And The Beast Cometh

Chapter 12:

And Death Will Cleanse The Soul

"So what happened," Bruce asked Nightwing.

The two of them were currently sitting in the medical bay in Titan's Tower surrounded by Nightwing's entire team, each in their own bed. Dick Grayson sighed, he hated being in the hospital bed, and he hate the fact that his mentor had to see him laid up like this. "Of course he would show up when I'm injured. Not when we are actually doing good for the city," Nightwing thought before answering his old mentor.

"Bank robbery that turned into more than we bargained for," Nightwing began retelling the tale of how his entire team, from the crazy intelligent cybernetic teen Victor Stone aka Cyborg; to the overly joyous and powerful alien from Tamaran Starfire, would up in the infirmary.

"Titans, go!" Nightwing shouted while throwing a set of freeze birdarangs at the trio of villains known as Plasmas, Cinderblock, and Overload.

"Why are they robbing the bank boyfriend Nightwing," Starfire asked while sending down a hail of starbolts from her position in the air above the trio. "

Cause they are villains Star! What other reason do they need," Beastboy answered before transforming into a rhino and charging Cinderblock, hoping to knock him down.

"Starfire's right to question their motivation Beastboy," Nightwing said while dodging toxic waste being spit at him from Plasmas, "this isn't their normal MO." Glancing to his left Nightwing saw that Cyborg was in position, and pulled an explosive disk from his utility belt. Quickling dodging another round of toxic waste, Nightwing hurled the explosive into the ooze monster. It landed center mass into his chest, and once in place Cyborg let loose with his sonic cannon. The following explosion and vibrations blowing the toxic waste of the ooze monster and leaving behind a sleeping man in its place.

Running quickly Nightwing was able to secure a set of noise cancelling earphones on his head, to stop the monster from coming out once more. "Where do you even put those? I mean come on man! There is not a spot on that belt for those headphones," Cyborg questioned and ranted to his teammate and leader.

Nightwing just smiled before tapping an open spot on his utility belt, "bat-collapsible-noise-cancelling headphones. Never leave home without em."

Cyborg sighed before aiming his cannon at Overload and firing to draw him into Raven's trap, "we seriously need to have a discussion on your weird obsession with being prepared man."

"I agree with friend Cyborg, boyfriend Nightwing, heyah!" Starfire said before dropping a flying ax kick into Cinderblock's head and sending him stumbling into the ground before a large green gorilla started to pound him. By this time Raven had already sprung the trap on their third opponent. Using dark energy she ripped the pipes from the walls and poured water onto the electric computerized monster, leaving only a sparking chip in it's wake.

The team gathered after Beast Boy placed a warped steel girder around Cinderblock to stop him from moving. "Well that was easy," Beast Boy said getting a high five from Cyborg.

"It's cause we're awesome man! No one can beat the Titans," Cyborg bragged while giving off a little dance, causing Starfire to smile wide and Raven to crack a ghost of a smile. "

No," Nightwing said causing the other's mood to drop, "we are just use to dealing with them now. They have become predictable and easy to deal with."

"Man," Beast Boy said giving off a large sigh, "way to throw a dead cat into a party Nightwing!"

Without bothering his teammate with a response, the ex-boywonder approach Cinderblock to begin his interrogation. "Why did you target the bank stone head," Nightwing demanded cause Cinderblock to smirk. Which of course caused Nightwing's unmanaged anger issues to rear their head. Slipping his hands into his belt once more Nightwing produced a set of brass knuckles painted black with blue birds on the knuckles themselves to match his costume. "I won't ask again," he said bringing his arm back ready to throw a devastating punch to the meta-human.

"Merely to draw your attention Nightwing," a familiarly cold voice rung out from the second floor of Jump City National Bank. The entire team turned almost as one to see Slade standing at the second floor railing with his arms behind his back; however instead of the black and grey uniform with black and bronze mask. Slade stood before them in a solid black suit, with body armor in more places than before. Bronze shoulder pads connected ammo belts running across his chest, as well as a special rifle and broadsword crossed across his back. He had three guns none of the team had ever seen strapped to his belt, along with two more holstered on his thighs. The only thing that reminded them of who this was happened to be his iconic black and bronze mask and the cold colus voice behind it.

"It has been far too long Titans," Slade began speaking down to them both figuratively and literally. "And I must say I am impressed. Even being use to dealing with those three, you still took them down faster than even I predicted." Each Titan was starting to think of a plan to assist the other, but they all knew Nightwing was going to be a big problem in the coming fight. His issues with Slade would once more rear their heads and they would be in trouble.

"But enough chatting," Slade said smirking under his mask, "let's have some fun." Bringing his arms to the front Slade released a set of black balls, similar to what Nightwing and Batman use for explosives. And true to the similarities the handful of powerful yet small grenades exploded causing the Titans to scatter and covering the bottom floor in smoke.

"Don't let him catch you alone," Nightwing yelled out to his team, drawing two batons from his calf holsters and slamming them together creating a bo-staff. Starfire found him first along with Cyborg and Raven, however the four noticed a distinct lack of a green shape shifter nearby.

"Friend Beast Boy," Starfire asked cautiously into the smoke, only for a green blur to come flying at them. Their teammate in question to land on the ground unconscious, in a heap with both arms bent at unnatural angles.

"Then again," Slade's voice rang out from all around them, "I expected him to last longer. Hopefully the rest of you won't disappoint me." The other four tensed waiting for an attack, Cyborg had his sonic cannon poised for a blast facing one direction, Raven had dark energy covering her hands facing another directing, while Starfire had a green energy covering hers facing a third direction, and Nightwing taking a protective stance with his bo-staff over Beast Boy facing a fourth direction. Before they knew it the mercenary descended upon them, this time with intent to kill. Which was evident by the sword that removed Cyborg's arm from behind in the first few seconds of attack.

"Shit," the metal Titan cried out in surprises and slight pain to losing the mostly artificial limb. The others not expecting him to land in the middle of their formation had to turn before they could retaliate. Against a normal villain the Titans' reaction time would have caught the villain by surprise and the battle over, but this wasn't just a normal villain. This was Deathstroke the Terminator, world class assassin and mercenary, and considered the best by all.

Moving at his newly enhanced speed, Slade spun on the balls of his feet and into a diagonal cut against Nightwing. Blade and bo meeting in the middle between the two expert martial artists with a resounding clang, before to Nightwing's amazement, his bo was cut in half. Reacting instead of thinking Nightwing leaned to the right to avoid Slade's blade but found himself being propelled backwards by an quick and precise energy blast.

Rolling with the blast Nightwing was able to right himself just in time to see Raven get slapped with some kind of goo over her mouth, effectively cutting off her powers. Knowing that Starfire possessed a very powerful fighting style and frame Nightwing held back for a minute to ascertain what Slade was playing at this time. "He's gotten faster, and stronger," Nightwing thought while watching him and Starfire duke it out, while Raven and Cyborg got Beast Boy and retreated to some relative cover. "And he's never come at us with guns before, or the sword. Plus I have no idea where that energy blast came from. Normally he would fight me on the same level, but this is different. What is your game," Nightwing questioned mentally before narrowing his eyes.

Nightwing saw Slade move in on his girlfriends unguarded side, her focus destroyed when Slade managed to grab hold of one of her legs and break it at the knee. Moving the pieces of his bo-staff to his right hand, Nightwing grabbed a set of birdarangs with his left. Running forward he hurled them at the mercenary causing the masked man to break contact with Starfire. The gap was all Nightwing needed before he re-engaged Slade, spinning the two batons in his right hand he began his attack.

Slade dodged the first horizontal swing by Nightwing by backpedaling. He ducked under the return swing, Nightwing's batons in each hand now going in an arcing motion from the center of his body out. And that was the perfect opening for Slade counter attack; moving with greater speed than Nightwing remembered Slade stuck a devastating open palm thrust to the ex-boywonder's chest. Hearing a satisfying crack, signalling the breaking of a rib, Slade continued the counter.

Changing his grip on the blade to a reverse hold, Slade brought the hilt of the sword into Nightwing's jaw, once more hearing a satisfying crack. Before bringing the blade upwards and into the blue and black hero. Thanks to all the training from Batman, and a more armored suit Nightwing was able to pull back with only a minor gash running up his body. "Well Titans," Slade said sheathing the sword on his back, "I expected better. But then again, you aren't my real target."

That caused the four conscious member's eyes to widen. Slade began to walk away before turning to face them once more, "tell Shinobi I will be seeing him soon." Three of the members gave each other questioning looks while Raven glared at the mercenary who was leaving.

"And he just left after that," Nightwing said finishing up the recap of his team's battle with Slade. "Who is Shinobi," Nightwing asked his old mentor after a few minutes of silence. Batman stared long and hard at Nightwing before rising from the chair next to him and pulling a dossier from behind his back and tossed it onto Nightwings bed.

Raising an eyebrow Nightwing look down at the manilla folder before opening it and skimming through it, "your entire team is lucky to be alive. You may have had confrontations with Slade before; however he was merely testing you. He never came after your team with the intent to kill, and you didn't do your homework. Otherwise after you first meeting with him you'd have contacted me, regardless of our differences."

Nightwing's teammates eyes were wide at Batman's statement while the ex-boywonder felt ashamed and angry. Nightwing looked up from the dossier with a hard glare before throwing the folder at Bruce, "there's information on his battles with us in here! How dare you criticize my lack of requesting help when you could have sent us this information! You never change! Your an overbearing ass that has to have his way!"

