Mastering Shadows

After Daichi left his apartment, Haruto leaned back, his mind buzzing with excitement. Tonight, he would finally attempt the Shadow Clone Jutsu—a highly valued but notoriously difficult technique, even for skilled shinobi.

The Shadow Clone Jutsu was no ordinary clone technique. Unlike the basic Clone Jutsu, which only created illusionary copies to distract opponents, the Shadow Clone Jutsu produced real, physical clones. These clones were perfect replicas, capable of independent thought, action, and even using jutsu. The real power of the technique, however, lay in its ability to return the clones' memories and experiences to the original upon their dispelling. This made the jutsu invaluable for training—sending clones to practice, fight, or perform tasks meant that all experiences gained by the clones would come back to the user as if they had done it themselves.

But the jutsu came with significant challenges. One of the most limiting factors was the division of chakra. The chakra was split equally among the clones, meaning creating even one clone would halve his chakra reserves. This was why the technique was so difficult to master—using it recklessly could leave a shinobi dangerously depleted of chakra.

Most shinobi struggled not only with chakra limitations but also with the mental strain of controlling multiple independent entities. Each clone acted on its own, but their thoughts and experiences would eventually flood back into the original, overwhelming the mind. Managing even a single clone required intense concentration and chakra control. For most, trying to use more than one was a recipe for exhaustion.

Haruto, however, had a few advantages that made the Shadow Clone Jutsu more manageable for him. His system rewards, particularly his Ninjutsu Mastery, allowed him to grasp complex techniques more easily than most shinobi. This innate understanding, especially of non-elemental jutsu like the Shadow Clone Jutsu, made it far less daunting. While others might need weeks of training, Haruto's mastery enabled him to comprehend the mechanics quickly.

But even with his Ninjutsu Mastery, the challenge remained—creating a clone would cut his chakra reserves in half. Haruto couldn't fathom how Naruto, a legend known for his mastery of the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, had managed to summon hundreds of clones without collapsing from chakra depletion. It became clear to Haruto that Naruto possessed an unfathomable amount of chakra, far beyond the average shinobi's capacity. Yet, despite this realization, Haruto knew he didn't need to summon dozens of clones. For now, a single clone would suffice.

What made this process easier for Haruto was his Two Minds ability. This unique skill allowed him to split his attention and focus effortlessly, something that gave him a significant edge. While most shinobi would struggle to control a clone while keeping their attention on the task at hand, Haruto could manage both with ease. One mind could control the clone while the other remained fully aware of his surroundings. The mental strain that would overwhelm others was reduced to a minor inconvenience for him.

Moreover, his Tier 2 Cognitive Abilities ensured that when the clone finally dispelled, the flood of memories and experiences wouldn't overwhelm him. Haruto's mind was faster and more capable of processing information than the average shinobi. For most, absorbing even the experiences of a single clone could be disorienting. But Haruto had trained his mind to handle this kind of mental load, making the process much smoother. His enhanced memory and comprehension turned what could have been a daunting task into something manageable.

These combined abilities—Ninjutsu Mastery, Two Minds, and advanced cognitive processing—enabled Haruto to learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu in just over an hour. While most shinobi would struggle to balance chakra control and the mental strain, Haruto made the technique look easy.

As he sat in his room, a perfect clone standing beside him, Haruto felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He had conquered a technique that many shinobi found elusive. Though his chakra reserves were far from infinite, the ability to use a single clone for training opened up immense potential. He could now send the clone to practice techniques or even spar, and when it dispelled, all of that experience would return to him, allowing him to grow faster than most.

In just one night, Haruto had unlocked a world of possibilities that would take others much longer to realize. The Shadow Clone Jutsu would be a foundation for mastering even more advanced techniques in the future. With every step forward, Haruto knew he was inching closer to mastering his new life as a shinobi.