Five days in the Forest of Death had worn down most teams.
Some had limped in, bloodied and broken.
Some never made it at all.
Team 7 arrived at dawn on the fourth day — unharmed, determined, and alert.
The central tower loomed before them like a forgotten fortress. Moss and vines crept along its stone face. Its gates were carved with the swirling symbol of the Leaf, but time had worn the edges dull.
Sasuke glanced at the horizon. "We're early."
"Good," Naruto said. "Let's end it."
Sakura pulled both scrolls from her pouch — one Heaven, one Earth.
"We just open them at the same time, right?"
"Yeah," Naruto nodded. "Together."
They each took one side and pulled.
The seals on both scrolls flared with light.
A moment later — poof — a swirl of smoke exploded between them.
Naruto dropped into a defensive stance.
When the smoke cleared…
Standing in front of them was Iruka-sensei.
---
"Iruka-sensei?!" Naruto blurted.
The older ninja smiled gently. "You made it. Congratulations."
"Is it really you?" Sasuke asked, skeptical.
Iruka nodded. "Yes, Sasuke. The scrolls summon a proctor — someone familiar, if possible — to confirm your identity and ensure you made it here with teamwork, not luck."
Naruto blinked. "Wait, you mean this was… a test of teamwork?"
Iruka smiled. "All of it was. The traps. The stress. The fighting. You passed."
He placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"I'm proud of you."
Naruto's grin faltered.
Because his System pulsed.
---
> Anomaly Detected:
Chakra signature = 100% match (Iruka Umino)
Sub-signal hidden under tower – origin: SYSTEM
Accessing hidden terminal…
[Access Point Located – Below Tower, B2 Chamber]
New Quest: Data Fragment – Root of Sync
Objective: Investigate Sub-Level
Time Limit: 3 hours
Rewards: Unknown
Naruto's breath caught.
There was a System fragment underneath the tower?
He didn't even know what that meant, but his heart started racing.
Sasuke was already checking out the inner rooms. "They've got restrooms, food, cots. Guess we're stuck here for a day before Phase Three."
Sakura smiled, exhausted. "Good. I need real sleep."
Naruto hesitated, then nodded.
"I'll catch up. Just wanna… walk off some nerves."
---
20 minutes later
Naruto stood in a dim hallway on the tower's second basement level.
This area wasn't on the map.
There were no signs, no lights — only faint, flickering blue glyphs pulsing in the stone.
He reached a sealed metal door. The System pinged.
> Accessing Lock...
Verified: User – Uzumaki Naruto
Sync Level: 17% – Sufficient
Unsealing…
The door groaned open.
Inside was a small chamber, lit by pale light that didn't come from any visible source.
At the center was a stone pedestal.
Resting on it… a crystal orb.
No chakra.
No seal.
But the moment Naruto stepped forward—
> System Fragment Located – NODE 2
Initializing memory download…
Alert: Host's Sync may be affected
Proceed? [Yes] / [No]
Naruto took a breath.
And tapped Yes.
---
The chamber pulsed with light.
Naruto fell to his knees.
Flashes of another world tore through his mind.
— A massive tree split in half, bleeding starlight.
— A floating system interface tethered to a dying warrior.
— A mark shaped like a circle with three tails, carved into the moon.
And a voice.
Cold. Alien. Mechanical.
> "Node 2 activated. Sync increased.
User: Naruto Uzumaki
Code: Candidate – Restoration Thread
Initiating memory unlock…"
Naruto screamed.
Then it stopped.
---
> Sync Increased: 24%
New Passive Gained:
→ Memory Echo I – Hints of past hosts will occasionally surface during stress
New System Category Unlocked:
→ Legacy Paths
→ 3 Paths Detected – Locked
Naruto collapsed to one knee, gasping.
His head hurt.
But something deep inside him had changed.
He wasn't just a boy with a demon fox and a strange leveling system anymore.
He was connected to something much older — something woven into reality itself.
He rose slowly.
Whatever was coming next… he had to be ready.
---
Later that evening
Naruto rejoined his team in the tower.
He didn't speak of what happened.
Not yet.
Sakura had already passed out. Sasuke was sitting alone, staring out the window at the dark forest.
Naruto sat next to him.
For a long while, neither spoke.
Then Sasuke asked quietly, "What do you think the final test is?"
Naruto didn't answer right away.
He just looked at his hand, where a faint shimmer of data still flickered beneath his skin.
Then he said, "I think… it's not gonna be fair."
Sasuke snorted. "Was it ever?"
Naruto smiled.
"Nope."