A/N: Horray I'm back! Totally kicked ass in my finals, thank goodness, and while I'm going to be working a lot more hours because school no longer is a factor in my life (at least for the summer) I will hold to my promise of updating at least once a week. The updates will be posted as followed:

Monday: Beyond the Veil
Tuesday: Day of Revolution (Maybe...I've lost pretty much all of my inspiration to this story so it may be abandoned/indefinite hiatus)
Wednesday: Of Fire and Ice
Thursday: The Fire Shadow of Young Justice
Friday: The Last Shinobi
Saturday: To Shape and Change
Sunday: My day off peeps! (not really, probably will be writing/planning future chapters for everything...)

So, I'll do my best to stick to this schedule, and should anything happen that stops be from doing so, understand that this is a hobby and does not take priority over my life. Heck, I'm not even aspiring to be a writer, I'm an Art Major focusing in Animation. Not saying I will not keep to my promise, but know that it isn't binding or anything should I fail to keep it. Anyway, that's that, and here's the new chapter! Enjoy all!

Key:

"Regular talking"
'Thoughts'
"Megan's telepathic conversations"
"Kyuubi"
"Automated speech."

Chapter 7: Schooled

METROPOLIS
August 3, 7:38 EDT

In an office over looking the Metropolis Bridge, Bruce Wayne stared observantly down at the chaos that ensued. The bridge seemed to begin to collapse, the steel wires that held it up snapped and caused a bus full of school children to teeter dangerously over the edge, threatening to fall down to the river bellow with even the slightest shift in the wind.

Without another moments hesitation, he walked to his desk where he lifted the head of a copper bust and pressed a red button, opening a locked drawer to the left of his desk. Inside laid his Batman uniform, ready for him to quickly put on and do what he could to save the people below. A sudden familiar sonic boom caused him to turn his head and watch as Superman came flying in and the most opportune moment, holding up the underside of the bridge that was threatening to collapse while simultaneously using his heat vision to secure the steel beams once more.

He was ready to turn away, knowing full well that Clark would be able to handle the situation below when he noticed another blur come onto the scene.

It was none other than Clark's clone, Superboy. The teenage clone immediately began to help the cars that teetered over the edge, carrying them back onto more solid ground. As he watched the boy struggle with carrying the full weight of the school bus, he witnessed Superman take his burden, lowering the bus onto the safety of the bridge with Superboy walking toward him.

Whilst he could not hear what the two were saying to each other, watching Superman fly away hastefully, Bruce didn't need much of an imagination to know he had run away from the boy.

This wasn't something that he could let fester any longer, Clark needed to talk to the boy. Reaching for his cellphone, he called Clark directly.

"Already got the alert, Bruce." Came Clark's voice through the end of his cell.

"I know, Clark." he said as he stared at the Kryptonian fly away. "But we need to talk."

MOUNT JUSTICE
August 3, 13:06 EDT

Back at the Cave, the Young Justice team sans Superboy were challenging each other to a holographic game of foosball, Wally smirking victoriously as he won one over their Field Leader, Aqualad whilst snacking on a healthy dose of potassium in the form of a ripe banana. They had the day off of training with Shadow, and heard that it would be Canary who would be taking it up with them, though Shadow would stay and watch.

"Recognized. Superboy. B-04." Came the automated voice as Superboy stalked through the Zeta-tube. He didn't understand why Superman was avoiding him. He hadn't done anything to the man that was technically his "father," only existed. Yet that seemed enough for the man to say he couldn't teach him anything because "Shadow has it under control." All he ever wanted, even whilst inside the tube in Cadmus, was to meet Superman...to get to know him. Yet he was avoiding him as much as one possibly could while being under the same banner of Heroes.

"Hey, Superboy." Megan's voice called out to him as he walked straight through their game. "How was Metropolis?" As much as he knew she was only being polite, he didn't want to talk about it.

Thankfully, or unfortunately depending on the person, Canary interrupted them as she said, "Ready for training everyone?" as Martian Manhunter and Shadow walked along side her.

"Black Canary, Shadow." Megan said surprised, before looking completely elated at the sight of her uncle and exclaimed, "Uncle J'on!" before running to hug the green skinned Martian.