Nightwing's teammates were confused by their leaders reaction. Sure they knew he had a falling out with Batman, the only human on earth to scare pretty much every villain. But this was something else entirely to them. However Batman remained unfazed by his proteges attitude, having expected this reaction from him.

"Or," Bruce began, his tone softening as he spoke, "I respected your wish to be on your own. You are nineteen Nightwing. You have been on your own since you graduated, and we were at odds even before that." Bruce walked forward and placed a hand on his surrogate son's shoulder, "that never meant I stopped caring. I will not apologize for the past, or anything I might do in the future. The war on crime and injustice is a difficult one that requires hard decisions. Some I am going to have to make shortly that I will hate, but we can never doubt our resolve. As individuals with no powers to speak of; we get stuck making the hard choices. The choices that would keep Superman or Wonder Woman up all night with questions about what is right and wrong. Remember it is not who we are underneath, but what we do that defines us."

Removing the hand Batman began to leave the infirmary but was stopped by Dick calling out to him, "who is Shinobi?"

Glancing back at Dick one last time Bruce sighed before leaving without answering. When the door shut behind him, Dick let out a sigh of his own, "guess he is playing this close to his chest...again."

Raven, who had been struggling with the hand held laser to free the goop off her mouth finally spoke, "Shinobi is a new member of the Justice League that Slade has targeted."

"Friend Raven," Starfire said with glee before zooming from her bed and grasping her blue clad friend, "you can speak once more! Splendid news! I shall make the cake of happiness!"

Raven sighed before prying herself out of Starfire's grip, "why couldn't he have broken one of your arms," Raven quietly mumbled to herself before looking at Nightwing. "He stopped in the other night to speak with me about Slade. But instead of asking about him directly, he asked how he came into service with my father."

"And," Nightwing asked with a raised eyebrow, wanting as much information as possible.

"And nothing," Raven responded, "we never bothered to find out how he came into service with my father. He asked a few more questions and then left."

Nightwing nodded before turning to face the wall, trying to process everything that he had learned today. "Not only did Bruce have a complete dossier on Slade, he even knew that Red-X is his son! Damn it! No matter how much I try to improve, no matter how much I try to show I am just as good as he is; he sweeps in here and takes me to school like I just started the hero game."

Memories surface of him learning under Bruce in the Batcave before and after officially becoming the first Robin. Smirking to himself Nightwing looks to his smiling alien girlfriend Starfire, "school me all you want old man. I may never be as good as you once were, but I think I'll be ok."

"Titans," Nightwing says calmly drawing their attention, "I think it's time we change something up around here."

Cyborg and Raven both smirk, while Starfire smiles in support of her boyfriend. Beast Boy just looks on with a confused face, "change what up?"

Naruto was currently resting on the sands at the oasis that the Tower of Fate resided on. He was on the far side of the natural spring, he had his traveling pack next to him with a canteen in his right hand. He was certainly a sight to see as he was currently wearing just his multi pocket black shinobi pants with the ankles taped up and his shinobi sandals. His shirt lay on top of his pack, long forgotten in the heat of the desert. His tan muscled skin was dripping with sweat and covered in the smooth sand of the desert.

"So," Kurama began, amusement clearly in his voice, "you still manage to look like a drunk fool wielding that blade. I mean it can't be that hard, that eyebrowless freak was able to use it with ease! Plus I thought you were giving Slade a worthy fight, which would require you to use that large piece of metal Kiri called a sword."

And sure enough planted blade first into the ground behind his head stood the Kubikirbocho in all its glory. "Shut it you furry ass hole! That thing is almost as big as I am! Everytime I try for a diagonal cut the damn sword gets stuck, and for the life of me I can't figure out how to channel chakra into the blade," Naruto responded with a mental sigh. He had heard the rumors of the blade regenerating with the iron in people's blood, and assumed that it required chakra, and therefor was made from chakra metal.

Chakra metal was easier to transfer one's chakra into, which in turn would make the sword sharper with his wind chakra. Plus with it being made from chakra metal, it would actually use less chakra than powering up one of his wind blades via kunai. But it was almost as if the sword was refusing the owner, with a final sigh Naruto closed his eyes and enjoyed the relative shade provided by the palm tree next to him.

While it looked to the casual observer that Naruto was napping, he was actually meditating. Gathering natural chakra into his body at a slow rate, attempting to heal the damage caused by Kurama's chakra. Feeling the warmth of the natural chakra spread through his system, Naruto relaxed a bit further into the warm sand enjoying his break from training.

"You can come out now," Naruto said without moving from his position. He felt the presence of someone watching him for awhile but since the presence wasn't hostile and he was only working on mastering the Kubiki he didn't bother to comment. However it was impeding his break. From behind a small gathering of palms walked a dark skinned woman dressed in light purple blouse and kahai capris.

"I apologise," she began, "I didn't mean to impede your training, or your rest. My name is Inza, I am Kent Nelson's wife, you may however know my husband as Doctor Fate."

Naruto nodded still not bothering to get up from his resting position, "anything you wanted to ask Nelson-san? Or are you spying on me for your husband's friends who don't trust me? Make sure my demon doesn't come out?"

Inza picked up on the sarcasm in Naruto's tone when regarding the demon within as such. "It is almost as if he's friends with the beast," she thought while studying him both with her eyes and abilities. Smiling she walked closer before sitting down next to the blonde haired shinobi.

"I must apologise for my husband's friends," she began slowly and softly. Almost like a mother apologising to a child. "They are only looking out for the good of the people, and the Kyuubi strikes fear to even Etrigan so they wish to be cautious. They did not mean any offence."

"I understand that," Naruto said watching clouds pass by overhead, "but being forced into the league and then questioned over and over again about my abilities is daunting. It also leaves one with a lack of trust for his allies."

"Understandable, however your deal with the demon is more than daunting the lack of trust. The Kyuubi, from what we know, is a force of nature itself. Brought to life by the reaper and empowered with the rage and hate of mankind. You wielded that power against a menace that the league took on and defeated by yourself. Your abilities are unknown and since you were forced to join the league as you said, others regard you with a lack of trust," Inza spoke to the blonde. Never once did she change her tone, she kept it soft and even. To let the young man sitting next to her know she wasn't here to argue, just explain. "Trust is a two way street."

Naruto nodded but said nothing. He knew what she was trying to do, and he felt it hard to resist. Especially with what was coming to pass with Slade. Sighing, Naruto closed his eyes before speaking once more. "True, trust is a two way street. I also can appreciate what you are doing here, but in the end I never wanted this," Inza raised an eyebrow but remained silent. "I wanted a simple life away from all of this. But once more I am thrust into the heart of battle for a world that isn't my own simply because I acted to save a few people during an attack in Metropolis."

Smiling Inza stood while speaking one last time, "if you wanted nothing to do with the league, or battling for the earth, why save those people? You had to know Superman was going to save them."

Naruto opened his eyes and turned to face her, "yeah, but it was a hostage situation and they didn't need him barging in there," Naruto tried to explain himself.

"I think that is what you are trying to tell yourself and not what the true reason was," Inza said while walking away.

Naruto stared at where she once was before looking to the sky and the words Kakashi spoke to him all those years ago on the night he first killed someone filtered into his mind. A particular sentence stood out from the rest, "We do not fight for ourselves, we fight for the village we call home and the people there who can not fight." Naruto rose from his spot in the sand with a smile on his face, "I may fight different than the league, I may have to kill once more. But then again that is my purpose."

Grabbing Kubikirbocho and ripping it from the sands it stood in before beginning a kata. The sword moved easier in his hands, finally responding to his will. "I guess in the end I did want to fight. I want to protect people, like I did before."

"And the farm? And your mate," Kurama asked, but he had a feeling he already knew the answer to both of those questions.

"The farm will remain as is. Batman has his Batcave and whatever life he lives outside the uniform, Superman has his apartment in Metropolis and his life as Clark Kent. I believe I deserve my own," Naruto said answering the first question. Finishing the kata Naruto placed Kubikirbocho back into the sand while grabbing a water bottle from his back. "As for Kara-chan, I think she will be mad. Hell she's mad now. But she understands."

Kurama smiled at his host before laying his head down and thinking to himself, "the coming fight should prove to be entertaining to say the least. But your actions may prove to throw you further into coming events than either of us truly realises. I feel another storm coming, one that might even be worse than the last."

"So with Naruto gone doing whatever it is he's doing to get ready for Slade did you wanna come to Gotham for a bit," Barbara asked Kara while getting dressed and packing for her trip back home.

"And what pray tell is in Gotham aside from work," Kara asked. "Every time I come to visit you in Gotham something major always happens. First there was that whole Livewire thing. Then there was that time during Christmas when Clayface was on a rampage, god that guy is such a sexist pig. Oh and let's not forget about the second time we had to deal with Ivy and Harley."

Barbara laughed before throwing a pillow at Kara, "the whole Livewire incident is how we met if you remember correctly. Secondly you can't sit there and tell me the other times weren't fun! You got to punch Clayface until he was pretty much batter!"

Kara smiled at that, "true, and I could use some punching therapy right now." Kara got up and started packing, which with the help of super speed didn't take very long at all. "

Crooks of Gotham beware," Barbara said while laughing at her speeding friend, "Supergirl's got some boyfriend issues and is about to take em out on you."

"Hey since you're coming with me can you just fly my car there," Barbara asked. "Cause the drive back is murder!" Kara just gave Barbara a blank stare.

"Ah," Slade said taking in the sights and smells of crime alley in Gotham crouching over the edge of a building. "It is good to be back where it all started," he commented to himself while taking in the broken down buildings, the people in disarray.

