Emperor of Mankind (Naruto X Marvel )

High above the bustling metropolis of New York City, Naruto floated effortlessly in the air, his presence hidden from the world. The vibrant city below was alive with the glow of neon lights and the hum of human activity. It was a stark contrast to the celestial battlefields he had fought on, where entire star systems had been wiped from existence in the war against the Otsutsuki.

Behind him, Hinata stood silently, her form invisible to all but Naruto. She had been observing the conversation between her husband and the young hero known as Spider-Man. Despite her calm demeanor, she was always vigilant, prepared to act at a moment's notice.

"Dear, did you get anything from him?" Hinata asked softly, her voice smooth with the confidence of someone who had absolute faith in Naruto.

Naruto turned his gaze toward her and nodded. "There was some useful information, but we can only confirm it with our own eyes."

With a thought, Naruto passed the knowledge he had extracted from Peter's subconscious to Hinata. The information wasn't much—surface-level knowledge about Earth's heroes, their powers, and the threats they had faced. But it was enough to give them an idea of what kind of beings inhabited this world.

With their level of power, Naruto and Hinata could sense every form of life within the solar system. Their spiritual awareness extended beyond physical limitations, allowing them to feel the ebb and flow of existence itself. They could perceive the strongest beings on this planet, from mutants and enhanced humans to the immortals that walked among mortals.

Spider-Man's memories had revealed the presence of powerful individuals—warriors who, unlike the average human, might be worthy of joining Naruto's cause without coercion. The Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men—there were many names that stood out. They would need to approach them carefully, as outsiders arriving unannounced could easily be mistaken for threats.

However, despite all their efforts, neither Naruto nor Hinata could detect an Otsutsuki.

That fact alone was disturbing.

If there truly was an Otsutsuki in this universe, they had to be far stronger than the ones Naruto had fought before—strong enough to hide from even his omniscient senses. That meant only one thing: the enemy was a high-ranking member of the Otsutsuki Clan, possibly even one of the Otsutsuki King's direct descendants.

Naruto narrowed his eyes. He knew the Otsutsuki were here. He didn't need proof—his instincts told him so. Over the years, his connection to the cosmos had deepened, granting him insights beyond mere mortal comprehension. The moment he had entered this reality, he had felt the faint presence of an Otsutsuki's energy. It was buried deep within the fabric of space, hidden in a place beyond normal reach.

"We need to find them," Naruto said firmly. "Even if they aren't a threat right now, we can't afford to let them roam freely."

Hinata nodded. "Should we confront the heroes first?"

Naruto considered it for a moment. "Yes. We need allies."

As the Emperor of Mankind, Naruto carried the weight of countless civilizations on his shoulders. His empire spanned galaxies, with powerful warriors serving as his heralds. These were beings capable of erasing stars from existence, yet even they were not enough.

His enemy, the Otsutsuki King, was a primordial being—one who had existed since before the concept of time itself. This being did not simply conquer worlds. He did not merely devour planets. He could erase entire multiverses with but a thought.

And he was not alone.

The Otsutsuki King had sired countless children, each one a fifth-dimensional entity capable of shaping reality itself. These beings could manipulate the fundamental laws of existence, bending time and space to their will. Below them were the High Otsutsuki, warriors of such immense power that they could battle Naruto as equals. And below them were the foot soldiers—thousands upon thousands of Otsutsuki that could ravage entire galaxies.

Against such a force, Naruto's empire—despite its strength—was still not enough.

That was why he was here.

Through his travels across the multiverse, he had learned of other cosmic entities that had fought against the Otsutsuki. The Celestials had waged war against them for eons. The Asgardians had battled them in the past. Even the great cosmic beings—Galactus, Eternity, Infinity, and the Living Tribunal—viewed the Otsutsuki as a threat. Yet despite their power, they had only managed temporary truces with the Otsutsuki, never a decisive victory.

The Otsutsuki King did not follow the laws of the cosmos. He was beyond them.

But Naruto would not stop.

His journey had led him to this world, and he would not leave until he had found the warriors he needed.

Naruto held Hinata's hand as they hovered above New York City, the twinkling lights below painting a mesmerizing landscape of human civilization. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of the sea from the nearby harbor. The city was alive with energy—cars honking, sirens wailing, and people moving like an endless river beneath them.

