Naruto: The Chosen Undead-Chapter 137 - no. Dark Souls

Kurenai placed a hand on Hinata's shoulder, firm but reassuring. "Good," she said. "It should matter. You do not have to become numb to be strong."

A little to the side, Kiba was pacing like a caged animal, his arms crossed tightly and his jaw clenched.

"I mean... they deserved it, right?" Kiba muttered, half to himself, half to Akamaru, who whined quietly at his feet. "They were scum. No big deal."

"You can tell yourself that," Kurenai said gently, not letting him hide. "But you do not have to lie to me. It is okay to hate how it feels. That is how you know you are still human."

Shino simply sat there, silent as ever, his expression unreadable behind the high collar of his jacket.

"I do not regret it," Shino said in his usual calm tone. "However... I will remember it. Each life taken is a weight we carry. Some heavier than others."

Sasuke watched all this unfold, the way Kurenai handled her team not by forcing them to be strong, but by allowing them the space to carry their burdens properly. It was... admirable. And it made him realize how different every sensei truly was.

"Is something wrong, Sasuke?"

"Do not mind me," the young Uchiha said. "I am just seeing how other teams handle their first kills."

"And how did Kakashi handle yours?"

"He did not have to do much," Sasuke said with a shrug. "Naruto and I were not exactly affected. Only Sakura was... and even then, she recovered fast. Kakashi got lucky."

"Sounds like it," Kurenai said, her smile deepening with a quiet humor. "Maybe I should steal you away, then. Make my job a little easier with a prodigy like you."

"Hn."

"Come on, sensei!" Kiba piped up, slapping a hand against his chest. "Why do you need some brooding genius when you have got me? I am way cooler!" Akamaru barked once, as if to agree, his tail wagging proudly.

Kurenai chuckled and reached out to ruffle Kiba's hair, making the boy squawk in protest. "I would not trade you for anything, Kiba," she said warmly. "Team 8 would not be the same without you."

Hinata gave a small, shy smile at that, while Shino adjusted his glasses, his silence somehow louder than any words.

Just then, Tsunami appeared, carrying a small tray with a steaming bowl on it. "Sasuke-kun," she said with a gentle smile. "Would you mind taking this to Naruto?"

"Yeah. Sure," Sasuke said, taking the bowl from her hands. The warmth of it bled into his fingers.

As he turned to leave, he caught a glimpse of the others, huddled close, leaning into each other's warmth and presence. He walked toward the door, enjoying the fleeting peace while it lasted, knowing full well that tomorrow, their hard training would start, and when it did, he would have to give everything he had. Because peace, for shinobi, was never free.

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The forest was a world of shadows, the heavy canopy above swallowing most of the moonlight. Only scattered beams slipped through, painting broken patterns across the damp earth.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

Sasuke moved like a whisper between the trees, guided by the rhythmic rustle of movement ahead. When he broke through the last thicket, he froze.

Hundreds of shadow clones filled the clearing, their hands weaving through half-formed seals, their faces grim with focus. In the center of the swirling chaos stood Naruto, soaked with sweat, hair plastered to his forehead, summoning new clones without pause whenever one flickered out.

Sasuke's mouth twitched in something close to a smile. Idiot.

Naruto's head snapped up, eyes lighting up like a kid spotting candy. "Oh, hey! Ramen!" he said cheerfully, snatching a steaming bowl from one of the clones like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Sasuke leaned against a tree, arms crossed, watching as Naruto slurped loudly. "So... how is the training?"

"Well, I can keep the clones going, but... uh, anything past that? I am gonna need Hinata's help to get the chakra flow stuff right."

"I could do it."

Naruto paused mid-slurp, blinking up at him.

"I have memorized the chakra flow patterns from all your jutsu with my Sharingan," Sasuke explained, as if talking about the weather. "I can force your chakra points to adjust faster. If you want, but I am definitely not on the level of the Hyuga."

Naruto gave a short laugh. "Sounds incredibly dangerous. So obviously, I am in. Thanks, man."

Sasuke dipped his head in a brief nod, but Naruto's next words caught him off guard.

