Chapter no.41 Power, Price and Perception.

Kakashi was anxious. No... terrified.

He sat in the corner of Tazuna's living room, pretending to read one of his usual orange books, but the pages barely registered. His visible eye shifted constantly, flicking toward the window, toward the door, toward the horizon.

Any moment now.

He was bracing for it. The fallout. The storm. The confrontation.

Naruto would return, and everything Kakashi feared would come crashing down. The boy would know. Somehow. And then... what? Would he scream? Would he run? Would he lash out?

There was no telling.

Kakashi hadn't moved from his hidden perch near the site where Naruto had used the reverse summoning the night before. He hadn't slept. Hadn't eaten. The shadows of the trees stretched and shifted over him as the hours passed, and when the sun finally rose, he found himself staring blankly at nothing.

Morning came and Naruto didn't.

That terrified Kakashi more than any angry confrontation ever could. Because it meant the worst-case scenario might be true: Naruto had found out and decided to leave.

The thought hit him like a cold blade to the gut.

The idea that Naruto had simply chosen to vanish into the strange space of his so-called summoning clan, never to return, was a wound Kakashi wasn't ready for. Because if that was true, then the mission had lost its most powerful asset. More than that, Team 7 had lost its center.

Naruto, for all his chaos, for all his secrets, had been the one holding everything together. Without him, the risk to the rest of the genin skyrocketed. Kurenai's team was capable, but green. The genin weren't ready for a high-stakes mission without backup. Without Naruto's Estus flasks, his brutal effectiveness, and his utterly bizarre bag of tricks, someone could die.

And the blame for that would fall squarely on Kakashi's shoulders. Another mistake. Another scar added to a life already filled with them.

And then there was the darker truth... if Naruto really had abandoned them, the Leaf would brand him a missing-nin. One of their own, hunted. Targeted. Kakashi could already hear the whispers in the backrooms of the Hokage's Tower. Another wayward soul lost under his command.

You failed him.

The thought curled like poison in his chest.

But before that spiral of guilt could pull him under, the door creaked open.

"Goddamn archery," Naruto grumbled, throwing himself face-first onto the kitchen table. Oscar, ever faithful, climbed up after him and gently patted his head with a claw.

"What's wrong?" Sakura asked, blinking. She and Sasuke were on house duty, keeping watch while Team 8 guarded Tazuna at the bridge.

Naruto groaned into the wood. "I just can't seem to get it. No matter what I try, the arrows keep veering off. My aim's crap."

"So you're actually taking that whole 'Archer of Providence' thing seriously now?" Sasuke asked, upside down, balancing perfectly on one hand as he did slow, controlled handstand push-ups. Muscles tensed and flexed across his lean frame with each motion, his face calm and unreadable.

Naruto hummed, clearly bummed.

"Don't worry, big bro," Inari chirped as he entered the room with a plate of steaming rice snakes Tsunami had made. "You'd be the best archer ever if you had both hands!"

Naruto cracked a smile at that, eyes warm.

"Naruto," Kakashi said quietly.

The boy looked up. "You need anything, Sensei?"

Kakashi pursed his lips behind the mask. He'd prepared for the worst possible outcome but not this. Not casual small talk. Was Naruto truly unaware? Or was he hiding it?

"Last time," Kakashi said, keeping his tone light, "I think I accidentally left a kunai behind when I was writing the scroll on Ninchu chakra manipulation. Did you happen to see it?"

"Oh yeah," Naruto said, nodding without hesitation.

Kakashi froze. He knows.

"Do you want it back?" Naruto asked, expression innocent. Too innocent?

Kakashi gave a slow nod, unsure if he was being baited into something. But Naruto simply reached into his pouch and began pulling out kunai. One after another after another. Until there was a mountain of them on the table. Inari's eyes sparkled in amazement.

"Sorry, Sensei," Naruto said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I kinda just tossed your kunai into my inventory with all the others. Should be in there somewhere."

Kakashi's trained eye scanned the kunai hilts. No invisible summoning seals he could detect.

That left him with two possibilities, neither comforting.

Either Naruto knew exactly what he was doing and was playing dumb for reasons Kakashi couldn't yet grasp... Or his unknown space-time ninjutsu, this so-called inventory, was sophisticated enough to automatically categorize and store objects in separate dimensional spaces based on subtle distinctions.

Both scenarios were unnerving.

Only one way to find out, Kakashi thought. Let's run a test.

"Sakura," Kakashi said, feigning curiosity, "pop quiz. Can you recreate what Naruto just did using traditional storage seals?"

Sakura perked up. "Technically yes, but it wouldn't be that clean. I'd need to build a grid, organize each item, and memorize where everything is stored. His seems way too efficient."

She turned to Naruto. "How does your inventory work, anyway? Can you teach me?"

"No idea," Naruto said honestly. "I just think about what I want and it appears."

Sakura scribbled furiously in her notebook, clearly already brainstorming seal designs. Kakashi, meanwhile, was spiraling.

Naruto didn't know how it worked.

He couldn't even teach it. It was as natural to him as breathing. That made it even worse.

"Ask Hinata," Sasuke muttered suddenly, taking the glass of water Inari handed him and drinking it in one long gulp.

Everyone turned to him.

He lowered the cup. "The Hyuga clan. Back in the Warring States Era. They were famous for their archery."

"Thanks, Teme. I'll do that!"

Without another word, Naruto scooped up Oscar and vanished in a flicker of chakra, the air snapping shut behind him.

Sakura turned to glare at Sasuke. He didn't flinch—just kept sipping his water, as if nothing had happened.

Kakashi remained seated, silent, his expression hidden behind the mask. But his mind churned.

If Naruto truly was unaware… if the quirks of his space-time ninjutsu had masked everything… then all of Kakashi's paranoia, all his careful calculations, were off the mark. The possibility settled over him like a weight.

So… what do I do now?

With a quiet hum and a burst of distorted air, Naruto flickered onto the bridge in a flash of chakra. The moment his boots touched the concrete, he felt a dozen tiny shifts in pressure, chakra, and movement all at once.

Shino's insects buzzed sharply from within his coat.

Kiba spun around, his hand already halfway to his pouch.

A few of the bridge workers shouted in surprise, tools clattering to the ground.

Tazuna lifted a hammer, squinting across the planks. "False alarm!" he called a second later, waving off the tension. "It's just Naruto."

The workers exhaled, some muttering as they returned to patching boards and inspecting the ropes.

Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Oops. Guess I should've walked."

"You think?" Kiba growled, though he was grinning. "Try showing up like a normal person next time. You almost got yourself tackled."

Akamaru barked in agreement, tail wagging.

Shino gave Naruto a brief glance over his glasses, then returned to scanning the treeline. "Your body flicker is too fast. That makes it hard to detect in advance. It's… unsettling."

"Sorry," Naruto said again. "Didn't mean to spook anyone."

"I knew it was you," Hinata said quietly, her tone soft but assured. "Your chakra feels different than anyone else's. I just… wasn't sure what you were doing here."

Naruto shrugged, pulling Oscar off his shoulder and placing the little lizard gently on the bridge. "Just here for some training. Thought maybe Hinata could help me with my archery."

Kurenai gave Naruto a teasing smile. "So, the so-called Archer of Providence finally shows up to learn how to shoot a bow? About time. Can't go around with a title like that and not know how to aim." She nodded toward Hinata. "Go on, you two can train off to the side but stay sharp. Eyes open."

"Got it," Naruto said, offering her a lazy salute.

Hinata gave a small bow.

"You missed breakfast, by the way," Kiba said, sitting down against a support beam. "We had dumplings. Hinata made tea. Shino lectured me about wild herbs. Again."

"They were poisonous," Shino muttered.

"They were blue and pretty," Kiba countered.

Oscar waddled over to Akamaru, and the two creatures started sniffing each other curiously. Akamaru let out a low bark, tail thumping the bridge, and Oscar clicked his claws on the wood in response.

"So," Shino said slowly, turning back to Naruto, "how do you plan to fire a bow with one hand?"

Naruto grinned. "Like this."

In one brutal, practiced motion, the young knight grabbed his own cursed right arm just below the shoulder and tore it off. The blackened, charcoal-like limb cracked and flaked as it came free, its surface igniting with searing fire the moment it left his body.

Kurenai reacted instantly. Her fingers flicked through hand signs, and a subtle genjutsu pulsed outward, veiling the scene from the eyes of nearby workers and civilians before panic could set in. To the shinobi present, the moment was raw and visceral. To everyone else on the bridge, it never happened.

Shino took a sharp step back, his insects rattling inside his coat in distress. "Ha! What's wrong, Shino? You afraid of a little fire?"

Shino's face remained unreadable, but his hand pressed gently to his temple. "My insects respond instinctively to threats. That fire was… not ordinary. It disturbed the entire hive."

"You alright?" Kurenai asked, her tone sharp with concern.

"I'm fine," Shino said quietly, eyes locked on Naruto's new arm.

The prosthetic arm gleamed in the sunlight, segment by segment. The upper attachment socket was rounded and reinforced, clamping securely onto his shoulder stump with adjustable steel clasps. Its elbow was hinged with a thick, rotating joint, capped with a dial used to fine-tune resistance. Thin wires wove down its length like artificial tendons, visible beneath the armored shell of the forearm. The fingers were especially impressive—five segmented digits with three points of articulation each. The thumb was angled perfectly for grip. Though blockier than a natural hand, it moved with impressive finesse. The fingertips had smooth rubber caps for tactile grip, and subtle grooves across the palm suggested it was designed for catching, holding, and striking.

It wasn't elegant.

But it was strong. And it worked.

"Cool, right?" Naruto beamed.

Kiba was wide-eyed. "Dude. That's awesome."

"Where did you get it?" Kurenai asked, her expression caught between awe and suspicion.

"Very grumpy old blacksmith," Naruto replied. "Total softie on the inside."

Kurenai smiled faintly as she noted to tell Kakashi about this grumpy blacksmith later.

Naruto turned to Hinata and motioned toward the bridge's edge. "C'mon. I want your opinion on it. I made the fingers myself."

Hinata followed, but her gaze lingered on the limb. "It's… amazing," she said sincerely. "But what about your Wind Release techniques?"

"Oh, I've got that handled."

To prove his point, Naruto formed a single-hand sign with blinding speed and fired a barrage of Wind Bullets into the river below. The water erupted in sharp bursts where each projectile landed.

Hinata nodded slowly. "That's great…"

Naruto caught the faint change in her tone. She was disappointed.

"Hinata… what's wrong?"

She shook her head quickly. "Nothing."

"Hinata," he said again, more gently this time.

