Chapter 98: Chapter 80. Untouched
Inside the massive helicarrier, the Avengers and Maria Hill gathered in the meeting room to discuss the events in Madripoor. The atmosphere was tense as they delved into the mysterious figures and incidents surrounding the mission.
Present were Iron Man, Captain America, Wolverine, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Bruce Banner, Maria Hill, and a hooded figure known as Patronus—Uzumaki Naruto.
"How does it feel, Cap?" Tony Stark began, a smirk on his face. "Taking down your nemesis without lifting a finger? Must be a record for you." He leaned back, watching the news footage on the screen. It showed the United States claiming victory over the Hydra terrorists, with a narrative framing them as the saviors of Madripoor.
"Cut it out, Tony." Steve Rogers frowned, his arms crossed. "We're here to talk about the Emperor. He's our prime suspect for stealing the Tesseract."
"Ah, the mysterious Emperor," Tony replied, rolling his eyes. "Another enigma. But unlike a certain someone," he gestured subtly at Patronus, "this guy is loud and proud about his title. Emperor? Really? Does he have a secret kingdom we don't know about?"
Naruto didn't react, remaining silent under his hood, though Tony's jab didn't go unnoticed.
Natasha Romanoff, better known as Black Widow, stepped in. "From what we've gathered, this Emperor is incredibly powerful and meticulous. He erased all traces of himself—there's no data on him in any database. It's like he doesn't exist. A ghost." Her tone was sharp, her spy instincts on high alert.
Bruce Banner raised an eyebrow. "So, not just strong but sly too? Great. How are we supposed to find someone like that? And let's not forget—he calls himself an Emperor. You think he's running some hidden kingdom?"
Hawkeye joined the conversation. "And what about his accomplices? The so-called Nightmare, that spider-themed warrior, and the woman who looks like she stepped out of a Disney movie? Is that Spider-Man the same guy we know?"
Logan grunted, leaning back in his chair. "No clue about the crazy woman, but that spider kid… He's got potential. A real fighter. I wouldn't mind recruiting him for my team."
Maria Hill, standing at the front of the room, interrupted the speculation. "You need to see this." She played a video on the screen, one that had been circulating online before the government scrambled to suppress it. The footage showed a blinding golden light morphing into a massive blue giant in the middle of a war-torn city. The giant performed what could only be described as miracles, healing countless injuries, even curing chronic illnesses.
The clip ended with the figure vanishing as mysteriously as it appeared..
"In Gaza," Hill explained, "this so-called angel descended on March 10. By morning, every Palestinian in the area had been healed. People in the region are hailing it as a divine intervention. But here's the question—why did this entity help them? Is it a threat to us? We need to determine its motives before it becomes a danger."
"Big guy, huh?" Hawkeye muttered, shaking his head. "What this blue giant business in the sandbox? Is he their guardian angel or something?"
Steve's expression darkened. "A threat? Really, Hill? From what I've seen, that blue giant is a hero. And we're the oppressors in this situation. How can you call them our enemy?" His voice rose with anger as he stood, grabbing Maria Hill by the collar. "Do you even realize what's happening? This isn't war—it's slaughter! We're no better than Hydra!"
Hill, unfazed, glared back. "Put me down, soldier. And remember this—our government stands by Israel. That land is theirs by right, and we're their allies. Do you want to disobey orders and be branded a traitor, Captain?"
Bruce Banner sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is why I hate politics…"
Steve clenched his jaw, his grip tightening, but before he could act further, Tony stepped in. "Cool it, Cap. Let's stay focused on what we can do. I'll handle the bureaucrats and push for a ceasefire. Can we agree on that?"
Reluctantly, Steve released Hill and sat back down, his anger still simmering.
Meanwhile, Naruto, observing the exchange, was deep in thought. The giant on the screen… he recognized him immediately.
"Naruto, is that… who I think it is?" Kurama's voice echoed in his mind, laced with shock.