"Master Wilson, is this wise?"

Slade turned to face his long time friend and butler before turning back to what some consider the capital of crime, "no. It goes against everything. Which is why it is perfect. This will set in motion everything to come, and change the face of the world."

Standing Slade reached into a pouch on his belt grabbing a key and hard drive. "My old friend," he said handing both to Wintergreen, "take these and head back to the mansion. The hard drive will explain everything, and why I am doing this. I just ask that you do not hate me when everything is over."

Wintergreen took the items handed to him before casting one last look at Slade Wilson. "Sir!" He spoke proud before saluting, "I will do my best to see what you ask of me through to the end. But I must ask," he said after dropping the salute, "what will this change. What is going to happen?"

Sighing Slade turned to look over the decaying section of Gotham, run ramped with crime, disease, and pestilence. "The Joker once said this town deserved a better class of criminal. What followed this city, and the rest of the world no one could predict. The government continues to lose ground against them and invaders from off world. They are scared of the Justice League following the path of the other earth, and installing themselves as gods." Turning to face Wintergreen one last time he smiled underneath his mask, "you hold the key to my dream. My goals end here, but my dream, I leave to you."

Slade then black flipped off the building before pulling his grapple gun out and swinging off to his target. "You never lost sight then, Slade," Wintergreen said with a smile using the first name of his friend for the first time in 30 years.

Heading back into the osprey Wintergreen left the city of Gotham, hoping he would be able to finish what Slade had started.

"Arkham Asylum," Slade began looking up at the criminally insane prison. "You house the most twisted, evil, and sadistic criminals in Gotham; possibly the world." Looking down at the detonator in his hand he paused for a moment before pressing the button. It was quiet for a moment, until a massive explosion ripped fourth from Arkham in the maximum security section.

At the same time a crack of lightning ripped forth from the skies followed by a clash of thunder, as rain blanketed the rush of super criminals from the prison. "Come out, come out wherever you are Shinobi," Slade said with a whistle in his tone before roof hopping away.

"What the hell," Kara shouted from above the city, Barbara's car in her hands, and said redhead in it.

"What's up Kara? Something going on down there?" Barbara asked sticking her head out of the window and into the rain.

"Yeah," Kara responded, "armageddon! We need to get to Bruce's mansion you got your uniform in there?"

Barbara shouted down a yes and began to change in the flying car while Kara picked up the pace so they could figure out what was going on. Landing a few minutes later and placing Barbara's Dart on the ground, Kara quickly changed before following Barbara inside and down into the batcave.

"You know," Kara said on their walk, "this is the first time I've ever seen the actual mansion." Barbara chuckled before pulling the pendulum in the clock and opening the passageway into the batcave, "I hate to say it but it will probably be the only time you see it."

"Grumpy ass," Kara muttered her favorite nickname for Batman as the two descended into the cave. Barbara shook her head before making way into upper area of the cave where she saw Tim, Alfred, and surprisingly Diana.

"Ah, misstress Barbara," Alfred said turning to face Batgirl and smiling when he saw Kara, "and it is good to see you again miss Kara. I'm afraid we are in quite the pickle." Both greeted Alfred before turning to Tim, "how bad is it Tim?" The boy wonder turned to Barbara before typing on the batcomputer, "bad. Armageddon would describe it best."

"Called it," Kara shouted before blushing at the looks from the other four. Tim smiled slightly before turning back and pulling up different news footage and security camera's, "we have Ivy and Harley causing all kinds of problems at the Gotham Botanical Gardens, we have Killer Croc running loose at the water treatment plant, we have Mad Hatter held up in the amusement park."

"That's all," Diana asked before looking over the video feeds. Tim just sighed before pulling up the escapey list, "that's all who are causing a mess right now. We have Mr. Freeze, Anarchy, Black Mask, Bane, and Riddler unaccounted for."

"Tim stay here," Barbara said heading over to one of the old Robin bikes, "I need you to guide Diana to the Gardens to hold Ivy and Harley off and Kara to the water plant to deal with Killer Croc. I will deal with Mad Hatter. Has Bruce returned yet?"

Tim shook his head and Barbara sighed before grabbing a helmet, "those transmitters there will let Robin guide you both to your assignments." Placing the helmet on she straddles the hitting the electric start, before revving the engine and taking off into the waterfall.

"Ladies," Alfred said holding both transmitters that looked similar to their league communicators, "just place them in your ears and master Tim will be able to direct you to your targets. If you need anything from the armory it is yours to use."

"Thanks Alfred," Kara said grabbing the transmitter, "grumpy ass doesn't deserve you." Alfred smiled at the young kryptiona before handing Diana her transmitter, "he deserves more than he takes. If I remember correctly he threatened a whole planet for you my dear." Nodding she flew off alongside Diana.

"So what are you doing here in the batcave," Kara asked turning to the older heroin. "Bruce and I were going to talk further about this Project Cadmus. However he weaseled his way out of the conversation, so I informed Alfred that I would be staying until Bruce returned."

Kara blinked once, then twice, and then almost lost control of her flight pattern from laughing so hard. "Alright you two cut the chatter," Tim's voice rang through their ears. "Supergirl you need to veer left and then straight for about two miles, you will find the water treatment plant there. Wonder Woman keep heading straight, when you see a zoo under you bank right and you should see the gardens."

"Thanks Robin," Kara said before waving to Diana and speeding off. Kara arrived within minutes of Robin giving her the directions and sure enough Killer Croc was making a mess of the water treatment plant. "Ya know," she said flying down and hovering a bit over the stench of water, "I am sure others here in Gotham might enjoy clean water." Croc looked up to her and snarled before grabbing a destroyed pipe and hurling it at the flying girl. "Well that wasn't very nice," Kara said ducking under the flying pipe piece.

Continuing with her flight path she grew closer to Croc before launching a devastating uppercut to his chin, send the poor metahuman flying into the ceiling. Catching the deranged man in the air as he fell, she flipped him around until she had him by the feet. Spinning in place until she became a swirl of white, red, blue, and greenish grey.

Once she was up to speed she let go of his feet and he was sent flying into the wall. The wall dented under the force, and Killer Croc was down and out. "Oh come on!" Kara shouted, "I was hoping you'd go more than a few hits! You're Killer Croc! Tough guy and stuff. But no! You're passed out. UGH!"

Kara sighed before radioing in to Robin, "hey kiddo, Killer Croc is down. You guys seriously have problems dealing with this bozo?"

She heard a laugh on the other end of the line, "not all of us have super powers! But if you are free wrap him up in a couple of girders, I'll call the police and let them know it is safe to pick him up."

"Roger that," Kara said before grabbing a few of the destroyed girders laying about and wrapping the metahuman up. "Hmm, he might need a bit more to keep him safely tied up," she thought before sealing the girders around him with her heat vision. "Ah that oughta do it," she said smiling proudly over Croc.

"Yo Robin," Supergirl began into the transmitter, "do you know if either Wonder Woman or Batgirl are finished yet? I could use a few villains to punch."

The line was quiet for a moment before the boy wonder responded, "it looks like Batgirl has finished with Mad Hatter and is heading to the botanical gardens to back up Wonder Woman. You can head there, I'm sure Ivy has some plant monsters that could use some smashing."

"Sounds good to me I'll head there," Kara said ending the conversation and preparing to dart off into the sky. "

Leaving so soon? I went through a lot of trouble to create a distraction to get you alone," a cold voice began from the shadows. A voice she knew belonged to none other than Deathstroke.

"Thought you were after my boyfriend," she commented while looking around, not seeing the man she switched to her x ray vision.

"I am," Slade commented, once more his voice coming from everywhere. "But to draw him out, truly draw him out, I need some bait."

Kara laughed at his comment, "you think I will come willingly? You must have lost a few brain cells along the way." Kara was beginning to get nervous even though she was putting on a brave front. "He has gotten the drop on me before with kryptonite and even Batman is cautious when dealing with this prick. Now where could he be," she thought while keeping her x ray vision up and looking around trying to narrow down where he was.

"No one ever becomes bait willingly," she heard again, but was still unable to pinpoint where it came from. Suddenly she was stuck in the back by something sending her flying into the water. Slade rose from the water smiling under his mask, "that's why I brought this."

Struggling to get to a kneeling position she looked over to see him hold a strange looking gun. His hand was centered around the middle of it, a short barrel laid inside a heat dissipator on the front and it held a strange green glowing cartridge on top. "This Supergirl is a product of Lexcorp. The LX002ME multi-energy repeater, currently loaded with a kryptonite energy magazine. However it is interchangeable with other types of more volatile energy magazines."

"Bastard," Supergirl muttered now knowing why she was struggling to get up.

Slade moved forward at almost a taunting pace. "Maybe," he began, "but in the end it doesn't matter." He leveled the now labeled energy repeater at her head, "a little lesson for next time. When you are in an area with water, don't forget to check in the water too."

Slade pulled the trigger, send a second blast of kryptonite energy straight into Kara's head at point blank range. "Not enough to kill but enough to knock out," Slade said slinging the gun onto his back. "If you stopped looking at only one aspect of things Luthor you might be further along than you are now." Grabbing Kara he pulled the transmitter out of her ear along with the league communicator from her other ear.

Dropping them both into the water allowing them to be carried away with the current. Pulling the down super heroine the rest of the way out of the water, he threw her over his shoulder before making his way out of the plant and into the sewer system of Gotham.

"Thank you for the assistance sister."

"It was no problem Wonder Woman, so I take it you are staying until Batman gets back," Batgirl asked behind a blush from the older woman's praise.

