Naruto: Legacy of the Void

The air was thick with tension. A silver moon hung high above the battlefield, its light cold and distant, casting elongated shadows over the ruined landscape. The remnants of the abyssal entity had long since vanished, leaving only the oppressive silence of those who remained.

Kaede tightened her grip on her sword, her knuckles turning white. Her eyes were locked onto Shin, who stood motionless in the center of the battlefield, his katana dripping with the remnants of void energy. The glow from his Abyss Eye had not faded—it pulsed, an ominous beacon of the abyss's influence.

"Shin," she called cautiously, taking a slow step forward.

He didn't react.

His posture was rigid, unnatural. The aura surrounding him flickered erratically, the tendrils of abyssal chakra wrapping around his body like shackles—and yet, there was no sign of resistance. It was as if he had stopped fighting it entirely.

Kaede tried again. "Shin. It's over. We won."

Finally, he moved. Slowly, he lifted his gaze, locking eyes with her.

And in that instant, she knew something was terribly wrong.

His expression was empty. Not cold, not furious—just void.

Hoshirama exhaled sharply, his Byakugan still active. "His chakra flow is… distorted. It's not like before."

Satoshi clenched his fists. "That's not Shin anymore."

The words stung, but Kaede refused to believe them.

Shin took a step forward. His movements were smooth but eerily deliberate, like a specter drifting toward them rather than a person walking. The closer he got, the heavier the air became, as though the abyss itself was watching through his eyes.

Kaede swallowed hard and raised her sword slightly—not as a threat, but as a precaution. "Shin, I need you to listen to me. Whatever this is, you need to fight it. You're still in control."

His lips parted slightly. His voice, when it came, was soft but devoid of warmth.

"There is nothing to fight."

The statement sent a shiver down Kaede's spine.

Then, without warning, Shin vanished.

No sound. No flicker of movement. Just—gone.

Kaede's instincts screamed at her to move, and she barely managed to react in time. A dark blur streaked past her, followed by a sharp gust of wind. She twisted her body, just narrowly avoiding the slash aimed at her midsection.

She landed a few meters away, heart hammering. "Damn it—"

Hoshirama and Satoshi had already leaped into action, surrounding Shin in an instant.

Hoshirama spoke first. "Shin. Stop this."

Shin tilted his head slightly, as if considering the words. Then he attacked.

A single motion—too fast for the naked eye. Hoshirama barely managed to bring up his arms in defense before Shin's katana was at his throat, stopping just short of cutting him down. It wasn't hesitation. It was precision.

The message was clear.

I can kill you if I want to.

Satoshi lunged in from the side, but Shin shifted without effort, twisting his blade to deflect Satoshi's kunai before delivering a brutal kick to his chest. The impact sent Satoshi flying back, skidding across the ground.

Kaede gritted her teeth. This wasn't just Shin being consumed by the abyss. He was different.

More controlled. More refined.

More dangerous.

She charged in, her blade crackling with chakra as she aimed for his side. "I won't let you lose yourself!"

Shin met her strike head-on. Their swords clashed, sparks flying between them. For the first time in their countless sparring matches, Kaede felt overwhelmed. Every move she made, Shin countered with terrifying ease. Every feint, every trick, he saw through it all—almost like he had already fought this battle before.

Then he spoke again.

"You're hesitating."

His words were barely a whisper, yet they cut deeper than any blade.

Kaede's grip faltered for a fraction of a second, and Shin capitalized on it instantly. His free hand shot forward, palm pressing against her shoulder. Before she could react, a pulse of void energy erupted from his touch, sending her crashing backward.

She hit the ground hard, gasping as pain jolted through her body. Her vision blurred for a second before she forced herself back up.

Shin was already standing over her, katana lowered, his Abyss Eye glowing like a starless void.

"You don't understand, Kaede," he said, his voice almost… distant. "I've seen it. The truth beyond this world. There is no 'Shin' to save anymore."

Her heart clenched. "That's a lie."

He said nothing.

But then, for the briefest of moments, something flickered across his expression. A hesitation. A conflict.

And that was all the proof Kaede needed.

She forced herself to her feet, tightening her grip on her sword. "You're still in there. I know you are."

Shin remained silent.

Hoshirama and Satoshi regrouped behind her, both of them breathing heavily from the intensity of the exchange. Hoshirama's voice was firm but calm. "If you keep walking this path, you won't be able to turn back."

Shin blinked.

And for a moment, just a moment, the glow of his Abyss Eye dimmed slightly.

Then, he stepped back.

The void energy surrounding him pulsed once before receding. The oppressive aura began to fade, and the heavy silence of the battlefield returned.

Kaede held her breath. "Shin…?"

He turned away from them. "Don't follow me."

With that, he disappeared into the darkness.

Kaede took a step forward, but Satoshi stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. "Let him go," he murmured.

Her hands clenched into fists. "I can't."

Hoshirama exhaled, his expression unreadable. "We may not have a choice."

The battle had ended.

But the war for Shin's soul had only just begun.

-----------

For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Oskin