Naruto: The Chosen Undead

Adamos_Amet · Nov 2, 2024

Hello there to everyone reading. I hope you are all having a wonderful day. Let me tell you more about this fanfic.

You've read the title and summary and seen the cover, so there's no need to expand on that. This fanfic is a crossover between Naruto and the Dark Souls games, particularly Dark Souls 1.

Now, do you need to go and play Dark Souls to understand this fanfic? No, frankly, no. I am going to explain a lot of the lore and game mechanics, so whether you've played Dark Souls or not, it doesn't matter—you can follow this story. But if you have read the lore or played the games, you'll find a lot of cool things and think, "I remember that when I played it!"

Now, the important thing.

This story is going to be divided into two portions.

Context:
Naruto in this fanfic has the ability to jump back and forth from the Dark Souls universe to his own. You can interpret this as Naruto becoming a Dark Souls player, with the twist that he can use any items, spells, system, etc., in his own universe.

For example, in the Dark Souls universe, you can find the item firebomb. Now, Naruto can throw that firebomb at someone like Orochimaru in his own universe.

Since Naruto is hopping back and forth between the Dark Souls universe and his own, the chapters are going to be divided into:

Dark Souls Portion (where Naruto goes through DS1)

Naruto Portion (where Naruto deals with his own universe's problems)

Why am I telling you this? Because the titles of the chapters will be like:

Chapter 1: Dark Souls

Chapter 2: Naruto

Chapter 3: Dark Souls, etc.

With this format, anyone who wants to just strictly read the Naruto portion can, for whatever reason. Also, I'll add a separate, actual title at the start of each chapter.

Disclaimer:
This fanwork is a non-canon creation by Adamo_Amet, who does not claim ownership of any intellectual properties (IPs) referenced herein. All mentioned IPs remain the sole property of their respective holders.

Support Links:
If you appreciate my work and want to support me, you can do so here:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Adamo_Amet
Discord: https://discord.gg/9BARwq8n

Why Include Support Links?
I write because I love it, and it's been truly humbling to see readers on platforms like Royal Road and Webnovel appreciate my "jumbled ramblings" enough to donate. I hold no judgment on what people choose to support, and I want to be clear: I will never put fanwork behind a paywall or delay releases due to lack of support. I've seen others fall into the trap of "big-fish, small-pond" egomania, and I'm determined to avoid that path entirely.

If you can spare a dollar to support my work, that's fantastic. If not, that's absolutely okay too! I'm always up for a chat, so feel free to join me on Discord!

Chapter no.1 Prologue

Giggles echoed through the dark forest, and Naruto couldn't help but laugh louder, aware of how ridiculous he must have looked—alone and laughing under the moonlit trees. But none of that mattered—not tonight. Because after countless failed attempts and frustrations, he'd finally done it: he'd made a stupid clone that actually worked.

He stared at the figure before him, barely containing his excitement. It was a perfect mirror image: those three distinctive whisker-like lines on each cheek that marked him as... well, him, gave it a somewhat feral look. His spiky, bright yellow hair seemed to almost glow in the dim light, and those blue eyes of his... they were just as vivid on his clone. Dressed in his signature bright orange jacket with blue shoulders and the white fur collar, it wore the exact mesh armor undershirt and blue open-toed sandals.

"It's perfect," he whispered, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Great, with this I can become a genin," he began, only to be cut off by his own clone, "I'll take my first step into becoming Hokage."

Naruto blinked, taken aback. Since when did clones talk back? This was new.

He tentatively poked it, half-expecting his hand to pass through an illusion, as had happened so many times in class when he'd walk through the clones just to annoy everyone. But not this time. His finger met solid flesh.

"My clone is solid... and can talk," he concluded, a wide Cheshire grin spreading across his face. "You know what that means, right?"

The clone nodded, seemingly as excited as he was.

"My clone jutsu is better than everyone else's."

That thought alone filled Naruto with a deep, satisfying pride. He watched, intrigued and a bit confused, as his clone moved towards the forbidden scroll of seals—a large, ominous-looking scroll with dark green highlights, nearly as tall as him.

"What are you doing?" Naruto asked, even though the answer was probably as clear as the night sky above them.

"We have some time before Mizuki-sensei comes. Let's learn another jutsu," it suggested, its voice eerily similar to his.

"Let's do it!"

Naruto's initial excitement to dive into some epic jutsu from the forbidden scroll crashed hard against the reality of these stupid lines—seals, complicated ones, way beyond the simple tricks he used for his pranks. They weaved through the parchment like some complex web designed to keep him out.

As his clone diligently spread the scroll across the forest floor, he struggled with the urge to tell it that it was useless. Those seals were a lock he couldn't pick. But just as he was about to give up hope, the entire scroll unfurled, revealing its secrets layer by layer.

"It's like an onion," the clone muttered, and Naruto couldn't help but agree. The scroll, once fully opened, displayed not just one, but multiple layered seals. There was an individual seal on each section of the scroll and a massive one overarching everything. A spark of recognition flickered through his mind—it was a storage seal. He didn't fully understand the mechanics, but he knew enough: this seal could store things, kind of like a pocket, and you just needed to pump chakra into it to work it.

Considering the size of this seal, it would probably take a ton of chakra. But chakra was something Naruto never seemed to run out of. He recalled how his classmates, even Sasuke, that show-off, would be panting and dragging after using just a handful of sealing scrolls. Sasuke could manage twenty-four at his best, while most others couldn't handle more than six. Him? He could laugh his way through a hundred of those scrolls without breaking a sweat.

So, standing there with his clone beside him, both of them staring down at this massive, intricate seal, a reckless grin spread across his face. "Well, it looks like it's just a matter of chakra," he said, more to himself than to the clone. "And if there's one thing I've got plenty of, it's that."

"Let's open this up and see what cool item is inside."

He and his clone placed their hands on the center of the seal, ready to channel their chakra into it. It felt like inserting a key into a lock, turning it, and waiting for the tumblers to fall into place.

As they pushed their chakra into the seal, Naruto could feel the familiar surge from the pit of his stomach, traveling up through his arms. It was a sensation that had become almost second nature to him—this flowing, pulsing energy that was the source of all his abilities. But this time, something was different. The seal didn't just accept his chakra; it pulled on it, greedily drawing more and more.

The drain was intense, more forceful than anything he'd ever experienced. His clone, unable to sustain itself, dissipated in a puff of smoke. A sharp pain shot through him as he struggled to maintain the flow of chakra, the strain overwhelming. For the first time, he truly felt what chakra exhaustion was like. It clawed at him, sapping his strength and leaving him gasping for breath.

Then, as abruptly as it had begun, the pulling stopped. The seal had taken what it needed, and with a final greedy gulp, it opened. A thick puff of smoke erupted from the scroll, and Naruto collapsed onto the ground, his body hitting the dirt hard. Lying there, every breath was a battle. The forest around him spun slightly, the trees blurring into dark smears against the night sky.

Pain throbbed through his limbs, and his head felt like it was stuffed with wool. He was drained—more drained than he had ever been in all his pranks or training sessions. This was a new frontier of weakness for him, and as he lay there, trying to regain even a shred of energy, he realized just how much he had underestimated the power of that seal. The cool earth beneath him was a minor comfort to his overheated skin, and he closed his eyes, focusing on just drawing breath after ragged breath, trying to center himself and recover from the ordeal.

The thing that really ticked Naruto off was that after all that effort, after all the chakra he poured into that seal, it opened to absolutely nothing.

"Bastard seal, you took my chakra, now give me your secrets!" he shouted at the scroll as he quickly sat up, furiously brushing the dirt off his clothes. As his chakra started trickling back, he couldn't help but think about his classmates who always complained about chakra exhaustion. Guess their recovery speed isn't as great as the great Naruto Uzumaki.

That thought briefly cooled his anger, giving him a moment of smug satisfaction. But it only lasted a second before he went back to glaring at the seal.

He didn't expect what happened next, though.

The phenomenon unfolding before Naruto was mesmerizing. At first glance, it appeared as a flow of fire, but upon closer inspection, it was clear that this was not ordinary flame—it was chakra, tinged with a vibrant orange hue that radiated a palpable heat. The chakra spiraled upward, weaving and dancing like a living entity, its movements graceful yet charged with energy. As it ascended, it began to coalesce into a ring, floating serenely above the seal.

This ring of chakra was not just a simple circle; it pulsed with life, expanding and contracting rhythmically as if breathing. The edges of the ring shimmered with a lighter orange, almost golden, creating a stark contrast against the darker core. The entire spectacle emitted a soft, warm glow that illuminated the surrounding area, casting dancing shadows and painting everything in hues of fiery orange.

It was like watching the sun itself being forged.

Drawn to it instinctively, like a moth to a flame, his hand reached out slowly. The moment his finger touched the ring of fire, there was a massive flash of light that blinded him.

Suddenly, everything went dark.

Naruto found himself in complete darkness, and he didn't like that at all. Not that he was scared of the dark—he'd spent plenty of time alone at night—but this was different. He was confused.

Where am I? Is this a dream? Did I get knocked out? What was that ring of fire?

So many questions swirled in his head, and as usual in his life, for all his questions, he was only met with the silence of the dark.

As Naruto walked through the enveloping darkness, it felt less like a forest and more like he was stumbling around inside a vast, unlit room. "I'm pretty sure Ayame would be terrified of this place," he muttered to himself, half-trying to crack a joke to ease his own creeping nerves. Even as he walked, his steps seemed to make no difference; he couldn't tell if he had moved an inch.

"Jiji, are you there?" His voice echoed slightly, a lonely sound in the thick darkness. "Is this some kind of punishment for knocking you out with the sexy jutsu? I'm sorry." He pinched his ears, a gesture of contrition, though it felt silly doing it alone in the dark. But the silence that followed was disheartening, pressing in around him with an almost physical weight.

"Is anyone there?!" His voice cracked, a weak, trembling sound that he hardly recognized as his own. He was scared, more scared than he liked to admit, more scared than he ever wanted anyone to see.

Just as the unease was about to overwhelm him, something lit up the darkness. Naruto flinched hard, his heart leaping into his throat as a sudden light burst through the blackness. His eyes, adjusted to the dark, squinted painfully against the brightness, and he instinctively threw his arms up to shield his face.

The light was stark, harsh, cutting through the shadows like a knife as Naruto saw it—ten rings of fire arrayed before him, their flames flickering with the same intensity as the fire he'd brushed against just before stumbling into this strange place.

Curious, he approached one of the rings, and as he did, it expanded. Blinking in astonishment, he saw a figure that looked like him—or a clone of him—but decked out in a way he had never seen before. He wore armor, complete with a chest plate, shoulder guards, and gauntlets, all forged from what looked like steel. In his right hand, he held a sword, a classic straight blade that gleamed with a sharp edge. Naruto had always dreamed of wielding a sword. In his left hand, he carried a shield, rounded and made of reinforced metal.

"This is so cool," he muttered under his breath, his eyes wide with wonder, yet confused about why the ring of fire was showing him this illusion.

"Do I get the cool sword if I touch it?" he asked aloud, half-expecting an answer, but the silence that followed was answer enough.

Pausing, Naruto turned to survey the other nine remaining rings, a spark of curiosity igniting within him. Just then, a scroll unfurled in front of him, looking like ancient parchment. The words etched upon it read:

Warrior Class: Weapon Expert. High strength, dexterity.

He glanced back at his armored self, piecing it together in his head.

"I think I get it now, dattebayo!" he exclaimed, excitement bubbling up. "If I touch you, I get to be a weapon expert and be super strong and…" he stumbled over the next word, "dex-something." He didn't know what dexterity meant, but the promise of high strength was more than enough to capture his interest.

Naruto, however, moved toward the nine remaining classes, each step fueled by the thrilling possibility of discovering what other strengths and skills he might gain from these mysterious rings of fire.

Next up was the knight class. The scroll declared it as: "Low ranking knight, high HP, solid armor. Not easily toppled."

This illusion wore much more metal than the warrior—practically encased in steel. Naruto scratched his head, wondering, "What the hell is a knight?"

But not finding an answer in the silent flickers of flame, he shrugged and moved on to the next class.

Wanderer: Wields scimitar, High dexterity.

This time, the figure he decided to call by their class name—Wanderer Naruto—was clad in dark leather armor with a hood, very different from the flashy metal of the knight. He held a curved sword, which Naruto guessed was the scimitar. His shield, bizarrely, looked like a bowl of ramen.

Naruto snorted at the sight.

Dressed in these dark, emo-ish clothes, he looked way too much like that teme, Sasuke. "At least if I pick this class, I could use the shield as a ramen bowl," he mused, a smirk playing on his lips.

Then came the thief class—described as: "High critical hits, Has master key."

Thief Naruto was armed with a dagger, only slightly bigger than a kunai, and carried a shield that was laughably small compared to the others. Frankly, he wasn't impressed by this class at all, though he was a bit curious about what this master key could do.

Next in line was the bandit class—tagged as: "High strength. Wields heavy battle axe."

Glancing at the muscular figure before him, Naruto couldn't help but joke to the empty air, "Do I get that body if I choose this class?"

He wasn't exactly scrawny, but Bandit Naruto was on another level of muscular—frankly, his bicep was bigger than both of his arms combined!

He eyed the illusion up and down. The armor ensemble included a chainmail hauberk that covered the torso, hanging slightly below the waist for added protection. Over the chainmail, Bandit Naruto wore a leather belt that cinched the loose fabric of his tunic, which fell in rugged layers. Metal pauldrons shielded his shoulders and upper arms, while his lower body was clad in padded fabric trousers tucked into heavy leather boots. To complete his battle-ready appearance, he held a shield adorned with a distinctive spider emblem and a single-headed axe that looked incredibly dangerous.

Naruto was seriously tempted to select this one. The cool shield, the menacing axe, and those muscles… he couldn't deny the appeal. He could almost picture it: Sakura-chan seeing him like this and immediately forgetting all about that emo, Sasuke. The thought made him giggle.

With a reluctant sigh, Naruto pulled himself away from the bandit's enticing offer.

There were still more classes to check out, and he couldn't make up his mind just yet.

As the next ring of fire revealed itself, the hunter class appeared—Bow-wielding hunter, decent at close range but weak with magic.

The illusion before Naruto was dressed in leather-padded armor, holding a bow and arrow, with a quiver full of green-dyed arrows slung across his back.

"Wait, weak to magic?" he muttered, scratching his head. He was more curious about what that meant than the actual class. Magic? In his world? The idea sparked a flurry of questions, but before he could dwell on them, the next class appeared.

Sorcerer of Vinheim Dragon School. Casts soul sorceries.

The illusion that materialized almost made Naruto's excitement crash and burn—Sorcerer Naruto looked, well, like a nerd, especially with that ridiculous hat and those drab clothes. It wasn't that he was mad, just… disappointed. The class description sounded so cool—Dragon school?! Soul Sorceries?!—like something straight out of a fantasy. Does that mean free ninjutsu for him?

"Let's just move to the next," he sighed, feeling a bit heartbroken, though the idea of soul sorceries and a dragon school kept replaying in his mind. He couldn't shake off the images: Dragon school? If I choose this, does it mean I go back to school but get taught by flying lizards?

Next in line was the pyromancer class—labeled as "Swamp pyromancer. Casts fire spells and wields a hand axe."

The illusion, Pyromancer Naruto, clutched a wooden shield in one hand and an axe in the other. He was built pretty solidly, though not as muscular as Bandit Naruto had been. His attire consisted of padded armor and a weird greenish hood that was frayed at the edges.

"You look homeless," Naruto remarked to the illusion, who, predictably, didn't respond. His eyes were drawn to the detail about casting fire spells.

Now, that caught his interest.

He still remembered the day he caught Sasuke training with those damn fireballs. Despite himself, Naruto had to admit, Sasuke's fire jutsu were awesome. And here he was, never taught anything so cool back in the academy.

Then came the cleric class—described as "Cleric on Pilgrimage. Wields a mace and casts healing miracles."

Naruto glanced at Cleric Naruto.

The illusion was… bald.

"Nope. Not going bald."

The last class was something called deprived—labeled "Unclothed enigma. Only armed with a club and old plank shield."

"Gaaa!" Naruto yelped, shutting his eyes tight as soon as he saw Deprived Naruto. The illusion was nearly naked, clad only in a loincloth, holding a club and what looked like part of a broken fence rather than a proper shield.

He quickly stepped back, shaking his head vigorously.

There was absolutely no way he wanted to see himself like that, ever.

"What the hell were the last two classes? Bald and naked?" he grumbled to himself, a frown creasing his forehead as he surveyed the ten rings of fire again.

Naruto didn't need to agonize over this decision for too long.

It boiled down to two exciting options: Bandit class, which looked absolutely awesome, or Pyromancer, because the idea of flinging fire jutsu just to one-up Sasuke had its own appeal.

"My fireball is going to be better," he mumbled to himself, even though he had no clue what specific fire jutsu he'd get.

It didn't matter. The thought of showing Sasuke up was too good to pass up.

"What should I choose?"

The choice gnawed at him. Choices, choices… He pursed his lips, deciding to resolve it with a little rhyme, something to cut through the indecision.

"Which one should I choose?
Just as the Hokage says,
Clones go pop pop pop,
Bombs blast boom boom boom,
Throwing kunai whoosh whoosh whoosh, You lose!"

He had his eyes closed, letting his hand hover and move back and forth above the two options. He could almost hear the flickering flames urging him to decide. When he finally stopped and opened his eyes, they landed on Pyromancer.

A big, goofy grin spread across his face as he placed his hand firmly on the Pyromancer class.

The ring of fire before him flickered in response, acknowledging his choice.

"I can't wait to see the look on everyone's faces when they see my awesome fire jutsu."

A flash of light exploded around Naruto, more intense than anything he'd ever seen. He braced himself, anticipating the familiar scents and sights of the forest to greet him. But when the light dimmed and his eyes adjusted, he realized he was nowhere near home. This place was alien, and the air was thick with a foul stench that hit him like a physical force.

He almost gagged, pinching his nose to shield himself from the overwhelming odor. The source, he discovered with a grimace, was close by—a dead rat, its body bloated and decaying, lay near an old bucket that seemed to have been repurposed as a makeshift toilet. The sight was revolting, and the smell made his eyes water.

He had seen many unpleasant things in his short life, but this was a new level of disgusting.

Turning away, Naruto took in the rest of his surroundings, hoping for a less nauseating view. However, the dungeon that held him was no better. The walls were damp and covered in a thick coat of moss that crawled up from the ground and merged into the shadowy arches of the ceiling. These stone walls told stories of neglect and decay, and the air felt heavy, moist, and cold against his skin.

Dim light trickled in through cracks in the ceiling, casting an eerie glow that barely illuminated the dungeon. Each ray of light seemed to struggle to penetrate the gloom, highlighting the dust motes dancing in the air but doing little to warm the chill that had settled deep in his bones. Directly in front of him, an old, rusted metal door stood as the only barrier between him and the unknown. Faint torchlight seeped through the edges, painting a line of gold on the floor that seemed both inviting and mocking.

I don't think I'm in Konoha anymore, he whispered to himself.

As Naruto tried to stand, a harsh clinking sound echoed in the small space, and he looked down to see chains around his ankles. He was not only trapped in this dungeon; he was a prisoner, literally chained to the ground. Dressed in the pyromancer clothes from the vision in the fire rings, he felt a surreal connection to a choice that seemed made in another lifetime.

How? But more importantly, why am I chained up?

The questions circled in his mind like vultures. Is this my punishment for stealing the scroll? he wondered, though the thought seemed ridiculous the more he considered it. The Hokage wouldn't condemn me to such a fate. Jiji's not that harsh…right? Doubt crept in, but he shoved it aside. This has to be something else, some reason.

Sitting back down, Naruto forced himself to look away from the dead rat and the revolting bucket, focusing instead on the damp, mossy stones and the slivers of light.

As he sat there, trying to collect himself, a line of woodlice started crawling toward the rat corpse, their tiny bodies inching along the damp dungeon floor. Where's a fire jutsu when you need it? The idea of using a fireball to incinerate the swarm seemed increasingly appealing, if only to save himself from the creeping disgust.

He paused, looking down at the pyromancer clothes he'd chosen in that ring of fire. Wait, I should have gotten a fire jutsu, right? I got the clothes… He frowned, realizing he was missing the axe and shield that should have come with the outfit. Weird.

Choosing to ignore that for the moment, Naruto jerked his hands toward the advancing bugs and screamed, "Fireball!" Nothing happened. Not a spark, not a flicker of flame—nothing but the echo of his own voice in the cold, stone chamber.

He blinked, staring at his palm as if it had betrayed him.

Where's my fireball?! How can I one-up that emo bastard now? How can I change my status?

The moment the word status left his mouth, something unexpected happened. A screen appeared in front of him—a black and gold screen that shimmered slightly in the dim light. It looked like something out of those magazines about new technology from the Land of Snow, something called a video game. He'd never seen one in person, but this screen right in front of him reminded him of those descriptions.

He stared at it.

How did saying 'status' summon this thing? What even is this screen?

Maybe this screen could help him figure out where his fire jutsu was, or even better, how to get out of these chains and this dungeon.

His heart pounded as he reached out tentatively toward the screen, half-expecting it to vanish like a mirage. But it stayed, solid and glowing softly in the dark.

"Okay, let's see what you can do."

[ Name: Naruto Uzumaki ]
- [ Covenant: None ]
- [ Level: 1 ]
- [ Souls: 0 ]

[ Attributes: ]
- [ Vitality: 10 ]
- [ Attunement: 12 ]
- [ Endurance: 11 ]
- [ Strength: 12 ]
- [ Dexterity: 9 ]
- [ Resistance: 12 ]
- [ Intelligence: 10 ]
- [ Faith: 8 ]
- [ Humanity: 0 ]

[ Stats: ]
- [ HP: 573 / 573 ]
- [ Stamina: 93 ]
- [ Equip Load: 8.0 / 51.0 ]

[ Weapon Stats: ]
- [ R Weapon 1: 20 ]
- [ R Weapon 2: 20 ]
- [ L Weapon 1: 20 ]
- [ L Weapon 2: 20 ]

[ Defense: ]
- [ Physical Defense: 73 (20) ]
- [ VS Strike: 78 ]
- [ VS Slash: 73 ]
- [ VS Thrust: 73 ]
- [ Magic Defense: 73 (13) ]
- [ Flame Defense: 99 (21) ]
- [ Lightning Defense: 59 (16) ]

[ Resistances: ]
- [ Poise: 0 ]
- [ Bleed Resist: 104 ]
- [ Poison Resist: 194 ]
- [ Curse Resist: 35 ]

[ Miscellaneous: ]
- [ Item Discovery: 100 ]
- [ Attunement Slots: 2 ]

[ Attunement Slot 1: Fireball × 8 ]
[ Attunement Slot 2: Empty ]

Naruto blinked in confusion as he stared at the numbers and terms on the screen, not understanding what any of it meant. But his eyes locked onto the one familiar word—fireball—listed under something called an "attunement slot."

Okay, so I have a fireball, but how do I use it?

He tapped on the screen, hoping for some additional info to pop up, but nothing happened. Just as he was about to give up and try something else, the entire room filled with a blinding light. He squinted upwards, shielding his eyes, and as his vision adjusted, he saw him—a knight, armored in a patchwork of gleaming steel and worn leather that fit him like a second skin. His helm, a sculpted piece of metal with narrow slits for eyes, hid his face, but the set of his jaw was unmistakable—this guy meant business. He rested one gauntleted hand on the pommel of his longsword, and in his other hand, he held a shield emblazoned with a golden lion.

"Hey, who are you?" Naruto called out, his voice echoing slightly in the dungeon.

"Oh, you haven't gone full hollow?" the knight asked, his voice filled with surprise.

"What does that mean?" Naruto shot back, but before the knight could explain, he threw down what looked like a corpse at Naruto's feet.

The blonde jumped back, his heart racing. The corpse's skin was pallid and sagging, its eyes hollow and lifeless, and it wore tattered clothes that hung off its frame like rags.

"Hey, weirdo! What's the big idea, huh?" Naruto yelled, his anger flaring up as much as his fear. The knight, unfazed, pointed toward a key hanging from the belt of the corpse.

A key? Yatta, I can finally go free. Oh, Jiji owes me a lot of ramen for making me go through this shit.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, the entire room began to shake violently, dust and small pebbles raining down from the ceiling. It felt like something massive was moving above them, threatening to bring the whole place down.

The knight quickly moved away from the hole in the ceiling through which a sliver of sunlight had been shining. Glancing up, Naruto saw something huge nearly blocking out the light, its massive silhouette ominous and foreboding.

He needs my help! Naruto thought instantly. Without another moment's hesitation, he summoned his shadow clones.

"Let's go."

With a nod to his clone, Naruto motioned for it to run and leap. As it reached him, he clasped his palms together, using them as a step. Channeling chakra into his muscles to enhance his strength, he propelled the clone upwards with all the force he could muster, launching it toward the hole in the ceiling.

"Come on, you guys do the same," he called out to the other clones, watching them replicate the maneuver, helping each other reach the roof. His attention then snapped to the key lying near the chains—a large, rusted piece with a bulky circular handle, its surface marred by dried blood. He grimaced as he picked it up.

He hurriedly unlocked the chains binding him, the metal clinking loudly in the quiet of the dungeon. Once free, he wondered what to do with the key, ultimately deciding to shove it into his pocket. But as soon as he did, the weight of it vanished. Puzzled, he tapped his pocket and even pulled it inside out—nothing.

Where did it go? he muttered, scanning the ground to see if he had dropped it, when a deep, thunderous roar echoed through the dungeon, cutting through his thoughts. The sound was monstrous, full of rage and pain, vibrating through the very walls.

"I'll find the key later, dattebayo."

Naruto sprinted toward his clone, the rapid drumming of his footsteps echoed in the otherwise silent chamber. The clone was ready, hands clasped tightly together, forming a makeshift step. With precision, he planted his right foot into the cupped hands, feeling the push-off as the clone boosted him upwards with a powerful thrust.

The world around him blurred into a whirl of stone and shadow as he was launched into the air. The force of the ascent was intense, rocketing him upward so fast that his stomach flipped with the suddenness of it all. He could feel every muscle tense as he cut through the air, his focus entirely on the small patch of light growing rapidly larger as he approached the hole in the ceiling.

Wind whipped past his ears, a loud whooshing sound that filled the brief flight. For those few seconds, there was nothing but the rush of ascent, the physical reality of moving through space with such speed. It was exhilarating and disorienting, a burst of adrenaline that sharpened his senses and heightened his awareness.

Naruto had done this kind of thing enough times to know how to land without losing his bearings.

With a quick pull, he hauled himself up and onto solid ceiling, landing in a crouch. The rush of the climb didn't throw him off; he was used to this, the sudden shifts in movement, the need to adapt quickly. This was a ninja's bread and butter.

But he didn't have time to take in his surroundings. His gaze was fixed on the thing standing in front of him. Whatever he'd expected when he rushed up here to help the knight, it sure as hell wasn't this.

Towering above him, the creature was a monstrous sight, its skin a grotesque patchwork of bulging, mottled flesh, each fold glistening with a slick, oily sheen. The bloated mass of its body seemed ready to burst, its limbs so twisted and swollen they looked barely capable of supporting its immense weight. From its head, a horrific face leered down at him, crowned with a chaotic tangle of horns that jutted upwards like the gnarled branches of a dead tree. Its eyes burned with a sinister, red glow, full of malevolence. In its gargantuan hand, it held a massive club—more like a weaponized tree trunk—studded with spikes and wrapped in ragged strips of leather. It looked like it was built to crush everything in its path, bone and spirit alike.

Naruto gulped, his throat suddenly dry. This thing was bigger than his entire house back in Konoha.

Every ounce of bravado he usually had evaporated. He found himself rooted to the spot, frozen in a way he'd never been before. He'd fought bullies, sparred in training, faced off against other students. But this—this was different. This was real danger. This was life and death. And for all the big talk he usually spewed, he was terrified. The thought of that monster's club smashing down on him, splintering him into pieces… He couldn't move, couldn't think, couldn't breathe.

It's going to kill me.

Then, in a blur of motion, the knight slid between the creature's massive legs, his longsword flashing like silver lightning. He struck hard, the blade slicing into the demon's thick, fleshy calf. Dark blood spurted out, a sickening spray that hit the ground with a wet splatter. The creature let out a deafening roar, stumbling backward as it swung its club wildly, its movements erratic and pained.

Naruto could still feel the fear gripping him, but it wasn't the same all-consuming terror from moments before. Seeing the knight's blade bite into that grotesque mass, watching the demon flinch and stagger… it shattered the image of an unstoppable monster in his mind. This thing could be hurt. It wasn't invincible. His fear didn't vanish, but it shifted, becoming something else, something more manageable.

