I was feeling pretty pumped about the whole situation, but the group I came with definitely wasn't on the same page. They were all freaking out, probably because it was their first time inside a Red Gate too.
"Sir, what should we do now? Do you have a plan?" Taeyang Kim asked, sounding a bit desperate.
Even Kim Namjoon seemed just as shaken as the rest.
"Hunter sir, what do you think we should do now?" Minji Lee asked, her voice a mix of worry and hope.
"We're gonna die, aren't we?" Hyun Kim blurted out, clearly panicking.
"Come on, let's not go there. We've got Sir Naruto Uzumaki, the S-Rank Hunter, with us. He's gotta have a plan," Soojin Choi chimed in, trying to calm everyone down.
The room was filled with nervous chatter and arguments. I really can't stand conflicts, but I also love fighting because it's a way to end them.
"Enough!" I said firmly, cutting through the noise. Everyone turned to look at me. "Listen, I'll get all of you back safe and sound, but you need to stop arguing right now," I told them.
"...Yes, Sir!" Kim Namjoon replied, trying to steady himself.
"Can I ask something, Sir Naruto?" Jisoo Han spoke up.
I nodded, already guessing what she was going to say.
"You seem really sure of yourself. Do you already have a plan?" she asked.
I took a moment to feel the magical energy swirling around us, getting closer by the second. "I do... and that plan is to fight," I said, as I quickly created four shadow clones. The team's eyes widened in surprise and I could hear them gasp. "You six stay put right here. This is where we entered, so it's where the gate will open again. These clones are here to keep you safe," I explained.
"...What about you?" Kim Namjoon asked, concern in his voice.
"I'm going to head out, clear the dungeon, and take down the dungeon boss. The gate won't open until the boss is defeated, so that's my job," I explained.
I could feel the magical energy pulsing around us, and it wouldn't take long to track down the dungeon boss. In fact, I might have already pinpointed it. Its magical energy was incredibly strong. This was going to be an interesting fight.
"Are you sure? I mean, we could help," Soojin Choi suggested, sounding hopeful.
"Yeah, I'm a healer. Maybe I can patch you up if you need it," Minji Lee offered, trying to be helpful.
"Yeah... We can..." Hyun Kim started to say, but I cut him off.
"No need. I'll handle it on my own. I've left my clones with you. Even though we're in a gate, the red gate works differently when it comes to time, so we might be stuck here for days. Your job is to survive until I take down the dungeon boss. That's your mission," I said firmly. "I need to go now, or the magic beasts will start showing up here." With that, I teleported away, leaving them to prepare.
---
18.1
---
After leaving my team, I found myself deep in the mystical jungle that made up the dungeon's maze. The air was so thick with magical energy you could almost taste it. I paused for a moment, taking in the lush scenery. A small smile crept onto my face as I thought about the challenge that lay ahead.
Out of nowhere, the calm was broken. I sensed movement and spotted a group of large snakes slithering out from the shadows. Their scales gleamed eerily, and they were coming right at me with lethal intent.
I didn't flinch. I stood my ground, letting them get close. As they lunged at me, fangs bared and hissing, they hit an invisible wall. My Infinity barrier, a passive magical skill, was between us, creating an endless space that made their strikes useless. The snakes recoiled, confused and frustrated, as their attacks failed to get through.
They kept at it, attacking more desperately each time, but my barrier stayed strong, making their efforts pointless. I watched them with a hint of amusement, waiting for their energy to run out.
When they finally realized their bites were useless, they switched tactics. They started spitting venom at me. I knew even a little bit of that venom could be deadly.
But only if it hit me.
Just like their physical attacks, the venom stopped inches from me, falling harmlessly to the ground. I watched as the leaves sizzled and burned where the venom hit, like acid.
I turned back to the snakes, my smile turning a bit mischievous. "Now... it's my turn," I said softly.
With a confident smile, I got ready to strike back. The snakes seemed to sense the shift in my stance and paused, their instincts warning them of the danger ahead. Even the jungle felt like it was holding its breath, waiting for the clash to begin.
I lifted my hand, channeling the energy inside me, and called on the "Reverse Magical Energy Technique: Red" . A red glow filled the air, and a powerful wave of force shot out from my palm. The snakes, taken by surprise, were hurled backward, twisting through the air before crashing into the nearby trees.
The ground trembled, and leaves flew everywhere as the snakes hit with a heavy thud. Their shiny scales were now dull and battered, their bodies broken from the force of my attack.
But I wasn't finished yet. I needed something more to make sure they were done for good.
I decided on the "Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation". I took a deep breath, drawing chakra into my lungs, and unleashed a massive wave of fire from my mouth. The flames roared through the jungle, devouring everything in their path.
The snakes, already weakened, didn't stand a chance against the raging inferno. The flames consumed them quickly, leaving nothing but ash behind. The jungle floor was scorched, a stark reminder of the power unleashed by the jutsu.
With the threat gone, I let out a slow breath, feeling the adrenaline begin to fade. "That's that," I murmured to myself, my voice barely audible.
