The bloody pall of the Uchiha Clan Massacre lingered over Konoha like a thick, damp fog, enveloping the Ninja Academy as well. The atmosphere in class grew heavy and oppressive. Even Naruto and Kiba, the liveliest students, became much quieter. The teachers seemed distracted during lessons, often gazing out the windows with a sigh.
Sasuke Uchiha became an island unto himself. An icy air that warned strangers away surrounded him, and his eyes were empty yet sharp, as though he were a puppet driven by hatred alone. He no longer paid attention to any of his classmates, including Ling, and poured all his time into frenzied training, as if only physical exhaustion and growing stronger could briefly numb that bone-deep pain. His condition instead dissolved the tension their earlier rivalry had created, replacing it with a faint, unsettling sorrow.
Iruka-sensei tried to show him concern, but Sasuke ignored him completely. Kakashi occasionally appeared near the school, leaning against a distant tree as he watched the lonely figure sweating furiously on the Training Ground, complicated emotions in his single eye. In the end, however, he merely shook his head and stayed away.
Ling saw it all. Tobirama's anger seemed to have subsided, turning into deeper, more practical planning.
[Hatred is a double-edged sword. It can drive a person forward, but it can also blind them.] Tobirama coldly assessed Sasuke's condition. [Right now, he is a sharp blade with no one controlling him. Dangerous, but it also means whoever gains control of him first will gain tremendous power.]
"What do we need to do?" Ling asked inwardly.
[Hold our position and keep building your strength.] Tobirama's answer was firm. [Your first priority is to graduate without incident and conceal as much of your value as possible during this upheaval, so Danzo doesn't mark you too early as a target he must control or eliminate. We don't have much time left.]
The announcement for the graduation exam soon arrived. Its content was the same as in previous years-the Clone Technique.
When the news was announced, groans filled the classroom, and Naruto's face in particular went deathly pale. The Clone Technique, which required fine chakra control, had always been his weakest skill.
Ling was not surprised at all. In fact, he felt relieved. This posed no difficulty for him.
In the days that followed, exam preparation became everyone's main focus. The Training Ground filled with students practicing the Clone Technique, producing an endless assortment of oddly shaped clones amid clouds of smoke.
Ling did not join the crowd. He continued his more advanced control training in his own courtyard. In the spiritual space, however, Tobirama began systematically reviewing all the basic knowledge and key points of teamwork a genin needed to master.
[Remember, what you show publicly should be a graduate with 'decent talent and excellent control, but nothing beyond basic Water Release and strong fundamentals.'] Tobirama stressed this repeatedly. [Hide all of it: Flying Thunder God theory, advanced Water Release Shape Transformation, and the special applications of pure water. You may show some of your keen perception, but you must attribute it to 'the intuition of the Hatake bloodline' and 'a side benefit of excellent chakra control.']
Ling followed Tobirama's instructions strictly. Whenever he practiced the Clone Technique at school, he always created two solid, standard clones indistinguishable from himself, precisely maintaining the level of an "outstanding graduate." He never produced an extra clone, nor did he ever make it look too easy.
That steady, excellent performance stood out all the more on the chaotic practice field.
Ino often brought a few girls she knew over, supposedly to "watch a top student's demonstration." In truth, while Naruto repeatedly produced limp, feeble clones, she was secretly cheering Ling on.
"Ling is amazing! He's so consistent every time!" Ino praised him quietly, her eyes shining. She seemed to have come to see Ling as a dependable companion, perhaps even something more.
Ling merely gave a slight nod without saying much and continued practicing. His gaze occasionally swept over Sasuke in the corner. Sasuke's Clone Technique was equally flawless, as expected, and even carried a trace of icy sharpness. Yet no one stood around him, and his loneliness contrasted starkly with the atmosphere around Ling.
Sakura practiced diligently as well. Her Clone Technique was also up to standard, but her gaze kept drifting involuntarily toward Sasuke, filled with worry and sadness.
Hinata remained shy. Her Clone Technique results were above average, but whenever she looked at Naruto struggling alone without finding the right approach, her face flushed scarlet. This often caused mistakes in her own practice, yet she never found the courage to approach him.
The observers in the shadows saw all of it.
