NINE-TAILED DESTINY: A NARUTO × DIGIMON CROSSOVER

The jeers hit Naruto's back like shuriken, sharp and precise, each one finding its mark with cruel accuracy. He ran faster, bare feet slapping against Konoha's dusty streets, the afternoon sun beating down mercilessly on his sweat-soaked orange jumpsuit. Behind him, the shopkeeper's furious voice rose above the market crowd.

"Thief! Someone stop that demon brat!"

Naruto clutched the small loaf of bread tighter against his chest. He hadn't stolen it—the old man had dropped it while loading his cart, and Naruto had simply picked it up. But the moment their eyes met, history rewrote itself. In the shopkeeper's gaze, Naruto saw the familiar transformation: child to monster, human to demon.

"I was just trying to help, you jerk!" Naruto shouted over his shoulder, dodging between two surprised chunin who made half-hearted grabs at his collar.

A flash of silver—an ANBU on the rooftop. Naruto ducked instinctively into a narrow alley, his heart hammering against his ribs. The village's elite ninja weren't usually bothered with chasing him unless he'd pulled a truly spectacular prank. Today, he'd done nothing but exist in the wrong place at the wrong time. Again.

The alley dead-ended at a high wooden fence. Naruto didn't break stride—three quick steps up the wall (thank you, Academy basics) and he was over it, tumbling into someone's garden. Flowers crushed beneath him, their sweet scent rising with his guilt.

"Sorry," he whispered to the ruined blooms, then bolted as a window slid open above.

Fifteen minutes of frantic navigation through Konoha's backstreets brought him to the village's edge, his lungs burning and legs trembling with exhaustion. The training grounds offered temporary sanctuary, but the true safety lay beyond—in the thick forests surrounding Konoha, where even ANBU rarely patrolled during peacetime.

Naruto slowed to a walk once the trees closed around him, their canopy dimming the harsh sunlight to a gentle, dappled green. The village sounds faded, replaced by birdsong and the whisper of leaves. His breathing gradually steadied, the tight knot in his chest unwinding slightly.

"Stupid villagers," he muttered, tearing off a chunk of the now-squashed bread. It was still warm, the crust crunching pleasantly between his teeth. "I'm gonna be Hokage someday, and then they'll all have to be nice to me. Believe it!"

The declaration echoed unanswered through the trees. Naruto's shoulders slumped. Even to his own ears, the words sounded hollow, a child's fantasy rather than a plausible future.

He wandered deeper into the forest, following a barely visible game trail. This far from the village, the trees grew ancient and massive, their roots erupting from the earth like the knuckles of buried giants. Naruto found a particularly impressive specimen—a towering oak with a hollow at its base just large enough for him to squeeze into.

The hidden space felt like a secret clubhouse, a refuge where, for once, no one was looking at him with cold eyes. Naruto settled against the curved inner wall, finishing his bread in small, careful bites to make it last. Sunlight filtered through a knot-hole above, casting a single golden beam that danced with dust motes.

"When I'm Hokage," he whispered to the empty hollow, "I'll make a rule that nobody can be mean to kids just 'cause they don't have parents."

His voice cracked on the last word, and Naruto hugged his knees to his chest, pressing his forehead against them. He wouldn't cry. Crying was for babies, and he was twelve now—a ninja-in-training, almost a genin. The graduation exam was only two weeks away.

He'd fail, of course. Just like last time. And the time before that.

The clone jutsu remained stubbornly beyond his grasp, dispersing into pathetic smoke puffs no matter how hard he concentrated. Iruka-sensei had tried to help, staying late after classes, patiently explaining chakra control techniques that Naruto couldn't seem to master.

"You're using too much chakra, Naruto," Iruka would say, his voice gentle but edged with frustration. "You need to regulate it—imagine turning a faucet to control the flow."

But whenever Naruto reached for his chakra, it rushed through him like a flash flood, wild and overwhelming. There was no faucet, no control—just raw power that refused to be shaped into the delicate constructs his classmates created so effortlessly.

The hollow suddenly felt stifling, the air too thick with his failures and fears. Naruto crawled out, blinking in the relative brightness of the forest. He needed to move, to run until his body was too tired to let his mind spin in these useless circles.

He was just about to break into a sprint when the ground beneath his feet trembled.

Naruto froze, his ninja instincts—underdeveloped as they might be—screaming danger. Earthquakes were rare in Fire Country, and this felt... different. More localized, somehow. As if the forest itself were shivering.

The tremor intensified, leaves shaking free from branches, small pebbles dancing on the ground. Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, it stopped.

Silence fell—an unnatural quiet that pressed against Naruto's eardrums. Even the birds had gone silent.

"Hello?" Naruto called, hating the quaver in his voice. "Is anyone there? If this is some kind of training exercise, it's not funny!"

No response came, but as Naruto turned slowly in place, he noticed something strange. About twenty paces ahead, the forest... rippled. There was no better word for it. The air itself seemed to fold and unfold, like fabric caught in an invisible breeze.

Curiosity overcame caution. Naruto edged closer, eyes wide as the distortion grew more pronounced. At ten paces, he could feel it—a static charge that raised the hair on his arms and neck. At five paces, his teeth began to ache, as if he'd bitten into something freezing cold.

"What the heck...?"

The ripple suddenly collapsed inward, forming a perfect circle of... nothing. Not darkness, not light—simply an absence, a hole in reality itself. Naruto stumbled backward, tripping over a root and landing hard on his backside. He scrambled away on hands and feet, heart pounding so loudly he was sure it could be heard back in the village.

The circle pulsed, expanding slightly before contracting again. Within its boundaries, Naruto caught glimpses of somewhere else—a landscape of harsh angles and impossible colors, where what looked like data streams flowed through a sky the wrong shade of blue.

"Genjutsu," Naruto whispered, remembering one of Iruka's lessons. "It's gotta be genjutsu."

He formed the dispelling seal with shaking hands. "Release!"

Nothing changed. The portal—because what else could it be?—continued to pulse rhythmically, its edges crackling with energy that looked like lightning but moved like water.

Then something began to emerge from its center.

Naruto should have run. Any sensible person would have. But some combination of shock, curiosity, and his own stubborn refusal to show fear kept him rooted to the spot as a small object shot out from the portal, arcing through the air to land with a soft thud in the leaf litter just a few feet away.

The portal snapped shut behind it with a sound like thunder, the forest rushing back to normalcy so quickly that Naruto wondered if he'd imagined the whole thing. But the object remained, half-buried in fallen leaves—tangible proof that whatever had just happened was no hallucination.

Naruto approached cautiously, ready to bolt at the first sign of danger. When nothing exploded or attacked, he crouched down to examine the mysterious item.

It was like no ninja tool he'd ever seen. Roughly the size and shape of his palm, the device had a small screen surrounded by an orange frame, with blue grips on either side and a few simple buttons. It looked technological, but far more advanced than anything in Konoha, where electricity was still something of a luxury.

"What are you?" Naruto murmured, reaching out hesitantly.

The moment his fingers touched the device, it erupted with light. Naruto yelped, yanking his hand back as the screen blazed to life, projecting a holographic circle that expanded rapidly outward. Symbols flashed across the projection—strange characters that resembled neither kanji nor any other writing system Naruto recognized.

"Whoa!" He scrambled backward, but the light followed him, enveloping his body in a cocoon of digital illumination. It didn't hurt—in fact, it felt warm, almost comforting, like slipping into a hot spring after a cold day.

The light pulsed once, twice, then retreated back into the device, which fell silent save for a soft, rhythmic beeping. Naruto stared at it, torn between fascination and fear. What had just happened? Had the light done something to him? He patted himself down quickly, but everything seemed normal—no extra limbs, no missing parts.

Gathering his courage, Naruto picked up the device again. This time, it remained relatively calm, the screen glowing softly with what looked like a radar display. A single dot pulsed at its center, with another, larger dot moving steadily toward it from the edge.

Naruto frowned, tapping the screen experimentally. The display didn't change, but the beeping accelerated slightly. The moving dot was getting closer.

"Closer to what?" Naruto wondered aloud. "Closer to... me?"

The realization hit him just as a second tremor shook the forest, this one stronger than the first. Naruto spun around, clutching the strange device as trees swayed dangerously around him. The air began to ripple again, but this time the distortion was larger, more violent—less a gentle fold and more a savage tear.

With a sound like reality itself being ripped apart, a second portal burst into existence ten feet above the ground. This one didn't pulse demurely—it roared, expanding outward in a rush of displaced air that knocked Naruto off his feet. From within its depths came a flash of movement, followed by a startled yelp that sounded almost... childlike.

Something small and fast plummeted from the portal, hitting the ground with a thud and a distinctly irritated growl. The portal snapped shut behind it with a thunderous clap, leaves and dust swirling in the sudden vacuum it left behind.

Naruto lay flat on his back, the wind knocked out of him, staring up at the canopy of trees now visible where the portal had been. Slowly, he pushed himself up on his elbows, his gaze landing on the thing that had emerged from the gateway.

His first thought was: Fox.

His second, coming a heartbeat later: Not a fox.

The creature picking itself up from the forest floor was fox-like in its general shape—four legs, pointed ears, bushy tail—but there the resemblance ended. Its fur was a rich golden color with white markings, but it seemed to shimmer slightly, as if not quite solid. Its eyes were a startling emerald green, far too intelligent for any animal, and its tail ended in a white-tipped plume that seemed to flicker like a flame.

Most significantly, it was small—not much bigger than a housecat—and currently glaring at Naruto with an expression of distinct annoyance.

"Ow," it said in a voice that was young but clearly masculine. "That was the worst landing ever. Stupid dimensional gate needs a better exit strategy."

Naruto's jaw dropped. "You can talk!"

The fox-creature jumped, apparently noticing Naruto for the first time. It crouched defensively, ears flattening against its head.

"A human?" it growled. "Great. Just great. Look, I don't want any trouble, okay? I'm just passing through. You didn't see me, I didn't see you, everyone goes home happy."

Naruto sat up fully, cross-legged on the forest floor, too fascinated to be properly afraid. "What are you? Some kind of summon? I didn't know foxes could be summoned."

The creature bristled. "I am not a summon, whatever that is. And I'm not a fox, either!" It drew itself up proudly, the fur around its neck puffing out. "I am Kitsumon, a Rookie-level Data-type Digimon. And you—" Its green eyes narrowed, focusing on the device still clutched in Naruto's hand. "Where did you get that Digivice?"

"Digivice?" Naruto looked down at the device. "Is that what this thing is called? It came through a weird hole in the air, just before you did."

Kitsumon's ears perked forward with interest. "A Digivice appeared for you? That's... unexpected." He took a cautious step closer, then another, his initial wariness giving way to curiosity. "You don't seem like a Chosen Child. You're too... I don't know, scruffy."

"Hey!" Naruto protested. "What's that supposed to mean? And what's a Chosen Child?"

Kitsumon circled him slowly, sniffing the air. "Chosen Children are humans selected to partner with Digimon—that's digital monsters, like me—to fight evil and maintain balance between our worlds. They're usually all special and heroic." He gave Naruto a dubious look. "You smell weird. Like human, but also... something else. Something wild."

