vague memory in the minds of the rest of the world! That is what your village's fate will be if any of you interfere!"

Kakashi was beginning to think this man was either totally insane or incredibly powerful or both. He was not only taking on the Akatsuki, but he was now also after Orochimaru and Sasuke too! Not to mention that he was threatening the entire Leaf Village! For this guy to make a threat like that, he must possess immeasurable power and skill!

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Ensure that you relay this message to the Hokage. We are done, for now."

Darth Vader then struck his hand out and Kakashi was sent careening through the air!

His body smashing through many trees and branches before finally colliding into a large extremely thick tree trunk! The impact worsened the pain in his ribs and broke several other bones and even his right arm causing Kakashi to yell in pain! Then he fell and hit the ground hard on his broken arm! Kakashi struggled to stand up but the pain was too great that all he could do was prop himself up against the tall tree and try to keep himself from blacking out.

Darth Vader turned his back once again to the Leaf ninja, who was over a hundred yards away.

"For you and your village's sake, do not force my hand, Kakashi."

It was only a mere whisper that sounded almost like a plead, but it was heard by no one.

The dark lord pressed a button on his belt before seconds later a voice answered him inside his helmet's transmission receiver.

"My lord, we've received your transmission. Do you require assistance?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Send a transport to my location."

"It will be done, my lord."

Vader pressed another button on his chest which sent a signal to his personal tie fighter. The ship's autopilot became engaged. As soon as its calculations were complete the fighter's engines ignited and it slowly rose up from the ground before taking off into the air at high speed!

Close by in The Forest

Sakura was worried. It's been hours since her sensei went after that other Akatsuki member while she and Lady Chiyo stayed behind to handle Sasori. The battle was a fierce and exhausting one that pushed her and Lady Chiyo to their upmost limits against many of Sasori's puppets.

In the end they were able to defeat the rogue puppeteer of the Sand. It was not without great cost though. The last of the antidote, that Sakura prepared for the puppeteer's poison, was used up and Lady Chiyo was still being affected by the lethal toxin. She didn't have long, maybe a day at best, but it would take longer than that to reach Suna after retrieving Gaara's body.

They both knew she was going to die before they reached the village.

At least when Sasori drew his last breath, he bequeathed to Sakura information about Orochimaru that she had to relay to Lady Tsunade as soon as this mission was over. It could very well be a lead to Orochimaru and Sasuke. Once she finds them, she will be able to find out what happened to Naruto.

Excited as she was about finally happening upon information that could lead her to her former comrades, it still wasn't enough to comfort her with knowing that Lady Chiyo was dying and that Gaara died before they could save him. Still, she couldn't let any of that distract her right now. She had mission to complete.

Sakura kept pushing on despite her slow pace due to having to carry the old veteran kunoichi and her body still aching and injured from their battle. She was close to where she felt that huge tremor from earlier. She was sure that's where Kakashi must be doing battle with that other member of the Akatsuki.

Suddenly, the trees began to violently shake as a gust of wind blew through them! Forcing Sakura and the old weathered Sand Kunoichi to stop and land on the ground to brace for cover! Through the branches and leaves, Sakura, and Lady Chiyo caught sight of a large metallic object with bent sides resembling wings, lifting off of the ground slowly before it suddenly took off into the air making a sound that resembled horses when frightened or stampeding!

"My word, what on earth is that?!"

Lady Chiyo asked a very good question but one that had no answer.

"I don't know!"

"Sakura!"

Sakura turned and saw Lee and his team leaping down to them.

"Lee! Gai sensei!"

They all looked pretty worn and beat up. Clearly whatever traps or devious jutsus the Akatsuki used to protect the seal barrier they smashed were more difficult than anticipated. Knowing Lee and his mentor though they probably just chalk it up as nothing more than a test for their power of youth.

"Sakura, what's the situation? Where's Kakashi?"

Sakura looked down at her feet with sadness as she answered.

"We were too late. The Akatsuki already extracted the Shukaku and killed Gaara in the process. Kakashi sensei chased after one of them that carried Gaara's body away while me and Lady Chiyo dealt with Sasori. We were lucky that we managed to defeat him."

Gai's team had sad expressions on their faces. They would've been looks of amazement and pride for Sakura managing to take down an Akatsuki member but hearing of Gaara's death was just too much to ignore. Especially for Lee since he owed Gaara for saving his life years ago against Kimimaro.

"So, you haven't found Kakashi yet, huh?"

Sakura shook her head Gai sensei's question.

"No, not yet. I think he might've been fighting the other Akatsuki member somewhere close by. We were heading towards where we felt a huge tremor earlier. Until..."

Sakura looked down as she tried to figure out how to explain this next part.

"We saw a huge strange looking object fly off into the sky earlier."

Tenten asked for clarification.

"A strange object? What did it look like?"

Sakura tried to think and remember exactly how it looked.

"Well, it had bent wings and was dark blue in color. Also, it looked like it was made of metal. I think it was some kind of flying craft"

Gai raised one of his bushy eyebrows.

"A giant flying metal craft?"

Lady Chiyo nodded her head.

"Indeed, in all of my years of living I have never seen anything like it. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes."

Neji stepped forward.

"What direction did it fly in?"

Neji turned where Sakura pointed before channeling his chakra.

"Byakugan!"

Veins bulged out around Neji's temples as he began scanning the skies looking for any sign of the flying object Sakura described. He could see nothing but clouds and clear sky. No trace of whatever they saw. Neji shook his head.

"I can't find it. It must've already flown past the visual range of my Byakugan."

Gai turned to Sakura and Chiyo.

"How long ago was it when this metal craft flew away?"

Sakura looked at Gai.

"It flew away right before you guys showed up."

Gai's team gasped.

"It can't be!"

"There's nothing that can move beyond the range of the Byakugan in that short amount of time!"

"That's right! It would have to be moving at an unimaginable speed!"

Gai held his hand up.

"Alright, let's keep focused! We can worry about this flying craft later. Right now, we need to find Kakashi. Neji can you locate him?"

Neji nodded and began scanning the area. Slowly turning his head while focusing until he saw a chakra signature nearby sitting against a tree. It had to be him!

"I found him! That direction! He's alive but weakened!"

Gai nodded.

"Alright, let's go!"

"Right!"

Everyone replied in unison before taking off in the direction Neji pointed to. However, just as they began moving towards Kakashi's location, Sakura began to feel odd. She started to shiver a bit which caught Lady Chiyo's attention.

"Sakura, my dear, are you alright? You're trembling!"

Upon looking closer Chiyo noticed that Sakura had a look of dread on her face. She looked more afraid than when they fought her grandson Sasori. The Leaf medic looked at Chiyo with a small smile to try to reassure her.

"It's nothing, Lady Chiyo! I just feel...cold."

Sakura turned her attention back to keeping her footing as she leaped while supporting the old kunoichi of the Sand. The dying woman knew though that the girl was lying. The look in her eyes spoke the truth all too well.

'The poor girl looks frightened out of her mind, but...of what?'

Nearby

Darth Vader patiently waited for his transport. He could sense that more ninja were approaching nearby. Obviously, they were Kakashi's allies, no doubt. There was something strange about them; however, or at least one of them in particular.

There was a strong presence in the Force among them.

Darth Vader did not believe it to be possible that there was someone from the Leaf village, let alone the entire planet, that was a Force wielder. The only one as he stated before that possessed such power was Naruto Uzumaki, but the boy does not exist anymore. Vader saw to that. The only other explanation was that it had to be the same presence that called out to him almost a week ago.

So, who was it then?

The dark lord's thoughts were interrupted as a lambda shuttle appeared into view and began descending nearby. Darth Vader bent down and gently picked up Gaara's body in his arms before proceeding to where the shuttle landed.

When he reached it, the transport's door opened with steam spewing out of the ship's vents. Clone Force Obsidian emerged in pure black armor before they began fanning out to secure the area. The newly christened Captain Rex stood at attention before his leader.

"We received your transmission, my lord, what are your orders?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"There is a squad of Leaf shinobi approaching our location, nearby. You are free to use any methods to slow them down but do not permanently damage or kill them. I want them only immobilized. No disintegrations unless I command it!"

The clone captain nodded.

"As you wish."

The dark lord proceeded to the shuttle as Captain Rex and his squad mates looked over at Echo who nodded in confirmation. His personal droid sprung from his back. It's legs and antenna extended while it's central green eye looked to its master who pointed in the direction the ninja were coming from.

"Let me know, what you find."

The droid chirped in confirmation before flying off to where its master directed.

Meanwhile Somewhere Closeby

Kakashi moaned in pain while he struggled to stand on his feet. Between his broken ribs and arm though it was extremely difficult. However, he had to get Gaara's body back. The problem was that he had no idea how he was going to take on this Darth Vader if he had the same Force power that Naruto did.

Kakashi perked his head up as he sensed familiar chakra signatures nearby.

"Kakashi sensei!"

The Copy Ninja looked and saw Sakura and Lady Chiyo with Gai's team descending down. Sakura handed Chiyo over to Tenten as she began to examine and heal Kakashi's body. Kakashi began to breathe easier as the pain slowly started subsiding.

"Kakashi, where's the other Akatsuki?"

Kakashi looked up at Gai.

"He's dead. He was killed before I found him."

Gai and the others had confusion all over their faces.

"What?! Who took him down?! Did you see who they were?!"

Kakashi nodded.

"Yeah, it was a man...I think."

Gai and the others didn't like the sound of that.

"What do you mean, you think it was man? Kakashi, what are you saying?"

Kakashi tried to answer.

"I don't know. All I know is that whoever this person is, whether he's a man or not, they have Gaara's body! We need to-Argh!"

Kakashi couldn't talk any further as he could only grunt in pain. His vision turning blurry before it went totally black. He slumped forward forcing Sakura to steady and set him upright against the tree as she continued working on him.

"It's no good. He's lost consciousness. Between chakra exhaustion and broken bones, it's amazing that he was able to stay awake this long."

Gai nodded to Sakura's diagnosis before turning to Neji.

"Neji, see if you can locate this 'man' Kakashi spoke of."

"Right!"

Unknown to the group was that Echo's droid was spying on them above in the thick branches. Having gathering and calculating the intel it needed, it headed back to its master fast. Minutes later, it reached the landing zone and approached its creator and his team.

Bibibibi-bidididerup!

The clone nodded and turned to his CO as the droid reattached itself to his back.

"It's Team Gai, along with Kakashi Hatake, a Sand Kunoichi, and a Leaf medic. Hatake is injured and unconscious and the Sand kunoichi's vital signs are dropping. D8's scans found a toxin in her blood. She has a few hours at best."

