Naruto opened his eyes slowly. His head hurt. His body felt cold. He looked around…
Everything was silent.
He was standing in a dark forest… but the trees were twisted, like hands trying to grab him. The sky was red like blood, and the moon looked broken.
"This place… isn't real," Naruto whispered.
He tried to form a Rasengan — but his chakra didn't respond.
"What? Kurama? Are you there?"
Silence.
Naruto suddenly felt alone. True fear touched his heart.
A soft voice whispered behind him:
"Naruto… you always fail."
Naruto turned fast. He saw a shadow — shaped like a young boy with yellow hair… wearing a small leaf village jacket…
It was young Naruto — but with empty, dead eyes.
"You couldn't save your parents. You couldn't save Jiraiya. You couldn't save Neji," the young Naruto said.
Naruto stepped back, heart shaking. "Stop… That's not true!"
The young shadow pointed at him. "You will fail again. Goku will die because of you."
Naruto's hands shook. "No… I will not let anyone die!"
The ground cracked under Naruto's fear. The shadow grew bigger… taller… becoming Nine-Tails with a huge sinister grin.
"You are weak, Naruto Uzumaki," the beast roared.
Naruto shouted with all he had:
"I AM NOT WEAK!"
But his voice felt small in this endless nightmare.
Meanwhile…
Goku's eyes opened to darkness too. But his nightmare was different. He floated in empty space — no planets, no stars — only silence.
He suddenly saw Earth in front of him — but it was on fire.
People screamed. His home planet was being destroyed.
"No!" Goku yelled. "This can't be happening!"
Then he saw faces…
Chi-Chi crying… Gohan and Goten lying still… Vegeta disappearing into dust…
Goku's heart cracked.
"Please… someone stop this!"
But no help came.
A familiar voice mocked behind him:
"Where is your fun now, Goku?"
Goku turned slowly. There stood a dark version of himself — black hair, black aura, eyes glowing red.
"I am the part of you that knows the truth," Dark Goku said.
"You fight for fun… and that fun kills everyone."
Goku stepped back, shaking. "No… I fight to protect!"
Dark Goku laughed.
"That's a lie! You only fight to get stronger. You love the battle more than peace."
The burning Earth exploded behind them.
Goku shouted in pain. "STOP IT!"
Dark Goku got close, whispering:
"You are the reason everyone dies."
Goku closed his eyes, tears falling. "I don't want to lose anyone…"
His fear grew heavier… like chains around his heart.
High above, Void watched both nightmares on a floating screen.
He clapped slowly.
"Yes… yes! Their fear is delicious. When heroes lose hope, their power becomes mine."
He placed his hand into the darkness. Black tendrils began absorbing energy —
Naruto's golden chakra
Goku's blue ki
Void laughed.
"When they break completely… I will take everything."
Naruto fell to his knees. The young shadow Naruto whispered again:
"No one believes in you. You are alone."
Naruto shut his eyes.
But suddenly… he heard something.
A soft voice.
"Naruto… We believe in you."
Naruto opened his eyes — and saw shadows of his friends in the air:
Hinata smiling.
Sasuke standing strong.
Kakashi watching proudly.
Jiraiya giving a thumbs-up.
Kurama's voice growled:
"Stand up, Naruto! You are never alone!"
Naruto's heart filled with warmth again.
He screamed:
"I have people who trust me! I will protect them!"
Golden light returned to his body. The nightmare forest shook with fear — and began to break apart.
Goku also heard voices.
"Dad… we are here."
Gohan's voice.
Then Vegeta: "Kakarot, you idiot! Don't lose!"
Then Beerus: "Don't let that masked worm win!"
Goku opened his eyes — his tears turned into energy.
He shouted:
"I fight to protect! That is my true power!"
Blue fire exploded around him — stronger than ever.
Dark Goku screamed and disappeared.
Goku destroyed the nightmare universe with one powerful burst.
Void stepped back in shock.
"No… this is impossible! Their fear should have destroyed them!"
Naruto and Goku floated together in the real arena again — glowing like gods.
Naruto yelled:
"Void! The real nightmare ends with you!"
Goku pointed at Void.
"And when we win — you disappear forever!"
Void's laughter returned… but now with danger inside it.
"Then show me, heroes. Show me power beyond fear!"
The final stage of battle…
is about to begin.
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Naruto and Goku join hands
Their powers combine… into one form