Naruto stiffened. Did this creature somehow know about the Nine-Tails? He clutched the Digivice tighter, suddenly wary. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, and I'm gonna be Hokage someday! That's way more special and heroic than whatever you're talking about."

To his surprise, Kitsumon laughed—a sound like small bells chiming. "Hokage? What's that, some kind of human food?"

"No!" Naruto jumped to his feet, indignant. "The Hokage is the strongest ninja in the village! The leader of everyone! The person everyone respects!"

Kitsumon tilted his head, ears twitching. "Ninja? Like, the black-clothed humans who sneak around and throw star-shaped weapons?"

"Well, yeah, but it's way cooler than that! We use chakra to do amazing jutsu, and—" Naruto broke off, suddenly realizing he was defending his world to a talking fox-creature that had fallen from a hole in the sky. "Wait, where did you come from? What's a Digimon? And why did this... Digivice thing come to me?"

Before Kitsumon could answer, the device in Naruto's hand let out a shrill alarm. The screen flashed red, and the radar display now showed multiple dots approaching rapidly from all directions.

Kitsumon's fur stood on end. "Oh no," he whispered, suddenly sounding much younger and more frightened. "They followed me."

"Who followed you?" Naruto demanded, but his question was answered by a low, menacing growl from the underbrush.

Something was moving through the forest toward them—something large, with heavy footfalls that shook the smaller vegetation. Naruto turned slowly, trying to track the sound, but it seemed to be coming from everywhere at once.

"We need to run," Kitsumon said urgently. "Now!"

"I'm not running from anything!" Naruto declared, though his knees felt suddenly weak. "I'm going to be a ninja, and ninjas don't—"

His bravado was cut short as the underbrush erupted. Three creatures burst into the small clearing, and Naruto's first coherent thought was that they looked nothing like Kitsumon. Where the small fox-Digimon was clearly designed for speed and agility, these were built for raw power—hulking quadrupeds with muscular limbs, armored black hides, and skull-like masks covering their faces. Red eyes gleamed from within bone-white sockets, and metal blades protruded from their shoulders like grotesque wings.

"Devidramon scouts," Kitsumon hissed. "Low-level, but still too strong for me to fight alone."

The lead Devidramon fixed its gaze on Naruto, jaws opening to reveal rows of needle-sharp teeth. "The human has the Digivice," it rumbled, its voice like stones grinding together. "Master will be pleased. Bring it to me, flesh-child, and your death will be quick."

Naruto's blood ran cold, but he forced a grin, dropping into a fighting stance. "Yeah? Well, you're gonna have to take it from me, ugly!"

He reached for a kunai, only to remember he wasn't carrying his weapon pouch—he'd been fleeing the village, not heading for training. Unarmed and alone against three monsters that even Kitsumon feared... this was bad.

But Naruto Uzumaki never backed down from a challenge.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" he shouted, forming the hand signs Iruka-sensei had strictly forbidden him from attempting. Chakra surged through him, wild and uncontrolled as always, but this time Naruto didn't try to restrain it. He let it flood outward, pouring everything he had into the technique.

Smoke exploded around him, filling the clearing. When it cleared, fifty identical Narutos stood shoulder-to-shoulder, each wearing the same determined grin.

The Devidramon paused, clearly surprised by this development. Kitsumon's jaw had dropped open in shock.

"You can make copies of yourself?" the fox-Digimon gasped. "That's... that's actually pretty impressive!"

"Believe it!" the original Naruto said, newfound confidence surging through him. "Now let's show these creeps what happens when they mess with a future Hokage! Get 'em, boys!"

The clone army charged with a collective battle cry, swarming the three Devidramon from all directions. What they lacked in individual skill, they made up for in sheer numbers, dogpiling the surprised monsters and landing punches and kicks wherever they could reach.

For a moment, it seemed to be working. The Devidramon thrashed and roared, unable to target any single Naruto in the chaotic melee. But Naruto's advantage was short-lived. One by one, his clones began to pop out of existence as the Devidramon's armored tails whipped through them or their blade-wings sliced the air.

"It's not enough," Kitsumon called, watching from the edge of the battle. "They're Champion-level Digimon—your copies can't hurt them!"

As if to prove the point, the largest Devidramon let out a bellow of rage and spun in place, its tail carving a destructive arc that dispelled fifteen clones in an instant. It then raised its head and roared, "Crimson Claw!"

Its forelegs became engulfed in red energy that extended its already formidable claws to twice their length. With a single swipe, it eliminated another dozen clones, the energy field slicing through them as if they were made of tissue paper.

Naruto grunted as the phantom feedback from his destroyed clones hit him—not pain exactly, but a disorienting rush of fractured memories and sensations. He stumbled, momentarily overwhelmed, and that brief vulnerability was all the Devidramon needed.

"Red Eye Beam!" the creature growled, and twin lasers of crimson light shot from its eyes, cutting through the remaining clones to strike Naruto square in the chest.

Naruto felt himself lifted off his feet, a scream tearing from his throat as he flew backward to crash into the trunk of an ancient oak. The impact drove the air from his lungs, spots dancing before his eyes as he slid to the ground. The Digivice tumbled from his grasp, landing in the leaf litter just beyond his outstretched fingers.

The three Devidramon advanced slowly, savoring their victory. The largest one chuckled, a sound like breaking glass. "Is this truly a Chosen Child? Pathetic. Master will be disappointed—I had hoped for more of a challenge."

Naruto tried to push himself up, but his body refused to cooperate. His vision swam, the forest around him seeming to pulse in and out of focus. He could see the Digivice lying just out of reach, its screen flickering weakly, mirroring his fading consciousness.

I can't lose here, he thought desperately. Not like this. Not when I haven't proven anything to anyone yet.

Through the haze of pain, he saw Kitsumon dart forward, placing himself between Naruto and the advancing Devidramon. The small Digimon's legs were trembling, but his head was held high, green eyes blazing with defiance.

"Stay back!" Kitsumon shouted, his voice breaking slightly. "He's under my protection now!"

The lead Devidramon laughed. "You? Protect him? You're nothing but a Rookie, Kitsumon. A failed experiment who fled rather than serve his purpose. Stand aside, or be deleted with the human."

Kitsumon's response was immediate and unexpected. "Fox Fire!" he cried, and a ball of blue-white flame burst from his mouth, striking the Devidramon square in the face.

The larger Digimon barely flinched, the attack dissipating harmlessly against its armored hide. "Pitiful," it growled. "Crimson Claw!"

The energy-wreathed talons swept toward Kitsumon, who was too slow to dodge completely. The edge of the attack caught him, sending the small Digimon tumbling across the clearing with a yelp of pain.

"Kitsumon!" Naruto cried, horror cutting through his daze. The fox-Digimon had tried to protect him—a complete stranger—and was now hurt because of it. Just like everyone else who ever got close to Naruto Uzumaki, vessel of the Nine-Tailed Fox.

Something snapped inside him then—a dam breaking, releasing a flood of emotion too powerful to contain. Rage, sorrow, determination, and beneath it all, a desperate loneliness that had been his constant companion for as long as he could remember.

"Get away from him," Naruto growled, his voice deeper, rougher than before. He forced himself to his feet, ignoring the protests of his battered body. "Get away from my friend!"

The word 'friend' tore from him with such raw emotion that even the Devidramon paused. Naruto didn't stop to question why he'd called the strange digital creature his friend—it simply felt right, as if Kitsumon had always been meant to fight at his side.

Deep within Naruto, something ancient and malevolent stirred. The Nine-Tails' chakra responded to his heightened emotions, seeping through the seal to mingle with Naruto's own. Red energy began to swirl around him, forming a visible aura that steamed in the cool forest air.

Naruto's eyes, normally bright blue, shifted to a burning crimson. His whisker marks deepened, becoming more pronounced, and his canine teeth lengthened into small fangs. His fingernails sharpened into claws, and the red chakra around him took on the vague shape of a fox.

The Devidramon faltered, sensing the change in their prey. "What... what is this power?" the leader hissed. "It feels like... but that's impossible!"

Naruto didn't understand what was happening to him—he only knew that he wouldn't let them hurt Kitsumon. With a roar that was more animal than human, he charged, moving faster than he ever had before. The lead Devidramon barely had time to raise its claws before Naruto was upon it, delivering a chakra-enhanced punch that sent the creature staggering backward.

"Impossible!" it snarled. "No human should be able to harm a Champion Digimon with physical attacks alone!"

But Naruto wasn't listening. He was already moving to the next target, a red blur of furious motion, striking with a strength and speed that would have astonished his Academy teachers. The Nine-Tails' chakra had amplified his natural abilities to inhuman levels, and for once, Naruto wasn't fighting against the power—he was embracing it, directing it.

The Devidramon fought back ferociously, their attacks occasionally connecting, tearing Naruto's jacket and leaving shallow cuts on his arms and face. But the wounds healed almost instantly, the red chakra knitting his flesh back together even as he continued his assault.

Meanwhile, the Digivice lying forgotten on the forest floor began to glow. Its screen brightened, pulsing in rhythm with Naruto's heartbeat, the radar display spiraling into new, complex patterns. Energy arced from it in thin, lightning-like tendrils, reaching toward both Naruto and the fallen Kitsumon.

Kitsumon, dazed from the Devidramon's attack, felt a sudden warmth flowing through him. He looked up to see Naruto—or what Naruto had become—fighting the three Champion Digimon with incredible ferocity. The human boy was surrounded by a red energy field that looked strangely familiar to Kitsumon, though he couldn't place why.

Then he noticed the Digivice glowing, sending out threads of light that connected them both. And suddenly, Kitsumon understood.

"We're synchronized," he whispered in awe. "The Digivice is responding to our shared emotions—our desire to protect each other!" He struggled to his feet, feeling stronger with each passing second as the Digivice's energy filled him. "Naruto! I can feel your power!"

Naruto, caught in the throes of the Nine-Tails' influence, barely heard him. He was locked in combat with the lead Devidramon, trading blows that shook the forest around them. But some part of him registered Kitsumon's voice, and he spared a glance in the fox-Digimon's direction.

What he saw nearly cost him his concentration. Kitsumon was glowing, his body outlined in the same red energy that surrounded Naruto. The small Digimon seemed to be growing, his form becoming indistinct as data particles swirled around him.

"Kitsumon digivolve to..." the fox-Digimon called out, his voice deepening as his body transformed. His four legs lengthened, becoming more muscular. His single tail split into three separate appendages, each tipped with a flame-like plume. His head grew larger, the pointed ears more pronounced, and a mane of golden fur erupted around his neck. When the transformation completed, a larger, more fearsome version of Kitsumon stood in the clearing, his green eyes blazing with newfound power.

"Vulpemon!" the evolved Digimon roared, his voice now deeper, more mature.

The Devidramon froze, their attention diverted from Naruto to this new threat. Vulpemon stood nearly as tall as they did now, his three tails lashing behind him with barely contained energy.

"Impossible," the lead Devidramon hissed. "A natural digivolution? Without a Chosen Child's direct command? What are you?"

