The next day, around the same time, the Shadow Clone was still active. That alone confirmed Kairi's hypothesis.
Since a Shadow Clone retained independent thought and could perform hand seals on its own, it should also be capable of controlling chakra. While it couldn't stop chakra from depleting entirely, it could reduce the rate of consumption and thereby prolong its lifespan.
That realization opened up a host of new possibilities.
First, with longer clone duration came more time to study. Though managing chakra would split its focus and might reduce learning efficiency, the overall gains could still be worthwhile especially in terms of improving chakra control.
Kairi decided that from now on, he would create clones with fixed chakra amounts. The longer they lasted, the better his chakra control must be.
This was also excellent training for multitasking a chance to kill multiple birds with one stone.
Unfortunately, because his Shadow Clones didn't possess much chakra, they couldn't assist with chakra shape or nature transformation. That had to be done by the original.
As for shape transformation, Kairi had already begun formulating a method. In his view, the less chakra involved, the easier it was to control its shape. While his chakra wasn't exceptionally low, it was limited compared to his mental energy, making the exercise more manageable.
Nature transformation, however, was different.
Kairi believed it worked in the opposite way. The most effective method was to immerse the chakra in a kind of "flood" a vast volume, where even a single instance of change could become a foothold. By grasping that single alteration and expanding it outward, one could gradually master the nature transformation.
Given his current reserves, learning it quickly would be tough. He would have to rely on sheer volume and slow accumulation.
Master the simple things first, then tackle the complex.
With his talent, Kairi didn't think this hurdle would hold him back for long.
Right now, he was seated at his desk, comparing his school timetable to the clone's potential duration. The numbers lined up fairly well. Ninja Academy didn't spend much time in the classroom. After all, for a ninja, physical conditioning was more important than academic study. In a peaceful era, six years of relatively light coursework was more than enough.
So then, why bother going to school to train the body? Simple because not everyone had the discipline to train on their own. Most people slacked off without supervision.
Thus, Kairi figured he could send his clone to attend class, and later swap out with it for the physical training portions. That way, he wouldn't get overwhelmed by fatigue when the clone dispelled and sent all its exhaustion back to him.
Looking at his tightly scheduled daily routine, Kairi couldn't help but sigh. When did I become so driven?
But with no cheat ability to rely on, this was the only way forward. As long as he could see the path ahead, he wouldn't give up.
Still, today was an exception.
Once the clone dispelled on its own, Kairi stepped out of his room. Today was a special occasion. He decided to treat it as a day off a chance to rest.
Carrying his allowance, Kairi wandered down the familiar streets of the Hidden Leaf Village, thinking about what kind of gift to buy. Today was Sina's birthday. He couldn't afford anything too expensive it would just make her scold him anyway and his budget was tight. So it had to be something practical. Clothes or maybe a scarf?
But then he glanced up at the bright sun and decided against it. The season wasn't right.
So what should he get? Maybe he could cook her a meal with some ingredients they didn't usually have? That'd be thoughtful but the problem was, he wasn't exactly a good cook. Just thinking about it gave him a headache.
As he walked, a glimpse of flowers in a storefront caught his eye. He paused, then turned to look at the flower shop. Flowers… that might work. Not too expensive, and they wouldn't make Sina complain. Plus, flowers often had meanings hanakotoba, the language of flowers. Surely there was one that represented a mother's love.
With that thought, Kairi stepped into the shop.
"Hmm? Looking for flowers, little guy?" the woman behind the counter greeted him warmly as she noticed him walk in.
"Hello, ma'am. I was wondering… what kind of flowers should I give for a mother's birthday?" Kairi asked politely.
"Oh? For your mother?" The shopkeeper looked surprised, then smiled again. "What a thoughtful child you are."
"I think I've seen you before!" said a young girl with long blond hair standing nearby. She squinted at Kairi for a moment but couldn't quite place him.
"Hello, Yamanaka. I'm Kairi Shinatokawa. We're in the same class," Kairi replied. He had recognized Ino Yamanaka right away but hadn't said anything earlier. They hadn't interacted much in class. Honestly, if she weren't one of the so-called Rookie Twelve, he probably wouldn't have recognized her either.
"Oh, right, now I remember! You sit near the back with that blond guy, right?" Ino's eyes lit up as she made the connection.
"That's me."
"Hah! I knew I wasn't imagining things. If it's for your mom, then you should get her a carnation. Just don't pick a white one," Ino said with a confident grin.
Kairi gave her a quick glance, then looked to the shopkeeper, wanting confirmation. After all, Ino was still a kid. What if she got it wrong?
"It's true," the shopkeeper Ino's mother confirmed with a gentle smile. "Carnations symbolize gratitude and sincere love. When given to a mother, they also represent wishes for her to stay forever young, happy, and healthy."
She liked Kairi already. Any child who thought to buy flowers for their mother clearly had a kind heart and as a mother herself, that moved her.
But to Ino, Kairi's gesture came off as a vote of no confidence in her knowledge. Points deducted.
"In that case… may I have one, please?" Kairi asked a little sheepishly. He felt a bit awkward buying just one flower, but his allowance was limited. He had only started receiving pocket money after enrolling in school, and he still needed to buy a cake later. Every coin counted.
"Of course. Since you're Ino's classmate, I'll give you a discount. Ino, pick out a nice one for your friend, would you?" the shopkeeper said warmly.
"Sure." Although still a little annoyed that Kairi didn't trust her, Ino took the task seriously. She knew flowers. Even if they all looked the same to him, there were subtle differences. After a few moments of careful selection, she picked out a carnation, wrapped it, and handed it to him.
"Thanks," Kairi said sincerely as he accepted the flower.
"Uh-huh? Y-you're welcome." Ino fumbled for a second, flustered by how genuine he sounded. The little irritation from earlier vanished.
Her mother chuckled quietly at the scene. What a fun little pair.
"Oh, right, ma'am, do you know where I can find a cake shop?" Kairi asked. Although he knew the village fairly well, he didn't know much about its shops. He hadn't had any spending money until recently, and he rarely wandered into commercial areas.
"A cake shop? That's a bit of a walk from here. Since you're Ino's classmate, why not let her take you there?" the shopkeeper suggested.
"That's all right. I know most of the village. If you just tell me where it is, I can find it," Kairi replied, trying to politely decline.
"Oh, come now. You might get lost, and besides, Ino's not doing anything useful just hanging around here. Let her go out for a bit. It'll be good for her to have some company," the shopkeeper insisted with a smile that brooked no argument.
Ino didn't protest. In fact, she looked a little excited. Watching the store was boring. She had been looking for an excuse to get out for ages.
"…All right," Kairi said, seeing no point in continuing to refuse.