Chapter 18: Did U Miss Me (1/2)

A lingering array of floating asteroids hovered along the vast cosmos, the backdrop of colors lighting the area, allowing Other to walk along the rocky path as he practically glided towards his destination like the other worldly specter that he was. Climbing the spiraling staircase that lead to his master's chambers, Other took each step with clear trepidation, each step taken with further hesitation. Finally, he reached the last step, his cloaked form stopping as he saw the Dark Lord had vacated his usual spot upon his levitating throne, his back facing him as he looked pa.s.sed the asteroid field into the ever-expanding universe. Gone was his battle armor, the tyrant wearing a sleeveless lightly armored vest that was gold and royal blue in color, with military styled pants and golden combat boots that went up to his knees. The man's awesome size seemed even more prominent, his muscular arms in a seemingly constant flex, his biceps looking like they were about to burst at the seams.

”Well?” Thanos demanded, his throttling baritone boomed.

Other nodded swiftly, his arms moving up defensively out of reflex, ”It appears our sources are correct, the Maelstrom has the Stone in his possession. From what they have reported, the Xandarians 'allowed' him to take it after Ronan's invasion on the pretense he hide and protect it, rather than use it.”

The Mad t.i.tan hummed, though whether it was out of anger or curiosity was unknown to his subordinate, ”The fools. To trust something like that anyone but themselves shows how weak hearted they have become. Though, I suppose a thousand years of war can do that.” Rubbing his chin, he continued, ”Had they kept it our loss of the Stone wouldn't have matter, as we could've taken at any point we chose. Now though, there's no telling what that boy has done with it.”

The hooded figure nodded, ”And there have been no reports of him using the Stone. No one knows where he has decided to keep it.”

”What of our a.s.set?” Thanos asked, ”The one we tasked with capturing him? The 'G.o.d Slayer?'”

”He still struggles with finding him my Lord. His reports say that the boy has a knack for disappearing off the face of a planet and appearing on another two galaxies away.” Looking up he asked, ”Do you believe he is using the Stone within the Tesseract?”

”Perhaps.” Turning to face his subordinate, the t.i.tan bellowed, ”I tire of these games. I've allowed the Slayer to take so long because his killing of 'G.o.ds' along the way amused me, but no longer will I allow his procrastination. Tell the fool if he doesn't find the boy by the end of this yearly cycle, I will show him the power of a true G.o.d.”

”Yes, my Lord, of course my Lord.”

-x-

Location: The Planet Haragon

-x-

”On your feet boy!”

The man called boy gave a vocal scoff as he was pulled to his feet by the mountain of a man in front of him. The boy was wearing a thick brown fur coat under an orange armored vest with red highlights, a matching shoulder pad on his left shoulder attached to the vest. With his hood pulled up with a Sakaaran Scavenger mask covering his face, one could only guess his appearance.

Pulling on the chains keeping his captive restrained, the giant wore a set of leather armor that was brown in color, fur strapped under the armor pieces to keep the man at least somewhat warm. While ma.s.sive, he had the standard Haragonite look of what looked like a mutated turtle without their sh.e.l.l, his dirty green skin tone decorated with vengeful red tribal tattoos.

The two trekked through the tiled hallway, pa.s.sing cell doors one by one, their occupants peeking past the bars to see who was being summoned by the Exalted One.

”Dead man walking.” One of the prisoners hissed.

”Don't bother begging, he'll only make it slower.”

”Lucky b.a.s.t.a.r.d was only here for a few hours before they called him to court.”

”Probably an Asgardian or something.”

”Or a Sakaaran. Look at the mask.”

The dead man didn't bother to reply, keeping his eyes forward as he kept up with the Haragonite to keep him from pulling on the chains. Coming up on a pair of towering stone doors, the guard stopped in front of it as he gave it a single hard knock. The two waited for several moments in a patient silence. Then, a m.u.f.fled, ”Enter,” was heard.

It didn't take a second before the stone doors to swing open with a loud echoing creak. With a mighty thoom the doors opened all the way, presenting the two with the wide courtroom in front of them. Dimly lit by a plethora of hovering lanterns, the stone tiled hall was filled with dozens of armed Haragonites, the types of swords and axes they were carrying varying from person to person. At the end of the courtroom was a ma.s.sive throne carved out of stone, two Haragonites on each side. And there, plopped lazily on the throne, was the Exalted One. The man was rather large, though considering he was a Jotun his height wasn't really all that special. His dark blue skin was covered by a dark grey robe, though it looked to be more for decoration than protection from the cold.