"It's just… I thought I'd be more involved in helping you. I know you're growing stronger, and I'm glad. I really am. But I liked it... training together. It made me feel useful. Confident."

Naruto paused.

To her, he realized, it probably looked like he barely needed her. One session and then boom, he mastered the technique. She didn't see the hundreds of clones throwing themselves into training for multiple days in Lordran. To her, it felt like her support didn't matter.

But it did.

He smiled. "You know, Sasuke and I spar with swords. We kind of push each other that way. And I was thinking maybe I need an archery rival too. Someone sharp-eyed, quick, precise."

Hinata blinked, stunned.

"You up for the job?" he asked, holding out a hand.

Hinata lit up like a lantern, cheeks glowing red as she nodded furiously. "Y-yes!"

Naruto and Hinata moved to the side of the bridge, settling near the edge where the mist curled off the lake in lazy spirals. The murmur of the construction crew behind them faded into background noise as Hinata tilted her head slightly.

"Even with the prosthetic," she said, voice gentle but uncertain, "I'm not sure about you doing archery. It's a lot of fine control."

Naruto just grinned. "That's why I'm holding the bow with the prosthetic. My real arm does all the actual work."

Hinata gave a small nod, visibly trying to picture the form. "Alright. Then… show me your bow and arrows. We'll take turns."

Naruto scratched his cheek sheepishly. "Ehhh… yeah, I don't think that's a good idea."

Hinata blinked. "Why?"

Instead of answering, Naruto pulled a quiver and a longbow from his inventory with a quiet fwoosh of sealing smoke.

Hinata took the bow reverently, brushing her fingers along its polished frame. Her expression softened into something quietly reverent. "This… this is beautiful," she murmured.

She plucked the string lightly. A deep, thrumming twang sang through the air.

"You really know about bows, huh?"

Hinata flushed slightly. "Sorry. I just got caught up in the moment…"

"No, it's adorable," Naruto said sincerely. "Really. Tell me more, I always thought the Hyūga clan was all about Gentle Fist and Byakugan."

Hinata nodded, setting the bow down gently. "That's true now… but it wasn't always. Back in the Warring States period, our clan used war bows to devastating effect. Especially in open terrain. We even had an alliance with a horse summoning clan at the time. Mounted archers who could strike at range before the enemy ever reached us."

Naruto's brows rose. "Whoa. So you were like… cavalry archers?"

"Essentially, yes," Hinata said with a smile. "But as the era shifted from large-scale warfare to smaller skirmishes, the Gentle Fist became more effective in close-quarters combat. The bow fell out of favor. But… as the heir, I was still expected to learn it out of tradition. Even if it's not part of standard training anymore."

"You don't use it, though."

Hinata hesitated, her smile faltering. "I… I'm not confident it would be effective. I'm not even that great at Gentle Fist. So what good is a bow in my hands?"

Naruto didn't say anything at first. He turned, pointed across the lake to the far bank barely a speck in the distance. "See that garbage bag caught in the tree branch? Snipe it."

Hinata's eyes widened. "That's… over a hundred feet away."

"Show me."

Hinata inhaled deeply and drew the bow. Her fingers moved with practiced grace. She pulled the string back, her muscles trembling slightly under the strain. The bow had a serious draw weight, stronger than most war bows she'd trained with. Still, she adjusted.

Her Byakugan flared to life, pupils vanishing as she focused through layers of mist and distance. A soft whistle of wind passed.

Then she released.

The arrow soared in a clean arc, slicing the air like a whisper. It struck the garbage bag dead center with a whump, the bag flipping from the force of the impact.

Naruto clapped immediately, eyes sparkling. "That's what I'm talking about! Maybe other Hyūga let the bow fall out of use… but I think it was just waiting for you."

Hinata blushed furiously, her hands lowering the bow. "I-I just got lucky."

"Nah. I expected nothing less from my riva and my teacher."

Hinata tried not to turn into a red tomato at the praise. "Let's not waste any more time, then."

"Right."

With a dramatic gesture, Naruto reached into his inventory again, and with a burst of chakra smoke, withdrew his personal weapon. A bow that made the longbow she had used look like a child's toy.

[Item: Drake-Slaying Greatbow][Description: Greatbow crafted by Rickert of Vinheim, in honor of a friend fated to walk among storms. Forged in imitation of the ancient dragon-slaying bows once wielded by Gwyn's knights, this greatbow was designed to pierce the hides of lightning drakes that haunt the Valley skies. Now wielded by the Archer of Providence, whose arrows bring silence to thunder.]

The workers nearby paused mid-swing and stepped back instinctively, watching with wide eyes as Naruto lifted it.

Even Kiba muttered, "That's a bow?"

Kurenai said nothing, but her eyes narrowed as she studied the weapon. She was clearly reassessing her understanding of what Naruto was becoming.

The Drake-Slaying Greatbow was a towering six-foot colossus of a weapon.

Its body was crafted from a blackened, almost petrified wood fused with silver inlays that shimmered faintly in the light. A series of tightly bound steel rings spiraled along the limbs of the bow, giving it the appearance of a dragon's spine, each band absorbing stress and adding immense structural integrity. At the center, the grip was wrapped in black leather, stitched by hand with twine from Rickert's forge. It was thicker than a man's wrist... meant to be gripped with power, not finesse. The drawstring was taut as a wire, reinforced with titanite metal thread, thin and deceptively quiet. But to draw it would require the strength of a dozen grown men.

Naruto's prosthetic arm locked into place as he braced the bow vertically, planting it like a knight would a greatsword.

Hinata could only stare. "That's… beautiful. And terrifying."

Naruto grinned and reached into his inventory seal, pulling out a single arrow nearly four feet tall, crafted entirely of darksteel that shimmered faintly in the light. The shaft was thick and heavy, the fletching made of metallic feather-like vanes that whispered as they caught the wind.

"Let's hear it sing," Naruto said.

He nocked the arrow, drawing it back with a low grunt. The bowstring groaned under the strain, the thread vibrating like a taut cable pulled to its limit. The air around the bow twisted slightly, heat waves rippling from the tension as chakra bled into the weapon.

And then release.

The arrow vanished from sight.

There was no whistle, no clean flight path.

Instead, there was a crack.

A thunderclap split the sky as the arrow shattered the sound barrier... ripping through the air at Mach speed. The shockwave struck the bridge a heartbeat later. It came like a physical force. A pressure wave that blasted dust, snapped ropes, and made the wooden platform buckle. Workers stumbled, hands to their ears. Several screamed before they collapsed.

Tazuna barely ducked in time, shielding his face as debris flew past.

Kurenai's eyes widened. Her instincts kicked in.

Without hesitation, she formed a single-hand seal and whispered, "Magen: Falling Petals Illusion."

A burst of genjutsu rippled outward in a wave, immediately knocking out the majority of workers before their eardrums burst entirely. But some, those closest, weren't spared.

Kiba clutched his ears, blood streaming from them as he grit his teeth in agony. "Ghh.. damn it!" he gasped, curling his body over Akamaru to shield the small pup, whose tail was tucked and body trembling from the sound. Akamaru whimpered softly, paws over his ears while Oscar looked worried for his friend.

Shino fell to one knee, glasses cracked from the vibration, his bugs in chaotic motion beneath his coat, screeching in silent panic.

Even Hinata, standing close to Naruto, staggered as a sharp lance of pain drove into her skull. She cried out softly, barely able to remain on her feet as her Byakugan blurred out.

Then came the impact.

The arrow struck the lake and it was no simple splash.

It was an eruption.

A geyser of water, at least fifty feet tall, exploded from the surface as the arrow pierced deep into the lakebed. The impact created a deep boom, followed by a violent shockwave that rippled across the water, dislodging boats, capsizing small rafts, and sending ripples all the way to the far shore.

Steam hissed up from where the arrow struck. Some kind of reaction between chakra, metal, and force that superheated the water.

When the chaos began to settle, Naruto slowly lowered the bow and looked around him.

The bridge was a mess. Half the workers were unconscious, the other half clutching their ears in agony. Kiba was sitting against a pillar, panting, blood staining his fur collar. Shino was staring at Naruto with disbelief. Even Kurenai looked momentarily stunned, red-eyed and fuming.

"...Shit," Naruto muttered under his breath.

"NARUTO." Kurenai's voice was sharp.

"I—" Naruto looked apologetic. "I'll make some clones to heal everyone. Hinata and I can go train somewhere far from here."

He raised a hand and summoned a dozen in a puff of smoke. The clones got to work immediately, moving among the workers with the heal miracle.

Then Naruto turned to Hinata, who was swaying slightly, still dazed. Without a word, he popped the cork off an Estus Flask and gently tipped it to her lips.

"Sorry about that," Naruto said quietly, his voice low with guilt. Inside, he was tearing himself apart. He should've known better. He did know better. But after so long in Lordran where monsters shrugged off shockwaves and people endured pain like it was breathing. He'd forgotten what it meant to live among those who didn't. Here, in his own world, people had to brace themselves with chakra, strengthen their bodies just to survive what Lordran would call a greeting. The gap between these worlds wasn't just about strength. It was about awareness. And in that moment, Naruto realized, he hadn't adjusted. And people got hurt because of it.

Hinata winced, her fingers still gently pressed against her ear but her other hand reached out. Hesitant at first until it rested softly on Naruto's wrist.

"Hey," she said quietly, looking up at him with concern more than pain. "This... was a mistake."

Naruto flinched, guilt twisting in his chest. He opened his mouth to apologize again, but Hinata spoke first.

"But it was just that," she continued. "A mistake. You didn't mean to hurt anyone. And... you're already fixing it."

Her eyes were steady now, earnest. "That's what matters, Naruto. Not that you slipped up but that you care enough to make it right."

He stared at her for a long moment, her hand warm on his wrist, her words grounding him more than she probably realized. The chaotic whirl of regret inside him eased, just a little.

"You still want to train?" he asked, his voice quieter, uncertain.

Hinata smiled softly. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't. And I think... I've figured out how to help you improve."

"Yeah?"

"Let's start with these smaller bows first. Build up your control and precision before you return to that monster."

"That's a good idea. Let's try it."

The two leapt into the nearby treeline, bounding between branches until they found a quiet glade with soft earth and old, thick trunks.

As they landed, Hinata glanced back toward the bridge, then at the enormous greatbow still strapped to Naruto's back. Her curiosity got the better of her.

"...Naruto, what's the draw strength on that bow?"

Naruto blinked, then said casually, "About five tons."

Hinata stared.

Her jaw slowly dropped open.

"Five tons?" she repeated, incredulous. "That's not a draw weight... that's siege weaponry!"

