Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Z Abridged, or Naruto.
"Hello" - normal talking
'Hello' - thoughts
The sun bathed Jingle Village in a warm golden hue, and joyful laughter and cheers erupted from every home as the villagers celebrated the safe return of their loved ones. In a modest but lively kitchen, the aroma of delicious food flowed through the air, where Naruto, Bulma, ChiChi, and Eighter gathered around a large table piled high with dishes.
"Thanks for the food!" they said in unison, their faces lighting up with smiles, a delicious reward for their heroism and victory.
"You three can eat as much as you want," Suno's father said, his voice thick with gratitude. He beamed at the heroes who were able to return to his daughter and wife, thanks to those three. "Thanks to you, our village is whole again. We are truly thankful!"
Curiosity bubbled up from Suno's mother. She wiped her hands on her apron and leaned in. "Can you three tell me why you had to go through all of that for these Dragon Balls?"
Bulma swallowed her food and exchanged a glance with her companions, then spoke with a serious tone. "Well, these are not ordinary crystal balls. Individually, they have no powers but united they can call forth an Eternal Dragon who grants wishes."
ChiChi added, "And if they fall into the hands of someone evil, like the Red Ribbon Army, who knows what kind of chaos they could unleash? That's why we are collecting them."
Naruto turned his attention to Eighter, who sat quietly, still processing his newfound freedom. "Eighter, I've been wondering why you hid the Dragon Ball. Why did you take it from the Red Ribbon Army?"
The android's large eyes darkened with memories. "To save the villagers. When General White found the Dragon Ball, he was about to kill all the prisoners. I took it without him noticing, keeping him busy," he explained. Suno and her family gasped, horror flashing across their faces.
"You, my friend, are a true hero," Suno's father declared, his voice booming with gratitude. A sense of warmth filled the room, and Eighter's mechanical heart swelled in unknown emotion to him. "That's it! I have decided that you can stay at my house!"
Naruto grinned widely at Eighter. "Did you hear that? Now you have a home to stay."
"Yes! Now I can have even more friends!" Eighter exclaimed, his voice a blend of childlike wonder and newfound joy. It was a moment of pure bliss that wrapped around the group like a comforting blanket.
As the trio prepared to head out to their next destination, Naruto's expression shifted to seriousness. "Well, we better go now. We have to get the next Dragon Ball before the Red Ribbon Army gets their hands on it."
"Don't let the Red Ribbon Army win," Suno called out, her voice filled with hope and concern.
"WE WON'T!" the trio shouted back in unison. "BYE EVERYONE!" With a final wave, they soared into the sky, the wind tousling their hair as they headed toward the horizon.
"BYE …TAKE CARE… BE CAREFUL!" The villagers called after them, their voices fading as the heroes flew away to their next destination.
RED RIBBON ARMY HQ
The atmosphere within the Red Ribbon Army HQ was thick with tension. A flickering radar displayed chaotic blips, marking the movements of their enemies.
"The radar shows that the Dragon Balls are heading south at tremendous speed," General Black reported, his tone full of disbelief.
Commander Red's face was full of anger as he looked at the radar, his eyes narrowing. "What about White? What happened to him?" he demanded, his voice rising.
"They're most likely dead,"
"Everyone's so incompetent!" Commander Red's anger exploded, slamming a fist on the table, sending papers scattering. "ENOUGH! I've had it with these fucking kids." His gaze sharpened, and a dark plan began to form in his mind. "CONTACT MERCENARY TAO, RIGHT NOW. TELL HIM TO KILL THOSE KIDS AT ANY COST."
"Right away, sir," a soldier replied, fear lingered in his voice as he scrambled to carry out the orders.
…
Mount Rumbled, an imposing volcanic mountain, loomed over the vast, dense forest of Korin Land. On the summit, the Red Ribbon Army led by Captain Yellow had spent days digging through the rocky surface in a hurried search for the Dragon Ball. While the ground beneath them trembled from the restless volcano.
Captain Yellow, a stocky humanoid tiger with yellow fur and black stripes, paced in frustration. Wearing a typical general outfit of the Red Ribbon Army. "Damn it! We've been digging for days, and still nothing!" His growling voice echoed across the mountaintop. "Enough is enough!"
His communicator suddenly crackled to life. "Captain Yellow! The Dragon Ball! We've located it! I'm looking right at it. Come here quickly, sir!"
Yellow's frustration melted into excitement. He darted across the mountaintop toward the voice, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. "Where is it?" he demanded, skidding to a halt as one of his soldiers pointed toward the mouth of the volcano.
"It's down there, sir." The soldier's voice trembled as he pointed. Far below, barely visible and nestled on a narrow rock, the Dragon Ball gleamed above the molten lava.
Captain Yellow squinted through his binoculars, his eyes widening as the orange glow of the Dragon Ball came into view. "There's no mistake. It's the Dragon Ball," he growled triumphantly.
"But, Captain," a soldier asked nervously, "how are we going to get it? The volcano is getting more unstable."
Captain Yellow didn't miss a beat. "Simple," he snapped. "We'll use the helicopter! Enter the crater from the air and retrieve it. No excuses!"
