"Teacher Mokgetsu, do you think it's suitable for me to start training in Lightning Attribute Chakra's nature transformation now?" Shisui asked Mokgetsu.
Shisui wasn't interested in learning the Thoughtless Slash; he just wanted to learn another Escape Technique to enhance his adaptability.
"My suggestion is to delve deeper into Armament Secret Technique." Mokgetsu replied.
Shisui showed remarkable talent in Yin Release, and in Mokgetsu's plan for cultivating Shisui, if Shisui was eager to enhance his combat abilities, Armament would be a good choice.
Although it seemed unimpressive compared to the dazzling Thoughtless Slash, as long as the Armament was strong enough, whether it was the Golden Horizon or the Thoughtless Slash, it could potentially withstand them.
"Moreover, feel free to come to me for any issues in training or life, don't feel burdened." Mokgetsu said, patting Shisui's head.
The rewards from returning skills after mentoring were too random, so completing life missions was the best way to gain skills that resonated with disciples.
Since Shisui's life mission progress lagged behind other disciples, Mokgetsu didn't possess those mighty skills that strongly aligned with Shisui.
Shisui nodded in gratitude.
Even with all that Mokgetsu had already done for him, Shisui could feel Mokgetsu's care through every detail.
"I must change the future!" Shisui thought silently to himself.
He had recited this phrase in his mind thousands of times, yet Shisui didn't think it was excessive since it concerned the safety of his most cherished ones.
Shisui noticed that the future had already changed.
According to Kakashi and their accounts, Yamato, who came through the Loulan incident, didn't recognize Mokgetsu and even mistook him for Namikaze Minato.
But now, Yamato had become Mokgetsu's disciple. If this were the normal course of history, Yamato would surely recognize Mokgetsu, which meant history was changing, and the new future was entirely unknown.
His task was to survive in this new future alongside Mokgetsu and the other disciples.
After leaving the Ninja Squad camp, Mokgetsu led the team to the Grass Village, where Uzumaki Karei joined the squad, and they proceeded together towards Konoha.
Since Uzumaki Karei hadn't undergone ninja training, Mokgetsu's return speed was slightly slower than when they had come.
For Obito, however, slow had its advantages; he could discover more scenery and take pictures for memories.
What he regretted most was that Nohara Rin always called Kakashi to join them instead of enjoying the world just the two of them.
"This is Konoha..." Uzumaki Karei gazed up at the towering wooden gates of Konoha and looked at the expressions on the faces of passersby, finding it hard to imagine Konoha was amidst war.
In Uzumaki Karei's somewhat blurry childhood memories, after the Land of Whirlpools was engulfed by war, the entire country's atmosphere became heavy, and even the naughtiest children became well-behaved under such an influence.
"Indeed, this is Konoha, the strongest and safest village!" Obito said, beaming with pride.
"Of course, Konoha hasn't reached its full potential yet, but with me here, it will definitely become even more prosperous."
Kakashi stood speechless, thinking that if Obito ever became Hokage, Konoha would surely be doomed.
"And us too!" Hagane Kotetsu and Kamizuki Izumo, who were standing guard, couldn't help but join in with enthusiasm upon hearing Obito's words.
Recognizing the somewhat familiar voices, Obito realized that two familiar juniors were also at the gate.
"Teacher Mokgetsu, Shisui, and Senior Obito, long time no see." Hagane Kotetsu greeted them.
Mokgetsu nodded in response, having already noticed Hagane Kotetsu and Kamizuki Izumo, as well as Anko, who was squatting behind them clutching her head, but Mokgetsu was pondering why they were guarding the gate.
The Konoha gate isn't just anyone's to guard, and gate-guarding missions are above D-Class; according to Konoha's regulations, the three of them shouldn't be qualified to guard the gate.
Shisui and Obito also responded one after another.
"You guys just finished a mission too, what a coincidence." Obito looked at the guardians' forehead protectors and sighed with nostalgia.
Once-given guidance to first-year juniors had now graduated to become ninjas.
Kamizuki Izumo looked awkward, "Uh, we're currently on a mission."
Obito was a bit puzzled.
Hagane Kotetsu and Kamizuki Izumo tacitly moved aside, revealing Anko squatting and muttering "You can't see me" while clutching her head.
Feeling everyone's gaze, Anko coughed lightly twice, stood up, and wore a disguise that any three-year-old child could see through.
"Oh, what a coincidence! Teacher Mokgetsu, did you all just finish a mission too? I have something to do, so I'll head off first." Anko made a move to leave.
Hagane Kotetsu and Kamizuki Izumo reached out with unyielding iron grips and pulled her back.
"If it weren't for Anko causing a scene, demanding higher-level missions and making the Third Hokage displeased, we wouldn't be assigned to gate-keeping tasks!" Hagane Kotetsu publicly revealed Anko's misdeeds.
Anko could handle some Chunin Teachers, so naturally, she couldn't bear doing those menial D-Class missions.
It just so happened that Sarutobi Hiruzen passed by when Anko was making a ruckus at the mission desk, so he directly assigned them a high B-Class mission — guarding the Konoha Gate.
This bore them to death, having to stand at the gate without moving while enduring the stares of passersby.
"Come on, it's definitely because of your past terrible performances that the Third Hokage remembered you, and this is your punishment." Anko tried hard to defend her image in Mokgetsu's eyes.
She genuinely felt she'd been dragged down by Hagane Kotetsu and Kamizuki Izumo; Sarutobi Hiruzen had inspected several times, finding Hagane Kotetsu and Kamizuki Izumo messing around. Once they even used some Deception Jutsu to assault Sarutobi Hiruzen.