Sage of Hearts

Disclaimer: I certainly don't own Naruto, Disney or any of its affiliated properties. If I did, I wouldn't be writing this now would I?

"The connection of our hearts…" : Speech (Bold for yelling ,Bijuu, or massive creatures)

'The connection of our hearts…' : Thought

AN: Before I begin, I made a slight change to the time frame of the Alice arc – it was supposed to be 1865, not 1970(it was mentioned in chapter 18 I think…). Not too much of a change, it's only about a century (I got the Victorian period correct at least…) and gels well with the canon timeline.

Oxford, England 1865 at midnight, two weeks after Alice returned from Wonderland…

It had officially been a month since Naruto and his group had crossed worlds and the sisters they befriended had been fully integrated into the fold. Alice and Audrey now knew that their companions were only temporary visitors at best and while it hadn't been brought up yet, both sisters knew they had a hard choice to make. Stay in the world they've always known and persist in living in a dream fabricated by the forces above or leave on a grand adventure with the man they loved (while not quite love just yet for Alice, it was only a matter of time…). Audrey had a more difficult time deciding on what to do since she had made a life for herself already but upon realizing the true depth of her adoration for her lover (they had yet to consummate their relationship, something about marriage and its principles really appealed to Audrey) she had come to terms with abandoning terra firma for unknown frontiers so to speak.

Alice on the other hand, was all for it, the endless mystery and discoveries to be made when on a voyage on this scale were simply too great a lure for her to ignore (she was a very curious girl, even when she toned her antics down a notch). Sweetening the deal was Naruto – a man she was quickly nursing a big crush on – while Audrey hadn't picked up on it yet, she did notice the subtle affectionate gestures the ladies of the Uzumaki home made to its master and how he reciprocated in kind. Stuff like how Snow would let him rest his head on her lap as they enjoyed a lazy afternoon watching leaves fall in the backyard, how Naruto would help Ella with housework with his clones before scooping the blushing girl up in a princess carry, taking her to the gazebo to brush her hair and massage her sore feet, sneaking a kiss every now and again, how Grimhilde and Madonna would team up to snatch Naruto away for a few hours at a time demanding his attention(usually in the form of pampering the women like a manservant) before becoming putty in his hands as he massaged them to completion – this would then be followed by the now sated and nigh on purring women serving Naruto like a conquering warlord (complete with a woman feeding him grapes as the other stroked his chest and kissed him intermittently).

While this certainly shocked her at first, she quickly came to the realization that this meant that she could be with Naruto if she just waited long enough(the girls didn't protest the peculiar arrangement of their relationship so she doubted Audrey would raise a stink about it – she knew her sister was head-over-heels for her new man). Upon realizing just how different his perception of the world was though, she wanted to be of help to him - she didn't have magic but she could learn all she could about it. She did this by regularly traveling to Wonderland(a simple task once Ella used her wand to enter Alice's dreams before registering the mirror world's signature in her wand's cosmic wayfinder) and conversing with the Cheshire Cat and the now King Rabbit. While the crazy cat was still as unhinged as ever, he had an uncanny understanding of worlds and how they floated in the velvet folds of the multiverse.

He wasn't too shocked upon learning about Naruto's true nature – in fact he found it delightful, excitedly talking about how much chaos could happen once all worlds were freed from their binding scripts. He did warn her about traveling between worlds however telling her that all travelers must have a piece of their home with them, lest their new stomping grounds reject them outright.

Which brings us to the current situation – in the month that Naruto and company had spent in England, the women had slowly begun to feel unwell, citing a feeling of weakness and perpetual scrutiny on their person. Madonna was the one who felt it the most – she could barely muster the energy to wake up and make herself presentable on some days. Grimhilde and Ella could feel their magic bleeding away at an increasing rate although they expected this – England could hardly be called a bed of magical energy after all. Strangely Snow and Naruto were unaffected-Snow simply fretted over her 'sister wives' and cared for them and Naruto felt like there was something watching them at all times – shadows were dark corridors into a tenebrous abyss, the sun the eye of a furious god.

Feeling the tension coming to a head, Naruto and Ella had called for a group meeting with the other ladies (Alice and Audrey included). When all the people had congregated in the living room, Naruto moved forward, brushing aside some clutter on the living room table as he did so.

