Ryu Kotei here saying that I hope everyone had a very Happy Holidays and are excited about the upcoming new year! One can only imagine what will happen next year!

On a final note, I do not own Naruto, anything from the DC Universe, My Little Pony, or The Merchant of Venice.

"Reaper..." normal speech

"Naruto..." thought/mind speak

"(I am Reaper.)" language change

"KYUUBI!" demon speak

Chapter 10

At the Watchtower, the key members of the Justice League were in the meeting room with one seat empty due to the absent and missing Flash.

"Alright," said Batman as he stood at the head of the table, "it's time to start this meeting."

"Where's Flash?" Black Canary asked as she and a few other members noted the absent founder.

"Flash isn't here because he was captured during the Jump City Parade a week ago," Batman stoically answered, getting a few shocked looks, "which brings us to a few topics because of the event. Starting off with a few of us needing to have changes to our work uniforms."

A hologram projected a picture of Naruto Wilson and a picture of Hiraishin before his change next to each other as Batman continued, "With the revelation Reaper had brought forth and Naruto's assassination, it has come to my attention that our disguises are not completely foolproof. Because of someone believing Naruto to be Hiraishin, we now have a dead celebrity due to similar traits."

"We all know that Minato Namikaze is Naruto Wilson's birth father," Red Tornado pointed out, "the fact is that their similarity has led to Mr. Wilson's death. If anyone could point out this kind of similarity, it could be possible to connect the dots between other members of the League such as Superman or Wonder Woman."

Said founders' eyes slightly widened at the question as they hardly had anything that said 'NO CONNECTION!' with their personas. All someone had to do was connect the dots or just mess around with one of their pictures and their identities could be revealed.

"That is why I'm going to ask some of the members to change how they look so that another incident like this wouldn't happen." Batman said as the hologram soon changed to a picture of Kyuubi/Arashi, "Now onto the next topic: Kyuubi. Arashi Uzumaki-Namikaze has proven himself to be a danger to everyone."

"I agree." Wonder Woman said as she crossed her arms, "He is too reckless with his power as he had sent a young man to the hospital with chances of him being in a coma for Hera knows how long, attacked Starfire, used Raven as a club and destroyed her hand in the process, and if I'm not mistaken, he had caused thousands of dollars to a small restaurant even before becoming a member of the Justice League. We need to do something about it."

"We're already working on it." Batman said as he motioned towards the entrance of the room as Jiraiya entered, causing the female members present to glare at the man.

"Minato, Dr. Fate, and I are preparing everything to take care of Arashi as we are planning on taking the Kyuubi out and placing it inside a place that Dr. Fate calls The Void." the Toad Sage said with a serious tone, "It'll take some time, but once the Kyuubi is free from him, Arashi will be sent back to our world where he will be executed for his treasonous actions."

"That's kind of harsh for a bully like him." Captain Marvel said as he didn't like the thought of killing someone.

"Sound idea for me." Hawkgirl said casually, "By your world's standards, he interfered with a highly important mission, attacked your allies, and had attacked your own people from what Kushina had revealed to me."

"When will the preparations be done?" Superman asked as he wanted Kyuubi taken care of as soon as possible…hopefully without getting the young man killed.

"We're ready to go once the Daimyo gives us the okay." Jiraiya said, "Tsunade had sent a messenger to the Daimyo about all that had happened before she announced to the village that she's stepping down from her position as Hokage. I've never seen the village in more of an uproar since after the Chunin Exams with what Arashi had already done."

"Where is Tsunade right now?" John asked as he saw the woman's medical skills and was really impressed.

"She's visiting Naruto's grave." Batman bluntly said, "She wanted to see him just one last time before finding a new life here. I have created the legal documents necessary for her to get settled. On to the next topic…"

The picture on the hologram then changed to a picture of Flash as Batman said, "We have learned that Luthor and Lati had captured Flash during the Jump City Parade."

"How is that possible?" Captain Marvel asked with concern, "He's like the fastest guy in the League!"

"Most likely Lati had quickly used what Reaper had taught her to take him down without a problem." Batman said as he remained serious, "Flash's location is unknown with the exception of him being in Reaper's clutches. We are working on how to find him. Now to the main topic…"

The hologram then changed to pictures of Reaper with his cloak both opened and closed.

"Reaper." Wonder Woman said with narrowed eyes, "I still owe him for that night."

"Stay focused." Batman stoically ordered, "We really don't know just what Reaper is capable of as all we could gather is that he is an expert assassin, what with him being taught by Deathstroke, has the ability to cling to surfaces with his feet, and is in possession of possibly dangerous magical artifacts."