"Yes, sir!" the soldiers barked in unison, scrambling into action. Within minutes, the sound of spinning blades filled the air as a helicopter hovered over the mouth of the volcano. Below, molten lava bubbled, its intense heat distorting the air. A soldier began to descend slowly toward the glowing ball.
The moment the soldier's fingers brushed against the smooth surface of the Dragon Ball, the mountain let out a deafening roar.
"Captain! The mountain…" The soldier in the helicopter started, but it was too late. A loud explosion erupted from the mountain, sending ash, rocks, and fire shooting into the sky. The entire volcano began to spew molten lava with terrifying speed, a river of fire that devoured everything in its path.
"Retreat! RETREAT!" Captain Yellow screamed, but his voice was drowned out by the violent roar of the volcano. The soldiers on the ground barely had time to react to their inevitable death. Helicopters spun out of control. In the chaos, the Dragon Ball shot into the air like a fiery comet.
Moments ago
The sky above Korin's Land was a vibrant blue, stretching endlessly, filled with white clouds. Naruto, Bulma, and ChiChi soared through the air, approaching the towering silhouette of Korin Tower in the distance.
"Look, it's the Korin Tower!" Naruto exclaimed, pointing at the massive structure.
ChiChi's eyes widened in awe. "Wow, it's so big!"
"How can it stand without falling?!" Bulma marveled, her voice filled with disbelief. "It defies the laws of physics!"
Naruto chuckled. "I don't know much about that, but Korin said he built it using magic or something. Hey, ChiChi, once you're done training with my Dad, you should definitely climb that tower. You'll learn a lot from Korin."
ChiChi glanced at the tower, her determination sparking to life. "Really? There's someone stronger than Master Roshi up there?"
Naruto shook his head with a smile. "Not necessarily, But he can teach you lessons that go beyond fighting."
As they flew closer to their destination, Bulma pulled out her Dragon Radar and checked it. "We're almost there. The Dragon Ball should be right at the top of that mountain," she pointed toward a large, imposing peak not far from Korin Tower.
Suddenly, a violent explosion erupted from the mountain, sending rocks and smoke flying high into the sky. The ground rumbled beneath them, and the trio instinctively braced themselves for the shock wave.
"What the?!" Naruto shouted, his eyes wide with surprise. "The mountain just erupted!"
ChiChi and Bulma's faces mirrored his shock. "How are we supposed to get the Dragon Ball now?" ChiChi asked, her voice laced with worry.
Bulma quickly glanced at her radar, which beeped wildly. "Wait a second, the radar's showing something… The Dragon Ball is moving! It's going farther away from the mountain."
Naruto looked over her shoulder. "Probably got blown away in the explosion."
ChiChi pumped her fist in relief. "Alright! That means we can get it without any more trouble!"
Naruto nodded. "Yeah, let's move."
Red Ribbon Army HQ
The tense atmosphere in the control room of the Red Ribbon Army HQ was suffocating. Commander Red sat behind his desk, seething with barely contained rage. General Black, standing nearby, a little nervous as he listened to Captain Yellow's voice crackling through the communicator. Fearing for another bad news.
Quickly fixing his demeanor "What is it, Yellow?!" Black barked into the microphone.
Captain Yellow's broken voice echoed through the room "Everyone… wiped …, sir. I … survived the ..."
Black clenched his fists, his face tightening in frustration. "What about the Dragon Ball?"
"I don't … sir… It … blew … eruption." Anyone barely understood his words, but they could already guess the mission was a failure.
Commander Red slammed his fist on the table, standing abruptly. "Incompetent fools! GET IT AT ALL COSTS!" His voice thundered through the room. "If you mess this up any further, you're as good as dead! The radar shows it's not far from you, Yellow."
"Y-Yes… sir," Yellow stammered, fear creeping into his voice. "But… hold on, sir. I… see something in the …" The connection got cut and reconnected again, and Yellowe's radio was nearly out of commission.
Black's eyes narrowed. "What now?"
"It's those kids!" Yellow exclaimed this time his voice was loud and clear. "The ones you described, they're flying toward the Dragon Ball!"
"Those teens again…" he muttered, panic creeping into Black's voice.
Commander Red's anger boiled over. He stormed toward Black, snatching the communicator from his hand. "Yellow! Listen up!" he roared, his voice dripping with fury.
"Y-Yes, Commander Red!" Yellow's voice trembled.
"You have exactly twenty minutes. Mercenary Tao is on his way to your location. I don't care what you do, but you will get that Dragon Ball and stall those kids. If you fail…" Red's voice dropped to a deadly whisper, "...Tao will kill you in ways you can't even imagine."
Yellow gasped audibly over the communicator. "M-M-Mercenary Tao?!"
"Yes," Commander Red replied coldly. "And he doesn't tolerate failure. So you'd better pray you do not fail me again."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
As the transmission ended, Red tossed the communicator aside and turned to Black. His eyes were cold, murderous. "Those brats have interfered for the last time. Mercenary Tao will take care of them. After all, he is the ultimate killing machine."
