Disclaimer: All respective characters and settings belong to their respective franchises.
In a well lit room, secluded in another undisclosed safehouse, five figures were gathered in a circle, seated on a clean wooden floor, surrounding two items of great interest that were placed comfortably on cushions. Only a day after the battle, Hiruzen called for a meeting with the Ino-Shika-Chō Jōnin and Bokomon, the scholar enlightening them on the newly received Digivices. Other than the difference in color scheme, they were identical to Naruto's in functionality and durability, as nothing they did could so much as scuff them. Even the Akimichi's fabled strength offered by his clan's signature jutsu proved futile after pinching his son's device between his enlarged fingers, the grip strength more than enough to crush solid concrete.
After the rundown, Bokomon moved forward to demonstrate one of the D-Scanner's key features. Earlier that very morning, Hiruzen had asked the Nara Head for some of their best herbal medicines. Shikaku complied, knowing the intended purpose. For the meeting, he brought with him a wooden box embossed with their clan's insignia.
"Now," Bokomon began as he stood up. He traipsed towards the cushions in the center and picked up Shikamaru's D-Scanner with his right hand, "For this demonstration," he continued as he stretched out his left arm, "I'm going to need you to cut me."
This request mildly befuddled the humans. "You sure?" Shikaku asked. "Any one of us would do."
"It's fine," Bokomon refused with a shrug, insistent on being the guinea pig.
"Where did this come from?" Chōza snorted. "Yesterday, you looked like you were ready to hightail it the moment Hyougamon threatened you."
"It's not getting hurt that I'm afraid of," Bokomon stated easily, unoffended by the slight dig. "Digimon can take punishment just fine. It's…more about losing our sense of identity…after death."
Hearing this, any trace of lightheartedness receded. Without a word, Inoichi volunteered, bringing out a kunai to make a clean diagonal cut on Bokomon's arm, impressed that the latter didn't even flinch. Shikaku on his end proceeded to carefully remove the lid of the medicine box and slide it forward for the scholar to pore over its contents.
Various salves and ointments, dried herbs and roots, all neatly sorted out. Satisfied, Bokomon pressed a button on the device and aimed the sensor on an herb that the Nara Head singled out. Pressing the button again discharged a shot of light, hitting the herb and rendering it into pixels that vanished without a trace.
He then twirled the device around for one of the astonished men to take it. "Don't worry. It'll work since I primed it."
Shikaku did the honors, having contributed the most. Bokomon nodded when the man's thumb was level above the correct button. Pressing it, another shot of light rocketed out of the sensor and hit the scholar, coalescing his form in a soft glow. When the glow subsided, Bokomon's cut was gone, with no sign of scarring. The blood that oozed from the wound was still there, which he wiped with a sterilized pad that Chōza handed to him.
"Amazing," Shikaku said in a subdued tone, checking to confirm if the wound had indeed healed. He looked down at the device in the palm of his hand, eyes gleaming with wonder. "Could it do the same for other ailments?" he postulated, a finger on his chin as his thoughts raced through the possibilities.
"It should, as Hagoromo's Digivice could do the same. Couldn't have made it through half our adventures otherwise," Bokomon replied humorlessly. "Think of it like a program. That herb we used had anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that help along with the treatment of wounds, and the Digivice renders that into a program that it administers into the body to precipitate cellular regeneration, circumventing the time and resources that it would normally require. In more juvenile terms, the principle behind it can be paralleled to that of a video game when your character absorbs certain healing items. That said, you still need sufficient doses for specific, more intensive cases. So long as the right material is used, of course."
All the veterans were beside themselves. Common illnesses like the flu, infections, toxins, perhaps even broken bones, certain chronic diseases, all minor inconveniences at the press of a button. What else could the Digital World have to offer? Bokomon had mentioned previously that their healthcare was lightyears ahead of theirs. The humans suddenly felt small before the diminutive scholar.
"Betting it all on just one horse though is folly," Inoichi warned delicately. "Medic nin have paid dearly for thinking that they wouldn't need to fall back on basic first aid."
"Indeed, Inoichi," Hiruzen agreed wholeheartedly with a nod. "But the innovation offered by the D-Scanner cannot be refuted."
"I didn't mean it like that," Inoichi said, bringing a hand up. "What we've just witnessed is nothing short of miraculous, Hokage-sama, but when medical ninjutsu first came to be, our forefathers undoubtedly thought the same thing."
The others, including Bokomon, didn't object. "With that said, imagine what would happen if such a technology in our hands became public."
None of them needed to. Hiruzen closed his eyes, deep in contemplation. Opening them, his gaze became piercing. "Use of it is to be constrained solely in the Digital World or certain emergencies. We cannot risk even a hint of it reaching the other villages, enemy and ally alike. The repercussions would prove unenviable, if not disastrous."
Inoichi nodded, his teammates understanding that his argument wasn't in bad faith, wanting just as much for them to fully reap what the D-Scanner had to offer. The costs, however, as Kakashi himself feared, outweighed the benefits.
Hiruzen reached behind him, bringing forward another item that made Bokomon uneasy at the mere sight of it. "Now then, Bokomon-dono, what can you tell us of this…Black Gear?"
The dark colored sprocket was also resting on a cushion, wrapped tightly in a film of cellophane, with Bokomon using the tongs lying next to him to pick it up. It had been retrieved by Chōza after Hyougamon dropped it on the ground upon fleeing from them to pursue Naruto. "The Black Gear is the creation of a Rookie Machine Digimon by the name of Hagurumon, which Etemon employs in his refineries for mass production. Normally, when embedded into a Digimon, it drives them to madness because of a built-in computer virus that wreaks havoc on their code. These," he brandished the sample he held, "are more refined versions that were reprogrammed and modified by Etemon to perform beyond the normal parameters. Increase in strength, revitalizing the body, inducing evolution, all without the loss of sanity. Except…for being addictive with prolonged use."
"He refashioned it into a steroid," Shikaku surmised, earning an agreeing nod from the scholar. "He's running a drug ring."
"Alongside a number of other successful businesses as fronts," Bokomon added. "And he's never lacking in the way of buyers. Lots of Digimon are always eager for power, and they'll pay through the nose just for a taste of it."
