Chapter 404: The Enticing Legacy of the Ninja

Chapter 404: The Enticing Legacy of the Ninja

"I can teach you ninjutsu, but can you tell me what a ninja is first?" Mu Yue asked with a smile, looking at the crowd.

The ninja in the crowd exchanged glances. There were too many answers to this question. One could say that those who graduated from ninja school were ninjas, or that being a ninja was a profession, or simply someone who could use ninjutsu.

But they felt that Mu Yue, as a powerful figure, must have had a deeper meaning behind her question.

"A ninja is someone who can endure anything," Yahiko said, taking the lead when no one else responded.

Mu Yue smiled and nodded without commenting.

"A ninja is someone who can manipulate chakra and use ninjutsu," Chouzaya quickly added.

He couldn't think of any profound insights, so he decided to speak up early and perhaps leave an impression on Mu Yue.

The others soon caught on and voiced their own opinions.

"A ninja is a profession, an identity."

"Anyone who masters ninjutsu is a ninja."

The crowd of over a hundred ninjas answered eagerly, creating a noisy atmosphere.

Mu Yue gently lowered her palm, signaling for everyone to quiet down.

Within less than a minute, the previous calm was restored.

It wasn't that Mu Yue's classroom management skills were unbeatable from years of teaching, but rather that the destruction caused by her ninjutsu was still evident nearby, so everyone remained amicable towards her.

"Broadly speaking, you are all correct," Mu Yue said as she used Doton ninjutsu to clean up the remnants of the battle. "A ninja can be a profession or someone who can use ninjutsu."

"But do you know what the first ninjas were like, the origin of the term 'ninja', and what their responsibilities were?"

"It was the Rikudo Sennin who created the ninja arts and founded the ninja!" Chouzaya quickly answered.

He remembered clearly because he had arrived on the day Mu Yue lectured about the Rikudo Sennin establishing the ninja arts.

"Isn't the Rikudo Sennin just a mythical figure?" someone in the crowd asked doubtfully.

Not everyone believed that the Rikudo Sennin truly existed; some thought he was merely a legend.

"The Rikudo Sennin did exist," Mu Yue affirmed. "The real Rikudo Sennin didn't have the power to create the world as depicted in stories. He was the progenitor of ninjas and the founder of the ninja arts."

Many myths about the Rikudo Sennin were circulated in the ninja world, and one of the most widespread was the creation myth—the belief that the Rikudo Sennin created the ninja world.

This was also one of the reasons some ninjas doubted the existence of the Rikudo Sennin. No matter how powerful one's ninjutsu was, it seemed implausible that they could create a world.

However, for Mu Yue, who was well-versed in the storyline, this myth wasn't entirely baseless.

Back then, when Kaguya Otsutsuki planted the God Tree, it wreaked havoc on the ninja world. It was the Rikudo Sennin who traveled the world and restored the land, leading to the current state of the ninja realm.

"The earliest ninjas were those who followed the ninja arts, and their primary responsibility was to maintain and create a peaceful world," Mu Yue continued, explaining the duties of the ancient ninjas after mentioning the Rikudo Sennin.

Yahiko's eyes widened. Having never attended school, he had no idea that ninjas had such a background.

At that moment, he felt immense joy because they were doing the same thing as the first ninjas. They were walking the same path.

"If the duty of ninjas is to maintain peace, then why are there so many ninja wars nowadays?" Longmon couldn't help but ask.

He hadn't intended to speak, but Yahiko liked Mu Yue and wanted to recruit her. However, he felt that ninjas didn't deserve to be called peacemakers.

It wasn't just because Longmon's parents had died at the hands of ninjas. Yahiko and Konan were both war orphans who had lost their parents due to ninja wars.

"That's why I'm talking about the era of the ninja arts," Mu Yue replied calmly. "After the decline of the ninja arts, ninjas changed. Nowadays, as you all initially stated, a ninja is someone who can use ninjutsu, a profession."

