I don't own Naruto or Young Justice
If you are reading this after having read the other chapters some time ago; than listen up! I edited a few things in Chapter 2 & 3. For starters, this is no longer a Barbara and Sasuke pairing story, the relationship was rushed and I didn't care for it much to begin with. Secondly, I tweaked Sasuke's personality a bit to make it closer to the canon material but, things are still different than say the Sasuke that fought Madara with Naruto.
That's all! Have a good read!
Schooled
Downtown, Metropolis; August 3rd 10:07AM.
A bus filled to the rim with children leisurely made its way down the road and onto the upcoming bridge; each child was ecstatic for their first field-trip, screaming and laughing as the driver smiled. It wasn't the best job but, he enjoyed it regardless.
Suddenly, one of the support beams to the bridge bent and warped from decades of without care, the asphalt began to crumble without the support just before the bus passed over it. Two massive steel wires holding the bridge together snapped and fell the ground shattering the cars ahead of the bus.
The driver screeched to a halt as the bus went over the curb and hit the guard-rail, all seemed relatively safe until an incoming six-teen wheeler honked its intense bull-horn as it too attempted to break, however; with its size and speed it didn't make the stop in time knocking into the bus and pushing it over the guard-rail.
From above in the highest-pent house level of Wayne Enterprises stood Bruce Wayne, looking down on the incident he frowned. He removed the head to a bust sitting on his desk pressing the button beneath; a drawer popped open in front of him releasing his armor prepared to act until he heard the sound barrier brake.
Just as all hope was lost and people assumed they'd hear the mortality report on the news that evening; Superman came to their rescue, flying underneath the bridge and using his heat-vision to seal wounds in the structure.
Unbeknownst to either of them, Superboy came leaping from the city landing on the bridge with a loud-crash, his landing caused the entire bridge to shake further but, Superman below compensated for the extra force.
Superboy began pulling cars and trucks off the edge of death but, as he got to the bus, he gripped its bumper and pulled with all of his strength. He would have succeeded too if not for the bumper ripping off completely sending the bus off the bridge; he tossed the bumper aside, "No!" he shouted looking over the edge to find nothing in the water.
Superman came floating from below holding the bus above his head whilst glaring down at Superboy; placing the bus down safely, the two confronted one another.
"I almost had that!" he shouted angrily as Superman didn't let his scowl fade.
"Almost isn't good enough, your landing could have destabilized the bridge as it is," Superman replied folding his arms.
"It didn't."
"But, it could have. We don't know yet the limits of your powers."
Superboy looked away, rubbing the back of his neck, "Well, maybe you could help me with that some-"
In the middle of his sentence, Superman answered a com-link distress signal from Green Arrow, "Superman. Wait, Arrow, slow down what's attacking?"
He looked back over at Superboy and then back towards the ocean, "No, I'm definitely available, coordinates? Got it, on my way."
"Sorry, Superboy, duty calls," he turned and took off reaching safe distances before going super-sonic.
Superboy narrowed his eyes at the lack of interest Superman showed to him; the lack of caring at all about him or how he lives. He tightened his fist and turned to leap away.
…
Mount Justice, Happy Harbor; August 3rd; 12:38PM.
Sasuke strained himself, his muscles tightened and his veins popped visibly; He held a perfectly formed Rasengan in his right palm and was attempting to shift its chakra nature to force it into a Rasenshuriken but, he simply couldn't make the change.
"Stupid!" He shouted as his orb of chakra dispersed, "This is so stupid!"
Naruto leaned up against a tree just outside Mount Justice using its shade to allow himself to read quietly as Sasuke trained, "Changing a chakra-nature that you're already familiar with is one thing but, to an unfamiliar nature? Not so easy."
"Using the Chidori is so easy but, the Rasenshuriken…" Sasuke trailed off, "This might take time."
Naruto closed his book and pushed his back off of the tree, "You already have the Rinnegan…" he walked forwards and grabbed his wrist, "So, you can use the Wind Style just like you can any other chakra-nature; form a Rasengan," he demanded as Sasuke scoffed and used the hand Naruto had gripped to form an average orb of blue-chakra energy.
