"Rat→ Boar → Dog → Horse"
Ishiko makes a series of slow hand signs to demonstrate them to Ritsu.
"These are the hand signs for the shadow clone jutsu."
Poof…
A shadow clone of Ishiko appears beside her. The shadow clones wave her hand at Ritsu with a smile.
Poof…
It vanishes into white smoke.
"I will demonstrate it again!" Ishiko performs the technique again and explains the circulation of chakra to Ritsu.
'I thought there was a single seal for Shadow clone Technique' Ritsu recalls Naruto making a single seal for the Multi Shadow clone.
"Mom, is there a single seal for this technique?" He asks curiously.
"Of course, there is!" Ishiko nods and makes another hand seal slightly different from the usual twelve hand seals.
"This seal is called a clone seal. Once you master the Shadow clone jutsu, you can skip most of the hand seals and directly use the jutsu with this one seal." Ishiko makes the familiar Naruto clone seal.
"I see!" Ritsu nods in understanding.
"Rat→ Boar → Dog → Horse"
Ritsu makes the necessary hand signs. He waits for a while, but nothing happens.
"You didn't circulate your chakra properly." Ishiko remark.
"Then again!"
"Rat→ Boar → Dog → Horse"
"You lost concentration and chakra didn't flow as intended!"
"Again!"
"Your fingers were crooked while making the dog seal."
"Again!"
"Your chakra distribution was uneven!"
"Again!"
"You infused chakra from the wrong tenketsu points!"
"Again!"
"You infused less chakra than required!"
"Again!"
"You infused more chakra than required!"
"Again!"
Ritsu continues his practice and Ishiko keeps giving him pointers.
Two hours pass in the blink of an eye.
Huff… Huff…
Ritsu falls to the ground, exhausted. By the end of the morning, he could only make a single sickly shadow clone.
"That's enough training for the day!"
Ishiko shakes her head and throws a scroll towards him.
"Soon, it will be time for lunch! Read this until then!"
Ritsu grabs the scroll and reads the title.
"The basic language of Fuinjutsu!"
Shock paired with excitement surfaces in his eyes
'It's finally here!'
He grabs the scroll with enthusiasm, even forgetting about the exhaustion from earlier.
"This kid!" Seeing him so engrossed, Ishiko shakes her head and enters the Kitchen to make lunch with a smile.
'I knew it!' Ritsu nods while scrolling through the pages.
'No wonder Fuinjutsu felt similar. Because Fuinjutsu is also coding. A type of coding language far surpassing the likes of any programming language I read. If my speculation is correct, then Fuinjutsu also involves the rules of physics, mathematics, and chemistry.'
Ritsu reads the scroll with interest as several mathematical equations flash through his mind.
'No, they shouldn't be called mathematical equations, but Fuinjutsu equation. Chakra is also a type of energy that perhaps doesn't follow the laws of known physics and mathematics. So, Fuinjutsu should be the language that attempts to explain the rules it follows.' Ritsu speculates one hypothesis after another while being engrossed in the scroll.
"Ritsu, lunch is ready! Go wash your hands." Ishiko's call snaps him out of his thoughts.
"Ok, mom!"
He carefully tucks the scroll into his clothes and rushes inside the house.
While eating lunch, Ritsu turns to Ishiko.
"Mom, can I teach the Shadow clone jutsu to Naruto?" He asks with an innocent smile.
"Absolutely not!" A dangerous glint flashes across her eyes, scaring Ritsu into almost shitting his pants.
Ahem…
Shima clears her throat to dampen the atmosphere.
"No, you can't teach this technique to your friend. Shadow clone technique is a secret technique of the Senju clan and thus only the higher members of the Senju clan or the Hokage office have the right to teach this technique." Ishiko clarifies.
"But… but I am also a member of the Senju clan," Ritsu mutters weakly.
"You are not a high-level member, not yet!" Ishiko shakes her head.
"Ok!" Ritsu sighs inwardly.
'I figured that much!'
"Ritsu! Ninjutsu techniques are a heritage of each clan. Now, if you ask your friend Shikamaru to teach you his Shadow Manipulation technique, I am sure he won't teach you because it's an exclusive technique of his clan. So, the shadow clone technique is an exclusive technique of the Senju clan." She adds.
"I understand, Mom!" Ritsu nods and continues to eat.
'I am not against Ritsu teaching his techniques to Naruto. But the implications of it might harm the village. Then there is also the danger of Naruto losing control and freeing the Nine-tails. So, we can't afford such a risk.' Ishiko thinks to herself.
"You can teach him other techniques, but not the Shadow clone technique. Also, did Naruto master the clone technique?" Ishiko asks.
"No, Mom!" Ritsu shakes his head.
"He sucks with the clone technique."
"If he can't even learn the E-rank technique, then how do you expect him to learn the B-rank technique? You shouldn't bite more than you can chew!" Ishiko chides him.
"Since I am at it, I will also teach you the 'Multi Shadow Clone Technique'."
"Really?!"
Mm…
Ritsu happily eats his food after getting the confirmation.
