The Proper Use of Shadow Clones

Half an hour later, the bruised and battered Chishima Chiba sat on the left while the equally bruised and battered Hatake Sakumo sat on the right. Both were panting in the middle of the field, ignoring each other.

Tsunade suddenly felt a little sorry for Chishima Chiba. She scooted over beside him and extended her slender fingers, intending to massage him.

"Gah..."

The moment she touched a bruise, Chishima Chiba sucked in a sharp breath and instinctively leaned back. At the same time, Tsunade's fingers recoiled as if shocked, her eyes full of apology.

Chishima Chiba turned and glared at Hatake Sakumo. "I taught you an ultimate move, and you repay kindness with hostility? You ungrateful brat!"

"Chishima Chiba!" Hatake Sakumo glared back. "You call that an ultimate move? You did it on purpose!"

"I shouldn't have held back earlier. I really regret not using White Fang to slash that mouth of yours apart."

"But putting that aside, I taught you the Shadow Clone Jutsu. That's an A-rank Forbidden Jutsu, and you're still not satisfied?" Chishima Chiba shot him a sidelong glance. "Repaying kindness with hostility... I really misjudged you."

"I..." Hatake Sakumo was instantly at a loss for words.

It was true that Chishima Chiba had messed with him, but it was also true that Chishima Chiba had taught him the Shadow Clone Jutsu. Though those were separate matters, Hatake Sakumo simply could not bring himself to say it.

Otherwise, when he had fought Chishima Chiba one-on-one, he would not have put White Fang aside and switched to a close-quarters brawl of fists against flesh.

Still, seeing Chishima Chiba's handsome face covered in blue and purple bruises really did improve his mood somewhat.

"We're even." Hatake Sakumo finally said sullenly.

"What if I teach you another ultimate move? What would you say then?"

"Chishima Chiba, are you done yet?!" Hatake Sakumo made as if to draw White Fang from his back. "Say the words 'ultimate move' again, and I'll definitely chop you down!"

"You sure you don't want to learn it?"

"..."

Hatake Sakumo did not answer immediately. He merely released White Fang's hilt and silently looked Chishima Chiba up and down.

Looking into Chishima Chiba's sincere, clear eyes, Hatake Sakumo wavered again, unsure how to respond.

Should he believe him or not?

"Explain it first." Hatake Sakumo ultimately chose to trust Chishima Chiba one more time, though he still left himself some room. "Explain it carefully this time. Don't just give me a name."

"Heh... pfft, hahaha..."

Seeing Hatake Sakumo being so cautious, Tsunade could not help covering her mouth and laughing. Hatake Sakumo rolled his eyes at her and even blushed a little.

He was supposed to be a genius, yet he could never get the better of Chishima Chiba. He had suffered losses three times in just two days...

He had to learn his lesson!

Unconsciously shifting his rear, Hatake Sakumo moved farther away from Chishima Chiba.

Seeing Hatake Sakumo act as though he were avoiding a plague god, Tsunade laughed even louder. Chishima Chiba chuckled inwardly too, though his expression remained perfectly serious.

"Sakumo, do you understand the characteristics of Shadow Clones?"

Chishima Chiba finally got down to business and patted Tsunade's shoulder. "Stop laughing. You listen carefully too."

"Okay." Tsunade stuck out her little tongue, sat close beside Chishima Chiba, and turned serious again in an instant.

Seeing the two of them settle down, Hatake Sakumo also put aside his stray thoughts and waited for Chishima Chiba to continue.

"A Shadow Clone created through the Shadow Clone Jutsu not only has a physical body and receives an equal share of the user's Chakra, but also possesses independent consciousness."

"Especially when you dispel a Shadow Clone, all the experiences and memories it accumulated while it existed are returned to the original body exactly as they were."

"So... Tsunade, Sakumo, what else do you think the Shadow Clone Jutsu can be used for besides combat?"

Her big eyes blinking, Tsunade suddenly sat up straight. "It can also help with training!"

Snap.

Chishima Chiba snapped his fingers.

"That's right, it can also assist with training." As he spoke, Chishima Chiba rubbed Tsunade's head. "Tsunade is really smart. Sakumo, on the other hand, had no idea."

"..."

Hatake Sakumo's heart churned. Chishima Chiba, can you at least act like a decent person?

Yet Tsunade thoroughly enjoyed Chishima Chiba's praise. Her quick little mind immediately put the idea to use. "Then couldn't we have Shadow Clones train day and night while we sneak off to play?"

Chishima Chiba could not help laughing. He reached out and pinched Tsunade's nose, while Hatake Sakumo, who witnessed it all, felt utterly miserable.

He should not be here. He should be underground.

Public displays of affection die fast, damn it!

Ignoring Hatake Sakumo, Chishima Chiba continued, "Tsunade's idea is exactly the same as mine, but we can't do that."

"Why?" Tsunade and Hatake Sakumo both tilted their heads toward Chishima Chiba in the middle.

"Because the Shadow Clones will go on strike..."

Chishima Chiba rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Shadow Clones possess independent consciousness. Just like during yesterday's exam, they actually undermined me!"

When Chishima Chiba brought that up, Tsunade's eyes curved into crescents again. She deserved at least half the credit for Chishima Chiba's Shadow Clones "rebelling."

"Given my Shadow Clones' awful personalities, I can guarantee that if I sneak off to play without staying nearby, they'll absolutely run wild."

"You brought it on yourself." Hatake Sakumo finally found a chance to attack Chishima Chiba. "Like original body, like Shadow Clone. I'm not surprised in the slightest."

"If you can talk, then talk more." Chishima Chiba rolled his eyes. "Come on, you tell them."

"..." Hatake Sakumo choked on his words and fell silent again.

"Enough, you two. Stop bickering. Chiba, hurry up and get to the point!" Tsunade stepped in to mediate.

Given an opening, Chishima Chiba naturally continued. "Setting aside whether the original body can slack off, using Shadow Clones to assist with training will definitely involve danger."

"There's danger in that?" Tsunade sounded doubtful.

"Of course there is." Chishima Chiba looked serious and tapped his temple. "The human brain can only process a limited amount of information in an instant."

"Think about it. If I create a Shadow Clone and have it train nonstop for an entire day, when I dispel it, can my brain instantly process all the experiences and memories it sends back?"

Hearing this, Tsunade and Hatake Sakumo both grew solemn, their expressions grave.

"My answer, at least, is that I don't know. We can only reach a conclusion after testing it. So, using Shadow Clones to assist with training is possible, but you need restraint and a clear understanding of your limits."

At that point, Chishima Chiba looked at Hatake Sakumo beside him. "Sakumo, I've explained clearly how to use Shadow Clones for training. Do you want to try it?"

"Of course!" Hatake Sakumo answered without hesitation. "Even if a Shadow Clone can only help train for half a day, combined with my own efforts, that would be equivalent to a day and a half of hard training."

"What about you, Tsunade?" Chishima Chiba turned to ask her.

"Although the method you mentioned carries a certain degree of danger, Chiba, the benefits clearly outweigh it. Of course I won't refuse."

"Alright, opinions collected. Let's begin."

Chishima Chiba made the decision, but he still cautioned Tsunade and Hatake Sakumo. "Follow my instructions in everything. Don't chase speed, and don't overdo it. Whenever I tell you to dispel them, you must do so."

"Understood?"

"Mm." Tsunade nodded.

"Alright." Hatake Sakumo agreed as well.

And so, their intense, cheat-like training regimen officially began.