Lex invested a lot of time and money for Naruto to learn how to manipulate his energy, what he later learned was called chakra, to its full capacity. During their trials, they quickly discovered that Naruto was naturally stronger and faster than children his own age and the gap only widened as he grew. They also stumbled upon something else, his volatile temper. The number of things that could truly anger him was small but once angered it was just a short trip to blinding rage.
His mother said his clan, among other things, tended to be hot-blooded. His bio dad said it was really just her. Naruto couldn't know what was true but along with training his abilities, he had to learn to rein himself in. Harming someone because he was throwing a temper tantrum simply wasn't acceptable. He'd matured over the years, learned how to manage his emotions, and express them in healthy ways but if something or someone got his blood to boiling it wasn't always easy to pull back.
Currently, The Fool was under his foot and the slightest amount of pressure could end him. A part of him wanted to do it, say damn the consequences and have it out with all in attendance. He was at a disadvantage, he knew, but what was life without its challenges? The Detective and The Princess were both manageable tasks. It was Boy Scout that was the issue. It wasn't that Naruto couldn't defeat him, he just had very specific win conditions and an enraged Boy Scout probably wasn't one of them, not in this setting. Then there was Pam. If she got involved, even though all the heroes were in the wrong, they'd throw her back in Arkham or someplace worse.
He breathed in slowly to calm his nerves, not fully aware of the menacing aura he'd been unleashing. He didn't need more enemies right now, not when he possibly just inherited some from his father. He needed to be calm, he needed to think clearly. It took a few moments but he brought himself back and was now looking at Boy Scout with every ounce of condescension he could muster.
"Breaking and Entering. Since this fool is a meta, attacking us would be aggravated assault. And as he belongs to an extra-legal organization that makes you lot a gang. A gang of costumed hoodlums that broke into my apartment. But we all know the police would never hold you responsible so tell me what the fuck you want and get out."
"This is a misunderstanding," Clark said. "We thought Ivy was attacking you."
Naruto quirked his eyebrow at the league member. "It was just as likely we were getting into a bit of rough play. Please tell me you lot don't go around preventing kinky sex acts?"
Clark chose to ignore the question and ask one of his own, "Could you take your foot off Flash's throat and lower your weapon so we can talk?"
"Asymmetrical demobilization? Don't think so, Boy Scout. If Princess lowers her weapon and you lot can manage to sit at my dining room table without The Detective planting any surveillance equipment I'll reward your show of good faith." Diana preferred to overpower the arrogant boy but heeded Clark's silent request. Moments later, all were sitting at Naruto's table, Clark at one end and Naruto the other, Pam to his right.
"What do you want?" Naruto asked.
Clark knew Bruce wanted to grill him about Lex's death or his abilities or any number of things. He understood but Clark had a different aim. He believed Naruto had the capacity to do good, his professional life had demonstrated as much but he also had the potential to be more so he didn't let his friend start his interrogation.
"Have you ever considered becoming a hero?" The Kryptonian was not surprised by the shock faces of his fellow heroes but he needed to at least try. Naruto, however, kept his face neutral.
"No. I can affect more lives with what I'm doing now, I have no desire to slip into the never-ending war of the pajama people."
"What's your problem with heroes?" Wally asked.
"It's simple really. The human experiment of self-rule is barely in its adolescence. The idea of imbuing the people with the ability to create laws and control the direction of their societies is a precious and delicate thing. But when individuals who call themselves heroes, many who can do things no ordinary person can, are allowed to flaunt the laws it's barely different than returning to monarchies. You all are as above the law as you choose to be because you are good.
Princess coerces confessions with her lasso? So what, who needs the fifth amendment. Boy Scout X-rays people's homes, why should he need a warrant? Batman leaves tracers and bugs where he pleases, breaks in where he chooses, shakes down whomever he wants and it's just accepted. This isn't to say you don't do good, that you aren't tackling real threats but your existence makes people believe that they could not have managed, that you must be beyond the laws they adhere to. That thinking is never not abused. You've already done so," Naruto pointed to the shattered glass.
"Ideas and beliefs outlive their creators and maybe none of you will ever cross the line into full oppression but can you promise none of your successors will? And by then, will the people even know? Will they care? A republic if you can keep it and I'm not sure we can if we permit the logic of heroes."
"So, what, you'll stand stalwartly against us?" Diana asked. Naruto shook his head, they really weren't getting it.
