章 373: 35
Chapter XXXV: Below the Surface.
Last Time.
"I cannot complete my work without it. I must have it. Everything depends on it. Everything." Naruto sighed at that before speaking. "Penguin is protecting himself with your weapons... How do we get past it?" Fries frowned at that.
"You think I'll tell you how to beat me?" Batman walked to him and narrowed his eyes.
"Because if we can't get past them. We won't get your suit. And you'll die. And what happens to Nora?" Fries frown again.
"Leave my wife out of this! Don't let this situation fool any of you. We're not friends." Batman pulled the cylinder off his chest and poured some of the chemicals out. "OK! There's an override chip on my suit! I made it to disable my weapons if someone stole them!"
Batman put the cylinder back on and left with Naruto. "Are we even now, Fries?" Frost asked as Fries groaned.
"After you get my suit."
She nodded, and followed the others as they ran to the Ice Age exhibition, and saw Fries suit on display at the back. "So that's the famous Freeze suit." Naruto looked back to the cop holding a rifle.
"Yep." Naruto broke the display, making several small tears on the arm of his coat, and pulled a chip out. Batman took it and placed it on a handle with a trigger on it.
"The disruptor. I'll take Freeze's suit back to him with clones." Naruto said creating two clones and had them take Fries' suit back before walking with Frost and Batman outside the room.
Now.
Gotham Museum, Arkham City; January 18, 20:55 EST.
"Ring ring. I was just remembering when it first occurred to me. It was about 6 months ago when you left me to die on that rooftop. As the bones knitted back together I had plenty of time to think. So how do you keep a secret from the World's greatest Detective? Well, do you know? It's easy. You stick it right under his long pointy nose and wait."
Kage sighed as Joker spoke over their earpieces as he walked with Batman and Killer Frost outside the Exhibit to see the ice starting to melt. Frost froze the waters again and kissed Naruto's cheek. "I'll help Fries get back to his suit and wait for you, dear."
She jumped over the balcony and created a bridge of ice to slide back to Fries as Naruto and Batman ran to the Iceberg Lounge. As they got inside, they saw Penguin at a table on a platform over the Lounge with Freeze's gun. "Hello Batman, Kage! I know it's you two! What is it? Finally grew a pair and come find me yourselves?"
They ran around the hall, evading the blasts from Penguin as they got to the walkway. Batman hid the disrupter as they walked up. "Go on; I'll give you this one for free." Batman hit the button having Penguin growl as the gun wouldn't fire. "Piece of junk!" Naruto dashed over and uppercuts Penguin over the balcony to the floor below.
"You're finished, Cobblepot," Batman said as Penguin looked up at them.
"No! I'm sorry! Please don't hurt me!" Penguin brought his arms over his face to protect it.
"I can't guarantee that," Batman said before Penguin pulled out a remote.
"Me neither," Penguin replied before he pressed a button.
BOOM!
Both Kage and Batman fell from the exploding balcony, fell to the floor, and fell through it to a basement. "Son of a-!" Naruto yelled sitting up with a small tear on the left side of his coat.
"I tried to help you two." Naruto looked up at Penguin as he stood on the edge of the hole that was made. "I gave you the opportunity to end this and walk away, but oh no. You had to be the big men. Well, guess what, from here you both look like really small ones." Naruto heard breathing behind him and turned around with Batman.
"Holy..." Naruto trailed off seeing a very tall man standing over ten feet, very muscular with grey skin, hair, and eyes.
He's wearing tattered clothes and is stitched up at his arms with a hole in his chest showing his ribs, and missing his lips showing his teeth and gums. Along with chains around his wrists with iron balls on either end.
Penguin hit another button having electricity hit the machine behind the man, and he glowed blue. "Don't look so sad. I've got a little surprise for you two down there." Naruto tensed as the man stood, and started walking toward them.
"Solomon Grundy. Born on a Monday. Christened on Tuesday. Married on Wednesday!"
"I found him down there when I bought this place. Comes in handy, don't you think!?"
Grundy threw a punch, only for the ball to stop him. Grundy wrapped more of the chains around his wrists before pulling them off the wall. He slams them down beside Naruto, and Batman as his veins turned green.
Naruto ran back and saw three vents powering up the machine keeping Grundy alive. Grundy attacked by swinging the balls around before Naruto jumped up in the air, and hit each vent with an arrow. They powered down having Batman quickly punch Grundy in his chest forcing him to his knees.
"Oh, you're asking for it now! Let's see how much that ugly son of a bitch can take!" Penguin turned the power up having Grundy's hair, and shirt burned before he attacked again.
