Their training sessions became a battleground of resolve. Naruto's innate siphoning magic, a byproduct of his modified tetragram seal, the seal that systemized the theoretical nuclear fusion Kurama once thought him. The seal made every movement for Wendy a test of endurance. It was more than physical exertion; her magic seemed to drain faster the closer she got to him. Yet, each day, she pushed herself further.
Carla often observed from the sidelines, her tail twitching with worry. "Wendy, that's enough for today," she'd insist when the girl's legs wobbled from exhaustion. "His magic will drain you dry if you keep pushing."
But Wendy would grit her teeth, raise her fists again, and whisper, "Just… a little more."
Naruto watched this determination with growing respect. He adjusted his training methods to test her reflexes and precision rather than brute strength. Wendy adapted quickly. Her Sky Dragon Slayer magic, once reliant on wide, sweeping blasts of air, became more refined with each sparring session.
One afternoon, during a spar on the outskirts of a remote village, Wendy shifted her stance, her right arm extending forward with her index finger pointed at Naruto.
He cocked a brow. "What's this? Sky Dragon finger guns?" Ah~ firearms, a weapon commonly used by civilians, criminals who aren't adept in using ninjutsu back in his previous world. The mention of the gun made him reminisce about his first encounter with Zabuza, Haku, Gato and his minions. "Never seen those in ages."
Wendy smiled softly. "Sky Dragon's Piercing Talon!"
A thin, concentrated beam of pressurized air shot from her fingertip. The attack whistled through the air like a sniper's bullet. Naruto twisted to avoid it, but the beam grazed his shoulder. Pain flared through his muscles as a bruise formed—an unfamiliar sensation against his siphoning barrier.
Naruto blinked, then looked at Wendy with genuine awe. "That… was impressive."
Carla's eyes widened. "A pinpoint, long-range attack. And it actually bruised you."
Wendy blushed but quickly followed up with her next technique. Shifting into a closer stance, she clenched her fists, channeling her magic into her fingertips. The air around her shimmered as if reality itself bent under the pressure.
"Sky Dragon's Claw!" she shouted.
She lunged forward, thrusting her palm at Naruto's chest. Instinct kicked in, and Naruto sidestepped. But even with his enhanced reflexes, the burst of compressed air scraped his black sweatshirt, forcing him to retreat.
He let out a low whistle. "Okay, whoawhoawhoa that's scary."
Carla crossed her arms. "Wendy, these techniques are effective, but you should only use them on standard opponents. Naruto's… well, a freak of nature. Others might not survive hits like that."
Wendy giggled, breathless yet proud. Naruto patted her shoulder with a grin. "You've got some serious firepower now. But remember, precision over power. You're already strong—now we make you sharper. But... yeah Carla's right you gotta be careful with those newfound technique of yours. Try to "lighten" it out depending on your opponents."
The blue-haired girl nodded, ready to embrace the next stage of her growth.
Naruto couldn't help but smile. This kid had potential, and he was lucky enough to witness it firsthand.
Time passes after their successful back to back missions and rigorous training, Naruto, Wendy, and Carla had become well-known for their efficiency and skill, their names starting to sprung as rising talents across Fiore. During this time, Naruto focused on making sure his modified tetragram seal—a complex fusion of his innate chakra and the world's ethernano, served as a substitute for Kurama's energy to function properly, without the possibility of stirring trouble. This seal required him to remain in Sage Mode deliberately, as it was essential for completing the system within the sealing formula, for him to gather Ethernano. The siphoning effect he experienced during battles accelerated the process, but it was still a monumental task, akin to filling an ocean with a mere pond's worth of water. His ultimate goal was to achieve a self-sustaining energy state, a faux Baryon Mode, without the severe drawbacks of the original.
The wagon creaked to a halt at the edge of a sprawling meadow, where the air buzzed with the palpable energy of concentrated magic. Naruto hopped down first, his Sage Mode always active, golden toad-like eyes scanning the horizon. The meeting place was a strategic vantage point—a cliffside plateau overlooking the dense forests of Fiore, where the allied guilds could convene without risking eavesdroppers.
The mood of the three seemed tense as they sat silently on the cargo, they hopped in, this new mission of theirs, possibly a jonin-tier and above considering it involves multiple organizations, Naruto mused as he recalled Roubaul briefing them three, him, Wendy and Carla about the alliance between guilds all to hunt a single dark guild called Oracion Seis, the guild comprised of mere 6 wizards. Naruto, Wendy and Carla would represent their guild Cait Shelter, working alongside the most well known guilds across Fiore, Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, and Lamia Scale.
"For an alliance of all four guilds just to take down 6 wizards. They must be the equivalent of S-Rank Shinobi listed from the bingo book." Naruto looked at the horizon deep in thought, his gaze shifted to Wendy and Carla, who were quietly preparing their gear. Wendy's hands trembled slightly as she adjusted herself on her seat, her usual nervousness creeping in despite her growth over the past weeks. Carla, ever the protective companion, placed a reassuring paw on Wendy's shoulder. "I gotta make sure to keep my guard up. Sure they've gotten stronger but… with this kind of missions anything's possible."