https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-261-Surprises-from-the-Disciples/12558269/
Chapter 262: A Golden Gift
Chapter 262: A Golden Gift
Mu Yue was surrounded by her five disciples as they made their way to the spot where they had hidden her present. Using his Earth Style Jutsu, Kakashi retrieved the gift buried underground.
"Teacher Mu Yue, you can open your eyes now," Deidara said as the gift was presented.
Mu Yue opened her eyes, beholding a large gift box with a slight dusting of soil.
"Teacher Mu Yue, thank you for your guidance these past days," the disciples expressed their gratitude together.
"Teacher, go ahead and open the gift. We all worked together to make it, each of us contributing to its creation," Deidara added with a mischievous smile, eagerly anticipating Mu Yue's reaction to their present.
"Since you made it yourselves, I'm truly curious," Mu Yue said with a warm smile, her hand slowly reaching for the box.
The disciples watched intently as Mu Yue's hand moved towards the gift, their eyes darting between her hand and her face, eager to see her expression upon seeing their collective effort.
As the box was opened, a statue was revealed within. Mu Yue's eyes widened in surprise, her smile growing warmer, and finally, she wore an expression of heartfelt contentment.
To be honest, Mu Yue was genuinely delighted by the gift her disciples had prepared for her.
Initially, she had only suspected their intentions due to some subtle clues in their behavior. It was only when they came to bury the gift that she had confirmed her suspicions.
As Tenten was away training in the Southern Border Forest, Mu Yue had left a shadow clone hidden here, so she was already aware of their plan to present her with a gift.
Even though she knew, seeing the thoughtful gift they had prepared touched her heart.
Each statue clearly bore the unique style of its creator. Kakashi's statue was intricately detailed, with careful attention given to his features and clothing.
Might Guy's statue, on the other hand, was bold and expressive, emphasizing his distinctive features like his spiky hair and thick eyebrows while downplaying other details.
Mu Yue's keen observation even noted the short blade in Genma Shiranui's statue, recognizing it as the gift she had given him for his birthday.
When Mu Yue saw her own statue, she once again felt the sincerity of her disciples' intentions. Her statue seemed to capture the essence of all the others, with a meticulously crafted head that even she had to admit was a precise miniature replica of her own. While the proportions of the body seemed slightly off, it was a minor imperfection that did not detract from the overall excellence of the piece. Mu Yue guessed that someone had made final adjustments to unify the different styles.
The statues depicted her and each of her disciples maintaining a similar distance from each other, reflecting their daily training routines. Deidara practiced his fire style jutsu, Kakashi honed his Lightning Blade, Genma practiced with his short blade, Hanabi trained her superhuman strength, and Might Guy perfected his taijutsu. Each disciple was portrayed with a look of intense focus on their faces.
"I'm very pleased with this gift. You've all put in so much effort, and yet Tenten still found time to train and contribute to this," Mu Yue said, her gentle smile lighting up her face as she affectionately ruffled her disciples' hair.
Perhaps at the start, her intentions in teaching Deidara had been largely driven by the prospect of earning rewards through the system. But as time passed, her mindset had gradually shifted.
Now, she preferred to let their relationship develop naturally and reap the rewards that came with it. After all, the system inherently benefited her as her disciples grew stronger, and she stood to gain significantly if they continued to progress healthily along their paths.
"It was nothing, Teacher Mu Yue. Compared to all the help you've given us, the time we spent on this gift is insignificant," Deidara replied, his smile reflecting his joy at seeing that their gift had conveyed their sentiments.
From being the class dunce to becoming the top student at the Ninja Academy, defeating the very geniuses he once admired, and earning the title of genius himself—Deidara's incredible turnaround within a year filled him with immense gratitude towards Mu Yue.
"Yes, Teacher Mu Yue. You can be a little more greedy. Your help has far exceeded what a regular teacher would offer," Genma added, his gentle smile mirroring Mu Yue's warmth.
Genma had become Mu Yue's disciple earlier than Deidara and Might Guy, but he reached Trust Level 3 later than them. However, he attained Trust Level 4 much earlier, a clear indication of the profound trust that developed after his birthday.