"Now," Naruto started, "Imagine the wind, the air blowing passed you, spinning around you; use that feeling and let it flow with your chakra."
Just as Naruto began this motivational speech, Sasuke's Rasengan begun to grow slightly as small blades of wind gradually began spinning around its core.
Suddenly, the break-through was cut off by the PA system delivering an announcement, "All team members report to the central chamber for mission briefing," Batman's voice was obviously serious and so the Rasengan shrank into nothing immediately.
"You almost had it!" Naruto shouted in dismay tossing his book to the ground.
"I gotta go," He nonchalantly picked up his jacket and slipped it over his shoulders.
"You go on missions with this stupid team while Madara is doing who knows what? And its interrupting your training now which is starting to piss me off!" Naruto grabbed Sasuke's shoulder causing them both to stop in their tracks, "In the end, what's more important? These dumb missions or their entire world?"
Sasuke shrugged Naruto's hand away, looking down at the grass he silently kept walking as the Mountain's security admitted him, "Recognized; Pain, B01."
Once the doors had shut, Naruto sighed with a serious glare, "When Madara returns and tears your entire world apart; don't come crying to me," he turned and walked away as a breeze rushed through the mountain gently pulling leaves along with it.
…
Sasuke entered the common room to find Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Batman, and Red Tornado standing beside the entire team other than one single person, a tall girl nearly his height, with long blonde hair tied-up into a pony-tail and a green, slightly provocative, skin tight body suit that covered the space around her eyes along with her cheek-bones. Her piercing brown eyes didn't distract from the emerald-green bow and quiver strapped to her back. In short, she was gorgeous.
"Who is this?" Sasuke said with an annoyed tone, "Don't you think seven is enough team-members for a covert squad?"
"The names Artemis but, thanks for the sarcasm," She chided as Sasuke shot her a glare, "Are you supposed to be jacket and baggy-pants-man?"
Kid sped over and leaned his arm on Sasuke's shoulder, "Don't worry; Bat's said this was only a trial mission for her, she'll never make it on the team," he was confidently being a prick but, Artemis ignored him as did Sasuke.
"There is always strength in numbers," Batman finished, "As the leader, you will evaluate her on this mission to ensure she's the right choice for your eighth member."
Artemis scoffed, "He's the leader?"
Barbara rolled her eyes; "Yes, he is, is there a problem?"
Sasuke sighed in exasperation, "Ugh, arguing gives me a headache," he walked passed them both weaving a short hand-sign and placing his palm on the ground as a plume of smoke engulfed him and left him in his cloak and helmet with the voice modifier to boot, "Can both of you shut-up?"
"I-" Artemis began but, was cut off by Batman pulling up a large holoscreen in front of them, she understood that no one interrupts the Bat at least.
"Six hours ago, a new menace attacked Green Arrow and Black Canary; the attacker was capable of studying then duplicating the powers and abilities of its opponents," He paused as the holoscreen displayed footage of a robot of some-kind decimating the League one by one, "Arrow called in reinforcements which nearly proved disastrous as our foe gained more and more power with each new combatant."
Kid Flash gawked, "Woah, one guy with the powers of the entire League?"
Bruce turned to the team, "In the end it took eight Leaguers four hours to defeat and dismantle the android."
"An android?" Robin spoke up, "Who built it, Tio-Morrow?"
Batman flashed a short but, brief smile, "Good guess, Robin, but Red Tornado doesn't think so."
Martian Manhunter spoke up, not taking his eyes off of the clip of the fight he'd just taken part in, "The technology bares the signature of Professor Ivo."
Aqualad narrowed his eyes, "Ivo? But, Ivo's dead."
"Or so we all hoped," Canary stated rubbing the wound on her shoulder which was obviously inflicted by the android.
Batman spoke up again, "To ensure this threat is permanently neutralized we are sending two trucks containing the android's remains to two separate STAR labs facilities in Boston and New York for further evaluation."
