Chapter 10: Mastering the clone Jutsu.
The sun dipped lower, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink as it neared the horizon. The air cooled, and shadows stretched long across Training Ground 12. Naruto stood at the center of the field, looking out at the hundred shadow clones he had just created. Each one was grinning, their eyes sparkling with the same excitement that lit up Naruto's face.
He couldn't help but laugh. "This is amazing!" he exclaimed, raising a fist in the air. His clones immediately mimicked the action, cheering alongside him.
However, not everyone shared his enthusiasm.
Sasuke, who had been leaning against a nearby tree with his arms folded, was now standing upright, his expression tense. He watched Naruto's clones with a growing sense of unease. His mind raced as he thought about what this meant for his own progress.
'How is this even fair?' he thought, frowning. Sasuke clenched his fists, his gaze narrowing as he considered the implications. "If Naruto can create this many clones… and if each clone learns or trains and then returns that experience back to him when they're dispelled... He could grind experience at a rate that would let him surpass me in a single day."
A cold sweat formed on Sasuke's brow. He didn't want Naruto to overtake him and hoped the system would place some kind of restriction on that seemingly buggy jutsu.
Meanwhile, Naruto shouted, "Alright, guys!" addressing his clones like a leader rallying his troops. "Let's master the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu first!"
"Yay, boss!" some of the clones cheered.
"Yes, boss!" others responded eagerly.
They quickly jumped into action, each holding 40 points of chakra.
Sasuke's unease only deepened as he watched the hundred Naruto clones spring into action. Each one moved with focus and determination, training relentlessly as they practiced hand seals. The air buzzed with energy as more clones popped into existence, doubling their numbers.
"No way I can let him get ahead like this," Sasuke muttered under his breath, his fists tightening. Without wasting another second, he quickly jumped back to his own training area, determined to master the Shadow Clone Jutsu. 'I need to focus,' he thought, summoning his chakra and forming the hand seals with precision.
Meanwhile, Naruto's clones started their intense practice. Each one mimicked the original Naruto, forming the seals for the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu. And then, in a brilliant flash, another hundred clones materialized, filling the training ground even more.
Naruto, standing in the middle of the chaos, grinned widely. 'This is insane!' he thought, barely able to contain his excitement. But then something else crossed his mind, and he quickly opened his skill panel, expecting to see a huge amount of experience gained.
However, as soon as he opened the window, it flashed red, accompanied by an error message.
[+1+1+1+1+1+1???? Error! Error! ]
[Error: Buggy Jutsu Identified!]
[ Ding! System Notification: Experience gained from the 'Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu' is restricted. Only five clones may contribute to experience gain at a time. ]
[Author's Note: I had to restrict this jutsu; otherwise, Naruto would surpass Sasuke within a few days and reach Otsutsuki level by the time he graduates. I don't want an overly op protagonist who can one-shot everyone. Sasuke is also a protagonist, and I don't want Naruto to outlevel him by too much.]
Naruto stared at the screen, his excitement draining away. "Wait, what? Only five clones?" he exclaimed incredulously. "That can't be right!"
Sasuke, overhearing Naruto's reaction, raised an eyebrow, his own training momentarily paused. He smirked slightly, feeling a mix of relief and satisfaction. "Looks like the system is on to you, Naruto," he called out, his voice tinged with amusement. "Guess you can't rely on sheer numbers to get ahead after all."
Naruto felt a twinge of frustration but quickly shook it off. "That's not fair! I just created a hundred clones!" he protested, crossing his arms defiantly. "They should all count!"
Sasuke shrugged, returning to his practice with the Shadow Clone Jutsu. "Life's not fair, Naruto. You should know that by now."
Naruto continued staring at the error message flashing on the screen, his frustration boiling over. "What do you mean only five clones can gain experience? That's so unfair!" he scolded the system, but it remained silent, offering no further explanation. He sighed, feeling a mix of anger and disappointment.
With a heavy heart, he realized he had no choice. If he was only going to get experience for five clones, there was no point in keeping all one hundred. "Fine! I'll just dispel all of you!" he shouted, waving his hand dramatically.
The clones all blinked, momentarily confused, but they quickly understood. "Aww, boss!" they chorused, some looking visibly upset.
In a burst of chakra, Naruto dispelled all but five of his clones. The remaining ones stood beside him, their expressions a mix of determination and disappointment. He could feel the weight of their unspoken thoughts; they were eager to train, but he had made a choice based on the system's limitations.
Sasuke, observing from the sidelines, felt a wave of relief wash over him as the multitude of Narutos faded away. 'Maybe this will keep things balanced,' he thought, a slight smile creeping onto his face. He had been worried about Naruto's rapid progress, but now, things seemed a little more equal.