Naruto shrugged. "Yeah. Makes sense why the arrow hit like a baby meteor."

"...What are you even hunting to need a bow like that?" Hinata asked, exasperated.

Naruto turned to her, the usual warmth in his eyes dimming into something harder. His smile faded, replaced by a calm intensity that chilled the air between them. For a heartbeat, Hinata saw a shadow of someone else... someone shaped by battles she couldn't begin to imagine.

"I'm hunting monsters."

By nightfall, the stars hung like pinpricks in a sea of black velvet, and Naruto, after a quiet word to Hinata, vanished into the forest with Oscar in tow. The flicker of his space-time technique left a whisper in the air then silence.

Moments later, Kakashi stepped out of the shadows, hands in his pockets, Pakkun trotting at his heels.

"I'm certain now," Kakashi said, his tone unusually light. "Naruto doesn't know about the summoning seal on that kunai."

Pakkun sniffed the ground, then looked up. "So? What now?"

"I'm going to take it back before he figures it out," Kakashi said casually, like he was talking about slipping a scroll off a desk.

The little pug raised a skeptical brow. "Or maybe… you could own up to it and apologize."

Kakashi paused. His single visible eye slid toward the dog. "Why would I do that?"

Pakkun sighed, the kind of tired, resigned sigh that only an old partner could muster. "Because you're not fooling anyone. Not me. Not yourself."

Kakashi said nothing, but his silence was telling. Pakkun continued, "Team 7… they mean more to you than you let on. Especially Naruto. You're proud of him... prouder than you've ever let yourself be of anyone. But you're afraid, aren't you? That if you show weakness, if you admit to this mistake, you'll lose what you have with him."

Still nothing from Kakashi. The breeze rustled the leaves overhead.

"You've spent so long trying to see beneath the surface," Pakkun added gently. "You've forgotten what it's like to just… face something head-on."

Kakashi's hands slipped from his pockets, resting by his sides. "Maybe. Or maybe I just know how easily things fall apart."

"So what's your plan?" Pakkun asked. He already knew the answer, but part of him wanted to believe his master wouldn't go through with it.

"I'll observe him for a few days. Look for signs. If nothing changes, I'll arrange a sparring session. Team 7 vs me. I'll push him... make him use every kunai he has. Eventually, he'll reach for the summoning one out of instinct. I'll retrieve it before he realizes."

Pakkun shook his head slowly. "You do realize this is a gamble. If it fails..."

"If I apologize, that's a gamble too," Kakashi interrupted, a flicker of tension slipping into his voice. "Naruto may be mature, but he's still a teenager. Emotional. Volatile. What if I lose his trust completely? What if he decides I'm not worth listening to anymore?"

Pakkun looked up at him with soft eyes. "And what if you lose his trust by lying to his face during a sparring match and manipulating him to cover your tracks?"

Kakashi looked away. "I won't fail," he said, quieter now. Firmer. "I can't."

The dog didn't answer. He simply padded silently beside Kakashi as they disappeared into the forest's shadowed embrace. But in his heart, Pakkun knew: Kakashi was gambling recklessly, maybe even desperately. Whether he won or lost, this choice would ripple outward, changing more than just one bond. It could shape the boy, the team… maybe the world. And when the consequences came, Kakashi would have no one to blame but himself.

Pakkun just hoped he wouldn't break under it. The man already carried too much guilt. Would he even know how to accept forgiveness… if it came?

Naruto opened his eyes to the warm, flickering light of the bonfire, the embers dancing like fireflies against the dim stone walls of the chamber. A familiar scent of coal, ash, and iron filled the air, and a grin broke across his face. Without wasting a moment, he stood and bounded down the stairwell, his footsteps echoing eagerly through the forge.

At the base of the hall, Andre stood like a monument of iron himself, towering over a massive log embedded into the stone, reinforced with layers of metal bands and plates.

"Oh, you're finally here," Andre said with a glint in his eye.

Naruto's eyes locked onto the log and the tools nearby. "Is that it? Is it ready?"

"Of course," Andre rumbled. "Finally got it set up for the advanced stuff. Been waiting for you to catch up."

Naruto practically bounced in place, the excitement buzzing through his limbs like lightning. This was the moment he'd been working toward since the old man first mentioned the hidden depths of Astoran boxing.

Andre had once told him there were two paths in the art: one designed for dueling men and another, a far more savage and intricate style, forged in blood to fight monsters. But the second would only be revealed if Naruto proved he'd mastered the first.

"I can't wait," Naruto said, his grin stretching from ear to ear.

Andre stepped aside with a grunt and motioned to the anvil, where two caesti sat gleaming in the firelight. They looked more like instruments of war than training gear.

The first was specially crafted for Naruto's prosthetic. Its form curved slightly to hug the contours of the metal limb, with interlocking clamps and jointed grooves that allowed full articulation without sacrificing stability. The palm area was padded with a thick lining of dark leather, while the knuckles were capped in overlapping plates of reinforced steel.

The second caestus, built for his organic arm, was no less impressive. Made from a hardened leather base wrapped in steel studs, it bore the classic design of traditional Astoran pugilism—heavy, direct, and unrelenting. Thick bands of studded hide were layered across the back of the hand and wrist, with the knuckles sheathed in a gleaming alloy that shimmered faintly in the forge's glow. It was designed not just to protect the user's hand, but to turn each punch into a miniature battering ram.

Naruto gently placed Oscar down beside the staircase. The little crystal lizard gave an eager chirp, tail swaying in rhythm like a tiny cheerleader.

Andre cracked his neck with a satisfying pop, each vertebra sounding like the grind of old wood. He rolled his massive shoulders like a war machine winding up.

"Alright, brat. Show me what you've learned."

Naruto exhaled. "Alright, old man. Let's dance."

Andre moved first. No wind-up, no warning... just a straight jab, fast and mean. Naruto ducked under it and slipped to the left, delivering a quick combo of a left hook and a right jab to the ribs.

Clang.

Andre barely flinched. "Cute."

His counter came in the form of a body shot with the weight of a mountain. Naruto managed to cross-block with both arms, but the shock rattled through his core, sending him sliding back a foot across the stone.

"Good poise," Andre nodded. "Again."

Naruto darted in, this time circling to Andre's right. He peppered the blacksmith with light jabs, testing the defense. His left fist cracked against Andre's guard, while his right prosthetic aimed for an uppercut.

Andre dropped his elbow to block, then turned it into a reverse backhand. Naruto barely raised his forearm in time, the blow glancing off with a metallic ring that sent sparks skittering.

They broke apart for a breath.

"Keep your feet grounded," Andre barked, shifting forward with sudden speed for a man his size. "You box like a monk, not a soldier!"

"I'm not a soldier," Naruto shot back, throwing a quick right feint and pivoting into a left cross that caught Andre across the cheek.

Andre grunted, surprised but pleased.

"That's more like it."

He launched a flurry of left, right, right, body, uppercut. Naruto blocked the first three, took the fourth to the ribs, and barely dodged the uppercut by sliding beneath it, dropping low with a sweeping leg to break Andre's balance.

But Andre didn't fall.

Instead, he stomped, cracking the stone, and forced Naruto back with sheer presence.

They reset.

Breathing heavy now, Naruto adjusted his stance, lowering his center of gravity. "You're not holding back anymore."

"Damn right," Andre said, grinning through a split lip. "You wanted to learn the advanced style. Then stop sparring like a street punk and start boxing like a knight."

Naruto gritted his teeth, chakra flaring through his legs as he blitzed forward.

Their fists collided in mid-air, gauntlet to gauntlet, the clang echoing through the hall like a bell tolling for war.

After a few minutes of sparring, it became clear to Andre that Naruto was ready. The blow came without warning, a blur of movement, a sonic whisper and Naruto barely managed to catch the fist with an upward block. But the moment their fists connected, it was as if a gong had gone off inside his bones. A shockwave rippled through his entire body, vibrating his ribs. His knees buckled slightly as he slid back from the sheer force of the impact.

His ears rang. His joints screamed.

But he didn't fall.

The Wolf Ring he wore glowed faintly, stabilizing him, holding his stance just enough to resist collapsing.

"What the hell was that, old man?!" Naruto coughed, shaking out his arm as if trying to dispel the tremor.

Andre flexed his knuckles, not a hint of strain on his face. "That, brat, was Astoran Advanced Boxing or as it's more commonly known: the Poise Breaker."

"Poise...?" Naruto repeated, blinking.

Andre nodded. "Everything has poise... armor, muscle, willpower, even a man's pride. Anything that helps you take a hit and keep moving. That's what poise is. And every bit of it can be broken."

He walked over to the reinforced log and patted its plated surface.

"Knights of old figured out that if you can't overpower your enemy, you break them where it counts, from the inside. You hit hard and fast enough to bypass their defenses, interrupt their stance, and mess with their nervous system. That momentary collapse? That's all the time you need."

Then, without a word, he pulled back and punched the log. The sound echoed like a cannon. A heartbeat later, a second, deeper sound followed as another dent forming in the reinforced metal.

Naruto's eyes widened. "You moved your fist so fast it created a micro vacuum... and when it collapsed, it caused a second shockwave. That's what messed up my nerves, right? It hits twice... once on contact, and once from the inside via the shockwave."

Andre froze mid-stretch, blinking. "When the hell did you get that smart?"

"I've always been smart!"

"Sure, sure. You'll be back to your usual dumbass self after I knock that noggin around," Andre muttered, cracking his knuckles again.

Naruto turned to Oscar and stage-whispered, "I think the old man's gone senile."

Oscar gave an enthusiastic chirp in agreement.

"Alright, brat," Andre said, fists raised. "Time to see if you're ready to break monsters."

Naruto descended into the dim depths of New Londo, his body still aching from the brutal training session with Andre. He limped slightly as he reached the edge of Rickert's cage. The blacksmith looked up from the delicate device he was tuning.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

"You look like you got run over by a cart full of anvils."

Naruto let out a breath and leaned against the bars. "Try going twelve rounds with Andre and see how you look after."

He rubbed his jaw, still tender from the older smith's latest lesson. "Pretty sure he cracked my skull. Twice."

"No thanks," Rickert said dryly. "I prefer my head unshattered. So… how's the greatbow treating you?"

"It's awesome," Naruto said with a grin. "Feels like launching thunderbolts. Oh... also, quick question. Why didn't you ever teach me about the Hawkeyes technique?"

Rickert paused, brows furrowing. "Because there are no hawks in Lordran."

"What?"

The Vinheim blacksmith turned fully toward him now, expression unreadable. "Where'd you even hear about Hawkeyes?"

