Shadow Clone

"I never imagined the Shadow Clone Technique could have such an effect!"

After hearing Naruto's explanation, Sasuke couldn't wait to master the Shadow Clone Technique himself to experience the thrill of learning speeds several, or even dozens of times faster.

But unfortunately, he had yet to master the Shadow Clone Technique.

"Using the Shadow Clone Technique to accelerate learning is indeed very effective, but it doesn't come without a price."

Naruto's expression turned serious: "First, there is the issue of chakra. The Shadow Clone Technique divides the user's current chakra equally; if you don't have enough chakra, you must be careful to control the number of clones."

"That's simple. I'll just start with one shadow clone and slowly increase the number."

Sasuke calculated: "Even if I can only create one shadow clone, it will still double my learning efficiency."

"You're right, so the next point is the real issue."

Naruto: "When a shadow clone is dispelled, it doesn't just return chakra and information to the original body; it also returns mental fatigue."

Sasuke's brow furrowed immediately; he already realized where the problem lay: "The learning efficiency increases by a certain multiple, and the mental fatigue increases by that same multiple, right?"

"Correct."

Naruto affirmed again: "And once mental fatigue accumulates too much, it undergoes a qualitative change, turning from simple exhaustion into mental damage. In severe cases, it could lead to the original body falling into a coma or even causing irreversible damage to the brain. That is why the village lists the Multi Shadow Clone Technique as a forbidden jutsu."

With a method to become strong quickly right in front of him, Sasuke didn't want to give up: "Is there no way to solve this problem?"

"I wouldn't say there isn't."

Naruto proposed a plan: "The more shadow clones you have, the more mental fatigue accumulates. But conversely, if the shadow clones can get sufficient rest, the recovered mental energy will also be fed back to the original body when they are dispelled."

"You mean,"

Sasuke understood: "By increasing the number of shadow clones, having some study while others rest, I can offset the extra consumed mental energy with the extra recovered mental energy?"

"Exactly."

Naruto nodded: "However, this creates another problem: the massive amount of chakra required to maintain more shadow clones. After all, the damage to the body from overdrawing chakra is no less severe than mental damage."

Sasuke pondered for a few seconds and asked Naruto: "How many shadow clones do you usually maintain?"

"You can't use me as a reference."

Naruto shook his head: "My mother was from the Uzumaki Clan; she had a naturally long lifespan and an extraordinary amount of chakra. I inherited part of the Uzumaki constitution, so I have much more chakra than you."

Hearing this, Sasuke widened his single-tomoe Sharingan: "Isn't your chakra level about the same as mine?"

"That's because the me here is just a shadow clone."

Naruto said: "I currently maintain three hundred shadow clones: one hundred studying, two hundred resting, while my original body trains in taijutsu. So the chakra you see is only one-three-hundredth of my total chakra."

The muscles in Sasuke's face twitched violently: "Your total chakra is three hundred times mine?"

"I don't have a measuring tool, so I can't judge accurately."

Naruto said rigorously: "At least a hundred times, anyway."

"With such abundant chakra, people of the Uzumaki Clan shouldn't be weak."

Sasuke asked in confusion: "Why have I never heard of the Uzumaki Clan?"

Naruto thought for a moment and said: "According to my mother, the Uzumaki Clan was unlucky. Many years ago, they were dragged into battles between multiple villages, and most of the clansmen died. The few who survived scattered to various countries, making it impossible to stay in contact."

Sasuke was somewhat puzzled: "Your... mother?"

"Yeah, my mother. Explaining that would take a long time."

Naruto scratched his head: "We'll talk about it if there's a chance."

Sasuke suppressed his curiosity and asked: "Then, can you teach me the Shadow Clone Technique?"

"Sure."

Naruto nodded with a smile: "But I recommend you learn it from the jonin in charge of our squad."

Sasuke was silent for a few seconds, then said: "I want to learn from you."

Naruto readily agreed: "Fine."

The two continued to chat about some topics related to training, and the classroom slowly began to fill up.

A little girl with cherry-colored hair walked into the classroom and immediately rushed to the seat next to Naruto and Sasuke, sitting down. Unfortunately, Naruto and Sasuke were having a pleasant conversation, leaving absolutely no room for the little girl to chime in.

After a while, Iruka walked in, and the classroom instantly quieted down.

"Time flies so fast; in the blink of an eye, you have all become ninjas capable of standing on your own."

Iruka sighed with emotion: "You all know what we are doing today, so I will announce the results of the squad assignments directly. I'll state this in advance: this was arranged personally by the Hokage. If any of you are dissatisfied with the results, complaining to me will be useless."

"Now, Squad Four..."

"Squad Seven: Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura Haruno."

"Squad Eight: Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame."

"Squad Nine..."

"Squad Ten: Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akimichi."

"Alright, you all know which squad you are in now. If you didn't hear clearly just now, speak up now."

No one raised their hand, and no one spoke.

Iruka continued, "Your squad leader won't be here until this afternoon, so you are dismissed for now."

A group of newly graduated children still clung to their student habits; the moment Iruka finished saying they were dismissed, more than half of them took off.

"Sasuke, and Sakura."

Naruto said to his two teammates, "Do you have anything to do next? If not, I'll take you to see the place where I usually train."

Sakura had no interest in training and hesitated for a moment.

Sasuke was very interested: "Sure!"

Sakura looked at her two handsome and capable teammates, a sense of satisfaction blooming in her heart, and nodded along: "I'll go too!"

Naruto led the two of them all the way from the Ninja Academy to the woods on the edge of the Hidden Leaf Village.

"This far is enough."

Naruto stopped in a clearing and said to Sasuke and Sakura, "Wait here for a moment, I'll be right back."

After saying that, he slapped his hand on the ground and then dispelled his Shadow Clone.

Before Sakura could understand what was happening, she saw Naruto go "poof" and vanish, her expression instantly becoming even more confused.

"The Naruto who brought us here was just a Shadow Clone. His real body is training nearby, but I don't know the exact location."

Sasuke glanced at Sakura and explained, "After a Shadow Clone is dispelled, the information the clone gathered is transmitted back to the original body, so Naruto can know our location and come find us directly."

"So that's how it is."

Sakura looked at Sasuke's cold, handsome profile, her heart practically "blooming" with joy.

Just then, Naruto suddenly appeared at the spot where his Shadow Clone had slapped the ground: "Yo, I'm here."

Sasuke was startled; he hadn't noticed Naruto's arrival at all.

Suddenly, a possibility flashed through his mind, and Sasuke said in a deep voice, "Space-Time Ninjutsu!?"

"You really know a lot."

Naruto smiled and introduced, "This technique is called the Flying Thunder God Technique. As long as you leave a formula on the target, you can teleport instantly; it's very convenient. It's just not very easy to learn. My one hundred Shadow Clones worked hard for half a month before I finally learned it last week, and I've been getting familiar with it lately."