Chapter 36
Tartaros, Domain of the Underworld King - Year X785
The once-mighty floating fortress of Tartaros was now little more than a graveyard of shattered stone and fading curses. At its very heart, the ruins of what had once been Mard Geer's personal chamber lay in silent devastation—blackened by flames, fractured by battle, and drowned in the fading remnants of demonic magic.
Among the wreckage, Mard Geer lay motionless on the cold ground. His body was broken, his strength exhausted, but a strange sense of fulfillment coursed through him. He had lost—to Natsu Dragneel. Yet, despite his defeat, a sliver of satisfaction settled in his chest. The Fire Dragon Slayer had done the impossible, reaching a power beyond their expectations.
As Mard Geer's vision blurred, the echoes of Natsu's voice still rang in his mind:
"A dragon, a demon, a human—it doesn't matter. I am who I AM!"
Orange flames, once ordinary in their destructive beauty, had transformed before Mard Geer's very eyes. It was no longer just Dragon Slayer magic, nor the raw, unrelenting chaos of an Etherious Demon. It was something else—something greater.
Mard Geer had written the prophecy himself. He had inscribed this moment into fate's very fabric. Natsu Dragneel, the one destined to face their revered creator.
And yet… it did not unfold as he had expected.
Natsu had not become a demon.
A pang of disappointment struck Mard Geer's chest, but it was quickly swallowed by something else—pride. Yes, this was fitting. This was how it should be. He had done all of this, fought to his very last breath, not for himself but for Zeref. To grant their revered creator his passing. To give him peace.
Now, from where he lay, Mard Geer watched as Natsu took slow, deliberate steps forward, his movements calm yet unwavering. The fire in his eyes burned not with rage, but with acceptance. His fate, his very existence, had long been intertwined with the immortal before him.
Zeref stood still, his black cloak swaying in the wind of the crumbling fortress. He watched his younger brother, his lips parting as if to speak, but no words came. He could sense it.
The change.
The awakening.
Natsu's fists curled at his sides, his magic flaring around him. His flames—once a brilliant shade of orange—now carried streaks of black, ink-like tendrils weaving through them as if born from the abyss itself. No longer simply Dragon Slayer magic. No longer just the demonic flames of END.
No. This fire was something far greater.
It was the culmination of everything Natsu Dragneel was—his unbreakable will, his ceaseless drive, his burning emotions that could never be extinguished.
Zeref's fingers trembled at his sides.
"Natsu…" he whispered, almost in reverence.
And in that instant, a golden blur moved at inhuman speed.
Naruto—silent yet ever-watchful—appeared beside the unconscious, fragile form of Mavis Vermillion. The First Guild Master, now lying bare and exposed to the world, was gently lifted into Naruto's arms. In one swift motion, he wrapped a large white blanket around her, shielding her from the ruin and the cold.
Yet even as Naruto's presence filled the air, Zeref did not waver. His crimson eyes remained locked onto his younger brother.
Who now stood before him, not as a dragon, not a demon.
But as himself—Natsu.
His younger brother had awakened.
The fortress trembled beneath the weight of history unfolding. The crumbling ruins bore witness to the clash of two brothers—one burdened by death and tragedy, the other burning with unrelenting life.
As if passing judgment upon the past itself, Natsu began to wail on Zeref.
Each strike carried the force of a lifetime's worth of emotions—grief, anger, sorrow, and, above all, an unshakable resolve. His fists, wreathed in flames now streaked with black ink, crashed into Zeref's immortal form. The blows came not as mere attacks but as declarations, each impact hammering against the cursed shell of the Black Wizard's existence.
BOOM!
A flaming right hook sent Zeref skidding across the stone floor. His boots dug trenches into the broken ground, yet he did not fight back.
CRACK!
A left cross landed next, sending the immortal's head snapping to the side. Yet, for all the strength behind Natsu's assault, something was wrong—Zeref did not feel pain.
Not like before.
Not like the countless battles that had shaped his lonely, endless existence.
There was no agony, no suffering. Instead, with every strike, something began to wash over him.
A sensation he had long forgotten.
For centuries, he had been burdened by the weight of his curse—God Ankhseram's divine punishment. A life of isolation, where everything he touched perished. Yet now, as Natsu's fists connected again and again, Zeref felt something breaking away—not his bones, not his flesh, but something deeper.
Something inside of him.
His curse.
