Chapter 14

The atmosphere in the dimly lit room was heavy with spiritual energy as Naruto slowly opened his eyes. His body felt warm, his mind buzzing with newfound knowledge seeping into his consciousness like a steady stream. He took a slow breath, steadying himself as the connection between him and Hashirama Senju settled into place. It was far weaker than his link with Asura Otsutsuki, but it was there—an undeniable bond that would allow him to inherit the legendary First Hokage's wisdom over time.

Zatanna, standing nearby, exhaled deeply and wiped a thin sheen of sweat from her brow. The process had been delicate, requiring immense precision. One wrong move, one miscalculation, and Naruto's soul could have suffered irreparable damage. The task of safely bridging the spiritual gap between him and his predecessors had taken a toll on her, but she found herself smiling nonetheless.

"The connection with Hashirama is on," she confirmed, rolling her shoulders to shake off her fatigue. "You'll receive his knowledge gradually since he isn't conscious like Asura."

Naruto gave her a grateful nod, his blue eyes shining with sincerity. "Thank you, Zatanna. I really appreciate this. I'll make sure to repay this favor."

A playful smirk curled at the corners of her lips as she took a step closer, placing a soft hand against his cheek. The warmth of his skin was pleasant under her fingertips, and she let them linger just a moment longer than necessary. "You can repay me by participating in my show."

Naruto raised an eyebrow at that, tilting his head slightly. "Your show?"

Zatanna chuckled, trailing a finger lightly down his cheek before withdrawing her hand. "Mm-hmm. You can act as my assistant," she said, eyes glinting with mischief. "And eye candy for the ladies."

Naruto blinked, unsure if he had misheard her. "What?"

"People will enjoy the sight of you in tight clothing," she teased, her voice light and playful.

His confusion deepened. He had faced monstrous foes, trained under legendary figures, and even fought literal immortals, yet he found himself completely lost in this conversation. Tight clothing? Eye candy? These were concepts utterly foreign to him. He instinctively reached out to Kurama in his mind, hoping for some clarification, but the fox offered nothing but an amused huff.

Zatanna, watching his baffled expression, couldn't help but burst into laughter. "You're so adorable," she said, shaking her head before reaching out and pinching his cheeks.

Naruto took it in stride, nodding at her words as if he were entirely unbothered. "Thanks, I am adorable, if I say so myself."

Zatanna's laughter continued as she let go, now even more entertained by his unshakable confidence. She had fully expected him to blush, to stammer at least a little under her teasing, but he remained unfazed. It was both impressive and amusing.

She had met many men who would have been flustered in this situation, who would have reacted with awkwardness or shy interest. But Naruto? He was different. There was a purity to him, an innocent confidence that hadn't been tainted by vanity or insecurity. It made her like him even more.

Her amusement softened into something more thoughtful as she observed him. While he carried himself with ease, Zatanna had sensed something deeper when she examined him for safety earlier. A painful aura clung to him, the unmistakable weight of a past filled with hardship. He hadn't spoken of it, but he didn't need to. She had seen enough lost souls to recognize the silent echoes of suffering when they lingered.

Yet, despite everything, he smiled. He carried on. He found ways to laugh and joke, even in the face of things that would have broken others.

Zatanna's smirk returned as she lightly tapped his nose. "Alright, Mr. Adorable, we'll work out the details later. But for now, take it easy. You've just taken in a lot of knowledge, and you'll need time to process it."

Naruto nodded, stretching his arms behind his head. "Got it."

As she stepped back, she found herself looking forward to working with him—not just because of his potential, but because he was, simply put, a breath of fresh air.

And, if nothing else, it would be fun to see just how long he could remain so oblivious before he finally understood what 'eye candy' truly meant.

The air inside the chamber was heavy with mystical energy, the remnants of the ritual still lingering in the atmosphere. Naruto turned away from the intricate sigils on the floor and looked toward the doorway where his mother stood.

"Naruto, are you finished?" Kushina's voice carried warmth, the soft concern of a mother who had been watching from a distance.

"Yes, we are done," Naruto replied, his bright blue eyes meeting hers. For a moment, he simply took in the sight of her, and a smile unconsciously formed on his face. He finally had family. He wasn't alone in this world.

But even as his heart swelled with happiness, his sharp gaze caught something—an expression, fleeting yet undeniable, that crossed Kara's face. A moment of sadness, quickly masked but not quickly enough to escape his notice.

Naruto understood.

He had been alone once, just like her. For the longest time, he had wished for someone to call his own, someone to share in his victories and comfort him in his losses. Kara had found solace in their shared loneliness, and now, seeing him reunited with his mother, she must have felt that deep sense of isolation return.

He hesitated for only a moment before making a decision.

"Kara," he said, his voice steady, "will it be alright if I aim to bring your parents back as well while working on my goal to leave this universe?"

Kara blinked, startled. "What?"

"You've done so much for me," Naruto continued, his tone filled with sincerity as he took a step closer to her. "I think this is the only way I can help a friend. We've already seen success, so why not try?"

Kara's lips parted slightly, but she didn't know what to say. No one—not even her cousin, Kal—had ever brought up the idea of bringing her parents back. She had assumed it was impossible, that it was something no one even considered.

She hesitated before shaking her head. "It's much harder than you think. Their souls have already left this plane of existence."

