Chereads / Crossover Naruto Fanfics / Chapter 87 - Chapter 9

Chapter 87 - Chapter 9

The Justice League scrambled to the Javelin as Shayera informed them of the Gordanian Cruiser that just sped into Earth's atmosphere. John and Clark had started to chase after it themselves but Shayera informed them of the defensive countermeasures, including shielding that would electrocute them should they make contact. The entirety of the League got seated into the craft and took off with much haste, Bruce piloting their return to Earth.

The ship's course ended in Washington DC and all became concerned an invader was targeting one of the most important political centers on the planet. Bruce pushed the Javelin to catch up to the invader but all for not, as a second craft blew the original out of the sky. Seeing that it landed, Bruce did the same. As the door opened and a ramp descended down Shayera became relieved and gleeful.

"It's the Commander," she exclaimed as she exited swiftly and greeted the newly revealed Thanagarians. Upon their greeting, the League learned that Shayera was a Lieutenant in the Thanagarian army and, apparently, the Earth was in imminent danger.

"I know this is a lot to ask but we must speak with your world leaders if we are going to have any hope of repealing the Gordanian invasion," Commander Hro pleaded. All looked to Shayera expectantly and she informed them of their generations' long war against the Gordanians and how they are relentless in their attempts to eradicate the Thanagarians and all species that defy them. It was the next day Hro gained an audience with the UN to state his case.

With an audio/visual component, Hro was able to convey the horrors the Gordanians have inflicted upon his people and so many others. With thinly veiled pain he spoke about Earth's defenses not being adequate in any effort to repel the invaders, outing Shayera as a spy. The other League members met the information with varied reactions. Wally thought it was cool but John, pointing out they were the targets of her information gathering, didn't hide his sense of betrayal. Shayera's justification of following orders, like any soldier, did little to placate the Green Lantern, his hurt wouldn't allow it to.

Hro's and Shayera's reunited briefly on his ship but were interrupted by Kragger, Hro's second-in-command and someone who didn't seem to like nor trust Shayera, even suggesting she shouldn't be allowed to return to the Earthlings until she'd been thoroughly debriefed. Hro reacted poorly to the suggestion and told Kragger to, under no uncertain terms, stay in his place or face the consequences. It was a few hours later but Hro went to sleep feeling better than he had in years. His intended would be back with him, he'd tricked the Earthlings into lending a hand in their own destruction and he'd soon be able to eradicate the Gordanians.

An experienced military man, a survivor of the Gordanian prison camps, Hro was not prepared for one of his own to sneak into his room. Zlo, a proud Thanagarian and decade's long soldier, krept quietly into his commander's room. His brow was sweaty but his body moved with ease. He raised his Nth metal axe and cleaved into his leader's throat. The weapon went so deep Hro couldn't even scream as he drowned on his own blood. Zlo then placed the axe to his throat and all heard the yell of, "NO MORE LIES!" before he severed the arteries in his neck. Kragger was the first to arrive but several filled into the room but none could hear anything over his pained cries as he watched the man he loved and respected above all lay motionless in his arms.

Back in his penthouse, Naruto received the memories of his clone. His shadow manipulation had progressed well and he was comforted to know he could mimic the voice of humanoids, not just humans. Sneaking on the ship hadn't been easy and his clone had been almost overly cautious as the alien tech was unknown to him. It eventually found a prime target and keeping tabs on him and Hro's sleep cycle was relatively easy. It was lucky that Thanagarians had a similar enough REM cycle but the sound blocking illusionary technique didn't hurt. All in all, the actual killing had been the easiest part of the affair.

Naruto attended the UN summit out of curiosity but the Thanagarian's deception hit like a forty foot wave. The Earth had been invaded and were letting the fox guard the henhouse. He didn't have time to put together an overly sophisticated plan, the enemy seized the initiative and caught him flatfooted. Disrupting, even momentarily, their plans would give the necessary actors time to right themselves.

Naruto's plan, if it could be called that, relied on The Detective's rampant paranoia. If the Thanagarians reacted as if the assassination had to be caused by an Earthling then Gotham's hero would be suspicious as to why they were so confident it wasn't a Gordanian. If the Thanagarians used Hro's death to galvanize the population and deepen their support then Naruto would continue to assassinate high-value targets and destroy anything they built. That would surely get his notice. He may not have much use for the hero but the man had top notch deductive skills and wouldn't need to be led around by the nose.

