"I'm hearing there is a power struggle between father and son, real epic stuff," the media slag said. It was a lie, Kara knew. She had practically no use for Lex Luthor but the man had been congenial since his return. How much of that was predicated on Naruto's temper being a hair-trigger she couldn't say but the bald man had been on his best behavior.
"Categorically untrue," she responded, hoping the "reporter" would just get to the ask.
"I've got independent confirmation, Ms. Danvers." Kara rolled her eyes. Oh, she was Ms. Danvers now?
"Uh huh, and if I had sources willing to burn me like that I'd be embarrassed," she replied calmly. Really, this was the dance but she was feeling impatient lately. Maybe she just needed to get out and do some hero work.
"What can you give me?" the voice asked as if she wasn't coming empty handed.
"I can arrange a sit down interview; the same amount of access Lois Lane got."
"No good, let me shadow him. With his recent hiring of some of the most notorious villains in existence, people want to know if this is just Lex 2.0 or something else altogether."
Kara tsk'd at that. She hadn't exactly been thrilled at the Legion of Doom being on Lexcorps' payroll even if she conceded Naruto's logic that paying them for real work may curtail their criminality for a short period. She knew there was more to it, her boyfriend had likely done something to get them in line but ask no questions and you get no lies.
What was more pressing, was the media narrative of the mad prince let loose in the kingdom that is Lexcorps. She knew Naruto didn't care what people said about him but it could become a problem down the line. So, here she was, speaking with her former boss attempting to buttress his image because he rarely interacted with the public.
"I could probably swing one day, Kat."
"That's barely anything, for a feature I'd need weeks if not months."
"One day and he'll barely tolerate that."
"Wow, your boy really hates the media-"
"No, he just believes people should be judged on what they do, something you don't need to follow him around to see."
"Ah, but we've seen billionaires with a heart of gold before. Kindness is the easiest facade to adapt, I taught you that. We need to see what's under the hood. People aren't going to stop wondering if he's planning global conquest just because he desires them to."
'I know, damn it!' Kara internally screamed. He was just so damn stubborn. If she could get Kurama on her side she knew she'd be able to sway the red head but Kurama had a lower opinion of people than the most dedicated misanthrope (and given what she learned of his history she didn't blame him).
"Look, I can swing a day and let you try to earn more but I can't guarantee it."
"Fine, but I want full access. I'm no cub reporter, I'm Kat Grant!"
Her phone started ringing, the screen said it was Lois. "Kat, I'll get the details to your assistants but I need to take this, bye!" she rushed the woman off the phone and switched over to Lois. "Hey Loi-"
"What the hell is wrong with your wolf."
"My best boy is perfect in all ways, Lois, so I really don't know," Kara responded with the same maniacal pride of all dog owners.
"Perfect, you say? He's been screwing with me all day, my one day off. I won't stand for it."
"Ok, before you get too worked up, what has he done?"
"For starters, he's apparently decided coffee is his natural enemy because every time I pour me a cup he takes it like a thief in the night."
"Huh," Kara responded as that behavior sounded familiar. "What else?"
"Oh, I don't know, how about him wrecking my lunch? $60 of sushi just wasted!"
"Oh," Kara answered, getting a sneaking suspicion. "Hey, Lois, I think I know what's going on but first, has he been following you around?"
"I can't turn for him," she said in an annoyed huff.
"Ok, so pour you a glass of wine and see what he does. If nothing, pour another. Call me back if he reacts." Lois hung up and Kara got busy clearing Naruto's schedule to be interviewed by Kat. He was going to hate it but he'd deal. Besides, maybe it'll make him take a pause. He'd been going nonstop for weeks and she worried he was overworking.
The expected ring came and Kara answered, confident in her deduction.
"How'd you know?"
"That he'd stop you from having a second glass of wine?"
"Yes!" Lois responded but Kara knew the annoyance wasn't aimed at her.