"From Seigmeyer," Naruto said, scratching the back of his neck. "He told me about it and even gave me the tonic recipe. Said it's from one of Gwyn's knights, Hawkeye Gough."

Rickert sighed through his nose and held out a hand. "Let me see the recipe."

Naruto fished into his inventory and handed over the parchment. Rickert studied it for a moment, then nodded. "Just as I thought."

"Alright, what's going on? And give it to me straight, none of that cryptic Vinheim nonsense."

"You want to know how the tonic works?"

"Obviously."

Rickert tapped the list of ingredients. "The tonic doesn't just enhance your vision through magic. It's a transmutation catalyst. One of these ingredients, specifically the essence powder, was originally derived from a hawk soul."

Naruto tilted his head. "So… you absorb a hawk soul… into your eyes?"

"Exactly," Rickert said, his voice calm but firm. "You alter the soul through alchemical infusion. And since the soul is the blueprint of the body: change the soul, change the flesh. That's how your eyes become biologically hawk-like. But..."

Naruto scanned the list again, realization dawning. "There's no hawk soul in this version of the tonic."

"Right," Rickert said. "Because we don't have hawks anymore. Most wildlife either died out, was hunted to extinction, or fled when the curse of undeath corrupted Lordran. No hawks. No true source. That's why I never bothered teaching you about it."

"So… why did Seigmeyer even give me this tonic if it doesn't have a hawk soul?" Naruto asked, frowning as he turned the parchment over in his hand.

Rickert leaned back slightly, arms crossed. "Because even without the hawk soul, the tonic still has value. It conditions your eyes... enhances visual acuity beyond what normal humans can reach. Not quite hawk-tier, but still impressive for a sharpshooter."

Naruto smiled at that but then his eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "My world has hawks. Tons of them. So if I bring back a hawk soul… I could complete the tonic. Actually develop Hawkeyes."

Rickert gave a quiet hum, then nodded. "That's a smart move. Just be careful... absorb a hawk soul no more than once a week. You're reshaping the soul gently, not trying to dominate it in one go. It'll probably take about a year to fully awaken Hawkeyes."

"A year?" Naruto muttered, not exactly thrilled by the long timeline but still, it beat tempting fate by breaking Lordran's rules. He'd learned the hard way that shortcuts came with teeth. At least Hawkeyes had a known, tested method. That was rare enough to be worth respecting.

His gaze drifted upward, curiosity flickering behind his eyes. "So if absorbing a hawk's soul sharpens my vision… what if I found something rarer? Like the soul of a lightning drake. Could I grow wings? Breathe lightning?"

Rickert's face hardened. "Don't."

"That bad?"

"You've already dabbled with magic, and your right arm is cursed. You, of all people, should understand that souls are not toys. You tamper with them too much, you lose yourself."

Naruto quieted. "…Then why is the hawk soul safe?"

"It's not," Rickert said flatly. "Absorbing any soul is a risk. When you take in the soul of a hawk, you're not just gaining its power... you're inviting its instincts, its nature, into your own. You'll have to fight it, deep within your soul, to make it yours. Win, and you take the first step toward developing Hawkeyes. But if you lose… the hawk's essence overwhelms your identity. You'll still look human, but inside, you'll be nothing more than a beast in a man's skin."

Naruto winced. "So either I get awesome eyes… or I turn into a freak of nature."

"Precisely," Rickert said.

Naruto sighed, crossing his arms. "Okay, then if something that small can do that, absorbing a drake soul would basically be suicide."

Rickert gave a single nod. "A violent, agonizing one."

"…Fair."

A silence passed between them before Naruto asked, "Then why am I able to absorb all these hollow souls without issues?"

"You're not," Rickert replied. "The Darksign on your soul is. It acts like a siphon, pulling raw energy into itself and converting it into stats. But that's different from direct absorption. You're not consuming the soul's identity... you're just taking its fuel."

Naruto's eyes widened as realization dawned.

"…Oh," he muttered, slowly lowering himself beside Oscar, who chirped and curled into his lap. Naruto chuckled, shaking his head. "That actually makes a lot of sense now. Like… a lot."

"You alright?"

"Yeah. Just shocked that all the puzzle pieces are starting to fit together," Naruto said, still smiling. "This world's insane, but it's got rules. Just… twisted ones."

He took a deep breath and looked up. "So, speaking of twisted… did you finish working on that magic gun I asked you?"

"You're speaking to the best blacksmith in Vinheim, kid. Of course I did."

Then the two began to strap the gleaming weapon onto Oscar's back. After which Naruto asked, "How do you feel?"

Oscar chirped, shifting his body slightly as he adjusted to the new weight.

The so-called "magic gun" was a masterwork of both worlds—Vinheim sorcery and shinobi fuinjutsu. Reforged from the Dragon Crest Shield, its outer shell wrapped protectively around Oscar's crystalline spine like armor. But within, it was a weapon system of frightening potential. Sorcerer's Catalysts had been hollowed to form twin barrels, running along Oscar's body, designed to channel both chakra and ambient soul energy into a focused, devastating beam. Etched along the interior were siphon and core seals—Naruto's own creations—pulling in raw chakra like a furnace.

Oscar chirped again, and his back pulsed with a pale glow.

FWOOM!

A crackling beam of crystal energy erupted from the barrel.

The sheer force launched Oscar backward like a cannonball. Naruto blurred forward, catching him just before he smashed into the wall.

The laser carved a tunnel of mist through the valley's fog, vanishing into the far horizon.

Rickert blinked. "What the hell was that?"

Naruto grinned. "It worked."

"I'm honestly more shocked nothing exploded..."

BOOM.

The deep, echoing blast cut Rickert off.

Naruto's eyes narrowed as he activated Hawkeyes. His vision tunneled through the fog and distance to lock onto the source.

A spire had been reduced to rubble. The water below it churned with the blast's aftershock, scattering stone and crystal into the air. Shattered fragments floated like broken glass, catching the twilight in eerie glimmers. And from the center of the wreckage, crystals began forming—delicate at first, then pulsing with life.

Above them hovered a faint, flickering shape.

A Fire Keeper's Soul.

"Rickert," Naruto whispered. "You see that?"

"Mmm… yeah, I see it."

Naruto glanced at him. "When did you get binoculars?"

"Made 'em. Not much to do in a damn prison cell."

"You could leave the cage. Explore Lordran."

"NO."

Naruto frowned. That wasn't sarcasm. That was fear... visceral and real. He filed that away for later.

"Well, I'm going down there. Gonna grab that soul."

He handed Oscar over. The lizard clung to Rickert, chirping in confusion.

"Wait! Hold on..."

Too late.

Naruto jumped off the ledge and unlike Rickert's fear didn't drown in the water.

The young knight stood calmly atop the surface of the water, chakra gliding beneath his boots in rhythmic ripples. He turned, shot Rickert a cocky smirk, and then vanished forward in a streak of motion, sprinting across the misty water toward the ruins.

The air changed as he approached the drowning spire...

His breath came in sharp puffs, visible now.

The unease settled in his chest like a hand pressing down.

His fingers twitched instinctively.

"Just grab it and get out. Quick in, quick out," he muttered.

That's when the water rippled.

Something was rising.

A shape, half-formed, born from the mist itself... long arms, impossibly thin. Cloaks of vapor flared out from ghostly bodies. Hollowed sockets stared out of twisted skulls. Their hands gripped rusted daggers, spectral and sharp.

Three of them.

Then five.

Then more.

Naruto stopped cold.

"Of course Lordran has actual fucking ghosts," he growled, heart pounding.

As long as he could remember, he'd hated ghosts. Not just fear... revulsion. Like something deep inside him had always known. Maybe it was his birth. Maybe it was being marked by the Shinigami. Whatever it was, Naruto didn't just dislike ghosts... he couldn't stand them.

They crept forward without a sound.

Naruto flickered backward, boots skimming the water's surface as the ghosts glided after him.

One lashed out—twin spectral daggers slicing through the fog. Naruto raised his arm on instinct.

Clang.

The weapon collided with the metal of his gauntlet, the blow sliding off harmlessly. Naruto's eyes widened—he could block it. He could hit them.

And if he could hit them... he could kill them.

With a surge of chakra, he formed the hand seal.

Poof.

A dozen shadow clones exploded into existence across the surface of the water, surrounding the advancing phantoms. Hands blurred. Air pulsed.

"Wind Style: Wind Bullets!"

A symphony of howling gales erupted. Dozens of compressed wind spheres tore through the fog, slicing through the ghosts like paper. Their forms twisted violently, warping under the pressure of the attack before evaporating into vapor and vanishing completely.

But one ghost surged forward through the chaos, blades flashing. It lunged.

Naruto met the thrust with a block, chakra pulsing through his gauntlet. The wind-sharpened edge of his strike severed the ghost's hand in a single, clean slice.

The phantom wailed as its weapon dropped... solid, clattering onto the water's surface before slowly sinking. Naruto caught it with chakra under his feet, kneeling to retrieve it.

[Item Acquired: Jagged Ghost Blade]

[Description: A cursed weapon used by the lingering spirits of New Londo. Its jagged edge bites through the intangible. One of the few weapons capable of harming the dead.]

Naruto turned the blade over in his hand, testing its weight, feeling the curse embedded in the metal. It hummed faintly in his grip, reacting to his presence.

"Now that's gonna be useful."

He paused, staring at the cursed blade, then down at his own cursed right arm.

A thought crossed his mind.

Was I able to harm those ghosts… because of this?

With that thought echoing, he flickered back to the safety of the cave.

Rickert jolted from his seat, relief flooding his face. "Thank the gods. Must you always be so damned reckless?"

Naruto exhaled, flipping the jagged blade and catching it lazily. "They weren't that strong."

Rickert fixed him with a flat look. "It's not about strength. Ghosts are dangerous because they're untouchable. That one fact makes them lethal."

"Yeah, well... about that..." Naruto gestured with the cursed blade. "You need to be cursed to fight them, right?"

"There are two ways. Be cursed yourself… or wield a cursed weapon."

"Well, lucky me, I have both options filled."

The blacksmith snorted. "How poetic."

"Funny," Naruto deadpanned. "You should try stand-up."

Rickert gave a tired shrug, the smirk lingering.

Naruto stepped to the edge of the platform again, gazing down at the mist-wreathed valley below. The water was still now, but the air still held the weight of something watching.

"Rickert," Naruto said quietly, "What even is a ghost?"

Rickert leaned back against the anvil, thoughtful. "A soul that refuses to let go. Fog, memory, lingering hatred... call it what you want. It's not alive. But it's not dead, either. It's trapped. Caught between."

"Do you think that ancient evil Beatrice fought… was it the cause? Did it curse New Londo like this?"

