When Did Fang Xu Become So Amazing?

Fang Xu's problem was obvious now.

He did not have enough Chakra.

Shadow clones split Chakra evenly. Making one was fine, but making too many would drain him dry.

"Boosting my Chakra reserves still has to come first."

Fang Xu set aside the Water Release: Water Wave Technique and opened the Shadow Clone scroll first.

He would learn this tonight.

The contents of the scroll were not particularly long.

The core of the Shadow Clone was to evenly divide off a portion of Chakra and create a clone with a physical body and the ability to act independently.

It was on an entirely different level from the ordinary Clone Technique taught at the Ninja Academy.

Ordinary clones were Hollow images, meant to fool the eye.

Shadow clones, however, could touch things, fight, and learn.

The difficulty lay in Chakra division and mental control.

If it had been the old Fang Xu, he would probably only have understood the surface after reading it once.

But things were different now. After his two souls fused, his mental strength had become exceptionally strong.

On top of that, after practicing the Three Body Technique, Lightning Release, and Lightning Mode for the past week, his Chakra control had become far more refined than before.

After finishing his first read-through, Fang Xu closed his eyes and ran through the Chakra flow routes in his mind.

On the second read-through, he began comparing it to his experience practicing the ordinary Clone Technique.

By the third, he was already starting to try it.

His hands formed seals.

A portion of Chakra was split from his body.

The first time, the white smoke had barely appeared before it dispersed.

The second time, the shadow he created only had half a body and collapsed in less than a breath.

Fang Xu did not rush.

He readjusted the Chakra ratio and pressed his mental imprint into the separated Chakra.

He formed the seals for the third time.

Bang!

White smoke burst forth.

A person identical to Fang Xu appeared beside the table.

Fang Xu glanced at the time.

Just over ten minutes had passed from opening the scroll to succeeding.

"It worked."

Delight rose in his heart.

But the next second, instead of reaching for the scroll as Fang Xu had intended, the shadow clone first lowered his head to look at his hands, then raised his head to look at Fang Xu.

"I'm a shadow clone?"

Fang Xu nodded.

"Yeah."

The shadow clone frowned.

"After I disperse, will my memories return to your mind?"

"Yes."

"Then from my perspective, wouldn't dispersing mean the end?"

Fang Xu fell silent for a moment.

"Theoretically, you're only a Chakra clone."

The shadow clone immediately said, "Don't fob me off with theories. A clone dispersing means its end."

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 the exhaustion and memories onto yourself after I finished working?"

"I was only planning to have you read the scroll first."

"That's the same thing."

The shadow clone spoke with a solemn expression.

"Less than ten breaths after being born, I'm already put to work. Once the work is done, I disappear. What kind of treatment is that?"

For a moment, Fang Xu was actually unable to refute him.

The shadow clone raised a hand to his forehead, his tone grave.

"Since I'm going to disappear either way, I choose to leave on my own terms."

Fang Xu's expression changed.

"Wait—"

Smack!

The shadow clone directly slapped his own forehead.

With a bang, white smoke burst out, and the shadow clone dispersed on the spot.

The next instant, the memories and pain came flooding violently back into Fang Xu's mind.

Especially that blow to the forehead—it felt as though someone had swung a hammer at him from afar.

The pain made Fang Xu clutch his forehead, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

After morning training the next day, Fang Xu's forehead was still throbbing a little.

The first shadow clone he had created last night had taken the initiative to leave less than ten breaths after being born, and had slapped himself on the forehead in the process. After that pain returned to the original body, Fang Xu still remembered it vividly.

Still, training had to continue.

Morning running, basic taijutsu, and 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.

The moment 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 followed up, "I heard from Obito that you went to the Hatake Residence. Doesn't Kakashi usually rarely go home with classmates?"

As soon as she said that, several students in the front row pricked up their ears.

Obito immediately leaned over as well.

"Yeah! Fang Xu, when did you get so close to Kakashi?"

Asuma was sitting nearby. He had originally pretended not to care, but upon hearing that, he could not help looking over.

Fang Xu had no intention of hiding it.

He put away his schoolbag, his tone calm.

"Yesterday, Hatake Sakumo accepted me as his disciple. From now on, I'll be learning Kendo from Teacher Sakumo."

The classroom instantly fell silent.

Obito's mouth fell open.

"W-What?"

"The White Fang of the Leaf accepted you as his disciple?"

Rin Nohara was stunned as well.

"Senior Sakumo is an incredibly powerful ninja."

Kurenai Yuhi looked at Fang Xu, unable to hide the surprise on her face.

"Didn't you only start practicing with a sword recently?"

"Yeah."

Fang Xu nodded.

"Yesterday, I sparred with Kakashi. Teacher Sakumo said I had some talent in Kendo, so he accepted me as his disciple."

By the window, Kakashi raised his eyelids slightly.

"Not some talent."

His voice was quiet, but perfectly clear.

"My father said you're a Kendo genius."

This made the classroom erupt even more.

"A Kendo genius?"

"When did Fang Xu become so amazing?"

"Weren't his grades pretty average before?"

Obito looked at Fang Xu, then at Kakashi, his face full of envy and indignation.

"Damn it! Why did the White Fang accept you?"

"I want to be taught by a powerful ninja too!"

Kakashi said blandly, "Try not sleeping in class first."

Obito instantly bristled.

"Kakashi! Don't get so full of yourself!"

Rin Nohara said helplessly, "Obito, you're too loud."

Obito immediately shut his mouth, and half his momentum vanished on the spot.

As Kurenai Yuhi looked at Fang Xu, she was happy for him, but also felt a little pressure.

Fang Xu had changed far too quickly lately.

He studied more seriously, trained harder, and his Lightning Release, swordsmanship, and taijutsu were all improving rapidly.

If she continued at her old pace, she would sooner or later be left behind.

Asuma's expression was even more complicated.

Just yesterday, he had wanted to defeat Fang Xu fair and square.

Yet this morning, Fang Xu had become Hatake Sakumo's disciple.

That was the White Fang of the Leaf.

Even as the Third Hokage's son, he could not casually become the disciple of such a powerful man.

Asuma looked at Fang Xu, then secretly glanced at Kurenai Yuhi.

The way Kurenai Yuhi looked at Fang Xu was clearly more serious than before.

That made Asuma feel extremely uncomfortable.

Fang Xu really isn't that simple.

If he keeps improving like this, Kurenai will definitely pay more and more attention to him.

Asuma clenched his fists. He had to become stronger, and he had to test Fang Xu's true strength as soon as possible.

He absolutely could not lose in front of Kurenai.