Chapter 83
"This doesn't make sense."
The proctor's gaze swept up and down Naruto, full of astonishment.
Was this the world of geniuses?
Naruto, of course, had no idea he had just shattered the proctor's common sense about ninjutsu.
He didn't explain how he did it—this wasn't even a particularly difficult technique for him.
Xuanming watched Naruto's display from the side and gave a slight nod.
Remote chakra manipulation was a skill Naruto had mastered over the past few years, though he rarely showed it off.
Xuanming himself could interact with the physical world only by borrowing Naruto's chakra.
The process of extending Naruto's chakra outward to guide and move objects—
When Naruto was small, he didn't fully understand it. But after experiencing it countless times with his body, he naturally memorized the sensation.
In recent years, with increased knowledge and study, he quickly grasped the principle and application.
And since Xuanming's projection could touch reality using chakra,
why couldn't Clone Technique do the same?
As long as chakra threads were filled inside the illusory clone to connect and control it, limited physical interaction became possible.
This was just a little trick.
A… pure-chakra clone technique, perhaps?
In essence, an advanced variation of basic Clone Technique.
And every village in the shinobi world had even more powerful clone techniques.
So while it sounded simple, most ninja wouldn't bother investing extra effort into mastering such variations on foundational techniques.
Naruto hadn't specifically trained it either—just a clever idea that occurred to him during practice.
Sure enough, finding ways to innovate on the three basic techniques was exactly Naruto's style.
But throughout his growth, his personality had remained quite grounded.
He never went to the bookstore looking for something like a "Youth Training Manual," so Color Temptation Technique never got developed.
Hiss—the most unexpectedly powerful ninjutsu in the shinobi world might be lost before it was even created?
The origin of Color Temptation seemed tied to fox spirits transforming into beautiful women to seduce men.
Xuanming himself, as a fox demon, had no experience in that area, and Naruto showed no signs of heading in that direction either.
This wasn't just a simple Transformation Technique disguise—it was a complete conceptual system of transformation ninjutsu.
Like learning Taiji Bagua Palm or Gentle Fist: mastering the outer form without understanding the true intent behind each movement would only produce an empty shell.
Even if the forms were learned, they would lack essence.
So was Naruto truly complete without Color Temptation?
After so many years of mind cultivation, Naruto still occasionally grinned mischievously or spaced out, but overall he was sharp and rational.
The occasional quirks probably stemmed from some lingering influence of a reincarnated chakra.
But since it was only chakra reincarnation—not soul transmigration—
it could at most guide Naruto's personality. No risk of possession or anything like that.
Xuanming pondered for a moment, then felt miscellaneous thoughts crowding in.
He restrained his emotions, closed his eyes, and rested in stillness for a few seconds, drawing all stray thoughts back into himself until he returned to his usual calm state.
Then Xuanming floated in front of Naruto.
He extended one finger and lightly tapped the shiny new Konoha forehead protector on Naruto's brow.
"Congratulations. From today onward, you are a full-fledged ninja."
The tone of praise reached Naruto's ears.
Naruto looked up at the Fox Sage who had accompanied him through his entire childhood.
He grinned broadly, showing two rows of neat white teeth, saying nothing more.
The genuine happiness that came from being praised seemed to lighten even the air around him.
"Ahem."
Iruka finally came back to himself. Though he too had been stunned by that display,
as the homeroom teacher he understood more than most.
Strange phenomena often occurred around Naruto.
Objects on desks floating by themselves, book pages turning without being touched.
Iruka had always assumed Naruto was practicing some kind of ninjutsu.
Now it seemed the boy had incorporated that technique into Clone Technique.
Iruka picked up his pen and drew a heavy circle on the roster. Pride shone openly in his eyes.
"Alright—don't just stand there like an idiot. The other students are waiting for the results."
Iruka stood and led Naruto back to the neighboring classroom.
Looking at all those familiar faces now wearing their new forehead protectors,
Iruka addressed them: "Don't forget your ninja registration afterward, and in a few days come back for the graduate briefing session. Class assignments will be announced then—don't be late!"
"Got it, Iruka-sensei—"
The drawn-out chorus of teenage voices echoed through the classroom.
After graduation, these students would no longer be under academy teachers' supervision, but they still held great respect for their homeroom teacher.
…
Once the students left the school building, a wave of clamor hit them like ocean surf.
The academy entrance was packed solid with parents.
The newly minted quasi-ninja boys and girls flew like birds released from a cage, excitedly rushing to their respective families.
Some loudly boasted about their exam performance to their parents.
"Mom! I passed! I really passed!"
"Good job! Tonight we're having your favorite food!"
Others showed off their forehead protectors worn proudly on their heads.
"Dad, does my forehead protector look cool?"
This lively scene belonged to most of them.
Whenever such excitement filled the air, Uzumaki Naruto was always an observer on the sidelines.
But he didn't sink into prolonged loneliness—he wasn't truly alone.
Sasuke walked beside him with hands in his pockets, forehead protector already tied to his brow.
After much thought, he decided that—given his looks—wearing it in the most standard position wouldn't ruin his image.
Hinata walked quietly on Naruto's other side, gazing at her fellow graduate, lost in her own thoughts.
Naruto casually draped an arm over Sasuke's shoulder.
Sasuke shrugged in annoyance but couldn't shake it off.
The three walked with the flow of the crowd.
"Naruto-kun…"
Hinata called softly, her steps slowing.
Naruto and Sasuke followed her line of sight.
A middle-aged man in traditional kimono stood under a nearby tree, expression stern.
Hands clasped behind his back in his sleeves, he exuded an intimidating dignity even without activating the Byakugan.
Hyūga Hiashi—clan head of the Hyūga and a representative of Konoha's great clans.
Hinata apologized softly to Naruto and Sasuke, then hurried toward her father.
"Father…"
She stopped two steps away and gave a proper bow.
Hyūga Hiashi opened his eyes and swept his gaze over Hinata.
His eyes paused for a moment on the forehead protector hanging at her neck.
He offered no praise.
But from not far away, Naruto keenly noticed—
the instant Hiashi saw the protector, his expression softened ever so slightly.
---------------------------------
Advance chapters available on my Patreon
If you want to read ahead of Webnovel and unlock more content, feel free to support and get access here:
patreon.com/inkshield