Chapter 9

Supergirl stepped into the base, her presence immediately noticed by the gathered team. She exchanged quick greetings before heading toward the library, following the familiar and distinct energy signature she had come to recognize. As she entered, her gaze fell upon not one, but two Narutos—one meditating, the other scanning through a book.

"Hey, Supergirl, it's nice to see you again," Naruto said, his bright blue eyes opening as he sensed Kara's presence.

His Sage Mode granted him an unparalleled awareness of life forces, allowing him to identify unique signatures like hers with ease. The energy radiating from her Kryptonian physiology made her stand out among others, impossible to mistake. His detection range had expanded to cover an entire country, but he still struggled to differentiate between normal humans who had similar life force levels. Fortunately, this wasn't a problem at the moment.

Kara smiled and stepped forward, her interest in Naruto growing with each interaction. He wasn't sulking about being stranded in an unfamiliar world. He wasn't showing signs of despair. Instead, he had already begun integrating himself into this new reality, training, and working toward a goal.

'He's so strong emotionally,' Kara thought, reflecting on her own arrival on Earth. She had struggled, confused and uncertain, despite being the same age as Naruto. Now, at seventeen, she was older than him by only a few months, yet he carried himself with such unwavering confidence and resolve.

"I agree," she said. "I'm glad to see you again too. I wanted to ask—would you like to become my partner for the duration of your stay?"

Naruto blinked, caught off guard by the sudden request, but his smile quickly returned. "That's great! I would love to." He sprang to his feet, his usual enthusiasm shining through.

Kara found herself chuckling at his energy. She had made the right choice. Naruto was not only powerful, but he was also reliable and adaptable. He was the first person she had met who genuinely felt like an equal, someone who didn't see her as just 'Superman's cousin' but as her own person.

More importantly, he wasn't just focused on power. Naruto had a vision. He wanted to create a peaceful era where people could understand one another. His philosophy of forgiveness and second chances set him apart even among heroes. Kara respected that, though she wondered if this world would allow him to stay true to that belief.

"So, how was the team?" Kara asked, curious about his impressions.

"They're good people," Naruto admitted. "As for powers, I can't really judge the weaker humans since they wouldn't last long against me in a fight, but Superboy and Wonder Girl—" he paused, choosing his words carefully. "They need more skill. They're strong but lack refinement. They need to be pushed harder to grow."

Kara raised an eyebrow. "You think you can help with that?"

Naruto grinned. "I can leave a couple of clones for them to fight. It'll be good practice for both of us. They need real combat experience, and I need moving targets to test my new techniques."

"If they don't mind, then that sounds like a solid plan," Kara agreed. "Speaking of training, have you tested your limits yet? You said this was a new mode, right?"

Naruto scratched his head. "Not really. I have an idea of my capabilities, but I don't know my upper limit."

Kara smirked. "I know the perfect place. There's a lab at the core of the planet—Kal tested his abilities there a few years ago. He asked if I wanted to do the same so they could figure out a proper training plan for me. We could go together and see what you're really capable of."

Naruto's eyes widened. A specialized lab designed to handle the power of Kryptonians? That sounded like exactly what he needed.

Naruto let out a deep breath as he processed everything around him. His time in this world had been nothing short of a whirlwind, and the more he saw, the more surreal it all felt. He shook his head with a chuckle, speaking aloud to no one in particular.

"I think I'm living in a dream world. I expect more crazy things to pop up next—time travelers, planet destroyers, magicians, other worlds, aliens. What more are we going to see?"

Beside him, Kara laughed and gave him a hearty pat on the back. "Don't lose yourself just yet," she teased. "There's a lot more to come."

Naruto grinned widely, his usual enthusiasm burning bright. "I look forward to it! I love interesting things."

This world was full of wonders—so different from the shinobi world. It was enough to keep his mind occupied, to push away the thoughts of home and the looming uncertainty of ever returning. Here, everything was fresh, new, and exhilarating.

"Then you're in for a treat if you stick with me," Kara said, a mischievous glint in her eye. "But first, let's figure something out. Can you fly, or am I gonna have to carry you everywhere?"

Naruto smirked at the challenge and raised his hand. Golden energy shimmered around him, forming radiant wings of chakra that flared to life behind his back.

"I can fly like this," he said confidently.

He could have used transformation jutsu to form wings, but this was a better alternative. His energy mode made them far more effective, and the technique doubled as training for mastering his chakra control in this world.

