Thank you for reviews.
Some questions won't be answered to avoid the spoilers and if I miss any, sorry!
Nightmaster: It's possible but we'll see. No, Naruto will be the only character in this story.
Coldblue: 2) No, JL is not the only organization/team. 4) Who know? It can be any of them or not.
Most characters might be OOC but I'm trying my best.
Enjoy the second chapter of DM: I Am...
Disclaimer: I don't own DC, Marvel and Naruto.
Chapter 2: New Experience
"Recongized…Batman, 02." The computer's voice spoke throughout the cave as Batman step through the zeta tube, heading for the control room and it wasn't long enough until he hear someone jog before Naruto suddenly appear around the corner.
"Um, h-h-have you…" Naruto fidgeted with his fingers.
"No, I'm still working on it." Batman cut him off as if he know what the young clone was going to ask, the boy have become a little impatient lately and he don't blame him for that because everyone always want to know about their 'parent'. "I'll let you know if anything new comes up." Batman walked away from him.
"A-Alright…" The young clone sighed dejectedly before he follows the dark knight to the control room where the young justice members wait for Batman with Red Tornado. The young team were exciting inside because it's the day that they have been waiting for, their first mission.
"Isla Santa Prisca." Batman spoke as Red Tornado pulled a map of island up on the monitor, "This island nation is the primary source of a dangerous and illegal neurosteroid, a strength enhancing drug sold under the street name, Venom." The screen switched with a blueprint of a factory, "Infrared heat signatures indicate their factory is still operating at full capacity but all shipments of Venom have been inexplicably cut off." Batman turned to the team, "That's where this team come in. This is a covert recon mission only." He held his index finger with the bat-glare, "Observe and report. If the Justice League needs to intervene, it will." Once again, the screen switches back to the map, "The plan requires two drop zones."
"So who's in charge?" Robin asked and the superheroes turned to him sharply before they look at each other.
"Work that out between you." Batman replied and Robin smirk to himself.
"Dude, I'm so psyched for that." Wally nudged Naruto with a smirk, "Our first mission!"
"Actually, Naruto will not be participating in this mission." Red Tornado placed his hand on the young clone, "Because he doesn't have his training yet and we still don't know if he has abilities." The young clone look down, feeling left out.
"Oh, weak!" Wally groaned, he would point out that Superboy also don't have training but he remember that the older clone have superstrength and some of Superman's powers.
"So, that means he will stay here all by himself?" Megan asked worriedly.
"Well, not ex…" Red Tornado was about to say something but a red flash race into the control room.
"Hi, you must be Naruto." The said boy looked up to see Flash as the adult speedster smiled at him, "Are you ready for your first field trip?" The teenagers just blink at him confusingly before Flash look around with a raised eyebrow, "Um…" He turned his eyes to his fellow members, "You don't tell him?"
"I was going to, but you show up too early…" The android said, "For the first time."
"Oh…" Flash rubbed his head before he turn to the young clone, "Guess I just spoiled the surprise."
"As you know, Naruto haven't starts his training, due to Black Canary out on a mission, and we can't allow him to go on a mission but Flash here decides…" Red Tornado gestured at the speedster.
"To take the kid out on his first field trip because no one should have holed up in hideout all the time." Flash cut the android off with a chuckle before he flash to Batman's side as he place his arm around the dark knight's shoulders, "It took me a while to talk Batman into letting me take Naruto out and have fun before we throw him into lion's den…" He notice Batman's deadly glare, causing him to remove his hand quickly before he move over to the young clone's side. "So what do you say?" Naruto glanced at the young team and his older brother nod his head slightly as some of them give him a small smile as if they were fine with it before the young clone nod his head at Flash shyly, he don't know how to feel about it.
"Team, move out." Batman spoke up as the team members quickly head for Miss Martian's aircraft before he turn his head to the red speedster and he narrow his eyes. "Flash…Don't take your eyes off Naruto or cause any troubles."
"Pfft, relax, I won't." Flash scoffed heartily as he turned his head to Naruto, "So where do you want to visit?" The clone blinked at him, "Hey, it's your first time so you have free rein, we can go to any cities in any countries as long as the zeta tube can send us there. I highly recommend Central City and I suggest that we should avoid Gotham…No offense, Bat." He hollered out but Batman just ignore him as he head back to the zeta tube.
"Um…" Naruto fidgeted with his fingers, it was the first time that someone ask him for what he want and it feel a little weird for him. The name of a certain city floats around in his head for several reasons and he was really curious about this place because it's different from the city that he currently live in. "…N-N-New York C-C-City…"
"Alright." Flash scratched his head, "Can I ask you why this place?" Naruto just look down to his feet as the red speedster raised his eyebrow at him, no one told him that the young clone was shy and what he don't know is that the young clone feel so awkward because of his situation before the speedster clear his throat nervously. "Well, then get ready…And I hope you know the golden rule about secret identity." Naruto just stared at him with deadpan expression, he has been living with some heroes for months and he won't spill the beans to anyone.
"Welcome back, Mister Wayne." Alfred Pennyworth walked down the stair with a tray of teas as soon as Bruce entered his cave, unmasked. "Have you returned from handing this Young Justice team their first mission?"
"Yes, I'm sure they will handle it well." Bruce replied, starting his super-computer up.
"Indeed, so back to Naruto's case?" The butler asked as he took a short glance at Naruto's picture, "That is quite troubling, you have been working on it for nearby a whole month and you haven't found the answer for Na…"
"I already cracked it." Bruce spoke before the butler look at him with a blink, "I had discovered some new information, along with the files that I hacked from Cadmus…" He pulled up a file but it was covered with dozens of black bars and there were few key words, uncensored. "At first, I thought Naruto was cloned from two main 'parents' DNA but in reality…He have three 'parents'."
"…I'm afraid I don't understand…" Alfred muttered, "You said that the test result confirmed that Naruto have two 'parents' DNA and two 'siblings' genetics."
"Yes, I also believe that until I come across this file." Batman gestured at the file, "Someone have sliced two 'parents' DNA together into one DNA before they merge it with the third 'parent' DNA and then slice two unique genetics into his DNA."
"Sometime I despite the current science…" The butler rubbed his forehead with his free hand, sometime he get a headache if there were some kind of mad scientist involved and Bruce grunted in agreement. "So did you found out who are the donors and which genetics give Naruto his ability?"
"Yes, I discovered that Naruto's healing factor come from his X-gene and it belong to a mutant, a John Doe because he was found dead a few years ago and I still can't figure out what kind of gift did the metagene give Naruto because it's not in the database." Bruce answered, "And his parents…Well…" He pulled three pictures up, "I believe the 'father's' DNA was taken without his knowledge, like Superman with his clone."
"Oh, my word…" The tray tilts over Alfred's hands as he stared at the pictures with widened eyes and the teacups clattering all over the floor. "…Did you break it to Naruto or…?"
