Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Naruto Or Supergirl
"Things in National City have gotten out of hand, Hank...J'onn," The President corrected herself and apologized for the slip. "I'm sorry. A new name will take some getting used to."
"Hank is fine, Madam President," J'onn said. He stood rigidly at attention.
The President's call was a surprise, but not shocking. After the Myriad fiasco, it was not unreasonable for her to want information on the man they found last night as quickly as possible. "I regret to inform you that we have no new confirmed information on the alien Supergirl found last night. At the moment, all we have are guesses and assumptions."
He had only been found last night, Went unsaid. J'onn may have revealed himself to the world as the Martian Manhunter, but he was still an American citizen, and luckily, he was still the Director of the National City branch of the DEO. However, that meant he answered to the President and faced the repercussions when he did not have the answers she needed.
That did not mean he was not curious as to why the President would contact him over one alien. She had never contacted him first about the update on an alien that wasn't hostile. Had Myriad set them back that far?
President Marston raised her hand, halting any further explanation. "I did not call about the alien, Director. You have a new agent arriving today in National City. He's one of the best and a close friend, treat him well."
"I didn't request any new personnel?" J'onn said, confused. Why was someone being transferred to his facility without his approval? That was not how the DEO operated. Every one of their agents had to go through a rigorous background check before being hired.
"I'm aware of that, Director." President Marsdin said. "However, after the Myriad incident, things have changed. An entire city under the control of aliens...J'onn that can't be swept under the rug or hidden. People needed assurances. Proof that the DEO is working harder than ever to make sure that nothing like that ever happens again."
J'onn's lips creased down in a deep frown. President Marston looked away from the camera. The call went mute on her end, and she covered the camera with her hand.
A moment later, sound returned, and she was speaking again. "Something has come up, Director. So, apologies for being blunt, but I need to keep this quick. The DEO is facing major budget cuts if things do not change. Cuts I can't allow, but won't be able to stop. The organization is too important for that. I'll have my assistant send the paperwork. I need you to understand the magnitude of what a Post-Myriad world looks like for the DEO."
"I understand, Madam President." J'onn gave a solemn nod. He knew the DEO had failed where Myriad was concerned. "Concerning this new agent, Madam President. I don't-"
"It will all be explained in the package my assistant will send." President Marsdin said. "I bagged you and Ace, Director. I expect your full cooperation where he is concerned. Understood?"
"Yes, Madam President." J'onn saluted as the line to the White House went dead, and the monitor faded to black.
A new agent. Sent without my consent. J'onn pondered the new information. He had not expected to recover from the fallout of his being exposed as a Martian. The President's pardon, while welcoming, had been unexpected. He had not even considered that she or her advisors would see past the surface level of his deception.
An alien masquerading as a dead government agent and running a Top-secret organization? He could have been tried for treason. Sentenced to death. And yet here he was, Director of the DEO in National City. A demotion to be sure, as he was no longer the Director of the entire DEO, but he was still protecting the Earth. Still battling alien threats. Still doing his job. A job that was now being called into question, not because of his status as an alien, but because of his ability to accomplish the DEO's mission to protect Earth.
00
When Naruto woke again, he was already home. National City, the onetime example of what Metropolis should have been, was now just like Superman's city. Under attack once a week and throwing its citizen's tax dollars at cleaning up Supergirl's messes.
Checking his phone, on the train from Metropolis to National City, Naruto confirmed he was to report to the DEO HQ immediately upon arrival in the city. There was a note on the pass from Lucy detailing the outcome of his last mission. All of Naruto's Alpha squad had been killed. They had taken the brunt of the explosion to save the boy. Bravo squad hadn't been any luckier. All were confirmed killed-in-action(KIA) by TOC.
The note said nothing about civilian injuries or casualties other than the father and son inside the diner. But Naruto remembered the force of the hauler's blast, from more than half a dozen perspectives, and he doubted that Lucy was telling the whole truth in the hospital.
He tried not to think about it—let his mind go blank—as he sat alone in his private cabin at the back of the train. He had tried both Director Lane and the President, hoping one of them could get his seat changed. A private cabin would draw attention that he didn't want. Of course, no matter what the experienced field agents said, orders from the fat-cat bosses and politicians trumped their expertise.