Rickert's face shadowed. "Can't say. New Londo's history is… murky at best. Lots of things are buried here... things better left untouched."

Oscar chirped from his perch, his tail flicking lightly as if to say, Don't get lost in it. Stay focused.

Naruto chuckled, ruffling the lizard's head. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. Let the historians worry about the past."

Naruto threw the ghost blade into his inventory. "Well, Rickert... guess it's back to hunting drakes."

Naruto paused at the edge of the bridge overlooking the Valley of Drakes, the familiar winds whispering through the jagged cliffs around them.

"You know…" Naruto said, tapping his chin. "I think I figured out why you recoiled so hard last time. The core seal probably got flooded with too much chakra. Too much pressure all at once."

Oscar blinked up at him, his crystals softly pulsing with magic.

"With that last beam discharged," Naruto continued, "the pressure should've eased. Maybe now it'll flow smoother, yeah?"

Oscar gave an eager chirp, eyes gleaming. He raised his head, stance low and ready.

"Go ahead," Naruto said with a grin, stepping aside.

A heartbeat passed, then a brilliant pulse of white light shot from the lizard's back. A focused beam cut cleanly through the valley air, crackling faintly as it carved a path downward into the canyon below. No recoil this time. Just controlled release.

Naruto gave a satisfied nod. "Looks like I was right. The seals need to vent chakra more consistently... can't let it build up like that."

Oscar's tail swished proudly, the beam fading into the mist below.

Naruto knelt beside him, gently adjusting one of the etched seals along the lizard's spine. "We'll refine the flow rate. Regulate chakra input with minor pauses between charges. That way you won't overheat your conduit again."

Oscar chirped in agreement, hopping once with renewed energy.

Naruto chuckled. "You're gonna be a walking artillery battery before this is over."

The duo stopped at the area where the great undead dragon had once blocked the path. The overlook gave Naruto a wide view of the valley below, where the wind howled and the drakes sometimes slept along the cliffs.

Naruto knelt, planting the Greatbow against the stone, anchoring it with a practiced motion.

Far below, tucked into a shadowed crevice near the waterfall's lip, a drake lay half-coiled, its scales faintly shimmering blue. A perfect angle. Just like Hinata taught him.

He took a deep breath. Then exhaled.

The arrow clicked into place. He drew the string back, the limbs of the bow groaning under the tension, and released.

The moment it loosed, the air snapped.

A deafening thundercrack rang through the valley as the arrow broke the sound barrier, slicing through air like a god's judgment. It collided with the drake's reverse scale with a sound like steel tearing through stone.

The impact sent the drake thrashing, a shrieking roar echoing through the cliffs as it reared back, half-leaping into the air.

It was alive, and now furious but it didn't use lightning.

Naruto smirked. "Right. That shot disabled your breath attack. Means you're grounded, dumbass."

He reached for another arrow, calmly notching it. "Let's see how you like flying with one wing."

Just as he released the second shot, something veered across his line of sight. The arrow struck air then pinged sharply off an unexpected white projectile, knocked off course by an invisible force. The drake twisted out of range and began to ascend.

"What the hell?" Naruto whispered.

With Hawkeyes active, he scanned the direction the shot came from and froze.

There, clinging to a distant cliff like a parasite, was something wholly wrong.

A warped mass of shell and claw, its body shaped like a shattered eggshell given monstrous life. Crab-like legs twitched beneath it, and a writhing black core oozed from within, tendrils snaking across its underbelly.

A glowing name tag flickered in his vision.

[Name: Vagrant (Evil)][HP: 1300/1300]

Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Oscar... kill that thing. Now."

The lizard chirped with uncertainty, casting a wary glance at the flying drake.

"It's okay," Naruto reassured him. "That drake's reverse scale is pierced. It can't use lightning anymore. I can take it. I just need you to make sure the bug doesn't screw with my shots."

Oscar's resolve hardened. He chirped once and began pouring chakra into his limbs, then leapt off the ledge. With a few expert motions, he burrowed straight into the stone, tunneling toward the Vagrant.

Naruto shifted his stance, swapping the bow for his tower shield just as the wounded drake roared in from above. Like a hawk in freefall, it dove claws-first.

He dropped low behind the shield, anchoring it like a bulwark of metal. The drake's jaws snapped down but met nothing. Naruto had used the shield's height to mask his movement, and as the creature landed, he was already in motion. From behind the metal, Naruto burst forth with a black Zweihander raised for a downward swing.

Meanwhile, Oscar erupted from the ground in a shower of dust and stone, popping up behind the Vagrant like a trapdoor springing open. The grotesque creature reacted instantly, lashing out with its massive claw.

Oscar didn't dodge.

Instead, he bit his own tail, spun forward like a chakram, and hurled himself through the air with chakra-enhanced speed. With a comical thump and a flash of light, he collided with the Vagrant's body, sending the creature skidding backward in a spasm of surprised twitching.

Oscar landed with a skitter, his gun barrels glowing faintly with charging energy. Light pooled at the edges of the barrels like twin suns preparing to burst.

The Vagrant paused, its tendrils twitching violently in recognition. Then, with a hiss, it fired a volley of pale white appendages snapping forward like barbed whips.

Oscar fired first.

Twin beams of crystalline energy lanced through the air in a searing arc. The rays cut through the darkness like divine swords, slicing several tendrils clean off. The remaining whips struck Oscar, but the reinforced armor around his body deflected most of the impact. He flinched but stood his ground.

Seeing that the beams alone weren't enough, Oscar spun, narrowed his eyes, and fired another beam—not at the Vagrant, but into the ground between them.

Then he ran.

He turned tail and darted off in a zigzagging path, goading the Vagrant to follow. The creature, more instinct than intellect, chased after him with writhing fury.

That was its mistake.

The glowing crystal energy embedded in the ground pulsed and spread, a lingering trap of raw soul magic. Any sentient being would've avoided it. But not the Vagrant.

It walked directly into the glowing field.

As soon as its malformed legs stepped across the charged ground, the magic surged upward—threads of crystal snaked up its limbs, then its torso, and finally its core. The beast screeched, a horrible, gurgling noise as its flesh turned glassy and rigid.

Moments later, it was frozen in place—a statue of corrupted shell and writhing darkness, now silenced and inert.

Oscar huffed and turned just in time to see Naruto slam his fist into the drake's chest with a one-inch punch delivered with flawless precision.

Poise Breaker left the monster's body frozen mid-roar, limbs locking up as the shockwave scrambled its nervous system.

Naruto didn't hesitate.

With a grunt, he raised the black-edged Zweihander and brought it down in a vicious, cleaving arc. The blade severed scale, sinew, and bone in a single motion. The drake's head thudded to the ground moments before its massive body collapsed in a heap behind it, steaming with residual lightning.

Silence returned to the valley, save for the fading crackle of static.

Breathing steadily, Naruto knelt beside the corpse and yanked free his prized arrows. He wiped the ichor off with a quick swipe and flicked them back into his inventory. Then, without ceremony, he placed a hand on the drake's chest.

A warm pulse surged through him as the creature's soul lifted from its ruined form, drawn toward Naruto's own.

With a flicker, Naruto reappeared beside Oscar, crouching next to the crystal lizard as he examined the steaming remains of the Vagrant. Its core quivered once and shattered into bubbling black goo.

[You have obtained:]

[300 Souls]

[Dragon Scale x1]

Naruto reached down, plucking the scale between two fingers. He turned and tossed a flickering soul drop toward Oscar. "Eat that," he said. "Grow up big and strong, yeah?"

Oscar squeaked excitedly, catching the soul midair with his mouth.

"You did good today, partner. That Vagrant was a pain in the ass."

Oscar nestled into his leg with a pleased chirp, tail flicking lazily.

Naruto looked up toward the far end of the valley. The wind changed. The air thickened. And far in the distance, he saw it.

Stormrend.

"Looks like I need to do something about these sonic booms. Every arrow I fire is like lighting a flare for every damn monster nearby." He shifted his grip on Oscar and raised his free hand. "Time to bounce."

A warm light gathered around his body as he activated the Homeward miracle. The spell took hold instantly.

Their bodies began to distort like shattered reflections breaking along invisible seams. They fragmented like glass caught in a kaleidoscope, folding inward and collapsing into glowing pieces. It was like reality itself was unraveling them, reassembling them elsewhere.

Just like that, Naruto and Oscar vanished from the Valley of Drakes, pulled away like puzzle pieces slipping out of place.

Naruto adjusted the strap on his hip as he sheathed the reinforced Drake Sword into place. His Estus Flasks glimmered faintly with golden light, recently upgraded with a Fire Keeper's soul. Another routine run through Darkroot Garden had left the golem knights shattered at his feet, and a glance at the timer confirmed he still had hours left in Lordran before the return trip home.

He could've gone back to Andre and continued drilling Poise Breaker with his clones. Hundreds of them were already at work on it, but today felt like a good day to do something different.

So he turned and made his way toward the looming silhouette of Sen's Fortress.

At the stone bridge before the entrance, he found a familiar, round figure waiting with a welcoming energy that radiated even through steel.

"Sir Siegmeyer," Naruto said with a respectful bow.

"Ah! Young knight, how have you been?" Siegmeyer replied warmly, flicking a titanite shard toward Oscar, who caught it midair with a happy chirp.

"I've been good. Training, refining and pushing everything I can," Naruto replied. "Making use of every minute."

"As a knight should," Siegmeyer nodded. "A prepared blade seldom rusts. And how goes the vision? Have the Hawkeyes served you well?"

"They have," Naruto said. "But I also found a path to the real Hawkeyes... my world has no shortage of hawks."

"Splendid!"

"Still," Naruto added, "even if the real thing had been out of reach, your tonic would've helped. Thanks for trusting me enough to share it."

"Thank you for accepting my actions in good faith."

"If you'd like, I could bring back some hawk souls. Maybe you could forge your own Hawkeyes?"

"Ha! A generous thought, my dear friend. But I already obtained mine in the Kingdom of Catarina, long ago." His voice dipped into nostalgia, tinged with pride.

"Wow…" Naruto murmured. He hesitated a moment, then asked, "Sir Siegmeyer, if I may, you're a master of the Zweihander, aren't you?"

"Indeed!" Siegmeyer puffed out his chest. "Though I must say, I'm quite surprised to hear you call it the Zweihander."

"Why?"

"Ah, well! In Astora, they call it the Astoran Greatsword. Zweihander... that's our Catarina name for it!" He let out his signature booming laugh. "It seems you've picked up some knightly knowledge along your journey, young warrior!"

