Three Divided by Two

March 22, Year 36 of Konoha.

The second morning after the four-member team led by Jiraiya arrived in the Flower Capital.

Ranwu woke up in her sleeping bag and noticed that Akaseki was still maintaining the same cross-legged posture from the night before, seemingly still practicing his chakra control...

Seeing this, Ranwu looked at Akaseki with a touch of emotion—days had passed since the team was formed, and while Ranwu could count countless things she disliked about Akaseki, she even felt a sense of "appreciation" for his diligence.

Of course, this was something Ranwu would never dare let Akaseki know.

Otherwise, based on what she had learned about him over the past few days, he would surely act dismissive on the outside while growing a tail on the inside, wagging it all the way to the sky!

Akaseki was indeed working very hard...

Because he had teammates by his side, especially an elite jonin like Jiraiya, Akaseki did not waste his nights. Aside from when it was his turn to keep watch, he used the rest of the time to practice via the Immersion System.

Although the Sharingan could directly copy ninjutsu, and one could even become proficient in using them just by copying them, there was still significant room for improvement in terms of nature transformation and shape transformation—this was something he knew from his "physical examination results."

Take B-rank ninjutsu as an example: merely mastering them, even with extremely sharp battlefield intuition that allowed for their use at the perfect moment, would at best make one a special jonin skilled in ninjutsu, or perhaps a regular jonin's level of ninjutsu.

If one possessed a wide variety of chakra natures and mastered a vast, comprehensive array of ninjutsu, always being able to counter the opponent, one could tentatively be considered someone with strong ninjutsu among jonin.

However...

This still didn't count as a true master!

If the threshold for being a "master" was an elite jonin, then to reach such a level through ninjutsu, one had to have accomplishments in either "nature transformation" or "shape transformation."

Relying solely on the quantity of mastered ninjutsu had a very limited ceiling.

Just like now, when people mentioned "Konoha ninjutsu masters," the first person everyone generally thought of was the Second Hokage, known as the Water God, rather than the Third Hokage, currently known as the Professor of Ninjutsu...

Tobirama Senju's Water Style, his shape transformation, and his nature transformation had all reached the pinnacle of the ninja world. Even without any special Kekkei Genkai or secret techniques, his strength was at the peak of the ninja world based on his "Water Style" alone!

And this achievement was based on the nature and shape transformation of chakra. It wasn't like awakening eyes or learning a ninjutsu that could be achieved overnight with a clear sign of success; it required the accumulation of time and effort, a slow build-up of power...

The bloodline of the Uchiha Clan, combined with the Immersion System, brought great convenience to Akaseki. At this moment, Akaseki was in a period of rapid growth and was happy to practice diligently.

Noticing Akaseki's eyelids flicker, Ranwu immediately stepped forward and unceremoniously shook him awake...

Akaseki had just woken up from his immersion when he felt Ranwu waking him.

The plan for today was about to begin...

"Do you know where the black market in the Flower Capital is?" Ranwu confirmed with Akaseki.

"I have a general idea. It was written in the case files earlier. The investigators went to check several pawn shops for collateral items but found nothing... With so many pawn shops in the Flower Capital, they only investigated a few, all on the same secluded street. It's obvious that everyone tacitly agrees this is where stolen goods are received," Akaseki said with conviction.

"Once you lure the enemy out, remember to fire a signal flare. Don't try to be a hero," Ranwu reminded him.

"Don't worry," Akaseki nodded, taking full responsibility.

Minato thought for a moment, then said: "Actually... it would be better if Akaseki used the Shadow Clone Technique and then followed us.

"That way, when your main body encounters the enemy in the black market, you can create a shadow clone and then dispel it. By utilizing the fact that the main body and other shadow clones can receive the memories of a shadow clone when it vanishes, you can instantly transmit precise intelligence back."

Akaseki was stunned upon hearing this, then said: "That sounds great, but I don't know how to do it!"

Minato replied: "My Shadow Clone Technique was a special reward from the Hokage, so it's not appropriate for me to teach it to you without permission. Why don't you... go ask Master Jiraiya? Master Jiraiya definitely knows the Shadow Clone Technique."

The Shadow Clone Technique was incredibly useful...

Although it was slightly inferior to other physical clones like Water Clones or Earth Clones in terms of stability, it was a bug-level ninjutsu for scouting and transmitting intelligence.

Therefore, ever since the Second Hokage created this technique, basically all Konoha jonin learned it...

"No need, I'll teach you," Ranwu interrupted directly.

Although Ranwu hadn't used it before, she did indeed know how to use it.

And...

She was the granddaughter of the Second Hokage!

To her, this was a family technique. She could teach it to whoever she wanted; there were no taboos.

"The Shadow Clone Technique... I'll give it a try, though I might not be able to copy it," Akaseki said, scratching his head.

The Shadow Clone Technique was originally on the Uchiha Clan's learning list, but because it was a B-rank ninjutsu, a standard Two-Tomoe Sharingan couldn't copy it, so it was placed on the learning list for higher levels.

However, Akaseki's left eye was a Ninjutsu Eye. He actually had a chance to copy it, but he had previously prioritized learning the five elemental ninjutsu and hadn't gotten around to this auxiliary Shadow Clone Technique—normally, the Shadow Clone Technique could only serve as an auxiliary ninjutsu, and the combat power it directly provided was negligible, after all... it consumed far too much chakra!

Ranwu demonstrated it for Akaseki...

Although there was only one hand seal, the control over the flow of chakra was not simple.

As Ranwu demonstrated, she also explained to Akaseki: "The hand seal's guidance of chakra leans toward Water Style and Yang Style. Although the [Shadow Clone Technique] itself isn't considered Water Style, and it doesn't truly introduce Yang Style chakra yet, it does have traces of both in terms of chakra control..."

For Akaseki, this was not simple.

After all, Akaseki had neither a talent for Water Style chakra nor any research into Yang Style.

"No, it's not working. I can't copy it," Akaseki shook his head after trying several times.

Akaseki felt helpless...

What kind of freaks are you two?

After I awakened my eyes, I couldn't even copy it, yet you two actually learned it before graduation?

However, Akaseki immediately said, "How about this, I'll have an Earth Clone follow you. When it's time to warn you, I'll just dispel the clone."

This was the Earth Style ninjutsu Akaseki had prioritized copying from Yashiro last night.

Earth Style and Water Style, as physical chakra attributes, both have C-rank physical clones.

Learning and using them is easier than the Shadow Clone Technique, though naturally, the effects aren't as good—the combat capability is about the same and the chakra consumption is lower, but they lack the most important ability: information transfer.

"Earth Style: Earth Clone Technique!"

Akaseki performed the ninjutsu in the courtyard, and a figure that looked just like him condensed from the earth and climbed to its feet...

Seeing this, Ranwu hesitated for a moment before saying, "Then I'll go with you."

As Ranwu spoke, she formed hand seals, and then... with a splash of water, a Water Clone appeared.

Although Ranwu's attainments in clone techniques were not as high as Minato's, a Water Clone was easier to control than a Shadow Clone, consumed less, and didn't require transforming into someone else.

Seeing this, Minato tilted his head, then formed his own hand seals...

Poof—

A Shadow Clone of Minato appeared, and then...

The Shadow Clone Minato, the original Ranwu, and the original Akaseki stood together, while the Earth Clone Akaseki, the Water Clone Ranwu, and the original Minato stood together. The three of them split into two groups, with three people in each!