Cooperation

"Mr... Row? Alex Row? You have a visitor."

Sasuke sat up and blearily blinked his eyes as his visitor made his way to his bedside. "And how are you today, Mr. Row?" The old man from the night before smiled at him.

"Well enough." Sasuke nodded. "The pain in my side is nearly gone, and the nurse says that x-rays show the ribs are healing well. The leg and arm are still a little weak, of course, but..." he flexed them slightly, "They're giving me some physical therapy."

"Good, good, I'm glad to hear it," nodded Rev. McCay. "I must say I was worried when I brought you in and they listed all those compound fractures you had all over. Those are dangerous, you know."

"Yes." Sasuke had had first-hand experience of their dangers in the past week. Needles had been poked into him, parts bandaged up, other parts swabbed, some parts had tubes shoved in them (THAT had been embarrassing), and countless pills taken. This hospital had a very different sort of medicine than the kind Karin, Tsunade, or even Kabuto had given in the past.

"Well, it's certainly a relief to hear you're doing so well." The strange little man smiled and took off his glasses to polish them. "In a little while, I suppose you'll be out of here, eh?"

"Yes." Sasuke nodded. To be back out, with all limbs working again... it seemed strangely wonderful. Of course, his chakra would still be gone, but simply the ability to move freely without pain seemed enough of a gift right now. A thought occurred to him. "Where's Blind Pete... ah... the man who you brought here with me?"

"Him? He left a few days ago. Nothing serious with him, at least not like you. A cracked rib, nothing more. I saw him just yesterday, in fact, begging on the street." The reverend finished polishing his glasses and put them back on his nose. "I'll tell him you asked about him, I'm sure he'll appreciate it."

"Thank you." Why had he asked about Blind Pete? The man meant nothing to him, after all.

"I'm afraid I must be going now." The minister stood. "Sorry to leave you so quickly, but a parishioner of mine, Mrs. Whitlow, is in the cardio section and I ought to see her before I go. Good to see you doing so well. When you DO get out..." he took a small pamphlet out of his coat and placed it on the bedstand, "...feel free to visit me at Sunday worship. We're always open to new arrivals. At the very least, check into a homeless shelter of some kind. The streets aren't safe."

"Neither am I." Sasuke muttered, too low for the Reverend to hear. He disinterestedly picked through the pamphlet, but as Rev. McCay moved to the door he called out suddenly. "Reverend?"

The elderly man paused and half-turned. "Yes?"

"Why..." Sasuke struggled a little, "...why are you doing all this? Taking me to the hospital, paying my bills... giving me this..." he gestured at the pamphlet. "Just... why?"

Rev. McCay frowned a little in thought. Turning completely, he faced Sasuke and answered, "Well, the pamphlet is simply ordinary evangelism. Hasty evangelism even, I'm a minister and I ought to simply talk to you, but as I said, I'm in a hurry. But as for the rest..." He shook his head. "I'm not sure. I wish I could say I stop to help beggars all the time, but that's simply not true." His shoulders shrugged. "I really can't say. All I know, Mr. Alex Row, is that I think God has put you in my path for a reason. The least I can do is see it through."

Sasuke frowned. "And... why would you do that?"

"I'm a minister," chuckled the man. "Helping and understanding people is part of the job description. Or should be, anyway. We all have our little roles to play, Mr. Row, and personally, I believe that part of my role was to help you recover for the last week or so. I hope to see you again, I probably shan't, but in any case, I feel I have fulfilled my little part in this world simply by helping you."

---------------------------

"Hey, can I help you with something?"

Neji turned to the red-caped superhero in the doorway. "Me? Not particularly. Why do you ask?"

With a little laugh, Superman entered the room. "It's just not normal for people to spend several hours in the monitor womb like this. Well, Batman does it sometimes, but..."

"I enjoy seeing things." Neji answered, turning back to examine the screens. "Or at least, I am trained to observe and felt I should acquaint myself with the observation system in this facility."

"Oh really? What for?"

"I like knowing my surroundings," shrugged Neji, not turning from the screens.

"Mm." Superman chewed his lip for a moment before asking, "Say, how'd you get in here, anyway? It's supposed to be off limits."

"Green Arrow let me in."

A faint expression of frustration crossed Superman's face. "Right. You're training with him. How's that going?"

"Well enough." Neji shrugged. "He's been teaching me how to shoot." A jerk of his head indicated a bow and quiver of arrows leaning against the console beside him. "Archery isn't unheard-of in the Hyuuga clan but it is perhaps a trifle... underdeveloped. In any case it should balance out my short-range specialization."

Superman simply nodded. For a moment the two fell silent.

"Perhaps there is something you could explain to me," said Neji finally. Turning, he gestured to a bank of screens. "These monitors keep an eye on world events... floods, earthquakes, appearance of random demi-gods..."

"Yes." Superman nodded. "The Watchtower is linked into most of the major news venues and an extensive satellite network that monitors events worldwide. It's how we manage to respond in time. Several nations have expressed reservations about..."

Neji waved irritably. "I understand all that. It's a very comprehensive system, very fascinating. What I was more interested in was this." He pointed.

