Kurt took a sip from his apple drink, savoring the cool, crisp taste as he leaned back against the park bench. His golden eyes flickered toward the man beside him—Naruto Uzumaki, the strange yet oddly comforting presence that had somehow barged into his life.
"Thank you for being a nice person," Kurt finally said, offering an awkward smile. It wasn't often he met people who didn't flinch at his appearance or treat him like some kind of freak.
Naruto turned his head slightly, his expression distant. "No probs. I enjoyed the company," he muttered, his tone tinged with nostalgia. His mind drifted to old times, old friends, and a certain pair of teammates—one brooding and the other fiery.
Kurt noticed the change in his demeanor and felt the urge to ask. But instead, he went for a different question. "So… why me?"
Naruto blinked and turned back to him. "Luck… and because you're kind of similar to me."
Kurt raised a skeptical brow before dramatically gesturing to himself. "I don't see the similarity. No blue skin and shit."
Naruto chuckled. "Heh, no. I mean personality-wise."
Kurt gawked at him, eyes wide with disbelief. "Are you serious? Unbelievable."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "I don't need to see your lackluster acting skills, boy." His voice held an amused edge. "Time changes everyone, and right now, you're sitting next to me, talking comfortably without breaking down. That's because I give off a peaceful aura."
Kurt hummed in thought before his tail curled slightly in intrigue. "So… does that mean I'm being mind-controlled?"
Naruto snorted. "No, it just means you don't think I'll harm you. It's a natural part of my being."
Kurt nodded, accepting that explanation—though he wasn't entirely sure if Naruto was just messing with him. "Alright, so what do you need me for? You're perfect and know everything, and you just taught me like it was nothing. It makes me feel like you have women hanging off you all the time with skills like that."
Naruto shook his head with a laugh. "Friendship isn't based on give and take, you know? Just enjoying each other's company is enough."
Kurt exhaled before standing up, stretching his limbs. "Heh, no complaints from me. I don't have many friends myself, so let's see how this goes. What do you do for fun?"
Naruto smirked. "Many things that you like… and many things that you don't like."
Kurt gave him a deadpan look. "Do you enjoy giving vague answers?"
"Yes, I think it's fun sometimes." Naruto's grin widened playfully.
"Alright, alright," Kurt chuckled, "let's just walk around and mess with people for a start."
Naruto met his gaze with a serious expression, holding it for a moment before a mischievous smile returned. "Ooh, nice idea… but let's postpone it to tomorrow. Playtime is over—I need to get back to work."
Before Kurt could even process the words, Naruto vanished into thin air, leaving his new friend standing there, blinking in disbelief.
"...Yeah, that's gonna take some getting used to."
The atmosphere in Stark Tower's conference room was surprisingly casual for a meeting that involved an unknown alien visitor and an impending world-ending threat.
Seated around a sleek, high-tech table were some of the best minds and strongest warriors Earth had to offer—or at least, the ones who weren't busy.
Thor? Back in Asgard, dealing with relationship problems.
Ant-Man and Wasp? Likely either deep in research or tangled up in their own love life.
Black Panther? Ruling Wakanda.
Hawkeye? With his family.
Black Widow? On a mission for S.H.I.E.L.D.
Doctor Strange? Dealing with mystical realms.
Ms. Marvel? Once again missing in action.
That left only the brains, the leaders, and the main muscle of the Avengers to handle this crisis—Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, and Sentry.
Across from them, on the alien side of the table, sat two individuals. One was Naruto Uzumaki, an unknown variable whose presence was both intriguing and unsettling. The other was a woman of unearthly beauty and grace—Hinata Uzumaki.
There had been five minutes of silence. Five minutes of analysis, hesitation, and quiet tension.
Then, Naruto spoke.
"You can stop staring at my wife," he said coolly, his sharp gaze directed at Sentry. "Or I might have to remove your eyes."
The words snapped the room out of its awkward silence. Sentry visibly tensed, shifting slightly in his seat.
"Sorry," Sentry finally muttered. "We just had a short conversation before."
Naruto's lips curled into a smirk. "And she said you were a coward."
