Chapter 5: Training & Shadowclone

The first light of dawn barely peeked over the horizon when Naruto was already out in the training field, stretching his limbs and preparing for another grueling day. His muscles still ached from the previous days, but he had long since gotten used to the pain. What mattered now was getting stronger—faster.

The long-haired figure stood with his arms crossed, watching Naruto with an amused smirk. "You're working hard, brat. But there's a way to make this even more efficient."

Naruto blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?"

The golden-eyed man stepped forward, his gaze sharp. "Your biggest advantage isn't just your stamina—it's your ability to create hundreds of yourself."

Naruto frowned. "You mean… the Shadow Clone Jutsu?"

"Exactly."

The long-haired man chuckled, shaking his head. "You've been using your clones just to fight. But there's a trick—one that can change everything. Every time a shadow clone disappears, all of its experiences return to you."

Naruto's eyes widened in realization. "Wait… so you're saying—"

The golden-eyed man smirked. "If you use shadow clones to train, you're not just multiplying your efforts—you're stacking them. One hour of training with a hundred clones equals a hundred hours of experience. Imagine what you could accomplish."

Naruto felt a rush of excitement flood through him. This… this could change everything!

Without wasting another second, he clapped his hands together. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

In an instant, the training field was filled with hundreds of identical Narutos, each one grinning with the same fiery determination.

The long-haired figure nodded in approval. "Now, focus on chakra control. If even one of your clones improves, that knowledge becomes yours."

The clones immediately split up into groups—some balancing leaves on their foreheads.

"This will be interesting."

Hours passed, and Naruto felt the effects almost instantly. His understanding of chakra control skyrocketed. Every failure, every stumble, every correction his clones made—he learned from all of it at once.

For the first time in his life, Naruto felt like he wasn't just struggling to keep up.

Morning sunlight streamed over the training ground as Naruto stretched his sore muscles, shaking off the stiffness from the previous day's exertion. Despite the exhaustion, a burning excitement lit up his eyes. Today, he would push himself even further.

He formed a cross sign with his fingers. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

With a puff of smoke, dozens of identical clones appeared around him, their eyes reflecting the same determination. He had learned something important—his clones weren't just disposable distractions. If they trained and dispersed, their experience would return to him.

That meant one thing: if he trained with enough clones, he could multiply his learning speed by dozens, even hundreds of times.

At least, in theory.

"Alright, listen up, guys!" Naruto called out. "We're splitting into groups. Some of you focus on building up chakra, and the rest, work on movement exercises!"

The clones nodded, scattering across the field. Some sat cross-legged, attempting to mold their chakra more efficiently. Others practiced basic taijutsu—punching, dodging, and striking at imaginary opponents. A few focused on perfecting their kunai throwing, adjusting their grip and release for better accuracy.

At first, everything seemed promising.

But within minutes, chaos broke out.

Some clones overdid their chakra molding and exploded into smoke. Others tripped over their own feet, colliding into their training partners. Kunai flew wildly, barely missing the remaining clones before vanishing into the distance.

One particularly unlucky clone charged forward, only to trip and land face-first in the dirt. "Argh! This is harder than it looks!" it groaned before disappearing.

Naruto felt the feedback rush into his mind—a dizzying mix of failure, miscalculations, and frustration. He staggered slightly, gripping his forehead. It was overwhelming, like cramming days' worth of mistakes into a single instant.

A familiar chuckle echoed from behind him. "You thought multiplying yourself would make everything easier?"

Naruto turned to see the smirking, long-haired figure watching him with amusement.

The golden-eyed man, as calm as ever, observed in silence before finally speaking. "Your body and mind aren't accustomed to absorbing knowledge at this rate. You lack control. Right now, you're just dividing your weakness instead of increasing your strength."

Naruto grit his teeth. "Then what am I supposed to do?"

The golden-eyed figure motioned toward the remaining clones. "Start smaller. Work on precision before expansion."

Taking the advice to heart, Naruto adjusted his strategy.

Instead of dozens of clones, he created just five.

Rather than doing everything at once, each clone focused on a single task—one molded chakra, another practiced balance, and the rest worked on refining basic strikes.

The difference was immediate.

His chakra clone lasted longer before dispersing.

His striking movements became smoother, more efficient.

The golden-eyed man nodded approvingly. "Better. It will still take time, but this is the right approach."

Naruto wiped sweat from his brow, a tired but satisfied grin stretching across his face. He wasn't a genius like Sasuke, nor did he have years of experience like the older shinobi.

But he had one thing—his determination.

And now, thanks to his clones, he had the means to push forward faster than ever.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Naruto's training continued.

The sun was nearing its peak when Naruto finally paused, panting from exertion. His clones had dispersed one by one, leaving behind waves of exhaustion mixed with newfound understanding. His body ached, but his movements had become sharper. His chakra control, though still rough, was improving little by little.

Just as he was about to take a break, the golden-eyed figure spoke up again, his voice calm yet firm.

"You're improving, but you're still wasting too much movement in your strikes," he said, observing Naruto's stance. "The way you fight lacks proper form."

The long-haired man, standing beside him, crossed his arms. "Even with all your energy, your taijutsu is inefficient. You're compensating with brute force instead of precision."

Naruto frowned. "Tch, it's not like I had a teacher for this stuff…"

The golden-eyed man smirked. "Then it's time to change that."

The long-haired man nodded. "Head to the library."

Naruto blinked. "Huh? The library?"

"Correct," the golden-eyed figure replied. "Go through the records of this world's taijutsu styles. We need to understand how shinobi fight before we can improve upon it."

Naruto scratched his head. The idea of going to the library wasn't exactly exciting, but if it could help him get stronger, then it was worth it.

With that thought in mind, he dusted himself off and set off toward the village's public library.

---

The library was quiet when Naruto entered, a stark contrast to the usual noise of the village streets. Rows upon rows of scrolls and books lined the shelves, neatly organized.

Naruto hesitated for a moment before heading to the section on martial arts and shinobi training. As he scanned the titles, he muttered, "Let's see… Basic Taijutsu Principles… Shinobi Combat Fundamentals… History of Leaf Taijutsu…"

He grabbed several scrolls, setting them on a nearby table. Sitting down, he unrolled the first one, his eyes scanning the diagrams and explanations. He didn't have the patience for long-winded explanations, but luckily, the illustrations helped.

As he read, he could feel the two souls inside him observing.

The golden-eyed figure analyzed the movements with a keen gaze. "Standard Leaf taijutsu. Good foundation, but too predictable. It emphasizes speed and fluidity but lacks devastating impact."

The long-haired man stroked his chin. "Yes… too restrained. If we adjust the angles and add more weight shifting, the strikes will have more force without sacrificing speed."

Naruto's eyes widened as he listened to their insights. He hadn't even thought about modifying taijutsu.

"So… what you're saying is we can make it better?" he asked, intrigued.

The golden-eyed figure smirked. "Of course. With proper refinement, we can create a style that is both powerful and efficient—something uniquely yours."

Naruto grinned. "Heh… then let's do it."

He continued reading, absorbing as much information as he could. Every so often, the two figures would comment, pointing out flaws or suggesting improvements. The basic stances of the Academy-style taijutsu were solid, but they lacked versatility. By incorporating better footwork, weight distribution, and counterattacks, they could create something entirely new.

Hours passed, and by the time Naruto left the library, his mind was buzzing with ideas. His taijutsu was about to undergo a transformation—and he couldn't wait to test it out.