Naruto: The Sarutobi Who Can't Spark

In the darkness, Raijin stood alone in his training ground, a wooden practice sword held loosely in his calloused hands.

He had studied the fundamentals of swordsmanship through the clan library's scrolls, books, or manuscripts learning the theory of stance and grip for the past year. Now, finally, he'd begun to put that knowledge into practice, training with wooden swords to hone his skills.

Raijin created a clone beside him, who picked up an identical wooden sword. "Begin," he whispered into the crisp morning air, which carried the scent of pine and damp earth. He started with the most basic movement—a straight downward strike. His clone mirrored him perfectly, allowing him to observe his form from the side. This external perspective revealed flaws that might otherwise have gone unnoticed, even with his limited knowledge.

Frowning, he noticed how his clone's blade deviated by a few degrees at the bottom of the cut. For the next three hours, Raijin worked through the fundamental strikes that formed the foundation of swordsmanship. Each cut was repeated hundreds of times, with his clone mirroring his movements or standing still as he studied the proper angles.

When the sun had fully risen, casting long shadows through the trees, Raijin moved to the next training phase. Though it left him with only one-fifth of his chakra, he could maintain four clones simultaneously. This allowed him to study techniques from multiple angles and practice basic sparring sequences.

Watching his clones demonstrate the sequence, he reminded himself that the overhead strike must flow naturally into the horizontal cut. From his vantage point, he could see how the transition between moves created a moment of vulnerability. Through patient observation and countless repetitions, he slowly learned to eliminate these small openings in his defense.

As weeks turned into months, Raijin developed a rigorous training methodology. Each morning began with solo practice of basic cuts, using his clone for observation or to perform. The afternoons were dedicated to studying the few texts he possessed, contemplating the deeper principles behind the techniques. Evenings were reserved for sparring practice with his clones, applying what he had learned in more dynamic situations.

And, his attendance at the academy suffered; he often sent a clone in his place, but sometimes, he was so engrossed that it slipped from his mind.

The library books, though basic, contained insights he would have missed through physical practice alone. One passage advised that the sword moves from the center. Power flows from the ground through the hips and into the blade. These principles took on new meaning when he could observe them from multiple perspectives through his clones.

One particularly challenging aspect of swordsmanship was maintaining awareness of subtle movement shifts and multiple attacks. When sparring with two clones, he had to anticipate and divide his attention into movements and possible attacks without losing focus on distraction or feints.

The mind must be like still water. At first, he couldn't grasp the meaning behind the text but as he fought his multiple clones simultaneously, he understood that having a calm mind enhances his instinct and reaction time.

And this was the most treasured text advice: Reflecting all but disturbed by nothing, Raijin found that this mental state was essential for maintaining his clones during intense practice sessions. Any strong emotion or loss of focus would cause them to waver and disappear.

By the end of the second week of training swordsmanship, Raijin had developed a deep understanding of the basic cuts and stances. His movements had become more efficient and precise. The wooden sword became a natural extension of his body, responding to his intentions without conscious thought.

The fourth week brought a new routine. His daily routine became more refined. Each morning began with an hour of meditation, during which he would focus on maintaining his clones while keeping his mind perfectly still. This mental discipline carried over into his physical practice, allowing him to maintain better focus during long training sessions.

His sparring sessions became more sophisticated. His clones changed and followed different randomized attack patterns, forcing himself to respond spontaneously to unexpected situations. This developed his ability to read intentions and respond appropriately without relying on predetermined sequences. Raijin settled that by having his clones attack him randomly, he could develop a more intuitive understanding of combat dynamics. He learned to feel the proper moment for each action, to sense when to advance and withdraw.

Raijin also understood that the basic techniques he had been practicing were not simply physical movements but expressions of universal principles. The straight downward cut contains the essence of directness and simplicity. The horizontal cut teaches the importance of maintaining one's center while extending outward.

Rather than focusing solely on perfect execution, he began using his clones to study the energy and intention behind each movement. He could later observe how slight shifts in mental state affected the quality of his techniques.

His morning meditation sessions grew longer. Sometimes he would sit for hours but this time with no leaf chakra concentration, rather studying the relationship between breath, mind, and movement. These sessions revealed subtle aspects of his art that he had previously overlooked.

The basics he had diligently practiced were now so deeply ingrained that they expressed themselves spontaneously in response to any situation. His movements had acquired a natural quality that made them seem effortless to observers.

His daily training now focused less on practicing specific techniques and more on maintaining the proper mental and physical state from which effective action could arise spontaneously. His clones helped him observe and refine this state from multiple perspectives.

The sixth month brought what Raijin considered his most significant breakthrough. During an intense training session, he experienced a moment of perfect clarity, when all separation between self, sword, and action disappeared. His clones moved in perfect harmony with himself, as if they were all expressions of a single unified consciousness.

This experience transformed his understanding of his art. He realized that true mastery lay not in perfecting technique but in transcending it entirely. The basics he had practiced so diligently were not ends but means of cultivating the proper state of mind and body.

His use of Shadow Clone evolved accordingly. He now used them less for technical training and more for exploring the boundaries of this unified state of consciousness. He discovered that the clearer his mind became, the more naturally and effectively his techniques expressed themselves.

The seventh month saw Raijin's art reach new levels of refinement. His movements had acquired a quality of inevitability – they seemed to emerge naturally from each situation without any sense of deliberate choice or effort. His clones helped him study this quality from multiple perspectives, understanding how it arose from the perfect unity of mind, body, and intention.

