A/N: Welp, work has been taking up a lot of time and classes have started, so there are my excuses for how long this took. We're jumping right in here. No interlude; I'm clearly not going to write out the whole date thing between Naruto and Koriand'r. I'm not writing a Katherine Heigl movie, so let's move on. Also, I'm writing some dates in this chapter before the passages. It might be inconsistent to the rest of the story, but I'm trying to set up a sort of timeline that's easy for the reader to follow without having to skim the rest of the story for references to dates and times to construct the timeline for themselves. It also helps with the fact that this beginning part takes place before the events of the last chapter.

Chapter 13

July 29, 2010

"The serum is, for lack of a better word, dangerous. No person in their right mind would willingly ingest it. The loss of intelligence alone outweighs the gains, in my opinion. If you're looking for power, you'd probably do best to take your search elsewhere."

The scientist, a small weed of a man with large glasses and a bad combover, was subjected to a withering glare from Deathstroke's single eye and swiftly scrambled to provide the mercenary with news of a more positive nature.

"However, ah, the DNA sample that you recovered from the hero, Shinobi, might prove to be the key in stabilizing the effects of the Kobra-Venom serum!"

Deathstroke fingered his holstered pistol in thought, an action the scientist before him did not miss, before asking, "Did your lab not report that the clones were useless?"

"The clones are weak, and they display no special traits or any aptitude for combat outside of human norms. We have found evidence of a strange energy stored in the cells of the subjects - very much unlike anything we've seen before - and a quaternary circulatory system, likely used to move the energy as needed, but any attempt to harness that energy by force caused massive and immediate cell death, and, in turn, the death of the subject. The clones that we allowed to gain consciousness also displayed no innate knowledge of how to harness it. At any rate, the energy is meager, existing in such small amounts in the bodies of the clones that it's a wonder it exists at all..."

"The point, doctor?"

"W-well, what they do possess in abundance is an impressive durability and resistance towards dramatic biological change. More specifically, they are largely immune to disease and other mundane human ailments."

"Meaning?" Deathstroke asked with a hint of impatience in his voice.

"Well, once we discovered this resistance, we set to trying to isolate the source of it. It took some doing, but we found it with relative ease. I won't bore you with the specifics, amino acids and polypeptides and such, but what I can say is that we might have found a way to counteract the near complete loss of higher brain function and grotesque mutations that occur when ingesting the Kobra-Venom serum."

Deathstroke hummed approvingly before saying. "Well? I won't be your guinea pig. Run your trials or whatever you have to do, contact me when you've perfected the process."

He didn't give the scientist time for anything other than a confirmation before walking away. There would be no need to report to the Light about this; it was likely the laboratory was being surveilled constantly.

As he was making his exit, Deathstroke's thoughts turned to Shinobi. The teenaged hero that had managed to best him and, apparently, hide a staggering amount of his power in process, if what had been observed by Klarion was anything to go by. The boy was well-trained, that much Slade could deduct from his movements alone, but the source of his immense power was still unknown. The super speed, the strength, the boy's fancy little magic tricks, could they all really be the result of the tiny amount of energy the scientist had mentioned? Whether that was the case or not, Slade Wilson was not a man to give up easily. His reputation had been tarnished and his pride had not fared any better. If skill was not enough to redeem it, perhaps power could fill the gap.

LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK

August 8, 2010

When Naruto awoke he was disoriented by the soft and warm flesh his chest was pressed against. He opened his eyes and took in the head of auburn hair connected to the feminine figure in his bed and remembered what had happened last night. Koriand'r wasn't lying when she had told him that Tamaraneans were a very emotionally expressive people. And if they'd ended up naked in bed together, his first date couldn't have gone that badly.

"You move fast. I'm impressed. To think that someone as oblivious as you could land sex on the first date. It's astounding, truly."

"Ah, shut up. What would you know about it anyway?"

"I've been an observer of the human condition for longer than you've been alive. I know a thing or two."

"Ah, whatever. You're just a gigantic furball."

After lounging in bed for a few minutes, Naruto decided to wake Koriand'r and start the day. Besides, the team had scheduled a beach day, and despite Wally's absence on account of the first day of school, it would be a shame to miss it.

Naruto got out of bed and found a pair of underwear before shaking Koriand'r awake. She blinked blearily as she returned to the waking world before locking eyes with Naruto.

Naruto scratched the back of his head nervously before speaking. "Morning, Kory. About last night, I totally understand if-"

Before he could finish speaking, Koriand'r jumped out of bed and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her naked flesh to his chest once more.