In Genma's heart, Mu Yue held a place akin to family. She had been by his side every day, showing him unwavering care and concern, always ready to offer comfort at the slightest hint of sadness.
"It's because of you, Teacher Mu Yue, that my youth has become so vibrant and passionate!" Might Guy, hearing the words of Deidara and Genma, couldn't help but reflect on how his life had changed since becoming Mu Yue's disciple, and tears of emotion welled up in his eyes.
Despite the ridicule he had faced, despite entering the Ninja Academy as a supplementary student, Might Guy's ambition had always been to become the strongest. He firmly believed that through relentless effort, he could forge a path to the top.
But the road to becoming the strongest was fraught with challenges. As a supplementary student who consistently performed poorly in class and ranked last in exams, Might Guy quickly earned the label of "class dunce." Few believed he would ever amount to anything, and some even doubted he would graduate.
When he challenged Kakashi, he was defeated in a single move. In the practical exam, he was swiftly overwhelmed in the first round, earning a dismal score. At that time, his efforts seemed to yield little fruit.
Then, when he overheard someone disparaging his father, his anger got the better of him, and he sought to take revenge. But he was easily defeated by his opponent, forced to stand by powerless as his father's name was tarnished further.
The successive blows to his pride and confidence, even for someone with Might Guy's resilient mindset, occasionally planted seeds of doubt. Though they were fleeting, they left a bitter taste in his mouth.
All that changed when he met Mu Yue. In the first exam of their fourth year, Might Guy achieved something unprecedented—he became the top student in their class. Not only that, but he also placed second in the practical exam for their grade level, and this was just the beginning. With Mu Yue's guidance and his own relentless effort, he ended the semester by claiming the top spot for the first time.
Soon after mastering the Rock Style, he encountered someone speaking ill of his father again. It wasn't the same people as before, but the words were just as hurtful. This time, however, Might Guy was stronger, and he used his newfound power to protect his father's honor, defeating the two ninjas who had dared to slander his father.
In that moment, Might Guy felt that all his efforts had been worth it. He had protected what he held dear.
He went on to surpass his lifelong rival and friend, proving that a talented genius who worked hard was a force to be reckoned with.
None of this would have been possible without Mu Yue's help.
"With you by our side, Teacher Mu Yue, our dreams feel that much more within reach," Hanabi added softly.
With his current strength, Mu Yue didn't need to conceal much anymore. He didn't mind if others found out that Yahiko and Konan were his disciples, as it would only showcase his exceptional teaching abilities.
"Yay!" Obito couldn't contain his excitement and leaped up in joy. The prospect of enjoying a meal prepared by Mu Yue after such a wonderful day was, to him, one of the happiest things in the world.
"Mhm, but I need to head back and let my parents know first. Otherwise, they'll worry about me," Rin agreed with a smile.
Genma quickly nodded, as he hadn't visited Mu Yue's home in the main district before. Kakashi, who also lived alone, readily nodded in agreement.
Mu Yue then led Genma and Kakashi to his home in the main district first, while the other disciples returned home to inform their elders before heading to Mu Yue's place.
As Mu Yue approached his doorstep, he happened to see Minato just about to knock on his door.
"Minato," Mu Yue greeted Minato, who usually started preparing dinner around this time.
Hearing the familiar voice behind him, Minato was a little taken aback.
"I got held up by something today, so I'm a bit late. Let's go in together," Mu Yue said with a smile.
"Minato-senpai," Kakashi greeted Minato, and Genma, out of politeness, followed suit despite not knowing Minato.
Minato smiled in response and then entered Mu Yue's home with the others.
"This person seems to resemble Teacher Mu Yue a little," Genma thought to himself as he observed Minato's warm smile.
Adding to this, Minato's familiar demeanor upon entering further fueled Genma's speculation that Minato might be a close relative of Mu Yue's.
As if sensing Genma's thoughts, Kakashi quietly clarified, "Minato-senpai just happens to look similar to Teacher Mu Yue, and they have a good relationship, but they aren't relatives."
Kakashi felt that anyone seeing the two together for the first time could easily misunderstand their connection.
Genma's expression betrayed his surprise, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Is that other child also your disciple?" Minato inquired, noticing Genma's gaze.
"Mhm," Mu Yue nodded in affirmation, having anticipated this question when he brought Genma along.
"You're so diligent, Mu Yue. With this one, you now have five disciples," Minato commended, thinking that Mu Yue was truly a model teacher in the ninja world.
Minato admired how Mu Yue, as a guiding Jonin, could take on disciples and still manage to earn commissions on the side. He was solely dedicated to cultivating talents for Konoha.
"Five disciples are manageable. During special training, I've even taught a class of over three hundred students at once," Mu Yue chuckled.
Minato's expression turned slightly astonished. That was quite a substantial number, considering that Konoha and Iwagakure had only sent out a little over a thousand ninjas during their conflict.
"Teacher Mu Yue, we're here," Obito's voice rang out from the doorway.
"Come in," Mu Yue replied, slightly raising his voice.
Obito, Rin, and Might Guy then entered Mu Yue's home.
"Minato-senpai," Obito greeted Minato and proceeded to introduce him to Rin. "Don't be fooled by the resemblance between Minato-senpai and Teacher Mu Yue. They aren't brothers, although it's possible they could be long-lost twins."
Rin curiously looked at Minato, finding the resemblance striking.
Smack!
A transparent force struck Obito's head with pinpoint accuracy, emitting a crisp sound.
"Minato, I apologize. Obito's thought process isn't quite like that of a normal person. Please bear with him," Mu Yue said apologetically to Minato.
"It's fine. I don't mind," Minato smiled and shook his head, his gaze at Obito and Rin filled with curiosity and kindness. These two would also be his students in the future.
Mu Yue continued to cook in the kitchen, with Minato assisting him.
Although Minato wanted to stay for dinner and get to know his three future students ahead of time, he had to leave to have dinner with Kushina, so he bid Mu Yue farewell after the cooking was done.
With a larger number of disciples, plus the additional portions for Kushina and Minato, Mu Yue prepared an extravagant feast, featuring dishes from his previous life as well as local Fire Country cuisine.
"This is too much happiness! Getting to eat so many different dishes at once," Obito exclaimed, his mouth already watering from the myriad of tantalizing aromas wafting through the air.
During the intense meal, to grab their favorite dishes more quickly, Obito activated his Sharingan, and Kakashi enhanced his body with chakra, causing afterimages to appear around their chopsticks.
After the meal, the disciples helped with the cleanup. While they weren't much use in the kitchen, they could at least wash dishes and wipe down the table.
"Teacher Mu Yue, you can open your presents now," Obito suggested after the chores were done.
The other disciples also looked at Mu Yue expectantly, hoping that their individual gifts would bring him even more joy.
Mu Yue smiled and nodded, taking out the presents from the scroll.
He started with Zushi's gift, as it was the longest and most eye-catching.
Mu Yue opened the exquisite box and found a sheathed sword about one meter long. He carefully drew the sword from its scabbard and examined it.
"Wow, what a cool sword!" Obito exclaimed, admiring the burning flame pattern on the sheath.
"It's indeed beautiful," Mu Yue nodded in approval. He then drew the sword and infused it with fire-attribute chakra.
Blazing flames ignited along the blade, and as Mu Yue brandished it, fiery traces were left in the air.
From this effect, Mu Yue could tell that the sword was not cheap and must have been made with some rare materials.
"Teacher Mu Yue, I want to learn this!" Obito's eyes lit up, already envisioning himself defeating one strong opponent after another with a flaming blade.
"It's simple; you just need to keep practicing the Fire Breath style diligently," Mu Yue sheathed the sword and said with a smile.
The localized breathing technique didn't require the use of a sword, but one could certainly choose to do so.
"Of course, once you learn it, don't use it inside the house like I do. If you're not careful, you might burn the house down," Mu Yue reminded him.
"Zushi, I can tell you put a lot of thought into this. I'm very happy to receive such a wonderful gift," Mu Yue said with a heartfelt smile.
The fact that Zushi, an orphan, had given him such an expensive gift touched Mu Yue deeply. If he hadn't known that Zushi would refuse, he would have given Zushi 500,000 ryo in return.
