The morning was quiet at the training field, just beyond the village's east wall. Birds chirped from the trees, and a faint breeze rustled the leaves. Ren stood alone at the center, eyes closed, breathing slow and steady.
He replayed Naruto's chaotic explanation in his head.
"Split your chakra... but not really...?"
He sighed. "That explanation was ridiculous."
Still, he imagined the chakra movement, visualized the energy division in his mind. Step by step, he traced the shape of the hand sign Naruto used.
"Let's see if this actually works."
He brought his hands together and focused.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof!
A burst of smoke surrounded him — and when it cleared, five identical copies of himself stood at attention.
Ren blinked, stunned.
"...It worked?"
The clones looked around, alive and alert, waiting for his command.
He exhaled slowly. "Five... on my first try. So this is why Naruto burned through his chakra so fast."
He studied his hands, then the clones. "So it really is tied to chakra volume. Must be another trait of the Uzumaki bloodline."
From behind a nearby tree, hidden in the shade, Arata watched silently.
His brows furrowed.
"He copied that jutsu in a day? Without even proper instruction?"
Arata crossed his arms, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"That kid is something else."
He stepped back quietly, deciding not to interrupt. Ren stood in the clearing, nodding slowly to himself as he began testing how long the clones could stay — a silent mind already analyzing the possibilities.
The real training... was just beginning.