Chapter 4: The Cold Empress and Surprises keep on coming
Iceberg Lounge
Within Gotham City, one of the clubs that was open for almost 24 hours but is super busy during the night and perfect coverup to gain much information, and deep intel from gangs and crime lords. The signs say the Iceberg Lounge, which was created in the late 19th century for Theodore Cobblepot and later became under the ownership by Oswald Cobblepot who's better known as the Penguin.
Sadly, for some, Mister Cobblepot had passed away around the same time that both the Dark Knight and Clown Prince of Crime disappeared. The nightclub gained new ownership and is still in the Cobblepot family in the hands of someone many did not expect. The unexpected then took over the whole operation and the Iceberg Lounges business is at a new height now. Many call this mystery leader the next Penguin but for sure, many have called her the Cold Empress.
In the business office, the windows were purely blacked out, not allowing the people down below to see the empress watching them. The office was pure black and blue in color while the chair was a pure ice theme throne, fitting for an empress.
The said empress was a tall young woman with an aura of coldness and superiority, her figure was that of a mature businesswoman and some athletic build. She had black hair that was a bit long and wild but sharp just as her white grey eyes filled with coldness. Around her eyes were black eye shadow and pure black lipsticks to match her coldness.
Her attire was that of a pure black businesswoman suit, grey undershirt, black overcoat, black heels, and a black umbrella that acts like a cane, and a hidden weapon for the empress to use against her enemies. And always had a smoke pipe on standby, not smoking unless she wants to. She did have a large top hat but mostly wears it in public and has it on the said table for now.
This was Anastasia Coldbird, the secret daughter of the Penguin but took over the operations after her father die as her own and made sure her half-siblings don't get a single touch of the Penguin Criminal Empire.
Of course, Anastasia runs her criminal empire under the table and deep secret, while just being a pure businesswoman and owning the nightclub. She also has other connections with other clubs and among other things. Now she was currently in a meeting with someone from the Falcone Family.
Then two people enter the office, cutting the meeting and deal short, their attention on the pair that walked who just so happens to be the Cold Empress's secretaries/high officers.
The first was a very attractive black woman who had black hair in a ponytail and brown eyes. She also had black glasses and red lipstick on her kissable lips. She wore a black pinstriped dress with a white belt, a bracelet on each arm, a gold necklace, and black heels.
The second was a very attractive woman who had a curvaceous appearance that was enhanced by her white cocktail dress. She was Caucasian with short blonde hair and brown eyes while having two bracelets and a necklace that hunged over her bust. She had her cocktail dress but also had fishnet stockings and heels.
They are Candy and Tracey, who both were holding some files and newspapers, meaning some news got onto their tables & needs the empress's attention.
"Oh, hello there babes. How about we share a drink and...-!" The member of the Falcones said, flirting with the two but was soon shot and fell down onto the floor by the impact of the bullet hitting his shoulder.
We see Anastasia had been the one to shoot the Falcone, with her umbrella rifle and showed a cold expression on her face. The secretaries were not surprised by this and kind of saw it coming.
"They are not for sale. Not even for exposure," Anastasia said, aiming her umbrella rifle, shooting the idiot in the head, ending the fool before her, and her cold nature matches with her ruthlessness.
The black-haired businesswoman then moved to her desk, pushing a button coma and calling a clean-up.
"Lark, Lunar, Jay...I need a clean up in my office. Have the boys take the fool for my pets, it's lunchtime for them," Anastaisa ordered, putting her umbrella to the side.
First, two street thugs wore bussiness suits and carried the fool's body out to be fed to the fishes, the sharks. Then three waitresses came who are the Cold Empress's bodyguards and clean up the bloody mess, took a bow to their empress, and left closing the door behind them.
Anastasia sighed as she then decide to light her pipe up and smoke a bit, relaxing a bit and taking the stress off her shoulders.
"Candy...Tracey, you both better have some good news than that fool from Falcone," Anastasia said, having her attention on her secretaries.
