Bayville University's cafeteria was filled with the usual hum of students chatting, the clinking of trays, and the occasional bursts of laughter. However, for Jean Grey, the atmosphere felt heavier than usual.
She was currently accompanying a new mutant in town—Fred Dukes, also known as Blob. His immense strength and lack of social awareness made interactions unpredictable, and Jean knew that a single bad moment could spiral into disaster. Fortunately, she wasn't alone today.
'I hope he doesn't make a scene.'
Jean wasn't only wary of Fred and the Brotherhood, but also of another wildcard in the equation—Naruto.
She spotted him moving through the cafeteria, his casual gait and confident posture making him stand out despite the crowd. His presence was undeniable, like he naturally commanded attention without even trying. Jean had spent the past weekend getting to know him better, and she was still trying to fully understand him.
Beside Naruto was Rogue, her expression calm as she walked close to him. The Southern belle had grown attached to Naruto over the past few days, and Jean could see why. He was easy to be around, his presence dissolving any tension.
Even Jean herself had noticed the effect—he made everything seem so natural.
'I don't know how he does it. Even I can sense emotions and thoughts, but I don't get the same results.'
Jean had started learning from him—his communication skills, his ability to teach, his way of guiding people without forcing them. It was the most effective she had ever seen in her life.
'He makes every moment feel engaging. No boredom, no negativity. It's... refreshing.'
She hadn't realized how much she had been thinking about him until now. He was her teacher, a guardian of mutants, a mentor. But beyond that, Naruto was also a striking man.
He was the type she liked—strong, confident, easygoing. Just like Scott and Logan.
But unlike them...
"Jean, are you listening?"
Fred's voice pulled her from her thoughts. She blinked and turned her attention back to him.
"Yes, of course. I found your tale about jumping from a mountain very interesting. You are very strong, Fred. I hope we can work together and help others in need, people in poor conditions."
Her voice was warm, guiding, like a teacher speaking to a student. Fred visibly puffed up at the praise, a grin forming on his face.
"Hehe, I am strong. I will definitely protect you, Jean!"
Jean smiled softly. "Good, and I will make sure to help you fit into society and make more friends."
Fred nodded eagerly, but then his expression shifted. His eyes moved past Jean, locking onto someone behind her.
"Is he one of us? He's calling me."
Jean turned and spotted Naruto waving casually at them.
"He is a friend, and you can trust him."
She kept her tone neutral, already knowing that Fred had a volatile nature. He was sensitive and prone to jealousy. Naruto had warned her about it when they passed earlier.
Fred's gaze darkened slightly as he stared at Naruto.
'He's supposed to be really strong... If I can beat him, then I can prove that I'm better, and Jean might like me more.'
It was a simple, dangerous thought process—one driven by insecurity and impulse.
The next moment, Fred shot up from his seat, his hands gripping the chair as he prepared to hurl it at Naruto.
"Relax."
The word came softly, but the effect was instant.
Fred froze.
A wave of sheer pressure slammed onto his body, making his muscles go rigid. He felt something cold brush against his skin—the presence of death itself.
His breathing hitched.
'So scary, so scary—'
He wanted to scream. To apologize. To do something. But his body wouldn't respond.
"Naruto."
Rogue's voice cut through the moment as she gently placed a hand on Naruto's.
The weight vanished.
Fred collapsed powerlessly onto his seat, his face pale and drenched in sweat.
Inside his mind, a voice whispered—not with malice, but with certainty.
'Next time, don't resort to violence. There are people beyond you. And more importantly… that would have made Jean unhappy. If you truly want to impress her, become a better person. Help her when she asks. Help others without being asked.'
Fred shivered, nodding weakly.
Naruto turned to Rogue, smiling slightly.
'I guess this is what family feels like.'
For him, Rogue was already family.
For Rogue, she wasn't sure where Naruto fit in yet. But for now, he was her best friend and her master.
Jean sighed, rubbing her temple as she approached Fred. "Are you okay?"
Fred swallowed, his throat dry. "I… I'm fine."
He sat silently for the rest of the break, eating without causing trouble.
Jean let out a slow breath, watching Fred eat in silence. The once loud and brash mutant now sat subdued, barely touching his food.
Naruto, on the other hand, was as relaxed as ever. He had already returned to his seat, chatting with Rogue like nothing had happened.
Jean knew better.
'He knew exactly what he was doing.'
Fred had almost exposed them. If Naruto hadn't stepped in, things could have gotten messy—property damage, attention from non-mutants, maybe even intervention from the authorities.
'I guess this is better than the trouble that would have come without his presence.'