Superman looked. A number of news reports, articles, and satellite feeds had been collected on the screen in question. Civil War in Sudan. Genocide in Burma. Riots in Libya. Thousands of small internal conflicts in thousands of different third-world states.

"As far as I can tell, no League members were dispatched to any of these." Neji's voice was quiet in the womb. "All involved massive loss of life and great upheaval. Yet no League action has been taken." He turned and stared at Superman. "Why?"

Superman reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's a bit... complicated..."

"I fail to see what could be 'complicated' about it." Neji answered. "You told me you are an apolitical organization, with no outside loyalties. Essentially, then you do only what you wish to do, submit only to those laws with which you agree. You are bound by nothing and obey no one. The only answer, then, can be that you do not wish to."

"It's... no. That's not it." Sighing, Superman gazed up at the ceiling. "Look. Can I sit down?"

Neji shrugged. "It's your tower. Do as you see fit."

Sighing again, Superman pulled back a chair and sat down, next to Neji. "Okay, for some of those places, it's a question of national sovereignty. They don't want us there, so we don't bother them."

"Instead, you leave the governments free to continue massacring their people." Neji nodded. "I see."

"We can't force the world to fit our mold. Even if we violently disagree with how a nation or group of people handle their affairs, we can't just go in there and 'fix' them as we see fit." Superman's voice betrayed his doubt.

"But surely that is what your organization is all about." Neji frowned. "You are already meddling in the affairs of the government, your government. You do not submit to their control, but you nonetheless dictate to their armies and law-enforcement. Do you not have a direct line to the president in this very base?"

"Yes... to be there if he needs us. The president dictates to us, not the other way around," protested Superman.

Neji's eyebrows arched upwards in mock surprise. "You follow his orders then? I was under the impression that you had no political affiliation. Then too, why does the League not assist in armed conflicts? Is war somehow less heroic?"

"No. The League itself has been involved more than once in interstellar warfare. But again, in national and political affairs..."

"You do not involve yourselves. Right." Neji sighed. "Instead, you allow organized criminals to continue while failing to pledge loyalty to any sort of organized authority structure."

"We're not global police. We're global defenders."

"I fail to see the difference."

Superman let out a long, level sigh and let his head drop into his hands. For a moment, he stared at the floor in silence.

"You know what it's like to see everything." He began.

Neji frowned. "I fail to see what..."

"But could you imagine what it's like to HEAR everything?" Superman looked up at him. "Just sitting in this room, Neji, I can hear a car accident, ten miles away. I can hear the bone crunching. Fifteen miles away in another direction, there's an armed robbery at a bank. There are seventeen people being held hostage. I can hear them all. Five miles from here, a cat is stuck in a tree. It's yowling. Loudly. All this is happening, while I'm sitting here talking to you. Nearly five people have died in the course of our discussion."

Neji blinked.

"I could have saved them all. And fifteen years ago, when I first came to Metropolis, I would have. My first year in the big city, I nearly went crazy trying to be everywhere, do everything, save everyone." Superman held Neji's gaze. "And do you know what happened?"

Unable to offer any sort of reply, Neji simply shook his head.

"The accident rate tripled. Or rather, the attempted accident rate." Superman gave a light little snort. "The people of Metropolis started to stop caring about safety, because they had the ultimate safety net—me. Some even deliberately endangered themselves for a chance to be rescued by the Man of Tomorrow." Superman closed his eyes. "Except... not all of them were."

"Because you stopped saving them?" Neji asked.

"No! Or yes, partly, but only because I was busy saving them from other things." Superman grimaced. "See, this was around when the super-villains started showing up."

Nodding, Neji rubbed his chin. "I... think I begin to see."

"Then you're faster than me," chuckled Superman ruefully. "I didn't, not for several years. It took me a while to appreciate what the super-villains forced me to do. They forced me to stop saving everyone, and in turn forced the people of Metropolis to start being careful again."

Superman returned his gaze to Neji. "The Justice League doesn't interfere in global matters because we're too powerful to do so. If I were to support my country in whatever war they chose to fight, they could fight wars utterly without consequence. If it chose to dictate national policy, the Justice League could rule the world. In some dimensions, we have." A troubled look crossed his face. "But we don't, because that's not our job. Our job is to fight the battles ordinary people can't, so they can deal with the smaller problems themselves."

"Interesting," mused Neji. He said nothing for a few moments, then shook his head. "No. I understand your course better now, but it is still one I cannot condone. As a servant of my village, I cannot only fight those battles I see fit to do so. Larger matters are at stake than just my ego. It is my duty, as a part of the village, to fight for the village." He looked at Superman meaningfully. "Similarly, as part of your country, it should be part of your duty to fight for that country."

Superman smiled. "I like to think of myself more as a part of the world, or even part of humanity, than as part of a single nation."

"Except from what I understand, you are neither."

"Leaving me free to choose my allegiances," shrugged the Kryptonian. "If we go by birth, than technically I guess I'm not part of this world at all. In which case, my own conscience is the only guide I have."

Neji snorted. "A weak and fickle guide." Getting up from the chair, he brushed off his pants and made for the door. "I have training with Batman to attend. Thank you regardless for your explanation."

