I'm not a Sidekick
An: Wow, a lot of great responses to the first chapter. I hope you like the follow up. So without further ado here's chapter 2.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or DC comics.
'Thoughts'
"Foreign Language"
'Jutsu'
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(Washington D.C.)
"That's it!?" Speedy exclaimed. "We were promised a look inside not a glorified backstage pass."
"This is a first step. Few others have seen as much." Aquaman said reassuringly.
Speedy silently gestured towards the observation windows on the upper levels, where tourists were waving and taking pictures. "Who cares which side of the glass were on? Look at this, I feel like I'm in a damn zoo habitat!"
Green Arrow stepped up to try and calm his protégé. "Roy, you need to calm down and have some patience."
"What I need is respect!?" He turned to his other costumed juniors. "Don't you guys see they're still treating us like kids? This was supposed to be the moment we stepped up to the next level!"
The trio looked between themselves dumbfounded. Five minutes ago they were all happy as calms, now they didn't know what to believe.
"What are you so upset about? Aquaman's right. This is a first step, a tour of the HQ." Kid Flash said not understanding why his friend was blowing a gasket.
"Except this isn't there real headquarters." Speedy revealed. That bit of information got the three of them on their feet. "It's a decoy for the tourists. From here they catch a zeta beam to their real HQ, The Watchtower, it's an orbiting satellite."
While the junior Leaguers were picking their jaws up off the floor the adult members of the League were glaring holes into the Green Arrow.
"I'm sorry, I know we were supposed to keep it a secret, but I thought we could make… an exception?" Green Arrow finished weakly. When he got nothing but intensified glares. "Or not."
"You're not strengthening your argument by throwing a fit just because you can't have your way here son."
Before Speedy could respond, their heated discussion was stalled by a loud throat clearing.
Everyone, adult, teenager and robot were surprised when a familiar figure in black faded into view sitting on top of a nearby book case. "While I don't agree with the way Speedy voiced his complaints, I do partially agree with and understand his anger."
Most people in the League were still a bit on the fence about Shinobi's intentions and allegiance. While who he was beneath the mask was still a mystery, he did pull back on the brutality, at least when dealing with normal human criminals. According to Shinobi anyone regular law enforcement officers couldn't deal with, be they meta-humans or just extremely well trained were fair game to be on the receiving end of his brand of justice.
"Shinobi, Wonder Woman didn't inform us you would be here." The Manhunter said into the tense silence.
Wonder Woman was the only League member Shinobi worked with on a regular basis. But it wasn't the typical partnership. Shinobi just showed up whenever he felt like it. According to Wonder Woman she could be alone and the next second she would spot Shinobi racing along rooftops keeping pace with her. Even now, five months into their kind of partnership she still didn't know who he was beneath the mask or what city he operated out of because he still appeared randomly all over the U.S. He hadn't even revealed he spoke perfect English until after they had worked together for the first 2 months.
Not only was his identity a mystery but so were the majority of his skills. Wonder Woman had seen him fight numerous times and could easily say he was at a master's level. She also found out that the sword he carried was not for decorating his outfit. She also discovered that somehow, someway he was able to stick to any surface.
Head cocked to the side in confusion he asked. "Why would she? She only extended the offer I never told her I accepted it."
"You said you agreed with me?" Speedy said looking at Shinobi with a little suspicion while also trying to get everyone back on track. He didn't know Shinobi, no one really did. In fact this was the first time he had seen him in person. But as long as he was backing him up he didn't care at the moment.
"I said I partially agreed with you." Shinobi corrected hopping off the bookshelf. "You have every right to be angry. You were promised…let's call it a promotion in rank. But you just found out that not only were you denied that rank but you were never going to get it. At least not today."
There were various protests from the adult Leaguers but Shinobi was keeping an eye on Batman who didn't flinch at the accusation.
Robin started waving his arms around frantically. "What do you mean we were never going to get it today?"
"He means," Aqualad began after his logical brain started feeling in what was not being said. "That if Speedy hadn't told us that this wasn't really the Justice League HQ, we would have never known. They would have dangled the Watchtower in front us as a reward just like they did the Hall of Justice."
