Chapter 16

September 4, 2010

Arthur Light could honestly say that he didn't know where he was. Indeed he had no idea for how long he'd been oblivious to his own whereabouts. The man in black and orange had taken him from the Belle Reve Prison transport vehicle and that was the last time Arthur could recall having any knowledge of where on earth he was.

He could, of course, recognize that he was in a lab, the shiny equipment everywhere and the men in white lab coats made that obvious; of course there was the fact that Arthur had once been a physicist to help him make the connection. He also vaguely recognized that most of the machinery was of the exact sort that could be found in a genetics research laboratory. With such evidence arranged before him, Arthur quickly hypothesized that whoever had funded this lab had an interest in his powers; perhaps not specifically his powers but certainly powers in general. The fact that when he awoke he was in a glass cell, bereft of all clothing except an inhibitor collar, quickly informed him of the fact that he was in for a long and unpleasant stay.

Early on in his incarceration he had tried bargaining with the scientists, promising to willingly share the secrets of his metahuman ability if he were freed. This had very little effect and the day after his cell was gassed. Arthur awoke in the cell once more an indeterminate amount of time later missing his big toe on his right foot. No one had given him anything to dull the pain. That clued him in: there would be no bargaining and no deals.

Soon after that incident he'd set his mind to the task of escaping his prison with a feverish single mindedness that might have garnered him some respect from religious zealots worldwide. He thought he'd been clever, inspecting the cell for any weaknesses while the scientists weren't watching, but he was gassed again and found himself missing the entirety of his right leg below the knee.

Arthur Light had languished in his cell for weeks, the spirit bleeding out of him with the passing of every minute. One day as a scientist passed by his cell, eyes locked intently on a pad of some sort, a sort of madness seized Arthur. He hopped up from his uncomfortable cot, crossed the length of the cell with surprising quickness for a man with one leg, and beat on the glass to get the man's attention. The scientist was startled.

"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?! AM I BEING PUNISHED?!" It wasn't the first time these words had come out of Arthur's mouth, but it was the first time he was answered.

The scientist seemed to consider answering before something else wandered into the hall. It was some sort of cylinder rolling on unseen wheels. It was black with purple accents and a clear glass dome on top showed a brain hooked to several wires and resting on a pedestal.

"Punished? No, of course not. Not in the traditional sense. We collected enough genetic material to replicate your powers before you first gained consciousness around..." the voice was tinny and lacked emotion, but somehow was also accented. French if Arthur was in any mood to guess. "We replicated your powers thirty-eight days ago. No, your flesh was used as something of a control group in a series of other experiments."

Arthur felt hollow. He slid to the floor, letting his leg rest. In the end all it came down to was a sick experiment. Pieces of him had been taken, never to return, and it was all for nothing.

"Of course the fact that I'm telling you this doesn't mean you'll be leaving this place anytime soon. But take heart in the fact that your sacrifice, unwilling though it may have been, has borne fruit. Show him," This had clearly been directed to the scientist. The scientist turned the pad towards Arthur and pressed it against the glass of the cell. There was a video playing on it. In a room made of concrete a blond teenager with spiky hair and red eyes was standing. There was some cue given off screen and the blond raised his hand and fired a beam of light from it. He then raised the other and gathered a huge amount of pure light in between the two. The room grew dimmer as the ball of light grew larger and then the teenager released it in a beam the width of his own torso. There was a large smoldering crater in the opposite wall.

"Look, Arthur. You've helped us build an army!"

LINE BREAK

The ride home from Bialya was about as normal as could be expected, what with Superboy shooting Naruto a constant glare, Megan doing her best to avoid looking at him, and a giant mechanical sphere knocking about with what must have approximated for curiosity. The mission debriefing went about the same way. Batman had picked up on the tension but decided not to ask. He had, however, asked Naruto to stay behind while the other team members filed out of the debriefing room.

"If this is about me chewing out Megan-"

"This is not about that at all. It was never made official, but the team looks to you as a leader. The way you handled insubordination was raw, but effective. No, this is about a mission I have for you. Solo." Batman pulled up a holographic display. Pictured were two middle-aged Asian men. "This is Tseng Dangun," Batman began while motioning to one of the men that had a head of grey hair parted to the left. "He's the Prime Minister of South Rhelasia. The other one is General Singh Manh Li, the leader of North Rhelasia." The second man was wearing glasses with a rectangular frame and his black hair parted down the middle.

"These two countries have been at war for years, but the leaders have decided to hold a peace summit to try to bring an end to the fighting. It starts in three days and I want you to be there making sure nothing goes wrong."

Naruto crossed his arms and asked, "I can understand why the peace talks need protection, but why me? And why solo?"

