Chapitre 4: A Dangerous Woman
Mom?!
For a split second, his heart stopped, but then he realized... it wasn't her. The resemblance was uncanny, but there were differences. This woman had an air of danger about her, a coldness that his mother never possessed.
"You've got questions," the woman said, her lips curving into a mysterious smile. "And I've got answers. But first... you'll have to survive."
In an instant, she moved, faster than Naruto had anticipated. Her hand shot toward him, a blade gleaming in her grasp.
Naruto barely dodged, his body reacting on instinct as he leaped back. His heart raced, but his mind was clear. This woman—whoever she was—was dangerous. And she knew something about him.
He landed in a crouch, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. "Who are you?" he demanded again, his voice low and firm.
The woman smirked, twirling the blade in her hand. "You can call me Scarlet. I'm here to test you... Naruto Uzumaki."
The sound of his name sent a chill down Naruto's spine. How does she know who I am? He couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter was just the beginning of something much bigger.
Before Naruto could make his next move, the woman lunged at him again, her blade flashing toward his throat.
Naruto dodged with ease, channeling chakra into his legs to increase his speed. He countered with a swift strike to her side, but she evaded it, flipping gracefully through the air and landing a few feet away, completely unfazed.
"You're fast," she noted, her tone almost teasing. "But is that all you've got?"
Naruto's expression darkened, his fists clenching. "You haven't seen anything yet."
In the blink of an eye, Naruto's chakra flared, and he charged forward, his movements a blur. He aimed a powerful punch at Scarlet, but she met him head-on, her blade flashing as she deflected his strike with a precision that shocked him.
She was toying with him.
Naruto leaped back, his eyes narrowing as he focused on her movements. There was something about the way she fought—calculated, methodical, and almost... playful.
"Who sent you?" Naruto asked, his voice sharp. "How do you know about me?"
Scarlet simply smirked, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Let's just say... we've been watching you for a while. But don't worry," she added, twirling the blade in her hand, "this is just the beginning."
Naruto's eyes flickered with determination. He didn't know who this woman was, or why she was here, but one thing was certain—he wasn't going to let her win.
Naruto's hands formed into fists, his body tense but ready. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through him, the familiar sensation of battle sparking a flame within. Whoever Scarlet was, she wasn't just some random opponent. She had an air of mystery, and the fact that she knew about him—knew his name, knew he didn't belong in this world—made her dangerous.
But Naruto was used to danger. He was used to enemies far stronger than himself, and he wasn't about to back down now.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, his chakra building as he focused. "If you want a fight, then I'll give you one."
With a swift burst of chakra, Naruto charged at Scarlet, his body a blur of motion as he closed the distance between them in an instant. His fist flew toward her, aimed at her midsection with enough force to shatter stone.
Scarlet dodged at the last second, her movements fluid and precise. She sidestepped his punch, her blade gleaming as she spun around, slashing toward Naruto's side.
But Naruto was already anticipating the move. He twisted his body just enough to avoid the blade, then countered with a powerful kick aimed at her head. Scarlet ducked, her body moving with the grace of a dancer as she avoided the blow.
"You're quick," Naruto admitted, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "But I'm not done yet."
Scarlet laughed softly, a sound that was equal parts amusement and challenge. "Good. I was hoping for more."
With that, she lunged at Naruto again, her blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Naruto dodged and weaved, his body moving instinctively as he avoided her strikes. Each time she swung, he was already one step ahead, using his chakra-enhanced reflexes to stay just out of reach.
But Scarlet wasn't just fast—she was relentless. She pressed the attack, her strikes coming faster and more aggressively, forcing Naruto to stay on the defensive.
"Come on, Naruto," she taunted, her voice teasing. "I know you can do better than this."
Naruto grit his teeth, frustration bubbling inside him. He wasn't used to being pushed like this, not since arriving in this world. Most of the opponents he'd faced so far had been no match for him. But Scarlet was different. She was skilled, and more than that, she seemed to know exactly how to counter his moves.
Time to change things up, Naruto thought, determination hardening in his eyes.
He leaped backward, putting distance between them, and quickly formed a familiar series of hand signs. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In an instant, several clones of Naruto appeared around him, each one ready for battle. Scarlet's eyes widened in surprise for the first time, though her smirk didn't falter.
"Well, well," she said, her tone laced with intrigue. "Now this is interesting."
Naruto didn't give her a chance to react. He and his clones charged at her from multiple directions, attacking in unison. Scarlet's blade flashed as she tried to fend off the barrage of strikes, but Naruto's clones were relentless, coming at her from every angle.
For a moment, it seemed like Naruto had the upper hand. His clones pressed the attack, forcing Scarlet on the defensive. But then, with a burst of speed that took even Naruto by surprise, Scarlet leaped into the air, her blade spinning in a wide arc as she sliced through the clones with deadly precision.
Naruto cursed under his breath as his clones disappeared in a puff of smoke. She's strong, he realized, watching her as she landed gracefully on the ground, barely winded from the exchange.
But Naruto wasn't done yet.
As Scarlet turned to face him, Naruto's hands blurred through another series of hand signs. "Rasengan!"
The familiar, swirling ball of chakra formed in his hand, glowing with an intense blue light. He charged at Scarlet, the Rasengan aimed straight at her.
For a split second, her eyes widened, a flash of recognition crossing her face. But then, her smirk returned, and she moved with lightning speed, her body twisting as she narrowly avoided the Rasengan's impact.
Naruto skidded to a stop, his eyes narrowing as he turned to face her again. How did she dodge that? The Rasengan was one of his most powerful techniques, and few people had ever been able to avoid it so easily.
Scarlet stood a few feet away, her blade resting casually on her shoulder. "You're not bad," she said, her tone light but with an undercurrent of seriousness. "But you're going to have to do better than that if you want to beat me."
Naruto didn't respond immediately. He was too focused, too caught up in the rush of battle. His mind raced as he tried to figure out a strategy. Scarlet was fast—almost as fast as some of the shinobi he'd fought back in his world—and her skills with the blade were no joke.
But there was something else about her, something that nagged at the back of his mind. She knew too much about him, and that wasn't something he could ignore.
"Who are you?" Naruto asked again, his voice steady but demanding. "And how do you know about me?"
Scarlet's smirk widened, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "I told you," she said, her tone almost mocking. "We've been watching you for a while. You're not the only one who's crossed into this world, Naruto."
Naruto's heart skipped a beat at her words. "What do you mean?"
But Scarlet didn't answer. Instead, she raised her blade, her expression turning serious once more. "If you want answers, you'll have to earn them."
Naruto's fists clenched, his determination only growing stronger. Fine, he thought, his chakra flaring once again. I'll get those answers—one way or another.
Without another word, Naruto charged at her again, his Rasengan glowing brightly in his hand. Scarlet met him head-on, her blade flashing as they clashed in a whirlwind of chakra and steel.
The fight continued, each of them pushing the other to their limits, but neither willing to back down.
As the sounds of battle echoed through the empty streets of the town, Naruto couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration. This fight—this challenge—was exactly what he needed. It reminded him of the battles he'd faced back in his world, of the times when he'd been pushed to his limits and had come out stronger for it.
And he would do the same here.
No matter who this Scarlet was, or how she knew about him, Naruto was determined to win.
Meanwhile, back in the bustling heart of the town, Luffy, Zoro, and Nami were oblivious to the battle unfolding on the outskirts. Luffy was devouring plate after plate of food at a nearby stall, much to the amazement of the locals.
"Where does he even put all that?" one of the vendors asked, shaking his head in disbelief as Luffy inhaled another mountain of food.
Zoro, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, smirked. "You get used to it."
Nami rolled her eyes, already calculating how much of their money Luffy had just spent. "At this rate, we're going to be broke before we even set sail again."
Luffy, his mouth full of food, simply grinned. "Don't worry, Nami! We'll just find some more treasure!"
"Yeah, sure," Nami muttered, though a small smile tugged at her lips despite herself.
Back in the secluded alley, Naruto and Scarlet's fight raged on. Each clash of her blade against his chakra-infused strikes echoed through the narrow streets, filling the air with the sounds of battle. Despite Scarlet's precision and speed, Naruto's sheer determination kept him in the fight, his stamina and resilience unmatched.
Naruto skidded backward, his feet digging into the ground as he caught his breath. His clothes were torn in places, and sweat dripped down his face, but his eyes remained locked onto Scarlet, burning with resolve. She's tough, but I'm not done yet, he thought.
Scarlet, on the other hand, seemed eerily calm. She twirled her blade, her smirk never fading as she regarded Naruto with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "You're better than I expected," she said, her voice casual, as though they weren't in the middle of a life-or-death battle. "But you're still holding back."
Naruto blinked, caught off guard by her words. "Holding back?" he echoed. "What are you talking about? I've been going all out!"
Scarlet shook her head, her expression softening just slightly. "No, not really. You're strong, Naruto, but there's more inside you. Something darker... something deeper." Her eyes gleamed as she took a step closer. "You're not using all of your power. Why is that?"
Naruto's heart skipped a beat. She can't mean... He immediately thought of the Nine-Tails sealed within him, the immense power that lay dormant, waiting to be unleashed.
Ever since he'd arrived in this new world, the Nine-Tails chakra inside of him had been going ballistic. Kurama was seemingly gone, but the chakra remained, fighting and expanding constantly within it. It reminded him of how the chakra had felt when he was still a little kid, and he wasn't sure if he'd be able to contain the power.
He wasn't about to let that power take over now—not unless he had no other choice.
"None of your business!" Naruto shot back, his voice firm. "I don't need that power to beat you!"
Scarlet chuckled softly. "Suit yourself," she said, her tone almost playful. "But when you realize that you can't win without it, don't say I didn't warn you."
Naruto gritted his teeth, his fists clenching tighter. He wasn't going to let her get into his head. He had faced enemies far stronger than her without relying on the Nine-Tails' chakra, and he would prove that he could do it again.
With a sharp inhale, Naruto focused his chakra, letting it swirl and build within him. He felt the familiar energy surge through his body, and this time, he wasn't holding back. He was going to finish this.