As she spoke, Mu Yue's expression became solemn and earnest. "Today's ninjas have strayed far from their original purpose. As someone who has inherited the legacy of the ninja arts, I cannot bear to see the peacemakers turn into war-mongers. Therefore, I've decided to restore the ninja arts and learn from the first ninjas!"

The onlooking ninjas stared at Mu Yue, bewildered. They had come to learn ninjutsu, but they never expected such a bombshell—the intention to rebuild the ninja arts.

Although most of them didn't know what the ninja arts entailed, Mu Yue's introduction, which positioned the Rikudo Sennin as the first leader, implied that the ninja arts were of the highest caliber.

The Amegakure jonin and the other ninjas had different focuses. He was more interested in the ninja arts' legacy.

"Could it be that he possesses such formidable strength because he accidentally obtained the ancient legacy of the ninja arts passed down from ancient times?" the Amegakure jonin speculated.

With Mu Yue's power, she was considered a formidable figure in the entire ninja world, let alone the small country of Amegakure. It was unusual that she had remained unknown until now.

Thus, the Amegakure jonin suspected that Mu Yue had obtained the legacy and then devoted herself to cultivation, only emerging recently.

Longmon remained silent, but he was somewhat satisfied with Mu Yue's answer. Indeed, the current ninjas didn't deserve to be associated with peace.

"You're absolutely right, Uncle Sou! We ninjas should learn from the elders of the ninja arts and create a peaceful world without war," Yahiko said, nodding in agreement.

"So, Uncle Sou, please join our Akatsuki organization. Let's strive for peace together!" Yahiko extended the invitation to Mu Yue once more.

The surrounding ninjas looked at Yahiko in surprise, finding his train of thought rather unique.

While Akatsuki had some reputation in Amegakure, they didn't think an organization of that caliber could attract Mu Yue's attention.

With Mu Yue's strength, she could easily establish a more powerful organization in Amegakure if she wanted to.

"The current Akatsuki is not enough," Mu Yue shook her head in refusal.

Now wasn't the time to join Akatsuki, unless she intended to take Yahiko as her disciple.

Yahiko looked a little disappointed, but he hadn't given up hope. He believed that as long as they shared the same goal, Mu Yue would eventually recognize him and his Akatsuki.

"The Rikudo Sennin once traveled the ninja world and established the ninja arts. As an inheritor of the ninja arts, I will first travel throughout Amegakure. If you agree with my ideas, join me on this journey, and I will impart my knowledge of ninjas to those who are worthy," Mu Yue said, scanning the crowd.

There were nearly two hundred ninjas present, and she would be content if seventy of them remained by the end.

Seventy would be a generous estimate, assuming she had already filtered out some of the unsuitable candidates.

"We are willing to follow you," Chouzaya said immediately, pulling Heitian to stand at the front.

However, most of them were not driven by a desire to become peace-keeping ninjas but by the prospect of learning powerful ninjutsu from Mu Yue.

Aside from the Rain Ninjas who wanted to gather intelligence on Mu Yue, most of the ninjas who had come to Little Port Village chose to accompany Mu Yue on his journey through the Land of Rain.

Yahiko also decided to join this journey, determined to show Mu Yue his resolve.

"What about the Akatsuki?" Hinata asked helplessly.

"Let them come along too. Who knows, they might even get to learn some ninjutsu from Uncle Sou," Yahiko replied after some thought.

Hinata could say no more, as Yahiko's decision was final.

And so, Mu Yue set off on his journey through the Land of Rain, leading a group of nearly two hundred ninjas.

Due to their large number, the chaotic Land of Rain suddenly experienced improved security, and not a single bandit dared to cross paths with Mu Yue's group.

On the first day, Mu Yue did not teach anything related to ninja knowledge. Instead, he narrated the story of the Six Paths Sage's travels across the ninja world, and not a single person left the team.

On the second day, Mu Yue still did not delve into ninja-related content. Instead, he spoke about the Ninpo Ninjas and their role in maintaining peace.

On the third day, Mu Yue refrained from teaching ninjutsu, and gradually, some ninjas began to leave.

