{"id":"kage-bunshin","name":"Shadow Clone Jutsu","japanese":"影分身","category":"techniques","subtitle":"More bodies do not mean more total chakra.","summary":"Physical clones that divide the user's chakra and can pass experiences back to them when they disperse.","facts":[["Tipo","Physical clone ninjutsu"],["Coste","Chakra distribution"],["Diferencia","Not a bodiless illusion"]],"lvl":0,"sections":[{"h":"The forbidden scroll","t":"Naruto learns the Shadow Clone Jutsu from Konoha's forbidden scroll in the first chapter. Unlike the ordinary clone, which is just an illusion, the shadow clone is physical: it can strike, take hits and use techniques. To create them, the user splits their chakra among all the clones, which makes it risky: creating too many can exhaust them. Naruto is the exception, because his huge reserves let him create hundreds without collapsing.","lvl":0,"ch":"naruto-1","pos":1},{"h":"Tactical uses","t":"Naruto turns clones into his main resource. He uses them to distract, surround, track or hide: against Neji, he slips in among his clones and takes him by surprise. They also help him form the Rasengan, as a second hand. An easily missed detail: a clone disappears when it takes a hard hit, so numbers matter as much as strategy. Other ninja know the technique too, but use it more sparingly: they create one or two clones to fool an opponent, never hundreds, precisely because of the chakra cost.","lvl":0,"ch":"naruto-100","pos":100},{"h":"What comes back to the user","t":"In Shippūden, Kakashi explains that a clone's experience returns to the user when the clone disappears. That allows training to be multiplied: with many clones practicing wind nature, Naruto learns in days what would take months. But fatigue comes back too, added up. Kakashi designs the training with that cost in mind, and Naruto ends up exhausted. Information comes back as well: if a clone sees or discovers something, the user knows it as soon as the clone dispels, which turns the technique into a scouting tool.","lvl":1,"ch":"naruto-322","pos":322},{"h":"Clones and Sage Mode","t":"Clones also solve Sage Mode's time limit. Naruto leaves clones standing still gathering natural energy, and when his Sage Mode runs out, he dispels one to receive its energy and renew the mode. It is a solution that only works because of how clones pass what they have back to the user. This lets Naruto sustain Sage Mode through a long fight, like the one against Pain. The trick carries a risk: if the reserve clones are attacked, the recharge is lost.","lvl":1,"ch":"naruto-433","pos":433},{"h":"In the final battle","t":"In the last arc, Naruto uses clones in unexpected ways. Against Kaguya, a variant of the Sexy Jutsu with many clones manages to distract her, and then the clones help him coordinate the final attack. The technique Naruto learned to pass an exam ends up being key against the story's strongest enemy. An easily missed detail: the same technique Naruto learned because of Mizuki's trick ends up part of the plan that saves the world, and his sense of humor is still intact.","lvl":1,"ch":"naruto-684","pos":684},{"h":"In Boruto","t":"In Boruto, the technique is still around: the site uses the term “shadow clone”. Naruto uses it to do several tasks at once, even to talk through a clone. Boruto has mastered it too, and Kawaki learns to create it. As before, each user has to watch their chakra: creating many clones is still risky for anyone without Naruto's reserves. It also appears as a distraction against far stronger enemies.","lvl":2,"ch":"boruto-61","pos":761}],"characters":["naruto","boruto"],"related":["chakra","rasengan","ninjutsu","sellos-de-manos"],"reference":"Naruto, chapter 1 and chapters 315–321: the technique and clone training.","sources":[{"title":"Naruto: formación y vínculos, primera parte","url":"https://naruto-official.com/en/news/01_1610"},{"title":"Boruto: familia y primeros pasos del Equipo 7","url":"https://naruto-official.com/en/news/01_1745"}],"figures":["
ONE RESERVE · SEVERAL BODIES
Kage Bunshin · Original diagramThe reserve is split among the clones. The silhouettes are conceptual: they do not represent extra chakra created from nothing.
"]}