Chapter 49: Meteor
Komiya Yuki asked with curiosity, "Why doesn't Teacher Hashirama use shadow clones? It's such a useful ninjutsu."
Hashirama said with some helplessness, "That's because a shadow clone's resistance to damage is too weak. They break almost as soon as they're hit. After they're destroyed, the sensation of the enemy's attack is still transmitted back, but the chakra is wasted. So, they're not used much in battle. I prefer to use Wood Clones; they're much more durable."
Yamamoto Ryusei nodded. "So shadow clones are mostly used for training ninjutsu, as they can increase training efficiency by several times. In battle, they're mostly used as decoys or for suicide missions, like holding onto an enemy and detonating an explosive tag."
"So that's how it is," Shimura Danzo said, enlightened. He turned to Ryusei. "Ryusei, so the reason you're so strong is because shadow clones help you train."
"Of course not," Ryusei said in a tone of lofty superiority. "I became this strong through my own hard training. Shadow clones can't help with training taijutsu. To think I defeated you all with just taijutsu... it's truly lonely to be invincible."
Hearing Ryusei's words, Shimura Danzo's face turned red with anger.
Akimichi Torifu asked with some confusion, "Then why don't you use ninjutsu, Ryusei? In the fight with Gamasen, you would have been injured much less if you had used ninjutsu."
Ryusei said helplessly, "Because it's too slow. Ever since I created Soru, my speed has been getting faster and faster. Using ninjutsu would actually slow me down and prevent me from using my advantage. So now, besides the Rasengan and Monster Strength, I rarely use ninjutsu."
Akimichi Torifu thought of Ryusei's speed and couldn't help but nod. If I were that fast, I wouldn't like using ninjutsu either.
Hashirama looked at Ryusei, who was surrounded by the others, his eyes twinkling as he thought of something.
"I've been wanting to ask this for a while," Uchiha Kagami said to Ryusei. "Since you basically don't use ninjutsu in battle, what are all your shadow clones practicing?"
"A lot of things," Ryusei counted them off. "For example, chakra nature transformation, sealing jutsu, genjutsu, and experimenting with my new ideas. And just because ninjutsu isn't suitable for me now doesn't mean it won't be in the future. Besides, when I get stronger, I can use ninjutsu to clean up small fry. Oh, that's right! I can develop a large-scale ninjutsu for clearing out mobs, so I won't get swarmed by them."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes lit up. "Ryusei, you have a new idea?"
Ryusei nodded. "After fighting Gamasen, I have many new ideas. For example, if I add a nature transformation to the Rasengan, its power should be even greater. And it should also be possible to throw it."
Hiruzen, Kagami, and Hashirama's eyes all lit up, realizing that Ryusei's idea was feasible.
Hashirama held out his right hand, palm up, and opened his fingers. He condensed a Rasengan in the center of his palm and tried to apply a nature transformation to it, but the Rasengan immediately dissipated. "Mm, it can be done, but it's harder than I imagined. It requires extremely high chakra control and is quite dangerous. I suggest using a shadow clone to develop it. But if it is developed, the power of that ninjutsu will be no less than S-rank. Ryusei, the potential of this jutsu you invented is quite large."
Shimura Danzo looked at Ryusei in surprise. He had originally thought the Rasengan was invented by Tobirama, but to think it was also Ryusei's invention!
Hiruzen said excitedly, "Then once it's developed, not only will its power increase, but it can also be thrown! It will have a long-range attack capability, unlike the current Rasengan, which dissipates as soon as you extend your hand."
Uchiha Kagami said with some embarrassment, "Regarding throwing the Rasengan, I actually have an idea."
He stood up, extended his right hand, and condensed a Rasengan. He brought it over his head and threw it. The Rasengan didn't dissipate; instead, it flew through the air in several arcs and struck the forest on the opposite side of the river, piercing through several trees.
Boom!
The pierced trees slowly fell, crashing to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Wow... what incredible power!" Danzo and Torifu exclaimed, seeing the fallen trees.
