But Makoto knew that wasn’t enough.
Far from enough.
Makoto was well aware that Kakashi had graduated from the Ninja Academy to become a Genin at age five, a Chunin at six, and a Jonin at twelve.
Compared to that, his current achievements were hardly worth boasting about in the Naruto world.
“Still a long way to go,” Makoto sighed.
“Makoto, what are you sighing for?” Obito nudged closer.
“Stuck on the jutsu?
I can teach you!” “No need,” Makoto shook his head.
“I just feel…
the Three-Body Technique is too simple.” “Simple?!” Obito’s eyes widened.
“What part of it is simple?
I’ve been practicing all day, and my clone is still see-through!” “That’s because your chakra control is terrible,” Makoto said.
“Chakra has to be distributed evenly—not too much, not too little.” “How do you make it even?” Guy popped over as well.
“Every time I make clones, one is fat and the other is skinny!” “That’s because your chakra output is unstable,” Makoto thought for a moment.
“Look at it this way: imagine chakra as water flowing from inside your body, then splitting into two streams.
One stays where you are, and the other forms the clone.” Obito and Guy exchanged glances, then both closed their eyes simultaneously.
“Imagine…
water…” Obito muttered.
“Evenly…
distributed…” Guy said with utmost seriousness.
Five minutes later.
Obito’s clone remained semi-transparent.
Guy was still Guy—the boy was simply born for Taijutsu.
Makoto pinched the bridge of his nose.
*These two goofs…* “Forget it,” he said.
“Just take it slow.” “Makoto,” Obito suddenly asked, “do you think anyone could ever master the Three-Body Technique to…
a crazy high level?” Makoto’s heart stirred.
Here it comes.
The opportunity had arrived.
“Of course,” he said, affecting a nonchalant tone.
“I’ve heard that some master shinobi can use Transformation to turn into any object.
They can use Clone Jutsu to create solid physical copies that fight just like the real body.
And they can use Substitution without needing a wooden log at all—swapping positions purely through chakra.” Obito and Guy dropped their jaws.
“Physical clones?!” Guy balled his fists.
“Wouldn’t that be like duplicating yourself?!” “Chakra Substitution?!” Obito began imagining the possibilities.
“Does that mean…
you can swap places anywhere, anytime?!” “Exactly,” Makoto nodded.
“So while the Three-Body Technique looks basic, its ceiling is incredibly high.
Master it, and it won’t lose out to any high-level ninjutsu.” Obito and Guy exchanged a look, then both turned to Makoto.
“Makoto,” Obito asked tentatively, “can…
can you reach that level?” Makoto smirked.
“Not right now,” he said.
“But in the future…
who knows?” “How long is ‘in the future’?” Guy asked.
“When I’m a bit stronger,” Makoto said.
“When my chakra capacity is larger and my control gets better.” “How long will that take?” Obito asked, a bit disheartened.
“Very soon,” Makoto said smoothly.
“My chakra refinement speed is really fast.” Makoto spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.
But Obito and Guy bought it completely.
Makoto nodded in satisfaction.
*A daily dose of brainwashing is indispensable.* “Alright, back to practice.
Build a solid foundation first.” “Right!” Obito and Guy roared with newfound energy.
To them, the Three-Body Technique no longer felt like a mere basic.
If they wanted to become true ninjas in the future, mastering the Three-Body Technique was non-negotiable.
—————– Out on the training ground, Obito was still wrestling with his translucent clone.
“Clone!
Clone!
Clone!” He wove signs until his fingers nearly cramped up, but the phantom clone he summoned still looked like a ghost that dispersed with the slightest breeze.
Guy wasn’t doing much better over on his end.
His clones were at least visible, but one was round as a barrel while the other was thin as a pole, standing side by side like father and son.
“Makoto…” Obito wailed, face drawn in despair.
“Does the Clone Jutsu have a personal grudge against me?” Makoto looked at the two knuckleheads and sighed.
“It doesn’t have a grudge against you,” Makoto said.
“You just have a grudge against chakra.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “It means both of your chakra control is absolute garbage.” Obito and Guy looked at each other, then hung their heads in unison.
There was no arguing with that.
They had been practicing for nearly a month, and their Three-Body Technique was still a total disaster.
And Substitution was even worse.
Every time Obito tried Substitution, a wooden log would pop up, but he’d still be standing in the exact same spot.
Guy could manage the swap, but his landing spot was always wild.
Once, he substituted into a tree and got stuck between the branches, unable to climb down.
“Makoto,” Guy raised his head, eyes burning with determination.
“I will master the Three-Body Technique, no matter what!” “Me too!” Obito pumped his fist.
“I’m gonna become a ninja just like Makoto!” Looking at them, Makoto felt a mix of warmth and amusement.
He was touched because these two goofs really were working hard.
He wanted to laugh because…
their efforts were headed in entirely the wrong direction.
“Forget it,” Makoto waved a hand.
“Let me put the Three-Body Technique aside for now.
Starting today, we’re training the Flowing Iron Body.” “Flowing Iron Body?” Obito and Guy both froze.
Makoto stepped up in front of Obito.
“You beat Aoki with Iron Body last time only because Aoki was stupid,” Makoto explained.
“If he had been half a brain cell smarter and realized you couldn’t move, he would’ve just circled behind you or blasted you from afar with ninjutsu.
What would you have done then?” Obito thought it over, and cold sweat broke out across his brow.
He was right.
Back then, he had stood rooted to the spot.
If Aoki had flanked him, he would’ve been defenseless.
“So Iron Body can’t just be about standing there taking hits,” Makoto said.
“You need to be able to move.” “Only by mastering Partial Iron Body—hardening just a portion of your body while keeping the rest mobile—can it actually be useful on a real battlefield.” Obito and Guy exchanged a glance.
That…
actually made a lot of sense?
Makoto smiled.
“And that’s what we’re training today.” He told Obito and Guy to stand straight.
“Step one: feel your chakra,” he instructed.
“Don’t refine it, just feel it.
Feel it flowing through your body like water.” Obito and Guy closed their eyes.
Five minutes passed.
“Makoto…” Obito whispered.
“I don’t feel anything.” “Me neither,” Guy added.
“I only feel hungry.” Makoto slapped his forehead.
“Fine, let’s try another approach,” he said.
“Imagine you’re taking a pee.” “Huh?!” Obito and Guy snapped their eyes open at the same time.
“When you pee, isn’t there a warm rush flowing out from your gut?” Makoto continued with a deadpan expression.
“Chakra flowing feels just like that.” Obito and Guy flushed red.
But…
did it make sense?
They closed their eyes once more.
This time, Obito felt it first.
A warm sensation started in his abdomen, trickled downward, and then spread throughout his body.
“Makoto!” he yelled excitedly.
“I feel it!” “Good,” Makoto nodded.
“Now, try controlling it.
Direct it into your right hand.” Obito gave it a try.
The warm stream dutifully flowed into his right hand.
“Now, solidify it,” Makoto said.
“Like water freezing into ice.” Obito tried again.
The warm current pooled in his right hand, and then…
hardened.
It wasn’t that the physical tissue literally turned to stone, but the sensation became rigid and dense.
“It worked!” Obito opened his eyes, staring at his right hand.
“Makoto, I did it!”