Naruto: Chronicles of the Lost Library

The spiral tunnel led Naruto deeper than any room before.

With every step, the air grew colder.

The stone beneath his feet turned smooth and wet.

The whispers faded into silence.

Finally, he stopped.

At the end of the tunnel, there was no door.

No scroll. No seal.

Just a wall — and in the middle of it, a mirror.

It was old. Cracked. Black around the edges.

But the glass still showed a clear reflection.

Naruto walked closer.

His breath left a soft fog on the surface.

At first, all he saw was himself.

Tired. Dirty. Scraped up from battle.

Then something changed.

Another boy was standing in the mirror now.

He looked about the same age. Same height.

But something in his eyes was older. Quieter. Still.

His hair was darker than Naruto's. His skin a little pale.

And on his arm… the same flame-shaped seal.

Naruto stopped in place.

"Who…"

The boy in the mirror gave a small smile.

Not happy. Not angry. Just… sad.

Then he raised his hand.

Not to wave.

But like a warning.

"You're late."

The mirror started to glow.

Naruto quickly stepped forward. "Wait!"

But the boy vanished.

The image broke apart like smoke.

Then the mirror cracked.

Not because Naruto touched it.

It cracked from the inside.

Thin, sharp lines spread across the glass like spiderwebs.

Naruto stood still, staring at it.

His heart was pounding faster than after any fight.

That wasn't a memory.

And it wasn't a ghost.

That was someone real.

Another Flame-Bearer.

And he had seen Naruto.

From deep behind the mirror, inside the stone wall…

A slow, distant heartbeat echoed.

It wasn't Naruto's.

Someone — or something — was waking up.