Adamo Amet
patreon
Chapter no.78 The Art of Archery
🕑 Added 2025-03-09 14:59:32 +0000 UTCKakashi was anxious. No... terrified.
He sat in the corner of Tazuna's living room, pretending to read one of his usual orange books, but the pages barely registered. His visible eye shifted constantly, flicking toward the window, toward the door, toward the horizon.
Any moment now.
He was bracing for it. The fallout. The storm. The confrontation.
Naruto would return, and everything Kakashi feared would come crashing down. The boy would know. Somehow. And then... what? Would he scream? Would he run? Would he lash out?
There was no telling.
Kakashi hadn't moved from his hidden perch near the site where Naruto had used the reverse summoning the night before. He hadn't slept. Hadn't eaten. The shadows of the trees stretched and shifted over him as the hours passed, and when the sun finally rose, he found himself staring blankly at nothing.
Morning came and Naruto didn't.
That terrified Kakashi more than any angry confrontation ever could. Because it meant the worst-case scenario might be true: Naruto had found out and decided to leave.
The thought hit him like a cold blade to the gut.
The idea that Naruto had simply chosen to vanish into the strange space of his so-called summoning clan, never to return, was a wound Kakashi wasn't ready for. Because if that was true, then the mission had lost its most powerful asset. More than that, Team 7 had lost its center.
Naruto, for all his chaos, for all his secrets, had been the one holding everything together. Without him, the risk to the rest of the genin skyrocketed. Kurenai's team was capable, but green. The genin weren't ready for a high-stakes mission without backup. Without Naruto's Estus flasks, his brutal effectiveness, and his utterly bizarre bag of tricks, someone could die.
And the blame for that would fall squarely on Kakashi's shoulders. Another mistake. Another scar added to a life already filled with them.
And then there was the darker truth... if Naruto really had abandoned them, the Leaf would brand him a missing-nin. One of their own, hunted. Targeted. Kakashi could already hear the whispers in the backrooms of the Hokage's Tower. Another wayward soul lost under his command.
You failed him.
The thought curled like poison in his chest.
But before that spiral of guilt could pull him under, the door creaked open.
"Goddamn archery," Naruto grumbled, throwing himself face-first onto the kitchen table. Oscar, ever faithful, climbed up after him and gently patted his head with a claw.
"What's wrong?" Sakura asked, blinking. She and Sasuke were on house duty, keeping watch while Team 8 guarded Tazuna at the bridge.
Naruto groaned into the wood. "I just can't seem to get it. No matter what I try, the arrows keep veering off. My aim's crap."
"So you're actually taking that whole 'Archer of Providence' thing seriously now?" Sasuke asked, upside down, balancing perfectly on one hand as he did slow, controlled handstand push-ups. Muscles tensed and flexed across his lean frame with each motion, his face calm and unreadable.
Naruto hummed, clearly bummed.
"Don't worry, big bro," Inari chirped as he entered the room with a plate of steaming rice snakes Tsunami had made. "You'd be the best archer ever if you had both hands!"
Naruto cracked a smile at that, eyes warm.
"Naruto," Kakashi said quietly.
The boy looked up. "You need anything, Sensei?"
Kakashi pursed his lips behind the mask. He'd prepared for the worst possible outcome but not this. Not casual small talk. Was Naruto truly unaware? Or was he hiding it?
"Last time," Kakashi said, keeping his tone light, "I think I accidentally left a kunai behind when I was writing the scroll on Ninchu chakra manipulation. Did you happen to see it?"
"Oh yeah," Naruto said, nodding without hesitation.
Kakashi froze. He knows.
"Do you want it back?" Naruto asked, expression innocent. Too innocent?
Kakashi gave a slow nod, unsure if he was being baited into something. But Naruto simply reached into his pouch and began pulling out kunai. One after another after another. Until there was a mountain of them on the table. Inari's eyes sparkled in amazement.
"Sorry, Sensei," Naruto said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I kinda just tossed your kunai into my inventory with all the others. Should be in there somewhere."
Kakashi's trained eye scanned the kunai hilts. No invisible summoning seals he could detect.
That left him with two possibilities, neither comforting.
Either Naruto knew exactly what he was doing and was playing dumb for reasons Kakashi couldn't yet grasp... Or his unknown space-time ninjutsu, this so-called inventory, was sophisticated enough to automatically categorize and store objects in separate dimensional spaces based on subtle distinctions.
Both scenarios were unnerving.
Only one way to find out, Kakashi thought. Let's run a test.
"Sakura," Kakashi said, feigning curiosity, "pop quiz. Can you recreate what Naruto just did using traditional storage seals?"
Sakura perked up. "Technically yes, but it wouldn't be that clean. I'd need to build a grid, organize each item, and memorize where everything is stored. His seems way too efficient."
She turned to Naruto. "How does your inventory work, anyway? Can you teach me?"
"No idea," Naruto said honestly. "I just think about what I want and it appears."
