Same disclaimers and italics as before

Chapter 6: Schooled

Naruto panted as he stumbled out of the nursery. His skin shone with sweat and he had bruises up and down his limbs. "Ow," he groaned as he staggered into Kent's study, "Ow. Ow. Ow."

Kent smiled, but kept his eyes on the grimoire in front of him. "They like it when you visit. They can't play with me like they do with you."

"I'm glad they enjoy it," Naruto muttered as he collapsed into an overstuffed armchair.

"Listen kid," Kent sighed as he closed the book and replaced it on the shelf, "We need to talk about that little project you had concerning the cubs."

Naruto rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, there's no way I can make jinchuriki superheroes. As far as the Justice League computer database knows, I'm the only person on the planet with a viable chakra network."

"So what are your plans with the little hellions?"

"They can still be used to defend the planet. They can be set up across the globe as defensive forces of nature that save lives from natural disasters or something."

"That's a good idea."

"I've also been thinking of drawing up a summoning contract with them."

Kent stared at Naruto in surprise. "But…but they're just kids!"

"I know," Naruto said, draping an arm over his face as he leaned back in the chair, "I won't actually use them in battle, it's just good to know the team has backup when it needs it."

"Very well," Kent conceded, "So long as you know not to use them indiscriminately. Do you know how to make one."

"In theory. I'm there has to be a few books or scrolls in the tower about it."

` Kent laughed. "Kid, the Tower of Fate is the magical center of the multiverse. The collective mystic information of every feasible universe in existence is housed in its libraries. I managed to compile this study based on books I would need on a regular basis. If you really wanted to, you could spend a lifetime looking for books on summoning contracts."

"Well I don't have a lifetime," mumbled Naruto, "You must have some kind of filing system. You used to host a Lord of Order after all."

"True," Kent admitted, "Nabu used to keep things nice and orderly around here."

"Until you stopped being his avatar," Naruto finished, "Right, right. You think the entire library has fallen into disarray?"

"Undoubtedly," said Kent, "That being said, I'll see what I can dig up. In the meantime, why don't you head back home? I think I may need some time to myself."

Naruto lifted his arm and looked to Kent with concern. "Everything all right, Kent-sensei?"

Kent turned and looked up at the portrait of his wife that hung over the fireplace. "Today is…was…my anniversary." In the flickering light of the fire, it almost looked like Inza winked at him from the painting.

"I'm sorry, Kent-sensei," Naruto said reverently as he stood up and put a hand on Kent's shoulder, "I'll leave the day to you." Naruto Hiraishined to the Zeta Tube in Boston, an abandoned photo booth in an alley. He stepped in and the computer recognized him, sending him back to the Cave in a flash of light. As he stepped out of the tube, Kaldur and Wally were playing holographic air hockey on the projection floor with Robin and M'gann watching.

"What's this?" Naruto asked as he stepped forwards.

"Hey Naruto," M'gann greeted, "We were just playing this Earth game."

"Yeah man, check it out," Robin motioned him forwards and Naruto joined them, "You have to try and knock the puck into the other person's goal." He explained as Wally demonstrated.

"Hard to win against a guy with super speed," said Wally with a grin as he scored the winning point.

"Then maybe you'd be better suited at a game of wits," Naruto smirked.

"What do you mean? I'm the wittiest person on this team."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Computer, bring up a chessboard."

Wally laughed as the air hockey table dispersed and a giant chess game was brought up instead. "You realize I'm a scientist."

"So?"

"So I'm really smart, duh."

"Then you shouldn't have a problem." Naruto moved a white pawn forwards and Wally countered with a lazy smirk. They played on in neutrality for some time, quickly setting up their board states, all the time with Wally keeping a sleek grin and Naruto focused completely on the board in front of him. The trouble began when Naruto snatched one of Wally's knights with a pawn. "First blood, Wally, your move."

Wally frowned slightly and avenged his knight with a bishop. A few turns later, Naruto had moved his pawn aside and took his bishop with a rook. Wally set up a poisoned pawn, but Naruto shot his rook forwards and put Wally's king in check. Wally took the knight, but opened up his rook, knight, and bishop to be taken by Naruto's queen. Wally moved his king out of the way just in time to avoid checkmate and Naruto grimaced. Wally was starting to sweat and his eyes darted to and fro across the checkered board.

