Naruto: The Chosen Undead

Chapter 162 - no.162 Naruto

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Chapter 162 Chaos Follows Naruto

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The messenger waited in silence.

He stood at the edge of the fortress, its jagged towers rising like broken teeth through the mist. The island—no name, no landmark, only coordinates whispered by a terrified sailor—sat adrift in a sea perpetually gray, wrapped in a fog that never lifted.

Above, the sky had remained unchanged for ten days. Monochrome. Heavy. Watching.

The man clenched the scroll tighter, the parchment slightly damp from the sea air and sweat. His fingers were pale and trembling beneath its brittle edges. His sandals were worn through the soles. He hadn't eaten properly in four days. Drank salt-thin broth when it was shoved into his hands. Slept sitting up with one eye open—not that sleep came often.

He wasn't a shinobi. Not a spy.

Just a merchant.

A father.

Gato had come to his home with a smile that didn't reach his eyes and a knife that did: "Deliver this scroll. Wait for a reply. Return. Or don't return at all."

That had been twelve days ago.

The shinobi assigned to guard him hadn't spoken once. None of them had. They wore masks and robes in unfamiliar styles. Their symbols didn't match any of the Hidden Villages he'd traded with over the years.

And it wasn't just the silence that haunted him.

It was what he saw when no one was supposed to be watching.

Children. Dozens of them. Collared. Muzzled. Some barely old enough to walk. Herded between buildings by shinobi that moved with military precision—but not care.

He'd seen one boy try to escape during the fog-choked dusk of the fifth day.

The screaming that followed hadn't been loud. Just... meticulous. Rhythmic. Like someone tuning an instrument rather than punishing a child.

The merchant tried not to think about it.

Not to breathe too loud. Not to look too long at the walls that seemed to shift when he wasn't watching them. Or the pale-eyed man who occasionally passed his window with hands that didn't seem connected to his arms.

"Excuse me," he said into the gray. His voice cracked. "How long do I have to wait for a response from your master?"

The shinobi beside him said nothing.

What the merchant didn't know was that Orochimaru had not been seen for nearly a month.

He had been summoned by the White Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave.

And what waited there wasn't a summons.

It was a warning.

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Fire Country, Tochigi Prefecture.

A sleepy town in the midlands had, for a few weeks, become unexpectedly wealthy. Not from harvests. Not from trade.

From Tsunade Senju.

The legendary sucker had graced the town with her presence, dragging behind her a trail of bad bets, broken ledgers, and stunned casino owners. She had blown through a small fortune in a matter of days, her reputation alone drawing crowds eager to watch the spectacle. But recently... she'd vanished.

The gambling dens were left with swollen registers and unpaid debts. Loan sharks circled like vultures, only to find that Tsunade hadn't actually left town.

She simply stopped appearing.

She hadn't left the inn for alomst a month.

Most assumed she'd run. Fled her debts. Slipped away under cover of night. But then there was the problem of her assistant.

Shizune.

The fair-skinned woman was of average height, slender build, and a silent storm of composure. Her onyx-black hair, straight and shoulder-length, framed a deceptively calm face. She wore a deep bluish-black kimono with pale white trim, cinched neatly at the waist by a cream-colored obi. Her sandals were quiet on stone. Her movements, quieter.

Loan sharks who came knocking quickly learned that collecting on Tsunade's debts was more complicated than it sounded. Some left limping. Others were carried away.

They never came back.

Shizune sat on the steps of the inn now, exhaling slowly. Her knuckles ached from the last conversation. She rubbed her wrist absentmindedly.

"I swear, Lady Tsunade..." she muttered to no one in particular. "You said it would only be three days."

Oink.

A small, pink pig trotted into view. Tonton's coat was soft, her cheeks darkened by the faintest natural blush. A pearl collar clinked softly around her neck. She wore a tailored dark red jacket, neat and clean, better cared for than most shinobi uniforms.

"Thank you, Tonton," Shizune sighed, standing. She forced a smile. "Let's get something to eat. Maybe she'll be back tonight."

What Shizune didn't know was that each of the three Sannin had been summoned by their respective sage clans for a revelation.