"Last night was spectacular! I've seen quite a few Earth movies in my time here. It was just like I imagined." She placed a kiss on his lips before he could answer.

"I mean... It was just dinner and a movie. Not that amazing." He hesitated for a moment before wrapping his arms around her waist.

"No, it was great. Just like Megan and her romantic movies said it would be. Of course, you need some practice in- what's the expression?- the sack? But I'm sure you'll improve with time."

"Well, if you put it that way, I'll sure try." She leaned in to kiss him again and Naruto prepared to reciprocate before the door burst open, with Robin standing in the doorway, prepared for a great day at the beach.

" Hey, Naruto, wake- Oh, God! " Robin quickly slammed the door shut before his voice was heard coming from the outside. "Lock your door if you guys are gonna be standing around naked in there!"

LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK

After an eventful day at the beach, the team was gathered in the teleporter room, fully suited up. Batman and Green Arrow had called a meeting, full regalia required, and they had brought along a guest.

She stood at a respectable five and a half feet, and wore a skintight green outfit reminiscent of Green Arrow's own. The main difference being how much skin was on display. The quiver on her back and the bow in her hands also lent credence to the fact that she might be Green Arrow's new protégé. A fact that was confirmed with Wally's comical arrival via the zeta tube teleporter.

The new girl, whose name was a revealed to be Artemis, and Wally traded barbs eventually culminating in Wally asking the question on everyone's mind.

"What happened to your old one?"

This seemed to be the cue for the teleporter to activate once more, revealing none other than the devil himself.

"Well, for starters, he doesn't go by Speedy anymore. Call me Red Arrow."

Roy Harper had never chosen a more awkward time to make a dramatic entrance. Everyone stood around, an uncomfortable silence settling over the group. After a moment, Roy spoke again.

"So, this is the new model, huh? Didn't waste any time replacing me, did you Ollie?"

"You told me you were going solo!" Green Arrow replied.

"Yeah, well, you always did like younger women. "

"Jesus, Roy! Is that seriously what you think of me? That I would take her in because of... what? Lust?! I'm old enough to be her father. She needed help, and I offered it. You wanted us to go our separate ways and I respected you enough to let you go where you wanted without a fight!"

" So... we're not going with story about me being your niece ?" Asked Artemis.

Batman interrupted with a stern cough and said, "Now is not the time or place for this." He turned to Red Arrow, addressing him directly, and continued, "Is there a reason you're here now?"

"Yeah. A reason named Doctor Serling Roquette."

Robin recognized the name immediately and began fiddling with his glove. In less than a second a multitude of holograms materialized, each containing information on said doctor, as well as several pictures of her.

"The nanorobotics genius and expert in claytronics at Royal University in Star City!" Exclaimed Robin.

"That's the one. She disappeared two weeks ago. Kidnapped by the League of Shadows."

"So what's the deal here? You want us to help you find her?" asked Naruto.

Red Arrow looked at the ninja and smirked before saying, "I already found and rescued her. What I have in mind for you guys is more of a... babysitting situation. That's right in your wheelhouse. Right?"

Naruto crossed his arms and gave Red Arrow a deadpan stare. "Smacking around smartasses is also in my wheelhouse. Maybe I can show you?"

Red Arrow was on the verge of retorting before Wally spoke up.

"You guys can stare each other down later. Speed- I mean, Red Arrow wouldn't have brought this to us if it was just as simple as babysitting her. Am I right?"

"Got it in one." Roy walked over to the holograms and fiddled with a gadget he had taken off his belt. In no time even more holograms materialized in front of the old ones. These depicted a cylindrical machine from several angles and one robot that looked like a metal insect.

"Before I could get her out, the League of Shadows coerced her into creating a weapon called The Fog. It's comprised of millions of microscopic robots and is capable of pulling data out of any computer and disintegrating anything in it's path. I'm guessing I don't need to tell you how dangerous that would be in the wrong hands?"

Batman inspected the holographic images for a few moments more before turning to the rest of the group. "No, you don't. I assume you've brought this to us because the good doctor can track down her own superweapon."

"That's the gist of it. I've stashed her at the local high school's computer lab. You'll find her easily enough." Said Red Arrow.

"You left her alone?" Asked Green Arrow.

"She's safe enough for now."

"So let's me and you go take these Shadow chumps down together. Like old times." Green Arrow suggested hopefully.

"No thanks. I don't play second fiddle to you anymore."

