Chapter 97: 97. Beyond The End
The convergence point near the Land of Lightning was unlike anything they had encountered before. The air itself was thick with chaotic energy, distorting the space around the rift as it grew larger and more unstable. The figures emerging from the tear were more powerful, their forms twisted and grotesque, their movements more precise and calculated. The enemies that once felt scattered now moved with a terrifying coordination.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Anon stood at the front of the advancing forces, their eyes locked on the growing horde of enemies. The Hidden Cloud shinobi, led by the Raikage himself, were ready for battle, their faces set with determination. But even with their strength, the threat before them felt overwhelming.
"We've got to hit them hard and fast," Naruto said, his eyes scanning the battlefield. His chakra flared as he prepared to charge into the fray. "We can't let them spread out. If they get to the villages, it'll be chaos."
Sasuke, ever the strategist, was already formulating a plan. His Sharingan flickered with intense focus, analyzing the movements of the enemies pouring from the rift. "Naruto, you and I will clear the ground. Anon, you'll need to handle the rift. Close it while we deal with the forces coming through."
Anon, silent but resolute, nodded. He understood his role. The Void energy within him rippled as he prepared to confront the rift itself. "I'll stabilize the rift. Once it's under control, we can cut off their reinforcements."
Naruto grinned, his usual confidence shining through even in the face of such overwhelming odds. "Let's do this. Time to show these guys what we're made of!"
With a burst of speed, Naruto charged forward, his Rasengan forming in his hand, swirling with Time energy. He crashed into the first wave of enemies, the energy of his attack tearing through their ranks with devastating force. The figures dissolved into nothingness as the Rasengan expanded, warping the space around it.
Sasuke wasn't far behind, his Chidori crackling with Void energy as he struck with pinpoint accuracy. His Sharingan tracked every movement, his strikes precise and deadly. The Void energy around his attacks distorted reality itself, making it nearly impossible for the enemies to avoid his blows.
Anon, meanwhile, moved toward the rift, his eyes glowing faintly as he reached out with his senses. The Void energy pulsed around him, his connection to the convergence growing stronger. He could feel the rift's chaotic energy swirling, feeding the enemies pouring through. He would need to act fast.
As Naruto and Sasuke tore through the ranks of enemies, the ground beneath them trembled. The rift pulsed with dark energy, and from its depths, a new figure emerged. This one was different—larger, more menacing. Its form was shrouded in shadow, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light.
Naruto's eyes widened as he saw the new threat. "What the heck is that?"
Sasuke's Sharingan flickered as he analyzed the figure. "It's feeding off the rift. Whatever it is, it's drawing power from the convergence."
Anon, his focus still on stabilizing the rift, glanced toward the figure. His eyes narrowed. "It's a manifestation of the rift itself. The longer it stays open, the stronger it gets. We need to take it down before it fully merges with this reality."
Naruto gritted his teeth, determination blazing in his eyes. "Then let's finish this."
The New Enemy
The new figure moved with terrifying speed, its form shifting and distorting as it closed the distance between itself and Naruto. Its limbs stretched unnaturally, lashing out with dark energy as it aimed for Naruto's chest.
Naruto barely had time to react. He leaped backward, his hands moving quickly to form another Rasengan, this one infused with more Time energy. "You're not getting me that easy!" he shouted as he launched the attack toward the creature.
The Rasengan collided with the figure, but instead of disintegrating like the others, it absorbed the attack, its body rippling with dark energy. The creature let out a deafening roar, its eyes locking onto Naruto with a predatory gleam.
Sasuke was at Naruto's side in an instant, his Chidori already crackling with energy. "Naruto, don't let it touch you! It's absorbing chakra!"
Naruto grinned despite the situation, his confidence unshaken. "Thanks for the heads-up, Sasuke! Let's see how it handles this!"
With a burst of chakra, Naruto formed multiple shadow clones, each one charging toward the creature with a Rasengan in hand. The clones surrounded the figure, attacking from all sides, their movements fluid and coordinated.
But the creature was faster than it appeared. It lashed out with its shadowy limbs, striking down the clones one by one, absorbing their chakra as it moved. The dark energy around it grew stronger, and the air around the battlefield seemed to thicken with its presence.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his Sharingan tracking every movement. "We can't beat it by overwhelming it with chakra. We need to outthink it."
Naruto grinned, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Got it. Time for something new."
With a flick of his wrist, Naruto formed a new Rasengan, this one pulsing with Void energy, the technique he had been developing during their training. The air around the attack warped, distorting space as he prepared to strike.
"Take this!" Naruto shouted as he hurled the Void-infused Rasengan toward the creature.
The attack hit with devastating force, the Void energy tearing through the creature's form, disrupting its connection to the rift. The figure let out a pained roar, its body flickering as it struggled to maintain its form.
Sasuke saw his opportunity. His Chidori crackled with Void energy as he darted forward, striking the creature in its core. The combination of their attacks destabilized the figure, its body crumbling as the dark energy was ripped away.
With one final, deafening scream, the creature dissolved into nothingness, its form disintegrating into the air.
Naruto let out a sigh of relief, his hands resting on his knees as he caught his breath. "That was… intense."
Sasuke, ever composed, gave a curt nod. "We'll need to be ready for more. There's no telling how many of these things are out there."
Anon, still focused on the rift, finally spoke. "The rift is stabilizing, but it's not fully closed yet. We need to cut off its connection to the other dimension."
Naruto stood up straight, his resolve returning. "Then let's finish this. We're not letting any more of these things through."