Chapter 15

Ichigo sat at his desk, staring at his phone, trying to absorb the chaos unfolding in the Heroes Chat Group. He had been part of the group for a week now, and every day it seemed like more absurdities piled up. His mind was still reeling from the messages he had just seen—messages from beings that could only be described as impossibly powerful and strange.

'Am I really seeing this right? Death herself, in the same chat group as a bunch of random, but clearly powerful, beings? What kind of mess have I gotten myself into?' Ichigo thought to himself, his face betraying none of the swirling thoughts in his mind.

He knew he wasn't the only one confused. The others in the chat group were all more experienced, but it didn't make it any easier to navigate. Every conversation felt like it was spiraling into something he wasn't prepared for. It wasn't long before the familiar notifications started popping up again.

"Hello" Hybrid (Ichigo) typed cautiously, almost daring the screen to respond.

"Hello," came the reply from Neo One For All, the powerful user of the One For All quirk from My Hero Academia, a friend Ichigo had already had some back-and-forth conversations with.

"Hello" Ruin Princess (Rias Gremory) typed in, her usual playful tone even coming through text. Ichigo couldn't help but feel a little awkward knowing he was now officially part of the same chat as some of the biggest names from various universes.

Golden Fox (Yasaka) also chimed in with a simple, "Hello," followed by a waving emoji. She was friendly enough, and Ichigo had already talked with her about the group's inner workings.

"Hello" came the message from the Silent Beast, who was, in fact, just a little kid with a short temper. Ichigo had yet to figure out just who this kid was, but judging from the messages, it wasn't someone he wanted to mess with.

'Wait, is that the Monkey King's son?' Ichigo thought, remembering the bizarre messages that had appeared from the kid on occasion.

The next message had him sighing deeply. "WOW, are you death for reals? Can I fight you? Please give me a chance." This came from Monkey King, who was clearly more excited about meeting the concept of death than anything else. Ichigo groaned inwardly.

"Hello, Me too. Can I have a try? I haven't gotten a challenge yet and am bored. Death shouldn't be contained by a single universe." This one was from Glutton, another battle-hungry person who couldn't seem to get enough of confrontation.

"Hello, You looking sexy babe. Can I meet you?" Dragon King's message came in, making Ichigo feel like his face was going to explode. He immediately regretted joining this group.

"Hot Gothic chick has been captured and sent to someone's PC," Lord Emperor of Mankind replied, sounding more like a player trolling than actually engaging with the group.

Ichigo slouched in his chair, feeling like he was caught in a strange fever dream. He had always been an average student with a few martial arts skills. He didn't belong here with immortals, monsters, and beings of unimaginable power. The absurdity was making his head spin.

'What is wrong with all of them? This is getting out of hand. Two battle junkies, a cosplayer, and a pervert... Where did I even go wrong? Am I becoming one of them? Is this what I'll be like if I stay around?' Ichigo thought, rubbing his temples.

Just as he was lost in thought, a loud voice echoed from downstairs.

"Dad, Ichigo is drinking cola with his feet again!" Karin's voice echoed through the house.

Ichigo froze, his face turning red. He was caught. Again.

'Every day we stray further from immortal,' he thought with a sigh.

"Boy, what have I told you about that disgusting and unhygienic habit?" Isshin shouted from the kitchen, his voice filled with mock frustration.

"My body, my choice, Dad," Ichigo shot back, only half-laughing.

"My house, my rules, boy!" Isshin yelled from below, the typical banter between father and son.

Ichigo rolled his eyes as he dodged a flying slipper that somehow had the will to aim directly at him.

"Do that next time, and I'll shove my stethoscope up your ass," Isshin threatened, his voice dropping with mock seriousness.

Ichigo's eyes widened. "Dad! Seriously?!"

Isshin sighed dramatically, walking away. "Where did I go wrong with this boy? I swear…"

Ichigo grumbled, slumping further in his chair. 'This is why I need to get out of here,' he thought, though his gaze shifted back to his phone. He had to figure out how to navigate this bizarre new reality he was in.

Meanwhile, in the chat group, things were only getting weirder, and Ichigo couldn't help but feel a little more lost than before. 'If this is my life now... I need to get my head on straight. Time to face the strange world ahead.'