"Megan," The Manhunter replied as she let go of him. "I was in the neigborhood, so I thought I'd come see how you were adjusting."

Superboy stared at the interaction between Megan and her Uncle, feeling an angry bout of envy take over him. Was something like what Megan had with her Uncle so much to ask for with Superman?

Naruto looked over to his clone charge, feeling envy and jealousy radiate off him in waves. With a mental sigh, the blonde figured it had to do with the interaction with Superman earlier in the morning. He heard nothing of their conversation, only that they had spoken to each other briefly before the Man of Steel flew off to help Green Arrow and the other Leaguers stop the android that was terrorizing a city.

"You'll need to bring that kid aside alone soon and talk to him. Or else he'll keep that anger in and hurt himself, and possibly others around him. " Kurama's voice quipped in his mind as he too observed the clone.

'Yeah, looks like I will. I have to make him see that he's not alone...I've no doubt that he's feeling out of place here, being only a clone rather than a born-person like those around him.'

"You have a lot of experience in feeling alone, kit. Try to relate to the kit, his broodiness is only something I can take for so long."

"A few bumps." Megan admitted, bringing both Shadow and Superboy back to reality. "But, I'm learning."

"That is all I can ask." J'on replied with a pleased smile on his face.

Shadow watched as Superboy made his way to leave before Canary's voice broke in.

"Stick around." she said to him with an commanding tone. "Class is in session." Naruto couldn't help but chuckle a bit. She sounded too much like Iruka for that split moment for him to be able to hold it in. She sent him a stern glare, knowing that he held a smirk on his unknown face, before she walked them over to the training ring at the center of the Observation center.

"I consider it an honor to be your teacher." she said started. "I'll throw a lot at you. Everything I learned from my mentors, from fellow Leaguers," As she took off her jacket, she moaned in pain that originated from her left arm, the wound noticeably wrapped in fresh bandages. "and from my own wounds." she finished rubbing the bandages lightly.

"What happened?" Megan asked wide-eyed.

"The job." Canary said firmly, not caring to say anything more on the subject. "Now, combat is about controlling conflict, putting the battle on your terms. You should always be acting never reacting." she lectured, staring at the interested teens. "I'll need a sparing partner."

"Oh, right here!" Kid immediately said raising his hand at the rather beautiful blonde Leaguer. Walking up to the center of the ring and in front of Canary, Wally continued. "After this," he said throwing his banana peel into a trash bin. "Woosh. I'll show you my moves."

Naruto couldn't help but stifle a full blown set of laughter at the fifteen year old kid. Hitting on his teacher? Now that was something he had only known Kiba to be foolish enough to do. Canary seemed to be holding back a bit of laughter as well, since her face grew out into a large smirk, immediately sending a punch his way that was blocked by the red-head before dipping low and swiping his legs from under him, causing him to fall to the ground harshly on his back.

The rest of the team, and even Naruto, winced slightly at the sound of his back hitting the concrete floor.

"Ouch." Naruto whispered lightly.

"That had to hurt the little kit." Kurama said as he watched the extremely short spar.

"Ooh, hurts so good..." Wally mumbled as he laid there dazed for a moment before taking Canary's offered hand.

"Good block." she praised lightly. "But did anyone see what he did wrong?" she questioned the others.

"Ooh, ooh!" Robin said excitedly. "He hit on teacher and got served?" a smirk painted firmly on his face.

"DUDE!" Wally hissed at his friend, thoroughly humiliated.

Canary, on the other hand, continued to lecture and said firmly, "He allowed me to dictate the terms."

"Oh please." Superboy's chiding tone interrupted her before she could continued. "With my powers, the battle's always on my terms. I'm a living weapon, and this is a waste of my time."

Naruto inwardly groaned. He hadn't thought the clone still considered himself to be a living weapon. This definitely called for some one-on-one time with the kid. He needed to see that not only was he not a weapon, he was also not just a clone, but a living breathing, individual.

Canary seemed to take his frustration in stride, as she always seemed to be able to do and goaded him into fighting her. "Oh really?" she said skeptically. "Prove it."

Superboy raised his eyebrow before walking up to her and shortly after initiating the fight with a forward punch, to which Canary easily caught and with the momentum he pushed into his punch, threw him over her shoulder, causing him to fall directly on his back a few feet away.