"No, I haven't." Bruce frowned, "I have to keep him in dark for now until I find a way to break the news to the 'father'…And we need to be more careful now, we can't afford to let the other 'parents' know that we have their 'son'." He glanced at two pictures as his frown deepened, he have to find out why they want to create Naruto and what kind of purpose do they have in mind for the young clone. He hope that the 'father' won't react badly like Superman did or that won't end well.
He can hear a lot of honks and some loud voices speaking over as the young clone look around with widened eyes, taking in the sight of crowd and tallest buildings as he walk on the sidewalk with a blond man, known as Barry Allen, aka the Flash. "Different from Happy Harbor, isn't it?" Barry smirked at Naruto.
"Yes…" Naruto nodded before he jump at the bang sound and he look behind to see a rusted car backfiring at the stoplight.
"One thing about the big city is that you will always hear a backfire." Barry chuckled, it must be the clone's first time hearing that sound and Naruto look like a little exciting kid on his first day of vacation trip. Barry spot a food stand cart at the corner and he glance at Naruto as he jab his thumb at the cart. "Hey, you want to get a hot dog to eat?"
"Hot dog?" The young clone repeated with a blink before he nod with a puzzled expression as if he never heard of hot dog before. He watch the adult as he ordered the hot dogs before Barry give him a hot dog with a smile and Naruto look at his hot dog, slowly taking a bite out of it.
"Good, eh?" Barry asked as he walked with the clone and he release a light chuckle as soon as the young clone nod his head furiously, still eating the hot dog. Naruto was about to say something but he hear someone cry out exciting.
"Look, dad, Spider-man!" A young boy pointed at the sky with his father and Naruto look up to see a swinging man in red-and-blue costume as he hear several cheers while some people just walk past them as if they were getting used to seeing Spider-Man swinging through the skyline.
"Look like he just stopped a crime in process." Barry looked up with his hand over his eyes, a smile form on his lip.
"Y-Y-You kno-o-ow him?" Naruto asked curiously.
"Yeah, we worked together a few times when he was a rookie." Barry chuckled, "He's a good guy and one of the best heroes."
"A hero…" The young clone frowned lightly with a confusing expression before he looks up to Barry, "W-What's yo-o-our reason?"
"Ah, Red Tornado mentioned that you asked him about it last month." Barry rubbed his chin, "He already gave you a gist of it but for me, I become a hero because…" He wets his lip, "When I was little, I saw my mother got killed by something impossible and my father was arrested for her murder. Everybody thought it was him and I was the only one on his side because I know the truth but I can't do anything to prove his innocence, it make me feel so powerless…Then something incredible happened, the particle accelerator exploded and it give me a power." He smiled at his hands as he flexed the fingers, "I decide to use this power to protect the people in my city and these around the world because it's the right thing to do…Because of my actions, these people who I saved live the other day to spend time with their loved ones and friends and it always make me happy to see that happening, that's my reason to be a hero. You understand me?"
"…Yes, a little…" Naruto muttered softly, "…What hap-p-pened to your d-d-dad?"
"…He's free man because I caught the real murderer." Barry smiled bittersweet at his memories, "He moved far away from the city but I still stay in touch with my dad." He placed his hand on the young clone's shoulder, "Pedaling back a bit, don't worry about reason because there's no reason to be a hero. To be a hero, you have to tell the difference between right and wrong and do the right thing…Protect and help the people, no matter what they do for living…If you want the best example of heroes, look at firemen, police, and doctors."
"B-But do I h-h-have to be one?" The clone asked, "E-Everybody s-s-s-said I have to…"
"That's something I can't answer." Barry scratched his head nervously, he really don't know how to reply to that and he don't want to pressure the kid into something because it look like he's going though something since he was 'born'. Naruto look down sadly with a frown and Barry decide to do something to take his mind off on this topic. "Hey, I know a guy near here, he's one of my good friends." Barry grinned, "You'll like him."
"Barry!" Naruto watched on as another blond man, wearing a blue t-shirt and dirty jean, pulled Barry in a man-hug with a chuckle as soon as they exited the elevator, "It's good to see you again!"
"You too, Johnny." Barry hugged back with a chuckle.
"And who's that?" Johnny released the speedster as he turned to the boy, "You get a new sidekick or something?"
"Um, no, it's a long story but I'm taking him out on a little trip and showing him around since he want to visit New York City." Barry gestured at each other with a smile, "Johnny, meet Naruto. Naruto, meet Johnny Storm."
"Nice to meet you, kid." Johnny offered his hand to the boy.
"Um…H-H-Hello…" Naruto muttered shyly, he don't know why he always feel a little nervous around new people for a while.
"…So, what bring you two here?" Johnny ruffled Naruto's head to avoid an embarrassing moment because he won't shake his hand.
"Just decide to drop by and say hi while I introduce him to some awesome people I know." Barry patted Naruto's back.
"And do I happen to be one of them?" Johnny smirked.
"Nope." Barry smirked back jokily as Johnny crossed his arms playfully, "So are the other in?"
"Yeah, Sis is with Reed in his lab with whatchacallit gadets and Ben…" Johnny was about to say something but a grumpy voice cut him off with a roar.
"Johnny, I'm gonna kill you!" A huge orange rock creature stomped into their view and he has some kind of frosting all over his face. "I told you not to play tricks on me when I'm asle…" The creature slowly trail off as soon as he notice the guests, "…Barry?"
"Hey, Ben, is that a special facial cream?" Barry joked with a wave.
"Hell, no!" Ben wiped some cream off his face with a grunt, "…And who's the brat?"
"Naruto, meet the Thing." Johnny gestured at the rock creature before he duck under Ben's swat.
"I blame ya for giving me this damn name." Ben scowled at the smirking blonde before he turns his head to the boy, "I'm Ben, not the Thing." Naruto slightly nod his head as he looks him over, "And if you're wondering about it, I look like that because the cosmic shit changes us when we went off in space."
"S-S-Space?" Naruto looked up with a blink, "You w-w-were in space? C-C-Cool…"
"Yup, I was." Ben grunted, "It was 'cool' at first then that happened." He pointed at himself before he glance at the young clone, "Not to be rude but do you have a stuttering problem or what?"
"Maybe it's your face." Johnny nudged Ben with a smirk before he move out of Ben's swinging range.
"No, I'm l-l-learning s-s-speech…" The young clone looked away with a mutter and the two superheroes raise their eyebrows at him.
"Like I said, it's a long story…" Barry rubbed his head with a whisper, "Short version, he's a clone and he was 'born' recently."
"Wait, what?" Ben glanced at Barry, "You saying he's yours?"
"No." Barry shook his head before he notice Johnny's gesture between himself and Ben, "And he's not yours, we don't know who his donor is yet. Bat is working on it as we are speaking."
"Ah…" The Thing traded a glance with Johnny before he clear his throat to change the topic, "So…Are you two going to stay for dinner? Susan is makin' one of her famous meatloaf."
"Whoa, it's dinnertime already?" Barry checked his watch with a whistle before he nods at them, "Yeah, we will…If that's no problem?"
"Nah, we don't mind and the kid should meet Reed and Susan before you two go back to wherever you come from." Ben shrugged.
