Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Young Justice.

A/N: The poll on if Naruto should get a devil fruit will stay up until Shinobi on Board's next update (Or 2 if it's close/tied) so remember to vote if you haven't!

Beta: Chaos-PSD.

Chapter LIII: Kaerb Ym Traeh!

Last Time.

"That is not our responsibility," Nabu said as Zatara turned to him.

"It is your responsibility. As long as you hold my body hostage, I charge you, Nabu, pass these words, my story, on to my daughter."

"Hmm, fine. We will honor your wishes if that becomes necessary."

"Oh, it seems quite necessary. For in this coming battle, I will not allow my daughter to perish. And it will almost certainly take all that remains of my vim vitae, my life force, for Doctor Fate to survive, let alone triumph." Zatara finished looking through a portal that came up to see his daughter's worried face.

(Mindscape End.)

Agra May 14, 16:00 IST.

Naruto stood with Black Lightning, Superman, Garth, and Nightwing as they looked at the people out of ice and wrapped in blankets before Superman spoke up. "The Stranger had the right idea. We're in a crisis situation. Again. If we make it out of this, we can't rely on another villain like Wizard to come through for us. Jeff, I think we have to start thinking about organizing a true Justice League Reserves system. (Sigh.) Unfortunately, I have the feeling we're going to need it more and more… In the days to come."

Now.

Sydney May 14, 21:16 AEST.

Stranger stood beside Red Tornado and Terra as they looked at the Volcano.

We had dispersed Child's Pillar of Fire and quieted her volcano… But the Earth had been shattered by the Witch Girl's Chaos, and so…

BOOM!

He looked to see Vandal walk out of a Boom Tube.

There is work to do. What began with a stranger calling upon a savage, would now come to a head with the Savage summoning the Stranger. Yet one way or another… The conflict would end.

They then appeared in a room with a stained glass wall that had the Lords of Order and Chaos in them.

The Stranger summoned the Lords of Order and the Lords of Chaos to hear Savage's plea...

"Here me, Lords. You govern the balance in all things, from the largest galaxy to the tiniest quark. But upon the planet Earth, I have partnered with your Lord of Chaos and begotten your Lord of Order. It is I, Vandal Savage, who has maintained the balance there. Child has upset that balance, threatening the destruction of the planet. And the true tragedy… it is all so unnecessary."

Stranger's right eye became red as his left gold before he spoke for the two sides. "If there is tragedy, Savage, you are to blame. Your alliance with Darkseid has evolved Earth into a significant front in the war between Order and Chaos. If Child has upset Earth's delicate sensibilities, this Savage has no one to blame but himself."

Vandal then closed his eyes before opening them as he saw the Earth with a pillar of fire appearing by the Tower of Fate. "You referenced my alliance with Darkseid. But you ignore how that alliance is fated to end. With a final conflict between Apokolips and Earth, wherein if Earth falls, the Anti-Life Equation reigns supreme. Chaos will virtually cease to exist, rendering Order moot. For what is Order without Chaos?"

"It is as light without shadow. If Darkseid's will comes to pass, the balance will be forever lost. Remember, Lords. Victory was never the point. It is the balance that is all. Rather than fight over one embryonic world, we should join forces with an eye toward long-term goals. In the name of the Holy Balance, I charge you to honor your true purpose. What say you all?"

"The Lords of Order agree to your proposal. Chaos also agrees. The Child will no longer have our support. But we shall not withdraw her. Let the scales balance themselves." Stranger said to Savage who nodded.

"It will suffice."

North Pole May 14, 10:00 UTC.

"Hey, goody-ten-shoes! Been looking for you every-when!"

Zatanna blinked as she looked back to see the bus with Klarion's eyes in the headlights.

"Klarion?"

"Well, duh!" Klarion replied as Naruto's tri-pronged kunai fell and he appeared a moment later.

"What the hell happened here?" He asked as the kids ran off the bus as Charlie walked.

"Thank God we're off that bus." He said before seeing Dr. Fate break free from the ice he was in. "That's Doctor Fate. I saw a photo of him once. He was in the Justice Society!"

"Justice League now," Naruto said as he looked up after picking his kunai up. "Joined back in late 2010."

"It's only August."

"No, it's 2020." Naruto nodded before Charlie looked at him.

"2020?! Who are you?"

"Kage."

"But Kage's a kid."

"Kid?" Naruto raised an eyebrow as Zatanna conversed with Klarion. "I'm 27."

"Hey! Dumb heroes, pay attention!"

"We thought Child killed you," Zatanna said as Klarion looked down sadly.

"She killed Teekl. So I lost my familiar, my anchor… And my best friend."

"Klarion now uses that vehicle to anchor himself to the mortal plane," Fate said as Naruto walked up.

"Brilliant deduction, genius."

"This is perfect. Now you two can team up." Zatanna said to Fate who narrowed his eyes.

"Out of the question. The Witch Boy cannot be trusted."

"Ugh, agreed. But right now you need each other.

"Look, I don't like it any better than you, Naboobie, but Child has the backing of the Chaos Lords, so we don't have a lot of choice here!" Klarion yelled out before Naruto sighed.

"Nabu, you know it's true."

"If we must."

"Great! Everyone on the bus! First stop: Wherever they keep my new cat."

The heroes got on the bus as Charlie sighed while Ice jumped out of a blue scarab portal with another woman.

She has a deep tan and is wearing Egyptian clothes.

Unknown -,-:-.

"Are we clear on the plan?" Fate asked as they went through the tunnel.

"Plan-schman. None of it'll work if I don't feline up first!"

"And this magical hoo-ha will really get us where we wanna go?" Charlie asked Zatanna who nodded as they started at a gold circular map.

"Yeah, Fate's good at giving directions." Thirteen spoke up as she walked up to Charlie. "So, uh, you really have been bouncing around time and space for ten years?"

"Feels more like a couple of hours, but I guess so?"

"I really have to pee." One of the kids said from the back.

"When this is over, we will get you back to your proper time. I promise."

"After Klarion did this to these kids, are we seriously gonna trust him not to stab us in the back?" Jess asked Zatanna who sighed.

"Uh, I can hear you."

"Not even a little bit," Zatanna replied over Klarion. " But right now, we have no choice."

"I can still hear you."

"Which doesn't mean we shouldn't be ready for whatever he might do."

"You're inside me. I can hear everything!" Klarion spoke as she looked back.

"Good."

Salem May 14, 22:50 EDT.

The bus came out of a portal and stopped by an animal shelter.

"Where are we?" Khalid asked as he saw the entrance.

"Oh, sorry."

It started raining as they came out with different cats. "No… Ugh… You can't be serious. What, are you guys even trying?"

"Ugh, what are you looking for exactly?" Zatanna asked, hand on her hip.

"I'm not looking! The cat's supposed to look for me!" Klarion spoke before looking to his left. "There! That's it! That's the one!" He said as they saw a kitten that looked like Teekl without the stripes rubbing the wheel before Khalid picked the kitten up.

"What was the point of coming to an animal shelter if he was gonna pick a stray off the street?" Khalid asked as Thirteen smiled.

"It's magic, baby. Remind me to tell you how I found Leroy."

"Now all it needs is a name!"

"Um... 'She.' All she needs is a name." Khalid said, turning the kitten to look at her.

"I guess you could name her after your old cat." Zatanna offered, having Klarion scoff.

"Please, you have no imagination. New cat. New name. Something totally original. I've got it! I'll call her… Teekl!" Klarion said as the 'New' Teekl gained red eyes, a collar, and black stripes.

"Now that the Witch Boy and his familiar have shared the bond of naming, the animal has truly become his anchor," Fate said as Klarion formed and took the cat.

"Gimme! Lovely to meet you, Teekl. We're gonna have such fun."

"Come. Child continues her rampage." Fate said creating a portal as Naruto looked back.

"You and the kids stay with the bus. We'll be back to send you home. The shelter's open for restrooms."

They then went through the portal and came to the Tower of Fate before Zatanna hid all but Klarion and Fate made a summoning circle. "All is ready. Begin, Witch Boy."

"Take it, Teekl!"

"(meow.)"

"That is not sufficient," Fate said at the weak meow.

"She's a little kitty, you big bully. She just needs a boost."

He snapped his fingers and created an astral loud horn having Teekl meow into it. "(MEOW!)"

Child and Flaw appeared, having her turn to see the two. "What a stubborn little boy, willing to partner with Fate to get your way. But that only proves my point. You're a tool of Order, unworthy of Chaos."

She blew a flame towards them, having Fate and Klarion shoot it via beams. They continued firing beams and had Flaw block them from hitting Child. "Too perfect. We'll use their own power to destroy them." She siphoned power from Flaw and snapped her fingers having a small pillar of fire appear by them surprising her. And had Naruto in his gold cloak hit Flaw with a staff disintegrating him. "What just... No, wait! I can fix... Dang, it."

