Outer Body Incarnation

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Uchiha Aozora broke out in a cold sweat and immediately dispelled the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

"Even a Shadow Clone wanted to compete with me for the spotlight?"

As the Shadow Clone Jutsu was released, a brief fragment of memory returned to the original body.

He vividly sensed the clone's overwhelming urge to show off.

Was I really that cringe?

Before he could think further, the Heavenly Book changed.

The gray ancient characters for "Clone" first appeared on the Wordless Page. Then their color deepened and glimmered with golden light, eventually turning into gilded ancient characters.

What surprised Uchiha Aozora even more was that after the gilded characters faded away, four new ancient characters appeared in the Heavenly Book: "Outer Body Incarnation."

The newly appeared characters were exceptionally dim, clearly indicating an incomplete inheritance.

After the four gray characters vanished as well, Uchiha Aozora thought that was the end. To his surprise, the words "Weapon Control" appeared in the Heavenly Book, their formerly dull ancient characters now edged with a faint golden glow.

"Three birds with one stone? I never expected Shadow Clones to be so technically sophisticated."

He was not surprised by the change to "Clone," and he could understand the emergence of "Outer Body Incarnation," since it was also Daoist magic and Divine Abilities of the clone lineage.

But what Uchiha Aozora had never expected was that "Weapon Control" would also be partially perfected because of it.

He hurriedly focused on "Weapon Control."

After a while, Aozora opened his eyes thoughtfully.

"So Shadow Clones do not merely split off chakra—they also divide a portion of one's mind. No wonder Shadow Clones possess their own consciousness."

"And the key to 'Weapon Control' lies in dividing and attaching one's mind, so it was improved this time as well."

Suddenly, Uchiha Aozora sucked in a sharp breath.

He thought of how Naruto casually created hundreds or even thousands of Shadow Clones in the original story.

"And that did not split his mind apart?"

"Was the protagonist's plot armor just that powerful?"

"Or had the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu been optimized in that regard?"

"Or perhaps the mind was not the same as the soul?"

After indulging in wild speculation for a while, Uchiha Aozora decisively pulled himself back. He never wasted too much time on things he could not understand.

Thus, Aozora turned his attention to the "Clone" and "Outer Body Incarnation" entries in the Heavenly Book.

After carefully comparing them, Uchiha Aozora discovered that "Clone" was simply an optimized version of the Shadow Clone Jutsu. It did not improve its abilities, only the chakra circulation route, slightly lowering its consumption.

"Outer Body Incarnation," however, though it revealed only a small amount of knowledge, set Uchiha Aozora's imagination racing.

Compared to Shadow Clones, clones cultivated through "Outer Body Incarnation" were physical entities. They would not burst with a poke and could cultivate and grow independently. Furthermore, Outer Body Incarnations normally possessed their own consciousness, but at critical moments the original body could fully control them, and it could synchronize with their consciousness at any time.

After seeing the abilities of "Outer Body Incarnation," Uchiha Aozora instantly found the Shadow Clone Jutsu far less appealing.

Unfortunately, "Outer Body Incarnation" was displayed in gray, with absolutely no method of cultivation available.

After drooling over "Outer Body Incarnation" for quite some time, Uchiha Aozora finally began practicing the Hand Seals for the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

He did not need Hand Seals to perform ninjutsu, but he did not want to reveal that secret too soon.

The Uchiha Clan already had one Body Flicker Shisui. Any more than that, and neither the Konoha High Command nor the Uchiha Clan would be able to accept it.

The next morning, shortly after dawn, the three members of Team 3 had already arrived at the rice fields.

Looking at the golden rice fields, Uchiha Aozora was filled with lofty ambition. "Come on, everyone. Let's try to finish this battle today."

Inuzuka Aya enthusiastically echoed him. "Come on! Do your best!"

Gekko Hayate looked at the two energetic youngsters and coughed twice. "No need to rush that much, right? The mission deadline is four days, and today is only the second day."

"And—" He deliberately paused there.

Pointing at the trio's results from yesterday, he said, "We only harvested a quarter yesterday."

"Even if we become more skilled today, we still cannot possibly finish."

Uchiha Aozora shook his head. "Yesterday, I was only sparing your pride."

Inuzuka Aya also said, "Hmph, Aozora, why are you talking so big? I was obviously the one hiding my strength."

After saying that, she suddenly extended her fist toward Uchiha Aozora. "Uchiha Aozora, want to compete? Let's see who harvests more rice today!"

Uchiha Aozora struggled to suppress the urge to roll his eyes.

She first claimed she had been hiding her strength, then declared war on him?

With that level of intelligence, it had definitely all been eaten by her pet dog.

Even so, Uchiha Aozora did not refuse.

He directly agreed. "No problem!"

Aozora's eyes shifted as he spoke. "But competing without stakes is boring. How about we make a bet?"

Without thinking at all, Inuzuka Aya immediately agreed. "Sure. You are going to lose anyway. Go on, what are we betting?"

The ignorant truly knew no fear, Uchiha Aozora thought.

"A Ninjutsu Scroll, C-Rank or above. How about it?"

As he spoke, Uchiha Aozora looked at Inuzuka Aya with a provocative gaze.

How could Inuzuka Aya admit defeat? She immediately agreed and even asked Gekko Hayate to serve as witness.

No matter how Gekko Hayate tried to persuade them, he could not stop them. He could only reluctantly act as the referee.

Standing atop the ridge between the fields, he pointed at a line and said, "This will be the dividing line. One person on each side. Sunset will be the deadline, and whoever harvests the most rice wins. If someone finishes their side first, that also counts as victory."

Uchiha Aozora felt that something was off when he heard that.

Before he could think it through, Gekko Hayate had already waved his hand. "Begin!"

Before his words had even faded, Inuzuka Aya shouted at Uchiha Aozora, "Uchiha Aozora, you are doomed to lose!"

After saying that, she beckoned to the Little White Dog, and the Little White Dog climbed onto her.

"Secret Technique! Beast Human Clone!"

After a burst of smoke, the Little White Dog transformed into another Inuzuka Aya.

"Let's go, Little White!"

She shouted, then she and Little White lowered their heads and began harvesting rice.

Uchiha Aozora shook his head with a faint smile. "That is it?"

"Ninja Art! Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

With a bang, two Shadow Clones appeared beside him.

"Go! Shadow Clones!"

The two clones felt insulted, but they still unwillingly entered the field to harvest rice.

The Beast Human Clone created from Little White was not a real person after all and was not skilled at using tools. Thus, Uchiha Aozora's two Shadow Clones soon surpassed Inuzuka Aya's harvesting progress.

Only when victory was within sight did Uchiha Aozora leisurely prepare to chat with Gekko Hayate.

With the breeze on the field ridge ruffling Gekko Hayate's hair, he looked utterly peaceful and carefree.

Uchiha Aozora's face darkened. "Hayate, you are pretty sly, huh?"

Gekko Hayate gave an awkward laugh. "Poor health! Cough! Poor health!"

Seeing his frail body, Uchiha Aozora cut him some slack. "No next time. And this afternoon, help out too. Let's try to finish the mission today."

Gekko Hayate nodded. "All right!"

During the lunch break, Inuzuka Aya had already fallen far behind Uchiha Aozora in harvesting progress. She wolfed down her meal, rested briefly, then returned to harvest rice beneath the blazing sun.

Hayate and Aozora could not just stand by and watch, so they had no choice but to enter the fields as well. Finally, before sunset, Team 3 completed their first mission.