This is the so-called Jincheng Institute... What's the matter? Oh, yes, it was the iron pillar that was ground into a needle!
"..."
---
[Have you eaten?]
The moonlight poured down like a silver veil.
After dinner, Ye Dou did not engage in his usual taijutsu training but instead leaped onto the roof, basking in the moonlight and enjoying a rare moment of peace.
However, beneath the roof, within the quiet hall, three identical shadow clones sat cross-legged, refining chakra in unison.
The mechanics of the Shadow Clone Jutsu (Kage Bunshin no Jutsu) were remarkable. Unlike ordinary clones, shadow clones were created with a portion of the user's chakra and retained full sentience. Upon dispelling, all their experiences and knowledge were instantly transferred back to the original body.
This was why the Shadow Clone Jutsu was invaluable not only for intelligence gathering but also for combat and, most significantly, training.
A B-rank jutsu on the surface, but in terms of its training applications, it was nothing short of a forbidden technique. This was akin to a game where others earned experience points at a normal rate, but the user could multiply their gains exponentially.
Even someone with zero talent could become formidable if they utilized this method consistently.
However, this technique came with severe drawbacks. The more clones a shinobi created, the greater the burden they would bear when the clones dispelled. This wasn't limited to physical exhaustion but extended to mental fatigue as well. If a shinobi lacked a sufficiently strong will, the accumulated memories could overload their mind, potentially rendering them unconscious—or worse, driving them insane.
Ye Dou's physical body was resilient—capable of effortlessly crushing trees and stones. His mental fortitude was equally unyielding, a result of his experiences spanning two lifetimes. Yet, even with these advantages, he struggled with the immense chakra consumption of maintaining multiple shadow clones.
"How does Naruto Uzumaki endure this?" he muttered to himself. "Is it because of the Uzumaki clan's extraordinary vitality, or is it the Nine-Tails' chakra compensating for the backlash?"
It was baffling.
No matter how he analyzed it, the fact that Naruto could withstand the recoil from dispersing hundreds of clones without showing signs of mental strain was absurd. Even for Ye Dou, the idea was staggering.
"Well, no matter. Even if I can't create hundreds of clones, ten should be more than enough for my training. I don't rely on shadow clones for battle, anyway."
With a quiet exhale, he dispelled his clones. Three small puffs of smoke rose beneath the roof, vanishing into the night.
He pressed a hand to his forehead as a wave of information and exhaustion hit him. "Even just three clones put this much strain on me... No wonder the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu (Tajuu Kage Bunshin no Jutsu) is a forbidden technique. The drawbacks are immense."
Despite the fatigue, he couldn't suppress a grin. "But it's incredibly effective. It cuts down training time significantly."
Feeling the influx of newly acquired experience, he clenched and unclenched his fists, reaffirming the strength in his grip. If he continued at this pace, he could become a formidable shinobi within a few years.
"Physical conditioning and chakra refinement must never be neglected. I will only grow stronger."
With that resolve, Ye Dou leaped down from the roof and entered his wooden house, preparing to rest for the next day's training.
———
Morning arrived, painting the eastern sky with a soft golden hue.
Konoha stirred to life, beginning another day.
Within the prestigious Hyuga compound, Hyuga Hanabi had already risen. Under the care of the household attendants, she changed into her training attire, freshened up, and had breakfast.
Though she was the second daughter of the Hyuga clan, her talent was exceptional. As a result, her father had already designated her as the future heir of the main branch. Her training was rigorous, though perhaps not as extreme as Ye Dou's. Nevertheless, her schedule left little time for leisure.
As a child, she had rarely been allowed to leave the Hyuga estate. But after enrolling in the Ninja Academy, her father, Hyuga Hiashi, had eased his restrictions slightly, perhaps in the hope that she would build friendships with her peers. After all, many of Konoha's future clan leaders were also her classmates.
Compared to her peers—Shikamaru Nara, Kiba Inuzuka, Sakura Haruno, Ino Yamanaka—Hanabi found herself more intrigued by Ye Dou.
Reflecting on her first week at the Academy, she couldn't help but feel disheartened.
No matter how many times she had attempted to engage with him, he remained as unyielding as a stone. Nothing seemed to faze him; he neither responded to her words nor acknowledged her presence.
It was frustrating.
Even her sister, Hinata, and their friends had teased her about it. She herself began to wonder—was she foolish for trying so hard?
Yet, the more indifferent Ye Dou was, the more he occupied her thoughts.
"How does Might Guy manage to be so energetic all the time?" she suddenly thought, her gloom lifting.
She recalled a particular scene from when she had gone to deliver food to Ye Dou.
He had just completed a grueling set of push-ups when Might Guy, standing nearby, burst into his signature hearty laughter. Without warning, he clapped Ye Dou on the back with enough force to send him sprawling.
"Excellent! As expected of my disciple! Your youth is simply too dazzling!" Might Guy had declared, his voice booming with enthusiasm.
Hanabi still remembered the look on Ye Dou's face—an expression teetering on the edge of exasperation and barely restrained fury. Yet, Might Guy remained oblivious, continuing to shower him with praise while patting his back with even greater enthusiasm.
"So this is what Sakura and the others call 'being naturally gifted'… Might Guy-sensei is truly something else. Though… he does look a little silly doing it!"
Remembering that scene, Hanabi couldn't help but laugh, her eyes curving into delighted crescents. The sight was so radiant that even the flowers surrounding her seemed to pale in comparison.