Chapter no.44 Dark Souls

Chapter no.44 Solaire of Astora

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The smell of steaming ramen filled the air as Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke sat at the counter of Ichiraku Ramen, bowls in front of them. Naruto was already halfway through his third bowl, his slurping sounds making Sakura twitch. Sasuke, meanwhile, sipped his tomato soup quietly, seemingly unfazed by the chaos around him.

“Okay,” Sakura said, placing her chopsticks down and looking at the two boys seriously. “We need to figure out what to bring on the mission. Sasuke, you got anything in mind?”

Sasuke shrugged, taking another sip of his soup. “Kunai, shuriken. The basics.”

“I’m bringing ramen cups.”

“Ramen cups aren’t survival gear, Naruto!” Sakura snapped, glaring at him. “Do you ever take this seriously?”

“Hey, it’s better than starving!” Naruto shot back. “And besides, you can’t exactly rely on Sasuke’s brooding to feed us.”

Sasuke raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Ayame stepped out from the back, drying her hands on a clean towel.

“What’s all the commotion about?”

“We’re trying to figure out what to pack for a mission to the Wave,” Sakura said with an exasperated tone, side-eyeing Naruto. “Although some of us…” she trailed off pointedly, “…are less helpful than others.”

“Hey! Ramen cups are totally practical! What if we run out of food, huh?”

Sasuke sighed. “If we’re relying on ramen cups to survive, we’re already doomed.”

Ayame chuckled, the banter clearly entertaining her. “Sounds about right for you, Naruto. But since you’re heading to the Wave Country, could you do me a little favor?”

“What kind of favor, Neechan?”

Ayame tapped her chin thoughtfully.

“Trade from the Wave has been ridiculously expensive lately. If you could bring me back some shellfish—shrimp, crab, maybe some clams—fresh, of course, I’d owe you one.”

Sakura raised an eyebrow. “Why’s trade so expensive from the Wave? It’s not that far from here.”

Ayame’s cheerful expression dimmed slightly. “It’s because of the Gato Trading Company. They have a stranglehold on the economy there. No goods leave the Wave without passing through Gato’s hands first, and he charges a fortune in tariffs. Even essentials like food and medicine are marked up ridiculously. A lot of people there are struggling.”

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed. “You seem to know a lot about the Wave.”

Ayame shrugged. “Well, we get a lot of travelers here, and some of them are merchants. They talk. From what I’ve heard, the Gato Company isn’t just a trading operation. They’re basically running a mafia. Anyone who crosses them disappears.”

“That explains something,” Sasuke muttered, glancing at Sakura and Naruto. “You remember how suspicious Tazuna was when he hired us? He wanted us to protect him,” Sasuke continued, his tone sharp, “even if it cost us our lives. That’s not something a regular client says unless they’re desperate or hiding something.”

“Desperate,” Sakura echoed. “If Gato’s as bad as Ayame says, maybe Tazuna has a reason to be paranoid. But what’s he trying to do that would make Gato target him?”

Naruto frowned. “Does the Wave Country have a bridge?”

Teuchi stepped forward, wiping his hands on his apron. “No, it doesn’t. The Wave Country is separated from the mainland by a large body of water. All trade and travel are done by boat.”

Naruto’s eyes widened. “Wait, you don’t think…”

“If Tazuna is building a bridge between the Wave and the Fire Nation,” Sasuke interjected, “he’d be cutting into Gato’s profits. A bridge would let goods flow freely without needing Gato’s ships. He’d lose control over trade—and his monopoly.”

“And if that happens,” Sakura added, her voice growing more certain, “Gato would do everything he could to stop it. That includes taking Tazuna out.”

A heavy silence settled over the group as the implications sank in.

“Do we tell Kakashi about this?”

“No,” Naruto and Sasuke said in unison, sharing a rare, mischievous smirk.

Ayame raised a brow. “Why not?”

“It’s because these two want a challenge,” Sakura muttered.

“’Precept the First: A knight’s purpose is to serve… to protect those who cannot protect themselves,’” Naruto declared, his voice solemn, one hand raised as though he were making an oath.

Sakura and Sasuke just stared at him, their expressions blank.

“And also…” Naruto grinned, breaking his “wise” demeanor with a sheepish laugh. “…I need my shellfish ramen!”

Sasuke gave his signature “Hn,” which was the most agreement anyone was going to get from him.

Sakura pinched the bridge of her nose. “Right. Heroes. We’ll need to be smart about this. Pack supplies that’ll last, weapons, and medical gear. No ramen cups, Naruto.”

“But ramen cups—“

“No.”

