A Big Slap

On the first day of the new semester, Uchiha Ling felt refreshed all over.

After more than a month of grueling training, his body had fully absorbed the strength gained from two bouts of excessive recovery. He had completely mastered his body.

Might Guy's will was firm. He shouted about youth and passion all day long, making him far too difficult to break. For the time being, Uchiha Ling had no way to deal with him.

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

Last semester, they had studied the Clone Technique from the Three-Body Technique. The first class of this semester covered the Transformation Technique.

Three-Body Technique instructor Quan Yan stood at the podium, looking down at the students with satisfaction.

"The first class of every semester is always the peak of the semester's learning atmosphere. You come to class full of novelty. You don't skip class, and you don't sleep.

"Based on my many years of teaching experience, in another half month, none of you will be listening seriously anymore.

"No matter who you are, do not underestimate the Three-Body Technique!

"For ninjas who are just beginning to learn ninjutsu, the greatest value of the Three-Body Technique is that every technique within it can make chakra flow through every corner of the body.

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

"Through practicing the Three-Body Technique, your bodies will become familiar with the flow of chakra, strengthening your control over it.

"Now, let's begin discussing the Transformation Technique..."

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

The Three-Body Technique was nothing in the face of dōjutsu users, but it was quite useful for deceiving people weaker than oneself.

"The Transformation Technique involves the most basic, yet most exquisite, chakra shape transformation.

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

"The Transformation Technique allows a wooden post to become you, making it one of the foundations for the subsequent Substitution Technique. If you cannot master the Transformation Technique, you cannot master the Substitution Technique..."

Uchiha Ling listened with great interest.

The Clone Technique involved shape transformation. That term was far too familiar to him. The Rasengan from the original work was a top-tier ninjutsu based on chakra shape transformation.

Teacher Quan Yan began explaining how to use chakra to alter one's body outline, change colors, and even alter density.

After hearing it, Uchiha Ling felt that chakra was, to some extent, a mind-over-matter ability.

With chakra's help, consciousness or will could change the physical world.

Since it was mind-over-matter, then one needed confidence. One had to firmly believe in one's own consciousness.

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

Teacher Quan Yan concluded, "The theoretical knowledge behind the Transformation Technique is extremely important, so there will be no other classes for the first two weeks of the semester. Every day, you will do only one thing.

"Train your chakra control. Let chakra circulate throughout your entire body, and practice the Transformation Technique again and again.

"Train hard in class, and do not slack off after school either."

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

"Kurenai, I've gained some insights into the Transformation Technique. Come on, let's go to the training ground we always use and discuss it."

Rin Nohara had long heard from Kurenai that she had spent the entire break sparring with Uchiha Ling.

After seeing Kurenai follow Uchiha Ling away, she immediately turned to look at Asuma Sarutobi.

Asuma Sarutobi stared blankly out the window.

He had not been that upset to begin with, but everyone looking at him made him feel even worse.

A week later.

Akimichi Takashi slept through an entire class. When class ended, he saw that Nara Saku was not beside him and guessed that he had gone to the bathroom.

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

"Saku, these past two weeks have all been theory classes. When are we going to deal with Uchiha Ling?"

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

"I have. I found earplugs with the best soundproofing. When sparring class comes around, I'll wear them. No matter what he says, I won't hear it."

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

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

Poof!

To Akimichi Takashi's horror, Nara Saku was enveloped in white smoke. When the smoke dispersed, it was no longer Nara Saku—it was clearly Uchiha Ling.

Uchiha Ling wore his signature arrogant, punchable expression. With great interest, he tossed and caught a pair of tightly fitting earplugs as he said:

"You people have no class! No manners at all!

"I love talking trash so much, and you're actually using earplugs against me?

"How is that any different from turning off the lights while deaf-mute people are rapidly signing to each other?

"How can you be so immoral?

"You little fatty look like a good person, but you've gone bad. You learned to be bad by following Nara Saku, that guy with a belly full of schemes!

"Akimichi Takashi, you look like you're blessed with good fortune. You can't let Nara Saku change your fate. Listen to me and stay away from him. Nara Saku doesn't look like a good person at all. He's even worse than me.

"Only he could come up with such a vicious plan, one that precisely targets my weakness!"

In his panic, half a chestnut got lodged in Akimichi Takashi's throat. He immediately could not breathe and painfully craned his neck back.

This is bad!

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 on the back. He was genuinely afraid that Akimichi Takashi would choke himself to death.

Seeing that it was Nara Saku, Akimichi Takashi stopped panicking and coughed out the chestnut himself.

"Saku! Why did you scare me for no reason? I thought Uchiha Ling had transformed into you to trick me out of my earplugs."

Nara Saku said, "Takashi, I was only testing your vigilance. This semester, we're learning the Transformation Technique, so we can't let Uchiha Ling exploit an opening. How about this? Next time we meet, let's use a password first."

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

"Alright."

Nara Saku returned the earplugs to Akimichi Takashi. "I'm going to find Young Master Asuma and tell him the password."

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

Akimichi Takashi asked, "Saku, the password."

"What password?"

"The password. The one you just mentioned."

"What password is there?"

Akimichi Takashi's expression changed. His tiny eyes were full of smug pride, as if to say, I'm so smart. You can't fool me.

With a huge backhanded slap, he smacked Nara Saku across the face.

"Uchiha Ling! You think you can fool me with the Transformation Technique? We have a password!"

Nara Saku was slapped right out of his chair and fell beneath the desk. Clutching his face, he stared at Akimichi Takashi in shock.

Then he immediately realized it. Akimichi Takashi had been tricked by Uchiha Ling!

Uchiha Ling must have given Akimichi Takashi some ridiculous password.

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

"If I had really used the Transformation Technique, it would have been broken the moment you hit me!"

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

Nara Saku continued, "Last night in the clan compound, didn't I tell you to drink more water when eating chestnuts, or else you might choke?"

Akimichi Takashi hurriedly nodded. They had discussed that in the middle of the night yesterday. There was no way it could be wrong. This was the real Nara Saku.

"I'm so angry! Saku, I was actually played by Uchiha Ling. Sorry, did I hit too hard? Look, even your pineapple head is crooked..."

Nara Saku felt utterly wronged. Covering his face, he stood up and carefully listened as Akimichi Takashi described how he had been tricked.

Uchiha Ling was not only evil, but cunning as well. He had actually set him up!

Nara Saku was elegant, witty, and intelligent, yet now he had a huge handprint on his face. When had he ever suffered such humiliation since childhood?

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

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

The Transformation Technique was great. He had to learn the Transformation Technique well.