The weapon district of Konoha buzzed with activity as I made my way through the narrow streets, the package containing my newly purchased mask and cloak tucked securely under my arm. The encounter with Temari had been... interesting, but my mind was already focused on the bigger picture at sight.
I need to get to the Hidden Rain Village, but I can't just disappear from Konoha for several days. The Hokage will be expecting me for our spar, and being absent during preliminaries will definitely get me eliminated as well. But there was a way out of this dead end*
The solution seemed obvious, the Shadow Clone Technique. Create a duplicate to maintain my cover while the real me went hunting for gacha tickets. But there was one major problem with that plan.
I need to learn the technique first, and the only person I can ask for is...*
I found Yoru-sensei at the memorial stone, standing quietly before the black surface with its endless list of names. He'd been coming here every evening since we'd arrived in Konoha, a ritual I'd observed but never interrupted. As a jonin from Takigakure who'd lost one of his students, these moments of reflection seemed to be his way of processing the grief.
Until now.
"Sensei," I said in a low voice, to not startle him.
He turned, his usually stoic expression softening slightly when he saw me. The man who'd agreed to let me take his deceased student's place knew exactly who I was beneath the transformation, but we'd maintained the charade perfectly since arriving in Konoha.
"Ah, you're here. How did your meeting with the Hokage go?"
"Better than expected. He was... impressed by our performance in the Forest of Death." I moved to stand beside him, studying the memorial's carved names, which had one of names that I might meet in person very soon "Actually, that's why I wanted to talk to you. I have a request."
Yoru raised an eyebrow "Hm? What kind of request?"
"I want to learn the Shadow Clone Technique."
For a moment, he simply stared at me. Then he let out a low chuckle "You know, I didn't think you would ask for something simple. But since you weren't aware of Transformation jutsu, it's not that surprising anymore"
"I bet that there are more surprises to come"
Yoru studied my face for several long seconds, those dark eyes searching. He knew my true capabilities better than anyone in Konoha, having witnessed firsthand what I could do when I'd saved his remaining students from certain death.
"Very well" He formed a quick series of hand seals, and suddenly there were three of him standing before me. "Shadow Clone Technique creates perfect duplicates, each with access to your memories and abilities up to the point of creation."
I watched carefully as he demonstrated the hand seals again, memorizing the precise chakra flow and timing. Cross seal, focus chakra, divide and project. Simple in theory, complex in execution.
"The real advantage," one of the clones continued, "is that when the clones dispel, all their memories and experiences return to you. It's an incredible training tool, but..."
"But?" I prompted.
"But there's something you need to understand about this technique," the original Yoru said, his voice taking on a warning tone. "The clones you create will only take the form of your true self, not any transformation you might be maintaining."
Oh. Oh shit. It slipped through my mind?!*
My face must have shown my realization because Yoru nodded grimly. "I see you understand the problem. If you create a shadow clone while disguised as Kenji, the clone will appear as..." He gestured vaguely at me. "Well, do you still want to learn it?"
My mind raced through the implications. If I created a shadow clone while maintaining my transformation as Kenji, the clone would appear as my original self.
"This complicates things significantly," I said with a defeated sigh.
Yoru's expression grew thoughtful. "What exactly are you planning? And don't give me some story about preparing for preliminaries—I know you well enough by now to recognize that your intention wasn't to use it in exams ahead"
I need to be very careful here. Can't reveal anything sensitive.*
"There's an opportunity I want to pursue while we're here in Konoha. Something that could be... beneficial for my long-term goals. But it would require me to be absent for several days from here, which obviously creates problems with maintaining this identity."
Yoru's eyes narrowed slightly "What kind of opportunity? And how dangerous are we talking?"
"Let's just say there are certain things I need to investigate personally. Places I need to visit, people I might need to observe." I kept my voice deliberately vague. "As for danger... it's manageable with proper preparation."
"That tells me absolutely nothing," Yoru said flatly. "You're asking me to risk both our covers for something you won't even explain properly."
He's right to be suspicious. I need to give him something without revealing classified information.*
"There are... rumors. Things I've heard that don't add up. Missing ninja working together, targeting specific people." I paused, choosing my words carefully. "I have reason to believe some of these rumors might be true, and if they are, it could affect a lot more than just this exam."
Yoru was quiet for a long moment. "You're talking about going after missing-nins? Alone?"
"Not going after them. Just... looking into things. Confirming whether certain suspicions are justified."
Yoru was quiet for several long moments, staring out at the memorial stone. When he finally spoke, his voice was heavy with resignation.
"You saved my students' lives. More than that, you've given them a chance to grow stronger, to honor their fallen teammate's memory. I owe you a debt I can never fully repay." He turned to look at me directly. "But what you're suggesting... if these rumors are even partially accurate, you'll be risking your life"
"Maybe. But some things are worth the risk."
Yoru muttered as he sighed "You've already made up your mind, haven't you?"
"Pretty much, yeah."
Yoru sighed deeply. "Then we need to figure out how to make this work without getting us both expelled from the Chunin Exams."
