Digital Emperor (Naruto X Digimon)

Finished with another great event of his life, Naruto returned to the town victorious and great expectations for the future.

With the addition of Royal Leomon to his team, Naruto could feel his body go through a qualitative change. His spirit and body were being transformed and he was getting infinitely closer to his previous self. With the current pace, it wouldn't take him more than a year to reach his 4th war power level.

Bidding his team mates farewell, Naruto relaxed in the hot spring where he was joined by Mai and Na So Ri. These two were not alone as Morrigan and Lady Devimon were also there to join him. It was a situation that was extremely hard for most men with Naruto's constitution to endure, but willpower was something he had in excess and it helped counteract what his body lacked.

"Have you adapted to your new power?" Naruto asked as he looked at Mai with a pure gaze. He had not seen the woman since the battle and was feeling her with his extra senses.

Seeing his gaze, Mai didn't know whether she should be questioning her looks or be happy that her lord was someone with exceptional control.

Regardless, she was happy to report her success.

"It was a monumental success. Mai Shiranui has more than doubled in power, my lord." Mai replied with an enthusiastic tone while striking a pose.

Looking at the powerful and beautiful woman getting too close to Naruto, Na So Ri didn't feel happy. Having more than one was fine, but she didn't like the feeling of being second in something she held confidence in. In the hot spring, she felt that the other women were around her level or even above.

"Why don't you go and hunt a mega digimon, if you are so confident?" Na So Ri couldn't help but mutter because of her inferiority complex.

Hearing her words, Naruto's eyes moved towards the supporter's location and read her like an open book. Truly, Naruto wasn't really fully aware of the people around him at the moment since these women weren't that close to his heart. It was the reason why he missed Na So Ri's feelings.

"Not a bad idea, I can start hunting the enemies of humanity. So, what target do you propose?" Mai took it in stride and asked with her fingers on her lips making a mischievous smile.

Before she could respond, Naruto held up his hand and green light gathered around it before it exploded. It enveloped the whole hot spring before vanishing and with it; it took away the negative feelings hidden within.

Naruto had released a tsunami of positive emotions to drown the dark emotions within the people around him.

"Little ninja girl, I have a target in mind. Do you wish to try? It would help you get closer to your lord." Morrigan watched with amusement while Eve massaged her body. However, she decided to take part since Naruto stopped things from heating up.

Mai could only look respectfully towards Morrigan as the difference in power was huge. Morrigan didn't have a Mega digimon but she was a top class tamer and LadyDevimon was an exceptionally powerful digimon.

Even her new mega didn't give her the confidence to fight the succubus. The tone didn't anger Mai but her words definitely caught her curiosity.

"Morrigan, don't you get tired of sending fools to their death." Before Morrigan could continue, Rory dropped from the sky and sent the other girls crashing into the depths with her presence.

With the giant axe on her neck, Morrigan only tapped it lightly and pushed Rory away from her face.

"Oh my, what venomous words you have uttered my little sister. When have I done such a thing?" Morrigan spoke with a smile as she turned to dark smoke and enveloped Rory.

"Disperse!" Rory expertly spun her giant axe like an unstoppable tornado and violated the dark clouds. Morrigan laughed at her actions and broke through her offence with ease, and flicked her head.

Rory's neck snapped back from the force and her eyes started to turn deep pools of red as her berserker trait started to awaken.

"Lil sis, isn't your control weakening?" Even Morrigan felt confused by the situation as Rory would never enter berserk state so easily.

"No, it has become better." Rory replied while being in full control. Usually she would never enter such a state casually since it would damage her mind, but now she felt completely comfortable at the entrance of the berserk state. It felt like she had awakened a new stage of her genetic ability.

Clap clap

"Congratulations Rory, you are one step closer to reaching the legends. It is an honor, no; it is a pleasure to accompany you on this journey." Naruto decided to stop the battle before it began or all of them would be sitting inside a prison cell for breaking the city rules.

"Those words mean a lot to me, Naruto. And, it is my honor to accompany you in this life. I believe it is just a matter of time before you reach the top." Rory snapped out of her battle trance and focused on her one true love. She couldn't read emotions like Morrigan, but Rory believed that Naruto's words were the truth.

It brought her untold happiness to see him bloom. However, it also brought out the dark whispers that he would leave her behind. To avoid such a future, Rory couldn't allow herself to slack off.

"So, are you giving me a target or not?" Mai surfaced and asked once again. She really wanted to make Naruto owe her a favor.

"What do you think Master, should I?" Morrigan asked for Naruto's opinion.

