Naruto : Crimson wood

"Akatsuki's illusion isn't simple. Your companions will suffer terribly in her world," sneered Kiyoshi, his eyes locked on Yuna Hoshizaki.

Yuna stood her ground, but her body was battered and injured—she knew she wasn't a match for a third-tier psychic.

"What exactly do you want?" she asked, voice tense.

Kiyoshi smiled sinisterly. "Our goal? It's simple—your deaths."

He stepped closer, lifting Yuna's chin with one hand, while the other slowly traced his jaw, his gaze roving over her with unhidden intent.

"It's such a shame to waste a pure, delicate girl like you. This filthy city rarely has such untouched beauty. Why kill you before enjoying you properly?"

Yuna's eyes filled with fear. "What… what are you trying to do?"

Kiyoshi's twisted smirk deepened as his hand slowly slid down her jaw, fingers creeping lower—

Swish!

A sudden gust split the air. Alarmed, Kiyoshi vanished on the spot using his spatial ability, reappearing a few meters away.

His attack missed.

Renji Takahashi rushed in and quickly helped Yuna to her feet.

"You okay?"

Yuna nodded quickly, her expression turning serious as she focused on Kiyoshi. "He's both a fire and spatial-type psychic. He can freely shift through space over short distances or use long-range teleportation—probably how he brought us here."

"A third-tier beginner level psychic with dual abilities…" Renji narrowed his eyes, his Sharingan spinning. "This will be tough."

After dodging the attack, Kiyoshi glanced at Akatsuki, who lay unconscious nearby, and frowned.

"You actually defeated Akatsuki?"

Illusionists usually battle in the spiritual realm—outsiders never see a thing. Yet somehow, Akatsuki lost?

A third-tier illusionist losing to a first-tier? That didn't make sense.

"You really are the son of Ryoji Takahashi… You've inherited more than just his name. But that's enough. I'm not giving you another chance."

His tone turned icy. He raised his palm, and a fiery red flame vortex began to spin and grow.

Boom!

Renji pressed his palms together. Faint golden marks appeared near his eyes—Sage Mode activated.

Kiyoshi was too dangerous to hold back against.

"Sacred Water Shield!"

Yuna, despite her wounds, summoned a massive water barrier in front of them.

But the gap in power between a first-tier and a third-tier was too great.

Crash!

The Sacred Water Shield evaporated into steam almost instantly as the fire tornado surged forward without losing strength.

Renji picked Yuna up and leapt backward with explosive speed granted by Sage Mode, narrowly escaping the blast zone.

"We can't fight him head-on. Back me up," Renji whispered as he set her down.

"Got it," she nodded.

Renji pulled out his standard-issue dagger and dashed toward Kiyoshi.

"Let's finish this!"

Kiyoshi scoffed and conjured more flame in his palm. But just as he was about to release it—

"Holy Water Chains!"

Yuna struck, and the moisture from the ground surged up into twin chains that latched onto Kiyoshi's arms.

Renji closed the distance and lunged with the dagger!

Swish!

But Kiyoshi disappeared again, warping away just in time. Even Yuna's chains couldn't hold him.

"Behind you!" Yuna shouted.

Renji reacted instantly, spinning and slashing.

Clang!

Kiyoshi caught his wrist with frightening precision. With a brutal twist, the dagger flew from Renji's hand.

Kiyoshi grabbed the blade midair—and without hesitation, plunged it into Renji's chest.

"Renji!" Yuna cried out, eyes wide in horror.

Death was so close she could feel it.

"You're talented. Given more time, you could be dangerous," Kiyoshi said coldly, letting go of the blade embedded in Renji's chest. "But unfortunately, you won't get that chance."

But the next moment—

Renji suddenly raised his head and slapped Kiyoshi.

It didn't hurt. But startled, Kiyoshi instinctively warped away, reappearing at a safe distance.

His eyes narrowed.

"…You're still alive?"

"I wouldn't count me out just yet," Renji said, slowly pulling the dagger from his chest.

As the blade came out, his body turned to wood, crumbling from the wound outward.

A wooden clone.

From the shadows, the real Renji stepped forward and caught the dagger again.

"A doppelgänger?" Kiyoshi muttered.

Clone techniques weren't uncommon—but he hadn't sensed the switch. Which one had been real?

"You've really surprised me. If I don't kill you now, you'll become a monster someday…"

He clenched his fists, flames igniting around his body. His spiritual energy surged with fury.

But then—

Renji appeared directly in front of him.

He moved so fast that Kiyoshi didn't even have time to react.

Thud!

The dagger stabbed clean through Kiyoshi's chest.

Cough!

The pain spread instantly, draining the strength from Kiyoshi's body.

"You… how do you have space powers?" he gasped, horror filling his eyes.

"I don't," Renji answered calmly. "That was the Flying Thunder God Technique."

"My wooden clone marked you when it slapped you. As long as the mark exists… I can teleport to you instantly."

"So rest in peace."

Renji pulled the dagger out.

Kiyoshi collapsed, lifeless, eyes wide in disbelief.

Renji exhaled.

It was over.

If Kiyoshi hadn't underestimated them from the start, Renji might not have survived.

But now, that gamble had paid off.

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