Digital Emperor (Naruto X Digimon)

The battlefield was silent, save for the crackling embers left in Darkdramon's wake. The DigiDestined stood frozen, their expressions ranging from disbelief to outright shock. This wasn't supposed to happen. The trio of Ultimate-level Digimon—Paildramon, Silphymon, and Shakkoumon—had proven time and time again that they were formidable foes. They had even given trouble to a Mega-level opponent in the past.

And yet, here they were, completely outclassed.

The way they had been fodderized went against everything the DigiDestined had come to understand about battle mechanics. They had faced tough opponents before, but none who had torn through their strongest Digimon so effortlessly. The three had been enhanced by their tamers, their abilities bolstered by teamwork and synchronization, but none of it had mattered in the face of Darkdramon's overwhelming might.

The realization hit them like a hammer.

Darkdramon's composition was the deciding factor. His body, forged from some of the most durable metals in the Digital World, had granted him unparalleled resilience. He wasn't just resistant to attacks—he was built to withstand and pierce through all opposition.

That, combined with his booster-enhanced speed, made him a nearly unstoppable force. The sheer velocity at which he moved allowed him to bypass conventional defenses, striking before his opponents could even react. His Yin-Yang-infused lance didn't just deal damage—it erased.

If not for his flame-based formation, things might have turned out differently.

Shakkoumon's Justice Beam had been the biggest threat—its heat alone reached temperatures of 100,000°C, far exceeding what most Digimon could endure. More importantly, it moved at the speed of light, making dodging impossible.

Had Darkdramon not been composed of flame-based energy, that attack might have caused serious damage. But his nuclear properties and reinforced metallic structure had rendered the Justice Beam useless against him.

It was an unfortunate matchup for the DigiDestined. In any other scenario, their team would have had high winning conditions. Their synergy was remarkable, their strategy sound, but against an opponent like Darkdramon?

They never stood a chance.

The battle ended and it was a surprise to everyone. It was a battle filled with twists and turns. Everyone though that Naruto would win easily because of Asura and then they saw the digi-destined turn the tables with proper tactics.

It looked like they would win and then Naruto showed his trump card. It looked like Naruto had it in the bag and then the other team showed their hand.

Putting the battle on an uncertain point, but then Naruto really showed the power of his digimon and ended the battle with utter ease.

The battle had been a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with unexpected twists and sharp turns. No one could have accurately predicted how things would play out, and that realization left a deep impression on everyone watching.

This fight wasn't just about power or tactics—it was about the unpredictable nature of battle itself.

And that unpredictability put Naruto's own team under immense pressure.

They had assumed that Naruto's strength would be far above the DigiDestined, but seeing how well the DigiDestined performed and how close the battle became made them realize something disturbing—

They weren't as far ahead as they thought.

For Takato, this was a wake-up call. He had always been passionate about Digimon battles, but seeing how much strategy and refinement mattered in high-level fights ignited a new fire in his heart. He felt challenged, inspired to push himself beyond his current limits.

Henry, on the other hand, recognized the harsh reality of their situation. He was a thinker, a strategist, and he knew that conventional training alone wouldn't be enough to keep up. The battle had shown him that the gap between them and the best wasn't just about experience—it was about understanding the fundamental mechanics of their world.

If he wanted to keep up, he needed a different approach.

That's when he made his decision—to focus on robotics and programming.

In a world where Digimon were digital lifeforms, Henry realized that mastering technology could give him an edge that others lacked. If he could harness programming to manipulate and optimize Digimon evolution, he could close the gap between him and Naruto.

Rika stood with her arms crossed, watching the battle replay in her mind. She wasn't worried about Kari, not at the moment. Luna was stronger than Aaliyah even without the crest's amplification, so that wasn't the issue.

What truly troubled her was Naruto.

Just like the others, she was happy for him—his growth was phenomenal, and his power was beyond anything they had seen. But it also meant one undeniable fact:

They were being left behind.

The thought had haunted her throughout the week of their separation. Could they even catch up? Was there a real way for them to stand at Naruto's level?

No answer had come to them yet.

But one truth was clear—without persistence and determination, it was impossible.

They might even have to risk their lives for such strength.

Naruto had pushed past limitations that should have been impossible to break. His Digimon, Asura, had been modified using Chrome Digizoid in multiple variations—

Black Chrome Digizoidfor superior adaptability and resistance.Gold Chrome Digizoidfor unmatched energy conduction.Blue Chrome Digizoidfor enhanced speed and attack potential.Standard Chrome Digizoidfor overall durability and defensive strength.

Each upgrade was more than just an enhancement in durability. It granted Asura an overwhelming advantage:

✔ Speed beyond what most Digimon could follow.

✔ Unbreakable defense against nearly all attacks.

✔ Strength to shatter opponents effortlessly.

✔ Resistance to elemental-based techniques.

✔ Vast energy reserves, ensuring he never ran out of power.

✔ Immunity to weak and medium-tier attacks.

✔ Regeneration to recover from damage in an instant.

✔ A natural barrier that negated most forms of offense.

