Moving through the dimly lit house like a shadow, Naruto retrieved a pistol from his belt, ensuring the safety was engaged before tucking it securely at his side. He slipped on a plain black hoodie and pulled the hood over his head, masking his face with a dark, nondescript cover. His pale, focused eyes gleamed faintly in the dark.
Though his powers had been weakened since coming to this world, they were still potent enough for his needs. Tracking the threads of malevolence in the air was as natural to him as breathing. Evil carried a distinctive weight, and Naruto had become an expert at sensing it.
Walking the quiet streets of Amity Park, Naruto couldn't help but notice the unique nature of this town. The air was heavy with yin energy, visible to his heightened senses as faint ripples in the fabric of space. These ghostly tears bled a soft, cold light, unnoticed by the ordinary people of the town. For him, this yin energy was a resource, a fuel he could draw upon to sustain himself. It was free and abundant here, but he approached it with caution. While it offered him a temporary boost, it wasn't enough to restore his full power—he would need something far greater to regain even a fraction of his former strength.
The source of this yin energy was clear: ghosts. Amity Park was infamous for its spectral activity. Some spirits were harmless wanderers, more akin to memories than threats, but others were dangerous predators, capable of unimaginable destruction. Naruto had already studied this phenomenon thoroughly before initiating his plans with Danny. He understood the ghostly problem haunting the town, and while he could absorb these spirits to hasten his recovery, it would take either immensely powerful ghosts or an overwhelming number of them to make a difference. Such efforts could risk tipping the balance of power in the Ghost Zone and unleashing ancient horrors.
One such horror lingered at the edges of his thoughts: a malevolent ghost of apocalyptic power. If it escaped its prison, the consequences for this world would be catastrophic. At his peak, Naruto could have handled it effortlessly. Now, weakened as he was, he knew he needed allies. He could no longer afford to solve every problem alone. Training Danny and his friends to face these challenges was not just a practical necessity—it was vital for the survival of the world.
Naruto's thoughts drifted as his feet carried him to his destination, a sprawling mansion surrounded by a high wall. The man who lived here was respected and admired on the surface, but Naruto had seen the truth. Danny's memories painted a flattering picture, but Naruto's senses told a different story. The man's aura reeked of corruption—a double-faced scoundrel hiding behind a mask of virtue.
"This one's going to feel sore in the morning," Naruto muttered under his breath, a flicker of dark amusement crossing his face.
With practiced ease, he scaled the wall, his movements fluid and silent. The sharp gaze of security cameras and the watchful noses of guard dogs posed no challenge. Naruto slipped through their defenses like smoke, weaving through the shadows with supernatural grace. Every step, every movement, was calculated and precise, his body responding instinctively to the rhythm of infiltration.
This wasn't just a mission for Naruto—it was practice. The same techniques he used tonight would be invaluable for Danny. The boy's body needed to learn to move without hesitation, to react faster than his conscious mind. These lessons would push Danny closer to the strength he needed, one step at a time.
Inside the mansion grounds, Naruto let his instincts guide him. His presence was invisible, his footsteps a whisper against the ground. Once inside, he didn't hold back. Every action was purposeful, efficient, and ruthless.
After maneuvering through the opulent mansion's various security obstacles, Naruto finally reached the master bedroom. The room was lavishly decorated, with an air of wealth and indulgence evident in every detail. In the massive bed, the mafia boss slept soundly beside his much younger wife, her peaceful expression contrasting sharply with the storm about to unfold.
Naruto moved silently to the woman's side. With a deft tap on her neck, he sent a controlled pulse of yin energy into her system, ensuring she would remain in deep sleep. He had no interest in waking her or causing unnecessary chaos.
Turning to the man, Naruto pressed the barrel of his pistol lightly against his temple. The sensation jolted the boss awake, his eyes widening in shock and confusion as they locked onto Naruto's masked face.
"I know this might be surprising," Naruto began, his tone calm but menacing, "but I'd appreciate it if you didn't make any noise. Things could get... messy." He gestured for the man to get up and sit on the nearby sofa, then took a seat across from him, the pistol resting casually in his hand.
The boss, experienced in the criminal underworld, quickly deduced that Naruto wasn't there to kill him—at least not immediately. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice steady but with an undertone of suppressed anger.
"I need money, equipment, and your loyalty," Naruto said, his voice cold and authoritative. "I have a proposal—non-negotiable. It's a path to riches beyond your imagination. I know you won't believe me outright. To you, I'm just a nobody. No trust between us, right?"
Naruto leaned forward, his eyes glinting in the dim light. "So I'll prove to you that your life is in my hands. I'll visit you again tomorrow. Think about my offer carefully. If you waste my time, you'll experience a fate worse than death."
The boss seethed internally, his pride wounded by Naruto's audacity. If he had a weapon within reach, he would have shot this masked intruder without hesitation. The humiliation burned in his chest, fueling a silent vow for revenge.
Naruto could sense the man's thoughts as clearly as if they were spoken aloud. A cold smirk tugged at his lips. You'll break soon enough, he thought, already planning how to make the boss bend to his will.
As Naruto rose from his seat, a faint hissing sound reached his ears. Something small clattered across the floor and began spewing smoke. His instincts kicked in instantly. Kicking the object toward the window, he sent it sailing outside before it could fully fill the room. Even so, the faint scent told him what it was—an anesthetic gas designed to knock out anyone who inhaled it.
The boss wasn't so fortunate. Already groggy from the smoke, he slumped in his seat, his sharp eyes dulled by drowsiness. Naruto's attention snapped to the window as a figure leapt through. The movements were graceful and deliberate, the figure unmistakable even in the dim light.
