章 354: 16
Chapter XVI: Alpha Male.
Last Time.
"Where were you?" Superboy asked as Red Tornado explained he was on the Watchtower, and beamed to the nearest Zeta-Tube, and flew here.
He walked to the down robots before kneeling as Sphere dropped down. "The pulse wore down!" Robin and Kid yelled as Naruto looked to see Red's eyes glow red as he touched his 'Brother'.
"Run! They just infected Red." He yelled as Red Tornado created ones with his hands, and sucked the air out of the room, knocking the Team out.
Later.
"Kage, Kage."
Naruto woke up to see Superman stare at him. "Ohh... Please tell me you didn't give me mouth to mouth?" He got up to see Green Arrow, Batman, Captain Atom, Black Canary, Flash, Martian Manhunter, and Aquaman.
"What happened?" Batman asked as Naruto held his head.
"Two red robots infected Red to attack us. I saw his eyes glow red just as he touched one of them."
"You're sure?" Batman asked having Naruto nod.
"Yes, You've checked Red before, and knew he had any intent like this removed," Naruto replied walking to M'gann. "You OK?" He asked resting his forehead on hers.
"Yes."
He smiled before leaning back up and walked over to Batman.
Now.
Northern India September 10, 14:43 IST.
Three men each with a rifle were tracking a tiger before hearing a roar. The one in front with a mustache looked around. "Told you we didn't need a superstitious guide to track our game." He said before seeing a white tiger sniffing around a tree.
He aimed just as three metal posts came out of the ground creating a fence making the tiger fall with a yelp.
"Well... That's easier for us." The first man said before hearing a grunt.
Turning around, he saw a large black gorilla with a dark grey chest and face.
He's wearing a red beret and a green harness with darker colored circles and holding a mini-gun. The men screamed as the gorilla opened fire on them.
Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang!
Mount Justice September 23, 06:00 EDT.
Naruto looked at his daughter who's doing homework on the table. "And remember to double-check your work." He said as she sighed.
"Yes, dad." He smiled before walking away as Stephanie walked in. "Dad's so overbearing. You ever had that problem?"
"No... My... Dad passed away when I was young. Right before my mother died." Stephanie replied before working on her homework as Donna looked down, and decided to stay off the subject.
Miss Martian was kneading dough on the kitchen counter as several League members were fixing the damage made by last night's attack. She smiled when two hands joined hers and leaned against the person's chest. "Morning M'gann." Naruto greeted rubbing his cheek against hers as he rested his head on her shoulder.
"Morning Naruto." He leaned in to kiss her as Artemis walked in.
"Naruto... Could M'gann, and I talk?" Naruto shrugged before turning around and smirked.
"(Squeak!)"
Artemis deadpanned as Miss Martian let out a squeak, and her whole body turned red. "Really?" She asked as he chuckled.
"Can you blame me?"
He walked out of the kitchen to where Starfire and Aqualad were talking to Batman. 'Don't really know why... I let him know about the 'source'.' He thought as Artemis looked to M'gann.
"So... I've noticed you've been... Uneasy with Naruto while going out, or just couple stuff." Miss Martian looked down and shuffled on her feet.
"I... I just don't want to mess things up... I don't know Earth customs for dating. Kori is in the same position with her wanting to learn the customs better."
Artemis shrugged before replying. "Just be yourself..." She suddenly heard a yell making her turn her head, and miss M'gann stiffening.
They ran/flew, and saw Superboy holding Naruto in the air by his neck. "Let go of me Superboy," Naruto said calmly as the Team ran in.
"Conner! What do you think you're doing to dad?!" Wonder Girl asked as Aqualad, and Starfire stood behind Naruto.
"They knew we had a mole, and didn't say anything!" The Team looked, shocked, or hurt at that.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Robin, Kid Flash, and Spoiler asked at the same time.
