A Big Slap

On the first day of the new term, Uchiha Ling felt completely refreshed.

After more than a month of arduous training, his body had fully digested the power brought by two instances of Supercompensation, and he had completely mastered his body.

Might Guy had an iron will and shouted about youth and passion all day long. He was far too difficult to Defense Break, and Uchiha Ling had no way to deal with him for the time being.

After not seeing them for an entire winter, he could finally see his adorable classmates again. He had missed them terribly.

Last term, they had studied the Clone Technique from the Three-Body Technique. The first lesson of this term was the Transformation Technique.

Quan Yan, their Three-Body Technique teacher, stood at the lectern, looking down at the students with satisfaction:

"Every term's first lesson is the peak of the term's learning atmosphere. You come to class filled with curiosity, and you don't skip class or sleep.

"Based on my many years of teaching experience, in another half a month, you won't be listening attentively anymore.

"No matter who you are, don't underestimate the Three-Body Technique!

"For novice ninjas learning Ninjutsu, the most important value of the Three-Body Technique is that every technique in it can make Chakra flow through every corner of the body.

"The Clone Technique, Transformation Technique, and Substitution Technique all have this effect.

"While practicing the Three-Body Technique, your bodies will become familiar with the flow of Chakra and strengthen your Chakra control.

"Now, we'll begin discussing the Transformation Technique..."

Uchiha Ling nodded repeatedly. So the Three-Body Technique had this kind of effect as well.

The Three-Body Technique was nothing much in front of Dojutsu users, but it was quite useful for deceiving people weaker than oneself.

"The Transformation Technique involves the most basic yet most profound form of Chakra Shape Transformation.

"Chakra changes its own form, allowing you to become another person or object.

"The Transformation Technique turns a wooden post into you, making it one of the foundations of the Substitution Technique. If you can't learn the Transformation Technique well, you won't be able to learn the Substitution Technique..."

Uchiha Ling listened with great interest.

The Clone Technique involved Shape Transformation. That term was far too familiar to him. In the original story, the Rasengan was an ultimate Ninjutsu of Chakra Shape Transformation.

Teacher Quan Yan began explaining how to use Chakra to alter the body's outline, change its color, and even change its density.

After listening, Uchiha Ling felt that Chakra was, to a certain extent, an idealistic power.

With the help of Chakra, consciousness or will could alter the physical world.

Since it was idealistic, one had to be confident—to firmly believe in one's own consciousness.

Uchiha Ling believed that he had already grasped some of the mysteries of the Transformation Technique.

Teacher Quan Yan said at the end, "The theoretical knowledge behind the Transformation Technique is extremely important. That is why there will be no other classes during the first two weeks of the term. Every day, you'll do just one thing.

"Train your Chakra control, make Chakra circulate through your entire body, and practice the Transformation Technique over and over.

"Work hard in class, and don't slack off after school."

After school, Uchiha Ling came to the front of the classroom.

"Kurenai, I have some insights about the Transformation Technique. Come on, let's go to the Training Ground we usually visit and discuss them."

Rin Nohara had heard Kurenai talk about it long ago. During the break, she had been sparring with Uchiha Ling the whole time.

When she saw Kurenai leave with Uchiha Ling, she immediately turned her head toward Asuma Sarutobi.

Asuma Sarutobi stared out the window, his eyes blank.

He hadn't originally been that upset, but the more everyone looked at him, the more upset he became.

A week later.

Akimichi Takashi slept through the entire lesson. When class ended, he saw that Nara Saku was no longer beside him and guessed he had gone to the bathroom.

Akimichi Takashi took out some chestnuts. He had just eaten two when he saw Nara Saku return.

"Saku, we've had theory classes for the past two weeks. When are we going to deal with Uchiha Ling?"

Nara Saku lazily sat down and said, "No rush. Have you prepared everything I asked you to?"

"Yes. I found the most effective earplugs. I'll wear them during sparring class. I won't hear a word he says."

Nara Saku said, "Let me see your earplugs."

Akimichi Takashi handed the earplugs to Nara Saku, who examined them carefully.