"You're the perfect candidate. You speak the language, you have training in covert operations, you can disguise yourself flawlessly, and you're powerful enough to handle any likely threat that might arise. And the Team is too raw to be trusted with this. Not with what's at stake."

"Fair enough. Have you found out anything about that clone of me?"

"The clone was a dead end. I had J'onn take a look at his memories, but it had only been conscious for three days, all of which were filled with weapons drills. Its memories and skills were all implanted psychically not unlike Superboy's were, and it was rendered unconscious while it was being transported from whatever facility produced it to the place where you encountered it. The psychic conditioning points to Cadmus, but Cadmus is under new management. I'll be following up on that lead in the coming days." Batman closed the holographic display.

"Assuming you've accepted, You'll enter Taiwan via teleporter tube. You are accepting, yes?"

Naruto nodded, "Of course. Peace is always a good thing, and I'll do my part to help make it happen."

Batman opened another holographic console and started tapping away at the keys. "Good. You're acting in an official capacity here. Prime Minister Tseng has been informed that the League will be assigning an agent to protect the summit, the five permanent members of the UN security council have also been notified. Don't mess it up."

"No problem," said Naruto as he walked away. "Gimme the details tomorrow. I got a lady waiting for me." With that, Naruto left Batman typing away at the console and made his way to his bedroom.

He wasn't wrong as it turned out, Koriand'r was waiting for him. She was laid out on his bed in all of her naked splendor. Naruto wasn't sure he had ever undressed as quickly as he did right then. Their lovemaking was rough and passionate and afterward they held each other as though they were afraid to let go.

"I never want to forget you again," Koriand'r said. She gripped the arm that was wrapped around her waist.

Naruto kissed the nape of her neck. "I'll make sure you never do."

LINE BREAK

September 7, 2010

The peace summit was set to take place at a grand hotel. Batman's intel had informed Shinobi of the fact that there was a conference hall on the thirtieth floor where Minister Tseng and General Li would hold their deliberations. Batman's intel had also revealed that there was a secret arbitrator expected to attend the summit. No amount of digging had revealed the arbitrator's identity.

Shinobi had entered the city two days earlier. He'd spent the time doing reconnaissance of the area and generally securing the site of the meeting. Although the Taipei police were overseeing security of the summit directly, Shinobi made sure to keep tabs on all foot traffic entering the hotel; liberal use of shadow clones and the camouflage technique made this quite simple. He'd posted two clones in the hallway leading to the conference hall and another two inside the hall itself to make sure there was no possibility that any intruders would be missed.

On the day of the summit, Shinobi set himself up in a tree outside of the hotel's front entrance. He watched the crowds filter in all day. First came the food vendors, those lucky few to have acquired permits to market their wares during the peace summit. Next came a slew of pedestrians at around midday. Shinobi didn't know what these people were so excited about, but they milled about in front of the hotel patiently while they waited for the politicians to show up. Then in the afternoon came the journalists. They came from local stations and from news outlets all around the world to report on the momentous occasion.

Some few minutes after the Sun had set, the men of the hour themselves arrived. General Li arrived first, accompanied by a caravan of black town cars. His entourage of bodyguards exited their vehicles and made a veritable human shield for the General as he exited his own vehicle. The reporters lit up the night with camera flashes as the General was ushered near the doors of the hotel; it would be easier to retreat into the safety of the hotel if violence were to break out.

Next came Prime Minister Tseng who arrived in much the same manner as the General. He and his bodyguards also took up positions near the doors, although they kept a respectful distance from the General and his people.

The mysterious arbitrator arrived ten minutes after in a white stretch limo accompanied by a police escort. The reporters crowded in, all vying for the chance to be the first to get a shot of the mystery man but they were stymied by the intimidating presence of the police. As the door of the limo opened, a memory entered Shinobi's head. His eyes snapped towards one of the food vendor carts as his clones moved in. There were shouts of surprise as Shinobi's clones dropped their camouflage and the few in the crowd that had been transformed into unassuming pedestrians dropped their illusion. They all started converging on the food cart that had a woman clothed in green and wearing a cat mask standing on top of it. Shinobi recognized Cheshire immediately. She was holding a rocket launcher that was aimed at the white limo. As the first of Shinobi's clones reached her, the would be assassin fired her weapon.

Shinobi had begun moving towards the limo itself as all the commotion was taking place. As he reached the vehicle he saw the rocket approaching and prepared to create a clone to intercept it. People might be hurt by the explosion, but there was no doubt the arbitrator would die if the rocket was left to continue its journey unimpeded. However, Shinobi was beaten to the punch by an arrow colliding with the rocket, sending it off course and out of sight, probably to ruin some unsuspecting stranger's night. Shinobi glanced back to where the arrow had come from and saw a red-headed man in a tuxedo and sunglasses holding a red collapsible bow. He was nocking another arrow and it didn't take Shinobi more than a second to surmise that the man was very clearly Red Arrow in civilian clothing. Shinobi turned his attention away from the archer and looked back to where his clones had subdued Cheshire.

