A hundred kilometers from the complex, the X-Men gathered in a camouflaged mobile command center. Inside the armored vehicle, equipped with advanced technology, a tense atmosphere prevailed.
Leaning over a holographic map, Cyclops frowned, studying the smallest details of the image. His face remained focused and serious.
"Professor," he broke the silence, "are you sure this is the only way? Sending these youngsters alone seems too risky."
Xavier thoughtfully folded his hands. His face remained inscrutable, but his eyes betrayed an inner struggle. He remembered how Naruto first presented his plan. Initially, the idea seemed reckless, even dangerous. However, as they delved into the details, it became clear: this might be their only chance for success. The risk was enormous, but the price of inaction—even higher.
The abilities of both strangers to infiltrate covertly amazed the imagination. They possessed not only the strength to move mountains but also the ability to act incredibly subtly and unnoticeably. Their skills opened completely new possibilities for conducting the operation.
"Unfortunately, yes. The complex's scanners are tuned to detect the X-gene. If any of us approaches even within a few kilometers, we risk ruining the entire operation."
The red-haired telepath turned away from the wall of monitors and shook her head:
"I've checked all possible options for telepathic intervention. The complex's defenses are too strong even for the Professor and me combined."
"But these two kids have a chance," grunted Wolverine, not changing his position by the doorway.
The girl with gloves nervously fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve. Memories of her recent meeting with Naruto troubled her. She understood that with their power, they were unlikely to face real danger, but anxiety still wouldn't let go.
"But they're all alone there," Rogue said quietly. "How can we help if something goes wrong?"
Beast adjusted his glasses and pointed to the miniature devices on the table:
"These transmitters are the key to the operation's success. By installing them every thirty meters, the boys will breach the complex's jamming system. This will not only provide us with communication but also allow us to remotely activate the virus."
"What if the guards discover these devices?" frowned Colossus, not moving from the vehicle's entrance.
"Unlikely," replied the scientist. "They're designed to mimic ordinary elements of the complex's systems. Even under careful inspection, they'll be extremely difficult to distinguish from standard equipment."
Bobby and Kurt, sitting at the table with plans, exchanged worried glances.
"What about the virus itself?" Kurt spoke up. "Are we sure it will work?"
Beast removed his glasses, carefully wiped them, and put them back on. His gaze hardened:
"The virus is our secret weapon. Using the data obtained, we've created something capable of neutralizing the most dangerous function of the collars—the poison injection. Unfortunately, we can't unlock the collars and remove them completely through the main computer. We have to work with what we have. But even this will give us an advantage. We can act unseen... For a time."
The Professor turned his wheelchair to face the team:
"Our main task now is to support Naruto and Sasuke in every possible way. They are our only hope for saving thousands of mutants."
The team leader straightened up, his voice sounding confident:
"Alright. Let's go through the plan once more. We need to be prepared for all possible scenarios."
The team gathered around the holographic map, preparing for a detailed discussion of each stage of the operation.
The setting sun slowly disappeared beyond the horizon, plunging the massive complex rising from the endless plain into shadow. The monumental structure resembled an impregnable fortress more than a scientific center.
The central building, soaring twenty stories high, towered over several smaller buildings. Its top was crowned with a forest of antennas and satellite dishes. The surrounding structures intertwined in a complex geometric pattern, creating a unified architectural ensemble.
A high fence of reinforced concrete encircled the territory. Barbed wire snaked along its top, crackling with electrical current. Guard towers rose every fifty meters, equipped with searchlights and automatic turrets.
A kilometer-wide exclusion zone stretched around the complex—a scorched wasteland without a single bush. Robotic drones methodically patrolled the area while cameras on the towers scanned every meter of ground.
Camouflaged bunkers lurked by the main gates, ready to release battle robots at any moment. The gates themselves, built from ultra-strong alloys, could withstand a direct missile hit.
A couple hundred meters from the perimeter, behind a rocky outcrop, two figures lurked. The shinobi carefully studied every detail of the complex. Their heightened senses detected the slightest sounds and movements. They prepared for a mission on which thousands of lives depended.
Crimson eyes methodically scanned the territory.
"I see three levels of protection," whispered Uchiha. "The outer perimeter with motion sensors and thermal imagers. Behind it—a system of laser grids. Inside—biometric scanners."
Naruto nodded, his usually cheerful face becoming serious.
"My clones have crawled all around. Found something interesting on the northwest side, about ten stories up. A ventilation shaft, though there's a camera sticking out nearby."
Sasuke frowned.
"That could be our chance, if we can distract attention from the camera."
"Oh, don't worry about that," grinned Naruto. "I already have an idea."
"Good," Uchiha replied dryly. "Let's discuss the details."
They spent the next few minutes carefully working through the plan.
"Don't forget the transmitters," said Sasuke, taking out the devices created by Beast. "Without them, we won't be able to contact the team and launch the virus."
Naruto nodded.
"Got it. Well, let's show them what we've got, dattebayo!"
With these words, he formed hand signs, and the next moment, dozens of clones appeared around them. They spread out, preparing for a diversionary maneuver.
Sasuke activated his invisibility jutsu, his silhouette beginning to fade in the air, merging with the twilight.
"Be careful," he whispered, dissolving into the darkness.
Naruto took a deep breath, concentrating on the task ahead. Images of coyotes that Beast had shown during preparation flashed in his memory. His body began to change, taking the form of a wild desert predator. The clones followed his example—in an instant, a real pack emerged in the night darkness.
