KONOHA :THE RISE OF KAITON

With the infusion of chakra, the paper in Kaiton's hand slowly began to change.

First, it wrinkled, followed by a split right down the middle. Finally, it caught fire and burned to ashes in mere moments.

"Wrinkled, split, and burned? That means I have Earth, Wind, and Fire chakra natures, right?" Kaiton asked with wide eyes.

Akirai's face lit up with uncontainable joy. Hugging his son tightly, he patted his back in excitement.

"Three chakra natures! Not only that, but you refined chakra successfully on your first attempt. Kaiton, you're a genius! A true genius!"

"Dad, is having three chakra natures that amazing? Does it mean I'm better than someone with only one?" Kaiton asked, his grin broadening.

Akirai chuckled and shook his head. "While having multiple chakra natures gives you more options, there are exceptional ninja with only one affinity. Take Lord Hokage, for instance. His mastery over Water Style is unmatched, earning him the title of the greatest Water Style user in the world. Talent is important, but dedication and training are what truly define a ninja's strength."

Kaiton nodded, absorbing his father's words.

"Now," Akirai continued, "let's discuss ninjutsu. Do you have an idea of what you'd like to learn first? Think carefully."

Kaiton furrowed his brows in thought before his eyes lit up. "Dad, when our teacher took pictures of us, they used a clone technique to do it. What was that?"

Akirai smiled knowingly. "That's the Shadow Clone Technique, a B-rank jutsu. It splits your chakra equally between you and the clones, which have the same abilities and memories as the original. When the clone dissipates, all its experiences return to the user. However, there's a catch—any pain or damage the clone suffers will be felt by you, the original. It's not a technique to be taken lightly."

Without hesitation, Kaiton decided. "That's the one I want to learn!"

Akirai's smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. "Are you sure, son? This isn't a beginner's technique. It's typically reserved for Chūnin-level ninja due to its chakra demands."

"I'm sure, Dad," Kaiton said confidently.

Akirai studied his son for a moment before heading to the basement. When he returned, he handed Kaiton a scroll.

"This contains the training method for the Shadow Clone Technique. Study it carefully, and let me know if you have questions."

Kaiton nodded eagerly, clutching the scroll as he returned to his room. Unrolling it, he committed every word to memory before attempting the jutsu.

His hands formed the seals, and chakra flowed through his body. He felt a spark of success as a puff of smoke appeared before him. But when the smoke cleared, nothing remained.

"What? I was so sure it worked!" Kaiton exclaimed. He then noticed how weak his chakra flame had become.

"Ah, I see now. I don't have enough chakra to perform this jutsu yet," Kaiton muttered, frustrated but determined.

Realizing he would need to increase his chakra reserves before mastering the technique, Kaiton decided to focus on refining his chakra for now.

---

The next morning, Kaiton woke up feeling unusually fatigued. Despite this, he pushed himself to complete his usual routine.

"Maybe I overdid it yesterday," Kaiton muttered as he jogged to the academy.

By the time he arrived, he was panting heavily and collapsed onto his desk.

Tsunade, who had just walked into the classroom, noticed his unusual state and approached him.

"Kaiton, are you okay? You look exhausted," she asked, concerned.

"I don't know... I just feel so drained," Kaiton admitted.

After some coaxing, Kaiton explained his late-night chakra training.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you stayed up all night refining chakra? That's why you're tired! You overdid it, Kaiton."

Hearing this, Kaiton blinked in realization.

Tsunade continued, "Chakra is made by combining physical and spiritual energy. Over-refining depletes your body's resources, which can leave you feeling drained—or worse, harm your health."

"Wait... does that mean extracting too much chakra could shorten my lifespan?" Kaiton asked, alarmed by the thought.

Tsunade shrugged. "Not exactly, but it's important to balance your training. Overworking your body can have consequences."

Kaiton let out a sigh of relief but silently vowed to be more cautious in the future.

---

Over the next few weeks, Kaiton focused on building his stamina and refining chakra in moderation. His physical training also continued to progress rapidly.

During sparring matches, Kaiton began to outperform his classmates. Even Jiraiya, who had initially been stronger, found himself struggling against Kaiton's growing skills.

Tsunade, however, remained a formidable opponent. While Kaiton had improved enough to hold his own for several rounds, he had yet to secure a victory against her.

"Just you wait, Tsunade," Kaiton muttered to himself one day after another defeat. "Once I master the Shadow Clone Technique, I'll surpass you for sure!"

---

One evening, after weeks of diligent practice, Kaiton felt ready to attempt the Shadow Clone Technique again.

This time, as he formed the seals and directed his chakra, he felt a shift. When the smoke cleared, a perfect replica of himself stood before him.

"I did it!" Kaiton exclaimed, his joy immeasurable.

He quickly tested the clone's abilities, marveling at how seamlessly it moved and responded. When the clone finally dissipated, Kaiton experienced a rush of memories and sensations, just as his father had described.

The realization of his success filled him with determination. "Tsunade, Jiraiya—just wait. The name Kaiton will soon echo throughout Konoha as the name of a true genius!"

And so, Kaiton continued his journey, determined to surpass every challenge and prove himself as one of Konoha's brightest stars.

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