Sorry for the long wait, lots of things been happening of late. Mainly I was focusing my other stories and been busy with other things. Was focusing on my story 'The Dark Knight of Chiba', if you'd like please do check it out. If you like Batman and the anime Oregairu.
But I'm back with a new chapter, hope you will enjoy this one. At the end of the chapter please let me know if there's something I can improve on it, the end results particularly.
And thank you for those who had recently put in the new reviews, to answer some of your questions. Regarding Itachi's new attire, his EMS, his disease. I do plan to implement them somewhere down along the line.
Another thing I want to let you all know is that I will be heading into the Army in October, so updating may take longer from then on.
Chapter 12: Paradise Lost, Midaregami
Metropolis, the sibling city to Gotham, with its skyscrapers piercing through the clouds. And the sun shining down bright and warm.
Clark Kent and Itachi were in a diner by the street near the Daily Planet, sitting by the window. Itachi was dressed in his red t-shirt, black hoodie, black sweat pants and sneakers. Clark was in his white shirt, dark blue pants and red tie.
"You have not really seen the city this much have you Itachi?" Clark Kent asked.
Itachi shook his head, "No. And it's very bright out here in the day."
Clark made a soft chuckle. Itachi was still looking at the menu, seeing all sorts of burgers, steaks, and other dishes and drinks he had never seen before in his past life.
"Are you sure you are fine treating me for this?" Itachi closed the menu.
"Don't sweat it Itachi." Clark said. Itachi's eyebrows knitted a little, showing Clark he did not really understand.
"It's ok Itachi." Clark made it clearer for him. Itachi nodded at that.
"You said that Diana was going back to her home?" Itachi asked.
"Yeah, she said something about wanting to meet her mother again, something along those lines." Clark replied and Itachi nodded again.
And after a minute later a waitress came to their table, with her their orders.
She placed down their food and utensils and gave them a smile, particularly Itachi.
"Thank you." Itachi politely said and the waitress left them to themselves.
Itachi stared at the dish in front of him, a burger that was almost as big as his face, with a fish fillet, lettuce, tomato and a slice of cheddar cheese. And with it, a pile of fries.
Clark had beef steak and mashed potato. And to go with their food, there was a pair of glasses of thick chocolate milkshake with red straws.
"Well dig in Itachi." Cark started on his steak.
Itachi stared at his lunch, he had never seen these kinds of dishes back home. Seeing the other customers in the restaurant, some were using their hands to hold the burger and eat it, others were using a fork and knife.
Itachi decided to the latter method, taking the fork in his hand.
"Itadakimasu." Itachi cut up a piece of his burger. Buns, fish, lettuce, tomato, and cheese all skewered in his fork.
He held up the food placed it in his mouth, tasting a burger for the first time. The crunchiness of the lettuce, the softness of the bread, the tenderness of the fish fillet and the butter sensation in cheese. All together in one bite.
Itachi's eyes widened a little, then turned mussed while he chewed his food and swallow.
Clark smirked at Itachi watching him eating a burger for the first time. He asked, "So how is it?"
"It's…interesting…at best. All flavours together." Itachi slowly said, he took another piece and ate it.
"Not the kind of food you've had before right?" Clark asked cutting a piece of his steak.
"No." Itachi answered, he had a fork stabbing a bunch of fries. His teeth crushed through the fries, tasting its crispiness and the oil.
"This is…salty." Itachi gave a flat comment.
"You'll get used to it." Clark smiled, but Itachi doubted it. The Uchiha continued eating it either way.
Soon after Itachi had finished his burger and fries, and truth be told he could barely finish that amount of food.
Next up was his drink, the chocolate milkshake. Looking down at the glass in his hand, he felt that a drink should not feel this heavy.
"Is this supposed to be thick?" Itachi looked up at Clark who was already drinking his own shake.
"Mhm, I think you'll like it." Clark said and slurped on his beverage.
Itachi got the straw in his mouth and sucked in. Immediately, his eyes popped wide open as the rich sweetness of chocolate and milk filled his mouth.
