Injustice Book 2: Darkness in the Light (Naruto + Young Justice Crossover)

Chapter LXXIX - Meeting a Wilson

"Normal Speech."

'Normal Thought.'

"Demon Speech."

'Demon Thought.'

"Other Speech variants."

Location/Time.

-X- Line Break -X-

Sunday 30th November, 09:00.

New Jersey,

Gotham City,

Gotham Heights.

Ducking his head to one side, Naruto avoided the upward swipe of Rose's wooden blade and gripped her wrist tightly so she couldn't bring it down on him. At the same time, he picked up the sound of movement coming from behind him and lashed out with a sidekick that Ted managed to block with a cross-guard. Even so, the force was strong enough that the older man skidded back.

However, when he looked away from his throbbing hands he reflexively reached out to catch Rose that was thrown his way. As soon as he did, Ted realised that it had been a cover-up, a disguise for Naruto's roundhouse kick that was coming straight for his temple.

Yet before it struck, it came to a stop mere inches from his head, a slight breeze rushing across his sweat-drenched face as he stood there panting for breath with eyes closed. Hesitantly he opened his eyes to see Naruto lowering his leg and Ted eventually released a tired breath, unceremoniously dropping Rose to the ground as he fell back onto his backside who let out a cry of shock.

"You've finally got the hang of it then?" Ted noted, sucking in deep breaths to recover. It was times like the past few weeks that had proved that while incredibly fit for his age he had long since passed his prime.

No serum, no powers, just pure human physicality and while Ted would admit to having accomplished a great deal in his life, he had finally reached his limits. His skills had never been sharper, but his body's strength, speed, stamina agility, reflexes and durability were deteriorating.

Still a dangerous threat in his own right, Ted could admit that he was just too old now. 'Though I think even in my prime, I would have struggled to beat Naruto as he is now. He truly has improved massively.'

"Yeah," Naruto replied, looking down at his hands as Rose pushed herself to her feet with a huff of annoyance at being beaten so easily, being dropped on her head was just the icing on the proverbial cake. "I struggled before but now, everything's just so clear. I finally understand what you meant when you said that I needed to hone all my senses to truly become a master fighter. I can smell your scent easily, hear the sound of your heartbeat, your footsteps, your breathing. Can feel the displacement of air against my skin as you go to hit me."

As Rose made her way from the two men, Ted nodded his head, he too had felt a similar way when he finally learned to fight in a similar fashion, it was a surreal experience. "Then you've done it. You've broken past your limit, you'll find that I have nothing left to teach you. The only way to grow stronger from here is experience."

"Oi, Naruto!" Both men looked to where Rose was sat on the steps, a bottle of water in her hands and a phone in her hand. "You've got a message."

"What have I told you about going through my phone?" He asked exasperatedly as he walked towards her.

"It's not like I know your password, you keep changing it."

Catching the phone thrown his way, Naruto look down at the message notification, it was from an unknown number. "Precisely because you keep breaking into my phone." Unlocking his phone, Naruto sat down beside her and read through the message. As soon as he did a frown came onto his face and Naruto switched it off, a long, drawn-out sight escaping his lips as he leaned back.