Chapter 38

After their shopping spree (where Naruto's wallet suffered a gruesome fate), the group set off to explore the city. The sun was shining, the streets were busy, and there was an energy in the air that made everything more exciting.

Their first stop was a massive arcade, the kind that had everything—fighting games, racing simulators, claw machines, and even old-school pinball.

Kara cracked her knuckles. "Alright, who wants to get their butts handed to them first?"

Naruto smirked. "You're talking to a guy who's literally dodged light-speed attacks. You sure about this?"

Kara pointed at a racing game. "Let's settle it here. Loser buys snacks."

They both hopped into the seats, gripping their steering wheels as the countdown began. Raven and Kushina stood behind them, placing bets.

"I got twenty bucks on Kara," Raven said casually.

Kushina grinned. "I got Naruto. Don't underestimate my boy."

The race started, and immediately—

Kara boosted ahead, drifting with ridiculous precision. "Later, slowpoke!"

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Oh, you wanna play dirty? Let's play dirty."

He suddenly cut a sharp turn, ramming Kara's car off the track.

"WHAT?!" Kara yelled.

Naruto cackled. "Outta my way, Supergirl!"

Kara respawned and went full speed, overtaking him in seconds.

Meanwhile, Raven and Kushina watched like they were sports commentators.

Kushina: "He plays dirty, but she plays fast. This is a battle of endurance."

Raven: "Honestly, I just want to see who throws the first tantrum."

In the end, Kara won by a millisecond.

Naruto groaned. "Ugh, fine, I'll get the snacks."

Kara smirked. "Don't worry, Naruto. You'll always be a winner in my heart."

Naruto gave her a side-eye. "That sounds suspiciously like pity."

"It is."

After the arcade, they stumbled upon a street magician performing tricks. He was pulling off classic card tricks, levitation illusions, and even pulling rabbits out of hats.

Raven watched with narrowed eyes.

Kushina elbowed her. "You okay?"

"This guy's aura is weak," Raven muttered. "He's all sleight of hand."

"…Raven, that's literally what a magician is."

But Raven wasn't convinced. She wasn't about to let some amateur impress her.

So when the magician called for a volunteer, Raven silently floated up to the stage.

The magician smiled. "Ah, you must be an illusionist yourself!"

Raven deadpanned. "No, I'm just better than you."

Then, with a wave of her hand, she made his entire deck of cards float in midair, separate, and form the shape of a raven before disappearing in a burst of shadow.

The crowd went wild.

The magician stood there, stunned.

Naruto whistled. "You just ruined his career, huh?"

Raven sipped her drink. "He'll live."

Kara leaned over to Naruto. "You know, she's kinda terrifying when she wants to be."

Naruto smirked. "Yeah, and that's why I'm never playing poker with her."

Next, they visited a cozy bookstore tucked away from the city's hustle and bustle.

Raven, naturally, disappeared into the fantasy section. Kara browsed the fashion and photography books, while Kushina casually looked through self-help books (ironically).

Naruto?

He found himself staring at the manga section like a lost child.

Kushina walked by and raised a brow. "You okay?"

Naruto held up a volume of One Piece. "…I just realized I never finished this."

Kara laughed. "Naruto, you are a manga character. Shouldn't you know how it ends?"

Naruto shook his head. "Nope! I was too busy saving the world. Priorities, ya know?"

Kushina patted his head. "Poor thing. Buy it, I'll allow it."

Naruto huffed. "Mom, I'm an adult. I can buy whatever I—"

Then he looked at his wallet.

"…On second thought, maybe not."

Raven snorted. "Broke after shopping, huh?"

Naruto grumbled. "I wasn't ready for the financial damage."

As the day wrapped up, they ended up on a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty.

Naruto leaned on the railing. "You know, for an alien, I'm surprised you haven't been here before," he told Kara.

Kara shrugged. "I never really had time. But it's cool, I guess."

Kushina smiled. "It's a symbol of freedom. Of hope."

Naruto nodded. "Yeah, I get it. It's like how I see ramen."

Raven groaned. "Naruto, you cannot possibly be comparing the Statue of Liberty to ramen."

"Why not? Both make people happy!"