Robin was the only one to be able to openly laugh at the sight, but covered his mouth when Aqualad sent both an elbow to his rib cage and a stern glare.

The Kyrptonian on the other hand only had his anger rise, and immediately stood.

"You're angry." Canary stated. "Good, but don't react. Channel that anger into-" Before she could finish, Superboy launched himself at her once again, but Canary simply jumped over him using his shoulders and then swiped her legs under his so that he would fall once more to the ground.

Naruto couldn't help but cringe slightly. He remembered with vivid detail his first spar with Canary, one where he fought without his chakra helping his strength or speed, just what he had managed to attain through hard work and training like she had. They were matched for a short while, until she had caught onto his fighting style and quite literally slammed him into the ground. Multiple times. She was merciless when it came to hand-to-hand combat, enjoying the fact that she had several martial art styles under her belt and the ability to use them perfectly. It was one of the reasons he enjoyed to have Canary around him so much.

Looking to his side, Naruto could see that the Team were also looking at the clone with some level of sympathy, though Robin chose to point and laugh at his misfortune.

"That's it!" Superboy snarled. "I'm done here."

As he began to walk off, Canary grabbed his shoulder and said in a softer voice. "Training's mandatory."

Before Superboy could say anything else, a soft alarm rang shortly before Batman's face came up on one of the holographic monitors.

"Batman to the Cave." he said calling attention to everyone in the Observation room. "Five hours ago, a new menace attacked Green Arrow and Black Canary." just as he said that, a picture and soon a video of the attacker was shown. The attacker was obviously an android, and the Team watched with differencing levels of shock as the android easily brushed the Leaguers aside whilst causing them damage. "The attacker was capable of studying and then duplicating the powers and abilities of his opponents. Arrow called in reinforcements, which nearly proved disastrous, as our foe gained more and more power with each new combatant."

"Woah..." Kid said both shocked and awed. "One guy with the powers of the entire League."

"In the end, it took nine Leaguers four hours to defeat and dismantle the android." Batman continued.

"An android?" Robin quipped in interested. "Who made it? T.O Marrow?"

"Good guess, Robin." Batman answered with a slightly softer voice, letting him know of his approval at the boy's deduction. "But Red Tornado doesn't think so."

"The technology bears the signature of... Professor Ivo." Manhunter added, still shocked at the signature that was on the android.

"Ivo?" Aqualad exclaimed softly. "But, Ivo's dead."

"So we all thought..." Canary said to the Atlantian. "Or hoped."

"To make certain this threat is permanently neutralized, we are sending two trucks carrying the androids parts to two separate Star Lab facilities in Boston and New York for immediate evaluation. Every procaution has been taken. We'll have four additional decoy trucks to create confusion in case Ivo, or anyone, attempts to recover the remains. You will split into undercover teams to safeguard the two real trucks." Batman finished.

"Sweet!" Wally called out, a fist in the air. "Road-trip."

Superboy, on the other hand, was not amused. "So now we take out your trash?" he said coldly.

Before Batman could make a harsh remark to the clone, Naruto stepped in and spoke to the Team. "This mission isn't something to take lightly." he said sternly. "This android is one of the greater threats the League has ever encountered. I have little to no doubt that someone will be after the android, it is far too valuable to simply let rest in parts in two separate facilities. We are counting on you to make sure that this monstrosity isn't put back together by Ivo, or anyone else."

The Team looked at Shadow with surprised faces. If he thought this was more than a simple escort job, then it would undoubtedly be more than what it seemed.

"Coordinates received." Aqualad called out-loud. "On our way. We will not let you down." Despite Batman technically being in the room, as well as two other Leaguers, they all knew that the last sentence was directed at Shadow, who had undoubtedly become a integral part in their lives over the past few weeks.

Before Superboy left, Canary grabbed his shoulder and said, "Whenever you're ready." in her soft voice, "I'll be here."

"You're not alone Superboy." Naruto added in. "Trust me when I say that. We'll both be here for you."

Superboy didn't say anything, but he looked thoughtful as he left with the rest of his Team.

"Are you sure you're fine?" Naruto asked, sincere concern lacing his muffled voice after the Team and J'on had left through the garage and zeta tube respectively had left Canary and he alone in the Cave.