The combined escort forces of the arbitrator, Minister Tseng, and General Li, moved towards Shinobi's clones with their guns drawn. Shinobi quickly moved to intercede.

"Hey, everyone just calm down," Shinobi called out in Mandarin. He didn't have any credentials so he would have to trust that Minister Tseng had been informed of his presence here before hand. "I was sent by the Justice League to protect the peace talks, I assume the Minister was informed that there would be a League presence here." As luck would have it, Tseng came to his defense, breaking away from his appointed guard after having heard his name mentioned in conjunction with the Justice League.

"Yes, yes! The Justice League promised the UN it would protect this summit. I thought they would send Superman... but this one will have to do." Tseng seemed disappointed and Shinobi felt vaguely insulted.

Two police officers dragged the handcuffed form of Red Arrow into view. "Is this one part of the League's protection detail too?"

Red Arrow wouldn't meet his eyes, and Shinobi didn't doubt that he would receive no thanks for his help, but he confirmed that Red Arrow was his ally. Shinobi reached out to help Red Arrow to his feet after the handcuffs had been removed and the archer grudgingly accepted.

"Thanks... I know I give you guys a lot of crap, so thanks," said Red Arrow while busily checking his bow over. Shinobi just clapped him on the shoulder and walked towards the limo where the news crews had reconvened and the arbitrator was stepping out into the spotlight. The man that exited took everyone by surprise.

Lex Luthor climbed out of the limousine, all slick smiles and arms spread invitingly.

"All this commotion for little ol' me?" Luthor called into the crowd, earning a round of laughs and camera flashes.

Naruto put his finger to his ear activating his communicator. "Call Batman, designation 02."

Things had just become more complicated.

LINE BREAK LINE BREAK LINE BREAK

Shinobi was stood in the conference hall where all the three delegations were preparing to hold the peace talks. Red Arrow seemed to be having an obviously tense conversation with Luthor and Naruto couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't taken off that ridiculous tuxedo.

A conversation with Batman hadn't shed much light on Luthor's presence at the summit and Shinobi was powerless to do anything about it. Luthor maintained an impeccable public image behind which he enacted his assorted nefarious plots. Any hostile act on Shinobi's part would serve no purpose except to put even more needless strain on the peace talks. He would have to watch this charade play out until Luthor tipped his hand. The ninja had no doubt that Luthor was tied to the Shadows somehow, after all Cheshire had come to his aid those several months ago when they'd had their impromptu chat on the rooftop in Metropolis, but the intricacies of the billionaire's plan remained out of reach.

Red Arrow had apparently finished his chat with Luthor and was making his way over to Shinobi. He didn't seem too pleased. Luthor approached the delegation and proceeded to grandstand for all he was worth. He was worth quite a bit.

"Have a nice chat?" Shinobi probed as the Arrow came near.

"The scumbag straight out admitted that he was profiting from this. He sells arms to both sides, but now he's decided it's more profitable to broker peace."

"Always looking to make a buck, huh? I don't think he would have flown all this way personally if it was that simple. And I've seen him in the company of Cheshire - the assassin that just tried to kill him - before," Shinobi said.

Red Arrow hummed contemplatively before adding, "I doubt they had a falling out. I need to question her directly." Naruto cleared his throat loudly. "It's better if you stay here and protect the summit."

Shinobi waved his hand dismissively and said, "I was here for two days making sure security didn't miss anything. No one gets in or out that isn't supposed to and I'll leave some clones here to make sure nothing goes wrong. We have time to go ask a few questions."

Red Arrow sighed but accepted it. Shinobi discreetly made two clones that took up posts near the doors while Red Arrow went to ask a police officer what had been done with Cheshire. As they made their exit Naruto glanced at Lex Luthor and caught a smug grin in return.

It didn't take them long to make it to the police station where Cheshire was being housed, and they only made one detour for Red Arrow to put on his 'working clothes'. It only took slightly longer to explain to the captain on duty that they needed access to the assassin. They were lead to a small room. Oddly, it seemed to be half office and half holding cell. The walls were unpainted brick and there were no windows. In the cell, unmasked and unarmed, was Cheshire, slowly running through a kata of some sort. She didn't stop when Shinobi and Red Arrow were let into the room.

"Oh my, two visitors and I haven't been here even an hour? You flatter me." She smirked as she continued her slow motions. Shinobi snorted as he took a seat on the desk that was situated by the door. Red Arrow looked at him questioningly but Shinobi just nodded his head at the amused assassin and said, "I thought you didn't need the help of the Junior Justice League. Let's see what you can do alone."

