"Anyway, figure it out yourself and come ask me if you get stuck!"
With that, Tsunade left.
The day's events had been a bit much for her, and she planned to gamble a few times to lift her spirits.
Minato stared at the small mountain of scrolls before him. He created four Shadow Clones, while his original form settled down to study the scroll containing the Wood Release techniques.
His goal was the Wood Clone technique, currently the most practical ninjutsu for him.
Unlike Shadow Clones, which exploded with a single hit, Wood Clones lasted longer and could withstand a certain amount of damage. Not only could they merge into trees, but when dispelled, they could also transform into tree roots to restrain enemies.
The only drawback was that Wood Clones required physical contact to share information, making them less convenient for intelligence transfer compared to Shadow Clones.
However, this wasn't an insurmountable problem.
For example, under sufficient Chakra, a Shadow Clone could create another Shadow Clone. Theoretically, a Wood Clone could do the same, then dispel the secondary clone to transmit information.
Alternatively, if he ever had the chance to capture a White Zetsu, he might be able to research the Mayfly Technique.
"Speaking of which..." Minato suddenly broke the silence, causing several Shadow Clones to look up at him.
"I've never tested this before. Can Shadow Clones use Light Release?"
A nearby Shadow Clone drew a kunai and stabbed it into his hand.
Pop!
The clone vanished.
Minato shook his head in disappointment. "Looks like not."
The Shadow Clone opposite him raised a finger and focused. "It's not just elemental transformation. None of my abilities seem to work."
Minato pressed on. "What about Wood Release?"
The clone focused again. "It's... ambiguous. It's like I can and can't use it at the same time."
Minato looked confused. "So can I or can't I?"
The clone described its sensation. "It feels like I can't directly grow wood from my body, but I can still sense the power of Wood Release."
"Let's just try it and find out, right?"
Another clone picked up the Wood Release scroll. "If I can't grow it directly, but I can still sense it... Here's what we'll do: I'll learn the Wood Release Technique, and you learn the Wood Clone Technique."
Soon, after memorizing the principles of both techniques, the group moved to the courtyard.
Two Shadow Clones each performed different ninjutsu techniques while Minato observed from the veranda. The remaining Shadow Clone, holding the Wood Release scroll, sat nearby to watch.
"Wood Release Technique!"
One of the Shadow Clones clapped his hands together, and a one-man-tall sapling suddenly sprouted before him.
"Wood Release: Wood Clone!"
The other Shadow Clone formed the Tiger, Dog, and Snake hand seals, then clapped his hands, but nothing happened.
"So that's how it is..." The Shadow Clone with the scroll said, looking unsurprised. "The principle of the Wood Clone is to use chakra to induce cellular mutation, causing the cells to split and form a clone. Since Shadow Clones are essentially just masses of chakra without cellular components, they naturally can't perform the Wood Clone."
"However, Shadow Clones can use pure Dōjutsu like the Wood Release Technique."
"If that's the case..."
Minato took the scroll and dispelled the Shadow Clones.
He then moved to the courtyard and formed hand seals. "Wood Release: Wood Clone!"
Crackling—
The sound of rapidly growing wood filled the air as three blocks of wood sprouted swiftly behind Minato. They quickly transformed into humanoid shapes, appearing identical to him.
"Can we use Light Release?" Minato asked eagerly as soon as his clones materialized, showing no surprise at the successful one-time activation.
One of the clones raised its hand, tested the air, and shook its head.
"This doesn't make sense. I understand why Shadow Clones can't use it—they're just energy constructs. But why can't Wood Clones use it either? They're fragments of my actual body."
"Could it be because of the splitting process? You know... the whole 'splitting your soul' thing?"
Minato nodded, understanding the clone's implication. The Devil Fruit's power only affected the host, and theoretically, the clones were independent entities detached from his original body.
"So does this mean Light Release can't be integrated with the Chakra system?"
"It's a bit hasty to draw that conclusion based solely on this observation..."
"True."
Minato's original form nodded. "Besides, our current training focus should be on Ninjutsu. My current repertoire isn't sufficient to support further research into these matters."
Hearing this, the clones stopped dwelling on the Glint-Glint Fruit and focused their attention on the Wood Release.
The scroll contained few actual ninjutsu techniques, but it offered numerous related applications and extensions.
For example, transforming a Wood Clone into a seed and leaving it on someone could serve as a tracking device or communication tool. However, without a tree to act as a signal relay, its range was limited to the user's perception.
The scroll also included insights on flower and plant cultivation, as well as crop farming.
Minato initially wondered why such information would be included in a ninjutsu scroll. But when he reached the end and saw Senju Hashirama's handwritten note, it all made sense.
Given the First Hokage's eccentric nature, it wasn't surprising at all.
In just over two hours, Minato memorized all the techniques recorded in the scroll. After recalling the three Wood Clones into his body, their combined experience meant he had effectively memorized the techniques four times!
However, processing over eight hours of accumulated memories left his head slightly foggy, though he wasn't physically tired. Minato suspected this was due to the Yin Release from his Sharingan, which seemed to enhance his mental endurance.
Rumble...
His stomach suddenly growled. Minato patted his belly, feeling famished.
"I ate plenty at noon. Seems overusing my brain makes me hungry faster..."
Minato created a Wood Clone to prepare ingredients and stepped out to buy groceries.
Vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, milk...
He wandered the streets, stopping here and there, quickly accumulating bags of groceries.
Realizing he looked a bit foolish, he created two Shadow Clones to help carry the bags.
"Shadow Clones?" The shopkeeper at the roadside stall stared in amazement. "How old are you, young man?"
"Five years old. How much are the chicken thighs?"
"Sixteen taels per catty... To be able to use Shadow Clones at this age, you're a prodigy!"
"You flatter me," Minato replied with a warm smile, his gentle grin illuminated by the setting sun, looking beautiful and warm.
Meanwhile, Tsunade, having just lost everything at the gambling den, was walking home, practicing dice-throwing gestures and muttering about her recent losses.
As she turned the corner, she caught a glimpse of a little blonde-haired boy nearby and paused.
Just as she was about to wave, her heart skipped a beat when she saw his face clearly.
Wait, this kid...
Why does he feel so strongly like a future husband?
Remembering the inexplicable flutter in her chest, Tsunade's cheeks flushed faintly. She silently cursed herself for being single too long, to the point of developing feelings for a child.
Though it lasted only a moment, it was enough to pin her to the pillar of shame as a pervert...
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