Well, guys, this is it! Another year has passed, and we've actually reached the end of Act 1 of Superior Spider. Now, yes, I know pacing is very slow, and I thank the few that are understandable.

But this is the end of the Lizard Arc, and hope you enjoy it.

Wanted to post this yesterday, but got held back by celebrating the New Year. So sorry if this ending feels a bit anticlimactic.

As a gift, as well to celebrate the new year, I've done a double post!

This chapter, and a new story post! The official post of the prologue for Daughters of Naruto Uzumaki! So check it out.

No further notice.

On with the story.

Disclaimer: This chapter is sponsored (not really) by Grammarly, a free writing assistant app for those with trouble with grammar and spelling It scans your document of finds any errors, providing ways to fix them.

Chapter 12: Alligator in the Sewers Final: Battle of Nature

'Well...this was a fun night.'

With a limp in his step, a foot dragged behind him, arm hanging limp with the other holding his side, and a groan escaping his lips every few seconds, Naruto Parker slowly and carefully made his way home, using the shadows, alleys, and sometimes rooftops, to do so. He was still wearing his Spidey suit, not having his regular clothes with him, so he prayed that he didn't run into anyone as he headed home. He couldn't go to his 'base' as it was too far away, and his pain made it difficult to web-swing.

His hissed as pain once more coursed through his body with every step. The biggest pain coming from the bite marks on his shoulder where the Lizard sank its teeth into his flesh. And to make things worse...

Kyuubi won't stop scolding him like a freaking mother to her child!

"It was your own foolishness and arrogance that lead you to your current state. You only have yourself to blame for your injuries. Think of this as punishment for not planning your actions out and recklessly sprinting into danger. Let your wounds teach you a lesson in recklessly risking your life, especially since my own existence is linked to yours."

Bastard fox! He already felt bad for not being able to help Doctor Connors, he didn't need its damn words echoing in his head.

"Gah!" Gritting his teeth as he fell to a knee from another spike of pain, Naruto panted. 'God, feels like I got into a fight with the Hulk and Wolverine.'

Even when he broke his leg in football tryouts in middle school, it didn't hurt this bad! Or when he fought Doc Ock!

This was karma, wasn't it? Or some sick joke. Either way, it wasn't funny!

Looking up at the night sky, he cursed. No doubt it was late. Very late. Aunt May must be worried sick, wondering where he was. Not to mention how worried Mary Jane must be. Speaking of which, looks like he was a few houses away from his own.

Looking down at his dirty suit, he knew he had to change somehow. And he couldn't wall-crawl to his room, he was too exhausted to concentrate his 'stick-em' powers and keep a firm grip.

Meaning he had to take the door.

. . . .

Yeah, no problem there.

Note the sarcasm. Hopefully, May was asleep so he could sneak up to his room.

So, with no other choice, he just sucked it up, and through painful steps, he moved towards his house.

Finally reaching it, letting out a sigh of relief, he trudged towards the back door. Grabbing the doorknob, he turned it, cursing when he saw it was locked. "Of course." With a sigh, and hoping he didn't break the lock, he slightly put some more force and turned the knob. He cringed when he heard the sound of something metallic snapping. "Hope whatever broke can be either fixed or replaced before Aunt May finds out."

Opening the door slowly so as to not make any noise, Naruto stepped inside, looking around the dark room. All the lights were off, of course given the late hour. Closing the door with a soft click, he moved into the kitchen. Hopefully, he could find some bandages. Opening drawers and cabinets, he looked through them but had no such luck. Cursing at being unable to find anything for his wounds, he resolved to check the upstairs bathroom. Hissing as he grabbed his shoulder wound - regretting it when more pain surged from it - he moved towards the living room, rubbing his shoulder, grumbling about damn lizards having sharp teeth, and know-it-all foxes. That's when he froze, eyes widening, once he set foot into the living room.

There, laying on the couch, fast asleep, was his lovable Aunt May. Her features were peaceful and relaxed, but the knowledge that she was sleeping there, and not in her bed, put a painful grip on his heart. She no doubt stayed up waiting for him once it became obvious he was after curfew. Whether she was staying up to fuss over him in worry, or scold him he didn't know, but he'll bravely take the latter. He deserved it for making his aunt/mother-figure worry.

With a deep frown, he moved to stand beside his aunt, looking down at her apologetic. "Sorry, Aunt May. Didn't mean to worry you." Bending down, he picked her up, hissing from both his weakened strength making it holding her hard, as well as pain spikes. However, he fought through it and slowly moved towards the stairs, climbing up at a forced snail pace, careful not to wake his aunt up, or accidentally drop her.

By the time he reached the top, he was panting heavily, feeling so tired he could just fall. God, was he tired. He desperately needed sleep. Screw school! He was sleeping the day away.

But first, he had to get May to the comforts of her bed. So, with painful steps, each making his shoulder and chest gashes pulse and bleed, he walked towards May's room. And after a very annoying process, managed to open the closed door. Placing May on her bed, and covering her up, he smiled at the woman. "Sorry again for worrying you, May. Promise not to do it again." He muttered, before wincing, his wounds reminding him of their presence. Time to get them cleaned up before they get worse.

Closing May's door, he trudged to his room, coming upon a sight that made him frown even deeper.

Like May, Mary Jane also seemed to have waited up for him, and at some point fell asleep on his bed, her crimson hair spread out over the pillow and sheet. However, unlike May, who rested peacefully, MJ had a frown on her face, an expression of worry even in her slumber. She was still wearing her day clothes, even her shoes were on. Though if he was honest, he thought he'd find her asleep on the basement computer, after failed attempts to reach him. His earpiece got short-circuited during his fight with the Lizard, and he left his phone with his clothes, currently webbed on top of the roof next to the manhole he took to go into the sewers.

'Note to self, get stuff back tomorrow...or the day after.'

He felt like shit, and until he was back to 10%, will feel like shit for days.

Anyway, as he stared at the form of his girlfriend, a heavy frown set on his face. He not only worried his aunt by being out so late, but he also worried his best friend/girlfriend/partner, no doubt after going silent and not responding to her call.

Wow, he now really felt like shit.

Sighing, he moved past the sleeping redhead, taking off the top of his suit, hissing all the while. Throwing it, as well as his mask, at a corner, uncaring if the blood on it stained the floor or not. He opened his drawer and took out an emergency first aid kit he kept in his room for emergencies. Like right now.

With the kit in hand, he moved to head to the bathroom to clean his wounds, when a sudden large spike of pain sprang up, forced him to drop to his knees, gritting his teeth with a muffled groan. Unfortunately, the noise was enough to rouse Mary Jane from her slumber. With a mumble, she opened her eyes, sitting up. "Naruto?" She asked, rubber her eye cutely before her eyes shot open. "Naruto!" Her head snapping up, he looked around for her blond, before spotting him, gasping at his state. "Oh my god! Naruto!" Practically springing, she got off the bed, and was by the blonde web slinger's side in an instant, looking over him in great worry, even more when she saw the bleeding wound on his shoulder and chest, the former looking like a large animal big bit him - and knowing who and what he was facing last time she saw him, had a good guess on what has happened - while three large cuts bled from his chest.

Breathing increasing with rising panic, MJ racked her brain on what to do, and spotting the med kit, quickly opened it and grabbed a cleaning club, using it to try and stop the bleeding. She didn't think she had ever seen Naruto this hurt. Vulture, Electro, Doc Ock? Her whisker cheeked blonde had faced them all and made it out on top with his usual grin. He had never gotten this hurt! "Are you alright?! What happened?!" She questioned as she applied pressure to the wound. All the while, Naruto panted. Opened his eyes softly, they rolled to the concerned face of Mary Jane. He gave a tired smile.

"Hey MJ. Mind keeping it down? Don't want to wake up May."

"So, what happened?" MJ asked as she wrapped bandage roll over Naruto's shoulder and chest. With her help, Naruto rested at the head of the bed, back against the wall. It was still pretty late - or early, given by the time on the clock - so they didn't have to worry about May waking up anytime soon. She had just finished up doing what she could in cleaning his injuries with alcohol - Naruto hissing all the while - and just needed rest to hopefully let his injuries heal. Now she wanted to know what had happened after she lost contact with him.

"Well, I found Doctor Connors in the sewers, along with the missing maintenance worker. We fought, went through pipelines, ended up with a central maze or something, and nearly became a snack for him." He winced, rubbing his shoulder in recalling the pain of having sharp teeth sinking into him. His hand was slapped away by MJ, scolding him to leave his injuries alone. He sighed, leaning his head back against the wall. "I was stupid, MJ." He said, getting a raised brow. "I underestimated Doc, or the Lizard to be exact. It was faster and stronger than I thought, even when I encountered it at the subway. The limited room didn't help either."

MJ frowned. "Then what are you going to do?"

Naruto let out a breath, looking at her. "Well I'm definitely not going to give up, that's for sure. I just need to come up with a plan. If I can just trap Lizard, I have a chance to turn him back to normal."

She looked at him like he was insane. "You want to trap a monster that nearly killed you?! No, worse, you want to fight it again! After nearly escaping death?!"

Naruto shook his head. "I have to, MJ. Right now, I'm the only one who can save Doc. No one knows where the Avengers are, or even when they'll be back. And it's not like I have other superheroes phone numbers. Connors needs Spider-Man's help. If I can get the Gene Cleanser to work, it should hopefully turn him back to normal."

"Speaking of that, how do you intend to make it work? You said it needs your blood. How do you plan to do it? You're seriously not going to give up your powers, are you?" She asked, wondering if he'll seriously go through with it.

"Don't have much choice, MJ. We only have one vial of the serum, and we don't have time, nor amount, to waste on testing. Not to mention there aren't exactly any test subjects to test them on. Besides Doc, I'm the only living test subject of the Cross-Species Project. So obviously I'll need to test it on myself. After we capture the Lizard, of course. After we test it out, and it works, we'll give it to Doc."

"And if it doesn't work?" MJ cut in, stopping Naruto. "What if you do test it out on yourself, and instead of taking away your powers, it kills you?! Or worse, turns you into some kind of, I don't know, Man-Spider or something?" She questioned.

Naruto remained silent, looking away from her, and instead turned his gaze at the Spider-Man mask in the corner, angled perfectly that the eyes stared back at him. He narrowed his eyes.

"It's a risk I'm gonna have to take. Doctor Connors is a good man and doesn't deserve this fate. The more time he stays the Lizard, the more the transformation could become permanent. I don't have time to take small doses of the serum and test them with my blood to get it right. I'm just going to have to take a shot in the dark and hope the first dose works."

She frowned at him. "That is incredibly stupid, and you know it." She stated, voicing her thoughts on the idea. Naruto shrugged, and with a wince, settled himself down on the mattress to sleep.

"Maybe, but just about everything I do since putting on that mask has been stupid and/or bat-shit insane. I'm just going with the flow, and hoping the backlash won't be too big."

As he closed his eyes, MJ continued frowning at his words. She understood the meaning behind them, knowing her boyfriend for as long as she has. He may act reckless, but it was just a mask, to hide his true feeling. He was scared. Scared of failing Doctor Connors and not being able to save him in time. As he said, Doctor Connors only had a small time limit, before his scaly change stuck forever. So obviously the blonde hero was rushing things.

She just wished he took a bit more caution.

Sighing, feeling even more tired than before she even took her nap after the long hectic day, Mary Jane simply settled with laying down beside Naruto, her head resting on his side. Soon, she too fell into slumber.

They both deserved it.

Naruto's Mindscape

Opening his eyes, Naruto blinked as he turned his head left and right, realizing where he was. "This place again? How did I get here? In fact, why am I here again?" He asked himself, not expecting a reply.

However, he got one.

"Hello again, boy."

Unable to stop himself, Naruto jumped at the loud, deep voice he was becoming familiar with. Turning around, he faced the massive grin of Kyuubi, large crimson eyes displaying dark, sadistic amusement. Getting over his surprise, Naruto glared at the fox being, hiding his slight nervousness.

Hearing the fox's voice in his head was one thing, as he was getting used to it, but coming face to face with the massive creature, seeing his massive size compared to himself…

Made him feel like a literal spider in scale.

Easily squishable.

After he was chewed on like gum, no doubt.

"What am I doing here, fox? Did you bring me here?" He demanded.

Kyuubi scoffed, nearly blowing Naruto off his feet by the force of the wind. "Why would I want to scorch my eyes looking at your repulsive face?"

"Hey!"

"But no, I didn't call you here. That was entirely you." Kyuubi said, getting a confused look from the blonde. Rolling its eyes in annoyance, grumbling about clueless humans, the beast decided to at least explain. "As I have stated before, this is your mindscape. The mental representation of your inner consciousness. It is as much a part of you, as this blasted seal." Naruto saw the Kyuubi glare heavily at the piece of paper against the bar gated, confusing him.

Why would the beast hate a piece of paper? Better yet, why was a piece of paper on the gates in the first place?

"As such, I have no control over your mentality. Heh, lucky you." The dark smile made Naruto shiver, feeling like he dodged a big bullet. "No, I have not brought you here. You must have brought yourself by subconscious will. Either way, I suppose this is a good opportunity."

Naruto raised a brow. "Opportunity? What are you talking about fox?" He asked cautiously. While he may still not fully understand the deal with Kyuubi being in him, he knew for a fact you were walking on eggshells when dealing with the Boogieman.

And for all intent, Kyuubi was definitely his Boogieman.

He tensed as Kyuubi growled. "What I mean, brat is that we need to talk."

Naruto was still cautious of the beast. However, his spider-sense wasn't alerting him of danger, so he supposed he could humor the fox. "Alright, I guess. What'd you want to talk about?"

Seeing his tension, Kyuubi scoffed, laying its head on its hand-paws. "Let's start with your idiotic encounter with that reptile-turned human. What did you call it? The Lizard? Not only did you encounter the creature without a plan of action, one being more than just 'capturing it', you nearly cost your life, and as while your death would normally be of no concern to me, due to this blasted seal, if you die, I die. With no chakra in this planet, there is little to no chance of me reforming."

Naruto cut in. "What the hell are you talking about?! Chakra? Seal? You're not making any sense!"

"SILENCE!"

With a loud roar that shook the chamber and made Naruto's ears ring, the fox halted any more questions the blonde might had.

Glaring hard at the blonde hero, daring him to interrupt him again, the Kyuubi continued. "I have been watching you carefully, boy. Observing your 'battles' with these so-called 'supervillains', and through them all, you have only managed to survive either through sheer luck, or their own stupidity, but one day, your luck will run out, and you will be the death of both of us. And that is something I cannot have. Either you actually use that brain of yours, or I will make you suffer in ways you cannot possibly imagine."

Naruto could no longer stay silent. "Oh yeah?! And do you plan on doing that, you damn fox! Control my body?" He demanded, before pausing, and questioned nervously. "You can't control my body, can you?

Kyuubi let out another scoff, nearly blowing the blonde back again. "Believe me, as much as I wish to be able to either control your puny form or simply break out, I cannot. The seal is powered by forces far above my own power. Any attempt on my part in breaking it will result in both our deaths." It said with an annoyed growl. Blasted Namikaze for summoning the Shinigami - something it thought should have been impossible outside of the infernal Uzumaki Clan. Blast that damn Uzumaki woman for having held it for decades, and preventing both its escape as she was giving birth. And most of all, blast that Kami-damn Uchiha for using that fucking pink-eye of a Sharingan and controlling it like a damn slave!

If it ever saw that Uchiha again, it'll tear that human to bits, eat him, and shit him out over a volcano!

As the yet-to-be-reveal Biju got temporarily lost in a daydream of what it would do the mask Uchiha if it ever saw him again, one Naruto Parker tried to make sense of everything Kyuubi was saying, and failing to do so. "You are not making any sense, fox!"

A vein popped on Kyuubi's head at the sound of the brat's annoying voice. Kami, speaking with this clueless mortal was giving him a migraine! It would be much easier if he at least knew about chakra! It was like talking with an infant! "I have neither the time, patience, nor desire to waste explaining everything to you. Perhaps one day, if I feel like it. But for now, all you need to know is that you are not like the rest of these mortals. You are different from them, and I'm not talking about your spider powers."

Crossing his arms, Naruto raised a brow at it. "What do you mean? You mean like a mutant?"

Kyuubi hummed. "Of sorts. From the small knowledge you have on these strange mortals with abilities, I suppose they can be placed in the same category as humans with Kekkei Genkai." He ignored the blondes confused look. "But no, you are not a 'mutant'. But you are not entirely a normal human either, truth be told."

"Then what am I?" Naruto asked, a bit curious. Kyuubi gave a dark smirk, eyes filled with mischief, a secret within them it eagerly kept from its container.

"Wouldn't be any fun in telling you everything now, would it? For now, I'll just give you a hint? A name, for those of your kind that separates you from normal humans."

Naruto was silent, listening.

"Jinchuuriki"

Next Morning

*KNOCK* *KNOCK*

With a slight twist of the knob, the door to Naruto's room opened. Sticking her head inside, May looked at the bed, spotting her nephew still in bed, sheets covering him up to his neck. Opening the door fully, May stood at the frame, arms crossed as Naruto opened his eyes halfway.

"You came home late last night. Where were you?"

Naruto blinked, trying to think up an excuse. "Sorry if I worried you, May. Got caught helping Doctor Connors and last track of time." News of Curt Connors going missing had yet to be released to public news, as Mrs. Connors didn't want anyone outside the group to learn of her husband's transformation.

It was bad enough rumors of the Lizard were growing. Soon sighting will appear apart from the ones in the subway, and it was only a matter of time before the connection to Connors was made.

May kept her stern frown, not satisfied with the response. "You could have called."

"Battery ran out. Sorry."

Narrowing her eyes, May approached Naruto, making him sweat. Leaning down upon him, she inspected him closer. "Why do you have a cut on your lip?"

'Shit! Better think of something quick, Parker!'

"Um...I cut myself shaving?" he said with a sweatshop, hoping his aunt believed-

"You don't have facial hair yet." May stated, narrowing her eyes more, making his sweating increase. "Naruto Benjamin Parker, you better tell me the truth!"

"Alright. I was on my way home and kinda took a shortcut through an alley. I kinda...ran into a cat. Well...more like I kinda stepped on its tail. And, well, let's just say the cat was NOT happy."

May hummed, leaning back. "You do have bad luck with animals…" she muttered, making his sweatdrop grow.

Parker Luck, it can sometimes be his worst enemy or great ally.

May placed a hand on her nephew's forehead, frowning. "Sweetie, you're warmer than normal, and that's saying something." She said, knowing her nephew had a higher body temperature than kids his age, even as a baby. "Are feeling alright."

"Well, I do feel a bit under the weather." Naruto told her.

May frowned in worry. "Really? Now that's surprising. You never got sick before." She continued checking his temperature, placing her hands on his cheek. "Well, if you really don't feel good, you can stay home today. I'll head to the market and get some chicken soup for you. You know what they say, its best to eat as much soup when you're sick. Though, considering you can eat as much as 10 men, I'll have to get several packs." She tapped her chin in thought. "Hope I have enough coupons."

Naruto smiled at her. "Thanks, May".

Smiling back, May placed a kiss on his forehead. "Just get some rest, sweetie. I'll be back soon." Turning around, she left the room, closing the door behind him.

Ears twitching, Naruto listened to May's steps going downstairs. A few minutes later, he heard the front door open and close. With May gone and sure she wouldn't come back, he threw the covers off, revealing his bandaged shoulder and chest and suit pants still on. Wincing, he sat up, massaging his shoulder carefully. His wounds still hurt like a bitch!