Those who left felt that Mu Yue had no intention of teaching ninjutsu, and so they were unwilling to waste their time there any longer.

From the fourth day onward, the number of departing ninjas gradually increased, although new ninjas joined, influenced by the spreading stories of Mu Yue's deeds. However, their numbers were few.

On the fifth day, as they passed through a village with a broken bridge, Mu Yue used Earth Style ninjutsu to build a sturdy and thick stone bridge for the villagers. In gratitude, the villagers offered them some food.

A whole week passed, and Mu Yue still did not impart any ninjutsu. More ninjas left, and their numbers continued to swell.

"Lord Sou, even if you don't want to teach ninjutsu yet, you could at least share some other ninja knowledge to prevent more people from leaving," Chouzaya suggested.

He felt that Mu Yue could offer some small tips to stabilize the group's morale, as there seemed to be no hope of learning ninjutsu any time soon.

In fact, Chouzaya felt that Mu Yue should have already considered this, given his consistently profound and unfathomable demeanor.

"It's their freedom to leave," Mu Yue smiled, politely declining Chouzaya's suggestion.

Chouzaya was a little perplexed by Mu Yue's response, unsure of his true intentions. He had attracted so many people, only to let them leave without a second thought.

Not wanting to dwell on it, Chouzaya decided to let it go. After all, he had no plans to leave, convinced that Mu Yue would eventually teach them ninjutsu.

This conviction was not baseless speculation but a conclusion drawn from observing Mu Yue closely.

Mu Yue was truly practicing what he preached about the responsibilities of Ninpo Ninjas, resolving conflicts within the team and helping villagers in need.

And so, Chouzaya believed that Mu Yue would eventually fulfill his promise.

Some regretted wasting a week listening to Mu Yue's historical tales, while others, like Yahiko, felt fortunate to have joined the team.

After following Mu Yue for over a week, Yahiko realized that their Akatsuki organization had many shortcomings.

While they had driven away wandering ninjas from villages, Mu Yue used his own power to resolve the villagers' troubles.

Moreover, Mu Yue did not rely solely on ninja powers. If he had the knowledge to solve a problem, he would use it to help the villagers and impart that knowledge to them.

When offering assistance, Mu Yue did not leave his name but instead introduced himself as a Ninpo Ninja.

Because of Mu Yue's actions, wherever they went, the name of the Ninpo spread, gradually gaining recognition throughout the Land of Rain.

Mu Yue traveled through the Land of Rain for half a month, and most of the curious onlookers had left. Those who remained did so either because they embraced Mu Yue's ideals or because they felt they had invested too much to back out now.

Those who shared Mu Yue's vision traveled with him, and the others listened attentively during his lectures.

Recognizing their own shortcomings, Yahiko often asked Mu Yue various questions.

To Yahiko's delight, Mu Yue was able to answer all of them, providing reasoned and convincing explanations.

Longmon developed a favorable impression of Mu Yue, seeing that he was a man of action, not just words.

Hinata also grew fond of Mu Yue; his smile was warm, and when he noticed her love for origami, he gifted her an origami crane.

On the twentieth day of Mu Yue's journey through the ninja world, only seventy-two ninjas remained by his side. About half of them were ninjas Mu Yue had previously selected, with the rest being Yahiko's Akatsuki members and a small number who had been drawn by the legends of the Ninpo Master.

After a final check to ensure everything was in order, Mu Yue officially began his lessons.

As the seventy-two ninjas varied greatly in skill level, with the weakest being ordinary genin, Mu Yue started with chakra control, teaching them how to climb trees and walk on water.

Once they mastered these techniques, Mu Yue allowed them to practice on their own and offered further instruction when he had free time.

Having once trained nearly seven hundred students in the Leaf Village, Mu Yue found teaching seventy-two students a breeze, ensuring that each one received his attention.

Many ninjas were thrilled, feeling that their endurance had finally paid off.

For them, these twenty days had not been a leisurely journey but a period of intense training.

