Naruto: Threads of Crimson

Two Weeks Later

Woosh

Shisui's fist barely missed Reika's face before he flickered back, disappearing from her reach in an instant. His eyes darted to the right, a silent signal. Reika raised a slight eyebrow in response, sensing the shift in our coordinated assault.

'Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu,' I finished my hand signs and six blazing fireballs burst from my mouth, scorching through the air toward Reika. She smirked, her eyes following the fiery projectiles with a hint of approval.

"You guys are improving," she remarked, her tone calm even as the attack closed in. "Your movements feel more natural, more unpredictable from an attacker's perspective." Without hesitation, her hands flashed through a quick sequence of seals, and she slammed her palm into the ground.

'Earth Style: Mud Wall.' A thick barrier of earth shot up, intercepting the fireballs, their heat scorching the edges as they collided with the wall. But Reika wasn't content to stay defensive—she dashed out from behind her protective wall, closing the distance between us in an instant.

Seeing her approach, Shisui flickered back into the fray, re-entering from behind to press her on two fronts. Without needing to exchange words, we fell into our familiar rhythm. We danced around her, eyes locking every few seconds, syncing up our movements seamlessly.

Reika's sharp gaze noticed our silent communication, but she kept her curiosity hidden. She was testing us, watching closely. Still, the tide of the battle was subtly shifting.

She narrowed her eyes, focusing on our movements, but something had changed. A minute ago, she had been keeping pace, countering our attacks effortlessly. But now? Now we were landing blows with pinpoint accuracy, and she found herself gradually losing ground.

'It's their Sharingan,' she realized, blocking another well-placed strike, 'but they're doing something different this time.'

Deciding to regroup, she disengaged, sliding backward to put some distance between us. Her hands formed three rapid seals before a stream of water bullets erupted from her, heading straight for us.

"Earth Style: Mud Wall" I called out, slamming my hands onto the ground, raising a solid barrier just in time. The wall absorbed most of the water bullets, but some broke through the rapidly crumbling structure, spraying us with stray droplets.

"We need cover," I muttered to Shisui as I glanced over. He nodded, already understanding what I was thinking.

"How about you use a large fireball and create some steam?" Shisui suggested, keeping his voice low. "I can sneak in through the steam and get a few hits in before she reacts."

A smile crept onto my face. It was a good plan. I immediately began weaving the seals for the Fireball Jutsu, launching it straight at Reika's position. The remaining earth wall shattered from the explosion of heat, and the clash of fire and water generated a thick cloud of steam that quickly enveloped the entire battlefield.

The world turned hazy in an instant, and I could still make out the shifting shapes within the vapor because of the perception the sharingan provided. Knowing that Shisui was already on the move still didn't help with keeping up with his body flicker, it felt like it just kept getting faster and faster each day.

With the battlefield cloaked in steam, I quickly placed my palm on the ground, weaving chakra into the earth. The vibrations painted a clear picture in my mind, allowing me to track both Shisui and Reika a little more clearly as they moved through the fog.

Shisui's movements were sharp, but Reika was faster. He darted in and out of the steam, his strikes precise and relentless but frequently countered. I repositioned myself, waiting for the perfect moment to follow up on his attacks, ready to catch Reika off guard.

Swoosh swoosh

Shisui and Reika's figures burst out of the thick steam, trading blows mid-air as I quickly began forming hand seals. 'I've got to thank you for this jutsu, Reika-sensei. I wouldn't have thought to learn it if I hadn't seen it in action first,' I thought as I slammed my hand down onto the ground just as they both landed.

'Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld.' My chakra surged through the earth, transforming the ground beneath Reika's feet into a viscous swamp. She began to sink, her movements hindered as the mud pulled her down. Seizing the moment, Shisui used her sinking form as a springboard, launching himself into the air to gain room before blitzing back in for a finishing strike.

"We win!" Shisui declared, his foot connecting solidly with Reika's face. But instead of a satisfying impact, her body crumbled into a pile of earth, leaving Shisui mid-strike in confusion.

'Shit,' I thought, quickly slamming my hand on the ground again, sending chakra out in all directions. The spiderweb of vibrations spread through the battlefield, and the 3D map in my head painted a clear picture of our surroundings. 

I picked up on a slight movement—like the exhale of a breath. Focusing, I realized Reika was perched on a branch across the field, looking like she was asleep against the trunk of a tree.

"Shisui, she's up there!" I yelled, pointing toward her.

Just as I shouted, I felt the cold press of a kunai against my neck. A familiar voice whispered into my ear, "You guys lose."

I knitted my eyebrows in confusion, tilting my head slightly. "Shisui?"

