A/N: Hello my readers. I decided to write this up as quickly as possible. Due to both the cliffhanger on the previous chapter, and I wanted to get this out before I started on my new job. It seems I'll have a busy schedule ahead, so I don't know when I will be able to update next.

Thanks very much for your patience. Reviews and feedback are always welcome.

Chapter four: Circles within Circles. Part two.

In the back alleys of Gotham the sounds of combat boots could be heard echoing as a lone man carrying a large case could be seen. The man in question is known as Floyd Lawton, though he is most commonly referred to as 'Deadshot' one of the foremost Snipers and assassins in the world.

Just a short while ago, Killer Frost had unexpectedly called him, said something about working for a new boss calling himself 'The Kingpin'. Deadshot had never heard of this man before, but he didn't really care. Frost explained that a job was available that required his expertise… and the target was none other than the fat lady herself. Amanda fucking Waller.

Floyd couldn't remember the number of times that he'd be abducted, slapped with an explosive device and dispatched to do Waller's dirty work just to avoid being blasted to pieces. He wasn't in it for the money this time, this one was personal for him. He was very much looking forward to creating a great big smoking hole right between Waller's eyes.

The sniper smirked as he saw the back entrance of the Iceberg lounge, a pretty frequent entryway for any con, thug, or hired assassin looking for work. The Penguin had a large number of black market dealings and connections. If you were looking for work, or the right equipment for the job, this was the place to go. Not to mention it was a good meeting spot for jobs since none of the Penguin's employees ever asked questions.

He passed through the doors and walked down a long hallway till he came upon an elevator and entered inside. He pushed a button to take him down to the basement, which was often the usual meeting spot for accepting jobs. After a few seconds the doors closed and he began his descent. As he waited he thought back to his brief conversation with Frost over the phone, from the sounds of it, this Kingpin seemed to be quickly establishing connections with some big names here in Gotham. He even had the likes of Catwoman, Ivy, and Harley Quinn in his pocket.

Catwoman and Ivy were typically loners who always sought out their own agendas. And Harley was almost attached to the Joker's hip at all times, almost like a lovesick puppy constantly craving attention or treats. Poor girl. But now this Kingpin guy had them all working for him in an extremely short amount of time. If he had to guess, the Kingpin must have been unnaturally charismatic and/or persuasive. Guys like that could be extremely dangerous… because you may end up dancing to whatever tune he wants without realizing why you're doing it.

The elevator doors opened revealing the forms of a blonde man conversing with Killer Frost, the latter having a chilling smile on her face… no pun intended. And off to the side was some blonde kid with whisker like markings sitting on a crate. Both Frost and the man she was speaking to turned towards the Sniper as he approached them.

"Deadshot, right? I'm the Kingpin. Nice to meet you, I appreciate you coming on such short notice." The Kingpin politely greeted as he extended a hand towards the sniper. Deadshot smirked a little, this guy seemed to be the professional type. That was fine with him. He found those 'Superior than you cuz I'm the boss' types to be rather annoying. The Assassin shook his potential employers hand and then placed the case he was carrying on the floor. He pushed a button on the side causing it to pop open revealing the parts and pieces to one of his personal sniper rifles.

"No problem. No way in hell I'm going to miss taking a shot at Waller… pun intended." Deadshot spoke with a small chuckle as he began to assemble his rifle. His little joke earning a few laughs from Frost and Kingpin.

"Right, unfortunately the plan's changed a bit. Waller's on the warpath, just recently she kidnapped both Commissioner Jim Gordon and his daughter Barbara." The Kingpin explained, causing the marksman to nearly drop his equipment to the floor.

"You serious? Damn. Waller must be finally going off the deep end. No way in hell the police or Batman are going to be ignoring that. The hell is the fatass hoping to accomplish?" Deadshot asked, his question causing Killer Frost to point towards the boy that was quietly keeping to himself for the moment.

"The kid? Waller's going after kids now?" Floyd spoke as his eyes narrowed, he wouldn't ever reveal this… but he actually had a certain fondness for kids. He supposed that came naturally from being a father. Or maybe despite being a gun-for-hire with a death wish, even he had a problem with people who messed around with kids.

"That's Naruto. I met him in Arkham. Poor kid has been hunted down by Waller ever since he arrived. She wants to turn him into some kind of superweapon or something. He was with the Gordon's but managed to give Waller the slip." The ice user explained, giving the marksman the rundown of the situation.

"Way I see it. Waller will be bad for business. For all of us. We need to get to her before the Batman does. If he puts her under arrest, she'll get a slap on the wrist and walk out in no time flat. That's where you come in." The Kingpin explained before gesturing to a set of tactical armor and equipment worn by a member of a SWAT team.

