The summons was unlike any Naruto had experienced. It wasn't the explosive burst of smoke and displacement he associated with standard summoning jutsu. One moment he was in a secluded cove near the rebel encampment, the Roaring Tide Hammer humming faintly in his grasp as per Kamekichi's instructions; the next, the world dissolved into a dizzying swirl of cerulean light and the roar of a thousand oceans. When his senses returned, he was kneeling on damp, black volcanic sand, the air thick with the smell of sulfur, salt, and an ancient, primal energy that vibrated in his very bones.
He was on Shiofuki, the hidden archipelago of the Snapping Turtles. Kamekichi stood before him, grinning his sharp-toothed turtle grin, while the colossal form of Gamaken, the Elder, loomed like a weathered mountain against a sky perpetually veiled in geothermal mists.
"Welcome, Naruto Uzumaki, to the heart of our sanctuary," Gamaken's voice rumbled, not so much heard as felt, a deep resonance that shook the ground. "Your formal training in the Kōrasenryū begins now. Forget what you think you know of shinobi arts. Here, you will learn the patience of stone, the resilience of the deepest shell, and the untamed power of the earth and tides."
Thus began three years of the most grueling, unorthodox, and transformative training Naruto could ever have imagined. Three years that would strip him down to his core and rebuild him, piece by painstaking piece, into something far more formidable than even Mei or Takito had envisioned. Normal humans, even skilled shinobi, would have broken within weeks, their bodies shattered, their spirits crushed. Only Naruto's Uzumaki vitality, his immense chakra reserves (even without a Bijuu), and a stubborn, almost infuriating refusal to quit, allowed him to endure, to adapt, to grow.
Year One: Forging the Foundation (Age 13-14)
The first year was an exercise in raw survival and brutal conditioning, designed to break his human limitations and attune him to the primal energies of Shiofuki. Gamaken himself oversaw this foundational phase, his presence a constant, unwavering pressure.
"The Kōrasenryū is not merely a set of techniques, young Uzumaki," Gamaken intoned during one of their early sessions, as Naruto stood waist-deep in a churning, icy sea channel, buffeted by relentless waves that threatened to smash him against jagged volcanic rocks. "It is a state of being. You must become the shell. Your body, your mind, your chakra – all must learn to be unyielding."
Physical Conditioning – The Unbreakable Shell:
Kamekichi was the enthusiastic enforcer of this philosophy. His methods were direct and excruciatingly painful. Naruto spent weeks simply learning to maintain his stance against the full force of Kamekichi's charges, each impact sending jolts of agony through his body.
"No, no, boss!" Kamekichi would bellow, shaking his massive head after sending Naruto skidding across the black sand. "You're still too soft! Like a jellyfish! Root yourself! Feel the island beneath you! Let its strength flow up, become your bones, your hide!"
He was subjected to simulated rockslides (Kamekichi and his younger turtle brethren gleefully pelting him with boulders), forced to withstand the crushing pressure of deep-sea currents in submerged volcanic tubes (his Suiton skills barely keeping him from drowning or being pulverized), and made to meditate for hours under waterfalls so powerful they felt like liquid stone, learning to draw in the raw, chaotic natural energy of the islands.
His Uzumaki healing was pushed to its absolute limits. Every night, he would collapse, every muscle screaming, his body a canvas of bruises and strains, only to rise before dawn, aches dulled but not gone, to face it all again. He learned that human pain thresholds were suggestions, not limits, for an Uzumaki pushed to the brink.
Taijutsu – The Immovable Mountain:
The Kōrasenryū taijutsu began not with attacks, but with defense. Stances named after geological formations – 'Granite Root', 'Basalt Wall', 'Obsidian Heart' – each designed for absolute stability and the absorption or redirection of force. Gamaken would demonstrate, his colossal form moving with surprising, ponderous grace, absorbing the full impact of a rogue wave or a falling boulder without so much as a tremor.
"Observe, Uzumaki. The mountain does not fight the storm; it endures it. It is the storm's limit."