"How are you doing this?" he muttered in amazement, "My reaction time is a tenth of the average human's! I have over fifteen thousand thoughts per minute!"

"And that's your problem. Check." Naruto shifted his second rook, "You have so many thoughts running through your head, you can't focus properly on the matter at hand. You need to be able to organize your mind."

"Maybe M'gann could help me with that," Wally said hopefully as he moved out of check. M'gann rolled her eyes.

"In battle, you can't afford to be distracted. Check." Naruto ignored Wally's flirtations, "You're our fastest player. In case of an emergency, we need you to be able to react first. If you're not constantly prepared or distracted from the matter at hand, you risk losing everything."

"But we're not on a mission right now," Wally pointed out as he blocked Naruto's check with his last knight, "We're playing chess."

"We're superheroes Wally," said Naruto, "We're always on a mission. Checkmate." Wally stared at his king and slapped his forehead in defeat as Kaldur and Robin clapped. M'gann simply smiled.

"Shikamaru would be proud, kit," Kurama mumbled sleepily.

"Again!" Wally challenged.

Naruto grinned. "Your funeral."

The Zeta Tube activated and Superboy entered the Cave with a burst of light. "Hey, Superboy," M'gann greeted as he walked briskly towards the group, "How was Metropolis?" Superboy grunted as he walked through the chessboard hologram and it faded away.

"Aw, dude!" Wally complained, "I was about to redeem myself!"

From one of the hallways, a throat cleared. "Ready for training, everyone?"

They all turned and M'gann squealed. "Black Canary! Uncle J'onn!"

She ran forwards and hugged her uncle. "M'gann," he said kindly, "I was in the area and wanted to see how you were doing."

"A few bumps," she admitted, "But I'm learning."

"That's all I can ask for." Naruto breathed deeply and looked at his feet. He took a moment to ponder how his life would have been different had his parents been alive to raise him. He glanced to the side and saw Superboy turn away.

"What's his beef?"

He just came back from Metropolis. Maybe he had a bad run in with Superman. I haven't exactly seen the man of steel around the Cave helping him out

"Eh, whatever. I'm going back to sleep."

Superboy started to leave and Naruto decided he didn't want to stay either. "Stick around," called Black Canary. Naruto and Superboy stopped and turned. "Class is in session." She walked to the center of the projection pad and it illuminated beneath her feet. "I consider it an honor to be your teacher," she said as she started to take off her jacket, "I'll throw a lot at you. Everything I've learned from my own mentors," she winced as she stretched a bandage that wrapped around her arm, "And my own bruises." Intrigued, Naruto walked back over to the others, but Superboy stayed by the entrance to one of the hallways, watching Canary's presentation with a look of disinterest.

"What happened?" asked M'gann in concern.

"The job," Canary tossed away her jacket and the question, "Now, combat is about controlling conflict. Putting the battle on your terms. Always act, never react. I'll need a sparing partner."

"Ooh! Me!" called Wally, "After this, I'll show you my moves." He offered with a cheeky grin. Canary smirked and adapted a fighting stance that Wally mimicked. She swept his legs out from under him and he fell to the ground in seconds flat. "Oh," he groaned, "Hurts so good."

"Can anyone tell me what he did wrong?" Canary asked, ignoring Wally as he stood up.

"Oh! I know!" said Robin, "He hit on teacher and got schooled!"

"Dude!"

Canary rolled her eyes. "He allowed me to dictate the terms."

"Oh please," snorted Superboy, "With my powers, the battle's always on my terms. I'm a living weapon."

"That's Cadmus talking, Superboy," said Naruto stepping forwards, "I may not have a lot of experience as a hero, but I have plenty of experience with battle and I agree with Canary. If Wally had his head on straight," he glared pointedly at the speedster, "Canary would've been on the ground before she could blink."

"Oh?" Canary raised an eyebrow, "Is that a challenge, Shinobi?"

A grin slowly crept onto Naruto's face. "And if I said yes?"

"Then I would have to fight you for my honor's sake."