"Hey, Naruto, I'm gonna teach you a couple of pranks." Johnny smirked at the clone with his fists on his hip, "Maybe you can try them on some of your friends."
"P-P-Prank?" Naruto blinked confusingly and Barry just chuckle at his friend's antic, what he doesn't know is that he was going to get in a trouble with some certain heroes for allowing Johnny to teach the clone some pranks.
"Reed, stop analyzing our guest." A blonde woman, Susan Storm, jabbed Reed's side with her elbow as they sat with everybody, "Your dinner is getting cold."
"O-Oh, sorry." Reed chuckled sheepishly, he accidently end up studying Naruto in his head since he found out that the boy was a clone and he blames it on his curiosity. "Sorry about that, it's quite a rare to meet a clone with a blank slate."
"Rare?" Naruto blinked confusingly.
"Ah, well…" Reed coughed into his fist, "I met several clones but they always have fabricated memories and believe themselves to be someone else. You're the first clone I met that doesn't have any fabricated memories and etc."
"Oh…" The boy looked down at his half-eaten meatloaf with a mutter.
"How's the meatloaf?" Susan asked the boy to change the topic as soon as she notices his action.
"It's good…" Naruto replied, "I n-n-never…have it b-b-before. Megan doesn't c-c-cook it."
"Megan?" The blonde raised her eyebrow.
"She's his roommate." Barry spoke up.
"Is that so?" Susan glanced at the boy with a hum, "If you want, I can give you a recipe for her before you go."
"Yes, t-t-thank you." Naruto nodded.
"Is this Megan a 'close friend' of yours, eh?" Johnny nudged the boy with a teasing smirk.
"Yeah, she is." The boy replied innocently, which caused Johnny to laugh lightly. "What?"
"N-N-Nothing." Johnny coughed to cover his laughter up.
"Just ignore the idiot." Ben grunted as he picked a piece of meatloaf up with his large fork, "He's tryin' to jerkin' your chain because he thinks ya have a thing for Megan."
"What thing?" Naruto asked confusingly and Ben froze up as he holds the fork inside his opening mouth.
"…Finish your damn loaf." Ben muttered after a few moments of silence, trying to ignore some snickers from his fellow teammates and Barry as the clone look around confusingly.
"A simple recon mission, observe and report." Batman loomed over the team with a stern frown after they returned from their mission, "You'll each receive a written evaluation detailing your many mistakes. Until then…" He gave them a micro-smile, "Good job." The team turned their heads to him bafflingly, "No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy. How you adjust to the unforeseen is what determines success. And how you choose who leads determines character." Aqualad and Robin trade a smirk as the batman walked away from them before the team hear a familiar sound of Zeta tube and they notice Naruto and Flash as they walk through the teleporter.
"Welcome back." Robin raised his hand up in greeting before he walk up to the young clone's side, "Where did you go today?"
"N-New York City." Naruto answered, he has revealed his speech to his teammates recently but he still struggles with it. "I-I-It was nice…And cool…
"Yep, but I still think we should have gone to Central City." Flash crossed his arms childishly, "Don't you know there's an awesome museum?"
"And F-Flash…Um…I-I-I-Introduce me to Johnny and his f-f-family." Naruto kept talking as if he didn't hear what the red speedster just said, "T-They're nice…Johnny s-s-show me…some pranks and…" He suddenly pulled a piece of paper out before he give it to Megan, "His sister give me an r-r-recipe…for meatloaf."
"That's nice of her." Megan smiled.
"Who's Johnny?" Superboy asked his brother.
"Johnny Storm or you know him as the Human Torch." Flash answered.
"…Wait, you met the Fantastic Four?" Wally whistled, "Damn, dude, is Invisible Woman hot in person like they said?"
"Huh?" The young clone blinked with a raised eyebrow.
"He means Susan." The red speedster chuckled, "Oh, Wally, wait until your aunt hears about that." The young speedster paled, feeling like he will be so embarrassing for a while.
"Hot?" Naruto tilted his head, "Um…P-P-Power or…?"
"…Oh, boy…" Robin coughed into his fist as he holds his snickers back, "I think you should learn a bit about figure of speech." Naruto just turn his head to Flash with a blink, causing the red speedster to run away with a roaring laughter and the young clone turn back to his teammates with a puzzled expression.
Several days later, Kaldur attempt to block the puck but it slide into the goal and he lift his eyes to Wally as he shrug his hand with a smug smirk, they were playing the hologram air hockey while the other watch them. "Recognized…Superboy, Speed, 0-4." The team glanced at the zeta tube before Superboy appear in their sight with a scowl.
"Hi, Superboy." Megan smiled widely, "How was Metropolis?" The super-clone just walk through the hologram without uttering a word and Megan lost her smile before they hear someone clearing a throat, causing them to look behind to see Black Canary with Martian Manhunter.
"Ready for training, everyone?" Black Canary asked.
"Black Canary!" Megan hugged her uncle, "Uncle J'onn!"
"Megan, I was in the neighborhood so I thought I'd see how you were adjusting." J'onn patted his niece's shoulder before he turns his eyes on Naruto, "And to check up on Naruto, any problem with implanted knowledge?" The young clone just shakes his head lightly.
"A few bumps, but I'm learning." Megan smiled.
"That's all I can ask." J'onn replied and Dinah notice Superboy as he stomped toward the exit.
"Stick around." Dinah spoke up, "Class is in session." The super-clone crossed his arms with annoying grunt as Black Canary walk toward the center of a circle platform and it lit up before she clap her hands loudly. "I consider it an honor to be your teacher. I'll throw a lot at you everything I've learned from my own mentor…" She removed her short jacket as she winced at her injury, "Uh…And my own bruises."
"What happened?" Megan asked worriedly as soon as she saw a bandage on Dinah's arm.
"The job." Dinah tossed her jacket away, "Now, combat is about controlling conflict, putting the battle on your terms. You should always be acting, never reacting. I'll need a sparring partner."
"Right here." Kid Flash raised his hand up as he chews his banana, "Yeah! After this…" He flicked the peels away, "Swish. I'll show you my moves." Dinah just smirk at him before she throw a punch and Kid Flash block it, only to get his feet sweep off by Dinah's leg sweep. Wally release a painful grunt as soon as he fall on his back with a loud thud, causing several people to wince at the sound. "Ohh…" Wally moaned, "Hurts so good."
"Good block." Black Canary placed her hands on her hip, "But did anyone see what he did wrong?"
"Ooh, ooh." Robin lifted his index finger up with a smirk, "He hit on teacher and got served?"
"Dude!" Wally hissed.
"He allowed me to dictate the terms of…" Dinah said, only to cut off by someone else.
"Oh, please." Superboy scoffed, "With my powers, the battle's always on my terms. I'm a living weapon, and this is a waste of my time."
