Naruto: The Chosen Undead

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Chapter no.30 Bell Test part 1

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The afternoon sun blazed down over Konoha, its golden rays scattering across the village rooftops. Naruto Uzumaki perched on one such rooftop, fiddling with the straps of his gauntlet and glancing at the unfamiliar surroundings. They were sitting in what looked like a public garden, though it was oddly styled—trees lined in perfect symmetry, with stone arches connecting them like an artist's attempt at balance. It stuck out from the rest of the village, as if someone had plopped it there without consulting the surrounding design. Naruto's gaze wandered.

"If it were me," he muttered to himself, "this place would have a lot more orange. Like, a lot more."

Naruto shifted uncomfortably. Oscar's armor felt like it was baking him alive in Konoha's relentless sun, the sweat trickling down his back pooling under the metal plates. He grumbled, adjusting the straps of his chest piece as he eyed the others. Sasuke sat a few feet away, his usual brooding silence painting him as untouchable as ever, while Sakura stole subtle glances at the Uchiha, her cheeks pink like the petals of her namesake.

Their jonin instructor, Kakashi Hatake, stood off to the side, casually leaning against a railing as if he hadn't a care in the world. With his spiky silver hair and ever-present mask, he looked more like a lazy wanderer than a seasoned ninja. His single visible eye scanned the trio, though his expression—what little of it they could see—remained unreadable.

Naruto found himself wondering what to even call the guy. Sensei didn't feel right. That title belonged to Oscar, the one who had truly taught him what it meant to fight, survive, and endure. Nobody else had earned it. But "Cyclops" was starting to feel like a good second option.

Kakashi's voice cut through Naruto's thoughts. "Alright, let's get started. Why don't you all introduce yourselves?"

Silence.

"You know," Kakashi continued, undeterred. "Your likes, dislikes, dreams, ambitions, hobbies. The usual stuff."

Naruto looked between Sasuke and Sakura. Sasuke didn't even blink, his eyes focused somewhere far beyond the here and now. Sakura, on the other hand, was busy twirling her hair, stealing more glances at Sasuke as if she couldn't hear a word Kakashi had said.

Naruto rolled his eyes and raised a hand. "Why don't you start, Cyclops-sensei?"

Sakura chimed in, her voice softer. "That's a good idea. After all… we don't really know you. You're, um, mysterious."

Kakashi's lone eye curved upward in what Naruto guessed was a smile. "Oh, me? Sure. My name is Hatake Kakashi. My likes and dislikes… don't feel like sharing. My dreams for the future? None of your business. But I do have plenty of hobbies."

Naruto blinked. "…That's it? Seriously?"

Sakura sighed, glaring at the bright orange book Kakashi had casually flipped open during his introduction. "What kind of 'hobbies' are those, exactly?"

Kakashi ignored her completely, his attention now absorbed in the tiny text of Icha Icha Paradise.

"Alright," Kakashi continued without looking up. "Let's start with you." He pointed at Naruto.

Naruto leaned back, a grin forming on his face. Alright, time to show them who they're dealing with. He pulled out his shield and set it in front of him, the light glinting off its battered surface.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki, squire of Oscar of Astora. I like ramen, pranks, and training. My dream is to ring the Bells of Awakening."

The silence that followed could've swallowed a kunai. A crow cawed faintly in the distance.

"…Right," Kakashi said at last, his eye narrowing slightly as though he were attempting to decipher a puzzle. "Bells of… Awakening?"

Sakura tilted her head. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Naruto smirked, clearly enjoying the confusion on their faces. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Sasuke spared him a single glance before looking away again, his indifference as cutting as ever.

Kakashi sighed, gesturing lazily. "Next."

Sasuke straightened, his expression cold and sharp. "My name is Uchiha Sasuke. There are plenty of things I hate. Not much I like. As for dreams… dreams are useless. What I do have is a goal." His dark eyes flickered dangerously. "To restore my clan and kill a certain someone."

His tone was as icy as his glare, and as the words left his mouth, the faint flicker of his Sharingan appeared for just a moment.

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "You gonna tell us who, or should we just guess?"

Sasuke ignored him completely.

Sakura, however, perked up, her expression torn between admiration and nervousness. "I think your eyes are… um, cool," she offered, though her voice faltered. "But maybe don't, you know… activate them randomly? Like… light bulbs or something?"

Sasuke shot her a glare, making her flinch and mentally kick herself. Why did I say that?! So cringe!

"Last one," Kakashi said, turning to Sakura. "Let's hear it, pinky."

Sakura flinched. Don't call me pinky, she thought but kept her mouth shut. Composing herself, she smiled sweetly. "I'm Haruno Sakura. My favorite thing is…" She glanced at Sasuke, her face reddening. "Well, um… it's not a thing, it's a person. A boy, actually…"

Naruto made a gagging sound, earning him a glare from Sakura.

