Chapter 24: Ninjutsu: Shadow Clone Jutsu
The fusion process lasted for an hour. When Ronin finally opened his eyes, the Scarlet Eyes inside the jar had completely vanished.
He picked up a mirror. What stared back at him, however, wasn't the coveted Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
He was still at the Two-Tomoe stage.
However, he could clearly feel that his aura capacity (POP) had increased again. His overall strength had roughly doubled compared to before the absorption. If he encountered Uvogin again now, even without terrain advantages, he felt he had a fighting chance in a frontal clash.
More importantly, he could feel his eyes pushing toward the Three-Tomoe evolution. They were just missing... energy.
Or to be precise, a single pair of Scarlet Eyes wasn't enough fuel to jump from Two-Tomoe to Three-Tomoe.
If he had just one more pair, he was certain the evolution would be complete.
Ronin had anticipated this possibility before the fusion.
His original worry was that even if he evolved the eyes, his Chakra reserves wouldn't be enough to support A-Rank or S-Rank Jutsu.
According to his calculations, two more pairs should push him to the Mangekyō Sharingan.
At that stage, he would unlock not only A-Rank Jutsu but also the unique ocular abilities of the Mangekyō, including the Susanoo.
But both high-level Jutsu and the Susanoo were massive Chakra drains.
Judging by the boost he got from the first pair, even if he absorbed two more pairs, his aura capacity might only be a few times larger than when he started.
That wasn't enough.
But he could accept the current outcome.
Just two pairs for Three-Tomoe was a good deal. And so far, there seemed to be no negative side effects.
However, the leap to Mangekyō—and eventually Eternal Mangekyō—would likely require exponentially more eyes.
This reinforced his need to raid Tserriednich's collection.
He also had to shelve his idea of using spare Scarlet Eyes as fuel for Izanagi. He simply couldn't afford to waste them on a "retry" button when he needed them for basic evolution.
Fortunately, while the eyes didn't evolve visually, the fusion did unlock the conditions for casting B-Rank Jutsu.
It seemed that "Jutsu Unlocking" and "Eye Evolution" were parallel progressions, not strictly dependent on each other.
However, after attempting a B-Rank technique, Ronin realized the Chakra cost was steep. His current reserves could barely support it.
"I can't rely solely on fusing eyes to get stronger. I need to increase my base Nen capacity through training. Otherwise, even if I unlock higher-tier Jutsu, I won't have the fuel to cast them," Ronin muttered to himself.
He raised his hands and wove a specific cross-shaped seal. A massive amount of Chakra was molded instantly.
Poof.
Another Ronin appeared in the room.
B-Rank Ninjutsu: Shadow Clone Jutsu!
Created by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, this technique created a physical copy of the user. Unlike the E-Rank Clone Jutsu, the Shadow Clone had mass, independent consciousness, and could take a hit.
It wasn't a fragile illusion that popped at a touch.
Most importantly, when the clone dispelled, its memories and experiences returned to the original body.
For Ronin, this was a cheat-level ability.
It was the specific Jutsu he had been hoping to unlock with this fusion.
Now, he could let the Shadow Clone handle public appearances. If Uvogin or the Troupe attacked, they would only kill the clone.
Meanwhile, his main body could focus entirely on training in safety.
The only drawback was mental fatigue. When the clone dispelled, the exhaustion transferred back to him.
But compared to the safety benefits, a little fatigue was negligible. Besides, he wasn't using the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu. Maintaining one clone wouldn't kill him.
After returning to Heavens Arena, Ronin settled into a new routine: Clone for public life, Main Body for hardcore training.
First, using Miria's connections, he secretly rented a room on the 188th Floor for his main body. The Shadow Clone took residence in the luxurious suite 2333 on the 200th floor.
Ronin was a man of strict discipline.
7:00 AM: Wake up.
8:30 AM: Start training.
11:30 AM: Lunch break. He preferred to cook for himself. While the local Western-style food was fine, he missed the flavors of his past life. A good braised pork belly or a hot pot was essential for morale.
Afternoon: Reading books or manga. This world had great entertainment. He even started collecting figures and attending local conventions in cosplay.
1:00 PM: Resume training.
5:30 PM: Stop training. Clock out.
The rest of the evening was his free time.
He would watch matches, play video games, or visit the spa on the 195th floor to get a foot massage from the pretty attendants who spoke softly and had soft hands.
Ronin took his strength seriously, but he also valued his quality of life.
If he spent 24/7 training, he would lose the joy of living. That felt backward. Strength was a tool to ensure a good life, not the entirety of life itself.
Surprisingly, with this balanced mindset, his progress wasn't slow at all.
He consulted his "mentor," Miria, about this.
"Mental state is also part of training," Miria explained. "High-intensity training puts a load on the body. Scientific rest and a balanced mindset are crucial. 'Work hard, play hard,' essentially."
She added, "If you pair that with a specialized diet, your results will double. Interested? I have a professional nutrition team. It's pricey, but the food actually tastes good."
"Sure, sign me up. Thanks," Ronin agreed politely.
"By the way," Miria asked, a hint of expectation in her voice. "Are you confident about the next match?"
"Of course." Ronin smiled, giving her a look of absolute certainty.