A message so profound it threatened to reshape not only the fate of their world...

But of another entirely.

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"So how did you get so strong?" Kiba asked, sprawled out on the living room floor, arms behind his head.

The rest of Team 7 and Team 8 were gathered around, watching with barely contained disbelief as Naruto and a handful of clones quietly stitched up Kakashi's torn jonin vest.

"I trained," Naruto said simply, eyes focused on the stitch he was threading. "A lot."

Kiba scoffed. "That's not training, that's magic."

Sakura elbowed Kiba out of the way and leaned forward, serious. "When Kakashi-sensei trapped you in that genjutsu... how come you were unaffected? You didn't even flinch."

Everyone in the room stilled, turning toward Naruto.

"Oh, genjutsu affected my perception of reality," he said casually, "but not my soul."

"...Your soul?" Sakura asked, blinking.

Naruto nodded, still focused on the stitching. "Yeah. I saw through the genjutsu with my soul."

There was a long, strange silence.

Sasuke slowly turned his head toward Kakashi with an expression that said, is that even possible?

Kakashi hesitated. "Well... there are a few ancient techniques involving the soul. Very rare. Rarer than most Kekkei Genkai, even."

"Where the hell did you learn that?" Kiba asked.

"From my masters," Naruto said, handing the now-pristine vest back to a stunned Kakashi. "Andre. Rickert—though he's more of a 'maybe.' And Siegmeyer. They all taught me stuff."

Everyone stared. Kakashi's jaw tightened slightly as something clicked into place.

If Naruto was summoning from another realm... then Oscar was likely from that same realm. It made sense. And it meant Naruto wasn't just fighting or training.

He was learning from them.

"So..." Kurenai said with a sly grin, "are these masters of yours better than Kakashi?"

Naruto tilted his head, considering. "Mmm... maybe. Kakashi-sensei's kind of at the bottom of the teacher list. But I can bump him up a slot for the right price."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "You want a jutsu?"

"If you're offering," Naruto said with a grin.

"Maybe when we get back to Konoha," Kakashi replied. His tone turned serious. "For now, we stay alert. Enemy shinobi could make their move any day."

"Ah, that reminds me," Naruto said, looking around the room. "Do any of you need anything? Armor reinforcement? Weapons? I can make or upgrade stuff for you. I want you all to come back alive."

"That's thoughtful, Naruto," Sakura said, smiling. "But I'm good."

"Hn," Sasuke added with his usual detachment.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun," Hinata said.

Kiba scratched his head. "I mean... a weapon does sound cool."

"I've got spears, swords, halberds, clubs..."

Kiba made a face. "Ugh. No way. I'm not just gonna carry around some generic weapon. Someone like me needs something unique."

Naruto stared at him, deadpan. Then turned to Oscar and muttered, "This... fucking... guy."

Oscar made a low grumble. Akamaru barked softly in agreement, ears drooping with shared embarrassment.

"How about a dart rope?" Kakashi suggested suddenly, his voice innocent.

Naruto raised a brow. Kiba's reaction was a low snarl under his breath, and a quick glance away. Naruto turned back to Kakashi and asked with a knowing tone, "Dart rope? Really?"

The implication was clear: You know why he's acting like that, don't you?

But before the conversation could continue, Kiba stood abruptly.

"Oi, Sasuke," he said, pointing accusingly. "Weren't you gonna ask Naruto about that weird dojutsu thing? Ask him!"

And with that, he stormed toward the door. "I'll guard the house."

"...That was smooth," Sakura muttered.

"So..." Naruto said, dragging the word out while looking at Sasuke. "What was it you wanted to ask?"

"How do you have a dojutsu?"

"Oh, you mean Hawkeyes?" Naruto snapped his fingers like he'd just remembered a grocery item. "I used a tonic to absorb the soul of a hawk into my eyes. Since the soul can reshape the body, I ended up with enhanced vision. Boom. Hawkeyes."

Everyone stared with jaws dropped.

Shino looked like he forgot how to blink.

"You... just casually grafted a hawk's soul onto yourself?" Sakura asked, voice cracking.

Naruto shrugged. "Yeah. I mean, it sounds weirder when you say it like that."