"Calm down guys, we're not dangling a reward in front of you. You're getting the wrong idea." Flash said trying to get things under control.
"Then what was the idea? Why mislead us like this? Didn't you trust us with the truth?" Kid Flash said speeding in front of his mentor.
Aquaman tried to cut in. "It had nothing to do with trust. I was just-"
"My King, you said this was supposed to be the first step, but truly our first step was accepting the titles of Aqualad, Kid Flash, Robin and Speedy." Aqualad said cutting of his liege. He had never spoken out of turn against his King, had always taken his advice to heart and followed his every order without question. With today's revelation he was starting to see his King and the other heroes in a new light. His heart was racing a mile a minute but he had more to say.
"I don't know what drives the others, but when you offered me the title of Aqualad, I accepted because I saw an opportunity to do good not just for Atlantis but for the world. Now I'm wondering if I didn't make the biggest mistake of my life."
Not only was the King of Atlantis shocked into silence but so were the others.
"Believe me, when I figured out this wasn't really the place as advertised I was shocked too." Shinobi said.
"You figured out or did Wonder Woman tell you?"
Naruto let out a patronizing chuckle. "No one had to tell me this wasn't your home base. As powerful and as numerous as the Justice League is, I'm not going to believe that the lot of you are so arrogant as to advertise your headquarters to your enemies, while also inviting civilians inside on a daily basis where they could get caught in the crossfire if someone were stupid enough to attack this place."
"If you knew this whole thing was a sham, what are you doing here?" Speedy asked.
"Confirmation."
"Confirmation?" The metallic voice of Red Tornado spoke up for the first time.
"I wanted to see how you guys operated and thought behind the scenes." With a non-chalant shrug of his shoulders he started sinking into the floor. "Now I know, ja ne!" he said with a lazy salute before he fully disappeared into the floor.
The others were shocked into stillness, to see that Shinobi had an ability similar to the Martians density shifting.
"Is he another Martian?" Robin asked into the shocked silence.
He was quickly followed by the Martian Manhunter who used his own density shifting ability to search underground. He was back less than a minute later. "He is gone and no he is not another Martian, I would have felt it if he were."
Beneath his cape the Dark Knight clenched his fists so hard his knuckles popped.
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Miles away in a rural area between D.C and Maryland, a blond young man in his early twenties stopped in mid pull-up. His amethyst eyes went glassy for a moment and his wide athletic shoulders were tense as he hung from a metal bar. If he were to drop to the ground, he would stand at 6ft 2inches tall, this young man had three distinguishing features that made people take second, third and fourth looks. Sunny blond hair, deep purple eyes and six lines on his face, three on each cheek almost like whiskers.
Finally the young man blinked and went back to his exercise, groaning with exertion he performed one last muscle up to complete the set. Hanging from the bar he began kicking his legs back and forth building momentum. When he was ready, Naruto with a grunt of effort vaulted over the top of the bar, turning in mid-air catching himself on the other side. The exercise was only made more difficult by the heavy chains that were wrapped around his waist and legs down to his ankles. This went on for ten minutes before Naruto called it quits.
Unlocking the chains and letting them hit the floor Naruto casually walked up the stone wall of his underground training area/armory/lair, shaking his head in slight pity after fully assimilating his kage bunshin's memory. 'Sorry to burst your bubbles guys, but if you're going to step up and fight in this seemingly never ending war of good vs evil that this world is always fighting , you're going to need to start thinking for yourselves sooner rather than later.'
Did Naruto have any right to throw a wrench into the Leagues plans for their sidekicks? No probably not. But he wasn't the type to let good people be taken advantage of. Now that the information was out there it would be up to the four sidekicks to decide what they do next.
Pushing the Justice League and their problems to the back of his mind, Naruto hopped in the shower and scrubbed away the sweat and grime of his work out. An hour later he was dressed, fed and ready to get on with the rest of his day. Leaving through a side door in his kitchen, he came out into what could only technically be called a garage. It was just a wood overhang attached to the house with two aluminum poles holding it up. Naruto didn't mind, he didn't buy the place for the aesthetic looks and amenities, he bought it because his nearest neighbor was 32 miles in one direction and 40 miles in another.
