"M'lord, the generals have sent word. The False God and his forces move in their entirety. It seems he seeks the final battle."
Naruto didn't turn to his subordinate but he did hum in acknowledgment. An outside observer would assume he was more concerned with the white and red rose he was currently pruning but none of his followers would make that mistake. Even now, the being behind him, kneeling and wings pulled back, awaited word and would stay there for as long as it took.
He didn't know how long he'd been in the phantom zone, time didn't function in a perceivable linear fashion. It was one of the quirks that prevented him from teleporting home. Or Darkseid for that matter. A rather clever interdimensional prison. He'd stopped aging at some point, though his body had gone through some changes due to his own tinkering. Hair to his shoulders, an additional thirty pounds of muscle rested easily on his 6'4'' frame.
"Tell my attendant to ready my armor," Naruto responded and he immediately sensed the trepidation within his companion.
"Surely, M'lord, the False God doesn't require your personal attention. Any one of us would be happy to remove the light from his blasphemous eyes."
Naruto chuckled at the show of fealty. That was hard earned. When he was transported here he'd been in a considerably weakened state due to Darkseid's omega beams. It was a miracle he wasn't dead and only thanks to Kurama he was able to flee when a horde of enemies attacked the two newest inmates. Hiding, healing, and ambushing potential enemies was how he spent his initial time. It was harrowing as none here could be considered weak.
Those first days, as such, he felt truly weak for the first time in his life. Outmatched against the collection of beings, some bordering on the fantastical. Food and rest were both in short supply and more than once victory came down to grit or luck instead of skill. Until Kurama got fed up and let his presence be known as he manifested outside of the seal.
The surrounding areas were blanketed with biju bombs. Some of the larger beasts took his show of power as a challenge and were put down viciously. He would mostly come out at night allowing Naruto to sleep and recover the life force that had been depleted by Darkseid's Omega beams. Kurama swore he didn't mind his return to action but Naruto wasn't one to rely solely on the protection of anyone and certainly not his oldest friend; the path forward was obvious. He had to continue growing if he wanted to do more than survive. Once he'd regained his strength he traveled to learn about the land and discovered it was a Hobbesian nightmare. A true war of all against all.
Alliances were short-lived, no one trusted anyone and hardly anything of permeance was built. No structures, no society, just chaos. That simply wouldn't do. Naruto could never decide if it was luck or a curse that Darkseid had similar thoughts. But whereas he tamed lands and people through strength and brutality, Naruto forged ahead with cooperation and mutual interests until bonds could take root. It wasn't easy and he routinely had to demonstrate his strength, cunning and ruthlessness.
Darkseid tried to replicate the industrialization of Apokolips, netting a much cruder version. Naruto set about terraforming his lands, refusing to live in a place where nothing grew. Borders soon followed as did the legend of the Creator and the Conqueror. Darkseid relished once again being elevated as a god. Naruto's own people tried to do the same to him but he outright refused. He was no god.
Gods had no need to progress, their powers simply there for the taking. Gods didn't evolve, considering themselves perfect. However, without progress or change how did one know they were alive? No, Naruto was no god because gods were beings of stagnation who only truly lived the moments before their deaths.
Returning his attention to his companion Naruto said, "As much as I appreciate it, I will see to Darkseid personally."
"Of course, M'lord. Any further instructions?"
"Send word to the frontlines, I'll address everyone upon arrival."
"It shall be done."
"Kneel!" an authoritative voice commanded upon his arrival. Naruto nodded to his generals as he took the stage. "Rise" she yelled and all did, eyes focused on their leader.
"Before we developed this land the Phantom Zone was chaotic. No trust between anyone, no one knew a peaceful sleep. But we changed that. Yes, we as I could not have done it without you. We now have stable homes, lands. Instead of the constant sound of battle, music can be heard at nights, songs of drunken merriment. We've built something. But more than that, there isn't a soldier here I'd hesitate to show my back to in fear you'd stab it. That's what a real leader does.
Darkseid is a coward!" Naruto bellowed to raucous cheers. "He claims emotions lead to weakness but he rules through fear. Because he lives through fear. He'd never trust anyone of equal power to him, he's not brave enough. What we've built is a monument to his cowardice and he can't stand it. He seeks to destroy us because he cannot rid himself of his own craven nature.
I may fall in battle one day and if I do it beside any one of you protecting what we've created I'll call that a good death. But not to him, not to one who leads from the back and governs from above. He wants to take what we've grown but we won't let him. He wants to tear down what we've erected but we'll stop him. All who kneel to the God of Cowardice will know only the surety in our eyes and the bite of our steel. Who's with me?"
His soldiers shout in unison. While he finds this kind of saber rattling a bit overwrought it seemed to produce results. Once done all became quiet when music started to play, bowing their heads to the familiar piano chords.
"I used to pray for times like this, to rhyme like this
So I had to grind like that to shine like this
In a matter of time I spent on some locked-up shit"
Naruto tapped one of the two swords strapped to his side as the lyrics played and he could feel a sway throughout his men.
"I go and get it regardless, draw it like I'm a artist
No crawlin', went straight to walkin', with foreigns in my garages
All foreign bitches ménagin', fuckin', suckin' and swallowin'
Anything for a dollar, they tell me get 'em, I got 'em"
The anticipation was starting to build, the hype setting in.
"When I bought the Rolls-Royce they thought it was leased
Then I bought that new Ferrari, hater, rest in peace
Hater, rest in peace, rest in peace to the parking lot
Phantom so big, can't even fit in the parking spot"
The sways became a bounce, even Naruto bobbing his head while one hand gripped his midnight blue chestplate with armored gauntlets to match. Then the drop happened and all sang in unison.
"Hold up, wait a minute, y'all thought I was finished?
When I bought that Aston Martin, y'all thought it was rented?
Flexin' on these , I'm like Popeye on his spinach
Double M, yeah, that's my team, Rozay the captain, I'm lieutenant
I'm the type to count a million cash then grind like I'm broke
That Lambo my new bitch, she don't ride like my Ghost"
Collective recitation turned the song into a chant as a phenomenon sui generis was experienced by all. Even Naruto allowed himself to be lost in the moment, crimson spikes flowing with his movements. All of this leading to the crescendo.
"They gon' remember me, I say remember me
So much money, have yo' friends turn in yo' enemies
And when there's beef I turn my enemies to memories"
"Let's get wild!" he ordered.