Mard Geer, watching from the sidelines, felt a revelation settle in his mind.
Natsu's flames...
They weren't ordinary fire, nor just the destructive might of a Dragon Slayer. They weren't even the chaotic energy of END, the demon meant to destroy Zeref.
These flames responded to his will.
To his very soul.
It was as if his emotions had taken shape—raw, unrelenting, absolute.
This was not an attempt to kill Zeref.
No.
This was something else entirely.
Naruto, standing nearby, his sharp blue eyes observing every movement, curled his lips into a small, knowing smile. This was Natsu's way of knocking sense into his brother's mind.
Not through words. Not through reason.
Through fire.
Through force.
Through the only language Zeref would understand after lifetimes of suffering—a battle that refused to let him retreat into the past.
A battle that forced him to see the present.
To push forward, toward a future he had given up on long ago.
Zeref staggered under the relentless barrage, his once-pristine black robes now tattered and scorched. Yet, in the flickering light of his brother's flames, something changed.
His crimson eyes—usually cold and unreadable—widened.
For the first time in centuries, Zeref felt his thoughts quiet. The constant noise, the suffocating guilt, the endless regrets of a life he could never escape… they were burning away.
Mard Geer exhaled softly, realization settling deep into his core.
His voice was calm, almost reverent.
"This is not an elimination," he murmured, eyes locked onto the unfolding battle.
A gust of heat rolled over the battlefield as Natsu's flames roared, rising like a beacon, like a guiding star in the abyss of Zeref's darkness.
Mard Geer's raven eyes flickered in understanding.
"This is baptism."
And in that moment, Zeref gasped—not from pain, not from despair—
But from clarity.
The air itself trembled. Ash and embers swirled like ghosts of the past, whispering through the crumbling ruins of the once-pristine chamber of the underworld king. The remnants of battle lay strewn across the shattered ground, but within this wreckage stood two brothers—one burdened by eternity, the other ablaze with fleeting yet undeniable life.
Natsu stood before Zeref, his body wreathed in flames, his fists clenched with an unshakable resolve. His gaze burned hotter than his fire, but there was no hatred in his eyes—only understanding.
Only acceptance.
His voice, steady and firm, cut through the silence like a blade.
"Is this what you wanted, brother?"
Zeref's breath hitched. He knew what Natsu meant.
A choice. A truth.
Natsu was not here to kill him in rage, nor to fulfill some ancient prophecy of destruction. He was here to free him.
To liberate him from the chains of his curse.
The Black Wizard stood still, his body trembling—not in fear, not in pain, but in something deeper. A quiet, fragile hope.
For centuries, he had lived in despair, believing himself beyond salvation. But now… now he was standing before the one soul in the world that had the power to save him.
His most cherished.
His younger brother.
Natsu.
Zeref lifted his head, looking at the brother he had waited for across countless lifetimes. The flames reflected in his dark eyes, and for the first time in hundreds of years, they were clear—no longer clouded by sorrow, guilt, or endless regret.
He understood now.
And so, he embraced it.
He embraced judgment.
Zeref stepped forward, raising his chin, standing tall. If this was the end, let it come from the one person he trusted to do it right.
Let it come from Natsu.
The younger Dragneel saw it—the acceptance in his brother's eyes.
There was no hesitation.
With a roar that shook the heavens, Natsu swung.
A massive fist, wrapped in fire as bright as the sun, cut through the air. The heat seared the very fabric of existence, an inferno that burned with something far greater than mere destruction—it burned with meaning.
Zeref did not brace himself.
He did not flinch.
He did not resist.
Because if it was Natsu…
If it was his brother...
Then perhaps—just perhaps—he could finally look forward once more.
BOOM!
The impact was thunderous.
Natsu's burning fist dug deep into Zeref's gut, the flames roaring to life as if devouring the very essence of the curse that had shackled him for so long. The force sent a shockwave through the ruins, blowing away dust, debris, and the lingering remnants of the past.
But within the storm of fire and force, something broke.
Something that had once been unbreakable.
The suffocating grip of God Ankhseram's curse—the cruel, eternal burden placed upon Zeref—shattered.
And for the first time in over four hundred years, Zeref Dragneel…
Was simply a man.
His breath came ragged, his vision swam. His body, once immortal, once cursed, once beyond salvation, now felt… light.