"Anytime." Superman shrugged. "And Neji? Perhaps if our world was totally populated with people like me, I might agree with you. But because of my power..." Superman shrugged. "...I can't choose sides. It'd completely unbalance things."

Neji grunted and left.

---------------------

"What can you tell me about chakra in items?"

Sakura sighed. "Well, chakra-enhanced material is not unknown. Special metals, for instance, and element-testing paper. But that requires years of preparation."

"And resources you probably do not possess." Shino raised an eyebrow at the man at the computer panel. "Terrific-san, this seems a poor time to question us. Why? Because I think you will find it hard to focus on our information and on the coordination of...." Shino pointed at one of the myriad screens behind the scientist, "...the rescue effort in Thailand."

"There you are mistaken, Aburame-san. The rescue effort, though very important, is merely administrative work." Terrific gave a little chuckle. "I could probably do it in my sleep by now."

"Indeed." Shino studied the screens thoughtfully. "Terrific-san, if you do not object to my saying so, you seem a most unusual member for this 'League of Justice.' You are... different. Less combat-oriented"

Terrific shrugged. "I hold five black belts and have a rudimentary knowledge of various martial arts. But yes, I suppose I am a bit unusual."

"I am at a loss to understand how you came to join them. From what I understand, your group is entirely voluntary, but has a stress level that only the most dedicated can survive. However, though your devotion is obvious, your stress is not. Such behavior puts me in mind of the kikasi bug of the..."

"What Shino means..." Sakura interrupted her fellow rookie with a look, "...is that you seem more suited to... a civilian life of some kind. Not really something like this."

"The League has many civilians who work for them." Terrific pointed out, gesturing to the technicians in the room below.

"Yeah, but you're not one of them." Sakura countered. "You're one of their 'heroes.' You were one before the League. You don't work for them, you ARE... them."

"I am ONE of them." Terrific corrected absentmindedly. "And yes."

"Why?"

This question did not receive an immediate reply. Terrific drummed his fingers on the desk and made a few adjustments to his figures on the screen. "Terry Sloane." He said finally. "A man called Terry Sloane."

Sakura frowned in thought. "Have we... met him?"

"I doubt it. He died years ago. Few people have even heard of him. He was the first Mr. Terrific, made the suit and the slogan. His example inspired me."

"What, you knew him?"

"Not... as such." Terrific's frown could be seen in the mirror of the screen. "I knew his story, of course, but... it never really hit me, until a... well, I guess I'd call it a hallucinatory episode brought it back to me."

Shino raised both his eyebrows. "Hallucinatory episode?"

"It was a... difficult period for me." Terrific's voice had just the slightest hitch to it. "My wife and... well, she was going to have a child... they..." He cleared his throat and gave his head a short jerk of apology. "A simple accident. It could have happened to anybody. It probably has."

Sakura and Shino said nothing.

"In any case, a difficult time." Terrific's face was fixed stonily on the screens before him. "I was going through all number of things... drinking, depression, nervous breakdowns... thought about suicide for a while..." he shrugged. "Hallucinatory episodes were just another bump in the road."

There was another long silence. Finally Terrific cleared his throat and resumed. "Anyway. Inspired by Terry Sloane, I broke up my company and became the new Mr. Terrific. When Superman formed the Justice League, I joined as soon as I could and applied my skills to the organization." He managed to crack a smile. "To be honest, I prefer working in the Justice League to doing solo work. Tactics and administration are more my specialty than hand-to-hand combat."

Sakura swallowed. "I'm so sorry about your..."

"What exactly do you do here?" said Shino quickly. Despite his social ineptitude, Shino knew a stoic façade when he saw one and understood perfectly that Terrific did not wish to discuss his past any further.

Terrific shrugged again. "All manner of things. Mission assignments, risk analysis, tower maintenance, scientific studies, working out timetables and budgets, hiring new technicians, coordinating international efforts... Things like that."

"And again, I must say what I did before. This seems an unusual role for a superhero. You could perform it just as well as a civilian."

"In many ways, a superhero IS a civilian, albeit a highly talented one dressed up in a fancy costume. Intelligence and administrative knowledge is a power just like any other. Indeed, I might say it is THE power, to be able to supervise the inner workings of a team. Superman could not do what I do, just as I could not do what Superman does." Half-turning, Terrific offered them a lopsided grin. "Contrary to popular belief, all men are NOT created equal."

Shino's brow wrinkled. "I beg your pardon?"

Terrific sighed and turned back. "Forget it. Isolated historical reference, reflecting an important humanistic principle of the 17th century. Actually, it's talking about legal rights, not capabilities, so the example doesn't particularly apply, especially as Superman isn't exactly..." Terrific shook his head, clearing the thought. "Never mind. In any case, the point stands that all men have different talents. And, in a civilization, where there are many roles to fill, those talents have to match up with those roles."

"Like a hive." Shino nodded.

"Or a village," Sakura sent her teammate what she hoped was an admonishing look. Could he make any NON-creepy metaphors?

