The weeks that followed were a whirlwind of new experiences for Naruto and Natasha. Their love grew, rooting itself deeply in the reality of their shared life in New York. Naruto continued to learn the nuances of the human world, but he was no longer just an observer; he was a participant, guided by Natasha's hand. As for her, she blossomed under his unconditional love, revealing facets of herself she thought had been lost. The outside world—with its looming threats and the early days of the superhero era—was still there, but for now, their bubble of happiness felt impenetrable.
One afternoon, as they lounged comfortably on the couch, a thought that had been nagging at Naruto for some time resurfaced. He turned to Natasha, his Eyes of Origin shimmering softly.
"Natasha," he began, his voice tinged with slight nervousness, "there's something I'd like to do. Something important to me."
Natasha put down her book and smiled at him. "I'm listening. What does a cosmic being want to do today?"
"I want to go back to Konoha. To see Iruka-sensei," he said, nostalgia lacing his voice. "He's the only person who ever treated me with kindness, the only one who looked at me without disgust. I want him to know that I'm okay. And I want to show him the person I've become. The person you helped me become."
Natasha looked at him, surprised. A return to his old world? She understood Naruto's need to close the circle, to revisit the one person who had been a light in his otherwise dark childhood. It was a sign of healing, of his ability to face his past.
"I understand. That's important. But how? And what will you tell him? How will you explain being gone for twelve years... and your new powers?" she asked, her spy instincts kicking in.
Naruto smiled. "The Source taught me the subtleties of time travel. I can go back exactly two hours after I left. As if I had never disappeared, for Konoha's world. And as for my powers... I can hide them. I'll only show what I choose to show. And with Iruka-sensei, I'll tell him the truth—or at least a version he can accept. He's smart and open-minded."
"And what about me?" Natasha asked, her heart tightening at the thought of him going alone. "I'm coming with you."
Naruto looked at her with deep affection. "I was hoping you would. I want him to meet you. I want him to see the woman who taught me what love is. But you need to know—my world is very different from yours. There's no advanced technology like here. It's a world of ninjas, of mystical techniques. But I can protect you, and I can make you invisible to those who shouldn't see you."
Natasha didn't hesitate. "I'm coming. I've faced Norse gods and killer robots. Ninjas don't scare me. And I want to be there for you, Naruto. Always."
Her unwavering support warmed Naruto's heart. He held her tightly, a sense of completeness washing over him. "Then get ready. This will be like nothing you've ever seen."
Two hours and fifteen minutes after his departure from Konoha, Naruto materialized in the same shadowy alleyway where he had first landed after being transported by the Source. He was accompanied by Natasha, her presence barely perceptible, cloaked by one of his subtle spatial manipulations that rendered her virtually undetectable to normal human senses—and even more so to unsuspecting ninjas.