It was obvious—no Champion-level Digimon stood a chance against him, and even most Ultimate-level Digimon would fall before they could make a dent.

The only reason the DigiDestined had been able to fight back at all was because they had Meicoomon. Without her unique abilities, they would have lost instantly.

And for Rika, that meant only one thing—

If Luna were to even stand a chance against Asura, she had to evolve beyond him first.

But… that was impossible.

She wasn't as skilled as Naruto, and she knew it. Even if she found a way to reach the next level, Naruto would already be there waiting. The gap between them wasn't just strength—it was also skill.

She hated the feeling of falling behind.

But if she was going to fight beside him, she had to surpass the norm.

Rika clenched her fists and took a deep breath. She wouldn't falter. No matter what it took, she would find a way.

"The only way we can stand together is to surpass the norm," she said firmly, turning toward Henry. "I will be training with my grandmother until I can find my path. What about you?"

Henry, calm as always, adjusted his glasses. "I've decided to work with the Digimon Development Team, led by my father. I believe I can help the team in my own way—through science and engineering. Robotics and programming might be the key to pushing us forward."

He was the only one on the team with a technological advantage over Naruto, so his path was already clear.

Rika nodded, trusting that he would find his way forward. As for herself… she would do whatever it took, even if it meant diving into the Dark Zone to obtain the power she needed.

Then, both of them turned to Takato.

Takato had been deep in thought all week, struggling to find his own answer.

Unlike Henry, he didn't have scientific expertise. Unlike Rika, he didn't have a powerful mentor to train under.

But after much soul-searching, he finally saw the light.

"I've been thinking about it," he admitted. "And honestly, it was tough figuring out how I could ever reach Naruto's level."

Henry and Rika remained silent, waiting.

Takato smiled, determination shining in his eyes.

"But I realized something—I love to draw and imagine powerful weapons. So, I've decided to visit the Legend-Arms and focus on weapon creation."

The Legend-Arms, a group of Digimon specializing in forging legendary weapons, held the key to an entirely different path. Instead of pushing his Digimon to raw power, Takato would forge weapons so strong that even Naruto's team wouldn't be able to ignore them.

Hearing his answer, Rika clenched her jaw.

She was the only one who hadn't made progress.

Henry had his technological edge.

Takato had his creative forge.

Naruto was already on an entirely different level.

What about her?

Takato and Henry awkwardly looked away, sensing her frustration.

That only made it worse.

She wanted to punch them.

Without another word, Rika turned around and stormed off before she lost control and broke their jaws.

She had a path to find—and she wasn't going to waste another second.

Leaving aside his team, Naruto was summoned to a meeting immediately after the battle. With permission granted, he was teleported directly to the central tower, appearing just outside the grand meeting room where Tai Kamiya was waiting for him.

Tai, standing with his arms crossed, grinned the moment he saw Naruto. He quickly stepped forward, gripping Naruto's hand firmly and giving him an enthusiastic shake.

"Hey there, hero," Tai greeted, his voice filled with energy. "You really kept your promise to keep me on my toes. Seriously, what goes through your mind when you make decisions like that?"

Tai's excitement wasn't just from admiration—it was also from realization.

Watching Naruto's outside-the-box thinking had made him reflect on himself. As the bearer of the Crest of Courage, great things were expected of him. But had he truly gone beyond the norm with Agumon?

He had always believed in straightforward power—evolution through strength, through battles, through willpower. But seeing Naruto's innovative approach to Digimon enhancements made him wonder:

How much of Digimon evolution remained undiscovered?

There were so many paths, so many possibilities—and yet, he had remained on just one path. Had he truly been maximizing his potential?

Naruto had reminded him of something critical—the path to power was never linear.

It wasn't just about who was stronger—it was about who was willing to explore.

Naruto, sensing Tai's inner turmoil, answered seriously.

"I just like to explore all possibilities." His golden eyes reflected the wisdom of experience. "Risk is part of our life, so we just have to embrace it."

Tai clenched his fists, his thoughts aligning with Naruto's words.

"You're right," he admitted, his tone firm. "Without risk, there really isn't much benefit—and in the end, we can't avoid it."

He had forgotten the very essence of his Crest—Courage wasn't just about fighting. It was about daring to step beyond what was safe and known.

Looking at Naruto, he suddenly felt at ease. If there was anyone he could trust to watch over his sister, it was him.

With a deep breath, Tai placed his hands firmly on Naruto's shoulders.

"Thanks for reminding me, Naruto." His expression turned serious. "And… I'll be depending on you to take care of Kari."

Naruto's expression didn't waver. He understood the weight behind Tai's words.

"I know you will succeed, brother," Naruto assured him.

Tai smirked, confidence returning to his gaze. "I know I will."

With that, he turned toward the massive doors behind them. "Now, let's go before they call for us."

Naruto nodded and followed Tai as they entered the chamber.

The Meeting of Humanity's Greatest

The moment Naruto stepped inside, his sharp eyes scanned the room.

It was enormous, designed to accommodate some of the most powerful and influential figures in the Digital and Human worlds.

All around, individuals stood—some physically present, others appearing as virtual projections. But what was most striking was who was gathered here.