Shinobi of the Digital Hazard

by Resurrection of the Forgotten

After his battle with Madara Naruto finds himself in strange place surronded by four Dragons who ask for his help in saving two different worlds but not before recieveing a power that could destroy both worlds from one of rst story & summary stinks

14. School Festival

AN: Here, finally, is the next chapter of S.D.H and while it is a bit of a filler chapter. I think it has been a year if not then it is definitely close to a year since the last time I updated this fic. I think somebody left a review that wondered if they would have to wait an entire year before this fic was updated; well here is your answer. But seriously I am sorry that it took so long for me to update this, but with my laptop breaking at the begging of the year and then updating and posting new fics, living life things just got away from me and an entire year passed before I knew it.

This chapter is a bit of a filler chapter but still something that I have been looking forward to writing for a long time, so I hope everyone enjoys it.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto, Digimon, or anything else that may appear in this Fic.

---

School Festival

"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Megidramon"
(Author Notes)

Hours after the battle between the Tamers and Sandiramon, Naruto was at his apartment getting dinner ready for when his guests would arrive. While the food was coming along great there was one problem in the form of Coronamon who still wasn't all that keen with the idea of being forced up onto the roof to have his dinner. From the chair he sat at, at the kitchen table Patamon once more shook his head at how his Tamer and fellow Digimon partner were acting.

"I still don't get it," Coronamon said in a huff from his own seat. "Why do we have to eat on the roof just because you want to treat your girlfriend and her family to dinner?" The small lion Digimon complained.

"Ri-Chan isn't my girlfriend," Naruto denied, his face turning a shade of red that could match aforementioned girl's hair color.

"Whatever," Coronamon mumbled, neither him nor Patamon believing their Tamer's claim. At this point Coronamon and Patamon knew that both Tamers were just dancing around the issue, neither wanting to admit that they held feelings for one another that went beyond mere friendship.

"And I'm doing this to show Seiko-Obaachan how much I appreciate her inviting me to have dinner at their house all the time." Naruto continued, and while that was mostly true it wasn't the only reason.

"Then just take them out to eat." Coronamon suggested. "It's not like you don't have the money to take them to a fancy restaurant," Which was true considering the money that Naruto received from his book sales.

On a side note Naruto's second book, Nagato the Fallen God, was doing just as well as his first book, Jiraiya the Gallant, in terms of sales.

"It's not the same," Naruto argued before getting a distant look in his eyes. "I used to eat out all the time, and sure it was just ramen, but after a while it didn't mean much to me. When my friends and I would hang out we would have fun, to most of them hanging out with friends was something they got to do on occasion and a home cooked meal was an everyday thing. But to me being able to eat a home cooked meal with people that cared about you was much more special. Sure the Ichiraku treated me like family, and gave me the occasional free ramen bowl, but in the end no matter how nice they were they still ran a business and I was their best customer. So finally being able to enjoy a real home cooked meal, made by someone who honestly cares about you, really means a lot to me." The blonde Shinobi Tamer revealed.

Patamon and Coronamon understood where Naruto was coming from. Back in the Digital World few Digimon had actual homes, most just traveling from place to place trying to survive, they lived a similar life doing everything they could to survive being hunted by the stronger Digimon. But since coming to the real world and becoming Naruto's Digimon partners they had found an actual home, a place they felt safe and were taken care of. Losing that feeling or never having gotten the chance to experience it was a horrible thought for both of the Rookie Digimon. It was also the reason that Coronamon was so against being forced to eat his food on the roof.

"Fine," Coronamon relented.

Naruto smiled at the small lion Digimon. "Thanks Coronamon," He thanked the fire Digimon. "Besides I'm sending you guys food and letting you borrow my laptop to watch whatever you want while you're up there." Naruto told them. "Patamon will decide what you all will be watching though." The cerulean eyed Tamer decided.

"Yay!"

"What?!"

The two Digimon's reactions couldn't be any different from one another at the news.

"How come he gets to decide what we watch?!" Coronamon demanded pointing over at Patamon, who in a rare show of immaturity stuck his tongue out at the Vaccine type Digimon earning a glare from Coronamon who seriously wanted to throw a fireball at the little mammal winged Digimon.

"Because he isn't making a big deal out of this," Naruto said, intervening before a fight could break out between his two Digimon. "Now hurry up and head to the roof Rika, her mother, and Seiko-Obaachan will be here soon." He told them seriously.

"Yeah, yeah," Coronamon grumbled, jumping off his seat and leaving the kitchen, making sure to stop by Naruto's room to grab his laptop before he headed for the roof via the window.

"Have fun Naruto," Patamon said before flying after Coronamon as a few minutes later there was a knock on the door to the apartment.

Walking to the front Naruto opened the door to reveal Rika, Rumiko, and Seiko the two older women having smiles on their faces while Rika tried to appear indifferent and trying not to acknowledge any sort of discomfort. The first to greet Naruto was the overexcited Rumiko.

"Hello their Naruto-Kun." Rumiko said with a brilliant smile on her face.

"Hello Rumiko," Naruto greeted the blonde haired woman with his own grin, as he gestured for them to enter. "Come in."

"This is a nice place you've got here Naruto-Kun." Rumiko commented being the first to walk into the apartment and take a look around. While it didn't contain a lot of personal items the model spotted a few pictures that were Naruto's along with a couple of other items that laid about the room, so while the apartment appeared perfectly neat it was obviously lived in by a teenage boy.

"Indeed," Seiko agreed being the next to enter the apartment after her daughter and taken her own look of the place that the young man that her granddaughter was so interested in lived.

"Thanks," Naruto said a bit sheepishly. "I owe it to my guardian for getting me this place."

"And where is this guardian?" Seiko inquired. "Will he be joining us for dinner?"

"Ah, no," Naruto answered hesitantly. "He is very busy so I don't see him often." He told them, coming up with a lie on the spot so as not to reveal the truth to the two older women.

"That's a shame." Seiko said disappointingly.

Rika watched as her mother and grandmother walked further into the apartment as she hung back with Naruto. "I hope you know what you are doing Fishcake." Rika told him under her breath so that they wouldn't be overheard.

"Don't worry Ri-Chan, everything will be fine." The blonde Uzumaki assured her with a confident smile on his face. Seeing that smile Rika couldn't help but to believe Naruto. "Before I forget," Naruto continued, "Renamon." He called, the yellow furred digital vixen appearing beside her Tamer a second later.

"Yes Naruto." Renamon said.

"Patamon and Coronamon are up on the roof," The shinobi informed her. "I'm going to be sending up a Shadow clone soon with some pizza and drinks so you can join them."

Renamon nodded her head before looking toward her Tamer, "Rika?" She asked questioningly.

"Its fine go," Rika told her and with a single silent nod Renamon disappeared once more to join her fellow Digimon on the roof. Rika let out a sigh before looking toward the living room, where her mother and grandmother were waiting for them. "Well let's get this over with." She said with a sigh as she walked towards the living room, as if she was walking towards her death.

Naruto chuckled a bit at the redhead's overreaction before following after her. "Alright," Naruto began once he entered the living room. "Dinner will be done in a few more minutes." He informed them, "In the meantime just make your selves at home."

"Do you need any help Naruto-Kun?" Seiko asked the young blonde teen.

"Its fine Seiko-Obaachan, I'm almost done." He guaranteed. "Besides this is also to show my thanks for all the times you cooked dinner for me. It wouldn't be right for me to then ask you to help me make it."

"That's very sweet of you Naruto-Kun." Seiko told him with a smile on her face, but with a mischievous look in her eyes. "But I was actually thinking that maybe Rika could help you in the kitchen." The elderly woman suggested, getting a dumbfounded look from her granddaughter at the suggestion.

"That's a wonderful idea!" Rumiko agreed cheerfully, clapping her hands excitedly.

"Ri-Chan can cook?" Naruto asked surprised looking at the amethyst eyed Tamer.

"Not at all," Seiko responded almost immediately, much to her granddaughter's embarrassment. "She is nearly as bad as Rumiko." The grandmother of one continued now embarrassing her daughter. "But she could do with learning how to." Seiko continued before acting like she was wiping away a tear. "And it would be so nice to know that my own granddaughter worked hard to make our dinner, one meant especially for me." She finished sadly, the old woman showing that she was not above guilt tripping her granddaughter.

"Grandma," Rika muttered, as she looked at her grandmother as she continued to pretend to wipe away tears with the occasional sniffle.

"Plus it would be so adorable for the two of you to cook dinner together, like you were newlyweds." Rumiko gushed, ruining the mood a bit and getting twin red blushes from both teens and mortified shout from her daughter.

Rika couldn't even look in Naruto's direction after her mother's last comment, the same with Naruto in regards to her, and silently Rika was cursing the cerulean eyed Tamer for inviting them to dinner and inadvertently causing this whole scene to happen. Rika seriously wanted to refuse, she even thought of storming out of the apartment building after punching Naruto, but one look at her grandmother and Rika couldn't bring herself to take a single step towards the door. She blamed Naruto. Before meeting him she could refuse any request from her family almost instantly and feel only the tiniest bit of guilt over it. "Fine," Rika relented, much to her mother and grandmother's delight. "I'll help."

"Uh, you don't have to." Naruto said a bit awkwardly after Rumiko's newlywed remark.

"Just come on." Rika mumbled, taking Naruto's hand and leading him to where she knew the kitchen was from her last visit.

As soon as both teens were out of the room the two women burst out laughing at how they managed to embarrass both teens, though Rumiko wasn't all that pleased with the dig at her cooking skills by her mother.

Reaching the kitchen Rika released her hold on Naruto's hand before she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the whiskered blonde. "Well what do we still have to do?" Rika asked shortly.

"Not much," Naruto replied, still avoiding looking Rika straight in the eye, as he took around at what still needed to be done. "Just chop a few vegetables and add seasoning and we're pretty much done." He said. "But since Seiko-Obaachan wants me to teach you a couple of things we can make something extra." Naruto decided as he handed her a knife and instructed her to start chopping some vegetables, after showing her how they should be chopped.

Taking the knife in her hand Rika began slowly, hesitantly, unsure and uncomfortable with the knife in her hand. She had never held a knife before, of any kind as Naruto hadn't started them on kunai training, so her cuts were sloppy and uneven. Naruto seeing the trouble that Rika was having, moved closer to the girl to show her how to do it properly. "Here," Naruto said placing his arms around the girl and resting his hands on hers. "Like this." He said showing Rika the right way to do it by guiding her hand.

"W-What do you think you are doing?!" Rika demanded shakily.

