The cosmic battlefield continued to tremble in the distance, but the Avengers had their own confrontation to deal with.
Naruto stood before them, arms folded, an easy smile on his face. He looked completely at ease, despite the weight of the conversation. Meanwhile, Steve, Tony, and Bruce stood together, wary yet intrigued.
Steve had been the one to speak first, but only because Tony had quite literally shoved him forward.
"We're grateful that you're helping Sentry," Steve said, keeping his gaze firm, "but what do you really want here?"
Naruto's smile didn't falter. "I already told you what I want. I want to help you fight against the Otsutsuki… so that you can help me fight them as well."
Tony crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, about that…" He gestured vaguely toward the insane battle raging behind them, where Sentry and Kurama were casually throwing planets at each other like dodgeballs. "After seeing this? I don't think you need us at all."
"You guys are thinking small," Naruto replied smoothly. His voice carried no arrogance—just certainty. "I'm not going to fight the lower-ranked Otsutsuki. I'm going after their leaders."
The air seemed to shift.
Tony narrowed his eyes. Steve and Bruce exchanged a glance.
Naruto continued, "And when I do, I won't just be fighting for myself. I'll be representing all of you."
That statement landed like a meteor.
It was a bold claim, one that implied he wasn't just an ally—he was making himself an extension of their forces.
Tony's expression darkened slightly. "Yeah, see, that's what we wanted to talk about. We had a little discussion after you left."
Naruto's grin widened. "Oh? That sounds fun."
Tony didn't smile back. "I think what you really mean is—you're here to conquer our realm as well."
Silence.
Steve stiffened at the words. Bruce exhaled through his nose, watching carefully.
Naruto?
Naruto laughed.
"Is there a problem with that?" he asked, tilting his head.
The casual way he said it set off alarms in their heads.
Steve took a step forward. "Why should we trust you?"
Naruto's golden eyes gleamed, his Alpha Stigma swirling for a moment before he let out a sigh.
"Trust is a tricky thing," he mused, "especially when you're dealing with people like me." He gave them a lazy stretch. "You guys have been through a lot—betrayals, wars, invasions. I get why you're paranoid."
He then gestured around them.
"The way I see it, you're afraid of what I could do. I mean, I get it. I could take over. I could wipe out anyone who resists. I could rewrite how things work in your world."
Tony clenched his jaw.
Naruto grinned.
"But I won't."
Steve's eyes narrowed. "Why not?"
Naruto shrugged. "Because I don't need to. You guys are going to come to that conclusion yourselves."
Bruce frowned. "What do you mean?"
Naruto floated backward lazily, spinning mid-air. "I mean, you'll see it soon enough. The moment the Otsutsuki come knocking, the moment the real threats appear? You'll be looking for someone who can take charge."
He stopped spinning, eyes locked onto them.
"And when that time comes, you won't be asking why I should rule." His smile turned sharper. "You'll be asking why I wasn't doing it sooner."
Before Tony or Steve could respond, the air shifted.
A glowing golden portal carved itself into reality, its swirling edges illuminating the battlefield with an ethereal light. From its depths stepped Doctor Strange, his crimson Cloak of Levitation billowing behind him. His piercing gaze swept over the group before settling on Naruto.
"Ah, finally," Naruto grinned, floating lazily in the air. "Took you long enough."
Strange ignored the remark and turned to the Avengers, his expression serious.
"I've been watching," Strange said, his voice steady but firm. "And I need you all to understand something very important—Naruto is not our enemy."
The Avengers froze.
Strange didn't leave room for debate. He lifted a hand, and golden rings of magic spun in the air as he amplified his words.
"I know what you're thinking," Strange continued, his eyes narrowing. "That Naruto is too powerful. That his empire is too vast. That sooner or later, he will try to take over."
Tony crossed his arms. "Well, yeah. Those are pretty valid concerns, Doc."
"Are they?" Strange countered immediately. His gaze was sharp as a dagger. "Do you think Naruto needs Earth? Do you think one more planet in his empire actually matters? His territory stretches across the stars, his empire is larger than anything you can comprehend, and yet—you think he would waste his time ruling over us?"
Steve and Bruce exchanged uncertain glances.
Strange sighed, rubbing his temple. "Listen to me very carefully. Even Eternity trusts Naruto."
That statement hit like a hammer.
Tony's jaw clenched. Steve inhaled sharply.
