Emperor of Mankind (Naruto X Marvel )

Raven moved through the bustling city streets with practiced ease, her form shifting fluidly between different appearances to ensure no one could track her. A cautious glance over her shoulder confirmed she hadn't been followed—not that she expected otherwise. Years of experience had honed her instincts to near perfection.

Reaching a discreet hotel, she entered her rented room, locking the door behind her with a quiet click. She exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair as she fought back the frustration simmering within her.

This was a failure.

She had lost Rogue. A talent like her, with such a unique and powerful ability, was not someone she could afford to let slip away. Even with her limited combat experience, Rogue had the potential to incapacitate multiple X-Men with ease. If trained properly, she could have been a devastating force.

Raven sighed, sinking onto the sofa, fingers pressing against her temples as she mulled over her next move.

Then—

"I like how cautious you are, Raven," a voice broke through the silence. "But I hope you don't trouble us. I really don't like hurting people, and I can easily give you a place to live safely."

Her blood ran cold.

Without hesitation, she sprang to her feet, drawing her firearm in a single motion and firing at the intruder.

But the bullets never reached him.

They vanished—erased from existence before even making contact.

Naruto sat in the chair across from her, completely unbothered, watching her with the ease of a predator who knew he was in no danger. The air around him thrummed with something intangible, something that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Relax," he said, raising a hand in a calming gesture. "I'm not here to end you, but to inform you of something important."

Raven's muscles tensed, instincts screaming at her to flee. But she knew it was useless. If he had found her here, slipping away wouldn't work. Her mind raced, assessing him—his stance, his expression.

There was no malice in his gaze, only certainty.

He didn't want to kill her.

But if it came to it, she had no doubt that he would.

Slowly, she lowered her weapon and slumped back onto the sofa. The exhaustion—mental more than physical—was starting to weigh on her.

"I'm listening," she muttered, eyes still wary.

Naruto leaned back, completely at ease, as if this were nothing more than a casual conversation. "You can think about working for me later, after you've talked it over with Magneto. For now, take this."

A small card flicked through the air toward her. She caught it instinctively, glancing at the simple yet elegant design. No numbers, no addresses—just a sleek, black surface with a faint glow at the edges.

"You can contact me through it."

Raven's brow furrowed, but before she could ask how, Naruto continued.

"As for the important information—it's about your son."

The words hit her harder than any bullet ever could.

Her breath caught.

Naruto's expression remained calm, yet his words carried a weight that made her entire body freeze.

"Your son with Azazel. He's alive."

The room felt smaller, the air thicker.

Naruto lifted his hand, and suddenly, a holographic image materialized in front of her.

Raven's golden eyes widened as she saw him.

The boy from earlier—the one standing with Jean, the one with the same shade of blue skin as hers.

Kurt.

Her fingers curled around the card tightly, her throat dry as memories she had long buried clawed their way to the surface.

"He was right in front of you the entire time," Naruto continued, his voice softer now. "I figured you'd want to know."

Raven's lips parted, but no words came out.

She had thought—no, she had assumed—that she would never see him again. That the child she had abandoned so long ago had been lost to the world, swallowed by forces beyond her control.

Yet here he was.

Alive.

And she hadn't even realized it.

Her grip on the card tightened further, the emotions crashing into her too overwhelming to process at once.

Raven's gaze remained locked onto the hologram of Kurt, her mind drowning in long-buried memories.

She had lived for a long time, indulging in fleeting romances, brief affairs, and the occasional moment of true passion. Her love life had been as fluid as her shifting form, never lasting, never permanent. The count she had once deceived—she had loved him in her own way, but in the end, she had killed him. Azazel had been different; he had understood her world, her ambitions, her pain. Their time together had been reckless, passionate, and devoid of attachment, yet it had resulted in something unexpected—a child.

A child she had wanted.

Not for love, but for legacy.

She had dreamed of being the mother of a strong mutant, someone who would stand beside her in a world that hated them. But fate had not been kind. The moment of his birth had left her vulnerable, her body weakened, and the humans had come. They had hunted her, hunted them.

And so, in a moment of desperation, she had made a choice.

She could not protect him.

She had placed her newborn son in a basket and sent him down the river, trusting fate to decide his future. Then the darkness had claimed her, and when she awoke—he was gone. No trace, no clue, nothing but an aching emptiness that had haunted her for years.

She had searched. God, she had searched. But the trail had run cold, and she had been forced to bury that part of herself.

Until now.

Now, he stood before her—alive.

And Naruto, the man before her, had been the one to bring this truth to light.

She looked up, meeting his gaze, and for the first time, she felt truly seen.

Naruto stared at her, his expression unreadable, but she could feel the weight of his judgment pressing down on her like an unshakable force.

He knew.

He knew everything.

Every betrayal, every manipulation, every life she had taken. He saw the blood that stained her soul, the countless choices she had made to survive, to thrive, to dominate. Her past could not excuse what she had done—she had lived long enough to make better choices, and yet, she had continued down the same path, time and time again.

She deserved execution.

But Naruto's presence wasn't one of condemnation alone. He wasn't here to punish—he was here to offer.

A chance.

A chance to change, to step onto a path that wasn't paved with deception and blood.

Raven felt a sharp pain in her chest, her hand moving instinctively to her heart as she realized—she was crying.

Tears streamed down her face, not of sorrow, not of regret, but of something unfamiliar. Something terrifying.

Joy.

Hope.

"So you do have some maternal love," Naruto said softly, watching her reaction.

Raven hastily wiped her tears, composing herself. She wasn't used to emotions getting the better of her, and she wasn't sure she liked it. But she needed to know more.

"Will you let us meet?" she asked, her voice steady once more.

Naruto folded his arms. "Do you think that would be wise?"

Raven frowned but let him continue.

"Do you think he will accept you just like that?" Naruto's words were calm but firm, forcing her to consider the reality of the situation. "He has grown up in a harsh world. He has fought for everything he has. He is not some lost child waiting to be reunited with his mother—he has matured. If you meet him now, unprepared, it won't be the family reunion you might hope for."

Raven clenched her fists. She knew he was right. The boy—no, the man—she had seen today wasn't the helpless infant she had left behind. He had built his own life, forged his own strength. Barging into it now, expecting acceptance, would be foolish.

She exhaled slowly. "Thank you. I hope you can grant me this request at a later date."

Naruto nodded. "No problem. I don't like it when children are separated from their parents in such a manner." Then, his expression darkened ever so slightly. "But remember, Raven—change."

She stiffened as he suddenly stepped forward, closing the distance between them in a single breath. His presence was overwhelming, pressing down on her like an immovable force.

"Or receive an end that is worse than death."

Then, before she could react, he flicked her forehead.

The unexpected gesture made her jolt, a small sound escaping her lips as she rubbed the spot in irritation.

"See you again, Raven."

And just like that, he was gone.

The room was silent once more, save for the faint hum of the city beyond the hotel walls. Raven remained still, staring at the space Naruto had occupied.

Her mind was a whirlwind.

Today had been a total mindfuck.

She had met an unknown force, a man who wielded power that defied comprehension. A man who knew too much. A man who had thrown her entire world into chaos with just a few words.

And now, she had decisions to make.

Was he someone they could control? Could they even influence him? Was it possible to make him less involved in their affairs?

Or…

Should they accept his help?

Raven closed her eyes, leaning back against the sofa as the weight of the day settled over her.

One thing was clear—this encounter had changed everything.

And there was no going back.