It was a good fight, but I craved something more challenging. I couldn't help but wonder why I chose to use such a powerful technique, especially one involving fire in a forest. It could've been catastrophic.
I also realized that in my eagerness, I burned away all the corpses, making them useless for any further examination or utility.
"Note to self: Think three times before picking a technique next time," I muttered, shaking my head at my own impulsiveness.
With that lesson in mind, I started moving again, heading in the direction I was initially going.
---
18.2
---
"I just don't get it. Why didn't he take us along? We could've helped, even if just a little," Hyun Kim complained, sounding pretty frustrated.
"He's probably got his reasons," Soojin Choi said, thinking it over. "Sir Naruto is an S-Rank Hunter for a reason. Maybe he just wants us to stay safe."
"Still, it feels like we're just sitting here doing nothing," Minji Lee chimed in, sounding worried but eager to show she could be useful. "We're skilled hunters too. We could've at least backed him up."
Taeyang Kim nodded, agreeing with her. "I'm with you on that. But did you see how confident he was? It's like he knows exactly what he's doing. And he left his shadow clones with us, so he must have some sort of plan."
"Well, sitting around isn't gonna help," Jisoo Han said, steering the conversation away. "Let's find some food. We might be here for a while, and we need to keep our energy up."
Everyone agreed, their stomachs growling in agreement. They started searching the area carefully, aware that the jungle was crawling with magical beasts.
As they moved through the thick undergrowth, there was a tense but hopeful vibe. They were on high alert, knowing danger could be hiding behind any tree.
Out of nowhere, the quiet jungle was suddenly alive with noise. They heard rustling and then low growls that got their attention. Six jaguars, eyes glowing with magic, came out of the shadows, ready to attack.
The jaguars charged at them, moving fast and with deadly intent. Minji Lee barely had a moment to react as one of them went for her, claws out for a lethal strike.
In a flash, one of Naruto's shadow clones appeared right in front of Minji Lee, grabbing her and teleporting them both out of harm's way just in time.
"...Thanks," she said, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude as she was held by the clone. The clone nodded in acknowledgment before letting her go.
The jaguars began to circle the group, their eyes glowing with a dangerous light. Each step they took was deliberate, their muscles coiled and ready to pounce. You could almost feel the tension crackling in the air, and the team steeled themselves for what was coming.
Suddenly, in a perfectly coordinated move, the jaguars launched their attack. Claws and teeth flashed as the team scattered, each member dodging the fierce onslaught. Naruto's first clone quickly moved to shield Taeyang Kim, creating an invisible wall with its Infinity barrier. The jaguars' attacks stopped dead in their tracks, unable to break through.
Meanwhile, Naruto's second clone was handling another pair of jaguars, blocking their aggressive strikes with ease. Its calmness under pressure gave the team a sense of reassurance, and they gathered around the clones for protection.
Minji Lee, determined to help, focused on using her healing abilities to keep the team's energy up. Soojin Choi tried to divert one of the jaguars by unleashing a burst of ice magic. Though her attack didn't do much damage, it created a crucial opening. Kim Namjoon seized the moment, thrusting his spear into one of the jaguars and taking it down successfully.
Motivated by their small victory, the team rallied around the clones, who were gearing up for their counterattack. Naruto's first clone quickly formed hand signs and unleashed the "Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu" . The high-speed water bullets hit the jaguars with such force that it disrupted their formation, sending one crashing to the ground.
At the same time, Naruto's second clone executed the "Lightning Style: Thunderclap Arrow" , channeling electrical chakra into a sharp, piercing attack. The lightning bolt zipped through the air and struck a jaguar precisely, leaving it dazed and unable to fight back.
Realizing they were at a disadvantage, the remaining jaguars made a desperate charge. But the clones were ready for them. Naruto's first clone used "Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears", making spears of rock shoot up from the ground to impale the charging beasts.
With perfect timing, Naruto's second clone wrapped up the battle using "Wind Style: Gale Palm" , sending a powerful gust of wind that knocked the last jaguar off its feet and slammed it into a tree, knocking it out cold.
The team gathered around, their faces filled with disbelief and awe at what they'd just witnessed.
Taeyang Kim was the first to speak up. "I knew he was strong, but actually seeing it is something else," he said, shaking his head in amazement.
Soojin Choi nodded, her eyes shining with newfound respect. "Yeah, it's like he's playing a completely different game. Those clones are something else."
Minji Lee, still catching her breath from the shock of the attack, added, "I didn't realize how strong his clones were. They took care of those jaguars like it was nothing."
Kim Namjoon laughed, a little embarrassed. "And to think we doubted him. He really does know what he's doing."
Jisoo Han joined in, her voice full of admiration. "It's clear now why he didn't need our help. His powers are on a whole different level. I'm glad we have him on our side."
Hyun Kim, who had been the most doubtful earlier, finally admitted, "I guess I let fear get the better of me. But seeing how he handles things, I feel a lot more confident now."
With that newfound confidence, the group set off once again on their quest to find food.