I turned around, and what I saw sent a shock through me. It was Shisui—except his eyes weren't the same. There was an extra tomoe swirling in his Sharingan.

"Nope, try again," he said with a smirk playing on his lips, and then it clicked.

"Sensei!" I shouted, leaping back to put distance between us as I pulled out a kunai.

"That's right," Reika's voice chuckled through Shisui's body, "and you can relax now. The training's over for the day. You still lost right there—if I hadn't let you move away just now, you'd be dead." Shisui's body fell forward, gasping for air as our teacher's consciousness left his body.

And just like that, she appeared behind us, a big grin on her face. "I've got to say, you two are something else. I didn't think a couple of squirts your age would be able to keep up with a chunin-level fighter with as little training as you've had."

Feeling a little off-put by Reika's compliment, I shrugged my shoulders. "Thanks, sensei, but it doesn't really matter if we can still be taken out by a chunin, especially when we're on real missions. Doesn't exactly inspire confidence."

Shisui, having just stood up, threw me a glance before curling his hand into a fist and playfully thunking me on the head. "You're missing the point," he said, holding his head high with that usual determined look of his. "The point is that we're improving, again and again. If we keep this up, we'll be in a great spot. The stronger we get, the better we'll be able to protect the village and the clan."

His words, so full of conviction, eased the tension inside me, even if I didn't want to admit it. I rubbed my head where he'd hit me as I tried to hide a grin. Reika, watching us with a mix of amusement and patience, spoke up again.

"Exactly, Shisui. You're on the right track. Sure, you didn't manage to beat me yet, but let's not forget I have years of battle experience on both of you." She crossed her arms, her smile softening a bit. "If you were up against a newly promoted or younger chunin, I have no doubt you two could win."

Nodding along, I found myself feeling a little more confident. I turned to Shisui, something else on my mind. "By the way," I said, trying to suppress my excitement, "you unlocked your second tomoe." I motioned to his eyes with a grin. "Congrats."

Shisui blinked, his eyes wide with surprise. He immediately looked over at Reika, as if asking for confirmation. His excitement was palpable. "Wait, really?"

Reika, leaning back against a nearby tree, gave him a warm smile. "Yep, Shiro's right. You got your second tomoe. It must've happened when you were struggling for control over your body when I used my Mind-Body Transfer Jutsu. You didn't have it before then, that's for sure."

For a split second, Shisui's face lit up in sheer joy. It looked like he could float off the ground. Pumping his fist into the air, he practically shouted, "Yes! Just one more tomoe and my Sharingan will be fully unlocked!" His grin widened as he turned back to Reika. "And when that happens, we're coming for you, Reika-sensei!"

Reika rolled her eyes with a playful smirk. "A hundred years too early for that, Shisui," she said, waving him off dismissively. "Don't get ahead of yourself."

We started making our way back toward the Uchiha compound, walking side by side in the fading light of the evening. The cool breeze rustled through the trees, bringing a welcome reprieve after the intensity of training. As we reached the edge of the training grounds, Reika stopped, turning back to us with curiosity in her eyes.

"By the way," she said, her tone thoughtful, "how were you two able to land so many hits on me during that taijutsu exchange? It felt like you were predicting my moves better than you normally do with the Sharingan."

Shisui and I exchanged proud glances before I opened my mouth to explain. "It's called the 'Uchiha Tag Team' technique," I began. "We found it in the clan library about a week ago and have been practicing it since. The technique works when two Uchihas with active Sharingan glance into each other's eyes every few seconds during a fight. It creates a positive feedback loop between us, boosting our kinetic vision and letting us react faster to an opponent's movements."

Reika's eyebrows shot up slightly as she considered what I'd said. "So that's how you were pulling off those moves," she muttered, more to herself than us. Then, she started to shake her head at the injustice. "Those eyes of yours are really unfair, you know that, right?"

I couldn't help but return the smirk. "Of course they are. Why do you think our clan is so cocky about them? And why the Hyugas always have issues with us."

Reika chuckled, shaking her head as we continued walking. "I'm sure the rivalry isn't just about your eyes. Both clans are a little too headstrong for their own good." She paused, then waved us off. "Anyway, go home and get some rest. After the beating I gave you today, you're going to need it if you want to keep up in tomorrow's training."

Waving back at our sensei, Shisui and I turned down the path that led to our clan compound. The sun was setting, casting an orange glow over the village rooftops. I glanced over at Shisui, an idea forming in my head.

"Hey, you wanna go get some ramen?" I asked, flashing him a grin. "My treat."

Shisui rubbed his chin, pretending to think about it, but the grin forming on his face told me everything I needed to know. "Ichiraku's?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"Of course," I replied, laughing as we changed our direction, heading straight for the best ramen spot in the village. The thought of a warm bowl of ramen after a hard day's training was exactly what we needed.

