Reward or Punishment

A/N: I decided to include more subplots that happened behind Hirata. So, these subplots will be in the 3rd person's POV. I hope it won't distract readers from the story narrated from Hirata's POV.

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In the Hokage office,

Danzo comes to Hokage, "did you see the report, Hiruzen?"

The third Hokage looked at Danzo, "yes, I did read the report. Hirata left training camp successfully."

Looking at the casual response of the third Hokage, Danzo signed, "I didn't expect him to be able to escape from the camp and he still didn't break any rules since his main body is in camp."

Third Hokage smiled lightly, "you should be proud of him Danzo; his way of using shadow clone jutsu is different from others. We must accept that no other can mimic even if they use shadow clone jutsu in the same way as him."

Danzo laughed, "Indeed, since he has shown what he can do. But I can't leave him to do as he wants. We have to show him who is his master, right? As a punishment, I will prepare a special training regime specifically including his specialty of clones."

Third Hokage nodded, "that would be good, it will be a fitting punishment as well as a lesson for Hirata. At the same time, be sure to polish him well without any reserve, but don't push beyond the limit."

Danzo smirked, "you don't need to tell me Hiruzen; he is my student and I know what to do."

Looking at the proud look on Danzo's face, the third Hokage sighed. The third Hokage knows he lost an incredible student who could create miracles, and Danzo brags about his student in front of him. But he also knows his three students need a little more time to mature.

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After successfully escaping camp I am now standing in front of my home. Though I escaped from the camp, actually it's my clone that got away, the real me is still in training camp. Its 5:00 am and I knocked on the door. As I expected mom opened the door.

Seeing me in front of her, her eyes were moist, and then she hugged me tightly. After a full minute, she released me and asked me, "how come you are here, Hirata?"

There is no need for me to tell her that I escaped the camp. Seeing me not answering, Mom assumed I had escaped the camp.

"Hirata, this is one of the biggest steps towards your dream. How could you leave the camp to meet me? Get back to camp before anyone can find you. Leave immediately, NOW."

I looked at her angry face and smiled, "don't worry mom, no one will come and find me. Can you let me inside before you ask any questions or do you ask all questions here?"

Mom was surprised and moved aside enough for me to get inside. When I entered, she dragged me to the dining table and sat opposite me. Just looking at her, I can tell she's dissatisfied with me.

I sighed, "Mom I am a clone, the original is still in camp. So, technically I didn't break any rules, okay don't worry."

She was shocked to discover I was a clone and after a minute of silence, she accepted the truth. Since she knows I won't tell lies to her, that means what I said to her now is the truth; I am a clone.

At the same time, the real me in camp woke up and started my regular training schedule. After two hours into the training, a senior came to me, "Trainee 101318, report to the head office now" and then left.

I already expected this. While my clone can escape it cannot run under everyone's nose perfectly. From the beginning, I attempted to implement this plan on the pretext that my teacher knew everything. After the first three attempts, I assumed he allowed me to do so since there were no laws broken or he wanted to see whether I could escape.

Now I am standing in front of the head office. "Trainee 101318 is reporting sir!"

Five seconds later I heard my teacher's voice, "you can enter!"

When I entered the room, Danzo was sitting in a chair and staring at me intensely. Here he is not my teacher, but the commander of Root Anbu.

I saluted, "Trainee 101318 is here as per your orders commander."

He looked at me like a tiger looking at its prey; I could even hear a growling sound, of course, it was my imagination.

He looked at me sternly, "do you know what you have done?"

As I expected, the teacher knew. Since he didn't give punishment directly but instead questioned me, it seems he is expecting something from me. What is it…?'

It was Teacher Danzo's question, "Why are you silent?" that forced me out of my thoughts.

I replied, "Sorry commander, as far as I know, I didn't break any rules imposed by camp."

He stood up and slammed the table with his right hand, "how dare you! Still not admit your mistakes, instead talking back to your higher officer."

I steeled my heart. "I know what I did was wrong, but technically, I didn't break any camp rules. There wasn't any rule that stated that a trainee clone also must not leave camp premises."

The teacher, or rather the commander, looked at me deeply. I felt like I stood naked in front of him. After looking at me for a moment, he sighed and slowly sat in his chair and then looked at me seriously, "indeed you didn't break any camp rule. There is no such law since no one is capable of doing what you have done. So, we are watching whether you can escape from here or not. Now you have done it, it shows your adaptability to shadow clones."

Commander paused for a moment. While he was talking I was struck by the word "we". It's understandable if it's just Danzo and the Third Hokage, but why do I get the feeling more people were present than these two? As far as I know, Anbu and Root were directly under Hokage and Danzo. My train of thought was interrupted by the commander.