"I'll be fine, Shadow. If you hadn't pushed me out of the way, then maybe not. But, you did, and I'm fine." Canary said, feeling the need to reassure the masked hero.

Naruto brushed his gloved hand over the bandages that were wrapped around her arm. If he had just paid attention rather than rushing in, he would have noticed that the damned android studied and duplicated the powers of his fellow Leaguers and then she never would have gotten as hurt as much as she had. When he realized that Amazo was directing his own Rasengan at her, he had pushed her out of the way, letting her only get skimmed by his father's technique whilst he let the swirling ball of chakra take nearly his entire right shoulder.

She was human...she couldn't handle even a quarter of the attacks he knew she couldn't protect herself through her own chakra since it was nonexistent in her body. She was strong hand-to-hand and down right lethal with her sonic scream, but she didn't have the regenerative abilities he had that practically "regrew" his shoulder... she had a much higher risk at dying, and to see someone who stuck by him even with the attitude he had when he first joined the League, was something he couldn't bear to think about.

"I'm not so fragile, Shadow. I can take care of myself." She said, noticing the guilt that seemed to pour off him.

Pulling his hand back, Shadow sighed audibly. "I never said you were, Canary. But my attacks...that particular attack, is considered to be one of my strongest. If you were hit with it directly, you would be dead." His voice, though muffled, was clearly shaken by the thought.

"It comes with the job, Shadow. You of all people should know that. I'm not going to sit behind a desk for the rest of my life just because I might be killed one day."

With a soft chuckle, Naruto couldn't help but smile. This was the Canary that he had truly come to care for. The stubborn, unrealistically patient, and caring woman.

"Still, I hope that's the last we see of that Android. I don't know why we just dismantled it. It would be a hell of a lot safer if we just destroyed the damned thing."

Even he wouldn't deny that the android was beyond difficult to defeat. It took him all of two seconds to realize that the machine had been able to copy his Rasengan, making the fight all the more difficult. How the droid had been able to copy that ability, one that required natural chakra, was completely unknown to him, and he would be damned if someone were to exploit his abilities that easily.

"I agree, but that technology must be studied. It'll help us if somehow Ivo, or whoever else helped create the android, make another, then we'll know how to stop it rather than what we had to go through to bring this one down."

Yeah, Naruto really hated when he knew she was right. "I know..." he admitted. "But, I swear if that thing is put back together again, you owe me ramen."

Canary smirked at his change of attitude. "Oh, and why would I owe you anything if that happens?"

"Tch..." he scoffed. "Can't even get free ramen anymore..." his voice was lower, barely above a whisper, but Canary heard and smiled.

"I'm sure they'll be fine, Shadow. You need to rest though, I saw how your technique took half your shoulder. I don't care if you healed it back up, it had to take a lot out of you."

Knowing when a battle was lost, Naruto sighed and nodded. "Fine, I'll head back home and take a few hours. Wake me up if anything happens though."

Nodding, Canary said, "Don't worry, Shadow. Everything will be fine."

METROPOLIS
August 3, 21:18 EDT

In a small corner diner sat both Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne ordering desert for themselves, while knowing they were going to talk more than just about the food.

"Something tells me this isn't about dessert." Clark admitted, looking at Bruce curiously.

Not wanting to beat around the bush, Bruce said rather bluntly, "The boy needs you."

Clark immediately looked affronted and said, "No! No, he needs you, he needs Shadow. I-I'm just a constant reminder of what he's not."

Bruce looked at his long time friend with a stern gaze. "Sorry, Clark." he said a bit softly. "But you're dead wrong." Getting a raised eyebrow from the man in front of him, he quickly continued. "Look, I know he troubles you, but he's here. You have to get over the how and the why. Trust me on this, this boy needs his father."

At the last word, Clark couldn't take it any longer and immediately stood up and said, "I am not his father."

Bruce couldn't help but be disappointed at his friend as he walked out of the dinner. He had hoped Clark would see that

GOTHAM ACADEMY
August 3, 21:43 EDT

"What did she tell me?" Naruto grumbled to himself. "Oh yeah, everything will be fine!"

