Chapter 34

Naruto and Asura materialized in the sweltering wasteland, a barren expanse of cracked earth and jagged terrain under an unforgiving sun. The temperature was a blistering 80 degrees Celsius, and the hot winds carried fine dirt that clung to their skin, worsening the suffocating heat. This, however, was nothing compared to the extremes of the Digital World. In some regions, flames burned at over 20,000 degrees, creating environments where only the strongest or most resilient Digimon could survive.

Around them, the landscape offered little comfort—just sparse cacti, a few scurrying lizards, and snakes slithering across the dry ground. These ordinary creatures, copied from the human world, often served as fodder for weak Digimon barely surviving at the rookie level.

But Naruto wasn't here for these insignificant creatures. His opponent was leagues above them, and as his eyes fell on the target, he couldn't help but let out a low whistle of appreciation.

Standing across the wasteland was Keramon, one of the most notorious rookie-level Digimon in the Digital World. Naruto couldn't believe they'd assigned him something so dangerous. It was both a privilege and a deadly gamble.

Keramon had an unnerving appearance. Its head was oversized, round, and dominated by large, wide eyes and a cavernous mouth that was always grinning with unsettling cheerfulness. Long antennae sprouted from its head, and below, its wiry arms ended in oversized hands with sharp claws. Instead of legs, eight writhing tentacles extended from beneath its head, each tipped with razor-like claws that carved the ground as it floated ominously.

Naruto analyzed it carefully, knowing exactly what he was dealing with. Keramon wasn't just any rookie-level Digimon.

The Threat of Keramon:Data Consumption:It could consume over 100 megabytes of data per second, devouring its prey and leaving nothing behind. Once consumed, the data was irreparably destroyed.Calamity in Groups:Keramon was rarely encountered alone. They traveled in swarms, accompanied by their Champion and Ultimate forms. Together, they wreaked havoc on the Digital World, leaving desolation in their wake.Unstoppable Evolution:Preventing a Keramon from reaching its Mega form was a priority for Tamers and Digimon alike. Its Mega form, Diaboromon, was a global threat capable of self-replication. With each clone retaining the full power of a Mega-level Digimon, an outbreak could lead to planetary-scale destruction. Even Royal Knights struggled to contain the chaos caused by a single Diaboromon.

This particular Keramon stood alone—an unusual sight—but Naruto knew better than to relax. The cheerful grin on its face masked the sheer danger it represented. If underestimated, it could still turn the battle into a nightmare.

Naruto stretched his arms casually, a grin tugging at his lips. "Man, they really went all out this time," he muttered, his tone laced with excitement. Blowing a kiss toward the sky, he chuckled. "Thanks for the challenge, I guess. Let's see if you live up to the hype."

Naruto stood with Asura under the unrelenting heat of the wasteland, the wind whipping around them and kicking up dust. The oppressive environment was secondary to the tension of the impending battle. He turned to his partner, his voice steady yet probing.

"How do you feel about this foe?" Naruto asked, his sharp gaze on the Keramon that floated ominously in the distance.

It wasn't the first time Asura had fought without Naruto actively participating, but it was their first battle where holding back wasn't an option. This was no simulation or friendly sparring match—this was life or death, with no room for hesitation.

For Naruto, the idea of killing always came with a heavy weight. Even as someone who had been trained in combat, who had killed before, he hadn't grown numb to it. The memories of his kills were vivid, their faces etched into his mind. The goosebumps he felt, the lump in his throat, and the urge to cry served as constant reminders that he still saw value in life, even in those he had to destroy. But Naruto had learned to master these feelings, not letting them show in the heat of battle or hinder his ability to fight.

Asura glanced at Naruto, his golden eyes alight with determination. "I'm honored that I can fight such a powerful foe," he said, his voice steady and composed. "I thought this was going to be a mundane task, something over in seconds."

Asura's growth over the past five days had been extraordinary. Under Naruto's guidance and training with Ryu, he had sharpened both his combat skills and his personality. Once a playful and slightly naive Digimon, he now carried himself with the confidence of a seasoned warrior. The thought of facing such a notorious opponent as Keramon didn't intimidate him—it excited him.

Naruto nodded but pressed further. "I meant about the killing. This is a real Digimon, not one of the fakes. What do you feel about that?" His voice carried a tinge of concern. He understood that Asura's interactions with other Digimon, many of them friendly, might complicate his feelings about taking a life.

