Read advance chapters of all my works or want to support me.
https://www.p.a.t.r.e.on.com/Adamo_Amet
....
Join us on discord:
https://discord.gg/DXv2nkTB
••••••••••••••••••
Chapter no.3 You aren't from this world?!
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
A minute later, Naruto grumbled as he climbed up the cold wet metal ladder. He could see Oscar trying and failing, not to laugh above 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. Suddenly a strange feeling washed over him like being wrapped up in a blanket on a cold night.
"Looks like there's a bonfire near us."
"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 courtyard. The stones beneath his feet were worn smooth. Crumbling walls surrounded the space as weed and 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.
"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?"
"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 as it looked like those hollows they'd fought earlier. He wanted to say something, but kept quiet, not wanting to disrespect Oscar after all he'd done for him.
Oscar sliced his palm and let the blood fall onto the sword's base. The moment it touched the ashes below, spark erupted rising into a sudden bloom of fire that bathed the courtyard in a warm, flickering glow.
And the sensation of safety overwhelmed Naruto.
The tension drained from his body as the stress and fear that had been gnawing at him since he arrived in this strange place melted away.
He let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding and sank to the ground. He laid 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. He was safe.
Hearing a strange, low whooshing hum, Naruto's eyes snapped open.
Across from him, Oscar sat calmly, guiding the bonfire's flame into glass bottles like it was liquid.
Naruto blinked hard, rubbing his eyes to make sure he wasn't hallucinating when suddenly only for a massive shadow to sweep over them. He looked up, and his pupils shrank.
"Sensei..."
"I know. I saw it too."
They both had caught a glimpse of the Asylum Demon soaring through the sky, heading towards the area blocked by a massive door in front of them.
"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. Naruto was about to dodge 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. "It's about knowing everything that's happening around you and 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 attacked by the hollow. "I get that… but why are you doing this?"
"I'm going to teach you a technique that will help you always be aware of your enemy."
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?"
"You can judge that for yourself."
"What's it called?"
"The Way of Focality."
"What's that?"
"The Way of Focality," Oscar said, "is awareness born from focus."
Naruto tilted his head, confused.
"To me, Focality makes the world disappear. You only see your enemy, and no matter what move they make, you'll see the path. You'll know how to respond."
His words sounded impressive, but the theory flew right over Naruto's head. He scratched the back of his head, unsure how to even start learning something like that.
Oscar saw Naruto's confusion and chuckled. "I thought as much. Well then, the only way to truly understand it is through experience. Let's begin."
Oscar drew his side sword, and Naruto instinctively gripped his tighter. His heart pounded in his chest as he realized that Oscar was going to teach him through battle.
Naruto took a deep breath, bracing himself as Oscar took a stance.
Naruto swung horizontally, aiming to catch Oscar off-guard. But Oscar moved with such ease, sidestepping the strike and countering with a light tap of his blade against Naruto's wrist. It wasn't enough to cut him, but it was a clear message: Naruto had left himself wide open.
"Stay focused."
Gritting his teeth, Naruto adjusted his grip and went in again. He raised the sword high and brought it down with all the force he could muster, hoping the extra power would catch Oscar off balance. But Oscar parried the blow effortlessly.
Oscar didn't even move much. It was like he could predict everything Naruto was going to do before he even did it.
Frustrated, Naruto launched another attack, this time trying to follow up quickly with a second strike. His plan was to overwhelm Oscar with speed. But the next moment, Naruto felt the flat of Oscar's blade press against his side.
"Focus," Oscar repeated. "You're thinking too much about your moves. Feel the flow of battle, not just the mechanics of it."
Naruto was trying, really trying, but every time he swung, every time he attacked, Oscar was two steps ahead.
"You're too powerful, sensei," Naruto grumbled, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Don't be discouraged."
"Discouraged?!" the blonde cut him off, his voice rising. "I don't even know the meaning of that word!"
"Discouraged means—"
"Are you stupid or something?" Naruto interrupted, shooting him a look.