He stumbled, dropping to his knees as the fire around him faded. The suffocating weight he had carried for so long—the endless torment of being unable to die, the ceaseless agony of taking life without meaning to—was gone.
All that remained was a man.
Natsu's older brother.
Zeref Dragneel.
For a fleeting moment, Zeref remained on his knees, his body trembling, his breaths shallow. The curse that had bound him for over four centuries—the weight of endless suffering, of countless deaths, of an existence where love only brought despair—was gone.
He could feel it.
The oppressive grip of God Ankhseram's touch had vanished, no longer gnawing at his soul, no longer suffocating him under the weight of immortality.
His body, once untouchable by the laws of life and death, now felt fragile. Mortal.
A strange sensation washed over him—something he had long forgotten.
Relief.
His vision blurred, the orange glow of Natsu's fire flickering in his fading sight. A warmth—not of destruction, but of salvation—enveloped him.
"So this is reprieve…"
Zeref let out a slow, shaking breath, his lips parting slightly as if to speak, but no words came. His strength, drained. His mind, unburdened.
And then—
He fell.
The once-feared Black Wizard, the immortal being who had shaped history with his very existence, collapsed onto the scorched ground. His dark robes billowed for a brief moment before settling over his now-mortal frame.
Zeref's eyes watched over Natsu's serene face then it shifted to Mavis's unconscious figure.
Then, silence.
Zeref Dragneel had fallen, unconscious.
Natsu gently carried his older brother toward the unconscious form of the founding master, Mavis. He laid Zeref down beside her, his movements uncharacteristically soft, as if afraid he might wake them.
Nearby, Naruto watched, a small smile tugging at his lips—proud, relieved.
"You did it, Natsu," Naruto said.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Natsu smiled. Truly smiled.
Naruto's gaze shifted to Zeref and Mavis, their faces peaceful, as if lost in a deep, dreamless sleep. His expression softened before he turned toward the fallen demon.
Mard Geer lay motionless, his raven eyes dim yet content, as if satisfied with the way things had ended. He saw Naruto approaching and met his gaze, already prepared for whatever came next.
Natsu followed closely behind.
"Hey." Naruto knelt beside Mard Geer, his palm outstretched, the faint glow of healing force shimmering at his fingertips.
Mard Geer's brow furrowed. "W-what are you—?"
"Just ease up man," Naruto gave him a knowing smile.
A moment passed, the weight of battle slowly lifting.
Natsu tilted his head toward the sky, feeling the stillness that had settled over Tartaros—no more tremors, no more destruction.
"Looks like the others won." His voice was quiet, thoughtful.
Naruto exhaled, glancing up as well. "Yeah..."
Dusk had settled, casting long shadows over the ruins of Tartaros. The once-mighty dark guild lay in defeat at the hands of Fairy Tail. Only six remained—Mard Geer, Kyoka, Seilah, Tempester, Lamy, and Jackal—now watching over Zeref's sleeping form in a chamber untouched by the earlier chaos.
Naruto wasted no time notifying the others about what had transpired.
Laxus, upon hearing the news, immediately sprang into action. Without hesitation, he set off for Magnolia to ensure his grandfather and the guild's safety, knowing Makarov had barely survived his encounter with Zeref.
"Whatever it is you're thinking, save it for later," Laxus said to Naruto before heading out. "I have to go back and make sure Gramps and the others are safe."
Trailing behind him were the Thunder God Tribe—Fried, Bickslow, and Evergreen—determined to accompany their leader.
Naruto urged the others to return with them, leaving Erza's team and Mystogan's group to handle the remaining matters with Tartaros. Using the same airship that had brought them to the floating fortress, Gildarts, Cana, Fried, Bickslow, Evergreen, Elfman, Juvia, Gajeel, and Levy departed, catching up to Laxus before setting off toward Magnolia.
The dim chamber was silent except for the quiet breathing of the unconscious Mavis Vermillion, a room separate from Zeref and the remaining members of Tartaros. Around her, Fairy Tail's strongest warriors sat, their bodies weary from battle but their minds still racing. The hard-earned victory over Tartaros had come at a steep cost, and now, they found themselves in the aftermath, tending to their wounds while absorbing the weight of what had transpired.
Gathered in the room were Naruto, Mystogan, Natsu, Erza, Mirajane, Wendy, Carla, Gray, Lucy, and Happy—all exhausted, yet resolute.
Naruto had just finished telling them the abridged story of Zeref Dragneel, his curse, and his plans to use Neo-Eclipse, a mechanism that could warp time itself. He also explained his theory on Mavis, how she came to exist again—not as a spirit, but as a living being. He suspected that when he had fought against Zeref, he had unknowingly pulled out a fragment of Mavis's lingering life force, which had remained inside Zeref after his ascension into his Fairy Heart state. That lingering energy had now taken physical form, restoring her body.
Seated in a chair, Mystogan gazed at Mavis's sleeping form, his expression unreadable.
"This has gotten complicated," he muttered.
"What about Tartaros?" Erza broke the silence, her sharp eyes locking onto Naruto. "We haven't contacted the Magic Council yet. You told me not to—why?"
Naruto hesitated for a moment, his gaze shifting toward Zeref, who still lay unconscious in another part of the fortress.
"I… have things to settle with Zeref once he wakes up," Naruto admitted.
Mystogan, who had remained quiet for much of the discussion, finally spoke up.
"Naruto," he said, his voice steady. "Should we tell them?"
Naruto turned to look at his fellow guildmates—his family. His gaze lingered on Wendy, Carla in her human form, Erza, Mirajane, Gray, Lucy, Happy, and finally, Natsu. These people had fought beside him, trusted him, and stood against impossible odds. There was no more reason to hide it. His blue eyes met Mystogan's, and after a brief moment of contemplation, Naruto nodded.
"Yeah," he said, his voice firm. "It's time we told them the truth."
Mirajane blinked, tilting her head in curiosity. "The truth?" she echoed.
Naruto nodded again before exhaling deeply. "The truth is… Mystogan and I came from another world."
Silence fell over the room as the words settled in. Their exhausted faces shifted into confusion and disbelief.
Mystogan stepped in to clarify. "And just to be clear, Naruto and I are not from the same world either," he added. "My world is closer to this one—Earthland. A mirror world, a reflection called Edolas."
That revelation sent a ripple of realization through the group. At last, they had an answer—a reason why Mystogan was identical to Jellal Fernandes in every way.
The room remained silent, tension thick in the air.
Erza crossed her arms, her sharp gaze never leaving Naruto. "Another world…?" she repeated slowly, her voice calm but firm. "Explain."
Naruto's somber smile faded as he prepared to tell them everything.
"While Mystogan came from a world that mirrors this one, I came from another world—probably far, far away from both his and this world."
"Probably?" Erza raised a brow.
Naruto nodded. The room had gone completely silent as everyone listened carefully.
"I arrived in this world a little over a year and a couple of months ago. At first, I didn't even realize I was in another world. It took me a month before I found civilization," Naruto admitted, his gaze drifting toward Wendy and Carla.
Their eyes widened as they put the pieces together. "A-and that was Cait Shelter!" Wendy and Carla exclaimed in unison.
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. That was the first place where I finally met people in this world."
Leaning back against the wall, Naruto sighed before continuing.
"My world has no magic, but people there wield something similar. We call it chakra."
He paused, giving them a moment to process the information. Some, like Erza and Lucy, were listening intently, while others, like Natsu and Happy, were visibly struggling to sit still.
"To explain it better," Naruto continued, "our world—at least the main continent I grew up in—is divided into five nations. Each of these nations has what we call Hidden Villages, which function very much like the guilds of this world. The difference is, instead of wizards, we have shinobi."
Gray, who had been leaning against a nearby wall, suddenly jerked back. "Shinobi… you mean ninja? You're a ninja?!"
Natsu's eyes perked up, practically sparkling with excitement. Without hesitation, he scooted closer to Naruto, dragging Happy with him. "Wait, wait! You're seriously a ninja?! Like an actual one?!"
Naruto smirked. "See for yourself."
He formed a hand seal and, with a small poof , a perfect shadow clone appeared beside him.
"WHOA!" Natsu practically jumped in excitement as the clone casually picked up Happy and held him up.
"It's not like the Thought Projection magic," Happy marveled, poking the clone's cheek. "It's solid! Like a real person!"
The clone chuckled, placing Happy back on the ground before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
Carla, sitting gracefully, tapped her chin. "So that's why you're so efficient in missions. You've been trained differently."
Naruto nodded. "Yeah, I had a rough training growing up."
Lucy, who had been processing everything in quiet fascination, finally spoke up. "T-then… how did you guys arrive here?" She looked between Naruto and Mystogan.