Superman instinctively placed a hand on his chest where Reaper had cut him. He could only wonder what the other Blades of the End were like.

"We have also learned that he somehow has a grudge against you more than the League itself." John mentioned as he sneered a bit at the memory of meeting the assassin, "Reaper's a cunning and ruthless son of a bitch. We need to keep an eye on him and take him down quickly."

"We also must bring our attention to his sword, War, along with what the other weapons he has for The Blades of the End." Batman said as he brought up a still photo of Reaper cutting off Raven's hand, "Superman had mentioned that the sword was soaked in the blood of a virgin and the blood of a demon. Who's to say that the other Blades weren't as well. I have also looked into them and saw that War and the other Blades are somehow connected to the Angels of the Apocalypse."

"Each of those Angels are a representation of what is to be brought with them," Dr. Fate said as everyone looked at him, "Plagues, hunger, endless violence, and finally the death of humanity. I find it disturbing that any mortal would try and mimic any of those meant to bring forth the end of humanity. We must exercise the utmost caution should he have the other Blades with him."

Batman nodded as he then revealed the envelope that Superman had delivered and said, "We have a chance of learning more about Reaper as he invited me to see a play with him."

"Really?!" Wonder Woman said as she and everyone were completely shocked with what the Dark Knight had revealed, "We are talking about what could be the most dangerous person in the world and he just INVITED you to go see a play? This has to be a trap!"

"That is why I'm going." Batman said without missing a beat, "If he has a problem against me, then I will show him that I'm not one that is easily intimidated nor foolish enough to be caught completely off guard. I'm going and that's that."

This didn't sit well with everyone, but they knew with how Batman worked; Batman is just…Batman. He took down crime bosses, took down a group of villains that banded together with Lex Luthor, beaten a powerful psychic in a mind battle, and even outwitted the most brilliant of villains. How do you take a guy like that down?

"If nothing else is to be added," Batman said as he looked to see if anyone would talk, "then this meeting is adjourned."

Batman soon exited the room with Wonder Woman quickly following him with a slight limp in her step.

"Are you really going to sit through a play with an assassin like Reaper?" Wonder Woman asked as she finally caught up to the Caped Crusader.

"Of course I am." Batman bluntly said, "Reaper is not only the League's problem, but my problem as he is challenging me. He's trying to tear us down by targeting only me. If he wants to fight me, then I'll fight him."

Wonder Woman sighed as she then said, "Just be careful around him Bruce as who knows what that bastard has planned."

At a cemetery, Tsunade stood in front of a grave with tears in her eyes as this was Naruto's grave. So many questions were running through her mind: Why didn't she do more? How could she look at Naruto now? Why did this have to happen to her favorite godchild?

"I'm sorry Naruto…" Tsunade said as she hung her head, "I wish I could have done something more to prevent this. I should have made them see what Arashi was becoming and what was happening to you. When I had heard that you vanished, I was devastated: I had lost my brother and my beloved, but I didn't want to lose you! I had even given up drinking and gambling as I knew that you craved so much attention and what did I do after you vanished? I went back to drinking and gambling my problems away!"

"I had even allowed myself to become the Hokage after those two dumbasses had promised to do everything in their power to get you back and fix everything," Tsunade said as her knees began to feel weak, "and look where it had gotten me: I'm standing before the grave of my beloved godson!"

The woman soon fell onto her knees and began crying as all this could have been prevented. She had lost her favorite godson twice in one lifetime and it was all Konoha's fault! She lost her brother and boyfriend to the war and that foolish dream, her godson had literally disappeared because of neglect and abuse, and now after finding him he DIES because of a case of mistaken identity!

"Are you alright, Madam?" asked a voice as Tsunade looked to see a man with greying black hair wearing an eye patch and a suit.

"…no…" Tsunade admitted through her choked sobs, "Would you be…if you were standing in front of your godchild's grave knowing that such a fate could have easily been avoided?"

"Of course not and it is much worse as he was my adoptive son." the man said as kneeled towards the grave and clasped his hands together.

"F-Forgive me, Mr. Wilson, I didn't know." Tsunade said as she knew who she was talking to.

"It's alright," the man said as he stood on his feet and held a hand towards the woman, "and please, call me Slade."

"Tsunade Senju," Tsunade said as she let Slade help her to her feet, "I…was Naruto's godmother."

"My apologies as I can see you still love him as much as he has told me." Slade said getting a shocked look from the woman.

"Naruto has told you about me?" Tsunade asked as the man before her chuckled.