"Yeah," Naruto replied silently, a small smile tugging at his lips. "That brat. Ominous as ever, but his heart's in the right place."
"Nya~ Satria-kun is such a good boy," Matatabi purred, clearly enamored by the Emperor's actions.
"Foolish humans," Shukaku scoffed. "They call us beasts of destruction, yet they're worse than we could ever be."
Tony's voice broke through Naruto's thoughts. "Patronus, you seem awfully calm after watching that. Do you know something about this Emperor or his associates?"
Naruto shook his head, his hood concealing his face. "I don't. But if I learn anything, you'll be the first to know."
Hill narrowed her eyes at him, suspicion clear in her gaze. To her, Patronus was an enigma—a man with great power and an impenetrable wall of secrets.
'Enjoy your little game while you can, Patronus,' Hill thought to herself. 'I'll uncover the truth behind that hood soon enough. And as for the Golden Emperor, I'll bring him to justice and retrieve the Tesseract.'
•
Homestay, Kyoto, Japan
Golden Flash and Black Shadow arrived simultaneously, followed shortly by six figures entering the homestay: Satria's clone, Valiana, Kurumi, Peter Parker, and Baobhan Sith.
Kurumi relentlessly thumped Satria's clone's back, her adorable yet furious expression speaking volumes. Meanwhile, Valiana clung to him lovingly, completely unbothered.
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"Stop hitting me, Kurumi-chan! And the reward... it's so disappointing!" Satria groaned, clearly underwhelmed by the results on the screen.
"Welcome back, and… who are they?" Kiyohime appeared, her serene expression betrayed by the sharp glint in her eyes. "Care to introduce your guests, Danna-sama?" Her gaze lingered a little too long on Baobhan Sith.
Baobhan Sith met Kiyohime's gaze, her expression unfazed. "Please, don't misunderstand. I am not what you assume. My name is Baobhan Sith, fiancée to this gentleman—Peter Parker. Delighted to meet you."
Kiyohime's suspicion softened as she folded her hands in her lap, bowing in proper Japanese etiquette. "My apologies, Sith-san. I am Kiyohime Matsumi, the wife of Satria. Welcome to our home."
"Apology accepted. It's a pleasure to meet you, Kiyohime-san," Baobhan Sith replied politely.
"Ara~ I apologize for intruding. My name is Fatalis Matsumi, another of Satria's wives." Fatalis emerged, her sharp yet playful tone directed at Satria. "I trust my little boy wasn't causing too much trouble?"
"Nice to meet you too, Fatalis." Peter nodded respectfully. Glancing at Satria, he hesitated before adding nervously, "And… Satria was, um… great, right, girls?" He desperately sought backup, only to be met with Kurumi's blank stare and Baobhan Sith's sigh.
Satria rolled his eyes. "See? Nothing to worry about! Kurumi's just in her PMS mode… Ow!" His words were cut short as Kurumi stomped on his foot, her fists still pounding his back.
Fatalis chuckled. "Oh, dear. He's been as mischievous as always, I see."
"Now, explain, Danna-sama," Kiyohime interjected, her sweet smile not reaching her eyes.
"Fine, fine! First off, I wasn't just sitting idle during the fight—I trusted you all could handle it. How will you grow if I solve every problem for you?" Satria said, feigning a wise demeanor.
The others exchanged glances. While they begrudgingly accepted the logic, Kurumi narrowed her eyes.
"And the 'Emperor' nonsense?"
"Ah, just roleplay," Satria replied nonchalantly. "It makes me look cooler!"
"Cooler?!" Peter sputtered. "Your 'Emperor' bit set off my Spider-Sense, man. I thought you were serious!"
Baobhan Sith nodded in agreement. "We were all convinced. You radiated the aura of a genuine ruler."
"See? I'm a natural actor!" Satria grinned smugly.
"More like a natural fool," Fatalis quipped.