A piercing howl tore through the silence, echoing off the complex walls. Searchlights on the towers swiftly turned, picking out coyotes darting around the perimeter from the darkness. Guards bustled about, talking on their radios and trying to assess the threat.
Uchiha, waiting for the right moment, created a clone and transformed it into a night bird. The feathered scout soared into the air, beginning to circle near the cameras by the ventilation shaft. When the bird blocked the lens of the nearest camera, Sasuke instantly covered the distance to the wall. Climbing up the vertical surface, he hovered at the entrance to the shaft.
While the guards' attention remained fixed on the commotion below, and the bird continued to block the camera's view, Uchiha silently opened the grate and slipped into the dark interior of the air duct, leaving a narrow gap.
Below, the pack continued its diversionary maneuver. Naruto, still in coyote form, discreetly separated from his copies and rushed toward the wall. In one fluid motion, he ran up the vertical surface, returning to human form on the way, and dove into the partially open shaft.
The grate quietly slid back into place. The clone-bird, making a few more circles for credibility, dissolved into the night sky.
In the cramped space of the ventilation, the shinobi met eyes. Even a whisper here could give them away.
"All clear," Naruto mouthed silently.
Uchiha nodded briefly.
"Let's go."
A glint of excitement flashed in Uzumaki's eyes.
Both shinobi moved silently through the narrow ventilation tunnel, their movements fluid and calculated. The metal beneath their hands and knees was cold, but they paid no attention to it, fully concentrating on their mission. Uchiha led the way, his crimson gaze scanning the space beyond the ventilation walls.
"Stop," whispered the Sharingan wielder, freezing in place. "Two guards passing beneath us."
A few seconds later, the black-haired shinobi nodded, and they continued on their way. Soon they reached a fork—the ventilation shaft split into three directions.
Sasuke exchanged glances with his partner:
"We need to check all paths."
The Jinchūriki nodded in understanding:
"Miniature Shadow Clone Technique!"
Forming hand signs, Naruto created three tiny copies of himself—each no larger than a mouse. The clones silently moved along different tunnels, while their creator closed his eyes, concentrating on the connection with them.
The minutes of waiting seemed like an eternity. Uchiha peered into the darkness of the tunnels, ready for any danger. Finally, his partner opened his eyes.
"The left tunnel leads to some kind of storage," whispered the clone technique master. "The right one ends near offices. The central one goes down and exits into a room with some equipment."
"I think that's where we need to go," replied the Sharingan wielder.
They carefully moved along the central tunnel. After several dozen meters, Sasuke stopped, pointing to a grate below them, and carefully examined the room underneath.
"There's someone down there," he whispered. His partner nodded silently, preparing for action.
Uchiha carefully removed the grate, and both shinobi silently dropped down, finding themselves in a huge technical hall. Humming generators, intertwining pipes, and blinking control panels surrounded them. The air was saturated with the smell of ozone and machine oil. On the opposite side of the hall stood a lone employee, with his back to them.
The owner of the crimson eyes wasted no time approaching him. Activating the Sharingan, he caught the employee's gaze and immersed him in genjutsu. For several seconds, the shinobi scanned the man's memories, extracting the necessary information. However, as it turned out, the employee had only a tenth-level clearance and knew little. Nevertheless, the young Uchiha managed to learn where they should head next. After this, he carefully put the guard to sleep.
"Done," said the dark-haired shinobi quietly, returning to his partner. "I have a rough direction."
The Jinchūriki quickly searched the employee's body, pulling a pass card from his pocket. Then they continued moving between massive machines, following the information obtained. Suddenly, the Sharingan wielder stopped by one of the control panels and pointed to a small area behind it.
"We'll install a device here," he whispered, surveying the space.
Naruto placed a small transmitter developed by Hank in his palm. Uchiha carefully attached the device behind the panel—in a place where it couldn't be found even under thorough inspection.
"Done," he quietly confirmed. Both were still under the invisibility technique, their figures completely hidden from any prying eyes.
The shinobi headed to a door labeled "Level B2." The Nine-Tails carrier approached the scanner, applied the employee's pass to the panel, and the door opened with a quiet hiss.
Finding themselves on the other side of the door, they saw a long corridor leading to office spaces. Sasuke quickly looked around.
"Remember," he whispered, "even being invisible, we can bump into someone or something. Move with extreme caution."
"I know that!"
They began to move along the corridor quickly and carefully. The shinobi's movements were precise and measured, skillfully maneuvering between people and objects. Thanks to their invisibility and refined ninja skills, they avoided any collisions, remaining unnoticed by those around them. Each step was calculated to avoid attracting attention even with an accidental movement of air or sound.
Making their way through offices, they caught fragments of conversations about experiments and new developments. The Sharingan wielder instantly noted important information that might prove useful in the future.
After long maneuvering between tables, chairs, and people, they reached a door labeled "Technical Level C1." Uchiha carefully opened it, and the infiltrators slipped inside.
A massive staircase descended deep down. The invisible shinobi began their descent, ready to freeze at the slightest sound of footsteps.
After several flights, they found themselves before a massive steel door with the sign: "Hangar 17—Restricted Access." The crimson-eyed owner carefully opened it, and a gigantic space was revealed to their gaze. The floor was covered with traces of heavy machinery, the air filled with the smell of lubricants and dust. Tall shelves with containers, boxes, and equipment created a complex labyrinth. Workers by the elevator were focused on moving cargo, not paying attention to details around them.
The hidden shinobi moved along the wall, carefully avoiding equipment and watching those around them. Noticing a group of soldiers by the elevator, the dark-haired ninja whispered:
"Let's blend in with them and go straight down."
