Naruto: Seishin – The Bond That Binds

Location: Stark Residence, Malibu — October 19th, 8:42 PM

Tony came home late. He threw his jacket on the floor, nearly tripped, and collapsed into the couch. Pepper wasn't there — still on a call with Expo investors.

JARVIS calmly informed him that his palladium saturation had surpassed 18.5%.

He ignored it.

From the balcony, Naruto watched silently.

He saw the dark circles under Tony's eyes.

He heard the erratic heartbeat.

He sensed the plunge of vital energy.

He won't last another month like this…

Naruto picked up his secure phone.

---

📍 Secondary Location: Natasha Romanoff's Safehouse, Brooklyn

Secure Call: 10:07 PM

— Romanoff.

— It's me.

— Took you long enough.

— I need to talk about Tony.

A pause.

— He's not doing well, is he?

— Worse than that. He's collapsing. Hiding it from everyone. From Pepper. From Rhodes. Even from himself.

— But not from you.

Naruto hesitated.

— I've seen the readings. The palladium is tearing him apart from the inside. His blood is toxic. His brain is holding, but it's slipping. He hallucinates, sometimes.

— And I'm guessing he's refusing all medical help.

— Exactly. He wants to go out as a hero, not as a patient.

— That's pure Stark. Ego as a coffin.

Naruto murmured:

— I almost did the same thing, once.

— What stopped you?

— Someone who believed in me when I wasn't worth it.

— Pepper?

— Her… and you.

A softer silence. Natasha resumed:

— What are you planning?

— I want to transfer a large part of what I am. Chakra. Strength. Longevity. Whatever it takes to keep him alive. But it'll be irreversible.

— Are you sure?

— If he dies, Pepper won't make it. And neither will I. He's become… a part of me. Like a brother. And I've already lost too many people.

— You think it'll be enough? That it'll stop him from destroying himself some other way?

— I don't know. But I want him to still have the chance to choose. To live by his own will.

Natasha sighed.

— You're doing what I've never dared to do. You're getting attached.

— And you're running?

— No. I watch from afar. That's what I do.

Naruto smiled.

— Then watch over me too. When this is done, I'll need you. Not as a spy. Not as a killer.

— As what, then?

— As… the only person who understands me beyond silence.

A pause. Then Natasha answered, voice lower:

— Then promise me you'll come back. Even on your knees. Even broken. Come back.

— I swear.

End of call – 10:36 PM

The system logged the conversation as:

▓ Emotional Importance Level: Critical

▓ Likely Motive: Sacrificial Intent Detected

▓ User Link: Developing Affective Co-dependence, Class 3