It wouldn't take long for them to drop the guise, assuming they bothered with it after Hro's untimely demise, but whatever they chose they were no longer in an asymmetrical skirmish and would learn what it was to war against a Shinobi. If, for whatever reason, that did not suffice they would see what it was to do battle with a Jinchuuriki. And if that weren't enough, if they pushed him to use it, they would damn themselves to fight a Sage. He wouldn't be so forgiving if they made that necessary.

But those were concerns for later. He knew too little about his enemy, their weaponry and tech. Before his clone assassinated their leader it teleported some of their weaponry back. He kicked himself for not setting up a private lab and would have to go to Lexcorp to analyze the metal. It felt different and seemed to resonate with his chakra in some way. It was exciting, he didn't get to really do much science anymore, outside of his attempts to socially engineer a more just work culture. He briefly worried he was overconfident as he wasn't afraid of the Thanagarian invaders.

Overconfidence could kill faster than any blade but some part of him felt anticipation. He'd walked away from action and while he was with Pamela he was happy to run his business and be with her. He was still convinced his new path was the only way to reach his goals but the dance called out to him. Challenging him to see if he still had it, still could keep apace. He smiled as he felt Kurama do the same. He was returning to the killing fields and it felt right.

"I can't believe you let them do this," Bruce said. Clark was in no mood for a dressing down. He hadn't allowed anyone to do anything and it wasn't his place to sway nor dictate to the UN Security Council nor the Joint Chiefs. Now, back on the Watchtower Bruce was unloading. "Something is off here," Bruce continued.

"Your suspicions haven't really been panning out as of late," Clark observed. Maybe it was a low blow and unfair but if he felt it needed to be said. Bruce scowled, as was his way.

"The Gordanians on that ship were frozen, long dead before they arrived here and couldn't possibly have piloted that ship. But the Thanagarians, with a spy in place, just happen to arrive with an army? One ship of posed corpses versus an army but they aren't the threat? We've been infiltrated and can no longer trust Shayera. What reason, then, do we have to believe anything they've said?"

"I don't know," Clark answered. "But if they are telling the truth then we need their help."

"And if they aren't we could be damning ourselves."

Clark absorbed those words. He couldn't form a counterargument and while their relationship had been strained recently, he knew Bruce to be correct more often than not. But the world governments had already agreed to provide aid, the Justice League not following suit would look suspicious.

"We should go along with this, it would look bad if we didn't but that doesn't mean you can't do what you were going to do anyway. If you get proof then we can warn the people and take action."

"If they are a threat then we have to assume Shayera told them about our weaknesses. They may be ready for us," Bruce said as he departed. Clark hoped Bruce was wrong and he hadn't misplaced trust in someone he considered a friend.

As Clark considered the new arrivals to Earth he was not the only League member in deep contemplation. John floated in the sky, deep in thought. He'd hoped the stars and the cool air would grant him clarity. He wanted to see past the hurt and sense of betrayal but it was proving beyond him at the moment. Shayear had lied to them, to him. That was hard to accept even if she were following orders. But what really struck him was how she greeted her commander. It wasn't obvious but there was something in her way, in how she moved that revealed more than she may have intended.

They had been something to each other in the past, maybe still technically were. He wondered if he confronted her about it if she'd lie. Would he prefer that she did? A lie that let him continue believing what they had was real, that he hadn't been seduced for reasons unknown. A lie that excused him from feeling like a world class sap. John sighed as he sensed someone approaching and he bet it'd be the last person he wanted to see.

'Damn it,' he thought. He'd really hoped he was wrong but it was not to be. She soared so effortlessly toward him and he resented how at ease she appeared when he felt an unshakeable weight clinging to him, threatening to drag him down and never stop.

"John, we need to talk," Shayera said.

"We do," he agreed, "but not tonight. I don't want to say anything I can't take back and I don't want to lash out but I can't be calm and rational now."

Shayera didn't hide her disappointment. He wasn't being unfair but she didn't know how much time she'd have to resolve things with him. "I understand so maybe a compromise. You don't have to say anything, just let me explain so you have all the facts." John nodded and she formed a slight smile.

"I have only ever known a world where we were at war with the Gordanians. A war that's lasted so long that neither side is willing to end it until the other is broken completely. As I was taught, raised to do, once conscripted I serviced my people faithfully. When the war seemed to be turning against us I was sent out to find potential allies and I came upon Earth and her heroes. I didn't know I'd grow so close to you. I didn't know I'd wake up everyday feeling like a liar. I only wanted, I only want, to help my people survive."

John nodded but remained silent. He didn't envy her position. It didn't excuse her from lying, not completely, but he did understand to some degree. He'd seen galactic wars, lifeforms brought to near extinction due to conflicts so old no one remembered why they started. At a certain point the why doesn't matter, killing the enemy becomes a reason unto itself. He could eventually accept that but then he remembered how she welcomed her commander and he couldn't hold his tongue.

