Naruto Multiverse

The house was quiet after dinner, the hum of activity having given way to the calm of the evening. Himawari stood in the center of her room, dressed in a light pink nightgown adorned with delicate lace. She spun around with a soft giggle, her long hair fanning out around her.

"Daddy, how do I look?" she asked, her blue eyes sparkling as she gazed at Naruto, who leaned against the doorframe with a gentle smile.

Naruto's eyes softened as he looked at her, a mixture of pride and nostalgia evident in his expression. "You look gorgeous, my little princess," he said, stepping forward and gently cupping her cheek. "The most beautiful girl in the world. The more you grow, the more you look like your mother."

His voice was tender, and his words carried a warmth that wrapped around Himawari like a blanket. The mention of her mother made her heart swell, and she pressed her cheek into his palm, savoring the connection. She knew he meant every word; his gaze held no deception.

"Really?" she asked, her voice filled with quiet joy. "I'm so happy you think so, Daddy."

Naruto smiled, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face. "Of course. You're my precious flower."

Himawari hugged him tightly, her arms encircling his waist as she buried her face against his chest. His strong yet gentle embrace always made her feel safe, like nothing in the world could harm her.

"You left your friend with a clone," Naruto teased, his voice light but affectionate. "I'm so sorry you have to force yourself to spend time with me."

Himawari tilted her head up, her expression earnest. "I love spending time with you, Daddy. It's not a problem at all."

Naruto chuckled softly, resting his chin on her head as he played with her hair. "You're too kind to your old man," he murmured.

Himawari pulled back slightly, her gaze serious. "I was wrong when I asked you to spend less time at the café. If it makes you happy, Daddy, you should spend as much time there as you want."

Her words surprised Naruto, and a proud smile spread across his face. "My little princess has such a big heart," he said, joy evident in his voice. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, the gesture filled with love. "You're so sweet to think about me."

Himawari giggled, the sound pure and carefree, as if her father's approval was the only thing that mattered in the world.

Naruto straightened up and glanced at the clock. "Now, let's get to bed. We're going out tomorrow, and I don't want you too tired to enjoy it."

He walked over to the bed and pulled back the blanket, climbing in before motioning for Himawari to join him. Without hesitation, she slid into the space beside him, curling up in his arms as he tucked the blanket around them both.

Naruto held her close, her warmth and steady breathing a comfort he could never take for granted. Since the day he had nearly lost her, sleeping without her presence had become a torment. Nightmares, vivid and unrelenting, would plague him whenever she wasn't there. But with her by his side, those dark memories faded into the background, replaced by the steady rhythm of her heartbeat.

Himawari rested her head on his chest, her fingers clutching lightly at his shirt. "Goodnight, Daddy," she murmured sleepily.

"Goodnight, my princess," Naruto replied softly, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

As her breathing evened out, Naruto gazed at the ceiling, his hand idly stroking her hair. For all the chaos and pain he had endured in his life, moments like this made it all worth it.

The room was quiet, lit only by the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the window. Mea sat upright on her bed, her chest rising and falling as she recalled the vivid memory that had surfaced moments ago. Her heart raced as the image of her father, surrounded by dark, menacing figures, replayed in her mind. Among them, one figure had stood out—a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Himawari.

Mea had been younger then, too young to understand what she had stumbled upon. She remembered bursting into the room, fear and confusion driving her forward.

"Leave Father alone! Don't hurt him!" she had screamed.

Naruto had turned toward her, his eyes void of warmth, cold and lifeless like two empty wells. That sight alone had been enough to paralyze her. The next thing she remembered was collapsing into unconsciousness, her body unable to withstand the overwhelming fear.

Awakening from the memory, Mea rubbed her eyes and sat up. Her throat felt dry, and she reached for the glass of water on her bedside table, but as she looked up, she froze.

Standing in the doorway was Naruto, his silhouette outlined by the dim light.

"Father," Mea whispered, startled. She hadn't heard him come in.

Naruto stepped forward, his presence as calming as it was overwhelming. He sat beside her on the bed, his eyes filled with a softness that immediately set her at ease. "Mea, I'm sorry," he said, his voice gentle. "I never wanted you to see me like that. You shouldn't have had to suffer because of my weakness."