"Yes we do, Madam," Candy started, taking a picture out of the file and showing to be the very picture of today's front newspapers, the picture of a hooded bat of some kind.
Now, this captured Anastasia's attention highly and took a picture.
"Batman?" Anastasia questioned.
"Pretty much a new one. This gator took down a good amount of Black Mask's operation at the docks and harbors," Tracey replied.
"You sure it's a new one? Not Batman trying something new?" Anastasia asked, wanting to be sure as she can have a pretty good guess that this bat was new but better safe than sorry.
"I check, Madam. This one is most likely a new...and a pretty intriguing one at that," Candy said with a wink as she lowered her glasses a bit.
"Hmm, you don't say," Anastasia said, something she could agree with as not many have the guts to put fight against Black Mask and his whole operation.
Anastasia smirked, being highly interested in the hunt between herself as the penguin queen and this new bat. Very interested indeed.
Time Skip
Wayne Manor
We see the front gates of Wayne Manor being opened by a certain redhead who was here for answers. She was a beautiful young woman with a long redhead, almost a bit orange, pair of light blue eyes which over her eyes had glasses due to being far-sighted, and had a figure that is very athlete which men will turn heads & some women are jealous of due to her training & nightly patrols. Her attire was a blue sweater with a black vest on top with long sleeves, orange pants, and black boots.
This was Barbara Gordon who never thought she would be here again, at Wayne Manor, and at night, she was secretly known as Batgirl.
After seeing the big news in the newspaper and later media of Batman's Return or a new one rising, Barbara decied to head to Wayne Manor to get answers on what the hell is going on. Is Bruce back and playing this new game? Or an imposter was playing copycat to later ruin the Dark Knight's name? She was going to find out very soon as she open the door and enter the manor.
Barbara frowned and saw that someone was indeed standing at the manor but who kept spinning in her mind. She went to the main study area of the manor, being glad that Bruce and Alfred showed their way around the place or she would be lost in this massive house. The redhead then walks to the grandfather clock, turning the head to the right time and then causing the hidden door to open, allowing her to walk downstairs to be in the Batcave.
Barbara can tell that someone was using the cave and saw a number of things online, being used and improved from the looks of it. She also noicted that some areas seem to have a Japanese vibe seeing a number of styles and training areas to fit that style.
Then all of a sudden, Barbara heard the sounds of an automobile driving in fast and took cover, so as to not get spotted by this imposter or Bruce who came back home. She then saw a black custom automobile with blue lights and desgin to it, having a tail of blue stream of light following behind due to the wheels.
Once the custom automobile came to a complet stop, the front panel to where the driver was located, open up and allowed the said driver to come out. Barbara's eyes widen in deep shock totally surprised on seeing the new Batman and felt this shiver crawling her skip, a deep chill feeling, and almost thought he was the grim reaper.
Batman walked over to the main computer, pulling his black hood down and slowly taking off his helmet/mask. The faceguard came off, placing it on the table, reaching behind his mask to unclip it to pull it off, and allowing the blonde hair to be seen. He sighed, most likely a little worn out from the hard work and first couple of nights of patrols.
Barbara narrowed her eyes, seeing this was indeed an imposter taking the alias that belonged to Bruce and might be behind the disappearance as well. She started to make her move slowly, as she didn't want to lose the element of surprise.
With Naruto, he typed a few things while having the Code Black file on standby, always close by for some reminder of sorts and deep in thought, not noticing that someone was in the cave and his guard was down due to being home. Yeah, he saw Wayne Manor and Batcave his home, which he would take care of it.
"It seems Roman Sionis - Black Mask is taking more dangerous moves ever since I have been hammering his operations around the harborages and some parts on the streets down. I need to hit something big and harder, to knock off the criminal empire down and gain more evidence to put Sionis out of bussiness for good. There is a number of ways but which one can work?" Naruto thought, rubbing his chin in thought, and went to his work, still not noticing the guess was coming closer to him to strike.
