And in this regard.
Naruto had enough confidence in himself.
Whether it was memorizing the Hand Seals or understanding the core principles of the techniques, Naruto believed he could gradually master these forbidden and secret techniques in the days ahead. So today, he had to commit as much of their details to memory as possible. Of course, his first priority was the three techniques mentioned earlier: Multi Shadow Clone, Flying Thunder God Technique, and Dead Demon Consuming Seal. The first two especially were, without exaggeration, crucial tools in Naruto's plans to grow stronger and stay alive. Anyone familiar with the Naruto story knew that for a ninja like Naruto, who had a vast amount of chakra—far more than an upper-rank ninja like Kakashi even when he had only just become a Genin—the Shadow Clone Technique was practically a natural cheat. And on top of that, Naruto was descended from the Uzumaki Clan. Though he didn't have the red hair typical of the clan, having instead inherited his father's blond hair (which showed just how strong Minato's genes were; otherwise, given the Uzumaki Clan bloodline, Naruto should have had red hair, considering that his birth mother, Kushina Uzumaki, was practically the clan's little princess),
there was no doubt that Naruto had Uzumaki Clan blood.
As distant relatives of the Senju Clan,
the Uzumaki Clan also possessed some of the traits of a Sage Body.
At the very least, among all the ninjas in the Shinobi World today, the Uzumaki Clan's physical strength far surpassed that of ordinary ninjas, and their recovery was among the best. So the side effects of training with Shadow Clones could be kept to a minimum in Naruto's case.
So!
The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique
was the key to whether Naruto could grow rapidly in the time ahead.
The Flying Thunder God Technique
was a chance for Naruto to give himself one more means of staying alive.
As for the other secret and forbidden techniques,
Naruto simply wanted to see whether he could expand his arsenal of attacks.
As a ninja,
if your methods of attack were too limited,
you had no way of winning a battle, because sooner or later, someone would find your weakness and shut you down.
In the original story, the main body could rely almost entirely on Shadow Clones and the Rasengan (along with the techniques derived from it) to beat nearly ninety-nine percent of his opponents. That was practically a massive cheat code. Even though Naruto was Naruto now, the circumstances of this life—and the goals he had set for himself—were vastly different from those in the original story. He had no intention of following the same old path. The facts had proven that even if things ended the same way as in the original story, that still wasn't the ending Naruto wanted.
Passion? Peace?
Don't make me laugh.
Since this was still a world of human beings,
it couldn't be reduced to such a childish conclusion.
It was because humans had emotions and desires that they were human, so lovable at times,
and so hateful and loathsome at others!
Naturally, the Naruto of this life would believe only in the path he chose for himself.
That was what being righteous and doing what was right meant.
As for the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, Naruto wanted to learn it, but not to use it. Just thinking about how using this technique meant dying alongside his opponent sent a chill down his spine. He was interested for the same reason he'd mentioned earlier: he was curious whether the "Death God" truly existed in this world!
God!
That word alone was enough to stir the imagination.
If the Death God really existed,
then what about the evil god Hidan spoke of in Akatsuki?
And, ultimately, what kind of being was the "god" defined by the Naruto world?
Was it a "god" as Naruto understood one?
Or was it merely a more extraordinary supernatural being, like a Tailed Beast?
If all these assumptions were true, then this world would become even more interesting.
Of course, these were matters for the future, things Naruto could explore only after he had the strength to do so.
"Mm, as expected, the first technique recorded here is the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique."
Leaning against the tree trunk, Naruto opened the Scroll of Sealing. When he saw the technique listed first, he found the expected Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. The text directly described the Hand Seal sequence and the technique's essential principles, while the notes beside it clearly offered guidance and even marked down the risks involved.
Judging by the handwriting, it was obviously quite old.
The Scroll of Sealing, one of Konoha's top-secret documents, recorded countless high-level ninjutsu, secret techniques, and forbidden techniques. Most of the techniques in it had been added by the Second Hokage and the Third Hokage. The Third Hokage—Sarutobi Hiruzen—was especially renowned as the Professor of Shinobi. That reputation didn't apply only to Konoha Village, but to the entire Shinobi World. Whether compared broadly or in detail, there was no field he didn't know. Sarutobi Hiruzen might not have been among the strongest Hokage, but he was unquestionably the most learned and well-versed, and the Hokage who had mastered the greatest number of techniques. There was no one else like him!
He was proficient in the five chakra natures and knew how to use almost every kind of forbidden and secret technique.
In fact,
apart from techniques that required a Kekkei Genkai, Kekkei Tōta, or Kekkei Mōra,
there was nothing that old man couldn't do.
And he didn't merely know them in passing.
He had mastered almost all of them.
That was why he was hailed as the strongest Hokage. Of course, that was also because almost no one in this generation had witnessed the First's might.
If the Third Hokage were compared with the First,
it would be a perfect illustration of how knowing a little about everything was no match for mastering one thing.
Of course, the two couldn't really be compared.
"Looks like this technique isn't that hard. The key is controlling the amount of chakra, right? And making sure I don't create too many clones?"
After scanning the notes on the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, Naruto engraved the Hand Seal sequence in his mind. The corners of his mouth lifted as he said with a faint smile,
"Then let's give it a try right away!"
At the thought,
Naruto immediately stood up and took a deep breath. The Hand Seal sequence appeared in his mind, and his hands moved through it rapidly.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
"Poof!"
Perhaps some things in this world really could only be explained as bugs. Naruto had struggled with the Clone Technique for five whole years without ever mastering it, yet today, while learning the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, he mastered it in the shortest time imaginable.
Of course, this was only a test.
Naruto deliberately controlled his chakra output, creating just one clone.
It was important to note that
the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and the Shadow Clone Technique were essentially the same ninjutsu.
The Hand Seal sequence and the way chakra was directed were exactly the same.
The key difference, however, lay in the user's amount of chakra.
Without an enormous amount of chakra, it was impossible to perform the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. Ordinary Jonin could only use the Shadow Clone Technique, not the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.