It took Shiro quite a bit of effort, parsing through the dense academic terminology, but he finally managed to construct a fundamental understanding of the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
"Alright, the groundwork is laid. Now it's time to see what this system can really do," he whispered, a smirk playing on his lips.
Without hesitation, Shiro activated the [One-Click Max Level] trait, directing its power toward his newly acquired knowledge of the Shadow Clone Jutsu. In a fraction of a second, he felt a profound shift within his mind and muscle memory. His proficiency rocketed from a clumsy, theoretical grasp straight to flawless, absolute mastery. It was as if he had spent decades relentlessly practicing the technique until it was etched into his very soul.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
He didn't even need to weave the signs; a mere thought and a flex of his will were enough.
*Poof! Poof! Poof!*
A series of sharp explosions echoed in the small apartment as thick plumes of white smoke erupted around him. As the smoke quickly dissipated, over a dozen perfect, physical copies of Shiro stood shoulder-to-shoulder, filling the cramped room.
"Incredible... creating over a dozen advanced clones at once, and I don't feel the slightest bit of strain!" Shiro marveled, clenching his fists to test his energy levels.
Even after expending the chakra necessary to instantly manifest so many high-level solid clones, his original body felt completely unaffected. There was no fatigue, no dizziness, no sign of chakra depletion whatsoever.
"And judging by the density... the chakra capacity within each individual clone is roughly equivalent to a standard Jonin!"
Shiro's enhanced senses allowed him to accurately gauge the power of his creations. Each of the dozen clones possessed chakra reserves roughly comparable to two whole Kakashis. It was a staggering realization.
The sheer volume of the Senju chakra now roaring within Shiro's own body was simply too massive to comprehend—so unimaginably vast that even a monstrous Tailed Beast might feel a twinge of inadequacy if forced to compare reserves.
Caught up in the thrill of testing his newfound power, Shiro completely lost track of time. He was pleasantly surprised to notice the first rays of dawn creeping through his window. It was already a new day, which meant...
"System, initiate daily sign-in."
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully signing in. You have obtained the Unique Entry: Heaven-Defying Comprehension. The Host can now perfectly comprehend and learn the foundational mechanics of any ninjutsu simply by observing it a single time.]
Shiro was absolutely ecstatic, his eyes wide with disbelief.
He immediately grasped the terrifying synergy of his abilities. Having [Heaven-Defying Comprehension] paired directly with [One-Click Max Level] was a combination so broken it practically defied the laws of reality.
He could now learn the foundation of *any* jutsu in existence just by watching someone use it once, and then immediately max it out to its pinnacle level with a single thought! He was a walking, breathing cheat code.
"This is perfect timing. The schedule says today's academy session involves practical combat training," Shiro mused, dismissing his clones with a wave of his hand.
The upcoming graduation exams would inevitably involve team assignments based on these final evaluations. He knew he *could* choose to continue hiding his power, playing the role of the handsome, untalented dead-last to avoid drawing unwanted attention from the higher-ups.
However, knowing Konoha's dark, pragmatic nature, he also knew that graduating as a thoroughly average, civilian-born ninja was essentially a death sentence. The village had a long, bloody history of utilizing perfectly average genin as expendable cannon fodder on the chaotic frontlines of whatever conflict inevitably broke out next. The statistical probability of dying a meaningless death as a low-level grunt was astronomically high.
To survive the impending storms, Shiro urgently needed to rapidly expand his arsenal, especially focusing on acquiring the forbidden techniques locked away within the Hokage's fabled Scroll of Seals.
Jutsu of that legendary caliber—the space-time manipulation of the Flying Raijin, the devastating chain reactions of the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, or the absolute physical peak of the Eight Inner Gates—would be instrumental in ensuring his survival and dominance.
To gain access to such restricted resources, he needed to prove his immense value to the village leadership. Based on that undeniable logic alone, Shiro resolved that he would absolutely not hold back during today's practical exams. It was time to make a statement.
---
Later that morning, Shiro found himself in absolutely no rush to head straight to the Ninja Academy. After all, considering his current capabilities, attending basic classes was nothing more than a tedious formality.
Taking his time, he strolled leisurely through Konoha's bustling commercial district, eventually pausing outside a well-stocked ninja tool shop that caught his eye.
Stepping inside, Shiro swept his gaze over the dazzling array of standard weaponry—kunai, shuriken, wire strings—before his eyes locked onto a specialized section near the back of the store, dedicated entirely to heavy-duty physical conditioning equipment.