Eternity.
The literal embodiment of all existence. The cosmic entity that represented the entire universe.
And it trusted Naruto.
"If Eternity itself sees Naruto as an ally, then that should tell you something," Strange went on. "Because right now, our concerns shouldn't be about who rules what." His gaze hardened. "The enemy is already here."
The words sent a chill through the group.
Naruto's smirk faded slightly, and he nodded. "He's right. The war isn't coming—it's already started. The Otsutsuki are here. And when they truly arrive in full force, they're not going to care about our little debates."
Strange folded his arms. "So maybe it's time we stop thinking with mortal constraints."
Silence fell over them.
The weight of the moment settled in.
They were Avengers—Earth's mightiest heroes. They had fought aliens, s, and invaders beyond comprehension.
But this?
This was bigger.
The tension in the air shifted again, but this time, it was heavier. More stubborn.
Tony Stark wasn't convinced. Not in the slightest.
His arms were crossed, his posture rigid, and his eyes burned with the defiance that had always defined him. Unlike Steve, who valued unity and trust, or Bruce, who saw the bigger picture, Tony's mind refused to accept what was being said.
"So let me get this straight," Tony exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "You're telling me that this guy—who, by the way, came out of nowhere—has reached a level beyond anything we've seen, and we're just supposed to bow our heads and accept it?" His gaze hardened. "That sound about right?"
Strange narrowed his eyes. "You're missing the point, Stark."
"Am I?" Tony scoffed. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you all have already given up. Just because this guy got there first doesn't mean I can't do it too." He jabbed a finger in Naruto's direction. "I built a suit of armor in a cave. With scraps. You think I can't figure out how to push past the limits like he did?"
Steve sighed. "Tony…"
"No, no, Cap. Let's be real here," Tony continued, stepping forward. "The way I see it, if Naruto reached this -tier, then that means there's a process to it. A system. Science. Magic. Whatever. But it's there. And if it's there—" He pointed at his head. "Then I can replicate it."
Naruto chuckled. "Oh? Is that so?"
Tony's glare didn't waver. "Damn right."
"You're saying that as if I took some shortcut. Like I just stumbled into power," Naruto mused, floating lazily in the air.
Tony scoffed. "Cry me a river."
"Tony," Bruce interjected, his voice low. "This isn't just about power—"
"But that's exactly what it is," Tony shot back. "Power. Control. Who gets to call the shots." His eyes locked onto Naruto's. "I get it, okay? You're the big hero. The -king from another dimension. But that doesn't mean I trust you. That doesn't mean I'm going to follow you."
Naruto's grin widened. "Good."
Tony blinked. "...What?"
"Good," Naruto repeated, stretching. "I'd be disappointed if you just rolled over. You're Iron Man. Stubborn as hell. That's part of your charm."
Tony frowned. "...Are you mocking me?"
"Not at all," Naruto said, flipping upside down midair. "Look, I don't want you to follow me. I don't need it. What I need is for you guys to stop thinking like humans for just a second."
Tony's fists clenched. "We are human."
"Yeah, and so are ants," Naruto shot back, suddenly serious. "And if the Otsutsuki come in full force, that's exactly what you'll be—ants under their boots."
The words hung in the air like an axe ready to drop.
"You think I'm strong?" Naruto continued. "You think I'm unstoppable? The guys I'm going after?" He chuckled darkly. "They make me look like a toddler playing dress-up."
Steve's jaw tightened. Bruce looked visibly unsettled.
Tony, however, refused to back down.
"If that's the case," Tony said, his voice unwavering, "then I'll just have to find a way to get stronger. Without you."
Naruto stared at him for a moment before sighing. "Fine. Do what you want."
Strange pinched the bridge of his nose. "Tony, this isn't a competition—"
"Everything is a competition," Tony snapped. "And I don't lose."
Without another word, he turned on his heel and activated his thrusters, blasting off into the sky.
For a moment, there was only silence.
"...Well," Naruto chuckled, scratching his cheek. "That went about as well as I expected."
Steve exhaled, shaking his head. "You're really not going to stop him?"
"Nah," Naruto said, stretching. "Let him try. Who knows? Maybe he'll surprise me."
Steve and Bruce stood firm, their expressions unyielding. The weight of their decision wasn't made lightly, but it was one they had to make.
"We may not agree with Tony on his approach," Steve said, his voice steady. "But that doesn't mean we're going to let someone—anyone—rule over us."
