-AN-

All the thoughts today. Plenty of thoughts. Let's burn brightly.

-Story Start-

"Hmmm. Just what am I to do with you I wonder. Decisions. Decisions." Kaguya floated above her captive pair as she genuinely considered how to handle this situation. While she hadn't had a direct conversation with Naruto, she knew what he would have told this meddler. Do not interfere. Stay our of the way, and the Uzumaki would ultimately do the same. Instead this woman lured the children into her realm. To what end Kaguya didn't know, but she was certainly going to find out.

Not knowing just what the pale woman was thinking, the Ancient One didn't struggle or fight. No, she already knew that doing so would just waste her energy. So instead she locked eyes with the other woman and bore the brunt of her anger. "I…apologize for what I have done."

"An apology. Fascinating. I still do not remember requesting you to speak." Eyes trailing to the forcibly kneeling Mordo, Kaguya trailed a finger along her lips as she considered her options. "Maybe a page from Husband's book…I could turn you inside out. Let you suffer for a century."

Struggling to raise his head even a centimeter, Mordo could do nothing except stare at the wood grain in the floor. Was this how he was to die? Under the heel of a being clearly much stronger than them. What would become of Earth then? Suddenly all pressure left his body and he flopped to his side as a wave of exhaustion washed over him. Gasping for air and trembling, he could only just look up to see those eyes on him.

Kaguya was already turning back to the Ancient One. A wave of her hand causing the woman to float up so they could talk face to face, though Kaguya made sure this Rava was just slightly lower than her. "What are your designs on the children. Speak and speak true. Or I will eat your soul."

At the moment thankful for the force holding her, because it prevented her from trembling, the Ancient One knew better at this point than to lie. "I was only curious, I wanted to be sure that what Naruto told me was the truth. Earth has many enemies that the population at large know nothing about. It has been my duty to protect this world. I cannot just sit by while a potential threat lies in wait."

"Hmmm…and if the children were a threat to you? You would have killed them then? My how cold." Kaguya's eyes flashed, her Rinnegan beginning to open on her forehead. "Well, for your honesty I shall give you a mercy. A quick but clean death should suffice for this outrage. Try again in your next life." Third eye nearly open, Kaguya did take some delight in the naked fear that built on the other woman's face.

"W-w-wait! You're making assumptions here. I never planned on harming them. Never. They are children!"

"No amount of begging will save you now. Accept your fate with dignity." Bringing her hands together, Kaguya began to build a truth seeking ball between them. She could feel the foul taint surrounding this woman and figured it would take something a bit more permanent to rend her soul from this existence. The energy required began to shake the room, books and masonry falling haphazardly as Mordo struggled to rise to defend his master to the death.

Something that was rendered useless as a man tiredly sighed and dragged Kaguya down into a hug. Naruto put his lips to her ear and tried to stifle the smile on his face, "I think that's enough love. Don't you? She's learned her lesson." Truth seeking ball dispersed to the ether, third eye closed instantly, Kaguya's entire demeanor changed between breaths.

Flushing and smiling, Kaguya leaned completely into Naruto's bare chest as he held her. For all their years together now, she was still but a woman madly in love. "Oh darling. I just wanted to make sure she knew her place was all. She is but a silly mortal. They can be such hard headed things."

"Uh huh. No bullying. The kids are safe. You made sure of that. Why don't you head on home. Check in with Honoka for me will you? The double Quints have been raising a fuss lately." Fate sure did love torturing the overzealous Honoka. But she asked for it. Literally.

Nodding and outpouring all the love she had for this man, Kaguya turned in his arms to kiss him on the cheek just once. "As you wish Lord Husband. I will leave this to you."

"Thanks. Go on now, I'll be along in a little while." Getting a beautiful smile from the pale goddess, Naruto watched her phase out of reality with a whisper. Standing there in black pants and nothing else, Naruto finally eyed the struggling Mordo who had made it to his knees. "Woo, she put you through the ringer huh?" Looking up, Naruto reached up to unlock the Sorceress and placed her gently on her feet. "Sorry about that. My wife can be a bit…over protective."

"I believe that is a gross understatement." The Ancient One gasped and sucked in a large breath once she had the ability to move her own body again. She really would have died just then. That would have been it. A completely unforeseeable death. Not even the eye had shown her such an eventuality. "I-"

"Though. She did have a point." Naruto's voice dipped only slightly. Cold. Barren. Even the temperature in the room seemed to fall and steal the breath from their very lungs. "Why did you spirit the kids away like that? Didn't I tell you to leave them be?"

"The boy needed help. I saw that I could help him. Nothing more." Seeing Naruto's eyes tighten, the Ancient One decided to continue. "And yes. I was curious."

Deciding that being long lived gave people weird complexes if not challenged, Naruto waved it away from his mind. This being was broken, whether she knew it or not. It was probably whatever the hell she had connected to her soul.

'I'd call her a Jinchuriki, but it's more tainted than that though. Corruption. Despair. Death.'

