Naruto took a long look around at the Titans' home, entranced by the sight of the furnishings. It was the first time in his life he had ever seen a home like this: so huge that it seemed to be a village on its own. There were countless sofas, tables and chairs scattered around the main hall, with the most sophisticated doors and items Naruto had seen. He didn't even know what most of them were called.
"Cyborg-san, did you really build this place?" Naruto asked in awe. "How did…"
"Oh, it took me ages, believe me," Cyborg replied. "And I had some help. See that door there? I had to…"
Raven cleared her throat pointedly, and Cyborg, who was just about to start telling Naruto about how he built the door, quickly shut his mouth.
"Raven-san, do you want to say something?" Kakashi asked, seeing the expression on her face.
"I was just about to tell Cyborg that we should focus on the issue at hand."
"Ah, of course," Kakashi said calmly. "Well, Raven-san, you said you're the one who knows the most about this. So, tell us more."
"What do you want to know?"
"First of all, is the gem safe?" Naruto demanded.
"Yes, it is. No need to worry about it. As long as I'm standing, the gem will stay safe."
It was Neji who spoke up next, his forehead creased into a frown. "Are you sure of that? The ninjas sent to get you are more powerful than you can imagine…"
"I'm aware of that." Raven's odd eyes fixed themselves firmly on Neji's face, and he felt a slight chill creeping up his spine. Her eyes were cold, so emotionless that it was like she had forgotten how to feel a long time ago. "And I'm not overly afraid of them. I know how to keep the gem safe, and I'll do just that."
"Good." Kakashi smiled slightly behind his mask. "Have you sighted those rogue ninjas anywhere yet?"
"No. But I may be able to track them down."
"How?" Sakura asked.
"I'm a telepath."
"Oh, OK?" Kiba looked at Raven with raised eyes.
"It's a mind power. I can sense things with it, and read people's minds," Raven replied succinctly.
"So, you can track down those ninjas with your mind powers?" Shikamaru asked.
"Probably. If you let me into your mind, I'll be able to get a lock on their aura and sense them."
"So, we're just going to go after them directly?" Sai asked. "Is that really the best option?"
"I think we can handle them together," Naruto said optimistically. "There are ten of us ninjas, and seven of you. I'm sure seventeen of us can handle two ninjas."
"Four of them," Kakashi corrected. "Remember that another two had already been sent out earlier?"
"Actually," Raven put in, "there are only two of them left now. The other two found me a week ago, and tried to force me to give up the gem to them, so I had no choice but to take them down by force."
Naruto heaved a sigh of relief. "If you managed to take them down, then I'm guessing those last two ninjas won't be too much trouble, then."
"That's right," Cyborg said enthusiastically. "All of us were there when Raven kicked their butts. Oh boy, you should have seen her in action after those ninja freaks said they had come for the gem!"
Raven glared at Cyborg. "You think I took them down to put on a show of some sort?"
"Nope." Cyborg grinned nervously. "I was merely telling them the truth." He could still see the fight vividly in his head. The two ninjas had finally pounced on Raven in public, in an isolated street, when she and the Titans had been taking a walk. Raven had immediately fought back with her usual skills, and with help from her friends, she had taken down both ninjas in ten minutes, before sending them to another dimension where they could bother no-one else.
"In the meantime," Robin voiced out, "I was wondering something else." He glanced at the ninjas pointedly.
"What?" Naruto asked.
"If you're from another dimension, then how on earth did those ninjas find out about the gem?" Robin asked sensibly.
"Now, that's a good question," Shikamaru murmured.
"I don't have any answer to that," Kakashi admitted. "Tsunade-sama told us nothing about how those ninjas gained their intel."
"But that shouldn't be overly important, should it?" Naruto asked.
"And why is that?" Robin challenged.
"Because our main focus is to keep you and the gem safe, not worry about where the ninjas gained their information from," Naruto replied.
"Wrong," Robin said bluntly. "Until we can figure out who is passing on the information, and how, we'll never be able to solve this problem completely. What we have to do is to find out who the informer is, and how he's been passing on info to those ninjas."
"And how are we to do that?" Neji asked.
"Raven," Robin asked, turning to her, "after we've tracked those ninjas, do you think you could read their minds and discover who the informer is?"
"There's the possibility they themselves might not know who the informer is," Raven replied, frowning.
"And how are we supposed to find out who the informer is, then?" Hinata asked.