His hand held up his chin as he gave the prisoner a chilling glare with his angry red eyes, ”Bring him to me.”

With a sharp pull, the guardsman pulled the prisoner forward. Bringing him before the throne, the guard kicked out his leg to bring him to his knees. With a swift pull, his hood was brought down to reveal slightly spiked blonde locks. Grabbing the mask, he slid it up to show a man in his mid-twenties, his bright blue eyes drilling into the Exalted One, the whisker like marks on his face crinkled up as he smirked up at the man.

”Frosty.” Naruto greeted.

The Exalted One's glare grew even colder, ”You should watch yourself, Maelstrom. It is by my mercy that you've lived this long.”

The blonde didn't respond, instead looking up at the Frost Giant defiantly.

”What are you doing here Maelstrom?”

The blonde shrugged, ”I was here to help out the villagers under your 'protection.'” Looking around he said, ”And look at where that got me.”

His brow furrowed The Exalted One asked, ”And what prey tell brought your attention to us? Is Xandar aware of our actions?”

”Xandar?” Naruto asked with a scoff, ”No. No, they're still too busy tiptoeing around the Kree to pay attention to something as small time as you.” Looking up at the Exalted One he said, ”You in particular were hard to pin down. Every village I went to, none of your goons knew where you were staying at. Scarred Thor might come after you?” He asked with a smirk.

”That oaf?” The Exalted One asked, ”If the fool didn't know I was here when he and his Asgardians were waging war with this planet, I doubt he'll ever know.”

”That or you're such a small fry he didn't see the need to bother.” Naruto shot back, ”You were probably just a grunt when your king tried to invade Asgard.”

”Small?” He whispered harshly, ”Small?! I am Lekey! Right hand man to King Laufey himself!” His arm swept across the hall, ”I lead a militia of over a thousand Haragonite warriors, I have control of over a dozen villages in the region! I am the Exalted One!” Getting up from the chair he finished, ”Should that oaf of a prince show his face to me, I will plant his head on a pike, and use his beloved hammer to bring Asgard to the ground.”

Naruto's smirk grew into a full-grown smile, ”Did you say Lekey?”

Lekey gave a confused pause, ”…Yes?”

Giving a sigh of relief, Naruto swiftly pulled at his shackled hands, breaking the restraints as though they were b.u.t.ter, ”Man, you have no idea how long I've been waiting on someone to actually use your name. Exalted One this, Exalted One that, leave it to a guy like you to give yourself such a name when all you've done is take over a few small villages.” Pulling up his sleeve, he showed his Uta, a hologram of Lekey's face popping up, his name and what looked like a bounty underneath, ”Lekey of Jotunheim, wanted for ma.s.s murder on several planets, along with several counts of extortion. Current bounty set at fifty million Units, dead or alive.”

”What?” Lekey asked, ”What is the meaning of this?”

”Well, a friend of mine tipped me off that a guy with a big a.s.s bounty was extorting several villages on Haragon for 'protection payments.' He agreed to tell me where you were if I split the bounty with him. Sadly, none of your lackeys new your actual name, and since you moved around so much none of them knew where you were, I had to 'get captured' so I could be brought to you. Standard stuff, not that complicated.” Naruto said as he stretched out his wrists.

Lekey's grit his teeth as he hissed out, ”Kill him.”

That was all his men needed to hear, the turtle like warriors drawing their weapons out as they charged the blonde in front of their master.

Naruto, not taking his eyes off Lekey, said, ”Come at me then.”

-x-

Location: New York City, New York

-x-

”I'm Christine Everhart.”

”And I'm Will Adams.”

”And this is WHiH World News.” Christine said, the duo sitting side by side at their pristine news desk. As the camera focused on the blonde woman, ”Today marks the final day of a city-wide cleanup in Was.h.i.+ngton D.C. after the event now known as Project Incite, where it was uncovered that agents of the long thought disbanded terrorist cell, Hydra, had infiltrated the intelligence agency known as s.h.i.+ELD. One such mole being Alexander Pierce, the Secretary to the WSC, who oversee all s.h.i.+ELD activities. These events culminated in the death of s.h.i.+ELD Director Nicholas Fury, the disbandment of s.h.i.+ELD by the government, and tens of millions of dollars in damages to the D.C. area.”

