Naruto: The sorcerer shinobi

Chapter 13: Pleasant Hill Arc part 2

New York

In the heart of New York City, hidden among the urban sprawl, there was a secret base known as S.H.E.D. – the Secret Hideout of Emergency Defense. On this particular day, Neoma Uzumaki Uchiha and Kamala Khan were making their way back to the base, arms laden with bags of groceries they had picked up together.

As they walked, Kamala, feeling a flush of excitement, turned to Neoma and asked, "Are you excited for the school dance next month?"

Neoma responded with a noncommittal shrug. "I guess I'll go just to be there," she said.

Puzzled, Kamala pressed further, "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, I don't really have a date. I'm only 14, and most of the other students are 16 or 17, even older. I don't really have anyone I'm interested in," Neoma explained, her tone matter-of-fact.

Kamala absorbed this information silently. She had a secret crush on Neoma and found herself often caught up in how mature and attractive Neoma seemed, even at 14. To Kamala, Neoma carried the allure of someone older, making her feelings even more complicated. Kamala herself was grappling with her sexuality, realizing she was attracted to both boys and girls. Though she hadn't come out yet, she knew her friends, including Neoma, would support her.

Her thoughts drifted to a moment back at S.H.E.D. when she had accidentally walked in on Neoma coming out of the shower, her hair wet and her body exposed. The sight had overwhelmed Kamala; Neoma's well-developed physique, a testament to her strong genetics, had left Kamala dizzy, resulting in her fleeing the room with a nosebleed.

Walking alongside Neoma now, Kamala remained quiet, her mind racing with thoughts of the dance, her emerging feelings, and the

up and finding oneself. Despite the bustling city around them, Kamala felt enveloped in her own world of swirling emotions and unanswered questions.

As they neared the entrance to S.H.E.D., Kamala finally broke the silence. "Neoma, even if you don't have a date, I think it could still be fun. We could go together, just as friends, you know?" She suggested this tentatively, hoping it didn't reveal too much of her feelings.

Neoma looked at Kamala, a small smile forming on her lips. "That sounds like a good plan, Kamala. It's a date, but, you know, as friends," she agreed, her voice light, easing some of the tension Kamala felt.

Kamala's heart fluttered with mixed feelings—relief that Neoma had accepted her proposal, but also a lingering sadness that Neoma didn't understand the depth of her feelings. Still, spending the evening at the dance with Neoma, even just as friends, was more than she had hoped for moments ago.

arrived at an inconspicuous alleyway, Kamala led Neoma to a nondescript corner. She placed her hand against what appeared to be an ordinary cement block, but it quickly came alive under her touch, glowing as it scanned her hand. As Kamala removed her hand, the block displayed her hero symbol on a screen that then dissolved into a hologram, revealing a sleek elevator hidden behind it.

The elevator doors slid open silently, and they stepped inside. As soon as the doors shut, the elevator descended smoothly into the depths of the city. When the doors reopened, they were greeted by the impressive sight of their headquarters—a space that was both a sanctuary and a command center.

The headquarters, designed by Marinette D. Uzumaki Davern, daughter of Carol Davern and Naruto Uzumaki Strange, was a testament to advanced technology and creative genius. Marinette, affectionately known as Marin, had utilized cutting-edge nanotechnology to construct the base. It was a place outfitted with everything young heroes might need, including multiple bedrooms. Some of these rooms were reserved for those who might need a temporary retreat, while others were permanently occupied by residents.