Naruto hummed thoughtfully. He hadn't considered that different regions would have different names for the same weapons. It was obvious now that he heard it, but still, good intel to tuck away.

"That said," Naruto continued, "I was hoping you could judge my swordsmanship. Help me see what I'm missing."

Siegmeyer straightened, one gauntleted hand resting on the pommel of his massive sword. "Ah! A noble request! Swordplay is a lifelong pursuit. Let us test your mettle, then!"

"Maybe we should find a better spot first," Naruto said, glancing at the narrow ledges and paths of the fortress behind them.

"Mm! A wise decision!" Siegmeyer agreed, nodding sagely. "No sense in knocking each other into pits before we even begin. Lead the way, young knight!"

Naruto gently laid Oscar down near the bonfire nestled in the courtyard's broken stone, the little crystal lizard chirping once before curling into a comfortable rest. With his partner safe, Naruto followed Siegmeyer toward the Undead Church, where as usual, three idle undead soldiers slouched around.

Naruto reached for his sword.

But before he could move, Siegmeyer raised a gauntleted hand. A faint shimmer bloomed in his palm as a talisman spun into place between his fingers. Three radiant spheres of white energy shimmered into existence around him like the Force miracle—but not like any Naruto had seen before. These weren't simple defensive pulses. They hovered with intent.

Then they launched.

BOOM.

The concussive shockwave cracked the air like thunder. A rippling force flattened the undead soldiers in an instant... no scream, no resistance, just vapor and bone dust in their place. The church doorframe groaned under the echo.

"That… was not the Force miracle," Naruto muttered, eyes wide.

"Hohohoho!" Siegmeyer chuckled heartily, already tucking the talisman back into a hidden pouch. "A variation, my young friend. Emit Force. A most useful technique in the field, especially when you need to make an entrance."

Naruto tried to hide the flicker of disappointment in his eyes.

"Hmm? Something the matter?"

Naruto hesitated. "I just didn't expect you to be part of the Way of White."

"Ah," Siegmeyer nodded. "I take it your dealings with the covenant were… less than pleasant."

"You could say that," Naruto said flatly.

Siegmeyer's tone softened. "Mmm. Then allow me to offer a bit of advice. Don't judge the whole tree by one rotten branch. A great many within the covenant are good-hearted. It's just the loudest fools that spoil the name for the rest of us."

Naruto hummed noncommittally.

The knight turned to him. "Which denomination gave you trouble? If they're from Catarina, I'd be happy to speak with them."

"Denomination?"

"Indeed!" Siegmeyer boomed, pleased to explain. "The Way of White is not a singular doctrine, but a series of regional denominations. Each worships a different aspect of the divine pantheon. Long ago, they were unified under Lord Gwyn. But after his noble sacrifice to preserve the First Flame, the pantheon fractured. Each kingdom honored a different god."

He gestured toward his own chestplate, where a small, engraved icon shimmered faintly.

"In Catarina, we revere McLoyf, the god of medicine and alcoholic drink, and Caitha, the goddess of tears."

"Huh." Naruto blinked. "I guess that makes Thorolund the worshippers of Allfather Lloyd?"

"Indeed," Siegmeyer said with a slight sigh. "And if it was Thorolund who wronged you, I sympathize. But I've little influence over their branch. Their beliefs… differ."

Naruto smirked. "Don't worry. I already paid back the bastard who scammed me."

Siegmeyer didn't pry. Instead, he nodded solemnly. "Still, if you are open to it, I'd be honored to pass along some teachings from Catarina's denomination."

"You mean… you'll teach me Emit Force?"

"Indeed," Siegmeyer said with a spark of mirth in his voice. "And don't worry, I won't charge you."

"What's the catch?"

"Impress me." Siegmeyer raised his Zweihander and planted it dramatically into the stone. "With your swordsmanship, and the miracle is yours."

Naruto's grin widened. "Oh, it's on."

Even encased in his heavy Catarina armor, Siegmeyer moved with surprising grace—less like a walking fortress and more like a mountain that had learned how to dance. It wasn't arrogance he carried in his posture, but the seasoned ease of a man who had survived enough battles to know the rhythm of combat.

True to his word, the older knight had chosen to match Naruto's disadvantage, wielding his Zweihander with only his dominant arm. A gesture of honor… but also a clear challenge.

"Mmm! Ready yourself, young man. A knight must always be prepared!"

Naruto squared his shoulders and raised his blade, gripping it tight in his left hand. "Then let's see what I've got."

He dropped into a high guard, sword poised above his shoulder like an executioner preparing the final stroke.

Siegmeyer's eyes twinkled behind his helm. "A bold choice!"

Then silence.

The air between them stilled just long enough for the tension to snap.

Naruto lunged.

His Zweihander fell in a clean, vertical arc, the weight of it promising devastation.

CLANG!

Steel kissed steel as Siegmeyer met the strike in perfect form, his sword angled to deflect rather than absorb. The blow slid off his blade, turning Naruto's momentum against him. The younger swordsman faltered, forced to shift his feet and rebalance as Siegmeyer advanced with a measured step, probing for weakness.

Naruto dropped into a low stance, his sword forward like a spear, his body coiled in readiness.

"Ah! Good," Siegmeyer called out mid-motion. "Protect your center, let your weapon guide you. But…"

He moved.

His Zweihander swept in a low arc, faster than it had any right to be given his size and armor. Naruto dodged by a hair's breadth, pivoting and twisting his grip into a horizontal slash to counter.

Siegmeyer caught it. Effortlessly. With one hand.

Naruto's eyes widened. No way…

"Hoh! Strong, indeed! But…"

BANG!

Pain exploded across the side of Naruto's helmet. His vision blurred. He staggered back, disoriented, barely holding onto his weapon.

He hadn't even seen the strike.

Siegmeyer stepped back, giving him space. "The Zwerchhau, lad! A horizontal cut with a twist. Block the blade, shift your grip, and you catch your opponent off guard. It's the follow-through that matters."

Naruto shook his head, trying to clear the ringing. "Wait… I blocked that. How did you hit me?"

Siegmeyer chuckled, voice booming with good cheer. "A block ends a strike, yes, but a swordsman does not stop moving when his blade is stopped. Your defense was too rigid, too final. You must learn to think beyond the first contact."

Naruto exhaled sharply and shifted again, this time dropping into The Fool.

His Zweihander hung lazily at his side, his whole posture open and exposed, like a man who didn't know how to fight.

Siegmeyer tilted his helm curiously. "Oh-ho! A trickster's stance, is it? Well now, this will be fun."

They moved again.

Steel rang across the stone courtyard, each strike a booming echo of timing, weight, and will. Naruto ducked and rolled, turned a parry into a strike, turned a mistake into momentum. But Siegmeyer was always a step ahead—not with speed, but with knowledge. Every movement was calculated, his blade cutting not only through air, but through Naruto's assumptions.

And after an hour of sparring, Naruto dropped to one knee, his Zweihander planted into the ground like a pillar to hold himself upright. His breaths were ragged, his shoulder sore, but his grin stretched wide.

Across from him, Siegmeyer hadn't broken a sweat.

"That was quite the spar, young knight!" the older knight's voice boomed. "Your master must have taught you well."

Naruto took a long swig of his Estus, the warmth sliding down his throat, dulling the ache in his limbs. "He only really showed me the basics... how to swing a sword properly. Weak attack, strong attack... that kind of stuff. And that was with an Astora Straight Sword."

Siegmeyer's gaze drifted to Naruto's Zweihander, noting the subtle reinforcements and wear along the edge. "Ah! So you've found yourself drawn to the greatsword, have you?"

"I guess. Found it while running from skeletons near Firelink. Kinda just felt... right."

"Skeletons in the graveyard? Hoho! Nasty fellows. Tenacious, too." Siegmeyer chuckled. "And you developed your style on your own?"

"Mostly. I had a little help with the fundamentals from a friend, but after that? I just copied moves from the enemies I survived fighting. Like a Black Knight once, watched how he moved and tried to mimic it."

Siegmeyer gave a satisfied nod. "Yes, I saw hints of it in your stance... tight footwork, disciplined grip... all very promising. But..." He tapped the flat of his blade to the ground. "Your cuts were lacking."

"My cuts?"

"Yes. You still think in terms of weak and strong swings, do you not?"

"Yeah, those are kind of the backbone of my technique."

"And there's the problem!" Siegmeyer laughed, raising his blade. "These are base movements, useful for dispatching mindless hollows. But against a living opponent? A clever opponent? You need more. Allow me to show you something."

Naruto straightened, curiosity sparking in his eyes as Siegmeyer stepped forward, his Zweihander now poised like a teaching staff.

"There are three fundamental strikes. The foundation of all proper swordplay. We in Catarina call them the Drei Hauen... The Three Cuts."

He shifted into a classic guard, blade raised high above his shoulder.

"First: the Oberhau. It is the descending cut. Bring your blade down with full weight and intent. This strike smashes through guards and demands respect."

Siegmeyer brought the Zweihander down in a clean arc.

Naruto instinctively took a half-step back.

"Second: the Unterhau. It is the ascending cut." He lowered his stance, blade down and angled forward. "Used to catch your opponent off guard. Slice upward, through armor joints, beneath their defense."

With a twist of his hips, he launched the upward strike. It was fluid, almost elegant—and somehow vicious at the same time.

Naruto's brow furrowed. That was a move he'd never thought to use.

Siegmeyer adjusted again, this time aligning his blade horizontally.

"And lastly... the Mittelhau. The flat cut. Swift, efficient, and meant to flow. It's your fastest strike, perfect for chaining attacks and catching opponents mid-motion."

The horizontal slash came without warning, slicing through the air with shocking speed. No wasted movement.

Then Siegmeyer lowered his sword and turned to Naruto, his expression serious beneath the jovial tone. "These three: Oberhau, Unterhau, and Mittelhau are the root of all true swordsmanship. Everything else is a variation."

He paused, watching Naruto process every movement.

"So... what do you say, young knight?" he asked, smile returning. "Are you ready to learn not just how to swing a blade but how to wield it?"

Naruto exhaled slowly, lifting his hand with a glint in his eye.

Then, suddenly—POOF.

Siegmeyer blinked in surprise as dozens of Naruto clones appeared in a flash, each gripping their own Zweihander, mirroring their original with determined eyes and imperfect stances.

"What is this miracle?!"

"Shadow Clone Jutsu, Sir Siegmeyer! Anything my clones learn, I learn too. Real-time experience."

"Fantastic, truly fantastic!" Siegmeyer boomed, turning slowly to take in the ring of iron-clad warriors. "Then if you can learn so swiftly, I shall teach you the Five Master Cuts… and perhaps a few more I've picked up on my travels!"