Despite the liveliness of the world below, Naruto's focus was elsewhere. A disturbance rippled through the fabric of reality—a powerful presence approaching from another dimension.

He sensed it immediately.

His golden eyes flickered with curiosity as he felt the presence drawing closer. It wasn't an enemy—not one that needed to die, at least. Unlike the Otsutsuki, this being didn't carry the aura of a devourer. He wasn't a conqueror, nor did he bear the oppressive weight of a immortal seeking dominion. No, this was a human. A powerful one, but a human nonetheless.

'Is it a threat?' Hinata's voice rang clearly in his mind through their telepathic bond. She, too, had peered beyond the veil of dimensions and sensed the incoming presence. Her hand tightened around his, her instincts sharp.

'No.'

Naruto descended gently into a secluded part of a park, hidden beneath the canopy of ancient trees. The leaves rustled softly as if whispering secrets carried by the wind. He could have left, disappeared before the observer arrived, but something told him this meeting was inevitable. He waited, intrigued by the one approaching.

A moment later, the fabric of space twisted unnaturally, bending like ripples in a pond. A portal manifested before them, and from its depths stepped a man—tall, composed, and brimming with controlled power. He walked through the distortion of space as if it was nothing more than a door to another room, his red cape flowing behind him like a royal mantle.

Naruto observed him closely. The man exuded a calm authority, his black hair neatly combed, a well-groomed mustache accentuating his sharp features. His eyes were filled with wisdom, experience, and an understanding of forces beyond the mundane. Yet, most intriguing of all was his complete lack of fear.

Naruto wasn't used to that.

Everywhere he went, people either revered him, feared him, or fell to their knees in worship. He had long since accepted his place as the guiding light of humanity, the unshakable force that stood against the eternal abyss. Yet, this man—this sorcerer—stood before him without an ounce of hesitation.

"Thank you for not escaping," the man spoke, his voice steady and filled with measured politeness. "But I am curious as to why?"

Naruto arched an eyebrow, amusement flickering across his face. He could have left if he wished—he knew that. There was no force in this world that could truly contain him. Yet, he had chosen to stay, and the sorcerer had taken notice.

"No problem," Naruto replied with a relaxed tone. "Why should I escape? Am I guilty of something?"

The sorcerer's lips quirked upward in a faint smirk, recognizing the rhetorical nature of the question.

"I apologize if I offended you," the man said. "But I'm quite used to criminals arriving in our world. It's rare for us to have peaceful visitors, for some reason. My name is Doctor Stephen Strange, also known as the Sorcerer Supreme. I would appreciate it if you followed the rules of our world."

Naruto studied him carefully. His instincts told him this man was no ordinary mystic. The energy coursing through him was immense, and there were connections—threads of power that extended beyond this plane of existence. He wasn't just strong on his own; he had access to forces beyond himself.

'A conduit,' Naruto mused, intrigued. 'He's connected to something beyond this world. Higher beings, perhaps? He can borrow power.'

That alone made Strange dangerous. Not necessarily as an enemy, but as an unknown factor. The power of a single individual was one thing, but if that individual had access to an endless reservoir of external strength, they became unpredictable.

Naruto, however, was not concerned. He was a being who could shatter galaxies with a mere thought, one whose will resonated with the very cosmos. The idea of being contained or controlled was laughable.

Still, he respected strength. And this man—Doctor Strange—deserved a certain level of respect.

Naruto smiled, a charming yet authoritative presence radiating from him. "Walk with me," he said. His voice was warm, yet carried the unmistakable weight of command.

Strange raised a brow but nodded, intrigued by Naruto's confidence. He stepped forward, walking beside the blonde warrior as they moved through the park, their footsteps silent against the grass.

"I understand your caution," Naruto continued. "I've had similar experiences in my world. My name is Naruto Uzumaki, also known as the Emperor of Mankind." He let those words settle for a moment, observing how Strange reacted. "I don't mind following the rules… as long as they don't go against my path."

Strange remained unreadable, but there was a flicker of interest in his expression. "Emperor of Mankind? Quite the title," he mused.

Naruto chuckled. "Not a title I gave myself. But it stuck, and I bear the responsibility that comes with it."

He could see the gears turning in Strange's mind. The Sorcerer Supreme was analyzing him, trying to gauge just how much of what he said was true.

"Your presence is… unique," Strange admitted. "You don't belong to this reality, and yet, you've already attuned yourself to it. That's not something I see every day."