He could still feel his heart hammering against his ribs, still sense the sweat slicking his palms, but he wasn't frozen anymore. This wasn't just some nightmare he was helpless against. He wasn't helpless. The demon was big, terrifying, but it could bleed. And if it could bleed, it could be beaten.

[ Name: Asylum Demon ]
[ HP: 2,000 / 2,195 ]

Naruto blinked as the window of information flashed in front of him, barely having time to process what it said before the world slowed to a crawl. The Asylum Demon was moving, its massive arm raised high, preparing for a devastating backswing. He could see every muscle in its grotesque form tense as it wound up for the strike, the knight standing there, completely exposed.

It all happened in slow motion—the demon's arm pulling back, its massive weapon glinting in the light as it swung. Naruto's heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline flooding his veins as he watched the knight stand unguarded, no time to react. No! his mind screamed, but before he could even move, there was a puff of smoke, and the knight was gone. In his place, one of Naruto's shadow clones appeared via substitution jutsu, taking the full brunt of the swing.

The demon's attack was so powerful that the shockwave nearly knocked Naruto off the ceiling, the wind whipping violently past him as he struggled to stay grounded. His clone was obliterated instantly, turning into a puff of smoke, dispersing into nothingness. Huh? the knight muttered, clearly confused about what had just happened.

Naruto didn't wait.

His voice rang out, sharp and full of urgency as he shouted to his clones, "Get that fucker!"

Without hesitation, they rushed the demon, attacking with everything they had. Meanwhile, the knight stood there, looking more confused than ever.

"Come on, let's get out of here!" Naruto grabbed his gauntlet, pulling him along as they jumped into the hole together. Channeling chakra to his legs, he braced for the impact, softening the fall so that neither of them would be shattered by the drop. He landed with a thud, but thanks to the chakra, his legs held firm.

The knight, still in shock, stared at Naruto like he'd just seen the impossible. Meanwhile, Naruto scrambled to find the key, his hands moving frantically across the floor.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to find the key! We need to get out of here before that thing—" He didn't finish. The wind roared as the demon swung again, and Naruto grabbed his head, overwhelmed by the sudden rush of memories flooding back from his clones. He didn't even know that was possible, but in an instant, he saw everything—none of his clones had even scratched the demon. It had wiped them all out with ease, each one vanishing into smoke with a single swing.

"Don't worry," the knight said, his voice strangely calm. "The demon won't come into the asylum."

"What?" Naruto looked up, his heart hammering as he followed the knight's gaze. The demon's massive form loomed above the hole, its eye staring down at them. For a moment, sheer terror gripped Naruto. He couldn't move. It felt like those eyes could swallow him whole, like the weight of its gaze alone could crush him.

But, like the knight said, the demon didn't move. It stared for a moment longer, then slowly turned and lumbered away. Naruto was still trembling, his breath shaky, his mind trying to catch up with everything that had just happened.

"Are you okay?" the knight asked, his voice cutting through the haze of thoughts racing in Naruto's head. He took a deep breath and forced a wide grin onto his face, masking the storm of confusion that had taken hold of him.

"Of course! You think a measly demon can scare the great Naruto Uzumaki?"

"Naruto Uzumaki," the knight repeated, sounding out the name like he was testing how it felt on his tongue.

"Yep, that's me! And I'm gonna be the greatest Hokage in Konoha," Naruto added, puffing out his chest. But the moment the words left his mouth, he noticed the knight tilt his head slightly.

"You are a strange one, aren't you?" the knight said.

"Well, this strange one just saved your life, dattebayo!" Naruto shot back, crossing his arms.

The knight chuckled, the sound almost warm despite the grim surroundings, and he stretched out his hand. "That you did. My name's Oscar, Knight of Astora. Pleased to meet you."

"You're not from Konoha?" Naruto asked as he grabbed Oscar's hand and shook it. His grip was firm but not crushing.

"I'm not aware of this Konoha you speak of. I am a proud elite knight of Astora, here on my pilgrimage to Lordran."

Lordran? Astora? None of it made any sense. Naruto blinked, trying to process the words, but it was like trying to read a scroll in a language he'd never even seen before. His mind reeled, every question he had piling up on top of each other like a mountain he couldn't climb.

How did I get here? What happened to Konoha? Where is this place?!

He could feel panic rising inside him, but somehow, he didn't let it show. That was new. Usually, his emotions were right there for everyone to see, no filter. But this time, the chaos inside him stayed bottled up. Even he was surprised by how calm he seemed on the outside.

"Is something wrong?"

"No," Naruto lied, though the word felt hollow even as it left his mouth.

"Then why are you still shaking my hand?"

Naruto blinked and realized with a start that he hadn't let go of Oscar's hand. His face flushed with embarrassment, and he quickly pulled his hand back, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Sorry, I just...," he stammered, scrambling for words, the weight of everything he didn't understand pressing down on him. But instead of spiraling, he quickly switched gears. "Where's the key?"

Changing the topic was easier than confronting the questions pounding in his head. He'd figure it out later. Right now, he just needed to focus on getting out of here.

Naruto paused, his eyes flicking back to the glowing system window that floated in front of him. Curiosity gnawed at him, a thought bubbling up from the back of his mind. "I wonder..." he whispered, barely audible even to himself. "Item."

To his shock, the command worked.

[ Inventory ]
— [ Consumables ]
— [ Upgrade Materials ]
— [ Key Items ]
— [ Spells ]
— [ Weapons ]
— [ Ammunition ]
— [ Armour ]
— [ Rings ]

Naruto selected Key Items and clicked on the Dungeon Cell Key.

In an instant, the key materialized in his pocket, as if he had summoned it from thin air. He felt it for a second, still marveling at how this weird system responded to his words. Without another word, he held it up for Oscar to see.

Oscar didn't say anything, but his face showed clear surprise. Naruto could tell the knight had no idea how he'd just done that, and frankly, he didn't either.

"Come on, let's get out of here," he said as he unlocked the rusted metal gate and pushed it open with a creak.

As soon as the door opened, the hall stretched out before him, and he froze. The dungeon was massive, its walls arching into the ceiling like the ribs of some ancient, long-dead beast. Prison cells lined the walls, each one filled with broken metal bars that looked as if they had been wrenched apart by sheer force. Torches flickered along the corridor, casting eerie shadows that danced across the stone floor.

But what really caught Naruto's attention were the figures shambling in the distance. They weren't human—at least, not anymore. Their flesh was peeling away, leaving patches of raw, red meat exposed. Some had barely any skin left at all, their bodies twisted and grotesque. They clutched broken sword hilts in their decaying hands, their eyes hollow and lifeless. The only thing they wore were tattered loincloths, their forms hunched and pitiful.

"What... what are these?" Naruto muttered under his breath, the sight sending a chill down his spine.

"Hollows," Oscar said as he stepped forward, gripping his longsword with both hands. The blade gleamed faintly in the torchlight.

"Hollows?"

"An undead that has lost its purpose."

Naruto stared at the creatures, his mind racing. An undead that had lost its purpose… something about that hit hard, though he couldn't explain why. Shaking the thought away, he glanced at Oscar's sword, an idea forming in his head.

"Can I... um, maybe use your sword?"

"Why?" Oscar asked, not unkindly, but curious.

"I've never used a sword before and…"

Oscar cut Naruto off. "Very well," he said, handing over the longsword.

"Huh, you agreed that easily?"

"Of course. You saved my life," Oscar said with a nod. "And I think teaching you some basic sword skills would be a fair way to repay my debt."

Naruto grinned despite the tension hanging in the air.

"Really? Alright! Let's do this, dattebyo!" he said, gripping the sword, feeling its weight in his hands.

Oscar glanced at the hollows, who stood idle, almost as if they were waiting.

"They are docile hollow," he said, eyeing them carefully. "Perfect test subjects."

Naruto's face lit up like a firework. No one had ever really bothered to teach him anything when he asked. The academy teachers mostly ignored him or brushed him off. But here was Oscar, actually taking the time to show him how to wield a sword.

He felt... grateful. Really grateful.

"This is the Astoria Straight Sword."

Naruto grabbed it, feeling the cold metal grip in his hand. It was heavier than he expected, the weight almost pulling his arm down. He tried to adjust, gripping it tighter, but the sword felt awkward, almost like it didn't belong in his hand. The blade seemed to resist every motion, like he was trying to force it to move in ways it wasn't meant to. The hilt was firm and sturdy, but as he shifted his grip, the sword wobbled slightly in his hand, revealing just how inexperienced he was with it.

"So, what kind of special move are you going to teach me?" Naruto asked, doing a couple of wild swings. They were sloppy, and he knew it. The sword felt too heavy, too clumsy, and the way he swung it only made it more obvious that he'd never held one in his life. He could barely keep it steady as he brought it around.

"I remember when I was younger, I had the same thoughts. Trying to master some amazing sword technique that looked flashy."

Naruto paused, listening closely. Oscar wasn't like the teachers back at the academy. He wasn't lecturing him or making him feel stupid. He actually wanted to teach him, and Naruto wasn't going to waste that. He promised himself he would take this seriously, to repay Oscar for the time he was giving him.

"But life on the battlefield has taught me something important," Oscar continued. "The basics of a weapon are more valuable than any fancy technique."

He raised two fingers in front of Naruto. "Let me teach you two basic techniques that will keep you safe. These apply to any weapon you might use."

Naruto nodded, trying to lock in every word. Two techniques. Got it.

"The first," Oscar said, lifting his sword with one hand, "is the weak attack." He stepped forward and swung horizontally in a swift, clean motion that seemed effortless. The blade moved in a direct line, cutting through the air with precision. "A weak attack uses one hand for a quicker strike. The goal is speed and efficiency—getting the blade to your opponent before they can react. You want to minimize the distance between you and the target, striking quickly and recovering just as fast."

Naruto watched closely as Oscar demonstrated, noticing how he kept his movements compact. His stance was solid, and he didn't waste energy.

"A weak attack isn't about power," Oscar added. "It's about speed, control, and keeping yourself ready for whatever comes next."

Naruto nodded, trying to absorb the lesson. Speed, not strength. That made sense, especially for him. He wasn't exactly the biggest guy around, but he could be fast.

Then, Oscar shifted his stance, this time gripping the sword with both hands. "Now, the strong attack."

He brought the sword up high and drove it down in a powerful vertical strike, his whole body behind the motion. The blade sliced through the air with force, and Naruto could feel the weight of the swing even from where he stood.

"A strong attack requires more strength and endurance," Oscar explained. "You commit more of your body to the swing, using both hands for maximum impact. The goal is to deal significant damage, to break through defenses. It's slower, but the power behind it makes it difficult for an opponent to block or counter."

He alternated between stabs and upward swings, showing Naruto how to use the full range of motion with a strong attack.

"The key to a strong attack," Oscar said, "is timing. You need to know when to use it. It leaves you open, but if timed correctly, it can end a fight quickly."

"You think I'll be able to do this?" Naruto asked, staring nervously at the hollows.

"Of course," Oscar said, his voice steady and confident. The way he spoke, like he genuinely believed in Naruto, sent a jolt of determination through his chest. If Oscar thought he could do it, then he was going to give it his best shot.

He took a deep breath, gripping the sword tightly in his hand. "Okay, weak attack," he muttered to himself, stepping forward. He swung at the first hollow, aiming for a quick, precise strike just like Oscar had shown him, but he misjudged the distance. The sword barely grazed the hollow's side, the swing off-balance and sloppy. He nearly tripped over his own feet, his heart pounding as he stumbled backward, expecting the hollow to lunge at him.

But it didn't move, just stood there, swaying slightly. Naruto gulped, the near-miss making his stomach twist.

"Failure is part of learning, young Naruto. Don't let it define you—learn from it and do better."

"Yeah," Naruto whispered to himself, taking another deep breath. He stepped forward again, raising the sword and focusing on the hollow in front of him. This time, he swung with more control, keeping his movements compact. The blade connected solidly, cutting into the hollow's side with a quick, clean motion.

"Good," Oscar said, his tone approving. "Remember, keep your stance steady and use your body to guide the sword, not just your arms. You want to be quick, but stay balanced."

Naruto nodded, adjusting his footing and trying to follow Oscar's advice. There was another hollow nearby, and he turned to face it, taking a moment to center himself before attacking. This time, the weak attack felt smoother, his grip more secure as he drove the blade forward. The hollow crumpled under the strike, and he felt a rush of satisfaction.

"Excellent," Oscar praised. "Now, the strong attack. Use your whole body. Don't rush it—focus on power and precision."

With Oscar's words echoing in his head, Naruto turned toward the last hollow at the end of the hall. He raised the sword high, gripping it with both hands. "Here goes nothing," he muttered, and then he swung down hard, using all his strength. The sword cut through the air and struck the hollow with a force that reverberated up his arms. It wasn't perfect, but it was a huge improvement from his earlier attempts.

Standing at the top of the stairs, Naruto let out a breathless shout, his heart racing with exhilaration. Swinging a sword is awesome!

He felt alive, the thrill of the fight buzzing through him like lightning.

He turned, ready to ascend the stairs, when Oscar's voice stopped him. "Wait, young Naruto."

Naruto blinked, remembering the sword in his hand. "Oh, yeah. This is your sword. I should give it back."

But Oscar shook his head. "No, you forgot to claim your prize." He pointed to the hollows Naruto had defeated. Naruto followed his gaze and saw a strange white light swirling above the fallen enemies, forming into small orbs.

"What is it?"

"This is a soul," Oscar explained. "Souls can be used to strengthen your abilities. By spending them, you can enhance aspects of your body, like strength, dexterity, and more."

Naruto glanced at the status screen that had appeared earlier, at the numbers that represented different attributes of his body. Maybe, if he collected these souls, he could make those numbers go up and get stronger.

"How do I claim this soul?" Naruto asked eagerly, his eyes fixed on the glowing orbs.

"Just grab it."

Naruto reached out and touched one of the white orbs. It seemed to dissolve, the light sinking into his skin and spreading through his body. It felt warm, a strange, almost tingly sensation that surged through him like a jolt of energy.

"Okay, how do I get stronger?"

"Let's wait until we're in a safe zone," Oscar replied calmly. "Then I'll show you."

Naruto nodded, understanding. There was no point in powering up if they were about to get attacked again.

"Do you still want your sword back?" he offered again.

But Oscar just pointed down the hall. Naruto turned to see another hollow, this one moving toward them, its steps uneven and jerky.

Naruto grinned, feeling a surge of confidence. "Looks like I've got a moving target now!"

Naruto grumbled as he climbed up the cold, metal ladder, his muscles still aching from that ridiculous fight earlier. He could hear Oscar trying—and failing—not to laugh behind him. The fight with that moving hollow had been a disaster. He'd missed his first swing completely, and the hollow went berserk, flailing its sword around like a madman. It nearly ended with Naruto getting skewered in the butt, all because he panicked and tried to run away. Thankfully, the substitution jutsu saved his ass, literally. He sighed, shaking his head at the memory.

But as he continued to climb, a strange feeling washed over him, something warm and familiar, like being wrapped up in a blanket on a cold night. It felt... safe, like being home. He couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Looks like there's a bonfire near us," Oscar said, his voice calm and reassuring.

"Bonfire?" Naruto echoed, confused. What did a fire have to do with this weird sensation? He pushed on, finally reaching the surface, and the sight that greeted him took his breath away.

He found himself in a vast, ancient courtyard, silent and still, like the world had forgotten this place existed. The stones beneath his feet were worn smooth, their surface polished by countless footsteps from a time long past. Crumbling walls, standing defiantly against the march of time, surrounded the space, their once-great height now broken and jagged. Ivy crawled up the weathered stone, clinging desperately to the remains of archways and columns that spoke of a grandeur long faded.

Naruto stared at the architecture in awe. It was huge, imposing, yet... so broken. The sight hit him harder than he expected. Was this what Konoha could become someday? A place of proud history reduced to ruins? He'd always seen Konoha as this bright, strong home from the top of the Hokage Monument. Was this the fate that awaited it, too? The thought sent a chill down his spine.

"Let's take a rest," Oscar said, breaking Naruto's reverie. He pointed towards a strange sword embedded in the ground.

"Is this place safe?" Naruto asked, the unease still lingering.

"Of course. There's a bonfire here."

"The sword?" Naruto asked, his confusion deepening.

Oscar walked up to it, removing his glove. Naruto blinked in surprise when he saw Oscar's hand—it looked like those hollows they'd fought earlier. He wanted to say something, but it felt wrong, like pointing out something personal and painful. He kept quiet, not wanting to disrespect Oscar after all he'd done for him.

Oscar didn't seem to notice Naruto's silence. He sliced his palm and let the blood drip onto the base of the sword. As the drops touched the ground, the sword suddenly ignited, flames bursting forth from its base, casting a warm, inviting glow over the courtyard.

And then, that sensation of safety overwhelmed Naruto. The tension drained from his body, the stress and fear that had been gnawing at him since he arrived in this strange world melted away. He let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding and sank to the ground, the exhaustion hitting him all at once. He lay back, staring up at the sky. His mind was blank, for the first time in what felt like forever, and he just let himself feel the warmth and peace wash over him. No worries, no fears, just the quiet crackle of the fire and the sense that, for now, he was safe.

Naruto closed his eyes, the stone beneath him surprisingly comfortable, and for the first time in what felt like ages, he didn't think about what came next. He just let himself be.

The peaceful warmth from the bonfire was shattered in an instant. Naruto's eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright, heart racing. He glanced over to see Oscar calmly filling a few bottles—with fire. Fire, just casually flowing into the bottles like water.

Naruto rubbed his eyes, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. "Sensei..."

"I know," Oscar replied, his voice steady. "I saw it too."

Just moments before, they had both caught a glimpse of the Asylum Demon soaring through the sky, heading toward the massive door in front of them. The same door they were supposed to go through. And from the look of it, the demon was waiting right on the other side.

"What now?" Naruto asked, his voice uncertain as he watched Oscar stand up and brandish his sword. What was he doing? Was he actually planning on fighting that thing?

"Sensei?"

Oscar turned to him, his expression serious but calm. "Naruto, can you tell me what the most important thing is in a battle?"

"Uh… not getting hurt?"

"Awareness," Oscar corrected, and for a moment, Naruto was more confused than ever. Oscar stepped forward, his sword gripped lightly in one hand. With a swift motion, he stabbed forward, but it was just a light jab—more of a poke than a real attack. Naruto was about to question it when, in a sudden flick, Oscar twisted his wrist, turning the stab into a quick slash. The blade grazed Naruto's cheek, just enough to draw a small line of blood.

"Hey!" Naruto yelped, stepping back and pressing a hand to his cheek.

"Awareness," Oscar repeated, his tone firm. "It's about knowing everything that's happening around you—where your enemies are, what they're planning, and how to react before they even strike. You could be the strongest fighter in the world, but if you're blind to your surroundings, you're as good as defeated."

Naruto blinked, the sting of the cut still fresh, but Oscar's words began to sink in. He thought back to the fight with the hollows, how he'd missed his swing and nearly got himself impaled because he wasn't paying attention to what the hollow was doing. Yeah, he was strong, but he hadn't been aware. He hadn't seen the bigger picture.

"I get that… but why are you standing up for this?"

"I'm going to teach you a technique that will help you always be aware of your enemy. It's something I developed, a technique that earned me the title of knight."

Naruto's heart skipped a beat, excitement bubbling up inside him. A special technique? One that could help him stay aware of everything around him? This was huge. "Is it a powerful technique?"

Oscar chuckled softly. "You can judge that for yourself."

"What's it called?"

"The Way of Focality."

"The Way of Focality," Oscar said, "is awareness born from focus."

Naruto tilted his head, confused. "Focus? Like… what does that even mean?"

Oscar nodded, seemingly expecting the boy's confusion. "To me, Focality makes the world disappear. You only see your enemy, and no matter what move they make, you'll see the path. You'll know how to respond."

His words sounded impressive, but honestly, the theory flew right over Naruto's head. He tried to picture it, but all he could see in his mind was a blank void with some enemy in the middle of it. It didn't make sense. He scratched the back of his head, unsure how to even start learning something like that.

Oscar saw Naruto's confusion and chuckled. "I thought as much. Well then, the only way to truly understand it is through experience. Let's begin."

Before Naruto could protest, Oscar drew his sword, and Naruto instinctively gripped his tighter. His heart pounded in his chest as he realized what Oscar meant—he was going to teach him through battle. Real-life battle. No theory, no long-winded explanations, just the cold, hard edge of a blade.

Naruto took a deep breath, bracing himself as Oscar took a stance. His movements were calm, deliberate.

Naruto made the first move. A quick, weak attack—just as Oscar had taught him. He swung horizontally, aiming to catch Oscar off-guard. But Oscar moved with such ease, sidestepping the strike and countering with a light tap of his blade against Naruto's wrist. It wasn't enough to cut him, but it was a clear message: Naruto had left himself wide open.

"Stay focused."

Gritting his teeth, Naruto adjusted his grip and went in again, this time with a strong attack. He raised the sword high and brought it down with all the force he could muster, hoping the extra power would catch Oscar off balance. But again, Oscar deflected the blow effortlessly, his blade turning Naruto's aside with a swift motion that left Naruto stumbling forward.

Oscar didn't even move much. It was like he could predict everything Naruto was going to do before he even did it.

Frustrated, Naruto launched another weak attack, this time trying to follow up quickly with a second strike. His plan was to overwhelm Oscar with speed. But Oscar's sword was already there, meeting his with a clang before twisting and redirecting the swing. The next moment, Naruto felt the flat of Oscar's blade press gently against his side.

"Focus," Oscar repeated, his voice calm and patient. "You're thinking too much about your moves. Feel the flow of battle, not just the mechanics of it."

Naruto was trying, really trying, but every time he swung, every time he attacked, Oscar was two steps ahead.

Again, Naruto raised his sword for a strong attack, this time hoping to break through Oscar's defense. But Oscar was already moving before Naruto could even fully commit to the strike. His sword arced in a clean, precise motion, knocking Naruto's aside as though it were nothing. In that instant, Naruto realized how far ahead Oscar truly was—how completely outmatched he felt.

"You're too powerful, sensei," Naruto grumbled, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Don't be discouraged—"

"Discouraged?!" the blonde cut him off, his voice rising. "I don't even know the meaning of that word!"

Oscar tilted his head, about to explain. "Discouraged means—"

"Are you stupid or something?" Naruto interrupted, shooting him a look.

"You're the one who said you didn't know the meaning."

Naruto huffed, refusing to back down. "Well, let's see if you can explain the meaning of this ass-whooping! Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

In an instant, the courtyard was filled with twenty of Naruto, all grinning confidently. He spread his clones out, trying to surround Oscar. This time, he thought, I'm going to overwhelm him. No more losing!

Oscar raised an eyebrow. "A little unfair, don't you think?"

"This is fair, dattebayo!" all the clones shouted in unison before charging forward.

But that confidence quickly faded.

As soon as Naruto's clones started swinging their swords, things got... messy. They bumped into each other, some slashing too close, causing clones to pop in quick bursts of smoke. It was chaos. Inexperience was written all over the battlefield. Half of the army wiped itself out before even getting close to Oscar. By the time Naruto realized how bad things were, only a few of them were left standing.

Oscar didn't even seem fazed as his sword flashed, stabbing one of the clones, which burst into smoke.

"You need to learn battle formations for these... doppelgangers," he said as he casually struck down another clone with a precise jab.

"I think I'll get the hang of it!" one of the remaining clones shouted as it rushed forward with a horizontal attack.

With a slight twist of his wrist, Oscar parried the sword, knocking it aside with a sharp clang. In the same motion, his sword shot forward in a clean, practiced thrust, catching the clone in the chest. The clone barely had time to register the hit before it popped into smoke.

Oscar dodged the kunai Naruto threw, but before he could recover, the clones launched a barrage of shurikens, filling the air with spinning blades. Naruto grinned, feeling like he finally had the upper hand. But just as he thought he had Oscar, the knight whipped out his shield, effortlessly blocking the kunai. Naruto's smile faltered.

Then, Oscar charged—shield in front.

Three of Naruto's clones rushed him, each using a heavy attack. For a moment, Naruto thought this would be it. Three against one! But Oscar blocked all three with ease, his shield taking the brunt of the attacks. Before Naruto could react, Oscar kicked the middle clone hard enough to make it pop into smoke.

The remaining two clones swung horizontally, hoping to catch him off guard. Oscar parried one of them with his shield, and to Naruto's shock, he turned his back to the other clone. Naruto expected the clone's sword to land a solid hit, but the blade clanged uselessly against Oscar's armor. That's when it hit Naruto—armor wasn't just for show. It could turn an attack into nothing.

Oscar moved swiftly, popping the second clone with a stab and gut-punching the last one so hard it dissolved into smoke. The courtyard was empty, nothing but the faint trails of dissipating chakra left behind.

Oscar stood in the center of the courtyard, looking around.

"Student," Oscar muttered under his breath, and Naruto couldn't help but grin from his hiding spot. He was calling him his student now.

Hidden slightly to the side, Naruto was using the Transformation Jutsu, coating himself in a thin layer of chakra to reflect and refract the light around him, effectively camouflaging himself. He'd always used this jutsu as a gag—turning into a sexy woman for laughs. But now, he realized why they'd been taught this technique. It was actually useful.

Naruto watched as Oscar scanned the area. He was getting closer… closer… Now! Naruto sprang from his hiding spot, going for a stab with all the force he could muster. But Oscar wasn't surprised.

He didn't even flinch. Instead, he stepped back just as Naruto's sword missed, and without hesitation, Oscar returned with another stab.

It happened so fast that Naruto barely had time to react. His hands moved on instinct, reaching for the sealing scroll in his pocket. He activated it, releasing a puff of smoke and summoning a log in his place, the substitution jutsu saving him at the last second. The log clattered to the ground as Naruto used the chakra burst from his ankles to dodge to the side, his body surging with a short burst of speed.

Tunnel vision hit Naruto hard.

The world around him seemed to blur, fading into the background as his focus narrowed to one thing—Oscar's sword. His eyes dilated as adrenaline pumped through him. Oscar's blade, sharp and gleaming, was so close Naruto could feel the cold steel brushing past his face. Time seemed to slow down, each movement of the sword as clear as day.

Naruto could see the path of the attack. Oscar wasn't just going to stab—he was going to follow through, slice upward, and the Uzumaki was right in the way.

In that instant, Naruto moved purely on instinct. His blade came up just in time, clashing with Oscar's. The force of the deflection sent a jolt up his arm, but he managed to push Oscar's sword aside, just enough to save himself. His breath came in sharp, ragged gasps, his heart pounding so hard he could feel it in his throat. His body was trembling from the adrenaline rush, but he'd done it. He'd survived.

"Congratulations," Oscar said, his voice steady. "You've experienced Focality for the first time."

Naruto gave a weak nod, still trying to catch his breath. His mind was racing, replaying the last few seconds over and over in his head. That sensation—everything narrowing down to the sword, to Oscar, to the moment of impact—it was like nothing he'd ever felt before.

"A physician in Astora used to tell me that the human body is capable of so much more, and in near-death scenarios, these limitations are lifted," Oscar explained, his words sinking in slowly. "The Way of Focality works in the same way—enhancing your ability to perceive the world, to focus entirely on your enemy."

Naruto couldn't hold back his thoughts. "How is that a technique?" he blurted out, confused. It didn't seem like something you could just turn on whenever you wanted.

Oscar didn't seem bothered by Naruto's bluntness. "Because that's not the Way of Focality itself. What you just experienced was a glimpse of Focality. The technique I developed is a breathing method that allows you to maintain that state of heightened awareness—without the need for near-death experiences."

Naruto nodded, his curiosity piqued. A breathing technique?

"Now, breathe in," Oscar instructed, his voice soft but firm. "And maintain."

Standing in front of the massive iron door, its surface a mix of rust and decay, Naruto couldn't help but feel small. The door was marked with the scars of battle—deep dents and gashes crisscrossed its once ornate design. It was intimidating, but not as intimidating as what waited on the other side.

He glanced at Oscar, who already had his hand on the door, ready to push it open. "Sensei, I still haven't mastered the Way of Focality. I've barely managed it twice," Naruto said, his voice shaking slightly.

"The Way of Focality is mastered on the battlefield, my student," Oscar replied, his tone calm but firm. "With your strange abilities, I'm sure you'll survive. If anything, it's I who should be afraid of dying."

"Don't say that!" Naruto nearly yelled, his hands trembling. The thought of Oscar dying—of being alone again, was too much to bear.

"Are you afraid?" Oscar asked, his voice gentle, but Naruto could feel the weight of his question. He wanted to lie, to seem braver than he was, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

"I am… I'm scared."

To his surprise, Oscar didn't admonish him or call him a coward. Instead, he nodded. "Good. Only the fool and the arrogant aren't afraid of the enemy. And remember, both don't live long."

