Naruto Multiverse

Naruto leaned back against the plush headboard of the bed in his lavish room, feeling the softness beneath him. The room, extravagant in every way, felt out of place compared to his usual surroundings. He noted the golden curtains, the thick carpets, and the art that adorned the walls—luxuries that would only be possible for someone who had far more wealth than their rank should command. A frown tugged at the corners of his mouth as his thoughts turned dark.

'This guy really is corrupt. For him to have all this... he'd need more money than someone in his position should have access to.' The gears in Naruto's mind began to turn. Even without his Haki, it was obvious Nezumi was no upstanding Marine officer. He'd built this wealth on the backs of others, and now, Naruto was in a position to deal with him.

Naruto relaxed back into the bed, staring at the ceiling as he mulled over his options. His desire to eliminate Nezumi was growing stronger with each passing moment, and the presence of the opulence in the room only served to deepen his disdain.

'How do I kill him without making myself a suspect?' he thought. He knew the Marine base was bound to investigate, and he couldn't afford any suspicion landing on him. But then, like a spark, the answer came to him.

"That's it!" he exclaimed, leaping out of bed. His eyes shone with a dangerous gleam as he formulated his plan. 'I can use my Conqueror's Haki. If I target him directly, I can affect his heart and mind. It'll be so intense that it'll cause a heart attack—no suspicion, no trace.'

He quickly settled into a cross-legged position on the bed and closed his eyes, focusing deeply. Using his Observation Haki, he pinpointed Nezumi's location with ease. He could sense the man still in his office, indulging in his vices. The energy around Nezumi was indulgent, corrupt, and weak—exactly what Naruto had hoped for.

Naruto's grin curled as he honed in on the man, gathering the full force of his Conqueror's Haki. He could feel the raw power surge within him, ready to be released. He unleashed it in a controlled blast, focusing all of it directly on Nezumi, allowing the power to infiltrate his mind and heart.

The effect was immediate. Nezumi, caught off guard by the overwhelming force of Naruto's will, clutched his chest in agony as his heart gave way to the pressure. His body went limp, his life extinguished in an instant. In the moment before death, his form crumpled forward, landing on the hooker he'd been entertaining. She screamed, not realizing what had just happened until she looked down and saw his lifeless body. Her scream echoed throughout the room.

As the chaos unfolded, Naruto allowed himself a wicked smile. 'This is going to make things so much easier,' he thought, feeling a sense of satisfaction in watching the confusion unfold from his room.

Outside the office, the guards quickly rushed in, responding to the screams. As they burst through the door, they saw the captain's lifeless form sprawled across the woman. Her hysterical cries filled the air as they moved to arrest her, fully aware that this was a common occurrence in Nezumi's life. But something about this scene felt different. There was no blood, no visible wound.

One of the guards stepped forward, his face furrowed in confusion. "What happened here?"

"Do not struggle, woman," another guard barked as they restrained her, dragging her away.

Meanwhile, one of the guards rushed to fetch the doctor. No one suspected foul play, though the circumstances surrounding Nezumi's death were strange. There would be an investigation, but by then, Naruto would be long gone, having disappeared into the background.

Back in his room, Naruto reveled in the result, a dark satisfaction blooming within him. With Nezumi out of the picture, his path to further plans became much clearer. 'Good riddance to him,' Naruto thought, content with the decision he had made. The corrupt Captain's death was only a small step toward greater things.

Naruto lay on the bed, his body having finally succumbed to the exhaustion of his recent battles and the aftermath of his self-imposed recklessness. His mind, however, was still active, and as he drifted off into a short nap, the weight of his future decisions lingered. His body needed rest, and he knew it was time to prepare for what was coming next.

Suddenly, the door to his room was flung open with a force that made Naruto stir, blinking open his eyes to see a pink-haired woman standing in the doorway. Her disheveled appearance and the concerned look on her face immediately caught his attention.

"Hina, what are you doing here?" Naruto muttered, rubbing his eyes and yawning as he sat up groggily.

Hina's face, already twisted with frustration, seemed to grow more intense. She crossed her arms and huffed. "Why is Hina here, you ask? Is that something to ask when you're injured? Obviously, Hina would be worried!" Her voice was sharp, laced with genuine concern as she stepped toward him. The frustration in her eyes was evident as she hovered over him, inspecting him to ensure he was alive and well.

Naruto blinked at her, his own exhaustion momentarily forgotten as he tried to make sense of the situation. His lips parted in an apology as he processed her words. "Sorry, sorry. I didn't think it through." He gave her a warm, genuine smile before pulling her into a soft hug, hoping to ease the tension.

"Hmph!" Hina grumbled, her anger still not fully dissipating. "Hina is not going to just melt like this easily. Hina will take care of you for a month, and you're not going out. Understand?"

