Chapter 6

The other Naruto flew in a different direction and arrived at the edges of Gotham City. The signal came from a simple apartment building.

There was nothing special about the place.

Normal people lived there and all that, but sadly for the target the life force didn't lie. Naruto transformed into a tiny form and slipped through the space left from the window.

The apartment wasn't big, just something that an average low end person would easily pay for.

It was in use and there were posters of celebrities and large collection of movies in the place. His target looked a normal man with average looks, black hair and brown eyes.

The man was sitting on the sofa and watching a movie called, Once Upon a time in Hollywood.

The whole setting looked so normal that nobody could guess the target's affiliation. Naruto took in the surrounding and without hesitation he took down the target.

His hand touched the target and seals covered him up, immobilizing him. With that done, Naruto looked him in the eyes and they entered a world of Illusions.

Naruto didn't want to alert anyone, not even one bit. People in the city were very jumpy and things could escalate easily.

Talking was fine and dandy, but Naruto preferred checking the background of a person before he started a conversation.

It was a thing he had been taught, never go in to a setting while being ignorant.

Always stay one step ahead. People should never know you entirely, but you need to always know them.

Without hesitation, Naruto infiltrated his memories and the target could give no resistance.

It was Clayface, real name Basil Karlo.

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Basil Karlo was the son of Vincent Karlo, who made cosmetics and masks for movies. Vincent told Basil that the secret to his success was a strange putty known as Renu, when applied to a surface Renu would allow the sculptor to mold that material into any look they wanted. Vincent was eventually fired by his production company because they discovered that Renu was toxic to human flesh and could potentially cause illnesses.

Basil grew up and became an actor twenty years later. He quickly became incredibly successful due to his talent and good looks. On the set of his film Metamorphosis he met Glory Griffin who would be his P.A. for the film. When the film was complete, Basil received huge critical acclaim and planned to move onto a film called Second Skin, as it reminded him of his father's old job. After Metamorphosis, Glory became Basil's personal assistant for all his films. He soon had an interview with the casting director of a Second Skin, and received the main part.

When he was driving back to his apartment, Basil received a phone call informing him that his father had been found dead. The shock of this news caused Basil to crash his car, disfiguring him. In a desperate bid to salvage his career, he began abusing Renu to preserve his handsome appearance. When his supply began to run low, Karlo intended to steal a bulk supply of the chemical from the manufacturing plant in Gotham City, only to be apprehended by Batman. Brought to the hospital to recover, Karlo's grotesque appearance was subsequently revealed to the world in news reports of the incident. His career was ruined, and his girlfriend Glory dumped him. While in the hospital, Karlo was visited by Batman, who told him he had a choice to make in who he wanted to be.

Karlo chose poorly and attempted to break into the warehouse where the police were holding his stolen stash of Renu. When police opened fire on the vials, Karlo was doused in the chemical, changing his entire body and turning him into the monstrous Clayface with the ability to change into anyone and control his body to become anything. He then attacked the set of the film he was fired from, but was stopped by Batman.

From that day he took a dive in to the cesspool of crime and became a real monster. He had worked with all the big criminals in Gotham and destroyed countless lives.

He had even destroyed the life of the woman that left him. He had doused her in the same chemical and turned her into an abomination. Unlike him, she couldn't control her appearance and become human.

She looked completely disgusting and most people would throw up at her look.

He left the woman and continued his criminal activities.

Recently he had been engaged with Poison Ivy as her strong man and husband. That hadn't worked out well and they had been defeated.

She left him, just like she left everyone else. Pam didn't really care for people and only saw them as pawns.

She had some friendship with Harley and that was it.

With that failure, Karlo had been captured but got away because of an attack on the Prison. He had been hiding and lying low since then, trying to see where he should go now.

His hatred for Batman was unbearable and he could not move on until the Bat was dead. His whole life crashing down was that things fault.

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With the memories read, Naruto stood in front of the man.

They were inside the apartment and Karlo had yet to realize that they were in an illusion. He was chained to the wall and couldn't move or change his body.

He was shocked at what was happening. He had just been watching a movie and suddenly he was chained.

How and why?

He couldn't tell how the intruder found him and for what?

The man was clad in black armor with red eyes. His form was huge, stood three meter tall.

It wasn't his physical height though, Karlo felt small in front of him. He felt like the thing could end him with just his mere presence.

It wasn't his first time feeling such a thing since he had encountered countless heroes and villains. He trusted his gut feeling and understood that he shouldn't mess around.

He may have become a monster and stupid unlike his human life, but he wasn't a death seeker.

"Who are you? Why are you doing this to me?" Karlo was still an actor, so it was easy playing the innocent victim.

"Stop acting, lies don't work on me. I know your history and your memories are like an open book." Naruto replied in a cold tone. They were all criminal scum that deserved death.

But, death was too easy. He was going to use them for his purpose until they earned freedom or they died.

They also weren't his subjects and not under his laws. Of course, that was before his arrival and now they will get their one and only reminder of the new rules of the world.

Naruto gripped his fist and Karlo felt the chains dig into this body. It was the first time in years that he had felt such pain.

His mud like body was malleable and allowed him to avoid pain.

Now he couldn't even change his body and stuck suffering like a human. Naruto stopped before the chains broke his body.

"That was not even one percent of what you deserve. Your kind deserves an eternal torment for what you have done.

Fortunately, this is our first meeting so you get to live. You will live as my servant and repay the world for your deeds.

I am your Lord. I am your Emperor from now on. Those are the only two titles you can call me." Naruto held his face and shook it while talking to him with a commanding tone.

It wasn't the first time he collected criminals to serve under him. His elite team had many criminals. It was quite normal in the ninja world. Expecting decency from a ninja was like expecting a good heart from a demon.

