Paras City – Night of the Concert
The city was alive.
Neon bled across the streets in electric rivers of pink, blue, and violet. The open-air stadium thrummed with thirty thousand heartbeats. Light sticks waved like glowing waves. Fans screamed Yuki's name until their throats burned raw. The air smelled of hot popcorn, perfume, sweat, and pure, electric anticipation.
On a shadowed rooftop two blocks away, two hooded figures crouched like predators above the glowing chaos.
Sakura sat cross-legged on the edge, emerald eyes locked on the stage through the dark fabric of her hood. Uzumaki leaned against a rusted vent, arms folded, indigo eyes narrowed beneath his own hood.
Sakura's voice was low, sharp, almost a hiss.
"Uzumaki… don't do anything stupid that gets us caught. We're ghosts tonight. Understood?"
Uzumaki gave one slow, deliberate nod.
A few minutes later—
A sleek black car glided up the red carpet like a panther.
The second the door opened, the crowd *exploded*.
Yuki stepped out into the spotlight.
White dress shimmering under the lights, hair catching the wind, smile bright enough to rival the sun. Security tried to form a barrier, but it was useless. Fans surged forward — phones raised, voices cracking, tears streaming — begging for autographs, selfies, just one second of her attention.
She moved through them like water.
Signing posters with quick, graceful strokes. Hugging crying teenagers. Winking at little kids on shoulders. Every touch, every smile, every "thank you" was real. She drank in their love and gave it back tenfold.
Honokage sat in the VIP section, legs crossed, arms folded behind his head. His crimson-black eyes never left her once. A small, almost invisible smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he watched the woman he had almost lost shine brighter than any star.
**Cut to the rooftop**
Uzumaki narrowed his eyes, hood casting deep shadows across his face.
Sakura spoke without turning.
"Our goal is the heart of the cursed leviathan — Honokage. We aren't hunting Yuki. We're bait. We make him think we want her dead. Force him to unleash everything to protect her… then we strike. Do you understand?"
Uzumaki's voice was flat.
"Yes."
Sakura raised her right hand.
A flaming sphere of crimson energy gathered in her palm — swirling, growing, hungry. The heat warped the air around it.
"Let's execute it."
On stage, Yuki stepped into the center spotlight.
The music swelled. She raised the mic. Her voice poured out — strong, clear, full of life.
The crowd roared.
But halfway through the first line—
She felt it.
A crushing pressure.
Like the air had turned to iron around her lungs.
Her smile flickered for half a heartbeat.
The fans noticed.
She forced it back brighter than before, pouring every ounce of herself into the song, refusing to let the invisible weight break her.
**Rooftop**
Sakura's eyes narrowed to slits.
"Now."
She thrust her palm forward.
The flaming sphere detonated — a blazing comet of annihilation screaming straight toward the stage.
Honokage moved before anyone else even registered the threat.
He raised one hand casually.
The blast slammed into an invisible wall of black lightning — and exploded mid-air in a brilliant fireball.
The shockwave rolled across the stadium.
To the crowd, it looked like the most insane fireworks display they'd ever seen.
They cheered louder, clapping, screaming, completely unaware of how close death had come.
Honokage vanished from his seat.
**Rooftop**
The building shook like it had been hit by a missile.
Honokage appeared in a crackling storm of black lightning — hands in his pockets, expression calm, but the fury burning in his crimson eyes could have melted steel.
"Who are you both?" His voice was low, quiet, and terrifying. "And why are you attacking her?"
Sakura dropped into a low fighting stance instantly.
Uzumaki stood up slowly.
No words.
Uzumaki exploded forward — a blur of speed.
He threw a punch aimed straight for Honokage's throat.
Honokage blocked it without shifting his feet.
Then he countered — a brutal knee slamming into Uzumaki's waist.
The impact sounded like a cannon shot.
Uzumaki coughed blood instantly, crashing backward through two buildings in a storm of shattered concrete and flying glass.
Sakura spun into a flaming roundhouse kick.
Honokage sidestepped effortlessly, grabbed her throat mid-air, and hurled her like a ragdoll.
She slammed into the rooftop, cracking it deeply.
Uzumaki caught her before she hit the ground again.
His hoodie burned away in patches, revealing part of his face — indigo eyes blazing with rage.
Honokage walked forward slowly.
Black lightning crackled around his fists like living serpents.
Uzumaki struggled to stand.
Honokage was suddenly behind him.
His tail lashed out, wrapping around Uzumaki's leg and slamming him face-first into the concrete so hard the roof buckled.
