SMST: The Trials of Lady SHAZAM! – By DS Wynne

Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, DC Comics and other properties belong to their respective owners.

Note: This is a multi-genre story.

Part 4

Later…

"Man, it's hot," said Naruto, as he and the rest of Team-7 (plus Rock Lee and Usagi's companion Ruby) walked along a dirt road.

"Oh, quit complaining, Naruto," Sakura said. "You don't see anyone else complaining about the weather."

"No, because a certain PARENT has a parasol overhead," Naruto said, as he looks at his mother, who was sipping iced-tea.

"Hmmm?" Usagi said, as she turns to look at her son. "Naruto, I DID offer you an umbrella and drink…"

"That's because we are suppose to be on a mission, not a 'field trip'."

"Big Brother, relax," Renata said. "I think its neat that Mom is going to spend time with us."

"Whatever…"

"What's wrong with having one's parent along, Naruto?" Lee asked.

"It's just that I don't want people to think I am not good enough a ninja because my mother is with me, you know?" Naruto replied.

"You son is very independent," Ruby asked.

"Well, his father and I raised him to be like that, unfortunately," Usagi said with a sigh. "Maybe coming here was a bad idea. After all, I could have gone see the REAL Hippolyta to petition her for a boon…"

"Lady Usashinko, if I may ask, how important IS this mission?" Sakura asked.

"Well, Prince Michiru's family has holdings that are worth a lot," Usagi said. "So you can imagine how valuable they would be to those with nefarious intentions."

"Ah, so we're to prevent a kidnapping?" Lee asked.

"Well, anything is possible. Ah, we're here."

The group finds themselves at a crossroads. The road that they are on uses cobblestone instead of asphalt. Due to the push for more traditional values, as well as consideration for the environment, much of northern Japan rooted in a more "rustic" outlook, not at all dissimilar to the way of life of the Amish in the United States. That is why, for the most part, the shinobi country eschews most modern conveniences, such as the automobile. Any technology that is used is limited, or relies upon carbon-neutral measures, like steam-punk technology, techno-magic or even technologies powered by chakra. Still, the main highways are modern, while the back-roads maintain their rustic sensibilities…

"Wait, I see a caravan," Renata said, as she and her group sees many at least a dozen of horse-drawn wagon going down the road that had crossed their path.

"Which one belongs to the Prince?" Sakura asked.

"All of them, if I know Michiru," Usagi said. "I swear, he can be so extravagant at times."

"Mom, you know the Prince?" Renata asked.

"Well-"

SKREEE!

"Cousin Usagi?" said a heavy-set, man (in his early thirties), as he steps out. He wore a long, blue vest and gray khaki pants, and a colorful, stylish cap. "Is that YOU?"

"Michi-kun?" Usagi said, with her eyes wide open. "What the heck happened to you?"

"Um, too much fun?"

"Wait, the prince is related to you, Mom?" Naruto asked in surprise.

"Yes. We're second cousins on my father's side."

"Wow…"

"You should visit more often, Usa-ko," Michiru said, as he hugged Usagi.

"Well, been busy with…stuff," Usagi replied with a smile. "So how are Ayamo and Hikaru?"

Michiru sighed.

"What happened?"

"My dearest Ayamo left me a few years ago," Michiru said with sadness. "That's why I gained all this weight. But, I kept our son Hikaru, who should be over there…"

Michiru turns towards his carriage.

"Son! Your older cousin Usagi is here."

Usagi peers into the carriage, and sees her young cousin, as he ignores his father while continuing to play on his Nintendo "Gameboy" hand-held system.

"Quiet, isn't he?" Usagi said with a raised eyebrow.

"Ever since his mother left, he's been doing that," Michiru said. "I know! We're going to stop by Ayamo's place, on the way back to the island, so maybe you can convince Ayamo to come back?"

"Well, I'll talk to her, but we women folk tend to be stubborn, once we made up out minds," Usagi said.

"See, Sakura?" Naruto said. "You getting mad at ME all the time isn't my fault."

"Humph!" Sakura said, as she turns up her nose.

"And who are these people?" Michiru asked. "And where is my escort?"

"Actually, I'm doing a favor for a friend, so we'll be your bodyguard," Usagi said, as she motions to her companions.

"THESE kids?"

"We are not just kids!" Naruto proclaimed. "We are trained shinobi! Believe it!"

"Er, yes," Usagi said, as she performed a sweat drop technique. "This here is my son, Naruto. He tends to be a bit high-strung."

"Mom!" Naruto whined. "You're embarrassing me-!"

"Whoa, I'm impressed," Michiru said.

"This is my daughter Renata…"

"Hello!" Renata said.

"This is Sakura Haruno, a classmate of my children…and one of Naruto's fiancées."

"Ha!" Sakura said. "We'll se about THAT, when I turn eighteen years old."

"Hey!" Naruto yells.

"This is Rock Lee, a classmate of theirs…"

"It will be an honor to protect you, sir!" Lee said with a bow.

"And this is my friend and associate Ruby Sunflower."

"Hello," Ruby said with a smile. "Call me the 'tag-along'."

"Well, it's wonderful and all, but can you protect me? I can use the company regardless."

"Cousin, you know me right? And you know Ranma. And I can personally vouch for the others."

