Naruto Multiverse

Outside one of the famous shopping malls of Gotham, three striking young women stood, their presence undeniable. With their extraordinary looks and impeccable fashion sense, they turned heads as they made their way toward the entrance, drawing admiring glances from passersby.

"Hey, how have you been doing? Haven't seen you for days now," Barbara Gordon greeted, a bright smile lighting up her face as she shook hands with Himawari. She pulled her into a warm hug, the kind of embrace that spoke volumes of their long-standing friendship.

"I've been kind of busy with something personal," Himawari replied with a knowing smile, her tone light, though she chose not to elaborate. She wasn't about to delve into the time she had spent with Naruto and her sisters, nor the quiet moments with Pam that had turned into longer discussions about the future. Those were things she wasn't ready to share with Barbara just yet. "What about you?"

Barbara's eyes twinkled as she shrugged, brushing off the question with an air of casualness. "Studying, spending some time in the countryside... you know, the usual. Oh, and let me introduce you to my friend," Barbara continued, gesturing toward the blonde who had been standing just off to the side, waiting patiently. "This is Kara Kent."

Kara stepped forward, extending a hand toward Himawari with a friendly smile. "Hello, it's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you from Barbara." Her voice was warm and inviting, her charm undeniable, yet there was a trace of hesitation, as if she weren't quite sure of her reception.

Himawari's smile grew, a playful glint in her eyes. She hadn't expected to meet Kara without their usual masks of identity, but the situation was surprisingly refreshing. It was nice to see the people behind the titles. "It's nice to meet you as well," Himawari responded, shaking Kara's hand firmly. "And I hope she said only good things about me, because anything negative is a lie," she added with a laugh, her tone lighthearted as they exchanged pleasantries.

Barbara raised an eyebrow, but her smile never faltered. "Let's not just stand here at the entrance," she said, glancing around at the growing crowd of people. "We're blocking the way. Let's move inside, we can talk while we shop."

The trio nodded in agreement, and with that, they made their way inside the bustling mall, the atmosphere alive with chatter, laughter, and the steady hum of music. The girls strolled together, each of them immersed in their own thoughts but equally drawn to the task at hand: a day of shopping.

They moved from store to store, laughing and chatting, picking out various fashion accessories and gadgets that would help them enhance their style. Their conversation flowed easily, veering from trivial topics to more personal ones as they explored the mall's offerings. As they wandered through boutiques, they occasionally paused to try on new outfits or pick up something they liked, all the while enjoying each other's company.

Kara, who had grown more comfortable around the group, spoke about her experiences with Gotham and her life since arriving on Earth. Her voice, though soft, carried a weight of longing and determination. She felt grateful to be among people who accepted her without question, unlike the harsh reality of her own world.

Barbara, ever the observer, listened intently, offering bits of advice here and there. She spoke of her own challenges, balancing her responsibilities as Batgirl with her everyday life, and the weight of keeping the city safe. Himawari, though quieter, shared snippets of her own experiences, her time spent with her family and Naruto, carefully choosing what to reveal.

As they continued their shopping spree, the connection between the three women deepened. They weren't just acquaintances or allies in a larger fight for justice—they were building something stronger, a bond formed from shared experiences, mutual respect, and the promise of something more.

After hours of shopping and laughing, the three girls finally found a cozy corner in a quaint coffee shop. The atmosphere was calm, with soft music playing in the background and the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. They ordered a variety of snacks—sandwiches, cappuccinos, and pastries—and settled down to enjoy the moment of peace.

Himawari was relaxed, enjoying the time with her two best friends, but she could sense Barbara's curiosity bubbling beneath the surface. They had moved past the surface-level topics, discussing their likes and dislikes, when Barbara suddenly shifted the conversation to a more personal subject: boys.

"So, who do you like, Hima?" Barbara asked, leaning in with a playful grin, clearly teasing her.

Himawari immediately shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. "I don't like anyone other than my dad," she said without missing a beat, her voice casual but firm.

Kara, seated next to her, chuckled softly. "Same here. I've been a bit busy... not really into anyone," she admitted with a shrug.

The conversation could have ended there, a peaceful, lighthearted moment among friends, but Barbara, always one to stir the pot, threw a literal bomb into the conversation. She leaned forward slightly, her expression both teasing and serious.

"You know, Hima, your dad is kind of handsome and sweet," Barbara said, her tone deliberately playful yet undeniably sincere. "I can understand why so many women flock to him. He has that aura that just makes you feel complete and safe."

Himawari blinked in surprise, her eyes narrowing slightly as she caught the implication in Barbara's words. "What are you getting at?" she asked, her tone cautious, as if sensing where this might be going.

Barbara met her gaze, her cheeks flushing just a little. "What do you think of me trying to date him?" she asked, her voice calm but with a hint of vulnerability hiding underneath, as if she were preparing herself for a difficult conversation.

Himawari felt a wave of disbelief hit her. Her father? Barbara wanted to date her dad? Her mind raced for a moment as she processed the question.

"But you've only met him once," she said, trying to deflect, unsure of how to handle the situation.

Barbara shook her head lightly. "Once with you, but I did end up meeting him a couple more times, just by coincidence. We've talked about a few things," she responded truthfully, and Himawari could sense the sincerity in her words. She knew that Barbara wasn't making this up—she'd seen those meetings too.

