Chapter 8- Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!
Twelve short years ago, the village of Konoha was ravaged by a catastrophic event that would forever change its fate. The Nine-Tails, a behemoth of chakra and fury, was unleashed upon the village by a rogue ninja. The beast's rampage left destruction and despair in its wake, leveling homes and claiming countless lives.
As the villagers struggled to comprehend the scale of the disaster, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, made a heroic sacrifice to seal the Nine-Tails within the newborn Naruto Uzumaki. The seal, though imperfect, contained the beast's power, saving Konoha from annihilation.
However, the trauma inflicted upon the village would take years to heal, and Naruto, now a jinchuriki, would bear the weight of the Nine-Tails' presence for the rest of his life…
Naruto's struggle to focus was generally well-known throughout the Ninja Academy. He'd even had a few unworthy senseis give up entirely on him over the years, making it challenging to master even the most basic jutsus. Despite his determination to become a Genin, and eventually Hokage, he had already failed the exams twice.
Even Shanan, who had always been the most patient and the most determined to help him overcome obstacles, struggled to find a surefire way to help him retain the information he needed in order to succeed. Though she wracked her brain over it constantly.
And Sasuke, while slightly less patient, did his best to train with him and go over anything they had learned in class.
With their next exam less than a week away, Shanan and Sasuke guided Naruto through the series of hand seals, Sasuke's voice surprisingly steady and calm.
Naruto's brow furrowed in concentration. However, as the minutes ticked by under the warm sun's gaze, his focus began to wane.
"Come on, Naruto, just one more time," Sasuke encouraged.
But Naruto's hands faltered once more, his fingers tangling in a messy knot. Frustration etched his face, his scowl deepening. "Ugh, I'll never get this!" he exclaimed, tossing his hands up in exasperation.
Sasuke's expression remained neutral, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of irritability. "You're really giving up already? We've only just started."
Shanan quickly intervened. "Hey, you got the first half down, Naruto. You just need to practice the second half. It's all about muscle memory." She demonstrated the hand seals again, her movements fluid. "Watch closely."
Naruto shifted restlessly, his gaze wandering to the nearby trees instead of Shanan's hands. "Yeah, but this one's too hard, sis. Can't we do something else? I bet I could get to the top of that big tree over there!"
Sasuke sighed, recognizing the familiar pattern of Naruto's distraction. "Focus, Naruto. You'll never become Hokage if you can't master basic jutsus."
"Shut up, jerk! I will too!" Naruto declared, his enthusiasm as fleeting as ever. "We've got plenty of time. Besides…" He sprinted to the roof's edge, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Third time's the charm. I'll try again tomorrow, I promise!" With a reckless grin, Naruto leaped down, leaving Shanan and Sasuke exchanging worried glances.
Shanan's shoulders slumped as she turned to Sasuke. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do here, Sasuke," she admitted.
"You could just ground him so he doesn't run off again."
"Sasuke," she said, before noting his teasing expression and chuckling despite herself. "I wouldn't punish him just for being excitable anyway…"
"No? I think you mean 'for anything ever.'" Sasuke's smile was playful as he looked at her. He paused, his tone turning serious. "We're both trying our best to help him, Shanan. There's only so much we can do, though. He needs to help himself too."
"I know…" she said, unconvinced. "But it's my job to make sure he succeeds. It'll be all my fault if he doesn't become Hokage." Her heart ached at the thought of letting Naruto down.
An exasperated sigh escaped his lips. He knew Naruto's potential, but his struggles with persistence and focus often hindered his progress. He also knew that no matter what he said to her, Shanan would blame herself if Naruto didn't achieve his dream.
The day of the exam arrived, and Sasuke passed with flying colors. However, unsurprisingly, Iruka sensei failed Naruto, his disapproving head shake accompanied by a disappointed sigh. "Sorry, Naruto. You're just not ready."
The words stung.
Naruto congratulated Sasuke warmly, his pride in his friend's abilities and promotion genuine. Yet, beneath the surface, his heart was shattered. He longed to believe he could overcome his limitations, but all he could do was compare himself to Sasuke – the effortless achiever, admired by all, especially Sakura.
Sasuke's flawless performance seemed to underscore Naruto's own limitations. Even Shanan's joy for Sasuke's success twisted the knife, intensifying Naruto's feelings of inadequacy.
When Shanan approached him, concern etched on her face, Naruto brushed her off with a nonchalant smile. "I'm fine, sis. Really." He didn't want to burden her with his doubts or diminish her pride in Sasuke. "I just remembered that I promised Hinata we could train together, but I'll be back in time for dinner," he told them, conveniently excusing himself.