"He has told me about everything you have done for him." Slade said with a smile, "Healing him, protecting him, loving him; you were actually more of a mother to him than his real mother ever would be."

"Don't you dare talk about her!" Tsunade threatened with pure venom laced in her voice.

"Very well." Slade said with a nod as Kushina would be a touchy subject at the moment, "I was planning on dealing with some of the contracts he had agreed to with the many films he was supposed to be in, but I'm going to reschedule those meetings so that I could help a loving woman deal with the loss of a loved one…considering that both she and I share the same loved one."

Thinking everything over, Tsunade looked at Slade and said, "I would welcome it since we both could use some comforting. I actually have nothing better to do anyway."

Tsunade followed Slade to his car in hopes of possibly finding some comfort and maybe more as she secretly admitted in her mind that the man was quite a charming character. Slade hid his smirk as he had a few surprises for not just Tsunade, but nor Naruto as well.

Flash wasn't having a good time as he was itching badly with the urge to move, but he knew that one twitch could kill him. He had already taken a couple chances and only freed all but his thumb on his left hand. What made his experience worse is that he was starting to feel an itch on his back.

"I can't even move my back without possibly killing myself." Flash said as that itch was starting to bother him when he saw the door open.

The sound of footsteps echoed as Flash looked to see Lati walking in with a stack of DVDs and a large bag in her hands.

"Hiya!" Lati said with a joyful tune, "Mr. Reaper told me that you will be watching over me while he goes out to go see a play!"

"So are you going to let me go?" Flash asked with a smirk as he wouldn't be outwitted by the child-like woman again.

"Sorry, but Mr. Reaper told me that you need to stay there." Lati said as she slightly fidgeted a bit, "I'm not looking forward to being a bad girl and having Mr. Reaper spank me."

"He spanks you?" Flash asked with slight confusion, "Isn't that illegal with your case?"

"No, but it feels weird when he spanks me." Lati admitted sadly, "I know it's supposed to hurt and it does, but…I like it. Mr. Reaper said it might have been because that I was a very bossy woman who secretly likes being punished without even knowing it. But he told me that he only spanks me because he cares for me."

Reaper being a parent? Flash thought at the idea of the assassin being a father, Not in a million years.

Flash then noticed Lati placing the bag down and put something in the DVD player before turning the television on.

"So what are you doing?" Flash asked as he wondered if Reaper had sent the woman to torture him.

"We are going to watch my favorite TV show," Lati said with a giggle as she revealed the front of the case, "My Little Pony!"

She's a highly trained assassin and she's watching a kid's show, My Little Pony no less? Flash had to mentally ask him as the masked woman delicately placed the stuffed versions of the characters on him without tripping any of the strings attached to him.

"There," Lati said as she placed the pink pony on top of the speedsters head, "now you're ready to be a Brony!"

"But what if I don't want to watch the show with you?" Flash asked as he really didn't want to go through the stack of DVDs.

"Then I'll tell Mr. Reaper that you weren't being a good babysitter…" said Lati as she then took a few steps towards one of the threads attached to Flash.

"…or I could be a bad little girl and play with all of this string like a harp." Lati then said with a seductive voice that sent a chill down the hero's back as he wasn't sure if it was from how quick Lati's personality had changed or if the woman knew exactly just which string could spell his doom.

"What's a few episodes going to hurt?" Flash asked nervously, "I've got nothing better to do."

"Yay!" Lati cheered with her child-like voice as she jumped in the air before laying on the floor before the TV, "It's friendship time!"

Just what the hell did I just get myself into? Flash mentally asked himself as the cheerful theme song played through his head.

At the Gotham Theater of the Performing Arts, Batman swooped down in front of the entrance, getting a surprised reaction out of the surrounding bystanders and theater goers.

"Look it's Batman!"

"What's he doing here?"

"Hopefully not get another celebrity killed."

"I wonder what the Justice League did with that Kyuubi character?"

"Should we even trust a guy like him?"

"You sure know how to make an entrance." said a familiar voice as the sound of heels clicking echoed behind Batman, "Got the same invitation?"

"Unless you got it from Reaper," the Caped Crusader said as he turned to see the woman who once directed Project Cadmus, Amanda Waller, wearing an elegant gold-white dress and pearl necklace, "then yes."

"Mr. Batman and Ms. Waller," said one of the theater employees, "Mr. Reaper had already went on ahead to your designated seats and is waiting for you. Please enjoy the show."

Batman looked at Waller as the woman said, "Well…don't want to keep the guy waiting since he paid for this trip."

The duo walked in and traveled towards their seats on the upper levels, ignoring the looks and whispers.

