There Must Be a Lich King

The dream stretched on, and consciousness sank.

Naruto walked across a field of gray ruins. This was the Konoha he saw in his eyes.

He had once tried to find the pillar of this world, to find the leader who could guide humanity against the end.

Before the phantom of the Hokage's Office, he saw the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Beneath that kindly face lay weakness that indulged and compromised, naivety that viewed the village as one big family. His "Will of Fire" was as fragile as paper before a true world-ending catastrophe.

[Assessment: Unqualified. His kindness is fertile ground for corruption.]

The phantom shattered, and the scene shifted to a dark underground chamber. Shimura Danzō stood before him, obsessive ambition burning in his one eye. He craved power at any cost, yet all his schemes were confined to the tiny chessboard of "Konoha." He could not see beyond the village, much less beyond the sky.

[Assessment: Unqualified. His ambition is shortsighted self-destruction.]

He had examined every renowned powerhouse in this world. Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru... They were either lost in the past, pursuing emptiness, or fallen into servitude to Chaos.

Not one of them had raised their head to truly look at the cold, deathly starry sky hanging above everyone.

Not one of them had noticed the ultimate threat about to descend, known as "Harvest."

At the end of the dream, Naruto stood atop Hokage Rock, looking down at the quiet, peaceful village beneath him.

This was his home.

This was one of humanity's last bastions.

There was no longer a trace of confusion on his cold face, only resolve forged from steel.

"The path of following the strong has been proven ineffective."

His voice echoed through the empty world, yet it seemed to be a declaration to the entire universe.

"Since this world has not yet received the Emperor's guidance..."

He slowly raised his head, as though he intended to pierce the dream's vault with his gaze and stare directly at the "farmer" hidden deep within the sea of stars, sowing all things.

"Then I, Naruto, will serve as the Emperor's warrior and this world's leader. I will protect this world."

Naruto abruptly opened his eyes.

The determination from the dream and the coldness of reality instantly merged within those ice-blue eyes, bursting forth with a sharper, firmer light than ever before.

He sat up. The numbness in his body had not fully faded, but he did not concern himself with his injuries.

"Battle damage report."

His voice was hoarse, yet it carried an unquestionable command.

"Commissar!" Haku had been guarding his side all along. Seeing him awaken, he immediately dropped to one knee.

Zero's figure emerged from the shadows as well, silently bowing his head.

"You were affected by a powerful physical impact and neurotoxin, resulting in a deep coma for approximately fifteen minutes." Haku spoke rapidly, reporting the key information. "The toxin has been initially suppressed, but complete removal will require time."

Hearing the movement, Sakura abruptly raised her head. When she saw Naruto sitting up, she froze for a moment before tears welled up again.

"Naruto! You're awake! Sasuke, he..."

"Don't speak yet." Naruto did not even look at her. His gaze swept directly toward the unconscious Sasuke in her arms. "Continue the report."

Sakura's words were forcibly choked back. Her mouth hung open, her face filled with grievance and confusion.

Without pausing, Haku continued, "Sasuke Uchiha has been implanted with Orochimaru's Curse Mark. His chakra is extremely unstable, and he is unconscious. Sakura Haruno suffered severe mental shock and has essentially lost her combat capability. The enemy has retreated. We have secured the mission objective, the Heaven Scroll."

Naruto nodded and rose from the ground.

He staggered, but immediately steadied himself with an iron will.

Step by step, he walked toward Sakura and Sasuke.

Every step seemed to land on Sakura's heart. She could feel that the Naruto who had awakened was different again. If the Naruto before had been cold steel, then the Naruto now was a snow-covered volcano on the verge of eruption.

Naruto crouched before Sasuke.

Ignoring Sakura's guarded posture, he reached out and gently pulled aside Sasuke's collar, exposing the three ominous black tomoe.

His fingers did not touch the skin. They merely hovered above the Curse Mark.

He closed his eyes, focusing his senses to their limit.

In his perception, this was no longer a simple ninjutsu mark.

[Analyzing target...]

[Analysis complete.]

[Target nature: Composite of high-density energy and spiritual information.]

[Operating principle: By injecting foreign chakra, it forcibly alters the host's physiological structure and establishes an anchor at the soul level.]

This was an efficient method of soul Pollution and energy implantation.

It marked prey. It reshaped prey.

But it was far more than that.

For the first time, Naruto's brow furrowed tightly.

He "saw" something deeper.

This Curse Mark was like a coordinate, a backdoor. It was not merely Orochimaru's reins for controlling Sasuke.

It was also a passage.

A two-way passage connecting Orochimaru and Sasuke.