Sakura scribbled furiously in her notebook, clearly already brainstorming seal designs. Kakashi, meanwhile, was spiraling.
Naruto didn't know how it worked.
He couldn't even teach it. It was as natural to him as breathing. That made it even worse.
"Ask Hinata," Sasuke muttered suddenly, taking the glass of water Inari handed him and drinking it in one long gulp.
Everyone turned to him.
He lowered the cup. "The Hyuga clan. Back in the Warring States Era. They were famous for their archery."
"Thanks, Teme. I'll do that!"
Without another word, Naruto scooped up Oscar and vanished in a flicker of chakra, the air snapping shut behind him.
Sakura turned to glare at Sasuke. He didn't flinch—just kept sipping his water, as if nothing had happened.
Kakashi remained seated, silent, his expression hidden behind the mask. But his mind churned.
If Naruto truly was unaware… if the quirks of his space-time ninjutsu had masked everything… then all of Kakashi's paranoia, all his careful calculations, were off the mark. The possibility settled over him like a weight.
So… what do I do now?
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
With a quiet hum and a burst of distorted air, Naruto flickered onto the bridge in a flash of chakra. The moment his boots touched the concrete, he felt a dozen tiny shifts in pressure, chakra, and movement all at once.
Shino's insects buzzed sharply from within his coat.
Kiba spun around, his hand already halfway to his pouch.
A few of the bridge workers shouted in surprise, tools clattering to the ground.
Tazuna lifted a hammer, squinting across the planks. "False alarm!" he called a second later, waving off the tension. "It's just Naruto."
The workers exhaled, some muttering as they returned to patching boards and inspecting the ropes.
Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Oops. Guess I should've walked."
"You think?" Kiba growled, though he was grinning. "Try showing up like a normal person next time. You almost got yourself tackled."
Akamaru barked in agreement, tail wagging.
Shino gave Naruto a brief glance over his glasses, then returned to scanning the treeline. "Your body flicker is too fast. That makes it hard to detect in advance. It's… unsettling."
"Sorry," Naruto said again. "Didn't mean to spook anyone."
"I knew it was you," Hinata said quietly, her tone soft but assured. "Your chakra feels different than anyone else's. I just… wasn't sure what you were doing here."
Naruto shrugged, pulling Oscar off his shoulder and placing the little lizard gently on the bridge. "Just here for some training. Thought maybe Hinata could help me with my archery."
Kurenai gave Naruto a teasing smile. "So, the so-called Archer of Providence finally shows up to learn how to shoot a bow? About time. Can't go around with a title like that and not know how to aim." She nodded toward Hinata. "Go on, you two can train off to the side but stay sharp. Eyes open."
"Got it," Naruto said, offering her a lazy salute.
Hinata gave a small bow.
"You missed breakfast, by the way," Kiba said, sitting down against a support beam. "We had dumplings. Hinata made tea. Shino lectured me about wild herbs. Again."
"They were poisonous," Shino muttered.
"They were blue and pretty," Kiba countered.
Oscar waddled over to Akamaru, and the two creatures started sniffing each other curiously. Akamaru let out a low bark, tail thumping the bridge, and Oscar clicked his claws on the wood in response.
"So," Shino said slowly, turning back to Naruto, "how do you plan to fire a bow with one hand?"
Naruto grinned. "Like this."
In one brutal, practiced motion, the young knight grabbed his own cursed right arm just below the shoulder and tore it off. The blackened, charcoal-like limb cracked and flaked as it came free, its surface igniting with searing fire the moment it left his body.
Kurenai reacted instantly. Her fingers flicked through hand signs, and a subtle genjutsu pulsed outward, veiling the scene from the eyes of nearby workers and civilians before panic could set in. To the shinobi present, the moment was raw and visceral. To everyone else on the bridge, it never happened.
Shino took a sharp step back, his insects rattling inside his coat in distress. "Ha! What's wrong, Shino? You afraid of a little fire?"
Shino's face remained unreadable, but his hand pressed gently to his temple. "My insects respond instinctively to threats. That fire was… not ordinary. It disturbed the entire hive."
"You alright?" Kurenai asked, her tone sharp with concern.
"I'm fine," Shino said quietly, eyes locked on Naruto's new arm.
The prosthetic arm gleamed in the sunlight, segment by segment. The upper attachment socket was rounded and reinforced, clamping securely onto his shoulder stump with adjustable steel clasps. Its elbow was hinged with a thick, rotating joint, capped with a dial used to fine-tune resistance. Thin wires wove down its length like artificial tendons, visible beneath the armored shell of the forearm. The fingers were especially impressive—five segmented digits with three points of articulation each. The thumb was angled perfectly for grip. Though blockier than a natural hand, it moved with impressive finesse. The fingertips had smooth rubber caps for tactile grip, and subtle grooves across the palm suggested it was designed for catching, holding, and striking.
It wasn't elegant.
But it was strong. And it worked.
