Naruto Hides Behind A Mask

The Mask Never Slips In a world where morality is blurred, Shiva navigates the dark underbelly of crime while concealing the unbearable weight of his own existence. Emotionally detached yet deeply wounded, he wears a mask of indifference, suppressing a lifetime of trauma that manifests as relentless physical pain. He is a master manipulator, a deceiver, and a survivor—yet, at his core, he is a man consumed by self-disgust. Despite his hatred for himself, three fragile reasons tether him to life: his love for a girl who barely acknowledges him, his unwavering loyalty to the abusive family that broke him, and the little brother he raised to be everything he could never become. If even one of these reasons crumbles, so will he. As he maneuvers through the chaos of the crime world—both a participant and an outsider—Shiva finds himself drawn into a series of brutal conflicts, each forcing him to confront the contradictions within him. He claims to have no desire to kill, yet death follows in his shadow. He yearns to be understood, yet has perfected the art of deception. He wants to feel something—anything—but every emotion is buried beneath years of carefully constructed lies. When the past he’s tried so hard to bury resurfaces, Shiva’s carefully maintained facade begins to crack. Someone close to him is starting to see through the act. And as the weight of his suffering becomes impossible to contain, he is left with one question: Can he keep holding on, or is the mask he wears the only thing keeping him alive?

Power. Wealth. Fear. Dominic Valente built his empire with blood and ambition, rising from the crime-ridden streets of Palermo, Italy to become one of Europe’s most feared mafia bosses. Ruthless in strategy, unmatched in intelligence, he earned the name "The Hawk", orchestrating every move like a master chess player. But power came at a cost—a life devoid of peace, a soul weighed down by regret. When Dominic walks away from his empire, leaving the underworld behind, he seeks refuge in a quiet French village, living under the alias Antonio Leoni. He reinvents himself as a businessman, investing in legitimate enterprises, hoping to atone for his past sins. But redemption doesn’t come easy. Isabella Antenno, a passionate artist with a hidden past, enters his life, drawing him into a world of love, trust, and hope. Unaware of the darkness lurking behind his eyes, she sees in him a man struggling to escape his own demons. As their connection deepens, Isabella unwittingly becomes the one person Dominic cannot afford to lose. But the past is relentless. Enzo Mancini, Dominic’s former right-hand man, sees his departure as betrayal. Taking over the empire, Enzo thrives in chaos, determined to destroy the man who abandoned him. The hunter becomes the hunted when Enzo sends his men to track Dominic down, forcing him to make a choice—fight or lose everything. And in the shadows, Detective Adrien Moreau, an obsessed investigator from Palermo, inches closer to the truth. Moreau knows Dominic isn’t just a businessman—he’s the ghost of a crime lord who vanished without a trace. When Moreau sets a trap, Dominic must once again outmaneuver the system that hunts him. As old enemies close in and the life he’s built begins to unravel, Dominic faces an impossible question: Can a man like him ever truly escape his past? When the mask falls, will he be the man Isabella believes he can be—or the legend of crime the world still fears?

In a bustling modern city where ancient secrets and mysterious powers collide with everyday life, 22-year-old Ethan Cross seems like your average college student. Behind his unassuming demeanor lies a man shrouded in secrets—a masked vigilante known only as "Virtuoso," feared by criminals and sought after by powerful organizations. Ethan is overpowered, sarcastic, and ridiculously skilled at everything he does. But there's one thing he’s terrible at: romance. When the enigmatic and fiercely independent Mia Harper stumbles into his life, she unknowingly becomes the key to unraveling a conspiracy that ties Ethan's past to an ancient prophecy. Between laugh-out-loud moments, explosive action, and unexpected twists, Ethan navigates his double life while trying to protect Mia, keep his identity hidden, and maybe—just maybe—figure out how to confess his feelings without being a complete disaster.

Scarlet was enrolled in the Villainess Academy to learn how the world of evil truly operates. She possessed hearts so pure and innocent that were often considered naive, easily believing whatever she was told, which made her seem foolish in the eyes of others. A girl with no mana, no aura, cannot summon a spirit, or execute a magic. Her parents, worried that her innocence and inability to survive in the world would be her downfall, they enrolled her in the Villainess Academy, hoping they would learn the harsh realities of the world and toughen up. In the academy where she was bullied and belittle, Scarlet met someone who would protect her. But this person is hiding in shadow

