Endo continued his relentless progress, clearing one stage after another with practiced precision. By the time he reached the post mid-game stages, he had equipped himself with the legendary Dual Katana of Shadow Monarch — the sleek and deadly "Kagemaru" and "Kagetaro." These were not weapons one stumbled upon easily; Endo earned them by defeating the 4th stage boss, the infamous "Corrupted Shadow Ninja," without taking a single hit. It was the sort of flawless victory that only a player of his skill could pull off, a testament to both his mastery and patience. As a reward for this perfect execution, the game granted him the twin katanas, their blades shimmering with dark energy and promise of devastation.
These katanas weren't just about raw damage — they carried an additional attack that weakened enemy defenses and had a notable chance to slow foes, making them vulnerable to follow-up combos. Their craftsmanship and dark energy gave them an edge in both speed and precision. In addition to their basic abilities, they also boasted three distinct and devastating special attacks:
L1 + Circle: Dark Slash — an X-shaped projectile slash.
L1 + Circle (held): Dark Spinning Attack.
L1 + Triangle: Shadow Aura — debuffs nearby enemies.
For ninjutsu, Endo was using four:
Thunder Ninjutsu "Lightning Cloak" – increases the speed of the user.
Wind Ninjutsu "Wind Shield" – summons a wind barrier that nullifies projectile attacks for 3 seconds.
Fire Ninjutsu "Majestic Fiery Flames" – an ultimate attack that can be charged. Fully charging it uses 100% of the user's mana and increases total damage.
Thunder Ninjutsu "Lightning Dash" – dashes like lightning to avoid damage.
Endo employed these ninjutsu sparingly and with precision, conserving his resources until the moment demanded their use. For ranged situations, he relied on a specialized talisman known as the "Stunned Talisman," an item that temporarily incapacitated enemies for about one to two seconds, creating an opening for follow-up attacks or to reposition safely. He could carry a maximum of three per stage, and when he did unleash them, it was often in perfect sync with his other abilities, resulting in devastating and well-timed combos that left foes unable to recover.
For the R2 attack, Endo unleashed the fearsome ultimate move known as "Demonic Maw." With a swift and deliberate hand sign, Ryu Hayabusa would conjure forth a massive, nightmarish demon head that lunged forward and clamped down on his foes, dealing catastrophic damage in an instant. The attack, however, came at a steep price — it immediately drained 50% of Ryu's current health. The risk-reward nature of this move made it especially thrilling; the lower Ryu's health when activated, the more unhinged and overwhelming the damage output became. It was the kind of high-stakes technique that demanded precise timing, nerves of steel, and an ironclad battle plan to pull off successfully.
This was Endo's build as he approached the climactic conclusion of the journey. Now, he stood at the threshold of the final stage: The Ancient Ship of Doom, a setting steeped in foreboding atmosphere, battling the final boss, Clancy. Every attack, every dodge, felt like the culmination of countless hours of mastery. Endo cut through the fight with casual precision, and with his perfectly honed build, achieved the rare feat of a no-damage run. It wasn't that Clancy was a pushover — the boss was notoriously punishing, with multiple grueling rounds and a relentless barrage of patterns meant to overwhelm any player — but Endo's timing, adaptability, and sheer skill turned a supposed war of attrition into a demonstration of dominance.
After Clancy fell without landing a single blow, his voice erupted in a desperate wail, "N… NOOOO! It can't be! PAIN-SAMA, HELP MEEE!" In the next instant, his body burst apart in a violent explosion. From the churning pool of blood rose a lone, pulsating red soul, twisting and contorting until it took on human form. Before Ryu stood a man draped in a kimono patterned in deep black and crimson, Demon head on his shoulder and his piercing purple eyes gleaming with menace. In his hand rested a swirling blue‑purple orb that seemed to hum with dark energy, while long, jet‑black hair framed his sly, almost taunting grin. "We meet again, Ryu Hayabusa… and this time, you will fail…"
Endo grinned. "Embodiment of Pain…" He was well-acquainted with this formidable foe, having faced it before — the Embodiment of Pain had always been a hidden boss in both the first and second games, a secret challenge only the most dedicated players ever encountered usually by beating the final boss unscathed.
