Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Naruto or Marvel.
A year had passed since Coulson had taken in Khalid, and the young boy had become the center of his world. Coulson had transformed his guest room into a cozy bedroom for Khalid, with the help of May and Alexis, Khalid's new nanny. The room was painted in vibrant red, white, and blue, with a large star in the center, reminiscent of Coulson's favorite hero. May couldn't help but make playful jokes about it, which always brought uncontrollable laughter from Lexi.
Coulson had also filled the room with an array of age-appropriate toys for Khalid to enjoy. He had set up a bookshelf and stocked it with numerous children's books, as suggested by Alexis. Khalid loved being read to before falling asleep. Speaking of Alexis, the 25-year-old nanny was truly a blessing. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also intelligent and an excellent cook.
Alexis stood at a height of 5'6, with captivating jade-colored eyes that accentuated her tanned complexion. Her silky blond hair cascaded down past her waist, adding to her allure. Not only did she possess a degree in child-care, but she also had a minor in psychology. Coulson had also discovered, albeit in a surprising manner, that she was a black belt in wushu, but that story would have to wait for another time.
Coulson and the others were gathered to celebrate Khalid's birthday. They had invited a small group of people to enjoy burgers and cake together. Coulson turned around to find May engaged in conversation with Sitwell, while Fury observed everyone from a corner with a curious gaze. Meanwhile, Alexis was energetically running around, playing with Khalid. Coulson couldn't help but smile at the heartwarming sight.
As if sensing his gaze, Alexis looked up, returning Coulson's smile before waving at him. She whispered something to Khalid, who immediately darted towards Coulson, his excitement evident.
"What's up, little buddy?" Coulson asked, but what happened next left him utterly shocked.
"Dada!" Khalid exclaimed, causing Coulson to drop the grill fork in disbelief. "What did you say?" Coulson asked, still trying to process the unexpected words.
"Dada!" Khalid repeated, pointing directly at Fury. "Fewy!" he exclaimed, recognizing Fury.
Coulson couldn't believe his ears. Not only had Khalid just called him "Dad," but he also recognized Fury. The child then turned and pointed at Alexis, exclaiming, "Mama!"
This caused Alexis to spit out the wine she had been sipping, her face turning as red as a tomato. Coulson could see her embarrassment as she quickly composed herself.
"Sorry about that, Mr. Coulson. He usually just calls me Lexi," she said, her voice tinged with embarrassment.
"It's not an issue. He spends most of his time with you anyway. When did he start talking?" Coulson inquired.
"Last week, while you were away for work," Alexis explained. Just then, Coulson felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to find Fury standing there.
"We need to talk," Fury stated, his tone indicating that it was an order rather than a request. Coulson handed Khalid over to Alexis.
"Go to Lexi. Dada will be right back," Coulson reassured the child, playfully ruffling his hair, which earned a giggle from Khalid. He then turned and followed Fury into the kitchen, closing the door behind them.
"Are you letting the kid call you 'Dada' now?" Fury asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Sir, you have to understand, I've had him for a year now. It's only natural for the child to form an attachment," Coulson replied, trying to explain his perspective.
"Well if that's the case, I'm sure I could find someone to relieve you of your mission with ease. You think I haven't notice you slacking off. Turning in your reports right before the deadline. Khalid is a distraction for you. He would be better with someone who is not as busy.", Fury stated.
Coulson felt his heart sink, his emotions threatening to overwhelm him. He struggled to find his voice, but it seemed as if his words were trapped within him, unable to escape.
Fury continued, oblivious to Coulson's internal turmoil. "With the kid gone, I can finally have my lead agent focus on his real task: finding out who The Dawn is. We need to understand the kind of threat we're dealing with. Right now, I need your complete and undivided attention. Starting tomorrow, I will be reassigning Khalid to another agent."
Those words struck Coulson like a blow. Something inside him snapped. "You're not taking him," he managed to say through gritted teeth, his voice filled with determination and defiance.
"Excuse me?" Fury asked, his voice rising with a mix of surprise and frustration.
"I said, you're not taking my son!" Coulson yelled, his voice filled with raw emotion.
"Agent Coul-" Fury attempted to interject, but Coulson cut him off.
"YOU'RE NOT TAKING MY SON, NICK!" Coulson bellowed, his voice echoing through the room. "I WILL NEVER ALLOW IT. EVEN IF I HAVE TO QUIT THE JOB I LOVE SO MUCH! HE IS STAYING WITH ME! EVEN IF I HAVE TO BRING DOWN SHIELD TO DO IT!"
