"Books, and... your own thinking," Ling Xuan replied vaguely.
Kakashi didn't press him further, but added another point to his evaluation of Ling Xuan: meticulous and utterly thorough. Seeing that kind of maturity in a child was noteworthy in itself.
D-rank missions were a platform for Ling Xuan to observe and put his theories into practice. But his personal time after each mission was the real reason his strength was growing so rapidly.
The room at the orphanage had long since become an efficient training factory.
Five Shadow Clones and the original body were simultaneously conducting in-depth analysis and training across different fields.
Shadow Clone One (Theoretical Analysis): A three-dimensional array diagram made of chakra floated in front of him, incredibly complex. It was a reverse-engineering attempt based on the incomplete diagrams for the Flying Thunder God Technique in the Scroll of Seals, combined with every theory on Space-Time Ninjutsu he could find in the library.
[Analysis of Flying Thunder God Formula coordinates in progress... Spatial markers and chakra frequency anchoring are key... Current theoretical model completeness: 3.7%... More advanced spatial theory materials required...]
Progress was slow, but every attempt deepened his understanding of the concept of space.
Shadow Clone Two (Elemental Fusion): He was no longer practicing Wind-Flame Spiral. Instead, he was attempting something more complex. A highly compressed sphere of water formed in his left hand, while blinding bolts of lightning crackled in his right.
"Water and lightning... combining conductivity and explosive power... The key is to make the Lightning Release Chakra form a stable, high-energy current through the water instead of causing a violent explosion..."
He carefully injected Lightning Release Chakra into the water sphere.
Pop!
The water sphere exploded instantly, scattering arcs of electricity and leaving the wall blackened.
The Shadow Clone dispelled, and its failed attempt and insights instantly returned to the original body. Ling Xuan merely furrowed his brow before immediately analyzing the cause of the failure.
[Water-lightning fusion experiment failed. Cause: Lightning Release Chakra was injected too quickly, preventing effective resonance with the structure of the water molecules. Optimization plan: Try injecting it in pulses at a specific frequency, and adjust the chakra density gradient inside the water sphere.]
Shadow Clone Three (Sealing Jutsu Practice): Using specially made chakra ink, he was drawing intricate symbols on a blank scroll, creating a small storage seal.
Unlike ordinary storage scrolls on the market, his seal had a more compact structure and made better use of space.
Through his initial analysis of the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu, he had optimized the energy pathways. A scroll of the same size could now store 30% more items while using less chakra to seal and unseal it.
"Done." Ling Xuan placed a kunai in the center of the scroll and formed Hand Seals to seal it away. The scroll rolled up smoothly without leaking any energy.
Shadow Clone Four (Medical Ninjutsu): An injured fish he'd caught in the river lay on the table in front of him. A gentle green light shone from his fingertips as he carefully covered the fish's wound.
[Chakra control precision training. Objective: Repair damaged muscle tissue and promote cell regeneration. Current control precision: millimeter-level. Feedback: Chakra output is slightly unstable, causing some healthy cells to become overactive... Improve mental focus further.]
This wasn't merely practice in Medical Ninjutsu; it was also a way to hone the finest control over chakra.
Shadow Clone Five (Taijutsu Sparring): He wasn't practicing any ninjutsu. Instead, he repeatedly engaged in high-intensity Taijutsu sparring with Ling Xuan's original body. He was imitating some of the moves and combat rhythm Kakashi had displayed during the survival exercise.
Every exchange of blows between the original body and the Shadow Clone was a chance to gather and verify data.
[Combat simulation: Opponent—Hatake Kakashi (7.3% data model). Result: In pure Taijutsu combat, the original body can find openings in the model and counter effectively. Conclusion: The data model has many flaws but is already suitable for basic sparring.]
At the center of it all, Ling Xuan's original body practiced Taijutsu while rapidly processing the enormous amount of information continuously sent back by his five Shadow Clones.
His brain was like a supercomputer with six cores, improving him in every way with terrifying efficiency.
Time passed amid the day-after-day D-rank missions and late-night training.
Team 7 continued to find its rhythm through fits and starts. Naruto and Sasuke still argued, but both had come to trust Ling Xuan without even realizing it.
Finally, after completing dozens of tedious D-rank missions, Naruto could take no more.
That day, in the Hokage's office, he blew up right in front of the Third Hokage.
"I've had it! Weeding! Finding cats! Babysitting! These aren't jobs for a ninja! I want a tougher mission! I want to get stronger!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the fuming Naruto with amusement in his eyes. He took a puff from his pipe and slowly exhaled a ring of smoke, but his gaze settled on Ling Xuan, who stood silently to one side.
It's time, he thought.
"Very well," Hiruzen Sarutobi said. "Since you're so eager, I'll give you a C-rank mission."
"A C-rank mission?" Naruto's eyes lit up.
"That's right." The Third Hokage pulled an assignment from a pile of scrolls. "Your mission is to escort a client safely back to his country."
He glanced toward the doorway. A middle-aged man wearing a straw hat and reeking of alcohol staggered in, his eyes weary.
"What? You expect a few snot-nosed brats like these to protect me?" The man burped and blearily looked over the four members of Team 7, then sneered. "Especially that shortest idiot. He doesn't look dependable at all."
"Who are you calling an idiot? You're the biggest idiot here, old man!" Naruto snapped.
"Naruto, calm down." Kakashi restrained him.
The moment the man appeared, Ling Xuan's Eye of Truth had already analyzed him completely.
[Target: Tazuna. Occupation: Bridge builder. Country of origin: Land of Waves. Physical condition: Chronic fatigue and a high alcohol content. Numerous tiny, concealed scars on his muscles, left by years of working with tools.]
[Mental state: He appeared dispirited, but concealed immense pressure and an unyielding will. He's lying. This mission was definitely more than just C-rank.]
The journey to the Land of Waves was long and uneventful.
The team left Konoha and set out along a dirt road leading into the outside world.
Naruto was curious about everything around him. One moment he was chasing butterflies; the next, he was loudly asking Tazuna about the Land of Waves, though the latter always fobbed him off with vague, drunken rambling.
Before you continue