Naruto slumped, muttering something about blasphemy against the ramen gods, but Ayame interjected with a gentle smile. “Naruto, just promise me you’ll be careful out there, okay?” Her voice was soft, but there was a flicker of genuine concern in her eyes. “Shellfish isn’t worth risking your life over.”

“Hey, this is me we’re talking about! I can’t be killed!”

“Sure, Naruto,” Ayame said, rolling her eyes with a smirk as she motioned him closer. “But while we’re on the topic, what about you-know-who?”

Naruto froze. “I—I don’t know. I thought you would take care of him!” he whispered, glancing over at his teammates to make sure they weren’t paying attention. They were absolutely paying attention.

“Naruto,” Ayame hissed, grabbing his hands. “He’s your responsibility.”

“But this might be a dangerous mission!” Naruto whined, throwing a nervous look over his shoulder.

Ayame tightened her grip on his hands. “You can handle this, okay? Plus, maybe it’s time you finally tell your team about the little guy.”

Naruto bit his lip. “You’re right,” he said, straightening up. “I can handle this.”

“That’s my Naruto,” Ayame said with a grin, leaning forward to give him a quick kiss on the forehead.

Naruto froze, his face going bright red. Slowly, he turned to look at his teammates. Sasuke was staring at him blankly, but with a look that somehow felt like judgment. Sakura, however, looked like she was about two seconds away from going full-on feral.

“Uh… bye!” Naruto squeaked, before body-flickering out of the ramen shop so fast that the air practically whooshed around him.

The silence that followed was deafening. Teuchi, who had been wiping down the counter, coughed awkwardly. “Anything else, sonny?” he asked Sasuke, trying to diffuse the tension.

“Can you make tomato ramen?”

Teuchi chuckled. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Meanwhile, Ayame was shifting nervously under the intense glare of Sakura, who looked ready to flip the entire counter over.

“My best friend, Ino, likes Naruto,” Sakura began, her voice low and dangerous. “Even if both of them are goddamn idiots who don’t know it.”

Sasuke quietly slid his chair a little farther away.

“So how dare you—homewrecker—get in between them?!”

Ayame blinked, caught entirely off guard. And then she started laughing—loud, genuine laughter that made Sakura’s glare falter for a second. “Homewrecker?” Ayame wheezed, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. “You think I’m trying to steal Naruto?”

“Yes!” Sakura snapped. “I saw that forehead kiss! Don’t deny it!”

“Oh no, oh no, Sakura,” Ayame said, holding up her hands in surrender, still grinning. “Naruto’s like a little brother to me. That forehead kiss? That’s just me messing with him.”

Sakura blinked. “Wait, so you’re not—?”

“Nope,” Ayame said, shaking her head firmly, trying to stifle a laugh. “I mean, he’s sweet, but absolutely not. Besides…” She leaned casually on the counter, smirking. “Ino and Naruto have been coming here almost every day for the past week.”

Sakura’s jaw dropped so hard it was a miracle it didn’t hit the floor.

“What?!”

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Naruto woke up in front of the bonfire, a grin spreading across his face like he’d just found the answer to life itself.

“I’m back,” he muttered, the words barely audible over the crackling firelight. A second later, he bolted out of the room like a shot. “I’m back!” he announced loudly to the endless gray skies of Lordran.

Lordran, of course, responded in its usual fashion: trying to kill him.

A hollow perched on a ruined ledge above him lobbed a firebomb with deadly intent, while another hollow with a crossbow fired an arrow directly at his head. But Naruto didn’t flinch. Instead, he smiled, and the faint shimmer of his wind cloak came to life around him.

The cloak wasn’t a jutsu, not really. It was the product of pure wind manipulation, a constant, invisible current of air swirling around him. The breeze subtly adjusted itself to every movement and optimizing the aerodynamics of his body. It was like wearing the wind itself—light, invisible, and utterly lethal in how it amplified his speed.

The arrow whistled through the air toward him, but before it could reach, Naruto vanished with a flicker of motion—a blur carried by Shunshin no Jutsu.

In the blink of an eye, he reappeared in front of the hollow with the crossbow, his blade raised high. The momentum of his movement carried into a devastating downward slash, cleaving the hollow clean in two.

The force of Naruto’s strike didn’t stop there, the sheer power behind it cleaving through the hollow and continuing into the stone battlement beneath. The solid stone cracked and splintered under his blade, leaving a jagged fissure in its wake as dust and rubble scattered into the air.

Naruto didn’t even bother to admire the destruction. Instead, he casually leaned back, his feet sliding into a smooth moonwalk across the uneven stone, his movements effortlessly fluid despite the carnage around him.