"You want anything for it?" Naruto asked, setting his bowl aside. "Armor? A new sword? I could probably find something decent..."

Sasuke parted his lips to answer, then hesitated. This was not a transaction. It never had been.

"I do not think friends trade favors like that," Sasuke said at last, his voice rough around the edges.

Without warning, Naruto lunged forward, grabbing Sasuke into a bear hug that lifted him clear off the ground.

"Put me down, dobe!"

"Just enjoy the good moment, teme," Naruto laughed, holding him tighter.

Sasuke grumbled, but did not resist as much as he could have. Then, voice low, almost guilty, he said, "Though... it might not stay a good moment after what I say next."

Naruto hummed, noncommittal, still not letting go.

"I copied your swordsmanship," Sasuke admitted, each word heavier than the last. "I used it. In real fights."

Naruto finally set him down, slowly. His face was unreadable in the moonlight.

"...Yeah, figured as much when you said you knew my jutsu," Naruto said, rubbing his temple. "So why bring it up now?"

Sasuke hesitated. "Because... when you offered me a reward, I realized you still thought there was a line between us. Allies, not friends. And when I saw how happy you got when I called you a friend, it felt wrong. Like I was stealing something behind your back. I did not want that between us."

Naruto stared at him for a long moment. Then he sighed long and loud, ruffling his own hair like he was trying to shake off the irritation.

"Dude. I want to break your legs," Naruto said dryly. "Do you know how long it took me to learn that sword stuff? And you just, what, blinked at it once and now it is yours?"

Sasuke did not argue. He just stood there, letting Naruto be mad. "If it helps... I have no idea what half the moves mean. I can mimic them, sure. But I do not know why you do them. It is like dancing to music you cannot hear."

Naruto gave him a tired, sideways smile. "Good. Let's keep it that way for a while."

"I am serious, though," Sasuke said quietly. "I am sorry."

Naruto just grinned wider. "You said it. I heard it. And I already forgave you, dumbass. That is what friends are for."

He clapped his hands together with a loud smack.

"Now come on! Less crying, more training!"

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A few hours passed, and finally, Naruto dispelled the last of the clones. He stood still, closing his eyes, processing the flood of memories and knowledge. With his increased intelligence, the assimilation was faster and smoother than before. His eyes shot open just in time to see a kunai flying toward him from Sasuke's direction.

With a sharp inhale, Naruto's hand snapped up, catching the kunai between two fingers. "What are you doing, teme?"

"Let's see how much you have actually grown. A fight."

Naruto twirled the kunai in his hand, a grin spreading across his face. "You really want to get your ass kicked right now? I have got somewhere to be."

"So you are admitting I am stronger."

Naruto stopped, turning on his heel. His eyes glinted in the pale light. "Fine. I will make this quick. Beat your ass and still have time to meet Beatrice."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the mention of the name but chose not to ask. He watched as Naruto tossed the kunai into the air. The blade gleamed briefly before vanishing into the dark sky.

Both boys made the Seal of Confrontation.

The moment the kunai hit the ground, they moved.

Naruto surged forward, his body propelled by wind chakra in his armor that reduced air resistance. In a blink, he snatched the falling kunai and hurled it toward Sasuke with every ounce of strength he had. The kunai whistled through the air, its speed so intense that it ignited mid-flight, flames trailing behind it.

Sasuke's eyes widened. "Shit." He activated the Body Flicker Technique just in time to avoid the projectile. The kunai tore through a tree, embedding itself deep into the trunk with a deafening crack. The force of the throw sent splinters flying, and the tree groaned as if on the verge of collapse.

"Dangerous much?" Sasuke said, reappearing behind Naruto.

"You want me to hold back?"

"I figured you already were," Sasuke said, pressing a kunai to the back of Naruto's head. "I do not see that Zweihander of yours in play."

Naruto smirked, raising his talisman. "Warming up."

A sudden shockwave erupted from him, the Force miracle. Sasuke's instincts screamed at him, and he flickered back just as the shockwave tore through the clearing, flattening nearby bushes and sending dirt flying into the air.