Kara gave an approving nod. "Good, because it would be pretty awkward if I had to carry you all the time."

Naruto laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, I'd never live that down. So, moving on... I wanted to ask if I could get a suit—something that could conceal my golden energy from the outside world."

Kara raised an eyebrow. "Couldn't you just keep it flowing internally?"

Naruto shook his head. "That would defeat the purpose. The energy flows outside to give me extra protection and versatility."

To demonstrate, golden limbs sprouted from the cloak of energy surrounding him, shifting seamlessly into different shapes and forms. Some resembled extra arms, while others formed into jagged blades or fluid tendrils.

Kara studied the display with interest. "I see... maybe we can ask the Doctor for some advice, or the League might have something that could help. If not, I'll look into it personally."

Naruto blinked in surprise at her offer. "You'd do that?"

She gave him a casual shrug. "Of course. I have access to the Fortress of Solitude, and the supercomputer there might be able to craft something for you."

Naruto felt a warmth spread through his chest at her kindness. In his life, people had rarely done things for him without expecting something in return. There had always been conditions, always a price to pay. But here was Kara, offering her help without hesitation, without asking for anything back.

"I really owe you a lot, Supergirl," Naruto said earnestly. "So if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask. Seriously."

Kara waved him off with a carefree smile. "It's not a big deal, so don't overthink it." She motioned for him to follow. "Come on, let's go see what we can find."

As Naruto trailed after her, a thought lingered in his mind. He needed to find a way to repay her kindness. Something meaningful. Something useful.

With that goal in mind, he smiled to himself. This world really was something else.

Naruto and Kara stepped into the Zeta Tube, the light enveloping them as their bodies dematerialized and reformed at their destination—The Block, the underground research facility of Doctor Shay Veritas.

The lab was massive, a sprawling complex buried near the Earth's core. A strange, pulsating glow emanated from the walls due to the energy anomalies constantly fluctuating in the air. The hum of machinery filled the space, punctuated by occasional bursts of static from holographic displays. Advanced technology of alien and human origin coexisted in perfect harmony, designed for one singular purpose—science without limits.

At the center of it all stood Dr. Shay Veritas, a strikingly beautiful woman with tanned skin and vibrant red hair. She carried herself with the air of someone who had long since left the realm of normal human understanding, her eyes filled with curiosity and intelligence.

She turned as they arrived, her lips curling into a small smile. "Welcome, Supergirl. I've been expecting your visit for quite some time, ever since your cousin mentioned your presence." Her gaze shifted toward Naruto, analyzing him with the precision of a scientist. "And who is the young man?"

Naruto and Kara approached as the doctor continued working on a spatial device, her hands swiftly adjusting dials and inputting data. Given The Block's unique situation—trapped near the Earth's core due to a failed dimensional experiment—Veritas was always searching for a way to free her staff from the time-space anomaly that bound them.

"Hello, Doctor," Naruto greeted, his tone friendly but laced with curiosity. "My name is Naruto, and I was hoping you could allow me to test my powers in your facility. It'd be too destructive in the outside world, and wrecking nature doesn't really tell me much about my abilities beyond the sheer area of effect."

Despite all his battles, Naruto still had no real measure of his true strength in this world. His Rasenshuriken, for example, had destroyed nearly everything in its path—except Superman.

Dr. Veritas tilted her head slightly, intrigued. "And what kind of energy do you use?"

"Chakra," Naruto answered. "Do you have any knowledge of it?"

A small smirk played on her lips. "Of course. I have knowledge of nearly all energy types found across the universe." She crossed her arms, nodding approvingly. "I have no problem testing your abilities. And what about you, Supergirl?"

Kara shrugged, smiling. "Since I'm already here, I might as well get checked too."

"Wonderful," Veritas said, turning on her heel. "Let's go. I've upgraded the testing equipment since your cousin last used them. We can properly gauge your limits now—without any boosts from the yellow sun."

Naruto's eyes glinted with excitement. He had been looking for a way to push himself, and now he had the perfect opportunity.

As they followed Veritas deeper into the lab, Naruto couldn't help but wonder—just how far could he go? And more importantly... what would he discover about himself in the process?

The heavy metal doors slid open, revealing a vast metallic chamber stretching over half a kilometer in length. The walls shimmered with energy-resistant plating, glowing faintly as advanced scanning systems activated. Holograms flickered to life beside Dr. Shay Veritas, projecting streams of data as beams of light washed over Naruto and Kara, assessing their physiology in real-time.

