Emperor of Mankind (Naruto X Marvel )

"What about you?" he had asked earlier, genuinely curious about which mystical beast she would choose for herself. He wasn't expecting her to give it much thought, but her answer had been decisive.

"Me?" Tsunade had echoed, leaning back thoughtfully, a rare moment of contemplation crossing her face. "I didn't even consider the idea. Let me think... hmm…" She tapped her chin, dragging out the silence as Naruto waited expectantly. "I think the dragon would be the best choice," she finally admitted, her voice firm with conviction. "It should give me a strong life force and high stats that are better than all the other options."

Her answer didn't surprise him. Dragons were legendary creatures, after all, revered for their strength and vitality. But before he could comment, she continued, her tone taking on a sharp edge. "Since you're avoiding the dragon, I believe a combination of these species will be the best for you. You need to stay above all of us, Naruto. Otherwise, people will group together and pull you down."

Naruto frowned, the weight of her words settling on his shoulders. He knew she wasn't wrong about humanity's darker tendencies. Time and again, history had shown that people could turn on their heroes, driven by jealousy or fear. Yet, it didn't sit right with him to monopolize such power for himself, and his expression gave him away.

"I know people can betray us," Naruto admitted, his voice steady but laced with conviction. "But we shouldn't always expect the worst from them. I don't want to hoard this power. If anything, I want to use people's negative desires—their envy, their ambition—as motivation to push myself beyond them naturally. So don't hold back on enhancing others. Anyone might become the guardian of this world. No one knows the future. Some people might even surpass me—and that's okay."

Tsunade's expression darkened, her brow furrowing in frustration. "That's exactly what I don't want to happen," she said, her voice sharp. "I trust you, Naruto, but I won't know or trust those other people. You can be naïve sometimes, too trusting. Forget about it. We still have a long way to go before any of this becomes reality, and who knows? Maybe the world will be a better place by then."

Naruto wasn't convinced, and he wasn't about to let the topic drop. His determination was written all over his face as he met her gaze head-on. "My mind won't change on this," he said firmly. His blue eyes burned with the same unyielding resolve that had carried him through countless battles.

Tsunade groaned, exasperated. She knew that look all too well—it was the same stubbornness that had made him a legend. But tonight, she didn't have the patience for one of his moral lectures. Before he could dig in further, she grabbed him by the collar, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

"Drink," she ordered, shoving the jug of sake into his hands. Before Naruto could protest, she tilted it up, forcing the liquid down his throat. The strong burn hit him instantly, making his eyes water as he coughed and spluttered.

"Shut up about that nonsense," Tsunade said, laughing as she plopped back into her seat. "Don't make the night frustrating. Let's talk about something normal for once." Her smirk turned teasing as she leaned forward, her tone playful. "So... how close have you gotten with Hinata? Or are you still aiming for Sakura?"

Naruto froze, his face flushing a deep shade of red that had nothing to do with the alcohol. "W-what?" he stammered, his mind scrambling to catch up. Of all the topics she could've brought up, his love life was the last thing he wanted to discuss.

"Come on, don't act shy now," Tsunade teased, her grin widening. "You've been spending a lot of time with Hinata lately, haven't you? Or are you still chasing after Sakura?"

Naruto groaned, his head dropping into his hands as he muttered something unintelligible. Tsunade laughed, clearly enjoying his discomfort. It was a rare sight to see the hero of the Fourth Great Ninja War so flustered, and she wasn't about to let the opportunity slip by.

"I—I'm not chasing anyone!" Naruto finally managed, his voice an octave higher than usual. "And Hinata… she's…" His words trailed off, his face practically glowing with embarrassment.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, leaning in with mock seriousness. "She's what? Come on, spit it out!"

Naruto groaned again, knowing he'd walked right into her trap. "She's great, okay? But it's not like that!" he blurted, his voice defensive. "She's just… really nice. And supportive. And…" He trailed off again, realizing too late that he wasn't exactly helping his case.

Tsunade chuckled, shaking her head. "You're hopeless," she said fondly. "But hey, at least you've got options."

Naruto sighed, reaching for the sake jug. If Tsunade was going to embarrass him all night, he figured he might as well numb himself to it. "You're the worst," he muttered, though there was no real heat in his words.

Tsunade just laughed, raising her own cup in a mock toast. "Here's to frustrating you," she said with a grin. "It's one of my favorite hobbies."

