A/N: hello everyone! Hope I didn't make you all wait too long. Enjoy the chapter!

What Happens Now?

Chapter 21

Brainiac's Invasion

The following day, Naruto was still recovering from the shocking news that Raiden, the God of Thunder, had delivered to him the night before. The Elder Gods had told Raiden to inform him that Brainiac's initial attack on Uzu had ultimately left the Uzumaki clan wide open to attack, which is what the United Front of Kiri, Kumo, and Iwa took advantage of. He had talked to Superman about it, to see how exactly Brainiac attacked Krypton. He told him that he had flown in his ship and hovered right above his world. Using his ships enhancements and abilities, he extracted the life source, pretty much, from the planets core. Not only did he do that, but in that process, he also extracted numerous amounts of knowledge on Krypton, Kryptonians, and everything dealing with them and thats why Brainiac was able to combat Superman so easily. He told Naruto about that, and also that that is most likely how Brainiac attacked Uzu as well. Hovering right above Uzushio, and simply absorbing everything into his ship. After the deed was done, destruction was imminent.

Raiden and Superman afterwards had discussed what had happened with them after the fall of Dark Khan. Superman, with the Regime and battles against Batman and the others, and Raiden with the war between Earthrealm and the Netherrealm. Raiden also delivered the news to everyone there that Naruto would be the one to deliver the final blow that would end Brainiac's life.

Whether or not the Elder Gods said it or not didn't matter. Naruto was going to deliver the final blow, one way or another.

Naruto had suffered his entire life. First, it was his childhood within his own village. The people hated him down to the very core, because of the Nine Tailed Fox that he contained. That had never changed, but next was Sakura's constant rejection and abuse. For some people, they would say that it was no big deal to be rejected and for the most part that was true. However, when said girl punched your lights out every time you showed up, that was another story entirely.

Secondly, there was Sasuke's defection. Naruto had felt betrayed at that point. He felt like he had lost a friend to the path of darkness. He had made a promise that he had eventually kept.

Thirdly, there was the Akatsuki. The nine or so S ranked criminals that wanted the Biju inside of him for their own sick and twisted purpose.

Lastly, there was the Fourth Great Ninja War. That was probably the most horrifying thing he had ever been a part of. Nevertheless, the Shinobi Alliance was strong enough and prevailed over Madara and Obito.

And now, most recently, the execution of Sasuke, who had in every way had become his best friend.

All throughout this journey, people he loved, he had lost. His parents in the very beginning. Old man Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. His latest teacher, Jiraiya. And then finally, Neji Hyuuga.

And all of this was just in his own life. He wondered if the Uzumaki really was cursed to a life of suffering and ultimately, their demise.

He remembered the pact that he had made to himself more than anything last night. His declaration of Brainiac's fall by his own hand. And he meant every word of it. Nothing was going to stop him from taking his head, even if Brainiac had a whole legion of those damned robots of his, or any allies he had, it didn't matter - they would all fall if thats what had to happen.

Naruto didnt know what allies Brainiac had though.

….…..

Brainiac was walking inside of his ship, further studying his vast collection. He would go from hologram to hologram, each one depicting a society that he had invaded, conquered, and absorbed. No lives were spared. During the absorption process, whoever was alive simply ceased to exist. The human body, no matter how powerful they were, could not withstand the shrinking and dematerializing as one thing and rematerializing as another. Therefore, all of the cities, societies, and worlds, that he had collected were now depicted as light blue holograms that floated in his ship like a museum. All sorts of areas.

Krypton.

Various alienated worlds.

Uzushiogakure.

Brainiac's studying was never complete, therefore his knowledge was ever increasing. And thats exactly how he wanted it to be.

He heard heavy footsteps behind him that was accompanied by very heavy breathing, like a beast that had just got through running a far distance.

Brainiac said in his near monotone voice, "How are things with you? Is everything according to plan?"