Hiruzen closed his eyes, taking a keen note of the uncanny overlap. Shinobi, Hidden Villages, those with less promising prospects, the ones with often nothing to lose, going to any lengths for even the tiniest of advantages. Once upon a time; and even now, Konoha wasn't exempted.
"Speaking of," Inoichi chimed in, "what of Naruto-kun's training? He may have defeated Hyougamon, but it was plain to see that his performance still left much to be desired. Would he be ready in case of an invasion?"
"Oton regularly updates me on Naruto-kun's progress, and remarkably, he's surpassed all expectations," Hiruzen divulged with a hint of pride. "He's unpolished with a touch of inexperience, but rapidly improving at an astounding rate."
"But he still needed to evolve in his battle with that monster," Chōza raised, to which Bokomon nodded.
"Evolution does multiply Naruto's prowess and skill, yes," the scholar conceded. "But the overall potential that his Champion form has is still largely dependent on his raw ability. For an entire month up till now, he's gotten into a steady rhythm of training on weekdays without fail, and only resting on weekends."
This caused Shikaku and his old team to balk in disbelief, their jaws hanging slack. It was only now that they had heard of this. Not even their most intense drills were ever that demanding, and based on what they knew of Oton from how he trained their men, it was highly doubtful that he had been soft on the boy. With the exception of outliers like Might Guy, the average shinobi's body would fail under the strain, and would be fortunate enough to be crippled for life. For someone of Naruto's age to endure and thrive, it was abnormal.
"I forgot how resilient the Uzumaki could be," Shikaku commented in soft awe. "Naruto-kun might just be the healthiest of his bloodline since Kushina. A truly perfect Uzumaki without any recessive traits."
"Could he be a genius, then?" Chōza wondered. "One born with latent natural talent?"
"Geniuses are those who can accomplish feats with little effort," Shikaku quoted. "His father was one such person, so Naruto should naturally fall under the category."
"How dull…" They all heard the Hokage mumble, eyes sunken in aggravation. Hands steepled to cradle his chin, "You see one genius, you've seen them all. The novelty gets old. Genius this, natural talent that. Those terms have been thrown around so prominently in my lifetime I've grown sick of hearing them. You see a fresh Academy student hit a target on the first try, they're suddenly the next Senju Hashirama."
The elderly veteran with no shortage of experience under his belt sighed, expounding, "If doing something with the least amount of effort was so groundbreaking, I'd no sooner kick a stone just lying on the street in front of a crowd of enraptured onlookers. Hardly any distinction from a monkey mesmerized by a shiny trinket."
Hiruzen straightened, pronouncing with conviction, "I believe there can be many interpretations, but for me personally, a genius is someone who can persist against the odds. That is who Naruto-kun is at his very core. At any point, he could have dropped out of the training, but he hasn't. In fact, he has persevered through everything Seiko has put him through when a lesser man would have been destroyed. That boy and others like him are far more brilliant than any run-of-the-mill genius you can find any day."
The Ino-Shika-Chō trio, his students after the Sannin per tradition with their clans, beheld their teacher in an esteemed light.
"Heh! If Naruto-kun was still lacking in any formal instruction, I shudder to think how he'd end up," Chōza posed with a chortle to them. "Always a shame for any prospective recruit to have it all be cut short from such gross negligence."
Hiruzen did not deign to comment.
"The height of recklessness if you ask me," Inoichi huffed. "Only a fool would believe otherwise."
He rubbed a hand along the smooth floor; hm, perhaps it could do for some more waxing.
"I'd be embarrassed out of the service," Shikaku concurred with a scoff, strafing a hand down his face. "I mean, can you imagine?" All three men shared wide grins before breaking out into laughter at the sheer absurdity of such incompetence.
Maybe he could buy Konohamaru some of his favorite sponge cake along the way home. Some tea time with his dear grandson sounded nice.
None too soon, the discussion moved forward.
"Naruto-kun truly did remove Orochimaru's Cursed Seal, then?" Chōza questioned, gleaning from the memories Inoichi had shown him.
Hiruzen nodded, more confident in confirming the man's curiosity, "A full medical checkup and further tests were conducted on Anko a day after, with absolutely no sign of the seal's influence remaining. None, as if it had never been there."
The physician had likely been sworn to secrecy. With this, the Akimichi Head proceeded to ask a follow-up question, "Do we have to sanction that, as well?"
"No," Hiruzen replied sharply with a wave of his hand. "That is one asset, I fear, we cannot overlook. Naruto-kun is still an Uzumaki. Fūinjutsu is his heritage and birthright. With Orochimaru's invasion on the horizon, any number of his forces could have Curse Marks of their own that have been perfected in the intervening years of his research. The D-Scanner will be our equalizer."
The veterans conceded without further protest.
"But at his age?" Shikaku wondered skeptically to himself, his legs folded in the way he sat, his teammates internally echoing the sentiment, the boy yet to even begin his education in the art.
"Indeed," Hiruzen affirmed, turning to his Jōnin Commander. "As a member of the Uzumaki Clan."
"That's…you can't…possibly mean his alter-ego," Shikaku dare-said incredulously, his mind racing until he saw the cunning twinkle in the old rascal's eyes. Wait…
Bokomon blinked as he pieced it together, as well. He…can't be serious.
"Which we'll need to fabricate a background for, complete with coinciding circumstances, and that's not even mentioning that the cover story alone could-" Inoichi enumerated what they would need to substantiate such a facade, only for his words to die in his throat partway in a fit of clarity, registering it as well, slowly goggling at his superior. "Sensei…you're not suggesting…"
Hiruzen smiled as his former students could only gape like fishes out of water.
Yep, he still got it.
Bokomon sighed with a shake of his head, just imagining the headaches to come. "Oh, boy."
The next day…
Naruto awoke earlier than he normally did, minutes after Bokomon, who was hard at work in the kitchen. The day before, Bokomon had arrived late in the afternoon to see Naruto and his friends in the living room, watching a movie. Upon seeing him, Shikamaru and Chōji elected to go home since the meeting was over, but the scholar kindly insisted that the two stay for dinner, which the Akimichi was more than gracious enough in accepting.
Retrieving what he needed from the fridge to get started, it was plain for him to discover that the children had been hungry, with Piyomon actually eating the most out of all of them. It wasn't strange for young Digimon to eat more than double, even triple, their body weight in food. Coupled with the physical demands of her own training, her appetite now rivaled even the most voracious of Akimichi trenchermen.
