Yo folks this is the first in a pair of Young Justice crossovers I will be doing. There are some similar shared themes between the two but both end up being very different fics. This of course is a Naruto Young Justice Crossover where Naruto will be the young up and coming Hero known as Hoplite. One of the founding members of the Young Justice team and someone who has had a rough past that will need the help of his friends and loved ones made among the League and Young Justice to properly mend.
Naruto will have powers somewhat similar to Wonder Woman, but more about his abilities will be revealed as the fic goes. More regarding everything about Naruto will be revealed both to the other characters and the readers as the fic continues.
Another heads up, if hasn't been clear in my recent updates, my schedule is now random. So I don't know when something else will be updated. Just try to enjoy my random whims as I write.
For those interested in talking with me or others that also write fanfiction, primarily Naruto fanfiction, come join AizenTheGoat's server over on discord. A link can be found right here → /7x4YFstKcz
Lets get into the story now shall we.
Twists and Turns
It had been roughly three weeks since Naruto or rather Hoplite had been separated from his mentor. Closer to a month actually. A month of feeling almost as if he had done something wrong to get her to put him aside and leave what she called man's world for who knows how long. She had told him that it wasn't his doing, but he wasn't so stupid as to imagine his involvement hadn't been a part of the reason.
So for the last few weeks he had been passed back and forth between the various members of the League that said they needed a hand. Effectively he was being babysat by the protectors of the world because the truth was he was not fully trusted. Even now. After all this time working with Diana, or Wonder Woman he should say. Perhaps he shouldn't use the name Diana, they were not evidently as close as he had thought.
Such depressing thoughts about him being considered either a brat needing coddled or a possible threat needing watched was not doing him any good at the moment so he tried to think of other things. Like his work. Sadly that was not something so easily accomplished.
His mind repeatedly returned to the annoying reality of his situation and no matter how much he tried to distract himself it always came back in. Partly because he agreed with their actions. That was what stung the worst. He could see why they still kept themselves guarded around him.
Batman had made his position clear. Hoplite had abilities that were familiar but never before combined. Augmentations to his body from when he was newly born, training meant for a member of the League of Shadows when he was a mere child, curses and blessings of magical origin before he was even a teen, and the vile taint of a red lantern ring of all things when he was only an adolescent.
Not that he could even use the ring to it's true capabilities. He couldn't bring himself to put it on. He would no doubt lose himself in the power and dread it needed to devour his rage and turn him into a mindless beast. While he did not wield the ring as other lanterns did. Refusing to place it on his fingers knowing what would happen, it was still a threat.
Naruto knew that. He could respect them being wary of it. Just as they were wary of the other elements of his past. It was all reasonable and he agreed.
Still it gnawed at his mind and soul. A quiet voice in his head whispering that now even Diana had abandoned him. As was the expected end of any relationship, platonic or otherwise, he hoped to have in this world.
"You really are the broody type, just like Batman. Diana warned me but I didn't realize someone else had that sort of thing in them." A woman's voice said to him, causing him to turn to face her.
She was easily the second most attractive woman he had ever seen. Her outfit did plenty to accentuate that natural beauty and physical fitness that she had clearly worked to acquire. He would be a liar if he tried to say otherwise. Still, she wasn't his mentor. Didn't quite stack up to the woman he had come to know ever since she had beat some sense into him.
"I'm sorry." He apologized realizing he was being bad company for the woman. She had been nothing but kind to him and he had been acting cold and stiff with her in response.
"No need to apologize. Everyone has their own way of dealing with things. If you feel like talking could help you can use my ear after all. A lot of the League does." Black Canary said as she sent a small friendly smile Hoplite's way.
Naruto grimaced faintly behind his helmet. Thankfully it wasn't something Black Canary could actually see. His body language had been enough for her to read though. Just as she had noticed how broody he was through it a second ago.
"No pressure, Hoplite. If you want to talk I'll listen. Simple as that. If you don't, you don't have to." She said placating him.
Naruto once more grimaced behind his helmet as he felt some mild guilt. It felt as if he was spitting her polite nature back into her face which wasn't his intention in the slightest.
"Thank you." He awkwardly bit out to the woman whose kind smile dipped only faintly before it returned to its prior strength.
The pair stood in silence here in the Hall of Justice in D.C. Evidently as part of an incentive program or something the various proteges and apprentices of the League members were here to briefly be shown around the inner sanctum of the Justice League. Naruto had an inkling of doubt about that. Maybe they would be given a taste of the League's secrets but he had been made very aware of just how secretive and at times manipulative Batman and some of the other members of the league could be. Not necessarily for a nefarious reason but because secrets were as much of a weapon as anything else when it came to public opinion. Something the League had to keep high at all times.
"You know, we could have gone out to get a bite to eat or something if they were going to be this late." Black Canary said, causing Naruto to relax a little and nod his head. The woman eyed him before chuckling lightly.
The pair had worked together a total of three times before Wonder Woman had returned to Themyscira. They'd always been brief, but Naruto had to say he definitely liked the fact she didn't try to browbeat him into conversations. He found he was a bit awkward in the initial stages of getting to know someone now and it took a while before he easily spoke with them. It wasn't because of any ill intent he held toward new people, just an ingrained unease perhaps.
The door to the library where the pair of heroes had been waiting finally slid open revealing Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado as they led the group of heroes and their sidekicks in. Manhunter had already given Naruto the same spiel about what he had access to in the Hall, but the rest of the group had all been late. Something Canary seemed intrigued by, even if Naruto suspected it was just another aspect of their jobs as heroes.
"What kept you all?" She asked.
"Something we need to discuss in the briefing area." Batman commented while Flash stepped in front of all of the young heroes. Hoplite included.
"Go ahead and make yourselves at home." The speedster said with a smile.
Naruto sighed quietly but did as was asked. He knew how things could get in the way so he didn't let himself get too bothered by it. Glancing at Speedy, it seemed that such sentiment wasn't fully shared though as the boy narrowed his eyes at the members of the League as they gathered around Batman.
The blond shook his head. He hoped the archer wouldn't stir up anything and drag this out even longer than need be. Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Robin, all seemed to be fine with taking a seat and enjoying the new access they had. Aqualad and Kid Flash even warmly greeting Hoplite himself as they joined him in the sitting area.
"A quick debrief to discuss the coincidence of four ice villains attacking on the same day." Batman announced to the teens. "We shouldn't be long."
With that he turned around and the computer produced a scanner that quickly ran a scan over the league members and gave them admission into the deeper rooms of the Hall. As it finished identifying each of them the door slid open and they began to head into it only to be stopped by Speedy quickly stepping over to them.
"That's it?" He demanded, causing them all to face him while Hoplite and the other sidekicks watched from their seats. "You promised us a real look inside, not a glorified backstage pass."
"It's a first step. You've been granted access few others get." Aquaman replied.
"Oh really?" Speedy asked as he swept a hand up toward the observation windows where tourists recorded and took snapshots of the heroes. "Who cares which side of the glass we're on?"
"Roy, you just need to be patient." Green Arrow tried to calm his protege down.
"What I need is respect." The young man shot right back.
Roy turned to face the rest of the group of proteges. "They're treating us like kids. Worse, like sidekicks. We deserve better than this."
The others all glanced at one another and then back to Speedy. Only serving to bother the boy more.
"You're kidding, right?" He asked in disbelief.
"We are sidekicks." Hoplite said.