As the sound of hollow footsteps echoed from the stairwell and without turning, Naruto whipped his leg backward in a powerful donkey kick that connected squarely with the hollow’s chest. The hollow didn’t stand a chance—it flew off the stairwell with a gurgled scream, limbs flailing, before disappearing into the void below.

“And they say I’m not graceful.”

Naruto stood at the edge of the stone bridge, pausing for a moment as his eyes swept over the scene ahead. The axe-wielding hollows loitered inside the room, their glowing eyes fixed on him, waiting.

“Same old routine,” he muttered, cracking his neck.

The entire runback to the tower had barely taken a minute, his body moving as if on autopilot. Every hollow in his path had been dispatched with ruthless efficiency.

By the time Naruto reached the top floor of the tower he stopped in front of the doorframe.

“This is going to be epic,” Naruto said, his voice brimming with anticipation as he stepped onto the wall walk.

He stopped in his tracks.

Nothing.

Naruto’s gaze swept across the battlements, his confident grin faltering. The far tower, where the Taurus Demon had once made its grand entrance, stood silent and empty. No massive beast crashing down. No thunderous roar. Just… nothing.

“Is it running late or something?”

He waited, his eyes fixed on the opposite tower, but all he got was the sound of the wind and the faint creak of the wooden beams beneath his feet. A minute passed, then two. Still nothing.

Naruto unequipped his helmet and dragged a hand down his face. “Seriously? I’ve been training all week for this rematch, and you’re just not gonna show? How unprofessional.”

Naruto turned back toward his clones, who were busy finishing off the last of the crossbow-wielding hollows. One of them shrugged, dispersing into a puff of smoke with a resigned look.

“Great,” Naruto muttered, throwing his hands in the air. “I don’t train for a whole week, memorizing every move, and Mr. Big and Ugly decides to take a day off!”

He walked to the edge of the wall and pulled out his binoculars, peering toward the opposite tower.

Still nothing.

“Typical,” Naruto grumbled. “The one time I’m actually looking forward to a fight, and the boss monster no-shows.”

With a deep sigh, he turned and muttered, “Fine. I’ll just… walk, I guess.” He headed toward the far tower, his steps heavy with frustration.

Reaching the opposite tower, Naruto entered the small room at its base. Old barrels and crates filled the space, their decayed wood stained and splintered. With a growl, Naruto began smashing everything in sight.

Crates shattered under his strikes, and barrels splintered into pieces. It wasn’t much, but it felt good to vent his frustration. The room quickly turned into a mess of broken wood and dust.

Finally, only one crate remained. Naruto smashed it with a final swing—and froze.

Amid the shattered remains of the crate was a corpse. Its shriveled, naked form was eerily still, its hollowed eyes staring upward. It wasn’t fear that stopped Naruto, but curiosity. He crouched down, noticing the faint glow of a soul orb hovering above the body.

“Huh.” He plucked the orb from the corpse, letting it absorb into him with a familiar warmth. “Guess someone didn’t make it out alive. Probably those weird undead hunts of the Way of White. Jerks.”

He shook his head and turned toward the hall connected to the tower, finding yet another set of barrels and crates to destroy. As he smashed his way through, he emerged onto a set of stairs that spiraled downward.

At the base of the stairs, he found himself staring at a moss-covered archway. Beyond it was a heavy wooden door. Naruto tried the handle, but it didn’t budge.

[ Door is Locked ]

He pulled out the residence key he’d bought from the merchant and tried again.

[ Door is Locked ]

Naruto stood at the edge of the stone bridge, his gaze locked on the five hollows shuffling on the other side. Their grotesque forms hovered over glowing corpses, their movements slow and deliberate. A bitter laugh escaped him as he brought out his binoculars for a closer look.

“Wow,” Naruto muttered, lowering the binoculars. “Guess hollows can set up traps now. Next thing you know, they’ll start charging tolls.”

He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted across the bridge. “Oi, idiots! You’re supposed to hide to make the trap work!”

The hollows turned toward him at his outburst, two of them immediately breaking into awkward, shambling movements that could only loosely be described as walking. Naruto smirked, forming a single hand seal.

Shadow Clone Jutsu!

A clone materialized beside him, giving him a quick nod before sprinting down the bridge toward the hollows. It moved with purpose, weaving slightly to avoid the glowing corpses. For a moment, the bridge was silent except for the slap of sandals against weathered stone.

Then, hell itself rained down.

From above, the sky ignited in a cascade of searing flames. A torrent of fire engulfed the entire bridge, the intense heat warping the air and licking at the stone with ferocious hunger. The flames consumed everything in their path, including Naruto’s clone, whose memories slammed into the original like a freight train.