"Wait a minute!" Naruto suddenly pointed at Sasuke and Hinata, eyes wide with excitement. "What if I gave you two the Hawkeyes tonic?"

Sakura nearly jumped out of her seat. "Are you going to mess with their souls too?!"

"No, no, no," Naruto said quickly, waving his hand. "That's way too dangerous. If they botch the soul grafting process, they'll end up with the brain of a hawk. Actual birdbrains. I'm not joking."

Oscar made a rattling sound that might have been a laugh.

"But," Naruto continued, "if I give them the tonic without the soul infusion, it'll still strengthen their eyes. Especially since they already have dojutsu. It should enhance their vision safely."

"...That actually makes sense," Sakura admitted, glancing at Sasuke.

Sasuke's eyes gleamed. The possibility of evolving his Sharingan clearly had him hooked.

Hinata, however, hesitated.

Sakura stepped in, frowning. "Naruto, is this really a good idea? Hinata's part of a prominent clan. If the Hyuga find out about this tonic..."

"Eeh?" Naruto tilted his head.

"I mean, what if they accuse her of corrupting the Byakugan?" Sakura looked to Kakashi and Kurenai for backup.

Kakashi rubbed his temple. "How sure are you about these effects, Naruto?"

"Oh, totally sure," Naruto said. "The Hawkeyes have been around for thousands of years. Worst case, I'll just heal them. No biggie."

"I'll do it," Hinata said quietly, her voice firm. "And I won't tell anyone. Not my father. Not my clan."

"Perfect. I'll go set it up." Naruto hopped up and jogged to the kitchen. "Tsunami-san! I'm borrowing your pots and pans again!"

A short laugh cut through the tension.

Hinata turned to Sakura. "Sakura-san, would you... accompany me to the powder room?"

"Um... yeah. Of course."

Once the girls stepped out, Kakashi and Kurenai exchanged glances and followed suit, exiting into the hallway.

"What do you make of all this?" Kurenai asked.

Kakashi exhaled, long and slow. "Naruto just reminded us... again that he's carrying enough power in his bag, and in his head, to start a war."

"I'm more worried about what that tonic might do to the Byakugan," Kurenai said. "The last thing we need is the Hyuga elders knocking on the Hokage's door."

"I'm more worried for them," Kakashi muttered. "If I'm right about Naruto's summoning clan..."

"You found something?" Kurenai asked, her voice low.

"I think they specialize in soul manipulation," Kakashi said. "During the spar, Naruto's bolt bypassed my chakra defenses and hit something deeper. And now he's talking about soul vision like it's just another technique."

"Combine that with his willingness to experiment on himself..." Kurenai stated. "It's like we're watching a slightly less deranged Orochimaru."

Kakashi gave a dry chuckle, but his eyes were heavy. "I'm not sure how the Third is going to handle this."

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Meanwhile, the two kunoichi walked side by side toward the small wooden outhouse nestled near the edge of the property, the grass crunching softly beneath their sandals.

"Thank you for bringing up my clan."

Sakura offered a smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Well... I just don't want Naruto to get into trouble."

Hinata glanced at her, the corners of her gaze narrowing ever so slightly. The words were kind. The tone was polite. But something beneath the surface felt off. Was she really worried about Naruto... or was she trying to stop me?

After a moment, Hinata spoke softly. "Sakura... I don't think we've had much history together."

"Yeah. I guess not."

"So... if I've ever done anything to offend you, I want to apologize."

Sakura blinked. "What? Hinata, no, you haven't done anything wrong. Why would you think that?"

"I'd appreciate honesty," Hinata said. "I admire you, Sakura-san. You're an amazing kunoichi. Strong, smart, and brave. But I'd like to be seen with the same respect. If I've done anything wrong... tell me."

Sakura was quiet for a beat, jaw tight.

"You like Naruto, don't you?"

Hinata nearly tripped over her own feet. "W-what?! I—uh—um—"

"Relax. I'm not judging. Just asking."

Hinata's face flushed as she looked away. "...Yes. I like him."

There was a moment of silence between them.

Sakura sighed, a little smile fading from her face. "Well... just so you know... Ino likes him too."