Naruto mentally nodded at Kurama's words, 'We'll keep a closer eye on her then?'

'Yup. I don't like it.'

Returning his attention to what was in front of him, Naruto sighed again. "Welp. You gave him a helpful clue, while also nearly getting everyone killed. So there's that I guess. Don't do it again. Or I might be a little slower to saving you next time." The Ancient One could see something dark and foreboding stir in the shadows around them as Naruto leaned in just slightly more, "You certainly don't want me to deal with you directly. Understand?"

There would not be a next time the Ancient One decided. No. She was going to stay far away from anyone from the Uzumaki clan. "It won't happen again. I promise."

Like she had a choice in the matter, Naruto shrugged as he took in the building around them. It was a massive place all things considered, though a little too dark for his tastes. But, he had a party to get back to and thus was short on time. "I'll hold you to that. Till next time." Holding up a hand and snapping his fingers, Mordo and the Ancient One found themselves not in the New York Sanctum but dropping to the floor of the Kal-Tamar library. Jarred and more than terrified of what they had gotten into, Mordo rolled to his knees so he could rise and help his master up as well.

"What was that? Who was that?"

Accepting his hand and regaining her feet, the Ancient One knew she didn't have an answer that would satisfy Mordo. "That. Was a god in the shape of a man. A being more powerful than any we have faced before." She wasn't sure if he was more powerful than the likes of Dormammu. It was possible for sure, and if he was…there would be no stopping him if he was angered. "I made a mistake."

"A mistake my lady?" Mordo almost wanted to shout that that was the understatement of a lifetime but held his tongue. Though the sidelong look he received from his master told him she probably knew it all the same. "What…what shall we do about this?"

"Nothing." Groaning and stretching her back, the Ancient One continued on to elaborate. "I'll continue to watch over Earth and keeping an eye out for those children. We won't interfere, but we won't be inactive either." They did not have as much time as she would like. There was so much at stake here. To many threads were beginning to weave together. She needed to calm her mind. Meditate. Search for an answer. "I need time for now. I will be in my chambers. Have everyone continue their duties like normal Mordo. We shall speak more on this later."

Watching his master stride away, strength slowly returning to her with each step, Mordo wanted to question more. He wanted to yell and rage over the handling they had just received. Instead he held his tongue and bowed his head. "As you wish." He had always known that there had to be more powerful beings out there. To meet not just one but two such beings within an hour was…humbling. And their children! That boy was able to not only break free of the mirror dimension, but hijack it and transport them across realms. The how was a mystery that needed to be solved. It was a question atop so many new ones that would be keeping him awake for the next few nights.

-b-

Annoyance dealt with Naruto stepped back into his previous realm housing his newest friend and currently best drinking buddy. Thor and the Asgardians really knew how to throw a shindig, and as the early morning light began to filter in through the windows, Naruto chuckled as he surveyed the scene he had previously left.

Thor was out cold, asleep on the steps to the lowered sitting area of his room. One arm cradled a half empty mug, while the other cradled his weapon Mjolnir. Naruto wanted to say something about that, but remembered that Karin and Honoka both had tried to do the same with Kubikiribocho. Hearing a moan, Naruto turned his gaze past several upended chairs and smirked at what was there.

Volstagg was just as bare chested as Naruto, having challenged the taller man to a wrestle. Naruto had won, just barely. The shorter man was dense with muscle and with no powers used it was pretty even. Still, as the man snored loud enough to wake the dead and snuggled into the back of his other comrade…the blonde one. Naruto forgot that one's name, but he decided he'd have to hang around more often. This lot was fun.

Walking away and into the palace halls, Naruto resummoned a new shirt with a thought. Probably best not to walk around half naked in someone else's palace.

'Think we should build one. You know, just to show off?'

'And just what would I need a palace for?'

'To house all the women you keep running into?'

Naruto twitched at that but continued on, letting his feet take them where they would. 'I would like to mention that I am not responsible for the nonsense my wives get me into. Plus I haven't expanded the group at all.'

'Oh nooo, just left a trail of hearts pining after you. Not so bad.'

Resolving to revoke Kurama's Matatabi privileges, Naruto found and stepped out onto a balcony high above the slowly waking streets below. The air was cool here, a gentle breeze blowing through his hair and bringing with it the scent of forests and a clean ocean. In the distance he could make out the bridge to where the Bifrost used to be, where Hiemdall continued his eternal watch. Maybe Naruto could help out with that. Karin might like the challenge.

Footsteps broke him from his thoughts and Naruto turned to see the King himself walking out onto the balcony with a mug in hand. Bowing his head lightly, Naruto offered the older man a smile, "Your home is very beautiful. And pretty spirited."

Coming to join Naruto at the railing, Odin nodded his head once as he looked out over his kingdom. "Thank you, I must say. You and Thor put on quite a show last night."

"Eheheh, hope I didn't cross any lines."

