Naruto: The Chosen Undead
Chapter no.186 Naruto

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Chapter 186 The Aftermath!

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As the last flicker of golden light faded, Naruto vanished from sight.

Silence lingered.

Sasuke and Sakura stood still, eyes fixed on the space he'd occupied just moments ago, the light still echoing in their vision like an afterimage.

After a long pause, Sasuke finally spoke. "...Why did you want to go to Lordran?"

Sakura blinked, surprised. "Huh?"

He didn't repeat himself.

Sakura looked at him sidelong. "Honestly? I thought you would be the first to ask Naruto about it. Not me."

Sasuke's expression didn't change. "Because I want power, to kill my brother."

It wasn't a question. Just a fact.

Sakura hesitated. "...That's not what I meant."

"But it's true," Sasuke said.

She opened her mouth, then shut it again.

He looked out toward the sky. "That's not why I didn't ask."

"Then… why?" she asked quietly.

Sasuke glanced down. "Because I understand how Naruto feels."

That made Sakura stop. "Wait, what?"

"Let me ask you something. If Naruto came to me tomorrow… and asked for my Sharingan… should I give it to him?"

Sakura blinked. "What? No! Of course not! That's insane."

"Is it?" Sasuke asked. "Think about it. With that Estus flask of his, he could just regenerate my eyes afterward. I wouldn't even lose them. Kakashi's living proof that Sharingan transplants are possible. Logically, there's no real cost."

"...That's not the point," Sakura said, her voice dropping.

"Exactly," Sasuke said. "Because the Sharingan isn't just a tool. It's not just chakra and power."

He placed a hand on his chest.

"It's my legacy. My identity. Every time I use it, it's like I'm carrying a piece of my clan with me. If I gave it away… what does that say about what it means to me?"

Sakura didn't answer.

"Now ask yourself," Sasuke said. "What if Lordran is like that to Naruto?"

"...You really think it's that important to him?"

"Why else would he lie to us?" Sasuke said plainly. "Naruto isn't subtle. He's a terrible liar. If he said 'we can't go', and didn't even look us in the eyes when he said it, then something deeper's going on."

He folded his arms. "Lordran shaped him. Changed him. Gave him something no one here ever could."

Sakura looked down. "I never… I didn't think of it like that."

"Yeah," Sasuke muttered. "I figured."

They stood in silence again for a while.

Finally, Sakura spoke. "I… I just wanted to go to Lordran to figure something out about myself."

Sasuke looked over. "Inner Sakura?"

"Yeah. I thought maybe… I could get rid of it. Or fix it. Or… I don't know."

"Seems like the kind of thing Lordran would chew up and spit out."

Sakura sighed. "You're probably right."

They stood a while longer.

"...When Naruto comes back, I think I'll apologize," Sakura said softly. "For putting him on the spot like that. He didn't owe us anything. He still doesn't."

"Let's just respect his decision."

She gave him a sidelong glance. "But if he did agree to bring us? Would you go?"

Sasuke looked thoughtful. Then let out a soft snort. "It'd be stupid if I didn't."

Sakura laughed quietly. "Well, now I'm curious when and how he even got to Lordran in the first place."

"Kakashi says it's a summoning realm," Sasuke replied. "So maybe Naruto found a contract somewhere and signed it."

"You know a lot about this stuff."

"I read." Sasuke shrugged. "The Uchiha archives have scrolls on rare summoning contracts. Some of them we've collected over the years."

"Like what?"

"Crow clan. Hawk clan. Cat clan," Sasuke listed, ticking them off on his fingers.

Sakura blinked. "Wait... cat clan?"

Sasuke nodded.

She giggled. "Okay, but if you signed that one, do you get cat ears? Like how Naruto's got his whole weird dragon schtick?"

"Naruto is not a reliable example."

"Well…" Sakura smirked. "If you did get cat ears, I think you'd pull it off."

Sasuke looked away, the tips of his ears turning faintly red.

Sakura laughed. "I'm serious. You'd be adorable."

"Hn."

"Aaah… young love blooming on the battlefield," came a deep, amused voice from behind. "If only Tsunade-hime and I had that in our reckless youth… maybe I'd have settled down, written a romance novel instead of smut."

Sasuke and Sakura froze.

They hadn't sensed a thing until the man spoke. Slowly, they turned, muscles tense.