For a split second, Naruto felt it all—the agony of being burned alive, the suffocating heat, the searing pain. His breath hitched, and he instinctively grabbed his chest as the phantom pain subsided.

When the flames finally receded, the bridge was unrecognizable. The hollows were nothing more than charred remains, the glowing corpses now blackened husks. Naruto’s smirk vanished as he saw it.

The dragon.

It perched atop the tower on the far side of the bridge, its massive, red-scaled body radiating power. Its wings spread wide for balance, leathery membranes shimmering faintly in the sunlight. Sharp claws gripped the edge of the tower, and its long tail coiled and swayed with a dangerous rhythm. Its head was tilted downward, fixed on the bridge as if daring Naruto to cross.



Naruto swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. “Nope,” he muttered, raising a hand in a half-hearted salute. “You win this one, buddy.”

Turning on his heel, Naruto walked the other way. “I came here to fight the Taurus Demon, not a freakin’ dragon,” he grumbled. “That’s definitely above my pay grade.”

Despite his bravado, a small part of him itched to challenge the dragon—just to see if he could survive. But logic won out. For now.

Descending the staircase on the side of the bridge, Naruto found himself on a lower platform. It jutted out over the cliff, giving him a breathtaking view of the mist-covered expanse below. The world stretched endlessly, blanketed in a pale white that blurred the line between land and sky.



His awe was short-lived, however, as his attention snapped to the figure standing on the platform.

The man stood tall, clad head to toe in weathered, metal armor. A white tunic draped over his chest, adorned with a striking image of a sun—a face surrounded by yellow and red rays. His shoulders bore green cloth that hung like makeshift capes, tattered and frayed from countless battles. He exuded a sense of purpose, his posture noble yet relaxed, as though he belonged to the very mist itself.



Naruto stared, blinking. “What the…”

The man turned his head, the metal of his helmet glinting in the light. Despite the lack of visible eyes, Naruto felt as though the man were smiling at him.

“Ah, hello! You don’t look Hollow—not in the slightest! Far from it!” The man’s voice was calm; almost hypnotic, his tone was upbeat, almost too cheery for a place like this. “I am Solaire of Astora, an adherent of the Lord of Sunlight.”

“Wait, you’re from Astora?!”

The knight chuckled, a deep, hearty laugh. “Why yes, indeed! That great, noble land. But, ah, forgive my curiosity—how do you know of Astora?”

Naruto straightened up, suddenly feeling a need to look presentable. “My name is Naruto Uzumaki, and I’m the squire of Sir Oscar, an elite knight of Astora.” His voice carried a pride he hadn’t felt in a while.

“A squire, you say? Ah, the honor of it! How splendid to meet another soul from my homeland!” Solaire exclaimed, clapping his gauntleted hands together. His tone turned softer, though still warm. “Tell me, does your master still walk these lands?”

Naruto’s shoulders sagged slightly. “He… he died. He saved me from the Asylum Demon. Gave me everything so I could escape.” His voice dropped, the memory still fresh.

Solaire tilted his head slightly, as if offering an invisible smile beneath his helm. “A pilgrimage, then. Like so many of our order, he must have sought the truths hidden within Lordran.” He paused, letting the words settle. “And he gave his life for yours? Truly, he was a knight of great conviction. Be proud of that bond, young squire.”

Naruto nodded, though his throat felt tight. “Thanks. I… try to honor him.”

Solaire’s voice brightened. “And so you should! From what I see, you have already come far—close to the bell, even!”

Naruto’s eyes narrowed. “Bell?”

“Ah, yes,” Solaire replied, gesturing beyond the bridge. “The first Bell of Awakening lies within the Undead Church, just past that formidable structure. Quite the destination, wouldn’t you agree?”

Naruto grinned. “First bell, huh? Sounds like I’ve got my next target. Thanks, Solaire.”

“Think nothing of it, dear squire.” Solaire’s tone turned whimsical again, as he looked toward the pale mist in the distance. “I myself have come to this land for a purpose—to seek my very own sun.”

Naruto furrowed his brows. “Your own sun? Uh, you know the sun’s right there, right?” He pointed to the sky, his expression deadpan.

Solaire chuckled again, the sound rich and full of amusement. “Ah, yes! Quite the literal interpretation. But tell me, what do you think the sun is?”

Naruto shrugged. “A burning ball of gas that gives us daylight?”

“Hah hah hah!” Solaire’s laugh echoed across the platform, rich and warm like sunlight breaking through clouds. “I see! A fair answer, indeed. But to me, the sun is far more than that. It is not just a burning ball of gas; it is the beacon of hope, a symbol of life’s brilliance. Did you know, young squire, that the sun itself was once said to be a creation of Lord Gwyn, the Lord of Sunlight?”

