Naruto: The Chosen Undead

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Chapter no.60 The Art Of Great Swords

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The hollow before him growled, dragging Naruto's attention back to the present.

Before the hollow could swing, the blonde boy spun on his heel and delivered a powerful kick to its chest. The hollow stumbled backward, its arms flailing as it tumbled off the balcony with a guttural shriek, disappearing into the fog below.

"Good riddance," Naruto muttered, brushing himself off.

Another growl came from the far side of the balcony. Naruto turned to see a second hollow, this one gripping its sword tightly as it advanced toward him.

"You know, I always imagined my first romantic balcony moment going differently."

Channeling his chakra into his fists, Naruto grinned as he felt the familiar rush of power surge through his body. He'd been practicing this lately, honing his chakra control to amplify his body enhancement.

The hollow swung its blade in a wide arc. Naruto ducked under it with ease, stepping forward and planting his feet firmly. With his chakra-enhanced strength, he delivered a devastating right hook directly to the hollow's head.

The impact was explosive. The hollow's skull crumpled under the force, bone and rotted flesh splattering against the stone wall as its lifeless body crumpled to the floor.

"Hell yeah!" Naruto cheered, flexing his fingers. "Now that's what I'm talking about!"

Turning back toward the balcony, Naruto debated whether to explore deeper into the room. It looked like it might've been a shop once—there were shelves and counters, though they were worn and covered in moss. The smell of mold lingered in the air, but something about the place caught his eye.

A treasure chest sat near the far corner, its wooden exterior surprisingly intact despite the decay of the rest of the room.

He walked over and knelt in front of the chest, grinning as he flipped open the lid. Inside, nestled on a bed of faded cloth, was a couple of black firebombs.

"Whoa." Naruto held it up, inspecting the strange, dark explosive. "Is this, like… stronger or something?" He tucked it into his pouch. "Guess I'll find out later."

As he stood to leave, his gaze wandered back to the shelves lining the shop. Most of the furniture was ancient and rotting, but the mugs and plates scattered across the counters were surprisingly intact.

"Hmm… they don't look half bad. Little dusty, but nothing a good wash won't fix."

Grinning to himself, Naruto began gathering the mugs and plates, tossing them into his inventory with glee.

Naruto ascended the stone staircase, his footsteps echoing softly in the narrow corridor. High stone walls flanked him on both sides, their imposing height giving the pathway an almost oppressive feeling. As he reached the top, his gaze was drawn to the horizon. A towering stone castle loomed in the distance. Rounded and straight sections of the structure blended together seamlessly, battlements lining the top edges. It was breathtaking in its own way, the craftsmanship almost untouched by time.

But Naruto didn't linger. He wasn't here to sightsee. His attention snapped to the open area before him, where three hollows stood. Two of them clutched rusted swords, pacing aimlessly, while the third stood in the back, gripping a firebomb in its bony hand.

Naruto exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders.

As he stepped into the open, the two sword-wielding hollows lunged at him simultaneously. Naruto smirked, weaving a hand sign in an instant.

Poof!

A log appeared where he had been, and the two swords cut deep into it, splintering it into pieces. Naruto, now behind them, reappeared in a swirl of smoke directly in front of the hollow holding the firebomb.

Before it could react, Naruto grabbed the firebomb out of its hand. "Oh, you like throwing these, huh?" he said, shoving the bomb directly into the hollow's gaping mouth. With his free hand, he delivered an uppercut to its jaw.

The hollow's head snapped back, its mouth clamping down on the firebomb as it staggered. For a second, there was silence. Then, with a thunderous explosion, the firebomb detonated, blowing the hollow's skull apart. Bone, ash, and bits of flesh flew in every direction as a shockwave rippled outward, scorching the ground. Naruto felt the heat wash over him and ducked, shielding his face with his arm as the blast sent sparks and debris flying.

The two hollows behind him let out guttural roars as they were knocked back by the force of the explosion.

In an instant, Naruto vanished once more, reappearing behind the two hollows. Before they could react, he gripped the Zweihander in both hands and swung in a wide, brutal arc. The blade whistled through the air before cleaving through both hollows with a sickening crunch.