She said before exploding in a ball of fire. "Ha! Bye-bye, Child! Good riddance to bad robots."

"(Meow!)"

"Rubbish. Rubbish. She knew I meant rubbish." Klarion said, hands on his hip. "Well, it's been fun… Not! You're welcome, and I'm out of here! See ya later, avocados." Klarion snapped his fingers and disappeared via portal as the others looked around as it rained.

"Your students surprised me this day. Each demonstrating great potential." Fate said walking over to Naruto who was out of his cloak and Zatanna.

"I thought so, too."

Salem May 15, 00:01 EDT.

"But there's something we need to discuss."

Zatanna walked to Jesse to talk to her after conversing with her other students.

"You cannot be serious!"

Naruto who put out a fire turned to see Jesse arguing with Zatanna before he and Fate came over. "We all fought side-by-side! Why are they getting rewarded, and I'm not?"

"It's not a reward. It's more like a curse. And in any case, you're just not ready. You're too much like him. He needs hosts who can balance out his less humane impulses." Zatanna said as Naruto looked at her before Jess spoke.

"I'm not humane?"

"I didn't mean that. But the fact is you're attracted to power, and you're not careful about where that power comes from or to whom it hurts when you take it or use it."

"I did what needed to be done, and all without saying you-know-what." Jesse bit back at her. " "The cost was worth the result!"

"That's how he thinks, Mary. He doesn't need another him. The world doesn't need another him!

"Of whom do you speak? Of what?" Fate spoke up, gaining their attention.

"Maybe now's not the time." Zatanna sighed as Jess crossed her arms.

"No. Go ahead. Tell him. See what he thinks."

"Indeed, Sorceress. Speak."

"Okay, fine. I propose that Nabu alternate host bodies, between my father, Khalid, Traci, and myself."

"What?" Naruto asked before Zatanna continued.

"Each wears the Helmet for a week, before handing it off to the next in line, keeping Fate's hosts fresh and healthy at all times. And with the added benefit that three weeks out of four, the host gets a life."

"Not this one? She is powerful." Fate said, gesturing to Jesse.

"No. Perhaps if I work with her more..."

"Wait, you're agreeing to this?" Jess asked in surprise as Fate nodded

"The notion has logic and potential. And we have learned to trust your mentor's judgment."

"Jesse, please, try to understand..."

"Send me home! Fawcett City. Now!" Jesse yelled as Fate made a portal for her to walk through.

"So, it's all settled then?"

"No, not with me!" Naruto yelled out. "When were you going to tell me?"

"I was certain you wouldn't do it," Zatanna said before Fate spoke.

"Nabu has agreed. But one other must yet be convinced." He said before taking the helmet off and showed Zatara.

"Oh, Dad…"

"No. Absolutely not! I put on the Helmet to save you from this curse. Do you honestly believe I'd let you take it on now? Absurd!"

"You put on the Helmet to save 16-year-old me. But I'm 26 now, Dad, and you are missing my entire life. Not to mention your own. You've sacrificed enough. I can take this on one week in four. Please!"

"I never could say no to my girl."

"Excuse us a minute," Naruto said before walking as Khalid followed. "You better not have lied to me when you took on Thirteen as a protege and I ask were you training a replacement for your father."

"I'm sorry… And no, I didn't take her or the others on for that, it was when we caught the goblins the other day."

"I think you know I'm on board."

They turned to Khalid at that. "My Uncle Kent was always my hero. I feel like my whole life has been building to this moment. It would be an honor to don the Helmet of Fate. But I have real questions. You let Jesse do what she did, all this time only to penalize her for it after. And Traci? As I understand it, when you put on the Helmet, you effectively become its prisoner, surrendering your body, agency, and life to Nabu."

"For you and me, this sacrifice is necessary in the name of family. But will Traci's sacrifice balance against her altruistic desire to help?"

Zatanna then walked to Traci who was talking to her father. "I want to be clear. You do not have to do this. But you're 18. You can make your own decisions."

"I'm in."

"Good. Thank you." Zatanna sighed before Naruto walked up.

"Then I will take a place if any of you need a break."

"Father and daughter deserve time together," Khalid said, walking to take the helmet and looking at Traci. "And you and your father should at least discuss this. So I will go first. Bismillah."

He put it on and turned into Fate.

(Mindscape.)

"And thus balance is restored."

Khalid and Nabu stared at Stranger who explained Savage had Child's magic reduced right before Naruto's attack. "Why do you tell us what we already know?" Nabu asked before Stranger stepped forward.

