The next day.
Naruto returned to Guru's dwelling.
Guru's appearance had changed noticeably since two years ago. His eyes could barely stay open, a sign that his life was nearing its end.
"Friend from Earth, thank you once again for everything you have done for Planet Namek."
Naruto knew Guru was referring to his training of the Namekian Warriors.
Guru spoke slowly. "Though I do not know your purpose, I have a faint premonition that you are here to help Planet Namek."
Looking at the aged leader, Naruto had an idea.
Porunga could not grant wishes beyond the creator's abilities, meaning Guru could not simply wish for his own youth.
However, Kami and Demon King Piccolo were originally one entity. After they separated, Kami created Earth's Shenron, and that dragon restored youth to the aged Piccolo.
Could Earth's Shenron restore Guru's youth? Similarly, could Planet Namek's Porunga restore the youth of Earth's Kami?
Was this an exploit of an overpowered system?
"I only hope to help the Namekians get through a difficult time in the future," Naruto said candidly.
"Indeed... You must know something." Guru nodded. "Can you tell me the cause?"
"Guilty by association, the crime of possessing treasure. Planet Namek has Dragon Balls that can grant any wish. That alone is enough to make ambitious schemers from across the universe swarm here."
"Since you've used them, you should know they aren't quite that miraculous."
In the later stages of the Dragon Ball-verse, Porunga's function was merely a resurrection tool. The limitations were too great.
"My knowledge doesn't matter. The practical use of the Dragon Balls isn't the point, what matters is what those schemers believe." Naruto got straight to the heart of the matter. "As long as one ambitious man believes they work, Planet Namek will never know peace."
"What if we destroyed them?" Guru asked.
Naruto shook his head. "As I said, it is about how those people think. Even if you destroy the Dragon Balls, if they believe you still have them, Planet Namek will suffer the same disaster. They would torture Namekians to create new ones."
When Frieza arrives at Planet Namek, will he show mercy just because you tell him the Dragon Balls are gone?
No. He would destroy the Namekians and the planet itself.
He would do exactly what he did to Planet Vegeta all those years ago.
He would turn Planet Namek into a firework in the vaccum of space.
"Running away isn't a solution. Instead of fleeing, face the difficulties head-on and prepare. Keep the initiative in your own hands."
"Keep the initiative in our own hands..." Guru sighed. "But the Namekians are a peace-loving race."
"Being peaceful and defending your home are not in conflict."
"Strength exists only to better protect your home and the people you cherish."
Guru repeated the words to himself. "Strength is for protecting your home and the people you cherish."
"Earthling, thank you for your suggestion."
"If possible, I hope you can lend a helping hand within your capabilities when that time comes."
Naruto nodded solemnly.
"Before you leave, as an elder, I have little to give you. I heard that you once made a wish to activate the bloodline within you. Let me help you by guiding out the undeveloped potential still within your body."
It was finally happening.
The most straightforward and brutal method of potential development in the Dragon Ball-verse, Guru's head pat.
Naruto had planned to leave partly because he wanted to return to Earth to watch the spectacle, and partly to find Bulma to build a new Gravity Room.
His power had been stuck at a plateau for over three months.
Guru placed his palm on Naruto's head.
Just as he prepared to draw out the power within Naruto's body, the sound of dragging metal rang in his ears. Countless pitch-black chains coiled endlessly before his eyes.
Then, Guru's special Ki enveloped Naruto. Naruto felt every cell in his body activate, leaving him warm and surging with power.
In the next instant, Naruto felt his body stretch as if his entire physical form were changing.
If he had to describe it, he felt himself evolving in the direction of the Fist of the North Star.
Uzumaki Hundred Crack Fist?
The sensation vanished as quickly as it had arrived, and Naruto soon returned to normal.
The process was swift, yet it still took three full minutes, far slower than Krillin's combat power boost, which took less than two seconds.
'Amazing.' Naruto felt the power within him stir. It was enormous.
Guru, breathless, told Naruto, "When you leave, please call Puru and Nail over. Actually, bring all the warrior-type Namekians."
