Chapter no.29 Dark Souls

Chapter no.29 Echoes of Steel and Shadows

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Fu Yamanaka’s existence was born of war—of violence, silence, and a bitter truth no one wanted to admit. During the chaos of the Third Shinobi War, when morality bent and fractured under the weight of survival, terrible things happened. Shinobi interrogators from every village pushed the boundaries of decency, breaking prisoners for information or simply because they could. Konoha was no exception, and neither were its clans.

The incident itself wasn’t unique.

A Yamanaka interrogator had raped a captured kunoichi. Violations like this weren’t unheard of in wartime, and most were buried without a second thought—whispered about, excused, or ignored. To the clans, it was simply an ugly but acceptable consequence of a bloody conflict.

But then the kunoichi became pregnant. And suddenly, there was tangible proof, undeniable and damning. What had been an ugly secret hidden in the shadows now had the potential to stain the Yamanaka Clan’s pristine name.

It wasn’t justice or morality that moved the Yamanaka Clan to act—it was politics. A pregnancy meant evidence, and evidence meant rumors, leverage, and the possibility of disgrace. Disgrace that could weaken their standing among the other clans of Konoha. Disgrace that could tarnish their position in the village’s hierarchy.

The interrogator was quickly apprehended, tried in secret, and executed under the Yamanaka Clan’s harshest laws. Not because of the crime itself but because of what the crime represented. A failure. The clan moved swiftly to erase all traces of the incident, suppressing reports, destroying evidence, and silencing anyone who might speak of it. To the outside world, it never happened.

But the child was a problem they couldn’t erase. By the time the pregnancy was discovered, it was too late to terminate. There were whispers among the elders about finding a way to quietly “deal with” the infant after birth, but even in wartime, Konoha’s laws had limits. A direct execution of a newborn would invite too many questions and the Yamanaka Clan had no intention of raising Fu.

And then came the perfect solution: Root.

Root was founded during the First Shinobi War, born from the belief that Konoha’s ideals—the Will of Fire, camaraderie, and moral strength—were luxuries the village could not afford. Danzo Shimura believed in a darker truth: that the village could only survive if it had shadows to shield its light. Root was that shadow, a force that operated outside the law to protect Konoha by any means necessary. Assassinations, espionage, sabotage—Root handled the dirty work the village needed but refused to acknowledge.

Its members were stripped of individuality and emotion through brutal conditioning. They were taught to suppress their identities, to become blank slates capable of wearing any mask, taking any role, and vanishing without a trace.

Its recruits were often orphans or children deemed unsuitable for traditional shinobi paths. It was the ideal dumping ground for Fu—a place where he would cease to exist as an individual and become nothing more than a tool.

Fu was raised in Root’s underground facilities, trained from the moment he could walk to suppress his emotions, perfect his chakra, and obey without question. He was taught that he did not matter—only the village mattered. Only the mission mattered.

When the Kyuubi attacked Konoha, the chaos that followed led to Root’s downfall. The Third Hokage officially disbanded Root. Danzo was stripped of authority and banished.

Most Root operatives were given psychological screenings and reassigned to various parts of the village, their roles carefully monitored. But Danzo had planned for this. Root’s indoctrination ensured that its members could wear any mask, blending seamlessly into society while remaining loyal to their master. Many passed the Hokage’s screenings undetected, continuing to serve Danzo from the shadows.

Fu was one of these ghosts, one of the unseen who slipped through. He became a simple member of the Barrier Corps, a quiet cog in Konoha’s vast machine. On paper, he was nothing remarkable—a chunin responsible for monitoring the barrier detection system.

Fu’s mask was not a physical one, like the porcelain faces worn by the ANBU, but a carefully constructed persona. To his colleagues in the Barrier Corps, he was polite but distant, diligent but unremarkable. His black shinobi uniform bore no clan insignia, and his pale brown hair was cropped short in an unassuming style. His eyes, the light hazel of the Yamanaka Clan, were perpetually calm, devoid of passion or spark. He spoke only when necessary and carried himself with a quiet efficiency that made him easy to overlook.

He was a shadow among shinobi, an invisible man in a village full of vibrant personalities. This was how he liked it. Fu had no interest in attachments, no desire to stand out. His existence was tied to a single purpose: obey Danzo’s orders. Anything beyond that was irrelevant.


Fu’s day began at sunrise. He arrived at the Barrier Corps HQ, exchanged a few nods with his colleagues, and took his seat at one of the monitoring stations. The stations were arranged in a ring around a central console, where a supervisor oversaw the entire operation. Each station was equipped with a crystal orb linked to the detection barrier, displaying chakra signatures as glowing dots that moved across the surface.