"Says the guy that's called 'Red Arrow'. Way to make an identity for yourself, Mr. Original," taunted Naruto. Red Arrow made a rude gesture at him before departing the mountain the same way he had arrived.

"That guy sure has gotten smug, hasn't he?" Asked Naruto as he interlocked his fingers behind his head.

"I've never met him before, but I can certainly agree with you there." Said Artemis, before elbowing Naruto in his exposed side. "Well, no time to waste. Let's move out."

"Who put her in charge?" Asked Wally.

LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK

When the team arrived at the school, they wasted no time in locating the computer lab and the illustrious Doctor Serling Roquette and getting into position to best ensure her safety.

Shinobi set a perimeter around the school using a dozen shadow clones while Starfire flew up fifty feet above the building to keep an eye on anything suspicious. Superboy and Miss Martian had also taken up positions on the roof of the building too keep extra eyes on the surroundings. With so much coverage, it was decided that posting more people outside was a tad superfluous and the rest of the team piled into the computer lab with the doctor. They were to stand watch as their charge wrote a program to track the Fog and another to neutralize it.

After settling in for a long night, the first thing Shinobi could note about Doctor Roquette was how much complaining she did. She complained about the equipment, she complained about Miss Martian's mind link, and she complained about the fact that they were not, in fact, the Justice League.

"This lady's kind of a crybaby, huh?" He thought.

"I CAN HEAR YOU! " He heard Roquette's thought ring out in his mind and the minds of his compatriots before he put a finger to his lips and shushed her.

"We've got contact! Starfire, can you see anything?" One of his clones had been rudely destroyed via a knife to the spinal cord. It was probably one his aberrant clones. They had a tendency to slack off.

"There are six humanoids approaching the school from the... North? Engaging now."

"I've got eyes on another six approaching from the South. Engaging," thought Artemis, who had left the computer lab to patrol the perimeter a quarter of an hour before.

Shinobi looked at his remaining teammates and nodded before speaking out loud. "Go on and help 'em. I'll stay here and keep her safe."

They left immediately and Shinobi was left alone in the room with Serling.

"What'd you send them away for? You're supposed to be keeping me safe!"

"I'm more than capable of doing that alone while they handle the small fry." He responded.

"Small fry? What are you talking about?" She asked before the door cracked open a smidge and shuriken was hurled at her back through it.

Shinobi appeared behind the doctor in a burst of speed and deflected the shuriken with one of his own kunai. It was followed by three more, which received much the same treatment.

"That's what I'm talking about. Those guys out there were a distraction while this one snuck passed my clones while they were preoccupied." The ninja stopped addressing the doctor and spoke to whoever was behind the door. "You might as well come in. It was a good plan, but your cover's blown."

As soon as he had finished talking, the door flew open and a green clad figure burst through, leaping towards him with her foot stretched out in a flying kick. A flying kick that was deflected deftly by Shinobi.

The figure landed on one of the nearby work desks, sending the computer equipment crashing to the linoleum floor while striking a crouching pose.

"I'm pretty sure I've seen you before," Shinobi said while dropping into his ready stance.

"A rooftop in Metropolis. You could say we're acquainted," the green-clad assassin responded. "I've been looking forward to playing with you. Make if fun, okay?" The question came out in a mocking sing-song voice and the assassin prepared to move once more before Shinobi was suddenly right in her face, fist cocked back and ready to knock her lights out.

The assassin rolled backwards off the desk cleanly before Shinobi's fist came down, cleaving through the wood as though it were paper.

"Oh! Scary! They said you were fast. And strong. And dangerous. Just the way I like 'em."

"You're gonna love me, lady."

LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK

The team was rounding up what remained of the twelve men who had tried to assault the school. They gathered their unconscious forms into one pile and began to head once more into the school before the glass of the windows above their heads shattered. They looked up all at once to see a green figure flying through air.

The team was certain the figure would splat, before she righted herself in mid-air and landed on the chainlink fence that surrounded the school with the grace of a very skilled cat. She didn't spare a single moment before dropping a number of smoke pellets and disappearing into the night.

"Uh... what was that?" Asked Kid Flash.

"That was the assassin that tried to kill the good doctor." The team looked up at the broken second story window and saw Shinobi standing there, slapping at his shoulders to shake plaster flakes and broken glass off of his ensemble.

"These guys were just distractions! Of course!" Exclaimed Robin. "How'd we fall for something so obvious?"

