Takeru and Naoya had almost reached the edge of the estate when—
THUD.
They stopped.
Another impact.
BAM.
Then a voice.
"Get off me!"
Takeru slowly looked toward the entrance.
"…That sounds familiar."
They stepped outside.
And there he was.
Takeru's Naoya.
The version who had been changed.
Standing over another Naoya.
The original Naoya was on the ground.
Confused.
Angry.
And looking up at the other version of himself.
"…What the hell?"
Takeru's Naoya looked down at him.
His expression was furious.
"You think you're superior?"
The other Naoya blinked.
"…What?"
BAM!
A fist slammed into his face.
Takeru's Naoya grabbed him by the collar.
"You think everyone is beneath you?"
Another punch.
"You think you're better than everyone because you're a Zenin?"
THUD!
Naoya's head hit the ground.
The other Naoya tried to push him away.
"Who the hell are you?!"
Takeru's Naoya's eyes narrowed.
"I'm you."
Silence.
Takeru stood nearby.
Arms crossed.
"…This is going exactly how I expected."
The Naoya beside Takeru stared.
Then looked at the other version.
Then back at his counterpart.
"…You're me?"
Takeru's Naoya pointed at him.
"I'm the version of you that stopped being inferior."
Naoya's expression twisted.
"Inferior?!"
Takeru's Naoya shook his head.
"No."
He stepped forward.
"That's what you keep telling yourself."
He pointed toward the people around the estate.
"You think strength makes you superior."
A pause.
"But you're still insecure."
Naoya's fists tightened.
Takeru finally stepped between them.
"Okay."
Both Naoyas looked at him.
Takeru sighed.
"I leave you alone for five minutes…"
He looked at his Naoya.
"…and you start beating yourself up."
Takeru's Naoya shrugged.
"He deserved it."
The other Naoya glared.
"You're insane."
Takeru smiled.
"Yeah."
He looked between them.
"But you're both Naoya."
A pause.
"…So this is probably going to take a while."