Sasuke's gaze lingered on Naruto as he made his way to the door with hands clasped on top of his head, concern flickering in his eyes. He knew Naruto was upset with himself, but it would do no good to talk to him when he was pretending to be unbothered. And it'd only make him feel worse if he started crying in front of them about it…
As Naruto wandered through the village, he found himself back at the academy sitting under the tree and watching his now former classmates that still lingered. They were all excitedly discussing their upcoming team assignments blissfully unaware of his gaze. Though, he didn't think they would've cared even if they knew he was there.
"Shadow clones were hard for me too, you know," came a familiar voice from behind Naruto.
Naruto looked up at Mizuki, one of the senseis from the Academy, still choking back tears.
Mizuki sighed and plopped himself down next to Naruto. "I guess we can't all be as good as Uchiha, can we?"
A groan escaped Naruto's throat as he turned away from Mizuki and poked at the ground with a nearby stick.
"Iruka just wants you to do well, that's why he failed you," Mizuki started. "But you know, I might know how you can really impress him. A way to instantly make you a Genin."
He glanced sideways down at Naruto before continuing.
"There's this scroll out there full of secret jutsus unavailable to anyone but the Hokage. Hey," he said, "didn't you say you wanted to be Hokage someday?"
"Uh-huh…" Naruto said.
"I thought so. But… damn," Mizuki said thoughtfully. "Ah, nevermind, it's locked up where no one can get to it. It'd take someone really skilled to retrieve it. So, oh well. Better luck next time." Mizuki stood up and started to walk away.
"Well, where is it?"
Mizuki smiled to himself before turning around to face Naruto. "Oh, just in the Hokage's residence. It's pretty big, though. Hard to miss if you do find it. But… I'm really not sure someone like you could even get into that place. It takes stealth and–"
"I can get it, easy!" Naruto stood up with a newfound determination, his expression hopeful. "And you promise it'll make me a Genin?"
"Of course!" he said. "Get that scroll and you'll be better than Sasuke in no time."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Okay, you got a deal!"
They made plans to meet in the woods after nightfall and Naruto set out for the Hokage's residence. He watched and waited as his stomach growled and he wondered what Shanan ended up making for dinner. But he pushed the thought of her cooking from his mind, knowing they were probably doing what everyone else was doing – discussing team assignments and who Sasuke might pair well with. A pang of jealousy coursed through him, steeling his resolve.
He glanced around, ensuring he was alone, before focusing on the Hokage's residence. The imposing structure loomed before him, its windows like empty eyes staring back. When he was certain he could infiltrate undetected, Naruto made his move.
He clumsily climbed through a lower window, his hands gripping the sill. Landing with a soft thud in what appeared to be a child's room. The space was huge—twice the size of his small apartment, filled with expensive-looking toys and furniture.
Naruto tip-toed across the room, avoiding scattered toys. His eyes adjusted to the dim light, and he spotted the door, its handle gleaming in the faint moonlight. He carefully turned the handle and pulled the door open, wincing at the faint creak.
Naruto's heart quickened as he contemplated the Hokage's secrets hidden within.
If I were the Hokage, I'd keep my most prized possessions close.
He set out to find the largest bedroom, reasoning it would belong to Lord Third.
Climbing the stairs, Naruto's footsteps echoed softly. He reached the top and paused, surveying a hallway filled with a comical amount of doors on each side.
Which one?
Methodically, Naruto opened each door, peering inside. Some rooms were cluttered with books, others with strange artifacts. He snickered, imagining the Hokage's eccentricities.
What would an old guy like him need all this stuff for?
After what felt like an eternity – twenty doors, each one a disappointment – Naruto found it. The largest bedroom, fit for a king. Or, in this case, a Hokage. The bed, an enormous four-poster, dominated the room. Shelves and cases overflowed with ancient tomes, glittering treasures, and deadly weapons.
And there, at the room's center, rested a giant scroll.
Naruto's eyes widened as he approached, his heart pounding. "That's gotta be it." His whisper barely audible.
Reaching the case, Naruto's fingers trembled as he removed the scroll. Its weight felt substantial in his hands. Mizuki's words echoed in his mind: "This will make you a Genin." Naruto's imagination ran wild – mastering jutsus, skipping ranks, becoming the youngest, most powerful Hokage the village had ever seen.
With the scroll clutched tightly, Naruto turned to leave, his mind racing. The darkness outside seemed to fade into the background as he envisioned his future glory.