Vulpemon bared his teeth in what might have been a smile. "I'm his partner," he said simply, nodding toward Naruto. "And you're trespassing in his world."

The Digimon tensed, then launched himself at the nearest Devidramon with a speed that belied his increased size. "Inferno Rush!" he cried, his body becoming wreathed in flames as he slammed into the dark Digimon, sending it crashing through several trees.

Naruto, still caught in the Nine-Tails' influence but slowly regaining his sense of self, stared in amazement. "Kitsumon?" he managed, his voice rough from the chakra transformation.

"It's Vulpemon now," the fox-Digimon called back, never taking his eyes off the recovering Devidramon. "At least until this fight is over. I've digivolved to Champion level—we're on even ground now!"

The lead Devidramon snarled in frustration. "This changes nothing! Red Eye Beam!"

Twin lasers shot toward Vulpemon, who dodged with a graceful leap that carried him high into the air. At the apex of his jump, he opened his mouth wide. "Spirit Flame!"

A massive fireball, tinged with ethereal blue light, erupted from his jaws, hurtling downward to engulf the Devidramon. The dark Digimon screamed, thrashing as the supernatural fire clung to its armored hide, burning despite its resistance.

"Naruto!" Vulpemon called out as he landed. "We need to fight together! The Digivice—it's connecting us, amplifying our powers!"

Naruto nodded, understanding instinctively what needed to be done. He sprinted to where the Digivice lay, scooping it up in one clawed hand. The moment his fingers closed around it, a surge of energy shot up his arm, spreading throughout his body. The red chakra aura around him stabilized, becoming less wild, more focused.

The Digivice's screen displayed a single word: SYNCHRONIZE.

"Vulpemon!" Naruto shouted, holding the device high. "Let's do this!"

A beam of light shot from the Digivice to Vulpemon, bathing the Champion Digimon in a golden glow. Vulpemon's eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in determination as he felt Naruto's chakra flowing through the connection, merging with his own digital energy.

"Trinity Flame Strike!" Vulpemon roared, a new attack born from their synchronized powers. His three tails rose, each tip igniting with a different colored flame—red, blue, and gold. The fires swirled together, forming a spiraling vortex that Vulpemon directed with a sweeping motion of his head.

The attack slammed into all three Devidramon simultaneously, the combined energy of Digimon and Jinchūriki proving too powerful to resist. The dark Digimon howled as their data began to destabilize, their forms flickering like bad television reception.

"This isn't over," the lead Devidramon snarled, even as its body began to dissolve into particles of light. "Master will send others. Stronger than us. The human world will fall to the Dark Army, and that Digivice will belong to our Emperor!"

"Tell your Emperor to stay in his own world," Naruto growled, the Nine-Tails' influence still evident in his voice. "Or next time, we'll come to him!"

With a final cry of rage, the three Devidramon dissolved completely, their data scattering on the breeze like digital confetti. Naruto watched, fascinated, as the particles drifted upward, disappearing into the forest canopy.

"Did we... kill them?" he asked, suddenly concerned. Despite their attempted murder, Naruto had never actually taken a life before, and the thought was sobering.

"Not exactly," Vulpemon said, padding over to stand beside him. The Champion Digimon was impressive up close, standing nearly at Naruto's shoulder. "They're digital beings—they'll reform in the Digital World, though it might take them some time. Think of it as a forced retreat rather than a deletion."

Relief washed through Naruto, and with it, the last of the Nine-Tails' chakra receded. His eyes returned to their normal blue, the whisker marks fading to their usual prominence, and his claws retracted into ordinary fingernails. The sudden withdrawal of power left him light-headed, and he swayed on his feet.

Vulpemon steadied him with a gentle nudge. "Easy there, partner. That was quite a light show you put on. I've never seen a human use energy like that before."

Naruto managed a weak smile. "Yeah, well, I'm not exactly a normal human." He looked at Vulpemon curiously. "What happened to you? You got... bigger."

"I digivolved," Vulpemon explained. "It's how Digimon grow stronger—we transform into more powerful forms. Usually, it requires a strong bond with a human partner and a Digivice, but..." He shook his head in wonder. "Your energy accelerated the process. Whatever power you tapped into, it resonated with my data in a way I've never experienced."

As they spoke, a soft glow enveloped Vulpemon, and his form began to shrink. The three tails recombined into one, his stature reduced, and soon Kitsumon stood before Naruto once again, looking slightly dazed.

"Whoa," the small Digimon said, shaking himself like a dog after a bath. "That was intense. I can't maintain Champion form for long yet—it burns too much energy."

Naruto looked from Kitsumon to the Digivice in his hand, which had returned to its normal state, screen dimly lit with the radar display showing no approaching threats. "So... what now? Those Devi-whatever said others would come. Stronger ones."

Kitsumon nodded solemnly. "Devidramon. And yes, they're right. What just happened—a human from your world receiving a Digivice, me digivolving through our connection—it's significant. The barriers between our worlds are weakening, and there are forces in the Digital World that would exploit that. Dark Digimon who would invade this realm, corrupting it with their influence."

"Like the Nine-Tails attacked our village," Naruto murmured, more to himself than to Kitsumon.

Kitsumon's ears perked up. "Nine-Tails? What's that?"

Naruto hesitated. The truth about the demon sealed inside him was Konoha's most closely guarded secret—one he himself had only learned about recently, and in the worst possible way. But Kitsumon had fought beside him, had called him partner. Maybe, just this once, honesty wouldn't end in rejection.

"The Nine-Tailed Fox," he said slowly. "It's a massive demon that attacked my village the day I was born. It killed a lot of people, including my parents. The Fourth Hokage—the village leader—defeated it by sealing it inside a newborn baby." He took a deep breath. "Inside me."

Naruto braced himself for the usual reaction—fear, disgust, hatred. But Kitsumon merely tilted his head, green eyes widening with interest.

"You have a fox spirit sealed inside you? That's why your energy felt so familiar!" The small Digimon circled Naruto excitedly. "In the Digital World, there are Digimon based on mythological creatures from your world. There's even a legendary Mega-level Digimon called Kyubimon that takes the form of a nine-tailed fox. The data signatures must be similar enough that the Digivice recognized a compatibility between us."

Naruto blinked in surprise. "You're... not afraid of me?"

Kitsumon stopped circling to look at him directly, genuine confusion in his expression. "Why would I be afraid of you? That power helped us defeat three Champion-level Digimon. It's awesome!"

A lump formed in Naruto's throat. All his life, the Nine-Tails had been a curse—the reason for the cold stares, the whispered insults, the crushing loneliness. But here was Kitsumon, looking at the same power with admiration rather than fear.

"Thanks," he managed, his voice slightly hoarse. "That's... not how most people see it."

Kitsumon nudged Naruto's hand with his nose. "Well, most people are stupid. I should know—I've met plenty of stupid Digimon too."

That startled a laugh out of Naruto. He scratched Kitsumon behind the ears, and the fox-Digimon leaned into the touch with a contented sound that was almost a purr.

The peaceful moment was shattered by a distant shout.

"Naruto! Are you out here?"

Naruto tensed, recognizing Iruka-sensei's voice. The Academy teacher often searched for him after his escapades, equal parts concerned and exasperated. But how would Iruka react to Kitsumon? How could Naruto possibly explain a talking digital fox that transformed into a larger, three-tailed warrior?

"That's your name? Naruto?" Kitsumon asked, oblivious to his partner's sudden anxiety. "I like it. Sounds crunchy."

"It's a ramen topping," Naruto explained absently, mind racing. "Look, someone's coming—a teacher from my village. I don't know how he'll react to seeing you."

Kitsumon's ears flattened. "Will he try to hurt me?"

"No! I mean, I don't think so. Iruka-sensei is one of the few people who's actually nice to me. But..."

"Naruto!" The voice was closer now, joined by the sounds of someone moving quickly through the underbrush.

Naruto made a split-second decision. "Stay behind me," he told Kitsumon. "Let me talk to him first."

The small Digimon nodded, moving to position himself at Naruto's heels as the boy turned to face the direction of the approaching voice.

Iruka Umino burst into the clearing a moment later, his chunin vest askew and a few leaves caught in his ponytail. His expression shifted rapidly from worry to relief, then to confusion as he took in the scene—the splintered trees, the scorched earth, and Naruto standing in the middle of it all, clothes torn and singed but otherwise unharmed.

"Naruto! What happened here? The ANBU reported unusual chakra signatures in this area, and when I heard you'd run from the village again..." Iruka trailed off, his eyes finally landing on Kitsumon, who was peering out from behind Naruto's legs with undisguised curiosity. "What is that?"

Naruto swallowed hard. "This is Kitsumon. He's... he's a friend." The word still felt strange on his tongue, but right. "He's not from around here."

Iruka approached slowly, his right hand resting casually near his kunai pouch. "I can see that. In fact, I've never seen anything quite like him." The chunin's eyes narrowed as he studied the small Digimon. "Is it some kind of summoning creature? Naruto, you know students aren't allowed to sign summoning contracts without proper supervision."

"I'm not a summoning!" Kitsumon protested, causing Iruka to jump slightly at the unexpected voice. "I'm a Digimon—a digital monster from another world. And Naruto's my partner now."

Iruka's hand moved to his kunai. "It talks?"

"He talks," Naruto corrected firmly, stepping in front of Kitsumon protectively. "And he just helped me fight off three bigger monsters that wanted to hurt me. He's not dangerous... well, not to us, anyway."

Iruka's gaze shifted between Naruto and Kitsumon, his trained shinobi senses evaluating the situation. After a long moment, he sighed, his hand dropping away from his weapons.

"Naruto, you have an incredible talent for finding trouble in the most unusual places." He crouched down to bring himself closer to Kitsumon's level. "I apologize for my reaction. Any friend of Naruto's is welcome, as long as you don't mean our village harm."

Kitsumon's ears perked up. "I like this human," he declared. "He's smarter than he looks."

Iruka's eye twitched slightly. "Thank... you?"

"You're welcome!" Kitsumon replied cheerfully, completely missing the sarcasm.

Naruto couldn't help but grin. The absurdity of the situation—Iruka-sensei having a conversation with a talking digital fox—was not lost on him. But beneath the humor lay a warm, unfamiliar feeling: the beginning of acceptance. For once, someone was looking at something connected to Naruto without fear or disdain.

Iruka stood, brushing forest debris from his uniform. "We should get back to the village. The Hokage will need to be informed about... all of this." He gestured vaguely at the destruction around them and at Kitsumon himself.

Naruto's smile faded. "Do we have to tell the Old Man right away? The villagers already hate me—if they see Kitsumon..."

"They might think he's connected to the Nine-Tails," Iruka finished quietly, understanding dawning in his eyes. "I see your point. But Naruto, something attacked you out here. Something that left marks no ordinary animal could make. The Hokage needs to know if there's a threat to the village."

Kitsumon stepped forward. "I can explain everything to your leader. The Devidramon were after me and the Digivice—the device Naruto's carrying. They won't attack your village directly, at least not yet. They're scouts, testing the boundaries between our worlds."