Dinah narrowed her eyes at him with a coy smirk, "…Prove it." Superboy walk up to her with a crossed arms as Wally quickly retreat to his friends' side and they stare at each other before they quickly slide into their own fighting stances. Superboy was first to make a move, aiming his fist at her but Dinah evade it before she grabs his outstretching arm and with a twist, she tosses him over her shoulder. Superboy land on his back with a bounce and Robin point at him with a roaring laughter before Kaldur elbowed him in arm while Naruto lightly shove Robin's shoulder, causing Robin to cover his mouth to stifle the laughter. Superboy rolls up into a couch with a growl, "You're angry." Dinah spoke, "Good, but don't react. Channel that anger into…"
"RRGH!" Superboy suddenly charge at her and Black Canary flip over him, quickly duck under his wild swing before she sweep his legs out with a kick as Robin cover his mouth again with a snicker. "That's it!" Superboy swatted Dinah's hand away as he get up with a growl, "I'm done!"
"Training is mandatory." Dinah said and Superboy was about to snarl back but Batman appear on the screen.
"Batman to the cave." Batman spoke, "Five hours ago, a new menace attacked Green Arrow and black Canary." A picture of an orange-haired android appeared in the upper-left corner, "The attacker was capable of studying, then duplicating the powers and abilities of its opponents. Arrow called in reinforcements, which nearly proved disastrous as our foe gained more and more power with each new combatant."
"Whoa." Wally whistled, "One guy with the powers of the entire league?"
"In the end, it took eight leaguers four hours to defeat and dismantle the android."
"An android?" Robin blinked, "W-Who made it, T.O. Morrow? Or is it Ultron?"
"Good guess, Robin." Batman replied, "But Red Tornado doesn't think so."
"The technology bears the signature of Professor Ivo." J'onn said.
"Ivo?" Kaldur raised his eyebrow, "But Ivo's dead."
"So we all thought or hoped." Dinah muttered over her shoulder.
"To make certain this threat is permanently neutralized, we're sending two trucks carrying the android's parts to two separate STAR Lab facilities in Boston and New York for immediate evaluation." Batman explained, "Every precaution is being taken. We'll have four additional decoy trucks to create confusion in case Ivy or anyone tries to recover the remains. You will split into undercover teams to safeguard the two real trucks."
"Yes!" Wally pumped his arms, "Road trip."
"So now we take out your trash." Superboy scowled.
"You had something better to do?" Batman asked flatly and the clone adjusting his eyes away from the dark knight.
"Coordinates received." Aqualad looked at his beeping phone, "On our way." The team leaves right away, except for Naruto.
"When you're ready, I'll be here." Dinah grabbed Superboy's arm and Superboy just stare at her for a moment before he walk away from her. She release a sigh before she turn to Naruto, "Naruto, was it? You ready for the basic?"
"Um…" Naruto scratched his head and he was about to say something but she cut him off with a clap.
"We're going to start it off with a boxing stance, copy me." Dinah ordered as she holds up a boxing stance and the young clone mirrored her stance as best as he can. "Now hold it…" She walk over to the stiffen boy before she correct some of his mistakes by lower his left arm slightly and she move his feet around. "Relax your grip, don't tighten your fists too much or you'll end up hurting yourself in the combat."
"L-L-Like that?" Naruto loosed up on his fists and Dinah nod at him.
"Now do a jab." She shows him the jab before the clone copy her with a sharp jab, "Good, do it again."
"Again?" The clone looked up to her.
"Yes, I want you to commit it to muscle memory." Dinah said before Naruto throw out a jab with a sigh, "That's two, ninty-eight to go before we work on another arm."
"W-W-W-What?" The clone stuttered with widened eyes.
"Then after you get it down, we'll work on your legs and some moves before we do a real spar." Dinah smirked with hands on her hips, "Kid, I'll guarantee you that you will experience the hell at the end of this day." Naruto don't know why he feels a shudder within his body, "Throw a jab now! You have ninty-eight left, remember?"
Time really flew by so fast and the young clone don't know it was really late at night as the young team return to the cave after their mission, with several Justice members in tow. "Naruto, are you okay?" Kaldur asked worriedly as soon as he saw the young clone lying on the floor, face-down.
"…Y-Y-Yes…" Naruto rolled over and most of his teammates wince at the sight of his bruised face.
"Ooh, that's one nasty shiner." Wally winced at a large black eye on Naruto's face as it slowly become smaller, "Good thing you have healing factor…How was the training?"
"…H-Hell…" The young clone muttered tiredly, "…I-I can't...move my…body…"
"Report." Batman just step over Naruto without batting a eye.
"The Amazo Android is in pieces again safely being analyzed at the two separate STAR Labs but Ivo escaped, and since he originated the tech, he's arguably more dangerous than the android." Kaldur said.
"Capturing the professor will be a league priority." Dinah said.
"But we understand your mission encountered other complications." J'onn crossed his arms and several teammates looked at Superboy as he look away with a embarrassingly grunt.
"Complications come with the job." Batman said, "Your ability to handle them has impressed the league."
"The whole league?" Superboy asked.
"Given time, yes." Batman replied, "Kryptonians, as you know, have very hard heads." His comment receives a small smile from Superboy, "Of course, there's no shame in asking for help. That's why the league exists, because there are some problems even we can't handle individually."
"Please." Robin muttered, "If we needed help, we'd never get the chance to ask." He pulled an arrow out of his uniform, "Look familiar?" Batman studied the arrow, "You were following us! Babysitting! You don't trust us!"
"We didn't follow you." Batman passed it to Green Arrow and he pull out his own arrow to show the difference between them.
"And that's not your arrow, but that means…" Robin looked at the arrows.
"Speedy!" Kid Flash grinned.
"W-W-Who?" Naruto asked from the floor but it fall upon deaf ears.
"He has our backs." Kaldur smiled.
"Souvenir!" Wally snatched the arrow from Green Arrow.
"Naruto, your training is over for tonight." Dinah looked down at the young clone, "We will resume it tomorrow."
"…Help…" Naruto pleaded to someone with a soft whisper.
Superboy walk up to Black Canary with a clearing throat, "I'm ready…"
"Good." Dinah smirked at Superboy, "Because I'm here."
"B-B-Big brother is…G-g-g-going to die…" The young clone muttered as Wally and Kaldur help him up to his feet.
"Nah, it can't be this bad." Megan smiled at him and the young clone just mumble something about hell and sadist teacher.
A few weeks later, the Young Justice gain a new member, an blonde archer known as Artemis, and it start out badly until they start to see each other as an team after a couple missions. During this time, Naruto have been training under Dinah and she become impressed with how fast he mastered a couple fighting style in just a few weeks like a fish to a water, making her wondering if it was due to the Cadmus or something else. Right now, Naruto was doing his workout by striking the sticks of a wooden dummy with different attacks under Dinah's eyes before the Zeta tube come to live and Young Justice walk out with some mud all over their bodies, Batman lead them in.
"I need to talk to Aqualad." Batman ordered, "The rest of you, hit the showers and head home."
"Head home?" Superboy threw his hands up, "I am home."
"Hey, keep your eyes on dummy." Dinah swatted the back of the young clone.
"Alright…" Naruto muttered, resuming his workout with a grumble as he tried to ignore the conversation between Kaldur and Batman.