Asura's expression shifted slightly. His confident demeanor faltered just enough to reveal a trace of unease, but it was gone as quickly as it came. He growled, a spark of irritation flashing in his eyes. "Honestly? I feel like I'm staring at that insane clown from IT. I want to punch that grin right off his face."

Naruto couldn't help but laugh, patting Asura on the back. "You're something else, partner. I love that about you. Only five days together, and you've already become one of the most important people in my life."

Asura turned to Naruto, his gaze steady. "Master, don't worry. I don't know how I'll feel after this, but I'm sure of one thing—I won't let you down."

Naruto's smile softened. He stepped back, giving Asura room to face the enemy. "Go and get him, warrior."

Asura squared his shoulders, his small yet powerful frame exuding confidence. He was armed with an arsenal of throwing weapons, bombs, smoke bombs, and poison bombs, with a sturdy shield strapped to his back. But his true strength lay in his abilities as a close-combat mage, a fighting style Naruto had carefully honed over the past few days.

Keramon, floating in the distance, was finally released from its containment field. Its twisted, grinning face split wider as it let out a shrill, maniacal laugh that echoed across the wasteland. The sound was jarring, like nails on a chalkboard, and Asura's expression hardened.

The rookie Digimon broke into a sprint, his claws glinting in the harsh sunlight. Every step kicked up a small cloud of dust as he charged toward Keramon, his eyes locked onto the grotesque foe.

Keramon's tentacles writhed in anticipation, and its laughter grew louder, its voice a discordant mix of hysteria and malice. It floated closer, its movements unnervingly smooth, as if it were toying with Asura.

Naruto watched from a distance, his fists clenched but his expression calm. This was Asura's battle, his moment to grow and prove himself.

Asura's grin mirrored his partner's. "Let's see if that laugh is still there when I'm done with you," he muttered under his breath, his claws crackling with energy as he prepared to strike. The wasteland became a battlefield, and the clash of rookie versus rookie began.

The piercing heat of the wasteland seemed to shimmer as Asura faced the erratic and chaotic Keramon, whose maniacal laughter filled the air like a sinister melody. Even though Asura lacked ears, the unsettling sound vibrated through him, making his flames flicker with discomfort. His anatomy dulled the effect, but he could still feel the madness radiating from his foe.

Keramon swayed side to side, its large, jagged mouth twisting into an unnerving grin. "Are you my new friend? Are you, are you?" it asked, its voice filled with a childlike glee that clashed horribly with its destructive nature. Without waiting for a reply, Keramon shot purple energy bullets from its mouth, the attack aptly named Bug Blaster (Crazy Giggle).

Asura didn't waste words. The moment the three shots barreled toward him, he leapt to the side, his movements swift and calculated. Mid-air, he hurled five kunai with precision. These were no ordinary weapons—they were forged from a special metal and enhanced with chakra. Asura, like Naruto, could generate chakra due to the unique bond they shared. His control over this power was already remarkable, a talent that Naruto believed could one day lead Asura to unlock the legendary Six Paths Mode. A Yin-Yang symbol had already appeared on Asura's back, marking his potential.

The chakra-infused kunai sliced through the air with deadly accuracy, their trajectory guided like missiles. But Keramon was unfazed. Laughing gleefully, it twisted and turned with aerial acrobatics, dodging the projectiles with ease. While doing so, it retaliated by firing lasers from its massive hands, beams of destructive energy aimed directly at Asura.

Asura raised his shield, the sturdy piece of equipment absorbing the brunt of the attack. Simultaneously, the flames on his head ignited into fiery arrows, four in total, which he guided with precision toward Keramon. Each arrow danced through the air, closing in from different angles like a predator cornering its prey.

Keramon, ever the playful menace, dived downward to evade the attack. But Asura was ready. As the Digimon descended, Asura tackled it with surprising force, driving them both into the ground.

"Hahahaha, you got me! It was fun!" Keramon exclaimed, its voice filled with twisted glee. Its tentacles writhed, shoving Asura back as its large hands blocked the follow-up strikes. Asura countered by conjuring a fireball, unleashing it point-blank into Keramon's face. The explosion rocked the battlefield, but Keramon retaliated with an energy ball of its own, causing another detonation.

When the dust settled, Asura emerged unharmed, protected by his armor, while Keramon floated above, its face scarred by burns. It laughed hysterically, the sound grating on Asura's nerves. "Hahaha, that hurt! That hurt! But I'm having so much fun! Are you having fun? Are you?!" Keramon's voice was almost pleading, as if desperate to confirm the joy it thought they shared.

