Naruto Multiverse

Naruto's journey had always been one of action, but today, there was a quiet determination in his every step. He had made the decision, and now, there was no turning back. As he gave the order to Albion, the dragon seemed to have learned its lesson, taking flight without hesitation.

Naruto watched as the scenery shifted, his mind focused. 'Hope he learns, or else we might have to cut him loose some way,' he mused to himself. The tension of the upcoming battle was already starting to build, but he couldn't afford to let it distract him. He didn't even acknowledge the woman clinging to his side. There was too much at stake now.

"So, you have finally decided to take back a fragment," Gaea spoke cryptically, her words carrying an unspoken weight. She didn't specify what exactly she was referring to, but Naruto understood. It was as if she knew Albion might have a method of dealing with the looming threat.

"Yes, I think I need to finish this fast. Time was not a concern before, but now it is limited." His calm demeanor masked the urgency within. Time was slipping away faster than he anticipated, and there were too many unknowns on the horizon. He was preparing himself for whatever came next.

"Be careful," Gaea warned, though she held back a more pressing question. 'Will you kill them if they give no other option?' She didn't ask, knowing it would only add to the already turbulent thoughts swirling in Naruto's mind. She didn't want to disturb his focus.

But in the back of her mind, Gaea was concerned. 'Hopefully, he doesn't hold back. It's already dangerous, but once he starts the operation, he'll be in their sight.' The tension surrounding them was palpable, and Gaea couldn't shake the feeling of impending danger.

As Naruto focused ahead, Gaea flew from his shoulder and approached Alice. The two exchanged a silent understanding as Gaea connected with Alice's mind, her voice serious and filled with the urgency of the situation. "Alice, I want you to do your best to eliminate any threat that harms Naruto—even if he resists. You need to do this, or else he might get hurt."

Alice responded immediately, her conviction unwavering. "Understood, mistress. I will do my best to protect him, even if I have to give my life."

Gaea nodded, her approval and gratitude evident. "Good. You will definitely be rewarded for your service." She finished the conversation and returned to Naruto's side, avoiding Ella, knowing she would speak to him herself.

Naruto's thoughts drifted briefly to what could have been, 'I wish I could hunt more, but I've caused too much commotion already to be ignored.' The dragon incident had been a setback, but Naruto was unfazed. 'It's okay, I don't regret my decision. I'll never give up, so this setback is nothing.' His self-assurance kept him grounded as the journey continued.

An hour later, Alice's voice pierced the air. "I can sense a disturbance in the air, and I believe it's the storm spirits."

"They are enemies—be careful," Gaea's warning came immediately. She knew all too well the dangers that came with the storm spirits, born from Typhon's wrath.

Naruto didn't hesitate, his voice firm as he gave his command. "Albion, turn around and blast them with your flames." He wasn't worried. The combined strength of his team, especially with Albion's fiery might, was enough to deal with whatever came their way.

Albion spun mid-flight and released a burst of flame, his fury ignited by the lightning bolts that struck him. The storm spirits, horse-shaped and crackling with energy, retaliated, sending lightning arcs in their direction. The attack hit Albion but barely phased him, his resistance to such things making him all but invulnerable.

"Roar!" Albion let out a furious roar, and with it, all the pent-up frustration and rage was unleashed. His flames intensified, scorching the very air around them. The storm spirits flinched, knowing they were outmatched.

"Be careful!" Gaea screamed as a sudden, cold presence descended on Naruto. It was unmistakable—the presence of an Eidolon, a dark and ominous force.

Naruto smiled grimly. "Unfortunately, I'm not a good target," he said, his eyes glinting with determination. He poured his energy into Albion, strengthening the dragon against the Eidolon's influence. Albion's mind was weak in that moment, but with Naruto's energy amplifying his resistance, the Eidolon was forced to retreat, unable to endure the light and hope that Naruto radiated.

The battle was over almost as quickly as it had begun. The storm spirits were scattered, and the remaining one was swiftly captured. Naruto used his elemental control to compress it, suppressing its wild energy and forcing it into submission.

"Is there a way to tame this being?" Naruto asked, his tone calm as if nothing had happened. His confidence had only grown since the encounter.