"Alright – we all know what this is about. This world is slowly becoming aware of our presence, slowly rejecting our very existence. I propose that we leave this world for the next one as soon as possible – most of us can't afford to test our luck like this. I mean, Madonna started getting grey hairs again!" Naruto said, gently squeezing the aforementioned woman's shoulders to infuse her with chakra to rejuvenate her for the umpteenth time.

"I agree – the wand has been showing signs of activity again so I propose that the moment it has decided to guide me somewhere else, we all depart this world together." Ella said, holding her wand aloft as it produced a faint velvet purple mist with sparkles wafting off of it.

"That is indeed the better option – I think Snow would agree with me on this. However, this is the last time we can ask a certain question. Snow, if you would the honors?" Grimhilde said as she gestured towards Alice and Audrey. Snow then nodded before walking over to the girls and sat down between them, holding one of their hands as she did so.

"So how about it girls? Are you willing to go on a grand adventure with our true love at the helm? We promise that we'll take care of you like one of our own?" Snow asked as Alice nodded happily before running over to jump in Naruto's lap.

Audrey took a moment to collect her thoughts before deciding to answer.

"Well there's really not much of a choice is there? I mean, I have accepted that I love Naruto but I can't keep him here if the very world wants to expel him. That just leaves with me with two alternatives – abandoning my love or following him into the unknown – the answer is obvious. I will be coming with you – I also have to keep an eye on my sister as well you know…" Audrey said as she scratched her cheek shyly.

"Hehe…sister may be shy but I am not! Let's go on an adventure Naruto!" Alice said as Naruto chuckled and lifted the twelve year old girl on his back (originally, Alice was seven but I am bumping her age up – no way a seven year old can do the stuff she did!).

"Okay! Now that we are all in agreement, I think we can all retire for the night. This talk's really taken a load off my back!" Naruto said as he made to leave to his bedroom, only to collapse after taking three steps, faint wisps of golden chakra coming out of his head. This, of course, shocked all the people in the room.

"NARUTO!" 

In Naruto's mindscape…

Naruto found himself in a strange place – gone was any semblance of familiarity as he was in a massive field of grass under a cloudless night sky. In the distance, he espied a massive castle with a river passing around it as singular shooting stars traced the peaks of each tower, leaving sparkly trails in their wake (a digital cookie is yours if you get the reference).

"Where am I? What is this place?" Naruto said, looking around in confusion.

"Welcome interloper of worlds. Having fallen into our domain by accident, you have caused quite the stir in our affairs!" A pair voices said, the owners of said voices materializing in the sky above Naruto.

They were massive humanoids (they were big enough to hold Kurama in his full form like an action figure to put it into perspective) that radiated an oppressive aura of divine primordial magic.

"W-who are you creatures? How are you in my head?" Naruto asked, feeling his divine chakra activating (but not manifesting) in response to the crushing pressure they were exuding, allowing him to resist their power and face them confidently.

"Watch your tongue mortal. You are in the Kingdom of Dreams and the castle before you is the Fable Castle. We are the creators and custodians of the world – you may call us the Grimm Gods. Grovel before our divinity!" They said as the glowed with a golden and purple aura respectively.

"And why should I? Sure you're gods and all but why call me here just to flex your powers?! Anyone can do that?" Naruto said, frustrated with all the grandstanding going on.

"Insolent insect…you have been summoned as part of a formal cease and desist measure we are employing against you and your group. You have flouted our Principles and polluted the stream of destiny – you are an anomaly that should by all accounts, not exist." The dark god said as the light god brandished a massive glaive menacingly.

"Hey! It's not my fault if people want to make their own destiny – besides, what's it to you anyway?! All powerful beings shouldn't be this concerned about the affairs of 'insects' like me anyway! What's this really about?!" Naruto said as the light god swung his glaive at him, only for Naruto to activate his Sage of Six Paths Ashura mode and blitz away from the impact site in a flash.

"So it seems the insect has a spark of divinity in him as well…you are a rogue element that threatens to skew the balance of creation into chaos. Free will is an anathema in the hands of the ignorant but I doubt you'd comprehend this. If you refuse to disappear quietly, then perhaps we had better eliminate you and your friends in one fell swoop!" The light god said as his brother started to open a portal to, presumably Oxford.