Itachi composed himself and continued drinking a little more, before swallowing.
He cleared his throat. "This is, extremely sweet."
"It's great huh?" Clark said, his own milkshake was putting him in a good mood.
Itachi did not answer, he just kept taking sips on his milkshake, tolerating the intense sweetness the drink had given.
Eventually, Itachi could only settle for finishing two-thirds of his drink, and Clark had been sharing his experiences as Superman, and him being a Kryptonian.
"So you weren't born on Earth?" Itachi asked.
"No, but I grew up here, well in Kansas specifically. Earth is home. This is my home." Clark said, looking out the window.
"And you say that your powers are strengthened by the Sun?"
"Yeah."
"Has there been a time where you felt uncomfortable with your powers?" Itachi asked.
Clark leaned back on his seat, he had a pondering look on him.
He gave his answer. "Plenty of times. I learned to control it growing up, but a few times I feel that my powers can be too dangerous for everyone here."
"…You think people are afraid of your powers?" Itachi asked him.
"Yeah, but I don't really blame them, not after Darkseid. But I have been gaining their trust back, together with the Justice League too." Clark said, his eyes looked perturbed by the name 'Darkseid'.
"Darkseid?" Itachi raised an eyebrow.
"Right, you don't know." Clark said and he began to explain to Itachi who Darkseid was, and what he did to Superman before Itachi came to Earth, he explained about the horrible atrocities Darkseid had done, who he killed and how he brainwashed and manipulated Superman. He turned Superman against Earth.
"He made you become an enemy of Earth. A traitor of the people you protect." Itachi said, taking in the story of Superman. Itachi could see a fist from Clark tightening.
"Yeah, he did." Clark said.
Manipulation, being used for someone else's schemes, something that Itachi was very familiar with.
"I guess you know what that's like don't you?" Clark noticed Itachi's troubled look, and he remembered his story with Danzo.
"Different cause, but same pain." Itachi said, looking to the side.
"But I won't let that happen to me again." Clark assured. "And it's nice to meet other people like me."
"Smallville? That you? " A woman's voice called Clark from the entrance of diner. Clark saw Lois Lane approaching their table.
"Lois? I thought you were at the Planet? Especially with the new heroes from that uh league group." Clark asked.
"Smallville you do know its lunch break for everyone don't you?" Lois stood at their table, Itachi looking at her recognised her as the woman he saved from the burning car when he had first arrived here and when the invasion occurred.
"Since when does a lunch break stop you?" Clark asked.
"You're going to introduce me to your friend here?" Lois asked Clark as she sat next to him, checking the Uchiha out top to bottom.
"Oh right. Lois Lane, this is Itachi Uchiha. Itachi Uchiha, this is Lois Lane." Clark introduced the two to each other.
"Nice to meet you." Itachi greeted with a small nod.
"You too." Lois held her hand out, and Itachi got his hand out to shake her hand. A greeting that he had to learn in the first few days he was here.
"So what's the story here Smallville? Want to fill me in?" Lois nudged Clark in the shoulder.
"Oh uh well…" Clark tried to come up with a story, "Itachi here, is my uh pen pal, uh yeah from Japan."
"Oh?" Lois raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious now, "I didn't know you were one to venture out internationally Smallville. And Japan of all places."
"Well Itachi decided he wanted to see what Metropolis is like, and now here he is." Clark smiled as his cover story worked.
Itachi played along, "I was from a village and I wanted to see what this place was, it's um very bright here."
Lois could not help but chuckle. "So we have Itachi, village boy from Japan meeting Clark, a village boy in the US. What are the chances?"
Clark shared a nervous chuckle but Itachi remained composed with his straight face. The Justice League, particularly Flash and Superman have talked to him about the country Japan, and that his language is for some reason exactly the same there.
"Let me guess." Lois teased pointing at Clark and Itachi, "You two are teaching each other languages too."
"Kind of." Itachi answered.
"And I'm betting Clark is struggling in Japanese." Lois had a smirk at the corner of her mouth eyeballing Clark.
