Naruto: The Scarlet Ronin

Chapter 19: Caught or Escaped?

The tension was palpable. Shinji's words hung in the air like a storm cloud, crackling with unspoken anger and defiance. The Konoha team shifted subtly, hands tightening on weapons, their collective stance brimming with readiness. Kushina, still stunned from being pushed away, stood behind Minato, her wide eyes locked on Shinji with disbelief and heartbreak.

Minato stepped forward, his expression now grim. His kunai gleamed in the dappled sunlight, a symbol of his readiness to act. He placed himself protectively in front of Kushina, a silent but firm barrier.

"Boy," Sakumo's voice cut through the silence, low and commanding, "drop your weapon and surrender. Look around. You're outmatched in both numbers and power. Do you really think you can take on this many S-rank shinobi and walk away unscathed?"

At Sakumo's words, the remaining shinobi leaped down from their concealed positions, surrounding Shinji in a tightly-knit formation. The circle was perfect; every escape route was covered. Their presence was oppressive, their focus sharp.

Shinji's crimson eyes scanned the faces of his opponents, narrowing with cold calculation. His grip on Yamato tightened. "Do you think you scare me?" he spat, his voice calm but edged with steel. "Even if I lose, I'll take at least three of you with me. Especially him." He pointed directly at Minato.

Minato's expression didn't waver, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—curiosity, perhaps, or even caution.

"Shinji, stop this madness!" Kushina's voice rang out, raw with emotion. She stepped around Minato, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "We didn't come to fight you! We're here to protect you, to keep you safe!"

Shinji didn't even glance at her. "I don't need protecting," he said coldly. His gaze remained locked on Sakumo and Minato, the two he had deemed the greatest threats. "Especially not from the likes of them."

Kushina's shoulders tensed as her frustration boiled over. "Yes, you do! Do you have any idea what will happen if the other villages find out about you? They'll send their best after you, and they won't be as gentle as we are! They'll capture you, exploit you for your Uzumaki blood, and when they're done with you, they'll discard you like trash!"

"She's right," Sakumo interjected, his White Light Chakra Sabre gleaming menacingly. "The Mist, the Cloud… all of them will see you as nothing more than a tool. You've also got that sword, Yamato. It's a treasure they'd kill for. If you think you can survive on your own, you're a fool."

Shinji's jaw tightened, and for a moment, his chakra flared. "What makes you any different?" he snapped. "Konoha is no better. You want me for the same reasons, don't you? You want me for my bloodline, my sword, my knowledge of Uzumaki techniques. Don't act like you're any more righteous than they are!"

Sakumo's expression darkened, but before he could reply, an Inuzuka shinobi growled impatiently. "Enough talking! You're coming with us, whether you like it or not!" His voice was sharp, his stance aggressive.

The moment the words left his mouth, Shinji moved. His legs coiled like springs, launching him upward toward the trees. But something was wrong. His body froze mid-air, his movements completely arrested.

Shinji's eyes flickered downward. A shadow stretched across the ground, connecting with his own. His gaze snapped to the source: a man with dark, lazy eyes and spiky black hair. The Nara clan emblem was stitched onto his flak jacket.

"What a drag," Shikaku muttered, his hands clasped in the Shadow Possession Jutsu seal. "Finally caught you. Now we can all go home."

Shinji gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He hadn't even noticed the shadow creeping toward him. 'When did he—'

"You're probably wondering when I caught you," Shikaku drawled, as if reading Shinji's mind. "The moment you drew your sword. You were too busy talking to notice. For someone called the Black Reaper, I expected better."

Despite himself, Shinji smirked. "You think you've won?"

Before Shikaku could reply, four golden chains erupted from Shinji's back, lashing out like serpents. The chains moved with terrifying speed, targeting Minato, Sakumo, and Shikaku.

Sakumo's reaction was instantaneous. His chakra-infused blade hummed as it sliced through the incoming chain with ease. Minato, too, dodged gracefully, his reflexes razor-sharp, his kunai ready. The chain aiming for Shikaku was intercepted by another shinobi—a Hyūga with pale eyes and impeccable timing. Hiashi spun gracefully, releasing a burst of chakra in a perfect Kaiten, deflecting the chain with precision.

The final chain latched onto a nearby tree branch, pulling Shinji upward with a sudden, explosive burst of speed. The movement broke Shikaku's concentration, severing the Shadow Possession Jutsu and freeing Shinji entirely.

"After him!" Sakumo barked, his voice commanding as Shinji vanished into the treetops.

Minato was already moving, a streak of gold as he threw one of his Flying Raijin kunai after the fleeing Shinji. But by the time he teleported to its location, Shinji was already gone, his chakra trail fading into the dense forest.

Kushina bolted after him, her determination written across her face. Two other shinobi followed close behind, their expressions tense. Sakumo led the rest of the team, his sharp gaze scanning for any sign of the elusive rogue.

The chase had begun.

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To be continued....