Chapter 23

Naruto returned to the base after his meeting with the mayor, having officially taken on the temporary role of Jump City's hero. The moment he stepped inside, Nightwing was already waiting for him, arms crossed but a relieved expression on his face.

"Thanks for your work. Really, I appreciate it." Nightwing spoke sincerely before pulling Naruto into a firm hug. He wasn't one for public displays of emotion, but the weight on his shoulders had lightened thanks to Naruto's efforts.

Naruto, slightly surprised by the gesture, patted Nightwing's back before stepping away with a grin. "No problem, it's what friends are supposed to do."

Hearing those words, Nightwing smiled, but deep inside, a small sting of guilt settled in his chest. I know he didn't mean anything by it, but that stings. He had been so caught up in his own responsibilities that he had sidelined the issue. He had justified it with thoughts like, She's strong. She can handle herself. But Naruto had reminded him of something important. Raven wasn't just another teammate—she was one of the pillars that had kept their team together through countless struggles. She had saved them, again and again. And he had let himself believe she would always be fine on her own.

Shaking off the thought, Nightwing motioned for Naruto to follow him to his room. "There's something important I need to ask of you. But first, can you make your clone hide its energy?"

Naruto tilted his head in thought. "Hiding is impossible, but I can make one with a very small amount."

"Can you make one now?" Nightwing requested.

Naruto quickly formed a hand sign, and with a quiet puff, a tiny version of himself—only about ten centimeters tall—appeared on his shoulder.

Nightwing activated the energy radar in his suit, scanning both Naruto and the clone. The readings showed that Naruto still emitted a faint signal despite his suit dampening it, but the miniature clone gave off nothing.

Nightwing's mind raced as he processed the results. That suit covered up his problem perfectly. His gaze flickered to Naruto's still-glowing form. The blond had been in his Bijuu Sage Mode since yesterday, just as he had promised. He was constantly circulating an immense amount of chakra through his body, adapting to the overwhelming power while pushing his limits. Even in his sleep, Kurama stood watch, ensuring he remained safe. His danger sense, sharpened by Sage Mode, was even beginning to merge into his base state.

"Good enough," Nightwing confirmed, deactivating the scanner.

"Can you make one in the shape of a spider with the capability to last a week?"

Naruto arched a brow. "That'll need a good amount of chakra, just so you know."

"That's fine."

Nodding, Naruto focused and crafted a spider-shaped clone, infused with the chakra levels of an average Jounin. It would easily last a week, provided it didn't enter combat.

Nightwing's eyes lit up as he observed the clone. "Perfect!" The lack of an energy signature meant it was practically undetectable, and the chances of any magician checking for it non-stop were incredibly slim.

Naruto smirked. "Okay, so what exactly are we doing? From the requirements, this feels like a spy mission."

Nightwing exhaled slowly, his expression turning serious. "I intend to let one of our teammates infiltrate the villains' side to gather intel and support our friend on the inside. It's a very dangerous mission, and I'm worried about her safety."

Naruto's expression hardened as he listened.

"There's also a minuscule chance that our friend might have turned—or worse, been brainwashed. One of the villain leaders is his father," Nightwing continued.

Naruto immediately understood the gravity of the situation. He was referring to Aqualad, who had gone undercover to infiltrate the Light under the command of his father, Black Manta. Only a select few—Nightwing, Wally, and Artemis—knew the truth. Their mission was to clear the Justice League's name and uncover the true masterminds behind the chaos.

But one slip-up could cost Aqualad and Artemis their lives.

Naruto leaned back, taking a deep breath. He could already see how dangerous this was. "I don't mind helping you out."

Nightwing smiled, relieved. "Thank you."

As he took the three small capsule-shaped clones from Naruto, knowing that this mission was about to get a whole lot more complicated.

The mission today was straightforward—protect the new communication satellite during its launch. The satellite was a critical step forward, designed to enhance communication between Earth and Mars. However, such advancements always attracted unwanted attention, and security had to be airtight.

Unfortunately, Superman and most of the main Justice League members were once again tied up in bureaucratic red tape. The galactic courts had strict regulations, and any interference from them could be seen as a violation of interstellar laws. The risk of escalating tensions with alien civilizations was too high, forcing them to remain on the sidelines.

In their absence, Superboy and Miss Martian took on the responsibility of handling the press. They stood before a group of eager journalists, answering questions with carefully crafted responses. With a bit of telepathic coordination from Miss Martian, they managed to guide the conversation, tricking the reporters into thinking they had been given more information than they actually had.

