Disclaimer: I do not own or claim any rights to any of the intellectual properties showcased in this story. All Naruto characters and terminology belong to Masashi Kishimoto and the manga and anime companies that conceived the original Naruto and Naruto Shippuden franchises. All DC Comics characters and terminology belong to DC Entertainment. I also do not own any of the images used in my profile or stories.

Earth, Wind, and Fire

Chapter 1: Anomalies

Metropolis

October 10, 2009

There was nothing like taking a flight high above the city skyline after a long day of work. A pity that only a small minority of people could enjoy such a luxury. Clark Kent, better known to the world as Superman, was one such person, and he was currently soaring above the city of Metropolis, high enough to allow the clouds to obscure his view of the city, but was still perfectly capable of hearing the buzz of over 12 million citizens going about their day.

Superman sighed comfortably as he took in the view of the city. He had been going through some pretty stressful times lately. He recently had to save the Earth from an army of Phantom Zone demons amassed by General Zod, the UN has been cracking down on him and his fellow members of the Justice League for not following policy on foreign nation conflict intervention, and a bump in his relationship with Lois Lane has forced the two of them to take a break and interact strictly in a professional we-are-totally-not-upset-that-we-are-broken-up manner.

Even his constant saving-the-city routine was starting to get out of hand somewhat. Street crime was starting to pick up, super criminals like Metallo and Parasite were breaking out of their prisons and going back to committing sprees as fast as Superman could put them away, and car crashes and suicide attempts were soaring to an all time high!

Today was the first day in a while that things in the city seemed quiet (well, hardly quiet, considering that Superman could hear a pin drop on the floor of a jazz club from the other side of the city if he focused hard enough, but there didn't seem to be anyone in particular grave trouble from what he could sense). Superman was grateful for the little breather.

With the workday finished and no one in the city in dire need of help as far as he could hear, Clark pondered whether or not he could chance a quick trip to Smallville to check on his folks. His cousin Kara has been staying on the farm with his parents and he wanted to see how well she has been adjusted to life in the countryside.

Unfortunately that choice was taken out of his hands when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Something shot down through the clouds about 300 feet to the right of the where he was floating. It was speeding down towards the surface of the Earth.

"What was that?" the Man of Steel asked himself. Upon activating his enhanced vision, Superman was shocked to discover that that something was a person! An unconscious person falling at terminal velocity towards the ground!

"Oh my god!" The Man of Steel shot towards the man. He prayed he would make it in time. A few hundred more yards and the poor fellow would become a wet, chunky stain on the roof of Lexcorp Tower.

Ugh, if only a person's life weren't in jeopardy. That would've been a much more pleasing image to ponder.

"Gotcha!" Superman exclaimed as he caught the stranger in mid-air. "Are you okay? What happened? Why are you…?" Superman stopped cold and stared in horror as he realized that the man was a boy with blonde spiky hair in his late teens… who just so happened to have three black rod-shaped spears impaled through his shoulder, lower right stomach, and left thigh. His torn clothes were soaked in blood, his heart rate was erratic, and he was gasping painfully for breath, indicating that his lungs were failing. He'd be dead shortly if he didn't seek immediate medical attention.

"Jesus Christ…" Superman decided not waste further time as he held a failing life in his hands. He quickly surveyed the skies to see if there was any trace of a plane or helicopter that was falling or breaking down. Seeing no such thing within a 20-mile radius, he bolted towards the ground, holding the boy tenderly to not exasperate any of his wounds.

He hadn't the faintest clue as to why this boy just appeared, fell from the sky, or why he was nearly murdered, but questions could wait until he was saved. As could a slice of Ma's famous strawberry pie or watching Kara drive a plow.

Themyscira

October 10, 2009

"HIYAH!" Diana exclaimed as she plunged her sword towards the ground. Her opponent, Artemis, quickly rolled out of the way, vaulted off the ground with one hand and launched a kick towards her rival's hand, succeeding in knocking the sword away from her. Artemis then leaped back to her feet and eyed her opponent hungrily, fists up in a defense position and muscles tense. Diana took a second to catch her breath, pondering her next course of action.

It had been quite a while since she had returned home to visit her sisters on Paradise Island, and with things relatively quiet in the states at the moment, Diana felt it was as good at time as ever to go back home, check up on how things were with her family, and let off a little steam in a friendly duel to the not-quite-death with Themyscira's most proud and militant Amazon, Artemis.

They had been at it for a little under two hours, seamlessly switching from spears and shields to swords to bare knuckles with the expert skill and grace expected from two of the fiercest and most experienced warriors on the island. Now, both were nearing the end of their stamina and patience and looked to end the duel fast.

They both bolted towards each other and launched into a barrage of punches and kicks, sweeping up sand beneath their sandals. After grappling for two minutes, Diana managed to goad Artemis into blocking a spinning heel kick and using the momentum to use her other leg to hook around Artemis' head before twisting her hips and torso and swinging around to take her to the ground.

Diana smirked triumphantly as she held Artemis in a choke hold. Artemis growled her teeth in frustration, but recognized that she could not slip out of this hold, nor force her way out against Diana's superior strength.