Naruto's initial attempts were clumsy. He was used to the fluid, evasive styles Takito and Mei had taught him. This was different. This was about becoming an anchor, a fortress. Kamekichi would relentlessly attack his stances, forcing Naruto to learn how to distribute his weight, how to use his opponent's momentum against them, how to ground his chakra deep into the earth.
The Roaring Tide Hammer was introduced slowly. Initially, its weight and unusual balance made it unwieldy in this new defensive style.
"The Hammer is an extension of the tide's fury, boss!" Kamekichi advised, watching Naruto struggle to incorporate it into a block. "But even the wildest tide respects the shore. First, be the shore. Then, you can learn to command the Hammer's roar."
By the end of the first year, Naruto could withstand impacts that would have crippled a jonin. His blocks were solid, his stance nearly unbreakable by conventional taijutsu. He could use the Hammer for powerful, if somewhat crude, defensive maneuvers, its weight adding to his immovability.
Ninjutsu – Whispers of Earth and Water:
Ninjutsu training focused on the most fundamental connection to Doton and Suiton. Gamaken would have Naruto sit for days by a volcanic vent, feeling the heat, the pressure, the very pulse of the earth's molten heart, before even attempting a Doton jutsu. For Suiton, he would be submerged in tidal pools, learning to sense the ebb and flow, the myriad currents, the immense power contained within the water.
"Hand signs are a crutch for those who cannot truly speak to the elements, Uzumaki," Gamaken rumbled. "Feel the earth. Command the water. They will answer a spirit that understands their nature."
His first Doton techniques were simple: creating small earthen shields (Doryū Heki – Earth Style Wall), or slightly altering the terrain. His Suiton was more advanced due to Mei's training, but here he learned to draw upon the ambient moisture and natural water sources with greater efficiency, his Wild Water Waves (Mizurappa) becoming denser, his Water Formation Walls (Suijinheki) more resilient. The turtles taught him to feel the chakra within the earth and water, to coax it rather than just mold his own.
Genjutsu – The Unseen Shell:
Turtle genjutsu was unlike anything taught in human villages. It wasn't about intricate illusions cast upon the mind, but about becoming one with the environment to the point of true imperceptibility, and using the natural world to disorient and misdirect.
"The oldest turtle is the one unseen until it strikes, or until it wishes to be seen," Gamaken explained, his colossal form blending seamlessly with a rock face despite his size. "Learn the patterns of the mist, the rhythm of the waves, the texture of the stone. Become a shadow within the shadow, a silence within the silence."
Naruto spent weeks practicing camouflage, learning to use the island's dense mists, volcanic steam, and shadowed crevices to vanish completely. Kamekichi would then "hunt" him, his surprisingly keen senses a harsh test. He also learned the basics of sensory disruption – how the roar of a geyser could mask movement, how the shimmer of heat haze above volcanic vents could distort perception, how the very vibration of the earth could be subtly manipulated to create unease or false trails. It was less about casting illusions and more about masterful misdirection and exploiting natural phenomena. His resistance to genjutsu also began to grow, his mind, anchored by the Kōrasenryū's focus on unyielding stability, becoming harder to ensnare.
The first year ended with Naruto battered, exhausted, but fundamentally changed. He was rawer, more primal, his connection to the natural world deepening. He was far from mastering the Kōrasenryū, but the foundations of an unbreakable shell were being forged.
Year Two: Refining the Form, Awakening the Tide (Age 14-15)
The second year focused on control, synergy, and a deeper understanding of the natural energy that permeated Shiofuki. Kamekichi remained his primary sparring partner, but Gamaken's lessons became more esoteric, delving into the philosophy of the Kōrasenryū.
Physical Conditioning & Natural Energy – The Living Fortress:
Naruto's body had adapted to the harsh environment and Kamekichi's relentless assaults. The focus now shifted to consciously absorbing and channeling natural energy to achieve the 'chakra shell' – the Kōrasen Chōkō (Shell Sage Carapace). This wasn't true Sage Mode, but a localized, constant infusion of natural energy into his skin, muscles, and bones, making them incredibly dense and resilient without the outward physical transformations of Toad Sage Mode.
