"This is some shameful shit," a robotic voice uttered to his captive audience. The imprisoned Justice League could only look upon the armored individual in silence, all ignoring the writhing of the Justice Lord's J'onn, signs of mental torture abound.
Half the heroes looked down in shame as they once again required outside assistance. A few became rigid in offense. Superman smiled knowing their savior's sense of humor and Kara… she was having none of it.
"Just get us out of here, Naruto!" Kara demanded and blew a raspberry when she heard his chuckle.
"As you wish," he said, sarcastically, making his way to the console. Moments later, the makeshift cell was gone and all were free. Each member demonstrated their relief for being sprung differently but none seemed to have the requisite haste. She was just as happy to be unrestrained but their dimension couldn't tolerate a slow turnaround.
"There's no time to waste, we might be able to stop them now," Power Girl, aka Karen, said. Collectively, it dawned on the other heroes her mistaken assumption.
"Karen… if Naruto is here it means the Justice Lords sought to confront him," Clark started slowly, hoping to soft-peddle the reality.
"And he escaped, we have a chance."
"You're wrong, he killed them. That's why he's here, the threat has been neutralized," Batman added, bluntly.
Karen turned from Batman toward Naruto, back and forty, in disbelief. It was unthinkable that one person could defeat the Justice Lords and have done so seemingly unscathed. She didn't have long to dwell on it as the grief broke through her thoughts with the force of a dam bursting. Her Clark, the closest thing she had to a brother was well and truly gone. Power Girl hastily flew away, breaking the sound barrier as she did. Supergirl followed behind knowing no one should be alone after such news was delivered callously.
"I wonder how many enemies you have for no reason other than you're a fucking asshole," Naruto said. Bruce squinted and growled but did not verbally respond to the younger man.
"We can contemplate the big questions later," Clark announced in an attempt to disrupt any potential altercations. "We need to collect Kara and get back to survey the damages. You look fine but did you get hurt?"
"No, I'm fine," he answered. He thought it best not to provide any details. "Anyway, I can bring Kara back so you use this," Naruto handed Clark the second dimensional transportation device, "and get back so the public doesn't think I killed their version of you."
"How will you get back?" Diana asked as the original device had been destroyed upon their arrival.
"I never needed it to get here, I'll be fine."
"Your teleportation technique is multidimensional?" Bruce asked but was confident in his conclusion.
Naruto shrugged in response, it'd only been minutes but he'd already had his fill of Bruce Wayne. He wished the man posed an actual threat so he would be justified in beating his ass. It was an inexplicable sensation, having to not deck someone because one genuine punch from you would kill them dead.
"You should worry less about what I can do. Besides, don't you have to reassure the people of Gotham you'll beat up not even one percent of the criminals active and have no actual impact on public safety?"
Bruce growled Bruce-ily as his body tensed.
Naruto was in need of a Genie because he wished a hero would.
"That's enough," Clark said in exasperation. "We're leaving," he instructed.
Naruto didn't wait to watch them depart, instead following something pulling at his senses. He traversed the gold trimmed, ornate corridors decorated to memorialize the greatness of warriors he dispatched in under two minutes. He had to make his way to a basement to find the curiosity. He ended up in front of a cell, unlocked and unguarded. A beaten and near death Lex lay helpless covered by a bloody sheet. It was clear whoever, and he'd guess Superman given the grouping of the burn marks, enjoyed their work.
"W-who?" Lex struggled to speak, likely suffering a broken jaw amongst his other injuries.
"Nathan… Luthor. I'm from the dimension you sent Power Girl to."
"Luthor?" he mumbled with his unswollen eye lighting up.
"I'm the son of Lex Luthor over there, guess there isn't a me here."
"N-no, no son. Did-" his statement was cut off by a violent cough, one he could ill afford. It was clear the sudden jerking caused him immense pain.
"She managed to get help and we defeated the Justice Lords."
"Mhmm," Lex grunted. His breath was becoming more shallow. Naruto knew it wouldn't be much longer.
"Was… I… good father?" Lex asked but Naruto could feel the real question. In the final moments Lex wanted to know if he could have been good, better than what he'd been for most of his adult life.
