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In the dense forest, birds scattered in panic, their dark silhouettes blotting out the sky. This was no routine migration. Instead, it was a reaction to a large group of intruders trespassing into their territory.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Puffs of white smoke erupted in quick succession, and one after another, Senju Tobirama's shadow clones appeared. Their identical expressions and synchronized movements made them indistinguishable from one another, as if copied and pasted.
"Hmm, not bad. A total of 168 clones."
Kakuzu's sharp gaze swept across the sea of duplicates before finally landing on the original, the only one emanating an aura of independent thought.
"Think you can keep going?" Kakuzu asked, his voice laced with challenge.
Tobirama shot him a sharp glare, his tone tinged with irritation.
"Are you teaching me how to do my job?"
"Of course I can."
His eyes narrowed as he focused, drawing chakra from within and dispersing it outward once more.
"Haah!"
With a forceful shout, the air around him seemed to ripple. More and more clones materialized, their presence overwhelming. This time, not only were the birds driven away, but even the ground-dwelling insects and reptiles scurried to escape.
A quick glance revealed over 800 clones scattered throughout the area.
"Alright, that's enough. Make some space."
Kakuzu stood and nonchalantly pushed aside the clones obstructing his path. His steps were deliberate as he approached the original Tobirama. Despite the uniformity of the clones, spotting the real one wasn't hard. After all, the original was the one drenched in sweat, breathing heavily.
Standing before Tobirama, Kakuzu reached into his ninja pouch and pulled out a notebook and a soldier pill. He tossed the pill over with a smirk.
"Pathetic. A child could do better."
The jab nearly caused Tobirama to choke as he swallowed the pill. Slowly, color returned to his face, and he straightened up, though still visibly exhausted.
"Why don't you try it then?" Tobirama retorted, his tone defiant despite his fatigue.
"Relax." Kakuzu chuckled.
He recalled a certain technique Naruto had once used—Naruto Uzumaki Two Thousand Combo. From the name alone, it implied 2,000 shadow clones. Whether that number was exaggerated or not, it made Tobirama's 800 seem insignificant.
"Alright, enough talk. Dispel them," Kakuzu ordered, flipping open his notebook.
Tobirama nodded and exhaled deeply.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One by one, the clones vanished in puffs of smoke, their chakra returning to the original. The air seemed to shift as the concentrated energy flowed back, creating a faint gust.
"Chakra gathers and disperses quickly," Kakuzu murmured, scribbling notes. "Each shadow clone is a physical entity sustained by chakra. When dispelled, their experiences and remaining chakra return to the original."
He continued jotting down observations about the mechanics, benefits, and side effects of the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu. While the technique itself wasn't inherently complex, the precise control over chakra distribution was crucial. Overextend, and the original could end up completely drained—a fatal mistake in battle.
"Can you handle that many thoughts flooding your mind at once?" Kakuzu asked, glancing at Tobirama.
"It's manageable… but use sparingly," Tobirama replied, massaging his temple.
In summary, mastering the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu required an abundant chakra reserve and mental resilience. For someone like Naruto or Hashirama, blessed with enormous chakra pools and unwavering resolve, it was a different story. For others, however, it could easily become a double-edged sword.
Not long after, the two returned to their underground laboratory.
"Teacher, have some water."
"Kakuzu-sama, tea for you."
Danzo entered, carrying a tray with drinks. His demeanor was polished, his movements precise.
One had to admit—Danzo was nothing if not attentive. The moment he heard his teacher wasn't feeling well, he came rushing to offer his assistance. While his actions might seem calculated, there was no denying his sincerity.
"Not bad, not bad. Keep this up, and you'll pave the way for your future as Hokage," Kakuzu said, accepting the tea with a nod of approval.
"Yes, Kakuzu-sama. I will work even harder," Danzo replied earnestly, the spark of ambition flickering in his eyes. Kakuzu's words had clearly ignited his dreams of becoming Hokage.
What Danzo failed to notice, however, was the faint trace of amusement in Kakuzu's expression.
