Ino and the X-men
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the X-men.
"(Japanese)" – formerly used to mean English, but moving out of Konoha means language change, hence now this means the opposite.
Chapter 3
(Morlock Tunnels)
"What happened here?"
Storm looked around sadly. "There was a battle. I hope Callisto got them to safety."
"Um, for those of us that don't know what's going on who are we talking about?" Ino asked after exchanging looks with Kurenai and Anko.
"These tunnels belong to the Morlocks, a group of mutants who live underground and call these tunnels their home." Laura said. "Callisto is the leader…well second in command. Storm there beat her and then left her in command in her absence."
Ino looked at the white haired Storm and just couldn't picture her ruling a group of mutants underground.
X-23 must have seen the look on her face because she leaned in and whispered.
"Storm's claustrophobic. The battle she fought was mainly to free the X-men who were with here when they were captured. She never wanted to lead, but she does make sure they get food and medical supplies every month."
Ino nodded. She'd seen the dark skinned mutant and Ino couldn't see her anywhere but in the sky.
"Yes, yes. While she lives in a palace her subjects live in the slums." Magneto said with a hint of disdain.
The X-men ignored him. They'd been forced underground when a group of Infinites attacked them.
"We should fight." Magneto said with disdain.
"We're not ready." Logan had growled. "Some of us are hurt."
Ino looked at Anko and Kurenai and felt bad for the Jonin, but neither had wanted to stay in Konoha with all their students gone and the rampaging prejudices.
"What can you tell me about him?" Ino asked Laura to help the dark haired girl focus.
"Mags? He controls metal. Bad for people like Logan and I. He'd rule your ninja easily as they use metal weapons. I think if he focuses enough he can even manipulate the iron in a person's blood."
A chuckle and they both looked over at Magneto. "At one time I could, but I really do need to focus now, it sucks getting old." He added with a mirthless chuckle.
Cain made a sound that either could be a grunt or protest, neither girl knew what it meant as the Juggernaut didn't expand on it.
"So if you're so powerful, how did you lose?" Ino asked.
"Numbers advantage and as I said, I was betrayed by the council." Magneto said. Ino knew there was more to it than that. She was a ninja and there was a lie in what the Master of Magnetism was saying. She let it go for now as she knew they needed his help in getting Naruto back from the man…
(No, the monster. Apocalypse has shown he isn't human in any way with the way he's behaved.) Ino thought.
XX
(Apocalypse Ship)
Mr. Sinister looked at the data and then at the incubation chamber.
"Tell me."
He turned to see Apocalypse step from the shadows. "Is he ready?"
"Another day at most." Sinister said. "I still think it is unwise to grrrurk!"
the last bit came from Sinister as Apocalypse's hand wrapped around his neck and lifted him in the air.
"I do not care for your opinion. Just that you do as I commanded. Naruto's time to shine is coming. My horsemen shall spread across the land leading the army of Infinites and wipe out homo sapiens once and for all. The Age of Humans is over. The Age of Apocalypse is just beginning."
Sinister's red eyes were wide as the feeling of fear crept into his once absent heart.
XX
(Underground)
"How much further?" Ino asked.
"We're here." Wolverine said tried to push the wall but it refused to budge.
"What's wrong?" Jean asked.
"Somethin' is blockin' it from the other side." The Canadian mutant grunted.
Magneto swept forward and made a gesture. There was a groan and the wall was ripped off. The room beyond was a disaster.
"You live here?" Ino asked as she looked around.
"The Institute has seen better days." Laura said as she and the others scanned the room.
"This way." Logan growled. "Lets see if they left anything useful."
Ino kept close to her sensei's, seeds ready in her hands.
Each room they checked and passed had been trashed and looted.
"If the lower levels look this bad…" Ino said to X-23 as she walked with her.
"Don't think about it yet. You'll end up with hair matching Storm."
Ino looked at the weather mutant. "So that's what happened." She whispered. To those with enhanced hearing, they couldn't help but laugh.
Jean called from where she was. "Bring Kurenai and Anko here."
The followed the sound of her voice and entered a room.
"Medlab's rather untouched." Jean said as they helped the pair of kunoichi onto tables.
"You don't think they tampered with anything Jeannie?" Logan growled. He never liked the place and the cold metal look brought up bad memories he with he could forget.
"No, the doors were untouched and the security systems show that it was left alone." The red head said.
Beast was checking supplies.