Red Arrow huffed and walked towards the bars of the cells where he proceeded to stand in silence.

"Aren't you going to ask me... anything?" asked Cheshire.

"I think you know what I'm after," replied Red Arrow.

"I do actually. Do you?" Cheshire returned coyly.

"Who hired you?"

"Shadows," she replied matter-of-factly.

"Who hired them?"

"I don't ask," she replied. She winked at Red Arrow for good measure.

Red Arrow, having clearly run out of patience with her coyness, accelerated his line of questioning.

"What's the endgame here? Luthor or the peace talks?"

Cheshire finally stopped her kata and pointed her finger at Red Arrow, her hand in the shape of a gun. "Two birds, one stone." Then she looked past Red Arrow at Shinobi, her tone amiable as if Shinobi hadn't put her in this cell. "Hey! Where are your little sidekick friends? They're always fun to play with."

"There were no credible threats made towards the peace summit. I was only here in case someone tried to attack that wasn't stupid enough to make a threat beforehand. Now that I know it was only the Shadows, calling backup seems like overkill, ya know?"

"You might end up needing that backup. Something tells me the night is about to get more interesting."

"I doubt it. The Shadows and Luthor have at least a working relationship. You came to his rescue that time in Metropolis. The Shadows won't eliminate a whale like Luthor for whatever payday they're being offered to attack the summit. I'm thinking Luthor himself hired you to create a commotion. He's got a bigger plan than just simple war profiteering." Shinobi stood to his full height and addressed Red Arrow. "I'm going back to the summit, Luthor needs to be watched. She's not going anywhere."

Red Arrow opened his mouth to respond but Cheshire distracted both of them when she suddenly moved to the bars of her cell and braced herself.

"Oh shit."

The back wall suddenly exploded inward. The when the noise died down the sound of helicopter blades could be heard. A rope was lowered just past the hole in the wall and all of a sudden Deathstroke was hanging from it, extending his hand to Cheshire. If Shinobi had any doubts about Luthor's bigger plan, they were squashed right then and there. Cheshire jumped from the hole and grabbed Deathstroke's hand and they were suddenly moving away. Shinobi ran to the bars of the cell and started to pry them apart with his hands.

"Go to the roof and tell me where they're going! Maintain radio contact!"

Red Arrow wasn't usually one to take orders, but he was out the door immediately with nary a word. Shinobi had managed to bend two of the bars apart far enough for him to slip through. He ran to the hole in the wall and saw the helicopter moving away rapidly. He took out a kunai and threw it with all of his strength in a bid to cut the rope that Cheshire and Deathstroke were clinging to. It seemed to fly true until it reached close vicinity to the helicopter it and was thrown off course by the vehicle's downwash. The kunai fell away into the night and the helicopter disappeared over a rooftop just as Shinobi's communicator started beeping in his ear.

"They're headed northwest. I don't know where, but I've got a tracker on the chopper." Red Arrow's voice came through loud and clear.

"Follow the signal. I'm heading back to the summit. Keep me posted." As they disconnected Shinobi blurred into motion, hopping over rooftops at blinding speed to reach the hotel. Whatever Luthor had planned, Deathstroke's presence was very worrying. Shinobi didn't have any doubts about being able to decimate the mercenary, but here was another example of the Shadows and Deathstroke working together in the presence of Lex Luthor, and neither the League nor Shinobi had any inkling as to what kind of grandiose plot was in play to bring these people together.

When he reached the conference hall, Shinobi was greeted to the summit going on, uninterrupted. Luthor was doing his job and mediating as though nothing were happening at all. Shinobi's clones were standing at their posts and it seemed absolutely nothing of interest had happened in the intervening time.

Shinobi stepped back out into the hall and put his finger to his ear and placed a call to Red Arrow. There was a long moment of no response before the archer picked up.

"There's more going on here than we think." Red Arrow was taking deep breaths. "They're working for Ra's al Ghul."

"Not if Deathstroke is involved." Kurama piped up for the first time all night and Naruto agreed.

"Ra's al Ghul wouldn't hire Deathstroke of all people! He has an army of assassins at his beck and call, why would he need one that isn't loyal specifically to him?"

"I was there! I saw him with my own eyes, they almost killed me to keep me quiet!" Red Arrow was clearly agitated.

"There's a very good chance you were meant to see that. We're dealing with Luthor and now Ra's too. These guys are geniuses at manipulating people into seeing only what they're meant to. Come back to the hotel but stay hidden. Chances are they weren't meant to kill you, but if they're going to try for the summit again, they'll throw Deathstroke at me to at least try to keep me busy. I want you to be able to surprise them if they think they did kill you."