Naruto's eyes glowed red before clapping his hands on Superboy's head having him let go. "Enough," Naruto said getting them to quiet down. "I'll explain after our mission... But right now Batman has something to say."
Batman nodded to Naruto before addressing the others. "Since Red Tornado's... Missing. The Team will be overseen by rotating staff from the League... Captain Marvel has volunteered for the first shift."
He looked back at a young, muscular, black-haired Caucasian male with blue eyes. His costume is mostly red with gold accents like a thunderbolt logo on his chest, a sash around his waist, and boots. He also has a white and gold cape over one shoulder. "I'm really looking forward to hanging with you." He said with a smile.
"Well... I feel young energy in him... Is that the ten-year-old that got powers from a wizard or something?" Naruto heard Kurama in his head as a large fox walked in.
"Yeah... If it wasn't for his adult body, and having joined the League. Lying about his age to do so. He would be on the Team. Although I heard he has a sister that covers for him at their hometown while on missions for the League."
Superboy glared at Naruto, Aqualad, and Starfire. "Once I dismantle Red Tornado.." He trailed off as Naruto glared.
"You're not going after him... The League will while we head to Northern India." Batman brought up an article about Gotham's Mayor being attacked by Guerilla Gorilla. "This is your mission."
"Was this the only thing they could find to distract us?" Superboy asked over Miss Martian's link.
"No... I chose this. This is involved with that group we've encountered." Naruto replied over his shoulder as Robin spoke up.
"Tell me you're joking?!" Batman just stared at him.
"I never joke about the mission."
"You never joke at all." Naruto deadpanned as Batman continued.
"I've studied the pattern, checked the sources, this is just one of many attacks. Naruto, you, and your team will depart for India." Naruto nodded as everyone walked to the Bio-Ship roughly brushing against Naruto, Aqualad, and Starfire.
"OK kids. You want to stay in the Ship?" Naruto asked making them glared at him. "Don't give me that look. Either sulk like the kids Roy thinks you are, or suck it up, and leave it until after the mission." He said as Artemis, Wonder Girl, and Miss Martian stopped by him. "Before you ask... It's the villains I never trust. They have truth serums and mind control techniques. I still don't have a way to protect you from that." Naruto said before noticing Starfire's depressed state by the Ship.
"Star..." He stopped seeing her sad eyes. "Look.. Don't let it get to you... They're just acting like brats because they weren't told anything." He looked to see Captain Marvel fly over. "You want to come?" Naruto asked as he nodded Naruto shrugged before hearing Robin's voice.
"Meaning he blames us for Red Tornado and doesn't trust us."
Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose before turning around. "Oh yeah don't think of it as going on a mission with the League. He's just been... Coped up in the Tower. The downside to having a lot of heroes up there is you'll stay at the Watchtower more than going down especially if you're new."
Northern India; September 23, 21:36 IST.
The Team landed with Captain Marvel. "OK let's go over the missi..." Naruto said but stopped seeing Kid Flash, and Robin walk away.
"It's recon. We know what to do." Naruto glared as Superboy grabbed Wonder Girl's arm.
"Come on I'll protect you." Wonder Girl pulled her arm away and glared.
"You're over-protective.." Spoiler pointed her staff at him.
"She doesn't need your protection." They walked off as Superboy glared at Naruto.
"Why didn't you stop them? You're in charge." Naruto walked to him and glared right back.
"Don't drag me into your affair.. I've learned to keep my mouth shut since I live with six women."
Superboy snorted before leaping off. "Did I miss the part where you gave out orders?" Captain Marvel asked as Naruto sighed.
"Aqualad, Starfire. Go with Captain Marvel, and look for anything suspicious, Artemis, and Miss Martian you're with me." They split up as Artemis looked to Naruto.
"I'm surprised you didn't lose your cool."
"As we flew here a thought came to me. I wanted to see if they could put aside their problems, and focus on the mission... Don't worry I've got a hell of a punishment for them afterward. Oh, and Miss Martian, link us up."