"Well, obviously we didn't." Replied Shinobi as Serling Roquette ran up to his side. The ninja quickly scooped her up in a bridal style carry and jumped down to meet his teammates at the ground level, before setting her down again. He ignored the scandalized look on her face and continued addressing his teammates. "I don't think we've seen the last of these people. Also, I kinda might have destroyed the lab while we were fighting."

Superboy gave Shinobi a playful shove before asking, "And I'm the one that causes too much collateral damage?"

LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK

"Deathstroke. You're needed. Happy Harbor, Rhode Island. Await further instructions."

Deathstroke the Terminator looked away from his cell phone screen as the shadowed face disappeared from it. He wasn't a Shadow himself, but they knew how to get him to cooperate. And luckily, he was already close by to the town in question.

Slade turned his gaze to the rectangular styrofoam box on his desk marked as biohazardous material. It had arrived earlier in the day from a small but extensively well funded lab run by the Light. It contained the answer to all of his problems, and it was time to take it for a test run.

Slade Wilson suited up, donning the mask of Deathstroke, grabbed his gear and his box and walked out the door.

LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK

"How is it that these people are tracking her again?" Shinobi was the first to ask. It was always assumed the Shadows would find the doctor again, but how exactly had remained a mystery in the ninja's eyes.

"Yeah, like that douchebag Red Arrow could singlehandedly rescue her while managing to successfully evade a worldwide network of ninja assassins. They probably followed him," responded Artemis. "Simple as that."

The two were stood in the parking lot of a local office park. Serling Roquette had identified the place as ideal for her work, though she did cast a few aspersions on the outdated equipment housed in the building.

"Fair enough. I just wish she'd hurry up or the Shadows would hurry up and attack. I'm getting antsy just standing out here. At least Robin and Superboy got to go somewhere." Before they had decided to abandon the school, Roquette had managed to track the virus to a runway in Philadelphia. Robin and Superboy had gone in Miss Martian's bioship to try to track it on site. And so the rest of the team was left to babysit the irritable scientist.

"You want these people to attack? Are you nuts?" Artemis asked incredulously.

"It's just so boring out here!" Shinobi threw his hands up in the air and let out an explosive sigh.

"On a different note, why have you not made your fancy magic clones this time? Too bored to do the job right?"

"There's not really any point, is there? They're not gonna try the same thing twice. The situation has changed. They thought that it was only Red Arrow here before. The plan from earlier was to draw him out into an extended conflict while Cheshire, the green assassin, snuck in and," Shinobi drew his thumb across his neck, " did the doc in. It was a good plan, they just didn't expect so much resistance on the outside. And they really didn't expect me on the inside."

"That's... pretty astute. I know we don't really know each other, but you struck me as kind of dumb."

"Thanks so much-"

Shinobi was interrupted by a jaunty tune being whistled nearby. Shinobi looked towards the entrance to the parking lot and laid his hand on his thigh holster in preparation. The whistling continued, drawing closer and closer, until a black and orange clad figure walked into view. He was spinning his pistol and walking towards the two heroes as if without a care in the world.

Shinobi recognized the man instantly and took the initiative by hurling a kunai knife at him. The man reacted just as quickly by bringing his gun to bear and shooting the knife right out of the air.

"Deathstroke! How you doing, old man? Finally come for that rematch?" Shinobi asked, greeting him amicably and as though he hadn't just thrown a deadly weapon at the mercenary. "Contact outside. Deathstroke is here. Everyone get to the doctor and make sure it's not just a distraction."

"You and me, we got some unfinished business, kid. Before that was just me protecting an asset-"

"And failing," Shinobi interrupted.

Deathstroke let out his best approximation of a growl before continuing. "And failing. But this is personal. You shit on my reputation. So this job, I'm doing it for free."

Shinobi pulled three more kunai and addressed Artemis without looking away from Deathstroke. "Get inside."

Artemis's aim did not waver even slightly as she responded. "Are you kidding me? You think I'm just gonna leave so you can settle some macho bullshit grudge with Deathstroke the Terminator?"

"I'm telling you to leave because if this guy is here just to distract me, the team's gonna need your help."

"Five contacts in the building! Go one to one! Protect the doctor!" The whole team heard Aqualad's orders ring out through their heads.

"You heard the man. Go on. This guy's not getting passed me."

Artemis hesitated for a moment before groaning and retreating into the building.

"Just you and me-"

Shinobi interrupted the mercenary by letting loose with his kunai. As Deathstroke tested his reflexes by shooting the knives out of the air, Naruto closed the distance with a burst of speed. He reached the mercenary as he shot the last kunai down and delivered a palm strike to his chest while grabbing hold of his pistol.