"No we aren't. You especially. Why are you even here, didn't your mentor throw you away or something?" He asked before blinking. He hadn't meant it like that. He had meant that they were all being tossed aside but as Hoplite quickly stood with clenched fists, Speedy realized the damage was done. He pushed past that as he focused on the group at large.
"Today was supposed to be the day. Step one in becoming full fledged members of the league!" He practically shouted.
"Well sure," Kid Flash entered the conversation. "But I thought step one was a tour of the HQ?"
"Except the hall isn't the League's real HQ!" Speedy shouted getting Canary to slap a palm to the back of Green Arrows head as she immediately realized where this was coming from.
"I bet they never told you. It's just a false front for tourists and a pit stop for catching zeta beam teleporter tubes to the real thing. An orbiting satellite called the watchtower." Speedy ranted.
The other sidekicks were shocked, but like Speedy, Naruto had already been made aware of this information. Wonder Woman had never treated him like anything less than a partner in fighting crime. Still, he wasn't so foolish as to just go announcing it willy nilly. Naruto and Speedy were the eldest among the proteges after all so Naruto had felt they were treated a little more equally while Kid Flash and Robin were both still more like students. They didn't need to let slip about such an important facility when practically every member of the League had at least one villain among their collection of usual villains that could realistically target the station.
There were a lot of support staff that worked on the installation from what he understood and they would all be in danger if word about it got out. Not just the heroes.
Naruto's attention was pulled from Speedy to Green Arrow as the combined glares of Batman, Canary, and even Flash and the rest of the League members all narrowed on the archer.
"I know, I know, but I thought maybe we could make an exception?" He tried to say, only getting even more narrowed glares.
"Or not." He said with a frown.
Aquaman decided to turn the conversation back on topic as he approached Speedy. "You are not helping your cause here, son. Stand down or-"
"Or what?" Speedy rudely interrupted with a hiss getting a jolt from Aqualad as he joined Naruto in standing. It seemed that while Aqualad was beginning to agree with a few points made by the archer, he wasn't one to let insults to his king slide so easily.
That was good in Naruto's opinion. He felt the same way in regard to Diana. Or Wonder Woman. Perhaps not the exact same way, though.
"What are you going to do? Send me to my room?" Roy continued to rant. "And I'm not your son, I'm not even his son!"
Speedy glared over at Green Arrow with rage before his voice quieted down into a colder tone. One filled with contempt rather than the frustrated outrage from a moment before.
"I thought I was his partner, but not anymore." He stated before tearing off his hat and throwing it on the floor.
His words and actions took the room by surprise. Especially the sidekicks, even Naruto. Robin and Kid Flash hopped to their feet as well as Speedy stormed past the group of proteges.
"Guess they're right about you guys. You're not ready." He continued out of the room, and on out of the Hall itself.
Almost as soon as the doors closed behind him an alarm sounded and the large screens of the room filled with the image of Superman. The group all turned to face him as he began explaining the emergency he was calling them about.
"Superman to Justice League. There's been an explosion at Project CADMUS, in Washington. It's on fire." He announced.
"I've had some suspicions about CADMUS. This may present the perfect opportunity to in-" Batman began to say before another alarm blared to life and Zatara suddenly filled another of the large screens on the wall.
"Zatara to Justice League. The sorcerer Wotan is using the amulet of Attan to blot out the sun. Requesting full League response." The magician said a little more frantically than Superman had spoken earlier.
"Superman?" Batman asked.
"It's a small fire, local authorities should have it under control." Superman replied.
"Then CADMUS can wait. All Leaguers rendezvous at Zatara's coordinates. Batman out." Batman messaged the entirety of the League before he and the rest of the adults began moving toward the room they had approached earlier.
Naruto and the other proteges approached them to follow. Only for Batman to stop in front of them.
"Stay put." He said. It was an order but not harshly commanded.
"What? Why?" Robin argued.
"This is a League mission." Aquaman added.
"You're not trained." Flash also began, only for Kid Flash to cut him off.
"Since when?" He demanded.
"I meant you're not trained to work as part of this team." Flash said as he waved at the group of Leaguers.
"There will be other missions when you're ready." Aquaman said.
"With my abilities, I could lend-" Naruto began only for Batman to simply insist.
"Stay Put."
With that the members of the Justice League all left, leaving behind the collection of four proteges. Naruto blew out a sigh of annoyance trying to keep his temper in check. This whole day had been nothing but a bust.
"How are we ever supposed to be ready when they treat us like-like sidekicks?" Kid Flash demanded as he began pacing.
"My mentor, my king, I thought he trusted me." Aqualad joined in on the pity party.
"Trust? They don't even trust us with the basics! They've got a secret HQ in space!" Kid Flash ranted.
"Actually, Wonder Woman had told me about the Watchtower." Naruto pointed in. He wasn't sure why, just that he felt the need to offer that up.
"Oh yeah? Where is she even at man?" Kid Flash asked sharply.
Naruto clenched his jaw but didn't say anything after that. He didn't need to argue over that.
"What else aren't they telling us?" Aqualad asked.
"I have a better question. Why didn't we leave with Speedy?" Robin asked.
The room fell silent at that. Naruto prepared to leave, until Aqualad asked what project CADMUS was. That was enough to keep Naruto interested and remain in the room. If he was correct on where this was going, he was happy to tag along.
They followed Robin over to the computer and let the youngest member of their little group work his magic and bypassing the computer security he brought up everything that the league had on CADMUS.
"Whoa, how are you doing that?" Kid Flash asked.
"Same system as the Batcave." Robin answered cheekily. "Let's see, Project CADMUS, a genetics lab here in D.C. Wait, that's pretty much all there is. But if Batman's suspicious, maybe we should investigate."
"Solve their case before they do." Aqualad commented. "It would be poetic justice."
"And they are all about justice, right?" Robin asked.
"They said stay put though." Aqualad hesitated.
"Yeah, but on the sun blotting mission, they didn't say anything about this." Robin pointed out.
"Wait, so are you going Robin? Because if you are going, I'm going." Kid Flash said before smirking over to Hoplite and Aqualad. "What about you guys? Are you going?"
"So just like that, we're a team on a mission?" Aqualad wondered.
"Easy enough for me. It's something that needs done, we might as well be the ones to do it right?" Naruto asked.
"Hah! We didn't come for a play date!" Robin said, and with that the four teens were headed for the door.
The four of them arrived together and ducked out in a nearby alley as they took in the situation. The fire wasn't massive but a pair of scientists were trapped dangerously near to it. Naruto didn't hesitate flying forward. Without hesitation he grabbed both men and floated down carefully placing them in the safe hands of the medics on site.
"Hoplite! Thank goodness you are here." One of the men said before the area both men had been at suddenly exploded.
"That was too close. Are there any others up there?" Naruto asked.
"No, we were-" One of the scientists said only for another to interrupt him to point at Kid Flash who raced up the wall of the burning building and straight into it.
"It's what's his name. Flash Boy!" One of the firefighters called out.
"Ugh, Kid Flash. Why is that so hard?" The teen asked from where he was at.
Robin soon followed, swinging up through a window into the building and following after KF. Aqualad stopped beside Hoplite and both stared up after them in mild annoyance.
"They really shouldn't run ahead like that." Aqualad said.
"Yeah, but not really anything we can do about it right now." Hoplite said before wrapping an arm around the other boy and flying up through the window himself.
The older two boys easily found the younger two who were focused on an elevator door. They had evidently seen a figure slip into it before the doors closed.