"Cool, right?" Naruto beamed.
Kiba was wide-eyed. "Dude. That's awesome."
"Where did you get it?" Kurenai asked, her expression caught between awe and suspicion.
"Very grumpy old blacksmith," Naruto replied. "Total softie on the inside."
Kurenai smiled faintly as she noted to tell Kakashi about this grumpy blacksmith later.
Naruto turned to Hinata and motioned toward the bridge's edge. "C'mon. I want your opinion on it. I made the fingers myself."
Hinata followed, but her gaze lingered on the limb. "It's… amazing," she said sincerely. "But what about your Wind Release techniques?"
"Oh, I've got that handled."
To prove his point, Naruto formed a single-hand sign with blinding speed and fired a barrage of Wind Bullets into the river below. The water erupted in sharp bursts where each projectile landed.
Hinata nodded slowly. "That's great…"
Naruto caught the faint change in her tone. She was disappointed.
Hinata… what's wrong?
She shook her head quickly. "Nothing."
"Hinata," he said again, more gently this time.
"It's just… I thought I'd be more involved in helping you. I know you're growing stronger, and I'm glad. I really am. But I liked it... training together. It made me feel useful. Confident."
Naruto paused.
To her, he realized, it probably looked like he barely needed her. One session and then boom, he mastered the technique. She didn't see the hundreds of clones throwing themselves into training for multiple days in Lordran. To her, it felt like her support didn't matter.
But it did.
He smiled. "You know, Sasuke and I spar with swords. We kind of push each other that way. And I was thinking maybe I need an archery rival too. Someone sharp-eyed, quick, precise."
Hinata blinked, stunned.
"You up for the job?" he asked, holding out a hand.
Hinata lit up like a lantern, cheeks glowing red as she nodded furiously. "Y-yes!"
Naruto and Hinata moved to the side of the bridge, settling near the edge where the mist curled off the lake in lazy spirals. The murmur of the construction crew behind them faded into background noise as Hinata tilted her head slightly.
"Even with the prosthetic," she said, voice gentle but uncertain, "I'm not sure about you doing archery. It's a lot of fine control."
Naruto just grinned. "That's why I'm holding the bow with the prosthetic. My real arm does all the actual work."
Hinata gave a small nod, visibly trying to picture the form. "Alright. Then… show me your bow and arrows. We'll take turns."
Naruto scratched his cheek sheepishly. "Ehhh… yeah, I don't think that's a good idea."
Hinata blinked. "Why?"
Instead of answering, Naruto pulled a quiver and a longbow from his inventory with a quiet fwoosh of sealing smoke.
Hinata took the bow reverently, brushing her fingers along its polished frame. Her expression softened into something quietly reverent. "This… this is beautiful," she murmured.
She plucked the string lightly. A deep, thrumming twang sang through the air.
"You really know about bows, huh?"
Hinata flushed slightly. "Sorry. I just got caught up in the moment…"
"No, it's adorable," Naruto said sincerely. "Really. Tell me more, I always thought the Hyūga clan was all about Gentle Fist and Byakugan."
Hinata nodded, setting the bow down gently. "That's true now… but it wasn't always. Back in the Warring States period, our clan used war bows to devastating effect. Especially in open terrain. We even had an alliance with a horse summoning clan at the time. Mounted archers who could strike at range before the enemy ever reached us."
Naruto's brows rose. "Whoa. So you were like… cavalry archers?"
"Essentially, yes," Hinata said with a smile. "But as the era shifted from large-scale warfare to smaller skirmishes, the Gentle Fist became more effective in close-quarters combat. The bow fell out of favor. But… as the heir, I was still expected to learn it out of tradition. Even if it's not part of standard training anymore."
"You don't use it, though."
Hinata hesitated, her smile faltering. "I… I'm not confident it would be effective. I'm not even that great at Gentle Fist. So what good is a bow in my hands?"
Naruto didn't say anything at first. He turned, pointed across the lake to the far bank barely a speck in the distance. "See that garbage bag caught in the tree branch? Snipe it."
Hinata's eyes widened. "That's… over a hundred feet away."
"Show me."
Hinata inhaled deeply and drew the bow. Her fingers moved with practiced grace. She pulled the string back, her muscles trembling slightly under the strain. The bow had a serious draw weight, stronger than most war bows she'd trained with. Still, she adjusted.
Her Byakugan flared to life, pupils vanishing as she focused through layers of mist and distance. A soft whistle of wind passed.
Then she released.
The arrow soared in a clean arc, slicing the air like a whisper. It struck the garbage bag dead center with a whump, the bag flipping from the force of the impact.
Naruto clapped immediately, eyes sparkling. "That's what I'm talking about! Maybe other Hyūga let the bow fall out of use… but I think it was just waiting for you."
Hinata blushed furiously, her hands lowering the bow. "I-I just got lucky."
"Nah. I expected nothing less from my riva and my teacher."
