"The real me sure knows how to enjoy himself." The Shadow Clone walked to the river, bent down, scooped up a handful of clear water, and splashed it over his face. Droplets slid down his jaw, catching the sunlight in tiny flashes.
He straightened and shook the water from his hands. The smile at the corners of his mouth grew more pronounced, and his eyes brimmed with amusement.
Although this Shadow Clone liked to grumble about the real one behind his back, he hadn't forgotten his mission.
The Ōtsutsuki Clan had immense potential. For them, crossing the vastness of space with their physical bodies and traveling through time were practically effortless.
And he had barely begun to develop his Otsutsuki Bloodline.
Forget traveling through time or crossing the universe; he should at least manage to develop a Kekkei Mōra. That would be more like it.
However, he didn't know much about this sort of thing. All he could rely on were a few guesses from his previous life, along with the Otsutsuki Bloodline's affinity for and control over chakra.
As everyone knew, Chakra Nature Transformation was divided into seven types: fire, wind, lightning, earth, water, yang, and yin.
When two chakra natures were combined, they produced a new ninjutsu known as a "Kekkei Genkai."
For example: wind + water = ice, earth + water = wood. Combining the same two natures didn't always produce the same result.
Combining three chakra natures to produce a new ninjutsu was known as a "Kekkei Tōta."
As for the Kekkei Tōta known in the world of Naruto, Uchiha Ao only knew of one: Dust Release.
Dust Release had been developed by the Second Tsuchikage by combining wind, fire, and earth chakra natures.
Its effect was simple and brutal.
It could directly break an opponent down into atoms.
As far as he was concerned, unless he became a Six Paths being or an Impure World Reincarnation, he shouldn't even think about trying to take a hit from it.
The Kekkei Mōra, which surpassed both of these, was formed by combining all seven nature transformations: fire, wind, earth, water, lightning, yin, and yang.
Though he had the Otsutsuki Bloodline, it still wasn't enough to support him in developing a Kekkei Mōra.
The Shadow Clone rubbed his chin.
Fire was the nature he knew best. And the example he remembered most clearly of another nature combining with fire was the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Rōshi, and his Lava Release.
Lava Release, in turn, was formed by combining fire and earth nature transformations.
"Earth, huh?" The Shadow Clone tried to slowly blend fire and earth chakra together in his palm.
The scorching flames licked at the soil, but only baked it until it cracked. The two forces repelled each other the moment they touched, then dissipated into the air as wisps of smoke.
"Didn't work?" Though his first attempt had failed, he'd expected as much.
If he'd succeeded on the first try, wouldn't Kekkei Genkai and Kekkei Tōta be a dime a dozen?
Just then, footsteps sounded from behind him.
The Shadow Clone instinctively looked over.
The newcomer wore the Uchiha Clan's signature black, high-collared robe, its hem embroidered with the clan's crimson crest.
He stood with his arms crossed, regarding the Shadow Clone with a hint of appreciation.
"What's your name?" Uchiha Fugaku asked.
The Shadow Clone had actually sensed a powerful chakra nearby some time ago.
But this wasn't private property. Plenty of clan members liked to come around here, so he hadn't paid it much attention.
"Uchiha Ao." The Shadow Clone stood up straight. The lingering scent of scorched earth clung to his fingertips. Meeting Fugaku's sharp gaze, he gave a faint smile. "I didn't expect to run into the clan head here."
"I had some free time, so I went for a walk." In truth, Uchiha Fugaku had come out alone to clear his head. Tensions within the clan had been growing sharper by the day, and the suspicions of the Konoha High Command, along with the clan members' resentment, were weighing on him.
His gaze swept over the scorch marks on the Shadow Clone's palm. "Are you training?"
On his way past, he'd spotted a five- or six-year-old working so intently at his training. It reminded Uchiha Fugaku of his eldest son Itachi as a child.
The same stubborn look in his eyes, the same focused expression. But this child clearly lacked proper guidance, and the burn marks on his palm were still red with blood.
As the clan head of the Uchiha Clan, he felt he ought to step in and give such a hardworking clan member some guidance.
"Yeah, training." The Shadow Clone didn't bother to deny it. After all, wasn't developing a Kekkei Genkai also a kind of training?
Hearing the Shadow Clone's answer, Uchiha Fugaku nodded.
It was good to see young clan members still willing to settle down and study ninjutsu. Amid the double pressure of clan discord and Konoha's suspicion, it brought him a rare moment of comfort.
"I see several burns on your palm. They're from practicing Fire Release, aren't they?" Uchiha Fugaku asked confidently.
"Uh... yes, clan head." The Shadow Clone couldn't exactly tell him that he was developing a Kekkei Genkai, so he went along with Fugaku's assumption.
"Ao," Uchiha Fugaku said, his expression serious. "A towering building starts at the ground. Your understanding of Fire Release is still too shallow. Today, I'll teach you the Uchiha Clan's most basic, yet most essential, Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique."
As he spoke, Fugaku stepped back a few paces and formed Hand Seals. "Watch closely. Hase-Uma-Tora. This is the most basic sequence of Hand Seals."
As he finished the final seal, Fugaku took a deep breath, his chest swelling. The next moment, a massive fireball erupted from his mouth,
The instant the fireball swept over the river, the water boiled. It evaporated at a visible rate, turning into a vast cloud of white mist.
Uchiha Fugaku first looked over his handiwork with satisfaction, then turned to Uchiha Ao, who seemed to have been so stunned by its power that he was frozen in place.
"Well? What do you think?"
But the Shadow Clone wasn't standing there in a daze because he'd been frightened by the technique's power.
On the contrary, he just felt a little speechless.
Did a clan head really have this much free time?
And what was he so proud of?
Fugaku, do you think my fireball can't beat yours in size?
The Shadow Clone's mouth twitched. He grumbled inwardly, but still kept his expression respectful. "The clan head's skills are certainly impressive."
Fugaku gave a slight nod, looking profound on the outside, though inside he was already over the moon.
Hahaha, did you clan elders see that? Even a child admits I'm impressive.
You old geezers are always saying I'm too conservative and can't manage the clan. Do you finally see how capable your clan head is?
If everyone in the clan were like Ao, how could the Uchiha not prosper?
The Shadow Clone couldn't read minds, but from Fugaku's twitching mouth and slightly raised eyes, he could guess that the clan head was probably imagining some kind of triumphant fantasy.
Suppressing a laugh, he said respectfully, "Clan head, I've already learned the Great Fireball Technique. Could you teach me something else?"
Since Fugaku liked teaching, he wouldn't hold back.
He'd learn whatever Fugaku taught him.
That was the confidence that came from having Sister Izumi and Shisui to back him up!
Before you continue