"Oh no you don't! If you think I am going to roll over and watch you kill me and my precious people, then you've got another thing coming!" Naruto said as his body glowed gold, his chakra blooming around him before coalescing to form a massive Ashura battle avatar, each hand holding a sword made of Truth Seeking Ball chakra.

He then rushed over to the dark god, slashing at the being and nearly removing its limb. The gods then started to gang up on the avatar, only to be fended off by four of its arms while the other pair were free to whale on the hapless primordials.

"Enough of this!! If you insist on bringing the corporeal world into this mess, then so be it!!" The brothers said as they exploded in a wave of rainbow energy and Naruto's vision turned white.

In the real world…

When Naruto came to, he looked upon a scene of carnage. The cosy little borough he lived in for the past month was now set aflame, the houses now mere rubble in the face of the massive conflagration they were in. Looking around frantically, he saw Ella and Grimhilde had erected a magical barrier to protect the others so he ran over to them.

"Hey! Are you guys okay?! What happened?!"

"Naruto! Thank goodness you're alright. After you passed out, you energy started going berserk and then every house in this town suddenly exploded!!" Ella said as Grimhilde looked into the sky, her face setting into an angry scowl.

"Yes – those two beings above us also appeared not too long after you started talking with us. The power they exude…it's not too much of a stretch to say that they must have caused this disaster. Do you know them Naruto?" She asked as Naruto snarled and turned to look at the gods, who looked to be preparing a massive magical attack.

"No time to explain – these 'gods' are after us for desecrating their precious Grimm Principles. They have too much power for you guys to handle in your state. Ella, take everyone to Wonderland – they'll be safe there!" Naruto said as Ella nodded and whisked the others away in a portal before the two magical ladies looked at him askance.

"But what about you? Aren't you coming with us?" They asked as Naruto smiled a little sadly at them before shoving them into the portal with a few parting words.

"Sorry ladies – I have to make sure that these bastards can't follow you or threaten anyone else again. But to do that…I'll have to go all out…." Naruto said as he activated Ashura mode and blasted off into the sky, a massive golden fist forming around his leading arm, which was winding up for a titanic punch.

"NARUTO!!" Ella and Grimhilde screamed, tears in their eyes as they fell through the portal, with the last thing they saw being a massive flash of light. In Wonderland, Ella tried to open another portal but found her magic wanting while Grimhilde found hers unresponsive. Turning to the other pale faced women and girl, they looked lost at what to do.

"Is he alright?" Madonna asked as the others looked away, not knowing the answer.

"I-I can still feel him fighting! He's alright so don't worry!" Snow said, her body glowing with a faint white glow as she hugged Alice to calm her down. Her heart resonated with everyone she held dear, orienting them and calming them down.

Meanwhile, back with Naruto…

"Take this punch you wannabe gods! Flying Fists of the Raging Ashura!" He yelled as one punch became hundreds, battering the puny gods as they were launched into the sky.

"This has dragged on long enough – we'll simply take this world with you into oblivion!" The gods yelled as they released their magical blast at him in a huge beam of energy.

Naruto simply held his hands before him, tanking the blast and redirecting it so it only affected him. While this saved the world, it had an unexpected effect on Naruto himself, the man seemingly compressing into a tiny man of pure golden energy before dissipating into thin air.

"At last. The threat has been removed. We can ignore his mewling 'loves' as they are of no consequence…" The brother gods said as they disappeared, blissfully unaware that with their final attack…

…they created the ultimate weapon to kill them and take their thrones.

And that was chapter 26! I really pulled out all the stops this chapter because I wanted a spectacular reveal of our antagonists and send Naruto to his next adventure with a sense of purpose. Separated from the others, he only knows that the girls are safe and vice versa. Now that the stakes have been set, Naruto will have to find his way back to the girls and save worlds at the same time! (Hint- some worlds are only separated in time, not space!)

If you'd like to support me you can find me on Patreon on the 'search for creators' bar under DudeWithaMac (I only get free time on Sundays since money's extremely tight-details on Panacea chapter 14). Alternatively, you guys can follow this link: p#at#re#on.#com/DudeWithaMac (remove the hash tags). Reviews and comments are always welcome!