They all watched as the map displayed on screen routes to Boston and New York with Gotham in the middle, "We are taking every precaution; we're sending four additional decoy trucks to create confusion in case Ivo or anyone tries to recover the parts."
"This team will split into two undercover squads to safe-guard the two real trucks," Batman finished as Kid pumped his fist into the air with a loud shout.
"Yes! Road trip!"
Tension suddenly filled the air as Superboy glared up at Batman, "So, now we take out your trash too?"
Batman raised his brow, not even giving the comment a second thought, "You had something better to do? Be my guest," he turned and walked away from the team and towards the Zeta-Tubes, "We deploy in one hour." He finished as he was whisked away at light speed.
"Don't poke the sleeping Bat or it'll bite you," Robin stated coyly jabbing Superboy's arm, "Just a word of advice," he smiled as Superboy grunted and turned away.
Pain perked up at the sound of buzzing coming from the pocket of his cloak, after looking at the screen he nonchalantly turned around, "Coordinates received; we're on our way."
Artemis chuckled for a moment as they walked towards the Zeta-Tubes, "That voice cracks me up; you sound like your gargling marbles!"
Pain said nothing, he simply kept walking, "Keep it up and you won't have a team to make fun of."
Her smile faded, she didn't want to be disrespectful to the leader so, maybe a different approach would help cool the situation.
Canary grabbed Superboy's shoulder before he left, mumbling something to him but, Sasuke didn't bother to read her lips for lack of caring.
…
Litchfield County; August 3rd; 2:17PM
Eight trucks had been lined up with the real parts to the android being undisclosed to anyone without League access; Pain, Artemis, Batgirl, Robin, Superboy, Kid Flash, and Aqualad were all prepared on color-coded motorcycles hidden behind a layer of bushes and trees.
Superman took a quick glance at the team but, darted his eyes away when he made eye-contact with Superboy; the entire League was overseeing the shipment and discretion was of the upmost importance.
"STAR Boston is a go."
"STAR Manhattan is a go."
Green Arrow nodded towards Superman who floated up and gave the signal for all the trucks to begin their journey; M'gaan, Superboy, Robin, and Batgirl followed one truck whilst Pain, Artemis, Aqualad, and Kid Flash tailed the other going in opposite directions.
Most of the travel was silent, the heroes were observant and Pain had activated his Sharingan to be sure that nothing would surprise him but, he wasn't expecting the newbie to be a conversation starter nearly half-an-hour into the ride.
"So," Artemis said through her helmets communication line, "What got you into the hero business; you're one of the only faces I don't really recognize here."
He sighed, Sasuke didn't want to talk to anyone but, decided to kill time anyways, "My family was killed," He said casually, "Typical super-hero origin I guess."
Wally spoke up as he practically cut-off Artemis on the road, "I got my powers on accident; I was just trying to-"
Artemis chuckled, "I didn't ask you, motor mouth."
"Please, be civil," Aqualad stated as he pulled up next to the both of them, "Spite others opinions; we'd be happy to have you on the team."
Artemis smiled slightly, "Thanks," she turned to Kid with a smirk, "Maybe I'll be sticking around after all, huh?"
Kid Flash grunted and revved the engine to his bike, mumbling under breath.
"Does his mouth ever bother you?" Artemis asked motioning over to Pain.
"When you're as numb as I am, nothing tends to really bother you," Pain left the conversation at that also leaving Artemis at a loss for words.
…
Another half-hour passed and the truck took an exit down a high-way surrounded by miles and miles of cornfields; the repeating scenery was dull until, rustling in the crops was spotted by Pain briefly.
He narrowed his eye as he wasn't completely sure he'd seen something until suddenly, he spotted them; black drones in the shape of monkeys with neon-green lights flashing.
"We've got company," Artemis shouted just before Pain announced his discovery, she definitely had a good eye; the girl pressed a single button on her cycle as it began driving itself, she pulled her bow from behind her and an arrow back on the draw-string.