The Root Base.
Danzo listened to his subordinate's report, slowly tapping his fingers against the back of his chair.
"Ling Hatake... consistent performance, exceptional chakra control, a quiet temperament, reasonably good relations with the little girl from the Yamanaka Clan... continued fundamental training..." He pondered. "The Uchiha incident doesn't seem to have affected him much. Is he steady-minded... or does he lack a sufficient sense of danger?"
Aburame Ryoma stood before him and calmly added, "According to our surveillance, the target has shown no abnormalities beyond his publicly known abilities. His focus on chakra control can be explained as preparation for the graduation exam, as well as... the pressure of his earlier rivalry with the surviving Uchiha orphan."
"Rivalry?" Danzo snorted coldly. "Sasuke no longer even sees him now. No matter. Solid fundamentals are a good thing. A promising seedling like this needs proper guidance all the more, so he can become a root that protects Konoha. Continue observing him. Once the graduating class has been assigned to teams, we can put the contact plan on the agenda."
"Yes."
Elsewhere, in the Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, watched Ling steadily performing the Clone Technique in his crystal ball and exhaled a smoke ring.
"A good boy. Composed, hardworking, and reasonably talented. Like Sakumo..." he murmured, a trace of relief in his eyes, though far more complicated emotions lay beneath it. "But he was born into troubled times."
He glanced at the documents on his desk concerning the aftermath of the Uchiha incident and personnel reassignment, then thought of Danzo's recent activities and sighed deeply. He hoped this Hatake boy could have a relatively smooth start.
Kakashi occasionally appeared at the Hokage building. While reporting on his work, he would also glance at the crystal ball.
"Well... his control is getting more absurd by the day." He offered the seemingly casual remark and said nothing more. No one could tell what he was thinking.
At last, the day of the graduation exam arrived.
The tension in the classroom reached its peak. Iruka-sensei and Mizuki-sensei sat behind the teacher's desk, calling out names one by one.
"Sasuke Uchiha!" Sasuke stepped forward without expression. The two perfect clones he produced instantly passed the exam without question.
"Sakura Haruno!" Nervous but successful, Sakura passed.
"Shikamaru Nara!" "Shino Aburame!" ... Name after name was called, bringing joy to some and distress to others.
Soon, it was Ling's turn.
"Ling Hatake!"
Ling calmly walked forward, formed hand seals, and mobilized his chakra-keeping it precisely at the level he had used during practice.
Pop! Pop!
Two utterly solid clones, identical to him, appeared on either side.
"Passed! Excellent marks!" Iruka-sensei smiled and nodded in satisfaction.
Ling bowed slightly and returned to his seat, his expression unchanged. Ino secretly gave him an encouraging gesture, delight on her face.
Finally, it was time for the main event.
"Naruto Uzumaki!"
Under everyone's skeptical or sympathetic gazes, Naruto nervously stepped forward. Then... predictably, he produced a heap of limp clones that leaned every which way, their colors bizarre.
The classroom immediately erupted in irrepressible laughter. Naruto lowered his head, his fists clenched and his shoulders slumping.
Looking at Naruto's dejected figure, Iruka-sensei could not bear it, but he still had no choice but to announce the result. "Failed."
After school, the crowd gradually dispersed. Those who had passed were elated, while those who had failed hung their heads. Ling noticed Naruto walking out through the school gates alone, his figure forlorn as he headed toward that familiar swing in the distance.
Night deepened.
On his way home, relying on the exceptional perception Tobirama had honed and the "intuition of the Hatake bloodline," Ling faintly detected an extremely weak, brief chakra fluctuation from the direction of the distant swing behind the school. It seemed a ninja had passed through quickly, but the trace soon vanished.
[Hm? At this hour, in a place like that...] A note of wariness entered Tobirama's voice. [That chakra just now... it was concealed, but there was something unpleasant about it. Stay alert, boy. Tonight may not be so quiet.]
Ling's gaze sharpened slightly, and he quickened his steps toward home. He knew graduation was not an ending, merely the beginning of another upheaval. The whispers in the shadows had never stopped. And Naruto, that most unpredictable of boys, had already unwittingly become entangled in some sort of trouble.
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