Sentry exhaled sharply, not denying it. "Yes. And I hope you understand that we all have our problems. Our path is shaped by our choices."
Before Naruto could respond, Tony Stark groaned loudly, cutting through the tension.
"Okay, okay, enough with the silent brooding," Tony clapped his hands together and splashed a glass of water onto his own face, trying to wake himself up. "I had a rough night, so I was hoping you guys would take the lead here. But noooo, you bastards always push me around."
Bruce, who had been sitting beside him, quickly scooted away to avoid getting splashed. "Tony, please."
"What?"
"He's saying to act like a civilized person," Steve interjected with a sigh.
Tony turned to him dramatically. "If you want me to do that, then carry me to the washroom—I'm too tired to get up."
"You are standing," Steve deadpanned.
"I can't move my legs," Tony shot back, before shaking his head. "Okay, enough of Steve's clown foolery. Welcome to Stark Tower." He spread his arms wide. "My name is Tony Stark, and these are my lackeys. We make up the Avengers—poor blokes who risk life and limb for the good of mankind. It's been going well, but let's be honest, we've had our bad times too.
"Like that time people threw eggs at me when I was just trying to eat at McDonald's."
Bruce gave him a tired look. "Tony, that was yesterday."
Tony blinked. "Oh. I guess times never change."
Then, he turned back to Naruto and gestured toward him. "Now, my little space-faring friend here said you bring good news—about a world-ending threat. Sounds absolutely wonderful. So, tell us all about it. Details, suggestions, and what your role in this mess is."
And with that, all eyes turned to Naruto, waiting for the storm to begin.
The air in the conference room grew tense as all eyes turned to the stranger who had just claimed to be from another world.
Naruto met their gazes with a calm, unwavering look before speaking.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki, and this is my wife, Hinata Uzumaki. I come from a world where all of us have the ability to control energy and use it in various ways."
His words carried weight, but more than that, they carried a sense of certainty—as if he expected them to simply accept such a claim without question.
Naruto continued, his voice even and controlled.
"Our world was once a seedbed for these aliens. They use planets like ours to grow their tree—an event that should have led to our world's destruction. But the one in charge of our planet's invasion… chose not to go through with it."
That earned a few raised eyebrows.
"We survived because of that choice. But I know that more will come. The invaders will realize their forces in our region haven't reported back, and they will send someone stronger to investigate. We prepared for this moment and chose to go on the offensive."
The room was utterly silent.
Naruto locked eyes with each of them as he continued.
"This universe is where their main base exists. That is why we are here. The enemy numbers are vast, with warriors of all different strengths. I saw your strength, and I saw that your world is involved—whether you like it or not. This planet might soon become a target."
Hinata, who had been standing quietly at Naruto's side, activated a holographic display with a wave of her hand. A video began playing, showing disturbing images of destroyed worlds, monstrous alien beings, and the massive, immortallike entities responsible for their destruction.
Each Avenger watched in grim silence as Hinata passed them storage devices filled with additional data for them to review.
When the video ended, she spoke.
"As my husband has clarified the situation, we would like to know if you will cooperate with us or not."
There was a pause before Tony leaned forward, his usual cocky smirk nowhere to be found.
"If it involves Earth, we'll help you. Simple as that."
His words were blunt, yet clear. He was willing to protect his world, but he wasn't about to jump into some intergalactic war just because these strangers asked him to. Earth's involvement was his only concern.
Naruto gave a small nod. "I see. I don't mind your choice—it's reasonable. But whether you actively join the fight or not, you still need the information I have if you want any chance of preparing."
Then, his smile sharpened.
"And I'm also not feeling so nice anymore."
A chill ran through the room.
Tony's fingers tightened on the armrest of his chair as he quickly realized the trap they had walked into. They had no real choice. If Naruto refused to share his information, they would be left blind against this enemy.
Taking a deep breath, Tony leaned forward. "What do you want?"
Steve looked like he wanted to object, but Tony lifted a hand, silencing him. This was a negotiation, not a moral debate.
Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly. "I hope you don't take this the wrong way—I'm simply doing my duty as a leader. I have no obligation toward your people. I could easily take what I want, but that would make me a thug. Instead, I believe in the law of equivalent exchange."
The Avengers frowned.
"I need data on your technology," Naruto stated simply. "In exchange, I will give you everything I've gathered about the enemy."
Tony's eyes narrowed. "You can't seriously expect me to share everything with you."
Naruto chuckled. "Of course not. I just need information about the armor you're wearing."
There was a long pause.
Tony studied him carefully, as if trying to read his true intentions.
Finally, he exhaled and leaned back. "Fine. But don't expect me to explain anything or build a sample for you."
Naruto simply smiled and stood up. "I won't."
With that, the meeting was over.
As he retrieved the storage device filled with the data he had requested, Naruto turned to face them one last time.
"Good day, gentlemen. I hope nothing goes wrong. If you need to contact me, speak to Charles Xavier."
And then—
He was gone.
The room remained eerily silent for a few moments after his departure.
Unbeknownst to the Avengers, Naruto never actually needed their data.
From the moment he stepped into the room, he had already scanned, analyzed, and recorded everything they knew.
With just one glance, he had seen through their technology, understood its structure, and even transmitted it to Ino for further analysis.
If they had refused, it wouldn't have mattered. He had already taken what he needed.
However, he wasn't an unfair person. As such, he would reward them at a later date.
The room remained silent for a few moments after Naruto and Hinata left.
Steve let out a quiet sigh, rubbing his temples. "Was that really the right choice?" he muttered, his voice laced with doubt.
Tony scoffed. "Why didn't you speak up if you thought otherwise? Look, we don't have the power to get involved in some alien war. We've got enough problems as it is. If the threat comes to us, we'll deal with it. If not? We let them handle it."
He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. "Besides, they're already fighting, whether we help or not. If things get worse, we can always renegotiate."
Steve's eyes narrowed slightly. "I was thinking more about their world." He glanced at the holographic screen where some of the data Naruto had given them was still visible. "We might have learned something important—ways to fix this broken system. Maybe their world is the ideal place we're trying to build."
Before Tony could respond, Sentry spoke up, his voice calm but firm.
"I don't think you want to know how they built it."
Steve's expression hardened. "What do you mean?"
Tony tapped a few buttons on his device, bringing up several video feeds. "Watch this."
The footage showed multiple people vanishing into thin air across different locations. Some disappeared in dark alleys, others in crowded streets—all without a trace.
Steve and Banner's eyes widened. "What the hell is this?"
Tony exhaled, crossing his arms. "People disappearing. Right after they arrived."
"They're killing people?" Banner's voice rose slightly in shock.
"More like executing them." Tony corrected. "They were all serial killers, terrorists, or criminals who had been evading the law for years. Even law enforcement would have either put them down or given them a death sentence. I checked."
Steve's jaw tightened. "Why didn't you stop them?"
Tony looked at him, unimpressed. "And start a fight we aren't ready for? Against people who can do whatever the hell Naruto just did? Be my guest."
Steve took a deep breath, his muscles tense. He didn't like it—but at the same time, the law didn't always serve justice. He had seen corrupt politicians, untouchable criminals, and monsters who hid behind technicalities.
Still, the thought of instant execution without trial…
Sentry, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke again. "You intend to subdue them?"
Tony nodded. "Yes. If we don't, they'll just cause more problems down the line. If the government finds out about them—or worse, they start acting against it—we're going to have a war on our hands. We need to figure out where we stand now, before it's too late."
Steve folded his arms. He was against abuse of power, but at the same time… he had fought real monsters before. People who didn't deserve second chances.
Unlike Banner and Sentry, who followed the law strictly because of their past mistakes, Steve believed in justice over legality. If a man was caught red-handed with undeniable proof, then he was fine with taking them down.
Banner, on the other hand, shifted uncomfortably. "I think we need to discuss this now. Seriously. We can't keep brushing it aside."
Tony sighed, rubbing his face. "Yeah. Let's talk."
With that, the Avengers sat back down, knowing that this was only the beginning of something much bigger.