Dr. Stephen Strange sat across from Naruto Uzumaki, observing him with quiet curiosity. The blonde was a mystery—an anomaly in the grand scheme of existence. He had arrived in this world like a storm, shaking the very foundations of power with an effortless confidence that felt both casual and absolute.
Strange had met countless powerful beings, some who wielded cosmic forces, others who bent reality itself. But Naruto? He was different. The shinobi carried no arrogance, yet his power was undeniable. He didn't posture, nor did he demand respect—he simply existed, and the universe seemed to move around him.
It was refreshing, really.
Strange had long grown tired of the looks—the silent shift in behavior whenever people learned the true depth of his abilities. No matter how close someone was to him, fear always crept in. Even among the strongest heroes of Earth, even among the immortals of Asgard, there was always a moment of hesitation—a realization that he was beyond them.
That was why he chose to live in sanctuary, away from the world.
Away from their fear.
His wife and lover were the only ones who never treated him differently. They accepted him—not because they feared him, but because they truly understood him. That's why he was happy.
And yes… Dr. Strange was a chad.
Few knew this, but Strange had done what no other had dared. He had married Clea, the love of his life, and at the same time, he had taken a lover—not just any lover, but the sister of Dormammu himself.
The mother-flipping sister of Dormammu.
A dangerous affair? Absolutely. But Strange never backed down from danger.
As the aroma of fresh tea filled the air, he relaxed in his chair, allowing the warmth of his sanctuary to settle around them. His wives were busy with their own matters, so it was just him and Naruto for now.
A conversation of cosmic importance was about to take place.
Strange exhaled, steepling his fingers as he began.
"After meeting you, and handling my fight in the mystic realm, I went to my master to discuss what you told me."
Naruto leaned back, resting his chin on his palm. "And?"
Strange's gaze darkened, his expression turning serious. "We have a problem."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Just one?"
A faint smirk tugged at Strange's lips. "A very big one." He leaned forward. "My master, Yao, is not just any sorcerer. He is the one who came before me—the true Sorcerer Supreme. But more than that… he is your ancestor."**
Naruto blinked. Then blinked again. "…Huh?"
Strange nodded. "His real name is Hagoromo. The Sage of Six Paths."
The air stilled.
For the first time since they had met, Naruto's expression lost its usual amusement. His eyes, the Alpha Stigma, shimmered briefly—an involuntary reaction to his mind processing something immense.
The Sage of Six Paths… was here? In this world?
And not just that. He had been here for centuries, guiding Earth's heroes from the shadows, waiting for the day when his descendant would arrive to continue the fight against the Otsutsuki.
"I already knew that, but thanks for confirming it."
Naruto casually sipped his tea, his golden eyes reflecting the swirling magic of the Sanctum Sanctorum. He had always heard about Doctor Strange, but now that he was sitting across from him, he found the man intriguing.
"So, you already knew?" Strange raised an eyebrow, adjusting his Cloak of Levitation as it fluttered slightly.
Naruto nodded, placing his cup down. "Yeah. The moment I sensed Yao's energy, I knew. His chakra is too unique to be anyone else. I suspected for a while that the Sage of Six Paths didn't just disappear from our world. He left."
Strange rubbed his temple. "And you didn't think to mention this?"
Naruto smirked. "Hey, you didn't ask."
Strange sighed, leaning back. "Fine. But that means you also knew about the plan?"
Naruto gave a lazy shrug. "Not exactly, but I had a similar idea."
Strange frowned. "You were also thinking about setting Dormammu against the Otsutsuki?"
"Yeah," Naruto admitted. "The Otsutsuki are a universal problem, and universal problems need universal solutions. Dormammu is the kind of guy who won't take kindly to something threatening his domain. And if we play it right, he'll see them as a direct threat."
Strange tapped his fingers against the table. "And you really think you can manipulate Dormammu?"
Naruto grinned. "I tricked literal immortals before, doc. Dormammu's just another overgrown egomaniac with too much power and not enough control."
Strange chuckled, shaking his head. "You really are something else."
Naruto leaned forward, eyes sharp. "So, how do we do this? I assume we're not just gonna walk into the Dark Dimension and ask him to fight?"
Strange sighed, his fingers forming complex patterns in the air as runes of power glowed around them.
"No. If we want Dormammu to make the first move, we need to bait him."
Naruto set his teacup down with a soft clink, the warmth lingering on his fingertips as he listened to Strange's plan unfold. The swirling golden runes around them pulsed with arcane energy, forming an intricate network of mystic constructs—each one a piece of a puzzle that led to their next move.
Leaning back in his chair, Naruto exhaled, crossing his arms. "Alright, let's hear it. What's the bait?"
Strange laced his fingers together, his expression grim. "Dormammu is a being of pure conquest. He doesn't just rule the Dark Dimension—he is the Dark Dimension. His entire existence is about expanding his territory, absorbing more worlds into his own realm of chaos."
Naruto nodded, following along. "And?"
Strange's eyes darkened. "The Otsutsuki are parasites. They drain worlds of their life force, reducing them to husks. Eventually, they consume entire dimensions. They don't just threaten planets—they threaten entire realms of existence."
Naruto's grin widened. "Which means Dormammu isn't going to like that."
Strange gave a slow nod. "Exactly. But he won't act unless he sees it as a personal threat." He traced a glowing sigil in the air, the image of an ancient, dying world forming between them. "There's a dimension at the edge of his domain—one that's already been marked by an Otsutsuki. If we let that being feed unchecked, it'll start absorbing that realm."
Naruto's eyes flickered with understanding. "Which will make Dormammu take notice."