"Well, I'm assuming the sushi was mostly tuna because you're extra like that."
"Hey!"
"And well, Lois, I too have been forced to avoid caffeine, certain kinds of fish, and greatly limit my alcohol intake. Pretty common precautions nowadays."
"Wait… you aren't saying…"
"Well, I don't know and we also don't know the full extent of Baal's abilities but it's possible he sensed something."
"Huh," Lois said. Kara didn't blame her, her finding out she was probably pregnant wasn't the most ideal of circumstances, what with a naked supervillain in her bed and a pounding headache making all of reality hurt. "I need to go."
"Of course, call me later, ok?"
"I will. And I guess I owe the mutt a thank you. Bye."
"Later," Kara returned and hung up. She didn't fight the feeling of smugness that overcame her because as she said, her best boy was perfect. That followed a small laughing fit. Baal, who can speak, could have just told Lois what he suspected. Why he only spoke to her was something she hadn't yet figured out but Naruto did say the original Bijuu, as told by Mr. Hagoromo, could be mercurial at the best of times. Kara thought Baal just inherited Naruto's penchant for screwing with people but didn't want the blame.
Leaning back in her office chair, Kara stared off into the distance, rubbing her tummy wistfully. Her and Clark potentially having children around the same age, it made her smile. She wondered if they'd be the best of friends. A chaotic redhead pulling his poor cousin into all kinds of schemes. She could only hope.
Harley walked into her new home, clutch in one hand and heels in another. Being the new co-Queenpin of Gotham wasn't easy. But that was the outside, she was home now. The cleanliness of her new dwelling masking the impossible mess that was her personal life. She welcomed the house, the security alone was a must for her new position and knowing she and Ivy were well fortified did make her breathe a little easier.
That the house was built by Ivy's former lover, one that has recently impregnated her. Maybe that should have bothered her. Maybe it should have made her insecure. In truth, it felt like an added layer of security. However bad they cut up, she knew Naruto would step in if things got too hot. And as long as they had his protection then the League of Shadows were also open to them, their services being how they routed the existing families so fast. Well, that and Selina's inside information.
"Harls?" a voice called out, putting a smile on Harley's face.
"Yea, babe" she called back, dropping the clutch walnut console table and heading to the location of the voice. In the living room, Ivy had her glasses on, hair in a loose bun, as she poured over some documents. "What's that?"
"Trust information, land deeds and transfer of property rights, along with a list of names internationally should we ever need them. Let me tell you, our little one is going to be stinking rich."
"Well, we knew that," Harley reasoned. Lex was a billionaire and Naruto was his only heir.
"There is more but… this didn't feel like family planning under unique circumstances. It feels like he's making sure the little one will be ok in case something happens to him… in case he dies." She hugged Ivy, recognizing her concern. To have your children, from the future relay a message that you were never there, trapped in some dimensional prison with Darkseid to boot. She couldn't fathom.
"He looked so tired, in a way I'd never seen him. And distracted as well."
Foot steps, animal but different from Bud or Lous, approached. Harley tensed, something that must have been obvious to Ivy. "It's ok," she reassured the former sidekick. Soon enough, a three-tailed spotted big cat cub walked in.
"Harley, this is Ixchel."
"Uh huh," she said, indicating she needed more than that.
"She's here to be a protector and lifelong companion for our future little one."
"And where does one find a three-tailed leo-"
"Jaguar," it… she spoke. "And I was not found but created by beings far beyond you, peon."
"Hey!" Harley objected.
"I thought we talked about this, I will not have you being rude to my partner."
"Understand this, I am only here at the request of those that created me. While my inferior little brother gets to stay beside them, I am here with you two. I will protect you until the arrival of the child and then see to their care. You two, I must merely tolerate."
"I know Naruto didn't tell you to merely tolerate us."
"I know his request, am aware of his intent but I am not some appendage. I have my own mind and will."
"Fine, whatever. Where were you?" Ivy asked.
