Disclaimer: I don't own Batman Beyond or Naruto…
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Beyond the Maelstrom
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A Change in the Night
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…Bump…
…Ba-Bump…
…Bump…
…Ba-Bump….
…huff…huff…
'Move damn it, MOVE!'
Lungs pounding…
Heart Racing…
Muscles straining…
The background blurred as light streamed by and the wind bellowed. A burning sensation engulfed his body before getting swept away by the incoming tide of adrenaline. Heaving his heavy load on his back, he ran on. Running and running past buildings and the all the various faces of technology blurring into a haze of colors. But to the trained eyes of a Shinobi he could easily pick up every detail, the rush of adrenaline did nothing to deter that skill.
'Fast' one old man thought in amazement as he the video feed though the suit. He thought his amazement would end there but it never ceased as the video kept moving faster and faster with an easily identifiable grace that seemed inhuman. 'He's most likely the fastest human since Flash!'
'Don't die just yet!' Naruto thought, never looking at his masked acquaintance as he kept rushing over the various rooftops. Using his chakra he enhanced his overall abilities easing his burden while moving faster. Never did he realize his eyes becoming slightly silted and his fangs become just a bit longer, weather he liked it or not the Kyuubi had influence his body. His vision became sharper than before, allowing him to push his body even faster.
Soon, the lights faded, concrete and steel giving way to rock and earth, the sounds and smells of the city fading behind him as he continued his singular trek, soon entering a dense woodland. Trees stood tall but dead, silence permeated the area, darkness seemed to live within these dense woods. A huge house stood tall and threatening in the distance, shadowed by the night sky. Giving it a menacing looking, a place of a lineage to a medieval demon rather than a place of residence.
Overbearing and strong it rested, crested upon a slight hill with tall concrete walls lining the property. Vines overgrown and tangling the walls, and gates much like the claws of nature rising forth as if to consume it utterly. Giving a sense of foreboding, the ominous nature did nothing to subdue the blond on the mission.
:Creak:
The gate swung open, the shadows of the night falling away, revealing an old stern-faced man standing at the entrance with a scowl on his features, hands gripping a cane tightly. Next to him was a dog, a great Dane to be exact, sitting stiffly on it's haunches a black spiked collar around it's neck with the name tag of 'ACE' dangling off of it. It beady black eyes staring at him, glinting in the moonlight like that of a predator observing every move with it's hind legs tensed ready to spring at a moments notice.
"Follow Me." The old man grunted out his command turning on heels and with a grace that seemed to defy his age. His canine companion followed soon after, staying right at its master's heel. Naruto grunted, wanting to protest but deciding against it as his injured passenger gave a groan. And so, he simply followed wordlessly carrying the injured and unconscious Batman.
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Being led through a maze of hallways and doors, they finally came to a stop at one. A plain looking door, just a normal brown looking door with four rectangles engraved on it and a brass door knob.
:Click: :Scree: :Creak:
That was the sound of the door being unlocked and opened from the inside. On the inside it was anything but normal, Floors were tiles, bright light filled the room, and in the center stood a long metal table.
Inside the room was another man, this one wearing a white plastic facemask and latex gloves, the aqua green gown of a surgeon keeping the rest of his clothes hidden. "Mr. Wayne, Sir." He greeted Naruto with a nod. "Please put the patient on the table."
Naruto grunted before he walked over to the table, laying Terry down as he did. "Ok who the hell are you guys and where am I?"
Bruce ignored him as he looked to the doctor. His name was Michael Cornelius. A physician who's family Terry had saved from a fire. When Terry had been injured badly on another occasion and Bruce needed to get him help and fast without arousing suspicion he had contacted the doctor, and brought him here. It had been a big risk, Bruce knew. But it had been the only thing he could have done to save Terry. And thankfully, the doctor had kept his word and not uttered a single word of The Batman's identity to anyone. How did Bruce know this? Ohh because he had been tapping and monitoring his phone calls as well as camera's in his house office and even his car for about three full months afterwards. Not to mention the Bugs he had placed in practically all of his clothing pieces. It was good to be a billionaire.
"Use the communicator to update me on his condition regularly." Bruce said before turning to Naruto. "You come with me." He said as he turned and strode out of the room.