Terrific's eyes blinked twice as he processed this. "Yes, very much so. Hyuuga Neji was born with a very different set of talents than either of you. Just as you were born with a very different set of talents than he. Naturally, each of you will be suited for different roles."

"Well... yes." Shino frowned. "That is basic administration."

"But someone needs to do the administering. You could have something like the caste, or feudal system, where you assume everything depends on genetics, but an administrator is a much more flexible and sure method of assigning talents to roles." Terrific inclined his head modestly. "And that's me. It is not, perhaps, the most glorious position, but just because the agent's unseen doesn't mean it's not important."

--------------------

"Naruto?" Neji blinked as he recognized the teen on the edge of light. "What're you doing here?"

Naruto's gaze did not stray from the fighting ring in the centre and the green-and-black forms battling across it. "Superman says I should try to learn more control. He said Batman could help." He glanced over at Neji. "What're you here for?"

Neji snorted and crossed his arms. "Batman finds the Hyuuga style intriguing and wishes to practice against it. I have also gained much insight from my bouts with him and Robin."

"Geez." Naruto's eyebrow climbed upwards. "You, me, Lee... how many guys is this psycho training?"

"Master Inuzuka also drops by here on occasion," intoned a respectful voice behind them. The two turned to behold a refined-looking elderly man, carrying a tray. "However, that is merely to supplement his fuller training with Bwana Beast. Similar to your own situation, I would imagine. Master Rock is the only one of you Batman is fully training." He proffered the tray. "Biscuits?"

Naruto shrugged, grabbing one and stuffing it in his mouth. Neji studied the man. "You are Batman's servant, I take it?"

"His butler," nodded the man.

"Mm." Neji took a biscuit, bowing in thanks. "My name is Hyuuga Neji. And yours?"

The man smiled. "Alfred will do." Crossing past them, he set the tray down on the Batcomputer and began to dust off the chair. "Pardon me while I take advantage of the little time while Master Bruce is NOT seated in front of this machine."

"I was not aware the League employed indentured servants," commented Neji, still studying the butler.

"They do not, master Hyuuga. I am the Batman's personal butler." Squinting at a finger-smudged screen, the butler produced a cloth and spray bottle from practically thin air and began to clean. "I have served Master Wayne for many years."

"Is this a family thing?" Neji raised an eyebrow.

The butler paused. "I suppose it is, in a way. My father served the Waynes, and I in my turn inherited his position."

"What did you do before this?" asked Naruto, his mouth full of biscuit.

Alfred shrugged, his attention fixed on the computer. "Oh, I dabbled in the theatre, I took some medical lessons... this and that. For a short period I was in the military."

"You were in the army?" Naruto's eyebrows arched in amusement. "Dude! What kind?"

"Special forces." The butler frowned at the smudges on the screen. "Gracious, what MADE these?"

"Special Forces?" Naruto practically cackled. "You? Oh, that's awesome. Why'd you ever leave?"

"To serve as master Bruce's butler." Alfred paused and amended. "Well, Master Thomas' butler. Then Master Wayne's guardian. Then..."

"You gave up a life in like, jounin-level missions to dust computers?" Naruto shook his head disbelievingly. "I don't buy it, man."

"Some people have respect for the positions of rank." Neji reminded his friend, a touch too forcefully.

"Indeed they do." The butler turned to look at them, eyeing Neji with particular curiosity. "But I also tired of the war. I was good at it, in my own way, but... well, the life was not for me. I am happy here."

"Seriously?" Naruto guffawed. "You're happy serving as the unknown underling to a grouch who barely acknowledges you?"

Neji closed his eyes. While Naruto's thick-headedness could be an asset in combat, at times he really wished his friend would gain a more tactful side.

For a long moment, Alfred simply studied Naruto with calm, implacable eyebrows. Then he sighed and set down his cloth and bottle. "Do you see that man, out there?" He pointed at the dueling combatants in the ring. "He is a man who has fought with alien warlords and demon princes. He is a man whose actions have shaped the course of nations and saved the world more times than I care to count." Turning to look at the Batman, he stood ramrod straight at attention. "It is an honor, and more, to serve such a man."

"But he doesn't acknowledge you!" Naruto insisted. "No one does! Why go carting around biscuit trays when you could be out fighting and changing the world yourself?"

"Because I prefer it this way." Alfred shot the boy an almost disdainful look. "Not all of us need praise, Master Uzumaki. And whatever you might think, Master Wayne is grateful for my service, in his own way. At the end of the day, the warrior needs a sanctuary to come home to, and an aide to support him in his times of trial. It is my privilege, and my honor, to be such an aide, and to maintain such a sanctuary."

"It is like Iruka-sensei," supplied Neji, seeing Naruto opening his mouth again. "Do you think HE would like to be Hokage?"

Naruto's mouth clapped shut and he stood frowning.

Alfred offered Neji a small nod. "I do not know who this 'Iruka' chap is, but thank you for understanding, young man."

"It's nothing." Neji waved the thanks away. "You remind me of a superior of mine. I am curious, though... have you ever wished to be more than a mere servant?"

Alfred's lidded gaze glanced into the darkness of the cave. "There are servants, sir, and then there are BUTLERS."

"Yes, but..."