"The mutts, Bud and Lou, while undisciplined are not completely lacking. I've started them on rudimentary training to be proper guards of the estate."
"Hey, I don't care how or why Red sent you here, if you hurt my babies-" Harley's tirade was cut short.
"I am no lowly animal. I said train, not harm. I'll leave that kind of cruelty to humans and other lesser beings."
"This is getting us nowhere. Ixchel, Naruto left something for Harley; can you take your time retrieving it?" Harley watched as the jaguar rolled her eyes but left all the same.
"Ok, what the fuck?"
"So, where Naruto comes from there are these beings called chakra beasts."
"Chakra beasts? Like, they kick ass at yoga?"
"Like, they were the size of mountains and incredibly powerful. The strongest of which was sealed into Naruto before he was sent here."
"Wait, is that-"
"No. According to Naruto, if he were using Kurama's powers you'd be so sure you wouldn't have to question it. Anyway, the originals were split from a divine tree-"
"Whoa, lore dump!"
"You wanna know or you want to be meta?"
"Sorry, continue," Harley apologized.
"Well, Ixchel and the other one, Baal, were based on them and I'm surmising Naruto had Kurama's help in creating them."
"If she's meant to be a protector what can she do?"
"Lava. She can generate and manipulate lava. She also has some healing abilities hence the name."
"You lost me, babe."
"Well, won't you have fun looking it up later. She doesn't need to eat, can't really die but can be dispelled though Naruto assured me should that happen he'd be on the way to handle whatever had the power to manage that."
"Handle, like he handled that fake Justice League?"
"Probably," Ivy answered before going silent in the way she did before she got serious. "Harley, thank you."
"Huh?" Harley responded in confusion. Ivy giggled.
"This is a major change, one that bonds Naruto and I, potentially, for life. You didn't have to be supportive, no one could have blamed you."
Harley leaned over and hugged Ivy as she reassured her, "Oh. It's not ideal but you're my lady! Besides, I'm excited. If Lex's influence can produce Red then imagine what we can do! She'll be the biggest badass ever." Ivy laughed as she fell back. Looming over her, Harley leaned down for a kiss.
It wasn't traditional, and it was planned entirely by the wrong person but she'd protect her family and make sure their child didn't have to deal with the things they had. The show of affection was interrupted by the returning beast.
"Here," Ixchel said as she held the item in her tails.
"Naruto assured me you'd know what it was," Ivy said. That, briefly, confused Harley. It was an ax.
'No," Harley thought. It wasn't just an ax, not just a battle ax. She grabbed the handle with both hands, it was lighter than she thought it would be but that thought was swallowed by the glow of the weapon and how she felt it connecting with her in some essential way. It was barely a second but she knew it was something. Hefting it up she willed it and the ax frosted over.
"HOLY SHIT, IT'S A LEVIATHAN AX! HE GAVE ME A FUCKING LEVIATHAN AX? I'M GOING TO KILL SO MANY DUDES WITH THIS, IVY!" Harley exclaimed in pure joy. Just on a lark, she placed the ax down and walked across the room. She held out her hand and, again, willed the ax to her. And it worked! Harley didn't know how it worked, a complex array of fuinjutsu powered by nature's energy. What she did know was Naruto gave her a god killing ax.
"Ok, it's official. Ivy, you can drain Red dry one more time. Except, next time I get to watch!"
"I'm going to chalk this up to excitement over the weapon," Ivy said as she returned to her documents.
'How sure are you about this' Naruto thought as he rapidly approached the end of Earth's atmosphere.
'All but certain, though we have taken precautions,' Kurama reassured him. It'd happened while he was in a deep meditation, a group was headed toward the planet and they did not have good intentions. As he reached escape velocity, Naruto didn't take time to admire being in space. He needed to assess this threat without drawing the attention of the Justice League prematurely.
'See,' Kurama said, having noticed his container was breathing easy.
