Fight time.
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Arsene dashed forward, his figure a blur as he closed in on Shinki. The Iron Sand user stood his ground, his face impassive, calculating every move. As Arsene approached, Shinki's Iron Sand began to spread across the stadium floor, an ink-black tide creeping toward his opponent, inching closer with every heartbeat.
Shinki knew he couldn't keep up with Arsene's speed in direct combat, and that meant he'd have to outlast him, force him into close quarters where he could control the flow of battle.
Arsene grinned, reading Shinki's intentions instantly. He was only too happy to test his opponent's defenses.
With a burst of speed, Arsene darted around Shinki, moving in unpredictable patterns, every footfall silent on the sand-covered ground. Shinki barely turned his head in time to see Arsene appear right in front of him, his leg already mid-swing.
Shinki raised his forearm to block the kick, coating it in Iron Sand, which absorbed the impact and held firm. But Arsene wasn't done; before Shinki could react, he planted his hand on the ground and swung his other leg around, slamming his foot into Shinki's stomach with brutal force.
Shinki flew backward, skidding across the sand, the Iron Sand shielding his body. He winced slightly, recognizing the sheer strength behind the attack. "...Strong, that's for sure," he murmured. This one's dangerous. His gaze hardened. If he couldn't keep the fight at a distance and was outmatched physically, he would have to weather the storm.
Across the arena, Arsene straightened up, already preparing his next move. But as he dashed forward again, his mind raced with thoughts not of Shinki, but of the Phantom Core. He pushed it to its limits, testing its efficiency with each burst of speed
With each move, he layered his chakra with Lightning to quicken his reflexes or Wind to accelerate his steps. The core was working even better than he had imagined, optimizing his chakra output. He could feel it—this was only the beginning. If I can make these adjustments... it could be flawless.
As he launched another attack, however, an overwhelming sensation washed over him—a presence unlike any he had felt before. It was a mountain of chakra, vast and oppressive, and it seemed everyone in the stadium could feel it as well. All movement in the arena stilled, heads turning toward the sky as the air grew heavy with tension.
Hovering above the Chunin Exam grounds were two figures, their forms obscured by brilliant robes and ethereal auras that seemed out of place, even here. One of them, with a cold, superior expression, floated effortlessly, his eyes scanning the area with disdain.
"Hello, humans," he said, his voice echoing across the stadium. "I'd like to make this quick... where's the Fox?"
The crowd fell into a stunned silence, the spectators frozen with fear and confusion. Even the youngest of the shinobi recognized that these two were no ordinary humans. They didn't belong here.
Arsene took a step back, his eyes fixed on the two strangers, analyzing their every move. He exchanged a glance with Shinki, who had also stopped in his tracks. "I feel like this isn't part of the Exam..." Shinki muttered, his gaze never leaving the intruders.
Arsene's frown deepened, his mind racing. "Yeah, especially since the one in the bathrobe definitely isn't human..."
In the stands, Naruto Uzumaki stood up, stretching his arms with a resigned sigh. "Welp, seems every Chunin Exam we host here turns out weird..." He glanced over at Hinata and Himawari, who had dozed off beside her mother during the monotony of the matches. "Don't worry. I've got this!"
Hinata nodded, her expression both supportive and resolute as she took Himawari in her arms, preparing to evacuate with the other civilians. "Alright... I'll trust you, Naruto!" she called, her voice filled with confidence despite the looming threat.
Naruto flashed her a smile before turning back toward the arena. He could feel Kurama stirring within him, the Nine-Tails already preparing for the impending battle.
Meanwhile, Sasuke Uchiha calmly rose from his seat beside Sakura, who was already coordinating with the other Konoha shinobi to evacuate the civilians. He gave Sakura a nod, and she met his gaze with a steady look of understanding. They had been here before.
Sasuke made his way down to the arena floor, his expression serious but calm, as he called up to the two intruders. "Hey! Mind coming down? I'm not in the mood to fly today."
