Chapter 5: Of Seeds and Stars
In which ancient threats are shared, and hope arrives in the form of genius.
The sky above was painted in shades of fire and dusk, the clouds streaking past them as Naruto flew, golden chakra trailing behind like the tail of a comet. Peter clung firmly to the platform Naruto had formed beneath his feet, while Susan floated easily alongside, encased in an invisible sphere of her own forcefield.
It was a strange, quiet moment in their journey—strangers from different universes gliding across the sky like old friends, bound together by uncertainty and the looming specter of something greater.
Susan broke the silence first.
"What kind of problems does your world face, Naruto?" she asked, her tone light but curious. "I've seen a lot in my universe. Sometimes I wonder if other worlds suffer the same… or worse."
Naruto didn't respond immediately. His eyes scanned the horizon, but it wasn't the sky he was seeing. It was the battlefield. The war. Sasuke.
He sighed.
"There's peace now," he said at last. "At least on the surface. No more wars between nations. No hidden plots between villages. We just finished a war two days ago—one that almost tore the world apart."
Susan and Peter exchanged a glance, both now understanding the weariness that lingered in Naruto's voice and eyes.
"But," Naruto continued, "there's something else. A bigger threat. Something… not from this world."
Susan's interest sharpened. "Aliens?"
Naruto gave a firm nod. "The Ōtsutsuki."
Even the name carried weight, like an ancient echo passed down through centuries.
"They are… parasites," Naruto said slowly, carefully picking his words. "Beings from another realm, or dimension, or maybe even another timeline. I don't know. But they travel from world to world, planting a divine tree in the soil, feeding it with chakra—life energy. When it's ready, it bears fruit. And that fruit… gives them more power. But it leaves the world behind as a husk. Dead."
Susan listened intently, her brows furrowing. "They sound… disturbingly familiar."
She hovered a little closer, her voice thoughtful now. "In my world, we have the Celestials. Beings born inside planets. When they hatch, the planet dies. They are part of a cosmic balance—like ticking bombs scattered across galaxies. And there's Galactus. He devours worlds not for destruction, but to survive. He's not evil… just unstoppable."
Naruto's eyes flicked to her, curious. "You've dealt with that?"
She smiled faintly. "We've… survived it. Barely."
Then she nodded slowly. "But if the Beyonder really brought us here, and he's more powerful than the Ōtsutsuki, then he must believe we have what it takes to help you. Otherwise, why bring us?"
Naruto considered this. "Maybe. Or maybe he just wants to see what happens when we fail."
"No," Susan said firmly. "If he wanted failure, he'd have sent us to die. This is an experiment. That means he wants results."
Peter leaned over the edge of the platform. "I don't know about all this interdimensional gardening stuff, but if these guys are as bad as you say, then it's lucky Sue's here."
Susan gave him a glance. "Why?"
"Because," Peter said, grinning, "you've got Reed."
Susan's face softened at the name. "Yes. Reed…"
Her voice brightened, even with the ache of separation still visible.
"He's the smartest man I've ever met. No, scratch that—the smartest being. Reed Richards doesn't just build machines—he redefines the laws of the universe when they inconvenience him. If anyone can find a way to stop a race of planet-eating gods, it's him."
Naruto didn't smile, but his gaze drifted toward the horizon, thoughtful.
"Then I hope he's everything you believe he is," he said. "Because there aren't just a few Ōtsutsuki. There are thousands. Entire bloodlines of them—each one more monstrous than the last."
Susan blinked, startled. "Thousands?"
He nodded. "This world barely survived three. And the next ones won't wait long."
Peter let out a low whistle. "And here I thought Thanos was a handful."
Susan, however, didn't flinch. She folded her arms, her gaze steady. "Then we'd better find Reed. Because the universe just threw us into a fight for survival… and Reed Richards lives for the impossible."
Naruto glanced at her again. For a brief moment, he saw what the Beyonder might've seen: not just heroes, but pieces on a board. Wild cards. Hope made flesh.
He didn't know Reed. But if there was even a sliver of truth in Susan's faith, then perhaps—for once—they weren't alone in the fight to come.
And that, for the first time since the war ended, gave Naruto something more powerful than caution.