"What about you and Hro?" he asked. Shayera hesitated to answer and the silence told John all he needed to know, her words were just confirmation.

"We were promised to each other," she said. John turned to fly away, nothing else needed to be said. "Wait!" Shayera yelled but John didn't stop. She started after him but was impeded by a contingent of Thanagarian soldiers that suddenly surrounded her, led by Paran Dul. "What's the meaning of this?" she demanded to know.

"We need you to come with us Lieutenant," Paran said. "And before you ask, no it cannot wait." Shayera silenced the verbal protest that had been forming and followed back to the ship. She was ushered into the main conference room, Kragger sitting at the head of the rectangular table. That confused her but so did the silence and stern faces of her comrades.

"What have you told the Earthlings of us?" Kragger asked.

"Where's Hro?" Shayera questioned, ignoring Kragger.

"Have you betrayed us, Lieutenant Hol?" Kragger asked, this time his voice harder.

"Of course I haven't," she said with great disgust.

"Then how did someone infiltrate our ship and murder Hro? It had to be you." Shayera felt struck, a pain originating in her gut and spreading everywhere else. Hro was dead? How? Had the Gordanians had more soldiers on planet than they realized? Why were they thinking it was her? Nothing made sense.

"Why do you think it was me? You were pursuing a Gordanian ship, maybe they had an assassin hidden."

"Hardly, the Gordanians don't assassinate targets. They kill with overwhelming force, these kinds of tactics are not of them," Paran countered.

"It still makes no sense you think I had something to do with it. We were-"

"Promised to each other," Kragger finished. "That didn't seem to stop you from getting cozy with that Green Lantern."

"Don't worry about who was in my bed because you were jealous of who wasn't in yours," she spat knowing of his long term attraction to Hro. In other times, before the war, same sex relationships were accepted but the war effort had caused a rise in bias against such couplings, along with a return of arranged marriages. She'd once pitied the man but she wouldn't be shamed by him and not give it back.

Kragger's fury was obvious for all to see as his eyes reddened, his frown deepened and he slammed his hands on the table. "Take her to interrogation. If there is even a chance you betrayed us I'll kill you myself."

Shayera kicked away the guard with the cuffs and decked another, knocking him out. But out numbered and taken by surprise, she was subdued and dragged off. All the while she couldn't make sense of any of it. Why would anyone on Earth kill Hro? Why would they suspect her of siding with the humans when the Thanagarians were here to help? It just didn't make sense.

Naruto sat seiza as he looked upon the weapons he'd be taking with him. His ninjato and wakizashi were each shorter than his preferred katana but ideal for tighter spaces and assassinations. Kunai, shuriken for medium distance and distraction. Smoke bombs and various explosives. Finally, his bow and arrows. He smiled as he looked at the weapon, the updated alternative to rifles as he simply didn't like guns. It annoyed Slade to no end and once his frustration at Naruto not taking his firearms training seriously challenged the small redhead to come up with his own solution.

He recalled marching into Lex's home office and requesting (demanding) he help him. Lex laughed and challenged him to come up with something himself. "You have a keen mind, Naruto, use it for more than just fighting," he remembered his father saying before he escorted him to his lab. It took months for Naruto to develop something to his liking. He hadn't developed the mokuton, koton, nor knew any fuinjutsu at the time so it was just Lex and him crafting designs and testing models. When he finally nailed it he proved it to Slade by clipping a deer a little under a mile away. Venison hadn't tasted better since.

He worked through the memory and all other thoughts as his process to clear his mind. He trained regularly and was still sharp but what he was undertaking was decidedly different than roughing up a merc or dealing with a gang. The Thanagarians had come prepared to subdue the planet, his surveillance clones confirmed as much and while he didn't know their ultimate plan he knew it wasn't to form an alliance with the governments of Earth.

He'd also tested the peculiar metal they used to forge their weapons. In two days he learned that it seemed to be able to absorb or disrupt the yin aspects of his chakra but not the yang. It meant elemental manipulation would be weakened but not negated, however his illusions and shadow manipulation could be if he allowed them to discover such useful information. He had no intention of allowing them to learn anything about him, he wouldn't even allow them to see his face, which led him to the last time.

A porcelain mask but one that held special significance to his biological parents, most especially his father. When they spoke of Konoha they would mention an elite organization within the ninja forces, the ANBU. His father said they were the best of the best, shadows and rumors that could make even the most hardened veteran shake in fear. They were the ANBU and during his short reign he inducted his sole remaining student into the organization. With some help from Old Man Sage, Minato presented Naruto with the same mask that was assigned to Kakashi.

