Silence…
Not ordinary silence.
But the kind that presses on your chest…And makes you feel like you're not alone even though you see no one.
Asta slowly opened his eyes.
"…"
He didn't move.
He remained lying there for a moment, staring at the gray sky above him.
It wasn't blue.It wasn't completely dark.
Just a strange color…As if it were dead.
"This… isn't my place."
He sat up suddenly.
His gaze shifted quickly between the buildings around him.
Old stone walls.Narrow windows.Empty streets… unnervingly empty.
"The forest… is gone."
He stood up slowly, his hand instinctively moving toward his sword.
It was there.
But
When he tried to sense its energy…
He froze.
"…"
He tried again.
Closed his eyes.
Focused.
…
Nothing.
He opened his eyes sharply.
"Impossible."
He raised his sword in front of him, as if expecting to feel that familiar power—
But the sword was… just a sword.
Heavy.Silent.Without presence.
"Even… this?"
He tightened his grip on the handle.
For the first time in a long time…
Asta felt something he hadn't felt since childhood.
Weakness.
He started walking.
His steps were cautious.
Every corner… every shadow… watched carefully.
"An empty city…"
But it wasn't empty.
There was a feeling…
As if something was watching him.
He suddenly stopped.
He looked at a broken window on the second floor.
"…Is someone there?"
No answer.
But
A slight movement.
Something passed quickly behind the glass.
Asta immediately gripped his sword.
"Show yourself!"
His voice echoed through the street…
But no one came out.
Seconds passed.
Then
A faint laugh.
Not loud.Not clear.
But it was there.
His eyes narrowed.
"So… I'm not alone."
He kept walking.
Until he reached a small square.
And in the center…
A statue.
A man cloaked in robes.His face unclear.
But the strange thing…
Was what was written beneath it.
Asta approached slowly.
He read:
"In this world… strength has no value."
He froze.
"…"
Then continued reading:
"Those who rely on strength… die."
A faint wind brushed against his clothes.
Asta smiled.
But it wasn't a normal smile.
"Fine…"
He raised his head, his eyes burning with stubborn resolve.
"Then I won't need it."
But
Deep inside…
He knew.
This wouldn't be that simple.
Elsewhere in the city…
A drop of water…
Fell.
Drip…
Its sound echoed clearly in the silence.
Naruto Uzumaki slowly opened his eyes.
"…"
The first thing he saw…
The ceiling.
But not just any ceiling.
Stone.
Old.Cracked.
"…"
He sat up quickly.
"Where am I?!"
His voice echoed in the space.
He was in a room.
Narrow.Cold.No windows.
Only a wooden door in front of him.
He stood up immediately.
"Is this… a cell?"
He stepped toward the door and placed his hand on it.
Then
He stopped.
Focused.
"…"
He closed his eyes.
Tried to feel his chakra.
…
Nothing.
He slowly opened his eyes.
"No…"
He tried again.
With more focus.
"Shadow Clone "
He stopped.
No need to finish.
Nothing happened.
He lowered his hand slowly.
"It's gone…"
He took a deep breath.
Then let out a short laugh but it wasn't cheerful.
"Great… just great."
He approached the door.
"Let's see…"
He pushed it.
Creeeak
It opened.
It wasn't locked.
"…Strange."
He stepped out.
A long corridor.
Torches on the walls.
Their light dim and orange.
The air heavy.
"…"
He began walking.
Each step calculated.
His mind racing.
"Unknown place… no chakra…"
"That means "
He stopped.
"I'm in danger."
He reached a crossroads.
Right.Left.Forward.
He stood still.
Looked.
Thought.
"…If I were the one who designed this place…"
He smirked slightly.
"I'd put a trap on the obvious path."
He chose left.
After a few steps
A sound.
He stopped.
"…"
A whisper?
No.
More than a whisper.
As if someone was speaking… but from far away.
He moved closer slowly.
He reached an open room.
Inside
A table.A chair.And a person.
Sitting.
Back turned to him.
Naruto froze.
"…"
"Are… you human?" he asked cautiously.
The figure didn't move.
Naruto stepped closer.
"…Hello?"
Then
Movement.
Slow.
The figure turned.
But
Its face…
Was not normal.
Empty eyes.A frozen smile.
"…"
Naruto froze.
"What is that…?"
The figure stood up.
Slowly.
Then spoke in a cold voice:
"You… are new."
Naruto clenched his fist.
"What is this place?!"
The creature smiled.
"A place… where the strong die first."