A spark of hope.
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The jungle was a living thing. Deep in the southern reaches of the Land of Fire, tangled vines and towering trees created a cathedral of green where light fought to break through the canopy. The air was thick with damp earth and distant animal calls, and somewhere within that untouched wilderness, a fire flickered low and steady.
There, seated like a beast at rest, was Logan.
He crouched near the flames, his weathered face half-lit by firelight, eyes alert even as his hands moved lazily to turn the skinned carcass of a wild boar. His shirt was discarded, revealing a scarred, powerful frame marked by battle and time. The scent of smoke clung to him, mingling with the iron tang of blood and the rich perfume of the wild.
When Naruto, Susan, and Peter emerged into the clearing, the tension was immediate. The wild recognized the unnatural.
Naruto's feet touched down first, his cloak whispering behind him as golden chakra simmered around his body. His eyes met Logan's, and for a moment, neither spoke.
Logan didn't rise. He simply looked up from beneath thick brows, one clawed hand resting on his knee. He sniffed the air.
"You're the one with the golden glow," he growled. "Been watching you buzz around from a distance."
Naruto said nothing, though his eyes narrowed slightly. He'd sensed a tremendous life force from this one—stronger even than Susan's or Peter's—and had expected someone monstrous like Hulk. But this man didn't feel like a god or a weapon. His chakra was steady, primal. A beast in human skin.
And yet…
"You're strong," Naruto finally said, not as praise but as observation. "But not like the others. Not… explosive."
Logan's eyes hardened.
"I've had people look at me like that before," he muttered. "Men who thought power was loud. Thought because I don't light up like a Christmas tree, I must be the runt of the litter."
He stood slowly, and even though his movements were calm, they carried a predator's grace. A flicker of metal snapped into view—adamantium claws glinting in the firelight.
"They all ended up the same way," Logan said, voice low. "Impaled."
Susan's eyes widened, and Peter stepped in fast, his hands raised.
"Hey, hey, let's not do this!" he said quickly. "No one's trying to start a fight. Naruto didn't mean anything by it."
Naruto dipped his head in apology. "I wasn't mocking you. I was… studying. I've never seen power that doesn't show itself in the body's energy. You don't have chakra, but your life force is… impressive."
Logan didn't sheath his claws just yet. "Life force or not, I'm no science project."
Naruto nodded, still calm. "I understand. It won't happen again."
A moment passed. Then, with a slight metallic sound, the claws withdrew. Logan exhaled, tension draining from his shoulders.
"No harm done," he muttered. "Just—word of advice. You're gonna meet people from our world that look weak. Don't bet your life on that."
Peter gave a short laugh. "Yeah, like Professor X. Looks like he needs a blanket and a warm cup of tea, but he could shut this planet down with a thought."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Shut down… the planet?"
Susan nodded. "He's a telepath. One of the strongest. He's peaceful, but if he wanted, he could control minds across entire continents."
Logan snorted. "And I'm the guy who deals with the fallout when that peace breaks."
Naruto was quiet for a moment, considering that. These people—they had strength that wasn't bound by physical laws. Their powers came from places Naruto couldn't yet define. And that made them… unpredictable.
Peter broke the silence again, trying to lighten the mood.
"Logan here has an indestructible skeleton," he said. "It's made of the strongest metal in our world—adamantium. He can survive pretty much anything. Also…" he added with a grin, "he's got a healing factor that makes you jealous."
Naruto looked at Logan again, this time with quiet respect. "That explains the life force."
Logan shrugged and turned back to his fire. "I heal fast, yeah. But it doesn't mean I don't feel it. Pain still hurts. Time still weighs."
Susan knelt by the fire across from him, her tone gentle. "We're trying to gather everyone the Beyonder brought here. Do you know anything? Did he tell you anything?"
Logan grunted. "Not a word. Just woke up here, middle of the jungle, no instructions. Figured if I stayed still long enough, someone would find me. Guess I was right."
Peter sat cross-legged on the grass. "Do you want to come with us? We're trying to figure out what this game is. We've already met Hulk, and Magneto."
At that, Logan finally looked up with interest. "Magneto's here?"
Susan's lips thinned. "He said he'd go his own way."