Mary Jane had left earlier after checking his bandages. While not 100%, his injuries were nearly finished stitching themselves back together after several hours. But she told him to take it easy until they were done. Now if only the damn pain would fade!

Through a struggle with his own body and its demand to lay back down, Naruto got off the bed, making his way towards the bathroom. It was easier said than done. Talk about a mile of hell. Still, making it there, he turned on the light, and faced the mirror. Slowly, he began taking off his bandaged to take a look at the damage Where previously there were large gashes on his skin - three large ones running diagonally down his chest, reaching his stomach, and nearly a dozen small openings on his shoulder - was now clean skin with only small cuts. 'Thankfully there are no scars.' Grabbing his shoulder, feeling pains from the contact, he pushed it back as he rolled his shoulder. 'Will need to be at top shape to face the Lizard again. Kyuubi was right, I was reckless. Will need to come up with a plan.'

Midtown High

Opening, her locker MJ grabbed her books for her next class.

"So, Naruto's not coming today?" Harry asked, leaning against the lockers beside hers. Putting her books in her bag, MJ shook her head.

"No, he wasn't feeling good, so he stayed home." The redhead told him, closing her locker as Harry looked at her with a raised brow.

"Really? Naruto Benjamin Parker, the guy who stayed all day outside on a snow day as a kid, and never got a cold, the guy who never got chicken pox, is 'not feeling good'?" He asked with a disbelieving tone. MJ smirked at him.

"Guess Naruto's health isn't as all Jesus holy as we thought." she joked, making Harry chuckle.

As the two talked about their 'sick' friend, in an empty boy's restroom, a toilet began shaking violently, the tiles under it cracking more and more, leading onto the toilet, causing water to squirt from a broken pipe. The shaking grew more and more frantic, before with an implosion, the toilet flew upward, hitting the ceiling, and bouncing off onto the floor, where it broke into pieces.

From the hole where the toilet once rested, a deep growling was heard.

"So, how's life for Mr. and Mrs. Parker?" Harry asked as he and Mary Jane walked to class. He chuckled as MJ elbowed him on the side, glaring softly at him.

"Very funny, Osborn." She grumbled, before giving a smile. "But things are well. Fun. Never better."

Harry chuckled. "Yeah, I bet eating ramen under the stars can be quite romantic." He teased, as MJ's brow twitched.

"Oh, shut it."

Just then, everyone stopped what they were doing, as they heard the sound of impact, the floor under them vibrating. As everyone looked around, MJ frowned, having a bad feeling, her hand moving towards her cell phone in her pocket.

Suddenly, the door to the boy's restroom burst outward in pieces, as the Lizard stepped out. Moving its head left and right, gazing at all the frozen students and staff, it let out a loud roar. With screams of panic, everyone in the hall turned and ran away from it.

"What the hell?!" Harry shouted, looking at the creature in shock. "What is that thing?!" He asked before Mary Jane grabbed his arm and began pulling him away.

Yellow eyes gazing at everyone around him, its vision seeing body heats, the Lizard's tongue licked the air, tasting the trail of the sent it was following it got from the camera. Following the trail, he noted it was weaker, but still there. The trail led towards a young girl with red hair. While not the target, the scent lingered on her, possibly from long contact.

However, in its dazed, primal mind, the Lizard didn't make sense of this, only knowing that the scent it was following led it there, and towards a body heat.

That was all that was needed, as with a head snap, the Lizard roared at the retreating figures of Mary Jane and Harry, before chasing after them.

"It's chasing us!" Harry shouted, peering over his shoulder at the lizard monster hot on their tail.

"Just shut up and keep running!" Mary Jane shouted back as she took out her phone to call Naruto, hoping his injuries were healed to head over.

Behind them, the Lizard leaped up into the air at them, jaws wide open. With a firm hold on Harry's arm, MJ pulled him away into a sharp turn into another hallway, as the Lizard hit their previous spot, sliding across the floor, before running after them.

The two panted as they ran as fast as they could. At the end of the hall, they saw the school entrance as the last student exited. They headed towards it, hoping to escape the Lizard. Unfortunately, before they could reach the exit, a torn off locker crashed down on the doors, blocking their way out. Skidding to a stop, the two turned around, sighting the ferocious reptile monster fast approaching them.

Looking around, Harry quickly dragged MJ. "Come on!" The two continued running, hoping to find another exit. Meanwhile, dragged behind the rich teen, MJ texted Naruto. 'Come on, Web-Head. You better get here before Harry and I are lizard food!' However, before she could send the text, she was suddenly pulled down and out of the way from a claw swipe that left deep gashes on the lockers.

Unfortunately, the surprising movement caused MJ to accidentally drop her phone, making her gasp as Harry continued dragging her. "My phone!" She called, arm stretched out in a vain attempt of getting it as it grew smaller and smaller as she was dragged.

"Think we have more things to be worried about than a phone, MJ!" Harry shouted in slight annoyance. They were being chased by a human-sized lizard creature, and she was worried about her phone?! Seriously?!

However, Mary Jane knew better. Unless a news crew arrived at the school and broadcasted the situation, Naruto would have no way of knowing the lizard was there. Nor that his two best friends were in deep trouble.

She had to get her phone.

Parker Residence

May knocked on the bathroom door. "Naruto, I put two bowls of soup in your room. Eat them and get some sleep, alright?"

"Alright, Aunt May."

Smiling, May turned and headed down the stairs. A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened and Naruto stuck his head out. Looking down the stairs, he heard May in the kitchen. Stepping out, shirtless, and bandages off, with his chest now fully healed, Naruto quickly made his way to his room, closing the door behind him. Rubbing his shoulder, he smirked.

No more wounds.

No more pain.

He was back to 100%!

Fuck you, Lizard! And you too Kyuubi!

Grabbing a bowl of soup, he sat on the bed. Silently eating, he narrowed his eyes in thought.

He had come up with a game plan on how to capture Doctor Connors/The Lizard. Obviously, the direct approach didn't work. Meaning, he would have to lure it somewhere he could set a trap. And being wishful, he would like to do it without having to fight it, because he doubted he would be able to survive a third encounter.

Question was, where would he find the Lizard, as he doubted he would stay in the sewers, and how would he trap a large lizard who, like him, apparently had the proportionate strength, speed, and agility of the animal he was mutated from.

Placing the now empty bowl on the shelf, he quickly consumed the second on. One done, he laid back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. "Even if I capture Doc, where will I even take him? I obviously can't bring him to Mrs. Connors, he could wake up and hurt her and Billy. Not to mention it'll have to be somewhere away from people, as well as strong enough to hold him as I get the serum ready. Hmm…" He closed his eyes, trying to think of a place like that.

. . . .

"Wait a minute! I do know a place like that! I can take him to the factory!" He said in realization, before grinning widely, nodding. With a game plan in mind and excitement of actually saving his mentor, Naruto jumped to his feet. "Alright! I can totally do this, ya know!" He exclaimed, ready to head out.

"Naruto! I thought I told you to rest! Not goof around!"

The whiskered blond flinched at his aunt's yell, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Hehe, sorry May!"

Okay, he'll find the Lizard after some rest. He was still a bit tired.

Laying back on the bed, he sighed, before closing his eyes. After a few minutes, he fell into slumber.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the hero, in the top corner of his room, a lone spider clung to a web, eight eyes gazing at him.

Back in Midtown High

Harry and Mary Jane had tried everything to escape the building, but every time, the Lizard would block their exit. Short of jumping through the window to ground level, the two were trapped, until someone rescued them. Harry prayed someone called the police, and that they would get there on time before they ran out of energy and were at the creature's mercy, while MJ hoped to get her phone to call Naruto so Spider-Man would swing over.

"MJ! In here!" Harry pulled his friend into a classroom, locking the door behind them. The two backed away from the door, hoping the Lizard didn't come bursting through. After a few seconds, and it seeing that that wasn't about to happen, they sighed in relief, before MJ looked at Harry.

"Harry, can I borrow your phone?" Harry looked at her, before shrugging and passing her his phone.

"See if you call for help. I'll try and barricade the door."

Nodding at the plan, MJ began typing Naruto's phone number. She was just about to call, when her eyes widened, remembering that Naruto's phone was in his bag, which was left somewhere before he went to face the Lizard in the sewers. "Damn it, Naruto." She grumbled, before calling the Parker House.

"...Hello? Harry?"

"May, it's Mary Jane. Is Naruto there?" She asked quietly, not wanting Harry to hear her calling for Naruto, and waste time questioning her on why she was calling for Naruto, and not the police.

"Yes, but he's asleep. He's not feeling well." May told her, making Mary Jane groan. Damn it, again.

"Can you wake him up, please. It's really important that I talk to him." She stressed.

"Well..." May sounded reluctant. Her nephew may be experiencing his first sick day ever, and wanted to do everything in her power as his guardian to make sure he got back to full health. However, hearing the urgency in the girl's tone, it seemed that whatever she wanted to talk with Naruto, was very important. "Alright. I'll tell him you called."

MJ sighed. That was the best she was going to get. "Alright, please do so soon. Tell him to call either me or Harry as soon as he could."

"Alright." May said, before saying her goodbyes and hanging up. Sighing, MJ hoped Aunt May woke up Naruto and he called her soon before it was too late.

"I'll at least call the police, just in case."

As MJ called for help, Harry locked the door, nudging a chair under the knob for added measure. He looked at MJ as she approached him. "You called for help?"

"Uh, yeah. All we can do is wait." She said, getting a sigh. MJ walker towards a table, placing her bag on it. Opening it up, she reached inside, and her back to Harry, took out the web shooters Naruto gave her for emergencies.

Well, what's more of an emergency than a man-sized, carnivorous lizard monster?

Putting the web shooters on, she hid them under the sleeves of her jacket she was wearing.

(J: For clothes visual, think her Disney Ultimate Spider-Man attire)

Once they were secured and hidden from sight, she looked at Harry. "Alright, now what? We jump out the window?" She asked, pointing to the side windows. Walking over, they looked at the ground below. "Mean, it's just a 20-foot drop. I'm sure we can make it."