The camera panned to Adams, ”Last night, Tony Stark announced the building dubbed Stark Tower as the official headquarters of the Avengers. The team will act independently from any world government, and will act as a deterrent from events that are similar in nature to the Incident that occurred two years ago in New York City.”

”Speaking of Tony Stark,” Christine said, ”The billionaire has just finished giving his testimony against the scientific research and development agency known as AIM. The company is currently under investigation after it was revealed that they were connected to the Mandarin, a terrorist who took responsibility for the bombings that occurred throughout the world. Mandarin was shown to be a front, with AIM having been behind the bombings that occurred due to the volatile experiments dubbed Extremis. The organization has been shut down, and any surviving members are currently being investigated and charged.”

As Christine was about to speak, the television screen went mute. Remote control in hand, Illyana Rasputin got up from her seat. Setting down the remote, the woman leaned back so she was laying on the bed, releasing a heavy sigh as she did.

”Long day?”

Not bothering to turn her attention to the voice, Illyana mumbled, ”What did I say about teleporting into my apartment?”

In her bedroom was the Ancient One, the woman walking across the room with her arms behind her back in a stoic prance, ”And what have I said about showing such disrespect to your teacher?”

Illyana had the decency to look admonished, ”I'm sorry.”

Reaching the blonde woman, the Ancient One said, ”I've allowed you to stay outside of Kamar-Taj while you undergo your training, at the very least I should be allowed to make unexpected visits now and again.” Sitting down next to Illyana, a cup of tea appeared in her hand. After taking a sip, she continued, ”Your teachers say you're progressing well, a true prodigy some claim.”

”Better than Strange?” She asked.

”No.” The Sorcerer Supreme admitted.

”Is there a reason you're here master?” Illyana asked.

The Ancient One nodded, ”There is.”

The woman nicknamed Magik waited several seconds for her master to continue, before finally saying out of impatience, ”And?”

”I have felt…a presence, these past few days. A presence that comes closer and closer to Earth. One that I don't know if its current defenders can fight against.”

Illyana looked at the Ancient One in confusion, ”And what does that have to do with me?”

Looking at her student with a slightly pointed look, the master said, ”I know that he gave you a way to contact him. A way to summon him.”

Magik gave the Ancient One her own look, ”I'm not saying I don't. But why can't we help in stopping this 'presence?'”

”We are charged with safeguarding the world from mystical threats. Threats such as these are not ours to meddle.” The sorcerer explained, ”Now how do we summon him?”

With a shrug, Illyana got up from the bed and walked over to the dresser. Pulling open the drawer, she shuffled through the piles of socks for a moment before pulling out a bundle wrapped in clothe. Now back on the bed, Illyana carefully unraveled it to reveal a tri-tipped blade, ”He gave me this a couple years ago. Said if I ever needed anything to throw the blade into a surface and he'd be here in a flash.”

As the Ancient One took the blade into her hands, she said, ”Good. Because the presence has arrived.” The sorcerer nodding to the television, the mute turning off with the motion.

Illyana looked to the television, the news showing a breaking news announcement as what looked like an alien s.h.i.+p descended onto Kowloon Bay near Hong Kong, the water parting along the s.h.i.+ps thrusters. The s.h.i.+p was unlike anything the blonde woman had seen before, with a diamond like shape with a dull grey color scheme with golden tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs, she could safely say it wasn't anything from Earth. Hovering just over the water bed, the s.h.i.+p became still. Then, it moved forward. Slowly it encroached upon the edge of Hong Kong, crawling closer and closer to the city's harbor. Reaching one of the dozens of docks connecting to the bay, the s.h.i.+p came to another stop. As a door began to crawl up, a figure could be seen in the entry way. Walking into the light, a ma.s.sive grey skinned man walked onto the dock, the heavily armored and armed creature walking with no real sense of urgency.

In a baritone voice that was somehow easily picked up by the distant cameras, the man spoke, ”I come for the Celestial. Bring him to me.”

-x-

”What the h.e.l.l is a Celestial?”

Walking through the Stark Tower hanger, Clint Barton and Steve Rogers barreled towards the Avenger's Quinjet, the Captain strapping his s.h.i.+eld to his back as he said, ”No idea. We have an idea if this guy's hostile?”

It was Maria Hill who answered, ”He has yet to make any kind of move, he just keeps demanding to see the Celestial. The local police and military have been ordered not to engage, they've set up a perimeter and are waiting on our arrival.”

”Is Tony on his way?” Steve asked.

