Rock Lee Definitive Answer?

I know this has been talked to death but I need to know clear and simple....

How did Rock Lee pass the Ninja Academy? If I'm not mistaken, one of the requirements for passing and becoming a Genin is that the Child/Trainee in question needs to be able to manipulate Chakra enough to create a Clone and do a Substitution Jutsu. Seeing how Lee can't manipulate the Chakra throughout his body without the side of the 8 Inner Gates, how did he pass the Academy? Naruto failed many times because he couldn't make a simple Clone and Lee can't do that at all so how did he pass?

I don't need a whole Mumbo Jumbo complicated answer, just plain and simple, how did he do it? It's never seen on screen and I don't know about the Manga because I have trouble concentrating enough to read stuff.

Did someone ask Iruka Sensei to pass him like Guy Sensei Lord 3rd? Or did Iruka just feel bad for him? If that was it then why not pass Naruto for the same shortcomings?