The long and brutal battle came to an end—not with a triumphant roar, but with the quiet, painful truth of Naruto's defeat.
Not because he lacked power.
Not because his opponent was stronger.
But because he simply couldn't bring himself to harm his own daughter.
Even in the heat of combat, with his body bleeding and soul cracking, Naruto's love for his child exceeded his concern for his own well-being. She had been kidnapped, manipulated, and brainwashed—and it had happened right under his nose.
That guilt ate away at him.
Their powers had been equal, their blows traded across the stars, space bending and tearing under the weight of their conflict. But there was only one way Naruto could win this fight: by killing her.
And that… was something he would never do.
The battle stretched on for nearly an hour, neither side relenting. Naruto tried everything—talking, defending, restraining. But Shuten-Douji had no intention of letting him go. With every passing second, the darkness seeped further into his soul, like ink spreading through clear water.
Eventually, the truth struck him harder than any blow: she hadn't been fighting to win.
She had been fighting to weaken him.
Each clash, each wound, each flicker of hesitation allowed the creeping darkness to grow inside him. And when he learned of her origins—his own child, born and aged in a twisted pocket of time or another realm—the emotional toll cracked his spirit even more.
His final stand came when his body, tattered and bloodied, crashed into a star, the celestial heat burning away what little remained of his strength. His wounds regenerated at a crawl—far too slowly for him to rejoin the fight.
Floating in the star's blazing corona, his thoughts turned inward.
"Kurama... she won't let me leave."
The voice in his mind was quiet now. Heavy.
"I know," Kurama replied, sadness threading through every word.
"Don't sound so sad," Naruto chuckled faintly, hiding the pain in his soul behind a smile. "I'm not dying. Not yet. But I'm trusting you, brother… Bring me back."
And then, with his last remnants of energy, Naruto ripped Kurama from his soul—tearing apart the last line of defense between him and the void. The bijuu roared in protest, but Naruto flung him through a portal into safety before the darkness could latch on.
Shuten didn't stop him. To her, Kurama was just a parasite. A remnant of a past she had been taught to despise.
And then it happened.
With Kurama gone, a hole opened in Naruto's very soul. The darkness rushed in to fill the void, devouring him from within.
He screamed—a soundless scream that echoed across the void—as his soul, body, and mind were violated.
His body remained unchanged—on the outside. But inside, new memories were being carved, while the true ones were suppressed and twisted into fiction.
He remembered a life in another world. A world of magic and demons. A world where Nyx ruled—and he served as her King.
He remembered uniting that world through bloodshed and brilliance, a century of endless wars, and two more centuries of unrivaled rule beside his queen, Shuten-Douji.
He remembered learning about the multiverse and deciding to conquer it. But his methods—brutal executions, wars, domination—were rejected. The heroes of that world rose to stop him. He fought them, lost, and sacrificed himself to let Shuten escape.
Nyx took her in. And he—the King—was imprisoned, reborn, and brainwashed, given the mind of a naive child, erased from existence until the right moment.
Now, that moment had come.
As the star beneath him dimmed and withered, its life force surged into him, revitalizing the broken shell of the man once called Naruto.
His body absorbed it effortlessly, thanks to Nyx's careful planning. She hadn't strengthened him immediately—but had made sure that when the time came, he could digest power faster than anything alive.
Moments later, the star—a celestial giant larger than the sun—was gone, consumed entirely.
And from the void emerged a figure, whole again.
Golden eyes gleamed.
His armor, reborn in divine brilliance.
His energy, burning with rebirth.
His soul, rewritten.
"They will pay for this insult," he growled, his voice cold and regal.
The King had returned.
And the Multiverse would feel his wrath.
In the aftermath of divine war and the return of a forgotten king, the battlefield—once teeming with cosmic energy—had fallen into an unnatural silence. Only the void remained now, and in its heart stood two figures: one trembling with emotion, the other filled with a powerful calm.
"Beloved…"
Shuten-Douji's voice had lost all the sharpness it once carried. It was soft now, almost childlike, tinged with hope and raw emotion. She reached for him—not as a warrior or a servant, but as a woman yearning for love.
Naruto's golden eyes softened.
The memory of what had just transpired—the pain, the manipulation, the darkness—should have left him cold. But instead, he moved to her without hesitation. His arms encircled her, drawing her close, and in that instant, his entire soul embraced her.