Naruto nodded, feeling a little steadier as Oscar's words sunk in. Fear wasn't a weakness—it was a sign he understood the danger. He could work with that. Together, they pushed the heavy iron doors open, the groan of metal echoing in the empty space.

On the other side was a massive, open-ceiling courtyard. The tiled floor beneath them was cracked and weathered, with a layer of dust and debris covering most of it. Tall stone pillars lined the edges, and to the left, a massive metal door stood closed, like a prison gate. Old, broken pots littered the space.

Then came the roar.

The asylum demon landed with a thundering crash, its hulking form blocking the massive black door at the far end of the courtyard. Naruto took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. Shadow Clone Jutsu!

His clones sprang to life, each one taking up position with shields interlocked, forming a makeshift wall between them and the demon. The shield formation felt solid, like a barrier that could withstand anything. Oscar had given Naruto the shield, and now, they were their first line of defense.

The demon roared again, and before Naruto knew it, it leaped into the air. His heart dropped as he watched its massive form come crashing down toward them, hammer first. The clones held steady, but the impact was enormous. The ground shook, and a deafening crack rang out as the hammer slammed into the formation. Most of the clones popped on impact, their forms vanishing into smoke, but the shield wall had done its job. The shockwave was dulled, and through the smoke, Oscar and Naruto saw their chance.

They moved as one. From the sides, they flanked the demon. Naruto slashed with quick, precise horizontal attacks, while Oscar raised his sword high with two hands and brought it down with a heavy, downward strike on its leg.

[Name: Asylum Demon]
[HP: 1980 / 2,195]

The demon's HP dropped, and for a brief moment, Naruto felt a surge of hope.
They were doing it!

But that hope was short-lived. The demon flapped its massive wings, lifting its grotesque body a few feet into the air.

"Ha, scaredy cat!" Naruto thought, the adrenaline making him bold. But that thought immediately turned into regret as the wings suddenly stopped and gravity took over. The demon came crashing down with the force of a house falling from the sky.

Run!

Naruto barely had time to think, as his body acted on its own. He sprinted, but the shockwave that followed its landing was devastating. The ground rippled like an earthquake, and he felt himself lifted off his feet, slammed face-first into the hard, cracked tiles. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and his vision blurred.

Naruto tried to push himself up, groaning from the pain that shot through his body. His arms and legs felt heavy, like lead, and every breath hurt. His head pounded, and he could feel blood dripping from his lip. He forced his eyes open just in time to see the demon raising its hammer, ready to swing it down on him.

Move!

Years of practicing the quick draw for substitution jutsu saved him. Naruto's hand instinctively reached for Oscar's shield.

The next thing the boy knew, he was thrown backward, the force of the impact sending him flying through the air. His body hurtled toward one of the stone pillars, and he barely had time to reinforce his arms and back with chakra before he slammed into it. The pain was intense, like a shockwave of agony radiating from his spine. But the chakra reinforcement saved him—without it, he would've snapped like a twig.

Naruto slid down the pillar, gasping for breath, his hands shaking from the adrenaline. His heart pounded in his throat, and he could feel sweat dripping down his face. He was alive, but just barely.

The asylum demon leaped from one side of the courtyard to the other. The blonde barely had time to react as he dodged and sprinted up a nearby pillar, the stone trembling beneath his feet as the demon's massive hammer crashed down with a thunderous slam.

"Why are you after me?!" he shouted, panic lacing his voice as he jumped off the pillar just before the demon's hammer shattered it to pieces. He landed behind the demon, panting heavily.

In that brief moment, the Way of Focality kicked in, and Naruto saw the demon's next move in his mind—a backspin attack. But even though he could see it coming, he wasn't ready. Pain shot through his back, a sharp reminder of how beat up he already was. His muscles screamed in protest, making it impossible to roll out of the way.

The pain was like fire spreading across his spine, making every movement feel like he was tearing himself apart. He could barely move, let alone dodge the attack. His chest tightened, his breath coming in ragged gasps as the demon spun its giant hammer toward him.

Just when Naruto thought he was done for, he felt Oscar's hand grab him, yanking him forward. The demon's backspin slammed into the metal door with a deafening crash, the impact so powerful it created a massive hole, revealing a new path—a potential way out.

Naruto and Oscar locked eyes, both knowing what to do without saying a word. Naruto summoned a group of shadow clones, sending them to distract the demon as he and Oscar sprinted toward the opening.

As they ran, the asylum demon rammed its hammer into the wall, creating an even bigger hole in the process. The ground shook as the wall collapsed, blocking the demon's path but leaving them to feel the vibrations of its rampage. The staircase beneath them trembled, each step rattling as if it might give way at any second.

"Are you okay?" Oscar asked.

"I'll live," Naruto managed, his voice shaky. But the second he stopped, all the pain came rushing back. His back throbbed, his legs ached, and his head felt like it was going to split in two. Basic chakra control and body reinforcement weren't enough to protect him from all the injuries. He healed fast, sure, but he still hated the pain.

Something warm touched his lips. Naruto opened his eyes to see Oscar offering him one of those strange bottles he'd filled with bonfire earlier. He hesitated but took a sip, immediately feeling a rush of warmth flood through him. It was like the bottle had lit a fire inside him, burning away the pain and healing his injuries in an instant. His muscles relaxed, his breathing steadied, and it felt like every ache and bruise vanished.

"Better?"

"Yeah," Naruto sighed, the relief flooding through him. "I would be if I had some Ichiraku ramen."

Oscar hummed in response, probably not understanding Naruto's craving. They descended down the staircase, which led into a room filled with old, stagnant water. The place smelled like it hadn't seen fresh air in decades, the water murky and dark.

Naruto wrinkled his nose at the sight of it. "How likely am I to die if I drink that water?"

"You'll live," Oscar said, knowing undead don't exactly get diseases.

Naruto laughed, despite himself, and jumped out of Oscar's arms, bending down to scoop up some water. Before he could take a sip, a sharp sound pierced the air—a high-pitched whistle.

Naruto froze. His heart skipped a beat as he saw Oscar catch an arrow, just inches from where his head had been. His pulse pounded in his ears.

"Can't this world just give me a break?" Naruto groaned, looking up to see the hollow archer responsible for the shot. The hollow, holding a bow and arrow, had the nerve to turn and run as soon as it saw him notice.

"Get it," Oscar said.

"You don't have to tell me twice," Naruto grumbled, bolting after the hollow. The ground beneath his feet was cracked, uneven, with stones and debris scattered everywhere. His footsteps echoed as he sprinted along the broken pathway, the hollow always just a few steps ahead.

Naruto could feel the anger bubbling up inside him, and he was about to unsheathe his sword, ready to impale the hollow out of pure revenge. But then something caught his eye—something shiny.

An axe, lying in the hands of a hollow that had long since died. His heart skipped a beat. Isn't that my class item? Naruto thought.

He didn't care how or why it was here—he grabbed the axe without hesitation, its weight feeling solid in his hand.

Just as Naruto hefted the axe, another arrow came whistling through the air. His instincts kicked in. He swung the axe, cutting through the arrow with a satisfying thunk. The hollow archer took aim again, but this time, Naruto could see the entire path—the Way of Focality showed him everything.

The hollow let loose the arrow, and Naruto dove to the side, rolling up to his feet with ease. In one fluid motion, he charged forward and swung the axe, decapitating the hollow in a single, clean strike. The head rolled to the side, and Naruto stood there, breathing heavily, his heart still racing from the fight.

"Yeah," he muttered to himself. Maybe I am getting the hang of this, dattebyo.

Naruto glanced to the side, his curiosity piqued as he noticed a path leading to an upper floor. "Isn't that…" he mumbled to himself, before calling out, "Sensei, come here!"

A minute later, Oscar joined him at the stone edge, both of them peering down. They were standing on the upper floor, looking directly at the bonfire below.

"Should we go down? I think I have some ninja wire."

But Oscar shook his head, and Naruto quickly followed his gaze. The asylum demon was still down there, thankfully oblivious to their presence for the time being. It hadn't spotted them yet, but Naruto knew that could change in an instant.

"So, what now?" Naruto asked, feeling the weight of the situation press down on him. Oscar looked up. Above them, there was another floor—another potential path.

"We should do a sneak attack," Oscar said, his voice calm and steady.

"From the sky?" Naruto felt a spark of excitement at the idea. He could already picture it in his head—dropping down on that giant demon from above like some kind of super ninja. Oscar nodded, confirming his thoughts.

They quickly scanned the area, their eyes darting left and right. Both paths seemed to lead upward, to the top of the building. Without waiting for Oscar to say anything, Naruto took off toward the right. His footsteps echoed lightly off the stone as he reached the stairs, only to find them broken in places, the path ahead jagged and incomplete.

But something caught his eye—a weird ring, sitting right in the middle of one of the upper stairs. His fist lightly tapped his palm as he remembered the ring section in his inventory.

This had to be important, right?

He summoned some shadow clones and had them form a ladder, their bodies interlocking to help him reach the ring. Climbing up, he grabbed it—the rusted iron felt rough and old in his hand, like it had been sitting here for centuries, forgotten.

"Sensei, what is this thing?" Naruto called out, holding the ring up as he jumped back down.

Oscar, however, was already deep in thought, going through various stances as if preparing for some kind of powerful sneak attack.

"That's a magic ring."

"You're kidding!"

"No, I'm surprised you found one. Magic rings are incredibly rare treasures, created by beings who can imbue pieces of their soul into the item, creating a magical phenomenon," Oscar explained, his tone calm, though Naruto could tell even he hadn't expected this. He seemed intrigued, though he didn't stop preparing for the attack.

"Yay!" Naruto cheered, excited by the prospect of owning something so rare and powerful. Without hesitation, he slipped the ring onto his finger, feeling the rusted metal press against his skin. He waited, expecting something to happen—maybe a rush of power or a flash of magic.

But… nothing. He stood there, staring at the ring, waiting for some kind of sign. Anything. But it just sat there on his finger, as ordinary as any old piece of junk.

"This is worthless!" Naruto groaned, feeling like the world had just pulled a cruel joke on him. He was ready to cry at the sheer unfairness of it all. How could a magic ring do absolutely nothing? He glared at it in frustration, about to yank it off when, suddenly, a system window popped up in front of him.

[ Item: Rusted Iron Ring ]
[ Description: This iron ring was used to shackle the guilty. It is terribly rusted, and faintly stained with blood. Those who find this strange ring to their liking will be pleased to find it easier to gain footing on poor ground such as swamps. ]

Naruto blinked slowly, still holding the rusted ring in his hand, and glanced at Oscar.

"Do you want this useless piece of junk?" he asked, feeling more annoyed than curious now.

"You are its finder, my student. Let's wait and see what its magic effect is."

Naruto sighed, glancing at the system window. "It helps me gain footing on poor ground…" he muttered, clearly unimpressed. "Useless."

Without warning, Oscar shoved him, catching Naruto off guard. His body reacted instinctively, and he immediately caught his balance.

"Hey! What's the big deal?" Naruto snapped, annoyed, as he looked at Oscar. But Oscar just pointed at his feet.

"What?"

"You regained your footing immediately when I pushed you."

"Yeah?" Naruto said, still not understanding.

"The ring helped you regain your footing. If you're ever in a situation where you're about to trip or fall, you can regain your balance. That's the magic of the ring," Oscar explained.

Naruto frowned for a moment before it clicked.
"I need to see the usefulness even in things that seem useless, right?"

"No," Oscar said flatly, surprising Naruto.

"Hey! Then what was the lesson?" Naruto asked, narrowing his eyes.

Oscar glanced at the ring. "That is a stupid ring."

Naruto could tell Oscar was joking, so he played along, clutching the ring dramatically. "But it's my precious, you can't have it!"

They both chuckled as they walked towards the right together, but their lighthearted moment was interrupted by a heavy rumbling sound in the distance—a low, menacing noise. They turned just in time to see a giant iron ball rolling down the stairs—fast. Way too fast.

Naruto barely had time to react before it was upon them.

The ball slammed into him like a freight train, throwing him to the side. His body crashed against the wall, and he hit the ground hard, gasping for air. Everything spun, his vision blurred. Then, he looked down—his leg was bent at an unnatural angle, twisted in ways it wasn't supposed to go.

At first, Naruto didn't register the pain. It felt distant, like it wasn't even his leg. But then, the pain hit all at once, like a sledgehammer to his nerves. Searing, blinding agony shot up his leg, burning through him. Tears welled up in his eyes as he tried to breathe through the pain, but it was unbearable, all-consuming.

Oscar was there in an instant, grabbing Naruto with one arm and shoving an Estus Flask into his hands with the other. "Drink," he said firmly.

Naruto downed the flask, and the warm liquid flowed through him like molten light. A bright, golden glow surrounded his leg as the bones snapped back into place with sickening cracks. The pain vanished almost instantly, replaced by a strange numbness as his leg healed before his eyes.

Oscar charged at the hollows that had pushed the iron ball, leaving Naruto behind. Still shaken, Naruto sat there, staring at his leg. It was completely healed, as if nothing had happened.

"This thing is awesome," he muttered, glancing at the now-empty flask in his hand.

But as he looked at the flask, something caught his eye. His reflection. He froze, staring at the distorted image of his face in the glass. Beneath the pyromancer's hood, his skin was thin and reddish, like a hollow. His eyes widened in horror. His face—his actual face—was ugly. Rotten.

"No!" Naruto gasped, dropping the flask, his heart pounding in his chest.

"What's wrong, Naruto?" Oscar's voice broke through Naruto's panicked thoughts, and he quickly came over.

The blonde yanked his hood down dramatically, revealing his face—or what was left of it. "I'm ugly!"

Oscar just stared in silence, and for the first time in a long while, Naruto felt embarrassed. Oscar had been worried about him, and here he was, freaking out over his looks. But Naruto couldn't help it. How could he not? Seeing his face look like a hollow would freak anyone out!

After what felt like forever, Oscar finally spoke, his voice calm but serious. "Naruto, you're not from this world."

Naruto blinked, turning to Oscar in disbelief. "What? What do you mean I'm… not from here?" he stammered, completely caught off guard. This whole time, he'd just assumed this place was some hidden part of his world—a secret village, a weird prison maybe. But another world? His mind spun, and he looked at Oscar as though the knight could somehow explain away the shock.

Oscar knelt down in front of him, his armor creaking slightly as he lowered himself. For a moment, Naruto flinched, unsure what to expect. Is this guy about to fight me? Was it bad I'm not from here? But Oscar only looked at him with a quiet, almost solemn understanding.

"That explains a lot," Oscar said finally, easing down beside Naruto. "Things that didn't quite fit… like the strange way you handle power, your… unusual view of the world."

"Unusual?" Naruto echoed, frowning. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Oscar's lips quirked in a faint smile. "Naruto, you're… brighter than anyone I've met in Lordran," he said, like he was choosing his words carefully. "You joke, you laugh… even when you're in danger. No one here acts like that. Even the children of Astora don't fool around the way you do. They're cautious. Untrusting. Afraid."

Naruto snorted. "What kind of stupid world is this?"

He hadn't meant it to come out so harshly, but he couldn't help it. The thought of kids not being able to mess around, not getting to laugh, to be kids… it was wrong. Sure, he hadn't exactly had the best childhood in Konoha, but he'd found ways to make it fun. He'd been a prankster, a fool, just to get a reaction. Just to get noticed. Even if it was for the wrong reasons, it was better than sinking into loneliness.

But here? Where even kids had to be afraid and serious just to survive? That wasn't a life.

Oscar seemed to sense his frustration, and his expression softened. "Life here… is harsh. Fear can become a shield, but it's a heavy one to carry, especially for children."

Naruto shook his head, the injustice of it all gnawing at him. "But… why's it gotta be like that?"

Oscar sighed. "That… is a long story." He hesitated, then slowly reached up, removing his helmet. Beneath the metal was a hollowed face, sunken and decayed—an eerie reflection of Naruto's own form here. But despite the wear and darkness, there was something familiar.

Blonde hair.

Naruto felt a strange warmth at the sight. He's like me, he thought, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Guess we've got more in common than I thought, huh?"

Oscar leaned back, his eyes distant, as if he could see across time itself. "Naruto, have you ever wondered what the world was like in the beginning?"

Naruto tilted his head, brow furrowing. "Uh… I dunno? Pretty shitty, since they didn't have ramen?"

Oscar chuckled, a low sound that echoed softly in the empty space around them. "I suppose, yes… there wasn't much to enjoy back then. But it wasn't just about food. It was… different. Imagine a world shrouded in fog. No sun, no warmth, no cold. Just gray crags, towering Archtrees, and the Everlasting Dragons ruling over all."

"Dragons? Like, giant fire-breathing lizards?"

"Sort of," Oscar said. "But these dragons were more than that. They were eternal, untouched by time or fire. They lived in a world that never changed… until one day, something new appeared."

"Let me guess—someone showed up and kicked dragon butt?"

"Not quite," Oscar replied, his tone thoughtful. "It started with fire. Fire brought change—things like heat and cold, life and death, light and dark. And from the dark, beings came forward, drawn to the flame. They found power within it—souls as old as the fire itself. The Souls of Lords."

"Lords, huh?" Naruto muttered, trying to wrap his head around it. "So, they were, like, the big shots?"

Oscar nodded. "Yes. The first to claim these souls were Nito, the First of the Dead; the Witch of Izalith and her daughters; and Gwyn, the Lord of Sunlight. Each of them was… powerful, beyond anything we could imagine."

Oscar paused, as if debating whether to continue, then sighed. "There was one more. The Furtive Pygmy. He wasn't like the others. Smaller, weaker… easily overlooked. But he found something within the flame as well: a Dark Soul."

"A Dark Soul?" Naruto echoed, trying to piece it all together. "So… this guy didn't go around fighting dragons, then?"

Oscar shook his head. "No. While Gwyn and the others used their power to go to war with the dragons, the Pygmy did something else. He hid in the shadows, kept his power secret. And in time, he… shared it."

"Shared it?" Naruto blinked, intrigued. "Like… with who?"

"With others, like you."

Naruto's jaw dropped. "Wait, me? You mean—?"

"The Pygmy used his Dark Soul to create a new kind of being," Oscar explained. "A whole race. He created humans."

Naruto sat back, letting the weight of that sink in. "So… humans came from this Dark Soul thing? From this guy?"

"Yes. But it's a bit more complicated," Oscar replied, his voice a low rumble. "The Pygmy's Dark Soul was a beacon—a light in the darkness, one that stretched across worlds. Over the years, people from other places, other worlds… they felt its pull. They were drawn here, across time and space."

Naruto's eyes widened. "So… you're saying he brought people here? Like… like me?"

Oscar nodded. "Exactly. You're not the first, Naruto. Many have been drawn here, especially in the early days of the world. Humans, warriors, seekers of power… even heroes."

"Heroes?"

Oscar smiled faintly, sensing his thoughts. "Yes. But as time went on, things changed. The Age of Fire brought kingdoms, power… and fear. The Lords grew wary of humanity. Especially Gwyn."

Naruto frowned. "Wait, why? Didn't they all fight together?"

"They did… for a while," Oscar admitted. "But humans carried pieces of the Dark Soul, a power that Gwyn and the others feared. He began to worry that the strength of humans could one day surpass even his own."

"So what'd he do? Kick 'em out?"

Oscar's face hardened. "Worse. Gwyn tried to control humanity. He marked them with a brand… something called the Darksign." He reached down, tracing a fiery circle in the dirt—a symbol Naruto recognized instantly.

Naruto's eyes went wide. "That's… that's the ring of fire I touched before I came here…"

Oscar nodded slowly. "The Darksign binds humans to this world. It keeps them here, traps them in cycles of life and death… until there's almost nothing left."

Naruto stared at the symbol, feeling a chill run through him. "So… that's what brought me here? This… Darksign?"

"Maybe," Oscar replied, his voice soft. "Or maybe the Pygmy's beacon still calls to those with enough spirit to hear it. Either way… it's no accident you're here, Naruto."

Naruto let out a long breath, trying to process everything.

"So… how do I go back?"

He tried to sound casual, but even to him, the question sounded desperate. Konoha was so far away now, but it was still his home. He didn't belong here in this place of endless decay.

Oscar gave him a small, understanding smile. "You miss it, don't you? Your home?"

Naruto bit his lip, looking away. "I mean… it's not like there's anyone waiting for me," he admitted quietly, his voice barely a whisper.

Oscar's face softened. "You're an orphan?"

Naruto nodded, the word hanging heavily between them. He'd said it so many times before, but here, in this strange, desolate world, it felt like he was admitting it for the first time.

Oscar's gaze was filled with a rare sympathy. "That explains why you're so… full of life," he said softly.

Naruto frowned, caught off guard. "Full of life? What's that supposed to mean?"

Oscar smiled, a gentle, almost wistful look in his eyes. "When you've known loneliness… true loneliness… sometimes all you can do is laugh. It's the only way to keep the darkness from swallowing you whole."

Naruto looked at him, really looked at him, and saw the same loneliness he'd seen in his own reflection so many times before.

"Yeah…" he murmured, his voice barely audible. "Beats the alternative, right?"

They sat in silence after that, a silence that spoke louder than words. In that moment, they both understood something unspoken, something that went beyond words, beyond worlds. They both knew what it was to be alone and, somehow, to keep going.

For the first time since he'd arrived, Naruto didn't feel quite so far from home.

"Do you still want to go back?" Oscar asked after a while.

Naruto shrugged. "Yeah. My home might be crap, but it's better than this. Plus, the ramen is great there." He tried to laugh, but it came out weaker than he wanted.

Oscar looked down, like he didn't know how to say what came next. "I'm sorry, but… I don't know how you can go back to your home."

Naruto took a deep breath, scratching the back of his head. He wasn't sure how to feel. Part of him wanted to freak out, but another part… "Well, a break from Konoha does sound nice," he said, half-joking but half-meaning it.

Oscar watched him closely, probably trying to figure out if Naruto was putting on a brave face or if he really meant it. Honestly? Naruto wasn't sure either. He'd always looked on the bright side of things, and maybe this was just another thing to deal with. Or maybe… his life back home wasn't all that great, and he didn't mind the idea of a break from it.

Oscar stood up, his armor clinking softly. "Well, it doesn't matter," he said firmly, his voice filled with resolve. "As long as you're here, I'll stand beside you as a teacher and as a friend."

He held out his hand. For a second, Naruto just stared at it. No one had ever offered him something like that before—someone to stand beside him, to teach him, and to call him a friend. A genuine smile spread across Naruto's face, wider this time. He clasped Oscar's hand, and Oscar helped him to his feet.

"Let's go kick this demon's ass," Naruto said, his grin full of determination.

As they walked up the stairs, Naruto couldn't help but glance around, confused. "Sensei, where's the hollow?"

Oscar pointed to the side, and Naruto nearly burst out laughing. The hollow had been kicked off the high ground. Naruto could easily imagine Oscar just booting it down without a second thought. The image was ridiculous, but he had to admit—it worked.

As they continued, Naruto followed Oscar through a metal-barred door, stepping into a broken hall under a sky that seemed forever gray. The roof had long since crumbled, leaving debris scattered across the floor like ancient bones. But what caught Naruto's attention wasn't the destruction—it was the land outside.

Instead of the lush green forests of Konoha, all Naruto could see were jagged mountains, rising like prison bars around the asylum, trapping them in. The air was cold and sharp, with a biting wind that whipped around him, tugging at his clothes and cutting through his skin like a kunai.

Suddenly, Naruto felt warmth—a faint heat in the icy air. He turned, his eyes locking onto a corpse slumped against the wall. Unlike the hollows they'd fought before, this one looked more… human. But that wasn't what caught his eye. It was the hand—embers glowing faintly on the fingers, as though they were still clinging to life even after death.

"Pyromancy Flame," Oscar whispered, breaking the silence beside him.

Naruto looked at him, confused. "What's that?"

"It's an item that can help you use flame arts."

Immediately, it clicked in Naruto's mind. That's what I need to use fireballs!

Without thinking, Naruto rushed forward, excitement bubbling in his chest. But something stopped him—a gut feeling, a sense that something wasn't right. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the corners of the hall. Something felt off.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement. Instinct kicked in, and Naruto hurled a kunai toward the shadows. The sound echoed through the area, and sure enough, a few hollows began limping toward them.

"Good call," Naruto muttered to himself as he grabbed a few more shuriken. It was as good a time as any to practice. He flung the shuriken, watching as they sliced through the air, but the hollows didn't fall immediately. One of them dropped after the third kunai, while the other kept coming—until Oscar stepped in and cut it down with a clean swing of his sword.

Naruto turned, eyes scanning for more threats. That's when he saw it.

The last hollow at the end of the hall was different. It was armored, holding a spear and shield—more prepared, more dangerous. Naruto's instincts told him this wouldn't be like the others.

"Remember, Naruto," Oscar said calmly, his voice steady. "There are two ways to deal with a spear, or any weapon with long reach."

Naruto listened closely, absorbing the lesson.

"One is to keep your distance. The other is to get so close that the weapon's range becomes its weakness."

Naruto nodded, fully understanding the strategy. Neither he nor the hollow moved. It stood there, waiting, its spear tip gleaming in the dim light.

"Your turn," Oscar said, stepping aside.

"Oh yeah!" Naruto shouted as he suddenly remembered the pyromancy flame. Without wasting a second, he sprinted toward it.

The pyromancy flame still glowed faintly on the corpse's hand, the embers flickering like the last gasp of a dying fire. Naruto reached out and touched it, and as soon as his fingers made contact, the embers seemed to come alive. They slithered like snakes, crawling up his arm, their heat warming his skin. The ashes covering the corpse's hand blew away in the wind, swirling in the air before magically attaching themselves to his hand.

For a brief moment, Naruto saw something strange—a beautiful pattern, like vines etched into his skin—but just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished. All that remained was his hand, now looking ashy and strange.

"Naruto!" Oscar called from behind him, pulling his attention back to the battlefield. Naruto turned to see the undead spearman marching toward him, its eyes glowing with a dull, lifeless light.

Naruto grinned. "I'm going to do a fireball, sensei! Back up, I don't want you to get hurt." With that, he stretched his hand out in front of him.

The moment he did, something clicked. He instinctively knew how to use this new power. It wasn't like chakra—this energy was different, more violent, more chaotic. It roared inside him like a wild flame, eager to burst out.

Naruto focused, pulling that energy into his hand. A beautiful orb of fire formed in his palm, flickering and crackling like it could explode at any moment. The heat radiated from it, making the air shimmer.

The undead soldier took another step forward, raising its spear. Naruto didn't wait. With a swift motion, he hurled the fireball. As it left his hand, he felt a little disappointed—it wasn't as big as Sasuke's fireballs, nowhere near as cool. But that disappointment vanished the moment it hit the soldier.

Boom!

Flames erupted in a massive explosion, scorching the entire area. The blast was so intense that the walls themselves were charred black, and the undead soldier was engulfed in the inferno. Naruto's eyes widened in shock. "Holy shit," he muttered. "My flames are definitely stronger than Sasuke's, right, sensei?"

"It's not dead," Oscar said calmly, his eyes fixed on the flames.

Naruto turned, and sure enough, the soldier walked out of the fire, its armor and spear melted, dripping like molten metal. But it didn't stop. It started running toward him, faster than Naruto expected. His heart leapt into his throat as it charged. Acting on instinct, he swung his sword, slicing its neck clean through.

The soldier dropped, its body crumbling into a lifeless heap at his feet. Naruto stood there, breathing heavily.

Oscar walked over, giving him a nod of approval. "Always make sure the enemy is down. Don't turn your back on them until you're certain."

Naruto nodded, taking Oscar's advice to heart. That had been way too close for comfort.

Suddenly, the entire place shook, the ground rumbling beneath their feet. The knight and the boy turned to the side, and there down below, pacing back and forth, was the asylum demon. It was restless, moving with a kind of impatience, like it was waiting for something.

Naruto's hand tightened around his sword. "Looks like our friend is getting anxious."

Oscar glanced at him, his calm demeanor never faltering. "This battle will be different, Naruto. Are you ready?"

Naruto grinned, the thrill of the fight returning. "You bet! Let's take this thing down for good."

Oscar moved before Naruto could even blink, launching himself into the air and driving his sword down in a vicious plunge attack onto the demon's head. His blade cut deep, slicing off part of the demon's tree-like horns—if they could even be called that. The impact was so powerful it sent a spray of blood and ichor splattering across the ground, the demon roaring in pain.

Oscar landed in a roll, quickly making his way toward the gate as Naruto summoned dozens of shadow clones. They leaped toward the asylum demon, but none of them attacked. Instead, they popped, creating a massive cloud of smoke that engulfed the monster.