"I'm not that bad a student I'd say. Just one step at a time." Clark said, adjusting his tie. "Besides, we agreed that it's more important for Itachi to be learning English instead."
"Right sure." Lois teased him again.
"Look Lois, don't you have to get back to the Planet for some news coverage before Angela beats you to it?" Clark said, starting to frown a little.
"Alright easy Smallville, I'll leave you two to catch up." Lois held her hands up in playful defense, "Enjoy Metropolis, perhaps we'll all meet up again Uchiha." Lois stood up from her seat.
"Perhaps we will." Itachi politely said. And with that, Lois waved them goodbye and left.
After lunch had passed the sun was setting turning the sky orange, Itachi was in his Edo Tensei robe, grey shirt and pants, and his sandals, standing on the roof of Clark's apartment. He had the robe's hood covering his head as he observed the city from above.
It was still a sight to behold for him, buildings built up to such heights, without the use of chakra or any form of Jutsu.
A tone sounded off in his earpiece and he brought a finger up to tap on it.
"Itachi." He heard the voice.
"Batman." Itachi answered.
"I need you to track down Wonder Woman. Superman will be joining the search." Batman said over the comm. "According to last known coordinates on Javelin seven, she could be somewhere near Metropolis Natural History Museum."
"Is something wrong Batman?"
"Wonder Woman asked me to investigate on someone named Felix Faust, while I investigate on that person, I need you to find out what Wonder Woman is up to." Batman explained.
"Hai." Itachi got his finger off his ear. Concentrating chakra in his feet, Itachi leaped off the roof, soaring across the street from above to another roof. Itachi was heading towards to the Natural History Museum.
"Itachi." He heard someone calling him from above, looking up Superman was flying over him.
"You heard from Batman?" Superman asked.
"Yes." Itachi answered. The two made their way down to the museum.
Soon after a fair distance, the two stopped on a rooftop. Both looking down at the museum from above with the Metropolis Park behind it.
And the top of the museum already had a caved-in giant hole, and the sound of a battle could be heard inside, the sound of pounding on concrete.
"Let's get in there." Superman said and flew in there, with Itachi jumping off the edge following him. The two went into the entrance that was made in the museum's roof. Itachi looked around him, all the mess that was made in the building. Exhibits turned to dust, glass scattered across the floor, and a giant gold stone statue broken in pieces.
There was Diana in the middle, a little scathed but still standing. And she was holding a stone artefact of some sort.
"Diana." Itachi called her.
Superman then asked, "What are you doing? What's going on?"
Diana was looking agitated, "This is not your concern Superman, Itachi."
"When my friend starts tearing apart museums, it becomes my concern." Superman said sounding a little more firm. "I've called the others already."
Diana sighed, she was going to have to explain herself now.
On another rooftop, the Justice League assembled. Wonder Woman, Superman, Flash, J'onn, and Itachi. Wonder Woman explained to them what had happened to Themyscira, how Felix has taken all the residents there hostage in stone, and that she has to recover specific artefacts to save them.
"And you trust this Faust." Itachi said stoically.
"Of course I don't Itachi, but what other choice do I have?" Diana said with crossed arms.
"I say we go and kick this Felix guy's ass instead." Flash declared.
"No. Men are forbidden to step foot on Themyscira." Wonder Woman objected to the Flash's plan.
"Well does that include those two?" Flash pointed at Superman and J'onn. "Cause technically they are aliens, no offence."
Itachi had to think about that comment too, because if they were to get technical, Itachi was an alien to this Earth as well.
"Well, no males are allowed to go to Themyscira." Wonder Woman said.
"Well somebody should have told this Felix guy." Flash added.
"It would seem we left with one option." J'onn said. "We'll have to help you." Everyone agreed.
"Wait." Everyone turned to the Uchiha who spoke out. "What so special about these artefacts?"
"I am not certain. But I have to collect them to save my sisters." Wonder Woman said.
"And what will Faust do the artefacts? Will not be for good use." Itachi added more.