"Welcome, young man! I see you're an academy student. Are you perhaps interested in picking up some resistance gear for your taijutsu training?"
Noticing Shiro's focused expression, the shop owner, a burly man with a friendly smile, quickly stepped out from behind the counter to offer his assistance. "You have an excellent eye! The weighted gear we carry here is considered the most professional and durable in all of Konoha..."
"I'd like to try out your weight seals," Shiro interrupted politely, pointing toward the top shelf behind the counter.
"Excellent choice, let me just grab the standard genin set—"
"Not those," Shiro clarified smoothly before the owner could even reach for them. "I want the absolute heaviest training seals you have in stock. The maximum capacity."
"Excuse me?" The shop owner blinked, visibly taken aback, wondering if he had misheard the slender academy student.
"I said, give me the heaviest weight seals you possess," Shiro repeated, his voice calm but firm.
Seeing the boy's unwavering expression, the owner realized he was entirely serious. He looked completely bewildered.
"Listen, kid... training seals of that magnitude are absolutely not something a student, or even most chunin, can handle! They're designed for specialized taijutsu masters. You could seriously injure yourself!"
The owner tried his best to dissuade the boy, acting out of genuine concern, but Shiro's attitude remained immovably resolute.
Just as the owner was rubbing his temples, unsure of how to proceed, a young ninja clad in a vibrant, slightly obnoxious green jumpsuit burst into the shop.
"Oh? Is that..." Rock Lee blinked in surprise, not expecting to run into one of his peers from the academy so early in the morning.
But as Lee listened to the conversation, his thick eyebrows shot up in alarm. He realized the boy was demanding the shop's maximum-level weight seals. Those particular seals were so intensely heavy that even Lee, who practically lived and breathed extreme physical conditioning, wouldn't dare attempt to use them yet. It would be akin to strapping boulders to one's limbs.
Ignoring the newcomer, Shiro simply placed a stack of ryo on the counter and gestured for the owner to fetch the item.
"Young man, I am warning you one last time. Once these specific seals are applied and activated, the gravitational pressure takes effect instantly and forcefully!" the owner cautioned sternly as he reluctantly retrieved a thick, heavy-looking scroll from a locked cabinet.
Seeing Shiro nod dismissively, the owner sighed and carefully applied the seals to Shiro's wrists and ankles.
*Hiss!* The seals glowed briefly as they activated. The owner stepped back, fully expecting the boy to instantly collapse under the crushing, sudden weight.
Instead, Shiro simply rolled his shoulders and casually stretched his limbs, performing a few quick kicks and punches. His movements were fluid, effortless, and lightning-fast. The monstrous weight didn't seem to hinder his mobility or posture in the absolute slightest.
"This... how is this even physically possible?!"
Watching this casually defied physics, Rock Lee felt his entire worldview threatening to shatter into a million pieces. Those were the highest-grade resistance seals available! How could a seemingly ordinary, non-taijutsu-focused student like Shiro remain completely unaffected by that level of crushing pressure?
"I... I don't..." The shop owner was similarly dumbfounded, his jaw practically hitting the floor. He had been selling ninja tools in Konoha for decades. In all his years, he had never once seen anyone successfully equip, let alone casually move in, resistance seals of that extreme caliber without immense struggle.
Under their wide-eyed, disbelieving stares, Shiro calmly nodded his thanks, pocketed his change, and strolled out of the shop as if he was walking on air.
Only the flabbergasted owner and a trembling Rock Lee remained, staring blankly at the empty doorway.
"Incredible... simply incredible! Shiro must train with unimaginable intensity in absolute secrecy every single day!" Lee suddenly shouted, tears of profound inspiration streaming down his face. "That has to be it! To possess such unbelievable raw strength... he must endure grueling, hellish regimens while the rest of us sleep!"
Rock Lee found himself inexplicably and deeply moved by Shiro's assumed dedication. He began loudly proclaiming to the empty shop about what a tragically misunderstood, incredibly hardworking genius Shiro truly was.
"Yosh! I cannot allow myself to fall behind such a magnificent rival! From this moment onward, I am immediately adding one thousand extra practice kicks to my daily routine!" Lee roared, his blood boiling with youthful passion as he thrust his fist toward the ceiling.
It seemed that simply witnessing Shiro's casual display of strength had profoundly inspired Lee, convincing the green-clad boy that his own efforts were entirely insufficient.
Outside the shop, hearing the muffled, passionate shouting from within, Shiro paused for a moment. *'Is that guy feeling alright?'* he wondered, feeling a bit bewildered by Lee's sudden outburst.
