23 wretches & Kings part 2 (2/2)

”That would mean you can mass produce an army.” Scoffing the River Tribe leader said, ”Impossible.”

”Impossible isn't in my vocabulary.” Naruto insisted with narrowed eyes, ”Trust me, I can help you save your daughter.”

”And why should we trust you?”

Naruto looked to T'Challa, the princes calm demeaner in play as he looked over the blonde. Sighing, Naruto said, ”I know I haven't exactly made the best first impression. All I am is an outsider stepping on your toes. None of you like me, I can see that as clear as day. But, you need my help. You don't want to admit it, you don't want anything to do with me for that matter. So, don't admit it. Don't like me. Cast me out. But I'm saving that girl. And if you want to send someone to tag along while I do it? Feel free.”

”Why do you insist on helping us?” Asked the Border Tribe elder, clearly confused by his motives.

It was T'Challa who answered, ”Because…he's just that kind of man.”

The room grew silent, everyone's eyes on the prince as he spoke. T'Chaka, studiously looking over at his son, asked, ”Do you vouch for this man, my son?”

T'Challa hesitated for a moment before answering, ”Yes, Baba. I will vouch for this man.”

Smiling, T'Chaka reached over and patted his son on the shoulder, ”Then it is decided. You will accompany this man on a rescue mission to save Shuri. You leave in half an hour.”

”But my king, all of the suits designed for T'Challa were sabotaged by the traitor T'Shan. Sending him out using any of them is out of the question.” Advised the Border Tribe elder, ”Speaking of the traitor, we've begun our sweep to decide just how much damage he'd done while in our ranks. And, though we've only scratched the surface it looks like he had his fingers dipped in a lot of different places. Who's to say there aren't others allied with him as well?”

”Perhaps had the prince not decided to kill the traitor, we could've interrogated him for that kind of information.” The River Tribe elder grumbled, eyeing the prince.

”We'll discuss all of that later.” King T'Chaka said firmly, ”For now, I feel our current issue is a bit more pressing.”

”What do you want in return?”

Everyone looked over to the Merchant elder, the wrinkled woman's attention solely on the blonde in the front of the room. Blinking, Naruto asked, ”Excuse me?”

”You are going to go fight a war for us boy. Clearly, you'll want compensation for such a thing. So, what do you want?” Clarified the elder.

Naruto's answer was quick, ”All I want is a private audience with the king.”

”Do you really think we'd let you-”

”Everyone out.” King T'Chaka ordered firmly.

The Merchant elder looked to her king, ”My king, surely you're not going to actuall-”

”If all he wants is to speak with me than I shall accommodate him. Besides, I had planned to speak with him should the opportunity arise. Now leave.” The king clarified.

The councilors didn't need another hint, getting up slowly before passing Naruto on their way out of the chambers. T'Challa followed behind them, stopping next to the blonde, ”I'll be waiting for you, Uzumaki.”

Naruto smiled, ”Sure thing. Hey uh, could you get someone to send my friend? I'm sure she's getting antsy waiting around wherever she's at.”

T'Challa gave a calm nod before exiting the chambers, leaving Naruto and King T'Chaka alone.

Seeing that the king was waiting for Naruto to speak first, the blonde coughed into his hand awkwardly, ”To be honest, I didn't expect you to let me speak to you so soon.”

”It's best to get it over with, I think.” T'Chaka claimed, shifting in his throne, ”Why did you come to Wakanda?”

”The first time I came here, it was a clone of me. He was sent to place a sealing tag that would let me teleport to N'Jadaka Village. I was doing that with every major capital or city on the planet, so don't think that I was picking you guys for any reason other than that. The clone was looking for a good spot to place the tag when the prince and his entourage tried to capture it for questioning. Seeing a guy dressed up as a cat and a group of heavily armored women take out one of my clones got my attention.” Naruto explained, ”I decided to do a little more reconnaissance after that.”

”By that, you mean attacking the general of my Dora Milaje?” T'Chaka accused, ”You captured and interrogated her for information. That isn't the work of a benevolent man.”