Mea shook her head firmly. "It's not your fault, Father. It was those... those dark people who made you sad." She looked into his kind eyes, finding comfort in their familiar warmth. Here, in this moment, she felt safe.

Naruto sighed, his hand resting on her shoulder. "You're a good child, Mea. I care for you deeply. Because of that, I want to give you a choice." His voice was calm but weighted with emotion. "You can choose to remember what you saw that day, to understand it fully—or I can make it vanish. It will never haunt you again."

Mea hesitated, her gaze dropping to her hands. The memory of that day had lingered at the edges of her mind for years, a shadow she could never quite shake. Yet a part of her wanted to know the truth, to face it.

"Does Hima know?" she asked quietly, already suspecting the answer.

Naruto nodded. "She knows everything. It's her right, and I would never deny her that. I know what your answer will be, Mea, and I'm proud of you for wanting to confront your fear. But remember, what you saw is only a fragment. The full story is more complex than you imagine."

"Were those figures ghosts?" Mea asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Naruto shook his head. "No, they weren't real. They were phantoms of my mind, illusions created by my memories and regrets. They're gone now, part of a past I've already buried."

Mea bit her lip, her eyes searching his face for reassurance. "Will they come back? Will those eyes I saw... will they ever return?"

Naruto pulled her into his lap, holding her close. "Never," he promised. "Those eyes will never harm you. I care for all of you too much to let my darkness touch your lives. You're my light, Mea. You and Hima both."

She leaned against him, her small frame fitting perfectly in his protective embrace. "Father, who are you?" she asked hesitantly, the question that had lingered in her heart finally finding its voice.

Naruto smiled faintly, his eyes reflecting both pride and sadness. "What do you think?" he asked gently.

"I don't know," Mea admitted. "I know what you've shown me, but it feels like there's more. Something bigger."

Naruto chuckled softly, brushing a hand through her hair. "You're perceptive, as always. We come from another world, Mea. I was a leader there, in charge of a powerful military force. Officially, I was a protector of my people, but in truth, I had influence over the entire world."

Mea's eyes widened, the weight of his revelation settling over her like a heavy blanket. "Another world..." she repeated, the words strange yet oddly fitting.

Naruto kissed her forehead, his expression softening. "That's enough for tonight. Rest, my sweet Mea. We have a big day tomorrow."

Mea nodded, standing and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for telling me, Father. I love you."

"I love you too," Naruto replied, watching as she climbed back into bed.

As he left her room, he paused in the hallway, his thoughts heavy. The memories of his past, though distant, still had the power to stir his heart. Yet as he glanced back toward Mea's door, he knew he had no regrets. For all the pain and loss he had endured, his daughters were his redemption, his reason to keep moving forward.

The streets of Metropolis were alive with chaos as the shrill wail of alarms echoed from a downtown bank. Citizens scattered, some taking cover while others recorded the scene on their phones. Among the debris and the shattered front doors of the bank, a figure stood tall, her presence commanding.

Supergirl descended rapidly, landing with a soft thud on the asphalt. She surveyed the scene quickly: masked robbers lay unconscious, bound by an ethereal green energy that shimmered faintly, keeping them immobile. Her sharp gaze moved to the source of the containment—a woman clad in an intricate suit of red armor. The suit seemed alive, pulsating with veins of glowing green energy. Her helmet revealed a face framed by fiery red hair, and her eyes shone with a floral pattern, radiating an otherworldly power.

The newcomer turned to face her, seemingly unfazed by the arrival of Krypton's last daughter. "You may call me Phoenix," the armored woman said, her voice calm and melodic. "And I am an ally of justice."

Supergirl folded her arms, her expression skeptical. "Ally of justice? Is that what you're calling yourself? If you're causing trouble, I won't hesitate to stop you."

Phoenix's gaze softened, her tone remaining calm and unthreatened. "I'm here to help, not to fight. These criminals are restrained, and the situation is under control. There's no need for hostility."

