Chapter 18

Izuku Midoriya sat on the edge of his bed, his fingers scrolling over the chat logs once more. His emerald eyes sparkled with excitement and nervous energy. The Heroes Chat Group had brought him into a world far beyond his imagination, introducing him to people whose power eclipsed anything he had ever seen. It was surreal—having conversations with beings who could crush stars, yet here they were, joking and offering advice like they were old friends.

These past few weeks had been the best of his life. He was training harder than ever, meeting extraordinary people, and for the first time, truly feeling like he belonged. His mother, Inko Midoriya, had even noticed the change. She had stopped worrying so much, started smiling more, and, to his surprise, had even begun losing weight.

"Mom was probably always so stressed because of me…" Izuku thought, feeling a small pang of guilt before shaking it off. He wasn't about to waste this opportunity. He had to keep pushing forward.

He stared at the picture Wang Lin had posted—a massive, clawed beast sprawled lifeless on the ground, its thick hide riddled with arrows. The sheer size of the creature was overwhelming.

"That thing is huge…" Izuku thought, his analytical mind kicking into overdrive. "I could probably kill it with a single blow if I went all out, but… if it landed even one hit on me, I'd be dead."

Wang Lin had taken it down with patience—using long-range attacks and poison to weaken it before finishing it off. It wasn't about brute force; it was about strategy. Izuku re-read the comments from the others, absorbing their insights.

"I should prepare more than just relying on my strength. Paralysis poison, itching powder, sleeping agents—if I have the right tools, I can neutralize threats without unnecessary risks. I don't need to enjoy the fight; I need to win and protect people."

The realization made him smile. This group was helping him think beyond just using One For All. It wasn't just about brute force—it was about efficiency, tactics, and using every advantage possible.

"Maybe even without One For All, I could have found a way to be a hero… with their help."

Izuku closed his eyes, trying to picture himself fighting without his Quirk. It was difficult to imagine, but if the others in the chat could do it—if Wang Lin, Toriko, and even Naruto had trained from nothing and become legends—then maybe he could do it too.

Requesting New Skills

His fingers hovered over the keyboard before he finally typed:

"I would like to learn Life Erase and Food Honor."

A response came almost immediately.

Glutton (Toriko): "Explain your situation."

Izuku straightened, readying himself. He had thought about this a lot, and he wanted to be clear.

Neo One For All (Izuku): "My world has people with powers. Some are weak and live normal lives, but others use their powers for evil. To fight them, we have heroes, and I attend a school to learn how to be one. But I also need a license before I can legally fight villains."

Lord Emperor of Mankind (Naruto): "Sounds like the Ninja Academy. So do you have targets to capture or eliminate?"

Izuku hesitated before responding.

Neo One For All (Izuku): "There's a wanted list, but unlicensed heroes aren't allowed to track them down. I can only act if they're in my immediate area."

Lord Emperor of Mankind (Naruto): "I can understand why they would do that. So what can you offer us?"

Izuku blinked. Offer? He hadn't considered that. These people were legends. What could he possibly give them in return?

After thinking for a moment, he finally typed:

Neo One For All (Izuku): "I can do any ridiculous task you ask of me. I could fight my teacher or challenge the top students at my school."

Toriko responded almost immediately.

Glutton (Toriko): "Haha! A nice kid, aren't you? Then go beat an arrogant asshole."

Izuku felt a bead of sweat roll down his forehead. Wait… that's it?

Then, Naruto's message came through.

Lord Emperor of Mankind (Naruto): "Be careful and avoid getting injured. Most of those kids are already highly trained; they probably have a reason to be arrogant. But if you win, I will provide you with wall-walking shoes and a visor to enhance your vision."

Izuku's jaw dropped.

Wall-walking shoes? A visor that enhanced vision?

He could already imagine it—running across walls with ease, reacting to attacks in slow motion.

He hesitated before typing.

Neo One For All (Izuku): "Lord Emperor of Mankind, are you sure?"

The response was instant.

Lord Emperor of Mankind (Naruto): "Of course. These are just little toys. Win this fight and take your first step toward becoming the strongest."

Izuku clenched his fists in excitement. This was it—his first real test from the group.

Then, Toriko chimed in with a dramatic complaint.

Glutton (Toriko): "Hey! What about my techniques? Where's the awe and praise?"

Izuku's fingers flew over the keyboard.

Neo One For All (Izuku): "Sorry! I'm definitely looking forward to learning them. They're amazing!" 👍

Glutton (Toriko): "Are you patronizing me?"

Izuku flinched. "No! I mean it!" He muttered, feeling guilty.

Then, Toriko's next message made him exhale in relief.

Glutton (Toriko): "Haha! You're too kind. I was just messing with you. I don't think anyone here is that sensitive. Right, Emperor of Mankind?"

Naruto's response was simple.

Lord Emperor of Mankind (Naruto): "Everyone here has strong will, so say whatever you want." 🙂

Izuku narrowed his eyes slightly. Wait… is he goading people into making mistakes?

