Not long after, Kara and Raven arrived at the base, searching for Shiva, but they couldn't sense her life force.
"Master Shiva was meditating in her room, but when I came back, she was gone. She just disappeared, and there is no recording of her leaving the room."
Hearing this from the last person who had seen her worried the girls. It seemed that the culprit behind the incident last night had acted with a particular purpose. It was something neither of them had ever imagined could happen.
"They want Naruto's child," Raven muttered as they sat inside Naruto's office in the Shadows' base.
Kara nodded. That had to be the only way to connect these two incidents. Someone out there wanted Naruto's child, and it didn't seem to matter who the mother was.
"We will have to talk to Naruto about this now. It will hurt him, but he needs to know before the enemy uses it against him," Raven continued, her tone laced with frustration. The weight of delivering such bad news to their lover was heavy, knowing how deeply it would affect him.
"I know. Seriously, why did this have to happen now? We were so close to finishing up one of our goals." Kara smashed the table in anger, her emotions getting the best of her. She knew this would not only be a distraction but would also deeply wound him. He would take it personally because it was directly connected to him.
"We can only support him and solve it together now. Let's go before anything else happens." Kara took deep breaths, steadying herself, then turned to Raven.
Raven nodded in agreement, and without wasting another moment, they teleported home, appearing just outside their master bedroom—their love nest. While they each had individual rooms, this one was meant for their shared moments together.
Stepping inside, they found Naruto awake, meditating, his aura calm yet powerful. He seemed to sense their presence before they even spoke, his eyes slowly opening to meet theirs.
Kara and Raven exchanged glances, their earlier frustration momentarily replaced with sorrow. This was going to be a difficult conversation, but it was one they could no longer avoid.
Naruto stirred awake, his mind a tangled mess of foggy recollections and a throbbing sensation deep within his head. His body felt the aftereffects of excessive drinking, something he rarely indulged in. But what surprised him most wasn't the discomfort—it was the complete disarray of his memory.
Sitting up, he rubbed his temples, his sharp mind struggling to piece together the events of last night. He could vaguely recall the celebration, the laughter, the drinks flowing freely. He had let loose with his girls, enjoying the rare moment of respite. But beyond that, everything was jumbled. He knew he had been with his lovers, but there was an odd feeling—like there had been more people involved, more presences entangled in his night.
Even Kurama, the ever-watchful beast within him, was in the same state. The great fox was sluggish, his thoughts groggy. Damn it… I wanted to enjoy the party too, and look what happened… Kurama grumbled, his voice lacking its usual sharpness.
Naruto took a deep breath, shutting his eyes and slipping into a meditative state. If his mind couldn't recall it normally, then he would dig deeper. His senses, his eyes—they weren't ordinary. His perception allowed him to capture reality down to the finest details, even at an atomic level. There was no way something as simple as drunkenness could obscure his memories like this.
But as he concentrated, all he saw was blur.
The images flickered in his mind like broken reflections on the surface of disturbed water—fragmented, distorted, and unreadable. It wasn't just a case of memory loss. This was something else.
'Someone messed with my head.'
The realization sent a wave of unease through him. No ordinary power could tamper with his memories like this. Whoever had done this wasn't just skilled—they were dangerous. And worst of all, they had targeted not just him, but those closest to him.
As he contemplated his next move, he felt a shift in the air. The presence of two familiar energy signatures reached him before the door even opened.
Kara and Raven.
The moment they stepped inside, Naruto could sense the sadness weighing down their usually strong spirits. Their emotions pressed against his senses, and for the first time since waking up, his focus sharpened entirely.
He straightened, forcing any sign of weakness from his posture. He was their pillar, their support. No matter what he was feeling inside, he would not falter before them. He had made a promise—to always be their strength, no matter what storm came their way.
Without a word, he opened his arms, silently beckoning them to come closer.
The moment they stepped into his embrace, the tension in their bodies eased, if only slightly. He could feel the way they clung to him, the warmth of their forms against his own. It was a comfort, but it was also a silent plea for reassurance.
Only after a moment did he finally speak, his voice steady and calm.
"Now tell me. What happened?"
He shifted back onto the bed, bringing them with him. Kara and Raven sat on his thighs, his hands resting on their waists as they held onto his hands tightly, unwilling to let go.
Slowly, they explained everything—piece by piece.
With each word, Naruto listened intently, never once interrupting. His expression remained composed, the small, comforting smile never leaving his lips, even as the weight of their words settled into his mind.
What had started as an ordinary celebration had turned into something far more sinister. Someone had interfered, altered their perception, and pushed things toward an outcome none of them had foreseen. The result? A night of intimacy that none of them had been fully conscious of.
And now, some of the women involved were carrying his child.
Naruto remained silent, absorbing the implications.
His feelings toward the women they spoke of—they weren't love, not yet. But something inside him had shifted. The boundary between friendship and something deeper had blurred, ever so slightly. And now, with the knowledge that they were carrying his children, everything had changed.
It didn't matter what his personal feelings were. His child would never suffer. He would accept and protect them, no matter what. That was non-negotiable.
But then, the final piece of the puzzle hit him.
Someone had orchestrated this.
Someone had used them.
His grip tightened instinctively, his body going rigid. A dark, primal rage awakened inside him, mixing with the deep, ancient fury of the fox within. It surged through his veins, demanding to be unleashed, demanding vengeance.
His killer instinct roared to life, a deadly storm coiling beneath his calm exterior.
But he controlled it.
With sheer force of will, Naruto held the rage back, pressing it down into the depths of his being. Now was not the time to lose himself in anger.