As Naruto waited to meet Mizuki in the woods, he couldn't resist the temptation to read a portion of the scroll. He knew he probably shouldn't or that he likely wouldn't even understand the proper technique, but he was way too curious not to at least peek.
He unrolled it and scanned the words and illustrations of the first technique.
"Multi Shadow Clones? Of course, my worst jutsu…" he groaned. "But imagine if I could go from not being able to make one, to making a hundred! It'd wipe that smug look off everyone's faces. Even Iruka Sensei would be impressed."
He read over the instructions, the hand signals were clearly mapped out. And to his surprise, it didn't even look that difficult to do!
Naruto waited anxiously for Mizuki's arrival, his mind racing with the promise of power. Hours passed, and with each minute, his determination grew. Finally, he couldn't resist the urge to practice the jutsu…
After about thirty minutes, Iruka Sensei showed up. His expression was stern, concern etched on his face. "Naruto, what's going on? Most of the Jonin in the village are searching for you. We received reports of the Hokage's scroll being stolen…"
"Guess I'm busted, huh, Iruka Sensei?" Naruto said sheepishly, trying to sound nonchalant despite the scroll clutched in his hands. "I only had time to learn the first jutsu, but I'm ready to show you!"
"What do you mean, Naruto?"
"That's how it works, right?" he asked. "I do one of the jutsus from this scroll and you make me a Genin? That's what Mizuki Sensei told me!"
Iruka's eyes widened.
Mizuki… the same person who had alerted everyone to Naruto's theft – sending the village into a panic.
Just as understanding dawned, a hail of kunai sliced through the air, targeting both Iruka and Naruto.
"Naruto, run!" Iruka shouted, pushing him back and taking a kunai to the thigh. Fortunately, the rest of them missed him, but now he was in a lot of pain.
The sudden attack shattered the night's calm, and Naruto's world was thrown into chaos.
But in all the confusion, Naruto stood there, frozen in uncertainty.
Mizuki took the opportunity to reveal a deep secret. His eyes gleamed with malice as he took a step closer to Naruto. "There's something you should know, Naruto. Something the village has kept hidden from you."
"Mizuki, no!" Iruka objected. "That's forbidden knowledge. Don't tell him!"
Mizuki sneered. "See? Everyone in the village knows, Naruto. Don't you want to know why everyone here hates you?"
Iruka's eyes pleaded with him. "No, Mizuki! Don't… Don't do this!"
Mizuki's smile grew wider. "Even Iruka Sensei would do anything to stop me from telling you. But I think you deserve to know the truth."
Iruka's desperation intensified. "Mizuki, stop! You're playing with fire!"
"The truth, Naruto…" Mizuki's voice dropped to a whisper. "Is that the Nine-Tails… the beast that destroyed the village and killed Iruka's parents – among countless other shinobi – is sealed within you."
Naruto's eyes widened, his mind reeling, struggling to comprehend the weight of this revelation.
The Nine-Tailed fox, sealed within him?
Before he could process this information, Mizuki launched one of his giant shuriken right at him. With no time to react, Naruto cowered, expecting the worst.
And when nothing happened to him, he slowly opened his eyes to see Iruka shielding him with his body.
"You're okay, Naruto," Iruka whispered, before coughing up blood. The giant shuriken had struck the center of his back and was lodged between two of his vertebrae.
Mizuki laughed dryly. "You'd protect the beast that murdered your parents? Don't you hate him for what he did?"
Iruka's arms shook as he looked down at Naruto. "No. I don't hate him," he said softly. "I know how it feels, Naruto. I've walked in your shoes, faced similar struggles. You're not alone. I know it's hard, but I'm here for you."
"As if he'd believe you after all the times you've failed him?" Mizuki sneered.
Naruto's eyes widened, and he finally turned to run. Mizuki's words and his shocking revelation fueled his anger and confusion.
"Naruto, wait!" Iruka yelled after him, but Naruto was already gone, vanished into the trees.
Naruto ran blindly, his heart pounding in his chest. The words echoed in his mind:
The Nine-Tails, sealed within him.
How had this been kept secret from him for so long? And why was the beast inside him?
Eventually, he slowed, catching his breath behind a nearby tree. Worry crept in – how would Shanan and Sasuke react when they found out? Would they abandon him like everyone else? He pushed the thought out of his mind as quickly as it had entered. If anything, Shanan would go to the ends of the Earth to convince everyone that it had actually been sealed inside of her instead.
Suddenly, Mizuki, disguised as Iruka, stumbled and fell to the ground.
As he struggled to regain his footing, his form shifted, revealing his true identity. "How did you know it was me?" Mizuki spat, disoriented.