Kara chuckled. "So what you're saying is, if someone knocked this thing down, you'd just replace it with a giant ramen bowl?"

Naruto grinned. "Absolutely. And I'd call it 'The Bowl of Freedom'."

Kushina laughed. "You are my son, alright."

Raven sighed. "I give up."

The sun was starting to set, casting an orange glow over the city. It had been a long, eventful day, but it was filled with laughter, teasing, and unforgettable moments.

As they stood there, watching the city lights flicker on, Naruto smiled to himself.

He had been through so much. Wars, losses, battles that nearly cost him his life. But moments like these—where he could just enjoy the little things with people he cared about—reminded him why it was all worth it.

Kushina nudged him. "What's up? You're quiet."

Naruto grinned. "Nothing. Just… glad we did this."

Kara smirked. "Well, don't get too sentimental. We still have to figure out where to eat."

Naruto perked up. "Ramen?"

"NO," all three girls said at the same time.

Naruto pouted. "This is oppression."

And so, with the city lights shining behind them, the group set off for one final adventure of the night—finding a place to eat that wouldn't leave Naruto broke.

The relaxed mood from their outing had shifted into something much more serious as Naruto and his team discussed the Reach's sudden public emergence.

Sitting in the Titans Tower, the group had been enjoying a casual night—snacking, watching TV, and bantering—until the news report interrupted their peace.

Jaime's expression was tense, his fingers gripping the armrest of his chair as he processed what was happening.

"I have no idea. They seem to be using a new tactic, so it's not in the data that I have. But the fact that our people accepted them so easily is suspicious. There is no way humans can trust aliens just like that."

Naruto popped another chip into his mouth, leaning back in his seat. His casual demeanor masked the sharp focus in his eyes.

"Agreed, that was suspicious. But it's a good thing they came out of their hole. We can finish them off now."

Bart, aka Impulse, raised a brow.

"Are you thinking of attacking them?"

Naruto's grin widened slightly.

"Of course. This is a great chance to take them out by surprise."

"What about the government?"

"What about it? We're already operating above its laws, so does it really matter? Especially since we're aware that they're being influenced."

Jaime exhaled, running a hand through his hair.

"Can't deny that... but, man, doesn't this feel like a slippery slope of crime?"

"We are just helping out in the most efficient manner. Taking it slowly will only give our enemies more chances to win."

Jaime hesitated. He understood Naruto's logic—the Reach were dangerous. He had seen firsthand what they could do. But if they went in aggressively, it could escalate the conflict in ways they weren't prepared for.

"It could also lead to a war if they use this action as an excuse to bring more of their people."

Naruto waved his hand, dismissing the thought.

"Right, they could have used that excuse, but we already have proof of their violent actions. So I'm going to act, and I need your help."

Jaime took a deep breath, before nodding. "If you're sure… then I'll give a hand."

"Me too! Me too!" Bart said with excitement.

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were against it?"

Bart smirked. "No way. I was just making sure you were aware of the consequences."

Naruto chuckled. "Well, you need to speed up."

Bart grinned mischievously. "I'm already closing in on you, so soon you won't be able to keep up."

Naruto turned toward the training area, his expression sharpening.

"I look forward to it."

Jaime glanced at Bart. "You really trust him that much?"

Bart's smile softened slightly. "The future was dark… really dark. But being with you guys, seeing how we work together, I think… we actually have a chance to make things better."

Jaime nodded, feeling the weight of those words.

As Naruto made his way toward the training room, he activated the communication seal on his neck—a seal developed by Kushina and improved by Raven.

Its range was massive—able to cover planetary distances—making it one of the most reliable communication tools they had.

"Girls, can you come to Training Room 1?"

Within moments, the responses came in.

Raven's voice was calm but laced with curiosity.

"What's going on?"

Kara's voice followed, sounding casually interested.

"This better not be another endurance test, Naruto."

Kushina's voice was playful and teasing.

"If my son is calling me, I guess it's something important. Alright, be there soon!"

Naruto grinned. With this team, there was nothing they couldn't handle. The Reach had made their move.

Now, it was time for Naruto and his team to respond.

