The shock of Monaco had shaken Tony Stark—but not in the way the Realm of Origin had hoped. Instead of pushing him toward repentance and the search for a solution, the incident had deepened his self-destructive behavior. He was sinking further into palladium poisoning, his days seemingly numbered, and he hid behind a façade of denial and lavish parties. Meanwhile, government forces and Stark's competitors were closing in.
Within the Realm of Origin, screens projected the image of Tony before the U.S. Senate—arrogant and dismissive, refusing to surrender Iron Man technology.
"His pride is his greatest strength—and his greatest weakness," noted Natasha, a slight frown crossing her face. "He fights for what he believes is right, but he does it in the worst possible way."
"He's not ready to admit his vulnerability," added Tsunade. "The palladium is eating away at him, and he knows he has no solution. That fear is making him irrational and reckless. He tries to control what he can, because he can't control what's happening inside him."
Naruto, his azure gaze solemn, nodded. "That hearing was necessary. It forces the government to reveal its hand and Tony to anchor himself even more deeply in the identity of Iron Man—despite everything. But it doesn't solve the question of his survival."
The palladium issue was at the heart of the Realm of Origin's concern. Naruto knew the solution lay within Howard Stark's legacy. Howard, in his wisdom and foresight, had left behind clues for his son—but Tony was too blinded by his pain and resentment toward his father to see them.
"Howard Stark was a complex man," explained Hashirama, who, along with Tobirama, was studying the declassified SHIELD files on Howard, provided by Natasha's avatars. "He kept truths from his son—but he did so to protect him. He was a visionary, and he knew that advanced knowledge could be dangerous in the wrong hands."
"We need to help Tony find his father's message," Naruto declared. "He won't do it alone. He's too lost in his own spiral. But our intervention must be subtle—like a whisper in the wind. A thought that seems to come from himself—or those close to him."
The avatars were deployed again, their actions becoming increasingly vital in shaping events without overt interference.
Naruto, through cosmic impulses, began planting thoughts in Tony's mind—flashes of memories or strange coincidences connected to the 1974 Stark Expo. These "flashes" were not direct commands, but subconscious invitations to revisit his father's work. For instance, an old video of Howard Stark at the Expo—still looping somewhere—might suddenly "freeze" on a screen or draw Tony's attention at just the right moment.
When Tony eventually sought a cure for his illness, the avatars of Naruto and Hinata worked in tandem to "magnetize" certain objects or papers in the chaos of Tony's lab. The goal was to make Howard's old notebook more "visible" or "accidentally accessible" once Tony began searching for answers. It wouldn't appear magically—but rather through a fortunate alignment of clutter, or a stray beam of light that happened to highlight the forgotten notebook.
Their influence remained invisible—but it was there, gently nudging Tony Stark toward the truth, toward the legacy that could save his life.
The tension between Tony and Rhodey had reached its peak. The fight at Tony's birthday party—where he was under the influence of both alcohol and palladium—was a turning point. During this confrontation, the avatars of the Realm of Origin subtly intervened to ensure Rhodey would seize the Mark II armor. The intervention was minimal: a microsecond of imbalance for Tony, a slight slip of the hand, allowing Rhodey to grab the suit. The goal wasn't to empower him but to ensure that the argument reached this crucial step in the creation of War Machine. Rhodey needed to make the decision himself, but the circumstances had to favor it.
Pepper Potts's rise to CEO of Stark Industries was a key element for the company's stability and to free Tony from certain responsibilities. Natasha, with her SHIELD-honed expertise in leadership and business, sent impulses of reassurance to Pepper. These nudges strengthened Pepper's confidence in her own abilities and pushed her to accept the role of CEO with greater resolve, even in the face of Tony's hesitation. She became more assertive, less prone to being swayed by Tony's moods. The result was a stabilizing of Stark Industries—and a much-needed anchor for Tony.
Meanwhile, Justin Hammer, driven by his desire to rival Stark, had entered into contact with Ivan Vanko. The Realm of Origin watched this unlikely alliance unfold, with Vanko manipulating Hammer with unsettling ease, and Hammer—blinded by ambition—falling for it completely.
"Hammer is a useful idiot," said Sasuke, a smirk playing at his lips. "He's giving Vanko everything he needs to build an army of drones, thinking he can control the demon he's unleashed."
"That arrogance will be his downfall," added Tobirama. "But it will also allow Vanko to fully implement his plan. We must anticipate every step."
Observation teams focused on Hammer's facility, analyzing Vanko's drone blueprints and the new War Machine exosuit design. The intel was processed by Tobirama, allowing him to predict the exact capabilities of the enemy forces.
The Ancient One, in her sanctuary at Kamar-Taj, sensed the growing echoes of Vanko's madness and Hammer's ambition. Her link with Naruto enabled her to perceive the energetic disturbances triggered by their malevolent technology.
"Vanko's hatred resonates deeply within the fabric of this dimension," the Ancient One explained to Naruto during one of their connections. "He doesn't seek merely to destroy a man—but a symbol."
"And that symbol is critical to the future," Naruto replied. "Iron Man is the spearhead of this reality's defense. He must survive—and rise above his inner demons."
The Ancient One nodded. "I'll do what I can to stabilize the energy flows around New York—to prevent this confrontation from opening unintended rifts. But Stark's destiny rests in his hands… and in yours—hidden ones."
Back in the Realm of Origin, the team prepared for the next phase.
The Bijuu, under the supervision of Hashirama and Minato, continued their training. Their energetic forms could be used for large-scale interventions—to deflect explosions, generate energy barriers, or even manipulate local weather conditions to minimize damage. The shinobi of the Realm honed their skills, readying themselves for more direct action if necessary. Empowered by the Origin, they now possessed sub-light speed movement and cosmic-level energy manipulation capabilities.
—
Naruto, in collaboration with the Ancient One (remotely), was developing "anchoring spells" and "reality stabilization seals" to be used during the final battle. These were not offensive tools—but safeguards to prevent dimensional disruptions or the opening of unintended portals, ensuring the conflict remained contained. Tsunade contributed through her understanding of energy flow and matter structuring.
Time was running out. Tony Stark was on the verge of confronting the truth about his father—and himself. The threat of Vanko, amplified by Hammer, would soon explode at the Stark Expo. The Realm of Origin stood ready, a benevolent ghost in the fabric of fate, prepared to intervene so that balance could be maintained—and heroes could rise.