The Jinchūriki nodded, and they slid closer, hiding behind large boxes. Their movements remained smooth and fast, carefully controlling the distance from the soldiers.
"Cargo for the lower level," said one of the soldiers, showing his pass to the guard.
The guard silently opened the elevator doors. The invisible shinobi soundlessly followed the group inside, pressing against the back wall. Silence reigned in the cabin, interrupted only by the slight hum of mechanisms.
When the doors closed and the elevator began to descend, the partners exchanged brief glances. The operation was going according to plan—the main thing now was to remain undetected until the end.
In the tense silence, the soldiers stood motionless, looking straight ahead. Suddenly, one of them, a middle-aged man with a hard gaze, quietly said:
"Damn mutants. Jackson got electrocuted yesterday. The bastard managed it even with a collar on."
The hidden ninja listened attentively to the conversation, maintaining expressionless faces but not missing a single movement of the soldiers.
The second soldier, older, nodded:
"Yeah, I heard. Jackson's in the hospital now. And that... what's his name... is rotting in solitary."
The young soldier nervously adjusted his weapon:
"What about the new ones? They say they brought in a bunch."
The senior soldier smirked:
"They did. But there's no room. I heard the higher-ups discussing... sorting."
"Sorting?" asked the young one.
"Uh-huh. Those who won't be useful—disposal."
At these words, the Nine-Tails carrier tensed, slowly clenching his fist, though his face remained motionless. His partner maintained outward indifference, but the gaze of his crimson eyes became even sharper.
The elevator stopped. The doors opened with a quiet hiss.
"Get it together," snapped the senior. "The shift is starting."
The soldiers exited into a long corridor, illuminated by dim flickering light. The invisible infiltrators silently followed the group. Each step was measured with millimeter precision, avoiding the slightest rustle or accidental contact with the walls.
Large windows lined both sides, behind which laboratories could be seen. Scientists in white coats bustled about, absorbed in their work. The young ninja slowly moved forward, carefully studying what was happening behind the glass.
In one of the laboratories, a group of people in lab coats gathered around a mutant patient flashed by. A young woman carefully inserted a needle into a vein; the syringe slowly filled with dark red blood. The subject's face remained impassive, as if the procedure was routine for him.
In the neighboring room, another mutant, a man with unusually pale skin, sat motionless while a researcher took a hair sample, carefully placing it in a test tube.
The hidden shinobi continued on their way with inscrutable faces. The corridor seemed endless, each laboratory resembling the previous one. Soon the glass walls gave way to office partitions, and people in white coats yielded to employees in formal suits, hurrying with folders and tablets.
Crimson eyes carefully studied each passerby until they settled on a middle-aged man—sufficiently informed but not too high-ranking. Waiting for the moment when the target was alone, the Sharingan wielder used genjutsu. The man's eyes momentarily lost focus, after which he, as if in a trance, headed to his office. The invisible observers followed him.
In a small office, the employee sat at his computer. The crimson-eyed owner deepened the illusion, penetrating his memories. Images flashed before his inner vision: complex layouts, access codes, and finally—a huge room with the main computer, located one level below.
Uchiha intensified his influence on the mind, creating an illusion of a critical error in the security system in the man's consciousness. Under the influence of the technique, the man reached for the phone, calling the chief engineer responsible for the central computer's operation.
The invisible shinobi froze in tense anticipation. Soon came the sound of an arriving elevator.
The doors opened, revealing a tall man with graying temples and a stern expression. The specialist quickly strode toward the office.
"What's the matter, Johnson?" he began, entering the office. "What error in the system?"
The master of illusions strengthened his influence, implanting in the specialist's mind the thought of a false alarm. He blinked, as if awakening, then headed back to the elevator. Extracting his pass, the engineer called the cabin, preparing to return to his level.
The invisible partners silently slipped behind him, entering the elevator at the last moment before the doors closed. Inside, they pressed against the back wall, maintaining absolute silence.
The specialist, under the influence of the illusion technique, maintained a motionless pose.
The invisible infiltrators exchanged glances. The plan was working perfectly—they were one step closer to their goal.
The elevator doors silently slid open, revealing a huge circular hall. The hidden shinobi carefully followed the engineer.
The room was impressive in scale. Dozens of employees sat at computers arranged in concentric circles. Their fingers raced across keyboards, their eyes never leaving the monitors. The air held a continuous hum of working technology, interrupted only by short commands and terse reports.
In the very center of the hall, on a circular raised platform, stood the main computer—a massive structure blinking with numerous diodes and surrounded by attentive operators monitoring readings on screens.
The Sharingan wielder, assessing the situation, quickly implanted in the specialist who arrived with them the thought of needing to make an important announcement. Under the influence of the illusion, he nodded and said loudly:
"Attention everyone! I have an urgent message. Please pause for a minute and look at me."
Gradually the buzz of voices subsided, all eyes focused on the speaker. The genjutsu master used the favorable moment. A powerful wave of illusion, invisible but tangible, rolled across the hall, encompassing the consciousness of each employee.
Within moments, all personnel fell under the control of the technique, ready to follow instructions. The Nine-Tails carrier, observing what was happening, quietly whistled.
The crimson-eyed wielder took out a small flash drive from his pocket—a special device developed by Hank to hack the security system. Turning to the chief engineer, he handed him the device, implanting false memories that the flash drive contained important security protocol codes requiring urgent loading into the system. Under the influence of this illusion, the specialist took the device and headed to the main terminal.
Reaching the central console, the engineer inserted the flash drive into one of the ports without hesitation.
"What now? How long will this take?" asked the Jinchūriki, standing next to his partner.