'Now, I have to double my efforts in learning the Shadow clone jutsu. If I master this technique, I will always have a handy helper to do chores while I do my training and vice versa. But before that, I have to improve my chakra control!'
Ritsu makes a training plan.
'I will set a small goal to master the Shadow Clone and Multi Shadow Clone Technique by the next few months.'
With a plan in mind, Ritsu starts his training with fervor.
"Rat→ Boar → Dog → Horse"
Haah…
"Again!"
After eating his food, Ritsu returns to the backyard to continue his practice.
Shima and Ishiko shake their head at his passionate training and continue their work. Shima opens an empty Fuinjutsu scroll and scribbles on it with her finger while Ishiko picks up a knife to carve some wood.
Scree…
Suddenly, an eagle flies over the Senju clan compound. The eagle hovers around their house and screeches again. After screeching three times, it leaves.
"An urgent summon from the Hokage Office?"
Shima and Ishiko glance at each other.
Shima folds the Fuinjutsu scroll and Ishiko places down the carving knife and the half-sculpted wooden figure.
"It's almost five years. Looks like they are here!" Shima recalls some matters.
"Ritsu, practice well! Grandma and I will be back soon." Ishiko reminds Ritsu.
"Yes, mom!"
Ritsu nods and continues his practice.
A few seconds later,
Whoosh… whoosh…
Two figures flicker out of the Senju clan compound. They quickly arrive outside the Hokage office and stop.
"Lady Shima! Lady Ishiko!" The chunnin at the entrance of the Hokage Office bows to them.
"Hokage-sama is expecting you!"
Mm…
Shima nods and walks towards the meeting room of the Hokage office. Ishiko follows her.
Soon, they arrive in front of the meeting room. Ishiko knocks on the door.
"Come in!"
Ishiko opens the door and the two women enter the room.
"Shima! Ishiko!" Hiruzen greets the two.
"Hiruzen!"
"Lord Hokage!"
Shima and Ishiko also greet him.
Beside the Hokage, another person is sitting in the room.
"Lady Shima! Lady Ishiko! I was waiting for you!" The man greets them respectfully.
"I am the new deputy chief guard, Yoruha of the Yokoshima Temple. The chief priestess asked me to pass this letter to you!"
Yoruha takes out a scroll with a strange seal and hands it over to Shima.
Hmm…
Shima takes the scroll. After confirming its authenticity, she turns to Yoruha.
"You did well to deliver this letter!"
Shima takes out a scroll and quickly scribbles something on it with her finger.
"Seal!"
A Fuinjutsu rune appears on the scroll, sealing its contents.
"Pass this scroll to Lady Miroku!"
"Yes, lady Shima!" Yoruha accepts the letter, bows his head, and takes his leave.
After Yoruha's departure, everyone's attention turns to the scroll in Shima's hand.
"So, it's already that time!" Hiruzen mumbles.
"It's the responsibility of the Uzumaki clan!" Shima nods with a serious expression.
She places the scroll on the table and makes a series of hand signs.
"Release!"
Purple chakra flames appear on Shima's fingertips and she swipes it across the strange seal on the scroll.
The strange seal lights on fire and disperses, opening the letter. Shima spreads the scroll on the table and glances at its contents.
"As expected, the time to reinforce the seal is near." She rolls the scroll and passes it to Ishiko.
"Hmm… so do you want the Hokage office to make any arrangements?" Hiruzen asks.
"No, there is no need!" Shima shakes her head.
"The fewer the people, the less trouble there will be! We will depart secretly within a few days."
Shima and Ishiko quickly depart from the Hokage office.
-----------------
The next day,
Ahhhhh-hhaaaaaa x4
Choji, Naruto, Ritsu, and Shikamaru yawn as they stare at the clouds in the sky.
"I am so bored!" Ritsu shields his face with his hand to block the sunlight.
"There is nothing better to do, Dattebyo!" Naruto scratches his head.
"I want to eat some meat." Choji drools.
"What a drag!" Shikamaru dozes off.
Hmm…
Ritsu rummages in his pocket.
"I have some money with me. Want to buy some snacks?"
"Let's go!" Choji wipes his drool.
"I also want to eat something!" Naruto jumps down from the building.
"You coming, Shikamaru?"
"What a drag! I want to sleep more." Shikamaru yawns and follows them.
Fifteen minutes later,
Naruto and Choji's hands are full of two Yakitori skewers. Ritsu is eating a multi-flavored Dango stick. While Shikamaru is munching on a Genshiyaki (Skewered fish).
"You have a sweet tooth!" Choji stares at Ritsu's Dango stick with some saliva.
"I am not sharing!" Ritsu hides his Dango from Choji's hungry gaze.
"Come on, just a bite!" Choji pester him.
"Nope, not happening!"
Ahhh… Mmm…
While Choji is pestering Ritsu, Naruto takes a sneaky bite of Choji's Yakitori.
"Fine!" Choji snorts and munches on his empty stick.
"Huh! Where did my Yakitori go?" He looks around and notices a bit of sauce on Naruto's face.
"NARUTO!! YOUU!!"