Meanwhile, Naruto remained inside the satellite, watching over the team as he ensured its safety. From his vantage point, he observed their movements, how they worked together seamlessly, covering each other's weaknesses and adapting to unexpected changes.

It was nostalgic.

The way they functioned as a team reminded him of home—of his comrades in Konoha, of Team 7, of all the missions he had undertaken with his friends. But it also highlighted the differences.

Nightwing, in particular, stood out.

The young leader was incredibly intelligent and cautious, planning several steps ahead like a skilled tactician. His ability to coordinate the team, anticipate threats, and adjust strategies in real-time was something Naruto deeply respected.

Naruto knew he wouldn't be able to replicate that level of strategic thinking for at least a few years, even with all the progress he had made. It wasn't just about intelligence—it was about experience, pattern recognition, and understanding how enemies thought. Nightwing had been doing this for a long time. Naruto was still adjusting to the idea of fighting in a world where enemies didn't rely solely on brute force or chakra-based techniques.

Perched atop the rocket, Naruto had shifted his form into that of a black raven, blending seamlessly with the shadows. His chakra cloaked him like a second skin, suppressing his presence while his enhanced senses spread out, scanning the area for any sign of an attack.

He wasn't nervous.

This wasn't his first time protecting a high-value target.

But he was curious.

How will this play out?

Inside the Bio-Ship, Superboy and Miss Martian kept a silent vigil, watching over the launch site from a distance. The air inside the ship was thick with tension, the kind that weighed heavily between two people who used to share something deep but were now divided by choices and regrets.

Superboy sat stiffly in his seat, his gaze fixed on the screens displaying the perimeter. His mind wasn't on the mission—it was on the woman sitting just a few feet behind him, the woman who had once been his entire world.

Miss Martian, on the other hand, sat with her hands clasped together, trying to focus on the task at hand. But the way Connor's back was turned to her, the way he refused to acknowledge her presence, it hurt more than she expected.

Finally, he broke the silence.

"You know, I'm really disappointed in you." His voice was quiet, yet heavy with unspoken emotions.

Miss Martian's eyes widened in surprise. "What? You're… disappointed in me? Why?"

She couldn't stop herself—her instincts urged her to reach out with her telepathy, to understand what he meant more clearly.

Connor's hands clenched into fists. He didn't even need to turn around to know what she was trying to do.

"You really need to ask?" His tone turned sharp, his shoulders tense. "The fact that you've been snooping inside people's minds—ripping out their memories like it's nothing—that's not enough of a reason?"

Miss Martian's expression hardened. "Is that it? My actions are helping the team. Why are you suddenly so sympathetic toward villains? It's not like I killed them."

Connor exhaled through his nose, finally turning to face her. His blue eyes were filled with an exhaustion that went beyond physical fatigue.

"This is why we broke up." He shook his head. "You are no better than Psimon. And don't tell me you aren't—because I know what you did, M'gann."

His words hit like a physical blow.

Miss Martian flinched but tried to keep her composure. "What do you mean?"

Connor's jaw tightened. "You tried to mess with my mind. You tried to change my memories."

The accusation hung between them like a dagger, sharp and undeniable.

For the first time, she had no excuse.

Silence stretched between them as Miss Martian looked down at her hands, shame creeping up her spine.

"I…" Her voice was barely a whisper. "I'm sorry, okay?"

Connor watched her, but the warmth she had once known in his gaze was gone.

"What do you want me to do?" she asked, her voice cracking.

Connor looked away, rubbing his face with a tired sigh.

"I just want you to stop acting so carelessly," he muttered, voice heavy with disappointment. "There's a line that divides us from them, and you're already leaning on the wrong side." He finally looked back at her, his expression serious. "Even now, are you sorry because you know it was wrong, or are you just sorry because you got caught?"

Miss Martian felt her breath hitch. She couldn't answer.

Connor shook his head, the weariness in his expression almost unbearable.

"You know… your actions have hurt me more than anything else in my life. And that's saying a lot, considering how short my existence has been." His voice was quieter now, almost resigned. "But even then, I just want you to fix yourself before it's too late."

Miss Martian felt something deep inside her break.

She wanted to say something, anything, but the way Connor spoke—it felt like this was the last chance he was giving her.

He could have reported her to Nightwing, to the Justice League. She could have been punished, maybe even expelled from the team. But he hadn't.

Because despite everything, he still cared.

Her vision blurred as tears welled in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Connor," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."

But the warmth she had once taken for granted was gone.

Connor ignored her tears.

And no matter how much she tried to test him with her relationship with Lagoon Boy…

She knew he wasn't coming back.