Naruto froze. 'It seems Guru has already made a decision.'
'Though our Namekians love peace, we do not fear war.'
Perhaps when the Frieza Force landed on Planet Namek, the powerful Namekian Warriors would provide a magnificent surprise.
After Naruto left, Guru stared at the spot where the boy had departed and muttered to himself.
"Your potential... far exceeds my imagination."
"Perhaps I could only stimulate a portion of it."
--**--**
West City, Capsule Corporation.
"You bastard, Yamcha! You big idiot! It's been almost three years since you left and you didn't leave a single message. Do you have any idea how I've spent these three years?"
Bulma, the heiress of Capsule Corporation, was furious.
Her boyfriend had become obsessed with martial arts training and had been missing for nearly three full years. Not a single phone call, not a letter, not a word.
Under normal circumstances, any girl whose boyfriend disappeared for three years would have dumped him. For someone like Bulma, wealthy, beautiful, and influential, suitors lined up for miles.
Yet, despite her rage, Bulma hadn't broken things off, nor had she found someone new. She had simply vowed that once she saw him again, she would give him a piece of her mind.
A thunderous *boom* echoed across the sky. A massive spacecraft wobbled down from the clouds and slammed into Bulma's garden, startling her from her sunbathing.
As the spacecraft's door slid open, a man with blond hair and blue eyes stepped out.
He looked like a whisker-faced version of Minato. More precisely, he was a muscular, whisker-faced version of Minato with a perfect physique.
Minato was a man whose looks held their own even in the ninja world. In the Dragon Ball-verse, he remained at the peak of attractiveness.
"Hey, long time no see." Naruto stepped off the craft and greeted Bulma warmly. He paused, then patted the hull with an embarrassed look. "Haven't used this in two years. It seems to have some problems."
Bulma looked at Naruto, then at the familiar spacecraft. "Naruto?" she asked, uncertain.
Naruto nodded. Bulma's eyes lit up.
'I didn't expect that after two years, that kid would grow into such a handsome man,' she thought. 'Hehehe, I wonder if he has a girlfriend.'
Sensing Bulma's thoughts, the image of Hinata surfaced in Naruto's mind.
It had been almost three years. He wondered how Hinata was doing, he truly missed her. It was time to go back for a visit. If Bulma could wait three years for her boyfriend, Hinata could do the same.
Naruto patted the spacecraft again. "By the way, Bulma, I need your help. I need gravity above 100x."
Bulma wore an "I told you so" expression. "I told you 100x gravity was too much. 20x would be more than enough."
"Sorry, Bulma, but I've already adapted to 100x gravity," Naruto interrupted. "Could you switch me to something higher? 300x gravity would be more reasonable."
"You've already adapted to 100x gravity?" Bulma blinked and stared at him. If she weren't concerned with maintaining her image as a lady, her jaw would have hit the floor.
Naruto nodded. Bulma pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling as if she were dreaming.
Adapted to 100x gravity, just like that?
Was he even human?
"Although I have some Otsutsuki clan blood in me, at my core, I am still human," Naruto stated. "A 300x gravity room, with your abilities, Bulma, that shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Of course not," Bulma said, patting her chest. Her tone shifted. "By the way, Naruto, what are your plans? Do you have a place to stay? You can come to my place, my house is spacious, hey, where are you going?"
"To make some money," Naruto replied.
With a whoosh, he vanished.
Naruto didn't linger or keep tangling with Bulma. Even knowing she was just starstruck and nothing would come of it, if Hinata found out he'd spent the night at another girl's place,
Hinata was terrifying when she went yandere mode.
"Men! All of them are jerks! I'm a gorgeous, sexy girl, and I'm being ignored!"
Bulma stood with her hands on her hips, sulking as she complained. She watched Naruto vanish into the sky, unable to hide her utter frustration.
While Bulma fell for handsome men on sight, she was fundamentally devoted at heart. Her earlier suggestion had been sincere, she truly believed her house was large enough for the gravity room. Besides, the training could wait. There was no urgency given the time they had.
===============
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