Hinata tried not to turn into a red tomato at the praise. "Let's not waste any more time, then."
"Right."
With a dramatic gesture, Naruto reached into his inventory again, and with a burst of chakra smoke, withdrew his personal weapon. A bow that made the longbow she had used look like a child's toy.
[Item: Drake-Slaying Greatbow]
[Description: Greatbow crafted by Rickert of Vinheim, in honor of a friend fated to walk among storms. Forged in imitation of the ancient dragon-slaying bows once wielded by Gwyn's knights, this greatbow was designed to pierce the hides of lightning drakes that haunt the Valley skies. Now wielded by the Archer of Providence, whose arrows bring silence to thunder.]
The workers nearby paused mid-swing and stepped back instinctively, watching with wide eyes as Naruto lifted it.
Even Kiba muttered, "That's a bow?"
Kurenai said nothing, but her eyes narrowed as she studied the weapon. She was clearly reassessing her understanding of what Naruto was becoming.
The Drake-Slaying Greatbow was a towering six-foot colossus of a weapon.
Its body was crafted from a blackened, almost petrified wood fused with silver inlays that shimmered faintly in the light. A series of tightly bound steel rings spiraled along the limbs of the bow, giving it the appearance of a dragon's spine, each band absorbing stress and adding immense structural integrity. At the center, the grip was wrapped in black leather, stitched by hand with twine from Rickert's forge. It was thicker than a man's wrist... meant to be gripped with power, not finesse. The drawstring was taut as a wire, reinforced with titanite metal thread, thin and deceptively quiet. But to draw it would require the strength of a dozen grown men.
Naruto's prosthetic arm locked into place as he braced the bow vertically, planting it like a knight would a greatsword.
Hinata could only stare. "That's… beautiful. And terrifying."
Naruto grinned and reached into his inventory seal, pulling out a single arrow nearly four feet tall, crafted entirely of darksteel that shimmered faintly in the light. The shaft was thick and heavy, the fletching made of metallic feather-like vanes that whispered as they caught the wind.
"Let's hear it sing," Naruto said.
He nocked the arrow, drawing it back with a low grunt. The bowstring groaned under the strain, the thread vibrating like a taut cable pulled to its limit. The air around the bow twisted slightly, heat waves rippling from the tension as chakra bled into the weapon.
And then release.
The arrow vanished from sight.
There was no whistle, no clean flight path.
Instead, there was a crack.
A thunderclap split the sky as the arrow shattered the sound barrier... ripping through the air at Mach speed. The shockwave struck the bridge a heartbeat later. It came like a physical force. A pressure wave that blasted dust, snapped ropes, and made the wooden platform buckle. Workers stumbled, hands to their ears. Several screamed before they collapsed.
Tazuna barely ducked in time, shielding his face as debris flew past.
Kurenai's eyes widened. Her instincts kicked in.
Without hesitation, she formed a single-hand seal and whispered, "Magen: Falling Petals Illusion."
A burst of genjutsu rippled outward in a wave, immediately knocking out the majority of workers before their eardrums burst entirely. But some, those closest, weren't spared.
Kiba clutched his ears, blood streaming from them as he grit his teeth in agony. "Ghh.. damn it!" he gasped, curling his body over Akamaru to shield the small pup, whose tail was tucked and body trembling from the sound. Akamaru whimpered softly, paws over his ears while Oscar looked worried for his friend.
Shino fell to one knee, glasses cracked from the vibration, his bugs in chaotic motion beneath his coat, screeching in silent panic.
Even Hinata, standing close to Naruto, staggered as a sharp lance of pain drove into her skull. She cried out softly, barely able to remain on her feet as her Byakugan blurred out.
Then came the impact.
The arrow struck the lake and it was no simple splash.
It was an eruption.
A geyser of water, at least fifty feet tall, exploded from the surface as the arrow pierced deep into the lakebed. The impact created a deep boom, followed by a violent shockwave that rippled across the water, dislodging boats, capsizing small rafts, and sending ripples all the way to the far shore.
Steam hissed up from where the arrow struck. Some kind of reaction between chakra, metal, and force that superheated the water.
When the chaos began to settle, Naruto slowly lowered the bow and looked around him.
The bridge was a mess. Half the workers were unconscious, the other half clutching their ears in agony. Kiba was sitting against a pillar, panting, blood staining his fur collar. Shino was staring at Naruto with disbelief. Even Kurenai looked momentarily stunned, red-eyed and fuming.
"...Shit," Naruto muttered under his breath.
"NARUTO." Kurenai's voice was sharp.
"I—" Naruto looked apologetic. "I'll make some clones to heal everyone. Hinata and I can go train somewhere far from here."
He raised a hand and summoned a dozen in a puff of smoke. The clones got to work immediately, moving among the workers with the heal miracle.
Then Naruto turned to Hinata, who was swaying slightly, still dazed. Without a word, he popped the cork off an Estus Flask and gently tipped it to her lips.