She didn't fault Naruto for how he handled it. His actions weren't cruel, just firm.
The truth was, Fred needed that kind of discipline. He responded to power, to authority. If Naruto had tried talking him down, Fred wouldn't have listened.
But that brief moment of fear? That feeling of being completely powerless?
That was something Fred would never forget.
Jean turned her gaze to Naruto.
'He's not just powerful—he understands people.'
That was what made him truly dangerous.
He didn't just beat opponents.
He changed them.
The dimly lit principal's office carried an air of secrecy, a place where deals were made, where unseen alliances were tested in the shadows. The only illumination came from a single desk lamp, casting flickering shadows along the walls. The faint hum of the city outside provided a constant backdrop, muffled behind thick walls.
Naruto Uzumaki leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, his golden eyes studying the woman before him. Mystique, in her true form, stood by the desk, exuding an effortless confidence that was only enhanced by the revealing outfit she had chosen to wear. Her piercing yellow eyes met his own as she smirked.
"I really am curious why you would be out in the open and so close to your rivals," Naruto muttered, his voice laced with genuine curiosity.
Mystique, unfazed, let out a soft chuckle and stepped forward with an easy grace. "We have similar targets, and it's not like we're trying to kill each other."
Naruto raised a skeptical brow, his smirk widening. "Heh. Are you serious?"
"Of course," she said smoothly, circling the desk, her steps slow and deliberate. "We were friends once."
Naruto scoffed. "'Were' is the main focus here."
Mystique let out a small, amused laugh. "Well, you got me. I made some mistakes in the past, but now I'm trying to be better—for the kids, at least." She leaned forward slightly, the gap between them nearly nonexistent, her breath warm against his skin. "What do you really want? You can read my mind if you want to know."
Naruto's expression remained unreadable as he simply met her gaze. "Nothing," he murmured, stepping even closer until their bodies nearly brushed. "I just came to say hi."
His voice dropped to a whisper as he leaned in, his lips just inches from her ear. "I hope we can work together. And remember my offer."
Mystique felt a shiver down her spine as his golden fingers lightly traced her lips—just for a moment, fleeting but impossibly deliberate. A strange sensation coursed through her, a brief rush of energy, and before she could react, her vision blurred.
The next thing she knew, she was on the floor, breathless, dazed.
Her body trembled, unfamiliar warmth spreading through her nerves, and as she shifted slightly, she realized something with a jolt. A small, undeniable puddle had formed beneath her.
Mystique stared at the floor in disbelief, her sharp mind momentarily blank. Had—had she just—?
Her heart pounded as her thoughts scrambled to make sense of what had happened. And then, she heard his voice again, this time inside her mind, smooth and teasing.
'You shouldn't try seducing me. It's kind of impossible—I don't react to just the body.'
Her eyes widened as clarity returned to her thoughts. The warmth, the rush—it hadn't been what she thought. Naruto had done something to her mind, to her senses. He had left her feeling unbalanced, vulnerable in a way she hadn't experienced in years.
For once, she had been outplayed.
Gritting her teeth, Mystique sat up, her breath still slightly uneven. A frustrated growl escaped her lips as she muttered under her breath,
"That insufferable man."
Fred Dukes sat on the worn wooden bench outside Bayville University, arms crossed, staring blankly at the passing students. He had no classes at the moment, no obligations—just time to stew in his thoughts. The events of the past few days had left him shaken, though he refused to admit it outright.
Then, without a sound, like a shadow slipping through reality itself, Naruto appeared beside him. His golden eyes gleamed under the midday sun, unreadable and piercing.
"I hope you listen to Jean and don't make trouble again."
The words were calm, neutral, yet they carried a weight that sent an unnatural chill through Fred's spine. Before he could react, Naruto's hand landed on his shoulder in what seemed to be a casual pat—except it wasn't.
A bolt of pain shot through his body, radiating from the point of contact. His muscles locked up, a paralyzing sensation wrapping around his core like unseen chains. It wasn't an attack, not in the physical sense, but something deeper—something that carved itself into his very soul.
Fred had prided himself on his strength, his durability, but here he was, utterly helpless. It wasn't just about the pain; it was the realization that he had been reduced to nothing with mere words and a touch. The weight of that truth shattered his pride, leaving behind nothing but raw fear.
Unable to do anything else, he nodded.
Naruto's gaze remained impassive, unreadable. Then, as if the moment had never happened, he straightened and gave a small, satisfied nod.
"Good boy."
With that, he stepped away, hands in his pockets, the casual movement contradicting the terrifying presence he had just projected.