"Hope you had a good night's sleep," Bokomon directed to the blonde.
"I had a great night's sleep," Naruto replied to the scholar, yawning as he did a stretch. "Like a baby." His gaze then landed on the spread before him. A plate of diced red cabbages, five hardboiled egg whites and three strips of lean turkey bacon, a bowl of black rice next to a smaller bowl of cottage cheese, and an entire hand of bananas, all to pack as much energy for his final test. Piyomon was fine with eating the yolks, with the rest of her meal consisting of the same.
Bokomon sighed as he took his seat, knowing that they needed to go for some groceries soon; and maybe an extra fridge, just to restock.
Naruto took hesitant bites of his black rice, but didn't contest. He now ate white rice semi-regularly, as Oton had been adamant to fit in black rice into his diet, as it was a superfood packing more nutrients with less sugar.
And, indeed, it seemed to be an acquired taste as it had a coarser texture and a bland, almost nutty aftertaste. Still, the side dishes made it bearable. "Whew!" Naruto breathed out in satisfaction upon putting away the sizable breakfast, rubbing his bulging stomach, huffing out, "I think I'm gonna need a couple hours."
"Then you're gonna need to drink this," Bokomon told him, quickly replacing the empty dishes in front of him with a cup filled with a steaming hot liquid.
Naruto eyed the odd…beverage, if he could even call it that. "Uh, isn't this…?"
"Black coffee," Bokomon finished, breathing in a good whiff of his own cup with a serene smile before taking a sip.
Seeing this, Naruto cautiously lifted his cup up close, it being the first time Bokomon had served such a drink to him when it was always either tea or smoothies. "Go ahead. It'll pep you up."
Just like with the black rice, Naruto was hesitant. Bringing it close to his nose, he wasn't unfamiliar with the liquid's unique scent, as Bokomon drank it daily ever since coming across some beans at the market, but it still made his nostrils wrinkle. He took a small sip and instantly recoiled as he pushed the cup away, airing out his tongue from the strong punch of bitterness. Making a repulsed face that was just as bitter, he griped, "Ugh! Nasty! How can you even drink this stuff?"
Bokomon grinned, expecting the reaction, shrugging as he said, "It's an acquired taste. Just keep at it. It'll help you digest."
Naruto's grimace deepened as he bore into the swill that looked more like dark muddy water than any drink he'd ever seen. Gathering his wits, he took another sip with puckered lips, then recoiled again from the sharp bitterness. As if that wasn't enough, he began feeling a parched sensation sneaking across the contours of his mouth, like he was getting thirstier. How in the hell does someone get thirsty from drinking?
And yet…he took another sip. And another, and then another, enduring the harsh bitterness until he drained the cup entirely.
He plopped the empty cup on the table with an audible thump, loudly smacking his lips to help ride out the taste lingering on his tongue along with a sudden craving for water.
"Again, how can you even drink this gunk?" Naruto asked with a wheeze of disgust.
"Hm," Bokomon hummed as he was finishing his own drink at a more languid pace. "You could have added sugar, but that would have just delayed the activation of caffeine."
"Huh?" He could have added sugar? "Now you tell me."
Bokomon pursed his lips, asking, "So, how do you feel?"
Naruto repeatedly clicked his tongue and smacked his lips to help get rid of the aftertaste, answering, "Like I want a glass of water. Maybe two."
"Yeah, drinking brewed coffee can do that," Bokomon shrugged, putting away their cups to wash at the sink. "Go ahead. Gotta stay hydrated anyway."
Naruto was already out of his seat before the scholar's prompting, going for the fridge to pour himself a drink. After he and Piyomon helped with tidying the kitchen, the trio gathered by the door, packed with everything they could ever need.
"You two ready?" Bokomon asked the young duo.
"Yeah!" Piyomon exclaimed. "Ready for more training!"
"Oh, your training is done for now, Piyomon," Bokomon amended, deflating her enthusiasm. "But you can still do calisthenics by yourself. Just don't overdo it."
Piyomon chewed on it, "Hm, okay."
"How about you, Naruto?" Bokomon asked as he turned to the blonde, who was bouncing and vibrating in place.
"Who, me? You know me, I'm ready for anything," Naruto began frantically. "Uzumaki Naruto is good to go! What are we waiting for? Come on, come on, come on! We're gonna be late, let's go, let's go, let's go!" He zoomed past the scholar to reach for the door and almost rammed it open. Stopping by the doorway, he turned to face the two Rookies. "Hang on, I'm just gonna go and squeeze in some light jogging first. You don't mind, right? Of course you don't mind. Oton wouldn't mind, either. Not like I'm slacking off, slacking off is for losers, jogging is for winners." He briskly began to run in place. "See 'ya!"
Saying that, the boy sped off in the blink of an eye, leaving behind a dumbstruck Piyomon and a more savvy Bokomon. "Uh, Boko-chan…?"
"A morning jog shouldn't cut too much into his time," Bokomon responded casually, leading Piyomon by the hand out of the apartment before locking the door. "Let's go to the gym before he does."
Piyomon could only nod as she walked in step with the scholar, wondering where Naruto could have gone in such a hurry.
If the young man could answer her, Naruto didn't truly have any particular place or destination in mind, merely an unbridled urge to be in motion flaring throughout his frame that he could do nothing else but run, brimming with boundless energy. Not knowing or caring how, he tore through the streets of Konoha, kicking up a thick trail of dust as his feet struck the beaten down path, belting out a roar that could be heard and felt throughout a few blocks for every street and stunned onlooker he sped past, his form a blur. Those who did manage to catch a glimpse of him in his orange tracksuit didn't have enough time to curse his very existence as they skittered out of the way for dear life.
As he kept running, a peculiar flash of green crept its way into his peripherals, accompanied by a bellowing howl that fell in tune with his own. Stealing a glance to his right, he almost doubled back at a sight that would; to his ever growing chagrin, forever be burned into his memory.
