How could I be this unlucky? Naruto thought, frozen in place as he stared at Namori. His heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing for an explanation.
For a moment, she didn't move. The silence stretched, suffocating.
Then, to his utter confusion, she rushed past Vision as if he wasn't even there, heading straight for the low table. With practiced ease, she set the tray of food down before turning to face him, her sharp eyes locking onto his.
Naruto flinched under her glare as she strode over, closing the distance between them in a few brisk steps.
Then, without warning, she bent down and snatched something off the floor.
"How many times have I told you not to throw your dirty clothes around?" she snapped, shaking his tattered orange jacket in his face. "You just cleaned this room, Naruto!"
"Huh?" was all Naruto managed to say. His brain was still catching up, struggling to process what was happening.
Completely ignoring his bewildered expression, Namori marched to the hamper near the bathroom and tossed the jacket in with an exasperated huff.
"Naruto, calm down," Vision's voice was smooth and unwavering. He floated lazily through the air beside Naruto, his cape fluttering slightly behind him. "She can't see me. I am a specter, a construct of the Mind Stone. I have no physical form and exist only to you, as you are the stone's bearer."
Naruto slumped against his bed, relief washing over him like a tidal wave. Thank Kami.
If Namori had actually seen Vision—his glowing forehead, crimson skin, and floating body—she probably would've dropped dead on the spot. The woman was tough, but even she had limits.
"So?" Namori's voice snapped him from his thoughts. She crossed her arms, fingers tapping impatiently against her hip. "Are you just gonna lie there while your food gets cold?"
Naruto blinked. "No?"
"Then hop to it, young man. Or do I have to feed you myself?" she threatened, arching a brow.
Naruto sat up immediately. "I got it, I got it."
With a final dramatic sigh and an eye roll worthy of an Academy instructor, Namori turned and walked toward the door. As she exited, she muttered to herself, "Ungrateful brats and their lack of manners..." before sliding the door shut behind her.
Naruto let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding.
That... could've been disastrous.
Naruto walked over to the tray on the table, plopping down as he grabbed a pair of chopsticks. He dug into his meal, sneaking glances at Vision, who floated around the room, inspecting his belongings with an air of curiosity.
It was beyond weird.
Was he awake? Or was this some kind of fever dream? Maybe he was still lying unconscious in the forest after smacking his head on a tree branch. That sounded more reasonable than having an all-powerful artificial intelligence floating in his bedroom, examining his stuff like some high-tech ghost.
Yet, even with the sheer absurdity of it all, Naruto couldn't ignore the small spark of excitement curling in his chest. The possibilities. The potential. The things he could achieve with the Infinity Stones at his fingertips.
Maybe, for the first time, he had a real shot at proving everyone wrong.
Naruto sat cross-legged in front of the table, absently poking at the rice in his bowl. His mind wasn't on food, though. It was on the floating, red-skinned man watching him with calm patience.
It had been a crazy day—first getting interrogated by the Hokage, then almost getting caught by Namori. But now that the immediate panic had settled, there was one thing Naruto couldn't ignore.
He placed his bowl down with a sigh. "Alright, Vision," he said, narrowing his eyes. "I gotta ask... how the hell are you even here?"
Vision tilted his head slightly, the golden glow of the Mind Stone pulsing gently on his forehead. "What do you mean?"
"I mean—" Naruto gestured vaguely at him. "You're floating here, talking to me, but you don't have a body. So... what happened? You were a real dude before, right?"
A moment of silence passed before Vision spoke.
"Yes," he said simply. "I once had a physical form. I was created by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner, given life through the power of the Mind Stone." He lifted a hand, his translucent fingers flexing slightly. "However... my body was destroyed by Thanos when he forcibly ripped the stone from my head."
Naruto winced at that. "Damn..."
Vision nodded. "My existence should have ended in that moment. And in a way, it did. But some part of me remained within the stone—fragments of my consciousness, my thoughts, my memories. The Mind Stone... preserved me."
Naruto frowned. "But if the Mind Stone was in that gauntlet thing, and then it got stuck in my head... that means you've been trapped inside it this whole time?"
"Yes."
Naruto's stomach twisted uncomfortably. "That's... that's messed up."
Vision smiled faintly. "It is not as tragic as you might think. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue existing, even in this state." His gaze softened. "But you, Naruto, are now its bearer. My presence is tied to you."
Naruto exhaled, rubbing his temples. "So, let me get this straight... Some big purple bastard crushes your skull, rips your brain-rock out, and somehow you don't die, you just... become a ghost inside it?"
"An oversimplification, but not inaccurate," Vision admitted.