Naruto merely smiled. "I have my ways."

Doctor Strange followed along naturally, keeping his composure despite the uncertainty gnawing at his mind. His magical senses were fully activated, his third eye open, yet the duo before him remained unreadable. It was as if they existed outside the bounds of normal perception—an anomaly that both intrigued and unsettled him.

They reminded him of Dormammu.

He had encountered countless powerful beings during his time as Sorcerer Supreme, but only a handful had given him the same eerie sense of complete otherness. These two—Naruto and Hinata—weren't just strong. They were something beyond his comprehension, beyond even the understanding of most cosmic entities he had met.

Strange had taken precautions long ago, warding the Earth against outside threats. His barriers were meant to detect and hinder even the most powerful beings. Yet these two had entered the world like his protections were nothing—like they simply didn't exist.

That alone set off alarms in his mind.

Still, he played it calm, his fingers subtly readying a spell as he walked alongside them. If they gave any sign of hostility, he would not hesitate to call upon the Avengers, the X-Men, or even the cosmic entities he was in contact with.

"What is your purpose here?" Strange asked, keeping his tone even but firm.

Naruto glanced at him, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "Relax, Steven. I am not here to kill you." His voice was warm yet carried an undeniable weight of authority. "We are here to save your world and make alliances. I thought I would need to explore this world before I found someone capable, but it seems humanity here also has its champions."

Strange's eyes narrowed slightly at Naruto's wording. Save the world? That was never a phrase to take lightly.

"The threats my husband speaks of are the Otsutsuki," Hinata interjected, her voice soft yet confident. She gazed at Strange with a serene expression, but there was an unshakable steel behind her words. "With your abilities, I assume you should know of them."

Strange felt his stomach drop at the mention of that name.

He had indeed heard of the Otsutsuki before. During his travels beyond the known realms, he had crossed paths with beings who spoke of them in hushed tones. The Silver Surfer had once mentioned them in passing—a vague warning about cosmic harvesters, parasites that drained entire worlds of life.

Dormammu had also hinted at them, but Strange had dismissed the information at the time. After all, Dormammu was an enemy, and trusting a being of pure malevolence wasn't exactly wise.

However, curiosity had led Strange to investigate further, and what little he had uncovered was deeply unsettling. The Otsutsuki were not mere conquerors or warlords. They were an ancient scourge, entities that moved from world to world, devouring entire civilizations.

If what these two were saying was true, then their presence here meant that an Otsutsuki was already lurking within this universe.

Strange remained skeptical. Information was one thing, but trust was another.

"Why should I trust you?" he asked plainly.

Naruto chuckled, his aura radiating absolute confidence. "Take a seat and relax," he said, gesturing with a flick of his wrist.

Out of nothing, a beautifully crafted wooden table and elegant chairs materialized beside the pond, blending seamlessly with the peaceful surroundings. The evening sun cast a golden glow over the scene, reflecting off the still water.

Hinata sat beside her husband without hesitation, her movements graceful. Strange hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow suit. If nothing else, he wouldn't appear rude.

As soon as he settled into his seat, Naruto casually flicked his fingers again, and before them appeared an exquisite tea set, along with a variety of snacks that smelled rich and inviting.

What caught Strange's attention the most, however, was the creature that appeared to serve them.

A small fairy—no taller than a child's hand—fluttered into view, carrying a silver tray. She had delicate, translucent wings, shimmering like a cascade of stars. Her golden hair was adorned with tiny flowers, and her emerald-green eyes twinkled with joy as she gracefully placed a cup before Strange.

"This is Lily," Naruto introduced with a smile.

Strange observed her carefully, his magical senses going berserk.

This tiny being… she was immensely powerful.

Beneath her delicate exterior, Strange could sense an ocean of energy—an almost infinite well of power that rivaled even the strongest beings in the universe. If he had to compare… she was easily on par with Sentry. Maybe even Hulk in terms of raw strength.

And she was just a servant.

It was a casual display of power, meant to show Strange exactly who he was dealing with.

Strange exhaled slowly, carefully taking the teacup in his hand. His fingers brushed against the fine porcelain, still warm from the freshly brewed tea. He took a sip—smooth, rich, and impossibly perfect.

This wasn't just a simple visit.

This was a statement.

These two… they weren't just some powerful wanderers from another dimension.

