Digital Emperor (Naruto X Digimon)

As the group parted ways, Naruto and his team finally set off toward their destination. Their armored vehicle, a sleek flying craft given to Naruto by his clan, hovered smoothly above the terrain, moving at impressive speeds while maintaining complete stealth.

Henry and Rika each had their own similar vehicles, ensuring their respective teams traveled with the same level of safety and efficiency. These machines weren't just fast—they were equipped with advanced features like invisibility, defensive shielding, and terrain scanning, making them nearly untouchable while in transit.

Their target was Native Forest, a vast expanse of greenery that rivaled the Amazon Rainforest in sheer size. But in the Digital World, such immense landscapes weren't unusual—many regions stretched beyond what the human mind could easily comprehend.

Native Forest was classified as a weak and neutral region, located close to Dawn City. It was mostly home to Insect-type Digimon, with smaller populations of Plant-type and Beast-type Digimon, and the occasional Ghost-type Digimon lurking in the shadows.

Despite its wild and untamed nature, the forest was carefully monitored. The strongest Digimon in the area were Champion-level, and this cap was deliberately maintained by both human and non-human forces. The reason? Native Forest was one of the key training grounds for new Tamers and Digimon.

The territory was shared between human forces and the Metal Empire, a powerful faction of Machine-type Digimon. Rather than engaging in full-scale war, the two sides had an understanding—this was a controlled battlefield where they could fight, learn, and test their limits under strict rules:

No Digimon above Champion levelwas allowed to interfere.No revenge or outside retaliationwas permitted for what happened inside the forest.Both wild and civilized Digimonroamed freely, creating an unpredictable environment.

Because of these rules, Native Forest had become the perfect proving ground for up-and-coming Tamers. Here, they would experience real combat, facing not only wild Digimon but also other Tamers and their partners. It was a controlled chaos—dangerous enough to be a challenge, but not lethal enough to be a death trap.

Naruto had specifically chosen Native Forest for his team's training because it provided the best environment for growth. The constant battles and varying enemy types would force them to develop their tactics, adaptability, and teamwork under real conditions.

Davis, on the other hand, had taken a different approach. He had chosen to train in Dark Forest, a region notorious for its Dark-type Digimon. His decision was heavily influenced by his concern for Patamon and Salamon, who were at a significant disadvantage at their current Rookie stage.

Unlike other Digimon, Angemon and Angewomon's evolutionary lines were exceptionally powerful against Dark-types—but only after reaching their higher forms. At this early stage, Patamon and Salamon were extremely vulnerable, meaning they would have to fight smarter, not harder.

While Naruto's team would face constant skirmishes and tactical battles, Davis and his team would be forced into strategic survival, learning how to navigate their weaknesses while preparing for their eventual strengths.

Both groups had different paths, but in the end, both would emerge stronger than before.

The Native Forest stretched before them, a vast and untamed wilderness that stood in stark contrast to the urban sprawl of Dawn City. Despite being 500 miles away, their armored flying vehicle had closed the distance in mere minutes. Now, standing on the grassy plains outside the towering trees, Naruto and his team took a moment to appreciate the sight before them.

The landscape was a mix of rolling fields, dense forests, and distant mountain ranges, all blending seamlessly into a wild and beautiful ecosystem. But there was no mistaking the danger that lurked beneath the surface. This wasn't a controlled test environment—this was the real world, where Digimon would attack with lethal intent.

As the team stepped out in their equipment, Naruto stored the vehicle in his Digivice, ensuring they could summon it again in case of an emergency.

For a brief moment, everyone just stood still, taking in the magnitude of what they were about to step into. The atmosphere was thick with Digital Energy, a sign that powerful Digimon roamed the area. This was their first time in a truly wild region, and soon, they would face foes that wouldn't hesitate to kill them.

Then, Takato broke the tension.

"Guys, guys, guys, we are here! We're finally here!" His voice was filled with excitement, and his energy was infectious, making the others smile despite the looming danger.

Naruto let them bask in the moment but quickly brought them back to reality.

"Alright, listen up," Naruto's voice turned serious, commanding attention. "I know we're excited, but don't get careless. These Digimon are way stronger than the ones from the test, and we're going to be fighting many at once.

"There are Champion-level Digimon in this region, so we need to stay sharp. But more than that—" his eyes hardened, "—we especially need to watch out for the D-Brigade. Keep your guard up, or they will shoot us down."

The air shifted as everyone soaked in his words. The excitement didn't disappear, but it was tempered with caution.

