Shadow Clone Technique

The **Shadow Clone Technique** is a clone technique created by Tobirama Mashiba.

## **Summary**

This technique allows the user to create one or more copies of themselves. The user's demonic power is evenly divided between themselves and their clones: creating one clone will give it half the user's chakra, creating two clones will give each a third of the user's chakra, and so on. Depending on how much demonic/holy power 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 High-Class devil can safely use the standard Shadow Clone Technique. The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique – which creates hundreds of clones to the standard version's dozens – is unsafe to the point of being forbidden. Naruto Uzumaki is an exception to this rule; because he has access to the power of the Nine-Tails, he can create hundreds of clones without worry.

Shadow clones are physically real. They possess the same clothing, damage, and transformations as the user at the time of their creation. Most tools and weaponry are copied when the shadow clones are created, but certain energy constructs and powerful weapons won't be duplicated. Because they are visually identical and possess the same chakra as the user, shadow clones are indistinguishable from their original, not even by dōjutsu; Madara Uchiha can identify shadow clones using his Rinnegan.

Once created, shadow clones can serve a number of purposes. They can be used as decoys, either by keeping opponents preoccupied or, because they can't be told apart, concealing the original's identity. If enough shadow clones are created, they can simply overwhelm an opponent, pinning them down or attacking from multiple directions. Shadow clones can also be used simply to assist the user, joining the user for tactics they can't do alone 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 power, shadow clones can perform other techniques, including making more shadow clones.

At some point in the past, both Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki 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. But because of how much demonic power 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. 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.

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. In certain cases, this link can work against the user, such as when pain caused by the Nine-Tails' power was felt by all of Naruto's shadow clones. While a user and/or their clones are performing tasks that require concentration, they're unable to have more than a few shadow clones active at a time.