"Hank said about a couple of minutes," replied the dark-haired shinobi, not taking his eyes off the main computer.
Lines of code flashed on the screen—a sign that the program had begun its work. The invisible infiltrators stood in the middle of the hall, surrounded by frozen figures of employees, waiting for the hacking process to complete.
The young shinobi noticed the far wall, where dozens of surveillance monitors were located. Each screen showed a single cell with an imprisoned mutant.
The Kurama carrier slowly moved his gaze from one monitor to another, his eyes growing heavier with each new image. On one screen, a girl could be seen sitting in the corner of a cell, hugging her knees. Her gaze was empty, lifeless. On another—a middle-aged man monotonously paced from corner to corner, like a caged animal. A third monitor showed an elderly mutant lying motionless on a cot.
The faces of the prisoners seemed emotionless, as if burned out by years of imprisonment and experiments. All wore identical jumpsuits and metal collars, sucking out the last remnants of individuality.
The Jinchūriki felt a heaviness constricting his chest. His eyes, usually bright and full of life, dimmed, filling with deep sadness. The corners of his mouth drooped slightly, a barely noticeable wrinkle appearing between his brows.
The young shinobi sighed, trying to cope with the flood of emotions. His face momentarily distorted with pain, but he quickly composed himself, understanding the importance of the mission. To distract himself from heavy thoughts, the Nine-Tails prisoner shifted his gaze to the frozen employees.
Dozens of people stood motionless, like wax figures. Their eyes were empty, their faces lifeless. This sight was both fascinating and disturbing.
The blond turned to his partner, who continued to closely monitor the hacking process on the main computer.
"Yo," he whispered, "doesn't all... this seem creepy to you?"
His voice held a hint of tension. The Jinchūriki was trying to focus on something else to avoid thinking about the mutants he'd seen on the monitors. But even this attempt to distract himself couldn't completely erase the traces of sadness.
The Sharingan wielder, not taking his eyes off the main monitor, quietly replied:
"Don't get distracted."
Suddenly the screen flickered, and a message appeared: "Access granted. System hacked."
"It worked!" exclaimed the blue-eyed shinobi, grinning widely.
His comrade merely nodded, maintaining a serious expression.
At the same time in the X-Men command center, Hank stared intently at the screens, his fingers flying over the keyboard. Suddenly one of the monitors came to life, showing the interior of the main computer hall.
"My God," the scientist exhaled, "they actually did it."
Scott and Jean, watching the screen, were amazed by what they saw. Dozens of people in the computer hall stood frozen. Their immobility and vacant stares indicated they were under the influence of the young Uchiha's genjutsu.
McCoy pressed a button on the communication panel.
"Naruto, Sasuke, can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear," responded the Nine-Tails carrier.
On the main screen, code lines continued to flash, but suddenly their rhythm changed. Instead of a smooth flow of data, chaotic flashes of symbols appeared, as if two invisible opponents were engaged in a fierce battle in digital space.
The mutant genius observing the process abruptly straightened in his chair. His massive fingers raced across the keyboard with doubled speed.
"Damn it," muttered the blue beast. "This isn't what I expected."
"What's happening, Hank?" the X-Men leader asked anxiously, moving closer to the monitor.
The scientist, not taking his eyes off the screen, quickly explained:
"The government AI turned out to be much stronger than I anticipated. It's actively fighting our virus."
The tense voice came through the shinobi's earpieces:
"We have a problem, guys. The AI is trying to seize control."
The young ninja frowned.
"How bad is it?"
"Very bad," replied Hank. "If we can't stop it, the collar function we disabled will reactivate in fifty seconds."
Young Uzumaki clenched his fists.
"Kuso! What do we do?"
McCoy took a deep breath, not stopping his work.
"Destroy the main servers. They're right below you, one floor down!"
The dark-haired shinobi activated Chidori—electrical discharges danced around his hand, filling the air with crackling and the smell of ozone.
Without further words, he directed the technique downward, cutting a circle in the floor. The metal melted and sparked under the powerful chakra. As soon as the circle was complete, with a sharp movement of his foot, the young Uchiha kicked out the cut piece.
"You have thirty seconds left!" came the voice in their earpieces.
"Go!" commanded the Sharingan wielder, jumping into the opening. His partner followed. They landed in a vast server room. Rows of server racks stretched into the distance, blinking lights and the hum of equipment filled the space.
"Fifteen seconds!" Hank's voice rang with tension.
The dark-haired shinobi darted between the racks. The electric sword sliced through equipment. Metal melted, sparks flew in all directions. The air filled with the acrid smell of burned electronics.
His partner created dozens of clones. They attacked the servers from the other side of the room. Strikes, crackling, the crash of falling equipment merged into a cacophony of destruction.
"Five seconds!" shouted the scientist.
The young Uchiha concentrated. A powerful wave of electricity burst from his body. It swept through the room, destroying the last surviving servers.
The lights went out. Darkness and silence descended upon the complex. A moment later, emergency lighting switched on. Dim red light flooded the room.
"We did it," exhaled the Nine-Tails carrier, surveying the destroyed hall.
A triumphant exclamation from the blue beast came through the earpieces, cutting through the tense silence:
"Yes! The AI is disconnected, the collars are deactivated!"
The young ninja exchanged quick glances. The Sharingan wielder, as always, remained impassive, while his partner's face broke into his signature grin.
"It's not over yet," said the dark-haired shinobi, his voice low and tense. "We still need to break through locked doors and free the prisoners."
The blond clenched his fist, orange chakra beginning to swirl around him.
"That's not a problem."