The D-Brigade was the real threat here.

The D-Brigade was a mechanized special forces unit composed of Dragon-type Cyborg Digimon. Unlike wild Digimon, these were organized, disciplined, and ruthless. Their missions were classified, and most Tamers would never even hear about them unless they became a target.

Their infantry was made up of Commandramon, Digimon that looked like reptilian soldiers armed with assault rifles. They were dangerous enough on their own, but the real terror came from their higher ranks.

Sealsdramon – The top 1% of Commandramon who passed the "Selection-D" test. These elite assassins were silent killers, specializing in one-hit kills and stealth missions. If a Sealsdramon set its sights on you, you wouldn't even know it was there until you were already dead.

Tankdramon – The walking apocalypse of the D-Brigade. Unlike Sealsdramon's stealth approach, Tankdramon specialized in mass destruction. It was used for riot suppression, full-scale assaults, and even country-wide exterminations. This Digimon had enough firepower to level a city—and its nuclear-class weaponry made it one of the most feared Digimon in existence.

Assaultmon – A cyborg centaur, equipped with high-caliber weaponry. It was used as cavalry, capable of moving fast and overwhelming enemies with suppressive fire. Unlike Tankdramon, which focused on area destruction, Assaultmon specialized in high-speed tactical assaults.

Cannondramon – The sky's worst nightmare. Armed with laser cannons powerful enough to rival Mega-level Digimon, Cannondramon was used for anti-air defense and long-range bombardment. It could wipe out entire zones from miles away, making it the ultimate siege weapon.

Back to the Present

Knowing that the D-Brigade could be lurking anywhere put everyone on edge. Unlike wild Digimon, the D-Brigade didn't fight for survival—they fought to eliminate threats with extreme efficiency.

Takato, with his excitement still bubbling beneath the surface, glanced over at Arthur, who stood by his side, fully armed and ready for action.

"I understand, isn't that right, Arthur?" Takato muttered as he lightly bumped his partner.

Arthur, still sporting his usual playful tone, replied, "Yes, yes, Takatomon is right. We are ready." His words carried the same fierce energy that Takato felt. Since the Mega battle, Arthur had become more focused on the rivalry with other Digimon, especially dragon types. The challenge had sparked a fire within him—he was determined to prove his strength.

Nearby, Henry placed his hand on Tesla, who was standing tall in front of him. Unlike the smaller form he once preferred, Tesla had grown—his size had increased significantly after leveling up. He now came up to Henry's hips instead of his knees.

Henry smiled softly at his partner, who had come so far. Tesla, having gone through his own trauma, had been slowly healing, especially after the peaceful days spent with Hikari, Suzie, and the fairy-like Digimon. Tesla now understood the value of protecting his new home. He was stronger, not just physically but mentally. With that resolve, Tesla's eyes reflected a renewed sense of purpose. He knew what was at stake and was prepared to fight for the sanctuary he had come to cherish.

Rika, ever the silent and serious one, gave a small nod of approval. Her partner, Luna, stood by her side—ready and resolute. The bond between them was undeniable.

Naruto turned to face the rest of the group, his voice steady and full of determination. "Alright, let's go. Keep sharp. We're not here to play around. We're here to grow, but we'll face threats along the way."

With that, Naruto charged forward with Asura by his side. His confidence and eagerness to venture into the unknown fueled his every step, while his team followed closely behind.

Young, who had been monitoring their movements through the sonar system in her holographic form, kept an eye out for any threats around them. Her assistance was invaluable as the Native Forest was vast, its terrain full of surprises. They needed every bit of help to stay ahead of potential dangers.

The Native Forest was unlike any place they had been before. Its sheer size was overwhelming, with trees towering above them at heights of over 100 meters—some even reaching up to 200 meters. These trees weren't just massive in height; they were also incredibly dense and strong, almost like living structures of steel. The land itself was not to be underestimated. These giant trees were strong enough to be utilized for the creation of durable equipment, something that could make a huge difference in resource management for their world. The presence of such raw power in the environment made everything feel alive and dangerous at the same time.

Walking through the dense forest, Naruto reflected on how hard this land must have fought to remain standing. The power of the natural world here was a testament to the fierce battles that had taken place in the region. If the wild Digimon had not been as strong as they were, this place would have withered after a few skirmishes. But it stood—tall, fierce, and seemingly invincible.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the sound of rustling leaves and chirping Digimon surrounded them. It was beautiful, yet there was an undeniable tension in the air. Something was waiting, just beyond the thick treeline. They would need to be prepared.