"Natural energy is wild, boss, like an ocean storm!" Kamekichi would explain, as Naruto sat meditating atop a spire of rock buffeted by gale-force winds. "You try to grab it all at once, it'll tear you apart! You gotta learn to breathe with it, to welcome it in, little by little, until it becomes part of your own shell."
The process was painstaking. Too little energy, and the shell was ineffective. Too much, or an imbalance, and he risked petrification or worse, being consumed by the raw power. His Uzumaki lineage, with its innate affinity for life force and massive chakra capacity, was crucial. Slowly, he learned to maintain the Kōrasen Chōkō for extended periods, his skin taking on an almost imperceptible toughness, his resilience astonishing.
Taijutsu – The Patient Strike & Hammer's Dance:
With his defensive base solidified, Naruto began learning the offensive aspects of Kōrasenryū. These weren't flashy, acrobatic moves, but patient, powerful counter-strikes and bone-jarring charges that capitalized on an opponent's openings. He learned forms named after turtle behaviors: 'Snapping Beak Thrust', 'Shell Slam Charge', 'Tide Carver Sweep'. Each movement was economical, devastating, and backed by the weight of the earth itself.
The Roaring Tide Hammer became an extension of his will. He no longer fought its weight but used it, learning to channel his Kōrasen-enhanced strength through it for crushing blows. Kamekichi taught him to 'listen' to the Hammer, to feel its connection to the tides.
"The Hammer ain't just a lump of fancy shell and wood, boss!" Kamekichi lectured, deftly parrying one of Naruto's Hammer swings with his own hardened beak. "It sings the ocean's song! Feel its rhythm! Let your strikes flow like the incoming tide, then crash like a tsunami!"
Naruto began to instinctively channel his Suiton chakra through the Hammer, its carvings glowing faintly as he unleashed pressurized water blasts or amplified the concussive force of his strikes. He also found that he could, with focus, create localized micro-vortexes of wind around it by manipulating air currents, a rudimentary application of its Fuuton amplification that surprised even him.
Ninjutsu – The Sculptor of Elements:
His Doton and Suiton ninjutsu evolved beyond simple attacks and defenses. Gamaken guided him in learning to sculpt and manipulate the elements on a larger scale, and with greater finesse. He learned Doton: Doryūkatsu (Earth Style: Earth Flow Divide) to split the ground, Doton: Dosekiryū (Earth Style: Earth and Stone Dragon) to summon powerful earthen dragons, and Suiton: Daibakuryū no Jutsu (Water Style: Great Exploding Current) to create massive, swirling torrents.
"The true master does not just throw water or stone, Uzumaki," Gamaken rumbled, as Naruto struggled to control a raging water vortex. "He understands their essence, their flow, their spirit. He becomes a conduit for their power, not just a wielder of techniques."
Naruto started combining his elemental ninjutsu with the Kōrasenryū. He could now create earthen armor over his Kōrasen Chōkō for added defense, or use Suiton to enhance his mobility on the battlefield, creating slippery surfaces or powerful jets to propel himself. His chakra chains, too, began to integrate, used for grappling, binding, or creating defensive barriers while he prepared larger elemental attacks.
Genjutsu – The Weaver of Mists:
His turtle-style genjutsu progressed. He could now not only camouflage himself perfectly but also create minor environmental illusions – false mists, shimmering heat hazes that distorted vision, the sound of crashing waves where there were none, or the illusion of unstable ground. These weren't designed to trap an opponent in a mental landscape, but to subtly alter their perception of the battlefield, to create openings, and to instill a pervasive sense of disorientation.
"The greatest deception is the one the enemy convinces himself of," Gamaken taught. "Guide their senses, young Uzumaki. Let nature be your accomplice."
His mental fortitude also grew exponentially. The constant meditation and connection to the unyielding earth made his mind a fortress, capable of shrugging off all but the most potent and sophisticated genjutsu.
