After dinner, Obito and the other disciples went home. Jiraiya, still not satisfied, bought some sake, and the three of them ate, drank, and chatted together.
Mostly, Jiraiya did the talking, while Mutsuki and Minato listened, occasionally bringing up small topics.
"Imitating the Tailed Beast Bomb is even harder than I imagined," Minato mentioned as he talked about developing his Ninjutsu, hoping to get some inspiration from Mutsuki and Jiraiya.
"Trying to develop a Ninjutsu similar to the Tailed Beast Bomb, huh? That's not a simple task," Jiraiya said, downing his cup of sake and rubbing his chin.
A large part of the deterrent power of a Jinchuriki comes from the Tailed Beast Bomb. The destructive power of the Tailed Beast Bomb is so great that even Jiraiya can't take it head-on and can only think of ways to dodge it.
"I tried developing the Tailed Beast Bomb by mimicking its shape in the form of a Chakra ball, but the Chakra ball is currently very unstable, and its power can't even penetrate a big tree," Minato continued, discussing the difficulties he encountered during development.
"If it's unstable, I think you could use a solid round object to assist your practice, like a ball or something," Mutsuki suggested after some thought.
Minato's eyes lit up, feeling that Mutsuki's suggestion was very good. He smiled and thanked Mutsuki, "Using a solid object to assist practice is indeed a good idea."
After discussing the Rasengan, Mutsuki also took the opportunity to share his previous idea.
"Setting a seal to store Chakra on a single Chakra point is indeed a bit problematic. After careful consideration, if the range could be expanded to include more Chakra meridian points, it might work."
"You haven't given up on this bold idea, huh? In theory, it might work, but it requires extremely precise Chakra control and a strong foundation in Medical Ninjutsu," Jiraiya remarked with admiration.
He still wasn't very optimistic about this approach, as developing techniques on the Chakra meridian points carried significant risks and could easily result in self-harm.
Of course, with high risks came high rewards. If it could be achieved, it would greatly enhance one's strength, almost like gaining a substantial amount of Chakra out of thin air.
"Well, I'm somewhat confident in my Chakra control, but I really don't know much about Medical Ninjutsu. I haven't spent much time studying it and have only just mastered the basics of the Mystical Palm Jutsu, so everything is still in the theoretical stage," Mutsuki continued, following Jiraiya's words.
Hearing that Mutsuki had started learning Medical Ninjutsu, Jiraiya swallowed back his words of caution.
Fortunately, Mutsuki was someone who knew his limits and wouldn't recklessly proceed without being certain.
Minato was filled with respect after hearing Mutsuki's words. Mutsuki had put so much effort into developing a technique to store Chakra—not only deeply researching Sealing Jutsu but also studying Medical Ninjutsu. This made Minato realize that he had been slacking off lately and hadn't dedicated enough time to developing his Ninjutsu.
"Jiraiya-sama, since you and Tsunade-sama are both part of the Sannin, could you help introduce me to her? I'd like to consult Tsunade-sama about some Medical Ninjutsu issues," Mutsuki said, revealing his true purpose after laying the groundwork.
He had previously considered seeking out Tsunade, but at that time, he wasn't fully prepared. Now, he has gained some recognition in the Konoha Ninja circles, and his Medical Ninjutsu skills are also from the Ninjutsu Academy, so there shouldn't be any major issues.
"Tsunade, huh? Her Medical Ninjutsu is indeed impressive and should be very helpful for your studies, but she isn't an easy person to deal with," Jiraiya mused.
He knew Tsunade very well—they were not only teammates but also close friends, having gone through countless life-and-death situations together.
To be fair, Jiraiya believed that Tsunade was a kind-hearted person. She once proposed that every team should have a medical ninja to reduce the death and injury rates among ninjas. Although the idea wasn't adopted, it showed her efforts.
However, it would be a stretch to say that Tsunade has a good temper. Having been teammates for so many years, Jiraiya was well aware of her temper.
"I don't mind taking you to see her, but I can't guarantee she'll help you with your issues," Jiraiya said, pouring himself a cup of sake before responding.