Iruka frowned. "Digivice? Other worlds? This is... a lot to take in."

"Tell me about it," Naruto muttered. "An hour ago, I thought the weirdest thing in my life was having a demon fox sealed in my belly."

A heavy silence fell at his words. Naruto winced, realizing too late what he'd revealed. The Nine-Tails was supposed to be a secret—one that Iruka knew, of course, but not one that Naruto was supposed to discuss so casually.

To his surprise, Iruka didn't scold him. Instead, the chunin's expression softened with something like pride. "You've had a significant day, it seems." He ruffled Naruto's hair gently. "Tell you what—why don't we take Kitsumon to my apartment first? You can both clean up, have something to eat, and we'll figure out how to approach the Hokage together."

Relief flooded through Naruto. "Really? You'd do that?"

"Of course," Iruka said simply. "That's what teachers do—they help their students navigate difficult situations."

Kitsumon looked between them, clearly sensing the emotional undercurrent. "Does this mean I get to see your human den? Do you have food there? I'm starving after that digivolution."

Naruto laughed, the tension broken. "Yeah, but I should warn you—Iruka-sensei is addicted to ramen. Hope you like noodles."

"What are noodles?" Kitsumon asked, falling into step beside Naruto as they began walking back toward the village. "In the Digital World, we mainly eat data packets and energy fruits. Sometimes smaller Digimon, but only the virus types do that regularly."

Iruka shot Naruto a look that clearly said, We have a lot to discuss. But aloud, he only said, "I think we'd better take the back way into the village. And Kitsumon, try not to talk when other people are around, at least until we've had a chance to explain your presence to the Hokage."

"I can be stealthy," Kitsumon assured them, promptly tripping over a root and tumbling head over heels with a yelp. "Starting... now."

Naruto helped the small Digimon up, fighting back laughter. For all its strangeness, this was shaping up to be one of the best days of his life. He had a partner now—someone who saw his burden as a gift rather than a curse. And somehow, he knew this was just the beginning of something much bigger than himself.

As they walked, Naruto felt the weight of the Digivice in his pocket. Whatever it was, whatever it meant, it had chosen him. Uzumaki Naruto: Academy failure, village pariah, container of the Nine-Tailed Fox—and now, partner to a digital monster from another world.

Maybe, just maybe, being different wasn't such a bad thing after all.

The trees had eyes.

Or at least, that's how it appeared to the ANBU operative crouched on a high branch, hidden beneath a porcelain mask painted to resemble a hawk. He had been tracking the chakra disturbance, maintaining a prudent distance when it spiked to levels that rivaled a jonin's full output. Now, as he watched Umino Iruka lead the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki and the strange fox creature back toward Konoha, he felt a familiar presence materialize beside him.

"Report," said a soft voice, barely audible above the forest sounds.

Hawk turned slightly toward the silver-haired ANBU wearing a dog mask. "Captain. The target encountered an unknown entity—possibly a summoning, though I observed no summoning jutsu. There was a battle; the target briefly accessed the Nine-Tails' chakra."

"How much?" Dog asked, his voice neutral.

"Minimal. A single tail's worth at most, and well-controlled for his age and inexperience. The seal appears intact." Hawk hesitated. "Sir, the creature with him... it transformed during the battle. Grew larger, stronger. I've never seen a summoning do that without a specific jutsu."

Dog nodded once. "Continue observation, but do not intervene unless the Nine-Tails' chakra exceeds two tails. I'll inform the Hokage."

"And the creature?"

"Is under Umino's supervision for now. That will suffice until we understand more." Dog's mask tilted slightly, the eye-holes fixing on the retreating figures. "Interesting timing, with the graduation exam approaching. Very interesting indeed."

Without another word, Dog vanished in a swirl of leaves, leaving Hawk to his surveillance. The ANBU settled deeper into his hiding spot, eyes never leaving the odd trio making their way through the forest. The jinchūriki was talking animatedly now, gesturing with his hands as he explained something to the fox creature trotting at his side.

For a brief moment, Hawk was reminded of another blond-haired shinobi who had once walked these same forests, full of dreams and determination. The resemblance was uncanny—and unsettling.

"History never repeats," Hawk murmured to himself, an old ANBU saying, "but sometimes it rhymes."

With that quiet observation, he faded back into the shadows, a silent guardian watching the beginning of something none of them yet understood.

In the darkest corner of the Digital World, where data went to corrupt and die, a massive figure stirred on a throne built from the fragmented code of defeated enemies. Six red eyes opened in the gloom, narrowing as information streamed directly into the being's consciousness.

"So," rumbled a voice like digital thunder, "a new Chosen Child has emerged. And not just any human, but one with a power that resonates with our own."

A smaller shape bowed low before the throne, its form flickering occasionally with static—the digital equivalent of fear. "Yes, Master. The Devidramon scouts were defeated, but they transmitted valuable data before their dissolution. The human hosts a creature similar to the Ancient Ones of our world. And the Digimon who joined him..."

"Kitsumon," the enthroned figure growled. "The experimental data package that escaped our laboratories. How... convenient that he should find this particular human."

"Shall I send a stronger team to retrieve them, Master? Perhaps the Ogremon battalion, or—"

"No." The six eyes gleamed with malevolent calculation. "Let them grow comfortable. Let them think they've won a victory. The boundary between worlds is still too stable for a full-scale invasion, but it weakens with each passing day. We will watch this human—this Naruto—and learn his weaknesses."

The smaller figure bowed again, lower this time. "As you command, Master."

"This human may believe himself special because he holds power within him," the master continued, more to himself than his servant. "But he has no concept of true power. Not yet. But he will learn—when the Digital World consumes his own, and all humans bow before their digital superiors."

Laughter echoed through the corrupted domain, a sound of fractured code and twisted algorithms. The game had just begun, the pieces were taking their positions, and the Digital Emperor was very, very patient.

After all, in the Digital World, time was just another piece of data to be manipulated.

Back in Konoha, as the afternoon sun began its descent toward the horizon, Naruto sat cross-legged on Iruka's small balcony, the Digivice resting in his palms. Kitsumon lay curled beside him, replete after demolishing three bowls of instant ramen with an enthusiasm that had both impressed and slightly horrified Iruka.

"So this thing connected us somehow?" Naruto asked, turning the device over in his hands. The screen glowed softly in the fading light, displaying what appeared to be a simplified map of their immediate surroundings.

Kitsumon yawned, showing small but sharp teeth. "The Digivice is a bridge between human emotions and Digimon data. It channels your feelings—your strongest beliefs and desires—into energy that helps me digivolve and grow stronger."

Naruto frowned thoughtfully. "My emotions, huh? That could be tricky. People always tell me I feel things too strongly."

"That's perfect!" Kitsumon's tail swished with excitement. "The stronger your feelings, the more powerful our connection. Most Chosen Children have to work for years to achieve the kind of synchronization we managed in our first battle."

Inside the apartment, they could hear Iruka moving about, preparing to visit the Hokage. The chunin had insisted on speaking with the village leader alone first, to "prepare the ground," as he put it. Naruto suspected he also wanted to make sure the Old Man wouldn't overreact to Kitsumon's presence.

"Why me?" Naruto asked suddenly, voicing the question that had been nagging at him since the forest. "Out of everyone in the world—in all the worlds—why did this Digivice thing choose me?"

Kitsumon stood, stretching in a very cat-like manner before padding over to place a paw on Naruto's knee. "The Digital World is mysterious, but rarely random. If the Digivice came to you, there must be a reason." His green eyes met Naruto's blue ones directly. "Maybe it's because you understand what it means to be different—to have power others fear. Maybe it's because you needed a friend as much as I did."

Naruto swallowed hard, fighting the sudden stinging in his eyes. "I'm probably going to mess this up, you know. I mess up everything. Can't even pass the stupid graduation exam."

"So what?" Kitsumon's voice was firm. "We learn, we grow stronger, we try again. That's how Digimon evolve, and I bet that's how humans become better ninjas too." He headbutted Naruto's hand gently. "Besides, your enemy isn't some Academy test. It's the darkness trying to break through from my world to yours. And when it comes to fighting for what matters—you've already shown me what you can do."

A warm feeling spread through Naruto's chest, unfamiliar but not unwelcome. It took him a moment to recognize it as pride—not the brash, defensive pride he projected to mask his insecurities, but something quieter and more genuine. Someone believed in him. Someone saw worth in him beyond the demon he contained.

He picked up the Digivice, its weight somehow both strange and familiar in his hand. Whatever challenges lay ahead—whatever enemies emerged from the Digital World or his own—he would face them with Kitsumon at his side. Not alone, never alone again.

"Partners?" he said, extending his fist toward the small Digimon.

Kitsumon looked at the offered fist in confusion, then understanding dawned. He raised his paw and bumped it gently against Naruto's knuckles.

"Partners," he agreed, green eyes shining. "Until the end of both our worlds."

As the last light of day faded from the sky, the Digivice glowed briefly brighter, sealing a bond that would change not just their lives, but the very fabric of reality between two worlds teetering on the edge of collision.

The Digital Discovery was complete. The adventure was just beginning.

Sunlight sliced through the gap in Naruto's curtains like a kunai, stabbing directly into his closed eyelids. He groaned, rolling away from the offensive brightness, only to collide with something warm and furry that let out an indignant yelp.

"Watch it!" Kitsumon protested, scrambling to his feet on the rumpled bedsheets. "You almost squished my tail!"

Reality crashed back into Naruto's consciousness with the force of a Rasengan. Yesterday hadn't been a dream. The portal, the Digivice, the battle, Kitsumon—all of it was real. He bolted upright, momentarily disoriented to find himself in his own apartment rather than Iruka's.

"Sorry," he mumbled, scrubbing sleep from his eyes. "Not used to sharing a bed."

Kitsumon shook himself, his golden fur catching the morning light. "You thrash around a lot in your sleep. Are all humans this restless, or just you?"

"Wouldn't know," Naruto yawned. "Never watched anyone else sleep."

His gaze drifted to the nightstand where the Digivice rested, its screen pulsing with a soft, rhythmic glow. Beside it lay a note in Iruka's neat handwriting:

Naruto, The Hokage has been informed of the situation. He requests a meeting with you and Kitsumon at 10 AM. I'll come by to escort you. Try not to cause any chaos before then.
-Iruka

P.S. Your refrigerator is a health hazard. I've left fresh groceries in the kitchen.

Naruto grimaced at the postscript. His eating habits were a frequent target of Iruka's lectures, second only to his pranking and classroom behavior. The fact that the chunin had gone grocery shopping for him after an exhausting day and a late-night meeting with the Hokage sparked a warmth in Naruto's chest that he quickly buried under his usual bravado.

"Looks like we're meeting the Old Man today," he told Kitsumon, swinging his legs over the bed's edge. "He's the strongest ninja in the village, so don't do anything weird, okay?"

Kitsumon tilted his head, ears perked with interest. "Define 'weird.'"

"You know—" Naruto waved his hands vaguely "—no shooting fireballs, or digivolving, or talking about eating other Digimon. Regular stuff."

