Digital Emperor (Naruto X Digimon)

"Digimon detected. They are watching you."

Young's voice came through clearly, calm but laced with tension. She sat alone in a secured observation room within the Digimon Association, where she could monitor, communicate, and assist Naruto's team. This role was new to her, and despite her usual confidence, she couldn't shake off the nervousness creeping up on her.

Everything depended on her ability to provide accurate intel. They trusted her, but she didn't want to make a mistake.

"Noted." Naruto's response was brief but filled with understanding.

He could feel watchful eyes hidden among the thick foliage. His keen senses picked up on movements in the trees—both nearby and far off. Even for him, there was a sense of excitement bubbling within.

It had been a long time since he had fought a real battle.

This was their first day in the Native Forest, a place they would be exploring for over three weeks. There would be countless battles, but this first encounter would set the tone.

The rest of the team picked up on the warning and tensed up, their hands instinctively moving toward their weapons.

A soft flutter of wings caught their attention as a Biyomon took flight, abandoning the area. It was a peaceful Digimon, not one to attack humans. If it was leaving, that meant it had sensed trouble approaching.

And then—

Shwff! Shwff! Shwff!

Small, fast-moving seed bullets cut through the air toward them.

"Incoming!"

Asura stepped forward, shield raised, blocking the attack with a dull thud. The force of the impact pushed him back slightly, revealing the source of the attack.

In the shadows of the tree branches, three Pomumon stared down at them, eyes void of fear.

Pomumon was a Plant-type Digimon, often mistaken for a Bird-type due to its appearance. However, its body was filled with a sweet, high-sugar juice, making it a prime target for Bird and Insect Digimon. Normally, these Digimon were timid, more likely to flee than fight.

Yet, these Pomumon stood their ground.

Naruto immediately understood—they were being controlled.

Before he could issue a command, Luna took action.

Whoosh—

A blur of motion, a silent step, and Luna was behind them.

Shhk!

Her twin daggers pierced through their heads, executing them instantly.

The lifeless bodies of the Pomumon dropped from the branches.

Silence.

Then—

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

A deep, angry buzzing erupted throughout the forest.

The team froze for a moment as the sound amplified, shaking the branches.

The killing of the Pomumon had angered the wild Digimon in the area.

Tamers and foreign Digimon were not welcomed in these lands. Battles here were common, but there were unspoken rules—you kill only the aggressive ones or those that would evolve into future threats.

But these Pomumon were weak. Timid. Their deaths had sent a message—and the wild Digimon had answered.

Naruto's instincts screamed at him.

"Take cover!"

Before anyone could react, a thick, purple mist exploded into the area.

Poison.

The entire battlefield was suddenly engulfed.

The team moved swiftly, activating their defense systems. Their suits sealed off external air, allowing them to breathe from their oxygen reserves.

The outside world disappeared into the fog.

Hidden enemies lurked within the poisonous haze.

"It's a group of Mushroomon and Aruraumon."

Young's voice came through again, sharp and focused.

The team's instincts kicked in. They were in a trap.

Naruto clenched his fist. This was no ordinary ambush—someone planned this.

Some Digimon were nothing more than wild beasts, acting on instinct. But others? Others had intelligence, capable of strategic thinking, manipulation, and deception. Those were the true monsters—the ones that studied their enemies, tested their weaknesses, and struck when their prey least expected it.

And right now, Naruto's team was being studied.

The Mushroomon and Aruraumon were not the real threat. They were pawns, meant to wear them down before the real enemy revealed itself.

"We're moving!" Naruto ordered.

They ran.

Arthur growled but held back his burning desire to fight. He was a warrior at heart, and running wasn't his style. Even Takato was clenching his fists, his battle instincts itching to engage.

But Naruto wasn't going to let them waste their energy fighting a battle where they didn't even know the true enemy.

As they sprinted, Arthur finally unleashed his frustration—

"Fireball!"

A massive sphere of fire shot backward.

Tesla immediately followed up, unleashing a heated air blast that supercharged the fireball, causing it to expand explosively.

Asura wasn't done, raising his bow and firing a rain of flame arrows into the incoming enemies.

Henry, ever the strategist, lobbed explosive bombs into the chaos.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A chain of explosions erupted behind them. The blasts tore through the trees, setting parts of the forest ablaze and forcing their enemies into disarray.

