Yamcha frowned. "We came here to train! If we can't even meet the God of Earth, how are we supposed to begin?"
Krillin added urgently, "Are we just going to let Piccolo Daimaō run rampant down below? Please, let us meet God!"
Before Naruto could respond, the others all began voicing their protests.
But Mr. Popo remained unmoved. "I'm sorry, but rules are rules. To see God, you must first defeat Popo. If you cannot, the challenge is considered a failure. That is the law that has stood since ancient times."
A being with a power level over 1,000 guarded this place — in the early Dragon Ball era, no human could possibly pass such a trial.
Even Master Roshi, rarely one to argue, spoke up. "But as the God of Earth, isn't protecting the world his duty? With your power, defeating Piccolo Daimaō shouldn't be difficult. So why do nothing while he terrorizes the world?"
Popo shook his head slightly. "Popo cannot leave God's side. And God… has his own burdens to bear."
It sounded heartless, but that was simply the truth. Popo's sole purpose was to protect God. Whatever happened in the mortal world was none of his concern.
If you won't confront the Demon King yourselves, then at least train those who will!
"You're practically helping him by standing aside!" Tien snapped angrily.
As the argument grew heated, Naruto stepped forward, raising a hand. "Hey, why don't I give it a try?"
He looked at Popo and continued, "If I pass your test, how about you count that as all of us passing?"
Popo's expression softened slightly, but his tone remained serious. "Forgive me, but you cannot defeat Popo. If you don't wish to get hurt, I advise you to turn back now."
Naruto shrugged. "You'll never know until you try."
Popo sighed. "Very well. If you insist… then come at me."
Unable to dissuade him, Popo braced himself.
In the next instant, Naruto's body became a streak of golden light, vanishing from sight and reappearing directly before Popo.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
This time, Naruto didn't use any of the Turtle School's martial arts. Instead, he launched into the Steel Fist style of the Hidden Leaf — a purely physical combat art.
His movements were swift and precise, impressive by most standards — but in Popo's eyes, only "decent."
Just as Popo extended his right hand to parry Naruto's kick like he had with the others, his expression suddenly changed.
Too heavy!
The moment his palm met Naruto's leg, Popo realized something was wrong. The force behind that strike was far greater than expected — overwhelmingly so. He tried to adjust, but it was already too late.
Naruto's chakra surged the instant of contact, multiplying his power in a flash.
Had anyone been holding a scouter just then, they would have seen Naruto's power level spike from 160 to 1,100 — just above Popo's, but not so high as to completely overwhelm him.
Bang!
Popo was sent flying backward from a single kick.
"Whoa! That's insane!" Krillin and Yamcha shouted in awe.
Tien exhaled deeply. "So this is Naruto's true strength…"
They had known Naruto was strong — but not this strong. The same Popo who had swatted them all aside effortlessly had just been sent flying by one kick.
Goku's eyes lit up with pure excitement. "He's that powerful?!"
Among everyone present, Goku was the most thrilled — to him, a strong opponent was the greatest gift imaginable. Truly the mark of Saiyan blood: a boundless hunger for battle.
"Mr. Popo," Naruto said calmly, lowering his leg. "You're not the only one who can sense ki."
Popo landed lightly and flipped back to his feet with a smooth motion. "I see now — so you can sense energy as well?"
He nodded thoughtfully. "You've been suppressing your ki this entire time, tricking me into thinking your strength was no greater than your companions'. But in truth, you're the strongest among them."
His eyes sharpened. "It seems I'll have to take this seriously."
Popo vanished.
He reappeared in front of Naruto in an instant, his speed blinding. But Naruto's senses tracked every movement — just as Popo could read his.
This was what it meant for two masters of ki to clash: each could feel the other's every intent, every motion, before it even happened.
"This time," Naruto said, shifting his stance, "I'll use Uchiha-style Taijutsu!"
Abandoning the raw, straightforward blows of the Leaf's Steel Fist, Naruto transitioned into the flowing, elegant movements he had learned from years among the Uchiha clan.
In truth, he knew their taijutsu, ninjutsu, and even secret arts better than many Uchiha themselves.
His movements became like a dance — graceful, precise, deadly. Each step, each turn carried both softness and danger, as though a butterfly had drifted into a field of flowers… and every flutter of its wings could kill.
That was the essence of Uchiha-style combat — beauty in lethality.
After all, wasn't there a reason Madara Uchiha was once called the Red Rose of the Battlefield?
Perhaps because he'd never encountered a style like this before, Popo found himself steadily pushed back under Naruto's assault.
Unlike Dragon Ball's martial arts, which focused on discipline and energy control, the ninja world's taijutsu was designed for killing. Every strike targeted vital points, maximizing damage with minimal effort.
And Naruto — who could train under ten times normal gravity — had power to spare.
Had he already begun full training in this world, he was sure that with Earth's abundant ki and natural energy, he could double his strength within months.
"Sugoi!" Krillin and Yamcha could barely keep up, their eyes wide. They were practically reduced to cheering like awestruck fans, overwhelmed by the display.
Then—
"That's enough. Stop."
A voice filled with authority rang out, echoing across the temple.
"You've passed the test."
From the central hall of the sanctuary, a tall, shadowy figure emerged — robed in dark green.
"Young man," the voice said solemnly.
So that's the God of Earth… his voice radiates divine authority, Master Roshi thought, heart pounding. In his long life, he'd seen and done nearly everything — even drinking the Elixir of Immortality — but never had he laid eyes on the true God of Earth.
This was the being who stood at the very pinnacle of the planet.
Slowly, the figure came into view: an elderly, green-skinned man walking with a staff. He wore a long white robe, the large kanji for "God (神)" emblazoned across his chest.
The next second, Master Roshi's eyes went wide. His face twisted in shock and anger as he pointed a trembling finger at the old man.
"Piccolo Daimaō?!"
The resemblance was undeniable. Though the years had changed him, Roshi would have recognized that face even if it had turned to dust.
Coming from Roshi, the statement carried absolute weight.
What was going on? The Demon King — the scourge of the world — was the God of Earth?
At that realization, every martial artist in the room froze, their eyes hardening. They had walked straight into the enemy's stronghold.
In an instant, they dropped into battle stances, tense and wary, ready to strike at both Popo and the so-called God.
But the green-skinned elder merely raised a hand and said calmly,
"There's no need for alarm. I am not that one."
Please drop some power stones support me at my
PS: Access the complete/finished chapters/series at Patreon: NanamiTL