In the end, Tatsuma failed to learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu. According to Jiraiya, the risk was simply too high—the boys would undoubtedly abuse the technique and end up wrecking their own bodies.
While the Shadow Clone Jutsu is indeed a legendary tool for accelerating one's cultivation—given that the clones possess the same cognitive abilities as the original, can study theory, and return all memories and experience to the user upon dispersal—it comes with a staggering price. The backlash of accumulated fatigue and the sudden surge of mental stress are immense. An adult ninja might be able to weather that storm, but for two eight-year-olds, such a burden would actively stunt their physical development.
Jiraiya knew his students too well. Given their borderline obsessive diligence toward training, they wouldn't stop at making a single clone to help them study. They would push for three, four, or more. If that level of exhaustion hit their prepubescent systems all at once, they would simply collapse.
However, the rejection didn't dampen Tatsuma's spirits. He remained the same insatiable scholar, the same "brat" with an incredibly fierce competitive streak.
He made bets with Minato on who could master nature transformation faster, and he challenged Jiraiya, wagering that he could master jutsu in less time than Jiraiya had taken at that age. Every single day was poured into grueling training.
Six months passed in a flash.
Tatsuma successfully mastered two C-rank Fire Style jutsu and two C-rank Wind Style jutsu. He also picked up the C-rank illusion, the Sly Mind Affect Technique, and the C-rank sealing art, the Finger Carving Seal.
Beyond that, he delved deep into sensory techniques and Taijutsu theory. Strictly speaking, the "forms" of the Taijutsu Jiraiya taught were quite simple—to Tatsuma's eyes, they were even less complex than the simplified Tai Chi he had learned back in university.
But as the saying goes: "Practicing the form without the power is a waste of a lifetime." Tatsuma had mastered the application of these moves through constant sparring with Minato, but they couldn't truly be called "Taijutsu" yet, as they didn't provide any significant combat multipliers.
The Taijutsu Jiraiya taught included the intricate management of chakra flow within the body. Tatsuma didn't look down on these "simple" forms; instead, he studied them meticulously. He intended to fully grasp the mechanics of this world's Taijutsu so he could eventually forge a style that perfectly suited his own needs.
During these six months, he didn't just learn new things; he was relentless in training his eight core shinobi attributes.
His primary advantage over other ninjas was his ability to see exactly how long he needed to practice a specific skill each day. Every day of training had its "growth phase" and its "plateau."
Currently, Tatsuma's potential caps for all eight attributes had reached the Chunin standard. This meant he could usually gain 2 to 3 "realized" points per day during his growth phase. The moment he saw a stat gain 2 points and hit a plateau, he immediately switched to a different skill.
Tatsuma had tested it: once a skill hit its daily plateau, spending more time on it was just spinning his wheels. It was far more efficient to use the remaining hours to maximize other attributes that were still in their growth phase. If nothing interrupted him, Tatsuma could complete a full cycle of training for all eight shinobi attributes in a single day.
However, this level of efficiency was something he couldn't replicate in others. Even Minato, as talented as he was, couldn't match that pace.
Minato might do the same number of sets and the same intensity, but he wouldn't necessarily "cash in" on every attribute as efficiently as Tatsuma. This was the key reason Tatsuma was still able to maintain a roughly 50/50 win-loss record against the blonde prodigy.
Since they didn't have to attend the Academy—and their only weekly obligation was a single D-rank mission to hit their KPI—Tatsuma spent every waking moment either learning or sparring. Consequently, his "wool-shearing" frequency hadn't dropped just because his win rate had stabilized; in fact, it had increased.
After half a year of constant clashes with Minato and Jiraiya—many of which were won through sheer luck or unconventional tactics—Tatsuma's status panel had undergone a massive transformation.
Host: Sakamoto Tatsuma
Attributes (Realized/Potential):
STR (Power): 1996 / 3016
SPD (Speed): 2351 / 5213
PHY (Physique): 2173 / 4607
INT (Intelligence): 1678 / 2663
NIN (Ninjutsu): 1620 / 2735
GEN (Genjutsu): 1044 / 2048
ENG (Energy): 1705 / 3119
SEA (Seals): 1811 / 2867
Special Talents:
Space-Time: 100%
Ninjutsu Development: 85%
Ninja Tool Projection (Minato Namikaze Custom): 100%
Sensory: 75%
Sealing (Uzumaki Kushina Custom): 40%
Tatsuma could now proudly claim that he had fully reached the level of a Chunin. Even his weakest attribute, Genjutsu, had finally hit the minimum threshold for a Chunin through his day-in, day-out persistence.
He had also taken several measures to compensate for his lack of talent in illusions. For instance, he had mastered Genjutsu Dissipation to the point where it was arguably his most practiced technique.
But what satisfied Tatsuma most was maxing out his Space-Time talent and Minato's Ninja Tool Projection. Although he hadn't learned a single Space-Time jutsu yet, having the talent at 100% gave him immense peace of mind.
It meant he could follow a path similar to Minato's. Not only would this help him bypass his shortcomings in raw strength and Genjutsu talent, but it would also massively boost his survivability. As long as he survived until the day he was eligible to learn the Flying Thunder God, staying alive would become a whole lot easier.
"Jiraiya-sensei, don't you think it's time we took on some higher-difficulty missions?"
During their lunch break, Tatsuma turned to Jiraiya with the question. Jiraiya, who had been engrossed in a magazine, snapped it shut and sat up straight. He looked at the two of them and asked, "Minato, what do you think?"
Minato thought for a moment before nodding. "Jiraiya-sensei, I'd like to take on some tougher missions too. I want to put what we've learned over the last six months into practice."
Hearing that even Minato was itching for higher-level work, Jiraiya rubbed his chin. He had watched both students grow over the past half-year.
While eight years old was far from the "golden age" of a ninja's physical growth, these two already possessed the genuine strength of Chunin. In fact, Jiraiya had to admit that they were both natural-born killers.
Even if their strength, speed, and chakra reserves were only at the Chunin level, Jiraiya suspected that if these two worked together to ambush a young Jonin, they might actually pull it off.
Their appearances were just too deceptive. No one would expect two eight-year-old children to have a mastery of ninjutsu and shinobi arts that rivaled veterans of the battlefield.
Most importantly, they weren't just skilled—they were "black-hearted." Every time Jiraiya sparred with them in Taijutsu, he would shudder at the memory of how they both constantly aimed for the "ancestral hall"—dirty fighting at its finest.
He snapped back to reality and said, "Since you both want to go, I won't stop you. I'll pick out a suitable mission for you."
"We appreciate it, Jiraiya-sensei."
Jiraiya stood up. "Consider this your evaluation. If you complete this mission excellently, I'll start teaching you about other elemental natures."
Minato broke into a delighted smile, but Tatsuma looked puzzled. "But Jiraiya-sensei, didn't you say you don't have a Lightning affinity? Then Minato..."
Jiraiya took on a smug expression. "I might not be an expert in Lightning Style, but I know people who are! If all else fails, I'll just go ste—ahem, 'borrow' some of Sarutobi-sensei's research notes for you."
Tatsuma and Minato exchanged a glance. As expected... Jiraiya-sensei was still a bit unreliable. But neither of them said it out loud.
A few days later, Jiraiya gathered them together. "I've found a very suitable C-rank mission for you. But before we head out... we need to go see someone."