Soon, everyone began making preparations.
Shion used the Shadow Clone Technique, creating two Shadow Clones. Including her original body, the three of them sat cross-legged in a triangle atop her Sealing Jutsu formula.
As a shrine maiden, she had also mastered Senjutsu and could absorb natural energy. By creating two Shadow Clones in advance to absorb natural energy alongside her, she could increase the total amount of natural energy she stored.
Creating two Shadow Clones was the most reasonable arrangement for her at present. Any more than that would consume too much of her chakra through the clones, reducing her efficiency in absorbing natural energy instead. Since senjutsu chakra was the fusion of chakra and natural energy, the amount of one's own chakra directly affected the efficiency of producing senjutsu chakra.
Gaara and Neji quietly sat atop their own Sealing Jutsu formulas.
Neither of them had mastered Senjutsu, so they did not need to prepare anything beforehand. They only needed to adjust their condition.
Neji in particular had recently gone through a fierce battle and had just endured an eye-transplant surgery, so he urgently needed to recover. The Ryumyaku he carried also needed to restore its chakra.
Naruto was the last to enter the formation. He looked around for a moment, then rubbed his nose with his thumb and formed hand seals with great vigor. "Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
Poof, poof, poof...
In an instant, more than a dozen Narutos appeared amid clouds of white smoke.
Shion shot Naruto a glance. "Idiot, why make so many Shadow Clones? Your own chakra has been spread among all of them, so producing senjutsu chakra will only become slower!"
"Hehe!"
Naruto grinned smugly, then took up several empty spots in the formation with his Shadow Clones.
Neji explained, "It was Sensei's arrangement."
Shion