He stood at the edge of the scaffolding like a force of nature. He was a towering figure with white hair that was pulled into a thick ponytail, with two long bangs framing a rugged, lined face. Crimson markings dripped down from his eyes like war paint. A wart sat dead center on his nose, proud and unashamed. His travel-worn clothes didn't hide his presence: green kimono over mesh armor, red haori billowing behind him with two bold yellow circles stamped on the back. A massive scroll clung to him like a second spine. On his forehead protector, one character was emblazoned in bold ink: Oil.

Sasuke's Sharingan spun to life.

Sakura's kunai was already in hand.

Then a silver blur landed behind them.

"Stand down," Kakashi said calmly, closing his orange book with a soft snap. "He's not the enemy."

Both genin hesitated. Sasuke's eyes dimmed. Sakura slowly lowered her kunai, though her grip stayed firm.

Kakashi gestured toward the man. "This is Jiraiya. One of the three legendary Sannin."

"Oh come on, Kakashi," Jiraiya groaned. "You ruined my grand entrance! I was gonna do a cool landing, maybe summon a toad, throw in a little razzle-dazzle…"

Kakashi shrugged. "Force of habit. My students tend to stab first, ask never."

Sasuke crossed his arms. "You're late."

Jiraiya cleaned his ear with a pinky. "You got a stopwatch in that head or what?"

"You were our backup."

"Right, right… Look, I had to handle some extremely top-secret, definitely-don't-ask-or-I'll-have-to-kill-you stuff. Besides, two jōnin and two genin squads? I figured it was a babysitting gig, not a crisis."

"It turned into an S-rank," Kakashi said flatly.

Jiraiya blinked. "Say that again?"

"Gato's gone. So is his army. Mercs, rogue shinobi, the Daimyō was involved. Also, unknown Kekkei Genkai user that led a squad that belonged to an unknown village. Naruto went off-script. The body count's… not small."

Jiraiya's grin vanished. "Naruto went rogue?"

"Not rogue rogue," Kakashi said quickly. "He took initiative. A lot of it."

"He was protecting people," Sakura added. "He did what he thought was right."

Jiraiya's face was unreadable. "Where is he now?"

"Lordran," Sasuke and Sakura answered in sync.

"Looks like he got bored waiting," Kakashi offered. "You'll have to check his seal later, Jiraiya-sama."

"Seal?" Sakura asked, brow creasing.

"Ah..."

"My question first," Jiraiya cut in, raising a hand. "What exactly is Lordran?"

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The chamber pulsed with an eerie green glow, cast by sickly candles embedded in the stone walls. The air reeked of old blood and wilting herbs, heavy as a curse. Guren knelt in the center, bandages wrapped haphazardly around her limbs like a mummy pieced together too late. Sweat clung to her hair, her breath came ragged, but her posture was still soldier-straight because collapsing would mean weakness, and weakness around him was death.

Orochimaru stood before her, silent, his golden eyes glimmering with a predator's patience. When he finally spoke, his voice was gentle. "...I'm disappointed, Guren."

The words slithered across her skin like cold fingers.

"You failed to protect Gato. Failed to eliminate a pack of genin. Failed to kill their jonin. Failed to retrieve the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Failed to bring me Sasuke Uchiha. And worst of all..." His voice thinned to a whisper, "You got your squad killed. You almost died yourself. All that effort, and you brought me nothing."

Guren bowed her head lower, face nearly kissing the stone. "I have no excuse, Lord Orochimaru. I... I failed."

A hiss of amusement curled from his throat. "You were to be my next vessel. My precious gem... years of carving, perfecting, polishing... now cracked and dull."

He crouched beside her, his knees making no sound on the stone. His face hovered inches from hers, breath cool and snake-sweet.

"Tell me, Guren... shall I peel you open now? Hollow you out and see if there's anything left inside worth salvaging?"

She flinched, just barely. "If that's your wish... then I accept. But..." She raised a trembling hand, holding out a scroll. "Before that... please. Read the report."

He snatched it from her fingers with casual grace, unrolling it with one long, pale hand.

"I do so love obituaries," he murmured.

But as his eyes moved across the parchment, the room seemed to still.

"...Naruto Uzumaki?" His voice lost its silk, turning sharp. "What is this?"

"Every word is true," she whispered. "If you doubt me... you may take my memories."

"No need." His eyes didn't leave the scroll. "Your fear speaks louder than your mind ever could."