"Kage... Is it alright if I talk to Miss Martian for a moment?" Artemis asked as Naruto glanced back before going on ahead to give them space.
"Sure."
Artemis looked back to Miss Martian and spoke to her through the link. "OK, I thought I would give you some tips on dating. First is just be yourself, and let him know if you're not having fun with anything on the date. It's really easy to get Naruto wrapped around your finger."She said with a smirk as she glanced at Naruto's back. "Just give him the puppy dog eyes, or show a little skin, and he's putty in your hands."
Later.
Naruto jumped back as a larger than normal lion with muscles exposed attacked him, and the girls. "Damn Kobra fused, and they have inhibitor collars on!" Naruto said before one pounced on him. Naruto kept his mouth away from biting him before taking a knife out, hitting the collar, and breaks it. The lion stopped, blinked, and ran off. "That was easy."
"Girls break their collars and they'll leave!" Naruto yelled as Artemis used an arrow, and Miss Martian created several arms and ripped the collar off.
"Guys."
Naruto heard Aqualad's voice come up through the link about a problem until he heard the others bickering about the mole problem. Finally, Naruto gritted his teeth before snapping.
"ENOUGH! This is my team! Don't like the way I lead? Then when we get back you can go back to being your mentor's sidekick, and stay a kid while the rest will act like adults, and talk about this." After hearing them quiet down Aqualad continued.
"Captain Marvel's been kidnapped."
Naruto sighed before replying. "Any leads?" After a second, Starfire spoke up.
"There are tracks from a gorilla, and tiger leading into the jungle." Naruto nodded before giving an order.
"OK everyone let's meet up with Aqualad... Any objections, or have you finally grown up?" After hearing no objections, Naruto started walking. "Good."
As they caught up, they found everyone but Superboy looking at a small building with a metal post around it. "Anyway in?" Naruto asked kneeling as he turned on his glasses. "Guess not." He said seeing an energy shield covering the building.
"Any other way in?" Spoiler asked as Robin typed on his keyboard.
"No. There's a shield covering it from top to bottom."
"I see a switch by the door," Spoiler said looking through a small pair of binoculars.
"OK, Aqualad, go down, and use your electricity to create a hole for Artemis," Naruto ordered before Aqualad slid down, and quietly walked to the front of the building.
His tattoos glowed as electricity sparked on the shield, and Naruto saw a small hole just above his head open. "Now!"
Artemis shot an arrow hitting the button, and the shield powered down. "OK Go!" They ran down, only to stop as monkeys started jumping down, and attacked them. "Wonder Girl! Clones!" Naruto said as he and Wonder Girl crossed their fingers. "Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! (Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!)" Multiple clones of Naruto, and Wonder Girl came up in a puff of smoke as Naruto looked to the others.
"Take the collars off any that come to you!"
As they took the collars off, Naruto saw Mallah walkout, and aim his gun at them. Naruto threw a tri-pronged kunai at him, flashed over, and had a Rasengan (Spiraling Sphere) in hand and slammed it against the gorilla. Mallah went through the wall where Naruto saw Captain Marvel tied up to a table with a brain in a robot dome.
"Brain... I should have guessed you would be behind this." Naruto said pulling a bow as Starfire flew in.
"Is that a brain?" She asked as he nodded.
"Yes... Someone had their brain put in that." Naruto replied as the others ran in.
"Mallah." Brain said in a French accent.
(A/N: I won't do his accent, the 'Ze' instead of 'The', so please imagine that.)
Four posts came up around the Team having a shield push them to the ground. "Miss Martian, Superboy Now!" Naruto said through the link as Miss Martian's eyes glowed, and a remote flew to her.
She pressed a button just as Superboy came through a wall with bite marks and a large white wolf. Naruto stepped up, as the Team attacked Mallah, ran to Captain Marvel, and unhooked him.