Naruto's face lit up with excitement, but then... he paused. Something in his chest tightened. A strange, distant thought surfaced, connecting the moment with something unspoken.

His grin faded into a contemplative look.

"Wait… does this mean I'm kinda your squire?"

Siegmeyer froze, blinking once. Then slowly, he planted his Zweihander into the earth, resting both hands atop the pommel. His tone grew softer, more thoughtful. "A fine question, my boy. I suppose… if a knight takes the time to teach, and a youth takes the time to learn—eagerly, earnestly—then yes. That could be called a squire's bond."

Naruto's throat tightened at that. The word felt... heavier than he expected.

"But," Siegmeyer continued, his voice gaining strength, "titles are just words. A true knight is not judged by what they are called but by what they do. By their heart. Their deeds."

Then, with that characteristic sparkle in his eyes, Siegmeyer extended a hand. "So tell me, Naruto. Would you like to be a squire of this knight of Catarina?"

Naruto stared at the offered hand for a long moment. Then he smiled and shook his head. "I... I'm already the squire of Oscar."

Siegmeyer didn't falter. In fact, his smile grew. "Good," he said, nodding with approval. "A bond between knight and squire is sacred. Not something to be replaced, not even by one such as I."

He tapped his armored chest with a gauntleted hand, pride in his posture. "Then let me be not your master, but your fellow knight. A friend upon the path. A senior, perhaps, but not a lord. I shall guide your blade, Naruto… as a companion."

Naruto's throat felt tight again, but this time for a different reason. He bowed slightly. "In my world… that kind of teacher is called a Sensei."

"Sensei..." Siegmeyer tested the word on his tongue. He smiled. "A fine title. One I shall carry with pride!"

Then, with the same booming joy as always, he swept his Zweihander up into the ready position. "Now then! Let us begin with the first of the Master Cuts!"

The clones mirrored him as best they could, adjusting their grips, aligning their postures.

"The Zornhau!" Siegmeyer roared. "The Wrath Cut!"

Dozens of blades whistled through the air. Some moved too fast, others stumbled. A few clones smacked themselves or each other with the oversized blades.

But Siegmeyer did not correct them harshly. He simply watched. Letting them make their errors. Letting them learn. He smiled, quietly, as one by one the clones began to self-correct.

"That's it," he murmured. "Learn with your body. Understand with your soul."

Then, softly, as his gaze drifted up to the cloud-dappled sky, he whispered under his breath, "Lin… my dear daughter… you wouldn't believe the amazing knight I've met on this strange journey."

The moment passed. He stepped forward once more, lifting his blade high.

"Come now, my boy!" Siegmeyer called out, voice ringing with pride. "The path of mastery waits for no one! Again!"

And together, under the quiet ruins and the flickering sky, a dozen blades danced in unison with each cut stronger than the last.

Naruto returned home from Lordran just as the sun began to set behind the hills. Training with Siegmeyer had been brutal. The knight of Catarina was far stricter as a teacher than his attitude suggested. And yet… Naruto found it fun. There was joy in the challenge, in the sweat and soreness, in earning praise that wasn't hollow.

He collapsed onto his bed, arm limp over the edge, and closed his eyes.

The next moment, they opened.

No dreams. No tossing. No rest. Just a seamless blink, as if his sleep had been edited out of his life. He blinked again, rubbing at his face, his body strangely refreshed but his mind left hanging in that limbo where sleep usually weaves dreams. It was like touching the void and coming back unchanged.

But there was no time to dwell on it.

Light crept into the windows, golden and clean, and while the rest of the household shared breakfast, Naruto stayed inside the storage room, hovering over a makeshift cauldron he'd hammered together with Andre.

The contents inside boiled gently. An alchemical tonic laced with herbs, minerals, and rare reagents he'd gathered from Lordran. Flowers that glowed under moonlight. Ash from a burnt hollow. A drop of Estus. And finally, held between his fingers, the soul of the hawk.

He withdrew the soul drop from his inventory.

A soft, violet glow pulsed within it, like a heartbeat in a cage.

Naruto dropped it into the cauldron.

FWOOM.

Light surged from the liquid, casting shadows across the walls. The mixture hissed, turned clear as glass, then shimmered with feather-thin ripples of gold. Naruto stared at it—this was it.

He lowered his head into the tonic, submerging his face. The moment his eyes opened beneath the surface, the world snapped away.

Naruto opened his eyes and found himself not in darkness but in design.

Beneath his feet was a vast grid of pale, glowing lines stretching endlessly in all directions. A soul-world, patterned like an invisible weave of fate. Above him, blackness. Around him, nothing except motion.

Silhouettes danced across the glowing mesh. They twitched and shimmered like old thoughts trying to remember themselves. This was not a place of body but a battlefield of the soul.

A sudden screech tore through the emptiness.

A shadow streaked across the grid like a blade of light.

The hawk.

Towering, spectral, and angry.

It swooped toward Naruto in a blur, talons outstretched, its body shimmering with the burn of a soul trying to resist integration. This wasn't a tame spirit, nor a noble totem offering power. It wanted to kill him.

But Naruto didn't hesitate.

In this realm, he understood. Magic had taught him this. Soul transmutation, energy flow, the push and pull of essence. Here, he was his chakra… pure, condensed will shaped like a boy.

The hawk dove, shrieking. Naruto flicked his wrist and a pulse of magic erupted from his core like a shockwave, disrupting the gridlines beneath his feet and sending resonance through the soulscape.

The hawk flinched mid-flight, but didn't stop.

Naruto shifted, his hand weaving a spellform instinctively.

The soul arrow struck the hawk.

Its talons passed through his shoulder—not slicing flesh, but rending his will. Pain unlike anything physical tore through him. But Naruto stepped into the pain, grabbed the hawk by its wings, and pushed—not physically, but with dominance of will.

The grid responded. It pulsed beneath them both.

Naruto roared. "You're mine now!"

The hawk shrieked again, but faltered as its form began to unravel. Light fracturing along its wings, its soul bleeding.

And then Naruto pulled.

Not into his hands, not into his heart but into his eyes.

The hawk's power rushed forward, a spiraling torrent of primal clarity and sky-born precision. His eyes burned, searing with white fire and for a moment, he saw everything. Every line in the grid, every silhouette in motion, every memory flickering in the dark.

The hawk was gone.

But not dead.

Its essence lived behind his pupils.

Naruto fell to one knee, chest heaving in the empty grid. He could feel it now: his eyes were no longer his alone. They had changed.

He stood, looking up into the black sky above the grid.

The silhouettes watched from the edges of memory, silent and still now.

And Naruto whispered, "I see you."

Then, the world shattered into light as a dream consumed the boy.

When man first saw a bird, you think he saw more than wings.

He saw freedom.

Not the kind written about in scrolls or promised by shinobi villages, but something older… more raw and untamed. Freedom without walls. Freedom without rules. A life measured not in footsteps, but in wind.

And now, you are that bird.

No… not just a bird.

A hawk.

You are born in silence, from a shell of memory and instinct. Your first breath isn't air… it's altitude. You don't think in words anymore. You think in thermals. In the curve of a wind current and the shape of warm air rising off stone.

You remember the rhythm of wings.

You remember the sky so endless, it makes names feel small.

You remember what it feels like to look down at the crawling shapes below, not out of arrogance, but out of distance. The way they move. Trapped by their roads and walls, carrying the weight of earth on their backs.

You remember hunting.

Not out of anger or bloodlust, but as a kind of truth. The moment of stillness before a dive. The mathematical curve of descent. The clarity that comes when instinct sharpens everything into purpose.

You live a whole life in that body.

You love the wind. You love the sky. You love the solitude.

But you never stop wondering if that freedom has a cost.

Are you free… because you are alone?

Is this sky yours… or are you just borrowing it?

There's something lonely in always looking down.

And then the arrow.

It comes not with sound, but with silence.

No warning. No shout. Just shock.

It pierces not just your body but the illusion.

Pain is a loud teacher.

You fall.

The sky you loved so deeply becomes the enemy. Cold and fast and unfeeling. The wind, once your cradle, now screams past like betrayal.

As you tumble, you don't feel fear.

You feel… understanding.

So this is what it means, you think, to be shot down. To be hunted. To be seen not as free, but as a target.

And as the ground rushes up like an answer to a question you hadn't asked, you remember yourself… your real self.

Naruto.

And you realize something else: Birds may fly because they're born with wings.

But humans?

You fight to fly.

You dream of it.

You make yourself be able to fly.

And in that, maybe you're freer than birds will ever be.

"Sasuke, could you tell Naruto to come downstairs to eat?" Tsunami asked, wiping her hands on her apron.

Sasuke gave his signature grunt. "Hn."

He trudged up the stairs like a man going to war. As he reached Naruto's room, a horrific smell hit him square in the face. He recoiled like he'd been punched in the sinuses.

"What the hell… did something die in here?!" Sasuke gagged, yanking the door open.

A wave of noxious, glowing fumes rolled out like a bad science fair project gone feral.

Inside, Naruto was sprawled across the floor like a fried fish, head dunked in what looked like Tsunami's favorite soup pot. His hair was soaked, his eyes wide open.

"Naruto! What the hell?" Sasuke coughed, covering his mouth with his shirt. "You trying to summon the dead with potpourri and poor life choices?!"

Naruto didn't move. Instead, he slowly turned his head, pupils dilated like dinner plates. "Sasuke…" he whispered. "I unlocked… my dōjutsu…"

Sasuke blinked. "You what?"

"I lived a life… as a bird."

"…I'm sorry, what?"

"A hawk," Naruto continued, eyes shimmering. "I flew. I understood. And now… I see everything. Your chakra… it's a persuasive… blue-violet aura. Like blueberry jam… with… angst."

Sasuke stared for a long moment, slammed the door shut and walked back downstairs.

"Naruto's sleeping in," he said flatly.

"Oh," Sakura replied. "Everything okay?"

Sasuke nodded. "Yeah. He just needs an hour. And probably an exorcist."

"Well, tell him there's a special sparring session this afternoon," Kakashi said, though his voice lacked its usual laziness. There was weight in his words. A quiet edge.

He turned away, but his mind stayed upstairs on the boy who was no longer just a boy.

Something had changed.

And soon, everyone would see it. Not in a grand speech. Not in declarations or fanfare. But in steel meeting steel. In a clash where instincts were tested, and the truth laid bare.

This wasn't just training. It was a reckoning.

Because when the sun reached its peak and the circle was drawn, the question wouldn't be who was stronger. It would be whether the Copy Ninja of Konoha still had the strength to take back what he once held… from the knight who returned from a land where even death had died.