It was…that Guy weirdo, but for some reason, he had shrunk to about his height, void of his flack jacket, and had bandages wrapped around his hands down to his forearms. He could recognize that bowl cut anywhere, complemented by the green jumpsuit. What looked to be a red variation of the Konoha hitai-ate was adorned around his waist as a belt. Wide circular eyes with dark irises that held a fire in them were fixated straight ahead as he too was running, keeping up with the blonde.
Both boys didn't let up at the slightest as they stormed through every winding corner of the village, all the while, Naruto's thoughts were racing over this baffling interloper that he was neck and neck with.
Had he somehow made his way into a bizarre alternate dimension again? Was he delirious from drinking that fowl beverage?
A competitive fire sparked to life within him as well, letting it out in another fierce roar that was imitated by the other boy.
"Impressive. Most impressive. Dad wasn't kidding," thought the jumpsuit clad boy, getting into a good sweat as he was pushing the blonde through the paces, stealing a glance of him from the corner of his eye. "He…He's not even slowing down."
And indeed, the dynamo that was Naruto was pushing himself even further that he was starting to outpace the green lad, harkening back to his hellish laps up and down the mountain while being burdened by the suit. He let out another roar, ignoring the rising palpitations of his heart and the burn of his legs, his lips twitching into a grin as the pleasure chemicals in his body started to do their work.
Not paying attention to the time, the two finally came to a halt after what had to be a few hours, the sun looking down upon them from up high.
"You…who…the hell…are you?" Naruto asked the boy through short but heavy breaths, hunched down, hands on his knees, his tracksuit drenched in sweat.
The similarly exhausted boy didn't answer right away, marveling that not only did someone other than his father and teacher manage to keep up with him, but actually ran ahead a fair number of times that he had to push chakra through his legs and feet just to close the distance. Could he have been doing the same?
"I've decided."
"Huh?" Naruto huffed, still panting heavily.
The boy in green straightened, looking pensive for a moment before shooting the blonde a look that made him tense up. Taking a deep breath, his lips broke out into an all too familiar smile, then flashed Naruto a thumbs-up, declaring. "I've decided. From this day forth, Uzumaki Naruto, you are to be one of my rivals."
"...huh?" Naruto blinked, slack jawed.
The weirdo trembled with an infectious enthusiasm, pumping both fists. "This is a most joyous occasion! More challenges, more rivals," he said, vibrating with a low hum of excitement as tears spilled from his eyes, burying his face in his forearm, "just as Guy-sensei said, this is truly what it means to have a springtime of youth!"
Naruto bore into the green kid with a vapid, completely dry look that perfectly mirrored Shikamaru's. "Yep, he's definitely related to that old-uh…not-that-old Guy fellow. The question is, if he's planning to turn everyone into mini versions of himself and if I'm to be his latest victim. Best to run before it's too late."
Turning to sneak away, Naruto stole a wary glance from what he had to guess was a drone meant to scout for unwitting souls to be assimilated into the hive mind.
"Oh! Almost forgot!"
Naruto nearly jumped out of his own skin when the green kid rushed in front of him, but was otherwise abashedly rubbing the back of his head, a tinge to his cheeks. "Sorry about all that, man, I kinda got caught up in the moment." He chuckled as he trailed off.
"That was more than just a moment, dude," Naruto inwardly groused, his brow twitching from annoyance that his escape had been barred. "Uh…n-no problem."
The lad in green's smile softened, his features becoming more friendly and genial. "Let's start over." He extended a hand forward. "I'm Rock Lee."
Naruto sighed, deciding not to set the creature that introduced himself as Lee off, accepted the offered handshake. "Uzumaki Naruto. So, what, are you a Genin?"
"Yep. Just graduated last year," Lee answered proudly, letting go. "I guess that makes you my kōhai."
"Senpai, right," Naruto muttered loud enough for Lee to hear him. "So, do you mind explaining to me why you cut into my morning jog?"
Lee pumped a fist as he answered, his demeanor reverting, not at all phased that that race to the edge could even be considered a "jog", "Ever since I heard about you from my dad-"
"That explains so much, and yet so very little," Naruto thought in despair.
"-that I had to meet you for myself, and as destiny would have it, while I was out going for my own morning jog, you and I just happened to cross paths. I could not, in good conscience, pass up such an opportunity to see how someone could have earned my father's praise, and you did not disappoint!" Lee's beaming smile returned. "Also, I just wanted an excuse to talk to you, so, again, sorry if I may have come off a little too strongly there."
Naruto sighed. At least he's polite. "Nah, forget about it. So, what now?"
"Oh, I still have to complete a thousand push-ups. You understand, right?" Lee answered as he was turning to leave, and to the blonde's burgeoning chagrin, he did. "It was a real pleasure to meet you, Naruto-kun. See you around." With that, the boy in green sped off once more, leaving a flabbergasted boy in orange to process his experiences that very morning.
Nara Residence…
"Going cloud watching again?"
Shikamaru, seated by the foyer to put on his sandals, looked over his shoulders to find his mother standing out of the corner of the living room. "Yeah."
Yoshino clenched her jaw, before walking past her son to block the doorway, feet planted firmly and her arms crossed over her chest, but ready to block in case he made any sudden moves. "Living room."
Shikamaru sat still, lolling his head to the side lazily rather than make eye contact with the woman. "Why?"
Yoshino's tone became threatening. "Living room. Now.
Shikamaru normally ignored his mother whenever they found themselves in situations like this, but lately, she had been upping the discipline ever since school had been postponed, taking it as a sign to help secure his graduation by putting him on the grind, from crunching in some extra study hours to sparring.
"Fine," he groaned after her glare intensified, the only other person she showed such a face to being his father. Rising to his feet, he followed her to the living room, hands in his pockets. Seeing his old man already seated on the sofa made him narrow his eyes in suspicion, but it was brief, shrugging that it might simply be about the coming resumption of classes. He took a seat on the sofa opposite theirs, his mother taking her place beside his father.
"I signed you up for a gym," Shikaku bluntly announced, not beating around the bush.
He watched as his son and heir's eyes became wide as dinner plates as soon as those words left his lips, easily guessing what was running through the boy's mind at that very moment.
Life on the road doesn't sound so bad.
Shikamaru winced from the sharp pain of hands digging into his shoulders before he even had a chance to move, feeling the cold gaze of his mother stabbing into the back of his head as she held her son in place with a vice grip belying a woman of her build, having vanished from his father's side the time it took for either of them to blink; had she always been so fast?