”He called almost as soon as the s.h.i.+p entered our orbit, he'll be there just a little before us. He's bringing Banner along with him.”

Nodding, Steve and Clint entered the jet, with Clint heading towards the c.o.c.kpit. Looking to the co-pilot seat, Hawkeye gave a quick nod to the one in the seat, ”Ready?”

Giving a c.o.c.ky smile, Natasha replied, ”Are you?”

”Always.”

-x-

”Bring him to me. I will not ask again.”

Tony Stark, the man wearing his Mark XLIII suit, looked to Banner, the two of them standing several yards away from the mysterious alien, ”You have any idea what he's talking about?” He asked, the face section of his armor raised up to reveal his face.

Bruce shook his head, ”No clue.”

The armored man sighed, ”Yeah, me neither.” Stepping forward, he said to the creature, ”You gotta name big guy?”

Looking to Tony, the 'big guy' answered, ”Desak.”

It was Bruce who said, ”Well…Desak, we don't know what you're talking about. What is a Celestial, exactly?”

”Not what.” Desak said, ”Who.”

”Okay, who exactly are you talking about?” Bruce pressed, ”Maybe we can help you find them.”

Desak narrowed his eyes, ”Do not play the fool with me. I know that the Celestial came from this planet before heading for Xandar.” Slowly, the G.o.d Slayer reached for the axe strapped to his back, causing Bruce to step back and Tony to aim his Repulsors, ”If you will not bring him to me, perhaps he will come on his own accord.” And with that, he drew his weapon with a resounding thw.a.n.g.

A nervous looking Bruce eyed Tony, ”Code Green?”

The face section of his helmet came down hard as he said, ”Yeah. Code Green.”

-x-

Illyana watched as the alien fought back against Iron Man and the Hulk, the armored creature flinging the former across the city like a rag doll and matching the latter's strength with surprising ease. Her attention was turned away from the television when the sound of a blade hitting wood, her eyes drawn to the three-bladed knife stuck in the wall. Giving her master an annoyed look, the blonde said, ”Did you have to throw it in my wall? This apartment is a rental.”

The Ancient One didn't seem to care about that, ”I thought you said he'd be here in a flash? This isn't a flash.”

”Maybe he meant a literal flash?”

Giving an annoyed hum, the Ancient One folded her arms behind her back, ”Are you sure there isn't another step to it?”

”Nope. He just said to throw it and wait.”

Closing her eyes while giving an agitated sigh through her nose, the master said, ”Then we wait.”

Looking to the television, Illyana said, ”Well it looks like the rest of the Avengers are there.” True to her word, Captain America, Hawkeye, and Black Widow had just arrived on the scene.

Her eyes still closed, the Sorcerer shook her head, ”I doubt they'll be able to hold him off for long.”

”Hold off who?”

As Illyana jumped in shock at the new voice in the room, the Ancient One simply opened her eyes with a strange calmness, a small smile on her face as she turned to recently arrived blonde. The man had grown since the last time she'd seen him, the way he held himself was more mature, confident. Wearing a rather strange attire that looked slightly worn and torn, with rips and slashes littered around his person, with a green liquid that smelt like blood staining the brown fur. And in his hand was the head of a blue skinned creature, its lifeless eyes staring up at her as blood dripped from his gaping neck to the wooden floor below.

”From him.” The Ancient One answered, nodding her head towards the television.

Eyeing the TV with a raised brow, Naruto saw Desak swatting at Captain Rogers, the super soldier raising his s.h.i.+eld just in time to take the brunt of the blow, sending the man flying before landing in a roll. As the Annihilator reared back his battle axe to try and behead Tony, four arrows found themselves imbedded in his triceps before they each exploded in medium ball of fire. As Desak walked through the parting cloud of smoke, not looking damaged in the slightest.

”Huh.” Naruto mumbled, his eyes on the televised battle as he sealed away the head of Lekey, ”He got a name?”

”He calls himself Desak.” Illyana answered, though most of her attention was on the blonde's out of this world appearance, ”He's looking for someone named Celestial, thinks he's from Earth.”

A dangerous edge came to Naruto's eyes, ”…Celestial huh.”

Illyana looked at her fellow blonde in confusion, ”Do you know him?”

Naruto didn't bother answering, placing the scroll into his hip pouch as he stoically said, ”I'm gonna help take care of this.” Looking to Illyana he continued with a smile, ”After that we can catch up.”