The Clone Captain nodded and he along with the others began to think.

"Well, that means it's just Team Gai to worry about. He and one of his students excel at taijutsu. That and with the Hyuga on his team means close quarters combat is absolutely out of the question."

Echo spoke up.

"Not to mention the Hyuga's Byakugan is also going to be a problem."

The captain hummed in agreement.

"Not for all of us."

The clones looked at Fives. Knowing full well that he could slip past the pesky visual jutsu. That's when Rex came up with a plan.

"I think I know a way to get around the Byakugan and slow them all down at the same time!"

The other clones moved in closer as they listened to their CO's plan.

Back with Team Gai

Neji pointed in the direction.

"There are three chakra signatures nearby."

Tenten spoke up.

"I thought there was only one!"

Neji turned to her.

"He may have called for backup."

Lee spoke up.

"Let them bring an army if they have to but they will be no match against us!"

Gai smiled and nodded before he turned to Sakura and Lady Chiyo.

"Sakura, you stay here and look after Kakashi and Lady Chiyo. We'll go and get Gaara back!"

Sakura nodded hesitantly.

"B-Be careful, all of you."

Lee gave her a thumbs up and smiled.

"DO NOT WORRY, SAKURA! THE FLAMES OF OUR YOUTH WILL ALWAYS TRIUMPH OVER-"

"I MEAN IT LEE, DON'T GET CARELESS!"

Everyone was stunned. Even Lady Chiyo was shocked to see the calm medical kunoichi suddenly have a frantic outburst. Sakura lowered her head in shame.

"I'm sorry. It's just that...something...doesn't feel right over there. I don't know how to explain it but...just be very careful guys."

Gai nodded.

"You got it; alright gang let's go!"

They all snapped to attention and followed after the leader through the trail of broken branches and foliage.

"It is strange. I have never seen Sakura like this before."

"Well she did just fight an Akatsuki member, Lee! Of course, she would be rattled even if just a little bit!"

Lee looked at Tenten.

"It didn't feel like that was the reason. It felt more like she was afraid of something over where we're heading."

Gai spoke up.

"Well, whatever the reason we can't think about it now. We need to stay focused and-"

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

"AHHHHHHHHHH!"

"ARGH! MY EYES!"

"I CAN'T SEE!"

"ARRGHH! DAMN IT!"

Gai along with his team held their hands over their faces as they struggled to open their eyes! They were having a tough time though due to the sudden string of bright flashing sparks and blinding explosions that detonated out of nowhere! They got into a circular battle formation to cover each other!

"Gai sensei, what was that?!"

Gai looked towards the direction of where he heard Tenten's voice.

"I think we stumbled into some kind of trap consisting of flash paper bombs! But I've never seen ones as powerful and blinding as these ones! Neji, can you use your Byakugan?!"

Neji struggled to open his eyes.

"No, it's no good! Right now, I'm just as blind as you all are!"

Gai's face narrowed in thought.

'A flash bomb capable of blinding the Byakugan?! I didn't think it was possible!'

"Gai sensei!"

Gai turned his head as he recognized the owner of that voice to be Sakura.

"Sakura!"

Sakura ran over to Gai and his team.

"What happened?! I heard you all scream so I rushed as fast as I could!"

Gai knew now that they were probably going to need Sakura's help considering that they were now blind and were likely dealing with an opponent who may have laid traps all over the place.

"Sakura, we were hit with some of kind of flash bomb. A powerful one at that. Can you restore our eyesight?"

Sakura nodded.

"I'll try!"

Sakura approached Neji since he was closer and concentrated as green medical chakra emanated from her hands.

"It's not permanent but unfortunately there's nothing I can do. We're just going to have to wait till the effects wear off, I'm sorry."

Gai sighed.

"It's alright, Sakura, it's my fault. I should've been more careful and alert. Whoever planted these traps is obviously trying to slow us down, but they won't get far. Even so we're just going to have to sit tight for now."

Gai smashed his fist into his palm as Tenten turned her head.

"You hear that, Lee?! Don't even think of rushing off towards the enemy right now!"

Sakura turned and her eyes widened as she began to whip her head around.

"Hey! Where is Lee?!"

Tenten facepalmed while Neji just groaned.

"Not again!"

Back with Clone Force Obsidian

Squad Obsidian waited patiently for their brother to return from laying his traps. Despite the fact that they were on a tight schedule and needed to head back to the shuttle fast, they knew he wouldn't be long. Their trust was rewarded as he materialized in front of them.

"Any trouble setting the traps, Fives?"

The clone looked to his captain.

"Not really, but..."

The clone's captain cocked his helmet.

"But what?"

Fives rubbed his neck a little with embarrassment.

"They arrived sooner than I expected and kind of set them all off just seconds after I finished! I thought I was going to end up caught in one of them!"

Fives chuckled nervously with embarrassment as the clone captain just stared in silence at him until Echo spoke up.

"Hey Captain, why is there a large drop of water running down your helmet?"

Hevy spoke up.

"Quiet, Echo!"

The clone looked to his subordinates.

"Alright, knock it off! All that matters is that they're not getting here anytime soon! Let's head back to the shuttle and-"

"LEAF HURRICANE!"

The squad of clones looked up to a Leaf ninja spinning down with his leg outstretched!

"WHAT THE-?! INCOMING!"

The clones dived away as the shinobi smashed into the ground! Creating a crater with cracks at its edges and sending up a large dust of smoke! The clones leapt to their feet and cocked their weapons.

Rex whispered his commands.

"Remember, no disintegrations! Set your weapons for stun!"

The clone subordinates nodded and made the adjustment to their blasters before training them on the cloud of dust! The smoke instantly cleared away as the Leaf Shinobi began to wildly kick and punch around him. Hitting nothing but dust!

"SHOW YOURSELVES, COWARDS! FACE THE MIGHT OF THE HANDSOME DEVIL OF THE LEAF VILLAGE, ROCK LEE!"

Lee continued to blindly punch and kick around him! Trying to hit any enemy! The clones in the meantime lowered their blasters and just stared at Lee in confusion while whispering.

"What is this kid doing?"

Echo answered Hevy.

"I have no idea..."

Fives shrugged his shoulders indicating he didn't have a clue to Hevy's question while their captain put a finger to the front of his helmet letting them know to be silent. Just in time as Lee stopped his senseless barraging and stood still. Trying to focus and hear his opponents out.

Seeing what the Leaf chuunin was up to, Rex picked a pebble off the ground before chucking it at a nearby tree. Lee snapped his head to the direction of where he heard the small stone smack into the wooden surface before charging!

"YOU CANNOT HIDE FROM ME! LEAF HURRICANE!"

Lee jumped and spun in the air with his leg before it smashed through the tree's trunk! Sending wood shards flying as the tree toppled over! The Gai clone was not finished yet though as he proceeded to blindly pound and smash the tree and everything else around him like before!

The clones would've been shocked and impressed at the young shinobi's display of speed and strength a lot longer.

If they weren't so full of disappointment.

"Out of all the shinobi we had to encounter in our first battle, it had to be this one?"

Hevy shook his head.

"I can't watch this."

Echo chimed in

"This is just sad."

Rex sighed before aiming his pistol and shot a blue energy stun blast at the chuunin! Right as the blast connected Lee arched his back and gasped before falling to his knees! His body trembled fiercely as he struggled to get back on his feet with sweat running down his face!

"I DO NOT KNOW WHAT KIND OF ATTACK THAT WAS, BUT IT WILL TAKE MUCH MORE THAN THAT TO PUT ME DOWN!"

Rex groaned in annoyance before firing three more shots at the chuunin. Lee gasped each time he was hit! After the third time, he collapsed on his back and moaned in pain. Seeing that the Leaf ninja was now immobilized, Rex holstered his weapon.

Hevy spoke up.

"I know Lord Vader told us not to underestimate these ninja but this one was just embarrassing!"

The captain nodded.

"Yeah,..."

Echo looked at his captain.

"Captain, you have a water droplet running down your helmet again!"

Hevy looked at Echo.

"Shut up and stop echoing your comments, Echo!"

Echo looked at everyone dumbfounded.

"Am I the only one whose seeing this?!"

Rex looked at his men.

"Enough, you two! We need to cut the chatter! The rest of his team are nearby! They may be blind, but they may be able still hear us! We've waisted enough time out here, already! Lord Vader has made it into the shuttle by now with the Kazekage, so let's head back and not keep him waiting!"

His brothers nodded before they all headed back to the transport.

When they made it, they walked up the metal ramp and secured themselves within the shuttle. Just after they did, Vader came into the cockpit from leaving Gaara's body with the med droid in the medical quarters. The dark lord approached the pilots' station as they readied the ship to take off again.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Contact Admiral Orchens, immediately!"

The pilots nodded before one of them pushed an intercom switch and moments later a small blue flickering image of the admiral appeared.

"Admiral Orchens here, my lord."

Vader looked down at the small flickering blue admiral.

"Alert my star destroyer to prepare for my arrival and have the medical center prepared!"

The admiral raised a brow.

"Casualties, my lord? Our own?"

"No."

The admiral nodded.

"How many?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Only one and be sure to have it ready for when I arrive."

The admiral nodded again.

"It will be done, my lord. Was your mission successful? Did you find what you were looking for?"

Vader answered with a bit of annoyance.

"I do not know. The Akatsuki member I killed knew nothing of the location of my targets. However, before he died he mentioned that his partner might possibly possess the intel I desire. Has the probe located the other member of the Akatsuki that was with him?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

The admiral looked down in the corner of his eyes nervously before answering.

"Yes, it has, my lord. Not too far from your current location, but..."

Seconds passed as the admiral fidgeted which started to test Vader's patience.

"What is it, Admiral?"

The admiral fidgeted a bit more before he answered.

"The other Akatsuki member is dead, my lord. He was killed a short while ago."

Darth Vader lowered his helmet down a bit closer to the hologram of the admiral.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"What?"

Nearby Outside The Shuttle

Sakura leapt down into the clearing where she was sure she heard Lee screaming and fighting earlier. She went on ahead since Gai and his team were still blind, and Lee couldn't face the enemy in his condition. Her eyes slowly surveyed the surrounding area until she spotted a toppled tree with Lee lying on his back near it!

"LEE!"

Sakura rushed over and held his head up with one hand as she used her other to examine him for injuries. Strangely enough, Lee didn't really have so match as a scratch on him. Not a fresh one at least. Yet, his whole nervous system looks like it's been totally overloaded.