In the X-Men command center, the atmosphere had reached fever pitch. Cyclops, not taking his eyes off the monitors showing the complex's systems shutting down, turned sharply to the professor.
"Time to act," said the team leader, his voice ringing with tension. "Now that the collars no longer threaten the mutants' lives, we can intervene."
Charles's face lit up with determination, his eyes gleaming in the semi-darkness of the command center.
"They've opened the way for us. It's time to save our people."
Wolverine stepped out of the shadows, releasing his claws with a characteristic sound. His voice was low and threatening:
"Finally, the party's about to start!"
"I'm ready to break through any wall, Professor," said the steel giant. Beside him, the ice mutant covered his hands with frost, ready to freeze any opponent. Nightcrawler had already disappeared in a cloud of blue smoke.
The girl with the white streak stood aside. Her gaze was fixed on the monitor displaying the latest data on the two shinobi's mission. She tried to hide her concern, but her tense posture revealed her true feelings. When the image on the screen flickered, showing the successful shutdown of the complex's systems, the Southerner barely suppressed a sigh of relief. She quickly turned away, not wanting anyone to notice the slight smile that appeared on her lips.
The red light flickered and went out, plunging the room into total darkness. Erik didn't move, only his muscles tensed slightly in anticipation. When the emergency lighting came on, bathing the cell in a crimson glow, he slowly rose and approached the transparent wall.
In the adjacent cell, Emma moved closer to the barrier. Her face, usually impassive, now expressed keen interest.
A siren's wail pierced the silence. Red lights began to flash more frequently, turning the corridor into a pulsating labyrinth of shadows.
"Attention all personnel," a mechanical voice echoed throughout the complex. "Unauthorized intrusion detected. All staff take defensive positions. This is not a drill. Repeat, this is not a drill."
The tramp of heavy boots rolled down the corridor. A squad in full combat gear spread out around the central area—every movement honed, every position precise. Red reflections danced on the visors of their helmets.
"Listen to my command!" the commander's voice cut through the oppressive silence. "Shoot to kill. Whoever these bastards are, they're not getting out of here alive."
The massive steel doors at the end of the corridor began to open. Metal scraped against metal, the echo spreading throughout the complex. The soldiers raised their weapons.
Lehnsherr kept his eyes on the opening passage. A dangerous gleam flickered in his eyes, his lips curving into a barely noticeable smirk.
A piercing howl, like a mix of chainsaw and electrical discharges, broke the silence. A bright blue blade cut through the concrete floor at the entrance, moving with incredible speed. The thick layer of concrete melted like butter.
The soldiers stepped back, not lowering their weapons.
"Hold formation!" barked the sergeant. "Prepare for any threat!"
The glowing blade completed a perfect circle. A second of silence—and the cut piece of concrete crashed down with a deafening thud.
In the adjacent cells, Erik and Emma froze in tense anticipation. The air around them crackled with the anticipation of freedom.
Four floors above, Pietro pressed against the transparent cell wall. His fingers trembled with restrained energy, ready at any moment to transform into a blur of motion.
"I think freedom is near," he whispered into the semi-darkness.
In the adjacent cell, Wanda slowly approached the barrier. Her palms pressed against the cold surface, her eyes flashing crimson in time with the emergency lights.
"Don't jump to conclusions, brother."
A giant hand, shrouded in a purple glow, rose from the opening. Its outlines wavered like dense fog, but each movement radiated power. The formation of soldiers faltered—years of training hadn't prepared them for such a sight.
Erik leaned forward. In the adjacent cell, Emma froze, for the first time in a long while losing her composure.
A second hand rose next, widening the hole in the floor. A massive horned head emerged from the darkness. Empty eye sockets flashed crimson, cutting through the semi-darkness. The creature opened its jaws, resembling an ancient demonic grin.
The soldiers' fingers whitened on their rifle grips. The smell of fear hung in the air—heavy, metallic. The sergeant tried to shout a command, but his voice betrayed him:
"Hold formation! Whatever it is, we're ready!"
The giant warrior slowly rose from the opening. Its ghostly armor pulsed with energy, the contours constantly changing like living flame. In the center of this energy colossus, a human figure was barely visible. One of the soldiers backed away, tripped over his own feet and fell onto his back, unable to tear his gaze from the monstrous vision.
"F-fire!" the sergeant strained his voice, trying to shout over the sound of his own heartbeat. "Fire at will!"
Automatic gunfire tore through the silence. The shooters' hands trembled, turning aimed fire into random shooting. Bullets bounced off the creature's purple shell, each impact striking sparks of energy. The shots echoed throughout the complex, triggering a wave of reactions among the prisoners.
Four floors above, Pietro stared at the floor, as if trying to see what was happening below.
"What the hell?" he whispered.
Wanda froze by the glass, listening to the chaos below. On the upper levels, Ororo flinched at the thunder of gunfire. Throughout the complex, prisoners froze, sensing the approach of change.
A cold gaze swept over the rows of soldiers. The shooting subsided. In the ensuing silence, weapons could be heard falling to the floor from weakened hands. The fighters began to collapse one after another—silently, as if cut down by an invisible force.
Lehnsherr felt a chill run down his spine. In the adjacent cell, Emma shuddered when a wave of foreign power rolled through the complex.
Susanoo dissolved, leaving behind a fading purple glow. Amidst the fallen soldiers stood a human. Erik pressed against the transparent wall, not believing his eyes.
"A boy..." he muttered.
Golden radiance flooded the room—a second figure emerged from the opening. Uzumaki, surrounded by Kurama's chakra, quickly assessed the situation. His pupils transformed into vertical slits, giving his gaze an inhuman sharpness.