"Then I think we both know the answer." Canary sneered and adapted a stance. Naruto flexed his fingers and brought them up as if he were grabbing a football. Canary struck first, but Naruto back flipped out of the way. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Two clones popped into existence and charged and Canary. She blocked their twin roundhouse kicks and punched one in the stomach, destroying it. The other backed off and adapted a defensive pose. Canary leapt forwards and the clone blocked her first strike, but didn't see her knee come up and nail him in the amdomen. He grimaced before disappearing in a fog of smoke.

"Are you done hiding behind clones, Shinobi?" she asked as she straightened up. She turned and saw Naruto sitting on the floor in a meditative pose, with his fists together and his eyes closed.

"Yes," he said as he opened his eye, "I believe they bought me enough time." Canary took a step back as she saw his iris had turned a vivid orange and his pupil had stretched and elongated horizontally. There was a vague orange pigmentation over his eye as well.

"I see," Canary said slowly as she adapted a defensive stance, "You used your clones to distract me while you focused your power to achieve some kind of elated state, is that right?"

"Very astute," Naruto grinned, "This is my Honored Sage Mode. In this form, you have no chance of beating me."

"Oh really," Canary arched an eyebrow, "Well if you can use your powers, than I suppose it's only fair that I use MINE!" She unleashed a burst of her sonic scream and everyone in the room covered their ears in pain. Naruto just smiled and walked towards her calmly. She closed her mouth and scowled. "You can counter my powers?"

"Sage Mode allows me to create a barrier of natural energy around my body," Naruto explained, "It's not exactly a perfect defense, but it appears your sonic powers work by alternating the frequency of said natural energy so I can block it entirely." Naruto leapt forwards and swung a fist at Canary's head. It was an easy dodge and Canary leaned her head back as it passed. Her eyes widened when she felt the force of the punch hit her cheek and was sent tumbling to the floor in shock. "Good fight," Naurto said as he offered her his hand.

"I dodged your attack," she said as he helped her to her feet, "How did you hit me?"

"Frog Kata."

"Excuse me?"

"It's a technique I can only use in Sage Mode. The natural energy around my fist moves with it, making it almost impossible for me to miss my target."

"See? That's what I'm talking about," said Superboy, "Naruto won because he was more powerful."

"What?" Naruto looked at Superboy incredulously, "That's not what I was trying to prove at all! I saw how she beat Wally and I knew I couldn't beat her hand-to-hand combat. So I distracted her with clones to give me time to enter my Sage Mode which allowed me to put the conflict on my terms with Frog Kata. I beat her through control, not strength."

"That's not how I saw it," sneered Superboy, "This is a waste of my time."

Canary narrowed her eyes at the clone. "Prove it." Naruto backed away as Superboy took his place.

"That was amazing, Naruto!" whispered M'gann as the fighters adapted stances.

"Yeah, why don't you use that Sage Mode all the time?" asked Robin.

"It's really only usable in one on one situations," Naruto explained, "I have to be perfectly still to mix my chakra with natural energy. It's hard to be still in the middle of a battle or if you have group to work with." They stopped talking as Superboy was tossed across the room with a grunt. Robin started to laugh as he saw Superboy's prostrate form, but Kaldur elbowed him in the ribs.

Superboy rolled to a crouch and growled at Canary. "You're angry," she observed, "Good, but don't react. Channel that anger to-" She was cut off by Superboy charging her with a roar. She flipped over him and knocked his feet out from under him.

"That's it!" he growled as he knocked away her helping hand and stood up on his own, "I'm done!"

"Training is mandatory," she said with a sigh. Superboy rounded on her and it looked like their fight would continue, but a beeping interrupted them. A holographic screen was brought up with Batman's face on it.

"Batman to Cave," he said as they gathered around the screen, "Five hours ago, a new menace attacked Green Arrow and Black Canary." Everyone glanced at Canary who massaged her wounded arm. "The attacker was capable of analyzing and duplicating the powers of his opponents. Arrow called in reinforcements which nearly proved disastrous as our foe gained more and more power with each new combatant."

"Whoa," murmured Wally, "One guy with the power of the entire League?"

"In the end, it took eight Leaguers nearly four hours to defeat and dismantle the android." Batman finished.

