Egoist Chapter 12 - The World Reacts, a Naruto + Blue Lock Crossover fanfic

A/N

Yo, welcome back to another new chapter!

First off, the site/app has been acting up a lot lately, so I held off on updating. But since I've got a good amount of chapters saved up, I figured I shouldn't leave everyone hanging. So here we are!

Last chapter seems to have been a hit... seriously, I appreciate all the love! I put a lot of effort into it, so it's great to see that pay off.

This chapter is a bit slower since it's the aftermath of that intense match, but don't worry, things will pick up soon.

Now, please enjoy!

Chapter 12 - The World Reacts

The aftermath of Japan's unbelievable 5-4 victory over Spain, the energy inside the Stadium was bouncing. Fans still filled the stands, refusing to leave, their voices ringing in unison. "UZUMAKI! UZUMAKI! UZUMAKI!"

The media storm had already begun.

Every major sports outlet, every football network, and every analyst across the globe had turned their attention to one name.

Naruto Uzumaki, the 16 year old who had come off the bench and destroyed one of the strongest teams in the world.

Journalists swarmed the interview area, desperate to capture every word.

Sitting in front of a row of microphones, Naruto leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, still wearing his match jersey, slightly damp with sweat. His expression was unreadable.

There was no excitement.

No joyous grin.

No sense of accomplishment.

Just quiet, simmering intensity.

The press conference had barely begun, but already, the room felt like it was holding its breath.

A reporter from PIFA's official channel was the first to speak.

"Naruto, congratulations on an absolutely historic performance. How does it feel to score a four goals at the World Cup?"

Naruto tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing just a fraction.

"I didn't really think about that," he muttered. "I just wanted to win."

A brief silence, as some of the reporters blinked.

They had expected excitement, pride, maybe even a cocky response.

But this? This was a player who was already looking ahead.

Another reporter leaned in, adjusting their mic.

"Japan just defeated one of the tournament's favourites. Is this a sign that Japan has arrived on the world stage?"

Naruto exhaled sharply, shaking his head.

"No."

More silence...

The journalists shifted slightly in their seats, caught off guard by his bluntness.

Naruto leaned forward, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, something sharp that cut through the air like a blade.

"Football in Japan is behind. Way behind."

Murmurs broke out in the room.

Naruto's Emperor's Eye flickered for a moment, his gaze cutting through the crowd.

"Our methods are outdated. Our players aren't trained to win at the highest level. And most importantly, we don't play football like the rest of the world does."

He spoke slowly, deliberately, like he wanted his words to be etched into history.

"We're not ready."

The room fell dead silent.

Across the stadium, in a separate media room, Sae sat in front of another row of cameras.

Unlike Naruto, his posture was completely relaxed, but his voice carried the same brutal honesty.

"Japan just pulled off a miracle win," a Spanish reporter started. "What does this say about the future of Japanese football?"

Sae barely blinked.

"It says that we need to change."

More murmurs. The journalists were starting to realize something.

Both of Japan's young stars were saying the same thing.

Sae leaned forward, lacing his fingers together.

"We won today because of Naruto. Not because Japan is a world class football nation."

A heavy pause. As Sae's teal eyes shined slightly.

"If Japan wants to compete with Europe and South America, we need to rethink everything. Our training, our mindset, our entire system."

His voice lowered, almost like he was speaking directly to the higher ups watching from home.

"What we're doing now? It's not enough."

After the main press conference ended, Naruto was led toward a smaller interview area where one journalist waited alone.

Inori.

She stood by the interview stand, dressed in a sleek, fitted black blazer, her long pink hair falling in soft waves. Her usual professional demeanour was there, but in her eyes there was something else.

Naruto stepped up, adjusting his shirt slightly.

She lifted her microphone, her voice soft but steady.

"Naruto, first of all congratulations. This was a performance that will go down in history. How does it feel?"

Naruto smirked slightly, tilting his head. "You already asked me that on Twitter."

Inori arched a brow. "And you didn't answer me there either."

Naruto chuckled, running a hand through his blond hair.

"Like I said, I just wanted to win."

Inori's lips parted slightly. She had interviewed a lot of players.

Many would have used this moment to talk about their dream, their emotions, how much it meant to them.

But Naruto?

His focus was somewhere else entirely.

He wasn't even thinking about this win anymore.