"Naruto." Batman walked up to the young clone after he talked with Aqualad, "Follow me."
"Is it a-about…?" Naruto followed Batman immediately.
"No, still working on it but it's something else different." Batman lied as the young clone sigh heavily before they enter the control room and the boy notice the Green Arrow, chatting with his niece, Artemis. "You know Green Arrow." Batman spoke up to catch Green Arrow's attention, "He will take you to Star City for a night."
"Huh?" The young clone looked up to Batman confusingly.
"Bat wants you to get some experience out on the field." Green Arrow explained, "And I'm taking you out to show you some ropes."
"Translation, he needs a sidekick for a night." Artemis cut in.
"The League come up with a uniform and mask for you." Batman gestured at the briefcase as Green Arrow picked it up before he hand it over to the young clone, "And we assign you a temporary codename."
"Um, do I have to…" Naruto muttered but he was cut off as Green Arrow pats his back.
"Come on." Green Arrow guided him to the Zeta tube, "We're going to cover a few rules."
"Don't get yourself killed or hit by his arrow." Artemis hollered out as soon as they vanish into the zeta tube and she didn't notice that Batman just vanish to tell the other where Naruto is.
A trio of thugs hauls the crate in from the ship at the pier as several thugs wander around the perimeters with different weapons and two figures stand on top of the nearby warehouse's roof. "These people are planning to flood the street with new drugs, MGH and Meta Growth Hormone aka knock-off of MGH. Our job is to take them down." Green Arrow glanced at his temporary sidekick, "I'll take these with firearms out and you'll take the rest down. Any question, Rookie?"
"No…" Naruto whispered, he wears a long black leather coat with a hood that cover his upper head, a black cameo pant with dozens of armored pads and a pair of combat boots. He also wears a mask that cover the whole of his face, the black mask has a grey mouth plate with two red circle lens and it largely resemble a mask of hockey goalie. "…But who come up…with that uniform?" He looks down at his uniform.
"Batman did the most and don't worry if you don't like it, tell yourself that it's temporary." Green Arrow nocks his arrow before he shoots it off into the crate, drawing the thugs' attention to the arrow and the smoke erupt from the arrow as the thugs cough out roughly. The duo leap off the roof and Green Arrow quickly take care of four gun-wielding thugs with a net arrow.
"H-H-Hey, he gets a new partner!" One of the thugs called out as he attempt to take Rookie down with a bat, only to miss as soon as the sidekick duck under the weapon before Rookie thrust his elbow into the thug's stomach. The thug barely release a groan as the young clone hit the center of his face with an uppercut and the thug's feet lift up a few inches before he land on his back with a thud.
A chain suddenly wraps around Rookie's outstretching arm, courtesy of a bulky thug, and with a yank, Rookie land on his face with a grunt. "GET HIM, GET HIM!" The bulky thug barked out and three thugs beat on the young clone, getting some good shots in before Rookie sweep their legs out with a low kick. Rookie quickly roll up to his feet as he smash his fist down on bulky thug's temple with enough force, knocking the thug out in process and he quickly pounce on the second thug with a repeating jabs. The third overweight thug ambush him with a wooden plank from behind, breaking it in half on his head and Rookie spin around to face him before he ram his head into the thug's nose with a crunch. The thug barely fall down as Rookie thrust his knee into the stomach before he shove the thug's head into the ground, a small crack can be heard.
"FUCK YOU!" Rookie narrowly dodge the roaring skinny thug's wild swings as the said thug swing the metal pipe around before the thug suddenly tackle the clone down and the skinny man swing his pipe downward to Rookie. The sidekick blocks it with his forearms and he keeps blocking the plummeting pipe for a while before Rookie shove him away with a grunt. The skinny thug barely gets up, receiving a tackle from Rookie and the clone mount him as he punch the thug's head repeating until he stop as soon as the skinny thug pass out. Rookie stands up quickly but he stumbles back slightly, only to catch by Green Arrow as the archer hold him up.
"Not bad for first time, huh?" Green Arrow smirked at the panting sidekick, he just took care of the rest a few moments ago and he watched him for a while to make sure that he was doing the right thing.
"Ugh…" Rookie groaned as he rubbed his head with a wince, he was thankful for his uniform because it turn out that there was some protection pads within his coat but he can feel a lot of pain and it seems that the coat barely block most of blows out. "Are we done?"
"Nope." Green Arrow chuckled, this rookie have no idea how many people have asked him this question on their first night out with him. "In fact, we're just getting starting. Don't worry, the rest of night will be easy since we already deal with the big one."
"Ugh, I don't…sign up for it…" Rookie muttered and Green Arrow just pats his back, unawake of the fact that the clone was scowling behind his mask.
"Wow, you sure take a lot of beating last night." Megan looked at Naruto with concern as he stumbles through the zeta tube with a few bandages and a lot of bruises, "Was it experiencing for you?"
"Ugh…" Naruto just groaned tiredly, heading for his bedroom.
"Was that my brother?" Superboy peeked out from the kitchen with a blink.
"Yes." Megan replied, "I think we should put his dinner in the microwave." The super-clone gives her a nod before he returns to the kitchen.
One week later, Naruto pull his red hoodie down with a nervous expression and he pick his orange backpack up off the bed before he step out into the hallway. In just a short time, his training become difficult since Dinah decide to step it up by teaching him how to use staffs and sometime she would bring different heroes to teach him how to use different weapons like Green Arrow with bow and arrows for example. He also gain some experience as Rookie when some certain heroes come by to pick him up for a night patrol and Batman told him that he will join Young Justice for a mission later. Naruto walk into the bay area and he look up to see his older brother as he work on his motorcycle before a large robot ball roll up to Superboy with a beep. The super-clone somehow bring it back from his last mission and Naruto find it weird since it was acting like an pet to Superboy.
"Jealous much?" Superboy smirked at the ball with a chuckle as the ball rock around before he pat it, "Alright, alright…" He noticed Naruto, "Morning, Naruto."
"Morning…" Naruto waved back before they hear their roomate's voice.
"Ready for school?" Megan flew to them with lunch bags with Kaldur, J'onn and Red Tornado in tow, "I made our lunches." She gave the bags to the clones.
"The first day of a scholastic season carries great cultural resonance." J'onn spoke, "We want to wish you three well."
"Guess, it's not a Kryptonian thing." Superboy muttered.
"You may wish to change before you depart." Kaldur glanced at Megan.
"Ah, I spent hours choosing this outfit." Megan transformed her uniform into a red skirt with red mini-blouse over her white shirt and a pair of shin-high socks with black shoes. "What do you think? Can Megan M'orzz pass as an Earth girl now?"
"Well…" Kaldur gulped.
"No." Naruto said, staring at her green skin.
"Just kidding." Megan rolled her eyes with a giggle, "Meet Megan Morse." She transform into an tanned girl before she look at the clones, "What's your new names?"
"My what?" Superboy asked.
"I chose the name John Jones for myself and suggested John Smith for Red Tornado." J'onn transformed into a black man in business suit, "You could be a John, too."