"He already is." Batman's voice rang out. The others turned to see him standing on the edge of the ring, an exhausted Lee collapsed on the mat. "Alfred is much more than a butler. He is a friend."

Without even blinking, Alfred offered the vigilante a stiff bow. "Thank you, sir. Would you care for some lemonade, sir?"

"Not now, Alfred." Batman turned around. "Again, Lee!"

--------------------------------

"Excuse me... here's something new they just handed me." The microphone went silent for a moment. "The evacuation from Thailand has been completed, and the facility responsible for the devastation has been stabilized. The Justice League plans to work with local authorities and relevant UN forces to secure the region."

"Miss, were any of the ninjas involved in this operation?"

"The report says that Akimichi Chouji and U-uzumaki N-naruto were crucial in the rescue of the miners and villagers." The woman's stutter was just barely noticeable, but it was there.

"Miss, what about rumors that the ninja Uzumaki Naruto was responsible for generating the crisis? Is it true he was the initial cause of destabilizing? Is..."

The figure at the podium raised a hand to forestall the rising babble of questions. "The facility was using a highly experimental, highly illegal, and highly unsafe geothermal power generation device. That device is the direct cause of the current crisis." Pausing for effect, she added, "It is true that the device was damaged in the League's battle for control of the island, but it is unknown whether that damage is related to the island's seismic activity, and if so, who was responsible for the relevant damage."

"Will the League be investigating further into this matter?"

"Now that the crisis has passed, there is no need for League involvement. The relevant authorities, of course, will be performing their own investigation, and doubtless they will inform the world of their findings."

Lois, from her position behind the curtain, snorted lightly. Doubtless.

"Is that all? Thank you then! Have a good day!"

The sound of scraping chairs filled the atrium, accompanied by the mutter of reporters and the flash of cameras. Lois grinned as the dark-haired lady came back behind the curtain. "Dang it, girl, I gave you some pointers, but you were GOOD out there!"

Hinata blushed lightly as she undid the ponytail. "I ha-have always been taught in d-diplomatic relations as p-part of my role as clan h-heiress."

"Aaaaand there's that stutter back." Lois frowned. "You know, for most people, getting in front of a crowd would make that thing worse."

"O-oh... crowds are n-no trouble. Th-they're just people. I d-don't even know m-most of them and th-they don't really care about what I'm saying anyway. A-and speeches... I d-don't have to think of what t-to say with speeches. Th-they're just f-formulas, you just fill in the... the blank."

Lois' mouth twisted in a smirk. "Ha! That's what I've been saying about political press conferences for years! Hey now, what're you doing?" She hurried over to Hinata. "That suit looks good on you!"

"It f-feels uncomfortable." Hinata pulled the jacket off. "A-all s-scratchy and st-stiff."

"Oh, c'mon, it makes you look professional. Besides, blue is a good color for you."

Hinata glanced around uneasily. "Wh-where d-did you p-put my sweater?"

"Aahhh..." Lois sighed. "It's in the bag, right over there, with your other things. You can change in the next room. Keep the suit and skirt, though, you may want them next time."

Lois waited in the anteroom for a few moments, clicking away at things on her Blackberry. An e-mail caught her eye and she opened it, only to smile. "Clark..." she rolled her eyes. "You are so clueless..."

"I'm ready." Hinata emerged from the door, once again clad in her colorful hooded sweatshirt. "Th-thank you for helping me with all this, Lois-san."

"Just Lois," replied the reporter absentmindedly, pocketing her Blackberry. "And it's no trouble. You have NO idea how much Perry loves this 'Interviews with a Ninja' series I've been writing about helping you. People are eating it up."

Hinata looked a little uncertain. "Is that... good?"

"Good? That's great! Kid, you might not realize it, but you being in the public eye is doing wonders for the reputation of you ninjas." Pushing open the door, Lois left the anteroom, Hinata a step behind her. "Helps people really understand you guys, realize that you just really are kids. Makes them a little less afraid of your Naruto kid."

"Th-there's no reason to be afraid of Naruto-kun." Hinata objected, following Lois to her car.

"What the heck does reason have to do with it?" smirked Lois, arching an eyebrow at the kunoichi. "Apart from his incredible level of power and the fact that practically no one on earth can stop him, there's no reason to fear Superman either, but that doesn't stop half the world most days." Lois popped open the car door. "The world doesn't understand people who can fly, make spaceships out of green light, or turn invisible at will. So of course they're scared of them. Heck, Batman makes a career out of that."

"So you... help people understand them better?"

"Thaaaaats an awfully nice word for it. Maybe too nice a word. But then, you're too nice a person, so I guess I should have expected it." Lois ruffled Hinata's hair, something that was becoming a habit with her. "Of course, it helps when the main person I have to defend them to is someone like Superman. He doesn't have to fight to get people to understand him."

---------------------

"One of my old teachers, a man by the name of Cain, viewed combat as a language." Batman's voice rang out across the training area.

"A... language, Batman-sensei?" Lee's voice came gasping in reply.

Batman nodded as he unleashed a flurry of kicks at the chunin. "A language of physical violence, one that all fighters could understand, one that helps them better understand each other. Theoretically, this man held, true warriors could understand each other perfectly from the first blow in a battle."