"Oh. I didn't know that."

"Yeah, me neither. It surprised me," Sakura said. "I think they've gone on a few dates."

Hinata lowered her gaze. "That's... nice," she said after a moment, her voice soft.

"That's all? 'Nice'? Aren't you gonna... I don't know... fight for him or something?"

Hinata stopped walking and turned toward Sakura. Her face was calm, but there was a firm light in her pale eyes.

"Sakura-san," she said gently, "are Naruto and Ino together?"

"...No. Not officially. Not even unofficially, really."

"Then," Hinata said, "there's no reason to fight. I'll just... keep trying. I'll keep being by his side, and if that turns into something more, that's wonderful. If it doesn't, then I'll still be happy because Naruto is my friend and that means something to me."

"I don't get you."

Hinata tilted her head. "What's there to get?"

"You're not jealous. You're not scheming. You're not angry or dramatic or anything. If you really like him, then why aren't you trying harder to win?"

Hinata's eyes softened. She walked past Sakura and paused by the door, placing her hand on the wooden frame before turning slightly. "I will try, Sakura-san. But I don't see Naruto as a prize to be won. This isn't a competition. I've seen him since the academy. That boy who sat alone. Who smiled when no one talked to him. Who kept showing up, no matter how many times life told him not to."

She looked away, voice barely above a whisper. "I regret not having the courage to stand beside him back then. But I have that courage now. And I want him to be happy. Whether it's with me... or not."

Sakura didn't respond at first.

Hinata turned fully to her. "His happiness is the only prize I want to fight for."

That silence was heavy. Sakura stared at the floor, shame and admiration tangling in her chest. Then, in a small voice: "I'm sorry."

"Pardon."

"I was being childish," Sakura said, forcing out a chuckle that didn't quite land. "Thinking I could play matchmaker, like love is some kind of game. I thought I understood how people feel. But you... Hinata, you understand something deeper."

She stepped forward and held out her hand.

"I was wrong. And I'm sorry."

Hinata stared at the hand for a second, then smiled softly and took it. "Thank you, Sakura-san."

"But..." Hinata added, "if it was a competition between Ino and me... I'd win."

Sakura blinked. "Wha—?"

The door clicked shut behind her.

Sakura stood there for a beat, stunned. Then she laughed. Full, genuine, surprised laughter. "That... was badass," she murmured, a hand on her hip.

She looked at the hand she'd offered Hinata and smiled to herself. The quiet, shy girl from the academy had just drawn a line gracefully, kindly, and confidently.

"People really do change," she said under her breath. "Not just in power. But in who they are."

Then she looked to where Naruto's silhouette moved around the cauldron, Oscar still perched protectively nearby.

"Ino, you've got competition. And honestly? I'm not even rooting for you anymore. I'm rooting for Naruto."

She smiled. May he find someone who truly sees him.

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"Can you... please do this outside?" Tsunami asked, hand covering her nose as she peeked into the kitchen. "The smell... Naruto, whatever that is, it's fermenting the air."

Naruto grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, sorry. The tonic doesn't smell great without the hawk soul. Just kind of... simmers into a bubbling sludge."

He kicked open the back door and moved the pot out into the garden. The contents of the cauldron were a churning, viscous blend of moss greens and sulfurous yellows, glowing faintly.

Hinata and Sasuke stood before it, quiet.

Naruto looked between them. "I know it looks scary. But if anything goes wrong, I'm here. You'll be fine."

He placed a steadying hand at the back of Hinata's head, fingers curling gently into her hair. She stiffened for half a second... then leaned into the touch, hiding a blush.

"I trust you," she whispered.

Naruto smiled. Then, without ceremony, he shoved her head into the pot.

Bubbling sludge frothed around her as she thrashed. Her white eyes wide behind the surface tension. Arms twitching like she was being drowned.

"I can't tell if he's helping her or assassinating her," Sakura muttered in horror.

"Hn," Sasuke replied stoically and dunked his own head in, activating the Sharingan as he did.

A low hum pulsed out from the pot. Not from the liquid, but from what it triggered. The ingredients in Naruto's tonic were magical on their own but something within Sasuke and Hinata responded.