Luckily, his nervous system has been returned to a baseline. Meaning whatever's affecting him is similar to some anesthetics and Sakura knew just how to counter it. Her hand glowed with green chakra as she got to work. She couldn't do anything about his blindness but fortunately that was only temporary like with the others.

"Lee! Come on, Lee! Wake up!"

Lee groaned before turning his head in the direction of Sakura's voice.

"Sakura is that you? Where are the others?"

Sakura sighed.

"Back where you left them behind after you literally, 'chased blindly', after these guys, you goof!"

Lee sweat dropped and chuckled nervously.

"I'm afraid that apologies will have to wait until later. I overheard one of the men who ambushed me say that they're taking Gaara's body away!"

Sakura's eyes widened and she quickly helped Lee to his feet.

"Do you have any idea where they might've went?!"

Lee nodded and pointed.

"Yes, over there!"

Lee immediately charged in the direction he pointed which earned another groan from Sakura.

"HOLD ON LEE, WAIT FOR ME!"

Sakura ran up alongside him as they headed to where Lee heard the men leaving. Moments later they, or rather Sakura, caught sight of a giant metallic object sitting on a grassy field. Only this one was different from the last one she saw earlier.

This one was a completely different shape and color. It had three wings with two bending upwards while the third protruded vertically on top of its body. It had a metal ramp extended out from underneath it and the head had what looked like black glass covering it.

Sakura grabbed onto Lee's shoulder and forced him to stop.

"Sakura, why are we-?!"

Sakura clamped his mouth shut with her gloved palm to silence him.

"Lee, listen to me! It's another strange metal craft like the one I saw flying earlier. Except this one is different! We have to be careful!"

Lee nodded as she removed her hand from his mouth.

"Do you think this one is capable of flying too?"

Lee's question was answered as suddenly steam erupted out from the underside of the object! A strange sound, that was similar to an electric generator starting up, came from the metal monstrosity! The ramp slowly pulled itself and the object slowly began to ascend in the air!

Wind began to blast into them and through the trees as the metal object rose higher and higher into the air! It's two wings slowly folded into a downward angle below the main part of the metal structure! Sakura knew they needed to act fast before it could get away! She came up with an idea as she led Lee further into the field, as best as she could through the wind, and positioned him!

"LEE! I NEED YOU TO CUP YOUR HANDS AND THROW ME UP INTO THE AIR BEHIND YOU WHEN I TELL YOU TO DO SO, OKAY?!"

Lee nodded.

"OKAY!"

Sakura then ran back towards to their previous position and got into a runner stance! Waiting as the metal object was still within range and approaching her calculated trajectory. When it reached it, she applied chakra to her legs and sprinted towards Lee, fast!

"NOW, LEE!"

Sakura stepped onto Lee's cupped hands and he threw her with all his might upwards as she instructed!

Sakura was flying fast through the air towards the ascending metal craft! Luckily, Lee didn't overshoot her which meant she could go on to the next stage of her plan! She cocked her gloved fist back as she approached the metal behemoth. Preparing to knock it out of the sky!

"CHAAAAAAAAAA!"

Sakura froze, as a deathly chill ran through her body and in her stomach! It was the cold again! Only now it was far stronger than when she had felt it earlier on the ground or ever before! It felt almost like it was constricting her!

That was when she saw it again. Replacing the metal craft that was just in front of her mere moments ago. Practically filling her entire vision.

It was the shadow.

Vader was still looking at the admiral as he tried to elaborate his previous statement.

"Yes, my lord. It appears he was killed by two kunoichi. An old one from Suna and a young one from Konoha."

Vader tightened his fists.

"The girl from the Leaf Village, who was-!"

Darth Vader's body stiffened, and his head turned slightly. He felt a disturbance in the Force. It was no doubt that presence from earlier again. Only it was stronger and very close by. As he focused, he could see it in his mind. That same pebble sized light that he witnessed within his quarters days ago.

Vader didn't care about finding out who it was, that was trying to reach him, then but even now this light, this presence, felt so familiar to him. A familiarity that brought anger and rage within himself as it approached. It was driving him mad with trying to understand its mystery, and if it was a threat to his plans then he had to know who they are.

So, he let the light come to him.

Sakura once again felt herself being drawn to the cold shadow. The intellectual part of her mind was screaming for her to move her body and to get on with her mission to save Gaara, but the emotional part ignored it. She couldn't escape this longing. This desire to see what was the source of all of this cold darkness that's been plaguing and causing her fear for so long.

It felt as if she's had this desire her whole life. She just couldn't explain it nor could she understand why the shadow was not pushing her away like before. Instead, it was allowing her to approach.

As she came closer to it, she felt colder and colder from its presence! The shadow had such rage inside. It was almost like a flaming core that was pulsing this anger throughout its whole astral visage. Still, Sakura pushed on towards it.

More and more the two beings drew closer to each other. Sensing out the source of the opposite nature connecting to them. The details becoming more vivid and clear to themselves as they felt the other's presence.

Until finally, for the briefest of moments, they saw each other within their minds.

Sakura's eyes widened as her face turned became engulfed with horror while Darth Vader fully whipped his body around towards her direction outside!

"IT CANNOT BE!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Blinding light engulfed Sakura's vision moments before she fell into the forest below.

'It's impossible!...That couldn't have been him!...it couldn't have been...'

Sakura lost consciousness with those thoughts. Thoughts of fear that the one who killed the Akatsuki member, defeated Kakashi, and took Gaara's body was the very same monster from her nightmares. There was no doubt that it was him.

The Man in Black.

Starship Hanger

The admiral stood ready as the lambda shuttle slowly touched down in the hanger. Mouse droids whizzing around nearby while clone security troopers stood at attention near the opening of the shuttle. As if right on cue its ramp extended downwards. Steam and exhaust pouring around it.

Then he came forth through it.

Darth Vader emerged from the shuttle with clone squadron Obsidian at the rear. In the middle of the squad was a medical capsule that contained the Sand Village's recently deceased Kazekage. The dark lord approached and walked past the admiral who walked with him in step.

"The medical bay has been prepared as you ordered, my lord."

"Good, see to it that no one but myself enters until I say otherwise."

The admiral grew confused.

"Sir, what about the ship's medical staff? Are they forbidden as well?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"That is correct, Admiral."

The admiral felt he had to voice his concern.

"Sir, what if they're needed for a medical emergency? How are they supposed to-"

"If in all unlikelihood a medical emergency were to occur than they will be allowed to perform their duties. Until then the medical droids will do."

The admiral understood his lord's point and complied.

"Very well, sir."

Vader stopped walking as did the clone squad behind him. He turned slowly to the admiral. The man stood attentive for whatever other orders his lord had for him.

"And Admiral, I want everything our probe scout recorded of the other Akatsuki member's death sent to my quarters. I want to know everything that happened and who was involved in his demise."

Vader then continued heading toward the medical bay with squad Obsidian and the Kazekage's corpse in tow.

"As you wish, my lord."

Medical Bay

Minutes passed before Vader and his men arrived at their destination which was being guarded by more clone security officers.

"Captain, you and your men may go, now."

Rex gestured with his helmet for he and his men to head to the barracks.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"And Captain."

The clone officer turned toward his leader.

"You have done well."

Rex bowed.

"Thank you, my lord."

He and his men then went on their way while Darth Vader entered the medical facility.

Inside there could be seen large vats of bacta tanks and operating tables with medical and surgical supplies nearby. Several black and grey medical droids were on standby as Vader brought Gaara's medical capsule to them. They removed the capsule and placed Gaara on one of the tables.

One of the droids extended a mechanical arm out and a blue light streamed out as it began to scan the corpse.

Vader patiently waited with his arms crossed beneath his chest plate for the results. He knew it was a slim chance that the droids or anything in this room would be able to bring the boy back. Yet, he also knew any of their methods would be better alternatives than to use "that technique".

Vader's thoughts soon drew back to the identity of the one whose been calling out to him through the Force. Even now, he didn't think it was possible. She should've been dead. There was no way she could've survived this long without her comrades to protect her. The only explanation was that Hatake had to have been keeping watch over her.

Just the thought that he would still keep her as a student after what she did stirred the dark lord's ire.

Still, he would not have been able to have protected her the whole time. That and even if a few years have passed, there was no way the girl's skills could've grown that much especially when considering that she didn't really have any to begin with. The girl has always been weak just like the Uchiha.

And just like Uzumaki.

However, it does not change the fact that it was her. What he didn't understand was how they were able to see each other so clearly like that even if it was for a brief moment. He's communicated and connected to others through the Force before, but this was something else.

Something different.

Another mystery was also how she could possibly be strong enough in the Force to even make a connection with him. He's never recalled her ever displaying any prowess or abilities with it before. She couldn't even use chakra for any jutsu that was above average. Perhaps his mind was playing tricks on him.

Or another possibility was that the Force was testing him.

Vader's thoughts were interrupted however when the head med droid approached him.

"Medically, he's completely healthy, my lord. For reasons we can't explain, he's died of unknown and unnatural causes. We don't know why but his death does not compute with our logic and medical programming. I'm sorry, but there is nothing we can do for him."

Vader uncrossed his arms and approached Gaara's body.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"If he has died of unnatural causes then we must bring him back through unnatural methods."

The head med droid looked at its mechanical counterparts before at the dark lord.

"My lord, what do you mean by that statement?"

Vader stood next to Gaara's body. Placing his hand on his forehead and concentrated. It was far from a simple matter of using this power. In fact, he only came upon it after facing death when he and his other half saved Skywalker.

By killing the one who enslaved them both.

It was only after, when he began training, that he learned that it was the secret that Darth Sidious promised to Anakin when he turned him over to the Darkside. For a long time, he and his other half thought that it had to have been another of his lies and that no such power existed. They were wrong. The power he learned was the very same power that belonged to Darth Plagueis The Wise.

The power to create life in the midichlorians and save others from death.

However, it was an extremely difficult process and one that was also very taxing on his body. Focusing on each microscopic midichlorian within his body and using the Darkside to bring life to them. No mistake could be afforded for this to succeed. Unfortunately, this was only just the easy part.

The next would be far more difficult and dangerous.

Vader began to struggle more as he concentrated. Slowly bit by bit he was pushing out his own consciousness and soul from his body into the astral plane. He did not know what it would be like for the one here but the one in the other universe was a dark netherworld of the Force. A place where he and his other half have ventured to before. In an attempt to bring his other half's wife back to life.

It did not succeed despite their many various methods and other attempts.

