One afternoon, they were sitting on a bench in Central Park. Children played nearby, their laughter filling the air. Naruto watched them with intense curiosity.
"They don't know hatred," he murmured. "They haven't yet learned to reject, to judge. They see purity, joy."
Natasha nodded. "Innocence is a fragile thing. Life often shatters it."
"And yet, you try to protect it, don't you?" Naruto asked, turning toward her. "Your work, your fights… it's all to protect what's good in this world, even though this world has often hurt you."
Natasha was surprised by the depth of his insight. She had always thought of her work in terms of missions, duty, maybe redemption. But Naruto had seen beyond that. "That's… one way to look at it, yes."
"Why do you protect others, Natasha?" Naruto asked, his Eyes of Origin gentle but inquisitive. "You've been broken too. You could have chosen destruction, anger."
Natasha looked at the children for a long moment. "Because… someone once believed in me. Someone gave me a chance to be better. And because that's what you do when you have the ability. You protect. You try to leave the world a little better than you found it." She turned to him. "And you, Naruto? What drives you to want to learn about love? With all your power, you could have anything you wanted, effortlessly."
Naruto looked up at the sky, then back at the children. "Power doesn't fill the void. Knowledge doesn't replace the warmth of connection. I've seen the entire universe, Natasha. I've understood its laws, its mysteries. But I've never felt the warmth of a hand in mine, the unconditional trust of a friend, the feeling of being wanted for who I am—not for what I can do." His voice softened, almost to a whisper. "I've been so alone, Natasha. For so long. Even within the Source, I was a singular entity. Here, I'm looking to be part of something. To be… human, in a way."
Natasha reached out and gently touched his forearm. It was a simple gesture, but Naruto felt it like a surge of energy. In her eyes, he saw a deep understanding, a resonance with his own solitude.
"I understand that, Naruto," she said, her voice softer than he had ever heard it. "More than you can imagine."
As the weeks passed, their relationship began to shift. Natasha, usually so guarded, started to open up to Naruto. He didn't judge her, didn't fear her. He saw her for who she truly was, beyond the masks and the scars. He used his Eyes of Origin not to manipulate, but to understand. He sensed her emotions, her fears, her hopes, and treated them with a compassion no one had ever shown her before.
He accompanied her on a few of her missions, acting like an invisible shadow, intervening only when absolutely necessary—and always in subtle ways. A rockslide narrowly avoided, a bullet deflected by a sudden gust of wind, an enemy struck by inexplicable lethargy. Natasha realized that Naruto was not only protecting her life but also her integrity, allowing her to do her job without revealing the presence of a cosmic being. She began to trust him in a way she had never trusted anyone else.
One evening, as they were watching a movie on the couch—a classic romance Natasha had introduced him to in order to teach him the nuances of human love—Naruto turned to her.
"I understand the concept of love now," he said, his Eyes of Origin fixed on the screen. "The sacrifice, the devotion, the vulnerability." He turned to face her. "But what I don't understand is what it feels like."
Natasha hesitated, then placed a hand on his arm. "It feels… like a lot of things. It's like a warmth in your chest that spreads. It's the feeling of wanting to spend all your time with someone. It's feeling safe with them, even when everything around you is chaotic. It's also fear—the fear of losing them, of disappointing them."
She pulled her hand back, suddenly feeling exposed. "It's complicated, Naruto. Humans are complicated."
"I can show you what it feels like to give a little of what I have," Naruto said, his voice soft and inviting. "I can share my longevity, my strength, my energy. But I can't share what I don't understand myself: love."
Natasha looked at him. To share his attributes? It was an incredible offer—but also terrifying. It was a sign of absolute trust. She, who had spent her life trusting no one.
"Why would you want to do that?" she asked.
"For you. So you can understand what it's like not to be limited. So you can see the world the way I see it, even if only for a moment." His Eyes of Origin shone with infinite compassion. "And because I want to show you my gratitude. You're the first person who's given me a chance, who sees me as more than a monster or a tool. You're my first friend."
The word friend echoed in Natasha's mind. She had never truly had a friend—not like this. There was Clint, of course, but their bond was different, rooted in duty and shared missions. With Naruto, it was something else. A pure connection, without ulterior motives.
She took his hand. "How does it work?"