As Naruto stepped into the training room, he glanced at his prisoners—Vandal Savage, Black Manta, and Deathstroke—all lying unconscious. Their capture was a huge win, but the real challenge was what to do with them now.

Jaime, still coming to terms with Naruto's rapid decision-making, was the first to break the silence.

"When did this happen?"

Naruto stretched slightly before answering.

"Just a few minutes ago. I destroyed one of the Light's bases and captured their members. Artemis and Aqualad are back with the team."

Impulse frowned, arms crossed as he processed Naruto's words.

"I think you should have consulted with the League before acting. It could lead to trust issues if you act so hastily."

He wasn't trying to criticize Naruto—Impulse knew he wasn't a hero in his timeline, and the darkness he had seen made Naruto's brutal efficiency appealing. But this was different from what he remembered, which meant it could have unintended consequences.

Naruto was silent for a moment before nodding in understanding.

"You're right. I guess I got too hasty and forgot about it. I'll talk with them."

It wasn't often that he admitted mistakes, but this was a blunder even by a ninja's standards. Sometimes, having too much going on in your head made you miss the small but important details.

Impulse smirked. "If they try to beat you up, I'm on your side."

Naruto chuckled, shaking his head.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

Before the conversation could continue, the doors slid open, and Kushina, Raven, and Kara entered.

Kushina had her arms crossed, her teasing expression clear. "What have we here?"

Raven's calm gaze swept over the unconscious prisoners, while Kara's blue eyes flickered with curiosity.

"Our prisoners," Naruto explained. "Do we have anything to keep them locked up without them being a threat? I want a seal that makes them absolutely unable to do anything except basic body functions. I want their powers sealed away, and some way to keep them fed without us having to do it manually every day, like with energy."

Raven immediately caught onto his thought process, her powers allowing her to sense his intent.

"You want to put them inside a pocket dimension?"

Naruto nodded.

"Yes, can you make one for now until we get better at this?"

Kara raised a brow, arms folded. "Are you planning to become a warden? Why not give them to the authorities or the Justice League instead of taking on more responsibilities?"

Naruto shrugged. "I've seen how loose the system is in this world. I intend to create a prison where criminals actually serve their time. No easy escapes. I also want to see if there's a way to reform them—or at the very least, ensure that justice is applied properly."

Kara gave him a skeptical look.

"I don't think reforming is going to work for these guys."

Naruto simply smirked. "Only time will tell. People change under different stimuli."

Kushina laughed. "That's a bold goal. I don't have a problem with it, though. The idea of an inescapable prison is actually smart."

Raven sighed slightly but nodded.

"Fine. I can create the dimension and apply a spell that lets them survive without food."

Naruto grinned. "Thanks, Raven."

Kushina tapped her chin, thinking. "As for the seal… I can make one that locks down every ability they have. If they try to go against the directives, they'll feel unbearable pain."

"Perfect."

With Raven's assistance, a pocket dimension was crafted, containing a moon-sized planet covered in greenery. Instead of a barren void, Raven had taken land from another dimension, making it a stable space for the prisoners.

"Empty space isn't good for the mind," Raven muttered, explaining her choice.

Naruto nodded in approval, then moved on to the sealing process.

Standing before the unconscious prisoners, he allowed Kushina to guide his hand using telekinesis. He carefully drew the seals on their chests, using his own blood—saturated with Senjutsu chakra and infused with the blood of Kara and Raven for maximum effect.

This wasn't just any seal. This was the highest-quality fuinjutsu ink ever used in history.

"Done."

The unconscious criminals were transported into the prison dimension, where Naruto left behind a towering guardian—a massive golem in his likeness.

The golem sat in a meditative pose, but it radiated overwhelming physical strength and durability, constructed with 20% of Naruto's chakra.

It would act as an unbreakable safeguard, ensuring that no outside force could disrupt the prison.

With the prison setup complete, Naruto turned back to his team.

"Alright, now that this is handled, we have another mission."

Kara smirked. "Taking down the Reach?"

Naruto grinned, bumping fists with her.

"Exactly."

Kara chuckled. "I was starting to think I was the only one who wanted to handle them immediately."

Naruto shrugged. "Guess we had the same idea."

With their plan in motion, the team prepared for the next stage of their war against the Reach.