She fired two arrows piercing two drones directly through the head but, when two fell four sprung from the crops. Aqualad and Pain jumped from their cycles onto the roof of the large truck causing both vehicles to crash and burn; Pain gripped two kunai each one with a lightning release sparking around them whilst Aqualad formed bio-electric meat hammers from his water-bearers. The drones were relentless as even with Pain slicing and dicing through them one by one, Artemis taking down several at a time with trick-arrows, Kid Flash using his speed to knock them into the ground and off the truck, and Aqualad assisting Pain in keeping them at bay; the drones still latched themselves to the truck.
Pain spun around using his Sharingan to precisely dice through drones with his kunai; Artemis sped up to the side of the truck and leapt on to it, watching as her vehicle crashed and burned behind her. She climbed up the truck and summersaulted onto the roof where Aqualad and Sasuke dispatched drones one at a time.
"Pain to Robin, our truck is under attack!" The shinobi stated as Artemis fought them off until the two were back to back keeping monkeys from entering the truck.
"Duh," Robin responded as random thrashing was heard in the background.
One monkey managed to use a beam weapon from it eyes to disarm Pain as he reached out with great speed gripping the drone's skull; his Sharingan analyzed it before it released a loud cackle and fired another beam directly into Sasuke's eye causing a scream of agony to fill their ears. Aqualad turned to find Pain on his knees whilst Artemis fired off arrows as cover for her fallen comrade; Kid Flash was beamed in the chest and sent tumbling on the hot asphalt at 380MPH getting the road-rash of a life time even through his costume.
Several monkeys attacked the driver's windshield, headbutting it until it shattered as the driver shouted in fear, several other monkeys bashed their way through the passenger side window approaching the driver. Several drones grouped together by the wheels of the vehicle and blasted them with their energy beams; the tires blew out and they all knew what that meant.
As this happened a small group of four monkeys used their lasers to cut a hole through the side of the truck where men with rifles waited to fire off their weapons; the bullets did little to nothing as the monkeys retrieved the case of android-parts before taking off out of the truck and into the distance above the cornfield.
The truck begun to spin out of control as Artemis slipped in through the window and grabbed hold of the driver tightly, "Hang tight, I guess," she pulled out her spare cross bow and shot it out the torn off door hooking around a power-line they were yanked out of the vehicle just before it tipped tumbling to a stop with the driver safe and sound.
Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Artemis lined up as Pain was still on the truck as it flipped and crushed him several times; Kid closed his eyes in shame whilst Artemis covered her mouth in surprise, "Damn…" Kid stated not knowing what else to say.
The truck came to a stop, landing on its roof where Pain had been, suddenly though; the entire truck itself began to lift off the ground. Lifting into the air as Pain was underneath nearly unscathed, "Annoying." He stated as he dropped the truck backwards.
Artemis was at an awe, she had no idea he was that durable, that… strong.
Pain allowed his Sharingan to evolve, spinning into the Mangekyou Sharingan increasing his ocular prowess tenfold he was clearly able to see the drones escaping with the android's parts.
"Pain to Robin, we've lost our cargo," he spoke into his earpiece as he dusted off his cloak, he was honestly surprised his helmet was still in-tact; "What about-"
Robin sighed over the com, "It's gone… and so is my partner," he spoke as loud thumping was heard in the distance; Pain groaned and tapped the com again.
"Pain to Superboy; radio your position, let us help you!"
Superboy roared with anger, "I don't need help!" he pulled the com from his ear and dropped it, "Don't want any!" as he leapt miles and miles away from it.
"And… he ditched his com, great," Robin stated obviously annoyed.
Kid threw his hands out, "Super! Now we can't even track him,"
Artemis sighed in contempt, "Well we lost the parts, maybe we should message Red Tornado?"
"Tornado always tells us to handle things on our own; the mission isn't a failure unless we fail to retrieve the parts from whoever took them," Pain stated firmly to Artemis' surprise, he had a bum-attitude but, a determined spirit; if he wasn't going to let this go neither was she.
Kid chuckled loudly, "Great plan! Except for the not knowing where to look part!"
Artemis thought for a moment, "We'd have heard by now if the decoy trucks were attacked, right? So how did this guy know where the parts were exactly?"
