Naruto : Crimson wood

This time, these two low-ranking members of the Burning Flame Clan didn't have any self-protection illusions in their minds, so Renji Takahashi easily accessed all their memories.

However…

There was no useful information at all.

These two had only recently joined the Burning Flame Clan—less than a month ago.

And during that entire time, they had never even met the clan's true leader. They had only heard of him through the ranks.

Their direct superiors? Kiyoshi and Akatsuki.

As for why the Burning Flame Clan had targeted Renji and Yuna Hoshizaki—they had no clue.

They didn't even know that Kiyoshi and Akatsuki had taken action against them.

Simply put, these two were clueless outer members with zero access to insider knowledge.

"These guys haven't had any contact with the inner circle. Totally useless."

Renji dropped the man to the side, disappointed.

"Whatever. Nothing we can do. Let's move on."

Yuna kept glancing toward a bend in the sewer tunnel where the other Flame Clan members had disappeared earlier.

They probably hadn't noticed anything happening on their end—yet.

"We don't have time to waste. Let's go."

Renji was about to turn away when something rolled out from the unconscious man's pouch.

A glowing, faintly blue stone—smooth and rounded like jade, about the size of a fist.

"Huh? What's this?"

Renji picked it up.

It felt cool and smooth in his hand—oddly comforting.

"This... might be a Demon Core Stone," Yuna said cautiously.

"Demon Core Stone? I know about demon cores, but what's the deal with this version?"

"It's created by fusing several demon cores of the same element into one."

"Its main purpose is to grant new supernatural abilities to whoever absorbs it."

"Like... say I didn't have the wind element. If I absorb a wind-type Demon Core Stone, I could gain the wind attribute."

"Whoa. That strong? So if someone gathers enough of these... they could master multiple elements?"

Yuna shook her head.

"If only it were that easy. The thing is, the powers granted by Demon Core Stones aren't true human supernatural powers. They come from demon beasts. The systems are completely different."

"Even if you gain a new element this way, you won't be able to learn the actual abilities that use it."

"Why not?"

"Because those powers don't resonate with human spiritual pathways—or the Power Scrolls we use for learning. Without resonance, the scrolls can't guide your spirit energy."

She frowned.

"Also... the method of fusing Demon Core Stones has been long lost. So how the heck did the Burning Flame Clan get their hands on this stuff?"

Maybe normal people can't use them... but I'm not normal, Renji thought.

He tightly gripped the stone—it seemed to be water-element based.

An idea sparked in his mind. Without another word, he turned and sprinted deeper into the sewer.

"Hey! Renji, where are you going?"

"To grab something!"

He rushed to a locked second door he'd spotted earlier and flung it open.

Jackpot.

Inside, another glowing Demon Core Stone—this one fiery red.

A fire-type.

And in the next three rooms? Wind, earth, and thunder-type Demon Core Stones.

Altogether, five in total—covering the basic elemental affinities.

"What do you want those for? I told you—they won't work for us."

"You won't know unless I try. I've got my own method. Let's go—we're done here."

Renji stuffed the stones into his pouch, and they continued onward, searching for an exit.

Yuna sighed but followed. Persuasion wasn't going to stop him now.

As they ran, Renji activated his system.

"System! Absorb all five Demon Core Stones!"

Ding!Absorbing...Ding! Absorbing...Ding!Absorbing...

Absorptioncomplete.Congratulations,Host!Acquiredelementalaffinities:Wind,Water,Fire,Earth,Thunder!Absorption complete. Congratulations, Host! Acquired elemental affinities: Wind, Water, Fire, Earth, Thunder!Absorptioncomplete.Congratulations,Host!Acquiredelementalaffinities:Wind,Water,Fire,Earth,Thunder!

SystemShop:Newninjutsuunlocked—WindStyle,WaterStyle,FireStyle,EarthStyle,andLightningStyle.System Shop: New ninjutsu unlocked — Wind Style, Water Style, Fire Style, Earth Style, and Lightning Style.SystemShop:Newninjutsuunlocked—WindStyle,WaterStyle,FireStyle,EarthStyle,andLightningStyle.

He was right.

The Demon Core Stones couldn't teach people superpowers in this world. But Renji didn't need to learn through the usual method.

With his system, he could directly unlock ninjutsu!

Score! This is a total jackpot!

Eventually, a beam of daylight appeared ahead.

"We're almost out!"

The exit was a half-broken sewer grate, just wide enough for them to crawl out.

Emerging from the tunnel, they found themselves in the desert surrounding Azure City.

"Let's go regroup with the instructors."

Just as they were about to head back—

A group of people in crimson cloaks blocked them—front and rear!

At least a dozen of them.

Every single one was a second-stage mutant.

One bald, imposing man stepped forward, clapping mockingly.

"Not bad. You actually managed to defeat Kiyoshi and Akatsuki. I'm impressed. You really are a graduate of Azure Dragon Academy."

Renji tensed. This man's power level... a third-stage psychic.

"We're surrounded," Renji muttered, positioning himself back-to-back with Yuna, his Sharingan scanning their formation.

Twelve high-level enemies.

Worse than fighting Kiyoshi and Akatsuki combined.

"What do we do?" Yuna whispered nervously.

"I'll create an opening. Stick close."

The bald man waved his hand.

"Kill them!"

Immediately, the red-cloaked warriors lunged.

Renji activated Sage Mode, forming hand seals in a flash.

"Wood Style: Wood Clone Technique!"

With a sudden surge, fifteen wooden clones sprang to life.

Each one consumed 50 spiritual energy.

Renji's Sage Mode gave him a maximum of 900 units—this move nearly drained him.

"Clones...?" the bald man blinked in disbelief.

A first-stage mutant pulling off this many?!

The wooden clones launched forward and intercepted the Flame Clan ambush.

Even though the clones couldn't defeat them head-on, they bought precious time.

Just enough for Renji and Yuna to break through the circle—

And run!

-------------------------

For advance chapters visit patreon.com/Varnok