Chapter 50

Ino's question hung in the air as she glanced from Naruto to Orochi, her brow furrowed with a mix of concern and curiosity. "What are we going to do now?" Her voice betrayed a hint of frustration, the weight of the rejection heavy on her shoulders. She couldn't help but feel uneasy—what did this mean for their mission? What was left now that the immortals had turned away from Naruto's plea for their power?

Naruto, still reeling from the unexpected turn of events, remained silent, deep in thought. But it was Orochi who broke the silence. He had been quiet throughout the meeting, processing the immense pressure of being in the presence of such legendary figures. But now, with the weight of the rejection sinking in, he took a deep breath and spoke with the composed demeanor he had mastered over the years.

"We can try appealing to others," Orochi said, his voice steady, a reflection of his own self-control. He paused for a moment, eyes narrowing slightly as he reflected on Gaea's advice. "Master Gaea told me to take you to the Coliseum if things didn't work out. There, you can fight and show off your abilities to attract the normal immortals."

His words were calculated and deliberate, a reminder of the reality they faced. It wasn't the outcome Naruto had hoped for, but it was a potential route to gain respect and power from other immortals—those who might not be as prideful or as cautious in their decisions as the great immortals.

The mention of the Coliseum sparked a glimmer of interest in Naruto's eyes. The arena was legendary, a place where immortals and powerful beings from all over the realms came to test their strength, to demonstrate their prowess. It wasn't a guarantee, but it was an opportunity to prove their worth. For Naruto, this might be the path to change the outcome, to show that he was more than just a mortal who didn't belong in this world.

Ino, still digesting the new information, nodded thoughtfully. "A chance to prove ourselves in battle…" she murmured, her fingers drumming lightly on her arms. The idea of fighting in the Coliseum was both exciting and daunting. The idea of facing new, powerful opponents was thrilling to her—a true test of her own growth and abilities.

Orochi's eyes remained focused, his expression calm. He was no stranger to strategy and understanding the undercurrents of power dynamics. He could sense that the immortals were not entirely dismissive of Naruto's potential—they were simply too proud to recognize his value so easily. It was a matter of showing them, not begging them. The Coliseum would allow them to do just that, to display their strength and, perhaps, shift the balance in their favor.

"We should prepare ourselves. If we're going to face these immortals and others in the Coliseum, we'll need to be ready for anything," Orochi continued, his tone reflecting the urgency of the situation. "Every battle will count."

Naruto, feeling a renewed sense of purpose, nodded firmly. The rejection stung, but he wasn't about to let it define him. If anything, it had only fueled his resolve to push forward, to prove to the immortals—and to himself—that he was worthy of their respect.

"Alright," Naruto said, his voice steady and confident once again. "We'll go to the Coliseum. Let's show them what we're capable of."

With that, the team's next course of action had been decided. The Coliseum awaited, and with it, the chance to fight for respect, power, and a place in the grand order of the immortals. There was no turning back now.

The Coliseum was nothing short of awe-inspiring. It was a colossal arena, built with materials that shimmered with the essence of immortal power. The walls were made of a translucent, ethereal substance that allowed light to refract in colors no mortal eyes could comprehend, casting an otherworldly glow over the entire space. The vastness of the stadium was impossible to measure with just the eyes, as it seemed to stretch into infinity, designed not only to accommodate the powerful immortals but also to withstand the immense energy unleashed during their battles.

As Naruto and his team entered, the crowd of immortals took notice. Whispers spread through the air like wildfire—word of the human who had been given a seat among them had already circulated. Most of the immortals considered Naruto's presence a mere formality, a sign that he was the strongest of his kind. Yet, they saw him as a curiosity—a human who had somehow earned the attention of the great immortals, but not a true contender for their strength.

Despite the attention they garnered, the team walked with purpose through the bustling crowd of spectators. The immortals around them were an intimidating sight, their forms ranging from towering behemoths with glowing eyes to ethereal, almost ghostly figures that floated above the ground. Every movement they made exuded an air of superiority, a reminder that they were beings of incomprehensible power who had lived for eons. But as Naruto observed their battles, his mind focused on one thing: growth.

The arena was alive with the roar of combat. Fights erupted in every corner, and what struck Naruto the most was how the immortals fought without hesitation or fear. Their movements were fluid and precise, and the energy they wielded was far beyond anything Naruto had encountered before. Concepts like time, gravity, and elemental forces were manipulated with ease, and the very air seemed to crackle with raw power. It was as if the combatants were not bound by the laws of nature—they bent reality to their will.

The injuries that occurred were staggering, with limbs being torn from bodies, bones shattered, and blood spilling like rivers. Yet, the immortals didn't even flinch at the sight of such devastation. What seemed like catastrophic injuries to the untrained eye were treated with a cold indifference. Their healing was instantaneous, their bodies capable of withstanding wounds that would obliterate any mortal.