Pain grabbed one of the discarded monkey-drones and stared at it closely, "I can just look-" Pain cut himself off as he grunted with a burning sensation around his eye, "Damn, these things hurt my eye, it's going to be harder to use my powers."
"Your eyes are your powers?"
Pain turned to Artemis, Aqualad, and Kid, "I'll follow the shipment, you guys track the GPS and try to keep up," turquois surging lightning sparked across his body as he activated his Lightning Release: Chakra Mode and his entire body become engulfed in that cackling blue aura.
He vanished in a flash of light, speeding away with a trail of blue energy following him through the cornfields.
Robin spoke through the coms, "I'm tracking the monkeys now, it looks like they're converging on…" he paused for a moment, "Gotham City."
Artemis narrowed her eyes, it was her home-turf but, she couldn't let anyone know of course; she quickly looked at Aqualad's GPS and spoke up, "Looks like they're converging on the east-side train station, or at least the tracks."
"That far east? The rest of us will never make it in time," Aqualad pressed his ear and spoke, "Pain, I'm sending Kid ahead but, it'll take us time to rendezvous," just as he said this, Kid slipped his goggled on and bolted off leaving a gust of wind to rustle Artemis' hair, only grunting in response.
"Acknowledged, Pain out."
…
Pain and Superboy intersected as they both followed their own pair of mechanical primates lead them to a train which was unleashing a plume of smoke and a loud horn as it passed.
They landed on the hull of a single train-car and he looked to Pain, "Which shipping-car is he in?"
Sasuke looked out but, even using the regular Sharingan burned from the stinging sensation of his healing pupil, "I…I can't tell…"
"Ugh," Superboy focused for a moment before switching to infrared vision, "Looks like this one!" he shouted leaping over several containers and slamming his fist through the steel of the train with the momentum of his jump. He tore open a hatch as Pain approached behind him, both jumping through it and into the dark train-car.
The annoying cackle of the monkey-drones filled their ears as they turned to find over two dozen of the drones surrounding one slightly short ginger man whom sported a button up white shirt, red bow-tie, and suspenders from his long pants. As they entered, he turned around to face them, "Oh… hello," he said calmly.
Superboy scoffed, "You're Ivo? I'm officially whelmed."
"You're one to talk; now since when does the big-blue boy scout have a brat?" The man asked as Superboy tightened his fist in anger responding coldly.
"He doesn't."
"If you say so," Ivo rolled his eyes, "And to you two new comers I ask, have you met my Mobile Optimal Neural Quotient Infiltrators?"
Pain growled underneath his mask as each of the MONQI's sitting idly behind him suddenly leapt at the heroes as they reacted quickly than the doctor expected; Superboy bashed each and every one of them with his fists alone whilst Pain used his kunai to cleave through each one as they approached. In seconds, they were all scrap metal sitting broken at their feet, "Ehh, and after all the effort I put into coming up with an acronym for monkey," Ivo turned around and pressed a few buttons on a console not far from him.
As they finished destroying the annoying drones they heard metallic clanking pressing against the floor, "Access: Captain Atom," from nowhere an energy blast of some kind struck Superboy in the chest sending him back first into the wall.
Pain pulled his kunai up and slipped into a fighting stance, stepping back slowly as a tall, menacing android approached them, "If Dr. Ivo's magnificent MONQI's don't float your boat, then perhaps my amazing AMAZO will better suit you," he paused as his android stepped into the light fully revealing itself in a humanoid shirtless form with green pants built on him; his thin head of orange hair and elf-like ears didn't take away from his menacing crimson stare of death.
Superboy stood up, wiping is lip, "Give it your best shot," he stated confidently.
"Please," Ivo started, "My android has the strength of Superman, what chance do you have?"
Superboy snarled and rushed the android as Amazo effortlessly blocked, deflected, or countered every strike the boy of steel sent; He managed to land one shot to Amazo's face as it spun for a moment, Superboy felt this was his chance and moved for a second strike. Amazo's neck snapped back in to place and caught the fist in his palm without effort to Superboy's major surprise.