Isshin sat back down in his office, staring blankly at the desk in front of him. His mind replayed the series of events over the past few days—his son Ichigo getting tangled up in the Heroes Chat Group, his strange and confusing behavior, and the absurdity of it all. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that Ichigo had somehow been cursed by something beyond their understanding.

'Where did I go wrong with this boy?' Isshin thought, his gaze narrowing as he recalled the many strange occurrences surrounding Ichigo. From the moment he'd stepped into the world of spiritual beings, it seemed like nothing but chaos followed him.

He shook his head, a small chuckle escaping his lips despite the seriousness of the situation. 'Maybe he's just too much like me. I never was the normal one, either. Still, something about that Lord Emperor of Mankind…' Isshin's thoughts darkened.

He'd seen the power that Naruto—aka the Lord Emperor of Mankind—possessed. It was nothing to be underestimated. Isshin had been around enough powerful beings to know that some forces didn't just play nice, especially when they had an agenda. The whole situation felt like it was spiraling beyond his control, and he was worried about his son being dragged further into it.

'I'll need to be ready for when he appears,' Isshin thought, his protective instincts flaring up. He wasn't going to let anyone—no matter how powerful—harm Ichigo. Not again.

Isshin glanced toward the photo on his desk, the picture of his late wife, Masaki. A deep sigh escaped him, his heart heavy with the memory of her gentle smile. "Maybe I will be seeing you soon, Masaki. I never wanted this for Ichigo," he muttered, as if speaking to her spirit.

His hand reached out and gently touched the frame, his mind spinning with a hundred different possibilities, each more dangerous than the last. 'That boy is really cursed,' he thought ruefully, shaking his head. It wasn't just the strange occurrences or the chaotic powers around him—it was the weight of a legacy that Ichigo carried, whether he realized it or not.

Isshin let out a bitter laugh. 'Maybe we should've shown him to a voodoo doctor…' He smiled wryly, but deep down, he knew that nothing could undo the path his son was walking.

With a deep sigh, Isshin stood up from his desk and began pacing, wondering how best to prepare for the coming storm. If Ichigo's new life in the Heroes Chat Group and his involvement with beings like Lord Emperor of Mankind were any indication, they were on the brink of something far bigger than either of them could comprehend. And Isshin wasn't about to let his son walk through it alone.

"Alright, Ichigo. You're my son, and I'll do whatever it takes to protect you." Isshin's voice was firm, full of fatherly resolve. "Just don't do anything stupid."

Glutton sat comfortably in his chair, the device in front of him buzzing softly as he typed. His eyes flicked between the messages that flashed on the screen, his fingers hovering over the keys. He'd been a part of the Heroes Chat Group for a while now, but this time felt different. He had a rare opportunity to showcase his abilities, ones he had perfected through years of traveling, fighting, and hunting.

"I have some skills to offer," Glutton typed, his mind already racing with the possibilities. "They might not be many, but they should be really useful. Just as Emperor of Mankind has said, I will let anyone choose and provide them to the one that gives a good offer." His eyes narrowed slightly as he began listing his skills:

"Knocking: A skill to paralyze and immobilize a target."

"Life erase: A skill to erase your presence so that even the most sensitive being won't realize you are standing behind them."

"Instinct: A skill to stop all thoughts and fight purely based on instinct, which erases all useless movements and hesitations."

"Food Honor: Increasing speed and power through cutting down useless movements and increasing concentration. Plus, absorbing energy from the meal efficiently and utilizing it."

"Enbu: Uniting the will of all the cells in the body and producing enormous power and speed."

"Nail Gun: A fist technique using energy with strong penetrative power. This technique can evolve further, and multiple hits can be combined into one, causing more damage than individual hits."

Glutton leaned back in his chair as he finished typing. The offer was on the table, and now all he had to do was wait. He wasn't sure if anyone in the chat group would be able to use these abilities, but he was confident they would find them valuable. After all, not many could boast such an eclectic array of skills. His only hope now was that someone would take the bait.

"For now, I think this is enough, but I am unsure if anyone of you can actually use it," Glutton continued typing, his tone casual but filled with underlying anticipation. "So, Emperor of Mankind, what do you think?"

Almost immediately, a response appeared from Naruto, the one who had been the first to make an impression on him in this strange, interconnected world.

