After the dust had settled and the battle with Cockatarimon was over, the ship was eerily quiet. The echoes of the battle slowly faded, and only the sound of the ship's engines hummed through the corridors. Naruto stood there, catching his breath, his body still glowing with the remnants of chakra. His eyes scanned the scene, a sense of victory surging through him, but there was a certain tension still lingering in the air.
The girls, Sora and Mimi, along with their partners, Palmon and Biyomon, approached him. The initial tension from before had shifted, and now, there was a sense of humility in the air. Sora was the first to speak, her voice soft yet sincere.
"Hey, Naruto… I... I wanted to apologize for how we treated you earlier." Sora's gaze dropped slightly, a hint of guilt in her eyes. "We judged you too quickly. We should have trusted you more."
Mimi stood beside Sora, her usual energetic self now tempered with a genuine warmth. She looked at Naruto, her cheeks flushed slightly from the awkwardness, but her smile was kind. "Yeah, you really saved us back there. And honestly, I think we got carried away by our own fears. You didn't have to help us, but you did. We should've been more understanding."
Naruto raised an eyebrow at them, his expression softening. He hadn't expected an apology, not after everything that had happened. But then again, he'd been where they were — quick to judge someone, not realizing the full picture. He gave a half-smile, scratching the back of his head in his usual, easygoing way. "Ah, don't worry about it. I get it. I've had people doubt me before. No hard feelings, okay?"
Palmon, Mimi's partner, moved forward shyly, her small hands clasped together as she gave Naruto a sweet, apologetic smile. "I'm really sorry for being so suspicious of you earlier, Naruto. I didn't mean to judge you. You're a hero, and you helped us, after all." Her large, green eyes were filled with innocence, the same softness and kindness that her partner Mimi radiated. "I was just scared, I guess."
Biyomon, standing tall next to Sora, had been quietly observing the exchange, her posture straight and regal, almost like a samurai ready for battle. But despite her proud stance, she softened as well, lowering her head slightly in acknowledgment. "I was harsh too. I thought you might have been someone who would leave us in a moment of danger. But... you didn't. You fought alongside us. And for that... I thank you."
Naruto looked at Biyomon, a little surprised by her samurai-like tone but also impressed. She was like a warrior, proud and honorable, yet able to admit when she was wrong. It was a trait he respected. "It's all good, Biyomon," he said, smiling warmly at her. "I didn't come here to leave anyone behind. We're all in this together, right?"
Sora smiled, her expression softening as the last of the awkwardness melted away. "I think we've learned a lot today," she said, her tone now more relaxed. "Thank you, Naruto, for everything."
Mimi, her usual bubbly self returning, gave him a thumbs up. "You're one awesome guy, Naruto. I'm really glad we're on the same side!"
As the two partners — Palmon also known as Flora and Biyomon also known as Sakura— looked at each other, they exchanged a brief glance, both of them nodding in agreement. Palmon's usual sweet demeanor was now tempered with a newfound respect, while Biyomon's sharp, samurai-like nature softened in recognition of Naruto's unwavering determination.
"Yeah, you're one of us now," Palmon said, her voice light and sincere.
Biyomon added, "And you've earned our trust, Naruto."
Naruto chuckled, rubbing the back of his head again. "Thanks, guys. You really don't have to apologize, but I appreciate it. And hey, I'll stick around to make sure you all get through this, no matter what. We've got a long road ahead."
"I felt like a rock—what was that?" Matt murmured, stretching stiffly as he blinked in the sunlight, confusion still clouding his eyes.
"Yeah," Tai added, ruffling his unruly brown hair, "I had that same weird dream. Like I was frozen in place or something…"
Naruto, already wide awake and crouched near the ship's edge, glanced back at them. His tone was calm, almost casual, but carried a weight beneath the words. "It wasn't a dream. The captain—Cockatrimon—he ambushed us. Put everyone to sleep and tried to turn us into statues. Said he was working for some guy named Etemon."
The others looked at each other, alarmed. The once-humming ship now sat deathly quiet, bobbing slightly in the still sand. Its engine was silent, no longer purring with life, as if stunned into slumber by the fall of its captain.
"Wait... so you took him out?" Matt asked, now fully alert.
Naruto stood up, dusting off his hands with a grin. "Well, I had help. Flora, Sakura, and their partners kicked tail too."
Tai walked over, his usual carefree expression softening into one of sincere gratitude. With a firm slap to Naruto's shoulder, he said, "Thanks, Naruto. For everything. And… sorry if we came off like jerks earlier."
Mimi nodded with a small, sheepish smile. "Yeah, what he said. You really are stronger than you look, Naruto."
Naruto laughed, rubbing the back of his head as if her words embarrassed him slightly. "No problem! Nobody gets hurt on my watch. Believe it!"
Their shared laughter faded into a comfortable silence before Izzy, ever the realist, spoke up while glancing around the deck. "That's great and all, but… what now? The ship's not moving, and I'm guessing none of us knows how to pilot a Digimon ferry."
A collective groan passed through the group.
Tai sighed, placing his hands on his hips as he stared at the distant horizon. "We walk. Like before."
No one liked it. The sun was harsh, the world unpredictable, and the danger ever-present. But they understood. Waiting around meant giving Etemon more time to find them.
As one, they gathered their things. Despite the trials ahead, the burden felt a little lighter now—with two more allies at their side.
The sun beat down mercilessly upon the desert like a tyrant wielding a magnifying glass. The sand burned beneath their feet, the heat shimmered in the air, and the only mercy was the faint stream of cool air wafting around Gabumon, who walked like a furry air conditioner with a prideful smile.
