Digital Emperor (Naruto X Digimon)

"Oh man, I can't wait for tomorrow morning! Why can't they just take the test now?"

The impatient voice belonged to Takato Matsuki, a 16-year-old sitting with his three friends in a private room of a cozy restaurant.

Takato was a young man with light skin, light brown hair, and light red eyes. He wore a blue hooded shirt over a white T-shirt, paired with long gray shorts, yellow wristbands, and green converse sneakers. Resting on his forehead were a pair of yellow goggles, a cherished gift from his father.

Unlike his friends, Takato came from a humble background. His parents owned a bakery, and while he loved his family and their simple life, his friends hailed from far more influential lineages.

"Takato, stop whining before Rika slaps your head off," Henry Wong commented with a chuckle. Even though Henry was usually composed, he was just as excited about the grand event awaiting them the next day.

Henry was a half-Chinese, half-Japanese teenager with tanned skin, short blue hair, and gray eyes. He wore a sleeveless orange vest over a black T-shirt, brown pants, and gray-and-yellow shoes. His white wristbands completed his casual yet practical look.

Normally the peacemaker of the group, Henry preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble or fights. However, the anticipation of tomorrow's test had him feeling just as lively as Takato, even if he wouldn't openly admit it.

Coming from a privileged family, Henry had always been exposed to Digimon. His parents worked at the prestigious Digimon Research and Development Corporation, and his two older brothers were seasoned Tamers who had trained him extensively. Though he had no doubts about his qualifications, the test was a mandatory step, even for someone with his background.

Henry's words earned a cold glance from the only girl in the room, Rika Nonaka. Her piercing gaze sent an involuntary shiver down Henry's spine, making him avert his eyes.

Rika was a striking young woman with fair skin, vibrant purple eyes, and ginger hair tied into a ponytail with a blue hair tie. She wore a white turtleneck, black shorts, and red sneakers—a no-nonsense look that matched her tomboyish personality.

Rika was calm, collected, and unapologetically direct, traits ingrained by her upbringing in a traditional family. Her parents led a prestigious Digimon guild specializing in Beast-types, and her disciplined nature was a reflection of her clan's influence.

"Don't speak unless you have the courage to back up your words," she said, her voice cool and measured, as she sipped her cola.

Her sharp comment prompted the fourth member of the group to speak.

"No need to be so harsh, Rika—or were those words meant for me?"

Naruto Uzumaki turned away from the window, where he had been quietly observing the falling snow, lost in thought.

Naruto was a young man with light skin, spiky blonde hair, and vivid blue eyes. Despite his youthful appearance, he exuded an aura of wisdom and experience that belied his age. His orange jacket, white shirt, black jeans, and glasses hanging from his shirt collar gave him a laid-back yet confident look.

Naruto was the undisputed leader of the group, not just because of his charisma but also due to his remarkable lineage. His parents served in the Digimon Police, and his grandfather was a revered guild leader.

But Naruto's legacy extended far beyond this world.

In a past life, he had been Naruto Uzumaki, the Seventh Hokage. His ultimate sacrifice during his battle against Isshiki Otsutsuki had cost him everything. To secure victory, he had pushed the limits of his Baryon Mode, burning away all his chakra and his bond with Kurama. Though he had saved his world, the price was his own life.

What should have been the end became a new beginning. Naruto awoke in this world—a world where humans and Digimon coexisted, shaped by an era of struggle and renewal.

It should have been the end—a heroic finale carved into the annals of history. Naruto Uzumaki, the Seventh Hokage, had given everything in his final battle against Isshiki Otsutsuki. Drained of chakra, having sacrificed Kurama and himself through the ultimate gambit of Baryon Mode, he had saved his world at the cost of his life.

Yet when Naruto's eyes opened, he was no longer in Konoha. He had awakened in a new world, vastly different and yet equally troubled. This was the world of Digital Monsters, a realm where humanity and strange, powerful creatures known as Digimon coexisted. But this union had not been born peacefully.

A century before Naruto's arrival, the fabric of reality had been torn. The digital and physical worlds collided in an unprecedented event, their fusion reshaping life as it was known. At first, Digimon emerged in small numbers, fascinating humanity with their diverse forms and intelligence. People welcomed them, curious and charmed by their presence.

That tentative peace shattered when the skies opened, and terror poured through. A massive wormhole appeared over New York City, and from it descended a monstrous Digimon, a towering giant dwarfing even the city's skyscrapers. With a single earth-shaking roar, the beast unleashed devastation, wiping New York off the map in an instant.

This cataclysmic event was only the beginning. More colossal Digimon followed, clashing with each other in battles that obliterated entire cities. Humanity's awe turned to dread as millions perished, entire nations crumbled, and the planet's population was halved in a matter of years.