"Hm, what's wrong?" Naruto asked obliviously.

"You're to close baka!" Rika shouted at him, pushing Naruto forcibly away from her, her face slightly red.

"Ah," Naruto said just then realizing how close he was to the redhead. "Sorry!" He apologized hastily.

"Why are you always doing such embarrassing things?!" Rika shouted swinging the knife at Naruto.

"Hey!" Naruto shouted indignantly dodging the knife in Rika's hand, "Careful with that!" While not in any real danger Naruto still didn't much like the idea of an angry female swinging a knife at him. Dangerous things happen to men when an angry woman was holding sharp objects, the sort of thing that should never be talked about out loud.

"Shut up Fishcake no Baka!"

---

Up on the roof three Digimon sat around Naruto's laptop watching some classic cartoons, can't beat the classics, as they enjoyed the pizza that Naruto's clone had brought them. When they weren't discussing how impossible and strange that a roadrunner could run through a painted tunnel and a coyote couldn't they talked about their respective Tamers and how the dinner might be going. Renamon could spy on them without any of them knowing, except for Naruto of course, but the fox Digimon was not about to do that.

"Not his girlfriend he says." Coronamon mocked, taking a drink of the can of soda that the clone had brought them as well, "Yeah right!"

Renamon nodded in agreement taking a tentative sip of her own drink; she had to admit she was enjoying the carbonated drink. "Rika talks about Naruto frequently either things that he does that she finds frustrating or that she considers endearing. I also know that she was very upset when she learned of Naruto's fan base." Renamon stated, remembering how angry her Tamer was once they reached her room after returning from the park after their battle with Sandiramon earlier that day. "So despite how much she might deny it at times it's clear that she cares very much for him." Renamon stated.

"So they are just being stubborn?" Patamon asked, as he stopped the video they were watching for the sake of something far more interesting. As one Coronamon and Renamon nodded their heads in confirmation to Patamon's question, it was a trait that both of their Tamers shared.

"Humans are so confusing." Coronamon said with a sigh, "Why don't they come out and say that they like each other?"

"You obviously lack the basic understanding of how complicated a person's emotions can make things." Renamon stated evenly.

The small lion Digimon glared at Renamon for the implied insult, "You calling me stupid fox face?!" Coronamon demanded angrily.

Renamon raised an eyebrow at Coronamon, not at all bothered by the Vaccine type's name calling. "Fox face? If you've been hanging out with Impmon to get that insult then you've answered your own question." Renamon said stoically but with a smirk on her face.

A childish laughter cut into the argument before a fight could break out between Renamon and Coronamon. Looking toward the source the two aforementioned Digimon saw Calumon sitting next to Patamon. "You two are funny." Calumon said cheerfully, taking a bite out of a slice of pizza.

Coronamon blinked a couple of times in confusion, not having expected the white and purple Digimon, "Calumon?! Where did you come from?" Coronamon asked him, and only managing to get Calumon to break out into another fit of giggles.

"The Digital World silly." Calumon said in-between his giggles before taking another bite of his slice of pizza. While the cream puff enjoyed bread it wouldn't deny that pizza was just as good, especially with stuffed crust. 'Mm stuffed crust,' Calumon thought.

"That's not what I meant!" Coronamon shouted indignantly. "And stop eating my pizza!" He cried seeing the In-training Digimon slap two slices of pizza together and taking a huge bite. Seriously how could a Digimon Calumon's size possibly eat so much?!

---

Back down in the apartment everyone had enjoyed the dinner that Naruto had made them, though Rika absolutely refused to speak to Naruto after the incident in the kitchen and had given him the cold shoulder since then. Seiko and Rumiko wondered what happened between the two of them and even though they weren't completely sure they still teased the two teens, if for no other reason than to simply embarrass the two of them further. By the time that it was time for desert Rika seemed to forgive Naruto when the blonde shinobi brought out a chocolate cake, she even managed to laugh along with Naruto and her grandmother when Rumiko was lamenting over eating a piece of the delicious looking chocolate cake and breaking her diet. In the end the supermodel couldn't help herself' and ended up eating a piece of cake, crying tears of joy and sorrow at how good the cake was and how she ended up breaking her diet.

With dinner over with the three women and Naruto moved to the living room, Seiko and Rumiko sitting on a couch while Naruto and Rika each sat on a sofa.

"That was a wonderful dinner Naruto-Kun." Seiko complimented the blonde teen.

"Absolutely delicious," Rumiko cried still mourning over her broken diet, but that cake was so good she couldn't help herself.

Seiko spared her daughter a smile before turning her attention to her granddaughter, her smile widening just the tiniest bit, "And that dish you helped make was good as well Rika." The women said complimenting her daughter. "With just a couple more lessons from Naruto-Kun you'll be a better cook than your mother." She finished by teasing her daughter, causing a rain cloud to appear over the depressed acting woman.

"Mom," The grown woman moaned, seriously you burn down the kitchen once and you never hear the end of it.

Naruto and the others laughed at the blonde woman's expense. Rumiko was different from most of the women that Naruto had known. All of them being kunoichi meant that none of them really cared about diets, well with the exception of Sakura and Ino back when they were twelve. When he returned from his trip with Jiraiya they had matured putting more focus on their training then maintain their figure. It's not like they stopped worrying about it, it just took a back seat to their carriers as kunoichi.

Rumiko pouted at having the others laugh at her before a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. Grabbing her purse the woman pulled something out of it that looked like a book. "Naruto," The model said in a sing song voice, drawing the younger blonde's attention to her and the book she had in her hands. "I want to show you something."

Rika looked at the book in her mother's hands and felt a sense of dread rise up inside her as she recognized what it was.

"What is that?" Naruto asked.

"A scrapbook," Seiko answered.

"More specifically," Rumiko continued. "A scrapbook filled with Rika's baby pictures."

"Mom," Rika said lowly, drawing Rumiko's attention, "Why do you have that with you?" She asked.

"To show Naruto-Kun of course," Rumiko answered obviously.

"He doesn't want to see those." Rika protested.

"Like hell I don't." Naruto cut in, moving to look over Rumiko's shoulder, a large grin spreading across his face.

"NO, you don't." Rika insisted through gritted teeth as she glared at the whiskered teen.

"Yes I do." Naruto replied cheerfully.

"I'll hurt you." The amethyst eyed Tamer threatened.

"You'll have to catch me first." The whiskered shinobi said back, sticking his tongue out at her.

"Alright you two that's enough," Seiko said with a light chastising tone in her voice. "Now let's get started, shall we? It has been a while since I've looked at these myself." The grandmother commented opening the scrapbook of Rika's baby pictures. The first picture was of a tired looking Rumiko in a hospital gown holding a small baby with amethyst colored eyes and a small patch of red hair on her head. Despite the new mother's exhausted appearance she had a small smile on her face and a proud look in her eyes.

A smile appeared on Naruto's face as he stared down at the picture. The former Jinchuuriki almost cooed at how adorable little baby Rika looked in her mother's arms. It was hard to believe that, that little baby would grow up into the fiery strong willed young woman that he knew now. For the next couple of hours Naruto looked through the scrapbook along with Rumiko and Seiko telling him a few stories behind the occasional picture, on more than one occasion Rika found herself putting her hands over her face and groaning in embarrassment at the stories that were being told. That night Rika promised herself to train extra hard from then on so she could punch Naruto in the face and not have the cerulean eyed Tamer dodge or block it.

After showing Naruto, Rika's baby pictures Rumiko began to look around his living room, her attention being drawn to the few pictures in the room, "Naruto-Kun who are these people?" Rumiko asked staring at the photos of everyone back in the Elemental Nations, "Your friends?"

Naruto looked up from the scrapbook as he sat beside Seiko to see Rumiko staring at the photos of his friends and everyone else. "Yeah," Naruto replied standing up from the sofa to stand beside Rumiko looking at the pictures. He told them a bit about them and a few of the things they did together, leaving out of course anything related to their life as shinobi.

"You all are wearing such strange clothing," Rumiko commented offhandedly the fashionista in her being unable not to take note of their clothing in the pictures, "Interesting, but strange."

Naruto chuckled awkwardly as he scratched his cheek, "That's just the style back there." He told her, Rumiko just hummed thoughtfully.

"What about this picture?" Rika asked having found one with Naruto in it when he was younger, maybe twelve, with three other people. One an older male with gray hair, a boy and girl Naruto's age the boy had dark black hair and the girl had bright pink hair. 'No way that's natural,' Rika thought staring at the cheerful looking girl. What drew Rika's interest the most was how Naruto was glaring at the black haired boy. It was the kind of expression she hadn't seen often on his face as he was usually cheerful and upbeat; the only time that that wasn't the case was when they were fighting a rogue Digimon, Devimon and Icedevimon specifically.

"That's Kakashi-Sensei, Sasuke, and Sakura we were on a team of sorts." Naruto answered.

"Must be some team," Rika remarked. "You look like you're ready to fight him."

Naruto eyes grew distant as a sad smile appeared on his face as he remembered the day that the picture was taken. Back when things were so much simpler and Team 7, though not the best of teams, was still together. Even near the end of the war Sasuke never was able to redeem himself and he died as Naruto's enemy. "Sasuke was my rival, best friend, and brother, though most of the time we seemed to just be fighting." Naruto explained with a weary chuckle. "He was the guy that I wanted to surpass most of all, the one that everyone considered a genius, and somewhere along the way we ended up respecting one another and became friends."

Seiko noticed the expression on Naruto's face, the sad look in his eyes as he spoke of his friend. "Did something happen to him?" She asked already sure that something did and it was nothing good.

Naruto nodded his head once, "Sasuke couldn't let go of something that happened in his past." The blonde shinobi said rather vaguely. "It ended up destroying the bond of friendship that we had, despite how hard I tried to save it."

The three women looked at Naruto in concern as his gaze lingered on the raven haired boy. Rika knew that Naruto was leaving a lot of things out about what happened between him and Sasuke, him wanting to keep the truth about his life as a shinobi would ensure that the didn't tell them everything that happened while her mother and grandmother were within ear shot, but Rika was determined to ask about it later.

Naruto noticed the change in the atmosphere and quickly tried to change it. "Ah, anyway let's get back to Ri-Chan's baby pictures." Naruto said hastily moving back to the couch.

"Enough with those stupid things already," Rika groaned out. "Aren't you tired of looking at them yet?" She asked him.

"No way," Naruto denied. "Ri-Chan looks so cute in these." There was even a picture of baby Rika in a pink dress with what looked like a pout on her face, her tomboy tendencies beginning to show through even at such a young age.