"Now, let's drink to something simpler—like not dying tomorrow."

Naruto laughed and grabbed his own glass, clinking it against hers. "I'll drink to that." For the first time in what felt like ages, the room was filled with laughter and camaraderie, the weight of the world momentarily forgotten.

Naruto was unusually quiet as he lay on the smooth back of the colossal whale, his bright blue eyes reflecting the stars above. Despite drinking what should have been enough alcohol to incapacitate a tailed beast, he was completely sober, a testament to the unparalleled resilience granted by his Jinchūriki status and Kurama's presence. His Uzumaki lineage contributed some minor healing abilities, but it was Kurama's chakra that allowed him to shrug off such effects. He often thought about how he only had half the "Uzumaki starter package," as he jokingly called it, a bittersweet reminder of what could have been.

Beside him, Kakashi reclined with his usual air of relaxed indifference, the faint breeze ruffling his silver hair. The two of them were perched on the back of an enormous whale, easily two kilometers in length. It was one of the largest creatures in the Dark Ocean, a gentle titan whose presence radiated calm. Yet even this beast, immense as it was, paled in comparison to the Ocean King, the Leviathan, a mythical creature said to rule the depths of the Dark Ocean.

The tranquil scene was surreal, the massive whales gliding through the water in perfect harmony, their movements synchronized with the countless smaller sea creatures that followed them. The peaceful aura Naruto unconsciously emanated seemed to extend to the entire ecosystem around them, creating a moment of perfect stillness under the night sky.

Kakashi broke the silence, his voice thoughtful. "I agree with what the Hokage said earlier. Mei Terumi would probably be the better choice for Isobu. We'll find another way for me to grow stronger. Maybe one of those mystical beasts could be a good substitute."

"Byakko? I think it was the only lightning style beast."

"Maybe," Kakashi said, his gaze still fixed on the stars. "But there are others, right? There's a lightning dragon and even a lightning owl. If I'm going for the best, I think I'd want to fuse with the dragon. Still... it feels weird. It wouldn't really give me much of a boost, would it? I'd probably end up stronger than the dragon anyway."

Kakashi lazily creating illusionary figures in the air with his chakra. Glowing images of Byakko, a dragon, and a majestic owl formed briefly before fading into nothingness. "Probably not," he admitted. "It's not like these creatures are chakra beasts. They might be impressive in size or strength, but they lack the chakra reserves to truly enhance someone like you."

Naruto frowned, shifting slightly on the whale's broad back. "What about the Monster King? That Gojira creature we talked about earlier. Isn't it supposed to be powerful? Couldn't it be a good alternative?"

Kakashi sighed, his tone turning more serious. "Naruto, the problem with fusing with other creatures is that most of them don't have chakra levels anywhere near what we're used to. Take this whale, for example—it's massive, one of the largest creatures in the Dark Ocean. But its chakra levels are negligible compared to its size. Just because a creature is big doesn't mean it has a large chakra reserve. That's what makes the Bijuu unique—they are chakra. They were created from it. These other beasts, as impressive as they are, aren't built the same way."

Naruto's frown deepened as he considered Kakashi's words. It was true—these creatures, as awe-inspiring as they were, lacked the raw chakra reserves that made the Bijuu so formidable. Still, it didn't sit well with him to dismiss them entirely.

Kakashi noticed the conflicted look on Naruto's face and added, "It's not that they don't have value. They could make incredible summons, for example, but as fusion partners? It would take an enormous amount of effort to build up their chakra levels to make them viable. Think about the Inuzuka clan and their dogs—they've spent generations refining and training them. It's not something that can happen overnight."

Naruto sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I get it, but... it feels wrong to just give up on them. They're incredible creatures, and maybe with the right approach, they could be more than just summons. Don't you think they deserve a chance to reach their full potential too?"

Kakashi's expression softened slightly, but he didn't share Naruto's idealistic view. "I admire your optimism, Naruto, but you have to remember—this isn't just about potential. It's about control, trust, and the risks involved. You might believe in these creatures and the people who'd work with them, but not everyone has your heart. If these beasts got out of control, or if someone abused the power, it could spell disaster."

The moonlight sparkled on the dark waters as Naruto's eyes lit up with excitement. The prospect of creating powerful allies beyond the Bijuu filled him with hope and determination.

