When it comes to the Shadow Clone Technique…
In the original timeline, Naruto learned the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu. But truthfully, the only difference between that and the standard Shadow Clone Jutsu is the number.
If you summon a few—it's just Shadow Clone.
If you summon dozens, hundreds, or more—it's Multiple Shadow Clone.
Shigure could technically use both, though his version often produced many clones, making it functionally the same as the advanced variant.
"You've already got the hand seals down, right?"
"And I just walked you through the chakra control flow needed to cast it."
Shigure gave a serious look.
"Oh—and remember this, Naruto. When you cast this jutsu, don't hold back. Summon as many clones as you can!"
Naruto's face lit up with excitement.
Due to the Nine-Tails sealed inside him, Naruto's chakra control had always been poor. The constant interference from the Nine-Tails' chakra made precision difficult—delicate techniques just didn't work well for him.
But brute force methods? Those were fine.
What would kill a normal person from chakra exhaustion… Naruto could shrug off like a stubborn cockroach. His reserves were just that massive.
"Alright then—here I go!"
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Bang!
With a loud puff of smoke, the lake was suddenly flooded with identical Narutos. The white fog from the jutsu lingered for a moment before revealing nearly a thousand clones.
Naruto stood there, stunned, staring at his own army.
One second…
Two…
Three…
It took over ten seconds before Naruto snapped out of it, joy and disbelief brimming in his eyes.
He turned to Shigure, face glowing with gratitude.
"Shigure! This is incredible—thank you! This jutsu is amazing!"
"With that," Shigure said calmly, "you'll have no problem passing tomorrow's graduation exam."
As the clones vanished with soft pops, Naruto practically tackled him in a hug.
"Seriously, thank you! You're the best!"
"You treated me to ramen, didn't you? Consider this your return gift."
"I'll treat you again tomorrow—"
But as the words left his mouth, Naruto paused, patting his pockets.
Right…
He'd already spent most of his allowance for the month. That second bowl might've been a bit reckless...
Shigure just smiled knowingly.
"No need for ramen. The exam ends tomorrow, and I'm planning to clean the house. It's a lot of work on my own—want to help?"
"Of course!"
Naruto agreed instantly, without even thinking.
Shigure nodded thoughtfully.
"Then I guess I'll have to make the house dirty tonight, just to make it worth your time."
The two laughed lightly.
But then—Shigure's expression shifted.
His eyes narrowed.
A sudden chill swept through the air.
A black blur appeared before him.
"Body Flicker Technique..."
So fast!
Instinct kicked in. Shigure leapt backward without hesitation.
A flash of silver—a kunai—sliced through the air he had just occupied.
He retreated five or six meters, landing safely before raising his eyes—
Naruto!
In that split second, Naruto had already been knocked unconscious.
The attacker was fast—too fast. He'd used some kind of seal while attacking Naruto, vanishing with another use of the Body Flicker Technique.
He was gone.
Completely.
Who was this?
Dressed in all black—cloak, pants, even a scarf. No insignia. No village headband.
An assassin?
Or… someone after the Nine-Tails?
This is Konoha. There's no such event in the original timeline.
Who would dare kidnap Naruto—here, of all places?
Shigure didn't have time to process it all.
He wasn't the only one who knew the Body Flicker Technique.
He bit his thumb, drew the hand seal—
"Body Flicker!"
With a single-hand seal, Shigure vanished.
His body dissolved into a streak of streaming light, launching into the sky and cutting across the rooftops like a gleam of wind.
He shot straight toward the enemy.
A second later, the masked figure who had abducted Naruto reappeared atop a nearby house, visibly surprised to see Shigure already closing in.
He hadn't expected this.
Shigure's Body Flicker Technique wasn't just for escaping—it was fast, precise, and honed for pursuit.
The masked man gritted his teeth and used the Body Flicker again, darting rapidly through the village outskirts. With successive flickers, he sped toward the outer walls of Konoha, clearly aiming to break through and escape.
"Put him down!"
Shigure's body once again streaked through the night sky, each flicker narrowing the distance between them. His movements flashed across the rooftops like starlight—closer, and closer still.
He was faster.
Bang!
Just as Shigure was about to intercept, his flicker was suddenly interrupted.
His form reappeared mid-step, forced to halt.
Two figures emerged behind him.
Shuriken peppered the rooftop—an ambush. The sudden volley had forced him to break concentration.
So that's how the enemy bought time.
Shigure turned, scanning the two approaching figures, both holding kunai and closing in fast.
Who the hell are these guys?
Daring to kidnap the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki inside Konoha itself... are they insane?
And yet… not a single ANBU was in sight?
The two attackers moved in with swift coordination, blades gleaming under the moonlight.
Shigure frowned.
He hadn't brought Zangetsu with him—why would he have brought his blade to the Ninja Academy?
No choice.
He reached into his tool pouch and pulled out a kunai, infusing it with chakra.
A ripple of silver light surged along the blade.
Flowing Blade Technique—Release.
A pale shimmer danced along its edge.
The two enemy shinobi exchanged glances.
Then they rushed him.
One closed in quickly, thrusting his kunai straight toward Shigure's throat.
But before it could connect—
Clang!
Shigure's kunai met his, the energized blade slicing through the enemy's weapon like paper.
In the same instant, Shigure formed a one-handed seal.
"Body Flicker!"
Flash!
He vanished.
No trace.
No chakra signature. No sound. No figure.
The two enemies were stunned.
They spun around in confusion.
Then—
Tear!
A flash of red.
One of the attackers felt his throat rupture—blood erupted from his neck as he collapsed instantly.
The other turned in horror, just in time to see Shigure emerging behind him like a phantom of the night.
The glowing kunai pierced straight through his throat.
A cold whisper followed:
"The night… is my stage."
To fight Shigure at night was nothing short of suicide.
He hadn't simply used Body Flicker. The moment he activated it, he had layered it with a stealth technique—
Transparent Release.
Shigure became invisible—not just to the eye, but to chakra sensing as well.
While they searched in confusion, he was already behind them.
Two enemies.
Handled in two seconds.
No time to examine who they were or where they came from.
Shigure turned his gaze toward the true target—the man fleeing with Naruto.
You think you can escape now?
Just as he prepared to give chase—
A blur approached from the opposite direction.
Anbu.
A masked shinobi landed silently nearby.
Good. That meant the backup had finally arrived.
Shigure glanced at the two corpses behind him.
I'll leave cleanup to them.
He formed a quick seal—
Body Flicker!
The Anbu ninja hadn't even registered what had happened before he saw Shigure burst into motion—
His body split into dozens of blinding streaks of light, vanishing into the night.
In an instant, he crossed over a hundred meters.
The Anbu's eyes widened.
"What is that???"
...
TN:
🔟 Support me on P-com/LordMerlin
[💎 Every 300 Power Stones = +1 Bonus Chapter]