By the end of the second year, Naruto was a different shinobi. His movements had a deceptive blend of fluidity and unshakeable solidity. His Kōrasen Chōkō was a near-constant state, his durability legendary among the younger turtles who sometimes dared to "test" him. The Roaring Tide Hammer felt like a part of his soul, and his elemental ninjutsu was becoming truly formidable.
Year Three: Flowing Like Water, Unyielding as Stone (Age 15-16)
The final year was about integration, mastery, and pushing the boundaries of the Kōrasenryū and his Uzumaki heritage. Gamaken stepped back further, allowing Kamekichi to take the lead in practical application, while the Elder focused on imparting the deepest wisdom of their style.
Natural Energy & Kōrasenryū Mastery – The Embodiment of Resilience:
Naruto's control over natural energy absorption for the Kōrasen Chōkō became second nature. He could activate it almost instantly, repair it if breached, and even focus its intensity on specific body parts for enhanced defense or power. His entire being radiated a subtle, grounding aura of natural energy.
The Kōrasenryū taijutsu was now ingrained in his muscle memory. He could shift seamlessly between absolute, shell-like defense – absorbing and redirecting massive blows with minimal effort – and explosive, tide-like offense, his Hammer strikes capable of shattering stone and his physical blows carrying the force of a small landslide. He developed 'Ripple Step', a movement technique that allowed him to glide across surfaces with minimal friction by subtly manipulating water or earth particles, and 'Quaking Palm', a strike that sent vibrations deep into an opponent's body or the ground.
"You move well now, boss!" Kamekichi conceded after a particularly intense spar where Naruto had actually managed to knock the boisterous turtle off balance. "You fight like a patient storm – calm until you decide to unleash hell!"
Ninjutsu & The Roaring Tide Hammer – The Conductor of Storms:
His Suiton and Doton ninjutsu reached new heights. He could draw vast amounts of water from the air or earth, creating colossal tsunamis (Suiton: Dai Kōzui no Jutsu – Great Flood Technique) or manipulating the very bedrock to create massive fissures or protective ramparts (Doton: Chidōkaku – Moving Earth Core).
The Roaring Tide Hammer was now fully awakened in his hands. He learned to truly command its tide-influencing properties on a localized scale, creating powerful currents in nearby water bodies, or even subtly affecting the moisture in the air to enhance his Suiton or create dense, disorienting mists. Its Fuuton amplification allowed him to imbue his Hammer strikes with cutting vortexes of wind or launch compressed air blasts, adding a new dimension to his offense. He developed signature techniques with the Hammer:
Shiosai: Gekiryūha (Roaring Tide: Raging Current Wave): A devastating Hammer slam that unleashed a focused tsunami-like blast of water and concussive force.
Uzumaki: Kaishin Rendan (Whirlpool: Seaquake Barrage): A rapid series of Kōrasen-enhanced Hammer strikes combined with localized earth tremors.
Genjutsu & Chakra Chains – The Unseen Guardian:
His environmental genjutsu became incredibly sophisticated. He could make sections of the battlefield appear to shift, vanish, or become impossibly treacherous, using natural mists, light refraction, sound manipulation, and subtle earth vibrations to create convincing, large-scale deceptions. He learned to layer these illusions, making them incredibly difficult to discern.
His chakra chains were now fully integrated into his Kōrasenryū. He could use them as incredibly resilient whips or grappling hooks, anchor himself to the earth for even greater stability, or create impenetrable, multi-layered chain barriers that pulsed with natural energy, making them even tougher. He developed the Kōrasen: Kongo Fūsa (Shell Sage: Adamantine Sealing Chains), where his chains were infused with the natural energy of his Kōrasen Chōkō, making them incredibly durable and capable of suppressing chakra.
The Final Test – The Trial of the Ancient Deep:
Gamaken's final test for Naruto was not one of combat, but of spirit and connection. He was tasked with venturing into the Ancient Deep, a labyrinthine network of geothermal vents and crushing pressures at the very heart of Shiofuki's largest volcano, a place where natural energy was so potent and chaotic it could overwhelm even the strongest turtles. He had to navigate it, not by force, but by becoming one with its rhythms, by truly understanding the primal forces at play.