Illyana couldn't help but look hopeful as she asked, ”Does that mean…you're coming back?”

The ninja chuckled, ”Yeah…yeah I think so. I've been gone long enough, don't you think?”

”Yeah, for sure.”

His smile getting a little bigger, the Uzumaki said, ”I'll see you in a bit then. Same with you AC.” And with that, he was gone.

-x-

”Hulk…SMAs.h.!.+”

Desak jumped back as a giant green blur smashed into the ground in front of him, sending concrete and other debris flying in all directions. He wasn't allowed a reprieve however, as he felt a beam of energy hit him in the back, the blue soldier's s.h.i.+eld slam into his jaw, and several arrows slice into his ribs, each blow forcing him to take a slight step back from the force of them. It wasn't enough to keep his attention off the ma.s.sive green rage machine, the Annihilator easily catching its fist without showing much strain, the ground underneath them exploding from the power of the impact.

The G.o.d Slayer glowered at the Hulk as he grumbled, ”Is that all you have, beast?” Yellow energy began to emit from around his body, his eyes glowing the same haunting color as he said, ”Perhaps when I kill you, the Celestial will show himself to me.”

Faster than anyone of the Avengers could follow, Desak's fist plowed into the Hulk's face, sending the green beast into a high velocity propulsion into one of the parked police cars nearly fifty yards away, the Hulk's impact nearly flattening the vehicle as he bounced up before skipping across the pavement. As he tumbled to a stop, Desak appeared above him in a burst of speed, his broad sword in a reverse grip.

Realizing what the alien was about to do, Stark shouted, ”Stop him, now!” With that order he fired off a beam of energy from the Arc Reactor centered in the chest piece of his armor, with his fellow Avengers throwing everything they had at the alien to keep him from plunging his blade into the Hulk's head. That was a success, though only a minor one.

”AUGH!” The Hulk screamed in agony as the broad sword's blade sliced into his lower chest.

”BRUCE!” Tony yelled in worry as Black Widow and Hawkeye desperately fired off their weapons at Desak to try and get him to back off their comrade. Desak brushed off the attacks however, pulling his blade out of the Hulk as he prepped the sword to finish it off.

As he reared the sword back, a powerful presence seemed to make itself known, stopping him from separating the enraged beast's head from its shoulders. Lowering the blade to his side, he turned his head to see Naruto standing amongst the team doing their best against him, all of them staring at him in shock.

”NNaru-” Natasha stuttered, her body nearly shutting down from shock, ”Naruto?”

”Holy s.h.i.+t.” Clint muttered.

After giving Natasha a quick once over, Naruto turned his attention to Desak, ”So I hear you're looking for me.”

Desak nodded, ”You took your time. I did not think that the man they called a Celestial was a coward.”

”I apologize for taking so long, but wouldn't it have been easier to just give me a call? It wasn't like I was hiding or anything.” Walking forward, he continued, ”But no. You had to make an a.s.shole out of yourself by attacking a planet that would have zero idea as to where I was. It's a good thing I left a way for someone to call me, otherwise you'd have probably destroyed this place.” Stopping just a few feet away, he finished, ”And that p.i.s.ses me the f.u.c.k off.”

Like a viper, Naruto's hand struck out at Desak's chest, his hand resting on his skin for only a nanosecond before the two of them disappeared as though they'd never been there at all.

-x-

Desak stumbled back as he appeared in a vast desert dune field, the pounding heat beating down on his heavily armored form, a cloud of sand blowing into his face forcing him to guard his eyes with his hand, ”Where have you taken me Celestial?”

Naruto, placing the Sakaaran mask over his face to protect his face from the mild sand storm billowing around them, said, ”They call this place Tadrart Acucus. No cities or people for miles.” Summoning Sasuke's chokuto into his hand, he got into defensive stance, ”Well?”

The Annihilator chuckled as he twirled the great sword around almost playfully, ”Prey to your G.o.ds if you have them Celestial. For you will be meeting them soon.”

”I don't have a G.o.d to prey to. All I have are people I consider precious to me.” His blade poised he finished, ”And you just tried to kill the some of the few I have left.”

As those words left his lips, he struck.

CLANG!

Their blades locked together, the sound of metal grinding on metal filling the air as the two of them glared into each other's eyes. Naruto's muscles strained and flexed as he tried to hold back the monster of a man from breaking past his guard. Little by little however, his feet began to skirt back against the sand. About to lose his footing, Naruto back stepped quickly before taking two testing swipes at Desak's midsection, each one blocked with ease.