Gaea thought for a moment. "You can conquer it with your elemental powers. Just keep influencing it with your lightning and wind powers, and it should give in."

Naruto grinned. "Awesome, I get a lightning partner." He felt an odd sense of satisfaction, knowing that his newfound ally could become a formidable asset.

In the background, a voice that was not his own whispered ominously: 'It seems that my son has already found out about Naruto and has deemed him worthy of being a threat. These storm spirits were here to scout and gather information. Fortunately, Naruto's resistance to such means means this will not end badly for him.'

The wheels of fate were turning, and Naruto had already set the course for his next steps, unwittingly becoming a key player in a much larger game.

The journey to Mount Diablo had been unexpectedly calm, a temporary peace before the storm. Albion, though still filled with hate, couldn't shake the lingering gratitude he felt for Naruto. Despite the anger, he realized that Naruto had saved him from becoming a puppet to a malevolent force. But that gratitude was fleeting, overpowered by his desire for vengeance and the need to break free.

'I'll at least be a bit more merciful,' Albion thought darkly as he pondered his future actions, his mind already planning his escape and eventual payback. His thoughts were cold, calculating, and driven by a need to regain his power and freedom.

Naruto, however, remained focused on the task at hand. The destination was clear, Mount Diablo, where Jason Grace, the Olympian demiimmortal, was waiting. Gaea had informed him that this was where he would find his target, and as they approached, the landscape before them told a grim story. Lightning flashed ominously above, and below, an army of monstrous creatures surrounded the mountain, ready for battle.

Through the chaos, Naruto's sharp eyes caught sight of a human figure—a person in the jaws of a massive abomination. The sight was enough to stop him in his tracks. The creature's size alone was enough to inspire terror, but what drew Naruto's attention most was the human caught within its monstrous grip.

The giant's voice rang out with malicious glee. "Give up, Olympian filth, or else the human dies," it bellowed, its rage and strength making the words seem like a final threat. As the giant spoke, it killed its subordinates without a second thought, crushing them beneath its enormous fists with ease. The scene was chaotic, and Naruto could see how the fight was unraveling.

Piper, clearly distressed, saw her father in immediate danger. Her concern was evident as she saw the dire situation unfold before her. The plan, which they had spent so long preparing, was falling apart as the giant's overwhelming power continued to dominate. The abomination holding her father had almost brought everything to a halt.

She was torn between panic and guilt, knowing she could do little to help him from this distance. The odds seemed stacked against them.

"Don't worry, we can do this," Jason reassured her, his voice filled with unwavering confidence. He had always been the pillar of strength for those around him, but the situation was dire. His grip tightened around a necklace, one that had granted him incredible power, and he drew on it now, trying to pull more strength from it.

Jason's thoughts were focused, his trust in the necklace, and in his own ability, unwavering. 'Thanks, Father, for this wonderful gift,' he thought, mentally thanking the immortals who had given him the power to fight against these overwhelming odds. His determination to protect those he loved and to defeat the monstrous threat in front of him gave him a fierce resolve.

But as the scene unfolded before him, Naruto's eyes narrowed. The giant's words echoed in his mind, and his thoughts began to form. He could already feel the power radiating from the situation, the intensity of the moment. This would be a battle for more than just survival—it was a fight for justice, for reclaiming what had been stolen by the Olympians and their twisted ways.

Naruto's resolve hardened as he stared at the unfolding chaos. 'This will end today,' he thought, a calm determination settling over him. He would see this battle through, no matter the cost.

Naruto's gaze was fixed on the abomination holding the human captive. His instincts told him that waiting was not an option—he couldn't just stand by and watch this man die. His heart pounded with a sense of urgency.

"I am going to save the man," Naruto declared firmly, determination surging through him. He couldn't allow innocence to perish, not on his watch.

Gaea, still perched on his shoulder, voiced her concern, her tone laced with caution. "Are you sure? We could just snatch him away while the monster is distracted. That might be safer."