“Morning, Fu,” Sora greeted, her voice carrying the kind of casual cheer that Fu found unnecessary at this hour. She dropped into her seat at the monitoring station next to him, her short black hair bouncing slightly with the motion. She stretched her arms above her head before leaning lazily on her console.

“Morning,” Fu replied, his tone polite but flat. “Let me guess—you’ve been here since dawn, haven’t you? Never late, always quiet, the perfect shinobi,” she teased, tilting her head. “I bet you even meditate before your shift.”

“I don’t.”

“Okay, okay. Let me take another stab at it. You’re one of those mysterious types who secretly writes poetry at home. I can totally see it. ‘The silent wind moves across the barrier,’ or something equally dramatic.”

“No.”

“You’re no fun, you know that?”

“You’re loud,” Fu replied simply, his tone still neutral. He let the words hang there just long enough to shut down the conversation without offending her. Sora rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath, but her grin didn’t fade.

“Focus on your work,” came the sharp voice of their supervisor, Tetsuya. He stood in the center of the room, his arms crossed over his broad chest. His sharp eyes swept across the operators, their consoles, and the glowing orbs that tracked every chakra signature in Konoha’s detection barrier.

“Yes, sir,” Sora said, throwing him a mock salute with a mischievous smile before sitting up straight and returning to her station.

The orb was a dense map of chakra signatures—thousands of them glowing faintly, some moving across the village, others stationary. Each dot represented a life, its unique energy recorded and monitored by the detection barrier. For most operators, the job was to watch for anomalies, track movements, and log disturbances.

But Fu’s focus was different.

Among the countless chakra signatures, one burned brighter than all the rest: Naruto Uzumaki. His chakra was chaotic and wild, like a raging firestorm. It was impossible to miss—something that should have drawn attention from the other operators if Fu hadn’t taken measures to ensure no one else noticed.

Through subtle manipulations of his console, Fu directed the system’s attention elsewhere. To any casual observer, it would appear that he was diligently monitoring the entirety of Konoha, just like everyone else. In reality, his focus was almost entirely on Naruto, tracking his every movement while diverting the more obvious blips and fluctuations to neighboring consoles.

As far as the others were concerned, Naruto Uzumaki was just another dot on the map.

“Hey, did you hear about Sakura Haruno?”

Fu didn’t look up from his work. “No.”

Sora leaned back in her chair, clearly eager to share anyway. “She’s training with us now—Barrier Corps, I mean. Can you believe that? Kakashi apparently pulled some strings to get her in. Word is, he thinks she’s got a knack for it.”

“Unusual for a genin.”

Fu only responded as this could be vital information for root.

“Right?” Sora said. “She’s not even a sensory ninja, but apparently, she’s got crazy chakra control. Like, med-nin level control. Tetsuya, what do you think? Think she’ll last?”

“Less gossip, more work, Sora.”

“You guys are impossible. Ever heard of fun?”

Fu remained silent, his eyes locked on the console. The orange flare of Naruto’s chakra signature suddenly flickered and vanished.

Fu’s fingers danced over the console as he immediately logged the event, rerouting the anomaly to a secondary console before Sora or anyone else could notice the disappearance.

“An alert?”

“Nothing significant,” Fu replied evenly. His tone was calm, uninterested, the perfect mask for someone with no ulterior motives. “Just a civilian chakra spike. Routed it to Console 4.”

Sora shrugged, clearly unbothered. “Man, civilians and their weird chakra surges. Always overreacting.” She glanced back at her console, her attention already elsewhere.

Fu returned his focus to Naruto’s signature—or rather, the absence of it. The boy’s chakra didn’t just move out of range; it disappeared entirely, like a flame being snuffed out. It was always the same. Root intelligence believed it was some form of space-time ninjutsu, but the specifics eluded them. Whatever it was, Naruto’s chakra acted as if he had died.

Fu didn’t question it. That wasn’t his role. With subtlety born of years of Root training, Fu made adjustments, rebalancing the logs and ensuring no trace of Naruto’s anomaly remained on the central records. As far as the Barrier Corps was concerned, Naruto Uzumaki’s chakra was perfectly normal.

“You’re so quiet today,” Sora said. “C’mon, Fu. Not even a little curiosity about the new recruit?”

“I’m focused on my work.”

“Of course you are,” she muttered. “Well, let me know if you ever decide to act human for once.”

Fu said nothing, his attention already back on his console.

