On a lush green lawn in Sokovia, a lavish and extravagant wedding was underway.
Aside from a few reporters equipped with high-end professional cameras, the venue was filled with the wealthiest and most influential figures in Sokovia—clearly a gathering of elites.
It was obvious that the bride and groom were far from ordinary—at least, one of them certainly wasn't.
"Carl Hudson, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To enter into this marriage with her, in sickness and in health, through all circumstances, to love her, care for her, respect her, accept her, and remain faithful to her for the rest of your life?"
The priest stood solemnly on the altar, addressing the tall and strikingly handsome Chinese man on the left.
"I do," Carl answered with conviction.
The priest gave a satisfied nod, then turned to the woman on the right—dressed in a white wedding gown that accentuated her graceful figure. Her beauty held a unique blend of sensuality and innocence.
"Wanda Django Maximoff, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? Will you marry him, in sickness and in health, through all circumstances, to love him, care for him, respect him, accept him, and remain faithful to him until the end of your life?"
With a joyful expression, Wanda gazed into Carl's eyes and gently nodded.
"I do."
Just as her words fell, a cold, emotionless electronic voice echoed in Carl's mind:
"Mission complete. Initiating Small World extraction... Small World extraction complete. Please check the extracted world in the World Options menu."
But Carl had no time to pay attention to the system notification—not when the ring exchange and the kiss were moments away.
Carl Hudson, 20 years old, had once been just another idle rich second-generation heir in Sokovia, coasting through life with no ambition. After the tragic death of his parents, he inherited a vast family enterprise.
Three years ago, everything changed. His demeanor shifted overnight. He took the reins of the family business, and through swift and decisive actions, transformed it from a struggling third-rate company into the most powerful private empire in Sokovia. Now, he stood as the country's wealthiest and youngest entrepreneur.
At the same time, he married a girl he had dated for three years—someone who once worked at a small convenience store—stepping hand in hand into a new chapter of life.
This was how Sokovia News portrayed Carl Hudson: a genius entrepreneur who rose like a storm.
But the truth was far stranger.
The original Carl had actually died in an accident three years ago. His body had been taken over by a traveler from another world—and the meteoric rise that followed was the result of that traveler's will and strength.
Not long after Carl Hudson arrived in this world, he made a shocking discovery—the world he had transmigrated into was none other than the incredibly dangerous Marvel Universe.
While he had been a skilled fighter in his previous life, restoring this new body—ravaged by years of alcohol and indulgence—was no simple task.
And even if he managed to bring his body back to peak condition, what could he really do against someone like Thanos and his interstellar fleet, capable of wiping out entire planets? The truth was harsh: even some of Earth's more advanced firearms could easily end his life.
Fortunately, he wasn't entirely helpless. Along with his transmigration, he awakened Goldfinger—a mysterious virtual system panel.
This panel issued both main and side quests. Completing a main quest allowed him to unlock a Small World, enabling interdimensional travel. Meanwhile, side quests granted useful rewards—ranging from rare potions with special effects to powerful weapons, and even large sums of money.
His first main quest—and so far, the only one—was to establish contact with Wanda Maximoff, the future Scarlet Witch. At the time, she had just turned seventeen and was working at a local convenience store.
The main quest had three levels of completion: basic, intermediate, and advanced.
The higher the level of completion, the better his starting identity and talent would be when entering the next world.
The primary level of completing the task involving the Scarlet Witch was simply to become a close friend whom Wanda could trust and confide in. Intermediate completion meant becoming her boyfriend, while advanced completion required marrying her and becoming her husband.
Originally, Carl only aimed for the intermediate level—becoming Wanda's boyfriend. After all, marriage wasn't something to be taken lightly. But over the course of three years spent together, something unexpected happened—he genuinely fell in love with her.
And it was no wonder. Wanda wasn't like most Western women. She was conservative in her beliefs, gentle in temperament, and deeply serious about love and commitment.
Her dream life was simple: to become a housewife and spend her days peacefully with her husband and future children.