The figure floating above them smirked as he and his companion descended. "Ah, the Uchiha," the leader, Momoshiki Otsutsuki, murmured, his eyes glinting with interest. He took in the sight of the gathered shinobi, though his gaze lingered on Naruto and Sasuke, the only two with power levels even remotely worth his time. As for the two children in the ring, he barely spared them a glance—both of them had meager chakra, insignificant next to his own.
Momoshiki looked at Sasuke with a mocking smile. "You're as arrogant as your chakra suggests. No matter, I'll drain your life force soon enough." His gaze shifted back to Naruto, and his smirk grew wider. "And you... Fox-bearer. I'll make this simple. Surrender your chakra, or I'll take it by force."
Naruto's eyes narrowed, his orange chakra cloak flaring to life as he met Momoshiki's gaze with steely determination. "...Fine by me. I'll take the one who looks a little too pretty," he said, a smirk tugging at his lips as he readied himself to confront Momoshiki.
As the golden-orange glow of Kurama's chakra engulfed him, Naruto shot forward, surprising Momoshiki with his speed as he tackled him head-on. The two collided in a flash of light, the sheer power of their clash sending shockwaves through the arena.
Sasuke, meanwhile, activated his Rinnegan, his eyes shifting to a vivid purple as he unsheathed his sword. With one swift motion, he slashed at Kinshiki, Momoshiki's hulking companion, who responded in kind, blocking Sasuke's blade with his crimson energy weapon. The two exchanged rapid blows, their movements a blur as they tested each other's strength.
High above, the civilians and lower-ranked shinobi were hurriedly ushered out of the stadium. Sakura and Hinata directed the evacuation efforts, while other Konoha shinobi formed a protective perimeter around the fleeing crowd. Hinata glanced back at her husband, her gaze filled with concern and admiration. This was Naruto, the protector of the village—the man she had always believed in.
In the chaos, Boruto watched his father with wide eyes, his expression a mixture of awe and something deeper, something close to envy. Naruto's speed, his power—it was almost impossible to follow, even for Boruto. His father was a living legend, and as Boruto watched, the reality of the gap between them sank in.
He clenched his fists, a feeling of helplessness washing over him. He had always known his father was powerful, but seeing it here, now, it felt different. He couldn't keep up, couldn't even see what was happening clearly. And in that moment, something shifted within him.
Without strength, you can't control anything...
As he turned away, the words rang in his mind. He understood it now—the reality of his father's world, a world that he had always taken for granted. His father wasn't just strong—he was unfathomably strong.
And Boruto knew, if he wanted to stand beside him one day, to protect his family, his friends, and his village, he would need to find that strength himself.
But for now, he could only watch.
...
As the battle raged on, Naruto and Sasuke moved in perfect harmony, every dodge and counter flowing seamlessly between them. Naruto managed to keep his playful grin as he nimbly dodged a punch from Momoshiki Otsutsuki, but he hadn't lost sight of the bigger picture.
"Hey!" Naruto called out over the sound of their clashing attacks, his tone almost conversational. "Aren't you supposed to need a God Tree to absorb chakra like that?" He feinted a left hook, his expression casual, as though they were sparring rather than fighting for their lives.
Momoshiki's eyes narrowed, his gaze sharp with frustration. This fox had grown bold, and worse, he wasn't wrong—without a God Tree, his energy absorption was limited, relying on his ability to drain the chakra of lesser beings, not equals. "Naturally, I could show it to you," he sneered, "if you'd only surrender!" But beneath his arrogance, his confidence was wavering. Against ordinary shinobi, he would have had an overwhelming advantage. But Naruto and Sasuke? These two were proving to be equal in strength, perhaps even more. And to make matters worse, Sasuke had Kinshiki on the ropes. If Kinshiki fell, it would only be a matter of time before this became a two-on-one situation.
Naruto grinned, ducking out of reach as he dodged a kick. "What's wrong, huh?" he mocked, his voice dripping with feigned innocence. "You seem nervous. Too bad you're stuck fighting us here in our dimension!" With a powerful burst, Naruto launched himself forward, landing a clean punch against Momoshiki's chest, sending him staggering back.
