Chapter 73

The past year had been a turning point for the world, reshaping civilization in ways never imagined before.

What had once been a chaotic, fragmented world full of nations at odds with each other had now become unified under a single system—Pangaea.

It wasn't a government but a global administration that optimized resources, eradicated poverty, and ensured the advancement of civilization.

Of course, it wasn't perfect. Corruption didn't disappear overnight, and those who held power still found ways to abuse it, but the sheer efficiency of the new system ensured that things improved overall.

For the first time in history, humans were not just surviving but thriving.

With the technological boom, the heroes of old had either retired or evolved into something greater.

Batman, now fully embracing his vampire nature, had left Gotham in the hands of Nightwing, turning his focus towards overseeing the Hero Organization. He had finally become what people feared—a legend in the dark, an entity beyond mortality.

Shiva and Ra's Al Ghul had reshaped law enforcement, creating a system so ruthless that crime had no choice but to die. Villains that had terrorized the world for years were eradicated without hesitation, and those who resisted the system met a swift and brutal end.

But not all heroes agreed with these methods.

Many had stepped away, choosing normal lives over endless battles. Yet, those who still wished to fight were given an option—Batman had created a Superhuman Serum, enhancing the physical capabilities of those willing to protect the world.

The Hero Organization and Pangaea stood in balance—watching each other carefully, never fully trusting but never daring to make a move.

With advanced technology and magic, humanity had solved countless problems—food shortages, incurable diseases, and pollution had become things of the past. Life expectancy soared, and the quality of life had never been higher.

However, progress always had a price.

Automation and new technology eliminated millions of jobs, leaving many people lost in this new world. The surge in technological advancements also meant that criminals could now acquire dangerous weapons, leading to new types of crime that the world wasn't yet ready for.

But despite these issues, hope flourished. For the first time, the people truly felt that the world cared about them.

Meanwhile, the vampires had found a new home—the Moon.

Two great underground cities were constructed beneath the lunar surface, complete with artificial suns, forests, lakes, and mountains. Though their society wasn't as advanced as the human world, they finally had a stable and safe existence.

There was no need to hunt anymore. Their thirst was controlled.

Yet, many vampires found themselves restless.

They had spent centuries existing in the shadows, living only to feed and hide. Now, with no more struggles, they found themselves searching for purpose.

Some desired to return to Earth, while others sought to reshape their culture. The vampire scientist Crucifier had been working on new innovations to make their lives more fulfilling—helping them transition into a civilization with meaning, rather than one doomed to eternal boredom.

Beyond the grand changes, personal lives flourished.

Clark Kent had finally married Lois Lane, and with the help of Naruto and Veritas, Lois had gained superpowers and become pregnant—something that had once been impossible for them.

Connor Kent and M'gann (Miss Martian) had also tied the knot, while Beast Boy and Terra finally found happiness together.

Wally West, now known as Yellow Flash, had returned to hero work after realizing that his future children wouldn't be safe if he turned his back on the fight. He had married Artemis, and their bond had only grown stronger.

As for Naruto, his relationships had reached new heights.

He spent time with his lovers individually and together, strengthening their bonds through countless adventures, dates, and intimate moments.

They soon discovered another of his hidden talents—sex.

Naruto had held back his desires for so long that when he finally unleashed them, his lovers were overwhelmed. It was only thanks to magic that they avoided being impregnated instantly.

With his chakra and empathy, Naruto had created a connection beyond just the physical—a bond of body, emotions, and soul.

It was an experience unlike anything else, one that never lost its intensity—and one that his lovers had quickly become addicted to.

But it wasn't just about pleasure—it was about connection, understanding, and love on a level that few could comprehend.

One year ago, the world was teetering on the edge.

Now, it stood stronger than ever before.

Yes, there were problems—there always would be. But for the first time in history, the future seemed brighter than ever.

A united Earth.

A thriving civilization.

A new world of possibilities.