The air sparkled with released energy as his hands formed seals. In the next moment, the space filled with dozens of glowing copies.
One of the clones approached the cells. His hand was enveloped in a stream of wind, forming an invisible blade. A quick movement—and a perfect circular cut appeared in the transparent wall. The clone pushed the center of the circle, freeing the prisoners.
Erik stepped through the opening, incredulously touching the void where the wall had been. A shadow of a smile crossed his face.
"Thanks, whoever you are," Pietro slapped the nearest clone on the shoulder. "It's about time someone stirred things up around here."
Wanda placed her hand on her brother's shoulder, restraining his enthusiasm.
"That's the guy from the video!" Jake's voice came from the upper floors.
A wave of emotions rolled through the complex—laughter, tears, exclamations of joy. Even those who tried to remain calm couldn't hide the relief in their eyes.
"Attention, we're leaving now. Time is running out!" Naruto's command echoed down the corridors.
The narrow passages filled with the sound of footsteps and heavy breathing. The shinobi rushed ahead, followed by a stream of freed mutants. Lehnsherr stayed close to the leaders, not taking his eyes off the mysterious rescuers. The Brotherhood of Mutants followed him, ready to act at the first signal.
"Who are you?" Erik's voice reflected off the metal walls. "Who sent you?"
"My name is Naruto, and this is Sasuke. We're here with the X-Men."
A whisper swept through the column of fugitives. Magneto exchanged glances with Emma. Behind them, Mystique flashed her yellow eyes, sweat glistening on her blue skin.
"I never thought Charles would dare such a thing," Magneto muttered.
Naruto abruptly raised his hand. The column froze, the escapees nearly colliding with each other.
"One of my clones found an emergency staircase."
They ducked into another corridor, winding through the labyrinth. Around the corner, a massive steel door blocked their path.
Naruto rushed toward the door. His right hand flared brighter, enveloped in streams of chakra. One strike—and the steel barrier flew deep into the corridor, like a sheet of paper.
A group of soldiers stood behind it. A second of confusion—and the air filled with the whistle of bullets.
Sasuke appeared behind the doorway. His left eye blazed purple.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Space seemed to shudder. Bullets froze in the air, and the next moment an invisible wave of gravity struck with a devastating flow. Soldiers, their weapons, spent casings—everything merged into a single stream, smashing into the far wall with tremendous force. The walls trembled from the power of the technique, concrete crumbles falling from the ceiling.
"Kuso!" Naruto gritted his teeth. "Want to bring everything down? I could have handled it myself!"
"Shut up and let's go," Sasuke cut him off. "Time is precious."
Erik observed them, increasingly doubting the nature of their powers. Too diverse, too powerful abilities even for exceptional mutants.
The group continued through the labyrinth of corridors until they stopped at another door.
"Here it is, the emergency staircase!" Naruto pushed it open.
A spiral staircase was revealed, ascending upward into the semi-darkness. Dim emergency lamps barely illuminated the metal steps.
The escapees began their ascent. The echo of countless footsteps reflected off the walls. The shinobi brought up the rear, making sure no one fell behind. With each flight, the tension grew—freedom was getting closer, but the risk of detection increased.
"Logan, come in from the left! Jean, cover him! Bobby, create an ice wall on the right!" Scott stood at the center of this hurricane.
The team moved as a single organism, each knowing their role. Wolverine, with extended claws, leaped at the nearest Sentinel, his muscular body tensing, ready to strike. Metal screeched against metal as adamantium blades ripped through the robot's shell, leaving deep furrows.
The telepath raised her hands, and a wave of psychic energy swept away a group of soldiers trying to surround the clawed mutant. Green eyes glowed with concentration, and her face contorted into a grimace of focus.
The air around Bobby instantly chilled. Ice crystals formed from nothingness, creating a massive wall that cut off the approaching soldiers' path. Clouds of vapor escaped from his mouth, and his skin took on a slight bluish tint.
The blue-skinned mutant materialized amidst a group of warriors. Soldiers fired at him, but the teleporter disappeared in a cloud of smoke an instant before the bullets reached their target. Appearing here and there, he delivered lightning-fast strikes. His movements resembled an intricate dance: a sharp kick to one's stomach, a lightning-quick elbow to another's face. The acrobat moved with incredible speed and grace, using elements of karate and acrobatics. He deftly disarmed his opponents, knocking weapons from their hands with his tail.
Rogue, hovering in the air, delivered a crushing blow to the head of the nearest Sentinel. The metal crumpled under her fist like a tin can. The metallic giant, instantly assessing the situation, rushed toward the fallen robot. Muscles tensed as the steel mutant grabbed the giant's head with both hands. With a deafening screech of metal, he tore it from the body. Without losing a second, the warrior turned and hurled the head with incredible accuracy, hitting another robot in the back. The impact was so powerful that the robot staggered. Using the moment, the fighter delivered a crushing blow to the opponent's leg. Metal crumpled under his fist, and the gigantic machine lost balance. The ground shook when it collapsed.
"Hey, Claws!" shouted the steel giant, his voice cutting through the battle noise. "Over here! Let's take this one together!"
Both instantly pounced on the fallen opponent. Their strikes were precise and merciless, methodically destroying the robot's vital systems until it ceased to function.
The team leader directed the fighters' actions, keeping his hand at his temple, ready to use the optical beam. But something changed. The world around him began to blur, the sounds of battle became muffled, as if coming from far away. He blinked, trying to clear his vision, but this only intensified the dizziness.
"What the..." mumbled Cyclops, swaying.
