"Hard to believe... a small cub like you being able to sense me," Kung-Karate Tiger said. He sniffed the air as he glared at Naruto, "You smell like him... and you look like him," he said

"W-who?" Naruto asked

"That bastard, Minato Namikaze!" he replied, making Naruto's eyes widen, "Judging by your reaction, I assume you know of him?"

"M-maybe?" Naruto said, trying to make sure he doesn't screw up and get himself killed. Kung-Karate Tiger sneered as he crossed his arms and leaned against a tree, "So, tell me, young cub. What brings you to my kingdom?" Kung-Karate Tiger asked

"Y-your kingdom?" Naruto questioned

"Yes, this place is my home... and because of that blonde sonovabitch, Minato," the giant tiger-man replied

"W-why?"

"Tch, you see, 20 years ago, during the Chunin Exams, that asshole crippled me," Kung-Karate Tiger explained, "he was too fast, even for my whole team to attack at once... he killed them. Both of them! And I was left alive because he felt pity for me! He took my teammates' lives and left me in this forest with two broken legs! And a missing eye!". Kung-Karate Tiger pointed at his orange glowing eye as he gritted his teeth, "It took every ounce of my strength to drag myself through the trees to find my way back. But instead, I found an object that gave me my power," he explained as he kicked one of the giant trees in half. Naruto was shocked to see a tree, 10 meters wide, be kicked in half like a twig. He gulped as it fell on top of Kung-Karate Tiger, but the tiger-man simply punched it, shattering into splinters, "H-Holy Crap," Naruto whispered

"This glowing eye in my head is the key to my power! The great Tiger Eye of The Cat Gods!" Kung-Karate Tiger shouted, " AND AFTER 20 PAINFUL YEARS OF TRAINING! I'VE REACHED THE PEAK OF MY POWER! WITH IT, I SHALL TAKE EVERYTHING MINATO HAS TAKEN AWAY FROM ME! I WILL MAKE HIM SUFFER AS I HAVE SUFFERED!"

"A-alright, I-I'mma just go now," Naruto said as Kung-Karate Tiger vanished and appeared right in front of Naruto's path. Compared to him, Naruto could only reach Kung-Karate Tiger's knees. Naruto gulped as the tiger-man shook his head, "I can't do that, cub," he said

"W-why's that?" Naruto asked

"You know of my existence and seeing as you look just like him, I'd say you're his son," Kung-Karate Tiger said as he bent down, "letting you go, you'd tell your father about me... but if I keep you here and torture you, make him feel like your death was his mistake... it would make. My. Day!" he whispered as Naruto's eyes widened and he ran. But Naruto didn't even get a step in as Kung-Karate Tiger kicked him in the side of the chest and sent him flying into a tree. Naruto bounced off the tree and onto the ground as his brain didn't have time to register what had happened. Before Naruto could get up, however, Kung-Karate Tiger appeared and picked Naruto up by the back of his neck and threw him into the air. Naruto started falling as Kung-Karate Tiger upper-cutted him and sent him back into the air, spinning. The giant tiger-man then turned around as Naruto fell to the ground in a heap of blood. Naruto barfed up blood and his breathing was heavy, "Judging by your actions, I've broken several of your ribs, caused internal bleeding, and a concussion," Kung-Karate Tiger stated as he turned his head and looked down at Naruto. Naruto's body shook as he tried to stand up, using what unbroken bones he had to support himself. Kung-Karate Tiger tilted his head as he saw Naruto stand up, "You can still stand. That's... surprising," he said as Naruto looked up at him

"I-I do that a lot," Naruto managed to say. Kung-Karate Tiger smirked as he spread out his arms as he said: "Well then! Suppose a 'congratulations' is in order because you're about to witness the technique I'll use to kill you!" as he jumped away

"W-what a-about torturing me?" Naruto asked

"As much as I wish to torture you, I think I'll send a better message if Minato sees your body shredded to bits!" Kung-Karate Tiger replied as he spread out his legs. He lowered his stance as he placed his hands in front of him, lowering himself more and more as his hands touched the ground, similar to that of a tiger getting ready to pounce. Naruto saw this as he spread out his stance on instinct and his breathing slowed. After a few seconds, Naruto took a breath that was different from the others. It was heavy, but that wasn't from the injuries he sustained. It was on purpose. A breath, that seemed to abandon the pain and restrictions of his body.

