The group moved cautiously toward the center of the room, where the glowing artifact rested upon a pedestal. It was a dark, crystalline structure, pulsating with an eerie light that seemed to resonate with the energy in the chamber. The closer Taro got to it, the stronger his own energy became, as if the artifact itself was calling to him.
"What is it?" Sakura whispered, clearly in awe.
"I don't know," Taro replied. He reached out cautiously, his hand trembling slightly as he touched the crystal. The moment his fingers brushed against it, a surge of energy shot through his body, and his vision went white. He was overwhelmed by the sensation, feeling as though he was being pulled into the very core of the artifact.
Suddenly, he was no longer in the temple.
He found himself standing in a vast, infinite space—a world beyond the physical realm. Dark shapes hovered around him, flickering like the shadows that had attacked earlier, but they weren't hostile. They were watching him, observing.
"You… are not of this world," a deep, resonant voice echoed in his mind. Taro flinched, feeling the weight of the words. "But you are connected to it. You are a part of the balance, a force that will either restore harmony or unravel it."
Taro tried to speak, but his voice couldn't form words. His mind raced with questions. Who was speaking to him? What did it mean by balance?
The voice continued, its tone both ominous and comforting. "You have been chosen, Taro. Your presence here is no accident. You are tied to the very fabric of this world. The power you wield… it is the key to saving—or destroying—everything."
With a jolt, Taro was thrust back into the chamber, his hand still resting on the crystal. He gasped for breath, the strange vision still lingering in his mind.
"What happened?" Sasuke asked, his voice filled with concern.
Taro slowly pulled his hand away from the artifact, his mind racing. "I… I saw something. A message. I don't understand it fully, but it said I was connected to this world. That my power could either save it or destroy it."
Naruto's face grew serious for the first time. "That's… a heavy responsibility, Taro."
"More than I ever expected," Taro muttered, looking down at the artifact. "We need to figure out what this means. Because whatever this power is, I don't think it's just about me."
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