The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the vast desert as the ship continued to sail across the seemingly endless landscape. On the deck, the boys—Tai, Matt, Izzy, TK, and Naruto—were scattered about, most of them lounging in various states of relaxation. The gentle sway of the ship and the soft hum of its engines had lulled them into a peaceful state. The others, the girls, had retreated to the toilets, leaving the boys to enjoy their respite. The only sound was the occasional creak of wood and the distant murmur of the wind, but a shadow loomed over them, unseen.
Unbeknownst to the boys, a figure was watching them from the shadows. Cockatarimon, the captain of the ship, had bided his time, waiting for the perfect moment. He had no love for the children aboard his ship, and he had no interest in their well-being. In fact, he had been ordered to neutralize them, and he intended to carry out his task with precision and malice. His large, sharp eyes gleamed with cruel determination as he quietly prepared to strike.
With a flick of his talons, Cockatarimon released a faint but deadly puff of sleeping gas into the air, carefully directing it toward the rooms where the boys rested. The gas, odorless and invisible, seeped into the air, drifting silently into their quarters. It was only a matter of time before it took its toll.
The boys, completely off guard, were soon caught under its influence. One by one, they fell into a deep, peaceful slumber, oblivious to the impending danger. Even their partners, their Digimon companions, succumbed to the gas, leaving the ship eerily quiet and vulnerable. But Cockatarimon was not content to wait for them to sleep it off. He had no time to waste.
With a malicious grin, he activated his petrification beam, his cold eyes scanning the slumbering forms of the boys and their Digimon partners. The beam, capable of freezing living beings in place, was designed for silent and deadly efficiency. The beam streaked across the air, a thin, faintly glowing light, and in moments, the boys and their partners were completely immobilized, frozen as if turned to stone.
Cockatarimon chuckled to himself, savoring the moment. He moved closer to his targets, savoring his success. Master Etemon would surely reward him for this task well done. The boys, after all, were nothing more than obstacles. But in his overconfidence, Cockatarimon had not anticipated one key factor: Naruto Uzumaki.
Naruto, unlike the others, was no ordinary child. His senses were sharper than most, honed over years of experience in the field, fighting and surviving battles far more perilous than anything the Digimon world could throw at him. Even in the deep sleep induced by the gas, his instincts remained on high alert.
As Cockatarimon drew nearer, malice radiating from his every step, Naruto's eyes flickered open. His body was already in motion, his mind snapping to attention despite the drowsiness that still clouded his senses.
Danger.
It was a feeling that coursed through his veins, a primal instinct that warned him of the threat just moments away. He didn't have to see it to know it was close. He felt it.
With a sudden burst of energy, Naruto flipped to the side, narrowly avoiding the petrification beam as it streaked past him. The force of his movement carried him several feet away from the Digimon, landing lightly on the ship's deck, his feet skimming the surface of the water that flowed beneath them. His eyes blinked a few times, still adjusting to the drowsiness that lingered in his mind. But even with the haze of sleep, his senses were keen enough to catch the malice emanating from the Digimon.
He shook his head, rubbing his eyes. "Hey! What's the meaning of this? I thought you were a good guy!" he shouted, his voice a mix of sleepiness and irritation. His gaze locked onto Cockatarimon, who had stopped in his tracks, stunned by Naruto's sudden movement.
For a moment, the ship was silent, save for the occasional creak of the wood. Cockatarimon's eyes narrowed, his grin faltering for just a second. He had expected Naruto to be out for the count, but the boy was far more resilient than he had anticipated.
"You're awake?" Cockatarimon hissed, his voice dripping with venom. "No matter. You're still just a child. It won't matter once I turn you to stone, too."
With a snap of his talons, Cockatarimon raised his petrification beam once more, ready to strike at the boy before him. But Naruto, now fully alert, wasn't about to let this Digimon take him down so easily.
In the blink of an eye, Naruto darted to the side, a blur of motion, faster than Cockatarimon could react. His hand shot out, and with a crackle of chakra, he formed a shadow clone in an instant, sending it charging toward the Digimon. The clone's fist collided with Cockatarimon's chest, sending him reeling back, momentarily stunned.
"Not so fast, bird brain!" Naruto grinned, his trademark confidence returning. His eyes glinted with determination. "You picked the wrong ship to mess with!"