This would be the first time he'd wear it, having been given it after his time in Markovia and none of his other exploits feeling deserving. But for this, he'd wear it and hope he'd do his surrogate brother proud. Because for this, he needed to be a shadow; unseen, unheard, unnoticed until he decided so. He'd selected his targets but couldn't count on everything going according to plan. He was clearing his mind not to rid him of his nerves but to embrace them, to work through them so he could use them to remain vigilant.

Naruto could feel Kurama laying a short distance away from him but remaining silent. If he thought this was a mistake he'd have said so, he appreciated that Kurama rode the line of respecting his choices but offering a different perspective. Naruto worked through the last of his thoughts and once he felt clear he collected his weapons and placed everything where it should be, his swords strapped to his back; ninjato parallel to it and the wakizashi across the small of his back. Everything else was either in hostlers or sealed. He adjusted his armor one last time, a charcoal grey vest over his midnight blue shirt with mesh lining. He checked his bracers and gloves. He was ready.

Hyperspace bypass. That was Hro's plan, one Kragger committed to with the blind devotion of the truly obsessive follower he was. Shayera, body racked with the aftermath of her impromptu torture session. It hadn't started that way, protocol had been followed but when the examiner concluded she'd been loyal, Kragger wasn't satisfied. He'd gone for harsher methods and as the highest ranking officer no one would refuse him.

She groaned as she adjusted on her ceilroom floor. She hadn't needed to be so defiant but she refused to whimper in front of him. He was the maniac, he was the coward abusing his newly won authority. So blinded by his jealousy and pain he wasn't looking for the real culprit. Kragger needed her to be guilty and freed himself from all concerns of professionalism or discipline. She hadn't intended it but as she refused to bow to his machinations his frustration boiled over and he let slip what they planned to do. Destroy Earth, kill billions and all for a chance to attack the Gordanian homeworld.

It was the desperate plan of a madman but, unfortunately, she couldn't place it at Kragger's feet. Hro had changed since her time away and she'd never know why. It would be simple to conclude the war wasn't going well and he was nearing his wits' end. But this was something else, it was becoming so warped that the concept of innocent life is one you no longer acknowledge. And as she lay on the cold floor, Shayera had to wonder what she'd have done if Hro were still in charge. Would she be a good, little soldier? Question him? Defy him? Hopelessly try to find a compromise?

None of those were knowable and in her current condition, they were beyond the point. She needed to get free and warn the others. Shayera wasn't naive, she realized that if she foiled her people's plan it may spell their doom. She'd cry later, mourn later. Now? She had to act, escape and get word to the League. Pained and tortured to near unconsciousness she was nowhere near her best but it'd have to do.

She released the choke on the guard selected to bring her her meal, relieving him of his axe before she departed, closing the barrier as she did. Sneaking around was never her specialty but as she slowly made her way through the halls. Each step felt like agony, she leaned against the corridor wall for support. Shayera froze when the alarms started blaring. She'd thought she'd have more time. Sneaking out was one thing but having to fight her way to freedom was an impossibility in her current condition. The curving halls didn't allow for places to hide and she swore she was caught when she heard the marching of several soldiers.

She gripped her axe, even if she didn't have much fight she wouldn't surrender so easily. Taking a deep breath she mustered all the strength she could and lied in wait. She could barely hear the alarms over the sound of her heart beating in her ears. Crouching down she waited, the steps getting closer and closer. Until they stopped.

*Ding*

It was faint but she knew that sound. It was the lift. They were leaving the floor to go elsewhere. She waited for them to board and leave. When she heard a second ding she figured she was alone and shuffled to the lift doors. Using her axe she prided the doors loose and flew, her wings having been spared Kragger's jealous wrath. She needed to get to the docking bay and hoped the contingent of soldiers hadn't been headed there. Lucky smiled on her once more as the platform stopped one floor above where she needed to go and she once more pried open the doors.

Shayera tried to keep her deep breathing as silent as possible. The short flight and exertion of opening the doors draining what little energy she had. Leaning against the wall, she continued to move. Her only thought was of escape, focusing on it numbed her pain and pushed her to keep going. Rounding the walkway, she heard the sounds of a fight. Shayera bit down and grimaced as she increased her pace.

She couldn't fight anywhere near full capacity but if there was another person fighting her people she may have an ally or, should the worse happen, someone to carry along her message should she be able to escape. Maybe that would be what she deserved, a traitor twice over, to die beaten and broken while the real heroes saved the day. The thought was locked away as unhelpful, absolute focus was needed now.