Naruto, determined to help, wrapped himself in a light cocoon of chakra, shielding his body from the blistering sun. He looked positively smug about it too—until he noticed the others melting like popsicles in the middle of a bonfire.
"Sorry about this, guys…" he said sheepishly, tugging at his shirt. "I can't control it well enough to share."
"No problem," Sora replied, brushing damp bangs from her forehead and giving him a smile that looked more like a grimace. "It can't be helped…"
Mimi, however, had a different idea. "What if we… hold hands?" she said, beaming at him as if she'd just invented sliced bread. "Then you can pass chakra through touch!"
A beat passed.
Naruto blinked. "I mean… maybe?"
Minutes later, the group was lined up like kindergartners for a field trip, each trying to cling to Naruto in a desperate bid for shade. He focused hard, trying to spread the chakra—
—and immediately short-circuited.
"Hot! Too hot!" Matt yelped, flinging Naruto's hand like it had stung him. "That felt like a toaster on full blast!"
"Sorry, sorry!" Naruto winced. "Okay, okay, new plan: One at a time."
So began the utterly awkward relay of Chakra Holding Hands Time, where each member of the group got five minutes walking beside Naruto like they were on a slow-moving, overly formal date in the desert.
TK, naturally, tried to hold on longer until Kari pointedly cleared her throat.
Just as Joe's turn was up and Naruto was beginning to question his life choices, he snapped his fingers. "Wait a second—I'm Naruto Uzumaki! I don't walk through deserts. I ninja-jutsu through deserts!"
With a dramatic hand sign, he slammed his palm on the ground. "Earth Style: Boulder Carriage Transformation Technique!"
A large rock groaned and bent into a perfectly normal carriage. Everyone stared at it, unsure whether to cheer or run.
"Okay! Now for the camels!"
He created a row of clones—who crossed their arms and immediately glared at him.
"You want us to be camels?" Clone #3 raised an eyebrow.
"Absolutely not," said Clone #7, who had already turned his cloak into a tiny parasol.
"You're me!" Naruto argued. "We do cool stuff!"
"We are you," Clone #5 retorted. "That's exactly why we're not doing it."
A wrestling match ensued between Naruto and three of his own clones, with the others offering unhelpful commentary like "Left side's winning" and "I think his chakra's overheating."
In the chaos of it all, Naruto was thrown by one of the clones—quite unceremoniously—headfirst into a massive cactus.
BOING!
"OW OW OW OW—WHO PUT THAT THERE?!"
As he struggled to pry spiky arms off his face like he was fighting a clingy porcupine, something glimmered in the heart of the cactus.
"Uh… guys?" he called, holding up a glowing, rune-covered stone with an ethereal aura. "I think I found something."
Izzy blinked. "That's… a Crest. A real one. Energy signature's massive."
Naruto, still picking needles from his cheeks, muttered, "You're welcome."
As the others gathered, the Crest pulsed gently in Naruto's hands, its warm light casting shadows in the sand.
As the glowing stone continued to hum in Naruto's hand, the group gathered around like moths drawn to an enchanted lantern.
Izzy adjusted his goggles and pulled out his laptop, his fingers moving faster than Koushiro at a tech convention. "Confirmed! That's a Crest. Not just any Crest… this one matches the energy pattern of—wait for it—Mimi's!"
"Me?" Mimi blinked, stunned, one hand still shading her eyes from the sun. "Are you sure it's not… I don't know, maybe Sora's? I mean, she's really good at sincerity. And I'm more like… glitter and accessories."
"Nope," Izzy said, pointing to the screen. "It's the Crest of Sincerity. And it's resonating with you like it found its long-lost best friend."
The stone pulsed again, as if to say, Yes, darling, it's you!
Mimi stepped forward, unsure at first, her gloved hands trembling ever so slightly. Palmon—now proudly known as Lila, with her leafy hair bouncing—offered an encouraging nod.
"You always say what you feel, Mimi," Lila said gently. "Even when it's hard or awkward. That's what sincerity really is."
Biyomon—now christened Yuki, ever poised like a wind-swept samurai—gave a slow nod. "And you always fight for what's true. For people. For feelings. This crest recognizes that."
Mimi's eyes welled up a little, though she dramatically fanned her face with her hat. "Okay, no crying in the desert, I'm wearing mascara…"
Naruto gave her a smile, rubbing the bump on his head where a cactus spine still stuck out like a porcupine's last stand. "Looks like crashing into things can have a silver lining."
Tai clapped a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "You found the Crest of Sincerity—with your face."
Matt snorted. TK actually giggled. Even Joe managed a tired chuckle.
Mimi picked up the Crest from Naruto's hand—it was warm and somehow soft, like a living piece of the earth. As she held it close, it shimmered with brilliant green light, then floated up and embedded itself into her Digivice.
"Hey," Naruto said, raising a brow as he saw the light fade. "Did it just… install itself?"
Izzy was furiously typing again. "That's normal. Well, as normal as magical stones bonding with children via emotional frequency can be."
With her Digivice glowing softly, Mimi turned toward Naruto and gave him a sweet, genuine smile. "Thanks, Naruto. I'm really glad you're with us. Even if you're a little weird."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Naruto grinned, striking a pose. "Weird saves lives."
They all laughed again—and with the sun still blazing above them and the sand stretching endlessly ahead, they didn't feel quite so hot anymore.
Especially not Mimi.
She practically glowed.