"Android?" said Robin, "Who made it? T.O. Morrow?"

"Good guess," said Batman, "But Red Tornado doesn't think so."

"The technology," intoned Martian Manhunter beside them, "It bears the signature of Professor Anthony Ivo."

"Ivo?" gasped Kaldur, "But Ivo's dead!"

"So we thought," said Canary grimly, "Or hoped."

"Okay, wait. Hold up a second," Naruto rubbed his forehead in frustration, "Who is T.O. Morrow? Who is Ivo? What do they have to do with this?"

"Oh, right," said Wally, "Other dimension. Forgot."

"In the world of evil geniuses, T.O. Morrow and Anthony Ivo are the biggest names there are," explained Robin, "T.O. Morrow built a bunch of robots to infiltrate the League and destroy it from the inside out and Ivo, well; he just makes robots and tries to take over the world."

"Right, got it. Continue."

"To make certain this threat is permanently neutralized," said Batman, "We're sending two trucks each with half of the robot's parts to two separate Star Labs facilities in Boston and New York." A map appeared showing the truck's route and the team nodded in understanding. "Every precaution is being taken," continued Batman, "We'll have four trucks acting as decoys in case Ivo, or anyone, tries to recover the remains. You will split into undercover teams to safeguard the two real trucks."

"Yes!" cheered Wally, "Road trip!"

"So now we take out your trash?" hissed Superboy.

"You had something better to do?" Batman challenged.

"Alright team," Naruto stepped forwards, "Let's move."

. . .

An hour later, the team was assembled on motorbikes in civilian clothes as the sun was setting. Around them, the League was packing the disassembled robot into the two real vans while the others stood on standby.

"Free bikes," Wally grinned as he massaged the fuselage of his bike affectionately, "Is this cool or what?"

"Yeah," said Superboy, "But why does mine have a sidecar?" Indeed, his bike had a spacious and large sidecar attached to it.

"That would be for me," said Naruto as he climbed in.

"What?" laughed Wally, "You're riding in a sidecar? What, can't handle the road?"

"No, I can't," said Naruto, pointing to his eye patch.

Wally gulped sheepishly. "Right, sorry."

"Why go with me?" asked Superboy, "Robin could take you."

"What?" grinned Naruto, "You want me gone? I'm told I make long trips interesting." Superboy rolled his eyes and put on his helmet.

Batman gave the signal and they all turned on their bikes. As one, they headed out onto the interstate and split up in the respective directions of their trucks. Kaldur, M'gann, and Wally headed North to Boston with their truck while Naruto, Superboy, and Robin headed South to New York.

For some time, they rode on in silence. Finally, Robin spoke up. "If dislike is the opposite of like," he pondered aloud, "Is disaster the opposite of aster?"

"What is it with you and this word thing?" asked Naruto.

"I'm just pointing it out. See, instead of things going wrong, they go right! Right, Superboy?" Superboy didn't reply and kept his eyes on the truck in front of him. "Clearly, you're not feeling the aster," said Robin dryly, "What's wrong?"

"Canary," snarled Superboy, "What business does she have teaching combat skills to a guy with super strength?"

"Taking down stronger guys is part of the gig," said Robin with a shrug, "Canary learned that the hard way, same with Batman and, well, me."

Superboy scowled and revved his engine. "Whoa nelly!" shouted Naruto as he lurched forwards in the sidecar. Superboy wove up the highway and Naruto clung on for dear life. "Superboy! Slow down!" Superboy complied and slid back behind the truck. AS he did so, a dozen small, green figures shot out of the cornfields that lined the road. They fell upon the truck with mechanical giggles and Naruto stared at them. "Are those robotic monkys?" he asked.

"Totally Ivo's tweaked style," laughed Robin.

Naruto's earpiece buzzed with static. "Alpha team!" shouted Kaldur through the line of communication, "Our truck is under attack!"

"Kinda figured," said Robin.

Superboy growled in anger. "I hate monkeys." Robin pressed a button on his back and the back wheel fell off. It skidded for a foot before it swiveled into the air and sprouted propellers and a gun turret.

"Switch your ride to battle mode," called the boy wonder.