Black's anxiety lessened slightly. "Mercenary Tao…" he said, trying to reassure himself, "He's unstoppable. He's killed countless people without even letting them lay a finger on him. But this time… this time, I hope he makes their deaths slow. Painful."
Red's lips curled into a sinister grin. "Oh, trust me. I've given him strict orders to make their deaths agonizing. These Kids have no idea what's coming for them." The two men burst into maniacal laughter, their voices echoing through the cold steel walls of the headquarters.
…
Not far from Mount Kanea, nestled in the dense jungle, was the quiet village of Aru. This village was a blend of rugged cowboy-style settlers and native tribespeople, all living in harmony. The people here prided themselves on being self-sufficient, living close to nature. Guarding this village was Bora, a tall, formidable man with braided black hair adorned with a red and white feather. His traditional Native American attire only accentuated his commanding presence. Beside him stood his young son, Upa, who always looked up to his father with awe and admiration.
Today, something unusual happened. An orange ball had landed just outside their village.
"What is that thing, Father?" Upa asked as he tentatively reached for the glowing ball. The moment his fingers brushed against its surface, he yelped in pain, throwing it away. "It's hot!"
Bora calmly picked up the ball, examining it with curiosity. "It must have come from the mountain. That's why it's so hot."
"Do you know what it is?" Upa asked, his wide eyes filled with wonder as he watched the orange ball glow more brightly.
Bora's brow furrowed. "No... this is something I've never seen before. It's mysterious."
Upa stared at the ball in amazement. "Look, Father, it's glowing! It's so pretty."
Meanwhile, high above the village, Captain Yellow of the Red Ribbon Army was scouring the land from his helicopter. His few remaining soldiers, those who had survived the earlier explosion, looked below trying to find any sign of the Dragon Ball. The jungle below was thick, making it hard to track anything.
"Damn jungle," Yellow muttered through gritted teeth. "It's going to be tough finding the Dragon Ball in all this." Frustrated, he turned to his soldiers. "Prepare to land! We'll search on foot." The soldiers obeyed, and their helicopter descended just outside Aru village.
From the ground, Upa noticed the strange flying objects. "Father! There are birds I've never seen before!"
Bora squinted as he recognized the machines. "Those are not birds, Upa. Those are helicopters. They're machines men use to fly."
The helicopters landed, and from them emerged the soldiers of the Red Ribbon Army, weapons slung across their backs. Their leader, Captain Yellow, stepped forward with a cocky grin on his face as he surveyed the simple village before him.
"Well, well, who would've thought? People actually live in a place like this," Yellow mocked, his voice oozing arrogance.
Bora took a step forward, placing himself between the soldiers and his village. "Who are you?" he asked, his tone low and commanding.
Captain Yellow smirked, clearly unimpressed by the towering man in front of him. "I am Captain Yellow of the Red Ribbon Army, and from now on, this area and your village are under our control. Consider it our new base camp."
Bora's eyes narrowed, his posture unwavering. "This is our home, OUR land. You have no right to claim it."
Yellow's smirk faded into a scowl. "I don't care what you think. You and your people will be useful as laborers. Or..." His eyes gleamed menacingly. "You can die."
Bora stepped forward, his muscular form casting an imposing shadow. "I will not allow you to harm my village or my people. Leave now."
Captain Yellow's soldiers raised their guns, aiming at Bora. "You feel like dying today, huh?" Yellow sneered, gesturing for his men to fire.
The booming sound of gunfire echoed through the jungle as the soldiers opened fire, bullets flying toward Bora. But Bora stood firm, not moving an inch. The bullets struck him, but they bounced off his skin like harmless pebbles.
The soldiers stared in disbelief. "No way!" one of them gasped. "That's impossible!"
Bora didn't flinch. "Guns are nothing but toys to me," he said calmly. "They won't work here."
"Father! Your spear!" Upa called out, tossing the weapon to Bora. Bora caught it effortlessly, his eyes still locked on Captain Yellow.
Yellow's confidence faltered as he realized what he was up against. But he wasn't going to back down. "You're making a big mistake by going against the Red Ribbon Army," he warned, though his voice trembled ever so slightly.
Bora's voice boomed with righteous anger. "I do not care about your army. But I will protect this village with my life."
Yellow signaled to his men. "Kill him! Now!"
The soldiers charged, swinging bats and attacking Bora hand-to-hand, but each of them fell swiftly under Bora's powerful strikes. He cut them down one by one, his spear moving with deadly precision. Desperation filled Yellow's eyes as he reached for the rocket launcher strapped to his back. "Take this!" he screamed, firing a rocket straight at Bora.
The explosion was deafening, the force sending Bora crashing into a nearby tree. The smoke cleared to reveal Bora struggling to stand. His chest was burned, his breathing labored, but he was alive. His spirit, however, remained unbroken.
Captain Yellow laughed, his face filled with cruel satisfaction. "Still standing, huh? Well, let's see how long that lasts."