Walking up to the only thing in the garage, he pulled away a blue tarp and his breath hitched. 'Gets me every damn time.' Naruto thought with a smile. It was a custom chromed Ducati Panigale 1199 r that Naruto nicknamed Gin no Kiba. Putting on a pair of fingerless gloves and an all-black helmet, Naruto straddled his bike and seconds later tore down the dirt road that led away from his farm house hide away.
In no time at all Naruto was speeding on I-95 making great time and having fun weaving in and out of cars. While he had an appointment in Gotham City later that day he was not in that big of a hurry, he just couldn't resist going full throttle every chance he got.
Just under three hours later he was in Gotham City pulling into an underground garage of an exclusive high rise apartment complex called The Castle. The reason he pulled into such an obvious wealthy elite living complex was because he had a role to play. On paper, Naruto Namikaze was a trust fund rich kid adrenaline junkie, who sometimes dabbled in the not so legal side of things. Up until now he hadn't done anything to truly warrant any serious attention, he was just a bored rich guy looking for excitement. He did it all, sky diving, base jumping, and wingsuit flying, just about everything that got the blood pumping that could be considered high risk. That's what he was doing in Gotham. He had to meet with a man named Niko Umber. Niko was a man average height about 6' give or take, he had short black hair going to gray on the sides and in the back. He had nervous dark eyes almost black that constantly moved, always looking for an escape route or something worth stealing. He had the kind of body that you could tell he was a reed thin guy all his life and only now in his later years that he started putting on weight. Unfortunately for Niko all the weight was going to his stomach and face.
Unknown to everyone including Niko himself, he was one of the many sources of information that Shinobi used for his crime fighting activities. Before Naruto dawned the disguise of Shinobi, he met Niko in his mundane persona Naruto Namikaze in Coast City. Niko was about to get his life shortened by way of a baseball bat because of an outstanding gambling debt he was ducking back on the East Court. Naruto seeing a possible opportunity stepped in, by the end of that day Naruto was $60,000 poorer and had the beginnings of his own spy network, even if the people involved didn't know they were his spies.
What he didn't expect was that the 42 year old Greco-American was a treasure trove of information. Being an average looking Joe, he blended in to the background with the ease of a seasoned shinobi. Added with his 26 year career as a petty thief and small time conman, Niko has been on the fringe of society and the underworld most of his life, coupled with the ambition of a goldfish Niko was often overlooked by people speaking about things in public that should be kept private. Naruto almost suspected him of being a telepath with how easy he could relay plans of jewel heists, bank robberies or even that arms deal Naruto got involved in. The guy was just a human magnet for that kind of thing.
He was up and back down from his penthouse in less than an hour, he was out of his blue jeans, black t-shirt and leather jacket and dressed in casual yet expensive clothes. Black pants and jacket with a purple button down shirt. Next to where his Ducati was parked was an Aston Martin V8 Vantage in gun metal grey. It was very showy but another necessity for his role. He pulled out onto the streets of Gotham not in a big hurry to be anywhere. He drove around for a while just to be seen around the city. He even chatted with a few people asking around for Niko even though he knew exactly where he was going to be shortly.
When he finally pulled up outside of an OTB place Niko was in his car within seconds.
"Welcome back to Gotham, Mr. Namikaze. Long time no see."
"Thank you Niko. It has been a while. How are you holding up?" Naruto asked pulling into traffic.
Niko held his hands up. "Still got all ten fingers and toes. Been having a run of luck recently. Things are good. When you called and said you were coming to town, I kept my ears open for anything interesting happening. What are you in the mood for?"
"Hmmm, I'm thinking something involving gambling and blood…lots of it." Naruto said with a laugh. "Think you can find me something like that?"
"That depends. How much money, whose blood? Yours, anybody's, someone special?"
"Let's start with someone else's and see where the night takes us shall we?"
"Hang a left up here, I know just what you're looking for."
45 minutes later they were in an underground arena that would make some professional stadiums look like back yard playgrounds. There were betting booths, concession stands and even freaking restaurants.