"Sorry about that," Naruto said quietly, his voice low with guilt. Inside, he was tearing himself apart. He should've known better. He did know better. But after so long in Lordran where monsters shrugged off shockwaves and people endured pain like it was breathing. He'd forgotten what it meant to live among those who didn't. Here, in his own world, people had to brace themselves with chakra, strengthen their bodies just to survive what Lordran would call a greeting. The gap between these worlds wasn't just about strength. It was about awareness. And in that moment, Naruto realized, he hadn't adjusted. And people got hurt because of it.
Hinata winced, her fingers still gently pressed against her ear but her other hand reached out. Hesitant at first until it rested softly on Naruto's wrist.
"Hey," she said quietly, looking up at him with concern more than pain. "This... was a mistake."
Naruto flinched, guilt twisting in his chest. He opened his mouth to apologize again, but Hinata spoke first.
"But it was just that," she continued. "A mistake. You didn't mean to hurt anyone. And... you're already fixing it."
Her eyes were steady now, earnest. "That's what matters, Naruto. Not that you slipped up but that you care enough to make it right."
He stared at her for a long moment, her hand warm on his wrist, her words grounding him more than she probably realized. The chaotic whirl of regret inside him eased, just a little.
"You still want to train?" he asked, his voice quieter, uncertain.
Hinata smiled softly. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't. And I think... I've figured out how to help you improve."
"Yeah?"
"Let's start with these smaller bows first. Build up your control and precision before you return to that monster."
"That's a good idea. Let's try it."
The two leapt into the nearby treeline, bounding between branches until they found a quiet glade with soft earth and old, thick trunks.
As they landed, Hinata glanced back toward the bridge, then at the enormous greatbow still strapped to Naruto's back. Her curiosity got the better of her.
"...Naruto, what's the draw strength on that bow?"
Naruto blinked, then said casually, "About five tons."
Hinata stared.
Her jaw slowly dropped open.
"Five tons?" she repeated, incredulous. "That's not a draw weight... that's siege weaponry!"
Naruto shrugged. "Yeah. Makes sense why the arrow hit like a baby meteor."
"...What are you even hunting to need a bow like that?" Hinata asked, exasperated.
Naruto turned to her, the usual warmth in his eyes dimming into something harder. His smile faded, replaced by a calm intensity that chilled the air between them. For a heartbeat, Hinata saw a shadow of someone else... someone shaped by battles she couldn't begin to imagine.
"I'm hunting monsters."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
By nightfall, the stars hung like pinpricks in a sea of black velvet, and Naruto, after a quiet word to Hinata, vanished into the forest with Oscar in tow. The flicker of his space-time technique left a whisper in the air then silence.
Moments later, Kakashi stepped out of the shadows, hands in his pockets, Pakkun trotting at his heels.
"I'm certain now," Kakashi said, his tone unusually light. "Naruto doesn't know about the summoning seal on that kunai."
Pakkun sniffed the ground, then looked up. "So? What now?"
"I'm going to take it back before he figures it out," Kakashi said casually, like he was talking about slipping a scroll off a desk.
The little pug raised a skeptical brow. "Or maybe… you could own up to it and apologize."
Kakashi paused. His single visible eye slid toward the dog. "Why would I do that?"
Pakkun sighed, the kind of tired, resigned sigh that only an old partner could muster. "Because you're not fooling anyone. Not me. Not yourself."
Kakashi said nothing, but his silence was telling. Pakkun continued, "Team 7… they mean more to you than you let on. Especially Naruto. You're proud of him... prouder than you've ever let yourself be of anyone. But you're afraid, aren't you? That if you show weakness, if you admit to this mistake, you'll lose what you have with him."
Still nothing from Kakashi. The breeze rustled the leaves overhead.
"You've spent so long trying to see beneath the surface," Pakkun added gently. "You've forgotten what it's like to just… face something head-on."
Kakashi's hands slipped from his pockets, resting by his sides. "Maybe. Or maybe I just know how easily things fall apart."
"So what's your plan?" Pakkun asked. He already knew the answer, but part of him wanted to believe his master wouldn't go through with it.
"I'll observe him for a few days. Look for signs. If nothing changes, I'll arrange a sparring session. Team 7 vs me. I'll push him... make him use every kunai he has. Eventually, he'll reach for the summoning one out of instinct. I'll retrieve it before he realizes."
Pakkun shook his head slowly. "You do realize this is a gamble. If it fails..."
"If I apologize, that's a gamble too," Kakashi interrupted, a flicker of tension slipping into his voice. "Naruto may be mature, but he's still a teenager. Emotional. Volatile. What if I lose his trust completely? What if he decides I'm not worth listening to anymore?"
Pakkun looked up at him with soft eyes. "And what if you lose his trust by lying to his face during a sparring match and manipulating him to cover your tracks?"
Kakashi looked away. "I won't fail," he said, quieter now. Firmer. "I can't."