"Mai, find information about a special Matadormon inside GrandDracmon's territory. It might have reached Mega level by now, so you just need to find its general location." Naruto decided to share one of the Uzumaki family's mortal targets. It had been years, but none had found the specific target.

It was made worse by the fact that the target might be living inside GrandDracmon's territory. That being was too powerful for anyone to consider such a task and the region was also filled with powerful mega digimon.

Just like others, Mai was also taken aback by the task. It brought her out of the excitement zone. She had to think about such a task seriously since her life would be on the line.

"I will not fail you, my lord." Stopping for a moment, Mai's thought at lightning speed before deciding to accept. Her Lord didn't give a time frame, so she could take her time to find the solution. Just because she didn't see an answer now, didn't mean that there was no answer.

Mai didn't believe in giving up before trying something. She liked to give it her all and learn from her mistakes. And, it was this attitude that improved Naruto's impression.

"I will advise you not to act reckless." Rory gave a final warning even though she felt that Mai wasn't about to give up.

"Thank you for your warning, I will keep it in mind….With that in mind, I shall take my leave."

With a nod from Naruto, Mai vanished from the scene.

"I will follow her for a while, Master. Maybe we might finally reach an answer." Morrigan cared for her sisters in a way and hated that they had to suffer from nightmares and such.

Watching her leave, Naruto hoped that Mai would really find the enemy. Once the location was confirmed, Naruto would assassinate the creature even if it was the private butler of the Ancient Demon King.

"Finally, we are alone." Rory muttered with joy and tried to hug Naruto while Na So Ri stared from the side with a dull look.

'I am being treated like the wind damn it.'

Naruto decided to converse with Na So Ri, after asking Rory to wait inside his room. It was a decision that surprised the woman as she didn't believe Naruto was enchanted by her looks or personality.

"Do you know why I led you on?" Naruto asked as he stood with his back to his companion, watching the moon and thinking about the various changes that were taking place across the world. He could feel a storm coming.

Hearing his question, Na So Ri would have usually answered with confidence and said it was because of her looks. However, Naruto had many beautiful girls around him.

"I don't know. Maybe, because you wanted me." Na So Ri didn't know why Naruto did it, but she felt confident in the belief that he wanted to own her.

Naruto let out a chuckle at those words as he had expected such an answer. It really was amusing to hear what you expected from others.

"That is an impossible situation since I have already given my heart and soul to someone else. In front of her everything is dull and pale in comparison….I wished for you to experience what you did to others. I wanted to see you struggle for an impossible goal, knowing that you were being led by the nose. Unfortunately, I don't think I have time to play along anymore. It is better for you to go back to your normal life, because you will only endanger yourself beside me." Naruto's words were extremely cold, though his tone was normal.

Looking into his eyes for any clues, Na So Ri felt the world beneath her collapse. Never in her life had she been played by a man in such a manner. She didn't even think it was possible for her to feel betrayed.

She felt tears appear because of his words and words didn't seem to form on her lips. Na So Ri had gone to shock at the unexpected event.

"I apologize for this cruel prank. However, it was something that you needed to experience to become a better person. Regardless, it is better this way. At least, you didn't fall in love." Naruto walked closer and placed his hand on her shoulder.

Na So Ri snapped back into reality at his words, "Love, you doubt my affections? Are these tears fake? Is this pain another act?"

She held his collar and demanded an answer.

"Why do you love me, Na So Ri?"

Na So Ri looked into her heart and questioned whether she wanted him in the real sense.

Did she like him because of his money?

Did she like him because of his looks?

Did she like him because of his power?

What if he had none of those and was just a normal person, would she love him for his personality?

Being questioned and stared at so closely, she was unable to answer. She couldn't lie to him and words that were suitable seemed impossible to form.

"You are still blinded by the material world, Na So Ri. Just like the men around you, you felt lust towards me. It was nothing more than a passing fancy. I pray that one day you can fall in love and be happy. Don't make that face, I don't hate you. You have changed and I think of you as a friend. Take care and good night."

With those words, he disappeared and Na So Ri couldn't help but cry silently because of the heartache. Even now she was unsure if it was real or just like what Naruto said.

'What if it was real?'

"You are really cruel, Naruto. I thought you had changed and opened your heart to others. Those words, did they also apply to everyone else?" Rory greeted him with those words as she heard everything through her super hearing.

Looking at the dark berserker with an ethereal beauty against the moonlight was a treat that Naruto appreciated, but it didn't enchant him. Just like he told Na So Ri, beauty and other material things never mattered to Naruto.