It wasn’t that he lacked curiosity or emotion—he had simply buried them long ago, along with the rest of his humanity. He didn’t wonder about Naruto’s disappearances or about Sakura Haruno’s chances in the Corps. Those thoughts didn’t matter. Only the mission mattered. Only Root’s orders mattered.

And for now, the mission was absolute: observe, record, and remain unseen—in service to Root, to Danzo, and the shadowed will of Konoha.

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Naruto opened his eyes slowly, blinking as the familiar glow of the bonfire filled his vision. The sword, coiled and rusted, was driven deep into the ashen floor, its flames crackling and spitting embers into the air. The comforting sound of fire and the faint warmth brushing against his skin made him smile. It had taken time, but he had come to love the sight of the bonfire. The sword, the ash, the ever-burning flame—it wasn’t just a checkpoint or a momentary reprieve from danger. It had become a refuge, a reminder that he could always come back from whatever hardships he faced.

It reminded him of Konoha’s Hokage Monument. Back home, when things became overwhelming—when the loneliness crept in, when exhaustion dragged him down—he’d climb to the top of the monument and stare out at the village below. From there, everything seemed small, manageable, distant. But now Lordran had taken that place. The bonfire had become his new monument. A place to reset. A place where everything felt possible again.

He took a deep breath, letting the moment sink in, before his gaze swept across the room. Piles of debris near the entrance hinted at collapse, while weathered barrels and rotted baskets sat untouched in the corners, remnants of a long-dead world. But there was no time to linger.

As he stepped toward the room’s exit, his senses sharpened with the way of Focality and the faint whistle of an arrow cutting through the air reached his ears. Naruto turned his head sharply to the side, just in time to watch the arrow streak past his helmet.

He glared in the direction the arrow had come from. There the crossbow hollows stood hunched, reloading another bolt.

Naruto darted forward, leaping into the air as he neared the hollow. His body twisted mid-air, and with a powerful flying kick, his foot connected with the hollow’s chest. The creature staggered backward, arms flailing, before it toppled off the edge of the crumbling floor, its crossbow slipping from its grip and clattering into the abyss below.

Naruto didn’t have time to gloat.

The sound of footsteps echoed from the narrow passage below.

Gripping the Zweihander tightly, Naruto shifted into position. As the first hollow lunged, he stepped forward and swung the massive blade in a wide, sweeping arc. The force of the strike cleaved through the air and connected cleanly, sending the hollow sprawling to the floor in a lifeless heap.

Another hollow charged, its sword raised high for a downward slash. Naruto’s eyes narrowed, as he ducked low, the blade passing harmlessly over him, and immediately spun around with the Zweihander in hand, its edge tearing through his enemy’s midsection in one clean, devastating blow.

Naruto paused for a moment, letting his breath settle, when a faint whistle reached his ears. He leapt forward, his body tucking into a roll just as the bomb exploded behind him.

Above, a hollow stood on a ledge, clutching another firebomb in its skeletal grip.

“Oh, great, I forgot you also exist in this world.”

He reached into his pouch, pulling out a handful of kunai and shuriken. A kunai collided mid-air with the firebomb in the hollow’s hand, causing it to explode prematurely. The hollow staggered from the force, its footing uneven. Naruto’s shuriken twisted, slicing into its leg. The hollow lost balance and fell from the ledge, falling down below.

Naruto approached the half-destroyed stone bridge cautiously, his eyes scanning the open room at the other end. Two hollows stood waiting, each armed with an axe.

“Let’s see how you handle this.”

With a burst of speed, he activated the Shunshin no Jutsu, his form blurring as he dashed forward. Before the first hollow could react, Naruto thrust the greatsword forward, its blade piercing through the hollow’s chest and twisted the blade as he pulled it free, the hollow collapsing in a heap.

The second hollow wasted no time, raising its axe for a downward slash. Naruto jumped back, narrowly avoiding the strike as the axe buried itself into the stone floor. His grin widened.

“Finally, a little practice,” he muttered.

Naruto adjusted his grip on the Zweihander, recalling Kakashi’s recent lesson.

Centerline control and edge alignment, he thought, stepping into a basic stance. The hollow attacked, swinging its axe in a wide arc from Naruto’s right to left. He shifted his blade to meet it, but his angle was off—the Zweihander glanced awkwardly off the axe, leaving him open for a follow-up strike.

“Damn,” Naruto muttered, resetting his stance as the hollow attacked again. This time, its strike came from above, an overhead chop aimed straight for him. Naruto sidestepped, adjusting his blade’s position with care, and redirected the hollow’s axe with a sharp deflection.