"You're the one who said you didn't know the meaning."
"Well, let's see if you can explain the meaning of this ass-whooping! Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In an instant, the courtyard was filled with twenty of Naruto, all grinning confidently. He spread his clones out, trying to surround Oscar. This time, he thought, I'm going to overwhelm him. No more losing!
"Spells in a spar. A little unfair, don't you think?"
"This is fair, dattebayo!" all the clones shouted in unison before charging forward.
But that confidence quickly faded.
As soon as Naruto's clones started swinging their swords, things got... messy. They bumped into each other, some slashing too close, causing clones to pop in quick bursts of smoke. It was chaos. Inexperience was written all over the battlefield. Half of the army wiped itself out before even getting close to Oscar. By the time Naruto realized how bad things were, only a few of them were left standing.
Oscar didn't even seem fazed as his sword flashed, stabbing one of the clones, which burst into smoke.
"You need to learn battle formations for these... doppelgangers," he said as he casually struck down another clone with a precise jab.
"I think I'll get the hang of it!" one of the remaining clones shouted as it rushed forward with a horizontal attack.
With a slight twist of his wrist, Oscar parried the sword, knocking it aside with a sharp clang. In the same motion, his sword shot forward in a clean thrust, catching the clone in the chest. The clone barely had time to register the hit before it popped into smoke.
Oscar blocked the kunai with his armour. Suddenly the clones launched a barrage of shurikens, filling the air with spinning blades. Naruto grinned, feeling like he finally had the upper hand. But just as he thought he had Oscar, the knight whipped out his shield, effortlessly blocking the kunai.
Naruto's smile faltered as Oscar charged with the shield in front.
Three of Naruto's clones rushed him, each using a heavy attack. For a moment, Naruto thought this would be it. Three against one! But Oscar blocked all three with ease, his shield taking the brunt of the attacks. Before Naruto could react, Oscar kicked the middle clone hard enough to make it pop into smoke.
The remaining two clones swung horizontally, hoping to catch him off guard. Oscar parried one of them with his shield, and to Naruto's shock, he turned his back to the other clone. Naruto expected the clone's sword to land a solid hit, but the blade clanged uselessly against Oscar's armor. The Armor wasn't just for show.
Oscar moved swiftly, popping the second clone with a stab and gut-punching the last one so hard it dissolved into smoke. The courtyard was empty, nothing but the faint trails of dissipating chakra left behind.
Oscar stood in the center of the courtyard, looking around.
"Student," Oscar muttered under his breath, and Naruto couldn't help but grin from his hiding spot. He was calling him his student now.
Hidden slightly to the side, Naruto was using the Transformation Jutsu, coating himself in a thin layer of chakra to reflect and refract the light around him, effectively camouflaging himself. He'd always used this jutsu as a gag by turning into a sexy woman for laughs. But now, he realized why they'd been taught this technique. It was actually useful.
Naruto watched as Oscar scanned the area. He was getting closer… closer… Now! Naruto sprang from his hiding spot, going for a stab with all the force he could muster. But Oscar wasn't surprised.
He didn't even flinch. Instead, he stepped back just as Naruto's sword missed. And without hesitation, Oscar returned with another stab.
It happened so fast that Naruto barely had time to react. His hands moved on instinct, reaching for the sealing scroll in his pocket. He activated it, releasing a puff of smoke and summoning a log in his place, the substitution jutsu saving him at the last second. The log clattered to the ground as Naruto used the chakra burst from his ankles to dodge to the side, his body surging with a short burst of speed.
Tunnel vision hit Naruto hard.
The world around him seemed to blur, fading into the background as his focus narrowed to Oscar's sword. His eyes dilated as adrenaline pumped through him.
Time slowed as adrenaline surged. Naruto saw the strike coming and raised his blade just in time. Steel clashed. The impact rattled up his arm, but he deflected Oscar's sword enough to survive. His breath came in ragged gasps, heart pounding in his ears. His whole body trembled from the rush but he'd done it.