"Logan." Gambit called. "We're goin' ta check top side." He gestured to himself and Rogue who had made the journey in silence and the usually savage X-man understood how they were feeing. (Whiskers been a part of us for so long to lose him like this has to be eatin' Marie up inside.)
"Go with 'em." He told Ino and Laura. "Best not to separate too much."
The girls left Logan looked at Magneto. "You and me are goin' ta have some words bub."
The former ruler of Genosha nodded and followed Logan leaving the kunoichi to Jean and Beast's care.
Juggernaut was still searching room by room for supplies and gear they could use.
"I think it was a mistake to allow Rogers and Pym to leave. And I while understand why you left my daughter, granddaughter and Nightcrawler on Muir Island I don't like it."
"They live there Erik." Logan said standing across the room from him. the room used to be the X-Men's war room was stripped bare.
"Moira and the mutants there are under their protection and there is nothing we can do for them right now. we had to leave Marrow there. The Queen has them under house arrest for their protection."
"Tell me what happened in the Elemental Nations. Don't leave anything out." Magneto said and Logan wished he had a beer as he began what happened during the Chunin exams.
XX
Ino blinked in the sun as they exited one of the emergency exits located around the estate grounds.
She got her first look at the Institute or more to the point the firebombed remains.
A low whistle escaped her. "I'm just not seeing it."
Laura gave her a dirty look. "It didn't always look like this smart ass."
Gambit and Rogue weren't really scouting the area, they were near the remains of a fountain.
Ino looked at the former weapon with a raised eyebrow. Laura leaned in and whispered. "Naruto used to sit near the fountain studying or even relaxing." She said.
Rogue traced a hand over the cracked stone and Ino could see the woman wanted nothing more to get her son back, but they weren't equipped for it at this time.
"Do you think Ms. Pym and Cap will find the people we need?" Ino asked.
Laura leaned against the remains of a burned tree and shrugged. "Spider-Man maybe, but Deadpool…"
"What about me toots?" a voice said and Laura jumped, spun and popped her claws.
"Shows up like a damned cockroach." X-23 hissed.
"Nice kitty." The Merc with the Mouth said holding up his empty hands, but with Deadpool that meant very little to those who knew him.
Ino got her look at the man they'd just been discussing. The red and black bodysuit made her think of Naruto. The masked face turned towards her. "Whoa, new babe." He was about to step towards her when he was smacked up across the back of the head.
"Siryn." Laura said relaxing. "You came as well."
The red head was wearing jeans and a tattered "Dingoes Ate My Baby" t-shirt™.
"Ack, ye think I'd let him out without a leash?" her irish brogue peeking through with her annoyance at the man she was with.
"Theresa Cassidy."
They turned to see Gambit and Rogue approaching. "Thank you for comin'."
"When Stevie said it involved my prank-buddy you bet your bvd's we'll come." Deadpool said. Then he turned towards the side.
"For those wondering about our past exploits pick up the Mis-Adventures of Deadpool and Naruto, limited edition at newsstands…sometime last century for the low low price of 5.95 TPB."
Siryn sighed and smacked him across the back of the head. "Will you cut that out."
Ino looked at Laura, "What was that?"
"Wade thinks there is another dimension and talks to the people he thinks are there watching us like we're either TV or a comic book."
Ino shook her head. (Weird.)
"So what's the what?" Deadpool asked.
"We're going to assault Apocalypse's base and rescue Naruto and the other mutants held there." Laura said.
Behind his mask Wade Wilson grinned. "Groovy. Let me get my Boomstick™ and some bubblegum and we can kick some ass."
"We're waiting on seeing who else answers the call." Ino said as she remembered what Mr. Logan had said.
"Don't expect many. The Infinites have set up concentration camps and those who haven't joined Apocalypse are in there."
They thought of this, Rogue's jaw set as she made a decision. (Anyone that gets in my way will not like the results.) she clenched her hand already bracing herself for the amount of mutants she was most likely going to absorb.
AN: Deadpool has…
DP: "Yo, I can speak for myself. And why is it everyone thinks I'm crazy. I can see you as clear as…what's that?"
AN: Whiteout. If you don't shut up I'm using it on you. Now as I was saying DP has arrived. More forces are gathered and we see how Shino and Hinata are faring. For those that keep harping, my posting is shit because my dad's health. He has been having heart problems and his diabetes is kicking his ass. I post what I can when I can and what I am inspired to write in my free time. Thanks for those who are patient.