Kara's eyes narrowed, her stance tense. She had been on edge for days, the weight of her responsibilities crushing her. The guilt of being one of the last Kryptonians gnawed at her, a relentless shadow she couldn't escape. "You look stressed," Phoenix observed gently, taking a step closer. "I can feel your pain."

Supergirl tensed, retreating slightly. "What's it to you? I can handle it."

Phoenix didn't waver. Her floral-patterned eyes glowed brighter, and her voice softened further. "It's not wrong to ask for help. We can't always be strong, no matter how much we want to. Let me help you. I want to be your friend."

The words struck Kara harder than she expected. For a moment, she faltered, the cracks in her emotional armor threatening to break open. "I don't need your pity," she said, but her voice lacked conviction.

Phoenix took another step forward, closing the distance between them. Before Kara could react, Phoenix's hand gently clasped hers. "I'm not offering pity. I'm offering support," she said warmly. Then, with a sweep of her hand, green energy flowed from her armor, enveloping Supergirl in a soft, comforting glow.

Kara froze at first, her instincts screaming at her to resist, but the energy wasn't invasive or harmful. It felt warm, like a gentle embrace on a cold day. The tension in her muscles eased, and the constant ache in her heart dulled. Tears she hadn't realized she was holding back began to fall, a quiet release of all the burdens she had carried alone.

When the light faded, Kara stepped back, wiping her face quickly. Her expression, though still guarded, was noticeably softer. "Thank you," she said, her voice quiet but genuine. "I… I didn't realize how much I needed that. What do you want as compensation?"

Phoenix smiled, shaking her head. "Nothing at all. I just want to be your friend."

Kara studied her, searching for any hint of ulterior motives but found none. For the first time in a long while, she felt a flicker of something she had been missing—hope. "Well, Phoenix," she said, her lips quirking into the faintest of smiles. "I guess I owe you one. Friends, then."

Phoenix's smile widened, her eyes glowing with happiness. "Friends," she repeated.

As the sirens of approaching law enforcement grew louder, Phoenix stepped back, the green energy around her intensifying. "Until we meet again, Supergirl," she said, her voice carrying a note of promise.

With that, Phoenix rose into the air, her figure disappearing into the night sky. Supergirl stood there for a moment, her heart lighter than it had been in weeks. Whoever Phoenix was, Kara had the feeling their paths were destined to cross again.

On the rooftop of a distant building, cloaked in the silver light of the moon, a stunning figure stood, her posture relaxed yet regal. She was a vision of elegance and grace, her long, silken white hair cascading like a waterfall down her back. Her porcelain skin seemed to glow under the moonlight, and her sharp, ruby-red eyes reflected a knowing amusement as she observed the scene below. Clad in a sleek, black and white outfit that hinted at both sophistication and lethality, she was unmistakably the White Rabbit—a name whispered in both fear and awe among those who knew her.

From her vantage point, she watched the interaction between Phoenix and Supergirl unfold. A soft smile graced her lips as she saw Kara's tension ease and Phoenix's kindness melt through the Kryptonian's defenses.

"It seems Mistress is enjoying her time," White Rabbit murmured, her voice like a melodic whisper carried by the wind. She folded her arms, tilting her head slightly as her expression grew contemplative. "Master should be happy now that she has a new friend."

Her gaze lingered on Phoenix, the glow of the green energy fading into the night sky as the armored figure departed. There was something undeniably captivating about Phoenix's aura—both powerful and gentle, commanding and nurturing. White Rabbit's smile deepened as she mused silently.

"She's come a long way," White Rabbit said to herself, her tone carrying a hint of pride. "But then, Master has always had a way of drawing out the best in people."

With a graceful turn, she pivoted on her heel and began to walk toward the edge of the rooftop. The faint clicking of her heels against the concrete echoed in the stillness of the night. Stopping at the precipice, she gazed out over the city, her red eyes scanning the sprawling metropolis with an expression that bordered on fondness.

"The pieces are moving, one by one," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the gentle breeze. "Master always sees farther than anyone else… I only hope Mistress finds the strength to stand by his side when the time comes."

With that, White Rabbit stepped off the edge of the rooftop, her form vanishing into the shadows below, leaving no trace of her presence. In her wake, the city continued to hum with life, unaware of the quiet forces shaping its future.