ALL NOVEL Chapter 35: 35. Unraveling Times Secrets
The atmosphere of the Realm of Time was heavy with the palpable tension of energies beyond normal comprehension. The sky swirled with a mix of vibrant colors—pink, blue, silver—almost as if it was constantly in motion, like the realm itself was alive. This was a place where the very fabric of existence could bend, stretch, and warp in ways that would drive ordinary minds to madness.
Ryusei stood at the edge of the swirling expanse, his aura calm and centered despite the disorienting surroundings. His arms crossed, he faced Sasuke and Sakura, who both stood with wary expressions, feeling the weight of the strange energy pressing down on them. Every movement felt slow, every breath slightly offbeat.
"You've been trained as shinobi, taught to manipulate chakra and use it in battle," Ryusei began, his voice steady but filled with authority. "But here, chakra alone won't be enough. You're going to learn to wield the power of time itself. And that… changes everything."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, his Sharingan active as it instinctively scanned the surroundings. He could feel the strange fluctuations in the space around him, each moment passing differently than the last. The Sharingan flickered, but it was having trouble reading the movements of the energy.
"What exactly does that mean?" Sasuke asked, his voice low. "How do you expect us to manipulate time in battle?"
Ryusei gave a knowing smile, then extended his hand, summoning a sphere of faint, glowing light. The energy in the sphere shifted constantly, flickering between various stages of existence—bright, dim, solid, and transparent. It was as if the orb contained every possible moment within it, all at once.
"This is a fragment of time," Ryusei explained. "Think of it as a moment, one that exists in all states simultaneously. To control it, you need to be able to sense its flow—the passage of each second, and how they can be stretched, slowed, or even reversed."
Sakura frowned, her brow furrowed in concentration. She reached out with her senses, trying to connect with the energy. It felt strange, slippery, like it was moving too fast for her to grasp.
"How are we supposed to control something like that?" she asked, her frustration showing.
Ryusei nodded, understanding the challenge. "Time is like a river, constantly moving forward. But in this realm, you can step out of that river, walk upstream, or even pause in place. It's all about control. The same way you control chakra in battle, you'll learn to control the flow of time."
Sasuke took a step forward, his Sharingan spinning rapidly as he focused on the sphere. "So… we slow time down, or speed it up, depending on what we need?"
"Exactly," Ryusei said. "But it's not just about moving faster or slower. You'll be able to alter key moments in battle—turning the tide in your favor. A second can become an eternity if you master it."
With a flick of his wrist, Ryusei dissipated the sphere and motioned for them to follow him. "Let's begin with the basics. First, you need to learn to sync your chakra with the flow of time around you."
He led them to a more open space within the realm. The ground beneath their feet seemed to shimmer, not entirely solid, as if they were walking on the edge of reality itself. Floating around them were faint echoes of past events—shadows of battles, moments of tension, flickers of faces they did not recognize.
Ryusei raised his hand, and suddenly, the echoes solidified into tangible figures. Shadowy versions of shinobi from various times stood before them, some holding weapons, others preparing jutsu. The shadows flickered in and out of existence, their movements erratic and unpredictable.
"Your task is simple," Ryusei said, his eyes flashing with authority. "Engage these echoes in battle. Use your chakra to sense the flow of time around them. Once you can feel it, manipulate it—slow their movements, or speed up your own. Bend the moment to your will."
Sasuke and Sakura exchanged a brief glance, then immediately activated their battle stances.
Sasuke was the first to strike. He dashed toward one of the shadow figures, his Sharingan tracking its movements. But the figure flickered, moving out of sync with the present. It was like fighting an opponent who existed in multiple times at once. Sasuke swung his blade, but it passed through the figure as if it was a mirage.
"Damn," Sasuke muttered, his frustration rising. He focused harder, pushing his chakra outward, trying to match the rhythm of the figure's movement. His Sharingan flared again, this time tracking the brief flickers in the figure's existence. He could see it now—small moments where the shadow became solid, when time aligned perfectly with his own.
With a sharp breath, Sasuke adjusted his movements, aiming for the moment when the figure would reappear in the present. His sword struck true, and the shadow shattered into fragments of light, dissipating into the air.
"Good," Ryusei called from a distance. "You found the moment. But you'll need to do more than that. It's not just about matching time—you'll need to bend it, control it."
Sakura was facing her own challenge. She moved with precision, using her chakra to power her punches. But every time she struck one of the shadows, it seemed to ripple out of existence, reforming behind her before she could react.
"This is impossible," she muttered, her frustration growing. "They're not following any logical pattern."
Ryusei stepped closer, his expression calm. "That's because you're still thinking of time in a linear way. These echoes exist in multiple moments. To defeat them, you need to stop thinking in terms of seconds and minutes, and start thinking of moments. Focus on the flow of time within each strike—feel when the shadow solidifies, then control that moment."
Sakura took a deep breath, centering herself. She focused her chakra, not just on her punches, but on the air around her, the energy that pulsed within the realm. Slowly, she began to sense it—the flow of time, shifting like an invisible current. She could feel the moments where the shadows became solid, where they existed fully in the present.
With a fierce shout, Sakura struck out again. This time, her fist connected with the shadow's chest, shattering it into shards of light.
"That's it," Ryusei said, nodding with approval. "Now you're starting to see the flow."
Sasuke and Sakura both stood panting, but their eyes were focused, their minds racing with the possibilities. They had barely scratched the surface of what was possible, but already they could feel the power of time beginning to take hold.
Ryusei watched them with a calculating gaze. "This is just the beginning. You've learned how to sense time, how to match its flow. But next, you'll learn how to manipulate it—how to control the moment itself."
He raised his hand, and the air around them began to pulse with energy again. New echoes appeared, stronger and faster than before, their movements even more erratic and unpredictable.
"These will test you further," Ryusei said, his voice firm. "But remember—time is your weapon. You are not bound by it. Bend it, control it, and you will master the battlefield."
Sasuke's eyes gleamed with determination, his Sharingan spinning as he prepared for the next wave. Sakura stood beside him, her fists glowing with chakra as she focused her energy.
Together, they stepped forward, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead, as they began to unravel the secrets of time.
Meanwhile, in the Void of Time…
Naruto and Anon stood amidst the swirling chaos of the Void, its energy warping and distorting everything around them. The rules of reality didn't apply here—time flowed unpredictably, moments stretching and collapsing in on themselves.
Anon glanced at Naruto, his expression calm but intense. "This is where the real training begins. The Void doesn't follow the same rules as the Realm of Time. Here, chaos reigns. But if you can control it…"
Naruto grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Let's get started."
Their journey, too, had just begun.