Naruto: The Chosen Undead

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Chapter 123

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Naruto gritted his teeth, his breath ragged as he tightened his grip on the Zweihander. Fighting this thing was maddening. Each time he swung, the creature dissolved into the shadows of the dense forest, its vine-like limbs whipping out from unseen angles. The vines lashed at the ground on either side of him, gouging deep grooves into the dirt, their speed and power enough to keep him constantly on edge.

The thing was tough, too—its sinewy, plant-like body absorbed blows that would have cleaved through stone. As one of its vines shot toward his neck, Naruto sidestepped, twisting his body to avoid the strike. The vine coiled around his Zweihander instead, and Naruto seized the opportunity. He pulled with all his might, dragging the creature forward and into his range. With a roar, he brought the massive blade down in a devastating arc, the steel biting deep and cleaving off the top portion of its humanoid form.

Naruto barely had a moment to catch his breath before the creature's remains began to writhe. Vines and bushes flailed like thrashing serpents, the severed parts moving as though alive. He stumbled back, quickly equipping the talisman into his palm and unleashing the Force Miracle. A burst of white energy exploded outward, shoving the creature's writhing mass away and buying him a precious few seconds.

Suddenly, a hole began forming in the dirt behind him. A small shower of earth erupted as Oscar, his crystal lizard companion, clawed his way through the ground, dragging the drake sword tied to his tail. The lizard chirped triumphantly as he emerged, his tiny claws kicking up more dirt with each movement.

Naruto let out a breath of relief. "Good job, buddy," he said, snatching up the drake sword. Its weight felt comforting in his hands, a promise of power.

But there was no time to celebrate. The legs were retreating deeper into the forest. The sound of splashing water echoed through the trees as it fled.

"Oh, no, you don't," Naruto growled, taking off after it.

The forest path sloped downward, the moss underfoot growing slick with moisture. The creature's gnarled legs stumbled forward in an awkward gait, but Naruto was faster. Closing the distance, he swung the drake sword in a wide arc, bisecting the creature's legs. The severed limbs tumbled to the ground, but instead of blood, they dissolved into a writhing mass of foliage, their forms unraveling into a tangle of vines and bushes.

"What are you?" Naruto muttered, his brow furrowed. He glanced around, expecting a soul drop to materialize, but there was nothing.

His thoughts were interrupted by a change in the air. A chill wind swept through the area, carrying the scent of damp earth and faintly sweet flowers. The trees began to thin, and Naruto stepped out onto a narrow, windswept cliffside.

Before him stretched a breathtaking yet ominous view. The jagged cliffs fell away into a swirling abyss of fog, the mist rolling like waves on an unseen sea. Small clusters of glowing flowers dotted the cliffside, their gentle light illuminating the rocky path ahead. Beyond the fog, Naruto could just make out the faint silhouette of a bridge-like structure spanning a deep chasm. Above it loomed the shadow of something enormous, a creature with broad, fluttering wings. It hovered silently, its form indistinct, like a ghost haunting the horizon.

Wow...

But his wonder was short-lived.

A sharp whoosh cut through the air as a vine shot out of the fog. Naruto barely had time to react, hacking at the vine with a desperate swing of the drake sword. He severed one tendril, but another wrapped around his waist, yanking him forward.

The monster burst from the mist, its "mouth" parting as though bushes were peeling away to reveal a writhing abyss of inky darkness. Naruto's instincts screamed at him to act, and he reached into his pouch, pulling out a firebomb.

"Eat this!" he snarled, shoving the bomb into the creature's maw.

The explosion was instantaneous. Flames erupted from the creature's head, setting its vines ablaze. The force of the blast freed Naruto, sending him sprawling onto the rocky path.

Gasping for air, he scrambled to his feet, ready to press the attack, but the sound of hissing stopped him cold.

From the darkness, another figure emerged. It was identical to the first, its twisted, plant-like body shrouded in shadow.

Naruto realized the horrifying truth. The first creature had faked its death, retreating to lure him into a trap.

