The void of space stretched endlessly around them, a tapestry of stars and drifting worlds. Yet Kara's focus was narrowed sharply on the jagged, glowing meteor tumbling across the system ahead of them. Its surface shimmered with volatile energy, a clear sign that their mission here was not going to be simple. Behind her, her team of elite warriors floated in formation, silent and awaiting her signal.
But even with her mission clear and her senses sharp, Kara's heart was not fully on the battlefield.
Her lips pressed into a thin line as her mind drifted—once again—to him.
Naruto.
At this very moment, she knew he was back on that little blue world, walking through the village of Konoha with Hinata. Hand in hand, no doubt. Laughing. Sharing memories. Whispering promises of forever.
It was… strange.
This wasn't what she had expected when she'd fallen for him.
Nothing in her training, her culture, or the collective wisdom of her people had prepared her for this peculiar arrangement. Monogamy was sacred—instinctive. It wasn't just a tradition, it was the cornerstone of every bond she had ever known. Lifelong, undivided commitment.
And yet… here she was.
One of several.
Sharing him.
She had told herself it was impossible at first. Unthinkable. That no true warrior of Krypton would ever entertain such a notion. Only warlords of old, or the occasional king from ancient legends, had walked such paths.
But then came Naruto.
And everything changed.
He wasn't a king, though the world treated him like one. He wasn't a warlord, though his power surpassed them all.
He was just him.
Kind.
Gentle.
Unshakeable.
Irreplaceable.
And above all… hers.
Not just hers, of course. Not anymore. But that didn't diminish what they shared. If anything, it made it more meaningful—because despite everything, despite the others, he never made her feel like an afterthought.
He never let any of them feel that way.
He made time. He listened. He remembered the little things—the way she liked her hair brushed after battle, the way she tucked her knees in when she was scared, the way her voice softened when she read to him.
He was the kind of lover, the kind of man, that only came once in a thousand lifetimes.
And she would never let him go.
Yes, it was hard. Yes, she sometimes looked at the other girls and wished—just wished—it could be only her. That she could have him all to herself. That she wouldn't have to share his smile, his warmth, his laughter.
But then she'd remember their late-night talks, his promises under the stars, the way he always looked at her like she was the center of his world.
And the thought of him not being there—of someone else taking her place—was unbearable.
She clenched her fist as her gaze returned to the meteor, jaw tightening.
Nyx…
Just thinking of her name made Kara's brow furrow. The events that had unfolded—the risks Naruto had taken—the state he had returned in… it made her blood boil. Not just at Nyx, but at herself for not being there.
For not being fast enough.
Strong enough.
He was better now, but the worry lingered. So did the frustration. And maybe, just a bit of jealousy. Because while she stood in the void with a world-ending threat ahead, he was down there…
With Hinata.
'He could have at least volunteered to cheer us on,' she grumbled inwardly, a tiny pout forming on her lips before she shook it off and raised her hand.
The signal was given. Her team surged forward, streaks of light crossing the black sky.
Kara followed last, her cape billowing behind her like a crimson comet.
She was angry.
She was jealous.
She was in love.
And she was going to finish this mission fast. Because the moment it was done, she was going back. And this time, she was going to remind Naruto that while he might be many things to many people…
To her, he was everything.
Pamela followed closely behind Kara, Kurama, and Hagoromo, her boots softly thudding against the floor of the spacecraft as it cruised through the vast expanse of space. The mission was critical—the cure for Naruto was their primary goal, but there was something else stirring in Pamela's heart. Something she had never expected to feel.
Naruto was relying on her.
For the first time, she wasn't just an afterthought. She wasn't just another face among the many in his life. No, this time, he turned to her. This time, it was her skills, her talents that would save him.
The thought made her smile softly to herself, her lips curling slightly, though her eyes remained focused on the task ahead. She had always prided herself on being able to control situations, but here, she wasn't manipulating anyone. She was simply being useful to him—to Naruto.
Her mind, however, couldn't help but wander, tracing the path of her own life.
Her past had been a shadow that clung to her, constantly reminding her of what she'd endured and who she had become. Pamela's family had never been the picture of love and warmth. Her father had been an abusive tyrant, and her mother—well, her mother had been a fragile, submissive soul. She had loved flowers, of all things. The garden at the back of their house was her sanctuary, a place where she could tend to the delicate blooms that seemed to mirror her own fragility.