Author's Note: I don't know if you guys enjoy me rambling about lore and choices, but I'm doing it anyway because I love building this world.

1 - The Hyūga Clan, Bows, and Horses

So, just to be clear... this is fanfic-original lore. But let me explain why I added it.

The Hyūga clan needed an expansion. Canon mostly treats them as a Gentle Fist + Byakugan combo, and while that's cool, it lacks historical depth. I wanted to bring in the idea of evolution in warfare, something you don't see often in Naruto fics or even the main story.

Let me give you a real-world example. During Japan's Warring States period (Sengoku Jidai), samurai weren't just katana-swinging duelists. They were masters of the yumi bow and horseback combat. Archery was the primary battlefield weapon—far deadlier than a kunai or shuriken. But over time, with the rise of firearms and close-range martial arts, archery faded out.

So, in my version of the Naruto world, the Hyūga once rode with horses and longbows, striking from a distance. But as ninja combat shifted to stealth and close-quarters, they adapted—dropping the bow in favor of Gentle Fist. That's why Hinata, as the heir, still learns some of these "lost" arts. It's tradition. It's legacy.

Now a question for you: Would you want to see Hinata sign a horse summoning contract and evolve into a mounted archer?Because I think it could lead to some amazing growth for her, visually and thematically.

Also, how did you guys like the Hyūga clan lore expansion? I'm really curious.

2 - Naruto's Greatbow: The Drake-Slayer

Yep, it's an original weapon. If you want a visual reference, search Golem Greatbow Elden Ring. That's basically what I imagined.

But why a greatbow instead of a regular bow?

Simple, I wanted Naruto's weapon to feel special. It's meant to slay lightning drakes. This isn't your standard tool... it's a weapon of myth, of legend. Forged by Rickert of Vinheim, built to punch holes through monsters that fly through storms.

Let's talk stats:

Height: 6 feet tall (Naruto's bow is literally bigger than Kurenai)

Draw Weight: 5 tons (no, that's not a typo)

Arrows: Actually metal javelins

Speed: Fires at Mach speeds

Bonus Perks: He can attach explosive tags, Wind Style: Vacuum Blade, or even soul-empowered modifications.

So yeah. Naruto with a bow isn't just a ranged ninja, he's a battlefield threat.

3- Astoran Boxing advanced style or Poise Breaker: This is a game mechanic I've novelized in a similar way to how I did Focality and Hawkeyes.

First, what is poise?

In Dark Souls, poise is a hidden stat that determines how resistant you are to being staggered or stun-locked when taking hits. High poise means you can keep swinging through attacks without flinching. Low poise? You get interrupted, locked down, and combo'd into death. If you manage to damage someone fast or hard enough to break their poise; they stagger, leaving them wide open. That's your chance to hit again. And again. And again.

Now, I wanted Naruto to obtain something that doesn't just tank hits like traditional poise, but something that exploits it. A style built not on withstanding force, but on shattering it.

So what inspired this?

Mantis shrimp.

Yep. One of the most absurd, overpowered creatures in the ocean. These tiny monsters punch with so much speed (up to 23 m/s in 0.002 seconds) that they create cavitation bubbles essentially pockets of low pressure that collapse with explosive force. We're talking shockwaves, sonic booms, and even bursts of light from the heat generated.

And I thought… could I make Naruto punch like that?

Then came the question: "Can shockwaves actually stunlock someone?"

Answer: Yes.

Real-world blast waves and concussion studies show that shockwaves can disrupt a person's nervous system, balance, and motor control. It scrambles your ability to move, react, even think for a few seconds. That's a perfect opening to break a target's poise in a fight.

So I asked myself: what would that look like in the air? What would it feel like?

That's when the fictional logic clicked. If Naruto could accelerate his limbs fast enough using chakra, he wouldn't need to touch the enemy. The shockwave would do the work rupturing air like a mantis shrimp does water. Creating a vacuum, then collapsing it, causing a concussive blast that short-circuits your enemy's ability to respond.

So there you go that's the logic behind Poise Breaker.

4- On the Denominations of the Way of White and the Gods of Catarina

Full transparency: what you're about to read isn't official Dark Souls lore—but that's the beauty of Dark Souls, isn't it? FromSoftware created a world so rich in mystery, ambiguity, and scattered fragments that the lore almost invites players to become archivists, theologians, and storytellers in their own right. So let me pull back the curtain and explain some of the worldbuilding expansions I've added in this story, which are rooted in the item descriptions and world atmosphere we all know and love.

The Denominations of the Way of White

Let's begin with a simple item:

Emit Force – Dark Souls IOutland miracle, foreign to the Way of White. Emits an expanding shockwave orb. Considered an alternative branching of Force.

Now contrast that with its origin miracle:

Force – Dark Souls ICommon miracle among cleric knights. Create shockwave. This quickly-acting miracle inflicts no damage, but propels foes back and defends against arrows. Cleric knights use this miracle when charging into enemy mobs.

What stood out to me here was a single word: common. Force is a standard-issue miracle among cleric knights. The foot soldiers of the Way of White, a faith tied closely to the worship of Gwyn. But then Emit Force is considered foreign to that Way, even though it's clearly derived from the same fundamental principle.

That suggests branching. Divergence. Interpretation.

Denominations.

In our world, religions often split over doctrine and praxis. Christianity, in particular, birthed multiple denominations such as Catholicism and Protestantism due to differing views on authority, ritual, and divine truth. The same seems to happen here—Emit Force is the Protestant to Force's Catholic. A variant interpretation of a shared miracle. And the fact that it's described as an outland miracle only reinforces the idea that the Way of White may have fractured after Gwyn linked the First Flame. His absence left behind a pantheon without clear central leadership, and the followers of his light likely responded in different ways across regions and cultures. The miracles remained, but their meaning changed.

5- The Gods of Catarina: McLoyf and Caitha

Now let's move to Catarina, the land of round armor, honest hearts, and emit force.Why did I choose McLoyf and Caitha as the primary deities of Catarina?

Let's look at the evidence.

Emit Force – Dark Souls IIITraditional miracle of Catarina. Releases a shockwave in front. The people of lands known for festivity and drink are typically outspoken. One can be sure that they will not bottle their emotions, instead venting anger and the like with confidence.

Here, Emit Force is no longer foreign... it's traditional. Catarina owns this miracle now. So what god would best suit a land described as festive, drink-loving, and emotionally honest?

McLoyf, the God of Medicine and Drink.

But what of Caitha?

Blue Tearstone Ring – Dark Souls IIA ring set with a blue tearstone. Reacts when the wearer is in danger, temporarily increasing its wearer's physical defense power. Caitha, goddess of tears, mourns those who have lost loved ones by shedding pure tears of blue. It is said that the stone set in this ring is one such tear.

Now add this:

Blue Tearstone Ring – Dark Souls IThe rare gem called tearstone has the uncanny ability to sense imminent death. This blue tearstone from Catarina boosts the defence of its wearer when in danger.

The DS1 version outright says this tearstone is from Catarina. And we know, from the game files, that Siegmeyer—who is like the face of Catarina—wears a Blue Tearstone Ring. That ties Caitha directly to the culture and faith of the land.

So between McLoyf and Caitha, we get a balance of healing, festivity, mourning, and emotional expression—traits that define the people of Catarina. Their miracles, their aesthetic, and their personalities all point back to these two gods.

6- Historical and Cultural Parallels: Germany and Denominations

Why only two gods for Catarina?

Because real-world inspirations matter. The design of Catarina draws heavily from Germanic mythology and medieval German culture. Siegmeyer's name, armor, and even his weapon (Zweihander) all point to a Germanic root:

Sieg is German for victory

Meyer is a German surname derived from meier, meaning leaseholder

Siegmeyer's name may be inspired by that of Siegfried, a hero of Germanic mythology. Like Siegmeyer, Siegfried has family members whose names begin with Sieg, including his father Siegmund and mother Sieglinde.

And Germany, as you might know, is a land with two major religious denominations:

Catholicism

Protestantism

So it felt appropriate that the Kingdom of Catarina would mirror this structure. Two gods. Two perspectives. Not a sprawling pantheon, but a dualistic faith structure that reflects both cultural inspiration and religious evolution.

7- What Did Siegmeyer Teach Naruto?

Let's talk swordsmanship. Specifically, what Siegmeyer of Catarina has been drilling into Naruto's skull because let's be honest, that man may laugh like a jolly onion, but his blade work is no joke.

The Foundation: The Drei Hauen – The Three Basic Cuts

Siegmeyer began by introducing Naruto to the fundamental forms of historical swordplay, inspired by Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA):

Oberhau (High Cut): A descending strike from above, typically diagonal.

Mittelhau (Middle Cut): A horizontal cut, quick and versatile.

Unterhau (Low Cut): An ascending cut, often used to break through defenses or intercept attacks.

These three are the building blocks of real swordsmanship.

Then Came the Mastery: The Fünf Meisterhauen – The Five Master Cuts

This is where things get spicy. The Five Master Cuts are legendary techniques from the German school of swordsmanship and yes, I went full HEMA for this because Seigmeyer is from the fantasy equivalent of Germany.

Zornhau (Wrath Cut): A diagonal power strike meant to counter an incoming attack with superior force.

Krumphau (Crooked Cut): A deceptive attack aimed at the opponent's hands or weapon, designed to destroy their guard and leave them open.

Zwerchau (Thwart Cut): A horizontal swing that counters high-line strikes.

Schielhau (Squinting Cut): A feinting strike delivered at an angle with a twist of the body.

Scheitelhau (Parting Cut): A brutal vertical downward strike meant to split guards down the middle.

And Naruto? He's learning them all. With Shadow Clones multiplying his training speed, he's absorbing years of sword knowledge in days. Combine that with his stat buffs and you've got a shinobi-knight hybrid who can duel hollows and ninja alike.

You know what's absolutely hilarious? Dark Souls Naruto, in just the Wave Arc, has a deeper bag of tricks than canon Naruto. I'm not even talking about raw power—just tools, skills, and breadth of knowledge.

And here's the best part: he's only just getting started. I've got arcs planned that will take him to places no canon counterpart could reach—both in power and narrative depth. Yes, he's going to be powerful. Overpowered, even. But don't worry, I'm not handing him a golden path. Every strength has a cost. Every fight going forward? High stakes, high consequences.

Now I want to hear from you.

How strong do you think current Dark Souls Naruto is right now? On a scale from 1 to 10, how hard would a Naruto vs Kakashi fight be?

I've got my own notes on how this spar is going to play out, but I want to see if anyone can guess the real stakes coming up.

Let me know what you think!