Naruto rested the massive sword on his shoulder, turning to glance at the red ladder propped against the wall nearby. "Finally," he said, exhaling. "A way to get to those firebomb-throwing bastards."

Naruto climbed the ladder, the metal rungs creaking slightly under his weight. As he reached the top, he paused, crouching low as he surveyed the area. The platform was a simple wooden structure, rough and weathered with age. The planks were uneven, some with gaps between them, and the whole thing was supported by basic wooden beams underneath.

Two hollows wandered aimlessly across the bridge, their feet clicking against the wood as they shuffled back and forth. Near the edge of the platform, Naruto spotted a corpse slumped against the railing, a faint glow emanating from it—a soul orb.

Good.

But first, he needed to deal with the hollows. He weaved a quick hand sign, his body shimmering slightly as he performed a transformation jutsu—he refracted and reflected light to camouflage himself. Like a true shinobi, Naruto crept forward, his footsteps silent. Each step was deliberate, his weight distributed perfectly to avoid any creaks from the fragile wood.

He reached the middle of the platform, standing between the two hollows, neither of which had noticed him.

A smoke bomb flew through the air, exploding into a thick cloud of black that engulfed the entire platform. In the chaos, Naruto created a dozen shadow clones, each one materializing with a wicked grin.

The clones moved as one, grabbing the two hollows and pinning them by their arms and shoulders. The creatures thrashed and roared, their movements frantic and jerky, but the clones held them tight.

Naruto emerged from the smoke, walking toward the bound hollows with an air of superiority. His hands were tucked into his pockets, his grin confident as he stopped in front of them.

"Not so tough now, huh? Throwing firebombs down at me like cowards. What, did you think I wouldn't come up here and handle this myself? Please." He crossed his arms, tilting his head mockingly. "You're lucky I'm even wasting my time on you two."

The hollows let out guttural growls, their glowing eyes filled with aggression. Naruto chuckled, shaking his head. "You know what? Forget it. You're not even worth it, dattebayo."

He waved a hand dismissively at his clones. "Get rid of them."

The clones nodded in unison, each gripping a hollow tightly as they dragged them toward the edge of the platform. The two creatures thrashed harder, their skeletal legs kicking wildly, but it was no use. With a collective shove, the clones threw the hollows over the side.

Naruto walked to the edge, peering down as the two forms tumbled into the abyss below, their growls fading into silence. "And stay down," he muttered.

Naruto reached for the glowing soul orb, his hand outstretched. His eyes darted to the tower to his right, and time seemed to slow as he saw it: a crossbow hollow, skeletal fingers tightening on the trigger. The bolt fired with a sharp twang, cutting through the air like a whistle of death.

Naruto's instincts kicked in. He moved fast, his hand snapping upward and catching the bolt mid-flight. The elite knight's helmet might have stopped it, sure—but it still would've rattled his brain, and Naruto wasn't about to let a damn crossbow hollow get the better of him.

"I don't know who I hate more," he muttered, tossing the bolt aside as he narrowed his eyes at the hollow. "Crossbow hollows or firebomb assholes."

Without wasting another second, Naruto jumped forward, landing on the floor below with a sharp thud that echoed through the empty ruins. He broke into a sprint, his boots slamming against the stone as he made a beeline for the spiral staircase leading up the tower. The hollow was already reloading, but Naruto was ready.

A fireball flared to life in his palm, its heat washing over his face as he hurled it with pinpoint accuracy. The fireball soared through the air, detonating on impact. The explosion engulfed the hollow, disintegrating its weapon in a spray of splinters and metal fragments.

Naruto didn't stop. He charged up the stairs and reached the hollow in an instant. Before it could react, he slapped an explosive tag onto its chest with a grin. "Let's see how far you can fly," he said, lowering his shoulder and slamming into the hollow with all his might.

The hollow let out a distorted screech as Naruto tackled it clean off the tower. Its skeletal body tumbled through the air, the explosive tag still clinging to its chest. It hit the staircase below with a sickening crunch, its bones shattering on impact.