And at the center of it all, Naruto stood watching over it, knowing that even greater challenges were yet to come.

Gotham Biotech stood as a pinnacle of scientific advancement, its towering structures gleaming under the city lights. It had become a crucial part of the new world order, responsible for groundbreaking research in medicine, bioengineering, and magical enhancement. Yet, on this night, it became a battlefield.

Aresia and her group of villains moved through the facility like phantoms, their magical garments shielding them from surveillance. The city's advanced security system had made their usual tactics obsolete. The days of slipping through the cracks had vanished, replaced by an omnipresent eye watching every move. But Aresia had planned for this. She knew the game had changed, and if she wanted to strike back against the heroes' tyranny, she had to be smarter.

With a decisive strike, they broke into the high-security vault, alarms blaring as thick steel doors crumbled under Solomon Grundy's immense strength. Inside lay their prize—a rare flower, the final ingredient for a magical virus that could reshape the world. As Aresia reached for it, a voice rang through the chamber.

"I hope you put that little child down peacefully before I get angry."

Poison Ivy stood at the entrance, her emerald-green eyes glowing with fury. She had become one of the most influential heroes of this era, her connection to Gaia growing stronger by the day. She had been with Nightwing when the alarm went off, and while he had stayed behind to coordinate reinforcements, she had arrived first. The air thickened as she released a paralyzing toxin into the room, her mere presence causing the surrounding flora to tremble with anticipation.

The villains tensed, readying themselves for battle. Before anyone could make a move, however, two new figures arrived.

Naruto and Kara.

They materialized in a golden flash, their disheveled appearances and the unmistakable scent in the air making it clear what they had been up to. Naruto ran a hand through his messy hair, grinning sheepishly. Kara, floating beside him, adjusted her cape, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Poison Ivy massaged her temples. "Can you guys stop acting like hormonal teenagers? It's quite annoying to look at."

Naruto chuckled, throwing an arm around Kara's shoulders. "We are hormonal teenagers, Pam."

Pamela rolled her eyes, trying to suppress the envy bubbling within her. It was hard enough dealing with the current mess, and now she had to deal with these two exuding raw satisfaction like overfed beasts while she was practically starving.

Aresia, meanwhile, trembled with fury. The mere scent of Naruto and Kara, the lingering evidence of their union, sent her into a blind rage. How dare they flaunt such disgusting behavior? How dare they defile themselves with such impure acts?

"KILL THEM!" she roared, her sword flashing as she lunged forward.

Naruto blinked. "Eh, what did I do?"

The battle erupted.

The darkness surged forward like a living tide, its tendrils reaching out to consume them. Shade, shrouded in his abyssal power, sought to drown them in his void.

But Naruto was faster.

Tapping into the energy of nature itself, he summoned radiant light, his golden aura flaring to life. It clashed against the shadows, burning them away in a brilliant explosion. Shade's attack dissipated, swallowed by the overwhelming force of pure energy.

Before Shade could react, a chakra hand erupted from the ground beneath him, striking with the force of a divine hammer. His body crumpled upon impact, darkness retreating as unconsciousness claimed him.

At the same time, Naruto's clones engaged Solomon Grundy and Star Sapphire. The undead behemoth swung his massive fists, each strike capable of leveling buildings, while the violet-clad warrior unleashed devastating energy blasts. But the clones weaved around their attacks, diverting their attention as the real Naruto moved to strike.

Meanwhile, Kara and Pamela intercepted Aresia and Cheetah.

The past year had been a period of immense growth for both women. Pamela, now a true avatar of Gaia, commanded the battlefield with ease. Vines and roots burst from the ground, lashing out like whips, entangling Aresia's path and forcing her to constantly cut them down.

Cheetah, however, was too fast. Her feline agility allowed her to weave through Pamela's attacks, her claws gleaming with deadly intent as she lunged at Kara's throat.

Kara's eyes narrowed.