Himawari's thoughts swirled, the room suddenly feeling smaller. She wanted to discourage Barbara, but her friend seemed genuine in her desire to be close to Naruto. "You know it won't work out. Daddy isn't interested in... that kind of thing," Himawari said, her voice quiet, but firm. "And I don't see Daddy going for younger girls."

Barbara's expression softened, though she didn't look disheartened. "I don't mind. I just want to try. I've developed positive feelings for him, and he's single. Besides, he doesn't look that old! Please, help me out," Barbara urged, her voice a little more pleading. "I think he's the kind of person I can be with, you know? I find other men pretty repulsive these days."

Himawari's heart clenched a little as she realized the trauma behind Barbara's words. Nightwing's betrayal had clearly left its mark on her, and now Barbara was looking for someone she could trust—someone she could turn to for healing. But it wasn't easy. Himawari wasn't sure if she could truly help her friend with this request, not when it involved the man she loved.

She didn't want to deny Barbara's pain, but the idea of Barbara getting closer to Naruto made her feel uneasy. A small, bitter pang of jealousy rose in her chest, but she forced it down, pushing past the selfishness that threatened to cloud her judgment. She couldn't betray her friend, but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel torn.

"I'll help you out," Himawari said after a long pause, her voice softer than before. "But nothing forceful. You need to understand that this kind of thing should happen naturally. If it's meant to be, it will be. I won't push him into anything."

Barbara's face lit up with gratitude, and before Himawari could brace herself, the younger girl jumped up, wrapping her arms around her in a tight hug. "I love you so much. You're the best," Barbara exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth and affection.

Himawari hesitated for a moment, the hug catching her off guard, but she eventually returned it with a quiet smile. "Just... don't expect too much," she murmured, still unsure about the whole situation but willing to try and help her friend in whatever way she could.

For now, she had made her choice. It was one that weighed heavily on her heart, but in the end, she hoped it would be for the best. As for Naruto, well, she could only hope that things would stay the way they were.

In the vast, swirling darkness of the infernal realm, Trigon stood at the heart of his domain, his body crackling with malevolent energy. His eyes burned with fiery hatred as he contemplated his next move against the forces that had thwarted him time and time again. His deep voice rumbled through the air, vibrating with the power of the cosmos itself.

"We had been playing around too much, and you took our presence for granted," Trigon growled, his hands pulsating with destructive energy. Each wave he sent out tore at the fabric of reality, leaving scars of devastation in their wake. "We will show you the folly of getting in our way."

The demon lord's mind swirled with his plan. Trigon knew that Naruto, the man who stood against him, was no ordinary being. He had learned that Naruto was intricately connected to nature, able to sense even the most subtle disturbances in the universe. Surprising him would be a daunting task, one that Trigon knew he could not achieve with brute force alone. Instead, he would turn the tide by blinding Naruto, cutting off his senses and leaving him vulnerable to despair.

With a twisted grin, Trigon reached out with his dark magic and connected with two of his most powerful spawns. He flooded them with his corruptive energy, feeding their dark nature until they were overflowing with destructive power. With a simple thought, he sent one of them into space, where it detonated in a silent explosion, sending ripples of demonic energy across the universe. The blast was imperceptible to the untrained eye, but the disturbance it caused was immense. A wave of darkness filled the world, and the natural order was disrupted as the very fabric of reality trembled under the weight of Trigon's influence.

Naruto, deep in his meditative state in his personal solar system, felt the disturbance rip through his senses like a dagger. The connection he had with the natural world—a bond he had nurtured over millennia—was suddenly shattered. He felt his senses go blind, a profound sense of helplessness washing over him as his once sharp perception of the world around him dulled. Fear, worry, and a deep, simmering rage stirred within him, emotions he had long suppressed bubbling to the surface.

The darkness of the disturbance echoed through him, and for the first time in ages, Naruto struggled to regain control. His power, immense and ancient, flared up uncontrollably as his emotions took hold. His usually calm demeanor turned to one of brooding darkness as he fought to suppress the growing storm inside him. He had been visiting the solar system he called his domain—his territory. A barren realm with no planets, only the majestic and ancient Shinju trees, whose colossal trunks stretched across the void. These trees, the size of stars themselves, absorbed the remnants of long-dead planets and the energy of surrounding stars.

Naruto had long protected the Shinju, creating failsafes and barriers to prevent anyone from tampering with them. These beings were not just trees; they were a vital source of cosmic energy, and their guardians—creatures of unimaginable size and power—stood watch over them. Titans of the natural world, dragons, tigers, and whales that towered over the stars, all bound to Naruto's will, their loyalty absolute. He had never had to call on them until now, but the disturbance Trigon had caused was too great to ignore.

"Not now," Naruto muttered to himself, his mind flashing with the weight of the growing storm within him. He focused, trying to regain some semblance of control, but the rage and fear continued to claw at him. His five natural senses, the ones that had always kept him grounded, were now hindered by the disturbance.

"What do you want, Nabu?" Naruto called out to the figure who appeared before him, his golden helmet gleaming in the dim light of the cosmic trees.

Nabu, a towering figure draped in a flowing golden cloak and blue spandex, stood before him with an air of quiet confidence. His helmet, shining with an ethereal glow, obscured his face, but his posture conveyed a sense of both authority and respect. He had arrived without a sound, as if he were a manifestation of the cosmos itself.