"The elevators should be locked down." Kid Flash pointed out as they approached the doors.
"This is wrong. This is a high speed express elevator. It doesn't belong in a two story building." Robin said as he scanned his eyes over a holographic readout from his wrist mounted computer.
Hoplite and Aqualad stepped over to the elevator doors and easily pried them open to look down an extremely deep elevator shaft. It went down further than any of them could even see.
"Well, that's probably why they need the express elevator." Robin commented as he fired a grappling hook up into the ceiling and began descending the rope into the darkness below. Aqualad and Kid Flash followed after him while Hoplite simply floated down beside them. Close enough that he could quickly stop one of them should they begin to fall.
"Gee, I'm at the end of my rope." Robin joked before casting a look around at the floor he was at. Only sub-level twenty-six. The elevator shaft continued down, so far that even now none of them could see the bottom of the shaft.
The teens all settled at the doors to level twenty-six as Robin worked to disable the security measures on the door. With a thumbs up, Hoplite and Aqualad once again pried the doors open letting the quartet head deeper into the facility.
Kid Flash took off, despite Robin calling after him leading to him nearly being crushed by massive monstrosities seeming to be traveling in a herd down the halls. Narrowly dodging one of the creatures feet the speedster quickly rejoined the others and stared in shock and awe at what they were seeing.
"Whatever this place is, there is no way that is going to be for anything good. Those things are built like tanks." Naruto pointed out as the creatures seemed to ignore them entirely.
"So I'm thinking it was a good thing we came to check this place out, right?" Kid Flash asked his temporary teammates.
"Yeah, this is definitely something the League needs to know about." Robin commented.
"Let us keep looking around. We should learn what we can before getting in contact with the League." Aqualad suggested.
"Good idea. Come on." Naruto said as he began heading back down the hall, until they came to another sealed door and Robin once more worked his magic to unlock it without setting off some kind of alarm.
"Okay. I am officially whelmed." Robin said as the four of them took in the scene before their eyes.
Row upon row of blue lit containment tubes ran from floor to ceiling. Lightning crackled audibly and seemed to be channeling into some sort of central receptor. The group slowly walked into the room. The containers each held some sort of insectoid creature that was generating the electricity.
"This is how they hid this massive underground facility from the world. The real CADMUS isn't on the grid. It generates its own power with these things. Must be what they're bred for." Kid Flash said.
"Even it's name is a clue. Cadmus from myth created a new race by sowing dragons' teeth into the earth." Aqualad added in.
"So they're creating lab grown creatures for specific purposes. Could actually be really helpful but if they were just developing new creatures to replace power plants, or other civilian needs they wouldn't need this facility for it." Hoplite commented. "I highly doubt they haven't started developing some vile things to go along with this."
"Probably. Let's find out why." Robin said as he hooked his wrist computer up to the control panel and got to work.
"Huh, they call them genomorphs. Whoa look at these things. Super strength, telepathy, razor claws. These are living weapons!" Robin said in shock.
"Something for every kind of situation." Naruto chimed in at the sight of the various kinds of creatures. Everything from units for stealth, assault, and defense. Anything they could need in the hundreds.
"They're engineering and army, but for who?" Kid Flash asked.
"There's something else. A project Kr. Ugh, the problem is the file is triple encrypted. I can't get any more information on it." Robin said as he furiously typed on the keyboard.
The group snapped the attention back toward the door as a voice called for them to hold it right there. A costumed hero, easily recognized as Guardian, ran toward them surrounded by the genomorphs and even being used as a perch by one.
"Wait. Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Hoplite?" He asked in shock.
"At least he got your name right." Robin teased Kid Flash.
"Guardian, you're a hero." Aqualad said a bit suspicious.
"I do my best." Guardian replied humbly.
"Then what are you doing down here?" Kid Flash demanded.
"I'm the chief of security. You're trespassing, but we can call the Justice League and figure this all out." Guardian said calmly.
"You think the League is going to approve of breeding living weapons like this?" Kid Flash asked.
"Weapons? What are you-" Guardian began to ask before he grunted and gripped his head.
Naruto's eyes widened behind his helmet at the sight. He could see the tiny creature on his shoulder seem to begin making its horns glow and it focused on the hero's head. Naruto braced himself for combat at that, this was going to get troublesome fast. Especially as it was technically a hero they were up against in a place the four of them should not be in.
"Take em down hard. No mercy!" Guardian ordered the other creatures as he joined them in charging toward the teens.
Naruto engaged Guardian himself directly while the rest of the team fought off the genomorphs. Naruto was surprised by the strength and skill Guardian had however it didn't quite measure up to Naruto's own as the younger boy sent the man rolling across the floor with a super powered body slam.
Robin quickly used a smoke bomb and disappeared into the shadows of the ceiling before rappelling down to hack the door open.
Both Aqualad and Kid Flash struggled against the numbers of Genomorphs they were up against and after Hoplite had temporarily forced Guardian out of the fight he found himself being swarmed by the creatures. While they fought, alarms blared and more and more genomorphs poured into the room making Naruto realize that they would be overwhelmed if they remained here.
"Come on!" Naruto said as he batted a pair of Genomorphs back into their little horde. Kid Flash and Aqualad didn't need to be told twice as they ran for Robin's position. Sadly the youngest of the group hadn't gotten the door open yet so both Hoplite and Aqualad turned to hold off the oncoming pack.
"Way to be a team player, Rob!" Kid Flash growled out at his friend.
"Weren't you right behind me?" He asked back cheekily.
Hoplite and Aqualad slowly fell back toward the younger boys as they worked together to hold the creatures off, in Naruto's case even briefly using one as a weapon against its brethren. With a nod, Aqualad peeled off just as Robin got the elevator doors open and once he was inside Naruto hurled the genomorph in his hands back at the others buying them just enough time for him to slip into the elevator with the rest of the team and for the doors to close behind him before the genomorphs could recover and continue to pursue them.
"There are way too many of those damn things. None of the big ones were even present, but I already have a bit of an idea how bad this could be if all of these things were let loose on a city or something." Hoplite said to the others as he watched them all quickly catch their breaths.
That was when he and Aqualad both noticed the counter above the door to the elevator. It was going in the opposite direction they wanted it to be going.
"We're headed down?" Aqualad asked.
"Dud out is up." Kid Flash said to Robin who simply smirked.
"But Project Kr is down. All the way on the bottom floor." Robin said.
"We have lost any kind of element of surprise and we are going to end up trapped here. We can't fight a whole army by ourselves." Naruto said, all while ignoring the silent whisper in his ears saying that he could, he just needed to trust in all his potential power.
"Hoplite is right. This is all out of control, we should contact the League." As he said that though the elevator dinged and the door opened. All four stepped out ready to fight, only to pause at the mostly empty corridor. A corridor that appeared to be made from organic material.
"This reminds me way too much of some kind of alien hive." Naruto grumbled as he and the others cautiously stepped forward into the hall.
Robin soon took off though, causing both Naruto and Aqualad to sigh.
"We are already here." Kid Flash said with a small shrug before he too raced forward, not too pleased to let Robin poke around first.
The group moved forward only to pause as they contemplated which route to use. Robin dubbing them bizarre looking hallway one and two respectively. Any choice on the path they would take was taken from them as one of the Genomorphs, a more humanoid looking one than any of the rest of the creatures had been, stepped out in one of the paths calling for them to halt.