Mystogan, who had been listening patiently, leaned forward slightly. "I arrived in this world through something called Anima. My father was using this world's energy—Ethernano—stealing it from Earthland to fuel Edolas. His actions were causing destruction in both worlds, so I followed him here to stop him and tamper with his attempts to pillage more resources. That was nearly a decade ago."
Wendy's eyes widened. "Oh! So… the Anima you mentioned back then was…?"
Mystogan nodded. "Anima is essentially a portal of sorts. A gateway between worlds."
Wendy let out a soft ohh in realization, while Erza and Gray exchanged glances, clearly piecing things together.
Naruto, arms crossed, let out a sigh. "And my case? Well… let's just say I was thrown into this world by forces beyond my control."
"Beyond your control?" Lucy raised a brow, curiosity laced in her tone.
Naruto sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah. I already told Mystogan how it happened. I didn't arrive here through Anima… probably a freak accident of sorts."
Mystogan coughed deliberately, clearly urging Naruto to explain further.
Naruto rolled his eyes at the blue-haired man before giving in with a chuckle. "Alright, alright, I'll spill."
The group leaned in, eager to hear more.
"For starters, my last memory from my world was having dinner with my wife, Hinata—"
"WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!" Gray practically fell over, jerking back in shock.
Everyone, except for Mystogan, was utterly taken aback.
Mirajane, usually composed, didn't physically react, but her mouth hung open in sheer disbelief.
"YOU HAVE A WIFE?!" Natsu screamed, pointing at Naruto in pure shock.
"AYAYAYAYAYAYA!" Happy flapped his wings frantically, his excitement skyrocketing at the juicy revelation. His wide eyes darted toward Mirajane, who remained frozen in place, looking as if she had just been struck by lightning.
Erza, on the other hand, visibly paled. "W-w-when you were saying you were a married man back then… it was true?!"
As the realization hit her, she took an involuntary step back, her face going red as memories of all the flirtatious, teasing, and downright suggestive comments she had thrown at Naruto over time came rushing back like a tidal wave of regret.
"GAH—!" With a strangled noise, she collapsed to her knees, utterly destroyed by second-hand embarrassment.
Lucy, watching Erza's dramatic reaction, blinked in confusion before shifting her attention to Mirajane, who had gone eerily silent.
"Uh… Miss Mira? Are you okay?" Lucy asked cautiously as she took a step closer.
Mirajane quickly snapped out of her daze, flashing her signature warm smile—though something about it felt… off.
"Mhm, I'm fine, Lucy… really," she hummed sweetly, but the tiniest hint of sadness betrayed her words.
As she turned away, the group caught sight of a tiny tear forming at the very corner of her eye.
A collective thought passed through their minds at the same time:
"She's definitely affected."
Mystogan was holding his composure, well he knew the truth but seeing a girl's heart shatter in real time, yeah that was… that was devastating.
Carla cleared her throat deliberately, breaking the heavy silence that had settled over the group.
Everyone's attention shifted back to Naruto, who exhaled deeply before continuing.
"As I've said… I was…" His voice trailed off as his gaze momentarily flickered toward Mirajane.
Lucy, noticing this, immediately placed a comforting hand on Mirajane's back, subtly reassuring her. Mirajane did her best to keep her composure, not wanting to cause a scene, but her grip on her dress tightened.
Naruto hesitated, swallowing hard. "I… uhh… I was having dinner—"
The tension in the air was thick, his voice heavy with unspoken emotions. The weight of his past, the life he had left behind, made it difficult to continue.
"And then…" He hesitated again, his brows furrowing. "Then… my son, Kawaki—"
"Huhuhu… he's got a son !" Mirajane suddenly wailed, lifting the hem of her dress to cover her face.
Lucy was quick to react, gently rubbing Mirajane's back as she sniffled and tried to suppress her reaction. "There~ there~"
Naruto, now sweating slightly from the atmosphere, felt an overwhelming guilt settle in his chest, but he pressed forward.
"Kawaki… he started saying things… about killing my son, Boruto."
A beat of silence.
Then—
"W-what?" Mirajane's weeping halted abruptly, though she was still sniffling. Her teary eyes blinked in confusion.
The shift in the conversation was jarring, and the others were similarly taken aback.
Lucy frowned. "Wait… what? Why would he say that?"