Diana nodded and began to follow Batgirl to the motorcycle she was currently using, "yes. Your mentor and I still need to finish the conversation we started the other day."

"From the sounds of things you were pretty pissed off," Barbara mentioned while placing her helmet on. "

You would be too if you knew what he was doing," Diana mentioned with a frown and Barbara dropped the subject. She knew her mentor did things that pissed others off to no end, but she also knew that some of the things he did was because no one else would do them. Sometimes she truly believe he was the darkness within the light.

The ride back was quiet, all she heard was the sound of the motorcycle engine. The two arrived back to the batcave about twenty minutes later and were surprised to see Bruce back typing away at the computer. "I said I was sorry," they both heard time say to Bruce, the by wonder looking quite upset.

"And I told you it's not your fault," Bruce said again apparently. "You didn't know something was wrong until the transmitter started going in the opposite direction. And if this is who I think it is you could have changed nothing."

"What happened," Diana asked first while Barbara was putting up her equipment.

"Supergirl finished the same time as Babs," Tim said turning to face the two of them. "She was going to leave and help you Wonder Woman. But then the tracker in the transmitter showed her heading in the opposite direction and then stopping. I went to check to see what was wrong since Babs was already heading in your direction."

Tim looked away for a minute before turning to face Barbara, "when I got there Batman was already on the scene fishing out her league communicator and the transmitter Alfred gave her. I, I don't know what happened."

Barbara saw her teammate's distress and walked over to him placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, "it will be ok Tim. You didn't know so you can't blame yourself."

"She's right Robin," Diana began, "Kara is a strong woman. Trained by the amazons and faced many things. She will be ok." Batman for the most part had stayed out of their conversation instead focusing his efforts on trying to contact the one he believed responsible for her disappearance.

After a few minutes of work he finally had him on screen, "ah Batman how good to see you again."

"Slade," the dark knight said glaring at the man on the screen, "where is she?"

"She is safe," the mercenary replied, his face unreadable beneath the bronze and black mask. "She is where it all started Bruce. Where confrontation shapes who we are. You know it quite well don't you," Slade taunted to Batman. The others gathered surprised that Slade knew his identity. Bruce had already figured out Slade knew who he was and the revelation did little to faze him; however the allusion to his past gave him an idea of where Slade had taken Kara.

"Crime alley," Batman practically spat out at the man on the monitor.

"Correct," Slade said before using a remote control to pan out the camera finally showing Kara. She was strung up with rope glowing faintly green and had a small circular device under her chin. "She is begin sedated with hypersonics, thanks to you Batman, and bound in nylon rope soaked in liquid kryptonite. It won't kill her right away, but I wouldn't leave her tied in it for too long."

"Let me guess," Batman began his tone dripping with sarcasm, "we send Shinobi and only Shinobi or you kill Supergirl?"

Slade nodded before panning the camera back to himself, "that is correct Batman. It isn't very original, but it is quite direct. He will know where to find me. He has 24 hours before I kill the girl. Then again the radiation might kill her before then,"

The camera feed went dead, and Batman sat staring at the blank screen on his computer. "If I send him he will kill Slade. Baring any of Slade's attempts to turn him, Naruto will kill him. Has this been his plan all along? I made a promise to my parents that I would never kill. That I would find another way," turning to face the others he found Diana with a look of calm resolve, Barbara with a look of worry, and Tim and look of complete and utter confusion. "But this time, this time I don't think there is another way."

"Are you going to bring Naruto to face this duel of honor," Diana asked with a glare, "or continue to go behind our backs and breach our trust? Maybe send someone else in and keep Naruto in the dark to Kara's plite." Bruce chose not to respond which further frustrated the amazonian princess. "If that's how you feel then," Diana began but was cut off by Bruce.

"This is not a duel of honor Diana," Bruce all but shouted at the woman. "This is a mad man targeting one of our own! He kidnapped his girlfriend and is using her as bait! I thought he wanted Naruto on his side, but now I think he wants Naruto to kill him. He is forcing a kill response out of a trained assassin. If he does kill Slade, Cadmus will probably take it as an act of war! This might be a set up for war!"

"Then let them come! Or are you scared you haven't fed them enough information about us all for them to win," Diana shot back. Both Robin and Batgirl shocked to find out their mentor was feeding information about the Justice League to some other organization.

"You have no right to berate me for the things I've done to safeguard this planet," Bruce said standing finally. "We had this discussion when all of you were incapacitated by the Legion of Doom. Each member of the Justice League let alone as a whole is a threat to the world. There needs to be counter measures in place incase someone goes rogue!"

"Then we will set them up Bruce! Not some black ops government organization that uses its counter measures as tools," Diana argued back. "Or have you forgotten Galatea? And what you let Naruto do to her."

Bruce was silent at Diana's last statement, he had nothing to say to that. He was still conflicted on the issue regarding the Supergirl clone and the implications it held letting Naruto kill it. Seeing he had no response Diana pushed her argument further hoping to finally cave the legendary Batman, "you always do this Bruce. You turn a simple problem into a complicated issue. Us and these feelings we have for each other. The possibility of someone from the league going rogue. And now a duel that some madman wants!"

"It's not that simple," was the answer to Diana's statement, but it didn't come from the dark knight.

Both Bruce and Diana turned to face Barbara, the former with a look of understanding the latter a look of confusion.

"How is it not simple sister? We all know each other's weaknesses and strengths so we would be the best possible option to stopped each other," Diann asked and explained to the red head.

Sighing Barbara nodded, "from the position of a hero yes. But not from the position of a civilian."

Diana was taken back by the blunt statement, "could you elaborate sister?"

Barbara nodded before explaining, "when Superman was taken over by Darkseid and invaded earth we felt...fear, terror, and we had no hope. We had an unstoppable super being tearing through everything we had to protect ourselves. What's to say it won't happen again? What's to say it won't be an army of super beings? I'm not saying it will happen again, but Bruce is just preparing for the worst possible case. I don't know what Project Cadmus is, or what they do. But if Bruce trusts them, then we need to as well."

Diana thought for a moment on what Barbara had to say before nodding in defeat, "well spoken sister. Very well Bruce," she said turning to face her colleague once more, "what do we do."

Batman sat and pondered for a moment weighing the options he had before him, "if we do nothing Slade will continue to wreak havoc. If he is planning to recruit Naruto then why take Kara. None of this makes sense yet but I know someone who might be able to work it all out for us." Bruce finally spoke up to the rest of the group, "we make a call."

Turning back to the batcomputer Bruce began typing away before a video call screen appeared on his monitor. "How the hell did you get this number," a larger black woman spoke from the other end of the line.

"How is irrelevant Ms. Waller," Batman began, "we need to talk about Slade."

"What about Deathstroke," Waller questioned, "last we heard from him was when he sent a suicide robot into our facility and stole technical data before self destructing."

Batman regarded the head of Cadmus with a look before nodding, "so he is no longer working for you? You've lost control of another project."

"Don't patronize me Wayne," Waller shot back, "why do you care? Are you planning on sicking your new weapon on him? Like you did Galatea? Are we next on your hit list?"

"He is not our weapon! He is a league member and an excellent warrior," Diana spoke up in defense of her teammate.

"When I want your opinion amazon, I will ask for it," Waller said with disdain turning to glare at the princess. "So are you planning on executing Deathstroke," Waller questioned once more to Batman.

"The league does not kill. The clone, Galatea, was a mockery of life and you know it. You also know you were losing control of it to more of the military minded individuals on your staff. You should thank Shinobi instead of persecute him," Batman was bluffing his way through the clone part hoping Waller didn't catch on that he actually was conflicted about her death. But he knew after digging further into the project that General Elling was using Galatea as his personal lap-dog.

"Coming from you I almost find that humorous," Waller said, but her tone betrayed her. She was angrier than earlier.

"Whatever it is, Slade has set up a vendetta against Shinobi, Naruto Uzumaki. If he kills Slade, what will you do? Are you willing to go to war over someone protecting a loved one? Or will you let the incident pass with what it is, an act of self defense."

Waller sat on the other end with fingers crossed staring at the dark knight. Neither said anything for awhile, the staring contest feeling to the others like a battle of wills. "Deathstroke has gone awol. He has targeted the girlfriend of a...person, what he does is of no consequence to us," Waller finally said. "To that end however; if a league member kills again after Deathstroke has dealt with, we will consider it an act of war by the entire Justice League. And I assure you Wayne, we will respond accordingly."

Batman nodded and ended the video call, "if you aren't trying to start a war for Cadmus, then why provoke a kill response?" Sighing once more he turned to Wonder Woman, "bluffing to Darkseid that all of Apokolips would be destroyed was far easier than trying to out bluff that woman." Diana smiled slightly knowing Bruce hated killing. He despised the very idea of it, and he had just gotten authorization condoning the murder of Slade Wilson, Deathstroke the Terminator. Diana knew without a shadow of a doubt Bruce would be losing sleep over this decision.

"We know that was hard for you Bruce," Diana began walking forward and placing a hand on his shoulder and giving it a comforting squeeze, "but sometimes, even good men have to kill."

Nodding Batman placed his fingers to his league communicator, "J'onn tell Dr. Fate to meet me in the cave. I need to speak with Naruto."

"Right away Batman."

"Finally," Naruto said with a huff. It had taken him almost all day, but he finally was able to channel chakra through the menacing Kubikirbocho. "Now I can finally start hunting down that bastard. Shouldn't take too long," Naruto said mainly to himself as he began packing up some of the equipment his clones were using to help him train with the massive cleaver.

"Shorter than you think," the slightly grainy voice of Batman spoke up from behind him.

"Hn," Naruto barked out, "I thought you were Inza-san. She's come out a few times today to bring me tea and something to eat. I think to spy on me for Dr. Fate's goldfish, but still a nice lady."

"Goldfish?" Naruto nodded to Batman's question and the dark knight decided he didn't want to know, "I've got news about Deathstroke for you."

Placing the last of his things into his pack Naruto sat down on it after turning to face Batman, "and that news would be?"

Sighing Bruce was figuring out how to explain what happened to Kara, "there is no nice way to say this so I will just say it. Kara was taken hostage by Deathstroke one hour ago."

Whatever Naruto was prepared to hear that wasn't it. He knew his girlfriend was strong, he felt her punches, saw the records of the things she's done via the league computer. But to hear her taken hostage reminded him that in the end, Kara still has weaknesses to exploit. "Kryptonite," Naruto asked to which Batman nodded. "

He used a prototype LX002ME multi-energy repeater loaded with kryptonite magazine to knock her out. He currently has he under hypersonics to keep her that way along with being bound by rope soaked in liquid kryptonite," Batman said explaining to the blonde how Slade was able to capture her and keep her captured. "There is another problem," Batman added as well, "we don't know how much radiation the rope is putting off. If she is left within it for too long it could kill her."

"Where is he," Naruto asked narrowing his eyes. "So you wanted a fight Slade, you will get a fight," Naruto thought darkly waiting on Batman to answer.

"Crime alley," Bruce said, "most likely where his wife died."

Naruto stood and grabbed a pill from one of his pouches, Bruce recognized it as a soldier pill he gave Green Lantern after their spar. Taking in the pill Naruto felt his energy getting restored, "you got your league communicator?"

Batman nodded however refrained from calling J'onn, "have you figured out why he is targeting you? Taking Kara and holding her hostage is probably on the top of the list of ways not to recruit you."

Naruto nodded, "yeah I have. He wants to die, but not by just anybody's hand. He want's to die to his opposite." Batman remained quiet and Naruto took that as a sign to elaborate further, "I guess he feels like we both could have become each other. When the world betrayed us I choose to help it. When I was abused, hated, and demonized I didn't turn my back on the village; I continued to fight for it until the bitter end. I might have killed and might have to kill again, but battle doesn't define who I am. But when his wife died he felt destroyed inside; he, he became Deathstroke. He kills indiscriminately and finds his purpose on the battlefield."

"And he feels like it will be justice to die by your hand," Bruce asked finishing for Naruto, disgusted by Slade's intentions.

However the blonde shook his head no. "Not justice," he said, "balance." When Naruto finished speaking, Bruce took a minute to process what he heard.

"Balance," the dark knight repeated in his head, "I hate balance. The world isn't a fair place and to many put too much stock into balance." Finally after a few minutes Batman nodded, "in the end then it did come down to the balance between good and evil, just not what I had in mind."

"You were too focused on his current actions and not his past," Naruto began letting bruce know how he figured it out. "People can change yes, but in the end we are all shaped by our past," he finished softly. "No matter the case I will fight for those who can't to prove my worth to them," he thought remembering the people of his village he fought for, "because in the end everyone is precious to someone. If someone threatens those I care for, or those I fight for, you best be ready to meet your maker."

"Very well," Bruce said placing his fingers on his communicator and a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "J'onn, two for pickup."

Naruto and Batman arrived at the cave shortly after getting to the tower, and the blonde shinobi was surprised to see Wonder Woman in the cave along with the other members of the batclan. "So Slade is in Gotham," Naruto questioned to which everyone nodded.

"Yes," Batman said before sitting down at his computer and pulling up the newspaper clipping of Slade's wife's murder.

"Slade's wife Adeline was killed by Jackle here," Bruce said pulling up the newspaper clipping along with a map of Gotham showing a burnt out warehouse. "When he called to show he had Supergirl he stated Where confrontation shapes who we are. You know it quite well don't you. My parents were murdered a ways up from it. About 10 years ago the city finally decided to call it Crime Alley."

"It would make sense for him to be holding her there then," Naruto said nodding to himself before looking at the map, "how would I get there from here?" Batman pressed a key and a red strip appeared showing him the way from the entrance to the cave. Naruto committed the path to memory, but noticed something else on the map.

"Does Bruce Wayne know you have your hideout under his house," Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I should hope so," Robin said with a laugh, "you are talking to him right now."

Naruto quickly looked back at Batman surprise completely evident on his face, "you are Bruce Wayne. The richest man on the face of the earth?"

Batman glared at Robin for ousting his identity, who in turn sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, "I take it then that it is still not common knowledge within the league that you are Bruce?"

"Correct," the dark knight said anger clearly within his tone. "We will have words about this late Tim," Bruce added before turning to Naruto, "you better keep that to yourself." Naruto nodded before making his way out of the cave through the waterfall and heading to Slade's location.

"Ah good of you to join us," Slade said turning to face Kara. He had turned the hypersonics off after the video call and it took her around 20 minutes to wake up.

"Where am I," Kara asked struggling to open her eyes, "and why am I so tired, ugh," she tried breaking through the rope but without her strength she was unable to move.

"Where is of no consequence. Soon Shinobi will come here to find you, and when he does I will finally get what I want," Slade spoke with excitement, amping himself up slightly for the battle.

"So you go through all of this trouble just to die? You could have saved everyone the trouble by putting a gun barrel in your mouth," she shot back tiredly.

"Dieing like that would be an insult to Adeline and myself. When life loses meaning you must force meaning onto. For me I could only find meaning in battle, and that is how I wish to die. With my heart racing, my blood pumping, being pushed to the absolute limit! By someone so similar to me it is almost poetic," Slade spoke, excitement running through his normally ice cold voice.

"Naruto is nothing like you," Kara spat out in defense of her boyfriend.

"To you," Slade responded, "maybe. But to me, to me we are two sides of a coin facing opposite directions. We are almost exactly alike, both of us were dealt the losing hand. But when we both stared into the abyss I saw only darkness, where he saw light."

"Well said," the two turned to look into the rafters and saw Shinobi there in full gear.

"Ah, Shinobi," Slade said his left hand going to one of the swords on his back, "you managed to get here faster than expected."

Naruto didn't bother responding, instead he threw a handful of shuriken at Deathstroke making the first move of the battle. Using his right hand Slade pulls a pistol from his hip holster and fires into the shuriken destroying them mid flight. Placing the firearm back into the holster too fast for Naruto to make out the model, Slade uses his newfound strength and leaps up into the rafters pulling free the broadsword.

Pulling back some after seeing his shuriken shot down, Naruto pulls the Kubikirbocho from its resting place on his back. Landing with a metal clang on the catwalk within the rafters of the building Deathstroke finally gets a clear look at his opponent. "I was right in choosing you," the mercenary says with an unseen grin under his mask, "mighty big sword. Not compensating for anything?"

Rushing forward Slade raises his broadsword for a downward cut which Naruto blocks easily with his own blade. However he was not prepared for the blast of red hot plasma shot from a wrist mounted blaster that appears from the gantlet on Slade's right hand. The blast hits Naruto with a force he wasn't expecting and was thrown onto his back a few feet further on the catwalk, but Deathstroke doesn't leave him any breathing room.

Reaching behind his back with his right hand Slade pulls the LX002ME free of its sling and begins unloading with precise accuracy concentrated burst of superheated plasma into Shinobi. Letting off the trigger Slade is highly disappointed, "really? This is all you had to offer," he asks the bloody corpse of Naruto.

"Bunshin Daibakuha," was heard before the bloody corpse exploded destroying the catwalk and dropping Slade.

Re-slinging the LX200ME and tucking into a ball Slade rolls before he hits the ground, recovering with just enough time to block a horizontal cut from the massive sword Naruto is using with his broadsword. While he was able to stop the massive blade from cutting him the force of the blow caused him to slide to the side, "you really didn't think that was all I had did you, old man?"

Recovering from the slide, Deathstroke charged the taunting blonde bringing his own blade into a horizontal cut. With the weight and speed difference between the two swords, Naruto had to duck under the swing and tried to swipe Slade's legs with the Kubikirbocho.

Planting a foot on the massive sword, Deathstroke used it as a springboard. Once airborne he spun targeting Naruto's exposed back. Swinging his sword down in a diagonal cut against it. Shinobi was moving fast enough that only the tip managed to graze him, but it still drew blood. Spinning after putting a bit of distance Naruto turned to face the mercenary and smiled beneath his half mask. "You're pretty spry for an old man," he commented to the Terminator.

"And you are experienced for a whipper snapper," Slade said, "but first blood goes to me." Naruto just smirked under his mask before pointing to Slade's arm. Looking down at the appendage Deathstroke saw a series of cuts breaching through his armored suit. "It would seem you can cut me without actually cutting me," he committed outloud more to himself than Naruto.

Thinking quickly Slade pulled the pistol from his thigh holster as he prepared to re-engage Shinobi. Shinobi tensed as he saw Deathstroke pull the pistol from his holster, but it was one he was not familiar with at all since he started fighting with the league. It was boxy-er and had a strange triangle like front to it. "But you are still holding back, let us see if we can fix that," Slade commented again before leveling the pistol at him.

