Yo, sorry for the long wait everyone. I've been a little busy but decided to try and update some of my older fics a bit. If there's one you're keen on seeing updated, feel free to let me know in the discord server. Link is:
FuhDa6gx
The ceiling had been one of the most interesting things to him over the course of the week. It had even become something of a routine for him now. Day in and day out he would go about his day, train in the afternoon and meet up with Bruce later in the day to go on patrols and stop any criminals they might come across. For the most part, it was petty thieves trying to make a quick buck or muggers with nothing better to do.
Under normal circumstances, Naruto saw the crimes committed as mild annoyances. People with nothing going on in their lives making him go out of his way to chase them down and put them away. Sometimes it stressed him out knowing that his nights would consist of this, but lately, they were a welcome distraction.
Petty criminals weren't the cause of his stress this time, in fact, they've been relieving him of it. The cause of his stress was the very man who trained him. The same person who had knowledge of the people who killed his family and refused to say anything about it.
As much as he wanted to bail, he continued going on patrols and missions with the bat but mentally, he wasn't all that there. Since their chat last time in the Batcave things had become noticeably tense between them. The air between them was uneasy and it could be felt by anyone nearby. They knew what the problem was but neither brought it up.
Alfred seemed to be immune to the uneasy air between them, though that was probably because he'd been around Bruce for so long. The blond felt no ill will towards the man though, if he knew or not there was no doubt that he would have been silenced by Bruce. It wasn't his responsibility to say anything though and he always and still has treated him well so there were no hard feelings with him.
Putting his hands behind his head, Naruto took a deep breath and sighed. It was times like these when he wished he had someone to talk to. Sure he had friends but they didn't know anything about what he did in his free time. He couldn't simply go out and tell them about what was going on in his life.
There were times where he would talk to Bruce about some of the things going on but even that felt strange. The man let it be known he could talk to him about anything but it just felt off. Alfred was another choice, he was a good listener but like Bruce, he wasn't someone he considered a real friend. The butler was more like a grandfather who passed wisdom when it was needed. It was usually good advice and definitely helped him solve whatever problem he was facing but he wasn't what Naruto needed.
As he went through the many people he couldn't talk to, a brief image of someone from his past flashed through his mind.
"I wonder what they're doing right now. Are they alright?" He whispered to himself. Before his thoughts could take him down that rabbit hole again, his phone which he had laying face down on his chest chimed.
Naruto reached for the phone, hesitating for a second but ultimately picking it up. Turning the brightness on the screen down, he frowned when he saw an unsaved number appear on the screen. The notification didn't show a preview, just that he had received a message.
Not going out tonight? It read.
Naruto exhaled. He didn't have the energy to try to figure out who kept sending him messages. In a strange way, it was as comforting as it was unnerving. Whoever it was clearly held no ill will against him and had actually helped out more often than not.
"Not tonight. I'm not really in the mood." He muttered while typing the sentence out. The moment he placed the phone back on his chest, it rang again.
Need anything? You're usually doing something around this time. They replied.
The blond wondered who this could be. Every time he had tried inquiring about it, they were able to dance around the question and leave him wondering. They seemed to know him but he didn't have a clue as to who it could be.
"No, I'm just going to take it easy tonight…" He replied quickly. His finger hovered over the 'send' button but he didn't press it. Clicking the text box again, he continued. "A big change is going to be happening soon."
Along with stress, another thing had been plaguing him the entire week. The proposition Deathstroke had made to him the last time they'd spoken. The offer had lived in his mind, there wasn't one moment throughout the day where he wasn't thinking about it. Had this been a year ago, he would have told Bruce exactly what was going on.
Now however, he found himself actually thinking it over. The decision wasn't one to be taken lightly but every time he had to patrol with the Bat, the offer seemed more and more desirable. Naruto wasn't stupid though, he knew things under Deathstroke would be much harder than they were now but the benefits would be worth it. Training would surely be more brutal and he didn't strike Naruto as the type to pull his punches just because he was younger or his apprentice.
The man could keep up with Batman, and was for all intents and purposes, a superhuman. The assassin had even offered to give him the same thing that turned him into a super soldier. Joining hands with the assassin wasn't something he ever thought he would be considering but given the circumstances, he didn't really have a choice.
Vandal Savage and David Cain would meet their end by his hands. If it meant joining Deathstroke would get the job done, then that's what would happen.
He reached over to the small bedside table, he reached into one of the drawers and pulled out the card the assassin had left for him. With the card in one hand and his phone in the other, he tapped the numbers written down and stared at the illuminated screen. All it would take was a tap of his finger and things would begin.
