https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-477-Growth-in-the-Transparent-World-8k-Part-2-/12558684/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-478-A-Mission-Concerning-Konoha-s-Future-Part-2-/12558700/
Chapter 478: A Mission Concerning Konoha's Future (Part 1)
Chapter 478: A Mission Concerning Konoha's Future (Part 1)
The first day of the second round of Anbu training had arrived, and Mu Yue made her way to the training field where forty Anbu and Ne ninja, who would be undergoing the training, were already assembled and waiting for their lesson to begin.
As per her usual routine, Mu Yue used her Appraisal technique to scrutinize each of the ninjas standing before her.
Some of the ninjas also regarded Mu Yue with curious gazes.
Although Mu Yue had only recently been appointed as a squad leader and had not served in the Anbu before, her reputation within the organization had already preceded her, thanks to her exploits on the battlefield.
This fame was due in part to the praise she received from the fifteen Anbu members she had trained previously, as well as her status as the developer of the "Darkness Calling" technique.
Owing to its high practicality and low learning curve, Hiruzen Sarutobi was eager to have all Anbu ninjas master this technique.
However, since there weren't any ninjas in the Anbu who could be considered experts in the "Darkness Calling" technique, the implementation process had been slow, with only a handful of gifted ninjas mastering it.
Nonetheless, Hiruzen Sarutobi's efforts to promote the "Darkness Calling" technique had ensured that every member of the Anbu knew the name, "Hanyu Muyue."
"I am Hanyu Muyue, and I will be leading this training session," Mu Yue introduced herself.
"Today's training will be conducted in two groups. Those who have participated in the previous session, please move to the right and form a new column. The rest of you, remain where you are and do not move," she instructed.
Thanks to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura's efforts in promoting the "Darkness Calling" technique, most of the ninjas undergoing training already had some familiarity with it, although their proficiency varied greatly, with most struggling to master it.
For those who had already mastered the "Darkness Calling" technique or had even reached a proficient level, Mu Yue would not waste their time by making them repeat the basics alongside the new trainees.
Being members of the Anbu and Ne, the ninjas were quick to follow Mu Yue's instructions, promptly dividing themselves into two equally sized groups.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Mu Yue performed the necessary hand seals and created a single shadow clone, which she instructed to take the ninjas who had prior experience with the "Darkness Calling" technique to a spot slightly farther away to ensure they wouldn't interfere with the other group.
During the previous training session, Mu Yue had spent almost the entire first day in a practice battle against all the trainees to establish her authority. This time, however, she could proceed with a regular lesson on the very first day.
While her reputation might not yet rival that of the Sannin, the candidates for the role of Hokage, she was nevertheless renowned as a powerful ninja of Konoha within the ninja world, and her strength was undoubtedly known to the Anbu.
"You should all be familiar with the 'Darkness Calling' technique by now," Mu Yue began her lesson.
This was something she knew from the information provided to her by the Anbu, not just an assumption based on her Appraisal technique.
The ninjas nodded in confirmation.
"In that case, I'll skip the basic introduction and dive straight into the specifics," Mu Yue continued.
Seeing that there were no objections, Mu Yue officially started the lesson, beginning with the most fundamental aspect—the proper breathing posture.
"Maintaining a specific posture while breathing will help you familiarize yourself with the breathing rhythm of the 'Darkness Calling' technique, which is one of its core components," Mu Yue explained.
Whether they were Anbu or Ne ninjas, they all listened intently with serious expressions.
After two hours, they couldn't help but admit that the tales they had heard about Mu Yue within the Anbu were not exaggerated in the slightest—she was an exceptional teacher.
"As expected of the developer of the 'Darkness Calling' technique. No wonder Fieda and the others held Squad Leader Hanyu in such high regard," one of the Anbu ninjas couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi had first attempted to teach the "Darkness Calling" technique to the Anbu, he had selected several ninjas who were already proficient in it to act as instructors. However, after witnessing Mu Yue's teaching, he realized that there was no comparison between the two; the gap was simply too wide.
Mu Yue's lectures were not only easy to understand, but she also had a knack for pinpointing the core issues they struggled with and providing solutions, allowing them to make swift progress.
In just two hours, the Anbu ninjas had managed to clarify several questions that had plagued them before.
"We'll take a fifteen-minute break now," Mu Yue announced before leaving a shadow clone to oversee one of the groups while she attended to the other.
