Multiple Shadow Clone Technique

This technique is a larger-scale version of the standard Shadow Clone Technique; there is no real difference between them beyond the number of shadow clones being created. Creating even a single shadow clone will require half of a user's chakra, for which reason the normal Shadow Clone Technique is generally only safe to use for jōnin. Because of how many clones are created with the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, the chakra cost is far greater, rendering it unsafe to use for most people other than the Hokage. For this reason, the First Hokage declared it forbidden and hid it away in the Scroll of Seals. Naruto Uzumaki is among the few exceptions to this rule because of the sheer amount of chakra he has access to.

There is no established number of created clones separating the regular Shadow Clone Technique from the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. Average users tend to make no more than five shadow clones at a time with the regular version, whereas Naruto will make dozens, hundreds, or sometimes even a thousand with the Multiple version. Naruto Shinden: Family Day takes it in the opposite direction, showing Naruto use the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique yet only managing to make two clones because of how tired he is. Naruto sometimes doesn't even differentiate between the two techniques, simply saying "Shadow Clone Technique" regardless of how many clones he creates.

Whereas a small number of clones can be useful in a variety of ways, the huge number of clones created for this technique are almost exclusively used offensively, overwhelming opponents with countless attacks from all around. Naruto also utilizes the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique while creating the Wind Release: Rasengan, completing years' worth of training within a matter of days.

Trivia

 * At the end of Prologue — Land of Waves, Kakashi claims to not have enough chakra to defeat Gatō's thugs. Despite this, he performs a Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, creating dozens of copies of himself and scaring the thugs away.
 * In Kakashi Hiden, while waiting for his new arm, Naruto creates shadow clones with a one-handed seal: a cross with his left hand's index and middle finger.
 * In the anime, when Hōki claims to be using the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, he is actually using the Haze Clone Technique.
 * In the anime, Boruto Uzumaki pretends to use the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique by having his classmates transform into him.
 * Boruto later uses the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique through the Shinobi Gauntlet.