The swirling vortex at the far end of the football field pulsed like a beating heart. Its edges bled shadows, sucking the moonlight into its whirling maw. The wind howled across the stadium, carrying with it a low, guttural sound—half roar, half scream—that made the bleachers rattle.
Naruto rested Purgatory on his shoulder, expression cool despite the growing tension. "Well," he muttered, "this explains the disappearances."
The gate bulged outward, then split open with a deafening crack. Out of it crawled something massive—its arms long enough to scrape the ground, its body covered in jagged plates of bone and muscle that looked half-grown, half-torn. Its head resembled a warped wolf skull, with too many teeth, each dripping black ichor that sizzled when it hit the dirt. Its eyes glowed with a savage, intelligent hunger.
The demon dropped to the field with a thunderous impact, claws gouging deep furrows into the earth. The smaller demons had been vicious, but this thing radiated menace.
Kurama rumbled in the back of Naruto's mind, the warning low and sharp. "Be careful, Naruto. That one isn't like the fodder."
"Yeah," Naruto replied silently, shifting his stance. "I figured."
The beast's breath hissed out in clouds of black vapor. It let out a roar that shook the goalposts, then charged, claws extended.
Naruto didn't move until the last second. With a calm step to the side, he swung Purgatory in a wide, jagged arc. The blade screeched as it cut across the demon's armored forearm, sparks flying. The blow wasn't clean—its hide was tougher than the smaller ones—but the cut was deep enough to make it reel back, howling.
"Not bad," Naruto muttered, testing the weight of Purgatory again. His lips quirked. "You're gonna take more work than your buddies, huh?"
The demon lunged again, faster this time. Its claws slammed into the turf, sending dirt and grass flying as it swiped. Naruto ducked low, rolling under its arm, then slashed upward. Purgatory tore through the beast's flank, spraying black ichor across the field.
The thing shrieked, spinning, its massive tail whipping out like a battering ram. Naruto raised Purgatory just in time—the impact sent him sliding backward across the field, boots digging trenches into the dirt.
His arm throbbed, but his grin never faltered. "Guess you've got some muscle after all."
The beast roared and charged again, mouth gaping wide to swallow him whole. Naruto sprinted forward instead of back, meeting the charge head-on. At the last heartbeat, he slid beneath its jaw, Purgatory flashing upward in a vicious uppercut slash.
The blade carved through flesh and bone, splitting part of its skull. The demon recoiled, roaring in agony, ichor gushing down its chest.
"Ugly and loud," Naruto muttered, flicking blood from his blade. "You're striking out all over the place."
Kurama's low voice rumbled again. "Don't let it regroup."
Naruto didn't need telling twice. He darted forward, his movements precise, controlled. He hacked into the demon's leg, then spun, driving the jagged edge of Purgatory into its ribs. The blade bit deep, black ichor spraying in hot streams.
The beast staggered but lashed out wildly, claws slamming into the ground where Naruto had been moments before. He danced just beyond reach, every strike deliberate, every dodge measured. He wasn't trying to overpower it—he was cutting it down piece by piece.
Minutes passed in a brutal rhythm—slash, dodge, strike, retreat. Each wound made the demon slower, weaker, until it limped, its roars faltering into guttural snarls.
Naruto stopped, Purgatory dripping ichor at his side. His coat was torn, his cheek smeared with black blood, but his breathing was steady. He tilted his head, watching the beast sway. "You look tired. Wanna call it a night?"
The demon screeched, staggering forward for one last desperate swipe. Naruto moved in a blur, sidestepping the blow before leaping onto its arm. He ran up its limb with effortless balance, Purgatory trailing sparks as he dragged it along the demon's hide.
Reaching its shoulder, he kicked off into the air and brought the blade down with both hands. Purgatory cleaved through the beast's skull in a brutal finishing strike, splitting it in two.
The monster collapsed, its body convulsing before dissolving into black ash that swirled upward into the night. The gate behind it flickered and cracked, then imploded with a thunderous snap, leaving the stadium silent once more.
Naruto landed lightly, rolling his shoulders. He sheathed Purgatory across his back, the jagged edges clicking into place.
The field was quiet again, save for the whisper of the wind.
Kurama's voice came calm but stern. "That wasn't random. Someone or something is opening these gates."
Naruto exhaled slowly, gaze fixed on the scorched grass where the portal had been. "Yeah," he murmured. His eyes narrowed, sharp with determination. "And I'm gonna find out who's behind it."
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