The next morning, the shadow clone still hadn't disappeared. That alone was proof enough that Xia Ji's idea was correct.
Since a clone could think for itself and even disperse at will, it should also be able to regulate its own chakra flow. While it couldn't completely avoid consuming chakra, it could at least slow the drain, extending its lifespan.
That meant more than just keeping a clone around longer.
First, more time alive meant more time to study — though part of the mind would be spent maintaining chakra control, possibly lowering efficiency. Whether the total amount learned would increase was uncertain, but one thing was certain: it was an excellent way to train chakra control.
In the future, Xia Ji planned to assign each shadow clone a fixed amount of chakra. The longer it lasted, the better his control would become. One exercise, multiple benefits — truly, several birds with one stone.
The only drawback was that clones didn't have much chakra to work with, so they couldn't practice chakra's shape transformation or nature transformation for long. Those would remain the domain of his main body.
Shape transformation, at least, was progressing. His theory was simple — the less chakra you had, the easier it was to control its form. While his chakra reserves weren't tiny, they were still smaller than his mental energy, making shape transformation easier to practice.
Nature transformation, however, was another matter entirely. It was the opposite. He likened it to a flood — changing one part of the water was easy, but spreading that change to the entire flood required time and patience. This was not something he could master overnight. It would take accumulation.
For now, he'd tackle the easy and probe the hard slowly. With his talent, no bottleneck could hold him forever.
Glancing at the schedule on his desk, he calculated whether his clone's lifespan could cover most of the academy's classes. The result was encouraging — ninja school didn't spend much time on theory anyway. Physical training was the real focus, and six years of light academics were plenty for the average shinobi.
Class attendance was more about discipline than necessity — without supervision, most students would laze around. His plan was simple: let the clone attend lectures while he and the clone alternated during training, preventing excessive fatigue from accumulating in the main body.
Looking at his neatly packed daily routine, Xia Ji couldn't help but chuckle at how "curly" his life had become. Without a golden finger, all he could do was carve out a future through his own efforts. As long as he saw a path forward, he would never give up.
But today was an exception. Dispersing the clone, he left his room. Today was special — he was taking a break.
Walking along familiar streets with some pocket money in hand, he pondered what to buy. Today was Sinayi's birthday. Something too expensive would draw complaints, and he didn't have much to begin with. Clothes? A scarf? But under the blazing summer sun, that seemed ridiculous.
What about food — a home-cooked meal? But his cooking skills were… questionable. He sighed.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flash of color. Flowers.
He paused. Flowers could be perfect — affordable, meaningful, and likely safe from Sinayi's disapproval. Surely there was a bloom that symbolized a mother.
With that thought, he stepped into the shop.
"Hmm? Looking for flowers, kid?" the shop's auntie asked warmly.
"Hello, Auntie. What kind of flowers would be good for a mother's birthday?" he asked.
"Oh? For your mother?" She blinked in surprise, then smiled. "What a thoughtful child."
"I've seen you before!" A little blonde girl beside her spoke up, frowning in thought.
"Yamanaka-san, I'm Shendao Xia Ji. We're in the same class," he replied. He'd seen Yamanaka Ino before but had never spoken to her — they had no real interaction, though he knew her reputation as one of the future "Konoha Twelve."
"Oh, right! You're the one who sits in the back with the blond-haired guy, right?" Ino's eyes lit up.
"Yes."
"I knew it! If it's for your mom, carnations are best — just not white ones," she said confidently.
Xia Ji glanced at her, then at her mother, seeking confirmation.
"That's right," Mrs. Yamanaka said, smiling. "Carnations symbolize gratitude and sincere love. For mothers, they also mean wishing her eternal youth, happiness, and health."
Her impression of Xia Ji improved — she was a mother too, and his thoughtfulness was touching.
But in Ino's eyes, his glance toward her mother felt like doubt in her words — a minus in her personal scoreboard.
"I see. Then, Auntie, one flower, please." Xia Ji was a little embarrassed to buy only one, but his budget was tight. He still had to buy a cake.
"Alright. Since you're Ino's classmate, I'll give you a discount. Ino, pick one for him."
"Okay." Despite feeling slightly annoyed earlier, Ino chose carefully. Soon, she handed over a neatly wrapped carnation.
"Thank you," Xia Ji said earnestly, taking it.
"Ah—y-you're welcome." Ino was caught off guard by the sincerity, and her earlier annoyance melted away.
Mrs. Yamanaka chuckled at the scene.
"By the way, Auntie, do you know where the cake shop is?" Xia Ji asked.
"It's quite far from here. Since you're Ino's classmate, why not let her take you?" Mrs. Yamanaka suggested.
"There's no need, just tell me where—"
"Oh, it's fine. Ino can spare some time, and it's better than sitting here bored."
Ino perked up at the idea — she'd been itching to get out anyway.
"…Alright." Xia Ji gave in.