"Iruka-sensei... why do you think I’ve been slacking off?"
Tōma’s expression turned strange. He genuinely couldn’t understand it.
"During free training time every day," Iruka said, his face full of regret, "you only complete the basic required exercises and then sit down to rest. That isn’t acceptable."
"Ah, that," Tōma replied after a moment of thought. "I was resting efficiently."
"...That still sounds like slacking," Iruka shot back flatly.
"You’ll understand in a moment," Tōma said.
Before Iruka could ask what he meant, Tōma vanished in a puff of smoke.
Iruka’s eyes widened.
A clone?!
And not just any clone. An actual, physical clone that could think and act independently. As far as Iruka knew, only the Shadow Clone Technique could do that.
But Shadow Clones were a B-rank jutsu.
How did Tōma know it? Even if it was inherited, how did he master it at this age?
Still stunned, Iruka stayed where he was. Tōma had said to wait, which meant the real body was on its way.
Not long after, a boy soaked in sweat stopped in front of him, chest rising and falling from exertion.
"Iruka-sensei," Tōma said calmly. "That’s your answer."
Iruka stared. "...So every day, your shadow clone comes to class to study, while your real body trains elsewhere. And when free training starts, you rest here?"
"Yes," Tōma answered honestly. "The academy’s training volume and intensity aren’t enough for my goals. If I followed only school training, progress would be too slow. If I trained properly here, I’d stand out too much. I don’t want to become a spectacle."
Iruka fell silent.
"I misunderstood you," he finally said.
Understanding what Tōma had been doing left him genuinely shaken. Such planning, such discipline, at this age... and paired with that level of talent. How far could this child go?
For the first time in a long while, Iruka felt anticipation.
"Wait," he suddenly said, expression changing. "Shadow Clones have side effects. That’s why people don’t use them for training or studying."
"Yes," Tōma nodded. "Fatigue is transferred back to the original. I know. But a Shadow Clone inherits the user’s state at the moment it’s created. You’ve seen me every morning. I’ve never been affected."
Iruka thought carefully. It was true. Tōma always looked energetic, focused, never worn down.
So the rumors weren’t wrong.
It was just that this method... didn’t work for ordinary people.
Iruka now understood.
Effort plus genius. He clicked his tongue unconsciously.
"If this were another world, that combo would be broken," Tōma might have said. But in a shinobi world where bloodlines defined ceilings, it was just a strong start.
Aloud, Tōma changed the topic. "Iruka-sensei, do you have textbooks from higher grades? Or other books about the shinobi path?"
"There are," Iruka said, puzzled. "Why?"
"I’ve mostly finished self-studying the first-year material."
"...So you weren’t listening in class?" Iruka said weakly.
"Not quite. I listen when you share your own experience. But most teachers just read straight from the book," Tōma added quickly. "Your lessons are very good, Iruka-sensei."
"I should be happy about that... right?" Iruka sighed.
After thinking it over, Iruka made a decision. "I’ll test you on the curriculum. If you pass, I’ll help you get a library pass. You can borrow books directly from the shinobi library."
Tōma’s eyes widened. "Really?"
"Really. But I won’t go easy on you. Want some time to prepare?"
"No need. We can start now."
"Oh?" Iruka smiled. "Then prove it."
Some time later...
Iruka looked at the near-perfect answers and twitched. This was far beyond what he’d expected. He’d planned for a simple pass.
"...Fine," he said, exhaling slowly. "Come tomorrow to pick up your library pass."
"Thank you, Iruka-sensei," Tōma said. "May I go home to clean up first? I’m a mess."
"Go," Iruka said quickly. "But remember, train responsibly. Take care of your body."
"I do," Tōma replied seriously. "That’s why I’m the most developed in the class."
Iruka froze.
Now that he thought about it... he really was.
"Go on," Iruka waved weakly, collapsing into his chair. "Just... go."
As Tōma left, he decided not to mention that only a shadow clone would return later. Iruka looked spiritually defeated enough already.
At least now, he wouldn’t have to keep disappearing into the bathroom to swap clones anymore.
That alone felt like progress.