"Yes," he said, giving the man a final show of grace.
A Wayne Industries satellite, one equipped with a high speed camera, caught the fight between Naruto and the Justice Lords. Bruce insisted the members watch the footage. Clark suspected this wasn't being used as a teachable moment as much as it was to stir up more negative feelings about Naruto. But he chose to remain silent and the fellow members selected to stay.
They all watched as copies of themselves, minus Wally, engaged with and were summarily dispatched in moments and seemingly little effort. Clark knew, however, that the ease of the fight masked where the real effort went. Clark lamented that if Bruce and Naruto could get over their differences they'd see they were a lot alike.
"Wheat would have put up a better fight!" Shayera exclaimed as she stood up and slammed her hand against the table. The echoes reverberated throughout the large room. Her body was rigid and Clark understood the reaction. Witnessing the defeat of her double added to their capture too grievous an injury to her pride.
"It's important to remember that they aren't us," J'onn offered diplomatically, "and they were here with calamitous intent."
"Ill-intent or not, the video tells the tale," the lone Green Lantern stated. "We've been in some tough predicaments, times where I thought I wasn't going to personally see us to the end but I've never doubted the team could ultimately get the job done. And then this kid… he toys with us, dispatches our copies. Is it time we consider informing someone, anyone about him?" He sounded resigned, desperate for a solution he couldn't grasp himself.
"No," Clark said firmly. "He isn't a criminal. He only confronted the Justice Lords because we came up short."
"And he knows our secret identities. We inform on him he may do the same to us," Bruce joined in.
"That wasn't my point, at all. He isn't a villain. He doesn't even want to be involved with us. This is decision making through fear."
"For all we know he's a Darkseid level threat, we should be afraid," John argued back, eyes aglow in agitation.
"Everytime we do poorly we focus on Naruto," Diana voiced. "It shames us. Your resentments shame you. Instead of thinking of ways to be better we obsess about one young man who has only responded to our actions."
"Speaking of, we have three members with extensive military experience. Would any of you or all of you be interested in developing ways to improve our team work? It's clear a lack of it can be exploited and I'd rather not repeat any of the mistakes of the Justice Lords," Clark said and hoped this would move them off Naruto entirely.
"I'm sure I could come up with a few exercises," John responded.
"I think we should also consider expanding our ranks," Bruce mused. "There is simply too much for us to handle while also leaving undertrained or under supported heroes out there is a risk to them and us."
"Won't that look like we're building an army?" Wally asked.
"We are at war," Bruce responded as if that were obvious. He'd dedicated himself to the neverending war on crime and deviance.
"So, the Darkseid level threat has an issue with heroes existing outside of the rules of society and you're going to prove him right by amassing an army of heroes. One he might assume is or will eventually target him? Is no one else seeing a problem here?"
"No, Wally," Superman began, "I see your issue but as he isn't a threat nor a member, Naruto doesn't get to dictate League policy. I think inviting more heroes to join is a worthy idea." He actually thought the timing was beyond suspicious, however, he couldn't fight Bruce on everything he wanted. But it didn't mean he had to be passive, concluding that this obvious move was a setup for and an attempt to hide several others.
Cochinita Pibil, a slow roasted pork dish from Yucatan, Mexico. The pork was still wrapped in the green banana leaf it was cooked in. Beside it, roasted spiced, yellow potatoes and a stack of blue corn tortillas. Along with it, a smoked and braised Barbacoa. Grilled vegetables of various kinds, a smattering of salsas. There was even a papaya salad only found in Veracruz. The smells of the multi-regional feast, the colors, all of it could whet the appetite of the pickiest of eaters. It all looked delicious and all paled in comparison to the plate in front of our red haired hero.
Oaxaca, Mexico is known for its seven distinct moles. Naruto's favorite was the mole negro. His favorite place to get it was from a village elder, Senora Maldanado. She didn't have a shop per se, but would make batches of mole negro when she felt like it and host informal gatherings. He'd been beyond lucky to happen upon it during his walkabout and honored she'd been so welcoming. The taste of that sauce had left an indelible imprint on his mind, a food so perfect he'd never try to replicate it. It was art.
