21 - Taking a Chance

Kushina parted the bushes and saw her two Shadow Clones, bound and gagged, yet unexploded. She pondered whether the feedback from the Shadow Clones upon release would reveal the situation.

"Boom boom!" Kushina lifted all control over the Shadow Clones, receiving their memories. She understood the situation clearly then.

From the Shadow Clones' feedback, Kushina witnessed how they were overpowered the moment they entered the bushes by Hirohiko Uchiha and Yukina Hyuga's swift and precise actions. Kushina nodded in approval.

She also observed Hirohiko Uchiha and Chiba creating their Shadow Clone, and how the clones copied her form. Then, Chiba leaped out, followed closely by the two Shadow Clones. Kushina silently nodded.

She wondered how Chiba, still a Ninja Academy student, had learned the *Shadow Clone Jutsu* and earth release techniques.

After lifting the *Shadow Clone Jutsu*, Chiba and the three of them sat down to rest.

"Did we win, Kushina-sensei?" Yukina Hyuga asked, her face expressionless as usual. She rarely showed emotions other than seriousness.

Hirohiko Uchiha also nodded. Known for his stoic demeanor, he was a man of few words.

Chiba, always contemplative, was shaped by his solitary life. He could quickly adapt to any situation, focusing solely on himself and ignoring external influences.

"Did we really win?" Chiba doubted.

'No, Kushina-sensei hasn't used her full strength, and aside from the initial sneak attack, she hasn't made any offensive moves. If she had intended to attack, we would have been defeated easily,' Chiba concluded.

At that moment, Kushina approached, sat in front of them, and inquired, "How did you discover my true location?"

Hearing this, Hirohiko Uchiha and Yukina Hyuga turned their gaze to Chiba.

"Actually, we didn't find the body," Chiba admitted with a wry smile. "It was purely a guess."

'Shadow clones are indistinguishable, even to the Byakugan and Sharingan,' Chiba thought.

Kushina stared at Chiba for a moment, then asked, "What would you have done if it wasn't my true body?"

"I could only continue to try my luck," Chiba responded, just before Kushina's red hair began to flutter.

Hirohiko Uchiha and Yukina Hyuga immediately retreated a considerable distance.

'Try your luck... after I set up such a trap...' Kushina thought, her fist clenching and veins throbbing in frustration.

"Idiots!" she exclaimed, as Chiba clutched his head, a swelling bump forming, throbbing painfully.

In reality, Chiba didn't know Kushina's exact location, but he deduced it was likely in the innermost corner or the center, based on the arrangement of the Shadow Clones and the nature of Kushina's tactics.

Upon entering the bushes, Chiba noticed the impossibility of circumventing the dense forest from behind. Observing from above, he deduced that the real Kushina was likely at the densest point, given the arrangement of the clone teams.

Despite the uncertainty, Chiba's plan hinged on this guess. He was surprised by the seamless cooperation from Hirohiko and Yuki, having only instructed them to distract the clones while he and the "traitorous" clones attacked the suspected points.

The urgency of the situation left no time for explanations, but their flawless cooperation led to the desired outcome, surprising Chiba with their unspoken understanding.

Chiba knew the outcome hinged on luck as much as skill. He lamented internally about the pain from Kushina's punch, questioning why he always seemed to be the target despite speaking the truth.

Feeling Yukina Hyuga's questioning gaze, Chiba wondered if she had noticed something during their encounter. He had inadvertently revealed his ability to activate the Eight Gates, a technique he usually kept hidden.

Chiba grimaced, uncertain if his use of the *Eight Gates* had been detected. He had been forced to reveal this ability in the heat of battle, despite normally concealing it.

Without activating the Eight Gates, his Shadow Clones lacked combat effectiveness. He had discovered that using the *Eight Gates* allowed his clones to possess half the Chakra of his normal state, yet without activating the Gates themselves.

This limitation, along with the increased physical strain from using the technique, made Chiba reconsider the utility of Shadow Clones for his fighting style.

Chiba had learned the *Shadow Clone Jutsu*, just as he had learned the *Earth Spear*, by observing Hirohiko during their battle. He had also attempted to learn the fireball technique but found himself unable to execute it.

"I give you ten minutes to rest, then we start the real training," Kushina announced, her tone light as she observed Chiba's reaction. She found his demeanor somewhat endearing.

She then promised them a barbecue dinner as a reward, which immediately lifted their spirits.

Ten minutes later, Kushina prepared them for the next phase of training, emphasizing the seriousness of the upcoming challenge. They were to spar with her Shadow Clones, using at least 80% of her strength, a prospect that filled them with a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

Hirohiko Uchiha and Yukina Hyuga looked to Chiba for guidance, who acknowledged the intensity of the training Kushina-sensei had planned.

As they prepared to face the Shadow Clones, the air was charged with a sense of determination and the looming challenge of real combat training.