"I don't know. But I have to do this." Wonder Woman stepped forward, she was getting a little stressed by the doubts Itachi made. "There's not a whole lot of time left, and if I don't deliver my sisters stay petrified Itachi."
Itachi was aware that there not much of an alternate solution. He nor the others knew the full extent of the situation, he would have to play along with the schemes made by this Felix Faust for now.
"Alright. Let's go." Itachi gave in.
Superman and Itachi followed Wonder Woman while she was using a magical shard given by Faust to track down the relics. The Uchiha was leaping across the rooftops, with his Sharingan activated he was keeping track with the two flying up above.
Superman and Wonder Woman flew over a Metro Mall sign, which was where they were going. Itachi followed leaping great bounds across the roof.
Superman and Wonder Woman landed at the entrance of the mall and Itachi caught up with them. Together they entered in.
Itachi turned his head in every direction, seeing the vastness in the shopping mall.
"What is this place some kind of temple?" Wonder Woman asked, tracking the relic with the glowing shard in her hand.
"Yes for those who worship their credit card." Superman remarked. Itachi has heard of credit cards in his time on this Earth before, but he still did not know what it was other than it was some form of payment. Back in his world, the only thing of monetary value was cold hard cash, simple and unsophisticated. Yet here things were so complicated.
Superman was looking at his feet like he was focusing hard on something.
"There it is, I see it." Superman pointed. Spinning fast like a drill, Superman burrowed into the ground. Drilling a hole through the floor he emerged with the relic in his hand, a stone carving of sorts to Itachi.
"Why would it be buried here?" Wonder Woman asked.
"I don't know. It seems to be here a very, very long time." Superman handed it to her.
"It could be trapped, you might want to get it away from us." Itachi standing a little further from them said.
Before Wonder Woman could do so suddenly on the top of the relic came a blindly flash of light. Stunning everyone, Superman Wonder Woman and Itachi.
Itachi stepped back with one arm raised to shield his eyes. His face scrunched up for a second before he opened his eyes again.
He grunted in annoyance as the dazzle in his vision soon disappeared. But however what was in his view, instead of what were supposed to be Superman and Wonder Woman, were two grotesque creature, demonic wings on their backs, serpent tongues swirling in their mouths, reptilian feet and tails, and scaly all over.
"What?" Itachi was taken aback admittedly. He immediately turned on his Sharingan ready to battle, however with his Sharingan on Superman and Wonder Woman came back into view.
"What?" Itachi's eyes squinted in suspicion. "Genjutsu?"
And they were looking equally shocked and surprised, like they have just seen a monster.
Wonder Woman shouted at Superman and Itachi. "You monsters! What have you done to Superman and Itachi?!"
"Diana, it's me Itachi." The Uchiha said, raising his voice a little trying to get through to her.
"Answer me monsters!" Wonder Woman shouted, she could not hear Itachi.
"What are these things? Diana? Itachi? Where are you guys?!" Superman called out, looking just as surprised as Itachi.
"Superman, it's me." Itachi emphasised again, and again to no avail.
Itachi shifted his feet to prepare himself should any of them tried anything. Wonder Woman gritted her teeth lunged at Itachi. He side flipped and dodged her attack, he jumped back further making more distance away. Wonder Woman following her attack immediately turned in her flight, but straight for Superman.
The two powerhouses charged at each other, pulling their hands back.
Fists smashed into each other faces, knocking both of them back away. Itachi felt the incredible force from the impact those fists made.
Wonder Woman flew into a ladies clothes store, Superman crashed into the book shop.
If they could not see that it was actually Itachi, he suspected they were seeing the same thing Itachi was seeing before he cleared his view with the Sharingan. Itachi had to stop the both of them, while avoiding their incredible power. He was going to have get them to see his eyes so he could clear out whatever illusion they seemed to have been affected with.
Two problems, they were his comrades, and they were stronger than him.
Wonder Woman stepped out of the ladies clothes shop she crashed into, throwing away the bra that was sitting on her head. Superman flew out of the bookstore.