Naruto spent seven days in the Ancient Deep, guided only by the whispers of the earth and the currents of the water, his Kōrasen Chōkō and Uzumaki vitality the only things keeping him alive. He faced his deepest fears, his lingering insecurities, and emerged not just unscathed, but transformed. His connection to natural energy was now profound, intuitive. He didn't just wield it; he was a part of it.
When he finally emerged from the mists of the Ancient Deep, blinking in the muted sunlight of Shiofuki, he was no longer the boy who had arrived three years prior. He was seventeen, his frame filled out, lean but powerfully built, carrying himself with an unshakeable calm and an aura of quiet, immense power. His blue eyes held the depth and patience of the ocean, and the resilience of ancient stone. The Roaring Tide Hammer rested on his back as if it were an extension of his spine.
Gamaken regarded him, a slow, ancient smile spreading across his craggy face. "You have done well, Naruto Uzumaki. You have embraced the Kōrasenryū. You are no longer just a shinobi; you are a guardian, a child of the tides and the earth. Shiofuki acknowledges you."
Kamekichi whooped, thumping his tail. "Yeah, boss! You're totally shelled-up now! Ready to rock Yagura's world!"
The reverse summoning was a gentler affair this time, a parting of mists rather than a violent displacement. Naruto found himself back in the secluded cove near the rebel encampment, the familiar scent of Kiri's damp earth a stark contrast to Shiofuki's volcanic tang. Three years had passed in the outside world, though for Naruto, in the timeless intensity of the turtles' realm, it felt like a lifetime and a heartbeat all at once.
He was an elite jonin now, without question. His taijutsu was a unique, formidable blend of unyielding defense and explosive power. His ninjutsu, especially Suiton and Doton, was Kage-level in its raw output and control, amplified by the Roaring Tide Hammer. His chakra chains were potent weapons of binding and defense. His genjutsu was subtle but dangerously effective. And his Kōrasen Chōkō made him almost impossibly durable. He lacked the sheer destructive breadth of a fully realized Kage, perhaps, but in terms of resilience, focused power, and tactical adaptability, he was a weapon unlike any Kirigakure – or the world – had seen in a long time.
He took a deep breath of Kiri air, the Roaring Tide Hammer feeling light on his back. The war was waiting. And Naruto Uzumaki, forged in the heart of Shiofuki, was finally ready to meet it head-on.
Training Ground of the Rebel camp
The black glass of the old lava basin shimmered under the morning sun, giving the crater an almost sacred feel. Steam curled from the cracks in the earth like incense in a war god's shrine.
He arrived late, at the designated time Mei and Takito-sama made in advance for Naruto to come back. He at first did missions part time with them but eventually it was made clear the turles offered him something they couldn't, a chance to face Yagura one on one with his heated skin when in his chakra cloak.
Naruto arrived the same way he departed, in a cloud of white smoke.
Not the boy who had left three years ago — but a man forged in pressure and tide, standing still as stone.
------------------------------------
The first to notice him was Takito-sama, his old mentor. The man was in his sixties now, his once-dark hair streaked with silver, but his posture was still that of a warrior—unyielding, like an ancient tree that refused to fall. His sharp eyes locked onto Naruto, and for a moment, neither moved.
Then, a slow, proud smirk tugged at the elder's lips.
"Took you long enough, boy."
Naruto grinned. "Had to make sure I didn't come back weak."
Takito barked a laugh. "We'll see about that."
Nearby, Zabuza leaned against a post, his massive sword resting against his shoulder. He looked exactly the same—same scowl, same aura of barely restrained violence. His eyes flicked over Naruto, assessing.
"Hmph. You're taller," he grunted.
"And you're still ugly," Naruto shot back.
Zabuza's lip curled, but there was something almost like approval in his gaze.