There was a long silence before Red Arrow responded in a grudging tone, "Fine, we'll do this your way." He was silent again for a moment before adding, "One more thing. Sportsmaster was there too, and a girl I didn't recognize, dressed in Deathstroke's colors. You should assume they're all gonna join the party."

"Well, the party's getting pretty crowded, but I've never had much trouble with crowds. Tell me when you're back." At that, Shinobi disconnected the call and entered the conference hall again. The delegations seemed to be taking a recess. Luthor spotted him by the door and made a beeline towards him.

"Shinobi, my friend! Your security services have been top notch, not a single disturbance besides that whole debacle at the entrance." Luthor seemed almost ready to give him a hug, but the facade was thin and Shinobi was familiar with his particular brand of manipulation, always putting on his best face for the camera.

"You're not my friend," Shinobi spoke lowly as Luthor got closer, "but we need to have a conversation."

A smirk spread across Luthor's face. Shinobi couldn't help but think that no expression was ever more at home on Luthor's face like a smug smirk.

"Come with me, my suite has been generously provided by the hotel and it would be a shame if you didn't share in their hospitality as well." Luthor put his hand on Shinobi's shoulder and the ninja waited until they were outside of the conference hall to shake it off. They walked side by side to Luthor's suite and Mercy, his cyborg bodyguard, seemed content to follow on in silence as Luthor attempted to make small talk. They made it to his suite and Luthor set about changing into a suit that Shinobi guessed was twice as expensive as the one he just took off.

"I guess Deathstroke has joined the club of people that want you dead tonight. He broke Cheshire out of her holding cell not too long ago," Shinobi started, taking a seat on plush but elegantly appointed sofa.

"Well, power attracts many enemies. I shouldn't have to tell you that, should I? The truth is that many people would benefit from my death. My competitors, detractors, political enemies... I'm a very high profile target," Luthor explained as he buttoned up his new shirt.

Shinobi snorted. "I might believe that if Cheshire and Deathstroke hadn't been taking orders from you that time we met in Metropolis. You've got a play here, and it's not just profit like you told Red Arrow."

"Oh, Shinobi, you're thinking too hard about this. Deathstroke and Cheshire are contractors! Guns for hire to the highest bidder. Anyone could have paid them to kill me." Luthor was doing up his tie now as Mercy waited a few feet away with a suit jacket.

"I might believe that too if you weren't, in fact, the highest bidder. What assassin would turn their gun on you and risk losing another payday. Not to mention the fact that if they failed, they would become targets as well. I don't think I'd want one of the richest men in the world gunning for me if I was an independent contractor. So what's your play here?"

Luthor allowed Mercy to slip the suit jacket over his shoulders as he replied. "Just money, my boy. You don't get to be, as you say, one of the richest men in the world without more than a little bit of avarice. I'm afraid my hands are clean this time." Luthor held up his palms as if to attest to their cleanliness. "Now, can't I get you something to drink? It would kill me if you came to my room just for a fruitless conversation."

Shinobi shook his head in the negative and stood up.

"Just as well, I suppose. Wouldn't do to have you drunk on the job. And I think we should adjourn to the conference hall. The talks will resume soon."

Naruto left ahead of Luthor and Mercy, making a call to Red Arrow on the way to the conference hall.

"Luthor's claiming he doesn't know anything about Deathstroke's involvement. Are you here yet?"

"Yeah. I'm hidden in the conference hall. No one but security saw me come in. None of Luthor's people."

"Good, wait there. The talks are starting again soon."

Naruto entered the conference hall and took up a post behind the long table. If any of the security was unhappy with his chosen spot, they didn't challenge him. After a few moments the Minister and the General walked in as well as the media that seemed to be stuck to them like glue. Soon afterwards Luthor followed accompanied by Mercy. They took their seats and the talks resumed.

It continued that way, the leaders finding new ways to keep peace from being achieved and Luthor playing mediator, defusing the situations as they arose. It seemed as if the talks would go well until General Li declared, "Reunification is unthinkable!"

"Yes, our people no longer have anything in common," Minister Tseng agreed.

"Gentlemen!" Luthor interjected beseechingly. "This is mere rhetoric. Despite your differences you still share an appreciation for many things. Such as the exquisite art of the Rhelasian tea ceremony." As he said that a woman walked into the hall wearing a bright red, purple, and gold dress and pushing a cart with a tea set on top. Her face was painted white, her lips a deep red, and her hair was done up in two buns and adorned with roses. The media crowd dispersed as she approached. Shinobi eyed her suspiciously as she came a stop before the long table and reached under the cart. The ninja watched her hands as they came out from under the cloth cover and in them she held a pistol. He was moving before she even had a chance to aim it.

