This Little Ninja Is So Capable

Mrs. Yamada's vegetable patch, located on the edge of the residential district in Konoha, was not large, but the weeds grew with such abnormal vigor that they were nearly drowning out the seedlings.

"Alright! Watch me! I'm definitely going to be the fastest at weeding!" Naruto was as full of energy as ever, diving headfirst into the patch and tearing at the weeds with both hands, inadvertently pulling up quite a few innocent seedlings in the process.

"Hey! Idiot! You're pulling up the vegetables!" Sasuke watched with cold eyes, his tone dripping with disdain.

Although he found this kind of mission tedious, the pride of the Uchiha kept him from complaining. Instead, he drew a kunai and began to slice through the roots of the weeds with precision and speed; his movements were clean, though his efficiency was not particularly high.

Sakura, meanwhile, tried hard to show off in front of Sasuke. She carefully distinguished between weeds and seedlings, working with great earnestness, yet she was the slowest of them all.

Kakashi leaned against a tree, holding his Icha Icha Paradise, seemingly indifferent to everything happening before him.

Only Ling Xuan stood where he was, not immediately starting the work.

His Eye of Truth had long been activated, and the world in his vision was vastly different from that of the others.

[Target Plot: Mrs. Yamada's vegetable patch. Soil Analysis: Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels are below average; pH is slightly acidic, suitable for cruciferous vegetables but inhibitory to some root crops.]

[Weed Species Analysis: Seven types in total. Primarily ragweed and goosegrass. Ragweed has shallow, radial roots and can be pulled out in one go.]

[Goosegrass has deep, tough roots; pulling it directly will bring up large amounts of soil and damage the roots of the seedlings. The optimal method is to cut it three centimeters above the root, causing it to lose its ability to photosynthesize and wither naturally.]

[Seedling Status Analysis: Three types of vegetables. Konoha Cabbage, growing well. Land of Fire Tomato, some leaves yellowing, suspected magnesium deficiency. Ninja Radish, growth restricted due to soil compaction.]

Ling Xuan's gaze swept across the entire patch, and a complete, highly efficient workflow had already been constructed in his mind.

He did not act recklessly like Naruto, nor did he focus only on what was right in front of him like Sasuke. Instead, he walked slowly into the patch, his movements unhurried yet exceptionally precise.

His left hand gently pushed aside the leaves, while his right hand moved like a scalpel—pulling or cutting. Every move was perfectly timed to clear the weeds without disturbing a single seedling.

After clearing a section, he even used his fingers to loosen the compacted soil.

Half an hour later, when Naruto was panting with exhaustion and Sasuke was beginning to feel bored, they were astonished to find that the area Ling Xuan was responsible for had become clean and orderly, with an efficiency that exceeded the sum of all of theirs combined.

When Mrs. Yamada came to inspect, she couldn't stop singing Ling Xuan's praises.

"Oh my, this little ninja is just so capable! Not only did you clear the weeds perfectly, but you even loosened the soil for me!"

Ling Xuan merely replied calmly, "Mrs. Yamada, I suggest that the next time you fertilize, you add some wood ash or Epsom salt; it will improve the growth of the tomatoes. Also, the radish patch needs deeper tilling."

These words left Mrs. Yamada stunned. She looked at Ling Xuan as if she were looking at an experienced old farmer, not a seven or eight-year-old child.

Kakashi lifted his eyes from behind his book and took a deep look at Ling Xuan. This student could always reveal an extraordinary side in the most mundane of tasks. This level of insight and analytical ability had already transcended the scope of a ninja.

The subsequent mission served to highlight this contrast even more vividly.

For instance, the mission that all Konoha genin dreaded: "Capture the Fire Daimyo's wife's pet cat, Tiger."

This fat cat named Tiger was agile and had a nasty temperament. Relying on its owner's doting, it scampered all over Konoha, making fools of the countless ninjas who came to capture it.

"You wretched, stinking cat! Don't run!" Naruto, accompanied by several Shadow Clones, chased wildly across the rooftops, only to end up crashing into clotheslines or colliding with each other, leaving them bruised and battered.

Sasuke attempted to use shuriken combined with chakra threads to capture it, but Tiger always managed to dodge at the last second with incredible dexterity, even turning back to give him a look of contempt that made Sasuke's face turn black with rage.

"Calm down." Ling Xuan's voice reached both of them. "Your pursuit will only make it more excited."

During the chase between Naruto and Sasuke, Ling Xuan did not participate. He simply moved between different vantage points, using his Eye of Truth to record everything about Tiger.

[Target: Pet cat, Tiger. Status: Excited, playing. Physiological characteristics: High body fat percentage, but strong core muscle strength, excellent instantaneous explosive power.]

[Behavioral Pattern Analysis: Possesses a fixed activity range, including three main hiding spots and five habitual escape routes. Strong reaction to the scent of catnip. Keen hearing, but exhibits a stress response to ultrasound at specific frequencies.]

[Psychological Analysis: Craves attention, enjoys the thrill of the chase. Conventional containment and capture are ineffective and will only trigger its oppositional defiance.]

"Kakashi-sensei." Ling Xuan found Kakashi, who was reading. "I need a branch of silver vine, as well as a ninja tool that can emit a specific frequency of sound."

Kakashi was slightly surprised, but he took them from his ninja pouch and gave them to him.

Ling Xuan took the items and, instead of chasing the cat, went to a small alley that was one of Tiger's inevitable paths.

He placed the silver vine inside a cardboard box deep in the alley, then, at the entrance, used the ninja tool to emit an ultrasonic wave that was inaudible to human ears but extremely piercing to a cat.

Tiger, who had been feeling smug on the rooftops, suddenly stiffened, its ears twitching irritably. It quickly fled the area, following its instincts to escape toward its familiar, safe route.

When it darted into the alley, the piercing sound vanished, replaced by an irresistible, tempting aroma.

Tiger did not hesitate for a moment; it dove headfirst into the fragrant box and began to roll around in bliss.

Ling Xuan walked up slowly and easily closed the lid of the box.

When Ling Xuan appeared before Naruto and Sasuke carrying the box, both of them were stunned.

"How... how did you do that?" Naruto pointed at the purring sound coming from the box, asking in disbelief.

"Analysis, then utilizing its instincts." Ling Xuan replied calmly. "It is not an enemy; it is a pet. The methods of combat do not apply to every situation."

Sasuke remained silent, but the shock in his eyes was more intense than ever before. He realized once again that the gap between him and Ling Xuan might not lie in strength, but in their way of thinking.

With the mission complete, Kakashi led them on the walk back. He asked, seemingly casually, "Ling Xuan, where did you learn your ability to observe and analyze things?"