Nine Tailed Mutant Legend
CHP 45: Deceptive Hideout Beneath
Batman stays in front of everyone else with the radar in his left hand. He looks down at it on occasion to make sure they're still heading in the right direction. Naruto keeps one of his hands close to his shuriken pouch just in case they come across any immediate danger. Michelangelo whistles aloud trying his best to entertain himself. Raphael looks over at his brother and frowns, wanting him to stop. Mikey notices the look Raph gives him from the corner of his eye but continues to do it anyway.
"Mikey I swear if you don't stop that noise I'm going to put you into the ground myself! That'll leave one less person for those invaders to worry about!" Raphael says.
Naruto laughs at the comments by Raph, and in the following moments so does Michelangelo. While still keeping pace with everyone, Raphael puts a hand to his head. Batman keeps to himself having nothing to say, with his mind wrapped around the current task.
"So let's say we do locate and find Leonardo, do you really think we're strong enough to take on those guys? There's just so many of them it's crazy. I for one am up to any challenge but in our current state that's going to be rough." Naruto says.
Batman agrees with what he says, and hopes that they somehow have a little luck on their side and locate some others. He doesn't know much about the group that they have waiting at the checkpoint spot, except for Donatello. Batman suddenly stops, and everyone else does the same.
"What's going on? Is something wrong?" Naruto asks.
Batman puts out one of his arms telling the Leaf village ninja to keep quiet. The entire group is soundless listening to their surroundings. All of them duck for cover hearing footsteps up ahead. They find shelter behind trees and under bushes. The wait in their places for a few moments and breathe easy when seeing a group of deer gallop passed them. All of them stand and continue their way down the set path.
"Are you sure it was a good idea to send Naruto off alone with those unknown people. You should have went with them Shikamaru! I'm not trying to be overprotective but none of us, including Naruto himself has any idea who they truly are."
Shikamaru reaches out patting Ino over the shoulder advising her not to worry so much, and that Naruto can take care of himself. Sakura feels differently than Ino, she could see it in the eyes of her closes friend. The look he gave off tells her that Naruto trusts and respects them as he would any team member.
"Naruto will be just fine, he might not be the brightest guy on the block but he isn't stupid. We also have to remember that the less of us moving around the better. If we were to travel as a large group we'd be easy open targets." Sakura says.
"Yeah I guess you're right. Still I'm not looking forward to engaging the enemy at all. There's got to be another way we can go about this. After what they've done, I don't think any of us can definably say we can stop them. " Ino says.
"Try not to worry about that stuff Ino, it'll all work out in our favor in the end. Once we've put together a team to combat against them I'll put together a strategy." Shikamaru says.
Jiraiya comes up next to Shizune and Tsunade asking if she's thinking up a plan. She shakes her head back and forth. Donatello walks over shaking hands with and introducing himself to Tenten.
Worlds away
Sonya and Zatanna stay close to each other and follow everyone in front of them. Azun leads the entire group into a large room. Sonya isn't able to make out what the person looks like, but from what she's able to see someone sits up on what looks like a throne. Azun takes a knee bowing down along with everyone else. Sonya and Zatanna follow what everyone else does taking a knee and bowing.
"It's good to see you have returned Azun. I'd like a full report from you as soon as possible. I've been told that you've been handling everything very well."
Azun stands from his position while everyone else stays down in their spots. King Klenk dismisses everyone from the room except for Azun who he wants to have a word with. Sonya and Zee exit out of the room and follow close behind Quila.
"Hey if you two would like I can give you a tour of this place. I think you'll both find it to your liking. Just let me know if you want to get something to eat first, it could take a while." Quila says smiling.
Zatanna and Sonya look at each other and both agree they'd like to get going on the tour. Quila asks for them to follow her. She guides them down a hall and down a flight of stairs. Zatanna looks at some of the strange art that is posted on the wall as they pass by. Quila stops without warning and opens a door leading all of them out onto a massive patio. Quila can tell by the expressions on their faces that both women are impressed. Both of them take an immediate interest to the sky.
"Why is the sky red?" Sonya asks.
"That is how it naturally is in this world during the day, and at night it is a very dark purple. Though it can be confused with black, so once nightfall arrives the two of you should feel right at home." Quila says.
Zatanna runs out to the balcony, and her eyes widen at the sight of the city down below! Its beauty unlike anything she's seen before! Sonya comes up next to her and is equally amazed by the view down below.
"One thing is for sure, I wouldn't want to fall! That is at least a good six hundred to seven hundred feet. If any of us fell it would be certain death." Zatanna says.
"You can say that again," Sonya turns away from the balcony and looks up, "Not to mention we aren't even close to being at the top floor."
Quila stands off to the side somewhat enjoying watching how impressed the two earthlings are with the fortress of King Klenk. Zatanna still has her eyes on the city down below more than impressed.
"Is there a small chance that we could get a tour of this magnificent city?" Sonya asks.
"I'll see what I can do about that, but let's get going. There is a lot the two of you need to see inside the fortress starting with the armory facility. Follow me this way, it isn't far from here."
Zatanna has a hard time taking her eyes off the view and is grabbed from behind by Sonya. Quila opens the door leading them back inside. They follow her through the halls exploring different locations. Klenk asks for Azun to follow him into his study where they can continue further conversation. Azun follows him and takes a seat on the sofa nearest to a window.