From the high ground, Naruto released a fireball, using the smoke as cover. The fireball soared through the air and exploded on the demon's face, flames licking up its grotesque features. But the demon was tougher than expected. It roared in fury, and its hammer shot up, smashing into the platform where Naruto stood. The ground beneath him shattered, crumbling into rubble. But the Way of Focality had kicked in—Naruto saw it coming. He jumped just in time, narrowly avoiding being crushed as the upper floor was obliterated beneath him.

Naruto caught a glimpse of the demon's face as he landed, its mouth open wide. Jagged, rotten teeth lined its maw, dark smoke curling from its throat like it was about to unleash something far worse than any attack so far.

Acting on instinct, Naruto summoned more clones and used them as a launchpad to propel himself back into the fight. Meanwhile, Oscar charged in with a two-handed grip on his sword, delivering a devastating horizontal slice across the demon's midsection. The blade cut deep, blood spraying from the wound as the demon let out a guttural roar of agony.

"Sensei, dodge!" Naruto shouted as he landed, seeing the demon wind up for another attack. Oscar rolled to the side just in time, and Naruto took the opportunity to hurl another fireball. This time, he aimed for the Achilles tendon, the fireball exploding on impact. A chunk of the demon's leg was blown off in a fiery blast, blood and chunks of flesh flying everywhere as the massive creature collapsed to one knee, roaring in pain.

The demon's wings flared open suddenly, and Naruto knew what was coming next. The demon began to rise, preparing for its shockwave attack. Oscar and Naruto were near the gate, just outside the immediate area of effect, but even from where they stood, they could feel it—the wind, the deafening sound, the dust filling the air as the demon crashed back down.

"Now!" Naruto shouted, and his clones responded instantly, hurling fireballs at the demon. Each fireball exploded on contact, covering the creature in flames. The demon's body was engulfed, the flames spreading quickly, but it wasn't done. With a savage roar, it lunged toward them, massive and terrifying.

Naruto barely had time to react when he felt Oscar's boot hit his back, shoving him forward. He stumbled, his jaw dropping as he saw Oscar do the impossible. Oscar parried the demon's giant swing, his sword cutting cleanly through the head of the demon's massive hammer. The weapon splintered, the hammer's head falling to the ground with a heavy thud. In one fluid motion, Oscar moved in for the kill, his blade plunging deep into the demon's stomach.

The demon screamed—a horrendous, bloodcurdling sound—as its stomach split open. Blood poured out, thick and dark, pooling on the ground beneath it. Tendons were severed, its intestines spilling out in long, grotesque ropes, steam rising from the exposed flesh. The creature's body convulsed, twitching as the flames continued to burn through its skin, charring the muscle and bone beneath.

It was chaos—violent, bloody chaos.

[ Name: Asylum Demon ]
[ HP: 980 / 2,195 ]

For a moment, Naruto almost felt sorry for the thing in front of him—almost. But then, something shifted, and the air around him felt wrong. The hairs on his arms stood on end as the asylum demon lifted the broken handle of its hammer. His heart pounded in his chest, his instincts screaming that something was coming. He watched in disbelief as the handle began to twist and warp, almost like it was alive. The demon's hammer morphed into a staff, pulling the broken pots around them into its grip, fusing them together to form a jagged, sharp edge.

[ Bindings of Lord Gywn have been broken ]

[ Name: Stray Demon ( 2nd Phase ) ]
[ HP: 980 / 2,195 ]

Naruto's breath caught in his throat. It can change its weapon?

Without wasting a second, he threw his hands together and shouted, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Dozens of clones appeared in a puff of smoke, charging toward the demon in unison. His heart was racing, but he kept his focus. We've got this!

The demon swung wide with its new staff, and most of Naruto's clones dodged it with ease. But then—Bang!

A deafening explosion ripped through the air. His ears rang, his head spun, and he barely registered the red flash of light before he hit the ground, hard. His body screamed in pain, and he gasped for breath, trying to figure out what had just happened. His clones... most of them were gone. They had popped almost instantly, wiped out by whatever that blast was.

This demon can use spells?

The thought clawed its way through the haze in his mind as he staggered to his feet. His body felt heavy, unsteady. Everything hurt, and his vision blurred. Before he could fully gather himself, he saw the demon again, gripping its staff like a baseball bat. He could barely react as it swung towards him, the jagged edge of the staff gleaming as it cut through the air with terrifying speed.

Naruto tried to move, but his body felt like it was moving through mud. His muscles refused to listen, still reeling from whatever weird spell had knocked him down. His chest tightened, and the cold realization hit him hard: I can't dodge this.

Is this the end?

The thought raced through his mind as he watched the staff coming at him in what felt like slow motion.

Suddenly, he felt a hard shove from the side—Oscar's hand on his shoulder. Naruto stumbled backward, gasping as he saw Oscar leap in front of the attack, his shield raised. The demon's staff connected with a horrifying crack, the impact so violent that Oscar was sent flying through the air like a ragdoll, slamming into the second-floor wall with a sickening thud.

"Sensei?!" Naruto screamed, his voice raw with panic. His breath came in ragged gasps as he tried to focus through the terror clawing at his chest. His eyes darted back to the demon, and it grinned at him—a grotesque, mocking grin. Naruto's blood boiled.

Something inside him snapped. Chakra surged through his body, blue flames of energy exploding around him, crackling with raw power.

"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A hundred—no, a thousand clones burst into existence, filling the courtyard. The sound of battle cries echoed around him as his clones charged, hand axes raised, each one filled with the same rage that burned in his chest. This demon wasn't going to get away with this.

The asylum demon slammed its staff into the ground, and Naruto felt a shift in the air—something dark and powerful. The staff began to glow, a deep, pulsing red light emanating from it. Before Naruto could even process what was happening, the demon raised the staff high, and an orb of red energy formed at the tip. It hovered there for a brief second, crackling with power.

No…

Then it exploded.

The shockwave hit Naruto like a tidal wave, and in an instant, he felt everything—every single clone, every single perspective, every single bit of pain and panic—all at once. Their thoughts, their memories, their fear, it all flooded into him like a crashing wave. Hundreds of lives, hundreds of viewpoints, merging into one chaotic stream. His mind felt like it was being torn apart, the sheer overload too much to handle.

I… can't… breathe…

The orb's energy surged through him, erasing his clones one by one, and then… it reached him. The sensation was like nothing he'd ever felt before—like his body was being unraveled, piece by piece, thread by thread.

Naruto felt cold. His skin, his muscles, everything was being erased. There was no heat, no sensation, just a growing void where his body should've been. His mind screamed for something to hold onto, but there was nothing—just the cold emptiness spreading through him. He couldn't even tell where his body ended and the nothingness began.

His vision blurred, and all the sounds of battle—the cries, the clash of weapons, the crackling energy—faded into silence. There was no more pain, but it wasn't relief. It was terrifying.

[ YOU DIED.]

Naruto blinked and suddenly found himself back in the forest. His mind was a blur, everything that had just happened feeling distant, like a dream slipping through his fingers. The Northern Undead Asylum, Oscar… was it real? It all felt so hazy. He shook his head, trying to make sense of it.

"Naruto!" Iruka's voice cut through the fog in his mind like a splash of cold water. His tone was sharp, almost angry. Naruto looked up, only to see Iruka storming toward him, his hands gripping the boy's shoulders tightly. His eyes bore into Naruto's with an intensity that made his stomach twist. It was rare to see Iruka-sensei like this. The young Uzumaki would've flinched under that stare if he wasn't still trying to process whether everything around him was real.

"Do you know what you've done?" Iruka demanded, his voice edged with something Naruto didn't recognize—panic? Anger? Both?

"What?" Naruto barely had time to respond before a barrage of shuriken whistled through the air toward them. His instincts kicked in. Without thinking, Naruto shoved Iruka out of the way, and even he was surprised by the force. He landed hard, spinning to face the source of the attack.

"Well, well," came a voice from the shadows. Mizuki stepped out, a twisted grin on his face. "I didn't expect that. I'm impressed you found this place, Iruka."

"Mizuki!"

Mizuki's grin widened as he locked eyes with Naruto. "Naruto, give me the scroll."

"Don't!" Iruka's voice cracked with urgency as he positioned himself protectively in front of Naruto. "Naruto, never give him that scroll. It's dangerous. Mizuki used you to get it for himself!"

Naruto stared at the scroll, his mind still swimming, trying to piece everything together. Mizuki… used him?

"Naruto," Mizuki interjected smoothly, "Iruka's just afraid of you having that scroll."

"Huh?" Naruto blinked, trying to make sense of what he was saying. It didn't make sense. Iruka-sensei wouldn't be afraid of him, would he?

"Don't do it!" Iruka shouted, pulling out a kunai. "That scroll holds jutsu collected by past Hokage, techniques too dangerous to use! Mizuki's lying! He used you!"

Naruto's mind reeled as he looked between them. Mizuki's grin turned sinister, his gaze cold.

"There's no point in delaying this," Mizuki said darkly. His eyes locked onto Naruto's, and something shifted in the air. "Naruto, do you know why the whole village hates you?"

Naruto froze. His stomach churned at the question. The whole village… He always wondered why. He'd always felt their stares, their whispers. But no one ever told him why.

"No, Mizuki, stop!" Iruka shouted, panic lacing his voice, but Mizuki ignored him.

"Roughly twelve years ago," Mizuki began, his voice low and dripping with malice, "you know about the Kyuubi no Kitsune, right? The monster that attacked Konoha?"

Naruto nodded slowly, his heart pounding harder in his chest.

"Well, the Yondaime Hokage couldn't kill the Kyuubi, so he sealed it away… into the body of a baby. And that baby was you."

Naruto's blood turned to ice. Everything clicked in an instant—why the villagers glared at him, why parents pulled their children away from him, why he was always treated like some kind of monster. All the whispers, the dirty looks. He thought it was because he was a troublemaker, because he didn't fit in, but this? He wasn't just disliked. He was hated because he was the Kyuubi. He was the monster.

"That's why everyone despises you, Naruto," Mizuki sneered, his voice sharp and mocking. "You're the dreaded Kyuubi no Kitsune."

It felt like the world was collapsing around him. His chest tightened, and his breath hitched. Demon child… That wasn't just a cruel nickname. It was his reality.

"How dare you," Iruka's voice snapped through the suffocating silence, filled with more anger than Naruto had ever heard from him before.

Mizuki grinned as he drew a giant shuriken from his back, his intentions clear. "And now, I'll kill you and become a hero to the village."

"Don't listen to him, Naruto!" Iruka yelled, stepping protectively in front of Naruto, his body tense. "He's lying. He's the traitor here."

Mizuki just laughed, his voice cold and cruel. "Why protect him, Iruka? He's the one who killed your family."

Naruto froze again, the weight of Mizuki's words pressing down on him like a mountain. He… killed Iruka-sensei's family? No… it wasn't him. It was the Kyuubi. But he was the Kyuubi, wasn't he?

He was a demon… just like the asylum demon.

"I'm not letting an idiot like you get that scroll!" he spat, his voice shaking with fury.

"You're the idiot, Iruka," Mizuki sneered. "Naruto is a monster, just like me."

"Anyone with that scroll can do whatever they want. The Kyuubi would abuse its power," Mizuki goaded, his words sharp and cutting.

"You're right," Iruka said suddenly, and Naruto's heart sank.

But then Iruka's voice changed, his tone stronger, more certain. "But Naruto is different. He's one of my best students. He works harder than anyone. He's not the Kyuubi. He's Uzumaki Naruto of Konohagakure."

Naruto looked up, stunned. Iruka-sensei… believed in him?

Mizuki's face twisted with rage. "Then die!" he screamed, hurling the giant shuriken with deadly force.

Suddenly, the familiar feeling of Focality washed over Naruto, sharpening everything. It was like time slowed, and he could see the path of the fuma shuriken flying toward him. More importantly, he saw Iruka-sensei moving—he was going to jump in, using his body as a shield to save him.

Naruto didn't need any more proof. That was all he needed to know Iruka was on his side, that Mizuki had betrayed them.

Without thinking, Naruto's hand shot out, grabbing Iruka mid-jump. He twisted his hips, jerking his arm forward as he felt the surge of pyromancy flame building inside him. It flowed to his hands like a rush of heat, and suddenly, a fireball erupted, blasting through the air and destroying the fuma shuriken in one fiery explosion.

"So, the demon child got his hands on a Fire Style jutsu, huh?" Mizuki sneered, his voice full of malice. He moved his hands through a series of hand signs, quick and deliberate. "Let me show you how a real fireball is done."

He blew into the ring formed by his thumb and pointer finger, and a massive fireball roared toward them, the heat radiating from it in waves.

Iruka prepped his Earth Style, already ready to raise a defensive wall, but Naruto wasn't about to just stand by.

Iruka's jaw dropped as he saw it—Naruto's fireball, smaller but concentrated, blasted right through Mizuki's like it wasn't even there. The explosion was huge, a burst of flames and smoke that lit up the entire clearing. For a moment, the boy couldn't see anything. But then, in a blur, Mizuki appeared behind him in a flash, using the Body Flicker Technique.

His kunai was cold against Naruto's neck.

"Got you now," Mizuki growled, thinking he had already won. But he didn't see Naruto's eyes—he didn't see the Focality still guiding him, showing him exactly what to do. Naruto didn't hesitate. With a swift motion, his hand axe sliced through the air, the blade cutting cleanly through Mizuki's wrist.

Mizuki's hand, along with the kunai, hit the ground with a sickening thud.

Mizuki screamed in pain, clutching the stump where his hand used to be. His face twisted in agony, and without thinking, Naruto grabbed him by the mouth, his palm pressing against Mizuki's face.

"Fireball."

The word came out quietly, almost instinctively, as if Naruto's body moved on its own. Heat surged through his hand again, and he felt the fire erupt from his palm, engulfing Mizuki's head. The flames roared for a moment, and then… boom... then silence.

Iruka had closed his eyes, turning away. He didn't want to see it.

When everything was still, Naruto looked down at what was left of Mizuki's body. His head—there was nothing left. The fireball had turned it to ash, his skull gone, only charred remains scattered around. Naruto stood there, covered in blood and bone shards, the heat still lingering on his skin. There was a blankness in him, a numbness as he looked down at the body.

He bent down and grabbed something from Mizuki's corpse. His soul. It was there, almost glowing, and he absorbed it. The energy flowed into him like a rush of power, and he stared at the system window that popped up in front of him.

[ You have killed hostile Enemy — Mizuki ]
[ Dropped Items ]
[ - Fuma Shuriken ×2 ]
[ - Incomplete Cursed Seal ]
[ - 200 Soul ]

Naruto didn't know what to feel. The blood was still clinging to his skin, drying in patches on his hands, his clothes, everywhere. But inside… inside, he felt nothing. Not anger, not regret, not even relief. Just… emptiness.

Nothing at all.

Killing Mizuki—it didn't feel real. It was just like killing a hollow. Just another fight, just another enemy. But it wasn't, was it? Mizuki wasn't a hollow. He was… human.

His mind raced, but there was no room for emotions. Everything was happening too fast. His thoughts were scattered, and one thing kept echoing in his head.

Oscar.

He had to go back. He had to save his teacher… his friend. But how? How did he get here in the first place? There was no clear answer, no path in front of him. Just blood and confusion.

Hollows, Oscar, that world… how do I get back?

Naruto stood there, lost in the chaos, the weight of what he'd done pressing down on him, but not in a way that made him feel anything. It was all so hollow, just like the enemies he'd fought before, but now… it felt like he was trapped between worlds.

Where was he supposed to go from here?

Adamos_Amet · Nov 11, 2024

Chapter no.2 Dark Wings Over Konoha

Hiruzen sat at his desk, staring at the stack of reports before him, but his mind was far from the words on the page. Today had been... chaotic, to say the least. His pipe rested between his lips, and he took a long puff, letting the smoke fill his lungs. He needed this. After the events of the night, he needed something to calm his nerves, something to help him think clearly.

Naruto Uzumaki, the Jinchuriki of Konoha—his grandson in everything but blood—had stolen the Forbidden Scroll of Seals. Naruto had knocked him out with that ridiculous jutsu of his, an illusion of a naked woman. I've seen many things in my years as Hokage, but that... that was a new low. A small part of Hiruzen was thankful that no one knew about it. The last thing he needed was for the village to hear that the great "Professor" Sarutobi had been bested by such a... technique. Kami, the embarrassment would never end.

Another puff of smoke escaped his lips as he leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. Naruto had been tricked, of course. Tricked by a rogue shinobi—Mizuki. Well, that explained how Naruto had managed to bypass the security and get his hands on the scroll. Naruto may be talented in his own way, but even Hiruzen knew the boy wasn't capable of pulling off such a feat alone. But Mizuki... How did a low-level chunin, who spent his days as an assistant teacher, know enough about the security patterns of my library to pull this off?

It didn't sit right with him. Not one bit. If he hadn't gone to check on his secret stash of Icha Icha novels—a guilty pleasure I'll take to the grave—he might not have even known Naruto was in the building.

But no, that wasn't the worst of it, was it? His headache wasn't just from the breach or the embarrassing knock-out. It was the fact that Mizuki had revealed that secret to Naruto—the truth about the Kyuubi no Kitsune. Oh, Kami. Hiruzen had wanted to wait. He had planned to tell Naruto himself when he was ready, when he was old enough, mature enough to understand the weight of the truth. But now? That plan was ruined, shattered by Mizuki's selfishness.

Damn it, Mizuki.

He took another drag from his pipe, letting the smoke swirl around him. Iruka had come in just in time, thank the gods. Mizuki had filled Naruto's head with lies, twisted his perception, and nearly pushed him down a dark path. It wasn't much better than what I'd done, though, was it? Keeping the boy in the dark for all these years, letting him grow up hated, shunned, without knowing the reason why.

I should've told him sooner. I should've prepared him. But no, Hiruzen wanted to shield him, to protect him from the harsh truth for as long as he could. And now? Now it's all come crashing down around him.

Normally, he mused, this chaotic night would have ended with a heartfelt conversation. Once everything had calmed down, they could've sat down, and he could've helped Naruto make sense of it all. But that was not to be.

No. Instead, Hiruzen had to deal with the fact that Naruto... killed Mizuki.

The pipe nearly slipped from his fingers as he thought about it again. Naruto had killed him. A twelve-year-old boy, his boy, had taken a life. Kami, what have I done? The weight of it all pressed down on him like a boulder. Naruto wasn't ready for that. He wasn't prepared to face the consequences of what it means to kill.

How do I even begin to talk to him now?

Oh, Kami, please give me strength, Hiruzen thought as he rubbed his goatee, his fingers tracing the familiar lines of worry that seemed to have deepened over the years. This was bad. Really bad. It was one thing for an average genin to kill, but for Naruto—a Jinchuriki—to take a life? That was a different matter entirely.

A genin's first kill was supposed to happen under the careful watch of a team. You were meant to have the support of your teammates and the guidance of a jounin teacher. It was a delicate moment, one that needed to be handled with wisdom. And, if necessary, the teacher could evaluate if the student had the right mentality to continue as a shinobi—or if they were teetering on a dangerous path.

I won't risk another Orochimaru.

But Naruto? He had killed without any of that support. No teammates to steady him, no experienced hand to pull him back from the edge. His mental state after this… it was unknown, and that scared Hiruzen more than anything.

Why? Because Hiruzen knew what it meant to be a Jinchuriki. He had seen it firsthand with Kushina. The Kyuubi would whisper to her, try to claw its way out, to seize control. He knew Naruto's seal was stronger—Minato and Kushina had made sure of that—but the fact remained that the seal was connected to Naruto's chakra system. There was always a chance, no matter how small, that Naruto could suffer the same torment his mother had.

I can't let that happen to him, Hiruzen thought gravely.

There was a knock at the door, and Hiruzen sensed Naruto's presence on the other side. His chakra, normally as bright and warm as the sun, felt… different this time. There was something darker, something unfamiliar swirling within it. Hiruzen's heart sank.

I need to get Inoichi to do a psych evaluation immediately. The boy needs help. Kami knows he needs all the help he can get right now, Hiruzen thought with concern.

He took off his Hokage hat, placing it on the oak desk in front of him. The desk had been with him for decades, long before he even dreamed of becoming Hokage. It had been crafted by the Shodaime himself, using his Wood Style jutsu. The grain of the wood was still beautiful, even after all these years. Hiruzen's fingers traced along the surface, feeling every ridge, every groove, each mark telling a story.

There was one particularly large gash, a scar on the otherwise smooth surface. Hiruzen smiled sadly, remembering that it had been carved by his sensei, the Nidaime, in a moment of rare anger. That anger had terrified the shinobi of Kumo, and indirectly, it contributed to the start of the Second Shinobi War.

A war that took Tobirama's life.

Hiruzen sighed, his fingers lingering on the worn wood. The desk was cluttered now, littered with papers—more than he cared for, even though he had secretaries and a functioning administration. But despite all the duties, despite all the tasks that came with this title, Hiruzen wasn't wearing the hat of the Hokage today.

No. Naruto didn't need the presence of the Third Hokage right now. He needed Hiruzen. The grandfather. The old man who could sit with him, talk to him. The one who would listen, not judge.

Hiruzen looked at the door, steeling himself for the conversation ahead.

The moment Naruto walked in, Hiruzen's heart sank. His expression was blank—not the usual fiery, emotional mask Hiruzen had grown accustomed to. No, it was as if Naruto's mind wasn't even here, like he was focused on something far away, something only he could see in the empty air before him. It made Hiruzen uneasy, a cold knot tightening in his chest. This was Naruto, the boy who wore his emotions on his sleeve, who had never been able to hide how he felt. Hiruzen expected anger, confusion—something—but not this. Not this hollow, distant look.

Everyone processes trauma differently, Hiruzen reminded himself, trying to steady the storm in his heart. But this… this was unsettling.

"Naruto, greet the Hokage," Iruka said gently, his voice strained. Naruto didn't respond. He just kept staring, as if the air between them was more interesting than the reality in front of him. Hiruzen didn't miss the way Iruka's hands were shaking. The academy teacher was visibly on edge. Hiruzen could only imagine what had transpired between them tonight.

How did Naruto kill Mizuki that even a chunin is afraid of him? The thought struck Hiruzen hard, like a stone sinking in water.

"Iruka," Hiruzen said quietly, drawing the man's attention. Iruka snapped to attention, standing rigidly upright.

"Yes, Hokage-sama?"

"It has been a hard night for..." Hiruzen let his eyes drift to Naruto, lingering on the boy longer than he should have. Iruka caught his meaning immediately. Naruto had been the most affected tonight. More than anyone.

"For everyone," Hiruzen finished softly.

Iruka nodded, a hint of relief crossing his face as Hiruzen gave him his next order. "Your command, Hokage-sama?"

"Dismissed."

Iruka didn't hesitate, though Hiruzen could feel his reluctance to leave Naruto alone with him. Once the door closed, it was just Naruto and Hiruzen in the office. Well, not entirely alone, Hiruzen thought, knowing the ever-watchful eyes of the Anbu remained hidden in the shadows. But this was different. This moment needed to be personal.

"Naruto," Hiruzen said gently, trying to break through the fog clouding Naruto's mind. "Why don't you sit down?"

For a moment, there was nothing. And then, like a sudden jolt, Naruto snapped to attention, his eyes darting around the room, confused, almost startled. It was as if he had only just realized he was standing in the Hokage's office. Hiruzen watched him closely, noting the signs. He wasn't present. His mind was somewhere else. Detached. Was it shock? Disassociation?

"Is something wrong?" Hiruzen asked, keeping his voice as calm and steady as he could, though the knot in his stomach tightened.

"No, I'm fine," Naruto muttered, but it was clear he wasn't. His words were rushed, empty. "Can I leave now?"

He wasn't even trying to sit down. Why won't he sit down?

"Naruto, you aren't in trouble," Hiruzen said, trying to reassure him, trying to let him know that he was safe here, with him.

"Great, then can I leave?" Naruto's voice was quick, almost desperate, as he took a step back toward the door.

"Naruto, why are you in such a hurry to go?"

"I just..." Naruto paused, his face shifting with uncertainty, as if he didn't even know how to explain what he was feeling. He was struggling, and it hurt Hiruzen to see it.

"I'm busy with... some super important stuff," Naruto finally managed to say, but the way he said it—so hollow, so detached—made Hiruzen's chest tighten painfully. He was a child, trying to escape a conversation he didn't want to have. Trying to run from something he couldn't face. And worse yet, Naruto didn't seem angry at him for keeping secrets. He didn't even have questions about the Kyuubi, about the truth Mizuki had spilled. He wasn't seeking answers, wasn't demanding explanations.

Why wasn't Naruto mad? Why wasn't he furious with him?

Why doesn't he want to talk?

Hiruzen's mind raced as he watched Naruto—this wasn't normal. This wasn't how Naruto reacted to things. Where was the outburst? Where was the energy, the fire Hiruzen knew so well? The Naruto who was always defiant, always pushing, always demanding to be seen and heard? This... this was something else. Naruto was pulling away. Avoiding. Running.

The boy who normally fought for every scrap of attention was now desperately trying to slip away unnoticed.

Is he afraid of feeling? Is he afraid of what's inside him right now?

"Naruto..." Hiruzen began, unsure of what to say, unsure of how to pull Naruto back from wherever his mind had gone.

"I want to talk about the Kyuubi no Kitsune," Hiruzen said, his voice steady, watching Naruto carefully for any reaction. This was a test—a way to gauge how deep Naruto's fear and trauma ran. If Naruto still tried to run, then Hiruzen would personally drag Inoichi and a team of medical ninjas to him if he had to.

But, to Hiruzen's surprise, Naruto paused. He hesitated for only a moment, then sat down.

Hiruzen blinked, confused. Wasn't he just trying to run away from this?

Naruto's words echoed in his mind. I'm busy with… some super important stuff. What could possibly be more important than seeking answers after what he had been through? What could be more important than facing his fear? Hiruzen didn't like not knowing, not having even a speculation. And he really didn't like that.

"You saw tonight one of the darker aspects of shinobi life," Hiruzen began, his tone as careful as he could make it. "Traitors come and go, and they all must be dealt with eventually. Despite your horrendous mistake, you've done a great service to the village by putting a stop to him." He waited for something, anything—a reaction. Naruto didn't flinch, didn't respond except for a small gulp.

"Oh, yeah," Naruto said suddenly, as if the thought had just registered in his mind. "I killed Mizuki."

Hiruzen's heart skipped a beat. Naruto's tone was so casual, so detached, as if he had just realized he had killed an insect, not a man.

Hiruzen felt his breath catch in his throat, his lungs squeezed tight as he slowly let the air out. He hadn't expected this. In all his years as Hokage, in all the times he'd seen young shinobi grapple with their first kill, this was not the reaction he had prepared for. He had seen them cry, question their morality, break down in tears. Even those with darker tendencies, the ones they feared might turn, at least had some perverse reaction to their first taste of bloodshed.

But Naruto... Naruto's reaction was nothing. Just a shrug, like the life he took was insignificant. Like it didn't even matter.

Oh, Kami.

This wasn't just unsettling. This was terrifying. Naruto's reaction wasn't that of a child coming to grips with the horrors of their world—it was the mindset of a killer. A true killer, who could end life and move on as if it were nothing. And it chilled Hiruzen to his core.

Hiruzen should be happy, right? Isn't this what every village hopes for? A perfect shinobi? Someone who doesn't break, who doesn't falter, who can do the job and move on without emotional baggage? But no... Hiruzen couldn't feel happy. He couldn't feel relief.

Because he had seen this before. He had seen this exact calm, this exact detachment, in Orochimaru. And that was all Hiruzen needed to know that this reaction from Naruto was not something he could accept.

Not again.

Is this calm, this detachment, a response to trauma? Hiruzen's thoughts raced. He knew Naruto's loneliness better than anyone. He had always hoped, always believed, that Naruto would eventually overcome it, that he would find his place, his people.

Hiruzen considered forcing civilians to be Naruto's friends—that could have been disastrous—but now he was beginning to question his own judgment. Had I made a mistake by letting him face this alone for so long?

Because if this was a trauma response, then it was a deeply dangerous one. The thought twisted in Hiruzen's heart like a knife. He had spent so long thinking that Naruto would be strong enough to overcome the darkness that surrounded him, but now he wasn't so sure. What if the darkness has already started to take root?

The question loomed over Hiruzen like a storm cloud. Did Naruto have an innate desire to kill? Was this his nature now? Or was this just… enough?

Hiruzen wanted to believe it was enough. He wanted to believe this was the end of it. But deep down, he knew better. It's never enough. Not once someone has taken that step.

I need to consult Inoichi. There was no question about it anymore. Hiruzen needed help. Naruto needed help, whether he knew it or not. And Hiruzen wasn't going to let him fall through the cracks. Not this time.

Not like Orochimaru.