Harry gave an uneasy chuckle. "Yeah. Just tuck and roll, right?"

MJ nodded and was about to open the window when she noticed something over her shoulder. "Um, Harry. Think you forgot the back door!" She pointed out, as Harry noticed, and facepalmed. To make matters worse, the handle began to shake, making them jump in panic. "Out the window it is!" Opening the window, MJ climbed up the shelf to jump, just as the door opened.

"What in the name of Captain America's Star-Spangled Banner is going on here? Where is everyone?" Stan the janitor asked, stepping inside, broom in hand.

"Stan?!" MJ and Harry shouted simultaneously. "What are you doing here?" Harry asked the man.

"Yeah, didn't you hear the panic going on?" MJ asked.

F.B

Stan with his eyes closed, hummed and danced to music playing on his headphones as he moped, not taking notice of the running students around him, nor the Lizard as it passed him.

End F.B

Stan rubbed the back of his head in confusion. "Panic? Why, did the science room have another accident? Oh man? Do I have to clean up another big mess again?"

MJ opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, a large scaly tail wrapped around her waist. With a scream, she was pulled outside the window, as the Lizard hanged above it. With a hiss, it climbed up, as Harry ran to the window.

"Mary Jane!"

Meanwhile, on the window sill, a small spider watched the event pass.

"Mary Jane!"

"AAAHHH!"

*HSSSSS!*

"Great Excelsior!"

Blue eyes shooting open, Naruto shot up. "What the hell was that?" He muttered, rubbing his forehead. Shaking his head, he sat on the bedside, before grabbing the remote and turning on the tv. "Maybe some television would help.

"We are standing in front of Midtown High School, where earlier today, students and staff were reported to have evacuated the area after seeing a, quote, "Lizard Monster". We still haven't gotten word on whether or not this is the same creature known as "The Lizard" from the rumors. Police are said to arrive soon, and have announced for the area to be closed from the public."

Naruto blinked at the news.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK*

"Naruto, are you up? Mary Jane called. It sounded urg-" May began, opening the door, only to blink when she saw the empty room.

"Let me go!" MJ struggled to get out of the Lizard's hold as it climbed up to the school roof. "Oof!" She sounded as she was suddenly dropped. Getting up, she glared at it. "Buddy, I don't care if Naruto considers you a friend, or if you're a respected scientist! When my boyfriend gets here, he's going to kick your ass!"

"Prrrrkrrrr..."

Mary Jane jumped, startled. She looked at the Lizard in surprise. "W-What did you say?"

The Lizard growled, stepping closer to her, making her step back. "Stay back, Lizard breath! Don't think Naruto's the only web shooter in the relationship!" She stated, before whipping her wrist, launching a web bullet, hitting it in the face. As it roared in anger, clawing at the webbing to tear it off, MJ took the opportunity to run towards the roof entrance, opening the door and run down the stairs.

Taking off the webbing, the Lizard hissed in anger, before chasing after the girl.

"Crap, crap, crap!" MJ chanted as she stepped quickly down the steps. Hearing a roar above her, she barged through the floor door, taking down the hall. She could hear the heavy steps of the Lizard behind her and knew she had to do something to slow it down. "Guess it's time to take a trick out of Naruto's book." Spinning around on her heal, lifting her arm, and aiming, she pressed the trigger and launched a web-line, grabbing onto a set of lockers in front of her. Grabbing the line, and gritting her teeth, she pulled as hard as she could. It was easier said than done as she didn't have her boyfriend's super strength, but not giving up, she continued pulling. "Come on. Come on!"

Soon, her efforts paid off, and just as the Lizard passed it, the lockers tipped over, and crashed down on it, burning it under. "Alright!" She cheered at trapping her first baddy. However, her celebration died out when the lockers began to shaker. "Oh, son of a…!" As the Lizard pulled the lockers off it, MJ turned tail. Along the way, she grabbed a fire extinguisher. Pushing the lockers off it, the reptilian beast followed after her.

Making it to the bridge connecting to the other building, MJ turned and sprayed the Lizard with the extinguisher when it got close enough. It hissed in annoyance, staggering back. "Back you! Back!"

Getting out of the firing range, the Lizard growled at her. "Prrrrkrrrr..."

MJ glared at it. "I'm not going to let you hurt Naruto!" She stated, spraying at it again. Jumping back, the Lizard sprang up, clinging to the ceiling, MJ keeping her aim at it. However, distracted, she didn't see its tail, before it swatted the extinguisher out of her hands. "Crap!" She cursed, before stepping back as the Lizard dropped down in front of her. Backing up in fear as it stood on its legs over her, she tripped back, looking at it fear. 'Naruto!' She called for help.

Lucky for her, help come, as from the glass beside them, Spider-Man crashed through, slamming a foot on the Lizard's head, sending it back. Landing in front of her, Spider-Man looked at the redhead. "MJ! You okay?!" He asked, helping her up. Sighing in relief, MJ hugged him, as he hugged her back. "It's okay. You're safe." The two let the other go, and Spider-Man turned to the Lizard as it got up, hissing at him.

"Naruto, be careful. It was looking for you. Naruto you."

"Parrrrkrrrr..."

Hiding his surprise, Spider-Man narrowed his eyes at it. "MJ, get to safety." Nodding, the redhead turned and ran off. The Lizard ignored her, focusing entirely on the spider hero. "Alright doc, you said my name, and came searching for me. So that's a good sign that you're still in there somewhere. Can you hear me? Doc?"

His answer was a roar and a leap. Shifting to offense, Spider-Man ducked under the Lizard, shooting a web-line under its jaw. Pulling, he slammed the creature hard on the ground, possibly breaking a few teeth.

'Just need to knock him out. Venom Blast, and if that doesn't work, hit him hard till he's down.' Moving fast, he got over it, arms stretched out, fingers sparking. Ready to 'sting' the beast, he was stopped, as the quickly becoming annoying tail wrapped around his neck, before flinging him away.

'Really should have seen that coming!' He thought, sliding across the floor.

"HSS!"

Eyes widening, seeing a wide set of teeth fast approaching his face, Spider-Man backflipped out of the way. Lizard quickly adjusting itself, it followed Spider-Man, swiping its sharp claws left and right, while the hero dodged. Claws tore through lockers and walls. Flipping back, Spidey shot two web-lines, trapping Lizard's claws. Pulling himself forward, he slammed his feet on the Lizard, sending it on its back.

"Sorry about this doc." He said, before delivering a hard punch to its face, before giving another. "Sorry!" Spider-sense flaring, Spider-Man leaped up and over the tail swipe. "Not this time!" While in the air, he grabbed the tail, and landing, pulled it over his shoulder, picking the Lizard up, before slamming it down hard on the opposite side.

Growing angry at the pest, the Lizard got up for another claw swipe, to which Spider-Man grabbed, and using his full strength, tossed it against the lockers. He then webbed a claw to the metal. "Time for you to calm down, Doc, and take your medicine." He moved to knock it out when with a show of strength, the Lizard pulled its arm free. Now, that would be a problem itself, except the hand was still trapped in webbing. So instead, a sharp piece of metal was torn off the lock, in a makeshift blade.

Shoulders dropping, Spider-Man deadpanned. "Why can't things ever be easy?" He asked as the Lizard attacked.

Dodging the sharp blade, he ran in and slid in between its legs. Behind it, he jumped up, clinging to its back. Shooting web strings to the back and side of its head, he pulled the head back. "I know I said I wanted to be in a rodeo but this isn't what I had in mind!" he stated as the Lizard tried to shake him off. Twisting to and fro, it tried hard to remove the spider on its back, but the pesky thing stuck like glue. "Whoa Betsy! Whoa!" Spider-Man exclaimed, jumping his legs up, keeping his hold on the strings, avoiding the tail as it tried to swat him off.

Growling louder in rising anger, the Lizard tried another method and took to slamming itself against the walls and lockers. Every time, Spider-Man would move to the opposite side to avoid hitting the wall. He would counter with a punch to the Lizard's head each time until it had enough, and after avoiding a tail grab, his hands were grabbed by its hands. Eyes widening, he only had time to say "Oh no" before being thrown like a rag doll across the hall.

"Whoa! Why Betsy?! Why?!"

Flipping, he pressed his fingers on the ground, slowing down his flight, until he stopped just inches from the lockers. He shook his fingers. "Ooh! Finger burns." He then noticed something out of the corner of his eye. "Huh?" Shooting a web-line at it, he grabbed it, pulling it into his hands. "Hey, isn't this MJ's phone?" He asked himself. Looking at the Lizard, he saw it charging at him. So, putting the phone in his utility belt, he got ready.

Harry ran through the halls, Stan behind him, as the brunet looked around for his friend. "Mary Jane! MJ! Where are you?!"

Panting, Stan slowed down to a stop, hunching over with his hands on his knees. "Hah...hah...Now...now hold up a sec, young man...let's rest for a bit."

Stopping, Harry looked back at him. "I can't stop. My friend might be in danger!" He stated, before continuing on.

Stan sighed. "Kids today, always rushing ahead to danger without a thought. I'm too old for this."

With Harry, he ran down the hall, focus only on finding Mary Jane. He turned a corner, and nearly crashed with said person. "Woah!"

"Harry!" MJ exclaimed in surprise, holding on to the brunet to steady herself.

Harry looked at her in surprise and relief. "Mary Jane! You're alright! What happened?" He asked, but she shook her head.

"No time to explain! We need to get out of here before the Lizard comes!"

As soon as she said that, the double doors burst open, and Spider-Man came sliding in on his back. Stopping in front of the two, they stared at him in surprise. He looked at them, chuckling uneasily. "Um...hey. Don't you two know that school's out?" He asked, just as the Lizard also made an appearance. Spider-Man flipped himself to his feet in front of them. "You two need to get out of here."

