Digital Emperor (Naruto X Digimon)

Naruto's words hung in the air, heavy with intent.

"I am being targeted," he repeated, voice steady. "The enemy will attack me tomorrow. I estimate four or five Ultimate Digimon will be in the battle. The enemy is unaware that I know, and I want to take advantage of this fact."

Raiji nodded slowly, the gears in his mind already turning. Dura, however, was less subtle.

"You want us to help you fight," the golden Digimon stated plainly.

Naruto didn't hesitate. "Yes. I will owe you one."

Dura's sharp eyes locked onto his. "Pass a test of mine, and we will go from there."

Raiji frowned. "Dura, that's irresponsible. Naruto is a friend, so don't act like that with him."

But Dura remained unmoved. He stood up, his towering form casting a long shadow over Naruto and Raiji. His metal armor gleamed under the dim lighting of the workshop, a testament to his resilience.

"This is between us," Dura said firmly. "Naruto, what is your decision?"

Naruto could tell this wasn't some simple test—it was something dangerous. He wasn't naive. He knew the lore of these two warriors. Their actions and attitudes told him enough.

They were waiting for their chosen.

It wasn't arrogance that fueled this demand. It was desperation. Dura had felt something from him, but it wasn't enough. Raiji had already accepted Naruto as a potential partner, but Dura needed proof.

Naruto usually disliked being tested, but he knew when to set aside his pride. This was for his benefit. Besides, he had no particular preference for a sword, but having one was better than none.

"I will do it."

His voice was firm, unwavering. He stood up and locked eyes with Dura, making it clear that he wouldn't back down.

Dura grinned slightly. "Good. Here it comes."

Then, he released his cutting aura.

The moment the aura burst forth, the atmosphere changed.

Everything around them shuddered under the force. The walls groaned, the wooden floor beneath them cracked, and even the very air seemed to split apart. Invisible blades swept through the room, slicing the environment itself.

The aura wasn't just sharp—it was a presence that instilled hesitation, the kind of fear that froze warriors in place.

It carried the undeniable threat of death.

But Naruto did not step back.

The aura cut into him, deep gashes forming across his skin as blood seeped into his clothes. His flesh burned from the sheer pressure, but he did not falter. He did not block. He did not defend.

It was a test of guts and endurance.

A test to see if he was worthy of wielding a blade.

Dura watched, silent. He needed this. He needed peace of mind. He had waited for years to find his chosen partner, only to be left behind every time. Raiji had a strong reaction to Naruto, but Dura's connection had been weak. It wasn't enough.

And he did not want to lose to Raiji.

If Naruto truly was the one, then he would endure.

And so, the minutes ticked by.

Five minutes.

For five minutes straight, Naruto stood firm, his body covered in deep wounds. Blood dripped onto the floor, yet his posture never wavered.

Raiji clenched his fists, visibly uncomfortable with the sight.

But Naruto had not taken a single step back.

Finally, Dura exhaled and withdrew his aura.

"You pass."

He nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you for accepting this request."

A soft hum filled the room as the healing program activated. A warm light enveloped Naruto's body, and slowly, the deep cuts began closing. Normally, Dura's attacks carried anti-healing properties, meaning wounds inflicted by him would not naturally mend. But this was different.

This was acceptance.

For the first time in decades, Dura felt something change.

Naruto wasn't just some strong warrior.

He was worthy.

"That was impressive, Naruto."

Raiji's sharp eyes studied the blonde warrior, his mind turning over possibilities. Dura had tested Naruto's resilience, but Raiji had yet to test something just as important—his offensive power.

"Can you attack my barrier with your strongest hit? I want to test something."

Naruto raised an eyebrow but nodded. He had no problem proving his strength, especially after enduring Dura's trial. He remained calm despite knowing that he had been in actual danger moments ago. If Dura had truly wanted to, Naruto could have been diced into pieces.

But this was different.

Taking a few steps back, Naruto focused, channeling chakra throughout his body. His muscles tensed as energy surged within him, his very presence becoming sharper.

He extended his hand forward, and chakra began spinning violently in his palm, forming a compressed sphere of destruction.

A Rasengan.

But not just any Rasengan.

He compressed it further, refining its power to concentrate the devastation of a massive Rasengan into a sphere the size of a volleyball.

The energy whirled and pulsed in his grip.

Then, with a burst of speed, Naruto launched himself forward, the floor beneath him cracking as he propelled toward Raiji's barrier.

His hand stretched out, Rasengan colliding with the invisible shield.

The compressed sphere struggled and roared, its chaotic energy scraping against the unseen wall with raw, spiraling force. Sparks and shockwaves erupted from the clash, the pressure sending tremors through the air.

Naruto pushed further, pouring even more chakra into the technique, amplifying its power. The Rasengan swelled for one last burst, its edges crackling like a miniature sun—

And then, it fizzled out, dissipating against the unyielding barrier.