Deadshot smirked a bit, already guessing the plan. He would plant himself amongst the GCPD and hunt down Waller, once she was in his crosshairs he'd take the shot and put that damned whale out of everyone's misery. "I get the picture. What about the kid?" The marksman asked, gesturing to the boy. With a smirk, the Kingpin picked up a telephone and gestured for the boy to approach.

The whiskered teen nodded as he jogged up to them as the elder blonde put the phone on loudspeaker and made a 'shush' gesture to both Frost and Lawton. After a few seconds, the line picked up and a masculine voice could be heard speaking "Yello, Detective Harvey Bullock."

The whiskered teen took a deep breath and shouted "Bullock! It's Naruto! Waller took the Gordon's!" at the sound of his voice, one could almost hear Bullock falling out of his seat on the other end.

"Whoa! Slow down kid! What the heck happened?" Bullock asked, while he got the gist of it, he had to be certain he heard the boy correctly.

"I was at the Gordon's apartment, Waller and her goon squad showed up and kidnapped Jim and Barbara. Jim stalled them so I could get away!" Naruto explained with a small yell. In the background Deadshot had to suppress an impressed whistle, this kid seemed all calm before but now he seemed to be playing the part of a scared little kid… tremendously well. Just how much of it was an act, or was it legit?

After a few seconds Harvey spoke back "I hear ya kid. I'll get the GCPD on this straightaway. Where are ya anyway? I'll send a car for ya."

"I dunno. I… I see a building. Called the Iceberg Lounge?" The blonde replied, feigning hesitance and uncertainty. But damn was he doing a good job of it.

"I gotcha. I'm gonna send someone I trust to get ya. We'll get the Gordon's back. Take care and don't talk to any suspicious characters." Harvey spoke in a warning tone at the end, and then hanged up the phone on his end.

"You heard him boy. He's sending a car for you. Better go outside and meet with them." the new crime lord suggested, earning a nod from the whiskered teen who darted off towards the elevator.

"Just how much of that little act was for real?" The marksman asked out of curiosity since that question had been clawing at his mind for the past two minutes. Whoever that boy was, he certainly had a talent.

"I'll leave that to your imagination Deadshot. Not to tell you how to do your job, but you'd best suit up and get ready. We only have a limited window of opportunity before Waller is either arrested or escapes, in either case she may end up out of our reach." The blonde man suggested, prompting the sniper to silently agree and give a two-fingered salute as he picked up the GCPD Swat gear and went towards the elevator to head back topside himself.

Once the marksman was out of sight, the form of the Kingpin smirked before disappearing in a puff of smoke. Killer Frost grinned at the display and muttered to herself "The boss is just a bag full of tricks."

Later. GCPD rooftop.

Harvey Bullock sipped at a mug full of warm coffee. His face now a hard mask, though his eyes burned with anger and frustration. He stared up at the sky towards the illuminated symbol of the Bat-signal as he awaited for the caped Crusader himself. While he was reluctant to call on the Batman for help, Bullock couldn't deny that the bat was most likely the fastest bet to locate the Gordon's in time.

He had already scrambled the entire GCPD and put out a BOLO for Amanda Waller. Now he just needed to get the bat on board, and everything would be aces. "Detective Bullock." Called out the familiar voice of the Dark Knight, the sudden appearance almost making the detective drop his coffee. But he managed to keep it from spilling as he turned towards the Batman.

"Thanks for coming. I just got a call from that Naruto kid. Waller's gone completely bonkers. She's kidnapped Jim and Barbara for hiding him. Way I figure it, she's gonna turn all of Gotham upside-down to find him. We gotta shut her down, pronto." Bullock spoke, quickly surmising the situation to the Batman.

After a few moments of silence the Batman nodded and replied "Understood. I'll find Waller and the Gordon's as quickly as possible. What is Naruto's current status?"

"I sent Montoya to scoop him up. He'll be fine, you just focus on finding Jim and Barbara, kay?" Harvey answered causing the caped Crusader to vanish as soon as the detective blinked his eyes. For the life of him, he couldn't ever figure out how the Batman could vanish and appear like a ghost. But it wasn't that important right now. What mattered, was saving Jim and Barbara, and putting Waller exactly where she belonged.

Meanwhile.

"Barbara? You okay?" Jim asked his daughter in a concerned voice, his hands cuffed to some pipeworks. If he were truthful, these were actually his own handcuffs that Waller's agents used. And it was a secret embarrassment amongst police when their own cuffs are used against them, and to make it worse, they took the key with them.

