Gift

Gift

The next day, at the same time as usual, the Shadow Clone had not disappeared. This proved that Ayato's idea had been correct.

Since the Shadow Clone possessed its own thoughts and could form hand seals on its own, it should also be able to control chakra. While it could not eliminate consumption entirely, it could still reduce the amount of chakra used and extend the Shadow Clone's duration.

This not only extended the Shadow Clone's duration, but also brought many other benefits.

First, a longer duration meant more time to study. However, since part of its attention had to be devoted to controlling chakra, its learning efficiency might decrease. Whether the total amount learned could increase was uncertain, but its chakra control would definitely be trained.

From then on, Ayato planned to create Shadow Clones with a fixed amount of chakra. The longer a Shadow Clone could last, the more proficient his chakra control would be.

Lastly, it could serve as practice for multitasking. It was killing several birds with one stone.

The only issue was that the Shadow Clone did not have much chakra, so Chakra Shape Transformation and Chakra Nature Transformation could only be trained by the original body.

Ayato had already found a direction for Shape Transformation. In his view, the less chakra one had, the easier it was to control its shape. Though Ayato's chakra was not particularly scarce, it was still little compared to his mental energy, so training it was relatively easy.

Chakra Nature Transformation was different. Ayato believed its training was basically the reverse of Shape Transformation. The most convenient method was to flood everything with a vast amount of chakra. As long as one part of that flood changed, one could seize that trace of change, comprehend its transformation, and slowly spread it throughout the whole.

Therefore, with his current amount of chakra, it would not be easy for Ayato to quickly master Chakra Nature Transformation. He could only accumulate progress slowly through sheer quantity.

He would master the easy things first and slowly explore the difficult ones. With his talent, Ayato felt this hurdle could not hold him back for long.

At that moment, Ayato looked at the class schedule on his desk, calculating whether the Shadow Clone's duration could cover most of the lessons. The result was that it could, more or less. The Ninja Academy did not actually spend much time in the classroom. For ninjas, physical training was more important. As for knowledge, during peacetime, six years of study was enough even if class time was limited.

Then why did physical training have to be done at school? Naturally, because not everyone possessed the self-discipline to manage themselves. Most people would simply be too lazy to move if no one was watching them.

So the Shadow Clone could attend classes, while for the later training, the original body and the Shadow Clone could come over for the Handover. That way, excessive physical fatigue would not pile up and transfer to the original body until he could no longer endure it.

Looking at the tightly packed schedule for every day, Ayato felt a little emotional. When had he become so obsessed with grinding? Unfortunately, without any cheat ability, he could only carve out a future through his own efforts. As long as he could see the direction ahead, he could not give up.

Today, however, was an exception. After waiting for the Shadow Clone to dispel itself, Ayato left his room. Today was a special day, so he would take a day off and give himself a break.

With his allowance in hand, Ayato walked through the familiar streets of Konoha, thinking about what gift to buy. Today was Sinai's birthday. A gift that was too expensive would definitely earn him a scolding, and his allowance was not enough anyway. He had to consider practicality. Clothes or a scarf?

But Ayato looked at the blazing sun overhead and decided against it. The season did not fit.

So what exactly should he give her? Maybe he could simply buy some food they did not usually get to eat, then cook his mother a meal himself? But his cooking skills did not seem very good... What a headache.

As he thought, his peripheral vision caught sight of a flower. He paused and turned toward the flower shop nearby. Flowers seemed quite suitable. They were not expensive, so Sinai would not say anything later. Besides, flowers usually had meanings, did they not? There should be one that represented mothers.

With that thought, Ayato entered the flower shop.

"Hm? Little one, are you looking to buy some flowers?" The auntie minding the shop saw Ayato and asked gently.

"Hello, Auntie. I wanted to ask what flowers I should give my mother for her birthday," Ayato asked.

"Hm? Flowers for your mother? What a thoughtful child." The auntie was a little surprised, then smiled again. Any child who thought that way had to be a good child.

"I think I've seen you before!" The little girl beside the auntie, with long blond hair, suddenly noticed Ayato as well. After thinking carefully for a while, she still could not remember who he was.

"Hello, Yamanaka. I'm Kamitachi Ayato, your classmate," Ayato said. He had noticed Yamanaka Ino earlier, but had not taken the initiative to greet her. They had barely interacted in class, so they naturally had no relationship. If Yamanaka Ino had not been one of the Konoha 12, Ayato probably would not have recognized her either.

"Oh, right, right, I remember now! You're the one who sits pretty far back in class with that blond-haired guy, aren't you?" Yamanaka Ino's eyes suddenly lit up as she asked.

"Yes."

"Hmph, I knew I hadn't remembered wrong! Anyway, if you're buying flowers for your mother, then carnations are the best choice. Just don't get white ones," Yamanaka Ino said confidently.

Ayato looked at Yamanaka Ino, then shifted his gaze to the Yamanaka Matriarch, hoping for confirmation from her. Yamanaka Ino was still young, after all. What if she had remembered wrong?

"That's right. Carnations represent gratitude and sincere love. When given to a mother, they also express the hope that she will remain forever young, happy, and healthy," the Yamanaka Matriarch said with a smile. Seeing this little fellow who was also her daughter's classmate, she had a very favorable impression of Ayato.

After all, she herself was a mother. Ayato's actions naturally earned him plenty of points.

But in Yamanaka Ino's eyes, Ayato's behavior meant that he did not believe her. Points deducted.

"I see. Then, Auntie, please give me one," Ayato said a little awkwardly. He was only buying one flower, after all, but he did not have much allowance to begin with. He had only started receiving it recently after beginning school, and he still needed to buy a cake afterward, so he had to save wherever he could.

"Of course. Since you're Ino's classmate, I'll give you a discount. Ino, go pick one out for your classmate," the Yamanaka Matriarch said.

"Okay." Although Yamanaka Ino was a little unhappy that Ayato had not believed her, she still began selecting one seriously. They all looked about the same to Ayato, but there were still differences. After a while, Ino finally wrapped up a carnation and handed it to Ayato.

"Thank you." After receiving the carnation, Ayato thanked her earnestly.

"Ah, huh? Y-You're welcome." Yamanaka Ino was suddenly unaccustomed to being thanked so sincerely. She replied in a fluster, and the small displeasure in her heart vanished as well.

The Yamanaka Matriarch smiled at the sight. It was quite interesting.

"By the way, Auntie, do you know where there's a cake shop?" Although Ayato knew the village well, he truly was not familiar with all sorts of shops. He had not had any allowance before, so he rarely wandered around places like this.

"A cake shop? It's quite far from here. Since you're Ino's classmate, let Ino take you there," the Yamanaka Matriarch said after thinking for a moment.

"There's no need. I know most places in the village. If Auntie tells me the location, I can find it," Ayato wanted to refuse.

"Oh, you might not be able to find it. Besides, Ino is no use staying in the shop anyway. She might as well go out for a walk, and you two can keep each other company," the Yamanaka Matriarch said in a tone that brooked no refusal.

Yamanaka Ino did not object either. Instead, she seemed eager to give it a try. Watching the shop was so boring; she had long wanted to go out for a stroll!

"Alright." Seeing this, Ayato did not continue refusing.