"Hey I'm getting real tired of this bullshit runaround! Naruto yelled after the older man. Cursing as he followed him a moment later.
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Back in the room the single man set about caring for the hero that saved not only his life but also his families' life as well as countless others. Carefully peeling away the bat-suit but with out removing the mask, Dr. Cornelius went about his task. Grabbing the movable light, he projected the focus on the just of the patient.
Grabbing a small bottle name 'Anesthetics' he grabbed a syringe with a hypodermic needle and stuck it though the cap. Drawing back the pump the barrel filled up with a clear liquid. Pulling it out he flicked the needle once before testing to make sure the liquid came out and not air. Now his stuck it in a major vein located on the inside of the elbow. After he grabbed a tank and a gas mask near the corner of the table and slipped the mask over the face of Batman.
Now he hooked up a heart monitor to him and prepped a Blood drip and IV incase of internal bleeding. Now he grabbed his small portable X-ray and Cat Scan machine…
…Four broken ribs on the right…
…Slight Internal Bleeding of the Right Lung….
…Three broken rib the left…
…Hairline fracture on the left Tibia…
…Incomplete fracture on the right Femur…
…Complete fracture of the right Radius…
…Concussion…
Setting the down the machine he immediately set about doing his task. Setting up the Blood Drip and IV pack, he carefully went about his bloody task.
Working tirelessly he performed surgery on the Hero of Gotham. Sweat dripped down his face as he worked alone to save this one man. Despite the fantasy of the scene he knew this was reality. This was the world they lived in…He worked alone on an impossible surgery that would usually require a team of at least three other doctors with him as well as a couple nurses. He knew that if he failed…Batman would die…and he just couldn't let that happen. This just wasn't him replaying a debt…this was his chance to do something for the sole man who protected their city…the one single man that face a multitude of dangers to protect a city of people he rarely knew.
'Will I make it?' he though doubting his own abilities but quickly shook that notion off
"I will make it." He stated firmly as a blaze burned in his eye as he though about how the man before him raced against the clock to save him and his family from a raging fire.
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"Hey...Hey old man!" Naruto said in concern as he saw the older male stagger and clutch his chest as they walked a few yards down the hall from where the guy with tights was being attended to by the doctor. Naruto saw the old man's legs get real shaky, and so, not giving it a second thought he rushed forward to help steady him. But as his hand landed on the older mans shoulder, he knew he'd made a mistake. Bruce moved with speed belying his age, with precision and practiced ease from years of experience he grabbed hold of Naruto's forearm and before Naruto knew what was going on he'd been flipped, his back crashing over a wooden table that was on the side of the hallway, smashing it to bits due to his weight. Naruto moved to get up but before he could he felt a prick on his shoulder. The old man had injected him with something on the end of his cane. Batting it away he moved to get up, missing Bruce's surprised eyes as he staggered to his feet, his vision blurry and his legs weak.
"Wha-" Before he could continue he felt another prick on his thigh, this time, he completely collapsed falling over the wooden splinters in an unconscious heap.
Bruce stared down at the Blond young shinobi with a slightly interested look in his eyes. He had given him a very heavy dose of sleeping serum, something he'd concocted himself for fast acting but not long lasting results. This stuff usually knocked out people practically while still coming out of the injection. The fact that he'd had the ability to stand up after receiving a full dose, something that would have probably knocked out Bane, he'd given him another much smaller dose to finish the job. Bruce knelt down a bit, before he grabbed the blond ninja and put his arm over his shoulders, grunting with effort as he lifted both of them up. His muscles and weary old bones protesting at the strain he was putting them through. Slowly, painfully and silently he made his way to the cave.
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Nearly an hour later Naruto groaned as he opened his eyes, which quickly adjusted to the darkness that surrounded him. He tried to move but quickly discovered his hands were quite bound by some metal bands which were attached to the chair he was currently sitting on. Further assessment of himself allowed him to discover several cables and wires attached to his head with stickers of some kind.