Barbara was off to the side sitting in her wheelchair with no obvious restraints. Apparently she wasn't viewed as a threat or could escape due to her status as a paraplegic… supposedly. "Yeah. I'm fine. I'm more worried about you. They were pretty rough with you dad." Barbara responded in an equally concerned tone, her father could only laugh a bit.

"Please. Those Suits hit like school kids. They couldn't hurt me if they tried. From the sounds of Waller chewing out her men, it seems like the boy got away. That's good. He's probably called the GCPD and they have already contacted Batman." Gordon spoke confidently since he had seen the Bat-signal illuminating the sky. It was only a matter of time before the Dark Knight himself appeared to rescue them in the nick of time.

"Yeah. We'll be fine. Is it just me… or is Waller really obsessed with finding Naruto for some reason? It makes almost no sense for her to kidnap us like this!" The red haired girl half-shouted and slammed her fist into her armrest angrily. Before their conversation could continue, the sounds of heels clicking against the floor could be heard as a woman approached them… and it wasn't Waller.

"You're not wrong Mrs. Gordon. Director Waller has been chomping at the bit to find that poor boy. And his repeated escapes have been driving her crazy." The woman spoke as she came into the light, holding a tablet in her hand. She then ran a hand through her brown locks and said "I am Agent Iman Avesta… I can't tell you how sorry I am for this."

Jim narrowed his eyes a bit as he sized up this woman, she seemed nice enough, though she wasn't beyond suspicion since she was still one of Waller's people. "Thanks for the sympathy, if nothing else." Jim replied, his voice still rather bitter as he rattled his cuffs a bit for some emphasis, causing Iman to adopt an apologetic look on her face.

"Understood, but listen carefully. There's something going on that you aren't aware of. A few months ago, Waller was contacted by a strange old man. Said that he could offer us a Weapon of Mass Destruction in exchange for technology and state-of-the-art weaponry. In Naruto's home country, he was found guilty and then transferred here to Gotham.

Waller was planning to take custody of him directly from Arkham, but the unexpected interference of Killer Frost, Catwoman and Cheshire gave him the chance he needed to escape Arkham. After that, we lost track of him until a surveillance unit tracked him to your own apartment." Avesta explained, her words filling in some of the blanks as to how Waller knew about the boy's abilities and gifts beforehand.

"And you're telling us about this? Why?" Barbara asked skeptically, wondering why this Cadmus agent was telling them. A change of heart maybe? This Avesta woman didn't seem to be some 'yes-man-drone' like the numerous other agents in Waller's employ.

"When I was recruited into Cadmus, I was hoping to do some good. Fight the good fight. Handle delicate situations that no one else could. I had certain scruples about using criminals for suicide missions, but I didn't say anything. What crossed the line for me, was chasing after a kid and arresting innocent people for no reason. And that's not all, Waller has been doing all manner of things that are less-than-legal, all with the intent to undermine the JLA." Avesta answered, her words causing both Barbara and Jim's eyes to widen a bit. Just what in the hell was Waller doing behind the scenes? They were almost scared to know.

Barbara pursed her lips and spoke "Listen. If you really want to help, you need to call the GCPD and tell them where we are. Right now."

At that, Jim nodded and spoke up "She's right. If you help us, we can help get you off the hook. Get you into protective custody or something. Please. Waller can't be allowed to continue with… whatever in the hell she's doing." At that, Avesta nodded as she pulled out a cellphone.

"Waller wiretaps and monitors all Agency issued phones. Fortunately, I like my privacy and bought my own personal one. Who do I contact at the GCPD?" Avesta asked as she prepared a text, giving the address they were located in. The Commissioner told her to contact Bullock and gave her the needed phone number. Bullock was known to be a rather belligerent cop, but he was still a loyal one and someone Gordon trusted.

Once Agent Avesta typed in the appropriate phone number, she sent the text with the push of a button. Now it was all a matter of time before the police arrived. Avesta smirked a little bit since she was now a regular Judas, but at least she had good intentions with this act of insubordination. It would soon be time to nail Waller and crucify her for all the world to see.

Some time later.

Sirens could be heard echoing across the street, blaring loudly as they surrounded a rather small nondescript office building of some kind that was near the docks. Police boats bobbed lightly in the water, cutting off any escape by boat. Helicopters hovered in the air, shining spotlights on the building while preventing escape by air.

And finally, the entirety of the GCPD was now setting up barricades and keeping their guns trained on the building itself, most particularly the windows and doors. Many of the cops were just waiting for Waller and her people to give some kind of excuse to use deadly force. Commissioner Gordon was a well-trusted officer and one of the best leaders they could ever ask for, and his daughter Barbara was a kind and well-spoken girl that almost every officer had met at some point or other… and they were all mad as hell at the Agency for kidnapping the Gordon's.