"It's not every day that Batman is seen going to a play like an ordinary person," Waller said as she climbed the stairs to the level theirs seats were, "but then again, you're not much of a social person."

"I have no time to be social with my enemies," Batman said as stoically approached the door that led to the seats, "especially with those who want to kill me."

The two opened the door to reveal Reaper occupying one of the three chair reserved for him and his guests.

"I'm glad you both could join me," Reaper said as he motioned to a bucket of ice that also held a bottle of wine, "I spared no expenses as I thought that we could use some time away from the accursed demon that goes by the name of paperwork."

"What do you want?" Batman asked with a tone that he wasn't in a joking mood.

"Sheesh, I offer a moment to get away from work related stress and this is how you decide to act?" Reaper said with an insulted tone, "This actually proves just how much of a jerk you can be, Bat-Teme."

"You'll have to forgive him, Mr. Reaper," Waller said as she did appreciate some time away from her desk, "he's just not the social type."

"Indeed, Ms. Waller." Reaper said as he handed the woman a red rose corsage, "A rose for such a wonderful woman?"

Waller accepted the gift and placed the corsage on her dress while the Caped Crusader glared at him.

"What?" Reaper said as if insulted again, "Can't I be the gentleman that I am? It's not like I'm hitting on her like some prude pervert. Or do you like her like that?"

Batman growled a bit as he knew that Reaper was just baiting him and decided to just sit down on the left side of Waller while Reaper was on her right.

Too far for his own taste.

"I do hope you enjoy the play," Reaper said with a polite and professional tone, "The Merchant of Venice is one of my favorites out of William Shakespeare's plays. My favorite character has always been Shylock the Jew as he is the most human-like character than the other characters and I always loved his most famous speech that he practically preaches out that even with his beliefs and ideals, he is as much a human as everyone else."

Batman kept his focus on the assassin as the lights began to dim as the curtains lifted up to reveal the brightened stage.

"Just remember one thing," Reaper quietly said as the actors began their performance with Antonio sitting on one of the stairs with a depressed and solemn look on his face, "even Buddha loses patience when insulted a third time."

A small gleam of light showed Batman that Reaper had a weapon in his hand, but it wasn't an ordinary weapon…it was one of Batman's own Bat-a-rangs. The tip was cleverly pointed at the base of Waller's spine above her hip.

He set me up! Batman thought as he realized why he and Waller were invited: Reaper had to have gotten a hold of one of Batman's Bat-a-rangs and through the use of the theater's darkness, Reaper could stab Waller, a high ranking government agent, and make it look like Batman was responsible. Another thing is that Batman has thrown some many of his Bat-a-rangs that it would be inevitable that someone had to have gotten a hold of at least one or two of them. Even if everyone in the theater saw Reaper stabbing Waller, Batman would be held responsible as it was one of HIS gadgets that was used against a government agent.

I'll play your little game for the moment Reaper, Batman thought as he watched the actors brilliantly performing the play before the audience, but once this is over…I will stop you.

Robin was standing before his team as he needed to discuss the mission Batman had given his team.

"Alright," Robin began as he saw Raven holding a hand over her bandaged stump, "Batman has given us a mission."

"I thought we were our own team?" Beast Boy asked with confusion.

"We are." Robin answered, "However, the situation calls for us to work with the Justice League since we have a common enemy: Reaper."

The young boy handed each of the other Titans a piece of paper as he continued, "Reaper's partner, Lati, had captured Flash and now he's being held prisoner by Reaper."

"So where do we start?" Starfire asked as she was wearing a purple leotard similar to Raven's without sleeves to hide the scars on her back.

"I can find him with a dowsing spell," Raven said as Robin looked at her, "I just need something that belongs to him so I can get a good reading of his aura."

"I could also track him through the bio scans," Cyborg said with a serious tone in his face, "but the only problem isn't just getting to Flash, but just who is there as it could be Reaper, Lati, or even some sort of monster that Reaper had gotten his hands on."

"That's why I'm calling in some backup." Robin said before he then said, "However Reaper isn't going to be there as he invited Batman to go see a play, but even though he isn't there, we can't be too sure if he hadn't planned on someone going after Flash."

"You calling Titan East?" Beast Boy asked as he was wondering how some of their teammates were doing.

"Actually I'm calling in a couple of old friends." Robin said as he got a couple of wondering looks from his friends, "I worked with them before I left Gotham and we could use the extra help. I already told them about the situation and they'll join us shortly, but we need to work fast as who knows what Reaper has planned for Flash."

Everyone nodded as they needed to save Flash and possibly learn more about their opponent if possible. The Titans left the room so that they could begin the search and rescue mission given to them.