"Congratulations," Oscar said. "You've just experienced Focality."
Naruto gave a shaky nod, still catching his breath, mind racing as the moment replayed over and over. Is Focality just... adrenaline?
"A physician in Astora once told me the body sheds its limits at the edge of death," Oscar said. "Focality taps into that same instinct. But what you felt just now, wasn't the technique. That was a glimpse. The technique is a breathing method. It lets you stay in that heightened state, without needing to nearly die every time."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "A breathing method... to trigger that awareness?"
"Are you ready?"
Naruto opened his mouth to answer, then stopped. An idea hit him. He made thirty clones.
"Sensei, I've got an idea that could help me train both Focality and swordsmanship."
"Go on."
"When I saved you from the Asylum Demon, a bunch of clones popped. Same when we sparred. But when they did, I got all their memories."
Oscar blinked. "So your spell shares experience...?"
"Exactly. So if I have my clones train in Focality while you work with me on swordplay, I can learn both ten times faster."
Oscar stared at him in disbelief, then burst out laughing. "By Gwyn's great beard, what sort of absurd magic is this?"
Naruto just grinned.
Oscar shook his head, smiling. "Well, if it works, who am I to argue? Come, my pupil. Let's train."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Standing in front of the massive iron door, its surface a mix of rust and decay, Naruto couldn't help but feel small. It was intimidating, but not as intimidating as what waited on the other side.
He glanced at Oscar, who already had his hand on the door, ready to push it open. "Sensei, I still haven't mastered the Way of Focality. I've barely managed it twice," Naruto said, his voice shaking slightly.
"The Way of Focality is mastered on the battlefield, my student," Oscar replied. "With your strange spell, I'm sure you'll survive. If anything, it's I who should be afraid of dying."
"Don't say that!" Naruto nearly yelled, his hands trembling. The thought of Oscar dying was too much to bear.
"Are you afraid?" Oscar asked, his voice gentle, but Naruto could feel the weight of his question. He wanted to lie, to seem braver than he was, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
"I am… I'm scared."
To his surprise, Oscar didn't admonish him or call him a coward. Instead, he nodded. "Good. Only the fool and the arrogant aren't afraid of the enemy. And remember, both don't live long."
Naruto nodded, feeling a little steadier as Oscar's words sunk in. Fear wasn't a weakness. It was a sign he understood the danger. He could work with that.
Together, they pushed the heavy iron doors open, the groan of metal echoing in the empty space.
On the other side was a massive, open-ceiling courtyard. The tiled floor beneath them was cracked and weathered, with a layer of dust and debris covering most of it. Tall stone pillars lined the edges, and to the left, a massive metal door stood closed, like a prison gate. Old, broken pots littered the space.
Then came the roar.
The asylum demon landed with a thundering crash, its hulking form blocking the massive black door at the far end of the courtyard.
Naruto took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. Shadow Clone Jutsu!
His clones sprang to life, each one taking up position with shields interlocked, forming a makeshift wall between them and the demon.
The demon roared and leaped into the air. His heart dropped as he watched its massive form come crashing down toward them. The ground shook, and a deafening crack rang out as the hammer slammed into the formation. Most of the clones popped on impact, their forms vanishing into smoke, but the shield wall had done its job. The shockwave was dulled, and through the smoke, Oscar and Naruto saw their chance.
They moved as one. From the sides, they flanked the demon. Naruto slashed with quick horizontal attacks, while Oscar raised his sword high with two hands and brought it down with a heavy, downward strike on its leg.
[Name: Asylum Demon]
[HP: 1980 / 2,195]
The demon's HP dropped, and for a brief moment, Naruto felt a surge of hope. They were doing it! But that hope was short-lived. The demon flapped its small wings, lifting its grotesque body a few feet into the air.