While the shadow clone possessed the same understanding of the "Darkness Calling" technique as the original, it did not benefit from the Teaching Skill's boost.
Mu Yue intended to ensure that both groups received equal attention and the benefits of the Teaching Skill. Thus, she would teach one group for two hours or half a day and then spend an equal amount of time with the other group, ensuring that all the ninjas had the opportunity to learn under the enhanced conditions provided by the skill.
Once the break was over, Mu Yue's original body began instructing the group of more experienced ninjas.
During the break, the shadow clone had not taught them the "Dark Flame" technique but instead led them in a practice session with the "Darkness Calling" technique to prepare them for the upcoming lesson with Mu Yue's original body.
"The next technique you will be learning is an advanced application of the 'Darkness Calling' technique—the 'Dark Flame' technique," Mu Yue announced without preamble.
Unlike the Chakra Mode of the "Darkness Calling" technique, the "Dark Flame" technique did not require a high level of proficiency. Even those who had not yet mastered the "Darkness Calling" technique could successfully cultivate it, although it would be more challenging.
The ninjas below were surprised. They had expected this training session to focus on improving their "Darkness Calling" technique and hadn't anticipated learning an advanced jutsu as well.
"The 'Dark Flame' technique consumes the chakra within your body to greatly enhance your strength and speed. You can think of it as a temporary boost to the effects of the 'Darkness Calling' technique," Mu Yue explained.
The Anbu ninjas' eyes lit up with anticipation.
Although Mu Yue's introduction was simple and straightforward, the "Darkness Calling" technique already boosted their explosive power, and with the "Dark Flame" technique, that power would be further amplified.
With just a few words, Mu Yue had successfully piqued the interest of all the more experienced ninjas, and they couldn't wait to master the "Dark Flame" technique and experience its enhancing effects.
"Now, focus on taking your breathing to the extreme, but do not lose control," Mu Yue instructed as she began the formal lesson.
Although Mu Yue had only recently developed this so-called "Dark Flame" technique, it was essentially a downgraded version of the Chakra Mode of the "Darkness Calling" technique, and thus, she was able to teach it with the same fluency as the basic technique.
"The 'Darkness Calling' technique was already formidable, but with the addition of the 'Dark Flame' technique, a truly remarkable secret technique has been created, one that could allow our clan to stand on equal footing with the other ninja clans in the ninja world," Sarutobi Hitomi thought in awe.
He felt that if Mu Yue's "Darkness Calling" and "Dark Flame" techniques were passed down as clan secret techniques and further refined over the next century or so, the ninja world might very well see the rise of a new power in the form of the Hanyu Clan.
"I'm glad I was selected again. Otherwise, I would have missed out on a lot," Fieda Kenji silently rejoiced.
Logically speaking, even if he hadn't been chosen for this training session, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been promoting the "Darkness Calling" technique, would have likely provided an opportunity to learn the "Dark Flame" technique.
However, the criteria and requirements for that scenario were uncertain, and without Mu Yue's guidance, the learning process would undoubtedly have been much more challenging.
【Rewards: Enhanced Understanding of Breathing Techniques, Darkness Calling +48, Basic Breathing +22, Lightning Breathing +11】
After the end of the day's class, a panel popped up, displaying the rewards for teaching.
Mu Yue's gaze fell on the first reward, 'Enhanced Understanding of Breathing Techniques'. He had chosen to focus on teaching breathing techniques for this very reason.
This was a reward exclusive to an S-rank evaluation for an intermediate lesson, and it would help him deepen his understanding of the essence of breathing techniques.
Organizing the knowledge in his mind, Mu Yue began walking in the direction of Tsunade's residence.
A single lesson's reward was insufficient to significantly improve his skill in breathing techniques. To develop the Yang Breathing Technique that he envisioned, he would need to accumulate more teaching rewards.
… …
【Root Base】
"What did Mu Yue teach today? Was the content the same for both Root and Anbu, and how was her teaching?" Danzo Shimura asked the Root ninja who had just finished the training.
Shimura was quite dissatisfied with this training.
Of course, this had nothing to do with Mu Yue; his dissatisfaction was directed at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The reason for his displeasure was that Sarutobi had arranged for twenty-five Anbu members to participate in the training, while Root was still only allowed to send fifteen members, the same as the previous time.
