The Grand Palace of the Emperor, a celestial structure so vast it could house entire galaxies, was alive with celebration.
At the center of it all stood Naruto Uzumaki, Emperor of Mankind, the Immortal Sovereign whose very existence defined his Empire. Draped in a golden cloak that shimmered with the power of countless stars, he stood at the edge of a colossal balcony, staring into the swirling vortex that marked his path into the Lawless Multiverse.
It was time.
The moment was heavy. Monumental. Legendary.
He turned to face his people, his eyes burning with determination. "My friends… my family… my beloved wives…" he began, his voice echoing across the infinite halls. "For thirty years, I have ruled over this Empire, expanded it beyond galaxies, beyond universes. And now…"
He let the silence linger for dramatic effect.
"I must leave."
A pause.
"I must walk into the unknown. Into a realm beyond order. A place where laws do not exist, where even the mightiest fall. It is a journey… I must take alone."
A heavier silence followed.
Then—
"HAAAAH?!"
A chorus of unimpressed voices rang through the palace.
Shikamaru facepalmed. "Are you serious right now?"
Kiba scoffed, crossing his arms. "Oh my god, he's doing it again."
Choji, munching on a cosmic-grade chip, raised an eyebrow. "Does he seriously think this is some kind of emotional goodbye?"
Tenten rolled her eyes. "Naruto, you are the Empire. Literally. The entire thing is inside you. What exactly are you 'leaving'?"
Lee, ever the energetic one, raised a hand. "Perhaps he is speaking metaphorically! A journey of the soul!"
Sasuke, arms crossed, visibly unamused, snorted. "No. He's just being dramatic."
"Oi, oi, wait a minute!" Naruto frowned. "This is a big deal! I'm heading into the most dangerous and lawless parts of the multiverse!"
"You are the most dangerous thing in the multiverse," Sai pointed out.
"Exactly!" Minato chimed in, smiling warmly. "Son, what exactly do you think is going to happen? That you'll struggle?"
Jiraiya chuckled, stroking his chin. "Do you expect us to be sad? Like you're sailing into some tragic, unknown fate?"
Naruto opened his mouth, hesitated, then frowned. "I mean… yeah?"
A wave of sighs passed through the room.
Even Hinata, one of the few who usually humored him, gave him a knowing smile. "Naruto-kun, you do realize that even if you go to another universe, we can just… call you?"
"Yeah!" Kushina chimed in. "And besides, it's not like you're actually leaving us behind. The Empire is inside you!"
"And we're inside the Empire," Tsunade added, rubbing her temples. "So, technically speaking, we're inside you too."
A dead silence followed as everyone processed her words.
Shino adjusted his glasses. "That sounded… suggestive."
Tsunade blinked. "…Oh. Damn it."
The brief awkward pause was instantly overridden by Luffy bursting into laughter. "BWAHAHA! Oi, Naruto, you've got an entire multiverse inside you! What kinda weird stomach do you have?!"
Goku, grinning, nudged him. "Maybe he trained it like I trained mine!"
Toriko, also intrigued, nodded sagely. "I wouldn't be surprised if Naruto's body evolved to digest concepts."
Issei suddenly lit up, eyes sparkling. "Wait, wait, wait! If we're all technically inside him, does that mean we're like…" He gasped. "Are we inside Naruto's harem?!"
A violent explosion sent him flying into the next dimension courtesy of a flying kick from Rias.
Meanwhile, Naruto clutched his head in frustration. "No, no, no! You're all ruining the moment!"
"Naruto," Batman, who had been silent this whole time, finally spoke. His voice was deep. Serious. Calculated.
Everyone went silent.
Batman stepped forward. The shadows of the multiverse itself seemed to tremble at his presence. His cape billowed dramatically despite the complete lack of wind.
"You're trying to act like you're leaving something behind."
Naruto stared at him, waiting for wisdom.
Batman narrowed his eyes.
"You are the Multiverse now."
