Naruto Multiverse

The tension in the room was palpable as the girls sat together, the silence thick with unspoken thoughts. Pam, ever the optimist, took it upon herself to break the ice and try to ease the discomfort. She knew the path ahead wouldn't be easy, but it was one she was willing to walk for Naruto. Her smile remained warm as she spoke, trying to soften the sharp edges of the conversation.

"It is nice to have some quality time with you girls. How about we talk about our interests to get to know each other better?" Pam suggested, her voice calm but with a hint of lightheartedness, hoping to direct the conversation away from the topic that had just been broached.

But before she could continue, Mea's sharp voice cut through the tension. "You like father, don't you?"

The question hit the group like a thunderclap, and Pam felt the weight of the moment. She wasn't surprised by the directness, but the atmosphere had definitely shifted. The eyes of the girls were unwavering, watching her intently, waiting for her response.

Pam smiled softly and chuckled melodiously, unfazed by the sudden intensity of the question. "I do, and I hope he feels the same about me. But before anything else, we need to get to know each other. It wouldn't work otherwise," she replied, maintaining her calm and confident demeanor.

The silence returned, heavy and unyielding, but it didn't last long. Cassandra, ever the mature one, asked with quiet precision, "What do you like about Father?"

Pam paused for a moment, as if carefully weighing her words. Then, her expression softened, and her eyes sparkled with adoration. "Hmm, there are so many things. His smile, his laughter, his voice, his eyes, the way he expresses himself... his kindness, his aura, his love... I love everything about him. Do you understand?" Her words flowed out like honey, so filled with love and admiration that it almost made the room feel warmer. But the vulnerability in her confession also made it a little embarrassing for her to fully express herself, yet she didn't hesitate.

Hima's voice broke through next, but it wasn't filled with joy. "What do you even know about Daddy? You accept everything, but what if Daddy wanted your life? Would you give it away?" Her words were sharp, a challenge to Pam's devotion.

Pam didn't flinch at the harshness of the question. Instead, she looked each of them in the eye, her gaze steady and sincere. "If that's what he wishes, then yes, I would give my life willingly," she said without hesitation, her tone unwavering.

The room held its breath for a moment, and Himawari's heart twisted with conflicting emotions. Her instinct was to defend her father, to reject the idea of another woman claiming him, but Pam's sincerity was impossible to ignore. The warmth and purity of her love for Naruto was undeniable, and deep down, Himawari couldn't help but feel something akin to respect for the woman in front of her.

Himawari's voice broke the silence, quieter this time, though still sharp. "I don't want to accept it, but... I understand," she said, her eyes softening a little. "If you really love Daddy, then you should want him to be happy... even if that means it's not with me."

Pam smiled at Himawari, her heart swelling with appreciation for the young girl's honesty. "Of course. I want him to be happy. That's the most important thing."

Mea then spoke again, her tone firm but not unkind. "If Father is happy with you, we won't interfere. But remember, you can never take his time away from us," she said, her eyes locked on Pam's, as if daring her to challenge the boundary.

Pam nodded, her smile not faltering. "I understand. I don't want to disrupt the usual pattern. I'm not here to create division. I'm here to make things better."

Himawari muttered under her breath, but her words carried a quiet strength. "This isn't decided yet. You still have to try harder to please us."

Pam's smile remained, but she knew the path ahead was going to be difficult. She wasn't naive—this was the start of a long journey to earn the trust and acceptance of Naruto's daughters. Yet, she was determined, and though the task ahead might be frustrating, she welcomed the challenge. If it meant making Naruto happy, she would endure whatever trials lay before her.

As the girls continued to observe her, Pam couldn't help but feel that despite the rocky start, there was a glimmer of hope. One test at a time, one challenge at a time, and she would prove herself worthy of the love she had for Naruto—and the future she envisioned with him.

A day had passed since Kara's harrowing disappearance, and the familiar hum of the daily routine had returned to Earth, though the events were still fresh in the minds of those who cared for her. The moment Kara appeared at the Kent farm, Clark Kent's eyes widened in relief. He had been anxiously awaiting her return, consumed by the fear of losing his cousin once again, especially after the terrifying reports of her being poisoned with kryptonite.

"Kara!" Clark cried out, his voice breaking with a mix of joy and the weight of all his anxiety. He rushed to her, enveloping her in a tight hug. His strong arms squeezed her as though he could keep the world's dangers at bay simply by holding onto her.