"Those who left must be regretting their decision now. If they knew how skilled Teacher Sou was at teaching, they'd be kicking themselves," those who remained savored the sweet fruit of their perseverance.

[Lesson Complete]



[Evaluation: S]



[Rewards: Chakra Control +24, Water Chakra Nature Transformation +1...]



Teaching chakra control was just the beginning. When Mu Yue proceeded to instruct them in chakra nature transformation and ninjutsu, those who stayed behind once again felt fortunate for their decision.

Mu Yue's performance was truly astounding. He effortlessly demonstrated all the chakra attribute nature transformations, leaving even Longmon astonished.

Longmon could discern through his Rinnegan that Mu Yue's chakra was extraordinary, but he had not expected him to master all seven chakra nature transformations. Longmon himself had only mastered six attributes and had yet to grasp the Yin attribute.

They thought Mu Yue's abilities were already impressive, but he surprised them further by showcasing his expertise in sealing techniques, imparting knowledge of seals they had never encountered before.

This was the advantage of having an external teacher—Mu Yue could teach whatever he wanted and offer corresponding rewards.

Out of respect for Mu Yue, many ninjas began addressing him as "Teacher Sou."

As Mu Yue and his group approached a village near the Rain Village, a squad of Rain Ninjas intercepted them.

"Lord Sou, Lady Hanzo wishes to meet with you. Please come with us to the Rain Village."

"Only you can go," the Jonin added.

Mu Yue had quite a number of ninjas with him, and with over seventy ninjas in total, Hanzo would not allow so many non-village ninjas to enter the Rain Village without a reason.

"I'll discuss this with my companions," Mu Yue replied, not giving a direct answer.

He personally felt that he could pay a visit. Because of Kurosaki Ichigo's status as a Rain Ninja, Mu Yue had learned some information about the Rain Village.

Additionally, with Mu Yue's strength, the Rain Village would not be able to keep him if he wanted to leave.

However, Mu Yue was aware of his own capabilities, and while his followers were not as clear about it, he wanted to consider their feelings and discuss it with them.

"I think Teacher Sou, you shouldn't go. Perhaps Hanzo has his eyes on the Ninjutsu Sect's legacy that you possess," Chouzaya said, feeling that Hanzo had ill intentions.

Although Chouzaya was also from the Land of Rain, he did not have a good impression of Hanzo.

Some ninjas nodded in agreement, understanding the risks that came with possessing something valuable.

"I think Hanzo isn't that kind of person. Even if he encounters a talented junior from an enemy village, he will still let them go. That's the kind of person Hanzo is, and he would never scheme against someone like Teacher Sou, who possesses the Ninjutsu Sect's legacy," Yahiko rebutted.

Contrary to Chouzaya, Yahiko had a good impression of Hanzo and viewed him as a true strong person.

"What if you're wrong? Then Teacher Sou will be in danger. Even if you're right, what's the benefit?" Chouzaya asked, feeling that it was a risky and unprofitable proposition.

Although Yahiko was much stronger than him, through their interactions over the past twenty days, Chouzaya knew that Yahiko was broad-minded and would not hold a grudge for his dissent.

Yahiko was momentarily lost for words, and Chouzaya did have a point. Mu Yue's potential gains did not seem worth the risk of going to the Rain Village alone.

"Thank you for your concern, but you can trust me a little more. Everything will be fine," Mu Yue said with a smile.

Seeing that Mu Yue had decided to go to the Rain Village, Chouzaya did not say anything further.

Regarding Mu Yue, he chose to believe in him first. Since Mu Yue said it would be fine, he believed that Mu Yue had the ability to handle any unforeseen situations.

Then, Mu Yue followed the Rain Ninjas to the Rain Village.

The architectural style of the Rain Village was quite different from Konoha.

The buildings in the Rain Village mainly used steel with some stone, and the village was filled with large and small steel pipes, possibly due to the frequent rainfall in the area.

Hanzo chose to meet Mu Yue in a training field instead of the Rain Village leader's office.

