Five months had passed since the tumultuous events of the Stark Expo. The world had begun to adjust to the idea of a superhero in armor. For the Kingdom of Origin, those months had been a time of consolidation and intense preparation. King-God Naruto and his council knew that the current peace was nothing more than a fragile truce. The real war—the one with cosmic stakes—had yet to begin.
In the vast training hall of the Kingdom of Origin, Naruto trained with an intensity that surpassed human limits. Opposite him stood Kurama, in his colossal energy form, unleashing torrents of chakra. Naruto, cloaked in the pure golden glow of his Sage of Six Paths chakra fused with the Source, deflected, absorbed, and countered the attacks with a grace and power that left onlookers speechless. The bond between Naruto and Kurama had become unbreakable—a perfect fusion of soul, will, chakra, and primordial force.
As they concluded a devastating sequence of attacks, Kurama pulled back slightly.
"You handled that chaos in New York well, kid," the fox growled. "You held back. But that was nothing compared to what's coming—you know that."
Naruto stopped a massive chakra claw with a single finger, dispersing it into a rain of glowing sparks. His eyes—crystalline azure, sharp and clear—were now speckled with fragments of pure, golden light, like constellations in the cosmic void. These flecks swirled, contracted, and expanded, reflecting not just his state of mind, but a deep connection to the Omniverse. He could now perceive energy flows and parallel realities, like glowing threads stretching across the vastness of nothingness. This was his true "Sight of Origin," a perception beyond time and space.
As he focused, one luminous thread caught his attention—brighter and more persistent than the others. It wasn't just a flow of energy, but a living, distinct parallel reality, where another version of himself existed. This "other" him was younger, less powerful, yet radiated a fierce and familiar energy. Naruto had never tried to observe his own timeline or alternate selves, out of respect for non-interference, but this thread pulsed with a peculiar urgency. It wasn't his past self, but an alternative version—one possible path his life could have taken.
"Kurama," Naruto murmured, intrigue flashing in his Origin Eyes. "Look at this. Another reality. One that feels strangely familiar. I can sense another me... He's going through something intense. And the Bijuu are still chained there—still weapons, still outcasts. I need to see this more clearly. Not to interfere with his fate, but to understand. And maybe, if there's a chance, to free those who deserve it."
Kurama growled softly. "I feel it too, kid. An alternate version of you. The Will of the Sage of Six Paths is strong in that reality. It's a fascinating divergence. If you want to take a look, I'm with you. But be careful. You never know what you'll find when you stare into the mirror of another reality."
Naruto nodded, his curiosity ignited.
"It's not just for him. It's for the Bijuu. They deserve to be free—to join their brothers and sisters here."
The decision was swift. Naruto did not summon his council this time—the urgency of his discovery compelled him to act immediately. He needed to see this alternate reality with his own eyes, to understand the choices that had led to this divergence, and, if possible, to offer the Bijuu a path to freedom.
He turned to Hashirama, Tobirama, and Sasuke.
"I'm going to visit another reality—a path my life could have taken. I can sense another 'me' there, and the situation with the Bijuu is different. I intend to observe, and if the opportunity arises, act to free the Bijuu. Who's coming with me?"
Hashirama Senju was the first to step forward, his face lighting up with excitement at the prospect of a new discovery.
"Another version of you, Naruto? That's fascinating! And the Bijuu… If we can help them, it's our duty. I'm coming with you."
Tobirama Senju nodded, already calculating the implications.
"Gathering data on the divergences and similarities between realities could be invaluable to our understanding of the Omniverse. I'll come. My analytical and detection skills will be of use."
Sasuke Uchiha, his Rinnegan amplified by the Source, was perhaps the most intrigued. The idea of seeing another version of Naruto—and potentially another version of himself or his clan—was a rare opportunity.
"I'm coming as well. If you need eyes for subtle chakra signatures and recognition, I'm your best asset. And the matter of the Bijuu concerns me too."
Natasha Romanoff, sensing the call of adventure in Naruto's heart, stepped closer.
"I'll stay here, my love, with Tsunade and the others. Someone has to watch over our home—and keep an eye on the MCU. Be careful. And don't forget who you've become."
Naruto gave her a soft smile, a brief kiss exchanged before departure.
Using his Eyes of Origin, Naruto identified a stable access point in the alternate reality—a moment of great chaos and opportunity: the Chunin Exams. It was a time when fates were still malleable, the Bijuu still tightly bound, and the new generation still evolving. The area was saturated with chakra and significant events, providing a layer of natural distraction amidst the confusion triggered by Orochimaru's arrival.
The interdimensional journey was instantaneous. Naruto, Hashirama, Tobirama, and Sasuke (from the Kingdom of Origin) appeared discreetly—not on the outskirts of the Hidden Leaf Village, but deep within the Forest of Death, at the heart of the Chunin Exam's second trial. They were masked by Naruto's intricate illusions, rendered nearly undetectable thanks to his mastery over the Source. Sasuke, driven by a desire to observe directly, held back slightly from the full concealment, allowing his form to be faintly perceptible to highly trained senses.
The atmosphere was tense, thick with chakra and danger. Distorted animal cries echoed through the forest, along with the distant sounds of battle, and the scent of sweat and blood hung in the air. It was a stark contrast to the peace of the Kingdom of Origin.
"Interesting," murmured Tobirama, scanning the surrounding energies. "A genin-level exam. And the presence of malevolent chakra… Orochimaru, I presume. Still slithering around like a snake."
"This time is unstable," noted Hashirama, his expression serious. "But the opportunity is great."
The Sasuke from the Origin reality immediately sensed his own chakra signature—fainter, younger, but unmistakable. He followed it with his gaze, spotting a group of three young ninjas who had just narrowly avoided a trap. And at the center of that group…