Then, Iruka, disguised as Naruto, landed nearby, his breathing labored.
The faint sound of his transformation jutsu releasing signaled his return to his true form.
Exhausted, he slumped against a nearby tree, his back resting on the trunk.
Naruto peeked around the tree, witnessing the exchange.
Iruka's voice, weak but resolute, spoke out. "Because I'm not Naruto… If you want to hurt him, you'll have to go through me." He coughed, wincing in pain. "But you should know, Naruto is stronger than you think… He's stronger than everyone thinks. You underestimate him because you're afraid of him, but he's not the beast you all treat him like."
Naruto's gaze fell upon Iruka Sensei's battered form. The kunai wound in his thigh and the recent shuriken injury had taken its toll. Yet, his determination remained unwavering.
Mizuki punched the ground, before jumping to his feet. "I was gonna wait to kill you, Iruka, but I'm tired of hearing your drivel!" With a fluid motion, he gripped his second giant shuriken, the deadly blade glinting in the moonlight, and charged towards Iruka.
Iruka, exhausted and wounded, closed his eyes, resigned to his fate. His thoughts turned to Naruto, hoping he had bought enough time for the young ninja's escape.
But just as Mizuki was about to strike, a blur of orange and yellow intercepted him as Naruto launched himself at the rogue ninja, kicking him to the ground.
"Stay away from my sensei!" Naruto growled, his eyes blazing.
Mizuki's twisted smirk returned as he stood back up. "And what are you gonna do if I don't?"
Naruto's lips curved into a satisfied smile as he straightened. He studied Mizuki momentarily, shoving his hands into his pockets confidently before he yelled, "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In an instant, the clearing was filled with the sound of duplicates materializing.
One hundred tangible clones surrounded the trio, their eyes fixed intently on Mizuki. Each one identical, mirroring Naruto's fierce expression.
The air was electric with tension as the clones awaited Naruto's command, ready to defend their creator and his sensei.
Mizuki's jaw dropped, stunned by the sheer number of clones. "But… how?" he asked. "How could you create this many without weaving a single sign?"
Naruto chuckled, tilting his head as his eyes met Mizuki's. "That's my business," he said, still smirking. He couldn't help but wonder if this was how Sasuke felt when he pulled off something really impressive. "Now, are you gonna come and take this beating, or do we have to come to you?"
Mizuki's face twisted in rage. "Why, you little–!"
"Fine," Naruto shrugged coolly. "Have it your way then…"
With a synchronized battle cry, the clones descended upon Mizuki, unleashing a flurry of kicks, punches, and stomps. Naruto watched as Mizuki was pummeled relentlessly into the ground.
Once Mizuki lay bloodied and unconscious, Naruto released the jutsu, the clones dissipating into thin air.
Concern etched on his face, Naruto rushed to Iruka's side. "Are you okay, Sensei?"
Iruka sat up straight, a proud smile plastered on his face, despite his battered state. "Naruto," he said. "You did it! You actually did it!" He coughed up a trickle of blood, but dismissed it with a wipe of his hand, his focus on Naruto. "I knew you would… You've come so far, Naruto."
"Thanks, Iruka Sensei, but… we should probably get you outta here," Naruto told him. "You really don't look too good."
Iruka chuckled, followed by a pained groan. His eyes sparkled with amusement. "Yeah. But first," he said, untying his headband. "I owe you something for that jutsu…"
As soon as the sun broke the horizon, Shanan threw off her covers and rushed outside. Guy Sensei's words from the previous evening echoed in her thoughts: "I'll try and find him for you, Shanan. Don't you worry. You go home and get some rest." Reluctantly, she agreed, her worry for Naruto tempered by her trust in her sensei.
But as the night wore on, her anxiety only grew. Sasuke's quiet presence beside her had been the only thing that kept her from rushing out into the darkness. He'd stayed awake with her, his eyes darting to the front door at any sound, doing his best to distract her from her worries. She'd appreciated his efforts, even if they'd only half succeeded in calming her racing thoughts. Now, with dawn finally breaking, she couldn't wait any longer. Her baby wasn't home and she had to find him.
Shanan jumped up onto the railing, too impatient to use the stairs. But before she could take another step, a familiar voice called out.
"What are you doing up there, sis?"
She spun around, her heart skipping a beat as she took in the sight of Naruto standing before her, safe and sound without a scratch.
Jumping down from the railing, she closed the distance in a few swift strides and wrapped her arms tightly around him, holding him close as tears streamed down her face.
He wrapped his arms around her in return, his voice gentle as he reassured her, "Come on, sis… I'm okay."