"So far, yes," the deep voice said. "There have been a few hiccups here and there with various so called heroes, but the plan still moves forward as planned."

"What about your own personal followers?" Brainiac asked the figure.

"Still following blindly, as expected," the figure said. "More cannon fodder than anything, but they will be useful when the time comes."

"I expected as much," Brainiac said.

"Our deal still stands, does it not?" the figure said.

"Of course," Brainiac said. "I already gave you my word. Knowledge can never increase by going back on one's promise."

"Good," the large figure said. "The Society is ready to go when you give the order."

"The order is given, General Grodd," Brainiac said. "Head down to our next destination: I believe it is called Konohagakure."

"What exactly do you want?" Grodd asked.

"Almost everyone in that area is able to manipulate the elements of the physical world," Brainiac informed. "I want the knowledge as to how they are able to. They remind me much of that island I collected a while ago called Uzushiogakure. I wonder if they are related somehow. Their abilities are fascinating."

"Understood," Gorilla Grodd replied. "After this is over, I expect you to provide an area where the apes rule, and the humans are below us."

With that said, Gorilla Grodd disappeared via the teleporter Brainiac had on his ship.

He smiled, pleased that his exclusive knowledge was about to yet again increase.

….…

Tsunade Senju was at the local bar in Konoha, having her fill of the best sake on hand. She had been looking forward to her retirement from the Hokage position for years. Dealing with all of that stress on a daily basis was absolutely taxing on the human body. When one was Hokage, an ounce of relaxation was a miracle. Unfortunately, miracles were far and few in between, and with Tsunade…well, lets just say that she was a complete stranger to miracles. Therefore, this was the first time she had been able to relax in a long, long time. On top of that, there was the war. In her opinion, she didn't give a damn what anyone else said, or what people say about keeping the image…tonight, she was getting hammered dammit!

And getting hammered she was! Or, at least she was trying to. All those years of drinking like it was nobody's business had really strengthened her alcohol tolerance. That being said, Tsunade had already downed twenty shots of sake with no effects at all.

She wondered if it was even sake she was drinking.

"Is this stuff water?" Tsunade asked herself.

That was when the sake cup in her hand cracked.

That immediately got her attention. She stared at the crack on the cup, her mind racing.

Every single damn time I try to relax, something has to happen! She thought to herself. What could it possibly be now?!

The ground below her darkened. The shadow on the ground stretched out further and further, covering more and more ground. Tsunade got off of her seat and walked outside and looked up in the sky. Was there an eclipse or something going on?

She looked up and saw a skull like ship slowly floating above the village.

"What the hell is that?" She asked herself. Knowing that this wasn't good, she began shouting at the nearest shinobi.

"You, go alert Kakashi! You, ring the village alarm! We are under attack!"

That was when around a thousand or so of Brainiac's humanoid robots teleported onto the ground, filling the streets of Konohagakure. The shinobi that was sent by Tsunade to ring the alarm was stopped dead in his tracks when one of the robots grabbed his face with its harpoon from its hand, instantly killing him. His body twitched as the knowledge was extracted from his brain and stored in the robots central system, like a storage for later use. The robot dropped the corpse and turned its robotic eyes on Tsunade.

Several of the villagers were suffering the same fate as the shinobi. Panic was widespread as the shinobi actively counter attacked. The only problem was that there were so many! There was on way that they could escort the civilians to safety and repel the attack at the same time, so most shinobi chose to fight and repel the humanoids. Fire and earth jutsus were launched all around the village. Explosive tags were set off let and right. Kunais were buried in the heads and necks of the humanoids. Many of them were crushed by earth jutsus. Several more were incinerated by the intense fire jutsus. However, no matter how many were destroyed, many more replaced them via the holographic teleportation from Brainiac's ship.

"This is bullshit!" Tsunade cried out in anger as she knocked away yet another robot with her insane strength. "Just one year, can I go on with my life without any shit happening?! Die!"