Naruto gently squeezed her hand. "Focus. Open yourself to me. Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you."
Natasha closed her eyes, feeling warmth spread from his hand into her entire body. It wasn't a burning heat, but a soft, enveloping warmth—like a sun rising inside her. She felt her muscles relax, her fatigue melt away. Her mind cleared. She felt like she could think faster, see more clearly. She felt… limitless.
She opened her eyes. The room seemed sharper, the colors more vivid. She could hear the beating of her own heart, the hum of the fridge in the next room, the muffled conversations elsewhere in the building. It was as if her senses had been amplified. She stood, and every movement was fluid, effortless. She felt powerful. Invulnerable.
"It's… incredible," she whispered, her eyes wide.
"It's just a glimpse," Naruto said. "It's not permanent—unless you want it to be. This is my sharing ability. I can grant you these attributes, and you can use them as long as you're connected to my essence."
She felt invigorated, stronger than ever. It was intoxicating. But she also realized this was only a fragment of Naruto's power. The scope of what he could do was staggering.
"Thank you, Naruto," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "This is… an extraordinary gift."
"I want you to be strong, Natasha," Naruto said, his gaze full of care. "I want you to be able to protect yourself. And to protect those you cherish."
The days and weeks continued to pass. Natasha and Naruto spent their time exploring the world, talking, learning from one another. Naruto showed her aspects of existence she had never imagined—cosmic theories about the nature of reality. Natasha showed him the complexity and beauty of human emotions, of the bonds that connected people.
Naruto learned how to laugh—a sound that had once felt foreign on his lips. He learned to express joy, curiosity, and even mild frustration when Natasha explained the subtleties of fashion or complex jokes. He was learning to be human, with all its imperfections and wonders.
Three months passed in a flash. The air in New York had grown milder, trees blossomed in Central Park. One morning, Natasha received a call. It was Coulson. The mission in Afghanistan. Tony Stark needed to go there for a weapons demonstration.
Natasha hung up, her face hardening. "It's work," she said, more to herself than to Naruto. "A critical mission."
Naruto looked at her, his cosmic eyes piercing through her thoughts. "It's connected to that man—Tony Stark. The one who will usher in a new era for humanity, whether he wills it or not."
Natasha raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that?"
"The Source showed me fragments of the future. Not absolute certainties, but probabilities. Knots in time where major events unfold. Tony Stark is one of those knots. His journey to Afghanistan is the catalyst for his transformation. A painful event, but a necessary one."
A chill ran down Natasha's spine. What Naruto said was deeply unsettling. "And how is it going to happen?"
"He will be captured," Naruto said, his expression solemn. "He will suffer. But from that suffering, something new will be born. He will change. And that change will ripple through the entire world."
Natasha remained silent for a moment, processing the information. If what Naruto said was true—and she had every reason to believe him—then the future was about to shift.
"Will he… will he make it out alive?" she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
"He will," Naruto replied. "But he won't be the same. And what he becomes will be vital for the challenges to come. You'll play an important role in his life, Natasha. And he will in yours."
She let out a sigh. "Always more complications."
Naruto stepped closer and placed a hand on her shoulder. "But also more meaning. More connections. That's what you taught me, isn't it? Life isn't made of certainties—but of how we respond to uncertainty."
Natasha looked into his eyes, those eyes that held entire galaxies. She felt the warmth of his hand, the quiet assurance of his presence. She had agreed to teach him about love, and in return, he was giving her a perspective on life she never could've imagined.
"I have to go," she said, preparing for the mission. "I don't know when I'll be back."
Naruto nodded. "I'll be here. I'll wait for you. And I'll keep watching. Learning. Growing." He took a small step back. "And don't forget… I've given you some of my attributes. Use them wisely."
Natasha smiled. "I will. And Naruto..."
"Yes?"
"Thank you. For everything."
She stepped out, leaving Naruto alone in the apartment, the morning light filtering through the blinds. He walked to the window and looked out over the waking city. Tony Stark was about to face a trial that would change his life—and by extension, the world.
And Naruto, once the outcast of Konoha, now a cosmic being, was here to observe, to learn, and maybe, finally, to find what he'd been searching for all along: love—in all its unexpected forms. His power was limitless, but it was the journey of his heart that mattered most.