"Alright than, go ahead and shoot. I'll tell you anything you'd like to know. As much success that my team and I have had throughout this mission it came with a lot of disturbances." Azun informs.
King Klenk walks across the room opening up a cabinet and pouring him something to drink. He offers something to Azun, but he declines. Klenk walks over taking a seat across from Azun.
"Tell me about these disturbances." Klenk says taking a sip.
"As you were probably already informed we had the Jinchuriki in custody that carries the power of the nine tailed fox, but he and his newly acquainted teammates have been a huge nuisance! We even managed to capture Sasuke Uchiha, but he was freed at the same time as Uzumaki!" Azun says slamming his fist over the table between them.
Klenk takes another drink setting his glass down and resting his back up against the sofa. He looks up at the ceiling, and sees Azun's anger as a good thing. To him that shows that he's devoted to his job of spreading his rule throughout all lands.
"Try not to worry yourself Azun, you have done a marvelous job thus far. In time we will have both Naruto and Sasuke. These allies of Naruto you speak of…who are they?"
"It's kind of ironic but the four mutant turtles we were after had paired up with Naruto. They were also running around with a guy dressed as a bat. But I honestly don't have a great understanding of what his abilities are if any. He might just be a man playing dress up with a lot of cool toys."
Klenk sits up, digesting the information what is given to him. No such person matches the description of any individual they've got on their list.
"Interesting, we shall see how much longer their luck runs for. Do you have any idea of where they were last seen? Though I highly doubt it matters, our trained soldiers will hunt each and every one of them down."
Azun sit back in his chair letting out a small laugh, which causes Klenk to glare at his right hand guy.
"Sasuke may not be much for words, but Naruto is the complete opposite of him. It wasn't hard to notice his confidence and willpower. That Jinchuriki is something else that's for sure." Azun says.
He may know almost everything about Sasuke and Naruto, but he has never met either of them face to face. Klenk actually likes that Azun shares this extra information with him. But he is positive he would easily take down both Naruto and Sasuke in a direct fight at the same time.
"So I've heard you decided to leave one of your best squad people behind to look after things."
"Yeah I guess you could say that," Azun looks away from Klenk and out the window, "Kayla has shown a lot of promise. The areas she needs to improve in most are combat and leadership skills, but she's a good tactician and has a great understanding of battle. In a few years she could really be something special."
Klenk stands from his seat stretching out and walking toward his desk.
"As I said before it's great to have you back. Make yourself at home, and don't forget to stop by the dojo. There are several who have eagerly awaited your return."
Azun nods his head while at the same time standing from the sofa and exiting out of the room.
Worlds away
Naruto and the rest of the group close in on the target believed to be Leonardo. Batman looks down on the radar to see that their target is only about thirty yards from their position, but they decide as a team to take it slow from where they are. The fact they've come this far, they'd hate for their great efforts of staying concealed to come to an end.
"I say we go now, the coast looks clear to me. Let's get this over with already!" Naruto says jumping up.
He is grabbed from behind by Raphael and pulled back into the bushes. Everyone else remains silent in their places. Batman has his eyes on the radar confirming the exact location is straight ahead, but because of all the trees they can't see the target. Michelangelo and Raphael look around to see if there is anything out of the ordinary. Batman scans the area using a special lens and stands up fully after.
"Let's get moving everything looks good up ahead. But from what I could see up ahead my lenses detected two energy signatures. If Leonardo is in fact up this way, someone else is with him. We should still move with caution in case of traps." Batman says.
"Now you're speaking my language! Let's do this!" Naruto shouts running ahead.
"Wait up Naruto, the objective is to move in slowly!" Michelangelo yells running after him.
Raphael rests his head in the palm of his hand shaking his head back and forth. Batman taps Raph on the shoulder.
"We need to stay with them just in case this is some form of ambush. The four of us together will fare better." Batman says sprinting after Mikey and Naruto.
"And they call me the hothead, this blond kid is much worse than me." Raphael says running as well.
Naruto runs at top speed and as he gets in close a ninja shuriken of some sort is thrown at him that he flips over. He lands on his feet and in the next second he comes face to face with Leonardo who steps from behind a tree and surprisingly…Kakashi!
"Kakashi sensei! Boy am I glad to see you! Man it seems like it's been so long after everything that has been taking place." Naruto says.
Naruto reaches out wrapping his arms around Kakashi giving him a big hug. In the following seconds Michelangelo, Raphael and Batman arrive.
"Yeah I missed you to Naruto," Kakashi runs a hand through his own hair, "Could you let go of me now?"
"Ahaha, sorry about that sensei." Naruto says ending his hold.
Mikey and Raphael exchange hugs with their brother/leader informing him that Donatello awaits them back at the checkpoint.
"Well I guess it's time we head back so we can start putting a plan together." Naruto says.
"HAHAHA! That is funny, because I don't think any of you are going anywhere!"
Just like that a huge group of the invaders surround them by erupting from the ground beneath! Kakashi figures it must be some kind of earth style Jutsu!
"Time to die you little worms!" One of them yells out.
To Be Continue