Sasuke was the first to rise.

He pulled himself back with a sharp breath, globs of sludge trailing from his face. Sakura rushed over, already holding a wash basin. She poured water over him, scrubbing fast and froze.

"...Sasuke?" she whispered. "Your eyes..."

"What?"

Kakashi stepped forward and silently offered him a mirror. Sasuke took it, eyes narrowing, then widened as he looked at his own reflection.

The Sharingan spun in its familiar three-tomoe pattern, but veins, thin and crimson, spiderwebbed outward from the eye socket. They extended across his temples and down his cheekbones, pulsing faintly beneath the skin.

"It's the same Sharingan... but it's not," Kakashi said, voice low.

Sasuke turned his gaze downward and flexed his fingers. "It's like I'm... seeing through myself." He closed his fist slowly. "I can make out the layers. Muscle, tendon, chakra lines. It's like I'm wearing the Byakugan underneath my skin."

Kakashi sucked in a breath through his teeth. "The Sharingan awakened the traits of the Byakugan..."

Everyone turned toward Hinata as she knelt beside the basin, wiping sludge from her face. She rose slowly, the white of her eyes glowing faintly. Only now, in the center of her Byakugan, sat a new mark.

A small, bud-shaped pattern hovered in the core of her pupil, almost like Hinata's Byakugan had formed tomoi of the Sharingan.

"My Byakugan... it feels different."

"How?" Kurenai asked, concerned but unable to hide her awe.

"It's faster," Hinata murmured. "Smarter. My thoughts don't need to catch up to what I see anymore. It's like my brain already understands the chakra before I do. Before, it felt like I was watching a river. Now... I am the current."

"Insight..." Kakashi whispered. "That's the Eye of Insight... the Sharingan's trait."

Everyone felt the shift in the air. Something sacred had just been tampered with. The Uchiha and the Hyūga were clans that had spent centuries guarding their bloodlines, isolating their legacies, which now stood here, changed.

Their gifts weren't exclusive anymore.

They were merging.

The Uchiha now carried the anatomical precision of the Hyūga's all-seeing eye.

The Byakugan now danced with the intuitive, anticipatory foresight of the Sharingan.

No scroll in the Hyūga compound had ever acknowledged the Uchiha as kin.

No Uchiha doctrine had ever done more than look down on the Byakugan.

But standing here, far from the sanctity of ancestral shrines, Naruto's bubbling, foul-smelling tonic had cracked a truth no clan would willingly admit: their dojutsu were never separate. Only different sides of the same mirror.

Sasuke looked at Hinata. She returned the gaze.

"...What does this mean?" she asked, voice quiet but steady. A ripple beneath the surface.

Sasuke didn't answer. He was still staring at the flow of chakra under his skin, something his eyes were never meant to see.

Meanwhile, the source of all this chaos blinked at them in confusion. "Wait, wait, wait! Why do you guys get immediate results?"

"You shoved their faces into bubbling sludge!"

"But the tonic isn't supposed to work instantly!" Naruto pointed out. "It's meant to slowly stimulate ocular nerves and..."

"I believe I understand," Shino interrupted, stepping forward.

"Your tonic didn't cause the transformation," the Aburame said. "It acted as a catalyst. Their bloodline chakra reacted to the ingredients... triggering the awakening of a deeper layer. You didn't give them this power. You unlocked what was already there."

"...Huh. Neat." Naruto blinked, scratching his head. "Guess I don't have to brew this nasty stuff for you every day now."

He muttered to himself," Unfair, honestly. I have to use this sludge and absorb multiple souls for months for my stuff. They sip it once and boom... god vision."

Shino walked over and gently patted Naruto on the shoulder. "You are... appreciated."

"Thanks, man. But what about you?"

"Pardon?"

"Do you need anything from me?" Naruto asked. "Armor? Weapon? Dojutsu? Emotional support?"

Shino shook his head calmly. "My strength lies in my kikaichū, not in tools or enhancements."

"Can your bugs inject toxins?"

"...Yes," Shino said slowly, uncertain where this conversation was going.