The mercenary flew a few yards and rolled with the momentum until he reached his feet and noticed his empty hand.

"This again?" Shinobi asked while waving the gun around. "This is your opening move? Again? I mean, you get points for shooting the knives out of the air, but come on, man."

"Look again."

Shinobi looked down at the gun to see a small light on the trigger guard blinking red. He didn't need much more prompting to throw the gun high above his head before it blew up.

"Now that's more like it. You're really getting into the swing of things."

"You have no idea." Deathstroke pulled a syringe from one of his many waist pouches and raised it to eye level.

"What, are you gonna inject me with that? Is that your master plan?"

"You? No. This is more... to even the playing field." With that said, Deathstroke stabbed the syringe into his own neck before depressing the plunger.

Deathstroke stood there for a moment, before he doubled over and groaned in pain. The groans soon evolved into full on screaming.

"Well, they say drugs are bad for you. Now you know," Shinobi taunted.

Soon enough the screaming had died down and Deathstroke regained his feet. He was looking down at his hands, clenching and unclenching them before he turned his gaze back onto his enemy. His lone eye was a shocking red color, but otherwise he seemed unchanged.

"Bad for me? On the contrary. This is the best thing that could have happened. Come on." Deathstroke gave Shinobi a come hither motion, and the ninja was only too happy to oblige.

Shinobi blurred into motion and stopped with his fist slotted firmly in Deathstroke's outstretched hand.

"You see? Even playing field." Deathstroke smirked behind his mask.

"Not really." The mercenary caught sight of Shinobi's hand contorted into a one handed seal before an electric current ran through his body. The mercenary reeled back in pain, his body wracked by muscle spasms before the ninja's fist smacked into his face and he was sent flying once again.

Deathstroke only flew for a short distance before a clone appeared in his flight path and hammered him into the ground.

"I love guys like you. You get all this strength so fast, and immediately forget all of your tricks. You're gonna need more than some miracle drug to fight me, old timer," said Shinobi while bouncing on the balls of his feet like a boxer.

Deathstroke groaned as he regained his feet. "You know... you're right. I'm much better than this." In one motion, the mercenary unsheathed a knife from the small of his back, slashed open one of his waist pouches, and let the knife fly. From his pouch, dozens of small spheres cascaded to the ground. Shinobi, caught the knife, and prepared to throw it back before he noticed the spheres on the ground. His eyes widened before the balls all exploded in a blast of blinding white light.

Blinded for a precious few moments, Shinobi reinforced all of the bones in his body with chakra and covered his face and neck with his forearms in preparation for the coming onslaught. The first blow did not come for his face like he had predicted. Instead, Deathstroke's fist found a home in the ninja's abdomen, knocking the wind out of him and causing him to loosen his guard.

Deathstroke followed up with a brutal uppercut. Shinobi felt himself leave the ground before a hand wrapped around one of his ankles and brought him to an impromptu reunion with the ground, face first.

There was no time to recover; Shinobi felt the mercenary straddle his back and formed a one-handed seal. Deathstroke slammed his fist down on the area where Shinobi's head was, but with a poof of smoke, the hired killer managed only pulverize a wooden log that had conveniently switched places with the ninja. His eye widened before he felt something solid impact against his back.

Shinobi had used the opportunity afforded by his Kawarimi to form a Rasengan and drive it into Deathstroke's back. He released the energy, causing a shockwave that sent the mercenary flying and then rolling end over end for several yards.

Deathstroke sat up before he was hit by one of Shinobi's training weights. It was insanely heavy knocked the mercenary for another loop. Before he could recover again, Shinobi appeared above him.

"That was pretty good, old man. How about we get serious, huh?" Shinobi didn't wait for Deathstroke to answer before he grabbed the downed foe by his face and slammed his head back into the ground. He then followed up by pick him up, by his face, and hurling him across the parking lot and through the doors of the building that the ninja had been standing guard in front of not long beforehand.

Naruto didn't waste much time following behind his enemy, but when he arrive in the lobby of the building, Deathstroke was nowhere to be found. That is until he heard a blade cutting through the air behind him. Shinobi spun around, ready to defend against Deathstroke's sword, but instead found that it was flying towards his face, point first. Shinobi continued his spin, narrowly avoiding the blade piercing his skull, and when he came back around, he had to rapidly defend against a flurry of kicks and punches from his enemy.

They exchanged blows for a short while, neither gaining the advantage, before they became locked in a stalemate. Shinobi was holding Deathstroke's right fist in his left hand while the mercenary mirrored him and they pushed against each other.