"Oh sorry, did that strike a nerve?"
Sasuke witnessed the display strength and speed the android had just displayed but, he knew better than to just rush in unprepared so, instead he began gathering chakra into his eye slowly. Enough to activate the Mangekyou Sharingan even with the injuries to his eye; "Amazo, strike a few more."
The android wordlessly uppercutted Superboy in the face releasing his fist allowing him to bounce off the ceiling and land right into a left-straight that pushed him out of the train-car and into a building the train-tracks juxtaposed.
Pain prepared himself by backing up and throwing three kunai each one deflected with a single back-hand, "Access: Black Canary," the android's jaw unhinged losing a sonic discharge that put every Sound Ninja combined to shame pushing Pain back on his heels, he attempted to walk through the attack but, was surprised suddenly.
"Access: Superman," a fist flew so fast through the air knocking Pain in the face and cracking his mask severely sending Sasuke out the hole in the train through the ceiling of Gotham Academy.
Pain and Superboy pushed themselves to their feet having fallen generally in the same room; Superboy pushed a desk off of him as papers flew across the room.
Pain looked around the room in detail, "What?" Superboy asked.
"I think we're in my school."
"You go to school?"
Ivo smiled as Amazo looked to his owner for orders, shrugging without a second thought, "Finish them: priority alpha."
Amazo took off without another word, leaping into the air and tracking his two opponents.
…
Robin and Batgirl sped towards Gotham on their still functioning cycles as they just entered City Limits, Robin had changed from his cycling-suit into his uniform, tracking the GPS of the Amazo-parts still with the holoscreen projected from his cycle.
"How much further?" Batgirl asked promptly.
"Not long now."
As they sped by, a blur slowed down next to them which turned out to be Kid Flash in his bright yellow and red friction-armor, "You changed too, huh?" Robin noted as the speedster smiled.
"You know it," he announced proudly, "I feel naked in my civvies; you still tracking the android parts?"
"Preach," Batgirl shouted as they sped across the street.
Robin stared at the GPS, "At first they were converging on the east-side but, now…" he paused for a moment as his eyes widened at the results, "Dude, they're at our school!"
…
Pain flew through the air of the hallway slamming into a glass case of trophies as shards fell across his body and a picture of Dick holding a large acrobatic-championship trophy fell into his lap as well.
"Ugh," he tossed the picture aside and analyzed Amazo with his Sharingan, the burning sensation was fading but, it still hurt to even blink.
Superboy dropped from above with a fist prepared to pummel the droid whom looked up immediately, "Martian Manhunter," becoming intangible the fist flew through him. He reformed his density and threw a round-house kick at the Kryptonian boys head slamming him through two class-room walls.
Pain had studied the Justice League and knew their weaknesses, "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" He launched several kunai simultaneously lighting them on fire as over a dozen flaming projectiles approached the android.
"Red Tornado," before they hit, a funnel of wind engulfed the hallway both putting-out the flames of the attack and causing them to fly across the room hitting random lockers instead.
Superboy came from behind wrapping his arms around Amazo's neck putting him in a headlock, "Superman," the android deadpanned as he grabbed the boy of steel by the shoulders and super-speed spun his robotic body in a 360-degree manor releasing him and flinging him into a row of lockers.
He adjusted his body and grabbed Pain by the neck and analyzed him, "Access: Pain."
"Ah, crap," Sasuke could only utter those two words before being blasted through two classrooms and a science-lab by a wave of intense fire spewing from the android's mouth.
Superboy sprinted from behind at super-speeds attempting to punch the android in the back but, receiving an enhanced elbow to the face, being grabbed and punted across the hall and into a stairwell.
The android turned towards Pain and determined him as the primary threat; Superboy would come next, he walked through the rooms analyzing his surroundings as he did so. Even with his mechanical prowess, he couldn't spot Pain tucked in the left-hand corner of the ceiling, the only thing being visible was his crimson Sharingan glowing in the darkness.
"Chidori!" He shouted as he leapt from his hiding spot and attempted to slice the drone in half but, was unprepared to have his Chidori cut off simply by grabbing his wrist and turning his body.
