Before my eyes stretched an endless mountain range, dotted with huge circular craters, as if bombed by meteorites or nuclear explosions. Only a towering tree stood between the earth and sky, like a stone pillar holding up the heavens.
Floating nearby were three strange figures in white coats. One held a staff, another had six black spheres orbiting behind him, and the third had two rabbit ears, three eyes, and snow-white hair flowing past her body.
Where is this?And who are they?
I, Uchiha Kage, only remembered returning home from Konoha Ninja School and taking a nap. How did I come here without knowing?
Could this be a dream?
Suddenly, a text prompt appeared in my mind:
[Do you want to enter this copy?]
Copy?
I calmed myself and realized the strange scene and those three figures were all frozen in time. It felt as if time itself was paused.
"Wait... these three look like the legendary Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo, his mother Kaguya, and his brother Hamura?"
Could this copy allow me to travel back to when they fought their great war?
But I'm only a Genin. How can I risk my life clearing a dungeon this vast? And what are the rewards? What if I die here—and in reality too?
I barely made it alive back to Konoha. I haven't even started living yet. I can't just die like this.
Then another prompt appeared in my mind:
[No penalty for death in dungeon]
No penalty? No real death? Looks like I can try this.
[You have chosen to enter the dungeon. This is a multiplayer dungeon. You may choose two companions. Enter with companions?]
Companions?
A light screen appeared, showing only two familiar figures: Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke.
"This feels like a game."
Dream or not, I decided to try it first.
[Companions confirmed. Entering dungeon in 3 seconds.]
Three... two... one...
Suddenly the ground trembled. The three figures in the sky, along with the towering tree, began to move.
"What is this place?"
"Sasuke? Kage? Why are you two stinking guys here? Am I dreaming?"
Naruto and Sasuke, who came here with me, looked around in shock and confusion.
"I don't know either. Maybe I'm dreaming."
So the companions are real people?
Seeing Naruto and Sasuke just as they were in ninja school, I muttered quietly to myself while pretending not to notice.
[Mission: Help Kaguya escape being sealed by Hagoromo and Hamura]
This task?
I'm supposed to fight the Sage of Six Paths? Really?
I looked at Naruto and Sasuke beside me. One hadn't even learned Multiple Shadow Clones yet, the other hadn't mastered Chidori.
This team can't beat the Sage of Six Paths. He'll just start eating.
"A mission? Kaguya? Is she that weird but beautiful older sister over there? Humph, two men bullying a woman? Big sister, I'm here to save you!"
Naruto, who had also seen the mission, rushed forward without hesitation.
"Hey—"
While I was still wondering how to complete this mission cleverly and what rewards it might offer, I saw the reckless "young Kizaru" charge ahead.
"This idiot."
Sasuke analyzed the situation calmly but couldn't stop Naruto's wild charge.
—
Boom!
The massive tree rose from the ground, and out emerged a colossal Ten-Tailed Beast.
When the monster fired a glowing energy ball at the ground, it caused devastating explosions.
The three figures in the sky activated their powers—one donned Susanoo, another's long hair nearly blanketed the sky.
Boom!
Their attacks rained destruction like nuclear bombs, leaving crater after crater on the land.
"How can such power exist? Like monsters... This must be a dream!"
Naruto, terrified, sank to the ground, his legs weak.
"Stop running around. Let's find somewhere to hide first."
I wanted to scold him, "You'll regret that later," but held back.
"W-What is that!?"
Before Naruto could crawl back to Sasuke and me, a huge black shadow loomed overhead.
The earth shattered, stars exploded.
It was the Six Paths Sage's move...
Just as I realized this, sharp sounds whizzed past my ears.
It's the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball!
Boom!
In the fiery explosion, before I could say a last word, everything went black. Naruto, Sasuke, and I vanished like dust scattered in the wind.
—
[Mission Failed][Instance Settlement: Ninja Fragment x2][Re-enter the instance?]
I opened my eyes again, finding myself on a deserted street resembling Konoha Village. No voices, no people.
Is this Konoha? Am I still dreaming?
I walked the empty street, examining the ninja fragments in my hand. This is definitely like a game.
[Whether to merge?]
The two fragments represented Naruto and Sasuke.
Had they really died in the dungeon?
No, no, no. If I'm alive, they should be too.
I swallowed my doubts and absorbed the fragments.
"Hmm... I feel my chakra surging, and... my eyes..."
My Sharingan, long dormant, had revived.
If this isn't a dream...
Suddenly, I found myself in front of the Hokage Building.
Could this really be Konoha?
[Action Points: 1/2 — spend one action point to enter the scene?]
Curious, I pushed open the Hokage Building door and saw this prompt.
Action points?
It seemed there were only two points total, and now only one remained. Looks like I spent some entering the dungeon before.
I chose yes and stepped inside.