Momoshiki stumbled, glaring at Naruto with a new realization. These humans…they're using this dimension to their advantage. But he would change that. A wicked smile spread across his face as the solution clicked into place. "Hah! Foolish fox—you've just given me the key to my victory!"
Raising his hand, Momoshiki summoned a swirling portal in the sky above them, a rift of otherworldly energy that distorted the air around it. Before Naruto or Sasuke could react, the portal expanded, engulfing the area around them. Gravity shifted, and suddenly, they felt themselves being pulled in, their surroundings warping as they were sucked into the dimensional tear.
"Ha! Got you now!" Momoshiki laughed triumphantly. He turned to his companion, Kinshiki, who was battered and bruised but still standing. "Come on—we'll finish them on our turf." Kinshiki gave a slight nod, gathering what strength he had as Momoshiki created another portal, following Naruto and Sasuke through.
On Momoshiki's Planet – A Change of Perspective
Naruto and Sasuke landed on their feet, immediately scanning their surroundings. The air here was different, thinner, yet charged with energy. Overhead, galaxies sprawled out across a darkened sky, stars glittering brighter than they ever had back home. Nebulas swirled in colors neither had ever seen, like a celestial canvas painted in surreal, vivid hues.
"Wow…" Naruto murmured, looking up at the sight above. "Talk about pretty. We're practically in the stars."
Sasuke glanced around, his senses on high alert. "Yeah… not bad," he said, although his voice held its usual caution. A glint of amusement crossed his face. "Think I should bring Sarada here sometime? She'd probably like it."
Naruto chuckled, crossing his arms as he settled himself on a rock. "Hey, sure! But I was thinking more of a double date, not bringing the kids along. Get Hinata and Sakura to join us." Naruto grinned, imagining Hinata's reaction. It'd be a welcome change for her to see such an extraordinary place.
Sasuke's expression remained impassive, but his faint sigh spoke volumes. "Not happening. The last time I brought Sakura anywhere, she got… clingy. Took forever to get her to stop."
Naruto laughed. "I'm sure she'd keep you from getting too serious."
But their banter was interrupted as a new portal opened in front of them, crackling with energy as Momoshiki and Kinshiki stepped through, their robes billowing in the alien wind. Momoshiki regarded the two shinobi with a twisted smile, arms outstretched in a welcoming gesture as he gestured to the vast, otherworldly landscape around them.
"So?" he asked, his voice dripping with mock courtesy. "How do you like my world? I've torn down countless others just like it. And now…" He took a step forward, his expression darkening. "You'll die here, just like the rest."
Naruto's gaze hardened, his eyes locked on Momoshiki with fierce determination. This was it—no more restraints, no more holding back. This wasn't just about saving his world anymore. It was about stopping Momoshiki's rampage before it reached anyone else.
"Good," he said, his tone cold and focused. "It'll save us the trouble of hunting you down later."
Momoshiki's smirk faltered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. "Such insolence from mortals…" His voice dropped, brimming with menace. "But no matter. I've absorbed entire planets, galaxies even! Your chakra is no match for mine!"
Naruto shrugged, nonchalant in the face of Momoshiki's taunts. "Alright then, let's do this. I'll take the one who looks a little too pretty." His chakra flared as the familiar orange glow of Kurama's energy surrounded him, igniting the air with raw power.
Momoshiki's eyes widened slightly as Naruto lunged forward, the immense energy leaving cracks in the ground beneath his feet. Naruto moved with blinding speed, striking Momoshiki with a powerful blow that sent him reeling back.
Sasuke, meanwhile, turned his attention to Kinshiki, who had summoned his energy weapon, a massive crimson axe. With a flicker of motion, Sasuke's Rinnegan activated, his eye glowing a bright purple as he drew his sword in one fluid motion. Their weapons clashed, sending a shockwave rippling through the alien landscape. Kinshiki grunted, his strength formidable, but Sasuke's precision and agility kept him one step ahead.
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[Auther: Yo.