Not even a shudder.

Naruto frowned slightly, but he wasn't surprised. He had held back. If he had used Rasenshuriken, the results would have been very different—but this was not the place for that level of destruction.

Raiji and Dura exchanged looks, their expressions unreadable.

Then, they grinned.

They were happy.

Naruto's attack had been Champion-level, far beyond what most humans could achieve without a Digimon partner.

And that was all they needed to see.

"We will help you," Raiji finally said after a moment. His tone was firm but thoughtful. "But we can't interfere directly in this fight. We're neutral, and breaking that rule would put our entire region in danger."

Naruto understood. It wasn't that they didn't want to help—it was that they couldn't.

Raiji and Dura weren't his partners, so they weren't officially considered part of the Human side. If they fought alongside him against other Digimon, it would be a political disaster.

"I'll send one of my followers instead," Raiji continued. "They'll fight by your side."

Naruto gave a small smirk. "That's more than enough. If you guys joined the fight, it wouldn't be a battle. It'd be bullying."

Raiji chuckled. "Haha, you're right. Maybe next time, if Mega threats show up."

Naruto caught the double meaning immediately.

Mega-level fights were on an entirely different scale. If such an enemy did appear, Raiji and Dura would step in.

Naruto smiled knowingly. "We will. Trouble follows me wherever I go. It's only a matter of time."

He spent a few more minutes talking with the two warriors before finally taking his leave.

The battle with Son Goku awaited.

"I was thinking you might have run away."

Son sat atop a thick tree branch, casually biting into a mango as he gazed down at Naruto. His golden eyes twinkled with amusement.

"That would have been unfortunate."

If Naruto had run away, Son would have simply dragged him back for the fight.

Naruto, however, merely smirked, unfazed by the taunt.

"I had no reason to run," he said, walking toward the group at ease, his hands in his pockets. "I'm not afraid of a few bruises."

He had taken care of everything he needed to, and now all that remained was catching the criminal scum.

Son grinned, his fangs showing. "Well, that's good, because you'll be getting many of those."

With that, he jumped down from the tree, landing effortlessly in front of Naruto. His aura was casual, but the sheer presence he carried reminded everyone that he was not to be taken lightly.

"How are we doing this?" Naruto asked, his eyes sharp. "You've got the stat advantage."

Son stretched his arms with a lazy expression. "Nothing difficult… Master, bestow upon us your blessing."

He turned to Sanzo, who sat serenely on a cloth laid out on the grass. Beside her, Sagomon stood silent and disciplined, while Cho—predictably—was focused on eating as usual.

Sanzo raised her gaze, the veil over her face obscuring everything except her calm eyes.

"I have asked Miss Kara for permission," she said smoothly. "You may fight in the park."

Naruto sensed it instantly—a gaze from above. Someone was watching them.

Then, Sanzo muttered something, and suddenly—

Golden symbols flared into existence, washing over Son's body like an ethereal blessing.

And just like that—his power was sealed to Naruto's level.

Naruto's eyes widened slightly. He had seen a lot of powerful techniques in his life, but this… this was on an entirely different level.

A sealing technique that could forcefully suppress an individual's strength to match another?

That was insanely powerful.

The possibilities flooded his mind. This was Fuijutsu at its peak.

Seeing it in action reignited his desire to master sealing arts beyond his family's legacy. He had long studied the Uzumaki Clan's techniques, but there was still so much more to learn.

And Sanzo…

Sanzo was an absolute master of the craft.

Most of her abilities revolved around sealing—and they weren't just about power suppression.

She could:

Prevent people from committing evil.

Seal away desires.

Block abilities.

Her sealing arts were not just about power but also about order—she could alter fate itself with them.

And Naruto wanted to learn.

"Miss Sanzo," Naruto spoke up, his tone unusually serious. "I have a selfish request."

She turned her gaze toward him, intrigued.

"Could I receive guidance in the field of seals?"

The request hung in the air, and for a moment, there was silence.

Then, Sanzo's hidden smile grew.

"It is a complex field, Naruto." Her voice was soft but firm. "Are you sure you want to divide your attention so much?"

Naruto grinned. "I can handle it."

Sanzo watched him for a moment longer before nodding.

"Hmm… very well."

A flick of her fingers, and several scrolls materialized from thin air. They floated toward Naruto, who caught them with practiced ease.

"These contain the basics," she said. "Master them first. Then, seek me out."

Naruto nodded, determination in his eyes.

Sanzo had accepted him as a force of good, someone who would help the world regardless of the hardships he faced. She recognized the role he was meant to play—so granting him this knowledge was merely her way of aiding the greater good.

This knowledge would make his life so much easier—

And he wasn't going to waste it.