Naturally, this blatant inequality irritated Shimura, and when he received the detailed arrangements, he stormed straight to the Hokage's office.
Due to his anger, Shimura overlooked some details and forgot to knock before entering, resulting in Sarutobi scolding him. Subsequently, Sarutobi continued to target him over some minor issues, leaving Shimura feeling very displeased.
What irritated Shimura the most was that even after he had gone to Sarutobi, the Hokage still refused to increase the number of Root members participating in the training.
Sarutobi's reasoning was something Shimura couldn't refute.
"Root is a subordinate organization of the Anbu. If the Anbu only have twenty-five participants, then Root has no reason to demand equal numbers," Sarutobi stated.
Shimura could only leave with the parting words, "You'll regret this."
"Teacher Mu Yue taught us the 'Darkness Calling' technique and its advanced variation, the 'Dark Flame' technique," the Root ninja replied. "There was no difference in the content taught to Root and the Anbu, and as always, Teacher Mu Yue's teaching was excellent."
Shimura nodded slightly and asked a few more questions to confirm that there were no issues before dismissing the Root ninja.
"You've changed, Hiruzen. It seems my decision to not share the information about the Wood Release user with you was the right choice," Shimura muttered to himself, recalling the frustration he had endured during his earlier confrontation with Sarutobi.
In the past, Shimura had considered sharing the existence of the Wood Release user with Sarutobi so that the user could receive the best possible training.
Wood Release was considered unique in Konoha, and many shinobi believed that no bloodline limit could surpass it. The strongest jutsu, in their opinion, was Wood Release jutsu.
This belief was not unfounded, as Konoha had only ever produced one Wood Release user—the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, also known as the God of Shinobi.
This naturally sparked endless speculation, and some even theorized that any Wood Release user could potentially reach the heights achieved by the God of Shinobi.
More rational individuals, however, acknowledged that while Hashirama's power may have been unparalleled, it was still possible for a Wood Release user to attain, perhaps, two-thirds or even half of his strength.
Now, Shimura had completely abandoned the idea of sharing this information with Sarutobi. He was convinced that Sarutobi would use various excuses to take the Wood Release user away from Root and keep them for himself.
Shimura would never allow that to happen. His motivation wasn't solely to strengthen Root but also to benefit Konoha as a whole.
He believed that only under Root's guidance could the Wood Release user be molded into the strongest possible shinobi, and if they were to train under Sarutobi, their potential would not be fully realized, which would be a great loss for Konoha.
"It's time to check on his training."
Shimura, accompanied by two of Root's elite members, headed toward a secluded area near Konoha.
The Wood Release user that Shimura had in his possession was, in fact, the only successful subject of Orochimaru's experiments with Hashirama's cells. However, due to a minor oversight, Orochimaru believed that all the test subjects had failed, and Shimura had taken advantage of this mistake.
By keeping the Wood Release user outside the village, Shimura aimed to prevent both Sarutobi and Orochimaru from discovering and taking the user away from him.
Although Shimura doubted that Orochimaru would remember the appearance of his test subjects, he preferred to be cautious.
"Lord Shimura," Yamato said respectfully upon seeing Shimura.
"Hmm," Shimura acknowledged with a slight nod. "Show me your strongest Wood Release jutsu."
While Shimura himself did not possess Wood Release, he had access to Hashirama's notes on Wood Release jutsu.
Shimura's role was to teach Yamato chakra control techniques and various assassination arts.
Yamato solemnly performed the necessary hand seals, channeling his chakra and transforming it into Wood Release chakra to execute the jutsu.
Under the influence of Yamato's Wood Release chakra, a tender sprout emerged from the ground and rapidly grew into a tree slightly taller than Shimura.
After releasing the jutsu, Yamato looked at Shimura expectantly.
Shimura frowned slightly. "Isn't this about the same as before? Yamato, have you not been diligent in your training lately?"
Shimura had assigned multiple Root members to keep an eye on Yamato, and they reported on his activities and whether there were any suspicious individuals nearby.
According to the reports, Yamato had been training as scheduled.
However, based on Yamato's performance, Shimura suspected that he might not have been fully committed to his training.
Yamato stood with his hands hanging by his sides, clutching the corners of his clothes, his expression tense. "No, I haven't been slacking off, Lord Shimura.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
