21 - Jutsu training...

A few kilometers away from Konoha, in front of the vast lake, the early morning sun painted the scenery with a golden hue. Kirito stood with a smile next to Saito, gazing at the frozen lake before them.

"Sensei, look! The lake has completely frozen due to the snow and cold," Kirito exclaimed with a grin, inwardly contemplating how to challenge Saito.

He was tired of being the one hunting and cooking every time they came to the lake while Saito enjoyed reading his book and catching fish.

"Hmm~" Saito responded with a nod, acknowledging the situation. "Yes, that is a problem," he added, shaking his head.

"So, what will you do now? The lake is frozen, and I don't think you'll be able to catch fish," Kirito said, observing the icy surface.

"Nah~ I don't think a little ice can get in my way," Saito replied dismissively.

"What do you mean, Sensei?" Kirito asked, puzzled.

"Watch my hand movements carefully, and remember the hand signs," Saito instructed as he approached the frozen lake.

Standing next to him, Kirito observed attentively as Saito performed hand signs. "Fire Style - Fireball Jutsu!" Saito declared, conjuring a massive fireball, even larger than the Hokage Tower and as bright as the sun. Within minutes, the ice began to melt, and the frozen layer disappeared completely.

"There, problem solved. Now I can fish, right?" Saito said, satisfied with his technique.

"That's cheating..." Kirito protested, feeling disappointed.

"No, that is called the way of a smart shinobi," Saito retorted with a smirk.

"Of course, that's what you'd say. I bet that was the only way you knew to remove ice from the lake," Kirito replied, challenging Saito's actions.

"That's what you think, but I'll tell you that this sensei of yours has hundreds of ways to do it. However, I doubt you'll remember them all even if I show you," Saito said, looking down on Kirito's abilities.

"I won't fall for that! I'm sure you only know one method," Kirito responded defiantly.

Saito couldn't help but laugh at Kirito's reaction, making the young boy embarrassed. "Don't laugh! I'll show you... I'll show you!" Kirito exclaimed, determined to prove himself.

He made the hand signs again and shouted, "Fire Style - Fireball Jutsu!" This time, the fireball he produced was twice as big as before.

"Good, you did well. I knew you had potential. Next week, when we come back, I'll show you another jutsu. Until then, practice this jutsu and don't slack off on your target practice, okay?" Saito said, patting Kirito's shoulder.

"But... I thought you would... nevermind then..." Kirito responded with a hint of disappointment.

"All right, I will teach you another jutsu," Saito conceded, pushing Kirito a bit. He thought to himself, "Though the Shadow Clone Jutsu is forbidden, it should be okay for Kirito since he has a considerable amount of chakra.

Additionally, with the Yin part of Kubi, he can heal without realizing it. This will help me teach him a lot in a short period."

"What will you teach me, Sensei?" Kirito asked, excited about learning something new.

"This is a special jutsu, kid. Are you sure you want to learn it? It will make your training a lot harder," Saito warned seriously.

"Yes, I'm sure, Sensei," Kirito replied confidently, not taking Saito's warning too seriously.

"Think again, kid," Saito repeated, his tone becoming even more intense.

"*Glup* I told you already, didn't I? I'm sure of it..." Kirito replied nervously but tried to sound brave.

"All right, then. Remember, kid, this marks the beginning of the second part of your training," Saito said, adopting a serious tone. He instructed Kirito to closely observe his hand signs.

Saito began teaching Kirito the Shadow Clone Jutsu, and soon, a shadow clone appeared beside each of them. Kirito was amazed to witness the power of the advanced form of the Clone Jutsu.

After demonstrating the technique, Saito's clone challenged Kirito's shadow clone, causing it to vanish. "What did you do that for?" Kirito asked, annoyed.

"I didn't punch you. Your shadow clone received a punch from my shadow clone," Saito explained with a sly grin.

Realizing what had happened, Kirito understood the implications. "I see. When my shadow clone disappears, its experiences and memories return to me," he said, acknowledging the utility of the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

"Now, what about the normal Clone Jutsu?" Kirito asked, intrigued by the possibilities.

Meanwhile, in Konoha, the village's Elder Council comprises five members:

1st - Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage and the most powerful authority on paper. He commands the regular shinobi and ANBU, and all organizations fall under his jurisdiction.

2nd - Danzo, the leader of the Root.

3rd - Saito Sensei, the principal of the Konoha Shinobi Academy. Though he doesn't command forces like Hiruzen and Danzo, his long tenure as a teacher has earned him respect among the village's shinobi.

The last two members are lesser-known side characters with limited significance. Each member has the power to make important decisions, and the Hokage requires three votes from the Elder Council to proceed with any critical action.

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