Chapter 71 — The Mission Chosen
The Multiversal Chat had been quiet since the last mission appeared.
No new messages, no flashing lights, only the faint blue glow hovering in the void of the system panel.
Now, that silence broke.
One by one, small avatars blinked to life. Tony. Saeko. Mindy. Diana. And finally, Naruto.
The mission text floated above their chat window, simple but heavy with meaning.
Mission: Help Naruto Uzumaki avenge his teacher, Jiraiya.
Objective 1: Destroy Nagato's puppets.
Objective 2: Defeat or kill Nagato.
Optional: Eliminate any Akatsuki members for bonus rewards.
0/2 — Number of participants may accept this mission.
For a long moment, no one said anything. Then Tony broke the silence.
Tony: "So... Who will accept the mission except for Gaius."
The engineer sat in his workshop, his table cluttered with parts of an unfinished suit. The glow from the chat projection reflected off the silver of his gauntlet.
Before he could say anything else, a notification popped up.
Mindy: "Me!"
Mindy: "Me!!"
Her messages came one after another, fast, impulsive, full of energy.
Tony rubbed his forehead. "Kid…" He typed back slowly.
Tony: "No. Just stay put, okay?"
He leaned back in his chair and sighed.
Mindy was strong, far stronger than most adults he'd met. But no matter what she'd been through, she was still a child. Naruto's world wasn't a playground. It was filled with Ninjas, who could summon monsters and manipulate elements with their hands.
Tony: "If anyone's going, it should be me. I've got the firepower for it."
His reply lingered on the screen.
Saeko: "Agreed."
Her message appeared soon after, calm, composed, like always.
Saeko: "Naruto's world is filled with chakra users. Combat there isn't like ours. I'd like to help, but it's too dangerous for anyone unprepared. Tony and Gaius are the most capable."
Tony smirked slightly. "Thanks, Saeko." he muttered under his breath before typing again.
Tony: "Right. Guess that settles it, then."
He was already thinking through armor configurations, adjusting systems for energy manipulation, maybe even adapting to chakra readings. He wasn't sure it would work since he doesn't have an example except for the descriptions of Naruto was giving, even the description of Naruto was Giving was vague, but he'd try.
Then, another message appeared.
Diana: "I'll be the one to accept it, Tony."
Tony stopped typing. He blinked, then leaned forward.
Tony: "You? The antique expert?"
He remembered how she had introduced herself when she joined, calm voice, polite smile, saying she worked at a museum. She had barely said a word in the group, only asking questions about our worlds, but she never showing her hand, never bragging.
But the Chat system had called her something else: Wonder Woman.
Tony knows no normal person can join this The Multiversal Chat, but she thought of Wonder Woman would be the same as Mindy, just an ordinary person with skills.
Tony: "You sure about that? Naruto's world isn't like ours. They've got ninjas, magic, chakra, or whatever they call it. You'll be dealing with monsters."
Diana: "I'm sure. I can handle it."
Tony sat there quietly. Her tone wasn't defensive, just certain. A calm strength, the kind that didn't need proving.
He smirked faintly. "Alright then."
He typed again.
Tony: "I see… then go ahead. It's yours."
Diana: "Thank you, Tony Stark."
The mission panel shifted in real-time.
Mission: Help Naruto Uzumaki avenge his teacher, Jiraiya.
Objective 1: Destroy Nagato's puppets.
Objective 2: Defeat or kill Nagato.
Optional: Eliminate any Akatsuki members for bonus rewards.
1/2 — Number of participants may accept this mission.
~~~
Aboard the Oath of Rectitude, Gaius Maximor Thassor stood in the command sanctum, reading a report projected before him. The room was quiet except for the soft hum of the ship's engines and the slow pulse of golden light from his armor.
Then the mission prompt appeared before his eyes.
He read it without expression.
Mission: Help Naruto Uzumaki avenge his teacher, Jiraiya.
1/2 — Diana Prince.