"Thanks." He said before going to the other side where a tiger was lying on the ground.
He broke the collar having the tiger help with the attack. "ENOUGH!" Naruto picked an arrow out of his quiver and aimed it at the Brain whose 'body 'opened up with a red glow. "GET DOWN!"
The light went out for a second, and when they came back up, Brain and Mallah were gone.
Later.
Aqualad broke the last collared animal as Captain Marvel pets the tiger. "That's the last of the collars?" He asked as the tiger growled. "Good I'm counting on you to keep everyone in line." The tiger growled again before walking after the animals as he smiled. "I think I'll call him Mr. Tawny."
"The rest of the pack is still gone… What are you still doing here?" Superboy asked the white wolf that licked him.
"He seems to have taken a liking to you... Want to keep him?" Naruto asked as he smiled.
"Why didn't you tell us about the mole?" Naruto turned to Robin, who asked the question.
"The source was Sportsmaster.." He said getting Artemis to walk up to him.
"What!? You can't trust him!"
Naruto nodded before continuing. "I know. I thought it was just to divide the team with fake information.."
Robin sighed before speaking up. "And given how this mission went, he almost succeeded."
"Yes, but I also had to take into consideration there was one... And didn't want to tip them off." Robin sighed as he looked at Naruto.
"Hate to say it... It makes sense."
Naruto nodded before crossing his arms. "Yes... You'll do well to remember the League put me in charge for a reason so you follow my orders. And If I don't tell you something it's because I think it'll do more harm than good. The needs of many outweigh the needs of few. A true leader takes into consideration the needs of his entire city over the needs of one family."
Naruto finished before walking into the ship. "Oh, and for punishment for second-guessing my orders. You all are cleaning the Cave, and mowing its field... With no powers or I'll make you start again with toothbrushes, and an old rusty push mower." The team groaned after hearing their punishment. "Captain, you want a ride?" Naruto asked as Captain Marvel shook his head.
"No. I'm good... See you later." He said before flying away.
Fawcett City; September 24, 22:16 CDT.
Captain Marvel flew into an apartment where a middle-aged man was reading a book. "Well boy how did it go?" He asked not looking up as Captain Marvel walked to the kitchen, and went to the cookie jar.
"Awesome. The Team's way more fun than the League, and they go on covert ops missions that rock, and I got nabbed by the Brain."
"Sounds like you had fun sport but it's getting late, brush your teeth, and hit the hay." Captain Marvel sighed before walking away getting the man to clear his throat. "Forgetting something?" Captain Marvel smirked as he turned around.
"No just seeing if you're paying attention."
"SHAZAM!"
CRACK!
A bolt of lightning hits him and transformed him into a ten-year-old boy wearing jeans, white shirt under a red jacket.
"Bout time you got back, All the criminals seem to come out at once you're gone, Billy."
Billy looked to see a girl that looks similar to him with longer hair, wearing similar clothes but with a pink shirt under a dark blue jacket.
"Nothing you can't handle Mary."
Mount Justice September 26, 9:00 EDT. (1.)
"DON'T COME IN!"
Naruto blinked as M'gann, Artemis, and Stephanie stood at Starfire's room. "What the hell's going on here?" He asked walking up as Artemis looked at him.
"She's going through a... Puberty phase. Apparently a rare kind for her people... She doesn't want to come out until it's over."
"OK Star! Let me know when you're hungry and thirsty, I'll leave something by your door!" Naruto yelled at Starfire's door while hearing a faint reply from the other side before looking towards Artemis. "Artemis is going to skip the next mission, so I'll stay here also to supervise." He finished as Artemis blinked.
"What? Why?" Naruto smirked as he held up some books.
"You're behind on your homework."
"What? What about Steph?" Naruto shrugged as he walked to the training area.
"She's caught up. Dinah helps her prioritize her time."