However, even with the secret of Plagueis' power there was still a high chance of failure. For one thing, Vader no longer had a portal for the nether realm like he did inside his fortress. He would have to thrust his soul there himself. But with no doorway it would mean that if Vader spent too long outside of his body then he would not be able to return.

And both he and Gaara's souls would be lost forever.

Still, the dark lord would not abandon the boy. Not when he understands the pain of loneliness and rejection that he suffered through in childhood. Vader is still haunted by those memories but not nearly as much as he is by the memories of what he's done while under Palpatine's command.

He is beyond any help at this point but Gaara is not.

Darth Vader's body then collapsed to the floor which alerted the nearby med droids.

Astral Plain

Nothing.

That was all he could see. Nothing but desert all around him. Not the kind with sand but the other kind where it's nothing but rough splintered ground with a blazing hot sun above.

He was confused.

He knew who he was, but he couldn't help but ponder as to "who" he was. Even when looking at his hand he couldn't figure out who it belonged to. All he knew was that he was Gaara but at the same time he wondered if he was Gaara?

He did not understand what was happening nor does he understand how he got here.

He looked at his hand again and continued to let his mind wander and slip away.

"This hand. Oh, it's just my hand, again. My hand..."

He lowered his hand and witnessed a younger version of himself ahead. Bending over and crying. He was alone.

There was no one anywhere. He was completely isolated and cut off. Not a single soul was coming for him. No one cared. No one wanted to help him.

No one was coming.

"Who am I? I...I am..."

"You are Gaara of the Sand. The Fifth Kazekage of Suna."

The younger Gaara's eyes widened. He recognized that voice behind him. It was the voice of the very same boy that he fought during the Sand and Sound invasion. The boy who saved him and showed a better way to define his existence.

He turned around expecting to see that boy.

The young version of Gaara gasped. It was not he blonde haired boy with the fox like grin on his face that he met from the Leaf. No, it was a ghostly demonic being!

It did not have any noteworthy physical attributes that indicated that it was a living being. Its eyes were glowing with red light and were void of any pupils or irises. Its flesh was nothing but intricate red and dark waves and whirlpools washing all around each other and even curling and flickering off his body like flames. Those waving patterns did not cover over its legs or right arm for some reason. In fact, they were almost transparent.

The sun which was shining brightly above suddenly became eclipsed and darkness began to overstake the desolate wasteland.

The younger version of the redhead began to tremble and couldn't move as the demonic being approached him.

"W-What do you want? Stay away! Please, don't hurt me! I didn't do anything wrong! I just don't want to be alone!"

The creature stopped in its tracks before it knelt down to the fearful child.

"I know, Gaara. I know..."

Gaara's tear ridden eyes widened as he heard that familiar voice again. It sounded different from when he last heard it three years ago. It sounded older and more weathered.

But the young version of the teen boy continued listening intently to it.

"You must come with me, Gaara. Your time is far from over. You've only just begun to walk the path of your destiny. There are those that have tried to take it from you, but I will help you take it back at this very moment, now."

The creature offered his transparent hand out.

"Come with me! It is the only way you can make it back to your village! To your destiny!"

The younger Gaara stared at the creature in awe. Despite its fearsome appearance, Gaara felt trusting of it or rather of him. Still, Gaara had to know something before he would take his hand.

"Who are you? Why are you helping me?"

The creature's head tilted down, and its eyes narrowed in contemplation.

"I know the pain you've had to live with, Gaara. Loneliness, solitude, and rejection. I've suffered with them as well. They're like a poison that seeps through your very being, yet it does not kill you right away. It makes you suffocate and rips you apart slowly from the inside. Until eventually..."

The creature tilted his head up.

"Until eventually, you're forced to survive by destroying who you were and who you wanted to become. But it is different for you, Gaara."

The creature looked down again.

"You were able to break free of the darkness and forge your own destiny. You became the Kazekage and beloved by your people. You have achieved the dream that I have ripped from my mind and soul a long time ago. As for who I am..."

The creature lifted his head again.

"I was once the one who shared this pain with you when we fought until I destroyed myself not long after."

Gaara's pupils shrunk. He didn't think that it was possible. That same boy who was so defiant and protective of his friends has become this demonic looking creature?

What could've happened to him?

Gaara slowly reached his hand out before taking hold of demonic man's transparent one. The older Gaara, who was watching and listening to everything from a distance, watched as everything around him began to fade away. The darkened desert started to disappear and was slowly being replaced by light.

And a dark mask.

Medical Bay

Gaara blinked his eyes at his surroundings. Everything around him was made of metal. It was room. A very large room. He looked to his side and saw a very tall man in dark armor and wearing a helmet and a mask hunched over and breathing rather strangely. There were odd and unsettling metallic creatures all around him. They were speaking and sounded worried.

"Lord Vader, your vital signs are extremely erratic! We need to get you back to your quarters!"

HOPUR! HOPUR! HOPUR! HOPUR!

"NO! I will get there, myself! I need no assistance!"

The man turned his helmet to the boy who was staring at him with wide eyes full of shock and also wanting curiosity.

"Is it you? Is it really you, N-"

"Put him to sleep at once!"

One of the metallic creatures approached, and a syringe extended out from one of its many arms.

"As you command, Lord Vader."

Gaara didn't even have time to respond or object as the needle was already stuck into his arm and he immediately began to succumb to the sedative.

Vader placed his hand on a nearby medical machine for better support as he straightened himself up.

HOOOPUUUR! HOOOPUUUR! HOOOPUUUR!

"Make sure to keep him restrained! I want a full medical scan and work up of his body! Do whatever is necessary to repair any damage it might have sustained from his ordeal down on the planet! Let me know as soon you have completed your task!"

"Yes, my lord."

The droids immediately went to work while Vader slowly exited the medical bay. He stood at his full height to the guards and any of the officers, troopers, or droids roaming the metal halls. When he finally reached his quarters and stepped inside, he collapsed to one knee.

HOPUR! HOPUR! HOPUR! HOPUR!

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

The dark lord looked over to his comm console and saw that there was a transmitted message received from Admiral Orchens. No doubt containing the details of the other Akatsuki member's death. Vader slowly rose up from his kneeling position and staggered a little before heading over to the console. The dark lord knew it would be more wise to examine it later and to take care of his drained and exhausted body.

But he had to know if it was her that did it.

When he reached it, he pressed a switch and a blue flickering light illuminated at the top of it. Five three dimensional images began to form. He saw that two of them were standing with a third in the middle while the other two were further away on the ground with one kneeling over the other. As the images began to develop further into detail, Vader began to see what transpired between the Akatsuki member and the two kunoichi.

The Akatsuki member looked to be a boy with red hair whose body appeared to be inhuman and was skewered by various bladed weaponry and also what looked like a pair of puppets. Further away was an old woman bending over and using medical ninjutsu on a girl. It also looked like she was pulling something out of her while she was grunting in pain. He couldn't make out the girl's features due to the old woman being in the way though he wasn't overly concerned about it for the moment.

The dark lord watched as the recording begun with the old woman throwing away a sword that she pulled out from the girl's body and the girl sighed in relief.

"That won't work, there's too much damage. She'll die even without the effects of the poison. She's lost too much blood. I'm well aware that you're a medical ninja which is why I aimed for a spot that is impossible to heal."

The old woman answered the Akatsuki boy.

"I've already finished the first aide treatment with medical ninjutsu. What I am doing for her now is something very different."

"What?!"

"I'm harnessing my own life force and conducting it in her body."

Vader was slightly surprised that there was a jutsu capable of that. However, he also suspected that such a technique would demand a high price from the user. Likely, a lethal one.

He continued to listen and watch the recording.

"No, it can't be!"

"A Reanimation Ninjutsu!"

The dark lord's suspicions were confirmed. It was indeed that kind of jutsu. A type of jutsu that can bring the dead back to life in a number of ways and methods. However, his other suspicion was also confirmed because all reanimation jutsus had steep prices for their usage.

Very, very, steep.

"A Reanimation Ninjutsu?!"

"This jutsu of mine, I've spent many years creating it especially for you and I'm the only one who can use it. Using this jutsu, life can be breathed into anyone. Even puppets. That is in exchange for the life of the one who uses it."

The dark lord knew he was correct. Such jutsu while they sound promising always demand sacrifice. Even the technique of the Darkside he used to bring back Gaara nearly killed him and would have if he didn't train properly with it. If it had been a jutsu rather than an ability with the Force, then things would've likely ended much differently indeed.

"Oh well, but after all that's happened I suppose that's an impossible dream now."

Vader's thoughts were briefly reminded of his own impossible dream from long ago before he returned his attention swiftly back to the recording.

"What utter nonsense! Tell me grandmother when did you become so senile?"

The girl's body suddenly began to stir. Seconds after, she struggled to lift herself up. Vader still couldn't make who she was due to the old woman still being in the way.

But his suspicions of her identity were put to rest when he heard the old kunoichi speak to her using that name.

"Sakura! Are you alright, dear?!"

HOPUR!

Darth Vader's body froze and all the exhaustion and the pain he felt in his body moments earlier were no longer anywhere near the forefront of his mind.

"Yes, how are you, Lady Chiyo?"

"Hm, peculiar."

Both kunoichi turned their attention to the dying Akatsuki member.

"That reanimation ninjutsu or whatever it's called, I thought the caster was supposed to die after brining someone else back to life."

Vader had a theory why the old woman survived and listened to her explanation to see if he was right.

"Sakura's injury was severe, but she wasn't dead when I used the ninjutsu. So, even though I took a risk, my life was spared."

The dark lord was correct once again and it would seem studying all those scrolls and jutsu helped a great deal into understanding how most jutsu like this one would work and function.

"How very unfortunate."

The blue image of Sakura suddenly rushed towards the Akatsuki member and slammed her fist into his wooden face! Cracking it upon impact. The girl began to pant hard after that useless display of her childish temper which apparently has not improved over the years.

"That's pointless. This puppet body of mine can't feel any pain."

Sakura glared at the wooden boy.

"When you strike me, the only thing you hurt is your own fist."

The boy's wooden head snapped to its original position.

"But come to think of it, you both seemed to love doing such pointless things. Hehe, even if a relative, my own grandmother, were to die right here I wouldn't feel a thing! My heart is just like this body!"

The girl looked as if she was barely restraining herself while listening to Akatsuki member's monologuing.

"Over the years, I've killed hundreds, thousands of people! She'd be no different from the rest!"

That still was nowhere near the number of victims that fell before the dark lord himself.

