My Techniques are a bit off

In terms of chakra reserves—or physical stamina—Link's current level was downright embarrassing.

Forget comparing himself to Uzumaki Naruto; even Kakashi Hatake, the widely acknowledged standard measurement of the ninja world, was a mountain he couldn't hope to climb.

Compared to his father, a former Anbu member with chakra levels typical of a mid-level chunin, Link likely had only a tenth—or less—of his father's capacity.

Fortunately, his chakra control ability was quite remarkable.

Every ninjutsu required chakra control. In fact, even the process of chakra refinement itself was fundamentally tied to it.

Even Kaguya Otsutsuki, the ultimate boss of the ninja world, had moments where she was reminded by Black Zetsu to "refine more chakra" when hers ran low.

In real combat, ninjas constantly utilized and managed chakra—whether through taijutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu, dojutsu, or kekkei genkai.

Every movement, every action consumed either physical stamina or chakra.

When performing ninjutsu, refining too little chakra would lead to failure, while refining too much resulted in waste. Since chakra = stamina, and running out of chakra equated to death, most ninjas were trained to hone their chakra control as a core skill.

For instance, focusing chakra in specific areas was a common display of control in combat. In the manga, Kiba Inuzuka demonstrated enhanced olfactory senses by concentrating chakra in his nose, and the basic Body Flicker Technique relied on chakra bursts at the feet.

Whether due to having lived two lives or the influence of his cheat ability, Link's chakra control was exceptional—a fact he recognized the moment he first succeeded in chakra refinement.

Ninjas typically refined some chakra daily to prepare for unexpected situations while carefully managing their stamina to avoid excessive depletion. The balancing act was complex.

For Link, however, it was much simpler. After his first success in chakra refinement, he found that he could refine chakra quickly and accurately gauge his stamina levels.

Even without his mutated ninjutsu cheat, his chakra control alone could make him an excellent ninja—if only he had more chakra, a stronger physique, and greater stamina.

But since he couldn't change his frail body in the short term, further enhancing his chakra control was his top priority.

"Walking on water… climbing trees…"

Link considered training methods to improve chakra control as he unrolled his scroll, focusing on the Substitution Jutsu section.

The principle behind the Substitution Jutsu was simple: it involved replacing oneself with an object at the moment of an attack, tricking the enemy into thinking they'd struck their target.

Its low E-rank difficulty made the technique's simplicity evident.

The reason it was slightly harder than the Clone or Transformation Jutsu was that it incorporated techniques from both while also borrowing from the basic Body Flicker Technique. This complexity made it marginally more challenging.

However, once someone mastered the Clone and Transformation Jutsu, the Substitution Jutsu became straightforward.

The process: anticipate the opponent's attack, gather chakra at your feet for a burst of speed to dodge, and simultaneously replace yourself with an object while creating an illusion of yourself.

"Gather chakra, then—"

Link concentrated, refining a suitable amount of chakra. But just as he gathered chakra at his feet and prepared to create an illusion, all the chakra inexplicably vanished.

Again?

Both expectant and resigned, he looked down at his hand. It felt heavier—like he was holding something.

Looking closely, he realized it was a firearm: a pistol that seemed like a blend of a revolver and a semi-automatic handgun.

In his small hand, the gun appeared oversized, but his fingers just managed to reach the trigger.

"This thing—" As soon as Link saw the pistol, its name came to him:

[The Emperor]

The name, derived from tarot cards, referenced a Stand from a well-known anime.

Its effect: firing unlimited, controllable bullets, identical in every way to real gunfire.

"Wait—does Substitution Jutsu mean this kind of 'substitute'?!" Link's expression twisted in disbelief.

He had considered countless possibilities for how the jutsu might mutate but had never expected this.

"Whoosh!"

A gust of wind blew, and [The Emperor] disappeared from his hand.

"About 15% of my chakra lasts only a few seconds... Substitution Jutsu is quite the chakra guzzler."

Estimating the chakra expenditure, Link chuckled. After all, he'd already come to terms with his head randomly falling off during the Clone Jutsu. If the Substitution Jutsu became a summoning technique for Stands, why should he find it any harder to accept?

In fact, this mutated version was far more practical than the ordinary Substitution Jutsu, which became almost useless in higher-level combat.

Although the bullets fired by [The Emperor] were no different from ordinary ones, they were invisible to ordinary people—bullets that couldn't be seen were far more terrifying.

"Wait... can ninjas see Stands?"

A new question arose. Since he still had about a third of his stamina left, Link decided to try again. Refining chakra, forming seals, and releasing the jutsu—

A tall, burly, blue-purple humanoid figure appeared in front of him.

Link's pupils contracted sharply, and his face filled with shock.

"When did you get here? Star Platinum…"

…

Konohagakure – Ninja Academy Enrollment Day

"Hmph." Looking at a boy straining as if trying to force something out, Mizuki covered his face with his hand to hide his disdain.

A mediocre fool.

"Alright, you've failed the ninjutsu exam," Mizuki's colleague announced after patiently waiting for a while.

"Wha—?"

The boy's dejected face made it clear he understood. Dragging his feet, he left the exam room.

"Next, Link."

Calling the next name on the list, Mizuki glanced at the door, where a calm-looking boy entered.

Most children who came for the Ninja Academy entrance exam were nervous wrecks. This boy's composure stood out, prompting Mizuki to give him a second glance.

"Still, no matter how calm they are, ordinary kids who enter the academy will likely just become cannon fodder, unable to control their own destinies," Mizuki mused with a tinge of self-mockery.

"Good morning, examiners." Link walked to the center of the exam room, his small legs carrying him confidently. The space was quite large, resembling a lecture hall.

"You may begin," Mizuki said, his tone slightly complex. Any attempt to curry favor here was pointless.

The Konohagakure was vast, its population substantial. Yet, each Ninja Academy class comprised only 30 to 40 students, and the total enrollment rarely exceeded 100.

Getting in was a rarity—a privilege reserved for the exceptional few.