As Naruto got ready to leap out of the way he was suddenly assaulted by some kind of concussive force that smacked into him like a freight train blowing away parts of his coat and shirt leaving a large area of his chest bruised. He wasn't downed by it, but he was definitely put off balance which was all Deathstroke needed. Rushing forward Slade went for a straight thrust which Naruto sidestepped and countered bringing his own blade in an upward diagonal cut; right inside of Slade's guard.

Not expecting the large blade to cut through the concrete floor like butter Slade barely had time to move out of the way. However he was still caught by the wind chakra traveling the length of the blade leaving a long shallow gash from his right hip to his left shoulder in the armor he was wearing. Not giving the masked mercenary any time to counter Naruto cut loose with a silent Juha Sho sent horizontally from his right hand.

With the close proximity Slade was unable to dodge and was launched backward through the air. Landing and rolling Deathstroke rose from his position firing the strange pistol once more. Naruto was hit twice losing balance and taking a couple more hits before finally ducking for cover behind a concrete pillar. Whatever was assaulting him wasn't able to breach the concrete and the two fighters took a moment to recover.

"Seems you are having trouble with the Lexcrop LX4200HC hypersonic canon," Slade commented keeping the weapon leveled at the concrete pillar. "It releases a concentrated sonic boom that is untraceable. While it doesn't have the puncture capabilities over other weapons, it can still bruise and cause internal damage," Slade explained while sheathing his sword and pulling a second gun from his left side. This gun was a standard colt .45 model 1911 with a fifty round extended magazine, one of Slade's favorite guns.

"Interesting," Naruto thought before replacing himself with one of the clones he left in the rafters from when he entered. "Let's see how Slade deals with an army," he thought to himself before nodding to his clone. The clone sheathed its version of the Kubikirbocho before running out from the pillar, his trademark cross shaped seal in place. "Kage Bunshin," the clone said forming about five clones all making head long runs at Slade, faster than Naruto has run before.

Reacting quickly Slade began unloading on the clones, but they were quicker. Weaving in and out of the regular bullets while never stepping foot into the line of fire from the sonic cannon. Seeing the firearm and sonic cannon useless Deathstroke holstered the sonic cannon and smirked.

Pulling his sword free of its sheath he gave it a quick spin; charging the small squad with his newly enhanced speed. He was nowhere near the speed of Flash, Superman, or Naruto when he truly went all out; but he was still fast. "Impressive once more old man," Naruto commented to himself from above watching Slade looking for any weak spots in his guard or a time to strike. "He is slower than my clones but his reaction time is incredible. He's able to parry and dodge my faster clones," Naruto thought watching him perry a horizontal strike from one of the clones before dispatching it with a quick draw shot to the head.

"He's holding his ground waiting for the strike, they haven't caught him off guard once yet," he noticed before making more clones and having them drop into the fray. Even with the army dropping from the sky Slade didn't slow down or bat an eye. Blocking a clones diagonal cut with his broadsword, before shooting it with his colt in the heart destroying it. Rotating the weapon Slade switched immediately into a horizontal strike on a clone approaching from the right. It brought its Kubikirbocho to block but only managed to catch Slade's blade; the Colt removing its head and claiming another clone.

Slade then side stepped a read over head cut. Spinning on the balls of his feet the mercenary dropped his into his own overhead cut down onto the blonde copy, while bringing his Colt up and letting out a volley of fire forcing another clone to break off. However it was cut down by Slade's broadsword thrusting into its skull.

The more clones Naruto sent, the more he cut down. Slade was working himself into a nice rhythm of block, counter, parry, dodge, shoot, next. It didn't matter that the clones were faster; it didn't matter that the clones would sometimes cut loose with Futon: Renkuda trying to do damage him, or Futon: Daitoppa to throw him off balance. The masked mercenary never lost step, weaving through the wind attacks he continued to cut and shoot his way through the army with vicious precision.

"Impressive," Slade spoke out over the carnage he was reeking upon the blonde army. "But I grow tired of this game!" Breaking loose from the encirclement, with a few well placed spiral cuts, Slade sheathed both the broadsword and his Colt. Using his newly enhanced speed he reached a drainage ditch a few yards away from the encroaching clone army.

Reaching down into the old run off Slade pulled out a massive weapon, something Naruto had never seen before and had nothing to compare it too. It's handle was on the top which connected down into a cylindrical main body that had twelve barrels around it about a three feet down from the handle. "If I can't flush you out, maybe this will," he spoke with an edge to his tone pressing the trigger right as the first clone reach him.

At that moment Naruto wasn't sure what hit his clones, but ten of the charging clones were wiped out in seconds and the rest followed shortly after. Just before the last clone was killed Naruto realised there were streams of light passing through it before impacting on the wall behind. His line of sight traveling to the wall he saw small holes all over it, and rubble below the firing line.

Looking into the rafters Slade let loose a chuckle, "a failed prototype that I managed to fix." Hefting the large cannon Deathstroke began shooting into the rafters in bursts, Naruto still unable to track the projectiles. "The Lexcorp LX0001LEAg linear energy accelerator gatling," he shouted from the ground still firing into the rafters, forcing Naruto to move position twice. "it fires blast of energy from one of the twelve barrels at mach twenty five. The best part is that it fires a blast every five tenths of a second at random."

"And you still won't face me," the mercenary yelled hitting a switch on the handle causing the barrels to split forward before moving away from each other creating a larger circle. With the gun still aimed at the rafters it fired randomly all over the ceiling forcing Naruto to finally drop and engage his opponent again.

Seeing Shinobi finally fall from the rafters Slade released the button splitting the barrels, drawing them back into a tighter packing, before firing on Shinobi. Naruto still didn't grasp the concept of just how fast the blasts of energy were, was nailed with a few punching straight through him before he was able to sealless replace himself with an old desk that was turned into dust by the linear gatling.

With Kurama holding back on healing him due not wanting to further hamper his host, Naruto was bleeding steadily from the chest and need a quick second. Throwing the massive blade in his hand Naruto waited for Slade to notice it. Deathstroke saw it almost instantly and readjusted his aim before firing another volley of energy blasts. The blade was pounded by super sonic blasts of energy fracturing it a quarter of the way down and knocking it off course.

However the distraction was all Naruto needed; quickling using Kawarimi again he replaced himself with a fallen railing right inside of Slade's guard. Pulling a kunai with a pre-applied explosive tag from his thigh holster, Naruto jammed the bladed weapon into the gatling. Deathstroke was unprepared for the sudden appearance of his opponent and could not stop him from stabbing the glowing knife into his weapon.

Nor could he stop the ninja from using his right hand to grab his firing arm and pulling him close for a damaging right knee thrust to the midsection. Continuing with the forward momentum and wanting to get away from the explosive Naruto flipped Slade over his head via the Terminator's neck. Planting his foot back down on the warehouse floor using it to pivot and leap, Naruto released a devastating roundhouse kick with his left to Slade's chest breaking a few ribs and sending him flying across the warehouse.

Deathstroke landed HARD against the cement floor of the warehouse losing his weapon and dislocating his right shoulder as he landed on it. Standing was difficult with only his good arm, but he managed to prop himself up before standing. Seeing Naruto take some kind of red pill, Slade smirked before viciously swinging his right arm and shoulder back into place. "It seems I've done more damage than you," Slade commented while flexing the restored apandge.

His only response was Naruto throwing up the ram hand sign causing the kunai in the energy gatling to explode taking with it the cells powering the weapon. The massive explosion caught Slade from behind once more propelling him through the air. Capitalizing on Slade's flight Naruto charged up a Rasengan with his right hand before leaping into the air. Driving the spiraling blue ball of energy straight into Slade's chest destroying the armor plating over it and tearing into the flesh underneath it slightly.

Slade was no stranger to pain; the two were very close friends. Between beatings for torture resistance training, broken bones suffered on the battlefield, gunshot wounds, laser/energy/plasma wounds, cuts, stabs, and slashes from his life as a soldier/mercenary; Slade knew pain. But he had never felt a compressed ball of energy drilling into him, and he definitely did not enjoy it.

Before it did to much damage he was able to grab Naruto's arm and flip his body over before drop kicking the ninja in the back. Unable to retaliate from the kick Naruto instead let the momentum carry him to the floor where he tucked and rolled suffering little damage. Turning to face Deathstroke, Naruto smiled beneath his half mask, "looks like we both have done the same amount of damage."

The comment caused the old man to laugh, "and I am loving every second of it." Naruto nodded before reaching into his shuriken pouch and throwing arm after arm of wind charged blades at Slade. Quickly ejecting the spent magazine from his colt while it was still in the holster and reloading the weapon with a fresh one; Slade drew it and the sonic cannon and began opening fire on the weapons.

The master marksmen was shooting each and every weapon out of the air before it came to close. Seeing neither one making ground the two began running in circles throwing and firing, each circle bringing them closer together. When the two where feet apart Slade's colt ran out of ammo, and Naruto took full advantage. Knocking both weapons from Deathstroke's grasp with a well placed guard breaker, and smashing the sonic cannon with the heel of his left foot as it hit the ground. Naruto heel kicked Slade in the stomach as he went through a blinding set of hand seals, "Futon: Renkuda!"

Slade saw the seals but knew he couldn't get a guard up in time, so instead chose to retaliate to the inevitable damage. Pulling out two grenades while Naruto pounded on his stomach, the older man pulled the pins with his thumbs just before the massive wind bullet hit him. Once more he was taken off his feet and sent tumbling back, but he knew he was a safe distance from the grenades.

Naruto smirked at his plan, he was able to catch the man off guard with the wind bullet and knew he had done some damage with his armor destroyed from his rasengan. But he never saw the grenades, nor heard the sound of them dropping due to the jutsu. The explosives detonated catching him within the full concussive blast, the only thing saving him was his denser bone makeup and his resilience. The disorientation didn't last too long, and the two warriors were at it again.