Naruto let out a long sigh before deciding to start from the beginning.
"Okay, where should I start… Alright. For context—Kawaki is my adopted child. He was 14 at the time before I got sent here, and Boruto—my biological son—was 12."
"Uhh… is this related to ninja stuff? Like… something about tradition or inheritance?" Lucy asked, tilting her head.
Naruto immediately shook his head. "No, it's not that. It's… something entirely different."
He paused for a moment, then continued, his voice growing graver.
"See, in my world, we had a major issue involving beings from another world—not dimensions, not parallel universes, but entirely different planets. They were called the Ōtsutsuki Clan ."
The group listened carefully, their usual lively energy subdued by the serious shift in Naruto's tone.
"This clan, in particular, has one goal. They plant a seed on a planet—cultivating it until it grows into a massive tree. This tree then absorbs all the life energy of the planet, leaving it completely barren. In the process, it produces a single fruit—the very culmination of that planet's essence. And by eating that fruit… they become even stronger."
A heavy silence fell upon them.
Then—
"So… aliens?" Lucy asked hesitantly, her mind drawing connections from the many novels she had read.
"ALIENS?!" Gray, Natsu, and Happy exclaimed in unison, their eyes widening in disbelief.
Naruto nodded. "Yeah."
Mystogan folded his arms, contemplating the information. "If I had to guess… that clan began targeting your world—to pillage its resources."
Naruto gave him an approving nod. "Exactly."
Erza's eyes narrowed, her analytical mind piecing things together. "And without a doubt… they must have been unimaginably strong."
Naruto exhaled, nodding once more. "That's right."
Mirajane, still reeling from her emotions, suddenly perked up. Her voice was shaky, but there was a burning curiosity behind her words.
"B-but… how does that relate to Kawaki wanting to kill your son, Boruto?"
Everyone turned back to Naruto, their expressions expectant.
Naruto's face darkened. He lowered his gaze, the weight of his past pressing heavily on his shoulders.
"That… is where things get complicated."
Naruto took a deep breath, preparing to lay out the grim details. The group leaned in, sensing the gravity of what he was about to say.
"We had two major attacks from the Ōtsutsuki Clan," he began, his voice steady but weighted with experience. "The first was by Momoshiki and his partner, Kinshiki. Momoshiki was the real threat here, and his target was the Tailed Beasts of our world."
Gray furrowed his brows. "Tailed Beasts? What the hell are those?"
"Creatures of pure chakra," Naruto explained, glancing at Gray before looking at the rest of the group. "They're beings made entirely of energy. Each one is massive, powerful, and unique. And at that time… I carried the strongest among them—the Nine-Tailed Fox, Kurama."
Natsu's eyes lit up. "A giant fox made of energy?! That sounds awesome !" He pumped his fists, already imagining the kind of fight he would have against such a creature.
"Yeah, well, not when you're the one being hunted because of it," Naruto muttered, rubbing the back of his head.
Mirajane wiped her eyes, her earlier sadness momentarily pushed aside by curiosity. "And this… Momoshiki? What did he want with them?"
Naruto exhaled sharply, his fists clenching slightly. "Power. He wanted to extract their chakra for himself. And since I was the one carrying Kurama, I became his prime target."
Erza's grip on her sword tightened. "So he came after you directly."
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. That bastard didn't waste any time. He used my village—my people—as hostages. Then he threw down an attack so massive, it would have leveled everything if I didn't shield them."
Lucy covered her mouth, horrified. "That's… monstrous."
"I had no choice but to go all out," Naruto admitted, his voice softer, tinged with the burden of his choices. "But even after that… I got taken."
The room fell silent.
Happy's wings drooped. "You mean… he kidnapped you?"
Naruto nodded. "Dragged me to some barren wasteland, tied me up, and started siphoning my chakra. He wanted to drain me dry before moving on to the next step."
"That son of a—!" Gray gritted his teeth, his hands clenching into fists. "So what happened next?"
A small, proud smile ghosted Naruto's lips. "That's when my lifelong friend, Sasuke, and my son, Boruto, came for me—along with the other leaders of the world. They fought to free me."
Natsu grinned. "Hell yeah! That's what I'm talking about! Bet you gave that guy a real beatdown after that!"
Naruto chuckled dryly. "It wasn't that easy. While the others fought Kinshiki, Sasuke and I took on Momoshiki. We were pushing him back, had him cornered… until Kinshiki sacrificed himself."