"Things are much simpler than you might think!"

The girl growled.

"You monster! What do you think human life is?! WHAT IS FAMILY TO YOU?!"

The girl was just as naïve as ever it seemed.

"Hey, is that really how a shinobi should talk?"

The girl was stunned for a brief second before responding.

"How dare you! How can you treat people this way!"

Vader cracked his left knuckle from hearing the girl's hypocritical words.

"Sakura,...that's enough."

Sakura looked at the weathered old woman.

"But he-"

"The teachings and customs of the Sand Village did this. We all share the blame in making him what he is today."

Vader looked at the blue image of the dying Akatsuki member. Wondering that if what the old woman said was true then he and this wooden boy shared a similar fate. Only this boy didn't emerge with hatred like he did.

If he had, perhaps he wouldn't have lost.

"But Lady Chiyo..."

"Deep down inside, don't you want to be like me? If you do then I'm sure you'll understand just a little of what I'm talking about."

The flickering image of Sakura looked like she was shuddering a little from the thought.

"This body won't fall apart or age! I'm not bound to a limited lifespan! A puppet can be recreated over and over! With puppets you can make as many people as you want! If you want to that is! It's not just about quantity, don't get me wrong! A serious collection is based on quality!"

Sakura growled again.

"What the hell are you?!"

The wooden Akatsuki member answered.

"I would describe myself as a human being who could not become a complete puppet. Yes, I am an unfinished puppet whose lifeless frame still contains a beating heart at its core. I am neither dead nor am I alive! The end is near...but first I am going to do something pointless too. Think of it as a reward for defeating me."

Sakura gasped a little.

"You wanted to know about Orochimaru, didn't you?"

HOPUR!

Vader listened closely as the dying member of the Akatsuki continued.

"Go to the Tenchi Bridge in the Village Hidden in the Grass. Ten days from now at noon."

The girl questioned him.

"Why? What's there?"

The wooden puppeteer answered.

"One of Orochimaru's henchmen is working for me as a spy and that's where I'm supposed to rendezvous with him. However, I don't think..."

The girl gasped and Vader could tell that the puppeteer was dead.

The dark lord finally found the lead he needed to Orochimaru and his Uchiha pawn. Ten days would give him more than enough time to recuperate for when he would face them. Not to mention that all the members of the Akatsuki were now his enemies as well. He didn't care much about them before but that was until he found out what they did to Gaara, so now he'll destroy them as well. Before he would start his recuperation though he pressed a switch on the console to zoom in to bring more focus.

Focus on her.

Her outfit was different from before, but the girl's physical features haven't changed that much from when he last saw her. Her hair was the same length as it was during the chuunin exams, and her body was still thin, but it appeared to be more fit and athletic than when it was when he left. No doubt from the effects of training under a shinobi that was more diligent and disciplined than the Copy Ninja.

What was most captivating was her eyes. There was something different about them. It was the way they looked. They lacked the fear and self-doubt they had in the past. They had courage and determination in them now.

Despite that though, he doubted she has mentally matured that much in just three years within this universe. Her shinobi skills may have improved but it was obvious that her Force abilities were undeveloped since there's no one here to properly train her how to use them. Therefore, she was not a threat to his plans as of yet. With that in mind he deactivated the holorecording.

But between this recording and the connection they made in the Force, there was one thing that was perfectly clear to the dark lord.

"The Cherry Blossom lives."

Vision

CHISSHHHHH!

"You must choose!"

"Don't listen to him, Anakin!"

"It's not the Jedi way! He must live!"

"He's too dangerous!"

"Please, don't!"

"I need him!"

SWACH!

"ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!"

"POWER!"

"What have I done?!"

"Anakin, you're breaking my heart!"

"You were my brother, Anakin!"

"Sasuke, don't make me kill you."

"I'll do what I must, Naruto!"

"You will try!"

"NARUTOOOOOOOOO!"

"SASUKEEEEEEEEE!"

"Why hesitate, Sasuke? It's all waiting for you!"

"FIRE STYLE, FIREBALL JUTSU!"

"ARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"I HATE YOU!"

"UNLIMITED POWER!"

"Rise, my friend."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

Voices.

They were all Sakura that could hear in this vast void of empty darkness. Random voices crying out. The ones that stood out to her the most as easily recognizable were Sasuke's, Orochimaru's, Naruto's, and even the dreaded Man in Black's.

But for some reason that was beyond her understanding, she could tell from all of the voices that great tragedies and suffering took place for most of their owners.

Suddenly, she felt ground beneath her feet and could see rubble and destruction everywhere! The sky was full of dark red clouds with red lightning flashing and streaking across it! Sakura looked and saw two Leaf shinobi nearby that she didn't recognize.

One was tall, about Kakashi's height, and had brown hair and some kind of purple grey head gear. The other was a boy about her age with pale skin and black clothing. He had a tonto blade on his back and what looked like scrolls and various brushes attached to his thigh.

They were both staring with wide eyes at something ahead of them. She followed their line of sight and she too gasped in shock and terror! Just a few meters ahead was Sasuke and the Man in Black engaged in a fierce locking of blades!

Sasuke was older and taller than when she last saw him. He also had a scar running down where his left eye used to be. What was more shocking was his sharingan. It didn't have the usual pattern she always seen in Kakashi sensei's eye. No, it was far different. Almost like a new type of sharingan that gave his eye a more cold and calculating look to it.

Sakura saw that he was using a sword, that was being conducted with electricity. The Man in Black of course had his signature red energy blade pressing hard against Sasuke's normal metallic one! The dark being's sword lit their entire darkened area with a blood red color glow.

Sasuke was losing ground to the Man in Black to the point where he pulled his other hand back and conducted electricity to it! The girl would guess that he was about to use a Chidori but instead of the normal shape it expanded more into what looked like a long blade that was glowing blue and lacked any spark of electricity around its form!

It was a change in Chakra Form combined with Chakra Nature!

Sasuke attempted to stab his extended Chidori through the Man in Black's shoulder! However, before it could even come into contact with his armor, the tip of the blade shattered and the rest of it dissolved in an instant! Sasuke was so shocked he didn't notice when the Man in Black reached out and curled his left hand upwards! As he did, Sasuke was lifted off of his feet and grasped his throat in pain!

The Man in Black then twisted his body around and threw his arm outwards and sent Sasuke flying towards her! The kunoichi of the Leaf hit the dirt as the Uchiha continued his short flight into a nearby rock pile! Completely smashing into it and creating a large cloud of dust around that area!

Sakura rose to her feet when the dust settled. Sasuke could be seen half buried in the rubble with blood running down his face. There was no movement from his body likely due to him being unconscious or possibly perhaps even dead.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

The kunoichi medic froze and slowly yet hesitantly began to turn around. Her eyes widened even further with fear etched into them as the Man in Black towered before her! Looking down on her once again with his soulless eyes that had a tint of red in them from the glow of the red sky and his blade.

"Stand aside, girl!"

Sakura panicked and took a step back in reaction but tripped and fell on her back! The kunoichi scrambled to try get away but while doing so she noticed something lying on the ground where she tripped. It was a metal hilt that was strangely very familiar to her. She looked up and noticed the Man in Black was just standing there doing nothing. Almost like he was waiting for something.

The kunoichi medic quickly reached over and grabbed the metal hilt. Upon closer inspection she realized why it was so recognizable! It was the same weapon Naruto had before he left the Leaf! She looked up and saw that the Man in Black was still not moving and looking down at her while holding his blade at his side at a low angle.

The girl looked over her newfound weapon and saw a button on its side. She pressed it and suddenly a blade of a brilliantly glowing blue color shot out of the metal hilt! It was truly breathtaking!

Sakura looked and saw the Man in Black taking a slow step forward while grasping his blade with both of his hands this time.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"As you wish, kunoichi of the Leaf!"

She didn't know what he meant by that remark until he lifted his blade over his head and brought it down upon her! Sakura panicked again and brought her blade up for protection! The second their blades touched a shower of sparks erupted and a large white light emanated and expanded from where the blades made contact and engulfed everyone and everything around them!

Then she heard his voice.

"You will never bring him back!"

"NO!"

Sakura bolted upright panicking and screaming as two pairs of arms grasped her shoulders to steady her!

"SAKURA, IT'S ALRIGHT! IT WAS JUST A DREAM!"

Sakura ceased her screaming fit and began to slow her breathing to calm herself down. She looked up and saw that Tenten and Temari were standing on both sides of the bed she was occupying. She brought her hands to her face and felt that it was wet from sweat and tears pouring down her cheeks. After wiping them away, she looked around and saw that they were in one of the hospital rooms in the medical building of the Sand Village.

Sakura winced due to a sudden searing headache she was feeling. Placing her hand over her temple to try to suppress it. Temari walked over to a nearby sink and filled a cup with water before bringing it back.

"Here, drink."

Sakura nodded in thanks and gulped down the water in a matter of seconds. She then exhaled as she fully recomposed herself. At least she was about to until she nearly jumped out of her bed when the door to her room suddenly slammed open!

"SAKURA, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?! I HEARD A SCRE-"

BONK!

"OW!"

Lee began to rub the bump on his head from where Tenten smacked him.

"She would feel a lot better if you would stop yelling at the top of your lungs in a hospital, Lee!"

Lee looked at Sakura with rivers of tears streaming down his face.

"I am so sorry, Sakura! Please, forgive me!"

Sakura sweat dropped at Lee's overreaction and chuckled nervously.

"I-It's alright, Lee! D-Don't worry about it!"

Lee clenched his fist upwards.

"NO! My behavior just now was beyond unacceptable, so as punishment I will run 500 laps around the entire hospital!"

Sakura held up hands to try stop him.

"No, really Lee, that's not necessary!"

"You're right, Sakura! It should be 900 laps!"

Before Sakura could try to reason with him the Gai clone already bolted out of the hospital leaving a cloud of dust in his wake and three kunoichi staring with wide white saucer eyes.

"Okayyyyyyyy, that was-"

"LEE!"

Temari was interrupted as Might Gai appeared at the doorway.

"Excuse me but do you all know why Lee just took off in a hurry like that?!"

Gai's sight fell upon Sakura.

"Sakura, you're awake! That's good to see! Now, can someone please tell me what's up with Lee?!"

Sakura chuckled nervously again and explained what happened before Gai showed up. While doing that Tenten had a look of knowing dread on her face. When Sakura finished, Gai clenched his fist upwards while tears ran down his cheeks.

"How like my student to take full responsibility for his actions! Fear not, Lee! I will suffer through your self-imposed punishment with you!"