Coulson's anger surged, and he slammed his fist into the wall, effortlessly creating a hole. Fury stood there, stunned, witnessing a side of Coulson he had never seen before. Coulson withdrew his hand from the damaged wall and turned to face Fury, locking eyes with him, his determination unwavering.
"If you want more effort from me, fine! I'll work twice as hard! But don't you ever think for a second that you can come and take him away from me, Nick! I will do whatever it takes to protect him!" Coulson's voice boomed with anger. "Now get the fuck out of my house. I'll see you at the office on Monday."
This was the first time Coulson had ever experienced such intense rage. His blood felt like molten lava coursing through his veins. He had an overwhelming urge to unleash his fury upon someone. He was a volatile mix of wrath and destruction. The room fell into an eerie silence for a few minutes.
"Fine, but I'll hold you to your word, Coulson," Fury finally spoke, his tone more subdued. "If The Dawn is after the kid, they'll be after you too. Whether you believe it or not, I see you both as family, and I want to keep you safe. If we want to protect him, we have to find them. I'll see you on Monday."
With those words, Fury turned and left the room, leaving Coulson to grapple with his emotions and the weight of the challenges that lay ahead.
Coulson didn't even lift his gaze, but he could hear the sound of Fury opening the door and leaving. He slumped into a chair, feeling drained. He stared into space, trying to calm the storm of rage within him. Unaware of the world around him, he sought solace in the stillness.
Suddenly, he felt tiny hands grasping onto his own. "Dada," a soft voice said. Coulson looked up and saw Khalid standing there. A smile spread across his face, filled with pride at being called "Dada."
"Hey, little guy! How did you get in here?" Coulson asked, lifting Khalid into his arms. Just then, Khalid wrapped his arms around Coulson in a tight hug. Coulson hugged him back, feeling a sense of relief and joy knowing that he would get to keep his son.
Khalid POV
4 years later...
After my first birthday party, Coulson started coming home less frequently. He was always a cool parent, but after that initial argument with Fury, he seemed to bury himself in his work. Sometimes he would be gone for months at a time, but he always made sure to bring back gifts for me and Alexis upon his return. Coulson and Alexis started dating after my third birthday, which happened after I made a wish for them to kiss.
Usually, around this time of year, Coulson would be excited for my birthday. But this time, he seemed a bit distant. He had just returned from an important mission in Asia, and I could tell it didn't go well. He had locked himself in his study ever since he came back, and I could sense his frustration and disappointment.
As for me, I was struggling to make use of any of the wishes I had made. I could sense my chakra, but I had no idea how to harness it or access any of the weapons or the hyperbolic time chamber that I had wished for. Did All lie to me about those wishes?
I was deep in thought, trying to figure out a way to make my chakra work for me, when I heard a knock on my door. I looked up to see Coulson and Alexis standing there. Coulson had a couple of scrolls in his hands, and I could sense the worry in his expression.
"You got a minute, champ?" Coulson asked, his voice filled with concern.
"Yeah, Dad, what's up?" I replied, curious about why they had come to my room. I watched as they both entered and sat down on my bed.
"Well, I have three things I need to talk to you about," Coulson began.
"Is this about me being adopted?" I asked, sensing that there was something important they wanted to discuss. Coulson's expression turned to one of disbelief.
"How did you know?" Alexis asked, also looking puzzled.
"I found a paper in your desk. It mentioned that my real mom is Jane Doe and my real dad is unknown," I explained, hoping that my explanation would suffice.
"I'll start locking my paperwork in the safe," Coulson muttered to himself. He then continued, "What were you looking for anyway?"
"My birthday gift," I replied nonchalantly, causing Alexis to chuckle softly.
"Well, about that, this year's gift comes from your birth mom," Coulson said, placing seven scrolls on the bed. "Your birth mom left these for you when she entrusted you to me. She sacrificed herself to save you from some very dangerous individuals."
"What bad people, Dad?" Khalid asked, his curiosity piqued as he wanted to know who was after his mother.
"I don't know, Khal. But what I do know is that you don't have to worry about them. And do you know why?" Coulson asked, looking at Khalid with a reassuring smile.
