Chapter 43

With the capture of the new digimon, the battle ended and the whole battlefield looked completely trashed.

Craters, fires and all around destruction in the vicinity, around 5 to 10 miles of the region was completely messed up.

This was mainly because of the Champion battles while the rookie battles were in a shorter range.

Asura and Dame's battle had moved around a lot, causing most of the damage. Just their speed was causing immense damage, and caused massive fires to start up in the area.

Naruto cancelled the flames out as he let Asura go inside to take rest. He had fought the whole day and now fought something beyond his power level.

His new partner was sitting in another room that was designed for him. Naruto had prepared for it since he came to the forest for him.

It was a room filled with guns and daggers. There was also information on mechanical implants and videos on fights.

There was a practice room for him where he could test the weapons and new skills.

There was also an average bed. Commandramon lived a minimalistic life style, they didn't like soft places.

Just like Asura, he had also gone through much but didn't go to sleep. He was sitting with his back against the wall and holding his rifle, lost in thought after checking the room.

He didn't move at all.

Regardless, Naruto ignored him for now and checked on others.

Goku was fine, just some minor injuries while Arthur had lost his tail in the battle. Takato was extremely tired as he had used up his last reserves of stamina.

He had given Arthur medicine data to get him fixed up, while putting him to sleep. Goku had devoured most of the data from the Champions but he had given some to Arthur.

Arthur had also taken out four Commandramon so he really had it worse than the others.

Seeing Takato stumble, Naruto put him to sleep and sat him beside Goku.

Moving towards the back, he found Henry checking the area while Tesla seemed to have been recalled. He was looking fine. Just some blood stains on his ears.

It seems he had ended up using his powers to the limit.

"Henry, go take a rest." Naruto said as he patted his shoulder

"Can you help me with that, as my sense of balance got messed up?" Henry asked and it seems his inner ear or more had gotten damaged.

It was one of the problems around explosions and Henry's power.

Naruto didn't use the medicine since that had limits and just healed him with his chakra. It felt a lot better for Henry as well.

"Sorry for leaving the rest to you."

"It is my duty as leader, so don't worry about it. You have done an excellent job today, you deserve the rest." Naruto gave him a hug and his expression lightened.

He was stubborn and wanted to stay awake but Naruto made his body give in with his touch. They had been pushed too hard this day, and he didn't want them to feel like zombies the next day.

With him falling asleep, Naruto delivered him to Goku with control over the earth. Earth flowed like a wave, carrying Henry towards Goku.

He was surprised at the casual show of power. Naruto's control of the elements had reached a level where he didn't need any signs.

His control was beyond his past life since he had been training it for the past 12 years.

Watching him, Goku made his mind to observe carefully. He could find the inspiration for his new rank.

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Rika and Luna were sitting atop the tree branches, looking clean and chill. It was just their way of presenting themselves but anyone with a proper gaze could tell that they were extremely tired.

Naruto had been watching the whole battlefield and knew that Rika had almost died multiple times while Luna had gotten shot point blank multiple times.

She had got holes in her knees, the arm and even the guts.

Fighting four of those little dragons was a very big task that Luna had performed. It was proof of her excellence and Rika's.

Most Tamers would have been annihilated in a four vs two battle with these guys. D-Brigade wouldn't be calling these training exercises if their members were getting slaughtered.

It was very balanced and most battles ended with both parties retreating. This was one of the rare cases where one side got annihilated.

"How did I do?" Rika asked with a smirk on her face as she flipped her ponytail.

"You were wonderful. But, it can be better with more experience." Naruto replied as he appeared in front of her instantly.

It was normal for them.

Naruto's power had increased very fast and his speed was now on the same level as his kid form when he left with Jiraiya.

Other than his speed, his strength was already greater than his form that fought Pain but without the Sage Mode.

Only his reserves were low at this point, but just a little bit more and he would have enough to use Sage mode.

That should put him comfortably in the lowest range of Ultimate Digimon rank.

Rika smiled at his words and hugged him.

She expected that from him and she liked to know that it could be done better.

If he had said that she was perfect, she would have taken that as an insult.

She didn't believe anything was perfect, everything could be better.

Naruto held her in his arms and sat down placing her in his lap.

"Luna, you can take a rest." Naruto healed Luna while he told her that but she looked towards Rika for confirmation.

She thought Naruto was excellent partner but he didn't suit her, he was too kind.

They wouldn't get along if she had been with him, so she felt no envy against Asura.

"Take a rest Luna, you did well." Rika said in a soft tone and with a nod, Luna entered the digivice.

"Was the experience up to your expectation?" Naruto asked as he covered her in his chakra. He wasn't just helping the digimon partners, as he was also making his team stronger.