Nodding, Harry dragged Mary Jane off. "Right, come on MJ!" As he led Mary Jane, she looked back at Spider-Man, who glanced over his shoulder at her.

'Get him, Web-Head.'

They passed Stan, who looked at the hero and creature. "Holy! That's the second biggest reptile I've ever seen!"

"Come on, Stan!" MJ called, with the janitor following.

Naruto narrowed his eyes at the Lizard, stretching his neck, getting a pop. "Alright Doc." He muttered getting low, his nails growing out of his gloves, fingers sparking. "Let's dance!"

Outside the school, the police have just arrived on the scene, with Captain George Stacy leading. When they got calls of a "lizard monster", most put it off as a prank, but the number of calls led Stacy to not lead anything to chance, especially in New York.

"Alright! I want the whole block sealed off and guarded! No one gets in, no one gets out!" Capt. Stacy ordered. He looked at the school with narrowed eyes.

He had a feeling, that if this was the real deal, Spider-Man would be close by, if he wasn't in the middle of it already.

'What is happening to this city? Why is it always the center of all this craziness?'

After "Battle of New York", or "The Incident" as the news calls it, and New York experienced its first alien invasion, and the debut of the Avengers, it was as if some invitation was sent out. Next thing everyone knows, there are vigilantes like the "Devil of Hell's Kitchen", super-powered nut cases, and monsters. Then there was the formation of the "Fantastic Four" last year, the debut of Daredevil, Luke Cage - a man with impenetrable skin - being popular in Harlem, and now Spider-Man.

He sighed, feeling older than he should be. He wasn't trained to deal with these kind of stuff.

Just then, the school doors opened, and every cop aimed their guns towards it, as Harry, Mary Jane, and Stan ran out. Seeing them, Stacy stopped his men from firing. "Don't shoot! Civilians! Don't shoot!" Along with a few men, he ran to the three and got them away from the school. "Are you three okay?" He asked, getting nods. "What happened? What's going on in there?"

Harry took a breath and looked at the captain. "It was a creature! It looked like a giant lizard!" He told him, while MJ frowned. There was no way to prevent the knowledge of the Lizard from coming out, after so many witnesses. "Spider-Man appeared and stayed to fight it, allowing us to escape."

Stacy frowned. "Spider-Man's in there?" He asked, getting a nod. Looking at the school, he then turned to one of his men, ordering him to watch over the three, before he took a few with him, and entered the building, armored and protected.

Unseen by anyone, across the street, a figure stood on top of a building, watching the event play out, a smirk on their lips. "Alright, Spider-Man. Show me what you've got. Let's see if you love up to the name."

Crashing through the wall on the library, Spider-Man flipped, landing on top of a bookshelf as the Lizard entered behind. Bending down, Spider-Man grabbed two books off the shelf and threw them at the Lizard, who swatted them away. Leaping up at him, claws out, Spider-Man jumped out of the way over it. In the air, he shot a web-line at a chair, pulling it, and tossing it at Lizard, hitting it in the back of the head, shattering it (the chair). Turning around with a roar, it pushed off the shelf at him. Grabbing a thick book off the floor, Spider-Man pulled back with both hands, before actually slapping the Lizard with it. "You know what they say doc, books can hurt." He joked as the Lizard growled at him, down low on all floors.

"Parrrrkrrrr..."

"Yeah Doc, I get it! Parker! You can stop repeating my name!" Spider-Man told him. Honestly, he was starting to get annoyed. The man turned lizard would keep repeating his last name every 5 minutes.

"Riiiicharrrrd..."

Freezing, Naruto's eyes widened. "What?" He asked before the Lizard took his distraction and got in close, grabbing him by the head in its large hand, and slamming him hard on the ground. Pulling him back up, before slamming back down, the Lizard then threw him across the room, slamming into a bookshelf. Falling over, the shelf then tipped over, falling down on top of him, making him cry out in pain from the impact.

'Damn it! What does it take to bring this thing down?!'

Grabbing the shelf, he was about to push it off as the Lizard neared him, when he heard the sound of footsteps closing in. 'Now what?"

"Freeze!"

Halting its steps, the Lizard turned, it and Spider-Man spotting Capt. Stacy and two of his men by the new hole. 'No! What are they doing here?!' Spider-Man thought in panic. There was no way they stood a chance against the lizard! "Get out of here! Leave!" He shouted at them but was ignored.

"What the hell is that thing?!" One of the policemen shouted, looking at the Lizard.

"Stay focus!" Stacy ordered, keeping his gun trained on the Lizard. "And you! Stay where you are! Down on the ground, now!"

The Lizard growled at him, getting low, ready to attack. Seeing this, Spider-Man tried harder to lift the shelf. "Come on! Seriously! I should have no trouble lifting a wooden shelf!"

"Back off!" Stacy ordered as the Lizard hissed. It then leaped at them, making the policemen shoot. However, the Lizard proved to have tough scales, as the bullets had little to no effect

"No!" Spider-Man shouting a web-line at the back of the Lizard's head. Yanking, he pulled it toward him. Then, putting his hands under the shelf, he pushed the shelf off him back straight up against the wall. Getting on his feet, he turned to the Lizard, as it got up, before looking at the cops. "You guys need to get out here!"

"We're not going anywhere until I get answers!" Stacy told him. Looking at the Lizard, he shot a web-line to its head, before slamming it down to the ground, before shooting a web-bullet at it, trapping the head to the ground. Jumping over to the police, he looked at the captain.

"Sorry, sir. I trust your services and respect what you do for the city, but superheroes and those with powers, mutant and otherwise only." Lifting an arm to the wall beside the hole, he shot a thick web-line, before shooting the other end to the other side, with the cops in the middle. The line receding, it pushed the men back. Once they were outside the library, he continued shooting webbing over the hole, until it was blocked. Finished, he dusted his hands. "Alright, now that that's taken care off…" He looked at the Lizard, as it tore the webbing off, hissing at him. "Let's finish this."

Running towards it, he jumped up, dodging a claw swipe. In the air, he shot a web-line to the ceiling before swinging around and slammed a foot into the Lizard, throwing him against the same bookshelf Spider-Man was buried under. Jumping back, he then shot two web-lines on either side of the Lizard. Pulling, he slammed feet first into it. "Spider Stomp!" The force of the attack caused the wall behind to break, sending them through.

Jumping up to the ceiling, sticking to it, he shot a barrage of web-line at the Lizard. Over and over web clung to him on all sides. Anytime it would tear off a web-line with its claws, he would quickly replace it with another. Dropping down, he slammed a foot into its head. Jumping off, he grabbed its right hand with a web-line, and moved to its side, pulling the hand with it. He moved around and over it, each time coating it in webbing. Around, over, under, he moved quickly. Stepping back, he observed as nearly all of the Lizard was coated in a cocoon of webbing. Continuing with impact webbing, he then shot web-lines to the ceiling and walls, linking to the cocoon. Watching as the Lizard struggled to free itself, Spider-Man moved to stand beside a web-line. Lifting a hand, the fingers sparked with red static. "Let's try out my new idea."

The webbing was actually one of his experimental formulas. This one was a formula that allowed his web to conduct electricity when a current is channeled through. A very helpful thing when used with his Venom Blast.

He called it "Taser Webbing".

Placing an electrified finger on the line, a current if red static coursed through it, heading towards the cocoon, until…

"AAAARGH!"

With a beastly roar, the trapped Lizard was shocked by the bioelectricity. Holding the current for several seconds, Spider-Man then released, breaking the link, and stopping the flow.

He watched the cocoon as it grew still. Cautiously approaching it, keeping his guard up for any surprise attack, he listened closely.

A heartbeat.

Faint, but there.

Unconscious

After long, deadly, life-risking battles…

He finally caught the Lizard.

Letting out a heavy sigh of relief, he extended his claws and cut the lines, catching the cocoon. Placing it down, he looked around. The room, as well as the school, was a real wreck. He felt a bit guilty about the property damage, but it wasn't really something he could have prevented. Better the Lizard was in an enclosed space than out in public.

"Better get him out of here and to the factory before the boys in blue come." Heaving the Lizard up on his shoulder, he closed his eyes and concentrated. Slowly, he faded from view, along with the Lizard. "Oh, thank goodness that worked." For a second he didn't think he could hide his cargo too. Looks like he could also turn things he was holding invisible too. Moving towards the window in the room, he opened it up, and keeping his hold on the Lizard, began climbing up to the roof.

At that moment, Capt. Stacy and his men arrived at the room. Seeing how empty it was, and not hearing any noise, Stacy gritted his teeth in anger at Spider-Man and the Lizard getting away.

Back outside, MJ stared at the school, wondering how Naruto was doing. Behind her, Harry sat against a police car, sighing. First, a flying old man in a vulture calling himself the "Vulture" with a grudge against his father, then a college turned crazy man, also with a grudge against his father called "Doctor Octopus", and now a giant lizard.

He had enough of this city putting him and his friends and family in danger.

Suddenly, Harry's phone, which was still in MJ's grasp, buzzed, startling her. Looking at it, she looked at it, and saw that it was a message…

From herself.

Realizing that it might be Naruto, she opened it.

MJ got Doc. Meet me at the factory.

P/S. Bring the serum and chemical set from the basement. Basement door should be unlocked.

P/P/S. Don't forget to delete this message after reading.

Sighing in relief that he was alright, she deleted the message and turned to Harry. "Hey, Harry." She called, getting the rich teen's attention. "Think I have enough craziness for today, so I'm going home."

Nodding, Harry stood up. "Alright, want me to give you a lift?"

Smiling at him, she nodded. "Yeah, thanks." Nodding back, Harry asked for his phone to call a ride.

Later that day - Abandoned Factory

Masked off, Naruto stepped back and looked over his work. The still unconscious Lizard was hanging from a crane, wrapped tightly in 2 layers of thick chains, from the neck all the way down to its feet, making sure to also chain the tail. He didn't know how long it would be unconscious, so couldn't take any risks. He would have to keep an eye on him for any signs of waking up.