Naruto, however, wasn't intimidated. He had seen power like this before, in the fights he had with his friends and in his own struggles to grow stronger. The difference now was that he had reached a point where he could see through the immortals' technique, recognizing that their power, while immense, was not unbeatable. They fought with ferocity, yes, but their techniques, while refined, still had gaps—gaps that Naruto could exploit.

"I don't think any of them can beat me," Naruto muttered under his breath, watching an immortal warrior casually destroy a portion of the arena with a mere flick of his wrist. It was a casual display of raw strength, but Naruto had seen such feats before—he had the potential to overcome them.

Ino, walking beside him, raised an eyebrow. "You think so?"

Naruto nodded, his gaze unwavering as he studied the fighters in the arena. "I'm not equal to the great immortals yet, but the ones here? They haven't shown anything I can't handle. My growth has been insane recently. The training I've gone through—it's not like anything I've done before."

Hinata, walking beside Naruto, gave him a concerned look. "But this place... these immortals... they're on another level. We need to be cautious."

Naruto smiled, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "I know. But that's why I've been training harder than ever. The last month has been incredible. Every second, I've been pushing myself, faster than light, deeper into my abilities. It's like 100 years of training packed into a single month. My body's not even sore anymore—it just keeps growing stronger."

Ino, who had been keeping up with Naruto's progress, nodded in understanding. She had seen firsthand how much he had changed, how his chakra had become more refined and controlled. His mastery over his clones and the speed at which he moved were mind-boggling. There were times when she could hardly keep up, even with her own mental prowess.

"That's why you're going to blow them all away," Ino said with a smirk, her voice tinged with pride. "Show them what humanity can do."

Naruto's expression hardened with determination. "I will. I'm not just here to be part of the fight. I'm here to change the game. I'm going to prove that humanity deserves a place among the immortals."

"Greetings great one, I hope the battles have been to your satisfaction." Two giant muscular men with terrifying appearance walked up to them. From hearing the man's voice, the group was filled with dread and terror.

The two men seemed to grow in size, towering over them like infinite mountains.

The moment the two towering figures approached, the air seemed to thicken with an oppressive weight. Their presence was overwhelming, their sheer size and terrifying appearance dwarfing the group in a way that was almost unfathomable. The muscles that rippled across their bodies looked like they could crush mountains, and their expressions were cold, calculating—almost as if they were predators closing in on prey.

The pressure was immediate, and it made the very atmosphere feel suffocating. The ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble with each step the men took, and their shadows loomed over the group like an eclipse. Ino, usually strong-willed and confident, felt her heart race in terror. It was as if the very essence of dread and fear were being fed directly into her chest, and she struggled to breathe.

Beside her, Hinata's hands clenched into fists, but even she could feel her knees wobble under the sheer force of the psychological pressure these figures exuded. In contrast, Naruto stood tall, his eyes narrowing as he sensed the overwhelming weight of their presence, but he remained calm.

"Stop what you are doing," Naruto's voice was firm, his fists clenched in anger. His blue eyes burned with a fiery intensity as he turned his glare toward the two men. The power of their fear-inducing presence was not something he could simply ignore, but Naruto understood what was happening—this was not raw power. This was a concept, one that played on the psyche, manipulating emotions and perception. It wasn't something that could be blocked by physical means alone.

In an instant, Naruto activated his Truth-Seeking Balls (TSB), forming a protective barrier around the group. The energy emanating from the orbs not only acted as a shield but also neutralized the malicious influence of the fear-based attack. The concept of dread struggled to take hold of him—Naruto had already spent a month training in terror itself, confronting his deepest fears and mastering his mind to resist such illusions. He had prepared for this moment, and his connection to the universe itself made him immune to their psychological warfare.

He could feel the vast energy coursing through him, empowering his resolve and fortifying his spirit. The dread that had threatened to engulf Ino and Hinata had no effect on him. He was no longer just a mortal with power—he was connected to the cosmos, with knowledge beyond their understanding. He could easily see around the solar system. He could also feel glimpses of what others could be in the future or what they were in the present. He also felt no resistance from the world anymore when it came to borrowing the infinite energy. The enlightenment had allowed him to recognize different levels of energy in the universe, showing him that he was only utilizing the lower form.

The two figures faltered, their eyes narrowing in slight confusion as they sensed that their power had not affected Naruto. One of them, the larger of the two, spoke up, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Apologies, elder. I didn't know that my presence would cause harm to your companions. I wasn't trying to harm them, as this is just the normal state for me. I'll turn it down as you seem upset… Is it fine now, sir?"

