The mood on the hastily arranged caravan back to Konohagakure was subdued, a stark contrast to the boisterous energy that had characterized their departure weeks earlier.
The sun beat down, but it was the chill of remembered terror and uncertain futures that truly permeated the air. Several days had passed since Shukaku's rampage and the abrupt postponement of the Chunin Exams. Sunagakure, while outwardly projecting an image of strained normalcy, was a village deep in crisis.
Team Twelve sat together in one of the covered wagons shaking along with it's movement. Izumi stared out at the monotonous desert landscape, her expression thoughtful. Renji, for once, wasn't fidgeting, he was quietly cleaning his trench knives.
Ryuu, too, was quiet, his gaze distant. The image of Shukaku's monstrous form, the sheer overwhelming tide of its chakra, was seared into his mind. The experience hadn't just been frightening, it had been instructive.
It was a brutal, visceral lesson in the scales of power that truly existed in their world. His own capabilities felt significant in the context of Genin and even most Chunin, but against a Bijuu? Against entities like the Otsutsuki he knew would appear in the future.
He was still incredibly weak.
Genma leaned against the wagon's frame, senbon twitching. "Long faces, the lot of you. Expected, I suppose. That wasn't exactly a textbook Chunin Exam."
"It was…" Izumi began, then paused, searching for the right word. "...a lesson in humility, Sensei. For all of us."
"Damn straight," Renji muttered, not looking up. "Seeing that thing… makes our missions and battles feel like kid's stuff."
"They are kid's stuff, relatively," Genma said, his tone surprisingly gentle. "But that 'kid's stuff' is how you learn to survive long enough to even witness the bigger monsters, let alone figure out how to deal with them. Ryuu," he looked directly at his most analytical student, "you got your win. That counts. Back in Konoha, the paperwork will get sorted. The proctors' reports from Suna were… favorable regarding your performance, even before everything went sideways."
Ryuu met Genma's gaze. "The promotion isn't what's on my mind, Sensei."
"Figured as much," Genma grunted.
The journey continued, punctuated by the mundane rhythm of travel. The Konoha Jonin maintained a professional vigilance, ensuring their charges were secure. There were quiet discussions among them, no doubt dissecting the events in Suna.
For Ryuu, the desert miles became the perfect time to plan things for the future. Power was not just about clever jutsu or tactical surprise, it was also about sheer, overwhelming force and the chakra reserves to sustain it. His current Ice Release techniques, while potent, were insufficient to say the least. He needed more. He needed volume, scale, and the means to train exponentially faster.
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. It was the only way of him increasing his strength much faster without having to go into harsher or darker methods.
With the exams effectively over for him in terms of pass/fail, and the immediate threat of outside observers diminished now they were heading home, perhaps the time was right.
The moment they passed through Konoha's familiar main gates, days later, the oppressive tension of the event seemed to lift, replaced by the comforting hum of their own village. The air smelled of green things, of home.
Genma dismissed Izumi and Renji with instructions to rest and report for debriefing the next day. He held Ryuu back for a moment.
"You'll report to the Hokage's office with me tomorrow morning, 0900 hours," Genma stated. "Lord Minato will want a firsthand account from those who... advanced." He gave Ryuu a knowing look. "And we need to discuss your next training phase."
Ryuu nodded, his expression serious. "Sensei… the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."
Genma's eyebrow twitched, the senbon stilling. "Impatient, are we? It's a B-rank jutsu you know, it's not something simple, especially for a genin." But there was no real reprimand in his voice.
"I saw the limits of what I can currently do, Sensei," Ryuu said quietly, his voice firm. "And I saw threats that current methods of training won't prepare me for in the timeframe I believe is necessary."
Genma studied him for a long moment. The kid wasn't wrong. And with his Ice Release being an open secret to Konoha's leadership, denying him the optimal tool to develop it rapidly, especially when he had the intellect and chakra potential to handle the Kage Bunshin's strain, seemed counterproductive, even negligent. Minato himself had used the technique to great effect.
"Tomorrow, Ryuu," Genma said finally. "After we see the Hokage, I'll teach you the jutsu."
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The following morning, the Hokage's office was less formal than Ryuu expected. Lord Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash, looked tired but offered a warm, encouraging smile. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sandaime, was present, his expression benign but his eyes keenly observant.
Ryuu, with Genma at his side, gave a concise, factual report of his team's progression through the exam stages and his observations during the Crimson vs. Azure battle. He was careful to highlight Izumi's leadership and Renji's combat prowess on the opposing team, despite their official "failure."
Minato listened intently, occasionally posing sharp, insightful questions. Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, nodding slowly.