The Zweihander felt heavy in his hands, but Naruto welcomed the challenge. The hollow wasn’t much of a threat, but it made for a decent training partner—at least until the door at the end of the room slammed open with a deafening crash.

A new hollow stepped through the doorway, this one wielding a spear.

The axe-wielding hollow lunged first, forcing Naruto to dodge with a quick sidestep. Before he could counter, the spear hollow thrust its weapon forward, the tip aimed directly at his chest. Naruto twisted his body, the spear grazing his side as he rolled backward to create distance.

“Alright,” he said, smirking despite the odds. “Let’s dance.”

Honestly, he could just summon some shadow clones and let them handle it, but how would he ever get better if he took the easy way out?

A quick jab of the spear was followed by a step forward, then a stronger thrust aimed at his midsection. He parried with the Zweihander, redirecting the spear’s tip and countering with a sweeping arc that forced both enemies to back off.

The axe hollow came next, swinging its weapon in a wide horizontal arc. Naruto ducked low, using his momentum to roll forward and come up swinging. The Zweihander’s blade connected with the hollow’s legs, severing them cleanly. It collapsed with a guttural groan, no longer a threat.

The spear hollow, however, wasn’t done. It lunged again, its strikes faster now, more aggressive. Naruto focused on his footwork, sidestepping each attack with ease.

Must be that rusted ring I found earlier, he thought, noticing how solid his footing remained. No matter how the hollows pressed him, his balance was unshakable, and his footwork felt effortless.

As the spear hollow overextended with a powerful thrust, Naruto seized the opportunity. He stepped inside its guard, raising the Zweihander high before bringing it down in a brutal overhead strike. The blade split the hollow from shoulder to hip, its body crumpling lifelessly to the floor.

Naruto exhaled, resting the Zweihander on his shoulder as he surveyed the now-empty room.

Naruto gave the window a flat look as the hollows on the upper floor kept chucking firebombs at the bridge and the closest window to him. The flames flared, crackling as they splattered uselessly against the stone and wood.

“What a waste,” he muttered, raising his fist at them like an old man yelling at kids. “I’ll gladly throw you off those roofs myself, you hear me, dattebayo.” His voice echoed back at him. They didn’t respond.

He shook his head and turned his attention to the room. Two paths. One led outside, back to the bridge, and the other was this rusty, moss-covered metal cage door. Naruto squinted at it. Honestly, he’d missed it the first time through, probably because it blended into the damp, mossy wall like it belonged there.

“Where do you lead?” he mumbled, curiosity getting the better of him. He approached the door, grabbing the handle and giving it a solid pull. The door didn’t budge. A faint message shimmered into view.

[ Can’t open this door from this side. ]

Naruto frowned, stepping back and glaring at the stubborn thing. “Is this another one of those magic locks like in the sewer? Stupid door,” he muttered under his breath before sighing. “Fine. I’ll come back later.”

He turned to walk away but stopped mid-step as a thought hit him. A grin spread across his face, the plan forming in his head. “Wait a second… I can summon shadow clones at a distance, right?”

He quickly made the cross sign with his fingers, and with a puff of smoke, another Naruto appeared—on the other side of the door. Both of them cheered at the success of the plan.

“Alright, open the door,” he said, feeling pretty proud of himself.

The clone pulled at the handle and frowned. “Uh… it says I need a key.”

Naruto’s grin dropped instantly. “Seriously?” He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Of course, it wasn’t going to be that easy. Fine, just… look around, see if you can find anything useful.”

“Got it!” the clone chirped before wandering off.

Grumbling, Naruto turned back to the room and headed toward the outside path. He started down a few steps when he heard a low growl. He turned sharply, glancing back toward the window. A hollow stood there, its face pressed against the bars like a creepy neighbor staring into his house.

“Yo,” Naruto said, raising a hand in mock greeting. Its head twitched in response, its dead eyes narrowing.

His eyes flicked to the door leading into the room. A wicked grin spread across his face as he grabbed the hilt of his Zweihander, the blade gleaming even in the light. “Oh, I’m gonna kill you right now, believe it!”

Meanwhile, the Naruto clone found himself in a precarious spot—a narrow stone staircase clinging to the edge of a wall. It zigzagged downward in sharp, twisting turns, forcing him to tread carefully with each step. The air was damp and cold, the faint scent of mildew clinging to the ancient stone. As he descended, the view shifted, revealing the lower parts of the kingdom. Broken houses and crumbling rooftops stretched out below, the remnants of what must have once been a bustling city. Now, it was eerily silent, save for the distant crackle of fire.