"Ha, scaredy cat!" Naruto thought, the adrenaline making him bold. But that thought immediately turned into regret as the wings suddenly stopped and gravity took over. The demon came crashing down with the force of a house falling from the sky.
Run!
Naruto barely had time to think, as his body acted on its own. He sprinted, but the shockwave that followed its landing was devastating. The ground rippled like an earthquake, and he felt himself lifted off his feet, slammed face-first into the tiles.
Naruto tried to push himself up, groaning from the pain that shot through his body. His arms and legs felt heavy, like lead, and every breath hurt. His head pounded, and he could feel blood dripping from his lip. He forced his eyes open just in time to see the demon raising its hammer, ready to swing it down on him.
Move!
Naruto's hand instinctively raised Oscar's shield.
The next thing the boy knew, he was thrown backward, the force of the impact sending him flying through the air. His body hurtled toward one of the stone pillars, and he barely had time to reinforce his arms and back with chakra before he slammed into it. The pain was intense, like a shockwave of agony radiating from his spine. But the chakra reinforcement saved him.
Naruto slid down the pillar, gasping for breath, his hands shaking from the adrenaline.
The asylum demon leaped from one side of the courtyard to the other. The blonde barely had time to react as he dodged and sprinted up a nearby pillar, the stone trembling beneath his feet as the demon's massive hammer crashed down with a thunderous slam.
"Why are you after me?!" he shouted, panic lacing his voice as he jumped off the pillar just before the demon's hammer shattered it to pieces. He landed behind the demon, panting heavily.
In that brief moment, the Way of Focality kicked in, and Naruto saw the demon's next move. A backspin attack. But even though he could see it coming, he wasn't ready.
The pain was like fire spreading across his spine, making every movement feel like he was tearing himself apart. He could barely move, let alone dodge the attack.
Just when Naruto thought he was done for, he felt Oscar's hand grab him, yanking him forward. The demon's backspin slammed into the metal door with a deafening crash, the impact so powerful it created a massive hole, revealing a potential way out.
Naruto and Oscar locked eyes, both knowing what to do without saying a word.
Naruto summoned a group of shadow clones, sending them to distract the demon as he and Oscar sprinted toward the opening.
As they ran, the asylum demon rammed its hammer into the wall, creating an even bigger hole in the process. The ground shook as the wall collapsed, blocking the demon's path but leaving them to feel the staircase beneath them trembled.
"Are you okay?"
"I'll live," Naruto managed, his voice shaky. But the second he stopped, all the pain came rushing back. His back throbbed, his legs ached, and his head felt like it was going to split in two. Basic chakra control and body reinforcement weren't enough to protect him from all the injuries. He healed fast, sure, but he still hated the pain.
Something warm touched his lips. Naruto opened his eyes to see Oscar offering him one of those strange bottles he'd filled with bonfire earlier. He hesitated but took a sip, immediately feeling a rush of warmth flood through him. It was like the bottle had lit a fire inside him, burning away the pain and healing his injuries in an instant.
"Better?"
"Yeah," Naruto said in amazement at the light that had engulfed his body, "I would be if I had some Ichiraku ramen."
Oscar hummed in response.
They descended down the staircase, which led into a room filled with old, stagnant water.
Naruto wrinkled his nose at the sight of it. "How likely am I to die if I drink that water?"
"You'll live," Oscar said, knowing undead don't exactly get diseases.
Naruto paused, unable to see his reflection clearly in the water, and hesitated about drinking. Suddenly, a sharp sound snapped his attention away. He looked up to see an arrow flying straight toward his eye.
His heart skipped a beat as Oscar reached out and caught the arrow just in time.
"Can't this world just give me a break?" Naruto groaned as he saw the hollow archer responsible for the shot. It had the nerve to turn and run as soon as it saw him notice.
"All yours," Oscar said.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Naruto grumbled, bolting after the hollow. His footsteps echoed as he sprinted along the broken pathway, the hollow always just a few steps ahead.