Slowly but stridently she reached the sound of the scuffle and saw Batman slugging it out with several soldiers. She could see some bruising on the exposed part of his face and some blood trickling down his lip. Shayera took a deep breath to brace for the pain. She lifted her stolen axe, ribs and screaming in protest, and clubbed the nearest combatant. The hit managed to knock the man out but it took everything Shayera had. Still, it worked and distracted the soldier fighting Batman long enough for the hero to render him unconscious with a stiff punch.

"Bat… Batman, hyperspace," she stopped as her breathing became ragged and pain emanated from her chest. "Bypass," she finished. She didn't know if he'd know what that meant but a sudden coughing jag kept her from saying more. She felt Gotham's Hero lift her in a bridal carry and run toward the docking bay. Things were becoming hazy and Batman's demands that she stay awake were having little impact. Unconsciousness was so seductive and nearly impossible to ignore.

Even in her state she saw several Thanagarians just up ahead and ready. She felt Batman's body tighten. She was a liability and needed to be left so he could escape. Only the information mattered. "Lea… me," she muttered. No verbal response came. What did happen was one of the four soldiers being struck by an arrow strong enough it lifted him off his feet. The placement, the point where the neck met one's chest meant the soldier would die swiftly. Everyone was still as the only sign of the mystery archer was the arrow and the rapidly dying body it was sticking out of. The inexplicable appearance of mist so thick you felt a part of it only ratcheted up the tension even more.

Three bodies dropped. There were no sounds of pain or exertion, just the sound of three objects hitting the ground and the mist disappeared. Again she felt Batman tense but her battle to remain conscious was finally lost and Shayera passed out.

When Shayera returned to consciousness she could feel she was on a really hard surface, besides the pillow propping up her head. There was also an I.V. in her arm but none of the sounds nor smells she'd associate with being in a hospital. Most confusing, she was completely pain free. She heard people approaching so remained still in case she needed to take them by surprise.

"Maple," she heard a feminine voice say.

"That's fine, Ms. Lane," a younger, male voice responded.

"Hey, why can't I get some new furniture?" a voice she definitely recognized as Supergirl asked in a whiny tone.

"I pay you plenty, go stimulate the economy," the male voice said.

"I thought you were against rampant consumerism," Kara said and Shayera could almost feel the young man roll his eyes as he spoke.

"To say I'm against rampant consumerism is such a juvenile distillation of my beliefs I have to wonder if you listen when I'm talking to you." The voice was sounding more familiar the more she heard it.

"Not really. But when I used to pretend to for long enough you'd eventually take my clothes off." Kara replied

"Pam never had trouble keeping up," Pam? As in Pamela Isley or Poison Ivy? Naruto Uzumaki, Shayera was sure, responded. Apparently Kara didn't like it as Lois interceded.

"Ok, kids, in your neutral corners."

"Apologies Ms. Lane. And Macy, you don't have to pretend to be asleep." Shayera grimaced, unhappy she was found out by bickering children. She sat up from the dining room table that was her bed and stared at the son of Lex Luthor. His eyes, they seemed wrong to the Thanagarian. Filled with concern that shouldn't be there, at least by her estimation.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Why do you care?" she asked as she believed he had no use for superheroes.

"Well, for one; you are my patient such as it is," he began to explain. That was so shocking she couldn't help but interrupt.

"You healed me? Why?" He could heal people?

"Yes and why gets to the second reason I'd care outside of ya know, general emotional maturity; you being detained and tortured was not something I foresaw. My oversight has caused you harm and I sincerely apologize."

His oversight? But that would mean… Shayera flew at Naruto in a cocktail of blind rage and crushing guilt. "You killed Hro!" she shouted as both hands were caught before she could ever reach him. The allure of the counterfactual was too much for her, it felt freeing to see the reality where she talked Hro down from his plan and they found an alternative solution.

It didn't matter how unlikely it was, it didn't matter that he had no intentions of telling her until it was too late to stop it. She focused on the chance, as she wouldn't have been labeled a traitor. She could have figured things out with Hro and wouldn't be in a position to fight her own kind. If not for this murdering bast-

"I hate people who lie to themselves," Naruto said evenly and all Shayera's rage and hostility vanished as Naruto released her. It was as if she were hit with a bucket full of iced water. She wanted the fantasy, the one where she still had a place to call home as now she had nothing, no one. An alert from a phone broke Shayera's train of thought. She watched Lois retrieve her phone and let out a curse at the message.

"The Thanagarians have just declared Martial Law," she said. Shayera watched Naruto unhook a mask from his side and put it on and then vanish without a trace.