"All right Waller! The jig is up! We got ya surrounded. Come on out all peacefully and we won't pump your fat guts full o' lead! Otherwise? We'll be more than happy to stuff you in a plus-sized coffin." Bullock spoke into a megaphone, calling out the beached whale herself. He doubted that the fat lady would surrender, but at least now it couldn't be said the GCPD didn't give her a chance at surrender.

The seconds slowly ticked by into minutes and so far, they hadn't received any word from anyone inside the building. He knew it was the right place from the text he had received from an anonymous source. At first he was reluctant to follow directions from an unknown source, but it was the best lead they had. And it seems his instincts were right since he could see armed men in the windows, and judging by the monkey suits they wore, they were definitely government issued jarheads.

Bullock's concentration and musing was broken when another squad car rolled up with Officer Montoya inside, along with the kid. Harvey narrowed his eyes since Montoya was supposed to take that Naruto kid to the GCPD, but he wasn't going to argue. He needed every last cop on the scene, and the kid might be able to help draw out Waller if he was willing.

Renee stepped out of the car with Naruto following after her, she drew her gun and crouched behind her car for cover as she aimed her pistol at the building. "Bullock! We came as soon as we heard over the radio! What's the situation?" She shouted towards her partner.

"We got the place covered top to bottom. SWAT teams, boats, choppers. The whole nine yards. Snipers are getting set up right now, waiting to take shots if Waller's punks start shooting. Batman either hasn't shown up, or he's casing the joint from somewhere looking for his big chance. We haven't heard from the fat lady yet either. Doesn't seem she's much for talking." Bullock reported with a sneer, if he knew anything about his job, it's that when people are backed into a corner are dangerous. Especially if they have no moral compass. The longer this standoff takes, the more at-risk the Gordon's may be.

"Oi! Bullock! Put me out front! Give me a chance to draw Waller out. I'm the one she's looking for." Naruto shouted, offering to put himself on a platter if it could be of any help. He smirked inwardly since it was easy enough to convince Montoya to bring him here, arguing that they would be of better help that way instead of sitting in the almost abandoned GCPD since the entire police force had been dispatched. Whether it was his own pheromones or Montoya's sense of justice, or both, she almost immediately agreed.

"You sure kid? If this whole thing goes effin' sideways, I can't make any solid promises for your safety." Bullock warned the boy, though if he were honest, he didn't have that many plays. Sending the cops charging in would be a bloodbath, and he wasn't sure how long the Batman would take to make his move, assuming he was around, which Bullock believed he was since the bat almost always showed up at the right time.

"Don't worry about me. I'm more valuable to Waller alive, that aside… I can regen. I'll be okay. You tell your sniper guys to be ready. As soon as Waller comes into view, take the shot. Cuz I don't think Waller's gonna be the negotiating type." The whiskered teen cautioned the detective, making him nod in understanding as he began to relay orders to the snipers to be ready for anything.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto marched up towards the building, a spotlight shining on his back as he approached. Clenching his fists the Jinchuuriki shouted out as loud as he could "WALLER! GET YOUR FAT ASS OUT HERE!" He could see movement in the windows as he waited for some kind of response.

He didn't have to wait long as a set of loudspeakers crackled to life and he noticed that the security cameras started to focus on him, and then he heard the familiar voice of Waller speak through the speakers "Finally decided to stop running? Good. I was getting tired of chasing you."

"What can I say? The idea of being someone's attack dog doesn't appeal to me. I'm done running now. And I sure as shit am not going to be a weapon for you. It's all over Waller. Get out here and these cops won't have to plant you in the ground." Naruto warned her and looked over his shoulder at the nearby rooftops, spotting the various snipers that were in position… one in particular giving him a quick two-fingered salute that he almost missed.

"Who do you think you're talking to? I'm called 'The Wall' for a reason, you little brat." Waller responded angrily, her tone making the blonde boy believe that if he could see her, she'd be sprouting a large tic-mark on her forehead.

"The Wall huh? If you aren't called that because of your stubborn-as-hell personality, I can certainly think of another reason." Naruto spoke mockingly, hoping to get some kind of reaction out of the fat whale. Speaking of which, this standoff somewhat reminded him about a book he read, about a certain captain that was obsessed with a certain whale. This obsession ultimately led to his death as the hunter ended up the hunted. And it seemed like Waller would be met with her end in due time.