The Embodiment of Pain's grin widened into something almost feral as he roared, "The world shall know pain!" His voice carried an otherworldly echo, rumbling like distant thunder. With a slow, deliberate motion, he lifted the swirling blue‑purple orb high into the air. Dark energy spiraled from it, crackling and twisting the space before him until a gaping portal tore open with a deafening howl. From within emerged a colossal white beast, its snowy fur glistening under an eerie light, a single crimson eye glaring with murderous intent, and ten thrashing tails lashing violently at the air. Without hesitation, the EOP leapt into the air and dove toward the beast, his form dissolving into a shadowy blur before merging seamlessly with the creature in a blinding flash. When the light faded, the beast's aura pulsed with new malice as EOP's voice boomed from within, "Die, Ryu Hayabusa!"
The boss fight began in earnest, the screen erupting with chaos as the ten-tailed beast unleashed a merciless storm of projectiles, sweeping tail strikes, and crushing blows. Endo weaved through the deadly patterns with tight, practiced inputs, each dodge and sidestep just a hair's breadth away from annihilation. Yet, when his katanas connected, they sparked harmlessly against an invisible barrier, the beast's health bar refusing to budge. It was as though every strike was being swallowed by some unseen force. Endo clenched his jaw, his fingers tightening on the controller. Inwardly, he muttered with a mix of irritation and anticipation, "Well… this definitely needs something extra."
After about fifteen well‑timed strikes, the action froze and a small cutscene triggered. Out of nowhere, the sound of wooden sandals clacking against stone echoed, and a ninja in a vivid red outfit with flowing white hair appeared, astride a massive, wart‑skinned toad. "Ryu Hayabusa! I am Jiraiya, the Toad Sage — and I shall aid you!" he declared with booming confidence. The toad bellowed, then launched a thick stream of black oil at the ten‑tailed beast. In perfect sync, Jiraiya inhaled deeply and unleashed a roaring jet of flame. "KATON: GAMAYU ENDAN!" The fiery torrent ignited the oil in a blazing explosion, shaking the battlefield and shattering the beast's protective barrier.
The Embodiment of Pain bellowed from within the beast's monstrous frame, his voice tinged with disbelief and rage in text he said. "Toad Sage! How can you be here!?" Jiraiya, unshaken, turned sharply toward the player's perspective, his tone resolute yet urgent. "Now, young ninja—strike with all your might! I'll hold this creature's fury at bay and cover your advance!"
The fight resumed in a furious exchange of blows and bursts of fire. Endo pressed the assault whenever the ten-tailed beast's barrier flickered or weakened, his twin katanas flashing in relentless arcs. When the beast attempted to summon a new shield, Jiraiya would surge forward without hesitation, timing his intervention perfectly. With a sharp battle cry in text, he unleashed "Katon: Rasenbakudan!" — a blazing flame orb that detonated in a thunderous explosion, engulfing the enemy in a searing inferno. The impact not only staggered the creature but also disrupted its concentration, preventing the regeneration of its shield and giving Endo the precious opening he needed to keep up the offensive "DAMN YOU TOAD SAGE!"
At 50% health, the Embodiment of Pain let out a guttural roar, pulling the ten-tailed beast's energy into himself in a violent surge of light and shadow until the massive creature dissolved completely. In its place stood his humanoid form once more, but now pulsing with a far more sinister aura, dark energy crackling off his frame. A dramatic cutscene followed — in a blur of speed and raw force, EOP slammed into Jiraiya, sending the Toad Sage flying across the battlefield and out of the fight. As the dust settled, only Ryu Hayabusa remained standing to face him. The camera panned in tight, capturing EOP's blazing, hate-filled eyes as he growled, "I will not lose again!"
