11: Climbing Trees and Treading Water Five Years in Advance, Shadow Clone Practice

[Sasuke, feeling uncertain about his next step in training, approached Iruka-sensei for advice.]

[Iruka was quick to acknowledge that Sasuke's abilities had already far surpassed those of his peers.]

[Following Iruka's suggestion, Sasuke began training in chakra control techniques such as tree climbing and water walking.]

---

Iruka: "Is this really happening? Sasuke on our side never asks for help!"

Hatake Kakashi: "Our Sasuke shut himself off emotionally after the Uchiha massacre. Naturally, he wouldn't ask anyone for guidance."

Jiraiya: "That makes sense! But this other Sasuke is more mentally balanced. He doesn't mind asking for advice or even using people like tools—like how he handles Sakura!"

Uchiha Sasuke felt a twinge of envy.

The other Sasuke, in a parallel world, was already doing advanced chakra control exercises like tree climbing and water walking. Five years ahead of where I am now...

---

[Driven by determination, Sasuke threw himself into mastering these techniques.]

[Soon, he realized that his father's scroll contained the instructions for the Shadow Clone Jutsu.]

[He thought it was an excellent opportunity to multitask: while the clone could stay at the academy and absorb knowledge, he could continue intense training.]

[One night, after releasing his Shadow Clone, Sasuke had a sudden epiphany:]

"When the Shadow Clone is dispelled, its memories and experiences return to the original body..."

[His eyes gleamed with realization.]

[Could I speed up my training using this technique?]

[The next morning, Sasuke put his theory to the test.]

[He had both his real self and a Shadow Clone practice chakra control tree climbing and water walking.]

[At night, when he dispelled the clone, all its experiences flowed back to him.]

[While the process left him mentally fatigued, it undeniably worked.]

---

Might Guy: "You can use clones... for training?!"

Rock Lee: "Sensei, if this works, we could double our training speed!"

Hatake Kakashi: "Hold on, it's only effective for training based on experience like chakra control or jutsu knowledge. It won't work for physical training."

Might Guy: "Ah, what a shame!"

Namikaze Minato: "Not entirely. Combat skills, reflexes, and experience-based physical techniques can benefit from this too. But yes, physical growth itself can't be accelerated."

Jiraiya: "Correct. Physical development will still require real training."

Uzumaki Naruto: "That's it! I'm going to use Shadow Clones to practice every day! Just you wait, I'll beat Sasuke within a month!"

Uchiha Sasuke: "Idiot, do you really think I'm not going to do the same?"

Hatake Kakashi: "Don't get too carried away. Using this method requires a large chakra reserve and strong mental endurance."

Kakashi pondered quietly. For someone like Naruto, this method might be perfect, especially given his Uzumaki bloodline and the vast Nine Tails chakra within him. Plus, his carefree nature would let him endure the strain.

---

[After just a week of grueling training, Sasuke had fully mastered tree climbing and water walking.]

[He noticed that his chakra control had greatly improved—he could now perform the same jutsu with only half the chakra he used before.]

[Soon after, Sasuke started learning B-rank fire-style jutsu from his father's scrolls.]

---

Ōnoki: "B-rank fire jutsu... His talent is remarkable."

Fourth Raikage: "Only B-rank? Shouldn't an Uchiha be mastering something higher?"

Uchiha Fugaku: "He doesn't yet have access to the more advanced techniques like Great Fire Annihilation or Fire Phoenix Sage Flower."

In response, Uchiha Sasuke added: "Dad, that's another version of me..."

Fugaku coughed, slightly embarrassed.

---

[Back at the academy, Sasuke raised the bar for his training.]

[He started by using his real body to defeat Naruto and his team.]

[Then he challenged himself to fight them using only a Shadow Clone.]

[Even without activating the Sharingan, Sasuke easily handled them.]

---

Inuzuka Kiba: "This is ridiculous! That Sasuke is just toying with us!"

Nara Shikamaru: "Yeah... It's hard to stay motivated when the gap is that big."

Even someone as laid-back as Shikamaru found it hard not to feel frustrated at being so easily outclassed by Sasuke.

---

[Once again, Sasuke sought new training ideas from Iruka-sensei.]

[But now, Iruka was finding it harder and harder to guide him.]

[At first, Iruka was eager to help, offering all sorts of suggestions.]

[But over time, he became more and more nervous as Sasuke's rate of improvement became almost frightening.]

[By using his real self and his Shadow Clone to practice simultaneously, Sasuke's training speed had essentially doubled.]

[Iruka was starting to realize that Sasuke had outgrown him.]

---

Iruka: "He knows more ninjutsu than I do."

---

[Sasuke's proficiency in Uchiha throwing techniques enhanced by the Sharingan was leagues beyond what Iruka could teach.]

[His genjutsu skills, thanks to the Two Tomoe Sharingan, had also surpassed Iruka's.]

[His chakra control exercises? Already mastered.]

[The only thing Sasuke lacked was physical strength and chakra reserves limitations that would improve with age.]

---

Iruka, feeling increasingly out of his depth, began to dread the moment Sasuke would come asking for advice again.