Hearing a sound behind him, he turned and saw Mary Jane entering the old building. He waved at her. "Hey!"

Approaching him, she smiled, before looking over the Lizard. "So, you actually got him."

He nodded, looking at the reptile. "Yeah, but wasn't easy." He said, stretching, sighing as a pop was heard. "For a second, thought I wouldn't be able to get him." Seeing his fatigue, she frowned, before taking his hand, and dragged him to a crate. She had him sit down, getting behind him. Before he could ask what she was doing, MJ began rubbing his shoulder. He let out a pleased sigh

"You really shouldn't overwork yourself, Naruto." She told him, massaging his shoulders.

Naruto waved her concerns off. "I'm fine, don't worry. Guess the pressure being a hero, student, nephew, intern, photographer, not to mention boyfriend is just catching up to me. I'm sure I'll be fine soon." He told her with a soft smile. He didn't want to worry her so much.

MJ frowned at him. "Still, you need to take it easy. You are only human after all. Spider-powers or not."

"For now, I'll just give you a hint? A name, for those of your kind that separates you from normal humans."

"Jinchuuriki"

Naruto frowned. 'Jinchuuriki'? What did that even mean? It sounded Japanese. Great. Except for some basic words, he didn't really know that much on the language, and he doubted the fox would tell him. And what did it mean by being 'separate from normal humans'? Well, he'll have to get answers himself.

While Naruto was deep in thought, Mary Jane wrapped her arms around his neck, placing her chin on his neck. "Well, now that you caught Mr. Connors, you can work you Parker Magic, and cure him. Then we can cuddle in your bed, eating ramen." She told him. Naruto chuckled at her, standing up, getting out of her hold. Putting his top back on, he turned to her. He gave her a thankful peck on the lips.

"Would like nothing more, Red. Thanks for worrying about me." He told her, as MJ smiled at him.

"Of course, it's my job as your girlfriend. So be thankful to have me, Whiskers."

Smirking, Naruto rested his forehead against hers. "Every day."

Smiling at each other for a bit, Naruto then moved toward the conveyor belt where MJ put his chemicals. Grabbing her phone, he tossed it to her, which she clumsily caught her phone, breathing out in relief, before glaring at the chuckling blond. "Very funny, whiskers."

Shooting her a smile, Naruto began laying out his set and held up the Gene Cleanser. MJ moved beside him, looking at the vile, before giving him a worried look. "Are you sure you need to remove your powers to do this? Isn't there another way?"

"Doctor Connors needs the original formula of the Cross-Species in order to stabilize his change. As well as 100% normal human DNA to push away the lizard DNA. There's no telling what could happen if I injected my blood mixed with spider DNA. For all we know, he could turn into some kind of "Spider-Lizard" cross breed." He explained, making her shiver at the thought.

"Okay, valid point. But let's also look at the cons. 50-50, you could either end up killing yourself or turn into a monster like the Lizard. We have no way of knowing if this will even work!" She exclaimed.

Naruto sighed, looking at her. "I have to try, MJ. I can't just leave Doc like that. Not to mention that if Mrs. Connors and Debra get to him as the Lizard, it may hurt them, or worse. I have to do this."

Frowning, MJ looked down, before grabbing his hand, entwining their fingers. "Alright, Web-Head. I'll trust you. I just hope this doesn't kill you."

Pecking her on the forehead, Naruto took a syringe and uncapped the serum. Taking about half, he then held the syringe to his arm. With one last look at Mary Jane, he plunged the needle into his arm, before injecting the content.

MJ stood back to give him some room just in case, watching carefully. After a few minutes, nothing happened. She blinked in confusion. "Is that it? Did it work?" She asked, getting a shrug.

"Don't know. Don't really feel any-AAAAAAHHHHH!" Suddenly, Naruto let out a loud pain-filled roar.

"Naruto!" Mary Jane called out in worry, as the blond hunched over, grabbing the conveyor belt to steady himself, continuing to scream in pain. It felt like acid was poured into his veins!

'What's happening?!' Gritting his teeth, he tried to push past the pain, but it was no use, as it grew more and more. "AARGH!"

MJ moved to his side instantly. "Naruto! What's wrong?! Talk to me!" She placed a hand on his shoulder, only to jump pack, holding her hand. Looking at it, she saw what looked like burns on it. "What?" Looking at her boyfriend, her eyes widened, when something began to seep out of his body.

It was red and looked flame-like. A sort of energy? She didn't not. And that wasn't the end of it, as falling to the ground on his hands and knees, Naruto began changing.

Gritting his teeth, his canines began to grow, until they resembled fangs. His whiskers, usually pencil thin, began to grow bolder and thicker, as well as sharper. His hair looked more while than usual. And eyes snapping open, she gasped. No longer a deep blue, instead they were a dark, blood red, his pupils longer into soul piercing slits.

'Naruto? What's happening to you?' She wondered.

The aura around him grew, covering him all over like a second skin, or a shell. He then snapped his head back, and let out a mighty roar, that shook the building, and echoed outward.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

Mary Jane fell to her knees, covering her ears from the roar, as well as being pushed over from the quaking building.

On the roof of the factor, the figure from earlier held on tightly, startled. "What the hell is going on?!"

Back with the roaring Naruto, a mist began escaping his body, floating into the air, before evaporating. After a few seconds, the aura around him sank back into his body, before his features returned to normal. His roar dying down before stopping, Naruto fell over, unconscious.

Opening her eyes as the roar stopped, Mary Jane looked at her unconscious blond, before moving over to his side, shaking him. "Naruto? Are you okay? Naruto?!" She then froze, hearing a growl. Slowly turned her head, her eyes widened in fright.

The Lizard was awake.

With a roar, it shook around, trying in effort to break free from the chains. It's failed attempts only made it struggle harder.

Gulping, Mary Jane shook the blond harder. "Naruto! Please wake up! Naruto!" Unfortunately, her attempts to awaken the unconscious spider hero were in vain. The blond was out cold, and not looking like he'll wake up any time soon.

To make the situation even worse, she held chain links snapping, meaning any minute not, she'll have an out of control Lizard mutant on her. Grabbing Naruto by the arms, she began dragging him back, going behind a machine. She'll have to stall the Lizard until he woke up.

…

Yeah, she was dead.

Securing the web-shooters on her wrists, she calmly walked around the machine, and faced the Lizard, narrowing her eyes at it as a chain broke, hanging loose.

This was a job for the Amazing Mary Jane Watson!

With a final roar, the Lizard broke the chains binding it, falling to the ground, before charging at the determined redhead, murder in its eyes.

'I'm gonna die!' She mentally wept. As the Lizard came closer and closer, and MJ's bravery dropped faster and faster, hands shaking in an effort to raise and aim her web shooters, it seemed hopeless for the redhead as the Lizard leaped up at her, jaws wide open, when suddenly.

"Hyah!"

From the ceiling, the figure dropped down in front of Mary Jane, and with a wide kick into the side of the Lizard's face, sent it flying. The figure smirked, standing in front of the awed teenager, her eyes wide, staring at the figure in shock and surprise.

"You're…"

Naruto's Mindscape

With a groan, Naruto opened his eyes and was met with the heavy glare of the Kyuubi. "Oh great." He grumbled.

"Boy! What in the name of Yami are you doing out there?! I take a nap, and wake up to excruciating pain!" Kyuubi roared, angered at its nap being interrupted, and at the unexpected pain.

Naruto groaned, cleaning his ears of the ringing from the mighty roar. "Can it, Fuzzy! I don't have time for you!"

Kyuubi growled at him. "You will make time, brat! Answer my question before I make your life a living hell!"

Naruto glared at him. "If it'll make you stop shouting, I was used a Gene Cleanser to try and remove my spider powers!"

"Well whatever you did, caused the seal to react and used my chakra to purge you of whatever substance you injected yourself with." Kyuubi growled, annoyed that once again, its chakra was used for the benefit of its container.

Naruto looked at it in surprise. While only understanding half of what the fox was saying, he got the gist of it.

His plan didn't work.

"Damn it!" He cursed, punching the stone wall. "That was my only shot of helping the doc."

Kyuubi scoffed. "I cannot understand your desire to help a man you barely know. For what reason would you try so hard to aid him? Because he's a friend of your parents? Pathetic. For all you know, he might like his new form. All that power, and no longer having to deal with being crippled? As a human, he wouldn't be so willing to give it up." It stated with a dark chuckle, getting a glare from the blonde.

"Shut up, you overgrown plush toy! Doctor Connors is a great man who works hard even with losing an arm! He doesn't deserve to be a lizard, and no way would he want to stay like that! And I don't want to help just because he's friends with my parents. I want to help him because it's the right thing to do and because I have the power to do something!"

Staring at him silently, Kyuubi then shook his head. "You overestimate yourself, brat. You cannot help everyone. People grow from loss. To believe that having power means you can save everyone is a foolish belief."

Narrowing his eyes, Naruto crossed his arms. "I don't fully believe that. While true most of the time, it doesn't always have to be that way. People can get stronger by fighting to protect their loved ones. One can grow stronger by working hard to improve themselves, to train with a goal in mind! I'm Spider-Man, because I want to ensure that I can protect this city, and make it safe for those I hold dear! For Aunt May! For Mary Jane! Harry! Liz! Flash! Sally! Randy! For all my friends! I never give up when people need me! That's what it means to be a hero! And if I have to give up my life to do so! So be it!" He glared at the Kyuubi with such intensity, that it honestly took it by surprise.

As it started at the blond, he could see two figured behind him, hands on his shoulders, smiling down on him with pride.

'This brat...he truly is their son. He has that same infernal fire in his eyes that they possessed. That strong will to never give up. That same look in his eyes that I hated them for. The will to stand against even me with all their might.' Staring at those dark blues for a bit longer, Kyuubi scoffed, gazing away. "If you are so determined to prove me wrong, so be it. Just don't be so quick to give your life. I refuse to die because of your recklessness. Let us see if you can for once stand victorious without the aid of my chakra." Naruto looked confused at the chakra part, but Kyuubi ignored it, and cast Naruto out of the Mindscape. "Begone!"