"Doesn't she!?" Rumiko gushed excitedly as he fondly remembered those days. "And just imagine how cute you two's children will look like." The mother of one continued. "Especially if they inherit your cute whisker marks Naruto-Kun they'd be absolutely adorable!" The blonde woman said, squealing at the end.

"Mom!" Rika shouted mortified, as both her face and Naruto's turned a bright red. "What the hell are you saying?! I've told you before we're just friends!" The redhead Tamer stated loudly, doing her best to ignore her grandmother's mirthful giggles that she tried to hide by placing a hand over her mouth.

Despite overabundance of teasing that the two teens experienced, and the ruckus on the roof caused by the Digimon, dinner that night could be considered a success.

---

"Alright listen up!" Kazu exclaimed, slamming his hand down on the desk that Ms. Asaji usually sat at, at the front of the room while the map of the world attached to the wall over the board was pulled down behind him. "With the Before Summer Festival coming up in a week it is time that we decide what our class will be doing this year." The brown haired student announced and was immediately bombarded by suggestions by his fellow classmates.

While normally Ms. Asaji would be teaching her students until the very last second the students were allowed some time amongst themselves' to decide what each class will be doing for the festival in order to raise money. Somehow Kazu had been elected class representative and would the person in charge, Naruto had asked Takato how Kazu of all people was the one who became class representative and the brown haired Tamer told him that he didn't have any idea how it happened either. Anyone else who was asked said the same thing and it would forever remain one of the great mysteries of the world.

"So what is this school festival?" Naruto asked Takato while everyone else tried to decide what their class would do.

"The Before Summer Festival is, well, exactly what the name says it is a festival that the school holds before the beginning of summer." Takato said, "It's a sort of reward for all the hard work we've done until now and a chance to have some fun before midterms start." The Virus Tamer explained. "And by holding it now instead during summer break everyone gets to enjoy it instead some people being away."

"Okay, so what sort of things will there be at the festival?" Naruto asked him.

"There are a lot of games, foods, and prizes." Jeri said cutting into their conversation and answering Naruto's question in Takato's stead. "Plus at the end of the festival the teachers pick a random event each year that one student has to perform in front of everyone." Jeri finished cheerfully.

Now that part caught Naruto's interest. "How is the student chosen?" He asked.

"Everyone votes for who they want to perform the event and turn it in into a box that is outside the Student Council room." Takato answered.

At that point Kazu spoke up above everyone else and drew the three's attention back to him. "Okay kiddies that's enough," He said crossing his arms over his chest with a smirk on his face and a mischievous look in his eyes. "While everyone gave some really good suggestions, well everyone except Kenta."

"Hey!" Said glasses wearing teen shouted in protest.

"Give it up bro," Kazu said casually. "Nobody wants to do a bug exhibition." He stated, getting Kenta to slump over depressingly when everyone agreed almost unanimously with Kazu. "Anyway," The visor wearing boy continued, ignoring the state of his best friend "I already thought of a time honored festival tradition that beats all of your ideas." Kazu declared as he rolled up the map revealing the words "Maid Café" written across the board, when Kazu wrote that without anyone noticing was anyone's guess.

For a moment everyone stared at overly proud Kazu silently as their minds slowly processed what the words behind him meant before there was an explosion of noise from the other students. Whether they were male or female decided if they voiced their agreement with Kazu's idea or their displeasure. Naruto, Takato, and Jeri reacted a bit differently to Kazu's announcement compared to their other classmates. Naruto was mostly indifferent as he didn't know what everyone was so worked up about. Takato and Jeri had a light dusting on their cheeks, both from imagining the single pigtailed girl in a maid outfit and being seen by the other.

"I absolutely refuse!" Miki, the blonde twin tail girl, shouted standing up from her desk. "A Maid Café is humiliating and degrading to women! There is no way any of us girls would agree to doing that." She said, getting shouts of agreement from the other female class members. "Besides there is no way that the teachers let alone Ms. Asaji or the principal would ever agree with your idea." The girl finished confidently.

Despite Miki's arguments Kazu didn't lose the smirk that was on his face. In fact it even looked like his smirk got just the tiniest bit wider with every point that the blonde girl made. "Actually," Kazu began. "The principal already Okayed my idea, as long as I back him up the next time he sees dinosaurs." The brown haired student explained, causing some students to start laughing. Everyone had heard about how the principal had supposedly seen a dinosaur in the hall one day, no one believed him of course. From his seat Takato laughed nervously as Naruto sent an amused knowing smile his way, that dinosaur that no one believed that the principal saw was actually Guilmon. "And Ms. Asaji doesn't care as long as the costumes aren't inappropriate." Kazu claimed.

"So," Miki retorted arms crossed over her chest as she glared at Kazu. "We're still not going to do it." She declared.

"Is that so?" Kazu asked a devious look in his eyes. "Come here Miki I want to tell you something that might change all your minds." The brunette instructed gesturing the girl to walk closer with his hand.

Miki looked at Kazu wearily but her curiosity at what he had to say eventually won out and she slowly approached him. Once she was close enough Kazu leaned over and whispered something into her ear and while nobody could hear what he said it was obvious by the way that Miki's eyes widened that it was something big, as a blush appeared and spread across Miki's face and a glassy look appeared in her eyes. When Kazu finally leaned back Miki snapped out of whatever trance she was in. "I vote in favor of the Maid Café!" The blonde girl shouted with her hand raised up in the air.

Everyone stared at Miki in stupefied silence, a remote few wondering if somehow Kazu cast a spell on the girl that made her change her mind. After a few seconds one of Miki's friends stood up from her desk and looked at the girl worriedly. "Miki are you alright?" She asked, half expecting the blonde twin tailed girl's head spin a complete 360 degrees.

"I'm fine," Miki assured her friend. "Listen Kazu's idea is great, well for Kazu anyway." The backhanded insult was enough to assure everyone that Kazu did not bewitch the girl. "It's just that, well-!" What followed Miki's unfinished sentence was a high pitched fan-girl squeal that caused half the boys to grab their ears in fear of losing the ability to hear.

A moment later all the other girls, with the exception of Jeri who was looking at all her female friends in confusion, let out their own fan-girl squeal. Now what most people don't know about the subspecies known as fan-girls is that they can communicate with other fan-girls through squeals as a way to pass on information about the male that they are crushing/obsessing on, which is why they have to let out a squeal about every five minutes. When Miki squealed just now she informed the others of something that had them all go glass eyed.

After that the vote for the Maid Café was all but unanimous.

For some reason unknown to him Naruto suddenly found himself terrified of his future and the coming school festival.

---

"I'm home!" A certain blonde announced, while normally this sort of thing would result in Naruto being greeted by his two Digimon there was one noticeable difference that set this time apart from all the other times he had said that phrase. That being that he had just walked into the Nonaka home and not his apartment, so of course the person that greeted him wouldn't be either of his Digimon.

"This isn't your home, baka." Rika said standing in front of Naruto with her arms crossed over her chest, as Naruto gave her a fox like grin in return.

"Welcome home Naruto-Kun." Seiko greeted the cerulean eyed Tamer, as she walked up from behind Rika.

Looking over her shoulder to stare at her grandmother Rika let out an exasperated sigh, "Grandma don't encourage him." Rika groaned rubbing her forehead to stave off the headache that she could feel coming.

Seiko merely smiled at her granddaughter before turning her attention back to Naruto. "So Naruto-Kun do you mind telling us why you got here so late?" The grandmother of one asked. "You normally walk Rika home from school." She pointed out as the blonde shinobi had failed to do so for the last few days, as she led the two younger teens to the living room where she set out a plate of cookies for them to enjoy.

After sitting down, and taking a cookie for herself, Rika looked at Naruto curiously having wondered the same thing over the last few days. Not that she missed him walking her home because she didn't, absolutely not.

Naruto finished eating the cookie he had gotten, Seiko made the best cookies he decided, before answering the woman's question. "My school is getting ready to hold a school festival." Naruto informed them. "I've been helping out setting everything up and getting everything ready." It had been a week since Kazu had announced that their class would be holding a Maid Café, whatever that was, and the school festival would be in a few days. Since then Naruto had been helping get everything ready as students weren't only responsible for preparing their own class for the festival, but helping decorate the entire school as well. "That reminds me," Naruto continued, "Would you two like to go?" He asked hopefully.

The other students from Naruto's school had been talking about how excited they all were about having their families come and see all the hard work they were putting into the festival. All the talk about family had left Naruto feeling melancholy over the constant reminder that his family, both his parents and the family he made over the course of his life in the Elemental Nations, wouldn't be able to attend and enjoy the festival with him. The thought of all his friends and classmates surrounded by family while he was alone reminded the blonde too much of his childhood. It was only when he remembered Rika and Seiko-Obaachan that Naruto started to hope that he wouldn't be entirely alone the day of the festival.

"Of course we would." Seiko answered pleasantly, giving the teen a warm smile.

A large grin appeared on Naruto's face before he turned his gaze to look at Rika questioningly. With Naruto's attention focused solely on her Rika could do nothing but let out a sigh before she nodded her head, silently agreeing to go as well. Besides it couldn't be that bad, right?

"Thanks," Naruto said with his fox like grin now looking forward to the school festival more than ever. He only wished someone would tell him why most of the girls would stare at him with a blank look in their eyes, as if they were seeing something else completely, before bursting out into squeals that nearly rendered him deaf. Sometimes heightened senses really sucked.

---

A couple of days later Naruto, Takato, and Henry were hanging out at the gate of their school waiting for it to start, and ignoring the giggles coming from nearby girls that were directed at Naruto. Naruto knew that he had fan-girls but recently their seemed to be more of them than usual that were acting out more as well. The only respite Naruto got with their new found strange behavior was that none of them were trying to swarm him like they usually do.

"So Henry," Takato started. "What's your class going to do for the festival?" He asked.

"We've decided to put on a play." Henry answered.

"That doesn't seem so bad." Naruto commented.

"You'd think so," Henry continued dryly. "Except that all the characters will be played by people of the opposite sex."

"Really," The brunette Virus Tamer said awkwardly. "That seems… interesting."

"What role did you get?" Naruto asked a grin spreading across his face, what Henry's class planned sounded funny and definitely something that the blonde shinobi would be interested in watching.

A disgruntled look appeared on the half-Chinese Tamer's face, "The lead." Henry muttered.

"The female lead, Terriermon must love that." Naruto said before bursting out into laughter. "What play are you guys going to perform?"

