章 80: Chapter 80 - Shadow Clones
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
A cloud of smoke puffed into existence at Jin's left. When the smoke cleared, he looked down at the ground to see a pale and crumpled version of himself.
"Use a little more chakra. Your chakra molding could be cleaner, too," Konan quietly suggested, still seated on the same barrier chair as before. Her hands occupied themselves by folding chakra-infused paper into varying origami shapes one after another.
Nodding in response, Jin closed his eyes. He slowly performed the few hand signs needed for the singular Shadow Clone Jutsu. Inwardly, he focused on molding the energy inside of him according to his notes. It felt like an electric current sculpting itself under his skin.
The next attempt actually stood on its own two legs. Although not a perfect imitation, Jin's clone turned its head to look at him.
"Almost. I feel weird, though, like something isn't right in my muscle structure," The clone said.
"Hm. I see," Jin mumbled while dispersing the clone into a puff of smoke. Most of the energy imbued into the clone returned to him aside from the exertion of activating the Jutsu itself.
Feeling the slight drain on his energy reserves followed by a quicker recovery than what he had before activating his Shikai, he thought, 'It's not too bad for me consumption-wise after all I've gained, but I can understand how draining this would be for an average Shinobi. If I couldn't use Reishi or Magic to augment the Chakra paths, this would be exhausting.'
For much of the remaining daylight, Jin practiced making Shadow Clones without stopping. After fifty or so attempts, two perfect replicas of Jin stood at his sides. Each one comfortably contained approximately one fifth of his energy reserves each.
Rubbing his chin in a contemplative manner, Jin asked, "Konan, do you mind sparring with my clones for a moment? Using another clone is fine. I want to see what mine can handle at the moment."
Standing up from the barrier chair, Konan tucked her origami into her sleeve and replied, "I can do that."
"Thanks."
Konan subtly nodded in response.
"Guess I'll go first," The clone on Jin's right said while cracking its knuckles and stepping forward. It then reached toward its hip… and grabbed nothing. It looked down at its empty hip with a raised brow before looking at Jin and saying, "I can't summon the Zanpakuto."
'My clones can't use you?'
'No. Your soul and my soul are one together, thus your clones who lack your soul cannot call me out. They are only copies, after all.'
"Hm. She says it's impossible, so just use magic and Kido."
"Got it," The clone replied.
Konan's eyes observed Jin with some curiosity. She did not completely understand Jin's sword and remained wary of the stifling feeling it gave her. Still, seeing that the clone was ready, she set aside her thoughts and nodded to show that she was ready by summoning a paper clone for Jin's clone to fight.
Jin's clone started out by coating itself in a thin layer of barrier magic and engaged in close combat. It utilized a combination of some simple Taijutsu he just learned and the martial arts he learned during his soldier days.
Since she knew that Jin wanted to test the clones, the second Konan clone that held far lower life force than the original also utilized Taijutsu to fend off Jin's clone. However, her Taijutsu looked more like a dance with purposeful and lithe movements. Where Jin's Taijutsu threw out sharp and steady punches, kicks, or elbows, Konan's Taijutsu contained hints of Aikido in using the opponent's movement against them.
Not making any progress with newly learned Taijutsu, Jin's clone threw out a few blasts of Hado #1 to knock her off balance. A barrier-clad fist eventually found her shoulder and punched right through in a flurry of paper. The next moment, those loose papers sharpened and stabbed through Jin's clone like needles. The clone exploded in a puff of smoke.
When the clone dissipated, its memories flashed through Jin's mind. His brows furrowed when he felt the phantom pain of being stabbed through the torso by the paper needles. It honestly reminded him of the pain caused by a bullet entry wound.
'It isn't unbearable or anything, but now I'm wondering if Naruto was a masochist. He really had a screw loose to send thousands of clones to their deaths if he felt something like this every time.'
Elsewhere, a little blond toddler sneezed while staring at Ichiraku Ramen from afar. Snot and boogers flew everywhere and attracted multiple aggrandizing stares in his direction. The child immediately scampered away with snot hanging from his nose.
Back in the forest, Jin's second clone followed the first clone in death after a few minutes of combat. The spars gave him a good idea of how much his clones could handle for now.
'Maybe special Jonin level? I'm not 100% sure, though. I mostly wanted them for training purposes, anyway.'
Raising his head to look at the darkened skyline of dusk peeking through the canopy, Jin said, "Well, thanks for all your help with this, Konan. I'm probably gonna head back to the village since I rented a nice inn room there. You sure you don't want to join me?"
Konan nodded.
"Even if clones don't really need sleep, it's gotta be tiring and boring just sitting here all night. May as well join me and enjoy the hot spring there or something."
"..."
"Well, your choice. I won't keep pestering you. If you're not coming, then I'll see you tomorrow?"
