Even though night had fallen,
Tian Yu was too excited to sleep.
The thrill of forging his first weapon filled him with energy as he rushed to the small blacksmithing shed in the backyard.
He lit the charcoal fire, pumped the bellows, and placed a chunk of crude iron onto the anvil. Then, gripping the hammer tightly, he swung it down with all his strength.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
The rhythmic sound of hammering echoed in the night, sending sparks flying in all directions.
At only six years old, every strike drained his stamina, and after just a few swings, his arms ached from exhaustion.
He paused to catch his breath, wiping sweat from his brow before gripping the hammer again.
Again and again, he repeated the cycle—strike, rest, recover, strike again.
Each drop of sweat that rolled down his face was a testament to his relentless determination.
Slowly but surely, the crude lump of metal began to take shape.
The outline of a kunai gradually emerged from the rough iron.
Three hours passed.
At last, Tian Yu lifted his creation—a kunai with a dark, gleaming surface, emitting a faint but sharp glint under the forge's light.
He had done it.
His first forged ninja tool.
And not just any kunai.
A Clone Kunai.
---
A Ninja Tool That Creates a Clone?
Tian Yu gripped the kunai in his hand, feeling its weight.
The craftsmanship was still crude, nothing compared to the finely made kunai imported from the Land of Iron, which his family sold in their shop.
But unlike ordinary kunai, this weapon had a special ability.
The moment he completed its forging, knowledge of its function flooded his mind:
> [Clone Kunai: By injecting chakra, it can instantly create a material clone of the user. The clone is capable of both attacking and defending.]
This was completely different from the basic Clone Jutsu (Bunshin no Jutsu), one of the three fundamental techniques taught at the Ninja Academy.
The Clone Jutsu only created a visual illusion—a phantom with no physical form. It was useful for deception but useless in direct combat.
A material clone, on the other hand, was solid.
It had a body, substance, and could physically interact with the environment.
Techniques like Water Clone Jutsu (Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu), Shadow Clone Jutsu (Kage Bunshin no Jutsu), and even the Crow Clone Jutsu (Karasu Bunshin no Jutsu) worked on this principle.
Although material clones couldn't provide memory feedback upon dispersal—unlike Shadow Clones—they still had immense tactical value.
With this kunai, Tian Yu didn't need to perform hand seals.
He could create a material clone instantly—just by throwing the weapon.
His mind raced with possibilities.
> "This isn't just a ninja tool… It's a jutsu in the form of a weapon!"
This kunai alone gave him an advantage.
If all the weapons he forged had special abilities like this,
Then—
> "Every ninja tool I create will be extraordinary!"
Excited, he quickly pulled up his system panel.
---
System Interface:
[Host: Tian Yu]
[Age: 6 years old]
[Forging Level: Beginner]
[Unlocked Weapon: Clone Kunai (7%)]
[Self-Created Weapon: None]
7%?
What did that mean?
Was the Clone Kunai not fully unlocked yet?
As if responding to his thoughts, the system's voice echoed in his mind:
> [The host's proficiency in forging Clone Kunai is currently 7%. The more proficient the host becomes, the higher the success rate and efficiency in crafting this weapon.]
Tian Yu's eyes widened in realization.
> "So even if I have the blueprint, I can't forge weapons perfectly right away. My success rate depends on my proficiency."
His first attempt had been a success.
That was sheer luck.
But relying on luck wouldn't make him stronger.
He needed to forge more.
> "I have to keep practicing!"
Without hesitation, he grabbed another chunk of crude iron, placed it on the anvil, and raised his hammer once more.
---
A Long Night of Forging
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
The bellows roared, feeding the flames of the forge. The iron, glowing red-hot, let out a crisp ringing sound under the relentless hammer strikes.
A kunai shape gradually took form.
But—
Failure.
> [Ding! Forging failed. Result: Ordinary Kunai.]
He tried again.
Failure.
> [Ding! Forging failed. Result: Ordinary Kunai.]
Again.
Success!
> [Ding! Forging successful! Result: Clone Kunai x1!]
And again.
Failure.
Failure.
Success!
> [Ding! Forging successful! Result: Clone Kunai x1!]
The night passed quietly.
The stars faded, and the first light of dawn crept into the sky.
Tian Yu, drenched in sweat, finally set down his hammer.
"Haa…"
He exhaled deeply, exhaustion washing over him like a wave.
His arms trembled from overuse. Every muscle in his small body ached.
Yet, despite the fatigue, he felt a deep sense of accomplishment.
He looked down at the three kunai on the table—each one glistening with a cold, black sheen.
Three Clone Kunai.
And his proficiency in forging them had increased from 7% to 25%.
A huge improvement!
---
Pushing Beyond His Limits
He collected the kunai and finally stepped out of the forge.
That's when he noticed it.
His clothes were soaked in sweat.
His body felt sticky, and the lingering scent of iron and charcoal clung to his skin.
For a six-year-old, this was a brutal training session.
Forging wasn't just about striking metal—it required chakra control as well.
Each strike infused his chakra into the kunai, and the process drained him both physically and spiritually.
After hours of hammering, exhaustion, recovery, and more forging, he had pushed his body beyond its limits.
Dragging his tired limbs to the bathroom, he washed away the grime of the night's labor.
The moment he collapsed onto his bed—
Sleep claimed him instantly.
---
The Journey Has Just Begun…
When Tian Yu woke up again—
A new day had begun.
And so had his journey toward becoming the greatest blacksmith in the ninja world.