Fang Xu's current problem was also obvious.
He did not have enough chakra.
Shadow Clones divided his chakra evenly. Making one was fine, but making too many would drain him dry.
"Increasing my chakra reserves still has to come first."
Fang Xu set the Water Release: Water Wave Technique aside and unrolled the Shadow Clone scroll first.
He would learn this tonight.
The scroll's contents were not particularly long.
The core of the Shadow Clone technique was to divide off an equal portion of chakra to create a clone with a physical body that could act independently.
It was on an entirely different level from the ordinary Clone Technique taught at the Ninja Academy.
Ordinary clones were illusions used to fool the eyes.
Shadow Clones, however, could touch things, fight, and learn.
The difficulty lay in dividing the chakra and controlling it mentally.
The old Fang Xu would most likely have grasped only the surface after reading it once.
But things were different now. After the fusion of two souls, his mental strength was already strong.
Coupled with this past week's practice with the Three Body Technique, Lightning Release, and Lightning Mode, his chakra control had become much more precise than before.
After his first read-through, Fang Xu closed his eyes and went over the chakra circulation route in his head.
On the second read-through, he began comparing it with his experience practicing the ordinary Clone Technique.
By the third, he had already begun trying it.
He formed hand seals with both hands.
A portion of the chakra inside his body split off.
On his first attempt, the white smoke dispersed as soon as it appeared.
On his second, the clone had only half a body and collapsed in less than a breath.
Fang Xu did not rush.
He adjusted the chakra proportions again and pressed his mental imprint into the chakra he had split off.
He formed hand seals for the third time.
Bang!
White smoke burst out.
Someone who looked exactly like Fang Xu appeared beside the desk.
Fang Xu checked the time.
A little over ten minutes had passed between unrolling the scroll and succeeding.
"It worked."
Joy stirred in his heart.
But the next second, instead of picking up the scroll as he intended, the Shadow Clone first lowered his head to examine his hands, then looked up at Fang Xu.
"I'm the Shadow Clone?"
Fang Xu nodded.
"Yeah."
The Shadow Clone frowned.
"Once I'm dispelled, my memories will go back into your head?"
"Right."
"Then, for me, isn't being dispelled the end?"
Fang Xu fell silent for a moment.
"In theory, you're just a chakra clone."
The Shadow Clone immediately said, "Don't fob me off with theory. Being dispelled means the end of a clone."
The corner of Fang Xu's mouth twitched.
Why did this clone have so much personality?
The Shadow Clone continued, "Were you planning to make me study the moment I was born, then dump my fatigue and memories onto you once the work was done?"
Fang Xu said, "I was only going to have you read the scroll first."
"That's the same thing."
The Shadow Clone was perfectly serious.
"Put to work less than ten breaths after being born, then disappearing once the job's done. What kind of treatment is that?"
For a moment, Fang Xu actually had no comeback.
The Shadow Clone raised a hand to his forehead, his tone solemn.
"Since I'll disappear either way, I choose to make my own exit."
Fang Xu's expression changed.
"Wait-"
Smack!
The Shadow Clone slapped himself straight on the forehead.
With a bang, white smoke burst out, and the Shadow Clone vanished on the spot.
The next instant, those memories and that pain surged back into Fang Xu's mind.
The slap to his own forehead in particular felt as if someone had struck him with a hammer from a distance.
Fang Xu clutched his forehead in pain, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
After morning training the following day, Fang Xu's forehead still throbbed a little.
Last night, his first Shadow Clone had chosen to make his exit less than ten breaths after being born, giving himself a slap on the forehead on the way out. After that pain returned to the original body, Fang Xu still remembered it with perfect clarity even now.
But he still had to do his training.
His morning run, basic taijutsu, localized Lightning Body Tempering-he skipped none of them.
By the time he arrived in the classroom, Kurenai Yuhi and Rin Nohara were already there.
As soon as Fang Xu sat down, Kurenai Yuhi turned toward him, curiosity in her red eyes.
"Fang Xu, why did you leave with Kakashi after school yesterday?"
Rin Nohara also asked, "I heard Obito say you two seemed to have gone to the Hatake Residence. Doesn't Kakashi rarely go home with classmates?"
At those words, several classmates in the front row pricked up their ears too.
Obito immediately came over.
"Yeah! Fang Xu, when did you get so close to Kakashi?"
Asuma sat not far away, pretending not to care, but when he heard that, he could not help looking over too.
Fang Xu had no intention of hiding it.
He put away his schoolbag, his tone calm.
"I became Hatake Sakumo's student yesterday. I'll be learning kendo from Master Sakumo from now on."
The classroom instantly fell silent.
Obito's mouth fell open.
"Wh-what?"
"The White Fang of the Leaf took you as his student?"
Rin Nohara was stunned too.
"Mr. Sakumo is an incredibly skilled ninja."
Kurenai Yuhi looked at Fang Xu, unable to hide the surprise on her face.
"Didn't you only just start practicing with a sword?"
"Yeah."
Fang Xu nodded.
"I sparred with Kakashi yesterday. Master Sakumo said I had some talent for kendo, so he took me as his student."
By the window, Kakashi lifted his eyelids.
"Not just some."
His voice was quiet but clear.
"Father said you're a kendo genius."
At that, the classroom erupted even more.
"A kendo genius?"
"When did Fang Xu get so good?"
"Didn't he use to have pretty average grades?"
Obito looked at Fang Xu, then at Kakashi, his face full of envy and defiance.
"Damn it! Why did White Fang take you as his student?"
"I want an amazing ninja to teach me too!"
Kakashi said flatly, "Start by not sleeping in class."
Obito bristled instantly.
"Kakashi! Don't get so full of yourself!"
Rin Nohara said helplessly, "Obito, you're being too loud."
Obito immediately shut his mouth, losing half his bluster on the spot.
Looking at Fang Xu, Kurenai Yuhi felt happy for him, but she also felt a little pressure.
Fang Xu had been changing so quickly lately.
He studied more seriously and trained harder. His Lightning Release, swordsmanship, and taijutsu were all improving rapidly.
If she kept going at her old pace, she would be left behind sooner or later.
Asuma's expression was even more complicated.
Only yesterday, he had been thinking about beating Fang Xu fair and square.
Yet first thing this morning, Fang Xu had become Hatake Sakumo's student.
That was the White Fang of the Leaf.
Even as the Third Hokage's son, he could not simply become the student of someone that powerful.
Asuma looked at Fang Xu, then stole a glance at Kurenai Yuhi.
The way Kurenai looked at Fang Xu was noticeably more serious than before.
That made Asuma feel very uncomfortable.
Fang Xu really isn't as simple as he seems.
If he keeps improving like this, Kurenai will definitely pay more and more attention to him.
Asuma clenched his fists. He had to get stronger, and he had to test Fang Xu's true strength as soon as possible.
In front of Kurenai, he absolutely could not lose.