His morning meditation sessions now lasted for hours. During these sessions, he maintained multiple clones in perfect stillness, studying the subtle relationships between breath, mind, and energy. These sessions revealed ever-deeper layers of understanding about the nature of his art.

The basic texts he had studied so diligently now seemed to contain infinite depths of wisdom. Each reading revealed new insights, not because the words had changed but because his understanding had deepened. The simple instructions for basic cuts now pointed to profound truths about the nature of action and consciousness.

His sparring practice had evolved into something more like a moving meditation. He would work with multiple clones in complex sequences that emerged spontaneously from moment to moment, each movement flowing naturally from the last without any sense of premeditation or effort.

The eighth month brought what Raijin considered the beginning of true mastery. The principles he had studied and practiced for so long had become so deeply integrated that they expressed themselves naturally in every aspect of his life, not just during formal practice.

His clone practice reflected this integration. Rather than using them primarily for training, his clones now served as extensions of his awareness, allowing him to perceive and understand his art from multiple perspectives simultaneously. This comprehensive awareness informed every aspect of his practice.

In the ninth month, Raijin's understanding continued to deepen. He realized that the true purpose of his art was not combat but the cultivation of a particular quality of consciousness – clear, centered, and responsive to each moment without being bound by predetermined patterns or expectations.

His daily practice now focused on maintaining and refining this state of consciousness. His clones helped him observe how this state manifested in physical movement, allowing him to understand more deeply the relationship between mental clarity and effective action.

Then it marked what Raijin considered the true flowering of his art. The basics he had practiced so diligently had become second nature, allowing him to respond spontaneously and appropriately to any situation without relying on predetermined techniques or patterns. Through working with multiple perspectives, he developed a comprehensive understanding of his art that transcended mere technical proficiency.

Looking back over his nine months of training, Raijin could see how each phase had been necessary for his development. The countless repetitions of basic techniques and the study of fundamental principles contributed to his current understanding.

Yet he also knew that this understanding was not final. The path of the sword was endless, each achievement merely opening the door to new possibilities for growth and development. His unique ability to train with clones had accelerated his progress but the essential journey was one that every serious practitioner must make – the journey from technique to principle, from principle to understanding, and from understanding to spontaneous, appropriate action.

As he stood in his familiar training ground, now able to maintain multiple clones with minimal effort, Raijin felt profound gratitude for the path he had chosen. Though he had trained alone, his clones had provided the feedback and perspective necessary for deep learning. The basic texts, though simple, had contained all the guidance he needed, their wisdom revealing itself gradually as his understanding deepened.

Most importantly, he had learned that true mastery was not about accumulating techniques or developing extraordinary abilities but developing a particular quality of consciousness from which appropriate action could emerge naturally. His clones had been invaluable tools in this process, allowing him to observe and refine this state of consciousness from multiple perspectives.

As the sun set on another day of practice, Raijin knew that tomorrow would bring new insights, challenges, and growth opportunities. The path of the sword was endless, but through dedicated practice and sincere effort, each step brought a deeper understanding and more profound realization of the principles he had spent so long studying.

His journey had transformed him from an eager beginner into a true master of his art, yet he was able to understand and maintain the humble attitude of a perpetual student, always ready to learn, always seeking to refine his understanding.

Perhaps this was the most important lesson of all that true mastery lay not in reaching a final destination but in maintaining an endless willingness to grow and learn.

***

As his swordsmanship training intensified, so did the demands at the Academy. The sparring sessions grew more frequent, with the instructor often calling upon him multiple times in a single day. Though he typically sent a clone to attend classes, these combat scenarios required him to allocate one-third of his chakra to ensure his clone could perform effectively.

During these spars, his clone's dominance became increasingly apparent. Perhaps influenced by his rigorous sword training, his fighting style had taken on a sharper edge. He found himself ending fights more decisively, sometimes with a roughness that drew concerned glances from the instructor and his friends. Yet they continued to test him, often scheduling him for multiple matches in a day, as if probing the limits of his abilities.

His elemental techniques had become second nature. The Water Release: Water Shield can be performed at will, a flowing barrier that adapts to incoming attacks, while his Earth Release: Earth Shield provides solid defense when needed. Both techniques now require minimal concentration, freeing his mind to focus on strategy and counterattacks.

The Body Flicker technique presented a different challenge. While he could execute it perfectly in controlled conditions, combat applications remained uncertain. The split-second timing required during the battle made him question its tactical efficiency. Still, he continued to practice, knowing that mastery might one day make the difference between victory and defeat.

His chakra control showed particular improvement in manipulating the chakra threads. He could now create strings extending up to five meters, fine enough for precise control yet strong enough to manipulate light and heavy objects.

The synthesis of these various disciplines—swordsmanship, elemental techniques, chakra control, and combat experience—began to shape Raijin into a more complete warrior. His clone's experiences at the Academy also provided valuable data that informed him to improve his sword training. In contrast, the mental discipline from his sword practice enhanced his chakra control and technique executions.

 ***

[A/N: Just to clarify, chakra is evenly divided: if Raijin creates 4 clones, it's split into fifths (one-fifth for him, one-fifth for each 4 clones); with 3 clones, it's split into fourths. Chakra amount cannot be selectively/remotely allocated to the clone/s as desire.]