Toma's Shock, Submitting the Report

Ling Xuan learned every bit of instruction Toma provided, displaying a staggering rate of progress with each passing session.

The shuriken he threw seemed to have eyes of their own, landing with pinpoint accuracy; he could even utilize the edges of the wooden stakes in the training ground to perform simple ricochet attacks.

The first day of "private tutoring" soon came to an end.

Toma watched Ling Xuan's retreating figure, remaining silent for a long time.

The shock this child brought him surpassed everything he had encountered in the past year combined.

"This kind of talent... it's far more than just being a genius. Iruka said he's an orphan with no clan background..."

"Could it be some kind of latent Kekkei Genkai awakening? Or perhaps, something one in a million..."

Toma's brows furrowed tightly. "This matter... perhaps it is necessary to report it to the Third Hokage. Konoha... might truly be about to produce an extraordinary figure."

That night, inside his room at the orphanage.

Ling Xuan sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, but the Eye of Truth was operating at high speed within his consciousness.

Every detail of the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique and Wind Cutter Technique he learned during the day was being replayed, deconstructed, and reorganized in his mind.

"For the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, Teacher Toma's version pursues quantity and range, but it lacks individual power."

Ling Xuan began to attempt optimization. He mobilized the fire-natured chakra within his body, circulating it according to the optimal path he had parsed.

Optimization Plan 1: Limit the volume of the fireballs to increase internal temperature and explosive force; reduce the quantity to three. Named: Phoenix Flower: Three-Point Blaze.

Optimization Plan 2: Imbue the fireballs with a spiral characteristic to increase penetration and flight distance; generate a secondary explosion upon hitting the target...

He extended the index finger of his right hand, and a tiny, highly condensed cluster of orange-red flame danced at his fingertip, emitting astonishing heat.

Inside the flame, fine, dense spiral patterns were vaguely visible.

"Success."

Next was the Wind Cutter.

"The advantage of Wind Cutter lies in its instantaneous burst and cutting power, but its form is too singular and easily predicted."

Optimization Plan: Integrate the continuous cutting and stealth of the Miniature Wind Blade to create Wind Style: Invisible Thread Blade. It can be dispersed or gathered, striking when least expected...

Ling Xuan flicked his finger, and a pale cyan airflow, almost invisible to the naked eye, flew out. It sank into the opposite wall without a sound, leaving behind a deep, bone-reaching slit.

"The power is decent, and there is almost no chakra fluctuation, making it suitable for sneak attacks."

In just one night, two C-rank ninjutsu had blossomed with brilliance far exceeding their original versions in his hands.

"The power of C-rank ninjutsu is still limited, but by parsing and optimizing them, my control over fire and wind-natured chakra has deepened significantly."

Ling Xuan felt the more active and compliant chakra within his body, his heart filled with a craving for even greater power.

Every evening at Training Ground 7, Toma would teach him everything he knew.

Starting from basic C-rank ninjutsu and shuriken techniques, he gradually expanded to include basic combat footwork, breath-concealment techniques, and even simple tactical combinations.

For example, how to use the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique for fire suppression, then coordinate it with shuriken to form a chain attack.

Or how to use Wind Cutter to create an opening, then finish the enemy with taijutsu.

Toma attempted to find the upper limit of Ling Xuan's learning ability.

He gradually increased the speed of his explanations and demonstrations, even occasionally adding small, non-lethal "mistakes" on purpose to see if Ling Xuan would notice.

However, the results always left him startled.

No matter how fast or complex his teaching was, Ling Xuan could always understand, absorb, and perform it with relative standard after only a few attempts.

As for the "flaws" he intentionally left behind, Ling Xuan would always "correct" them seamlessly during practice, as if those movements were meant to be that way all along.

"This kid..."

After guiding Ling Xuan through a complex combination of a triple shuriken throw coordinated with a Miniature Wind Blade restraint, Toma watched Ling Xuan's calm, ripple-free profile, his heart churning like a stormy sea.

"He isn't just learning; it's more like he is... verifying knowledge that already existed in his mind."

"His gaze is too calm—too calm for a beginner. It's more like a battle-hardened veteran revisiting old tricks."

What Toma did not know was that Ling Xuan's Eye of Truth had already parsed every one of his movements and every trace of his chakra flow with absolute thoroughness.

The "complex techniques" Toma spoke of were, in Ling Xuan's eyes, merely different permutations and combinations of basic modules, the core principles of which he had already grasped.

What he was doing was indeed more like performing an "execution test" on the data he had parsed in reality.

Over the course of several days, Toma's internal assessment of Ling Xuan's talent had soared from "rare genius" to "a prodigy seen once in a century, perhaps even involving unknown fields."

He finally made up his mind: this matter could no longer remain solely between him and Iruka.

That afternoon, after finishing his guidance for Ling Xuan, Toma found Iruka with a grave expression.

"Iruka, regarding Ling Xuan, I must formally report this to the higher-ups," Toma said in a deep voice.

"His learning ability and combat intuition have already far exceeded the scope of a normal genius."

"I have reason to suspect that he may possess some kind of undiscovered special constitution, or even a Kekkei Genkai related to learning and analysis."

Upon hearing this, Iruka also turned serious.

Although he knew Ling Xuan was outstanding, the high praise coming from Toma, a seasoned Chunin, carried an entirely different weight.

"I understand, Toma. I will support your decision. If Ling Xuan is truly a special talent, the village must provide sufficient attention and proper guidance," Iruka said solemnly.

Consequently, a report titled "Report on the Exceptional Talent of Ninja Academy First-Year Student Ling Xuan," primarily authored by Chunin Toma and seconded by Iruka, was submitted.

After passing through the Chunin captain, it was finally placed on a corner of Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk, awaiting review.

Ling Xuan naturally had no way of knowing about these undercurrents, nor did he particularly care.

He continued his routine life, moving in a straight line between the orphanage, the Ninja Academy, and Training Ground 7.

The daily lessons at the Ninja Academy felt more like a form of relaxation and observation to him.

During the taijutsu class that day, Iruka organized the students into pairs for sparring practice.

Hinata Hyuga, the little girl who always shyly hid behind the crowd, was standing in the center of the arena, looking nervous.

Her opponent was a commoner boy who was significantly taller and sturdier than her, his face bearing a hint of impatience and contempt.

"Hey, Miss from the Hyuga Clan, don't go crying on me!" the boy said gruffly, drawing jeers from several mischievous boys nearby.

Hinata's cheeks flushed bright red instantly, her hands clutching the hem of her clothes in distress, and she lowered her head even further, barely daring to look at him. Fine beads of sweat began to seep from her fair forehead.