Hiruzen asked excitedly, "Kagami, how did you do that?"
"It's chakra threads," Kagami said, also excited. "I used chakra threads to maintain the Rasengan, keeping it from dissipating as it flies. And I can also control its direction. I got the inspiration from the Manipulated Shuriken Technique. But if the chakra threads are cut, then the Rasengan will be wasted, and the chakra will be for nothing."
Ryusei thought carefully. "That's not a problem. Only doujutsu users and a very small number of sensory ninjas can detect chakra threads. They're not so easily cut. So, Kagami, give a name to the jutsu you invented."
Kagami thought for a moment. "Let's call it the Rasengan Control Technique."
"That's too lazy and too direct," Ryusei complained, speechless. "I'm not asking you to come up with a name with artistic conception, but at least hide the information a little! Rasengan Control Technique... one listen and you know the ball is being controlled by something. Change it. How about 'Spiral Flash Super Round Dance Howl Third Style'? No one will ever guess the principle." (I think Minato Namikaze was the real master of naming things. The names he came up with, like the Raikage's move names, make it completely impossible to guess the principle of the move.)
Everyone looked at Ryusei, speechless. Akimichi Torifu couldn't help but retort, "Ryusei, that name is too long! The enemy would be dead from the Rasengan before you even finished saying the name. Would anyone really use such a long name?"
Hashirama stopped Torifu's complaint. He couldn't help but think of the name Madara had vehemently rejected; the name of their combination jutsu, "Taijutsu Supreme Technique: Super Fire Style Genjutsu Slash Big Shuriken Second Step Jutsu," wasn't short either. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Kagami, Ryusei has a point. The name you chose reveals too much information. You should change it."
Hearing Hashirama say so as well, Kagami decided to change the name. He thought for a moment. "Then let's call it the Flying Rasengan Technique."
Ryusei still felt it wasn't right. "The word 'flying' still exposes information. The enemy doesn't know the Rasengan can't fly, so saying it like this actually reveals it. Think of another one."
Komiya Yuki said in a small voice, "When the Rasengan is flying in the air, it looks like a falling star. How about we call it the Meteor Rasengan?"
Kagami's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh. "Let's call it that! Meteor Rasengan! It both says it looks like a meteor and symbolizes that its destructive power is like a falling meteor. Yuki, you're a genius!"
The others present were also very satisfied with this name, and so the name of Kagami's Rasengan was decided.
Half an hour later, the various shadow clones had finished picking up the trash. They dispelled themselves, and then Hashirama took Yuki, Hiruzen, Kagami, Danzo, and Torifu to collect their commission. Since Ryusei didn't go this time, he didn't get a share of the commission. But he didn't care about that money; the royalties from his novels and the dividends from the clothing factory were more than enough for him.
Ryusei returned home and saw his shadow clones diligently practicing ninjutsu. He nodded with satisfaction, then went inside and used his chakra to nourish his body, mainly focusing on his broken arm to speed up its healing. At this rate, it would probably be healed in about a month.
A short while later, Hyuga Natsuki and Inuzuka Rō came over. Natsuki, Rō, and Nara Shikamei were now in Team 3, led by a Jonin from the Nara clan. Ryusei's squad was Team 1, and it was the only special one, with six people and two teachers. The other squads all had three people and one elite Jonin teacher.
However, Natsuki and Rō weren't here to discuss ninjutsu, but to rest. They were now doing missions during the day and facing increased training from their families at night, which made them miserable. Only here could they rest for half an hour and complain about their missions, their Jonin teacher, and their families.
Inuzuka Rō looked at the idle Ryusei and slumped onto the table, completely exhausted. "Ryusei, sometimes I really envy you for being injured. You don't have to take those moronic missions. You have no idea, I had to plow more than ten acres of land with my Fang Over Fang today!"
Ryusei stood up with a sinister smile. "Then let me help you."
Rō quickly waved his hands and gave a sheepish grin. "N-no... that's alright."