"The greatest lies are built on truths too convenient to question."
— Darth Sidious
Serenno – Dooku's Fortress
Lightning lit the windows of Count Dooku's private study as he paced the stone floors, his cape trailing behind him like a shadow.
A single holoprojector flickered on the table. Darth Sidious's hooded image stood tall, as cold and unreadable as ever.
"The Jedi move too efficiently," Dooku said, voice sharp. "Christophis fell before we even knew it was targeted."
Sidious remained still. "Perhaps your droids were inefficient."
Dooku narrowed his eyes. "Or perhaps… the enemy has access to more than just strategy. Someone has been manipulating from the shadows. Someone not accounted for."
"Are you accusing me, Count?"
Dooku bowed, only slightly. "Of course not, my lord. Merely observing… unusual patterns."
There was a pause. Then Sidious leaned forward slightly.
"You forget, Dooku… betrayal is the way of the Sith."
The transmission cut.
Dooku turned slowly toward his apprentice, Asajj Ventress, who had remained silent in the shadows.
"He doesn't trust me."
Ventress smirked. "Should he?"
Dooku's eyes glinted. "He should fear me instead."
Coruscant
In the Sith Temple hidden beneath the Senate District, Sidious paced as well, but slower. More calculated.
He stared at a rotating projection of recent battle deployments.
"Revan… he's too effective. Too precise. And the clones… they do not report irregularities. They report nothing at all."
Mas Amedda entered, a datapad in hand.
"My lord, the Kaminoans remain silent. Training logs indicate clone development continues as expected."
Sidious frowned.
"That's the problem. It's too perfect."
He turned toward the holomap. A blinking red dot pulsed over Christophis. Then another over Kaller. Then Saleucami.
All victories. All led by Jedi under Revan's command.
He clenched his fist.
"Something is being hidden. And if Dooku cannot see it… perhaps he's the traitor."
Dantooine
The sun warmed the streets of the fortified Jedi Enclave.
Ahsoka and Naruto sat at a small café-like rest station carved into the outer wall of the city. A simple lunch—flatbread, fruit, and sweetened water—rested between them.
"So," Ahsoka said, sipping her drink. "You really think your homeworld is trying to call you?"
Naruto shrugged. "I don't think—it is. The Nine-Tails has been stirring in my dreams. My parents... I can see flashes of their faces."
Ahsoka looked serious. "You think the Force is trying to guide us?"
"I think something is," Naruto said, then smirked. "And it's not like I don't want to see where I come from."
She smiled gently. "I'll come with you."
He blinked. "What?"
"Someone's gotta keep you out of trouble. And I know Revan's going to let us go when the time's right."
Naruto grinned wide. "Then it's a date."
"Oh, so now we're calling them dates?"
Naruto looked confused. "Aren't they?"
Ahsoka blushed. "Just shut up and eat."
Later that evening, an entire corridor of clone officers, Mandalorians, and even Jedi padawans were glued to the wall with pink, expanding foam.
Jango Fett stood in the hallway, one brow raised. "...Naruto."
From above the rafters, Naruto grinned sheepishly.
"In my defense... Ahsoka helped."
Ahsoka's voice echoed through the halls. "No, I didn't!"
Revan arrived seconds later, Shaak Ti and Aayla right behind him, both shaking their heads in exhausted amusement.
Revan crossed his arms. "Let me guess: you were 'training your infiltration skills.'"
Naruto shrugged. "Technically true."
Revan sighed. "Next time, prank the enemy."
"I am the enemy," Jango muttered.
The hallway exploded into laughter—even Jango cracked a half-smile.
Naruto stood beside Revan on the northern wall, looking out at the stars.
"Revan... how do you know when it's time to go back?"
Revan looked at him calmly. "To Konoha?"
Naruto nodded.
Revan was silent for a long moment.
"When the dreams stop pulling you back and start pushing you forward, and the end of this war, then it's time."
Naruto smiled.
"Then I think I'm almost ready."