The sun rose over the swamps of Naboo, casting golden light over the amassed Gungan army. A low hum of tension hovered in the air, broken only by the rhythmic thump of marching kaadu and the flicker of energy shields powering up. At the edge of the army, Revan stood with his cloak billowing in the morning breeze. Clad in dark Jedi robes, twin lightsabers at his side, he looked every inch the warrior and tactician the Republic once revered.
Beside him, Jar Jar Binks, newly promoted to General, tried to stand straight despite the weight of responsibility on his lanky frame. Boss Nass had insisted Jar Jar represent the bridge between Naboo and the Gungans.
"You trust him to hold the line?" Captain Panaka asked skeptically, arms crossed.
"He won't be alone," Revan replied. "We've set a few... surprises."
Indeed, not far from the shield generators, several makeshift decoys shaped like droids stood rigged with smoke bombs, noisemakers, and paint-filled grenades. Designed by Revan and based on some of Naruto's earlier prank designs, they were meant to confuse and scatter the Trade Federation forces.
Revan allowed himself a small smile, though it faded as he looked toward the horizon.
Inside Theed Palace, Amidala rallied her small band of resistance fighters. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon stood beside her, lightsabers ready. Anakin was tucked away in a secure chamber with R2-D2, given strict orders to stay put.
Through their commlinks, Revan's voice came clear: "Diversion team ready. Infiltration team, move on my signal."
The Queen nodded. "This is for Naboo."
The battle erupted as plasma fire lit the fields. Gungan shields held strong at first, absorbing the onslaught from the marching droid battalions. Jar Jar—somehow—managed to both trip and accidentally disable a few droids with a stray booma grenade.
Meanwhile, the decoys scattered the first wave of droid formations. Exploding paint and shrieking audio distorters sent the battle droids into brief disarray, long enough for the Gungans to press an advantage.
"Primitive mischief," Panaka muttered, watching through macrobinoculars.
"Effective mischief," Revan replied. "Credit where it's due—Naruto would be proud."
Above them, Naboo starfighters launched into the sky. Amidala's infiltration team stormed the palace gates, cutting through droids as they moved to seize the Viceroy.
Atop one of the palace towers, the air turned electric.
A dark figure stepped into view: black robes, double-bladed lightsaber, eyes glowing with crimson hate.
Revan felt it before he saw him—like a wound in the Force. Darth Maul.
"I'll handle him," Revan said, stepping away from the battlefield. "Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan—protect the Queen."
"Be careful," Qui-Gon said, locking eyes with him.
"I always am."
As Revan ascended the tower, the echoes of battle faded behind him. The wind howled. Maul ignited both ends of his saber. Revan drew both of his, blue and violet.
No words.
Just destiny.
And then, they clashed.
Far away, in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, Naruto sat cross-legged in a quiet garden, his chakra gently flowing in meditation. Ahsoka sat nearby, her lightsaber disassembled before her as she practiced tuning its crystal.
"You think Revan's okay?" she asked, not looking up.
Naruto opened one eye and smiled faintly. "He's Revan. He's probably making Maul regret his life choices already."
Ahsoka smirked. "Still, I wish we were there."
"We will be—someday," Naruto said. He gazed up at the sky, as if trying to see across the stars. "Until then... we get stronger. For him."
The wind rustled the trees.
Two students of war, preparing for the storms yet to come.