When Ryuu finished, Minato leaned back. "A… chaotic examination, to say the least. Sunagakure is facing a difficult period. Genma, your reports on Team Twelve's overall performance, even prior to the… incident… have been exemplary. Yuki-kun," he addressed him directly, "your tactical acumen and control under extreme pressure have been noted by both our own observers and, it seems, Sunagakure's proctors. Considering the circumstances and the official results of the concluded stages, Konohagakure officially recognizes your promotion to the rank of Chunin."
A small, official scroll was presented. Ryuu accepted it with a respectful bow.
It felt… anticlimactic. He had been promoted just like that.
"Izumi Uchiha and Renji Kazama, while not advancing by the exam's parameters this time," Minato continued, "demonstrated skills and resilience far exceeding their current rank. Their path forward will be accelerated. Lord Sandaime and I agree, they are to be given priority for high-contribution C-rank missions, as well as some B-rank missions and intensive training. Their time will come soon enough."
Genma nodded, a hint of pride in his expression.
As the formal part of the meeting concluded, Hiruzen spoke, his voice mild. "Ryuu-kun. Your Ice Release… it is a precious asset to this village. Do not neglect its development. The world is… restless. Konoha needs strong pillars."
"I understand, Lord Sandaime," Ryuu replied. "That is my intention."
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Later that day, in one of Konoha's more secluded training grounds – Training Ground 5, a relatively small yet completely empty training ground usually reserved for special training.
"Alright," Genma said, tossing a dense, heavily sealed scroll to Ryuu. Ryuu caught it, his eyes immediately scanning the complex fuinjutsu. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu is a well known jutsu for a reason, kid. Master the basics of creation and dispel without blowing out your chakra coils before you even think about using it for the kind of accelerated training I know you're planning."
Genma's expression turned serious. "This jutsu requires immense chakra and even greater mental fortitude to handle the experience feedback. Not everyone can use this training method effectively. You have significant chakra reserves, Ryuu, more than most elite Chunin. Since you're still in a period of growth, your chakra reserves will will increase drastically in the next few years. But push too hard, too fast, and you'll break yourself mentally before your body gives out. Start with one clone. Then two. Build up. Understand the feedback. Understand the strain. Your Ice Release… now that there aren't foreign eyes constantly on you within these village walls, and with Lord Hokage's and Lord Sandaime's implicit approval for your development, you can begin to explore it more openly here. Use the Kage Bunshin to dissect its principles, to refine your control, to expand its applications."
Ryuu clutched the scroll, a surge of fierce determination running through him. This was it. The key.
"I understand, Sensei. Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet," Genma grunted, a flicker of a smile playing on his lips. "You'll be cursing me when your head feels like it's splitting open from the simultaneous training sessions. Now, let's see if you can even manage one stable clone without face-planting."
Ryuu took a deep breath. He unrolled the scroll, his eyes devouring the complex theory and the intricate single hand seal.
Just one seal. That strange plus hand sign.
Deceptively simple for a B-rank jutsu, which spoke to the sheer chakra control and output required, not the complexity of its execution. He committed it to memory, visualizing the flow of chakra.
He closed his eyes and started molding his chakra, focusing on the sensation described in the scroll.
He brought his hands together in the signature shadow clone hand seal. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
A soft poof of displaced air. Beside him, a perfect duplicate of himself flickered into existence. It blinked, looked at its hands, then at the original Ryuu with an expression of dawning.
Ryuu aproached his clone and slowly inspected him. It had a presence, as if it was a real person. The clone even mimicked him in action, clearly having it's own thoughts.
"Not bad for a first try," Genma commented, though his eyes were sharp, assessing any signs of strain on the original Ryuu. "Maintain it and get a feel for the connection."
Ryuu focused. There was a subtle, almost imperceptible link between him and the clone, a shared awareness. He could feel its presence, and he could feel like he could command it to dispel at any moment. He instructed the clone to perform a simple Taijutsu kata. It moved and executed the movement's in a similar level to the original.
"Alright, dispel it," Genma ordered after a minute.
Ryuu willed the clone to disperse. It vanished in another poof, and a tiny ripple of information flowed back into him – the faint sensation of the clone's movements, the coolness of the air on its skin, even all the things it had seen during this short time. It was… distinct. Not overwhelming with one clone, especially since it wasn't active for long, but adding even two and keeping them active for hours would certainly be extremely exhausting.
The good thing was that the excess chakra inside the clone had returned to him after it was dispelled, making it far more manageable.
"The feedback," Genma stated. "That's what you need to get used to. Amplify that a few times, and it can fry your brain if you're not careful. Alright. One more. Then you practice on your own. I'm not your babysitter for this."