"I got it!" Naruto shot three more arrows having them shoot out an E.M.P. blast, forcing Grundy to his knees. Naruto dropped down and added chakra to his arms as he quickly hit Grundy forcing him on his back.
As Batman got near, Grundy grabbed him and crawled to the machine. "Well, what do you know? You really can't kill that bastard!"
Grundy grabbed the machine with his left hand getting the chain stuck, shocking both him and Batman. "Rasengan! (Spiraling Sphere.)" Naruto hit Grundy in his chest, broke through the rib cage, and destroyed his green heart having him drop Batman.
"Hey!"
They turned to see Penguin holding a grenade launcher at them. "Just you two and me left! The Bat and Fox vs. the Bird!" Naruto just dashed over and punched him several times before throwing him up in the air, and slammed him on his head.
Naruto Hiraishin (Flying Thunder God) all of them to Killer Frost's location under the T-Rex with Freeze in his suit looking at Rebecca. "Where is Cobblepot?" Batman dropped Penguin at Freeze's feet.
"Well, look who it is, Mr. Fr-OW! AHH!"
Freeze stepped on Penguin's broken hand as Frost walked by Naruto. "That's enough Freeze!" Freeze didn't let up as Naruto spoke. "I said that's enough!" Freeze nodded before picking Penguin up.
"Indeed it is." He slammed Penguin against Rebecca's display, cracking the glass. "You will regret what you did, Mr. Cobblepot." Freeze took him to a display for Bruce Wayne and locked Penguin inside.
"The cure, Freeze." Freeze looked behind him, and sighed.
"There isn't one." Batman narrowed his eyes at that.
"What?"
Freeze lifted his hands, and typed on his gauntlet. He held his right hand open as a hologram of D.N.A. came up. "Perhaps I should elaborate. Creating an antidote for the disease the Clown has is easy."
"Unfortunately, the cure degrades too quickly. It needs a restoring component with some kind of restoration enzyme. Without it, the cure breaks down before it helps the host." Naruto saw Freeze change the D.N.A. with a familiar enzyme before sighing.
"I've seen that before." He said under his breath before Freeze continued.
"Finding a suitable enzyme is not the only problem. It needs to be adapted and bonded to human D.N.A. It would take decades... Time neither you nor the Clown have." Freeze finished noticed Batman's pale skin and dark veins on his face.
Naruto walked up to him and spoke. "I know who would have that... Ra's al Ghul. He has a pit that's been keeping him alive for hundreds of yea-!"
Naruto stopped as Rebecca broke out cutting her shoulder. "Master! How could you think of bringing an outsider to the great Ra's al Ghul?!" She asked before taking off knocking the Police out of the way.
"You're a fool, Kage. You let your only hope escape." Naruto raised an eyebrow as he stared at the blood on the floor.
"Nope. If Ra's is in Arkham City. We have a trail if I can't convince Rebecca to take us to him." Naruto scanned the blood as D.N.A. came up over the other stains leading out.
Frost kissed Naruto before walking away. "Alright. I'm done here. I'll see ya at home, dear." Naruto watched her swaying ass before shaking his head.
"Miss Martian. We're going after the League of Assassins." After a second Miss Martian spoke up.
"Why? What do they have to do with this? Oh, wait a minute. Is this about Ra's, or Talia?" Naruto sighed at that.
"We need Ra's blood for a cure to an illness the Joker and Batman have since it holds a key element."
"Okay, but be careful. You haven't talked to Talia since after-"
She was interrupted by Naruto. "I know but we need Ra's, or Batman will die." He heard her sigh before speaking.
"Alright Naruto, but be careful. Don't let her get in the way." Naruto nodded before they walked out of the Museum. "I won't."
Batman typed on his gauntlet before hearing Alfred talk in their earpieces. "I see you have sent a data request on the League of Assassins to the Batcomputer... Oh, and another equipment request. Did you consider a bigger belt, sir?" Batman nodded before speaking.
"I did. Too heavy. Slowed me down. Let me know when it's here."
"She went this way," Naruto said following the trail for a few blocks, climbed up a building, and jumped across another couple of blocks before stopping at a bandage with blood around it. Naruto leaned down to it, only to turn around, and grab Rebecca's arm. "Easy Rebecca... I just need Ra's help... Plus, Batman was the one chosen to take over for him before he focused on me... I guess either of us would be ideal for him now."
"But-"
Naruto smiled at her before speaking. "I'm asking as a friend... Not as a master." She sighed before looking at him and had her eyes closed in a smile. 'Crap, that's never good.' Naruto thought before Rebecca spoke.