In every way, she fit Carl's ideal of a life partner. In his past life, he had earned a living fighting underground boxing matches abroad, always hoping to one day find a woman like Wanda—someone he could build a stable and happy life with. In the end, he couldn't escape the truth of his own desires.
That night, after Wanda had fallen asleep in his arms, completely exhausted from the day's events, Carl finally had a moment to himself. He opened his virtual panel and began reviewing the new information that had appeared during the day.
> World Extracted: Naruto
Task Completion Level: Advanced
Rewards:
– Five-Attribute Chakra Affinity
– Enhanced Naruto World Physique
– High-Level Identity: Prince of the Land of Fire (Son of the Fire Daimyo's younger brother)
Time Limit: Three months (Additional time can be earned via side quests)
Note:
– Time in the main world does not synchronize with time in the small world. Time in the main world remains frozen during travel.
– Items cannot be transferred between the main world and small worlds. Please avoid bringing or taking unauthorized materials.
"Just as expected—advanced completion really comes with excellent perks!"
Carl's eyes lit up as he read through the panel's details.
Even though it had been years since he last watched Naruto, and he couldn't remember the plot very clearly, he knew one thing: having an affinity with all five chakra elements was exceptionally rare, even among elite ninjas.
And with the Naruto world's biology—where the average number of body cells was around 130 trillion, significantly more than in the real world—his overall physique would naturally be far superior.
Being the Prince of the Land of Fire meant he wouldn't have to worry about finances or personal safety. It was a high-status identity, offering strong protection during the early stages of his journey.
"Three months, though… that feels a little short," Carl muttered to himself.
After reading through the rewards for completing the main quest, Carl immediately shifted his focus to the side quests section, hoping to find one that could extend his stay in the Naruto world.
After scrolling for a while, he finally found something promising:
> Side Quest 1: Settle in New York City
Objective: Relocate to New York and settle down with Wanda
Reward: +6 months of Small World time
"New York, huh… Not exactly the safest place," Carl muttered. "But staying in Sokovia doesn't seem much better either."
Although Carl wasn't a hardcore Marvel fan, he had picked up quite a bit of Marvel lore during his years abroad. If his memory served him right, the first Avengers battle had taken place in New York, and chaos seemed to follow that city around like a shadow.
But then again, Sokovia wasn't any less dangerous. Not only was it secretly home to a Hydra base, but in the future, the entire city would be at risk of total destruction.
More importantly, he noticed that many of the side quests issued by the panel seemed to be tied to New York.
There was no penalty for failing to complete either main or side quests—but without completing them, there were no rewards. And without rewards, there would be no way to strengthen himself and survive in this unpredictable Marvel world.
In his previous life, Carl had fought in brutal underground matches just to earn a living. He knew the harsh truth: if you didn't train harder than everyone else, you were one punch away from death.
Lifting the blanket and quietly slipping out of bed, Carl padded over to the balcony, gently sliding the door shut behind him. He pulled out his phone and dialed one of his subordinates.
It was time to make arrangements.
"Jack, take the team and head to New York. We're officially launching our plan to expand into the New York market—just ahead of schedule."
This had always been part of Carl's long-term strategy: to bring the family business to New York and establish a foothold in one of the world's most powerful economic centers. Now, thanks to the side quest, he was simply accelerating that plan.
Carl understood one thing clearly—in the Marvel Universe, money alone couldn't protect you from threats like Thanos and his planet-destroying army. But without money, you'd be vulnerable to even the lowest street thugs.
Since he was going to settle in New York, it only made sense to base his company there as well. The goal was to develop and expand, eventually becoming a top-tier capitalist. With enough wealth and influence, even shady government agencies would have to think twice before messing with him.
After ending the call, Carl returned to the bedroom. He needed rest. Tomorrow, he would depart for the Naruto world.
At this point in time, Wanda and her brother Pietro (Quicksilver) hadn't yet been recruited (or experimented) by Hydra, nor had they been exposed to the Mind Stone—which meant their powers were still undeveloped.