"No point," snarled Superboy as he leapt forwards. The bike swerved violently into oncoming traffic and Naruto grimaced. He drew a kunai and tossed it at the truck. It embedded itself in the back door and he immediately Hiraishined to it, latching himself to the vehicle with chakra. Superboy was on the roof of the truck and Robin used his grappling hook to join him. Naruto kicked a monkey off the truck and grabbed another one as it tried to jump him. Behind the truck, more monkey's emerged from the cornfields, propelled by jet packs through the air. Two of them landed on the Robin's battle mode motorcycle and ripped it apart.

On the roof, Naruto heard a cry of rage and pain and saw Superboy get tossed off the truck. He quickly formed a clone before jumping off the truck to join him. "You alright?" he said, helping Superboy to his feet.

"My eyes,' grumbled to clone. The area around his eyes were burned slightly. Superboy cocked his head to the side and growled before jumping ten stories into the air towards the speeding truck. Naruto sighed at the clone's impatience.

He Hiraishined back to his kunai in the truck just in time for the truck to fall over and spin violently out of control. One of the grinning robot monkeys had popped a tire. Naruto scrambled over the side of the truck and jumped into the corn as it slid on its side to a complete stop, crushing his clone under it and dispersing it. Naruto grunted as he landed in the soft plant and looked on with frustration as the back of the truck exploded and four monkeys carried the box of parts off into the air.

Robin carried the unconscious driver out of the truck as Superboy pushed it off him. The clone glared at the fleeing robots and leapt after them, pushing off the pavement with his super strength.

"Superboy! Wait!" shouted Robin as he watched the clone disappear into the cornfields.

Naruto pushed himself up and walked over to the boy wonder. "You think the other team had better luck?" He'd barely finished speaking when Kaldur hailed them on their communicators.

"Aqualad to Shinobi and Robin. We lost our cargo, did you-?"

"It's gone," sighed Robin, "And so is Superboy."

"Superboy, come in," said Naruto, "Radio your position and wait for help."

"Don't want help!" growled the clone through the earpiece, "Don't need any!" There was a rush of static and the line went dead.

"I think he ditched his com," said Robin.

"What now?" asked Kaldur.

Naruto glared in the direction Superboy left in. "I put a Hiraishin Formula on Superboy when we escaped from Cadmus. If it's still on him, I can teleport to his location and radio you from there."

"That gets us Superboy, but what do we do about the stolen parts?"

Robin rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "How did they know to attack us? If they attacked the decoys, we'd have heard of it by now."

Naruto leaned down and picked up the mangled remains of one of the monkeys. "Examine this," he said, handing it to Robin, "If anyone can find a clue in it, it's you."

Robin nodded and pulled a wire from his cuffs. He plugged it into the robot's exposed hard drive and his wrist computer lit up. "They have a G.P.S.!" he exclaimed, "That's how they tracked us! If they can track us, I can track them!" Images flashed on the screen. "It looks like both parts are converging on…Gotham City."

"Good," Naruto nodded, "I'm going after Superboy. Aqualad, send Kid Flash ahead to meet up with Robin. They'll track the parts while you and Ms. Martian follow them and rendezvous there. With any luck, I'll be there waiting with Superboy. Understood?"

"Acknowledged."

"Alright, wish me luck then. Hiraishin!" Naruto shifted to approximately twenty feet in the air on Superboy's back.

"Hey!" shouted the clone, "I said I don't need help!"

"Obviously, you do," said Naruto as he used his chakra to cling to Superboy's back, "I know you think that because you were designed to be a weapon that you're invincible, but the fact of the matter is that you're not the living weapon Cadmus programmed you to be."

"And that makes me weak?!" demanded Superboy as he hit the ground and launched off again.

"No, that makes you strong," said Naruto, "But it also makes you proud, and that makes you stupid, and that makes you vulnerable. You need to use your anger as a gas pedal, not a steering wheel." A few hundred yards ahead of them, the monkey robots ducked into a moving train car on tracks that circled a mountain. Superboy landed with a grunt on the car and Naruto stepped off.

"Don't pretend you know me, Shinobi!" hissed Superboy.