The monsters flanked him, their vine-like limbs writhing in anticipation. Way of Focality slowed the world around him as he analyzed their movements, his mind racing for a solution.

The creatures attacked simultaneously, their vines slicing through the air with deadly precision. Naruto grabbed Oscar, rolling to the side just as the vines struck the ground, carving deep gashes into the stone.

He backed up onto a small rise, the glowing flowers casting their pale light on the scene. The creatures advanced, their steps slow and deliberate. Naruto's foot brushed against the edge of the cliff, and he felt the ground shift beneath him.

Suddenly, the dirt gave way, and he fell.

For a terrifying moment, he thought he was plunging into the abyss, but his feet hit solid ground. He looked around, realizing the cliff's edge had hidden a narrow path carved into the rock face. It wound alongside the chasm, leading back upward.

Naruto allowed himself a brief moment of relief, but it didn't last long.

The creatures leapt down after him, landing with a sickening thud. Their glowing eyes locked onto him, and their vines lashed against the narrow walls, sending small rocks tumbling into the fog below.

Naruto gritted his teeth, his mind racing. The path was too narrow for the drake sword's special attack. It would destroy his only footing.

Fine, then. A simpler plan.

Naruto turned and ran, his boots pounding against the uneven path. He glanced over his shoulder, the creatures in close pursuit. "I'll throw you both off this cliff," he muttered. "And then I'll go back for that titanite demon."

Naruto's breaths came fast and heavy as he ran down the narrow, uneven path. His boots scraped against loose dirt and jagged rocks, but he didn't falter.

"Oscar, I need you for this!"

The path ahead widened into a more open clearing, just enough space to make his next move.

Naruto reached into his pouch, pulling out a smoke bomb. With a flick of his wrist, he threw it toward the ground between him and the approaching bush-like monsters. The bomb hit the dirt with a soft thud before detonating, unleashing a dense cloud of smoke that mingled with the mist of the Darkroot Basin. The two forces of vapor coiled and twisted together, creating an eerie, swirling shroud that consumed the space.

The ents, confused by the sudden obscurity, hesitated. They lashed their vine-like limbs blindly, the sharp crack of their strikes echoing in the dense air. They felt the ground rumble beneath them, a faint vibration growing stronger as Oscar burst from the earth. The crystal lizard slammed into one of the creature's legs, throwing it slightly off balance.

Naruto didn't waste the opportunity. With the smoke still thick around him, he charged forward, his movements swift and precise. The first ent barely had time to react before Naruto leapt into the air, twisting his body mid-jump. He unleashed a devastating tornado kick, the full force of his momentum slamming into the ent's chest. The creature staggered back, vines writhing desperately, before it tumbled off the cliff's edge. Its twisting body disappeared into the foggy abyss below.

The smoke began to dissipate, revealing the second ent advancing through the haze, its twisted frame illuminated by the faint glow of the nearby flowers. Naruto didn't hesitate. He drew a kunai and hurled it with practiced precision. The blade embedded itself into the creature's body, carrying with it a firebomb strapped to the handle.

The explosion was immediate. Flames engulfed the ent, the fire spreading quickly across its plant-like form. It thrashed violently, pieces of burning foliage scattering in all directions.

As the last flickers of fire died out, Naruto approached cautiously. He knelt beside the remains, absorbing the soul drop that materialized from the creature. In the center of the charred foliage, something caught his eye: a Purple Moss Clump.

The moss was unlike anything he'd seen before. Its texture was thick and spongy, the deep purple color shimmering faintly in the dim light. Tiny dew-like droplets clung to its surface, giving it an almost ethereal quality. He reached down and picked it up, examining it for a moment before tucking it into his pouch.

Turning back to the path, Naruto called out, "Oscar, let's head back!"

There was no response.

Naruto frowned, scanning the area. "Oscar?" he called again, his voice tinged with concern.

He walked forward, the path widening as it twisted downward. His gaze drifted beyond the chasm of the valley, where the fog thinned just enough to reveal a distant structure. It was massive, a sprawling fortress-city perched on jagged cliffs. Its stone walls were ancient and weathered, yet imposing, even shrouded in mist. The bridge connecting it to the mainland was unmistakable—the place where he fought the Taurus Demon.