Naruto was about to throw a kunai, ready to impale the hollow out of pure revenge. But then something caught his eye. An axe, lying in the hands of a hollow that had long since died.
Isn't that my class item? Naruto thought but didn't care how or why it was here.
But as he hefted the axe, another arrow came whistling through the air. His instincts kicked in. He swung the axe, cutting through the arrow with a satisfying thunk.
Another arrow came as Naruto dodged to the left. In one fluid motion, he charged forward and swung the axe, decapitating the hollow in a single, clean strike.
"Yeah," he muttered to himself. Maybe I am getting the hang of this, dattebyo.
Naruto glanced to the side, his curiosity piqued as he noticed a path leading to an upper floor. "Isn't that…" he mumbled to himself, before calling out, "Sensei, come here!"
A minute later, they were standing on the upper floor, looking directly at the bonfire below.
"Should we go down? We could use the grappling hook."
But Oscar didn't respond, and Naruto quickly followed his gaze.
The asylum demon was still down there, thankfully oblivious to their presence for the time being.
"So, what now?" Naruto asked, feeling the weight of the situation press down on him. Oscar looked up. Above them, there was another floor.
"We should do a plunge attack," Oscar said.
"From the top floor?" Naruto felt a spark of excitement at the idea. He could already picture it in his head, dropping down on that giant demon from above like some kind of super ninja.
Oscar nodded, confirming his thoughts.
They quickly scanned the area, their eyes darting left and right. Both paths seemed to lead upward, to the top of the building. Without waiting for Oscar to say anything, Naruto took off toward the right as he reached the stairs, only to find them destroyed into rubble.
But there was a weird ring, sitting right in the middle of one of the upper stairs. His fist lightly tapped his palm as he remembered the ring section in his inventory.
This had to be important, right?
He summoned some shadow clones and had them form a ladder, their bodies interlocking to help him reach the ring. Climbing up, he grabbed it.
An old rusted iron ring.
"Sensei, what is this thing?"
"That's a magic ring."
"You're kidding!"
"No, I'm surprised you found one."
"Why?"
"Well, Magic rings are incredibly rare treasures that are created by beings who can imbue pieces of their soul into the item, creating a magical phenomenon," Oscar explained, his tone calm, though Naruto could tell even he hadn't expected this.
"Yay!" Naruto cheered, excited by the prospect of owning something so rare and powerful.
Without hesitation, he slipped the ring onto his finger, feeling the rusted metal press against his skin. He waited, expecting something to happen, maybe a rush of power or a flash of magic. But… nothing.
He stood there, staring at the ring, waiting for some kind of sign. Anything.
"This is worthless!" Naruto groaned, feeling like the world had just pulled a cruel joke on him. How could a magic ring do absolutely nothing? He glared at it in frustration, about to yank it off when, suddenly, a system window popped up in front of him.
[ Item: Rusted Iron Ring ]
[ Description: This iron ring was used to shackle the guilty. It is terribly rusted, and faintly stained with blood. Those who find this strange ring to their liking will be pleased to find it easier to gain footing on poor ground such as swamps. ]
"Do you want this useless piece of junk?"
"You are its finder, my student. Let's wait and see what its magic effect is."
Naruto sighed, glancing at the system window. "It helps me gain footing on poor ground…" he muttered, clearly unimpressed. "Useless."
Without warning, Oscar shoved him, catching Naruto off guard. His body reacted instinctively, and he immediately caught his balance.
"Hey! What's the big deal?" Naruto snapped, annoyed, as he looked at Oscar. But Oscar just pointed at his feet.
"What?"
"You regained your footing immediately when I pushed you."
"Yeah?"
"The ring helped you regain your footing. If you're ever in a situation where you're about to trip or fall, you can regain your balance. That's the magic of the ring," Oscar explained.
"So, you are telling me that I need to see the usefulness even in things that seem useless, right?"
"No," Oscar said flatly, surprising Naruto.
"Hey! Then what was the lesson?"
Oscar glanced at the ring. "That is a stupid ring."