"No, I don't want any involvement in your world and that includes railing against you. If you leave me alone and don't hurt my people with your shenanigans you won't hear a peep from me. I expect the same courtesy."
"It may not be that simple. Lex had enemies and I don't mean us. They may seek you out in retaliation," Clark said.
"I have someone seeing to my security and that will have to be enough for now. Is there anything else?"
"Ivy, why did Lex abduct you?" Batman asked. He wasn't going to waste the opportunity, regardless of what Superman's aims were.
"He wanted to learn to copy my abilities for some purpose he didn't explain but the extraction of the genetic material would have killed me."
"How did you escape?" Batman pressed.
"No clue, I just awoke in my apartment." she lied but knew he didn't believe her. To her relief, no further questions came. She wasn't used to being in the room with so many heroes and not having to avoid capture. The foursome left via the front door, at Naruto's behest, and she returned to the couch. She could hear him discussing something with Mr. Wintergreen over the phone but mostly blocked the one-sided conversation out.
He was the son of Lex Luthor. She completely understood why he didn't go shouting that from the rooftops and hiding Naruto might have been the most decent thing Lex ever did, not that it was a long list. But his abilities, she still didn't understand why he hid them. Was he afraid, afraid that if he showed them he'd get pulled into their world regardless of his desires? Maybe? Did he not trust her?
She didn't want to believe that was the reason, almost needed not to despite the hypocrisy involved. It shouldn't matter if he trusted her or not, he'd been shown he was right if he hadn't. Still, some part of her wanted to know. Know more. What could he do? Why did he have to train to maintain his skills? What was the real reason for not telling her?
"Pam," Naruto called out, finally getting her attention.
"Yes,"
"Where'd you go?" he asked.
"Sorry, deep in thought. You know Batman won't stop investigating Lex's death." Naruto shrugged. She was stuck between amusement and annoyance as Batman was her fiercest enemy and Naruto didn't care about his legendary deductive skills at all. Seeing he wasn't going to comment further, Ivy asked one of the questions that had been plaguing her. "How did you know about Harley and I?"
"Does it matter?"
"I think so, you've been so calm about it and I don't understand how. Don't you feel betrayed? Angry? Anything?"
"Yes, I felt both those things. And I could have yelled and carried on but the truth was our relationship lasted about eight weeks longer than it should have. Instead of just having the fight or discussion or whatever it would have been to end things we avoided it; several weeks later you screw Harley on your girls' trip. But we knew, we'd been preparing, slowly separating.
Was it what I wanted? No, but I'd be lying to say I was blindsided. So, in that regard, what was I really mad over? The betrayal was really in name only. Sure, I was hurt but more so because that really was the end." Naruto explained. It made sense to Pam but still felt incomplete.
"No one is that emotionally well adjusted," she said.
"Guess I'm just special," he quipped. Pam didn't try to push it any further, knowing Naruto could be evasive when he wanted to be. She'd come here for answers but didn't feel like she'd accomplished anything. He didn't owe her, she could admit that and it was confusing to expect that level of intimacy after the relationship. She'd just have to accept not knowing and kill the constant 'what if's' going through her mind.
"I've taken up enough of your time, I need to get back to Gotham and my train will be departing soon," Pam explained.
"Oh, ok. You want a ride to the station?"
"I can take a taxi, I wouldn't want to impose." She heard Naruto scoff at her being an imposition.
"It'll be fine, besides Issie's here," he replied. She couldn't fight back the smile.
"Well, I guess I can for Issie," she said. Grabbing her things, the two made their way to the garage. In a private section sat one car, a black on black 1964 Lincoln Continental convertible, and Pam suspects Naruto's truest love; Isabell or Issie for short. Some might wonder how an ecoterrorist could have fond memories of a CO2 spewing hunk of metal but Naruto had restored and retrofitted the car himself. Zero emissions and the smoothest ride money could buy.
She was awash in memories as she approached the car. They'd had a lot of good times in that car. Their first time was in that car. It started as an impromptu day at the beach, followed by cruising during sunset. She'd recommended they stop somewhere to watch the night's sky but their stargazing was short-lived . It was a happy memory, one of many; dates, trips, special occasions.
She was slapped with the realization that this was likely her final ride as she slid into her seat. The drive was silent, the day's events something of an accurate portrait of the span of their relationship. It was fitting that it would end in silence, needed words never spoken and secrets never revealed. For the first time, it felt like the end and she wasn't sure she was alright with it.