Desak seemed to lose his patience with Naruto's prodding, parrying the next slash with a hefty shove from the flat side of his sword before stabbing at an open blonde, said ninja forced to spin out of the way, only to get his legs kicked out from under him forcing him to become parallel with the ground for a moment. That moment was all Desak needed, bringing his blade down like a hammer on Naruto's hips, splitting the man in half with one fluid cut.

POOF

Desak raised an eyebrow as his opponent disappeared in a puff of smoke. Looking around the desert dunes, the man was annoyed to find an unharmed Naruto standing not far away, his chokuto in a reverse grip, the blade incased in lightning, ”I had heard you were full of cheap tricks.”

”Most of my people were too.” Naruto said.

Pulling out the s.h.i.+eld strapped to his lower back, Desak got into a defensive stance, ”They must have been a bunch of cowards then.” Desak was barely able to get the last word out, forced to bring up his s.h.i.+eld to block the incoming spear made of lightning, the man skidding back from the force. He then raised up his blade, just in time to block the blonde's chokuto from splitting his head like a banana, a sonic boom escaping from the impact.

”You don't know a d.a.m.n thing about them!” Naruto growled out, his eyes a dangerous red as he came at the Annihilator with a flurry of strikes and stabs, doing his best to end the ignorant fool in front of him.

In the middle of his barrage of lightning fast attacks, Kurama yelled, ”Calm down brat! This fool isn't someone to lose your cool on!” When Naruto continued with his attacks, the Tailed Beast said, ”If you weren't so p.i.s.sed off you'd notice that his s.h.i.+eld is absorbing the chakra surrounding your blade every time you hit it! He can absorb energy you d.a.m.n brat! That's why neither of them are shattering from a single hit from your Chidori Blade!”

Cutting off the constant flow he'd been giving the chokuto, Naruto gave his sword a testing swing into Desak's s.h.i.+eld. Almost as soon as the sword made contact, the lightning around Naruto's blade disappeared, ”Whwhat?” Naruto stuttered. His eyes narrowing, Naruto said, ”That's some nifty weapon you got there. It's even able to absorb chakra.”

”So, you finally notice?” Desak asked, ”I was wondering how long it would take.”

Jumping back, Naruto attached the sword to his back with Magnet Release. Flipping through a long set of hand seals, Naruto shouted, ”Well, let's see how you handle this! Lightning Release: False Darkness!”

Opening his mouth as wide as his jaw would allow it, the blonde fired off a thick beam of lightning, the streak of electricity blasting off at the hulking warrior across from him. Desak simply readied himself, his s.h.i.+eld raised to where the lightning bolt would hit.

THOOM

When the jutsu hit, the force of the explosion forced Naruto to s.h.i.+eld his eyes slightly, but not enough that he couldn't see the huge flash of energy as the ground around where Desak had been hit exploded, sending clumps of sand everywhere. As the sand settled and the dust cleared, Naruto narrowed his eyes when he saw Desak was no longer there.

He wasn't given much time to ponder it, as a ma.s.sive fist soon found its way into Naruto's jaw. Blood and spittle sprayed from his mouth as he took a step back to correct his balance. Then another fist came, this time slamming into the other side of his face, and one more right into his stomach, his body folding over Desak's fist as more blood sprayed pa.s.sed his lips.

Desak looked down at Naruto, his face one of boredom as he brought his fist back from Naruto's stomach, allowing the blonde to stumble back. Redrawing his great sword, the G.o.d Slayer withdrew the blade with one swift pull before bringing it down on Naruto's head.

Naruto, still stunned from the a.s.sault, could only watch as the sword came down on him.

-x-

”Where the h.e.l.l did he go?!”

Tony sighed in agitation as he heard Barton yell over the Quinjet's engine, ”If I knew I'd tell you Legolas.”

”Don't call me that!” Clint shouted, pointing his finger at Stark in agitation, ”Naruto just f.u.c.king disappeared with a guy that was throwing Banner around like he was nothing! We need to find them, and help him!”

”We're trying Clint.” Steve said, trying to calm the agitated dead shot, ”We've got Hill back at Stark Tower searching for any sign of them, we'll get a hit eventually. You just have to be patient.” He insisted, placing a hand on the man's shoulder.