He lowered the report. "So she's going," he murmured.
He remembered her from the broadcasts, the calm woman who rarely spoke, who carried herself with a quiet, almost regal strength. He didn't question her choice.
He simply raised his hand, the blue shimmer of the system reflecting in his black eyes.
Mission accepted.
The text changed immediately.
2/2 — Number of participants may accept this mission.
Naruto sat alone in his small apartment, staring at the floating words.
His hands trembled, but his heart steadied.
Everyone wanted to help him.
He sniffed quietly and smiled through the tears.
Naruto: "Thank you, everyone."
He wiped his eyes, the blue glow from the interface shining on his face like morning light.
~~~
Gaius stood silently for a while before closing the panel. The mission window faded from his visor, replaced by the soft light of the command room.
He turned toward his desk, pressing a small rune. The internal vox system came alive.
"Captain Titus," he said. "Bring your squad to my private chambers. We have something to discuss."
The reply came almost instantly.
"Affirmative, Captain."
Minutes later, heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor. The door slid open, revealing Titus and four Bladeguard Veterans. Their armor gleamed under the chamber lights, each one a battle-scarred Ultramarine.
They saluted in unison. "Captain."
Gaius removed his helm, setting it gently on the table. His expression was calm, unreadable.
"We have a mission," he said.
Titus tilted his head slightly. "A mission?"
Gaius nodded. "Yes. One sanctioned by the Emperor Himself."
The squad exchanged quick glances, disbelief flickering beneath their discipline. Titus stepped forward slightly. "The Emperor has ordered this directly?"
Gaius met his gaze evenly. "Through means not all understand. But His will is clear. We are to assist a distant world in need."
Their doubt was visible, though none dared voice it aloud.
Gaius, seeing it, smiled faintly, not in mockery, but in approval. Doubt meant thought, not weakness.
Then, without warning, he knelt.
The veterans stiffened. "Captain?"
He placed a gauntleted hand over the golden Aquila on his chestplate. His deep voice carried across the room.
"Emperor of Mankind," he said calmly, "show Your light to these sons of Guilliman. Let them see that our mission is true."
He did this with confidence as he knows, the Emperor is Watching him closely.
For a moment, nothing happened. The ship's hum was the only sound.
Then, light.
A golden radiance burst from the wall behind Titus. The engraved sigil of the Emperor glowed, the carved eyes and halo flaring with pure brilliance. The light swept across the room, bright and warm.
Instinctively, Titus and the Bladeguard dropped to one knee, their armor clanging in unison against the deck.
The voice that followed was deep, resonant, and filled the chamber like rolling thunder.
"Rise, my sons."
They obeyed, standing in perfect formation.
"Follow Gaius Maximus Thassor. As you die for me, die for him as well."
Their reply was immediate and loud.
"Yes, Emperor of Mankind!"
The light faded slowly, leaving only the golden reflections dancing across their armor.
Titus looked to Gaius, conviction now in his tone.
"We will follow all your orders, Captain."
The others echoed him in unison. "By your command."
Gaius inclined his head. "Then prepare your armor and blades. We leave soon."
He raised his hand, summoning a faint golden circle in the air, the Shared Gate. Thin strands of energy extended from it, connecting to each of them, like invisible threads of fate.
He could feel their presence, distant but linked.
"The Emperor has granted me the power to traverse other worlds," he said. "And this time, we shall bring His light with us."
They nodded in silent reverence, unaware that it was not divine will but the Multiversal Chat's ability, binding them together.
Gaius placed his helm back on his head, the locks sealing with a click. His voice came out through the vox, firm and steady.
"Ready yourselves. Our next battlefield lies beyond the galaxy."
The Bladeguard saluted. "We stand ready, Captain."
As they turned to leave, the faint shimmer of the Shared Gate pulsed once more.
Soon, they would step through, into Naruto's world.
And the Multiversal Chat would awaken once more.
End of Chapter 71 — "The Mission Chosen"
~~~
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