Naruto: The Chosen Undead

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Chapter 109 Andre of Astora

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Ting!

The rhythmic clang of a hammer striking metal echoed through the air as Naruto descended the stairs, the sound resonating with a steady pulse. The staircase creaked under his weight, each step accompanied by the faint groan of old wood. He found himself on a moss-covered wooden platform. Above him, the ceiling was a patchwork of stone and rotting wooden beams.

The metallic rhythm grew louder as Naruto moved forward, his eyes scanning the dimly lit area. The soft orange glow of a bonfire flickered on the floor below, visible through the gaps in the wooden planks.

"Yes!"

The hammering stopped.

Naruto froze, his breath catching as the sudden silence pressed down on him. He glanced at the floorboards, suddenly hyper-aware of every creak they made under his weight. Then, after a moment that felt far too long, the hammering resumed—steady and unbothered.

"Guess he doesn’t mind visitors."

He made his way carefully down the next set of stone stairs, the air growing warmer with each step. The bonfire beckoned to him, its soft glow promising a moment of rest. Naruto reached it and sat down, letting its warmth seep into his tired body. The flames danced in the light, their crackling rhythm blending with the distant clang of metal on metal. To his right, Naruto noticed a stone doorframe leading out to a narrow path. Trees crowded the edges of the trail, their gnarled branches creating an almost impenetrable canopy overhead. Beyond the doorframe stood a massive, foreboding structure.

Naruto pulled out his binoculars for a closer look.

The fortress loomed like a sleeping giant, its stone walls aged and cracked, yet still imposing. Three colossal portcullises barred the entrance, their iron bars thick and unyielding. Above them, sharp spikes jutted downward—a clear warning to anyone foolish enough to approach unprepared. The air around the structure felt heavy, as though the building itself radiated a challenging aura, daring anyone to come conquer it.

Yeah… I’ll check that out later.

The sound of hammering brought his focus back. Right—priorities.

Naruto stood, dusting himself off as he turned toward the torchlit staircase that spiraled deeper into the space below. His boots clacked softly against the stone steps as he descended, peering over the wooden railings.

The blacksmith’s workshop came into view.

It was a sprawling, cluttered space dominated by the warm glow of a roaring furnace. A massive anvil stood at the center, surrounded by tools and weapons in various states of completion. Hammers of different sizes rested on a sturdy wooden table, next to a barrel upon which sat an axe and a cup of frothing beer—the scent of it carried faintly on the air. Racks of swords, shields, and other weapons lined the walls, their polished edges glinting faintly in the firelight. Then there was the blacksmith himself. The man was a towering figure of muscle. His skin was rough and weathered, marred by burn scars that spoke of years spent toiling in the heat of the forge. His thick white beard hung down to his chest, wild and unkempt, matching the shaggy white hair that framed his face. Thick, bushy eyebrows shadowed sharp, piercing eyes. He wore heavy gloves and pants, covered only by a dirtied apron tied at the waist.

Naruto crouched low, peering through the wooden railings as the blacksmith raised the blade he'd been working on. The firelight danced across its surface, illuminating every sharp line and polished curve.

"A beauty, isn't she?" the blacksmith said, his deep, gravelly voice cutting through the air like the blade in his hands.

"Uh… yeah. It really is."

"Well now, what have we here?" The blacksmith set the blade down on the anvil, giving Naruto a once-over. "An elite Astora knight, eh? Been a long time since I've seen one of you lot."

Naruto blinked in surprise before shaking his head. "Not quite. This armor belonged to my master." He removed his helmet, tucking it under his arm. "Naruto Uzumaki, Squire of Oscar of Astora."

"A squire, eh? Hah! Well, ain't that somethin'." The blacksmith chuckled. "I'm Andre. So, tell me, Undead Squire—how's Astora faring these days?"

"You can just call me Naruto. And, uh… I wouldn't know much about Astora. I met my master in the asylum. Never been to Astora myself, but I'd like to go someday."

Andre grunted, his expression darkening slightly. "Hmph. Don't get your hopes up, boy then."

"Why? What's wrong with Astora?"

"Astora... it used to be a land of beauty and invention. A place where craftsmen and artisans flourished, where every blade, shield, and tool was forged with care." His voice carried the weight of nostalgia, tinged with something heavier—bitterness. "But before I came to Lordran, I saw the seeds of my beautiful nation's downfall."

Naruto, who had been quietly listening, glanced at the binoculars strapped to his hip. He unfastened them and handed them to Andre, who took them with a gloved hand, studying the fine craftsmanship with a small, almost wistful smile. His thick thumb ran over the engravings, the smooth, polished metal.

"Ah, this… this is the kind of work Astora was known for," the old blacksmith muttered. "Every little detail, every curve—done with purpose, with pride." The smile faded as he passed them back. "But that was before. Now? The land's beauty is tarnished, its legacy twisted by gods and nobles who think they know better. What once belonged to the people is just another prize for the powerful to mold to their liking."

Naruto frowned, taking the binoculars back. "So… Astora's not like the people I've met from there? Not like Solaire or Oscar?"

"Hmm. Don't know these people you speak of, boy. But I'll tell you this—don't judge a land by the men born from it. Some rise above their home's sins. Others sink right into 'em."