Naruto peered down at the wreckage, smirking as he saw two spear hollows at the base of the staircase, slowly ascending toward him. He whistled sharply, catching their attention.

The hollows began to climb. Naruto waited until they were halfway up before forming the hand sign.

"Kai!"

The explosive tag detonated, the blast tearing through the air and sending debris flying. When the smoke cleared, the spear hollows were still standing—barely. Their armor was blown apart, their weapons shattered, but their relentless march continued.

"Tough bastards, huh?" Naruto muttered. He reached into his pouch, pulling out a handful of shurikens. With a flick of his wrist, the projectiles flew through the air, embedding themselves in the hollows' exposed torsos. One after another, they fell, crumpling into lifeless heaps.

Naruto exhaled, wiping the sweat from his brow.

But then, from the smoke and flames below, another figure emerged—a third spear hollow. Its charred armor clung to its frame as it ascended the stairs, its glowing eyes locked onto Naruto.

Naruto grinned, his heart pounding with excitement. "Guess I gotta go big."

He gripped the Zweihander tightly, channeling chakra into his legs. With a powerful leap, he launched himself off the tower, his body hurtling downward like a meteor. Chakra flooded his muscles, cushioning his fall as he brought the Zweihander down in a devastating plunge attack.

The massive blade slammed into the hollow, splitting its body in two with a deafening crack. The force of the attack carved a deep gash into the stone staircase, sending shards of rock flying. Naruto landed in a crouch, the Zweihander embedded in the stone beneath him.

Standing, he pulled the blade free with a grunt, surveying his handiwork.

"I am so awesome."

Naruto stood at the crossroads of two paths—one winding upward, the other spiraling down into the shadowed depths. After a moment's hesitation, he chose the downward path, descending a narrow stone staircase. The air grew colder with each step, the silence pressing heavier against his ears.

Then he stopped, his breath catching in his throat.

At the base of the staircase stood a figure clad in jet-black armor, its massive frame almost blending into the darkness. The Black Knight. Its horned helmet turned slightly, as if sensing his presence, and its greatsword rested against its shoulder like a weapon that had claimed countless lives.

"Oh, shit," Naruto whispered, freezing in place. Memories of their last encounter came flooding back—desperation, dirty tactics, sheer luck. He had only survived back in the Asylum because he knew the layout, using every advantage he could muster to scrape out a victory.

This was different.

He started to step back, his mind screaming at him to retreat. But then he stopped. He clenched his fists, determination hardening his features. He was stronger now, more experienced. His chakra control had improved, and he understood the Zweihander better than ever.

"I want to fight him," Naruto said to himself, a small grin tugging at his lips. "No tricks. No running. Just me and him."

Naruto stepped forward boldly. The Black Knight turned fully to face him, its indifferent gaze locking onto his.

And then it disappeared.

In a flash, the Black Knight reappeared in front of Naruto, its massive greatsword already descending in a brutal overhead slash. Naruto barely had time to raise the Zweihander, the force of the attack sending a shockwave down his arms as he blocked it. The impact reverberated through his body, making his knees buckle.

The knight didn't relent. It pivoted, swinging its blade in a horizontal arc. Naruto ducked, the edge passing just above his head. He retaliated with a quick upward slash, but the Black Knight sidestepped with inhuman speed, its movements flawless and efficient.

The knight lunged forward, its blade a blur. Naruto parried, sparks flying as the Zweihander clashed against the greatsword. He countered with a thrust, but the knight deflected it effortlessly, stepping inside his guard.

Before Naruto could react, the greatsword plunged forward, impaling him through the chest.

Naruto gasped, his eyes widening as the blade tore through him. The pain was sharp and immediate, his body trembling as blood dripped down the edge of the weapon. He staggered, his grip on the Zweihander loosening.

He chuckled weakly, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. "Guess… this is what I get… for being cocky," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

The last thing he saw was the Black Knight pulling its blade free, its imposing form looming over him as the world faded to black.

[ YOU DIED ]

Naruto groaned as he found himself back in his room. The dull ache of failure lingered in his body, but it was nothing compared to the bruising his pride had taken. He flopped back on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

"I'm going to kill that Black Knight if it's the last thing I do. Dattebayo!" he growled, determination flaring as he sat up and opened his system interface. Surely he had enough souls to level up, right? He deserved a reward for at least trying to take the Black Knight head-on.

[ Souls: 0 ]

Naruto blinked. Then blinked again. His mouth opened to shout, but no words came out. He slowly closed it, a vein twitching on his temple.

"Wait… I didn't… use my Ring of Sacrifice, did I?" His voice was a whisper, horror creeping into his tone.

Naruto slapped his forehead as the realization sank in. Of course he didn't use the cheat. Why would he remember something that important? His face went pale as an even worse thought hit him like a kunai to the chest.

"My souls… they're still down there. With him."

Naruto froze, staring at the wall, imagining the possibility. What if the Black Knight took my souls? He shivered at the thought, picturing the Black Knight glowing ominously, leveling up, and becoming an even more terrifying foe.

"Oh, no. Oh no no no no no!"

Without a second thought, Naruto took out the Darksign and activated it. He had to get those souls back now.

Naruto materialized back at the bonfire, flames licking softly at the base of the rusted sword as he tightened his grip on the Zweihander. "No time to waste!" he muttered, immediately launching into a Shunshin no Jutsu. He bolted past the hollows littering the pathway, ignoring their groans and sluggish movements. Firebombs exploded harmlessly behind him as he sprinted at full speed, his focus locked on the staircase that led to the Black Knight.

In minutes, Naruto stood at the top of the staircase, peering down at the familiar, hulking figure. The Black Knight stood in its usual position, unmoving, its back turned to him. Nearby, Naruto spotted the faint green glow of his lost souls, the orb lying untouched on the ground. Relief washed over him, only to be replaced by panic as a sneaky spear hollow wandered toward the orb.

The Black Knight didn't even flinch as the hollow approached. But as soon as the spear hollow bent down to inspect the glowing souls, the Black Knight moved.

The swing was brutal, an overhead slash that pulverized the hollow in one clean motion. The greatsword left a faint trail of sparks as it returned to rest on the Black Knight's shoulder, the armored figure resuming its ominous stance as if nothing had happened.

Naruto swallowed hard.

From his vantage point, Naruto studied the Black Knight closely. Its movements were precise, deliberate, almost mechanical. The way it shifted its stance spoke of raw power, each motion economized for efficiency.

Its grip on the greatsword was firm but fluid, its gauntleted hands adjusting subtly to maintain balance. Unlike Naruto's own clumsy swings with the Zweihander, the Black Knight wielded its weapon as if it were an extension of its body. Every step it took was calculated, its footwork perfectly aligned with its center of gravity.

"I need to learn how to do that," Naruto muttered, his eyes narrowing as he watched the Black Knight's flawless movements.

He knew there was no way the knight would willingly teach him—hell, it would sooner cut him in half than offer a lesson. But that didn't matter. He didn't need words or instructions. The Black Knight's every move, every calculated step, was a lesson in itself.

If he could fight it, watch how it handled that massive sword with such deadly precision, he could learn. He could memorize its techniques, break down its movements, and figure out what made it so strong. He wouldn't just fight the Black Knight—he'd use it as a guide, a living example of what his swordsmanship needed to become.

But his focus was broken by the sound of rapid footsteps. He turned to see over a dozen hollows charging toward him from the shadows, their weapons raised and glowing eyes locked onto him.

"You've gotta be kidding me," Naruto muttered, shifting his stance.

Behind him, the Black Knight began to move, its heavy footsteps echoing against the stone walls.

"Hey, uh… any chance you wanna help me with these guys?"

Naruto got his answer—it felt a lot like being a nail introduced to a very angry hammer.

[ YOU DIED ]

[ Through sacrifice, no souls were lost. Ring of Sacrifice shattered. ]

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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 29, 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!