The duo made their way down to the basement training area, where Scott was engaged in a sparring session with Wolverine. The room was spacious, reinforced with metal walls and high-tech equipment designed to handle the destructive abilities of the X-Men. Kitty and Bobby stood to the side, watching the match with interest.
Scott gritted his teeth, frustration clear in his stance as he tried to keep up with Wolverine's relentless assault. His movements were skilled, precise even, but they lacked unpredictability.
"Too slow, too linear," Wolverine muttered, sidestepping Scott's attack with ease. His claws extended just enough to hover near Scott's neck, a silent declaration of his victory.
Scott clenched his fists, his pride stung by the repeated losses. He was about to counter, but movement at the entrance caught his eye. The frustration in his posture eased slightly when he saw Charles enter with an unfamiliar blonde man by his side.
"Charles, what brought you here?" Scott asked, stepping away from Wolverine and straightening his visor. His eyes flicked toward the stranger. "And who's the blonde?"
Wolverine stepped back, crossing his arms as he examined the newcomer with a critical gaze. His instincts told him that this guy wasn't ordinary—he had an air about him, something old yet confident, like he had seen more battles than any of them combined.
Charles gave a slight smile. "This is Naruto Uzumaki. He is a new friend—and a new teacher for our students."
Naruto gave a lazy wave, his stance relaxed as he scanned the group with a glint of interest in his golden eyes. "I've decided to help out in my free time, especially since I see some potential in you guys." His gaze moved over them, analyzing their abilities on a level they couldn't comprehend.
Some of the mutants here reminded him of warriors he had encountered before—people from the Land of Stars, individuals who had harnessed strange, cosmic energies. But while they had potential, it wasn't the kind of potential that could shake the heavens.
Kitty and Scott caught his interest the most. They had room for growth, a spark of something greater hidden beneath their inexperience. Bobby had good potential too, but on a cosmic level, it was nothing that would shake the grand stage of the universe.
Scott turned to Charles, still skeptical. "Charles…?" He wanted confirmation—this all sounded insane.
Charles nodded, his expression calm but serious. "Just as he said, he is from another world and is an immortal being of great power."
That made Bobby and Kitty exchange glances. Wolverine's sharp gaze narrowed slightly, his instincts now screaming that this man wasn't someone to take lightly.
"He has assured me that teaching different kinds of mutants isn't out of his league," Charles continued. "And he wishes to help us, seeing our difficulties. He may look young, but keep in mind that he is your elder."
Naruto chuckled at that. "Well, I won't claim to be the best teacher in the world or anything," he admitted, his tone easygoing. "But I am better than anyone you can expect."
He started moving around them, taking in their features, their stances, their body language. Despite his casual demeanor, his presence felt sharp—like a blade hidden beneath silk.
"I'm a true master of the fighting arts," Naruto continued. "Developed through continuous battles, every day, for many years. I've fought in all kinds of terrain, against all kinds of foes. Unlike you, I don't just rely on one or two tricks—I have many skills at my disposal, and even if I don't have a specific ability, I can most likely help you develop it."
Kitty looked skeptical. "That sounds a little too good to be true," she murmured.
Naruto smirked. "I get that a lot."
He then turned to all of them, his golden eyes gleaming with challenge. "I can help you guys out, but I'll focus more on people who truly wish to achieve an ultimate state—not just people looking for a slight improvement. My training is harsh, but it guarantees success with zero casualties or permanent damage."
Scott's brow furrowed, struggling to take in everything Naruto was saying.
"You guys seem to have trouble wrapping your minds around this," Naruto said, shaking his head. "So how about this—all of you fight me."
That got everyone's attention. Wolverine's eyes flashed with interest, while Bobby's expression shifted to uncertainty.
"Wait, all of us?" Bobby asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Naruto confirmed. "It should help you understand what I can do. Don't worry—I'll go easy on you."
His smile was friendly, his posture casual, but for some reason, a chill ran down Scott's spine.
Logan's eyes narrowed, his sharp instincts already warning him that something was off about this blonde stranger. To the untrained eye, Naruto looked like an ordinary—albeit well-built—human. There was no overwhelming aura, no flashing energy, nothing that screamed danger at first glance. But Logan had lived long enough to know that appearances meant nothing. He had seen men who could crush tanks with a flick of their fingers, beings who could tear through steel like paper, and monsters that could flatten entire cities. He had fought them all. And he had survived.
His adamantium skeleton, his relentless healing factor, his centuries of combat experience—these were the tools that made him one of the most dangerous mutants alive. Yet, as he stared at the relaxed man before him, something primal in his gut told him that this was different.
"You serious? You think we're a joke?" Logan growled, his fists clenching as he glared at Naruto.
Cyclops, standing beside him, was equally wary. Unlike Logan, Scott Summers wasn't immortal, but his optic blasts carried enough power to level entire city blocks. He had trained under Charles Xavier for years, mastering his precision and control. He wasn't about to let some outsider mock their abilities.
Kitty Pryde—Shadowcat—stood slightly behind them, her fingers twitching in preparation. Her ability to phase through solid objects made her one of the most versatile members of the team. If necessary, she could phase straight through Naruto and disrupt his internals—an ability that had taken down stronger foes in the past.
Then there was Bobby Drake—better known as Iceman. His freezing abilities had evolved past simple ice projections. He could cover entire battlefields in ice, control the moisture in the air, and even survive in his ice form after complete destruction. Despite his usually laid-back nature, Bobby knew when it was time to get serious.
But Naruto?
Naruto just smiled.
"I don't make fun of anyone unless I actually intend to mess with your heads, Logan," Naruto said casually, his voice calm but unwavering. "I know everything about your abilities with just one look." He placed an arm around Cyclops as if they were old friends, his expression unreadable. "None of you can actually fight me. I can cancel out everything you possess. Try it out—there's nothing to lose. And if you win, I'll leave."
That was when Logan felt it.
For the first time, he truly sensed Naruto's presence. His instincts—honed through centuries of battle—screamed at him. This is no ordinary man. A cold shiver ran down Logan's spine as he realized the blonde had been hiding his presence until now. The sheer pressure of his existence made Logan feel like a lone wolf standing before a primordial beast.
'Bloody hell… the blonde bastard was playing with us,' Logan thought grimly.
Logan knew better than to ignore his instincts. This was no spar. This was a battle with someone far beyond their comprehension.
"All of you, he's the real thing. Don't hold back and treat him like Magneto," Logan ordered, stepping into position. His claws extended with a sharp snikt as he took a fighting stance.
Cyclops hesitated for only a moment before nodding, adjusting his visor. His hands clenched into fists as he prepared to fire a full-powered blast. Kitty took a deep breath, calculating the best way to phase in and disable Naruto. Bobby stretched out his arms, the temperature around them plummeting as ice began to form beneath his feet.
They weren't just students. They were X-Men.
"All of you, he's the real thing. Don't hold back and treat him like Magneto," Logan commanded, his voice firm. He might not be the official leader of the X-Men, but when it came to battle, experience took precedence over rank. Cyclops, their actual leader, was intelligent and strategic, but his combat experience wasn't on Logan's level.
Scott heard Logan's words and felt the burden of command momentarily lift from his shoulders. Is this his instinct again? he thought. Logan's gut feelings had saved them more times than he could count. He decided to trust him.
In the blink of an eye, Naruto vanished, reappearing far from them. In the same instant, Professor Xavier was teleported away from the center of the battlefield, watching from a safe distance. Charles remained calm, his focus absolute. His mind processed the battle from multiple perspectives, already analyzing the strengths and weaknesses being displayed. He couldn't participate in the fight physically, but his role as a strategist and mentor made him invaluable.
Then, Naruto clapped his hands together, flashing them an easygoing smile. "Okay, I'm ready. Let's play, children." His tone was teasing, but the confidence in his voice sent a chill down their spines. He took a slow step forward.
Cyclops didn't wait for an order—he acted on instinct. His visor glowed red, releasing a powerful optic blast aimed directly at Naruto. At the same time, Bobby reacted, freezing the ground beneath their opponent's feet. Their plan was simple: if Naruto resisted the beam, he would still be sent flying due to the slippery surface.
But the plan fell apart instantly.
Scott suddenly found himself slipping as the ice unexpectedly formed beneath his feet instead. Before he could recover, a rock pillar erupted from the ground, slamming into his abdomen and knocking the air from his lungs.
Naruto appeared in front of him in an instant, catching his arm with an almost casual ease. Scott barely had time to register what was happening before he was spun around and hurled toward Bobby.
Logan dashed forward, adamantium claws bared, but Naruto evaded effortlessly, skating across the icy terrain with a grace that shouldn't have been possible. Bobby attempted to encase him in ice, but Naruto slipped through every attack, weaving through the battlefield like water flowing around rocks.
Then, without warning, Naruto accelerated.
Bobby didn't even see the attack coming before Naruto's foot connected with his head. The force sent him crashing into the ground, momentarily dazed.
Scott managed to land safely, quickly adjusting his visor and firing another blast. But just as before, Naruto slid to the side, avoiding it with absurd ease.
The earth responded to Naruto's presence, shifting unnaturally beneath them. The ground around Scott transformed into a trap, his legs sinking as if he had stepped into quicksand. He struggled, but the more he moved, the deeper he sank.
Logan, seeing an opening, lunged at Naruto, but he was met with a simple counterpunch. The impact sent him flying into Scott, sending them both tumbling backward.
Bobby tried to intervene, preparing another ice attack, but before he could act, he found himself frozen—by his own ability.
Kitty was the only one left, but as she attempted to phase into position for a sneak attack, she realized something horrifying. She was stuck in midair.
Naruto turned to her, giving a knowing smirk. "Don't feel bad, I noticed you from the start. You just got caught up in the fun."
She struggled, trying to phase out, but whatever power he had used had locked her ability entirely.
The battlefield went silent.
Naruto casually walked to the center of the field and snapped his fingers. The effects of his abilities vanished instantly, freeing them all. Cyclops, Bobby, Logan, and Kitty stared at him, breathing heavily, their minds racing.
"How was it? Should we have another round?" Naruto asked, his tone lighthearted, as if he had just played a casual game rather than humiliated a team of elite mutants.
The X-Men weren't afraid—fear wasn't something they allowed themselves to feel in battle. But the level of dominance Naruto had displayed made it clear that even adding Jean and Colossus wouldn't have changed the outcome. Not even Magneto had done this to them before.
"You weren't kidding about playing with us," Logan muttered as he got up, rubbing his sore muscles. With a tired sigh, he pulled out a cigar, lighting it up. "I need a drink. You freaks make living hard for us honest folks."