Days went by as he counted the time the sun cross the sky.
They dragged him out of the prison hole every now, and then to use him as some sort of manual labour, working in the field.
Months went by as he was washed and being tortured as some sort of cheap amusement.
His strength returned slowly over time but was nowhere near the superhuman level he had enjoyed yet.
He was only strong as an average civilian in the Elemental Nations.
More time went by as he got stronger.
His body grew as well with his shoulder became broader, and he gain a few inches taller along with some nice muscles.
"You, golden boy, come here," the chieftain said as Naruto complied.
He had picked up some words throughout the months of captivity, and he could understand most of their speeches now.
It was different to his language, and they spoke in rather fractured words.
"You know to fight?" the chieftain asked as Naruto nodded.
The bearded man laughed loudly and threw a small rusted dagger at Naruto's feet.
Naruto picked it up with one hand, and looked at the leader of the tribe, wondering if he should stab the man.
"Fight," the chief commanded as a few people behind Naruto pushed him forward into an arena.
It was clumsily set up.
Another slave was shivering at the other end, and he also held another rusty dagger in his hand.
The slave's eyes were full of fear while Naruto entered his stance.
He was never good at Taijutsu or Kenjutsu, but Naruto shrugged and use whatever work for him.
Naruto waited for the man to initiate the attack, but his opponent did not.
After a few minutes went by, and a lot of shouting by bystanders, a whip slashed against Naruto's back as he grunted, staggering forward.
The man saw this opportunity and dashed forward to impale his bronze weapon into the Sage's neck.
Naruto's reflex, recovered somewhat to above average human level, allowed him to evade the fatal blow.
"I don't want to kill you, but I'm sorry… I can't die here," Naruto said in Japanese, his mother tongue, and pressed his dagger in the man's lower jaw and through head in one swift motion.
The crowd erupted in laughter and cheers.
"Good! Strong, come, serve under me and you will have all you want! Rome is burning! We shall loot, pillage, drink, rape!" the chieftain called out after Naruto was dragged toward him some time later.
Naruto didn't kneel at first, but he did it afterward, remembering the first time he didn't and had to spend a few days mending his shattered kneecaps.
These people were rather brutal when they didn't get what they want.
"I will remove that head of yours later," Naruto said in Japanese before bowing at the man.
The chieftain didn't understand Naruto's words, but mistook the posture of the boy as obedience.
The chieftain laughed and ordered some of his women to clean the boy over and satisfy the newest warrior of the tribe.