So it would be understandable that his two dinner companions, both in his penthouse upon his return, would have sought out the Senora and retrieved the chicken enchiladas de mole negro as a bribe to be heard. They even had his preferred Mezcal. Before he sank his fork into what could only be understood to be the perfect food (you could disagree. He probably wouldn't fight you. Probably. Maybe.) he took a moment to let his offense register.
He'd accept this bribe. He, however, wouldn't ignore the intent. Obviously, they wanted him to remain calm. Fair enough. But if food is enough to do it then how volatile is he really? He's not some ogre. Now, with that out of the way he dug in, the pair taking it as a signal to do the same. The meal was quiet and slightly tense. Not in an assessing threats kind of way but in a dad got caught staring at the nanny's ass sort of way. Only after he polished off the enchiladas did he speak.
"So, let me take a stab at this to save time," he opened with as his mind worked through the scant evidence he had. "I'm guessing when Supergramps sent me here he had the forethought to realize sending a baby with his only back up being sealed inside him was a bad idea so he wrangled some guardians. As he wanted me to experience this world fully, you weren't to raise me but to keep an eye out. Mr. Wintergreen…, he didn't survive that Hive assault, that's when you made the switch. And while under some really advanced seals you two have been sharing a life and working as I don't even know."
So, Kakashi, Obito, how close am I?"
The room filled with the silence of his, now, named companions as each eyed the other intently. With each having a single eye covered they were mirror images of each other. It was mere seconds but the moment dragged.
"He's scary smart like Madara" Obito said.
"I'm not sure that's a compliment," Kakashi observed in a slow drawl.
"Honestly, I'm not either. You aren't hiding any secret plans to insare the world in a mass genjutsu projected off the moon?"
"No," Naruto said as he drummed his fingers against the table. "With all the water molecules in the atmosphere I could achieve a similar feat and save the chakra cost of projecting it that far out… wait, Madara? As in Uchiha Madara? The dude who could summon meteorites and started Konoha with Senju Hashirama? You knew that dude? I figured he'd be long dead."
"He, uhm, had his ways to prolong his life," Obito said, unable to mask his discomfort and guilt. Kakashi simply chose to believe Naruto was joking about putting the entire world under a genjutsu and would never mention it again.
"Oh, he was the one that abducted you? Mom and Dad didn't share that detail, only that someone traumatized you and it resulted in… well, you were there."
"Yea. I'm so-"
"Don't apologize," Naruto interrupted. "My parents both said they forgave you and it isn't my place to carry a grudge on their behalf. Even if they hadn't, you've given twenty plus years of your life to watch over me and that has to count for something. I'd probably kick your ass if they hadn't but not much beyond that."
"I'd deserve it."
"Mah, mah, heavy emotions makes the food taste bland," Kakashi interjected.
"Shut it Bakashi, let us have a moment."
"Still with that horrible nickname. If I'd let you go on you'd be crying soon enough. Trust me, Naruto, this one? Biggest crybaby ever when we were kids."
"I constantly had stuff in my eye," Obito griped as he stood over his former teammate.
"You wore goggles, Obito. All of the time."
The two continued to bicker which caused Naruto to laugh at the exchange. It felt good after the day's events. The two older men soon joined in, though Kakashi was much more reserved. They eventually settled back down and continued enjoying the smattering of offerings from below the border.
"I have to admit, I thought you'd be mad," Kakashi said. Obito nodded as he'd, too, anticipated a more negative response or accusations about their dishonesty.
"I guess I could be but I'm assuming the old man asked you to keep it a secret. And like I said, twenty some odd years have to count. I'm more sad you guys kept it up for so long because I wouldn't want either of you living half a life. Also, I could have probably done something about why each of you have some portion of your faces covered. Hell, I could probably do it now."
"You should definitely help Kakashi," Obito said a little too quickly. "Ever since he got my eye he's been a complete flop due to the chakra drain."
"I hate repeating myself, you should know that. Twenty years, Obito. Keeping your face marred won't achieve anything."
"It'll be a reminder," he said softly.
"Jesus help me, I thought you Uchiha couldn't forget. This, as well intentioned as it might be, is self-indulgent. I don't know what you need to forgive yourself but I doubt reconstructive healing or lack thereof is the barrier."