It didn't wait for a response from the teens before it began telekinetically lifting items from the area and hurling them at the four teens. Containers of hazardous material exploded as it impacted the walls around them, and the projectiles that Robin hurled the creature's way stopped midair before dropping straight to the floor.
It continued to pick up dangerous items and pepper the teens with them as they fled deeper into the facility. Guardian and packs of genomorphs quickly joined the creature and they raced after the boys as they tried to come up with some sort of plan.
"They are headed for Project Kr!" The telekinetic genomorph called out to Guardian as they pursued the boys.
Coming up on a dead end at the end of the hallway, the boys watched as a woman in a lab coat stepped out of a large set of reinforced doors. Kid Flash accidentally knocked the woman over before realizing that they had found what they were looking for. He quickly blocked the door, allowing the rest of the team to catch up and enter the room as well.
Once they were in Hoplite kicked the container that Kid Flash had blocked the door with free, letting it close the rest of the way and allowing Robin to take control and lockdown the room so that the CADMUS personnel couldn't override it. Sadly that wasn't all that good of a thing.
"I disabled the door, we're safe." Robin said.
"No, we're trapped and eventually they are going to get in here." Hoplite said as fought back a headache. The whisper of him to let loose and use everything to carve his way out of here was growing overbearing.
"Hey guys. You'll want to see this." Kid Flash said as he looked down at a different monitor.
The others slowly headed over to him. As they did Kid Flash hit a button that lit up a large container at the center of the room. They all stared in shock at the contents within. A boy, roughly looking to be their age with dark hair and a muscular body, dressed in a skintight white suit with a familiar symbol on his chest.
"Big K little r, the atomic symbol for krypton." Kid Flash said in realization as he turned to the other young heroes. "Clone?"
"Robin, hack the terminal." Aqualad commanded and the boy wonder, shook himself free from his shock before nodding and getting to work.
"Weapon designation, Superboy. A clone force-grown in sixteen weeks?" Robin wondered aloud.
"CADMUS has a lot to explain. First the genomorphs and now…this." Hoplite said as he stared at the boy in the pod.
"Made from DNA stolen from Superman." Aqualad said gravely.
"Yeah, no way the big guy knows about this." Kid Flash chimed in.
"That suit is a Solar suit, designed to feed his body yellow sun radiation twenty-four seven." Robin further read.
"What about the genomorphs in the pod with him?" Hoplite asked, pointing at the small creatures above Superboy.
"Genomorph gnomes. Telepathic, force feeding him an education." Robin said.
"And who knows what else. They're making a slave out of Superman's son." Kid Flash said.
"Now we contact the League." Aqualad said before attempting to use his communicator, only to find that he couldn't get a signal so deep within the earth.
The rest of the group attempted their own systems and found the same result. Things were starting to look very bad, especially when they turned and could hear the clicking and tapping of the CADMUS staff working at manually bypassing the door.
Hoplite groaned. Their situation was dire, but as the others mumbled about how wrong what was being done to the Superboy was, Naruto noticed that, like with Guardian's genomorph on his shoulder the creatures within the pod twitched and their horns began to glow.
"Set him free. Do it." Aqualad said, causing Hoplite's eyes to widen.
"No, wait!" He tried to stop them, but Robin had already powered down the pod causing it to slide open.
In a blur of speed Superboy rushed Aqualad, taking him out of the fight with a simple charge and a solid crack to the temple. Kid Flash and Robin raced to try and stop him while Hoplite simply shot toward the clone ready for a fight.
The two younger boys were thrown aside with little issue. Kid Flash hitting his head and going out like Aqualad before him while Robin managed to tuck and roll, narrowly dodging Superboy's follow up attack that dented the floor where he had just stood.
"Whoa! Hang on! We're on your side." He tried to calm the clone down.
Hoplite didn't mince words though and instead barreled into the clone and pinned him against the wall. Sadly, while Naruto had training and magically enhanced power on his side, Kryptonians were ridiculously resilient and strong. Superboy pried an arm free before raining blows down on Naruto's head, sending his helmet flying and even managing to bloody his lip. Something Naruto hadn't had happen since he first met Wonder Woman.
"Fuck! Kryptionians pack a hell of a punch." He growled as he started returning the favor, smashing his fist into Superboy's face again and again as well.
"That's going to get us nowhere, we need a plan." Robin said from nearby.
"Well, think of something fast!" Naruto said as Superboy began to pry himself away from the wall and slowly broke Naruto's grip on him.
"Let me try!" Robin suggested as he pulled out a small gun-like device.
Naruto obliged and after slamming Superboy's head back against the wall moved out of the way giving Robin a clear shot. The taser connected perfectly but the electricity didn't even cause the kryptonian to flinch as he instead used the item to yank Robin forward and lay him out in a clothesline.
"That was the plan?" Naruto asked as he shot forward and slammed Superboy into the wall again.
Sadly this time, the clone was better prepared and reversed it against him. Twisting himself around behind the greek themed hero and smashing his face into the stone wall. Naruto was dazed from the force of the blow and wasn't in any position to resist as Superboy quickly landed a pair of brutal jabs to the back of Naruto's skull causing his head to swim from an actual serious blow to the skull.
Superboy dropped Naruto briefly as he stumbled from the harsh blows. He turned away from the greek themed hero toward the boy wonder.
Robin struggled to try and stand back up only for Superboy to appear looming over him and put him to sleep with a swift pop to the head. With three of the four heroes out of the fight for good Superboy approached the door and ripped it open allowing Guardian and the genomorphs to enter, now easily outnumbering Naruto, and with the addition of the telepathic humanoid looking one Naruto was at an extreme disadvantage.
Still he wouldn't go down without a hell of a fight. He rocketed forward and smashed Superboy into the wall once again, before rapidly spinning and using the clone as a club to remove Guardian from the fight. It didn't last long though as Superboy managed to get his feet underneath himself and stop his momentum before using his superior strength to flip Naruto over himself and bodyslam the blond into the floor.
"Dubbilex! Put him out!" The scientist commanded the telekinetic genomorph.
Naruto briefly struggled in Superboy's grasp. The Kyrptonian clone was simply too physically strong for him to break the boy's grip before he felt Dubbilex begin clawing into his mind with his telepathic abilities. It felt like red hot pokers jabbing themselves into his head forcing a pained scream from the teen's lips before he quickly passed out as the genomorph forced him into unconsciousness.
Superboy let the unconscious hero fall to the floor and stood up to stare at the scientist as he began checking over the room. Guardian rejoined them and rubbed multiple bruises he was starting to develop, even under his armor..
The leader grinned down at the unconscious boys before he gave orders to the various Genomorphs he had with him. This was an excellent opportunity but he needed to converse with the 'board of directors' at the moment.
The lead scientist for project CADMUS stood at the center of a room as several screens formed a circle around him, each filled with the rough image of a humanoid figure composed of light. Among them one spoke with a slightly distorted voice that made him seem inhuman though clearly masculine.
"Doctor Desmond, you require an audience with the Light?" The anonymous figure asked.
"Yes, very sorry to disturb you at this late hour." Desmond began.
"Just make your report." Another of the members of the Light commanded.
"Of course." Desmond said nervously before clearing his throat. "Well we had a small fire here at Project CADMUS. The origin of the incident is still unclear, but it seems to have attracted some…unwanted attention. Four sidekicks. Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Hoplite-"
"Hoplite you say?" One of the figures asked.
"Err, yes." Desmond replied wondering if the figure that had spoken wanted more information.