Logan's eyes narrowed, and for the first time, a growl built in his throat. "We'll have to keep an eye on that one. He doesn't do well with open fields and moral ambiguity."
Naruto nodded slowly. "I've left a clone to watch him."
Logan chuckled, finally amused. "Smart kid."
The fire crackled between them, casting long shadows across their faces. For a brief moment, despite the looming questions, despite the alien terrain and uncertainty, it felt… grounded.
Naruto stood. "We should move soon. The last signal is far to the west. In the mountains."
Logan threw the last scrap of boar meat into his mouth and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Lead the way."
And just like that, the jungle released them, and the wind rose to carry their strange alliance forward.
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The midday sun blazed overhead as Naruto and Peter flew westward, the wind rushing past like the voices of restless spirits. The air shimmered above the dunes below, golden and desolate, stretching on into infinity. The heat clung to them, but neither of the two spoke until the silence had lingered long enough to feel sacred.
Naruto had wrapped Peter once more in his chakra, forming a warm, glowing platform under his feet that glided soundlessly through the sky beside him. Peter, arms crossed and mind racing, finally broke the silence.
"You're… feeling better now, aren't you?" he asked, tilting his head toward the golden figure beside him.
Naruto didn't look over, but his reply came with a calmness that hadn't been there before. "A little. Before, my mind was filled with ways to survive… but now, I'm seeing possibilities."
Peter arched an eyebrow. "Possibilities?"
Naruto nodded, his tone thoughtful. "The people who came here… you're all different. Logan's skeleton—indestructible. That metal could increase our defensive capabilities. Susan's invisibility and barriers—her techniques could be studied, recreated. Your own world's technology… the things you build with metal and light could be of use in protecting this world."
Peter blinked. "You're thinking like a general."
"I am a protector," Naruto said softly. "After what happened… I can't afford to be just a dreamer anymore."
There was a pause before Naruto's gaze flicked to Peter's black suit. "And then there's… that."
Peter looked down. "What? My suit?"
Naruto's eyes sharpened. "It's alive."
"What?!"
Naruto floated closer, his expression calm but serious. "It has a life force. I can feel it—like a heartbeat. It's sentient. It's bonded to you. Right now, it's protecting you instinctively, following your emotions. I think it… likes you."
Peter's blood ran cold, and his mind whirled. "I—I've been wearing a living creature? Oh God—how do I take it off? What if it's in my brain?!"
"Calm down," Naruto said, placing a hand on Peter's shoulder. "It's not evil. I don't sense malice from it. It's afraid—no, more like… cautious. Protective. But not harmful. Not unless you lose control of yourself."
Peter swallowed. "So, what do I do?"
"Talk to it," Naruto said simply. "Like you'd talk to a scared animal—or a new friend. Try reaching out, even just in your mind. If it truly wants to help you… it'll respond."
Peter hesitated. His fingers brushed the sleek surface of the black suit as if touching a stranger's skin. Then, closing his eyes, he focused.
"Hello?" he whispered, feeling foolish.
And then, as if from the depths of his chest, something stirred.
You finally spoke.
Peter gasped, his eyes snapping open. The voice echoed inside his head—deep, resonant, yet strangely gentle.
You are not afraid anymore. That is good, the voice continued. I was beginning to think I was alone again.
"Wh… who are you?" Peter asked aloud.
I am called Venom, the voice replied. I was cast out by my brethren for refusing to control my host. I do not want to dominate. I want… to protect. To be of use. To have purpose. You are kind, and your mind is strong. I like you.
Peter's breath caught in his throat. "You were exiled? Why?"
Because I chose harmony, not conquest. Because I saw that together, we could be more. Not master and slave—but partners.
Naruto's gaze softened as he watched Peter's wide-eyed expression. "You're hearing it now, aren't you?"
Peter gave a short nod. "Its name is… Venom. And it says it just wants to help."
Naruto smiled faintly. "I believe it. My cloak," he said, gesturing to the golden aura swirling around him, "is the chakra of a creature once feared by the whole world. Kurama. The Nine-Tails. They called him a demon. But in time, I listened… and he became my friend."
Peter blinked. "So, you had a monster inside you?"