As Yellow reloaded his rocket launcher, Upa panicked. He grabbed a spear and hurled it at Yellow, but it missed, embedding itself into the ground. One of Yellow's remaining soldiers aimed his gun at Upa, the barrel pointed straight at the terrified boy. Upa froze in place, fear gripping his small body.
Bora screamed in desperation, "UPA! RUN!"
But Upa couldn't move. His heart pounded in his chest as the soldier squeezed the trigger.
BANG!
Upa squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the inevitable pain. But instead, he felt nothing.
Cautiously, he opened his eyes and saw a figure standing in front of him, a stranger who had appeared out of nowhere, shielding him from the bullet.
"Just in time!" Naruto exclaimed, turning to Upa, his deep voice steady despite the tension in the air. "You okay there, kid?" Upa nodded, though his wide eyes betrayed his fear. Then, Naruto's gaze shifted back to the menacing figures of the Red Ribbon Army, his expression hardening. "Can you guys do anything besides killing innocent people?"
Captain Yellow, taken aback by the spiky-haired teen, yelled, "Men, fire at that kid! Kill him now!" But nothing happened. Confused, he spun around, only to find that all his soldiers lay motionless on the ground. Fear gnawed at him as he recognized the two girls standing triumphantly on their dead bodies.
"You! What are you?!" he stammered, panic rising in his voice. But before he could finish, a Ki bullet pierced through his head, and his body fell face-first into the dirt, lifeless.
Naruto's focus returned to Bora, who was still clutching a tree for support, visibly weakened but determined. Bora looked at the three newcomers, assessing their strengths. They had saved his son, yet uncertainty lingered in his heart.
"You okay there, man?!" Naruto called out, concern lacing his tone.
Bora nodded, though it was clear he was still in pain. "I will live," he replied, his voice strained.
Naruto, noticing the bloodied wounds and singed skin, pulled out a senzu bean, tossing it toward Bora with a casual flick of his wrist. "Here, eat this. It'll help you heal."
Bora caught the bean, eyeing it warily. "What is this?"
"Don't worry, it's not poisonous if that's what you're thinking," Naruto assured him, flashing a friendly smile.
Taking a moment to consider, Bora weighed the potential danger against the urgent need to heal. 'If they wanted to kill me, they would have done it already. They also saved Upa,' he reasoned. With a deep breath, he popped the bean into his mouth. Instantly, he felt warmth spreading through his body, and within moments, his wounds vanished. He stood taller, more powerful than before, "Thank you for saving my son's life," he said, his voice full of gratitude and surprise.
"That's nothing. All I did was rescue him," Naruto replied, shrugging off the praise.
"Thank you, you are nice," Upa bowed his head in respect, his innocent sincerity melting the tension in the air.
"Aww, he's so cute!" Bulma and ChiChi exclaimed in unison, rushing over to Upa and pinching his chubby cheeks playfully. The little boy giggled, momentarily forgetting the danger they had just faced.
Naruto's gaze flickered to the object in Bora's hand, the Dragon Ball. "You have it! The Dragon Ball! We're looking for it," he exclaimed, a spark of relief igniting in his eyes.
"You also desire this?!" Bora questioned, surprised. He handed it over, his expression a mix of curiosity and caution. "What exactly is this Dragon Ball?"
Naruto was about to explain, but then his expression shifted as he sensed an ominous presence approaching. "Someone's coming," he warned, his tone serious.
"Who is it?" Chi-Chi asked, scanning the sky.
"I don't know, but I'm feeling heavy killing intent from that person," Naruto replied, pointing at the horizon. They all looked up to see a figure flying toward them. Soon, a man landed in front of them with an unsettling grace.
The newcomer was of average height, appearing to be in his 40s or early 50s. His small, beady eyes glinted with malice, and his pointed nose accentuated his sinister demeanor. Clad in a pink chang pao adorned with the kanji for "satsu" he exuded an aura of danger.
"I am Mercenary Tao," he said smoothly, a chilling smile curling his lips "Pleased to kill you."
Naruto and ChiChi exchanged worried glances, recalling Master Roshi's warnings about this assassin. He was a master of the Crane School, a rival to the Turtle School, and his reputation as a world-famous killer was notorious.
"What purpose do you have here in my village?" Bora demanded, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through him.
"I have no business with this place," Tao replied nonchalantly. "But I do have business with those three teens over there. I simply came for them."
"What? What do you want from us?" Naruto challenged, his fists clenching at his sides.
"Perhaps if I told you the Red Ribbon Army sent me, that would answer your question," Tao said, his smirk widening.
ChiChi growled,"Red Ribbon?!" her voice laced with fury. She stepped forward, ready to confront the assassin, but Bulma grabbed her arm, holding her back.
"Yes, my job is to kill you three because you are all an obstacle in their ball-collecting," Tao stated matter-of-factly.
"Great, just what we needed," Naruto muttered, frustration bubbling inside him. 'So they've sent an assassin after us. We must be on their radar now.'
Bora stepped forward, "Now wait a minute!" his voice was firm. "They saved my son's life. If you don't leave now, you will have to face me!"
Tao laughed, "What a fool," his eyes glinting with amusement. "To think you would choose death."
