Hippolyta wanted to stop him, to ask him to reconsider this reckless course of action. But she knew Naruto too well—he would never abandon someone in need. It was one of his greatest strengths, an honor that defined him. Yet, at times like these, she couldn't help but wonder if it might have been better if he didn't carry such a burden.
"It will be okay," Naruto assured her, sensing the conflict in her heart. "Have some faith in me. Like always, I will return victorious."
The Amazon Queen let out a soft sigh. It amazed her how effortlessly he could see through her, how she felt comfortable enough to let her emotions show in his presence.
"You are always so positive," she murmured, her gaze locked onto his. "I wonder—does your mind ever consider failure?"
Naruto's eyes drifted over the room, where statues of the Olympian immortaldesses responsible for the Amazons stood tall, their divine visages watching over them. His voice was calm, thoughtful.
"In our field, not considering failure is a sign of an amateur," he admitted. "I do consider the chances of failure and what I could do in those situations. But the thing is, I don't let those thoughts consume me. I move with the intention of never failing. I don't even let the thought take root in my mind. You should try it—it might help ease some of the stress on your pretty head."
A small chuckle escaped Hippolyta's lips. "Hehe, thanks for caring about my pretty head. I'll take your words to heart."
She had already come to such an understanding long ago—when one lived for centuries, they learned many things. Yet, hearing it from someone she cared about made it all the more meaningful. To the outside world, Naruto was just a young man, but she knew better. With his shadow clones training daily and returning their experience to him, he had accumulated the knowledge and wisdom of over a thousand years in a single lifetime.
At this moment, he was likely the oldest member of the Justice League—not in body, but in mind. And with Kurama, an ageless being of intelligence rivaling the likes of Batman, at his side, Naruto had access to knowledge far beyond human comprehension.
A comfortable silence settled between them before Naruto broke it.
"How long do we have to wait?" he asked, glancing toward the altar where Hippolyta had already called upon Hestia five minutes ago.
"Patience, Naruto," she replied with an amused smile. "My lady will surely respond in time. She might even be watching already."
Naruto hummed, crossing his arms. "I was just checking if there was a fixed timing or something. I wonder how this will go."
"It won't be anything difficult—"
A new voice interrupted them, soft yet brimming with warmth.
"It is a pleasant surprise to meet you at last, Naruto."
In the blink of an eye, the world around him shifted. Hippolyta was gone. The grand chamber remained unchanged, yet he knew—he had entered a parallel realm or an illusion.
It didn't matter.
His target had arrived.
Before him stood Hestia, the immortaldess of the Hearth.
She was everything he had expected from an immortal. Her beauty was transcendent, a divine presence that exuded warmth and serenity. Long, flaming red hair cascaded down her back, glowing softly like embers in a fireplace. Her eyes, deep ruby in color, shimmered with kindness and wisdom. Her lips, the same shade as a burning sunset, curved into a gentle smile.
Unlike many deities who adorned themselves in extravagant attire, Hestia wore only a simple red robe. There was no need for jewels or golden armor—her presence alone commanded reverence.
Yet, what truly struck Naruto was not her beauty, but the feeling she radiated.
Happiness. Familiarity. A sense of home.
For the first time in his life, he felt what others must have felt in his presence.
Complete and utter peace.
"Hestia, it is nice to meet you as well." Naruto grinned, his voice filled with warmth as he extended his fist toward the immortaldess.
Hestia let out a soft giggle and met his fist with her own, the playful exchange feeling more like a family greeting than a meeting between a mortal and a immortaldess.
"Hehe, you are just like I expected," she said with amusement before wrapping her arms around him in a hug. "You didn't change your tune, even in front of me."
Naruto was momentarily surprised but quickly melted into the embrace. It felt… right. Natural.
He could feel it—the warmth that Hestia radiated wasn't just her divine presence. It was something deeper. Familial. A bond beyond blood.
She understood why. Naruto was the closest thing she had ever encountered to her own domain. He was family. Everything he embodied—his unwavering loyalty, his fierce protectiveness over his loved ones, his ability to bring warmth to even the coldest of souls—fell under her divine authority.
Meeting someone like him, after countless centuries, was an ultra-super-rare occurrence.
But as much as Naruto enjoyed the hug, he had business to attend to. He gently separated from her and looked into her eyes.
"I am honored by your words, my lady, and I would love to spend more time with you," he said sincerely, "but I need your help. I need to meet Gaea."
Hestia's expression sobered as she released a sigh. "I am aware of your request, and I would love to guide you there directly," she admitted, "but Lady Gaea wishes for you to earn the right to meet her."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Earn the right? How exactly?"
"She wants you to defeat Hercules in physical combat—no jutsu allowed."
Silence followed. Even Hestia herself looked troubled, as if she, too, found the request absurd.
"Are those words really from Gaea?" Naruto finally asked, narrowing his eyes. "I didn't think she would say such a thing."
"They are from her own mouth," Hestia confirmed, crossing her arms, "but… perhaps there are things happening in the background that I am unaware of."
Naruto exhaled through his nose. Even at such levels, there were always games being played behind the scenes.
"I see," he muttered before shaking his head. "Fine. I accept the challenge."