The group collectively stiffened.
"He what ?" Erza's eyes narrowed.
"He offered himself to Momoshiki," Naruto said grimly. "Let him absorb his power. And with that, Momoshiki became even stronger."
"Tch. Talk about playing dirty," Gray muttered.
Mystogan folded his arms. "So how did you defeat him?"
Naruto exhaled, his expression unreadable. "It took everything Sasuke and I had just to hold him down. But the finishing blow… came from my son, Boruto."
Mirajane, who had remained quiet up until now, suddenly perked up again. "Your son… took down an enemy that you and Sasuke struggled against?"
Naruto nodded. "Yes and no, Boruto only dealt the last critical blow, it was a three man work, utilizing his unique technique to take down Momoshiki. When we defeated Momoshiki… that's where everything truly began."
His face darkened as he said the name.
"Karma."
The word sent a shiver through the room. The weight behind it was undeniable.
Lucy hesitated. "Karma…?"
Naruto's gaze turned solemn. "A curse. A brand left by the Ōtsutsuki… and the beginning of something much worse."
The room remained silent, the weight of Naruto's words settling over the group like a heavy storm cloud. He took a deep breath before continuing.
"Karma…" Naruto said, his tone grim. "After Boruto landed the final blow on Momoshiki, we thought it was over. But in truth… it was just beginning."
Gray leaned forward, his expression serious. "What do you mean?"
Naruto sighed. "When an Ōtsutsuki dies, they don't necessarily die . They leave behind a failsafe—a last resort to ensure their survival. That failsafe… is Karma."
Natsu scratched his head. "So what, it's like a ghost or something?"
Naruto shook his head. "No. It's worse. Karma is like a virus. When an Ōtsutsuki is on the brink of death, they plant their essence into a host—an unwitting person. That essence embeds itself into their very being, slowly rewriting them on a cellular level, converting them into an Ōtsutsuki. Over time, the host loses themselves completely… and when the process is complete, the original Ōtsutsuki takes over their body, resurrecting through them."
Lucy gasped. "That's horrifying… So you're saying…"
Naruto's eyes darkened. "Yes. Momoshiki did exactly that to Boruto."
The revelation sent a chill through the group.
Mirajane covered her mouth, eyes filled with dread. "Your own son… was being turned into a monster against his will?" The way Karma functioned was eerily similar to take over magic.
Naruto clenched his fists. "Exactly. At first, we didn't even realize what was happening. The Karma mark looked harmless, just a strange symbol on his palm. But as time passed, we noticed changes—he began to gain access to techniques only an Otsutsuki was capable off, his chakra signature fluctuating… and then there were moments where Boruto wasn't Boruto anymore."
Erza furrowed her brows. "You mean…?"
Naruto nodded. "There were times when Momoshiki took control of his body. He would override Boruto's consciousness completely and use his powers as he pleased. If we hadn't stopped him in those moments… I don't know what kind of damage he could have done."
The weight of the revelation pressed heavily on everyone.
Mystogan, ever the strategist, finally spoke. "So you weren't just dealing with the Ōtsutsuki… you were fighting against time. Against the inevitability of Boruto's complete transformation."
Naruto nodded grimly. "Exactly. And that's where Kara comes in."
The mood remained tense as Naruto continued.
"Kara was an underground organization working in the shadows, controlling things behind the scenes. Their leader, a man named Jigen , was the one who turned everything upside down."
Natsu frowned. "Jigen? That doesn't sound like an Ōtsutsuki name."
"That's because he wasn't one… at least, not originally." Naruto explained. "Jigen was once a normal man, but he became a vessel for an even greater threat—an Ōtsutsuki named Isshiki."
Lucy shuddered. "Another one?!"
Naruto nodded. "Isshiki was different from Momoshiki. More calculating. More patient. He had been hiding for centuries, waiting for the perfect host to resurrect through. And that host… was Jigen."
Gray crossed his arms. "So let me get this straight. This Jigen guy was basically a puppet for an even stronger Ōtsutsuki?"
"Yeah," Naruto confirmed. "But he wasn't the only one. Kara had several members—each of them enhanced, each of them deadly. And among them… was a boy named Kawaki ."
Mirajane blinked through her teary eyes. "Kawaki… You mentioned him before."