Shinobi appeared in front of the woman in a shunshin and snatched the gun from her hand as he kicked her across the room. He quickly ejected the magazine before discarding the gun and approaching the downed would be assassin. She sprung up the her feet as Shinobi approached, a sai in each hand and a cat mask on her face, revealing her to the hall at large as Cheshire.

"As far as assassination attempts go, that one was pretty weak," said Shinobi.

"You'd think so wouldn't you?" asked Cheshire and the bay windows of the conference hall shattered as a helicopter came into view. The same helicopter from earlier in the night, Shinobi realized in the back of his mind as he threw a shuriken covered in wind chakra at the junction point where the rotor met the body of the helicopter. This time he was close enough that the downwash didn't blow his projectile away.

The occupants of the helicopter were already disembarking into the conference hall as the shuriken severed the rotor from the helicopter completely. It fell away from the hotel, but the cargo had already been unloaded. There was a distant crash and explosion from many floors below, but Shinobi was more interested in the people that had entered the hall.

At the forefront was Deathstroke, the one-eyed mercenary bypassing any attempt at using his gun, contrary to his previous pattern of leading with his pistol, and holding his bastard sword one-handed. Behind him and to the right was sportsmaster, some kind of javelin in his hand and ready to throw. To the left was a woman that Naruto didn't recognize, wearing Deathstroke's colors and holding a katana in each hand. Behind the three were a number of black-clad rank and file Shadows, about a dozen if Shinobi had to venture a guess.

"Deathstroke! You've got the numbers on your side this time, don't let me embarrass you again. It's getting kind of old, ya know," Naruto shouted at the one-eyed merc. His lone red eye narrowed but it was sportsmaster who made the first move. He reared back and threw his javelin. Shinobi snatched it out of mid-air and threw it back. Sportsmaster moved out of the way and the javelin caught a Shadow in the shoulder. He fell with a cry of pain and didn't get back up.

At that the room burst into a cacophony of sound. Shinobi's clones jumped into action, dealing with the Shadows in the background while Shinobi himself engaged Deathstroke and his entourage at close range. He targeted the unknown woman first as the likely weak link of the group. Her defense was strong, she moved the katanas like an artist, but she was woefully slow and ill-prepared for Shinobi's offense. He bulled right through her defense, his suit taking a few scratches from her blades, and kneed her in the stomach. She doubled over in pain but Shinobi couldn't press his advantage and had to lean back as Deathstroke's sword passed through where his neck had just been. Shinobi kicked the woman towards Deathstroke and stepped back.

He saw that Red Arrow had come out of hiding, engaging Cheshire and stopping her from getting to Luthor or any other bystander. Shinobi paid for his distraction as Sportsmaster had used the time in which Shinobi was engaged with Deathstroke and the woman to create distance and throw a discuss at him with great force. Shinobi knocked it aside at the last moment and discovered too late how sharp it was. It left a deep gash on his forearm as it passed. Shinobi tossed a brace of shuriken his way as Deathstroke and the woman who was apparently his protege jumped back into the fray.

Shinobi dodge sword strokes from both adversaries for a few moments before he caught a downward stroke from one of the girl's katanas. He quickly twisted it from her grip and dodged backwards as Deathstroke tried to disembowel him. He took the katana in his left hand and channeled wind chakra into the blade. He gave it a practice swing and it sliced through a nearby table like a hot knife through butter. Deathstroke charged in undaunted, swinging his sword with equal parts skill and fury. It was a testament to the quality of material that the bastard sword was made of that Shinobi's didn't slice immediately through it when he parried a swing.

The woman came in again, trying to stab Shinobi in the gut as he locked blades with the mercenary. Shinobi was forced to dodge backwards, giving up more ground, and once again had to take his eyes off of the duo as he sliced a flying discus in two, courtesy of Sportsmaster. This distraction cost him as Deathstroke's blade slashed him across the chest, apparently undaunted by Shinobi's armor. The woman came up for a follow up strike, but Shinobi was done playing at swords. He dropped the appropriated katana and ducked under the woman's high slash, tackling her to the ground by the midsection. He couldn't strike her as Deathstroke swung for his neck once more and Shinobi had to roll forward off of the woman's midsection to keep his head on his shoulders. As he rolled to his feet, Shinobi caught another javelin and blurred into motion across the hall, catching Sportsmaster in the abdomen with devastating knee. Sportsmaster collapsed onto his back and Shinobi prepared to drive the javelin into one of his hands as a shrill whistle made him look up.

The fighting had apparently stopped. Deathstroke and his protege seemed ready to continue fighting but the masked Shadows had been taken care of by Shinobi's clones. What really caught his attention was Red Arrow laying the ground, face-down, Cheshire's knee on his back holding a sai to the archer's neck.

"That's it. Not one more move or I'll open Red here up like a pig," Cheshire called from across the hall. Shinobi was dimly aware of Sportsmaster scrambling up to his feet and moving away from him. He moved as far away as he could before he spoke up as well.

"I wouldn't make any fast moves with that javelin either." The assassin reached into a pouch and produced what Shinobi recognized as a detonator. "All of my javelins are fitted with a high-explosive charge. One move and my finger might just slip."

Shinobi took in the situation. He suspected that none of the four would hurt Luthor. He was involved with them somehow. But that provided him no assurances for the life of Red Arrow, or anyone else attending the summit. He looked Sportsmaster in the eyes and there was no doubt in Naruto's mind that he would press that button, and Cheshire killed for a living, she wouldn't hesitate to do so once more. Naruto cast a glance at a camera that was peeking out over the long table recording everything, beaming the signal live to televisions across the world. He had no doubt that Batman was watching as well. Shinobi started reinforcing his body with chakra as well as he could.

"What are you doing? They have you dead to rights here, there's no play." Kurama piped up in his mind.

"Sure there is."

When Shinobi spoke he was addressing the camera.

"Batman... I'm gonna need some urgent medical care!" He raised his voice to ensure the microphone on the camera caught it.

"Wha-?" Cheshire and Sportsmaster started at the same time. Deathstroke made no such utterances. He started running towards a pillar and his protege wasn't far behind.

Shinobi removed a kunai from his pouch as quickly as he could and hurled it at Cheshire while simultaneously throwing the javelin in the direction of the shattered bay windows. Shinobi's world went white.

When he became aware it wasn't true awareness. He couldn't think past the pain. Couldn't breath through the agony. He existed in that state for what must have been several eternities before it all dulled away into the background.

"Didn't know I could do that."

"Kurama?" Shinobi's senses were returning to him and he could see again, although his field of vision seemed to have become smaller.

"I... dulled your pain. Don't ask me how. You're in very bad shape."

Bad shape was an understatement. Naruto's right side was missing chunks, the bones showing in several places. Whatever hadn't been blown away was burned almost beyond recognition. Worst of all, his right arm was missing. There was literally nothing there except the remnants of shattered bone.

"What happened? Why is my arm gone?" He was genuinely puzzled.

"You did a stupid thing. A very stupid thing," Kurama responded.

"Why am I so calm? You'd think I'd be freaking out."

"I'd wager you're in shock. I've dulled your pain... somehow, and now you're in shock."

"Oh."

Naruto turned his gaze and saw three people making their way to him. More of them were behind them, one rolling around in pain with a knife sticking out of her gut, another laying on the ground unconscious, and many more all behind a high table, some filming the situation with cameras. Naruto wished the terrible ringing would stop. He might be able to hear them if only the ringing would stop.

"Are those... the bad guys?" Naruto asked Kurama.

"Those are the guys that are gonna kill you. Take my chakra! Defend yourself!"

Naruto felt a surge of power and it all came tumbling back into his mind. The peace summit, the assassination plot, the explosion. With the details came his hearing.

"He's gotta be dead," said Sportsmaster.

"His head just moved," countered Deathstroke.

"Reflex, it's gotta be. No one can get that fucked up and still be alive."

Naruto's body twitched and he rolled over onto his chest. His right leg wasn't working as well as it should have but he pushed himself onto his knees.

"Jesus fuck!" exclaimed Sportsmaster. "God damn, how are you still breathing?"

Naruto looked back down at himself and noticed that a good chunk of his ribcage was showing. Bones singed and out in the world for all to see.

From the back of the room he heard someone shout, "Oh, God! His face!"

Naruto raised his left hand and felt around his face. The left side seemed to be a bit worse for wear but mostly in tact. The right side was a different story. The right side of his face seemed to have burned away. His jaw wasn't covered by his cheek and his right eye seemed to have been vaporized in the socket. A good chunk of his skull was showing, burned dark grey.

"He's healing," said Deathstroke with some detached interest. It was true the flesh of his face was making a torturously slow crawl over the exposed bone. The healing was slow but it was happening.

"Christ..." uttered Sportsmaster.

"Naruto! Take more of my chakra before they try to finish the job!"

Naruto felt more power flood his body and all of a sudden a fiery yellow cloak of energy burst to life across his body. His shock seemed to have been chased away by the cloak and with it came anger. The cloak provided his ruined body with structure, temporarily replacing muscles where they were needed, and Naruto stood.

"Oh shit," said Sportsmaster, apparently regretting his presence in the hotel or indeed the whole situation.

Naruto turned his gaze towards Sportsmaster. "I'm gonna hurt you."