"Your detective skills are sloppy, Clark," Batman said as he sat in a terminal within the Watchtower, more information about Naruto displayed on screen. "Naruto was a minor when he was at Caltech and Ivy's never taught there. They met during his graduate training at UC-Berkeley."
"I'm aware, Bruce. It just didn't seem relevant." He could feel the glare, a look so potent one didn't have to see it.
"How did he continue his business while getting a Masters in Biomedical Engineering and a BA in Sociology? There aren't enough hours in the day. Not without help or some kind of ability to manage it all."
"Ok, he has the ability of extreme time management. He'll make a great executive," Clark said. The glare seemed to gain a glare.
"When we left the building, the man escorting us out was William Wintergreen, Deathstroke's former man. Deathstroke became inactive for a spell several years ago, around the time Naruto would have been nine. Two years of silence and then Deathstroke shows up in the Markovian Revolution, on the side of the revolutionaries," Bruce pulled up multiple images of the notorious soldier of fortune. "There were reports he had a young apprentice with him but nothing could be confirmed."
"You think Lex Luthor sent his son to a warzone with a mercenary? To what end?"
"Real-world experience. I tried to obtain Naruto's records at the boarding school he attended but they have a level of encryption that would make Amanda Waller jealous."
"So, what, you think he's a sleeper agent? Lex's secret weapon?" Clark asked with a frown.
"I don't know. After he left for Caltech, there is no record of Naruto every having returned to Metropolis. Maybe Lex did see him as his ultimate weapon, maybe Naruto pushed back and kidnapping Ivy was an attempt to control his wayward son but I have no doubts Naruto killed his father. He's a killer, Clark. That makes him a threat."
"Settle down. If he did kill Lex then it is concerning but it was to save Poison Ivy. If he were involved in a revolution, he was a child and didn't have much choice. People can change, he may just need better role models."
"He needs prison," Bruce stated, forcefully. "He crossed the line."
"You don't get to decide that."
"You can't be serious. Today you saw him, he had Flash at his mercy. Even accounting for him not moving at top speed and Ivy being his focus, Naruto still managed to take him down and hold Wonder Woman at bay. And because you said on this information, we have a well-trained meta, wealthy and educated but we have no firm idea of his threat level." An alert prevented the duo from breaking out into a full blown argument.
"Breaking News. Just now, Channel 8 News has obtained traffic cam footage of armed assailants attacking Naruto Uzumaki; the just revealed adopted son of Lex Luthor. We do not know the final outcome of this assault but officers are on the scene; more as the story develops." Neither wasted time getting to the transporter.
Naruto pushed a button on the dash and a hidden compartment opened up, revealing a seal. He placed a hand down and channeled chakra, refueling his car before he left the parking lot. Building a chakra engine was no easy feat, he failed a lot and blew out engines but when he finally nailed it he couldn't stop beaming for a full day. Choosing a playlist, he put on a selection of jazz songs. He just wanted to listen and get lost on the road for a bit. It didn't take long for him to realize others had different plans for his evening.
He'd picked up a tail, they'd been on him since he left the train station. Assassination, kidnapping, or something else? He couldn't be sure but he was confident it'd be annoying in a really boring or trite way. Troublesome? Troublesome felt right. Dusk had finally lost its daily battle with the night so finding clear streets was easier. He just needed to prepare, the first step was getting Mr. Wintergreen on the line.
"Mr. Wintergreen, I doubt I have a lot of time so I'll be short. I've got a tail, two white vans doing front and follow, more on the rooftops."
"I can have a security team scramble immediately."
"Delay that until I see what they want. If it's a hit then I'll take care of it. If it's an abduction, I'll let it happen. Hopefully, they'll reveal something useful in the attempt."
Just as Naruto said that he had to make a sharp turn to avoid the discharge from a sonic cannon; a Lexcorp weapon. Naruto turned sharply and one of the vans gave up the pretense as it followed suit. He was at a disadvantage, Issie was built for comfort not speed but he needed to drag this chase out. One of the men in the van leaned out and took aim. Naruto turning down an alley allowed him to avoid the EMP blast. Whoever those guys were, they were well accustomed to advanced weaponry.
'Intergang,' Naruto concluded. He'd heard rumors his father had gotten involved with the organization but he'd hoped it been a lie. The other van stopped at the end of the alley, blocking the exit and this EMP disruption couldn't be avoided. Issie sputtered and stopped.