"At $2,500 a ticket this Meta-Brawl better be damn impressive." Naruto said has he stared at the gathered masses as they screamed encouragement at the two fighters going at it the ring, one of them looked like a giant bug and the other looked like something out of the Stone Age.
Naruto strolled around the arena until he found a nice table on the mid-level above the stadium seats. He had just ordered a bottle of champagne when the insect was knocked on its ass with a diving head butt and didn't back get up.
"And there you have folks. Tracer puts Hellgrammite firmly under his boots in a display of shear ferocity!"
Naruto looked at the giant screen as a dark haired woman appeared playing MC for the crowd.
"Don't worry folks the night has only just begun, we have plenty of entertaining battles for you to gorge yourselves on, IT'S A BUFFET OF BLOOD ON THE MENU TONIGHT!"
'That certainly got them going.' Naruto thought as the crowd got to their feet cheering like maniacs. 'New age coliseum'
"I hope none of you have forgotten your wallets because tonight we have a very special main event, but for now head to the betting booths, up next we have the deadliest athlete in the world Sportsmaster vs. the fearsome Atomic Skull!"
Naruto took out a stack of $100 bills with a $10,000 band on it from a briefcase he was carrying and slid it across the table towards Niko. "Sportsmaster in the first round." He said and refilled his glass. Niko snatched up the cash and hauled it to the betting booths. 'Only thing to do now is enjoy the night.'
Two hours later Naruto was up a quarter million, he was on his third bottle of bubbly and had a brunette on each arm laughing at his stupid jokes. While on the outside Naruto was having the time of his life as a rich guy out on the town, on the inside he was trying to gather as much information as he could. He was eaves dropping on conversations, he was remembering faces, paying special attention to anyone coming and going from the VIP areas. Some people he recognized and some he didn't but that was why he was hanging around with someone like Niko. Most importantly he was paying close attention to the fighters. Some he knew of and some he didn't.
This whole fight to entertain the crowd situation easily reminded him of the Chunin exams. Meta-Brawl wasn't just for entertainment, it was also a place where the more physical low level criminals could get some recognition and up their notoriety and maybe get asked to join some big league organization and earn real money.
'The more things change the more they stay the same I guess.' Naruto thought to himself. Naruto got out of his own head and focused on his surroundings, just in time as his table was being approached by a security team.
"Excuse me Mr. Namikaze, if you wouldn't mind coming with us, Ms. Roulette would like a word with you."
'They must come off an assembly line.' Naruto thought as he looked over the four man team, black suits, black ties, white shirts and sunglasses even in doors.
"I'm sorry, who is Ms. Roulette?"
"Ms. Roulette, is the creator, organizer and hostess of Meta-Brawl." Was the stiff reply.
"Niko get the girls some drinks, no need to stop the party just because I'm not here." He said with a wink at the two giggling hangers on.
"Gentlemen lead the way, never keep a lady waiting don't you know?"
It was a short walk to a private elevator. When it opened up again he was greeted by two more replicas of the same men he met downstairs.
"Mr. Namikaze, what a pleasure to meet you."
Naruto was lead over to a voice coming from a high back leather chair facing the ring. When he got a good look at her his eyebrow rose up on his forehead in appreciation and he slowly and deliberately checked her out.
She didn't look older then her mid-twenties but then again neither did Wonder Woman. Glossy black hair done up in a bun with two chopsticks stuck in in it. She had sly and calculating green eyes and perched on her small upturned nose were a pair of dark tinted half glasses. She was wearing a red qipao slit up the side, he could see a lot of a shapely smooth leg and a green snake tattoo that started at her ankle and worked its way up her leg disappearing under the red material.
"It's an honor and a pleasure to meet you as well Ms. Roulette." He said dropping his voice an octave. He sat down next to her without being asked. The guards around her stiffened but didn't say anything. "So to what do I owe this special invitation? I hope it has nothing to do with my little winning streak?"
"Actually it does." She said as she studied him. A bucket of ice and a bottle of champagne appeared between them, the same brand he had been drinking he idly noticed. "I always take notice win someone either wins big or loses big. I would say $250,000 is more than a 'little winning streak'."
