Chapter 58: Stormy Practice
Hearing the slight reprimand in Liumu's voice, a sudden glimmer appeared in Haku's eyes. Her nose twitched, and her heart ached with a strange, warm feeling.
Hic— With a soft sob, she threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
Having lived in lonely isolation since childhood, she had never known the warmth of family. Even though they had been strangers, even rivals, now, under this shared roof, they were like a real family, caring for each other wholeheartedly, asking for nothing in return.
"Whoa, ease up a little, ease up! You're too strong, I can't breathe!"
Pfft! Hearing his muffled complaint, Haku loosened her grip, watching Liumu gasp for air. A bubble of laughter escaped her.
"What are you laughing at?" Liumu glared, pretending to be annoyed. "Trying to murder your benefactor? If you're not resting, what are you doing out here?"
"I… I saw lightning outside," Haku said, her smile fading. "It looks like it might rain tonight."
Rain? Liumu recalled the three Root agents he'd left trapped in his genjutsu in the Konoha forest. The illusion was set to last three days automatically. As shinobi, a night in the rain shouldn't kill them.
"I mean… the laundry I did today is still hanging outside. I haven't brought it in yet."
Liumu: "…"
"You could have just said that! Making me guess!" He wiped his hands on a rag and hurried outside.
The sky was a blanket of dark clouds, lit by intermittent flashes. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
CRACK!
A bolt of lightning, like a furious dragon, ripped across the heavens, its twisted form illuminating the darkness with an angry, violet-white light. The wind howled, shaking the very clouds. The dragon seemed to roar, and with a final, earth-shattering detonation, the sky split open. Torrential rain poured down, drenching the world in an instant.
Note: The author really went all out on this weather description.
"Whoa!" Liumu scrambled, yanking clothes off the line and dashing back inside, soaked in seconds.
He dumped the armful of wet laundry on the bed and began hastily folding.
"Huh? What's this?" He held up a small, silky garment, turning it over in confusion. "What's it for?"
Whoosh. A pale, jade-like arm shot out, snatching it from his hand. Haku's face was crimson, her head bowed so low her chin touched her chest. "Mine… I'm sorry, I forgot I washed that too…"
Liumu: "…???"
It doesn't make sense! He shook his head, mystified, finished folding the rest, and put everything away.
Dinner was a simple affair. Over the meal, Liumu brought up his travel plans again. Haku's eyes lit up with eager excitement, and her immediate agreement settled the matter.
CRACK! Another thunderclap shook the windows. The rain hammered relentlessly against the roof.
When it was time to sleep, Liumu brought Haku into the Time Chamber with him. His goal this time was to master the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique before returning to the real world.
As for Haku… while her Ice Release Kekkei Genkai was a rare gift, it also limited her developmental path as a shinobi. The Scroll of Seals had little on Ice Release, only brief mentions with no practical instruction.
However, when Liumu let her choose from the copied manuscripts, Haku surprised him by selecting a medical ninjutsu.
"I want to stand behind you," she said, her voice firm. "If one day you need me, my Ice Release will be the last barrier protecting your light."
Liumu smiled softly. He wouldn't interfere with her choice. "With me here, you can just relax. I'll handle everything."
He flexed a bicep that, while not particularly muscular, was undoubtedly strong. Then, they settled into their respective training.
Liumu's first target was the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. While its power was A-rank, the chakra cost was prohibitive for most. But Liumu, with the Taotie's Gluttony supplying him, had chakra to spare.
He imagined it: using the Saitama template, creating hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of clones… the scene was mind-boggling.
"Don't think about it! Don't think about it!" He chuckled to himself and focused on the hand seals described in the manuscript.
Boar → Dog → Bird → Monkey → Boar → Dog → Bird → Ram.
Compared to the three seals of the basic Clone Technique, this required completing eight complex seals within four seconds while simultaneously regulating the precise, massive amount of chakra needed.
Liumu was confident in his hand speed—he'd practiced. And so…
Poof! Poof! Poof!
On his first attempt, three solid shadow clones materialized beside him.
Encouraged, he tried channeling more chakra.
Poof-poof-poof-poof…
Another series of pops. He turned to see a small crowd of Liumu clones standing behind him.
He blinked. "Is it… really that easy?"
It had taken him months to barely grasp the basic Clone Technique under Jiraiya. Now, a far more advanced jutsu came almost instinctively.
"Could it be…?" The Kizaru template had raised his Talent Value to 90. He didn't know how that stacked up against others, but it was clear now: with this template active, learning ninjutsu was no longer a struggle.
After drilling the eight seals into his muscle memory, Liumu's thoughts drifted to another, more… creative application of transformation and clones that a certain knucklehead would later pioneer.
"But… whose appearance should I use as the template?"
In his previous life, he'd seen countless beauties. The first glance might stir the heart, but by the next morning, their faces often blurred. The only ones that remained vividly etched were those seen through computer and phone screens…
"Got it!"
Changing his mind as he spoke, Liumu glanced at Haku, who was deep in her own medical ninjutsu practice and wouldn't notice. His hands flew through the familiar Transformation Jutsu seals, molding the chakra according to the image forming in his mind…
Poof!
Hiss— Liumu drew a sharp breath, his eyes widening as he took in the appearance of the transformed clone.
"Wow! So similar! Exactly like her! Right down to the… lack of clothing…"
Without the convenient, censoring smoke of a certain Jounin's technique, the transformation was… complete.
Physics Teacher… it really is you! (Doge face)
"Stupid Liumu, I'm your clone," the figure said, tilting its head.
Liumu: "…"
The likeness was so perfect it was momentarily disorienting. But now that he had Multiple Shadow Clones and had… thoroughly researched such transformation applications, a wide, slightly unsettling grin spread across Liumu's face. He was definitely thinking about something.
(End of Chapter)
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