They were immortals among men.

Doctor Strange had faced countless threats—demonic entities, cosmic horrors, and ancient sorcerers—but the sheer presence of the man before him sent an uneasy chill down his spine.

Naruto sat there, smiling harmlessly, but his words carried the weight of an absolute truth.

"Steven, if I wanted to make an action… What could you do?"

The words weren't a threat. They weren't spoken in arrogance or malice. They were simply a fact.

Strange felt his instincts flare, but before he could react, his entire world shifted.

The sky above darkened, turning into an abyss of endless nothingness. The Earth beneath his feet crumbled away, dissolving into a cosmic void, leaving him suspended in an infinite expanse of emptiness.

Then, in an instant, everything returned to normal.

The sky was blue. The trees rustled in the evening wind. The pond reflected the setting sun.

It had been effortless.

Even the most powerful illusion spells required a level of complexity that bordered on reality, yet this had been seamless.

No incantations. No effort.

Naruto willed it, and it happened.

Strange took a slow, measured breath, his fingers instinctively tensing under the table.

"That was an illusion, Steven," Naruto said with a knowing smile. "But I can do so in reality as well."

His tone was casual—calm, even—but there was no need for intimidation. The truth was evident: If Naruto wanted to, he could erase everything.

Strange clenched his jaw. It reminded him of the first time he had wielded the Time Stone, the moment he had come to grasp the sheer weight of what it meant to command reality.

This was beyond magic.

Beyond cosmic forces.

Naruto wasn't a being of magic—he was something far greater.

"I just don't want to alarm the enemy," Naruto continued. "If I can't sense them, then they are at least as strong as me."

That was another heavy truth.

Strange had assumed this was merely a warning—a powerful being coming to offer an alliance against a vague threat.

But no.

Naruto wasn't here because he was looking for a fight. He was here because the enemy was already lurking, and it was something he couldn't find.

That was the real danger.

Naruto turned to him fully, his golden eyes shining like miniature suns. "I know you have a path that can lead you to power, and there are others alongside you that can reach this level. So I ask of you, Steven Strange…

"Will you join me against this threat that endangers us all?"

Silence stretched between them.

For the first time in a long time, Strange felt hesitation.

There were times he had been certain of an answer. Times where the enemy had been clear. Where the battle lines had already been drawn.

But this?

This was different.

His instincts screamed at him.

Something was wrong with this world.

Too many events had happened in rapid succession. Too many cataclysms, too many wars, too many moments where everything was on the brink.

As though something was meant to destroy it.

Strange inhaled deeply, steadying his mind. He wouldn't rush into a decision.

"I need to verify this information," he said finally. "And I will get back to you soon. In the meantime, you can communicate with the others."

Naruto nodded. His expression remained calm, but his next words carried a grave weight.

"Remember, this is your world—not mine."

Strange's breath hitched slightly at that.

"If I think the enemy is too much, I will not interfere."

That was the moment Strange truly understood what Naruto was.

He was not a savior in the traditional sense.

Not a self-sacrificing hero like the Avengers.

He was an Emperor—a leader with the weight of countless worlds on his shoulders. A man who would never risk his people in a losing battle.

This wasn't youthful idealism speaking.

This was a man who had fought for centuries, whose wisdom had been forged through endless wars, through choices that no mere hero could make.

Naruto had already sacrificed his naïve heroism long ago.

Strange nodded slowly, understanding the unspoken message. If Earth failed to protect itself, then Naruto would not die for it.

Strange would.

With that, Strange excused himself. He needed to consult the Ancient One—a being who had long since left the mortal plane, now a servant of Eternity.

Yet even as he left, Strange was painfully aware that Naruto had allowed him to leave.

That he had allowed this conversation to take place on his own terms.

And when Strange teleported away, he felt a subtle disturbance in his magical energies.

His eyes widened.

A tracking spell?

He had placed it discreetly, woven with layers of dimensional concealment that should have bypassed normal defenses. It wasn't malicious—just a safeguard to ensure he could locate them later.

But the moment he stepped through his portal, he felt it vanish.

No—absorbed.

Naruto had taken the seal into his body as if it were nothing.

And just before he lost connection, he felt something else.

A trace of something foreign had latched onto him instead.

A gift from Naruto.

"Let's see if he can do the same to my gift," Naruto chuckled as he soared into the sky once more.