"Nonsense, you provided a great service to my son and thus my realm. You have my gratitude and my thanks." Both men shared a look, before Odin turned to look back out over his lands. "It is odd, to meet another god from beyond our realm. Dimension I guess I should say. The gods here are, such flighty things."

Clearing his throat, Naruto in turn looked out to the rising sun. "I'm not really a god. Not yet at least."

"Humility does you no justice. You know what you are, better to embrace it than to run from it." Odin knew the pain of that well enough. He had spent more than a few lifetimes running away from mistakes and past pains. The young man would learn though. Learn and thrive if Odin had the estimation of him correct. "So what now. You've helped one of my sons. Garnered yourself a favor. You aren't looking to take over worlds are you?"

"And bring down the wrath of my wives? I think not. They'd tear me apart, resurrect me, and do it all again." Both men shared a chuckle, before Naruto did sober up some. His senses were telling him this universe was special, that it would be good to stick around. But if that was the case, maybe it was time to throw Boruto a bone. Let the kids go home early. Before they got attached. Before things started to go wrong. "How do you do it? Let your kids make their mistakes?"

Humming once and remaining silent, Odin took a sip of his coffee and considered how to word what he wanted to say. "It is. Still something of a skill I have yet to master. I've found it helps to remind myself that if they do not make mistakes. That if they do not learn on their own the consequences of their actions, then they will remain children long into adulthood." Perhaps if he had not been so soft with Thor things would have been different. Loki would still be with them…"They have to become their own people. Not extensions of ourselves." He had learned that mistake with his first. Never again.

"Their own people huh? You aren't wrong there." It was the biggest worry Naruto had. Maybe if he wasn't so famous. If he hadn't worked so hard in the past, then the kids wouldn't have this massive shadow to come out from underneath. Boruto was only the latest worry of his, his son so set on trying to surpass him and quickly. But there were others. Ryujin and his quest to make a name for himself just like Naruto had. His eldest, Fuyuki, and her worry over being responsible for the others and potentially the next head of the clan. He wanted to reassure them all, that they were enough as they were. That they didn't have to break themselves trying to outdo him. He was their father, and he would always love them as they were no matter what. Of course, coming from him wouldn't mean the same thing to them. It would be a father of status telling them to pull back. To stand aside. No child would listen to such a message.

Both fathers sat in a companionable silence for a time, one enjoying his morning coffee while the other worried over what to do next. Another set of footsteps alerted them that they were no longer alone and they turned back to see a woman of radiant beauty standing there. A bright smile on her face, Frigga moved on silent steps to join her husband at the stone railing on the opposite side of Naruto.

"Good morning sirs, it is beautiful out today is it not?"

Odin nodded once, "Aye, it is."

"Yeah, I was telling Odin that his home is very beautiful."

Frigga placed a gentle hand on Odin's arm, sharing a look with him, "Perhaps you could show us your own home one day. We could compare."

Chuckling and bowing his head once more, Naruto could agree to that. "I'm sure the girls would love that. Plus you could meet all the kids."

"That sounds lovely. I'll make sure to prepare gifts." Frigga was yet to become a grandmother. Perhaps some practice would be nice.

Odin had a feeling of where his wife's mind went and sighed especially hard. "About before, young Naruto. I asked of your plans."

"Ah right right. Got sidetracked didn't we?" Naruto took a breath, eyes still looking out to the horizon. Even now he could see the stars. Constellations not his own. "At most, I want to explore. Meet new people. Make some friends. Maybe put down a bad guy or two. And see what path life has for me. Maybe one day settle down completely, enjoy a full life with my family, and then let it go when it's time."

"That could be a long time from now, for one's such as us." Odin smiled as Frigga hugged him tightly before excusing herself back inside. Both men watched her go, before Naruto grunted and stood away from the railing.

"Probably. Still gotta make the best of it while I can. It might be over before I really know it."

"True words young Naruto. True words." Something tired passed behind Odin's remaining eye, and Naruto pretended not to see it. Because the thought that this might be his own future. A tired King with a life of regrets. It wasn't a kind one. "I do believe Thor might be looking for you. Something about a promise and seeing young Foster?"

Remembering that he had in fact promised Thor that they would go back to Earth, Naruto stretched his arms above his head and started to walk away. "Maybe you'll be a grandparent soon enough, Odin."

"If only I could be so blessed, young Naruto."

Marching away though keeping his senses on Thor who was in fact wandering the halls looking for him, Naruto decided this wasn't so bad. He'd take it easy for a while yet, keep it light hearted. Maybe finally have a sit down with Boruto. Try to…fix the rift between them.

Almost immediately a tall blonde musclehead rounded a corner, spying Naruto right away. "My friend! Are you ready for another round?"

Laughing and coming up besides Thor, Naruto slapped him on the shoulder once, "I would have thought you'd want to return to Earth. But if you wanna lose another drinking contest then don't mind me. Lead the way."