It was the reason why Naruto wasn't quick on the kill as it would go against his purpose of peace and harmony.

Though, once the warning was given then there were no second chances.

Karlo felt the grip on his face and hearing that tone, he knew he was in trouble. It looked like the Suicide Squad thing but with some difference.

He thought it might have been better to be stuck in the prison or with the Suicide Squad. The man looked like he would kill him, if there was even one mistake.

That was very strict for a monster like him and even Suicide Squad got some leeway in collateral damage.

But, there was no choice. He had to play a good boy until someone took this guy down or he would get killed now.

"My Lord, what is the purpose of this? What are we going to do?" Clayface asked as Naruto let him go. It was really degrading calling someone Lord or Emperor but he had to go with it.

"Hmmm, we are going to free the world from corruption and put a powerful system in place. I am the Emperor of Mankind, so it is my duty to guide them to an ideal future. You are not going to be meat bag following me around Karlo, as you are going to help change this world.

Are you not tired of this pathetic life style?

Hated by everyone, and hating every one. Living like a rat and not even getting the life of the average man. Is this what you really want?

Do you really want to continue this path until some other villains kills you, or the government does it or finally some hero snaps and kills you?

Where did your dreams of a luxurious and carefree life go?" Naruto answered him and spoke to him in his enchanting tone.

He was giving a second chance so he needed to start some change in them or they would just play along as henchmen.

His voice couldn't be denied since it was directly connected to the mind, and Naruto could cancel some natural reactions so that the target actually understood the message without bias.

Even the most straightforward and basic message could be corrupted inside the mind because of personal bias.

Hearing his words, Clayface was surprised as he didn't think that the man would care. He thought that the man would just act self righteously and not try to actually change him.

His voice and words were undeniable. They spoke to his heart. He was tired. But, his hate wouldn't let go of him.

He was stuck in a maelstrom of darkness and only sunk deeper into it. He might be slightly insane at this point.

"I want a better life. But, I can't forgive Batman. I can't forgive the people that gave up on me in my time of need. And, the world will never let go of my crimes. I have been branded and it will stick with me forever. This life of crime is better than getting stuck in prison for life. Or, does my Lord have a plan for my life?" Clayface replied honestly as he knew Naruto could read his thoughts and he felt compelled.

Naruto had already let him go and Karlo stood like a loyal follower, not taking any untoward action. It was fear that stopped his hand.

"Follow me with all your heart and I will make your dreams come true. You will be the hero of the world. You will live in luxury and you will own the entertainment industry.

Even I like movies, Karlo. And, I don't mind giving you that life. But, you have to prove your worth. You have a large debt to pay, so never ask for a reward. I will give it you when I believe you have earned it. This life will be dangerous and you will fight against everyone, villains and heroes.

But, in the end there is only success. You will be a living legend as my royal Knight." Naruto enticed him with a bright future and with his powers Karlo couldn't help but think of those things. The images were clear and the desire arose within him.

Naruto's hand was placed on his head and Karlo felt the world brighten up.

Just like Pamela, Karlo represented an element and had the ideal body to receive Naruto's power. The Senjutsu chakra bathed him and Karlo was changed.

His powers increased and his mind was healed from the stress and mental problems accumulated through his long life.

His human life had been stressful and after that his mind continued to break from his choices.

Naruto helped him make logical connections and held his bias back. It was needed for Karlo to understand that he was a sinner and not some victim.

Naruto controlled the memories and threw them at him in order while holding back his personal feelings.

With that Karlo struggled as he was bombarded by all his crimes and was reminded of his past as a human, and how he had become something that he looked down on.

He could see clearly how his personal feelings had destroyed everything. No one else was responsible. He did it.

He could have always made better choices and lived a good life especially since plastic surgery had come a long way.

Karlo couldn't even enjoy his new power up as the emotions tore him up from the inside. All the better choices came to his mind and all his mistakes stood out.

He saw all his crimes and felt them as Naruto pushed on to him the emotions that the victims would have felt.

Naruto had interacted with a lot of people so he had memorized all kinds of emotions.

Letting go of him, Naruto watched him struggle and cry with a cold look. Naruto held zero sympathy for him.

He actually enjoyed with sadistic glee when his foes and enemies suffered pain under him. It was a defense mechanism so that he would never sympathize with an enemy or feel bad about his actions.

Naruto never doubted his actions. He moved with certainty. He knew what was right and what was wrong.

He knew how to act in all kinds of situations, so he was never taken aback.

Karlo took a long time to get out of the rut where he felt like killing himself for what he had done. The feeling regret almost plunged him into the abyss of depression.

He didn't know what Naruto was feeling but the man had just watched him suffer through all of it. Sitting there like nothing was wrong.

He knew why he went through it.

He needed to suffer for his mistakes.

He needed to understand why he was here, since his belief was wrong.

It was the start of his path to redemption.

Naruto had told him that he wouldn't allow suicide and he would kill him for even one mistake.

Karlo felt deep regret for everything he had done. He had lost 15 years of his life.

He didn't feel break down from guilt about his deeds, but he did feel guilt now. He hadn't felt guilt since the early years.

Now it had all come with vengeance because he was forced to hear and feel the thoughts of his victims.

His Lord was cruel in his actions.

"I will leave you to rest for now and call you when I need you. You are not the only one under me and you will meet the rest later. And, remember never to act out of turn. Your death will be swift if you dare break my rules." Naruto stood up from the seat and gave him a pat on the back, leaving him with these words.

With that, Karlo returned to reality while Naruto was gone. He just felt empty but with those words, Naruto had once again pushed him to focus on something.

He focused on the goal.

He was going to be famous and loved. Feeling extremely lethargic, he walked to the bed and fell on it like a tree.

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