It’s completely tied to his identity and his most iconic move, but why does Naruto use shadow clones so much?
Naruto uses shadow clones so much because it’s the first high-caliber ninjutsu he learns. He stole a forbidden scroll in chapter #1 that taught him how to use over one thousand solid-shadow clones. Ever since, he’s uses this technique as it comes naturally to him.
He originally had issues using the shadow clone technique in school. It’s the reason he fails the academy and ends up being held back a year.
Naruto learns how to use his shadow clones
In chapter #1, Mizuki convinces Naruto to steal a forbidden scroll. Once he obtains it, Naruto takes a look inside.
The first technique he sees is “multiple doppelgangers,” popularly known as shadow clones. Naruto is originally upset, as shadow clones are his worst technique and the reason he can’t graduate from the academy.
All Jonin in the village are quickly disperse once word goes out that Naruto stole a forbidden scroll, Iruka sensei is able to quickly find Naruto. At first he assumes it was a prank, Naruto’s attempts to master the forbidden techniques in an effort to graduate impresses Iruka.
Naruto reveals that Mizuki told him to steal the forbidden scroll, and then the rogue ninja suddenly attacks. Mizuki reveals why Naruto was hated as a kid and the truth behind his Demon Fox. In an effort to save Iruka, Naruto uses the forbidden shadow clone jutsu technique he learned from the scroll.
One thousand shadow clones appear and attack Mizuki. Iruka is in awe, stating that not only could Naruto generate a thousand shadow clones, but he made them all solid instead of an illusion. He considers this a high-caliber jutsu and Iruka wonders if Naruto really could surpass the Hokage’s one day.
So that’s the answer. Naruto uses shadow clones so much because it is the first high-caliber jutsu he learns. He stole a forbidden scroll that taught how to create over one thousand solid clones, and the technique came extremely easy to him.