Chojuro, now noticeably taller and more filled out, adjusted his glasses nervously before offering a small wave. His outfit was similar to what Naruto remembered—blue and practical—but there was a new confidence in the way he carried himself.
"N-Naruto-san! It's good to see you."
Naruto clapped him on the shoulder. "You too, man. Looking sharp."
Then—
"Welcome back, Naruto-kun."
The voice was smooth, commanding, and unmistakable.
Mei Terumi stood at the entrance of the command tent, her arms crossed, her smirk as dangerous as ever. Time hadn't touched her—she was still every bit the regal, untouchable beauty, her presence enough to make the air itself feel heavier.
"Miss me?" Naruto asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.
Mei's eyes gleamed. "Not even a little."
He laughed. "Liar."
She didn't deny it.
And then—
A whisper of movement. A breath of cold air.
Naruto turned.
And his heart stopped.
Standing there, bathed in the pale glow of the moonlight, was Haku.
No—not the Haku he remembered. Not the quiet, androgynous boy/girl who wrapped her chest in bandages to hide her feminine features and shy smiles.
This Haku was…
Breathtaking.
Her long, silky black hair cascaded freely over her shoulders, some strands tucked into a loose bun, the rest framing her delicate face. A purple Kirigakure headband was tied around her forehead like a bandana, giving her an air of effortless elegance. Her black tank top clung to her slender yet undeniably feminine figure, the hint of cleavage and the glint of a black choker around her neck making Naruto's throat go dry.
Her lips—slightly parted, painted the faintest shade of pink—curved into a knowing smile.
"Hello, Naruto," she said, her voice soft, melodic.
Naruto's brain short-circuited.
This was Haku?
The same Haku who used to blush when he complimented her ice mirrors? The same Haku who once fought beside him with quiet, deadly grace?
Now, she stood before him like something out of a dream—confident, mature, her brown eyes glowing under the moonlight, light frost particles drifting around her like a winter's embrace.
"H-Haku?" he managed, voice embarrassingly rough.
She tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes. "You don't recognize me?"
Naruto swallowed. "I—uh—"
Zabuza snorted. "Pathetic."
Mei smirked. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
Haku stepped closer, the scent of frost and something sweet—sakura, maybe—filling Naruto's senses.
"It's been a long time," she murmured, her fingers brushing his arm. "I've missed you."
Naruto's face burned.
Yeah. This was going to be a problem.
------
Mei noticed that the boy's appearance had changed. Sharply. Powerfully.
He wore a white and dark navy tunic, the fabric split at the waist for movement, one billowy sleeve dancing with the wind while the other was tight, pulled back to reveal a wrapped forearm in classic shinobi fashion — a nod to his father, perhaps. The tunic's lining was a pale sky-blue, catching sunlight with each motion, adding depth and contrast like the sea foam at the edge of a breaking wave.
Beneath it was a form-fitting black long-sleeve shirt, sleek and breathable, clinging to a torso carved by training — broad-chested, narrow-waisted, with muscle shaped more for explosive power than bulk. His pants matched, dark and just loose enough for movement, cinched neatly at the calves and thighs. A belt holster rested against his right leg, and his hands were in his pockets, head slightly tilted, expression unreadable.
Casual. Confident. Dangerous.
He looked like a modern warrior — part shinobi, part battlefield monarch. And he knew it.
Mei's eyes scanned him without hiding it. Her lips curved upward slowly.
"My, my," she murmured, walking forward with a swing in her hips. "If I'd known the training would turn you into this... I might've joined you."
Naruto arched an eyebrow. "Then I might not have survived."
She smiled — wider now. "Flattery doesn't suit you. But that cloak does."
He rolled his shoulders slightly, the flowing blue fabric shifting like ocean waves around him. "Figured it was time I started dressing like someone who didn't want to be underestimated."
"Oh, trust me," Mei said. "That ship sailed the moment I saw your chains."
But now it was time to see the fruits of Naruto's training. To see if he could live up to all their expectations and hope. A one-on-one spar with Mei, if he couldn't handle this much then all of this was for nothing. As Yagura managed to beat all of them back easily.
