Vector stood guard at the entrance gate, his posture rigid and eyes alert. The scene shifted as Naruko entered, her approach almost cinematic with a slow-motion effect and a pink, bubbly background that seemed to spring from a dream. Vector's reaction was immediate; his jaw literally dropped to the ground as his eyes transformed into hearts at the sight of her.

"HOLY MOLY!" Vector exclaimed, blushing furiously as Naruko greeted him with a cheerful "Hi, there!"

With a gentle touch, the blonde beauty bent down to lift Vector's jaw, snapping it back into place. "Tha-thank you…" Vector stammered, clearly embarrassed yet smitten.

"What can I do for you, sweet thing?" Vector asked, trying to regain his composure.

Naruko's pout was effective as she claimed to be Barret's girlfriend, ignored all day and eager to confront him. Vector, shocked and somewhat envious, couldn't help but express his disbelief and admiration. "You're Barret's girl!? Wow, I can't believe that… No offense to your man, Miss, but the man's an idiot for ignoring someone as gorgeous as you."

Naruko's gratitude was met with Vector's laughter as he fancied himself a gentleman of the highest order. Offering to lead her to Barret, they joined arms and walked off, Vector already considering a side gig as a DJ at the beach house.

Meanwhile…

The narrative cut to the back of the clubhouse where Peter Quill was in action, incapacitating one of the security guards with a sleeper hold. As he laid the guard down by the bush, Peter's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden exclamation, "Intruder!"

Charmy, the anthropomorphic bumblebee from Sonic the Hedgehog, swooped down with a battle cry, "Name's Charmy, remember the sting!" Peter's response was swift; he dodged and opened fire, ultimately taking Charmy down with a HEADSHOT.

But the fight was far from over. Ibuki, the ninja from Street Fighter, appeared, delivering retribution for Charmy by kicking the spaceman from behind, sending him to sliding on the grass.

"That was for Charmy, you JERK!" Ibuki shouted.

Espio joined his fellow ninja, confronting Peter with a cold declaration, "You've come to the wrong place, Gunslinger."

Back inside, Naruko and Vector's stroll was cut short by an urgent call on Vector's communicator. "What, Charmy's down!?" he exclaimed, rushing off to investigate. But before he could leave, Naruko struck the reptile with an axe-handle to the back of the head, knocking him out cold. "And they call me a knucklehead," she muttered, transforming back into Naruto and heading outside.

In the verdant backyard of Barret's clubhouse, a tense standoff unfolded. Espio, the chameleon, was a study in controlled aggression as he crouched down to Peter's level, his grip on Peter's hair unyielding, the sharp edge of a kunai dangerously close to Peter's face. The air was thick with the scent of freshly cut grass and the undercurrent of confrontation.

"Now TALK, what business do you have here?" Espio demanded, his voice a low growl.

Peter, his voice strained under the pressure, insisted, "I'm here for Barrett."

Espio's eyes narrowed, skepticism etched into every line of his face. "Barret's not expecting any visitors today," he retorted, the edge in his voice as sharp as the blade he wielded.

"Yeah, that's something along the lines the alligator said, but believe me, I was invited," Peter countered, trying to inject a note of nonchalance into the tense situation.

Espio's gaze bored into Peter's, trying to discern truth from jest. "Then we'll just have to ask him ourselves," he concluded, but before he could act on his words, a sudden movement caught his eye.

"Good idea, lead the way, 'cause I'm in a bit of a hurry-" Espio released his grip, and Peter's face met the ground with a soft thud. "Not you…" Espio began, but his command was cut short as he sensed danger. His reflexes were swift, his own kunai meeting the incoming one with a clang that rang through the air.

Ibuki, her stance ready for battle, scanned the area. "Another intruder?" she questioned, her voice laced with a mix of annoyance and readiness.

Espio and Ibuki stood back-to-back, their eyes darting around the area, searching for the unseen threat. But Peter, seizing the moment of distraction, executed a perfect leg sweep, sending Espio tumbling to the ground.

Peter rose, putting distance between himself and the ninjas, just as Naruto dropped down from a nearby tree, landing with the grace of a seasoned shinobi.

"What happened!?" Naruto's voice boomed, too loud for the proximity.

"Just more pushy security guards that won't let us pass," Peter replied, annoyance clear in his tone.

Naruto's confusion was palpable. "Are you sure Barrett was expecting you today?"

Peter's response was tinged with doubt. "I'm beginning to wonder about that myself…"

But before they could deliberate further, Ibuki and Espio charged, cutting the conversation short. Ibuki launched a diving kick at Naruto, who deftly blocked and evaded, while Espio's spin-dash sent Peter crashing to the ground.

"Quill!" Naruto called out, concern lacing his voice as he locked kunai with Ibuki.

"You're one disgraceful looking ninja," Ibuki taunted. "Did you leave your suit at home?"

"Outta my way!" Naruto's retort was fierce, and with a forceful push, he sent Ibuki staggering back.

A hidden shadow clone revealed itself with a swift kick to Ibuki's back, and Naruto followed up with a spinning back-fist that sent her spinning to the ground.

A sudden burst of light, yellow and blinding, crashed toward Naruto, but his reflexes were quick, and he backflipped out of harm's way. Midair, he was caught off guard by an elbow strike from a raven-haired woman in her early 20s, dressed in all black.

It was Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy 7, her presence as formidable as her reputation. She pinned Naruto down with a seriousness that brooked no argument. "Move and I'll bend it the wrong way!" she threatened.

As the smoke from the yellow light cleared, another figure emerged—Cloud Strife, his gaze assessing the situation with a warrior's precision. "Do you have him?" he asked Tifa, his voice calm yet commanding.

Tifa's smirk was confident. "Yeah, he's not going anywhere."

But Naruto's calm demeanor hinted at the power he held in reserve. With a sudden surge, he activated his sage mode, and Tifa's grip faltered. "What the-!?" she exclaimed as Naruto broke free with ease.

"Tifa!" Cloud's concern was evident as he drew his sword, ready to defend his comrade.

The sound of rapid gunfire pierced the air, drawing everyone's attention to the backdoor where Barrett stood, his mechanical arm smoking. "I've seen and heard ENOUGH!" he declared, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Peter, woozy from the earlier attack, acknowledged Barrett with a nod. "Hey Barret," he said, his voice unsteady.

"Quill," Barrett responded, his tone indicating recognition. "Everyone, stand down, he's our guest."

With that being said, the all out backyard brawl comes to a close.

Espio, his demeanor shifting, offered a hand to Peter, but the spaceman declined, rising on his own strength.

Tifa brushed off the dirt, her nod to Cloud signaling her well-being. Cloud sheathed his sword, though his wary gaze remained fixed on Naruto.

Naruto, deactivating his sage mode, approached Ibuki with a smile and an extended hand. "Sorry about that, is your face okay?" he asked, his tone sincere.

But Ibuki's response was swift and painful—a firm grip and a kick to the GROIN that sent Naruto tumbling to the ground. She walked away, her embarrassment palpable.

Cloud's chuckle was a mix of amusement and sympathy, while Naruto, recovering, spat out the grass from his mouth. "Was that a no?" he asked weakly, the pain evident in his voice.

To Be Continued...