Chapter 31: Your Cheat Has Arrived

Chapter 31: Your Cheat Has Arrived

Dragging his exhausted body back to his room, Tonari glanced at the neatly arranged books and scrolls on his desk.

Over the past two weeks, he had memorized every single piece of information contained within them.

No exaggeration—his medical background had sharpened his memory to an extraordinary level!

In addition to the books, there was also a detailed sheet outlining his weekly training regimen, along with the expected results.

Though Tonari's daily routine appeared to be mindless, relentless training, it was, in fact, meticulously planned.

After meeting Minato Namikaze, his goals had become clearer, necessitating some adjustments to his plans.

But tonight, his attention wasn't on his training or plans.

Reaching into his inner pocket, he retrieved three scrolls—gifts from Shimura Danzo.

Yes, three—not two.

In addition to the two taijutsu scrolls, the third one detailed a technique Tonari had long coveted: Shadow Clone Jutsu!

---

When he had impulsively asked Danzo for the Shadow Clone Jutsu, Tonari immediately regretted it.

For someone new to the ninja world, how could he possibly know about such a technique?

While the jutsu was not an absolute secret, it was still classified as a B-rank jutsu, typically reserved for chunin or higher-ranked ninjas.

Moreover, its hidden potential made it far more than a simple clone technique.

For most ninjas, using the Shadow Clone Jutsu was highly impractical—it consumed an enormous amount of chakra, splitting the user's chakra pool between the clones and the original. For those with limited chakra reserves, it was downright dangerous.

However, the technique had a unique, hidden feature: all experiences and knowledge gained by the shadow clones would return to the original upon dispelling. This cumulative effect of mental and muscle memory could be overwhelming for the average ninja.

Thus, the Shadow Clone Jutsu was typically used only for deception or reconnaissance.

Even so, Danzo had handed over the scroll. Though Tonari was unsure why, he couldn't forget the calculating glint in Danzo's eye.

---

Unrolling the scroll, Tonari found the instructions concise and straightforward.

The scroll described the hand seals, chakra flow patterns, and key points for safely using the jutsu.

After reading it twice, he ensured he committed every detail to memory. As expected, the scroll self-destructed after use to prevent unauthorized dissemination.

Tonari couldn't resist the urge to test it out.

---

Clearing a small space in his room, Tonari stood with his legs firmly planted. He formed the Ram Seal, the sole hand sign required for the jutsu.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

It wasn't as easy as he thought.

Tonari's chakra control left much to be desired, and what should have been a simple technique took several minutes of effort and focus.

Finally...

Poof!

A puff of smoke enveloped the room, revealing a figure identical to Tonari.

A perfect clone.

Relief flooded Tonari as he examined his clone.

It was flawless—every detail, including his infuriatingly handsome face, was identical.

"See? Even as a clone, I'm a masterpiece," Tonari muttered as he circled his duplicate, smugly admiring his handiwork.

With a grin, he issued his first command. "Test out those two taijutsu scrolls. Refine the techniques and adapt them into a cohesive training plan."

"Yes!" the clone replied.

It was a strange feeling, talking to an exact replica of himself.

Since this was his first attempt, Tonari and his clone shared equal portions of chakra. The clone would persist until its chakra was depleted or it was dispelled.

With his clone hard at work, Tonari collapsed onto his bed. For the first time, he felt true hope for his future strength.

"Big Kitty, I'm coming for you," he mumbled before drifting into a contented sleep.

---

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen set down his pen after finishing a pile of documents.

He reached for his crystal ball, ready for some much-needed relaxation, when several ANBU operatives appeared before him.

These were the same operatives tasked with monitoring Tonari. Their sudden appearance was unusual.

Normally, after ensuring Tonari's safety at the Nara clan compound, they would report in the morning with their findings.

The abruptness of their visit signaled urgency.

---

Hiruzen put the crystal ball aside and turned his attention to the ANBU captain.

The captain briefly recounted their earlier encounter with unknown assailants. Though the skirmish was brief, the attackers were highly skilled and seemed well-versed in ANBU tactics.

While they ensured Tonari remained unharmed, the attackers' motives and origins were troubling.

Hiruzen's expression darkened as he listened.

After a moment of silence, he spoke, his voice calm but commanding.

"I understand. Return to your duties as usual tomorrow. Dismissed."

The ANBU operatives vanished as quickly as they had appeared.

Left alone, Hiruzen stood by the window, his pipe in hand. From this vantage point, the entire village sprawled out before him, bathed in the warm glow of sunset.

"Danzo..." he muttered. "You've crossed the line before, but this time... you've gone too far."

Hiruzen's gaze hardened. Though his strength had begun to wane with age, his resolve burned as fiercely as ever.

"Dispatch a team to investigate Root's recent activities," he ordered, his voice steady and authoritative. "If necessary, remind Danzo of his place."

From the shadows, another ANBU operative acknowledged the order with a bow before disappearing.

Hiruzen took a long draw from his pipe, his eyes fixed on the horizon.

For now, the village remained calm—but storm clouds loomed on the horizon.

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(End of Chapter)