"I have made you sad again, my love," Shuten whispered, burying her face into his chest. "I promise… I promise never to let those beautiful eyes show anything but joy. This body of yours—my beloved—it shall never know pain again."
Naruto said nothing for a moment, merely holding her, breathing her in. His love was complicated now—born from twisted origins. His love for Kara and the daughter he never got to raise, had inverted itself into something new and different. It had fused with the bond he held for Shuten, a love molded not just from instinct, but from shared struggle, memories—real and false—and undeniable affection.
In that moment, she had become the most important woman in his life.
The second, without question, was Nyx.
She had found him when he was nothing—a beggar rotting in an alley, waiting for starvation or the blades of corrupt lords. It was Nyx who gave him purpose. She had seen greatness in him when no one else did. She had given him strength, given him Shuten, and shaped his legend from blood and shadow.
To him, she was everything:
The mother he never had.
The teacher who taught him power.
The friend who never left.
The woman he adored above all… save for the one in his arms.
The world called Nyx a monster—a demoness, a vile empress of the night. But Naruto knew better. To him, she was the light within the darkness. And through him, the world would understand: darkness itself wasn't evil.
Only the hand that wielded it determined its nature.
Tears streamed down Shuten's cheeks as she held him tighter, trembling with relief. Her voice cracked with raw feeling.
"I missed you so much, beloved. Please… never leave my side again. I was terrified. I thought you were dead—I couldn't breathe at the thought of it. Don't ever throw me aside. Let me fall by your side… There is no life for me without you."
She pressed her lips to his neck, cheeks, shoulders—anywhere she could reach—her kisses frantic and filled with longing. For more than a year, she had been away from his side, training in solitude, healing from her injuries, mastering the gifts of the darkness that had now fully bloomed within her.
Each moment apart had been maddening.
Naruto gently pulled her face to his, wiping the tears from her eyes with his thumb.
"I will never allow such a thing to happen again," he said softly, his voice firm with promise. "So never utter such hopeless words. We will live, as destiny commands. And those who wronged us… they will learn what it means to cross me."
His gaze turned cold for a moment, remembering the heroes who had dared to defy him.
"They showed mercy by sparing me… but I will return that mercy in kind. I will cripple them, not kill them. Let them live in fear of what I've become."
Before she could say more, he silenced her with a deep kiss, one that stirred the embers of longing that had lain dormant within them both. In that kiss, the pieces of himself that had been shattered—by betrayal, loss, time, and rebirth—clicked back into place.
He felt whole.
"Beloved… I missed your touch," Shuten whispered dreamily, her eyes heart-shaped, glowing with the intoxication of love.
"And I missed you," Naruto replied, his voice gentle now. "So let's make up for lost time—today will be endless."
With a single wave of his hand, he bent reality, crafting a pocket dimension outside the flow of time. In this realm, time passed a thousand times slower. In the center floated a serene landmass, lush and beautiful, and on it stood a newly formed palace of elegance and power—his craftsmanship, recreated from scratch after his old world was destroyed in battle.
He turned to her, offering his hand like a prince welcoming his queen.
"Come, Shuten. Let us return to where we belong."
And so, they vanished into the new world—one forged from love, shadow, and ambition—where time could not steal their moments and where the future awaited only their design.
The moonlight filtered through the vast glass dome of Naruto's personal chamber, casting a silvery glow over the resting figure of Shuten-Douji. She lay peacefully, her breathing soft, the torment of their previous days faded for now under the gentle lull of his newly constructed world. The battles, the revelations, the pain—they were all behind her, at least for the moment.
Naruto sat by the window, shirtless and pensive, his eyes lingering on Shuten's serene expression. A whisper, like a velvet breeze, stirred the air beside him.
"How are you feeling now?" came Nyx's voice—warm, uncharacteristically so.
Naruto turned his head slowly, his gaze falling upon her as she stepped into view.
Clad in elegant shades of midnight, Nyx was a vision of divine beauty and power, every step she took resonating with the authority of a Queen and the tenderness of a woman who had loved him since before he was even reborn. There was something different in her manner—softer, more personal—like she'd shed the cloak of cosmic grandeur and walked now as his Nyx.
Naruto's heart stirred.
"I'm feeling better than ever… with the blessing of my Queen," he said, smiling softly.