Clint brushed off Steve's hand as he turned sharply to Natasha, ”Aren't you going to say anything? The man is back after three years, and you haven't said a thing! Don't you lo-”

”Shut up!” Natasha shouted. Blinking, the woman quickly calmed herself as she allowed her cold façade to take over, ”We've got to get Bruce to Stark Tower, thanks to the other guy the bleedings stopped, but he still needs to see Dr. Cho as soon as possible. Naruto can handle himself…he's stronger than you think.”

Stark nodded, looking over at the unconscious Banner, his chest wrapped in b.l.o.o.d.y bandages, though his breathing had steadied and color had returned to his face, ”She's right. We'll find Naruto, Clint, but first we have to get Banner to the Tower.”

-x-

Naruto blinked, momentarily bewildered at the sight of the giant wall of sand that had sprung up and intercepted the sword just as it was about to carve into his skull, ”Thanks for the save…Kurama.” He thought.

”No problem brat. Now get on your feet. You're embarra.s.sing yourself.”

”Right.” He said aloud, jumping back several dozen yards as several spikes of sand shot out of the ground towards Desak, the man using his surprising agility to dodge each one, the warrior forced to back pedal several feet before the spikes stopped their a.s.sault. Closing his eyes in concentration, Naruto allowed himself to enter Six Paths Sage Mode, his eyes taking on the distinct color and shape to show his transformation. Taking a calming breath, Naruto got into a combative stance, waiting on Desak to make the first move, ”He's a lot faster than I thought he'd be. It's like fighting a Kage back home.”

Kurama nodded in the seal, ”He's got some kind of power source. Didn't you feel that energy spike?”

The blonde frowned, ”Not really…then again I've been a little preoccupied with getting my a.s.s kicked…man that hasn't happened for a while now has it?”

”Well like I said, it's embarra.s.sing. So get your head in the game before you get us both killed.”

Naruto nodded as he called out to Desak, ”You're pretty good. The best I've seen so far outside my planet, that's for sure.”

The Slayer raised his sword at the ready, ”And you're nothing but a disappointment. You're no Celestial. No G.o.d. If it were any other circ.u.mstance, I wouldn't even bother with you. It is only because of who you've angered that I seek your death today.”

If Naruto planned on asking who Desak was talking about, he never got the chance. With a quick duck, he felt the tip of his hair get chopped off as he drew his chokuto, parrying the next strike as it came with ease before sending a swing of his own. Naruto felt Desak not expect the strength in his swing, the warrior forced to reinforce his stance at the last minute when the blonde nearly broke it with a single strike.

The two then engaged in a brutal dance of blades, the Annihilator blocking with his s.h.i.+eld and attacking and parrying with his sword, and Naruto doing his best to get a good enough opening to give a fatal blow. No such open came, the two's desert dance coming to a stop when they jumped back from each other, each a.s.sessing the other intensely.

Extending a hand out, Naruto said, ”Magnet Release: Faithful Attraction!”

Desak looked down at his sword and s.h.i.+eld, the two of them trying their best to pull away from him. Holding strong, the G.o.d Slayer held onto his weapons with a vice like grip. Suddenly, a yellow glow began to surround the brute of a warrior, the ethereal shade of yellow giving off a dangerous energy.

Realizing he was getting nowhere with his Faithful Attraction, Naruto cut off the jutsu, just in time to cover his eyes as Desak gave a mighty battle cry, the sand splitting open and jutting out beneath him as he roared up to the heavens, the yellow energies presence becoming even greater.

”Holy s.h.i.+t!” Naruto yelled, sending chakra to his feet to keep himself from blowing away, ”The guys going Super Saiyan!”

”No, you fool!” Kurama screamed, ”He's using that power source! This is rivalling a Tailed Beast in energy! Five tails, at the least!”

”Big guns it is then.” Naruto said as he was about to activate his Six Paths Sage Cloak. It wasn't to be however.

Desak blasted off towards him like a rocket, the already destroyed ground beneath exploding, destroying the dune he was on to make a giant crater.

”Humph!” Naruto grunted as Desak barreled into him, taking him in midair with enough speed to keep them going before they slammed into a distant rock formation, ”AAUGh!” Naruto screamed at the impact, the two of them drilling into the hard rock with extreme force and speed. Desak quickly took advantage of that, bringing his fists down on Naruto's face over and over again, the blonde's blood caking his knuckles as he tried to pound his skull in. Having enough with the punching, the Annihilator grabbed Naruto by the hair roughly.