Because Naruto was thinking about the next battle.

Still, she pressed on.

"So then… what did it feel like?"

Naruto's eyes flickered slightly. He thought for a moment, then turned to face her directly.

"What did you think about it?"

Inori blinked.

She hadn't expected him to flip the question back onto her like last time.

She hesitated for a split second, then exhaled.

"It was… impressive."

Naruto grinned slightly, his gaze sharp but amused.

"Good," he murmured. "Because I have more for you later, personally."

Before she could respond, he winked, turning on his heel and walking toward the tunnel.

She stood there, frozen for just a second.

Her microphone lowered slightly.

Her heartbeat quickened just for a moment.

Then, with a deep breath, she lifted her microphone again, watching as the golden haired emperor disappeared into the depths of the stadium.

The world of football had changed.

The moment Naruto Uzumaki's free kick crashed into the net, it was as if time had split into two realities before that goal, and after.

The shockwaves rippled across the football world, reaching every corner of the sport. From players to managers, to analysts, to legends of the game, all of them had witnessed something unprecedented.

A 16 year old had just torn apart one of Spain's golden generations and led Japan to their biggest victory in history.

This wasn't just about the World Cup.

It was about a new king announcing his arrival.

Inside Ubers private training facility, a group of players sat in a dark film room, the massive projector screen displaying the post-match highlights.

The room was dead silent.

The replay showed Naruto's final goal in slow motion his body perfectly aligned, the ball curving through the air, spinning like it had a will of its own before smashing into the back of the net.

A loud whistle broke the silence.

"He actually pulled that off."

Snuffy leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a slow grin creeping onto his face. His sharp, analytical eyes flickered with amusement.

Sitting beside him, Lorenzo rested his chin on his hand, a wide, toothy grin spreading across his face, his golden teeth glinting in the dim light.

"Ooooohh, Uzumaki's looking real strong, real strong…" Lorenzo muttered, his voice dragging in a slow, almost creepy tone. He ran a hand through his hair.

Snuffy exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "I knew he'd be a monster one day… but this is earlier than I expected."

Lorenzo chuckled, tapping his golden teeth with his finger. "He said he'd make me all the money in the world if I helped him win. Looks like he wasn't lying, huh?"

The other Ubers players murmured amongst themselves, all staring at the screen in disbelief.

A defender spoke up, voice laced with tension. "If he keeps this up… he'll be a problem. A real one."

Snuffy smirked, eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "He already is."

Lorenzo leaned back, stretching his long arms behind his head.

"I hope we play him again," he murmured, his creepy grin widening. "It'd be a shame if we didn't get to eat him up one more time."

Snuffy just chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, we will. That's inevitable."

The screen continued playing, highlighting every moment Naruto dominated the game. The room stayed silent again.

They all knew it.

This wasn't just a one off performance.

This was the beginning of something much, much bigger.

Inside the Spanish locker room, there was no anger, no outrage.

Luna sat on the bench, a towel draped over his head, his hands clasped together as he stared at the floor. His mind replayed every moment of the match every duel, every exchange, every second he had battled Naruto Uzumaki.

He had never been challenged like that before.

Not by anyone his age.

Not even by some of the best players he had faced in Spain.

Slowly, his fingers tightened, his lips curling into a small, sharp grin.

"Next time," he muttered under his breath, "I'm taking your head, Emperor."

A large monitor screen illuminated the darkness.

The game replayed on a loop, displaying Naruto's free kick from every possible angle. The ball spinning, bending, flying like it had been guided by fate itself.

A tall, shadowed figure stood before the screen, hands in his pockets. His sharp eyes gleamed behind rectangular glasses, reflecting the screen's light.

The corners of his mouth curled upward.

A slow, deliberate smile. He reached up, adjusting his glasses with a single finger.

"He might have solved the problem."

The screen flickered.

As the match ended.

But for this man, the game was only beginning...

Back in the Japan National Team locker room was far from a place of celebration.

Despite their unbelievable 5-4 victory over Spain, the atmosphere was tense.

Players sat on the benches, some still catching their breath, some lost in thought. The weight of what had just happened still hadn't fully settled in.

But one thing was clear. Japan hadn't won because they were a great team.

They had won because of two players.

Uzumaki Naruto and Itoshi Sae.