Meanwhile, Satria stretched lazily, his expression turning contemplative. "Talk about Ruler... Nah, that sounds like too much work. I'd rather spend my time with my family than dealing with all that pressure," he declared, his face lighting up with sincerity.
His wives couldn't help but be touched by his statement, their hearts melting a little at his earnestness.
Kurumi, however, wasn't letting him off that easily. "Touching as that is, my love, don't think you can sweet-talk your way out of explaining yourself. Continue," she said, her sharp gaze pinning him in place. "How about your new pet?"
Satria clicked his tongue, averting his eyes. 'Tch, she's too sharp!' he thought. With a resigned sigh, he continued, "Alright, alright. You guys know lions, right?"
The group nodded.
"Well, even lions are dangerous at first, but with proper training, they can be tamed. The same goes for this octopus!" he said, gesturing dramatically. "Sure, he's ugly, wicked, and somehow talks too, but where else are you going to find a weird octopus like him? And let's not forget—he's an unfortunate case, summoned against his will to fight us! Instead of hating him just because he's unattractive, we should learn to forgive! Say no to racism!" Satria finished with fervor, as if delivering a revolutionary speech.
Peter's eyes sparkled. "You're absolutely right, Big Bro Satria! Racism is wrong—even toward an evil octopus with a strange name like... Budi."
But Fatalis rolled her eyes, arms crossed. "The audacity of a MOBA player like you lecturing about racism when you do it in every pub game? Also, Budi? Really? You're terrible at naming things. Just admit it—you're a furry trying to build a zoo."
Satria spun toward her, scandalized. "I'm not a furry! And I'm not building a zoo—I'm building Jurassic Park! Besides, I only flame sub-human teammates who deserve it. And for the record, Budi is a great name!"
His wives collectively sweatdropped. 'Why are we even entertaining this idiot?' they thought in unison, unwilling to argue further.
Baobhan chuckled and patted Kurumi on the shoulder. "You have my respect, Kurumi. Dealing with him every day must be exhausting."
Kurumi groaned, facepalming. "You have no idea."
Valiana, observing the chaos, turned to one of Satria's clones nearby. "Hey, are you always this stupid, hubby?" she asked skeptically.
"Of course not, my love. He and I are completely different breeds," the clone replied with a smug grin. "I'm the handsome, fashionable version." He then created a golden lightning remnant using the Speed Force to admire himself dramatically.
Valiana stared blankly. "Forget I asked." Turning to the rest of Satria's wives, she demanded, "Alright, where's the real hubby?"
Her question was met with silence.
"Don't ignore me, damn it!"
Fatalis smirked, leaning against the doorway with crossed arms. "Hm? I didn't notice you there, Valiana-chan. My apologies," she said, her voice tinged with playful jealousy.
Kiyohime, seated gracefully nearby, added with a sarcastic edge, "How was the honeymoon? It must have been blissful, enjoying your vacation without the rest of us interrupting your quality time with our beloved Danna-sama."
Valiana's face lit up with satisfaction. "Of course, it was~! While I was roughing it on Criminal Island, you all were sailing luxuriously in the Maldives. What a tragedy," she teased. Turning to Kurumi, she added smugly, "But yes, being treated like royalty by hubby was quite rewarding."
Kurumi's brow twitched. "Royalty? Well, you are the White Dragon Princess, according to him. So, I suppose it's only natural you'd get the royal treatment."
"Don't call me that!" Valiana snapped, her cheeks flushing. "I'm not a princess—I'm the White Dragon Emperor!"
Their banter was interrupted by a sleepy voice.
"What's all this noise? I can't sleep," a petite black cat girl appeared in the living room, still in her pajamas, her ears twitching with annoyance.
"Good morning, Fran-chan~" Fatalis greeted her warmly. "Did you sleep well?"
"The bed here is so comfortable. Way better than those inns in my world," Fran replied, stretching. Her sleepy eyes scanned the room. "Where's the real him?"
Fran's nose twitched slightly. She could distinguish between Satria and his clone with ease, thanks to the unique scent she had marked on him.
