Training with Kin, on the other hand, was more complicated. She started by bringing her fingers together and trying to separate them while keeping the chakra at the tips still connected.
It seems simple, but it's an extremely difficult form change to maintain.
Even so, she didn't give up. She had tried the Jizo Needles and Wild Lion's Mane jutsus, but the result was only her hair becoming disheveled.
She was still far from it.
Of course, it wasn't hopeless, but it wouldn't be easy to learn.
Jugo, on the other hand, succeeded in the multiple shadow clone jutsu quickly.
The jutsu's rank wasn't related to its difficulty in learning, but to the jutsu's danger beyond the power it could exert. Power doesn't always mean damage, but some jutsus with extremely useful abilities, like the Flying Thunder God, are classified as S.
Difficulty, Value and Power are the factors used to determine a jutsu's rank.
Some jutsus, even without reaching S rank, if dangerous enough, can be classified as "Forbidden", in which case they should be used with extreme caution or in special cases, such as Naruto's absurd chakra.
Thus, the A rank of this jutsu is very low due to its difficulty, but due to its value and danger to the user, the common shadow clone jutsu is only Rank B and that's because the value is also high.
But in terms of difficulty to learn, this jutsu should be Rank C at most.
Thus, Jugo learned it quickly and a dozen clones appeared around him. Jugo smiled as he felt the chakra used rapidly recover. This group of clones went to the side to begin practicing nature transformation.
But Jugo didn't stop. He continued to create clones from time to time, sending some to assist Dosu and one to assist Kin.
The clones who helped Dosu trained the Hidden Mist Jutsu with him. Once they learned it, they would help Dosu get used to fighting without seeing.
After 30, he stopped, not because he wanted to, but because he was afraid of the repercussions. He wanted to test his limits first.
Three hours later, when the first clone burst, Jugo felt... a slight fatigue, so slight it was almost laughable.
Jugo was confused and thoughtful, but letting another clone fade away, he paid attention to what was happening this time.
As soon as the memories arrived, his mind passively activated the binding ability. When the memories reached him, only the information arrived and most of the "fatigue" was left out.
Jugo paused for a moment...
This changed everything.
The next moment, Jugo became a clone machine.
It took only half an hour for there to be over 200 clones in the clearing training. Dosu and Kin were numb, but said nothing.
By this point, Jugo had managed to cast a thin mist, gathering several clones. The mist became quite thick and Dosu's torture began. He was beaten by the mist again and again.
Jugo limited himself to taijutsu and even slowed down, but the sheer number of attacks and his unfamiliarity took their toll. Dosu was beaten more than Jugo's clone was beaten, only managing to destroy a clone occasionally.
Beside Kin, Jugo had her hang from a tree using only her chakra filled fingers, improving her chakra strength and finger control. These exercises were suggested in the note Orochimaru gave her.
The clones practiced all the jutsu he had obtained and some even received tips from Dosu while he rested for a while, such as using chakra to enhance spells without bursting an eardrum and how to send sound through matter to cause internal destruction.
Jugo learned as best he could.
He wasn't a master, but there were many of them and he kept making more.
Again and again, only at night they left. Dosu and Kin looked half dead, even Jugo had bloodshot eyes, as if he'd been awake for three days straight.
Even so, the improvements were evident.
He could now perform all the jutsus, even if he wasn't proficient in them. Furthermore, he also began to learn nature transformation with all five elements.
Yes, five, even fire and lightning, he began to try to master.
Ninjas can learn to use natures they weren't born with, but it's much more difficult.
Jugo could only say, if one can't, how about a hundred? Or a thousand? Or ten thousand?!
Jugo, despite being tired, was very excited.
The binding eliminated most of his fatigue. He didn't quite understand why, but he thought it was because they could be considered "mental attacks", even if the mental attacks came from his clone.
But he didn't care, instead, he was overjoyed, but feeling the weight of his mind, he felt ready to sleep for three days!
He didn't even know how many clones he had made today!
As they walked away down the shopping street, a Konoha ninja stopped in front of him.
Jugo wasn't feeling patient, but it was the other party's house, so he looked at them with indifferent eyes. Dosu and Kin, even tired, still tried to stay combat ready.
-What?- Jugo asked irritably.
-Jugo-dono, my name is Yamanaka Inoichi.- The man bowed slightly to him with a neutral expression.
-Dono...?- Jugo was a little curious. Wasn't that Ino's father? What was he doing here? And on top of that, speaking so respectfully?
Inoichi didn't seem to mind his confusion and spoke quickly. -Jugo-dono, could we talk in private?
Jugo was a little confused, but still nodded.
Soon they went to a regular restaurant and Jugo took the opportunity to order at Inoichi's expense. Even Dosu ordered takeout, it seemed he was happy to use other people's money.
Waiting for the food, Jugo asked directly. - What do you want? I don't remember us being friends.
-...- Inoichi was silent for a moment, before saying. -Jugo-dono, during the chunin exams, to stop you from... hurting Rock Lee, my daughter used mind transfer on you. Do you remember that?
Jugo paused for a moment, confused and remembered about it. In fact, he was still a little crazy at the time and it wasn't something very important, so he had forgotten.
-Yes? So what?- Jugo looked confused.
Inoichi was silent for a moment longer before saying, -Something went wrong with her mind. She can't wake up. We've tried everything and discovered that there's dark chakra stuck in her consciousness, preventing her from waking up and slowly consuming her mind. She doesn't have much time left. I'd like to ask Jugo-dono to help us.
Inoichi bowed deeply as he said this.
Inoichi was actually furious inside, bowing his head like that, especially to the man who did this to his daughter. But he knew right from wrong. Ino attacked him first, he was only defending himself. There was no reason to create a dispute between the villages over this. Even if he did, the leader of Otogakure might even demand compensation for Jugo being attacked by a Konoha ninja during a fair fight.
It was Shikaku himself who analyzed this for him and said that the best solution might lie with the one who caused the problem.
At first, Shikaku and Choza wanted to come with him, but he refused. Coming together could be considered intimidation. Shikaku knew that, but he also knew Inoichi needed support.
In the end, Inoichi managed to convince them and he came alone.
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--x--
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