Naruto tilted his head slightly. "Are you sure? Have you even tried? Nothing is impossible in this world, so why should you just give up?"

A new voice cut into their conversation, firm and warning.

"Not to rain on your parade, but that's a dangerous thought, Naruto," Zatanna said as she stepped forward, her sharp gaze locking onto his. "You could invite the wrath of powerful beings by interfering in that realm. If resurrection was something anyone could do, people would have been doing it already." She crossed her arms. "Remember—Death is a conscious being in this world, and you don't want to mess with her domain."

Naruto turned his gaze to Zatanna, listening to her words carefully. He knew she was speaking from experience, from knowledge that went far beyond his own in these matters. But at the same time, he had always believed that limitations existed to be overcome.

Kara offered him a small smile, her expression softened by his sincerity. "Thanks for thinking about me, Naruto, but you shouldn't distract yourself from your own goals."

"You're my friend," Naruto replied without hesitation, his voice firm. "I just want to help you, so it's not a distraction. I will find a way to help you, so don't feel sad." He paused, his eyes locking onto hers. "I like it when you smile."

Kara's breath hitched slightly, caught off guard by his words.

She stared at him, momentarily stunned.

"You're... really perceptive about the weirdest things," she muttered, looking away for a moment before sighing. "Okay, but don't focus on it too much or waste your time. I'll look into it myself too... You're right about one thing—nothing is impossible."

Zatanna sighed, shaking her head as if dealing with two stubborn children. "Well, you kids just don't go putting your hands into demonic things," she warned.

"No problem," Naruto grinned before turning to Kara. "Supergirl, let's get back to Mount Justice."

Kara raised an eyebrow. "Me too?"

Naruto gave her a questioning look. "We're friends, so I thought you'd want to come with us. Or do you have other plans?"

Kara chuckled, feeling some of the weight on her chest ease. His words had done more for her than she expected. "Thanks, but I'll leave you two alone for today."

Naruto nodded. "Next time."

And with that, he placed a hand on his mother's shoulder and, in an instant, the two disappeared in a flash of golden chakra.

Kara stood there for a moment, staring at the space they had occupied just seconds ago.

A teasing voice broke the silence.

"Did our cute little Kara get charmed?" Zatanna smirked, tilting her head playfully.

Kara scoffed. "No way." A pause. "...Maybe a little."

Zatanna chuckled but then gave a more serious look. "Just be careful," she warned. "Naruto has an obsessive personality. That kind of determination can be a great thing... but it can also turn into a nightmare if it goes too far."

Kara glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. "I don't see the problem. But thanks for the advice."

With that, she turned and flew off, leaving Zatanna alone in the chamber.

The magician sighed, shaking her head with a knowing smile.

"This is going to be interesting," she muttered before turning back to her work.

As the golden glow of Naruto's teleportation faded, silence settled in the chamber. Zatanna stood there for a moment, her arms crossed as she stared at the empty space where he had been just seconds ago.

A small smirk tugged at her lips before she exhaled, shaking her head.

"That kid..." she murmured to herself.

Naruto was something else.

She had met many powerful beings in her time—heroes, sorcerers, immortals, and demons—but Naruto was different. It wasn't just his power, though she had sensed an immense wellspring of energy within him, something far beyond anything she had encountered before. No, it was his mindset.

His determination.

Most people would have accepted the natural order, listened to her warning, and backed off. But Naruto? No hesitation. No doubt. He wasn't just stubborn—he was convinced that he could do the impossible.

And the scariest part?

She believed him.

He had an aura about him, something indomitable, as if the very concept of failure didn't exist in his world. Even when she had warned him about the dangers of interfering with Death's domain, he hadn't rejected the warning—he had processed it. Considered it. As if it was just another obstacle to overcome.

It was both impressive and alarming.

She sighed, running a hand through her dark hair. "This is exactly how those world-shaking legends get started, isn't it?"

Her fingers traced the air absentmindedly, conjuring faint symbols of magic that dissipated as soon as they appeared. She had met people who wanted to change the world, but Naruto? He was the kind of person who would change the world, whether he meant to or not.

The way he spoke to Kara... the way he noticed her pain so easily... that wasn't just some empty kindness. It was instinct. Naruto understood people. He could cut through layers of emotions, see the hidden wounds they carried, and then—without hesitation—reach out to heal them.

And yet, despite how kind he was, Zatanna could already see it—the obsession.

Naruto didn't let go.

That level of devotion, that drive to help, was a double-edged sword. It could turn into an unstoppable force for good... or into a curse that consumed him. If he fixated too much on something—like bringing back the dead—he could easily end up walking a dangerous path.

"Not my problem," she muttered, though she knew that wasn't entirely true.

Naruto intrigued her.

He wasn't affected by her charms, which was rare. Even those who weren't attracted to her still reacted to her presence, but Naruto? He had looked at her, acknowledged her teasing, and simply moved on.

It wasn't indifference.

It was clarity.

He had his own priorities, his own sense of purpose, and nothing seemed to shake it.

That kind of resolve?

Yeah, it was definitely dangerous.

But damn if it wasn't impressive.

Zatanna chuckled to herself, shaking her head again. "Well, this is going to be fun to watch."

With a flick of her wrist, she dispelled the lingering energy in the room and turned away, her mind already thinking of all the ways this unpredictable force of nature named Naruto Uzumaki was going to shake up the world.