Back at the theater, the third act had just started after the intermission and the two actors were performing their parts as Reaper, Waller, and Batman watched them.

What is he planning? Batman thought to himself as he tried to find Reaper during the intermission and talk to him, but the assassin had simply vanished before reappearing just minutes before intermission had ended. He knew the Teen Titans could find Flash and possibly rescue him considering that he had trained the leader himself. The Dark Knight knew that Reaper had something planned for Flash and he needed to know.

Batman was about to ask, but the assassin held up a hand as a means to be quiet as the man who was playing Shylock looked at the two actors before him.

"To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge." the actor began passionately, "He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million; laughed at my loses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; and what is his reason? I am a Jew."

The actor portraying Shylock then looked at the audience with angered resolve and passion as he continued, "Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with the same food, hurt by the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, do we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it will go hard but I will better with instruction!"

"I've always loved that speech as it rings so true." Reaper quietly said with a hint of joy and pride at how well the speech had gone.

"What are you talking about?" Waller asked as she was pondering about the assassin's ideals.

"It's really simple, Waller-san," Reaper began as he watched the actors continue their performance, "Shylock speaks about the injustice done on not only to himself, but his people because they are considered different and turned into monsters by the people of Shakespeare's time. Would it not be the same for any of the people you call 'villains' when the real villains are your everyday people?"

Batman raised an eyebrow at the assassin's words as Reaper continued, "While it is true that some turn to villainy for their own gains, most times…some do not have a choice or are even given that role without proper reason aside from the fact that they are different. Everyone seems to forget the key moments in history that are suppose to end hatred as they express their hatred towards those who are different either secretly or even out in the open."

The assassin then looked at the two next him and asked, "Do you remember the incidents at Dakota that involved a chemical explosion which brought out individuals labeled as 'Bang Babies'?"

"Of course," Waller said as she looked from the corner of her eyes, "Everyone knows of those two incidents. I had even looked into those two incidents and those related to them myself."

"What are you getting at?" Batman asked as he remembered working with Static Shock, one of the 'Bang Babies' that the public calls those who gained some sort of power or mutation from the chemicals.

"Well you see, Bat-Teme," Reaper began as he turned his attention to the performers on the stage, "the youths who have been exposed to the chemical and mutated due to their bodies' reactions to said chemical were already given a label by the public and were even scorned for not being able to control their new powers or just appearing as a 'monster' due to any form of physical mutation. Those with weaker will or without means of getting treatment join the life of crime as a means of survival or even for revenge against those who wrongfully scorned them."

Reaper stole a glance towards Waller as he then asked, "I am also sure that some form of agencies, such as those behind the Cadmus Project, had even saw the mutated youths as weapons against their enemies. Am I right, Waller-san?"

"Can't say I haven't heard a few things," Waller admitted as she has heard a few rumors about Bang Babies, "but these are just children with lives instead of artificial beings that can be programmed."

"While that is true," Reaper said as he slowly blinked, "it is possible to erase any form of humanity within those who are easily influenced, such as teens and the younger population, and turn them into mere puppets who will obey any command you give them."

"Who would do such a thing?" Batman asked as he was disgusted by the very thought of turning trouble teenagers, let alone children, into mindless weapons.

"Oh don't act so disgusted." Reaper countered as he narrowed his eyes towards the Dark Knight, "Ideas of turning children into soldiers have always existed since the dawn of time when man learned how to fight and kill for survival before passing down their skills and knowledge onto their students and children. Even if those skills were meant for survival, the cycle of violence never ends as long as there are at least two people on this world, or any world, someone is going to want someone dead."

"Now if you don't mind," Reaper said as he leaned forward to get a better view of the play, "I would love to see the rest of this play as this is one of my favorites, so do be quiet for the rest of the show; it's disrespectful."

Batman narrowed his eyes as he decided to finish watching the play while keeping an eye on the assassin as he knew that Reaper was planning something big.

What does Reaper have planned? Will the Teen Titans succeed in rescuing Flash? How long will Flash last before he breaks?

I wanted to add that part from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice to have Reaper bring up a point about some of the villains and criminals that the Justice League faces. In each of the DC Universes, how many of the villains became the 'monsters' and 'criminals' due to what the public had done to them? Just look as DC's Static Shock show as you have what once were your everyday teens and children and because of their mutation from the chemicals, they are branded as monsters or freaks when some of them are just teenagers who need help. Reaper brings this out as when push comes to shove, shoving can be deathly serious.

Don't forget to rate and review!

Ja ne.