He walked slowly to the far wall, rereading, muttering to himself.

"Kyūbi chakra access... wind affinity mastered... blade and bow, both... unknown healing techniques... and you're telling me this boy has a summon with crystal release? A Kekkei Genkai?"

He turned to her, mouth stretching unnaturally wide.

Guren said nothing.

He began to laugh.

Low at first. Then higher. Harsher. His shoulders shook, and his voice echoed like cracking bones.

"So, Mizuki's reports about the boy being a failure were false. Looks like the old man was growing a monster in the shadows."

His smile was all teeth now.

"Guren, Guren, Guren. You didn't fail. You brought me revelation."

He knelt once more, placing a hand gently on her head.

"...You may live a little longer."

"Thank you for your kindness," Guren said, bowing so low her forehead nearly touched stone. "But... doesn't this change your plans for the invasion?"

Orochimaru's smile faded into thought.

"Yes. Originally, I intended to exploit the Sand's resentment, use their armies as a distraction while I slipped through Konoha's defenses... and reminded the Sandaime why I should never have been cast aside."

"But now..." He trailed off, almost to himself. "Danzo is branded a traitor. The Third is finally acting like a Hokage again. And this boy shows that Konoha is no longer the stagnant husk I thought it was."

Guren hesitated. "Then... the invasion is off?"

Orochimaru's eyes snapped back to her, sharp and smiling again but colder.

"No. The plan doesn't die. It evolves."

He stood, looming, his voice gaining strength. "Send word to our agents across the Five Nations. Every whisperer, every snake in every crack of every village. Let the truth out."

Guren blinked. "What truth?"

"That Naruto Uzumaki," Orochimaru said, savoring the name, "is the son of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki. That he carries the blood of the Uzumaki clan. That he holds the Kyūbi. That the Yellow Flash's legacy walks again... in the body of a twelve-year-old."

Her eyes went wide. "But... my lord... that kind of revelation would..."

"Would make him a target?" Orochimaru cut in, eyes gleaming. "Exactly."

He began to pace slowly, like a teacher to a student. "Minato made powerful enemies. Enemies who would kill to see his spawn dead. Combine that with the fact the boy is a jinchūriki, and every hidden village will see him as a threat."

"Won't Konoha protect him?"

"They'll have to," Orochimaru hissed. "They'll pull their elite from the borders. Shift their priorities. The old alliances will fray under the weight of paranoia."

"And while they scramble?"

He turned, smiling like a corpse given voice. "A snake slithers through the chaos and strikes when they least expect it."

Guren shuddered and bowed again, this time in awe. The man before her was not just a war criminal, he was a master of long games.

"I'll carry out your orders, my lord. And... I'll make sure Naruto pays, one day. For everything."

"Good girl," Orochimaru whispered. "We all have our roles. And yours is far from over."

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The wind howled through the peaks of the Stone Country, whispering down into Iwagakure's narrow alleys and watchposts. In the village square, unease rippled like a pressure wave. Angry voices barked accusations. Fists slammed into tabletops. And one name flared again and again like sparks on dry rock.

Inside the Tsuchikage's tower, the tension felt no different. Reports lay scattered across Ōnoki's desk as intelligence from the Land of Fire, intercepted missives, witness accounts. Naruto Uzumaki. Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails. Son of him.

Ōnoki rubbed his temples and muttered, "I outlived your father, brat. I'd hoped that would be the end of it."

A knock. The door slid open. One of his senior aides entered, eyes grim.

"Tsuchikage-sama. The situation is escalating. Two jōnin squads intercepted a genin trying to sneak out of the village with explosive tags, said he wanted to 'finish what his grandfather started.'"

Ōnoki scoffed. "Idiots. They think blood will fix this."

The aide stepped closer. "Several clans are demanding action. They say we'll look weak if we let Konoha raise that boy into a weapon."

"Of course they are." Ōnoki turned toward the window, watching a hawk circle over the distant ridge. "They don't understand the cost of war. I do."

Silence lingered.

Finally, the aide asked, "What are your orders, sir?"

Ōnoki exhaled a long breath, the kind that came from years of seeing too much. "We don't retaliate. Not openly."

The aide blinked. "Sir?"

"I said not openly," Ōnoki repeated, voice edged with gravel. "If we move too fast, we look afraid. If we act aggressive, we invite war. And Konoha doesn't want that. Neither do we. Not now."

