Chapter 31: But I Was Here First
Forbidden technique?
Hearing this, Uchiha Sasuke's eyes brightened slightly, but Uchiha Itachi saw through his thoughts at a glance.
"Sasuke, do you think that just by mastering forbidden techniques, you'll become stronger?"
"Isn't that the case?" Sasuke's response carried the presumption of youthful pride. "Forbidden techniques are called forbidden because they're too powerful—they can't be easily mastered by anyone."
Uchiha Itachi sighed lightly, his gaze sweeping across the four people before him. "It seems I need to first explain ninjutsu classification to you all."
"Ninjutsu is typically divided into six ranks: E, D, C, B, A, and S. But the classification standard isn't the technique's power—it's the difficulty of mastery. For instance, E-rank consists of the most basic ninjutsu, including the Three Basic Techniques. D-rank is slightly more complex, covering some simple release techniques and taijutsu. C-rank and above require higher chakra control ability and deeper chakra reserves. It's also the starting point for most genjutsu."
Sasuke asked urgently, "What about forbidden techniques? What rank are they?"
"Forbidden techniques aren't a rank," Itachi looked at Sasuke, his tone growing serious. "Forbidden techniques refer to jutsu that cause severe harm to the user or violate ethical principles. Some forbidden techniques consume the user's life force. Some require sacrificing others' lives. Others cause irreversible damage to the user's body. Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu is one such example."
"Forbidden techniques are prohibited not because they're too powerful, but because the price of using them is too heavy. Some forbidden techniques are indeed devastatingly powerful, but using them once might cost you your life. Such power isn't worth pursuing."
Sasuke lowered his head, sinking into thought.
In other words... as long as I can pay the price, forbidden techniques can also serve me?
Watching his brother bow his head in contemplation, Uchiha Itachi assumed he'd grasped the meaning.
"So, Sasuke, don't blindly pursue powerful techniques. A true expert isn't measured by how many forbidden techniques they've mastered, but by how they can utilize even ordinary ninjutsu to its extreme. The Fireball Jutsu is only C-rank by classification, but it's renowned precisely because its users are Uchiha."
Sasuke thought seriously. The Uchiha's specialties were still fire release and the Sharingan, so he dismissed his interest in forbidden techniques.
"I understand."
Uchiha Itachi nodded before looking at Kiyonari. "Kiyonari-kun, Shadow Clone Jutsu is B-rank. I need to confirm your chakra control ability. How about you try tree climbing first?"
"I know how to do that."
Kiyonari walked to a tree, concentrating chakra at his feet to form a thin layer of adhesion.
Then he lifted his foot, stepping onto the trunk. In just a few steps, he'd rushed upward at astonishing speed, quickly reaching the treetop. Standing on a branch, he looked down, hearing a chorus of "wows" below.
"Is this acceptable?" he called out.
"You were too fast just now," Itachi signaled him down. "I need you to walk slowly, step by step. Don't rush. Precisely control the chakra amount at your feet to form stable adhesion."
"I understand."
Kiyonari jumped down from the tree and tried again.
First step—success.
Second step forward, and his entire body adhered firmly to the trunk, nearly parallel with the ground.
Then the third step, still quite easy.
Kiyonari continued upward. When he'd walked halfway, he suddenly felt the adhesion at his feet weaken. His form swayed and he fell from the tree.
Just as he was about to hit the ground, Itachi rushed over and caught him steadily.
Sasuke watched this scene—especially Kiyonari lying peacefully in his brother's arms—and an indescribable sourness surged through his heart.
But... but I was here first! Going to the clan training ground means watching out for Shisui. Coming here, I still have to watch out for Kiyonari!
Ugh, why are they so terrible!
Uchiha Itachi set Kiyonari on the ground. "If it's just for practicing Shadow Clone Jutsu, this is already sufficient. Try using it once—I'll observe."
Kiyonari took a deep breath and formed hand seals.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
With a poof, two identical copies of Hyuga Kiyonari emerged from the smoke.
Uchiha Itachi used his Sharingan to observe the chakra flow within his body before speaking. "You're allocating too much chakra—somewhat wasteful. It would be better if you could control it more precisely. Now, try again."
"Alright."
Kiyonari nodded, dispelled the shadow clone, and formed seals again.
"Still too much. Try reducing the chakra by half again."
"Good now. Remember this chakra allocation amount. Next, try creating two shadow clones?"
...
In the time that followed, Kiyonari repeatedly practiced Shadow Clone Jutsu under Itachi's guidance. The number increased from one to three—his current limit.
Moreover, shadow clone memories returned to the original body when the technique dispelled. If used in combat, at most two shadow clones were suitable. Of course, this number could gradually increase through continuous practice.
Whether Senju Tobirama did it deliberately or not, shadow clones had poor resistance to attacks—precisely to prevent shadow clones from absorbing excessive damage that would affect the original. But even so, the returned memories when each shadow clone was destroyed would still make the original body feel dizzy and disoriented.
It was fortunate that Uzumaki Naruto was thick-headed, combined with dual guarantees from Uzumaki constitution and Nine-Tails chakra—buffs stacked full—allowing him to summon clones at will. His first use summoned over a thousand clones for battle. Anyone else would drop dead on the spot.
"Well done." Itachi glanced at the sky. "Alright, today's training ends here. I'll treat everyone to dumplings to rest."
"Yay!"
Ino immediately cheered. She'd been worried about finding an excuse to stay. As for Sakura, she naturally followed her friend—plus she could spend more time with Sasuke.
But Sasuke's face showed no happiness whatsoever. Even after they'd left the training grounds, he still stood in place, dissatisfaction showing in his eyes.
Sasuke tugged at Itachi's clothes. "Brother, why did you have to bring them along?"
Itachi looked at his brother, helplessness flashing through his eyes. "Sasuke, you should make more friends too. They're all excellent people—no worse than you. After all, I can't always be home with you."
Sasuke felt somewhat unwilling. "But... I finally get to go out with brother once. Tomorrow you'll be busy again."
Itachi fell silent for a moment. His index and middle fingers pressed together tapped Sasuke's forehead. "Forgive me, Sasuke. Next time."
He looked at Hyuga Kiyonari's retreating figure, recalling last night's casual conversation with Father.
"Perhaps... my work won't be so busy in the future."
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