Fred let out a shaky breath, unsure when he had even started holding it.
As Naruto walked past a nearby redhead, he called out, his tone light, even amused, "He's all yours, Jean. Butter him up and treat his broken soul."
Jean Grey, standing a few feet away, instantly covered her face with her hands, suppressing a scream of frustration.
That insufferable man!
She wanted to grab Naruto by the collar and shake him. Why did he have to go to such extremes all the time? There was no subtlety in his actions, no middle ground—it was always either complete indifference or overwhelming force.
She took a deep breath, willing herself to focus.
Let's just deal with the current situation.
With a determined nod, she lightly slapped her cheeks, shaking off her irritation, and approached Fred.
"Hello, Fred," she greeted, her voice soft and warm, filled with genuine concern. "Are you feeling okay now?"
The Blob, who moments ago had been drowning in silent misery, looked up and saw Jean's kind expression.
Despite everything, despite the humiliation and fear lingering inside him, her gentle words and smile pulled a reaction out of him—his lips twitched, then stretched into a small, hesitant smile.
The classroom inside Naruto's mindscape was an unusual sight. A surreal mixture of an old-fashioned school setting and an ethereal dreamscape, it existed solely as a means for his ever-ongoing debates with the ancient beast who had been with him all his life.
Kurama, a titanic fox with vibrant orange fur and piercing crimson eyes, stood behind the teacher's desk, tapping one massive claw against its surface in a slow, deliberate rhythm. His expression was a mix of exasperation and amusement as he narrowed his eyes at the blond troublemaker sitting before him.
"Naruto, what have I told you about mind-breaking people?"
Naruto, slouched in his seat, arms crossed behind his head, smirked lazily. "That I should avoid it unless absolutely necessary."
Kurama's claw froze. His tails twitched. "And was it necessary?"
Naruto didn't even hesitate. "Of course. I had no other way to convince that strong-willed kid otherwise."
"BULL. SHIT."
Kurama's paw slammed down onto the desk, shaking the entire mindscape with its force. Papers fluttered in the imaginary wind, the chalkboard cracked, and the very walls trembled as if the room itself was terrified of the fox's wrath.
Naruto barely blinked, only raising his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, I'm serious! Look at this pure soul of mine." With exaggerated flair, he extended his hand, letting it glow ominously—only instead of the light of purity, a deep, unnatural darkness swirled in his palm.
Kurama deadpanned. "It's pitch black, like your tongue. Have you gone colorblind now?"
"Fine, fine," Naruto admitted, finally dropping the act. "I may have done it just for fun."
Kurama let out a long, drawn-out sigh, rubbing his temple with one claw. "Okay, at least you're being honest. Now apologize properly."
Naruto sighed dramatically, standing up and holding his hands together as if he were praying to the heavens. "Okay, I'm sorry and I won't do it again."
Kurama squinted. "Truly?"
Naruto grinned, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around the fox's giant muzzle, giving him a firm hug. "Yes. I always keep my promises to you, brother."
Kurama softened, his large red eyes gazing into Naruto's bright blue ones. For all his antics, Naruto was trying. He just needed guidance, someone to keep him grounded.
"I know it's hard on you," Kurama murmured. "I know what it's like to be alone and hated. One hundred out of ten—hated it."
Naruto groaned, rubbing his head. "Alright, no need to start with the sob story."
Kurama flopped onto his side, resting in Naruto's arms like a massive, overgrown pet. "Do you think we've gone crazy?"
Naruto tilted his head. "Why would you think that?"
Kurama squinted at him. "I don't know… maybe this situation?"
Naruto snorted. "You're just imagining things. It's totally normal for brothers to act out plays in their own minds."
"Yeah… maybe you're right. I might be overthinking it—wait a bloody minute! When did this start?!"
"When did what start?"
"This! How did we end up playing around like kids?!"
Naruto tapped his chin, pretending to think deeply. "Hmm… maybe the insane amount of training finally broke us?"
Kurama's ears twitched. "We might need therapy."
"Nah," Naruto waved off the concern. "I'll just get myself a lap pillow on some thicc thighs while you nap on my head like usual and enjoy the ride."
Kurama's tail flicked with amusement as he grinned toothily. "Thicc thighs save lives." He held up a giant paw, thumb raised.
"You got me, bro." Naruto smirked, mirroring the gesture before disappearing from the mental realm.
As the mindscape dissolved into golden light, Kurama lay back, watching the dream world shift into its usual starry void.
"Yeah," he mused to himself, "definitely crazy. But at least it's fun."