"Then what's the move?"

Ōnoki turned to face the window again, looking down at the shouting crowds far below. His gaze lingered for a moment then he smiled, thin and sharp.

"He's a genin. And genin enter the Chūnin Exams."

The aide's eyes widened. "You want to send a team?"

"Not just a team," Ōnoki said. "Our best. I want genin with discipline, strength and the sense to understand what they're walking into. If they face him, they'll know what he is. And they'll be ready."

The aide swallowed. "And Konoha… they'll just let us walk in?"

Ōnoki chuckled. "No. But they won't refuse either."

He reached for a fresh scroll and dipped the brush. "I'll send two letters; one to the Hokage, the other to the Daimyō of Earth. The moment the Fire Daimyō hears his peer is sending observers to Konoha, he'll lean on the Hokage to accept. Politics, appearances and benefits." He glanced over his shoulder, eyes sharp. "Even that old monkey can't ignore that kind of opportunity. If I make it about peace… he'll consider it."

The aide nodded slowly, the plan starting to take shape.

"What should I tell the genin?"

Ōnoki's brush scratched across parchment as he wrote.

"Tell them to prepare," he said quietly. "They may face the son of calamity."

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The desert wind howled through the jagged canyon leading into Sunagakure, carving along the cliffs and sweeping dust into the village streets. The red rock towers loomed like silent sentries, their shadows stretching across clay rooftops and sandstone domes. The air was dry, sharp, and pitiless like the man who ruled it.

Rasa stood atop the Kazekage Tower, his white cloak billowing gently behind him. His gaze stretched out across the desert, to where the dunes blurred into a wavering horizon. In his gloved hand was a scroll with a wax seal marked not with the insignia of any nation, but with the scaled insignia of a snake.

Orochimaru.

The message had been brief. Clinical.

Uzumaki Naruto. Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Son of Minato. Early signs of bijū synchronization. Attending the Chūnin Exams. Proceed with awareness.

That was all it said, but that was all Rasa needed.

Naruto Uzumaki. A boy, barely shinobi age but carrying the same monster that had decimated Konoha. Worse, he was improving and gaining control.

And now the boy would be placed in direct competition with Gaara.

Rasa's jaw clenched. Gaara was the key to Suna's survival. A trump card the other nations still underestimated. If Naruto's presence triggered something in Shukaku, if it exposed Gaara's instability during the exams, it could unravel everything. Suna's image. The invasion. The plan.

He needed a solution.

He turned and stepped back inside, the door sealing the wind behind him. The chamber was cool and dim, walls lined with missives and battle maps. Rasa approached his desk, pushing aside genin candidate lists and troop placements. His hand hovered over a separate file: older, worn, dog-eared at the corners.

Pakura.

The name was a bitter taste in his mouth. The Master of the Scorch Release. A war hero and a problem.

She was too loud and too principled. She had spoken against council decisions, questioned leadership choices, and even dared to rally the families of the war dead behind her. The people still liked her. Too much. He'd considered exiling her. A diplomatic posting to the Land of Water turned into a convenient accident.

But perhaps… she still had one use left.

Rasa opened her file. Lethal. Loyal to the village, if not to him. Still obeyed orders, if reluctantly.

If he gave her a mission—off the record—would she do it?

He turned the scroll from Orochimaru in his hand, thoughts lining up.

Naruto was a variable. A threat to Gaara. Pakura was a liability. A threat to him.

Perhaps one could cancel out the other. Or maybe, if luck was on his side, they'd take each other out. That would be ideal.

Either way, Rasa felt confident that he could turn this into an advantage. But the world doesn't deal in ideal outcomes. And as he would soon learn, nothing could've prepared him for the chaos and monsters that would walk into this year's Chūnin Exams.

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Somewhere in the Land of Water.

The rain never stopped in this part of the country. It clung to the cobbled streets in thin sheets, coated rooftops in grime, and turned dirt into murky sludge. But Mei Terumī walked through it as if the heavens parted just for her.

Her long auburn hair flowed down her back in waves, the crimson tips darkened slightly by the mist. Green eyes scanned the quiet village street with the calm poise of a woman who knew exactly where every exit was. Her lavender lipstick remained untouched by the weather, her heels clicking softly beneath the weight of her presence. Even in a faded travel cloak, she radiated a kind of beauty that drew glances and caution in equal measure.

Trailing close behind her were two figures.

Haku and Zabuza made no attempt to disguise themselves. In a village like this, there was no need.

The three of them approached a run-down tavern with crooked signage and shuttered windows. Mei stepped in first. The smell of alcohol, wet straw, and boiled fish greeted her.

The bartender looked up and froze. His gaze didn't linger on Mei, despite her beauty. His eyes shot past her to Zabuza, then Haku, then back again. The blood drained from his face.

Mei smiled gently, almost sweetly.

"It's polite," she said, brushing damp hair from her cheek, "to open the door for a beautiful woman."

The bartender nodded stiffly and stepped aside, motioning toward a back corridor. He didn't say a word.

Down a flight of stone stairs, behind a reinforced door, the tavern gave way to an underground chamber carved into the rock itself, lit with oil lamps that flickered against damp walls.

This was no mere cellar.

It was the hidden nerve center of the Rebel Alliance.

A dozen shinobi were already gathered, seated or standing around a low, worn table. Veterans with missing limbs. Young faces hardened by war. Bloodline survivors. Each of them turned as Mei entered, flanked by the Demon of the Mist and his ghost-like apprentice.

"Mei-sama, what is that demon doing here?"

No one moved. No one raised their voice in support. But no one interrupted either.

Mei didn't flinch. Neither did Zabuza.

The former eyebrowless assassin stepped forward and dropped a heavy suitcase onto the center table with a dull thud.

The lid creaked open.

Stacks of ryo inside were clean, crisp, and heavy enough to make even Mei go quiet. Gasps rippled through the room. It was enough money to keep the rebellion alive for months.

Zabuza watched the greed crawl across their faces like rats sniffing food. He didn't blame them. He just didn't care. His killing intent crashed over the room like a cold wave. Chairs scraped back. Fingers twitched toward weapons.

"If any of you are thinking of stealing from me," he said, "try it. I dare you."

A man stepped forward with blue hair, slicked and moussed back. One eye blue, the other hidden under an eye patch. His green haori barely swayed as he stood tall in his grey-striped uniform.

"You think you can take on all of us?" Ao asked.

"Can't say I'd win. But I'd take enough of you with me to cripple your sad little rebellion. That's a fair trade in my book."

Tension flared. One wrong word and it'd be blood on the floor.

"Zabuza-chan, can we go five minutes without you threatening someone?"

Zabuza shrugged. "Just setting expectations." He jabbed a thumb at the money. "This? It's a quarter of what I earned from a single mission. Do something stupid, and you'll only be hurting yourselves."

That shut everyone up.

Ao's eye narrowed. "Then what the hell do you want, Zabuza?"

Zabuza stepped forward, arms loose at his sides, voice low but sharp. "Let's not pretend this is about what I want."

He paused, let the silence stretch.

"I know exactly who I am. I know what I've done. But I also know what this village made me into. What it tried to turn all of us into. Tools. Weapons. Dogs that bite on command."

His gaze swept the room with faces lined with anger, suspicion, old fear.

"I'm not here for a cause. I'm not here for absolution. I'm here because I'm tired of watching children bleed in alleys while cowards in towers call it justice."

More silence. More tension. It didn't faze him.

"I didn't come to beg. I came to put an end to this slaughter. And I'll fight with whoever's still got the guts to take this village back from the tyrant who poisoned it."

A few rebels shifted uncomfortably. Zabuza didn't care.

But Haku did.

He had seen the mistrust in their eyes. The unspoken judgment. They didn't see Zabuza as one of them. Not really. He had no bloodline. He hadn't suffered the same purges. In their eyes, he might never belong.

So Haku stepped forward, and drew his silver rapier. The soft ring of steel broke the quiet. The air grew colder, breath visible in the lantern light as ice crept along the edge of his rapier.

Whispers stirred.

What kind of sword is that?

Is that ice chakra?

Yuki clan...?

Haku nodded, his voice clear but heavy. "Yes. I'm one of the last."

The frost thickened along the floor.

"My mother had the kekkei genkai. She hid it. Until the day my father found out. He murdered her in front of me. Then came for me."

He paused.

"I killed him first."

Gasps. Muffled curses.

"I was just a child," Haku said quietly. "And I learned then—survival means becoming what the world hates, just to keep breathing."

He lowered the blade, but the frost lingered.

"Zabuza-sama found me. He didn't ask who I was. He didn't ask what I'd done. He saw someone broken, and he gave me a reason to live."

He looked around at the room.

"Maybe we don't have your bloodlines. Maybe we weren't hunted like animals. But we've been used, discarded, and betrayed by the same regime. The same system. The same man."

He took a breath.

"You want freedom? So do we. You want to walk in the streets without fear someone will slit your throat for your blood? We want that too. You want to stop hiding, stop running, stop burying your name? So do we."

A beat.

"If that's not enough, then say it. But don't pretend we're not on the same side."

Zabuza let the silence linger just a little longer before turning to Mei, his voice rough with tired humor.

"And your beloved leader here—who so kindly made me promise not to call her an old hag anymore—offered me amnesty. When this is over, I disappear. No bounties. No swords in the dark. Just me, Haku, and peace."

Mei folded her arms, unreadable. "I said I'd consider it. In writing, if you stop pushing every button I have."

Zabuza cracked a thin smile. "That's asking a lot."

"Then I suggest you start practicing," she said coolly.

There was no applause. No cheer. Just silence and then, the smallest shift in the room.

Someone muttered, "They've bled. Like us."

Another said, "Better to have them with us than against."

And one old shinobi simply nodded. "Let them fight."

Mei met Zabuza's gaze again. "Then it's settled. You're not the Demon of the Mist here. You're a soldier now. Fight for us, and I'll make sure no one comes looking for you again."

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The meeting had been long, grueling, and yet productive.

With Zabuza, Haku, and the suitcase full of ryo now backing the rebellion, the tides had begun to shift. Routes for resupplying forces across the mist-shrouded archipelago were plotted out. Old black-market contacts were reactivated. And perhaps most importantly, families of bloodline survivors were promised shelter, aid, and a future. There were no illusions of immediate victory, but for the first time in years, hope began to take root in that war room.

That is, until Ao broke the silence.

"...So," he said, "what the hell are we going to do about that?"

He tapped a sealed scroll that had been sitting on the corner of the table, ominously untouched.

"The leak about Minato Namikaze's son. The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. That information's already out there. Yagura's going to act, and fast. If we don't get ahead of it, the whole damn war changes."

"Oi, what the hell are you talking about?"

The room stilled.

Mei raised a brow, almost surprised. "You're out of the loop, huh?" She gestured to the scroll. "Go on then. Catch up."

With a grunt, Zabuza dragged the scroll toward him and unfurled it with a flick of his fingers. His single visible eye scanned the content slowly, mouth moving faintly as he read through the intelligence briefing.

By the time he reached the halfway mark, something unexpected happened.

A low chuckle escaped him. Then it grew into a deep, raspy laugh from his chest.

Chōjūrō blinked, startled. Then, tentatively, he chuckled too. "Heh… it does sound ridiculous, doesn't it?"

"Brat, what the hell are you laughing at?"

Chōjūrō winced and adjusted his glasses. "S-sorry! It's just… I mean, come on. Son of the Fourth Hokage, jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, killed a warlord in the Land of Waves, uses multiple swords like a master and rides a beast into battle… it sounds like something out of a drunken bedtime story."

Zabuza slammed the scroll shut with a dull thwack.

"Every damn word in there? True. Actually..." He tapped a finger on the parchment. "They missed a few things. That brat's the kind of monster who doesn't wait for history to remember him. He makes history choke on his name."

A low murmur rippled through the room.

"The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki," Zabuza added, his voice like gravel. "Looks like I guessed right."

"You knew?"

"I had a hunch."

"I'd love to meet this cutie," Mei purred, twirling a lock of auburn hair around her finger as she stared at the mission report. Her emerald eyes lingered on the image of Naruto longer than necessary. "Such sharp features. And those eyes... Dangerous. Mmm, I do like danger."

Zabuza gave her a deadpan look. "Mei... you do realize he's twelve, right?"

"Twelve?" Mei blinked, then leaned in closer, squinting at the image with exaggerated innocence. "You're kidding. What kind of twelve-year-old looks like this? Are you sure Konoha didn't cook him up in a lab?"

"Judging that brat by normal standards is a fool's errand," Zabuza grunted. "He's not normal. Not even close."

"Mmm..." Mei dragged out the sound, biting her lower lip thoughtfully. "I love a prodigy. I can't wait to see what you'll become in a few years, Naruto-kun~"

"Don't bother. Kid won't give you the time of day, you old hag."