With a resigned sigh, Kiyohime stood and opened the entrance to the Zen Garden. Outside, the group could see the real Satria kneeling by the pond. He was offering food to a figure hidden in the water, two enormous wolves standing protectively at his sides.
"Wow!" Peter exclaimed, stepping closer to the garden view. "What are those? They're huge! And so fluffy!"
The wolves were majestic, each the size of a lion. The one on Satria's right was a radiant gold, its fur glinting like sunlight, while the one on his left was a deep, shadowy black that mirrored the night sky.
"How did he even get those beasts?" Peter asked, his voice laced with awe. "No, better question—how did he tame them?"
Baobhan Sith's gaze sharpened. "Those aren't ordinary wolves, are they?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Fatalis chuckled softly. "Allow me to enlighten you, Sith-chan. These are no mere wolves. What you see before you are the Wolves of Calamity—Aesir's most dangerous enemies."
"The Wolves of Calamity?" Baobhan Sith's brows furrowed as she tried to recall the legends.
"Indeed," Fatalis continued. "These beasts are destined to devour the sun and moon, signaling the beginning of Ragnarok. And, of course, my husband managed to tame them with the power of love."
For a moment, the room was silent as the weight of her words sank in.
Then, Baobhan Sith's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait… the sun-eating wolves of Norse myth? Those wolves?!"
Peter, ever the skeptic, crossed his arms. "You can't be serious. Wolves that eat the sun? That defies every known law of science!"
"And 'tamed with the power of love'?" Baobhan Sith raised a brow. "Please. Don't feed me that nonsense. Love doesn't tame beasts like that."
Fatalis shrugged nonchalantly. "Believe what you want, Sith-chan. I'm just telling you the truth."
"You're kidding, right? Love?" Baobhan Sith still looked unconvinced.
Fran tilted her head. "Actually… it's probably true. My Lord does have a strange way of making even terrifying things get along with him."
Peter rubbed his temples. "First a talking octopus, now this. What's next? A dragon?"
"Already got three," Fatalis replied with a smirk.
"Ariel~ Daddy brought you the best food in the world!" Satria called out to the blue aquatic cat hiding in the pond. He held up a dish of his creation—a special treat named Fish Jelly Teresa, made with natural fish bone jelly and a hint of soy sauce. "I made this just for you, sweetie. I personally cooked it myself!"
Unfortunately, the Vaporeon or Ariel ignored him completely.
"Please don't ignore me, Ariel! I miss you!" Satria pleaded.
From the pond, a pair of bright blue eyes peeked out, followed by an aquatic cat-like creature with fins and scales.
"Nya, Nya!"
(You liar! Go play with the furballs you brought into our family! You're replacing me!)
"Nothing could ever replace you, sweetheart," Satria insisted, kneeling at the water's edge. "Please, have faith in me. Dawn, Selena, and you—you're all part of this family. Just look at them! They want to get along with you, too."
At his cue, Satria gave a knowing look to the twin wolves beside him. Dawn, the golden-furred wolf, barked dramatically.
"Woof, woof! Woof! Woof? Woof."
(Boss is right! We want to be friends with you too, Vaporeon-chan! Boss, where's my reward? Can I have steak today?)
Selena, the sleek black wolf, growled softly and smacked her brother's head with her paw.
"Grrrr... Woof!"
(Idiot! This isn't the time. The little cat hasn't even come out yet!)
Dawn whimpered, realizing his mistake.
"Nya?"
(Really?)
The twin wolves nodded in unison and howled gently, inviting Ariel to join their pack. Slowly, Ariel emerged from the water, sniffing the food Satria had made.
After a tentative bite, her eyes lit up. "Nya... Nya!!! Nya!"
(Daddy's food is… so tasty! I love you!)
Satria's eyes welled up with tears. "W-We did it! Thank you both so much!" Overcome with joy, he began dancing with the twin wolves in celebration.
