Naruto: Ant King Reborn

Omoi lay flat on the ground, staring at the sky as his body refused to move. His mind, however, remained active, running through every detail of his battle with M. M's sheer raw power, stamina, and resilience had been beyond anything he had expected

'Konoha has some terrifying prospects…' Omoi thought as he slowly sat up, his muscles aching. His eyes flickered to Naruto, S, and M. He could tell they weren't normal. They weren't just kids with potential, they were something else entirely.

M turned his head toward Naruto, waiting. The blond met M's gaze before giving him a single nod. No words were exchanged, yet the message was clear. M had met expectations, nothing more, nothing less. M exhaled, turning away, yet deep inside, he felt a strange satisfaction. A nod from Naruto meant more than any praise from anyone else.

S smirked slightly, his sharp eyes flickering to M before shifting to Naruto. He had already gained Naruto's approval earlier, but watching M's battle had only fueled his desire to earn more of it. Meanwhile, N clenched her fists, her tail twitching slightly. She had watched both of them fight, and now, her turn had finally come.

Hiruzen rubbed his chin, his curiosity growing. Where had these children learned such abilities? They weren't typical shinobi techniques, there was something far more innate, almost primal about the way they fought. And why did they all gravitate toward Naruto as if he were their leader? He would have to look into this further.

---

The next match was called.

"Karui versus N! Step forward!" the proctor announced.

Karui confidently stepped onto the battlefield, gripping her wooden sword tightly. Her fiery red hair was tied back, and her sharp eyes were filled with determination. Unlike Omoi, she didn't overanalyze. She preferred action. And after watching M fight, she was itching for a challenge.

N stepped forward casually, rolling her shoulders. Her slit-like pupils fixated on Karui with an unreadable expression. Excitement? Curiosity? It was impossible to tell. One thing was certain, she was eager to prove herself to Naruto.

The two fighters squared up.

"Ready? Begin!"

Karui wasted no time. She dashed forward, her wooden sword crackling with Lightning Release as she swung at N's ribs.

N didn't move.

The blade struck, but Karui's eyes widened in shock. It felt like she had just hit a steel wall. The impact barely fazed N, her body standing firm as if the attack was nothing more than a light breeze.

Before Karui could react, N suddenly moved.

One moment she was standing still, the next, she was gone.

Karui barely registered the shift in air pressure before something slammed into her from the side. She was sent flying, tumbling across the ground before skidding to a stop. A sharp pain pulsed through her side. What was that?!

She lifted her head just in time to see N crouched on all fours, her eyes gleaming with unnatural excitement. She had moved so fast it was almost inhuman.

'Damn it, she's fast!' Karui thought, gritting her teeth.

Karui forced herself to her feet and infused her legs with lightning chakra, attempting to match N's speed. She dashed in again, aiming a feint before pivoting and swinging toward N's legs. If she could take away her mobility, she'd have a chance

But again, N vanished.

Karui had no time to react before something grabbed her wrist mid-swing. A shiver ran down her spine as she realized what had happened, N had caught her sword hand effortlessly. And then, without hesitation, she squeezed.

A sickening crack echoed through the training grounds.

Karui screamed as she felt an unbearable pain shoot up her arm. She looked down, her eyes widening, her wrist was twisted unnaturally. Her sword clattered to the ground.

"That was disappointing," N said, her tone calm but laced with disappointment.

Karui, through her pain, snarled and swung her free fist. N tilted her head slightly, dodging with an almost playful ease before slamming her knee into Karui's gut. The redhead's breath left her lungs in an instant as she collapsed to her knees, coughing violently.

The match should have ended there.

But N wasn't done.

The air around her shifted ominously as she lifted a single hand. Karui barely saw the strange energy forming at N's fingertips before her body suddenly jerked upright against her will.

Her arms moved, her own arms, against her control.

The entire field fell silent as everyone watched in confusion and horror.

N's eyes gleamed as she tested her ability. Using her puppeteering technique, she manipulated Karui's body like a marionette. Her movements were jerky at first but quickly became more fluid.

"N-Not funny…!" Karui choked out, her own hands moving toward her throat as if she were about to choke herself.

Iruka took a step forward, concern in his eyes. "That's enough! The match is over!"

N tilted her head as if considering the words before she released her hold. Karui collapsed to the ground, gasping for air as sweat dripped from her face.

The proctor hesitated before declaring, "Winner N!"

The crowd was eerily silent.

Even Hiruzen found himself watching N with narrowed eyes. That ability… it was unnatural. This was beyond a mere child's talent, this was something far more dangerous.

Naruto, however, was calm. His gaze remained locked onto N, his expression unreadable.

N turned to face him, awaiting his response. Would he approve?

Naruto's gaze flickered to Karui, who was still shaking slightly, before returning to N.

"You wasted energy," he stated flatly. "She was already beaten."

N's heart, for the first time, sank slightly. She had gotten too carried away. Had she failed to impress him?

Naruto, however, simply turned away." Other than that good job"

A slow smile formed on N's lips. Even if she hadn't been perfect, Naruto had acknowledged her strength. That was enough.

Meanwhile, Karui clenched her fist, vowing that she would get revenge.

And Hiruzen… knew he had a lot to think about.