But she couldn't respond, too overwhelmed with emotion. She simply held him, relief washing over her like a wave.
Sasuke strolled out, his hands tucked into his pockets, his expression a mask of irritation. "Glad you're alright," he said, "but do you have any idea how worried she was?"
Shanan released Naruto, wiping away tears as she sniffled.
Sasuke's gaze lingered on her before shifting back to Naruto. "We both were," he continued. "We stayed up all night, watching the door, expecting you to walk through it. And the only reason we didn't track you down ourselves is because Guy Sensei promised Shanan he'd try to find you for her." His brow furrowed, his frustration evident. "So, where'd you go?"
Naruto's gaze darted from Sasuke to Shanan, who was still fighting back tears. He looked down, guilt etched on his face. "Sorry, guys," he said. "I just… I didn't wanna ruin your celebration, and I couldn't stand the pity." His voice trailed off before he continued. "I didn't mean to be gone all night, but… something happened, and—"
Shanan's hands shot out, grasping Naruto's face as she inspected him closer for signs of injury. "What?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"I'm okay, sis," he said, gently removing her hands. "I didn't get hurt. Though, I almost did."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Tell us what happened."
A resigned sigh escaped Naruto's lips. "Well…" he said. "Mizuki Sensei found me sitting outside the academy, and… he kinda tricked me into stealing this old scroll from Lord Third," he admitted, his face flushing with embarrassment as he kept his gaze averted. "But, I learned one of the techniques," he said, hoping to placate their frustration with him. "I can finally make shadow clones. A lot of them! Iruka Sensei even saw me do it…" His expression faltered for a moment, remembering Iruka's willingness to sacrifice himself. But then his face lit up with pride as he glanced at Shanan. "You studied my whole face, sis, and you didn't even notice it," he teased, a grin spreading across his face.
Shanan's confusion slowly gave way to realization, and her eyes widened as she took in the sight of Naruto's forehead protector, his signature goggles gone. Her face softened into a warm smile, and tears of pride flowed anew.
Sasuke's surprise gave way to admiration, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.
"What?" Naruto asked.
"Nothing. Just… I knew you'd figure it out eventually, loser," Sasuke said gently, a hint of a smile on his face.
"Shut up, jerk…" Naruto said softly, though his face lit up with a sheepish grin as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Where's Mizuki Sensei now?" Shanan asked, a sweet smile spreading across her face.
Her eyes, however, held that old intensity that Naruto hadn't really seen in awhile.
His grin faltered for a moment, but then he chuckled, amused by her fierce protectiveness. "Oh, well, actually, sis… you don't have to worry about him." He paused, savoring the moment. "Why do you think I made all those shadow clones?"
Shanan and Sasuke exchanged a confused glance before focusing on Naruto again.
"Iruka Sensei got hurt fighting Mizuki," he explained, carefully omitting some details to spare Shanan's worries. "So I had to protect him too! I made a hundred shadow clones and beat the hell out of Mizuki!"
Sasuke's eyes widened in incredulity. "A hundred?" he repeated.
"Yeah…" Naruto said. "It was pretty cool." He beamed with pride, his eyes sparkling. "You guys should've seen me! I didn't even use hand signals… kept my hands in my pockets the whole time."
Shanan's face glowed with pride as she wrapped her arms around Naruto again. "Oh, you sweet boy…" she cooed, her eyes shining with affection. "I bet you looked awesome." She leaned back, a warm smile still on her face, and chuckled as his cheeks flushed pink.
In an effort to deflect some of her doting, Naruto flashed his signature thumbs-up, accompanied by a crooked grin. "Believe it, sis!"
Sasuke's expression softened, and he smiled warmly as he reached out to ruffle Naruto's hair. "I'm proud of you, idiot. You did good."
Naruto's eyes narrowed, and he let out a low growl, his glare a mock threat as he swatted at Sasuke's hand.
With their graduation behind them, the next step loomed:
Genin teams.
The trio spent the rest of the day building potential teams, trying to create the perfect combinations. Shanan took notes, making a list of their classmates' strengths and weaknesses, as reported by Naruto and Sasuke. She even compiled a separate list of Jonin she thought might be worthy of leading a team, carefully considering who possessed the maturity and expertise to lead the boys on their future missions.
Shanan's thoughts turned bittersweet, setting down her pen as she watched them speculate excitedly. She hoped they'd find themselves on compatible teams with senseis who would guide and protect them, but worry crept in, too. As genin, they were now professional shinobi, facing real dangers. She silently implored their future senseis to take their responsibility to protect those she held dearest seriously – whether they realized the weight of that responsibility or not.