"I yield," she grunted. Diana released her and stood up. The surrounding Amazons applauded the impressive display. Diana extended a hand towards her opponent and lifted Artemis to her feet.

"You continue to improve my sister," Diana commented with a smile. "But not quite enough to beat me just yet."

"Just you wait, Diana," Artemis replied with a devious smirk. "Someday, it will be you who submits to my prowess so I will claim the title of champion of the Amazons."

"Perhaps with dedication to training as yours, you will surpass me. But until then," Diana bowed in respect, "thank you for offering a worthy match."

"I extend my thanks as well," Artemis returned the gesture, "as well as a request to continue our duel in the future."

"Anytime," Diana promised. The Amazon crowd dispersed at the conclusion of the fight, except one. An adolescent girl with undeniable resemblance to the tall, athletic, dark-haired, and blue eyed Wonder Woman stepped up to her. The two lookalikes greeted each other and began to walk across the beach.

"You know you'll never end her incessant challenges if you keep encouraging her with promises that she can beat you someday." The mystery girl told Diana with a smirk.

"What makes you think I have any desire to make her stop," Wonder Woman replied. "A challenge is a challenge, and any sister of mine has the freedom to challenge me as many times as she wishes. Plus they benefit me as much as her, keeping us both on our toes and improving our skills. You should know as much, Donna."

"I understand," Donna answered, "but I think I'd get tired of having the same person challenge me to a duel over and over. It's not like Artemis has anything to prove. She's about as close to an equal to you as there is."

"You raise a fair point, but as a fellow warrior, a sister, and a superhero, I will allow Artemis the privilege of challenge for as many times as we can both tolerate."

"Suit yourself," The two Amazons enjoyed the feel of the waves beneath their feet as watched the sun set towards the horizon. Suddenly, Donna caught sight of something odd at the corner of her eye.

"What is that?" she asked as she turned and pointed far to the left. Diana squinted as she saw something… no, someone, lying on the surf allowing the waves to splash over them.

"Hey!" Diana and Donna raced over to the person, and discovered that it was a girl. A girl around the age of 16 with rather odd looking pink hair, torn blue clothes, with multiple small black spears pierced through her body! She looked deathly pale, blood was leaking out of her body into the sea, and she was coughing weakly to the sky, spitting up water as she struggled for breath.

"Great Hera!" Donna cried. She rushed to grab the spears to pull them out, but they burned her skin as she grabbed them to rip them away.

"Careful!" Diana warned. "You'll only further tear her wounds if you just yank the spears out!"

"What else are we supposed to do? She's dying! We can't just leave her like this!"

"Rush to the infirmary and tell the doctors to ready for emergency surgery. I'll perform some basic first aid. Go! Hurry!"

Donna leaped off the sand and shot into the sky, disappearing over the clearing of trees next the beach. Diana gingerly carried the girl out of the water, carefully placed her down on the sand, and gently and slowly pulled the spears out of the girl's stomach, left bicep, and upper back, though that took longer than it should have since the spears emitted a strange, potent energy that burned her hands as she touched them. She then ripped some cloth off her robes and made crude bandages out of them to apply to the wounds and slow the bleeding. After finishing, Diana lifted her patient and flew off towards the dwellings of the island.

Halfway to the doctor, the girl starting squirming and whispering. "N-N-Naruto. S-Sa-Sasuke…kun."

"Rest my child," Diana ordered. "Save your strength. You don't have much time, but by the gods of Olympus, my sisters and I will save you."

Nanda Parbat

October 10, 2009

"So I see," a middle aged looking man wearing green and black suit with a cloak draped over his shoulders holding a sword in his hand glared down at a group of armor clad ninjas kneeling at his feet. Behind him stood a young woman with a fair skin, dark brown hair, and piercing green eyes, and a much bigger, bald man with darker skin and several scars around his muscular body.

"Forgive us, my lord," begged the assassin right in front of his master, his head turned down towards the floor in a gesture of submission and fear. "We carried out your orders as best we could, but the Batman had apparently caught on to our ploy, invaded our underground base, and destroyed the devices before they could be activated."

Ra's al Ghul continued to glare at his men, contemplating an appropriate chastisement for failing him. However, he sighed in resignation, acknowledging that dishing out punishment would serve little purpose at this point. His men could hardly be blamed for being beaten. They were up against Ra's future successor after all.

"A pity. I suppose the fault is mine for sending incapable lackeys such as yourselves to carry out such an important task. Dismissed." The assassins rose in unison, bowed, and march out of the courtroom. Ra's closed his eyes and sighed, losing himself in his thoughts.

"Once again, Batman interferes with our plans," growled the large man. "Lord Ra's, I ask you to once again reconsider your decision towards him. He is proving far too troublesome to leave alive. We know of his identity, and where he resides. I could go to Gotham City, sneak into his manor, and slit his throat while he sleeps. We will finally be able to carry out our plans without tribulation."

"Ubu, we have discussed this at length," the woman snapped. "Wayne is far too valuable to father's long term plans to dispose of. Until he comes to accept his destiny, he is to be left alive, regardless of any slight against us."