Cockatarimon staggered back, shaking off the impact. His feathers ruffled in irritation as he shot a glare at Naruto. "You're more trouble than I expected," he muttered, but his resolve was clear. This wasn't over. He would defeat this boy—he had no other choice.
Naruto stood with his back pressed against the cold, metal wall of the ship, his breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. The giant chicken-like Digimon, Cockatarimon, loomed before him, a massive, formidable presence that made Naruto's usual confidence waver for just a moment. The bird's towering form—standing a full three meters tall—was a stark reminder of just how outclassed he might be in terms of sheer size and power. The plumage that covered its body was an unsettling mix of cream and purple, and its sharp, reptilian eyes glowed a fiery red, slits narrowing in on Naruto like a hawk stalking its prey.
Cockatarimon's mandibles clicked as it looked down at the boy with a malevolent gleam. Its sharp teeth gleamed in the low light, and the sharp, jagged edges of its wings rustled with barely contained aggression. The feathers at the ends of its wings looked dangerous, their purple tips seeming to hum with latent power. The bird's expression twisted into one of pure annoyance—how dare this small human resist him?
The first attack, a surprise strike from Naruto's shadow clone, had sent Cockatarimon stumbling back, but now the Digimon was growing furious. His massive wings unfurled with a force that made the air around them shift, and before Naruto could react, the bird launched its counterattack.
A barrage of feathers shot out from the tips of its wings, slicing through the air like razor-sharp projectiles. They streaked toward Naruto with terrifying speed and precision. Naruto barely had time to react, but his instincts kicked in. He forced chakra into his muscles, enhancing his reflexes, and sprang to the side with the agility of a seasoned shinobi. His body blurred in a flash of motion, narrowly avoiding the deadly barrage.
The feathers tore through the metal walls of the ship behind him, leaving gaping holes where they passed. If any of them had hit him, the damage would have been catastrophic. His heart raced, but his mind was calm. This wasn't his first time facing something overwhelming—he'd fought more dangerous foes in his past, but this was certainly a new kind of challenge.
As he landed with a graceful roll, he glanced over his shoulder, catching sight of Cockatarimon pursuing him. The bird's eyes were glowing red, and its long talons clattered against the ship's metallic floor as it stalked him, its wings twitching in preparation for another strike.
Naruto was barely given a moment to breathe before the Digimon locked its gaze onto him, its eyes glowing with an eerie, petrifying light. It was clear now—this bird's gaze had the power to paralyze, to turn anyone who looked into its eyes into stone. He didn't hesitate for even a second. His chakra flared as he summoned a shadow clone to intercept the attack.
The clone leaped between Naruto and the deadly gaze, taking the full brunt of Cockatarimon's terrifying stare. It was frozen instantly, the clone's body becoming a stone-like statue. Naruto gritted his teeth, frustration beginning to creep into his mind. This bird was fast, powerful, and relentless. But he wasn't about to let it win.
With a deep breath, Naruto focused once more. His body surged with chakra as he adjusted his stance, mentally preparing for what was about to come. Cockatarimon was no simple opponent—he could feel it in the way the air around them felt charged, like a storm ready to break. But Naruto had a trump card.
"Alright, time to step it up," he muttered, and in a flash, he formed a series of hand signs, his fingers moving at lightning speed. The air around him crackled with energy as Rasengan began to take shape in his palm. The spiraling ball of concentrated chakra grew quickly, swirling with raw power. It hummed in his hand, its intensity filling the air. He could feel it—the weight of the battle shifting in his favor.
Cockatarimon, sensing the growing danger, charged forward, its large feet pounding against the floor with bone-shaking force. With a flap of its wings, it leapt into the air, aiming to crush Naruto beneath its massive form. Its talons gleamed menacingly as it prepared to strike with brutal force.
But Naruto was faster.
With a final surge of chakra, he hurled himself toward the incoming bird, his Rasengan spinning in his hand, ready to deliver a devastating blow. As he soared through the air, he timed it perfectly—his body flying just out of reach of Cockatarimon's talons, the bird's massive form towering above him. At the last possible second, he slammed the spinning Rasengan directly into the chest of the bird.
The impact was immense.