Naruto hoisted the Zweihander onto his shoulder, the massive blade resting easily against his back. The moonlight glinted off its surface, making it look even more imposing.

"Ready now?"

Sasuke held the kunai, lightning chakra dancing on it.

"So, what is that little thing going to do?"

Sasuke hurled the kunai at Naruto, the blade cutting through the cold night air like a whisper of death. Naruto raised the Zweihander, its massive frame acting as a shield as the kunai clanged harmlessly off it, the sound ringing out into the still forest.

The kunai ricocheted into the air, and Sasuke caught it mid-spin without missing a beat. He twirled it around his fingers with a flick of his wrist and sent it flying again, this time with a snap of precision that made Naruto's eyes narrow.

Naruto raised his sword again, expecting the kunai to follow a straight trajectory. But just before impact, it struck another kunai Sasuke had thrown earlier, changing direction in an instant. The blade zipped past Naruto's shoulder, grazing the steel plates of his armor with a harsh clang before embedding itself into a tree.

"Oh, you think that will do it?"

Sasuke did not answer. Instead, he hurled two more kunai in rapid succession. One struck the flat side of the first, causing it to bounce upward, while the second ricocheted off the trunk of a tree, creating an unnatural angle as it curved toward Naruto's back.

Naruto twisted on instinct, the metal plates of his armor taking the brunt of the blow as another loud clang echoed through the night.

"Tch," Naruto muttered as he deflected a third kunai with the Zweihander's edge, sending sparks flying into the dark. "Kunai tricks, teme? That is just lame."

Sasuke smirked, his Sharingan gleaming as he launched another kunai, this time ricocheting it off three different trees. It whizzed toward Naruto's side, aiming for the weak point in his armor beneath his armpit. But Naruto had already anticipated it. He shifted his stance, allowing the kunai to scrape harmlessly off the metal plate covering his ribs.

"Nice try," Naruto said, brushing off the scuff with a swipe of his gauntlet. "But this armor is not just for show, you know."

Sasuke did not respond. Instead, he blurred through a series of hand seals, slamming his palm into the ground. Sparks of blue light exploded from the earth as lightning chakra shot outward, racing toward the kunai embedded in the dirt. The chakra crackled violently, connecting each kunai to the next and creating a glowing web of electricity.

Lightning Style: Electro Web!

Naruto could feel the weight of the jutsu bearing down on him. The arcs of lightning hissed and spat, burning the grass beneath them. His movements were restricted. Dodging in any direction meant risking a painful shock.

"Oh, a new jutsu?" he mused, his eyes narrowing as he calculated his options.

"Yeah, Kakashi showed me this while you were out cold for three days," Sasuke said coolly.

Without warning, he unleashed a massive fireball, the blaze roaring to life and collapsing over Naruto like a burning dome.

For a brief second, Sasuke allowed himself a small grin of triumph.

Then he felt it, an overwhelming presence breathing down the back of his neck, suffocating like the heat of a dragon's breath. His instincts flared, and he barely managed to execute a substitution jutsu as Naruto's fist crashed into the log that replaced him, shattering it into splinters.

"When did you get out of the web?!"

"Right after you threw the third kunai," Naruto said. "The lightning chakra on the first two was a dead giveaway. I knew the third one would complete the trap, so I got out before you noticed."

"But I did not see you leave," Sasuke said, still trying to piece it together.

Naruto grinned, flickering into Sasuke's personal space faster than his Sharingan could track. "Because I am faster than your eyes."

Sasuke's instincts kicked in, and he jumped back just as Naruto brought the Zweihander down in a diagonal arc. The massive blade sliced through the air with deadly precision, closing the distance Sasuke had tried to create.

With no time to think, Sasuke raised his kunai to parry the blow, but Naruto's raw strength overwhelmed him. The force of the strike knocked Sasuke off balance, and he was forced to release the broken kunai to avoid being cleaved in two. He hopped back, narrowly avoiding the follow-up slash as Naruto raised the Zweihander into a high guard. Breathing hard, Sasuke wiped the sweat from his brow. "Got a spare sword?"

With a smirk, he tossed Sasuke the claymore.