'You're right, as usual, big guy,' Naruto thought. It was a short flight to the ship, it being equipped with sophisticated cloaking technology meant The Watchtower hadn't noticed it but, luckily for him, they hadn't discovered a way to cloak emotions. Slowing his approach, Naruto allowed his inertia to take him the rest of the way and he gently landed on the hull.
Naruto placed a palm on the ship's surface. The alloys used to construct it were similar to and yet vastly different from what they had on Earth. Still, he took a few moments to truly analyze and understand the substance. Once he had, with but a thought, he submerged into the solid as if it were a pool of water and sank into the interior of the ship. Step one was a success.
"Report," a tall, middle-aged man commanded.
"That unidentified object has dropped off our radar, General. Its course must have veered off and missed us," a soldier responded.
"We will begin our final descent shortly, General," another spoke. "Are you sure we've been exposed to enough yellow sun radiation? The traitor's spawn has had decades to absorb it."
"Yes. Our adult bodies absorb it faster and we've spent a lifetime mastering our senses and our bodies. If the son of Jor-El does not comply then we will beat him into submission. No one will stop the rise of New Krypton and the return of our people."
"What of the other, Kara Zor-El?"
"I will give her the same chance I'm giving Kal-El and should she refuse then she will be dealt with in a similar fashion. We did not escape Brainiac to be stopped now."
"So, are we thinking conquering or terraforming?" an unfamiliar voice asked, setting the small squad on edge. Tensions only rose higher when the figure revealed themselves to be standing with arm's reach of the General.
"GET AWAY FROM THE GENERAL, NOW!" the sole female of the group roared.
"Everyone, stand down. If this person wanted to harm me, why would he have revealed himself?" their leader reasoned. He took a good look at the being in front of him. A little shorter, dressed not in what he'd think was battle armor nor garments suited for space travel. The most noticeable elements was the face mask he wore over his mouth and nose and the item strapped to his back. While covered in a dark colored cloth, he had no doubt it was a weapon.
"And who might you be? More importantly, how did you board my ship undetected?"
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki," the intruder stated.
"Well, Naruto Uzumaki you have the great honor of standing in the presence of Krypton's greatest General, Dru-Zod and if you have any hope of leaving this ship I suggest you kneel before me."
The intruder scratched the back on his head, his eyes turned up as if the mask were hiding a smile. "There's not a chance in hell I'd ever do that." Zod frowned at this being's impertinence, his loyal squad were not handling it any better as all looked ready to strike.
"Look, before you start attacking me or whatever just don't. This scheme of yours isn't going to work. I could have blasted you out of space but didn't. Taking over the planet, it's going to fail. So, either come and be willing to be good global citizens or fuck off from whence you came."
"Oh ho, fool boy; if you had the ability to neutralize a threat with no risk to yourself why come here, why reveal yourself to your enemy?" Zod questioned. Clearly, the individual in front of him was either lying or too untrained in the ways of war to be an actual threat.
"One of the countries on that planet you're planning to ruin is called America. Now, imperfect as it is, striking down someone for their thoughts goes against one of our cornerstone values. Just because you are thinking about it doesn't mean you can't change. You have to be given the opportunity. Here it is, your opportunity.
Our planet does not suffer from resource scarcity. You'll obviously benefit from our yellow sun and you can survive in our current atmosphere. There is literally no reason to radically alter the environment in which you can easily thrive. Abandon this plan."
A talker, Zod concluded. This boy was just a talker, someone that believed they could throw words at problems until things went their way. The General knew that kind, they were the ultimate downfall of Krypton. Jor-El betrayed him in the end but they were men of action. His former friend died a warrior's death and even managed to save his son. But the leaders, the councils, they neither took action nor heeded the advice of those who did.
And this boy was clearly the same. He even dressed as a talker, adorned in a white, high-color jacket with a single button fastened to the left of his chest. Loose fitting, dark blue pants and orange shoes. He looked dressed for a night out. Ignorant boy; promising them they would have enough.