"Any-" Shikamaru bit back a grunt from his mother's grip tightening on the off chance that he tried something else. Those nails still hurt, damn it. "Any particular reason…why?"
"Honestly?" Shikaku started with a pointed shrug of his shoulders, "Your mother and I have always been…worried over your startling lack of motivation, and while you have been making strides, we'd feel more assured if you came into the service better prepared."
"I'm already decent at taijutsu," Shikamaru scoffed, irritation seeping into his tone.
"Decent, yes, but a fully equipped gym would prove far more efficient in toughening you up, with the results to show for," Shikaku argued. "The one who owns and runs it is a Tokubetsu Jōnin with impeccable credentials. He's also one of our regulars with a clinic that we supply medicinal ingredients to. Your mother and I have talked about it after I…proposed the idea to her last night," this earned him a glare from his son that perfectly matched his wife's, "and while it is…a little pricey," he averted his eyes from Yoshino's piercing glare over his own reluctance from that caveat, suddenly feeling like he was the one on the chopping block.
Letting out a soft cough to clear his throat, Shikaku went on, "Naruto's uncle could only say good things about the gym after having signed him up a month ago. Even your uncle Chōza is getting Chōji to join in. So, you shouldn't be too lonely."
"Joy," Shikamaru drawled, rolling his eyes.
Shikaku fixed his son with a chiding look, unamused over his clear aversion to the idea. "It isn't that we don't have any confidence in you, it's just that if the sabotage to the curriculum is anything to go by, it's better to be safe than sorry. Many of your fellow students, even if they weren't directly affected, have been reviewing and undergoing retraining. And, with the Chūnin Exam coming next year…"
Shikamaru didn't fail to catch the shift in his father's demeanor at the mention of the exam.
"... and if I r-?" The very reluctant heir felt a cold killing intent surge right through him before he could finish his question. "Fine. Whatever."
Yoshino wordlessly released her hold, but still eyed her son closely, walking back to sit next to Shikaku, who spoke once more, "This is for your own good." A smile tugged at the man's lips, perhaps as an attempt to seem fatherly about the arrangement. "Who knows, you might even thank us someday."
Shikamaru would forever curse this transgression till his dying days.
Akimichi Residence…
"My baby boy? Getting into a gym?" Tōko, Chōza's wife and Chōji's mother, hugged her son as he was finishing up his fourth helping of rice, the family of three in their kitchen partaking in a hearty breakfast. "Honey, no, it might cut into his bulking."
Chōza, arms folded over his chest, was unmoved, having already finished his own portions, though he seemed to be partially in agreement with her from the way his brows wrinkled. "He won't be weight cutting, Tōko, and it's not like we don't know Seiko and Kie. He's only been our family physician after his father passed away, so he of all people should know how we Akimichi train."
Tōko still seemed unsure, though she did regularly attend Kie's Sunday Aerobics class that was frequented by the other housewives. "Well, that is true, but…"
"I'm okay with it," Chōji said before scarfing down the last of his rice, ready for a fifth helping.
His mother looked torn, tightening her embrace that did nothing to impede her son's meal, unable to imagine her adorable little pound cake, as plump as the day he was born, losing weight, not after all the work she put into cooking all the tasty food he could ever want and eat.
"You sure?" Chōza asked his son, more open to his thoughts on the matter.
"Yeah," was Chōji's simple answer, digging into his rice after refilling his bowl. "That wouldn't happen to be the same gym Naruto trains at, yeah?"
"The very same," Chōza confirmed, not that he needed to, father and son knowing the real reason behind this out of the blue decision.
"Hm, fine by me, then," Chōji shrugged. "Is Shika coming, too?"
"Your uncle Shikaku said so himself to me yesterday," Chōza partially lied, only his wife being in the dark about the true reason. "After you're finished, we're going there to check the place out. Shikaku and Shikamaru are coming along, as well."
"Right," Chōji said as he kept shoveling rice and some pickled radishes into his mouth.
Tōko sighed, but a smile soon graced her lips through her lingering doubts for her son, seeing that his mind was set. She squeezed his shoulders lovingly. "Well, you're not going anywhere without a full stomach. Eat up, sweetie. Mommy's going to cook you another helping."
"Ah," Chōji agreed, gorging on more of his mother's delicious food, additionally curious over the kind of diet he'll be placed on for the training.
Spike Gym…
Naruto jogged the whole way - at a genuine languid pace that the people he passed by didn't feel that they were in any immediate danger. After catching his breath from his run with that Lee character, he fell into a comfortable rhythm, as usual ignoring the looks and comments he'd draw, though he suspected that it had less to do with him being a Jinchūriki and more on the drastic and dramatic changes to himself. He had seldom been in public ever since frequenting and staying at the gym, dedicating much of his time and energy into training, and resting or studying whenever he was free. A routine that took much effort on his part to stick.
Upon arriving, he was surprised to find Shikamaru and Chōji there with their fathers. "Hey guys," Naruto greeted them as he trotted up to the group. His eyes scanned for Bokomon and Piyomon. They must already be inside.
He clunkily bowed to the two adults with them after almost forgetting the manners Oton would literally smack into him. "Nara-san. Akimichi-san."
Both of the men nodded, acknowledging how far the boy had come from being an unruly; albeit troubled, troublemaker. "You look like you just ran a marathon, son," Chōza remarked, taking note of the sweat-stained tracksuit.
"Uh, maybe because I kinda did," Naruto confirmed with an awkward chuckle. "So, what are you all doing here?"
Shikaku clamped a hand on his son's shoulder, who grimaced from the contact. "Just here to sign our boys up for the gym."
"Really?" Naruto blinked in surprise. His gaze landed on Shikamaru, who looked back at him with his signature scowl, though it was more intense than usual. "You're gonna train here?"
"In no small part thanks to you," Shikamaru grumbled, then grunted when his father patted him on the shoulder with a firm squeeze and a shake. The blonde chuckled sheepishly from that admission.
Chōji was all smiles as always. "Ne, does Miyazawa-san manage your diet?"
"Yeah," Naruto answered as he walked to the door, the others trailing after. "Why? How do you know about Oton?"