"Isn't it better to have more powerful beasts to help us?" Naruto asked, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "They're already incredibly strong without chakra, so once we give it to them, their abilities will get a massive boost. It means we wouldn't have to rely solely on the Bijuu anymore. I think I can figure out how to boost other creatures once I learn the process."

Kakashi sighed inwardly, recognizing the glint in Naruto's eyes. It was the same unyielding determination that had carried the boy through countless trials, and there was no point trying to dissuade him now. He felt like he'd just handed Naruto a weapon to wield against his own cautious reasoning.

"Fine," Kakashi relented with a small shrug. "I'll teach you how to raise a ninja pet. You'll probably need that knowledge to create your summons anyway."

The words felt heavy as Kakashi realized just how much the world was changing. If Naruto truly succeeded in this endeavor, the balance of power between humans, beasts, and chakra itself would shift dramatically. Five years from now, the world might be unrecognizable—but whatever the outcome, Kakashi was determined to stand by Naruto's side.

'I won't let anything happen to him,' Kakashi vowed silently. Protecting Naruto had become his mission, one he would carry out at any cost. In the process, his bond with Naruto had grown deeper than he'd ever imagined—more than that of teacher and student. Naruto wasn't just a comrade or friend anymore; he was family.

Naruto grinned, clearly pleased with Kakashi's concession. "I'm listening," he said eagerly, happy not just to learn but to share this time with Kakashi. Spending moments like this felt so different from the old days when their relationship had been more formal. Now, there was trust, warmth, and something akin to brotherhood between them.

Kakashi walked over to the massive whale beneath them, placing a hand on its smooth, cool skin. "Let's start with this big guy," he said, channeling his chakra into the creature. "Watch closely."

Naruto activated his heightened perception, observing every detail as Kakashi carefully guided his chakra into the whale's chakra system. The process was slow and methodical. The whale's chakra flame was tiny, barely enough to qualify it as a proper ninja pet. Kakashi skillfully directed his chakra to the creature's core, filling it without overwhelming it.

The task required extreme precision. A single misstep could rupture the whale's delicate chakra pathways or damage its internal organs. Kakashi's control was excellent, but even with his experience, the process was taxing. After expending half of his chakra reserves, the results were modest—the whale showed only slight improvement.

Naruto could see why it took many years to actually boost a pet to become a proper partner. It was why the Inuzuka clan started at infancy instead of teenage hood.

Kakashi stepped back, wiping sweat from his brow. "Now you try," he said. "Maybe you can find a way to accelerate the process."

"Okay let me try." Naruto had observed with his eyes so it was exactly stored in memory and with his perfect control, he was able to replicate it with ease.

Naruto copied the steps without his Six Paths Mode and Kurama mode, though he was already partially in six paths mode because of the Rinne-Sharingan.

Naruto nodded, eager to test his abilities. Despite his excitement, he approached the task with care. Placing his hand on the whale's back, he channeled his chakra with perfect control.

The whale's massive body began to ripple with visible changes. Its muscles grew stronger, its size expanded slightly, and its previously faint chakra presence began to glow with newfound intensity. Naruto's chakra, rich in quality and expertly guided, infused every part of the creature, leaving no energy wasted.

The process was still challenging—it was clear that increasing the whale's chakra reserves would take more time—but the physical enhancements were undeniable. By the end of the session, the whale looked visibly more powerful, its movements faster and more coordinated.

Naruto stepped back, marveling at the results. "It worked," he said, his grin widening. "This could really change everything."

Kakashi chuckled, impressed despite himself. "You're a natural at this. It seems like your chakra compatibility and control make all the difference."

Naruto's grin turned sly. "So... how about we go for something bigger next? Maybe the Leviathan?"

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a mischievous smile. "The Leviathan, huh? That's ambitious. But if we manage to tame it, it could serve as the ultimate fusion partner—or at the very least, one hell of a summon."

Naruto's enthusiasm was contagious, and Kakashi found himself entertaining an idea he never would have considered before meeting the boy. If they could tame creatures representing each element, the potential combinations were staggering. For Kakashi, it wasn't just about power; it was about making sure he could stand beside Naruto, support him, and ensure he was never alone.

Their eyes met, and without a word, they knew what the other was thinking. With matching grins, the two leapt from the whale's back, diving into the depths of the Dark Ocean. Their target: the fabled Leviathan, the king of the ocean. The hunt was on, and together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead.