Chapter Forty-Three: Developing a New Cheat
In the dense forest, Ryūya stood still, raising both hands with his index and middle fingers pressed together, crossing his hands into a cross-shaped seal.
Poof—
One of Ryūya's shadow clones appeared beside him.
This was Ryūya practicing the Shadow Clone Technique he had just exchanged for using merit points from the village.
Since his physical condition and chakra reserves could not be rapidly increased in a short period of time, Ryūya decided to develop a new "cheat."
That cheat was using shadow clones for training.
As for the Senjutsu he had just obtained from Orochimaru, Ryūya had no intention of practicing it rashly before the bio-chip had fully analyzed it.
The risks of cultivating Senjutsu were extremely high, and trying to master it in a short time through blind experimentation was simply unrealistic.
The Shadow Clone Technique was a B-rank ninjutsu created by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. It used chakra to create clones with physical substance, allowing them to move and fight just like the caster.
Unlike the ordinary Clone Technique, the clones created by the Shadow Clone Technique possessed real bodies.
In the ninja world, the Shadow Clone Technique was absolutely an incredible cheat.
The solid clones produced by this technique not only possessed independent consciousness identical to the caster's and a certain degree of durability, but when they were dispelled, their memories and experiences would return to the original body.
This latter function was exactly what Ryūya valued most.
For someone like him, who was still considered a novice in the ninja world, the Shadow Clone Technique was undoubtedly the best choice for rapidly accumulating experience with ninjutsu.
More than ten years later, the Child of Destiny—Naruto—would rely on the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique to develop the astonishingly powerful S-rank technique, the Rasenshuriken.
However, using this technique for training and ninjutsu development came with extremely harsh requirements.
First, one had to be able to withstand the mental shock caused when the clones were dispelled.
In ordinary combat, because the duration was short and the experiences limited, the memories accumulated by shadow clones were not many, and the mental impact on the ninja was relatively small.
But if used for prolonged training and ninjutsu development, the mental shock caused by multiple clones dispersing at the same time would be far from trivial.
In the ninja world, only a monster like Naruto dared to create countless clones to torment himself like that. Any other ninja would absolutely not dare to try.
For Ryūya, who could store memories using the bio-chip, this was not a problem.
Second, one needed powerful vitality and a sufficient amount of chakra.
In the original story, Naruto—born of the Uzumaki clan—naturally possessed an extremely strong physique. Coupled with the fact that half of the Nine-Tails, which could be used as a living battery, was sealed inside him, this allowed him to use the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique without restraint.
Although Ryūya did not have Naruto's monstrous constitution or inexhaustible chakra, with the Sealing of Glutony Technique and the Body Activation Secret Technique, his chakra consumption could be rapidly replenished. Creating a few clones for basic training and research was still feasible.
The only downside was that it was extremely expensive.
To replenish chakra quickly, Ryūya had to constantly stockpile massive amounts of food.
In order to gain more means of self-preservation as soon as possible, Ryūya had temporarily given up on scientific research and planned to devote nearly all his financial resources to sustaining food consumption.
After the Nine-Tails incident, Ryūya officially began cultivating according to his own plan.
He urgently wanted to increase his strength once more.
"Butterfly Transformation Technique analysis complete. This technique consumes a massive amount of chakra and life energy. Host is advised to use it with caution."
Just as Ryūya was busy practicing the Shadow Clone Technique, a pleasant notification from the chip sounded in his mind.
A large amount of information regarding the key points of using the Akimichi clan's Butterfly Transformation Technique flooded into Ryūya's memory.
After carefully reviewing these memories, Ryūya could only helplessly give up the idea of testing the technique's power.
The Butterfly Transformation Technique was indeed extremely powerful, capable of instantly unleashing more than ten times one's normal combat strength—but the price paid was equally enormous.
According to the bio-chip's estimation, with Ryūya's current physical condition, he could only maintain the Butterfly Transformation Technique for a few minutes at most. Moreover, it would cause severe damage to his body afterward, requiring at least half a year to recover.
This technique could only be used as a final trump card.
"Begin analysis of the Shadow Clone Technique."
Sighing, Ryūya began using the bio-chip to analyze the Shadow Clone Technique.
Through the bio-chip's analysis, Ryūya could gain a deeper understanding of the technique.
Moreover, during the analysis process, if optimization or fusion was possible using existing data in the database, the chip would automatically search for and trigger it.
After spending half a day in the forest, Ryūya had completely mastered the Shadow Clone Technique. What remained was simply improving his proficiency through repeated practice.
The afterglow of autumn sunlight spilled across the land as Ryūya's figure appeared at the entrance of the Akimichi clan's compound.
Walking along the street, Ryūya suddenly stopped. Looking at the people ahead, a flash of intense surprise and disgust appeared in his eyes.
Danzō was walking toward him under the protection of two Root members.
Judging by his route, that old fox had likely just come from Clan Head Akimichi Ryōta's place.
"You are Akimichi Ryūya?"
Stopping in front of Ryūya, Danzō spoke in a hoarse, unpleasant voice.
"Elder Danzō."
Ryūya's expression remained calm and unmoved. After bowing briefly, he walked straight past him and left.
Being stared at by that remaining sinister eye and facing that ugly old face, Ryūya truly had no interest whatsoever in putting on an act.
Watching Ryūya walk past him without hesitation, a cold light suddenly burst forth in Danzō's eyes.
After standing silently for several seconds, Danzō stepped forward and left once more.
Today's visit to the Akimichi clan had failed to achieve his objective.
After returning to the clan grounds, Ryūya did not go home directly. Instead, he first went to visit Uncle Rōu.
At Uncle Rōu's house, Ryūya discovered that Kyōko and Brownmaru were also there.
The moment the door opened, Ryūya was once again knocked to the ground by Brownmaru.
"Kyōko, why have you been coming here so often lately?"
Struggling to push Brownmaru away, Ryūya looked at Kyōko and asked curiously.
Upon hearing Ryūya's question, Kyōko's pretty face instantly turned bright red. She did not answer at all, but instead ran off in embarrassment.
Leaving Ryūya standing there, utterly confused.
Unable to figure out a young girl's thoughts, Ryūya did not dwell on it further and turned to enter the inner room.
Inside, Uncle Rōu lay leaning against the sofa, his body wrapped in bandages.
After several days of recuperation, his injuries had clearly improved a great deal.
"Uncle Rōu, I just saw Elder Danzō in the clan compound. It looked like he had just come from the clan head's place."
After chatting for a while, Ryūya shifted the topic to Danzō.
Hearing Danzō mentioned, Akimichi Rōu showed a mocking expression and said,
"After staying in the darkness for too long, he's even lost the most basic patience a ninja should have. The Fourth Hokage has only just died, and he already can't wait to jump out!"
Hearing this, Ryūya understood immediately.
He now knew the purpose of Danzō's visit to the Akimichi clan.
With the Fourth Hokage dead, the position of Hokage was vacant—and that old fox was itching to make a move again.
However, judging from Uncle Rōu's tone, Danzō was destined to be disappointed.
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