As if anything in that backwater planet could compare to the advancements and majesty of Krypton at its peak. No, he would not be subject to anyone's authority. He would not settle for enough. He would see Krypton rise again and then rule it as a new god.
All would kneel before Zod.
"This fucking guy. Ok, General, you've clearly made your choice," he said as he turned around.
"I have. Now, escort this fool-" an explosion ripped through the ship, ending the command before it could be fully voiced. Warning alarms blared throughout as the bridge quickly filled with smoke. The fool boy once before him dissolved into a cloud of smoke, further hindering the vision of the great General. He swore he'd kill that boy.
"Those explosions took out the World Engine, General!," one yelled.
"Catastrophic damage to the hull, it won't last long enough to crash, we must evacuate, General," another informed him. He turned to see a figure in gold streak by, said figure slowing down just enough so Zod could make them out. It was the boy.
"All, helmets on and follow that idiot. Do whatever it takes and if you reach him before I do, bring him to me alive," he yelled. With zero hesitation, his soldiers shattered the window and departed, all on the hunt of the one that jeopardized their plans, and his new empire.
'You really kicked the hornets' nest in the dick,' Kurama observed.
'Don't make me laugh, I've got five super people after me,' Naruto requested as he blurred through space. If this had been Kara or Clark he couldn't have outsped them but these Kryptonians hadn't fully mastered their powers. He barely felt the heat of his reentry but once securely within Earth's atmosphere he let Kurama's cloak cease and cut his flight, free falling instead.
'Good luck,' his oldest friend bid him as his state of serenity felt him merge not just with the excess natural energy but nature itself as the will of nature was carried through as well. With a thought, the weapon attached to his back was freed from its sash to reveal a spear. Naruto flipped mid air and stopped his, once rapid, descent as the spear floated beside him.
The Kryptonians stopped their pursuit and surrounded him. He could feel their confusion, wondering where the dark markings that appeared on his face came from. He smiled as he opened his eyes to reveal lavender slits with a hunter green border around them.
He felt them tense, ready for combat even if they didn't fully understand the enemy before them. These weren't just weekend warriors but proper, seasoned soldiers; Naruto could tell as much. Which is why they were confused when he let out a sigh. The kind of sigh that could only be caused by meddlesome older siblings. Hovering above was the big, blue security blanket of the world. Naruto didn't even turn to look at the man.
"Kal-El," Zod was the first to acknowledge him.
"How do you know that name?"
"I knew your father, we were once friends."
"Yea, yea, but in the end he hated him. Like a seething hatred and you don't even want know about the toxic bundle of emotions he had for your mom-"
"Quiet, boy!"
"Well, since you want to be rude, it could summarize as quasi-tender hate fucking."
"Naruto!" Clark exclaimed.
"Don't 'Naruto', me. You shouldn't even be here so just let me handle things and pretend you never saw us."
"I won't let you kill these people."
"They were going to terraform the planet."
"But you stopped them."
"He sent Lobo after Kara," Naruto tried.
"And you stopped him, too."
"He really wants to hate fuck your mom some place uncomfortable and I'm not talking the back of a Volkswagen."
"If you keep being crass I'm not inviting you over the next time Ma makes some apple pie," Clark threatened.
"Hey, no need to overreact," Naruto relented. That apple pie was unreasonably good.
"We expect warriors but we get a pair of comedians," Zod observed in disgust. "Are you two quite done?"
"Hey, hey, hey; you got too much dip on your chip there pal," Naruto said.
"Um… he's not wrong. Look, I don't know why you were going to wreck the planet for the inhabitants but if I hadn't shown up he really was going to kill you all. Is there any chance you'd place yourself in my custody?"
"Fools abound. After I deal with him, I'll get what I need from you Kal-El."
"You know what, promise no killing and I'll let you have them."
"So maiming?"
"Only if necessary. And I mean necessary, Naruto. You're already going overboard with Sage Mode."