"I hate Ino-pig," she continued, her tone sharpening. "My hobbies are… well, personal."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow at her. A crush and a rivalry, he noted silently. Not much else. She's going to need some serious reality checks.

"Alright," Kakashi said, straightening. "Now that we're done with introductions, let's move on to the next step."

Sakura looked confused. "Next step? What do you mean? We're already genin."

Kakashi chuckled lightly. "Oh, that's what you think," he said, flipping a page in his book. "Becoming a true genin means passing my test."

"A test?" Sasuke asked, his interest piqued.

Kakashi smirked under his mask. "A survival test. Out of the twenty-seven students who graduated, only nine will actually be assigned to teams. The rest will be sent back to the reserves. So, if you fail…"

Sakura paled, while Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

Naruto crossed his arms and grinned. "Bring it on, Cyclops-instructor. I've had harder tests than this."

Kakashi's eye curved again in amusement. "We'll see about that. Meet me at Training Ground 7." He glanced at the fading light. "And bring a lunch… but don't eat it. Or else."

With that, Kakashi vanished in a blur, leaving the three genin to process what he'd just said.

Naruto leaned back, stretching his arms. "This'll be fun."

Sasuke, as usual, said nothing, though his intense expression hinted at the challenge he was already preparing himself for.

Sakura groaned. "What does he mean, 'don't eat it'?"

"Guess we'll find out."

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The late-afternoon sun hung low over Training Ground 7, painting the clearing in warm tones of amber and gold. Tall trees bordered the wide-open field, their shadows stretching long across the uneven dirt. Scattered patches of grass clung stubbornly to the dry ground, and a giant lake in the distance reflected the sky like a perfect mirror, its surface rippling faintly in the breeze.

Naruto Uzumaki sat on one of the three training logs, legs dangling, a strange object resting in his hand. It was a small, rough urn, wrapped in a fragile-looking net of twine, with faint scratches and grooves marking its dark surface. He turned it over slowly, his blue eyes narrowing in curiosity as he studied it. The thing felt old, ancient, as though it had seen countless battles before somehow ending up in his possession.

[ Item: Firebomb ]

[ Description: Bisque urn filled with black powder. Explodes, inflicting fire damage. Relatively powerful ranged weapon, especially in situations called for fire damage. A very precious item at low levels. Many warriors use these to augment their strategic repertoire ]

The fact that his clones could access his inventory still amazed him. One of them had picked this thing up somewhere on the third path of Firelink Shrine, and he hadn't even noticed it until after the clone dispelled. Thinking back, there was probably a ton of loot he hadn't gotten around to grabbing because he'd been too busy running for his life.

"Guess I'll have to go back. This time with a plan."

The sound of someone clearing their throat pulled him back to reality. Naruto glanced over at Sasuke and Sakura, who were sitting on the ground nearby. Sasuke leaned back against one of the logs, his arms crossed as he stared into the distance with his usual brooding expression. Sakura, meanwhile, sat with her legs tucked beneath her, fidgeting slightly. She kept sneaking glances at Sasuke, her cheeks tinted pink.

Naruto sighed, tossing the firebomb into the air and catching it again absentmindedly. "Where is this guy? He said to meet here, didn't he?"

"Just be patient, dobe," Sasuke said without even looking at him, his tone as disinterested as ever.

"I have been patient! We've been sitting here forever, and he's still not here!"

Sakura huffed. "He's probably off reading his dumb book or something. Ugh, it's so unprofessional. Who shows up late to their own team meeting?"

Naruto rolled his eyes, hopping off the log and brushing the dirt off his pants. "Well, if he's gonna keep us waiting, I might as well do something useful." Reaching into his inventory, he summoned the Zweihander.

With a soft shimmer of light, the massive blade materialized in his hands, its sheer size making both Sasuke and Sakura turn to look. The sword was enormous—nearly two feet taller than Naruto himself, with a wide, rough-edged blade that looked more like a slab of iron than a weapon.

"What the hell is that?" Sasuke asked, his dark eyes narrowing as he took in the sheer size of the weapon.

Naruto grinned, gripping the hilt with both hands. "This? This is the Zweihander. I picked it up in a graveyard while dodging skeletons."

Sakura blinked. "Skeletons? What are you even talking about?"

"Not here," Naruto said casually, planting the blade tip into the ground. "Somewhere else. You wouldn't get it."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow but didn't push the subject.

Ignoring them, Naruto adjusted his stance, spreading his feet apart and gripping the Zweihander firmly. The leather wrapping on the hilt bit into his palms, and the weight of the blade made his shoulders strain almost immediately. This thing wasn't like the Astora straight sword he'd been practicing with. It was a beast—a weapon that demanded respect.

