Ninja Of The Green (Community-Story) (CH 2)

A/N: This story is rated M for mature content not suitable for children.

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Chapter 2: Gotham

Gotham City

"I'm such a fool," Naruto muttered under his breath. He had ended up in Gotham, a place he wouldn't have chosen to visit, but something seemed to be drawing him to this dreadful city. From what he learned from his harsh life, following his instincts usually paid off, so he thought, "Since I'm already here, I might as well start looking for whatever it is that brought me to this place."

Naruto was not only irritated by the foul-smelling pollution of the city, but he also found it infested with crime. Since his arrival, he had already been targeted by criminals attempting to rob him on three different occasions during the night.

The Uzumaki emitted a sinister laugh as he reflected on what he had done to the criminals. They would be suffering for a considerable time, unable to walk properly after enduring the secret technique he learned from Kakashi, known as the thousand years of death.

Naruto walked around aimlessly letting the strange feeling he was getting guide him, he didn't think it was the green, the power he got when he arrived in this world when he entered sage mode or at least it was not the green completely, he guess that it was a combination of his instincts with this power.

"Whoever or whatever I'm meant to assist is clearly in distress," Naruto reflected, sensing that someone or something was in distress. "Ugh, I should probably just brush off this feeling and focus on my own life; getting involved will only lead to trouble."

Naruto acknowledged his thoughts, but his body continued to move toward the source that had drawn him there. He realized he couldn't turn a blind eye; his sense of duty wouldn’t let him leave someone who required help.

"Still, I could say the same for all the people in Gotham; they all need help more than the Batman can give them," Naruto reflected, noting the city's dire situation despite the efforts of the vigilante Batman to combat crime, which had little impact on the overall crime rate. "It’s as if the city itself thrives on the pain of its inhabitants."

Naruto recognized that the concept of a city possessing its own consciousness was absurd. However, people often claim the same about the planet, suggesting it has its own intentions and energies. It seemed plausible to him that Gotham City was alive, as he could feel the heavy negativity in the atmosphere, which shouldn't be detectable unless a large crowd was gathered in one place, experiencing pain and distress.

The blonde was unsure of what to anticipate, but he certainly didn't expect a massive plant to erupt from a random building with Batman clinging to it for dear life, accompanied by Batgirl and Robin, assuming the research conducted by his clone was accurate.

"Haha, how's it going, Bats?" Naruto heard an excited, maniacal voice shout with glee. Suddenly, a clown-like figure emerged—none other than the Joker. Beside him stood a female clown, whom Naruto recognized as Harley Quinn. Not far behind was a woman with green skin, clad in what appeared to be foliage.

"Wow, this isn't at all what I anticipated," Naruto quietly said to himself, attempting to remain hidden. He didn't want either the heroes or villains to find out he was present. "I'm confident Batman can take care of it."

Naruto observed the heroes using explosive devices and agile maneuvers to fight against the trees that were attempting to crush them. He then shifted his gaze to the green-skinned woman, who appeared to be the one manipulating the plants, but there was something off about her.

The blonde observed the green-skinned woman he identified as Poison Ivy, a known villain. She had a metallic device attached to her head, leading Naruto to deduce that it was controlling her movements, as she was behaving like a marionette with a vacant look in her eyes.

"Is she the reason the green brought me here?" Naruto pondered, channeling his senses into the enchanting energy of the green, which was indeed urging him to rescue Ivy.

Naruto concluded that in order to assist, he needed to conceal his identity. Utilizing a swift transformation jutsu, he altered his appearance to resemble his maternal lineage, sporting red hair along with an Anbu black ops uniform, complete with a fox mask and cloak.

The Uzumaki bided his time for the ideal moment to strike, observing as the Joker and his accomplice distracted Batman with their taunts. All the while, he kept his gaze fixed on Ivy.

Now that he was concentrating on her, he could feel that she had the ability of the green, which explained why the sentient energy would desire his assistance in rescuing one of its agents.

"Haha, why the long faces, bats? Aren't we enjoying ourselves?" the Joker cackled maniacally, observing the heroes struggle against the plants unleashed by Poison Ivy.

"What have you done, Joker?" Batman shouted as he evaded and launched small explosives at the tree branches attempting to impale him. "End this immediately."

"This isn't leading us anywhere," Robin exclaimed in exasperation, as he maneuvered around the plants attempting to ensnare him, all while utilizing the tools from his utility belt to eliminate the aggressive vegetation.

"Stop whining and focus on the fight, Boy Wonder!" Batgirl yelled as the plant assault intensified. "We need to reach Poison Ivy and free her from the Joker's control!"