"Kara talks too much."
"Wasn't Kara," Clark said, smugly.
"Baal would never! He's my little buddy!" Clark simply shrugged. Naruto blew wind through his nose and squinted.
"We're going to talk about this after I finish my light work." He said no more, instead engaging directly with the other Kryptonians, short spear keeping pace behind him.
Zod, bound and kneeling, looked at the seven assembled individuals before him out of his good eye. A nasty slash marred the, once proud, general's face. What he assumed were arrogant boasts were anything but. The boy fought harder than the fiercest beast he'd ever come across. Manipulating the elements, their senses and even restraining them in Kryptonite.
This failure was his. He hadn't known his enemy, too confident their Kryptonian physiology and battle experience would carry them through. Now, his remaining squad were served up like hunted game. Scarred and burned flesh telling the story of their skirmish. Faora, his most trusted lieutenant, nearly lost her entire arm to a corrosive attack. Instead, she chopped the appendage off and kept fighting.
But it was all for not. Barely visible blades tore through her and Non, a brute of a man if there ever was one. And as he thought about the injuries his soldiers endured, a throbbing pain in his legs reminded him of the stab wounds he suffered from that infuriating weapon.
This was the end, Kal-El didn't have the stomach to kill him but he knew of the device the son of a traitor held. They were being sent to the Phantom Zone.
"Just kill us, cowards," Zod garbled, voice like sandpaper. "Imprisoning us for life is just a death sentence for those too weak to swing the sword. Just like your weak-willed father. The House of El," he said with every ounce of derision he could muster before spitting on the ground. "Each scion as weak as the last. Superman? You let a boy fight your battles."
Zod continued to rant and rave, Kal-El never rising to respond. The military man didn't care. Discipline and decorum didn't matter. He would be heard in his final moments of freedom. He would rage at the death of his dream, for his fallen people, for the futility of it all. Even as the portal opened, pulling him to his fate he still railed against the House of El, the cowards that didn't have the strength to protect Krypton.
Somewhere in Northern Canada
"That was fast thinking, taking this before you destroyed that ship," Lex complimented his child.
"Uh huh," Naruto responded.
"So, forgive me for being confused as to how you can be so smart in one moment and downright idiotic the next."
"And there it is."
"Yes, there it is. What is the point of building you an army if you continually run to the frontlines? Start thinking like a general, Naruto."
"Why would I waste resources when I clearly handled it myself. Besides, that thinking like a general bullshit just sounds like sacrificing people because you can't be bothered to attend to your own affairs. Well, that ain't me." The younger man's voice echoed throughout the large hangar, an off-the-books location ideal for what he had planned.
"If you don't change, then what is any of this for? You fight Darkseid again and we lose you again. What is it? If it were anyone else, I'd say arrogance."
"Just because I won't treat people as pawns to be sacrificed doesn't mean I think I can do everything on my own, I know I can't. And as far as changing, did I not come to you for help? This "World Engine" should be ideal for our plans should an invasion become necessary."
"Yes, your first doomsday weapon, I'm so proud."
"Whatever, old man. Look, I will marshall my resources to give me the best chance of surviving but I don't lead from the back. That's not who I am."
"Everyone, at times, must be something they would otherwise consider themselves not."
"This isn't going anywhere productive. Besides, I need to settle up with Sinestro for the intel on the Kryptonians and then-"
"Ah, yes, date night. Wouldn't want to keep the little lady waiting."
"You need anything before I leave?" Naruto asked. Lex waved him off.
"No, just let me get started and then send Obito in about an hour or so."
When his sole heir departed Lex sat down, mind not own the piece of alien tech in front of him. He'd raised his son to be strong, if not the strongest but could never truly curve his need to help. He was a good son, a good man. Lex had buried plenty of good men. He just hoped Naruto wouldn't be another one. Even he wasn't sure what he'd do if he lost his son but the world would surely suffer for it. Of that, he had no doubt.