She twisted her body at the last second, dodging the lethal strike, and countered with a brutal knee to Cheetah's chin. The impact sent a shockwave through the battlefield, momentarily stunning the beast-woman. But Cheetah recovered midair, pushing off the ground with enough force to shake the entire facility, even with Naruto's reinforcement.

With blinding speed, Cheetah aimed for Kara's abdomen, claws ready to tear through flesh.

Kara didn't hesitate.

She met the attack head-on, delivering two precise punches to Cheetah's legs. Bones shattered instantly, and before the feral villain could react, a pink energy beam struck her from behind, sending her crashing into the reinforced walls.

"Sorry, she turned out to be really strong," Naruto muttered, landing beside Kara.

Shade and Tsukiri had been taken down, but Star Sapphire and Grundy remained a problem. In this environment, their power was too difficult to contain.

'I'm taking them to the desert,' Naruto informed the others telepathically.

With a simple touch, his clones activated the teleportation seals, and in an instant, they all vanished—heroes and villains alike—leaving Gotham Biotech behind.

The endless dunes stretched before them, a sea of golden sand beneath the blazing sun. Here, they could fight without restraint.

The moment they arrived, Kara wasted no time, launching herself at Star Sapphire. A sonic boom echoed as she delivered a devastating punch, sending the violet warrior hurtling across the desert.

Pamela and Naruto, now freed from environmental constraints, unleashed their combined might. Vines laced with pure chakra erupted from the ground, forming an unbreakable cage around Solomon Grundy and the others. The undead brute roared in fury, thrashing wildly, but the bindings held.

Only Aresia remained untouched.

She stood amidst the chaos, her divine weapons gleaming under the sun. Her skill with the sword was undeniable—every vine, every root that dared to approach her was cut down in an instant.

Naruto narrowed his eyes. He could tell from her movements that she wasn't just fast—her power was on an entirely different level. That sword… it could cut him.

He was about to join Kara in battle, hoping to make up for her lack of martial skill, when suddenly—

The shadows consumed them.

A dark pulse rippled across the battlefield as Shade, barely conscious, activated an artifact in Aresia's hand. The entire area was swallowed in darkness.

Naruto felt his footing disappear as they were pulled into the void.

"Damn it… should've brought Raven. Or Zatanna. Or Shazam," he muttered as the villains vanished into the shadows, escaping their grasp.

All except one.

Tsukiri remained, her unconscious form bound by Naruto's chakra. Unlike the others, she was human, which meant she could be imprisoned immediately.

But the rest…

They had slipped through their fingers.

For now.

"We'll get them next time, so nothing to worry about."

Kara's voice was light, her touch even lighter as she kissed Naruto on the cheek, making him smile.

"I'm just stating the obvious," Naruto replied, squeezing her hand before looking at Pamela. His expression grew serious. "We might be slipping into a complacent mindset because everything has been too easy for us lately."

Pamela nodded, acknowledging the concern, but she knew Naruto was too careful to let things spiral out of control.

"They took a plant with a poisonous effect on males," Pamela revealed. "It only kills men, while women find it beautiful and fragrant."

Kara raised an eyebrow. "And you kept that inside your vault?"

Naruto sighed. "I couldn't kill the child, so I put it in a safe place." His tone was slightly exasperated. "I have no idea how anyone even found out about it."

"That blonde woman—Aresia—was an Amazon," Kara pointed out as she fiddled with Naruto's fingers, leaning against him with a soft hum. "They probably know about these kinds of plants. You know, with their culture."

Naruto nodded, knowing she had a point. The Amazons had vast knowledge of mystical and deadly flora, and it was likely Aresia had been aware of the plant's existence long before this mission.

"I'll go talk to Hippolyta about it." Naruto decided. He was one of the few men permitted on Themyscira, recognized for his skill and wisdom. He often visited for sparring matches, and in return, the Amazons learned from him.