They could never be as strong as him but he wanted to make them strong as a Champion Digimon.

"I thought we could have done better. We made some slip ups here and there, could have gotten killed without the barrier." Rika replied and it wasn't hard to tell that she was annoyed by that fact.

She was a prideful girl and she had almost died to a squad of rookie. It didn't matter how powerful and trained they were, they were rookie.

Naruto kissed her neck, "I would never allow that to happen. Second, you will do better next time. It was your first time in such a battle, so it is expected that it was hard to focus."

"What about you? You didn't seem different at all. There is a secret isn't there. It can't be some ability anymore." Rika was tired but her mind had been thinking such a thing since they had moving in the forest.

Naruto's reactions just didn't make any sense. They were reactions of an experienced person. But, Naruto shouldn't have any of that experience.

The curiosity was getting to her, so she asked.

"Hmm, you are not wrong. It is something I will share with you when we have gotten stronger."

Rika turned around and hugged his neck, "Can you also get experience from consuming data?"

That was Rika's first guess.

Naruto could consume data and get the experience from it.

That would be a powerful ability and it could explain everything weird about him.

"Maybe"

"I understand, sorry for asking." Rika stopped her thoughts as she realized she wasn't thinking straight because of the fatigue.

If Naruto wasn't sharing it, then there was a reason for it.

"No, it isn't your fault. It is normal to question such things. Just wait a little bit longer, and I will share everything with you. Give me a year in exact terms." Naruto held her tight as his hand went through her beautiful hair.

He always admired long hair.

He liked beautiful eyes.

He didn't have a particular body type but he did prefer it big, since he had been obsessed with Hinata.

Rika had nice eyes, long and beautiful hair, and she was big in the parts where it counted.

Getting back on topic, Naruto always disliked this part of the relationship. He was hiding a big secret and it made him uncomfortable lying about it.

It could change all their relationships when it came out.

All of them that were directly connected to him since young, not outsiders like Na So Ri or the others.

"Heh, guess you didn't forget." Rika smirked and continued to rest her head on his chest.

"I would never forget."

Rika liked things in exact terms. She disliked vague things.

She had directly confessed to him when she felt the emotion, to see if it was true or not.

She then had some other girl kiss him to make sure. That had confirmed for her, she liked him and she kicked the girl for actually doing it

She was just weird that way.

They talked for a while before she fell asleep and Naruto continued watch over them. He had unleashed his aura in the region so the other digimon didn't come closer as they felt like Kurama was watching them.

They got the feeling of a powerful champion since Naruto was on that level.

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With the others asleep, Young decided to accompany him through the night.

"Thanks for lending Goku, he was a great help." Naruto talked to Young as he leaned against the tree trunk with Rika sleeping in his arms.

"You are welcome, but I am also thankful. This is helping him feel better, and he is energized after following you." Young replied and she was not just saying it since Goku was really subdued.

She had never been the field type, so it was unfortunate for him.

"No problem, it is the least I can do for a friend. And, how is everything there?"

"The usual, nothing has changed except Na So Ri's attitude. Guess, you made an impression on her."

"Why did it feel like you were implying something else? Are you feeling jealous?" Naruto teased as he noticed the little change in her tone.

"Yes" Young replied after a short silence in a small voice, like a whisper.

It had been days since he talked to her about it and she had been thinking over it.

"You don't have to feel like that, as I like you more. What have you thought about over the week?"

Young was silent again. She had thought about it. It was normal for tamers to have many girls for the survival case.

It didn't mean there weren't problems.

She liked him and it had increased over the week as he had been talking to her, regularly.

"What about your parents? I am a weak tamer." That was one of her problems. She felt inadequate.

"They have nothing to do with this. And, your strength has nothing to do with my choice. I am just being greedy and following my desire.

I just want you to become stronger." Naruto answered her question and clarified it, to make it easier for her to understand as she became slow when such talks came up.

Hearing the answer, she was happy that Naruto cared so much about her. She didn't think he would do such things.

Helping out others was time consuming and helping out after they declined you, not many people could do such a thing.

His clarification also helped in making the decision. This wasn't eternal. She wasn't getting married to him.

She could actually enjoy what her heart wanted to experience, instead of regretting it. She had seen how Na So Ri had become happier after she got with Naruto.

The girl had been holding back on being a bad bitch to show her good will. It was a step, and Naruto encouraged it.

"Fine, but don't regret it." Young answered after a moment of thought

"I won't, and you won't either."

With that, Naruto got a new digimon and a student. It was a good ending for the day and Naruto continued to converse with Young until she got too tired and he started meditating.