With a startled shout, Naruto flew back into the darkness of the sewer, before vanishing, leaving Kyuubi alone.

Or so it would seem.

Narrowing its eyes in a fierce glare, Kyuubi looked at the darkness. "...Your brat has guts, I'll give him that. Let's see if he keeps them." It told the figures in the shadows.

Hidden by darkness, two figures, a man with blond hair wearing a white cape, and a woman with long red hair, smiled proudly.

With a gasp, Naruto sat up. Shaking his head to clear the cobwebs - pun not intended - he stood up. Shaking his head, grumbling about bastard foxes, he looked around, brow raised when he saw that he was behind a large machine. He wondered how he got there. Not seeing Mary Jane, he moved around it. "Hey, MJ! Where you at?" Getting around the corner, he froze, eyes wide. "What the hell?!"

The interior of the factory was wrecked. Claw marks on the cement ground and steel pillars, cracks on the ground, and the elevator located on the side had a huge hole on it.

"What happened?" he asked, before looking around for his redhead girlfriend. "MJ? MJ! Where are you?!"

"Naruto!" From behind a conveyor belt, Mary Jane came out. Moving to her quickly, he checked her over. He was glad to see she was alright, sighting in relief.

"MJ what happened? Where's Doc?" he asked, not seeing the Lizard.

"It woke up while you were out. It went crazy and wrecked the place before escaping."

Naruto looked at her with wide eyes. "What?! Where did it go?"

MJ shook her head. "I don't know, but before it left, I managed to plant one of your Spider-Tracers on it." Hearing that, Naruto took out his tracker, searching for the Lizard's signature. "But Naruto, listen. When the Lizard broke free, it attacked me, when someone appeared and saved me."

He looked at her in surprise. "What? Really? Who?" he asked, when the tracker beeped, finding the Lizard. Looking at it, he saw the direction it was going and cursed loudly when he recognized the location. "Shit! Not good! It's going toward the Connors House! It's going after Mrs. Connors and Billy!" He quickly put the mask on, as well as took the Gene Cleanser vial "I need to go! Tell me later!"

"Naruto, wait! The person was looking for you! It was-"

However, Naruto had already left, not hearing her.

Connors Residence

Landing in front of the Connors home, a pit formed in Spider-Man's chest at seeing the door torn down. Quickly entering, he looked around at the mess. Shelves in pieces, books clattering the floor, along with broken photo frames and nicknacks. "Mrs. Connors! Billy! Are you here?!" Moving further in, into the wrecked living room, he looked around. He strained his ears to listen for any heartbeats. Listening for a while, he picked something up. A heartbeat, as well as a whimper. "Billy? You here? It's alright, its Spider-Man!"

From behind the couch, Billy Connors stepped out. Spider-Man approached him, kneeling down. Other than some light shaking, he was alright. "Billy, where's your mom."

Sniffling, Billy rubbed his eyes. "A lizard man came and took her!"

Frowning, he looked at Billy. "Don't worry, I'll get her back." 'Along with your dad.' "In the meantime, you'll stay with a friend. Alright?"

As Spider-Man picked him up, Billy nodded. "Okay, just please save my mommy."

After a quick call to Mary Jane, and explaining the situation, he dropped Billy off with her at her place. Luckily her aunt was still out, and won't be back till tomorrow.

He would have called Debra but wanted to avoid an onslaught of questions.

Now, Spider-Man swung through the city, following the Lizard's location.

And wouldn't you know it, its location was a fitting one.

Not to mention ironic.

Central Park Zoo

Swinging over the entrance, he landed on a lamp post. He looked around for any sign of the Lizard or Martha. "Alright, where would a Lizard bring a woman in a zoo." His eyes locked on the Lizard House. "Somewhere warm."

Inside the Lizard House, Martha gasped as she backed away from the Lizard, as it hissed at her. "Curt, are you there? It's me, your wife. Please, I know you're in there. You're my husband. Billy's father. Please, we need you to come back to us."

Hissing, the Lizard moved its head closer to her, as Martha stood still. Its golden yellow eyes locked on to her, inspecting her.

"...Maaaarthaaaa…"

Feeling hope rise at hearing it - at hearing him - say her name, Martha smiled, nodding as her eyes stung with unshed tears. "Yes, Curt. It's me. Your wife. I'm here for you, as I have always been."

Continuing to stare at her, at her face, slowly, the Lizard's mind began clearing up.

"Maaaarthaaaa…"

Grabbing its head, the Lizard let out a roar of confusion. Shaking its head back and forth, it seemed to be fighting with itself. Seeing this, Martha called out to her husband inside. "Fight it, Curt! Remember who you are! The man you have, and always will be. A husband, a father, a respected man of science! You are Curt Connors, not this lizard thing."

Head snapping back with a roar, the part that was Curt Connors and the part that was the Lizard battled for control.

"Too...strong...can't...fight it!"

"Yes, you can! You can do it!" Martha encouraged.

"AAAAAGH! I can't! Martha, I'm...sorry! AAAAAGH!" With a soul-piercing screech, the Lizard snapped its gaze toward the woman. Eyes reflecting primal intent.

"Curt?" Martha asked, stepping back. With a hiss, the Lizard attacked. "Curt!"

"Not today, pal!" Swinging down, Spider-Man kicked the Lizard away, landing in front of her.

"Spider-Man!" Martha exclaimed in surprise. He looked at her over his shoulder.

"Mr. Connors, are you alright?"

"Yes, but please don't hurt him! That's my husband."

"Don't worry, I won't." he told her, looking at the recovering Lizard. 'Question is, what do I do now? Attempting to cleanse my blood of Spider DNA for a cure didn't work. Should I take a risk and used regular blood? But there's no telling what effects it could have on the doc. Should I really leave it all to a chance that it won't kill him or make things worse?'

As the Lizard got up, Spider-Man spoke to Martha. "Get to safety, Mrs. Connors. Things are about to get wild."

Not a good time for a pun, but he couldn't help himself.

Martha nodded. "Alright, but please, don't hurt Curt." she begged, before moving away.

'It's not me hurting him that I'm worried about.' he thought, getting ready. "Man Lizzy, nice place you got here. Whoo, man is it hot!" He said, fanning himself. "And what is this anyway? Round 4? We really need to settle this without involving one of us being sent to the hospital." Spider-Man said, getting a hiss before it charged at him. Spider-Man leaped up into the air, shooting web-bullets at it, to which the Lizard dodged, running around the ground. Jumping up into the trees, it took cover as Spider-Man landed in the middle of the field.

Looking around with narrowed eyes, Spider-Man wasn't one to be a sitting duck, so turned invisible. Up in the trees, the lizard growled, its vision spotting its target's body heat. Moving through the branches with the stealth of a snake, not make any loud noise, it drew closer. It saw its target jump into the trees and followed it silently.

Spider-Man, still camouflaged, looked around for the Lizard. The greenery gave it a good cover, and the sound of animals around prevented him from hearing its heartbeat. 'This might be harder than I thought.'

Crawling through the branches, he kept his guard up for anything, not taking notice of a rather thick "wine" moving above him. Eyes widening as spider-senses flared, he turned around but was too late to act, as the Lizard dived at him. Tackled out of the tree, his camouflage deactivating, the two crashed down into a lake below.

Sinking into the dirty water bellow, Spider-Man held his breath, all the while holding back the jaws of the Lizard from taking another bite out of him. Pushing the head back, he planted his feet on the Lizard's chest, kicking it away. Knowing he had to get out before he ran out of air, Spider-Man quickly tried swimming upward, only for the Lizard to grab his foot, pulling him down.

Reeling a leg up, Spider-Man slammed it down on the Lizard's face, making it release his leg. Free, he quickly swam towards the surface. With a gasp, he broke out, before shooting a web-line to a branch, lifting himself up just the Lizard's open jaw broke out where he was. Landing on the branch, Spider-Man looked down bellow at the Lizard, as it swam around the lake like an alligator.

'Speaking of gators looks like Doc's got some company.' He thought, seeing some gators there were resting on the lakeside, enter the water, moving towards the doctor. Getting close, they attacked it, with the Lizard retaliating. As that kept Lizard preoccupied, Spider-man thought on a plan. 'Need someway to slow Lizzy down to be able to give it its medicine. Wait a minute.' Standing up, Spider-man began jumping up the branches, reaching the top, before leaping up to the roof of the dome. Opening the hatch, he peeked out. In the distance, he saw the polar bear section. 'The warmth of the Lizard House allows the Lizard to move around naturally. But place it in a cold environment...'

"Curt!"

Eye widening at hearing Martha's voice, Spider-man cursed, before jumping back down into the forest.

Martha gasped as she watched her husband fighting with the alligators, scratching and biting each other. She stood at the lakeside, unable to look away, watching her lizard husband fight aggressively with the alligators. Unknown to her, a lone gator was sneaking up behind her, staring at her with ill intent in its eyes. Getting close enough, he struck.

"Oh no you don't!" Spider-man called out, swinging over, shooting a web-bullet into the gator's mouth, coating it in sticky webbing, before picking up Martha. The woman cried in surprise, as Spider-man swung towards the exit. Landing, he let Martha go. "You alright?"

Catching her breath, Martha nodded. "Yes, thank you. But Curt…"

Spider-man placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. I've got an idea. If I can lure the Lizard towards the Polar Bear habitat, the cold water should slow it down, enough to force the Gene Cleanser down its throat." He said, holding up the serum. Martha gasped at the sight of the vial in his hand.

"How did you get that?! Wait, I was missing a vial! Did you steal that from my lab!" She accused, glaring at him.

Spider-man held up his hands. "I can explain! But we don't have time! You need to get somewhere safe so I can lure the Lizard."

Martha shook her head. "No, I'll do it."