Naruto could tell Oscar was joking, so he played along, clutching the ring dramatically. "But it's my precious, you can't have it!"
They both chuckled as they walked ahead, but their lighthearted moment was cut short by a deep rumbling sound. They turned just in time to see a giant iron ball thundering down the stairs.
Naruto quickly channeled chakra into his legs and leapt upward, dodging the trap. Oscar rolled forward, narrowly avoiding the ball as it crashed through the wall behind them, leaving shattered stone in its wake. The sheer force of the impact showed just how deadly it would have been if it hit.
Without hesitation, Oscar rushed ahead and struck down the hollow who had pushed the ball. Meanwhile, Naruto turned toward the smooth metal surface left behind by the ball's path and caught his reflection.
He froze.
Beneath the pyromancer's hood, he looked like a hollow.
"No!"
"What's wrong, Naruto?" Oscar's voice broke through Naruto's panicked thoughts, and he quickly came over.
The blonde yanked his hood down dramatically, revealing his undead face. "I'm ugly!"
Oscar just stared in silence, and Naruto felt embarrassed. Oscar had been worried about him, and here he was, freaking out over his looks. But Naruto couldn't help it. How could he not? Seeing his face look like a hollow would freak anyone out!
After what felt like forever, Oscar finally spoke. "Naruto, you're not from this world."
Naruto blinked in disbelief. "What? What do you mean I'm… not from here?" he stammered, completely caught off guard. This whole time, he'd just assumed this place was some hidden part of konoha, a weird prison maybe. But another world?
"That explains a lot," Oscar said finally, easing down beside Naruto. "Things that didn't quite fit… like the strange way you handle power, your… unusual view of the world."
"Unusual?" Naruto echoed, frowning. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Naruto, you're… brighter than anyone I've met in Lordran," Oscar said, like he was choosing his words carefully. "You joke, you laugh… even when you're in danger. No one here acts like that. Even the children of Astora don't fool around the way you do. They're cautious. Untrusting. Afraid."
"What kind of stupid world is this?"
He hadn't meant it to come out so harshly, but he couldn't help it. The thought of kids not being able to mess around, not getting to laugh, to be kids… it was wrong. Sure, he hadn't exactly had the best childhood in Konoha, but he'd found ways to make it fun. He'd been a prankster, a fool, just to get a reaction. Just to get noticed. Even if it was for the wrong reasons, it was better than sinking into loneliness.
But here? Where even kids had to be afraid and serious just to survive? That wasn't a life.
"Life here… is harsh. Fear can become a shield, but it's a heavy one to carry, especially for children."
Naruto shook his head, the injustice of it all gnawing at him. "But… why's it gotta be like that?"
Oscar sighed. "That… is a long story." He hesitated, then slowly reached up, removing his helmet. Beneath the metal was a hollowed face, an eerie reflection of Naruto's own form here. But despite the wear and darkness, there was something familiar.
Blonde hair.
Naruto felt a strange warmth at the sight. "Guess we've got more in common than I thought, huh?"
Oscar leaned back, his eyes distant. "Naruto, have you ever wondered what the world was like in the beginning?"
"Uh… I dunno? Pretty shitty, since they didn't have ramen?"
Oscar chuckled, a low sound that echoed softly in the empty space around them. "I suppose, yes… there wasn't much to enjoy back then. But it wasn't just about food. It was… different. Imagine a world shrouded in fog. Just gray crags, towering Archtrees, and the Everlasting Dragons ruling over all."
"Dragons? Like, giant fire-breathing lizards?"
"Sort of," Oscar said. "But these dragons were more than that. They were eternal, untouched by time or fire. They lived in a world that never changed… until one day, something new appeared."
"Let me guess, someone showed up and kicked dragon butt?"
"Not quite," Oscar replied, his tone thoughtful. "It started with fire. Fire brought change; things like heat and cold, life and death, light and dark. And from the dark, beings came forward, drawn to the flame. They found power within it. The Souls of Lords."