This was another reason Aresia despised him. She had never met him in person, but his name was well-known on the island. The Chosen One of Gaia, they called him.

Aresia didn't care. Not unless Gaia herself descended upon this wretched world.

"Should I come along?" Kara asked, her voice teasing but hopeful.

Naruto chuckled. "Hmm… tempting offer. But no. We might end up making them angry."

Kara pouted, her adorable expression nearly breaking his resolve. He resisted the urge to kiss her right there, but it was getting harder. Their bond had deepened over time, and their emotions—along with their desires—fed into each other. It was almost intoxicating.

"Fine," Kara relented, but not before kissing his jaw and pressing against him. His arms instinctively wrapped around her, their bodies naturally drawn together.

They had been in the middle of a date when the call had come, and the excitement from before was still thrumming in their veins. Their love-making was anything but ordinary—it often sent them into a total, lust-induced daze.

The fact that they weren't all over each other already was proof of their discipline.

Pamela, however, could see the tension rising between them, their bodies reacting far too much.

"Oh, get out of here already," Pamela groaned. A vine shot from the ground, wrapping around Naruto's leg and yeeting him into the sky before things got too heated.

Pam wasn't taking any chances.

It wouldn't be the first time the two had lost control in the middle of a mission. In fact, there was one time they had arrived late to a battle because they'd been… occupied.

This honeymoon phase didn't seem to be ending anytime soon.

Naruto and Kara radiated happiness and fulfillment, and the world itself was changing for the better because of it. Crime had dwindled significantly, and Naruto's focus had shifted towards educating people, instilling good values, and leading by example.

He didn't just tell people how to be better.

He showed them.

It was a slow process, but with the world at peace, it was finally possible.

Before disappearing, Naruto laughed. "Hey, hey! I still haven't gotten my kiss yet!" He teleported just before another of Pam's roots could snare him.

Pamela crossed her arms with a huff. "I can never understand you guys. Do you not get tired of this?"

Kara smirked, tilting her head. "Hey, no need to project your frustrations on us. Why don't you try being nicer and stop trying to control him?"

Pamela shot her a glare. She knew exactly what Kara was referring to.

It was about him.

Batman.

How that had started, Pamela wasn't even sure anymore. At first, it had been a game—just another one of her manipulations. But somehow, Bruce had managed to slip through her grasp, and she had not taken it well.

She had tried to seduce him, tried to trap him. And Batman, being Batman, had slept with her once—then bounced, never showing any signs of wanting a relationship.

His rejection had hit her harder than she liked to admit.

"There's no way I can trust someone who uses seduction as their main tool," he had told her. "How can I know you won't cheat on me the moment I put my trust in you? Can you put your life on the line for this relationship?"

Pamela had not reacted well.

Her bad habits didn't just disappear overnight. Rejection had never been something she handled with grace. In the moment, she had lashed out—trapping Batman in her vines, trying to force him to surrender.

It had only made things worse.

"Do you think I haven't tried?" Pamela muttered, shaking her head. "This is her fault."

She didn't say the name, but Kara knew who she meant.

Selina Kyle.

The one woman Batman had always allowed back into his life, no matter what she did.

Kara shrugged. "Just take it slow. And if you're really serious, take the oath that he wants. I don't think he'll ever trust someone completely unless you're willing to take the soul pact and promise never to betray him."

Pamela was silent for a long moment.

"I'll think about it," she finally said.

It wasn't an easy decision. A soul pact wasn't just words—it was a magical binding that would tie her down for life. If her feelings ever changed, if she ever wanted to leave… she wouldn't be able to.

Unlike Naruto and his girls, who were drowning in emotions and love, Pamela and Batman were normal.

There was no magic here. No soul bonds. No unshakable certainty.

Just… a complicated mess.

Kara stretched and took off into the sky. "Well, take care. I'll leave the report to you." She waved as she vanished, leaving Pamela alone with her thoughts.