Naruto shook his head, his resolve unwavering. "No, that will get them killed. I can't let that happen. No one dies on my watch." He turned to Albion, his voice sharp and commanding. "Albion, charge!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Naruto combined his powers with Alice's and propelled himself forward at full speed. A powerful gust of wind followed in his wake, ripping through the air as he dashed toward the giant's maw. The wind swirled around the human, lifting him from the abomination's mouth before the monster could react.

An advantage of mindless drones, Naruto thought with a small smile as he snatched the man away. Jason, who had been preparing to strike, noticed the swift rescue and shot forward, his form crackling with lightning, barely missing the giant's mouth in his pursuit.

Who is that? Why does he feel familiar? Jason thought as he caught a glimpse of Naruto, the strange figure who had just saved the man. But he didn't linger on the question—he knew the immediate threat was the giant. The person had yet to make a move against him, so Jason decided to deal with the more pressing danger first.

With the combined efforts of Naruto, Alice, and Albion, as well as Jason's newfound powers, the tide of battle quickly turned in their favor. The once-mighty giant was soon overwhelmed, and with the group's efforts, the fight came to an abrupt end, leaving them victorious.

Piper rushed to her father, relief flooding her features as she clutched him, thankful for the man's safety. "Thank you for saving my father," she said, her voice thick with gratitude.

Naruto smiled, his calm demeanor intact despite the tension of the battle. "No problem," he said, "I can't let innocents die on my watch." He turned to Jason, his attention shifting to the demiimmortal now that the immediate danger had passed. "You're pretty cool, dude. And you even have a dragon," he added, a hint of amusement in his tone.

Leo, standing beside Jason, couldn't contain his excitement. "Dude, you're awesome!" he exclaimed, though he quickly held back the lines he wanted to say about the girls, sensing the situation wasn't the best for jokes.

"Thanks," Jason said, his tone warm despite the chaotic nature of the situation. "I also think the dragon looks cool." But his expression quickly turned serious as he addressed Naruto. "Now, I wish you wouldn't be alarmed. I wasn't just passing by… I came here for you."

The atmosphere shifted. Piper, Leo, and Jason all stood still, processing his words.

"Who are you, and why do I feel a familiarity to you?" Jason asked, his eyes narrowing slightly, trying to make sense of the feeling tugging at him.

"My name is Naruto," he replied calmly, his gaze unwavering. "And you feel familiar to me because that necklace you're wearing—it's mine. I'd appreciate it if you returned it. I need it back."

Jason's eyes flickered with suspicion. "How can I be sure it's yours? This was given to me by my father. Are you saying he's a thief?" His voice was tight with doubt, the connection to his father clouding his judgment.

Naruto's expression didn't falter. "He is a thief. That's my power, and it was stolen from me." His tone was firm, and the weight of his words carried the gravity of the situation. "Please, don't make this harder than it needs to be."

Piper and Leo stood silently, waiting for Jason's decision. They could see the tension in his face as he processed Naruto's words, but ultimately, they would support whatever he chose.

"I'm sorry, but I can't comply with that request," Jason said, his voice filled with uncertainty but also a newfound resolve. Without warning, he unleashed a blast of lightning directly at Naruto, shouting, "You filthy beast, trying to trick me!"

Naruto had anticipated the attack and swiftly dodged, his reflexes honed from countless battles. The blast of lightning missed him, but the anger in Jason's eyes was clear. The battle was far from over.

The battlefield, which had momentarily settled into calm, erupted once again as Albion and Festus clashed, while Ella engaged the other two enemies. Naruto's focus, however, remained solely on Jason. He could feel the raw power emanating from the demiimmortal, but more than that, he could sense the inner turmoil. 'I know your father told you something, but please listen to me,' he thought, hoping that Jason would see reason. 'Can't you tell from the feeling? Do you really trust a father who's never been there for you?'

Jason's eyes flashed with anger. "Shut up! Your lies won't work. You just come out of nowhere and expect me to believe you. Do you think I'm an idiot?" His voice was full of frustration as he powered up, his body crackling with electricity. His form became surrounded by a storm of lightning, and he took to the air, flying at Naruto with intense speed.

Naruto remained calm, but Gaea's voice echoed in his mind, sharp and insistent: "Naruto, stop holding back. He is lost and won't listen. You promised to be careful."

