This jutsu allows the user to create one or more copies of themselves. The users chakra is evenly divided between themselves and their clones: creating one clone will give it half the users chakra, creating two clones will give each a third of the users chakra, and so on. Depending on how much chakra the user has and how many clones they make, this rapid depletion of their reserves can be dangerous. Because of this, usually only those of at least jōnin-level can safely use the standard Shadow Clone Technique.[4] The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique – which creates hundreds of clones to the standard versions dozens – is unsafe to the point of being forbidden. Naruto Uzumaki is an exception to this rule; because he has access to the chakra of the Nine-Tails, he can create hundreds of clones without worry.[5]
Shadow clones usually disperse once they are struck hard enough, but they have been shown capable of enduring injuries for a time.[15] When a clones task is completed, it can disperse itself or be dispersed by its user. Once dispersed, the clones experiences and remaining chakra are transferred back to the user.[16] The shared experiences make shadow clones useful for intelligence gathering: a shadow clone can be sent into hostile territory, gather information without endangering the user, and disperse when finished, thus transferring what theyve learned.[17] Alternatively, shadow clones can recon an area, dispersing when theyve found what theyre looking for in order to let the user know the targets location.[18]
Although they are separate, shadow clones maintain small links between themselves and their original, intended to allow the user to reestablish control when needed. Users can exploit this link to network their clones, causing changes in their own chakra to extend to all the others.[3] In certain cases, this link can work against the user, such as when pain caused by the Nine-Tails chakra was felt by all of Narutos shadow clones.[22] While a user and/or their clones are performing tasks that require concentration, theyre unable to have more than a few shadow clones active at a time.[23][24] In the novelisation of Boruto: Naruto the Movie, Naruto is consciously aware of what all his shadow clones around Konohagakure are doing. Although this allows him to have multiple conversations simultaneously, he has difficulty focusing on any one thing and the original Naruto becomes increasingly strained the longer the shadow clones are active; he drinks coffee and energy supplements in order to remain alert, but as soon as his concentration falters his shadow clones will all disperse.
Once created, shadow clones can serve a number of purposes. They can be used as decoys, either by keeping opponents preoccupied or, because they cant be told apart, concealing the originals identity.[12] If enough shadow clones are created, they can simply overwhelm an opponent, pinning them down or attacking from multiple directions.[6] Shadow clones can also be used simply to assist the user, joining the user for tactics they cant do alone[13] or being sent to carry out tasks while the user is busy. Shadow clones possess all the same memories as the user, and so will react to unforeseen obstacles just as the user would in the same circumstances. Because they have their own chakra, shadow clones can perform other jutsu, including making more shadow clones.[14]
Kakashi Hatake discovered that shadow clones can also accelerate training periods. For example, by training alongside one shadow clone for one hour, the user will have two hours worth of training experience once the shadow clone disperses. By using hundreds of clones, training that would usually take weeks or months can be completed within a few hours.[19] But because of how much chakra it takes to create just one shadow clone, and because the training itself will likely be arduous even without shadow clones, only Naruto can train in this way.[20] Naruto is indeed able to make effective use of this shortcut, but the combined experiences come with combined mental fatigue, requiring that he take regular breaks.[21]
Doing the Shadow Clone jutsu is simple. You need to put your fingers in a cross formation. Both the index and middle finger must be out, right hand vertical, left hand horizontal. Next, you have to build up your chakra energy evenly so no energy is wasted. Lastly, you just need to yell out “Shadow Clone jutsu.” From there, real-life clones should appear right next to you.
What makes this different from the clone technique that ninjas in the academy have to master in order to graduate is that the clones are real rather than being illusions. This means that more chakra and energy are being used in comparison to its less powerful variants. These clones can also use other jutsus, making them more versatile. An example of this was during the Chunin Exams when Naruto made clones of himself and transformed some of them into Sakura, Sasuke, and Kabuto.
Naruto has showcased multiple powers and abilities that each shinobi can make, from Sasuke’s Sharingan to Rock Lee’s taijutsu. But out of all the amazing, action-packed, and fast-paced skills and jutsu that a shinobi can make, nothing beats the moment when Naruto mastered the Shadow Clone jutsu.
There are pros and cons to this jutsu. The pros are that you can create real-life clones, as many as you want, that can attack and hurt the opponent ⏤ very useful for creating a distraction. The cons require you to yell out the jutsu, ruining the element of surprise. Also, the durability of Shadow Clones is weak and is more likely to be destroyed after one hit.
When the series started, Naruto was unable to produce a single clone of himself. It was only when he saved his teacher Iruka Umino from Mizuki after he stole a scroll containing secrets from the First Hokage that he was able to do so. Since then, it has been one of Naruto’s specialties during the early parts of the anime series.
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The hand signs used to evoke the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu arent different than the standard Shadow Clone Jutsu. The only difference is the amount of chakra consumed during the execution of the jutsu.
The hand signs are given below:
FAQ
How do you do the shadow clone jutsu hand signs?
Can you do shadow clone jutsu with one hand?
What jutsu has the most hand signs?
This Jutsu has the greatest number of hand seals out of every Jutsu in the series. It has a total of 44 hand seals that need to be perfectly weaved before the large water dragon is manifested.