Gai too then bolted out of the hospital and left a cloud of dust and three kunoichi with wide white saucer eyes.

"Okay, is there something in the water these guys are drinking up at your village?"

Temari looked at Sakura and Tenten who both sighed in exhaustion and embarrassment before Sakura asked a question.

"So, what happened?"

Tenten and Temari looked at each other before looking back at her to answer.

"Actually, we were hoping you'd tell us. After the effects of the flash bombs wore off we found you lying in a field unconscious. Lee was nearby panicking because he heard you scream. That and thinking he was still blind when he didn't know it wore off with him too."

Tenten sweat dropped at mentioning that last part.

"You were out of it for a couple of days."

Sakura looked down at her bedsheets as she struggled to remember. It wasn't that difficult when it all came back to her in an instant. Her finding Lee, the giant flying metal craft, her trying to knock it down, and of course seeing him.

"The Man in Black..."

Tenten and Temari looked at each other confused before back down at her.

"The man in what?"

Sakura snapped out of her dazed recollection and noticed their confused expressions.

"Never mind, it's nothing! I remember that I was trying to get Gaara's body back, after it was taken into a strange flying metal craft, when the enemy knocked me out with some kind of attack. I'm not sure what it was."

Sakura looked at Temari and bowed her head with regret.

"I'm sorry, Temari! I couldn't get him back! I was too weak! I-"

Temari, reached down and gently grasped Sakura's shoulders.

"It's alright, Sakura! I know you guys tried very hard! The thing is...well...Gaara, he's...he was brought back! He's alive!"

Sakura gasped and her eyes were wide with shock.

"W-What?! B-But how?!"

Sakura then suddenly remembered what Lady Chiyo said to Sasori before he died.

"Was it Lady Chiyo?! Did she use that Reanimation Ninjutsu of hers to bring him back?!"

Temari and Tenten looked down in sadness.

"No, She didn't. Lady Chiyo...she died from the poison not long after my team and I found you all. She told me everything that happened before she..."

Temari wiped a tear from her face.

"After that, my team and I were in the middle of planning a wide grid search for the flying metal craft that she and the others told us about when we got a message from the village. It said that Gaara was found unconscious at the entrance. No one knows how he got there or who brought him, but he was alive! He's alive!"

Sakura was happy and beyond relieved to hear that Gaara was alive, but she was also very saddened to hear of Lady Chiyo's passing. She knew she didn't have long what with the poison running through her body and with her supply of antidote used up during the fight with Sasori but still Sakura could not help but tear up as she wished she could've been there and awake when it happened. She owed that woman her life.

"May you finally rest in peace, Lady Chiyo."

Sakura wiped away her tears.

"What about Kakashi sensei? Is he alright?"

Tenten answered.

"He's still pretty beat up. The Sand medics managed to path him up, but they said what he mostly needs right now is bedrest."

Sakura shook her head.

"I'm afraid we don't have time to let him rest! We need to get back to the Leaf as soon as possible!"

Temari and Tenten looked at each other again.

"Sakura, what are you talking about? You and Kakashi sensei need to take it easy! What's the rush?"

Sakura explained what Sasori told her about how he was supposed to rendezvous with a spy in Orochimaru's ranks in approximately eight days from now and why they needed to head back to the Leaf fast.

"Alright, I understand the urgency. I'll talk to Kakashi and Gai sensei about heading out soon."

Temari spoke up.

"You should all wait until morning. It's not a good idea to travel through the desert at night especially with Kakashi in his condition. You guys aren't used to what it can be like out there at this time, right now. It's safer that way and you'll get back to your village faster."

Tenten nodded.

"Good idea! I'll go tell Kakashi and Gai sensei now!"

Tenten rushed out of the room and Temari was heading out too.

"Temari, can I ask you something?"

Temari looked at the Cherry Blossom of the Leaf.

"Sure, what is it?"

Sakura looked at Temari hesitantly and nervously before asking.

"Does Gaara remember any of what happened? Does he remember who it was that brought him back?"

The Sand kunoichi shook her head.

"No, he's still unconscious. When our medics looked him over they found that he was heavily sedated. They said they've never seen a sedative agent quite like this before. It should wear off soon but still we were hoping that you would examine it before you left but that's obviously out of the question at this point."

Sakura felt bad about not making enough time to do this favor until she had an idea.

"If you get me some blood samples, I can take it back to the Leaf where we can examine it there and send you our findings."

Temari smiled.

"Sounds good!"

Before she left, she turned around and asked Sakura about her previous questions.

"By the way, why did you want to know if Gaara remembered who it was that saved him? You think it's someone you know?"

Sakura looked down at her sheets.

"Maybe...I don't know. It's...It's just a feeling..."

Sakura instinctively pulled the covers closer to her which didn't go unnoticed by Temari. After she exited and closed the door, Sakura laid down on her pillow. Drowning her mind with questions.

Questions on whether if the one who saved and returned Gaara was truly the man that has been haunting her dreams these past few years? And if it were him then how could she have possibly been having him in her dreams when she's never even seen or met him before? It was all confusing, especially the man's actions.

Through all of her dreams and even in her recent one she's seen him only as a murderer. A monster that has done nothing but attacked and tried to kill her and her comrades in these dreams. Why save Gaara? And why spare Kakashi sensei and Gai's team? None of it made any sense at all.

Was it possible that her dreams had this man all wrong? Was he perhaps not a killer? Sakura wasn't sure and it was extremely doubtful considering what she sensed from him when saw him within her mind. Still, through all of that dark rage and anger inside of himself, she also felt something else. Something familiar.

Pain and suffering.

Sakura looked out her window. Where even now she could still see the massive triangular object still floating high up in the atmosphere near the moon. Her thoughts began to think of new questions that instilled fear into her.

Such as whether or not the Man in Black saw her then and was he watching her at this very moment?

Elsewhere in a Hidden Lair near the Land of Grass

It was quiet.

Not a sound could be heard in the dimly lit training room save for the soft flickering of the nearby candles. That was just how he liked it for when he meditated to concentrate his chakra. It was moments like this one where he needed absolute concentration.

But he knew it would not last.

Gathering up the strength he needed, he rose up and grabbed hold of his left arm which began to glow and cackle with electricity as the sound of a thousand whistling birds began to echo through the base. He opened his lone right eye as he surveyed the targets that were spread out in the room. He began to pour more chakra into the jutsu. More and more until finally his whole body cackled with its elemental power!

Feeling that this would do, the boy released the jutsu!

"CHIDORI STREAM!"

The boy's body suddenly emitted a massive amount of electricity from his body! The bolts snaked through the air and completely obliterated the targets one by one in a matter of seconds! Sensing that all of his targets were hit, the young man disrupted the jutsu and surveyed his results.

There was nothing left but scorch marks from where the wooden targets were each struck and incinerated. The boy could tell that this definitely worked out better than the last attempt. At least that was how he felt until he examined the two that were hidden behind the wooden wall.

He felt annoyed that they were not completely destroyed like the rest. There was still pieces that were about a quarter of the size of the original target. That was definitely smaller than before, but it did not matter, for as long as even just a single piece of it survived than it would mean the jutsu was still nowhere near good enough to defeat him.

'Foolish little brother. If that's the best you can do after all these years, then you may as well end your life now rather than save me the embarrassment of having to do it for you.'

The boy growled as he shook his head to try to shake out his brother's voice.

"Just you wait, brother. I'm close to mastering this jutsu, my Mangekyo Sharingan, and my ultimate technique."

The voice of his brother was not convinced.

'If only you knew how naïve you sound right now. Your skills with this higher form of the sharingan are laughable to say the least. It will take much more than just learning the Tsukuyomi to truly master this level of the sharingan.'

The boy was confused.

"What do you mean by that?"

The voice answered.

'You're so determined to use your hate to kill me, figure it out on your own."

The boy grit his teeth.

"Oh, I will. And when I do, you'll finally die by my hand both in life and in my mind!"

Then the other voice spoke up.

'If that is what you really believe then you really are a fool, Teme!'

The boy shook his head again to try to shake out the voices.

'I'm still here even after I died! It should've been you who perished that day! I won our fight! I was the one who was stronger! The only reason you survived is because that sniveling snake interfered and cut me down! Then you chose to burn me! IF WE WERE SUCH GREAT FRIENDS AS YOU CLAIMED THEN YOU WOULD'VE GIVEN ME A QUICK DEATH BY YOUR SWORD INSTEAD OF REDUCING ME TO EVEN LESS OF A HUMAN BEING! YOU ARE NOT ONLY A WEAKLING BUT YOU ARE ALSO A LIAR AND A COWARD TOO, TEME!"

"SHUT UP!"

The boy took out his sword and jabbed himself in the leg! Carefully avoiding any vital areas but still causing pain. Enough pain that he needed to drown out the voices for what felt like the hundredth time.

This has been going on for over a year now. He's always been shaken and traumatized by the memory of the death of his former comrade and best friend at the Valley of the End. Lately, however; he's been haunted further by hearing his voice and the voice of his hateful brother constantly hounding his mind. Whenever he trained, ate, slept, or was reluctantly helping Orochimaru with one of his experiments, he would always hear them both.

It was driving him insane.

Suddenly, he could hear footsteps approaching and when he looked over he saw a pair of lenses reflecting the glow of the nearby candle flame.

"If you keep this up, Sasuke-kun, you may accidentally hit a vital spot one day."

The Uchiha scoffed before removing the blade from his leg. He winced a little from the pain, but he ignored it even as blood began to seep out of the wound. The raven-haired boy watched as Orochimaru's lapdog turned around and made a gesture with his hand.

"Come on, let's get you patched up before Lord Orochimaru notices. We can't have his perfect vessel walking around with an injury like that."

"Hmph."

Sasuke gave his usual reply to Kabuto before following him down the long dark stone corridors of their hideout.

Vader's Ship

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

The dark lord stood at the bridge in front of its viewports. Staring down at the planet below as if it was an old enemy. In fact, one might say it was one when considering everything it made him endure.

His enemies were down there. All of them. Scattered and hidden throughout the Five Great Nations. At first his only targets were the Uchiha, Yakushi, Orochimaru, and of course HIM, but now things were different.

Now, he had more targets.

The Akatsuki went too far when they kidnapped and killed Gaara. He thought that they were only after the demon that was within himself but now it was obvious that they were after all the jinchuriki. What their end goal was, he did not know but he would see to it that they would never reach it. He will hunt them down one by one and they shall all suffer the same fate as the self-proclaimed artist did.

