Chapter 15: Stakes and Shadows
The tension in the Land of Rain was bleeding into Konoha, and Arata felt it in the grueling schedule. Classes ran all day, and now night self-study kept them at the academy past dusk. War's coming, Arata thought, his mind racing as he sat in Class A. Konoha's gearing up already.
On the podium, Sai's ever-present smile didn't waver. "Today, we'll learn a simple ninjutsu: the Transformation Technique."
Arata blinked. "Transformation Technique? Don't you mean Disguise Technique?"
Sai's smile twitched, but he nodded. "Good catch, Arata. The Disguise Technique is just an illusion, easily broken by sharp eyes. The Transformation Technique lets you blend into your surroundings, hiding in plain sight. It's not hard to learn, but it demands keen observation to pick the perfect cover."
He demonstrated, morphing seamlessly into a tree trunk, then a rock, his chakra blending with the environment. The class practiced, some struggling, others catching on fast. Arata, using his Byakugan's inner vision, mimicked Sai's chakra flow perfectly, vanishing into the classroom's wall in seconds.
By the end of the day, most students were drained, but Arata buzzed with energy. His inner vision was a cheat code—copying movements, chakra control, everything. If I see the Hyuga's Soft Fist or Heavenly Spin, he thought, I could master them in a day. The clan competition couldn't come soon enough.
Two months flew by, the academy's pace relentless. One morning, Unno and Sai entered together, their presence heavy. Sai spoke first. "Today, we start the Three Body Techniques: Body Flicker, Substitution, and Clone."
He demonstrated each, his movements precise. "Body Flicker's the base—move fast, strike or escape. Substitution builds on it, swapping yourself with an object. Clone's the hardest, creating doubles to confuse enemies."
Unno cut in, his voice stern. "Kunai's king for taijutsu; the Three Body Techniques are your ninjutsu foundation. Master them, or you're useless on the battlefield."
Sai nodded, his smile sharp. "They're versatile. Attack, probe, retreat—they do it all. Body Flicker's simple: channel chakra through seals to move. Substitution adds two more release points, trickier but manageable with practice. The key is hiding after the swap—observation and calm under pressure."
Unno added, "Clone Technique's the toughest. It needs precise chakra control and a big reserve. In a fight, if you can't find a substitute or you're too distracted, clones save you. But they're costly."
Sai ran through scenarios, showing how to weave the techniques together. The class watched, mesmerized, then turned to Unno, expecting a demo. He flushed, waving them off. "I'm here for taijutsu, not this. Show me what you got."
Sai's eyes glinted, landing on Arata. "Hyuga Arata, why don't you show us your Body Flicker?"
Arata stood, feeling the class's stares. He formed a seal—faking it for show, since his seal-less version was his secret—and vanished in a whoosh, reappearing ten meters away. The class murmured, impressed. Sai's smile tightened, his eyes flicking to Arata's hands. He knows I faked the seal, Arata realized, his gut tightening. Root's watching close.
"Well done," Sai said, his tone smooth. "A Hyuga with ninjutsu talent to match your taijutsu. Konoha's clans are truly something." His words were praise, but they jabbed at the Uchiha, who bristled.
Genka's face twisted. "Ninjutsu's our domain," he muttered, glaring at Arata.
Practice began. Most students fumbled, their seals sloppy or chakra uneven. Arata, though, breezed through. His inner vision let him mimic Sai's chakra flow perfectly, nailing the Substitution Technique by the end of class. Minato and Genka managed Body Flicker, both hitting ten meters, though Genka's was slower, his face red with frustration. Kushina struggled, her chakra too wild for the precision needed.
Sai clapped, ending the session. "Good start. Keep practicing—sync your chakra with your seals. In one month, we'll test you. First to master all three techniques, including three clones, gets a reward."
Arata's ears perked up. "What's the reward?" he asked.
Sai's smile widened. "The Shadow Clone Jutsu. A high-level technique, rare even for chunin. The village gave our class a few slots to learn it—if you earn it."
The class buzzed with excitement. Shadow Clones were no joke—real, solid doubles, not illusions. But Sai's smile faded as he glanced at Unno, who stepped forward, his face grim.
"And there's a catch," Unno said. "Fail to master the Three Body Techniques in a month, and you're out. Not just Class A—the entire academy."
The room went silent, the weight of the stakes sinking in. Arata's jaw tightened. A reward like Shadow Clone was huge, but expulsion? That was brutal. He caught Sai's glance, the man's smile back in place, but his eyes cold. He's testing us, Arata thought. Pushing to see who breaks.
Sai vanished in a puff of smoke—a shadow clone. The real Sai strolled in from the door, smirking. "Work hard, everyone. I'm rooting for you."
(End of Chapter)
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