A shockwave of energy exploded out from the point of contact, rippling through the air as Cockatarimon let out a high-pitched screech of agony. The giant bird was sent flying back, its wings flapping wildly as it struggled to regain its balance. Its purple feathers were singed, and the force of the Rasengan had left a deep, crackling burn across its chest. For a moment, the creature stumbled, disoriented, before it regained its footing, glaring at Naruto with renewed hatred.
Naruto landed smoothly on his feet, panting slightly but still standing tall. His heart raced, his body still humming with the aftershocks of the battle. He grinned, his eyes flashing with determination. "Guess that's one way to get your attention, huh?"
Cockatarimon let out a low growl, shaking off the pain and glaring daggers at the young shinobi.
The situation was quickly escalating, and Naruto's initial confidence was beginning to waver. The sheer power of Cockatarimon, combined with its ability to petrify anyone who met its gaze, was proving to be a difficult combination to handle. The bird's thick feathers and durable body were making every strike Naruto landed seem like a mere scratch, and it was clear that if the battle continued like this, he would soon be overpowered. But even with the odds stacked against him, Naruto was far from giving up.
His mind raced as he dodged yet another attempt from the bird's talons, narrowly avoiding the petrifying gaze that followed him like a predator's stare. He wasn't alone, though—Mimi and Sora had joined the fray, and their presence brought a fresh wave of hope.
"Now's our chance!" Mimi called out as her partner, Togemon, bounded into the fight. The cactus-like Digimon, covered in spikes and brimming with strength, kept its distance from Cockatarimon, aware of the bird's deadly gaze. Instead, Togemon launched a Needle Spray, sending a barrage of sharp spikes flying toward the bird. The needles hit Cockatarimon's thick feathers but didn't pierce deep enough to inflict serious damage. Still, it provided a useful distraction.
"Stay back, Togemon!" Sora shouted, urging her partner to avoid the bird's gaze. Birdramon, Sora's fiery bird-like Digimon, let out a screech as it flapped its wings, launching a volley of Fireballs toward Cockatarimon. The fireballs exploded on impact, lighting up the dimly lit corridor of the ship. The heat from the flames left scorch marks on the ship's metallic walls, but Cockatarimon's tough body withstood the fire, though it hissed in irritation.
Naruto, using his shadow clones, continued to harass Cockatarimon with well-timed distractions. His clones leaped into the air and charged toward the bird, Rasengans charged and ready to strike. With each clone, Naruto kept Cockatarimon busy, ensuring it couldn't focus solely on any one of them.
"Here comes another one, birdbrain!" Naruto yelled, grinning as he hurled a clone with a Rasengan directly toward Cockatarimon. The clone collided with the bird's chest, sending the Digimon skidding back, but it barely seemed to faze it. However, the attack was enough to give Sora and Mimi more breathing room.
"Good job, Naruto!" Sora cheered from a safe distance as Birdramon launched another fireball from the sky, narrowly missing Cockatarimon's head as it ducked.
Cockatarimon flapped its wings once more, sending a strong gust of wind towards the group. It was fast, so fast that even the highly agile Togemon struggled to maintain her footing. But Togemon, with her sharp instincts, immediately countered by using Needle Spray, launching a barrage of needles from her cactus-like body. The sharp needles ricocheted off the bird's thick feathers but didn't penetrate deep enough to deal real damage. The bird screeched in anger, flapping its wings harder and sending another gust of wind toward Togemon.
"Get out of the way, Togemon!" Mimi called out, her voice tinged with urgency. Togemon quickly rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the gust.
Meanwhile, Birdramon, Sora's fiery avian Digimon, took to the skies with a powerful flap of her wings, launching a series of Fireballs toward Cockatarimon's head. The fireballs exploded on impact, lighting up the surroundings, but the bird's tough feathers absorbed the heat. Cockatarimon barely flinched, its fiery gaze narrowing as it locked onto Birdramon.
"Watch out!" Sora screamed. Cockatarimon's eyes suddenly gleamed with a malicious light, and it released its Petrification Beam toward Birdramon. Sora's heart raced as she saw the beam inching closer, but Birdramon managed to evade the attack just in time, dodging the beam with a sharp roll to the left.
"Good dodge!" Naruto shouted, grinning despite the danger. He'd been biding his time, waiting for the right moment. Cockatarimon was strong, but its focus was split, and he was ready to take advantage of that.