Soon afterwards, the village alarm bells began to ring, signaling to all of the village people that they were under attack. The Rookie Eleven members, or what was let of them, were already out and fighting against the humanoid robots. Countless other shinobi were also fighting, along with their Sixth Hokage, Kakashi Hatake.

During this time, the skull like ship of Brainiac simply floated above the village, as if it was observing the handiwork of its henchmen.

Moments later, several metallic pods dropped from the ship and landed on the ground. When each one landed, rocks and dust flew in the air violently. The shinobi close to the pods were shocked at the sudden arrivals of the pods and eyed them carefully. Soon after, the doors of the pods slightly opened, and then popped off like corkscrew.

Out of the pods emerged Gorilla Grodd, Captain Cold, Poison Ivy, Deadshot, and Atrocitus. The shinobi of the Leaf in the area were shocked at this new development, but shot into action. Kunai and shuriken were launched at the newcomers with haste. Captain Cold stepped forward and shot his ice gun, quickly creating a large ice wall that blocked the projectiles. Green vines shot up from the ground and strangled the shinobi that had thrown the weapons. A moment later, the ice wall was shattered at the hands of General Grodd. He looked at he remaining shinobi in the area and he said in his deep and gruff voice, "You have a decision to make, warriors. Either join me willingly and reap the rewards, or suffer and become my puppets."

One brave shinobi yelled out, "You dumb, stupid monkey! You attack us, then ask us to join you?! Thats why we humans are above you!"

That was obviously the wrong thing to say to Gorilla Grodd. Also it was the last thing that shinobi was going to say.

Grodd launched himself forward and threw his massive fist in the shinobi's chest, immediately crushing his ribs. The blow was so hard and fast that it automatically caused his heart to stop from shock. The shinobi fell on the ground, dead from the sudden fatal attack delivered by Grodd.

Gorilla Grodd turned around and roared, his mind manipulating abilities kicking in at full power. Taking control of their minds, he had them turn around and begin attacking other Leaf shinobi. Grodd chuckled evilly and said to the rest of the members of the Society, "Our conquer has begun. Capture those only in power or in any knowledgeable field. Kill the rest."

With that said, Deadshot's guns were fired, dropping civilians like flies. Captain Cold was making another area a museum of frozen people, dead the moment they were encased in ice. Poison Ivy had carnivorous plants and vines sprout from the ground, strangling and consuming numerous people left and right. Atrocitus was using his red ring to either blow people into pieces, or conjuring up red, ferocious looking animals that would crush everyone. No one, be it shinobi or civilian, was out of reach of the Society members.

Kakashi Hatake was fighting against numerous humanoids like they were nothing. He saw the newest members arrive and begin killing off more people from the village. Using another chidori to blast away yet another humanoid robot of Brainiac's design, he thought to himself, We could really use your help right now Naruto. Please hurry.

That was when he got an idea.

He performed several hand signs and yelled out, "Chidori Stream!"

He copied the jutsu used by his Uchiha student, and was grateful as to how effective it was. All of the humanoids around him were toasted from the inside out. Once the area was clear, he withdrew a scroll from his robes and laid it out on the ground. Using a kunai to draw a little blood, he performed a few more hand signs and placed a long line of blood across the scroll.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A moment later, several dogs appeared. Pakkun the ninja pug said to Kakashi, "Hey Kakashi, whats up?"

"Sorry Pakkun, no time to talk!" Kakashi announced. "I need you to go track down Naruto! The rest of you, help me repel the enemies!"

One loud, collective bark was heard, and they all dispersed from the area, carrying out their missions.

Kakashi said out loud, "No one attacks my village and just walks away. I will end you, one way or another!"

He charged another chidori in his hand and charged into the battle once again.

….….

A/N: there you go guys! Let me know what you all thought. Who else should be in this arc of the story? More Society members? What do you think should happen next? Tell me what you think, it just might appear in the story! Until next time, Roku out.