Chapter 2: "A Blade of Light in the Shadows"
A masked ninja — Anbu — stood across the clearing, watching him with quiet calculation.
Galen didn't move. His lightsaber hummed low, calm, steady. Not a threat, but a warning.
"I don't want to fight you," Galen said.
"Then why are you armed?" the Anbu asked, voice cold.
"Because this world is dangerous. But I'm not the one attacking strangers with shuriken."
In a blur, the ninja vanished — and reappeared behind him.
Galen turned, blade raised — blue light met steel. Sparks. A clash. But Galen's expression didn't waver.
He was in control.
One step, one parry, one calm breath — and he sent the ninja flying with a controlled Force push, just enough to knock him back, not injure.
This power isn't for vengeance. It's for protection.
Before the ninja could recover, another figure burst into the clearing.
"HEY! What's goin' on here?!"
Naruto Uzumaki skidded to a stop, kunai in hand.
Sasuke and Sakura flanked him, both on alert.
Sasuke's eyes flicked to the glowing blade. "What is that?"
Sakura gasped. "Is that… made of chakra?"
Galen deactivated the saber. "No. It's something else. I'm… not from here."
Naruto tilted his head. "You're weird. I like it."
Galen chuckled. "You have no idea."
Two days later.
John — now Galen Anthony — had a place to stay in the Leaf under "soft surveillance." The Hokage had sensed no ill will in him. No malice. Just... something ancient and unfamiliar.
Whispers spread:
A man with no chakra, but power beyond logic.
A glowing sword.
Eyes like he's seen stars no one else has.
Kakashi found him training alone on a rocky plateau.
Galen balanced on one foot, his saber deactivated but floating beside him, spinning slowly in the air — guided by the Force.
"You're not a shinobi," Kakashi said, hands in his pockets.
"I'm something else," Galen replied without opening his eyes. "But I believe we're fighting the same kind of battles."
Kakashi studied him. "You have power that rivals even the Hokage. Yet you don't seek control. That's rare."
"I had a teacher once," Galen said, eyes still closed. "His story ended badly. Too much rage. Too much pain. But in the end, he chose the Light."
He opened his eyes and caught the saber in his palm.
"I carry his name now — as a promise. Galen Marek. I honor him by walking the path he couldn't."
Kakashi gave a faint nod. "Well, Galen Anthony... welcome to Konoha."
The training field was quiet.
A single leaf floated down from a tree.
Naruto stood in the middle of the clearing, eyes shut, arms outstretched.
"No talking," Galen said gently. "Just breathe. Let the Force — or your chakra — flow. Don't force it. Feel it."
Naruto grumbled. "Tch. Easy for you to say. My chakra's always like... RAHHHH!"
Galen smiled. "I know. That's why I'm teaching you."
He walked a slow circle around Naruto, voice calm, steady.
"Power without control is just noise. It's a sword with no edge. You don't tame the storm — you become the eye of it."
Naruto's fingers twitched. He was itching to move, to yell, to do something.
"Focus on the leaf," Galen said. "Not with your eyes. With your senses."
The leaf floated.
Naruto gritted his teeth. "This is stupid—"
Fwip!
The leaf shot sideways mid-air and stuck to Naruto's forehead like a magnet.
He blinked.
Galen smirked. "Congratulations. You just used the Force."
Naruto's jaw dropped. "...I did?!"
Galen nodded. "You're more in sync with the world than you think. You just need to trust yourself… and slow down."
Naruto looked at him differently now. Less like a foreigner, more like a master. Not one who ordered people around, but someone who carried quiet power — and chose not to use it unless absolutely necessary.
Sasuke, watching from the trees, narrowed his eyes.
That power… it didn't feel like chakra. But it was dangerous.
And yet, Naruto was starting to grow stronger because of him.