In a small training ground in Konoha, Mizuki sat leisurely atop a tree trunk, sheltering beneath the shade from the scorching sun.
In a small river not far away, Sakura, dressed in red, was sparring with a short figure. Much of the girl's clothing had been soaked through with sweat, and her cherry-blossom-colored hair was plastered to her smooth forehead, no longer carrying its former airy beauty.
"Time's about right, isn't it?"
Mizuki glanced at the sky and figured the Pseudo-Jinchuriki's chakra was nearly depleted as well.
Sure enough, before long, the two stopped fighting and walked over toward Mizuki.
"How does it feel?" Mizuki asked Sakura Haruno, who had collapsed onto the ground from exhaustion.
After taking a drink of water, Sakura answered, "A little tiring. Everything else is fine."
"And you?" Mizuki turned to the Pseudo-Jinchuriki. "How's the consumption?"
"So-so. My own chakra can barely sustain combat at genin level for now."
"Recovering to this extent in less than a week is pretty good."
"Teacher Mizuki, who is this... or rather, what exactly is it?" Sakura Haruno, who had long found the Pseudo-Jinchuriki's manner of existence strange, could not help asking.
"This is still a little early for you, but since you asked, I'll tell you a little about it." Mizuki decided to reveal a bit to Sakura Haruno.
"This is an application of the Shadow Clone Technique."
"The Shadow Clone Technique? The one Naruto uses?"
"That's right."
"But doesn't the Shadow Clone Technique have a time limit? And doesn't it collapse and disappear when attacked?" Sakura asked doubtfully.
Sakura had seen Naruto's Shadow Clone Technique many times. There was no way his clones could last this long, and she had struck the Pseudo-Jinchuriki once or twice just now. Yet it had not vanished like a shadow clone;