At the bottom of the staircase, the clone found himself at a crossroads. To his right was a rusted red ladder leading upward. To his left, a stone staircase wound further downward, ending in a small platform where a strange fire burned in a cracked brazier.

The clone hesitated, squinting down the left path at the flickering flame.

“Yeah, I’ll just go with the ladder.”

But before he could take a step, he heard it—a sound that immediately sent a chill down his spine.

It started as a faint, rapid clicking, almost rhythmic, like claws scraping against stone. Then came the panting, sharp and uneven, like air being sucked through teeth. The sound grew louder, faster, and more frantic, echoing through the space as something bounded toward him.

Naruto’s clone froze, his senses sharpening as he activated the Way of Focality. He turned just in time to see the source of the noise—and it was worse than he could have imagined.

The dog, if it could even be called that, was a nightmare made flesh. Its emaciated body was stretched unnaturally long, with patches of skin missing, exposing raw muscle and bone beneath. Its oversized mouth hung open, sharp, crooked teeth jutting out at odd angles as if they were too big for its maw. The way its lips pulled back made its grin look impossibly wide and sinister. Its torn, tattered ears stood erect, and its glowing, feral eyes locked onto the clone with unrelenting aggression.



“…You are so ugly,” the clone muttered, tightening his grip on the Zweihander and spun into a slash, aiming to cleave the creature in half like he would a hollow. But this wasn’t a hollow. The dog twisted mid-air, dodging the brunt of the attack, and its grotesque mouth opened even wider as it leapt straight for him.

Its teeth snapped shut inches from the clone’s throat, as the force of the attack was enough to overwhelm him. The dog hit its target, and the clone popped out of existence in a puff of smoke.

The memories hit the original. One moment, he was smirking at the hollow stumbling toward him, and the next, he was reliving the sensation of those snapping teeth and glowing eyes. He shuddered, his skin crawling. “What the hell was that thing?!”

The hollow before him growled, dragging Naruto’s attention back to the present.

Before the hollow could swing, the blonde boy spun on his heel and delivered a powerful kick to its chest. The hollow stumbled backward, its arms flailing as it tumbled off the balcony with a guttural shriek, disappearing into the fog below.

“Good riddance,” Naruto muttered, brushing himself off.

Another growl came from the far side of the balcony. Naruto turned to see a second hollow, this one gripping its sword tightly as it advanced toward him.

“You know, I always imagined my first romantic balcony moment going differently.”

Channeling his chakra into his fists, Naruto grinned as he felt the familiar rush of power surge through his body. He’d been practicing this lately, honing his chakra control to amplify his body enhancement.

The hollow swung its blade in a wide arc. Naruto ducked under it with ease, stepping forward and planting his feet firmly. With his chakra-enhanced strength, he delivered a devastating right hook directly to the hollow’s head.

The impact was explosive. The hollow’s skull crumpled under the force, bone and rotted flesh splattering against the stone wall as its lifeless body crumpled to the floor.

“Hell yeah!” Naruto cheered, flexing his fingers. “Now that’s what I’m talking about!”

Turning back toward the balcony, Naruto debated whether to explore deeper into the room. It looked like it might’ve been a shop once—there were shelves and counters, though they were worn and covered in moss. The smell of mold lingered in the air, but something about the place caught his eye.

A treasure chest sat near the far corner, its wooden exterior surprisingly intact despite the decay of the rest of the room.

He walked over and knelt in front of the chest, grinning as he flipped open the lid. Inside, nestled on a bed of faded cloth, was a couple of black firebomb.

“Whoa.” Naruto held it up, inspecting the strange, dark explosive. “Is this, like… stronger or something?” He tucked it into his pouch. “Guess I’ll find out later.”

As he stood to leave, his gaze wandered back to the shelves lining the shop. Most of the furniture was ancient and rotting, but the mugs and plates scattered across the counters were surprisingly intact.

“Hmm… they don’t look half bad. Little dusty, but nothing a good wash won’t fix.”

Grinning to himself, Naruto began gathering the mugs and plates, tossing them into his inventory with glee.

Naruto ascended the stone staircase, his footsteps echoing softly in the narrow corridor. High stone walls flanked him on both sides, their imposing height giving the pathway an almost oppressive feeling. As he reached the top, his gaze was drawn to the horizon. A towering stone castle loomed in the distance. Rounded and straight sections of the structure blended together seamlessly, battlements lining the top edges. It was breathtaking in its own way, the craftsmanship almost untouched by time.