Love just happened and it didn't rely on those factors.

Naruto didn't love Hinata because she was the most beautiful or the wealthiest woman in the world. There were women around him that held a higher position, wealth and even look, but he still fell for Hinata.

"I believe all of you already know that I am not normal. I am someone that has already lived another life before this world. In the other world, I was married and had three kids. I didn't die of old age, I died in my thirties during a battle like I had expected.

Now, do you understand why I said those words?" Naruto thought there was no point in hiding such details from people he truly trusted and cared for.

Rory didn't really care about what Naruto said to the other women. She had already accepted her desire and need. She also understood that words were just words when it came to emotions, so there was no way Naruto could assure anyone that he wouldn't fall in love with them. Meaning, Rory only had to work hard to get his heart. It was made easier by the fact that he was so unapproachable to most women.

However, she was definitely not expecting the bombshell of a statement. It all made sense when she heard it, but it really made everything extremely difficult.

"Do you intend to go back to your previous world?" Rory stopped her lips from uttering negative words mentioning the death of his previous family and just asked a basic question.

"Yes, I want to see what happened after my death. I want to repent for my mistakes and give my family a better life. Don't look at me like that, as I was a terrible husband and father in my past life. I was never there for them and never gave them what I had promised."

"What if there is no way to your past world, will you continue searching for eternity?"

"Of course not, I don't intend to destroy this life for my past regrets. However, fortunately I have already confirmed that there is a way back home."

"Does this mean, we have no chance or are you still willing to take others?" Rory was happy that Naruto didn't intend to destroy his current life with an obsession. However, she was definitely worried about the wife overwhelming all her attacks on Naruto's heart.

"You already know the answer to that question."

"No, I want to hear it clearly now after hearing the real situation."

"I don't mind having other wives beside my current wife."

With those words, Rory was happy and she hugged him tightly while nuzzling his chest. Naruto brushed her hair and wondered how such a life would be. Would he really have a happy end this time?

Regardless, that was a question with no answer and he knew not to focus on the unknown.

"So, why did you come now? I believe you were busy with your digimon after the experience overload."

Naruto was curious as to why Rory appeared so soon when she was preparing for her Mega Evolution. Though, he already had an idea in mind.

"I was thinking that we could go an adventure together. It would be very beneficial to you since I am going to fight against one of the Royal Knights." Looking at her eyes shining like beautiful red jewels, he was amused. She truly was a battle maniac, and someone he could really associate with.

"Are you aiming for Examon so early? I thought you would evolve him to Breakdramon first."

"Breakdramon doesn't suit me and it would only worsen the quality of my digimon, making it even harder to evolve to a Royal Knight."

"Ah, I understand. Let me think for a minute." Naruto remembered that Breakdramon was mostly machine type, meaning it would lose its dragon DNA which was a requirement for Examon. Going the normal way, she would end up needing to compensate for the lack of draconic Data. The requirements would be extreme for Mega level digimon. It did create a problem, but not using a Mega against a Royal Knight was also a terrible idea. Naruto would have advised against it but Rory wasn't a normal human tamer, so she could make up for the difference.

Moving from the fight, Naruto thought about her proposal. He was already planning to travel and fight powerful digimon with his partners, so it didn't go against that plan. Royal Knights were not on the menu but it didn't hurt to finally see one in person and adapt to it before getting into a real battle.

"What about the enemies? Won't they target us if I am not in a safe zone?" Naruto didn't forget about the threats and wasn't willing to pointlessly die. He needed to be sure about their destination.

"Examon is visiting the Dragon Empire so we have nothing to worry about. This way you can also meet Azulongmon and get the Matrix Digivolution…I believe you can pass the test very easily, don't you think so." Rory smiled as she looked up at him, enjoying being close to him. She was fulfilled just by staying like that, though a sweaty spar would be the best.

"Okay, I will accompany you. However, I will look at things before I decide to go through with it. I haven't planned to test myself until the next year."

"Things don't always go as planned and those plans exist because of the little children by your side, am I wrong?"

"Plans might change, but promises don't."

"You should have just said so. I would never ask you to break a promise. Talking about promises, will your wife be okay with other women?"

 "She is a selfless saint that would give up everything for my sake. Hinata has never harbored the desire to monopolize my love. She just wanted me to be happy and I couldn't even do that properly."

Looking at his expression, Rory felt jealous and happy at the same time. She finally saw Naruto's expression of love, though it was directed at someone else.

'One day he will see me in the same manner.'