Chapter 31: Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu

Kiyosuke's recovery was far faster than Orochimaru had expected. He didn't even need half a month—within just ten days, he was discharged from the hospital.

No one came to see him off that day. Pitiful, small, and helpless... but he could eat!

He made a beeline for Ichiraku Ramen and devoured a big, steaming bowl of tonkotsu ramen.

Patting his now-round belly with satisfaction, he made his way to the Hokage's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

"Pardon the intrusion, Lord Hokage."

Kiyosuke stepped inside. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, was busy working through a stack of documents. He looked up and smiled.

"Kiyosuke, huh? Just a minute—I'll finish this paperwork. Make yourself comfortable."

Is there even a place to sit here?

The sofa was piled high with files. There wasn't a single empty spot to sit.

So he simply stood there.

After a few minutes, Sarutobi finished a document. Seeing that Kiyosuke was still standing and noting the cluttered sofa, he gave a helpless smile.

"It's been a bit hectic lately. You're here for your reward, right?"

He had promised Yūhi Shinku that Kiyosuke could choose one jutsu from the Scroll of Seals. This was his reward.

"Yes."

Kiyosuke was quietly excited. The Scroll of Seals! It held jutsu that could cause great harm—or even death—to the user. Edo Tensei, Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu... all of them powerful and dangerous.

Of course, there were plenty of other techniques recorded too.

He'd been thrilled ever since he'd heard about it from Shinku.

Hiruzen reached under the desk and pulled out a large scroll.

"Go ahead and pick. Anything except for the most dangerous and unethical jutsu—you can choose freely."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage." Kiyosuke took the scroll with both hands and slowly unrolled it—only to be greeted with… a table of contents.

Of course, a book this size needed a table of contents. In the shinobi world, where geniuses were everywhere, memory was everything. Some people could memorize the entire contents of a page with just a glance. Without a table of contents, someone could easily memorize how to perform all the jutsu in the time it took to flip through it.

Studying the list carefully, Kiyosuke browsed the entries one by one, until his gaze stopped at a certain technique.

"Lord Hokage, I'd like to learn the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu created by the Second Hokage."

Shadow Clones themselves weren't forbidden—but Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu was.

That jutsu could produce hundreds, even thousands, of clones at once, placing an enormous burden on the user's chakra. Misuse could easily drain you dry and kill you.

That's why the Second Hokage had sealed it away, declaring it forbidden—for the sake of anyone who didn't possess a massive chakra reserve.

To put it simply, unless you were a chakra powerhouse, using it meant best-case scenario: total exhaustion; worst-case scenario: death.

Kiyosuke didn't have a tailed beast, but his chakra reserves were solid. As long as he didn't make hundreds of clones, he should be fine.

"Have you really thought this through?" Hiruzen warned him. "Used recklessly, it could cost you your life."

"I'll be careful. I know my limits."

"Alright, then go ahead and learn it." Hiruzen helped him unroll the scroll to the section on Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu. Only that part was visible; the rest was kept hidden.

Kiyosuke memorized the hand signs and all the warnings written alongside them. He spent a moment reviewing the theory, making sure it was all committed to memory.

"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu isn't particularly complicated," the Third Hokage explained. "It's just an advanced version of the Shadow Clone technique. Aside from precise chakra control, there's nothing too difficult about it."

No wonder he was called the "Professor." His insight was sharp and clear.

"It's ranked A not because it's hard to learn, but because of how dangerous and practical it is. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."

Not one to pass up a good opportunity, Kiyosuke asked about a few things that had been puzzling him. Hiruzen used some simple, everyday examples to explain them, helping Kiyosuke understand more thoroughly.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage. I've got it down. Now all that's left is to practice."

"If anything else comes up, you're always welcome to ask." Hiruzen nodded and rolled the scroll back up. Kiyosuke bowed and took his leave.

"Will you grow into the next vibrant green leaf of Konoha? Kiyosuke... I look forward to seeing how you blossom."

...

Konohagakure Training Grounds

Yūhi Shinku stood before the three genin and said,

"I've gotten permission from Lord Hokage to use the Forest of Death. You're all going to undergo a three-day survival training exercise."

"Ugh..." Kiyosuke sucked in a breath. The Forest of Death had a notorious reputation. It was crawling with venomous snakes, wild beasts, and all kinds of traps. Anyone who entered was basically asking for trouble. Still, it made for an ideal exam site. The Chūnin Exams used this exact forest. Naruto had trained here. Sasuke had his fateful encounter with Orochimaru and was branded by his cursed seal here.

But they weren't taking the Chūnin Exams now. If they were, Shinku wouldn't have brought them here in advance—it would be considered leaking the test's contents. He wouldn't do that.

So this must really be survival training.

"You'll be living in there for three days," Shinku said. "And... you'll be hunted. Your mission is to survive—and avoid being captured."

"Shinku-sensei, we have to stay in there the whole time?" Kiyosuke raised his hand.

"That's right. Three days from now, when you see the signal flare, you can come out," Shinku replied.

"I heard it's really dangerous in there... what if we die?" Asuma muttered under his breath.

But Shinku heard him anyway.

"If you die in there, then you don't have what it takes to be a ninja. The dangers you'll face in the future will be ten, maybe twenty times worse. Don't expect your enemies to show mercy. Luck won't always be on your side," he said firmly. "Now go in. Only take your ninja tools—nothing else."

"Understood."

The three of them nodded and stepped into the depths of the Forest of Death, beginning their three-day trial.

Shinku watched them disappear into the shadows. Quietly, he put on his mask. After giving them a head start, he'd follow.

This training was meant to foster independence—proof that they could survive even without him. It would also test how well they'd absorbed everything he'd taught them so far.

A kind of pop quiz.

For Kiyosuke, the Forest of Death wasn't much of a threat. With him around, wild animals and poisonous snakes were manageable. Shinku had never worried about that kid.

He was more concerned about his daughter and Asuma.

As for Kurenai, he knew her well—his own daughter, after all. Her theory knowledge was solid, but her battlefield experience was still lacking. She tended to freeze up under pressure.

Asuma, meanwhile, was a troublemaker. Rebellious and impulsive, full of teenage fire and reckless energy.

Shinku glanced at the time. It was about right.

He stepped into the forest, following his students into the shadows.

----------------

Pls Drop some Power Stones

+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo