Chapter 608: The Advancement of Disciples
After being contacted by Root, Mugetsu quickly made his way to the Root Base in secret.
Knock, knock.
Mugetsu knocked on the door to Danzo's office. Only after receiving Danzo's permission did he step inside.
"Lord Danzo," Mugetsu greeted respectfully.
Danzo nodded slightly in response.
Although he often entered the Hokage Office without knocking, if a Root member dared enter his office without doing so, Danzo would immediately doubt that person's loyalty.
"I have a very important mission to entrust to you," Danzo said directly, wasting no words. "I need you to go to the Land of Rain to carry out a mission."
Mugetsu did not ask about the mission's content or timing. Instead, he asked, "How should I handle the teaching work arranged by the Sandaime?"
As Danzo's subordinate, asking too many questions was unqualified. All that was required was to execute the mission, and any difficulties had to be resolved by himself first.
However, Mugetsu's difficulty in carrying out the mission was Hiruzen, so he could mention it.
"Proceed as usual. This mission will not take much of your time. After I notify you, ask Hiruzen for a few days off and complete the mission then," Danzo explained, nodding inwardly after hearing Mugetsu's response.
Although Mugetsu had always performed well, he was no longer openly a Root member. Danzo had fewer opportunities to contact him, and combined with Mugetsu's strength, Danzo was not completely at ease with him.
However, Danzo had no better choice.
Orochimaru could not help him now, and compared to Mugetsu, Orochimaru was an even worse option.
After so many years of cooperation, Danzo was far too familiar with Orochimaru's character. Danzo believed he did those things for Konoha, while Orochimaru acted purely for himself. He was a thoroughly dangerous person.
Danzo believed that if the benefits were great enough, Orochimaru would eventually choose to betray Konoha.
"I understand," Mugetsu nodded, thinking to himself that Danzo was truly cautious.
He had acted like such a perfect tool, yet Danzo still did not tell him the specific mission time. Who knew what he was worried about?
However, Mugetsu did not care. He had already confirmed almost everything he needed to confirm.
Hanzo should not have lied, but Hanzo had been deceived by Danzo. It was not Konoha that truly intended to act against the Shinobi Sect, but Danzo alone.
Moreover, Danzo was only the mastermind on the surface. The true schemers hiding in the shadows were Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu.
"This mission is extremely important. It concerns the future of Konoha. You must treat it with the utmost seriousness," Danzo reminded him sternly.
Mugetsu straightened his back and replied solemnly, "For Lord Danzo, for Konoha, I will complete the mission, even if it costs me my life."
Danzo nodded in satisfaction.
After that, he casually asked about Yamato's training progress before dismissing Mugetsu.
After becoming a Wood Release Ninja himself, Yamato's importance in Danzo's heart had dropped several levels, but Yamato was still much more important than an ordinary Root member.
After all, Yamato was a Wood Release Ninja he had personally trained for a period of time. Naturally, Danzo would not mind having another Wood Release Ninja loyal to him in the future.
Afterward, Danzo could not help but practice Wood Release for a while inside the Root Base.
The Root Base was absolutely safe. Since its establishment, no non-Root Ninja had ever entered the Root Base without Danzo's permission, aside from the intrusion of "Uchiha Madara."
However, to be safe, Danzo did not use any Wood Release with too much commotion.
"This great war will be an opportunity for Konoha to become great again!"
Danzo could not help but feel excited.
Both were Wood Release, and both were chaotic times. Perhaps he, too, would achieve a reputation like Hashirama Senju.
...
After leaving the Root Base, Mugetsu returned to his home in the main district.
Tonight, Mugetsu did not practice Sealing Techniques. Instead, he took out a notebook and wrote down his thoughts while pondering.
Danzo only needed to consider how to seize the sage art inheritance and the Rinnegan. Mugetsu, the one being targeted, had far more to consider.
He had to figure out how to make Danzo die in the Land of Rain, how to scheme Danzo's death without affecting the identity of Hayate Mugetsu, how to guard against Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu lurking in the shadows, and how to handle the Shinobi Sect afterward.
Mugetsu had many problems to face, but fortunately, his strength was already quite formidable in the current Ninja World. With that strength, many problems were not difficult to solve.
The next day at noon, after finishing his Kenbunshoku Haki class, Mugetsu went to the South Border Forest to teach his disciples.