Chōji licked his lips as his father answered, "Why, he happens to be our family physician." The Akimichi patriarch revealed. "His cooking is to die for, so we're patrons of his restaurant on top of that. He even has a special menu reserved exclusively for us Akimichi."
"Oton never told me that," Naruto wondered aloud as he led them through the entrance hall.
"You expect a doctor to tell you who all their patients are?" Shikamaru deadpanned, hands in his pockets.
Naruto winced. He hadn't asked either, though he doubted Oton would have told him anything. "Guess not."
Once they arrived, with Naruto opening the door to motion them inside, they found Oton, Bokomon and Piyomon huddled at the center, with the latter helping with some heavy equipment. Shikaku and Chōza watched in amazement as the avian, who looked to be no bigger than the Hokage's grandson, lifted what had to be a 300 kg barbell over her head like nothing. They had a general idea that Digimon, even as Rookies, were stronger than the average human, but this could only be the result of Seiko's training.
Oton turned his head in their direction when he sensed them approach. "You're late."
"I went jogging," Naruto replied smartly, gesturing to his yet to dry sweat stains. "You think I took a dip in the lake?"
"Underwater anaerobic exercises would have proven more strenuous, yes," Oton countered, before turning his attention to the two men who were technically his superiors. "Well?"
"Our kids are all yours," Chōza said. The two men and their sons bowed, though Shikaku had to push his son's head down. "Please, take care of them."
"We were just in the middle of taking stock of the equipment," Oton explained, with Bokomon sidling next to him with his tablet on-hand. "You can leave them here for evaluation, and I'll send them on their way afterwards. We won't start right away…"
"Hey," Shikamaru whispered to Naruto after shuffling next to him while the adults talked. "Does he…"
Naruto shook his head without a word. Oton wasn't in on the secret, and Hiruzen felt no need for him to be, seemingly having taken Bokomon and Piyomon's covers at face value. The Nara heir gave a single, imperceptive nod, additionally relieved that they weren't going to jump straight into breaking their backs.
After their fathers left, Chōji and Shikamaru were given a tour of the gym by Oton in the same vein as he did for Naruto. The young Akimichi was more receptive as the man evaluated them through a standard interview and physical checkup, with Shikamaru being his usual impassive self. After all was said and done, the two were introduced to the suits that they needed to wear.
"I look like a buffoon," Shikamaru remarked drily, his suit drooping off him.
Chōji's was clinging to him more stably from his rounder build. "What are these for?" He raised his hands to examine how loosely the suit gloved them. The fabric felt smooth and breathable, not at all chafing or itchy like he expected upon donning it.
Naruto couldn't hold back an evil cackle, "Yes, yes! Feel my pain! Mwahahahaha!"
"I'll gladly give you some since I'm in such a generous mood right now," Shikamaru threatened half-heartedly, though he knew he couldn't do much to the blonde.
Naruto snorted, "Just infuse it with your chakra."
The two heirs did as he said, though with more finesse from their better control at the first try. Not long after doing it, their suits pulled back to fasten more firmly to their bodies, much to their amazement.
"Your suits, unlike Naruto's, are adjusted at a lower setting, so you should be able to work with them," Oton explained as he examined the seals on each if they were in proper working order.
"A lower setting?" Chōji echoed curiously.
"The suit will steadily weigh down and stiffen your movements in order for you to build resistance," Oton detailed. "This is to provide you with a more well-balanced and well-rounded workout than if you were using free weights. Naruto's suit, unlike yours, is set at the maximum setting due to his body being more adaptive to the strain without much risk of injury."
"Does him being an Uzumaki make that much of a difference?" Shikamaru asked in a mix of envy and curiosity.
"It's not my fault that I'm just that awesome," Naruto bragged, pointing his nose up smugly.
"To put it mildly, yes," Oton admitted to the Nara heir's question. "His body, unlike a majority of his clansmen that suffered from recessive disorders, is perfectly healthy, with all the benefits afforded by their unique biological makeup. A healing factor being one that allows him to endure and recover from a more intense variation of the training."
"Go on," Naruto goaded. "It doesn't just stop there."
"Indeed," Oton said with little emotion. "High vitality, high stamina, a longer lifespan."
"In other words, a clan of monstrous superhumans that were also gifted in the fūin arts," Shikamaru curtailed with a click of his tongue. "Incredible."
"Quite," Oton concurred. "If such traits weren't detrimental in their own way."
"That's right-" Naruto blinked, snapped out of his high by those words. "Say what now?"
"Naruto, let me ask you a question," Oton began as he looked down at the blonde. "Do you know how the Shodaime Hokage, Senju Hashirama, died?"
"Uh…" Naruto drawled, his mouth hanging open, before shaking his head left to right. "Not…really. B-But, I do know that he passed away in his forties." Thank you~, study sessions!
"Correct," Oton said. "At first glance, the Senju and Uzumaki were separate clans, but from the frequency of their members interbreeding, they might as well have been one clan, sharing more or less the same traits. They should have been invincible with a long and fruitful lineage for generations to come. Alas, their very advantages proved to be their undoing with the past wars, alongside other factors. Medical science hadn't advanced enough before the realization that inbreeding past a certain limit was slowly sapping away at their lifespan, their bodies ability to fight disease, and sterility."
Naruto hung his head, reminded of the cruel breeding program of his clan. "Hashirama wasn't just hailed as the strongest shinobi of his lifetime. He really was. He possessed the greatest vitality out of the Senju and Uzumaki altogether, bar none. The density of his chakra alone could emit a shockwave that could easily rend his surroundings."
"Whoa," Naruto and Chōji marveled, while Shikamaru kept silent, listening intently.
"His own healing factor was what could truly be called as such, being able to regenerate from any injury, no matter how critical or life threatening," Oton elaborated further, some emotion seeping into his tone. "Yet, it was precisely because of how potent his ability to heal was that it became a double-edged sword."
"How?" Naruto asked, scratching the back of his head, at a loss as to how being able to heal could prove debilitating or detrimental in any way. It naturally sounded like something wonderful to have.
Wishful thinking.
Don't tell me you know. I mean, the Shodaime sounds like he was practically unbeatable.
No such thing. That line of thinking will bring you to an early grave like that bastard, and he certainly wasn't as invincible as his devotees still make him out to be. Otherwise, he wouldn't have croaked at such a relatively young age. Given what you've learned about him now, why do you think he did?