"Shadow look out!" Wally screamed to the masked hero. Naruto was damned glad they had the brain to call him to help once they saw that the android, now dubbed Amazo, was put back together, and was even more thankful he had chosen to stay in his apartment in Gotham, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to help. He knew that the Team was strong, but he couldn't help but worry. The League had taken a few heavy injuries because of this android, he didn't want to think what it could do to the teenagers.

Jumping out of the way of Captain Atom's beam, Naruto kept leapt to punch the android, only for it to say,

"Access Superman." grab him out of the air and throw him into Wally.

"Shit. This is not working..." Naruto hissed out in pain as he stood and helped Wally get back to his feet. At the moment, it was only him, Robin, Wally, and Superboy as both Megan and Aqualad were still on their way.

"Yawn." Came Professor Ivo's voice. "Normally Amazo would study and mimic your abilities, but you're such poor copies of the originals, there's no point."

Superboy growled lowly, but there was something else in his eyes that Naruto couldn't identify. "So everyone keeps telling me." he growled out. "It makes me angry!" With that said, Superboy launched himself at Ivo, causing the red-haired professor to jump out of the way in fear of being pulverized. "Want to see me channel that anger!?"

At the last screamed sentence, Naruto smiled widely at the Kryptonian.

"Great! Now he's gone ballistic again." Wally groaned at the sight.

"Maybe not." Robin said, coming to the same conclusion Naruto had.

"Amazo!" Professor Ivo screamed. "Protect your master! Priority Alpha!"

"Access Captain Atom." the android said as he sent a beam toward Superboy, sending him to the nearest wall.

"Anyone want to play keep away?" Robin said as he kicked a just barely standing Ivo.

"Ooh me, me!" Kid said excitedly as he ran toward the fallen professor.

"Access Superman." the android said as he brought down his foot against the wooden floor, sending a ripple toward the speeding Kid Flash. The sudden burst underneath him caused Wally to fall aside to the nearest wall.

Taking his chance, Robin threw two bird-a-rangs toward the android and watched happily as it called upon Martian Manhunter's powers and phased through them. Superboy thought he had enough time to reach the androids head as it was still phasing and essentially cause it to blow up once it retook solid form, but he timed it off and the android grabbed his fist, keeping tight hold of where he was.

"Access Fire Shadow." Superboy stared wide-eyed as the blue swirlling ball of sheer power was brought toward him. He readied himself for pain, but it never came, instead, he found himself on the other side of the room, watching with utter shock as Shadow took his own technique to his chest. The power of his technique literally ripped through his chest, and he and his teammates could see the androids hand sticking out of Shadow's back.

Naruto didn't waste any time in putting a kunai straight through the androids head, and immediately activated the exploding tag that was wrapped around it. The explosion sent him flying through the air, and to the far end of the gym they fought in. Superboy sped as quickly as he could to Shadow, taking off his shirt and placing it over the hole in his chest, trying to do something, anything to help him.

"Call the League!" he hissed at his teammates.

Robin shook himself out of his shock and quickly contacted the League for immediate medical evac...even if he knew that no one could survive having their chest be ripped apart the way he had.

'Fuck that hurts...' Naruto thought to himself as darkness swirled in his vision.

"Kit! Stay awake damnit! I need your help with this, it's not a normal rasengan injury! I can't heal it like normal!"

'What do you mean?' Naruto thought softly, even his thoughts becoming no louder than a whisper.

"Damnit stay awake!"

"Shadow! Shadow stay with me!" Superboy screamed, panic evident in his voice. "You're going to be okay! Just stay with me! Stay awake!"

Naruto turned his head slightly to get a better look at the Kryptonian teenager, and he smiled lightly. "I'll be okay..." he said softly. "Promise of a lifetime...and Naruto Uzumaki never breaks a promise..." before he could even question what he just said, Naruto felt himself close his eyes and let the darkness engulf him.

A/N: Yeah... I'm seriously not feeling my muse to write this chapter since as you can see, was supposed to be updated thursday... rather than today. I don't know why, but I have absolutely little to no desire to continue writing this...not saying I'll abandon it, that would just be plain sad and a waste of so many months of work, but It'll be hard to get these up and be even partially self-satisfying. Oh well... Don't worry though, I'm sure I'll find my muse again eventually! Hopefully sooner than later...