"He's right," Kakashi said. "I've never judged you for your guilt as I carried my own but it's enough. You've done enough and with the secret out it's time to start living in earnest. Sensei would want that and so would Rin."
Naruto almost flinched at the amount of hurt that swelled within Obito when Kakashi said that last name. He knew a little about her, his dad didn't go into great detail but he could sense that her life ended in tragedy.
"Fine," Obito said softly. Naruto nodded and headed to the kitchen to grab an apple, munching it down quickly to the confusion of the two ninja in the room.
"Figured you wouldn't want someone with enchilada breath in your face. I provide five star service, gentleman," Naruto quipped. Kakashi shot him what he could only characterize as an eye smile and Obito chuckled. The Uzumaki pulled out the chair beside Obito's right side and with his hand glowing green he got to work. It was near instantaneous, the feelings of foreign cells that were hyper-regenerative and attracted to his chakra like a magnet. Naruto didn't fight them as the more resources he could pull from Obito's body the less radical the treatment would be. It was over in moments but due diligence required he perform a quick diagnosis to make sure everything else was fine.
It would be quick and he doubted he'd find anythi- his facial expression morphed into a mix of horror and fury. Everything was not fine.
"Naruto, what's wrong?"
"Someone put a seal on your heart. I can't tell what kind but I doubt it's there to help you."
"Madara, that old bastard," Obito spat after a moment's consideration. "I guess he left a failsafe in case his pawn got ideas. Can you remove it?"
Naruto frowned as he nodded, "I can but the issue is the method. If it's never bothered you before we can assume the seal is stable but any attempts to remove it could change that. So whatever we do it'll have to be fast"
"Ok, so what?"
"Breathe."
"What?"
"Breathe in deeply." Obito did and Naruto watched intently. When he felt the man had sufficiently relaxed he thrusted his hand in Obito's chest and removed his heart, the trapped organ contained within a chakra cube. Naruto used his free hand and healed the damage done, including growing a new heart.
"Ow, what the fu- actually it doesn't hurt but dude, what the hell!" Obito exclaimed.
Naruto held up the cube and the former Konoha residents watched as he was atomized. "There is no polite way to tell you I'm going to rip your heart out."
"Do it anyway!"
"Next time I will," Naruto responded and flashed a megawatt smile.
"You've got too much Kushina-san in you," Obito accused. Naruto shrugged as he walked to the kitchen to thoroughly wash his hands. The changes needed for Kakashi's body to accept the Sharingan eye as naturally his was a little more involved but still manageable for the crimson haired man. He left the scar, though, calling it a pretty boy affectation. Obito agreed and the two teased Kakashi for the rest of the night.
"You seem very calm for someone who might die today," Slade said to Lex. The two were in a luxury SUV navigating through Gotham, a city that offended all of Lex's billionaire sensibilities. A gutter city, in his estimation. Even when the sun was out the city felt grimey like a thick layer of soot hung in the air. He had no idea how Naruto tolerated this city for as long as he did. Well, he did know. Ivy. Not the woman he'd pick for his boy if he'd been allowed a vote.
Not that she wasn't Naruto's type. He should have known the boy would be drawn to powerful and dangerous women, his first crush was Lady Shiva. That, of course, would make his fling with that Kara girl an aberration. At least on the surface.
"That's why I have you here," he finally responded to Slade in a breezy manner. Slade scoffed.
"I might be able to keep a lid on things but if the situation starts going down you know where I stand."
Lex didn't respond. In the past, he'd be immeasurably offended that someone was claiming to fear another more than they feared him. However, a healthy fear of Naruto was wise. He didn't fear his son but he recognized others should. It often amazed him how many saw him as just some punk kid executive. A darkly humorous joke for the initiated he decided.
"Are we bringing them with us?" Slade asked about the three assassins sitting in the seats behind them. The other members were detailed to the SUV behind them with Talia and the Wayne bastard. A bit pompous, Lex thought. Naruto was a sweet and curious child. A son any man could be proud of.
"No, they can stay in the car. The smaller the party the less likely we'll run into any incidents. Besides, I'm coming with gifts and an offer of cooperation."