"Black Canary," the android lifted his foot and snapped Sasuke's arm before backhanding him through the wall of the science lab and into a large gym. Hitting the polished wooden floors hurt but, the searing pain in his arm after having it snapped in two was far worse.
He got to his knees, huffing loudly as he grabbed his wrist, clenched his teeth and pulled with all of his strength, "AGH!" he screamed in agony as he set the bone properly. Standing up, he turned around and faced the android which leapt down from the hole it made and landed only a basketball courts length away considering they were on either side of it.
Pain was injured in his most vital areas, running low on energy, and fighting an uphill battle on his own, things were tough to say the least. His mask was cracked apart so that his left-Sharingan was visible alone with a small amount of ruffled black hair, "Gotta stall," he stated as he realized he hadn't gathered enough chakra to activate his Mangekyou; just then, a blur of speed flew in through double doors and sped beside his leader in a heartbeat.
"So, introduce me to your new friend!" Kid joked as he folded his arms in confidence.
"You're looking at Amazo; he's pretty tough I'll tell you that much," Pain gripped his arm with a seething burn.
"You don't look so good," he noted looking Pain up and down, "Why don't you step aside and let me handle things from here, mkay?" Wally lowered his goggles and sped through the court running literal circles around the android.
"Access: Superman," the android stuck its arm out and Wally slammed right into it knocking the wind from his stomach simultaneously, "Black Canary," the monotone voice was beginning to get old as he side-kicked Wally tumbling across the court.
Superboy flew in from the hole Amazo made with Sasuke's face; roaring with anger the robot turned to him receving his punch without flinching and tanking a follow up uppercut as well. The attacks didn't seem to bother him, "Access: Martian Manhunter," he grabbed Superboy by the throat and extended his arm across the entire court slamming him into the wall, picking him up and slamming him back down again,
As the android's arm retracted he passed the nearly unconscious Wally and went straight for Pain as he backed up slowly, "I don't suppose I have any miracles left, do I?"
The android grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up, "Access: Superman," his grip tightened as Sasuke's neck began to close up and oxygen ceased its regular flow through his body, his vision began to blur as he was prepared to pass out.
Suddenly, something caught on Amazo's radar causing him to turn his neck 90-degrees instantly, "Martian Manhunter," a green arrow flew directly through Amazo's density shifting head; this also allowed Pain whom was being held by the neck to also slip through his grasp.
Artemis stood at the entrance of the gymnasium with her bow pointed directly at the android, "I wouldn't call myself a miracle but, thanks anyways," she unleashed another arrow, this time two at once, which both were caught by the android effortlessly.
This distraction was exactly what Sasuke needed to gather chakra for his eye; with this much-gathered energy no amount of damage to the Sharingan short of ripping it out could prevent the Mangekyou from being released.
Amazo held the two arrows unimpressed and stoic as always, "Ah ahh," said Artemis waving her finger at the android, "Tick-tick boom."
Amazo was given no time to switch abilities as the explosion engulfed his face completely, flames being Manhunter's weakness, this pushed him back on his feet and caused him to grab his face, adjusting his sensors and picking the most useful ability, "Access: Superman."
Pain was done, he ripped his cloak from his body revealing body-armor similar to that of an Anbu-Black Ops member, "The games are over!" He shouted as Amazo turned to face him, his programming reminded him that Pain was priority alpha; he stepped forwards and walked away from Artemis who prepared another arrow until she noticed Sasuke's hand out, motioning for her to cease fire.
She was confused but, this was a mission and he was the leader so she lowered her bow ever-so-slightly; Pain stood up right, only one of his eyes was visible but, that's all he really needed now, without even smirking he announced, "Mangekyou Sharingan!" his crimson pupil shifted into its atom/pin-wheel shape which confused Artemis to no end but, she could see straight into his eye. His heart and soul was in that eye, she could tell there was intense pain behind it that he kept hidden away
The android approached and reached his hands out, "I'd continue this fight but, you're already dead."