Wanda could perform some basic magic, but nothing especially dangerous. Pietro was faster than the average person, but far from the blinding speeds he'd eventually achieve.
As for Carl himself, after three years of side quests, grueling effort, and consistent training, he had managed to restore his strength to match that of his previous life. Even so, in a world filled with powerful individuals and advanced weaponry, he was still vulnerable to high-level threats.
If he truly intended to thrive in New York, it would have to wait—after he traveled to the Naruto world to learn chakra refining and master ninjutsu.
CHAPTER 2
In the early morning, as the first rays of sunlight streamed through the glass window and landed on his face, Carl slowly opened his eyes.
He turned his head to the side—Wanda was no longer in bed.
Slipping into his pajamas and stepping out of the bedroom, he descended the elegant, golden European-style spiral staircase to the first floor. Not long after, the soft clatter of kitchen activity reached his ears.
"Honey, you're awake! I'm making crispy hash browns for you—just wait a minute!"
Wanda peeked out from the kitchen, holding a pan in one hand and a knife in the other, her expression bright.
"Thanks," Carl smiled. "But I remember you saying before that you couldn't cook—and that it was Pietro who usually did the cooking?"
Carl's sharp eyes caught sight of the trash can beside the counter. It looked like there were a few shattered plates inside.
Sensing his gaze, Wanda subtly waved her fingers. The broken pieces suddenly slid behind the trash can on their own—as if they had grown legs.
"I asked my brother for a few tips a couple of days ago," Wanda replied, lifting her chin proudly. "I think I've got the hang of it."
Carl smiled. He was charming, handsome, kind, and wealthy—a man anyone would be proud to be with. Wanda, by contrast, was just a former convenience store clerk, an orphan burdened with grief and bitterness from her past.
And yet, here they were.
She never quite understood why Carl had fallen in love with her, or why he had pursued her so persistently for three years. But because of him, she came to understand what "true love" really meant.
And because she knew how hard-won this happiness was, she cherished it deeply—and committed herself to fulfilling her role as a devoted wife.
Though she had no natural talent for cooking, she had recently started asking her brother for tips in the kitchen. Even though it often led to minor disasters, she never gave up.
"That's really sweet of you," Carl smiled, gave Wanda an encouraging hug, and went to freshen up.
Ten minutes later, Carl sat down at the table, picked up a crispy hash brown with his chopsticks, took a bite, and paused with a strange look on his face.
"Honey, how is it?"
Wanda sat beside him, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Not bad," Carl replied with a smile. It was a bit salty, but still within the range of acceptable. Definitely an improvement over her earlier attempts.
He couldn't help but remember the first time Wanda had tried cooking for him about six months ago. She had chosen the simplest dish—steamed crab. He had vowed to eat it no matter how bad it tasted.
But when he lifted the lid and reached toward the bright red crab with his chopsticks, the crab suddenly snapped them in half.
Turned out, Wanda had been so nervous that she'd turned on the wrong burner, and the crab—which was already red when she bought it—was still very much alive. It was a hilarious disaster.
Still, Carl understood—when two people are in a relationship, it's no small thing when one makes changes for the other. Life isn't about being picky over every small imperfection.
"One serving won't be enough for you, right? I'll make another!"
Wanda beamed with joy at Carl's compliment, then skipped back into the kitchen like a playful child, spatula in hand.
"Hah…" Carl chuckled, shaking his head, and picked up a second hash brown.
But the moment he took a bite, his expression changed again. This one wasn't salty at all—in fact, the taste had improved significantly.
Then he remembered Wanda's ability.
Reality manipulation.
It wasn't the first time she had secretly and without knowing adjusted reality during their time together.
After breakfast, Wanda—still wearing her apron—waved a spatula and called out:
"Honey, come home early tonight! I'm making Asturian stew!"
"Alright, I'll leave work early," Carl replied, kissed her on the forehead, and gave her a thumbs-up before heading out the door with his briefcase.