Amidst this chaos, a savior emerged. Takuya Kanbara, the Leader of the Ancients, stepped forward with a team of extraordinary Tamers. These young heroes bonded with their Digimon partners in ways never seen before. Using an ancient power, Takuya fused with his partner to become Aldamon, the strongest Digimon ever to walk the Earth.

Together with his team, Takuya fought tirelessly, defeating the colossal threats and restoring a fragile peace. Their victory marked the dawn of a new age. Organizations rose to manage the coexistence between humans and Digimon, ensuring that history would not repeat itself.

In this new world, Digimon became an integral part of life. The organizations established a system where young people aged 16 could register as Tamers, undergoing rigorous tests to determine their compatibility with Digimon. This ensured that only those deemed responsible could form bonds with the powerful creatures.

The Digimon Police emerged to monitor crimes involving Digimon, while guilds delved into the digital world, exploring its depths and participating in tournaments. Battles between Digimon partners became popular spectacles, captivating audiences worldwide. However, not all wounds healed. Some people bore scars from the past and harbored hatred toward Digimon, distrusting them and their human partners.

Despite the semblance of normalcy, the world was far from perfect. Crime persisted, and the inclusion of Digimon only added complexity to an already flawed society.

For Naruto Uzumaki, this world presented a new challenge and a chance to start over. Reborn into a family of powerful individuals, he found himself surrounded by allies like Takato, Henry, and Rika. Together, they had reached the age of 16 and decided to take the test to become Tamers.

Though Naruto carried the memories and experiences of his past life, he knew this was a different battle. Here, in the world of Digital Monsters, the stakes were just as high, and the bonds he formed with his friends—and his future Digimon partner—might be the key to protecting this world from its lingering shadows.

Rika rolled her eyes, but her gaze lingered on Naruto's soft smile. That smile, the one that made her heart skip a beat, always seemed to disarm her, even when she tried to hold onto her irritation. Deep down, she hated how easily he could break through her walls. They were closer than mere friends—everyone in their group knew that—but Naruto's reluctance to act on their unspoken connection left her simmering with frustration.

"I meant in general," Rika said, her tone sharp, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of vulnerability. "If you think it applies to you, then you might as well keep your words." Her challenging stare locked onto Naruto, daring him to respond.

Takato and Henry exchanged uneasy glances. The tension in the room was palpable, and both boys had witnessed Rika's fiery temper enough times to know when to tread carefully. Her anger, when pushed to its limits, was no small thing. Lately, it seemed to erupt more frequently, with Naruto often at the center of the storm.

Rika's recent outbursts had included words that neither Takato nor Henry could believe came from her. She was known for her cold, composed demeanor, yet she'd been caught muttering curses under her breath—directed at Naruto, no less. Words like "faggot," "eunuch," and "micro-penis" weren't just shocking; they were downright scandalous. For a girl from a prestigious family like hers, such language was unthinkable. If her parents or the elders of her clan found out, they would surely lock her away in disgrace.

But the root of her frustration wasn't hard to discern. Naruto treated her with the same gentle patience he extended to everyone, almost as though she were a child. To Rika, that was the ultimate insult. She wanted more—needed more—from him, but his refusal to take their relationship to the next level made her feel weak, unsure, and jealous. She feared that he would eventually choose someone else, perhaps an older woman, leaving her with nothing but unfulfilled dreams.

What confounded her friends the most was why Naruto held back. His family wasn't conservative—his parents were supportive and open-minded, and his grandfather was notorious for his carefree approach to life. There were no external barriers preventing him from reciprocating Rika's feelings, and yet he remained distant.

The truth was far more complicated. Naruto, in his second life, carried the weight of over fifty years of experiences. He saw Rika as a talented, spirited young woman, but in his heart, she was still just that—a young woman. While he appreciated her tenacity and cared deeply for her, he couldn't ignore the vast difference in their life experiences. It wasn't that he didn't value her feelings; he simply couldn't view her in the same way she viewed him.

He had hoped her feelings would fade with time, but they hadn't. If anything, they had only grown stronger. Her admiration for his maturity and wisdom seemed to fuel her attachment, drawing her closer when he tried to keep a respectful distance.

Adding to his predicament, Rika's family had begun taking an interest in him. Whether it was due to his family's influence or his own reputation as a skilled Tamer, Naruto couldn't say, but their watchful eyes made the situation even more precarious.

'Trouble always seems to find me,' Naruto thought with a sigh, turning back to the snow falling softly outside the window. He could feel Rika's gaze still on him, a mixture of longing and defiance, and he knew this was a storm he couldn't outrun forever.