The dog didn't answer. He simply padded silently beside Kakashi as they disappeared into the forest's shadowed embrace. But in his heart, Pakkun knew: Kakashi was gambling recklessly, maybe even desperately. Whether he won or lost, this choice would ripple outward, changing more than just one bond. It could shape the boy, the team… maybe the world. And when the consequences came, Kakashi would have no one to blame but himself.
Pakkun just hoped he wouldn't break under it. The man already carried too much guilt. Would he even know how to accept forgiveness… if it came?
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Naruto opened his eyes to the warm, flickering light of the bonfire, the embers dancing like fireflies against the dim stone walls of the chamber. A familiar scent of coal, ash, and iron filled the air, and a grin broke across his face. Without wasting a moment, he stood and bounded down the stairwell, his footsteps echoing eagerly through the forge.
At the base of the hall, Andre stood like a monument of iron himself, towering over a massive log embedded into the stone, reinforced with layers of metal bands and plates.
"Oh, you're finally here," Andre said with a glint in his eye.
Naruto's eyes locked onto the log and the tools nearby. "Is that it? Is it ready?"
"Of course," Andre rumbled. "Finally got it set up for the advanced stuff. Been waiting for you to catch up."
Naruto practically bounced in place, the excitement buzzing through his limbs like lightning. This was the moment he'd been working toward since the old man first mentioned the hidden depths of Astoran boxing.
Andre had once told him there were two paths in the art: one designed for dueling men and another, a far more savage and intricate style, forged in blood to fight monsters. But the second would only be revealed if Naruto proved he'd mastered the first.
"I can't wait," Naruto said, his grin stretching from ear to ear.
Andre stepped aside with a grunt and motioned to the anvil, where two caesti sat gleaming in the firelight. They looked more like instruments of war than training gear.
The first was specially crafted for Naruto's prosthetic. Its form curved slightly to hug the contours of the metal limb, with interlocking clamps and jointed grooves that allowed full articulation without sacrificing stability. The palm area was padded with a thick lining of dark leather, while the knuckles were capped in overlapping plates of reinforced steel.
The second caestus, built for his organic arm, was no less impressive. Made from a hardened leather base wrapped in steel studs, it bore the classic design of traditional Astoran pugilism—heavy, direct, and unrelenting. Thick bands of studded hide were layered across the back of the hand and wrist, with the knuckles sheathed in a gleaming alloy that shimmered faintly in the forge's glow. It was designed not just to protect the user's hand, but to turn each punch into a miniature battering ram.
Naruto gently placed Oscar down beside the staircase. The little crystal lizard gave an eager chirp, tail swaying in rhythm like a tiny cheerleader.
Andre cracked his neck with a satisfying pop, each vertebra sounding like the grind of old wood. He rolled his massive shoulders like a war machine winding up.
"Alright, brat. Show me what you've learned."
Naruto exhaled. "Alright, old man. Let's dance."
Andre moved first. No wind-up, no warning... just a straight jab, fast and mean. Naruto ducked under it and slipped to the left, delivering a quick combo of a left hook and a right jab to the ribs.
Clang.
Andre barely flinched. "Cute."
His counter came in the form of a body shot with the weight of a mountain. Naruto managed to cross-block with both arms, but the shock rattled through his core, sending him sliding back a foot across the stone.
"Good poise," Andre nodded. "Again."
Naruto darted in, this time circling to Andre's right. He peppered the blacksmith with light jabs, testing the defense. His left fist cracked against Andre's guard, while his right prosthetic aimed for an uppercut.
Andre dropped his elbow to block, then turned it into a reverse backhand. Naruto barely raised his forearm in time, the blow glancing off with a metallic ring that sent sparks skittering.
They broke apart for a breath.
"Keep your feet grounded," Andre barked, shifting forward with sudden speed for a man his size. "You box like a monk, not a soldier!"
"I'm not a soldier," Naruto shot back, throwing a quick right feint and pivoting into a left cross that caught Andre across the cheek.
Andre grunted, surprised but pleased.
"That's more like it."
He launched a flurry of left, right, right, body, uppercut. Naruto blocked the first three, took the fourth to the ribs, and barely dodged the uppercut by sliding beneath it, dropping low with a sweeping leg to break Andre's balance.
But Andre didn't fall.
Instead, he stomped, cracking the stone, and forced Naruto back with sheer presence.
They reset.
Breathing heavy now, Naruto adjusted his stance, lowering his center of gravity. "You're not holding back anymore."
"Damn right," Andre said, grinning through a split lip. "You wanted to learn the advanced style. Then stop sparring like a street punk and start boxing like a knight."
Naruto gritted his teeth, chakra flaring through his legs as he blitzed forward.
Their fists collided in mid-air, gauntlet to gauntlet, the clang echoing through the hall like a bell tolling for war.
