Chapter 56

Naruto stepped back into the base, feeling the familiar warmth of its halls after his talk with Clark. The weight of the conversation still lingered in his mind, but a part of him felt satisfied. He had done what he could, nudging Superman toward the truth of his own heart. Now, it was up to Clark to take that leap.

But before Naruto could fully process his thoughts, he felt a firm grip on his arm.

"So, how was it?"

Kara's piercing blue eyes locked onto him, a mix of curiosity and amusement dancing in them.

Naruto grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "I think it went well. Clark just needed someone to lay out what he's been feeling. It's unfortunate, but being around heroes… well, it comes with risks."

Kara gave a small nod of approval. "Good." Then, before he could react, her grip tightened. "But you're coming with me now."

Naruto blinked. "Huh? What? Why?"

"You made a mess," she stated flatly, her free hand on her hip.

"What mess?"

Kara sighed, dragging him down the corridor. "Don't play dumb. You threw a paintball into my room by accident, and now you're going to clean it up."

Naruto winced. "I thought you had a big heart, woman."

"It's big," she said with a smirk, "which is why I'm giving you the chance to clean it instead of throwing you into the sun."

"Ughhh, my brain, it trembles," Naruto groaned dramatically.

"Stop overreacting," Kara lightly smacked his chest before pulling him along, clearly not letting him weasel his way out of this.

But just before they reached her room, another interruption came—this time in the form of Veritas. The silver-haired beauty finally seemed to have finished setting up her own space, and she intercepted them with a playful yet firm grasp on Naruto's other hand.

"I'm still waiting for my dance, Naruto," Veritas said smoothly, her golden eyes gleaming with anticipation. Then, she turned toward Kara, flashing a charming smile. "I hope you don't mind, Kara."

Naruto glanced between them, sensing the silent exchange happening beneath their words.

Kara let out a small sigh, releasing his arm. "I'll meet you after you're done," she muttered, crossing her arms.

"You really need to be straight with people," she added, giving Naruto a knowing look. "Or you're going to end up giving false hope to a lot of people."

Veritas, unbothered by the comment, smiled. "I'm not giving up just because of words. I find Naruto fun and nice to be around, so unless that stops being a fact…" She leaned in slightly, eyes shining with playful mischief. "I guess you could say I'm enchanted by him."

Before Naruto could formulate a response, she took his hand and pulled him toward the hall where music had already started playing.

The speakers hummed with a smooth, sensual rhythm, and the lyrics echoed through the space:

"Sexy lady on the floor, keeps you coming back for more…"

Naruto stiffened. "Oh, boy."

He had barely adjusted to the shift when Veritas gracefully stepped into his space, guiding him into a slow yet deliberate dance. Her movements were fluid, confident, like she had done this a thousand times before. Naruto, on the other hand, tried his best to keep up.

Her voice hummed along with the lyrics, her expression teasing.

"He stole the heart

He charmed me with his magic

I remain neither awake nor asleep, I remain unaware of things…"

Kara, standing off to the side, could only facepalm at the song choice.

"Seriously? This is what she picked?" she muttered to herself.

Veritas, of course, was fully aware of the message her music choice sent. And if the smirk on her lips was anything to go by, she was thoroughly enjoying how much it annoyed Kara.

As the dance continued, Naruto slowly relaxed, allowing himself to move more naturally with the rhythm. It was different from the usual sparring footwork he was used to, but there was something oddly enjoyable about it.

Veritas chuckled as she spun under his arm, her silver hair flowing like silk. "You're not bad at this."

Naruto smirked. "I am a fast learner."

She grinned. "I like that."

Kara groaned, running a hand down her face. "How much longer is she going to drag this out?"

As the song neared its end, Veritas leaned in slightly, whispering just loud enough for him to hear, "I'll be waiting for our next dance, Naruto."

Then, with a final twirl, she released his hand, stepping back with a knowing smile.

Naruto let out a breath, rubbing the back of his head. "Man, what is it with these girls?"

Kara, arms still crossed, gestured toward the hallway. "Alright, dancer boy, you had your fun. Time to clean up the mess you made."

Naruto sighed, shaking his head. "This is what I get for being popular."

Veritas only chuckled as she watched them leave. "Yes, Naruto," she murmured to herself, a playful gleam in her eyes. "This is exactly what you get."

Naruto had long since stopped questioning the why of his arrival in this world. It was a miracle, an impossible second chance that defied all logic. But did it really matter? He was here, alive, and given the opportunity to act once more. If anything, he felt a quiet sense of gratitude—even if the mastermind behind his summoning never revealed themselves.

Not that he hadn't wondered. Whoever had pulled him into this reality had done so with intention, and though no divine voice had whispered explanations into his ear, Naruto had pieced together a few possibilities.

There were only two real reasons to summon someone like him.

To spread the teachings of the right path, guiding heroes toward their fullest potential.

Or to heal a world drowning in corruption and decay.

Either way, it didn't change his course of action. It was in his nature to help, to fight, to protect. Whether by choice or design, Naruto would walk the path laid before him.

And he wasn't wrong.

Far above the mortal plane, in a realm beyond human comprehension, Gaea watched.

She was a vision of nature's splendor, a being that embodied the very essence of the world. Her green eyes glowed softly as they observed the young man she had brought forth. Dressed in a flowing white summer dress, her black hair cascaded down her shoulders, adorned with a delicate crown of flowers. The gentle rise and fall of her chest matched the rhythm of the earth itself—steady, eternal, boundless.

