Red Haired Supremacy

Shanks returned to his cave and resumed reading the book he had set aside earlier to accompany Erza on the supply run. He didn't waste a moment—immersing himself fully in its pages. For the rest of the day, he read without pause, taking no breaks except for a brief lunch brought to him by Mereoleona.

While he was reading, Erza quietly entered the cave and made a few improvements to his living space. She placed a newly covered bed near the wall, set up a small wooden clock, and added an oil lamp for better lighting at night—simple but thoughtful additions that made the cave feel more like a proper room.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Shanks finally closed the book. He had read it from cover to cover, absorbing every detail. From everything he'd studied, one key insight stood out:

Hand seals and Chakra control are essential.

They serve a crucial function in ninjutsu—primarily to mold chakra into the exact configuration needed to perform a specific technique. In simpler terms, hand seals act as a guide, channeling chakra flow in precise patterns that enable a particular jutsu to activate.

However, the book also explained that those with exceptional chakra control could bypass hand seals entirely for certain techniques. With precise mastery, chakra could be molded directly through intent and internal control rather than external gestures.

For Shanks, the path forward became clear.

To master one-handed hand seals, he would need to drastically improve his chakra control. He would also have to study the function of each individual seal, testing different combinations and sequences until he could perfectly replicate full techniques with only one hand.

It wouldn't be easy. But it was possible.

And that was enough.

Shanks decided to begin his training with the most basic form of ninjutsu: the Clone Technique.

He began by forming various hand seals. Before losing his left hand, he had held the rank of Jōnin—so he knew precisely how chakra was meant to flow during this technique. Drawing on that knowledge, he attempted to adapt the hand seals, experimenting with how to move his right hand in a way that could replicate the intended chakra patterns.

Over and over, he tried.

But each attempt ended in failure. Mobilizing his chakra with the same precision as before was proving far more difficult than he had expected. It wasn't just the absence of his left hand—it felt as though his overall chakra control had weakened along with it.

That realization worried him. A ninja's control over their chakra was the foundation of every technique.

Still, Shanks refused to stop.

Even though the chakra didn't respond exactly as he wished, he noticed that with each attempt—each seal formed—his control was slowly improving. Minute by minute, repetition after repetition, the connection between mind, hand, and chakra grew sharper.

He practiced for a full hour without rest.

Finally, he stopped when dinner arrived, the sky now tinged with the deep blues of approaching night. The time to rest had come.

But Shanks wouldn't be heading to sleep right away.

After dinner, he still had one more challenge to face: a battle against the Red-Haired Emperor Shanks within his mindscape. That training too demanded focus—and it would leave him mentally drained.

He decided to resume his one-handed ninjutsu training tomorrow. For now, food, rest, and mental combat awaited.

After sharing dinner with the rest of the clan, Shanks returned to his cave. The moment he stepped inside and sat on his bed, he closed his eyes and entered his mental space.

There, waiting for him as always, stood the towering figure of the Red-Haired Emperor Shanks—his mental manifestation of power, discipline, and challenge.

Without hesitation, the battle began.

The day before, Shanks had managed to hold his ground for only 15 moves before being overwhelmed. But tonight, from the very first exchange, something had changed—he lasted 20 moves.

It wasn't because his strength had suddenly increased. Instead, it was the result of what he'd done after yesterday's defeat: meditation and reflection. He had spent the night analysing every mistake, every misstep, and every missed opportunity. He had visualized different strategies, different ways to approach the fight—ways he could extend the battle, learn more, and ultimately aim for victory.

Defeating the Red-Haired Emperor outright was still far beyond his reach. But that wasn't the point. What mattered was the intent—the goal. He fought not just to defend, but to win. That shift in mentality made all the difference.

One round became two. Two became five.

And in the fifth and final bout of the night, Shanks endured for 40 moves before falling.

Exhausted but encouraged, he ended the session knowing one thing for certain: he was getting stronger.

…

From the next morning onward, Shanks committed himself to a strict training routine. Each day began with intense physical exercises, pushing his body to its limits. Afterward, he shifted his focus to ninjutsu—experimenting with different hand seals in an effort to adapt them for one-handed use. Each attempt, though frustrating at times, also improved his chakra control little by little.

This regimen continued without interruption for five days.

During that time, they had to make another trip to Tonika Village to purchase vegetables and a few other supplies that had been missed earlier. As before, only Shanks and Erza went, maintaining their low profile and careful planning.

On the fifth day, shortly after noon, a breakthrough came.

Shanks formed a hand seal with his right hand. A puff of smoke exploded beside him, followed by a soft boom. When the smoke cleared, a figure emerged—an imperfect clone of himself, barely standing, its form shaky and ghostlike, as if on the verge of collapse.

But Shanks only smiled.

The clone was unstable, its chakra flow erratic, and its form nearly useless in combat. But that didn't matter.

What mattered was this: it worked.

For the first time since he'd lost his left hand, he had successfully performed a Clone Technique using only one hand.

It was rough. It was flawed. But it was proof that his efforts—and his experiments—were working.

----

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