Naruto: The Scarlet Ronin

Chapter 15: Steps Toward Lightning

Land of Tea

The Land of Tea was quiet that morning, its rolling hills draped in mist, the sweet aroma of tea leaves drifting through the air. Shinji Uzumaki stood in a clearing surrounded by towering bamboo stalks, his crimson hair damp with sweat. His hand rested on the hilt of his katana, while his eyes scanned the empty space before him.

He wasn't admiring the scenery. This remote field wasn't a place for rest or contemplation. It was where he would push himself to the brink, breaking his limits to overcome the man who had nearly ended his life.

Minato.

Shinji's jaw tightened as the image of the blond ninja flashed in his mind. Their battle weeks ago had left him scarred—not just physically, but in his pride. He'd barely escaped with his life after taking down the merchant his mission targeted. That fight had taught him an unforgiving truth: he wasn't the fastest.

If he wanted to survive encounters with shinobi like Minato, he couldn't rely on raw strength or skill alone. He needed speed.

"No," Shinji muttered, tightening his grip on his blade. "I need to move like lightning."

---

The Body Flicker Jutsu had served Shinji well in the past, allowing him to traverse short distances almost instantly. But it wasn't enough. Minato's movements were too precise, too fluid. Shinji needed to surpass the limits of the technique entirely.

He inhaled deeply, centering his chakra in his core. Then, with a sharp exhale, he visualized it flowing downward, pooling in his legs and feet like molten energy.

"Control," he murmured, recalling his mistake in past training. "It's not just about speed. It's about precision."

Shinji formed a half-seal with one hand, and in an instant, he vanished, reappearing ten meters away in a blur of motion. The ground where he'd been standing cracked under the pressure of his launch. He staggered slightly upon landing, his boots skidding against the damp grass.

"Still not smooth enough," he growled, annoyed at his imbalance.

---

"Alright," Shinji said, summoning a dozen shadow clones. They appeared in a puff of smoke, each standing ready, their crimson hair identical to his.

"Your job is simple," Shinji commanded. "Chase me down and attack. Don't hold back."

The clones nodded, and Shinji tensed as they fanned out, their movements synchronized.

The first clone lunged with a kunai, and Shinji flickered backward, narrowly avoiding the strike. Another came at him from the side, forcing him to sidestep, his katana flashing as he parried. The third clone appeared in his blind spot, delivering a sweeping kick.

Shinji twisted mid-motion, channeling chakra to his feet as he propelled himself upward, vanishing in a blur of speed. He reappeared high above the clones, landing on a bamboo stalk.

"Too slow," one of the clones taunted, launching itself at him.

Shinji leapt again, but this time his movement faltered. He reappeared off-center, landing hard on the ground with a grunt.

---

Panting, Shinji wiped sweat from his brow, glaring at the dispersing smoke of his defeated clones. His body ached, and his chakra reserves were depleting faster than he liked.

"It's not enough," he admitted, frustration lacing his tone. "Minato wouldn't give me time to recover."

He sheathed his katana and closed his eyes, replaying his fight with the blond ninja in his mind. Minato's speed wasn't just raw power; it was deliberate. Every step, every movement, had been calculated.

Shinji opened his eyes, determination burning in his gaze.

"I need more than just bursts of speed," he muttered. "I need flow. Every flicker needs to chain into the next, like a river cutting through stone."

He stood tall, summoning his clones once more. This time, he instructed them differently.

"Attack me in waves," he ordered. "I'll keep moving. No stopping. No second-guessing."

The clones charged again, and Shinji began flickering between them. His movements were faster, but more than that, they were fluid. He darted from one spot to another, weaving through attacks like a shadow in the wind.

---

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Shinji stood alone in the clearing once more. His clones had dispersed, and the field was littered with marks of their battle—cracked ground, bent bamboo, and scorched grass.

He took a deep breath, his legs trembling from exhaustion. But a faint smile touched his lips.

It wasn't perfect yet. His Shunpo—the name he'd decided on for this advanced Body Flicker—still needed refining. But he was faster. He was closer to becoming untouchable.

And the next time he faced Minato, the blond ninja wouldn't catch him.

Shinji unsheathed his katana, its blade glinting in the fading light. "Tomorrow," he said softly, his voice steady. "I'll go even faster."

The training field fell silent once more as the first stars began to dot the night sky. But within Shinji, the storm continued to build—a storm that would one day sweep away anyone who dared to stand in his path.