Itachi turned on his Mangekyou Sharingan. "This is going to be a hindrance."
The two powerhouses took flight charging for each other. A pair of large skeletal red glowing hands snagged the both of them, trying to hold them tight. Itachi shielded in his Susanoo ribcage had his Susanoo skeletal arms holding Superman and Wonder Woman.
And instantly he felt the immense strength from the two as he tried to hold them still. Itachi chose to free Superman first. The Man of Steel gripped the Susanoo hand holding him, try to pry it free off him. And Itachi was actually struggling to hold him down.
Itachi was feeling a Kryptonian's strength first hand, literally.
He had only seconds before Superman broke free. He pulled Superman closer, forcing him to look him in the eyes. Superman in his view, finally saw the pair of red eyes in the reptilian monster he thought he was fighting. Immediately, he saw Itachi again in his Susanoo. Itachi released him after he cleared his view.
"W-What? Itachi? That you?" Superman blinked his eyes and shook his head.
Unfortunately for Itachi, his other captive immediately brought her hands together and hammered the skeletal wrist holding her.
Itachi could feel that Amazon strength despite it being the Susanoo hand that was holding her. She smashed it again, and she had already made hairline cracks on skeletal wrists.
"Unhand me demon!" Wonder Woman grabbed the skeletal hand holding her, and yanked it hard. Itachi was pulled right towards Wonder Woman, soaring into her direction.
Wonder Woman still bounded by the Susanoo's wrist was bringing her legs up to deliver a kick to Itachi.
Itachi was going to twist his body to dodge her attack. However a blur red and blue sped in between the two. Superman grabbed the Susanoo's rib to stop Itachi, and caught Wonder Woman's legs blocking her kick.
"Now Itachi!" Superman called. Itachi looked at Wonder Woman in the eye, and his Sharingan flashed red.
Now Wonder Woman blinked several times, shaking her head.
"Wait huh?" Wonder Woman muttered, seeing her friends returned she calmed down.
"We were under an illusion. Itachi freed us from it." Superman explained.
Itachi released her and his Susanoo disappeared, his onyx eyes returned. He messaged his eyebrow, easing the strain in his eyes. "Are you ok?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I'm truly sorry you two. I hope I didn't hurt you too much." Wonder Woman apologised.
"Well let's just say I'm glad we are on the same side." Superman rubbed his chin, though it did not really hurt anymore.
"What kind of horror have we unleashed?" Wonder Woman turned to the fallen relic.
Itachi took off the Edo Tensei robe and covered the relic with it. Picking it up, Itachi turned to Diana with a frown.
"Need to strategize this." He said. "Do we know what we're up against? This thing had a trap and that means that these relics are not safe. Do we know if Flash and J'onn are ok?"
Hearing Itachi, Superman turned his comms. "Flash, J'onn can you hear me?"
"We're ok." Flash answered. "We have our relic from that Aztec pyramid but we just had to put down some big fire breathing snake. I mean huge, like storeys tall. But we got it covered."
"Itachi." The Uchiha then heard Batman in his own comms. "I've dug up something on Felix Faust, you all better come here a take a look. I'm sending you the location on the Javelin."
Later, the Justice League save for Hawkgirl and Green Lantern had gathered in Felix Faust's apartment. And this room was filled with bookshelves, stone figurines and carvings, and all other sorts of mysterious items.
Everyone was inspecting the objects littered in the apartment. Flash then said, "Where did he get all this stuff? Warlock's R Us?"
He was about to pick up a staff, but Itachi moved in he grabbed his hand, "Should not touch anything."
"We don't know what kind of powers we're dealing with." Batman added.
"So who is this Faust?" Superman then asked.
"Felix Faust was a professor in archaeology." Batman showed a photo of the professor to them, "But when he became fascinated with the mystic arts, he was kicked out of his university for his erratic ideas. He swore revenge on those who mocked him, several months later he was removed from the university, those people disappeared with unexplained reasons."