It was one of the reasons why he left the DEO in the first place. It was too new. Had too many people trying to accomplish their own goals all at the same time. Nothing could get done with a system like that.
Yet he had been pulled back in. Under the new leadership of Major Lucy Lane, and far away from National City.
And yet here I am, Naruto thought as the sprawling city he swore he'd never return to came into view.
"We are now entering National City. All passengers, please prepare for departure, and thank you for riding United Railways."
"I'm too soft," Naruto muttered to himself.
He grabbed the black duffel bags between his legs and stood up as the train began to slow. Leaving his cabin, he ignored the looks he got from the passengers as he walked the aisle. Their staring didn't come as a shock. Compared to the colorful and varied clothing around him, he stood out in his all-black DEO uniform.
When Naruto stepped out onto the elevated platform of the train station, the hot and humid air of the West coast was a blast from the past. As the sun dove to a fiery finish, he tried to enjoy the little breeze that was coming off the San Diego Bay.
Only a second later, when a sonic boom shattered the glass on the windows and doors of the train, did Naruto's senses snap back into focus.
The crowd around him burst into cheers, celebrating the sighting of their hometown hero.
Naruto looked around at the station. National City residents might be cheering, but the visitors weren't. He saw businessman running after papers, a mother and father coddling their child as her arm bled.
Looking back up into the sky, he started walking with a sigh. "There's no place like home."
Arms laded with duffel bags and wearing his black fatigue pants, collared shirt, and cap, Naruto was drenched with sweat by the time he reached the DEO, two large glass buildings at the heart of the city. The organization had gotten an upgrade from the desert bunker Naruto had served in years ago. A little too shiny for him, but the new base had a few perks. It was closer to the city, meaning a faster response time for the agents. That was what was selling him on it.
As Naruto waited for an elevator that would take him to the Director's office, he stared at the agents who would be becoming his brother and sisters in arms. He doubted that they had been told. Knowing the President of the United States had been forced to act because they couldn't do their jobs would be demoralizing. Not that he blamed the run of the mill agents for Myriad.
An organization is only as strong as it's a leader, he thought as he was lifted away from the ground floor.
Hank Henshaw, or J'onn J'onzz, as he was called now, had become soft. The original Hank Henshaw...the Human Hank Henshaw, was too hard on aliens. He hated them; anyone could see that. Naruto didn't agree with or like the old policies of the DEO. Before J'onn, the organization was a walking-talking cliche of a shadowy government agency. Abducting people of the streets. Snatching suspected aliens out of their homes. Scratching off known alien-sympathizers.
It was deplorable. And yet...
...Naruto had to question which version of the DEO was more effective.
Disregarding their morals, having a DEO with a Green Martain at the helm should have been the clear favorite.
Super strength. Super speed. Super stamina. Flight. Invulnerability. Malleability. Accelerated healing factor. Bio-clothing. Camouflage. Density-shifting. Shapeshifting. Telekinesis. Telepathy.
J'onn J'onzz, like Naruto, was a living, breathing weapon. A powerful one at that. Which was why Naruto didn't understand how the Kryptonians had launched Myriad. With his abilities as a Green Martian, Supergirl as an ally, and a stash of Kryptonite, J'onn should have been able to stop it. The DEO had even managed to capture the leader of the invading force!
Naruto stepped forward as the elevator doors opened into the command center of the DEO. As he looked around at the monitors and agents, he heard the powerful footsteps that could only belong to an alien. No human had enough strength to take a step that hard. A moment later, a smiling, blonde superhero appeared in his field of view.
"Excuse me," Naruto said.
"I haven't seen you around before." Supergirl's voice was light, peppy even. "Are you a new recruit?"
Naruto looked her up and down. Unlike him, she wasn't in a uniform. An announcement that she didn't work for the DEO. Her colorful costume and crest declared her allegiance to no one but herself and her family.
"Naruto Prince. Staff Sergeant." Naruto introduced himself using his WITSEC name.