And now, their coaches were furious. The head coach, a rigid man with decades of traditional football experience, stormed into the locker room, his jaw clenched, his hands trembling from barely contained anger.

Behind him, the rest of the coaching staff followed, equally tense.

The moment the door slammed shut, the explosion came.

"What the hell was that?! You two" he jabbed a finger at Naruto and Sae "what the hell do you think you're doing trashing our football program in front of the entire world?!"

Naruto, still seated, didn't even flinch.

He simply leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his Emperor's Eye locking onto the coach without a single hint of hesitation.

"Was I wrong?"

The room fell dead silent. The head coach blinked, thrown off by the bluntness.

Naruto stood up slowly, rolling his shoulders before tilting his head.

"Because from where I'm standing, if Sae and I weren't here, Japan would be a laughingstock. No" he corrected himself, his voice sharp "they still kinda are."

A few of the older players sucked in a breath, eyes flickering between Naruto and the coach. No one had ever dared to speak like this before.

The coach's face twisted in rage. "You—"

"Tell me I'm wrong." Naruto's voice cut through the air like a blade.

His expression was calm, but his words carried undeniable weight.

"Tell me our system isn't outdated. Tell me that the only reason we didn't get embarrassed today wasn't because of me and Sae. Tell me Japan has even a sliver of a chance in this tournament if things don't change."

The coach couldn't.

Because Naruto was right.

Japan had been dominated for most of the match. Their tactics, their ideology none of it was working.

They had been saved by two players who didn't follow the "Japanese way" of football.

Naruto stepped forward, his presence commanding.

"If you don't want to hear the truth, that's fine. Keep living in the past. Keep pretending, we can compete with Spain, Germany, and Brazil with your weak-ass, 'team first' mentality while the rest of the world gets ahead."

His gaze darkened. "But don't expect me to be quiet about it."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

The coaching staff was visibly fuming, but they didn't press further.

They couldn't. They could be mad all they wanted.

But they couldn't argue with the truth.

The head coach exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple before glaring at Naruto and Sae.

"We'll deal with this at the hotel."

And with that, the coaches stormed out, the door slamming shut behind them.

As the tension settled, Sae let out a breath, finally standing up from the bench.

He stretched his arms above his head before giving Naruto a sidelong glance, his red eyes flickering with something unreadable.

"You're insane," he muttered.

Naruto scoffed, rolling his neck. "Took you long enough to figure that out."

Sae exhaled through his nose, shaking his head slightly. "You know, I used to think I was the only one in Japan who actually saw how things were. That I was the only one who understood how far behind we really are."

His gaze sharpened, locking onto Naruto with rare intensity.

"But you…" A small pause as Sae watched Naruto.

"You might actually be able to change things."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. He wasn't expecting that.

Sae had always looked down on Japanese football.

For him to say that meant something. Naruto grinned, crossing his arms. "Tch. Took you long enough to respect me, Sae."

Sae smirked, tilting his head slightly. "I respected you as a player. But now?"

He shoved his hands in his pockets.

"I'd like you to come back to Re Al. So, we can continue to dominate."

Naruto chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, damn. Guess that makes us friends now?"

Sae didn't answer immediately.

Then, with a small exhale, he muttered, "Yeah. I guess it does."

For the first time, it didn't feel like rivalry.

It felt like something more.

A partnership. Two players who might actually change Japanese football forever.

The sound of rushing water filled the air, steam rising in gentle waves inside the hotel's private shower room.

Naruto stood under the stream, his muscles sore, his mind still buzzing from the match.

Even though the adrenaline had faded, his body still remembered every moment. Every pass. Every tackle. Every shot.

And, of course the final goal.

He exhaled deeply, running a hand through his wet blond hair. The world had changed tonight.

But right now, he wasn't thinking about football.

His mind was somewhere else.

On her.

After his shower, Naruto threw on a loose black T-shirt and some joggers before stepping out into the quiet hotel hallway.

The tension from the team meeting still lingered in the air, but Naruto had no interest in dealing with it.

He had somewhere else to be. As he found Inori in the lounge area, seated near the floor to ceiling windows, looking out at the city lights.

Her long pink hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, her slender fingers wrapped around a cup of tea. The dim lighting made her look softer, more relaxed than usual.

She didn't notice him at first.

Naruto smirked. "You're gonna get wrinkles if you keep thinking that hard."