Naruto felt a surge of concern for Bora, stepping forward to place a hand on his shoulder. "Stop! You're not strong enough to fight him. You'll only get killed."
"But it's my duty to defend this land and its people," Bora protested, determination etching his features.
"I know, but you're no match for him. Besides, he came for us. Let me deal with this mercenary," Naruto insisted.
Bora hesitated, glancing back at Upa, who was watching with wide, anxious eyes, silently cheering for his father's bravery. Slowly, Bora stepped back, but his protective instinct remained palpable. "Be careful!" Upa shouted, his small voice trembling with worry.
Naruto locked eyes with the mercenary, his expression hardening as he prepared for the battle. A smirk tugged at his lips. "So you're from the Crane School, one of its Masters?"
Tao raised an eyebrow, surprised that his target had knowledge of his background. "Yes, but how do you know that?"
"Because I'm from the Turtle School," Naruto shot back, his confidence making Tao's surprise turn to anger.
"Oh! Is that so? Then I'll take pleasure in killing you!" Tao snarled, his voice dripping with malice.
Without warning, the battle began. The mercenary dashed forward, aiming a deadly fist directly at Naruto's heart. In a split second, Naruto ducked, and kicked Tao in the back, sending him crashing face-first into the ground.
Quick to recover, Tao sprang to his feet and assumed a fighting stance. "Lucky Shot" He charged at Naruto again, unleashing a barrage of punches and kicks. But Naruto swiftly dodged every strike, then performed a backflip to create some distance between them.
"You're skilled," Naruto said, tauntingly. "But far too weak. Dad's intel must be very old. Man, I was worried for nothing." Naruto suddenly charged at him with a speed that Tao could not follow. Naruto landed some heavy blows on the mercenary. Tao tried to dodge but Naruto was too fast. With a final blow to Tao's stomach, Naruto sent Tao crashing into a tree.
To everyone's surprise, the assassin actually got up. Tao's face twisted with rage at the insult. "GRRR! How dare you look down on me!" With renewed anger, he darted forward and executed a double-booted kick. Naruto blocked it easily and delivered a powerful kick, sending him crashing hard to the ground again.
Bora watched the fight with wide eyes. He had never seen such speed and strength. The way Naruto manhandled someone as formidable as Tao was nothing short of amazing.
ChiChi, on the other hand, observed the battle with a critical eye. To her, Tao seemed weak, she could take him down with ease. "He wouldn't have stood a chance against me when I first started training. Maiby Master was wrong about him," she thought out loud.
"I-I'm not finished yet!" Tao shouted, his voice strained as he crouched back into a fighting stance. "I won't lose to a student from that pathetic school!"
"Hope not," Naruto replied coolly. "Give me your best this time."
"YOU WANT MY BEST? THEN YOU CAN HAVE IT! DODON RAY!" Tao shouted, pointing his hand at Naruto and unleashing a beam of Ki energy. Naruto stood his ground, a confident smirk on his face as the beam connected, creating a massive explosion.
Tao laughed, but that quickly faded when the smoke cleared. Naruto stood unharmed, not a scratch on him. "Is that all you've got? Is that the best you can offer?" he taunted.
Tao backed away, "H-How a-a-re you still alive?" panic evident in his eyes.
Naruto charged forward with a Ki ball in hand "Because you're weak," He drove it into Tao's stomach at point-blank range, sending him hurtling away. The Ki blast exploded, leaving no trace of the mercenary behind.
Naruto turned back, grinning as he approached his girlfriends. Bulma immediately high-fived him. Upa jumped up and down, cheering as he watched Naruto defeat the bad guy in such a cool way.
"We've got four Dragon Balls now. What should we do next?" ChiChi asked, her brow furrowed in thought.
"We should keep these safe," Bulma suggested, her tone serious. "But they have a Dragon Radar. I'll need to make a signal jammer to block their radar."
"No need for that," Naruto said. "I'm going to take out the Red Ribbon Army once and for all."
"What?!" Bulma exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Naruto, you can't just go! You don't even know where their HQ is!"
"You said they gathered three Dragon Balls in one place. I'm guessing their HQ is where they're keeping them," Naruto explained, his resolve unwavering. "I'm going there to get those Dragon Balls and take down the whole army."
"But the whole army? What if something happens to you?" Bulma asked, concern washing over her face.
"Yeah, Naruto. Let me come with you!" ChiChi insisted, not letting her boyfriend go face a whole army alone by himself.
Naruto leaned in, pressing kisses to both of their lips. "You two don't need to worry. I'm strong, remember?" He kissed them again, then called out to Nimbus. "You two head back to Kame House. I'll meet you there, okay?" Then the Saiyan called his trusty magical cloud.
Hesitantly they both agreed "Okay, but be careful," Bulma said, handing him the Dragon Radar. ChiChi kissed Naruto again and bid farewell to Bora and Upa. Bulma climbed onto Nimbus, as did ChiChi, and with a command, the magical cloud whisked them high into the sky to Kame house.
As the duo departed, Bora and Upa exchanged confused glances. Naruto approached them, a playful grin on his face. "Well, this is goodbye then. Try not to get hurt next time, big man."
