The Limitless Naruto In Solo LEveLing

About a week ago...

After waiting for hours, Sung Jin-woo finally stepped out of the subway station. His clone, hiding in the shadows, immediately noticed his arrival.

When Sung Jin-woo went in, his clothes were perfectly fine, but now they were ripped in some places, clearly showing he had been in a fight.

The strangest thing was his magical energy. It had definitely grown stronger compared to before he entered and now that he was coming out after hours.

"So, the suspicion was correct after all," the clone thought, noting down everything it saw.

At the same time that Sung Jin-woo had gone inside, a dungeon break happened, which is why the area was cleared out. Hunters were working hard to stop the monsters from getting loose.

They did a great job and almost took down all the monsters, except for the final boss of the dungeon. That one was taking a while...

"I could have stepped in and helped, but... Now..." the clone thought. In front of it, Sung Jin-woo was approached by a soldier who thought he was just a regular person. But Sung Jin-woo explained he was a hunter, and the soldier then led him to where the other hunters were battling the dungeon boss.

Following instructions, the clone trailed behind Jin-woo as they made their way to the scene of the fight.

Even though there was an evacuation order in place and people were warned to stay inside, a large crowd had gathered just outside the area where the dungeon boss was. Most of the hunters there were lower-ranked and struggling to stop the boss.

The clone watched as the hunters tried and failed to take down the boss. It resisted the temptation to jump in and defeat the boss itself.

Then, something unexpected happened. Sung Jin-woo had a sword in his hand, and with a quick and precise move, he hurled it at the monster, aiming right for its head.

"That speed..." the clone thought, amazed.

Before long, the dungeon boss was defeated, and Sung Jin-woo slipped away from the scene.

"Whatever his deal is, he's no ordinary hunter, and definitely not just an E-Rank hunter," the clone mused.

[A.N: The writing above was just a one-time thing. I don't think it's really necessary to include it, but feel free to share your thoughts on it.]

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15.1

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Present Day...

The next day, I teamed up with a dungeon raid group that wasn't part of any guild. They were independent hunters led by the guy I mentioned before—Kim Namjoon, a B-Rank Hunter, but quite wealthy.

We had a deal for three raids: one A-Rank and two B-Rank dungeon raids. We already finished the A-Rank and one B-Rank, so now it was time for the last raid, another B-Rank dungeon.

Kim said he spent all the money his father gave him for this raid to pay me, so he had to fill the other spots with lower-ranked hunters.

The reason was simple: to boost their popularity. Having me, an S-Rank Hunter, join their raid team would get them a lot of attention.

His father, a businessman, was considering getting into the hunter business, and this was part of the plan.

I didn't mind at all. I get to fight and earn a substantial amount of money, which will help me eventually start my own guild. So, turning down an offer like this wasn't an option.

"Sorry, I'm a bit late," I said as I arrived at the site. The other hunters who were joining the raid were already there, including Hunter Kim Namjoon.

"Welcome, sir. Being late is no problem at all," Kim Namjoon said with a friendly smile.

I nodded in response, taking in the sight of the team prepared for the raid. There were six hunters besides me, which might seem a bit few for a B-Rank Dungeon. But as mentioned, all the funds had been spent on bringing in an S-Rank Hunter, which is me.

Their expressions varied—from awe to curiosity, with a touch of nervousness. The presence of an S-Rank Hunter like me seemed to have caught them off guard, fueling their excitement and expectations.

A lean young man with medium-length brown hair approached with a respectful nod and a friendly smile. "Pleasure to meet you, sir. I'm Taeyang Kim, a C-Rank hunter."

Next, a petite woman with short, spiky pink hair stepped forward energetically. "Hello. Minji Lee, C-Rank, at your service."

A wiry young man with sandy blond hair nodded in acknowledgment. "Hyun Kim, D-Rank. It's an honor to work with you."

Then, a tall woman with long red hair introduced herself with a calm demeanor. "I'm Soojin Choi, C-Rank. Looking forward to the raid."

Finally, a sturdy woman with shoulder-length black hair stepped forward with a firm nod. "Jisoo Han, C-Rank. Ready and prepared, sir."

With three men and three women, the team was well-balanced.

I acknowledged their introductions with a nod, and soon, it was time to enter the gate and start the raid.

"You first, sir," Kim Namjoon said, and I nodded. This is the kind of respect an S-Rank Hunter commands.

As I approached the gate, an unusual sensation washed over me—something I'd never felt before while entering a dungeon. It was the first time I experienced such a feeling. But why?

The gate looked normal, though slightly smaller than others I had entered before.

In any case, I stepped through the gate as usual, with Kim Namjoon and the others following. Suddenly, a disruptive noise filled the air, and I turned back toward the gate we had come through. A shocked and panic spread through the whole team, as the gate's color shifted from its natural blue to a deep red.

Before long, the cave around us dissolved, and we found ourselves standing in a vast forest, with the gate disappearing into thin air.

I had read about Red Gates and their nature, but a B-Rank gate turning into a Red Gate was noted as extremely rare.

I guess that's why I felt that weird sensation before entering. Even though I had read about Red Gates, I had never encountered one myself, so I didn't recognize the feeling at the time.

Now, I suppose this will be a new learning experience for me.