"Yes," Strange confirmed. "He'll see it as an invasion—one that threatens his control over the Dark Dimension."
Naruto tapped his fingers against the table, his golden eyes narrowing in thought. "You're assuming Dormammu will go on a rampage just because some overgrown leech is eating his leftovers." He leaned forward, a smirk tugging at his lips. "But if we just wait for him to act on his own, it won't work. The Otsutsuki aren't stupid. If Dormammu so much as looks their way with hostility, they'll leave before a fight even starts."
Strange nodded, rubbing his temple. "Which means we need to make sure neither side backs down."
Naruto chuckled. "Exactly. And that means personal stakes. Dormammu is cruel, arrogant, and greedy, but he's also possessive. He sees the Dark Dimension as his birthright. He'll fight for it if he has to." His eyes gleamed with mischief. "But you know what would really piss him off?"
Strange sighed, already getting a bad feeling. "What?"
Naruto leaned back, "If an Otsutsuki took Umar."
Strange nearly dropped his tea. "Are you insane?"
Naruto grinned. "Probably. But hear me out." He held up a hand, ticking off his fingers. "One, Dormammu doesn't actually love his sister, but he's still obsessed with controlling her. Two, if she got captured, that would mean an Otsutsuki dared to lay a hand on his property—and that's a challenge Dormammu can't ignore. Three, Umar isn't weak. She wouldn't just sit back and let herself be a damsel. If we play this right, she'll be fighting from the inside while Dormammu is fighting from the outside."
Strange exhaled through his nose, massaging his temples. "You want to involve Umar in this? The same Umar who once tried to seduce me just to make Dormammu mad?"
Naruto snickered. "Did it work?"
Strange scowled. "That's not the point!"
Naruto waved him off. "Look, you've got history with her. That means you can talk to her. If we convince her that letting an Otsutsuki temporarily capture her will push Dormammu into a rage-fueled war, she might just agree."
Strange crossed his arms, his expression firm. "You already know, Umar and Clea are my wives. We were enemies at one point, but we're close now. There's no way I'm putting her in danger."
Naruto leaned back in his seat, nodding thoughtfully. His golden eyes reflected the flickering candlelight of the Sanctum, his regal aura momentarily taking over. "I understand." His voice was composed, a stark contrast to his usual casual demeanor. "It is not easy to gamble with the lives of those you love. Nor should it be."
Strange relaxed slightly but remained wary. "Then why even suggest it?"
Naruto's lips curled into a small smirk as he rested his chin on his hand. "Because it's a possibility we might have to use. You know as well as I do that we don't have many options. We need Dormammu enraged and committed. This isn't just about us—it's about survival on a universal scale."
Strange sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I get that, but if we go down that road, I want it to be her choice, not some strategic sacrifice."
Naruto's expression softened slightly, and he gave a nod of approval. "Fair enough. But remember—Dormammu may be a tyrant, but even tyrants have limits. And if we don't push him to fight, the Otsutsuki will keep devouring worlds until nothing remains."
Strange exhaled slowly. "I'll talk to her."
Naruto leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his golden eyes glowing with unwavering confidence. The air in the Sanctum Sanctorum felt heavier, as if the room itself was absorbing the weight of the conversation.
"Before we handle the outside threats, we need to fix this planet first." His voice carried a quiet intensity, a certainty that made Strange sit up straighter. "If we don't, then the threat from the inside can unravel everything. It won't matter if we stop the Otsutsuki if this world destroys itself before they even arrive."
Strange exhaled, rubbing his temple. The responsibility of being Sorcerer Supreme had already placed him at odds with governments, heroes, and cosmic entities alike. Now, Naruto was presenting a plan that would put him against everyone.
"You realize the Avengers won't agree with you, right?" Strange finally said. "Neither will the X-Men. The Fantastic Four will be skeptical. The governments will see you as a dictator, and the villains… well, they won't just roll over and let you do as you please."
Naruto chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, I figured. But I don't need their approval."
Strange narrowed his eyes. "What exactly is your plan? Are you just going to take over by force?"
Naruto sighed and shook his head. "No, I'm not a tyrant. I'm not going to impose my own laws… at least, not right away. The laws already exist. I'll simply enforce them properly and remove the loopholes that let people like Wilson Fisk, Doom, or even some corrupt SHIELD officials keep getting away with things."
Strange's fingers tapped against the wooden table, deep in thought. "And what about the heroes? Some of them believe in second chances… some believe in redemption. Are you willing to throw them into prison just because they had a criminal past?"
Naruto's expression softened. "I believe in redemption too, Strange. But there's a difference between wanting to change and pretending to change. This world lets people like Magneto, Doom, and the Red Skull run free time and time again. Tell me, if they were truly interested in peace, would they still be causing problems after all these years?"
Strange remained silent. He wanted to argue. He wanted to say that there was always a chance for change, for people to improve. But Naruto's words gnawed at him. How many times had men like Loki, Doom, or Norman Osborn been stopped, only to return? How many innocent lives had been lost because of their leniency?
"You want to turn this world into a utopia where evil doesn't exist," Strange finally said. "That's impossible."
Naruto smiled, but there was no arrogance in his expression—only certainty. "It's only impossible because you haven't seen it done yet."
Strange studied him for a long moment, feeling the weight of Naruto's words settle into his bones. The man didn't speak with bravado or idealistic foolishness. He spoke as if he had already decided the future and was simply waiting for reality to catch up.
"...Alright," Strange said at last, leaning back in his chair. "I'll help you. But understand this, Naruto—if your actions turn into tyranny, I will stand against you."
Naruto's smirk widened, his golden eyes flashing with amusement. "Fair enough. But trust me, Strange, you're going to like what comes next."