"I can assure you Ms. Roulette, there has been no foul play." Naruto said holding his hands up in surrender.
"Oh I have no doubt about that." She said running a red painted finger nail down his arm. "Some of those fighters were last minute replacements and two fighters who lost have way too much pride and arrogance to take a dive for any amount of money, I should know, I tried."
Picking up the bottle Naruto poured for both of them. "So if not my winnings then what?"
"Mr. Namikaze-"
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but would you be so kind as to call me Naruto? Being so formal isn't my strong suit."
Roulette let out a tinkling laugh. "Only if you call me Roulette. As I was saying Naruto, I always keep my eye on anyone who wins big or loses big and as tonight's big winner I thought you might like to watch the main event from the best seat in the house."
"I'd love to Roulette, I haven't had such an enticing offer in a while." Naruto said raising his glass.
"I don't believe that for a second." Roulette laughed even as she raised her own glass. "There are rumors going around that you seek danger, or more accurately that you seek death."
After taking a sip Naruto smiled indulgently. "Far from the truth, I like to push myself Roulette." He smile became slightly predatory and his eyes became more intense almost glowing. "I like to achieve maximum stimulation from any activity I engage in."
One delicate black eyebrow went up on her forehead. She leaned forward until they were almost nose to nose. "Very strong words, boastful one would say. It's been my experience that most boastful men are quite a let-down in the end."
"You've never experienced me dear Roulette. But you don't have to take my word for it, I'm willing to provide a demonstration." He took a slow sip of his drink. "More than once and for however long it takes to completely satisfy your curiosity."
"Maybe, I'll take you up on that…maybe. But for now enjoy the show." Roulette stood and with a lot of sway in her hips she approached the window of the owner's box.
"It's finally time ladies and gentlemen for the main event of the evening."
The house lights all around the arena suddenly went out, leaving the spotlights sweeping around the arena as the only visible means to see.
"Introducing first haling all the way from Santa Prisca, a master in the art of bone breaking and life taking. Ladies and gentlemen, the man who mastered venom, the man whose name is the perfect description for his existence…BANE!"
The spotlights zoomed in on a man walking towards the fenced in ring. He was wearing a black wife beater, cargo pants, tan work boots and a black and white Lucha Libre mask. The crowd went wild when they spotted him.
Bane ignored them, walking into the ring with utmost confidence in every step and then standing there with his arms crossed not even acknowledging the cheers.
"Now ladies and gentlemen his opponent was a special find for us here at Meta-Brawl. Crash landed, that's right crash landed practically in our laps from parts unknown. But I guarantee you will not be disappoint with tonight's match-up, this person is as tough as they come and is not afraid to get down and dirty. Put your hands together and show your support for our guest from afar…Koriand'r!"
When the spotlights swung around to highlight Bane's opponent if Naruto hadn't been around so many exotic and beautiful women for the majority of his life he would have literally fallen out of his seat in amazement. But he managed to contain himself enough to just standing up and walking closer to the open window.
She was statuesque, with orange skin, deep red hair and luminescent green eyes. She was wearing some kind of armor and skirt combination and knee length metal boots and a metal happuri. She also ignored the crowd, her focus was entirely on Bane as she went down the catwalk towards the ring.
"Just as I promised folks, you now have 3 minutes to place your bets!"
Naruto took out his phone and sent a txt to Niko, he didn't actually care who one but he was definitely going to bet on someone whose natural skin tone was his favorite color.
With her final say she turned from the crowd to look at Naruto with a sly grin. "My, my Naruto, we've only just begun to get acquainted, don't tell me you're going to toss me over for the new girl already?"
"Don't worry Roulette." Naruto said taking her elbow and escorting her back to her seat. "Once I lay my claim to something, I never let it go. However I'm also a man of exotic tastes, so one spice for the rest of my life isn't going to cut it."
Roulette let out another tinkling laugh. "There's a lot to be said about an honest man these days. Especially one that doesn't fly around wearing his underwear on the outside of his clothes."
The two shared a laugh at the expense of the Big Blue Boyscout, before turning the attention towards the ring as a bell sounded.