"Good, carry on with your report, Doctor." The figure simply replied, though even through the distortion it sounded thoughtful.
"Where was I, uhm the four of them breached security. They found and released the weapon the Superboy. Of course the clone is under our telepathic control and as ordered turned against the would be liberators. The sidekicks are contained and we don't believe that the League actually knows that they are here." He finished explaining before hesitating.
"Uh, what should I do with them?" Desmond asked.
"Clone them." One of the Light answered.
"Except for Hoplite. Most of his abilities cannot be replicated genetically. He will need to be returned to the fold as he once was and reconditioned. The rest will be replaced by their substitutes who will serve the Light, and only the Light." Another explained.
"And the originals?" Desmond asked.
"Dispose of them. Leave no trace." Another ordered, and with that the Light disperse, their screens each fading to black.
"There is little time. You must awaken." An echoey voice spoke into the minds of Naruto, and the other heroes. "You must awaken now!"
Naruto groaned faintly as he stirred awake. He took in his surroundings and was immediately displeased. Not only was his helmet removed but he was bound to a tight fitting set of manacles that seemed to glow with some sort of power as runes of the magical nature ran the length of his bindings.
Nearby the rest of the sidekicks were suspended in strange pods against the wall, with large collection tanks beneath them. Like him they had seemed to be woken up by the voice in their heads. Each of them coming back into consciousness simultaneously.
The Superboy stood in the center of the room, staring across at the prisoners silently.
"What? What do you want?" Kid Flash demanded. He got no response though. "Quit staring, you're creeping me out."
"Uh, KF, how about we not tick off the guy that can fry us with a look?" Robin suggested.
"We only sought to help you." Aqualad tried to reach out to the clone.
"Yeah, we free you and you turn on us." Kid Flash snarled.
"Shut up. He didn't decide to do anything. He's a puppet, just like Guardian." Naruto said to the others.
"The Genomorphs…" Robin murmured remembering the red horns when they were active.
"I believe our new friend was not in full control of his actions." Aqualad added.
Superboy, who had been silent up to this point cringed slightly before speaking. "What if I wasn't?"
"He can talk?" Kid Flash asked in shock.
"Yes, he can!" Superboy growled.
"Whoa, not like I said it." KF quickly defended.
"The genormophs taught you telepathically." Aqualad said, pulling attention back toward the topic he wanted to discuss, an avenue of discussion that might actually save them all in the end.
"Yes. They taught me much. I can read, write, I know the names of things." Superboy explained.
"But you don't know those things. You know of the sun, but you don't know what sunlight feels like, or the smell of fresh air, or the feeling of freedom." Naruto suddenly interjected.
Superboy seemed a bit more distraught by that point.
"Do you know who you are? What you are?" Aqualad asked.
Superboy's response was immediate and almost robotic, except he spoke it with such passion that he truly seemed to buy into the programming he had received. Not that that was shocking.
"I am the Superboy, a genomorph. A clone made from the DNA of the Superman. Created to replace him should he perish, to destroy him should he turn from the Light." Superboy announced with his head held high.
Naruto froze at the term Light. A dream of a remembered dream. A sliver of familiarity. Just a gut feeling really, floated with that word. While he struggled to recall why the phrasing put him on edge Aqualad and the others continued to talk with Superboy until the clone snapped at them and caught Naruto's attention once again.
"I live because of CADMUS, it is my home!" Superboy shouted.
"Your home is a test tube. We can show you the sun." Robin tried.
"Well, pretty sure it's after midnight but we can definitely show you the moon." Kid Flash chimed in.
"We can show you, introduce you to Superman." Aqualad suggested.
"No they can't." Doctor Desmond said as he and his associate stepped into the room with Guardian behind them. Each of the three had genomorphs resting on their shoulders.
Once they were fully into the room Desmond ordered his underlings about. Having the three podded sidekicks prepared for cloning and Superboy escorted toward his own pad once more. Superboy briefly looked as if he might resist as Aqualad pleaded for him to help them. However the gnome on Desmond's shoulder hopped onto Superboy's and began glowing causing his expression to go blank.
"Don't start thinking now. See you're not a real boy. You're a weapon and you belong to me. Well too CADMUS but that's the same thing really." Desmond grumbled. "Now get back to your pod!"
As the clone left the room the assistant received a nod to begin extracting the samples they needed from the sidekicks. It was extremely painful and slow going.
"Guardian, take Hoplite to the cargo bay and use the sedative sent to us to render him unconscious. Our colleagues will be very generous with our reward for delivering him to them." Desmond said as Guardian began whealing the platform Naruto was bound down on toward the door.
"Where is Dubbilex?" Desmond wondered before gasping as the telekinetic genomorph from earlier approached him. "Gah! Lurking as usual, get the Gnomes to download their memories and then eliminate the source material."
As Naruto was wheeled out of the room he noticed Superboy slowly walking ahead of him and he saw an opportunity.
"Superboy! You're just as much locked up in here as we are. Together we can break free. But you have to choose. Do you want freedom? Do you want to live in a test tube in a hole in the ground? Are you a person or are you a tool for that sniveling bastard in there? Huh?" Naruto asked, hoping that he could get through to the other boy despite the influence of the gnome.
"Be quiet." Guardian told Naruto in an unnaturally angry tone. However Naruto noticed that the clone had slowed almost to a stop in the hallway.
"Superboy! Just ask yourself, you are meant to be like Superman, what would he do?" Naruto asked.
It came in a blur of speed. Superboy cracked a hand across Guardian's faceplate and sent him tumbling down the hall before grabbing the chains binding Naruto, as they only seemed to affect magical based abilities and easily snapping them off of the captured teen.
"Rarely so happy to be right. Thanks." Naruto said as he rubbed his wrists and neck.
"We should help the others." Superboy suggested.
"Right behind you." Hoplite said as he retrieved his helmet from the containers on the underside of the table and put it on his head.
Superboy ripped the thick metal door off of its hinges before hurling it into the machinery that was powering the cloning pods being used on Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad.
"I told you to get back to your-" Desmond demanded only to be sent flying as Superboy batted him aside. Naruto followed in quickly as he shot into the room and sent both Desond's assistant and Guardian into the wall with a shoulder charge.
"Don't give me orders." Superboy growled down at the Doctor as Naruto moved over to begin freeing his fellow heroes from their tubes.
As Naruto helped Kid Flash from his pod and Superboy moved over to help Aqualad, Robin freed himself. As the boy dropped down to the floor he groaned and rubbed his wrists unhappily.
"Ugh, good thing Batman wasn't here. He'd have my head for taking so long." Robin said getting Kid Flash to guffaw at him.
"Seriously, that's what you're worried about? The whole League will have our heads after tonight." Kid Flash pointed out.
"Unless we fail in fighting our way through fifty-two levels of a genetically engineered army. Then we won't have to worry about a reprimand." Naruto pointed out as he finished helping Kid Flash out of his pod.
"Hoplite's right." Aqualad said as he hopped out of his pod with Superboy's help. "We need to worry about the problem in front of us, not what comes after. Thanks for the help Superboy."
The clone nodded a bit awkwardly, unused to the friendly interaction. The group of five didn't waste any time and began moving for the exit, largely ignoring Desmond's words that they wouldn't escape and that he would have them all in pods again by morning.