In the shadowed depths of Kyouten, a city divided by power and secrets, Hime operates as Venus, an enigmatic broker of forbidden knowledge. Her brilliance lies in her anonymity, her strength in the impenetrable walls she’s built. But when a calculated move brings her into the orbit of Kazuki, the cold and commanding leader of the Kagezan syndicate, those walls begin to crack. Kazuki is a man who thrives on control, ruling his underworld empire with precision and ruthlessness. Yet Hime’s defiance, her sharp wit, and the dangerous allure of her secrets ignite something within him—an obsession that blurs the line between protector and predator. As shadows close in, Hime finds herself hunted by the relentless Venus Hunters and entangled in Kazuki’s growing fixation. Forced into a precarious alliance, the two must navigate a world where every move is a gamble and trust is a luxury neither can afford. But behind Hime’s shattered mask lies a truth more dangerous than any enemy, a secret that could change the balance of power in Kyouten forever. When facades crumble and desires collide, who will emerge unscathed from the chaos?

At university, Chris is just another student—quiet, reserved, and seemingly ordinary. But behind the scenes, he’s the heir to a hidden fortune, a secret he guards fiercely. Then there’s Skylar—a girl born into wealth, now watching her privileged world crumble as her family faces financial ruin. When she crosses paths with Chris, an unexpected connection sparks between them. Skylar falls for him, believing he’s just a regular guy. But when her family pressures her to seek a richer suitor, Chris finds himself at a crossroads—should he reveal his true identity to fight for their love, or let her go to protect his secret? In a world where love and wealth collide, can their relationship survive the truth?

The Stone Mask is an action-packed dark fantasy set in a world where strength rules and the weak are crushed. Katsu Blazewood, a rising Ranker with fire-based abilities, dreams of climbing the ranks and proving his worth. Under the guidance of the ruthless Simon Shepard, he faces deadly trials, powerful adversaries, and the harsh truth of what it means to be a Ranker. But when the government launches a brutal invasion in search of a legendary artifact—the Stone Mask—Katsu is thrust into a war far greater than himself. The Stone Mask is said to hold unimaginable power, a relic from a forgotten era that could reshape the balance of the world. But as Katsu uncovers the dark secrets behind it, he begins to question everything: Who truly controls the Rankers? What does it mean to wield power? And most of all—what will he become if he survives?

the hero's journey, also known as the monomyth, is the common template of stories that involve a hero who goes on an adventure, is victorious in a decisive crisis, and comes home changed or transformed. ~this happens to Mc I don't own the image , if the owner wants it gone let me know I don't own naruto either except the oc , don't sue me plz the starting few chapters may have been created with the help of ai but later down the line the chapters were made purely by me. I hope the ai usage doesn't discourages you from reading

Angelo rycard is a boy who has seen more grief and death than the greatest soldier and more happiness than the greatest king. He carries untold burden and guilt and is on a journey to fix the mistakes of his past fight the evils of several distant universes. And stop the ambitions of men playing God all in the hope of reuniting his family once and for all. Watch this tale of a boy rekindling friendships facing past trauma's and fighting his greatest enemy himself.

Gotham is ruled by Clad Belmont—a man powerful enough to defeat the infamous Jack the Reaper and seize control of the city. "What if there’s someone out there even stronger than Jack the Reaper? What will you do then, Belmont?" But when a mysterious new threat emerges, determined to erase Belmont’s legacy, the city spirals into chaos. "I'm Jaxon." "I don’t know where the hell you came from, kid, but this is Gotham. If you want to stay alive, keep your head down and don’t draw attention to yourself." Jaxon, a boy with no past, arrives in Gotham just as the city prepares to unveil a statue in Belmont’s honor. When the event is attacked, he’s faced with a choice: stay in the shadows or step into the light. "If I don’t do something, all these people are going to die right in front of me." As a masked vigilante rises, whispers spread—Jack the Reaper may have returned. "Who the hell is this Black Mask? I want him eliminated immediately." But if Jack the Reaper is truly back… then who is Black Mask? "Gotham, eh? So this is where you’ve been hiding all this time, Jaxon. Well then… it’s time I paid my student a visit." "Impossible." "I’m telling you, sir—Jack the Reaper is back in Gotham."