”To be fair, she attacked me.” Naruto defended, ”My interrogation was totally painless for her, and after I got what I needed I dropped her off right afterwards.”

”And what did you learn?” T'Chaka asked.

Naruto took a deep breath before saying, ”I learned that Wakanda is the most powerful country on the planet. You've gained that power through an extraterrestrial meteorite that's about the size of a small country, the hunk of rock buried underground. That said rock holds the strongest metal on Earth, maybe even several galaxies. Through centuries of research and trial by fire, you've discovered that it is also the most versatile metal on Earth as well. You use it for everything. Weapons, technology, clothes, infrastructure, you guys have mastered that element to a fine science.”

”And I can also assume you learned about our traditions as well?” The king asked. When the blonde nodded, T'Chaka said, ”After our ancestors discovered vibranium, we quickly learned what neighboring tribes and villages would do to get their hands on it. We knew that if we wanted to keep that advantage and avoid war, we'd have to pretend it didn't exist. We became reclusive, staying out of matters around us while we built our country from the ground up. Eventually, it became a way of life. We kept to ourselves, only concerned with making sure our people prospered and evolved year by year, decade by decade, century by century.”

”And now you have to live with the consequences of that.” Naruto said.

”Excuse me?” T'Chaka wondered.

Naruto folded his arms across his chest, ”To be honest, at first I was a little pissed when I found out your little secret. You've stood by, letting countless atrocities happen in the name of isolation. But at the end of the day, I understand. This world is a primitive one. If you give them a bigger stick in the name of peace, they'll turn it around on you as a weapon. If you give them access to vibranium, you're asking for a bloodbath. Maybe not then and there, or a year or five from then. But it'll happen. I've seen that kind of war. It isn't something I want to see again.”

T'Chaka raised an eyebrow, ”You speak as though you're not human.”

The blonde smiled, ”Guilty as charged.”

After a moment, T'Chaka tilted his head back and laughed, ”And to think, for a moment I thought you were just some superpowered American coming to my country to judge me and my people's ways of life with no real idea as to our perspective. But in reality, you're just some alien. An outsider looking in.” Sighing, the king said, ”My ancestors had to deal with European colonization, long before I took the reins of power. Back then, it took all their will not to instigate a war, throwing away our traditions to fight them away from this continent. But, they held their hand, watching in horror to what was happening around them. Seeing you, I saw a physical manifestation of that time. You were a white man, barging into my country doing as you pleased. Even now, knowing what you are, I can't help but draw that conclusion. You claim to understand my ways, that you agree with our traditions. But I don't need your approval. We don't need your acceptance. My ancestors never enjoyed sitting by, watching as the people of Africa were taken away never to return, or the countless massacres that have occurred on that same soil, or the problems that plagued the rest of the world. We see these things and we don't scoff or turn our nose. We cry tears of sorrow, because we know we're just as guilty for their pain. If you wish to ally with us, I will consider it. But don't question or ponder our ways. I do that enough myself every day.”

Naruto stood there, taking in the verbal beating. As the king's speech finished, he took a deep breath in before saying, ”Clearly, you're a proud man. I have no doubt that you are a good person, and probably an even better king. You look like a man that has sacrificed a lot for his country, and for that you have my respect. But I'm not going to agree to not question you. You look at me, and you see an image that just doesn't match up. I might look like the people that have plagued your land, but I'm not them.” He narrowed his eyes, ”I'm a self-contained maelstrom. A walking natural disaster. I came to see what you were doing, not out of some self-perceived sense of entitlement, but to see if you were just another group of monsters I had to destroy. Luckily, I see you for the people you are. You're a good people, with good intentions at heart. You have my support on that front. So, out of respect towards you King T'Chaka, you don't want this maelstrom pointed at you. Because no amount of vibranium will protect you from me.”

The two glared at each other for a long time, a battle of wills going on between them. Neither blinked for the longest time, standing still until King T'Chaka threw his head back and roared in laughter.

Getting up from his chair, the king stepped up to the blonde, patting him on the shoulder as he said, ”You are a brave man, Naruto Uzumaki. You and my son will get along well, I know that for certain.” Walking passed him he said, ”Come, let's go meet with my son. I'm sure your friend is down with him by now.”

