The golden fox.
Chapter ten: Mice and men.
*updates start for the next two days after this chapter*
マウスの物語は、男性のそれのようなものです。彼らは、それらに対して移す全て乗り越えられないオッズに対して生き残るために戦った。
最終的にはそう...柔和は世界を受け継いでいる。常に保護しなければならないけれども強い。
Mausu no monogatari wa, dansei no sore no yōna monodesu. Karera wa, sorera ni taishite utsusu subete norikoe rarenai ozzu ni taishite ikinokoru tame ni tatakatta. Saishūtekini wa sō... Nyūwa wa sekai o uketsuide iru. Tsuneni hogo shinakereba naranaikeredomo tsuyoi.
The story of mice, is like that of men. They fought to survive against every insurmountable odds placed against them.
So in the end...the meek have inherited the world. Though the strong shall always protect.
Jump City, two days later, 2:34a.m. Small music store.
Nothing stirred in the night, so no one would notice a little mouse. Except this mouse was a cloaked human, inside of a white cloak, laid purple eyes. They laid upon the many selections inside the store.
The store had been closed earlier that night, but still the mouse wanted something. What he wanted, he'd get. Slowly he looked over the selections, looking for several 'good music' disks. He finally found one in the form of Foo Fighters. Which he pocketed.
But, this mouse had another little plan. He wanted something else, and soon he crawled his way to the backroom. There he came upon the safe, and smirked under his mask. "Bingo." he squeaked, and pointed his hand at the lock.
Sand, coming out of a pouch he had, formed a key. He slowly manipulated it to slowly enter the lock, and harden it once it formed around it. He gave a twist with his palm, and slowly the lock came unhinged.
The safe opened, and there he discovered a fair amount of cash. Around two hundred, maybe three. So he quickly reached in with the sand, pocketing it so his fingers could not be traced. His purple eyes started to change.
What once purple, became a pale green. A indication of psionic activity. Slowly he got up, and started to head for the door. When he exited the building, he looked up. Holding up the money, to which a pink haired girl landed in front of him.
"Good job Iyanrin, you do us a good image. Since you passed your test, you can be in my group." The girl stated, and as they started walking away. The boy removed his hood, and showed red hair, and painted eye lids.
"Thank you Jinx...I hope father Blood will approve of me..."
Titan Tower, Basement, 4:00a.m.
Several clones fought Naruto, who was trying to pace his body faster. He had just got out of recovery, and back to training. "still weak need more power!" Naruto exclaimed in head, taking a blow to the face by a clone.
He grappled the said clone, broke it's arm, before kicking in the back. Making it disperse. Naruto felt another of his clones feet clash into his side, which made him stumble. He quickly countered, and lowered onto his knee. Allowing two clones to soar past him, where he grabbed the third one by the neck, and slammed him into the ground.
He palmed that one in the face, making it disperse. Naruto Uzumaki was trying to mimic how Robin fought a week ago, his martial arts. Which he did not have, nor any formal training in melee combat.
The two other clones came back, working in sync to throw Naruto off, he could tell by their red eyes that Kurama was inside of them. Attempting to move faster Naruto channeled chakra throughout his body to keep up.
It was just barely enough.
He managed to sweep a clone of its feet, but when he faced back around. The other clone had it's knee ready to drive into the poor lad's already bruised face. He blocked the knee, only to get a kick in the gut from the fallen clone.
"Naruto..."
"You need to act faster.
"Your reflexes are key."
"Do not forget the Kitsune way."
Naruto nodded, and jumped backwards. Getting on all fours, and raising up with his arms crisscrossed. The two clones formed more clones, some of them holding knifes. "We come..." The Kurama controlled clone said, charging at Naruto.
The redhead managed to dodge the others by rolling to the side, and there he grabbed two knives laying on the ground. He reversed grip them, managing to counter a slash from one of the other clones. Dispersing it with a stab to the gut.
Naruto rolled backwards, his shirt getting slashed by another clone. He stripped the torn fabric off, and quickly threw a knife into the clone. Before instinct started to take over, and he reached behind himself. Intent on grabbing a clone's hair.
Which he succeeded in doing, before he pulled down. Making the clone smash it's face in. He felt his eye change color, and looked around. He was surrounded his wounds already healing rapidly, he growled out loud.
He charged at the other clones, dodging to the left as they each threw knives. The half demon came to their backs, and slashed the middle on in the back of the neck. It dispersed immediately, allowing him to use it's smoke to close the gap on the other two to the left.
He slammed his palm into the first one, making him take flight in a short distance into the air, and when the other one tried to kick him. He grabbed it, and slammed it's body down into the ground. His eyes started to go black where the whites were.
