Chapter 5: Echoes of the Past
The village of Konoha slowly awakened, shrouded in morning mist. Birds chirped, merchants opened their stalls... but amidst all this peaceful routine, something else lingered in the air. Something ancient.
Naruto woke up earlier than usual. The system lit up with a new message:
Event: Anomaly outside the village
Source: Zone 13, Abandoned Training Ground
Threat Level: Medium
Related Discovery: Subsystem "Echoes of the Awakened" active
Mission (optional): Investigate the source
Reward: +300 XP, chance to unlock a unique perk
He stood up, pulled on his orange jacket, and quickly checked his inventory:
Band of Speed (with Hinata)
1 energy pill
Old map of the Academy
Synergy Crystal (sealed)
Skill Points: 2
He spent one:
New skill acquired:
Passive — "Sense for Anomalies"
Effect: +15% chance to detect hidden objects and chakra of unusual origin
As he left the apartment, they were already waiting for him.
— Did you feel it too? — Naruto nodded to Hinata.
— Yes... This chakra, it's strange. Ancient. Cold. — Hinata trembled slightly.
A few minutes later, Sasuke approached them.
— I don't like pointless trips. But... this thing is calling. — he looked at Naruto. — Has your system started acting strangely too?
Naruto froze.
— Yours too?
Sasuke nodded, and just then, a system message flashed for all three of them:
Confirmed: Three active System users
Shared access to "Echoes of the Awakened" granted
History unlocked: Chapter I — "Fallen from the Beginning of Time"
Hint: An Echo is not just a sound. It is the trace of those who have already awakened once... and were destroyed.
When they arrived at the training ground, everything around was covered in white mist, as if nature itself was trying to hide what was happening.
On an old post hung a plaque with a scratched inscription:
"We thought the System was a gift. But it chose. And took away."
The system registered:
Object found: Message of an Awakened
Loading data...
For a moment, Naruto saw a flash — the image of a man in a black cloak, surrounded by burning eyes. On his forehead shone a symbol similar to the pattern that flickered in the System's interface.
— I saw that... — whispered Naruto.
— Me too, — Sasuke frowned. — And that symbol... it's the same as in one of the Uchiha clan scrolls. It was called the "Seal of Lost Truths".
Suddenly, the ground trembled. A shadow emerged from beneath the earth. A creature, a clot of chakra in human form. Its face was blank, like a mask.
The system yelled:
Threat: Astral Parasite "Echo"
Level: 5 (adaptive)
Features: Absorbs skills. Attacks memory.
Mode: COMBAT
— Be careful! It feeds on our strength! — yelled Naruto and activated «Quick Decision».
Hinata took a Jūken stance, but barely touched the creature — it flashed, and copied her technique!
— It... steals our abilities! — she screamed, jumping back.
System suggests: tactical combination "inversion"
Conditions: Create a non-standard combination that breaks attack patterns
Naruto smiled:
— Sasuke. Hinata. Let's do the opposite. I'll defend, you attack!
Sasuke snorted but nodded.
Hinata distracted the parasite, Naruto, taking the hit, activated a new effect due to synergy:
Improvisation Shield
Absorbs 60% damage and reflects 20% of the effect back
Sasuke flipped over the creature and unleashed a new technique:
Chidori: Echo Blade
Unique effect — strikes chakra, not the body
The creature shrieked, hesitated — and disappeared, as if evaporating into thin air.
After the fight, all three were breathing heavily. The system issued a message:
Threat eliminated
Rewards:
+300 XP each
Unique Item: "Echo Core Fragment"
Unlocked: Archive of the Fallen
Secret message from a past Awakened: access granted
Naruto opened the archive. There was only one sentence:
If you are reading this — it means you are the first of the new ones. Do not repeat our mistake. Do not trust the system blindly. It... is also alive.