"Let's keep training, Naruto," Sasuke suggested, breaking the silence. "We still have some time before it gets too dark." Sasuke formed a single shadow clone to help get more exp. As it was a single clone he wasn't restricted by the system.
Naruto nodded, shaking off his frustration. "Yeah, you're right! Let's work on our techniques!" He turned to the remaining clones and said, "Alright, guys! We're going to make the most of this! Let's practice!"
[+1]
[+1]
[+1]
New clones appeared and were dispelled.
As the sun sank lower in the sky, the two boys and their clones threw themselves back into training. They practiced tirelessly, focusing on perfecting their clone jutsu, encouraging each other along the way. Time passed quickly, and soon night fell, casting the training ground in a soft glow under the stars. Sasuke took multiple breaks in the middle while Naruto continued without a break.
After a long evening of intense practice, both Naruto and Sasuke sat down to catch their breath. They opened their food supplies and shared a meal, laughing and joking as they ate.
"Tomorrow morning at 7, right?" Sasuke confirmed, wiping the crumbs from his mouth.
"Absolutely!" Naruto replied, his face lighting up.
They finished their meal and packed up, both feeling satisfied with the day's training. As they left the training ground, the stars twinkled above them.
----------
In the Third Hokage's office, a few hours earlier, the atmosphere was tense as an ANBU member reported the latest developments.
"Lord Hokage," the masked ninja began, kneeling before the desk. "It has come to our attention that Naruto Uzumaki has successfully learned the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu from Uchiha Sasuke. We believe this may warrant further investigation."
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, raised an eyebrow, surprised by the news. "Sasuke taught him the technique?" he asked, leaning back in his chair, contemplating the implications.
The ANBU nodded. "We were considering whether to intervene, perhaps to discourage Sasuke from meeting Naruto, but it seems that they have formed a bond."
Hiruzen's expression softened as he recalled the ostracized boys of Konoha—Naruto, the boy burdened with the Nine-Tails, and Sasuke, the last of his clan. It filled him with a sense of relief to know that they had found companionship in one another. "Let them be. Allow Sasuke to meet Naruto freely. There's no need to threaten him. They've both suffered enough."
The ANBU nodded and prepared to leave. Hiruzen's mind was racing with thoughts. He had originally planned to introduce Naruto to the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu after few years, thinking it would be a significant step in Naruto's development. Yet, Sasuke had done it for him, and that made the Hokage happy.
As the ANBU left the office, Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, a smile forming on his lips. "Perhaps it is time for the Elite Shinobi Class formation in the Academy."
-------
After three days of relentless training, it was now past midnight, and the clock had just struck four in the morning. The moon shone brightly in the sky, illuminating Training Ground 12, where only Naruto and Sasuke remained: Naruto and his clones were completely absorbed in their practice while Sasuke watched over them.
[ Ding! Shadow Clone Jutsu reached max level! ]
[ Skill:
Ninjutsu:
Shadow Clone Jutsu {Rank B}
Level Max ]
Five hours earlier, Sasuke had successfully mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu, and now he stood nearby, observing Naruto and his clones with a mix of encouragement and anticipation. Fuelled by sheer determination, Naruto and his clones executed the hand seal for the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu with a single, fluid motion. "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" he exclaimed, and in an instant multiple clones burst into existence around him, each one reflecting his smile, and shortly after clones were dispelled.
[ Ding! Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu reached max level! ]
[ Skill:
Ninjutsu:
Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu {Rank B}
Level Max ]
"Finally," Naruto muttered happily, beaming at his newly maxed-out skill while glancing over at Sasuke, who nodded in approval.
After their intense training session, Naruto and Sasuke were both feeling the hunger pangs that came from hours of exhausting practice. They rummaged through the supplies Sasuke had brought earlier and quickly prepared a meal. As they ate, they exchanged thoughts on their training and the progress they had made.
"Can you believe it? We mastered the B-Rank clone technique!" Naruto said, a mouthful of food still in his cheeks.
Sasuke nodded, swallowing his bite. "Yeah, but we still have a long way to go. We need to keep pushing ourselves."
Once they finished their meal, they packed up and made their way home. The streets of Konoha were quiet, illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight.
When they reached their respective homes, Sasuke quickly washed up and fell into bed, fatigue washing over him like a comforting blanket. He closed his eyes, ready for a much-needed rest.
Meanwhile, Naruto entered his house, expecting the usual silence. However, as he stepped inside, he was greeted by the sight of an unexpected visitor.
End of the chapter. __________________________________________________________
Power stones, please.
Last chapter of the week.