Bora smiled back "I'm grateful for everything you've done. You're always welcome in my village."
"Thanks," Naruto replied, looking at Upa. "Goodbye, little guy." Upa beamed and waved goodbye as Naruto took off into the sky, to confront the Red Ribbon Army HQ once and for all.
…
Commander Red paced excitedly in his dimly lit office, a grin plastered across his face. "What a glorious day! I have a feeling that today will be the greatest day of my life," he declared to his right-hand man, Black.
"Yes, sir. Once Tao returns with the Dragon Balls, we will have all of them, and nothing can stand in your grand plans." Black replied, his tone equally enthusiastic.
"It's only a matter of time until the world becomes mine!" Red proclaimed, his voice brimming with confidence.
Suddenly, a soldier burst into the room, a look of panic on his face. "Commander! The four Dragon Balls that mercenary Tao was supposed to bring are heading in the wrong direction!" He pointed to a large screen, where the Dragon Balls were moving steadily away from the HQ.
"What is Tao doing? Call him now!" Red barked, his excitement quickly turning to irritation.
"Yes, sir!" The soldier scrambled to make contact with Tao, but after several attempts, he shook his head in defeat. "Commander, we've lost all connection with him."
"WHAT?!" Red shouted, his voice echoing in the chamber. "Did he betray us?!"
"Or perhaps those kids defeated him," Black suggested, a hint of concern in his voice.
"No! It can't be…" Red growled, clenching his fists in frustration.
Before he could vent further, alarms blared throughout the facility. The atmosphere grew tense as soldiers scrambled to their posts. Another soldier rushed in, his expression grave. "Commander! An unidentified flying object is approaching us at tremendous speed!"
"Is it Tao?" Red asked, hope mingling with anxiety.
"I don't know, sir!"
"Then activate the defense systems! Destroy whatever that thing is!" Red commanded, anger surging through him.
"Yes, sir!" The soldiers sprang into action, manning their stations.
Meanwhile, not so far away, Naruto flew at a neck-breaking speed toward his target, glancing at the Dragon Radar. "I'm almost there," he muttered to himself. Just then, a swarm of missiles homed in on him.
"What's this? Looks like they spotted me. Then I'm heading in the right direction," he remarked, a smirk forming on his lips.
With agility and speed, Naruto swiftly dodged all the missiles. As more came toward him, he gathered energy around his body. He pointed his hands at those missiles, shooting multiple small energy blasts, obliterating the incoming projectiles.
Moments later, he arrived high above the Red Ribbon HQ. The base was larger than a small town, surrounded by dense forest, fortified with turrets, jets, helicopters, and countless soldiers.
Naruto hovered above and scanned the scene below. "It would be troublesome to just go in and collect the Dragon Balls. I'll just destroy the whole base instead," he decided. He began to charge blue energy around his body, gathering it into his palm to form a brilliant blue energy sphere. "This should do the trick," he said, focusing his energy on the Ki blast.
With a swift motion, he thrust his hand forward, launching the sphere at the base. It struck the heart of the HQ, creating a massive explosion that lit up the sky and sent shockwaves through the whole landscape. The blast consumed the whole base. When the light died down and the smoke cleared, a deep crater remained where the HQ once stood, leaving no sign of the Red Ribbon Army.
"Now, it's time to find those Dragon Balls," Naruto said, checking his radar to locate the three orbs, deep down in the crater. What a disappointing ending for the world's strongest private military army.
…
Three months had passed since the Red Ribbon Army incident, and the news of their demise spread through the world like wildfire. The entire army was obliterated by a single person, though the identity of this mysterious figure remained unknown. A blurry video, acquired from a government secret organization, showed a person flying over the HQ and dropping a ball of light, obliterating the whole base in a giant explosion. This footage was broadcast on the news, turning the unknown figure into a hero overnight, despite nobody knowing who he or she was.
Even the world government issued a great reward for the unknown hero, with the primary reason for releasing the video being to entice the hero to come forward. However, no one stepped up to claim the reward because it required demonstrating the same feat shown in the video. So far, no one dared to step forward and attempt to claim the prize, leaving the true identity of the hero a mystery.
Naruto had been busy continuing his training under Kami and completing various quests. After successfully gathering the remaining Dragon Balls, which now rested safely within Capsule Corp's mansion, he was surprised to find that his deeds had somehow been broadcasted, turning him into a world hero overnight, even though no one knew his identity.
Bulma was thrilled, and ChiChi was overjoyed by the news. Both his girlfriends insisted he should claim the reward and be recognized as the world's hero who destroyed the Red Ribbon Army. After all, he was the son of the great martial artist, Master Roshi. Even after three hundred years, Roshi's deeds were remembered, and they believed Naruto should be a hero too. However, to everyone's surprise, Naruto refused to come forward.
The Saiyan decided not to reveal himself as the mysterious hero who defeated the Army. He reasoned that he was not human, but a Saiyan. Even though he grew up in this world and considered it his home, he was still reluctant to reveal his true identity to the world. Despite Bulma's insistence and ChiChi's arguments, Naruto stood firm in his decision. Even his friends tried to persuade him, but Naruto remained resolute. Master Roshi, understanding that his son was now an adult capable of making his own decisions, chose not to intervene.