"Batgirl," Naruto muttered under his breath. Her presence complicated things. If she was here, it meant this man had connections reaching Gotham. That was a headache Naruto hadn't anticipated. But now, ironically, he had to protect the very man he had threatened—losing him would mean starting from scratch.
Batgirl stood poised, her sharp eyes scanning the scene. The man slouched on the couch, Naruto standing nearby with a pistol in hand. Her gaze lingered on Naruto, assessing him. "Who are you?" she demanded, her tone firm and unyielding.
Naruto chuckled softly, his voice laced with mock politeness. "Apologies, my beautiful lady, but I need you to excuse yourself. This is my business, and I can't have you interfering."
Without wasting time, Batgirl launched into action. She threw a gadget designed to entangle his legs while charging forward with her baton raised. It was a calculated, practiced move meant to subdue her opponent swiftly. But Naruto's reactions were faster than she anticipated. He sidestepped the gadget effortlessly and countered her advance with a precise strike to her chin.
The blow sent Batgirl sprawling to the ground. The speed and efficiency of his attack left her stunned. For a moment, she was reminded of her teacher—this man fought with a similar mastery that bordered on superhuman.
Naruto crouched beside her, his hand resting lightly on her neck, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I don't want to hurt you, so leave. This man is my pawn, and I can't have you ruining my plans. I'll ensure his wrongdoings are corrected, but for now, let him go. Consider this a favor—I owe you one."
Batgirl's eyes narrowed, her mind racing as she tried to process his words. Before she could respond, a burst of electricity surged through her suit, a self-defense mechanism triggered by his grip. Naruto grimaced as the shock coursed through him, but he endured it, his body reinforced by yin energy.
In one fluid motion, he grabbed Batgirl and tossed her out the window. She landed gracefully on the ground below, shaken but unharmed. A warning shot rang out, striking near her feet, and the mansion's guards began converging on her location. Realizing the situation was rapidly spiraling out of control, Batgirl retreated into the night, vowing to uncover the truth behind the mysterious intruder.
Naruto exhaled deeply as the chaos settled. The ordeal had been a close call, but it served as a valuable lesson for Danny. Exposure to such extreme situations—poisons, shocks, and adrenaline-fueled danger—would build his immunity and resilience.
Returning home silently, Naruto restored everything to its proper place before slipping into bed. A small smirk played on his lips as he thought about Danny's reaction to the night's events. "He'd hate me for this," Naruto chuckled softly, closing his eyes. "But it's for the best."
Danny jolted awake with a scream, his voice echoing like a banshee. The abruptness startled him more than the nightmare he'd just endured. His whole body ached, as if he'd been through a meat grinder. Then, there was Naruto—already fully awake and ready, staring at him with a devilish grin.
"Good morning, sunshine. Time to jog," Naruto announced cheerfully, completely ignoring Danny's misery.
Danny groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Why? Why do you hate me?"
Naruto smirked but said nothing, his silence making Danny's imagination run wild. He vividly recalled the horrifying dream he'd just escaped. In it, he was an astronaut, floating through the vast expanse of space. The joy of his dream was shattered when his rocket breached the planet's atmosphere, and Naruto's grinning face filled the entire cosmos.
"Well, hello there, Danny," the dream Naruto had said. "How about a mission?"
The memory sent a fresh shiver down Danny's spine, and he groaned again. "This has to be some kind of divine punishment. What did I do to deserve this?"
Naruto, still amused, crossed his arms. "Enough with the theatrics. We've got a long way to go before you're ready for the real challenges."
Danny squinted at him suspiciously. "The real challenges?"
"Don't worry about it," Naruto replied with a wave of his hand. "I said relax. Besides, I've got something for you—a little reward for your hard work. From now on, I'll give you points for completing tasks successfully. You can trade them for... things."
Danny, still half-asleep, perked up at the mention of rewards. He knew Naruto was annoyingly cryptic but undeniably powerful. "What kind of rewards?"
"Anything from knowledge and skills to equipment and cash," Naruto explained. "Jogging every day? One point. Clearing major events? At least five points. Simple enough, right?"
Danny nodded hesitantly, though his mind was still processing the absurdity of it all. "Okay, so what can I get for one point?"
Naruto chuckled, the sound both mocking and amused. "Air."
"What?"
"You need at least five points for something worthwhile," Naruto clarified, his grin widening. "Don't think I'm here to hand you freebies. Being my student is already the ultimate reward."
Danny sighed, rubbing his temples. "I thought you were giving me the equipment for free anyway."
"Smart, Danny. But no, that's not how this works. I felt bad for how pathetic you looked, so I graced you with a skill as a one-time charity. Don't get used to it. If you want more, you'll have to earn it."
Danny groaned internally but managed a reluctant nod. Years of dealing with bullies had taught him how to read people—or in this case, demons masquerading as mentors. Naruto wasn't joking, and any whining would only make things worse.
"Fine," Danny relented. "What's the next task?"
Naruto's grin grew wider, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Now that's the spirit! Keep it up, and you'll make it to my good-boy list."
Danny grimaced but forced himself to ignore the unsettling phrase. "Thanks... I guess?"
"Of course, you're getting a new mission," Naruto continued, his tone too cheerful for Danny's comfort. "This one's going to be fun. You'll love it."
Danny's heart sank at the ominous excitement in Naruto's voice. "Define 'fun.'"
"Oh, you'll see," Naruto said, turning to leave the room.
Danny sat frozen for a moment, a sense of impending doom creeping over him. Why do I feel like I'm going to regret waking up today?