"I see you're up." Came a voice to his side bringing Naruto's attention to it. Finding the old man that had knocked him out sitting at a desk a few feet away. The blue glow of some square thing on said desk illuminating his features enough to be seen in the darkness that surrounded them. "That's almost a full twenty minutes ahead of the diagnosed time." He remarked mostly to himself as he leaned back in his chair. He could be here all day, literally.
"LET ME OUTA HERE YA WRINKLED OLD BASTARD!!" Naruto yelled as he thrashed a bit in his chair, unable to do the hand seals for the replacement technique.
"Quiet." Bruce's voice is hard and piercing, stilling Naruto's struggles by mere force of presence more than anything as he stares straight at the blond ninja. "I'm going to be asking you some questions. The machine you're currently hooked up to will give me a proper readout of your brainwaves."
"Brainwaves? What the hell are you talking about?" Naruto questioned as he halfheartedly tried to escape his bonds again.
Bruce's eyes turned to the computer. "Electrical signals in you brain. That way I'll be able to tell if you're crazy or if you're telling the truth.
Any normal individual would have simply believed Naruto to indeed be crazy and would send him off to the first insane asylum they could find. But Bruce Wayne was no stranger to inter-dimensional and or time travel. He had seen plenty of it during his days amongst the Justice League. He would give this boy, with admittedly strange abilities, and healing if that patched up bullet hole was any indication, the benefit of the doubt...for now anyway.
"I'm going to ask some questions. You will answer them truthfully.
Understood?"
Naruto hesitated a bit, wondering if he would ask questions about his village's security and such. But still, at the thought of him finally getting some answers in return and maybe some help finding his way home. He decided he could provide 'some' answers for the old man.
"Alright." He nodded. "As long as you explain where I am." Bruce nodded before he took out a pen and some paper to take notes as he began his questions. "What is your name?"
"Uzumaki Naruto."
"Your date of birth?"
"October tenth, eighteen years ago."
"Where were you born?"
"Konohagakure no Sato. Shinobi village in fire country."
Bruce paused as he looked at the computer. So far the readings confirmed he wasn't lying and he was not showing any of the usual brainwaves associated with Psychosis, or Schizophrenia, Amnesia or even Alzheimer, as rare as that would be on a young man especially with modern medicine, but Bruce would leave nothing unchecked. So either that meant his computer was faulty (a highly unlikely scenario) or he was telling the truth.
"The names of your parents?"
"I don't know."
Bruce raised an eyebrow as he looked at Naruto. "You don't know?"
"Nope, orphan since I can remember."
Bruce paused for a moment before he scribbled some more notes on the paper. "What is your profession?"
"I'm a ninja. Jounin rank."
"Explain the ranking system of your village." He said as he continued writing everything down.
"Well...first the students join the academy, then after that there's the Gennin rank, then chuunin, Jounin, a special branch of elite Jounin called Anbu and finally our leader the Kage."
Bruce nodded. "Very well. Now, explain the last thing you remember before you arrived here..."
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Hours later Naruto sat impatiently in what could only be called "The Cave." Watching as Bruce typed away on his computer.
"So let me get this straight..." Naruto began. "You and this guy, Terry...go around fighting criminals." Bruce nodded without turning, continuing to type on the massive super computer. "He's the Batman now...and you were the original Batman. No one knows you guy's do this except for a few other "Superheroes" or whatever and some select people." Again another nod. "Now, the police, those guys that had been shooting at me, also go after criminals, but they shoot this Terry guy because he's a criminal...too? I don't get it..."
"He's a vigilante. Often times vigilante's violate peoples' rights and do stupid things. I understand their side. That is why we don't take control of the law, as most vigilantes do, which is what raises most of the police hostility. Where as most vigilantes would simply kill their suspect, we don't, we merely gather evidence and in essence hand both him, and the evidence to the police and let them prosecute him. Or we simply stop them at the scene." Bruce explained.
"But they still shoot at you. You've been doing this for years, right? They should know that you're not like the other ones that piss them off by now." Naruto said scratching his head. He certainly was confused.
"We're not above the law and we don't plan to be." Bruce said leaning back in his chair.