Because Iwagakure had made more movements in the Land of Grass, Minato received an investigation mission, so he did not come with Mugetsu to teach Obito and the others.
As the disciples' strength continued to increase, they all kept a certain distance from each other to avoid interfering with one another's training.
For example, Kakashi was constantly using his White Fang short blade, wrapped in lightning, to cut the ground, trees, and rocks. Meanwhile, Obito was practicing Azure Flame forty meters away.
Some disciples also required special training environments. Rin had recently been practicing coordination with Milotic, so both of them were training by the river.
"Teacher Mugetsu."
Kakashi noticed Mugetsu, took a slight breath, stopped his movements, and greeted him.
"Mm."
Mugetsu smiled and nodded at Kakashi, then also smiled in Obito's direction.
Although there was a considerable distance between them, Obito also noticed him and greeted him.
Mugetsu appraised Kakashi.
[Name: Kakashi Hatake]
[Chakra: 10080 (??)]
[Skills: Transparent World, Lightning Release Chakra Nature Transformation (Mastery: 1950 / 15000), Earth Release Chakra Nature Transformation (Mastery: 1000), Thunder Breathing (Mastery: 3100)... One Thought Cut (Beginner: 30 / 500)]
After practicing One Thought Cut for more than a year, Kakashi had finally formally learned it.
Moreover, with the Chakra stored in the Yang Seal, Kakashi would no longer face the embarrassing situation of exhausting himself after a single slash in battle.
"Recover your Chakra, then perform One Thought Cut at full power," Mugetsu said.
He had to find a way to handle Danzo's schemes, but he also had to quickly improve his disciples' strength.
Kakashi nodded without speaking and fully focused on refining Chakra, returning his condition to its peak.
Once his Chakra refinement was complete, Kakashi did not rush to condense Chakra. He first adjusted his breathing, focusing it to the extreme.
While adjusting his breathing, Kakashi's hands were not idle. He clasped them together tightly, interlocking his ring fingers and pinkies while straightening and overlapping his other three fingers to form the Tiger seal.
"Yang Seal, release!"
As a large amount of Chakra was released from his body and automatically entered Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Kakashi's aura surged sharply.
Since this was a full-power One Thought Cut, he naturally had to use the Yang Seal.
The large amount of Chakra stored within the Yang Seal allowed Kakashi to maximize the amplification from Thunder Breathing and unleash his strongest power.
Sizzle!
Crackle!
The moment Kakashi drew his White Fang short blade, all the Chakra condensed in his palm transformed into Lightning Release Chakra. It wrapped around the White Fang short blade like lightning, turning the blade into a long Purple Lightning sword.
"One Thought Cut!"
Kakashi fiercely swung the Purple Lightning blade, and an immense amount of lightning power fused together, transforming into a flying slash.
Boom!
Crack!
A long, narrow slash mark over twenty meters in length appeared on the ground. The trees and rocks in its path were mercilessly destroyed by lightning.
"Hoo."
After releasing the slash, Kakashi let out a long breath.
In normal combat, he generally would not use this much power for One Thought Cut, because most enemies he faced could not withstand even a normal One Thought Cut.
"The power is enough, but it is not fast enough," Mugetsu commented.
Ninja combat generally followed a simple principle: dodge if possible, and only use Ninjutsu to block or endure when dodging was impossible.
With the power of One Thought Cut, most Ninja would find it difficult to block, and even more difficult to endure.
Since power was not the issue, speed became the important factor.
Mugetsu then personally demonstrated One Thought Cut once and explained the techniques involved in detail.
After teaching Kakashi for a while, Mugetsu walked toward Obito.
Unless there were special circumstances, he generally distributed his time evenly and would not heavily favor one disciple.
[Name: Uchiha Obito]
[Chakra: 22000]
[Skills: Flame Breathing Chakra Mode, Fire Release Chakra Nature Transformation (Mastery: 1750 / 15000), Flame Breathing (Mastery: 4200), Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet (Proficient: 2000 / 3000)... Azure Flame (Uninitiated: 32 / 100)]
As an Uchiha Ninja with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, Obito's Chakra reserves were excellent, even somewhat exaggerated for a normal eleven-year-old boy.
However, Mugetsu found it normal, because Obito not only had the Sharingan, which strengthened his mental energy, but also continuously trained his body through Breathing Technique.
"Recover your Chakra, then use Azure Flame," Mugetsu said directly.