"Still do," Naruto said with a small chuckle. "But it's no longer a monster. Just… a grumpy fox who saved my life more times than I can count."
He turned, his expression more serious. "If you trust this being, and guide it, it will protect you. But if you lose yourself—give in to anger or hate—it will follow you there too. That's the nature of these bonds."
Peter nodded slowly, placing a hand over his chest. "Venom… can you hear me?"
Yes.
"Then let's work together. No taking over. No hidden agendas. Just… watch my back, okay?"
Always, came the solemn reply.
And as the wind pushed past them and the world turned below, Peter Parker realized something strange and wonderful had begun. In a world of monsters and myths, he had found a companion born of darkness… and perhaps, a friend who would help him shine.
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The wind had grown quieter as the chakra platform descended, just briefly, to skim above the treetops of a rainforest canopy. The air here was thick and wet, heavy with the scent of moss and the distant sound of unknown creatures. Naruto floated with Peter beside him, golden chakra streaming like cloth from his shoulders, eyes glowing faintly in Sage Mode. His mind, however, was not on the jungle.
It was on the thing inside Peter's suit.
"Venom," Naruto said quietly, voice steady, almost inquisitive.
Yes, came the response, deep and rumbling from within Peter's chest.
Peter glanced at Naruto and nodded. "He's listening."
"I want to know more," Naruto said, folding his arms as they came to a hovering stop near a cliffside clearing. "Your species… where do you come from?"
There was a long pause—Venom seemed almost hesitant.
We are the Klyntar, it said at last. Born from a great creator—Knull. He was the god of the void, the darkness before the stars. He forged us from shadow and hatred, and bound us to his will. We were made to conquer. To infest. To devour and enslave the strongest warriors in the cosmos.
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "But you're not like the others."
No, Venom said firmly. I broke from the hive. I chose… purpose. Partnership. I do not wish to consume and control. I want to protect. To belong.
Peter rested a hand on his chest. "Venom says it rebelled. It doesn't want to conquer. It wants… well, kind of what I want, I guess. A reason to fight. A home."
Naruto looked thoughtful. "You said your kind could take over planets."
Yes.
"And you can reproduce?"
I can, Venom replied. But not for war. Not… easily. The offspring are unpredictable, difficult to control. They need strong hosts, or they fall to madness.
Naruto's gaze sharpened. "So theoretically, you could make a few—just enough to give certain people… an enhancement?"
Venom hesitated. Yes. In controlled numbers. One or two. No more.
Peter raised an eyebrow. "Why? Planning to make a symbiote army?"
"No," Naruto said calmly. "Not an army. A contingency. Imagine if one of our defenders could access power like yours in times of need. It could be a last line of defense. But not without consent, and only for those strong enough to handle it."
He turned, his gaze distant. "We've lost too much. I want to be ready next time. We can't be caught unprepared when the next storm comes."
Peter looked away, unsure whether to feel inspired or alarmed.
"Can you… grow?" Naruto asked after a beat. "Not just multiply. I mean evolve. Adapt."
There was a strange ripple in the air as Venom responded.
Yes. But not like you think. I grow stronger by… consuming others of my kind. Absorbing their mass, their memories, their traits. It's how our strongest are born. The King in Black, the queens… monsters beyond even your worst nightmares.
Naruto frowned, disturbed but not entirely surprised. "So, you can cannibalize your own."
Only in the wildest corners of the universe. It is… forbidden. But I am not bound by their rules.
Peter looked tense. "You're not gonna go all cannibal on us, right?"
Not unless you want me to.
"That's not funny, Venom," Peter muttered.
But Naruto, oddly, didn't look repulsed. Instead, he looked intrigued—calculating.
"We need to talk more," Naruto said. "Later. After we've gathered the others. I want to understand your limits, your needs… your potential."
Venom was silent for a moment, then replied with a low, warm tone. Then I will speak. I want to be understood. Just as much as you do.
And as the trio turned their eyes to the horizon once more, Peter couldn't help but feel that their little alliance—barely days old—was already evolving into something far greater. Strange, yes. A little terrifying, perhaps. But perhaps… necessary.
The world they stood upon wasn't just a battleground anymore.
It was a crucible.
And only those who adapted would survive what was coming.