"Leader Hanzo, this is the person known as the Ninja Master, Sou Usuke," the Rain Village Jonin reported.

Hanzo looked at Mu Yue, who was dressed in black with a white robe on the outside, looking very cultured and amiable.

Mu Yue was also observing Hanzo, who wore a mask and the Rain Village's specialized battle attire.

When their gazes met, Hanzo suddenly released a powerful aura, a mighty force that seemed to weigh down the air.

The Rain Village Jonin standing next to Mu Yue froze, overwhelmed by Hanzo's terrifying aura. However, Mu Yue maintained his smile.

The next moment, the Jonin felt a chill down his spine, and an extremely oppressive presence emanated from Mu Yue, who responded to Hanzo's provocation by releasing his own aura.

The Jonin's vision blurred, and his sweat dripped into his eyes, but he dared not move to wipe it away. Caught between the two overwhelming auras, he felt like a small boat that had strayed into a surging wave, at any moment in danger of capsizing.

"Leave us," Hanzo suddenly withdrew his aura and calmly dismissed the Jonin.

The Jonin instantly felt relieved and quickly nodded, leaving the area.

He had thought it would be an easy task, but now he felt that he might have nightmares that night.

A slight smile appeared on Hanzo's face. "You're quite impressive."

Although he had not used his full strength, Mu Yue's performance was already worthy of a strong ninja.

"You're not bad yourself," Mu Yue replied with a faint smile.

Hanzo was slightly taken aback. Since he became the leader of the Rain Village, Mu Yue was the first person to speak to him in such a manner.

However, Hanzo did not mind. Mu Yue looked to be in his late twenties, and as a talented junior who had earned his respect, Hanzo was quite tolerant.

"Some say that you became strong because you obtained the Ninjutsu Sect's legacy. Before meeting you, I couldn't be sure, but now I can affirm that even without the so-called legacy, you would still be a formidable opponent," Hanzo said, recalling the recent rumors about Mu Yue.

Having clashed with Mu Yue's aura, Hanzo could sense Mu Yue's conviction and believed that he could not be an ordinary person.

"Perhaps. I think such assumptions are meaningless because the reality is that I did obtain the Ninjutsu Sect's legacy, and I do possess a certain level of strength," Mu Yue responded.

"Indeed, it is meaningless," Hanzo agreed, finding Mu Yue intriguing.

"However, let me give you a piece of advice. Most people only believe what they want to believe. The Ninjutsu Sect's legacy you possess is something many desire, and your bounty on the black market has already reached three million and five hundred thousand ryo."

Due to Mu Yue's carefully crafted persona and legendary exploits, the tale of the Ninja Master, Sou Usuke, had spread beyond the Land of Rain, capturing the imagination of the entire ninja world.

Nearly two hundred ninjas had witnessed Mu Yue's battle with his shadow clone, and they were living proof of the veracity of the Ninja Master's legend.

After all, Mu Yue himself had spoken of the Ninjutsu Sect's legacy, and he had undeniably demonstrated the capabilities of a ninja powerhouse.

"Thank you for the information, Leader Hanzo," Mu Yue expressed his gratitude, his expression unchanged.

Three million and five hundred thousand ryo was enough to post three S-rank and one A-rank mission in Konoha.

However, compared to the value of the Ninjutsu Sect's legacy, it seemed like a pittance. Mu Yue suspected that the news had not spread far enough, and not many believed it, otherwise, his bounty would surely surpass Asuma's.

Hanzo admired Mu Yue's attitude. In his opinion, the most important thing for a strong person was their conviction. Without it, they were as good as dead.

The two men did not chat further.

As the leader of the Rain Village, Hanzo had affairs to attend to, and unless Mu Yue intended to join the Rain Village as a Rain Ninja, there was little more to say. However, as a talented junior who had earned his respect, Hanzo had done all he could.

Before leaving, Mu Yue performed one last Identification Jutsu to ensure that the information he had gathered about Hanzo was accurate.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end