Ryuu managed another, then a third simultaneously, each successful creation and dispel adding a subtle layer to his understanding of the jutsu's feel and feedback. The mental strain was definitely present, even with so few.
Genma watched, satisfied. "You've got the knack. You also have the reserves to not immediately kill yourself with this, which is a plus." He stretched. "Right, that's enough excitement for one day. Your mother will probably want to hear the news about your promotion. And I believe there's a small, informal gathering for the newly promoted Chunin tonight. Just one other genin other than you passed their exams this cycle, plus those promoted through field recommendations. Lord Hokage likes to keep these things relatively low-key unless it's a public festival. You should attend. Might be good for you to… interact. Socially." He gave Ryuu a look that suggested he knew it wasn't his student's strong suit.
Ryuu nodded. "I will, Sensei."
Genma clapped him on the shoulder. "Good. Now go. Practice in moderation. You've got time." He vanished in a swirl of leaves.
Ryuu remained in Training Ground 5 for another hour, meticulously practicing the Kage Bunshin, never creating more than three at a time, focusing on stability, dispel, and processing the returned experiences.
The potential and applications were staggering. A truly unique and strategic jutsu.
Later that afternoon, after cleaning up and changing into fresh attire, Ryuu sought out Izumi and Renji. He found them at their usual place, a small dango shop not far from the Academy.
They looked up as he approached, having noticed him due to his usual bandaged appearance.
"Well, look who it is," Renji said, a smile on his face. "Mister Chunin, gracing us with his presence."
Izumi offered a small, genuine smile. "Congratulations, Ryuu-kun. Genma-sensei told us. You earned it."
"Thanks," Ryuu said, taking a seat.
"Lord Hokage also said your performances were exceptional. That your own advancements are being prioritized."
"Yeah, heard that too," Renji grunted, though a flicker of pride showed in his eyes. "We're about to get better missions. About damn time. Still stings, though, getting knocked out like that."
"The experience was the objective," Izumi said softly. "We learned what we needed to. And we know where we need to improve."
"I received the Kage Bunshin scroll from Sensei today," Ryuu said, knowing fully well that it was important for his team to know of his current skill-set.
Renji's eyes widened. "Seriously? I wish I could learn a B-rank Jutsu as well. I'm stuck with the C-rank ones."
"That's going to be a great asset for missions… Maybe I should also ask Itachi-kun to teach it to me…" Izumi muttered, placing her pointer finger on her lip while thinking.
"Jeez… you're so lucky, Izumi-san… If only I had someone who could teach me jutsu at any moment…" Renji exclaimed, his eyes becoming comically hollow.
He slumped theatrically over the small table, scattering a few empty dango skewers. "It's a cruel world for us non-prodigies without genius relatives."
Izumi lightly tapped his head with a skewer. "Stop being dramatic, Renji-kun. You learn fast enough when Genma-sensei actually drills you. And having access to someone doesn't automatically mean they have the time or inclination to teach complex jutsu."
Ryuu nodded. "Genma-sensei was very clear about the risks and the chakra control required. It's not something you just pick up."
"Still," Renji sighed, straightening up, "Kage Bunshin… imagine the 'uses'. Or, you know, actual tactical advantages." A grin spread across his face.
"Speaking of Itachi-kun," Ryuu interjected, turning to Izumi. "How is he? I haven't seen him around since before we left for Suna."
Izumi's expression softened slightly at the mention of Itachi's whereabouts. "He's on an extended ANBU mission, apparently. Classified, of course. Left about a week before we did. I haven't seen him either. Mikoto-sama mentioned he might be away for some time." There was a subtle undercurrent in her voice, a mix of pride and perhaps a touch of worry that she quickly masked.
"ANBU missions are no joke," Renji commented, his tone more serious now. "Especially the extended ones."
"He's capable," Izumi stated with quiet conviction. "More than capable."
Ryuu understood. Itachi Uchiha was already a legend in their age group, his ascent through the ranks meteoric.
His skills were undeniable and Ryuu knew that better than anyone else, even Itachi himself.
"I'm sure he is," Ryuu agreed.
They fell into a more comfortable silence for a while, munching on dango.
"So, this Chunin celebration thing tonight," Renji said, breaking the silence. "You going, Ryuu?"
Ryuu shrugged. "Sensei said it was 'informal.' And that I should 'interact socially'." He said the last part with a slight deadpan tone that made Izumi crack a small smile.
"It might not be so bad," Izumi offered. "It's a chance to at least meet the other promoted Genin. And your mother will be pleased to see you recognized."
Ryuu hadn't considered that specific angle, but Izumi was right. Kasumi would be proud. He hadn't even told her yet, the events had been so rushed.
"Guess I should," Ryuu conceded.