Naruto Multiverse

As Z walked away, dismissing the recruits with the looming promise of a real combat mission in a month, the group buzzed with mixed emotions. Anxiety and excitement mingled in their expressions, except for Naruto, Hina, and Drake, who stood calmly among the uneasy recruits.

"This is going to be fun," Naruto muttered under his breath, a gleam of eagerness in his eyes. The anticipation of facing real enemies reignited a familiar fire within him.

Hina nodded in agreement. "Hina agrees. Real combat experience is essential. Without it, handling human targets will be much harder."

Drake, still bitter about his recent defeat, scowled. "Hmph. Don't talk to me, Menma. I haven't forgotten my loss." With that, he turned sharply, heading toward the training grounds, the others following in his wake.

The Training Grounds

When the recruits entered the expansive training grounds, they immediately felt the tension. A group of seasoned elites gathered nearby, their faces alight with mischief and intent. It was clear they were ready to put the newcomers in their place.

One senior stepped forward from the group. He was tall, heavily muscled, and covered in bold tattoos. His presence was intimidating, and he seemed to revel in it.

"Hey, greenhorns!" the man called out, his voice booming with challenge. "Which one of you is Drake? My name's Adam Dudley, and I'm here to show you your place in the elite camp. So, get your ass out here."

Drake stepped forward, unphased. "I'm Drake. So, you want to show me my place? Let's do this. I've been itching for a fight."

Adam smirked. "Oh, we've got a brave one here. Let's see if you can back up that bark with some bite."

The crowd of elites parted, forming a ring for the combatants. Whispers rippled through the group.

"Poor guy. He's done for," one senior muttered.

"Yeah, Adam's gonna put him in the infirmary for a week," another added with a chuckle.

The tension was palpable among the recruits. Many of them glanced nervously at one another, already imagining their own potential challenges.

Naruto and Smoker

Hina, standing beside Naruto, leaned in. "How do you think this will go, Menma?"

Naruto observed the two fighters thoughtfully. "Adam has the advantage in stats and training, so logically, he's the likely winner. But Drake might surprise us."

Leaving Hina to watch the unfolding fight, Naruto wandered off. His attention turned to Smoker, who was lounging on the upper-level railing, watching the scene below with an air of indifference.

Naruto climbed up and approached him. "Hello! My name's Menma Uzumaki. Nice to meet you, Smoker."

Smoker glanced at him lazily but didn't respond.

Naruto grinned, undeterred. "Man, you really need to talk. How else are we supposed to be friends? If you don't, I might have to push you down from here."

Smoker shifted, his posture more alert. "You shouldn't mess with someone out of your league. I'd rather not have to send you to the medics."

Naruto's grin widened. "You'll send me to the medics? I'd like to see you try. But I'm not here to fight... unless you're refusing my offer of friendship. Then I might have to beat it into you."

Smoker raised an eyebrow, genuine curiosity flashing in his eyes. "Are you challenging me?"

"Of course," Naruto said with a shrug. "I don't care about winning. I just want the experience of fighting a Logia user."

Smoker leaned back with a sigh. "Higher ranks can't refuse challenges from lower ranks. Fine. Don't blame me if you regret this."

"Thanks for cooperating," Naruto replied cheerfully, taking a seat next to him.

The two watched as the fight below began. The crowd's energy spiked as Drake and Adam squared off, their stances tense, the air thick with anticipation.

The tension in the training ground was palpable as Adam and Drake stood facing each other, their eyes locked in silent communication. Both had no weapons, choosing to fight without them to avoid inflicting serious injuries. Adam, confident in his abilities, was the first to speak.

"Come at me. I'll let you move first." His voice was filled with condescension, as if he considered Drake no threat at all.

Drake said nothing in response. Instead, he exhaled deeply and surged forward with surprising speed, aiming for Adam's chin with a powerful uppercut. He expected Adam to dodge, giving him an opening to follow up with another attack, but to his surprise, Adam took the blow head-on. Adam's laugh echoed through the arena, and before Drake could react, Adam retaliated with a crushing punch to his gut.

The force of the punch sent Drake flying backward, his body slamming into the wall beyond the ring. The seniors, who were used to Adam's raw strength, didn't flinch. They simply watched with amused expressions, knowing this would end in seconds.

"Is that it, you little shit?" Adam taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. "I thought you were worth more than this. Hell, you're not even worth the foreplay."

Drake lay crumpled on the ground, gasping for air. His stomach burned with the aftershock of the punch, and he struggled to regain his footing. Slowly, he got up, breathing deeply to calm the pain in his ribs. His body ached, but his mind was clear. He had underestimated Adam, but now that he understood the man's strength, he could adjust his tactics.