Actually quieting down somewhat, Thor did in fact consider that. But he wanted to be a good host and friend. He didn't want Naruto to think he was only after seeing Jane again. "I mean…"

Another slap to a shoulder, Naruto led the way back to Thor's chambers. "Com'on ya big lug. Let's get you dressed and presentable. Pretty sure while Jane might like the view, it's still best to have clothes on." This was good. Helping someone else find love who completely deserved it. Naruto didn't mind playing cupid for a few days. "Then you can meet some more of my kids. I think they'll like you." It was going to be a long few days. Naruto could already feel it.

-b-

Yawning and nursing a rather large thermos of coffee, Tony considered that it had been a very busy few weeks if he was being honest. He had nearly forgotten how chaotic it could be running the company full time. Never mind the upgrades going into the new Stark tower and trying to balance time with Pepper and the kids…

Kids. God that was still so weird to say.

But he was pulling a favor. Boruto had asked for access to a massive energy source and Tony did just so happen to have a new prototype full scale Arc reactor that needed testing. Boruto had promised this wasn't something to blow up, but both of his sisters had sworn to watch over him. Just in case.

Strolling into a nearly empty and sterile warehouse, bright led lighting buzzing above him, Tony once more sighed and rubbing the bridge of his nose as he could see more than just three teenagers surrounding a massive metal taurus construction. Piping for cooling and fuel crisscrossed the ceiling before diving down into the center of the reactor, but Tony was more focused on the all black dressed man standing next to two red heads. One he trusted completely, the other he'd rather toss out a window.

"I certainly don't remember inviting you to this little get together." Tony came to a stop next to Pepper, who seemed to be watching a set of three Boruto's as they walked and climbed over every available surface they could find. Massive paint brushes in hand, they drew and scrawled all manner of writing wherever they needed to.

Knowing it was directed at him, Fury smirked but watched the boy work. "Well when I heard about this little energy project of yours I was beyond fascinated. But you letting one of our resident run aways play with it pushed me to come and take a look." Fury wasn't here to put a stop to it. No. He did actually trust Stark to do the right thing. Odd as that was.

Tony turned to Pepper, a question on his face, "Can we update security to keep out cyclopses from now on?" Seeing the woman shake her head, Tony sighed as Himawari finally caught his eye. Walking his way, Tony noted he didn't see the third sibling anywhere.

Bowing lightly to the man, Himawari smiled brightly, "Good morning Stark-san."

"It's Tony squirt, T-O-N-Y."

"Of course Stark-san. Are you here to see Boruto's progress?"

Tony again turned his eyes up to watch Boruto dismiss his two clones. Now the boy had retreated to a clear space within the white floor of the warehouse. A circle of runes and equations drawn on the floor around him as his face drew down into intense concentration. "I'm certainly curious. He said you could blend his seals with the energy produced from my reactor. Figure it can't hurt to let him try." Well, it probably could. But if Himawari wasn't throwing a fit, Tony would relax and watch.

"Hmm. Maybe you trust Boruto a little too much then."

"Maybe he trusts me the correct amount!" Boruto never looked up from where he was working, but he was grinning all the same as he stepped back from one final brush stroke. "Now I just need Cammy to come back."

So the third sibling wasn't here, at least Tony could file that question away, "So what are you doing?"

Boruto huffed and pointed at his reactor currently loaded with the new element design. "Do you have any idea just how much energy this thing can put out at full power?"

"Something like 8.7gw, give or take a bit depending on heat transfer." That was an easy question that had the other adults in the room staring at him oddly. Tony at least figured Pepper would be used to him. "What, I built the thing."

Natasha sighed and crossed her arms, "You're such a louse I forget that you're actually a genius."

Rolling his eyes as the adults bantered, Boruto shook his head, "Well whatever you think it can put out. Thanks to my seals it can put out probably double or triple that. Heat transfer, transmission pipe integrity, direct energy conversion. It all lines up perfectly with what I want to do." Boruto had been thinking about his problem long and hard since him and the others had that run in with Rava. Or the Sorcerer Supreme, whatever she was supposed to be called. Coupled with the idea that it wasn't that he wasn't supposed to ask for help. It was that he wasn't asking for help at all. He didn't need to do it alone. So. He wouldn't. "So, as soon as Cammy gets back, we'll be all set."

Fury finally spoke up, curiosity getting the best of him, "And just what is she off doing?"

There was a flash of light, and Cammy herself bounced into view holding a massive rock. Dressed for all the world like a California valley girl, short denim shorts, a tank top and a light blue jacket over which, she was grinning as she set the rock down in front of her brother. "One hunk of diamond, as requested."

All of the adults paused as Boruto came forward to begin drawing on said rock right away, a grin on his face. Pepper turned to Tony, "Did, did she just say that was a diamond?"

"Yup." Tony wasn't going to think about how much something that size would be worth. It was easily half a meter in diameter. That would bankrupt some nations he had to figure. "Which, we're not even going to acknowledge it, right?"

