Naruto stepped through the shimmering golden portal, emerging alongside Rogue in the expansive playground of the Mutant Academy. The morning sun cast a warm glow over the well-kept grounds, where students trained their abilities under the watchful eyes of their mentors. He chose to hide his presence as usual, an old habit born from countless battles and encounters with beings far stronger than the ones present. However, he did not extend this concealment to Rogue—he wanted the others to notice her arrival.
The instant they appeared, a few students turned their heads, noticing the sudden presence of Rogue but not Naruto. The young woman, clad in her signature green and yellow attire, let her gaze wander across the grounds before settling back on the man beside her. He stood relaxed, hands in his pockets, a slight smirk playing on his lips.
"Good morning, Rogue," Naruto greeted, his voice warm yet carrying the weight of someone who had seen and done more than any mortal should.
Rogue turned to look at him, taking in his appearance. As expected, he wore the same attire as before—dark pants, a fitted black shirt, and a long red coat that gave him an almost regal air. His golden hair, slightly messy yet controlled, only added to his presence. But what caught her attention the most was the subtle difference in his expression. There was a slight brightness in his eyes, an ease in his posture.
He seemed… content.
Rogue pursed her lips, slightly embarrassed by the realization that came to her.
'He must have had some.'
The thought made her cheeks warm, and she immediately felt ashamed for even thinking that way.
"Good morning to you as well," she said, trying to push away her wandering thoughts. "I hope you had good dreams."
Naruto let out a hearty chuckle, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Haha, you're a precious child, aren't you? I didn't think you'd ask, but yes, I had good dreams." He reached out and gave her a light but firm slap on the back, the kind meant to show camaraderie.
The sheer casualness of it made Rogue scowl. "I'm twenty-one, you know. And you don't seem much older," she pointed out, crossing her arms in mild annoyance.
Naruto smirked, turning his gaze toward the approaching figures in the distance. "I might look young, but physically, I'm fifty. And through one of my skills, I've lived for thousands of years mentally. Besides, you know my life's always been… dynamic." His teasing gaze met hers again. "Do you really think we're at the same stage of maturity?"
Rogue rolled her eyes but didn't refute him. It was true. Naruto wasn't normal—he never had been. His experiences, his knowledge, and even the way he carried himself were beyond her comprehension. She had thought she'd lived a rough life, but compared to what he had endured, she still had a long way to go.
Before she could reply, a voice interrupted their banter.
"Welcome to my humble abode and institution," came the calm, authoritative voice of a bald man in a wheelchair. "My name is Charles Xavier, and I assume you are Rogue and Naruto."
Naruto turned his gaze toward the headmaster of the Mutant Academy, scanning him for a brief moment before letting his eyes drift past him to another individual. A redhead, glowing faintly with restrained power, stood behind Charles. Jean Grey. The vessel of something far greater. His eyes lingered on her for only a second before he returned his attention to the professor.
Rogue, however, stiffened. She turned fully to face Xavier, her stance cautious. Naruto had already warned her about this man. He could read minds. He was supposedly kind, but kindness was often a mask for those who held too much power. Trusting others had never come easy for her, and she wasn't about to change that just because someone was smiling.
She let her gaze flicker to Naruto, who remained relaxed, hands still in his pockets, completely unbothered. It was as if nothing around him could phase him.
That, more than anything, reassured her.
Naruto gave Charles a small nod, his sharp blue eyes scanning the area once more. The academy was well-maintained, well-structured for its purpose, but the military strategist in him couldn't ignore the vulnerabilities. Too open. Too exposed. If a serious attack were to happen, even with the X-Men's abilities, casualties were inevitable. He had seen it happen too many times in too many places.
"It's nice to meet you as well, Charles," Naruto finally said, his voice even. "Nice place you got here, though I assume it would have been much better to just mind control people in power and find an island to live on for the mutants. Would have been a much better option than this. The place isn't really protected much and is open to both land and aerial assault."
Rogue almost choked at Naruto's casual suggestion, while Jean raised an eyebrow in curiosity. Charles, however, remained calm, his eyes twinkling with understanding. He had met many powerful individuals, but Naruto's way of thinking was unlike most. He was logical—too logical.
"I could do that," Charles admitted, his tone even, "but it would make me the enemy that humans fear. And while the suggestion is logical, I cannot remove these children from their families. They are humans in the end, with feelings and desires. Building an island and only living with mutants would be difficult. There aren't many of us, and many sacrifices would have to be made—sacrifices these children may not be ready for."