But Naruto didn’t linger. He wasn’t here to sightsee. His attention snapped to the open area before him, where three hollows stood. Two of them clutched rusted swords, pacing aimlessly, while the third stood in the back, gripping a firebomb in its bony hand.

Naruto exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders.

As he stepped into the open, the two sword-wielding hollows lunged at him simultaneously. Naruto smirked, weaving a hand sign in an instant.

Poof!

A log appeared where he had been, and the two swords cut deep into it, splintering it into pieces. Naruto, now behind them, reappeared in a swirl of smoke directly in front of the hollow holding the firebomb.

Before it could react, Naruto grabbed the firebomb out of its hand. “Oh, you like throwing these, huh?” he said, shoving the bomb directly into the hollow’s gaping mouth. With his free hand, he delivered an uppercut to its jaw.

The hollow’s head snapped back, its mouth clamping down on the firebomb as it staggered. For a second, there was silence. Then, with a thunderous explosion, the firebomb detonated, blowing the hollow’s skull apart. Bone, ash, and bits of flesh flew in every direction as a shockwave rippled outward, scorching the ground. Naruto felt the heat wash over him, and he ducked, shielding his face with his arm as the blast sent sparks and debris flying.

The two hollows behind him let out guttural roars as they were knocked back by the force of the explosion.

In an instant, Naruto vanished once more, reappearing behind the two hollows. Before they could even react, he gripped the Zweihander in both hands and swung in a wide, brutal arc. The blade whistled through the air before cleaving through both hollows with a sickening crunch.

Naruto rested the massive sword on his shoulder, turning to glance at the red ladder propped against the wall nearby. “Finally,” he said, exhaling. “A way to get to those firebomb-throwing bastards.”

Naruto climbed the ladder, the metal rungs creaking slightly under his weight. As he reached the top, he paused, crouching low as he surveyed the area. The platform was a simple wooden structure, rough and weathered with age. The planks were uneven, some with gaps between them, and the whole thing was supported by basic wooden beams underneath.

Two hollows wandered aimlessly across the bridge, their feet clicking against the wood as they shuffled back and forth. Near the edge of the platform, Naruto spotted a corpse slumped against the railing, a faint glow emanating from it—a soul orb.

Good.

But first, he needed to deal with the hollows. He weaved a quick hand sign, his body shimmering slightly as he performed a transformation jutsu – he refracted and reflected light to camouflage himself. Like a true shinobi, Naruto crept forward, his footsteps silent. Each step was deliberate, his weight distributed perfectly to avoid any creaks from the fragile wood.

He reached the middle of the platform, standing between the two hollows, neither of which had noticed him.

A smoke bomb flew through the air, exploding into a thick cloud of black that engulfed the entire platform. In the chaos, Naruto created a dozen shadow clones, each one materializing with a wicked grin.

The clones moved as one, grabbing the two hollows and pinning them by their arms and shoulders. The creatures thrashed and roared, their movements frantic and jerky, but the clones held them tight.

Naruto emerged from the smoke, walking toward the bound hollows with an air of superiority. His hands were tucked into his pockets, his grin confident as he stopped in front of them.

“Not so tough now, huh? Throwing firebombs down at me like cowards. What, did you think I wouldn’t come up here and handle this myself? Please.” He crossed his arms, tilting his head mockingly. “You’re lucky I’m even wasting my time on you two.”

The hollows let out guttural growls, their glowing eyes filled with aggression. Naruto chuckled, shaking his head. “You know what? Forget it. You’re not even worth it, datteabyo.”

He waved a hand dismissively at his clones. “Get rid of them.”

The clones nodded in unison, each gripping a hollow tightly as they dragged them toward the edge of the platform. The two creatures thrashed harder, their skeletal legs kicking wildly, but it was no use. With a collective shove, the clones threw the hollows over the side.

Naruto walked to the edge, peering down as the two forms tumbled into the abyss below, their growls fading into silence. “And stay down,” he muttered.

Naruto reached for the glowing soul orb, his hand outstretched. His eyes darted to the tower to his right, and time seemed to slow as he saw it: a crossbow hollow, skeletal fingers tightening on the trigger. The bolt fired with a sharp twang, cutting through the air like a whistle of death.

Naruto’s instincts kicked in. He moved, fast, his hand snapping upward and catching the bolt mid-flight. The elite Knight’s helmet, would have stopped it, sure—but it still would’ve rattled his brain, and Naruto wasn’t about to let a damn crossbow hollow get the better of him.