Slowly, he felt this power surging through him. Only for him to suddenly feel a jolt of pain spread through him. Snapping him out of it, which made him fall to his knees. "We're done for today Naruto, please meditate to relax." The black inside of his scrella started to die down.
The blonde did as ordered, and slowly entered his meditative state.
"Wh-what?! Come on I just started to feel more powerful, why did you just stop it!"
"You were going to hurt yourself, handicap yourself with a lack of chakra. I recommend that you slowly back off for a moment. Because next week is your final week probation. We wouldn't to suddenly go off due to a lack of sleep...and fuck it up right?"
"Right...so, is there anything I can do to pass the time. I almost got the Rasangan down pat. Just needs some fine tuning you know."
"Hehehe, well, if you should ask. When you get your chakra control up more, along with your reserves. I think Elemental training will be in order."
"Wait, I can bend elements?"
"Yes kit, it's very unique to, but it wasn't rare from the time I came from. Many of my people could do it, in fact it was rarer to not be able. I remember my older student now, his blonde hair swirling around from a shuriken wind he would create...truly still burns me ire he turned down my deal..."
"What deal, and a shuriken of wind...that sounds fucking bad ass!"
"That's another story for another time kit, but in honesty. I can sense your soul, and unlike my former student. You do not possess a high affinity for just wind. You possess it for Water, and Fire as well."
"Affinity?"
"Meaning your soul is more in tune to the music of that particular chakra. Eons ago, I too thought chakra was that to bend to masters will, but no it has it's own rhythm and music. Like wavelengths."
"So...the different the wavelength...the different the element. Right?"
"Precisely, think of it is like a dancing motion. Fire being rigid, and strong. Where as Water is free flowing, and smooth. Earth in context is the opposite of both, un-moving. Wind being free to move about, and has no set pattern."
"Cool, so did your old student master them all?"
"Yes, even Lightning, which I forgot about...do to some rough history with that element."
"Oh what history?"
"Well, while I was teaching him, he got into a fight...and got stabbed through the chest with a Lightning technique."
"So is that how he died?"
"Oh Gods no, he didn't die that easily. That brat wouldn't roll over, and die like some little human would. He was in our tongue, Saikyō ryōshu (The strongest Lord)."
"So he was...the strongest of you? I thought you the Lord of Fox kin was the strongest, so wouldn't that make you his studen-"
" " Anata baka gaki, watashi wa mottomo kyōryokuna akuma no ryōshu gozen. Watashi wa anata ga omou, sonogo wa nai yowai gozen, chōdo! Watashi wa kare no mottomo kyōryokuna jutsu kare o toriharawa watashi wa kare o oshiete kurenakatta to iu imide wa arimasendeshitanode!("You idiot brat, I am the most powerful demon lord. I am not weaker then you think, and just because I was doesn't mean I didn't teach him! I tought him his most powerful jutsu!" )"
"Anba wa son'nani anata ga watashi ni zutsū o ataeru tsumori sakebu shinaide kudasai! (Kurama please don't yell so much your going to give me a headache!)"
"Grrr, the only half demon I care for, and he makes such insult...hehehe, just like old times."
"Haha, very funny, look old timer. I think I need to sleep now...so..."
"I know...time to sleep..."
Near the border between Tennessee, and Kentucky. 3:23p.m.
A lone man walked along the path of a river, where he stopped to take a sip of water. He had red hair, with red face paint. He had no upper shirt, baring his tanned flesh. He wore leather pants, and carried a bow with him.
By him was the spirit of a wolf, along with the spirit of a hawk. He looked at them, and smiled. "Hello forest spirits, how may a serve thee?" The man bowed into the water, the spirits looked at him, before nudging their heads for him to follow.
The man got up, and began to follow them. He used his walking stick to help him keep balance as he walked onto the steep hillside. He soon entered the cave, where his ancient ancestors, the Ukaki tribe took hold of in the bids of survival during the old times.
He entered the cave to see a man standing there, dressed inside a suit and tie. "Hello Waya, been a long time." The man said, turning to see the Native American tribesmen. He had a long sleek haircut, and wore sunglasses.
The Native American looked at him, and frowned. "Richard Valentine, I told you to never call upon me again...for you know that I'll shall never do your work again." The man nodded, and then smiled.
"I haven't come here to ask for your help, but I came here to congratulate you on your efforts. My Government is not too happy with your sabotage of this forest lands...and even scaring away potential buyers." The man taking off his sunglasses, revealing a set of green eyes.
The Native smirked with pride, and looked at the man. "So what have you come seeking? For I have nothing to give to you...and never shall I use my powers in the name of this Government again. Not after Ghost." His smirk went away at the mention of a friend he served with.