"Cinderella," Henry said with a sigh, before Naruto burst out laughing once more as Takato chuckled a bit uneasily.

Naruto was eventually able to calm down before a fox like grin spread across his face, some nearby girls squealed at the sight of Naruto's grin but the Tamers ignored them as best they could. "I still don't get what our class is doing. I mean I've looked it up but I've been getting some weird looks from everyone ever since Kazu made that announcement." The guys would just avoid looking at Naruto whenever the blonde shinobi brought it up and the girls would either burst out into a fit of giggles or start squealing when he mentioned it around them.

Takato and Henry shared a look they both knew what was going to happen, the rumors had spread rapidly around the school ensuring every student, teacher, and faculty but Naruto knew what was going to happen in a few days, and neither were willing to bring it up. At that point the warning bell went off letting all the students know that classes were about to start, and for Takato and Henry it was a good way to avoid the topic that Naruto brought up.

"Well time to get to class." Henry said before hurrying off.

"We better get going Naruto!" Takato said quickly making his way to the school. "Don't want to make Ms. Asaji mad at us for being late!"

---

A few days later the day of the school festival had finally arrived and everyone, students, teachers, visiting family, and people who just looking to have a bit of fun were excited. The school had been decorated with streamers, balloons, with an arch made out of wire and paper placed at the front gate welcoming the guests. There were stands from local stores on the grounds that had games that people could win prizes at or buy food. At the middle of the field was a large stage that was set up by the teachers for the event that they had planned. There were also students throughout the school, most in costume, with fliers in their hands advertising whatever event their class was doing.

Rika and Seiko had taken a quick look around at everything before making their way towards where Naruto had told them that his class was located. Seiko had a smile on her face as she looked at all the attractions while Rika had a disinterested look on her face, done with looking around the two women made their way into the school and to Naruto's class. Once they arrived on the second floor they found a long line leading to one of the classes, Naruto's class specifically. The people that made up the line seemed to all be teenagers with a good mix of boys and girls, though the number of girls seemed to outnumber the boys by just a little.

"What the hell?" Rika muttered her gaze fixed on the long line, her eyebrow twitching at every giggle that came from the girls as for some reason they annoyed her more than usual.

"Rika?" A voice that the redhead recognized came from behind her and her grandmother. Turning around Rika spotted Takato walking up the stairs with a box in his hands looking at the pair questioningly. "What are you doing here?" He asked.

"Naruto invited us." Rika answered plainly.

"Hello Takato, it's nice to see you again." Seiko greeted the brown haired boy.

"Uh, it's nice to see you to ma'am." Takato said in a hurry, silently glad that his mother wasn't there or she would have scolded him for not greeting the older woman sooner. "If you want to see Naruto," The brunette continued shifting his gaze between Rika and her grandmother. "Then come on I'll take you to him." He finished walking past them and leading them towards the door everyone was waiting by. At the door stood a girl that Rika faintly recognized as one of the girls that was at the park the day that Guilmon digivolved into WarGrowlmon. "Hey Ami," Takato greeted the girl. "Can you let them in?" He asked her hopefully gesturing to the two people behind him.

Ami glared at Takato which caused the boy to flinch lightly. "In case you haven't noticed Takato but we're kind of full right now. So if they want to go in they'll have to wait like everyone else." She said evenly.

"Yeah, but they're Naruto's guests so I thought that, maybe, we could, uh, make an exception?" Takato said though it came out sounding like a question.

Ami's eyes lighted up at the sound of the blonde shinobi's name. "Uzumaki-Sama," The girl repeated, as Seiko raised an eyebrow at the suffix and Rika's eyebrow twitched once more, before taking a closer look at the two people accompanying Takato and finally recognizing Rika. "Oh it's you." Ami said flatly before letting out a sigh. "You really should wait like everyone else," She continued, and for a second she seemed like she was seriously considering making them walk to the back of the line, but then decided not to. "But if Uzumaki-Sama was the one to invite you I guess its fine for you to go in." She finished grudgingly as she opened the door for them.

Walking into the room Rika smirked at the girl just to anger her as the amethyst eyed Tamer knew that she was one of Naruto's fan-girls. Takato excused himself in order to deliver the supplies in the box, but once Rika entered the room her attention was immediately diverted. The room was filled with girls in maid outfits that were tastefully done serving patrons mostly male, all of who had blissful looks on their faces from being served by cute girls in maid outfits. While any other time Rika might have wondered what idiot decided to go with a maid café as the theme her attention was focused on the only male that was acting as a server, and who had all the female patrons vying for his attention.

Naruto was dressed in black dress shoes, black slacks, and a white long sleeved button up shirt with a black vest over it, and around his neck a black neck tie. Naruto's normally wild spikey hair had been brushed back; it was still spikey and slightly messy the only difference was that it was combed back, and actually Rika thought that it made him look more handsome than he already was. Though the shinobi had a smile on his face as he served the customers Rika noticed that it was strained, probably from how polite and formal he had to be which the red haired Tamer knew he didn't enjoy.

Naruto had just gotten done serving a girl, who was batting her eyes at him and giggling none stop making Naruto wonder if there was something wrong with her, when he spotted Rika and Seiko standing by the door. "Ri-Chan, Seiko-Obaachan, you made it!" Naruto said excitedly, placing the tray that he had been holding down on the table, completely ignoring the girl that was trying to flirt with him as he made his way towards the two women.

"Of course, we did say we would stop by didn't we." Seiko replied with a smile on her face. "Now can you tell us what your class decided to do?" She asked taking another look around, though it was kind of obvious.

Naruto blinked a couple of times before realizing that he had never told them what his class chose to do for the festival, "It's a maid café." Naruto answered scratching the back of his head.

"Isn't it normal for their only to be female waitresses in these sorts of things?" The grandmother asked him.

"That's what I said," Naruto stated as he looked over his shoulder. "But Kazu was the one who decided on a maid café, got everyone to agree, and insisted that I be the only butler in the café. Most of the girls in my class insisted as well." The blonde Tamer said as he looked over his shoulder at everyone.

Looking around Naruto, Rika saw that all the girls in the room, and even a couple of guys, had their eyes fixated on the whiskered teen. Actually, taking a closer look Rika noticed that they were actually looking a little lower and it didn't take much imagination for Rika to guess what they were staring at. Rika turned her attention back to Naruto before she did anything to them. "So are we just to stand here all day or what?" She asked him with a raised eyebrow. Her own school didn't hold school festivals but from what she understood the students usually worked in their class until late in the afternoon and Rika wasn't all that interested in waiting hours for Naruto.

"Oh no, I got Kazu to agree to let me off after a while." Naruto said, unknowingly making all the girls, and guys, to gain murderous looks at the knowledge that their Uzumaki-Sama wouldn't be serving them or be around to see them in their cute maid outfits, before looking around and spotting a table that had been recently vacated. "Until then come on," The cerulean eyed Tamer continued as he led them to the table. "Here," He said letting them sit down. "What can I get you?" The shinobi asked them.

Rika eyebrow rose in question, "You're going to serve us?" She asked.

"Yes Ojou-Sama." Naruto replied formally, his hand across his chest as he gave a light bow, his voice suave as he handed them each a small menu. Around them Naruto's fan-girls, and boys, swooned at how the whiskered teen was acting.

Seiko laughed lightly at what was happening around her before looking over the menu. "I think a cup of tea and a cake would be nice." Seiko decided.

Rika tried to hit Naruto for calling her Ojou-Sama only to miss when he dodged before she decided what she would get, her face having the barest hints of a blush on her cheeks from how Naruto addressed her. "I have a soda and the cake." She told the blonde butler.

"Very well," replied Naruto taking the menus from them and going off to get their orders.

For the next few minutes Rika and Seiko enjoyed their food, absently noting that the cake wasn't nearly as good as the one that Naruto had given them to eat when they went to his house for dinner, as the duo Digimon Tamer put extra care in serving them. Having the handsome butler put extra care on Rika and Seiko was something that the other customers vying for his attention did not appreciate. After they were done Naruto cleaned the table and then told Kazu he was leaving, planning to change out of the butler outfit and into his regular clothes in the nearest bathroom.

With Naruto gone Kazu stepped up to address his displeased customers. "Okay people," The brown haired boy began. "I know that you aren't happy that our main attraction is gone, but not to worry I already have a solution planned." Kazu started as he paused for dramatic effect. "I'll take over as butler." He finished putting a hand to his chin in order to strike a pose.

"Boo!"

Needless to say the people were not happy with Kazu's solution, one girl even through a cake at him.

"Hey! Who through that?!" Kazu demanded whipping the cake off his face. His only response was another cake to the back of his head. On a related note Kenta was the one who threw the second cake.

---

"So what now?" Rika asked once Naruto rejoined them.

"Well," Naruto began his hands behind his head as walked beside Rika, with Seiko walking a little behind the two teens. "Henry's class is putting on a play, it's starting soon, and I really wanted to see it." Naruto said with an eager smile on his face, he didn't tell them about how Henry and his classmates would have to play characters of the opposite gender as he wanted to surprise them.

Seiko perked up at the mention of the play, "A play?" The grandmother spoke up from behind the two teens, drawing their attention, "That sounds interesting. I wouldn't mind seeing it."

"Well that's two for, what do you say Rika?" Naruto asked his fellow Tamer.

"Like it really matters," Rika muttered. With both Naruto and her grandmother wanting to go she really had no choice but to follow them or spend however long the play lasted by herself. "Let's go." She said waiting for Naruto to lead them toward where Henry's class would be performing.

---

One Henry Wong felt like he would rather fight an army of Digimon on his own or go through Naruto's nightmarish training rather than having to go out on stage tonight. Right now he and his class were in the school's auditorium taking care of some last minute details before they put on the first play of two of the night. Henry like every other actor had been getting into his costume so he was currently staring at himself in a blonde wig and a plain dress.

"This is humiliating," Henry muttered.

"Alright everyone get ready we're on in twenty minutes!" One of Henry's classmates called out, getting the actors to hurry with their final preparations.

With a sigh Henry made his way to the stage waiting for his cue, walking onto the stage Henry herd the sound of a childish cheer and a loud whistle coming from the audience. Subtly looking toward the source of the two noises Henry first spotted Naruto, the most likely source of the whistling; sitting next to Rika and Seiko next to her. Next Henry saw his younger sister, sitting with their parents and other siblings, holding Terriermon over her head as she cheered for her older brother. Terriermon, Henry noticed, was making a violent effort not to burst out laughing out how his Tamer currently looked though his cheeks were puffed out and his face red letting Henry know he was barely managing to restrain himself. Suzie being allowed to play with Terriermon more in the future was something that Henry decided he wouldn't mind all that much.