“I don’t know who I hate more,” he muttered, tossing the bolt aside as he narrowed his eyes at the hollow. “Crossbow hollows or firebomb assholes.”

Without wasting another second, Naruto jumped forward, landing on the floor below with a sharp thud that echoed through the empty ruins. He broke into a sprint, his boots slamming against the stone as he made a beeline for the spiral staircase leading up the tower. The hollow was already reloading, but Naruto was ready.

A fireball flared to life in his palm, its heat washing over his face as he hurled it with pinpoint accuracy. The fireball soared through the air, detonating on impact. The explosion engulfed the hollow, disintegrating its weapon in a spray of splinters and metal fragments.

Naruto didn’t stop. He charged up the stairs and reached the hollow in an instant. Before it could react, he slapped an explosive tag onto its chest with a grin. “Let’s see how far you can fly,” he said, lowering his shoulder and slamming into the hollow with all his might.

The hollow let out a distorted screech as Naruto tackled it clean off the tower. Its skeletal body tumbled through the air, the explosive tag still clinging to its chest. It hit the staircase below with a sickening crunch, its bones shattering on impact.

Naruto peered down at the wreckage, smirking as he saw two spear hollows at the base of the staircase, slowly ascending toward him. He whistled sharply, catching their attention.

The hollows began to climb. Naruto waited until they were halfway up before forming the handsign.

“Kai!”

The explosive tag detonated, the blast tearing through the air and sending debris flying. When the smoke cleared, the spear hollows were still standing—barely. Their armor was blown apart, their weapons shattered, but their relentless march continued.

“Tough bastards, huh?” Naruto muttered. He reached into his pouch, pulling out a handful of shurikens. With a flick of his wrist, the projectiles flew through the air, embedding themselves in the hollows’ exposed torsos. One after another, they fell, crumpling into lifeless heaps.

Naruto exhaled, wiping the sweat from his brow.

But then, from the smoke and flames below, another figure emerged—a third spear hollow. Its charred armor clung to its frame as it ascended the stairs, its glowing eyes locked onto Naruto.

Naruto grinned, his heart pounding with excitement. “Guess I gotta go big.”

He gripped the Zweihander tightly, channeling chakra into his legs. With a powerful leap, he launched himself off the tower, his body hurtling downward like a meteor. Chakra flooded his muscles, cushioning his fall as he brought the Zweihander down in a devastating plunge attack.

The massive blade slammed into the hollow, splitting its body in two with a deafening crack. The force of the attack carved a deep gash into the stone staircase, sending shards of rock flying. Naruto landed in a crouch, the Zweihander embedded in the stone beneath him.

Standing, he pulled the blade free with a grunt, surveying his handiwork.

“I am so awesome.”

Naruto stood at the crossroads of two paths—one winding upward, the other spiraling down into the shadowed depths. After a moment’s hesitation, he chose the downward path, descending a narrow stone staircase. The air grew colder with each step, the silence pressing heavier against his ears.

Then he stopped, his breath catching in his throat.

At the base of the staircase stood a figure clad in jet-black armor, its massive frame almost blending into the darkness. The Black Knight. Its horned helmet turned slightly, as if sensing his presence, and its greatsword rested against its shoulder like a weapon that had claimed countless lives.



“Oh, shit,” Naruto whispered, freezing in place. Memories of their last encounter came flooding back—of desperation, of dirty tactics, of sheer luck. He had only survived back in the Asylum because he knew the layout, using every advantage he could muster to scrape out a victory.

This was different.

He started to step back, his mind screaming at him to retreat. But then he stopped. He clenched his fists, determination hardening his features. He was stronger now, more experienced. His chakra control had improved, and he understood the Zweihander better than ever.

“I want to fight him,” Naruto said to himself, a small grin tugging at his lips. “No tricks. No running. Just me and him.”

Naruto stepped forward boldly. The Black Knight turned fully to face him, its indifferent gaze locking onto his.

And then it disappeared.

In a flash, the Black Knight reappeared in front of Naruto, its massive greatsword already descending in a brutal overhead slash. Naruto barely had time to raise the Zweihander, the force of the attack sending a shockwave down his arms as he blocked it. The impact reverberated through his body, making his knees buckle.

The knight didn’t relent. It pivoted, swinging its blade in a horizontal arc. Naruto ducked, the edge passing just above his head. He retaliated with a quick upward slash, but the Black Knight sidestepped with inhuman speed, its movements flawless and efficient.

