The sun rose slowly over Mount Myoboku, painting the mist in orange and gold. Kaelen stood near the edge of the mountain, breathing steadily, his sword at his side.
The battle with the corrupted frog had pushed him near his limits — but it also reminded him why he came to this world.
"I've gained strength," he muttered, "but strength without control is just chaos."
It was time to prepare for the next step — becoming a Genin of Konoha.
He rolled his shoulders, focusing his chakra. The Sage Mode training had sharpened his senses. He could feel the flow of energy in every breath, every heartbeat.
Now, he needed to master something else — jutsu that would keep him alive.
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Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu
He sat cross-legged in the clearing, scrolls laid out before him. The words danced across the paper, describing a jutsu forbidden to most.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu…" he whispered. "A technique that splits chakra into countless parts — dangerous if your reserves aren't strong enough."
Kaelen closed his eyes. He remembered Naruto using it like a storm — endless clones overwhelming everything in sight.
He wasn't Naruto. He didn't have that bottomless chakra pool.
But he had precision. He had control.
Forming the hand signs, he inhaled deeply. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof! Two clones appeared beside him — one flickering slightly, unstable. The air felt heavy.
Kaelen grit his teeth. His chakra was draining faster than he expected. "Too much output… I need to balance it."
He dispelled them and tried again, adjusting his focus. This time, three clones appeared — steady, sharp-eyed, solid.
Each one held a copy of his wooden sword.
"Better," he said, smirking. "Now, I can divide my training — three times faster."
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Substitution Jutsu
After hours of clone work, Kaelen opened the next scroll.
"Substitution Jutsu," he read quietly. "Exchange yourself with a clone, an object, or a log — timing is everything."
He exhaled and focused. "Let's try."
A shadow flickered through the trees.
He threw a kunai at a target — then another toward himself. In the instant before impact, his body vanished in a puff of smoke.
A wooden log clattered to the ground.
Kaelen reappeared behind his target, blade drawn. "Perfect."
He grinned to himself. "If I can combine Substitution with Body Flicker… I'll be almost untouchable."
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The sun dipped behind the mountains, casting long shadows across the forest.
Kaelen sat on a boulder, sweat glistening on his skin, watching the horizon.
Tomorrow, he would return to Konoha. Tomorrow, he would take his Genin test.
He looked down at his hand, faint chakra still glowing around his fingers.
"I've trained as a swordsman, fought as a warrior, and now… I'll live as a ninja," he said softly. "No more limits. I'll carve my own path — one strike at a time."
The wind answered with a whisper, carrying his resolve across the fading light.
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