Blood pouring down Naruto's face, nose, and mouth, the blonde muttered, ”That all you go-” Desak didn't allow him to finish his sentence, slamming his head so hard into the rock it left an indent. Bring his head back again, Desak repeated this. Over and over again.

”So pathetic. Though…I suppose I shouldn't be shocked you couldn't stand up to the power of the Designate. Only one man has, and he's the one that wants you dead. Consider it a blessing he sent me rather than coming himself. Though it doesn't really matter either way, for you'll be meeting him soon enough. So, allow me to once again give you this final curtesy. Prey to your G.o.ds, if you have them. For you will be visiting them soo-”

”RASENGAN!”

The sound of grinding metal filled the desert dunes. And the sound of an explosion of energy followed soon after. Desak flew away from the still down Uzumaki, the Slayer clutching his shoulder as he glared at the blonde. Naruto simply gave the glaring warrior a b.l.o.o.d.y smile, getting up from the ground, stumbling as he did, he said, ”I don't give a s.h.i.+t who I p.i.s.sed off. I don't give a s.h.i.+t who you are. I honestly couldn't give a s.h.i.+t what your whole story is. All I care about is that you tried to kill people I care about. For all I care, you became a dead man the moment you stepped foot on this planet.” The ground beneath him cracked as he allowed his Six Paths Sage Mode to activate. As he began to power up, so did Desak, the man's strange yellow energy building up around him, his eyes glowing with flickers licking off like embers. As rock and sand began to lift from oversaturation of energy in the air, Naruto finished, ”Well, let's go then.”

Both men's charge created simultaneous sonic booms, the sand and rock beneath them exploding outwards. But that was nothing compared to when their fists met in a mighty clash. They kept from continuing the clash, with Naruto throwing a mighty left hook into Desak's chin, just as the Annihilator jabbed at the ninja's temple. Blow after blow, the two went into each other with everything they had. The only problem was that Desak didn't seem to feel any of the bone shattering blows Naruto was dealing out. The sentiment was not shared. Blood dripped from Naruto's mouth as he heaved and huffed, weaving back and forth as he looked for an opening to strike. While the man opposite of him was bleeding and bruised as much as he was, he didn't show it with his stoic façade.

Jumping back, Naruto flipped through several hand signs, ”Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!” He thought, taking a deep breath before unleas.h.i.+ng a thin stream of fire at the nearby Desak. The Annihilator quickly brought out his s.h.i.+eld, raising the enchanted equipment just in time to intercept the jutsu from hitting his person. Just as the jutsu hit the s.h.i.+eld though, the stream of fire expanded into a sea of inferno.

Naruto didn't finish at that, going through another set of hand signs as he thought, ”Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!” Taking another breath in, he released it with a might heave, producing a magnificent gust of wind into the field of flames.

”Not done yet.” Naruto thought, ”Help me out here Kurama!”

”Sure thing brat!”

Holding his hand up, Naruto called out, ”Big Ball Tailed Beast Rasenshuriken!” Extending two chakra arms from his back, Naruto and Kurama formed a ma.s.sive Tailed Beast Ball over his head. Naruto quickly added an abundant amount of wind chakra into it, allowing a whirling shuriken like blade to wrap around the ball of Tailed Beast chakra. With a grunt, Naruto hurled the ma.s.sive jutsu at the now smoldering aftermath of the fire jutsu, knowing that Desak was still in the middle of it all.

Desak didn't seem all too keen on waiting for the attack to come to him, jumping at the jutsu as it swept across the desert plain, swinging his energy incased sword at it with all his might.

BOOOM!

-x-

”Found anything yet?”

Agent Hill looked up from her tablet to say, ”Not yet Captain. How's Banner?”

”He's fine.” Tony answered as he walked into the room, running his hand along his scalp, ”And we just got a hit. They're in the Sahara, Tadrart Acacus to be exact.”

”How the h.e.l.l did they get all the way over there?” Clint asked, sitting over in the corner as he tweaked with a trick arrow, ”Do you think he somehow used the Tesseract?”

”Possibly.” Tony answered, ”Where's Pointbreak when you need him?”

”Ms. Foster said he left for Nidavellir two days ago, whatever that is.” Hill said, not taking her eyes off of her tablet.

”Note to self, get Thor a phone.” Clint grumbled sarcastically.

Looking over his shoulder at Natasha, the woman sitting over at the bar with a blank expression on her face, Steve asked Clint, ”How is she?”

Clint shook his head, ”She's shut herself off. There's no getting through to her when she's like this.”