Naruto nodded, his expression unreadable. "Right. But sometimes, it's better to push through for safety. Or do you believe some enjoyment is worth more than their lives?"
Rogue felt a shift in the air. This wasn't just idle conversation—Naruto was testing Charles, pushing him into a corner to see if he would falter.
Charles, to his credit, remained unshaken. "Why do you push this angle?"
"I want to know what you think," Naruto replied easily. "And I want her to hear what you have to say." His gaze flickered toward Rogue before returning to the professor. "So, Charles, there's danger out there, but you choose to stay here. What have you done to protect them?"
Charles inhaled deeply before speaking. "Danger exists for everyone, even humans. Do you suggest they all hide away somewhere as well? I do not wish for these children to be cowards or to hide like they are a plague. They deserve to live normal lives, and we will not hide away—we will fight for those rights, just as those before us have done. We train them to protect themselves, and I do not hold back when it comes to protecting my children."
"The X-Men exist to protect mutants and humans," Jean added, stepping forward. She wasn't bothered by Naruto's questioning—if anything, she found it insightful. Charles enjoyed being challenged, and she wanted to hear the conversation unfold. "It's one step toward protection."
Naruto studied them for a long moment before letting out a low hum of approval. "I like your answer," he admitted. "I dislike cowards, but I always take the logical step first. Unlike humans, you can hide away if things get too dangerous, so don't be blinded by sentimentality. Always have contingencies. Scout a place. Prepare for emergencies. Or one day, everything will go down in flames."
Charles gave a slow nod. "I will think it over with my team."
Then he turned his head slightly. "Jean, show Rogue around the place."
Jean nodded, motioning for Rogue to follow her.
Rogue hesitated for a moment, glancing between Charles and Naruto. She had listened carefully—Naruto had been blunt, but he wasn't wrong. She knew firsthand how dangerous the world was, how people treated mutants. At the same time, she understood what Charles meant.
Freedom wasn't something to be given—it had to be fought for.
As she followed Jean into the heart of the academy, a thought crept into her mind.
Can I fight for my rights and freedom?
Naruto leaned back against the nearest pillar, his expression unreadable as he watched Rogue and Jean walk away.
"So, you want to know if I can help Jean?" he muttered, his tone casual but carrying an undeniable weight.
Charles folded his hands in front of him, his eyes sharp. "Yes, we would appreciate it."
"But you do not completely believe me," Naruto stated, his lips curling slightly at the edges. "A good choice. I haven't really done anything worth it in your eyes."
Charles didn't deny it. The Phoenix was no mere force—it was chaos incarnate, destruction and rebirth in its purest form. No one controlled it. No one tamed it. Even Jean, the one chosen by it, had struggled against its overwhelming influence.
"This force is too powerful to be controlled," Charles finally said, his voice steady but firm. "It will cause her more pain. Do you have a method that is actually feasible?"
Naruto smirked. "Of course. My wife is one of its vessels. I know exactly what it wants."
Charles blinked in surprise. "One of its vessels?"
Naruto nodded. "Yes, and the Phoenix only wants one thing—for Jean to be happy. It is not a mindless destroyer. If Jean has a clear mindset, if she knows what she wants and does not waver, the Phoenix will not make mistakes. It won't lead to tragedy."
Charles frowned. He wanted to believe it, but everything he had seen said otherwise. "I have a hard time believing that."
Naruto's smile widened slightly, but there was a sharpness in his eyes now. "Charles, I am a being who can erase galaxies with a thought. My goal is to surpass the Phoenix, a multiversal entity. I have servants who are cosmic entities themselves. How much more of a guarantee do you need?"
Charles remained silent. His instincts told him Naruto wasn't lying, but his experiences urged caution. He had lived through too much to blindly accept such words. His entire life had been dedicated to shielding his students from forces beyond their control.
"...Would you mind if we took some time with this decision?" Charles finally asked.
Naruto chuckled, sensing the doubt in Charles's mind, though the telepath had kept his thoughts guarded. He's wary… good.
Charles was no fool. He was used to hardship, to seeing the worst in people. He had been betrayed, hunted, seen his kind slaughtered. Trust was not given freely—it had to be earned.
"I understand," Naruto said smoothly. Then, turning his head slightly, he added, "Let's get to know each other better."
His gaze shifted towards the shadows, where a pair of glowing yellow eyes stared at him with curiosity and caution.
Kurt Wagner—Nightcrawler.