"It's Intergang and given what they've used they aren't here to kill me."
"What do you need, Master Naruto?"
"Get with Mercy, if Lex was involved with Intergang she'd know about it and their internal politics. Find a reliable Lieutenant with enough of a power base, there's going to be a change in management before the nights over."
"I'll deliver the message personally, sir."
"Good man. Also, have someone come get Issie and drop her at Diego's."
"Do be careful, sir."
"No promises," Naruto said, hanging up right before he was 'pulled' out of the car, hands zip-tied and a bag placed over his head before being shoved into a van. The ride was short, very few countermeasures were taken so they were confident they weren't being followed. If they were right, that worked out. He was dragged out of the van and tossed on the floor, whoever arranged this wanted him kneeling. It was so cliche. Just like the nondescript warehouse they brought him to. It looked very warehouse-y, he'd been expecting a little more for his first abduction; he was kinda like a big deal, ya know.
When the bag was removed Naruto saw a caucasian man of average height in a blue suit, smoking a cigarillo. He didn't have the first idea who the man was but wouldn't have to wait long to find out.
"Hello, Mr. Uzumaki. I'm Maximillian Mannheim and I've come to discuss our business arrangement."
"I wasn't aware we had an arrangement, Mr. Mannheim."
"Oh, Mr. Mannheim. You hear that boys? The kid's got some respect. Your father…" he paused to run his fingers from his chin outward, a profane gesture. "He treated us like the help, stepped on our traditions and we accepted it for his weapons. Well, brat, daddy isn't here anymore but you're still going to work with us. Or should I say for us? It might be nice to have such a large corporation to clean our money, among other things. You can sit in the big chair but you'll be taking orders from me.
Whaddya say to that?"
"What happens if I say no?"
"Oh, kid, you don't wanna say no. No brings trouble. To you, to your employees. To that plant bitch. Your life will just be a never-ending cycle of misery until you give in or you annoy me so much I kill ya outright. Yours isn't the only outfit in the world and weapon makers are eager to be weapon sellers."
Naruto rolled his eyes at the ridiculous man. He didn't even care that they were criminals, if they could secure weapons without the need of intimidation why wouldn't they? It was just stupid, some idiot with a little power, and a grudge against his dad just had to push things.
"What's your answer?"
Naruto didn't even waste words, instead shoving a lightning covered fist through the man's heart so fast no one saw him move. They were not expecting to deal with a meta. As several members watched their down leader it occurred to them that their target let himself be captured. He wanted to be here. It was a small deductive leap to get to why he'd do that and what that meant for them. Finally, their goon reflexes kicked in as they reached for their weaponry but they'd been too slow.
Where once stood a corpse and Naruto was replaced by pure darkness. It surrounded them, covered them like a blanket. They were more likely to hit each other than the red-haired freak that tricked them. One of the more astute members tried to negotiate but even his voice was swallowed by the unrelenting darkness.
"Fear of the dark," they heard an altogether too calm voice say from nowhere and everywhere in the room, "is universal in children. Young minds trying to make sense of a world without light; shadows and sounds that defy explanation. In the darkness, there are monsters that are only dispelled by the light.'
Dread filled Intergang members were being pushed, confronted with an enemy they couldn't see. A pair bumped into each other and both fired blindly, killing each other while the others stood unaware trapped in the complete absence of light, of hope.
"I wonder if we ever truly stop being afraid of the dark or just become better equipped to explain what exists. Now presented with something you can't understand are you afraid? Do you wish for the light to dispel the monster before you? Or could the light be just as terrifying?"
Slowly, the light started to return, along with their other senses. Heat, searing heat filled the room. Their lungs burned and air was a precious commodity. They were surrounded by fire, they were going to burn to death. For many, the smoke inhalation had rendered them unable to even attempt to flee. Some had already immolated, others buried by falling debris. A common thought was disbelief, an inability to accept this was going to be their end. So terrified of the darkness they just stood around and accepted death like cattle.
Clark had been too late to save anyone from the fire. He knew Bruce wanted to have it out, wanted to point out who he assumed to be responsible but Clark didn't need it. Bruce tended to overvalue his opinion and undervalue when to withhold it. Finding Naruto took no time at all, the young man cloistered in an unassuming Chinese restaurant. He drew some looks as he entered, may surprised to see Superman but he had no time to gladhand with the public. He sat down opposite Naruto, the Luthor heir having taken a table in the back, very discreet if not for the table full of food.