The noise was deafening.

There was no way this attack went unnoticed.

Every Digimon in the region would now know that Tamers were here.

Still, Naruto didn't give the command to fight. Not yet.

They had to get out of this death zone first.

The team sprinted for five minutes straight, using their armor boosters to push their speed to the maximum.

Henry was keeping track of their path, mapping the terrain in real time to ensure they wouldn't get lost.

Finally, they burst into an open field.

A massive flower field stretched out before them, glowing softly under the digital sun. The colors were vivid, almost unnatural in their vibrance. The air was sweet, filled with the scent of blooming flowers.

It was a beautiful place.

The team came to a halt in the vibrant flower field, their boots pressing into the soft ground. The air was still, yet the atmosphere was thick with caution.

A short distance away, nestled among the towering blooms, a group of Terriermon and Floramon stood together. The small Digimon were huddled closely, their curious eyes turning to fear the moment they saw the heavily armed Tamers.

And standing protectively before them was a Gargomon.

The large, rabbit-like Digimon stood up immediately, his twin arm-cannons clicking into place as he lowered his stance, preparing for a fight. The little ones scrambled behind him, hiding against his legs and behind a large moss-covered boulder. Their ears twitched, and their tiny paws clenched together in nervousness.

The sight was almost adorable—but also heartbreaking.

Their fear was real.

To them, the human Tamers and their powerful Digimon partners were nothing but invaders—outsiders who could either be allies or destroyers.

Naruto knew they couldn't afford to be misunderstood. A battle here wouldn't just be a waste of energy—it would be pointless slaughter.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward, raising his hands in a non-threatening gesture. His helmet had already been retracted, revealing his face.

"Stop, we are not here to fight you." His voice was calm but firm, carrying through the open field.

Gargomon didn't lower his weapons immediately. Instead, he sniffed the air, ears twitching as he assessed the scent of the newcomers. His sharp eyes flickered between Naruto and the rest of the team, finally settling on Tesla—Henry's Terriermon partner.

For a tense few seconds, no one spoke.

Then, Gargomon exhaled slowly and relaxed his stance, though his expression remained wary.

"I will let you stay for half an hour," Gargomon spoke in fluent human speech, his deep voice carrying a warning. "Show any suspicious act, and you won't live through it."

His words held weight. This wasn't just an idle threat—it was a promise.

Gargomon wasn't just a random Digimon wandering the forest. He was one of the civilized ones—those who had developed speech, intelligence, and a sense of duty.

And here, in this part of the Native Forest, he had taken it upon himself to protect the young and defenseless.

The wild Terriermon weren't fighters. They were small, timid, and without a Tamer to help them grow stronger, they were easy prey for the stronger Digimon lurking in the shadows of the great trees.

Without Gargomon, they wouldn't survive.

Most Digimon didn't form these kinds of protective relationships—it was rare for stronger ones to care for the weak. But some, like Gargomon, did. And when they did?

They fought to the death.

Naruto understood this instinct all too well. He respected it.

He gave a slight nod. "Thanks. We'll be gone soon."

Seeing that Naruto wasn't going to cause trouble, Gargomon grunted and returned to his seat on the large boulder. The little Digimon still peeked out from behind the rock, their eyes filled with curiosity rather than fear now.

Tesla, who had been silent up until now, perked up at the sight of his own kind. His small green ears twitched excitedly, his eyes lighting up with wonder.

Henry glanced down at his partner and immediately understood. He gave a small nod.

"Go ahead."

Tesla didn't hesitate.

With a burst of movement, he ran towards the group of Terriermon, his tiny armored frame glinting under the digital sun.

At first, the wild Terriermon flinched, but when they saw he wasn't hostile, they slowly came out of their hiding spots. Their big ears twitched as they surrounded him, their small paws reaching out to touch his armor and weapons.

Excited chatter broke out among them, their voices high-pitched and full of wonder.

Tesla's armor was unlike anything they had ever seen.

"Chii chi chi! (It's so shiny!)"

"Chi chi chi? (What does this do?)"

Tesla laughed, responding in the beast language, his voice enthusiastic as he explained his gear to them.

For a moment, the tense atmosphere melted away.

They weren't warriors, Tamers, or wild Digimon anymore.

Just Digimon—talking, playing, and enjoying a brief moment of peace.