The briefest of expressions crossed Raven's face ever so quickly before vanishing just as swiftly. "I already have an idea of who it may be," she replied.
"You do?" Kiba exclaimed, and Akamaru barked.
"Who is it?" Terra demanded.
"I believe the informer is none other than Slade."
A very long silence passed amongst the startled Titans, who all stared at Raven with open eyes and mouths. It was Robin who spoke next, his eyes threatening to fall out of his head.
"Slade?" he spluttered. "Wait…how do you know this? How come you never…"
"I can see more than what the eye sees at times," Raven answered darkly. "And I know more about this matter than I've admitted. So believe me when I say that Slade is probably the informer."
Robin swore angrily and slammed his fist on the table. "Damn Slade!" he snarled. "Always him!"
"You know this Slade guy?" Sasuke asked.
"He's a long-time enemy of ours," Starfire explained.
"He's more than an enemy!" Robin exploded. "He's the city's worst villain, a menace who must be destroyed at any cost! And I will not rest easy until we've stopped him for good!"
"And how do we stop him then?" Beast Boy asked.
"I say we go on a massive manhunt and take him down together!"
"And where are we going to start the hunt in the first place?" Cyborg demanded. "Slade could be absolutely anywhere!"
Kakashi cleared his throat loudly at this point, and the Titans fell silent, turning to look at him.
"Is this Slade very powerful?"
"Oh, yes," Robin said, his face darkening. "Too powerful for his own good."
"And does he plan to hunt down Raven-san too?" Naruto asked anxiously.
"It'll come down to that eventually," Raven replied. "Not now. But one day, he'll be the one we have to look out for."
"Well then, I suppose what Tsunade-sama instructed us to do can save you from this Slade," Kakashi said cheerfully.
"What instructions did she give?" Nightwalker asked.
"She wants you to travel back to Konoha with us," Kakashi said. "Our instructions were to stop those ninjas, and to bring you back with us. Tsunade-sama wishes to have a word with you."
Raven shrugged. "That's fine with me."
"And what about those ninjas?" Neji asked. "Are we going to leave them prowling around here?"
"Leave them to me," Raven said calmly. "It's best if they're taken down quickly and quietly, without too much fuss."
"I'll come with you," Nightwalker offered. "In case anything goes wrong, I can back you up."
"In fact," Beast Boy put in, "we should all go. Good chance for us to show these ninjas that we can kick butt as well as them!"
"Beast Boy!" Raven glared at him and cuffed him on the ear. "This isn't for show, you know. This is serious business!"
"I can be serious when I have to," Beast Boy protested innocently.
"Anyway," Terra said, determined to ease the slight tension, "I think Beast Boy's right. We should all go face those ninjas together. I hardly think anyone can stand against us when we're all together. Raven, can you track them down?"
"Kakashi, can you let me into your mind? Using my telepathy is the easiest way to find them."
"Go ahead. Just don't look too deeply into my mind."
"I won't. Promise." Raven leaned forward and laid a hand on Kakashi's forehead lightly. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Her eyes dilated and grew strangely distant, seeing nothing and everything at the same time.
Slowly, carefully, Raven probed Kakashi's memories lightly, searching his recent ones briefly until she came across the ones she needed. She saw the two ninjas running from him and the team, moving across the forest with remarkable speed. Pressing deeper, she focused in on them until she could almost see into their minds as well. She held on to that thin thread, ensuring she had a good sense of their aura, and then she withdrew from Kakashi's mind slowly.
"Alright, I think I've got a good feel of their aura now," Raven said, as Kakashi blinked and rubbed his temple. "All I have to do now is to sense that aura again." She levitated several feet upwards and crossed her legs underneath her, assuming her usual meditation position.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!"
The Titans and ninjas waited.
Raven was still and quiet for several minutes before she stirred at last, her eyes opening. The Titans immediately crowded around her eagerly, waiting for news.
"Well?" Robin demanded impatiently.
"I've found them," Raven replied, calmly.
"Where?" Naruto asked, his eyes widening.
"They're around fifteen miles away from here," Raven said. "In an isolated part of the city."
"Can you lead us there?" Sakura asked.
"I can."
"Then let's go!" Naruto cried, pumping a fist in the air. "Let's do this together!"
"Titans, go!" Robin commanded, and at that, all the Titans and ninjas sprang into action, following Raven out of the tower.