If Mutsuki were seriously injured or ill, Jiraiya was confident that Tsunade would treat him, as she upheld her medical ethics as a ninja. But when it came to teaching something, Jiraiya couldn't guarantee it. Teaching is a personal decision, and Tsunade has the right to choose whether or not to teach.
"Yes, Jiraiya-sama, just introducing me would be enough. I'll handle the rest of the communication with Tsunade-sama myself," Mutsuki said with a smile, offering a toast in thanks. Having Jiraiya make the introduction was certainly better than approaching her suddenly on his own.
Jiraiya laughed heartily, patting Mutsuki on the shoulder, and said, "You should be fine. You're only slightly less handsome than I am, and with your exceptional cooking skills, she might agree if you offer to cook for her."
"If I remember correctly, she likes to drink while eating tender chicken."
Mutsuki quietly noted that Tsunade liked eating tender chicken.
After they were full and satisfied, Minato helped the slightly tipsy Jiraiya outside. Mutsuki continued studying Sealing Jutsu until 11:30 PM, then washed up and went to bed.
The next morning, Mutsuki created a Shadow Clone to handle school matters. The Academy was about to start, and there were some things he needed to take care of there. Then he prepared to head to the southern forest to teach his disciples.
But just as Mutsuki finished eating and was about to leave, a ninja knocked on his door.
"Please go to the Hokage Building. The Third-sama has something for you," the ninja said concisely.
Mutsuki nodded, left a Shadow Clone behind, and set off for the Hokage Building. After his original self departed, the Shadow Clone would head to the southern forest, where Shisui was waiting.
Knock!
Mutsuki knocked on the door of the Hokage's office.
"Come in," Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice came from inside the office.
Mutsuki pushed the door open and entered, noticing that besides Sarutobi Hiruzen, there was another ninja he didn't recognize.
"Third-sama," Mutsuki greeted Sarutobi Hiruzen with respect, also giving a polite smile to the unfamiliar ninja, and walked up to the desk.
"Is there a mission?" Mutsuki asked Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head, then smiled and said, "No, you've been promoted."
"Due to your outstanding performance at the Academy, along with the merits you've earned on the battlefield, you are now eligible for promotion to Jonin," Sarutobi Hiruzen said as he handed Mutsuki a brand-new ninja certificate. It no longer read "Special Jonin," but simply "Jonin."
"Thank you, Third-sama," Mutsuki said, his face showing excitement and gratitude, as if he had accomplished something extremely important and Sarutobi Hiruzen was the benefactor who helped him along the way.
Of course, this was all an act. Inside, Mutsuki felt no emotion.
The promotion from Special Jonin to Jonin was something he had expected. Given the strength he had demonstrated, the considerable achievements on the battlefield, and his performance at the Academy, it was only natural for him to be promoted to Jonin, especially during wartime when promotion criteria were more lenient.
In fact, this promotion had come slightly later than Mutsuki anticipated. After all, some time had passed since he returned from the battlefield. Mutsuki speculated that Sarutobi Hiruzen had likely planned a collective promotion for several deserving ninjas, which caused a slight delay.
Mutsuki glanced at the file of the unfamiliar ninja out of the corner of his eye and noticed that this ninja was also being promoted to Jonin.
"You don't need to thank me; this is the reward you've earned through your own merits and strength. It's what you deserve for protecting Konoha," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a satisfied smile.
Mutsuki didn't continue with any more flattery, but his expression remained one of excitement and gratitude. He knew that while Sarutobi Hiruzen might deny it verbally, he still appreciated the sentiment.
This promotion was solely in rank, with no changes to his other positions. The reason was simple—his position at the Academy couldn't be advanced any further in the short term. He had only two superiors: the Teacher Group Leader, Shimotsuke Hisanobu, and the principal, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The Teacher Group Leader was an ordinary Jonin who had been working at the Academy for a long time, an experienced veteran in the position, so there was no reason to remove him without cause. As for Sarutobi Hiruzen's role as the principal, that was even more unchangeable, given its special nature.
However, since Mutsuki had been promoted to Jonin, a senior rank within Konoha, it wasn't without some tangible rewards. Mutsuki was granted two additional opportunities to select Ninjutsu from the Ninjutsu Library.