Bruce nodded. "You've done a lot for Sentry, and we're grateful for that. But you said it yourself—you don't need us. If that's the case, then you don't need to conquer our solar system, either."
Doctor Strange remained silent for a moment. He couldn't find any logical flaw in what they were saying. From an objective standpoint, they were right—if Naruto didn't need Earth, then there was no reason for it to be part of his empire.
He turned to Naruto.
Naruto was smiling.
There was no malice, no condescension—just amusement, as if he had been expecting this exact reaction.
"Normally," Naruto said, his voice carrying a lighthearted yet firm tone, "I'd agree with you. I'm not the kind of guy who forces people into things." He floated lazily in the air, arms behind his head. "But this isn't just about what I need. This is about your survival."
Steve's eyes narrowed. "Survival?"
Naruto nodded. "You guys don't really get it yet, do you?" His voice softened slightly. "The war that's coming? It's not a battle between empires. It's annihilation."
Bruce frowned. "We've faced extinction before."
Naruto chuckled. "Have you?" He met their gazes, his golden Alpha Stigma eyes glowing faintly. "Have you ever faced an enemy that doesn't just destroy planets, but erases them? Have you ever fought someone who can rewrite existence on a whim? Who can undo time itself just because they feel like it?"
The silence was answer enough.
"You think your world will survive just because you fight hard?" Naruto shook his head. "Let me make something clear—the only reason my empire has never fallen, despite all the immortals, titans, and cosmic horrors I've fought, is because it's bound to me."
Strange's eyes widened slightly, understanding what Naruto meant before the others.
Naruto continued. "As long as I live, my empire will exist. No matter how much they destroy, it will return to normal. No matter how badly they try to erase it, it will remain. That's the guarantee I can give you."
He spread his arms. "Now, tell me. Can you guarantee the same?"
Steve's fists clenched.
Bruce looked away.
Even Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme, could not answer that.
"You don't want to be ruled? That's fine," Naruto said. "I get it. But when the Otsutsuki immortals come knocking on your door, do you really think you'll have time to argue about independence?"
He tilted his head. "Or will you wish you had accepted my offer before it was too late?"
With Naruto's final words hanging in the air, the Avengers exchanged glances before turning away. There was no more room for discussion. Their decision had been made.
Steve walked off first, his jaw clenched in determination. Bruce followed, his mind racing with possibilities and doubts, but his resolve was firm. One by one, they left.
Doctor Strange, however, remained.
He stood there, his gaze locked onto Naruto, who was still floating lazily in the air. His golden Alpha Stigma eyes flickered as he watched them go, unreadable yet calm.
"...You're not going to try convincing them further?" Strange finally asked.
Naruto shrugged. "I already gave them all the details. There's nothing more to say."
"You could push harder," Strange pointed out. "You could show them a vision, an undeniable truth of what's coming. You could even force them to see reason."
Naruto chuckled, shaking his head.
"And beg them to listen?" He glanced at Strange, an amused glint in his eyes. "That would be beneath me."
Strange didn't respond immediately.
"Do you think that's pride talking?" he finally asked.
Naruto smiled. "Maybe. But it's also about respect." He turned fully to face the Sorcerer Supreme. "I have subjects—billions of them—who trust me with their lives. Who willingly follow me. What kind of emperor would I be if I lowered myself just to force people to accept my protection?"
Strange sighed, crossing his arms. "So that's it, then? You're leaving them to their fate?"
Naruto shook his head. "Not exactly."
A slow breeze passed between them as Naruto's expression became thoughtful.
"I actually hope they struggle," he admitted. "I hope they fight, adapt, and prove me wrong. Maybe even surprise me." He smirked. "It would be nice to see them punch above their weight."
Strange studied Naruto for a long moment.
He had seen many powerful beings in his time. Some sought power for themselves. Others claimed to act in the name of justice or balance.
But Naruto was different.
He was neither conqueror nor savior, yet he stood above them all.
He had no desire to force anyone's fate—but he would not lower himself to plead, either.
In that moment, Strange understood.
"You really are something else, Naruto," Strange murmured.
Naruto smirked. "I get that a lot."
With that, the conversation ended.
Strange disappeared into a portal, leaving Naruto standing alone under the vast sky.
The wind blew gently around him as he turned his gaze towards the stars, where an inevitable war was waiting to begin.