Posted: 7/10/16

CHAPTER 2

TOKYO

November 3, 2007 22:27 UTC

Atop the building at the center of Tokyo sat Naruto in his Fire Shadow suit and mask. He was meditating to enter his sage mode. Pulling in the natural energies from the earth he opened his eyes which would be seen as toad eyes with orange around the sides if his mask was off. While in sage mode it allowed him to magnify his emotion sensing ability from Kurama. Finding two people who were terrified he throws his hiraishin kunai as far as he can in the same direction flashing multiple times till he was looking over the scene. A couple were being cornered in an ally with six thugs moving in on them. Some of them had pulled out knives.

"Here! This is all our money just leave us alone!" The man holding his girl shouted desperately as he threw a wad of cash towards them.

"Please let us go!" The girl practically screamed out. The men didn't seem to care as they just laughed and closed in leering at her.

Jumping down Fire Shadow grabbed one of the men in the back of the group and jumped across to the adjacent building with the man screaming all the way until he was quickly knocked out.

"Aaaaaah!" He screamed. The others spun around just in time to see a figure grab their friend and disappear into the night.

Loud footsteps could be heard all around them. Naruto could be completely silent but wanted to create fear in them.

"Who's there!" One of them yelled. Their heads kept on moving trying to follow the sounds. Then the footsteps stopped as it became eerily silent. As their heads moved around again they noticed another two guys missing.

"Kota, Rento where'd you go." "Rento, Kota." They whispered. Freaking out even more. Two of them stumbled and began to run to the street. Before they could reach it Fire Shadow fell from the sky and knocked them out.

The last thug was shaking. He had totally forgotten about the couple behind him. Fire Shadow looked towards him and began walking slowly coming within a few feet of him and stopping.

"Ssstay away! Don't move another foot or you'll get it!" He stuttered out while waving his knife at the man in the mask. Fire Shadow stepped forward and the man lunged. His wrist was easily grabbed and twisted.

The knife clattered to the ground as he shouted in pain. "Aaaaaah!"

When he looked up at the mask everything changed and his mind was lost to a terrifying illusion. With a few seconds of ear piercing screaming the man fainted drooling at the mouth.

Fire Shadow looked up seeing the couple in the corner crouched, shaking, and holding each other. He slowly walked up to them hand reaching out.

"You two okay?" He asked calmly in his altered voice. The two looked up seeing he didn't seem to want to attack. The man got enough courage to grab the hand and they were both pulled up.

"Ttthank you." The man stuttered. The girl just nodded her head. He looked at them both for a second before turning around and quickly bringing all the men together and tying them up.

While tying them up he told the two who seemed to still be staring at him. "You should call the police." He stated calmly as he finished.

The both of them seemed to snap them out of it. The guy pulled out his phone to do just that. While he was on his cell phone the girl slowly stepped toward the masked man.

"Who are you?" She asked almost in a whisper.

"Call me Fire Shadow. I'm just a kid trying to help out." He responded strongly. With that said he turned and jumped up to the roofs and disappeared into the darkness.

"Just a kid?" She whispered to herself as her boyfriend came up and wrapped his arm around her.

"What did he say?" He asked seeing that she was looking up into the sky.

Throughout the night and following months Fire Shadow would be out stopping crimes. Early on he would mention his name at each crime so it would spread to others. He was beginning to get an understanding of Tokyo's criminal underworld. By the end of September the next year Fire Shadow was able to stop larger crimes including big drug deals, prostitution rings, and murders. In the public they were beginning to take notice of him as reporters were able to interview people he had saved including the first couple. That is how they were able to figure out he was just a kid along with how short he was. He still was kicking himself on that slip-up.

TOKYO

October 5, 2008 19:58 UTC

A group of armored embassy cars are moving through the light Tokyo traffic making their way to their destination. 2,500 yards away from the Chinese Embassy up on a rooftop a figure was lying prone looking through the scope of his sniper rifle. The man wore a black trench coat over a red and black body suit. His head was covered in a silver mask sporting one eye opening with an electronic scope attached. The cars finally reached their destination. As they stopped and opened their doors the assassin slowed he breath. Then all of a sudden his sniper was ripped out of his hands.

"What the?!" He yelled jumping up and spinning around looking for who grabbed his weapon. He spotted a figure standing a dozen feet away ejecting the round from his rifle and removing the ammo cartridge.

"Did you know there are no assassinations in my city Deadshot?" The black figure commented as though he was stating the obvious.

"Who are you?" Deadshot asked angrily as he slowly made for his pistol in his arm holster.

"The name is Fire Shadow and you are not welcome in Tokyo." He said simply as he walked towards the assassin.

Deadshot reached for his pistol and at the same time Fire Shadow raced towards him. He had no time to pull off a shot as Fire Shadow reached him impossibly quick. Grabbing his wrist and quickly breaking it as the gun fell on to the roof.

"Aaaaah my wrist!" He screamed but was quickly knocked out with hit to the head from the butt of his own rifle.

The assassin was quickly tied up and brought to the nearest police station. He was left in front of the station with a note from Fire Shadow stating who he was and also his attempted assassination of the Chinese ambassador.

THE WATCHTOWER

October 5, 2008 18:03 EST

Up in space, orbiting Earth is a large station called the Watchtower. It stands as the more covert headquarters for the Justice League with the Hall of Justice being the public headquarters. Right now Batman was researching a hero who had been making the news more and more lately. Fire Shadow. Currently he was watching a local news report about an failed assassination by Floyd Lawton a.k.a. Deadshot of the Chinese ambassador in Tokyo, Fire Shadow's hometown. A woman walked up beside him looking at the screen.

