Naruto Multiverse

As the ship began its voyage back to Marineford, the recruits settled into a rare moment of relaxation. The grueling mission had come to an end, and even Z, who usually carried the weight of leadership without hesitation, had excused himself to handle the remaining matters. The recruits found themselves with time to reflect on the mission's success, but for Naruto, the thoughts of battle and victory didn't hold his attention for long.

He excused himself from the common area, retreating to the room he shared with Adam, Drake, and Smoker. The moment he stepped inside, he moved to his small desk, where a particular object caught his eye—a pair of gloves and a card, both of which had been retrieved from the wreckage. The gloves emanated a dark, unsettling aura, as if they had a life of their own. The card, a simple yet telling object, was worth 5 million. It was Ken's last gift to him.

"Thank you, Ken. I will always remember you for this great service," Naruto murmured to himself, a sinister grin tugging at the corners of his lips as he held up the card, savoring the irony. The pirates who had once been his enemies now served to strengthen his power.

With the gloves in hand, he carefully studied them. The moment his fingers touched the fabric, they twitched and moved on their own as though trying to bind him, sharp strands of wire weaving through the air with a vicious intent. His lips curled into a grin. So feisty, he thought as he easily caught them with his hands.

Whispering softly, "Surrender to me," Naruto could feel the gloves' resistance fade as they settled into his grasp. Without further hesitation, he slid the gloves onto his hands. The moment they were on, the world around him seemed to shift. His vision blurred, and before he knew it, he found himself transported into the recesses of his mind, the surroundings shifting to reveal a haunting tale.

Memories flashed before his eyes—visions of a combat maid named Arachne. She had devoted her life to the safety of her master, a young man so innocent and naïve that people had taken advantage of him. Despite her tireless efforts to protect him, Arachne was powerless against the cruelty of the world. Her master's heart had been shattered by the betrayal of his fiancée, and he was driven to thoughts of ending his life. Arachne watched helplessly, her heart breaking with each of his wounds, but she vowed to protect him, even if it meant eliminating those who hurt him.

But her mission had taken a tragic turn. After Arachne took it upon herself to eliminate her master's enemies, she became the prime suspect in a series of murders. With the blame placed on her, everything unraveled, and eventually, her master was murdered in cold blood. Her rage knew no bounds. She fought recklessly, succumbing to wounds that would ultimately take her life, but not before her last words rang out in madness. "I curse you all, even as a ghost I will take my revenge."

Centuries passed, and Arachne lost all memory of her name, her master, or anything other than her all-consuming rage and love. She had become a creature of obsession, a being bound only by her desire for vengeance.

Naruto could feel her presence lingering in his mind, the residual emotions of love, pain, and revenge resonating deeply with him. The gloves, now fully aware of his consciousness, pulsed with a strange energy as Arachne's voice echoed in his mind. "Do you wish to serve me?"

Naruto's eyes narrowed with a dangerous smile. "Can you handle my love?" she asked, her voice carrying an eerie calmness that hid the monster within.

"I am Uzumaki Naruto," he replied confidently, his words firm and sure. "There is nothing I can't handle."

Arachne's response was immediate, her voice soft but dark with affection. "Then, master, I am yours to command."

Her words were filled with a strange, bittersweet emotion that reminded Naruto of his wife, Hinata. Arachne's devotion and love for him were overwhelming, much like the intensity of his own relationship with Hinata. He couldn't help but think of her as he caressed the dark iron mask that covered Arachne's face in his mind's eye. She reminded him of a time when he was able to give his full attention and love. Yet, in the present, he couldn't help but feel the weight of regret. He had never been able to give her the kind of undivided love she truly deserved. Still, he pushed those thoughts away. Now wasn't the time for regret. He had his mission, and that was all that mattered.

With a deep breath, Naruto opened his eyes, his surroundings returning to normal as he found himself back in the room. The gloves had now morphed, taking the shape of two rings, one on each of his fingers. Naruto touched them lightly, the metal warm under his fingertips. He could feel Arachne's quiet joy through their bond, her satisfaction at having found her purpose once again.

"Thank you," Naruto whispered softly to her, a smile curling at the corners of his lips. The rings glowed faintly as if they, too, were grateful for this new chapter.

Now, with the strange new bond forged, Naruto knew he had gained another weapon—one that was as deadly as it was enigmatic. He couldn't help but wonder just how far this connection would take him.