With a maniacal grin stretching across his face, the Joker brandished a rifle and directed it at the heroes. He took aim and fired at his initial target, who just so happened to be the one wearing the least amount of protective gear—Robin.

The young hero was so preoccupied with the tree assaulting him that he failed to see the Joker draw a gun and take aim. It wasn't until he heard the gunfire that he realized the danger, but by that point, it was already too late.

BANG

The bullet missed Robin by an inch only because Ivy's plant and tripped him up. Witnessing this, Batman's anger boiled over. He launched himself into a fierce assault, determined to reach the Joker and put an end to the chaos.

"Joker, this is where it all stops!" Batman shouted, charging towards the clown. However, before he could get to him, Harley Quinn stepped in the way, wielding an umbrella that was actually a cleverly disguised gun.

"Stay away from Mr. J, you jerk," Harley wailed with an insane look in her eyes. She fired at Batman, making him dodge. "Take this."

BANG BANG BANG BANG

Batman had to dodge the barrage of bullets fired by Harley, while the Joker cackled at the scene, pleased with his clever decision to manipulate Ivy’s mind.

At that moment, Naruto struck swiftly and accurately, maneuvering through the chaos of battle to reach Ivy's location. He harnessed his wind chakra to obliterate the primary control device, liberating the villainess from the Joker's influence.

"What?" Ivy exclaimed, puzzled. She blinked several times to clear her mind, and as the memories flooded back, her eyes widened in realization of her ordeal and how the Joker had manipulated her. With a furious shout, she directed her rage at the one to blame, "You’re dead, Harley! Do you hear me? Dead!"

Flashback Scene Ahead

Gotham [Subway]

Ivy was hiding out in a concealed underground facility within the subway, having broken free from Arkham a week earlier. She was keeping a low profile when she received a message from her friend Harley Quinn.

"What do you want Harley?" Ivy inquired, having escaped from Arkham alongside Harley, who, as usual, was returning to the Joker.

"Not much, Pammy. I just feel like having a girls' night," Harley said with a smile that lacked genuine warmth. She had a backpack slung over her shoulders, which made Ivy raise an eyebrow since the blonde clown typically preferred to travel light and borrow Ivy's things. However, Ivy dismissed the thought and decided it was time to bring her own belongings.

"Alright, but we need to remain here. I refuse to take any risks that could land me back in jail right after my escape," Ivy remarked, glancing around at her hideout, which resembled an underground greenhouse filled with artificial lighting and numerous potted plants.

"That's okay, sweetheart," Harley said as she strolled around, taking in her surroundings. "Now, where are the snacks?"

Ivy sighed at the other woman's behavior, feeling a deep affection for her. Before becoming entangled with the Joker, this psychiatrist had been the only one to genuinely try to assist her, viewing her as more than just a dangerous criminal or a meta-human to be eliminated like a rabid animal.

Fast Forward

As time went by, Ivy and Harley were not lounging on her sofa. She had designed a part of her space to include a TV, refrigerator, kitchen, and bathroom, while the remaining area was dedicated to her beloved plants.

"How have you been since we got away?" Ivy inquired, her concern evident as she was aware that Harley had returned to the Joker, who was known for his mistreatment of her. "Is he being good to you?"

"There's no need to be concerned. Mr. J has treated me well; he hasn't harmed me at all," Harley replied, but Ivy remained skeptical. "He has something significant in mind and has asked me for a favor, and we're going to take a trip together."

"What does he expect from you, Harley?" the redhead inquired anxiously, sensing that whatever the clown had in mind for her friend was bound to be trouble.

"Don't worry about it," Harley said with a grin. She then attempted to steer the conversation in a different direction. "So, what’s going on with you and Kite Man? I heard you two are seeing each other."

Ivy was aware that her friend was attempting to shift the conversation, but she understood it was futile to push her to discuss a topic she wasn’t comfortable with, particularly since the Joker had instructed Harley to remain silent about it.

The red-haired antagonist shook her head in sympathy, unable to comprehend how someone like the Joker could hold such sway over a woman who is regarded as one of Gotham's top psychiatrists.

Ivy finally clarified, "My relationship with Kite Man was never anything serious," prompting a questioning look from Harley. She continued, "I only said yes to going out with him on a spur of the moment."

"Aww, I honestly thought you both looked adorable together," Harley commented with a playful frown, a bit disappointed that her friend was still single, unlike herself and her pudding, which she regarded as a superior partner.