"Guess that's what demons do," Naruto muttered, and something in his tone made Hiruzen's heart lurch. There was a disgust there, but not for the word itself—it was for himself. Naruto spoke it like it was a truth he'd been forced to accept, and hearing it twisted something deep inside Hiruzen.

He couldn't place his finger on it, but Kami help him, he wanted to pray right then. Hiruzen wanted to pray that Naruto's indifference, this cold detachment, was just him playing a role—a child who had taken on the idea of being a "demon" too seriously, pretending it was true because others had told him it was. Please let that be the case, he thought. Let it be childish acting, and not the makings of a boy slipping into something darker.

"Naruto, you aren't a demon," Hiruzen said firmly, watching for his reaction. Naruto paused but didn't look at him.

"What did that traitor tell you?"

Naruto summarized the ordeal. His words were blunt, like he was reporting facts, not recounting a personal attack.

"You have to know the truth about your status," Hiruzen began carefully.

"My status?" Naruto's eyes focused now, his mind finally present.

"Mizuki told you that you were the Kyuubi," Hiruzen said, his voice low. "It's not true. You are the Kyuubi's jinchuriki."

"Jin… churiki?" Naruto repeated, stumbling over the word. It was foreign to him, strange.

"The Kyuubi wasn't killed," Hiruzen continued. "It was sealed inside of you as an infant."

"Me."

"Yes."

"But… but I…" He stammered, trying to piece it all together. "I'm not a demon, then?"

"Of course not, my boy!" Hiruzen's voice cracked with the force of his denial. He couldn't let Naruto believe that lie. "And allow no one to call you that!"

Hiruzen had hoped his words would comfort Naruto, reassure him. But instead, they opened a floodgate.

"Then… why? Why do they treat me like that?" Naruto's voice cracked, and Hiruzen could hear the weight of his loneliness, his isolation pressing down on him. The question hung in the air like a noose around Hiruzen's neck.

All the Third Hokage said was, "They fear you, Naruto. You are a reminder of the pain the Kyuubi caused."

There was a silence between them, one that cut deep. Hiruzen could see the questions swimming in Naruto's eyes, and then, finally, one slipped out.

"Why did they know, but I didn't?"

Hiruzen closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the weight of his past decisions bearing down on him. "Seven years ago, I made a law forbidding anyone from speaking about your status," he said, his voice filled with regret. "I hoped it would allow you to live a normal life."

Naruto's reply hit Hiruzen like a kunai to the gut. "Look how good that turned out," Naruto said, his voice empty, bitter. The words made Hiruzen wince, and he couldn't argue. He had failed him.

"Hokage-sama." The title slipped from Naruto's lips like poison, and Hiruzen felt his blood run cold. Naruto had never called him that before.

Did I just lose him?

Hiruzen's mind blanked for a moment, panic surging in the pit of his stomach. He nodded, trying to keep his composure, even as the weight of that title—Hokage—pressed down on him like a stone.

"Why did you tell them and not me?"

Hiruzen tried to gather himself, to find some way to explain, to fix what he had broken. "I… I didn't. I was trying to protect you." His voice wavered, the weight of his years pressing harder than ever. Before he could explain further, he felt it—a shift in the air, something dark and heavy.

Naruto's bloodlust.

It was sudden, raw, like a wave of malice washing over the room. Bloodlust, Hiruzen knew, was an illusion cast by the remnants of Yin chakra from the dead. Each shinobi's bloodlust was unique, tied to their kills. The more kills a shinobi had, the stronger their bloodlust.

But Naruto's… it was like nothing Hiruzen had ever felt before. It was as if he was surrounded by corpses, as if they were rising around him, animated and malevolent, biting and clawing at his skin.

Hiruzen tapped his fingers lightly, releasing a burst of chakra that shattered the illusion, dispelling the bloodlust. He had to act quickly—the Anbu might have intervened, and that would have made things worse. He couldn't afford to let this spiral any further.

Naruto stood up suddenly, as if to leave, and Hiruzen's heart clenched. He couldn't let him go. Not like this. Not without saying something.

"I did protect you," Hiruzen said, his voice rougher than he intended. Naruto paused at the door but didn't turn. The silence between them was thick, suffocating.

"A Jinchuriki isn't something unique to Konoha," Hiruzen continued, his voice steadier now, desperate to make Naruto understand. "All five great villages have their own. In Sunagakure, their Jinchuriki is physically and mentally abused, tormented from the moment they can remember."

Hiruzen had made sure of that—made sure Naruto was protected, even when he didn't know it. He had ensured that no one could touch him in those early years, that no one could harm him physically. But emotional scars? The ones that came from isolation, from the whispered insults, the glares, the loneliness... He hadn't protected Naruto from that, and it gnawed at him now.

The silence between them grew heavier. Hiruzen couldn't even begin to guess what was going on in Naruto's mind. Was he angry? Hurt? Confused?

"Thanks for being a decent human," Naruto muttered, his tone cold, detached. It was a stab to Hiruzen's heart.

The Hokage winced. Naruto wasn't wrong. He'd done the bare minimum—kept him alive, made sure he wasn't openly abused. But was that enough?

No!

After the Kyuubi attack, the village had been in such a fragile state. Kumo had been threatening war, there was the Uchiha situation festering like a wound, and then there was Danzo… Always Danzo, always scheming.

His plate had been full—overflowing, really. But that didn't excuse it. Hiruzen still should have done better. Naruto deserved better.

I failed you, Kushina. I failed you, Minato.

Goddamn this stupid hat and its responsibilities. Hiruzen cursed silently, feeling the old frustrations bubbling beneath the surface. He was an old man, for the Sage's sake! He had led this village for over fifty years. He hadn't even had time to properly mourn his wife and children's deaths, and here he was, still leading, still trying to keep everything from crumbling. His bones ached with the weight of it all, but he couldn't stop.

And yet…

None of it mattered in this moment. None of my sacrifices, none of my excuses.

The sound of the doorknob turning snapped Hiruzen out of his thoughts. He looked up and saw Naruto, ready to leave. His heart lurched in his chest. No. Not like this. Not again.

In one last desperate attempt, Hiruzen spoke. "I didn't tell the village about you."

Naruto stopped, turning slowly to face him, his expression unreadable. His eyes asked the question his lips didn't: Who?

"After you were born, the Fourth Hokage—Minato—wanted you to be seen as a hero. The hero who kept the village safe."

Naruto snorted at that, a bitter, hollow sound.

Hiruzen couldn't blame him.

Minato, bless his soul, had always been too trusting of the village, too hopeful. He had believed in the people's ability to see past their grief and pain, to see the sacrifice that had been made. But they hadn't. They couldn't.

"The people couldn't accept it," Hiruzen continued, his voice softer now. "Seeing the level of pain and grief the village was in, they wouldn't honor Minato's dying request. They were too consumed by their own hurt, their own fears. So I kept it a secret. I waited, hoping you'd grow into it, that you'd be ready to bear that truth when the time came. But… by the time you were five, the secret was leaked. And I had to make my law to stop it from spreading any further."

Hiruzen watched Naruto, hoping—praying—that something, anything he said would reach him. He had made so many mistakes before, with Asuma, with Orochimaru, with Tsunade.

Every time, he'd let things go too far. Every time, he thought he could wait.

That things would fix themselves if he just gave them time.

But that was Hiruzen's greatest failing. Not stepping in sooner. Not stopping the damage before it was too late.

And now, standing here, watching Naruto's expression harden, the old man feared he was too late again.

Naruto raised his hand, and as Hiruzen watched, his skin lightened, turning ashen. That's when Hiruzen felt it—heat. The air in the room grew thick, heavy, like the very oxygen was burning away. Instinctively, he licked his lips, but they were already dry, parched by the sudden change. The temperature climbed quickly, almost unnaturally.

What in the world?

Hiruzen had mastered all five chakra natures, boasting what many would call the greatest understanding of chakra nature manipulation in the world. And yet, as that small fireball began to form in Naruto's palm, Hiruzen felt something he hadn't experienced in years—his own fire chakra being suppressed. It was as though the flames in his own body, the essence of fire he had long mastered, were being suffocated.

He wasn't the only one who noticed. The tension in the room was palpable. His Anbu guards sensed it too, the danger radiating from Naruto like a furnace about to explode. One of them moved instantly, appearing in front of Hiruzen as a shield, while the other dashed toward Naruto, preparing to restrain him.

But in a move that left Hiruzen speechless, Naruto reacted before the Anbu's blade could even come close. His movements were fluid, instinctive, as though he could see the Anbu coming—twisting on the balls of his feet, deflecting the attack with a grace and precision far beyond his years. And then, in the blink of an eye, he was about to fireball the Anbu point-blank.

No!

In that instant, Hiruzen unleashed his bloodlust.

Everything in the room froze. The air itself seemed to stop, and all eyes were drawn to him. Naruto, the Anbu—all of them—were caught in the illusion Hiruzen had cast, an illusion born from decades of war and death. Before their eyes was a mountain of corpses, each one a life Hiruzen had taken, each one a testament to the blood he had spilled. And there, atop that mountain, he sat like the Monkey King, gazing down upon them.

"Dismissed," Hiruzen said coldly, his voice leaving no room for argument.

The Anbu vanished, leaving only Hiruzen and Naruto. Hiruzen watched as the boy stood there, slightly shaken but holding himself together better than most would have. Even chunin couldn't have responded like that to an Anbu— even if the Anbu was holding back—but Naruto? He did.

And then Hiruzen's eyes caught something—an axe, shimmering in Naruto's hand. He blinked, and it disappeared. Space-time ninjutsu?

No, impossible. Naruto couldn't possibly know a space-time jutsu, could he? Hiruzen nearly laughed at the absurdity of the thought, but the question still gnawed at him. What just happened?

Before Hiruzen could ask, Naruto's voice cut through the silence. "Where's the guy that ruined my life?"

Hiruzen's heart clenched. He knew who Naruto meant—Danzo. Damn that man. Even in banishment, his shadow loomed over them all. Hiruzen spoke quickly, keeping his voice steady. "I've dealt with him."

Naruto wasn't satisfied with the answer—Hiruzen could see it in his eyes. Naruto turned to leave again, his hand already on the door. Desperate to understand where they stood, Hiruzen asked, "Naruto, I've never seen that fire jutsu before. Can you tell me how you learned it?"

It wasn't the fire jutsu that truly intrigued Hiruzen, though he needed to know about it. What he really wanted to know was how that axe had appeared and disappeared. The fire jutsu was a puzzle, yes, but the axe… That was something else entirely. He asked the question to see where he stood with Naruto now. Was he still his Jiji? Or had that bond been severed, lost in the whirlwind of secrets and pain?

The silence stretched, heavy and unbearable. Hiruzen watched Naruto's back, hoping for something—anything—that might reassure him that the boy he once knew was still there.

But Naruto didn't even turn around.

His response hit Hiruzen like a slap to the face. "Fuck off!"

Hiruzen stood there in stunned silence as the door slammed shut, the sound echoing through the office. Slowly, he closed his eyes, trying to collect himself. Naruto's words, his anger—it was like a dagger in Hiruzen's chest, twisting deeper with every second. I've lost him. Kami, I've lost him.

Hiruzen looked down at his old, weathered hands, at the smoking pipe still resting on his desk, and then at the portraits of the Hokage hanging on the wall. His gaze lingered on the fourth picture—the bright blue eyes, the spiky blond hair, the jaw-length bangs that belonged to Minato Namikaze.

You should be here, Hiruzen thought bitterly. You should be wearing this hat, not me.

Dinner was quiet, just the way Inoichi Yamanaka liked it.

He sat across from his daughter, watching as she absentmindedly toyed with a piece of grilled fish on her plate, her eyes glued to one of those cheesy romance novels she was always reading. He tried to ignore the irritation building up as she skimmed through the pages, half-focused on her food. Today, Inoichi had made sure to include a few high-calorie dishes—things she wouldn't notice were meant to keep her from getting too skinny with that damn diet of hers. He knew she wouldn't appreciate the extra calories, but as her father, he had to make sure she stayed healthy.

"Ino," Inoichi said, breaking the silence. "Let's try something different today. Imagine you're walking through a dense forest. It's peaceful, the trees are tall, and the sky above is clear, only a few rays of sunlight filter through. As you walk deeper, you come across a house. It looks familiar, but you've never seen it before. You step inside. What do you see?"

He could see her pause, her mind snapping to attention as she considered the question. Inoichi always made sure to ask her one psychological question every night before bed. If she was going to be physically weak from all this dieting for her looks, then by Kami, her mind would be sharp. A ninja's greatest weapon was their mind, after all.

Ino Yamanaka was fair-skinned, a girl of average height, with light blue eyes and long, platinum blonde hair that framed the right side of her face.

Ino chewed thoughtfully on her food for a moment, humming softly before responding, "The house is cozy, old but well-kept. There's a warm fireplace, and the walls are lined with books. I can see myself spending hours there… and maybe Sasuke would be there too, reading."

"Sasuke again, huh?" Inoichi raised an eyebrow, watching her light up at the mention of his name.

"Of course! He'd be there, sitting by the fire, reading something smart. It's romantic." She snapped her fingers, eyes gleaming. This had become routine. Every question, every test, always seemed to lead back to the last survivor of the Uchiha clan.

Inoichi couldn't fault her for it—not yet anyway.

She was young. Let her have her fantasies.

As her father, though, it worried him. The crush was innocent enough, but Ino was now a genin. Life as a shinobi was anything but a romantic novel. Maybe that's why Inoichi let her indulge in these little daydreams for now—her innocence was fleeting, and he knew it would be stripped away in time. He told himself she would grow out of it. She was smart enough to figure it out. In a month, maybe two, she'd start to take this seriously.

But even as he told himself that, his gaze drifted toward the picture of her mother—his late wife, who had died during the Kyuubi attack.

Don't worry, my love, he thought, his heart heavy. Our daughter is safe. As long as I'm breathing, nothing will harm her.

Inoichi shifted his focus back to Ino. "Interesting answer," he said, choosing his next words carefully. "You know, how you interpret that house reveals a lot about how you see your inner self."

Ino blinked, lowering her book. "My inner self?"

He nodded. "The house represents your mind, your subconscious. What you see inside is a reflection of how you view yourself—your strengths, your comfort zones, and even your desires."

"So, you're saying my mind is a cozy cabin?"

Inoichi smiled. "More or less. It suggests you value comfort, warmth, and intellect—you see your mind as a refuge, a place where you feel safe and in control. But the fact that you brought Sasuke into the picture, that indicates something else."

Ino blushed slightly, setting her book down. "What does it mean?"

"It means that, subconsciously, you believe someone like Sasuke is important to completing your vision of happiness," Inoichi explained. "It's natural to want connection, Ino, but you should also be mindful that relying too much on others to create your inner peace can lead to disappointment."

She sat quietly for a moment, processing the information. Then, with a sly smile, she shrugged. "Well, Sasuke can be part of my cozy cabin if he wants. I'm not kicking him out."

Inoichi chuckled, shaking his head. "Just don't let your cabin rely on someone else's presence. Make sure it stands on its own, with or without him."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, Dad. I know."

Suddenly, Inoichi felt a surge of chakra enter the room. Instinctively, he tensed. An ANBU agent appeared before them, dressed in a white trench coat, the hood pulled low over a bear porcelain mask.

"The Hokage has requested a meeting, Inoichi-sama."

Inoichi nodded, his mind already switching from father to shinobi.

"Goodbye, Dad, and maybe bribe the Hokage to make sure I end up on Sasuke's team!" Ino chirped as he stood to leave.

He sighed, shaking his head. "I'll try, my lemon," Inoichi said, using the nickname she pretended to hate but secretly loved. She stuck her tongue out at him, a playful glint in her eyes.

That innocence, he thought, the kind I never had at her age.

It was hard to watch, knowing that one day soon, the world would take it from her.

"Remember the routine: all leftovers go in the fridge, and make sure Choji gets them tomorrow," Inoichi said as he gathered his belongings.

"Especially the seaweed chips!" she replied, wrinkling her nose at the thought.

"Those are for you," he countered, narrowing his eyes.

She grumbled but eventually nodded. "Fine… whatever."

Inoichi smiled softly at the exchange, savoring the moment. "Goodbye."

"Yeah, yeah, just go already!" Ino rolled her eyes, waving him off like he was an embarrassment.

Inoichi glanced at the ANBU agent, who had been waiting silently by the door, and with a final nod to his daughter, the two of them vanished with a body flicker.

The moment Inoichi stepped into the Hokage's office, he knew something was wrong. Hiruzen looked more stressed than Inoichi had ever seen him. It was as if the announcement of the Fourth Shinobi World War had dropped on his desk. A knot formed in Inoichi's stomach.

Please, anything but that.

The thought of war sent a chill down his spine. Not because he feared it for himself, but because he couldn't bear the thought of his daughter—of all the children in Konoha—experiencing the horrors that come with it. War strips away innocence, leaves scars on the soul that never heal. Ino was smart and strong in her own way, but no child should ever have to face the atrocities of war.

"Hokage-sama," Inoichi greeted, his voice steady, though his mind was racing through worst-case scenarios.

Hiruzen seemed to sense his growing unease. He offered Inoichi his smoking pipe, a rare gesture.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama, but I'd like to live long enough to see my daughter marry a bastard that doesn't deserve her," Inoichi said with a small smile, though the humor did little to settle the tension gnawing at him.

Hiruzen smiled in return, though there was no warmth behind it. "Don't worry, Inoichi. I need your mind."

My mind?

Inoichi narrowed his focus on those words. If Hiruzen needed strategic advice, he would have called Shikaku. Shikaku was the genius when it came to battle plans and strategy. But this wasn't about strategy—Hiruzen needed him for something else. Psychological help.

"What can I do for you?" he asked, his tone careful, measured. The knot in his stomach tightened as he waited for the Hokage to speak.

"It's Naruto."

The moment the name left Hiruzen's lips, Inoichi's mind slammed to a halt.

Naruto?

Uzumaki Naruto? The prankster of Konoha? The orphaned son of the Fourth Hokage? The current container for the Kyuubi no Yoko, the very being that had ravaged their village twelve years ago and killed his wife?

Inoichi felt his heart rate spike, but he kept his face neutral. He had never blamed the boy for what happened. He knew the difference between Naruto and the Kyuubi—they were separate. But the very idea of the Kyuubi was enough to make him take this seriously, dead seriously.

His mind raced through everything he knew about Naruto. From the rumors around the village to the comments Ino had made about him—how she would tease him, calling him a knucklehead, a loudmouth.

"Is this about his graduation?" Inoichi ventured. Perhaps Naruto was angry about failing, or maybe he'd had a violent outburst. It wasn't impossible that the Kyuubi's chakra had been released in a moment of anger or frustration. The boy had never shown the talent that either of his parents had, and Inoichi could imagine the frustration building up in him.

But Hiruzen's next words were like a hammer blow.

"No. Naruto learned about the Kyuubi."

Inoichi felt his mind go blank for a moment. His eyes widened slightly, and he motioned to the Hokage, silently asking if the boy had learned this from him.

Hiruzen shook his head.

This is bad. Very bad.

Inoichi took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Can you start from the beginning? What happened exactly?"

Naruto stood in front of the old apartment building that the Hokage had given him when he was a kid.

More of an apartment complex than a house, really. The building stood weathered and beaten, like it had been forgotten by time. The reddish-brown roof sloped down in layers, the tiles worn and cracked. Tangled wires snaked along the green trim of the beige walls, and silver chimneys jutted from the top like broken teeth. One section extended out awkwardly, like the bow of an old, rusted ship.

No one else lived there.

Just him.

And now he finally knew why.

In the span of one night… Naruto had gone from being the knuckleheaded ninja to some kind of emo. He should've laughed at or even denied that thought, but he couldn't muster the energy.

Too much had happened. Too much to process.

His head felt heavy, like it was filled with sand, dragging him down with every step.

How many more lies are there? Naruto wondered, his chest tight. How much more don't I know?

He kicked off his shoes the second he stepped inside, not caring where they landed. The coldness of the floor hit his feet, but he didn't care. He just slumped down, his back against the wall, his legs stretched out in front of him.

I'm so tired.

"I just wanna sleep, dattebayo..." Naruto's voice came out weak, not even recognizable as his own. He wanted nothing more than to just shut off his mind, to shut off everything, to stop the constant buzzing in his head. The ringing in his ears wouldn't stop. His thoughts wouldn't stop.

He pulled his headband off and tossed it aside, getting up slowly. His body moved on autopilot as he shuffled to the cupboard, grabbing a cup of ramen—the only thing he could stomach right now. He boiled some water, poured it in, and just stood there, staring at the cup as it sat on the table. Waiting.

Ignorance is bliss.

It was something his teachers always said whenever Naruto would question something. He used to hate hearing that, but now… now it felt true. Yesterday, life had been simple. He was just Naruto—the orphan, the outcast, the nobody who was gonna become the kickass Hokage.

That was it. That was all he had to worry about.

But now?

Now he didn't even know what he was.

Naruto slumped back into the chair, his hands coming up to rub his face. I don't know anymore. He wasn't a demon. He wasn't the Kyuubi. But that didn't make any of it better. It just made it worse, like the world had flipped upside down, and he was still falling, trying to figure out which way was up.

He grabbed the cup noodles, peeling off the lid. The steam hit his face, the smell familiar, comforting in a way. He mixed the packet in, stirring the noodles, watching them swirl in the broth like his thoughts.

Yesterday was simple.

Naruto took a bite, the hot noodles sliding down his throat. The flavor hit him, and he savored it, but even that felt dulled. The one thing that always tasted great, the one thing that always lifted his spirits, felt… flat. But he ate it anyway. He needed to feel something.

He sighed, putting the cup down. He stared at it for a long moment, then muttered, "Status."

A window flickered in front of him, black with gold lettering, and Naruto stared at it blankly.

[ Name: Naruto Uzumaki ]

[ Covenant: None ]

[ Level: 1 ]

[ Souls: 200 ]

Naruto narrowed his eyes at the screen in front of him. These numbers… they weren't the same as before. Something had changed.

One thing stood out immediately.

[ Souls: 200 ]

[ R Weapon 1: 96 ]

I get souls, he thought, since I absorbed all those hollows and Mizuki-teme, but what's the deal with the other thing?

His gaze zeroed in on the line that said R Weapon 1. What the hell did that mean? He scratched his head, feeling more confused by the second.

Naruto wondered if it had something to do with this. His hand clenched instinctively, and suddenly, the familiar weight of the hand axe appeared in his palm. He blinked, staring at the weapon that just materialized out of nowhere.

"Okay, that's still a thing," he muttered, tossing the axe to the floor with a clatter. He glanced back at the status screen, checking again. This time, he noticed something new—two changes, actually.

[ R Weapon 1: 96 → 20 ]

[ Equip Load: 10.0 / 51.0 → 8.0 / 51.0 ]

R Weapon 1… that's the axe, Naruto realized. It corresponded to whatever he was holding in his right hand. But what was this Weapon 2 thing?

He grabbed a kitchen knife, holding it awkwardly alongside the axe. It felt strange, like he was holding two things he wasn't meant to. The balance was off. Maybe he had to say something?

"Two weapons?" Naruto tried aloud, feeling a bit stupid. "Items? My right hand?" Nothing.

"Equipment," he finally said, and to his surprise, another window opened.

[ Equipment ]

[ Select Item to Equip ]

Naruto's eyes flicked down the list as he placed the axe on the table. Okay, how do I select this weapon? he wondered, his mind racing to figure it out.

Using his left hand, Naruto grabbed the kitchen knife, holding it awkwardly as he tried to make sense of the situation. His gaze shifted between the knife in his hand and the system window still floating in front of him. He studied the options on the screen, trying to see if there was something obvious he'd missed.

[ Left Hand Weapon Slots: ]

[ Slot 1: Dull Kitchen Knife ]

Naruto did the same motion as before, clenching his fist, and this time, the knife appeared in his hand. He blinked, and with another motion, the axe was back. He swapped between them a few more times, the weight shifting in each hand with each switch.

"Huh. That's... kinda cool," he muttered to himself. His curiosity wasn't satisfied yet, though. What about the rest of his gear? He clicked on the armor slot. There was an option to change into his pyromancer outfit or remove it altogether.

[ Armour Slots: ]

[ Gauntlets: Orange Jacket ]

Gone was the scrawny, underfed kid he was used to seeing. Instead, he was staring at a body that was more toned, more muscular. His arms had definition, and his chest and shoulders were broader. His body wasn't huge, but it looked like it had been trained, sculpted.

When did this happen?

Naruto changed back into his normal clothes quickly, the jacket reappearing as if it had never left. The strangeness of it all still nagged at him.

Did the Furtive Pygmy create this system? Does Oscar have this? he wondered, but honestly, he had no idea. He shrugged it off. As cool as this system window was, it didn't give him much in the way of answers. No instructions. Just... this.

Naruto needed to find a way back to Oscar. But how?

He sighed and picked up the cup ramen carton to throw it away. As he walked to the garbage can, he opened his hand, ready to toss it—except the cup was already gone.

"Huh?"

Naruto frowned, glancing at his hand. Then it clicked.

Oh, if I grab something long enough, it goes into my inventory.

"That's actually kinda handy."

[ Inventory ]

— [ Consumables ]

— [ Item: Darksign ]

— [ Description: The Darksign signifies an accursed Undead. Those branded with it are reborn after death, but will one day lose their mind and go Hollow. Death triggers the Darksign, which returns its bearer to the last bonfire rested at, but at the cost of all humanity and souls. ]

Naruto was grateful. He didn't know which god was looking out for him, but whoever it was, he owed them one for showing him how to get back. The thought of returning to Oscar's side gnawed at him, but he knew he couldn't just rush in. Oscar was injured, and that demon was still there.

Let's just get some stuff before going back.

The boy stopped, realizing he had no idea what "stuff" he was even talking about. What was he supposed to grab?

He knew he needed explosive tags, but what about Oscar's injuries?

He scratched his head, trying to think it through.

Iruka-sensei. He'll know what to do.

Iruka's apartment wasn't much—modest, cramped, and barely enough for him to live in. Naruto had overheard other teachers talk about how this was all Iruka could afford on a teacher's salary, but he'd never really paid attention. Iruka-sensei always seemed fine with it. But tonight, Naruto needed his help, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was… off.

When Naruto reached the block where the building was, he didn't even think about using the front door.

Old habits die hard, he guessed.

His body moved automatically, like it had a mind of its own. He leaped up to the nearest rooftop, his feet landing silently on the tiles. The cool night air whipped past his face, but it didn't slow him down. One rooftop to the next, his movements were quick, fluid. It felt so natural—almost like running on flat ground. He'd been doing this for years, sneaking around the village, jumping from one roof to another. It was second nature, like breathing.

Naruto darted through the shadows, his body blending in with the darkness. The moon was hidden behind a thick layer of clouds, making the night feel even darker than usual. Perfect for sneaking in unnoticed.

His feet barely made a sound as he landed on the roof of Iruka-sensei's building. His place was on the second floor, but that wasn't an issue. Naruto had climbed into his window more times than he could count, usually for pranks or to raid his fridge.

Naruto crouched low, making sure he wouldn't be seen from the street below. His eyes scanned the side of the building, locking onto the familiar window of Iruka's apartment. The window was slightly open, just like he expected.

Sensei, you've gotta work on your home defense.

He made his move, leaping across the narrow gap between the roof and the windowsill. His hands gripped the edge, and he pulled himself up without a sound. Sliding the window open just enough to slip through, Naruto crawled inside, making sure not to disturb anything.

The second his feet touched the wooden floor, Naruto froze. Years of sneaking around Konoha had taught him to always listen first. He held his breath, his ears straining for any sound. Nothing. It was quiet—too quiet. He glanced around the room—Iruka's small, simple apartment was just as he remembered it.

The bed was tucked in perfectly, no wrinkles in sight, but Naruto's eyes immediately zeroed in on something out of place—an orange Icha Icha novel lying on top of the bed. He shook his head, trying not to think about what that meant.

Iruka-sensei, really?

"Hey, Iruka-sensei, it's me! I need help with something!" Naruto called out, closing the window behind him. He didn't hear a response, so he moved deeper into the apartment, his feet barely making a sound on the wooden floor.

The blonde walked into the living room and stopped dead in his tracks. The room was filled with old, empty sake bottles scattered across the floor. And slouched on the couch, his head lolling to the side, was Iruka-sensei. His clothes were rumpled, his usually neat ponytail undone, hair hanging messily around his face. His cheeks were flushed red, and he was muttering something incoherent under his breath.

"What the hell...?"

The academy teacher looked like a complete mess. His normally sharp, caring eyes were glazed over, his lips moving sluggishly as he tried to speak.

"N-Naruto? That you?" His voice was slurred, barely more than a drunken mumble.

"Sensei, you stink," Naruto said, scrunching up his face in disgust as he pinched his nose to block out the strong smell of alcohol.