"OK, but only if you can catch me."
Naruto sighed as she took off having them follow. She jumped across the rooftops, and up walls as Naruto and Batman followed. Rebecca backtracked to a building beside the church before Naruto tackled her. Two other women dressed like Rebecca dropped down. One with long black hair and the other blonde with both of their hair in ponytails.
Naruto heard a whistle and saw a bo-staff hit the other two down. Naruto looked to see a young teenage male with a muscular build and black hair parted in the middle in a different Robin costume. He's wearing a red and black suit with a stylized yellow "R" symbol on the left side of his chest, and long sleeves.
He also has black gloves and a black cape, with the inside being yellow and having a shape similar to Batman's cape. He's wearing a black domino mask. (1.)
"Robin. It's alright... They're not going to fight." Robin hesitated for a moment before having his staff collapse in the handle. "What are you doing here?" Batman asked Robin as Naruto helped the other two up.
"I'm sorry we didn't sense him, Master." The blonde said, having Naruto wave them off.
"It's alright Sara, Rachel."
"Alfred's worried about you," Robin replied before Batman took out a vile of blood, and gave it to him.
"Take this, get it analyzed, and start searching the hospitals and emergency rooms. Anyone with this blood in them will be dead within 24 hours." Robin looked at the vial before looking at Batman.
"Whose blood is it? Oh... It's yours, isn't it? I'll get it to the hospitals and come back. You need my help here." Batman shook his head before speaking.
"No, we've got this. You're needed in Gotham. Things could get worse. Much worse." Robin snorted at that as he walked to Batman.
"You think? If Strange really knows who you two are, what happens if he tells everyone or that Light group?"
Batman grabbed Robin by the shoulders and spoke. "Trust me. We'll find a way." Robin handed him a circular rope gun with two hooks on it.
"If you need me, you know where I am."
"I know. Now go!" Batman said having Robin jump across the roofs to where the Batjet was hovering.
"How's Jason doing as Robin?" Naruto asked as Batman put the launcher on his belt.
"He's doing fine."
Naruto rolled his eyes at that. "I knew he would... It takes some serious balls to try and take the wheels from the Batmobile."
"Is Barbara doing well in her role since Dick left?" Naruto asked making Batman nod before following after the women. Naruto jumped towards Joker's Funland as he heard Joker again.
"I hope you're doing your best out there Bats. Because I just had a horrible thought. We could both actually die here tonight. Fortunately, the odds are weighted in my favor, but just imagine how you'll feel if I'm gone? It's not like you're lonely enough, right? All that brooding. It's not good for you, you know? Do you have someone to go home to each morning? And I don't mean the kids you drag with you across the rooftops. I mean someone real, someone you can talk to?"
"I don't think you do. It's sad, isn't it? You do all this for Gotham and the only person you can rely on is... Me."
Naruto sighed as they stopped at a large hole leading to the sewers with dead Joker thugs in it. They dropped down inside, and Naruto brought his hand up to his ear. "Miss Martian, we're heading underground. Below the surface, Gotham is a maze of old steel and iron work. Our signal may get weak. Try and stay locked on."
After a second, Miss Martian spoke up. "Re-routing additional satellite coverage now. Good luck, Naruto." They started walking through the sewers noticing several ways were barred before turning left from a dead end.
"You're not welcome here."
Naruto looked behind a barred door as the wall was broken down. When the dust cleared, it showed a male crocodile/human hybrid standing at 9 feet tall and wearing only red pants tied with a rope.
"We're not here to fight, Croc. Let us pass." Batman said staring up at Croc who sniffed the air.
"Your scent... Is different. I smell death on you. I don't need to fight you, Batman... I just need to wait."
Killer Croc turned around, walked through the hole he made, and jumped down in the sewers. "I will feed on your corpse."
They continued down the sewers following Talia's guard who ran ahead and ran over to a broken tunnel. Naruto followed them as Batman used his line launcher to zip line over to follow them.
Naruto saw the women drop down to a broken bridge, and heard screaming as they killed three of Joker's men. Naruto dropped down and looked at them. "Must be getting rid of Penguin's men in the subway near here." T
hey continued walking the sewers before stopping above the subway at a group of Joker's men. Naruto dropped on one, knocking him out before dashing around, attacking the men picking up guns. Batman and the women dropped down and attacked also before Naruto slammed the last man on the floor, knocking him out. "Protocol Ten will commence in 5 hours."