Naruto's grin widened. "Perfect. That reminds me of something disgusting I found in entrance of Blighttown."

Everyone turned toward him at once.

"Blight... what?" Sakura asked.

Naruto dropped his scroll pack, opened a side pouch, and carefully unwrapped a tightly sealed cloth bundle. The moment he opened it, the air soured with an unholy stench.

Naruto gagged. "Ugh... there it is."

He dropped the item onto the grass with a grim plop.

[Item: Dung Pie]

[Description: Atrocious fecal waste material. Throw at enemies to build up toxins, but also builds up your own toxicity. The stench makes it difficult to carry, but turning an enemy toxic inflicts high damage over time.]

"What... what is that?!" Sakura cried, stepping back in horror.

"This," Naruto said with pride, "is my gift to Shino."

Sakura burst out laughing. "Sorry-sorry... I can't! I get humanity upgrades, Sasuke and Hinata evolve their eyes into mini-gods, Kiba gets a spiked collar for Akamaru, and Shino gets a literal piece of crap?!"

But Shino... lit up. "This is amazing," he said, voice rising for the first time anyone could remember.

Everyone blinked in stunned silence.

"The toxins in this specimen are unfamiliar. Completely alien to anything in the Aburame compound archives. If I breed a line of kikaichū to survive contact with it, I could produce a specialized strain that delivers exotic neurotoxins to targets without harming itself. This... this could redefine my entire approach to poison-based warfare."

"Glad you like it," Naruto said, grinning through the smell and covering his nose.

Sakura wiped her eyes from laughing. "Naruto... I don't want to sound ungrateful, but doesn't it feel like we're just taking advantage of you?"

"Nah," Naruto shrugged. "I want you all to be safe. And it's not like I'm giving you guys the real stuff. This is just the basic gear."

The stuff that nearly shattered everything they thought they knew about chakra, dojutsu, and biology... was what Naruto casually called basic?

"Well, if you're just handing out basic stuff," Kurenai said, tilting her head ever so slightly, "can I expect something too?"

She meant it playfully. A gentle prod. Just to see how far Naruto's generosity extended.

Naruto didn't even hesitate.

"I can give you my pipe," he said with a bright smile. "And my weed."

Kurenai froze.

The courtyard went completely silent. Sakura choked on air. Sasuke looked away. Hinata looked ready to faint. Even Shino's glasses seemed to fog slightly.

Kurenai blinked. Normally, that kind of phrasing would earn someone a Genjutsu-induced period pains. But looking at Naruto's face, she quickly realized he was being completely sincere. "...What did you mean by that?"

Naruto pulled a slender, polished pipe from his pouch. The dark wood shimmered faintly along the stem. The bowl at the end was packed with a pale green herb that gave off a slow, cool burn.

"This one's a prototype," Naruto said, holding it out. "Hand-carved from Lordran pine. It's packed with Green Blossom. It's a rare moss-weed hybrid that slowly restores chakra over time."

Kurenai took it slowly, her hand trembling ever so slightly. "Thank you," she murmured. "For your pipe. And... the weed."

Naruto beamed. "You're welcome!"

Off to the side, Kakashi gave a low chuckle.

Kurenai's eyes narrowed instantly. "Don't say it," she warned.

Kakashi gave her a sidelong glance, visible eye crinkling with mischief. "You know, Kurenai... Naruto's a little young for you, isn't he?"

He was already flickering away before the last word left his mouth.

"You're dead!" Kurenai shouted, chakra flaring as she bolted after him.

Naruto blinked, watching them vanish into the trees. "...What was that about?"

Oscar chirped innocently, tilting his head in sync with Naruto's.

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As night fell over the quiet compound, most found comfort in sleep. Seeking a few precious hours of peace from the storm that was Naruto Uzumaki.

But in his room, Kakashi remained seated, unmoving. The candle beside him flickered, shadows dancing across the scar beneath his eye. Pakkun sat on the tatami, watching silently.

"You failed the mission," the hound said at last.

Kakashi didn't answer right away. He exhaled slowly, pressing fingers to the bridge of his nose. Then, quietly, he nodded. "Yeah... I did."