After a few minutes of sparring, it became clear to Andre that Naruto was ready. The blow came without warning, a blur of movement, a sonic whisper and Naruto barely managed to catch the fist with an upward block. But the moment their fists connected, it was as if a gong had gone off inside his bones. A shockwave rippled through his entire body, vibrating his ribs. His knees buckled slightly as he slid back from the sheer force of the impact.
His ears rang. His joints screamed.
But he didn't fall.
The Wolf Ring he wore glowed faintly, stabilizing him, holding his stance just enough to resist collapsing.
"What the hell was that, old man?!" Naruto coughed, shaking out his arm as if trying to dispel the tremor.
Andre flexed his knuckles, not a hint of strain on his face. "That, brat, was Astoran Advanced Boxing or as it's more commonly known: the Poise Breaker."
"Poise...?" Naruto repeated, blinking.
Andre nodded. "Everything has poise... armor, muscle, willpower, even a man's pride. Anything that helps you take a hit and keep moving. That's what poise is. And every bit of it can be broken."
He walked over to the reinforced log and patted its plated surface.
"Knights of old figured out that if you can't overpower your enemy, you break them where it counts, from the inside. You hit hard and fast enough to bypass their defenses, interrupt their stance, and mess with their nervous system. That momentary collapse? That's all the time you need."
Then, without a word, he pulled back and punched the log. The sound echoed like a cannon. A heartbeat later, a second, deeper sound followed as another dent forming in the reinforced metal.
Naruto's eyes widened. "You moved your fist so fast it created a micro vacuum... and when it collapsed, it caused a second shockwave. That's what messed up my nerves, right? It hits twice... once on contact, and once from the inside via the shockwave."
Andre froze mid-stretch, blinking. "When the hell did you get that smart?"
"I've always been smart!"
"Sure, sure. You'll be back to your usual dumbass self after I knock that noggin around," Andre muttered, cracking his knuckles again.
Naruto turned to Oscar and stage-whispered, "I think the old man's gone senile."
Oscar gave an enthusiastic chirp in agreement.
"Alright, brat," Andre said, fists raised. "Time to see if you're ready to break monsters."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Author's Note: I don't know if you guys enjoy me rambling about lore and choices, but I'm doing it anyway because I love building this world.
1 - The Hyūga Clan, Bows, and Horses
So, just to be clear... this is fanfic-original lore. But let me explain why I added it.
The Hyūga clan needed an expansion. Canon mostly treats them as a Gentle Fist + Byakugan combo, and while that's cool, it lacks historical depth. I wanted to bring in the idea of evolution in warfare, something you don't see often in Naruto fics or even the main story.
Let me give you a real-world example. During Japan's Warring States period (Sengoku Jidai), samurai weren't just katana-swinging duelists. They were masters of the yumi bow and horseback combat. Archery was the primary battlefield weapon—far deadlier than a kunai or shuriken. But over time, with the rise of firearms and close-range martial arts, archery faded out.
So, in my version of the Naruto world, the Hyūga once rode with horses and longbows, striking from a distance. But as ninja combat shifted to stealth and close-quarters, they adapted—dropping the bow in favor of Gentle Fist. That's why Hinata, as the heir, still learns some of these "lost" arts. It's tradition. It's legacy.
Now a question for you: Would you want to see Hinata sign a horse summoning contract and evolve into a mounted archer?
Because I think it could lead to some amazing growth for her, visually and thematically.
Also, how did you guys like the Hyūga clan lore expansion? I'm really curious.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
2 - Naruto's Greatbow: The Drake-Slayer
Yep, it's an original weapon. If you want a visual reference, search Golem Greatbow Elden Ring. That's basically what I imagined.
But why a greatbow instead of a regular bow?
Simple, I wanted Naruto's weapon to feel special. It's meant to slay lightning drakes. This isn't your standard tool... it's a weapon of myth, of legend. Forged by Rickert of Vinheim, built to punch holes through monsters that fly through storms.
Let's talk stats:
Height: 6 feet tall (Naruto's bow is literally bigger than Kurenai)
Draw Weight: 5 tons (no, that's not a typo)
Arrows: Actually metal javelins
Speed: Fires at Mach speeds
Bonus Perks: He can attach explosive tags, Wind Style: Vacuum Blade, or even soul-empowered modifications.
So yeah. Naruto with a bow isn't just a ranged ninja, he's a battlefield threat.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Anyway, I'd love to know what you all thought about this chapter. Especially:
How did the Hyūga backstory land for you?
Are you down for Hinata becoming a mounted archer?
And what do you think about Naruto as the "Archer of Providence"?
Until next time—stay sharp, aim steady, and peace out ✌️
—Adam.
Comments
Slicktrick
Blastoise oscar
Bobby B.