"I understand, Ghost was...a bit unstable. So, you had no choice. I actually came here to give you a heads up, that the Young Justice League is looking for teachers. I offered your name, and the main league sent me here." Waya nodded his head, and motioned for the man to continue.
Richard put his glasses back on, and smiled. "They want someone to teach survival, and archery. Along with hunting should they get sent to heavily forested area, or get lost inside the said forest. I came here in good faith of the league...not in...past friendships."
The man nodded, and looked at him in the eyes through the sunglasses. "When do I need to leave?" Richard nodded, and motioned for him to follow. A large helicopter equipped with a cloaking device came into view.
"You can set out for Mount Justice in a few hours. Is there anything you need?" The man nodded, and put two fingers towards his mouth as he whistled, and smiled as a woman wearing the same type of clothing, with of course having a top on came out of the bush.
"This is my wife Salali, she has been helping me since...Ghost." The man nodded, and then beckoned them onto the helicopter. She took her husbands hands, and then smiled. Richard then got a message over his earpiece.
He frowned, "sorry Waya, we're heading towards another place."
Titans Tower West, two hours later, ops room.
Robin was on the communication link with Bentley, who was yawning at the moment. "So Bentley, did you manage to relocate?" The man on the other end just screamed into the head piece Robin held.
"Hell fucking yeah I did, I'm in the space tower bitches...I guess you could say this my next step to becoming the first Cyber Hero. Hahaha, my god, that is ridiculous..."
"I see, well that's good to here. So have you managed to crack into what I wanted?"
"Actually no, strangely Uzumaki Naruto records got screwed tighter than misers purse on the subject of charity...meaning unless you walk your ass to Japan, there is no way of getting it."
"I see, well I guess I'll keep trying to see if I can reach out to any of my Japanese contacts, maybe one of them works for the JDF now. So we'll have a mole, something is not sitting right about the organization."
"Yeah mi ami, I did a recent check. They had over one hundred thirty arrest of Meta humans, and such. Like their rounding them up, and putting them on the 'list' where they either say Join the league like Naruto, or go to jail."
"Yeah...but why the sudden crackdown? I know Japan has a problem with Meta human criminals, but the brutality of their lock down strategy seems a bit..."
"Forceful?"
"Then you are going to hate this part, the ones that they caught having no record, without useful powers were locked up."
"What?!"
"Yeah man, I known, something is off, their listed under criminal. Though I can't seem whom, or what they are."
"Thanks Bentley on the update, hey by the way did you enjoy the trip up?"
"Fuck you, seriously Robin...I hate jetting across space."
"Okay, Okay calm down, calm down. Anyway I got to go. Sleepy head just woke up."
"Okay Robin, listen though I sent this to Batman, he'll be discussing this with others tonight."
"Alright, bye."
He shut off the communicator as a mop of red hair rounded the corner. He was yawning, with it a swallowing of a pill, which was meant to help with pain. Since his ears had been damaged slightly in the last battle.
"Morning...Bird boy." Naruto casually said, walking over to the fridge, and popping open a can of cherry soda. Which he slowly nursed, and looked around. "Hey...where is everyone?" He asked, and Robin turned to him.
"They're out on missions right now, Starfire and Raven are taking the docks. Beast Boy and Cyborg got the central city. We were supposed to stay here for a little bit, before heading out. Though it seems relatively clear for today." Robin said shrugging, Naruto nodded. Still nursing the soda.
He sat in a chair, and leaned back. "So hows your ears doing?"
"They're in a hell of lot of pain, but I'll live." Naruto responded, deciding to chug a little bit of the soda.
"I see, so tell me Naruto...do you think you'd be a good fit here?" The boy looked at him, before shaking his head.
"Not really, I mean don't get me wrong...I've calmed down, but my methods are more brutal then yours. In someways you'll come to respect them, others you'll come to fear them." Robin chuckled slightly, before he pointed at Naruto.
"You remind too much of Logan, you know wolverine from the Marvel Comics." Naruto eyes widened slightly at the jibe, before he grumbled something about talking traffic lights.
The two boys looked at each other for a moment, "So any word on that pink haired bitch?"
"Yes, and no, we've tracked down their info with my contacts. But, as to their location...nope." Naruto lightly gripped the can harder.
"So what your saying we can't find them?" Robin nodded, before he saw Naruto roll his eyes.
"Fucking perfect..." The boy wonder, nudged him with his foot.
"Cheer up man, trust me, it's not like we win all the time. I mean, we have days. Though as for this ragtag team of villains...they do need to be stopped." Naruto nodded.
"Yeah, which is why I am not sitting around here..." He said, before getting up.
Jump City, near central courthouse, 6:45p.m.