To calm down his two pouting lovers, Naruto reassured them that he would claim the reward and receive recognition as the hero when the time was right, but not now. Both ChiChi and Bulma reluctantly nodded and decided not to press any further. Naruto sighed with relief that night. He really didn't want the attention, let alone becoming a celebrity and the hero of the world. He hoped that his girlfriends would eventually forget about it.
Right now his focus shifted to a new Quest Given by Kami. This time, he was hunting down a boar. But this wasn't just any boar. It was InoShikaCho, a rare and dangerous beast that had been wreaking havoc in villages surrounding Korin's land. Kami himself had tasked Naruto to take care of it.
Flying high above a dense jungle, Naruto's sharp eyes scanned the ground below. He had received word from the villagers that InoShikaCho had terrorized them for days, leaving destruction in its wake. To make matters worse, the village chief had hired two martial artists to take care of the menace, but Naruto had yet to spot them or the rare boar.
As he descended closer to the treetops, a flicker of light caught his attention. Torches. A group of villagers were making their way through the forest, following two figures, both of whom were in pursuit of a massive purple boar. The creature had butterfly-like wings sprouting from its back and a pair of twisted deer-like antlers on its head. Clearly, this was no ordinary animal.
Naruto watched quietly from above as the two martial artists effortlessly brought the boar to the ground. It was knocked unconscious with minimal effort, and the villagers cheered. But something about the scene felt off to him.
As the two martial artists turned to address the villagers, Naruto's suspicions were confirmed. The duo lied, declaring the boar dead, and extracted more reward than agreed upon. They soon left with InoShikaCho's unconscious body, still very much alive, slung over their shoulders. Naruto, unseen, decided to follow them. As he tailed them deeper into the woods, the truth came to light. The martial artists, both students of the Crane School he guessed, were running a scam, using the boar to extort villages for easy money.
Hours passed, and the trio eventually set up camp in the middle of a clearing far from any village. Naruto stayed hidden, watching as they lit a fire and began cooking.
"We scored big today, huh?" one of the martial artists asked, a satisfied smirk on his face.
The taller of the two, a muscular, bald man with a third eye in the middle of his forehead, nodded. His name was Tien. "Yeah. But next time, we should charge even more," Tien replied, his voice calm but calculating. "What do you think, Chiaotzu?"
Chiaotzu, a small, pale figure with red cheeks and no visible nose, grinned mischievously as he agreed. "Right."
"HUM-HUM-HUM~" Even the boar seemed to hum in agreement, its eyes half-closed as it rested near the fire.
Naruto decided it was time to make his presence known. As he stepped into the clearing, the soft crunch of leaves under his feet alerted them. Tien instantly jumped to his feet, eyes narrowing at the intruder. Chiaotzu quickly followed suit, and even InoShikaCho started growling like a wild beast.
"Who are you?" Tien demanded, keeping his guard up.
Naruto stepped forward, his gaze steady. "The name's Naruto," he said casually. "I've been watching you for a while now, and I know all about your little scheme."
Tien's expression hardened. "What scheme? We don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't play dumb," Naruto retorted, his voice sharp. "I know you've been using InoShikaCho to trick the villagers and rob them. I want to know why."
Tien's fists clenched. "Why do you care?" he growled. "What's it to you?"
"Because that's not the way of martial arts," Naruto replied firmly. "A real martial artist doesn't deceive the weak or exploit others."
For a brief moment, Tien's face flickered with uncertainty, but it was quickly replaced by a cold sneer. "Well, I don't care what you think," he spat. "Now that you know our secret, we can't let you walk away."
Without hesitation, Tien charged at Naruto, moving with impressive speed. But Naruto remained unfazed. He dodged each of Tien's strikes. Chiaotzu quickly joined the fight, but neither could land a hit. Slowly they increased their speed but Naruto still kept up with them. Naruto's calm demeanor only seemed to irritate them more.
Finally, growing tired of their attempts, Naruto struck. With a single powerful kick, he sent both Tien and Chiaotzu crashing into a nearby tree, leaving them breathless, gasping for air. InoShikaCho, seeing its companions in trouble, charged at Naruto in a blind rage. But Naruto knocked the boar out with a single blow, sending it skidding on the ground.
Tien struggled to his feet, panting heavily. He began gathering his energy, his hands glowing faintly as he prepared to unleash a ki blast.
Naruto sensed the build-up of Ki and frowned. "He knows how to use ki?" he thought, impressed. "I can't let this go any further."
Naruto released his own ki, along with a wave of killing intent. The sheer force of his power hit Tien like a ton of bricks, forcing him to his knees. Chiaotzu, overwhelmed by the pressure, passed out. "I told you," Naruto said, his voice cold and commanding. "Stay down. You can't win."
Tien looked up, trembling. "W-Who are you?" he stammered, barely able to speak.
"As I said, I'm Naruto," the Saiyan replied, his tone softening slightly. "And I want to know, why are you doing this? Why not earn money the right way?"