Back in my room.
The next hour was spent learning the basic theory and hand seals for Shadow Clone Technique, but with a much more focused discussion on the practical limitations. Yoru was a patient teacher, correcting my form and explaining the subtle chakra control required, while simultaneously brainstorming solutions to our cover problem.
"The transformation issue is absolute," he explained as I practiced the hand seals. "Shadow clones reflect your true chakra signature and physical form. Any external alterations won't carry over. So we can use disguise to make for it"
When I finally managed to create my first successful clone, it appeared exactly as he'd warned—my true self, not the Kenji disguise I was maintaining.
"Well, that confirms it," I said, quickly dismissing the clone before anyone else might see it.
"Indeed." Yoru leaned against a tree, thinking. "However, there might be an alternative approach."
"Oh?"
"What if we don't use shadow clones at all? What if we use a substitute?"
I raised an eyebrow "What kind of substitute?"
"Me." His expression was completely serious "I'll maintain a transformation to look like Kenji, while you go off on your... mission. As long as no one looks too closely or asks detailed questions about your past days interaction, I should be able to maintain the deception for a few days."
That... could actually work.*
"You'd be willing to do that?"
"Like I said, I owe you a debt. Besides," he smiled grimly, "If you get yourself killed chasing whatever shadows you're after, someone needs to be here to explain to my surviving students why their teammate suddenly disappeared."
The plan had merit. Yoru knew enough about my supposed background as Kenji to handle casual interactions, and as a jonin, he had the chakra reserves to maintain a transformation for extended periods. The biggest risk would be someone recognizing that his mannerisms were different, but most people wouldn't notice subtle changes in personality.
"There's one problem," I said. "The Hokage expressed interest in a sparring match with me after the Forest of Death exam gets cleared. He was quite impressed by my performance and wants to see more."
Yoru's eyes widened. "And You accepted?"
"He was impressed by my performance in the Forest of Death. One thing led to another."
"Of course it did." He shook his head in disbelief. "Well, that settles it. You need to be back within three days, or we'll have bigger problems than maintaining your cover."
Three days to invade the Akatsuki base is more than enough, possibly make contact, and return without anyone noticing I was gone. Should be doable.*
"Agreed. When do we start?"
"Tomorrow morning, before dawn. That gives us the best chance of you leaving and me taking over the disguise without anyone noticing."
I nodded, already mentally preparing for what could be the one of my daily risky missions of either of my lives.
"Thanks" I said as we prepared to leave the training ground "This means more than you know."
"Just don't get yourself killed," Yoru replied. "I'd hate to have to explain to my students that you died chasing ghosts and rumors."
Not ghosts, but a God*
Dawn came with the kind of persistent drizzle that seemed to seep into everything. I met Yoru at the agreed location—a small clearing just outside Konoha's eastern gate where the morning patrol routes wouldn't be too vigilant to keep tabs on us.
"Ready?" he asked, already forming the hand seals for transformation, after we reached a far enough distance from the gates.
"Ready." I dispelled my own transformation, returning to my original appearance for the first time since arriving in this world. It felt strange, like putting on old clothes that no longer quite fit.
Yoru's transformation took effect smoothly, his features shifting until he was an exact duplicate of Kenji. The resemblance was perfect—he'd clearly studied my disguise carefully over the past few days.
"How do I look?" he asked, and even his voice matched perfectly.
"That'll work"
I activated my own transformation, shifting into a generic appearance that would blend into any crowd. Brown hair, average height, unremarkable features—perfect for someone who wanted to avoid notice.
"Three days," I said, as if to remind him but myself also.
"Three days," he agreed. "Don't be late or we both would end up in a big predicament"
I formed the hand seals for a basic transportation technique, which was actually me using Shadow Exchange. I felt space bend around me as I prepared to make the jump to Hidden Rain Village, as Darkness enveloped all around me.
Time to see what the Akatsuki are really up to.*
The world twisted, and I was gone, leaving Yoru to walk back into Konoha wearing my face, with his shadow clone walking by his side.
The Hidden Rain Village looked exactly as I'd remembered from the maps—a vertical city of metal and stone, perpetually shrouded in artificial precipitation that fell from pipes and gutters as much as from the gray sky above. The air smelled of rust and dampness, with an underlying chemical tang that spoke of industrial processes I couldn't identify.
I'd appeared on a rooftop in the outer district, my enhanced senses immediately cataloging the village's layout and population. The chakra signatures were generally weak—civilian levels with occasional chunin-strength blips. But somewhere in the city's center, I could sense something much more substantial.
The tower. Just like in the anime.*
Getting closer would require more stealth than I'd used in my original timeline knowledge. The chances of all the members to be present were slim but not zero and so does for Obito and Zetsu, both fellows would loom over this village mostly. But it was least of my concern, and I had no risk of overusing my Sage eye, now that I was equipped with Shadow Clone.
Time to see If Rinnegan can match against my Sage's Eye*
I pulled up my hood and began moving across the rain-slicked streets, heading toward whatever destiny awaited in the heart of the city.
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