After a few seconds of silence, Waller's voice boomed out once more "I'm not here to banter, barter, or exchange petty insults. Here's how this is going to work. You're going to step inside and my men are going to put you in my custody. If you continue with this charade, then the Gordon's will have to suffer."

"That's not how this works. The cops have you surrounded and they're angry enough as it is. You're up shit creek without a paddle Waller. You gotta know that much… or maybe you don't even want to acknowledge when you're beaten." Naruto muttered the last part, finding it strange that Waller didn't seem to be operating with any real logic or reasoning at this point. That woman didn't seem mentally sound at the moment.

Before Waller could respond through the loudspeakers, the sounds of gunfire could be heard followed by sounds of panicked shouting. Naruto smirked since he guessed that the famous Batman had finally made his move. Biting his lip, the boy charged forward and slammed his shoulder into the front doors, nearly taking them off their hinges as he ran inside. He could hear Bullock shouting for the police to move in behind him as he ran through the halls.

He saw a sign that showed the direction of the stairs making him plant his feet to the ground, skidding across the tiled floor as he quickly changed directions. Near the staircase was a set of men wearing tactical armor who lifted up their assault rifles with one of them shouting "Target sighted! Fire away! He can regen!"

The soldiers pulled the triggers causing their weapons to start firing bullets in the blonde's direction. Naruto ran forward faster and then screamed in pain as he felt the bullets pierce through him, he felt three hitting him in the stomach. One in the chest, and another pierce through his neck. He growled as he tried to fight through the pain and continued forward. The soldiers kept firing in the boy's direction until their respective magazines ran empty.

They tried to reload, but it was too late since the blonde was already on them. He hopped up and slammed his foot down on one man's kneecap, causing the joint to pop out of place with a sickening snap, making him fall to the floor screaming. The other tried using the butt of his rifle to strike Naruto on the head, but he ducked under the swing and sent his fist into the soldier's groin.

The trooper doubled over in a silent scream and then the blonde whipped his leg around like a scythe, knocking the man's legs out from under him. The blonde then rolled forward and used his momentum to slam his elbow into the soldier's throat. The soldier clutched at his throat, rolling from side to side as he made choking noises as he tried to wheeze and gasp for air.

"Holy shit! Did you see that?" Shouted a random officer as Naruto hopped back to his feet and began running up the stairs with all haste, he could hear the collective footfalls of the officer's not far behind him as he made his way up to the next floor where another armored soldier was waiting. He aimed his weapon towards the boy and fired, Naruto felt himself propelled off his feet by the force of the shotgun blast. Naruto did a backflip in the air and planted his feet on the wall, and launched himself forward as he leapt guard. This time, the man was caught off guard by the boy's swift recovery as Naruto's form collided with him, sending them both to the floor.

"Where's Waller?!" Naruto shouted as he tore the man's shotgun away and chucked it down the stairs before slamming his forehead down into the man's face. His forehead hitting the soldier on the bridge of his nose, causing the bone and cartilage to snap. "Where. is. WALLER?!" Naruto demanded again headbutting the soldier with each word. The blonde took notice that the trooper was pointing at the door and then motioned left. Satisfied, Naruto released him and left him on the floor to clutch at his broken nose as the police stormed up.

Naruto opened the door at the top of the staircase and turned left, finding only a single door at the end of a short hallway. Growling, Naruto kicked the door as hard as possible, causing the center to splinter and then snap in half under the force of his kick. Inside was some kind of security room with small tv screens that were now showing nothing but static. Apparently the camera feeds were killed sometime in the raid, likely when Batman made his move. And sitting behind a desk was Waller herself. The blonde smirked victoriously and spoke "It's all over Waller. Police are storming the place. And you don't have any cards left to play."

The Director of Cadmus narrowed her eyes as she stared at the boy, her eyes flickering with hate. "That old man was right. You are indeed more trouble than you're worth." She snarled out through gritted teeth.

"What old man? Who was it that told you about me?! Who told you about me being a Jinchuuriki? Someone had to have told you." Naruto questioned, there was no possible way Waller could have known about at least some of his abilities unless someone had told her.

"An old warhawk that sold you to me for some more modern gear and tech. No idea how he managed to find and reach out to me. He warned me you were a wildcard. But I never expected you to be this much trouble." She answered bitterly, the words 'warhawk' striking a chord in the boy's memory. He remembered the Sandaime frequently describing a certain man with that exact nickname… who was it again? Danzo. Danzo Shimura. That was the name.

"If I had my way, I'd be beating you senseless. But you'll get your comeuppance soon. I promise you." After he'd made that promise, some police officers came up behind him pointing their weapons at the whale with Harvey Bullock also appearing, pointing his revolver at Waller.