"Lords, huh?" Naruto muttered, trying to wrap his head around it. "So, they were, like, the big shots?"
"Yes. The first to claim these souls were Nito, the First of the Dead; the Witch of Izalith and her daughters; and Gwyn, the Lord of Sunlight. Each of them was… powerful, beyond anything we could imagine."
Oscar paused, as if debating whether to continue, then sighed. "There was one more. The Furtive Pygmy. Smaller, weaker… easily overlooked. But he found something within the flame as well: a Dark Soul."
"A Dark Soul?" Naruto echoed. "So… this guy didn't go around fighting dragons, then?"
"No. While Gwyn and the others used their power to go to war with the dragons, the Pygmy did something else. He hid in the shadows, kept his power secret. And in time, he… shared it."
"Shared it?" Naruto blinked, intrigued. "Like… with who?"
"With others, like you."
Naruto's jaw dropped. "Wait, me? You mean—?"
"The Pygmy used his Dark Soul to create a new kind of being," Oscar explained. "A whole race. He created humans."
"So… humans came from this Dark Soul thing? From this guy?"
"Yes. But it's a bit more complicated," Oscar replied, his voice a low rumble. "The Pygmy's Dark Soul was a beacon, one that stretched across worlds. Over the years, people from other places, other worlds… they felt its pull. They were drawn here, across time and space."
Naruto's eyes widened. "So… you're saying he brought people here… like me?"
Oscar nodded. "Exactly. You're not the first, Naruto. Many have been drawn here, especially in the early days of the world. Humans, warriors… even heroes."
Naruto let out a long breath, trying to process everything. "So… how do I go back?"
He tried to sound casual, but even to him, the question sounded desperate. Konoha was so far away now, but it was still his home. He didn't belong here in this place of endless decay.
Oscar gave him a small, understanding smile. "You miss it, don't you? Your home?"
"I mean… it's not like there's anyone waiting for me."
Oscar's face softened. "You're an orphan?"
Naruto nodded, the word hanging heavily between them.
Oscar's gaze was filled with a rare sympathy. "That explains why you're so… full of life," he said softly.
"Full of life? What's that supposed to mean?"
"When you've known loneliness… true loneliness… sometimes all you can do is laugh. It's the only way to keep the darkness from swallowing you whole."
Naruto looked at him, really looked at him, and saw the same loneliness he'd seen in his own reflection so many times before.
"Yeah…" he murmured, his voice barely audible. "Beats the alternative, right?"
They sat in silence after that, a silence that spoke louder than words. In that moment, they both understood something unspoken, something that went beyond words, beyond worlds. They both knew what it was to be alone and, somehow, to keep going. For the first time since he'd arrived, Naruto didn't feel quite so far from home.
"Do you still want to go back?" Oscar asked after a while.
"Yeah. My home might be crap, but it's better than this. Plus, the ramen is great there."
He tried to laugh, but it came out weaker than he wanted.
"I'm sorry, but… I don't know how you can go back to your home."
Naruto took a deep breath, scratching the back of his head. He wasn't sure how to feel. Part of him wanted to freak out, but another part… "Well, a break from Konoha does sound nice," he said, half-joking but half-meaning it.
Oscar watched him closely, probably trying to figure out if Naruto was putting on a brave face or if he really meant it. Honestly? Naruto wasn't sure either. He'd always looked on the bright side of things, and maybe this was just another thing to deal with. Or maybe… his life back home wasn't all that great, and he didn't mind the idea of a break from it.
Oscar stood up, his armor clinking softly. "Well, it doesn't matter," he said firmly. "As long as you're here, I'll stand beside you as a teacher and as a friend."
He held out his hand. For a second, Naruto just stared at it. No one had ever offered him something like that before.
A genuine smile spread across Naruto's face, wider this time. He clasped Oscar's hand, and Oscar helped him to his feet.
"Let's go kick this demon's ass."