Nyx chuckled gently, a sound like wind chimes at night.
"I'm happy to hear that… but no need to sound so distant," she whispered, her tone sultry and intimate. "Call me Nyx, like you want to."
Before he could respond, she appeared on his lap, legs straddling him with casual grace. Her arms looped around his shoulders, pulling him into her warmth, and he—without hesitation—wrapped his arms around her. His grip was firm, longing, as if fearing that she would vanish again.
He had missed her terribly.
This heart, twisted and reforged through trauma and darkness, still beat only for her. She was not just his master; she was his savior, his Queen, his most sacred bond. His fake memories couldn't shake what was real—and his love for her was as real as the cosmos she commanded.
Nyx stroked the back of his head gently, letting him lean against her.
"Thank you… for everything you've done," Naruto murmured against her neck. "I love you… with all my heart. You and Shuten… you're the only reasons I keep going."
His lips traced a slow path from her nape to her shoulder, reverent and adoring.
"I know," Nyx whispered, her voice now breathy with affection, her fingers threading through his golden hair. "And I'm sure you must have… a way to show it."
There was mischief in her tone now, but underneath it, there was something deeper—need. A desire for validation, for closeness, for the man she had created from dust and despair to return her eternal devotion.
Naruto leaned back, meeting her eyes—those swirling pools of starlight that had once seen a ruined boy and decided to make him a king.
"I'll show it," he said, voice low with promise. "Tonight and forever."
Their lips met—not with fire, but with immense gravity, a slow collapse of distance that drew them into each other like twin stars on the brink of fusion. In that moment, there was no war, no betrayal, no fake memories or future battles—only the bond of two souls that had crossed realms and lifetimes to find each other again.
In the silence that followed, only one thought remained in Naruto's mind.
He would never let go of Nyx, never again. And for those who dared to try separating them, there would be no mercy.
---------------------
The warm light of morning filtered through the high windows of the compound, casting a gentle glow on the silk sheets and marble floors. But the serenity didn't last long.
Kara had awoken briefly, mumbling Naruto's name in her sleep, before falling back into a healing rest. That was when Raven stirred, her violet eyes blinking open to realize something was wrong.
Naruto was gone.
At first, the silence felt normal—he had often left early for meditation or silent training. But as the minutes stretched into an hour and no message came, a quiet dread began to curl in Raven's chest. She reached for his presence with her powers—only to feel a cold, impassable wall.
He was gone. Cut off.
Her breath quickened. Her soul magic trembled. And as panic began to rise, Kara was there—arms steady, voice soft but strong.
"Breathe, Raven. We'll figure this out."
Raven clenched her fists to her sides, but nodded. Together, they summoned the others, alerting everyone to Naruto's disappearance.
The ripple of fear that followed was instant.
Naruto was no ordinary warrior anymore—he was a being of nearly unmatched power, and if someone had taken or subdued him, then they weren't just strong… they were something else. Something dangerous.
And someone knew this might happen.
Raven's mind snapped to one place.
"Xanadu," she whispered.
Without a moment's delay, she and Kara vanished in a burst of dark energy.
The air at Xanadu's temple was thick with incense and ancient magic. The moment the two arrived, the mystic was already seated at a polished wooden table, three steaming cups of tea set before her.
"I have been waiting," she said, serene but heavy with weight.
Kara's boots hit the floor with force as she stepped forward, hands on the table, eyes burning.
"Did you know this was going to happen?"
There was no kindness in her tone. If Xanadu said yes—if this had been foreseen and left unchecked—there would be no forgiveness.
"No," Xanadu answered calmly, gesturing for them to sit. "Even my abilities have a limit. This was not among the futures I saw. Nyx… it seems she's interfered."
Raven and Kara exchanged a look. That name explained the unnatural silence, the sudden break in their connection, the untraceable magic that now cloaked Naruto.
The mention of Nyx lit a fire in Kara's chest. Her fists clenched. Her knuckles cracked.
That bloody whore, she thought. The next time I see her, I'm breaking her skull into the ground.
She had fought immortals and monsters. She had seen death. But this? This felt personal. This wasn't just about Naruto—this was about control. She hated being played, and this time, it wasn't just her life—it was the man she loved.
"Do you have any clue where he is?" Raven asked, her voice steady, but her soul trembling.