-x-

T'Challa stood next to the giant double doors for used for exiting the Golden Palace. Standing next to him was a fidgeting Illyana, the woman looking rather nervous as she stood a few feet away from the prince, on high alert as she waited for Naruto to arrive.

Checking his armor, he sighed as he felt the extra weight the outmoded suit held. Unlike his which had a simple yet sleek black design, his father's was a bit more decorative and bulky. While still colored black, it was highlighted with golden decals, the chest piece more of a slim flak jacket and the leggings more baggy and pants like. Flexing his golden claws, he retracted them back into their place with a loud thrwang noise resound through the halls, causing Illyana to jump.

Deciding to ignore her, he stood at attention when he heard his father's laugh echo through the halls, with Naruto's laugh mixed in as well. Turning the corner, the two walked almost shoulder to shoulder, the king having rested his hand on the blonde's shoulder as he tried to contain his laughter.

”I wish I could have met this Jiraiya.” T'Chaka coughed out as his laughter came to a stop.

Naruto smiled, ”Yeah, he'd have loved this place.”

”Baba.” T'Challa called out, causing the king to leave the blonde's side to come speak to his son.

”How does it fit my son?” T'Chaka asked rhetorically, knowing that the suit was made to fit any size.

”It fits perfectly, thank you.” The prince answered with a bow of thanks.

The king raised his son up. Grasping his shoulders with both hands, T'Chaka looked his son in the eye as he said, ”Bring her back.”

”What of Achebe?” T'Challa asked, ”The council wants us to bring him in alive-”

”End him, my son. He took my daughter, your sister. He turned T'Shan against us. His death is the only thing he can do to repay for those crimes against us. And don't worry about the council. They answer to me. I will deal with them.”

T'Challa nodded firmly, ”Yes, Baba.”

Naruto walked over to Illyana, smiling as he asked, ”Miss me?”

”Yeah.” She answered, giving a weak smile.

Frowning, the ninja gave the woman a once over, noticing that her eyes were sunken in and her hands had a slight shake to them, ”Are you alright?” He asked in worry.

”I'm fine.” She said, trying to come off as strong but failing miserably.

”After you'd been shot, she killed the gunman.” Kurama said through the seal.

Quickly getting what Kurama was saying, Naruto stepped a little closer, leaning in close as he whispered, ”He was your first one…wasn't he?”

Illyana looked at Naruto in shock, blinking rapidly as she tried to form a response. Finally, she answered, her eyes screwed shot as she said, ”…No.”

Hesitantly, he placed his hands on her arms, holding her, ”Go home.”

”I can contin-”

”Go home, get some rest. This isn't a discussion. You're no good to anyone like this.” Naruto said firmly.

Illyana looked down, ”O-okay.” She weakly whispered.

As she opened a portal, Naruto asked, ”Do you want a clone to keep you company-”

”No.”

Then, the portal closed behind her, leaving Naruto alone as he sighed heavily.

”You'll have to talk to her, Naruto.” Kurama advised.

”I know.” He thought, ”After this.”

”Alright, let's go.”

Naruto turned to see a ready T'Challa looking at him in anticipation. Nodding, he said, ”Yeah, I'm ready.”

-x-

Shuri struggled as she was pushed into a large tent, thrown through the flaps to the ground. Getting to her knees, she glared up at the two men that had led her to the tent. Hearing a cough, she turned her attention to the man sitting across from her. However, it was the hand puppet sitting on his hand that got her attention, flaring her confusion as she tried to get to her feet.

Sitting behind his desk, Achebe smiled down at the girl as she got to her feet, ”Hello Shuri, I hope your stay with us as been pleasurable.”

”If by pleasurable you mean crappy food and worse company, than yeah sure.” She grumbled.

”Well, if good company is what you want, allow me to introduce you to Daki.” Achebe said, motioning to the hand puppet.

”He's the leader?” Shuri asked incredulously, ”You're kidding, right?”

