Naruto : Crimson wood

In the dim basement, two moonstones embedded in the walls cast a pale glow on the cruel assortment of torture instruments hanging nearby.

The ceiling was damp, and drops of water fell intermittently.

Renji Takahashi had just stepped out of Bestone's shabby little shop when dizziness overtook him, and his footing faltered.

The next thing he knew, he and Yuna Hoshizaki were teleported to this eerie place.

"Are these the two Double S-Class freshmen from Azure Dragon Academy? They don't look like much," a voice suddenly spoke from a shadowy corner.

"Who's there?"

Renji instantly drew his standard short blade from his back, pointing it toward the voice.

A faint beam of light from the corner revealed a man dressed in fiery red robes, a flame-shaped mark burned onto his forehead.

"Someone from the Burning Flame Clan?!"

Seeing the familiar emblem, Renji immediately understood the man's background.

"They figured out who we are so fast. Looks like not only did the last beast tide fail, but our identities got leaked," the man said with a sigh.

"Kiyoshi, that was your judgment call. You underestimated Azure Dragon Academy." Another voice echoed from the other side.

Yuna's eyes snapped toward the sound, water energy rippling at her fingertips.

Another youth from the Burning Flame Clan stepped out, also clad in red with the flame symbol on his forehead. He appeared about the same age as the first, the one called Kiyoshi.

"Enough talk, Akatsuki. I've brought the targets. The two who were with them are no pushovers either. We need to wrap this up and retreat fast."

"A shame to kill a Double S-Class outright. Plus, that kid's the son of Ryoji Takahashi from the Takahashi family in Azure City. There's valuable intel in that head—I'll dig it out." Akatsuki's voice was calm, but a cold, merciless smile crept across his delicate face.

"Chain of Holy Water!"

"Wood Style: Exploding Bullet Tree!"

Renji and Yuna launched their attacks in unison. The puddles on the floor twisted and surged into twin water chains, while thick tree trunks burst from the walls, wrapping tightly toward the two enemies.

FWOOOM!

But before the assault could touch them, crimson flames erupted beneath Kiyoshi and Akatsuki's feet, effortlessly neutralizing the attacks.

Before the pair could react, Kiyoshi vanished from view—and reappeared right in front of Yuna.

It wasn't speed—it was spatial teleportation.

A spatial-type ability user!

"Bang!"

Kiyoshi lightly pressed his palm to Yuna's lower abdomen.

BOOM—!

Yuna was flung backward, crashing into the stone wall and leaving a deep dent.

"Ugh!"

Blood spilled from her mouth as fear flickered in her eyes. "A... Third-Rank mutant…"

Expressionless, Kiyoshi slowly approached her.

A faint whistling from behind made him pause. He vanished again just as Renji's blade sliced through the air where he'd been.

In a flash, Kiyoshi appeared behind Renji, gripping his neck like he was a toy.

"Extract what you need from his mind."

With a flick of his wrist, Kiyoshi flung Renji toward Akatsuki like garbage.

"On it."

Unlike the cold Kiyoshi, Akatsuki seemed cheerful, almost friendly—but his actions were anything but.

He grabbed Renji and slammed him hard into the wall.

The pain radiating through Renji's back was excruciating, nearly making him scream.

"Shhh... from here on, you won't even be able to scream."

Akatsuki smiled gently as he raised a finger that radiated a mysterious aura. Renji's consciousness blurred.

Inside the Illusion—

Renji found himself bound to a massive cross, suspended in a sea of fire, chained by heavy links.

Akatsuki stood in front of him, smiling with the confidence of a god.

"Welcome, little friend, to my illusion domain."

He spread his arms wide, basking in his own arrogance.

"You know what illusions are, right? Basic ones create false images. But high-level illusions pull your mind into my reality.

In here, I am all-powerful. The pain may be fake, but your spirit suffers the real consequences. Mental collapse, insanity—these are just side effects. So, cooperate. Or break."

"This is your illusion?" Renji lifted his head slightly and smirked. "It's honestly pretty weak."

The moment their eyes met, Akatsuki froze.

Renji's gaze had changed—his irises were scarlet, with three spinning tomoe.

"What…?"

Akatsuki was stunned. A First-Rank psychic like Renji shouldn't be able to resist, let alone talk so boldly.

Still, he waved it off and laughed.

"Trying to buy time? Not gonna work. If you won't cooperate, I'll get rough."

He summoned a blade from the fire and raised it—

"Look again. Who's really trapped?" Renji's voice cut into his thoughts like a knife.

Akatsuki blinked.

In that instant, he was the one bound to the cross, flames licking at his skin—

And Renji stood in front of him.

They had switched places.

"What?!"

Akatsuki's voice shook.

"Your illusion is strong—but it crumbles before my Sharingan."

Renji's crimson Sharingan spun, radiating intense pupil energy.

"But you're supposed to be Wood and Spirit Eye-type! Why do you know illusion?!"

"Even if you do, how could a First-Rank overpower a Third-Rank illusionist like me in my own domain?!"

Akatsuki was finally realizing—he wasn't just outmatched…

He had been trapped in Renji's illusion the whole time.

And that meant Renji's illusion ability was far beyond his own.

"Impossible…"

Renji stepped closer, his Sharingan glowing fiercely.

"You live in a shallow well. How could you possibly understand the depths of my Sharingan?"

"Your illusions? Just circus tricks to me."

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