Zushi's lips curved upward, and he said with a smile, "I'm glad you like it, Teacher Mu Yue."
Next, Mu Yue unwrapped Obito's gift and found an inkstone carved with a dragon. However, the dragon lacked a certain majestic quality, and the details were a bit lacking.
"I didn't have enough time," Obito scratched his head sheepishly. "When I improve my skills, I'll make you an even better-looking one."
"I'm very pleased with this one," Mu Yue said with a smile as he ruffled Obito's hair.
In truth, he wasn't too concerned about the gift itself but was deeply touched by the thought his disciple had put into it.
How could he not get them whatever they wanted, be it an inkstone or a sword?
Moving on, Mu Yue opened Kakashi's gift and found a nice-looking brush with the characters for "belief" inscribed on it.
"Kakashi, I'll treasure this brush with the power of belief you've instilled in it," Mu Yue said, remembering some of their previous conversations.
"It's just the characters for 'belief' etched onto it. If it stops working one day, I'll make a new one," Kakashi replied. After all, brushes were consumables, no matter how well they were cared for.
The mask hid Kakashi's expression, but from his words and eyes, Mu Yue could tell that he was in a good mood.
Seeing that Kakashi's gift was a brush, Obito was glad that he hadn't given a brush as well. It was a relief that their gifts weren't identical, and he was glad that his gift wasn't inferior to Kakashi's.
Might Guy's gift surprised Mu Yue a little, as it wasn't a green bodysuit. In fact, it wasn't a bodysuit at all but a sketchbook with cartoon-style drawings. As Mu Yue flipped through it, he realized it was like a diary, documenting the events since they had met.
"This must have been quite an undertaking," Mu Yue remarked, knowing that Might Guy had a poor memory and that drawing was a new endeavor for him.
"Recording the vibrant moments of my youth is no problem for me!" Might Guy flashed a toothy grin and laughed heartily.
He had indeed considered giving a bodysuit, not out of convenience but to promote them. However, as Obito had pointed out, not everyone appreciated bodysuits, so Might Guy had restrained himself. Besides, he had discovered that expressing himself through drawing was quite enjoyable.
Rin's gift was also unique: a flower on the verge of blooming.
"I had my family buy the seeds, and I grew it myself," Rin explained with a smile.
"I don't have much experience with flowers, but I'll do my best to take care of it," Mu Yue thanked her with a smile.
He felt that if his disciples could give him gifts, they must have received substantial rewards themselves.
Taking advantage of the joyous atmosphere, Mu Yue also presented his disciples with suitable calligraphy works.
For example, Might Guy received a piece about self-improvement and perseverance, while Kakashi's was related to belief. Obito's was about unwavering determination, reminding him not to forget his goals...
[You gave your disciples handwritten calligraphy. They are deeply grateful, and the reward is greatly enhanced - Wind-attribute Chakra Nature Transformation (Proficiency Level)]
Seeing the sudden reward, Mu Yue nodded in satisfaction.
He had intentionally given Kakashi's gift first, as he felt that Kakashi had too much fire and physical techniques. He wanted to trigger a different reward, and Kakashi had delivered with a Proficiency Level Wind-attribute Chakra Nature Transformation.
The rewards from the Teaching System occasionally randomized, and Mu Yue felt that this randomization was beneficial. Kakashi, already proficient in lightning and earth jutsu, would likely unlock rewards related to those elements in the future. Meanwhile, none of his current disciples specialized in wind-attribute techniques.
"I'm truly grateful. Today has been wonderful," Mu Yue and his five disciples exclaimed.
Setting aside the new chakra nature reward, Mu Yue was genuinely happy.
His praise for his disciples was a positive feedback loop, and their thoughtful gifts were another form of positive feedback for him.
Receiving so many heartfelt gifts had moved Mu Yue deeply.
"I'm glad you like them, Teacher Mu Yue. Your happiness proves that our efforts were worth it," Obito said excitedly with a beaming smile.
The other disciples nodded in agreement. Usually, Mu Yue would tell them that their growth was the best reward for him, and now it was their turn to return the sentiment.
"Your happiness is the greatest affirmation for us, Teacher Mu Yue," the disciples chorused.
(End of Chapter)
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