Up ahead was the secret chamber where the Scroll of Seals was kept.
What amused Uchiha Xin was that the two guards outside the chamber were actually leaning against the wall, snoring away. They had not even locked the door.
The Third isn't just letting this slide. He's letting an entire ocean through.
Uchiha Xin sneered inwardly.
He quietly watched Naruto push open the door, slip into the chamber, and pick up the enormous scroll.
Then Naruto sprinted all the way into the woods outside the village.
Deep in the woods.
Naruto plopped onto the ground and untied the scroll's binding, panting for breath.
"Let me see. The first Ninjutsu is... the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique?"
Although he could not hear Naruto's voice, Uchiha Xin could clearly see everything written on the scroll through his view.
Now!
Uchiha Xin focused all his attention, pushing the Mangekyō Sharingan's perception to its limit.
He stared fixedly at the text and diagrams on the scroll.
The Hand Seals sequence, the chakra allocation ratios, the method for dividing the mind...
He imprinted every single word of information about the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique in his memory.
Naruto read slowly, struggling to understand its contents.
That gave Uchiha Xin plenty of time.
And it was not just the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!
When Naruto inadvertently turned the scroll, the contents farther along were also exposed to Uchiha Xin's view.
Impure World Reincarnation!
Izanagi!
Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags!
Like a sponge soaking up water, Uchiha Xin greedily memorized all the principles behind these highest-level forbidden techniques of Konoha.
A full half hour passed.
After confirming that he knew every detail of the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique by heart.
Uchiha Xin cut off the chakra supply without hesitation.
The scene before his eyes vanished instantly, returning him to the dim apartment.
As for how Mizuki would hunt Naruto down next, or how Iruka would move him, he did not care at all.
That was the Child of Prophecy's script.
System!
Uchiha Xin called out sharply in his mind.
Slot the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique into the fourth skill slot immediately!
[Ding! Host has fully mastered the core information of the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. Slotting requirements met.] [Slotting in progress...] [Slotting successful!] [System's perfect optimization mechanism triggered!] [Congratulations! Host has obtained the enhanced Super S-rank skill-Super Multiple Shadow Clone Technique (level 0)!]
As the string of notifications rang out in his mind, Uchiha Xin's heart began pounding.
He immediately opened the skill details.
[Skill name: Super Multiple Shadow Clone Technique (level 0)] [Skill description: The ultimate Clone Technique, perfectly optimized by the system. Completely eliminates the side effects of mental fragmentation and chakra backlash.] [Current effect: At level 0, host can create up to 10 shadow clones simultaneously.] [Each shadow clone possesses 50% of the original body's absolute strength, and when the clones are dispelled.] [All memories, experience, and proficiency will be consolidated into the original body without loss, causing no mental fatigue.]
"Hiss-"
Uchiha Xin sucked in a sharp breath.
No side effects whatsoever!
In the original story, the reason Multi Shadow Clone was classified as a forbidden technique.
Was that when the clones were dispelled, all their fatigue and mental shocks would stack onto the original body at once.
The slightest mistake could leave the user an idiot or even cause sudden death.
Yet the system's optimization had erased that fatal flaw outright!
I'll test it right now!
Uchiha Xin jumped off the bed and crossed his hands in front of his chest.
"Super Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
Poof! Poof! Poof!
With a series of soft bursts, ten identical Uchiha Xins instantly crowded the cramped apartment.
"All of you, activate your Three-Tomoe Sharingan and maintain them until your chakra runs out."
Uchiha Xin gave the clones their orders.
The ten shadow clones nodded in unison, three black tomoe appearing in their eyes simultaneously.
Although each clone possessed only half the original body's strength, that half included an enormous amount of chakra.
Under the fortyfold amplification from advancing the Gate of Pain, the fourth gate of the Eight Gates Released Formation.
Even half his strength was enough to sustain their Mitsudomoe state for a long time.
Time ticked by.
Several hours later.
Poof!
The first shadow clone exhausted its chakra and dispersed in a cloud of white smoke.
[Ding! Limit Sharingan proficiency +12!]
Immediately afterward, a string of poofs rang out.
The remaining nine shadow clones dispelled one after another.
[Ding! Limit Sharingan proficiency +12!] [Ding! Limit Sharingan proficiency +12!]
Uchiha Xin stood there, taking in the proficiency notifications constantly flooding his mind.
There was no mental fatigue whatsoever!
He immediately did the math in his head.
One clone can provide 12 proficiency points per round. Ten clones make 120 points.
At their current chakra recovery rate, they can complete two full cycles a day.
In other words, I can get 240 proficiency points a day for free without doing anything!
Add the 24 points earned through the original body's own training, and I can rack up 264 points a day!
What delighted him even more was.
The shadow clones also needed to circulate chakra while keeping their Sharingan active.
That circulation of chakra actually increased the enhanced Eight Gates Released Formation's proficiency indirectly!
Although the increase was smaller than what extreme Taijutsu training provided, it made up for that with sheer volume and required no effort.
Over the next few days, Uchiha Xin became a ruthless level-grinding machine.
Every day, he had ten shadow clones hide at home and grind proficiency like mad, while he strolled through the streets as though nothing were happening.
Soon.
[Ding! Super Multiple Shadow Clone Technique proficiency maxed out!] [Skill advanced to level 1!] [Current effect: At level 1, host can create up to 30 shadow clones simultaneously.]
Hearing that notification, Uchiha Xin's eyes lit up.
Thirty shadow clones!
Thirty clones, plus the original body, can bring in 720 Limit Sharingan proficiency points a day!
Uchiha Xin clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles turned white.
Raising the Limit Sharingan from level 4 to level 5 required a full hundred thousand proficiency points.
He had originally thought that astronomical figure was impossibly far off.
But now, with the level 1 Super Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
720 points a day!
That was 7,200 points in ten days!
Less than two months!
Uchiha Xin abruptly raised his head, his gaze turning fervent.
In less than two months, I'll be able to save up a hundred thousand proficiency points!
Then the Limit Sharingan can reach level 5 and unlock the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan!
Once he entered the realm of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, he would be completely free of the risk of blindness caused by overtaxing his ocular power.
He would no longer have to ration even his use of the Mangekyō as he did now, afraid of going blind.
At that thought, Uchiha Xin's heart filled with excitement.