Turns out Shadow Clones weren't as hard to learn as I'd expected. I thought it'd take months. It took a week.
The only reason it didn't take less is because I drained all my chakra on day one and spent three days in bed.
Still, the jutsu wasn't quite the game-changer I hoped. My clones couldn't use my slowed perception, and doing anything that required serious concentration made having more than two clones nearly impossible. Technically, I could make five clones, but having five different memories set forcefully shoved down your skull? Yeah, no thanks.
Even with only two clones, though, it was a win. I could multitask. One clone pestered Haruto to teach me Vacuum Palm. Another studied my Academy scrolls. And the real me trained my body.
On the school front, I tried getting along with my classmates. It… didn't go great to say the least
I challenged Kakashi to a friendly spar once, he throat-punched me. I retaliated by launching him into the air and kicking him into the dirt.
We… haven't spoken much since.
Guy, on the other hand, became my first, and only friend. We bonded over taijutsu, trained, and sparred together. After school, I joined him and his dad, Duy, for workouts that were ridiculous but surprisingly effective.
Time passed like that, and the year rolled on.
We finally started sparring in class. Until then, most of our time was spent on math, history, and basic ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu. We also had survival training, which was surprisingly useful. Fire-starting, tracking, how to move without being seen—all stuff I wouldn't have learned otherwise.
At first, sparring was fun. I literally poked my way through most of the class using Gentle Fist. Even put that bratty Asuma kid in the dirt, which only incensed the boy further, as I started accumulating my own group of fangirl, Kurenai included.
Seriously, they five for god sake, what kind of five year girl develops a crush? Chakra is cursed and blessed in many ways.
It was fun, at least until they started pairing me with Kakashi.
The brat throat-punched me again. Damn you cool silver hair anime character template 1!
Jokes aside, Kakashi was a great challenge. He was fast, smart, and unpredictable. I had to use my bullet-time perception just to keep up with the little gremlin. He'd kick dirt in my eyes, bait me into traps, or suddenly switch up his fighting style. Every fight was a chess match. And I loved it.
Overall, my academy life was solid. I was improving, making friends–well friend, and building skills.
But I knew it wouldn't last. The Third Shinobi War was probably less than a year away. And I didn't feel ready.
Sure, I could beat most genin. Maybe escape from a chunin. But against a jonin? I'd be dead.
I'd hoped to be stronger by now. But maybe that wasn't realistic. Still, the anxiety crept in, as I took a deep breath, pushing back the panic.
I was doing fine. I was five. And already at low-genin level. Worrying wouldn't help, or at least that was what I told myself
If I wanted to get stronger, I needed to try again—to awaken my Kaguya bloodline.
This time, with a focus on Yang-heavy chakra.