From his position far on the sidelines of the training arena, Naruto turned to Neji, grinning with amazement. Neji simply snorted.

"Do you agree, Batman-sensei?"

"The man was a trifle bizarre," shrugged Batman in mid-battle. "But a genius, in his own way. For instance, your forceful, straightforward style indicates a single-minded, devoted nature. Your speed and efficiency, as well as the uniformity of your movements, suggest you have trained continuously in this style, far beyond simple mastering of the style."

"Duuuude..." whistled Naruto, shaking his head.

Neji simply snorted again. "Lee's nature is not exactly a secret." He muttered.

"You are most insightful, Batman-sensei!" Lee grunted as one of Batman's chops went home. "But I am also a master of the Drunken Fist style!"

"Mm. So I would have guessed. Hand-to-hand combat has been so deeply engrained in you, that even in a semi-conscious state you remain capable of combat. Not only does a combatant's nature determine their fighting style, but often a person's fighting style can serve a part of determining who they themselves are. Tell me, have you ever fought while asleep? Or after you have been effectively rendered unconscious by an opponent?"

Neji's eyebrow arched upwards.

A slight pause. "How... would I know, Batman sensei?"

"Fair enough." Batman spun around in a flurry of blows, ducking under Lee's kick and weaving around him. "I would guess you are at least capable of it, given sufficient motivation. At some point in your training, we will need to try it, or at least test your Drunken Fist."

"Oh, we have GOT to come here for that fight." Naruto chuckled in an undertone. Neji nodded.

"Very well, Batman-sensei!" Lee leapt up and delivered a sharp, unexpected kick to Batman's torso. It went home, but the crimefighter was already throwing himself back, rolling with the blow. "But tell me, what could you say about my other comrades?"

Batman grunted as he hit the floor, already rolling away from Lee's follow-up blow. His legs coiled under him and he leapt to his feet. "I haven't fought them all." He admitted, dodging Lee's repeated kicks. "Use your hands more, boy. From those I have, though, I would surmise that your friend Sakura berserker strength and wild attacks indicate a wild, unpredictable temper. Akimichi Chouji is obviously a heavy eater, but he seems to have a straightforward nature. His reflexes are slightly hesitant also, suggesting he dislikes fighting and is somewhat insecure, perhaps as part of his weight. Sai, who I fought in the Batplane, has a surprisingly creative mind, but the way he uses it implies a life dominated by violence, and his traditional style of artistry reflects a respect for rules and establishments. Inuzuka Kiba's style is fierce and feral, but overconfident and dependent on partners."

Naruto looked at Neji again. For perhaps the first time since Naruto had known him, the Hyuuga looked almost impressed.

"Your friend Neji is an interesting case." Neji stiffened. In the training area, Batman and Lee were trading blows fairly evenly. "I fought him for a good long time. With him too, the highly traditional style of combat denotes a respect for establishments. I would guess combat is very personal to him, as his attacks are very fierce and intense. He is obviously very focused, which means this personal aspect of combat has its origin in the far past, and is responsible for a great deal of his drive."

Neji's gaze was beyond intense right now. It was practically burning holes in the back of Batman's cape.

"What's more interesting is how his fight style has changed him." Batman paused momentarily as he aimed a roundhouse kick at Lee. "Targeting internal organs is a specialized ability, even among your people. I would not be surprised if it made him a trifle arrogant. Also, the ability to look within a body, as well as over great distances, might disenchant one with the body, meaning that someone with his abilities become very introspective, even spiritual. Definitely, he would be emotionally secretive, as I imagine most of his family is." A short grunt as Lee delivered a side chop to Batman's head. "After all, the fact that his cousin possesses the same eyes makes this ability a genetic trait, probably making him a very family-conscious person. I could even relate this to the origin of his drive, guessing that his personal stake in combat derives from a tragic event in his family's past."

Batman whipped under Lee's kick and planted an elbow firmly in his stomach. The green-clad chunin doubled over and collapsed with barely a groan. Straightening, Batman looked outside the ring, directly at the two spectators.

"Personal tragedy is a powerful driving force, Hyuuga-san. Just be careful it does not dominate you."

With a small hiss, Neji turned and strode off into the darkness.

--------------------

"Excuse me, Fat Hag."

Waller half-turned. "Can I help you?"

"I am hoping so." Sai walked up to her brightly. "I was wondering if you could tell me where Green Lantern has gone?"

"Not sure. Last I heard, he was busy dealing with a situation in the Midwest, but no one has seen fit to tell me anything further."

"Probably because they don't like you."

"Very possibly." Waller returned his gaze evenly. "Sorry I couldn't help you."

"No problem." Sai smiled. "Thanks anyway, ugly cow."

Waller snorted at that. "I've been called a lot worse by a lot better, brat."

"By people here?" Sai cocked his head.

"'Better than you' is an awfully broad category." Waller smirked. "As for who is calling me what, that's none of your concern. Good day."

Waller started to walk away, but Sai called after her. "Tell me..." he hesitated, a strangely intrigued look on his face. "Why do you work here?"