"Okay, then what about HER?"

"Oh, I can take care of myself," Ruby said with a smile.

"Oh, like how?"

"Well," Ruby said, as she takes out her magic wand. "Watch. Esir ecnirp taf!"

Suddenly, Michiru begins to float.

"Ulp!" Michiru said.

"Whoa," said Hikaru, as he stuck out his neck.

"What's going on?" Naruto asked.

"I'm a witch," Ruby said with a smile.

"Ah!" Naruto said. He then turns towards his mother.

"Mom…?"

"Well, you know that I teach at a special school where your sisters Moka and Kokoa attend?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, one, the school is for monsters and other supernatural beings, and, two…I'm a sorceress."

"AH!" Naruto wails. "My Mom is a witch-!"

Naruto imagines his mother and Ruby cackling in stereotypical witchery clothing, while they prepare to put Naruto in a boiling cauldron…

BOP!

"Ow!" Naruto yelps.

"Give it a rest, Naruto," Sakura said, after bopping Naruto on the head.

"But…does Dad knows?" Naruto asks, while rubbing the back of his head.

"Well, he is a wizard, actually," Usagi said. "A warrior magus who specializes in Time rotes, but a wizard as well."

"Oh, I see."

"But son, we've done a lot over the years, mostly out of boredom," Usagi said. "And always, it's to perfect the type of people we are…what we can BE."

"Mom, can you teach me magic?" Renata asks.

"Well, I rather have you specialize in the shinobi arts, but I can take you on as an apprentice, when you get older."

"I would like that."

"Lady Usashinko, what's the difference between a 'witch' and a 'sorceress'?" Lee asks. "Aren't they the same thing?"

"Oh, heavens no," Usagi said. "It's about focus. Witchery focuses on natural magics, while sorcery focuses on hermetic magic. Hermetic magic is basically the development of symbols that can link to a spirit, angel, god or demon, to gain the power to manipulate reality, while witchery uses the elements and nature to effect change. There have been some crossover in some cases, but those are the differences."

"Oh."

"And did you know that Ninjutsu and Genjtusu is a form of magic?"

"Really?" Sakura asked.

"Really. Instead of using nature or some entity as a source of power, the shinobi, and a number of martial artists, uses the body's 'chakra' to perform magical effects."

"But…how does that work for me, Lady Usashinko?" Lee asked. "I can perform Ninjutsu and Genjutsu."

"What did Ranma say to you, when he taught you senjutsu, so that you no longer have to fear about dying from over usage of the Hidden Lotus?" Usagi asked.

"He said that although I could not perform ninjutsu or genjutsu, I can still do taijutsu since we, as human beings, uses it anyway. In particular, I can use taijutsu in ways that can mimic the other techniques."

"Exactly. Some people can manipulate chakra a little better than others, but that doesn't mean they can't compensate."

"Oh…"

"That's all way and good, cousin, but can you, um, help me down?" Michiru said helplessly.

"Sure," Usagi said, as she snaps her fingers to cancel the spell. After gaining the wisdom of Minerva, she can re-learn how to use spells, scientific formula, and, most importantly, jutsus.

SNAP!

"Ulp!" Michiru said, as he began to fall…

KTCH!

"I have you, sir," Sakura said, as she easily held the big guy.

"Oh, thank you…"

"See?" Naruto said proudly. "We are good at our jobs-"

SSSSSS-POP!

"Ah!" Naruto said, as he pulls a "suction arrow" from his headband. "Who did THAT?"

"Some ninja YOU are," said Hikaru from the carriage, as he leans back while putting away his bow and arrow away…before going back to his Gameboy.

"Why I ought to-!"

"Naruto!" Usagi said. "While you are on this trip, you will conduct yourself professionally WHEN ON DUTY. And also, he is your cousin, and he is younger than you, so I expect you to be the responsible one."

"Aw, okay…"

"Well, if nothing else, we should be off," Michiru said. "If you want, you can all take a ride with me and Hikaru…"

"Actually, we do have a job, cousin," Usagi said. "However, Ruby can keep you company."

"Really?" Ruby asked.

"Sure."

"Oh, okay…"

"Great! I find you so fascinating, Miss Sunflower," said Michiru, as he helps the witch into his carriage.

Ruby merely smiles.

"Mom, how come we can't ride with cousin Michiru and Ayamo?" Renata asked.

"Well, besides doing our escort job, I'm going to teach you four new jutsus."

"REALLY?" the kids say excitedly.

"Really. Naruto, I know that you complain about me not teaching you as much as I, as Orochimaruko, teach Sasuke, but today will be different."

"What can you teach us, Lady Ranstu?" Lee asked.

"Well, let's see…"

Usagi thinks for a moment.

"Rock Lee."

"Ma'am!" Lee said, as he stood at attention.

"I will teach you how to create a Battle Aura," Usagi said. "When you power up while implementing the Hidden Lotus Jutsu, you're simply expelling your energy. That's why you get weak afterwards. But now that Ranma taught you the first part of Senjutsu, I can teach you the second part of Senjutsu: the Battle Aura. You'll learn to harness and manipulate the excess chakra you can generate that will enhance your defenses. What you do say?"

"I'll make Guy-sensei proud by learning your technique, ma'am!"

"Good."

Tbc.