Inori glanced up, startled, before rolling her eyes. "Very funny."

Naruto dropped into the seat beside her, stretching his arms behind his head. "You're always so serious," he teased. "It's cute."

Inori huffed. "I prefer 'focused.'"

Naruto grinned. "Same thing."

They sat there for a moment, watching the city glow beneath them. The atmosphere was comfortable, natural, like this wasn't their first time sitting like this.

Because it wasn't. They had spent a lot of time together lately.

Naruto tapped his fingers against his knee, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

"Inori."

She looked at him, tilting her head slightly. "Yeah?"

Naruto hesitated just for a second.

Then, he exhaled and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"I feel a connection with you," he said, his voice steady.

Inori's fingers stilled against her cup.

Naruto didn't look away.

"I know we've only been out once, but we've spent a lot of time together. And… I like being around you. A lot."

A flicker of uncertainty crossed Inori's face, her lips pressing together as she turned her gaze back to the window.

Naruto watched her carefully. He could already see it.

She was overthinking.

Before she could say anything, he spoke again, his voice softer. "You're worried about how it looks, huh?"

Inori's eyes widened slightly. "What?"

Naruto smirked, shaking his head. "I can see it written all over your face."

She hesitated, biting her lip.

"…It's not that I don't like you," she admitted quietly.

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "So you do like me?"

Inori sighed, looking away. "That's not the point."

Naruto leaned back, waiting.

She took a deep breath. "You're becoming more famous every day. And I don't want people to think that I'm just—" She paused, searching for the right words.

Naruto's grin softened into something gentler, more understanding.

"Inori."

She looked at him again, her expression uncertain.

Naruto reached forward, gently tucking a strand of pink hair behind her ear.

"Stop overthinking it."

Her breath hitched slightly.

Naruto's voice was calm, sure, absolute.

"If you like me, then nothing else matters."

For a long moment, they just stared at each other.

Then, slowly, Inori nodded.

"Yeah," she whispered. "I like you."

Naruto smirked. "Good."

And before she could say anything else, he kissed her.

It was soft at first, like they were both testing the waters.

Then, Naruto tilted his head slightly, deepening it just enough to make her fingers tighten against his shirt.

He smirked against her lips, enjoying how she melted just a little.

When they finally pulled away, Inori let out a small laugh, shaking her head.

"You're impossible."

Naruto grinned. "Yeah, but you like that about me."

She sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately."

They sat there, a quiet warmth settling between them, something unspoken but understood.

Then, Inori cleared her throat. "By the way, I wanted to tell you something."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "What, you wanna confess more feelings?"

Inori elbowed him, making him chuckle.

"No," she said, rolling her eyes. "I wanted to tell you about a player from Germany."

Naruto stretched his arms, tilting his head. "Germany? What about them?"

"He scored two goals against Costa Rica today."

Naruto blinked. "Oh yeah? Didn't really notice any big names in that squad."

Inori's expression shifted slightly, something mysterious, almost cautious.

"That's because he wasn't playing before."

Naruto frowned. "What?"

"He arrived late to the World Cup," Inori continued. "Which is why you probably didn't notice him before."

Naruto tilted his head. "Okay… so why are you telling me this?"

Inori took a sip of her tea before glancing at him, her eyes glinting with something unreadable.

"Because… this boy also goes by the name 'Emperor.'"

Naruto's grin faded slightly.

"'Emperor?'"

She nodded. "Or, better yet… 'The Emperor Chosen by God.'"

Naruto blinked.

Then, slowly, his lips curled into a sharp, dangerous smirk.

"Interesting."

The hallways of the media centre were quiet, Naruto and Sae walked side by side, their strides even, their postures relaxed.

Their minds were already on the next challenge... Costa Rica.

Naruto ran a hand through his blond hair, exhaling sharply. "Even if we win, if Spain beats Germany, they'll probably go through on goal difference."

Sae barely spared him a glance. "It doesn't matter."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Sae adjusted the sleeves of his tracksuit, his voice calm, indifferent. "We've already proven everything we needed to. You played the game of your life, and I showed why I'm the best midfielder Japan's ever had. If we don't make it past the group stage, it won't change anything."

Naruto frowned, kicking a stray pebble across the hallway.

"That's not how I see it," he muttered.