For now, though he will focus on three of his original targets.

The bridge's doors opened as the newly promoted Admiral Orchens walked in and stood at attention to give his report.

"Lord Vader, our scout troops have found the Tenchi Bridge and are currently setting up camp nearby its location. When the target arrives eight days from now, they will apprehend them and bring them back to the ship for questioning."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Belay that and have the scout troops brought back to the ship immediately."

The admiral was confused.

"My lord?"

Vader turned his helmet towards the admiral.

"Orochimaru is no fool. He would've no doubt by now have found this spy and eliminated them or at the very least has been using them as a double agent. He is likely using this secret rendezvous as a trap for the Akatsuki puppeteer that was supposed to arrive for it, and he is likely the one who will personally spring it."

The admiral then understood.

"I see, so does that mean that you will go to the bridge yourself, my lord?"

Vader turned his gaze back towards the system.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"No."

The admiral was confused again.

"My lord, I don't understand."

The cybernetic dark lord explained.

"Orochimaru is the only one who knows where his servant Yakushi and his Uchiha apprentice are. Once the snake has sprung his trap but realized that the Akatsuki member is not the one ensnared he will slaughter the Leaf shinobi that were foolishly sent by the Hokage or leave and let them live because their deaths are not sporting enough for him. Either way, we will then track and follow him to his hidden base where no doubt his servant and his Uchiha student are hidden and waiting."

The admiral was beginning to understand his lord's plan.

"I see, so if we were to keep our troops down there to ambush or follow him, he would no doubt sense them and either attempt would fail. "

Vader turned towards the admiral again.

"Precisely."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

The admiral questioned the dark lord.

"How do you know that the Hokage will even send shinobi to this rendezvous?"

Vader answered.

"Because the kunoichi medic will no doubt try to convince her to. It will not be difficult considering that Orochimaru is a rogue shinobi of their village that they have been hunting for many years, now. That and the Uchiha and his sharingan are far too much a prize that the Leaf cannot ignore in reclaiming. It's an opportunity they will not let pass."

The admiral nodded and then questioned about what to send in if not troops.

"Does that mean you wish to send more probe droids to that location instead, my lord?"

The dark lord thought it over before turning his attention back to the planet and giving his answer.

"Yes, but not the standard models. Have Direct Genkol send his new cloaking prototypes in their place."

The admiral looked down at the corner of his eyes.

"Sir, about Director Genkol..."

The dark lord slowly turned his head back down towards the new admiral.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"What about the director?"

The admiral answered.

"He has been acting odd since Watock was...relieved of duty. He's been avoiding the other officers and has been rather reclusive since the former admiral's decommissioning. Constantly locked up in his laboratory or his quarters. Forgive me, if it's not my place but I think he may have been involved in the rogue probe being sent out and for not reporting its findings directly to you, my lord."

Vader turned his gaze back to the glass viewport showing the system since it was not an overly important matter.

"I already know of this, Admiral and I will deal with the director when the time is right, but until then you will relay my orders to him."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

The dark lord then turned and walked away with his cape whipping from the movement.

"As you wish, Lord Vader."

Vader then exited the bridge and headed for his chambers all while thinking about his goal.

He was close. So close to finally finding and ending the lives of the ones that made him what he is today or at least most of them. It won't be long now. The dark lord would just have to remain patient.

Even now, he still finds it hard to believe that he has come this far. After the Emperor discovered Skywalker's son and wanted him as a replacement for himself and his other half, he thought that by the cruel hand of fate he would be stripped of his goals and his purpose once again. It was not the first time it had happened. And even after both he and his other half casted the Emperor down into the very pits of the Second Death Star, he was sure that he would meet his demise.

Unlike when he thought he would meet it at the hands of Luke Skywalker after his turn to the Darkside; however, he was more resigned to and even compliantly accepting of the choice of giving his life to save Luke. After everything he and his other half have been through he could not let him face the Emperor and death to save his son, alone.

He grew to care for Luke as if he were his own offspring. He and his other half were of one mind and body after all. His thoughts, desires, and feelings were Vader's as well. All right up until their souls split apart once his other half returned as Anakin Skywalker in the end.

It was not just about protecting Luke from the Emperor though that had him so willing to trade his life. He more than deserved to die for everything that he did in both the name of the Empire and for his other half's personal goals for power and status while under the Emperor's servitude. He's committed horrid crimes of such unbelievable scale and magnitude that would make Orochimaru's crimes look like mere common ones by comparison.

Despite his sins and acceptance of death, however, it seemed that fate, the Force, and Anakin had other plans for the former servant of the Empire.

Flashback

He laid there dying.

He could feel it. His end was drawing near. Even with the trying efforts of his son, he knew he would die before they would get off the massive space station. It was ironic. His son managed to bring out of the darkness but without it he would not survive. Not with his breathing apparatus damaged by the Emperor's vicious onslaught from earlier.

But before he would perish, he would part to him his final words and a request.

"Luke, help me take...this mask off."

"But you'll die!"

"Nothing...can stop that now. Just for once...let me look on you with my own eyes."

Luke nodded and gently took off his father's helmet and placed it on the side. After that, the slowly and gently removed his mask. His eyes full of tears as he looked upon his father's pale scarred face with faded marks on his cheeks that resembled whiskers.

What he didn't understand though were his eyes. His right was blue in color like his and was full of light and goodness again. The other though was the same color as the Emperor's. Still bearing hatred. Not towards him but for something else.

His father smiled weakly at him as he looked upon his child.

"My son,...you have grown...into a fine young man. I am so proud of you...as your mother would've been...if she were here. But now you must go...and take him with you."

Luke didn't understand who his father was talking about but that wasn't his main concern at the moment.

"No! You're coming with me! I'll not leave you here! I got to save you!"

"You already...have...Luke. You were right. You were right about me. But you must listen...to me...my son. This body is...not my own. Mine was destroyed a long time ago,...but the soul that it belongs to still...remains."

Luke still didn't understand but continued listening to his father's wishes.

"He is letting me have control,...right now. When I die, I will use what strength I have left...to ensure he survives long enough till...you get him to safety. Take him...to Mustafar. There lies...our fortress...where he can heal...and where he can make his journey...back to his own universe."

Anakin grasped his son's robotic hand with his own.

"Please, save him,...Luke. Save him,...and let him go...trust...in the will of the Force. Luke,..."

His father's hand began to slip away.

"Tell your sister...you were right..."

Anakin's right eye began to close, and his body began to slowly lean backwards.

"Father,...don't leave me!"

Anakin gasped one final breathe before his body slumped against the metal wall seemingly lifeless. His left eye grew wide before moments later his right one opened again. Only it lost its normal blue hue and instead reverted to the same flaming red and yellow colors that the right one had.

The man reached out and grasped Luke's hand and held it tightly but made no effort to lift himself as he only sat there in shock. He could feel it within. Anakin's presence, his life force, was silent and nowhere to be found within.

His soul was all that remained now.

"He's gone...Anakin Skywalker...is gone..."

Luke nodded solemnly before he attempted to help lift the man to his feet.

"We need to get out of here! Something tells me this space station isn't going to be around much longer!"

The man made no effort to rise.

"Leave me, Luke...go to your friends. I cannot be saved..."

Luke down at the broken man.

"NO! I'm not going to let my father's last act as Anakin Skywalker be in vain! You're coming with me! I'm taking you to Mustafar like he wanted! Now, come on or do you want us both to die here!"

The man looked at Luke. His eyes, still fueled by the Darkside, had a look of shock and what seemed like care and concern for the boy. Using the strength given to him by his departed longtime ally and other half, he rose to his feet while Luke wrapped his left arm around his shoulders and carried him.

They passed many imperials along the way. Officers, troopers, pilots, even engineers, and not a single one had noticed them. They were all too worried about their precious space station being under sieged.

Then Luke and his father's other half felt it. A massive shift in the Force around them. This place was about to explode!

The two hurried until they finally managed to reach the hanger! They both spotted a lambda shuttle nearby and the two headed for it! The path was difficult though as the hanger began to fall apart along with the rest of the station!

"WAIT! HELP!"

Luke stopped and turned to his right and saw a young officer pinned down by some metal beams that must have come loose when the reactor was destroyed. As a Jedi he could not abandon a cry for help. Even if it was from an enemy and with the situation as dire as it was.

The newly risen Jedi Knight reached his right hand out and concentrated. The beams were very heavy and large, but size meant nothing to him anymore. Still, if he didn't get them off of this officer fast, then they would all be in trouble!

Suddenly, the beams began to rise up much easier and faster! Luke was surprised until he saw in the corner of his eye that his father's other half also had his hand stretched out with the Force! Luke returned his gaze to the task at hand and kept his mind focused as the two of them managed to completely remove the beams off of the officer!

The young man slowly rose up while rubbing his arm. Staring in shock at the two Force wielders. His gaze grew wider as he looked more closely at the man Luke was carrying.

"L-Lord Vader?! What happened to-?!"

"There's no time to explain! We need to get out of here before this station blows up! Please, help me get him on the shuttle!"

The officer snapped out of his gaze at his unmasked lord and nodded before rushing over.

"RIGHT!"

The officer then lifted Vader's other arm over his shoulder and the two carried him into the shuttle. While the officer helped his lord into the medical area, Luke rushed to the controls and began setting the ship for takeoff!

The shuttle slowly rose as the hanger continued falling apart! It's wings folded down as it slowly turned and headed for space! Just in time as within moments of its escape, the hangar exploded into flames!

In the cockpit, Luke began to set the controls to steer the ship clear of the blast zone while officer was helping his lord onto a medical table. He activated the med droid and it immediately took hold of the situation by giving Vader oxygen through a medical respirator. The droid then began examining Vader's severed robotic limb.

Suddenly, the ship shook and rocked due to being hit by what felt like a shockwave from a massive explosion! Steam and sparks spewed from the vents and electrical systems! The droid took hold of Vader's operating table to try to stable itself while the officer took hold of the doorway to maintain his balance. In the cockpit, Luke called out.

"COORDINATES ARE LOCKED! HANG ON!"

Then the chaotic shaking and movements ceased, and Vader sensed that they were now in hyperspace. Vader breathed easier as the droid resumed scanning the rest of his body while the officer panted to catch his breathe. As he did, the officer then approached his lord though with caution.

"My lord,...do you require anything?"

Vader looked at the officer. He was young and looked to be in his mid-twenties. And had black hair and hazel eyes. He could tell by his bars that his rank was a captain.

"What is your name, Captain?"

The officer stood at attention.

