Digital Emperor (Naruto X Digimon)

Naruto arrived at the Digimon Association's towering entrance, his eyes narrowing as the weight of the situation pressed down on him. He had been careful not to ask Sanzo for help—he didn't need her help, not now. She was a kind person, but her support had limits. She had already offered him a warning, and it was his responsibility to heed it. He didn't expect her to coddle him or shield him from the consequences of his own actions. Her warning had been clear: life would test him again, and it would be up to him to rise to the occasion.

The anger inside Naruto was building, a fire that seemed to burn hotter with every step he took toward the association. He felt the heat of his own frustration rising. Carelessness—that was the source of his fury. He had let his guard down, assumed that things were under control. He thought his maids were enough to protect him, thought the quiet desert path to a supposed "safe section" of the Desert would keep them out of harm's way.

Everything had seemed fine. The human forces were deep in discussions about criminal gangs—nothing about their situation seemed dangerous, nothing that would provoke a major threat. So what kind of lunatics would target him? It didn't make sense. Whoever it was, they must have known exactly who he was, what he stood for, and what his potential could be. This wasn't a random attack; it was calculated.

As he made his way deeper into the association's halls, Naruto's mind kept returning to the looming question: Who had taken on this suicide mission?

The attackers had no chance of surviving this. It was clear from the start. If it had been a simple skirmish, they wouldn't be aiming for him. And if they knew anything about him, they'd know they would be walking into certain death.

He didn't even need to check who was with him. One of the Mega Tamers was present, trailing just behind Davis and his team. It wasn't Roberta—his most trusted maid—so that meant there wasn't a Mega Digimon attacking them, which he found slightly reassuring. With his maid there, he could face three or even four Ultimate Digimon, though he'd need to rely on one of his Champion Digimons to level the playing field.

A Mega Digimon wasn't going to attack them today. Even if one did, his maids, in their Ultimate forms, could hold it back while Naruto took on whatever lesser threats were lurking. And, such power would soon attract the authorities which would be the opposite of what they would want.

There had to be at least three or four Ultimate Digimons behind the attack—no Mega Digimons involved. His eyes scanned the room as he walked, his thoughts honing in on his next move. His maid could handle two Ultimate Digimons at once without a problem, while he could focus on the third, using his Champion Digimon as a foundation to boost his strength to the level necessary to confront them. It was a perfect plan…if only the situation weren't so maddeningly complicated.

Naruto stepped into the warm waters of the hot spring, steam rising around him as he sat opposite Mai. His golden hair clung slightly to his skin from the humidity, and his sharp blue eyes focused on the woman before him. He wasn't here for leisure. He had a mission, and Mai was the perfect person to assist him.

Mai leaned back against the smooth stone, one hand holding a cup of sake while the other trailed lazily along the water's surface. Her dark hair was damp from the steam, sticking to her pale skin in an alluring way. She was an attractive woman and knew it, yet Naruto's gaze didn't waver in the slightest. He wasn't here for her charms.

"Consider me shocked," Mai murmured, swirling her sake before taking a small sip. "What brings you here, Lord Uzumaki?" Her teasing tone was laced with amusement, but there was curiosity in her eyes.

She had been tasked with monitoring Naruto's group under the Association's orders, ensuring goodwill was built between them and the powerful Uzumaki Clan. But it had been a difficult job. Naruto and his team were too independent, too competent. They didn't need her help.

Worse, Naruto always knew when she was around. No matter how skilled she was at concealment, his senses had grown sharp enough to detect her presence every time. That meant she couldn't observe them freely, which was frustrating. Still, she had come to respect the group, especially Naruto. They weren't just talented tamers—they would become pillars of humanity.

But now, with Naruto standing before her in nothing but a towel, stepping into the hot spring with her, Mai was intrigued. He had plenty of women surrounding him already. She was confident in her beauty and skills, but Naruto was too disciplined, too controlled. The way he resisted temptation only made her more curious.

Naruto sank into the water, letting the warmth soothe his tense muscles. His expression remained serious as he met Mai's gaze.

"I need your help," he stated, his voice steady.

Mai smirked. She extended her leg beneath the water, brushing his foot lightly. "What kind of help?" she asked playfully.

Naruto didn't react to her teasing, answering bluntly, "Not that kind. I will do that later. I need your power. We're going to be targeted tomorrow, and I want to take the enemies down. You can't inform your superiors until we're done."

Mai raised an eyebrow. Now that was interesting. She set her cup of sake aside, her full attention now on Naruto. His tone carried no hesitation—this wasn't just a precautionary measure. He knew an attack was coming, and he wanted to eliminate the enemy before they could retreat.

A confident smile spread across her lips. While her role had always been to observe and build connections, she was still a ninja at heart. And if Naruto was offering her a role beyond mere observation, she was interested.

"Why take such risks?" she asked, tilting her head. "Why not alert the Association? Why keep this quiet?"