Gaea had not acted on a whim. She was a Primordial, an ancient force, the mother of the Titans. She existed as nature itself, and she did not interfere lightly.

Her decision to summon Naruto had come after receiving a message—an urgent plea from her counterpart in another universe. A warning of something beyond comprehension.

Something powerful.

Something unknown.

Something that had already erased countless realities.

She had no proof. No concrete evidence. Only a whisper carried across the vast expanse of existence. But Gaea was no fool. She took the necessary precautions.

Even if the warning proved to be nothing more than fear and paranoia, it was worth preparing.

And so, she had summoned Naruto Uzumaki.

At first, it was merely a practical decision. He was a warrior, a protector, a force of unwavering will. But as she observed him, as she felt the way he harmonized with the natural energy of this world, something changed.

She had expected competence. She had expected action.

But Naruto had given more.

With his every breath, every use of Sage Mode, he cleansed the world. The corruption that clung to existence like a parasite weakened in his presence. He wasn't just surviving—he was making the world better in ways even she had not anticipated.

More than that…

She found herself caring.

Gaea, who had seen countless warriors rise and fall, who had witnessed civilizations burn and empires crumble, now watched over a single mortal with a growing sense of warmth.

She had brought him here, yet now, he felt like her child.

The screen before her shimmered with soft light, displaying Naruto curled up in sleep, his breathing steady and peaceful. A soft smile graced her lips as she traced a finger along the air, as if brushing away the worries from his dreams.

"I would love to meet you, child… and we will meet very soon. Hold on until then."

Her voice was gentle, carrying across the fabric of the world, unheard yet deeply felt.

Naruto had no idea of the true scale of what lay ahead.

But he would be ready.

He had to be.

Nightfall brought more than just the absence of light. The darkness slithered across the land, devouring everything in its path as it heralded the arrival of something far worse than mere shadows.

Lord Crucifier of the Tenth Circle had slipped through the seal.

For centuries, the Dark Lands had been his prison, bound by barriers woven by the Noblesse and the Amazon Queen—a seal meant to trap those like him, preventing their foul taint from ever touching the mortal world again.

But the seal had weakened, just enough for him to escape alone.

Bringing his brethren would have been ideal, but reckless action would only alert the forces of this realm. No, this was a task requiring patience, precision, and absolute silence.

A predator never roars before the kill.

Crucifier was no mindless beast.

He had walked the earth for over a thousand years—a refined gentleman with a timeless elegance. His mannerisms were graceful, his words laced with old-world charm, yet beneath that polished veneer lay something far more terrifying.

He was a creature of the night.

A monster wearing the skin of civility.

Armed with the Witch Boy's knowledge, Crucifier wasted no time. His reign began in Africa, where the mortals were plentiful and weak. Millions had already succumbed to his embrace, transformed into vampires that now served as his thralls.

The rest?

Food banks.

Yet, there was a problem.

The humans of this era were… disappointing. Their lifeblood was diluted, their potential wasted. They had grown complacent, relying on machines instead of their own power. They lacked the richness that once made mortals a delicacy.

But there were exceptions.

The superhumans.

They possessed power. Strength. Potential. They were worthy.

Crucifier would not rush this endeavor. To claim them, he needed to be strategic. He would surround them, isolate them—turning their families, friends, and allies into vampires until they had nowhere left to run.

Raven was the only true threat.

Her soul carried the light of Azarath, capable of sensing the taint of his kind. If she became suspicious, the entire plan could unravel.

Perhaps aiding Trigon's return could remove that obstacle.

After all, what was a little demonic resurrection between monsters?

His thoughts turned to the Dark Lands.

That accursed place. A prison of eternal hunger and endless madness.

The dark energies sustained them, but they provided no taste, no satisfaction—just a cold, empty existence that gnawed at the mind. He had watched as his fellow prisoners lost themselves to insanity, driven mad by starvation.

And for what?

Because they had preyed upon humans?

What was the crime?

Humans fed on weaker creatures without guilt. They devoured life to sustain their own. So why were they condemned for following their nature?

Even their Lord—once their greatest warrior—had abandoned them.

He had chosen humans over his own kind, leaving them to rot in the Dark Lands.

Why?

Why had he betrayed them?

Why did he let them suffer?

Crucifier wanted answers.

But before answers, he needed power.

Nothing could be achieved while he was weak.

A knock at the door.

His crimson eyes flickered toward his servants as they entered his Guangzhou mansion—a luxurious estate claimed from a former owner, now nothing more than another obedient thrall.

Two figures were dragged into the room. Bound. Immobilized. Helpless.

Bane and Killer Croc.

His lips curled into a satisfied smile. His subordinates in the United States had worked faster than expected.

Approaching them with an air of curiosity, Crucifier examined his latest prizes.

His fingers trailed over Bane's powerful form, sensing the raw vitality coursing through his veins. Strong. Killer Croc was the same—his monstrous body radiated feral energy.

They would make fine additions.

But he would need more.

"Not bad," Crucifier mused, flipping through his small notebook. His eyes gleamed as he tapped a name. "But the next must be exceptional."

His finger lingered on the page.

Black Canary.

Her voice carried the power to shatter mountains. Her will was unbreakable. She would make for an exquisite servant.

"And if possible," he added smoothly, "Batgirl or Robin. Either will do."

His subordinates bowed and vanished into the night.

As for the ones before him…

He knelt, brushing a cold hand against their restrained faces.

His lips parted.

His fangs gleamed.

"Now, let us see how useful I can make you."

And then, he sank his teeth into their necks.