Obito's other abilities required time to polish, but only a powerful skill like Azure Flame, which he had just learned, had the potential to suddenly increase his strength.
Obito did not even need to train Azure Flame to mastery. Even with fifty points of proficiency at the uninitiated stage, it would already be a very impressive Fire Release.
Not reaching mastery in a skill did not mean it could not be used. It simply meant the level of control was insufficient.
Just like Breathing Technique, even an uninitiated Breathing Technique with twenty-something proficiency could still enhance strength to a certain extent.
"Mm, mm."
Hearing that Mugetsu was going to instruct him on Azure Flame, Obito nodded excitedly. After making his preparations, he immediately entered Flame Breathing Chakra Mode and performed Azure Flame.
Similar to Kakashi's One Thought Cut, due to the limitations of his own Nature Transformation level, Obito could only use Azure Flame with the help of Breathing Technique Chakra Mode.
With Obito's effort, a wisp of Azure Flame gradually took shape.
"There is a significant problem in the Chakra compression step," Mugetsu said, activating Transparent World and his Byakugan as he pointed out the issue.
"You can further compress a normal Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique to practice Chakra compression."
Compressing flames was also an important step in Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique. Further compressing flames that had already been compressed undoubtedly required considerable control.
Practicing directly with Azure Flame was also an option, but with Obito's current Chakra reserves, he might not be able to support that method.
"Oh, I see. Teacher Mugetsu, I understand!" Obito showed a look of sudden realization and quickly began to train.
After instructing Obito, Mugetsu walked toward Shisui, who was closest to Obito.
[Name: Uchiha Shisui]
[Chakra: 17000]
[Skills: Flame Breathing Chakra Mode, Yin Release Chakra Nature Transformation (Mastery: 2700 / 15000), Fire Release Chakra Nature Transformation (Mastery: 1650), Flame Breathing (Mastery: 2600), Armament Haki (Proficient: 2600 / 3000)... Azure Flame (Uninitiated: 46 / 100)]
Although both were Three-Tomoe Uchiha, Shisui was younger, and his physical development lagged somewhat behind Obito's, so his Chakra was much lower.
For Shisui, Mugetsu also focused on instructing Azure Flame, then briefly explained Armament Haki as well, because Shisui's Armament Haki was not far from the mastery level.
Walking further ahead, Mugetsu saw Might Guy training with an excited expression.
[Name: Might Guy]
[Chakra: 14000]
[Skills: Rock Breathing Chakra Mode, Yin Release Chakra Nature Transformation (Uninitiated: 76 / 100), Rock Breathing (Mastery: 1600 / 15000), Golden Skyline (Beginner: 420 / 500)...]
Might Guy's panel was the most straightforward, and he was the only one among Mugetsu's disciples who had not mastered a beginner-level Nature Transformation.
However, Might Guy's panel could only be used for a quick glance. The Chakra from the Eight Gates could only be appraised after he opened them.
"Are you developing your own Taijutsu?" Mugetsu asked after seeing Might Guy constantly breaking trees with his hands in a claw-like posture.
He had not taught Might Guy Eagle Claw Fist, only Golden Skyline and Finger Gun.
"Mm. I had an idea recently, so I decided to try it," Might Guy nodded.
He had long had the idea of developing his own Taijutsu. Recently, after seeing Mugetsu's Ninja Beast, Black Feather, hunting in the South Border Forest, he had suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He thought he could combine some techniques from Golden Skyline and Finger Gun to develop a claw-based Taijutsu.
This claw Taijutsu did not necessarily have to be stronger than Golden Skyline, but it could consume less.
Golden Skyline damaged the fingers too much. Might Guy could only use it twice at most in one battle, and after using it twice, the entire arm would be affected.
"If you have an idea, try it more. If there is anything you do not understand, you can ask me," Mugetsu encouraged him.
Some of the Taijutsu he taught Might Guy were techniques that Might Guy would have developed himself in the future. If Might Guy could draw on these experiences and continue developing new Taijutsu, then the path he could take would certainly be longer.
Of course, while developing new Taijutsu, he still had to continue practicing the old ones.
Mugetsu brought Might Guy along and trained Golden Skyline with him for a while.
After Might Guy came Yamato and Rin.
Since Rin was the farthest away, Mugetsu went to her last. By the time he finished teaching Rin, the scorching sun in the sky had already set toward the west, and the day's training officially ended.
.....
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