"So basically, don't be myself?" Kitsumon huffed, somehow managing to look offended despite his fox-like features. "Fine. I'll be as boring as those plant things on your windowsill."

Naruto glanced at his neglected houseplants, most of which were clinging to life with the stubborn determination of vegetation that refused to die despite erratic watering. "Those are succulents. Iruka-sensei says they're 'resilient,' like me."

"They look half-dead," Kitsumon observed bluntly.

"Yeah, well, so do I before breakfast." Naruto stood, stretching until his spine popped. "Speaking of which, let's see what Iruka-sensei left us."

The morning proceeded with a series of small disasters that would have been comical if they weren't so potentially catastrophic for keeping Kitsumon's existence secret. The Digimon proved to have an insatiable curiosity about human objects, resulting in a shattered glass when he knocked it off the counter "to see if it would bounce," a small fire when he attempted to help with the toaster, and the bathroom completely flooded after he became entranced by the "endless indoor waterfall" of the toilet.

By the time Iruka knocked on the door at 9:45, Naruto was sweaty, frazzled, and seriously questioning the wisdom of having a digital monster as a roommate.

"Everything okay in there?" Iruka called through the door, obviously hearing the frantic mopping sounds.

Naruto shot Kitsumon a warning glare as he went to answer. The small Digimon, now perched innocently on the kitchen counter, managed to look simultaneously apologetic and amused.

"Fine! Everything's fine!" Naruto yanked open the door, trying to block Iruka's view of the chaos behind him. "Morning, Iruka-sensei! We're almost ready!"

Iruka raised an eyebrow, taking in Naruto's disheveled appearance and the unmistakable smell of burnt toast. "I see Kitsumon is adjusting well to apartment living."

"He's adjusting something, alright," Naruto muttered. "My patience."

Kitsumon bounded over, headbutting Naruto's leg affectionately. "I've learned so much! Humans have machines that make bread hot, porcelain bowls that create whirlpools, and boxes that keep food cold. It's fascinating!"

Iruka's lips twitched with suppressed amusement. "I'm glad you're finding our world educational. But right now, we need to focus on our meeting with the Hokage." His expression turned serious. "Naruto, this is important. The Hokage needs to understand exactly what happened yesterday and what it means for the village."

Naruto nodded, suddenly solemn. The chaos of the morning had momentarily distracted him from the gravity of their situation. Portals to another world, digital monsters, enemies that wanted the Digivice—it was the kind of threat that would put the entire village on high alert.

"I get it," he said. "I'll tell him everything."

"Good." Iruka handed him a small backpack. "Put Kitsumon in here for the journey. We don't want to cause a panic in the streets."

Kitsumon eyed the backpack with suspicion. "You want to put me in a bag? Like some kind of pet?"

"Like a ninja animal companion," Naruto corrected, kneeling to meet the Digimon's eyes. "It's just until we reach the Hokage Tower. I promise."

After a moment of consideration, Kitsumon sighed dramatically. "Fine. But only because you fought those Devidramon with me." He hopped into the open backpack, turning in a circle before settling down. "This is actually quite comfortable."

"Don't get used to it," Naruto warned, carefully zipping the pack just enough to conceal the Digimon while leaving plenty of air. He slipped his arms through the straps, adjusting the weight against his back.

Iruka nodded approvingly. "Let's go. And Naruto—"

"I know, I know. No detours, no pranks, best behavior." Naruto rolled his eyes, but there was no real irritation behind the gesture. For once, he understood the need for discretion.

The walk through Konoha's morning streets was tense but uneventful. Naruto could feel Kitsumon shifting occasionally in the backpack, presumably trying to peek out at the village. Twice he had to cough loudly to cover the Digimon's excited whispers when they passed something particularly interesting—a street vendor cooking skewers over an open flame, and a shinobi performing a minor water jutsu to clean the front of his shop.

"Your world is so primitive but also so advanced," Kitsumon murmured as they approached the Hokage Tower. "You have elemental manipulation but no digital infrastructure. Fascinating!"

"Shh!" Naruto hissed, earning a curious look from a passing chunin. He quickened his pace, practically jogging the last few yards to the tower entrance.

Inside, Iruka led them directly to the Hokage's office, bypassing the usual wait with a nod to the ANBU guards flanking the door. Naruto felt a flutter of nervousness in his stomach. The Old Man had always been kind to him, but this was different from their usual meetings about pranks or Academy progress.

"Enter," called a gravelly voice in response to Iruka's knock.

The Hokage's office was as Naruto remembered it—spacious but cluttered, with scrolls and papers covering most available surfaces. The view of Konoha through the large windows was spectacular, but Naruto's attention was fixed on the elderly man seated behind the desk, his weathered face partially shadowed by the distinctive hat of his office.

"Ah, Naruto," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, his voice warm despite the serious set of his features. "And I presume your new friend is with you as well?"

Naruto carefully removed the backpack, setting it on the floor. "You can come out now, Kitsumon."

The Digimon poked his head out cautiously, then bounded from the bag to stand beside Naruto, green eyes wide as he took in the Hokage and his office. "Whoa. You're really old!"

Naruto groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Kitsumon!"

To his relief, the Hokage merely chuckled. "Yes, I am quite old. With age comes wisdom—usually." He leaned forward, studying the small Digimon with undisguised interest. "Iruka has briefed me on yesterday's events, but I would like to hear the full story from the two of you."

For the next twenty minutes, Naruto and Kitsumon took turns explaining everything—the portal's appearance, the Digivice, the attack by the Devidramon, and Kitsumon's digivolution. Naruto hesitated when it came to describing how he'd accessed the Nine-Tails' chakra, but a gentle nod from the Hokage encouraged him to continue.

"So the Nine-Tails' chakra somehow resonated with this Digivice," Hiruzen summarized when they finished, "creating a connection between you and Kitsumon that allowed him to... evolve."

"Digivolve," Kitsumon corrected. "It's different from evolution in your world. More immediate, driven by emotion and necessity rather than gradual adaptation."

The Hokage nodded thoughtfully, his gaze shifting to the Digivice that Naruto had placed on his desk. "And this device is the key to it all. May I?"

At Naruto's nod, he picked up the Digivice, turning it over in his gnarled hands. "Fascinating. It resembles no technology I've encountered in any of the Five Great Nations."

"Because it's not from your world," Kitsumon explained. "It's from the Digital World—a reality that exists alongside yours, separated by barriers that are now weakening."

Hiruzen's eyes sharpened. "These barriers—what's causing them to weaken?"

Kitsumon's ears drooped slightly. "I don't know exactly. I was being held prisoner by the Digital Emperor's forces when I escaped through a natural portal. They've been experimenting with ways to breach your world for months."

"Digital Emperor?" Iruka questioned from where he stood by the door.

"A powerful Mega-level Digimon who rules the Dark Area of the Digital World," Kitsumon explained. "He believes digital beings are superior to humans and seeks to conquer your world, converting it into an extension of his digital empire."

The Hokage leaned back, his expression grave. "So we face a potential invasion from beings with abilities we barely understand, who can appear anywhere a portal opens." He sighed heavily. "Just what Konoha needs—another existential threat."

Naruto stepped forward, fists clenched at his sides. "But we can fight them! Kitsumon and I already beat those scout things. With the Digivice, we can—"

"Naruto," Hiruzen interrupted gently, "while your courage is commendable, we must approach this situation with caution. We know too little about these Digimon or the nature of the threat they pose."

"That's why you need us!" Naruto insisted. "Kitsumon understands the Digital World, and I—" He faltered, then straightened his shoulders. "I'm the only one who can help him digivolve with the Nine-Tails' chakra."

The Hokage studied him silently for a long moment. Naruto held his breath, expecting a lecture about how he was too young, too inexperienced, too impulsive—all the reasons adults usually gave for keeping him sidelined.

Instead, Hiruzen smiled slightly. "You may be right, Naruto. This situation seems uniquely suited to your particular... circumstances."

Hope bloomed in Naruto's chest. "So we can keep fighting the Digimon that come through? As a team?"

"Under supervision," the Hokage qualified. "I'm assigning this matter to Iruka for now. He will monitor your training with Kitsumon and report any further incursions directly to me."

Iruka looked surprised but nodded his acceptance. "I'll do my best, Lord Hokage."

"As for the rest of the village," Hiruzen continued, "we will keep Kitsumon's nature and the existence of the Digital World classified for now. The last thing we need is panic about another potential attack."

"What about the Academy?" Naruto asked. "Graduation's in two weeks. I can't just leave Kitsumon alone all day."

The Hokage's eyes twinkled with amusement. "I believe we can classify Kitsumon as a ninken in training—a special project approved by the Hokage himself. That should allow him to accompany you, provided he behaves appropriately."

Kitsumon sat up straighter. "I can be very well-behaved!" A second later, he pounced on a scroll that had rolled off the desk, shredding it playfully between his paws.

"Kitsumon!" Naruto yelped, diving to rescue the document.

The Hokage laughed outright. "Well, perhaps we'll say he's still in the early stages of training." He stood, signaling the end of the meeting. "Naruto, I'm counting on you. This partnership with Kitsumon may be unusual, but it could be valuable for both you and the village."

Naruto beamed, pride swelling in his chest. The Old Man was trusting him with something important—treating him like a real shinobi.

"I won't let you down!" he promised fervently. "Believe it!"

The universe, Naruto decided three days later, had a twisted sense of humor.

"Clone Jutsu!" he shouted, forming the hand seals with desperate precision. Chakra surged through him, wild and uncooperative as always. Smoke billowed around him, and when it cleared, a single pathetic clone lay twitching on the ground beside him, its features distorted like melting wax.

From his perch on a nearby training post, Kitsumon winced. "That's... better than yesterday?"

"No, it's not," Naruto groaned, kicking at the dirt of the training ground. "It's exactly as bad as always. I'm never going to pass the graduation exam at this rate."

Iruka, standing a few yards away with his arms crossed, shook his head. "You're still using too much chakra, Naruto. The clone jutsu requires precision, not power."

"I'm trying!" Naruto protested. "I can feel it building up, but it's like trying to fill a teacup with a fire hose!"

"Perhaps we're approaching this from the wrong angle," Iruka mused. "Naruto, what if we—"

A distinctive pinging sound cut him off. The Digivice, which Naruto had placed beside his jacket at the edge of the training ground, was flashing urgently.

Kitsumon's ears shot up. "Digital signature detected! Something's coming through!"

Naruto sprinted to grab the Digivice, adrenaline instantly washing away his frustration. The screen showed a pulsing dot moving toward their location from the east.

"Another attack?" Iruka asked sharply, already reaching for his kunai pouch.

"I don't think so," Kitsumon said, frowning in concentration. "The signature is... different. Less hostile. But definitely not human."

Naruto clutched the Digivice tighter. "Only one way to find out. Let's go!"

They raced through the training grounds toward the eastern forest, Kitsumon bounding ahead with surprising speed for his size. The Digivice beeped faster as they approached, the dot on the screen growing larger.

"There!" Kitsumon called, skidding to a halt at the edge of a small clearing.