One of the Sentinels noticed the commander's vulnerability and began to approach. The robot's heavy steps shook the ground. The mutant tried to concentrate. He pressed the button, expecting the familiar sensation of energy release.
But nothing happened.
Summers felt adrenaline rush into his blood. Years of training and experience took precedence over the sudden loss of strength. His mind frantically sought a way out, analyzing the situation. The Sentinel approached, its metal arm raised, ready to deliver a crushing blow.
"Scott!" The red-haired telepath's cry cut through the chaos of battle. Instantly assessing the situation, she reacted. A powerful wave of psychokinetic energy crashed down on the giant, throwing it back. The purple colossus fell to the ground with a deafening crash, raising a cloud of dust and debris. Logan, having just finished off his opponent, instantly appeared beside the fallen giant. Adamantium claws ripped through the metal shell, inflicting critical damage.
"Nice work, Red," growled the beast, nodding approvingly to his partner. Noticing her troubled face, he shifted his gaze to the leader and frowned, detecting oddities in his behavior.
Jean ran to her beloved, her face distorted with anxiety.
"What's wrong?"
He shook his head, trying to focus his gaze. Everything blurred before his eyes, the silhouette doubled and tripled, as if in a distorted mirror. A piercing ringing grew in his ears, drowning out surrounding sounds.
"I... I don't know," the wounded man forced out with difficulty. "Can't use my power. Everything... everything's foggy."
Wolverine's acute hearing caught the change in his friend's breathing and accelerated heartbeat.
"Summers, what the hell?!"
Before he could answer, his body convulsed in a fit of coughing. To their horror, blood appeared on his lips.
"Jean..." he gasped, his voice barely audible. "Head... spinning..."
With these words, the eyes behind the visor rolled back, and he began to fall. The telepath barely managed to catch him with psychokinesis, carefully lowering him to the ground.
"Scott!" she cried, her hands trembling as she tried to revive him. "No, not again..."
Wolverine looked around, assessing the situation. The last Sentinels were falling under the blows of the other team members, but now they had a new problem.
"Damn it!" he growled, his gaze darting between his unconscious comrade and the rest of the battlefield.
The battlefield quieted, and the X-Men gathered anxiously around their unconscious leader.
From around the corner of the building appeared a huge group of mutants, numbering about a thousand people. The shinobi walked at the front.
The Southerner, standing next to the telepath, raised her head. Her anxious gaze slid over Cyclops's pale face, then darted to the approaching group. Her brows furrowed as she tried to understand what could have caused the commander's critical condition.
Then the white-streaked girl's attention was drawn to familiar faces among the freed mutants.
Mystique and other Brotherhood members.
Her hands involuntarily clenched into fists. A wave of emotions washed over her—anger, fear, confusion. But years of training hadn't been in vain. Outwardly she remained calm, only slight tension in her shoulders betraying her state.
Raven noticed her former ward. Their gazes met, and for a moment time seemed to stop. Surprise flashed in the yellow eyes, replaced by something resembling mockery.
Finally, the young mutant turned away from her former team and looked again at the wounded man, trying to focus on the current problem. However, tension didn't leave her body, and thoughts of the inevitable meeting with people from her past continued to swarm in her head.
The red-haired healer, noticing those approaching, jumped to her feet. Her face contorted with worry, and her voice trembled when she called:
"Naruto! Over here, quick! Something's wrong with Scott!"
The young shinobi instantly appeared beside her, his gaze quickly scanning the unconscious mutant.
"Is he wounded?" asked the Jinchūriki with a frown, carefully examining the body but noticing no visible injuries.
"No, he just... Suddenly he felt ill," Jean replied in an anxious voice.
Uchiha examined the victim carefully with his crimson gaze. His eyebrows drew together, and surprise flashed in his eyes. His partner also seemed to sense something. His face took on a puzzled expression, and he muttered:
"What the..."
They exchanged quick glances, as if silently passing information to each other. Then the blond resolutely said:
"We need to get him to the school. We'll figure out what's happening to him there."
Noticing their reaction, the telepath asked:
"Did you understand something?"
Naruto shook his head, his face expressing a mixture of concern and uncertainty:
"I can't say for sure yet."
She nodded, lifting her beloved with telekinesis. Tension grew with each second.
Mike stepped away from the X-Men group, his gaze frantically scanning faces in the huge crowd of freed mutants. His heart pounded, and his throat dried with excitement. Suddenly he shouted, his voice cutting through the crowd's murmur:
"Jess! Jess, are you here?"
For a moment silence reigned, and Mike felt hope beginning to fade. But suddenly a responding cry came from the crowd:
"Mike!"
The crowd parted, and Jess ran forward. Her face was haggard, but her eyes shone with joy. Not restraining their emotions, they rushed to each other and embraced tightly. Mike felt Jess's body trembling and held her closer, as if afraid she might disappear.
"Are you okay?" he whispered, pulling back to look into her eyes. "I was so worried..."
Jess nodded, tears glistening in her eyes:
"Everything's fine now."
The moment was interrupted when two others approached—David and Candice, other mutants from Hope's Haven. Their faces expressed a mixture of relief and fatigue.
David, a tall guy with disheveled dark hair, patted Mike on the shoulder:
"Glad to see you, buddy. You're just in time."
Mike looked them all over, feeling overwhelmed with relief and joy. They were here, alive and free.
In the distance came the roar of engines, and soon a column of large trucks appeared. The vehicles approached, raising clouds of dust, and stopped near the group of freed mutants. Familiar faces jumped from the cabs—students and teachers from Xavier's school. Their arrival caused a wave of relief among the exhausted fugitives.