Jason's movements became a blur, his lightning flashing in every direction. Naruto felt the storm of power press against him, but he knew it was time to act. His thoughts firmed, and his energy surged.

"Sorry for this," Naruto muttered under his breath as he dodged a lightning-charged strike. He responded with a powerful wind-clad fist aimed directly at Jason's ribs, but Jason's armor amplified the damage, making the hit less effective than he had hoped.

Jason saw the opening and kicked Naruto, his attack landing with force, but Alice was quick to intercept with her wind armor, reducing the damage. Still, Naruto groaned, feeling the shock ripple through his body.

'He's pulling more and more power from the necklace,' Naruto thought, a hint of concern creeping into his mind. 'I need to end this quickly, or he might grow out of reach.'

The threat was real now. Naruto's focus hardened as he prepared to finish the fight, no longer willing to let it drag on. 'Sorry, Jason. But even if you have to die, I'll take it back. My people need me,' Naruto thought, his resolve unshaken.

He raised his hands, and with a sharp command, he summoned multiple wind spears that cut through the air, raining down on Jason. The windstorm kicked up around them, providing Naruto with cover as he charged in with his axe.

Jason, however, wasn't easily fooled. "You can't hide from me!" he shouted, his lightning flashing wildly as he followed Naruto's movements through the electric tendrils in the air. The storm of lightning crackled, and with a flash of his blade, Jason managed to block the wind spears.

'He's strong,' Jason thought, gritting his teeth. The storm surged within him as he commanded the lightning to flood towards Naruto, but the wind resisted, counteracting much of the electric energy.

Both teens stood locked in place, their powers pushing against each other. Jason could feel the ground beneath him start to give way, sinking under the force of Naruto's wind. But he refused to give up.

"I can't lose this," Jason thought, determination flashing in his eyes. "My friends' lives depend on me." He summoned every ounce of strength he had left. "Give me more! More!" he shouted, his voice raw with desperation.

The lightning surged, and Jason blasted Naruto with an intense beam of electricity directly from his mouth. The force of it was overwhelming.

Naruto was blasted away, his body paralyzed and burned from the sheer power of the lightning. His muscles locked, and for a moment, the pain overwhelmed him. But even in the midst of the agony, he could feel his connection to the elements, pulling the lightning from his body, neutralizing its effects as much as he could.

'How can he take in so much power?' Naruto thought, his mind racing as he realized the extent of the power Jason was wielding. 'His body shouldn't be able to handle it. There's something wrong with this setup.'

But one thing was certain: this fight had escalated beyond what either of them had anticipated.

Naruto's gaze remained locked on Jason as the storm of power raged around them. His eyes had turned scarlet, his body trembling under the sheer intensity of the power coursing through him. 'Is he losing himself to the power?' Naruto thought, his mind racing. The air around them crackled with raw energy, and Jason's grip on the necklace tightened, the power surging, almost uncontrollable.

"Jason! Can you hear me?" Naruto shouted, his voice filled with desperation. "Let go of the necklace! It's dangerous! I promise, I only want it back—nothing more." He hoped his words would break through, but all he received in response was an attack. Jason's eyes flashed with fury.

"Never! It's my father's gift!" Jason screamed, his voice laced with madness, as he swung his blade through the air. Lightning slashes ripped through the battlefield, each strike coming faster and more powerfully than the last. Naruto dodged with ease, countering with earth spikes to distract his opponent while unleashing a barrage of wind spears from every direction.

Naruto could feel the fight shifting in intensity. 'He's not listening… Jason's anger is consuming him,'* Naruto thought, trying to make sense of the chaos unfolding before him. He needed to end this before it was too late.

With a deep breath, Naruto clad himself in his wind armor and charged forward. He swung his wind-infused axe toward Jason, using the distraction of his own attacks to get in close. But Jason wasn't caught off guard. He smiled, and without even moving, a barrier of crackling lightning formed around him.

When Naruto collided with the barrier, the force was far greater than he expected. The explosion from the impact sent him flying back, but he didn't let the opportunity slip away. Midair, he hurled his axe and sent more wind spears aimed directly at Jason. One of the spears tore through Jason's arm, cutting it cleanly off, while the others caused minor damage, intensifying the bleeding.