Naruto leaned back against the stone edge, the steam partially obscuring his toned physique. "They'll back out if they sense any movement. I don't want these welcoming targets to escape. And you'll do it because I will owe you one. You'll have my support if you accept."

That caught Mai's interest immediately. Uzumaki support wasn't a small thing. Their clan had significant influence, and Naruto was at the center of its rising power. Aligning herself with him meant securing a powerful ally.

"I understand," she murmured, watching him carefully. "But what will I get in return?"

Naruto's gaze was unwavering. "What do you desire?"

Mai's lips curled into a smirk. "Your control is what I desire."

Naruto studied her for a moment before nodding. "I will allow it. You shall have my backing from now on."

The moment those words left his lips, Mai moved swiftly, closing the distance between them and embracing him tightly. She had expected a long game, a slow process to win his favor—but now, everything had fallen into her lap.

"I will serve my lord diligently," she whispered, her happiness evident in her voice.

Naruto merely smirked, his mind already focused on the battle ahead.

Tomorrow, their enemies wouldn't escape.

Leaving Mai in her room at the Digimon Association, Naruto stepped out into the cool night air. His departure didn't go unnoticed. He caught lingering stares from both men and women, though he ignored them. It wasn't like he cared about their assumptions.

He had come here for a purpose, and he had accomplished it. He felt better now, not just physically but mentally. Securing Mai's support covered the need for one Ultimate-level Tamer, yet a nagging feeling still lingered at the back of his mind.

Caution.

It wasn't paranoia—he had made mistakes before. He had learned from them. He was stronger, more skilled, and far more experienced than before. Even so, he couldn't shake the feeling that he needed extra precautions. His instincts had never steered him wrong.

With that thought settled in his mind, Naruto took a sharp turn and headed towards Legend Arms.

The streets were quiet, but Legend Arms never slept. The massive weapons and armory shop remained open around the clock, its doors welcoming Tamers and Digimon alike. Not everyone operated by daylight—some preferred the cover of night.

Naruto had spent enough time here over the past week to know his way around. He didn't need guidance. Without hesitation, he walked past the bustling sales floor, where Rookie and Champion-level Digimon managed customers.

His destination lay deeper inside.

At the back of the shop, behind reinforced doors, was an office. It belonged to two of the most powerful Digimon in the city—Raiji and Dura. They didn't bother with minor transactions; they only met with important figures, individuals who mattered.

Naruto knocked once before pushing the door open.

The room inside was far larger than the exterior suggested, divided into two distinct halves. One side gleamed with shields, neatly displayed and carefully arranged. The other side radiated sharpness, lined with swords, each carrying its own unique aura.

Raiji and Dura were more than just shopkeepers—they were warriors. Friends and rivals both, constantly pushing each other to greater heights. They had one shared goal: reaching Mega Level.

Raiji, a Digimon with lightning coursing through his armored frame, looked up from his desk. A thick notebook lay open in front of him, filled with pages of handwritten notes. He had been recording details of his latest experiments, searching for breakthroughs in his evolution.

Dura, his counterpart, was a golden humanoid Digimon with a long, metallic tail and arms of polished steel. His arms transformed into swords in battle, though in peaceful moments, they retained a normal form for convenience. At the moment, he was meditating, focusing his sharp aura, a technique meant to refine his combat ability.

They were in a race—one neither was winning.

Only one Digimon from their evolutionary lines had ever reached Mega. The rest had stagnated at Ultimate, blocked by the world's natural order.

Even Merlin, the ancient Guardian, had spoken of this balance.

"If you wish to evolve, find your chosen Tamer."

The same message had been repeated by their queen, Artoria, Holy Lance Rhongomyniad. She had once told them:

"You are the best warriors of this island. But your true potential lies elsewhere. Go to the Human City—your chosen will come to you."

Decades had passed, yet no such Tamer had appeared. They had met Ancients and their offspring, yet nothing stirred their evolution.

Until they met Naruto.

Raiji had felt something from him. A spark, a faint resonance. Dura had sensed it too, though weaker—perhaps because Naruto was not inherently cold or aggressive. Still, it was the first time they had felt anything in years.

That was why their relationship had begun.

"Naruto," Raiji greeted, shutting his notebook as Naruto entered. "I thought you'd be asleep by now. Didn't you plan to leave in the morning?"

Naruto closed the door behind him and sat cross-legged on the wooden floor beside Raiji's desk. The heat of the shop's many forges made the air slightly warm, but he didn't mind.

"I don't sleep more than three hours, Raiji," Naruto replied casually. "And yeah, I did plan to leave tomorrow… but there have been some changes."

Raiji's sharp eyes flickered with understanding. He didn't ask pointless questions—Naruto's tone already told him something was wrong.

Dura, still meditating, remained silent, but his golden eyes opened slightly, showing he was listening.

Raiji set his notebook aside. "What's the problem?"

Naruto leaned forward slightly, his expression darkening.