Naruto : Crimson wood

"So, where exactly are we going for this mission?"

While his father was still around, Renji Takahashi wasn't going to let the opportunity slip. If the mission was too dangerous, he'd rather not go. His life mattered.

"To Xiahai City," answered Ryoji Takahashi .

"Xiahai City? Dad, didn't you say last time you were headed there for support?" Renji asked, remembering the earlier briefing.

"That's right. Xiahai City also experienced a beast tide, and we were dispatched there to provide support and contain the crisis. But after we left, another wave appeared—this time on your end. We suspect the mastermind is still hiding in Xiahai."

Ryoji's face turned serious. He hadn't forgotten the danger Renji and his team faced. He was determined to track down whoever was responsible.

Upon learning the mission location, Yuna Hoshizaki nodded calmly.

"When do we depart?"

"Right now. The team from the Executive Division is already waiting for you at the school gates," said Principal Daisuke Watanabe .

"That soon?" Renji blinked. "I just got back from a near-death experience!"

He hadn't even had time to enjoy being alive again—and now this? Even farm donkeys got longer breaks.

"From the moment you awakened your powers, your path was destined to be one of constant missions. Not just you—others will be assigned tasks too," Watanabe said as he poured tea for Ryoji. "Besides, the Dean of Xiahai Academy is a close friend of both your father and me. If you run into trouble, just say our names. You'll be fine!"

"..."

"Come on, son. I believe in you!" Ryoji grinned.

"..."

"Let's go."

Renji could no longer endure these two shameless old men and walked straight out of the principal's office.

"Thank you, Principal. Thank you, Master Ryoji," Yuna said politely before following him out.

"These kids are too soft." Ryoji shook his head.

"They'll toughen up," Watanabe replied, clinking his teacup. "Let's drink."

The two fifth-level psychics drank their tea like it was sake, brimming with heroic spirit.

Watching them laugh as if nothing had happened, Professor Shizuka Sumiya could only shake her head and walk out, gently closing the door behind her.

Outside, Renji casually tossed the mid-grade spirit stone in his hand.

He'd already asked the system: a single mid-grade spirit stone could be exchanged for 500 energy points—much more valuable than any demon core.

Still, after thinking it through, he decided not to exchange it.

There were other ways to get energy points, but chances to advance in power were rare. He needed to prioritize growing stronger.

Soon, he and Yuna arrived at the school gate.

To his surprise, there were no Executive Division agents in sight—just a tall, slender man in a white shirt and gold-rimmed glasses. He looked refined and mild-mannered.

"You two must be Renji Takahashi and Yuna Hoshizaki?" the man asked, stepping forward with a smile.

"That's us. And you are…?"

"I'm Haruki Tsukimura, the captain of this mission," the man replied. He looked no older than thirty, with sharp features and a calm demeanor.

"Didn't the principal say someone from the Executive Division would be in charge?" Renji asked. He remembered that they always wore masks.

"They are. I'm also part of the Executive Division. But since this mission is in Xiahai City, we're not required to stay masked," Haruki Tsukimura explained with a soft smile.

Of course, the rest of the squad will remain undercover."

As he finished, four masked figures appeared behind him.

"Red Wind, White Bear, Yellow Wolf, Black Snake."

Each of the four radiated a hidden intensity, mysterious and dangerous.

"We'll operate in two groups," Haruki Tsukimura explained. "We'll be the visible team, and they'll move in the shadows. Got it?"

"Understood," both Renji and Yuna said in unison.

[Ding! Mission Triggered: Investigate the Cause of the Beast Tide]

[Reward: 500 Energy Points + 1 Prize Draw Chance!]

Renji's eyes lit up. The system had officially issued a mission—finally something worth getting excited about.

There was a clear difference between school-assigned missions and system-triggered ones.

School missions were unpaid labor during the internship.

System missions, though? Full of rewards and motivation!

(Though technically, school missions were rewarded too—once they passed the internship trial.)

After ten missions, they'd begin receiving compensation: money, monster cores, spirit stones, and more.

"Alright then, let's get going."

The four masked agents vanished, and Haruki Tsukimura led them to a wooden cart stationed at the gate.

It looked like a rectangular train car—wooden exterior, iron wheels. Classic yet durable.

This was the most popular and most expensive transportation method in the current world—the wooden cart.

Instead of running on electricity or fuel, these carts were powered by demon cores!

Yuna and Renji climbed inside while Haruki Tsukimura walked to the front and slotted a first-level demon core into the cart's power slot.

The moment spiritual energy from the core surged through the vehicle, the cart began to rumble forward, gaining speed steadily.

This was no ordinary vehicle. It was equipped with a power-enhancing formation. The cart's speed and strength depended on the level of the demon core inserted.

A first-level core? 60 km/h max.

Second-level? 120 km/h.

Third-level? 180 km/h.

And so on.

Of course, hardly anyone would waste third- or fourth-level cores on travel.

"From here to Xiahai City, it'll take about a full day and night," Haruki Tsukimura said, one hand on the steering wheel. "There are beds in the back if either of you needs rest."

"Got it."

The interior was surprisingly spacious—about two meters long and one and a half wide, with cushioned benches along the sides. The inlaid wooden beds were perfect for sleeping if needed.

Renji sat down, pulled out the mid-grade spirit stone, and held it in his palm.

He began channeling its spiritual energy into his body.

Emerald-green light spread over him as the stone dissolved slowly, its power flowing into every pore, converging toward his spiritual core.

His core pulsed and swelled as his spiritual energy surged.

[Ding! Congratulations! You have advanced to First-Level Advanced!]

[Spiritual Energy Limit increased to 300!]

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