The roar of the crowd intensified at the sound of the bell, they were anticipating a knock down drag out brawl right from the beginning.
Naruto raised an eyebrow as Bane casually walked towards the alien girl. He must have towered over her by at least a foot but she didn't seem quailed or nervous one bit.
'Not her first fight then. She must be trained, but how well?' Naruto thought to himself.
There were no mikes in the ring so no one could hear what was being said, but by body language alone, it was easy to tell Bane was taunting her in some way. And the taunt became obvious when he leaned down apparently giving the red haired alien girl a free shot.
It was a hell of a free shot as the girl sent a right cross plowing into Bane's face launching across the ring and into the electrified fence. The alien girl was no amateur either, she went right after Bane. Before he fully recovered from the first blow, a kick to the stomach bounced him off the fence for a second time and into her waiting arms where she attempted to squeeze him into submission.
Bane realizing he better get serious in a hurry, shook off the first two devastating blows, wiggled and squirmed his arms into close proximity to each other and managed to activate his venom release dial. He threw his head back screaming as the steroids was delivered directly into his brain. Seconds later his body starting bulging everywhere from his neck to his feet and he muscled his way out of the orange aliens iron grip.
He grabbed the surprised redhead by the shoulders and slammed his head repeatedly into her metal head piece until it dented and a trickle of blood ran from her forehead down the side of her nose. When he finally released her a double footed dropkick sent her skidded across the ring.
Leaping in the air after her, he came down attempting to punch her head through the ring floor but only managing to punch a hole in it when she rolled out of the way. They were both on their feet circling each other, the alien had discarded her head gear and wiped away the blood.
Then they went after each other, Bane came after her trying to use his size to his advantage strength, to grapple with her. She ducked under his attempted grab and gave him two vicious jabs to his ribs for his efforts, she bent low under a wild back fist, and leapt up hitting Bane with an uppercut that took him off his feet but not down to the canvas. He recovered quickly and shoulder tackled her into a nearby portion of the electrified fence, holding her there while she screamed in pain.
Bane was all smiles as he watched the girl wail in agony. Then to his surprise, her green eyes glowed briefly and she managed to maneuver her legs up to her chest and kicked Bane squarely in the face. Dropping to the floor the girl scrambled away from the fence. Once again Bane charged at her but this time she dropped backwards planted her foot in his chest and launched him over her head to land hard behind her.
Getting to her feet as quickly as she could she ran at Bane who was only just getting to his knees and without hesitating drove the edge of her hand into his throat. Normally that would have been an instant kill move but with the venom reinforcing every inch of him, that was just enough to take the wind out of Bane.
Bane fell back on the canvas coughing and choking, he rolled onto his stomach bracing himself on his hands and knees willing himself to stand up and keep fighting. But he didn't see, the red haired alien, with the orange skin and the glowing green eyes, standing above, he didn't see her bring her hands together above her head and drive them into the back of his skull planting him face first into the ring mat. He certainly didn't feel it when she stomped on the back of his head to make sure he was out.
Naruto was clapping along with the rest of the impressed audience. Naruto could see the alien girl was almost dead on her feet but she refused to allow anyone to help her out of the ring.
"Roulette, you sure do know how to entertain the masses. Tell me, how are you in one on one settings?" Watching that orange skinned alien girl fight really did something to Naruto's libido. It made him realize his serious lack of nookie situation he's had going on for the last few weeks and Roulette looked like she could be up for some fun.
"I've never had any complaints before." She said grabbing his hand and leading him to a different elevator than the one he arrived in.
Naruto fired off a quick text to Niko to tell him to take a cab home.
"And I'm not about to start now." She said kissing him just as the elevator doors closed shutting them inside and leaving her bodyguards to take the long way around.
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Gin no Kiba-Silver Fang
Kage Bushin -Shadow clone
Niko Umber-An OC I created, any likeness or similar characteristics with any known person or character is strictly coincidence.
An: Well here is chapter 2, I hope I get as good a response as chapter 1. I've had many concerns about Naruto forming a harem. I can tell you now there will be no harem. By the way I'm using the Starfire design from Justice League vs the Teen Titans.
I think that's all I had to say see you next time.