Wonder Woman turned to see three stone faces mounted on the wall. "I think I know what happened to them."
"Oh gross. God." Flash cringed at the sight.
"It gets worse." Batman said, holding a book. "I've found his journal. His latest entries speak about Tartarus."
"Tartarus?" Itachi raised an eyebrow.
Wonder Woman was now looking worried. "The pit of lost souls."
"Isn't that just a myth?" Superman said.
"If only it were." Wonder Woman sighed. She began explaining to them about her Hippolyta, her relationship with Hades, the war between Olympian gods and titans, Hades' banishment into the pit of lost souls, and Hippolyta was charged to guard the gate with the key was split and scattered across the world.
"So these relics we were gathering were the key this whole time." J'onn said.
"You knew this?" Itachi eyed Diana, but she did not answer.
"What you think Felix wants with this key anyway?" Flash asked.
"He intends to use it." Batman gave the grim answer, putting the relic pieces together, holding the key.
Itachi while composed, inside he was feeling somewhat horrid. Fighting shinobis, aliens, monsters and extraordinary men was one thing. But he had absolutely no intentions in battling with a God, one who resides in what is essentially an actual hell. He highly doubted that his Jutsus will do much to a God. If there was any way to avoid that he would take it.
"Where is this gate?" J'onn asked the Amazon.
"Beneath Themyscira." She answered.
Reaching to the conclusion Superman said to Wonder Woman, "Diana you can't give him the key."
"If I don't, my sisters will stay petrified." Diana stressed again.
"And if you do, Faust and Hades will release hell on Earth." Batman said.
"What are we going to do then?" J'onn asked them all.
Wonder Woman lowered her head, defeated to think of any plan.
"How did Faust petrify your sisters?" Itachi broke the silence.
"He was using a Medusa medallion." Diana said.
"If we take it away from him, will it save your sisters?"
"But only Faust knows the spell to undo the magic." J'onn said.
"Faust's enchantment can only last as long as he willed it." Itachi said. "So-"
"(I know what you're thinking.)" Batman interrupted him and gave him a glare, "(No killing.)"
Itachi eyeballed Batman, "(Genjutsu.)"
"You don't even know the spell or any form of magic, how do you intend to trick him into reverse the spell?" Batman's eyes narrowed.
"So we just have to force him to undo the spell, or render him unable to will it." Wonder Woman said.
"I think I can do that." Itachi's Sharingan glimmered.
In Themyscira, Diana flew straight for the centre temple where Felix Faust was waiting for her to return. Hippolyta was looking mortified and she was in stone, along with her Amazon sisters.
"Faust." Diana flew into the temple.
"You've returned. With hours to spare, I'm impressed." Felix said. "Have you got the relics?"
Wonder Woman holding the key held it out. "First, free my mother."
"Ah yes of course." Felix conjured the medusa medallion. "Raves vitae!"
After a couple of seconds, what was stone magically turned back into skin, Hippolyta dazed came back.
"Diana?" Hippolyta groaned.
"Mother." Diana helped her mother up.
"At last." Felix Faust held the key over his head, "After three thousand years. The key is finally complete."
Hippolyta dreaded, "Diana you didn't."
Felix had a sinister grin, "Thank you for your assistance, but now that no longer require your aid." He summoned the medallion again, "Effro bachi-"
Flash sped in and snatched the medallion out of his hands before could finish the incantation. "You're not the only one with an ace up your sleeve."
Batman glided down above, giving a hard kick in Felix's chest, knocking him off his feet.
"You brought men here?" Hippolyta was appalled by Diana.
Ignoring her, Batman advanced on Felix who was still holding the key. "Did you really think she would trust scum like you?"
Superman and J'onn flew in from both side. "It's over Faust just come quietly." Superman said.
"Never!" Fuast retaliated, pink magical orbs formed in his hands, firing at them. The three heroes leapt back dodging those projectiles.
Superman was not so lucky when a magical bolt knocked him into a pillar. Flash was speeding straight for Faust, the sorcerer summoned a wall of rock, causing Flash to crash into it.
