"Where is this?"
Before Uchiha Ying stretched a boundless mountain range, pocked with massive craters resembling the aftermath of meteor strikes or nuclear blasts. A single colossal tree dominated the landscape, rising like a pillar holding up the sky. Three figures hovered in mid-air, clad in white robes, their appearances strange and otherworldly. One held a shakujō (Buddhist monk's staff), another had six black orbs floating behind them, and the last was a woman with rabbit ears, three eyes, and snow-white hair that flowed down past her feet.
Where was this? And who were they?
Ying only remembered leaving the Ninja Academy in Konoha, returning home, and taking a short nap. Then, inexplicably, he'd arrived here. Was he dreaming?
[Enter this Instance?]
An instance?
Focusing on the text that materialized in his mind, Ying noticed that the bizarre scene and the three figures were frozen in place, as if time itself had stopped.
"Wait a second… those three look exactly like the legendary Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, his mother Kaguya, and his brother Hamura."
Could this instance be… transporting him back to the time of their great battle? But he was just a genin; how could he possibly handle an instance of this scale? Besides, he didn't know what the rewards were. What if he died in the instance and that death carried over to reality? He'd finally been reborn in Konoha, clinging to life, and hadn't even begun to enjoy it. He couldn't just die now.
[No Penalty for Death in Instance]
Another line of text appeared in his mind. No penalty? He wouldn't really die? Then maybe he could give it a shot.
[Instance Entry Confirmed. This is a multiplayer instance. You may select two companions. Select Companions?]
Companions?
Ying examined the screen that had appeared before him. He found only two familiar figures available for selection: Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.
"This really feels like a game."
Whether it was a dream or he'd actually been transported into a game, Ying decided to try it out.
[Companions Confirmed. Entering Instance in three seconds.]
Three… Two… One…
After a moment of disorientation, the ground trembled. The three figures in the sky, along with the colossal tree, began to move.
"Where are we?"
"Sasuke? Ying? What are you two doing here? Am I dreaming?"
Naruto and Sasuke, transported alongside Ying, stared at the scene in bewildered astonishment.
"I don't know. Maybe we really are dreaming."
It seemed the companions he'd chosen were real people. Observing Naruto and Sasuke, who looked just as they did at the academy, Ying feigned ignorance while inwardly pondering the situation.
[Mission: Help Kaguya avoid being sealed by Hagoromo and Hamura.]
This mission… fight the Sage of Six Paths? Seriously?
Ying glanced at Naruto and Sasuke. One hadn't even learned the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, and the other didn't know Chidori yet. With this team, taking on the Sage of Six Paths was a joke.
"There's a mission? Kaguya? Is that the strange-looking but pretty lady over there? Hmph, two men bullying one woman isn't fair! Lady, I'm coming to save you!"
Naruto, having also seen the mission objective, made a quick assessment of the situation and rushed forward.
"Hey…"
While Ying was still considering whether there was a strategic way to complete the mission and wondering about the rewards, the "miniature Minato" beside him had already charged in.
"That idiot."
Sasuke remained calm, analyzing the situation, but this absurd scenario defied analysis. He could only curse Naruto's reckless charge.
—
Boom…
The colossal tree was uprooted, transforming into the gigantic Ten-Tails. The orbs of energy it casually spat out caused earth-shattering explosions upon impact.
The three figures in the sky activated their own powerful modes. One donned Susanoo, while the other's cascading hair seemed to blot out the sky.
Boom!
The casual attacks of the three figures and the beast left crater after crater in the earth, like a barrage of nuclear bombs.
"H-How… How can there be people this strong? Like monsters… This has to be a dream!"
Naruto, halfway through his charge, froze in terror at the terrifying display, collapsing onto the ground.
"Stop running around. Let's find somewhere to hide first."
Ying resisted the urge to retort with, "You'll be able to do this too someday."
"Wh-What's that!?"
Before Naruto could scramble back to the two Uchiha, a massive shadow suddenly appeared above them.
Planetary Devastation!
That was the Sage of Six Paths' technique…
As soon as Ying realized this, several sharp whistling sounds whizzed past his ears.
Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Bombs!
Boom!
Amidst the blinding explosion, Ying, without a chance to utter a single word, faded into dust alongside Naruto and Sasuke.
—
[Mission Failed]
[Instance Rewards: Ninja Shard x2]
[Re-enter Instance?]
Opening his eyes once more, Ying found himself on a street resembling those in Konoha. But the street was deserted, eerily silent.
"Is this Konoha or somewhere else?"
Was he still dreaming?
Ying walked curiously down the street, examining the ninja shards that had appeared in his hand.
This was becoming more and more like a game.
[Fuse?]
Looking at the two shards, one representing Naruto and the other Sasuke, another line of information appeared in Ying's mind.
Had Naruto and Sasuke actually died in the instance? Was that why he had these shards…?
No, it couldn't be. He was alive, so they should be too.
After reassuring himself, Ying chose to absorb the shards.
"Hmm… I feel like my chakra has increased, and my eyes…"
His Sharingan, which he hadn't been able to activate before for various reasons, seemed to be stirring.
"If this isn't a dream…"
A power-up?
Ying looked at his hands excitedly.
"What's this?"
Coming to his senses, Ying realized he'd unknowingly walked to the Hokage Tower.
"Could this really be Konoha?"
[Action Points: 1/2. Expend 1 Action Point to enter?]
Ying curiously pushed the Hokage Tower doors and saw the prompt.
Action points?
It seemed he only had two in total, and now only one remained. Entering the instance must have cost him one.
Ying selected "yes" and pushed the doors open.