"Oh, still trying to get up?" Adam grinned, his tone mocking. "Hope you can entertain me, or else—"

Drake said nothing in return, his jaw set. Instead, he stepped forward, his movements more calculated. The realization settled in: he wasn't going to win with sheer strength alone. Adam's physical power was too overwhelming for that. Drake was used to fighting with weapons like an axe or sword, but in this situation, he had to rely on something else.

"You've pushed me to do this," Drake muttered, his voice low but filled with resolve. "Don't regret it."

Suddenly, a strange transformation overtook Drake. His body began to grow, his skin turning a deep shade of green as his form expanded into a massive, dinosaur-like creature. The others gasped in surprise. Drake had never shown this form before, and the sheer power radiating from his new body was undeniable.

Adam, however, didn't seem fazed. A grin stretched across his face. "Man, you got me excited now. A fruit user, huh? At least you're not a Logia. That would be cheating."

The crowd murmured in disbelief, watching as Drake let out a fierce roar and charged at Adam, his head lowered in an attempt to bash him. Adam didn't even flinch. With a swift sidestep, he dodged the charge with ease, but Drake wasn't done yet. He whipped his massive tail around in a wide arc, aiming to catch Adam off guard.

But Adam was faster. With a grunt, he cocked his arm back and unleashed a brutal punch into Drake's side.

Drake's massive form was sent flying once again, his body lifting off the ground as the impact crushed his ribs. Pain radiated through his body, but it was not the physical pain that left him stunned—it was the realization that Adam's power was more than just brute force.

"Damn," Adam sneered, looking down at the now-downed Drake. "Still worthless, huh? But hey, you made me move, so I guess that's something."

He stepped forward, clearly planning to deliver another crushing blow, but before he could get close, something unexpected happened. A sharp flash of silver streaked through the air, and Adam instinctively reached up to catch it.

With a practiced motion, he caught the dagger that had been thrown at him with lightning speed, his fingers curling around the hilt without even flinching.

The crowd fell into stunned silence as they watched the scene unfold. Adam's attention shifted to the source of the attack, and the atmosphere in the arena seemed to shift dramatically.

"Who the hell threw that?" Adam barked, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the crowd for the attacker.

Smoker, still leaning lazily against the railing above, raised an eyebrow, his gaze never leaving the action below. He was clearly not concerned with Adam's outburst. The dagger had been thrown with precision, and its intent was clear—it was a warning.

The tension in the air was thick as Adam turned, fury in his eyes, his voice booming across the training ground.

"Who the hell threw this?" he yelled, his gaze locking onto Naruto, who stood casually on the upper floor. Adam's voice grew sharper with anger. "Come down here, you damn! Nobody interferes with my greetings."

Naruto, however, wasn't fazed by the threat. He waved it off, his tone completely indifferent. "Not interested. Why not fight later? I've got an appointment with my friend here." His eyes pointed directly at Smoker.

Adam froze for a moment, his eyes following Naruto's gesture to Smoker. The anger in his face shifted to annoyance, but he didn't press the matter further. "You're lucky, bastard," he grumbled, looking at Smoker. "Next time, I'll show you the gates of death." With a final irritated glare, he turned away, allowing Drake's fellow recruits to help him.

Drake, still recovering from the brutal beating, transformed back into his human form, his expression filled with frustration and resentment. The pain from the match was still fresh, but it was his humiliation that stung the most. He pushed the recruits away as they tried to help him, his pride too shattered to accept their aid. Despite the loss, Drake decided to stick around and watch the next match, hoping to learn more about Naruto's strength and the abilities of the mysterious Smoker.

Naruto, meanwhile, was already moving toward Smoker, his smile returning as he spoke casually. "Well, Smoker, let's have some fun, shall we? I hope you're not lazy when you fight."

Smoker's eyes narrowed, his voice cold as he responded. "Who said we were friends?" he said flatly. "As for the spar, let's get it over with. I don't want to waste any more time on this."

With that, Smoker leaped down to the lower floor, his eyes never leaving Naruto. The recruits around them quickly stepped back to create space, knowing the intensity of the upcoming battle. To their surprise, Smoker even allowed Naruto to use his weapons.

Naruto looked at Smoker with a grin. "Thanks for that."

Smoker's response was dismissive. "It doesn't make a difference. Unless you know Haki or have a sea stone weapon, you'll never be able to touch me."

Naruto nodded, his expression serious now. "Well, let's start then."

He leaped into action, immediately throwing multiple daggers at Smoker. The blades pierced the smoke-like body of Smoker, but they simply passed through him without causing any harm.

Naruto observed the scene carefully, muttering under his breath, "Interesting." He circled around Smoker, taking note of the peculiar properties of his opponent's ability. The name "Smoker" was clearly more than just a nickname—it was an indicator of his power to turn into smoke.

Naruto, determined to find a way to strike, withdrew his daggers and replaced them with his sword. He dashed forward, his senses alert for any incoming attacks. He barely managed to dodge a kick that came from an unusual angle, an attack from Smoker that seemed deceptively slow but still carried a threat. Naruto quickly adjusted his movements and aimed a slash at Smoker.

Smoker was able to take the hits, his body rippling with the fluidity of smoke, but it was clear that he was taken aback by Naruto's ability to dodge his strikes. "It seems it really is pointless attacking you, Smoker," Naruto said, his voice tinged with frustration. "Such an unfair advantage!"

Smoker didn't respond verbally, instead deciding to turn the tables. He withdrew his sword and unfurled a set of heavy chains, letting them fall to the ground with a clatter. Naruto raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this new development. Smoker began to spin the chains, and the speed with which they moved was enough to break the sound barrier, creating a storm of whipping metal.

The recruits scrambled to avoid the flurry of chain strikes, but Naruto noticed something—the chain storm seemed to attract Smoker's body, which had been damaged earlier by his sword.

Smoker's voice came through with a smirk. "Enough playing around." He lunged at Naruto in his smoke form, delivering a fast, brutal kick that sent Naruto crashing into a wall. The chains slipped from his grip as he staggered to his feet.

"Gahhh!" Naruto grunted as he hit the ground, pain coursing through him. But he was already using Tekkai, his body hardened to absorb the blows. The pain was still there, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

"That was weak," Naruto muttered, grinning despite the discomfort.

Smoker's eyes narrowed as he prepared for his next wave of attacks, sending a flurry of blows at Naruto. The speed and power of Smoker's strikes were relentless, but Naruto's laughter echoed through the arena as he endured, even though his body crumpled under the barrage.

"You're one crazy bastard, Menma," Smoker said with a chuckle, watching as Naruto struggled to stay on his feet. "But I like your spirit. Let's get along."

With that, Smoker stepped back, walking away as Naruto collapsed to the ground, covered in bruises and fractures. The recruits, who had watched the fight with bated breath, were left stunned by the exchange.

Drake, observing from the sidelines, couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Naruto. The way he had stood up against Smoker, someone clearly beyond his level, was both inspiring and humbling. He felt his own doubts begin to fade and a newfound respect for Naruto blossomed.

Without another word, Drake left the training ground to get himself healed, but his mind was buzzing with thoughts of the battle he'd just witnessed. Naruto, for the first time, had shown him what it meant to never back down from a challenge.

Hina guided Naruto to his dorm room, her concern for him evident in the way she carefully helped him walk despite his stubborn insistence on downplaying his injuries.

"Why did you have to be so careless, Menma? This could cause long-lasting injuries. You made Hina worry a lot," she said, her voice laced with both frustration and worry.

Naruto chuckled through the pain, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous light. "It was needed. It's good practice. You should try it out if you want to master Tekkai," he said, wincing slightly.

"That's too dangerous! And stop talking," Hina snapped, her expression softening as she led him toward his room.

"Haha, you have to take risks if you want to be truly strong, or else you'll just be mediocre," Naruto said, giving her a teasing smile despite the bruises on his face. "Also, take me to my room here in the dorm, I've got some medicine to help with my injuries."

"What you're talking about—it's better to go to the official infirmary," she argued, not quite convinced.

"No, either get me there, or I'll get there myself," Naruto insisted, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he playfully pushed against her.

Hina sighed in exasperation but ultimately relented. "Okay, you crazy man. Hina will get you to your room, but don't complain to me when you cause yourself more harm."

Once inside his dorm, Naruto immediately began making himself comfortable, despite the pain. "Fill the bathtub with water and pour in the herbal liquid the workers brought. I need to heal up quickly," he instructed, his voice strained but determined.

Hina hesitated, her face turning bright red at the thought of helping him further, but she reluctantly agreed. "This is the last time Hina does this for you, Menma," she warned, clearly embarrassed.

As Hina prepared the bath, Naruto helped strip off his shirt and pants, wincing as the fabric brushed against his bruised skin. Once the tub was ready, he gingerly eased himself into the warm water, letting out a relieved sigh. The soothing herbs in the water would help ease his muscle pain and promote healing.

Hina, her face still flushed, helped him settle into the water before looking away, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. "Don't dare ask me for this again," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head. "I'll leave you to your... bath. Hina has training to do."

Naruto nodded with a grin, knowing full well that Hina was embarrassed, but grateful for her help nonetheless. "Thanks, Hina. You're the best," he said, trying to ease her discomfort, though his playful tone suggested he knew she wasn't entirely pleased.

As Hina left, Naruto relaxed into the tub, the warm water soothing his battered body. Despite the injuries, he couldn't help but feel satisfied. Every challenge he faced, every bruise, was a step closer to mastering his strength. He closed his eyes, resting for a moment before the next battle awaited him.