"Orchens, sir. Ogden Orchens."

He was likely just recently transferred to the Death Star to help with its construction. Whether or not he could be trusted was another matter. He and his other half never held these imperial officers in high regard due to their incompetence, power hunger, and lack of faith in the Force. This one felt different though and perhaps he could be of use to Vader's goal.

Since it was all he had left at this point.

"My lord, what happened back there? To the Death Star?"

Vader looked at ceiling.

"Destroyed by the Rebellion."

The young captain was shocked.

"WHAT?! Destroyed?! A-As in it's completely gone?!"

Vader answered.

"Yes."

The officer placed a hand on the wall after hearing that.

"What about the Emperor? Did he escape before the explosion?"

Vader closed his eyes.

"No, he did not."

Vader winced as pain began to course throughout his body.

"That's enough, now. Please refrain from any further speaking, my lord. Your body has suffered extreme trauma and damage."

The concerned captain spoke to the medical droid.

"How serious is it? Will he survive?"

The droid answered.

"His body is suffering through the effects of what appears to have been some kind of electrical discharge. He's very lucky to be alive. The chances of anyone surviving a discharge of this magnitude and power are three thousand five hundred and eighty seven to one. As for the rest of his energies, I'm afraid I don't have the tools and parts necessary to repair his breathing apparatus or his right arm. Hopefully wherever we're heading they will have a medical facility more suited to his requirements. Until then I'm going to sedate him."

The officer nodded and headed towards the cockpit while the droid inserted the needle into Vader's arm before he could order otherwise. As his vision became cloudy and dark from its effects, the former slave of the Emperor concentrated his mind to connect with Skywalker. To tell him what he needed to know to gain access to Mustafar and his fortress.

"Luke, the security codes for the system are 05-19-05."

Luke's voice called out to him in his mind.

"What about the fortress? What's the landing passcode?"

Vader's eyes grew heavier and heavier and just as they closed he answered with a single word.

"Padme."

End Flashback

He opened his eyes after what felt like a long sleep. A slumber filled with memories of freedom, acceptance, and loss. Loss of his other half.

His other half Anakin Skywalker.

Even now, he still didn't understand why Anakin saved him. He was fully prepared to embrace his death right then and there alongside him. Surely, they've been bound long enough for Skywalker to know that he could never let go of his anger and hate for his enemies. Not like he did for his son, Luke. Perhaps he planned this from when after they separated when they saved his son from Palpatine.

Or maybe perhaps in his last few moments of life, he had a vision of what Vader's future would be.

Unfortunately, there was just no way of knowing Skywalker's reason. He was gone and their minds could never be as one again. In a way he envied Anakin. He was able die in peace and with acceptance of his fate.

While Vader can only continue to live and hate.

He then felt HIS presence behind the doors of his chambers as they opened. When they closed the metal blinds around him opened. He watched as the dark figure approached him.

Even now, he still couldn't help but glare in hatred. It was very rare he would use his old signature technique. If it came to be needed then he would normally dispel them right away and just absorb their knowledge and memories. However, he was not ready yet. He still needed to rest and recuperate.

The shadow copy stopped in front of the large bacta tank that was only for his personal use.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"The Tenchi bridge has been located and I am having the advanced probe scout models sent down to it. Once Orochimaru has finished his business with the Leaf shinobi, eight days from now, he will lead us right to Yakushi and the Uchiha."

The dark lord's pale and scarred visage appeared through the misty tank of liquid and medicine.

"Good. Make sure to oversee any other preparations we require. There can be no failures this time!"

He then felt something from the shadow.

"I sense that there is more you wish to say. What is it?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"I believe the former comrade of Naruto Uzumaki will be at the Tenchi bridge as part of the capture squad sent for the spy."

The dark lord breathed through his tank's apparatus.

"I believe you are correct. Her obsession for the Uchiha is strong, but why should that be of any importance to me? Are you worried that she will go up against Orochimaru?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"No, I do not care if she loses her life to him in battle. My only concern is what your actions will be."

The dark lord peered closer to the glass.

"My actions?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"You're actions if she were to survive and stand in our way. What will you do?"

He answered.

"Then I will keep my word to Hatake and I will finish what Naruto Uzumaki failed to do when he left the Leaf Village for his demise!"

He then disappeared behind the mist of the bacta.

"Now, leave me!"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"As you wish."

Sunagakure Hospital

"They already left, huh?"

"Yes, they left just this morning."

Temari and her brother Kankuro were heading to their younger brother's room. Temari had some flowers that she just picked up from the desert. Freshly picked ones were always Gaara's favorite and she hopes that their scent would help waken him soon.

As they entered his room and she began to place them in a vase they still continued their conversation.

"I wished they could've stayed a bit longer. We owe them a lot for their help."

"Yeah, me too."

"Nar-..."

The sand siblings froze, and their eyes darted to their brother's bed. Within an instant they were by his besides. Temari and Kankuro both leaning forward eagerly.

"Nar-!...Nar-!...Nar-!"

Temari smiled in joy and began lightly shaking her brother.

"Gaara! Wake up! You're in the hospital! Please, open your eyes!"

She then felt a hand grasp her own and looked down to see that it was Gaara's hand!

"Tem-!...Temari!"

She looked up at Kankuro still smiling and with tears.

"He's awake! Get the medics and inform the council, now!"

Kankuro was reluctant as he was too overcome with joy himself at seeing their brother and the village's Kazekage awake. But he knew better than to argue with his older sister. He was just about sprint out of the room until Gaara spoke up again.

"Naru-!..Naru-!.."

Temari and Kankuro looked down in confusion.

"Naru? What is it? What are you trying to say Gaara?"

Gaara slowly opened his eyes and mustered up the strength to say what he's been desperately trying to.

"Naruto...is...alive!"

The next sound heard was the vase of the freshly picked desert flowers shattering upon the floor.

Another chapter complete. This one was a real joy and tricky to write. I mean trying to detail the reactions to meeting Darth Vader is not as easy as you would think. That and there's still more to come in the later chapters!

Now, I know there are people that are disappointed and pissed about both the fight with Deidara and with Vader not just shouting out and letting everyone know "I HAVE RETURNED!" but here's the thing.

Number one, Deidara was running low on clay during the chase in the anime and I wanted to stick with that. Two, I never liked Deidara. The cocky smug bastard always annoyed the shit out me! Having Vader insult and cut him down like that felt so satisfying! As for Vader not just strolling into the Leaf or meeting the other characters all at once, I mean it's not rocket science! It's far more interesting and exciting to have his reunion with them stretched out over future chapters then to pile it all in one.

Speaking of characters there's something I really need to get off my chest about Sakura, so if you don't want to waste your time reading another rant about her and the anime then I suggest skipping over the next couple of paragraphs.

When I re-watched the fight between her, Lady Chiyo, and Sasori, I saw Lady Chiyo recommend to Sakura more than a few times to get away as the battle would be too much for her even when they were up against a hundred of Sasori's puppets but Sakura refused and stood by her side. However, when Naruto fought Pein she did nothing! Another example is that she took a sword coated with poison in the gut for Lady Chiyo and told her to take the antidote for herself which I'm pretty sure violates what Tsunade said about the medical ninja not taking any lethal blows in a fight no matter what! But oh, wait it gets better! Later on, when they try to take on Sasuke to bring him back to the village, Yamato shields her from getting pierced by Sasuke's sword and while Sasuke is twisting and even conducting electricity through it into his body, she doesn't do anything! The same of course is true when both Naruto and Hinata are stabbed by Pein, SHE SITS UP THERE DOING NOTHING! I MEAN YEAH, SURE NARUTO ORDERED HER AND EVERYONE ELSE NOT TO INTERFERE BUT SO DID LADY CHIYO, AN OLD WOMAN FROM ANOTHER VILLAGE THAT SHE ONLY KNEW FOR A MAYBE A FEW DAYS TO A WEEK AT THE MOST, AND SAKURA STILL MADE MORE OF AN EFFORT TO HELP HER IN COMBAT THAN EVEN HER OWN TEAMMATES FROM HER OWN VILLAGE IN THE EXACT SAME SITUATION!

Not only that but I still don't, for the love of GOD, understand Naruto's obsession for Sasuke! I mean yeah I understand that they're reincarnations of the sons of the Sage of Six Paths, but it still makes no sense! Those two have always argued and been at each other's throats since they were children at the academy! Yeah, they had a few brotherly moments here and there but nothing that amounts to the brotherly bond Naruto keeps preaching on about! Not to mention that he and Sakura keep on acting like Sasuke was a victim being held hostage by Orochimaru when in fact he wasn't! It's like Kabuto said he went to them willingly! But say otherwise and they would both just throw a fit and be in denial about it even when Sasuke tried to kill them! Now, I did understand why they wanted to get him away from Orochimaru because of him wanting to possess Sasuke's body. I do, but after he killed Orochimaru Naruto was still acting like they needed to bring Sasuke back to the village immediately BUT WHAT GOOD WOULD THAT ACCOMPLISH?! He didn't want to come back! He wanted revenge against Itachi but instead of being understanding about it and just letting him have his vengeance, HE AND THE OTHERS TRIED TO INTERFERE AND STOP HIM! LIKE TAKING HIM BACK TO THE VILLAGE AGAINST HIS WILL IS GOING TO DO ANYTHING!

Exhales.

Sorry about all of that but I really needed to get that out of my system. I like the anime I do but mostly Part One during before and after the Sasuke Retrieval arc, the filler episodes after that point I mean, and the parts of Shippuden that have nothing to do with chasing after him. It drives me nuts! Also, a bit of warning, you might see rants like these in my future personal comments.

Okay, now a little information about the next chapter. It will be shorter than this one I think, but it will lead to a really big one that will gain lots of anticipation for it. I think you guys have some idea as to what the chapter I'm describing will be about and why it will be heavily anticipated. There will be some action in the next one, but it will take planning again. It will all have to wait though as I need another breather. Despite the stay at home orders I haven't gotten around to working on this as frequently as I wanted but I still put a lot of time into it, so I feel a bit stretched out and need to take a break again.

Hope you all enjoyed the chapter and a word of advice don't let yourself or any of your loved ones take part in any of the protesting unless you're damn sure it's a peaceful one! A friend of mine's daughter was part of one until she was assaulted by maniacs who thought she was defending a confederate statue when she wasn't and broke her legs and several of her ribs, AND SHE WAS AFRICAN AMERICAN FOR CHRIST'S SAKE! If you want to protest fine but take extreme caution if you do! I'm serious! Be careful!