Pepper nodded, "Nope. Already forgotten."

Natasha watched the back and forth between the two. "Is this…how you cope with the three? Is stuff like this normal?"

Tony nodded, "Everyday." They all watched as with a flash of light the diamond began to break apart, pieces flaking off to slowly build a tightly woven ring on the floor. That it shimmered and sparkled caught their eyes right away.

Taking note of something else, Fury remember a report from Phil about the hammer incident. "It's like a rainbow."

Cammy was already bouncing over to latch onto her sister, "So, think he's got it finally?"

Shrugging and hoping as much, Himawari still didn't want to jinx it. "I hope so." She missed her family. Her friends. Yes this Earth was interesting and had plenty of people that she had gotten close to. But it was not home. If this was an official assignment it wouldn't be so bad. It was the punishment aspect of it all. "I really do."

Boruto grinned and turned to his sister, giving her a thumbs up, "We got this! Just watch." Then turning to Tony as the last of the diamond finished its duty and completed the ring, Boruto pointed at the older man, "So, how do we spin up this beast?"

Grunting and considering his options, Tony was almost ready to urge caution on the boy. If it was just them, he probably wouldn't care. But Fury being here made him wary. SHIELD was an organization full of secrets, plans probably never to be seen in the light of day. Would Boruto somehow be added to the list. Would they try to secret the kid away to build new monsters for them? But, this was also a kid trying to get home. Tony didn't want to stand in the way of that. So, he tapped his earpiece, "Jarvis, you awake?"

'Always sir.'

"Good, spin it up."

'Sir, there are several modifications to the reactor that I have yet to ascertain the utility of and-'

"Jarvis. Spin it up."

'Right away sir.' The room around them began to hum and vibrate deeply as the Arc reactor came alive, building up power as they all watched on.

Something Boruto didn't have the time for as seals around the machine began to light up. Stepping out of the ring, he knelt down and placed both hands on its outer edge, beginning to pump chakra into the construct. "It's about to get flashy!" He had one goal now. Maybe two if it went perfectly.

Feeling something change in the air as the vibrations began to reverberate even throughout their bodies, Natasha turned to Tony. "Sooo…whats the over under on this thing explodes and kills us all?"

"Zero." Tony paused to think about that actually, and decided to shrug after taking a sip of coffee, "Normally. But the kids played with it a bit. So who knows."

"I would rather not die to a kids science fair project." Natasha had been through a lot. She could think of a dozen different ways she would rather die than a failed experiment by some wet behind the ears teen.

Boruto didn't look up, but he could still hear them, "If you see me running, then you can worry."

Cammy and Himawari shared a look, before both took a few paces away from the adults. Cammy's arms erupted with chakra chains glowing light blue, forming a wall of interlinked bars before them which formed a robust barrier. Himawari then placed her hands against it, pumping her chakra into it to assist. Cammy was the one to grin at the surprised adults, "Just in case."

Boruto could just barely be heard through the wall, "It's almost like you don't trust me!"

Cammy sighed and shrugged, "Not many of us blew up a work shed."

"One time! I did it one time."

"It was a lasting impression." Cammy was pretty sure Fuyuki still couldn't grow hair on her arms anymore. Not that the vain girl would complain.

But Boruto was beginning to focus, the energy building up finally crossing the threshold he needed. So he directed it into the seal he had made. "Time for the moment of truth."

Jarvis activated a speaker for the benefit of everyone in the room, "Arc Reactor at one hundred percent."

"HERE WE GO!" Boruto directed slivers of chakra towards several purpose made relays within his work. High amperage power flowed directly into the transport ring he had built, and the seal array began to unfold and grow. A sphere of blue light burst into existence, the ground under his hands began to vibrate, and the lights all around them dimmed as all the available power from the reactor was dumped into the forming portal.

It was barely a moment, not enough time for any of the adults to say anything, before a blue portal came to life. It wasn't a flat plane. No, a perfect sphere greeted them, and Tony rubbed his chin as he thought about it. "It's a wormhole."

Fury didn't know this metaphysical sort of thing, but he knew enough to question it. "Aren't wormholes supposed to be flat?"

"No. You're stuck thinking two dimensionally. A wormhole is a connection between two three dimensional spaces. So of course it would be three dimensional as well. It would probably take even more energy to force it into a 2d plane." Tony couldn't believe it. The kid figured it out. Certainly faster than Tony thought he might. And with the wide eyed look on the kid's face, faster than he figured as well.

With a snap and a crack like thunder the portal collapsed. The lights blinked out for a moment, before slowly coming back only. Boruto didn't care, the person standing before him all the proof he needed that it worked. Blinking with some genuine surprise, Naruto was at least glad he was dressed as he stood before his son. He caught a glimpse of his daughters as well behind a barrier that was falling as well as a group of adults he had never met, before something crashed into his midsection.