Naruto placed his hands in front of him as Kung-Karate Tiger growled, "PREPARE YOURSELF, CUB! FOR THIS IS MY ULTIMATE TECHNIQUE! I STOLE THIS METHOD OF ATTACK FROM THOSE FOOLISH DOG-LOVING INUZUKA'S AND MADE IT MY OWN! LAUNCH! SPINNING TIGER: SHREDDING PREY!" the tiger-man shouted as he shot at Naruto, his claws in front of him and spinning in the air. It looked like the Fang Over Fang taijutsu style of the Inuzuka clan, but it was being done by a giant, bipedal tiger out for blood. Naruto's body continued to react on its own as Naruto performed the first, physical form of training Garou taught him. His arms moved in a circular motion as he moved to the right. Using what force he could muster, Naruto managed to redirect the attack away from him while moving out of the way. Naruto was sent flying, however, as some of the kinetic energy from the strike still struck him and sent him into a tree. Naruto fell to the ground as he looked at his left arm... it was destroyed. It was a mangle of flesh and bone. His hand was ripped, but somehow he could still move it. His world was going dark as he looked over and saw that the attack that was meant for him, had destroyed and decimated a giant portion of the forest. Kung-Karate Tiger could be seen walking toward him as Naruto tried to stand back up but to no avail. Kung-Karate Tiger finally stood in front of Naruto as he said: "You have my respect, son of Minato. As gratitude," as he cocked back his fist, "I'll give you a quick death," and Naruto didn't argue

'I-I'm going to die,' Naruto thought as he saw Kung-Karate Tiger's fist get closer, 'I-I'm going to die... a-and nobody will know. I-I'm sorry Kaa-chan... I-I'm sorry Tou-san... I-I'm sorry for being so weak,' he continued to think as his death approached him. Naruto closed his eyes when suddenly, there was a loud 'BANG'.

Naruto opened his eyes to see Garou had kicked Kung-Karate Tiger in the jaw and sent him flying in the totally opposite direction. Garou landed in front of Naruto as he turned his head to look at him. Naruto saw that one of Garou's eyes was red, along with his hair.

"Are you still alive, kid?" Garou asked as Naruto nodded

"Y-yes," Naruto replied

"Don't speak, try to save your energy to keep yourself alive," Garou said as he stood between Kung-Karate Tiger and Naruto. Naruto was about to speak again, against his sensei's wishes, but then the pain started to set in. Naruto, still being a 7-year-old, started to cry as the agony of a shredded arm and broken bones sent him wailing as Garou could only glare at Kung-Karate Tiger, "Y-you insolent, little, pest!" Kung-Karate Tiger shouted

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't give you a slow death?" Garou asked, making the giant tiger-man laugh

"You? Give me a slow death? YOU MUST BE MAD TO THINK YOU STAND A CHANCE AGAINST ME!" Kung-Karate Tiger shouted as he charged at Garou with a fist, ready to punch Garou in the face. But as Kung-Karate Tiger's fist struck Garou, Garou countered with an attack of his own.

Kung-Karate Tiger saw blood burst out of his own nose as Garou said: "Fist of Flowing Water, Crushing Rock!" and proceeded to beat the ever-living hell out of Kung-Karate Tiger. Garou punched him in the chest next, making him gasp. Kung-Karate Tiger tried to kick him, but Garou dodged the kick and punched his knee, effectively shattering his knee cap and making Kung-Karate Tiger's leg bend the wrong direction. He would scream, but only if Garou didn't slam his leg against his jaw, shattering it. Kung-Karate Tiger was sent into a tail-spin as Garou followed up with a series of painful blows. All the while, Garou named the injuries Kung-Karate Tiger was suffering from, 'Shattered jaw... Broken ribs... a busted knee-cap,' Garou thought as he then punched the tiger man just below the chest, 'ruptured liver and now,' he continued to think as he moved to the side and punched him in the left side of the back, 'exploded kidney,'. Kung-Karate Tiger finally fell to his knees as Garou landed one last punch, making Kung-Karate Tiger do backflips through the air. The giant tiger-man fell to the ground with a thud as Garou turned around and walked to Naruto. Naruto was about to blackout as Garou knelt down, "Don't close your eyes, you'll make it," Garou whispered

"O-okay," Naruto replied

"YOU IDIOT! DON'T TURN YOU BACK ON YOUR OPPONENT!" Kung-Karate Tiger screamed at the top of his lungs as Garou's fists became like dragon claws.

"Fist of Whirling Wind, Slashing Steel," Garou said as Kung-Karate Tiger launched at him. A second later, Kung-Karate Tiger was cut into multiple pieces. Blood splattered all over the ground as Garou turned back around and picked Naruto up, "Don't die on me, kid," Garou said as Naruto's vision got blurry

"H-hai," Naruto weakly whispered as he closed his eyes

"Kid? Hey, kid! Open your eyes! Kid! NARUTO!"