Before Asura could respond, Keramon abruptly turned to the surrounding environment, sucking in raw data from the wasteland. The speed of its regeneration caught Asura off guard—within seconds, Keramon's injuries vanished, and its size doubled.

Asura scowled, realizing the danger of letting Keramon heal unchecked. Without hesitation, he conjured a small fire lance, infusing it with fire chakra until the flames reached a scorching 600 degrees. He hurled the weapon with all his strength, the lance streaking through the air like a meteor.

"I don't like the burning! I don't like it, okay?" Keramon shrieked, releasing lasers to intercept the lance. The fiery projectile was destroyed, its data absorbed by the chaotic Digimon.

"You like fire! You like fire, don't you? Here it comes!" Keramon giggled, its excitement palpable as it ascended into the sky. Moments later, it unleashed a barrage of fire arrows, a twisted imitation of Asura's earlier attack.

Asura's eyes narrowed. He focused, using fire manipulation to take control of the incoming flames. The effort drained some of his chakra reserves, but he succeeded in combining the flames into a single, massive orb, which he absorbed to bolster his own power. The flames on his head roared higher, a testament to his growing strength.

Keramon clapped its hands in delight. "Wow, so cool! How about this?!" It dove toward Asura, firing lasers in a chaotic spiral as it circled him, trying to overwhelm him with speed and firepower.

Asura waited for the right moment, enduring the barrage with his armor. When Keramon drew close, he struck, his leg flashing out in a perfectly timed kick that sent Keramon tumbling.

Keramon's laughter faltered as it careened to the side, momentarily disoriented. Asura didn't let up. Channeling chakra into his legs, he boosted his speed and closed the gap, delivering another powerful kick that launched Keramon upward. The twisted Digimon screamed in a mix of pain and glee, its laughter echoing even as it spiraled through the air.

Asura dropped to his knees, focusing his chakra into a final attack. Wax seeped from his form, coalescing into a lance that burned with fire-enhanced chakra. With a powerful leap, Asura propelled himself into the sky, the wax lance aimed at his target.

Keramon's eyes widened as the lance pierced through its head, the sharp tip shredding its core. "Ah… it was fun… Let's play again…" Keramon whispered, its voice fading as its body disintegrated into data, leaving behind a faint echo of its laughter.

Asura landed gracefully, the wasteland silent except for the crackle of his flames. He stood still for a moment, staring at the spot where Keramon had been. The battle was over, but the weight of his actions lingered. The chaotic Digimon was gone, but its words—and laughter—remained etched in his mind.

Asura stood over the fading remnants of Keramon, his flame flickering with hesitation and conflict. The battle was over, and the chaotic Digimon's data hovered before him like an invitation—one that he had to accept if he wanted to grow stronger. Yet, despite the necessity of this act, Asura couldn't shake the heavy feeling in his core.

Keramon wasn't like the villains in the movies or the monsters that Asura imagined himself fighting. It had fought without malice, its laughter pure and untainted by hate. The childlike joy in Keramon's actions reminded him of the children he had played with in the village, their innocent smiles and unfiltered excitement.

This wasn't how a monster was supposed to be. Keramon had simply wanted to play. And now it was gone.

Asura clenched his fists, his hesitation deepening as the reality of his actions sank in. If he didn't absorb the data, Keramon might return. That was the rule of this world. But knowing this didn't ease the knot in his chest. He turned to Naruto, his flickering flame betraying his uncertainty.

"Master?" Asura's voice trembled, his confusion and pain evident. "Why… why does it hurt? I didn't even know him. He was trying to kill me, but… why does it feel like this?"

Naruto had been observing from a distance, his expression calm yet thoughtful. This battle was supposed to be straightforward, a stepping stone for Asura to grow stronger. Keramon, while strong, was no match for Asura's potential. In the natural world, Candlemon wouldn't have stood a chance against Keramon—it was only Asura's training and chakra-infused powers that made the victory possible.

But Naruto understood now why Yeong had chosen this particular opponent for Asura. It wasn't about power or challenge; it was about the moral weight of fighting a creature like Keramon.

Keramon wasn't evil—it didn't even understand the concept. It was a being born from chaos, a fragment of destruction given form. It had acted on instinct, its actions devoid of malice or intent. Yet, despite its innocence, Keramon's existence posed a danger to the digital world.

Naruto sighed, his blue eyes softening as he approached Asura. He knelt down and pulled the young Digimon into a firm embrace.

"Asura," Naruto began, his voice steady but compassionate. "You haven't done anything wrong. What you're feeling right now? It's normal. You're associating Keramon with a child because of how it acted—how it laughed and played during the fight. And I know you like kids, so it's even harder for you to separate the two in your mind."