Today was another day of hard training for Naruto, though it wasn't particularly productive. He had hoped for a breakthrough in his abilities, but the battle had proven to be more of a challenge than expected. Frustrated by his lack of progress, he stood alone in his room, the faint hum of the ship's engines reverberating through the walls. He decided to take his frustration out physically, a method of training he often used to push his limits.

Without hesitation, he slipped on his armored gloves. These weren't just any ordinary pair—these gloves were imbued with strange, dark energy. As soon as they slid onto his hands, he could feel the weight of them, their power pulsing through his veins. Taking a deep breath, he turned his focus inward and delivered a punch directly to his gut, his fist driving into his abdomen with force. The impact sent a wave of pain through his body, but to his surprise, the gloves seemed to move on their own, constricting and releasing tight strings that stopped his hand mid-punch.

"Master, I implore you to not harm yourself," a voice echoed in his mind, laced with a pitiful tone. The voice belonged to Arachne, the dark, vengeful spirit bound to the gloves. Her attachment to him, born from a tragic past with her previous master, made her react this way. She couldn't bear to see him hurt himself.

Naruto paused, recognizing the concern in her words. His thoughts softened. He could understand why she felt this way, given her own tragic history. "Don't worry, Arachne. I'm just practicing," he said, his voice reassuring. "I'll drink this medicine just so you feel better."

He reached into his bag and pulled out a small vial filled with a glowing liquid. He uncorked it and drank it down in one swift motion, the taste bitter but effective. He also applied some of it to his body, hoping to soothe any lingering pain.

"Thank you, but please be careful," Arachne's voice was soft and gentle, almost like a concerned friend.

Naruto took a moment to let the medicine take effect before he resumed his training. He focused his Haki around his fists, coating them with the powerful energy. With his body now protected by the enhanced armor of Haki, he started punching himself again, each strike more forceful than the last. The pain was intense, but he grit his teeth, pushing himself harder with every blow. He believed that through destruction, his body would grow stronger.

For several minutes, the only sound in the room was the rhythm of his punches and the soft, echoing hum of the ship. The strain was clear on his face, sweat dripping down his brow as his body began to show signs of wear and tear from the relentless assault. But Naruto was no stranger to pain. It was through this kind of suffering that he had always found his strength.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Adam stepped into the room. He paused for a moment, observing the scene before him. Naruto was hunched over, still pounding his fists into his own gut. Adam raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Bro, you're really obsessed with training," he said with a grin, shaking his head. "I like it, but you know you should try something else for a change."

Naruto stopped mid-punch and turned to face his friend, slightly confused. "Like what?" he asked, still panting from the exertion.

Adam flopped down onto his bed, his grin widening as he cracked open a can of beer. He took a swig, clearly enjoying the moment. "Tasting some girls, bro," he said nonchalantly. "Among us four, I'm sure you're the only one with no experience or interest. Smoker's just lazy, and he'd need someone really special to get him off his ass. You remember how he was dumped because he's lazy even in the act? It made the other recruits laugh until they realized how strong he was."

Naruto raised an eyebrow at Adam's bluntness. "That's it? You think I have no experience? Just because I spend most of my time training doesn't mean I'm... lacking in that area," Naruto retorted, though the hint of defensiveness in his voice made Adam laugh.

"Well, that's nice to hear, but all I can feel is the bullshit in the air," Adam shot back with a wink. "If that's true, then let's have a contest when we get back—whoever gets the most in a week wins. What do you say?"

Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you serious?" he asked, shaking his head in confusion. "No way, that must be the boredom talking."

Adam only laughed harder, clearly entertained by his own idea. "I'm serious, bro. After a mission, we usually get two or three free days, right? And after all that time on duty, you've gotta unwind somehow. I usually hit up the brothels on the island—it's all legal for Marines."

Naruto's expression hardened, his face showing clear distaste. "Thanks, but no thanks," he said firmly. "I don't visit those places."

Adam wasn't done, though. "Hoho, then why not try it out with Hina?" he teased, his grin now mischievous. "We can see how many times you can get her to the brink of pleasure in one day. We'll see who's the best."

Naruto felt a surge of embarrassment and irritation rise within him. "Are you trying to goad me on? It's working, but I'll let Hina choose," he said, his tone tinged with frustration. "I can't really say I love her yet, so it's up to her."

Adam's grin only grew wider. "Bro, you said yet—that's confirmation. It could be something more, so go chill with the girl already."

