Fujimoto Tōma watched Naruto stare at his own glowing hands in disbelief and couldn't help smiling.
Lying if he said he wasn't jealous would be pointless. Tōma had spent years clawing his way up to this level, while Naruto had simply reconciled with Kurama and vaulted straight past several stages in one leap.
From Tōma's perception alone, Naruto was already frighteningly strong. Purely in terms of physical power, Tōma wasn't even certain he still held the advantage.
But sensing wasn't enough. Strength had to be tested with fists.
Naruto clenched his hands, feeling the explosive power surging through his body. He had expected a boost. He hadn't expected this.
With this much power…
He could probably shatter Sasuke's Susanoo now.
"Want to test it?" Tōma asked casually.
Naruto blinked. "Test… how?"
Tōma's smile answered for him.
Naruto's eyes widened, then lit up.
Fight Tōma?
Had he… finally caught up?
"Alright!" Naruto nodded hard, excitement flooding his face.
"Not here," Tōma said dryly. "Unless you're trying to flatten Konoha's back hills."
They reappeared moments later in Shikkotsu Forest.
Naruto looked around at the damp, shadowy environment, then spotted the enormous white slug resting nearby. "Wait… Lady Katsuyu?"
Katsuyu slowly opened her eyes, then froze when she saw Naruto glowing like a miniature sun.
"…Naruto?" she asked uncertainly.
"It's me," Naruto said, scratching his cheek.
Katsuyu turned to Tōma. "How long was I asleep?"
"A day or two," Tōma replied.
Silence.
After a long pause, Katsuyu finally spoke. "So he's become a perfect jinchūriki."
Tōma nodded. "Kurama gathers natural energy for him now. He can stay in Sage Mode indefinitely."
"…I see," Katsuyu said, still clearly shaken. "What an era."
Even Katsuyu could feel it. Two monsters had risen in the same generation, both surpassing the so-called God of Shinobi.
"So," Katsuyu asked, "why are you here?"
"We're sparring," Tōma said.
Katsuyu stared at them. "…You're trying to demolish my home?"
"It's just a test," Tōma replied. "No full power."
After a moment, Katsuyu agreed. She wanted to see it too.
Naruto moved first, launching himself forward in a blur.
"Fast," Tōma noted. Fast by normal standards.
Still not fast enough.
Naruto's punch came straight in. Tōma met it head-on.
The shockwave cracked the ground.
Tōma slid back several steps.
He laughed softly.
So this was Naruto's current peak.
"Again!" Naruto pressed in, exhilarated.
This time, Tōma added chakra-enhanced strength. Their fists collided again, and this time Naruto was forced back.
The fight became a close-range exchange. Naruto's raw stats were overwhelming. Strength, stamina, chakra output. Everything but speed exceeded Tōma.
But technique told a different story.
Tōma weaved, redirected, struck with precision. Naruto's attacks were dodged or deflected, never fully landing again.
Watching from the side, Katsuyu understood immediately.
Naruto's attributes were higher, but not overwhelmingly higher.
And his combat technique lagged far behind.
Eventually, Tōma stepped back and raised a hand. "That's enough."
Naruto panted, frustrated but grinning. "You're still ridiculous."
"You're strong," Tōma said honestly. "Stronger than I expected. But your taijutsu doesn't match your power."
Naruto nodded. "I'll train with Guy-sensei."
"Good idea."
"For ninjutsu," Tōma continued, "no need to fight. Show me."
Naruto obliged.
Golden chakra erupted, forming a towering fox avatar. Bijuu Bombs, Rasengan variants, Massive Rasenshuriken. Each attack distorted the forest's air.
Tōma appeared beside him via Flying Thunder God, feeling the chakra density firsthand.
Terrifying quality. Even Sage chakra couldn't compare.
"If I didn't have high-speed techniques," Tōma admitted inwardly, "I'd be crushed."
When Naruto finished, he looked at Tōma expectantly.
"Exceptionally strong," Tōma said. "But technique still needs work."
Naruto laughed sheepishly. "Got it."
"One more thing," Tōma added. "Your Wind Armor. Why didn't you use it?"
Naruto frowned. "The chakra cloak this mode creates is stronger. I can't activate Wind Armor on top of it."
Tōma nodded, thinking. "That cloak is passive. Study how it forms. If you understand it, you might integrate it better. Even partial control would help."
Naruto took it seriously and nodded.
Not long after, Tōma sent Naruto back to Konoha.
The test was over.
Naruto had reached a terrifying height.
And Tōma now knew exactly what kind of mountain stood beside him.
...
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