Connecting the Dots--A Naruto/DCAU crossover

Perpetuation

"Glad as I am to see you back in one piece, Naruto, I have to tell you things look very bad right now." Tsunade leaned across her desk. "It might have been safer for you to stay in the other dimension."

Naruto shook his head. "There's no way I'm leaving you guys to deal with this by yourselves. Besides..." He flashed a cocky smile. "...you forget who you're talking to. I'm Naruto Uzumaki, and I'll definitely save everyone! Believe it!"

"Naruto, I don't think you understand the situation." Tsunade sighed. "The Raikage is dead. Killer Bee is dead. The Tsuchikage has been critically wounded and is in intensive care. Nearly half of our ninja force has been decimated."

"You said Kabuto left Madara though, right?" Shikamaru spoke up from his position against the wall. "That should make things easier."

Tsunade shook her head. "He did, but he's back. I don't know why Madara let him back in—Kabuto must have some trump card—but we're seeing Edo Tensei's on the front lines again. And the fact that Kabuto's back..."

"...means Sasuke must be back as well." Sakura sighed.

"It appears the League was unable to capture him in time," noted Shino.

Neji nodded. "Or they did, and Madara simply intercepted the return signal."

"If he could do that, why didn't he pick up Naruto when we teleported back?" Kiba had slumped on the floor in complete defiance of protocol and basic manners.

A quiet voice spoke up from the rear. "Spectre may have helped with that." Avoiding the questioning gazes, she shrugged. "He said he needed us to return home."

"Look, whatever." Tsunade waved her hands irritably. "I don't quite follow all this mumbo-jumbo you kids are spouting anyway. The point is, now that you're here, the battle is on again, and we are in a vastly weaker position! Kabuto and Madara may have cards they haven't even played yet, and we're down to our last shinobi."

"You've got us!" pointed out Naruto.

Tsunade sighed. "And as I said before, Naruto, that's great, but twelve kids don't make up for the half-army of ninja I don't have. Don't take this the wrong way, but twelve kids barely make up for losing Kakashi's abilities."

Every eye turned to Sakura. "It's true." She said quietly. "I did a full examination. It'll be months before he's fit for active duty, and I don't know if his Sharingan will ever be usable again. A kamui of that magnitude was just too much. Frankly it's a wonder we made it at all. Or should I say a miracle...?" She raised her eyebrows at Hinata.

But Hinata just shrugged. "I don't know. It's possible he also helped with that."'

"So there you have it." Tsunade threw up her hands. "Our best shinobi down or incapacitated, and half our force gone. If we'd gone full out at the start... who knows what might have happened. The Kages could have fought together, perhaps, we could have taken on the tailed beasts, it could have..."

"That's irrelevant." Shikamaur interrupted. "There's no time for 'what could have been.' We need to focus on right here and now."

Slumping suddenly, Tsunade nodded. "You're right of course." She muttered. "It's just... the situation's really bad. We've even started arming civilians, but what can they do without techniques?"

"Ahem."

Everyone turned to regard a strangely blushing Tenten. "I.... may have a suggestion."