"I do know you, Superboy," said Naruto sadly, "I know you better than I would like to. Now are we doing this thing or what?" Superboy slowly nodded and crouched down to rip open the roof of the train car. "Wait!" Superboy hesitated as Naruto threw off his helmet and pulled his mask from his waistband. "Might as well make it official," he said as he slipped it on, "Proceed."

Superboy ripped a hole in the roof and dropped into the dark car, making space for Naruto right behind him. The monkeys giggled and their green lights shone in the dark, illuminating a small, ginger-haired middle-aged man.

"Oh, hello," he said with a small smile.

"You?" said Superboy, arching an eyebrow in disbelief, "You're Ivo? You're the one they're all scared off?"

"I have to admit, I was expecting something a little more threatening," said Naruto.

"You're one to talk," said Ivo dryly, "What's that mask made of? Porcelain? And since when does the big blue boy have a brat?"

"He doesn't," grunted Superboy.

"If you say so," shrugged Ivo, "Have you met my Mobile Optimal Neural Quotient Infiltrators?" The monkeys, or MONQIs, behind him leapt forwards with giggles. Superboy brushed them off like bugs and Naruto folded his arms. Ivo sighed as the head of one of the robots fell at his feet. "And after all the trouble I went through to find an acronym for monkey." As Superboy crushed the last MONQI, there was a slight whirling sound behind him.

"Access: Captain Atom," said a metallic voice behind the two heroes and twin beams of nuclear energy stuck them both square in the back, throwing them across the train car.

Ivo stepped forwards as they stood up. "Since my magnificent MONQIs don't float your boat, maybe my amazing Amazo will." Out of the shadows of the car stepped a giant figure with green striped pants and glowing red eyes. The parts they had been protecting had been reassembled.

"On my mark, we retreat," breathed Naruto, "The others are on their way. We'll regroup with them and take him."

"No," growled Superboy. He stepped forwards and spread his arms. "Take your best shot." Naruto slapped the forehead of his mask and slowly shook his head.

Ivo laughed. "Please! My android has the strength of Superman, what chance do you have?" Superboy grit his teeth and charged forwards, his fist swinging. The android blocked the flurry of attacks he sent and responded with a backhand that sent Superboy into the roof of the car.

"Ready to get out of here now?" asked Naruto as he helped Superboy to his feet.

"Access: Black Canary," said the android, stepping forward. It dislocated it's jaw and a sonic screech burst forth, sending both heroes flying to the back of the car. "Access: Flash." The robot shot forwards and landed a dozen blows on each of them before they could stand up. Naruto groaned as he felt more bruises forming on his body.

"No wonder daddy keeps you hidden away," said Ivo, "You're not really doing justice to the 'S' shield, are you?" Superboy charged in anger once more as Naruto got to his feet.

"Access: Martian Manhunter." Superboy's attack went right through the android. The robot grabbed him and threw him out of the boxcar, hurtling him towards distant city lights. Naruto quickly Hiraishined to him as he was flying through the air.

"Hang on, Superboy!" he shouted as he threw a kunai at the ground. He quickly Hiraishined to it and they teleported to the ground outside of some kind of school. Naruto looked up to see the android approaching them from the air and he grabbed Superboy, dragging the cone into the building. "This time, we try it my way!" he growled. Two clones popped up besides him as they ran through the halls. Behind them, the wall imploded as the android entered as well. The clones stopped and turned, a Rasengan forming in their hands.

The android stopped and stared at them. "Unknown ability detected. Initiate scanning process."

"Joke's on him," muttered Naruto, "There's no way he can synthesize my chakra." Suddenly, his eye widened. "Or maybe he can. He just destroyed both my clones with my own technique!"

"So let's take him!" Superboy ripped out of Naruto's grip and turned to face the oncoming Amazo.

Naruto skidded to a halt. "For the love of…Superboy no!" But Superboy was already flying past him into a trophy case. The android rushed forwards and grabbed Naruto with the speed of the Flash, slamming the hero against the wall. Naruto cried out in pain as he was forced through the wall into the gymnasium, Superboy soon following through his own hole in the wall.

"That…all you…got?" panted the clone.

"Superboy, will you kindly shut up?" demanded Naruto, "We can't beat this guy and I'm not breaking out any of my more powerful techniques until I'm sure he can't copy them."

