Moriyue could say with certainty that this forbidden technique was the best one he had ever cultivated. Though he had not learned many forbidden techniques yet, that did not stop him from holding the forbidden technique "reversal" in the highest regard.
The person who had invented this forbidden technique was either a damn genius or a madman. Even if anyone else succeeded in using it, they could only create a short-lived, disposable combatant. Just like when Moriyue had cultivated Life Burning, his explosive power had surpassed that of ordinary test subjects, but his lifespan had become unprecedentedly short. It was essentially a suicidal technique.
But Moriyue was different. As long as the Dog Talisman in his heart did not malfunction, he could use "reversal" to turn every ninjutsu into a forbidden technique. Reversal not only straightened out the Chakra within Moriyue's body, but also gave him the potential to create an unlimited number of forbidden techniques. That was an enormous help to someone like him, who currently lacked ninjutsu.
Moriyue understood that himself. However, the Chakra in his body was limited. He could ignore the side effects when using forbidden techniques, but Chakra did not appear out of thin air. His own body produced it, and its efficiency was limited.
Unless he could find a forbidden technique that rapidly condensed Chakra.
Having settled everything, Moriyue was in an unprecedentedly good mood. His trump cards had originally been few, with only several forbidden techniques to use over and over again. He had no time to develop new ones, either. But now, every ninjutsu he learned was equivalent to another forbidden technique. Who would dare say he lacked trump cards now?
"I should be able to cultivate ninjutsu now, right? Shouldn't I learn a few?" Moriyue had long yearned for those techniques. Now that he finally had the chance to use them, he could not help feeling excited.
So, brimming with enthusiasm, he began performing the Shadow Clone Jutsu. This technique had spread throughout nearly the entire ninja world and was praised as the most practical Clone Technique. It had also been developed by the Second Hokage. Fate truly favored Konoha too much.
"Come on, mobilize the Chakra in my body. Though, different Chakra pathways shouldn't affect the technique's results, right..." Worried that something might go wrong, Moriyue tried using an ordinary amount of Chakra to perform the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Chakra began flowing backward throughout his body. Completely opposite from its usual route, it circulated within Moriyue. Although the process was somewhat different, once he completed the final path, the technique was successfully activated.
Though Moriyue no longer needed hand seals to use ninjutsu, how could he skip out on the sense of ceremony at a time like this? He extended his index and middle fingers on both hands, pressed them together, then held one hand horizontally and the other vertically to form a cross.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Pfft~"
A cloud of black smoke appeared, and a figure identical to Moriyue emerged where he stood. Another figure appeared at the distant doorway.
Moriyue scratched his head. His clone had appeared a little too far away from him.
"Forget it, let's first see whether this clone is really as useful as they say..." Moriyue had intended to control the clone, but when he moved, he discovered that he was actually the one standing at the door. The clone technique he had just used seemed a little abnormal.
"Good thing nothing went wrong with the clone..." Moriyue controlled it for a moment. This time, it was fine. Nothing strange happened, and it obeyed his commands smoothly. He could even directly order it to carry out tasks. It was a perfect ninjutsu.
"It's just a little unpleasant to split my Chakra in half. Everything else is fine." After roughly understanding the pros and cons of his clone technique, Moriyue dismissed the clone.
His Shadow Clone Jutsu was indeed somewhat different from a normal one. A normal Shadow Clone Jutsu directly summoned a clone beside the original body, and it could not be too far away. The clone also appeared amid smoke when summoned. Using it in front of an enemy would definitely expose it. But Moriyue's Shadow Clone Jutsu was completely different.
Though it looked similar on the surface, its actual effects were vastly different. First, Moriyue's Shadow Clone Jutsu could be used far away from his original body. Second, and most importantly—
What he summoned was not a Shadow Clone Jutsu at all. That damn thing was Moriyue's actual body.
That was right. The one that appeared from the black smoke was not Moriyue's shadow clone, but his actual body. As for the one standing motionlessly in place and performing the ninjutsu, that was Moriyue's shadow clone. Even he did not understand how it worked, but at least its practical applications were quite good. It could definitely catch an enemy off guard.
Just imagine it: Moriyue used the Shadow Clone Jutsu in front of an enemy, and the enemy clearly knew that the summoned Moriyue was a clone. When they ignored that clone and focused their main firepower on Moriyue's "original body," the real Moriyue could launch a thunderous strike. Just thinking about it was exciting.
After organizing his things, Moriyue was more or less ready. This trip to Sunagakure for the Chunin Exams gave him another objective: obtaining more ninjutsu scrolls.
Do not think ninjutsu scrolls were common goods that anyone could casually learn from. In reality, after graduating from the ninja academy and becoming Genin, one would only learn the most basic Three Body Technique—Transformation Technique, Clone Technique, and Substitution Technique.
Without other opportunities or resources, an ordinary Genin could only learn those three ninjutsu for their entire life. Ninjutsu was hard currency in the ninja world. Useful techniques were controlled by the Kage and major clans. How could they possibly be handed out so freely? Genin were practically consumables, and no one cared whether they lived or died. Only after becoming Chunin could they earn a place in their village and escape their status as "expendable materials."
That was why every year's Chunin Exams were a bloody storm. Everyone wanted the chance to advance to Chunin. Even companions could sometimes be abandoned.
The ninja world was that real and cruel. Gaining the power to surpass everything through love and hope, friendship and justice? Wake up. Not everyone was the protagonist. Reality was cruel.
"I'm definitely becoming a Chunin!" Though Moriyue had possessed Chunin-level strength even before learning reversal, he still did not dare underestimate the other contestants. There was nothing wrong with being cautious.
Once Moriyue had prepared everything, Darui and the others had already arrived outside his house. When he opened the door, Moriyue noticed that the two ninjas following beside Darui looked familiar. They were the same two who had tested him alongside Darui before. It seemed they would be forming a team this time.
"You all know the specific requirements of the mission, right? Probe the strength of the ninjas from the other villages and stay in as long as possible. It would be best if you can become Chunin." Darui confirmed it with them repeatedly. He had never expected any of them to become Chunin. Moriyue was indeed strong, but not strong enough. This was a good chance to temper Moriyue as well. He could not let the kid get too full of himself.
"Understood." The three answered in unison. After bringing the necessary tools, they began this mission.
"Set off! Destination: Sunagakure!"
Before you continue