It was hard to tell with Naruto, but Izuku had the feeling that everything he said had a deeper meaning.

Taking a deep breath, he cracked his knuckles and turned toward the UA training ground.

"Alright… if I need to fight someone, then I'll pick the strongest. No half-measures."

His mind started racing, sorting through possible opponents. Bakugo? Too personal. Shoto? A tough challenge but possible. Mirio? Maybe too much.

Whoever it was, he had to win.

This was his first real challenge given to him by the legends in the chat group.

And he wasn't about to let them down.

Naruto stood at the edge of reality, his clone's golden eyes peering into the vastness of a realm beyond the boundaries of existence. Here, concepts were born, the fabric of laws interwoven with thought, and the will of the strongest reigned supreme. The very air was heavy with an authority beyond anything Naruto had ever encountered, but he simply smiled.

Before him loomed All Heaven, the overseer of Wang Lin's world, a being whose presence was so absolute that it had no form, existing as a fundamental force woven into the universe itself. It was an entity of absolute control, a being that determined the fate of countless civilizations across its domain.

Yet, despite all this, Naruto stood without fear.

A voice, vast and commanding, rumbled through existence itself.

"I did not allow you to enter."

Naruto's clone stepped forward, brushing off the overwhelming pressure as though it were nothing more than a light breeze. His expression was relaxed, his tone casual.

"But how can I talk to you if I'm not allowed in?" he mused with an amused smile.

All Heaven regarded him in silence for a moment, as if weighing something beyond comprehension. Then, in a voice that held the weight of stars, it spoke again.

"I will let you talk. Now answer me—why have you entered my territory?"

Naruto tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharp, piercing. He had come seeking answers, but he had already realized something before he even asked his first question.

"I'm actually wondering… why did you allow me?" Naruto countered, his words lighthearted yet laced with an underlying seriousness.

All Heaven remained silent.

Naruto's smile deepened. The silence itself was an answer.

'I was right. The King is something far above me… But if that's true, why has he tolerated my existence?'

The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place. All Heaven, the absolute authority of this realm, had every reason to remove him. Yet, he hadn't.

"Would you tolerate the existence of a being that can rival you in the future?" Naruto asked, his voice casual, as if he were merely discussing the weather.

The very space around him shook as All Heaven's presence flared.

"Leave or be removed."

Naruto chuckled. He wasn't the least bit intimidated.

"I actually don't hate you," he said with an amused grin. "In fact, I'd like it if we could get to know each other."

All Heaven remained still, unmoving, but Naruto could feel its focus sharpening. He was being watched with an intensity beyond mortal comprehension.

Then, Naruto raised a hand, his grin widening.

"Let's play a game."

For the first time, there was something like… curiosity from All Heaven.

"A game?"

"Yeah," Naruto nodded. "If you win, you can absorb me. But if I win, then you'll listen to what I have to say."

A moment of silence. Then, after what felt like an eternity, the overseer spoke again.

"I am listening. What game would you like to play?"

Naruto leaned forward slightly, his expression filled with an almost childlike excitement.

"I will train a child, and you will train one as well—someone with an average body but a strong mind. After five thousand years, they will fight."

For the first time in its existence, All Heaven hesitated.

"You would wager your life on such a game?"

Naruto laughed. It was a deep, genuine sound, full of mirth and excitement.

"Because it's fun," he admitted. "And it's a challenge."

But there was more to it than that. Naruto didn't just want a competition. He wanted a rival. Someone who would engage him, challenge him, and force him to grow.

'And we get to talk and plan against each other like some good rivals,' he thought.

All Heaven was silent for a long time. Then, finally, it spoke.

"I accept."

Naruto smirked. "Good choice."

But then, the overseer's voice grew sharp once more.

"How can I trust your words?"

Naruto shrugged, his tone lighthearted yet unyielding.

"What can you do? It's not like you can stop me. And if I wanted to defeat you, it's just a matter of time." His grin sharpened, turning just a fraction more serious. "Plus, we have similar enemies. Aren't you worried about the Otsutsuki watching over you?"

The moment he mentioned the Otsutsuki, the realm shuddered.

Naruto chuckled.

'Gotcha.'

All Heaven did not speak immediately, but Naruto could sense the shift. The absolute certainty of the being's demeanor wavered, just slightly.

"Okay, I accept."

Naruto's grin widened.

He had expected resistance. He had expected posturing. But instead… All Heaven had agreed.

It wasn't just about the game. It wasn't just about the challenge. This was an acknowledgment.

All Heaven had recognized Naruto as an equal—no, as a threat.

But even more than that…

It was curious.

It was intrigued.

It wanted to see what Naruto would become.

As the details of their agreement began to take shape, Naruto leaned back, crossing his arms.

"I agree, so let's play."

And just like that, a new chapter in the battle for supremacy had begun.