Naruto winced as Adam gave him a playful punch in the gut. "Haha, that was for calling me a cherry. That should be helpful though, and that ring of yours looks neat, a cursed weapon," Adam remarked with a slight chuckle.

"Damn that hurt," Naruto muttered, catching his breath. He was still no match for Adam's strength. "I picked it up from the island as a reward for beating the boss," he added, rubbing his sore stomach.

Adam gave him a dramatic, exaggerated sigh. "Okay, I'm going out. You can be so pushy," Naruto said, shaking his head as he stood to leave.

Adam's face darkened slightly as Naruto headed toward the door, but before he left, Adam called after him, his voice lighter. "Go get her, tiger," he said with a whistle.

Once Naruto had left, Adam's playful demeanor shifted. He sat up on the edge of his bed, looking at the weapon in his hands with a rare, serious expression. His voice, usually upbeat and carefree, carried a weight now. "Grand Aunt, I hope you feel better now," he murmured softly, almost to himself.

It was a strange, sorrowful tone, one that Naruto would have never expected from his boisterous friend.

Naruto stepped out of the room, his thoughts swirling after his conversation with Adam. As he walked down the narrow corridor of the ship, he couldn't shake off the feeling of awkwardness. Adam's teasing had been relentless, and now he found himself facing Hina, the one person who meant more to him than anyone else on the ship. She was sitting on a chair, her back turned to him as she gazed out at the ocean.

Her tone was laced with annoyance as she spoke without turning to face him. "Look who decided to honor Hina with his time," she said, the words sharp and filled with frustration.

Naruto felt the weight of her words, and a pang of guilt gnawed at him. He could feel the tension between them, a clear sign that his recent behavior had hurt her. "Hina, sorry for ignoring you," he said, trying to sound sincere. "I'll do anything for you to be happy, so please calm down."

It was a reflex, a way for him to manipulate the situation and ease her anger. Behind his kind words, he knew there was a darker side to him, one that would use any tactic to maintain peace and control. But as he looked at her, he realized that this wasn't a situation he wanted to manipulate. The vulnerability in her eyes made him regret his actions.

Hina finally turned to look at him, her gaze softening, but there were signs of tears in her eyes. She had been hurt, and Naruto could see it. Instinctively, his hand reached out to gently rub her face, a delicate touch meant to comfort. To his surprise, she didn't pull away but instead leaned into his hand, like a kitten seeking affection.

"I am really sorry," Naruto whispered, his voice sincere. The smile he offered was one of genuine regret, his feelings laid bare in the gesture.

Hina's gaze softened even more as she met his eyes, searching for the truth in his words. "Hina believes you," she said quietly, the insecurity evident in her voice. "So please, do not leave Hina again."

Her plea hit Naruto hard. She was trusting him, and the weight of that trust made him realize just how much he couldn't afford to fail her. He leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a tender kiss. She didn't pull away, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

The moment was perfect, but the sound of loud, rowdy voices broke the serenity. "OOOH!" The other recruits shouted in unison, their laughter and teasing completely ruining the atmosphere that had been building up between Naruto and Hina.

"Encore! Encore! I want to watch more!" one of them shouted.

"Come on, continue, you stupid couple! Give us a good show!" another one yelled.

Hina's face flushed crimson with embarrassment and rage. Naruto laughed awkwardly, pulling away from her as the teasing continued from the other side of the ship. The playful atmosphere was shattered, and Hina's embarrassment was palpable.

"You bastards!" Hina screamed, her voice full of fury as she unleashed a volley of bullets at the rowdy group of recruits. They scrambled to dodge, laughter turning into cries of surprise as the bullets zipped past them, missing by mere inches.

Naruto couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. "You're amazing, Hina," he said, grinning at her. His hand gently rested on her shoulder, offering her comfort as she vented her frustration on the crew.

Hina, still flustered but now with a smile tugging at the corners of her lips, turned to Naruto. "You better watch yourself, or I'll make sure no one gets the show they're asking for," she warned with a playful glint in her eyes, though there was still an edge of annoyance in her voice.

Naruto simply chuckled, knowing that the playful banter had helped ease the tension. "I'll be careful, I promise," he said, his smile wide and genuine.

The rest of the ship's crew continued their teasing, but the bond between Naruto and Hina felt stronger now. They had been through moments of tension, but this one—this moment—felt like a new beginning.