"Dude this is so boring!" Beast Boy shouted, walking with his best friend on patrol. The other man agreed with a nod, and as they walk they felt a sense that NOTHING was happening today. The duo team of knuckle heads kept walking around.
Beast Boy then had hearts explode from his eyes, metaphorically of course, when they came around a corner to see two hot girls walking down the street. "Beast Boy..." Cyborg began, and Beast boy had the biggest blush possible for a guy.
"Oh yeah...screw this...I'mma gonna get me a date, and head to the movies." Cyborg nodded, and decided to walk with him. He watched as BB sleeked his hair backwards, and headed into an alleyway. Where he took off his costume, and revealed clothing he had underneath.
A messed up T-shirt, but it was common for many of the 'hunks' to wear it, with black jeans. Cyborg looked at him, as if he had grown a second head. "Dude...when do you ever where other clothing?" The boy looked at him smirking.
"Well, I always keep a pair on hand, but I never seen a reason until now." He purred as the girls past the alleyway, and looked at his friend. "Okay, lets play it cool." The changeling said, and they walked out of the alleyway.
Cyborg decided to put on his hat, which was a Red Sox's baseball cap. Though as far as anything else, he really didn't have clothing except his armor. The duo of teenage hormone driven boys came up to the girls, "hows it going sweetie?" Beast Boy said to a girl with dark brown hair, and a light tan.
She turned around, she had a pair beautiful brown eyes. "Whoa, it's a Titan." The girl said, they looked at the changeling, with similar looks they had given them. The changeling wiggled his eyes brows slightly, before he offered his hand out.
"Wanna hang out for a little bit." The boy slightly quipped, they looked at each other before nodding. Beast Boy had a little chibi of himself dancing around, well that had to all change now didn't it?
No sooner than the girls said yes, gunshots were heard. The duo looked at each other with similar looks. "You've got to be pulling my leg here..." Beast Boy whined, and then morphed into a cheetah, which started to run.
Cyborg started to move, but then he turned around. "Could we perhaps get your numbers?" He said, the girls shrugged, and started to write down on a piece of paper their cell numbers, and the Titan metal man just snatched them. While waving goodbye.
"Still got a chance..." He said, before using his jet pack.
Near the gunshots.
Naruto was already above a building overlooking the escape vehicle, the man each held pistols. The driver started the car as they entered the back, bags full of 'hard earned' money. The redhead glared slightly, and looked towards his side.
"You got an explosive?" Naruto asked, and Robin nodded. The Boy wonder waited for them to be fully entered, before he threw a bird-a-rang with an explosive mod attached to it. The said bird-a-rang then exploded making the vehicle useless.
Naruto jumped down, and used his momentum to crash through the windshield, where he used his tail to choke the driver out. The two other man came running out of the truck, only for one of them to get hit by a electrified bird-a-rangs.
Which made him pass out on the spot.
The last man glared at Robin and brought his gun up. Only for a knife to come sailing into his hand, making him drop the firearm. Naruto slowly walked out of the drivers side vehicle, draggin the man he had encompassed with his tail. He was screaming "help!" Along the way.
Naruto came to a stop by the man who was holding his bloody hand, and he looked at Naruto. "Our master is not going to take this lightly demon!" The boy smirked, now the man had truly fucked up.
He watched as the man grabbed the knife, and tried to stab him. The redhead deflected the knife strike, and grabbed the man's arm. Robin decided to look away, before he heard a snap, followed by a scream. "You just fucked up bitch..." Naruto muttered, before dropping the man that was inside the coils of his tail.
The man watched as the tail came up, "tell me whose your master?" Naruto asked, but the audible clap a large round firing weapon sounded throughout the block. Making many civilians run, Naruto looked towards the directing. Seeing a orange masked, who who was holding a rifle. A barret .50 cal. The redhead looked down to the man he was about to 'ask' and found his brain matter scattered across the ground.
Naruto looked back up to see the man gone, and started to make a pursuit. Only here a beeping noise, it was coming from the man's dead body. "What the fuc.." His eyes suddenly opened, and he moved to grab Robin.
Only to picked up by a green cheetah, and he watched as Robin got picked up by a jet packing Cyborg. The bomb went off, taking out the street, but luckily all the civilians were gone from the area, but still the destruction was wide spread.
The team landed on a building, and they looked at the destruction. "What the hell was that Naruto, did you kill him?!" The redhead looked at Cyborg, the man's blood was all over him. Feeling his nose, making it hard to keep focus.
"No...someone shot him...a sniper. He had on a orange mask." The Boy wonders eyes widened considerably, and he defiantly needed to contact Batman about this. The redhead looked down at the ground, and then came to one conclusion.
"Someone trying to trap us...and it's not exactly a all take alive either."