Naruto nodded at that, then smirked. "Y'know, for a guy I just met, you sure share a lot."

"Hah! Must be drunk then. I tend to do that when I'm workin'."

Naruto's eyes flicked to the ale. "Really? You being poisoned—uh, I mean drunk—wouldn't that mess up the process?"

Andre scoffed, taking a swig before wiping his mouth with the back of his gloved hand. "A smith with a sober mind may craft a sword, but a smith with a belly full of mead crafts a legend."

Naruto snorted. "Yeah, well, I hope you're crafting my gear, not a legend. My armor's seen better days."

"Then let's have a look at it, eh?"

Naruto removed his armor, setting each piece down as Andre inspected them with a practiced eye. His gloved fingers traced over dents, scratches, and worn edges, grunting occasionally in approval or disapproval. When he picked up the Zweihander, he gave a firm nod.

"Now this here's a fine blade. Solid work, good weight. But that armor o' yours? Needs proper repairs—not that powder you've been usin'."

"Hey, it works!"

"Oh, aye, it works for now. But you wanna bet your life on 'good enough'?"

"You don't like repair powder?"

Andre shrugged. "It's a quick fix, not a proper one. Works in a pinch, but a weapon or armor deserves better. Pay it the respect it's owed, and it'll never fail you."

"Glad I found you, then."

Andre smirked, picking up the helmet. "It'll cost you, boy. Sit yourself down—this'll take a while."

Naruto obeyed, settling onto a nearby bench. He watched as Andre dismantled the helmet, carefully removing the damaged parts. He held one piece up to the light, frowning at the cracks.

"Repair powder's left soot all over," Andre muttered, tossing the piece into the furnace for a moment before retrieving it with tongs. He placed it on the anvil, scraping away the blackened residue with a small tool. The soot flaked off, revealing clean, shining metal beneath.

Naruto watched in fascination as Andre worked, the rhythmic clang of hammer against metal filling the air like a steady drumbeat. The heat from the forge pulsed around them, sweat glistening on the blacksmith's brow as he hammered out the cracks in Naruto's armor with practiced ease. Sparks flew, cascading like tiny golden stars, and for a while, it was mesmerizing.

Then it got boring.

Naruto sighed, shifting on his feet before deciding to check something in his inventory.

[ Item: Broken Black Knight Armor ]

[ Description: Armor of the Black Knights who haunt Lordran. The knights followed Lord Gwyn when he departed to link the flame, but they were burned to ashes in the newly kindled fire, wandering the world as disembodied spirits ever after. ]

Naruto's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "…Wait a damn minute." He reread the description. Then again. Then a third time. The Black Knights… were ghosts? That would explain that eerie apparition he saw fading away after he took them down. The realization sent a shiver down his spine. All this time, he'd been fighting spirits puppeteering burned husks of armor. That meant the real Black Knights, when they were alive, must have been… Naruto swallowed.

That was terrifying.

He let out a nervous chuckle. "Man, I've been way luckier than I thought."

"What's got you giggling like a fool?"

"Just, uh… contemplating my life choices," Naruto admitted as he shook his head. "Hey, Andre, I got a question."

"Hrm?"

Naruto materialized the battered, broken armor from his inventory, letting the scraps clatter onto the floor. "Can you fix Black Knight armor?"

Andre finally stopped hammering, looking at the pile with a raised brow. "That came from a Black Knight?"

"Yup."

Andre bent slightly, examining the metal. He poked one of the shattered pauldrons with a gloved finger before straightening. "No."

"No?"

"No," Andre repeated. "That armor's in worse shape than a Hollow's sanity. Unless you've got the ore it was forged from, it's as good as scrap."

Naruto pouted. "What if you substitute the ore for something else and make it brand new, dattebayo?"

Andre stopped. Then, slowly, he turned to give Naruto a look so flat the boy physically flinched.

"That, lad, is Black Knight armor," Andre said. "It was crafted to slay dragons, demons, and more. Every single piece—even now—was forged with care, its materials tempered for battle against nightmares." He crossed his arms. "You think I can just slap some tin on it and call it a day?"

"…No?"

"A blacksmith's work is his honor. I won't disgrace a master's craft with cheap shortcuts. A half-assed job would just get you killed." Andre gestured at the scraps. "Best keep it till you find the proper ore. Otherwise, all you've got is an expensive pile of junk."

Naruto frowned, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, that… makes sense. Sorry, didn't mean to disrespect the craft."

"Bah, don't be sorry, lad. Just means you care about your gear." Andre's tone softened. "But trust me on this—armor that don't hold up when you need it ain't worth the steel it's made from."

Naruto nodded, storing the armor away. "Yeah. I want my armor to be, y'know… good."

"Good lad," Andre said, cracking his knuckles before picking up his hammer again. "Now let me get back to work."

Naruto stretched. "Gonna check out that fortress. Be back in a few."

Andre didn't even look up. "Aye. Just don't go dyin' on me. Got your gear to finish, and I'd hate to waste good work."

"You got it, old man."

As he climbed the stairs, the rhythmic ting of hammer on steel followed him, steady as a heartbeat.

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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 55, 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!