The Limitless Naruto In Solo LEveLing

I floated toward the hunters, my hands still casually tucked in my pockets, as the ground beneath us continued to crumble. The dungeon was collapsing, the walls cracking and debris falling from the ceiling. The air was thick with dust and the faint smell of ash, and the once-roaring battlefield was now eerily silent except for the rumbling of the collapsing dungeon.

The hunters were still frozen in place, their expressions a mix of shock, awe, and fear. Woo Jin Chul, the Chief of the Hunter Association, stood at the front, his usually composed face now a mask of disbelief. His sharp eyes scanned the devastation around us, lingering on the massive crater where the boss had once stood. His jaw was tight, and his hands clenched slightly at his sides, as if he was struggling to process what he had just witnessed.

Cha Hae-In, the Vice Guild Master of the Hunters Guild, stood beside him, her usually calm demeanor was replaced by wide eyes and parted lips. She held her sword loosely in one hand, as if she had forgotten it was there. Her gaze flicked between the destruction and me, her expression unreadable but tinged with something close to awe, and holding an handkerchief in her hand, covering her nose.

The other hunters behind them were equally stunned. Some were muttering under their breath, their voices trembling. Others were just staring, their weapons hanging uselessly at their sides. A few of them looked at my clones, who were still standing motionless and unharmed amidst the ruins, their presence only adding to the surreal atmosphere.

I stopped in front of them, levitating just slightly above the shattered ground. The air around me still shimmered faintly, a subtle reminder of the power I had just unleashed. I looked at Woo Jin Chul first, nodding slightly. "Chief Woo. It's been a while."

He cleared his throat, his composure slowly returning, but there was still a hint of disbelief in his voice. "It… has. I didn't expect to find you here. Or… this." He gestured vaguely at the destruction around us.

I shrugged, my tone casual. "Just taking care of a nuisance as you asked me to,"

Cha Hae-In stepped forward, her voice steady but carrying a note of curiosity. "You did this… alone? Without any backup?"

"I didn't need backup," I replied simply. "It was a waste of time, honestly. But it's done now."

She stared at me for a moment, her sharp eyes searching mine as if trying to figure me out. Then she nodded, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I see."

Glancing over my shoulder as the dungeon continued to collapse. "But we should get out of here before this place comes down on us."

The hunters finally seemed to snap out of their daze, their training kicking in as they began to move. Woo Jin Chul barked orders, urging everyone to evacuate quickly. The group turned and started making their way out, their footsteps hurried but still cautious on the unstable ground.

I floated alongside them, my clones disappearing one by one as I dismissed them. The hunters occasionally cast glances my way, their expressions a mix of awe, respect, and lingering disbelief. I didn't mind. Let them talk. It wasn't the first time I'd caused a stir, and it wouldn't be the last.

As we exited the dungeon, the bright sunlight hit us, a stark contrast to the fiery chaos we had just left behind. The hunters began to disperse, some regrouping to assess the situation, others simply standing in silence, still processing what they had witnessed.

Woo Jin Chul approached me again, "The reporters have been waiting, as you are the one who cleared the dungeon, you should probably give them the report as well." He suggested and I gave him a slight nod of 'okay' as he left and walked towards Hunter Cha Hae-In.

As I approached the crowd of reporters and curious onlookers, the buzz of whispers grew louder. Cameras clicked, and microphones were thrust in my direction. The reporters, always hungry for a story, were practically tripping over themselves to get to me first. Their questions came in rapid fire, their curiosity burning as bright as the chaos they'd just witnessed from the outside.

"Naruto Uzumaki!" one reporter shouted, stepping forward. "What exactly happened inside the gate? We saw the hunters go in, but the gate closed so quickly after. Did you team up with them to clear it?"

Another reporter pushed forward, her voice high with excitement. "Was it a coordinated effort? How did the hunters assist you in taking down the boss? Were there any casualties?"

A third voice chimed in, this one louder and more insistent. "We heard reports of the gate's rank being reevaluated as S-Rank . How dangerous was the dungeon boss? Did it pose a significant threat to the city?"

I stopped in front of them, my hands still casually tucked in my pockets. The crowd fell silent, waiting for my response. I glanced around, making eye contact with a few of them before speaking.

"The gate is closed," I said simply, my tone calm but firm. "The boss is dead, and the city is safe. That's all you need to know."

The reporters exchanged glances, clearly unsatisfied. Another one stepped forward, a man with a determined look in his eyes. "But how did you do it? We saw the hunters enter few moments ago, but the gate closed almost immediately after. Did you coordinate with them? Was it a joint effort?"

I shook my head. "I handled it."

The crowd murmured, some of them looking impressed, others skeptical. A woman in the back raised her hand, her voice shaky but loud enough to be heard. "What about the hunters? Were they helpful inside? Did they fight alongside you?"

I shrugged. "They arrived after it was over."

The reporters scribbled furiously in their notebooks, some of them already typing on their phones, eager to be the first to break the news. I could hear the whispers spreading through the crowd. "He cleared the gate so quickly." "The hunters barely had time to do anything." "Is he really that strong?"

"Thanks for waiting here, But, I will take my leave for now, Thanks again."

The crowd erupted into more questions, but I turned and walked away, leaving them to speculate. I didn't owe them anything more. The gate was cleared, the city was safe, and that was enough for me.

As I walked past the hunters who were still standing in groups, I noticed their eyes following me. Woo Jin Chul and Cha Hae-In were talking quietly, their heads close together. Woo Jin Chul looked up as I passed, his expression unreadable but respectful. Cha Hae-In gave me a small nod, her sharp eyes lingering on me for a moment before she turned back to him.

I didn't stop. I didn't need to. My job here was done, and I had no intention of sticking around for the aftermath. The whispers would spread, the rumors would grow, but that didn't concern me. Let them talk. I had more important things to focus on.

As I walked away from the chaos, the sun setting behind me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. The fight had been easy, maybe too easy.