"Dad!" A mix of emotions rolling through his mind, Boruto settled on one. He was happy. His work had paid off. Sure he couldn't build a portal home. But he sure as hell could forcibly summon his old man. And he did it on the first try!

Arms automatically coming around to hug his son, Naruto decided that while unexpected, this was not an unwelcome outcome. Boruto had all the knowledge to build a portal home, but had apparently taken a different approach to things. He had asked for help and used only what was available to him from that help. It was a good change, a healthy one too. Pushing his son back, Naruto smiled warming and nodded, "Well done, Boruto."

Definitely overwhelmed, Boruto proceeded with the second part of what he wanted to do. He loved his dad, but he deserved this. His fist rocketed out, augmented with chakra, and crashed into his father's face. "YOU ASSHOLE!" That his dad only stood a step back out of surprise and not real pain didn't matter. It still felt good.

Until he started to hop and groan in place. It was like punching a steel wall! What the hell!

Laughing long and loud, Naruto nodded his head. Guess it really was like father like son. Hadn't he wanted to beat the shit out of his own father once upon a time. Instead Naruto reached out, tussling Boruto's hair with a grin. "Ah, so you figured it out then?"

Not seeing the barrier fully drop or the group behind them coming to join them, instead Boruto was pointing an angry finger at his father. "Figure what out? That you're a conniving old bastard with a mean streak?"

Chuckling, Naruto could agree with that. "Sure sure. But what else? What have you learned?"

Pausing as he stood back up to his full height, Boruto really did try to think about it. His sisters coming up to either side of him, he was drawing a blank outside of what he used to get this far. "That getting home would take more power than I actually had. But summoning you would be a lot easier." It was a first step. From here Boruto could use it to build a portal home with some major refinements and some changes to the seal.

Except Naruto sighed and shook his head, "You actually have more than enough power and know how at this point to get home. You're just trying to hard." Folding his legs under him and floating in place, Naruto pointed at each of the children in turn. "Think about your lineage. About where you come from. About what I can and have done and thus taught you over the years. What is the biggest thing you lack at this point?"

Cammy held up a hand right away. She knew her faults, and embraced them, "Resolve."

Naruto shook his head, "Nope. Try again."

Himawari was next to raise a hand, noting the other adults coming to stand behind them. "Power?"

Another shake, though Naruto did point at his daughter with Hinata, "You have the power, though you are reluctant to use it. No. You get one more, and I'll help you out."

Boruto realized that rankled him. But, with his time away and talking to the last Stark, he had a different perspective. It wasn't about him per se. It was about his mindset. How he viewed things. "I…it wasn't just my refusal to ask for help. Or my desire to surpass you more than anything else. I refused to accept…what I am?"

"Ha ha! Bingo!" Chortling as his three children all exchanged looks, Naruto continued to float as he smiled brightly at them. "You are my children, born and raised to be able to live your lives as you see fit. I never told you to surpass me. Nor to do great things just like I did. All I've asked you to do is be yourselves. That doesn't require stealing from me. Or ignoring our orders. Or hiding secrets. We are Uzumaki. Family first. The rest second. That should be drilled into you. And it is a failure on my part if it isn't."

It was Himawari who sighed and nodded along first, "It would have helped Boruto just as much as hurt if I had spoken up. Brought forward his theft right away." They wouldn't have been lost on another world for nearly two months. Nor punished by their parents. Boruto would have learned, hopefully in the safety of their home.

Naruto snapped a finger, "Correct. That was why you were punished as well Hima-chan. You have to speak up. Even if you think it'll hurt. You aren't an adult yet, you can't decide for yourself what's best or not. You don't have the experience."

Boruto frowned, unknowingly taking a page from his mother's book, "So what. She's in trouble cause I'm an idiot? What is she, my keeper?"

Sighing heavily and wishing that perhaps he had done this differently, Naruto shook his head again. "No. You have a list of things you've done wrong. But the biggest one to me. Was you forgot who you are." Seeing the confusion on Boruto's face, and sooner on Himawari's and Cammy's, Naruto figure that this was his fault. Not his kids. "Okay. A different angle. What is chakra?"

Himawari felt better with a simple question. This was something that had been drilled into all of them for as long as they could remember. "Chakra is the energy that flows in all of us. It is life. The combination of our will and our physical bodies. A covenant with the world around us." She nearly jumped as their father snapped his fingers and pointed at her.

"So close but you're on the right track. So. How many different types of chakra or energy are there?"

Boruto held up a finger this time, this was his area of expertise. Supposedly. "Well there's our own chakra. Nature chakra. Biju chakra. Artificial chakra…" Boruto began to trail off, feeling like he was missing something big here as his dad's face began to twist into a larger and larger grin. "And…"

Naruto chuckled and produced a truth seeking ball from thin air, letting it orbit around his head in plain view with ease. "Have you considered, pulling energy from reality itself?"

Boruto's mind froze up. That…shouldn't be possible. How did you pull energy from reality itself. That was just. Kami did that. Auntie Kaguya did that... "Wait."