At 28, Clara Hayes has mastered the art of wearing masks. To her colleagues, she’s the perpetually cheerful graphic designer who never misses a deadline. To her overbearing mother, she’s the dutiful daughter hiding her anxiety behind polished smiles. To the world, she’s a woman who “has it all together”—except she’s crumbling inside. Clara’s life unravels during a corporate presentation where a panic attack strips her façade raw. Humiliated and exhausted, she flees to a quiet coastal town, renting a cottage owned by an eccentric, free-spirited potter named Marisol. There, Clara stumbles upon a dusty journal in the attic, its pages filled with haunting sketches and anonymous confessions from a woman who once lived there decades earlier. The entries mirror Clara’s own suffocating duality: “I paint myself in colors the world approves of, but my soul is a grayscale.” As Clara tentatively befriends Marisol and a reclusive widower, Eli, who runs the town’s crumbling bookstore, she begins confronting the lies she’s told herself for years. Through their unconventional guidance—and the journal’s cryptic wisdom—she starts shedding her masks one by one. But vulnerability comes at a cost: her corporate career teeters, her mother’s disapproval intensifies, and a buried trauma from her teenage years resurfaces, threatening to drown her newfound courage. When Clara’s raw, unfiltered artwork—created in secret—goes viral, she faces a choice: return to the safety of her old illusions or step into the terrifying freedom of living unapologetically. But the journal hides a final secret, linking Clara’s journey to the cottage’s mysterious past, forcing her to question whether true authenticity is a rebellion… or a homecoming.

Yuuto Sakurai, a 19-year-old high school failure, spends his days devouring wish-fulfillment stories. One night, he stumbles across yet another "LHS" novel-where the protagonist is insanely overpowered but insists on acting like a weakling. His needless self-sabotage ruins his image, social life, hurts those around him, all because it's the so-called "right thing to do." Frustrated, Yuuto burns the book, cursing its stupidity, and goes to bed. Then he wakes up... as the main character?!

‘She hadn't seen the world, yet she was going to discover a new one’ Elia and Ella never knew there could be a gateway to another world... But how did they encounter a gateway and what do they find. What lies in the strength of a mother- daughter bond. There might be another side to the plot. Disclaimer: The book might be a little slow paced at the beginning. Please bear with me as I have to get some things down before I start to really dive into the thrilling parts. Stick along with me and you just might realize it was worth it.

Eren Idril died as an old, decrepit, and piss-poor adventurer by the maws of a D-Rank monster. He had a lot of unfulfilled dreams and desires that couldn't see the light of the day after the light in his own eyes died down. But fortunately for him and unfortunately for the world, that wasn't his end. Eren was somehow dived back in time when he was a mere teen, attending Lionheart Academy for adventurers. When life gives him a second chance, Eren decides to exploit it to its fullest. Experience his vile deeds as he partakes in them without feeling the slightest bit of hesitation. [WPC#218 Bronze Trophy Winner] [Mature content warning.] Additional tags: #evilmc #mature #evilprotagonist #antiheroprotagonist #coldmc #calculatingmc #pragmaticmc #smut #lemons #maturecontent ================= Instagram: graybacknovels Discord: https://discord.com/invite/R5uGQaXJRY

SYNOPSIS: "I Just Wanted to Work Abroad, But I Got Trapped in an Isekai?! Where’s My Money, Damn It!" Kosagi Hara, a former construction worker turned NEET, finally gets an enticing job offer from his friend. Excited, he sets off for a new life overseas… or so he thought. But suddenly, time stops. The world vanishes. And when he opens his eyes, he finds himself in the middle of an unfamiliar grassland, with no sign of modern civilization. No phone. No money. No food. No god, no mission, not even an NPC to greet him. Kosagi is now stranded in another world for no apparent reason. And worse… he’s starving.

Framed for a crime he didn’t commit, ex-military Axel Vaughn is sentenced to twenty-five years in Blackthorn Correctional Facility a prison where the walls are cold, but the wardens are far from merciful. With a wife and children waiting on the outside, Axel’s only mission is escape by any means necessary. But Blackthorn is ruled by three women Nadia, Livia, and Selene seductive, ruthless, and dangerously in control. Each one has a weakness Axel is determined to exploit… even if it means playing their wicked games. Temptation becomes his weapon. Desire becomes his leverage. But the closer Axel gets to freedom, the harder it becomes to tell who’s really in control. Behind locked doors, pleasure is punishment and the price of freedom might be more than Axel is willing to pay.

"When there's nothing left to hide, only truth remains."