With blinding speed the two raced across the scar ridden floor meeting in the middle; however Naruto was faster. Ducking under Slade's right jab, Naruto landed a punch to the already injured midsection of the Terminator with his left. Gathering wind chakra while running through the seals with his right hand during the run, Naruto brought his fist up into the Deathstrokes face. "Futon: Senpuken," Naruto shouted as the fist began to reach the masked man's face.

Slade knew without a doubt that when that fist connected with his face it would be over. It was too well laid out, and the kid wasn't pulling any punches. "It was a good fight," Slade thought; however before the fist connected, before the fight was won, the wind chakra gathered around Naruto's arm exploded halting its momentum and throwing it back some.

"Round three then," Slade commented viciously in his head before grabbing Naruto's left arm that was retreating from the gut punch. Twisting the appendage with savage speed he heard the elbow give a sickening snap. Jerking the ninja forward Slade slammed his left knee into the face of the ninja breaking his nose; releasing the injured arm causing Naruto to stumble backwards. Finishing the combo Slade dropped his left leg stepping forward slightly, before spinning on it and doing a reverse heel kick into Naruto temple with his right. Naruto lost all balance and was thrown to his left before hitting the ground and rolling a bit.

The entire unclose confrontation taking place within less than twenty seconds, shifting a would be fight ender into Slade's favor. "You are using too much chakra and taking too much damage. Your body is trying to compensate by drawing on my chakra to heal! You knew this going in," Kurama finally spoke up in Naruto's mindscape, "dispel one of your clones gathering natural chakra and end this fight!"

"You almost had me," Slade commented, while Kurama was speaking to Naruto, while unslinging the energy repeater from his back. "And now you can barely stand. I know it isn't from the explosion in your right hand, or from me breaking your left arm," he commented raising the gun and placing Naruto in his sights. "Something is different, you're not healing. None of your wounds even look like they are closing up, and I have it on record that you heal faster than Superman." Slade began opening fire ripping into Naruto's back in small bursts, "I may not heal as fast with the nanites or my upgraded healing factor, but I can still feel them working, keeping me in this fight. So I must ask, what is happening tonight?"

"None of your business," Naruto said dispelling one of the clones he left outside. The rush of natural chakra was just what he needed to move out of the weapons line of fire and began rushing Slade as he entered sage mode. He was surprised that the potency was less for a moment before remembering Gotham was more concrete and steel than earth. Still the amount he was able to get was enough to revamp his strength, speed, and stop the onslaught of tremors he knew were coming.

Slade was surprised by the speed of his wounded opponent. He was barely able to dodge the right hook to the head, but was unable to dodge the following chop to his right arm removing the ranged weapon from his grasp. Activating the seals between his fingers in his left hand with chakra for the emergency shuriken he kept in them. He couldn't grab them but they stayed between his fingers long enough to prime the explosive seals on them before they fell surrounding the ranged weapon on the floor.

Kicking Slade Naruto moved the fight away from the pending explosion just in time. As the shuriken exploded taking the magazine loaded with plasma with it in a blood red explosion of fire. The began to unloaded on each other with hand to hand. Naruto being the faster or the two landed more, but Slade was no slouch.

After the kick Naruto charged forward slapping his left hand into the right side of Slade's face disorienting him slightly, before bringing his right hand into his left kidney with a hook. Slade took the damage, knowing the kidney was bruising, to drive a bone crushing chop into the unguarded left side of Naruto's collarbone. The chop only stopped him for half a second, Naruto delivering an upper-cut into Slade's stomach with his right hand before catching him in his right kidney with a well placed left knee. Using Deathstroke as a platform he lifted himself with his knee planting his right heel straight into Deathstroke's mask pushing the two away.

However as he landed Naruto was favoring his right leg. In the last seconds of the up close battle Slade had managed to draw his broadsword and place a deep gash into Naruto's calf as they separated. "This, this is what I wanted! Us fighting with everything we have! I may not know what is going on with your healing factor, but I don't care! This is perfect! This is a beautiful death," Slade yelled giving his blade a spin before charging after Naruto.

Dodging to the left Naruto managed to avoid the downward cut from Slade's blade but was almost caught by the horizontal slash from Slade's left. The mercenary pulled a combat knife and was holding it in a reverse grip. Seeing both blades fail to land Slade spun the sword in his right hand and pressed for another slash, which Naruto was able to weave around. However he was caught by the thrust from Slade's knife, it managed to puncture his right side just above his kidney before Slade twisted it and cut through Naruto's right side ripping the blade out of his hip.

Moving with more difficulty, due to the increased wounds, Naruto made a run for his downed blade. Grabbing it and spinning it low he was able to get a solid cut into Slade's left leg with a well placed low thrust. Rolling his hand Naruto was able to run the broken edge of the blade up Slade's chest from left to right. It wasn't a fatal by any means, but it wasn't shallow either. Fighting through the pain Deathstroke brought both blades down on Naruto trying to cut into his shoulders. What he thought would be at least one served arm turned into a metal clang as both knife and sword meet steel.

"What," Slade questioned, before he was kicked by Naruto's left leg, the ninja stumbling slightly from putting his weight on his damaged right leg. "The Kubikirbocho, decapitating carving knife, has the ability to regenerate itself using the iron from the blood of those it cuts," Naruto yelled running forward and thrusting with the blade. The speed of the thrust was too fast and Slade wasn't able to block, but was able to duck preventing the arm from being completely severed. The massive blade tore through his left shoulder, forcing Slade to drop his ninja-to as it carved through muscle and bone; rending his left arm as useless as Naruto's.

As Naruto drew the blade back Slade saw that it had gotten even longer, almost fully restored. Thinking quickly Slade activated the wrist mounted thermal blaster and began sending red hot bolts of plasma at Naruto while pulling back. Quickly spinning the massive sword in front of himself, Naruto charges it with wind chakra. However instead of using the wind currents running the length of the blade to send the shots of plasma harmless off to the side; Naruto was using them to force the energy toward the center of the blade.

Finally when an opening came, from Slade completely missing a shot due to bad footing during his retreat. Naruto brought the massive blade through one more spin while moving it to the right above his head. At the apex of it's height, Naruto ended the spin with an over head cut. Bringing the Kubikirbocho down, throwing the stored plasma at Slade in a massive wave of red. Enhanced by the wind chakra behind it, Slade had no way to dodge the encroaching energy wave, instead placed his right arm up to block as much as possible.

Hit full force by the plasma wave Slade felt parts of his suit vaporize, skin burn away, and the right wrist blaster explode taking the bottom half of his arm with it. When the energy had dissipated Slade knew the fight was over. He knew he had lost. He was losing blood faster than he could produce it, and his healing factor couldn't keep up with the amount of damage he had sustained.

Looking up, he noticed that at some point his mask had fractured and he smiled. Using what little mobility he had in his left arm he shifted his body until he knocked the mask off his face; staring at Naruto with his one good eye. "Th-thi-this was eve-everything I dreamt it wo-wo-would be," Slade spoke out through the pain with a smile.

"I knew only one other that fought for his dreams as hard as you," Naruto spoke out with respect to his opponent as he brought his sword down to his left side, the edge facing Slade. "He too was able to bear with the pain, and still stand when he should fall. May you finally find peace, Slade Wilson."

Naruto charged Slade with a yell. One final slash and the world's greatest mercenary was dead, his head separated from his body. Naruto lowered the now fully restored Kubikirbocho, with a sad look of resolve on his face. "In another life we might have been friends. But thank you for restoring my will to fight," he speaks to the now dead body putting the massive blade back in it's holster on his back. Walking forward Naruto digs out a tag, one he hasn't had to use in a long time.

Gather Slade's decapitated head carefully he placed it on the man's body before channeling chakra through the tag in his hand. Placing it down on Slade's smiling face, both head and body ignited in white hot fire that would leave nothing but ash.

Kara had watched the fight through dreary eyes. When Naruto took the fight in his advantage she would cheer, when he was losing she would wince. Parts of it she couldn't see at all, but she got the message, a fight to the death. It is what both her boyfriend and his enemy wanted, and apparently it was what they got.

But seeing the blonde limp his way to her she questioned if he still felt that way. As he got closer she noticed he wasn't being healed as before. He was leaking blood like crazy, limping, and his left arm was swaying back and forth as though it wasn't under his control. "Na-Na-Naruto why aren't you healing," Kara stuttered out in her power drained state.

"Can't," Naruto said cutting the rope with a kunai from his holster. "Used to much of Kurama's chakra back with those spider things. Not fully recovered from it, and his chakra is what heals me." Catching his girlfriend Naruto placed her arm around him before the two began to head for the door.

"Then how are you not dead," she questioned seeing the trail of blood he left walking to her.

"Liberal use of blood pills," he said placing another pill in his mouth before swallowing. "Shinobi use them when they are losing too much blood during a fight and can't stop to heal. But taking too many of them can be slightly poisons."

"How many have you taken," she questioned fearing he might be poisoned on top of all his other wounds and injuries.

"I am right up on the line. I need to get to a healer and fast," he commented, and she could tell. He was struggling to support her as the two moved at snail speeds towards the exit.

"I guess it is a good thing we decided to come then," the unmistakable voice of Batman rang out in the warehouse. Both turned to see Batman and Wonder Woman entering in through one of the empty sky lights.