For one horrible second Henry had visions of the future after the play was over. A future filled with the return of Pwincess Pwetty pants being sung over and over at his home by his younger sibling.

---

When the play ended Naruto, Rika, and Seiko decided to visit some of the stands that had been set up, Naruto planning to mess with Henry the next time he saw him. The three of them were enjoying themselves trying some of the food and playing games. Naruto had won a whole bunch of stuffed animals to the point that he was carrying a mountain of them on his back, at that point word about the blonde shinobi and his insane luck when it came to winning games started to be spread around by the stall owners to each other banning Naruto from playing at any of their booths. After the sun set Seiko decided to call it a night.

"Are you sure Seiko-Obaachan?" Naruto asked, "There is still the bonfire."

"I'm sure Naruto-Kun," Seiko replied with a gentle smile on her face. "I've seen plenty of bonfires in my life, maybe next time, but you two should enjoy yourselves for a while longer." The grandmother said.

"Ok," The blonde shinobi replied with a nod of his head.

Seiko then turned her attention to her granddaughter. "Rika have plenty of fun, alright?" She asked getting a nod from her granddaughter. "I'll wait for you at home." Seiko stated before turning to leave. "I expect you to walk my granddaughter home Naruto-Kun!" The woman called back.

"You got it!" Naruto shouted back to Seiko's retreating form, as he did his best to wave at her while under a mountain of plush. Once Seiko was gone the two Tamer's started to look around to see what else they could do.

"What are you even going to do with all those things?" Rika asked looking at Naruto with an eyebrow raised in question.

"No clue." Naruto replied bluntly, he had honestly not thought that far ahead when he was winning them all. He would consider giving them to Rika, but he already knew that she didn't care for plush toys. Naruto briefly wondered if the amethyst eyed girl even kept the fox plushy he had given her before.

"Then why did you bother winning them all?" She asked with an exasperated sigh.

"To show how awesome I am!" Naruto claimed proudly with a large fox like grin.

Rika shook her head in disbelief, "Yeah it takes someone real awesome to win at a bunch of kid games." The redhead mocked.

Naruto didn't let Rika's words affect him as he just smirked at the girl. "You're just mad that I beat you at every game." The shinobi said back.

Rika bristled a little at Naruto's declaration but didn't say anything back because he wasn't completely wrong, Rika was competitive by nature so losing to Naruto again and again really irritated her. What made it worse was the fact that they were banned from playing before she could find a game she could beat him at. The only consolation Rika had was that Naruto still couldn't beat her at the Digimon card game, "Whatever." She muttered turning away from him in a huff while Naruto chuckled a bit.

Before they could continue their conversation they came to a stop when the excited squeal of a little girl drew their attention, turning to the source of the sound both Tamers froze at what they saw. A girl of about eight with brown hair pulled into a couple of pigtails was squealing happily as she held her recently won prize to her, the booth owner not even noticing that the toy that he had just given the girl wasn't one of his own or that it was a toy at all, in her arms the little girl held a confused, but smiling, Calumon.

"What is he doing here?" Rika asked turning to Naruto, he was the one that was supposed to be looking after the Light of Digivolution.

"I don't know," Naruto replied, Coronamon and Patamon were supposed to be keeping an eye on him to keep these sorts of things from happening. Looking around he was barely able to spot his two partners, hiding on top of one of the stands, before they noticed him looking at them and quickly ducking behind the sign. A smile crossed the cerulean eyed Tamer's face; he would have to have a talk with them later about what he meant by keeping an eye on the little creampuff. "Come on," He urged his crush, moving towards the girl in order to retrieve Calumon.

Rika let a sigh but chose to follow Naruto anyway.

"Hey little girl," Naruto said drawing the girls attention, her eyes widening in awe at the amount of stuffed toys that the blonde Tamer was carrying. "Would you mind giving me him?" He asked pointing at the Digimon in her arms. "He's… special."

The girl's look of awe quickly turned to one of anger, or did the best angry look an eight year could have, "Nu uh!" The little girl shouted holding Calumon closer to herself. "He's mine! You already have all those toys!" She said with a childish pout as she pointed at all the stuffed toys that Naruto was carrying.

Naruto started to sweat a little at the girl's accusation, from behind him he was sure that Rika was enjoying watching him struggle, "Uh, how about a trade?" Naruto offered with an awkward smile on his face.

At the word trade a devious look appeared on the little girl's face that made Naruto, the Prankster King of Konoha, shudder. "Well if you want to trade." The little girl said, her voice way more cheerful and sweet than it was just a second ago.

A couple minutes later the girl walked away with all of Naruto's prizes, the only thing that could be seen of her under all the plush were her legs.

"Bye mister!" The girl shouted at Naruto, "Thanks for all the toys!"

Naruto ignored the girl focusing his attention on Calumon holding him in his hands as he pulled on the creampuff's cheeks, as he lead himself, Rika, and Calumon away from the crowd of people so that they could talk freely.

"Ow, Naruto that hurts!" Calumon complained his face stretched comically.

"Good," Naruto retorted in annoyance, pulling at Calumon's face even more. "Do you have any idea how many prizes you cost me?"

"Are you seriously upset about that," Rika muttered. "You didn't even know what you were going to do with all those stupid things." She pointed out. Rika knew that she wouldn't accept any of them from him, the fox plushy was an exception because it meant something to her, she wasn't about to own any other.

Naruto ignored Rika's mutterings. "What the hell are you doing here?" Naruto asked, "I thought Patamon and Coronamon were supposed to be taking care of you back home." He finished as he stopped abusing the white and purple Digimon and tossed him to Rika for her to carry. Hearing their names and already knowing that they had been found out Coronamon and Patamon appeared in front of their Tamer now that they were away from the festival.

"About that," Coronamon began sheepishly. "We told Calumon about what was happening at your school and before we knew it the little creampuff disappeared on us." The small lion Digimon explained, hoping that it would stave off any punishment that his Tamer had planned for them for losing sight on Calumon. But it wasn't fair for Naruto to expect them to not lose track of Calumon, the little guy could get in and out of anywhere without even trying!

"We were watching a show on TV and then we looked back towards Calumon and he was gone." Patamon further explained. "We knew where he would go so we tried to stop him before then but we were too late and that little girl had already won him when we found him."

Calumon, who up to that point had been rubbing his cheeks in an effort to lessen the stinging, perked up his ears expanding as he did so. "Can we go play some games now?" He asked childishly, that little girl looked like she could have been some real fun to play with too bad she had to leave so quickly. "What do you say Rika? Want to play some games with me?" Calumon continued, looking up at the Tamer whose arms he was currently in.

Looking down at him Rika was once more reminded of how cute Calumon looked, what with his big green eyes that always seemed to have that puppy dog eye look to them; too bad for him that sort of thing didn't work on her. "Nice try shrimp but you're in some serious trouble for this, so no more games for you." The Nonaka said sternly.

"You guys are no fun at all." Calumon pouted. At least with Guilmon and the others he could rope them into playing some game with him. The Light of Digivolution eyes lit up as a new plan formed in his tiny little head. "Then I'm going to go find Takato and Henry and see if they'll play with me." The white and purple Digimon claimed as he jumped out of Rika's arms and started to float away. Sadly, for him, he didn't get far.

"Hold it," Naruto said snatching Calumon out of the air from behind, while applying chakra into his fingers so the little guy couldn't escape, so that it looked like Naruto was holding the back of his neck or shirt, if Calumon wore a shirt, as Calumon tried to get unstuck. "Where do you think you're going?" The shinobi Tamer asked.

Calumon stopped trying to escape for a moment as he looked back at Naruto in confusion before bursting out into a fit of giggles. "Have you been cleaning your ears when taking a bath?" Calumon asked giggling. "I just said was going to look for Takato and Henry to play some games."

Rika snickered at Calumon's comment as a frown crossed Naruto's face. "That's not what I meant," Naruto muttered as he sent Rika a light glare, before turning his attention back to Calumon who once more was trying to escape his grasp once he was through his giggling fit. "And you're not going anywhere but back home." He stated firmly.

Calumon was about to point out that he didn't have a home when Naruto tossed him towards Coronamon. The Rookie level Digimon as he struggled' a little bit to hold him since he was only a little taller than Calumon.

"Go home and keep a closer eye on him." Naruto instructed his Digimon, getting a nod from both of them and a pout from Calumon before they took off. With a sigh Naruto turned to Rika and was about to say something when the beeping from their D-arcs drew both Tamer's attention. "What now?" Naruto muttered, as he pulled out his D-arc the screen changed into the tracker function that pointed them into the direction that the Digimon would bioemerge from.

"It looks close." Rika commented noticing how big the arrow appeared.

"Let's go." Naruto said taking off towards the source of the signal.

"In case you didn't notice," Rika began running after him. "We don't have our Digimon with us." She pointed out. The redhead was confident in Naruto being able to hold his own against any Digimon, but she also wanted him to be aware of the situation that they would be rushing into.

"Don't worry," Naruto replied. "Coronamon and Patamon shouldn't have gotten too far before they sensed the Digimon they'll catch up soon." The blonde shinobi Tamer stated confidently.

Rika nodded her head in acceptance but still wished that Renamon was there.

---

On the other side of the city Renamon was racing across the rooftops after seeing Seiko home. The moment she sensed the Digimon bioemerging she took off in a dead sprint confident that her Tamer would be heading towards the Digimon's location. While mentally cursing herself for leaving Rika alone, though she took some comfort in the knowledge that Naruto was sure to be with her, Renamon knew that ultimately when Rika asked her to watch over her Tamer's grandmother on her journey home there was no way that she could have refused.

'Wait for me Rika,' Renamon thought as she jumped from one building to another.

At the school Takato's and Henry's D-arcs also went off signaling the emergence of another Digimon, sadly neither one heard it. Takato busy helping clean their classroom after a lot of girls, both from their class and those who visited the café, learned that Naruto had left early, Henry was giving his second and last performance of the night while his D-arc was in his little curtained off dressing room with the rest of his clothes.

At Henry's home Suzie was holding Terriermon with a death grip as she slept, her parents refusing to let the little girl to stay up late, making it impossible for the Vaccine type Digimon to escape without waking her.

In his shed in the park Guilmon was on the ground lying on his back with a bulging stomach and bread littering the ground around him. Kazu's comment of dinosaurs the day he announced the plan for the maid café reminded Takato that it was Guilmon that the principal had seen. To ensure that his partner didn't decide to pay the school another visit Takato had bribed the red raptor Digimon with all the bread he could eat on the condition that he stayed in his shed that night no matter what. And that's how the Virus type Digimon found himself in a bread' induced coma.