"Off you go now," Tobirama interjected, taking a sip of water and gesturing for Danzo to leave.
"Of course, Tobirama-sensei. Call me if you need anything."
Danzo bowed respectfully before exiting the laboratory.
"You know," Kakuzu began, setting his teacup down, "you're always toying with that kid's ambitions. Why not just give him a real chance?"
Tobirama smirked. "And miss out on the entertainment?"
Hearing the faint hint of mockery in Kakuzu's tone, Tobirama Senju didn't respond immediately. Instead, he took a sip of water, placed the cup back on the table, and spoke calmly.
"Kakuzu, why don't you practice it? This forbidden jutsu was a joint effort between the two of us."
His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, and his sharp gaze met Kakuzu's, flickering with a subtle light. Tobirama's unspoken meaning was clear: he had already noticed Kakuzu's reluctance—or inability—to train in certain ninjutsu. For a powerful ninja, there were only two plausible reasons for this. One, physical limitations, perhaps from lingering injuries after a battle. Or two, an inherent inability to master the techniques.
Judging by Tobirama's scrutinizing gaze, it was evident which theory he leaned toward.
Though his weakness had been exposed, Kakuzu didn't seem bothered. After all, he'd been in Konohagakure long enough that if Tobirama, the Second Hokage, hadn't seen through him by now, it would truly be an embarrassment to Tobirama's title.
"If you've already drawn your conclusions, there's no need for me to explain," Kakuzu said coolly, taking a sip of tea as if entirely unruffled. Let Tobirama guess all he wanted—whether he was right or wrong hardly mattered.
Shifting the conversation, Kakuzu redirected them to the topic of the forbidden jutsu, the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique.
"If I'm not mistaken, the concept behind this jutsu originates from your brother's Wood Clone Technique, doesn't it?"
Tobirama snorted, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"It seems you know quite a bit about my brother. Why bring him up all of a sudden?"
A cheap attempt at deflecting the conversation wouldn't escape the keen mind of Tobirama, the master tactician.
"Not at all," Kakuzu said, waving his hand dismissively. "I was just reflecting—how can two brothers born of the same parents turn out so vastly different?"
For a moment, Tobirama was stunned, rendered speechless by Kakuzu's pointed jab. Even the water in his hand suddenly seemed unappealing.
In truth, Kakuzu wasn't wrong. As the younger brother of the God of Shinobi, Tobirama's steady demeanor masked his relentless drive to grow stronger, to measure up to the monumental shadow cast by Hashirama. But for someone of Tobirama's caliber, conventional methods of growth were no longer viable. That was precisely why he delved into the realm of forbidden jutsu—to bridge the gap in power between him and his brother.
After a moment of contemplation, Tobirama finally spoke.
"You're not wrong. My brother's Wood Clones are almost indistinguishable from living beings. By splitting his chakra evenly, he essentially creates fully autonomous entities. The idea of dividing chakra for the Shadow Clone Technique did, in fact, take inspiration from the Wood Clone."
Tobirama paused before continuing. "However, in terms of quality, Shadow Clones fall short of Wood Clones. But unlike the Wood Clone Technique, which has limits to its quantity, Shadow Clones can be created in the hundreds or even thousands. So, in that sense, they have their advantages."
Given their current cooperative relationship, Tobirama saw no harm in sharing these insights with Kakuzu. However, as he finished explaining, he noticed the peculiar way Kakuzu was looking at him—a smirk playing on his lips, his expression unreadable.
"What?" Tobirama frowned, wary of whatever idea Kakuzu was entertaining. "You're not seriously thinking—"
A sudden realization struck him, and Tobirama shot to his feet, his expression shifting to one of alarm.
"Are you insane? Don't tell me you're planning to experiment on my brother?!"
The thought caught in his throat, and his pupils contracted as the sheer audacity of the idea sank in. Yet, if he was being completely honest with himself… as outrageous as it sounded, a part of Tobirama found the concept disturbingly thrilling.
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