"Ahh!" Naruto grunted in pain as he suddenly felt a massive pain in his backside and was kicked hard to the ground.
"Ow..., okay, that hurt," Naruto complained, blaming himself for having his guard lowered and soon came face to face who just kicked, blushing a little to the said person was a red-haired beauty and had a pretty piss-off look on her face.
"Take it off," Barbara demanded, glaring at the imposter.
Catching what the redhead meant, Naruto got up and said, "No."
Barbara still glared, if looks can kill, she would be killing the imposter a number of times. She then decied to throw a punch but to her surprise that the blonde was able to counter the attack and soon placed her arm behind her back in a quick motion.
"I think you have a misunderstand, miss," Naruto tried to say, calming the situation down and holding the redhead's arms behind her back until she calms down but still struggle.
Barbara grunted and struggled to escape this hold, and she was slightly impressed by that hold and how the blonde-haired imposter was able to keep his hold on her. And not able to be close to her to avoid being headbutted or kick below the bells.
"What misunderstanding? All I see is an imposter taking Bruce's hard work," Barbara glared.
"...I see...you know Bruce is Batman?" Naruto stated, catching the redhead by surprise.
"Yeah, I know. Why?" Barbara asked, wondering what the blonde was getting at.
"I am going to let you but you don't attack me. Do you know Code Black?" Naruto asked.
"Huh?" Now, this deeply surprised Barbara, not heard that before.
"So, agree? I let you go, you don't attack me, and I show you, Code Black?" Naruto offered.
"Deal...but if this is a trick," Barbara started but was cut off.
"I understand your hostile attention but please trust me," Naruto said, sounding very honest and a kind-hearted person, much to the redhead's surprise as he let her arms go and allowed her space to regain herself.
Barbara rubbed her arms a bit and kept her attention locked on the blonde, getting a better look at him and would admit he wasn't bad looking. She had to shake her head and get those thoughts as she soon saw the blonde-haired teen starting the video of Code Black. And would become a big surprise to her.
Small Time Skip
After the Code Black message, Barbara was lost for words, being shocked and confused to later sad of the full truth of what happened to Bruce. Naruto placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, comforting her.
"I'm sorry you had to see that...," Naruto said, almost hesitating but keeping together.
"I should be saying sorry to you about earlier," Barbara said, apologizing for striking at someone who wasn't in the wrong.
"It wasn't your fault, a misunderstanding, and the message wasn't sent out to you or Robin," Naruto said, understanding the redhead's anger and misunderstanding.
"Former Robin. I don't have an idea what Dick has become but hearing rumors of him leaving Jump City and cutting all ties he has with his friends of late," Barbara pointed out.
"I won't be surprised to get a visit from him in the near future," Naruto commented.
"Yeah...so what are you going to do now?" Barbara asked, wondering what the young man's plan was.
"Still do what I have been doing for the past couple of days. Gotham would always need a guardian or two," Naruto asnwered.
Barbara was a bit surprised by that and clearly saw that Naruto wanted to do this like it was his calling and something he could do for people. And she made her mind up.
"Do you still want support?" Barbara asked.
This surprised Naruto and waited for an explanation.
"I know the first meeting wasn't good but I want to support and help you. If you are going to be Batman, then you going to need a lot of help. Bruce had made a lot of enemies and you would put a large bullseye on your back when putting on the cape & cowl. So I think you could use my help," Barbara said, having her mind made up and was going to help this new bat out as much as she can.
"I would like that, Barbara," Naruto said, being glad to hear that.
"Good. Welcome to this world Naruto," Barbara said as this was a start of a new and maybe beautiful friendship to grow.
The New Dark Knight has gotten help and support from Batgirl. We shall see what the pair would face next.
...
AN: Now I bet most of you are wondering where are we going to see more characters from Naruto or some of Naruto's former family. Well, it would happen soon and those would be asnwered close at the end of the first arc. Just wait for a good amount of time and trust me, it would be worth the wait :)