With a slight groan, Waller stopped and turned. "I'm the government liason. The link between the Justice League and the United States."

"No." Sai shook his head. "I mean, why do you work in a job where everyone hates you? Are you a masochist?"

Waller's face did not change. "The president asked me to."

"But doesn't it bother you?"

"That doesn't matter. Nothing matters, except the job."

Sai's eyebrows jumped as that last comment. "There is no emotion, there is no humanity, there is only the mission." He muttered. "Yes, I think I understand."

Waller's eyebrows narrowed.

For a moment the two stood, facing each other. Finally Waller gave a grunt and cocked her head upwards. "Black ops?"

Sai processed the phrase and nodded. "We call it Root."

"Village in the Leaves, Root..." Waller mused. "Clever."

"The normal black ops division is simply called ANBU. Root is a more... private segment. Under Lord Danzou."

"Private agenda."

"Indeed. Danzou used us for missions that the current Hokage... could not be trusted with."

"Hm." Waller gave a little nod. "I was in charge of a group called Cadmus." She admitted. "Designed as a safeguard against the Justice League, in case they ever went rogue. Black ops could be one of the nicer terms for it."

Sai smiled. "Likewise."

There was another silence as the two mulled this over.

"Sometimes..." Waller muttered, half to herself, "...things need to be done. Things that the heroes don't want to do, because they don't like to get their fingers dirty."

"Things that they CAN'T do, because of the example they provide." Sai nodded.

"But they still need to be done. Because not everyone plays by the heroes' rules. And not everyone has the heroes' gift of invincibility." Waller's gaze hardened slightly. "They need to be done, because for some things, you can't afford an 'oops.'"

Sai's face was cold and hard. "People don't always like to think about what happens in dark places, but someone needs to, because they still happen."

"The velvet glove needs the iron hand."

"The leaves bathing in the sun need the roots that grow in the dark."

"Exactly." Waller nodded. "Because not everyone can always be in the spotlight."

---------------------

"Heroes like Superman, Wonder Woman, Booster Gold... even Batman in his own way, love the spotlight." Green Arrow snorted as he and Neji crouched against the edge of the building. "I mean, why else do you dress up in colored tights and go prancing around rooftops?"

"Odd words, coming from a man dressed in green spandex," noted Neji, staring off into the distance.

"Point," grinned the archer. "But notice I never said there was anything wrong with wanting the spotlight. You can do a lot of good there if you play it right and if your heart's in the right place. And much as I rip on them, most of the guys in the League DO have their heart in the right place. Superman especially. They just get a little... carried away with all the attention. For instance... did you look at those vid feeds I told you about?"

"Yes." Neji nodded. "Superman saw me and... explained the reasoning. Apparently, he feels that interfering in such matters would be counterproductive and tantamount to global rule."

"Right. Heart in the right place." Arrow nodded. "But also caught up in the spotlight. Because Supes is such a public guy, he can't really afford to take a stance on things like that. So he sticks to stuff everyone agrees on—like fighting space aliens. Hard to argue with fighting space aliens."

"Ah yes. What are those, again?"

Green Arrow glanced at the boy, but there was no sign he was joking. "Guys like J'onn. Except, you know, evil."

"Oh." Neji nodded.

"Point is, they get so caught up in those big things, they forget about the little stuff down here." Gesturing at the street below, Arrow shook his head. "Before he started training Naruto, do you know the last time Supes went on patrol? Or Flash? Even Batman doesn't spend half the time he used to in Gotham, and he's obsessed with that city like nobody's business. Heroes used to be about helping the little guy." Arrow snorted. "Now, they're all about helping the Man."

"Which man is that?"

"No, it's an expression, like..."

"Robbery three blocks away." Neji noted suddenly. "No police within response distance."

Green Arrow sprang up. "Let's go."

The duo leapt over the rooftops, clearing the gaps with practiced ease and bounding across open stretches. Neji, who probably could have made the stretch in half the time it took his trainer, kept even pace with him, watching closely. The archer ducked into a roll on his last leap and came up on the edge of the building, drawing his bow and notching an arrow with a fluidity Neji could only marvel at. "You first, kid." He muttered as Neji came up. "Let's see how you're doing."

Some Hyuuga's were archers, but not many, for the simple reason that the Byakugan actually had very poor depth perception. When things half a mile away were as clear as those in front of your face, it could take a minute to figure out where everything was. Generally, this problem could be corrected with a sufficient level of training, which Neji had long since reached, but it still made long-distance combat difficult, hence the Hyuuga emphasis on close-range fighting.

Also, just because you could SEE several miles didn't mean you could draw a line between those two points and accurately predict where an arrow would fly if you released it. Drawing an arrow and nocking it, as he had seen Green Arrow do countless times, Neji breathed out, aimed the arrow at the dark figure waving a gun at the desk, and...

Twang!

Twang! Resounded the bow next to him a half-second later, and Neji could already see why. His arrow smashed through the glass and sailed cleanly over the robber's head, startling him enough to turn and catch the other square in the chest. Shock charges ripped through him and he fell to the floor, still twitching.