"I will require a scan and a reading of your mind. Do you want that?" Naruto's message was direct, his curiosity piqued by Glutton's offer. "I'm quite interested in your abilities, so how about a trade? And I would love it if you could lead my food warriors. We also have a group of hunters that target powerful beings and cooks that make the best food with abilities to make us grow. However, you can make it all better from what I have seen."

Glutton's lips curled into a grin at Naruto's response. He'd expected nothing less from the Emperor of Mankind. The man was shrewd and saw opportunity in everything. The mention of the food warriors and hunters piqued his interest. He had long believed that the art of food was just as powerful as fighting, and the idea of being able to enhance his strength through the consumption of meals was something he could definitely get behind.

"I am happy about that, but I want access to other universes," Glutton quickly typed, the desire for more knowledge and power clear in his words.

Naruto's response was swift. "Are you sure? You will have to submit to my will. And, you do realize that there is a vast universe to explore in your own world." Naruto stopped there and didn't mention the threat of the Otsutsuki yet, as he wanted to slowly get them ready for that role.

"I don't mind following your rules unless they conflict with my goals," he typed confidently.

"Then the deal is done. I will see to it when I can send you to help the kids," Naruto replied, sealing the deal.

Glutton's mind buzzed with excitement. A deal had been struck, and a new chapter was about to unfold. But something unexpected happened as the final words were exchanged. Glutton felt a sudden presence in his mind, a feeling unlike anything he had ever encountered before. It was subtle at first, almost imperceptible, but it grew stronger by the second. He recognized it immediately—the presence of something otherworldly, yet disturbingly familiar.

"Emperor of Mankind, be careful," Glutton quickly warned, a rare concern crossing his expression as he sensed something stirring within his soul space. His warning came too late, however. Naruto strode through the mental barrier with ease, unfazed by the demons that lurked there.

The White Demon, the creature that had long shared Glutton's mind, let out a deep, rumbling voice. 'The man is interesting, boy; increase your strength so we may fight him.'

Glutton's brow furrowed in irritation. 'What's so special about him?'

The demon's voice was thick with curiosity and hunger. 'A very delicious meal. He is still some ways from being cooked well, so don't waste time.'

Glutton scowled. 'I am not going to eat a friend. Go back to sleep.'

For the first time, the White Demon seemed to withdraw, content with its new curiosity. Glutton could feel the strange sensation dissipate as Naruto's presence lingered in his mind, a reminder of the deal that had just been struck.

"Interesting..." Glutton muttered to himself as he leaned back in his chair, eyes focused on the screen. "This might just be the start of something big."

Naruto sat back, his eyes narrowing as he processed everything he had just learned. The chat group had been an invaluable source of knowledge, with each member offering something unique to the table. As he reviewed the interactions, a particular thought lingered in his mind—something he hadn't considered before.

Toriko's body, his exceptional physical prowess, had sparked an idea that had been growing in Naruto's mind ever since the first time he had seen the man's strength. Toriko's world was one of extremes—wildly different from the one Naruto inhabited. But one thing stood out in particular: Toriko's body could develop an appetite demon, a unique entity that lived within the cells, driving the fighter to grow stronger through an insatiable hunger. It wasn't just about eating to nourish the body, it was about eating to fuel the soul. The appetite demon consumed the essence of the food consumed, allowing Toriko to tap into an even greater level of power.

Naruto couldn't help but think back to the Akimichi clan—their mastery of food and its power had been ingrained in the very fabric of his empire. The Akimichi's special techniques had become the backbone of the military forces, with food serving as a source of energy, strength, and, at times, enhancement for the warriors. They had learned how to harness the full potential of the energy that came from their food, drawing power from every meal they consumed. It had become a norm within the Empire, a practice that gave them an advantage over many enemies.

But what if Naruto could take it a step further? What if he could replicate the appetite demon and incorporate it into his own people's diets? He could merge the Akimichi's methods with this newfound concept, allowing them to tap into something greater than they ever had before. What if this appetite demon could evolve, just like Toriko's, and enhance the fighters beyond their natural limits?

For the first time, Naruto realized the gap between his world and Toriko's wasn't so vast. The technology and techniques might be different, but the core principles—food as a source of power—were universal. And now, with his mind racing, he began to connect the dots. This was the missing link.