An hour later, Batman and Captain Marvel stood in front of the Team. "The Justice League has analyzed your reports on The Brain's operation in India... And we believe it's only the tip of the iceberg."
Naruto brought up a map of a jungle and continued after Batman. "Common criteria in the Bwundan Jungle suggest the Brain has another Kobra-Venom operation up and running."
"And you want us to shut it down?" Aqualad asked as Naruto nodded.
"Yes." Captain Marvel smiled before walking up.
"Sounds like a blast! Let's prep the Bio-Ship, and go!"
The Team left as Batman grabbed Captain Marvel's shoulder as Naruto yelled at his daughter. "Wonder Girl!" She turned as Kurama jumped to her, and shrank down to a kit. "Take Kurama with you... He wants to help with his chakra." Naruto finished as she picked Kurama up. "And Kurama, check to see if Cadmus has any... Control over her if you can. If there is any I'll have J'onn go through hers and Superboy's mind to get rid of it." He finished before walking to Batman who's talking to Captain Marvel.
"Then there must be another reason for believing you belong with the Team."
Naruto looked to make sure Artemis wasn't listening before turning his attention back. "Is it because he's ten?" Batman quickly looked at him as Naruto raised his hands. "Kurama felt his energy, and it feels no older than ten, and we figured he was that ten-year-old you told us about. Didn't think he was on the League."
Bwunda; September 26, 20:11 CAT.
The Brain and Mallah watched the Team along with Wolf, and Kurama. "Oh, Mallah, the infants, they plague me... First India, now L'afrique. Have they no respect for science?" Brain asked as another voice spoke up behind him.
"No my friend, they do not."
He turned to see another gorilla with his head stitched up, ammo belts around his shoulder, and waist and a voice box across his chest.
"Like most of their kind, they fear simple progress." The gorilla finished as bubble came up in Brain's dome.
"Tragic but true mon Cheri Ultra-Humanite. What would you suggest?" He asked as Humanite narrowed his eyes.
"Simple... Summon Grodd."
With The Team.
"Miss Martian is the psychic link in place?" Aqualad asked Miss Marian who looked to him with a worried look.
"No, not yet. I thought you might tell me about Tula." Aqualad sighed before replying.
"M'gann this is neither the place nor the time..." He stopped as Miss Martian interrupted him.
"You need to get her betrayal off your chest, or at least off your brain. Before the link reveals your turmoil to the entire Team."
"There was no betrayal. One cannot betray what never existed. I never told Tula how I felt... Not until it was too late... I am not sure what I mourn more: The loss of love. Or the opportunity." Aqualad said as he looked down thinking of Tula. "Now please establish the link." He finished not noticing the larger than a normal gorilla in the tree above him.
"Link Establish." Miss Martian said as Kid Flash sped over to her.
"Babe if you want to establish a link I can help-!"He was interrupted by Spoiler.
"Wally! You know everyone can hear you right?"
Kid Flash smiled before speaking up. "S'okay babe. Wally never misses' an opportunity to advance the cause of true love."
Wonder Girl not liking Kid hitting on her new family member was going to speak up until Kurama in his normal size spoke up through their link. "Don't say anything. It may keep him from focusing on the mission. Wait for the best moment... Now back to the lesson. Since you won't access my chakra as Naruto can, you really just need to..."
"Basically you need me to be mad to use it." He finished as Superboy spoke up as Wolf growled.
"Um, does anyone else smell monkey? Cuz this jungle reeks of monkey, and I hate monkey."
Robin walked up to Spoiler and smiled. "So Stephanie. Enjoying the school year so far? Meet anyone interesting?"
"Enough. I know we're all teenagers but do we have to be clichés?" Aqualad asked rubbing his neck. "We must focus on the mission at hand." As he finished, Kobra-Venom-infused gorillas attacked them from the trees.
"They're not wearing inhibitor collars!" Wonder Girl yelled as she dodged a swipe from a female gorilla.