Sasuke caught it, immediately settling into the Fool's Guard stance, blade pointed downward, body angled defensively.

Naruto mirrored him, adjusting his stance. "You ready?"

They moved simultaneously. Sasuke lunged, the claymore slicing through the night air as he aimed for a cut to Naruto's side. But Naruto anticipated the move. He stepped inside Sasuke's strike zone, twisting his body as he redirected the attack with a clean parry. Their blades clanged together, the sound echoing through the forest like a bell.

Naruto shifted his weight and countered with a quick slice aimed at Sasuke's wrist. Sasuke tried to block, but Naruto's superior strength knocked the claymore from his grip. The weapon tumbled to the ground, and before Sasuke could react, Naruto's Zweihander was at his neck, its cold steel pressing lightly against his skin.

"I win," Naruto said, a triumphant grin plastered on his face.

"Fine. You win."

"Music to my ears."

"Don't let it go to your head," Sasuke muttered. "You only won because I used swordsmanship I barely even understand."

"Then let's fix that."

"Hn?"

"You already copied the moves," Naruto said, flashing a toothy grin. "All you are missing is the knowledge behind them. I will teach you."

Sasuke hesitated. "I don't even have a proper sword."

Naruto simply pointed to the claymore resting in Sasuke's hands.

"Seems a little unfair. You are teaching me swordsmanship and handing me a sword that is way too strong for a freeloader."

Naruto shrugged. "Friends help each other, don't they?"

A brief silence settled between them, heavy but not uncomfortable. Sasuke broke it with a quiet question. "What does swordsmanship mean to you?"

"I don't know if I can put it into words," he said slowly. "But... I died for it. Over and over again. And every time I got back up, it meant something."

Sasuke said nothing, hearing Naruto's words as a metaphor for hard work and sacrifice, not knowing Naruto had literally died for it. "Then I owe you something just as real," Sasuke said finally. "Not because I have to. Because I want to."

Naruto gave him a curious look. "Alright. What are you offering?"

Sasuke tilted his head up, gazing through the tangle of branches at the scattering of stars above. "Did you know," he said, "that the Great Fireball Jutsu is part of the Uchiha's coming-of-age tradition? We don't call someone a real adult until they can master it."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah." Sasuke's voice softened. "I learned it when I was six. Spent weeks burning my lips raw... just so my father would look at me differently."

Naruto's chest tightened at the thought. "You are offering to teach me that?"

"If you want it," Sasuke said simply. "It is not much compared to what you are giving me, but... it is important to us."

Naruto hesitated, a dozen excuses bubbling up. He already had a fireball of sorts through his pyromancy flame, but that was different. With his cursed hand, the idea of reclaiming his own version of fire tugged at him. And besides, the offer sparked a new curiosity: what would happen if he fused fire chakra with pyromancy? Maybe he could create something more... demonic.

"Yeah," he said, smiling. "I want to learn."

"Good." Sasuke turned, picking up the empty bowl Naruto had abandoned. "Let's head back. Your lizard's probably trying to eat the silverware... again."

Naruto hesitated. "Actually... I am not coming home for a few days."

"Why?"

"Training," Naruto said simply. "Serious stuff. I need you to look after Oscar until I am back."

Sasuke gave a small, decisive nod. No hesitation.

"You want to know where I am going?"

Sasuke waved a hand over his shoulder. "Don't care. Just come back alive, idiot. I am not finished beating you yet."

Naruto grinned, turning his back to the path ahead.

"Like that is ever gonna happen," he called over his shoulder, his laughter fading into the night as he disappeared into the cursed lands of Lordran.

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[ Personal Note: First off, thanks a ton to all of you for sticking with this story. Seriously, you guys are awesome. Now, if you're interested in supporting me on P@treon, let me just say that over there, I post these massive 5k-word Chapters. But heads up, if you're jumping to P@treon, you'll need to start from Chapter 65, since that's where this Chapter lines up with the content there.

To everyone here just reading along, please don't forget to leave a comment! Honestly, your comments make my day, and they let me know you're as invested in this story as I am. So yeah, thanks again, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day!