"So, who goes first?" Veritas asked, her voice brimming with scientific enthusiasm.

Kara glanced at Naruto, then made a quick decision. "I think you should go first."

She didn't say it outright, but Naruto caught the meaning behind her words. She didn't want him to feel discouraged if he saw her stats first, worried that it might affect his performance.

It was amusing—hilarious, even.

He was used to being underestimated, but this was new. Someone was going out of their way to be considerate toward him, thinking he might need encouragement.

'I never thought I'd experience something like this,' Naruto mused, shaking his head.

"I'll go first," he agreed, stepping forward.

Activating his Bijuu-Sage Mode, Naruto instantly stabilized his chakra. He had absorbed 25% of the planet's nature energy into his body—a cap he had trained to handle efficiently in battle. Any higher, and the balance became too delicate to maintain without further training. But this amount? He could gather it within 15 seconds—an insignificant span to humans but a lifetime for beings of his level.

At this moment, his total energy was equal to a planet's worth of power. The combination of his own chakra, Kurama's reserves, and the nature energy made him an anomaly, surpassing conventional understanding. His chakra had always been immense, but the influence of the Nine-Tails since birth had refined and expanded it beyond normal shinobi limits.

"Alright," Veritas said, studying her tablet as the data flowed in. "We'll be testing every major category of your physical and cognitive abilities—speed, reaction time, lifting strength, durability, attack potency, stamina, resistance, healing, area of effect, and mental capability."

Naruto blinked. "Mental capability?"

"It measures how fast you can understand concepts," she clarified.

"Yeah… I'm so failing that," he muttered under his breath.

Veritas smirked but continued. "We'll start with speed. Please run to the other side of the room."

She gestured to a sleek, high-tech treadmill-like platform embedded in the floor, designed to measure and withstand extreme velocities.

Kara eyed the setup, crossing her arms. "Is that safe?"

"Don't worry," Veritas assured her. "This facility was built to withstand catastrophic energy outputs. Even if the Earth's core exploded, The Block wouldn't be affected."

Naruto just shook his head at the ridiculousness of it all. These scientists really go all out.

He turned toward the other end of the room—a full 500 meters away. It looked vast, almost like an empty void stretching before him. A grin crept onto his face.

'Let's do this.'

All of Naruto's energy focused inward, ready for a short burst—the kind of speed he'd utilize in battle. Wasting chakra on prolonged exertion was inefficient, and chakra itself wasn't an infinite resource. Ninja had to create their chakra manually, a lesson drilled into them at the academy. Without an active flow, their abilities dulled, their senses weakened.

This was why having a powerful base was crucial. The stronger the foundation, the greater the chakra reserves, and the more effective chakra-enhanced techniques became. Kurama's chakra, for instance, had a far greater impact per unit than Naruto's own, thanks to its density and quality. Mixing it with Sage energy only amplified the potency further.

He took a breath, excitement bubbling inside him.

'This is gonna be fun.'

"Are you just going to stand there and daydream?" Kurama's voice rumbled in his mind. "You've been motionless for ten seconds already."

"I'm going, I'm going," Naruto muttered.

Then, he moved.

He relinquished all restraints on his speed, allowing Kurama to handle the environmental stabilization. Every ninja learned to suppress the impact of their movements to avoid giving away their presence in battle. Otherwise, the sheer force of their acceleration could cause sonic booms or environmental destruction—something he wanted to avoid in a controlled setting like this.

To Kara and Veritas, the moment was surreal.

Naruto disappeared.

No sound. No shockwave. No explosion of energy.

One instant, he stood beside them.

The next, he was there, at the other end of the room, his blonde hair barely ruffled by the motion.

Kara's enhanced vision had followed the movement, but only barely. Meanwhile, Veritas studied the live readout on her scanner, her eyes widening.

Naruto reappeared beside them, an eager grin on his face. "How was it?"

Veritas exhaled, shaking her head in amazement. "Wonderful!"

She tapped on her device, displaying the results. "I can see you're still adapting to your new abilities, so these numbers will change as you grow, but as of now… your recorded speed limit is 100,000 kilometers per second."

Naruto blinked. "Uh… is that fast?"

Kara gave him a look. "That's one-third the speed of light."

"In other words," Veritas continued, "the return stroke of lightning—one of the fastest natural phenomena—should now be visible to you. You aren't just reacting to lightning anymore… you can see it move in real time."

Naruto's grin widened.