A slow clap came from the stands and both of them looked to their peanut gallery as the android stepped into the room. Ivo was stitting there with several MONQIs. "I don't usually attend these things in person," he said, "But this was too good to miss."

Amazo stood over the two heroes and raised his arms. "Access: Superman." Just as brought them down, a yellow blur shot through the room and grabbed Naruto and Superboy.

"Yoink!" grinned Wally as he helped them to their feet at the sidelines. Robin appeared from behind the stands.

"Perfect timing," said Naruto.

Wally smirked. "First to react, just like you told me."

"Keep his attention," Naruto ordered, "Superboy, Robin, hit him when you see an opening.

Wally nodded and raced in circles around the android. "Hah! Can't catch what you can't see!" he said as Robin ran into the stands and Superboy prepared to charge. Amazo reached out and grabbed Wally by the throat. He pulled the teen into a tight bear hug and he screamed out in pain.

The robot turned its head. "Access: Martian Manhunter." A green arrow flew from the darkness and slipped through the android's head as he dropped Wally. As soon as he hit the floor, the speedster took off. "Access: Black Canary." The android grabbed Superboy's charging arm and threw him into the stands with the same move Canary had used on him in training.

"Robin! Look out!" cried Wally as he grabbed Robin and they tumbled out of the way of Amazo's attack.

"Hey! Big shot!" shouted Naruto, "Let me show you a power you can't copy!"

"Really?" said Ivo with interest, "Amazo, discover the fox-kid's power, priority alpha." The android strolled forwards.

With a confident grin, Naruto shifted his mask to the side slightly and reached for his eye patch. "Don't bother going Manhunter on me," he growled, "So long as I can see you, I can kill you." He flipped up his eye patch and winced as he experienced the visual prowess of the Sharingan for the first time in months.

Everything became a thousand times clearer. He could suddenly see every wire, every imperfection with the android. He could see Superboy's rage subsiding slightly in the stands as he attacked Ivo directly. "I'm angry now!" roared the clone, "Wanna see me channel that anger?"

Naruto could see Ivo's fear. "Amazo!" shouted Ivo as he stumbled back, "Protect your master! Priority Alpha!" Naruto grinned. This was the opportunity he had been looking for. The android was confused, unsure of which command to follow.

"Amaterasu!" The shoulder of the machine burst into black flames that immediately warmed the room. It took seconds for it to melt through the android's metal shell and fry the wiring beneath.

"Unknown ability…detected…initia-" The glow of the android's eyes faded as his circuitry fused and exploded. Naruto winced as sudden spike of pain shot through his head and he closed his eye.

"Dude! What the heck is that stuff?" asked Wally as he shot forward towards the flaming scrap heap.

"Don't touch it!" shouted Naruto, "The Amaterasu will burn forever or until its target is nothing but ash." The android had stopped functioning, all of its hardware melted and sizzling as the black flames did their work. Superboy walked down the stands, the remains of the last MONQIs littering the steps and Ivo hoisted in his grip.

"Good work," Naruto panted, "All of you." At the far end of the auditorium, the doors burst open as Kaldur and M'gann ran inside.

"Shinobi! Are you alright?" asked M'gann as she crouched next to him.

"Much better," Naruto managed to crack a smile despite the pain he was in, "Just took a few hits too many."

"What happened here?" asked Kaldur as he examined the wreaked gym.

"It doesn't matter," sighed Naruto, "I'm sure Batman will have me write a report on it anyway. All that matters is nobody was hurt, the threat was neutralized, and we caught Ivo."

"Well, good for you," muttered Ivo, crossing his arms with a pout.

"What's this?" asked M'gann as she yanked the arrow out of the ground.

"Oh! Souvenir!" called Wally as he plucked it from her grasp, "Wait! This is Green Arrow's…arrow."

"The adults!" gasped Robin, "They still don't trust us! They've been shadowing us this whole time!"

"Confront them about it then," Naruto grumbled lazily, "Right now, I want to get home and take a nice, long bath."

"Shinobi, is your eye alright?" asked Kaldur.

"Yeah. Why wouldn't it be?"

"Because your eye patch is flipped up," Robin pointed out.