Achebe's hand moved forward, Daki looking down at the princess, ”This is no joke child. I am the one who wishes to bring your country to its knees. I suggest you show the proper respect-”

Shuri burst out in laughter, holding her side as she said, ”By Bast, you're serious?! That's hysterical!”

The puppet looked to the guard standing next to her, nodding slowly. The guard nodded back before shoving the butt of his gun into Shuri's temple, dropping the princess.

Grunting as she hit the ground, she reached a shaky hand up to feel the blood that was dripping down her temple.

”This is no joke.” Daki repeated, ”I'll allow that slip up this once. But, if you haven't learned from this experience, I'll do to you what I do to everyone else who refuses to learn from past mistakes, understand?”

Shuri shuffled back to her feet, her knees shaking slightly as she asked, ”Why did you bring me here?”

”We've been alerted that a Wakandan plane has landed a few miles outside our camp. More than likely, the king has sent a rescue party. Earlier today, I received the news that your brother was saved by a man with strange abilities. I wasn't given a description, but I can only assume he and your brother have come to rescue you. That can't happen. In five minutes, the plain should be prepped and ready for takeoff. Just know, that if you cause Achebe or my men any trouble, I'll make you regret it. I won't kill you, but you'll with you were dead when my men are done with you. Understand?”

”Yes.” Shuri answered, though a gleam of defiance could be seen in her eyes.

Daki chuckled before looking to Achebe, ”I'm trusting you my friend. Don't disappoint me.”

Achebe nodded earnestly, ”Of course Daki, I won't fail you.”

”Good, good.”

Pulling out a small wooden case, Achebe opened it before carefully taking Daki off his hand, resting the puppet on the soft cushion inside.

Achebe sighed in satisfaction, ”Good night, my friend.”

-x-

Naruto strapped gripped his chokuto in his hands, looking it over as T'Challa activated the cloaking mechanism on the Wakandan ship that took them there, ”So, what's the plan?”

T'Challa placed his helmet over his head, ”We'll need to figure out which tent they're keeping her. After that, you start the distraction while I extract her and assassinate Achebe.”

”I've already got the recon covered.” Naruto said, ”I made a clone and had it transform into a bird. She was taken to the largest tent in the center of the campsite. Somehow they know we're here, and they're planning to take her to the plane that's sitting on the other side of the camp. So, I'm going to go in as hard as possible and get all their attention on me. It should be easy for you to get in after that.”

T'Challa nodded, adjusting his chest piece, ”And what exactly are you planning to do?”

Naruto smirked, his body being covered in a golden flame, his Six Paths Sage Mode taking form, ”There's no way their vibranium bullets can get me while I'm like this. I've got some pent-up frustration I've been dying to release on these bastards.”

”Did anyone ever tell you that you're a showoff, Uzumaki?” The prince asked. Reaching into his back pouch, he pulled out a small black dot. Giving it to the blonde he said, ”We'll use these to communicate. Stick it to the back of your ear.”

Nodding, Naruto quickly did as the prince said. Flexing his fist, he grinned, ”Alright T'Challa, I'll see you in a bit.” Activating his Magnet Release, he took off into the air, flying at top speed.

Sighing as he took off for the camp, T'Challa muttered, ”Why him? Of all people that it could've been, why him?”

Naruto grinned widely as he came to a stop several hundred feet above the campsite, ”Now, I've got to make a big entrance. What to do, what to do?”

”Don't you think you're going a little overboard using this form?” Kurama asked.

”These guys kidnapped a little girl and are trying to instigate a war. That, and they're the reason I got shot.” Naruto argued, ”I'm not gonna hold back against these guys. That and I think it's time I sent a message. Not just to Wakanda, but the rest of the world.”

”What kind of message?” Kurama asked, ”The don't fuck with me kind? Didn't you already do that?”

”I did that with SHIELD. They usually covered up any destruction I caused. And no, no not that kind of message.”

”What kind then?”

”The I won't sit around and let things slide kind.” Naruto answered.

Kurama sighed, ”You're an idiot.” Grinning himself, the beast said, ”Well alright then, let's fuck some shit up!”

Releasing his Magnet Release, Naruto began to drop towards the ground, aiming himself so that he would land right at the front of the camp. Adjusting his body into an accelerated freefall, Naruto formed a Truth-Seeking Ball, morphing the black chakra construct to surround him as a perfect sphere.

Flipping through several hand signs, he thought to himself, ”Lava Style: Magma Rock Fall!”

Emerging from the Truth-Seeking Sphere wrapped around Naruto, a massive amount of molten magma erupted forward, shifting around the sphere to form a massive meteorite made of volatile magmatic rock.

Then, as the giant meteorite grew close to the Earth's floor, Naruto began to channel Lightning Chakra through the Truth-Seeking Sphere, breaking passed the rock and wrapping around it in jagged white wisps of electricity.

”Sage Art: Wrath of the Six Paths Sage!”

BOOM!

-x-

Achebe picked himself off the ground, rubble and ash rolling off his body as he looked up at the chaos before him. In all his life, he never thought he'd see the sight of a lightning covered ball rock and lava smack right in front of his campsite. Luckily, he had begun to take Shuri to the plane parked on the other side of the camp, so other than being thrown off their feet, he and his group were relatively fine.

”What the hell was that?!” Shrieked Shuri as she got up to her knees, watching in shock as a hoard of blonde haired men began to jump around the area on the other side of the camp, breathing fire and causing bursts of wind to pick men off the ground.

”Get up!” Ordered Achebe, picking her up by the arm, ”Come on, move!” Pointing at the three men with them, he ordered, ”We have to leave before they make their way over here!”

Shuri grunted in pain as the man began to drag her, her eyes wide in wonder as a wall of fire took out the east side of the campsite.

-x-

”Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!” Thought Naruto as he breathed out a thick wall of fire towards the eastern side of the camp. Cutting off the jutsu, he watched as his troupe of clones wreaked havoc on any poor militiaman that got in their way. Having created about a thousand clones, he decided to keep them at his base form. So, the blonde-haired clones were still susceptible to gun fire. Oh well, clones could always be replaced.

Thack Thack Thack!

Naruto barely felt the bullets bounce off his Six Paths Chakra Mode covered torso, looking over lazily as a group of men opened fire on him. Hearing them complain that their vibranium tipped bullets weren't working, he smirked as he shifted his foot on the ground, channeling Earth Chakra into the ground, forcing several spikes of earth to pop out into the men's bodies.

Rushing towards another group of men, he quickly began his onslaught with his chokuto, channeling wind chakra into the blade. Kicking the first man with a swift side kick, he felt the man's chest cave in from the power of the kick. Twirling the sword in a reverse grip, he jabbed backwards in order to stab the man that was trying to sneak up on him, the extended wind blade catching the man behind them both right in the chest. Pulling the blade out, Naruto quickly decapitated the last of the men coming after him.

He was quick with his follow up, slamming his hand on the ground, ”Lava Style: Lava Plume!” The ground splitting open, a thick pillar of lava erupted from the cracks of the earth, the lava slowly spreading through the western side of the camp.

Dashing back towards the front part of the camp, he continued his attack. From body destroying punches, crippling kicks, and deadly slashes and stabs, he carved a swath of death through the populace of militiamen. Feeling several sets of memories come flooding in, he fought the urge to stop at the memories of several hundred kids being found by some of his clones.

Creating a few dozen more while he was on the move, he shouted, ”Get those kids out of here! No dilly dallying, understand?!” The clones nodded before departing.

Getting annoyed by several hundred clones that were getting shredded by the militiamen's gunfire in the front side of the camp, Naruto decided enough was enough.

”You ready, partner?” Naruto asked.

Kurama smirked in the seal, ”Always!”

”Let's keep it a little small thought, don't want to blow away the whole country, do we?”

”Well of course!” Kurama answered sarcastically, his smirk growing savage.

Kurama's ethereal head formed over Naruto's body, the Biju opened his maw wide. Purple and red chakra circulating and merging together into one massive sphere of pure chakra, both partners called out their technique as it shot off like a rocket, ”Tailed Beast Bomb!”

BOOM!