"Bullshit." A new voice interrupted the two causing Naruto and Bruce to turn to the cave entrance, finding the angry form of Barbara Gordon looming over the passageway. Showing the hardened lines of her face that had been etched due to time and the hardships of her life. Bruce stared defiantly into her eyes, not giving any ground to the former Bat girl.
Finally she turned her sights onto Naruto. "Shit!" The blond cursed as he recognized her, reaching behind him to grab a kunai from his pouch. Catching his movement Barbara drew her gun and pointed it at him. "Don't even try it..." She hissed, her eyes turning to Bruce. "So, harboring fugitives now Bruce? I may have let it pass when you brought the kid into this game but you've gone off the deep end this time Bruce. You're all under arrest."
"If that's so Barbara...why are you here alone?" Bruce remarked with a slight smirk watching her eyes narrow in a glare he would have been proud of.
"No more games Bruce. This is serious. This blond kid you've got in your basement has put three of my men in critical condition. One of them wont ever be able to work in police work again because he has cut his arm off. He is going to prison, and so help me if you try anything so will you."
"On what charge?" Bruce questioned. "For being the Batman. Remember Barbara, that links you as well. If I'm ever discovered you're family will be in danger, as will Terry's family, and his friends. I highly doubt you're willing to endanger so many lives because of our visitor...I'll cover the injured polices medical expenses."
Barbara snorted, still not taking her gun off of the blond ninja, who was quite happy to remain invisible as they spoke to each other. "What's the deal Bruce? You never defended idiots like this when they broke the law before...what's special about this one."
"He comes from a different dimension." Bruce answered simply as he sat back down in his chair watching as Barbara raised a skeptical eyebrow.
"You and I both know...that these things have happened before Barbara." Bruce said with a serious gaze lacing his fingers in front of his face. "Remember the Justice Lords." He said after referring to one of the Old Justice Leagues' Dimensional Counterparts that actually crossed dimensions into their reality.
"How do you know he's not just some nut?" Barbara questioned, more for the sake of argument than anything else.
In response, Bruce simply smirked.
Barbara let out what could only be described as a sigh before she put her gun away, glaring at Naruto. "You had better remain very, and I mean 'very' under the Radar kid. If you break any more laws, or harm anymore of my men. Believe me I won't hesitate to put a round in you head. Got it?"
Naruto slowly nodded and Barbara turned to Bruce. "And as for you and the kid Bruce, you can expect plenty of heat to come from the Gotham Police now, with the reports that he was in the warehouse while this blond guy started tearing the place apart being filed right now. You can be damn sure that neither the Governor, nor the Mayor will be happy with this. And you know how much they've been itching for an excuse to put more heat on the Batman. Well this is all they'll need. I suggest you stay below the radar for a while too. At least while this crap blows over some."
Bruce nodded, but she knew neither he nor McGinnis would listen. They were both too stubborn. And so, not sparing another glance at the two she turned and strode up the stairs and out of the manor.
"Charming lady." Naruto said with a grimace. "Reminds me of Baa-Chan."
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On a dimensional plane far, far away a single white haired man worked hard into the night. His shirt lay discarded on the floor as sweat laced his body. Multiple seals place on his body as well as on the large scroll unrolled in front of him. Off to the side of him was a man with gray gravity defying hair and a mask on, next to him was a well endowed blonde with twin pigtails. Both there to make sure nothing went wrong and nothing too bad happened.
"This has to work." He hoped as he looked at his scroll before unrolling Naruto's scroll out right next to his. Locking his fingers in the ram seal he poured every ounce of chakra he could muster into that new scroll.
The way it would work it quite simple, He would use his scroll to pull back the owner of the chakra signature on the first scroll. In this case, he would be pulling back Naruto from what ever place he sent himself to. The seals on his body would prevent in from being sucking into the first scroll and being hurtled through the dimensions.
Now placing a left foot on his scroll and his right foot on Naruto's scroll he sent every thing he had into both scrolls now. The seals were now blazing and pulsed with a bright blue glow, and slowly a small wisp of smoke emanated from Jiraiya's feet.
:BOOM:
Then suddenly it exploded shrouding the whole area with smoke, obscuring Jiraiya from view. Tsunade and Kakashi tensed each grabbing a kunai holding it stiffly waiting for the smoke to clear.