Felix picked up the key and made a run for it. He did not get far when Batman fired a cable with his grapnel coiling him up with him.
Wonder Woman supported him throwing her lasso ensnaring Felix as well.
Felix smirked grabbing the cable and lasso, lightning channelled through heading for Batman and Diana. Seeing it Batman dropped his gadget and back flipped away from it, Diana unfortunately got zapped and was knocked into the ground.
Felix attempted to flee to the exit with the key again, only this time the key decided to be no more. In a puff of smoke, Itachi caught Felix in utter surprise.
Felix gasped, "What-"
Itachi did not waste any time, grabbing Felix's shoulder, he pulled Faust off his feet hard and slammed him down on the ground knocking the air out of his lungs.
Itachi stomped a foot on Felix's chest, and Felix let out a cry of pain. In agony Faust looked up at Itachi, gazing into his red glowing Mangekyou Sharingan.
"Taste of your own magic Faust." Itachi stoically said.
Suddenly Felix's legs started to become very stiff, he could not feel them at all. Muscles immobilised, the blood in his legs flowed no more. He looked at his legs and his eyes show his fear, his legs were turning into wood, and his body turning into wood as well.
"W-What in the name of! What is this sorcery!?" Felix shouted.
"My kind." Itachi answered. "You were going to use the key to open Tartarus."
"Argh! My lord's will be done. I shall free him from Tartarus and in his gratitude he shall grant ultimate knowledge." Felix spat.
"Striking a deal with a demon, common sense has escaped you in your thirst for knowledge." Itachi leered. "He would kill you instead."
"You will free the women on this island." Itachi then commanded.
"Hades shall rise." Felix said.
"Not this day." Itachi scowled.
Felix's hand turned into wood now. "No! No!"
"Undo the spell Faust."
"Y-Your eyes. They are the magic aren't they?" Felix snarled, his neck turned into wood at that point.
"Undo the spell now." Itachi commanded again not answering the question, lifting his leg up and he stomped on him again. Felix smelt burning wood, he looked at his feet and they had ignited somehow, and the flame was rising up in his body.
Now he was freaking out. "No! You are aan n abomination! You dare!"
"This stops when you free Themyscira. Or it will last forever." Itachi said, his cold stoic face just added the intimidation. The flames from Faust's legs rose up to his chest.
"I…I-I submit! I submit! Spare me please!" Felix finally gave in. Itachi gestured the Flash to toss the medallion to him. Everyone was watching Itachi with his leg pressing down on a paralysed Felix Faust, and Faust was panicking and freaking out. The sun was already rising from the horizon, its light peeking into the temple.
Flash tossed the medallion and Itachi caught it whilst staring down at Felix. Itachi showed the medallion to Felix. "Release the spell now Faust."
Felix gave in, not going to take the chance if Itachi turned his whole body into permanent wood in his eyes. He spoke the incantation as the sun shined on Themyscira.
Soon the medallion glowed yellow, turning into a bright ball of burning light. Itachi dropped the medallion as it light continued to shine until it became nothing.
Diana flew up, out of the temple seeing her sisters soon becoming free of their bound, their cold stone figure turning back into life. "It's working Itachi."
Everyone was freed from their petrified state, all because Felix Faust trembled before the Uchiha.
Itachi kicked Felix's in the chin, knocking him out.
"It's done." Itachi said. Felix Faust laid there whilst knocked out, also looked catatonic somehow. Batman observing Itachi's power just by looking at an enemy in the eye, putting them into such a state. There was a mixture of disapproval and caution behind the look Batman was giving him. But there was also relief, knowing that Itachi was on their side to fight the good fight.
"Where is the real key then?" Hippolyta asked Itachi. J'onn phased back into temple from above the ceiling, holding the key.
"In the Javelin this whole time." He said.
"I will to it that it will be never be used, ever." Hippolyta took the key from him.
The sun shined brightly across the Themyscira, Paradise Island had returned.