Naruto looked at his watch and saw it was eleven. "Well, starting where everyone would be asleep is smart."
They walked through a subway platform, and Naruto looked around. "Well, this is where that jammer was."
Rebecca opened a door showing a hallway. Talia's group walked ahead as they jumped across a bottom hallway that was flooded. Naruto jumped ahead as Batman zip-lined over. They walked into another hallway to see a group of Joker's men talking on another platform. Naruto walked to the end of the hall as Batman stumbled, "Whoa. You alright?" Naruto asked while grabbing Batman.
"I'm fine," Batman grunted out as he walked down the hall.
Naruto jumped above the group before taking several explosive arrows around the floor.
BOOM!
The floor fell on the ground, knocking them out as Batman zip-lined over to him. "The women ran in here," Naruto said before putting a hand to his ear. "Miss Martian. It looks like Joker is sending his crew down to steal weapons from the TYGER guards."
After a moment, she replied. "That's not good. Those guys are armed with the latest military weapons. If Joker gets his hands on the stuff. Well, you know."
"He won't. We won't let him." Naruto replied before walking in. And saw Batman talking to a female nurse with tan skin and short hair.
"Strange is giving Joker the weapons... They also have backpack jammers that disrupt our Detective Vision." Naruto sighed before looking to the large room with a globe in the middle and downed men.
"Okay, they should be down there." He said seeing Sara wave at a door on the bottom floor.
Dropping down, Naruto saw a sign that read 'Wonder City' above the door before walking in. Batman fell to his knees and coughed up blood before standing up and continuing. They walked through three security doors before coming to a futuristic-looking city block. "This way, Master," Rebecca said walking to a large door and walked to a wall.
She pressed a spot in front of her, showing a small door. It opened up to reveal a spot that a sword blade would go into. Rebecca puts her sword through it and opened a secret door. They walked through a dugout tunnel and stopped at a ladder. Talia's group walked up first followed by Naruto and a slowly climbing Batman.
Batman collapsed at the top by a large gate. "Come on Batman. Don't die on me now."
Naruto put Batman's arm around his shoulder and helped them inside the gate and to a large door with two statues at the entrance. Several more women dropped down and looked at the Duo.
"Wait!"
Naruto sighed as Batman walked away from him. "Hello... Talia." Naruto greeted as Talia walked up to him.
She's wearing tight brown leather pants, knee-high boots, a short jacket baring her midriff, and unzipped to show a black tank top, with leather pauldrons around her shoulders.
"Hello, Be-Naruto." Talia greeted him while walking up to him. Before Naruto could speak, Batman walked up to them.
"I'm here to take Ra's place."
Naruto glanced at him before Talia spoke. "You wish to be an Assassin? Why should I trust this change of heart?"
Batman just stared at her before pulling his cowl up, showing his sickly face. "Do I look like I have a choice?"
She sighed before looking at him. "Are you prepared to take the 'Demon Trials'? You must show you are willing to take a life to save the world." Batman stared at her before speaking.
"I'm ready."
She glanced sadly at Naruto before nodding. "Then let the trials commence." She clapped her hands as she turned around having the floor behind her sunk to show stairs.
They walked down as Talia's guard saluted them with their swords when they walked past them. "Thousands of warriors have fallen in pursuit of the Demon. Would-be successors have proven to be nothing more than children battling the enormity of creation." Talia said as they walked down the stairs.
"I've seen worse," Batman said as he slowly followed.
"Nothing can prepare you for what comes next. Destiny will decide your fate." Talia replied looking at Batman.
"I won't fail."
She turned her head to look looked forward as she continued. "I've heard those words a hundred times. Let us hope you are correct." They came to a room with four of Talia's guards saluting. "Your journey begins through this door."
"Let's get started," Batman said taking a step towards the door.
Only to be stopped by Talia. "Are you sure, Bruce? Only one man has passed this ordeal." Batman stared at her for a moment.
"Are you trying to talk me out of this?"
She shook her head no at that. "Of course not. I just... I just want you to be certain."
"When the Blood of the Demon takes hold, you will be on your own." Batman nodded his head at that.
"Like always."
Talia let him pass before speaking "Then may the spirits be kind." Batman walked through the door as Naruto leaned against the wall. "Naruto... We need to talk."
Naruto rolled his eyes at that. "We have nothing to talk about Talia... You broke up with me, without telling me the reason why... There's nothing more to say."
Talia looked down sadly and put a hand to her stomach before walking over. She grabbed his right hand and puts it on her stomach. "Naruto... I'm pregnant."
To Be Continued.
週次パワーステータス
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