My Techniques are a bit off

The year 60 of the Konoha was a subtle yet pivotal time.

In just three years, by year 63, the Child of Destiny would graduate, marking the beginning of the story of Naruto.

Before transmigrating, Link had read countless Naruto fan novels. In those stories, the protagonists usually arrived early. Yet, he arrived late.

This year, Uzumaki Naruto was already nine years old, while Link was only seven—two years younger than the protagonist. In three years, Naruto would graduate, and Link hadn't even enrolled in the Ninja Academy.

Initially, Link's plan was simple: enroll in the Ninja Academy, stay close to Konohamaru, and ride the wave to the grand finale. Let the Child of Destiny save the world—after all, when the sky falls, the tall ones bear the weight.

No cheat ability, no unique bloodline, and no extraordinary talent—what could a transmigrator even do in a world that placed immense value on lineage and natural aptitude? Surviving safely was good enough.

But now, with a mutated ninjutsu cheat, Link's ambitions shifted slightly.

Not to save the world or defeat the Otsutsuki clan—but at least to climb higher, gain greater strength and status, and secure his safety and comfort.

So, he needed to act quickly.

Quickly enroll in the Ninja Academy. Quickly graduate. Quickly rise in rank. Quickly…

"Time waits for no one," Link muttered as he stood up. His previously relaxed mood tightened into focus. In just over ten days, the Ninja Academy would hold its next enrollment. He couldn't afford to slack off.

He planned to practice the Substitution Jutsu to see its effects and then start learning the Binding Jutsu.

As for Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu, any jutsu with an elemental prefix required chakra nature transformation, which was currently far beyond his capabilities. There was no need to overreach.

Time was running out. He needed to master his jutsu, secure admission to the academy, and graduate ahead of schedule.

Leaving Ichiraku Ramen in a hurry, Link decided to grab his scroll at home before heading to the training grounds.

…

The Konohagakure had over fifty training grounds scattered throughout. Apart from the now-restricted Training Ground Zero and some large ones on the outskirts that were locked on normal days, most training grounds were open to everyone.

This made it easy to find a secluded spot for solo ninjutsu practice. Even if there was some collateral damage, the village's regular maintenance made it a hidden perk for ninjas.

As Link approached his apartment, he saw an orange-clad figure being dragged away by a chunin in a green vest.

It wasn't an uncommon sight.

Link had lost count of how many times he'd seen Uzumaki Naruto being hauled off for pranks, skipping classes, or outright destruction. Even knowing Naruto was the protagonist and the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, Link had no interest in cozying up to him.

He controlled even his gaze, glancing briefly before looking away.

Returning home, Link shouldered the oversized scroll and sprinted toward the nearest training ground.

…

"Indeed... it works."

Link held a longsword with a peculiar expression. During practice, he had tried using both the Clone Jutsu and Transformation Jutsu simultaneously, which led to an intriguing discovery.

After transforming his left arm into a longsword and holding it with his right hand, not only could he use it for attacks, but any damage the weapon sustained was erased upon canceling the jutsu.

A supremely convenient combo.

Since the weapon was part of his own body, he wielded it effortlessly. Even though it was longer than his body, he could swing it without any risk of injuring himself.

The sword slashed through the air with precision. While he lacked formal swordsmanship training, the transformation was based on a sword his father once owned. Its whereabouts were unknown, likely lost without being preserved as an heirloom.

"Crack—thud!"

A tree was felled, followed by a stone nearby splitting apart with a sharp sound, scattering fragments.

The blade was as sharp as he remembered.

Looking at the unscathed edge, Link noted that it was significantly tougher than his own body. If faced with an attack he couldn't block—

Wouldn't a Clone Jutsu suffice?

Link chuckled wryly. It seemed better to transform into a more lethal object than something durable, given the Clone Jutsu's damage-nullifying effects.

"But where's the threshold for damage nullification?"

He decided to test it. In previous trials, small cuts from a kunai completely healed, though the pain lingered briefly.

"Clang! Creak—grind!"

Link struck the longsword with a kunai, producing an ear-piercing sound as the blade deformed slightly.

After all, it wasn't a special weapon—just a reasonably sharp blade.

"No pain."

He concluded that objects transformed through the Transformation Jutsu lacked sensation. Cutting, smashing, or bending them didn't cause any pain.

"First, cancel the Transformation Jutsu."

When he ended the jutsu, the deformed longsword reverted to his equally deformed arm, and a wave of excruciating pain overwhelmed him.

"Argh!"

He collapsed, trembling and gritting his teeth, as agony coursed through his body.

The Transformation Jutsu didn't erase injuries. Instead, any damage sustained while transformed was fully transferred back to his body upon cancellation.

"Poof!"

Releasing the Clone Jutsu instantly nullified the pain signals, leaving him momentarily disoriented.

"From now on, the Transformation and Clone Jutsu must be used together."

Link shuddered at the memory. The pain from twisted bones, muscles, and tendons far exceeded that of training injuries. It was unbearable.

Thankfully, the Clone Jutsu mitigated it. Without that safety net, he might have passed out from the sheer pain.

Ultimately, he didn't discover the upper limit for the Clone Jutsu's damage nullification. The reason was simple—it hurt too much.

Humans had a finite capacity for pain tolerance. Pushing beyond that limit could lead to death, regardless of one's willpower.

People dying from pain was not uncommon.

"My stamina is almost gone."

After several rounds of testing, Link's stamina was below half, signaling the end of this practice session.

Both physical activity and chakra refinement consumed stamina. When stamina was nearly depleted, hunger and fatigue naturally set in, triggering the body's internal warning system to prevent overexertion.

However, chakra refinement could bypass these warnings, pushing the body beyond safe limits. This was why managing stamina and chakra usage was a ninja's top priority.

From this, a fundamental rule of the Naruto world emerged:

If chakra is completely exhausted, the person will die.