"Because we catch bad guys!" Khalid replied excitedly, his eyes shining with admiration for his father. Khalid's gaze then shifted to the scrolls laid out before him. Each scroll had a different label in Japanese, and to his surprise, he could read them perfectly fine. Genjutsu, Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, Fuinjutsu, Weapons, Summonings, and Time Chamber. Khalid ran his hands over the scrolls, feeling a surge of anticipation.
"That son of a bitch!" Khalid thought, realizing that All hadn't implanted the knowledge directly into his mind, but had given him books to learn and study from.
"That's right. There was also this letter," Coulson said, handing Khalid a letter. Khalid eagerly read the contents of the letter, flipping it over to see if there were any hidden messages, but found none that he could decipher.
"I just want you to know that no matter what, you'll always be my son," Coulson said, affectionately rubbing the top of my head.
"I know, Dad. I love you," I replied, feeling a surge of warmth and gratitude.
"I love you too, son," Coulson said, pulling me into a tight hug that I gladly returned. We held each other for a moment before breaking apart. It was then that Alexis took over the conversation.
"The last thing we have to tell you is that we're getting married, and we're also going to be adding a new member to our family," she said softly, her hand resting on her stomach. She looked deeply into my eyes.
"I just want you to know that no matter what, I will love you no less. You will always be my first baby," she said, leaning over to kiss me on the forehead. I placed my hand on her stomach, feeling a surge of happiness knowing that my new family was about to grow.
After that, we spent the rest of the evening together, discussing what I wanted to do for my birthday. We decided to order Chinese food and have a cozy family movie night. We snuggled up on the couch, enjoying our favorite films and savoring the delicious food. It was a simple yet perfect way to celebrate and cherish our time together as a family.
Later that night, as I drifted into sleep, I found myself once again standing in the black void. All stood before me, wearing a wide grin on his face.
"What's up, mortal?" he said, his smile never faltering.
"You tricked me," I said, trying to maintain a calm demeanor, just in case he decided to unleash his force against me.
"Nah, I didn't! You asked for the knowledge, and I simply didn't give it to you in the way you were expecting," All explained. "I came here to tell you how to access the scrolls. I've been watching you. What you think is your chakra is actually your spiritual energy. But don't worry, when you enter the time chamber, you'll understand why."
I listened intently, a mix of curiosity and skepticism filling my mind. I wondered what secrets the time chamber held and how it would help me unlock the power within the scrolls.
All continued, his voice filled with anticipation, "As for the time chamber, it functions similarly to the one in Dragon Ball Z, except you won't age while inside. It has the ability to automatically replenish any weapons you bring into the real world or the food you consume. But I'll leave the rest of the surprises for when you enter it."
Curiosity burning within me, I asked, "So what do I need to do to access the scrolls?"
"Just a drop of your blood will open them. However, I advise against letting anyone see you opening the scrolls, especially Coulson. He might take them to S.H.I.E.L.D. for further study," All instructed, his tone serious. With that, he turned to leave, leaving me standing in the black void, contemplating the revelations and the path that lay ahead.
"I can't just hide the scrolls from them," I replied, feeling a sense of responsibility towards Coulson and the need for transparency.
"Well, figure something out," All responded, his voice filled with a hint of mischief. I let out a sigh, realizing that finding a solution would require careful planning and consideration.
As I pondered my next question, I couldn't help but blurt it out, "Why can I read Japanese?"
All paused, turning to face me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He looked over his shoulders before speaking, "So you'll be able to read the books. You possess the ability to speak and read any language. Consider it a bonus gift from me to you. Caio!" With that, All disappeared, leaving me with a mix of excitement and uncertainty about the path that lay ahead.
With a sudden surge of energy, I jolted up in my bed. I glanced at my Captain America clock, which displayed the time as 2 a.m. Realizing that I couldn't wait any longer, I swiftly made my way to the closet where I had stored the scrolls. My hands trembled with anticipation as I retrieved the one labeled "Hyperbolic Time Chamber."
Carefully unwrapping the scroll, I marveled at the elegance and precision of the calligraphy adorning its surface. The beauty of the script captivated me, momentarily distracting me from the task at hand. Shaking off my amazement, I took a deep breath and bit deeply into my finger, drawing blood. Raising my hand above the seal on the scroll, I allowed the blood to drip onto it.
As soon as the blood made contact with the ink, a radiant glow emanated from the seal. Within moments, a thick smoke began to rise, engulfing the room. I waved my hand to clear the smoke from my face, my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. When the smoke finally dissipated, I looked down and was left in awe at what I saw before me.