Asura clung to Naruto, his flames dim as he listened intently.

"But listen to me," Naruto continued, his tone growing more serious. "Keramon wasn't like you. It wasn't like a normal child, either. It's sad, but that Digimon existed only to destroy. Its very existence was a threat to everything and everyone around it. Its source code comes from a virus—a virus that's been wreaking havoc since the beginning. People have tried to tame Digimon like Keramon, but it always ends the same way. They destroy their tamers, other Digimon, and anyone who gets in their way."

Naruto leaned back slightly, looking into Asura's flickering flame. "I know it hurts. And it should hurt. That pain means you care—it means you're still the good person I know you are. But you also have to understand that sometimes, in this world, you have to make hard choices to protect the people you care about. If you hadn't stopped Keramon, it would have hurt others. Maybe your friends. Maybe the children you like so much."

Asura's flames brightened slightly as Naruto's words began to sink in.

"Some Digimon are just… unfortunate," Naruto said with a heavy sigh. "Their source code makes them dangerous. They don't know they're causing harm, and they don't care. That's what makes them so tragic. But leaving them alive only puts others in danger."

Asura nodded slowly, the weight of Naruto's explanation settling over him. The pain in his chest hadn't disappeared, but it felt more manageable now, more understood.

"You're not wrong to feel this way," Naruto added gently. "But you're doing the right thing by stopping them."

Releasing Naruto, Asura straightened himself, his flame head burning more steadily now. He glanced back at the shimmering data left behind by Keramon. The feeling of unease hadn't vanished, but he understood his role now. This was part of his journey, part of his growth.

Taking a deep breath, Asura extended his hand toward the data. It swirled around him, absorbed into his body as his flame flared with newfound strength. The sensation was bittersweet—a reminder of the life he had taken and the responsibility he now bore.

Naruto watched in silence, proud of Asura's resolve. It was a hard lesson, but one that would prepare him for the trials to come. This was the nature of their world: beautiful, dangerous, and, at times, heartbreakingly unfair. But Asura had taken his first step toward understanding it.

Asura felt a surge of energy coursing through his body as Keramon's data was fully absorbed. The transformation was immediate—his strength, speed, and senses had all increased significantly. Reaching Level 10, he felt the difference in his core, a new layer of potential unlocked within him.

His size also increased, now standing taller than Naruto. The change wasn't drastic, but it was noticeable enough. Digimon naturally grew larger as they leveled up, the accumulation of data manifesting in their physical form. This process was a stark reminder of the raw power potential Digimon possessed.

Naruto looked up at Asura, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "Looks like someone's been eating their data," he joked lightly, pulling out his Digivice.

With a press of a button, Naruto activated the compression feature of the Digivice. A light shimmered around Asura, shrinking him back to his normal size. The reduction wasn't just for convenience; smaller sizes meant better control over energy and avoided unnecessary attention.

"There we go," Naruto said, slipping the device back into his pocket. "No need to go stomping around just yet. Save the big reveal for when it counts."

Asura nodded, rolling his shoulders as he adjusted to the condensed power within his smaller form. Despite the physical reduction, he could feel the increased strength simmering under the surface, ready to be unleashed when needed.

"I feel better now, Master. Thank you," Asura said, his tone steady and sincere as he turned to Naruto.

Naruto smiled warmly, placing a reassuring hand on Asura's back. "There's no need for thanks between partners. This is what we do—we've got each other's backs. Trust in me, and we'll soar to heights no one's ever dreamed of."

Asura felt a sense of comfort in Naruto's words. Despite the turmoil of the battle and the lingering emotions it had stirred, he found solace in the bond they shared. Naruto's unwavering confidence and guidance were a beacon for him, helping him navigate this challenging world.

"Let's go," Naruto said, gesturing toward the exit. "We're done here."

As they walked away, Asura couldn't help but reflect on everything he had experienced. The battle, the emotions, the explanations from Naruto—all of it had left a mark on him. He knew it would take time to fully process these new thoughts and feelings, but he also understood that this was part of his journey.

Naruto had purposefully left time between the tests for this reason, giving Asura the space to grow and adapt. This was more than just training for strength; it was a lesson in understanding the complexities of the world and the responsibilities that came with power.

As they stepped into the next phase of their adventure, Asura felt a renewed sense of determination. He would continue to grow, not just in strength but also in understanding, guided by the bond he shared with Naruto. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead.