New Instructions

The idea of a clone knocking out its original in a fight was just a joke. Yuehua Ai fighting his clones was very different from having his clones fight one another. After all, when clones fought clones, they followed his orders and gave it their all, holding nothing back. But when he fought his own clones, things weren't so simple or straightforward.

Even if he temporarily cut off his control over a clone, he still had a mental connection to it. It was like an ordinary person trying to poke their own eye with a finger: they might consciously give the order at first, but when they actually went to do it, instinct would make them stop. That instinctive reaction was almost impossible to avoid. So when a clone tried to strike the original with full force, the original would instinctively reassert control over it and stop it.

So he still couldn't spar with his clones in the same deadly way they could fight each other. Instead, Yuehua Ai had his clones train in swordsmanship against one another, while he practiced with his own clones using shuriken and other ranged ninja tools.

The feedback from his clones' fights to the death helped Yuehua Ai grow rapidly. Compared to training on his own, this unusual method of training with clones brought unimaginable progress in his Taijutsu and swordsmanship.

With Yuehua Ai's combat instincts as they were now, ordinary Chunin were as helpless as chickens and dogs against him in a straight Taijutsu fight. After all, no one else could gain life-and-death combat experience so frequently, or correct their flaws and bad habits in battle so quickly and continuously.

After more than a dozen battles to the death, Yuehua Ai had finally found his own path in swordsmanship. Unlike the subtle, unpredictable way of Konoha Style, his swordsmanship and the intent behind it were closer to his own heart: simple, direct, brutal, and unstoppable. Before his heart and his sword, every complication would be cut clean through.

As his ninjutsu strength began to grow more slowly, Yuehua Ai still managed to make a huge leap in strength through Taijutsu and swordsmanship. Compared to when he was still in Amegakure, his overall strength had increased by at least fifty percent!

Don't underestimate that fifty percent. Yuehua Ai was still a child not yet nine years old. His strength in every area had already been close to his limits, and making such a huge breakthrough despite the limitations of his body showed just how difficult it had been.

Exhausted, Yuehua Ai lay on the ground for nearly half an hour before he regained a little ability to move. This special training was effective, but its side effects afterward were just as severe.

Everything a Shadow Clone did used up his chakra. At that level of intensity, maintaining three clones had drained his chakra in less than five minutes. That was why he had the clones fight to decide the outcome as quickly as possible: to limit their chakra consumption.

The chakra drain alone wouldn't have left Yuehua Ai feeling so awful. What truly weighed on him was the loss of mental energy. To help his clones maintain their independence, he had expended three times as much mental energy as an ordinary ninja. Even with his exceptional mental aptitude, spending so much at once was more than he could handle. He had previously maintained at most two clones. If he hadn't just graduated from the medical training program and worried that his upcoming missions would leave him no time for this kind of training, he wouldn't have pushed himself so hard this time.

Flashes of clashing blades, curtains of water, and gleaming edges flickered through Yuehua Ai's mind. These were the experiences fed back to him after the clones formed their Hand Seals. He could fully feel their previous momentum as they charged ahead, cutting through everything in their path. That feeling was the greatest reward of this training. So even though his head was splitting with pain, Yuehua Ai still made himself carefully absorb and integrate the images and sensations. They were the fuel for his growth. If he let this moment pass, then even if he recalled everything later, the insights he gained would be far weaker.

After digesting his insights from the battle, Yuehua Ai leaned against a tree. Once his mind relaxed, an even more overwhelming wave of exhaustion washed over him.

He drifted in and out of consciousness for who knew how long before he suddenly heard a voice calling to him from far away. When he finally managed to open his eyes, he found Shizune crouching beside him, looking worried.

"Phew, you're finally awake. Lord Jiraiya said you weren't around, and I couldn't find you at the library, so I knew you had to be here! When I got here and saw you sleeping without waking up, you scared me to death!"

Shizune patted her chest and let out a long breath of relief. She had seen him exhausted before, but never this bad. She had called to him for ages without getting a response. He had really frightened her.

"I'm fine. I just got a little tired from training. Did you come here to see me about something?"

Yuehua Ai struggled to sit up, not minding the girl's reproachful tone. After half a year in the Medical Corps, he and Shizune had gotten along well. Aside from Jiraiya, she was the only one who could find him outside Konoha.

This forest bordered Konoha and was an exceptionally quiet place. Two months ago, after Jiraiya returned, he had begun teaching him ninjutsu here. The area, with its mountains, water, and woods, was quite nice. Not only was it peaceful, but there were hardly any people or animals around. After finishing his training with Jiraiya, he often came here to practice ninjutsu. He wasn't worried about someone finding him when he was exhausted, and could sleep here in peace, because he had familiarized himself with the area.

"Ai-chan, I don't know how you train, but this really isn't good for you. Have you forgotten what Instructor Yamazaki told us? Training needs a balance of work and rest. We're too young for such intense training. If you keep pushing yourself like this, you won't get results—you'll only hurt yourself."

Shizune didn't immediately answer Yuehua Ai's question. Seeing how little he seemed to care, she felt she had to set him straight.

"Quit nagging~. I know my own condition just fine. Don't forget who's been teaching you all this time!"

Yuehua Ai pursed his lips dismissively. Shizune's words didn't bother him, but her concern felt nice. Being fussed over by a little girl was better than being doted on by a lecherous old man!

"Hmph..."

Shizune pouted and gave a snort. His words really left her no grounds for arguing. As for him teaching her, even now it still baffled her. During Ai-chan's first few days in the Medical Corps, she had to explain some of the terms used in class to him. But then the tables had turned, and somehow, in less than three days, he knew more about the course material than she did. If she hadn't known that he didn't understand even the simplest terms on his first day, she would have suspected her uncle of playing a trick on her. His test scores were better than hers now. How could he possibly have never studied medicine before?

The Medical Corps had gone on to teach more and more material, and it had gotten increasingly difficult. Even Shizune couldn't claim to remember everything. But by chance, she discovered that her desk mate—who often seemed to zone out during class—actually knew every single point in the lessons inside and out. She was secretly frustrated, but it also made her want to ask Yuehua Ai for help. Shizune might have been a little shy, but she was just as ambitious.

Yuehua Ai naturally agreed to help Shizune without hesitation. It wasn't just because she was a big-eyed cutie; aside from the first few days, he had only been present in class through his Shadow Clone. The Medical Corps moved quickly through the lessons for its inexperienced students, but once Yuehua Ai had figured out the terminology from the medical books he borrowed, his foundation from his previous life made his learning speed impossible for anyone else to imagine.

"Alright, tell me what's going on. You wouldn't come looking for me unless it was something urgent!"

As he spoke, Yuehua Ai flicked Shizune on the forehead.

"Ow!" Shizune cried out in pain, then covered her forehead with both hands and glared at him, looking aggrieved.

"Just instinct. Don't worry about it..." Yuehua Ai laughed it off, then shrugged innocently.

He had picked up the habit while helping her study medical knowledge. Whenever Shizune made a mistake or got on his nerves, he would flick her forehead as punishment. Over time, it had become second nature. Yuehua Ai didn't particularly intend to break the habit. In terms of mental age, Shizune was like a little sister to him, and flicking her forehead was really just his way of showing affection, though she did end up suffering for it...

Ignoring the reproach in the girl's eyes, Yuehua Ai gestured for her to answer his earlier question.

Shizune lowered her hands and gave another snort to show her displeasure before replying crossly:

"It's about how we'll be assigned to teams after graduation. Lady Tsunade has issued new instructions to the Medical Corps. Students who graduate with excellent results can be directly teamed up with other mission ninjas, and they can skip D-rank missions and go straight to C-rank ones..."