:REWL:
A guttural mix between of a 'Roar' and a 'Mewl' cried out from the gray smoke. Through the now thinning smoke the pair of ninjas could see the humanoid figure poised over the fallen Jiraiya. Its head bent down head his stomach with its rear end stuck in the air, it shook it's body every so often.
"Is it EATING Jiraiya-sama?" Kakashi asked horrified as his hands shook and the kunai almost slipped out of his hands. It wasn't even the death of the great sannin that scared him…it was the death of the Icha Icha Series that chilled him to the bone.
Now the duo was prepared for anything that could strike out against a ninja weather it be a demon, monster…hell it could even be a revived Orochimaru…they were prepared for it. Now what they weren't prepared for was seeing a naked Bishonen(pretty/effeminate boy) hugging a half-naked and unconscious Jiraiya on the floor.
"Master!" the long haired young man purred out as his rubbed his face against Jiraiya's stomach.
"MWAHAHAHAHA!" it took three seconds of shock until the image registered in the brains of two ninjas. The two rolled around on the floor crying tears of mirth trying very hard to breath and speak coherent words.
The boy on the other hand looked hard at the two 'freaks' rolling on the grounds before glomping Jiraiya and cuddling him possessively against himself. "My Master…go find your own!"
That statement sent the two ninjas' laughter to even greater heights as they were now locking into a stream of silent laughter. With no air left in their lungs, the sounds of laughter stopped as they struggle to breath. Tears streamed down their red faces as they rolled around grabbing their aching ribs. Finally the duo got enough air in their lungs to say two words…
"Kage Bunshin"
With that they sent their clones away to hurry and a camera to take some blackma-…I mean convincing photos to help Jiraiya get into a more agreeable mood. They turned away from the scene looking into the darkened forest, as to not lose composure. Taking a couple deep breaths the got ready to ask some questions…that was until they turned around and saw the Bishonen rubbing his face against Jiraiya's face purring as he cradled his body.
"MWAHAHAHAHA!"
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Barbara sighed as she threw her heavy trench coat onto the back of the chair in her living room. Her husband, Sam Young was already asleep. While she had kept her maiden name, in remembrance to her own father, the previous commissioner Gordon she and Sam were very happily married, and while it is true they sometimes didn't get to spend much time with her husband, what with both of them working late nights in Gotham's law enforcement, they were happily married.
She sighed, walking over to her answering machine and clicking the button with a bit of trepidation creeping up her spine and just as expected she was right to be wary.
'Commissioner Gordon! This is the Mayor.' A raspy voice drew out from the other end. 'You have a lot to answer for Commissioner! Because of your negligence and tolerance with dealing with this Batman you are directly responsible for these escapades tonight. You are to be in my office first thing tomorrow morning. Do you understand? Goodnight commissioner Gordon.'
Goodnight indeed. Barbara thought with a sigh. 'Geeze kid...why do you always put me through this crap.' She thought tiredly before shutting off the machine and walking away, getting ready for what tomorrow would bring
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:Beep:
The communicator beeped and echoed off the walls in the Bat-cave. Both Bruce and Naruto tuned into listen to the report that would either spell success or death for the young hero.
"Mr. Wayne…the operation was a success." The call came over the communicator and only Bruce's sigh of relief was the response he received before he started typing again.
"He should be conscious by tomorrow morning...but I suggest no strenuous activity for another three days."
Bruce nodded, still amazed by the advances of modern medicine. Those injuries would have taken him months to fully recover from when he was younger. "Thank you Dr. Cornelius...I'm sure you can find your own way out. I'll wire your payment to your account soon.
"Yes sir. Thank you, sir." Cornelius replied before signing out leaving Bruce and Naruto once again in the darkness of the cave.
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Author's Notes
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1. Naruto is not nearly as fast or faster than the Flash…he is just the fastest HUMAN since the flash retired.
2. You have also notice the Naruto is speaking English…well that because Me and Ld1449 just made everyone speak English…only kept the some things in Japanese because they sound cooler that way…
Example…it would be much cooler to say 'RASENGAN!' and opposed to 'SWIRLING SPHERE!'
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Well that's it for this chapter. Remember to Review!