"Whatever, I should probably head to the academy before Iruka starts his lecture," Shiro muttered, quickly dismissing the bizarre encounter from his mind as he headed toward the school.
By the time Shiro finally arrived at the Ninja Academy grounds, the main entrance was practically barricaded by a massive, chaotic throng of students.
"Oh my gosh, it's him! Shiro is finally here!"
The moment he was spotted, a large group of female students swarmed around him like bees to honey, their eyes sparkling with undisguised infatuation.
"Shiro! I woke up extra early today to make this special bento box just for you! Would you do me the honor of sharing lunch with me?"
A girl with striking pink hair, bright emerald eyes, and a prominent red ribbon squeezed her way to the very front of the pack. Sakura held out a meticulously crafted, incredibly elaborate bento box, her cheeks dusted with a hopeful blush.
"Oh, please, Sakura. As if Shiro would ever want to eat that sloppy mess you call cooking," a blonde girl scoffed, pushing past her rival. Ino Yamanaka, even at this young age, already carried herself with a confident, budding beauty. She presented her own equally elaborate lunch. "My bento is far superior, Shiro!"
Despite their fierce rivalry over Sasuke, it seemed neither Ino nor Sakura were immune to the intense, competitive jealousy that surrounded Shiro's attention.
"Dammit... why is that guy always so ridiculously popular?"
Standing near the edge of the chaotic crowd, Naruto Uzumaki crossed his arms, his face practically radiating a potent mixture of bitter envy and intense jealousy.
"It is a simple matter of observable facts. Shiro's physical attractiveness is arguably unmatched within the entire village," Shino Aburame stated calmly, suddenly appearing beside Naruto. The bug user adjusted his dark sunglasses, his tone entirely analytical.
*Whimper... whine...*
As they were speaking, Akamaru, the small white ninken perched atop Kiba Inuzuka's head, suddenly began to whimper pathetically, burying his face into his master's hair, his small body trembling violently.
"Hey, what's wrong, Akamaru? Are you feeling sick?" Naruto asked, leaning in, confused as to why the usually energetic pup looked so utterly terrified.
"Akamaru, what are you trying to tell me?" Kiba asked, his own expression shifting to one of profound surprise as he quickly communicated with his canine partner. He listened intently to the dog's panicked barks.
"He... Akamaru just told me that he's sensing an absolutely monstrous, terrifying aura radiating from Shiro." Kiba looked up, his face pale, entirely bewildered by the information.
It made no sense. It wasn't as if Akamaru hadn't been around Shiro hundreds of times before. Why was the dog suddenly having such a massive, visceral reaction to him today?
"Hmm?" Shino hummed softly. A few of his parasitic kikaichu bugs flew out from his collar, buzzing frantically near his ear as if urgently relaying a message.
Shino pushed his glasses further up his nose and cast a sharp, calculating glance toward the trembling Akamaru. "Kiba... your ninken's sensory perception is remarkably acute."
For the very first time, Shino, a boy whose expression was famously as unreadable as a stone wall, wore a look of intense, unmistakable solemnity.
"Wait... are you saying you felt it too?" Kiba asked, recalling how Shino had just conversed with his insects. The realization hit him like a physical blow. "Did your bugs..."
Shino nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the center of the crowd. "My kikaichu have just informed me that the boy standing over there... Shiro... is currently emitting an aura that is countless times more terrifying and dangerous than anything he has ever possessed before."
Hearing this confirmation, both Shino and Kiba turned to look at the handsome, smiling boy surrounded by cheering girls, their expressions identical masks of extreme caution and deep-seated apprehension.
Only Naruto remained completely oblivious to the tense undercurrents.
"Huh? Is that right? Because I can't sense anything different at all," Naruto said, squinting hard at Shiro. "He just looks like the same old, annoying, show-off Shiro to me!"
Naruto genuinely couldn't comprehend what his classmates were talking about. From his perspective, Shiro was just being his usual, infuriatingly popular self, with countless girls fighting tooth and nail just to hand him a lunchbox.
"No, Naruto... you truly do not understand," Kiba and Shino replied in eerie, perfect unison, their eyes never leaving the boy in the crowd.
The burning question that plagued both the Inuzuka and the Aburame was singular and deeply troubling: What in the world could have possibly transpired to cause the perpetually average Shiro to undergo such a fundamental, terrifying transformation entirely overnight?
"Alright, alright, whatever you guys say. But we need to get inside; class is about to start," Naruto said, waving off their concerns and interrupting their intense train of thought. "Iruka-sensei mentioned yesterday that he had a really important announcement to make this morning."