Naruto groaned and flopped onto his futon. "Great. So now I've got a babysitting A.I. floating around in my head, giving me advice like some kinda ghost Jiji."
"I assure you, I have no intention of being a burden," Vision said smoothly.
Naruto cracked open one eye. "Yeah, well... you're a lot cooler than the actual old man."
A brief pause. Then, surprisingly, Vision chuckled. "That is... reassuring to hear."
Naruto grinned. "You'll get used to me, book-boy."
✨🟣🔵🟢🟡🔴🟠✨
Naruto lay on his futon, arms behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. After his delicious meal, Vision told him more about his universe and the Avengers. It was the most thrilling tale Naruto had ever heard. After Vision recounted his 'death', the room fell into silence. Vision hovered nearby, silent, as if lost in thought. The room was dimly lit, the only real glow coming from the Mind Stone's faint pulse.
Naruto sighed, tapping his fingers against his stomach. The thought had been gnawing at him ever since Vision explained what had happened to him.
"Hey, Vision," he said suddenly.
"Yes?"
Naruto hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Do you... do you miss your old life?"
Vision didn't respond immediately. His expression, usually so composed, shifted slightly—something unreadable flickering across his synthetic features. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter than usual.
"I suppose... it would be illogical to say otherwise."
Naruto frowned. "That's not what I asked."
Vision met his gaze, his golden eyes thoughtful. "Then yes, Naruto. I do."
Naruto sat up, pulling his knees to his chest. "What was it like?"
Vision looked away for a moment as if gazing into memories Naruto couldn't see. "It was... fulfilling," he said at last. "I was given life through unusual circumstances, but I found purpose among those I called my friends. I learned, I grew, and for the first time... I truly lived."
Naruto nodded slowly, letting that sink in. He knew what it was like to crave something more, to want to be seen, to have a place where you belonged.
"And Wanda?" he asked, watching Vision carefully.
For the first time since they had met, Naruto saw something like pain in Vision's expression. It wasn't dramatic, not the kind of grief Naruto had seen in people who lost someone, but a quiet sorrow—one that had settled deep in his very being.
"Yes," Vision murmured. "I miss her."
Naruto swallowed. "You... loved her, didn't you?"
A small, almost wistful smile crossed Vision's lips. "With all that I was."
Naruto exhaled through his nose, scratching at his cheek. "That sucks, man."
Vision let out a soft chuckle. "A rather simple, yet accurate assessment."
Naruto huffed. "Hey, simple's what I do best."
Silence stretched between them before Naruto broke it again. "Do you think she's okay?"
Vision's gaze softened. "I can only hope so."
Naruto nodded, then grinned. "Well, if you're stuck with me now, I guess that makes me your new little brother."
Vision tilted his head. "An interesting perspective."
"Yup! So that means I get to annoy you whenever I want." Naruto smirked.
Vision sighed—something Naruto didn't even think he could do. "Perhaps I should reconsider my current existence."
Naruto laughed, the heaviness in the room lifting just a little. But it quieted down once again.
"Would you go back if you could?" Naruto asked, his voice quieter than before.
Vision was silent for a moment, his normally unreadable expression shifting ever so slightly. Then, with a solemn nod, he answered, "If it were possible, then yes."
Naruto figured as much. If he had the chance to return to the loved ones he lost, he'd take it in a heartbeat. It was a no-brainer.
A thought formed in the back of his mind, one that made his pulse quicken. He hesitated, but then whispered, "Maybe it might be possible."
Vision turned to him, his golden eyes narrowing in curiosity. "What do you mean?"
Naruto sat up straighter. "Not now, but maybe in the future. I mean, the Infinity Stones had the power to reshape reality itself, right? If they could do that, then bringing you back, your real body, shouldn't be impossible."
For the first time, Naruto saw genuine surprise flash across Vision's face. The A.I. floated closer, studying him as if he were a puzzle that suddenly made sense. Then, a rare smile broke across Vision's face, small but real.
"Perhaps," Vision said, his voice lighter than before. "But to do so, you'll need far greater control over your chakra. The stones, in their current state, are no longer at full power—they draw from your chakra to function."
Naruto grinned, determination flaring in his eyes. "Then what are we waiting for?" He jumped to his feet, fist-punching the air. "Let's get stronger!"
Vision chuckled. "A wise decision. Though I hope your methods involve more discipline than just running headfirst into trouble."
Naruto scoffed. "C'mon, you know me better than that."
"That is precisely why I am concerned," Vision deadpanned.
Naruto just laughed. This was only the beginning.
*** End of Chapter 7 ***