"Well, we're here so I hope you're one convincing motherfucker."
"The Luthor charm never fails."
"Then why is Naruto an only child?" Slade quipped.
"Because I can make a lot of things but not a god and certainly not from my testicles. Any child I conceived would be so inferior to Naruto as to be a waste of time and I wouldn't bother pretending otherwise."
"Also the child support would be astronomical."
Lex ignored that barb as he hacked the security lock to enter the apartment complex. It didn't take long for Slade and him to arrive at their destination and perform a quick knock on the door. Without preamble, Lex was pulled swiftly from the door, two shots piercing the barrier just as he got out the way.
"What the fuck are you doing here Lex?" Harley yelled.
"I'm here to speak to Ivy and you. I've only come to talk, you have my word." Lex's request for parle was met with two thick and thorny vines seeking to entrap him. Slade removed the two semi-automatic pistols from his suit jacket and opened fire, successfully blasting away at the threatening vegetation. Through the gunsmoke, Harley charged, revolver at the ready. He knocked the gun off center, the impending shot going astray. A feral hook from the former sidekicked was ducked and he pushed her back just in time for Ivy to join the fray.
This was bad. The plant manipulator attempted to exchange blows, the longtime merc easily fending off her capable attack but it was all a feint for more vines to bust into the corridor. Now, he had to fend off Ivy, her damn plants, and Harley's hand cannon without actually attacking them. At some point the ladies realized Slade wasn't fighting them seriously and paused their offensive.
"Why aren't you fighting back?" Harley asked.
"Because someone truly terrifying said she," he pointed to Ivy, "was to never to be harmed or there would be consequences."
"You may be here to talk but why would either of us care, last we met you were going to dissect me," Ivy said as several vines remained at the ready.
"No, I wanted Naruto's attention and that was the best way to get it. If I were going to experiment on you I wouldn't have delayed."
"You had your men firing live rounds at me," Harley stated.
"You hurt my son but wasn't under his protection. Be glad I only had some second rate henchmen shooting at you."
Harley emptied the cylinder of her revolver and reloaded. "You should check your situation, Lex. Your muscle won't harm Ivy. Ivy won't let him harm me but I can play duck hunt with your head until I get lucky or run out of bullets. Because last I checked, daddy wasn't under Red's protection either."
"Sure, you could do that. And you can trust that I don't have a contract just waiting to be activated for your life. Or you can be rational, take advantage of the situation and get what you want."
"And what's that, baldy?" Harley asked.
"Gotham," Lex answered.
Naruto sat in his Lexcorp office. Obito and Kakashi standing on the opposite side of his desk, both slightly worried and with just cause as the Hatake not only provided evidence of Lex being alive but footage of Ivy and Harley entering an SUV with Lex and Slade. If that weren't enough, and both former ninja knew it was indeed enough, the route the small convoy was taking was headed toward a place Lex shouldn't know about and if he were wise he'd have continued to pretend he didn't.
So, Naruto sat at his desk, his left hand balled into a fist tight enough to squeeze blood from a stone. His eyes were closed and it was clear he was attempting one of his diffusion exercises to process and release his anger. That would normally be a good sign except for the nine distinctive spikes of hair floating, a clear sign his blood was near a boil.
The fist, a place to localize the sources of his anger, tightened even more before his hair stopped floating. Naruto opened his hand and made a gesture as if tossing away an invisible object. He then began to mutter and his lifelong protectors realized he was onto stage two. After gathering up the sources of anger in one location and recognizing them they were released. The second part was to make a list of reasons to be grateful, slowly closing the same hand. The idea being you release what upsets you but hold on to what centers you. Moments later Naruto opened his eyes and it was clear a code: Uzumaki, wouldn't be needed. He wasn't going to be raging out of control, which was good.
Now, he just looked a lot like sensei.
Sensei during the Third Shinobi war. Sensei when he was harvesting souls like he was the Shinigami.
"Someone's going to die," Obito observed. Kakashi sent up a double eye smile before flashing his Sharingan.
"Only those that deserve it."
Naruto sent off a message on his secure phone as the two spoke. "I'm going to get Rose. I don't know what Sensei is doing with my father but hopefully Rose can talk some sense into him." Neither man asked what would happen if she couldn't. The trio heard a vibration and Naruto returned his attention to his phone. He willed a shadow clone into existence.