Watching the final piece fall into place in Boruto's mind, Naruto felt something hot stir in his chest. Pride for his son, for figuring something out that only so far his eldest had learned. And she had to be told verbatim. "Welcome to the truth. You and your siblings are far greater than you really understand. At least just yet. But you'll get there. A little bit at a time. Thus why us as your parents are so strict with you."

A finger pointed at his old man's face, Boruto felt like screaming with rage, "But you could have told us!"

"And would you appreciate the life you have. The life you live?" Sighing Naruto touched down and walked up to his son who was deep in thought. Placing a hand on his shoulder, Naruto offered a more genuine smile, "You had to learn patience. Responsibility. What it means to screw up and affect others. I can't give you everything on a silver platter." Naruto turned to watch both of his daughters, still somewhat out of the loop, but that was okay. All in good time. "You screwed up. But you resolved to fix it. To make it right. You learned and adapted and figured it out not all on your own. But that wasn't the point. The point was to recognize your own failings, and move past them." Finally Naruto pulled his son into a more heartfelt hug, one that was returned slowly, "I'm proud of you Boruto. Truly I am."

"But you're….you're a-"

"I'm your father. Isn't that enough?"

Stepping away from his father and seeing him finally in a new light, Boruto felt like he understood. So he let it go even as he felt literal waves of curiosity wafting off of both of his sisters. "Well. Does this mean we can go home?"

"Nope." Seeing the surprised looks on all three faces, Naruto laughed again and shrugged. "You were told weren't you? You have to figure it out. You have to get yourselves home. Your punishment is over, so you can technically summon me at any time, but you can't come home until you figure out how to take yourself home." Naruto leaned over and winked at Cammy, "You're an exception."

Finally feeling like he had watched on long enough, Tony cleared his throat. These may not be his kids, but he certainly felt something for all of them. They were good kids, and while this man who was obviously their father meant well. It still didn't sit right with him. "Couldn't you cut them some slack? I feel like bridging the gap between worlds before you're old enough to drink is a pretty impressive milestone."

Biting his tongue as Anko's mantra about headbands and being an adult rang in his head, Naruto did consider the inventors words. It was a fact that it was a big achievement. Heck, even on their world Naruto could count on one had the amount of people who could do what Boruto did. Even so, there was still the fact that Boruto was given a task, and he had yet to compete it. "He has to finish the job. That's all there is to it."

Exchanging a look with Stark, Fury decided to throw his hat in. "If I may-"

"You may not." Naruto didn't even give the secretive man a chance to continue, ignoring him entirely.

"Well now wait just a minute I-"

"Speak up again, and I'll introduce you to a dimension populated solely by sentient genital blenders." Naruto turned bright eyes to the director of SHIELD, but Fury could see it. It was a promise. Something cruel and cold passed behind those eyes. While Naruto put off an aura of calm and light hearted fun, he was a man forged in the fires of conflict. There was always something darker just underneath the surface. Waiting.

Tony wouldn't say aloud that it felt good to see Fury humbled so quickly, but privately he was doing a tap dance. "Is he still allowed to have help?"

Naruto nodded, patting his son once more before turning to pull Himawari into a tight hug. "Restrictions of his punishment have been lifted. Short of no one else can bring him home. He has to return under his own power." Naruto looked down on and smiled at his daughter with Hinata. "And you. You now have the same rules as Cammy. You ever want to come home, say the word, and you'll be back with the family."

Himawari really considered that, looking back between Cammy and Boruto. They both understood that she was the one who missed the family the most. More like her mother than anything else, this trip was taking toll on her. Yet… "If it is all the same to you father, until Boruto can come home, I shall remain."

Didn't that just warm his heart? Naruto smiled and nuzzled her hair as well, it was starting to get long wasn't it? "You know that could be a while. Boruto's smart, but breaking reality takes more than solving equations and finding the correct seal."

Himawari stepped back, leaning into her brother with a smile, "I believe in Boruto. He will bring us home." She meant it as well. The proof stood before them. While she didn't understand the why, all of their mothers had always complained about how much chakra it took to forcibly summon their father sometimes. That Boruto achieved it, decades before any of them had. No. He would get them home. She believed that one hundred percent.

Feeling something else pull at his attention, Naruto nodded and smiled one last time. "Well then, I'll leave it to you then Boruto. I'll stop in from time to time. Bring ya some choice ramen from Ayame's when I can. You better be good." Naruto focused on the man who had been watching over his kids with a smile, "And I'll owe you a favor, for watching out for my kids."

Not knowing what he was getting into, Tony still raised his thermos in salute, "Considering how much of a wise ass your son is, I'll take it."

Grinning and giving his dad a thumbs up, Boruto hugged his sister, "Just you wait, we'll be home and kicking your butt in no time!"

Chuckling as he faded from view, Naruto acknowledged that, "If you say so son. I'll be ready for you." And then he was gone, leaving the group in a suddenly colder feeling warehouse with a humming reactor in their midst.

