Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Ninja Interns
"Are you practicing some terrifying Forbidden Jutsu capable of destroying an entire town?" Obito couldn't help but ask.
Seeing Mutsuki, whose strength was incomprehensible, injured, Obito immediately let his imagination run wild, envisioning a terrifying Ninjutsu.
"I don't know about destroying a town, but I do have Fire Release that can directly burn down a forest," Mutsuki replied with a smile.
"What kind of Ninjutsu is that? Can you teach it to us?" Obito looked at Mutsuki with eager anticipation.
Shisui didn't need to look to know how it would turn out.
Smack!
Mutsuki tapped Obito's head with two fingers and said, "Have you even considered how much Chakra you have right now? You haven't even mastered the Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson and you're already thinking about learning new Ninjutsu."
He indeed possesses powerful Fire Release techniques like Great Fire Destruction and Intelligent Hard Work and Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, but without sufficient Chakra, their power cannot be fully unleashed.
"Hehe, Yumi-sensei, you've been hitting me less lately. It's not that I'm afraid of pain, but I'm worried about your hand," Obito chuckled.
Smack! Smack!
Obito's words successfully earned him double the retaliation.
"You don't need to worry too much about that. Sensei's body is still fine, with good recovery abilities," Mutsuki said with a smile.
"Let's begin the practice. This is the final step before the Beginner stage. Once you've mastered this, you'll only need to integrate all the previous training in combat to truly grasp the Breathing Technique."
With the training of the Beginner stage concluding with the practice of Total Concentration Breathing, Obito and the others only need to merge all the training content together to truly master the Breathing Technique.
Upon hearing Mutsuki's instruction to begin training, Obito stopped fooling around and started to search for the sensation of Total Concentration Breathing as taught by Mutsuki just now. He entered the Breathing Technique state and then increased the intensity based on the foundation of the Breathing Technique. However, initially Obito didn't feel the noticeable change that Mutsuki mentioned.
"Moving along with the exercise will yield better results," Mutsuki instructed them to move instead of remaining stationary while breathing.
After teaching Obito and Shisui, Mutsuki went to check on Guy's progress. Guy had already begun extreme physical training, and he was progressing well in this step of the training. When Mutsuki found Guy, his Stone Breathing proficiency had reached thirty-nine.
Although it was still a bit behind Obito's fifty-two and Shisui's forty-eight, the rate of improvement was impressive, much faster than Mutsuki had anticipated. Stone Breathing didn't offer as many benefits as Flame Breathing that can accelerate Nature Transformation, enhance the power of flames, and strengthen physical abilities. Instead, it only had one effect: enhancing physical abilities.
However, the singular effect also achieves extreme power. After testing it himself, Mutsuki concluded that Flame Breathing in a Total Concentration Breathing state didn't provide as much benefit to the body as Stone Breathing in a normal breathing state. The training effect of Stone Breathing was also superior.
Mutsuki deduced that after all the disciples mastered the Beginner Breathing Technique, Obito would likely be suppressed by Guy for a while again.
On Saturday afternoon, Mutsuki went to Hiruzen's house as usual for tutoring.
"Next, we'll begin practicing Nature Transformation," Mutsuki said, outlining the focus of the upcoming teaching.
Nature Transformation wasn't considered a highly advanced practice; rather, it was a mandatory course for ninjas. Except for individuals like Guy, whose talent in Ninjutsu was lamentable, almost all ninjas would undergo training in Nature Transformation.
For ninjas with strong Ninjutsu talents like Hiruzen, who had grasped all seven Chakra Nature Transformations, with three of them reaching the level of Mastery, and the rest being Proficient, the situation was different. However, ordinary ninjas wouldn't achieve such mastery. They would typically focus on refining their innate Chakra attributes.
More skilled ninjas generally choose to practice a couple of Chakra attributes to better deal with various situations. For instance, most Konoha Jonin have mastered two or more Chakra Nature Transformations.
During Jonin meetings, Mutsuki has assessed many Jonin, and most of them possess at least two Proficient-level Nature Transformations, with some more skilled individuals having three or four. However, Jonin with Mastery-level Nature Transformations are rare.
Mutsuki has assessed Asuma's attributes using his appraisal ability, but he couldn't fathom how Asuma managed to train in two attributes simultaneously at such a young age.
Currently, Asuma's skill list includes two Chakra Nature Transformations: wind and fire. His proficiency in fire is higher, while his wind proficiency is at the Beginner level.
Although Mutsuki also knows some Wind Release Ninjutsu, he doesn't feel ready to showcase them yet. Therefore, he chooses to teach Asuma Fire Release and fire attribute Chakra Nature Transformation.
Mutsuki has acquired several Fire Release techniques, some given by Danzo and others by Hiruzen, all of which are openly usable.
Furthermore, his Fire Release proficiency is much higher than his Wind Release; not only has his fire attribute Chakra Nature Transformation reached the Mastery level, but he also possesses many highly proficient Fire Release techniques.
Since Asuma has already mastered some Nature Transformations, Mutsuki didn't need to start teaching him from scratch like he did with Obito.
For Ninjutsu, Mutsuki chose the Great Dragon Fire technique previously given to him by Hiruzen.
The reason for choosing the Great Dragon Fire technique is twofold: firstly, it is indeed an excellent Ninjutsu, and secondly, it helps to impress Hiruzen with his proficient Ninjutsu talent. In just over a month, he was able to elevate the Great Dragon Fire Jutsu, a B-rank Fire Release, to a level where he could teach it to others.
"Great Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
Mutsuki swiftly formed hand seals and unleashed a fierce fire dragon, soaring into the sky, standing as tall as a person.
To conceal his true proficiency, Mutsuki deliberately used the full set of hand seals, although he could have performed this Ninjutsu with just one seal.
"The Great Dragon Fire may not have the wide range of your current Great Flame Jutsu, but it's more agile and easier to control, with considerable power. In battle, you can assess the situation and decide which Ninjutsu to use accordingly," Mutsuki explained.
"I understand," nodded Asuma.
When it was time, Mutsuki accompanied Asuma home and bumped into Hiruzen, who was finishing work.
"Asuma, have you been studying well with Yumi-sensei?" Hiruzen asked with a smile.
"Of course, I've been studying diligently with Yumi-sensei. After all, Yumi-sensei isn't like some old man who enjoys smoking," Asuma replied.
Hiruzen, who was puffing on his pipe, paused for a moment and set it down.
Asuma, exhausted and sweaty, didn't have much energy to banter with Hiruzen. He muttered a retort and went to grab some fresh clothes for a shower.
"Mutsuki, you've surprised me again recently. Your class 1-1 is probably the best-performing class since the academy was founded," Hiruzen remarked.
The Academy occasionally produced prodigies, such as Orochimaru in the past and Kakashi in recent years, who were exceptionally gifted.
However, it was rare to see an entire class like Mutsuki's 1-1 with consistently outstanding performance.
Because the Academy's class assignments are truly random, there are no so-called elite or prodigy classes, at least not currently. If there were such elite classes, how could Guy, who failed the entrance exam and was admitted as a last resort, end up in the same class as Kakashi?
"At present, it's only the second semester of the first year, and we can't see much yet. There are still several years of study ahead," Mutsuki modestly remarked.
"If this level of progress can be maintained until graduation, the future of the Genin in your class won't be simple," Hiruzen said with a smile.
Hiruzen was very eager to see what kind of class Mutsuki, who was fully responsible for a class, would eventually produce.
"With the current turmoil in the ninja world and both Iwagakure and the Hidden Cloud keeping a close eye on us in Konoha, if all the Academy's sensei were as excellent as you, Mutsuki, I wouldn't have to worry about the Academy's affairs," Hiruzen added.
Mutsuki thought to himself that if all the Academy's sensei were as capable as him, not only would there be no need to worry about the affairs of the ninja school, but there would also be no need to worry about war – they would have nearly a hundred elite Jonin.
"After the second semester break, Mutsuki, do you have any plans, or will you continue special training like you did during the summer vacation?" Hiruzen asked.
Although the break between the second and third semesters at the Academy wasn't as long as the summer vacation, it still lasted a little over a month. However, there was no time for special training from the third semester to the next academic year because the break was only two weeks.
"For ordinary students, special training can proceed as usual. However, for exceptionally talented students, I suggest starting internships in ninja work," Mutsuki replied.
Then, Mutsuki explained his idea to Hiruzen.
For the vast majority of students, special training was still the best option. However, for those top students, such as those ranking at the top of their class, special treatment could be given, allowing them to start undertaking commissioned missions early to enhance their ninja abilities.
Hiruzen didn't inquire further today, but Mutsuki would find a time to discuss the internship matter with him.