Almost expressionless aside from slightly narrowed eyes, the young lady nodded again.
"Good night, then."
"Good night."
With that, Jin summoned a barrier board and flew back toward the Leaf Village with Ramen on his mind.
Meanwhile, Konan's clone followed him with her gaze until she could not see him anymore. Her brows furrowed in a conflicted expression that made her look a little lonely. However, that expression soon gave way to her normal placid expression. Once again, she occupied herself by folding origami.
When Jin reached Konoha's front gate, the sun had almost set. The guards checked his return pass before opening the gates for him. As soon as he passed through, he sensed a familiar life signature nearby. His head turned just in time to see a young crow-masked Anbu body flicker onto a nearby roof.
Sending a smile in Shisui's direction, Jin nodded in greeting before continuing on his way to buy some Ramen again.
Upon reaching Ichiraku, he saw a few unfamiliar civilians, prompting him to take the seat furthest to the left away from them.
"Oh, you're back again! Welcome!" Teuchi greeted with a friendly smile.
"Yeah. Hard not to return with how good your ramen is," Jin replied.
"Well, thanks for saying so. What can I get for you?"
"Same thing as yesterday."
"Alright. One spicy pork miso coming right up."
While waiting for his food, Jin yawned and rested his chin on his palm. He checked his phone and completed his daily sign-in that he forgot to do earlier. The chat didn't have much activity at the moment, though, so he slid his phone back into his pocket and unsummoned it.
After finishing his ramen, he headed back to the inn and soaked in the men's side of the hot springs there. The warm water relaxed his fatigued muscles and mind.
Upon returning to his inn room, Jin sensed Shisui's life force signature outside the courtyard.
'Are they still keeping an eye on me?'
Out of curiosity, he walked over to a window and looked in the general direction he sensed the life force. Eventually, he discovered the lad perched on a tree limb just beyond the tall courtyard fence.
Under the scrutiny of Jin's gaze, the young Anbu member sighed lightly and hopped down into the courtyard. The boy then raised his hand in a quiet greeting.
Stepping outside to greet Shisui with a casual wave himself, Jin asked, "Are you still required to tail me, or are you just here to say hello?"
Unsure how to respond initially, Shisui remained silent for a few seconds before answering, "Sorry to intrude. I just have a question."
"Is that so? Go ahead, then."
"I heard about your spar with my teammate. Would you please spar with me as well?"
"That's more of a request than a question. I don't mind, but what is the reason?"
Hesitating for several seconds, Shisui shifted his weight slightly and slowly answered, "I want to see how strong you are."
Sensing a somewhat loaded tone within the teenager's words, Jin quietly observed him for a few moments. In the end, though, he nodded and asked, "Does this have anything to do with the things I said to you the other day?"
Shisui held his silence, but his fist clenching slightly gave an answer.
"What time of day are you off duty?"
"Early morning."
"I see. I'll be training outside the village again tomorrow. Feel free to meet me there during that time. I'd love to see how capable you are myself."
Without saying anything else, Shisui body flickered away in the blink of an eye.
After walking back into his room, Jin beelined for the futon. He quickly fell asleep after casting an extra barrier over himself.
* * * * *
Elsewhere, a woman with long blonde hair tied behind her back grumpily devoured a stew cooked by the girl with shoulder-length black hair sitting nearby.
"Lady Tsunade… are you still upset about that guy from before?"
"Hmph. Don't mention that bastard again in front of me."
Shizune awkwardly scooped more stew into mouth and pretended she hadn't said anything.
During their meal, however, a ninja dog with a leaf headband bounded into the clearing they were currently camping in.
"I found them, woof!"
"Mhm," A voice responded. The owner of the voice then jumped into the clearing from a nearby tree. The young man wore typical Konoha Anbu attire and had spiky white hair.
Barely sparing the visitor a glance, Tsunade grumbled, "What do you want?"
Handing over a scroll, the Anbu answered, "Lady Tsunade, Lord Third sent me out to find you regarding something urgent that happened in the village."
Showing her annoyance by snagging the scroll from the Anbu's hand, Tsunade clicked her tongue and opened it. After reading the message, however, her expression cooled off and displayed a rare seriousness.
"Alright. I'll head back, but only shortly to handle this. Tell him not to expect me to stay."
Nodding, the white-haired Anbu unsummoned his ninja dog before flickering away into the trees.
"What was that about, Lady Tsunade?"
"Something annoying. We're going back to the village, but only for a short time. I'll pick up some more of my savings while we're there."
"But, Lady Tsunade…"
"What?"
"You don't have any savings left…"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Trying to set up a few things for later, but I do also want to finish up this arc quickly. Sorry if I brush over a few side details I find less important.
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