"No way! It's too dangerous!" He denied. Martha glared at her, making him flinch.

"He's my husband! I'm doing it whether you like it or not!" She declared, before running to where the Lizard was. Left standing there, Spider-man groaned, rubbing the back of his head.

"Troublesome." He groaned, before heading towards the Polar Bear habitat. Once there, he first covered the cave openings in blankets of web, preventing the bears from coming out. "Alright, now that that's taken care of, I'll need a vantage point to push the Lizard into the water." Looking at the dome, he nodded. "Perfect. Now I just need Mrs. Connors to lure the Lizard here."

"You know..." The Kyuubi suddenly spoke, startling Spider-man. "This would be a perfect opportunity to gain photos of the Lizard for your obnoxious boss."

Narrowing his eyes in a glare, Spider-man shook his head. "I'm not that selfish. If evidence of the Lizard's existence is proven, it might get linked back to the doc. It'll ruin him. I won't stoop that low."

"Not even for money? It could further help that aunt of yours. Give her a life of health and peace."

Silent for a bit, Spider-man shook his head, launching a web-line to the dome. "No. As much as I want a great life for May, I won't betray the Connors' trust." He stated, ending any further conversation.

Soon, Martha ran out of the Lizard House, the Lizard chasing her on all fours. Martha ran as fast she could, heading towards the Polar section. Unfortunately, as she climbed the steps, she tripped on her heels. Falling, she looked behind her with a gasp as the Lizard drew close. "Curt, stop! Please! I know you're in there! Fight it!" She begged, the Lizard hissing at her.

Around the dome, Spider-man swung in an arc, heading towards the Lizard. "Sorry, Doc! This is for your own good, as well as Billy's!" He shouted, slamming his feet into the Lizard, sending it over the railing and into the water below. Martha watched the waters ripple, before the Lizard and Spider-man resurfaced, with the webhead being punched back. Flipping, Spider-man landed on the shore.

"Paaaarrkeeer..." The Lizard hissed.

"What?" Martha gasped, while Spider-man narrowed his eyes.

With a roar, the Lizard charged at him. Falling back, Spider-man kicked the Lizard over him. As it landed, Spider-man jumped on its back, arm around its neck. "Time to put you down, Lizzy! And get the old Doc back!" Unfortunately, the Lizard grabbed him by the shoulders, before slamming him hard on his back on the ground. Spider-man groaned from the impact, before rolling out of the way as the Lizard slammed its foot on where his head used to be.

Jumping away, he tried another approach, and shooting a web-line to the side, grabbed a loose boulder, and threw it at the Lizard. Swinging its tail, it broke the boulder, before Spider-man flew through the dust, landing a kick. Flipping away, he shot an impact webbing around the Lizard, trapping it. Leaping forward, hand stretched out, Spider-man grabbed its head, before giving it a full charge of Venom Blast.

The Lizard roared in pain before with all it's might, broke free from its binds, and swung its tail against Spider-man. Landing on his back on the shallow side, he wasn't given breathing room, before the Lizard got on top of him, jaw wide open, and aiming for his throat. Acting quickly, Spider-man blocked it with his arm, grunting as the Lizard's teeth dug into his skin, and the hands placed on his chest digging their way past his suit and into his skin. From her position, Martha gasped as the Lizard tried to kill Spider-man.

Spider-man grunted as he tried to hold back the raging maw filled with sharp, deadly teeth from taking a large bite from his throat. He gritted his teeth as equally sharp and deadly claws cut, tore, and dug into his skin through his suit.

Blood pore from his cuts, dripping into the water around him, staining it red.

Raising his head, his white eye-lenses reflected the image of the Lizard, its primal and furious yellow eyes glowing brightly in the reflection.

'Damnit, how things get this far? A week ago, this creature was a scientist, my mentor. My friend. And now look at us, fighting each other. Fighting for our lives.'

"Stop monologuing and do something, you damn brat!"

"Paaaarrkeeer!" The Lizard road, as it grabbed Spider-man's wrists with one hand, and began choking him with its tail. As Spider-man struggled to breathe, the Lizard raised a hand up and moved it towards Spider-man's head. Seeing this, Spider-man struggled more, but it was no use, as the Lizard grabbed his mask, before pulling it off, revealing Naruto's face.

Seeing Naruto's identity, Martha's eyes widened in shock. "Naruto?!"

"Riiiiichaaaard...Paaaarkeeeer..."

"G-Geez, doc...i-if you keep repeating my da-dad's name...people are going to t-talk." Naruto joked.

He joked when he was in a panic, sue him!

"You...were supposed...to help me!" The Lizard continued to speak, much to Naruto and Martha's surprise. "You...were supposed to...cure me! To return...my arm! To return my life...to normal! You left me! Left me, half of what I am! You...were my...friend!"

"Curt…" Martha muttered, looking at her husband sadly. She didn't know he held such repressed feelings.

Grunting, trying to free his hands, Naruto looked at the Lizard's eyes. It was obviously not looking at him, but at the memory of his dad. "Doc...I t-think I...g-get it. You're...angry at…my dad. You think he-he abandoned you...for not finishing...your work. But it's not...like he planned on dying, you know?" He groaned as the tail tightened around his neck.

"Curt, stop! You're killing him!" Martha shouted, but the Lizard ignored her.

Gritting his teeth, Naruto continued talking. "Truthfully...it's my fault...you turned out this way. The Cross-Species...Formula w-wouldn't have work...without the final...compound. I...learned too late, what it was...but even then...I was the one...who gave you the hope...of finishing it...just didn't...expect you to test it...on yourself."

He tried freeing his hand, as it was getting harder to breathe by the minute. 'If I can just...reach the vial...I can… pour it down...his mouth…' His vision began going down, the lack of oxygen through his tubes drawing him closer towards unconsciousness.

"Curt! Stop!" Martha shouted, seeing the young Parker closer to death.

"Get off him, Lizard Breath!"

A voice called out, followed by a greenish energy bolt shooting through the air, and hitting the Lizard's back. It let out a roar of pain, pale green static coursing through its body. It unconsciously let got of Naruto, who coughed, air refueling his lunging. Wondering what happened, he looked at the Lizard, and seeing its state, took the chance given, and tackled it down. Taking out the Gene Cleaner, he popped the cap. 'This needs my blood, right? Well, there's one way to do it, and it has to be the craziest thing I have ever done!'

Pulling the Lizard's jaw open, he thrust his arm into it, and slammed the jaw shut!

"Gah!" With a pained shout, the sharp teeth dug deep into his skin, and muscle. However, it had the effect of releasing his blood, which poured down the Lizard's throat, followed by the Gene Cleaner. Pulling his arm out, leaving gashes in it, he jumped away. Looking at his ruined arm, he saw red energy coat it, before with a steaming hiss, his wounds closed rapidly. 'Thanks, Kyuubi.' He told the fox, who growled at him.

"You are no doubt going to be a headache for me, boy, with your life-threatening stunts."

Looking at the Lizard, it gave out the loudest roar it has ever given. Naruto and Martha watched in awe, as the Lizard's skin, began to disappear, turning to normal. The tail broke apart and dissolved. Claws sank into nails, as the hand grew smaller. Jaw shrunk back to a normal face.

What was more surprising, was that the once missing right arm, stayed.

With a groan, the now cured Curt Connors, fell over, Naruto quickly catching him. Looking at his normal, unconscious mentor, Naruto let out a breath. With his arm over his shoulder, Naruto jumped up towards Martha.

"Curt!" She called, checking her husband.

"He's fine. Don't worry. He's just tired." Naruto told her, making Martha look at him. Remembering just who he was, Martha spoke.

"Naruto...how..."

Naruto sighed, knowing he had some explaining to do.

Later that night, as the moon hung high, Spider-man, mask back on, stood on top of a building, watching as the Connors family embraced, happy that the nightmare of the Lizard was over.

He let out a deep sigh, knowing he had to explain everything to the Connors scientist tomorrow. But for now, he was just glad that things got back to normal.

And now, he could rest peacefully. He definitely deserved it after all of this.

He was about to head home, when he froze, a strange feeling vibrating through his body. 'What the?'

"My, that was a close one. Wouldn't you say?"

Hearing a voice behind him, Spider-man span around. Seeing the person standing behind him, his eyes widened to epic proportions.

It was a woman, long dark hair, wearing a red skin-tight cloth, most likely Spandex or something similar. It hugged her form, showing some impressive curves. She wore yellow colored boots and elbow-high gloves and had yellow arrow pattern marks that covers over her womb and abdomen, connected in between her breasts followed an upside-down triangle placed over her chest. He could also see what looked like webbed wings under her arms. Finally, she had a red mask over her eyes, with an upside-down yellow triangle on the forehead, and white lenses with chrome over her eyes, similar to his.

All in all, he clearly knew who this woman was. After all, she was the one who bore the name Spider before him.

Staring at her in shock and awe, Spider-man sounded her name in surprise. "Spider-Woman!"

The Spider Heroine of San Francisco smirked at him. "Nice to finally meet you, Spider-Man."

End

And that's the end of the Lizard Arc.

Or is it? Is the Lizard truly gone? Who knows.

And a surprise appearance of Spider-Woman!

What's in store for Naruto Parker?

You'll just have to tune in to next time!

I honestly didn't expect this arc to be so long. Hehe, XD! Hopefully, this will be the last parter-chapter in a while.

Hope you enjoy 2019, and it is well to you.

And once more…

Long live the memory of the great Stan Lee.

May his name and legacy live on for generations to come.

Ja ne!

Peter Parker/Spider-man was able to heal from complete blindness and severe third-degree burns in a matter of hours.

Because of his natural Uzumaki healing and longevity, added with his spider DNA, Naruto is able to withstand and heal from major damage in just a few hours, depending on the extent of the damage, and heal from minor injuries in several minutes.

Added with Kyuubi's chakra, he can heal from major injuries in seconds, matching the extent of Wolverine's healing factor.