Naruto's expression softened, yet there was a deep sadness in his gaze. "Yeah… Kawaki was different. He wasn't a villain. He was a victim. Jigen took him in as a child, experimented on him, tortured him, and turned him into a vessel for Isshiki's Karma. Just like Boruto, he carried that same cursed mark, meaning his body wasn't his own—it was a ticking time bomb, waiting to be taken over."
Happy's ears drooped. "That's awful…"
Naruto's jaw tightened. "We found Kawaki, and despite his past, we took him in. I saw myself in him—an orphan, alone, unwanted by the world. I raised him like my own son… but no matter how much I tried to protect him, he never saw himself as anything other than a tool."
Erza lowered her head slightly. "He was conditioned to believe that was his only purpose in life…"
Naruto exhaled, his gaze heavy with emotion. "Under my care, Kawaki changed. At first, he was cold, distant—like a wild animal that had been caged for too long. But slowly… he started to open up."
Mirajane listened intently, her hands clasped together. "He found something worth holding onto?"
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. He started to learn about life outside of battle. He grew attached to the people around him—Boruto, Sarada, Himawari, even the old man at the ramen stand." A small, bittersweet smile flickered on his lips. "But more than anything… he grew attached to me."
Gray furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"
Naruto sighed. "It wasn't just respect. It wasn't just gratitude. It was love… No, perhaps—" he hesitated for a moment, the words weighing heavily on him, "—an obsession born from love."
The room fell silent.
"Kawaki saw me as the one good thing in his life. The only thing that gave him peace, that gave him purpose. And because of that…" Naruto's fists clenched, "he was willing to do anything for my sake. Even the worst possible act."
Lucy swallowed hard. "What do you mean…?"
Naruto's voice was barely above a whisper. "He wanted to save me. From making the hardest choice a father could ever make."
Erza's eyes widened. "You mean…?"
Naruto's gaze darkened, his hands trembling slightly. "Momoshiki's control over Boruto was growing stronger. The more Boruto used his power, the more the transformation progressed. I knew—one day, if things continued like that—I might have to do something unforgivable."
Natsu, who had been listening quietly, clenched his fists. "You mean… you'd have to—"
Naruto shut his eyes. "Kill my own son."
The words sent a shockwave through the group.
Happy gasped. "No way…"
Mirajane covered her mouth, tears threatening to spill. "That's… too cruel."
Naruto looked up, his eyes filled with pain. "Kawaki knew that. He knew how much I loved Boruto. How much it would destroy me to even consider something like that. And so, before it ever reached that point—before Momoshiki could fully take over—Kawaki made a decision."
Gray's voice was quiet, almost hesitant. "What did he do?"
Naruto exhaled shakily. "He vowed to kill every last Ōtsutsuki. He would wipe them out, no matter what it took. And that included Boruto."
The room fell deathly silent.
Naruto's words hung in the air like a heavy storm cloud, suffocating and inescapable. No one dared to speak, their eyes locked onto him, searching for any sign that he might take back what he had just said. But there was no hesitation in his voice—only sorrow, resignation, and a deep, unbearable pain.
"To him, it was the only way to save me."
The weight of those words pressed against Naruto's chest like an iron chain. He looked down at his hands, clenched tightly into fists, as if trying to hold something in—anger, grief, regret… he wasn't sure anymore.
His voice was quieter now, but the pain it carried was deafening. "In my last memories of my world… I was home. I was having dinner with my wife, Hinata."
He exhaled shakily, as if the mere act of remembering made his chest tighten. "And then… Kawaki spoke."
The shift had been so sudden, so absolute, that even now, it felt unreal.
"He made his declaration. With a voice that held no doubt, no hesitation—he vowed to kill all Ōtsutsuki. Every last one of them. And in extension… my son, Boruto."
The moment replayed in his mind like a cruel dream, each word from Kawaki cutting deeper than any blade.
Naruto's fingers dug into his palms.
His voice wavered, bitterness creeping in. "The last thing I saw before darkness swallowed me… was his face. Steeled. Resolute. Ready to do the unthinkable… for my sake."
He closed his eyes.
"Then, everything went black."
Silence stretched once more, suffocating, endless.
Naruto exhaled, forcing himself to continue. "I don't know how long I was unconscious. Time felt… strange there. Empty. When I finally woke up… I wasn't in my world anymore."
His hands relaxed, his expression hardening.
"I woke up here… in this world."
Chapter End