In the center, a tiny portal—barely two feet across—flickered uncertainly, its edges unstable and wavering. Unlike the violent tear that had brought Kitsumon, this seemed more like a tentative window between worlds. Through it, they could glimpse fragments of a landscape that defied conventional physics—floating landmasses, inverted waterfalls, data streams cutting across a technicolor sky.

"The Digital World," Kitsumon breathed, a note of homesickness in his voice. "But the portal's too small for anything dangerous to come through."

As if on cue, something did emerge—not a fearsome monster, but a small, pink, blob-like creature with large red eyes and a perpetually smiling mouth. It bounced experimentally on the grass, blinking in confusion at its new surroundings.

"A Motimon!" Kitsumon exclaimed. "They're harmless In-Training level Digimon. Data type, like me."

The Motimon spotted them and bounced excitedly. "Hello! Hello! Where am I? This doesn't look like File Island!"

"You're in the human world," Kitsumon explained, approaching cautiously. "How did you get here?"

"I was following a pretty light," the Motimon said cheerfully. "Then whoosh! Here I am! Everything smells funny." It bounced higher, peering at Naruto and Iruka. "Are those humans? They're bigger than I expected!"

Naruto couldn't help but grin. The little Digimon was undeniably cute, like a child's toy come to life. "I'm Naruto, and this is Iruka-sensei. Are you lost?"

"Motimon are wanderers by nature," Kitsumon explained. "They don't really have a fixed home in the Digital World."

The pink blob nodded vigorously. "I go where the data flows! But I've never been to the human world before. It's so... solid." It bounced experimentally on a fallen log, then giggled. "And everything has such weird textures!"

Iruka approached slowly, crouching to observe the small Digimon. "Is it dangerous to leave it here? Should we try to send it back?"

Before Kitsumon could answer, the portal behind Motimon flickered violently, then collapsed in on itself with a soft pop.

"Well, that answers that question," Naruto said. "Looks like we've got another visitor from the Digital World."

Motimon bounced happily around Naruto's feet. "Can I stay with you? Please? I promise I won't eat much data! Just a few bytes here and there!"

Naruto looked to Iruka, who sighed in resignation. "I'll inform the Hokage. Until we understand more about these portals and can find a way to send it back, I suppose we have little choice."

"Yes!" Naruto pumped his fist triumphantly. "Two Digimon are better than one, right?"

Kitsumon didn't share his enthusiasm. The fox-Digimon was staring at the spot where the portal had been, his expression troubled. "Random portals opening, even small ones... the barriers between worlds are deteriorating faster than I thought."

Iruka nodded grimly. "We should return to the village. I'll arrange a meeting with the intelligence division—perhaps they can help us monitor these anomalies."

As they headed back, Motimon riding happily on Naruto's shoulder and chattering about all the strange new sights, Naruto noticed Kitsumon lagging behind, his usual bouncy stride subdued.

"Hey," Naruto said softly, dropping back to walk beside his partner. "What's wrong? You look worried."

Kitsumon glanced up at him, green eyes serious. "In the Digital World, there's a saying: 'When the small ones come through, the large ones follow.' Motimon might be harmless, but his arrival means the walls between worlds are getting thinner by the day."

Naruto nodded, understanding the implication. "So we need to get stronger faster."

"Much stronger," Kitsumon agreed. "And I don't think we have much time."

Sasuke Uchiha prided himself on his observational skills. As the top student in the Academy and the last loyal member of Konoha's most prestigious clan, he made it his business to notice what others missed. So when Naruto Uzumaki—dead last, class clown, perpetual irritant—started behaving differently, Sasuke noticed.

The changes were subtle at first. Naruto arriving to class on time. Naruto paying attention during lectures, even taking notes occasionally. Naruto disappearing during lunch breaks instead of loudly proclaiming his greatness to anyone who would listen (and many who wouldn't).

Most notably, Naruto had stopped challenging Sasuke to daily fights—a welcome change, but a puzzling one. It was as if the blond idiot had suddenly found something more important to focus on than their rivalry.

Curious despite himself, Sasuke decided to follow Naruto after class. It wasn't difficult; for all his talk of becoming a ninja, Naruto's stealth skills were laughable. Sasuke tracked him easily through the village, maintaining a careful distance as Naruto wound his way toward the forest training grounds.

What Sasuke hadn't expected was for Naruto to look around furtively, then pull what appeared to be a small fox from his backpack. Sasuke moved closer, concealing himself in the dense foliage at the training ground's edge.

"Coast is clear," he heard Naruto say. "You can stop pretending to be a regular fox now."

To Sasuke's astonishment, the fox sat up on its hind legs and spoke. "Finally! Do you know how hard it is to sit still all day? The Academy is so boring! All that talk about chakra this, jutsu that—when do you learn the cool stuff?"

"Hey, becoming a ninja is serious business!" Naruto protested, though without much conviction. "Besides, we had a deal. You get to come to the Academy if you behave like a normal ninken."

"Normal ninken don't have to listen to Iruka drone on about the history of Konoha," the fox grumbled. "Can we practice digivolving now? I want to stretch my data."

Digivolving? Data? Sasuke frowned, unfamiliar with the terminology. Was this some kind of specialized summon? But Naruto didn't have the chakra control for summoning jutsu—everyone knew that.

"First we need to work on my clone jutsu," Naruto sighed. "The graduation exam is next week, and I still can't make a decent copy."

The fox—clearly no ordinary animal—circled Naruto impatiently. "I don't see why you need clones when you have me. In the Digital World, power is what matters, not making copies of yourself."

"That's not how it works here," Naruto explained. "I have to pass the Academy requirements before they'll let me become a genin. It's the rules."

"Rules are for Digimon who can't digivolve," the fox said dismissively. "But fine, let's see this clone thing again."

Sasuke watched in fascination as Naruto began practicing. The mystery fox offered occasional commentary, most of it unhelpful, while Naruto produced clone after failed clone. It was the same pathetic display Sasuke had seen in class countless times, yet something about the scenario felt off. Naruto's chakra seemed different somehow—wilder, more potent, struggling against his control rather than simply being mismanaged.

After about thirty minutes, Naruto flopped onto the grass in frustration. "It's hopeless! My chakra won't cooperate!"

The fox pawed at Naruto's jacket pocket. "Try using the Digivice. Maybe it can help regulate your energy flow."

Naruto pulled out a strange device Sasuke had never seen before—rectangular with a small screen, colored orange and blue. "How would that work? The Digivice is for you to digivolve, not for me to make clones."

"The Digivice connects our energies," the fox explained. "When we fought the Devidramon, it synchronized your chakra with my data. Maybe it can help you find the right balance for your jutsu too."

Naruto looked skeptical but held the device in his left hand while forming seals with his right. "Clone Jutsu!"

The result was spectacular in its failure. Instead of producing clones, Naruto's chakra surged violently, creating a shockwave that knocked the fox backward and uprooted several small shrubs. When the dust settled, Naruto was standing in a small crater, looking stunned.

"Okay, bad idea," the fox admitted, shaking dirt from his fur. "The Digivice amplifies energy, it doesn't refine it."

"You think?" Naruto groaned. "At this rate, I'll fail the exam again, and then we'll never be on a real ninja team!"

The fox bounded over to him, headbutting his leg affectionately. "Don't worry, Naruto. Even if you don't pass, we're still partners. And we've got bigger things to worry about than school tests—like the Digital Emperor and his army."

Digital Emperor? Army? Sasuke leaned forward, straining to hear more. This sounded significant—potentially a threat to the village.

His movement caused a twig to snap beneath his foot. Both Naruto and the fox froze, heads turning in Sasuke's direction.

"Someone's there," the fox hissed, dropping into a defensive crouch. "I can smell them."

Sasuke considered his options. He could retreat, but that would only confirm he'd been spying. Better to confront them directly—it was just Naruto, after all.

He stepped out from his hiding place, affecting a casual stance. "Interesting pet you've got there, Uzumaki. I didn't know foxes could talk."

Naruto's face cycled rapidly through shock, panic, and finally defensive anger. "Sasuke! What are you doing here? Were you spying on me?"

"I was training," Sasuke lied smoothly. "You're not the only one who uses these grounds. The better question is what's that?" He pointed at the fox, who was glaring at him with an intelligence no animal should possess.

"I'm not a what, I'm a who," the fox said indignantly. "And I'm not a pet either!"

Naruto groaned, running a hand through his spiky hair. "Great. Just great. Kitsumon, meet Sasuke Uchiha, biggest jerk in the Academy. Sasuke, this is Kitsumon. He's a... well, he's complicated."

"I'm a Digimon," Kitsumon announced proudly. "A digital monster from another world. And Naruto is my partner."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, his expression deliberately unimpressed despite his internal surprise. "Another world? You expect me to believe that?"

"It's true!" Naruto insisted. "The Digital World exists alongside ours, and Kitsumon came through a portal in the forest. The Hokage knows all about it—Iruka-sensei too!"

"Prove it," Sasuke challenged. "If this... creature... is really from another world, show me something no ordinary summon could do."

Naruto and Kitsumon exchanged glances. "Should we?" Naruto asked hesitantly.

Kitsumon nodded. "He already knows I can talk. And if he's going to be on your team after graduation, he'll find out eventually."

"If I graduate," Naruto muttered, then sighed. "Fine. Stand back, Sasuke."

Curious despite himself, Sasuke took a few steps backward. Naruto pulled out the strange device again—the "Digivice"—and held it toward Kitsumon.

"Ready?" Naruto asked.

Kitsumon nodded, crouching as if preparing to pounce. "Ready. Just a partial digivolution—we don't want to attract attention."

Naruto closed his eyes, concentrating. The Digivice began to glow, emitting a high-pitched whine that made Sasuke's teeth ache. Light enveloped Kitsumon, obscuring his form as it shifted and grew.

When the light faded, Kitsumon had changed. He was larger now—about the size of a wolf—with three tails instead of one, each tipped with blue flame. A mane of golden fur circled his neck, and his green eyes gleamed with increased power.

"This is my Champion form—Vulpemon," the transformed creature explained, his voice deeper than before. "Or at least, a partial manifestation of it. I can't maintain the full form without a real battle to focus my energy."

Sasuke stared, genuine amazement breaking through his carefully cultivated indifference. This was no transformation jutsu—the energy signature was completely alien, unlike any chakra he'd ever sensed.

"How?" he demanded. "What powers this transformation?"

"Naruto's emotions, primarily," Vulpemon explained. "The Digivice converts his feelings—his determination, his courage—into energy I can use to evolve. The stronger his emotions, the more powerful I become."

Sasuke's gaze shifted to Naruto, who was watching him with an odd expression—part pride, part defensiveness, as if expecting mockery. But mockery was the furthest thing from Sasuke's mind. Instead, he felt an unfamiliar twist of something that might have been envy.

Naruto Uzumaki—dead last, village pariah, the boy with no family or clan—had somehow acquired a power Sasuke had never heard of. A power that could potentially help him in his ultimate goal: to become strong enough to kill his brother.

"Show me more," Sasuke demanded.

Naruto blinked in surprise. "More?"

