After using the upgrade card, Zhenyan entered a very peculiar state.
A vast amount of knowledge and ninjutsu collided and recombined within his mind, countless possibilities flashing into existence before vanishing.
In the end, several clear and feasible paths emerged—
Combining Water Release with the Body Flicker Technique, Lightning Release Body Flicker, monstrous strength Body Flicker, and other special "limit-breaking" approaches.
However…
Among these many options, Zhenyan had yet to master the required knowledge. It was only thanks to having watched anime in his previous life that he could piece together so many "limit-breaking" possibilities.
Fortunately—
The "upgrade card" was not about making a choice, but about presenting every possible path and idea for improvement.
As long as he mastered similar abilities in the future, he could research and enhance them himself.
For now, the only method he could grasp was combining the Clone Technique with the Body Flicker Technique.
This approach resembled Shisui's Body Flicker Technique, yet differed in key ways.
He had never seen Shisui's technique, but based on the upgrade card's displayed possibilities and effects, this version lacked the omnipresent "everywhere at once" quality.
Zhenyan guessed that Shisui's technique likely incorporated genjutsu based on the Sharingan.
"But if I push the Body Flicker Technique past its limits, will I run into the same issue Kakashi had before obtaining the Sharingan?"
After a brief hesitation, Zhenyan entered the "Simulation Instance" again.
The familiar training ground.
"Kakashi" stood before him.
Zhenyan drew his blade. In an instant, his speed exploded to its current limit, multiple "afterimages" appearing midair as he slashed toward Kakashi.
The instance's Kakashi was fixed to the previous battle data, so he did not use the Sharingan. However—
The moment Zhenyan attacked, Kakashi formed hand seals. A lightning wolf manifested, streaking like silver light as it patrolled the area ahead.
Zhenyan immediately changed direction.
But—
In that instant, "Kakashi" drew his blade and struck toward Zhenyan's shifting position.
Clang!
The blades collided. Zhenyan nearly lost his grip, barely redirecting the force before retreating.
As he flew back, his mind rapidly analyzed the exchange.
The next moment, Zhenyan adjusted his posture midair, planting a foot against a tree trunk to propel himself forward again.
But—
This time, his speed slowed.
"Kakashi" charged in as well, his blade precise and swift, like a bolt of lightning.
Yet at the moment of contact, Zhenyan's speed surged again, three or four afterimages appearing midair as they struck together.
The blades cut through—
Only to hit a residual image.
"Kakashi" unleashed Lightning Release chakra, stimulating his body and vanishing instantly.
Zhenyan's strike missed as well.
"Without the Sharingan, sudden bursts of speed are the true way to use this technique!"
"But against an opponent with the Sharingan, if this tactic fails, it becomes dangerous."
"Too bad this instance's Kakashi won't use the Sharingan…"
Zhenyan sighed softly, then attacked again.
Even without the Sharingan, this version of Kakashi was still a top-tier jonin, capable of exposing many flaws in his combat style.
But for now, he had to go teach.
…
At the Ninja Academy, Zhenyan watched the students running on the field.
Naruto, Kiba, and Sasuke were at the front, fiercely competing.
At the same time—
Several students at the back were desperately trying to catch up, panting heavily.
On the inner side of the field, Yakumo Kurama walked while painting, far more skilled than when she had first enrolled just days ago.
Only three or four days had passed.
"The gap between geniuses and ordinary people…"
Zhenyan sighed inwardly.
Then his gaze settled on Sasuke.
"Establishing contact with the Uchiha clan… that aligns perfectly with my original plan."
But—
How should he bring it up?
As Zhenyan pondered, his eyes shifted to Naruto, and an idea formed.
After the run, everyone lined up.
Sasuke's gaze frequently drifted toward Naruto. Clearly, Naruto's recent improvement had put pressure on him.
Zhenyan clapped his hands.
"Alright, today we'll try something different—practical combat training!"
His gaze swept across everyone. "Many of you come from ninja families or have trained in advance."
Silence fell.
Differences in background led to gaps in strength—an undeniable fact.
No one understood what Zhenyan was getting at.
Even Sasuke looked puzzled.
Zhenyan smiled. "So, for today's sparring, you are not allowed to use any abilities learned outside the academy."
Huh?
Everyone froze.
"Hahaha! If we're only using academy taijutsu, Sasuke, I'll definitely beat you!"
Naruto laughed loudly, convinced he had the advantage.
He even thought—
Zhenyan was finally giving him special treatment!
But Sasuke quickly grasped the deeper meaning.
No outside abilities.
Which meant—
Everything taught within the academy was fair game.
This was a comprehensive combat test!
Sasuke's confidence returned. Then he asked, "Sensei, can we use the Body Flicker Technique?"
Although it wasn't formally taught, the academy covered its principles and basic applications. Normally, once students became genin, their instructors would teach them the standard version.
Zhenyan smiled. "Yes."
Sasuke nodded, saying no more.
"Sasuke, I'm definitely going to beat you this time!"
Naruto remained completely oblivious, chattering excitedly.
Zhenyan shot him a cold look.
"Naruto, you really want to fight Sasuke?"
"Of course!"
Naruto stood at attention.
"Fine. If you win, I'll teach you a ninjutsu. But if you lose?"
"If I lose…"
Naruto hesitated, then gritted his teeth. "If we're only using academy stuff, how could I lose? If I do, I'll run a hundred laps around Konoha!"
"Sensei, what about me?"
Sasuke interjected eagerly.
Zhenyan smiled. "If you win, I'll teach you a simple and practical technique. If you lose, the same punishment—one hundred laps."
"Really?"
Sasuke's eyes lit up as he nodded eagerly. "Deal!"
He turned to Naruto, his fighting spirit blazing.
The others stepped aside.
Naruto loosened his muscles and charged the moment the signal to start was given.
But—
Sasuke formed hand seals, and two clones appeared beside him.
Naruto froze.
He could use ninjutsu?
"You're cheating!"
"Idiot!"
Sasuke sneered as the three figures advanced.
Naruto gritted his teeth and rushed toward one of them. The moment he moved—
Sasuke used Body Flicker.
Bang!
A punch.
Naruto was knocked to the ground.
Struggling to his feet, he saw Sasuke split into three again, while a kunai grazed past him.
The shifting figures left him completely disoriented.
Naruto threw a handful of shuriken.
But they passed through all three figures—
Not a single real body among them.
Where was the original?
As Naruto stood there in confusion, a kunai pressed against his neck from behind.
"You lost."
"Damn it, Sasuke! How can you use ninjutsu?"
Naruto fumed.
Sasuke sneered. "Sensei never said we couldn't. You just misunderstood, dead last."
He looked toward Zhenyan, waiting.
Zhenyan's gaze swept coldly across them.
"The textbook clearly states—information determines victory or defeat."
"As a ninja, if you can't even interpret basic intelligence and battlefield conditions, and you still talk about becoming Hokage? Right now, you don't even qualify to be a ninja!"
"Besides the hundred laps, you'll copy the intelligence section of the textbook ten times and submit it within a week!"
He stared at Naruto.
Naruto's face flushed with anger, frustration, and embarrassment before he finally lowered his head in silence.
Zhenyan turned to the others.
"Everyone except Yakumo, pair up and spar."
As he spoke, he created a Shadow Clone.
"Sasuke, come with me."