Hehe…
Naruto grins and rushes away.
"Catch me if you can, Dattebyo!"
"Come back here!" Choji chases after him.
Ritsu and Shikamaru sigh and chase after them.
"What a drag!"
Soon, they find both Choji and Naruto standing in front of a magazine display in front of a large bookstore.
"Huh! Since when did these two are interested in books?"
They walk towards the duo and notice them arguing about a magazine.
"What are you arguing about?" Ritsu asks with curiosity.
"It should be plump and round!"
"No, it should be busty and curvy!"
"Let me see!" Ritsu snatches the book from Choji's hand and turns it around to check its cover. His face turns red and re-racks the book.
"You two!" Ritsu grabs them by the collar.
"How old even are you two?" He glares at them.
"But it's for research purpose!" Naruto and Choji speak at the same time.
"…"
Ritsu is shocked speechless by their remark.
"Who said these words to you?" Unable to hold his curiosity, Ritsu asks them.
"Umm… a few days ago, we saw a weird-looking man with white hair, grinning and smiling while looking at these books the other day," Naruto recalls his encounter.
"Weird-looking man with white hairs?" Suddenly, the image of a certain figure flashes past Ritsu's mind.
'It must be him. No, it's definitely him, Jiraiya, the legendary Ero-sannin.'
Ritsu recalls the series of events happening during the past few weeks.
'Looks like the unrest among Anbu was due to Orochimaru's defection. Even father didn't visit home for several days. And only this matter can make the Ero-Sannin leave all his affairs and return to Konoha.' Ritsu puts two and two together.
'I hope father stays safe.' Slight worry appears on Ritsu's face but he quickly hides it.
He has long speculated and even confirmed Akinao's identity. Akinao is an Anbu captain. He even mentored Kakashi for a short period.
"Yes, it was a weird man with white hair!" Choji nods in confirmation.
"So, what did he mean by research?" Ritsu raises an eyebrow.
Naruto and Choji glance at each other and nods.
"Currently, we both are practicing the Transformation jutsu. So, to understand it to a better extent, we have to study the details."
If not for the innocent expression on their face, Ritsu would have thought that the duo was making a fool of him.
"Oi! You brats! What are you doing?"
Soon the owner of the bookstore storms out of the shop. He notices the gravure mode book in the kid's hands.
"This book isn't for brats like you." He chases away the group with a broomstick.
"We were just taking a glance, Jiji!" Naruto makes a face at the shopkeeper.
"Come here, you brat! And I will teach you a lesson your parents forgot to!" The shopkeeper chases after them.
"Catch me if you can?"
Naruto jumps on top of the shop and taunts the shopkeeper by patting his ass.
"You little shit! Come back here!"
"Hehe…" Naruto makes a face at the shopkeeper.
Bonk…
A book flies out of nowhere and smashes into Naruto's head. Ritsu quickly grabs the magazine that hit Naruto. It's the same Gravure model magazine. The shopkeeper threw it at Naruto in rage.
Ptui…
"Stupid little demon fox!"
The shopkeeper angrily barges into the shop.
"That hurt!" Naruto rubs his sore forehead.
"What should we do with this magazine?" Ritsu ponders.
"Should we return it?" Choji remark.
"Do you want to get beaten?" Shikamaru glances at him.
"No!" Choji hurriedly shakes his head.
"Then what should we do?"
"I can't take this book at home." Ritsu immediately denies possession of the book.
"My mother will get angry!"
"Mine too!"
"Mine too!" Shikamaru and Choji also shake their head.
"Hehe… in that case, I will take it!" Naruto grabs the book.
"Ok, do whatever you want!" Shikamaru shrugs.
Ritsu silently stares at Naruto.
'So, this is the moment when the legendary Sexy Jutsu is born!'
Ritsu silently looks forward to the moment and gives a mental thumbs-up to Naruto. With Naruto's innocent and dense personality, he might not even consider other implications.
Naruto stores the book under the backside of his T-shirt and pants.
"It's evening already!" Ritsu raises his head and glances at the setting sun.
"Time to go home!" Choji mumbles.
"If I go late, my mother won't let me off easily." Shikamaru shivers.
"Then, see you guys later!"
Naruto waves them goodbye and the group moves in a different direction.
Choji and Shikamaru walk together before parting ways at a corner.
"Naruto, this is for you!"
Ritsu passes a wrapped Dango stick to Naruto.
"See you later!" He waves goodbye to Naruto.
Naruto also waves him goodbye with a smile. But soon after, a sad expression appears on his face.
He kicks a pebble while walking home.
"I have to wait three days to meet them again!"
Bang…
He kicks the pebble hard, and it hits a nearby stray dog.
Grr… Woof… woof…
The dog growls and barks at Naruto.
"Shit!" Naruto quickly runs away with the dog chasing after him.
The dog turns around a corner and notices the empty street.
Sniff… sniff…
It sniffs the ground and bites towards the nearby wall.
"Damn it! It can smell me." Naruto removes the camouflaging cloth and rushes away.
"I am sorry! I am sorry! I truly am! Ahh… don't bite my ass! Please!"