Iruka groaned from the couch, slurring his words. "Oh, is this… my time to die?"

"I need your help, not your funeral plans," he said, doing his best to ignore how out of it Iruka was.

Iruka lazily waved his hand. "Sure… sure… I'm Iruka," he hiccupped, "teacher after all..."

"Okay, so let's say I'm going to fight this demon the size of my house," Naruto said, leaning in a bit. "What kind of stuff do you think I should get?"

Iruka chuckled drunkenly, swaying a little in his seat. "Hahah… you know… how long I've been waiting for this?"

"Really?" Naruto raised an eyebrow, unsure if Iruka was serious or just drunk. But part of him still believed in him. Even in this state, Iruka-sensei was still awesome—just a little… off.

"Yeah, just… get my diary," Iruka mumbled, his words barely making sense as he tried to stand. Only, instead of standing, he fell face-first onto the floor with a loud thud.

Naruto sweatdropped, shaking his head.

"Where's your diary?" the boy asked, poking to check if the man was dead or not.

"My… drawer…" Iruka slurred, still face down on the floor.

With a sigh, Naruto summoned a shadow clone to grab the diary while he bent down to help Iruka off the ground. As he lifted him, Iruka's arm slung around his shoulders, and Naruto felt a mix of emotions—mostly exhaustion. The blonde boy settled the brown-haired man into the chair, taking a deep breath.

Okay, Naruto, focus. Get what you need, then get back to Oscar.

"Iruka-sensei, why are you drinking so much?" Naruto asked, his voice quieter than usual. He couldn't help it; seeing Iruka like this, all messed up, slurring his words—it didn't sit right with him. It was like watching someone who was always strong crumble right in front of him.

Iruka groaned, wiping his face with the back of his hand. "Because… because my best friend died," he muttered, his words heavy with emotion. Naruto blinked, trying to process what he meant. Best friend? Mizuki?

"Even though Mizuki was a traitor, we were friends for years," Iruka continued, tears beginning to roll down his cheeks. "That kind of bond… it doesn't just go away, even after betrayal." His voice cracked, and suddenly he was crying.

Iruka-sensei was crying.

Naruto felt a tightness in his chest, but it wasn't because of guilt.

The truth was, Naruto didn't feel anything about Mizuki's death. Not really. Mizuki was trying to kill him, so Naruto killed him first. That's just how it is, right?

It wasn't like Mizuki was some innocent person or a saint. If Naruto hadn't killed him, Mizuki would've killed him. Why should Naruto feel bad about stopping someone who was ready to end his life? Naruto had faced hollows and killed them without hesitation. Mizuki wasn't any different.

But seeing Iruka cry like this—that hurt. Why?

Naruto pushed those thoughts away, not wanting to get lost in them. One of his clones came back with Iruka's diary, and Naruto let out a small sigh of relief. He handed it to Iruka, trying to focus on something else, something that didn't involve death or guilt.

"Here you go, sensei."

Iruka took the diary, flipping it open to the first page. There was a picture—a family photo. He just stared at it, even in his drunken state. There was something so… sad in the way he looked at them, like it hurt just to remember.

"These are my parents, Naruto," he said softly.

Naruto didn't know what to say. "Oh," was all that came out.

"They were killed when the Kyuubi was released 12 years ago," Iruka said, his voice changing—less slurred, more sober, as if the alcohol had loosened its grip on him for a moment.

There was a long pause.

The silence stretched between them as Iruka stared at the picture. A few tears dripped down from his face and splashed onto the page.

"I miss you, Mom. I miss you, Dad," Iruka whispered, his fingers brushing over the image as if he could reach into the past and touch them again.

Naruto knew that the Kyuubi had killed Iruka's family—Mizuki had told him that long ago. But now, watching Iruka cry, the weight of what that really meant finally sank in. This wasn't just some distant story or a fact he'd brushed off. This was real. The pain on Iruka's face was because of the monster inside him.

Without even thinking, he opened his mouth. "Did you ever… blame me for their deaths?"

There was a long, awful silence, and then Iruka said the words Naruto had been dreading. "I did."

Naruto closed his eyes, fighting to keep the tears from coming, as if shutting out the world would make the pain less real.

"But then I got to know you… and I realized I was wrong. You weren't the Kyuubi. You weren't the one I should blame. I'm sorry… for realizing that too late."

Naruto didn't think. He didn't stop to process anything. He just hugged Iruka. He threw his arms around him, tears streaming down his face, soaking into Iruka's shirt. Naruto hugged him as tightly as he could, like if he let go, everything would fall apart.

"Thank you," Naruto managed to choke out between sobs, his voice cracking.

Naruto didn't care that Iruka was drunk. He didn't care that Mizuki was dead or that the village still saw him as the Kyuubi. Right now, the only thing that mattered was that Iruka-sensei—his Iruka-sensei—was still there, still on his side. And for the first time that night, Naruto didn't feel so alone.

Naruto quickly snapped back to the task at hand, wiping his face and trying to focus. There was no time to waste.

"Okay, Iruka-sensei, how do I beat a demon?"

Iruka looked at Naruto through bleary, half-lidded eyes, slurring his words. "Why would I know that?"

"What about your diary?"

"Oh… that…" Iruka muttered, rubbing his face. "When I was younger, I imagined how I'd magically save Konoha from the Kyuubi."

Naruto blinked. Really, sensei?

Even drunk, Iruka looked embarrassed by his own younger self. It was kind of funny in a way, but Naruto wasn't in the mood for jokes. He flipped through a few pages of the diary, scanning over Iruka's childhood fantasies of heroic battles.

This isn't what I need right now.

Naruto threw the book aside, muttering, "Oscar's strategies are better anyway."

Let's ask him this, he thought, pacing back and forth. "What do I do if I face an enemy that isn't affected by a swarm of clones coming at them all at once?"

"What?"

"Come on, sensei, I don't have time for this!"

"Is this the same demon?" Iruka asked, glancing at the bottles around him like he was trying to figure out if this conversation was even real.

"Yes!" he practically yelled. "Iruka-sensei!"

"Okay, okay, not so loud," he groaned, rubbing his temples as if my voice was pounding in his head. He closed his eyes for a second, thinking, and I could tell he was trying to pull himself together, at least enough to give me a straight answer.

Finally, he spoke, his tone more serious. "Alright… if your enemy isn't reacting to clones, you're probably coming at them too predictably. Don't just rush in all at once, especially if they can read your movements. Mix things up—send the clones in waves, scatter them, create a distraction before the real attack. And never rely on just clones. You need to use your environment, your jutsu, your speed, everything you've got to make them vulnerable."

His clones scribbled everything down as Iruka finished talking. Naruto was already digesting the advice, thinking of how he could put it into action.

"Okay, Iruka-sensei, if someone got smacked by something big, like the size of this room, how would you treat them?"

Iruka slurred, barely paying attention. "They'd be dead…"

"No!" Naruto shouted, his voice loud and frantic, startling Iruka. "He is not dead. Just—tell me what to do!"

Iruka blinked, looking at Naruto like he was crazy before rubbing his temples. "Okay, okay… let me think." He groaned, mumbling to himself, still not fully sober. "Bring a medical ninja?"

Naruto clenched his fists. "There's none. I'm all he's got."

That seemed to sober Iruka up a little. He frowned, his face growing serious. "What are the injuries?"

"I don't know exactly," Naruto admitted, feeling his stomach drop.

"Hit by something big?"

"Please, Iruka-sensei, there has to be a way!" Naruto's voice was desperate, like he was grasping for anything, for some piece of advice that could save Oscar.

I can't lose him. Not after everything.

Iruka scratched his head, his words starting to make more sense.

"Maybe try bringing some platelet-boost pills to stop the bleeding, endorphin pills for the pain… Wrap some clean cloth around the wounds to keep them stable. Feed them nutritional pills to keep them alive until medical help comes."

Naruto's clones scribbled down every word like their lives depended on it. Naruto nodded.

This was something. At least now he had a plan.

"That weird flask… it does the job of a medical ninja, right?" Naruto asked, thinking of the Estus flask Oscar had used to heal him earlier. His clones nodded.

Good. That'll help, at least.

"Great. Now, sensei, where can I buy these pills? And where can I get explosive and flashbang bombs?"

Naruto made it to Shinobi's Edge in no time. It was the only shop still open this late, and the dim light spilling from the windows told him they were about to close. The place was old, with wooden beams that creaked whenever someone moved. The walls were lined with all kinds of ninja tools—everything from kunai to specialized gear only jounin typically used. It smelled like metal and oil, mixed with the scent of old paper from the scrolls tucked behind the counter.

The shop was mostly empty at this hour. Perfect.

"Welc—" the store clerk started to say, but the second Naruto walked in, he stopped mid-sentence. Naruto didn't care. He didn't have time for the clerk's fake smile or whatever he had planned to say next. He went straight for the back, grabbing everything he needed.

He picked up some fuma shurikens.

Yeah, this is going right into the demon's butt, Naruto thought with a smirk.

Naruto grabbed two stacks of ninja wire, a box of flash bombs, and some high-grade explosive tags.

All of this is going to cost a fortune, he thought, his heart sinking for a second. But he had three years' worth of savings. He threw the stacks of ryo onto the counter, not even bothering to count it.

"Here," Naruto said, placing everything on top of the counter.

The store clerk eyed him, his face tight.

"I'm sorry, but you can't buy this."

Naruto didn't have time for this crap. He grabbed all the gear, stuffing it into a storage scroll before the clerk could say anything else.

"Hey! You can't just take that!" the clerk shouted, his voice cracking.

Naruto kept moving, ignoring him. I paid for everything. I'm not going to stand here and argue.

"Stop! That's stealing!" the clerk yelled after him.

Naruto turned and glared, his eyes narrowing. "Shut up, I paid for it! Go count the money!" His voice came out harsher than he intended, and the guy flinched, taking a step back.

Naruto was about to leave, his chakra pooling in his legs, ready to leap out of there and get back to Oscar, when he heard the guy mutter under his breath.

"Of course, the demon brat wants that stuff for nothing," the clerk whispered, thinking Naruto wouldn't hear. "Can't believe the Hokage let a monster like that be a ninja. I'm gonna lose my job 'cause of this asshole who couldn't just die."

Naruto froze, the words hitting him harder than he expected. His hand clenched into a fist, and before he knew it, a fireball began forming in his palm.

One swing, and I could burn this whole place to the ground.

He could make the clerk regret every word, make him fear Naruto the way he always had. The heat in Naruto's hand built up, ready to be unleashed.

But then, Naruto saw the clerk's face—the fear in his eyes. Not just fear, though. That underlying smugness. Like he was right all along. Like this was proof that Naruto was the monster the villagers always thought he was.

He wants this, Naruto realized, his chest tightening. The guy wanted him to lash out, to prove him right. To give him an excuse to say, See? I told you so.

Naruto took a breath, forcing the fireball to fizzle out in his hand.

Ignore him. We have to save Oscar. That's what matters, he told himself over and over, trying to drown out the anger bubbling inside him.

But Naruto wasn't just going to walk away and let the clerk think he'd won.

"Hey, guys," Naruto said, summoning a dozen clones. "Gather all the garbage around here and fill this bastard's store with it."

"Dattebayo!" they all shouted in unison.

The look of horror on the store clerk's face as Naruto's clones tore through the trash bins, piling garbage onto every available surface, was priceless. Naruto smirked, feeling a small, petty sense of satisfaction as he ran out of the store. He etched that expression into his memory—a last laugh before heading back to the other world.

If I have to deal with demons, I'm sure as hell not letting jerks like him get off easy.

Naruto checked everything again, making sure it was all set. His clones had already brought the pills from another store—thankfully, a place that didn't treat him like garbage. He felt a small relief in that, but his mind was racing.

He double-checked the storage seal scroll. The Fuma Shuriken, ninja wire, flash bombs, and pills were all in place. Everything he needed was packed and ready in his inventory.

[ Do you want to use item "Darksign"? ]
[ Yes or No ]

As soon as he thought yes, Naruto's knees buckled. One knee hit the floor as his body surged with a strange energy. Naruto raised his hands in front of him, and there it was—the ring of fire, the Darksign. It glowed bright, the light piercing through his eyes, filling his vision with nothing but a blinding white.

He gritted his teeth. The heat from the Darksign seared into him, but Naruto welcomed it.

"Just wait, sensei," Naruto whispered, barely able to hear his own voice over the rushing sound of power coursing through him. "I'm coming to save you, dattebayo."

Suddenly, the boy's body vanished, swallowed by the blinding magic light, leaving nothing but an empty apartment in his wake.

But not entirely unobserved.

High above, hidden in the shadows outside, a dragonfly watched. Its keen eyes followed the events from afar. But this wasn't just any ordinary insect—it was a creation. The dragonfly's body gleamed unnaturally as it flapped its wings, its body made entirely of ink. As it moved through the sky, it left no sound, no trace, only a dark blur against the moonlit night.

Its destination was a shadowy apartment a few blocks away. The room it flew into was sparse, completely devoid of any furniture or decoration. The only thing that filled the empty space was a giant scroll, unrolled and spread across the entire floor. The ink insect splashed into the scroll upon contact, its form dissolving into the paper.

Overseeing the process was a small, cloaked figure—an ANBU agent dressed in a black cloak with a blank, featureless mask. But this was no ordinary ANBU. This was a Root ANBU Black Ops agent, trained in the shadows, an extension of Danzo's will for Konoha's "betterment."

The ANBU finished a series of hand signs, his fingers weaving through the air with practiced ease.

"Ninja Art—Ink Imagery Transfer," he muttered under his breath, his tone cold and mechanical. The ink from the dragonfly began to shift, swirling into specific shapes and patterns. Everything the ink creature had seen—the entire surveillance—was being transferred into a coded message on the scroll, written in a language only those within Root could decipher. Ever since Naruto's confrontation with the Third Hokage, Root had been keeping a close watch on him. This particular Root agent had been tasked with long-range surveillance, using the ink insect as his eyes. And now, with Naruto disappearing into that strange light, the ANBU knew something was off. Something significant.

The Hokage had opted not to send his own ANBU to follow Naruto—perhaps out of fear of pushing the boy further into distrust. It was a calculated move, but one that played into Root's hands. Root's surveillance had gone unnoticed, and the Hokage's restraint allowed them to observe Naruto undisturbed.

As the Root ANBU finished reading the coded message, his eyes, hidden behind the mask, narrowed. The implications of what the insect had just witnessed were clear.

I must inform Danzo-sama.

Far away from Konoha, hidden deep within a rugged mountain range, lay a small, secluded temple. From the outside, it looked like any ordinary temple, ancient stone pillars standing stoic against the weathered landscape. But this place had a dark secret—it was no temple of worship. It was a glorified prison known as Fire Zen Temple, a remote location where banished shinobi who were too dangerous to be left free, yet too valuable to be discarded, were sent to live out their days in isolation.

The air around the temple was still, as if even the wind feared to intrude upon the grounds. In the midst of this eerie calm, a small pumpkin garden grew, its vines crawling across the soil. The man tending to the garden seemed out of place, his frail, aging body moving slowly as he dug into the earth with his bare hands. His shaggy black hair hung limply, and his right eye was covered by a bandage. An X-shaped scar marred his chin, a reminder of his youth. He wore a simple white shirt, a black or dark grey robe draped over it, covering him from his feet to just over his right shoulder.

This man was Shimura Danzo—the War Hawk of Konoha, the boogeyman of the shinobi world. And he was calmly planting pumpkin seeds, as if he were just another old man living out his final days in peace.

But behind Danzo stood two silent ANBU guards, their presence a reminder of the reality of his captivity. Or at least, that was the illusion. To the outside world—especially to Hiruzen Sarutobi—Danzo had been stripped of his power and locked away in this temple, guarded around the clock. But the truth was far more dangerous. Danzo had long since taken control of the Fire Zen Temple, turning it into his hidden base of operations, without anyone outside its walls being the wiser.

As Danzo pressed the seeds into the earth, another ANBU appeared. Unlike the others, this one wore a black cloak and bowed respectfully before him. Danzo didn't look up, his single visible eye focused on the garden before him.

"Speak," he commanded, his voice cold, devoid of any emotion. He buried the last seed with a deliberate motion, his fingers pressing the soil over it gently, as if the task itself held some deep significance.

It didn't.

"Danzo-sama, we have received an important report from operatives in Konoha."

Danzo's single eye flickered with the faintest glimmer of interest, an emotion so subtle that it was barely detectable. Slowly, he straightened, rising from his crouch, his gaze shifting from the garden to the Root agent standing before him.

Without a word, Danzo extended his hand, and the report was placed into his grasp. The parchment felt thin, ordinary—but the contents were anything but. His eye scanned the report, moving swiftly over the details: Mizuki's betrayal of Konoha, and more importantly, the report of the Jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki, using previously unknown ninjutsu.

The war hawk's brow furrowed ever so slightly as he reached a specific section. Confirmed space-time ninjutsu.

His eye lingered on the words, absorbing their significance. He continued reading, taking in the description of the verbal altercation between Hiruzen and Naruto, the tension that had built between the boy and the Third Hokage.

Danzo remained silent, his expression unreadable. None of the Root ANBU could ever guess what was going on behind that cold, calculating eye.

"Your command, Danzo-sama?"

"Continue your observations of the weapon," Danzo said, his voice like ice, betraying nothing of the plans forming in his mind. "And destroy any evidence of Mizuki's connection to outside forces."

The ANBU operative bowed and swiftly vanished into the shadows, leaving Danzo alone once more.

The original mission had been simple enough in its design: Root operatives would supply Mizuki with the necessary information to obtain the Forbidden Scroll of Seals. In exchange, Mizuki would involve Naruto Uzumaki, faking the boy's death and leaving his body to be retrieved by Root. Naruto, brainwashed and reshaped, would become the perfect weapon for Konoha—an asset Danzo could wield in secret.

But the plan had failed. Mizuki was killed, and Naruto had not been drawn into Root's grasp. Instead, something far more interesting had occurred.

Danzo's gaze flicked back to the report, his mind racing.

Unknown ninjutsus?

Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise. Danzo's lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile.

"Your new abilities will greatly serve Konoha, Jinchuriki."

The world was shifting, and with it, the fate of Konoha. But one thing remained clear to Danzo—Naruto Uzumaki was now more valuable than ever, and he would not rest until the boy was under his control.

Author's Note:

Well, well, well, we've now completed the Naruto side of the fanfic, and quite a lot has happened! Many players are moving and developing their own schemes for our Dark Souls Naruto (yes, that's what I'll be calling him from here on out).

I also wanted to let you know that I've created a p treon!

Support Links:
If you appreciate my work and want to support me, you can do so here:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Adamo_Amet
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There, I've already uploaded over 70k+ words of content related to Naruto: The Chosen Undead and more. If you're interested in supporting me, you can do so for as little as a dollar! But no worries if that's not possible—just reading my fanfic means a lot to me. The next chapter will be out in 7 days, so expect weekly updates for this story.

Now, I'd like to clarify a few things that I think need explaining:

Naruto's Bloodlust: In canon Naruto, "bloodlust" is a bit undefined, so here's how I'm interpreting it. When you kill someone, a trace of their chakra lingers, and since it's a result of death, this lingering chakra is always Yin chakra (associated with the mind and soul). Yin chakra is typically used for genjutsu, so when a ninja flares their chakra, the residual Yin can create an "illusion" of death, otherwise known as bloodlust or killer intent.

Why does Naruto have this ability? Unlike regular ninjas, Naruto can absorb souls, which means his chakra contains a higher Yin component, even though he hasn't killed many yet. This high Yin chakra causes his bloodlust to cast the illusion of Hollows overwleming you.

How did Naruto manage to deflect an ANBU? The ANBU was holding back and intended to restrain Naruto by placing her weapon near his neck. Through Focality, Naruto saw this intention, so his counterattack caught the ANBU off guard. Had Hiruzen not intervened with his killer intent and frozen both of them, the ANBU would have taken Naruto more seriously.

Feel free to leave any questions in your reviews/comments, and I'll be happy to address them in the next Author Note.

Thank you for your support and for enjoying my work. I upload every 7 days.

I hope you have a blessed rest of the day, and please share your thoughts in the reviews!

Adamos_Amet · Nov 13, 2024

Chapter no.3 Squire of Oscar vs The Stray Demon

The light faded as quickly as it had come, leaving Naruto standing in the courtyard again.

Wait… I know this place.

Instinct took over, and he jumped back, his eyes darting to the entrance where the Asylum Demon had been. But the door—it was closed.

"Didn't we open that?" Naruto muttered, frowning as he looked up at the second floor. Oscar had gotten flung up there.

I need to find him first—then we'll deal with that demon bastard.

Without wasting any more time, Naruto pulled out his ninja wire and grapple hook. His hands worked quickly, tying the wire around the hook before launching it upward. The hook caught the edge of the second-floor ledge with a satisfying clink. He yanked the wire tight and started climbing, his feet pushing off the wall as he scaled the inner side of the asylum.

As soon as he reached the top, a hollow came rushing at him.

Didn't I already kill this thing?

It lunged, swinging its rusted sword at his head, but Naruto ducked under it, rolling to the side. Too slow. He pulled out a kunai and, in one swift motion, lodged it into the hollow's skull. The hollow crumbled to the ground, lifeless.

These things just keep coming back… how did everything reset?

He didn't have time to dwell on it because his eyes caught something in the corner—a room, partially collapsed, and inside, lying on a pile of rubble…

"Oscar!" Naruto almost choked on the word, his chest tightening.He's alive, right? He's gotta be!

But Oscar wasn't moving. Naruto swallowed hard, panic rising in his throat.

I need to get to him.

The room was a mess of rubble and debris. Oscar must've been thrown through the ceiling. There wasn't an easy way in.

Naruto ran to the right, scanning for an opening.

If there's no way in, I'll make one.

Explosive tags flickered in his mind, ready to blow a hole in the wall if he needed to.

Then he heard it—the sound of something rolling.

Naruto's heart skipped a beat.The ball!That giant iron ball that had almost crushed him before.

If everything reset… it's coming right for me!

He threw himself forward into a roll, his body hitting the ground hard as he tumbled out of the way. The sound of metal crashing into stone roared behind him. He turned, breathless, just in time to see the ball smash into the wall, creating a massive hole where it had hit.

Well… that worked out in my favor, dattebayo,Naruto thought, his face lighting up in relief as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. Through the dust and debris, he could see the hole the iron ball had left—a jagged gap leading right into the room where Oscar lay.

"Thanks for the assist, you big metal jerk," Naruto muttered under his breath, grinning.

But then he heard the hollow—the one that had kicked the ball down the stairs. Its footsteps echoed in his ears, and Naruto's grip tightened around the kunai.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A few clones poofed into existence, rushing up the stairs. Naruto would have loved to deal with that hollow himself—kick it down the stairs and make it regret messing with him—but Oscar was more important.

As Naruto entered the room, his breath caught in his throat. The sunlight filtered through the hole in the ceiling, casting a soft, golden light on Oscar. He was lying there, unmoving, on a pile of rubble. For a split second, it was one of the most beautiful things Naruto had ever seen—a warrior bathed in sunlight, like something out of an old story. But reality snapped him out of it just as quickly.

"Sensei!" Naruto screamed, his voice bouncing off the cold stone walls, swallowed by the emptiness around him.Please… please respond.

Oscar didn't move.

No, no, no, not like this.Naruto's legs moved before he could think, carrying him toward Oscar, his heart hammering in his chest, driven by pure panic. When he reached Oscar, he froze—a few empty estus flasks lay scattered around his feet, their golden glow long extinguished.

But then Naruto saw it—the faintest rise and fall of Oscar's chest. His breath caught.Oscar was breathing. Barely.He's alive. He's still here.

Relief washed over Naruto like a wave, but it quickly faded. There were no visible wounds, no blood—nothing he could see to fix. His eyes darted around, searching for a clue.Maybe he's just knocked out?

His gaze landed on the empty estus flasks again.Yeah, those weird bottles… they healed him. Sensei's just resting. He has to be.Naruto wasn't ready for any other possibility.

He knelt beside Oscar, placing a hand on the knight's armor, as if somehow his touch could bring him back. "Come on, Sensei," Naruto whispered, his voice trembling. "Just wake up." But deep down, the knot of fear in his stomach only tightened.

He carefully removed the knight's helmet, revealing his hollowed face. It looked worse than anything Naruto had seen before—worse than the hollows they had fought. Oscar's skull—his skull was caved in on the right side.

Naruto froze, his stomach turning.How… how is he still alive?

Suddenly, Oscar stirred. His eyes fluttered open, weak and unfocused. Naruto felt his heart leap into his throat.

"You're awake!" Naruto shouted, barely able to contain his relief. His hands fumbled as he pulled out the medicinal pills he had brought. "You're gonna be fine, Sensei. I—I went back to my world and got these. Just take them, and you'll be fine, and then we'll go kick that demon's ass… together!"

Naruto tried to smile, tried to be strong, but his hands were shaking so badly that the pills rattled in their container. Come on, Naruto, calm down.

"Save… save them for yourself, Naruto."

Naruto's heart clenched, a feeling of dread sinking into his stomach. "No!" he cried, shaking his head, his voice breaking. "I got these for you! Don't you dare give up on me!"

Oscar's faint smile faded, his eyes softening with something almost like pity. "Naruto… I'm beyond repair." His voice was weak but steady, as if he'd already accepted what was coming. "I can feel it. My soul… it's slipping away."

Naruto's eyes burned as he knelt beside Oscar, gripping his hand tightly. He could feel the tears starting, even though he tried to hold them back. He wasn't ready for this. He wasn't ready to lose Oscar—not now, not after everything. "Please, Sensei… don't go," he choked out, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Please… don't leave me."

Oscar's gaze softened even further, the gentleness in his eyes contrasting with the pain etched across his face. "I'm… I'm sorry, Naruto," he said quietly. "But… I can't keep my promise."

That did it. The tears broke free, streaming down Naruto's face in hot, unrestrained rivulets. He clenched his jaw, trying to be strong, but the more he tried, the more it hurt. His heart felt like it was being crushed under an impossible weight. He'd just met Oscar hours ago—a stranger who had somehow become his teacher, his friend. And now he was dying, slipping away right in front of Naruto. It felt too fast, too unfair.

"Don't cry, Naruto," Oscar murmured, his voice almost scolding, but there was a gentleness to it. "Be… brave."

Brave. Naruto was supposed to be brave. But how? How could he be brave when he felt like his entire world was crumbling? He tried to nod, tried to force a smile, but it was impossible. "Yeah… I'm brave. I'm… I'm brave," he whispered, sniffling, his hands shaking as he clung to Oscar's. He bit his lip so hard he tasted blood, but he couldn't stop the tears.

"I… I can't be brave, Sensei," Naruto finally admitted, his voice breaking, feeling like a little kid who didn't know what to do. "I… I don't know how."

Oscar's hand trembled as he reached up, resting it gently on Naruto's shoulder. "Bravery… doesn't mean not feeling fear, Naruto. It's… standing up despite the fear. Despite the pain." He took a shaky breath, each word coming slower, weaker. "This world… it's a cruel one. But it doesn't deserve your innocent tears. Being brave… means standing tall and proud… even when everything else is falling apart."

Oscar's words sank into Naruto like stones, heavy and unyielding, each one filling him with a strength he didn't know he had. The tears kept coming, his heart still ached, but somehow, Oscar's words steadied him, gave him a small piece of solid ground to stand on, even as the world crumbled around him.

"I'll… I'll be brave, Sensei," Naruto whispered, his voice trembling but filled with a new resolve. His eyes were swollen and red from crying, but he wiped his face with the back of his hand, trying to pull himself together, even if it was just for a moment.

"Naruto… may I ask? What does… 'Sensei' mean?"

The question caught Naruto off guard, and for a second, he almost forgot his pain. He looked at Oscar, swallowing hard as he tried to find his voice. "Sensei… it means teacher. But it's more than that. It's… someone you trust. Someone who shows you the way, who believes in you when no one else does."

"Then… I am honored… to be your Sensei."

"If you've… if you've given me the honor of being your Sensei… then let me give you… a title from my world." His voice was faint, barely audible, but filled with meaning. "A Squire. In Astora… a Squire is someone who follows a knight. Someone who learns from him… who will one day become a knight themselves. Someone who… inherits the knight's will and mission."

Naruto's tears fell harder, his heart aching with every word. He didn't fully understand what a Squire was, but the weight of the moment pressed down on him, and he knelt beside Oscar, trying to be strong, trying to be worthy of the title his Sensei was giving him.

Oscar's hand trembled as he placed the sword on Naruto's shoulder, the cold metal pressing against his skin. His voice, though faint, carried a gravity Naruto had never felt before. "Naruto… I've never had a Squire before. I've always walked this path alone. But now… I ask you to continue where I've fallen. To carry on my mission… to keep the torch lit."

