Shocking the Examiner, Ling Xuan's Little Plan

They were very curious to see how this boy, who had performed near-perfectly in all previous projects, would fare.

They wanted to see what kind of performance he would display in the Clone Technique, which was the most fundamental test of chakra control.

"Student Ling Xuan," Iruka's voice carried a hint of anticipation, "please perform the Clone Technique and create at least three effective physical clones."

Ling Xuan nodded slightly, his expression remaining unchanged.

He did not perform the complex hand seals like the others; instead, he simply raised his right hand, pressing his index and middle fingers together.

In an arcane yet concise manner, he instantly completed the substitution for the seals.

"Clone Technique." His voice was calm and ripple-free.

In an instant!

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

Seven soft explosions rang out almost simultaneously!

Inside the examination room, seven figures identical to Ling Xuan appeared out of thin air!

They were not mere phantoms, but possessed clear physical forms, with their clothing, hairstyles, expressions, and even the unique calm and indifference in their eyes perfectly replicated!

The seven Ling Xuans stood quietly in place, each emitting a faint chakra fluctuation identical to the original, as if each were an independent living entity.

The entire examination room fell into a deathly silence.

Teacher Iruka's mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg, and the recording pen in his hand clattered to the floor.

The smile on Mizuki's face froze completely, and a flash of unbelievable horror and deeply hidden greed flickered in his eyes.

"This... this is..." A Jonin examiner swallowed hard, his voice dry.

"Seven of them... and every single one is... impossibly perfect..."

He subconsciously asked the "Ling Xuan clone" closest to him, "You... can you answer my questions?"

The clone spoke calmly, its voice identical to Ling Xuan's own: "Examiner, what is your question?"

Ling Xuan's original body spoke faintly: "Examiner, is this quantity and quality sufficient?"

"Suf... sufficient! More than sufficient!"

"This... this is a textbook-level Clone Technique! No! It even surpasses the textbook! Your control over chakra and your understanding of the Clone Technique have reached an unfathomable level!"

Iruka finally snapped out of it; his face flushed with excitement as he patted Ling Xuan's shoulder hard.

"Good! Excellent! Ling Xuan! You truly did not disappoint me!"

Clone Technique, E-rank. Core: Equal division of chakra and imbuing it with an independent form.

Optimization direction: Synchronized injection of spiritual energy to enhance the autonomy and stability of the clones.

Chakra compression and circulation to extend the duration of the clones...

With Ling Xuan's current level of control, maintaining seven perfect clones capable of basic responses and simple actions simultaneously, while imbuing them with the rudiments of "independent thought," was already the most "reasonable" upper limit for a public setting.

Ling Xuan thought to himself that if he were willing, creating more would not be difficult, but it would appear far too shocking.

Without a doubt, Ling Xuan passed the ninjutsu examination with an excellent and perfect rating.

That afternoon, on the Ninja Academy playground, Teacher Iruka stood on a high platform, announcing the list of graduates.

Most of the familiar names were called, and they received the Konoha forehead protectors that signified their status as Genin.

However, the name Naruto Uzumaki was nowhere to be heard.

When the last name was read, Naruto sat dejectedly on a swing in the corner of the playground, his head hanging low, his figure looking desolate. He had failed after all.

Ling Xuan stood not far away, watching this scene calmly.

The Eye of Truth captured the intense disappointment and unwillingness in Naruto, as well as his deeply hidden craving for recognition.

Just then, the corner of Ling Xuan's eye caught Teacher Mizuki walking slowly toward the lonely Naruto with his signature gentle smile.

Ling Xuan's eyebrows twitched imperceptibly.

[Target: Mizuki. Status: Emotionally slightly agitated, heart rate elevated, a subtle, calculating light in the depths of his eyes... Chakra flow is steady, but there is an abnormality in his mental fluctuations...]

An interesting coincidence.

Ling Xuan understood; was the plot about to begin? Stealing the Scroll of Seals...

This was a chance to observe high-level sealing techniques up close, and perhaps even learn some of the interesting arts within it.

He withdrew his gaze without a sound, a meaningful curve tugging at the corner of his mouth as he prepared to begin his own plan.

Night fell, shrouding the gradually quieting Konoha.

The scattered lights were like fallen stars, yet they could not illuminate the conspiracies brewing in the dark corners.

Ling Xuan moved silently between the eaves and alleys, his presence blending perfectly with the darkness.

Even an experienced ninja would find it extremely difficult to detect his existence.

This was not just the technique taught by Teacher Toma, but a unique stealth method he had optimized for himself after using the Eye of Truth to conduct an ultimate analysis of the environment, airflow, and light and shadow.

Not far ahead, the slightly agitated figure of Mizuki was leading a dejected Naruto Uzumaki toward the dense forest behind the village.

"Naruto, don't be discouraged! Iruka is just too stubborn!" Mizuki's gentle voice was exceptionally clear in the silent night.

"Actually, there is one secret make-up exam opportunity. As long as you pass it, you can become a true ninja!"

[Target: Mizuki. Mental state: Highly excited, mixed with greed and malice. Linguistic pattern: Typical induced deception, exploiting the target's (Naruto Uzumaki) sense of loss and extreme desire for recognition...]

[Target: Naruto Uzumaki. Mental state: Dejected, unwilling to give up, hope reignited by the "secret make-up exam," judgment significantly impaired...]

Ling Xuan's Eye of Truth calmly analyzed the drama unfolding before him.

"Really? Mizuki-sensei! What kind of exam is it?" Naruto asked excitedly, as if he had grasped at a life-saving straw.

"It's very simple," Mizuki's voice lowered, carrying a mysterious temptation, "Go to the Hokage's office and secretly take the Scroll of Seals, the largest scroll in his study."

"Then, just learn one ninjutsu from it at the designated location. This is an S-rank classified mission, you know. Once you complete it, you'll be a hero!"

The Scroll of Seals!

These four words represented the most profound and dangerous batch of forbidden techniques in Konoha!

The legacy of the First Hokage, the lifeblood and wisdom of countless powerful ninjas...

If he could catch a glimpse of it—no, even if he could only analyze one or two techniques within it—it would be immeasurable for the improvement of Ling Xuan's strength and the perfection of his knowledge system!

Mizuki's move has actually gifted me an unexpected present. Ling Xuan sneered inwardly, yet his movements while stalking became increasingly cautious.

Ling Xuan watched Naruto's face flush with excitement and nervousness, watching him with his clumsy yet somewhat protagonist-halo-infused movements.

He luckily infiltrated the relatively lax security of the Hokage's residence (perhaps a deliberate arrangement of the plot) and eventually stumbled out, clutching a massive scroll.