"Pass." Superboy crossed his arms.
"Conner's always been my favorite name." Megan placed her hands on Superboy's left arm and the super-clone shrug his shoulders.
"A last name will also be required." Kaldur cupped his chin.
"Perhaps, Kent." J'onn said.
"Oh, in memory of Dr. Fate." Megan smiled, "The late Kent Nelson."
"Ah, of course…" J'onn transformed back to his original form.
"Okay." Superboy, now known as Conner, muttered, "Sure. I guess it would be an honor or something."
"What about me?" Naruto asked as he looked at the adults, "Do I get a…last name or…?" J'onn was about to say something but…
"You're my brother so it's Kent too." Conner said with crossed arms and Naruto smile at him, causing him to look away embarrassingly.
"Well, Conner Kent, time to change your shirt." Megan tilted her head at the said teenager's shirt, "You don't want to reveal your identity." Conner removes his shirt and Megan's cheeks heat up as soon as she stares at his bare-chest.
"Will this work?" Conner held his shirt out to her.
"Haha, works for me…" Megan giggled dreamily.
"Wait, shouldn't I be Conner Nelson?" The teenager put his shirt back on with a raised eyebrow and they can hear J'onn saying something about grow up so fast.
"Shouldn't I go to…same school with you two?" Naruto frowned as he follows his brother and Megan out of the base.
"Because you're younger than us." Megan replied, "But don't worry, our schools are close to each other…"
"…Ugh, I don't want…to be in eighth grade." The young clone muttered lowly.
It don't take long enough until they reach the high school first and there were few students, hanging around as they chat with each other. "Okay, Megan…" Megan exhaled out nervously with a hint of excitement in her tone, she have a lot of mixed feeling since it's the first day of Earth school and she glance over her shoulders to see the brothers. "Naruto, the middle school is two blocks away. Do you want us to…" Megan was about to say something but Conner suddenly turn his head away from them as soon as he see someone skating up to them.
"Ah, hey!" The skater cried out as Conner grab the back of his shirt and the teenager hold the skater up in air. Conner takes a look at the skater's shirt with a raised eyebrow, ignoring the skater's cry.
"Explain this." Conner touched the green shield symbol on the skater's shirt with his index finger.
"Why?" The skater gulped nervously.
"Hey, what's your problem?!" A voice called out to them and they look over to see a familiar faces that Naruto know, Mal and Karen. Mal narrows his eyes at Conner, "Put my man Marvin down."
"I don't think he likes my shirt." The skater, Marvin, whimpered.
"Your shirt's fine." Conner glanced at several shirts to see that they all have the symbol of Superman before he drop Marvin, "Everyone's shirt is fine."
"Someone's fine." Karen smirked and Mal walk up to Conner with a frown.
"Hi." Megan spoke to Marvin, "We're new. I'm Megan Morse. This is Conner Kent and…"
"Naruto, is that you?" Karen finally noticed Naruto, catching Mal's attention.
"Hello, Karen, Mal…" Naruto muttered, "It's good to…See you again…"
"Hey, your speech is improving." Mal said, "Well, beside the pauses."
"You know them?" Conner glanced at his surrogate brother and Naruto nod at him.
"You know this guy?" Mal frowned at Conner again.
"Yes, he's my…Big brother." Naruto grinned, causing several people to look between them with puzzled expression.
"We're adopted." Conner said flatly after he notice their expressions, thankful for Robin and Wally to come up with a plausible excuse.
"So, you're going to school with us?" Karen asked after she shook her head.
"No, I'm going…to middle school…" The young clone replied.
"Come on, I'll walk you there." Conner walked up to Naruto as he pats his shoulder, "Let's go." The young brother gives him a nod as he waves good-bye to the others and he quickly follows his older brother before he notice that a black-haired cheerleader introduce herself to Megan in the background.
"Don't think it's over." Mal hollered out to Conner, "I'm watching you."
After his brother drop him off at his school, Naruto feel so out of place as he wander in the hallway with many students until he find his classroom and he look around for any empty seats. He immediately find one in the back of the corner and he quietly take it before he look around to see that his classmates were chatting with each other in few groups. His eyes shift to the surface of his desk as soon as the bell ring loudly and he never thought it would be possible but he feels more alone.
Naruto immediately appear in front of the high school right away after his school ended and he looks around for his friends as the students exit the building. He wait for a while until Marvin notice him and he call out to him. "Hey, Naruto, right?" The said boy glanced at him, "You're looking for your bro and Megan?"
"Yes, do you know…Where they are?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah, they're over there." Marvin jabbed his thumb at the football field, "Megan is trying out for the cheerleader team and Conner's with her…Oh, hey, how was your first day?" His question caused the blonde to look down with a frown, "Ah, it sucks? Being a new guy can do that to you but cheer up, things will look up in a few days. Trust me, I know." Marvin dropped his skateboard down before he hop on it, "You can go ahead, I'm sure they don't mind as long as you don't bother anyone. See you around."
"Thank." The young clone raised his hand at the skater before he walk toward the football field and he notice Conner on the bleachers. The older clone spots him as Naruto walk up the stair to join him.
"How's school?" Conner asked.
"I don't…like it." Naruto replied and Conner opens his mouth to say something but the cheerleaders walk onto the field with Megan.
"Okay, Megan, you're up." The black-haired girl smiled at Megan.
Megan give her a nod before she start the cheering route, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Hornets, hornets, can't be beat. Bzzting. Ow!" After she completed her route, she looks at the cheerleaders with hopeful eyes as they discuss to each other with whispers. The black-haired girl walk up to her as the other walk away, "How'd I do?"
"I thought you did great." The black-haired girl smiled with crossed arms, "And I'm really sorry about this." Suddenly, the cheerleaders dump the water on the yelping disguised Martian and Naruto can hear his brother's angry growl, following by a sound of something rip out. The young clone look down to see that Conner just rip two chucks out of the wooden bench and his older brother was about to run down but he suddenly tumble down the blenchers with a cry, it turn out that Megan send him a telepathic message to stop before it's too late. Everyone watch on as Conner fall down to the ground with a thud and Naruto cover his mouth with a stifled laughing, he don't know why he find it funny before the black-haired girl glance at Megan. "Sorry, it's a stupid initiation ritual…" She smirked at her fellow cheerleaders with a cocked eyebrow, "That I wish my teammates would abandon."
"Wait." Megan turned to the cheerleaders with a blink, "Initiation ritual?" She slapped her cheeks with a gasp, "Hello, Megan. That means I made the team…Um, I did, right?"
"You're a bumble bee, girl." Karen smiled.
"Thank you!" Megan cheered to herself, "Thank you!" She hugged the black-haired girl as the other cheerleaders joined in, "Thank you!"
"So, is that your boyfriend?" Karen glanced at the downed super-clone, "'Cause he's hot, but kind of a freak." Megan didn't give her a reply when she notices the young clone, coming down to help his brother up as he try to hold his laughter back.
"Naruto, when did you get here?" Megan asked before she gives him a beaming smile, "Did you saw me making it?"
