"That kid, Shinju... he's never had contact with a Tailed Beast before, has he?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi sharply drew in a breath.
"No. When he was taken in, the Nine-Tails incident was already over. Just now, according to what he described himself, he's seen the Nine-Tails… in a dream," the ANBU continued.
"Just seeing it in a dream, and he can imitate it so perfectly... and that massive amount of chakra… Has Shinju finally learned to skillfully use the chakra within him?"
The Third Hokage muttered under his breath, then instructed the ANBU,
"Keep a closer eye on Shinju from now on."
After that little incident with Shinju's Transformation Jutsu, Iruka began the day's lessons.
Still, he couldn't help but glance back at Shinju during class.
From start to finish, Shinju listened attentively, focused and undistracted—a complete contrast to the noisy Naruto sitting beside him.
Soon, the day's classes at the Ninja Academy came to an end.
Before dismissal, Iruka gave a special assignment.
"Tomorrow's review will be on the Clone Jutsu. Everyone, take the time to prepare well at home."
...
On the way home, Naruto walked alongside Shinju.
Seeing Shinju silent the whole way, lost in thought, Naruto suggested,
"Hey, Shinju, let's go paint the Hokage Rock together."
"Huh?"
Pulled from his thoughts, Shinju shook his head.
"Can't. I'm planning to practice my Clone Jutsu when I get back."
"My Transformation Jutsu today was already pretty bad. If my Clone Jutsu is just as lousy tomorrow…"
He sighed.
"Alright then."
Naruto shrugged. Watching Shinju's back as he left, he muttered softly,
"Shinju's acting weird today… so serious."
"No! I've gotta train hard too! Can't let him get ahead of me!"
...
Night.
In his small yard, Shinju practiced Clone Jutsu over and over.
Of course, he didn't forget Iruka's advice about understanding and adaptability, constantly trying out new approaches.
He practiced until he was so exhausted that he fell asleep right there in the yard.
...
The next morning.
All the students were in their seats—except Shinju, who was nowhere to be seen.
Iruka glanced at Naruto; in the class, Naruto was closest to Shinju.
"Naruto, do you know where Shinju is?"
Iruka asked.
That boy had a strong sense of punctuality.
He'd never been late before.
Something must have happened today.
"He's probably scared and doesn't dare to come."
One student spoke up.
"Yeah, Shinju's Clone Jutsu can only make a floppy little puppet!"
A girl added with a mocking laugh.
"Yesterday's Transformation Jutsu was probably just a fluke. Bet he's too scared to show up today."
"Exactly—yesterday was pure luck. Today, he doesn't have the guts!"
The classroom grew noisier and noisier until Iruka had to raise his hand to quiet them down.
Just then, Shinju appeared at the doorway, drenched in sweat.
"Sorry, Iruka-sensei. I was practicing too late last night and accidentally overslept."
He spoke with an apologetic look.
But his words immediately sparked fresh laughter from the class.
"Practiced too late, overslept… haha, sure, that's a good excuse!"
"Yeah, Shinju—you've practiced so long and still can't use Clone Jutsu. I think you're just wasting your time!"
"Honestly, being a normal person isn't so bad!"
Naruto, furious, immediately stepped forward to defend his friend.
"You guys done talking yet?!"
"Naruto, they're just speaking the truth. No need to get angry."
Sakura chimed in, glancing at Sasuke by the window—probably trying to catch his attention with her words.
"Everyone's right. My talent really isn't great."
"But I can use a normal Clone Jutsu now."
Shinju said it with an innocent look, unfazed by the mockery.
"Really, Shinju?"
Iruka asked in surprise.
If it had been anyone else, he wouldn't be this excited.
But this was Shinju—five years in the Academy without ever producing a single successful jutsu!
"Show everyone."
Iruka encouraged.
"Heh, we wanna see too!"
Sakura mocked again.
She didn't believe for a second he could learn Clone Jutsu overnight.
Even if he did, it would be the defective kind—definitely not good enough to pass the exam!
Shinju smiled modestly. "It might not be very polished yet, so don't laugh."
With that, he walked to the podium, formed a hand seal, and called out, "Clone Jutsu!"
Whoosh!
An exact duplicate of Shinju appeared on the podium!
(ｷ｀ﾟДﾟ´)!!
The whole class was stunned.
"He actually learned it!"
"At least he won't fail the Clone Jutsu test now."
"Guess he really has been working hard."
"Do you really have to be that shocked? We learned this two or three years ago—he's only just getting it now!" Sakura said in annoyance.
"True. It's only surprising because it's Shinju, the class dead last," another student added.
"Not bad, Shinju. You've met the standard for the final exam."
Iruka patted him on the shoulder approvingly.
"But don't get cocky. You've still got a long way to go compared to your peers."
"Yes, Iruka-sensei. I know."
Shinju nodded obediently, still humble.
Iruka was right—
His ninjutsu talent wasn't good.
He had no special bloodline.
Even compared to his classmates, the gap was still huge.
He had to keep working hard!
"By the way, Sensei—while I was practicing Clone Jutsu yesterday, I found that if I change the hand signs a little, I can make a different kind of clone."
That caught Iruka's interest. "Oh? Show me."
Shinju nodded honestly and formed a seal completely different from the Clone Jutsu.
The next moment—
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!
Five or six Shinjus appeared in the classroom all at once.
All of them spoke at the same time. "Sensei, like this."
The whole class: "???"
Iruka frowned. "Shinju, don't try to trick me. This is just normal Clone Jutsu with more clones."
"Sensei, touch one."
The clones all spoke again.
Suspicious, Iruka reached out and touched one of the clones.
It had real flesh and substance—just like a real person!
Iruka: ヽ( ຶ▮ ຶ)ﾉ!!!
I-it can't be…!!
This was the Shadow Clone Jutsu—recorded in Konoha's Scroll of Seals as a B-rank ninjutsu!
A technique that creates solid clones with their own independent consciousness and some resistance to damage!
Most importantly—when the clones are dispelled, all of their memories and experiences return to the original!
"Shinju, y-you figured this out on your own?!"
Iruka's eyes went wide.