Before Mutsuki left, two more ninjas entered the Hokage's office, further confirming his suspicion that this was a group promotion. It was unusual for so many people to visit the Hokage Building at once.
After leaving the Hokage Building, Mutsuki headed straight to the southern forest to continue his training.
By noon, Mutsuki returned to his home in the main district because Jiraiya had mentioned yesterday that he would take him to meet Tsunade today at noon—something Mutsuki definitely couldn't leave to a Shadow Clone.
"No matter how many times I eat it, I never get tired of it," Jiraiya remarked with a satisfied expression after casually joining Mutsuki for lunch.
"Try to avoid bringing up topics like her younger brother or lovers in front of her," Jiraiya reminded him, having thought of something important.
"I will," Mutsuki nodded, indicating that he had taken note of these sensitive topics.
Jiraiya then led Mutsuki directly to Tsunade's home.
"At this time, she's probably just getting up. If she's not home, we might have to check the nearby gambling dens," Jiraiya said, not entirely confident that they would find Tsunade at home.
Although Tsunade wasn't searching for the Child of Prophecy like Jiraiya, the deaths of her brother and lover had left her disinterested in many ninja matters. If it weren't for the war, she probably wouldn't even be in Konoha right now.
Mutsuki and Jiraiya were in luck. As soon as they walked into Tsunade's yard, they saw her and Shizune sitting on the porch under the eaves.
"Jiraiya, what are you doing here? If you're here to spy, I'll beat you to death," Tsunade said, crossing her arms as she questioned Jiraiya.
"Haha, is that really the impression I give you? But I'm not here for inspiration today," Jiraiya replied with a hearty laugh, showing no embarrassment.
---
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"Yumi-sensei." Seeing Mutsuki, Shizune was a bit surprised, then greeted him.
She was also a student who graduated this year, had participated in Mutsuki's special training, and studied with him for a while, leaving a good impression on her.
Mutsuki gave a gentle smile and nodded.
"Hmm?" Hearing Shizune's voice, Tsunade looked at Mutsuki in confusion. After a closer look, she realized that this was not Minato Namikaze but someone she didn't know.
Because Minato Namikaze often followed Jiraiya and Mutsuki also had similar golden hair and a gentle smile, Tsunade, without paying close attention, mistakenly assumed that the person behind Jiraiya was Minato Namikaze.
"Shizune, do you know him?" Tsunade turned to Shizune and asked.
"Yes, he's Mutsuki Yumi, who taught me for a while and is a very impressive sensei," Shizune answered softly.
"Then he's an Academy sensei?" Tsunade pondered and said.
Since Shizune's guiding sensei was her, Mutsuki must be an Academy sensei.
Shizune nodded.
"Don't underestimate Mutsuki. Even though he's an Academy sensei, his strength is not to be taken lightly. Not only did he defeat Explosion Release Gari, but he also helped me repel the Jinchuriki," Jiraiya listed Mutsuki's most notable achievements.
"I'm not saying that Academy sensei must be weak. So, is there something you came for today?" Tsunade asked, rubbing her mouth, looking as if she hadn't had enough sleep.
She had forgotten when she went to bed the previous night, only remembering drinking and eating continuously.
"Mutsuki has recently been studying Medical Ninjutsu and has encountered some difficulties, so he wanted to consult you," Jiraiya explained their purpose for coming.
Although Mutsuki had said yesterday that he could handle the communication himself, Jiraiya thought it might be better if he spoke up, given their many years of friendship.
"Consult Medical Ninjutsu? Then you can go back. I have neither the time nor the interest to teach others Medical Ninjutsu," Tsunade rejected directly.
While Tsunade might step in to treat someone, she had no interest in teaching others. Aside from Shizune, she wasn't interested in teaching anyone else.
Jiraiya looked a bit awkward. He had anticipated Tsunade's refusal but hadn't expected it to be so swift and direct.
"Tsunade-sama, I won't waste too much of your time, and I won't let you teach for free. I can offer compensation," Mutsuki said with a constant smile.
Hearing about compensation, Tsunade became somewhat interested. After all, her extravagant lifestyle was costly, and sometimes she could lose several million ryo in a single night if she lost a bit too quickly.