"They say it ain't over till the fat lady sings. And trust me… you're gonna sing like your life depends on it." He promised as he held up a pair of handcuffs.

"You guys find Jim and Barbara?" Naruto asked, hoping that they were okay. He was relieved when Harvey nodded his head and answered the boy "Ya don't have to worry. They're a-okay. The Batman already got them loose and we're escorting them outside. Now we're gonna be sending the fat lady up the river."

"Good. I hope Waller gets her just desserts." Naruto grumbled, trying his best to hide a smirk… especially since he knew what was going to come next.

Meanwhile.

On a nearby rooftop, Deadshot watched the happenings going on around the building. Keeping a careful watch for the moment Waller showed herself. Of course she would pick a room where there weren't any windows. Now he wished that he'd packed his thermal imaging scope. But sooner or later, she would either be gunned down by police, or dragged out in cuffs. The latter was what he was betting on. Because then he'd be able to pull the trigger himself.

It was pretty easy infiltrating this operation. He inserted himself amongst the police back in the GCPD, none of them noticing an extra SWAT member, of course the facemask helped hide his identity. And then the cops got a tip on Waller's location. Now here he was, just waiting for his moment. As soon as he pulled the trigger, he would need to drop everything and run, because it would be at that point the Batman would be hot on his heels.

He took notice that the cops were escorting out people from the Agency in handcuffs, some of them sporting broken bones and the like, most probably the Batman's handiwork. He saw the Commissioner being escorted out as well, pushing a girl in a wheelchair that could only be his daughter. He then saw that whiskered kid from earlier step outside with a strange little smile on his face.

And at long last, he saw his target. Waller herself. Deadshot lined up the scope to her head, keeping trained so the bullet will pierce through her head. He slowly squeezed the trigger down… and then it happened. The bullet fired off with a loud 'bang' and the back of Waller's head exploded with blood and bone. With his job finished, the marksman leapt to his feet and took off running knowing he didn't have much time to get a head-start. But before he could jump to the next roof, the Batman had already appeared on the other side.

"Damn you're quick. That's okay though. My job here is done." Floyd spoke in a satisfied tone, he had already killed Waller. And now the Batman had arrived to apprehend him. He could try taking a shot at the Caped crusader, but he was in too good a mood for that song and dance, and he didn't want to spoil it all with cracked ribs and the like. "You know what? Fuck it. You got me. It was worth it." The sniper muttered and then held his hands out to let the Batman cuff him. He wasn't going to ruin this night with a fist fight with the bat. Especially since it almost always ended with broken bones.

"Who hired you to kill Waller?" The Batman asked, cautiously approaching until he removed Deadshot's trademark wrist-mounted weaponry and then put the cuffs on him with a small click.

"Wrong question. Who wouldn't hire me to kill the fat lady? She's not exactly Ms. Popular. Who knows? Maybe I did it just because. This could have been personal for me." Deadshot answered with a dismissive tone. Batman stared at him with a hard glare, unbeknownst to the marksman, the bat was scanning his biometric readings, and from his heart rate the Batman could see he was being truthful, at least in some regard.

"You're going to be put away for this Deadshot." The Batman spoke in a blunt manner, earning a small scoff from the assassin.

"Yeah. But for how long really?" Floyd joke since it became something of a running gag amongst the Super-criminal community… how long would it be before they escaped again and continued their escapades? Well, to be honest, Floyd wasn't a stranger to prisons. It was actually like a small vacation for some people like himself. Three square meals a day, free room and board, and the low-tier crooks were smart enough to give him a wide berth. He actually wouldn't mind a little down-time, especially now that Waller was food for the worms.

Meanwhile, back amongst the mass of police and squad cars, Naruto stood to the side with the Gordon's as the remains of Waller was taken away on a gurney. At least the COD was obvious given the gaping hole in her head. "Glad to see you guys are okay. How'd you send a message out to the cops?" Naruto asked out of curiosity since he knew that the fat lady would have had any communication devices confiscated.

"We had some help from an Agent Iman Avesta. My men will be taking her into protective custody for questioning. Given her help and readiness to cooperate, Avesta's going to be free in no time. She seems like a good woman." Jim answered as he waved towards a brown haired woman who waved back as she was ushered into a squad car.

"Naruto… Avesta told us about…" Barbara tried to speak but was cut off by the whiskered teen who said "I know. Someone from my old home traded me for weapons and tech. Waller already told me before she was killed. This means that there's more at work here than just the Whale and her goons."

Both of the Gordon's exchanged looks before nodding to each other, with Jim speaking "Yeah. That about sums it up. Listen, I know you've had a hard time, and it is likely that it'll only get worse from here. I promise you though, we'll do our absolute best to keep you safe."