In the villa's courtyard, an older man in his fifties was already waiting by the car. The moment Carl stepped outside, the man respectfully opened the door for him.
"Good morning, Master."
"Good morning, Uncle Li," Carl said with a nod, stepping into the car.
As the car rolled smoothly down the driveway, Uncle Li gave a quick report.
"Master, we've identified the person behind the recent moves against our group. It's Bavi, from Raymond Pharmaceuticals. How should we proceed?"
Carl's eyes turned cold.
"Tell David... he can take another trip out to sea to feed the fish."
In just three years, the Hudson family business had risen from a third-rate company to a leading powerhouse—not because of Carl Hudson's stellar business acumen. After all, he was once a black-market fighter, not a corporate strategist.
The truth behind their meteoric rise lay in two key factors.
First, Carl had handed over some of the body-enhancing ointments and pills obtained through side missions to the company's research team. The scientists reverse-engineered them, leading to a range of revolutionary best-selling health and wellness products.
Second, Carl was ruthless in dealing with rivals who tried to sabotage or compete with him through underhanded means. He had no patience for games.
Aside from hiring elite assassins via the dark web, Carl occasionally took matters into his own hands. He even personally trained a covert team of subordinates who specialized in handling these dirty jobs.
By now, most of the enemies who had once opposed him were long gone—fed to the sea by Carl's trusted enforcers.
Yet, to the outside world, Carl Hudson was the youngest and brightest entrepreneur in Sokovia. He was known as a brilliant philanthropist whose charity foundation had helped thousands of families torn apart by the civil war more than a decade ago. The people adored him.
After arriving at the company and handling all his affairs for the day, Carl leaned back in his office chair and took a deep breath. With a single tap, he opened the virtual panel.
"It's time to enter the small world."
---
"Your Highness, Your Highness—it's time for lunch."
Dazed, Carl was stirred from his sleep by a soft voice. At the same moment, a flood of foreign memories surged into his mind.
"I understand, Jinai."
He was now Ikkyū Isamu, twenty years old, the son of the late younger brother of the Daimyō of the Land of Fire—formally titled the Prince of the Fire Nation. Although he held no real power in the government, he possessed noble status and immense wealth.
The woman in front of him, Jinai, was the head steward of the Prince's Mansion—responsible for his daily affairs and managing the entire estate.
He'd dozed off under the warm sun in the courtyard, comforted by the peaceful atmosphere.
After waking, he was served a luxurious lunch by Jinai and the other servants. Once finished, Carl gave a direct command:
"Prepare the carriage. I'm going to the Temple of Fire this afternoon."
Carl hadn't come to the world of Naruto to enjoy luxury. He could live a life of comfort back in the modern world. No—he was here to grow stronger, to learn chakra and ninjutsu.
If he could also find useful technologies or methods to benefit his enterprise in the Marvel world, even better.
There were only two places in the Land of Fire that offered systematic ninjutsu training: the renowned Konoha Village, and the more modest Temple of Fire.
The wandering ninjas and mercenary groups scattered across the country were weak and lacked real techniques—hardly worth Carl's time.
While Konoha boasted more powerful teachings, it was riddled with complications: shady politics, internal power struggles, and figures like Danzo and the manipulative Third Hokage. Even Carl's identity as a prince wouldn't earn him access to the village's top-tier techniques.
On the other hand, the Temple of Fire, though less impressive, was safe. Its strongest guardian, Chiriku, was an elite jōnin—not bad for a starting mentor.
Most importantly, the Temple was neutral ground. No family politics, no secret agendas—just pure learning.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Though surprised by the sudden decision, Jinai respectfully bowed and moved to carry out the order.
The prince was usually aloof, rarely involved in social affairs. That he would suddenly want to visit a spiritual training ground outside the city caught her off guard. Still, she was only a servant—her duty was to obey.
Within the hour, Carl was seated in a luxurious carriage, accompanied by Jinai, several attendants, and armed guards. The small convoy began its journey toward the Temple of Fire, the afternoon sun gleaming off the rooftops of the Prince's Mansion.