"No more bread." Guilmon murmured weakly before reaching out and grabbing another roll of bread that was lying nearby. "Well maybe one more." He added stuffing the roll of bread into his mouth and letting out a groan.

---

Walking into the Digital Field Naruto and Rika removed their tinted glasses as they began to look around for any sign of the Digimon that had bioemerged.

"I don't see anything." Rika said after a minute.

"It's here," Naruto replied with his guard up as his eyes shifted around for any sign of the Digimon. His senses were telling him that something was there besides him and Rika, the fact that the Digital Field hadn't dispersed like it would have if the Digimon had left just added to the notion that the Digimon was still there. A second later his senses flared as his instincts were telling him that something was coming at them, "Move!" Naruto shouted putting his arm around Rika's waist and jumping away from the spot they were standing as something sliced it.

Regaining their bearing from having to move before they were skewered the two Tamers took in the appearance of the Digimon that had just attacked them. It was a large wolf like Digimon with purple fur covering a majority of its body and silver fur on around its neck and head, underbelly, and the tip of its tail. Red markings on its back and tail that was similar to the ones that were on Icedevimon's and Devimon's chest. It had blade like claws and an extra set curving upwards. It had bat like wings folded around its shoulders and eyes keeping them permanently hidden from view. The two Tamers also noticed that it had a couple of fangs larger than the rest. There were also three of them standing next to each other growling at the two teenagers.

Rika was the first one to bring up her D-arc and scan the Digimon bringing up their information, not paying any attention to the arm that Naruto still had around her waist. "Sangloupmon," Rika began. "Demon Beast Digimon, Champion level, a Virus type. A bloodsucking wolf Digimon, which is weird since Digimon don't have any blood to suck, that has been said to have been alive since the genesis of the Digital World, any Digimon that's had its blood sucked by this Digimon have all their information sucked out if their Digicore and die. They can break down their data at will to move from place to place instantly making it one of the hardest Digimon to catch. Its attacks are Sticker Blade and Black Mind." The redhead finished reading.

Naruto kept a close watch of the Sangloupmon trio as they spread a bit, his body tensing once he realized that they were trying to surround him and Rika, luckily Coronamon and Patamon arrived at that moment allowing Naruto to relax a bit at the evened numbers and that his partners could keep a watch on the other two wolf Digimon.

"We're here Naruto." Patamon said.

"We're not late are we?" Coronamon asked with a smirk on his face.

"No, you got here just in time." Naruto replied, Calumon floating down next to them as he looked at the three vampire wolf Digimon curiously, releasing his hold that he had on Rika to pull out his D-arc and drawing a Digivolution card. "You two ready?" He asked them back.

"Ready," Coronamon and Patamon said simultaneously.

DIGIVOLUUTION

"Coronamon digivolve to… Firamon!"

"Patamon digivolve to… Angemon!"

The two Champion level Digimon barely finished digivolving before the Sangloupmon went on the offensive. The three Sangloupmon burst into data but not like when a normal Digimon was defeated. More data was floating around where they once stood and it was black, so they looked like large shadows floating in the air. In a matter of seconds the three shades charged and reformed in front of Angemon and Firamon at speeds that had caught the two Digimon by surprise.

"Sticker Blade!" The three Virus type Digimon shouted unleashing thousands of blades on the two winged Digimon from their claws.

Though they had been surprised by the Sangloupmon's speed they had the experience of fighting a faster opponent in Naruto to move away instinctively to avoid a majority of the attacks. When they recovered they had a bunch of minor cuts all over their bodies but no worse for wear. Angemon was the first to retaliate thrusting his staff forward at one of the Sangloupmon only for it to turn to data and have the strike go through it harmlessly. Undeterred the angel Digimon swung around hoping to hit another one but it turned to data as well.

Firamon soon followed Angemon's lead pouncing on the remaining Sangloupmon with his claws ignited, "Fire Claw!" The lion Digimon roared swiping at the Demon Beast Digimon only to be met with the same results as Angemon. The data reformed beside Firamon and the Sangloupmon slashed at the fire Digimon with its claws hitting Firamon's side and drawing a scream of pain from him. One of the Sangloupmon that Angemon had attacked tried to cut the angel Digimon as well but the Vaccine type released some of its holy energy forcing the vampire wolf back.

The third Sangloupmon went after the Tamers forcing Naruto for the second time that night to grab ahold of Rika, as she took Calumon into her arms, in order to avoid the slashes from the wolf's claws. Pulling back Sangloupmon dispersed into data and reformed behind the Tamers its claws ready to unleash its Sticker Blade attack.

"Sticker Bla-" The purple furred wolf Digimon began only to be cut off by someone else.

"Diamond Storm!" Renamon's voice came from above the Virus Digimon as she unleashed a small barrage on Sangloupmon, making sure not to summon as much of her attack in order to avoid accidently harming her Tamer and Naruto.

Sangloupmon stopped his attack midway through and burst into black flakes of data to avoid Renamon's surprise attack, the Diamond Storm going through the data cloud and hitting the ground without causing any damage.

"Renamon," Rika called happy to see her partner. She didn't like the feeling of uselessness as she relied on Naruto to keep her safe and Firamon and Angemon to fight the rogue Digimon. Now that Renamon was here she could do more to stop the three Sangloupmon. "You ready?" She asked grabbing a card from her card holder.

"Always," Renamon replied coolly, glaring at the reforming Sangloupmon.

Rika was about to have Renamon digivolve when Naruto stopped her. "Wait," The blonde shinobi said grabbing Rika's arm.

"What?" Rika demanded with a light glare.

"That's not a good idea," Naruto began. He had been keeping an eye on Firamon's and Angemon's fight incase either Digimon needed help. Angemon had his holy energy to defend himself with and easier movability, Firamon didn't have either of those luxuries. While he was stronger than he would have been as Coronamon, Firamon didn't possess the speed needed to fight against the Sangloupmon. "Renamon is more agile as she is and that's what we need right now." He stated gesturing to the lion Digimon who was struggling against his opponent.

Rika looked towards the fire Digimon, seeing him take to the sky in order to avoid an attack from the Sangloupmon he was fighting only for the Sangloupmon to use Black Mind to turn into data, sink into the shadows, and come out of the shadow that Firamon made when he got too close to a building. Luckily Angemon had been able to use his Hand of Fate to knock it away and land the first hit against them. "Fine," She relented.

Naruto then turned his attention to Renamon. "Renamon when you attack don't try to summon all your diamond shards for your Diamond Storm." He instructed.

"Understood," Renamon replied, not once taking her eyes of the Sangloupmon that stood across from her. Not using her Diamond Storm at full power meant that she would be able to unleash her attack faster on the enemy Digimon. With a thought Renamon's hands ignited in pale blue flames, "Power Paw!" The fox Digimon roared before dashing towards her opponent.

"If it's speed we need." Rika muttered exchanging the card she was holding for another. "Then this should help. Digi-Modify… Hyper Speed Activate!"

In a burst of speed Renamon disappeared only to reappear in front of Sangloupmon punch aimed for its face. Sangloupmon dispersed into data only to reappear a second later a little to the right of her mouth open ready to bite down on the yellow furred vixen. Renamon proved what Naruto meant by being more agile as she effortlessly avoided being bitten by Sangloupmon before righting herself and bringing up her arms, "Diamond Storm!" She called unleashing only a small number of diamonds at Sangloupmon, but even with the reduced number and the boost she gained from the modify card Sangloupmon was able to avoid her attack by turning into data. Renamon wasn't deterred as she continued to attack the vampire wolf Digimon.

Firamon once more growled in frustration as the Sangloupmon he was fighting once more burst into data in order to avoid one of his attacks. Besides that one attack that Angemon managed to land neither had been able do any more damage to the enemy Digimon, and they were far wearier of Angemon now than before. At the rate that things were progressing they would be worn out in no time and at the mercy of the three' Demon Beast Digimon, "Fire Bomb!" Firamon roared unleashing a blast of fire at Sangloupmon, only for the wolf to use Black Mind, burst into data, and sink into the shadows. Knowing what was coming Firamon jumped into the air just in time to avoid being skewered by Sangloupmon's outstretched claw as he emerged from Firamon's shadow. "We need a different plan Naruto." Firamon growled, "Now!"

"What's the matter? These puppies aren't giving you trouble are they Firamon?" Angemon asked jokingly, firing a Hand of Fate at his opponent that predictably turned into data before the angel Digimon used Omni Typhoon to disperse the black flakes of data. It didn't do any damage but Sangloupmon would take longer to reform.

"Shut it!" Firamon shot back, as he and Angemon teamed up on the Sangloupmon that the lion Digimon had been fighting.

"What's the matter is the kitty scared?" Renamon asked mockingly, as she dodged another swipe from Sangloupmon and moved closer to the other Tamer Digimon.

"Do you want to get burnt to a crisp fox?" Firamon threatened.

"Like you could even touch me, you're so slow." The fox Digimon taunted.

Naruto shook his head at how the Digimon, specifically Firamon and Renamon, were acting in the middle of a battle. He'd have to correct them about that during their next training session. But the shinobi knew that Firamon had a point and that if they didn't come up with a plan to deal with the Sangloupmon ability to turn into data then the Digimon would soon become too exhausted to fight and it would be up to him to take care of the three vampire wolf Digimon. Something he could do but not something he would want to while protecting Rika and the three worn out Digimon. What annoyed Naruto the most was how similar the Sangloupmon trio's power was to Tobi's.

With the Digimon distracted with their own fights and Naruto trying to figure out a plan none of the noticed the Sangloupmon that Angemon had been fighting reform behind Rika until Naruto felt a spike of killer intent behind them and everyone heard a shout from Calumon, who had heard growling coming from behind them. Spinning around Naruto watched the Sangloupmon lunge at Rika, fangs bared. Without a moment's hesitation or giving it a second thought Naruto performed a Substitution jutsu switching places with Rika.

When Rika turned around to face the source of what was causing Calumon to panic she only had a moment to look at the fangs that were bearing down on her before her vision was obscured by smoke and she felt disoriented. When she finally was able to reorient herself it was not to the pain of fangs tearing into her skin but the sounds of worried shouts coming from Firamon and Angemon, and when the smoke started to clear to the sight of Naruto with Sangloupmon's fangs digging into his right shoulder.