With Robin making sure the containers that had begun taking their DNA was destroyed, the five of them booked it for the elevator shaft. As they neared it though Genomorphs seemed to simply appear from the shadows. The strange egg-like protrusions on the walls began to heat up and clearly the creatures inside began to wake up. They soon found themselves with a horde of smaller clawed Genomorphs at their back and a group of five behemoth troll like monsters blocking their path to the elevator.
While Naruto knocked one of the trolls back giving the team room to slip past, Superboy instead remained in a pitched battle with the hulking creatures. Repeatedly being flattened under their massive fists only to send the creature flying in retaliation, before repeating the process again with another of them.
The fight was beginning to cause tremors that shook the corridor and began causing debris to collapse from the ceiling.
"Superboy! The goal is to escape, not bury ourselves!" Aqualad shouted as Naruto deflected a large slab of concrete from landing on the group.
"You want escape?" Superboy roared mindlessly before hurling one of the downed trolls into the rest and catching up with the rest fo the team.
"You really need to work on that rage man." Kid Flash commented. He only got a glare in response, however Naruto's mind heard the whisper mocking the statement 'He calls that rage? You could show him true rage. True strength. Stop holding yourself back boy.'
Naruto forced the words from his mind as he ripped the doors to the elevator open and they all began moving into the shaft. Robin shot a cable up to an upper floor and swung into the shaft while Naruto grabbed Kid Flash and Superboy grabbed Aqualad, both jumping into the shaft to fly. Except, Superboy and Aqualad quickly began to descend as they fell.
With a grunt Naruto swept both of the other boys up as well before hovering over to the edge to let all three climb off of him.
"I don't understand. Superman can fly, why can't I fly?" Superboy asked.
"Looks like you can still hop tall buildings in a single bound, still pretty cool." Kid Flash commented.
"It may be something you simply have to learn to do. Something to think about later." Hoplite said.
"Yeah, this looks like it will have to be our stop though guys." Robin pointed out as he jabbed a finger at the quickly approaching elevator from above them.
Naruto and Superboy kicked the elevator shaft doors out of their way sending the steel careening down the empty hall on Sub-Level fifteen. This floor was quickly filling up with Genomorphs as well, leading to the team running down the hallways away from the seemingly endless horde of creatures. As they ran though, Superboy flinched briefly before calling out for them to take a left.
The boys took his directions and raced to the left, continuing down the hall before calling out for another left. Eventually he called out a right and the five of them found themselves at a dead end.
"Great directions Supey, you trying to get us repodded?" Kid Flash asked.
"No I don't understand…" He began to doubt himself.
"Don't apologize, this is perfect!" Robin said, pointing out the ventilation shaft.
"What is with villains building such large ventilation systems in their secret bases? They make it so much easier on us." Naruto mumbled as they all climbed into the shaft and began moving forward once again.
After a while of crawling Kid Flash couldn't help but complain about the fact that they would never escape at this rate.
"Well, I don't see you coming up with another plan!" Robin snapped.
"Shh. Listen." Superboy said, causing them all to stop moving.
"What is it?" Naruto asked, though he had a suspicion of what the problem was.
"We have to get out of the shafts. There's not enough room for everyone to avoid their claws in here." Superboy said.
"I have another idea." Robin said as they quickly made their way to one of the vent exits.
They got back out in a hallway where Robin connected his wrist mounted device to the CADMUS system once again and got to work. In what was likely record time the boy was smirking at the others in victory.
"I hacked the motion sensors." Robin chirped.
"Sweet. Still plenty of them between us and out though." Kid Flash pointed out before he grinned as he lowered his goggles over his eyes. "But I've finally got room to move."
With a shove, he pushed open the door to the stairwell and took off like a shot up the winding stair case. Any genomorphs in the way he simply bowled over, clearing a path for the others to follow. However Hoplite quickly realized he would be more help taking to the air and shot up the center of the stairwell between the railings. As he did that Superboy collapsed the stairs behind them to cut off their pursuers.
Naruto managed to be the first out of the stairway as he completely avoided the stairs all together. He saw the door sealing closed ahead of them and picked up speed narrowly managing to get between the two doors before it closed and trying to hold it open. It was too much though. Unlike the other doors this one seemed to have been built to withstand the equivalent of a nuclear blast.
Faced with choosing between separating himself from the others or sticking together he very narrowly chose the latter. Hoping they would be better off together than apart.
As it sealed closed behind him the rest of the group showed up. Superboy tried to break it open without even putting a dent in it. It seemed the clone didn't match up to the original in a lot of ways. Naruto supposed he felt a kinship with Superboy in that regard. His abilities were similar to Wonder Woman's as well but she mopped the floor with him in every training session they had.
"We're cut off from the street." Aqualad, pointed out obviously.
"Well, what now?" Kid Flash asked.
"Robin?" Hoplite asked.
The boy wonder shook his head as he rapidly worked on his computer. "It will take too long."
"Then a different path is our only chance. Come on!" Naruto ordered as he shot toward a side door and the others followed him with a horde of genomorphs closing in more and more on them.
Sadly they came to a stop as Guardian, Dubbilex, and an army of Genomorphs blocked their path. Soon their pursuers caught up to them and the five of them were surrounded in a tight space, preparing to have to fight their way out.
Even that option was taken from them as the telepathic gnomes all launched a mental attack that, much like what was used on Naruto earlier, dropped each of them to the floor. Only Superboy and Naruto managed to stay on their knees. Even then only because Naruto knew what to expect from the pain and had been able to brace for the sudden attack when the creatures' horns began to glow.
From Naruto's point of view he could barely make out Dubbilex and Superboy staring at one another intently as a slew of expressions slid across Superboy's face. Then suddenly the mental pressure from the telepathic genomorphs lifted, and not just on Hoplite and the other heroes but on Guardian as well.
"Ugh, what's going on?" The man asked as he tried to remove the fog from his mind.
As the heroes began to stand, Superboy and Dubbilex continued to stare at one another until Superboy finally spoke audibly. "I choose freedom."
"Feels like fog lifting…" Guardian mumbled as he rubbed at his head.
"Guardian?" Aqualad asked.
"You boys go on. I'll deal with Desmond." Guardian said until a voice caused the Genomorphs to step aside and reveal Doctor Desmond approaching them.
"I think not." Desmond said haughtily. "Project Blockbuster will give me the power to restore order to CADMUS."
The scientist then downs a vial of blue liquid and tightly wrapped himself with his arms. He began to groan out in pain and convulse as his body audibly popped and began to contort oddly. He collapsed to his knees and soon his form began to shift into a hideous monstrosity with gray-blue skin and a far too wide mouth.
From underneath the remnants of what had once been his old face and skin, Desmond grinned toward the heroes that watched in horror as he surrendered his humanity in exchange for power. He now stood nearly as tall as one of the Genomorph trolls however his body looked far more humanoid and powerful. Clearly meant for battle.
"Everyone back!" Guardian ordered.
"You'll need out help!" Hoplite replied.
"No! Just go, I've got him." Guardian replied before stupidly rushing directly toward the creature and getting knocked out in a single blow.
"That went well." Naruto snidely remarked before groaning as Superboy repeated the same tactic.
"Well, at least he's kryptonian." Kid Flash said with a shrug as Superboy traded punches with Blockbuster, only to be surprised by the creature's strength and durability as it laid him out, similarly to how it had with Guardian before him.
Superboy wasn;t out yet though and he quickly recovered. Launching himself up into the air to deliver an overhead hammer strike, Blockbuster countered by smashing both of them through the ceiling and into the fake CADMUS laboratory on the ground level.