Seeing the three children standing together and worried for them, it was Pepper who stepped forward first, "Are…are you okay?"

Himawari surprised even her siblings, throwing a fist into the air with a shout that echoed in the large space. "You did it Boruto! That was amazing!" Hopping up and hugging her taller brother, Himawari giggled as Boruto collapsed on the floor with exhaustion.

"I'm so tired. I'm taking a break for like a week. No a month. I wanna explore this world too. Cammy, take me with you."

Eying her siblings on the floor with a smile, Cammy nodded and flipped her hair, "I think I can get you into a few things this world has to offer. Don't you worry, I'll have to you to speed and a social magnet in a few days yet."

Happy to see the kids seemed to be alright, Tony sighed and turned to Fury, "Well, think that's enough for today?"

Irritated that apparently the teenagers' father didn't like him. Not that he knew why, Fury shrugged and turned to Romanoff, "I suppose it is. We've got more work to do yeah? Have you been keeping track of our other new friend?" Even so, Fury had more ideas forming in his head. So the kid could build a portal with an energy source different than what he was used to. That could prove...useful.

Assuming he meant Banner, Natasha nodded, "Yes sir."

"Good, we might need to bring him in early." Yes oh yes they would. Things were changing quickly. While SHIELD had brought Silveg into the fold to continue his research, perhaps it was time to link up the older physicist with this young upstart. "Remind me later Stark, I've got a proposition for you."

"Funny, I've been meaning to get ahold of you as well." Not knowing his mind was on the same track as Fury's, Tony sighed and tapped his earpiece again, "Pretty sure you can power down the reactor Jarvis. We're done for today."

'Understood. Powering down.'

Smiling and breathing a huge sigh of relief, Boruto grinned and hugged his sister tighter. So. Dad was actually a Kami. Wasn't that something to think about. Would it be worth it to tell the others? He considered that Dad hadn't told them outright either. So probably not. They had to figure it out on their own, just like he did. It was kinda fun to have knowledge they didn't. "Yeah. I'm taking a break. I'm pooped." Hadn't Cammy said something about boy bands? So there should be girl bands right? Boruto would have to take a look.

-b-

Another world away and considering things to be well on track, Naruto smiled and walked along a well used paved path. The town underneath the Uchiha and Uzumaki homes was a thriving place now, and even from here nearly a mile away he could hear the sounds of life. He'd never be able to give up his home here. Life was just something special here. The energy available was just so fresh and vibrant. And of course, the perks.

One of which slammed into him with all the subtlety of a missile. "You're home! About time." Tayuya was all smiled as she hugged and nuzzled her husband. Hair down today and wearing a bright orange sundress, she considered today a good day.

"I'm home everyday."

"True, but you didn't sleep here yesterday. Where were you?"

"Having a party with gods."

"You know if it was anyone else I wouldn't believe you." Tayuya rolled her eyes as Naruto chuckled, instead sighing and leaning into him. "How're the kids? Good news since you left so quickly?"

Naruto nodded as he could see several of the kids playing down by the lake, what looked like the Matatabi and Yugito watching over them from the bank, "Yeah. Boruto figured out how to summon me. He's got maybe one or two steps left before he figures it out."

"And what then?"

Naruto shrugged, "Well. The universe is his I suppose." What had someone said to him once? Reaching orbit was the hard part. Reaching the stars was just a lack of delta v? Eh. He'd remember it properly later. "But for now we can relax. I've lifted his punishment ban, so anyone who wants to go see him can. Though he still has to return on his own."

Tayuya mentally filed away that she should spread the message among the rest of the family. They both paused as an airship floated overhead. Not the hot air type or the hydrogen variants of long before. No this was the culmination of the Zosensho's pride and work. An aircraft carrier, held aloft by energy accelerated fuel and air. That a flight of aircraft flew in formation with it was almost missed.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, "Drills today? Feeling antsy?"

Shaking her head, Tayuya tugged her husband along, "No. Someone just felt like showing off a bit." Here she looked up, a sly leer on her face, "Speaking of. Ino's been looking for you. Been on a real tear lately."

"Do I wanna guess?"

Tugging him along a bit more forcibly, Tayuya giggled as she could already feel her friend honing in on them, "Best not to get caught out in the open."

Naruto didn't want to say it was about time, but Ino had been slow about joining the mama train. Guess his time was up. "Guess I'm gonna be busy for a few days huh?" At Tayuya's giggle Naruto just let it be. He had finally closed some of the gap between himself and his son. Today was a good day.

-AN-

Ya know, I was worrying about timelines and keeping to schedules and the like. Before I had to smack myself. It's okay to play with things and accelerate them if ya feel like it. So. I am sufficiently focused. A slow chapter so to speak. Naruto and Boruto finally have a bit of a heart to heart. The Ancient One gets a wake up call, and Fury is nervous. All in all, a good day for the Uzumaki clan.