"Y-Yes, hehe." Naruto can't hold it back as he laughed before he look at Conner, "Sorry…Heheheh." Conner just gives him a look before he punches his shoulder lightly with a grunt as if Conner was fine with it.
"You alright?" The black-haired girl asked Conner, "That was a nasty fall you take." Conner just nods at her before she turn to the young teenager, "Hi, I'm Wendy Harris."
"…H-H-Hello…" Naruto looked down shyly.
"This is his little brother and my friend, Naruto Kent." Megan introduced him.
"I know, I heard everything this morning." Wendy replied as one of the cheerleaders gave Megan a towel, "Anyway, the practices are on Tuesday and Thursday after school. We'll send you an E-mail for more detail. You should hurry and change your clothes before you get a cold."
"Thank." Megan smiled at her before she quickly hurry to the changing room while the cheerleaders leave the field, the clones don't have to wait long enough until Megan show up and Conner pick her textbooks up. "You're carrying my books?"
"What, you want them to get wet?" Conner held his hands up with a grumble and he walks away, never notice a smile on the disguised Martain.
Batman walks into the viewing room of the Watchtower with a folder in his right hand and he stop right next to a male figure as they stare at the Earth through the large window. "We don't have something like that, Tony would be green with envy if he find out that I come up here." The person chuckled heartily before he glance at Batman, "I assume you don't bring me up here to show off…Is it something that you need my help with?"
"No, I bought you here because I don't trust your friends and to give you something that you need to know." Batman passed the folder to the figure and he waits until a shocked gasp escape the man's lips. "Someone somehow get their hand on your DNA and cloned it with other DNAs."
"I-I-I can't believe it…" The man mumbled.
"His name is Naruto and he's with a team that got him out of Cadmus." Batman continued, "I can't tell you whose team it is but I can assure you that they are good people. He is training to become a protector like us."
"…Is that so?" The man glanced at the dark knight, "It say here that you found him a few month ago, why did you wait until you tell me that?"
"Because we found another one with him, a clone of Superman and Superman don't react well." Batman said.
"Wait, what?" The man turned his head sharply, "Superman has a clone too?!" He rubbed his temples with a groan, "Why the hell do these people keep cloning us? First, there are Spiderman's clones, Wolverine's clone and now this! Ugh…I can't even…" He flips the page with a mumble before he widens his eyes at a certain word, "Metamutant?"
"First of his kind." Batman replied, "They spliced X-gene and metagene into his DNA. So far, we know that he have healing factor…"
"I see…" The figure chewed his lips, "…Say…If he have my DNA, does that mean he have…?"
"Yes, he does." The dark knight nodded, "I checked it several times."
"Oh no, that means they…" The man paled.
"No, Naruto is only one that succeeds out of all clones and I did a lot of digging, they lost your DNA when their factory collapsed." Batman shook his head and the man release his breath.
"That's good…" The man sighed, "…I think I need some time to accept that…I mean, I'm not ready to…"
"I know, you can have all time you want." Batman cut him off, "But knows that, I'm not going to tell Naruto anything until you want me to and he really want some answers about himself. I believe he is going through something and it is frustrating him lately. I stress you to come up with an answer before it's too late because…" He turned the page in the folder to reveal something to the man, "We don't want him to fall into their hands."
"Oh, my god…" The man dropped the folder with widened eyes, "T-T-That have to be some kind of joke…"
"No, I'm sorry." Batman placed his hand on the man's shoulder with a frown.
"…T-T-Thank…I-I-I'm going back, you don't have to show me the way, I know the way…" The man walked toward the teleporter, still in shock. "Thank again for let me know that…"
"You deserve it after everything." Batman turned back to the window and one of few people that he respect just leave the Watchtower without saying a word.
Naruto tumble backward with a painful groan as he roll across the platform after he received a roundkick from Dinah and the young clone climb up on his limbs with pants, it have been two weeks after the first day of school and his training become more and more tougher lately. "Your opponents won't let you take a breath!" Dinah dropped her heel on his back, causing him to kiss the floor again. She hop over Naruto's swinging leg, "You always try to sweep someone out every time you fall down. You need to break the pattern!" Naruto attempt to tackle her down but she dodge it with sidestep, quickly kick him in back. "And less tackle, it won't help you if you go up against someone with abilities." She frowned, "I thought I teach you better than that, haven't you been paying attention or did you forget what we have been teaching you? Oliver and Elongated Man mentioned that you have been unfocused during the patrol and acting weird lately."
The young clone slowly gets up on his knees with his head hanging down and he never notice that Kaldur walk into the training room with Conner, Megan and Wally, there were a lot of emotions storming trough him and it have been taking tax on him. Wally was about to make a crack but Naruto suddenly snarl at Dinah with a roar. "JUST SHUT UP!" He smashed his fist against the floor, "I NEVER ASKED FOR THAT!"
"Naruto…" Dinah looked at him with widened eyes, taken back by his sudden reaction.
"WHY DO I HAVE TO DO THAT, BE A HERO?!" Naruto roared, "JUST TELL ME! IS IT BECAUSE I'M AN METAMUTANT?! IS IT?!"
"Wha…?!" Kaldur uttered and the team stared at him in shock, they were unawake of his unique status.
"Naruto, it's not because of that." Dinah said, "We're training you because we care about you and…"
"NO!" The young clone threw his right arm out, "YOU ALL DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT I FEEL! ARGH!"
"That's enough, if you keep it up, I will…" The blonde trainer frowned deeply.
"DO WHAT, DO WHAT?!" Naruto cut her off again, "JUST BACK OFF! I'M OUT OF HERE!" He stomped past the shocked teenagers and Dinah stared at him with widened eyes.
"Naruto…" Conner grabbed his brother's shoulder, only to have it smack away.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" The young clone shouted with fierce glare before he storm off and everything were silence in the hideout for a while.
"…So…I guess team-building exercises is off for today?" Wally rubbed his head sheepishly and Dinah was about to say something but she receive an incoming message from the Watchtower within her communication device.
"Yeah…" Dinah muttered, "I gotta go, duty call…" She glanced at the Young Justice team, "I know what you are going to do but I think Naruto want to be left alone for a while. Will you let him know that I want to talk him when I get back?"
"Yes." Wally said, "…Hey, do you know about his…"
"We do know about his metamutant status." Dinah replied, "We don't tell you that because it's up to him…Is that a problem with you?"
"No, no, not at all." Wally held his hands up with a headshake and Black Canary nod at them before she head for the teleporter.
The sulking clone end up sitting under the tree in a public park and he pull his legs up to his chest as he watch some people wander around, enjoying the day in their own way. Naruto lean his head back against the tree trunk with closed eyes, he don't mean to explode in front of them but he feel like they deserve it and it also make him feel guilty for thinking that. "Ugh…" Naruto messed his hair up, what the hell is wrong with him? Is it because he crack under the pressure or was it because he get really frustrating for not getting any answers about his 'birth' situation? He releases a quiet growl, directing toward himself.