Naruto quickly flipped it down and moved his mask back into place. "Must have come loose during the fight. Can we go home now?"

. . .

After Batman was done chewing him out for the disaster of a mission and it had been revealed to the team members who concerned themselves with such things that it hadn't been Green Arrow's bow that had saved Wally's life, Naruto was soaking in the hot tube in the boy's washroom. Over the last day, he had accumulated bruises from playing with the cubs, being tossed from a moving truck, and fighting with a formidable machine and he was just about ready to rest in the hot water for the better part of eternity.

A throat cleared above him and he cracked open his good eye. Superboy was standing by the side of the tub in his swim trunks. "Oh good," said Naruto, "I like it when I don't have to go looking for people."

"I want to apologize," Superboy said as he slid into the tub next to him, "I was letting my anger control me and I cost us the mission."

"I guess it's not entirely your fault," Naruto sighed, "Cadmus messed you up something good. It took me almost eleven years to get through the whole 'born to be a weapon' thing. It's gonna take you some time too."

"Listen," said Superboy nervously, "I don't want to pry into your past, but I was just wondering if you had any tips on how to…you know…adjust?"

Naruto smiled, glad to see the clone putting forth effort. "Well, there are a few things I could tell yo-"

"Kit!" Naruto started in the tub, splashing the water slightly, "Did you feel that?"

Feel what, furball? And when did you wake up?

"After the beatings, but before Batman ripped you a new one. Anyway, did you not just feel that massive chakra flux?"

You're the sensory-type, not me!

"Naruto? Is everything okay?" asked Superboy, "I don't want to dredge anything up if it's too painful."

Naruto looked up. "It's fine, Superboy, nothing I can't handle. Where was I? Oh yes. There was this one time…"

. . .

In the middle of the Gobi Desert, a young man in a black tuxedo and sharp black hair paced impatiently. "Where are they?" he demanded in a raspy voice. At his feet, a house cat licked its paws in boredom. Suddenly, the air became intensely hot and the young man perked up. "Ooh! They're here! C'mon Teekl, let's hide!" he picked up the cat and quickly ran behind a sand dune.

Where the young man had stood, the air suddenly began to spark. As he watched, the air itself started to tear itself apart until there was a black, swirling vortex that hung above the ground. From it, two figures leapt forth and landed in the sand. The vortex dispersed as quickly as it had formed as the two figures stood up.

They were wearing identical grey armor and had a short sword slung across their backs. One was clearly female with long black hair and a white owl mask. The other looked male and had short black hair and a dog mask.

"Where are we, Aunt Hanabi?" asked the male, removing his mask. His eyes were a milk lavender color and his face hard and handsome. He was younger that anyone would have guessed, only around fourteen. "Is this a desert world? Or is this Suna?"

"There is only one way to find out, Hiruzen," said the woman. She took off her mask to reveal identical eyes to her nephew's, although she was significantly older, probably in her mid-to-late twenties. She bent to the ground and closed her eyes as her hands flipped through several complex motions. "Ninja Art," she declared, slapping her hand on the sand, "Chakra Echolocation Jutsu!" It was subtle, but the young man hiding behind the sand could feel a wave of energy pass over him. The woman closed her eyes and concentrated for a full minute before they burst open. "He's here," she whispered, "After all this time, we found him."

The young man decided now was the right time and he climbed over the sand dune. "Welcome, shinobi!" he called as he slid down the sand. The two people reached for their swords as the young man approached them. "Oh, don't be scared! I'm here to help! My name is Kalrion, and the pussycat here is Teekl. Say hi Teekl!" The cat meowed at his feet.

The two unknown people exchanged a glance and the woman gave a slight nod. "I am Hanabi Hyuga of the Byakugan," she said, "This is my nephew, Hiruzen Hyuga."

"Ooh! Hyugas!" Klarion clapped his hands in joy just think about all the chaos these two could cause, "And may I ask what brings you to our humble world?"

"We have been trying to get here for years," said Hanabi, "But something has been blocking our attempts to enter it. We come seeking a dangerous criminal."

"A dangerous criminal, eh? I'm afraid you're going to have to be more specific."

"His name is Naruto Uzumaki," said Hiruzen with a hard look, "And he killed my mother."

. . .

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