The Javelin was parked on the calm beach. Felix Faust was paralysed in the jet to be taken in by the authorities. A clone from Itachi was watching over him.
The Justice League was assembled and Hippolyta on a throne outside the temple they had just fought in.
Diana stood next to her mother while the Flash, J'onn, Superman, Itachi and Batman stood in a row before Hippolyta.
"And for your brave assistance against the sorcerer Felix Faust and preventing the return of the mad god Hades, you have earned our eternal gratitude.
Taking in the sight of Themyscira, the warrior women surrounding the League, and learning that there are more Gods out there than just the Sage, things just got bigger for Itachi, again.
"Before you leave," Hippolyta said, "Please accept these royal offerings."
Wonder Woman went to give Superman a golden tiara, other ladies in white clothing came forward to give the other league members a golden tiara of their own.
A show of gratitude, something Itachi had little to no experience of when he was back in his world, expectedly so.
"Diana, Princess of Themyscira. Stand forth." The queen said and Diana bowed.
"As your mother, I am overjoyed that you have finally returned to us." Her smile quickly turned into a stern look, "But as your queen I am obliged to uphold the laws of Themyscira. And in bringing these outsiders to our island, our home, you have broken our most scared law. This cannot be overlooked."
Diana got shocked, "But mother-"
Hippolyta raised her hand to silence her and she stood up, "Diana I have no choice. It is with a heavy heart that I must exile you from Themyscira."
Diana's jaw dropped. Superman spoke out, "What?"
Itachi, his face hidden in the hood. His eyes narrowed hearing what he just heard.
"What? You can't do that." Flash stepped up, "She risked her life to save you, to save all of you." He was met with spear pointing at him for that by the Amazons present.
"Please, she did this because she loves you." Superman tried to reason. "You can't punish her for that."
"No." Diana sadly said. "Mother's right, I did break the law and I humbly accept your judgement. The fates were against us mother."
She walked away to the jet, Superman and J'onn followed. Flash was not giving in, "That's it? You're just going to walk away? But this isn't right."
Batman harshly whispered to him, "Don't make this harder than it already is." And he got Flash to walk away.
Itachi hanging back had not turn to walk away yet, he looked up at Hippolyta. She could see his red eyes.
"(Doing the worst things possible, to protect your people and their home. Even across a universe this is not uncommon.)" He said before turning to leave with the League. Hippolyta could only assumed that he was not insulting her with a foreign language.
Diana went up the Javelin first, the clone dispersed itself. J'onn, Superman and Flash went up the jet. Batman turned and waited for Itachi to join him.
"(What you did to Faust with your genjutsu, I hope it's not permanent.)" He said.
"(Shouldn't be. Is there a problem?)" Itachi asked.
"(No.)"
"(I'm aware of your concern Batman. I'm not going to do what I did in my world. Trust me when I say I'm trying to follow your example, everyone's example.)" Itachi said looking at Batman in the eye with his own onyx ones.
Batman merely nodded and went up the jet with Itachi following.
Batman and Superman were in the front taking control of the jet, J'onn and Flash were sitting behind them.
At the back there was Diana sitting in the corner seat, head down and despondent.
"Going against loved ones, to save the world. And loved ones resenting for that. All we can do, is hold onto our love for them." She turned seeing Itachi, his eyes looked troubled and sympathetic.
"I can understand." He said.
"Really?" She asked, puzzled.
Itachi said no more, and joined Superman and Batman at the front.
Disclosing his past to Superman and Batman was enough, he did not want to risk anymore despite Diana had just experienced a similar fate. While at least he was no longer alone in his pain and solitude, it did not help to ease it much.
Yeah, Itachi didn't get to see Hades, and I thought that he would try to avoid that in the first place, just get Felix to free the Amazons and that's it. I did consider that Felix might be able to break the genjutsu with magic but decided it against it thinking that Felix is that magically gifted yet. I wonder if I should change this though.
I would say much more magically powerful foe is going to big problem for Itachi.
Thank you for reading this chapter, hope to see you in the next one.