"Well, that's one way to bust through the ceiling." Robin commented as he fired his grappling hook and carried both himself and Kid Flash up to the ground floor.
"You think lab coat planned that?" Kid Flash asked.
"Doubtful." Hoplite replied as he wrapped an arm around Aqualad and flew the both of them up to join the others.
"Yes. I doubt he's planning anything anymore." Aqualad agreed.
Once they all settled onto the floor above, Hoplite narrowly avoided Superboy being used as a projectile against them. He flew up as Superboy barreled into Aqualad and Kid Flash and Robin chased after the pair of them to lend a hand.
Naruto huffed and took it upon himself to buy some time for the others, rocketing into Blockbuster and sending him through a pillar before beginning a fistfight with the brute. Unlike Superboy though, Hoplite could fly and so rained blows from angles and directions that Blockbuster wasn't prepared to defend against.
Punching Blockbuster was like punching reinforced concrete though. Even with super strength the damage done was limited, and this concrete tough monster swung back with surprising speed. Fast enough to land a strong blow on Naruto's face, sending him sliding back. That was the opening his team needed though.
Kid Flash slid past the monster and tripped Blockbuster up. Just enough for the triple team punch of Hoplite, Aqualad, and Superboy to send the creature end over end across the long hallway. The beast recovered instantly even from such a blow though as three super strong punches to the face.
"Jesus, what are we supposed to do to this thing?" Kid Flash asked in trepidation as Robin peppered the creature with small explosives that only served to distract and piss it off.
'You continue to hold back, put me on. Crush your opponents. Reveal your supremacy.' The Ring whispered. Naruto didn't ignore it this time, at least not fully.
"I have an idea. I need you guys to hold him still." Hoplite said.
"Easier said than done." Robin replied.
"We'll do what we can." Aqualad said as he created a lash with his water bearers and managed to wrap up one of the creature's arms.
Similar to Aqualad, Superboy grabbed hold of the monster's other arm while Robin handed a set of gadgets to Kid Flash who quickly raced around the monster and placed them down in the places the boy wonder had pointed out. As they were placed, each fired a cable that wrapped itself tightly around Blockbuster and began to tighten, pulling him toward the ground.
Naruto for the first time in a long time tapped into the power of the ring he carried. He didn't dare remove it from its sealed locket on his neck though. Just using the smallest amount of its power as he created a hammer construct of red energy. Compared to something made by a ring bearer actually wearing their ring it was like glass. Yet, compared to other items it was like a hammer made of pure steel.
With a grunt of effort he brought the hammer down on Blockbuster's head slamming the beast into the floor. Stunned for a moment, Blockbuster groaned before it growled and began to try and force its way back to its feet. Naruto brought the hammer down another four times before the creature formerly known as Doctor Desmond passed into unconsciousness.
The boys each gathered around their fallen opponent and chuckled as they relished the feeling of victory. Naruto released the construct and the red energy faded. His hands felt as if he had been holding hot coals, painfully burnt, despite no actual damage being done to them. The painful pressure the ring pressed on his mind whenever he even lightly used its power slowly receded as well.
"So that was your plan? Hit it in the head?" Robin asked.
"It's a simple and effective plan. Works usually." Hoplite said with shrugging shoulders getting a cackle of laughter from Kid Flash at that.
"As long as it worked." Aqualad agreed.
"Now how about showing you the moon?" Kid Flash asked Superboy with a grin.
Slowly the boys moved to the front of CADMUS and looked up at the sky. Behind his helmet Naruto smiled at seeing the joy enter Superboy's eyes. He could sympathize with the clone. In more ways than one.
"Woah, check it out. Superman. Ey, Superboy do we keep our word or what?" Kid Flash asked.
"This is probably not going to be good." Robin awkwardly pointed out.
"What? Why-oh…oh yeah." KF replied as he realized and grimaced at the sight of all of their mentors as well as a few other members of the league.
The League settled around the front of the building. At their head was the collection of mentors of the team, none of them looking all that pleased. At the forefront of them, however was Superman.
Superboy recognized his image from the information eh genomorphs had pumped into his mind. This was the man who was in effect, his father. The origins of everything that eventually became Superboy here in the deepest levels of CADMUS. Somewhat hesitantly, the clone stepped forward till he faced the Kryptonian man with only a couple of feet separating them.
Naruto watched as Superboy lifted his torn solar suit to show the symbol utilized by Superman on his own suit. Sadly, he noticed the brief flicker of rage that washed over Superman before a stoic, and somewhat stern visage slid into place. Like the hero was working to hide his emotions. Naruto felt sympathy for the clone yet again as the boy's smile melted off of his face as the warm welcome he had imagined was ruined in the span of a single silent second.
Batman stepped up beside Superman and took in the image of Superboy with a cool calculating look. "Is that what I think it is?"
"He doesn't like being called an it." Kid Flash said as he stepped up beside Superboy, followed by the rest of the teens who had essentially raided CADMUS.
"I'm Superman's clone." Superboy stated as he let the torn fabric fall once again to cover the 'S' on his chest.
Many of the League members exchanged somewhat worried glances at the prospect of such a thing. The air became even more tense and uncomfortable than before. Cutting through it without much of a care, Batman simply ordered the five boys to start talking.
After the teens had explained everything to the League, several members left with Blockbuster to make sure he got locked down properly so that either a cure for whatever he had done to himself could be found or he could at least be kept away from population centers.
As for the five boys they were told to stand and wait as their mentors deliberated nearby. It didn't help their as tempers began to quickly climb. Superboy felt completely rebuffed by Superman, and similarly Wonder Woman seemed to have awkwardly avoided direct interaction with Naruto. Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Robin all had gotten some attention from their mentors, but it had effectively amounted to being put in timeout in the corner while the adults talked.
Wonder Woman, Superman, and Martian Manhunter stood a distance away from both groups. Discussing something, until Martian Manhunter seemed to notice both Hoplite and Superboy staring across at them. The martian seemed to be the only one to care as he visibly urged the other two heroes to come speak with those 'connected' to them.
The sense of awkward silences was quickly growing far too commonplace as both approached Naruto and Superboy but clearly struggled with something to say. Finally though Superman broke the silence with a sigh.
"We'll, uh figure something out for you?" Superman seemed to ask Superboy. Naruto, already on a short fuse from the situation he himself was in, readily stepped in to bite at the Kryptonian on Superboy's behalf.
"What? Are you asking him?" Hoplite snapped.
"Hoplite." Wonder Woman began to sternly reprimand him.
Hoplite slowly pivoted to look directly at her. From behind his helmet Wonder Woman could just barely make out his blue eyes, however the fury in them seemed to put her briefly on edge and cause her mouth to tighten closed. There was a brief beat of silence before the red helmet of Hoplite swung back around to face Superman, but the man of steel simply ignored him and focused on Superboy.
"The League will figure something out for you. For now I had better…uh, help make sure they have that Blockbuster creature squared away." Superman said before quickly departing in a show of cowardice that left Hoplite mute in shock by the unusual action of the hero.
Superboy returned to the other sidekicks while Hoplite made to follow only for Wonder Woman to grab his shoulder. He tensed slightly causing her to frown. This was not how she wanted their first reunion after their time apart to go. Sadly she couldn't think of that at the moment she had to make things clear to her apprentice. He walked a tightrope with many of the members of the League as it was due to his origins and his abilities.
"Hoplite, we need to speak." She said with her mission voice. The one she had used when talking of the job, and talking with Hoplite, not Naruto.