Naruto, already aware of how reckless his recent behavior had been, nodded quietly. He could sense that Hina's concern for him ran deeper than just duty—there was an emotional bond here that she was trying to shield with her tough exterior. "Hmm, okay," he said gently, relishing in the warmth of her embrace. He wasn't opposed to staying still for a while. In fact, a break would give him the time he needed to refocus and reevaluate his future goals.

Hina's demeanor softened, and her expression brightened as he agreed. "Really?" she asked, her voice suddenly hopeful.

"Really," he replied, a small, reassuring smile forming on his lips as he held her close. Hina returned the smile with a joyful laugh, hugging him even tighter, her relief palpable as she seemed to want to remain in his arms for as long as possible.

However, their moment of peace was interrupted by the unmistakable voice of Smoker. "If you two lovebirds are done, we can head home," he said, his gruff tone cutting through the warmth of the room.

Naruto chuckled at the remark but couldn't help himself. He leaned in and placed a quick, soft kiss on Hina's cheek, eliciting a gentle blush from her before he pulled away and waved to Smoker, acknowledging his presence. "Alright, alright, let me freshen up quickly."

With that, Naruto excused himself to the washroom, where he quickly washed up to rid himself of the drowsiness. His mind needed to be sharp again, especially now that the ship was on its way, and the familiarity of the journey was grounding him.

As he returned to the deck, he realized that both Adam and Drake had accompanied them, which surprised him. Adam, ever the enthusiastic troublemaker, grinned from ear to ear. "What are friends for, bro? This is just the standard," Adam said with a playful wink.

Naruto couldn't help but laugh. "Was Z okay with that?" he asked, half-expecting Adam to lie.

"Yeah, he was completely fine," Adam answered without hesitation, a grin plastered on his face. "I made sure to drag Drake along too, so I wouldn't be lonely." His tone was light, but there was a clear sense of camaraderie between them.

Drake, on the other hand, shot Adam a glare, clearly irritated. "Damn bastard," he muttered under his breath, glaring at Adam. 'Just you wait,' he thought darkly. 'When I get stronger, the first thing I'm doing is shoving your head up some monster's ass.'

Naruto, amused by the exchange, smiled broadly at both of them. "Thanks for caring, guys," he said sincerely. For him, it was a sign of growth, seeing his friends—people with high potential—show loyalty toward him. However, he also knew that more time was needed to fully develop these relationships, and only the future would reveal if they would continue to choose him when the time came.

"No problem," Smoker added, his voice tinged with the slightest bit of worry. "I heard about the assassination attempt. Are you alright?"

Naruto nodded as he leaned against the ship's railing, watching the horizon. "I'm fine, Smoker. I just need some time to recuperate." He appreciated Smoker's concern but also knew he couldn't let it hold him back. His goal was clear, and he would do whatever it took to grow stronger.

Smoker couldn't help but continue to worry. 'What can I even do to help?' he thought, his gaze following the others as they scattered across the ship, each one going about their own tasks. Naruto, Adam, and Hina, however, remained close by, the trio sitting together on the deck as the ship moved toward their destination.

For Naruto, the road ahead would be one of growth, challenge, and possibly even more danger. But for now, he was grateful for his friends, his allies, and the time he had to regain his strength.

Naruto's gaze remained fixed on the vast, endless sea in front of him, the water stretching out as far as the eye could see. His thoughts were heavy with uncertainty and hope, particularly regarding Shiro, the other side of a person who had become both a powerful ally and a potential risk. Hope this changes her mind, he thought, the weight of it pressing down on him. I don't want to lose her, not now.

His moment of reflection was interrupted by Hina's voice, pulling him back to reality. "What are you thinking?" she asked, her voice gentle, but her concern clear. She stood next to him, her presence a calming force.

Naruto shook his head slightly, pushing his heavy thoughts aside. "Hmm, nothing much," he said softly, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Just wondering when I'll be strong enough to become an admiral."

Hina raised an eyebrow, but before she could respond, Adam's voice cut through the air with a playful laugh. "Haha, man. So you've already decided that you'll be that strong, but now you're just waiting for it to happen? You've got mountain-sized confidence to already believe that."

Naruto's eyes flickered briefly toward Adam, but he didn't respond immediately, his mind still caught up in deeper thoughts. Hina, however, wasn't so easily amused. She quickly retorted, her voice sharp, "Hey, don't laugh. If Naruto says it will happen, then it's just a matter of time. You got a problem with that?"

Adam's grin faltered, and he raised his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry. Are you happy now?"

Hina nodded, satisfied, but her eyes lingered on Naruto for a moment, noting that he hadn't fully engaged in their conversation. She could see he was lost in thought, as usual.

Adam, sensing the shift in the air, decided to speak up again, though this time his tone was more contemplative. "You know, sometimes I wonder how fun it could be to roam around freely, without any rules. No Marine hierarchy, no constraints… just us doing whatever we want."

Naruto's attention snapped to Adam, his curiosity piqued. "Where did that come from?" he asked, his voice a little more focused, the glint in his eyes sharpening as he studied Adam.