"I'm not going to take dating tips from you, Harley, but I'm really curious—what does the Joker want you to do?" Ivy inquired, her expression serious as she sensed that the unstable man had something sinister in mind.

Harley appeared torn for a brief second, but then she flashed her friend a sweet smile. "Hey Pammy, we’re friends, right?" the clown-themed villainess replied, avoiding Ivy's question.

"Yes, I believe we are," Ivy responded, then observed as Haey stood up and turned away, concealing the guilty expression on her face. "What's wrong, Harley?"

"There's nothing to worry about, I just need to use the restroom," Harley said, turning around with a silly expression while holding her groin. "I really have to go!"

Ivy let out a sigh and shot the blonde woman a disapproving glance. She gestured towards the bathroom, prompting Harley to leave while ensuring she took her bag with her.

"That was strange, even for Harley," Ivy said, shaking her head. "I'll ask her again what that crazy bastard wants from her when she returns."

Ivy waited for Harley, but the blonde took more time than she had anticipated. To pass the time, Ivy turned her attention to the television, unaware that Harley had returned with a device in her hand.

"I’m really sorry, Pammy," Ivy heard Harley say from behind her. Then, something was placed on her head, and all the red-haired woman felt was pain. The last thing she saw before losing consciousness was Harley's tear-filled eyes.

Flashback Scene End

If looks were lethal, Harley would have been buried six feet deep from the fierce stare Ivy was directing at her and the Joker. The plant-based villainess was practically seething with fury.

Ivy unleashed a furious assault with her plant, unlike anything she had ever done before, while Batman wore an expression that was even more somber than his typical demeanor.

The Dark Knight observed as Ivy's plants ceased their pursuit of him and his allies, redirecting their attention towards the Joker and Harley instead.

"We need to help them," Batman said, causing his two sidekicks to turn their heads in his direction. "If we don't, Ivy will end their lives."

The Joker and Harley were fleeing for their lives when suddenly, plants erupted from the earth, with roots pursuing the nefarious pair. Ivy, riding a large leaf, wore an expression of rage, vowing that she would show them no mercy when she caught up.

Batman summoned his Batmobile and activated his Batplane's autopilot while he drove. He knew he would need both to confront Ivy. He and his sidekick hopped into the Batmobile and sped off.

"Hey Pammy, can we chat about this?" Harley called out cheerfully, just narrowly avoiding a sneaky plant root that almost caught her right in the tummy!

"Yeah, right! Just freeze, Harley! We can 'talk' as much as you want!" Ivy snapped, her fury boiling over as she chased him down, her expression a twisted mask of icy anger.

Harley swallowed hard upon seeing her friend's face, which hinted at a brutal fate. She intended to soothe her, but then the Joker intervened, making the situation even more dire.

"Calm down, can't you take a joke?" the Joker chuckled with his manic laugh. "It's not every day you get backstabbed, and when you think about it, it's hilarious—the one person you trusted turns out to be the traitor. Now that's amusing!"

Ivy recognized that the joke was dark, much like herself, but this crossed a line. Did he genuinely find her suffering amusing? This realization sent the red-haired villainess into an uncontrollable rage that was even more intense than before.

"I'll strip your skin off and use your body to nourish my plants," Ivy bellowed, as her foliage enveloped the entire area in an instant. The two clown-themed villains found themselves helpless, ensnared in her grasp, with no mercy to be found from her.

BAM BAM BOOM

The Batmobile and plane launched missiles at the plants surrounding the Joker and Harley; it was aimed far enough that it would not harm them, but it drew Ivy's attention to him like he planned.

"Keep your distance, Batman, or you'll experience my wrath as well," Ivy hissed, her eyes blazing with anger and irritation.

Batman communicated through the speaker in his Batmobile, saying, "I can't comply with your request, Ivy. Let them go and I'll ensure they return to Arkham for their offenses. I'll let you off the hook this time, but next time we meet, I won't hesitate to apprehend you."

The Dark Knight typically refrained from negotiating with criminals, but he recognized that confronting Ivy in her present condition would likely harm the city more than anything else.

"Get lost, asshole! These two clowns are going down today," Ivy announced, ready to take on Batman if he tried to stop her.

Naruto observed everything unfolding and found himself at a crossroads. He was uncertain whether to simply leave now that Ivy had been released from the mind control. After all, she was a villain and likely to bring him more trouble than she was worth. On the other hand, he could choose to assist her just this once, which could potentially draw even more attention to himself.

Chapter End

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A/N: Next time Poison Ivy confronts Batman, what will Naruto choose? Will he decide to walk away and let her handle the Dark Knight on her own, or will he find a way to lend her a hand?