“Wait, Lord Gwyn made the sun?”

Solaire nodded, his voice softening. “So the legends say. But Lord Gwyn… he sacrificed himself to sustain the First Flame, the source of light and life in this world. By offering his very soul to the fire, he prolonged the Age of Fire, holding back the encroaching dark. But in doing so, he abandoned his sun.”

Naruto frowned. “So, what, the sun’s fading?”

“The light of his sun has waned,” Solaire replied. “Though it still hangs in the heavens, it is but a shadow of its former glory. The warmth it once radiated grows colder, dimmer with each passing age. And so, I find myself here, in Lordran, seeking my own sun. A sun unbound by the fading flame, a light that will never dim.”

Naruto blinked, unsure how to respond. “That’s… a lot.”

Solaire chuckled, the sound tinged with melancholy. “Yes, perhaps it is. To seek one’s own sun may seem a strange and impossible quest, but it is one I cannot abandon. For what is life without purpose, my young friend? Without something brilliant to strive for?”

Naruto scratched the back of his head. “You’re weird, you know that?”

“I’ve been told as much,” Solaire replied. “But I find your honesty refreshing. You, young one, seem to shine with a light of your own.”

“Thanks… uh, Sunbro.”

“Sunbro?”

“Yeah, I like giving nicknames to people I like. And I like you. So, Sunbro it is.”

Solaire let out a soft laugh. “Well, I must admit, I rather like the sound of that. Sunbro it is, then.”

Naruto glanced back toward the bridge, the hulking form of the red-scaled wyvern perched atop the tower at its far end. “Anyway, I think I’m gonna go take that thing down. The bell’s on the other side, right?”

“A bold claim, young squire. Do you even know what you’re up against?”

“Yeah, a dragon,” Naruto replied casually.

“Not quite,” Solaire said with a faint air of correction. “That, my friend, is no dragon—it’s a Hellkite Wyvern.”

Naruto frowned. “What’s the difference?”

Solaire raised a finger as if giving a lecture. “A dragon has four legs and two wings, a mighty form built for strength and resilience. A wyvern, however, has only two legs and two wings. It is agile, cunning, and its fiery breath rivals even the mightiest dragons. The wyvern is a predator, striking swiftly and ruthlessly. A dragon… is a force of nature.”

Naruto rolled his eyes. “Toh-may-toh, toh-mah-toh. Still gonna kill it.”

Solaire’s voice grew lighter. “Oh, are you now?”

“Yeah,” Naruto said confidently. “That thing’s sitting between me and my goal. Can’t let it live, can I?”

Solaire straightened up, a newfound excitement in his posture. “Well then, young squire, I have a proposition.”

Naruto raised an eyebrow. “What kind of proposition?”

Solaire stepped forward. “I propose we engage in jolly cooperation—to vanquish this beast together! What say you?”

Naruto smirked. “I could use the help carrying its corpse back. Let’s do it, Sunbro.”

The two warriors stood side by side, gazing at the wyvern in the distance. Its form exuded menace, its wings shifting slightly as it remained perched on the tower.

“So, any ideas?” Naruto asked. “Because that thing’s fire breath is insane.”

Solaire chuckled softly, reaching behind him to retrieve a talisman. Its design was intricate, with white cloth flowing from the top like a banner. Naruto immediately felt the air change, an electric charge building in the atmosphere.

“No need to worry, my little friend. Observe.” Solaire’s voice carried an unusual gravity as he raised the talisman high, golden light crackling in his palm. The air grew thick with the sharp, metallic tang of ozone, the pressure building as he formed a spear of pure lightning.



Naruto’s eyes widened as he watched the miracle take form. The golden bolt hummed with energy, a radiant beacon of power in the misty air. Solaire’s arm drew back, and with a fluid motion, he hurled the lightning spear toward the wyvern.

The bolt tore through the air like a thunderclap, faster than Naruto could track. The impact was immediate—a flash of golden light, followed by an ear-splitting roar as the wyvern screamed in pain. Its massive body twisted, wings flaring as it leapt from the tower toward the bridge.

Naruto grinned, his muscles tensing. “Now that’s my cue.”

Without hesitation, he activated the Fist of the Peregrine, his body enveloped in the invisible wind cloak as he surged forward with unparalleled speed. The bridge became a blur beneath his feet as his senses honed in on the wyvern. For a moment, his jaw almost dropped—Solaire was keeping up with him.

Naruto’s grin widened.

“Let’s show this thing what jolly cooperation looks like, Sunbro!”

He leapt forward, ready to strike.