-x-

The sound of the plane's whirling engine was cut off by the massive explosion that blasted through the area across from them. The aftermath of the explosion sending a white flash over them, the group flinched in pain as Shuri shrieked, ”What the hell is going on?!”

Achebe growled in anger, ”What kind of monster is capable of something like that?” Opening the plane's door, he ordered, ”Get in girl, get in now!” Looking for the man that was holding Daki, he shouted, ”Give me the case, now-”

However, as the man was about to give his leader the case, he jerked in pain, gasping out before he was thrown aside, revealing a crouching Black Panther behind him, his claws drawn out with blood dripping from the golden metal.

”Brother!” Shuri shouted in relief, only to shriek as she was grabbed from behind, Achebe's arm wrapped around her neck.

”Stay back! Stay back!” Achebe shouted, his permanent smile hiding his distress, ”I'll kill her, I will!” Withdrawing his sidearm, he pointed the pistol at the girl's temple. Looking at the two other men, he shouted, ”Get the case, now!”

T'Challa remained calm, intercepting the two men from getting to the case, incapacitating them with quick strikes and slashes with his vibranium claws. Grabbing the case, he used his enhanced strength to pry open the case to reveal a hand puppet inside.

”Drop him!” Achebe cried, ”Drop him right fucking now!”

However, before they could, the earth began to shake and crack open, every tent on the back end of the campsite being destroyed by a pillar or chasms that came from the earth as it was manipulated by the flaming man in the sky.

The shift caused the three of them to almost fall. Taking advantage of it, T'Challa bum rushed Achebe, shoving him away from Shuri, grabbing his sister in a bridal hold. Dashing away, he spoke into his earpiece, ”Uzumaki, destroy the plane now!”

”Right.” Naruto answered.

Not long after, a ball of fire came rushing in towards the plane.

BOOM!

-x-

Landing on the ground, Naruto walked over the rubble his Earth Jutsu had created, heading into the smoke as he looked for T'Challa and his sister. His clones finishing off any stragglers, he deactivated his Six Paths Chakra Mode.

Channeling a good amount of Wind Chakra, he blew away the smoke that covered him and the area around him. His vision clear, he saw that T'Challa and Shuri were standing over a man, the man on his knees as he cradled something in his hands.

Walking over slowly, he raised an eyebrow when he saw the man crying over a burnt-up hand puppet.

”No, no, no. No.” Achebe repeated, cradling Daki's crisped corpse.

T'Challa looked down at his sister, ”Look away Shuri.” He whispered.

”What?” Shuri asked in a daze.

His claws coming out with a loud thwang, T'Challa repeated, ”Look away Shuri. You don't want to see this.”

Blinking rapidly in shock, she nodded slowly before turning her head away, closing her eyes as well.

As T'Challa took a step forward, Naruto called out quietly, ”T'Challa…don't.”

”He has to die, Uzumaki.” T'Challa stated, taking another step forward, hovering over Achebe, his hand drawn back to deliver the final blow.

As he was about to drive his claws into the prone man, he found a firm grip stopping him. He didn't bother turning his head to see who had stopped him, ”Stop.” Naruto said firmly, ”Look at him. You…you can't just kill him like this. He's clearly not well.”

As they had this debate, Achebe's hand began to creep for something behind him.

”Let go of me, Uzumaki. He's dying today.” T'Challa argued, trying to pry his arm free but failing as the blonde's grip grew tighter, ”My king has ordered his death, stop keeping me from fulfilling my duty.”

Hearing that, Naruto sighed before releasing his grip, only to blink at the sound of a gun's hammer being drawn back. Looking down at Achebe, they saw that his gun was drawn on them. Before T'Challa or Naruto could disarm him, the gun shifted from their position to himself, the barrel now pressed up right against Achebe's temple.

Looking at Shuri from the corner of his eye to make sure she was still looking away, he mumbled, ”Shuri…cover your ears.”

The girl immediately did as her brother ordered, covering her ears with her hands.

Achebe, his eyes on Daki, muttered to himself, ”I failed you. I failed you.” Closing his eyes as tears began to build and cascade, he whispered, ”I'll be with you soon.”

Bang!