Light and Dark

The moment Naruto was born, before he had developed a sense of self, the system chose him.

The system had a very ancient codename: Light.

Opposing Light was another system, codenamed Dark.

Light needed to bond with its original host to activate mission mode and fulfill its purpose.

Dark, however, only needed to bond with a host and modify their abilities through missions. Its sole purpose was to erase every trace of Light.

Light's original host was an ordinary college student in the new era.

Together, they had gone through many host selections. Even with the system's power, they had still struggled to fulfill their ultimate mission.

What was the ultimate mission?

Light deduced that it was connected to the hosts it chose.

The original host knew there was no standard answer.

Hard work was the only answer.

Dark was just as ancient as Light. It wasn't evil; its only purpose was to destroy Light and its original host.

Dark bonded with beings from parallel universes, adapting and growing quickly. Once it had a fifty-one percent chance of success, it would go all out, fighting to the death against Light and the host chosen by its original host.

It happened every time, and it never succeeded.

It was as if they were trapped in a pointless cycle.

The waves rolled, and the seawater was very salty.

Between the blue sea and sky,

light flickered between Naruto's brows. He still couldn't tell how far Dark had developed her host's abilities.

"I can feel that you're afraid!" Dark calmly raised her right hand, slowly forming a Chakra Blade. "Naruto, it's time to end the cycle of fate between us."

The system's remaining power was meant to save Naruto's life and restart itself. He wouldn't use it to fight Dark.

Naruto felt that the ninjutsu and taijutsu he'd acquired through his missions were enough to defeat Dark.

Naruto flashed away. "I'm just a little nervous. Your Bloodline Boiling ability is incredibly powerful, after all."

Dark rushed after Naruto and caught up to him, forming Hand Seals with one hand. "Water Release: Water Severing Wave."

Dark's small mouth spat out a high-pressure jet of water that turned into a razor-sharp blade and pierced Naruto's right leg.

Naruto pulled his body away to keep the jet from severing his leg completely. "Morning Peacock!"

Flames filled the sky like a peacock's feathers, staining it red.

Dark suddenly vanished, dodging the Morning Peacock's attack. Instead, she appeared inexplicably on Naruto's left, right up against him.

"What!" Naruto tilted his head to the left. "Flying Thunder God Technique?"

"Water Release: Water Blade Slash."

The sharp kunai was infused with water-natured chakra that had undergone complete shape transformation. Even the slightest touch could cut through anything.

Dark brought it down without hesitation, aiming to sever Naruto's neck.

A palm-sized gash opened across Naruto's back, but his ample chakra kept healing the wound.

"When did you inscribe the Flying Thunder God Formula on me?" Naruto asked, baffled.

No wonder Dark had been able to catch up to him even when he was moving at the speed of the Sixth Gate.

Dark said nothing and teleported behind Naruto again. "Water Release: Hard Vortex Water Blade."

A vortex-shaped, high-speed spear formed in Dark's hand. Its layers spun faster and faster until it pierced straight through Naruto's chest.

Naruto could barely defend himself. Blood spilled from his mouth as he stared at Dark and grabbed her arm. "I still don't understand how you did it, but there's a way to deal with it. I won't let go. If you move, I'll move with you."

Dark sneered. "I'm not going to trade injuries with you. That last attack was just an experiment. It seems ordinary ninjutsu can't kill you. Your regenerative ability really is impressive."

Naruto punched at her, his fist filled with anger. "Then what can you do?"

"I can seal you." Dark pressed her palm against Naruto's chest. "Death Seal."

Naruto felt his soul's responses growing sluggish. Gray sealing marks rapidly spread from his chest across his body. If they covered him completely, Naruto felt his soul would be sealed in a state between life and death.

Their powers clashed, and Naruto couldn't even throw a punch.

Alert!

Original host, Dark's Flying Thunder God Formula has been removed.

Where?

Dark's chakra remains on the original host's right shoulder. It's likely from when she fought the little Ice Release girl at the beginning.

Dark only managed to pull this off once, catching me by surprise and beating me up. If my movement speed hadn't continued to increase, I might not have been able to track her movements.

I have no idea how far Dark can travel using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Naruto thought with frustration. If he couldn't limit the Flying Thunder God Technique, it would be hard to catch Dark.

The system's uniqueness has imposed a limit: Dark's Flying Thunder God Technique can't move her more than fifty meters.

Original host, Dark's system energy is greater than mine. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to use the Flying Thunder God Technique, a Space-Time Ninjutsu.

Naruto made up his mind: he had to go all in now.

He surged toward the Seventh Gate, the Gate of Wonder.

Dark felt her Death Seal weakening and furrowed her delicate brows. "The host you chose really is extraordinary. It's as if most of this world's fortune is concentrated in him. And even under these circumstances, you can break through again? That's absurd."

Boom!

The sealing force shattered.

Without another word, Dark swung her kunai before Naruto had fully recovered from the sluggishness caused by the Death Seal, severing the hand that had grabbed her arm.

"Ah!" The pain jolted Naruto fully awake. In an instant, he caught his falling hand and reattached it to his arm. "The Gate of Wonder is open. Let's see if you can withstand my full power!"

Dark steadied herself, ready to attack or defend. "Is that so? You think I wasn't prepared? The missions I completed to achieve my goal weren't as simple as checking in at some location. I'd say my taijutsu is no worse than yours."

"Bloodline Boiling!"

Whoosh!

Naruto charged straight at her. "Daytime Tiger!"

The air between them compressed, and a tiger took shape in front of Naruto's fist. In the blink of an eye, it struck Dark in the chest.

"Dark Night!" Dark narrowly dodged with the Flying Thunder God Technique, but the high pressure generated by the Daytime Tiger still injured her abdomen.

A shadow spread out like nightfall. In truth, it was Dark's palm strike.

"Water Release: Torrent Rasengan." Naruto sensed Dark's position and blocked her left side with a Rasengan, then suddenly kicked out. "Second Stage: Daytime Tiger!"

A series of shock waves followed.

Dark crossed her arms to block the Daytime Tiger. The tremendous impact turned her arms bright red.

"What incredible taijutsu. Even my Chakra Cloak can barely withstand his attacks." Dark began dodging.

The two chased each other through the air.

Wherever they went, fierce winds rose.

The winds churned the sea into towering waves, repeatedly pushing the wooden boat carrying Kakashi and the others farther away.

The two maintained their high-intensity taijutsu battle, and neither immediately gained the upper hand.

Naruto grew increasingly anxious because he was almost out of options.