"Na-Naruto," Rika murmured as she took an unsteady step towards the blonde. Firamon and Angemon were trying to get to their Tamer but hindered by the other two Sangloupmon unleashing onslaughts of Sticker Blade and Black Mind to keep the two Digimon away from their Tamer.

"Stay back!" Naruto ordered severely, causing Rika to stop mid-step, even as he grunted in pain at the feeling of Sangloupmon biting down harder on his shoulder. Turning his attention back to Sangloupmon, Naruto glared at the vampire Digimon as he grabbed ahold of its violet fur with his left hand as he ignored the blood that was coming from his injured shoulder and the sensation of Sangloupmon sucking it out. "You're going to pay for trying to hurt Rika you bastard!" The blonde eyed cerulean Tamer growled at the Digimon as the Digital Hazard symbol started to glow, it being hidden from Rika and others by Sangloupmon's body. Sangloupmon's binary code ran through Naruto's mind as the shinobi scanned the Digimon's data and in an instant Naruto knew everything that made up Sangloupmon down to the last 1 and 0. With a single thought Naruto focused in on Sangloupmon's ability to break down his data and reform it safely. With a final grunt Naruto released his hold of Sangloupmon before forming a Rasengan in his left hand, "Rasengan!" Naruto shouted, slamming the spiraling ball of destruction into the side of Sangloupmon's neck.

Sangloupmon didn't know what happened. One moment it had its fangs dug into the blonde human's shoulder drinking some of the sweetest blood it had ever tasted in its life and the next moment it knew nothing but darkness.

Naruto nearly fell to his knees when Sangloupmon burst into data, this time red signaling the purple wolf Digimon's demise, but managed to stay on his feet. Despite the fact that he was in pain Naruto knew that he only had seconds to do what he had to. 'Digital Hazard,' Naruto thought drawing together some of the excess data left over from Sangloupmon, 'Data Creation!' From the data Naruto created a kunai, this one having a special ability that would help with the battle against the two remaining Sangloupmon, no one noticing its creation with all the data that was floating around the shinobi Tamer.

Once Rika saw Naruto destroy Sangloupmon she didn't hesitate to rush to his side, the Digimon going on the defensive and falling back to better defend their Tamers against the two Sangloupmon who were enraged by the defeat of their brethren. Rika's eyes were locked on the blood that stained Naruto's shirt and jacket, her own blood running cold at the knowledge that he was injured protecting her, that the shinobi could have died protecting her if Sangloupmon tried anything while it had been biting down on Naruto's shoulder. The thought made her heart shake in fear and her skin pale. "You're hurt." Rika stated simply in a soft tone, she wished that she could do something to help him but they were still in the middle of a battle and she didn't have any knowledge or means to treat the wound.

"I'm fine," Naruto assured her, doing his best to give her a reassuring smile. "I've survived through worse." He could already feel the wound healing and in a couple of minutes it wouldn't even be there.

That didn't make Rika feel better at all. But she let it be for the moment. "Where did you get that?" Rika asked instead eyeing the kunai that she was sure Naruto wasn't holding a second ago.

"Seals are useful things." Naruto lied, refusing to meet Rika's gaze.

The Tamers turned their attention back to the fight between their Digimon and the Sangloupmon, seeing that while they now had the advantage in terms of numbers the Sangloupmon were using their ability to break down their data to evade attacks to their fullest.

"Naruto," Angemon began to say in concern.

"Don't worry I'm fine." Naruto said to the angel Digimon walking to stand between him and Firamon, as he stared down the growling Sangloupmon. "Let's finish this. I'll take the lead you three back me up." He instructed the Digimon. "Rika be ready to have Renamon Digivolve when I give the signal." The shinobi finished getting a nod from the redhead.

"Right," Rika replied firmly.

With everyone ready Naruto dashed towards the Sangloupmon with kunai in hand. The Sangloupmon didn't wait for Naruto to reach them to attack, one of them choosing to use a Sticker Blade on the shinobi Tamer. Angemon flew in front of the attack that was heading for his Tamer before putting his staff in front of himself and began to spin it around while releasing some of his energy in order to deflect Sangloupmon's attack. Coming from behind Angemon, Naruto slashed the kunai that he had at Sangloupmon. The vampire wolf Digimon, confident in itself and its ability, burst into data sure that it would render the human's attack useless only to be caught by surprise when it felt the kunai make contact with its side before it turned back to normal against its will.

Sangloupmon spun around trying to attack Naruto only for Firamon hit it with his Fire Bomb.

Naruto rushed pass the two Champion level Digimon heading for the final Sangloupmon, kunai at the ready. 'When I used the Digital Hazard on that one Sangloupmon and scanned its code,' Naruto thought as the Sangloupmon he had cut with the kunai did its best not to be destroyed by Firamon and Angemon, who joined the fight with fellow partner Digimon. 'I created this kunai with the remains of Sangloupmon's data and an algorithm that would negate their ability to turn to data at will as soon as it made contact with their data without it mattering if they were solid or not.' The shinobi thought as he thrust the kunai at the final Sangloupmon only for it to jump back away from him at the last second.

Sangloupmon had seen what that kunai had done to his one remaining companion and, while it had no idea how it did that, it had no plan to let the same thing happen to it. Once the blue eyed human had gotten close it had jumped away before gathering energy into its claws, "Sticker Blade!" Sangloupmon shouted only to watch as the human jumped high above the blades. It was about to try to attack again while the human was in the air only to feel a presence appear behind it. Looking back Sangloupmon saw the Renamon standing behind it.

"Hey there big boy," Renamon greeted the wolf before bring both of her arms up, "Diamond Storm!" She called, but instead of the barrage of diamonds that she usually summoned the digital kitsune only brought a small number forth, five to be exact, and while it wasn't as overwhelming as her usual attack with the reduced number she was able to put all the remaining power behind the move in how fast it was launched.

The Diamond Storm moved at speeds that could pierce stone and would have seriously injured Sangloupmon had it not turned to data to avoid the attack. But even if it had been only for a moment Sangloupmon had been distracted from its real opponent and that one moment was all Naruto needed to throw the kunai at Sangloupmon and have it pierce its back, causing it to let out a shout of pain.

Naruto landed back on the ground, "Rika now!" He shouted.

"Right," Rika replied grabbing a card and slashing it through her D-arc. "Digi-Modify… Digivolution Activate!"

DIGIVOLUTION

"Renamon digivolve to… Kyuubimon!"

"Angemon, Firamon, Kyuubimon get them together and let's finish this." Naruto instructed, letting the Digimon finish dealing with them.

"Fire Claw," Firamon said with his front two paws igniting before he began to swipe at Sangloupmon, who was moving back in order to avoid the attacks.

From above Angemon attacked, "Hand of Fate." He called releasing a blast of holy energy from his hand that struck Sangloupmon and knocked him back.

The newly digivolved Kyuubimon stood across from the Sangloupmon she was fighting as she spread her nine tails, "Fox Tail Inferno!" She recited as the tip of each tail ignited in a pale blue ghostly flame that she launched at Sangloupmon. With Naruto's training Kyuubimon was able to mentally direct them as she wanted, forcing Sangloupmon back until it was standing next to its fellow vampire wolf Digimon.

Regrouping Angemon, Firamon, and Kyuubimon prepared their final attacks, Angemon standing between Firamon and Kyuubimon.

"Omni Typhoon!"

"Fire Bomb!"

"Fox Tail Imari!" Kyuubimon finished unleashing her one original attack.

Firamon and Kyuubimon's attacks combined with Angemon's creating a tornado of blue and red flames that slammed into the two Sangloupmon. Roars of pain resonated from within the vortex of flames before they simply disappeared and red flakes of data emerged from within. When the flames died down there was no sign of their opponents the Digimon returned to their Rookie forms, as Calumon glided over to them to cheerfully at their win.

Naruto let out a sigh before he turned to look at Rika with a smile on his face only for it to die down at the look that she was giving him. "What?" Naruto asked her nervously, only for the glare that she was giving him to intensify.

"Idiot," Rika began. "We need to figure out a way to treat your wound before you die of blood lose or something." Rika stated, her eyes briefly glancing at his wounded shoulder before returning to looking at Naruto straight in the eyes.

"I'm fine." Naruto assured her waving off her concern, as he took off his jacket. "It's already healed on its own." He told her pulling his shirt to the side to show her that his wound had healed and all that remained was the blood indicating were the injury was once located. "See? No need to worry." The shinobi said with his fox like grin appearing on his face.

"No need to worry," Rika repeated softly before she actually managed to slap Naruto, at that point Renamon pulled the other Digimon away in order to give the two Tamers some form of privacy, "You IDIOT!" She shouted catching Naruto by surprise as she looked at him stupefied with his cheek stinging. "You got hurt because of me, because I couldn't protect myself, you could have died! I-I don't want anyone else I know to die." She admitted quietly. "Why would you risk your life for me like that?" Rika asked him.

"Because you're my friend Ri-Chan," Naruto told her truthfully.

'Friend,' Rika thought. For the first time in her life Rika never felt so conflicted over a single word. She was grateful for Naruto's friendship and everything he had done for her for the sake of being her friend, but recently Rika found herself silently wanting more than mere friendship from Naruto. Despite what she told everyone else, sometimes even herself', the amethyst eyed Tamer knew that she felt more than just friendship for Naruto. "Friend," The female Tamer said out loud, "Is that all I am to you? Would you have done the same thing for Henry or Takato?" She questioned him.

Naruto stared into Rika's eyes for a moment before answering. "I would put my life on the line for any of my friends if it meant that I could protect them." He told her, Rika breaking eye contact at the answer as her head lower only to snap back up at what he said next. "But you also mean more to me than a simple friend." Naruto admitted before continuing. "Since the first time I saw you at the park and you challenged Takato to a fight I thought you were beautiful, mean and a little cold, but beautiful. At first I really only planned on being your friend, someone you could confide in, but the more time I spent with you the more I grew to like you more than a friend until I realized that I had a crush on you Rika." The shinobi said honestly as he let out a light chuckle. "You're stubborn, have a short temper, and don't have a problem letting people know what you think of them. But you are also kind, when you want to be, fearless, and determined to become the best at whatever you do. And these are all things that I really like about you." Naruto told her as he slid his arms around Rika's waist, pulling her close.