"What the fuck is this?" I thought, my mind reeling with confusion and curiosity. In front of me lay a seemingly ordinary wristwatch and a letter. Intrigued, I picked up the letter and began to read its contents.
"This may look like a normal watch, but it isn't. The buttons on the right control the watch settings, while the button on the left will transport you to the Time Chamber. I suggest you carry all the jutsu scrolls with you. Good luck!" - All
I glanced at the bedside clock to check the time, then synchronized the watch accordingly. Securing it firmly to my wrist, I took a deep breath and pressed the button that would transport me to the Time Chamber. In an instant, I was engulfed in a blinding light, causing me to blink rapidly.
When my vision cleared, I found myself standing on a porch, gazing out into what appeared to be an endless void. Feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty, I called out, "Hello!" eager to discover what awaited me in this mysterious realm.
"Hello," a voice behind me said. I jumped up and spun around, unable to believe who it was. Standing there was an Asian man with his hair pulled back into a ponytail. His skin was tanned, and a scar ran across the bridge of his nose. He was dressed in the standard chunin uniform from the show.
"Y-you're Iruka!" I stammered out, realizing that this must be the surprise All was talking about.
"Yes, I am!" Iruka replied with a wide grin on his face. "It's time to start your training! But first, let me explain this place. Please, come and have a seat." He gestured towards a small table, and I made my way over and sat down.
"Firstly, let me tell you about this place. As you already know, this is called the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Any food you consume or weapons you bring in will automatically be replenished in the real world. Here, one day in the real world equals a year, but if you spend an hour, it would be equivalent to fifteen days and five hours. Similarly, one minute here equals six hours, and one second equals six minutes. Additionally, there is a new feature that allows you to set up different environments, such as forests, mountains, lakes, and more," Iruka explained. I checked my watch and noticed that only a second had passed. Iruka continued his speech.
"I am here solely to teach you the basics. At each level, you will receive a different teacher. I don't know who your teachers will be, but they will be chosen based on the taijutsu styles you learn, as well as the amount of ninjutsu and genjutsu you wish to acquire. Lastly, you must choose a goal. Your goal will serve as your final challenge on your path to becoming a master shinobi."
Iruka pushed a piece of paper towards me and continued speaking, "Fill out this paper here, and then we can begin. Take your time to think about it. If I were in your shoes, I would open each of the scrolls and explore from there."
As I watched him leave, I pondered over everything he had explained. I decided to follow his advice and open the scrolls one by one. Starting with the Taijutsu scroll, I bit into my thumb once again, allowing the blood to drip onto the scroll. Suddenly, smoke filled the air, and when it cleared, I found myself surrounded by over a thousand books and scrolls. Letting out a sigh, I stood up and began the task of searching through the vast collection.
After five and a half hours of unsealing all the scrolls, I had thoroughly explored each section of Jutsu. In the realm of Taijutsu, I had gathered books and four scrolls. The books contained all three levels of Konohagakure Taijutsu, while the scrolls held techniques such as Interceptor Fist, Strong Fist, Gentle Fist, and Konohagakure Kenjutsu. These were the techniques that stood out to me as the best in the show. Additionally, the beginning of the Konohagakure book mentioned that it would make learning other styles easier, which further piqued my interest.
In the realm of Ninjutsu, I decided to focus on mastering all the elemental techniques, including the rare Wood element. Inspired by the likes of Hashirama Senju, Sasuke Sarutobi, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, I aspired to be known as a God of Shinobi. I also made sure to acquire all the medical ninjutsu, considering the incredible healing abilities demonstrated by Tsunade, who even survived being ripped in half. I believed that such skills would prove to be immensely useful.
Furthermore, I came across the Scroll of Sealing, which contained all the forbidden jutsu of Konohagakure. Among them, there was one technique that seemed like a cheat code, and I couldn't resist the temptation to learn it.
In the realm of Genjutsu, I focused on acquiring everything related to the Uchiha family. Throughout the show, there was no better Genjutsu user than Itachi Uchiha. His ability to ensnare others in Genjutsu with a mere point of his finger was truly remarkable.
As for my goal, I had a simple yet challenging objective: to become strong enough to defeat the first four Hokages. This aspiration would require immense dedication and training, but I was determined to achieve it.