"Great Hera!" Both Bruce and Diana were shocked to see Naruto in such a state, both quickly took action. Diana took Kara from Naruto's arms while Bruce went to support the victorious ninja.

"J'onn we need emergency personnel standing by up there and immediate transportation," Bruce yelled into his communicator. The martian not needing to be told twice initiated the teleportation and the four were carried from the warehouse in blue light.

"Are you sure this is the right course of action Ms. Waller," a shadowy figure on the monitor asked with a kind voice.

"Yes Mr. President I am," the head of Cadmus spoke, all the department heads were gathered as well for this meeting, "Deathstroke had gone completely AWOL. In the past he has caused us problems, but between breaching our network, stealing from us, inciting a break out of Arkham and creating a mass panic I believe we should let them have this one."

The now identified president thought for a moment on the situation his black-ops department found itself in. "Do you believe he will kill again? This would be his second time killing Ms. Waller, Once is an accident, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action," the lead of the U.S said with firm understanding.

Waller knew exactly what he was quoting, "I am familiar with Moscow Rules sir. But the Galatea incident was isolated, and I would not factor into this current situation."

Hamilton and Eiling both had minor glares aimed at the woman. "How was the clone incident isolated," the President asked, curious as to her outlook on the issue.

"Galatea was a weapon that we lost control of. Evidence in point when she trashed the security footage at Nuvo-Gen. Secondly she wasn't what one considered alive sir."

"Because she was a clone? Or because she was a weapon," the shadowy figure asked of her.

"Because she was a weapon sir," Waller responded without hesitation. "When a tank breaks, or explodes we don't consider it killed. We consider it destroyed."

"Very well Ms. Waller," the President said before signing off.

Turning to face the other members of the room Waller took a minute before speaking, "general Eiling. I want you to appropriate all of Slade's files, ransack his mansion for all I care. I want the data on the improved formula and the nanites he used."

The general nodded with a smile, "one step ahead of you ma'am. I had people watching his place. Once the osprey left I have them move in and take the information. Hamilton and Milo should have the information within the hour."

Nodding Waller stood, "you all have your assignments. Get me results," she said leaving the others who slowly trickled out of the room.

Eiling and Hamilton being the last to leave. "I can't believe that woman. For years we have been working on creating an equalizer for the league. A gem was literally dropped into my lap with Supergirl's DNA, and she claims it was an isolated incident," Hamilton speaks venomously the meeting.

Eiling nodded, "she has denied us both justice. You lost a creation, I lost a soldier. But I may have something that interests you." Eiling handed Hamilton a folder that had top secret written in bold black lettering over it, the tab of the folder read: Project Juggernaut, Lexcorp.

"This was denied funding back during the Vietnam war. The government thought it was too...impossible and went ahead and funded Project Cadmus," Hamilton whispered to the man next to him.

"We both don't need a history lesson professor. We have both been with Cadmus since its inception. The pentagon has given me the ok to begin Project Juggernaut," Eiling said steering the other man down a different path.

It didn't take the two long before they reach a random broom closet. Opening the door Eiling motioned for Hamilton to enter, shutting the door behind the professor. Removing a bucket from a shelf and exposing a keypad and eye scanner to which the general began using.

The wall in front of the two men opened to a vast cavern filled with machines, workers, weapons, and computers. Hamilton was surprised by the vast amount of equipment, some of it well out of Cadmus' price range, and that was when he saw it. Lexcorp's logo was on the back of every worker in the room, the back or side of every piece of hardware as well.

"Gentlemen," the vinninal smooth voice of Lex Luthor rang out from one of the outlooks above the floor, "welcome to Project Juggernaut!" Hamilton looked up to see his new partner, while he didn't dislike Lex Luthor, he wasn't the man's biggest fan. But he wasn't who caught Hamilton's total attention, it was the blonde haired, blue eyed man wearing armor one would have seen in ancient Greece.

"Ah professor," Lex said with a smile tracking where the other man's eyes landed on, "let me introduce another ally. The god of war, Ares."

"How is he," Kara asked feeling better after standing in front of one of the windows that faced the sun for a bit. There was a group of people out front of Naruto's door. Diana, Oliver, Question, Vixen along with the rest of the Justice League women's book club, John, and Clark.

"We don't know yet Kara," Clark said walking up and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"But the kid is tough as nails, I have no doubt he will pull through," Vixen said with a smile.

"Plus he's got J'onn, Batman, and the best doctors the league has working on him," Diana said with a smile.

Kara nodded but looked down, "I hope he's ok. He has to be ok. He's like this because of me."

Everyone there was about to speak up until a look from Clark silenced them. "Kara," he said lifting her chin, "I may not get along with him that well. But he isn't in this position because of you. He is like this because some mad man wanted him on his side. Because he fought back. Because he cared about you. You didn't do this to him, Slade did."

Kara let out a dreary laugh at Clark's statement, "Slade didn't want to turn him. That's what he wanted all of you to think. Slade wanted to die in a fight against someone he considered his equal."

"What?!" Clark almost yelled in surprise.

"It's true Clark," Diana said the others turning to her. "I was speaking with Batman on a matter when she was abducted. He and Shinobi spoke before the battle began. Batman filled me in during the fight, and I must say even though Slade was a villain he at least chose to go out with honor."

"How can you say that Diana? We don't kill," Superman asked surprised.

"You forget Clark," Diana began, "I didn't start out as a hero. I started out as a proud warrior of the Amazons. I was trained to kill just like Naruto was. Sometimes I find it hard to hold back against some of the people we go up against, but I do out of respect for all of you. But something like this I don't think any of you would be able to grasp. It wasn't killing for the sake of killing. It wasn't murder, it was a test of one's resolve."

Superman thought on her statement for a bit, along with the rest of the gathered league members. It was true, none of them had become heroes to kill. They became ones to stop crime, to stop injustice, to right wrongs. But what does one do in a situation where the right thing to do is kill?

"You are right I can't understand it Diana, and I'm not sure I want too," Oliver spoke up first.

"And none of you have to," Kara said quietly. "Slade told me just before Naruto arrived that when life loses it's meaning you must force it to have meaning," she paused for a minute thinking back to her conversation and the excitement in Slade's voice, "when his wife was killed he felt that life had lost it's meaning. He felt that he could only exist in the fight. And Naruto gave him one hell of a fight."

The others pondered her words while Clark thought hard on Naruto's past, and his actions up till now. "He almost killed Toyman when we first met. He killed the clone of Kara, Gala-whatever. And now he has killed Slade. But Toyman was an accident, I would assume not use to working how we do. Gala-whatever according to Bruce had to be dealt with and was a clone. But does that meant she shouldn't get rights? Does that mean she shouldn't be treated as a person? And in between it all Naruto went on various missions with other league members including us and no one has said he was an issue. Most of the time he saw things other did not, like our first mission when we were all turned into kids…."

Clark sighed, he was still on the fence about it all. He couldn't figure out where the line between right and wrong feel with Naruto, and it bothered him greatly. Looking out one of the observation windows he thought to himself, "I guess this is one of those things you have to understand to accept." He turning back to look at his cousin he decided to make up his mind, "he keeps her happy, and doesn't kill everyone. If this is the path he chooses then so be it. But should he hurt you, or anyone else….he will find out just how strong I really am."

It was another two hours before Batman, J'onn, and the doctors came from the room containing the blonde shinobi. "How is he," Kara was the first to ask using her super speed to get to the front as quick as possible.

"A pain in the ass," Bruce muttered before walking away from the group grumbling to himself about stupid antibodies and blood pills.

J'onn cleared his throat to gather everyone's attention, "what Batman means is that because of his taking of what he calls blood replenishing pills and the natural antibodies found in his blood our sedatives wouldn't work on him. All the stitching and resetting of the bones was done while Naruto was conscious, and he was very vocal about his hatred of needles and hospitals."

"We didn't hear anything," Clark said with a look the others nodding in agreement. With how vocal Naruto can be they figured they would have heard something.

"When we built the medical facility we installed lead lined walls to allow people privacy as you know Superman. But we also installed extra sound proofing, once more to allow privacy."

That's when they all heard the familiar click of Huntress' compact crossbow coming out. "And I take it no security cameras for privacy as well," she asked pointing the weapon at a blonde wearing a hospital gown and was heavily bandaged.

Turning to face the commotion the others saw a nervous looking Naruto, "oh come on! Hospitals are boring and the food sucks! Space, earth, different earth they are all the same!"

Kara simply glared at Naruto who shrunk back while the others sweatdropped. "NARUTO UZUMAKI! WALK YOUR HAPPY ASS BACK INTO THAT ROOM AND STAY THERE UNTIL THE DOCTORS CLEAR YOU TO LEAVE!"

"Yes ma'am!" The blonde shot like a bullet back into the room causing the gathered group to laugh.

"Please do not make me regret my decision Naruto," Clark thought letting out a chuckle with the rest of them.

Jutsu List:

Bunshin Daibakuha: Great Exploding Clone

Juha Sho: Beast Tearing Palm

Futon: Renkuda : Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet

Futon: Daitoppa : Wind Release: Great Breakthrough

Rasengan: Spiralling Sphere

Kawarimi no Jutsu: Replacement Technique

Futon: Senpuken : Wind Release: Whirlwind Fist

AN: Updated 1/22/15 - All authors notes are being deleted and replaced with this. I am back baby! I have an SAO and Halo story now as well and will be fully committed to this story soon. Also I know while it won out in the Poll I am changing the writing style and it should be easier for those that complained before.

So just know Chapter 13 is coming….and so is what I promised…..a superhero war the likes of which we hopefully have never seen.