The temperature in the room dropped.

Mei slowly turned her head toward him, her tone velvet smooth yet laced with venom. "What did you just call me?"

"Exactly what you heard," Zabuza said flatly. "Back off the kid. He's already into someone."

"Oh?" Mei purred, intrigued.

Zabuza jerked a thumb toward Haku. "He likes her."

"E-EH?!" Haku yelped as his face went nuclear.

"Aww," Mei cooed, eyes twinkling. "She's adorable! I suppose I can try not to steal your boyfriend, dear."

"M-Mei-sama, that's!" Haku sputtered.

Zabuza leaned in and whispered, "Just go with it."

"What? Why?!"

"Because if you don't, she'll mark Naruto down as her next husband. And trust me, Mei doesn't date. She collects."

"...Fine," Haku muttered, cheeks flaming. "I'll pretend to be Naruto's… girlfriend."

Zabuza smirked. "That's for calling me Zabuza-chan, you little punk."

"You're the devil."

"Flattered."

Haku groaned. "What if Naruto finds out?"

"...We fake our deaths and flee to the Land of Iron. New names, new faces. You'll grow a beard."

Just then, Mei beamed at Haku. "You're stunning, sweetheart. Get yourself a padded bra. Naruto strikes me as a boob guy."

Haku stared. "She still thinks I'm a girl?"

Zabuza doubled over, wheezing.

Mei gave a confident nod. "Add a little bounce, and he's yours."

"...Kill me."

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Author's Note

Yeah, yeah... I know Naruto didn't show up this chapter, but I hope you still felt the insane setup for the Chūnin Exams.

A lot of you were worried Naruto might just speed-blitz through the exams. Trust me, he won't. These exams are going to be wilder than canon, no question. Every major village is sending a genin team, and let's just say… not all of them have good intentions when it comes to Naruto. He's not walking through this one.

I've got a lot of fun stuff planned for these arcs, but I'd love your input, too:

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Team Sand

Canon gave us Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō. Should we stick with just them, or add another team? I was thinking of bringing in Pakkura as a squad leader for a second Suna team. Thoughts?

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Team Sound

Orochimaru knows Naruto's not a pushover in this timeline. So, should he send stronger genin? Maybe even Kimimaro?

Imagine a sword duel: Kimimaro's bone blade vs Naruto's rapier.

Yes, it's as crazy as it sounds.

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Team Mist: Who would you want to see repping Kirigakure?

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Team Lightning (Kumo) :Who should represent the Cloud? Want to see younger versions of familiar faces or some new OC genin? Drop ideas!

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Team Earth (Iwa) Same deal: who should show up from Iwagakure?

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Summoning Clans

You probably noticed it in the chapter—Sasuke is interested in getting a summoning contract.

So here's the question: What animal summoning should he get?

Cats? Hawks? Something brand new?

Same goes for Sakura. What's a good fit for her personality, style, and growth path?

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Reader Jin_Kazuragi wrote: Thanks for the chapter! I don't mind that Naruto doesn't allow his teammates to come with him to Lordran. On the other hand, the fact that he's not frank or honest with his teammates doesn't fit his character, from my point of view.

Answer: There are two reasons for it: one is plot and the other is character.

Yes, Naruto isn't being fully honest with Sasuke and Sakura here. And yes, that can feel out of character if you're only thinking in terms of canon Naruto. But remember, this version of Naruto is being shaped by Lordran. And unlike Kakashi's lie (which was a clear betrayal of trust), Naruto's lie here isn't about deception, it's about attachment. It's about not wanting to give something up.

It's more of a soft lie than a sharp one. One rooted in conflict, not cruelty.

And that conflict? It will come back. This isn't the last time we'll touch on Naruto's internal struggle with sharing Lordran or not sharing it. I'm setting it up for deeper character development later on. There's going to be a very important conversation between Naruto and Solaire in a few chapters that touches exactly on this point: why doesn't he want to share this world? What's he really afraid of?

To put it another way: think about the Sharingan.

Would Sasuke give Naruto the Sharingan if Naruto asked for it? Logically, he could, as Naruto can use Heal or Estus to regenerate Sasuke's eyes anyway. So technically, everyone in Team 7 could end up with their own pair. But would Sasuke ever agree to that?

Probably not. Because for Sasuke, the Sharingan isn't just a power. It's a part of his identity. His pain, his lineage, and his burden.