Naruto's eye twitched. "Oh, come on!"
A wave of laughter echoed through the palace.
Kurama, watching this unfold, simply shook his massive head, chuckling. "Brat, you've conquered multiple realities, ascended beyond mortality, and become the literal embodiment of your Empire… and yet, you're still this much of an idiot."
"Shut up, Kurama!" Naruto pouted, crossing his arms.
Still laughing, Shikamaru patted Naruto's shoulder. "Look, man, we all get it. You wanna make a big deal out of this whole 'first step into the multiverse' thing. But let's be real—you've already absorbed entire timelines into yourself. This isn't some great unknown for you anymore."
Sasuke nodded. "You're not 'stepping into the void.' You're just expanding what's already inside you."
Naruto blinked. Then sighed. "Fine. Fine. I get it. No big dramatic farewell, no tragic last words…"
He muttered something under his breath, rubbing his temples. Then, slowly, a smirk crept onto his face.
"Alright then," he said, turning back to the vortex. "Since I'm not 'leaving' and the multiverse is just another meal on my plate…"
His Alpha Stigma eyes flared, the sheer weight of his existence shaking reality itself.
"Then let's get started."
A roar of approval filled the palace as the greatest warriors in existence prepared to step forward with him.
The Multiverse was about to learn one thing very, very quickly.
Naruto Uzumaki wasn't coming to visit.He was coming to take over.
Naruto and Hinata stepped out of the golden portal and found themselves standing atop a skyscraper in the heart of New York City. The hum of the city below reached their ears—a chaotic symphony of car horns, distant sirens, and the buzz of thousands of lives intertwined. The air was thick with a mixture of exhaust fumes and the ocean breeze, a stark contrast to the crisp, unpolluted atmosphere of their world. Hinata looked around with quiet curiosity, her hand still tightly clasping Naruto's as she took in the unfamiliar skyline.
Naruto closed his eyes for a moment and allowed himself to connect with this new world. Instantly, he felt the planet's energy, a web of life and nature stretching across its surface. However, there was resistance—an almost imperceptible barrier that seemed to push back against his presence. He frowned slightly, realizing it was likely because they were outsiders. Forcing his will upon the planet could cause irreparable harm, so he decided to let time ease the tension.
Through his connection, Naruto sensed powerful life forces scattered across the globe. These presences weren't quite like the Otsutsuki he was hunting, but they were far stronger than the average humans walking the streets below. Each stood out like a beacon in the chaotic tapestry of this planet's energy. His first thought was that the Otsutsuki could be hiding in a pocket dimension, a strategy they had often employed in the past. Before making any assumptions, however, he knew he needed to gather information about this planet, its inhabitants, and its history.
The planet itself intrigued him. It was alive and vibrant but smaller than his homeworld, with weaker humans as its primary inhabitants. Yet, despite their fragility, they had managed to build sprawling cities and thriving civilizations. It was an impressive feat, though the state of the planet was concerning. The air and water were polluted, the natural energy systems strained. "Guess I'll help out as it comes," Naruto thought to himself, his resolve to protect strengthening further.
Hinata observed her surroundings silently, her Tensaigan activated to scan the area. She noted the advanced technology in use and the incredible density of the population. "It's so different," she murmured, her voice carrying a mix of awe and concern.
Naruto gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and smiled. "We'll figure it out," he said. "First, we need to blend in."
With that, Naruto activated his flight and floated a few feet off the ground, his body turning completely invisible and intangible. From this vantage point, he observed the city with keen eyes, taking note of the people and their behaviors. One thought crossed his mind: 'I'll need to learn the local languages if I'm going to understand them and avoid unnecessary attention.'
As he scanned the skyline, his gaze landed on a young man clinging to the side of a nearby skyscraper. The figure wore a tight, red-and-blue suit adorned with a spider logo on his chest. The way he stuck to the glass and moved effortlessly up the wall confirmed that he wasn't a normal human. This man was special, radiating a faint but distinct energy that marked him as different from the masses below.