"The hardest part, well the most annoying part about not sharing my abilities with Pam was having to hide how much I really ate," Naruto said, not looking up from his Kung Pao chicken.
"Tell me about it," Clark said in sympathy. "Especially when you go out to eat and they just have a salad."
"Pam was a vegan. Dude I was in a near constant state of hunger until I could dip out. I'm glad I didn't develop an eating disorder over it. It's also the reason Issie has pleather seats when she deserves so much better."
"Love makes fools of us all," Clark agreed, breaking apart a pair of chopsticks and reaching for a steamed dumpling, which Naruto moved.
"People who've come to lecture me get egg rolls, no dumplings."
"Then it's a good thing I'm not here to lecture you about your use of force," Clark said as he continued to reach for the delectable food item. Naruto raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "What?"
"If you aren't here to lecture me then your shadow is going to be quite crossed with you," Naruto said as he let Clark dig in, a restaurant employee bringing an extra plate for the hero.
"He'll manage; pass the Mapo." Clark spooned the spiced tofu dish onto his plate, getting some steamed rice and stir fried vegetables. "Any chance I can get some Kung Pao?"
"Nope! Make due with the ginger beef."
"Those aren't equivalent."
"Hence making due. Not to put too fine a point on it but I did order all of this for me."
"And this is a lot of food, even for you," Clark pointed out as he got some of the red snapper. The whole fried fish smelled amazing.
"I'm in mourning, I'm eating my feelings."
"Uh huh, or you're starting to come into your man body."
"If it isn't illegal for you to comment on my physique, it should be, Pajama Man." Neither spoke after that, eating in silence. It was only nearing the meal's end did Clark finally get to why he was there.
"We need to talk about Lex," he said solemnly.
"No, we don't," Naruto shot back.
"How closely did you keep up with his activities these last few years?"
"I tried to help in the countries he destabilized but that was about it." Lex had started mining operations and other schemes to extract precious resources with no concern for the societal structures he was wrecking. Tribal conflicts, sectarian violence; misery followed him wherever he went.
Clark nodded, having noticed the pattern. He wondered if part of Lex's goal was to engage with his estranged son. "He's always hated me but it kicked into overdrive after you left. He was into so much stuff, not even the Justice League could track it all. I can't help but feel I contributed to it, to his end. It got bad and with him gone, you've got enemies, Naruto. And you're on Batman's radar. I can only do so much to protect you."
"You only told me the truth," Naruto said, taking a sip of water before continuing. He remembered when the Boy Scout showed him Lex's designs. An armor powered by his chakra, Naruto didn't get the big deal. He wasn't crazy about the idea, his chakra behaved better when molded internally and not manipulated from without but his dad loved building shit.
It wasn't until he continued skimming the blueprints that he saw the chip, the chip meant to remove his agency and make him little more than a drone. The ultimate weapon in his asinine war with the pajama people. Hard words were shared. Lex accused him of settling, of being a coward. Naruto retorted that Lex was just an Icarus in a world where people could fly. It only devolved from there but in an effort to avoid doing to Lex what he'd have done to anyone else, he kept his distance. And in the end, it didn't matter.
"I'm not concerned. Whatever happens, happens. And with Pam gone, I've got no one to leverage and I will handle up if I need to."
"You certainly displayed as such. You didn't have to kill them, Naruto."
"And they didn't have to kidnap me. I'm a private citizen so I haven't forsaken my right to self-defense just so I can fist fight in sleepwear. Besides, it was Intergang." Clark would never admit to some part of him agreeing with the sentiment so he pressed on.
"Just be careful."
"If people leave me alone I'll leave them alone." Clark, once again, couldn't argue. Naruto was much like a house cat. Or was it a slumbering tiger. Either way, he didn't go out of his way to start trouble but it could easily find him.
"Another bit of news; my responsibilities are pulling me out of Metropolis more and more so I'm bringing in some outside help." Naruto shrugged, it didn't matter to him but Boy Scout's smirk made him nervous. "It's Supergirl." Naruto paled and then got angry.
"Fuck you right to hell, Pajama Man!" he stated while pointing at his dinner guest. His ire only intensified as the bastard had the gall to laugh, actually laugh.