He wanted to take Guy, Obito, and others on missions together.
If there were rewards for exams, Mutsuki wondered if there were also rewards for completing commissioned missions.
Then, he wanted to take this opportunity to train his disciples as well as himself.
Mutsuki currently lacked experience in combat. With a few interns, Third would most likely only assign him D-rank or C-rank missions, which were highly unlikely to involve encounters with other ninjas and thus very safe.
It might even be difficult to get C-rank missions, as just-graduated genin were not allowed to take C-rank missions, let alone interns from the ninja school. He might even have to curry favor with Hiruzen to get them.
"Allowing excellent students to intern..." Hiruzen fell into thought.
"It might not even require assigning Jonin to supervise, just sending some excellent instructors from the ninja school would be enough, allowing them to take only D-rank and C-rank missions," Mutsuki continued.
In fact, Mutsuki's idea of internships coincided somewhat with Hiruzen's previous thoughts. Previously, when Mutsuki organized special training for fourth graders, Hiruzen's idea was to allow graduating genin to quickly gain stronger ninja skills and start ninja work.
Now, looking at Mutsuki's internship idea, it seemed even better.
Students like Guy and Obito, despite not having taken the graduation exam, are stronger than ordinary Genin, so they would have no problem with commissions.
By the time they become familiar with commissioned work, they won't have to start from picking up trash or cutting grass like other Genin when they graduate; they can start directly with C-rank missions.
"Your idea, Mutsuki, is very good. I think it's feasible, but we need you to refine the details," Hiruzen said after some thought.
It's still early, with more than two months until the holidays. He wants to see what Mutsuki's complete idea looks like.
Mutsuki nodded and said, "I'll submit it to you when I'm done."
As long as Hiruzen shows interest, he doesn't worry that the plan will fail.
Because now is the perfect time.
Although the ninja world war is still in a state of mutual testing, various precautionary measures require the mobilization of many ninjas, so the number of ninjas available for commissions in Konoha will decrease.
Mutsuki feels that in the end, it might not be just the top students of the year who get internships, but rather all the students with excellent grades who can secure internship positions.
He considered many possible scenarios, including the possibility that Third would continue to have him handle special training instead of taking on interns.
Mutsuki had already prepared contingency plans, such as guiding Hiruzen to test how other sensei would fare in special training compared to Mutsuki's results.
He also thought about the possibility of the plan failing, which wouldn't have too great an impact on him.
If he couldn't take disciples on missions, he could still conduct special training with students, which would also bring benefits. Moreover, the holidays only lasted a little over a month, after which the disciples would return to their normal lives.
After returning home, Mutsuki continued his simple and unassuming daily life.
Teaching during the day, learning to craft ninja tools at night, and accidentally leaving marks from crafting on his hands for the students to see the next day.
"Yumi-sensei, are you really practicing some terrifying forbidden jutsu?" Obito asked with a serious expression.
Smack!
Mutsuki's two fingers quickly tapped Obito's head.
"Just been learning to forge ninja tools lately, don't overthink it," Mutsuki explained.
"I see." Obito's expression turned disappointed.
"Yumi-sensei, why are you learning this? Are you planning to open a ninja tool shop in the future?" Obito asked curiously.
"No," Mutsuki shook his head, refusing to elaborate further.
Unlike Obito's speculation, Shisui believed that someone as strong as Mutsuki wouldn't be satisfied with ordinary ninja tools, hence the personal study of forging.
During lunchtime on Monday, Mutsuki attended a small meeting attended only by grade heads and educational directors.
The main topic was discussing the results of the recent exams.
Without a doubt, Mutsuki's outstanding performance in Class 1-1 was once again praised, but Mutsuki had long been immune to such words.
Then they discussed the large class proposal Mutsuki had previously put forward.
Currently, only the first-year class has large classes, taught by Mutsuki and another Chunin sensei named Kono Koji, each teaching four classes.
However, what's somewhat awkward is the severe polarization of the results. The four classes taught by Mutsuki are much higher than the other four classes.
It's clearly not an issue of large classes or not, but solely Mutsuki's personal capability.
Comparing the grades of the classes Mutsuki teaches is obviously not viable, so they compared the average scores of the four classes taught by Kono Koji from the previous semester. The result showed a drop of about six or seven points.
While it's not a significant decrease, it's still a decline. The final decision was to continue the pilot program in the first grade and not yet extend it to other grades yet.
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