I really did cross a lot of ground...

A sudden scurrying sound pulled his attention back to the path. He turned to see a crystal lizard darting away, its shimmering body glinting faintly in the dim light. Naruto ran forward, quickly scooping up the small creature.

"Oscar, what's gotten into you?" he asked, holding the lizard up and inspecting it. The little creature squirmed in his grasp, clearly agitated. "Did you get hurt or something?"

Naruto flipped the lizard over to check for injuries but froze mid-motion. His eyes widened as Ayame's voice echoed in his mind, reminding him how to tell if a lizard was male or female.

"WHY ARE YOU... a WOMAN?!"

Realization hit him like a brick.

"Wait... if you're not Oscar, then where the hell is he?!"

His heart raced as he scanned the area, his eyes finally landing on a twisted path leading down into the darker parts of the garden. And then he saw it: vines wrapped around a familiar, squirming figure.

"Oscar!" Naruto yelled, his voice echoing in the stillness.

The crystal lizard clawed desperately at the cliffside, its small legs struggling against the ent's relentless grip. Naruto didn't hesitate. He threw a kunai, slicing through the vines, and sprinted forward. As the ent recoiled, Naruto leapt, his drake sword glowing with wind chakra.

"Get away from him!"

The drake sword's special attack tore through the ent with a violent roar, the sheer force of the wind-charged blade carving a devastating arc. The impact didn't stop there—the ground beneath the creature erupted, the dirt and rock exploding outward like shrapnel from a cannon. The path itself trembled under the attack, leaving a jagged, gaping wound in the cliffside where the ent had stood moments before.

Naruto stabbed the drake sword into the cliffside, steadying himself as he reached out and caught Oscar with his free hand. The lizard clung to his arm, trembling slightly.

"You okay, buddy?"

Oscar chirped softly, his gaze drifting downward. Naruto followed his line of sight to the ruined path below.

Maybe I overdid it.

He placed his boot firmly on the rocky ledge, chakra seeping into the jagged stone to hold his weight as he began his descent. Oscar chirped softly from his arms, the crystal lizard's small claws flexing against Naruto's gauntlet. "I know, buddy. I want to absorb its soul too. After all the trouble that thing caused us, it's the least we deserve."

Oscar chirped again.

"Better safe than sorry, though," Naruto said, pulling out an Estus Flask. He tipped the warm golden liquid into Oscar's open mouth.

Carefully lowering himself further, he reached the base of the cliff and approached the soul drop, its pale luminescence pulsing gently like a heartbeat.

But his eyes were soon drawn to another sight—just beyond the remains of the ent lay a weathered corpse.

Naruto crouched beside the corpse, his fingers brushing against the leather armor. He recognized the design immediately—this was the equipment of the hunter class.

A memory stirred, unbidden: the strange, ethereal void where he had first chosen his pyromancer class.

His fingers tapped the chest plate of his elite knight armor as a stray thought crept into his mind. If I'd chosen the hunter class instead... would I have woken up here? On this ledge? He shook his head, trying to push the idea away. The notion that his physical body hadn't crossed over, but something closer to his soul, was unsettling. But at the same time... it felt oddly plausible.

"Nah," Naruto muttered. "I'm just overthinking it. Let's do some looting."

[ You have acquired: ]

[ Pharis's Hat ]

[ Leather Armor ]

[ Leather Gloves ]

[ Leather Boots ]

[ Longbow ]

[ Feather Arrows × 16 ]

Naruto dropped down into the basin, the cool, mist-laden air brushing against his face as his boots hit the ground with a soft thud.

In the distance, a tower loomed against the backdrop of the fog. Naruto paused mid-step, narrowing his eyes as the shape struck a chord of familiarity.

"Wait a second..." Naruto muttered, leaning forward, the binoculars in his hand rising instinctively. Through the haze, the outline of the tower came into sharper focus. "Is that... the weird tower with the locked door? The one from before I fought the Taurus Demon?"