"What else can it do? How strong can it get? Is this 'Champion form' its limit?" The questions tumbled from Sasuke with uncharacteristic eagerness.

Vulpemon shimmered, light enveloping him again as he reverted to Kitsumon's smaller form. The transformation seemed to take a toll; the small Digimon flopped onto the grass, panting slightly.

"There are multiple evolution levels," Kitsumon explained once he'd caught his breath. "In-Training, Rookie, Champion, Ultimate, and Mega. Each more powerful than the last. I'm naturally a Rookie, and I can digivolve to Champion with Naruto's help. The higher levels require more intense emotions and greater synchronization."

Sasuke's mind raced with the implications. If emotion powered these transformations, and if other "Digimon" could be partnered with humans...

"Can anyone get one?" he asked bluntly. "Or just Naruto?"

Kitsumon and Naruto exchanged glances again, a silent communication passing between them that irritated Sasuke immensely.

"The Digivice chose me," Naruto said finally. "It came through a portal specifically for me. Kitsumon says it has something to do with... with what's inside me." He patted his stomach awkwardly, a gesture Sasuke didn't understand.

"But technically, yes, other humans could partner with Digimon," Kitsumon added. "In the Digital World, there are legends of multiple Chosen Children fighting together, each with their own partner."

Sasuke's heart rate quickened. "And these Digimon—they fight for their partners? They get stronger together?"

"That's the idea," Naruto confirmed. "But it's not that simple, Sasuke. There's a whole complicated situation with the Digital World and these barriers breaking down, and—"

"I want one," Sasuke interrupted. The decision crystallized in his mind with perfect clarity. If this power existed, he needed to acquire it. For his goal. For his revenge.

Naruto gaped at him. "You can't just demand a Digimon like it's a new kunai set! They're living beings with their own thoughts and feelings!"

"Indeed we are," Kitsumon agreed, eyeing Sasuke with newfound wariness. "And partnership isn't just about power. It's about connection, trust, shared purpose."

Sasuke scoffed. "Save the lecture. If these creatures are coming through portals into our world, it's only a matter of time before more arrive. When they do, I intend to be ready." He turned to leave, then paused. "This conversation never happened. I won't reveal your... friend's... nature to anyone. For now."

The implied threat hung in the air between them. Naruto stepped forward, fists clenched.

"Is that a blackmail attempt? Because if you think—"

"It's an arrangement," Sasuke cut him off coolly. "You keep me informed about any new developments with these Digimon. In return, I keep your secret. Simple."

"And if I refuse?"

Sasuke shrugged. "Then I go straight to the Hokage with concerns about an Academy student harboring an unknown creature with transformation abilities. I'm sure the ANBU would be very interested."

"The Hokage already knows about Kitsumon," Naruto countered, though his confident tone wavered slightly.

"Does he know you're practicing unauthorized transformations in public training grounds?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Somehow I doubt he approved that."

Naruto's face flushed with anger, but Kitsumon spoke before he could retort.

"Enough," the Digimon said firmly. "Naruto, it's okay. Sasuke's right about one thing—more Digimon will be coming through. Having another human who knows might actually help us."

"But he's being a total jerk about it!" Naruto protested.

Kitsumon shrugged, an oddly human gesture on his fox-like form. "In the Digital World, alliances form out of necessity as often as friendship. We can work with him without trusting him completely."

Sasuke nodded, satisfied. "Smart creature. Then we have an agreement?"

Naruto glared at him for a long moment, then grudgingly nodded. "Fine. But this goes both ways, Sasuke. If you learn anything about Digimon or see any strange portals, you tell us immediately."

"Agreed." Sasuke turned to leave, then added over his shoulder, "Your clone jutsu is failing because you're using hand seals designed for normal chakra reserves. With your abnormal levels, try reducing the chakra flow before you even begin the seals."

Before Naruto could respond to this unexpected advice, Sasuke was gone, disappearing into the forest with practiced stealth.

"Well," Kitsumon said after a moment of stunned silence, "he's a cheerful one, isn't he?"

Naruto snorted. "That's Sasuke for you. Always has to be the best at everything." He paused, considering. "But maybe he's right about the clone jutsu. Let's try it his way."

The next few days passed in a blur of activity. Naruto divided his time between Academy classes (with Kitsumon disguised as an ordinary fox ninken), clone jutsu practice (with marginal improvement following Sasuke's advice), and training sessions with Iruka where they experimented with the Digivice's capabilities.

They discovered several important things during these sessions. First, the Digivice could track digital signatures up to a mile away, allowing them to detect portals or Digimon before they became visible. Second, Kitsumon could maintain his Champion form for approximately fifteen minutes before exhaustion forced him to revert. And third, the Nine-Tails' chakra significantly amplified the digivolution process when Naruto's emotions ran high.

This last discovery came accidentally during a particularly frustrating training session. After two hours of failed attempts to extend Vulpemon's endurance, Naruto had lost his temper, slamming his fist into a training post with enough force to splinter the wood. The surge of emotion had triggered a leak of the Nine-Tails' chakra, which the Digivice immediately absorbed and channeled to Kitsumon.

The resulting transformation had been more intense than before, with Vulpemon's three tails elongating and his entire body wreathed in a visible aura of red-gold energy. The power boost had allowed him to maintain Champion form for nearly thirty minutes and enhanced his attacks to the point where a single "Spirit Flame" had reduced a boulder to gravel.

"Fascinating," Iruka had murmured, watching from a safe distance. "The Nine-Tails' chakra seems perfectly compatible with Kitsumon's digital energy. Almost as if they were designed to work together."

The implications of that compatibility troubled Naruto more than he let on. Was it mere coincidence that the Digivice had chosen him, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki? Or was there some deeper connection between the Tailed Beasts and the Digital World that none of them understood?

These questions occupied his thoughts as he sat in Ichiraku Ramen the evening before the graduation exam, absently stirring his noodles while Kitsumon (in "normal fox" mode) dozed at his feet.

"You're awfully quiet today," Teuchi observed as he wiped down the counter. "Pre-exam jitters?"

Naruto forced a smile. "Something like that."

"Well, don't worry! You've been working harder than I've ever seen. This time, you'll pass for sure!"

"Thanks, old man." Naruto appreciated the encouragement, even if Teuchi didn't know the half of what he'd been dealing with. The ramen chef had always been kind to him, never treating him differently because of the Nine-Tails.

As Naruto finished his meal, he noticed Kitsumon's ears suddenly perk up. The Digimon raised his head, nose twitching rapidly.

"What is it?" Naruto whispered, keeping his voice low enough that Teuchi wouldn't hear.

Kitsumon gave a subtle nod toward the street. Naruto turned casually, as if stretching, and spotted a familiar figure standing in the shadows across from the ramen stand.

Sasuke.

The Uchiha made a small gesture with his hand—follow me—then melted back into the alley.

"I gotta go," Naruto told Teuchi, placing coins on the counter. "Thanks for the meal!"

"Good luck tomorrow!" Teuchi called as Naruto scooped up Kitsumon and hurried out.

He found Sasuke waiting in a secluded corner between buildings, arms crossed and expression unreadable as usual.

"This better be important," Naruto said. "I was enjoying my pre-exam ritual."

"I saw something," Sasuke said without preamble. "In the forest near the Uchiha compound. A distortion in the air, like the one you described. It only lasted a few seconds, but it was definitely there."

Kitsumon leapt from Naruto's arms, dropping his "normal fox" pretense now that they were alone. "A portal? Did anything come through?"

"Not that I saw," Sasuke replied. "But the air felt... charged afterward. Like before a lightning storm."

Naruto reached for the Digivice in his pocket. The screen was clear—no digital signatures detected within range. "We should check it out."

"That's why I came to get you," Sasuke said, as if this should have been obvious. "Let's go."

The sun was setting as they made their way through the village and into the forests surrounding the abandoned Uchiha district. Naruto had never visited this area before—most villagers avoided it out of respect or superstition following the massacre years ago. The empty houses loomed like silent sentinels, their darkened windows watching their passage with hollow indifference.

"Over here," Sasuke said, leading them to a small clearing about a quarter-mile into the forest. "This is where I saw it."

Kitsumon immediately began circling the area, nose to the ground, ears twitching as he searched for traces of digital energy. "There was definitely a portal here. I can smell the residual data—like ozone after lightning."

Naruto checked the Digivice again. Still nothing. "Whatever it was, it's gone now. Maybe it was just a random fluctuation?"

"No," Kitsumon said firmly. "This was different. Most portals leave a signature that fades gradually. This one..." He frowned, an oddly human expression on his vulpine features. "It's like it was erased. Deliberately."

"What could do that?" Sasuke asked.

"A higher-level Digimon. Ultimate or Mega." Kitsumon's voice held a note of genuine concern. "One with enough control over digital space to cover its tracks."

A twig snapped in the forest behind them. All three spun toward the sound, instantly alert. Naruto clutched the Digivice tighter, while Sasuke's hand moved to his kunai holster.

"Who's there?" Naruto called. "Show yourself!"

For a moment, only silence answered. Then a figure stepped out from between the trees—tall, lanky, with silver hair and most of his face covered by a mask.

"Interesting company you're keeping, Naruto," Kakashi Hatake said casually, his visible eye curved in what might have been a smile. "Care to introduce me to your friends?"

Naruto's stomach dropped. Of all the jonin who could have found them, it had to be Kakashi—rumored to be one of the Hokage's most trusted operatives. The man's relaxed posture belied his reputation as an elite ninja.

"Kakashi-sensei," Sasuke acknowledged with a stiff nod. "We're just training."

"Training," Kakashi repeated, his gaze dropping to Kitsumon. "With a talking fox. How innovative."

Kitsumon bristled. "I'm not a fox! I'm a Digital Monster—a Digimon! And who are you to spy on my partner?"

"Partner, is it?" Kakashi stepped closer, crouching to examine Kitsumon with undisguised curiosity. "Fascinating. I've heard rumors about a new 'ninken' at the Academy, but I didn't expect anything quite so... articulate."

Naruto moved protectively in front of Kitsumon. "The Hokage knows all about him. We're not doing anything wrong."

"I never said you were," Kakashi replied mildly. "In fact, I'm here on the Hokage's orders." He straightened, his tone shifting from casual to professional. "There's been an increase in unusual chakra signatures throughout the village perimeter. The Hokage thought your... partner... might be able to help identify them."

Naruto exchanged glances with Kitsumon and Sasuke. "You knew about the portals?"

"Let's just say I've been keeping an eye on things." Kakashi's visible eye shifted to the Digivice in Naruto's hand. "That device—it can detect these digital anomalies?"

Naruto nodded reluctantly. "Within about a mile radius. But it's not showing anything right now."

"Because whatever came through is masking its signature," Kitsumon added. "It's probably still nearby, watching us."

As if on cue, a low, rumbling laugh echoed through the clearing—a sound too deep and resonant to have come from a human throat. The temperature seemed to drop several degrees, and shadows lengthened despite the absence of any light source to cast them.

"Clever little fox," said a voice from everywhere and nowhere. "Always so perceptive. It's why the Emperor valued you so highly."

