Three Body Techniques

"Students, the Second Semester of your first year has officially begun. After half a year of study, all of you have refined Chakra and now possess the foundation to perform Ninjutsu." Kiyokatsu Sarutobi's booming voice came from the podium.

"Next, it is time to teach you Ninjutsu. I believe many of you already know what it is. That's right—the Three Body Techniques: the Clone Technique, Substitution Technique, and Transformation Technique. The Three Body Techniques are basic ninja skills. Although they are only D-Rank, they truly can save your life at critical moments." Kiyokatsu Sarutobi continued.

That was right. The Three Body Techniques ran throughout the original Naruto story. The Reverse Harem Technique that savior Naruto Uzumaki used to save the world was essentially an application of the Transformation Technique. Its upgraded version, the Shadow Clone Technique, appeared in practically every episode. The Substitution Technique was common in the early stages, though it became rather a Chicken Rib during the later era of chaos. Still, its importance among ordinary ninjas could not be denied. At crucial moments, it really could save lives.

As they listened to Kiyokatsu Sarutobi's lecture, the students in the classroom clearly split into two extremes. One group consisted of ordinary students from civilian backgrounds. Upon hearing that they could finally learn Ninjutsu, they could barely suppress their excited smiles. The other group consisted of students from Ninja Clans, who were clearly much calmer, as if it were no big deal.

Although Jiogan-kun came from a civilian background, he was far calmer than the other civilian students. After all, he had already begun training in the S-Rank Eight Inner Gates Technique, though he had yet to master it...

"Today, I will first teach you the Clone Technique. Its hand seals are Ram—Snake—Tiger." With that, Kiyokatsu Sarutobi demonstrated the Clone Technique on the spot and explained how to circulate Chakra.

Poof! A clone identical to Kiyokatsu Sarutobi appeared.

"Wow!!!" Waves of astonished cries instantly filled the classroom.

"Amazing! Is this the Transformation Technique? So cool!"

"Wow! That's incredible! I want to learn it too!"

Of course, there were exceptions.

"Tch, what a bunch of ignorant civilians!" An Uchiha child said disdainfully, his nose practically pointed at the sky.

"Everyone, quiet down. I have taught you the hand seal sequence and Chakra circulation method. Practice diligently after class. In one week, I will assess your progress. Then I will teach you another of the Three Body Techniques, the Transformation Technique." Kiyokatsu Sarutobi suppressed the noisy voices. "Next is theory class."

School finally ended. Jiogan first returned to his family's Fruit Shop to help deliver takeout. Of course, there was another delivery worker as well—Might Duy. However, Might Duy was extremely fast. By the time Jiogan arrived at the Fruit Shop, Might Duy had already gone out on a delivery, so they did not run into each other.

By the time he finished his deliveries, night was just beginning to fall. After dinner with his mother, Jiogan shut himself in his room and began his first attempt at the Clone Technique according to the hand seals and Chakra circulation method Kiyokatsu Sarutobi had taught that day.

"Ram—Snake—Tiger, Clone Technique!"

Poof! A limp, pale version of Jiogan appeared beside him. It lasted less than three seconds before vanishing into a puff of white smoke with another poof!

"Ah, I didn't get the Chakra Amount right. I used too little. Again!"

"Clone Technique!"

Poof! This time was clearly much better than the first. The clone looked far healthier, but the difference from the original was still obvious.

"Again!"

Finally, after ten attempts, the difference between the clone and the original was negligible.

I finally did it. I learned the Clone Technique. I never expected my talent for the Clone Technique to be so much better than Naruto Uzumaki, the Child of Destiny. Naruto Uzumaki was someone who even failed the Clone Technique during the Graduation Exam, Jiogan thought.

After ten attempts, I've used up two-thirds of my Chakra. That means I can perform D-Rank Ninjutsu at most fifteen times. At present, my Chakra Amount is probably only enough for one and a half C-Rank Ninjutsu. I still can't train with the Water Release Scroll Father left behind. I have too little Chakra—there isn't even enough for practice, Jiogan pondered.