He stared at the wall, as if looking beyond it—beyond the compound, beyond the Hokage's orders.

"I think it's time I come clean to the boy."

Pakkun raised an eyebrow. "Why the change of heart?"

Kakashi looked down at his hands. "The Hokage and I... we assumed Naruto would guard his secrets like a shinobi should. We thought he'd cling to them, weaponize them. That he'd hide them out of fear, paranoia... survival instinct."

He shook his head, bitter with shame.

"But... he shared everything. With all of us. Without hesitation. Without conditions. He gave Kurenai chakra-regenerating herbs, gave Sasuke and Hinata access to power their clans could only dream of... gave me my vest back, better than before and so much more."

Kakashi's voice dropped.

"He gave freely. Because that's who he is."

"Because he's not like a shinobi," Pakkun said, voice soft. "He's open. Childlike. Hopeful."

"Yeah..." Kakashi murmured. "He's not hardened. Not cold. He doesn't manipulate to gain ground or calculate for advantage. He just... believes in people."

He clenched his fist.

"And I didn't believe in him. I thought I could hide things 'for his sake.' Keep control of the situation. Preserve our relationship by burying my betrayal deeper. But that wasn't protection. It was cowardice."

He looked at Pakkun.

"If I want to be his teacher... I have to be honest. Even if it breaks things. Because lying to him... that breaks them worse."

Pakkun stared for a long moment, then snorted lightly.

"Well," the dog muttered, "guess getting your ass handed to you was the wake-up call you needed."

Then he froze.

"Kakashi," he said quietly, fur bristling. "The kunai. It's out."

Kakashi's heart stuttered. "Where?"

"Forest. Northwest quadrant."

They didn't wait.

Both vanished in a flicker of chakra and motion, the night swallowing them whole. Moonlight filtered through the leaves as they darted through the forest, the chill of dread settling into Kakashi's spine.

Then they found him.

Naruto stood beneath the trees, bathed in pale silver light. The marked kunai sat in his hand like a relic dug up from a grave.

He didn't move. Didn't speak.

When his eyes finally met Kakashi's, the older ninja felt the breath catch in his lungs. It wasn't anger in those eyes.

It was betrayal.

"Naruto," Kakashi took a step forward, his voice strained, nearly breaking. "I—I didn't want you to find out like this. Just... please, let me explain."

Naruto's fingers closed slowly around the kunai. A low, soundless hum began to vibrate through the air.

"Wait!" Kakashi lunged but it was too late. Naruto warped away with Oscar. The jonin's hand cut through nothing but cold air, and then he was gone.

"I'm sorry," Kakashi whispered, knees sinking into the moss. "I never wanted it to end like this... Please... just give me a chance..."

But the forest didn't answer. Only the moon watched in silence as a lone man bowed beneath the weight of regret.

Somewhere far beyond the veil of their world, Naruto returned to Lordran.

And the next time they saw him...

He would not be the same boy Kakashi once knew.

He would not be human.

He would be something else.

Something forged in chaos, and calamity.

Something this world was not ready for.

Something that Lordran was not ready for.

Hehehe.

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Author's Note:

1– The Sannin & the Sages:

Remember how Jiraiya's currently missing from the Wave Arc because the Great Toad Sage summoned him for a new prophecy? Well... turns out the other sages have noticed something too. The Snake and Slug Sages have called Orochimaru and Tsunade with a message that might shake not just this world but another.

The next few Chapters are going to get wild. Buckle up.

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2– Naruto Empowering His Team:

This was something I really wanted to do. It's not about making the side cast overpowered or letting them overshadow Naruto—it's about showing growth, progress, and how Naruto's presence changes everyone around him.

For those worried Naruto's sharing too much: he's not handing out miracles, pyromancy, divine weapons, or top-tier gear like Black Knight Armor or the Channeler's Trident.

Everything he's given are basic items... things he can literally farm in hundreds.

But these basics? In the right hands, they spark growth.

Here's a breakdown of what everyone got—let me know your thoughts!

Kakashi: Healed by the Estus Flask, which removes the chakra sync issue with his Sharingan.