Artemis raised a brow when she heard him say it, "Amaterasu!" the black flames exploded from the center of Sasuke's single Mangekyou waving over the android as it panicked.
"Access-Access, Martian S-SuperCanary," sparks flew across the gym as Batgirl, Robin, Miss Martian, and Aqualad entered the room to witness the melting android sparking and going completely hay-wire as the black flames engulfed him completely and degraded him until he was slowly becoming a pile of shrapnel.
Artemis ran over to Pain's aid, "Are you okay?" She asked grabbing his arm and flinching as he screamed in agony.
"It's broken, I set the bone but, it'll definitely need medical treatment," Sasuke looked back at the burning enemy, "Inferno Style: Flame Control," with those words the black flames dispersed completely leaving a smoldering pile of ashes left on the ground.
His eye shifted back into its normal onyx black color, "Thank you," he said out loud; everyone looked in his direction as he managed to stand to his feet.
Artemis looked around, "Who me?" she asked scoffing at the idea, "You and Superboy-"
"If it wasn't for your arrow, I would be dead, so thank you," he dead panned placing a casual hand on her shoulder as Barbara watched and cringed.
"All things considered," he looked around at the destroyed gymnasium and the injured Superboy standing up from the ground, "I'd say we've found our eighth member."
…
Mount Justice; August 4th; 1:07am.
Sasuke, Wally, Superboy, Dick, Barbara, M'gaan, Kaldur, and Artemis gathered in the center control room with holoscreen's surrounding them with the reports of the battle at the high school.
Their superiors stood juxtaposed to them, Batman, Black Canary, Martian Manhunter, Red Tornado and Green Arrow all lined up listening to Sasuke's mission report.
"The Amazo android has been dealt with," Sasuke stated as he rubbed the sling he had wrapped around his arm, "But, Ivo escaped and since he originated the technology he's arguably more dangerous than the android ever will be."
"Capturing the professor will be a League priority," Canary spoke up, "But, we understand that your mission encountered other complications…"
They all gave each other similar looks of nervousness and some of confusion but, Sasuke looked towards the ground.
Batman stepped forwards slowly, "Complications come with the job, your ability to handle them has impressed the League."
Superboy spoke up, "The whole league?" He asked obviously referring to Superman.
"Given time, yes, Kryptonian's as you know have very hard heads," Batman shot Superboy a short smile before returning to his stoic look of seriousness but, Superboy's small grin didn't fade any time soon.
"And as for Artemis' interview mission?" Batman asked finally, as they all looked to Sasuke who kept his stoic expression, "How would you, as leader, say she did today?"
Sasuke turned around, as the team paved a line for him to walk passed them he put a thumb up in the air in response, "She saved my life; she has my respect as well as a place on this team."
He kept walking until he reached the Zeta-Tubes which recognized him immediately and allowed him to leave the Mountain base via teleportation.
Barbara narrowed her eyes as people congratulated Artemis on joining the team, which isn't what put her off to begin with but, her being accepted onto the team puts her closer to Sasuke which in turn puts herself on edge. She likes Sasuke and has for a long time now, it took her weeks to get real affection from him and in only a matter of hours she managed to get his full respect. Something about her spoke to him in a way that she never could, she wanted to be with Sasuke but, would Artemis steal her chances entirely?
…
Sasuke smiled in a large field where Naruto sat in-wait for him; they were both standing completely still, allowing each other to size the other up; Sasuke had his arm in a sling which was an obvious discrepancy but, he held something else above his head that moved the entire field around them with its wind.
"I was wrong about your missions," Naruto stated boldly, "They don't hold you back, they pushed you."
Sasuke's smile faded, "They all have unique attributes that push me towards my goal," He looked up at the fully-formed Wind Style: Rasenshuriken spinning above his head, "But, even this isn't enough progress to go toe-to-toe with Madara."
Naruto flashed a toothy grin towards Sasuke as the energy dispersed and he narrowed his eyes, "What're you thinking?" he asked in an annoyed tone.
"Have I ever told you about the Sage Mode, my friend?"
…
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