EOP, empowered by the ten-tailed beast, fought like a nightmare made flesh — unleashing volleys of black projectiles, lightning‑fast slashes, sudden teleports, swarms of small summoned creatures, and a constant stream of unpredictable patterns that kept Endo on edge. Each exchange tested his reflexes and patience, forcing him to adapt on the fly. Endo pushed through setback after setback, even falling in battle more than once before restarting with renewed determination. After nearly twenty grueling minutes, both fighters were running on fumes — EOP's health bar had been whittled down to a mere 5%, while Endo was barely clinging on at roughly 2%. Sweat trickled down Endo's face as EOP lunged forward, forcing him to dodge by a hair's breadth. Seizing that fleeting opening, Endo triggered Thunder Step, closing the gap in a flash before unleashing his ultimate move, "Demonic Maw!" The massive spectral jaws tore into EOP, dealing a devastating blow — but only dropping the foe's health by 4%, leaving Endo with a single, fragile percent of life. With death just one mistake away, he danced through EOP's frantic counterattacks, each dodge a desperate gamble. Then, with perfect timing, he channeled the last of his strength into one final Dark Cross Slash, cutting through his enemy's defenses and ending the battle once and for all.
EOP shouted, "NO! Even with the power of the ten‑tailed beast at my command! Damn you, Ryu Hayabusa!" His voice cracked with fury and disbelief, echoing through the collapsing battlefield. Shadows swirled violently around him as he was wrenched into another portal, his form distorting into streaks of dark energy before vanishing entirely. In the aftermath, the ten‑tailed beast shuddered once, then erupted in a burst of spectral light. Its immense form fractured into nine luminous souls Red , Blue , Purple , White , Black , Green , Yellow, Orange , Gray each howling as they shot off in different directions, vanishing into the distance as if fleeing to the far corners of the world.
Ryu Hayabusa let out a long, weary sigh as the screen faded to black. The words "The End" appeared in bold before transitioning to the epilogue. The scene opened on a nearby cliff where Ryu stood, the wind tugging gently at his tattered headband as he caught his breath. In the quiet, a familiar voice called out to him. Turning, he saw Irene — alive, unharmed, and walking steadily toward him, her expression a mix of relief and quiet joy. She revealed that Clancy's deceit and Foster's treachery had kept her imprisoned, but with both men defeated, she was finally free.
The two stood side by side, watching the first light of dawn creep across the horizon. The clouds slowly burned away in the gentle blaze of morning, casting golden hues across the sea below. Ryu felt the weight of the recent battle still lingering in his muscles, yet his mind was clear. He knew that while this chapter was over, the world would never truly be free of darkness — there would always be shadows lurking beyond the edges of peace. That knowledge didn't fill him with dread, but with resolve. He would remain vigilant, his blade always ready, his will unshaken. A quiet thought passed through him: the Embodiment of Pain would likely return one day, perhaps stronger than before. And when that day came, Ryu would be there, prepared to meet it head‑on without hesitation.
Endo slumped in his seat after dozens of hours of gameplay. "Damn, I'm really tired… but it was all worth it!" he muttered, leaning back with a satisfied smile. In his mind, Ninja Gaiden 3 was the perfect sequel — it captured the spirit of the original while delivering peak performance and stunning graphics for a 16‑bit console, far exceeding his expectations. "Hehehe… As expected of ZAGE and Zaboru‑sama!" he chuckled, openly fanboying over Zaboru once again.
He grinned, stretching his arms as he let the adrenaline fade, then rested for a moment, savoring the lingering excitement of the battle. Already, his mind was buzzing with possibilities — different weapon combinations, new ninjutsu strategies, and alternate approaches to bosses he'd just conquered. With a determined glint in his eye, he began planning to dive back into Ninja Gaiden 3 once more, this time with a fresh and daring build to push the game in an entirely new direction but for now he needed to rest.
To be continued
AN : lol what about the Naruto story? Welp who knows hahaha
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