"Naruto?" A voice called out and he look up to see Wendy, she wears a white t-shirt with grey shorts and a pair of sneakers. She was doing a jog until she saw Naruto and she immediately notices his upsetting expression when he growl to himself quietly. "You okay?"
"Leave me alone." Naruto looked down at the soil and the black-haired teenager stare at him for a while before she sits down next to him, she can't just leave him there and she want to help him out with something because it's the right thing to do.
"Nah, can't do that." Wendy glanced at him with a hum, "You look like you need someone to lend their ear." She winked, "I'm your gal. Come on, just tell me what's wrong…Please?"
"…I'm tired of everyone telling me what to do…" The young teenager said softly after a few moments of silence, "They said that I should be like them and they never ask me if that's what I want to be…I feel so pressured…So confusing…So…So…Angry…I-I don't ask for that…Because I…I don't know if that is what I was born into that…Is that my reason?"
"Um, who are they? Your family? The one that adopted you?" Wendy tilted her head unsurely as the young teenager nodded, "Oh…Do your family happen to be the family of doctors or cops?"
"Something likes that…" Naruto buried his head into his arms, "I don't know if I can be like them…To be part of something…They keep telling me that I will be like them and they teach me many thing…Too much and…"
"Are you afraid that you can't keep it up or live up to their expectations?" Wendy asked, she often hears about that from some shows and books.
"…Maybe…" The clone whispered, "I don't know…It's too confusing…Everything…"
"Ah, life is always." The teenager smiled, "And that's okay to be confusing because you're still young and there's no need for you to figure it out right now." Naruto looked at her puzzlingly, "You said something about reason, right? It sound like you needs a reason to be a part of something and I think you shouldn't have to think deeply about it right now because it's not your only choice. When you become older, you will find more choices and it's all up to you to make this choice…To be a part of your family business or to be something else. It will take a lot of time until you find your own reason and it's not something that can come to you like a lightning, it really takes a lot of time." She messed his hair up, "Get it?" Naruto nod quietly, "Feeling better?"
"…A little…" Naruto muttered, "I feel really bad for yelling at them…I don't mean to…"
"Ouch, look like you have to do a lot of apologies to make up for it." Wendy cringed, "I guess you must hit your puberty and going through a rebellion phase right now."
"Yeah…" Naruto replied before he look up to her puzzlingly, "Wait, what's puberty?"
"…Um, that's something you have to ask your family about…" Wendy laughed nervously before she clear her throat, "I better head home before it's too late, will you be okay?"
"Yes, my home isn't this far…" The young clone said, "I'm going to stay here for a bit."
"Alright, hope you feel better soon." Wendy stood up as she stretching her arms out, "See you around." She wink at him before she take off to finish her jog and Naruto watch her back for a while until she vanish around the corner, he don't know that a faintly blush form across his cheeks.
After few hours, Naruto decide to go home and he walks over to the entrance of the park but something catches his eyes. An attractive goth older teenager with long wild raven hair lean against the bench next to an elderly man, feeding the pigeons, and she blow a bubble gum before their eyes meet unexpectedly. The goth girl's eyes crack up in a smile and she wiggle her right fingers at him in a flirty way, causing him to look away shyly with a red face. He can hear her heartily giggle as he rush out of the park, he don't know why this person catch his eyes or why he feel weird about it.
Naruto enter the Mount Justice and he immediately know that something was off as soon as he saw the members of Justice League helping the Young Justice members out, the teenagers seems to be little shakily with some scratches. "Naruto, there you are." Robin called out to him as soon as Batman finished check up on him.
"What happened?" Naruto asked.
"Two androids attacked us when you were out." Robin explained, "And get that, they both look like Red Tornado…" He looked away with a deep frown, "He's gone, Red Tornado went with them."
"Oh…" The young clone glanced at the others, "Are you and others okay?" Robin barely nods and Naruto notice Dinah walking toward him, he remembers what happened early and it makes him feel lousy.
"Naruto…" Dinah stood in front of the said boy.
"I'm sorry." Naruto suddenly said as he rubbed his left forearm, "I-I don't mean to…"
"No, I'm sorry." Dinah held her hand up to him as the young clone blink once, "I have been pushing you too hard for a while with all these trainings and non-stop fieldworks. I admit I forget that you were 'born' not long time ago and it might make you upset because you don't understand anything and we neglected that…" She placed her hand on his shoulder with a gentle expression, "We don't know why Cadmus create you in first place but we know one thing, they may plan to use you for some nefarious plot and we want to change that by teaching you the meaning of protector, a hero…I want you to know that the reason why we have been hard on you during the trainings is not because of your metamutant status but because we want you to be safe. We have lost some of good people in the past and we don't want any of you end up on the list."
"I know, but…" The young clone looked down with a small frown, "I don't know if I can be like you…What if I'm not good enough…I…"
"True, you won't be like me." Dinah said as he looks down sadly before she says something that changes his expression, "Because you're you and you might be better than me, better than any of us but that's up to you." She smiled, "If you allow us to, we can set up schedule from breaks to fieldworks and we can help you figuring things out. What do you say?"
"…Yeah…" Naruto's lips lifted up into a small smile and Dinah was about to say something but Batman walk up to her.
"Black Canary, we are going to have a meeting about what happened here and to chose a 'den mother'." Batman spoke and Dinah gave him a nod since they already checked the Young Justice team. They were about to walk away but Naruto stop them as soon as he remembered something else.
"Wait, I want to know something…" Naruto looked up to them, "What's puberty? I was told that I just hit it…"
"…"
"…" They stared at him before Batman power-walk toward the Zeta tube, following by Black Canary.
"…So…" Robin turned his head to the confusing clone after few minutes of awkward silence, "You're metamutant? That would make you the first one, right?"
"Um, yes, I guess?" Naruto muttered.
"Cool." Robin smirked at him, causing the young clone to smirk back with a puzzled blink.
And that end the second chapter of I Am…! Love it? Hate it?
I want to make a little warning in the near-future about Naruto's power, you can skip it if you want to…Naruto's power is kinda OP but it have some drawbacks. Just to let you know that in case…
So far, we have seen Naruto starting his training, his debut as Rookie for fieldwork, some of his first experience. Before anyone say it, the reason why Naruto don't join Young Justice for any missions is because he don't have any experience yet so they have to train him and send him out on fieldwork with some heroes…Which lead us to what you just saw at the near ending of this chapter.
Rookie: That is just his temporary appearance, meaning that he will go through some changes like some certain people, Robin/Nightwing for example. Love it? Hate it?
We also see some Marvel characters that make appearances in this chapter like FF and Spider-man cameo!
Who was this man that met Batman in the Watchtower? Who are the other two people and why do Batman don't want them to get Naruto? Who know? What's that, you want a hint? Well…I can say these three people consider to be popular in some certain circles…That's your hint!
What will happen in next chapter? Will Naruto finally join Young Justice for the missions? Will we find out who are his 'parents' or will we have to wait longer? Will someone explain puberty to him?! We'll may find out in the next issue…Eh, I mean next chapter!
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