Through it, Orochimaru could draw upon Sasuke's life force and ocular power at any time, even using him as a vessel for his own resurrection at a critical moment.

And in reverse...

If Sasuke's will was strong enough—or rather, if his hatred was intense enough—he could use this passage to erode Orochimaru's power in return.

"So that's how it is..." Naruto muttered.

"Naruto... what... what are you talking about?" Sakura asked tremulously.

Naruto slowly opened his eyes. Sasuke's pale face was reflected in his ice-blue pupils.

"This is not a simple mark of enslavement."

His words left both Haku and Zero with puzzled expressions.

"It is more like a... contract." Naruto stood, looking down at the "soldier" on the ground. "A contract signed with souls, concerning devouring and being devoured."

"Orochimaru gave him a key—a key that can open the door to power."

"But on the other side of that door is an abyss."

Naruto turned to Haku and Zero.

"He is not a burden. He is a weapon. A weapon not yet sharpened, but already pointed at the enemy."

Haku fell into thought at those words, while Zero remained silent, merely tightening his grip on the dagger.

"A weapon?" Sakura could not understand. Holding Sasuke as though protecting her last treasure, she said, "Sasuke is a person! He's about to die! What are you even talking about?!"

At last, Naruto directed his Quan gaze at her.

It was neither pity nor comfort, but a purer kind of scrutiny, like an examiner assessing a recruit's worth.

"Sakura Haruno."

For the first time, he addressed her by her Quan name. Every syllable struck against Sakura's taut nerves.

"You are weak. You possess abundant theoretical knowledge, but lack the courage and resolve for real combat. Your emotions are your greatest weakness. On the battlefield, they leave you capable of nothing meaningful besides screaming and crying."

Every sentence was like a cold scalpel, precisely cutting open the reality Sakura most wished to avoid.

Her face instantly went pale. Her lips trembled, but she could not offer a single rebuttal. Because everything Naruto said was the Quan truth.

"But you have value as well." Naruto shifted course. "Your chakra control is excellent, and you have the potential to become an outstanding medical ninja. This is the only opportunity you can seize now to make yourself 'useful.'"

He took a step forward. The immense pressure made Sakura unconsciously shrink back.

"Now, I will give you a choice."

Naruto's voice was not loud, yet it clearly overwhelmed every sound in the forest.

"First, stay here. Clutch your helplessness and this Pollution-tainted 'vessel' as you cry, waiting for the next wave of enemies that smell blood to tear Quan of you apart. Or wait for Konoha's rescue, then watch him be isolated as a dangerous object and eventually become a monster you no longer recognize under the Curse Mark's erosion."

His description was cruel and blunt, tearing every false hope to pieces.

Sakura's breathing stopped.

"Second." Naruto raised a second finger. "Become my medic. Starting now, forget those ridiculous girlish fantasies of yours. Forget the childish games the ninja academy taught you. I will teach you how to handle 'Pollution,' how to stabilize his condition, and how to keep him alive."

His words were like a demon's whisper, yet they carried an irresistible temptation.

But what was the price?

The price was to completely abandon her former self and submit to the command of this tyrant-like Naruto before her.

"I..." Sakura's mind was blank. She looked at Sasuke's pained face in her arms, then raised her head toward the cold "Commissar" offering her this choice.

"I'll give you thirty seconds."

Naruto gave her no more time to hesitate. He turned away, presenting his back to her.

"Haku, Zero, prepare to withdraw. Erase all traces of the battle."

"Yes, Commissar."

The two immediately began moving. Haku started packing the medical equipment, while Zero silently retrieved the traps he had set earlier.

At that moment, time became incomparably long.

Every passing second was like a blade cutting across Sakura's heart.

Would she drown while clinging to a false past, or grasp this thorn-covered vine leading toward the future?

"Twenty seconds." Naruto coldly announced the time.

Sakura's body began to tremble violently.

She looked at the ominous Curse Mark on Sasuke's neck. The three tomoe seemed to be mocking her helplessness.

"Ten seconds."

Tears slid from her eyes once again.

But this time, they were no longer tears of weakness.

"I... I choose..."

Her voice was hoarse and distorted by tension and fear.

"I choose the second one!"

Sakura shouted the words with all the strength in her Quan body.

After shouting them, it was as though all her strength had been drained away, and she collapsed onto the ground.

Naruto slowly turned around.

"Good." His face remained expressionless. "From this moment onward, your codename is 'Medic.' Your first task is to assist Haku, stabilize Sasuke's vital signs, and bring him back to our temporary base. Do not shed another tear. Your tears cannot save anyone."

He reached out, lifted the heavy Chainsword from the ground, and slung it over his shoulder again.

"Move."