The tone was insincere, almost mocking, clearly testing Naruto's patience. The man wasn't sorry at all; rather, he was trying to provoke Naruto, to get a rise out of him. Naruto's expression hardened, but before he could respond, Ino's voice broke through.

"Naruto, you can't just fight all the battles," she said, her voice filled with a mixture of frustration and determination. "These guys are nothing more than a couple of nobodies. If you fight them, it'll only make us look weak. Remember what you've taught us—the Hokage doesn't fight every battle. He commands others to fight for him. Let us handle this. It'll bring honor to our name."

Hinata, standing beside Naruto, gave him a meaningful look. "Ino's right. We've come this far because we're a team. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Let us fight. We'll show them what we're capable of."

Naruto glanced at the two women, his heart heavy with concern. He knew their strength and he trusted them, but this was different. These immortals weren't just powerful—they could manipulate a psychological concept that could have devastating consequences. The risk of them falling under the sway of such a power was too great, but Naruto knew he couldn't always fight every battle for them.

Before he could respond, the mocking voice of the larger man echoed again. "Fight us, you little girls should stop deluding yourselves. Stick to acting pretty, since you have no talent for this game. And even your master here isn't good enough to face us. We were acting sarcastic, and you actually believe you are something… Leave out the girls, boy, and fight us."

The insult was obvious and malicious. It was meant to goad Naruto into battle, to provoke him into proving their worth. But Naruto wasn't so easily riled. His expression hardened, the weight of the moment sinking in.

Ino's hands clenched into fists, her pride burning within her. "Naruto, allow me to fight for you. Please, boost my powers so that I can redeem myself. I can't stand these ugly freaks looking at me like I'm just an insect. I won't let them treat us like this."

Naruto took a deep breath, his resolve solidifying. He turned to Ino, his eyes filled with pride. "I'll give you everything I've got, Ino. Show them what you're made of."

Hinata's eyes glowed with determination as she stepped forward as well. "Let me fight too, Naruto. For all of us."

The tension in the air was palpable as all eyes in the Coliseum locked onto Naruto, waiting to see how he would respond to the blatant disrespect. The crowd murmured in anticipation, their gazes flitting between the hulking immortals and the humans who dared to stand before them. Even among the immortals, such a challenge carried weight—Naruto's response would not only reflect on him but on all of humanity.

Naruto's first instinct was to fight. His anger at their mocking tone and their attack on his companions burned like fire in his chest. A battle would silence them, show the world his strength, and prove why he deserved to be among the great immortals. But Naruto knew that it wasn't about his strength alone. If he took the challenge himself, he would only solidify the belief that humanity relied solely on him. It would paint a picture that there was no one else among the humans worthy of standing beside immortals.

His gaze shifted to his companions. Hinata stood resolute, her Tensaigan activated, the faint aura of her newfound celestial power radiating around her. She was ready. Naruto wasn't worried about her—her training had brought her far. But Ino…

Naruto glanced at her, and despite the determined expression on her face, he couldn't ignore the disparity in strength. As Mothra's vessel, Ino had grown exponentially stronger, but even with her enhancements, she was barely above city-level in power. Against the immortals before them, whose strength could shatter planets, the gap was undeniable.

Yet, as he studied her, he caught something else in her eyes—a deep-seated fear mixed with resolve. Ino wasn't just asking to fight; she was pleading for her chance to prove herself, not to the crowd, but to herself. Her pride as a kunoichi and the future leader of the Yamanaka clan was at stake.

'Naruto, please let me fight,' her mental voice whispered to him through their bond. 'You can't just treat me like a child. Remember, this is a spar. I believe in you, and I know you can boost me to their level. These guys are just fodder trying to rile you up.'

Naruto clenched his fists, his heart heavy. He could feel her fear, but he could also feel her desperation. Ino wasn't backing down, not because she wasn't scared, but because she knew that walking away would only deepen the self-doubt she'd been battling. If he didn't give her this chance, it wouldn't just hurt her pride—it would hurt her spirit.

Under the weight of her honest plea, Naruto exhaled deeply. He looked at Ino and Hinata, their determined gazes unwavering. They weren't asking him to fight their battles; they were asking him to believe in them.

He stepped forward and pulled them both into a firm embrace, his warmth cutting through the tension in the air. "I believe in you," he said softly, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging within him. "Go and kick their ass."

Ino's eyes widened at his words before a bright, beaming smile broke across her face. She stepped back, her confidence bolstered. "You won't regret this," she declared, her voice loud enough for the immortals and the crowd to hear. "I'm going to make them squirm."

The crowd murmured in surprise at her boldness, and the two immortals sneered, unimpressed. "You're sending her?" one of them said with a mocking laugh. "Are you sure about this, boy? She won't last more than a second."

Naruto's eyes narrowed, and his hands began to glow with chakra. "You're about to find out just how wrong you are."