Oscar chirped from his perch on Naruto's shoulder.

"Yeah," Naruto murmured, nodding, "it's the same one. The place where I found you."

He took a step forward, the sound of a distant waterfall growing louder with each passing moment. Around him, the basin opened into a wide, mist-filled expanse. Sparse trees dotted the rocky terrain. The mist swirled and danced in the air, partially obscuring the view of the massive basin beyond.

Oscar chirped again, shifting uneasily as the sound of rushing water grew deafening.

"Don't worry, buddy," Naruto said, giving him a reassuring pat. "I'm just going to check out that tower. Nothing to be scared of."

Naruto jogged toward the looming structure, its weathered stone walls shrouded in a faint blue glow. The door stood tall and imposing, just as he remembered it, its surface marked with intricate carvings that seemed to hum faintly with energy.

"Let's see if this thing finally opens."

The moment his hand touched the door, a shimmering wave of blue light rippled outward, sending a faint jolt up his arm. Naruto winced and stepped back as the barrier flared briefly before settling into an ominous glow.

"Stronger than before," he muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. He tried channeling chakra into his hand, but the barrier instantly rejected his attempts. Even the shadow clone distance trick had failed last time he tried it, as the barrier killed the clone before it could fully form.

"What is it with this place and locking every door?" Naruto grumbled, stepping back to glare at the tower as if that might change its mind.

Oscar chirped, drawing his attention. The crystal lizard had turned his head toward the misty expanse of the basin, its body tense.

"What is it, Oscar?"

The sound of the waterfall grew louder, almost thunderous, as Naruto pulled out his binoculars. He scanned the distant lake beyond the mist, his eyes widening as he saw it.

There, rising from the still waters, was a creature unlike anything he'd ever seen.

The hydra loomed like a nightmare given form. Its seven long necks writhed and twisted like serpents, each ending in a monstrous head. Gaping mouths filled with uneven, razor-sharp fangs dripped with saliva, and glowing eyes burned with malevolent intelligence. Its massive, scaly body glistened like wet obsidian, dwarfing anything Naruto had encountered before.

And it was staring straight at him.

The hydra's middle head opened its maw, a guttural roar echoing across the basin. Naruto's blood turned to ice. Nope. Nope, nope, nope. We're not dealing with that.

Without warning, the heads spit powerful water projectiles, each one slicing through the mist like a drill. The ground behind Naruto erupted as the first blast landed, tearing through dirt and stone and sending chunks of earth flying into the air. The shockwave sent Naruto tumbling forward. He rolled with the momentum, pushing himself back to his feet as another projectile whistled past him, narrowly missing his side.

"I think we're fine sticking to the titanite demon, thanks!" Naruto yelled, his voice tinged with panic as he pushed himself faster, zigzagging to avoid the onslaught.

Reaching the slope leading back to the upper basin, Naruto vaulted onto higher ground, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He glanced over his shoulder, but the hydra had retreated into the misty waters, its glowing eyes barely visible.

Oscar chirped softly, and Naruto laughed despite the lingering adrenaline. "Yeah, we're definitely not fighting that thing today."

As he made his way back toward the church, Naruto caught sight of the area where he'd first encountered the female crystal lizard. He smirked, glancing at Oscar. "You interested in a girlfriend, buddy?"

Oscar tilted his head in confusion, chirping in response. Naruto scanned the area but found no sign of her.

"Looks like she took off," he said, chuckling. "Tough luck, Oscar. Maybe you'll find her again someday."

Oscar chirped again, and Naruto gave him a playful pat before turning back to the path.

The ascent back to the church was uneventful, though Naruto couldn't shake the image of the hydra's massive form from his mind. As he climbed the final slope, the familiar figure of the titanite demon came into view, its hulking back still turned to him.

"Well, back to this guy," Naruto muttered, tightening his grip on the drake sword. He glanced down at Oscar, who chirped softly in response. "No rest for the wicked, huh?"

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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 60, 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!