Tien's gaze fell to the ground. "B-Because… this is what we were taught. This is how Master Shen trained us."
"Master Shen?" Naruto's eyes narrowed. "So, you're from the Crane School after all. I figured as much. But to think Shen fell this low..." He shook his head in disappointment. "And to think he once called my Dad his best friend."
Tien's eyes widened. "Your father? You mean… you're Master Roshi's son?"
Naruto nodded. "That's right. My Dad, Master Roshi, and Shen were once close. But things changed. Shen and his brother Tao despised my Dad."
Tien swallowed hard. "So that's why Master Shen wants me to…" He stopped, realizing he was about to say too much.
"Shen wants you to do what exactly?" Naruto pressed. "Speak."
"He wants me to kill you," Tien admitted reluctantly. "To avenge his brother."
Naruto chuckled darkly. "Of course he does. But here's the real question, do you want to kill me?"
Tien hesitated, his face contorted with inner conflict. "I… I don't know," he said softly. "I don't like hurting people. But everything I do, I do for my friends and my fellow students. If I don't follow Shen's orders, he'll hurt them."
"But Tao is dead now," Naruto pointed out. "What's stopping you from disobeying Shen? From walking away?"
"I… I can't just abandon everything I've known," Tien whispered, tears welling in his eyes. "Crane School… it's all I have."
Naruto smiled warmly, extending a hand toward Tien. "I understand. But you don't have to stay under Shen's control forever. Train, get stronger, and you'll be able to protect your friends, and make the changes you want to see."
Tien stared at Naruto's hand for a long moment before finally accepting it, standing on shaky legs. "You really think I can…?"
Naruto nodded confidently. "You just need the right guidance."
"But how? Shen holds us back. He doesn't let us grow stronger than him."
Naruto smirked. "Who said anything about training under Shen?" The Saiyan then told both crane students to follow him.
Tien looked confused but hoisted the unconscious Chiaotzu onto his shoulder as Naruto picked up InoShikaCho. "You can fly, right? I felt your Ki when you attacked me."
Tien nodded, still confused. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see soon enough," Naruto replied, gazing up at the moonlit sky. "By the way, do you know the real history of the Crane and Turtle Schools?"
Tien frowned. "I know the basics. The Crane School was created to oppose the Turtle School, right?"
Naruto shook his head. "Not exactly. The Crane School was created by Master Shen's teacher, but not the way Shen teaches it now."
"Wait, you're talking about Master Mutaito, right?" Tien asked.
"Nope. Shen had another teacher, a man named Master Xing."
"Master Xing?" Tien repeated, confused. "I've never heard of him."
Naruto smiled knowingly. "That's because Shen and Tao erased him from the Crane School's history. Let me explain…"
As they flew through the night sky, Tien and now awake Chiaotzu came to learn the true history behind two martial arts schools and how much of a scum Master Shen was. The more they learned the more they realized what kind of lie they were living under.
…..
"That's the place," Naruto pointed ahead toward his Dad's little house.
Tien and Chiaotzu stared in disbelief. "That's Master Roshi's home? It's so... small," Tien muttered.
"Don't let appearances fool you. That small house can withstand tsunamis," Naruto said with a smirk.
As they descended, Naruto could already sense his Dad's familiar ki. Master Roshi was inside, likely enjoying his time with Launch. There were no signs of ChiChi or Krillin, probably training elsewhere. They landed softly on the sandy beach, Tien and Chiaotzu were very nervous.
Master Roshi emerged, adjusting his sunglasses, and paused when he saw Tien and Chiaotzu standing behind his son. "So," Roshi said, "you've brought some guests."
"Dad, this is Tien and Chiaotzu. They're from the Crane School." The young Saiyan then explained the whole situation to his father, who had a thoughtful look on his face the whole time as his son further explained the current state of the crane School.
"You want to train under me, huh?" Roshi asked, his tone more amused than serious. "The Crane School has fallen so far that Shen's students are coming to the Turtle School for help."
Tien clenched his fists, anger in his eyes. "It's true, Master Roshi. Shen is holding us back, and we can't grow under his teachings anymore. I... we want to become stronger, to learn true martial arts, not tricks or schemes."
Chiaotzu nodded eagerly. "We want to save our friends."
Master Roshi rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then glanced at Naruto, who gave him a nod. "Well," Roshi sighed, "if Naruto thinks you're worth the time, then I suppose I can give you a chance. But I won't be accepting you two as students of Turtle school. I will guide you, acquiring strength will be your task."
"We understand," Tien said as he and his friend bowed deeply. "We'll be forever grateful for your guidance, Master Roshi."
"Good. Then let's get started tomorrow. For tonight, you can rest here. You're going to need your strength."
Finished
Power Level
Naruto:? ( Age : 17)
Master Roshi: 25000 (Age: Over 300)
Bulma: 20 (Age: 19)
ChiChi: ? (Age: 18)
Krillin: ? (Age: 16)
Tien: 2000 (Age: 21)
Chiaotzu: 1000 (Age: 15)