But flowers, in Pamela's experience, were nothing more than tools of manipulation. Her father would strike her mother, and after each violent episode, he would bring her flowers. He never apologized—no, his gestures were an attempt to regain control, to pacify her. The flowers were his way of cementing her dependence, an unspoken message that he was the one in charge.
Pamela had learned early on to see the world through this twisted lens. It wasn't love that mattered, but control. Power. The moment her mother had been buried in that very garden, feeding the flowers she so dearly cherished, Pamela understood what had to be done to survive. She had learned to use her beauty and intelligence, to manipulate others just as the flowers had manipulated her mother.
Through sheer force of will, Pamela had clawed her way through college, leaving behind a trail of toxic relationships and shattered hearts. She had created chemicals—poisons—that were illegal, deadly, and often undetectable. And her father… he was no different. A poisoned kiss had been his end, a kiss that left no trace.
Her survival had been inevitable. She became Poison Ivy in the truest sense, a villain with the power to control plant life. But with every victory, there was a lingering emptiness. She had wreaked havoc, caused destruction, but in the quiet moments, when the dust settled, she felt the gnawing emptiness of being truly alone.
But that was before she met Naruto.
Unlike the other heroes she'd encountered, Naruto wasn't closed off or obsessed with his own grandeur. He didn't hide behind a facade of perfection. He was real. He listened. He cared. And he never judged her, despite her history, despite her past.
Naruto was the kind of man who believed in action. In making his dreams reality. He didn't just talk about changing the world—he did it. And in those quiet moments when they'd spoken, when he'd opened up to her, Pamela had found something she never thought she would. She found love.
But it was a love complicated by his other lovers.
Pamela was used to being the center of attention. She was used to getting what she wanted. But Naruto wasn't just hers. He was a man of many, each woman vying for his affection, for his heart. Pamela had fought with the feeling, wrestled with the jealousy that bubbled up when she saw him with the others, but she had come to accept it. She couldn't change the past, and she certainly couldn't change Naruto. He was who he was, and that was part of what made him Naruto.
But then Nyx had come into the picture.
Pamela couldn't deny the anger that simmered in her when she thought of it. Nyx had fulfilled Pamela's deepest, most selfish wish—she had taken Naruto's heart, the way Pamela had always dreamed of doing. The first time she saw them together, the jealousy had been overwhelming. She had fought it, though, because what mattered now was that Naruto was happy. And if he was happy, so would she be.
But that didn't mean it was easy.
The other girls—they were friends. There was no denying that. But sharing him? That was a concept she wasn't entirely comfortable with. Deep down, Pamela was selfish. She wanted Naruto all to herself. She knew it was unreasonable, knew it was selfish, but the thought of another woman taking her place was unbearable. But she never voiced it. She never made her dissatisfaction known, because if Naruto was happy, that meant everything to her.
It was a strange dynamic, to love someone so fiercely and yet share them with others. But Pamela had walked this path, and she would walk it for as long as necessary. Because when it came down to it, she would always choose Naruto. He was hers, even if she had to share him with the others.
And that was why she was here, on this mission. To save him. To do something for him. For once, he was relying on her. That meant everything.
It was a dream come true but that fact that Nyx had Naruto in her palm was rage inducing. Her Naruto was supposed to stand above everyone, not in the hands of someone else.
The eternal darkness was dimming the golden dawn and she could do nothing about it. She was the avatar of Gaia and her powers were growing but the fact was that she was never going to reach the level of Gaia, who stood beneath Nyx.
It was a problem. It was frustrating. Naruto stood above them all and Kara, Raven, Donna, and Diana were following him without a problem.
Shay Veritas played her part by the tech genius, Shiva played her part by being a martial genius but she had nothing to give to him.
He had more powers over nature than she had and it was not her nature to stand at the back. It was especially annoying knowing that the new girl was going to probably stand higher on the affection scale.
All these were problematic but at the moment she was happy. She was focused on the task and the fact that Naruto was relying on her.
She was happy that she could do something for him.
'I will be right behind you, beloved.' Pamela smiled as she looked at the dragon sleeping on their target. She had understood the Otsutsuki and gained some understanding.
They ate the life force of planets using a tree so why couldn't she do it as well.