Shota was deep in the best dream of his life. He stood on a mountain of sweet rice balls. Shizu was there. The Matron was there.
Even Spider was there, wearing a frilly apron and serving tea. Everyone was happy. There were no missions. There were no traitors. Just endless naps and snacks.
Someone shook his shoulder.
"Five more minutes Shizu," Shota mumbled. "The rice balls aren't going anywhere…"
Another shake, harder.
"Big brother Shota and his rice balls sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G," he slurred happily.
A loud snort woke him up.
Shota opened his eyes under the mask and saw Spider's porcelain face inches away.
He instantly pulled the blanket over his head like a turtle hiding in its shell.
"What are you doing in my bedroom, sensei? You pervert! I'm telling the Kazekage!"
Spider's voice came through full of fake hurt. "Bedroom? Kid, this is the ANBU training ground. You're in the middle of the floor. And you were snoring loud enough to wake the dead. I thought a bear broke in."
Shota peeked out from the blanket and looked around.
Shota was telling the truth. He was not in his room.
He was in the middle of the Anbu training hall. His bed, pillow, and blanket were perfectly set up like he owned the place.
Ten ANBU stood around the walls staring at him. Some looked amused. Some looked confused. Of course, they all were wearing their masks but Shota could tell what they were feeling by their body posture and movements. Something that he had learned during his Anbu training.
Shota sat up slowly.
"Good morning everyone. Happy hunting," he said with a weak wave.
Spider folded his arms. "It's three in the afternoon."
Shota looked at the ceiling lights that never changed. "Oh. Well. Time is a social construct."
Spider pointed at the door. "You and me. Office. Now. We are having a very serious talk about ANBU decorum."
Shota took his sweet time. He folded the blanket perfectly. He fluffed the pillow twice. He rolled everything into the storage scroll like he was packing for a holiday.
The watching ANBU started whispering.
"Is that really the Eraserhead?"
"He brought a whole bed."
"Looking at him, makes me want to have a nap now."
"Are we allowed to sleep in Anbu training grounds? I would prefer to sleep here away from my wife who does not let me sleep. She is a wild one, if you know what I mean."
Shota nearly tripped himself as he heard that but continued walking towards Spider's office.
Spider waited at the door, foot tapping.
Shota finally walked over, still yawning.
In the office, Spider closed the door, removed his mask and immediately burst out laughing.
"Bahahahaha! You slept in the training ground! In a real bed! I can't breathe!"
He slapped the desk so hard the wood cracked.
"And you keep a whole bed in a scroll! Earthworm is going to cry about your lack of decorum! Bahahaha!"
Shota rubbed the back of his neck, cheeks red under the mask.
Spider wiped a tear from under his mask. "So what made you so happy you brought furniture to work?"
Shota took a deep breath.
He had thought about this all night (well, the five minutes before he fell asleep).
Telling the village about him re-engineering shadow clones had no downsides. He would get rewards. He would look like a super genius again. He would stay in everyone's good books.
Most importantly, the village would become stronger.
"I recreated a jutsu," Shota said calmly.
Spider stopped laughing. "Which one?"
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
The room went dead quiet.
Spider stared for a long time.
"Can I see it?" he finally asked.
Shota formed the seal.
Poof.
Another Shota stood beside him, arms crossed, same tired face.
Spider's eyes went wide. He knew it was not an elemental clone as the handsigns were different.
Shota punched the clone. It disappeared into smoke. Memories flowed back.
Spider started laughing again, louder than before.
"That's my little genius! Bahahaha! The Kazekage is going to cry happy tears!"
Shota scratched his head. "It's not that big a deal. You can only make a few clones safely, and you need jōnin level of chakra."
Spider waved his hand. staff. "You don't understand, kid. Almost all Suna shinobi have wind or fire nature. We have few earth or water users. That means almost no one can make real clones. Earth clones. Water clones. Lightning clones. None. Our jōnin have been fighting without proper clones forever."
He leaned forward, eyes shining.
"Now every jōnin with decent reserves can make shadow clones. Real clones. Solid. That is a massive upgrade for the entire village."
Shota finally understood.
In the anime, Konoha had shadow clones and still struggled. But Suna had never had access to anything like it. This was like giving every soldier a second life in battle.
Spider stood up and patted Shota's shoulder hard enough to make him stumble.
"You are about to become the most popular kid in Suna. The elders will fight to give you gifts. The Kazekage will probably make you a special jōnin tomorrow."
Shota blinked.
He had not expected this reaction.
But he liked it.
A lot.
---------Author Notes--------
Thankyou Mark Hernandez for supporting me!
Y'all can read the next 20 chapters of the fanfic on my pat*reon. Thankyou for your support!
https://pat*reon.com/Charizard6
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