"How much can you offer? After all, I am one of the Three Sannin and the strongest Medical Ninja in the ninja world," Tsunade emphasized her status.
She had recently lost almost all her money, so getting some funds back from Mutsuki was just what she needed.
Seeing that Tsunade became negotiable once the topic of compensation came up, Jiraiya had a helpless smile on his face.
"One hundred thousand ryo per hour, how does that sound?" Mutsuki offered a very high price.
Normally, the process would be for Mutsuki to offer a lower price first, wait for Tsunade to negotiate, and then Mutsuki would lower it a bit more. After all, if the rate was one hundred thousand ryo per hour, Mutsuki's small savings wouldn't last an entire day.
However, Mutsuki had thought of another approach. If things went smoothly, he would only need to spend some money upfront.
"One hundred thousand ryo per hour, huh?" Tsunade was somewhat tempted after hearing the offer.
One hundred thousand ryo was quite a sum. The reward for a standard B-Rank Mission was around that amount, and one couldn't keep all of it.
"With that rate, I only need to work for a few hours a day and then I can happily go gambling after saving up for a few days." Thinking this, Tsunade decided to take the job.
"Given that Shizune says you're an impressive sensei, I'll reluctantly agree," Tsunade finally responded.
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama," Mutsuki said with a warm smile.
Starting things is always difficult, but as long as Tsunade is willing to teach at the beginning, everything will become much easier afterward.
"Do you want to start now? If so, I'll need to start the timer, and if we start, even if it's less than an hour, the fee will still be one hundred thousand ryo," Tsunade reminded.
Jiraiya interrupted Mutsuki with a glance and pulled him aside.
"Ha ha, sorry about that, Mutsuki. Tsunade isn't usually like this; she's probably just frustrated from losing money recently," Jiraiya explained.
Tsunade's temper was indeed not the best, but such situations were relatively rare.
"It's fine. After all, Tsunade-sama isn't my sensei, so paying her for her time is quite normal," Mutsuki said with a smile.
Jiraiya then rummaged through his clothes and pulled out six hundred thousand ryo, handing it to Mutsuki.
"I didn't bring much money with me. Here's about six hundred thousand ryo; you can take this for now."
He felt a bit guilty for bringing Mutsuki here only for things to turn out this way. Although the money was meant for Mutsuki, it was essentially for Tsunade.
If Tsunade were to ask Jiraiya for a loan of a few million ryo, Jiraiya wouldn't bat an eye.
"Thank you for your kindness, Jiraiya-sama, but this is my responsibility and shouldn't be on you," Mutsuki politely declined Jiraiya's offer.
Seeing Mutsuki's determined gaze, Jiraiya patted him on the shoulder and said no more, leading Mutsuki back to Tsunade.
"Tsunade, it's been a long time since we had a meal together. How about drinking tonight? I'll also invite Orochimaru," Jiraiya said with a smile.
Since the Second Great Ninja War, the three of them had rarely gathered. Jiraiya traveled the ninja world, Tsunade left tales of a big spender wherever she went, and Orochimaru was immersed in studying various forbidden Ninjutsu.
"Drinking? That's fine," Tsunade agreed readily.
She had limited time for teaching, but ample time for drinking.
After securing Tsunade's agreement to drink, Jiraiya left to find Orochimaru, who was difficult to locate and usually not at home.
"How many hours do you want to study today?" Tsunade asked with interest, looking at Mutsuki, who now appeared to her as a source of money.
"Then let's start with six hours," Mutsuki answered after thinking for a moment.
It was now 12:30 PM, so six hours later would be just in time for dinner.
After speaking, Mutsuki took out his wallet and handed Tsunade six hundred thousand ryo in cash.
Tsunade glanced at it casually and, seeing no issues, nodded in satisfaction. One hundred thousand ryo per hour was indeed a good rate.
"You're quite something. I'm impressed. If you have any questions, just ask quickly," Tsunade said, tossing the money to Shizune for safekeeping and looking at Mutsuki.
Her approval of Mutsuki was heightened by his straightforwardness in paying upfront without being asked.
---
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