Uh…he got sick?
You could say that. Just listen.
"Do you children know your history?" Oton asked the three.
"Yep," Chōji answered.
"Pfft," Shikamaru huffed, not needing to.
Naruto fidgeted as the others singled him out. "Y-Yeah! Of-"
"No, you don't," Shikamaru easily cut him off with a yawn.
"Hey! I've been working on it, okay!?"
"I fully expect my prize to be gift-wrapped. In gold," the Nara announced imperiously.
Naruto's form tensed and twitched in anger, muttering through his teeth grinding, "Doh, I'll show you…"
Ignoring them, Oton continued, "The reason why Hashirama's healing factor was the cause of his demise can be attributed to the era he lived in, where clans of shinobi would be enlisted to fight for the feudal lords. A time where a war would begin when one would end. Two clans stood out as the strongest, but they were also bitter and vicious rivals, constantly at each other's throats from being at opposing sides just as frequently, and no, that isn't an exaggeration. You all should know them as the Senju, and the Uchiha."
Naruto's brows crinkled. Sasuke's clan.
Shikamaru had been rubbing his chin in thought. "Ah. So that's it."
"You figured it out, Shika?" Chōji said without surprise.
"It's because of how brutal the Warring States Period was, and what I can safely guess to be being regularly pitted against monsters like Uchiha Madara, that Shodaime-sama would come to overtax his healing factor, which would lead to his body failing earlier than if had he reached a naturally advanced age," Shikamaru expounded.
"Exactly," Oton said commendably, nodding.
"Smartypants," Naruto seethed to the Nara heir, who was too busy being right to pay attention to the blonde's grumbling. "Still, how does that make having a healing factor a bad thing?"
"Cellular division is tied to how our bodies age," Oton carried on. "Imagine yourself healing from your arm being nearly bisected up to the pectoralis major, so deep that the limb is being held on by mere sinew and bone." He made a cutting motion demonstrably with his hand on the left side of his chest. "That is merely a fraction of what Hashirama would regularly sustain by going toe-to-toe with the Uchiha, especially from his; at the time, sworn enemy, Madara. This was, of course, before they made peace and founded Konoha together. Connective tissue becomes stiff, which makes organs, blood vessels, and airways more rigid, encumbering the processing of oxygen and nutrients traveling to where they need to be, leading to atrophy. Waste products start to build up faster than our bodies can dispose of them. All this, because cells can only divide a set number of times before they stop and die, and new cells take their place."
"His lifespan was shortened from all the battles he went through," Shikamaru surmised. "His body could no longer sustain itself because his healing factor accelerated cell division at a rate lethal to the average person. He'd have been dead long before ever founding Konoha."
"His body was killing him from the inside out," Oton said concisely. "My father was just one of the doctors that were called to treat him, but to no avail."
Naruto gulped, registering the bare bones of it all. "So, what you're saying is, since I have a healing factor too, what happened to the Shodaime…could happen to me?"
"It's a possibility," Oton admitted unabashedly, which made the blonde squirm in panic. "If me and Junichiro haven't been monitoring your training and health as carefully as we have, and if you went through about the same amount of punishment as the First Hokage did in his lifetime. As of now, you're safe."
"B-B-B-But it'll eventually come to that, right?" Naruto dreaded.
"Live life to the fullest," was Oton's simple answer in his usual flat tone, flashing a thumbs up in what he must have thought to be a reassuring platitude. All it did was make Naruto wonder if a career change was in order. Artists make a lot of money, right?
Tch, asshole. It should have been me to put him out of his misery.
Man, what'd the First Hokage ever do to you?
What the hell do you think, retard?!
…Oh
That goes double for that piece of shit Madara!
I think I remember you and Jii-chan talking about that guy, and how he had this…man…getsuyo…
Mangekyō Sharingan. The only thing that could take control of us Bijū, for the Uchiha are direct descendants of Hagoromo. A cursed ability that should have stopped existing after the old man passed.
Hm…you think Sasuke could get to do that?
Hmph, I have no doubt. It'd be better if we took him out first before he ever does.
Whoa, whoa, now hold on. I can't just kill Sasuke over that. I mean, he just doesn't need to know about you. Besides, I bet he's nothing like that Madara guy.
We'll see. Though from the instances of me having seen him through you, there's some piddling of a resemblance. I'm glad the rest of his miserable clan was wiped out.
…huh?
"When you're done staring blankly at space, we can proceed with your final test."
Naruto was brought out of his stupor by Oton, who turned to walk away as Bokomon and the rest of his friends approached.
"Were you talking with Kurama?" The scholar asked.
"Was Kura-chan being mean to you again, Naru-chan?" Piyomon followed.
"Is that really gonna be a thing with you?" Shikamaru said after holding back a chortle with the back of his hand. Kura-chan?
"When's lunch?" Chōji inquired, amused as well over the fearsome Tailed Beast's nickname.
"After I take my final test," Naruto answered the rotund boy inattentively.
"What's wrong?" Bokomon prest.
"N-" Should he dispense what Kurama had mentioned to him about Sasuke? "Nothing…uh, just the usual back and forth."
"What's he even like?" Shikamaru questioned. "The Kyūbi, I mean. Is he really some kind of mindless beast as they say?"
"He…doesn't really like being called that," Naruto replied, walking in the direction Oton went, the others following. "His name's Kurama, and no, he isn't mindless. Nasty temper, though. The other Tailed Beasts have names of their own, and Bokomon here used to be their teacher back when they were kids in the Digital World." He gestured to the diminutive scholar, having waited for Oton to be out the door, coming to a halt when they were only five feet away. "I…was also his godfather back when I was AncientGreymon."
"Does that mean we used to take care of Tailed Beasts of our own?" Chōji said in awe. The blonde nodded. "Cool."
"Yeah, like our kids, not pets," Naruto stated pointedly. Chōji flinched in embarrassment, his smile becoming apologetic. "And it isn't so bad. We've come to an understanding, but he can still be kinda of a jerk." He paused. "Okay, a really big jerk when he wants to be, but I'm used to it."
Shikamaru shared a silent look with Chōji, knowing what the blonde could have only meant.