The knight lunged forward, its blade a blur. Naruto parried, sparks flying as the Zweihander clashed against the greatsword. He countered with a thrust, but the knight deflected it effortlessly, stepping inside his guard.

Before Naruto could react, the greatsword plunged forward, impaling him through the chest.

Naruto gasped, his eyes widening as the blade tore through him. The pain was sharp and immediate, his body trembling as blood dripped down the edge of the weapon. He staggered, his grip on the Zweihander loosening.

He chuckled weakly, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. “Guess… this is what I get… for being cocky,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

The last thing he saw was the Black Knight pulling its blade free, its imposing form looming over him as the world faded to black.

[ YOU DIED ]

Naruto groaned as he found himself back in his room. The dull ache of failure lingered in his body, but it was nothing compared to the bruising his pride had taken. He flopped back on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

“I’m going to kill that Black Knight if it’s the last thing I do. Dattebayo!” he growled, determination flaring as he sat up and opened his system interface. Surely he had enough souls to level up, right? He deserved a reward for at least trying to take the Black Knight head-on.

[ Souls: 0 ]

Naruto blinked. Then blinked again. His mouth opened to shout, but no words came out. He slowly closed it, a vein twitching on his temple.

“Wait… I didn’t… use my Ring of Sacrifice, did I?” His voice was a whisper, horror creeping into his tone.

Naruto slapped his forehead as the realization sank in. Of course he didn’t use the cheat. Why would he remember something that important? His face went pale as an even worse thought hit him like a kunai to the chest.

“My souls… they’re still down there. With him.”

Naruto froze, staring at the wall, imagining the possibility. What if the Black Knight took my souls? He shivered at the thought, picturing the Black Knight glowing ominously, leveling up, and becoming an even more terrifying foe. “Oh, no. Oh no no no no no!”

Without a second thought, Naruto took out the Darksign and activated it. He had to get those souls back now.

Naruto materialized back at the bonfire, flames licking softly at the base of the rusted sword as he tightened his grip on the Zweihander. “No time to waste!” he muttered, immediately launching into a Shunshin no Jutsu. He bolted past the hollows littering the pathway, ignoring their groans and sluggish movements. Firebombs exploded harmlessly behind him as he sprinted at full speed, his focus locked on the staircase that led to the Black Knight.

In minutes, Naruto stood at the top of the staircase, peering down at the familiar, hulking figure. The Black Knight stood in its usual position, unmoving, its back turned to him. Nearby, Naruto spotted the faint green glow of his lost souls, the orb lying untouched on the ground. Relief washed over him, only to be replaced by panic as a sneaky spear hollow wandered toward the orb.

The Black Knight didn’t even flinch as the hollow approached. But as soon as the spear hollow bent down to inspect the glowing souls, the Black Knight moved.

The swing was brutal, an overhead slash that pulverized the hollow in one clean motion. The greatsword left a faint trail of sparks as it returned to rest on the Black Knight’s shoulder, the armored figure resuming its ominous stance as if nothing had happened.

Naruto swallowed hard.

From his vantage point, Naruto studied the Black Knight closely. Its movements were precise, deliberate, almost mechanical. The way it shifted its stance spoke of raw power, each motion economized for efficiency.

Its grip on the greatsword was firm but fluid, its gauntleted hands adjusting subtly to maintain balance. Unlike Naruto’s own clumsy swings with the Zweihander, the Black Knight wielded its weapon as if it were an extension of its body. Every step it took was calculated, its footwork perfectly aligned with its center of gravity.

“I need to learn how to do that,” Naruto muttered, his eyes narrowing as he watched the Black Knight’s flawless movements.

He knew there was no way the knight would willingly teach him—hell, it would sooner cut him in half than offer a lesson. But that didn’t matter. He didn’t need words or instructions. The Black Knight’s every move, every calculated step, was a lesson in itself.

If he could fight it, watch how it handled that massive sword with such deadly precision, he could learn. He could memorize its techniques, break down its movements, and figure out what made it so strong. He wouldn’t just fight the Black Knight—he’d use it as a guide, a living example of what he needed to become.

But his focus was broken by the sound of rapid footsteps. He turned to see over a dozen hollows charging toward him from the shadows, their weapons raised and glowing eyes locked onto him.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Naruto muttered, shifting his stance.

Behind him, the Black Knight began to move, its heavy footsteps echoing against the stone walls.

“Hey, uh… any chance you wanna help me with these guys?”

Naruto got his answer—it felt a lot like being a nail introduced to a very angry hammer.

[ YOU DIED ]

[ Through sacrifice, no souls were lost. Ring of Sacrifice shattered. ]