Jason screamed in pain, his voice raw with rage and agony as the blood spurted from the wound. "AHHH!" His body quivered, the pain fueling his fury. "You bastard, I will kill you!" His words were barely coherent as the corruption from the power of immortals took root deeper in his soul.

Naruto stood firm, eyes flashing with resolve. "Stop, Jason! Don't do this!" he shouted, rushing forward once again. He reached for the necklace, grasping it before Jason could react, and retreated swiftly. Jason collapsed to the ground, his body exhausted as the power drained from him.

"No… give it back!" Jason muttered weakly, his vision darkening as he bled out. "I need it… you monster… I won't let you…" The words trailed off as his consciousness slipped away, leaving Naruto with a heavy heart.

Naruto quickly rushed to his side, using his powers to close the wound. He worked swiftly, feeling a small sense of relief that Jason would survive the worst of it. But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, a new threat emerged.

A feminine scream pierced the air. "JASON!" The sound of an arrow cutting through the air reached Naruto's ears just as it pierced his lung. His instincts kicked in just in time, but the arrow still managed to strike him. He staggered back, feeling the blood well up inside his chest, though his wind armor provided some protection.

He quickly shifted away from the blow and activated his wind control to fortify himself. He glanced back at the battlefield, and the sight wasn't what he had hoped for. Albion was grounded, heavily damaged, and Ella was still engaged in combat but clearly struggling.

'Another artifact,' Naruto thought grimly, recognizing the source of Leo's newfound power. Leo was clad in flames so intense that they had melted everything around him. Ella was clearly having difficulty dealing with him. On top of that, new reinforcements had arrived—The Hunters.

Naruto's mind raced. 'We need to leave.' He could see the shifting tides of the battle and knew they were outmatched.

"Ella, retreat!" he called out, his voice sharp and urgent. He threw a series of wind spears toward the attacking duo, successfully wounding the girl in the leg and forcing her to fall. Leo, however, remained unharmed and charged forward, the flames around him intensifying.

'Damn, why is my luck so bad?' Naruto thought, cursing his situation. The enemies were overwhelming, and their forces were increasing by the minute.

"Ella, watch out!" he shouted, seeing multiple attacks heading her way. But it was too late. He wasn't fast enough to stop what was coming.

The storm of enemies and attacks surrounding them closed in. 'I need to do this. Sorry, Gaea.' Naruto thought as his eyes flickered with determination. He gathered the power of the world itself, feeling the energy surge through his body as he appeared in front of Ella, using his body to shield her from the incoming barrage.

He could hear the whispers—dark and malevolent—calling out to him, urging him toward destruction. 'Kill them all. The virus needs to be cleansed.' His eyes shone red, resonating with the ancient being that now stirred in his soul. He fought to keep control, but the darkness was overwhelming.

As the attacks rained down, Naruto stood tall, enduring the barrage with all his strength. But his vision blurred. A sharp pain pierced his body—arrows had struck him, one through his heart, the other through his face. He hadn't even felt them. His body was numb, and the pain was distant, almost unreal.

"Another artifact… wind," he whispered to himself, the words slurring in his mind as his body struggled to keep him alive.

"NARUTO!" Ella screamed in despair, rushing to him as she tried to escape with him in her arms. But the forces of Leo and the Hunters had trapped them. It was impossible to move.

"No..." Naruto muttered weakly, his vision darkening as tears fell from his eyes. Ella, her face twisted with grief, cradled him in her arms. She was fading. 'No, please… not like this.' Naruto thought desperately. "Ella, don't go…"

The force of the battle had overwhelmed them. Ella fell from the sky, her body lifeless as she disappeared from his grasp. Naruto screamed, his voice filled with anguish as he watched her vanish.

'Dead. No, you can't be…' The rage that surged through him was all-consuming, his mind unraveling as he pointed toward the enemies responsible. His sight darkened, and he felt himself sinking into the darkness, swallowed by the grief, pain, and overwhelming power within him.

"NOOOOOOO!!!" he screamed, the last remnants of his humanity burning away in a blaze of fury. The darkness closed in, and with it, his last hope for redemption faded into nothingness.