Without another word, Naruto launched himself at Scarlet, faster and stronger than before. His movements were a blur, his fists and feet striking with precision as he pushed her back, step by step. Scarlet's blade flickered in the sunlight as she parried his strikes, but even she was starting to show signs of strain.
"Not bad!" she called out, her voice still filled with amusement, but there was a sharpness to her tone now—a recognition that Naruto was a serious threat.
Naruto pressed the attack, not giving her any time to recover. His hands flew into another set of hand signs, and in an instant, a dozen Shadow Clones appeared around him, each one ready to strike.
Scarlet's eyes widened for a brief moment, realizing she was surrounded. Her blade spun in a wide arc, slicing through several clones at once, but more took their place, closing in on her from all sides.
"Now!" Naruto shouted, and the remaining clones attacked in unison.
Scarlet spun, her movements fluid and deadly, but even she couldn't fend off the onslaught of clones. Naruto saw his opening. With a burst of speed, he charged forward, his hand glowing with a swirling ball of chakra.
"Rasengan!"
The powerful orb of energy collided with Scarlet's blade, the impact sending a shockwave through the alley. For a moment, there was a struggle—Scarlet's blade pressed against the Rasengan, sparks flying as the two forces clashed. But Naruto's will was stronger, and with a final push, the Rasengan broke through.
Scarlet was sent flying, crashing into the far wall of the alley with a heavy thud. Dust and debris filled the air as she slumped to the ground, her blade clattering beside her.
For a moment, there was silence.
Naruto stood there, panting heavily, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. His Rasengan faded, the energy dispersing into the air as he lowered his hand. His heart was still racing, but he kept his gaze fixed on Scarlet, ready for her next move.
But Scarlet didn't move.
She remained slumped against the wall, her head lowered, her breathing shallow. Naruto frowned, taking a cautious step forward. Did I... win?
Just as he was about to approach her, Scarlet's shoulders began to shake—softly at first, then more noticeably. She was laughing.
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. "What the—?"
Scarlet lifted her head, a wide grin spread across her face. There was blood on her lip, and her body looked battered from the fight, but her eyes gleamed with an almost manic glee. "Well done, Naruto. Well done."
Naruto frowned, his confusion deepening. "What's so funny?"
Scarlet slowly pushed herself to her feet, wobbling slightly as she stood but never losing that smile. "I told you, didn't I? This was just the beginning."
Naruto's body tensed, his instincts telling him that something wasn't right. He watched as Scarlet reached into her coat, pulling out a small, glowing object. It shimmered with a strange energy, and Naruto felt a strange, foreboding sense of déjà vu.
"Looks like you're not the only one with power, Naruto," Scarlet said, her voice low but filled with a dangerous edge. "I've got a few tricks of my own."
Before Naruto could react, Scarlet crushed the glowing object in her hand, and the alley was instantly flooded with a blinding light.
Naruto shielded his eyes, his senses going into overdrive as he tried to figure out what was happening. The light was intense, almost overwhelming, and for a brief moment, he felt like he was floating—like the ground had disappeared beneath his feet.
Then, just as quickly as it had come, the light faded.
Naruto blinked, his vision slowly returning. When he opened his eyes, the alley was empty. Scarlet was gone.
"Damn it!" Naruto cursed, slamming his fist into the wall. He had been so close—so close to getting answers, and now she had vanished, just like that.
But something lingered in the air—a strange energy that hadn't been there before. Naruto could feel it, like a faint pulse, something otherworldly. He wasn't sure what it was, but one thing was certain: Scarlet was no ordinary opponent. Whatever she was involved in, it was bigger than just their fight.
Naruto clenched his fists, determination burning in his chest. I'll find her again, he vowed. And next time, I'll get those answers.
Back in town, Luffy, Zoro, and Nami were still enjoying their food, blissfully unaware of the battle that had just taken place on the outskirts. But as Naruto returned to the marketplace, his expression serious, Luffy immediately noticed the change in his demeanor.
"Hey, Naruto!" Luffy called out, waving enthusiastically. "Did you find something cool?"
Naruto shook his head, forcing a small smile. "Not exactly. But we've got more important things to worry about."
Zoro raised an eyebrow, noticing the intensity in Naruto's eyes. "What happened?"
Naruto's gaze drifted toward the horizon, where the sea stretched out endlessly before them. "Let's just say... someone from my homeland is here."
Luffy blinked in confusion, his head tilting slightly. "What do you mean?"
Naruto looked back at his crewmates, his determination solidifying. "They're dangerous… very dangerous. More than you can handle. Almost too much for me to handle."
Nami frowned, her brow furrowing in concern. "Where is your homeland, anyway?"
Naruto sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "It's a long story, but... we've got some dangerous enemies ahead of us. We need to be ready."
Luffy grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Dangerous enemies? Sounds fun!"
Zoro smirked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "I like the sound of that."
Nami, on the other hand, wasn't quite as enthusiastic. "Great. More trouble," she muttered, though there was a resigned acceptance in her voice.
Naruto couldn't help but chuckle at their reactions. Despite the seriousness of the situation, there was something comforting about being with these people—people who didn't back down in the face of danger.
Together, they would face whatever came their way.
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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
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