"Miss Martian Camouflage mode you'll be our secret weapon in case this goes wrong," Aqualad said hitting a gorilla with his mace.
"Acknowledged." She replied turning invisible.
Robin and Spoiler threw down smoke bombs as Kid Flash sped through, and hit something. "What is… This… Thing…?" Kid spoke before speaking aloud. "My God."
Miss Martian's eyes glowed before gripping her head in pain. "Not God... Grodd." A male voice was the last thing she heard before passing out as a gorilla dragged her off.
A grey-furred gorilla grabbed Spoiler before she hit him with her staff, bending it. "Crap that was expensive. Anyone..." She stopped not feeling the link. "Guys Miss Martian must be down. The link isn't up anymore." She said before getting a collar on her and was shocked.
The last thing she saw before blacking out was everyone getting shocked also.
"Gorilla City" September 26, 23:59 CAT.
"What happened? Where Am I?" Miss Martian asked before seeing the gorillas from earlier.
"Grodd happened Human, and Grodd demands your help." The Gorilla that Kid Flash ran into said telepathically before the female walked over, and helped Miss Martian up.
"Manners my love... Desire the human's help. We do not demand it."
"I'm... I'm not human, I'm Martian, Miss Martian." Miss Martian replied as the grey-furred one walked up to her.
"I'm not sure I understand. Our vocabulary expands rapidly but there are still gaps." He said as Miss Martian looked at him.
"It. Probably doesn't matter." She said before the grey-furred gorilla spoke up again.
"I am Solovar, the Alpha of this group. This is my mate, Boka." He gestured to the gorilla to his right. "This is Primat." He gestured to the gorilla to his left. "And this, of course, is Gorilla Grodd."
He went on to explain how an elderly woman and a young man came to the jungle killed one of them and replaced his brain with the woman's creating Ultra-Humanite, and the man removed his brain to a dome now known as The Brain. And how all but one of their group was captured, and experimented on while their children were held captive.
"Gorilla City" September 27, 00:00 CAT.
After Wolf came in with Solovar, they formulated their plan to save their kids. Later, Miss Martian went to a camp, transformed into a masked female guard, walked beside a male.
"You ready?" He asked as she nodded, and followed him to a building.
Later, another female guard woke up to them. "I'm here to relive you." She said to Miss Martian as the male looked at her.
"We just got here, and where are you watch partner?"
Miss Martian sighed before using her telekinesis and slammed them together knocking them out and transforming back. After opening the door she gasped, "Oh no..." She suddenly squealed seeing the sleeping baby gorillas. "They're too cute!"
Later, With The Others.
Robin got out of his cuff, and attacks as Wonder Girl broke her red chakra seeping out around her. "Don't touch the others without looking at them. This little won't burn anyone as long as I know who you'll touch to keep it. Dialed down." She heard Kurama speak just as Solovar came in, and attacked with Miss Martian.
Wonder Girl took care of the Shadow group that followed as the others took care of the Brain, Humanite, and Mallah. "Rasengan! (Spiraling Sphere!)" She hits one man having him fly back into the group before Miss Martian spoke up through the link.
"We've rigged this place to blow! We need to get out!" Everyone dashed out leaving Brain, Mallah, and Humanite to leave through a secrete passage.
Later, after getting the gorillas reunited, they boarded the Bio-ship and left as Grodd smirked as he saw the gorilla that didn't get captured leave. "The age of the old god has passed... Now the age of the new Grodd may begin."
Jump City; September 27, 20:00 PST.
A ship crashed landed in a forest creating a crater. The door opened, and purple glowing eyes came out of the shadows. A figure walked out showing a female Tamaranean with purple eyes, and long black hair. She's wearing a dark purple top, skirt, and thigh-high boots. Her skin from the top down is covered in a metal cover.
(Picture her from Teen Titans.) (2.)
She took a look around before flying up in the air.
To Be Continued.
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