"A proposition he has turned down on numerous occasions. In addition to that, he continues to mock us by trampling all over our operations! I say forsake that miserable wretch and eliminate him once and for all!"

"My father's orders still stand. A few ruined operations are nothing to us. We will not rid of a potential leader just to for you to attain petty revenge for losing to him in battle on the few occasions you faced him."

"You're hardly one to be making such accusations, Talia," Ubu snarled at her. "Is it not true that you just want him spared to take him as your husband? I didn't think even you would let love and blind loyalty clouded your judgment or ambition."

"You dare make such insults against me?!"

"Suppose I do, you impudent little-"

"ENOUGH!" Ra's barked. Both arguers snapped at attention, turning to face the leader of the league. "Ubu, you bring a valid argument against keeping the detective alive, but whether or not he continues to live is my decision to make, not yours. And Talia, do not think that my wish to have him as my successor or your affections for him grants him freedom to vex us. He is still our enemy, and if it comes to that point, he will suffer the consequences for his defiance. I will not have either of you arguing like children over this or any matter again. Understood?"

"Yes, my lord," both spoke in unison.

"Good. You are both dismissed." While Ubu went to his private quarters, Talia walked out of the palace to roam the surrounding desert. A breeze swept through the sands, cooling the normally arid temperature, making for a pleasing stroll.

Talia sighed as she pondered events as of late. It has not been easy for her, being tugged by both sides on this war between Batman and the League of Shadows. She often feels like the knot in a tug of war rope, in the middle ground constantly being pulled towards either side; her love for Bruce and her duty to her father, her wish to empathize with Batman's ideology and her years of supporting the League's campaign to bring order to humanity. Why couldn't either side just see the beauty in the other' convictions so she could be happy with the both of them?

As she continued to wander the wasteland, she spotted something in the distance. The vague figure of what looked like a person waded through the sands headed to the palace. The only problem was members of the league didn't come in this particular direction at any time during the night. And Nanda Parbat's mountain fortress was supposed to be inaccessible to all outsiders.

Talia immediately drew her sword and ran to confront the intruder, but when she got close, she realized the intruder was only a child. Or more accurately, a teenage boy who was heavily wounded; two small odd looking black spears lodged in his right hip and left leg, several cuts, burns, and bruises littered across his body. Aside from that, his pale skin, spiky black hair, and torn white shirt were caked with blood, and he was holding a katana that Talia recognized belonged to a member of the Shadows.

"Surround him!" a voice bellowed. Before Talia could react, a squad of assassins had the boy surrounded and three went to her side.

"Apologies, Lady Talia," an assassin next to her spoke. "We do not know how this outsider found his way so close to the palace. The north perimeter guard attempted to detain him, but he slaughtered them all before running towards here."

"You mean none of that blood is his?" she asked. "You didn't give him any of his present injuries?"

"No, my lady. Aside from any wounds he already had, none of the perimeter guard members could get a scratch on him. It's rather astounding. Even injured as much as he is with two spears limiting his movement, his speed and skill with a blade are remarkable! He took out just over twenty of our men before he attempted to escape!"

Talia looked at the boy who was now on his knees, wincing in pain and panting with exhaustion. She raised an eyebrow with intrigue. An injured adolescent capable of besting twenty of her ninjas while mortally wounded? Either her men were really starting to slip up, or she was looking at an iron-willed warrior.

The boy lifted his head to look at Talia. He kept his left eye shut, but his right eye was blood red, with a small black pupil at the center encompassed by a circle of tiny black marks. On the circle were three larger black marks that looked like commas positioned equal distances away from each other. Talia al Ghul was not easily intimidated, but even she found it hard to suppress a shiver that ran down her spine as she looked into the boy's eye.

In it she saw power, trauma, rage, despair, and pain. It was evident to Talia that this boy had seen a great deal of bloodshed in his life, and had drawn quite a bit of blood in retaliation. This was a warrior, one as determined to conquer as any other she had seen.

An assassin drew his katana readied it for a decapitation.

"No!" Talia ordered. "He is to be spared."

"But Lady Talia," he protested. "He is an outsider who infiltrated our secret grounds. He killed over twenty officers!"

Talia merely scoffed. "If this boy is capable of that much while wounded as he is, then he is worth more than any of you lowly commoners. Take him to the medics. See if you can save him." The men present recoiled in surprise at her accusation, but didn't raise any further argument. Two men surrounded the boy and grabbed his arms. He struggled to fight back, but another punched him in the face before he could do so. He looked up Talia with one last death glare. Despite the raging fire that burned in his gaze, it was clear to the woman that he was fighting to stay conscious.

"I don't know who you are or how you found this place. But keep in mind, my mercy is out of pragmatism, not compassion. Let's just hope you are as skilled as I've heard you are, warrior. You may be of great use to us."

A/N: And here is the first chapter to my first attempt at a Naruto x Young Justice crossover story. I couldn't have chosen a worse time to do this. I'm just starting my first semester of college and I'm going to be quite busy for a while. Nevertheless, I do have big plans for this story and will do my best to keep updates frequent. Feel free to comment or PM me with any ideas. Ja ne!