Uzumaki rose his palm — a flaming beam charging in his grip.
Honokage's eyes flashed with deadly light.
His arms erupted in a roaring storm of black lightning.
The beam was swallowed whole.
Honokage's voice was ice.
"Cursed Copy Technique…"
A massive black-lightning beam exploded from his palm.
Uzumaki couldn't block.
Sakura teleported in, grabbed him by the hoodie, and dashed away at the last second.
The beam tore through the rooftop, incinerating everything in its path.
Honokage thought they were finished.
Then—
Sakura reappeared behind him.
She drove a full-force punch into his back.
Honokage staggered — straight into Uzumaki's burning kick.
He crashed through a parked car below, slamming into the road with enough force to crater the asphalt.
The giant bridge trembled.
Below it, the massive river roared with pressure.
Cars swerved. People screamed. Horns blared in panic.
Honokage rose slowly.
Sakura teleported in front of him and unleashed a barrage of metallic bursts — razor-sharp projectiles screaming toward him.
He dodged most — but one sliced across his hand, drawing a thin line of blood.
Uzumaki dashed behind him and swung.
A red demonic arm erupted from a portal and caught Uzumaki's fist in mid-air.
It crumbled to dust.
Honokage appeared through the smoke, delivering a surprise kick to Uzumaki's chest.
He followed with a sharp elbow to the face.
Uzumaki spat blood, crashing through a line of vehicles and landing inside a chicken cage.
A small chicken fluttered down and landed on his head.
Uzumaki snarled, hands flashing in a sign.
The entire street erupted in crimson flames.
He dashed through the inferno.
Honokage stood calmly in the fire.
A roasted chicken fell from the sky.
He caught it mid-air, bit into it casually, and blocked Sakura's next attack with one raised knee.
He tossed the rest of the chicken aside and drove a devastating kick into her abdomen.
She landed safely — but barely.
Uzumaki and Sakura charged together — mechanical blows raining down like a storm.
Each impact cracked the air itself.
Honokage raised both hands.
Black lightning erupted from his palms — consuming every single blow like it was nothing.
Sakura's eyes widened in pure shock.
"How is that possible…?"
Honokage's voice was cold, almost bored.
"You aren't my level yet."
He unleashed the cursed version of their own attacks.
Black-lightning copies of their mechanical blows slammed into them from opposite sides.
They crashed hard.
Honokage rushed Uzumaki, punching him down through the subway entrance.
Sakura teleported after them.
**Subway Rooftop**
Uzumaki hit the ground hard.
A train was approaching — headlights blinding.
Confused passengers stared out the windows.
Sakura landed beside him.
Honokage appeared above them.
He slammed both palms down.
His eyes glowed dangerously.
"Instant Illusion."
The entire subway warped and twisted.
Reality folded in on itself.
People vanished into the illusion.
Even the incoming train stopped — its passengers pulled into the trap.
Honokage cracked his knuckles.
"Now the field is safe… We can fight."
Uzumaki fell to one knee, breathing hard.
Sakura clutched her fist.
**Cut to Forest**
Uraka was sleeping peacefully, a book open across her face.
Wano scrolled lazily on her phone, yawning.
Suddenly — a massive black portal ripped open in the sky.
Hundreds of confused people rained down into the forest — landing in trees, bushes, grass.
Uraka jolted awake, book flying off her face.
"Woah!? What's that!?"
Wano blinked slowly.
"Looks like someone transferred the whole public…"
People stood up, dazed and irritated.
One man scratched his neck.
"W-Wasn't we on subway 19 seconds ago…?"
**Back to Subway**
Honokage stood calmly, arms folded.
Uzumaki pulled a small bottle from his pocket.
Glowing crimson liquid swirled inside.
"Now it's time…" he said through gritted teeth. "For us to get serious."
He smashed the bottle.
It exploded.
The entire subway turned crimson — flooded with blood-like energy.
Honokage stiffened instantly.
His eyes shrank.
Uzumaki smiled through the pain.
"See… that's how strong I am…"
Then — the blood evaporated instantly.
Sakura stumbled backward in shock.
"Wh… what's that!?"
Uzumaki stared in disbelief.
"You… how did you do this?"
Honokage walked forward through the smoke.
"You aren't my level yet… I admit you both can give me a toe-to-toe fight… but I'm stronger after all."
Sakura breathed heavily.
**Cut to Planet Yada**
Astra knelt on one knee, gi torn to shreds, shirt ripped open, body covered in deep scratches and bruises. He was breathing hard — but smiling through the pain.