"Though you didn't break any rules and I can't punish you, I can reward you. What do you think?"

Seeing his smirk, I know this is not a reward I should be happy about, but rather far worse than punishment.

I immediately said, "No sir, I made a mistake. I used the loophole in camp rules for my personal benefit. I will accept punishment."

Commander Danzo laughed, "Nope, you deserve a reward. You spotted a loophole in a camp rule. This deserves a reward, not punishment. From tomorrow your main body will participate in your day-to-day training and your clones will receive special training. How is it? Do you like your reward? Do well and don't disappoint me."

I am shocked. At first glance, this seems more like a reward. But if you look carefully, in-between words you can see hell training. Since the orders were issued by the commander I can only accept and follow them.

I saluted, "Yes, commander."

I nodded my head and he looked satisfied with my reply, "good… good… now you are my student. Use twenty clones in addition to you for special training. Remember this is special training exclusive to you only and don't disappoint me, OK?"

I left commander camp while thinking about how to endure the hell of training. My very first thought was can I endure the training with twenty clones? Twenty shadow clones mean dividing my entire chakra into twenty-one parts and distributing them equally. But this comes with two problems. First, the total chakra available at my disposal is twenty times less.

At present, I am not utilizing much chakra so it's OK with the amount of chakra left at my disposal. But as the difficulty of training increases, a low chakra level may make it impossible to complete training.

The second problem comes with the limitations of shadow clone jutsu. If shadow clones were used to improve fitness, then it would not be useful at all. Since the physical changes of the shadow clone won't reflect on the main body. Furthermore, if a clone is used to master the technique until the clone exhausts and disappears, the experience of the clone will be transferred back to the main body.

This is also an advantage of using shadow clones, but it is also a major disadvantage of shadow clones. If twenty clones disappeared simultaneously or any clone disappeared during a crucial part of main body training, then the amount of experience and memories transferred back to the main body will put an enormous amount of mental stress. If the main body is not mentally strong, then it might be knocked out, but this is the same as being dead.

That is why B-rank shadow clone jutsu is a forbidden jutsu and not allowed to be used by the majority of jonin unless they have huge chakra reserves and high mental strength. This is also why Naruto can use this jutsu with ease.

While I am on my way to the training center, I am bombarded with memories of clones that were with mom and others. After the clone disappears, the clone memory becomes an extension of your existing memories or dreams during your sleep, with a sense of touch, smell, sound, and vision. This entire retaining and adoption of memories take only a fraction of a second; once you get used to it, you feel nothing.

The next morning, after breakfast, our physical instructor, instructor Bull; the morning session instructor, is behind him with another person dressed in the same clothes, possibly a new instructor to me.

"Trainee 101318: You will follow your new instructor, instructor claw, to complete your new training regime and return here to resume your current training regime. But remember you won't be given any extra time. So, come back quickly to not receive any punishment. You can leave now."

I simply looked at both instructors and followed instructor Claw. We walked to the registration room, where every trainee's requests or permissions are listed under trainee. Then he took me to the weapon room.

The weapon room appears to be larger than our sleeping court. There are many types of weapons are there that I cannot even list since I do not know the names of most weapons. Then the instructor Claw said, "look around for fifteen minutes and list the weapon name, characteristics, and its usages." Then he turned around and left but I can sense him outside the door.

The are many weapons I can name like swords - long swords, Katana, sabar, ninjato, wakizashi, tanto, whip sword, reaper, shotel, etc; whips - kusarigama, whip dart, chain dart; hammers – war hammer, meteor hammer, battle axe, charam, heavy staff, blades, daggers, knives, claw - finger claws; knuckle, kunai, shuriken, fuuma shuriken, Nunchaku, makibishi, sai, spear, naginata, senbon, kusari fundo, tonfa, archery- longbow, crossbow, and firearms -Arquebuses, Hand cannons, Muskets.

Of course, I don't know all weapons; soon fifteen minutes were over and the instructor Claw came back. He looked at me, "Identify all weapons, their characteristics, and usage for me."

I began my explanation of the weapons I identified and it took another half an hour, but he seemed happy.

"Select twenty different weapons, and begin training them. I suggest starting with basic weapons like a sword, bow, war hammer, archery spear, and whip dart; instead of specialized weapons like whip sword, kusarigama, meteor hammer, crossbow, etc. You can return to your usual training after leaving your clones."

I left after leaving twenty clones and returned to my usual training regime. I was one hour late so I better be quick to finish it in order to avoid any punishment. There is one thing I am sure of: every instructor knows my clone has escaped the camp.

I disposed of all clones at the end of the training session. In the next moment, I was bombarded with so much information and experience that I lost my balance and fell. All I can say is that instructor Claw is proficient at all weapons and also a capable teacher.