"What is that creature?" Peter asked, wide-eyed as he watched the heartwarming scene. "It looks like a cat, but it has fish features. And it's so adorable! Where does he even find these animals?"
"Remind me again how we all fell for him?" Valiana muttered, crossing her arms in disbelief.
"Because you're a weirdo too," Albion chimed in.
"What did you just say, stupid dragon?!" Valiana snapped, her cheeks flushed. "I'm not a weirdo! And why are you suddenly so talkative these days?"
Albion chuckled. "I can't help it. You've become so much more entertaining since meeting that white-haired nitwit. You're not the tomboyish lone wolf you used to be. Admit it, Valiana. Your life is far more colorful with him."
Valiana grumbled but didn't refute him.
Fatalis smiled knowingly. "Where else could you find someone like him? Despite his quirks, he always gives his best to make us happy and keeps us safe."
"Agreed." Kiyohime nodded. "Danna-sama never fails to exceed our expectations."
Kurumi smirked mischievously. "He's unpredictable, makes life fun, and… let's just say he's quite talented in certain areas."
Her suggestive comment made everyone blush, and Satria instantly covered Fran's ears.
"Why are you covering my ears, Satria?" Fran asked innocently.
"N-N-Nothing important!" he stammered, using telepathy to quickly distract her. He glared at Kurumi, silently pleading with her not to corrupt the pure catgirl.
Fran tilted her head, a sly smile forming. 'My lord is so cute when flustered. Does he forget I can read lips? He's tempting me to tease him more… but I'll behave for now.'
Satria turned back to his wives and clones. "Why didn't anyone tell me we'd have guests today?! I could've prepared!" His frustration only made the group laugh harder.
"Don't be mad, my love~" Fatalis cooed, pulling him into a warm embrace. She gently patted his head. "Who's a good boy?"
Satria melted into her affection, his irritation vanishing. Strangely, a wagging tail seemed to appear behind him, much to Peter's astonishment.
"Did… did he just grow a tail?" Peter whispered, rubbing his eyes. "Or am I seeing things?"
"Geez, Fatalis-san, don't spoil him too much," Kiyohime chided.
"That's rich coming from you," Kurumi quipped, smirking.
Suddenly, one of Satria's clones stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Valiana. "Why not leave this loser and go out with me instead, my lady?"
"Eh?! W-What are you saying?!" Valiana stammered, her face turning crimson as the clone leaned in closer.
"Yeah, we're way cooler than him!" another clone chimed in, smirking.
Satria's eye twitched. "What did you just say, you jerks?! Nobody messes with the great Satria and gets away with it! COME HERE!"
With that, he lunged at his clones, dispelling them with a flurry of punches.
The group deadpanned as they watched him fight with his own copies.
"Unbelievable," Valiana muttered, shaking her head.
"You're stuck with him," Albion teased.
"Shut up, stupid."
"Wow…" Baobhan Sith muttered. "That's the guy you all fell for?"
"He grows on you," Fatalis replied with a smirk.
Without warning, a swirling purple portal appeared in the tranquil zen garden of the homestay. Out stepped several familiar figures: Naruto, Artoria, Koneko, and Kuroka.
"Senpai! I missed you so much!" Koneko exclaimed as she used a body flicker jutsu to close the distance, throwing herself into Satria's arms. After enduring Naruto's grueling training, she wanted nothing more than to be spoiled by him.
Satria smiled warmly, catching her effortlessly and spinning her around. "Welcome back, Koneko. If you're here, I take it you've mastered everything you needed to learn about chakra control, right, my precious kitten?"
"Nya!" Koneko pouted adorably. "Stop treating me like a kid!"
Satria immediately froze, setting her down. Her puffed cheeks and furrowed brow were too cute to ignore.
"Alright, alright," he said, chuckling softly. "But seriously, how did your training go?"
She crossed her arms and held her head high. "I've mastered it, Senpai. Thanks to Naruto-san and Nee-chan, I've got full control now!"