"Then speak Wonder Woman." Hoplite replied in a blank tone. Like her it was the one he used when speaking on a mission with Wonder Woman.
Diana let her hand fall from the young man's shoulder as she tried to lock eyes with him through his helmet. It was difficult despite being able to make out the blue through the visor. She focused on what she needed to discuss with him. After all, he was her responsibility.
"I'm pleased that you had the backs of your colleagues but your situation is complicated enough as it is without you running off to do something so reckless. You should have waited for support from the League or permission from a mentor." She reprimanded.
Hoplite stared back at her, silently for a time before releasing a long sigh. Diana recognized the breathing exercise he had developed to help him control his anger and stress. It was far from perfect but showed some effectiveness at keeping him calm.
"What mentor?" He asked before turning away and moving back over to the other young heroes.
Wonder Woman was stunned by that response. Naruto rarely ever talked back to her. She took a step to grab at his shoulder again before his words truly soaked in and she felt intense guilt settle into her chest. She'd practically tossed him aside without so much as a warning and hadn't really explained why either.
She couldn't either. It was a break in the fragile trust he had extended to her and the League. Right now, it was clear he wasn't interested in speaking with her. Maybe trying again at a later date with less people around them. Maybe she should speak with the others she had filling in for her during her absence first.
As Wonder Woman left Batman and the rest of the remaining League members approached the boys. They looked as pleased as Superman and Wonder Woman before them. Unluckily for them, Superboy and Hoplite were already on edge and their temporary team mates were getting a bit worked up just from the glares their mentors were sending their way.
"CADMUS will be investigated, every level." Batman said. "But let's make one thing clear."
"You should have called us." Flash said as he moved in front of his colleague.
"End results aside, we are not happy." Batman stepped around Flash with a scowl.
"Why is that exactly? We revealed the truth behind CADMUS, liberated Superboy, and stopped Blockbuster without destroying the building or endangering civilians." Hoplite pointed out.
"You hacked Justice League systems, disobeyed direct orders, and endangered lives." Batman continued ignoring Naruto's response.
"Who's lives?" Kid Flash asked in surprise.
"Your lives." Flash said.
Hoplite scoffed, causing the heroes to look toward him. Robin was the one to step forward though, surprising even Batman, not that he showed it.
"We risk our lives all the time. We're heroes too, not just sidekicks." Robin argued.
Batman narrowed his eyes at the young boy causing him to shift uncomfortably under the weight of the glare. "You will not be doing this again."
"I'm sorry, but we will." Aqualad said with crossed arms, backing up Robin.
"Aqualad, stand down." Aquaman ordered.
"Apologies my king." Aqualad said as he bowed his head slightly in respect. "But no. We did good work here tonight. The work you trained us to do. Together on our own we forged something powerful and important."
"If this is about your treatment at the Hall, the four of you-" Flash began.
"The Five of us, and it's not." Kid Flash cut him off.
"Batman, we're all ready to use what you taught us. Or why teach us at all?" Robin asked.
"Why let them tell us what to do?" Superboy finally joined the conversation. "It's simple, get on board or get out of the way."
"It's not like Superboy and I have mentors to speak of anyway. You have no real command over us." Hoplite pointed out.
Several members of the League watched as the five young men squared off against Batman and two of the other founding members of the League. They showed no reluctance or hesitation, standing together capable and strong. Confident in their goals.
Batman realized that he had to pick his battles. This wasn't one he was willing to fight out.
Three days later the five boys, now dressed in civilian clothes, and several Leaguers found themselves in Happy Harbor, Rhode Island. More specifically inside Mount Justice. Several members of the League worked to finish getting the base back up and running again, after having been abandoned for years.
"This cave was the original secret sanctuary of the Justice League a few years ago. We're calling it into service again. Since you four are determined to stay together and fight the good fight, you'll do it on League terms. Red Tornado has volunteered to live here and be your supervisor. Black Canary is your trainer, and I will deploy you on missions." Batman informed them all.
"Real missions?" Robin asked, still masking his identity with a pair of sunglasses.
"Yes, but covert." Batman answered.
"The League will still handle the obvious stuff. There's a reason we have these big targets on our chests." Flash pointed out.
Naruto raised an eyebrow at that thinking about how his own and the other teens' outfits all also had a large symbol for them on it.
"But CADMUS proves that the bad guys are getting smarter. Batman needs a team that can operate on the sly." Aquaman commented.
"The seven of you will be that team." Batman said evenly.
"Seven?" Naruto asked.
With a nod toward the main door to the room, Batman signaled the boys to turn around revealing the last two members of their team. Both girls walked beside their obvious mentors while Wonder Woman brought up the rear.
"This is the Martian Manhunter's niece, and the newest Green Lantern for our sector. Miss Martian and Green Lantern." Batman introduced.
As the group came to a stop, Naruto and Diana briefly shared a glance before she made her way over to talk with Black Canary. Pushing it out of his mind he focused back on the girls joining them. Clearly both were quite nervous. The Green Lantern far more than he thought a member of the corps could be.
"Hi." Miss Martian awkwardly greeted with a wave.
"Oh man, I'm liking this gig more and more." Kid Flash said as he gently elbowed Robin. He didn't waste any time moving forward to schmooze it up with the pair of attractive girls.
"Welcome aboard. I'm Kid Flash. That's Robin, Aqualad. It's cool if you forget their names." Kid Flash poorly introduced the group. Naruto stepped forward along with Aqualad and a hesitant Superboy.
"I'm Hoplite and this is Superboy." Naruto introduced simply as the group collected together and began to start with small talk.
It was simple, light conversation. Just to get to know their new comrades, however, Naruto noticed the way the Green Lantern girl watched the locket on his neck that contained the Red Lantern ring. He had a sinking suspicion that part of the reason this particular Lantern was here was because she was supposed to help keep an eye on him. The girl herself seemed a bit too jumpy to really be all that good at maintaining a subtle monitoring of him though.
"I'm honored to be included." Miss Martian greeted the boys warmly.
"Urm, likewise." The Lantern replied. Naruto put the League's or rather batman's paranoid nature at the back of his mind. Monitor she may be, but this Green Lantern and the Martian girl were both his new teammates.
"Can the light afford to leave Guardian in charge of CADMUS without the gnomes?" One of the disembodied voices of the Light asked its colleagues.
"We have subtler means of control. What concerns me is the children." Another voice spoke up. "We now know that the League is willing to employ young heroes to do their dirty work. That's a dark twist."
"Yes, but perhaps one that can be played to our advantage. Even the temporary losses of the weapons may prove useful. Eventually everyone sees the Light." A third voice said.
"I have begun to make contingencies for the pair of them anyway. Especially Hoplite. His continued independence of our control will only make it harder to return him to the fold." Yet another voice said.
"Perhaps, but we still have opportunities to reclaim our investments. If not, we will develop plans to replace the weapons and eliminate the rogue elements." The third voice replied.
"I can only hope. Too much effort went into Operation Legacy for it to be scrapped."
And that is it for Chapter One. I really hope you enjoyed it. This is likely going to be one of my favorite fics to write. As I have said recently, I no longer follow a structured update schedule so expect random fics to be posted or updated from here on out.
For those interested in the pairing it will be a harem. It's fanfiction so we can have fun with it. I hope you end up liking all the characters chosen but I am not revealing the full list as you already know two based off of the tags.
Anyway, that is all for today.
Till Next Time.