Naruto's heart pounded, each word sinking deeper into him, filling him with a purpose he hadn't known he needed.

Oscar's hand lifted the sword to Naruto's other shoulder, his movements slow and deliberate. "There is… a saying in my family… 'Those who are Undead are chosen.' You're leaving this place, this asylum. But it's not just an escape—it's a journey. A pilgrimage… to the land of the Ancient Lords. When you ring the Bell of Awakening, your fate… the fate of the Undead… will be revealed."

Oscar paused, his breath shaky, and Naruto held onto every word. "Now you know… and because of that… I can die with hope in my heart."

"Yes, Sensei," he managed to say, though his voice was thick with emotion.

Oscar looked at him with a gentle, tired smile. "I'm sorry, Naruto… but you'll have to face… the world without me. The demon… without my help. Without the healing of Estus flasks."

Naruto forced himself to smile, through the pain, through the tears. "It's okay, Sensei," he said, trying to be strong, just as Oscar had told him. "I heal fast. I'll… I'll be fine."

"Naruto… I believe… you are the chosen undead."

Naruto shook his head. "No, Sensei. I'm your squire," he said, as if that title meant more to him than any prophecy or destiny. To be a squire to this knight—a knight who had given him strength, hope, purpose—was all that mattered.

"Then… I will make you my squire, Naruto Uzumaki. I'll pass to you the honor and the duty of my order."

Oscar took a trembling breath and, with the last of his strength, lifted the Astora straight sword, the blade gleaming faintly in the light. Naruto knelt down beside him, feeling the weight of the moment press upon him, his heart pounding with both sorrow and pride.

Oscar's hand was unsteady as he held the sword over Naruto's shoulder, his voice barely a whisper, but every word carried the weight of tradition, of honor, of a knight's legacy. "Naruto Uzumaki… by this sword, I name you Squire of Astora. To serve in the light of the first flame… and to defend against the darkness."

Naruto's chest tightened, and he swallowed hard, forcing himself to stay still, to listen, to absorb every word. The weight of the blade on his shoulder felt heavy, yet right, as if it was binding him to something greater than himself.

Oscar lifted the sword and tapped it gently on Naruto's other shoulder, his voice growing weaker but filled with resolve. "As a squire… you will walk the path of the knight. You will carry the torch… where I have fallen. You will uphold… the Knightly Precepts of Astora."

Oscar's hand wavered, and Naruto reached out, steadying his Sensei's arm as he held the sword. "Teach me, Sensei," he whispered. "Please… teach me the way of the knight."

"Then listen closely, Naruto," he whispered, his voice so soft that Naruto had to lean forward to catch each word. "The first precept… A knight's purpose is to serve… to protect those who cannot protect themselves."

Naruto wasn't the brightest in school. Frankly, academics were his worst subject, and lectures had always put him to sleep faster than a lullaby. But Oscar's words—the Knightly Precepts of Astora—were different. These weren't just lessons; they were pieces of his Sensei's soul. They were a legacy, each word etched into him with the weight of a thousand promises. And as Oscar's voice grew weaker, Naruto held onto every word, carving them into his heart, letting them settle deep into his being.

"And finally…" Oscar whispered, his voice little more than a breath. "A knight… never falters in the face of fear… nor does he waver… in the face of death."

Naruto's hands trembled as he clutched Oscar's, feeling the warmth slowly slipping away.

"A knight doesn't go… Hollow," Oscar finished, his voice fading to silence, his hand going limp in Naruto's grasp.

And then, there was nothing.

Naruto stared, his breath caught in his throat, waiting for something—anything. A sign that his Sensei was still here, still fighting, still… alive. But Oscar's hand was still, his chest no longer rising, his eyes now vacant, the life fading from them like the last flicker of a dying flame.

The silence that followed was like a punch to the gut, an empty, deafening void that seemed to swallow everything whole.

"No…" Naruto whispered, his voice barely audible, as if speaking too loudly might shatter what was left of this moment. "No… Sensei… please don't…"

But Oscar didn't respond. He was gone.

Naruto felt like his world had collapsed around him. The room felt cold, so cold and empty. He sat there, clutching Oscar's lifeless hand, his mind spinning, his heart pounding in his chest like it was trying to tear its way out.

Then, just above Oscar's body, a soft, pure light began to glow—an orb, warm and beautiful, floating like a final blessing. Naruto's breath caught as he looked at it, transfixed, the tears on his cheeks catching the light as it shone brighter, illuminating the room with a gentle radiance.

It was Oscar's soul. Naruto could feel i. The warmth drifted closer, and as it touched Naruto's hand, he felt a surge of strength, a resolve that filled the hollow ache Oscar's absence had left behind. It was like a final embrace, a parting gift, a last act of faith from his Sensei.

And in that moment, Naruto made a silent vow, a promise as sacred as the Knightly Precepts.

I'll carry on your mission, Sensei. I'll ring the Bell of Awakening. I'll finish what you started.

[ Name: Naruto Uzumaki ]

[ Weapons ]

- [ R Weapon 1: Astora's Straight Sword ]

- [ R Weapon 2: Pyromancy Flame ]

- [ L Weapon 1: Crest Shield ]

- [ L Weapon 2: Fists ]

[ Armor ]

- [ Head: Elite Knight Helm ]

- [ Chest: Elite Knight Armor ]

- [ Hands: Elite Knight Gauntlets ]

- [ Feet: Elite Knight Leggings ]

[ R Weapon 1: 96 ] → [ R Weapon 1: 174 ]

[ Equip Load: 10.0 / 51.0 ] → [ Equip Load: 29.8 / 52 (57.31%) ]

[ HP: 573 / 573 ] → [ HP: 594 ]

[ Stamina: 93 ] → [ Stamina: 95 ]

[ Physical Defense: 73 (20) ] → [ Physical Defense: 118 ]

[ Magic Defense: 73 (13) ] → [ Magic Defense: 60 ]

[ Flame Defense: 99 (21) ] → [ Flame Defense: 67 ]

[ Lightning Defense: 59 (16) ] → [ Lightning Defense: 54 ]

[ Poise: 0 ] → [ Poise: 49 ]

[ Bleed Resist: 104 ] → [ Bleed Resist: 101 ]

[ Poison Resist: 194 ] → [ Poison Resist: 72 ]

[ Curse Resist: 35 ] → [ Curse Resist: 30 ]

Naruto whispered to himself, the words heavy in his chest.

"Precept the Fifth: A squire inherits the will, the arms, and the sacred duty of their master."

He pressed an explosive tag against the wall and stepped back, shielding his face as the blast rang out, sending debris and dust flying. When the smoke began to clear, he saw the cracks already knitting back together, the stone walls reassembling themselves almost as if they were alive.

The Asylum… it felt like a beast with its own heartbeat, rebuilding itself piece by piece with some unseen magic. No matter what he destroyed, it would always come back.

I guess that's why Oscar's armor was intact, even though his body was broken.

As the dust settled, Naruto caught a glimpse of his reflection in the gleaming edge of the Astora straight sword. He paused, taking in his new appearance—Oscar's armor now fitting snug against his frame. The chainmail and plate had somehow resized to him the moment he'd equipped it, the heavy metal feeling almost natural against his body, as if it had accepted him as its new master. He wondered briefly if it had something to do with the strange window.

The weight of the armour had felt strange at first, but now, with the sword in his right hand and the crest shield strapped securely to his left arm, he felt a strength he hadn't known before. A quiet, steady strength, as if Oscar himself was there, guiding him.

He took a step forward, the armor clinking softly with each movement.

Suddenly, a cluster of hollow soldiers emerged from the shadows, their rusty swords held high, their dead eyes locked onto him. They charged as one, their steps uneven but relentless, closing the distance with frightening speed. But Naruto was ready. His body moved before his mind had even caught up, his senses heightened, the world around him sharpening. In a single swift motion, he brought the Astora straight sword down in a clean, sweeping arc, cutting through the air with a precise, deadly grace. The hollows fell instantly, their brittle bodies collapsing in a heap on the cold stone floor, defeated in one strike.

A faint whistling sound caught his ear—an arrow.

Way of Focality.

Time seemed to slow as he raised the crest shield, catching the arrow just in time, the shaft clinking harmlessly off its surface. In one fluid motion, he lunged forward, his body and sword moving as one, driving the blade straight into the hollow archer's chest.

"Precept the Second," Naruto murmured, watching the light leave the hollow's eyes as he withdrew the sword and wiped it clean on his sleeve. "Honor thy weapon, for it is thy companion in battle."

Taking a deep breath, he turned to the foot of the staircase that led to the demon's arena. He could hear it breathing up there, a low, guttural sound that reverberated through the stone floor, each exhale like a distant rumble of thunder. The ground trembled slightly under his feet, and he knew that this time, there would be no running. No hesitation.

This is it. Round two.

Naruto tightened his grip on the Astora straight sword, adjusting his stance, feeling the shield balanced on his back. His fingers flexed around the sword's hilt, grounding himself in the weight, the reality of the fight ahead. This was no longer just a battle—it was a duty, a promise.

One step at a time, he climbed the stairs, his footsteps steady, his mind focused.

Naruto… genin of Konoha. He snorted at the thought. That title meant so little to him now. No, he was something more—something greater. Naruto Uzumaki, Squire of Oscar.

With that thought steadying him, he leaped into the air, raising the Astora straight sword high above his head, just as he'd seen Oscar do before with the plunge attack. The air rushed around him, the world blurring for a split second, and then he came crashing down, the blade driving deep into the demon's flesh.

"Round two, you fat bastard!" Naruto yelled, a fierce grin splitting his face as he twisted the sword, feeling the demon roar and writhe beneath him, its massive form shaking with rage and pain.

This was for Oscar. For the knight who had believed in him, even in his final moments. This fight, this mission, this path—Naruto would walk it to the end. He would carry Oscar's torch, and he would not go hollow!

[Name: Asylum Demon]
[HP: 1900 / 2,195]

Naruto gripped the Astora straight sword tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white as he stared down the demon just a few meters away. In his other hand, he clenched something else, hidden in his closed fist—a smoke bomb, ready to spring his trap. The demon's face had a chunk missing now, thanks to the plunge attack he'd landed, just like Oscar.

"At least now I don't have to throw up when looking at you, dattebayo," Naruto muttered, forcing a grin that felt more like a snarl.

The demon shifted, its massive form tensing up, eyes narrowing as it prepared to leap at Naruto. He saw it in its stance—You're gonna try the same move again? Fine. Let's play.

Naruto threw the smoke bomb to the ground, and a thick cloud enveloped the arena. The demon took the bait, lunging straight into the smoke, just as planned. He didn't have to see it to know what was coming—the thunderous sound of its hammer swinging down confirmed it.

As the smoke thinned, Naruto saw the demon's monstrous form breaking through, hammer raised high. That's when his clones moved, their shield formation snapping into place. The hammer came down hard, colliding with the shields.

And then—boom!

The moment the hammer hit, every single clone exploded.

The plan was simple. Naruto had attached explosive tags to his body, knowing that when he used the Shadow Clone Jutsu, everything he wore—including the explosive tags—would be copied onto his clones. This meant each clone was a walking explosive trap, primed to go off when popped. Even though the yield of the clone explosions was weaker than the actual yield of the original explosive tags, the sheer number of clones made up for the reduced power.

The blast threw the demon backward, the shockwave tearing through its massive body. Its hammer—that damn hammer—shattered into pieces, fragments flying everywhere. The force was so strong that the demon stumbled back, arms flailing, its ugly head jerking wildly.

Before it could even process what had happened, Naruto hurled a fuma shuriken from behind one of the pillars. He watched it spin through the air, slicing straight toward the demon's face in a perfect arc. Just a little more...

The demon's head jerked back, and Naruto shouted, "Kai!"

The flashbangs attached to the fuma shuriken erupted with a blinding light, igniting the arena like a miniature sun. The demon let out a guttural howl as the brilliant flash seared its vision, stumbling backward, its massive hands flying up to clutch its face in agony. The deafening sound of its pained roars echoed through the arena, sending tremors through the ground.

The demon thrashed wildly, disoriented, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground beneath Naruto's feet.

"Now!" Naruto roared, his voice cutting through the chaos.

From the second floor, two clones stood tall, their eyes locked on the target. On either side of the arena, hidden in the forms of pots, more clones revealed themselves, their hands glowing with pyromancy flames.

The fireballs flew in unison, streaking across the arena like meteors, each one finding its mark on the demon's body. The impact was brutal—flames swallowed the demon whole, wrapping around its flesh, consuming it in an inferno.

The demon roared to the heavens, its cries like the wails of a beast being torn apart from the inside. The fire ate away at its skin, charring it black, the flames dancing like serpents around its body.

Blood poured from the demon's wounds, thick and dark, like rivers of molten metal. The fire seared its way through the flesh, turning muscle and bone to ash.

And through it all, Naruto stood there, watching the flames do their work, feeling every moment as if it were his own heartbeat.

[Name: Stray Demon]
[HP: 900 / 2,195]

Naruto's eyes flicked up to the name hovering above the demon, the text that had changed with a finality he couldn't ignore.

The asylum demon had destroyed the chains that once held it down, chains forged by Lord Gwyn himself to bind the demon's soul, forcing it into obedience. Those chains kept the beast as the final obstacle for the chosen undead, containing it so its true power wouldn't turn the Northern Undead Asylum into a smoldering ruin.

But now... those chains were gone.

The beast wasn't bound anymore—it was just a stray demon now, consumed by rage and the memory of its home.

Flames licked at its charred skin, embers glowing across its massive body, almost as if the fire itself was alive. The demon's body, blackened with soot, seemed to pulsate with heat, like it had been born in the heart of an inferno. And maybe it had—maybe these flames reminded the demon of its home. Izalith, the land of fire. The land where it had been captured and enslaved by Gwyn's army.

The demon's eyes locked onto Naruto.

For a moment, he felt the weight of that gaze—ancient, filled with anger, with pain, with something far more powerful than he was ready for. But he didn't flinch. Naruto gripped the Astora straight sword in his right hand, while his left held the crest shield firmly in place.

The demon raised what was left of its hammer, the once-great weapon now little more than a crude staff. Naruto braced himself, double-handing his shield in front of him, ready for the strike.

I'm ready. Come on, you bastard, make your move.

But then... it didn't attack.

Instead, the demon slammed its staff into the ground with a force so powerful that the floor beneath them crumbled. Naruto's eyes widened in shock as the ground gave way, and before he could react, he was falling—they were falling—into the darkness below.

They crashed into the basement of the asylum, Naruto's feet barely touching the ground before he stumbled, struggling to regain his balance. The room was massive, a circular chamber with a weathered, stone floor cracked and uneven. Broken tiles lay scattered everywhere, and stone pillars loomed around him, some shattered into pieces, others standing like silent sentinels.

The walls stretched high, built from aged stone blocks that were crumbling with time, moss creeping up their surfaces like nature's fingers reclaiming what was hers. A faint light filtered through the gaps, casting long shadows across the floor. Naruto looked around, his breath catching in his throat when he realized the truth. This was it. The entire asylum was built around this chamber—the demon's cage.

Naruto's mind raced as he tightened his grip on the Astora straight sword, his knuckles turning white. I need to keep my eyes on those spells. That's what worries me most about this demon. Just as he was bracing himself for the next move, the demon lunged, swinging its massive staff in a wide horizontal sweep.

His heart sank. There's no room to dodge. The basement was too small, the space too cramped. Naruto knew he couldn't outrun that attack. Damn it!

In an instant, he used the Substitution Jutsu. The staff hit the spot where he'd been, detonating the explosive tags he left behind on the substitution log.

Boom!

The explosion shook the chamber, filling it with smoke and debris. For a split second, Naruto let himself hope that maybe he'd destroyed the demon's staff.

But then, through the thick smoke, the staff came swinging once more, almost unaffected. The explosion had only delayed it for a fraction of a second. The demon was back on him, faster than he could react.

Did it... did it just figure out my substitution jutsu?

A cold realization hit him.

The substitution only works over a few feet. From point A to B. If someone knows where point B is, they can time their attack to land right when you reappear.

And that's exactly what the stray demon had done.

Naruto barely had time to lift his shield before the staff connected. The force of the blow was like nothing he'd ever felt, a crushing impact that sent him airborne. His shield arm shattered instantly, the bones snapping like twigs. He felt his ribs cave in, sharp splinters piercing through his side. The pain shot through him like a lightning bolt, spreading to his chest as his lungs screamed for air.

He crashed into a pillar with a sickening thud, feeling his spine twist and his head whip back, his vision swimming with darkness and stars. His legs crumpled under him as he slid down the pillar, his whole body feeling like it was on fire. Breathe, just breathe, he told himself, gasping for air that wouldn't come, each breath like knives stabbing into his ribs.

The demon's staff hit the ground again, and Naruto knew what that meant. His pulse spiked.

Oh no... not that attack.

Forcing himself up, his whole body screaming in protest, Naruto staggered toward the nearest corner of the room. His hands were shaking so badly he could barely open the pouch at his waist. He didn't care what pills he grabbed; he just stuffed as many as he could into his mouth, chewing them like they were his last lifeline. Stamina boosters, painkillers, chakra pills—anything to keep him conscious, to keep him from blacking out.

The demon raised its staff high, and Naruto saw the glowing orb forming at its tip—an orb of fire, purer and hotter than anything he'd ever seen. His own pyromancy flames were nothing compared to this. The orb pulsed and expanded, growing brighter and hotter until it exploded in a massive shockwave of fire.

The heat hit him first, a searing wave that made his skin feel like it was peeling off. Naruto barely threw himself into the corner before the blast reached him. All my clones... they would've been wiped out if they were too close to the explosion. If only they'd been outside the radius, they'd have survived.

Adrenaline and hormones coursed through his veins, setting his whole body on fire, his nerves screaming with pain and energy all at once. He felt like his heart was going to explode out of his chest, his muscles twitching with the urge to keep moving, to keep fighting, to survive.

And then he saw it—the demon's face. It was grinning. Enjoying this. Enjoying watching him struggle, watching him suffer.

Oh, that made Naruto's blood boil. His vision went red, and he felt a vein throb in his forehead. You think this is funny, you overgrown barbecue? He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to his feet despite the pain that tore through every inch of him. You haven't seen anything yet.

Naruto's senses were on high alert as he kept a tight grip on the Astora straight sword, adrenaline coursing through him like lightning. The stray demon reared back, its grotesque body tensing as it prepared a brutal stab with its massive staff. Way of Focality was on overdrive, heightening his perception, slowing everything down as he analyzed the demon's every move. He could see the exact angle of its attack, the precise moment the staff would pierce the ground.

Without hesitation, Naruto jumped, the air rushing past him as the staff shot beneath his feet, narrowly missing him. He landed on the staff's shaft with perfect balance, his feet steady on the twisted wood. He dashed up its length, adrenaline burning like fire through his veins, and leaped into the air, bringing the Astora straight sword down in a heavy downward slash aimed right at the demon's eye.

The blade met its mark with a sickening crunch. Dark, thick blood splattered from the demon's eye socket as the sword dug deep, blinding one of its massive eyes. It roared in agony, the sound echoing in the chamber like the tortured wail of a beast in hell. Naruto felt the vibration of the roar run through his bones, rattling his insides, but he didn't stop.

The demon twisted, snapping its jaws at Naruto, trying to devour him whole. He was ready for it. One of his shadow clones launched him backward just as the demon's mouth closed in, exploding with a deafening boom inside its gaping maw.

Chunks of flesh and teeth sprayed from the explosion, the demon's lower jaw ripped apart into a gruesome mess. Blood poured from the open wound, drenching the floor beneath it in dark liquid. The demon's roar was now a garbled mess of pain, more like a guttural growl than anything resembling a scream.

Naruto stuffed more pills into his mouth, barely chewing as he forced them down. Come on, body, heal faster! He gritted his teeth, shoving the pain to the back of his mind. He needed to keep moving. He couldn't afford to slow down now.

He saw the demon slam its staff into a nearby pillar, feeling the energy building near the center of the room. It's a spell—it's trying to set up another blast. The staff slam was a distraction, and he knew it. Naruto bolted, trying to get outside the blast radius.

Too slow.

The red orb exploded, sending a shockwave that hit Naruto like a freight train. He was flung off his feet, the ground spinning out from under him as he slammed into the floor, the impact rattling his bones. His helmet saved his skull from cracking open, but his vision blurred, and he tasted blood.

The sound of wings flapping filled his ears. Naruto looked up just in time to see the demon lifting off the ground, its massive wings beating the air, only to fold them in as it prepared to dive-bomb him.

Fat bastard is going to squash me like a bug, Naruto thought, his fingers already flying through the hand signs for the Substitution Jutsu. At the last second, he vanished, but he didn't leave behind a log or stone this time.

No, he left behind a very special gift—a fuma shuriken, glinting in the dim light as it spun up toward the descending demon. It landed right in the worst possible spot—the demon's rear end.

The impact was grotesque, the fuma shuriken lodged deep in the demon's hindquarters. Naruto didn't even have time to savor the moment before he shouted, "Kai!" activating the explosive tags wrapped around the shuriken.

The explosion was catastrophic. The blast ripped through the demon's lower body, tearing apart its insides. A mess of blood, entrails, and what looked like shredded organs sprayed out in all directions. The demon's guts spilled out in a steaming pile on the ground, the smell so foul it made Naruto's stomach lurch. Its butt region was obliterated, shredded beyond recognition.

Naruto swallowed hard, trying not to vomit at the sight, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the mess he'd created. Part of him felt a flicker of sympathy for the monster, but then he remembered Oscar's words—his precept burned into his mind: "Precept number fifteen: Do not show sympathy for the enemy, for they shall show you none when you fall."

Naruto clenched his jaw, his resolve hardening. No sympathy for a beast that would have torn me apart without a second thought.

But then he heard it—the flapping of wings again. His muscles tensed, ready to defend himself, but he saw something that made his blood boil. The demon wasn't coming back for a fight. It was trying to fly away.

"Oh, hell no," Naruto snarled, eyes blazing with fury. "You're not getting away, not after everything you've done!"

Naruto watched as the demon shot out of the hole like a massive, flaming boulder, and he knew he had to act fast. His muscles tensed as he channeled chakra into his legs, feeling the surge in his thighs and calves that powered his jumps. He launched himself upward, pushing off the cracked ground with everything he had. Not enough. The demon was too fast, already climbing higher, but he wasn't going to give up. Not now.

One after another, Naruto's clones formed beneath him, their hands locking together to fling him higher and higher. Each one threw him further into the air like a human slingshot. The wind rushed past as he soared, adrenaline pounding in his ears as he finally found himself above the demon, the entire scene blurring for a split second as he caught a glimpse of its burning wings beneath him.

This is it.

Without hesitation, Naruto pulled two kunai from his pouch and hurled them with all his strength. The blades tore through the demon's wings, ripping into the charred flesh with sickening precision. It roared, spiraling downward, losing control as Naruto gripped Astora's straight sword with both hands. Gravity did the rest, pulling him down with incredible speed, the sword poised for a final, crushing blow.

But the demon wasn't finished. As he closed in, Naruto saw it point its staff directly at him. A red orb began to form at its tip, growing larger, more intense. He knew this was it—the moment that would decide everything. Either he'd win, or he'd be nothing but ash in a crater.

No choice. Naruto channeled chakra into the explosive tags strapped to his back. They detonated in a deafening blast that should've torn him apart, but Oscar's armor—his armor—saved him. The explosion flung him forward, propelling him with enough force to break through the demon's defenses.

Naruto screamed as he brought the sword down, his blade connecting with the red orb just as it was about to explode. Fire engulfed him instantly, the heat so intense he thought it would melt him from the inside out. His skin screamed, his nerves went numb, and he could feel every fiber of his body wanting to give out.

But he didn't.

Maybe it was Oscar's armor protecting him, or maybe it was sheer willpower. Either way, Naruto knew without looking at the system window that he was down to his last bit of strength—One HP. One last hit. His body felt like it was falling apart, but he didn't stop. The roar that escaped his throat wasn't just from pain; it was everything—every struggle, every loss, every push forward. It felt like Oscar himself was with him, pushing him to keep going, to not give up.

Naruto's blade hit the demon with all the force he had left.

Like a meteor, the demon's body slammed into the floor with a bone-crushing thud, the sound echoing through the chamber. The impact cracked the stone beneath them, sending dust and debris flying as light poured in from above, illuminating the chaos. The demon's body lay still, his sword lodged deep in its skull, the once-pristine blade of Astora now broken, shattered from the final blow.

He stood there, panting, barely able to keep himself upright. But he had done it. He had won. He had slain the demon.

The adrenaline left him all at once, and he collapsed backward onto the demon's corpse. His body was numb, every nerve frayed and useless. His vision blurred as he lay there, staring at the hole in the ceiling. It was over.

But then Naruto saw it—the soul of the stray demon. It gathered above him, swirling into a massive ball of light, pure white with a black shard at its core. It was bigger than him, pulsing with energy, more beautiful and terrifying than anything he had ever seen.

He smiled, weakly raising his hand toward it.

I did it.

A single tear slipped down his cheek as the soul absorbed into him, filling him with a warmth that reminded him of Oscar. Of everything he had taught him. And as the last bit of that soul merged with his, Naruto let his hand fall to his side, his body finally giving in to the exhaustion.

We did it, Sensei. We did it.

[ Victory Achieved! ]
[ You have gained ]
— [ 10,000 Souls ]
— [ 1 Humanity ]
— [ Titanite Slab ]
— [ 1 Homeward Bone ]
— [ Big Pilgrim's Key ]

Author Note:

Holy shit, this was an incredible chapter to write! The next chapter will be out on November 25.

I know many of you are probably feeling sad about Oscar's death (RIP). If you've played Dark Souls, you'll know that Oscar is already near death when meeting the protagonist in the game. The same thing happens here, but with a deeper connection, weight, and legacy. This was planned from the very beginning—Oscar's death creates ripple effects that will profoundly shape both Naruto's character and the world itself in ways you may not even see coming yet.

So, let me know what you thought of Oscar as a character. Despite his short appearance, I tried to give him depth, history, and a sense of culture—elements that felt a bit lacking in the game itself. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Now, onto the Asylum Demon… In the games, the Asylum Demon and the Stray Demon are two separate bosses. So, why did I merge them into one creature with two distinct phases? Simple: it adds layers to the Asylum Demon's character, builds some intriguing lore, and makes the encounter more memorable.

What did you think of this change?
How did the fight come across to you?
And what did you think of the intensity and brutality in it all?

Thank you for your support and for enjoying my work. I upload every 7 days.

If you like what I do and want to support me, you are more than welcome to read some advance chapters for as little as a dollar.

Support Links:

If you appreciate my work and want to support me, you can do so here:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Adamo_Amet
Discord: https://discord.gg/9BARwq8n.

I hope you have a blessed rest of the day, and please share your thoughts in the reviews!

Adamos_Amet · Nov 17, 2024

Chapter no.4 Firelink Shrine

Naruto lay flat on his back atop the stray demon's corpse, his mind swirling with the lingering adrenaline high. "What do you even do with a demon corpse?" he muttered, genuinely stumped as he sprawled across the massive, lifeless body. The stench was horrific—like rotting meat left out in the sun too long, mixed with sulfur and ash. It was the kind of smell that clung to your throat, making you gag every time you inhaled.

His whole body was numb, and not just from exhaustion or shock—it was the painkillers he'd downed during the fight. His limbs felt distant, like they weren't his own, as if he were wrapped in suffocating cotton. The pain from his broken arm, cracked ribs, and internal injuries still simmered, dulled by the haze of medication.

Naruto held up the empty Estus flask, tilting it hopefully. Not a drop.

If only I knew how to refill this stupid thing, he thought, frustration bubbling. He'd rushed headlong into the battle without taking the time to figure out how the fire worked.

Oscar would've known.

The thought stung, but before he could dwell on it, a heavy thud echoed through the room. It reverberated like the universe was delivering a fresh problem straight to his lap.

"Oh, come on! Can't this world give me a break?" Naruto grumbled, his head lolling toward the source of the sound.

A figure stepped into the dim light, and even in his half-dazed state, Naruto couldn't help but think, Whoa, that's badass.

The intruder was clad in jet-black armor, its polished surface reflecting an otherworldly gleam. Twin, horn-like protrusions jutted from the helmet, and layered plates covered the figure head to toe, giving it an eerie, predatory silhouette. In its hand was a massive greatsword, nearly as long as Naruto was tall.

Naruto forced his sluggish mind into gear. Focus! Focus now!

The black knight moved, and then suddenly, it was right above him. The greatsword came down with terrifying speed.

Pop!

Naruto replaced himself with a log covered in explosive tags. The moment the knight's sword struck, the tags detonated in a blinding flash, the force obliterating what was left of the demon's corpse.