The blonde hmmed to himself as he adopted a thinking pose, considering the Commissioners words. Finally the boy answered "I appreciate the offer… but it seems like being around me could put you and Barbara in danger. This is my problem, from my old home. I'll handle it myself… but I promise to keep in touch if I need a hand."

At his words, Barbara had a saddened look on her face since she knew the Batman himself often tried to go it alone, almost always pushing himself to the limit to go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure those around him didn't suffer. Even if he himself suffered. "Where will you go Naruto? What will you do?" She asked him in a worried tone.

"With luck, I'll be going forward. And I'll try to find a place I can belong in this unforgiving world we live in. Sayonara, I look forward to seeing you all again." Naruto answered as he gave a small two-fingered salute to make his swift exit, only to be stopped when the Commissioner clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"That's crazy talk son. I can't let you strike out on your own like this." Jim spoke in a concerned tone, not liking the boy's current mindset or intentions of taking his chances all on his own.

"Like I said, I'll be in touch. And whoever said anything about 'letting' me?" The boy asked with a chuckle. He snapped his fingers and his form was instantly replaced by a trash can, making both Barbara and Jim wonder how he did that. Jim knew he had to put out a BOLO for the kid now. Gotham was a dangerous place after all, especially for unsupervised kids. Barbara however had a gut feeling that Naruto would be okay. She had no idea why exactly… but it's like she could almost feel how confident and self-assured he was. Almost like he knew what he was doing.

Nevertheless, she would keep a close eye out for him over the Bat-Family's vast information network. If Naruto ever showed up on her scans… she would know about it and be able to monitor his safety. Now she just needed to inform Bruce of what Agent Avesta had revealed previously, although now she couldn't help but wonder… What else was Waller and Cadmus up to? What kind of activities could they have been doing in the shadows to unnerve Avesta? Truthfully, Barbara was a little scared to find out.

Because power without moral restraint was the most dangerous kind… and could often yield highly unpredictable results.

With Naruto.

"Danzo Shimura. I had heard of your ambition, but I never thought you'd be so foolish as to trade a Jinchuuriki so carelessly. What was your plan old timer? Maybe you were planning to sell me and then steal me back?" The Jinchuuriki muttered to himself in thought, now adopting his 'Minato' guise to avoid suspicions and the police.

Truth be told, he wasn't sure why he picked the Yondaime's form for his Kingpin persona. Maybe it was because he still looked up to the Yondaime, maybe because his appearance was easy to remember since it was naturally similar to his own. Maybe it was a combination of the two, regardless it still did the job of throwing people off who weren't aware of his true nature.

On a more important note, he was a rogue Jinchuuriki now. And it would only be a matter of time before those from other Nations found out he was now fair game. Sure, Konoha would try to keep it a secret, but someone would talk, or find out the truth. And then he would be sought out for his power. Naruto grit his teeth slightly in annoyance.

There was a time when he was prepared to lay down his life for the village, to do whatever it took to show the people there he wasn't the Kyuubi itself. He was once prepared to do anything for those he cared about, and he still was. But he was finished being a victim. He was finished being persecuted because of what and who he was. No. He now had a chance to call the shots. To truly prove himself.

Here in Gotham, he has accomplished more inside of a few days than he had in his entire life in Konoha. Gotham was a clean slate for him. A Chance to make something of himself, in both the lower and higher tiers of the city. He wasn't the Dead-last here in Gotham… he was the Kingpin. A crime lord that was swiftly on the rise. Rupert Thorne would soon be dead in but a few hours, and then his gang and criminal enterprise would be all for Naruto to claim for himself.

His musing was broken when thunder began to rumble in the sky and rain started to pour down as well, some droplets hitting his face… until an umbrella opened and the blonde found a girl standing next to him. He looked over his shoulder and found that it was actually his mysterious limo driver. A young woman with pink and chocolate brown hair with two different colored eyes, one pink and one brown. She was known as Neopolitan… and that was pretty much all that was known of her since she wasn't the talkative type. Though for some unknown reason, Naruto could perfectly understand her.

"Neo? How the hell did you find me?" The Kingpin asked since he was wondering how he'd get transportation. He was about to try and flag down a taxi, though that didn't seem necessary with Neo here.

"..." She answered with a small smile, tipping her bowler hat slightly in respect to her boss.

"Wow. Really? You're incredibly dedicated to your job, aren't you? I certainly wouldn't want to get on your bad side." He responded, already guessing that Neo was a pro since she had successfully followed him without any difficulty. He guessed that she probably tracked him from the second he had left the Iceberg Lounge in Officer Montoya's car. "How much did you hear while I was thinking out loud?" He asked her, making a mental note to avoid thinking aloud in the future.