Naruto's interest was piqued. This individual seemed to have a strong moral compass, evident in the way he carried himself even from a distance. More importantly, he wasn't so overwhelmingly powerful that he might sense Naruto's presence. A perfect candidate for observation and a potential ally.
Without a sound, Naruto approached the young man, remaining invisible and intangible. As he hovered nearby, he focused on the man's mind—not to intrude, but to copy his linguistic abilities. Naruto took only what he needed: the languages the man spoke and understood. Memories and thoughts, he left untouched. He preferred to learn through experience, as memories could often be biased or incomplete.
Naruto stood casually on the wall, his golden hair and calm demeanor a stark contrast to the bustling city below. "Hello, what are you doing?" he muttered with a friendly tone, startling Spider-Man, who instinctively jumped to the side and scanned his surroundings. His sharp eyes landed on Naruto, perched as easily as if gravity had no hold on him.
Peter Parker's mind raced. How did I not feel his presence? he thought, slightly unnerved. At least my spider-sense isn't going off, so he doesn't seem like a threat.
Peter tilted his head, slipping into his usual jovial tone to mask his wariness. "I'm just hanging around to rest before I swing off to help some people in trouble. What about you, stranger? What brings you to this part of town?"
Naruto offered a disarming smile. "Relax, I'm a friend—from another world." His tone was matter-of-fact, as if such statements were completely normal. "I'm looking for people who can help me fight a threat that could destroy entire worlds. They're a nomadic race, so I'm also searching for their locations. Have you heard of the name Otsutsuki? Aliens with horns, pale skin, strange eyes, or perhaps a giant tree that sucks the life out of a planet?" Naruto's words were honest, direct, and without pretense.
Peter's jovial mask faltered slightly. The description sent a shiver down his spine. Aliens that destroyed planets? Giant trees that drained life? It sounded like something straight out of a sci-fi horror film. But his skepticism lingered. Is this guy serious, or is he just messing with me?
"Uh... no, sorry," Peter replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "Never heard of them. But maybe my friends could help you. They're a lot stronger than me, older than me, and, well, smarter too. These kinds of threats are more in their wheelhouse than mine."
Naruto's piercing blue eyes studied Peter for a moment, and then he nodded. "Is that so?" Through his refined Sage mode, Naruto could sense Peter's honesty. He also glimpsed brief flashes of imagery from Peter's mind—faces of powerful individuals who could be of help. Naruto memorized these images for later.
As if conjured from thin air, Naruto formed two images in his hands using the Creation of All Things technique. The ethereal pictures depicted two Otsutsuki: Kaguya, regal and cold with her horns and pale features, and Isshiki, imposing and alien with his distinctive eyes. He handed the glowing projections to Peter, who hesitated before taking them.
"This is how two of their kind look," Naruto explained. "Keep the pictures in case you ever come across them. But listen carefully—don't try to engage them. If you see them, leave immediately. A single swipe of their hands could erase this city in an instant. Their power is beyond anything this world has likely faced."
Peter looked at the images and swallowed hard. "Thanks for the warning," he muttered, feeling the weight of Naruto's words. "Do you want me to show you the way to my friends, or can you find them yourself?"
Naruto smiled faintly. "I'll look around on my own for now, but I wouldn't mind if your friends come to find me. Oh, and by the way, there's a building on fire 20 kilometers from here with people trapped inside."
Peter blinked in surprise. "Wait, what? A fire?"
Before Peter could ask how Naruto knew that, he found himself teleported above the burning building. He noticed the flames raging, yet curiously there was no heat emanating from them. As he swung into action to help the trapped civilians, he muttered to himself, "Definitely out of my league."
Meanwhile, Naruto, still atop the skyscraper, glanced in the direction of the fire. "See you later, Peter," he murmured. Turning to Hinata, who had been watching the entire exchange with quiet amusement, he said, "Let's explore more of this world. Something tells me we'll find what we're looking for soon enough."