Naruto: The Scarlet Ronin

Chapter 21: Reverse Summoning Jutsu

---

Flashback

In the quiet, surreal mindscape of Shinji, a young Uzumaki sat cross-legged on the floor of a vast, ancient chamber. Scrolls and ink brushes were scattered around him as he furiously scribbled seals onto parchment, only to mess up again and groan in frustration. Across from him stood his grandfather, Taiga Uzumaki—a stern yet wise figure, his aged face etched with lines of experience and wisdom.

"Hey, Grandpa, can we skip all this writing and move to the actual sealing stuff?" Shinji asked, setting down his brush with an irritated sigh. His hand cramped from hours of repetitive strokes.

Taiga raised an eyebrow and then smacked the back of Shinji's head lightly with his palm.

"Absolutely not, brat. Calligraphy is the foundation of fuinjutsu. Without precision in your strokes, the seals will fail, and failure in fuinjutsu is fatal. Now stop whining and focus!"

Shinji groaned again, muttering under his breath about how this was a waste of time, but he obediently picked up his brush.

After a long silence filled with nothing but the scratching of the brush on paper, Shinji's curiosity finally bubbled over. "Hey, Grandpa... I've been meaning to ask something."

Taiga gave him a sidelong glance but nodded for him to continue.

"I know about the sword and the mask I got from you guys. But what's the deal with the summoning scroll? What's it for? And what creature is it connected to?"

For the first time in hours, Taiga paused, his stern expression softening into contemplation. After a moment, he sighed and folded his arms.

"That scroll doesn't summon any ordinary creature. To understand its purpose, you first need to know the fundamentals of summoning jutsu. Tell me what you know about it."

"Well... summoning jutsu lets ninjas make a contract with animals or beasts to summon them for help in fights or whatever," Shinji said, unsure.

Taiga shook his head slightly. "Correct, but only partially. The summoning jutsu is, at its core, a type of advanced teleportation jutsu—similar in principle to the Flying Raijin used by the Second Hokage. It doesn't just summon creatures to you; it can also reverse summon the user to the summoned creature's home. That's called the Reverse Summoning Jutsu."

Shinji's brow furrowed. "So, the scroll lets me teleport to my summoning creature's home? But what kind of creature is it for?"

Taiga smiled faintly, sitting down across from his grandson. "The beasts you summon aren't from this world, Shinji. Most ninja don't know where these creatures come from, but we Uzumaki do. They originate from a dimension known as the Spirit Realm."

"The Spirit Realm?" Shinji repeated, leaning forward, intrigued.

"Yes," Taiga continued. "The Spirit Realm is a separate dimension from ours—like the Pure Lands or the Purgatory. While the Pure Lands and Purgatory are closely tied to life and death, the Spirit Realm is unique. It is a sanctuary where ancient, mystical beings reside—beings that some humans mistakenly call 'summoning animals.'"

Shinji's eyes widened. "Wait... so, the creatures we summon aren't from here?"

"Exactly. Many years ago, those creatures crossed over into our world. They found sanctuaries here and formed contracts with humans, granting us their power in exchange for chakra. But their true origin has always been the Spirit Realm. That summoning scroll of yours can send you directly there—if you're brave enough to use it."

Shinji's excitement turned to confusion as another thought struck him. "But Grandpa, if the Uzumaki had so many powerful tools and techniques, how did the other villages wipe us out? Why didn't we use them to fight back?"

Taiga's expression darkened slightly, but he forced a small smile. "That is a tale for another day, my boy. For now, focus on your training."

Shinji pouted but nodded, a spark of determination lighting in his eyes. One day, he promised himself, he would uncover the secrets of the Spirit Realm.

End of Flashback

---

Present Day

Shinji lay sprawled in the dirt, blood seeping from his numerous wounds. His body ached from the relentless battle, his vision blurring as exhaustion threatened to claim him. Minato's Rasengan had left a gaping crater, and it was all Shinji could do to drag himself to his feet.

Before him, the Konoha shinobi stood ready, their weapons drawn. Minato held a kunai in one hand, his sharp eyes watching Shinji for any sudden movements. Kushina stood just behind him, her face a mixture of guilt and determination.

"Shinji, please stop this! Just come with us. I can't stand to see you like this," Kushina pleaded, tears brimming in her eyes.

Shinji sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "I don't need your pity, and I don't need your protection."

"Listen to her," Minato said firmly, his tone calm yet commanding. "You've fought bravely, but this is over. You're outmatched and injured. Don't make us hurt you any further."

Shinji's gaze swept over the group, taking in their defensive stances. His mind raced. He couldn't win, not like this. But he wouldn't let himself be captured either.

With a slow, deliberate movement, Shinji wiped the blood from his forehead. "You think you've won?" he muttered, his voice low but laced with defiance.

Before anyone could react, he formed a rapid series of hand signs and slammed his palm onto the ground.

"What is he doing?!" Inoichi shouted, already lunging forward.

A burst of blue light erupted from the ground, engulfing Shinji in an instant. Minato, the fastest among them, darted forward, kunai in hand, but the light was already fading. By the time he reached the spot, Shinji was gone.

Minato's kunai clattered to the ground as he looked around, his sensory abilities searching frantically for any trace of the fugitive. But there was nothing.

Sakumo cursed under his breath, sheathing his blade. "He's gone... Reverse Summoning Jutsu. He could be anywhere now."

Kushina fell to her knees, her hands trembling as tears streamed down her face. "Shinji..."

---

Spirit Realm

Shinji awoke to the sound of an unfamiliar voice. Slowly opening his eyes, he found himself staring at a bizarre sight—a humanoid chicken with a feathery face and clawed hands standing over him.

"Ah, you're awake! Thought you were dead with all that blood on you," the creature said, tilting its head quizzically.

Shinji groaned, sitting up and looking around. The room was small, made entirely of bamboo, with a strange yet calming energy emanating from the walls.

"Where... am I?" Shinji rasped.

The humanoid chicken grinned, gesturing grandly. "Welcome to the Eastern Forest of the Spirit Realm, stranger!"

Shinji's eyes widened as realization dawned. So, he had done it. He had finally entered the Spirit Realm.

---

To Be Continued...

(A/N): I am so excited for what will happen in this new dimension. But we can all say that shinij will get the power up he needed to fight kage level or god level beings from here.