She was afraid. Deeply. She had seen many things in her life—endless hellscapes, corrupted souls—but the idea of Naruto becoming someone else, being turned into a weapon… it frightened her in a way nothing else ever had.
"He is alive," Xanadu said slowly. "But he will not be your Naruto when he returns."
The words struck like hammers.
"He will return to break every hero and villain on this planet. You need to prepare your allies. Without preparation… this will end in disaster."
Raven's face turned pale.
Kara sat down heavily. Her heart pounded.
"You mean he's been brainwashed?" she asked, her voice flat, lips drawn tight.
"Most likely," Xanadu nodded, eyes shadowed. "His memories, his purpose—altered."
Kara didn't cry, didn't scream—but her hands trembled, and her jaw tightened as she ground her teeth in silent rage. One of the worst possible outcomes… and Nyx was the cause.
"Is there any way to fix it?" Raven asked, desperate for a thread of hope.
"No," came the solemn reply. "The forces involved are too strong, too complex. I cannot see the end of this path."
Silence followed.
The three women sat there, weighed down by the unspoken horror of what this meant.
Naruto, their light, their leader, their love—turned into a tool of war by a primordial force. The thought was impossible, unbearable.
After several moments, Kara stood, voice soft.
"Thank you for your help. If you need anything… please call us."
She left the team's contact sigil on the table, her fingers brushing it with silent resolve.
"We are friends," Xanadu said gently, rising. "There's no need for such formality. Just… take care. Solve this with love, not destruction."
Kara and Raven nodded, and without another word, vanished.
The atmosphere inside the Watchtower shifted the moment Kurama fell through the air like a scarlet shooting star, landing directly on Kara with a heavy thud. The shock silenced the room—even the bustling background chatter of heroes moving through corridors halted.
Kara caught him instinctively, eyes wide, the heat of his chakra pulsing through her fingers. But what truly alarmed everyone wasn't just the physical damage.
Kurama… was small.
He had taken on his chibi form, a clear sign that something was deeply wrong.
Energy leaked from his cracked spiritual body like light bleeding from shattered glass, and Raven was already by Kara's side, her hands glowing with dark violet energy as she stabilized the fox's fractured soul.
Kara gently cradled him as Raven whispered an incantation in a forgotten tongue, weaving threads of calm into his chaotic form.
A shiver passed through Kurama's body… then his eyes snapped open.
'Nyx has corrupted Naruto,' his voice echoed in their minds, low and anxious. 'His daughter has been… turned. She's now an adult with false memories, and in those memories, she believes she's his wife. Naruto is being given similar memories—false ones. They're going to attack. We need to stop them and bring him back.'
The words hit hard. Kara's grip on Kurama tightened slightly. Raven's lips parted as her eyes widened in realization.
"So that's her angle," Raven murmured.
Nyx wasn't just corrupting Naruto. She was redefining his world—rewriting his emotional core with twisted lies. And Naruto, whose soul had already been fractured by divine manipulation in the past, was vulnerable now more than ever.
'Calm down, Kurama. You're rushing,' Raven said softly, even as she felt her own heart racing.
Kurama blinked, then nodded.
'Sorry. I… haven't felt like this in centuries. But we need a plan—fast. Naruto and his 'new wife' are unbelievably strong. If we go in unprepared, they might kill everyone. I'll support you two—just like Naruto did. Between us… we might stand a chance.'
With a tired huff, Kurama leapt up and nestled on Kara's head. She gave a small smile at the nostalgic weight of him, even if this was far from the joyful moments she remembered.
Raven, however, narrowed her eyes for just a second.
He always climbs onto Kara first…
Suppressing her jealous thoughts, she moved on to the next pressing question.
"What about his clone? The one partnered with Death—do you think he's affected too?"
Kurama's ears twitched.
'I… don't know. This situation's unlike anything I've seen before. But we have to check on him. If he's unaffected, he might be the key to restoring Naruto's true memories.'
Kara nodded solemnly.
"Then we'll find him next. But first, let's prepare the League. They need to know what's coming."
As Kurama rested, gathering his strength, and Raven sent messages to trusted allies, Kara turned to the center of the room and opened a comm channel.
"Justice League—assemble. Priority One meeting. Naruto Uzumaki has been compromised."
The signal echoed through the Watchtower.
And all across Earth, every hero who had once stood beside Naruto… now had to prepare to stand against him.