"I'll tell you what you need to know."

"Save your musings. We have no intention of thanking Vandal Savage for cleaning up his own mess."

"Admittedly, this chaos did begin with one mortal. But not with Savage. The inciting incident was no act of Chaos or even of Order." Stranger said, remembering when Zatanna said her students were the best and got the idea of using them as hosts the other night. "It was the mere contemplation of an act of love."

(Mindscape End.)

Zatanna stood on the bus talking to the kids. "I know you've all been through a lot. Remember, there's no shame in admitting you need help. S'hanid drac. (Dinah's Card.)" A card appeared in her hand and she handed it to Charlie who looked at it. "Make sure everyone has this number and doesn't hesitate to use it. She can help, I promise."

She walked out as Fate floated up. "We have a tower to rebuild. Let us be done with this."

"Wait. I wanna know what they went through." Zatanna said before touching the bus.

"Wohs em rieht yenruoj! (Show me their journey!)"

She saw their journey before gasping as Fate returned them to the bridge in 2010. "Farewell, Sorceress. Until your turn comes around." Fate said before leaving as Naruto looked at his wife.

"Zatanna? Are you all right?"

"I'm... not sure. But I think I saw Conner's spirit... His ghost. And he wasn't at rest. He needs help."

The Watchtower May 15, 09:14 EDT.

"Well, I've been counseling a lot of them, on and off, for the last ten years."

Canary said as she sat with Zatara in the grotto. "When they first told me their story, I could hardly believe it. But somehow they had my private number and a mystic reference from, what was then, an impossibly adult version of your daughter. Plus they told me things, and gave me foreknowledge, which I couldn't possibly share… Until now."

"Penny graduates college next week. She's an engineer and wants to build safer bridges. And Charlie, he moved to Atlanta, but he still drives a school bus. Frankly, he might just be the bravest man I ever met. But we're here to talk about your ten years, Giovanni, not mine."

"Oh, there isn't much to say. My faith in God and my love for my daughter got me through the… Through the…" He trailed off at that before she looked over.

"The long night?"

"The long night." He said before he started crying as she put a hand on his shoulder.

Fawcett City May 15, 00:16.

Jesse sat huddled by the Zeta entrance of a broken picture box before hearing Granny Goodness. "I understand your grief. These so-called heroes, your so-called friends, are jealous of your strength and grace. Twice they've denied you power. The power that is your birthright. You owe them nothing, my dear, for they only seek to turn you into nothing."

"Into a nobody. Why listen to these petty fools who wish to keep you down? To force you to be unimpressive only that they might seem more impressive in the absence of your true glory. You must see there is no longer any need to obey their rules, their strictures. Advice they claimed to offer for your sake was always just a ploy to minimize you… To keep you small. Say it, child. Say the word. You know you want to." She finished as Jesse looked up and whispered.

"Shazam."

CRACK!

A bolt of lightning then hit her as a Boom Tube formed beside the smoke.

To Be Continued.

A/N: Thanks for reading and let me know of any mistakes.

Beta: Chaos-PSD.

The poll on if Naruto should get a devil fruit will stay up until Shinobi on Board's next update (Or 2 if it's close/tied) so remember to vote if you haven't!

OK, this was arguably the darkest arc mainly because it was Zatanna thinking "Hey, I can use my proteges to save my dad" that set it off in motion. Now, it's also my least favorite arc for this season mainly due to rushing character development in that, Traci never showed doubt in herself in s3 and of course, the other three here is the first time we're seeing them and never act like their fears kept them from fighting like Fate stated would do...

Now, still not on the bandwagon of this show's cancellation. Greg Weismann has said they haven't been told the show's done, just no green light to start working on another season. Hey, AdultSwim's shows can go two years at least between seasons, and Invincible's s2 was also 2 years as s2 won't be out until the end of the year (2023) unless something happens.

So again I'll wait until there's an OFFICIAL word as those I see now just say "Oh, s5 wasn't confirmed before 4 finished/when 4 premiered as Harley Quinn did, well that means it's canceled."

But yeah in an era where shows get renewed for a 2nd or 3rd season before the pilot premieres so unless it's like that people think shows are axed unless multiple seasons are in the works and have been reported as such.

The next arc will be canon but will have Naruto do something OC for the times when he's not with Zatanna as some of the dates for this arc are in the next.

Next to be updated will be Ninja in the Web as that's being beta'd then Maelstrom Jedi.

Nothing else to say.

Talk To You Later,

Lone Wolf Out.🐺