Round One – Jutsu
No warning — only movement.
Mei blurred, hands flashing through hand signs. "Lava Release: Scorching Torrent!"
From her palm came a thin arc of liquefied fire — not meant to kill, but test. Naruto sidestepped, barely moving his upper body, letting the torrent carve a hiss into the obsidian.
"Suiton: High Pressure Jet!"
He responded instantly, slamming his foot down and twisting his hips — water spiraled from a point under his heel, pressurized like a drill, intercepting her lava mid-air and hardening it into steaming black rock.
She smiled again.
"You've learned to aim your water pressure with footwork," she noted. "Kōrasenryū?"
Naruto nodded. "Tide-Shell Style: Reef Core Positioning. Pressure through grounding."
"Clever."
Mei widened her stance and clapped her hands together — a mist exploded outward in every direction. "Boil Release: Dissolving Mist!"
Chakra began to burn the air, making it shimmer. The kind of mist that didn't blind — it melted.
Naruto didn't flinch. His chakra expanded instead of retreating — a soft ripple of blue light enveloped him. Not a defense. A shell. Calm. Controlled.
Then came his counterattack.
"Kōrasenryū: Shell Breaker Hammer!"
From behind his back came the Roaring Tide Hammer — not swung yet, but held low, like a reminder.
Water chakra pooled around it in visible rings.
He swung it once — horizontally — and the chakra compressed into a shockwave arc that blew back the mist in a ten-meter fan. Mei ducked, the edge of her hair singeing from the force.
Not just power. Timing. Precision.
Round Two – Taijutsu
The next moment, they were close.
Too close for jutsu.
Naruto moved first — not flashy, not reckless. But surgical.
A step forward, hip rotation, elbow thrust — aimed for her ribs. Mei twisted away, narrowly evading. Not a block. A dodge.
He pressed again — a high kick this time, feinting into a spinning heel toward her shoulder. The billowy sleeve of his tunic whipped dramatically, distracting the eye — Mei recognized the trick too late and barely ducked the blow.
'He's not faster than me,' she thought. 'But he's harder to predict now. Too composed. No wasted motion. No shouting. No rage. Just—refined.'
She went on the offensive — a low sweep to test balance, followed by a short elbow jab. Naruto caught the elbow on his wrap-covered forearm, sliding it off like a tide over stone, then twisted to trap her leg with his.
She had to backstep to avoid getting locked.
'Damn it. He's not just holding his own... he's adapting to me.'
Her next move was more aggressive — a mid-air flip into a lava-enhanced heel drop. The earth cracked beneath the blow.
Naruto wasn't there anymore.
He'd vanished behind her — hammer held like a staff now, the handle braced against his shoulder.
"Do we keep this up?" he asked. "Or do you admit I'm ready?"
Mei turned slowly, letting the steam cling to her curves. Her expression was amused — and impressed.
"You're not ready," she said honestly. "But if we sparred a few more times…"
She trailed off.
Naruto tilted his head. "You'd lose."
She smirked. "I'd be tempted to let you win."
Their eyes locked.
After 30 minutes of their battle it was clear he was good enough to call his effort a success. In three years he went from a high level chunin to a bonified Kage level opponent. Most ninja battles are decided in minutes sometimes seconds. And most never reach the level of Jonin let alone are expected to go meet the standards of a jinchiriki. Mei exhaled, stepping back with no hostility. The mist cleared fully now, revealing the fractured ground between them. Both of them had barely used a fraction of their true strength, but it was enough to draw lines.
He was rising.
She had no intention of stopping him.
"You're going to be dangerous," she said.
Naruto's eyes were calm. "Only to the people who try to take what's ours."
Mei took one last look at him — the way the blue lining of his tunic caught the wind, the confident stance, hands in pockets, cloak rippling like waves.
Then she winked.
"Next time, I might not dodge," she said.
Naruto blinked. "That a threat?"
"A flirt," she replied, walking past him. "Try to keep up, left hand."