"I'm just as strong as you now. There's no way you win this time," said Deathstroke.

"You seem to keep forgetting how tricky I am." Shinobi stopped pushing all at once, and rolled onto his back, pushing his feet into Deathstroke's abdomen. The mercenary had only a second to realize what was happening before he was sent flying towards the ceiling. Deathstroke impacted the ceiling, and caught a glimpse of the ninja's hands in a cross shaped seal before two clones materialized and jumped up towards him as he started falling. They caught him mid descent and pushed him back into the ceiling with two perfectly synchronized punches to the abdomen, before tossing Deathstroke back down to the original who was waiting on the floor with a Rasengan ready in his hand.

As Deathstroke was sent flying back into and through the ceiling into the second story, he had a fleeting thought that this was akin to being on a very painful rollercoaster. Deathstroke landed on his back in a hall of cubicles and groaned as he regained his feet. He saw Shinobi jump through the hole in the floor and take up his ready stance again.

"You like what I did there? It's all about improvisation!"

Deathstroke could tell the ninja was grinning at his own ingenuity and he decided to take a page out of his book.

"You're right." The mercenary dropped a fistfull of smoke pellets on the ground before ducking into a cubicle.

Shinobi watched the smoke fill the space in front of him, wondering what the mercenary could be plotting. He found out when a slew of pens and pencils flew out of the smoke screen at him. One whizzed close enough to cut him above the eye, before the ninja ducked behind a cubicle wall.

"Watch it! You could put someone's eye out!"

"That was the intention."

Shinobi heard the voice coming from the other side of the cubicle wall he was press against and realized too late what a bad position he was in. Deathstroke's hand came out off the wall to the left of Shinobi's head and closed on his face as the mercenary pulled the ninja through the thin wall.

Deathstroke slammed his foe into the floor before straddling him, pinning Shinobi's left hand under his right knee while grabbing hold of the other one.

"Let's see you do those tricks of yours with a few broken fingers." Deathstroke punctuated his sentence by wrenching Shinobi's index finger into an awkward angle and breaking it with a clean but brutal snap.

Shinobi grunted in pain and struggled minimally while Deathstroke moved onto his middle finger. As that one broke as well, Shinobi shimmied down until he had enough space to do what he needed to do. As soon as he had enough room, Shinobi brought his legs up and interlocked his ankles around Deathstroke's neck and pulled him off of his torso.

Shinobi disentangled himself from Deathstroke and they both regained their feet.

"That hurt, you dick," said Shinobi as he dropped into a ready stance. He couldn't tend to his broken fingers now, so he would have to make do with his left.

The two combatants were engaged in a stare down for a few moments and both prepared to begin again, before a thought ran through Shinobi's head courtesy of the mind link his teammates shared.

"Doctor Roquette has succeeded, the Fog is neutralized!"

Deathstroke had noticed the look of distraction that had crossed Shinobi's face and began to close the distance before he stopped suddenly.

"The mission has failed. All units retreat." The voice had come through on a communicator the shadows had provided Deathstroke when he had arrived on the scene.

Deathstroke pressed the communicator in his ear. "No! I'm this close! I'm going to finish this!"

"This is a direct order. Not from the Shadows, but your masters in the Light. Retreat, now."

Deathstroke growled and pointed his finger at Shinobi before saying, "This is not over."

"Your bosses pulling on your leash? If it's any consolation, you did better, but you weren't close at all. Not by a longshot, old man." Shinobi watched as Deathstroke backed towards the hole in the ground, and dropped through. He would be long gone soon enough, and the ninja was happy enough to let him go

"The Shadows are retreating. Looks like we've won. Three targets acquired and ready for transport," Aqualad's voice came through the mind link.

"Deathstroke's gone. Drop the mind link and let's regroup at Roquette's position."

"Roger." Miss Martian confirmed before Naruto felt her presence leave his mind.

"You're just letting him go?"

"Eh, what's the harm? Besides if he's gonna come back stronger every time, I can't wait to see what he has up his sleeve the next time we fight."

"That's reckless thinking at best. Insanely idiotic at worst."

"Yeah, well, you have to make your own fun, I guess. Maybe next time, we'll be able to really cut loose."

"I'm looking forward to it."

A/N: Well, okay, here it is. Not so excited about this chapter, but I had to put it out at some point. On a different note: anyone who likes anime (which should be a vast majority of my readers) should watch the first episode of Kill la Kill. It's pretty outstanding. Until next time.