"That's my girl!" Satria grinned, leaning down to kiss her cheek and ruffle her hair. A soft purring sound escaped her, betraying her delight.
Kuroka, who had been watching from a short distance, sighed. "How unfortunate Koneko has to return to her world so soon. Can't we keep her here a bit longer?"
Satria glanced at her, his expression serious. "I'd love for her to stay, but she needs to settle things with Gremory first. I won't let my family remain bound to that ridiculous peerage system. It's nothing but a leash forcing loyalty without consent."
Kuroka's gaze softened. "I understand. Still, it'd be nice to spend more time with her. There's so much more she could learn."
There was a pause before Kuroka asked hesitantly, "Satria-kun, do you… hate supernatural creatures? You call yourself human, and I've heard of others like you—like Cao Cao—who despise anything non-human. Are you the same?"
Satria laughed, his voice ringing with mockery. "Wahaha! Don't compare me to that clown. The whole 'humans are righteous and devils are evil' narrative is a joke that changes with whoever's writing the history books. Kids who've never seen peace have one view, and kids who've never seen war have another. But me? I've seen both."
"There is no such thing as true justice," he continued, his tone shifting to one of commanding authority. "Those in power decide what's right and wrong. Humans, demi-human, devils, angels—does it matter? Ambition drives chaos, and that cycle will continue forever. Do you understand, Kuroka?"
Kuroka was stunned by his words, unsure how to respond. His charisma was undeniable, and his speech carried the weight of someone who had lived through countless battles.
Naruto's brows furrowed as he studied Satria's composed demeanor. "This kid's beliefs… they're extreme. Too extreme. I can't let him go astray, not like Sasuke. He's more dangerous than him if left unchecked."
Artoria's eyes narrowed, a strange sense of familiarity washing over her. "This feeling… it's the same as when I met the King of Conquerors and the King of Heroes during the Holy Grail War. Is this boy destined to stand among kings?"
Kuroka's lips curled into an amused smile. "He called the True Longinus wielder a clown? This guy's incredible. I wonder how my other self would react if she met him. That'd be a show worth watching."
Kiyohime, meanwhile, gazed at Satria with unwavering adoration. "My danna-sama is so charming~. As expected of my husband."
Valiana smirked. "See that? That's my proud hubby you're looking at."
Albion couldn't resist teasing her. "Wasn't he your weird hubby just a moment ago? Are you perhaps a tsundere partner?"
"Shut up, stupid dragon!" Valiana snapped, her cheeks turning crimson.
Kurumi, watching from the sidelines, licked her lips seductively. "My, my… this is why I can't leave him. Satria is so fascinating, so… irresistible."
Fran, observing quietly, smiled faintly. "My lord is destined for greatness and I'll do whatever it takes to support him."
Koneko's ears twitched as she leaned against Satria, her eyes thoughtful. "Senpai… who are you, really? What kind of past created someone like you? I want to know everything."
Fatalis, meanwhile, plotted silently, her thoughts as dark as her draconic nature. "How best to guide him to greatness? Hmm… I'll have to ensure I'm always one step ahead."
Turning to Naruto, Satria's tone softened. "Last but not least, dobe. Thanks for teaching my white kitten. Tell me what you want as a reward—I'll grant whatever your heart desires."
Naruto crossed his arms, his face a mix of exasperation and unease. "I didn't do it for a reward, brat. Koneko's my sister-in-law now, so I helped her out of responsibility." His eyes narrowed. "But if you really want to clear the debt, answer me this—why did you steal the Tesseract? And why were you involved in the war in the Middle East? That was you, wasn't it?"
The air grew heavy. Satria's family and companions exchanged shocked glances.
"Senpai… is that true?" Koneko asked hesitantly, her expression a mixture of disbelief and concern.
Satria closed his eyes, sighing deeply. After a long pause, he looked up, his gaze steady. "Alright. You deserve the truth."
He smirked faintly, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Looks like I've got a new story to tell."
To be continued...