After a moment of contemplation, he clicked the power button with his thumb and turned the screen off. Naruto tossed the card back into the drawer and let it close with a soft thud. It was already late, he'd made up his mind, it wouldn't make a difference whether he called now or in the morning.
Seeing as he had nothing going on for the night, he decided he'd call it a day but not before getting something to eat. There wasn't much in the fridge at the moment but he also didn't feel like going out to buy something. The thought of going out into the cold didn't sound too appealing at the moment.
A homemade sandwich combined with a few episodes of a show would be the perfect way to end the night. Knowing things would change after a single call tomorrow, he might as well relax tonight. The ground creaked beneath his feet softly as he exited the bedroom and made his way to the kitchen. The creaking of the ground continued with each step until it suddenly stopped as Naruto came to a halt.
'Deja Vu' Naruto thought to himself. Sitting on his living room couch was the very person he was about to call moments ago. Deathstroke, still clad in his black armor and dual colored mask, sat in the center of the couch with his arms extended over the top of the empty spots on his sides.
Naruto crossed his arms in front of his chest and narrowed his eyes. "Would you like me to get you a key?" He asked sarcastically, his eyes looking over to the now open window. "It'll save you the trouble of having to continuously break in here."
A deep rumble echoed through the living room as the assassin laughed. "That won't be necessary." He replied calmly after a few seconds. "I was planning on leaving in about two minutes had you not realized I was here. For someone who has trained for years under the Batman, I would have thought you would be more aware."
"I've had a lot on my mind." The blond replied, taking offense to the jab at his sensory skills. "Besides, if anyone had tried entering my bedroom, it would've ended badly for them."
Deathstroke's lone eye stared at him from behind the mask. "I'm sure." The man said in a flat tone. He leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees. "I assume you've made a decision?"
It seemed the man had spared him the trouble of giving him a call. Even though it sounded like a question, Naruto knew it was a statement.
Naruto's blue eyes stared back at the man with no fear and an unreadable expression but he didn't answer. He continued his trek to the kitchen, fully aware of the gaze that was on him. Reaching into his pantry, he pulled out a loaf of bread and undid the small bit of plastic that kept the bag closed.
"I have." He replied without turning back.
No one in their right mind would give the world's greatest assassin their back as it was nothing more than a death wish, but he wasn't worried. The man was here to take him under his wing and unless he gave him reason to, he wouldn't attack unprovoked. And if he was being completely honest, if Deathstroke wanted him dead, he wouldn't need to wait for him to turn around.
Grabbing a plate as well as the ham and condiments out of the fridge, he continued setting up on the countertop. "You said you can take me to Cain and Savage. When?"
"When you're ready." The response came from his side, much closer than the living room. The man had moved from the couch to the dining table without making a sound. It was a testament to his skill in his profession. While he himself could also move silently, sticking to the shadows, even he could admit creeping up on someone who knew you were around was incredibly difficult.
"David Cain is one of the premier assassins in the world and one of the few people capable of fighting on relatively even grounds with me. He's not someone to take lightly." He warned.
Naruto hummed at the information. "Can you beat him?"
"I can. I have." The blond noted there wasn't a hint of pride or superiority in the reply. It was just a fact. "And by the time I'm done with you, you'll be able to as well. Don't misunderstand, reaching that level won't happen overnight. It will take time to develop your skills to the point where you'll be able to fight Cain without dying in a minute. Only then will I take you to him." The assassin finished.
Naruto took a bite of his sandwich. "What about the serum?" He asked after swallowing. That serum would be one of the keys to speeding things up.
"All in due time. Your body will need to be prepared for it and I have to make sure you're fully committed to being my apprentice."
"How will you determine that?" Naruto asked, not bothering to disguise the curiosity in his tone.
The blond noted how the man's lower eyelid came up by a small fraction and he could tell the man was smirking underneath the mask. "A trial."
A trail? He wondered.
Seeing the befuddled look on the younger man's face, Deathstroke continued. "You shouldn't worry much. If your drive to kill those two is as strong as I believe it is, you should have no issue completing the task."
Silence filled the room for the next few minutes. The blond continued eating his food while his future teacher sat patiently waiting for his answer.
Finishing up the last bite, he placed the plate into the sink and washed his hands. Turning his head, he finally spoke.
"So when does training start?"
"Tomorrow. I hope you won't miss this place too much, you won't be back here for a while. Enjoy yourself tonight, the foreseeable future won't be easy."
The assassin silently made his way to the window and disappeared shortly after. Naruto stared at the spot where the man stood and exhaled. Closing the window and locking everything up, he retreated to his room and turned all the lights off. The decision was made, as of tomorrow morning, he would officially be the apprentice of Deathstroke the Terminator.
6 months later
True to his word, training with Deathstroke was a completely different experience than training with Bruce. As he had expected, the man didn't pull his punches one bit. Every punch and kick had the assassin's full force behind it. It hadn't taken long for his mindset to adjust to the new way of training and retaliate with the same amount of force. His body had been in pain for most of the first month but that soon decreased in frequency.
As the months passed by he began getting used to the man's fighting pattern and even implemented some of those same moves within his own fighting style. Their spars began to last longer periods of time though Naruto suspected he was still holding back. He should have been upset but the progress he was making couldn't be ignored.
It had become a goal of his to force Deathstroke to go all out and he could feel he was getting closer. Hand to hand wasn't the only thing they had spent their time doing. He had been taken to different locations for training with weapons. Everything from automatic assault rifles to blades of different sizes. If a weapon existed, the man forced him to learn to use it.
"Don't lose focus." Deathstroke chastised. Naruto brought his hands up in a cross pattern in front of him just in time to block a kick that the man sent his way. The force behind the attack was strong enough to have him skid back a few feet. Despite blocking the blow, his forearms and chest ached a bit but he didn't have a chance to take a breather.
Ducking under another kick, he spun and retaliated with a spinning kick of his own. Deathstroke took a step back to avoid the attack and rushed him with a flurry of punches. Blue eyes tracked each fist as they sped towards him, his head weaving left and right. His hands parried and pushed aside each fist as they came, looking for the opening that would turn the tides of their spar.
The blond dodged a straight right and saw his moment. Stepping inward towards the man, his own fist shot out aiming straight for the man's mask. Just as he thought he'd finally get the victory, it came crashing down. Faster than humanly possible, the man moved aside. Naruto's head snapped upward shortly after, courtesy of a strong uppercut.
The blond landed on his back but was quick to get back on his feet and back into a guarded position. He frowned and dropped his arms down to his sides when he saw his new master making his way towards him slowly.
"You almost had me there." He commented as he passed him. "Any other person minus a select few would have most likely been knocked out by the amount of force you put behind that punch."
"Doesn't do much against superhumans or metahumans though." Naruto shot back, following the man back inside the large home.
"Not yet, but soon you'll even the playing field. Enough of that for now, I have a job for you."
Naruto didn't respond, opting to silently follow behind the assassin as he walked down a flight of stairs. Deathstroke stopped at the second step and turned back to look at his apprentice through his mask.
"Go see Wintergreen and then meet me down here. I'll explain what I'll have you do." He didn't wait for Naruto to respond and continued making his way down the stairs. Naruto stared at the retreating form of the man and made his way to the armory where he knew Wintergreen was. He had an idea as to why he had to go see him but couldn't be sure.
All he knew was that this was the first job that was assigned to him. He'd gone on missions with him before, but those were his jobs and he was instructed to stand back and watch from the shadows. This time he made it clear this job was for him.
As he took his first step, the conversation they had in his kitchen the night before he came here replayed in his head. Deathstroke had mentioned a trail as a way of making sure he was committed.
'This must be it.' He realized. Upon making it to the armory, he saw the white haired older man sitting in front of a glass display case.
"Wintergreen." Naruto greeted happily. Similar to Alfred, Wintergreen had been nothing but kind to him since his arrival. The way he interacted with Deathstroke was similar to the way Alfred interacted with Bruce. During those first few intense training sessions where he'd been unable to move, it had been Wintergreen that had patched him up while telling Naruto about himself.
He was a good man who acted as the man's moral compass to make sure he didn't go off the deep end. Naruto wasn't sure how well a job he'd done considering the man was a hired killer but he held him in high regard. Seeing the loyalty Wintergreen had for his new teacher, Naruto felt his own respect for the man rise slightly.
"Ah, Naruto. You made it at the perfect time."
The blond looked at the large display case, more specifically, the armor contained within it. It was simple armor reminiscent of the one he wore while out with Batman. The only difference between this one and his old one was the striking resemblance it had to Deathstroke's own. The upper body armor was thin but from his position he could tell the material used to create it was of very high quality. There was a bit more padding around the shoulder area though not much. The bottom half was almost exactly the same as his last suit and finally, the mask provided was two toned, with one half being black and the other a very dark blue making it look as if it was a solid color.
Hanging next to armor on small hooks protruding from the wall was a standard katana as well as a handgun next to that.
"Is that…" Naruto trailed off.
Wintergreen nodded and tapped a button that opened the glass case. "Your new armor. Lightweight and sturdy. Go ahead and try it on."
Naruto didn't have to be told twice and quickly began putting each piece, minus the mask, on. The armor fit him well, it was snug but didn't constrict his movements and the blade resting on his back didn't get in the way when he moved. The gun was secured on a holster that was built into the armor.
"How do you feel?" Wintergreen asked. "Any issues?"
Naruto looked himself over and moved around just a tad bit more. He stretched his arms and legs to test if any of the joints would be hindered but they weren't. Everything moved and stretched well, he'd go so far as to say it felt even better than his previous suit with Batman.
"It feels great." He finally replied. Unsheathing the blade quickly, he gave a few practice swipes at the air in front of him and easily resheathed the blade.
The older gentleman smiled and nodded. "Perfect. I was unsure about the chest plate but I'm glad it worked out. Don't take the armor off…" He said quickly seeing Naruto beginning to remove the chest plate. "Now that you're ready, go meet up with Slade. It's time for you to prove yourself."
The man's words confirmed his suspicions about this potentially being his trial. His mind began to wonder just where he would go or what Deathstroke would have him do. Surprisingly enough he found that he didn't feel nervous about what was to come. Since he arrived, he had been mentally preparing for whatever the man could throw his way. If he had to guess he would either have to fight off multiple people using what he'd learned, or he would need to kill someone. The assassin did say he would need to be committed, and what better way to prove that than by offing someone.
The only thing he hoped was that it wasn't someone who didn't deserve it. The only people he truly wanted dead more than anything were Vandal Savage and David Cain.
Turning his attention to Wintergreen, he thanked the man and made his way out of the room. When he met up with Deathstroke once more, the man was leaning on his desk with his arms crossed in front of him. The man's lone eye honed in on him when he entered the room.
Naruto watched the man reach back and pull out an enlarged black and white photo of a man and held it out for him to take.
"Carmine Falcone." Slade said. Naruto looked up at him for a moment then turned his attention back to the image in front of him. "I assume you're familiar with him?"
The blond nodded. "I am. He's one of the big crime bosses in Gotham. He's a ruthless asshole."
Slade chuckled at the remark and Naruto found that the man didn't sound as menacing when the mask wasn't on.
"That he is, and he's also pissed off the wrong person." The white haired man replied. "That's where you come in. He's got a hit on his head and you're going to carry it out tonight."
Naruto narrowed his eyes at the man. Tonight? That was hardly any time at all, the sun was already well on its way down.
"You didn't think this would be simple, did you? Infiltrate the mansion, find Carmine, and put a bullet in his head. Get the job done and report back to me. Succeed and your real training begins." Slade pushed himself off the desk and made his way out of the room, leaving the blond to ponder what he'd been told. He'd of course seen the mansion plenty of times in his life so it wasn't like he didn't have a basic idea of it.
The mansion was patrolled by his goons from almost every side. Luckily most of the times he'd seen them, most seemed to be bored out of their minds but stuck to their respective side. Tapping his chin in thought, he mentally went over how the infiltration would go. Once he was inside he would need to find the man. Knowing how the crime families worked, he would most likely be in the biggest room in the house.
He looked down at himself, more precisely the gun strapped to him. His aim was good enough that every bullet he shot would find its mark but he would need more to clear the house. The mansion was large so the chances of there being little security were low. Huffing to himself in aggravation, he made his way up the stairs back to Wintergreen. He was going to need a little more firepower for this.
Five hours later, Naruto found himself overlooking the mansion from a nearby building. The lighting around the area was dim but he could clearly see the lights from inside the building shining brightly. Looking through his binoculars he nodded to himself seeing four men patrolling the backyard. Each one had a rifle in their hands but seemed to be busy talking amongst themselves, most likely confident that no one in their right mind would attack.
Tightening up the straps that held the weapons on his person, he disappeared from his position. Hopping over the gate that protected the premises, he landed without making a sound. The amount of lights inside the house made the shadows on the backyard that much darker, making it easier for him to conceal his presence.
Carefully pulling a handgun out of its holster, he opened one of the pouches on the strap that was attached diagonally on his chest and pulled out a silencer which he attached to the end of the gun. Twisting it in place, he took a moment to steel himself. He knew there was no going back after accepting the offer, but this time, there really would be no turning back.
