Chapter no.1 Dark Souls

Author Note: Hey there, guys! Sorry for the poor work schedule. I just finished my exams and got 85%! Not bad, huh? Anyway, I’m going to be adding a new fanfic alongside Pokémon: An Unexpected Odyssey and Naruto: The System Files.

The first two chapters of this fanfic are massive—like a 10k word count—but after that, each chapter is going to be in the 2k range, just like Pokémon and Naruto. So, I hope you enjoy!

Let me tell you more about this fanfic.

You read the title/summary and saw the cover so no need to expand on that, this fanfic is a crossover fanfic between Naruto and the Dark Souls games, in particular, 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, game mechanics in this fanfic so whether you 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 say, “I know 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, and you can interpret this as Naruto becoming a Dark Souls player with the twist being 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 in his own universe can throw that firebomb onto like Orochimaru or something.

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

Dark Souls portion (The portion where Naruto goes through DS1)

Naruto portion (The portion where Naruto deals with his own universe’s problems)

Now why am I telling you this?

The reason is being, the titles of the chapters will be like:

Chapter 1 Dark Souls.

Chapter 2 Naruto.

Chapter 3 Dark Souls.

Etc.

With this format, whoever wants to just strictly read the Naruto portion they can for some reason.

And also, I’ll add a separate actual title, at the start of the chapter.

_________

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 into 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, 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 towards 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, even 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 an 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 even 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 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 as he pinched his nose, trying 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, but he was also 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 him to such a fate. “Jiji’s not that harsh…right?” Doubt crept in, but he shoved it aside. This had 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 Naruto 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 is the 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 towards 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 built 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 was 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 towards 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 was 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 towards 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.

The key had disappeared.

“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. It 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, his face a mask of confusion.

“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.

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 ]

[ Split into 8 Tabs: ]

— [ 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 like 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 arched 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?” Naruto repeated, the word foreign and strange on his tongue.

“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, 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 damn sure 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 towards 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 towards 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.”