"Too high again." Neji muttered tersely.

"Don't beat yourself up over it." Green Arrow patted him on the back.

Turning to glare at the archer, Neji responded. "Don't patronize me. This level of ineptitude is unacceptable."

"This sort of thing takes practice." The other reminded him. "I had to be stranded on an island for a couple months before I got the hang of it, and then it was only because my life depended on bringing food down."

"Indeed? And did you use stun arrows?" grumbled Neji, arching an eyebrow at him.

"You almost killed that bystander when I let you use the pointy ones." Green Arrow pointed out. "Not killing people takes more skill than dropping them dead, most times. Until you're there, I'm not comfortable letting you use anything but the stun ones."

"This entire exercise is pointless." Neji groused. "In the time it takes me to miss, I could have leapt down there an incapacitated the criminal with a few short blows."

"Not without alerting him to your presence. He would have taken the shopkeeper hostage and then where would you be?" As Neji started to respond he cut him off. "And DON'T say the kunai to the head again. That's not an option here."

Neji subsided with a frown. "It IS an option." He muttered. "You just choose not to take it."

"No." Green Arrow glared back. "Because we're not gods, and we don't choose who lives and who dies. That's the state's job, and much as I distrust them, the point stands that as private citizens, we're not authorized to make that call." He shot a line onto the nearest building and swung off the ledge. Neji, still looking vaguely annoyed, swung after him.

"Tell me," asked Neji as they landed. "Why ARE you all private citizens? Superman, perhaps, I understand, as his power renders him a dangerous asset to any nation, but one such as you... you could be an effective soldier, or even policeman, with your talent set."

Arrow snorted. "Can you see me taking orders? Don't get me wrong, cops are great and all, but in the end they just serve the wealthy and the powerful."

"I... was under the impression you were wealthy. And powerful."

"Yes, but I try not to let that stop me from helping people." Arrow's face twisted in a smirk. "Look, my skill set is a bit beyond even soldier's work, okay? I went out into the open, you'd have the CIA manipulating me into joining black ops teams before I could blink."

Neji blinked. "And that is... a problem?"

"Damn right it's a problem! Again, you see me taking orders? Especially from a bunch of bigwig fatcats who were put in their positions by dirty corporations looking to profit from making trouble over the world?" Arrow shook his head. "The government's just a tool, man. Slave of the military-industrial complex."

Neji glanced at him. "As far as I can see, the only real difficulty here is your inability to recognize authority. After all, you have called my home dimension a military dictatorship, which I suppose would make me a slave of them, yet I can't say I see the problem."

Arrow looked at him, with an almost sad expression. "You would, wouldn't you." He sighed. "Damnit, kid, your world must be always fighting."

"And this one isn't?"

"Exactly."

------------------------

"You definitely are getting better at this, Mr. Nara."

"High praise, coming from a god like yourself." Shikamaru replied lazily. Inside, he was doing a little victory dance—evil maniac or no, a compliment from a chess player like Luthor WAS thrilling—but he maintained his façade. "By the way, where have you been for the past week or so? Getting bored with our little games?"

Luthor's mouth tensed slightly, a detail Shikamaru reveled in. "Hardly, Mr. Nara," smiled the man. "I was merely distracted by a small piece of business which required a bit of attention."

"A small piece of business took you a week? Sheesh. My dad works faster than that. I mean, I guess I don't know what kind of business it was, but I'd think for a god..."

"I lost something." Luthor moved his piece a shade more hastily than he usually did. "For a moment, I felt your friend Sasuke, but by the time I got there he had already gone."

"What, with your instantaneous teleportation mumbo-jumbo?" Shikamaru studied the pieces. Sasuke, eh? Probably he should be studying the conversation more closely, but this game was just so dang interesting. A part of him hopefully suggested he might even win it.

"Are you going to move?"

Shikamaru grunted with annoyance. "You know, I'm surprised you lost him so easily. I thought it was important for you to get this Sasuke guy."

"It IS important!" Luthor snapped suddenly. "He is the key to my true godhood! He is..." With an effort he controlled himself. "I DID teleport there, immediately upon feeling his presence. But something... slowed me down." Luthor mouth curved in a vicious frown. "There was some interference, some... blocking of my powers. Presumably, the same thing that is now HIDING his presence from me!"

Shikamaru sighed and cast his eyes heavenward, trying not to look at Luthor. "So let me get this straight. You lost your keys to godhood, thought you found them, went to get them but got tripped up on the way and now can't find them anymore."

"I WILL find him! I know where he is! He is in Jump City. My agents are all over that city, it is only a matter of time before..."

"Agents. Time." Shikamaru yawned. "Listen to yourself. Not only can you not find your keys, you need to get other people to find them for you. AND you aren't sure how long you should take about it. You know, at times I really have a hard time remembering why I should help you."

Luthor's brow was a furrowed field of fury. "Then perhaps, Mr. Nara..." he hissed, withdrawing a remote from his coat, "...I ought to remind you."

Once again the electric energies tore through Shikamaru, seizing up his muscles, burning away at his nerve endings. But even through the cacophony of pain, he felt a small part of him chuckling.

He's cracking.