Call me crazy, and i know this is kind of a naruto centric fic, but i kind of want Naruto to share around the focality, hawk eyes and magic(?) eye drops with the team
Natural
1. I like Naruto gaining the Hawkeye technique. And I think it’s a creative element to include. I do like how Naruto is starting to branch out with his weapons and repertoire. 2. Hinata and Naruto will definitely grow closer. I can see Hinata becoming more confident in herself through Naruto’s encouragement and Naruto enjoying sparring with Hinata. Maybe even giving her a weapon to suit her style. I saw the other comments about harems and personally I don’t mind the idea of it. As long as it’s not a massive harem then I’m cool with it. While Naruto definitely isn’t the type seek out multiple partners I can definitely see him choosing to be with multiple partners so that he can make them all happy and he probably would. Naruto already hangs out with Ino quite a bit and he trains with Tenten often. After this arc is over I can see those two hanging out more often as well. Naruto would probably invite Hinata to his training sessions with Tenten and Ino would probably hear about it and decide to join as well so she doesn’t get left behind. 3. Right now Naruto is definitely the strongest in his generation. He has too much in his arsenal and is the strongest physically in his class. And with his techniques he’s probably the fastest. I don’t really remember the ranking but I would say he is halfway Jonin level overall, only really lacking experience. For his spar with Kakashi I would say Naruto will definitely try hard to win and Kakashi will put in effort but won’t go all out. Kakashi will probably try to push Naruto further to see what Naruto is capable off. Can’t wait for the next
Mystbornwolf
I like how you adjusted the game mechanics for their world, also War Boar. I see him as a low ranked Jonin physically, mentally it's chunin in battles but outside of that a genin. He is not seeing the bigger picture, for example that tonic is going to cause massive aftershocks within Konoha and outside of it. The Hyuga clan alone are going to see a return to bows if it enhances their range.
J.P
1. I found something really cool!!! It's a really good and creative approach to one of the game's mechanics, and it will definitely be very useful on your journey both in Lordran and in the Shinobi World. By the way, Naruto is already on his way to becoming a Radahn from Elden Ring. Great Swords, Magic, Bows and Arrows and a loyal companion. What would a fight between these two be like 🤔 ??? 2. They will get closer, for sure. And most likely Hinata will start to gain more confidence with Naruto's influence. Now, if this ends up leading to something more, that's another story. But I'll say right away that I don't want a Harem in this story. I saw that you won't be addressing romance very early in this story, but I still want to comment on why I feel that Harem simply wouldn't work for this story and for this Naruto Dark Souls. Personally, I want him to end up with Ino, but I'll let you see who you want to put with Naruto... 3. Kakashi himself said that in terms of brute strength (if I'm not mistaken), Naruto is already at the Tokubetsu Jonin level. But that was several chapters ago. So, like other people, I believe he's at the Low or Medium Jonin level, and maybe even High (honestly, I don't really know how to classify him). It might not be enough to defeat Kakashi, but it's definitely going to be a LOT of work for him... And as for the training, it would be interesting to see the two of them going all out (but without Oscar's help, in Naruto's case). And then someone from the outside would interrupt the fight because they were going a little too far (probably Kurenai). Anyway, sorry for the long comment, but I really wanted to say all of this. And even though I don't know much about Dark Souls (unfortunately I haven't had the chance to play it yet), know that I'm really enjoying the story and I really appreciate the effort you put in here. I'll still need to reread the story and catch things I may have missed, but know that this is already one of the best Naruto and Dark Souls stories I've had the pleasure of reading. Really, thank you very much.
troptop
Cant wait for Kakashi's reaction to the anti-everything rifle.
Muhammad Hasnain
Where would you say Dark souls Naruto currently ranks with Hawkeyes, sorcery, a lot of his enhancements and the various experience he got since coming to the wave?
Muhammad Hasnain
Where would you say Dark souls Naruto currently ranks with Hawkeyes, sorcery, a lot of his enhancements and the various experience he got since coming to the wave?
Carfmodyios
Intense spar would be pretty cool if he has to show off soul sorcery
Kurotanbo
Kakashi dealt in the shadows so long,vh he forgot how to just come out and ask
Muhammad Hasnain
Oh, don't worry, this is going to be explored in the next couple of chapters.
Muhammad Hasnain
You don't really need to about this becoming a harem fic because I don't really see myself writing romance any time soon, Naruto and female characters will have their own arcs, whether anything becomes of that is something for the future or unless I find an extremely compelling romance arc that adds a very interesting storyline for the current story. If not, we'll deal with romance when the characters are older.
Aiden Steinman
I really love this story but im a little worried about it becoming a harem as I don't think it fits Narutos character. Dark souls Naruto is probably even more loyal than main canon Naruto and I really don't see a world where he takes multiple love interest.
Kurotanbo
Hmm, what would be the effects of sharing that Hawkeye technique and concoction with his team? How would it enhance the sharing and and byakugan? Would it improve Kakashi's control over the sharingan? Man, I need to see it!
ExodiaTheForbiddenOne
How long before kakashi just comes out and ask’s if he could come with
ExodiaTheForbiddenOne
Kakashi’s out here thinking Naruto is some kinda master manipulator meanwhile our boy is just dickin around having some some sick drip made for Oscar