Kurenai: Gets Naruto's prototype smoking pipe and Green Blossom. As an ex-medic, expect her to explore what Green Blossom does to the average shinobi body—which could cause ripple effects in the world.

Sakura: Receives a humanity buff and a battle axe. Enough said.

Sasuke: Sharingan enhancement, Claymore, and swordsmanship buffs.

Hinata: Her Byakugan gets a unique upgrade, and more importantly, she gets a confidence boost.

Shino: Gets... a piece of shit. But if you read carefully, this "shit" might be more valuable than most ninja tools.

Kiba: Akamaru gets a spiked collar. Maybe the dart rope too.

Side note: Why do you think Kiba reacted so negatively to the dart rope?

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3– Sharingan & Byakugan Buffs:

One of the coolest things in this crossover is exploring what happens when power systems mix.

We've already seen what Naruto can do by fusing chakra with magic and pyromancy. Now it's the dojutsu's turn.

Here's the logic behind the changes:

Tobirama stated that the Sharingan is awakened through special chakra released by trauma.

The Hawkeyes tonic might trigger this reaction—forcing the release of a different chakra without trauma.

Since both the Sharingan and Byakugan come from the same Ōtsutsuki lineage, it made sense to me that exposure to certain stimuli might cause cross-traits to emerge.

Design Details:

Sharingan with red veins: Inspired by the iconic Byakugan veins, but not a copy-paste. The red veins resemble Ghoul Eyes from Tokyo Ghoul, giving it a darker, more visceral look.

Byakugan with a closed bud pattern: A nod to the Sharingan's tomoe and the Tenseigan's floral aesthetic. Think of it as a dormant flower. A bud waiting to bloom.

Can Hinata unlock the Tenseigan from this? Yes but not just because of the tonic. She'll need to fulfill its conditions. The Hawkeyes simply nudged her Byakugan onto a new path.

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4 – Romance:

Okay, real talk for a second. I've always rolled my eyes at the trope where the male character has to "win" the girl like she's some prize or worse, where two girls fight over a guy like it's some kind of shipping war with no real emotional weight.

Think canon Sakura vs. Ino over Sasuke. It just makes the love interest feel like... a quest item. No agency. No nuance. Like Sasuke had to pick between just those two instead of, y'know, maybe not being into either?

That's why, for this story, I'm treating romance with more respect.

For example: Hinata discovering Ino also likes Naruto and her response isn't jealousy or possessiveness. It's compassion. She wants Naruto to be happy, even if it's not with her. That? That's powerful. That feels in character for Hinata. It shows growth, respect, maturity, and that romance isn't about "winning," but about caring for someone else's happiness.

That's the kind of emotional depth I want in this story. Let me know your thoughts on this approach.

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5 – The Wave Arc Isn't "Too Long" (And Here's Why):

I've seen a few comments asking things like:

"Wait, we're still in the Wave Arc?"

"Isn't this taking too long?"

So let's address this clearly: Stop thinking of this story through the lens of canon Naruto. This isn't a 1-to-1 retelling. This is a crossover. A fusion. A new journey.

Canon's Wave Arc was a short, early arc. But in Naruto: The Chosen Undead, this version of the Wave Arc is crucial. It's the first major turning point that will ripple into the Chūnin Exams and far beyond. This arc isn't just about protecting a bridge. It's about exploring Naruto's soul, showing the impact he has on others, and reshaping the world with every battle, gift, and revelation.

For context:

Arc 1 was Naruto's awakening in the Northern Undead Asylum and his bond with Oscar.

Arc 2 was Team 7's formation and their growing dynamic along with the side cast and their development.

The Wave Arc is Arc 3, but it's so much bigger than canon because everything changes here.

I've planned this story. I know where it's going. And while most of you have been amazing, this is for the few still expecting a canon timeline beat-for-beat: Please treat this as a new story, not a fanservice checklist.

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Thanks to everyone sticking with me and getting invested in this dark, wild, emotional crossover world. It means everything.

Now then what did you think of this Chapter? Drop your thoughts below!

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That's it... for now.

Thank you all for your incredible support. Writing this story has been one hell of a journey, and you make it worth every word.

As always, thanks for reading.

— 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 80, 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!