"Dinah." Batman stated glancing at Black Canary.

"Batman. What are looking into? Something going on in Japan?" She asked.

"There appears to be a new hero in Tokyo. He just stopped an assassination by Deadshot. I've been trying to keep track of any and all new heroes that appear." He spoke calmly as he continued to look through more news reports online.

"This man must be not too bad if he could do that." She added listening to the reporter speak how the police found Deadshot tied up outside a police station.

"He's a kid." Batman commented.

"What?" Canary nearly shouted.

"Based on eye witnesses and his approximate height he is between 10 to 14 years old. Surprisingly there are still no clear video or pictures of him after almost a year. Most are of a black blur, but with witness reports I've been able to create a rough description of him." He read off from his profile he had begun to create of Fire Shadow. It showed a semi-accurate depiction of the kid in his suit.

"Similar to sightings early on in your career." She stated looking over at him.

"Yes, he also similar in that he seems to use deception and fear. Accounts from criminals state that he is incredibly fast and strong, can jump high up to rooftops, and even seem to create terrifying illusions in a few cases." Batman continued from the incomplete profile.

"Looks like your going to keep a close eye on the kid. He might get as good as you." She said smirking at him. He ignored that and continued to read through the reports.

Ignoring his silence she went on. "So this Fire Shadow, do you think he would be good for this possible team your setting up?" Dinah asked more seriously.

Batman was silent for a little bit. "Not at the moment. I don't know enough about him. We may have to make contact at some point to learn more information on him. The team won't be put together for awhile so I'll have more time to create a better picture of who he is."

"Sounds good." She agreed.

TOKYO

January 10, 2010 19:13 UTC

The sun just went down over the city as Dinah Lance a.k.a. Black Canary zeta-beamed to a phone booth in a deserted alley. In her Black Canary outfit she moved up to the nearest rooftop to try to see if she could find Fire Shadow. After a few minutes of moving across the rooftops a figure dropped from above. She tensed up ready for a fight until she read the kanji on the figure's chest then calmed somewhat.

"So what is the Black Canary doing in Tokyo?" Fire Shadow asked Canary.

Surprised that he speaks English and also noticing the altered voice. "You know me?" She questioned the boy in front of her.

"Black Canary, master in taijutsu and gymnastics, has a destructive ultrasonic scream known as the Canary Cry, began fighting crime early 2007, and joined the Justice League in 2008. I've learned all about the Justice League, their allies, and their enemies," He stated as though it was normal for a kid to know all that. "And it's an honor to meet you," Bowing respectfully. "So, what is a Justice Leaguer doing in my backyard?" Fire Shadow tried to get back on topic.

Dinah recollected herself from her surprise of his depth of knowledge. "It's good to meet you to," she replied giving a short bow in return. "I was sent here as representative of the league to meet you. Fire Shadow has been making noise in Japan. We've been following your exploits closer since the attempted assassination you stopped over a year ago and all the way to the recent serial killer you caught."

"So what do you want to know?" He asked evenly ready to tell if there was any deception.

"Nothing too personal." She paused and saw him nod.

"First off how old are you?" Really interested in the answer.

Thinking it over he decided it wasn't too big a question. "Thirteen."

Astonished that he was fighting crime this young and by himself. "Oh," she paused trying to think of what to say. "Ok, now the main question we wanted to know is why do you do it? Fight crime?" She directed at him seriously.

Knowing this was for the Justice League he spent a moment thinking it over. "Hmm. Well ever since I learned about the world's heroes and what they do I knew exactly what I wanted to become. With the abilities I have, I knew they could be used to make a difference. It felt like it was my duty to use my powers to stop criminals and protect those who couldn't defend themselves." He took a breath.

"Sorry, I don't get to talk to anyone about my nightly activities. It just all came out at once." He lamented sheepishly scratching the back of his head.

Seeing him more relaxed. "That's fine. It's okay to be passionate about your views." Canary spoke softly. The league gave her authority to decide if an offer to Fire Shadow was extended, and with her mind made up she made her decision.

"There is one final question we wanted to ask you. Well it's more of an offer. There is a team of young heroes that we're putting together and you are invited to join." She told him.

It took a few seconds for him to respond. "I don't know," He sounded almost insecure. Taking a small pause he went on. "I've never really worked with other heroes. Not sure if it would be a good fit." Fire Shadow said honestly.

"Well it's something to think about. I do hope you say yes. You don't have to right now. If you decide to join, meet at the Hall of Justice in Washington D.C. on July 4th at 6 PM. Myself and a couple others will be there to meet you." Reciting what she memorized. Thinking for a second and almost face palming.

"If you say yes would you need transportation to America?" Asking him.

"If I decide to join, no I have my own transportation." Speaking as it would be simple getting there.

Walking towards Fire Shadow, Black Canary held out her hand. He grabbed it and they shook. "Well it was interesting meeting you Fire Shadow." She looked down at him with a smile.

"Likewise Black Canary." He smiled behind his mask.

"I do hope you join. I think it would be good for you." Thinking how lonely it must be doing everything on his own.

"I will consider it. Goodbye Canary." He said as he quickly turned and ran into the night jumping across the rooftops until the kid disappeared into the darkness.