"Now's our chance!" he called out. "Everyone, keep it distracted!"
Mimi grinned. "You got it!"
Togemon immediately charged forward, Mach Punch engaged. The cactus-like Digimon moved at incredible speeds, faster than most could track. In the blink of an eye, she reached Cockatarimon and delivered a devastating punch to its side. The impact was like a thunderclap, and Cockatarimon was momentarily thrown off balance, its talons scratching against the metal floor as it staggered back. The punch had caused visible cracks in the bird's thick feathers, leaving a glowing red mark where it had landed.
Cockatarimon let out a screech of rage, glaring at Togemon. The bird tried to retaliate by swinging its massive wings toward her, sending feathers flying like deadly projectiles. Togemon managed to duck and dodge, her agility proving to be her greatest asset in this fight.
Birdramon, seeing an opportunity, charged forward and ignited her Flamethrower. A powerful jet of flame shot from her beak, engulfing the front of Cockatarimon, but the fire was momentarily blocked by the bird's powerful wings. Cockatarimon let out a furious hiss as it felt the heat, but the flames didn't seem to be enough to do real damage.
Naruto grinned at the sight, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I won't let you."
He suddenly vanished, using his immense speed to create several shadow clones, each one charging toward Cockatarimon, Rasengan swirling in their hands. The clones were quick, each one bursting forward and drawing Cockatarimon's attention, while Naruto took a step back to observe.
"Hold it off for just a second more," Naruto murmured to himself as his clones jumped into action.
Cockatarimon, overwhelmed by the onslaught, reacted by flapping its wings in an attempt to knock the clones away. But Naruto was ready. As the clones distracted the bird, he focused all of his chakra into his body. His speed increased exponentially, and he raced forward, moving so quickly that even the mighty Cockatarimon couldn't track his movements.
He used his clones to keep the bird distracted and started gathering chakra into his hands. It wasn't long before his hands began to glow with a brilliant light as he formed a massive Rasengan. But this wasn't just any Rasengan—this was a Giant Rasengan, one that would dwarf the normal ones in size and power.
"Here it comes!" Naruto yelled as he charged forward, gathering speed. He leaped into the air, propelling himself toward Cockatarimon with all his might. The bird turned, trying to meet his gaze with its Petrification Beam, but Naruto was too fast. His clones took the brunt of the attack, allowing him to close the gap.
At that moment, Cockatarimon, sensing the danger, tried to launch a counterattack by heating up its body and charging at Naruto with incredible speed. Its body was nearly glowing with heat, and it barreled toward him at Mach speed, aiming to slam into him and knock him off balance.
But Naruto had anticipated the move. At the last second, he twisted in mid-air, his Rasengan now the size of a large boulder, and drove it directly into Cockatarimon's chest. The sheer force of the impact sent shockwaves through the ship as Naruto's Rasengan collided with the bird's body. The massive ball of chakra exploded, sending a blinding light across the entire battle scene.
Cockatarimon screeched in agony, staggering back from the force of the attack. Its wings flailed, trying to regain control, but it was already too late. The power of Naruto's Giant Rasengan had torn through its defenses, leaving deep burns on its body. The bird staggered, unable to keep up its momentum, and with one final screech of pain, it collapsed to the ground in a heap.
The battle was over.
Panting heavily, Naruto landed on the ground, his body shaking from the exertion. His clones had dissipated, and only he was left standing, looking over the defeated Cockatarimon.
"Whew... that was a lot tougher than I thought," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. His adrenaline was still coursing through him, but the fight had taken its toll. Still, there was a triumphant smile on his face as he turned to the others.
"You did it, Naruto!" Mimi cheered, her eyes shining with excitement.
Sora, too, smiled as she watched Birdramon land beside her, nuzzling against her. "That was incredible, Naruto. We couldn't have done it without you."
Naruto scratched the back of his head, grinning sheepishly. "Ah, well, I couldn't just leave you guys hanging. You did great, too."
Togemon gave him a thumbs-up while Birdramon squawked proudly. Despite the battle's intensity, the tension between the group had eased, and a sense of camaraderie had begun to form. Naruto might have been an outsider, but in that moment, he was a friend, fighting alongside them to protect everyone.