Toma's guidance was something Ling Xuan learned from thoroughly, and every time he demonstrated a jaw-dropping rate of progress.
The shuriken he threw seemed to have eyes, hitting with pinpoint accuracy. He could even use the corners of the training ground's wooden posts to make simple ricochet attacks.
The first day's "special tutoring" soon came to an end.
Toma watched Ling Xuan's departing figure and remained silent for a long time.
The shock this child had given him surpassed everything he had encountered over the past year combined.
"This kind of talent... It's definitely more than just being a genius. Iruka said he's an orphan with no clan background..."
"Could some kind of hidden Kekkei Genkai be awakening? Or perhaps he's one in ten thousand..."
Toma's brows furrowed. "It might be necessary to report this to the Third. Konoha... may really be about to produce someone extraordinary."
That night, in a room at the orphanage.
Ling Xuan sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, while the Eye of Truth raced through his consciousness.
Every detail of the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique and Wind Cutter Technique he had learned that day replayed in his mind, again and again, as he deconstructed and reconstructed them.
"With the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, Teacher Toma's version focuses on quantity and range, but lacks single-target power."
Ling Xuan began trying to optimize it. He drew on the fire-style chakra within his body and circulated it along the optimal path he had worked out.
[Optimization Plan 1: Compress the fireball to the smallest possible size to increase its internal temperature and explosive force. Reduce the number to three and name it Phoenix Flower: Three-Point Blaze.]
[Optimization Plan 2: Give the fireball a spiral quality to increase its penetration and range. Upon hitting the target, it will trigger a second explosion...]
He extended his right index finger. A tiny cluster of intensely concentrated orange-red flames danced at its tip, radiating astonishing heat.
Faint spiral patterns were visible within the flames.
"It worked."
Next was Wind Cutter.
"Wind Cutter's strengths are its instant burst and cutting power, but its form is too simple and easy to predict."
[Optimization Plan: Combine the sustained cutting and concealment of the Miniature Wind Blade to create Wind Style: Invisible Thread Blade. It can disperse or converge, catching the enemy off guard...]
Ling Xuan flicked his fingertip, sending out a nearly invisible stream of pale blue air. It silently sank into the opposite wall, leaving a thin groove deep enough to expose the bone.
"Not bad. It produces almost no chakra fluctuations, so it's suitable for sneak attacks."
In just one night, the two C-rank ninjutsu had already taken on a brilliance far surpassing their original forms in his hands.
"C-rank ninjutsu are still limited in power, but by analyzing and optimizing them, I've gained even greater control over fire-style and wind-style chakra."
Ling Xuan felt the chakra in his body growing more active and responsive, and his heart filled with a yearning for greater strength.
Every evening, Toma taught Ling Xuan everything he knew at Training Ground 7.
Starting with C-rank ninjutsu and shuriken techniques, he gradually expanded the lessons to include basic combat footwork, concealment techniques, and even simple tactical combinations.
For example, how to use the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique to suppress the enemy with fire, then follow up with a chain of shuriken attacks.
Or how to use Wind Cutter to create an opening, then finish the enemy with Taijutsu.
Toma tried to find the limits of Ling Xuan's ability to learn.
He gradually increased the speed of his explanations and demonstrations, sometimes even deliberately adding tiny, nonlethal "mistakes" to see whether Ling Xuan would notice.
The results always left him stunned.
No matter how quickly or how complexly he taught, Ling Xuan could understand and absorb it at an astonishing speed, then perform it fairly well after just a few attempts.
Even the "flaws" Toma had deliberately left behind, Ling Xuan would seamlessly "correct" during practice, as though the movements had always been meant to be done that way.
"This kid..."
After guiding Ling Xuan through a complex combination technique involving three consecutive shuriken throws and a Miniature Wind Blade to hold the enemy at bay, Toma looked at Ling Xuan's impassive profile, his thoughts in turmoil.
"He isn't just learning. It's more like he's... confirming knowledge that already exists in his mind."
"His gaze is too calm, far too calm for a beginner. He looks more like a battle-hardened veteran revisiting old skills."
What Toma didn't know was that Ling Xuan's Eye of Truth had already analyzed every one of his movements and every trace of chakra flow in exhaustive detail.
The "complex techniques" Toma taught were, in Ling Xuan's eyes, merely different combinations of basic modules. He had already grasped their underlying principles.
What he was doing really was more like "testing the execution" of the information he had analyzed in the real world.
After several days, Toma's assessment of Ling Xuan's talent had shot from "rare genius" to "a once-in-a-century prodigy, possibly even someone whose abilities fall into an unknown category."
He finally decided that the matter could no longer remain between him and Iruka.
That afternoon, after finishing his instruction, Toma found Iruka, his expression grave.
"Iruka, I have to make a formal report to my superiors about Ling Xuan," Toma said solemnly.
"His learning ability and combat instincts are far beyond the scope of a normal genius."
"I have reason to suspect he may possess some undiscovered special constitution, or even a Kekkei Genkai related to learning and analysis."
Iruka grew serious at his words.
He had known Ling Xuan was exceptional, but hearing such high praise from Toma, an experienced Chunin, was a different matter entirely.
"I understand, Toma. I'll support your decision. If Ling Xuan really is a special talent, the village must give him proper attention and guidance," Iruka said earnestly.
And so, a report titled "Report on the Exceptional Talent of Ling Xuan, a First-Year Ninja Academy Student," drafted by Chunin Toma with Iruka's endorsement, was submitted.
It passed through the Chunin squad leader and eventually landed at the corner of Third Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk, awaiting his review.
Ling Xuan naturally knew nothing of these undercurrents and didn't particularly care.
He continued his regular routine, splitting his time among the orphanage, the Ninja Academy, and Training Ground 7.
To him, the Ninja Academy's regular lessons were more like a chance to relax and observe.
During Taijutsu class that day, Iruka organized the students into pairs for sparring.
Hinata Hyuga, the little girl who was always timidly hiding behind the crowd, now stood nervously in the middle of the training area.
Her opponent was a civilian boy considerably taller and more solidly built than she was. His face showed impatience and contempt.
"Hey, young lady of the Hyuga Clan, don't start crying!" the boy said gruffly, prompting a few mischievous boys nearby to laugh.
Hinata's cheeks immediately flushed bright red. She fidgeted with the hem of her clothes, lowering her head even further until she could hardly look at him. Fine beads of sweat appeared on her fair forehead.
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