Naruto shouted with the loudest voice of his life, pushing his speed to the absolute limit.
If he had been a second too late, they'd be having fox stew tonight.
"Huh? There's someone here?" The tailed boy loosened his raised fist and turned to Naruto with a curious look on his face.
Seeing that he hadn't landed that final punch, Naruto finally let out a breath of relief.
"I'm gonna eat you!" The tailed boy paused, but Kurama, who had been beaten senseless, went berserk. His two massive claws came crashing down toward the boy.
"Kurama, stop!!" Naruto shouted, panicked. Don't go asking for death now, fox!
From the very first glance, Naruto had recognized the boy's identity:
Kakarot.
The child version—Kid Goku.
Though Naruto wasn't sure exactly which part of the timeline this Goku was from.
"Is it about to happen…?" Goku calmly dodged Kurama's strike, then took a stance Naruto knew all too well—the Kame-Sennin school's starting pose.
"Stop it, both of you!"
They really would kill the fox at this rate!
The power ceiling in the Dragon Ball world was just too high. Naruto knew from experience how terrifying ki could be. He had no idea how Kid Goku's current strength compared to the shinobi world, but if Goku suddenly let loose with a round of "Ah-da-da-da-da-da-da!", Kurama might end up respawning in some far-off land.
In a moment of desperation, Naruto felt something surge from his back. Two flashes of black light erupted behind him as thick black chains burst forth, wrapping around both Kurama and Kid Goku in an instant.
"Wait, what?! Adamantine Sealing Chains?!"
Naruto stared in shock at the black chains extending from his own body. He had unconsciously activated a unique ability of the Uzumaki Clan in his panic.
The Adamantine Sealing Chains weren't just a powerful sealing technique—they could also form barriers and bind tailed beasts. Even more effective against tailed beasts than the Sharingan itself.
But… weren't these chains supposed to be gold?
Why were his black?
Naruto stared in confusion at the black chains growing from his back.
Kurama instantly went quiet—he knew this technique far too well. Kushina used to tie him up with it all the time.
Kid Goku, however, didn't take it lying down. He squirmed and struggled, trying to break free—but no matter how hard he fought, the chains wouldn't budge.
Could he be Goku just after leaving Mount Paozu? Naruto wondered, studying the boy's orange and yellow martial arts gi.
No—this Goku had already participated in the World Martial Arts Tournament.
"Wait, wait! Stop fighting!" Naruto quickly ran up to Kid Goku.
During the 21st–23rd Tenkaichi Budōkai, Goku was between 12 and 15 years old.
At this point, he was technically older than Naruto—but still shorter by half a head.
"I can undo the seal—but promise me you won't punch the big fox anymore, okay?"
Goku looked at him curiously, then nodded:
"As long as he doesn't attack me, I won't hit him."
"Kurama, I'll release you too. Just promise me you won't attack him again."
Kurama turned his head away with a huff. "Hmph. Only because it's you."
Tsundere much…
"Great." Seeing the two had agreed to a ceasefire, Naruto withdrew the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
"Whoa, you're amazing!" Goku said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"What was that just now?"
"Adamantine Sealing Chains. Just a little trick," Naruto replied vaguely.
No point explaining—Goku probably wouldn't understand anyway.
"I'm Son Goku."
"Uzumaki Naruto."
The two exchanged quick introductions.
"So, Goku… is it alright if I call you that? Do you know how you ended up here?"
Naruto finally asked the question that had been on his mind the whole time.
"No idea!" Goku frowned, folding his arms and thinking hard.
"…Where is this anyway? Is this another one of Master Karin's trials?"
"Master Karin?" Naruto froze for a second.
That name…
Tao Pai Pai era, huh?
Goku added, "He's a cat. Really strong!"
Karin—aka Korin—was an ancient white cat sage over 800 years old.
If Naruto hadn't known the Dragon Ball storyline, he probably would've been completely confused by now.
"I don't know him," Naruto lied with a shake of his head.
But I know exactly who he is.
"Here, sit on this." Naruto created a cushion out of thin air and offered it to Goku. Then he conjured another for himself and sat down.
Goku's eyes lit up. "Cool!"
But instead of sitting down, he suddenly circled around Naruto, eyes full of curiosity.
"…Are you a boy or a girl?"
Then—to Naruto's horror—he reached out and slapped toward Naruto's crotch.
"I'm a boy!" Naruto shouted, catching Goku's wandering hand just in time.
"Oh, so you're a boy."
Naruto: Can I hit you now? Please?
Goku had a well-known habit in his early days—he'd slap people below the belt to figure out their gender.
That's also how he accidentally got himself a wife: Chi-Chi, daughter of the Ox King.
"Still can't remember anything?" Naruto tried again, unwilling to give up.
Goku furrowed his brows, thinking hard. Then, as if remembering something, he reached into his shirt, where something was bulging slightly.
He pulled out a light beige teacup.
"I remember now!" Goku's eyes lit up when he saw the cup. Then his expression turned sharp, his aura flaring with an incredible presence.
"I drank the Ultra Divine Water that Master Karin gave me!"
"I have to avenge Master Roshi and Krillin!!"
From behind Goku, Naruto could almost see the image of a roaring giant ape.
So it's Goku from the King Piccolo arc… That explains his terrifying energy.
Wait—that doesn't make sense. He stopped that crotch-slapping habit after the 22nd Budōkai…
While Naruto was busy analyzing the timeline, Kurama stood in stunned silence on the other side.
Goku's energy made his eyelids twitch involuntarily.
"Where the hell did this freak of a kid come from? Why is he so strong?"
And for once, Kurama mentally thanked Naruto for stopping the fight.
That kid could have literally killed him.
Meanwhile, Naruto's eyes locked onto the cup in Goku's hands.
He could see a tiny amount of transparent liquid left in the bottom.
Heart pounding, Naruto stretched out a trembling finger and pointed to the teacup.
"Uh… that thing… can I have it?"
"This? It's just the cup I used for the Ultra Divine Water. If you want it, go ahead!"
Goku, generous as ever, handed it over without hesitation.
Naruto took the cup, staring at the last few drops of Ultra Divine Water at the bottom, heart racing.
Was this thing real? Was Goku real?
Holding the cup, Naruto could confirm: yes—it was a physical object. Goku was solid too. They were the same type of entity as the Kurama sealed within him.
The Ultra Divine Water was one of the few items in the Dragon Ball world, outside of Grand Elder Guru's unlocking and the fusion dance of the Supreme Kais, that could truly awaken hidden potential.
But it came with a heavy price.
According to Master Karin, only one out of fourteen martial artists who had attempted to survive its poison had succeeded—Goku.
The water was, in essence, a deadly poison.
If it didn't kill you—it made you stronger.
Even Yajirobe, who accompanied Goku to Korin Tower, almost died after tasting a single drop.
That said… no one could deny its value.
A true treasure.
Naruto unsealed a scroll and carefully preserved the remaining Ultra Divine Water.
Even if he didn't need it now—it might come in handy later.