Adam shrugged nonchalantly. "It's not something new. I've always felt like that. It can be suffocating, following all these rules, especially when the higher-ups are so corrupted. You know what I mean?"

Naruto watched him intently, feeling the weight of Adam's words. A slight tension hung in the air as he contemplated his next response. "Do you trust us that much to say such things?"

Adam's gaze turned serious, locking with Naruto's. "I believe you can understand me, Naruto. And I trust Hina not to be a traitorous bitch," he said, his tone now laced with raw honesty.

Hina bristled at the comment, her eyebrows knitting together in indignation. "Hey!" she snapped, though there was no real malice behind it, more a reflexive reaction to Adam's casual insult.

"Sorry," Adam said quickly, holding up his hands again. "Force of habit."

Naruto, not letting the tension linger, raised an eyebrow. "So, what are you going to do about it?" His voice was calm, but there was an underlying curiosity in his words.

Adam hesitated, his expression thoughtful. "I don't know. Just sharing, seeing if you'll be forthcoming with any wise answers." He looked at Naruto, a flicker of understanding crossing his face. "You're a man who thinks deeply. I figured you might have some insight."

Naruto gave a small, thoughtful nod. "When I find an answer, I'll inform you, Adam."

Adam smiled, grateful for the exchange. "Thanks. Don't forget," he said, before turning away to leave, a weight seeming to lift from his shoulders now that he had expressed his inner conflict.

As Adam walked off, Naruto's gaze followed him for a moment before turning back to the sea. He's definitely breaking the rules. It's just a matter of when, Naruto thought, his expression darkening slightly. But I don't think he cares about the consequences. For him, the thrill of living on the edge is too enticing to resist. It's the path of a risk-taker, one that might lead to something far greater... or to disaster.

The ship continued to cut through the waves, and as the wind whipped around them, Naruto couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. He knew that Adam wasn't the only one questioning the rules. There were many others in the world who felt the same way—trapped by the oppressive systems they lived in. But what Adam hadn't realized yet was the true cost of rebellion, the price that would inevitably come with rejecting the order of the world.

For now, though, Naruto focused on the future. The next step in his journey was coming closer, and whatever happened, he knew it would shape them all in ways they couldn't even begin to understand.

Hina looked at Naruto with a confused expression, still processing the conversation she had just witnessed. "What was he talking about?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine curiosity.

Naruto sighed lightly, his thoughts lingering on the exchange with Adam. "Nothing much," he replied, though there was a hint of solemnity in his voice. "He was just looking for an answer on how to clear the corruption from the Marines and the World Government."

Hina furrowed her brow, unable to fully grasp the weight of the conversation. "That doesn't have to do with us, though. We're still low-level officers."

Naruto nodded, his gaze turning distant as his mind wandered. "It's better to wonder for an answer than to be forced by the turn of events," he said quietly. His voice was tinged with regret. He couldn't help but remember his own past, how he had been pushed from one place to another, with no control over his fate. If I had acted sooner, before an event forced my hand... everything could have been different.

The silence between them hung for a moment, thick with unspoken understanding. Hina, ever perceptive, could sense the emotion lurking beneath Naruto's words, even though he tried to hide it. She moved closer to him, wrapping her arms around him in a comforting embrace. "Hina understands," she said softly, her voice full of sincerity. "And I'll do my best to not let that happen. So please, don't show such a face."

Naruto felt a warmth spread through his chest as he relaxed into her embrace. He had been hiding so much for so long, and yet, in moments like these, he realized how much her support meant to him. "Oh, sorry," he murmured, his smile returning, though it was tinged with a bittersweet edge. "I just had some uncomfortable thoughts at the forefront of my mind."

Hina smiled at him, her expression gentle and filled with understanding. "It's okay. Know that Hina is with you and be happy," she said, her voice light and comforting. Without another word, she leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

Naruto's eyes fluttered closed as he kissed her back, feeling the warmth of her affection settle over him like a blanket. He had grown accustomed to her closeness, to the way she made him feel loved and cared for. But beyond the physical connection, he was aware of something deeper—a growing attachment, an obsession even, that Hina had developed for him.

His Haki told him everything he needed to know; he could feel the seeds of obsession taking root within her. The careful, calculated way he had showered her with love—both physical and emotional—was paying off. She was becoming more and more fixated on him, drawn to him in ways that he could almost control.

Good potential, he thought as he kissed her deeper. I wonder how our children will be. I hope this time, I can actually live through this ordeal. I feel like living.

It was a strange thought, one that lingered in the back of his mind. After everything he had been through, after the constant battles and losses, he was starting to think about a future that wasn't just about survival or power. Maybe, just maybe, there could be something more—something worth living for.

The kiss broke, and Hina looked up at him, a smile still on her face, unaware of the deeper thoughts swirling in his mind. Naruto returned the smile, his emotions masked beneath his calm demeanor. For now, this is enough. We'll see where this goes.