Although manipulating Chakra shape was difficult, recalling how Naruto popped the balloon, Feng Zheng was able to mimic the method of manipulating Chakra, applying pressure to various parts of the water balloon, within a few days.
However, he still hadn't managed to pop the balloon.
Perhaps his Chakra reserves were too low.
If he could use more Chakra, he should be able to pop it.
Feng Zheng thought.
“Oh well, there’s no point worrying about it now. I can only continue practicing and constantly improve my shape manipulation ability.”
---
A few months later, Feng Zheng turned six and was eligible to take the Ninja Academy entrance exam.
There were still two months until the entrance exam.
He inquired about the exam's situation and content.
He found that the entrance exam mainly tested physical fitness and Chakra control to determine if candidates had the potential to become Ninja.
Feng Zheng was quite confident in both aspects of the test, so he wasn't too worried.
He simply continued his usual training, but he added Shuriken throwing practice to his routine.
Every afternoon, he began to walk into the small forest, mark targets on tree trunks, and practice hitting them accurately with wooden Shuriken.
This was to prevent them from adding a Shuriken throwing event to the entrance exam.
Unfortunately, there were no Shuriken available to borrow at the orphanage, and as an orphan, Feng Zheng had no money to buy any.
Therefore, the wooden Shuriken were made from small branches in the forest, cut using Wind Release Chakra.
Carving the wooden Shuriken, while utilizing Wind Release, also helped to enhance Chakra control.
Although the Shuriken weren't perfect, they were the only things he had available at the moment.
Feng Zheng also had another idea. He thought.
He had pretty much mastered his basic abilities, so passing the exam shouldn't be a problem.
However, he wanted to try if he could improve his physical fitness by using Chakra.
Feng Zheng knew that Chakra could increase speed by concentrating Chakra in the legs.
Similarly, concentrating Chakra in the fists could also increase punching power.
Feng Zheng wanted to experiment to see if he could do more push-ups and other exercises if he used Chakra to assist him.
With this idea, Feng Zheng began his experiment.
When using Chakra for these exercises, he noticed a significant increase in speed and strength.
But there were also many problems.
The first was that the efficiency was too low, and a large amount of Chakra was wasted.
The second problem was that his current Chakra reserves were too low to sustain these exercises for a long time.
So Feng Zheng decided to improve his morning exercise routine.
He continued to complete the training he had been doing before, but after finishing, he would repeat his training, only the second time it was done with the help of Chakra.
This benefited him greatly.
His physical fitness and Chakra usage ability were greatly improved, and the rate of growth of his Chakra reserves also significantly accelerated.
Feng Zheng began to wonder again why his Chakra reserves had suddenly started to grow at a faster rate.
After analysis, Feng Zheng came to a conclusion.
His Chakra reserves were rising rapidly because he was depleting his Chakra every day.
Each time Feng Zheng did this, it likely slightly increased his Chakra reserves.
If his analysis was correct, then currently he had two ways to increase his Chakra reserves.
The first method was to increase it through a combination of physical exercise and Meditation.
The second method was to deplete his Chakra to the limit over and over again.
Feng Zheng also wondered if there were other methods.
---
About two months after Feng Zheng turned six, the entrance exam began.
Feng Zheng woke up early, washed up, and prepared to go to the Academy.
This was the first time in ten months that he hadn't done his morning exercises.
He waited for Daisuke and Eiichi to get ready, as they also planned to take the exam.
This year, a total of about seven boys and two girls from his orphanage were preparing to take the Ninja Academy entrance exam.
They all set off together, accompanied by the orphanage caretaker, Momosuke.
Upon arriving at the Academy, the children were surprised to see how many children were taking the entrance exam.
A girl from the orphanage named Naomi exclaimed.
“What??? There are at least a thousand people participating here!!”
Momosuke then said.
“There are probably over a thousand. Last year, over 1,600 children took the exam, and ultimately only about 330 were admitted.”
All the children looked at him.
Feng Zheng thought to himself.
“I didn't expect so many people to participate, and so many to be admitted. Konoha must be trying to fill the gaps left during the Third Great Ninja War and the Nine-Tailed attack. However, this doesn't affect me.”
Feng Zheng looked around and noticed some people in the crowd wearing Konoha Village headbands.
Momosuke looked at Feng Zheng and said.
“They are trained Ninja from various families in our Village, probably accompanying their children. Their children have a very high chance of passing the exam.”
Hearing this, the children became a bit nervous.
Seeing this, Momosuke chuckled, wanting to encourage them.
“But you don't need to worry too much. Most of the children taking the exam are from ordinary families, so your chances of advancing are still very good. Go for it.”
The other children nodded nervously.
At this moment, a person wearing a Chunin vest approached the crowd and announced that the exam was about to begin, and all the children taking the exam should gather at the Training Grounds behind the Academy.
Arriving behind the Academy, Feng Zheng and his group saw the Hokage Rock, with the faces of the four Hokage carved into it.
Everyone was amazed by it.
Feng Zheng thought to himself.
“Although I've seen it from a distance before, up close, it's incredibly majestic and spectacular! I wonder if it has a greater purpose than just being a symbol.”
Inside the Academy, in a conference room, several Chunin, mostly Academy teachers, sat discussing the entrance exam.
Then, a Chunin stood up and reported to the meeting host.
Nara Takamasa looked at the report and sighed.
After the Third Shinobi World War, the Third Hokage sent him to supervise the entrance exam.
He was asked to pass as many students as possible because Konoha Village had lost thousands of Ninja during the war.
Due to his contributions, he was promoted to Special Jonin after the war.
He sighed again, thinking to himself.
“This is so exhausting…”
He checked the report and found that 2,147 children were taking the entrance exam this year, an increase of about 30% from the previous year.
He thought to himself.
“Well, first we need to eliminate those with inadequate physical fitness.”
And gave the signal to the designated Chunin to start the exam.
Doi Seishi was in charge of the first stage.
He announced loudly.
“Candidates, the first stage of the exam has begun. You must run five laps on the designated path marked on the Training Grounds, each lap about 500m. Everyone will be monitored during this run. I will run in front, and you all must follow me.”