Kitsumon's fur stood on end, his body tensing as if ready to bolt. "That voice... Shadowmon!"

"You remember me. I'm flattered." The shadows at the edge of the clearing began to coalesce, forming a vaguely humanoid shape with glowing red eyes. "The Emperor sends his regards, little traitor. And his invitation to return... along with your human pet and his interesting power."

Kakashi moved with blinding speed, placing himself between the shadow creature and the others. "I don't know what you are," he said coolly, "but threatening Konoha citizens is a poor way to introduce yourself."

The shadow being—Shadowmon—seemed to find this amusing. "A guardian? How quaint. Your physical techniques cannot harm me, human. I exist between states of matter—neither fully digital nor fully corporeal in your reality."

"We'll see about that," Kakashi replied, his hands already forming seals. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

A massive ball of flame erupted from his mask-covered mouth, illuminating the clearing with blinding intensity as it hurtled toward Shadowmon. The fire engulfed the shadow being completely—and passed through it without effect, scorching the trees beyond.

"I warned you," Shadowmon laughed. "Your world's rules do not fully apply to me."

Naruto gripped the Digivice tighter, feeling it warm in response to his rising emotions. "Kitsumon!"

"Ready!" The small Digimon leaped forward, positioning himself beside Kakashi.

"Digivolve now!" Naruto raised the Digivice, focusing his will through it as Iruka had taught him. Light burst from the device, enveloping Kitsumon in a cocoon of digital energy.

"Kitsumon digivolve to... Vulpemon!"

The transformation completed in seconds, leaving the larger, three-tailed Champion form standing proudly in the clearing. Kakashi took a step back, clearly surprised by the sudden evolution.

"Spirit Flame!" Vulpemon roared, unleashing a massive fireball tinged with ethereal blue energy.

Unlike Kakashi's jutsu, this attack struck Shadowmon with tangible force, causing the shadow being to ripple and distort with a howl of pain. "Digital attacks... you've learned well, little fox!"

"Fall back!" Vulpemon called to the humans. "Shadowmon is an Ultimate level Digimon—I can't defeat him alone!"

Sasuke stepped forward instead, his hands forming seals. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" Multiple small fireballs shot from his mouth, each one precisely aimed.

"Useless," Shadowmon scoffed—but then his form rippled again as the flames made contact. "What? How?"

"I channeled my chakra through the Digivice," Naruto explained with a grim smile, holding up the glowing device. Sasuke had pressed his hand against it just before casting his jutsu. "Seems like it can convert human energy to digital form!"

Kakashi's visible eye widened with understanding. He moved to Naruto's side, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Clever. Let's try something with more punch."

Chakra surged from the jonin into Naruto, through the Digivice, and into Vulpemon, who glowed brighter in response. The fox Digimon growled as power filled him, his three tails elongating and burning with intensified flame.

"Trinity Flame Strike!" Vulpemon roared, the attack now amplified by Kakashi's substantial chakra. The triple helix of fire spiraled toward Shadowmon with devastating force, tearing through the Ultimate Digimon's shadowy form.

Shadowmon shrieked, his body disintegrating at the edges. "Impossible! A mere Champion level with humans... the Emperor must know of this!"

The shadow being began to dissolve, retreating into the gathering darkness of evening. "This isn't over, traitor! The Emperor has plans for this world—and especially for the power within that human child!"

With those ominous words, Shadowmon vanished completely, leaving only a lingering chill in the air.

Vulpemon collapsed, reverting to Kitsumon in a flash of light. Naruto rushed to his partner's side, cradling the exhausted Digimon gently.

"You okay?" he asked worriedly.

"Just tired," Kitsumon assured him. "That was more power than I've ever channeled before."

Kakashi stood with his hands in his pockets, studying them with an unreadable expression. "I think," he said finally, "we should continue this discussion somewhere more secure. Sasuke, you'll join us as well, since you're clearly involved now."

Sasuke nodded stiffly, his expression thoughtful as he stared at the spot where Shadowmon had disappeared. "That creature... it was afraid of our combined attack."

"Not afraid enough," Kitsumon muttered. "Shadowmon is one of the Digital Emperor's elite scouts. If he's here, it means the invasion is progressing faster than I thought."

"Invasion?" Kakashi's tone sharpened. "You'd better explain everything."

Two hours later, they sat in the Hokage's office, having recounted the entire encounter. Hiruzen Sarutobi listened gravely, his aged fingers steepled before him as he absorbed the implications.

"So this 'Digital Emperor' has taken a personal interest in Naruto," he summarized. "Or more specifically, in the Nine-Tails' chakra."

Kitsumon nodded from his place on Naruto's lap. "The Nine-Tails' energy is compatible with digital matter in a way normal chakra isn't. It can directly affect and empower Digimon, as we saw with Vulpemon's enhanced form."

"Which makes Naruto both a target and a potential asset," Kakashi added. "The Emperor wants this power for himself, but we can use it to defend against his forces."

The Hokage turned to Sasuke, who had remained silent throughout most of the explanation. "And you, young Uchiha. You've inserted yourself into this situation rather deliberately, it seems."

Sasuke met the Hokage's gaze unflinchingly. "These Digimon represent a new power—one that could be vital for the village's protection. I intend to understand it fully."

"For the village's protection," the Hokage repeated, his tone making it clear he recognized Sasuke's personal motivations ran deeper. "Very well. Given the circumstances, I believe we must accelerate our response to this digital threat."

He turned back to Naruto. "Tomorrow is your graduation exam. Focus on that for now—becoming a genin is still important for your development as a ninja. Afterward, we'll establish a specialized training protocol for you and Kitsumon, with Kakashi supervising."

Naruto brightened at this news. "Really? Kakashi-sensei will train us?"

"Among others," the Hokage clarified. "This situation calls for multiple perspectives. Iruka will continue to provide baseline support, while Kakashi will help you develop combat applications."

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled in what might have been a smile. "Don't look so excited, Naruto. My training methods tend to be... demanding."

"I can handle anything you throw at me," Naruto declared confidently. "Believe it!"

The Hokage chuckled. "That spirit will serve you well. Now, all of you should get some rest. Tomorrow brings new challenges—starting with a certain Academy exam."

As they left the Hokage Tower, Naruto found himself walking beside Sasuke, with Kitsumon trotting ahead and Kakashi trailing behind, nose buried in his ever-present book.

"So," Naruto said awkwardly, "thanks for helping with Shadowmon back there. Your fire jutsu really made a difference."

Sasuke grunted noncommittally. "The Digivice's ability to convert chakra into digital energy is interesting. It has... potential."

Naruto rolled his eyes at the typical Sasuke response, but inwardly he was pleased. It was possibly the closest thing to praise he'd ever received from his rival.

"Just make sure you pass tomorrow," Sasuke added as they reached a fork in the road. "It would be inconvenient if you failed again."

With that parting shot, he turned toward the Uchiha district, hands in his pockets and posture as aloof as ever.

"Was that his way of saying 'good luck'?" Kitsumon asked, watching Sasuke's retreating figure with puzzlement.

Naruto laughed. "For Sasuke? Yeah, pretty much."

Kakashi fell into step beside them as they headed toward Naruto's apartment. "He's right, though. Tomorrow matters—not just for your ninja career, but for what comes after. The Academy exam is the smallest of the hurdles ahead."

Naruto nodded, understanding the hidden message in the jonin's words. "I won't fail. Not with so much depending on it."

"Good." Kakashi's hand came down on Naruto's shoulder briefly—a surprisingly supportive gesture from the normally distant jonin. "Because I have a feeling the three of you will be seeing a lot more of each other in the coming weeks."

"Three?" Naruto questioned.

Kakashi merely winked his visible eye and vanished in a swirl of leaves, leaving Naruto and Kitsumon to ponder his cryptic statement.

The night before the graduation exam, Naruto dreamed.

He stood in a vast, impossible landscape where the laws of physics seemed mere suggestions rather than rules. Islands of earth floated in a technicolor sky. Data streams flowed like rivers through the air. In the distance, structures that resembled buildings but followed no architectural logic pulsed with internal light.

"The Digital World," Naruto whispered, somehow knowing this was true.

"A shadow of it," said a voice behind him. "A dream-echo, created from Kitsumon's memories and your own imagination."

Naruto turned to find himself facing not Kitsumon, but a taller, more humanoid fox-like being standing upright. It wore purple gloves with the yin-yang symbol and had knowing yellow eyes.

"Who are you?" Naruto asked, though somehow he already suspected the answer.

"I am Renamon," the Digimon replied. "Or rather, I am what Kitsumon may one day become, with your help and the right circumstances. One of many possible evolutions."

"This is weird," Naruto said, looking around at the dreamscape. "Why am I seeing this?"

"Because the barriers are thinning," Renamon explained. "Not just between our worlds, but between your consciousness and the Digital World's data. The Digivice connects you to Kitsumon, but also to the greater network that forms our reality."

Renamon gestured, and the dreamscape shifted. Now they stood on a high plateau overlooking a vast dark territory where the vibrant colors of the Digital World gave way to monochrome corruption.

"The Dark Area," Renamon said grimly. "Domain of the Digital Emperor and his forces. It grows daily, consuming more of the Digital World as the Emperor's power increases."

"And he wants to invade our world too," Naruto concluded. "Using the Nine-Tails' power somehow."

Renamon nodded. "The Tailed Beasts are not entirely unlike Digimon in their essential nature—concentrations of energy given consciousness and form. The Emperor believes he can convert your world into digital matter, with the Nine-Tails as a catalyst."

"That's insane!" Naruto protested. "He'd destroy everything!"

"From his perspective, he would be elevating your reality to a higher state of existence." Renamon's yellow eyes held Naruto's gaze. "The Emperor was once a guardian Digimon who became corrupted by power. He believes digital existence is superior to physical form."

The dreamscape began to waver, the edges of Naruto's vision blurring. "I'm waking up," he realized.

"Remember, Naruto Uzumaki," Renamon said, her form already fading. "The power of digivolution comes from the heart. Trust in Kitsumon, trust in your new allies, but most importantly, trust in yourself. The strength you need has always been within you—the Digivice merely helps you channel it."

With those parting words, the dream dissolved, and Naruto awoke in his apartment, sunlight streaming through the window. Kitsumon was curled at the foot of his bed, still sleeping peacefully.

Naruto sat up slowly, the dream-vision of the Digital World lingering in his mind. "Trust in myself," he murmured. "Right."

Today was the graduation exam. Today, he would finally become a ninja—a real one, not just an Academy student playing at greatness. And after that...

He glanced at the Digivice on his nightstand, then at Kitsumon's sleeping form. After that, the real challenges would begin. Digimon incursions, the Digital Emperor's plans, learning to control and direct the power of his unusual partnership.

For once, passing the Academy exam seemed like the easy part.

Naruto swung his legs over the side of the bed and began preparing for the day ahead. Whatever came next—clone jutsu disasters, digital invasions, or mysterious jonin with cryptic hints—he would face it head-on.

After all, that was his ninja way.

And now, it was his Tamer way too.