No more overthinking. I'll master the Three Body Techniques first, then keep training my body and raising my Chakra level. Building a solid foundation is the top priority. Jiogan began doing push-ups on the floor at home.

Only after exhausting the last trace of his strength and Chakra did Jiogan fall into a deep sleep in the Medicinal Bath Tub.

Early the next morning, Jiogan could clearly feel that his Chakra had increased a little again, which made him immensely happy. He casually performed the Clone Technique once, and with a poof!, a clone identical to Jiogan appeared.

"Yes! Training is Youth!" Jiogan could not help shouting.

After breakfast, he happily headed to school.

By his own estimate, aside from the students from Ninja Clans, few ordinary civilian students should have mastered the Clone Technique faster than him.

When he arrived at the classroom, everyone was indeed discussing the Clone Technique. Listening to their chattering, Jiogan confirmed his estimate.

"Jiogan-kun, have you mastered the Clone Technique?" Kurama Feiyun's voice came from behind him.

"Feiyun-chan, after practicing all night, I finally learned it." Jiogan answered modestly.

Jiogan's Chakra level was merely average, but his talent for Ninjutsu was quite respectable. He believed he would not lose to the other Ninja Clan students.

"Jiogan-kun is already amazing. Without a Ninja Clan background, you learned it so quickly. You must have worked very hard, right? I learned the Clone Technique early in my clan, but it still took me three days to master it back then." Kurama Feiyun praised him, then sighed.

"Not really!" Jiogan said, blushing. "Maybe the Clone Technique just suits me better. Learning other Ninjutsu might not go so smoothly."

"Feiyun-chan is amazing too. The Kurama Clan is famous for Genjutsu, so you must learn Genjutsu much faster than Ninjutsu. When I delivered fruit to your home during the break, I saw you practicing Genjutsu very diligently." Jiogan praised her as well.

Sure enough, after hearing that, Kurama Feiyun's eyes curved into crescents again, looking incredibly beautiful!

Girls really needed plenty of sweet talk!

Over the next month, Kiyokatsu Sarutobi taught the Transformation Technique and Substitution Technique in succession. Jiogan mastered the Transformation Technique in two days and the Substitution Technique in two days. Both took a little longer than the Clone Technique, but he was still very fast. It was clear that different Ninjutsu depended on talent and compatibility. There was a classmate in Jiogan's class who learned both the Clone Technique and Substitution Technique within three days, yet could never master the Transformation Technique no matter how hard he tried.

Simply learning a technique was one thing; using it proficiently was another. The school's Combat Exercise would not begin until the next academic year, while students from Ninja Clans would conduct Combat Exercises within their clans ahead of time. As for Jiogan, he trained with Might Duy. Aside from their daily training, they also held sparring exercises.

"Konoha Whirlwind!" Might Duy shouted.

Bang! Crash!

A wooden post was kicked flying by Might Duy and snapped into two pieces.

"Brother Duy, you were way too ruthless. Good thing I used the Substitution Technique beforehand." Jiogan swallowed as he looked at the wooden post broken in two not far away.

"Haha, I got too excited just now and couldn't resist testing out my new move, Konoha Whirlwind. What do you think? Its power is pretty good, right?" Might Duy flashed his trademark gleaming teeth.

"Of course it's powerful! Brother Duy, your Taijutsu is getting stronger and stronger. Ordinary Genin are no match for you now, right?" Jiogan praised.

Konoha Whirlwind was the signature Taijutsu of Might Father and Son. It appeared many times in the original story, so Jiogan naturally knew how powerful it was.

"But Taijutsu is the only thing I'm talented at. I still haven't learned the Three Body Techniques. Sigh..." Might Duy said helplessly.

"Brother Duy, I think that even with only Taijutsu, you can become a powerful ninja. You will carve out your own path—your own Path of the Strong." Jiogan said seriously.

"Jiogan! As expected of my brother through life and death, my dearest friend! I'll do it!" Might Duy said emotionally. "Come on! Let's do a handstand and circle Konoha once! Burn, Youth!"

With that, he rushed off on his hands.

Jiogan watched him helplessly, shook his head, then also went into a handstand and followed after him.