"Let's see what this thing can do."

He swung the blade in a wide arc, testing a basic horizontal attack. The air whistled as the blade moved, but the swing was slow and heavy, as though he were trying to cut through molasses. His arms trembled under the strain, the weight of the sword making his movements feel sluggish and clumsy.

"Alright," Naruto said, pausing to catch his breath. "That wasn't too bad." He shook out his arms before adjusting his grip. "Let's try a strong attack."

Lifting the Zweihander above his head, Naruto summoned all his strength, his muscles burning as he held the sword aloft. With a shout, he brought the blade crashing down in a powerful overhand swing.

The impact was deafening. The sword smashed into the ground with a thunderous THUD, sending dirt and small rocks flying in every direction. A deep gash split the earth where the blade had landed, the raw power of the strike leaving a visible mark on the clearing.

Naruto stood there, panting heavily, his arms trembling from the effort. His hands felt numb, and his shoulders ached from the strain. The Zweihander was still embedded in the ground, too heavy to lift again just yet.

"This thing…" Naruto grinned through his exhaustion. "It's on a whole other level. I just need to get stronger."

"Where did you actually get that thing?" Sakura asked, her tone skeptical.

"I told you," Naruto said, turning to look at her. "Graveyard. Skeletons. It's not that hard to understand."

Sakura frowned. "Skeletons don't move, Naruto."

"They do where I'm from," Naruto replied, shrugging. He wasn't about to explain the mechanics of Firelink Shrine to them. They wouldn't believe him anyway.

Before anyone could say more, Naruto froze. He felt it—a sudden shift in the air, subtle but distinct. It was the unmistakable ripple of chakra, like the air had briefly shifted temperatures.

"Kakashi," Naruto muttered, his brow furrowing. He could sense it now, clear as day. Was this a perk of his new stats? Some hidden ability he hadn't unlocked yet?

His thoughts were interrupted by Sakura's sharp voice. "You're late!"

Standing in the clearing was Kakashi Hatake, as relaxed and unconcerned as ever. His hands were in his pockets, his silver hair catching the last rays of sunlight, and his visible eye curved into a lazy smile.

"Sorry about that," Kakashi said. "Got lost on the road of life."

"Lost on the—what kind of excuse is that?!"

Kakashi ignored her entirely, pulling out a small alarm clock and setting it on the log. Two small bells dangled from his belt, their faint jingle catching Naruto's attention.

"You three have six hours to get these two bells from me."

"Six hours?" Naruto muttered, his brow furrowing. He glanced at Sasuke and Sakura, who both exchanged equally confused looks. What kind of survival test was this? Six hours felt excessive for something so straightforward.

"And those who don't have a bell by the end…" His voice took on a teasing lilt. "Get no dinner."

Naruto's stomach betrayed him instantly, growling so loudly that Sasuke and Sakura both turned to glare at him. From their expressions, it was obvious they were trying not to groan—they were hungry too.

But Kakashi wasn't finished. "Also, whoever doesn't have a bell…" He turned slightly to point at the three training logs behind him. "Will be tied to one of those stumps. And I'll eat my dinner right in front of you."

"That's just cruel! What kind of evil are you?!"

"Oh, I'm not done yet." His voice dropped into something far more serious, and the air around them suddenly grew heavier. "The one who doesn't get a bell…" He paused for effect, his gaze sweeping over the three of them. "Won't be on this team."

That caught them all off guard. Naruto's indignation melted into something resembling shock, and Sakura froze mid-thought. Even Sasuke's casual posture stiffened, his jaw tightening ever so slightly.

"You mean," Sakura began hesitantly, "we could actually fail this?"

"Exactly," Kakashi said simply, his tone light again, as if the consequences were no big deal. "But don't worry. You'll have plenty of time. Let's begin."

Sasuke and Sakura immediately leapt into the tree. Naruto, however, remained where he was, brushing dirt off the plates of his armor and adjusting his helmet with a satisfying clink.

"You know, the most important thing for a shinobi is the ability to hide."

Naruto tightened the straps of his gauntlet before looking up at him. "This is a survival test, right?"

Kakashi gave a small nod, watching the boy with mild curiosity.

"Then you're the monster."

"I have been called worse."

Naruto lifted the Zweihander from his inventory, the massive sword appearing in his hands. He shifted his stance, his grin widening as he rested the enormous blade on his shoulder. "So, the best way to survive…" He stepped forward, planting his feet firmly in the ground. "…is to kill the monster."

Kakashi's eyebrow rose slightly higher, his interest now fully piqued. "That's… one way to look at it."

"It's the only way to look at it!"

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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 16, 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!