Bang!

Akimichi Takashi was horrified to discover that Nara Saku had been enveloped in white smoke. When the smoke dispersed, it was no longer Nara Saku standing there. It was clearly Uchiha Ling.

Uchiha Ling wore his trademark arrogant and irritating expression. He tossed up and caught a pair of tightly sealed earplugs with great interest and said:

"You two have no class! No manners!

"I love provoking people so much, and you actually intend to deal with me using earplugs?

"How is that any different from a deaf-mute signing at lightning speed while you go and turn off the lights?

"How can you be so heartless?

"Little fatty, you look like a good person, but you've gone bad! You followed that Nara Saku fellow, who's full of dirty tricks, and went bad!

"Akimichi Takashi, you look like a blessed man. You can't let Nara Saku change your fate. Listen to me—stay away from him. Nara Saku obviously isn't a good person. He's even worse than me.

"Such a vicious scheme, aimed precisely at my weak spot... Only he could have thought of it!"

In his panic, half a chestnut lodged in Akimichi Takashi's throat. He immediately couldn't breathe and threw his head back in agony.

Damn it!

He had actually been tricked by Uchiha Ling and exposed their plan!

The next moment, another cloud of white smoke appeared, and Nara Saku reappeared.

Nara Saku hurriedly patted Akimichi Takashi's back. He was genuinely afraid that Akimichi Takashi would choke to death.

When Akimichi Takashi saw that it was Nara Saku, he relaxed and coughed up the chestnut himself.

"Saku! Why would you scare me for no reason? I thought Uchiha Ling had transformed into you to trick me into handing over my earplugs."

Nara Saku said, "Takashi, I was only testing your alertness. We're learning the Transformation Technique this term, so we can't let Uchiha Ling exploit any openings. How about this? The next time we meet, we'll use a code word first."

Nara Saku looked out the window and said, "The code word is maple leaf."

"All right."

Nara Saku returned the earplugs to Akimichi Takashi. "I'll go find young master Asuma and tell him the code word."

Before class began, Nara Saku lazily returned to the classroom and sat down beside Akimichi Takashi.

Akimichi Takashi asked, "Saku, the code word."

"What code word?"

"The code word! The one you just mentioned."

"What code word?"

Akimichi Takashi's expression changed. His small eyes were filled with the smugness of I'm incredibly clever. You can't possibly fool me.

He swung a huge slap backhanded across Nara Saku's face.

"Uchiha Ling! You still want to fool me with the Transformation Technique? We have a code word!"

Nara Saku was knocked off his chair by the slap and fell beneath the desk. Covering his face, he stared at Akimichi Takashi in shock.

Then he immediately realized what had happened: Akimichi Takashi had been tricked by Uchiha Ling!

Uchiha Ling had even given Akimichi Takashi some ridiculous code word.

"Don't move! Takashi! It's me! The person you just saw was me transformed by Uchiha Ling!

"If I had really used the Transformation Technique, getting hit by you would have broken the technique!"

Akimichi Takashi was completely stunned. He realized something was wrong but had no idea what to do.

Nara Saku continued, "Didn't I tell you at the compound last night to eat more chestnuts and drink more water, or you'd easily choke?"

Akimichi Takashi hurriedly nodded. He had said that in the middle of the night last night. There was no mistake—this was the real Nara Saku.

"How infuriating! Saku, I actually got played by Uchiha Ling. Sorry, did I hit you too hard? Look, even your pineapple head is crooked..."

Nara Saku felt so wronged he could die. Covering his face, he stood up and carefully listened to the details of how Akimichi Takashi had been deceived.

Uchiha Ling was not only evil but cunning as well. He had actually devised a scheme to frame him!

Nara Saku was graceful, clever, and intelligent, yet now he had a huge slap mark on his face. When had he ever suffered such humiliation growing up?

[There is a ninja near the host whose defenses have been broken. The Defense-Breaking System is activating...]

At the classroom entrance, Uchiha Ling watched with great interest.

The Transformation Technique was great. He absolutely had to learn it.