"The clone will take you there and I won't be far behind." The real Naruto vanished and the pair left with his clone.
"Just continue to our destination," Lex ordered neutrally, not at all concerned about the convoy of military vehicles following behind them. The driver did as instructed but increased his speed, the SUV behind them following suit. The two-way-road, a single lane on either side, was not well traveled so there was little traffic to impede them.
"All going according to plan?" Slade asked.
"It usually does."
"What have you gotten us involved in Lex?" Ivy asked with a curt edge to her voice.
Lex looked out the window at the trees whipping by, both hands pulling at his lapels, a self-satisfied smile on his face. "All will be revealed soon, we're almost there." His answer did nothing to comfort Ivy nor Harley. The discomfort grew when their car stopped seemingly randomly, the other parked behind it. The humvees and armored transport vehicles surrounded them in a semicircle, a dozen and a half men with rifles at the ready and an older man at the center of it. Lex exited the vehicle free from any preoccupation and approached.
"General, surely this isn't the deserved response to an associate returning from the dead."
"You play dead and then Cadmus goes to hell. Our superweapon is destroyed, Waller dead and a fake Justice League is cut down. Then, suddenly, you reemerge. I see lightning, I ready for thunder. And when I hear thunder I assume it part of the same storm. Two questions; why did you betray us and where is the warrior that killed the fake heroes?"
"Point of fact, I never betrayed you. The misery that rained down upon you, that storm you were preparing for, was called down by your own actions. I simply did nothing to stop it. Although, in fairness to myself, I'm not sure if I could have swayed things one way or the other. If I had any control, you would not be the one still alive. Amanda and I ran at a similar speed; I'm sure you understand."
Eiling turned red in fury at the complete lack of respect Luthor had for him. Waller was hardly better, both thinking he was beneath them. Just some idiot in a uniform, a grunt putting on airs. "The warrior Lex!"
"Oh, yes, that mysterious warrior. Well, you do the stupid thing you want to do and he'll be here but you won't be happy." Lex could see he'd pushed the man past his limits. The order to fire came in his next breath, all aiming to gun down the passengers in the SUV and Luthor himself. But the bullets never made it to their intended targets, round after round suspended in motion while a familiar sight stood before him, again shielding him from harm like he'd done with Superman so many years ago.
Except the person who stood in front of him now was a grown man. Shoulders broad and filling out the merlot, windowpane adorned, suit.
"Son," Lex greeted. Naruto said nothing in return.
"It was you?" Eiling asked, his voice equal parts shocked and outraged. So invested in this new revelation he never noticed his men were being silently butchered, not until the last one fell. Two unknown men appeared beside his son, them moving in speeds untrackable by the human eye.
"Escort them to the house," Naruto ordered and Lex found himself being ushered back into the car. The taller, silver haired one joined them, talking Ivy through how to lower the defenses so they could drive up. Lex could tell she was slightly confused when what looked to be a tree contained a biometric scanner, one she could activate and one that revealed a then hidden path forward. The short drive felt like traversing a botanical garden with all the vibrant flora on display. But it was upon their arrival Lex finally got to see it with his own eyes.
A multi-story, modern lodge-style home A cubic design with each story being slightly offset of the one beneath it. Dark stained wood siding broken up by runs of floor to ceiling windows. A lake off to the side. The interior was an open floor plan, at least from what he could see. Lots of sun, open and close to nature. It would be the kind of home his son would want to live in. Not a penthouse high in the sky or an apartment in Gotham proper.
"What is this place?" Ivy asked after she'd exited the car.
"Oh, this was going to be the house Naruto gifted you after he asked you to marry him," Lex said as if he weren't dropping a major reveal on Ivy's lap. Lex didn't care, he'd work with the trollop for as long as she had use, and as long as his son cared for her she'd have some use. Whatever he had to do, whoever he had to use, Lex would without shame or guilt. Naruto needed to become all he could so Lex's nightmare would never come to be. The day Darkseid came for his son would need to be the last day he existed. Nothing was more important than that. Nothing.