Rika found herself face heating up at Naruto's confession and actions as her heartbeat increased with each word. Rika took a deep breath before replying. "I've told you before how annoying I thought you were when we first met, but I'm so happy that you became my friend. I have so much fun when I'm with you and ever since you defeated Icedevimon I've also felt safe around you." Rika stated with a smile blossoming across her face as she looked up at Naruto. "You are an idiot half the time and enjoy embarrassing me too much. No matter how hopeless things seem you never give up, you always believe and somehow get others to believe in you. Whenever you fight you're reckless, I don't think I've ever been as scared as I was tonight when that Sangloupmon was biting your shoulder. I don't know what I would do if you had died." The amethyst eyed Tamer admitted softly averting her eyes down to the ground for a moment before looking back up at Naruto. "Despite all that, or maybe because of it, my feelings for you got stronger and now I really like you too." Rika admitted as she stared into Naruto's cerulean blue eyes, "Now what?" She asked him unsurely.

"Now," Naruto began, "If you want to be my girlfriend?" He asked to which Rika nodded. "And I definitely want to be your boyfriend." The shinobi stated surely, "Then this." Naruto finished as he leaned down towards her.

Rika watched as Naruto leaned his head towards her slowly giving her more than sufficient time to break away if that was what she wanted, but instead Rika found herself moving closer to him her eyes slowly closing in response.

The kiss the two Tamers shared was soft and gentle lasting only a few seconds before they broke the kiss. But those few seconds sent tingles through their bodies that spread from their lips as a warmth spread from the pit of their stomachs. Neither teen was very experienced, it being Rika's first kiss and the only one that Naruto would ever admit to having, so the kiss they shared wasn't heated like the ones that were shared by others their age but it did leave them with the desire to experience the sensation again and again.

"I, uh," Rika said awkwardly after the kiss ended unsure what to say, her cheeks dusted a light pink.

Naruto gave her his patented fox like grin before taking her hand in his. "Come on." He said pulling her along.

Above them the Digimon watched their Tamers with smiles on their faces happy to see that the two had stopped kidding themselves and admitted what they were feeling for one another. Although Calumon was clueless about what transpired, almost going down there to interrupt the Tamers when he thought that they were trying to eat each other like some of the other humans he's seen have tried to do only to be stopped by Renamon.

---

Eventually the two Tamers made it back to the school, after Naruto had changed his blood stained shirt and jacket for the white button up shirt that he had been wearing earlier, to see things had started to wind down with only a few things left like the bonfire, that the teachers and faculty were getting ready, and the special event. While Rika had questioned Naruto why he took them back to the school he explained that they should enjoy their first festival together until the very end. They were joined by Takato, Henry, and the rest of their friends as they waited for the final events of that year's festival. A few minutes later the students and any guests that remained to sight of the bonfire bursting to life drawing cheers from everyone.

"Can I have everyone's attention, please?" The principal of the school asked from the stage that had been set drawing everyone's attention away from the bonfire. "Now another Before Summer Festival is coming to an end but before that I would like to congratulate all our students on all the hard work they put into the festival to make it such a success." The principal said, drawing another cheer from everyone. "Alright all that is left before this year's festival officially comes to an end is the special teacher event, so if Ms. Asaji would come up we will learn which student was chosen to participate this year.

Ms. Asaji walked onto the stage holding an envelope that contained the name of the voted on student. Once she was close enough the principal stepped to the side and handed her the mic. so that she could make the announcement before walking off stage. Seeing everyone staring at her expectantly Ms. Asaji let out a mental sigh before she opened the envelope to make the announcement. "And the student who was voted on by everyone to take part in this year's special event is… Naruto Uzumaki!" She announced loudly to the very, very loud cheering of many female students, no mystery on how Naruto was chosen. Silently Ms. Asaji wondered what the chances were that the voted on student would turn out to be one of her students. Probably just a coincidence, yeah that was it.

While not completely sure what was going on Naruto still listened to the others urging and got up on stage. Once Naruto joined Ms. Asaji the teacher gave one of her favorite students a small nod before turning her attention back to the crowd.

"Now," Ms. Asaji continued once Naruto was standing beside her. "This year's special event, as chosen by the teachers, will be karaoke so Naruto will be singing us all a song from a preselected list of songs." Ms. Asaji declared, getting loud squeals from the female students, as a karaoke machine and a large screen was brought out onto the stage that was hooked onto the speaker system.

"Karaoke," Naruto muttered, he had been hoping for something like an obstacle course or some other physical event. Karaoke obviously didn't exist in the Elemental Nations and it was something that Naruto hadn't done since coming here, though he had heard some of the other student talk about it, so he wasn't all that sure about it. A part of him was admittedly exited. Looking out into the crowd Naruto could see his friends shouting their encouragement and Rika sending him a smirk, obviously amused by what her newly minted boyfriend was being put through.

"Good luck," Ms. Asaji whispered to him as she walked by and off the stage.

As Naruto started to search through the playlist that the teachers had selected he recognized some songs, others he didn't, but none really called out to him. After a minute of looking Naruto finally found a song that caught his interest and he could use to embarrass Rika a bit. 'This is perfect,' Naruto thought a wide grin appearing on his face. Turning toward the crowd Naruto got a lot of cheers from his fan-girls as the music started. "I want to dedicate this song to Ri-Chan!" Naruto announced to the crowd as he pointed at the surprised redhead, causing Rika to flush slightly at being signaled out, as said Tamer was glared at by most of the girls around her.

(D-technolife by UVERworld English lyrics)

Injured with pain and sadness, the you that cannot be healed
Shoulder the burden of the past that cannot be erased; don't throw away your will to live

Your hand that I held

Will we lose it someday
I want to protect you and that disappearing smile
Even if the voice that calls to me is dying...
Even if the wind that follows along' time disappears...

I will find you

Injured with pain and sadness, the you that cannot be healed
Don't say things like "you can't smile" or "you hate people"
Everything that happens in the unseen future has a meaning
So stay like this, there'll come a time when you will realize

Like a rusted person

It felt so hollow to just pile atop one another
You said you could live on your own
Just with the usual kind words
You ache to a point where I cannot reach you

Your hand that I held searched for some simple kindness

Do you remember?

By learning pain, you can become a person who can be kind to others.

Drive your life…

Injured with pain and sadness, the you that cannot be healed
Don't say things like "you can't smile" or "you hate people"
Everything that happens in the unseen future has a meaning
So stay like this, there'll come a time when you will realize.

How can I see the meaning life
Disappearing you're the only one…

So you will not break, you distance yourself from me
Don't say things like "you can't smile" or "you hate people"
Now it's BY AND BY, even if you cannot see, there's a meaning to everything
Together, let's carry each other's incredible pasts.

You'd better forget everything, remember your different life...
You'd better forget everything, Remember though, we cannot return...

But as time goes by someday we'll understand each other

Once Naruto finished singing the crowed broke into cheers the loudest coming from his group of friends, Rika refused to make direct eye contact with him but her cheeks still flushed a light red and she had a small almost unnoticeable smile on her face. The blonde shinobi had a fox like grin on his face as he waved at everyone, while not as exciting as beating Neji in the Chunin Exams it was still nice to have everyone cheering for him.

---

After the school festival Naruto had kept his promise to Seiko and walked Rika home, giving the girl a light kiss on the lips before wishing her goodnight and making his way to his apartment. Rika entered her home with a smile on her face to find her grandmother waiting for her on the other side with a smile of her own.

"So," Seiko began. "Did you enjoy yourself?" She asked her granddaughter.

"It was… nice." Rika answered softly, her mind focused not on the festival but what happened between her and Naruto. In an act that surprised Seiko, Rika hugged her grandmother before wishing her a goodnight and going to her room.

Seiko stared at her granddaughter for a moment before her smile returned to her face. "Goodnight," The grandmother whispered. She didn't know what happened tonight, but whatever it was had to have been good for her granddaughter to something she hadn't done in a long time. Seiko was also sure that she had Naruto to thank for that as well.

---

Within the Dark Area of the Digital World Devimon stared out at the barren landscape from a mountain cliff. The Dark Area wasn't just a barren wasteland of stone though, it had forests, seas, plains, and any ecosystem needed to sustain the various evil Digimon that existed within the Dark Area, they all just seemed to lack life to them though. A single Sangloupmon stood behind the fallen angel Digimon, badly injured, the vampire wolf Digimon only surviving by using its other companion as a shield against the attack while it used Black Mind to sink into the shadows and escape.

"So you've returned," Devimon said without turning around. "And the boy defeated you and your brethren." The way the fallen angel Digimon said it made it clear that it was a statement and not a question. Turning around Devimon opened his tattered wings, casting a shadow over the whimpering Sangloupmon. "You'd have been better off being deleted by the boy." He said with a cruel smile on his face as he reached out to the beaten wolf Digimon with both of his long arms as they gave off unholy energy. With a final cry Sangloupmon was turned to data and absorbed by Devimon. Turning back around Devimon paid no mind to Ninjamon appearing behind him in a cloud of smoke.

"What do you think you were doing Devimon? Sending those Sangloupmon after Uzumaki, if Lord Lucemon learns of this he would not be pleased." Ninjamon stated coolly while glaring at the devil Digimon.

"Do not forget Ninjamon that while I might follow Lord Lucemon's orders he is your master, not mine." Devimon declared uncaringly. "As long as I don't do anything to displease him Lord Lucemon would not do anything to incur my master's wrath, especially over something so minor." Devimon finished disinterestedly.

"You seem so sure that your master would go out of your way to protect you." Ninjamon said snidely.

"It's a matter of pride." Devimon commented, looking at Ninjamon over his shoulder with a sly smile on his face, "I am sure that Lord Lucemon of all Digimon would understand that." He remarked. "Besides I would expect that you would be pleased if my plan to do away with Uzumaki had succeeded."

Ninjamon clenched his fists in anger before he turned his back on Devimon. "I do not care what you do Devimon as long as I have proven my superiority over Uzumaki before then." Ninjamon professed coldly as he disappeared in another cloud of smoke. He could not accept his loss, especially a loss to a mere human no matter how gifted.

Devimon turned his sight straight ahead as future plans formed in his head. He would also have to report to his master soon, especially with the recent deletion of three of his underlings.

---

AN: Alright this is finally finished next chapter things will return to the cannon story line. Luckily it shouldn't take like a year for the next update to happen; I can't promise it will be instantaneously but definitely within a year.

What did everyone think about the song? Whenever I listen to the song and read the lyrics I can't help but imagine that Naruto is singing it to Rika so I just had to put it in here.

Clearly from the ending I'm planning to bring in more enemies for the Tamers to face besides just Lucemon and the other Demon Lords, it is just something that I decided on doing while writing this chapter so things are still a little unclear on that front but it should still make things more interesting.

Until next time.

Please remember to review.