"At least you don't have to change his diapers," Shikamaru quipped as he impatiently reached for the door first.
Cheeky brat. I see not much of him has changed.
You…know who Shikamaru used to be?
Mere conjecture, though just as with you, I can never really forget his presence.
Who?
Now that would be telling.
Right…
Once they were outside, Oton directed them all to the front of the building. Naruto gulped, eyeing the heavy double doors warily as they traipsed closer, looking more intimidating as if the large panels could fall and crush him if he were to inch nearer.
"The final test of your training for this phase is to push these doors open."
"R-Right…" Naruto muttered, taking an involuntary step back.
Oton shot him a look from the corner of his eye, a flash of the afternoon sun reflecting off his lenses as his head turned. "Come here."
Rather than object, the young Uzumaki slowly marched up to the imposing man, impeccably dressed in his black suit. Bringing his hand up, Oton pointed at the blonde, before the tip of his finger emitted a tiny wisp of chakra. "Lift your shirt."
Naruto did as he was told, though didn't know what the man was going to do, right until Oton jammed his finger right between his chest and stomach. He winced, feeling a light sting that was akin to skin touching a hot metal surface. "What was that?"
"Just removing a seal," Oton answered as he withdrew his arm. "I placed it on you to suppress your strength only on weekends."
"Uh, any particular reason why you did that?" Naruto asked as he let go of his shirt. "And without me knowing?"
"Try lifting that rock over there," Oton pointed to his right, where a few yards away, a large boulder was resting near the treeline. It certainly looked heavy, and big enough that it came up to Oton's waist. "In case you ask, yes, I keep that rock around just for such occasions."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Okay."
Naruto and company approached the rock, and seeing it up close, it looked much too large of a diameter for anyone, let alone an adult, to lift by themselves. Chōji could probably do it, but he'd need to reinforce his arm muscles with chakra to effectively do so. Still, Naruto bent down after taking a deep breath, making sure that he had a good grip and his feet planted firmly. He pulled, fully expecting for there to be resistance, until his eyes widened when he unintentionally catapulted the large boulder over his head like he was just tossing a football. It careened through the air by about 6 meters before landing back down with a heavy thud, the ground shaking from the impact.
Naruto, Shikamaru and Chōji were all gaping. "Did…did I just do that?" The young Uzumaki looked down at his hands in amazement after glancing over his shoulder to see the rock doing a roll before becoming inert. It didn't even feel that heavy. "H-How in the hell…?"
"The seal I placed on you only suppressed about a fraction of your strength to keep you from unintentionally breaking things, or doing harm to others," Oton explained. "I didn't tell you so that you could perform at your best during the training, motivated by the belief that you weren't making much mileage. Now, after you pass this test, your new training will be focused on bettering your control."
Bettering his control? He'd be thankful to just open his door without unhinging it like back in the AR Konoha. Naruto sighed, "Let's just get this over with before I change my mind."
"What's so hard about opening these doors?" Shikamaru asked.
"Each door panel weighs about 4 tons." Naruto took some measure of catharsis at seeing the young Nara's face as what he said sank in.
"You're joking, right?"
"Believe me, I almost laughed the first time I heard that I had to push these damn things open at some point," Naruto said after a derisive snort.
Upon first seeing Oton do it, he fully believed that it was impossible for him, especially in regards to his age and stature. The man had the build and bulk to be able to pull it off, but looking at himself now, with his shirt off, he took a moment to notice just how much his own body had changed. He had been shorter and skinnier than his peers from his poor nutrition and even poorer attempts at training. Now, he stood at about a head even with Shikamaru. His muscles were lean, but toned and well-defined, his waistline narrow and sleek. From behind him, his two friends couldn't stop staring, like they were looking at a completely different person, the blonde's silhouette bearing that impression.
Naruto placed a hand on his shoulder and rotated his free arm at counterclockwise direction, then did the same with the other. Flicking his hands, he next bounced in place a few times before stopping, straightening his posture and finishing his warmup with two slow, deep breaths.
"I'm ready," Naruto declared. Oton nodded.
Taking a deep breath once more, the young Uzumaki leaned forward into position, placing both hands on a panel each. Propping his feet firmly against the ground, he pushed.
4 tons.
Each door panel weighed about 4 tons. Unlike the boulder, there was some actual resistance at play, causing him strain as his muscles gradually tensed, visible veins bulging on his arms and temples. He dug his heels in, increasing the intensity as he pushed with all his might. When a minute passed, he heard it, but didn't dare loosen his form. A noise that could only belong to large, heavy springs contracting seized the air around the gym so loudly that Shikamaru was sure that it could be heard all the way to the village. Not long after, the doors parted into a narrow slit, before inching into a gap that could be peeped through. Naruto's jaw became set as he began to break out into a sweat, taking a measured step forward as the panels yielded further open with beastly creaks and groans, his feet sinking into the solid concrete pavement. When the gap was finally wide enough for him to enter, the blonde didn't move, taking a moment to comprehend it.
Releasing the breath that he had been holding, Naruto slowly let go and stood there in a silent, disbelieving stupor, letting his jaw hang open before swallowing the saliva that was threatening to drool out. It almost didn't feel real.
He haltingly turned his head around, looking over his shoulder to see his friends standing there, also in varying states of disbelief over his incredible accomplishment. His face, shining with sweat, broke out into a smile. He had done it.
"Great work," Oton commended. "You managed to push through 8 tons."
"Yeah," Naruto said, panting as he wiped at some of the sweat from his brow. "4 together makes 8, right."
"16," Oton corrected him. "I neglected to mention it earlier. I increased the weight to 8 tons for you."
"...Huh?"
"Now, please step back quickly before the doors retract," Oton instructed. "Violently."
"Huh?" Naruto blinked, and no sooner than that was said, the sound of the springs returned, followed shortly by a loud bang mixed with the boy's screams.
Author's Notes: If any of you are wondering how muscular Naruto is, his build is identical to that of Killua Zoldyck's after training with Bisky. So, no, he isn't a hulking adonis, though his is still quite impressive for a boy his age. Also, I blatantly took inspiration for Naruto's final test from the Zoldyck Testing Gate.
As for those wondering if there's gonna be any Hashirama Cells as a plot device in this story, I'm (not) sad to inform you, the reader, that no, there won't be.