Kara felt the familiar warmth of her cousin's embrace and smiled softly, knowing how much he must have been worrying about her. She returned the hug, her own body relaxing into his. "I'm okay, Clark. Don't worry too much," she reassured him, her voice calm, though the lingering fear in her heart was slowly beginning to fade.

Clark held her out at arm's length, his bright eyes scanning her for any signs of injury. There was no visible trace of the poison's effects, and for that, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Still, his brow furrowed as he continued to search her expression for any lingering signs of distress. "Are you sure you're okay now? What happened, Kara?" His tone was gentle but laden with concern, as though her near-death experience had shaken him to his core.

Kara looked at her cousin, smiling reassuringly. "My blood was poisoned with kryptonite. But I'm doing fine now. A friend helped me," she replied, her words soft but confident, signaling that her healing process had been successful.

Clark's eyes widened slightly at the mention of the kryptonite and the unknown friend who had aided her. His face darkened with the weight of the situation, his protective instincts flaring. "A friend?" he repeated, his voice a little sharper, his worries not quite gone. "Who is this friend, Kara? Do we know them?"

Kara hesitated for a moment, processing his question. "I don't think you know him," she began carefully. "His name is Shadow, and he's connected to someone called Phoenix." The casual tone in her voice was contrasted by the tension in Clark's expression, though Kara's sense of relief was palpable. The worst had passed.

"Shadow?" Clark echoed, eyebrows knitting together as he processed the information. "Someone with that name and appearance would probably be mistaken for a member of the League of Shadows." His voice was thoughtful, but there was an edge of concern beneath the surface. He could feel the weight of the unknown looming over him, and despite Kara's reassurances, there were still so many questions. "Okay, you can go rest now," Clark said, his voice softening as he tried to rein in his concerns. "Ma and Pa have been missing you. They'll be happy to see you."

Kara gave him a small, warm smile, appreciating his concern but also feeling the pull to connect with her friends now that she was in a better state of mind. "Thanks, Clark. I'll go say hi to them," she said as she gently made her way towards the house. She didn't feel exhausted, but the need to be with those who cared for her was comforting. Her mind felt lighter, and she wanted to enjoy the peace for as long as she could.

As Kara left the room, Clark's thoughts remained troubled, but his duties as a protector of Earth called him back. Yet the sudden intrusion of Batman's presence snapped him back into a more serious mindset.

"This Shadow must be the Guardian," Batman said as he walked into the room, his voice low and deliberate. "We can finally identify his gender and appearance, even if it's only temporary. Plus, there's a link we can use." His voice had a mix of calculated excitement and sharp focus. The pieces of a larger puzzle were starting to come together, and Batman was no stranger to the thrill of uncovering secrets.

Clark looked at his old friend, his expression mixed with exasperation and concern. "Bruce, you need to control your bad habits. I would have talked to you about this," Clark said, his voice sounding more like the older sibling than the other way around.

Batman sighed, acknowledging the truth of Clark's words. "Sorry, I'll try not to do it next time. But for now, I need you to talk to Kara so she can learn more about this topic. We're running out of time," Bruce responded, his eyes flashing with the intensity of someone who had been grinding on a mystery for far too long.

Clark's gaze sharpened, and his protective instincts flared. "I'll talk to her, Bruce. But it's her choice in the end. Don't try to force her into anything," Clark warned, his tone firm. He had already dealt with too many instances of Bruce trying to push people beyond their limits. He wasn't going to let it happen with Kara, not now.

"No problem," Batman said with a wave of his hand, clearly focused on the task at hand. With that, the two friends returned to their work, each carrying their own burdens, each focused on the dangers that loomed just beyond the horizon.

In the days that followed, the world outside might have seemed unaffected by the strange events that had transpired, but within the tight-knit group of heroes, the ripples were profound. Clark had become increasingly overprotective of both Lois and Kara. His every moment was consumed with the fear of losing them again. It affected his work and his focus, making him more prone to reckless decisions when it came to apprehending criminals. His usual calm demeanor had begun to crack under the pressure of constant vigilance.

Clark's stress was palpable. Not only was his focus on his loved ones pulling him away from his duties, but the media's incessant bashing had only added fuel to the fire. He found it harder to sleep at night, plagued by nightmares and constantly on edge. Despite all his strength and power, Clark Kent was not immune to the mental and emotional toll that the weight of responsibility carried with it. And as much as he tried to push through, he knew that something had to change before it consumed him entirely.