He wasn't foolish enough to underestimate Hercules. That guy was stronger than a normal version of Superman. The son of Zeus, blessed with divine strength beyond reason. Winning in a purely physical fight…
Yeah, that was bloody insane.
But he was Naruto Uzumaki. Insane challenges were just another Tuesday for him.
"Do I have to fight him alone," Naruto asked, "or can I bring help?"
"You may use one helper," Hestia answered, "but they cannot be a magician or a Kryptonian."
Naruto smirked. "Better than I expected. I'll get it done within a week."
Hestia gave him a proud smile. "Then let's meet again under better circumstances, Naruto. I would love to talk to you more."
"It's mutual," Naruto said, genuinely meaning it.
Then, Hestia took a step forward. A soft, warm flame appeared in her hands, flickering like the hearth of a loving home.
"Before you go," she said, her tone turning softer, "I have a small gift for you. Would you like to be my chosen in this world? To spread the light of familial bonds?"
Naruto blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected this.
Chosen by Hestia?
There was no hesitation.
"I would love to," he answered with a bright smile.
Trusting her was easy. There was no deception, no hidden agendas. Just warmth. Just light.
Hestia's smile grew as she pressed the flame into his chest. "I am happy to hear those words," she murmured.
The moment the fire entered him, Naruto felt his entire being ignite.
Hestia placed a kiss on his forehead, her divine energy wrapping around him like a loving embrace.
"Please take care of yourself… and survive," she whispered before vanishing.
The illusion shattered.
Naruto gasped as he was slammed back into reality. The warmth of Hestia's presence lingered, but now it was inside him, coursing through his veins like liquid sunlight.
His body heated up instantly.
Sweat dripped from his forehead. His entire being was changing.
"Naruto!"
Hippolyta turned to him as she noticed his sudden reaction. She could see it—his body was radiating heat, a divine fire flickering just beneath the surface. But she wasn't alarmed.
He had met Hestia.
She could feel it.
Inside Naruto, the changes continued.
His fire affinity skyrocketed, his connection to flame becoming something divine. His soul strengthened, reinforced by Hestia's influence.
His mind expanded, gaining a level of mental fortitude only the strongest deities possessed.
His chakra evolved, transforming as immortal energy infused into it.
His chakra was no longer just chakra.
It had become something greater.
At the same time, Kurama roared inside his mindscape. The nine-tailed fox burned, his entire body lit aflame with the same divine energy.
Naruto was burning.
But not in pain.
No—this was purification.
This was rebirth.
He was no longer just Naruto Uzumaki.
He was now Naruto, the Chosen of Hestia.
"ROAR!"
Kurama's bellow shook the soul space, causing the very air to vibrate with overwhelming power. His entire form had shifted, no longer the usual deep red but a golden flame-like entity, radiating warmth and strength.
It was similar to the form he took when Naruto's chakra mixed with his, but now…
This was permanent. This was natural.
His transformation was complete.
Kurama stretched his new form, feeling the divine energy coursing through him. His power had not just increased—it had doubled. But more than that, it had fundamentally changed.
His flames could now harm the soul.
His flames could now protect the soul.
Lower-level energy attacks couldn't even touch him anymore.
Hestia's gift had made them immune to most mages and energy users in the universe.
'Her gift was definitely not small. We owe her a lot, Naruto.' Kurama's voice was deep, carrying newfound reverence. 'Make sure to pay her back for it.'
Naruto smirked. 'Of course. I always pay my debts.'
As the transformation settled, Naruto felt his own energy reserves double.
More importantly, his chakra—his life essence—had fundamentally changed.
It wasn't normal chakra anymore.
It was Immortal Chakra.
His body now generated the energy of an immortal.
His control over his power had increased rather than worsened.
Naruto placed a hand over his heart, where the warmth of Hestia's flame still flickered within him.
'Thank you for this gift, Hestia.'
He knew she could hear him. They were connected now.
He was her representative in this world.
Naruto exhaled and turned to Hippolyta, who had been watching him intently.
"I'm fine now," he assured her. "I met Hestia, and she told me that Gaea wants me to fight Hercules in a physical battle—no jutsu."
Hippolyta's eyes darkened immediately at the mention of Hercules.
Naruto ignored the tension and continued, "I'm thinking of taking Diana or Donna as my partner for the fight. What do you think?"
Hearing his name, Hippolyta's anger almost surfaced.
That man—that monster—was one of Zeus's many bastard children, but unlike some of his siblings, he had embraced the worst aspects of his father.
Long ago, she had made the grave mistake of trusting him.
She had even loved him.
And in return, he had drugged her, raped her, and watched as his men pillaged and violated her Amazons.
Back then, he was still mortal—still beatable.
But after completing his labors, after receiving the full blessing of Olympus, he had ascended.
Now, he was the master of strength.
The H in Shazam.
And Naruto was supposed to fight that?
Hippolyta barely controlled her fury.
"...Can I do it?" she asked, her voice quieter than usual.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "You want to try?"
He chuckled and crossed his arms.
"Hmm… I already talked to the girls," he admitted with a smirk. "How about this—you girls fight among yourselves, and the winner accompanies me?"
Hippolyta stared at him.
But Naruto didn't budge.
A moment of silence.
Then—
"I accept," she said, determination flashing in her eyes.
"Good," Naruto grinned. "Let's go talk to the girls."