Besides the trucks, the "Blackbird" landed nearby. Hank and the professor appeared on the lowered ramp. Beast easily jumped to the ground, followed by Xavier's chair smoothly descending.
Charles surveyed the gathered crowd, his face expressing a mixture of relief and concern. It was clear that evacuation needed to begin immediately.
However, the feeling of relief was short-lived. Suddenly the sky lit up with bright lights, and sinister silhouettes appeared in the air. Huge ships, resembling futuristic military dreadnoughts, hovered above the battlefield.
Black figures began flying out from their depths, rapidly approaching the ground. Wolverine, seeing this, cursed loudly. His face contorted in a grimace of disgust and fatigue.
"These bastards again," growled the clawed mutant, extending his blades.
The ninja standing nearby frowned. Blue eyes narrowed, observing the approaching Sentinels.
"Kuso, persistent flies!" he muttered, and then his face took on a determined expression.
Without further words, the hero pushed off from the ground and soared into the air. The figure, surrounded by the golden glow of Kurama's chakra, rapidly rose higher and higher. Mutants on the ground, heads tilted back, watched his flight with amazement.
Reaching a significant height, the warrior stopped. He raised his right hand, and the air around vibrated with energy concentration. Above his outstretched palm, chakra spheres began to form, gradually increasing and taking the shape of giant shuriken.
Six enormous Rasenshuriken hovered above the shinobi. Their rotation created a low hum, audible even on the ground. His face was concentrated.
With a sharp wave of his hand, the Jinchūriki directed all six glowing spheres at the approaching X-Sentinels. They rushed with incredible speed, leaving a trail of sparkling energy.
Each exploded with a deafening roar, causing impressive destruction. The night sky lit up with blinding light, momentarily turning night into day.
Metal melted and evaporated. Dozens, if not hundreds of robots, were destroyed in seconds.
The flashes reflected in the eyes of hundreds of mutants frozen on the ground. Their faces expressed a range of emotions—from fear to admiration and disbelief. Many involuntarily covered their eyes with their hands, blinded by the bright flashes.
The master of magnetism, whose hair fluttered in the wind generated by the explosions, didn't take his eyes off the sky. His face, usually stern and inscrutable, now expressed unconcealed amazement.
"Charles," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the roar of destruction.
"Good to see you, old friend," replied the telepath, who happened to be nearby. His voice remained calm, contrasting with the surrounding chaos.
Erik tore his gaze from the sky and looked at his longtime rival. His eyes held many questions, but he asked only one:
"Where did you dig them up?"
Xavier smiled slightly, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening.
"Long story," he replied after a pause.
His old friend nodded, understanding that now wasn't the time for lengthy conversations. Both silently observed what was happening—their silhouettes, illuminated by flashes in the sky, seemed like motionless islands of calm amidst the raging chaos.
The girl with the white streak, watching the destruction in the sky, felt her heart beat faster. She couldn't tear her gaze from the young shinobi hovering high above them.
When the last reflections of the explosions faded, the warrior slowly descended to the ground.
"That should give us some time," he announced, looking around the group. "We need to get out of here, and fast."
The freed mutants hastily loaded into the arrived trucks. The air filled with commanding shouts and the roar of starting engines. Everyone realized: this was just a brief respite, and they needed to use it as efficiently as possible.
The "Blackbird" stood with its ramp open, ready to receive passengers. The X-Men and Brotherhood members hurriedly boarded.
A tense atmosphere reigned inside the aircraft. Former enemies now found themselves in close quarters, exchanging wary glances. Magneto, entering the cabin, surveyed the interior with an appraising look, as if calculating strategic positions.
The red-haired healer and Wolverine carefully carried their unconscious comrade. A pull-out bunk was ready and waiting, and they gently laid the wounded man on it.
The telepath instantly knelt beside the bunk. Copper strands fell across her face, hiding her expression of concern.
Meanwhile, the trucks set off. A cloud of dust rose as the column of heavy vehicles began moving, carrying their valuable cargo to safety.
Uzumaki quickly formed familiar hand signs. The next moment the air filled with pops, and no fewer than ten clones materialized around him.
"You know what to do," the Jinchūriki told his copies. "Protect the column at all costs."
The doubles nodded and instantly dispersed. Some soared into the air, beginning aerial patrol. Others merged with the surrounding landscape, ready to repel any ground attack.
The original exchanged a quick glance with his partner. Both understood that their mission here was complete, and it was time to leave. They quickly headed to the "Blackbird."
Climbing the ramp, the shinobi found themselves in the cabin. All eyes were fixed on them—the faces of the X-Men and Brotherhood members reflected a mixture of gratitude and curiosity.
The shinobi silently took vacant seats. The ramp closed with a hiss, and a moment later they felt the aircraft beginning to gain altitude.
In the trucks moving away from the complex, silence reigned, interrupted only by the hum of engines and occasional sobs. The freed mutants, pressed against the windows, couldn't tear their eyes from the building that had been their prison for years.
Jake watched as the complex's gray walls gradually disappeared in the distance.
"I can't believe we're actually leaving," he whispered, addressing himself rather than anyone in particular.
Ororo sat beside him. Her eyes glistened with tears, but a smile played on her lips.
"It's like a dream," she replied, not taking her eyes from the window.
Hushed whispers spread throughout the truck.
The complex gradually faded in the distance, becoming a tiny dot on the horizon. With it, the past seemed to fade away—years of pain, humiliation, and fear. Ahead lay uncertainty, but it was uncertainty filled with hope and new possibilities.