A Nameless Transmigrator — that’s all she could call herself. A woman from the 21st century, abruptly waking up in an unfamiliar world, with no recollection of how she ended up there or who she was supposed to be. The world around her operated on its own set of rules, a modern society brimming with political intrigues, power struggles, and deeply rooted secrets. Her only clue? A name etched deep within her fragmented memories — Gauis Anubis Steinheart — a name she barely remembers reading from a synopsis of a book she happened to glance at in a random bookstore back in her world. Is Gaius Anubis Steinheart the key to her past — or the harbinger of her downfall? Without a name, without allies, and with no memories to guide her and no cheat-like abilities that other transmigrators often possess in stories, she finds herself trapped in a foreign body — a woman with a complicated life in the middle of a high-stakes political battlefield. But the biggest shock comes when she discovers she's pregnant — carrying the child of an unknown man, without a single clue who the father is or what role she’s supposed to play in this world. The clock is ticking, and the shadows of conspiracies loom ever closer. As she navigates the treacherous waters of this world, she must uncover the truth behind her identity, the child she carries, and why fate brought her into this twisted story. Who is that? Probably the Protagonist of the story. Well, who knows? Contains MATURE scenes/events that were not suitable for minors. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

What would you do if the person you raised, turned against you? For that person, you sacrificed your childhood but in the end, they still turned against you. It all began like a dream, a sweet dream to say, then a crack happened but she mended it, then another appeared and she mended it again until it finally broke down. Ely kept the lesson taught by life in the deepest part of her heart. She ran away because she was trying to escape from the truth but she met it again and this time, she lost her innocence, she lost the last bit of humanity she had and she lost the color of her soul and eventually, she submitted herself to the devil who used her gleefully. Silveria, a young King felt his ambitions came first before anything else. He once told a girl, that if he wanted something, he got it and it didn't matter how he got it. He was nicknamed the devil. The devil met this girl who lost the color of her soul and fed on her indifference but soon, he began to thirst for more. Is the devil going to pull her into hell with him or will both find salvation? PS:the cover is not mine so I can take it down if the owner comes by.

Si Hana Elise Navarro ay isang mahirap na mag aaral ngunit sya ay matalino lagi syang top 1 SA lahat Ng klaseng pinapasukan nya ngunit Meron syang nakatagong secreto na Sya ay isang mahirap ikinahihiya nya Ito Kaya namn SA school nila nag papanggap syang mayaman Kasi Naman ang mga tao Sa panahon na yon ay binubully ang mahihirap at kapag mahirap ka walang makikipagkaibigan syo ngunit nung isang araw may isang nakaalam na sya pala ay mahirap at agad naman nya Itong pinagkalat at simula non lagi na syang binubully nakatakas lng sya dahil SA family problems nila Kaya lumipat sya SA ibang school dto nya makikilala si Jemin Alexander Cruz ang top 1 SA school na nilipatan nya ngunit nung nag aral si hana dto naging top 2 na lng si jemin Kaya gagawin lahat NI Jemin para mabawi ang top 1 nya kaya naman araw araw nyang binubully si hana pero habang tumatagal na huhulog na ang loob ni Jemin kay Hana..

A novel about the adventures of sorcerers with cursed masks that emerged with the founding of Shadowia.

"I know who you are" the voice said behind Emily and Dominic. They froze on the spot. The voice wasn't familiar. They had just finished drafting our plans for their new contract, and it was getting late, so they decided to round up. They were heading towards the car park when they heard the voice. When they turned, it was only a shadow they could see. "Who are you?" Emily said slowly approaching the figure but was held back by Dominic. "You might get hurt" Dominic was angry and concerned at the same time. "I will make sure I haunt you and take everything that's precious to you as you took from me" the voice said before disappearing into the darkness. Emily, CEO of E&S Foundation, the adopted daughter of Elizabeth Johnson, who is one of the richest women in Europe. Emily was loved by Elizabeth even though she had her own kids. She had a reason to love and care for her, it was because of the guilt she felt after killing her parents in an accident fifteen years ago and was also threatened to take care of her. Dominic was a CEO from another company. Dominic and Emily met when the two companies had to sign a contract. Their chemistry was undeniable and each of them had secrets they couldn't tell each other. Chaos, blood spills, and truths begin to unfold. What will be the fate of Emily and Dominic and everything they've built? No one knows who is the master behind the chaos. Who is the master? And what truth would be unfolded?

All Fate wanted is to get back to her feet after getting fired from her last job. If only one of her new bosses could just keep his hands off her. ----- It had always been Lafayette Lestrange's dream to become someone's executive secretary since she was young, and everything she did to this point in her life she did to be the best one there can be. She's very passionate and hard-working. She is relied upon by her friends and colleagues who both respect and admire her as a person and as a professional. Even how much dedicated and professional she is though, there are still things that she can't just let pass, just like the harassment she suffered from her new boss. Which ultimately caused the end of her career. At least that's what she thought... until she received an offer from the mysterious company 'The Mask'.