"Master… Blu… I never thought you'd be this strong."
Blu landed lightly, arms folded. His cape was gone, gi torn in places, scratches marking his body — but he looked completely unbothered.
"Hmm… Kid. You still have many techniques to learn."
Then — for the first time ever — he gave a bright, confident smile.
"But one thing I like most about you… you never gave up."
Astra opened one eye, grinning through the blood on his lips.
"Yeah… I'm not giving up until I'm done for real."
Blu's smile widened.
"So let's bring it on. Because…"
Astra felt something shift in the air — something massive.
He started smiling wider.
"You've always seen me serious… right?"
Astra nodded.
"Hm yes?"
Blu's aura began to rise — golden light burning brighter than ever before.
"But now the fight is getting interesting. That's why I'm going all out… something I've never done to anyone. Don't hold back this time. Because I'm not holding back either."
He moved.
One step.
He was already behind Astra.
Astra's eyes shrank in horror.
"This is far beyond light spee—"
Blu's fist slammed into Astra's abdomen.
The impact was apocalyptic.
Astra crashed through chains of mountains — each one exploding into golden dust.
Blu dashed after him.
Astra barely stood, raising his fist.
"For… Myself!"
Silver flames gathered, roaring alive around his arm.
He punched forward — clashing against Blu's incoming golden beam.
The two forces collided.
Silver flames and golden energy erupted in a blinding explosion.
Mountains vaporized.
The sky itself seemed to burn.
Then — suddenly —
Orange flames erupted from Astra.
They touched the sky.
His transformation activated again — Super Inferno.
Astra rose into the air, orange flames rotating violently around him.
"I'm using Super Inferno now."
Blu smiled.
"Good… Keep fighting."
Blu dashed.
Flames erupted from the ground, forcing him back.
Astra teleported behind him — his aura so intense it canceled Blu's energy output.
Blu's golden light flickered — draining.
They clashed again.
Punches. Kicks. Explosions.
Flames rained from the sky.
Mountains vanished.
Then — Astra's transformation faded instantly.
He stood still, breathing hard.
Astra looked at his hands.
"What's happening…?"
Blu stopped, arms folded, eyes narrowing.
"So… you're finally able to do this."
Astra's silver aura reignited — burning brighter, purer, more powerful than ever.
It activated by itself.
Astra's voice shook.
"What's happening to me!? It activated… by itself!"
Blu's smile was calm, proud.
"This is your final evolution. It shows just how much potential and strength you truly have."
Astra gritted his teeth in pain.
His muscles grew. His body stretched taller. His hair turned sharp and white. His eyes became a deep, glowing silver with faint blue undertones.
A massive shockwave erupted.
The entire area around them was obliterated.
Astra looked at himself — now fully adult, tall, muscular, radiating power.
His voice was deeper, mature.
"What is this…?"
Blu smiled wider.
"Astra… I've read about it in an ancient draconic book. As a dragon, your evolution from child to adult doesn't depend on age — it depends on hard training. And now… you are an adult."
Astra stared at his hands, shocked.
"I'm an adult now!? I was a kid just moments ago…"
Blu nodded.
"Yeah… but now you are an adult — sharp mind, immense strength, limitless potential. And now… you will live for billions of years without aging. No more evolutions needed."
Astra scratched his head, still stunned.
"That's… kind of crazy, man."
Then he grinned.
"So I'm strong now? And taller than you?"
Blu chuckled.
"Of course."
Astra's smile turned serious.
"Alright… then I have to test something."
He raised his fist.
Moved.
Boom. Boom. BOOOOM!
Destructive silver explosion bubbles erupted across the sky — then were instantly sliced into thousands of perfect silver slashes.
The entire mountain range simply vanished.
Evaporated.
By one single punch.
Astra floated down, landing lightly.
He looked at the destruction — then at Blu.
"So… this is my power?"
Blu's voice came from behind him.
"Pretty impressive… You aren't the same anymore. You are god-like."
Astra sat down in the golden dust of Planet Yada.
His new white hair fluttered slightly.
His silver eyes glowed softly.
"So this is what evolution looks like… No more games. No more childish mode. I'm an adult now — strong, handsome, responsible."
He turned his head to Blu.
Astra smiled — calm, confident, mature.
"Also… this is my base form now. I haven't even transformed yet."
Blu crossed his arms, smiling.
"Sure…"
Astra shifted into a perfect meditation pose.
He closed his eyes.
Silver light glowed faintly through the atmosphere one last time.
The training had only just begun.
But Astra was no longer the child who needed protection.
He had become the protector.