"Well, that's one way to get rid of it," Naruto muttered, staggering back. He gulped down a chakra pill, wincing at the bitter taste but feeling the energy surge through him.

Smoke filled the room, and for a fleeting moment, Naruto allowed himself hope. But then the black knight emerged, walking through the flames as if they were nothing. His armor was barely scratched.

"You've gotta be kidding me," Naruto breathed, his stomach twisting.

"Hey! I'll give you some ramen if you let me go!" he tried, desperation bleeding into his voice.

The knight didn't respond, simply raising his greatsword for another strike.

"Nope!" Naruto yelped, spinning on his heel and sprinting toward the ladder he'd seen earlier. His hands scrambled for the rungs, and he climbed as fast as his battered body would allow. Each frantic breath burned his throat.

The top of the ladder led to a long, dim hallway. At one end was a jail cell, its bars twisted and broken. The other end seemed to lead back toward the place he'd started. Relief flickered in his chest. Thank whatever god is listening that I didn't wake up on this side.

A metallic clanging snapped him out of his thoughts. Naruto glanced back. The knight was climbing the ladder, his movements slow but relentless.

"No, no, no!" Naruto kicked at the ladder with all the strength he could muster. With a deafening crash, the ladder gave way, sending the knight—and his looming sword—back down to the floor below. The clatter echoed through the hallway like a victory bell.

Naruto wanted to laugh but didn't have the luxury. To one side, the path was blocked by rubble and debris. The other led to the cell, where something glowed faintly inside—bright and inviting.

What's that?

Naruto sprinted toward the cell, his breathing ragged. Inside, the glowing object sat on the floor. Without thinking, he snatched it up.

He blinked, his mind struggling to process what he was holding.

It's… a doll?

Of all the things Naruto expected—swords, weapons, maybe even some weird magical ring—this wasn't it. The doll was strange, made of bronze that had turned green from age, its surface worn and weathered. No face, no features. Just a faceless hunk of metal in the shape of a doll.

Does this thing do anything?

He stared at it, half-expecting something magical to happen. Nothing. Well, it's glowing, so it's gotta be important, right?

Thud.

The sound made Naruto's heart skip a beat. No, no, not now. He turned, and there he was—the black knight, climbing back into the hallway. His presence filled the air, heavy and suffocating, as the doll vanished into Naruto's inventory. He barely had time to blink before he realized the knight was already upon him, his greatsword raised and aimed straight for his stomach.

Shit!

The air seemed to freeze as the massive blade closed in, inches from skewering him like a fish. Naruto could feel the cold bite of the sword's edge, the raw, murderous intent behind it.

Pop!

Naruto barely managed to use the Substitution Jutsu, swapping places with a piece of rubble just as the knight's sword sliced through where he'd been standing. Way of Focality kicked in, slowing everything for just a heartbeat—just enough for Naruto to see the knight's next move: a spinning backhand with enough force to take his head clean off.

This substitution jutsu's gonna get me killed! Naruto thought, his pulse racing. He couldn't keep relying on it—not when it had such an exploitable weakness. He needed something faster.

He summoned a shadow clone to deal with the black knight as he darted toward the ladder, sliding down as fast as he could. The smell of the demon's burning corpse hit him. The air was thick with the stench—charred flesh, sulfur, and that awful, greasy scent that clung to the back of his throat. Naruto tried to ignore it, focusing on his next move as he sprinted toward the other ladder.

Climbing it, he felt a weird sense of nostalgia. This hallway... it felt familiar, almost comforting in its dreariness. But he didn't have time to dwell on that. Two kunai flew from his hand, striking down the hollows that came rushing at him without a second thought.

By now, these weaklings were little more than obstacles in his path.

I could just run, get out of here, Naruto thought.

He had the chance, the opening. But as he glanced back at the black knight, something inside him snapped.

No way am I letting you off that easy, you bastard.

Naruto wasn't going to run.

Why? Because that knight had destroyed the demon's corpse—his demon corpse—the one he'd fought tooth and nail to kill. And now, it was ruined, reduced to ash and scattered bones. Was this revenge out of pure pettiness? Maybe. But screw it. That was his kill, and now it was wrecked. He wasn't just gonna let that slide.

How am I going to kill this guy? I'm practically on drugs, my left hand's useless...

An idea hit Naruto—the same way he dealt with those annoying chunin back at the academy. He wasn't strong enough to take the knight head-on, but he didn't have to. No, he was going to prank this black knight. Just... lethal pranks this time.

The clanking of metal footsteps echoed in the hallway. The knight was coming. Naruto glanced back, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Catch me if you can, you bastard."

And then, he ran.

Naruto killed the hollows in his path with quick, precise strikes, replacing each of their bodies with his clones using the Transformation Jutsu. One after the other. He barely even thought about it; the motions were automatic by now.

He climbed up, muscles burning from the strain, and found himself staring at the bonfire, flickering with that familiar, calming warmth. It almost felt out of place in this nightmare. No time to relax now, he reminded himself. The black knight was right behind him, and he needed to be ready.

Okay, let's go.

Naruto pulled out the smoke bombs from his pouch, popping them open to reveal their fine white powder, table sugar, sawdust pellets, dye pellets, and starch powder. None of that mattered—except the sugar and the white powder. Potassium nitrate or something. Iruka-sensei had told him it was powerful stuff when mixed with sugar and water. Naruto never cared much for the science; all he knew was that it made one hell of an explosion.

He hesitated for just a second as he took out his water bottle. It was for the ramen he'd brought. I was gonna share this with Oscar…

Shaking the thought from his head, Naruto mixed the potassium nitrate, sugar, and water into a yellowish paste, spreading it carefully onto his kunai. He worked fast, his hands moving on autopilot while his clones set up the trap around him. Every second counts.

A few minutes later, the sound of metal clanking against the ladder made Naruto's heart jump. The black knight was climbing up. He felt the memories of his clones pop in his head as the ones that had transformed into hollows tried to sneak attack the knight. Useless—the knight cut through them like they were nothing.

"You're persistent, aren't you? You bastard," Naruto muttered, positioning himself just right, making it look like he was ready to attack head-on.

The black knight bought it. He leaped forward, his shield bashing through Naruto's clone, causing it to pop in a puff of smoke. But he didn't see the real threat—the two clones behind him, holding a ninja wire.

And Naruto, charging right at him.

"You're going down, dattebayo!" one of the clones screamed, dodging the knight's stab by inches. The clone activated the explosive tags on his back, the blast sending him flying toward the knight in a full-body tackle. The force of the impact sent the knight stumbling back, right into the ninja wire trap while the clone popped.

The black knight nearly regained his balance, almost managing to catch himself when Naruto tackled him again. Naruto's weight threw him off completely, and the knight fell into the hole.

Now or never.

Naruto landed on top of him, immediately plunging his kunai into the eye slit of the knight's helmet. The blade pierced through, and with his free hand, he channeled the pyromancy flame into the wound. He couldn't use fireballs, but even the raw pyromancy flame was enough to do what he needed.

The flames ignited the potassium nitrate and sugar paste he'd coated the blade with, and in an instant, it burned like the back of a firework rocket. Hot, searing flames burst from the blade, scorching everything in their path. The heat was intense—the kind that could melt through iron—and Naruto could feel the black knight thrashing beneath him as the fire seared his skull inside his helmet.

The knight slammed into the ground hard, the flames dying down as Naruto watched, his breath coming in ragged gasps. For a moment, he thought it was over, that he'd done it.

But he remembered Oscar's words: Always make sure it's dead.

Naruto stood over the black knight, his body shaking with exhaustion and pain, and plunged the blade in deeper, twisting it until he heard the crack of bone.

The black knight should've been done for. Naruto had literally put a rocket flame and a kunai right into its skull. But no, it wasn't over. Not even close.

As if nothing had happened, the knight shot up, its cold, black hand reaching for him with deadly precision.

Naruto's heart leaped into his throat as he reacted. He jumped, grabbing the ninja wire with both hands. The wire was already taut, and before he could even blink, his clones above yanked him up.

"Plan B!"

They'd been waiting, carrying storage scrolls of shattered pots and dust, ready for his signal. As soon as he said Plan B, they released the storage scrolls, sending the fine pot dust flying down like a storm.

He didn't waste time. With a flick of his wrist, Naruto sent a kunai spiraling down, a string of explosive tags trailing behind it. He didn't stick around to admire the scene; he sprinted away as fast as his legs could carry him, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the underground explosion that was about to happen.

"Kai!" he shouted.

Boom.

The ground beneath him trembled, and for a moment, it felt like the entire asylum was going to collapse. The dust in the air ignited, creating a shockwave that roared through the chamber like a beast. Naruto turned back, the explosion still ringing in his ears, watching as the thick cloud of dust swallowed everything in its path. The blast sent debris flying everywhere, chunks of stone and metal raining down in the aftermath.

Naruto crouched low, shielding his face from the debris. Did that get him? Is it finally over?

When the dust settled, Naruto cautiously approached the edge of the crater he'd created, his heart pounding in his chest. He half expected to see the black knight, still standing, somehow surviving the impossible.

But instead, there it was—a soul orb. A beautiful, glowing orb floating where the knight had been.

Naruto reached out, absorbing the orb into himself, feeling its energy surge through him.

[ Enemy Slain! ]
[ You have obtained ]
— [ 1000 Souls ]
— [ Red Titanite Chunk ]

Naruto let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Finally. It's over.

Looking around at the destruction, the broken remains of the asylum, Naruto knew it was time. Time to leave this place behind. The asylum had served its purpose—Oscar had told him that much—but now... now it was time for the next step.

Sensei, I'll carry your mission forward. I'll see this through.

With one final glance back at the shattered remains of the asylum, Naruto turned and made his way toward the exit.

He approached the door at the far end of the arena, the same door where he had fought the asylum demon. Even without any magic glow or signs, he could feel it—something was protecting this door. Some kind of force, maybe magic or whatever kept this whole place from falling apart. If he hadn't just gone through everything, he might've questioned his sanity.

But he knew. He knew how to open it.

Naruto took out the key he had gotten from the demon, holding it up in front of him as the system popped up again.

[ Item: Big Pilgrim's Key ]
[ Description: Key to the inner door of the Undead Asylum main hall. Big key belonging to a chosen Undead pilgrim. But this Chosen Undead knows not what this pilgrimage has in store. ]

"Thanks," Naruto mumbled at the system, not really caring about its dramatic tone right now. He placed the key into the door, and just like that, it vanished. The door creaked open on its own, revealing a long, winding cliff path ahead. Moss covered everything, and old ruins dotted the landscape, crumbling stone and broken arches.

Suddenly, the ground beneath him began to shake. Naruto turned around, his heart skipping a beat.

The asylum...

The entire building, every wall, every stone—everything started crumbling into the ground like sand. The magic that had kept this place together, the magic that had been repairing it each time it was broken, was gone. The moment he opened the door, that magic was broken. It was like watching the end of something ancient and powerful, and Naruto couldn't help but feel a weird sense of loss as he watched it fall into ruin.

Cold winds whipped around him, biting through Oscar's armor, and Naruto found himself standing there, staring at the destroyed asylum. The place that had been his prison, his battleground... was now gone. And he was alone.

Great, Naruto thought bitterly. Now what?

With no way to go but forward, he sighed and got to work. He took out a kunai and began digging into the ground, the cold earth giving way as he worked slowly, methodically. The sound of metal scraping against dirt was almost calming.

Oscar deserves this.

Once he had the grave ready, Naruto took out a storage scroll and gently placed Oscar's body into the hole.

Oscar's face—his hollowed face—was peaceful, like he'd finally found some rest knowing that his squire had avenged him.

Naruto grabbed a handful of soil, staring at it for a moment before dropping it into the grave. It felt strange, like he was saying goodbye to a part of himself, not just a friend.

As he recited the knightly precepts, the words caught in his throat. His mind kept replaying all the moments he had shared with Oscar, the things Oscar had taught him. Even though losing Oscar hurt more than Naruto wanted to admit, he couldn't help but feel honored. Honored to have met him, honored to carry his legacy.

Naruto found a large stone nearby and dragged it to the grave, placing it at the head like a makeshift tombstone. Taking his kunai, he carved into the stone:

"Oscar, Elite Knight of Astora, a friend, a mentor... a brother. Thank you for everything."

As Naruto finished carving the last word, he read it aloud, his voice breaking. His lips quivered, and before he could stop himself, tears started spilling down his face. He tried to hold it in, to be strong, but he couldn't.

He just... cried.

Naruto didn't know how long he stayed there, sitting by Oscar's grave, letting the grief wash over him. His chest ached, his throat felt raw, but eventually, the tears stopped. Slowly, he wiped his eyes and took a deep breath.

He stood up, putting the knight's helmet back on his head, feeling the weight of it settle on his shoulders. "Naruto Uzumaki, Squire of Oscar..." he paused, wishing he had the words, wishing he could speak like Oscar, like a true knight.

But he wasn't Oscar. He was himself. So he kept it simple.

"Goodbye," Naruto whispered.

With one last glance at the grave, Naruto turned and started walking up the cliff toward the ruins.

Naruto trudged through the snow, the cold biting at his skin, his breath visible in short, shallow puffs. Every step he took left a small crunch beneath his feet, the green weeds and shrubs swaying in the icy wind as if they were whispering secrets to the world. He reached the edge of the cliff and stopped in his tracks.

What lay before him was nothing short of breathtaking—a vast, endless expanse of mountains stretched out as far as he could see, their peaks blanketed in gray mist. They were towering, jagged giants, like the world itself was trying to cage him in, making him feel like this asylum was inescapable.

This place... it's so damn beautiful and lonely at the same time, Naruto thought.

Then, he heard it—a call that echoed through the cold air.

A crow's caw, loud and sharp, slicing through his thoughts. Before he could react, a shadow loomed over him, and suddenly a massive crow, with wings as dark as night and a body the size of a carriage, came swooping down. Its talons, each one as thick as his arm, were outstretched. They grabbed him before he even had a chance to blink.

The world spun as Naruto was lifted into the air, his stomach lurching at the sudden altitude. He had never felt anything like this—flying.

The wind whipped around him, freezing his face, but all he could do was hang there, his heart pounding in his throat. He didn't even dare move; one wrong twitch and he'd be a smear on the rocks below.

The higher they went, the thinner the air got. Naruto's chest tightened, each breath coming in sharp and cold, burning his lungs as he struggled to keep his eyes open. His head started to feel light, like he might pass out at any moment, but he forced himself to stay awake.

Come on, Naruto, stay with it. You've come too far to pass out now.

The crow's wings beat powerfully as it soared over the mountains, and that's when Naruto saw it—a city-like structure, sprawling out in the distance, bigger than anything he'd ever laid eyes on. Buildings and towers rose up like ancient giants, their stone walls cracked and weathered by time, standing tall and defiant against the elements.

The crow twisted its path, banking toward a circular structure perched on a cliff. The structure was mostly made of worn stone walls, with large gaps and broken archways that looked like they'd been abandoned for centuries. In the center of it all, there was a small fire burning on a stone platform, its flames flickering brightly, casting a warm, inviting glow.

Bonfire?! Naruto almost screamed the word in his head. He couldn't believe his eyes; it was just like the one in the asylum. A place of safety.

The crow's talons loosened, and suddenly, Naruto was falling. He hit the ground with a rough roll, dirt and stone scraping against his armor as he tumbled. By the time he came to a stop, the crow was already gone, its massive wings beating as it disappeared back into the sky.

Naruto gasped for air, sucking in huge gulps like a man who'd been drowning. His lungs felt like they were on fire, his head spinning from the sudden change in altitude. It was like trying to drink in too much air all at once, each breath leaving him lightheaded and disoriented.

He forced himself to get up, every muscle in his body screaming in protest as he stumbled toward the bonfire. The heat hit him like a wave, its warmth sinking into his bones, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Naruto felt safe.

And then, suddenly, his broken arm snapped back into place. He almost cried out in shock, but the numb pain in his ribs and the sensation of his insides shifting back to where they belonged kept him silent. The relief was so overwhelming that he almost fell to his knees.

Naruto glanced around, and his gaze landed on someone else—a man sitting down, wearing a full suit of dull, metallic armor that covered his entire body. His helmet was off, revealing short black hair and a neutral expression, like he'd seen the world and couldn't be bothered to care anymore. The armor looked worn, like it had seen too many battles, too many defeats. He was sitting on his shield, his sword lying next to him, his eyes fixed on the ground. He didn't even look up when Naruto arrived, just sat there with that hollow, broken expression.

He looks like he's already dead, Naruto thought, a chill running down his spine.

Not in the literal sense, but in the way someone looks when they've given up completely. Like he was part of the ruins themselves, blending into the decay around them.

Naruto took a deep breath. "Hey."

His voice was louder than he intended, echoing off the stone walls. He hoped this guy was at least friendly. After everything he'd been through, seeing an actual human was... almost comforting.

The man's eyes slowly moved up to meet Naruto's, and for a moment, he just stared at Naruto like he wasn't real. Then he sighed and spoke in a tired, defeated tone, "Well, what do we have here? You must be a new arrival. Let me guess. Fate of the Undead, right? Well, you're not the first. But there's no salvation here. You'd have done better to rot in the Undead Asylum… but, too late now."

Geez, this guy's a real ray of sunshine, Naruto thought, huffing out a breath. "Well, the Undead Asylum is destroyed. Nothing I can do about that now."

For the first time, something shifted in the man's face. His eyes widened just a little, a flicker of surprise breaking through the defeated look. But it was gone in an instant, replaced with the same hollow expression as before. "Oh? So, looks like you defeated the Asylum Demon," he said, but there was something mocking in his tone, like he didn't really believe Naruto.

"Of course," Naruto puffed out his chest a little, trying not to let the man's attitude get to him. He had defeated that demon. Barely, sure, but he'd done it.

"Kekekeke." The man laughed, a low, bitter sound, like he found the idea of Naruto beating the demon the funniest thing in the world.

Naruto clenched his fists, feeling the annoyance rise inside him. "Laugh it up, it's the truth," he said. Who the hell was this guy to laugh at him? He didn't know what Naruto had gone through, what he'd fought to get here.

"Sure it is, boy," the man said, still chuckling to himself. "No undead has ever managed to kill that thing. Either you die, or you escape. Those are your only two options."

Naruto bit his tongue, stopping himself from snapping back at the man. Precept the fourth, he reminded himself. Show virtue of patience, humility, and honor through your actions.

It was hard. Naruto wanted to throw it in the man's face, wanted to show him that he had killed the demon, that he wasn't just some weakling. But Oscar had taught him better than that. Actions speak louder than words. Naruto didn't need to prove anything to this guy. He'd see, eventually.

"Fine. Can you at least tell me where the Bell of Awakening is?"

The man finally lifted his eyes to meet Naruto's, his gaze as dull and hollow as ever. "There are actually two Bells of Awakening," he said. "One's up above, in the Undead Church. The other is far, far below, in the ruins at the base of Blighttown. Ring them both, and something happens… Brilliant, right? Not much to go on, but I have a feeling that won't stop you."

He gave Naruto a mocking smile that made his skin crawl. "So, off you go. It is why you came, isn't it? To this accursed land of the Undead? Hah hah hah hah…" He laughed, but it wasn't a happy laugh. It was the kind of laugh that made Naruto feel small, like he was just a joke to him.

Prick, Naruto thought. For now, Naruto decided he'd go back to Konoha.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki."

The man raised an eyebrow, almost looking surprised for a second. "An undead that actually has a name... I am surprised." He studied Naruto like he was trying to figure out if he was worth the trouble.

"You are persistent," the man finally said. "But let me tell you this: in these parts, a name means nothing."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'm going to call you Older Emo," Naruto said, hoping to get some kind of reaction—a smirk, a twitch, anything. But all he got was a blank stare, like the man didn't even care enough to be insulted. He just went right back to brooding, staring at the ground like he was trying to solve some riddle only he could see.

Wow, this guy is even more emo than Sasuke, Naruto thought, shaking his head. How did he even end up talking to someone more depressing than Sasuke? He shrugged it off. He still had no idea how to get back home. The last time he went back to Konoha... how did he do it again?

I died, right? Naruto thought, his mind racing back to that moment. The Asylum Demon killed me, and then I woke up in Konoha. Maybe that's the trick?

Just as Naruto was lost in his thoughts, the man suddenly spoke up, his voice softer but clearer. "Alexander," he said, and Naruto nearly jumped out of his skin.

"What?"

"You don't have to wait for my name," the man said, almost like he was tired of pretending not to care. "It's Alexander. I've long since abandoned it alongside everything else... I am but a crestfallen warrior."

Naruto nodded, unsure of what to say. Part of him was relieved to finally get a name out of the man, but another part was just tired of his whole act. He'd been so closed off, so convinced that nothing mattered, that his sudden confession felt like a crack in his armor. A tiny one, but still a crack.

"Now leave me alone," Alexander, the crestfallen warrior, said, his voice retreating back into that cold shell of his. It was like he opened up for just a second, then slammed the door shut again.

Naruto blinked, shaking his head. This is my problem with emos, he thought, walking away from Alexander. They act like they're all sad and mysterious one moment, and then they think the whole world revolves around their misery the next.

Naruto took a few steps away, trying to piece it all together. I died, right? The Asylum Demon killed me, and then I woke up in Konoha. I wonder if... if that's the only way back.

A shiver ran down Naruto's spine as he thought about it. Do I really have to die to go home?

Alexander M. Morgan—well, that name—it was dead now, meaningless, something he no longer needed. This pilgrimage… it had defeated him a long time ago. Now he was just here, stuck in the Firelink Shrine, clinging to the bonfire. For what, exactly? Even he didn't know anymore.

The crestfallen warrior glanced at the boy—the kid who'd shown up out of nowhere. Young, too young to be a warrior, and he claimed to have defeated the Asylum Demon. Ha, what a joke, right? No one beats that thing. But… was it really a joke? Why couldn't the kid have done it? Just because he ran like a coward? Just because he did nothing?

He squashed that thought before it could crawl any deeper into his mind. Didn't need that voice whispering in his head. It was always there, reminding him of what he could have been, what he could've done. Annoying.

He heard the sound of running. The kid, Naruto—what kind of name was that anyway?—was making his move. Leaving, he guessed. Strange… why did he feel sad? Guess he was still human at heart. After being alone for so long, it was… nice to have some company, even if it was just a kid full of reckless energy and naive dreams.

Alexander looked up, maybe to say something. He didn't even know what. Maybe to tell him good luck, or be careful, or… something. But before he could open his mouth, he saw the boy run and jump off the cliff.

What?

He opened his mouth but then closed it again. His brain went blank. Alexander just stared at the spot where Naruto jumped, watching the wind rustle the grass. The kid jumped. Just like that. Off the cliff.

Huh.

The thought lingered. Maybe death really is better than the hell that waits for us here. He muttered to himself, eyes drooping shut as if the thought itself was too much effort. Maybe I should do it too. The thought was always there, wasn't it? Giving up. Dying. Ending the misery. But Alexander was too much of a coward for that. Too much of a coward to die, and too much of a coward to live.

Then he felt it—the heat of the bonfire. Warmer than usual. When did it get so hot? Alexander opened his eyes and saw it. The boy's body was reforming in the flames. His hollow form, just like Alexander's had so many times. A new body, like embers reigniting after being snuffed out.

Nothing new. Any undead linked with a bonfire reforms this way. But as soon as Naruto's body was fully formed, it just stood there—empty, like a statue. No soul, no spark, just a shell.

And then Alexander felt it. A large surge of souls gathered at the edge of the cliff. Right where Naruto had jumped. The souls began to form into something—a green shape, the boy's body, lying there like it was asleep.

His soul drop. A green soul drop.

Alexander blinked. No way. A green soul drop? Not yellow like the rest of them. This was something he'd only ever heard about in legends. Legends of people from other worlds.

He glanced back at the hollowed-out version of Naruto standing lifeless near the bonfire, then at the green soul drop glowing at the cliff's edge.

The kid was telling the truth, Alexander realized, chuckling despite himself. He really did kill the Asylum Demon. And he really is from another world.

"Wow," Alexander muttered, a dry laugh escaping him. "Guess I've seen it all now."

But the laugh didn't last. He stood up, grabbing his shield and sword. Hollow or not, he could feel it—the presence of the undead. They'd be drawn to Naruto's soul drop like moths to a flame. And with a drop that big, bright, and green, they wouldn't just leave it alone. They'd swarm.

Alexander looked at the first one rushing toward Naruto's soul drop. His sword was in his hand before he even realized it.

Why am I doing this?

He didn't have an answer. Maybe it was to help someone out, to do something good for once. No, that's a lie. He was selfish. He'd always been selfish.

Maybe he just wanted to hold it over the kid, to make him owe him. No… I don't care about that anymore. This world didn't matter to him like it used to. So why?

Maybe… maybe he wanted to feel something again. Maybe protecting the kid's soul drop was the only thing in this rotten world that made him feel alive.

Frankly, Alexander thought, raising his sword as the first undead lunged at him, I don't know. And I don't care.

He cut down the hollow with a swift slash and stood his ground. Another one came rushing, but he was ready.

"You better come back, boy," Alexander muttered under his breath. "And get your damn soul drop. And… maybe thank me while you're at it."

He smiled for the first time in a long while. Maybe, just maybe, I could be a warrior again. After so long of being a coward.

[ Author Note: Okay, so I figured I'd do a little Q&A about this chapter since I'm guessing some of you might have a few questions. Let's dive in, yeah?

1 - Why does Naruto know chemistry?
Easy answer: pranks. Naruto's basically Konoha's legendary prankster, so it makes sense he'd pick up a thing or two about fireworks and the chemistry behind them.

Here's the deal: when you're dealing with fireworks, there's this simple chemical reaction. Potassium nitrate (KNO₃) acts as an oxidizer, meaning it helps things burn by providing oxygen. Then you mix it with sugar (which burns super well) and add a bit of water to make a paste. Apply heat, and boom—literally. The sugar catches fire, the potassium nitrate releases oxygen, and the reaction burns super hot and fast, enough to melt metal and make a ton of smoke.

This reaction is used in old-school rocket fuel and fireworks. So yeah, it's not too far-fetched to think that Naruto would know how to make something like this work—not because he understands the science behind it, mind you, but because he's learned it works for his pranks.

Who says fanfics can't be educational, right?

2 - Can Naruto 1v1 a Black Knight?
Pfft, no. Absolutely not. Naruto in a straight-up fight against a Black Knight would get his ass handed to him on a silver platter. Those guys aren't your average enemies—they were placed there specifically to make sure the Asylum Demon doesn't escape. They're some hardcore, tough-as-nails warriors.

That's why Naruto had to cheese the fight. This was more about showcasing Naruto's ninja prowess. He didn't rely on raw power; instead, he used his wit, dirty tactics, and traps to win.

Think about it: Naruto's prank skills in the anime were so good that he had dozens of chunin chasing after him, and they couldn't catch him. Now imagine Naruto applying that same creativity and cunning to setting up traps instead of pranks. He'd basically be the Jigsaw of the Shinobi world, but, y'know, less murder-y.

3 - Why did you turn the Crestfallen Warrior into Alexander M. Morgan?
Alright, first, let's talk about the name, and then we'll get into his character.

The name "M. Morgan" is a nod to the English voice actor who voiced the Crestfallen Warrior in Dark Souls. And as for "Alexander," I thought it'd be ironic—Alexander is such a strong, noble-sounding name, right? So giving that name to a defeated, depressed warrior felt like a fun little contrast.

Now, about the character. If you've played Dark Souls, you know the Crestfallen Warrior is basically there to mirror the player. He's someone who tried to do what you're doing but failed. He's a warning—a glimpse of what happens when you lose hope.

But here's the thing: that works fine in a game, but for a story? Not so much. I wanted to give him more depth. I gave him a name, opinions, agency, and, most importantly, a tiny spark of hope. In Dark Souls lore, you don't go fully hollow until you lose all hope. So Alexander still has that spark—faint as it is.

The question is, will Naruto be the one to reignite it? Or will that spark get crushed? Guess you'll have to stick around to find out.

It's kind of like what I did with Oscar. I expanded on his character, gave him a backstory, and made him have a meaningful impact on Naruto. I plan to do the same with Alexander, turning him into a well-written, complex character who can hold his own in the narrative.

So yeah, those are the big questions I figured you might have about this chapter. If there's anything else you're curious about, feel free to drop me a comment or message, and I'll do my best to answer!

Next chapter, we're heading back to Konoha—and specifically, Team 7. Mark your calendars for November 25! See you then!

Thank you for your support and for enjoying my work. I upload every 7 days.

If you like what I do and want to support me, you are more than welcome to read some advance chapters for as little as a dollar.

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I hope you have a blessed rest of the day, and please share your thoughts in the reviews!

Naruto: The Chosen Undead

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