What Does the Shadow Clone's Actions Have to Do With Me?

Looking at the delicate collarbones and snow-white skin beneath Uzumaki Mito's collar, Uchiha Kurohane felt as though the direction of the plot was becoming increasingly twisted.

He was a man who wanted to become Hokage, to unify the ninja world and restore peace.

But he wasn't here to play adult games.

He and Uzumaki Mito were people from two different eras, after all...

However, that line of reasoning was flawed.

Kaguya's era was even more distant.

Kaguya even had children of her own, while Uchiha Kurohane's age was but a mere fraction of hers.

Yet, just looking at Kaguya made one feel a certain... vitality.

Uchiha Kurohane truly harbored thoughts about that old lady with the Byakugan.

Seeing Uzumaki Mito thank Uchiha Kurohane on her behalf, Kushina Uzumaki felt quite embarrassed, her face turning red as she spoke.

"Auntie, you're exaggerating. I have the ability to deal with those three kids myself; he didn't have to help."

Uzumaki Mito glared at Kushina Uzumaki and said sternly.

"Our Uzumaki Clan has always believed in repaying kindness. He helped you, so how can you deny it?"

"I'm not denying it, it's just..."

Too shy to continue, Kushina Uzumaki trailed off mid-sentence.

Uzumaki Mito suddenly realized Kushina was just being bashful, and with a knowing smile, she changed the subject.

"Kurohane-kun, you have a natural talent for refining chakra. To have so much at such a young age—you will surely have even more in the future. You are indeed capable of learning the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique."

"However, this jutsu is ultimately very dangerous. I cannot let Kushina teach you; I will teach you myself."

"Then I shall trouble you, Auntie."

Uzumaki Mito then solemnly explained the precautions for the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique to Uchiha Kurohane.

"...Even with your current chakra levels, it is very dangerous if you create a large number of shadow clones. The reason I taught Kushina is that she will become the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails in the future, and she will possess an even more massive amount of chakra. By the way, you know what the Nine-Tails is, right?"

Since they might encounter enemy Jinchuriki during the Great Ninja War, the Ninja Academy taught knowledge regarding Tailed Beasts and Jinchuriki; Uchiha Kurohane should have known this.

It would be strange if the future "Konoha 12" didn't know about the Tailed Beasts.

Konoha might want to hide the fact that Naruto was a Jinchuriki, but there was no need to hide the knowledge of the Tailed Beasts themselves.

It was truly bizarre that the Ninja Academy wouldn't teach about the Tailed Beasts.

Was Konoha not afraid that their future ninjas would be blasted to death by a Tailed Beast Bomb after encountering a Jinchuriki?

After all, even Namikaze Minato and Jiraiya would have to run for their lives if they saw a Jinchuriki unleash a Tailed Beast Bomb.

Konoha's decision to hide knowledge of the Tailed Beasts from the next generation was truly foolish in the extreme.

Of course, the main reason was that the first part of the Hokage series didn't have the concept of Tailed Beasts at all.

At the time, Kishimoto himself didn't know what a Tailed Beast was.

It was equivalent to One Piece now retconning Shanks's left arm, claiming that Imu had a curse on his right arm and he let the Lord of the Coast bite it off on purpose.

If you had asked Oda ten years ago, he would have been just as clueless.

"...So, after you learn it, you must use it with caution. Do not create more than 10 shadow clones; I suggest no more than two."

Uchiha Kurohane already knew the mechanics of the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique and had mastered it instantly, so he wasn't really listening, instead complaining internally.

Once Uzumaki Mito finished explaining the precautions, she began to teach Uchiha Kurohane the sequence of hand seals.

At this moment, Kushina Uzumaki pushed Mito aside.

"Wait, I've already learned the seals. Let me teach him this part."

Kushina Uzumaki was unwilling to remain Uchiha Kurohane's subordinate forever; she wanted to take this opportunity to be his teacher.

Uzumaki Mito pursed her lips and smiled, saying helplessly.

"Very well, you may teach him the hand seals."

Kushina Uzumaki placed her fair, beautiful hands against her flat chest, crossing them to form a cross.

"Form the Ram Seal, understand?"

The Multi-Shadow Clone Technique only required one seal: Ram.

Uchiha Kurohane couldn't help but laugh.

Trashy jutsus like the Water Dragon Bullet Technique required 44 seals, yet the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique only needed one.

Was this game even balanced?

However, knowing the seals alone wasn't enough to release a jutsu; the seals were merely the surface. The key was how one utilized the chakra within their body.

If one could release a jutsu just by forming seals, there would be no need for Kakashi's Sharingan to copy them; as long as one had eyes and could memorize the sequence of seals, they could copy any jutsu.

Uzumaki Mito then took out a scroll and spread it open for Uchiha Kurohane to see, which detailed the method of chakra application.

Kushina Uzumaki had only studied it for one night and wasn't yet familiar with it, so she squeezed in next to Uchiha Kurohane, pressing against his arm to inspect it.

After Uzumaki Mito explained it in detail, she let them study it on their own and went back into the house to bring out a plate of pastries for the two of them.

The two ate while they studied.

Once they finished reading, they began their training.

Kushina Uzumaki kept trying to form the hand seals, but she couldn't manifest a shadow clone even once; she was locked in a bitter struggle.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Kurohane had already mastered the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique through his entry, and he possessed the chakra control ability of Fugaku.

He succeeded on his very first attempt at the hand seals.

Poof.

Two shadow clones, identical to him, appeared on Uchiha Kurohane's left and right.

Seeing this, Kushina Uzumaki's eyes nearly popped out of her head in shock.

"You learned it on your first try? How is that even possible?"

Naruto, who had spent months unable to learn the Three Basic Jutsu, had learned the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique in just one night, which proved that this ninjutsu wasn't actually difficult to learn.

"I'm very good at controlling chakra, so I didn't find this technique difficult at all."

Kushina Uzumaki pursed her lips, feeling quite unconvinced. After a moment of thought, her eyes suddenly lit up.

"Wait, you're just using the ordinary Clone Technique to trick me, aren't you?"

Because Kushina Uzumaki hadn't managed to learn it after practicing all night, she refused to believe that Uchiha Kurohane had succeeded on his first attempt.

Being clever, she immediately considered the possibility that Uchiha Kurohane was using the basic Clone Technique.

However, being too clever and overthinking things isn't always a good thing.

Uchiha Kurohane's shadow clone raised its fist and bonked Kushina Uzumaki on the head.

"Ouch!"

Kushina Uzumaki immediately clutched her head and crouched down in defense.

"Why did you suddenly hit me?"

Uzumaki Mito understood what Uchiha Kurohane was trying to do.

"Clones have no physical substance and disappear upon touching an object. The fact that he could hit you proves it isn't a regular clone, but a shadow clone."

Kushina Uzumaki's eyes welled up with tears from the pain, and she felt quite aggrieved.

"There are plenty of ways to prove it's a shadow clone; you didn't have to hit my head! You're too rough!"

Uchiha Kurohane's original body patted her little head and said with a smile.

"That was my shadow clone that hit you, it has nothing to do with me."

Kushina Uzumaki thought he was just sophistry.

"It was your shadow clone, how can you say it has nothing to do with you?"

Uzumaki Mito stepped in to explain for Uchiha Kurohane once again.

"Don't you remember the principles of the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique? Once a shadow clone is manifested, it does not share sensory input with the original body, nor can the original body directly control it."

"That was the shadow clone's autonomous action; it really has nothing to do with him."

Kushina Uzumaki was stunned.

"So if a shadow clone goes and robs a bank, you can't punish the original body either?"

This question actually stumped Uzumaki Mito.

She had never considered how to handle the legal ramifications if a shadow clone committed a crime.

Uchiha Kurohane thought the question was quite simple.

"That is exactly why the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique is classified as a forbidden jutsu. There are many ethical issues behind it. The technique is simply too dangerous, so the easiest solution is to forbid everyone from learning it."