Naruto disappeared and reappeared in front of Sportsmaster in a pair of yellow flashes. He kicked him blindingly fast and Sportsmaster was sent into a pillar. An arm grew out of the chakra cloak from the side of Naruto's head and caught Deathstroke's sword mid swing. Another grew from his left shoulder, a Rasengan forming in its grip before it shoved it into the mercenary's chest, sending him flying back as well. The energy hand delivered the mercenary's sword into Naruto's real hand. Naruto turned to the woman who hesitated for a moment before raising her katanas in defense.

"Ravager, move!" shouted Deathstroke for where he had landed, but it was too late.

Naruto rushed forward, swinging the bastard sword and shattering the two katanas as they flew out of Ravager's hands. He kicked at her left knee, forcing it to bend at a sickening angle with loud crack drawing forth a scream of pain, before a new arm formed at his right shoulder, in the place where his real one should have been. This arm picked her up and held her aloft as his left arm brought the point of the sword to rest on her neck. For the first time since the fight had begun, Naruto saw that she was missing her right eye just as he now was.

"Please..." The word slipped through her lips in a whisper. The first word's she'd uttered all night and Naruto dropped her. He turned away from her, disregarding her as a potential threat and flashed over to where Sportsmaster was regaining his feet. The assassin's eyes widened and he raised his hands in surrender.

"Choose one," Naruto said.

"What? Choose what?"

"Choose an arm for me to take. It's only fair."

"Are you really doing this? You're a hero! You guys don't do this kind of stuff!" Sportsmaster shouted, his eyes darting around in desperation.

"I guess I'll have to choose myself." Naruto raised the sword and prepared to bring it down on Sportsmaster's right arm before a shout from the shattered bay windows interrupted him. There was Superman, accompanied by Batman and Wonder Woman.

"Shinobi! Stop this at once! This isn't how the League does things!" shouted Superman.

Naruto looked back at Sportsmaster, sword still raised.

"Listen to him! Heroes don't take people's arms!" Sportsmaster pleaded.

Naruto was unmoved and begun to bring the blade down. In a rush of wind Superman appeared before him, a vice-like grip stopping his arm from moving any further.

"That's enough. You need medical care. Sportsmaster and Cheshire will be taken to the proper authorities. You did your job, you protected the peace talks." Superman spoke soothingly in his ear and Naruto came to his senses. He looked towards the long table where the reporters were catching the show on camera unabashedly. Now was not the time. The Shadows would spring Sportsmaster and once he was out of custody, he couldn't hide forever.

Naruto wrenched his hand out of Superman's grip and walked away, keeping a hold on the sword. Out of the corner of his eye Naruto noticed that Deathstroke and Ravager had slipped away in the confusion. Red Arrow was up and about again but Cheshire was being taken away on a stretcher, hands cuffed together despite her situation.

"Any chance of it growing back?" Naruto thought as he stared at the shoulder where his right arm should have been.

"I accelerate your healing, I don't provide you with miraculous regeneration... I'm afraid it's gone for good. The eye too..."

"I'm gonna kill Sportsmaster for this. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, or even in the next year, but he's going down. I don't need two arms and two eyes for that."

"It's that kind of arrogance that put you in this situation in the first place! You're so focused on having fun and proving you're better than them. Always holding back! Always toying with your enemy! This is your own fault!"

"..." Naruto didn't have any response for that. It was the truth, even if he wished it wasn't.

With a sigh the chakra cloak dissipated and with its passing the pain flooded back. Whatever Kurama had done to suppress his nerves had run its course. His right leg wouldn't support him anymore and he fell to his knees. His breathing quickened and with every beat of his heart a new wave of pain washed over him. He could hear Superman calling his name as though from a great distance. The edges of his vision were darkening. The last thing he was aware of was Superman taking him into his arms and flying him out of the hotel.

A/N: And that's that. Sorry it took so long, but real life has been kicking my ass for most of the last year. Hope you guys aren't too mad and I hope the length makes up for it. Not much to say about this one, but let's see how many readers I lose.

A/N 2: To clear up some concerns here, Naruto didn't lose this fight all on his own. He's had a tendency to sandbag in the past, to fight Deathstroke on his level. It's arrogance because he thinks DS is so far below him that he can't possibly lose. If Naruto was there all on his own he would have wiped the floor with them eventually, but you have to account for Red Arrow who was defeated by Cheshire and who's life was being threatened. Now, I don't care what you guys say, and sure I've shown Naruto to be pretty fast before, but he's NOT the Flash. He was forced into a bad spot by his own arrogance and Red Arrow's vulnerability and paid for it because on some level he didn't take the fight seriously. I've been foreshadowing that his toying with his enemies would come back and bite him in the ass and so here it is. Also, of course he's not gonna just regenerate the limb. He's not Piccolo and even in the manga Tsunade had to grow him a new one if I'm not mistaken. I won't generally explain myself like this after the chapter's already been posted so don't look forward to it happening again. PM me with your questions and I'll answer them, but please trust me for now.