Lordran is that for Naruto. A space where he isn't the jinchūriki. Where he isn't under anyone's shadow. Where his strength is earned, not inherited or bestowed. It's a personal thing.

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Reader Magma-Wyrm: I just want to know what classes would Team 7 choose? Naruto chose Pyromancer because he thought it looked cool, but Sasuke and Sakura would think differently.

Answer: Oh hell yeah, let's get into it.

Sasuke – Thief: Highest starting DEX. Fits the Uchiha's reflex-based combat. And it's poetic, right? The Sharingan is all about stealing jutsu. Thief just feels right.

Sakura – Sorcerer: Canonically very book-smart. And you just know she'd be into the clean, noble-looking outfit. Plus, starting with spells? Huge appeal.

Kakashi – Deprived: Jack of all trades, master of none? That's literally the Deprived class. Also, imagining Kakashi waking up in a dungeon with just a loincloth and a bonk stick is hilarious. Sorry not sorry.

Since we're on a roll, let's go ahead and do the rest of Team 8:

Shino – Knight: Not gonna lie, mostly chose this because Knight has the highest HP. I imagine his bugs would like the extra survivability. If you've got a better class idea for Shino, hit me up.

Hinata – Hunter: Byakugan + bow = nightmare fuel for enemies. Clean synergy.

Kiba – Bandit: High STR, big muscles, rugged vibe. Feels like Kiba would pick this just to flex on everyone. Literally.

Kurenai – Cleric: This one was tricky, but hear me out. She's calm, composed, totally committed to the Will of Fire which is basically ninja religion anyway. So boom: Cleric.

Now imagine Asuma trying to shoot his shot. "Hey Kurenai, dinner tonight?"

And she just turns, dead serious, and goes: "I have sworn myself to the flame and the path of sacred attunement. Earthly attachments are... forbidden."

Asuma stands there, heart shattered, while somewhere in the distance a church bell tolls and his dating life evaporates like mist at Firelink Shrine.

May his love life rest in peace.

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Reader Phoenix_dreams: Thanks for the chapter! From a pragmatic point of view, them not having the curse of the undead would be concerning with all the God-level beings around and also not be able to benefit from reaped souls the way Naruto can. I'm also not convinced it should be that easy to bring them over without a connection to Lordran already present. Oscar being able to traverse using Naruto could be used for or against that point, depending on how you spin it. Narratively I understand why you would rather it stick to just Naruto and Oscar for now.

As another stated, treating the Scroll of Seals as a summoning contract that could throw them into their own instance of Lordran could work, if you want to go that route later. If not, you could have it fail for natives of Naruto's world and keep that a pure Naruto adventure.

Answer: Honestly, there's a lot I could say here, but I'll keep it short.

Would Lordran even allow Sasuke and Sakura to enter? That's the core question.

There's actually a major mystery at the heart of the story that ties into this. Naruto being able to go to Lordran and then return is something even Solaire finds weird. Normally, once you're in Lordran, that's it. No going back.

So why can Naruto come and go?

And if you know your Dark Souls lore, you know the Dark Sign doesn't work like a portal. It's a curse designed to trap the Dark Soul inside the Fire's cycle.

So if Naruto arrived in Lordran because of the Dark Sign… does that mean he was born with the Dark Soul?

That wouldn't make sense, because the Dark Soul is a fragment of a cosmic force from the Dark Souls universe. So unless something, or someone, set Naruto up, there's no logical reason he should even have access.

Long story short: there's way more going on behind the scenes. And even if Naruto were emotionally or morally convinced to bring Sasuke and Sakura, there's no guarantee that Lordran would let them in.

Or worse, what if it does... but it changes them in ways he can't predict?

I'm glad you're enjoying the ride so far. Your suggestion about the Scroll of Seals as a summoning contract was actually super interesting. I'll keep that idea tucked away in case I ever want to play with alternate instances or timelines.

Next chapter should be out in a few hours. I'll see you in the comments of that one too!

Anyways, before I go, I wanted to share some fanart of Naruto: The Chosen Undead that I got on Discord. Link in the comments.

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That's it for now!

Seriously, I appreciate all of you for reading, commenting, and just riding this crazy AU train with me. The Chūnin Exams arc is going to be nuts, and I can't wait to share what's next.

Drop your ideas below. I'm all ears.

—Adam

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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 88, 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!