Naruto exhaled slowly, his emotions barely contained as his blood burned with barely restrained fury. His crimson eyes gleamed ominously in the dim light, betraying the storm raging inside him. Yet, despite the wrath clawing at his soul, his voice remained steady, almost eerily calm.
"I see. You have suffered because of me. I am ashamed."
His words were quiet, almost a whisper, but they carried the weight of his turmoil. He had promised to protect them, to shield them from suffering, yet here they were—bearing the consequences of an event outside of their control. It infuriated him that he had let this happen, even if it wasn't his fault.
Kara, sensing the self-loathing buried beneath his controlled exterior, reached out and gently cupped his face. Her azure eyes locked onto his crimson ones, unwavering and filled with unwavering resolve.
"No, there is nothing to be ashamed of," she said firmly, her thumbs brushing against his cheeks. "This was out of your control, and it is our duty to walk with you through both joy and sadness. So don't give us that sad look."
Her words were a soothing balm against the rage threatening to consume him. Before he could respond, Raven leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his chin before resting her forehead against his.
"Yes," she added, her voice quieter but no less determined. "We promised to always stay together, no matter what happens. Don't start treating us like fragile princesses now. We are your warrior princesses."
Naruto blinked at that, a small chuckle escaping his lips despite the tension in the air.
"Heh… I thought you were my warrior queens," he teased, his grip on their waists tightening as warmth replaced the chill in his heart.
Kara rolled her eyes playfully, while Raven smirked. The moment was fleeting, but it was enough to pull him back from the abyss.
"But you are right," he admitted, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "I let my emotions get the best of me. This was something I've never experienced before… But we will find the culprit, and they will understand the meaning of regret very intimately."
His voice darkened at the last part, the promise of vengeance lurking beneath his words.
"From your words, I think the likely culprit is Nyx," he continued, his mind working through the clues. "She mentioned wanting to play with me, so this must be one of her games."
His expression hardened, though the fire in his eyes had settled into something more controlled—focused.
Kara and Raven watched as the tension in his shoulders eased slightly, and then, without warning, Naruto pulled them close, embracing them tightly. He placed a lingering kiss on their cheeks, silently expressing his gratitude for their presence, their love, their unwavering support.
For a brief moment, the world felt right again.
But deep down, Naruto knew the fight was only beginning.
The thought of his close friend being kidnapped, along with his child, had been a terrible revelation—one that had nearly pushed him into a berserk state. The younger me would have lost control completely. But he was no longer that boy. He was a leader, a protector, and he would take action.
There was still much to do, but first, he needed to speak with the others.
And then… he would pay a visit to Gaia.
This had just become personal.
Inside her dark dimension, Nyx lounged on her obsidian throne, her form bathed in the dim, ethereal glow of countless stars trapped within the swirling darkness. She had taken on one of her favorite forms—a seductress with long, flowing light-green hair, glowing amethyst eyes, and a body sculpted with proportions that could drive even the most disciplined men into madness.
Before her, lying unconscious on a large, ornate altar, was Shiva. The master assassin was still out cold, unaware of the cosmic presence looming over her.
Nyx casually reclined, one leg draped over the armrest of her throne, as she popped another sweet into her mouth. The immortaldess had lived for eons, long enough for the universe to turn into a repetitive cycle of predictable events, and so she sought amusement in the affairs of mortals and immortals alike. To her, existence was a grand, never-ending play, and she was both the audience and the unseen director.
She idly flicked her wrist, causing a portal of pure darkness to appear before her. Within the swirling void, she could see Naruto, his red eyes glowing with barely contained fury as he held his lovers in his arms. A shiver of delight ran down her spine.
"Ahn~ I just love his expressions," Nyx purred, resting her chin on her palm as she observed the scene with giddy anticipation. It was rare for someone to surprise her these days, but Naruto… Naruto was different.
Unlike other so-called heroes, he wasn't bound by the naive self-righteousness that made them predictable. He didn't just preach change—he made it happen, reshaping the world through sheer will and power. His love, his kindness, his unwavering determination—they were all so raw, so real.
And that fascinated her.
She had first taken an interest in him when her little sister, Gaia, had plucked him from another universe. At first glance, he had seemed like nothing special—just another mortal warrior. But there had been a trace, a whisper of something dangerous in his bloodline.
Otsutsuki.
A species feared across dimensions, known for their ability to consume and dominate entire worlds. In this universe, even they tread carefully, for the cosmic balance was not tilted in their favor. The immortals, the primordial entities, the ancient horrors that lurked in the unseen corners of reality—they held dominion here. And yet… Naruto, despite being barely connected to that feared lineage, stood apart.
She had started watching him out of curiosity. Then it became a habit. And before she knew it, she was obsessed.
His victories, his struggles, his moments of tenderness—she wanted to see all of it. She wanted to push him, test him, make him dance to her tune.
Nyx let out a delighted giggle as Naruto finally connected the dots and spoke her name.
"He suspects me already?" she mused, licking her lips. "Oh, how delicious."
Her glowing eyes turned toward Shiva, still unconscious on the altar. A playful smirk formed on her lips as she ran a finger through the air, tracing the energy still lingering around the assassin's body.
She hadn't kidnapped Shiva out of malice. No, she had simply wanted to see—to see how Naruto would react, how he would feel, how he would rage.
She wanted to peel away his layers, one by one, and savor every moment.
"Naruto, my dear… how will you play this game?" Nyx whispered, her voice dripping with mischief.
The real fun was only just beginning.