---------------

As we walked further away from the Uchiha compound, the village streets seemed to narrow, and the air grew slightly heavier with tension. I couldn't help but notice the stares—cold, calculating, and occasionally suspicious. They weren't overtly hostile, but there was a noticeable shift in the atmosphere. It felt like the villagers were uneasy, and as an Uchiha, I could sense that unease was directed toward us. My jaw tightened, my steps growing heavier with each glance we received.

Looking over at Shisui, I noticed how relaxed he seemed, almost oblivious to the quiet scrutiny from the villagers. Whether he was ignoring it on purpose or genuinely hadn't noticed, I couldn't be sure. 

"Shisui," I nudged him, lowering my voice slightly, "you see the stares too, right? It's not just my imagination?"

He blinked, pulling himself from his easy stride and finally noticing the looks we were getting. He gave a small, nonchalant shrug. "Mhmm, I noticed. But I just can't imagine what we did to deserve it. Maybe everyone's just on edge because of the war." His eyes drifted to the horizon, watching the setting sun cast long shadows across the streets. "I'm sure it'll get better once the war starts to wrap up."

I stared at him for a moment, trying to understand how he could be so calm, so unaffected. His easygoing smile tugged at the edges of his mouth, and somehow, despite the weight of the stares, I felt my own tension ease just a little.

"Yeah... maybe you're right," I muttered, though a small seed of doubt lingered in my chest. I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just about the war.

---------

Teuchi popped his head out from around the back wall of his stall, a wide grin spreading across his face as soon as he saw who walked in. "Shisui! Shiro! Welcome back, guys. What are we feeling tonight? Just the regular?"

Nodding eagerly, Shisui plopped himself onto a stool at the bar inside the cozy ramen stand, rolling up his sleeves like he was preparing for a feast. "You bet! I can always go for a serving of your delicious ramen, Teuchi," he said, rubbing his hands together as if that would somehow make the ramen arrive faster.

I slid into the seat next to him, taking in the warm, familiar atmosphere of Ichiraku Ramen. It was one of the few places in the village where things felt normal, where people didn't seem to care that we were Uchiha. Here, we were just a couple of hungry shinobi looking for a meal.

As Teuchi ducked back into the kitchen, Shisui turned to me, his voice dropping a little, like he was getting down to business. "So, for the next week, I'm thinking of learning a couple more earth jutsus and refining my fire jutsus. I've got some ideas about ways to increase their range and strength."

I nodded, already half in agreement before he finished. "Yeah, makes sense. Earth jutsus are great for defense, and your fire jutsus have been getting stronger each time. But I've been thinking about something else too..." I glanced at him before continuing. "We should probably start working on combining our jutsus—see if we can amplify their power by using them in tandem."

Shisui grinned, clearly liking the idea. "Funny you say that. I've been thinking the same thing. That's why I've been starting to pick up a couple of wind jutsus." He smirked, as if already imagining the possibilities. "Watched some shinobi training in the village with my Sharingan on. It's been pretty helpful."

At that moment, Teuchi returned with two steaming bowls, setting them down in front of us with his usual warm smile. "Here's your ramen, guys. I hope you enjoy it. If you need anything, just holler."

The smell hit me instantly—the rich broth, the tender pork, the perfectly cooked noodles. My mouth watered like a river, and I glanced over at Shisui, who was already grinning from ear to ear.

"Thanks, Teuchi!" we both said almost in unison as the ramen shop owner nodded and disappeared back into the kitchen.

Without a second thought, we dug in, our chopsticks flying between the bowl and our mouths as if we hadn't eaten in days. The warm broth hit my throat like liquid gold, and I could feel my body relax with every bite. Each slurp of the noodles was more satisfying than the last, the flavors dancing on my tongue. 

"This... this is what we needed," Shisui muttered through a mouthful of noodles, clearly savoring every bite.

I nodded, too focused on the bowl in front of me to respond properly. The stress of training, the lingering weight of the villagers' stares—it all faded into the background as the simple comfort of Ichiraku's ramen took over. Here, at least, we weren't prodigies, Uchiha, or warriors in training. We were just two hungry kids enjoying a bowl of ramen.

As we ate, I couldn't help but let my mind drift back to our training plans. Combining jutsus, pushing our limits, and striving to become stronger, it all felt within reach.

-----------

(A/N: Right now when they are combining their strength they are able to defeat a chunin with very little problem, when facing a more experienced chunin they are able to push them to their limits. This is also in a head to head matchup, not including if they were to have a sneak attack or get an advantage before the fight starts.)