An image of his parents smiling flashed through his mind, providing him the necessary resolve to carry on. Taking aim at the first man, he gently squeezed the trigger and watched as the man went down. By the time the others registered that one of their own had been killed, two more had been taken down before the final one joined them in the land of the deceased.
Moving quickly through the yard, he pushed himself up against one of the walls in order to peek inside and make sure everything was clear.
'Looks like it's more guarded outside than inside.' He thought to himself. Seeing no one around, he opened the door and walked inside. Remembering how Deathstroke had managed to make it into his house, he calmed his breathing and moved with finesse. Though he was wearing armor, his footsteps made no noise as he walked through the halls of the mansion.
He knew Carmine wouldn't be in one of the smaller rooms downstairs, a man of his stature wouldn't be caught dead anywhere other than the master bedroom. Heading towards the entrance, he stopped at the end of the hallway. Two men could be heard conversing with one another in front of the front door, laughing casually at something one of them had said.
Using the glass from one of the china displays on the wall, he saw two men dressed in suits holding similar assault rifles to the men outside.
"I can't wait to go home." One of them said. "Carmine gets to sleep in a comfy bed while we're here getting no sleep risking death."
'He's right.' Naruto thought to himself. Ignoring them for the time being, he used the reflection on the glass on the door to get a view of the upstairs area. No guards walked by for minutes meaning all the security was down here. For someone as wealthy as Falcone, he sure didn't invest that much into his interior security.
Focusing, he ran forward. Having the gun still in his hand, he was quickly able to put a bullet in each of their heads. Looking up the stairs, he made his ascent and reloaded on the way. All he had to do now was find the man. The task proved easier than he thought, only one room had extravagant double doors.
The door was opened without so much as a squeak and he made his way in. The darkness of the room combined with the mostly black armor made him almost invisible. Falcone laid face up, snoring loudly without a care in the world. Aiming the gun at this head, he squeezed the trigger.
Red splattered all over the headrest and the snoring instantly stopped. Holstering the gun on his side once again, he silently left the room and made his way out the same way he came in. By the time the guards outside realized what had happened, it would already be too late.
Pulling his phone out, he texted Slade two simple words. Mission accomplished.
6 months later
After completing the trail set for him, training had intensified. He knew that Slade had been holding back to a degree but he had underestimated just how much. The difference in skill, power, and ability was clear. It was meant to be a display of what he could do when he set his mind to kill and made use of everything the serum had granted him.
Any wounds he took by Naruto's hand quickly healed which made their fights that much harder. Everything that had been done in the six month span after killing Falcone had led to the present day.
"So after this, I'll be granted 90% of my brain capabilities and a healing factor like yours?" He questioned from the table he had been strapped to.
A man in a white lab coat and brown hair done in a ponytail looked down at him, temporarily taking his eyes off his clipboard. "That's partially correct."
Naruto moved his head to the other side of the table where Deathstroke stood with his arms crossed. He couldn't see his face due to the mask but the eye he could see was firmly set on the doctor.
"You said Waller had been working on this. What else was done to it?" He ordered.
The man looked annoyed at how he was spoken to but responded nonetheless. "It's an advanced version of the serum you took. You're familiar with Amazo correct?"
Both men nodded. "Well, this serum should theoretically replicate the effects of Amazo. Not to the same degree mind you, but if it works, it should allow him to replicate the abilities of metahumans by touch. Again, we're not sure."
Opening a small box, he pulled out a large syringe with a clear liquid inside and squeezed a tiny bit out of the top. Having done plenty of injections in the past, finding the vein in his arm was child's play.
"Kid, if you survive this, you have the potential to be the strongest in the world."
"What do you mean survive this?" Naruto asked with a frown.
The doctor hardly spared him a glance and continued pushing the liquid into him. "The serum Deathstroke took had a low survival rate. The one going into you is even lower than that."
"What?!" That was the last thing he managed to say before the searing pain began to flood through his whole body. He struggled against the restraints, everything in his body tried to make him move off the table but it was a fruitless effort. Whether it was seconds, minutes, or hours, he wasn't sure but the pain was immense.
Managing to turn to look at Deathstroke, he saw the look of suspicion the assassin was sending the doctor. He vowed at that moment to kill the brown haired man if he survived this. No, when he survived. Until Savage and Cain were dead, he wouldn't die. He couldn't die.
After his mental declaration, everything went black.