Supergirl's grin widened. "Like Professor Snape. You know, from Harry Potter?"
She extended one hand and used the other to motion at the DEO base. Naruto looked down at the offered hand, then back up at Supergirl's earnest face. It was like she didn't even care about what happened earlier. Or more likely didn't even know, which may be worse.
He reached out and took her hand. President Marsdin hadn't been exaggerating. If an alien consultant for the DEO like Supergirl could get away with such actions, why would any other alien try and conform to Human laws?
Supergirl took his silence for something it wasn't, and she spoke. "Don't worry, it can be a little overwhelming at first. I remember the first time I was brought to a DEO base. Boy, was it not pleasant. They shot me out of the sky!"
Naruto ignored the small anecdote. "You flew past a train station on the way here."
"Oh...um, yeah," Supergirl said, pulling her hand back. "How'd you know."
"I was on it," Naruto narrowed his eyes. Supergirl's confusion was confirming his suspicions about the incident. "You were flying too fast. You need to slow down in populated areas.
What? Kara chuckled nervously, looking around for Alex or J'onn. What is with this guy? He was talking weird. Like she had done something to offend him, which wasn't cool, at all. Beacuse she was positive, they had never even met before. She was good at remembering faces.
So, why did it seem as if he had a problem with her? Was it because she was an alien? No, J'onn would hire someone who hated aliens.
"I'll be sure to remember that." She said, for lack of a better answer and sighed in relief as she saw her sister and J'onn coming towards them. Alex might be teasing her date with James later, but that was better than awkward talk with the new guy.
"Remeber what?" J'onn asked. He was looking at her, and she could practically see the shift in him when he looked at the new guy. He straightened, standing taller, and his fist clenched at his side.
"Our newest recruit was just telling me about how I needed to slow down in populated areas." Kara smiled and leaned forward, nudging Naruto's shoulder. "Did I knock you off your feet?"
Naruto ignored the joke. There wasn't anything funny about what happened. "No, you shattered some of the windows. Three people got hit by flying glass. One was a child."
"People got...I didn't..." Supergirl flustered, searching for words.
"Know." Naruto finished for her. "I didn't think you would."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kara demanded indignantly. If she had known people had gotten hurt, she would've gone back to help them. She would have flown them to the hospital herself.
"It means you're careless with your powers. Like your cousin." Naruto switched his eyes to J'onn leaving Kara to splutter at the slight against her family "Director, Agent-"
"Naruto U-"
"Prince." Naruto cut J'onn off. High ranking government officials and a handful of trustworthy individuals were the only people who knew his real name. Supergirl and the red-haired agent were neither of those.
J'onn nodded and continued smoothly. "It's been years since you left the DEO. It'll be a pleasure to work with you again."
Kara glowered at Naruto as he shook hands with J'onn before the Director led him away.
"He doesn't like me." She said, looking at her sister. "And that crack about my powers? What was that?"
"He doesn't know you yet. Give it time. I'm sure he'll come around to your Danvers charm." Alex promised her sister. "And as for your powers, well..."
"You agree with him!" Kara accused.
"No, No!" Alex denied it immediately. She paused. "I'm just saying, sometimes you can get a little excited. That's all."
"Alex!" Kara shout-whispered. "How could you agree with him?"
She didn't mean to hurt anyone with her powers. Supergirl was a hero! Her powers were used for good, and she tried to save as many people as possible. How could her own sister, someone she had known for years, someone she grew up with think she would ever hurt someone?
"I do not agree with him. We don't even know if you actually hurt anyone. Did you?" Alex said, trying to calm Kara down as other agents began to glance their way. She didn't want to hurt her sister, and learning she was injuring people with her powers by accident would crush Kara.
Kara's shoulder practically collapsed as she sunk into herself. "I don't know." She admitted.
1...2...3 Chapters all in two days?!
Not trying to set a pattern or anything, I just don't see the point on sitting on chapters I have written.
Thanks for reading. I hope you guys like it! Let me know with a review or a PM. Not a professional writer or anything so criticism is welcome!
P.S. Between us...this is my favorite story to write...