Water Mirror Technique and Clone Technique

After refining his chakra for a while longer, Hui formed Hand Seals and created a clone. Looking at the clone before him, Hui thought excitedly.

"My clone naturally knows the ninjutsu I know. If I can create a clone of my opponent, I'll get a perfect copy! Is this how the Water Mirror Technique works?"

For the first time, Hui felt the allure of theory. But then he hit a snag. The theory seemed sound, but there were too many practical problems standing in the way of creating a clone of his opponent.

Never mind. He'd tackle the problems one at a time. First, he had to figure out how to obtain his opponent's chakra. But the problem was, only he and his father were home right now. There wasn't a third person around.

Just as he thought of that, a calico cat leaped onto the kitchen counter.

"Meow! Hui, you big meanie. You didn't even call me to eat. I want grilled fish." The calico rubbed its head against Hui's arm.

He turned to look at the cat. Right! Ninja beasts had chakra too. He picked the calico up in both arms.

"Amber! Please, you have to help me out. Once it's done, I'll grill you three more fish and serve them with Dad's secret sauce. How does that sound?"

"Meow, meow, meow! Your hands are greasy. Put me down!" After wriggling free of Hui's grasp, Amber's eyes lit up at the thought of the food he'd promised.

"Then it's a deal. Don't go back on your word, meow."

Two and a half hours later, a boy and a cat sat with their hands and paws in the same basin of water. From a distance, the sight was indescribably bizarre.

"Meow, how much longer? It's almost midnight already. This cat needs to sleep too." Amber's complaints rang out once again.

"Almost done, almost done. I've got it figured out. I'm sure it'll work this time."

"Meow, meow! That's what you've said the last seventeen times. You've eaten all the Military Ration Pills I had in stock."

As soon as Amber finished speaking, Hui raised his hands and began forming Hand Seals.

"Clone Technique!" Hui shouted.

"Meow, don't shout so loud! It's late already." Amber pulled her paws out of the water and began licking them. But when she looked up, she saw something that horrified her.

A cat about as big as Hui stood on its hind legs, its eyes lifeless, like a stuffed big cat.

Amber's fur stood on end, and she puffed up in an instant. Her piercing yowl echoed throughout the room.

"Meow! What did you do with my chakra? What is that thing? Is it my clone?"

Hui soothed Amber, then turned to look at his "masterpiece."

After trying many times, he'd more or less figured out how to solve a few of the problems.

First, according to the theory he had so far, creating a clone of an opponent required being able to control their chakra. Chakra obtained directly was highly aggressive, and even with Amber's cooperation, Hui still couldn't use it properly.

But that conclusion wasn't absolute. It was a matter of quantity. Hui could control a tiny amount of chakra from an outside source.

But that tiny amount wasn't enough to let him perform the full Clone Technique. After some experimenting, though, he'd found that if he used all the outside chakra to perform the first Hand Seal, then used his own chakra for the rest, he could create the lifeless "masterpiece" in front of him.

So the real Water Mirror Technique required using outside chakra at a specific moment?

Hui suddenly felt a headache coming on. How many more attempts would this take? Could he really develop the technique in a single night?

Just then, Chuanhe came out of his workshop and asked, "What's going on? Why are you making such a racket in the middle of the night?"

Then he saw "Amber standing upright" in the room and looked surprised.

"Did you make this, Hui?" Chuanhe turned to him.

"Yes. I'm sorry to disappoint you, Father." Hui lowered his head, then fell silent.

After a moment, Chuanhe said, "That's very impressive. You've far exceeded my expectations. I only hoped you'd notice the similarities between the Clone Technique and the Water Mirror Technique. That alone would have been remarkable. But now... Anyway, enough about that. How far have you gotten?"

Hui had been feeling dejected, but his father's words immediately excited him again. He explained what he'd discovered.

"Meow, you two can talk all you want, but could you get rid of this thing first? I want to sleep! And Hui, don't forget my five fish."

Embarrassed, Hui dispelled the clone that neither he nor Amber could control.

He suddenly felt that something was off and was about to argue with Amber. But by then, Amber had watched the troublesome thing disappear and strutted out of the room.

Seeing that, Hui could only let it go. He had more important things to focus on now.

"Father, what's wrong with this technique?" Hui asked.

"The problem isn't with you. You've never learned a solid-body clone technique, so you're confused. The Water Mirror Technique was developed from the Water Clone Technique."

"You've managed this much with the basic Clone Technique. That makes you a genius." Chuanhe's lavish praise made Hui feel a little bashful.

"So, Father, will you teach me a solid-body clone technique now?" Hui looked at him expectantly.

"No. It's not that I don't want to teach you, but solid-body clone techniques can harm your mind. You're not ready to learn one yet." Chuanhe shook his head and refused, but then he saw the disappointment in Hui's eyes.

Looking at that expression, Chuanhe still made up his mind. He went into his workshop, took out a ninjutsu scroll, and handed it to Hui.

As Hui looked at him expectantly, Chuanhe said, "This is the Shadow Clone Technique. I know you're clever, Hui, and you learn every technique quickly. But at first, you can only create one clone with this technique."

"Yes, Father. I'll do my best!" Hui took the ninjutsu scroll and replied solemnly.

"All right. I'll give you a brief explanation of how to perform the Shadow Clone Technique and what it's used for."

Though it was already past midnight, neither of them was tired. They discussed ninjutsu together.

Chuanhe glanced at the clock and said, "It's late. Let's call it a night, Hui. Get some sleep, and when you wake up, I'll teach you a lesson—a lesson about chakra."

"After thinking through how to develop the Water Mirror Technique, do you still think theoretical study is unimportant?"

"No, Father. I believe you now," Hui said earnestly.

His father's explanation had sparked all sorts of inspiration, even in Hui, who had only just started school. Iruka-sensei couldn't have done that.

The Uchiha had always looked down on his father for being a civilian. Whenever Hui encountered a clan member who insulted him, he'd go over and teach them a lesson.

Hui didn't think there was anything wrong with his father being a civilian. Thanks to the Fire Release: Flame Explosion Technique and the Flame Explosion Talisman, his father was a renowned ninja throughout Konoha. Hui couldn't understand where those foolish clan members got the nerve to criticize him behind his back.

Lying in bed, Hui found himself unable to sleep for once. The new understanding of ninjutsu he'd gained today filled him with anticipation for tomorrow. Oh, perhaps he should say today now.