A Hero Reborn
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Naruto x ?
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Story Start
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Caulifla stood before her mentor, Naruto, fists clenched, and teeth gritted. She had been training for weeks, trying to master the transformation that he had promised would change her life forever. She had remembered the words she had spoken when he had made the offer to her.
"Do it," she growled. "Show me how to become a Super Saiyan."
Naruto nodded; his expression serious. "Remember, Caulifla, this is not just a transformation. It is a symbol of our people's strength and determination. It is a power born from a need and signifies the virtuous path of a warrior. You must respect it."
Caulifla nodded, determination burning in her eyes. "I will. Now show me how to do it."
Naruto stepped back, watching as Caulifla closed her eyes and focused her energy. She felt a surge of power, the likes of which she had never experienced before. Her muscles tensed, and she gritted her teeth as she tried to push through the barrier that was holding her back.
She couldn't keep pushing her power from much longer and her ki raising faltered as she began to pant and her power taper out.
"It takes more than raising your power. The power comes from a need, one born from your heart and unless your honest with yourself you won't be able to find that trigger."
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Naruto lay motionless on the ground, his body battered and broken. Caulifla knelt beside him, tears streaming down her face. Memories flooded her mind, of Naruto training with her, pushing her to be stronger, faster, better. And as they trained together, she couldn't help but notice the way his eyes lit up when she accomplished something new, or the way he laughed when she made a joke.
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Naruto and Caulifia stood facing each other in a large, open field, ready to begin their training. Naruto was excited to have a new training partner, but Caulifia was hesitant, trying to hide her own excitement.
"Alright, Caulifia, let's start with some warm-up exercises," Naruto said, stretching his arms and legs.
"Hmph, don't act like you're so excited to train with me," Caulifia replied, crossing her arms over her chest. He had more than once rather circles around her and her gang and was a constant source of irritation for her to no end. It wounded her pride to have someone around that she couldn't even compete with power wise and it was her indomitable determination to surpass him that made her finally relent and take up his offer to train with him.
Naruto grinned. "Oh, I'm definitely excited. You're a powerful warrior, you're one of the hand full of saiyans on this planet with limitless potential and I'm looking forward to see it become unleashed."
Caulifia rolled her eyes but couldn't help feeling a bit flattered. She loosened up a bit and started to follow Naruto's lead.
They began with some basic sparring, exchanging blows and blocks, with Naruto trying to get a feel for Caulifia's fighting style. She was fast and agile, making it difficult for him to land a hit with his power suppressed as much as it was, but it proved to be good training to refine his base form and fighting techniques. The stronger one made their base the stronger their transformations became after all.
Caulifia, on the other hand, was trying to hide the fact that she was enjoying the training. She was impressed by Naruto's skills and determination, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for him. She hated him at first, thinking he was a cocky jerk that simply wanted to lord his powers over other and was faking the goody two shoes act, but as she spent more time with him she began to realize he was actually a decent guy.
As they continued to train, Naruto noticed that Caulifia was holding back. He called her out on it.
"Caulifia, what's going on? You're not fighting at your full strength," Naruto said, his eyes fixed on her.
Caulifia blushed, feeling caught. "N-nothing. I'm just trying to get a feel for your fighting style," she stuttered. "Rragh what the hell is wrong with me!? Stuttering!? Aah damnit is Kale rubbing off on me more than I'm rubbing off on her?"
Naruto wasn't convinced. "Come on, Caulifia. We're here to train and get stronger. I know you want to improve so you need to give it you're all."
Caulifia's eyes widened, realizing he was right. She had been holding back because she was worried about making a mistake in front of him or looking weak if her best after all this time was still nothing compared to the blond. But that was exactly what training was for. To improve. To become stronger.
When it came down to it she desired it for herself. Not for him. Not for her brother. Not for anyone else. Caulifia wanted to both be strong and free to prove her way of living was just as justified as anyone else's and she'll be damned if she let her current limits be the best she could do.
Taking a deep breath, Caulifia focused her energy and let loose, unleashing her full strength against Naruto. He was caught off guard, but quickly recovered, blocking and dodging her attacks.
As they continued to spar, Naruto and Caulifia grew closer, their movements syncing up as they worked together to improve their skills. And though Caulifia continued to act tsundere about it, Naruto could sense a growing bond between them. He knew that they were both getting stronger, both as individuals and as a team.
Caulifia after all would be a key member in the team he was forming. It was too dangerous to change too many things in Universe 7 before until the events of the Cell was over or until he found a safe method of time travel that would bring them to this universe's past without causing split timelines and paradoxes. Such an act might hopefully gain the attention of the Supreme Kai of Time and lead to him becoming a patroller.
That was the Hero's last wish after all. One that he was driven to accomplish thanks to the man who freed him from what would have been an eternal prison.
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So how did things turn out so wrong?
Things weren't supposed to go this way.
And now it was too late.
She was too stubborn to admit her feelings. She pushed them down, focused on becoming stronger and proving herself as a warrior. But as Naruto lay dying before her, all those feelings bubbled to the surface, overwhelming her with a sense of loss and regret.
"You waste time crying girl. You'll be joining him soon enough!" Their enemy cruelly mocked as he began charging Ki in his hand.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, placing a hand on his chest. "I should have told you how I felt."
As she spoke, a surge of power built within her, a power that she had been trying to unlock for weeks. But this time, it was different. This time, it was fueled by her love and sorrow for Naruto.
Instead of flashes of their training sessions filling her mind, it was of the quiet and peaceful moments. The moments of peaceful lunches. Of showing up and trying to convince her gang of a better way of life. Of him being able to get past Kale's shell and getting her to open up unlike anyone else could. She now realized it wasn't his power that made him great but his willingness to open up his heart to others and see the best in others and giving them the chance to be that better person. He saw the best in others. Saw the best in her. Saw that she could be so much better and had fate in her.
And in that moment, she realized that she didn't want to live in a world without him.
With a primal scream, Caulifla's hair turned a brilliant gold, and she felt a rush of power surge through her body. She stood up, her eyes blazing with determination, and faced the enemy that had killed Naruto.
"You will pay for what you've done!" she shouted, charging towards the enemy with renewed vigor.
As she fought, she felt Naruto's presence within her, urging her on, reminding her of their bond as warriors and as friends. And in that moment, she realized that she had always loved him, and that his sacrifice had opened her eyes to what was truly important.
"I won't let your sacrifice be in vain," she whispered, landing a devastating blow on the enemy. "I'll make you proud, Naruto."
And with that, Caulifla stood tall, her golden hair blazing in the sun, a testament to the power of love, loss, and the unbreakable bond between warriors.