Sae sighed. "Of course it isn't."

Naruto smirked slightly. "Because I'm gonna win this whole thing."

Sae scoffed but didn't argue.

As they reached the door to the media room, Naruto pushed it open—

And came face to face with Julian Loki.

Loki stood in the doorway, hands in the pockets of his sleek black tracksuit, his sharp, brown eyes staring directly at Naruto.

For a moment, everything was still.

Naruto's Emperor's Eye locked onto Loki's gaze, scanning him, analysing him, instinctively reading the muscles in his body.

But unlike before unlike their first meeting in Europe, Naruto didn't feel the same crushing helplessness.

Not this time...

Loki tilted his head slightly, his smirk small but unmistakable. "I was wondering when I'd run into you."

Naruto mirrored his smirk. "You were looking for me?" Naruto spoke better English this time around.

Loki exhaled through his nose, glancing at Sae briefly before shifting his attention back.

"Your ankle's looking better." A calculated, smug remark designed to poke at an old wound.

Naruto's smirk didn't waver. His fingers curled slightly at his sides, his body loose but ready.

"Yeah, it's fine," he said smoothly, rolling his neck. Then, with a sharp, mocking grin, he added.

"I think you could rock the broken ankle look better. So, why don't we find out?"

Loki's smirk didn't fade, but his eyes darkened just a fraction.

Before either of them could move before the first step, the first spark that would turn into a full fledged fight.

Sae stepped between them.

"Tch. This is stupid."

Naruto exhaled through his nose, tilting his head. "Nah, this is payback."

His eyes locked onto Loki's again, this time sharper, more serious.

"You broke my ankle," Naruto said, his voice lower, calmer but carrying an edge that could cut through steel.

"You knew you were about to get beat, so you did that bitch move to save your own rep."

Loki's gaze flickered. For a moment, something flashed across his face something unreadable, something dangerous.

Then, a voice from the side interrupted them.

"Well, well."

The tone was silky smooth, laced with arrogance so pure it felt like it carried weight.

A slow clap echoed through the hallway.

Naruto and Loki turned to see Michael Kaiser leaning casually against the wall, watching them with an amused smirk.

His blue eyes gleamed beneath sharp red eyeliner, his blond hair accented by blue streaks falling perfectly into place. His tattoos crawled up his left arm like intertwined chains, the blue rose ink on his neck standing out sharply against his skin.

He looked at Loki first, his smirk widening.

"What's wrong, Loki? You was about to lose, so you decided to snap some bones instead? Pathetic."

Loki's jaw twitched.

Naruto raised an eyebrow. He didn't know who this guy was, but he liked what he was hearing so far.

Kaiser pushed himself off the wall, taking slow, measured steps toward them. He walked like someone who owned the world like a main character stepping into his own movie.

Then, his icy blue eyes landed on Naruto.

"Uzumaki."

Naruto tilted his head. "And you are?"

Kaiser smirked, placing a hand over his chest as if dramatically introducing himself.

"Michael Kaiser. Remember the name, because the next time you hear it, it'll be when I'm making you look like an extra in my story."

Sae exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "Oh, great. Another one."

Naruto chuckled. "So, you're that guy from Germany, huh?"

Kaiser's smirk deepened. "Not just 'that guy.' The best. You'll see soon enough."

He turned slightly, glancing at Loki one last time.

"But for now, let's enjoy watching this little fraud fall apart."

Loki didn't react, but his eyes narrowed just enough to betray a flicker of irritation.

Kaiser's grin widened, satisfied.

Then, without another word, he turned on his heel, walking off into the hallway like a king exiting the stage.

Naruto watched him go, smirking to himself.

This World Cup was getting more interesting by the second. He thought.

The hotel elevator dinged softly, the silver doors sliding open to reveal the quiet hallway of the Japan National Team's floor.

Naruto stepped out, his duffel bag slung over one shoulder, his body still tired from the media interviews. Sae walked beside him, hands shoved deep into his pockets, his usual unimpressed expression in place.

"Your problem is that you attract too much attention," Sae muttered, side eyeing Naruto.

Naruto scoffed. "I don't attract attention. Attention attracts me."

Sae sighed heavily. "That's even worse."

As they walked toward their rooms, Naruto pulled out his phone, finally checking it for the first time since stepping off the interview stage.

His notifications were on fire.