"..." She responded, then gave a reassuring smile while tipping her hat to him.

"Thanks for your discretion. I dunno why… but you seem like the loyal type. Since you were already listening, and you claim to be a good listener. I'll be needing to prepare myself for the eventuality of other unsavory characters coming to hunt me down now." He responded as he clasped his hands behind his head with a sigh.

Neo tapped her chin in thought, then had a 'ah-ha' moment as she snapped her fingers and pointed in a certain direction. "..!" she exclaimed and then pulled out a newspaper from seemingly thin air which she presented to her boss. Naruto skimmed over the contents and saw an article, about Metropolis' Stryker's island penitentiary, home to numerous Super-criminals from Superman's Rogues gallery including Livewire, Silver Banshee, and other criminals of renown in Metropolis.

"That's pretty interesting… I might have to look into that later once my affairs in Gotham are in order. Thanks Neo… you seem to be pretty reliable." The Kingpin happily remarked causing his newest associate to nod in satisfaction and then gestured towards the waiting limousine. She popped open the door for him, allowing him entry. Once he was inside, she shut the door and made her way to the driver's seat and awaited his instructions.

"I have nowhere else to be for the evening. I don't think I've had much time for myself since my arrival in Gotham. And with Waller gone… maybe I can have a moment's peace. If it's all the same… could you just drive around and show me the sights Neo?" The blonde requested with a tired smile, finally feeling like he could just sit down and have a moment to himself. Neo nodded and started the engine for the limo, to begin the grand tour of Gotham for her new boss.

Neo smirked a little to herself. She had never expected to have a boss that could understand her, even when no words were spoken. She had worked for some time now as a freelancer, doing odd jobs, serving as a bodyguard, a spy, and an assassin. She had even once gotten an invitation from the League of Assassins due to her talents… but for some reason she could feel there was something truly special about the Kingpin… now she knew for certain there was beyond all doubt. It would be interesting to see what he would do in the criminal underworld.

Later. Arkham Asylum.

"Please! Don't do this! I'll do anything you ask!" Screamed the form of Quincy Sharp as he was being dangled from the rooftop of the administration building. His eyes almost bulging and his face turning a little green as he could only look at the ground.

"You ever see what happens to a human head when it smashes against the ground? It kinda reminds me of what happens when a watermelon explodes." Teased a female voice as she tightened her grip on Sharp's legs and started to sway him from side to side, her words making him make some gagging noises at the mental image.

"You disappoint me Sharp. I shall ask you, once more. Where. is. the. boy?" Asked the form of Ra's al Ghul with a sneer. His agent Hugo Strange having spent many months working on and manipulating this pathetic little man's mind from the shadows… and yet Sharp was so inept that he couldn't even keep track of a simple child, let alone run a proper prison.

"I already told you! Waller came to collect the boy! But he escaped with some help from the inmates! I had to get rid of him before he exposed me for what I did in the Asylum! The last I heard, he was in police custody but now he's gone again!" Quincy tried to explain himself, trying to say anything if it meant appeasing the Demon's head. This however had the opposite effect.

"Exposed you? So then… you mean to say you're already compromised? Hmph. As expected of a disposable pawn… you have lost all value to the League then." Ra's muttered angrily and then sent a subtle nod to Cheshire. Getting the message loud and clear, the black haired assassin quickly released the Warden from her grip, sending him plummeting to the ground where a sickening thud could be heard.

"I was there when Waller showed up. I helped fight off her people to give Naruto a chance to escape. He most likely employed the Water-walking technique to run across the bay to safety. If he knows the Henge technique, he could easily hide himself in Gotham with ease." Cheshire spoke, clicking her tongue in annoyance since they had arrived too late.

"Indeed. Though he has to come up for air at some point or another. And when he does, we shall find him. After all, we are the League of Assassins for a specific reason. It's not a matter of 'if' we find our intended target… but 'when'. I shall be dispatching the entire League to find him. The first person to find this boy and bring him to me shall be handsomely rewarded… any who do him harm I shall personally execute." Ra's spoke as he turned around and was met by a legion of Assassins who all bowed in acknowledgment to his orders.

Amongst their numbers was Talia who was reading a local newspaper for any relevant information about Naruto's last known whereabouts and activities on the second page. And on the front page was an article titled 'Thorne dead! Unknown Crime Boss 'Kingpin' suspected.'

End chapter four.

Next potential update:

The Throne Wars.

Keys to the Kingdom.

Empathy.

Family is Forever.