Yesterday, after finishing his morning training, Shanks spent the afternoon working on his swordsmanship and physical exercises. He decided to leave the Clone Jutsu training for the next day.
Today, Shanks had planned to go buy a Chakra Induction Paper, but he changed his mind. He had three reasons that stopped him. First, if he simply walked into a shop to buy it, he would attract attention, which he wanted to avoid. For that reason, he needed to learn the Transformation Jutsu, but mastering it would take time. Secondly, the cost of buying the paper was not insignificant. The third reason was that Shanks believed that with a little effort, he could determine which of the two elements—Water or Earth—his chakra was more inclined to. He was convinced that by practicing both jutsus for a short time, he would be able to figure out which one suited him best.
Based on his studies in his mental library, Shanks knew that everyone had the potential to use all elements. What set people apart was their natural affinity for a particular element. For example, one person might have an affinity of 60 for Fire, while another might only have an affinity of 3. Both could use Fire jutsu, but the second person would need more time and training to master it.
Shanks had tidied up his house and cleared as much space as possible. His home was the safest place for him to train, so he had made it as large and open as possible. By drawing the curtains and ensuring that no one outside his clan could see him, he began practicing Water Style: Water Clone and Earth Style: Stone Clone jutsu.
At first, Shanks didn't notice much of a difference, but as he practiced more and more, he began to feel that his chakra flowed more easily during the Water Clone jutsu compared to the Stone Clone. The difference grew more noticeable over time.
Shanks thought to himself, "So, my affinity is stronger for Water than Earth. Just as I guessed, with a bit of practice, I was able to determine which element is better for faster learning."
He resumed his training. The Water Clone jutsu wasn't too difficult, and Shanks believed he would be able to master it in no time.
By lunchtime, exhaustion was evident on Shanks' face, and his chakra reserves were depleted.
Gurrr!
Hearing the growl of his stomach, Shanks burst into laughter and began chuckling to himself.
He made his way to the kitchen and started preparing his meal. The dish he had in mind was beef stew. Shanks patiently chopped and peeled the ingredients, focusing entirely on cooking so that he could make the best meal possible. As he worked, saliva clearly gathered around his mouth, and the growls from his stomach echoed several times.
Once the food was ready, Shanks pounced on it like a hungry animal. He devoured the meal with enthusiasm, and his bloated stomach was a visible sign of his satisfaction.
After finishing his food, Shanks took a one-hour nap.
He woke up groggy and did some stretches to shake off the sleepiness.
By the time lunch ended, Shanks realized his food supplies were nearly gone. So, after waking up, he grabbed some money and left the house.
After a short walk, Shanks reached his destination. He entered the large store and began selecting his food.
As a growing child undergoing intense training, Shanks considered it essential to meet his nutritional needs. He had a well-structured diet that focused on Protein, Carbohydrates, Healthy Fats, Vitamins and Minerals, Water, and Electrolytes. With these in mind, he carefully picked out his groceries.
While shopping, he overheard a conversation between two customers, which piqued his interest. Upon listening, he learned that yesterday, Shisui Uchiha, the young prodigy of the Uchiha clan, known as the "Shisui of the Body Flicker," had committed suicide.
Shanks muttered to himself, "So, Shisui committed suicide. Such a shame. He was a good person with a good character. With his death, I can say that in about a year, the Uchiha clan will be slaughtered by Obito and Itachi. Itachi's actions are truly commendable, but on the other hand, they are not entirely right. Killing your own parents—those who gave you life and raised you—it's not the right thing to do. But his mental state was far from normal, so I understand. Killing innocent children and infants is also wrong, but in my view, he might be making the right choice in eliminating them, because if they remain alive, Danzo will conduct experiments on them, turning them into emotionless killing machines. Thinking about these things gives me a headache and frustrates me. But there's nothing I can do. Intervening in such matters is beyond my power. It's because of Itachi that I and the others can survive, but at the same time, many innocent lives will be lost. This is an inevitable tragedy, and there's nothing I can do to change it."
After paying for his groceries, Shanks returned home. He put away each item in its proper place and then headed out to his training area to continue his exercises.