Chapter 372: Results That Surprised Danzo
"It's December again. Time really flies," Kotetsu Hagane sighed. "It feels like the holiday special training just happened, and now another long break is already coming."
"Yeah. In three weeks, it's the final exam," Izumo Kamizuki said, a hint of worry on his face. "I feel like I haven't been studying properly lately. I hope I don't crash and burn this time."
"You two, that's enough," Anko Mitarashi snapped as she walked into the classroom. The moment she saw her two good friends humblebragging, her irritation flared. "Every time you say you didn't study, you still score a hundred or at least over ninety. Aside from Shisui, who even outstudies you two?"
Back when she was still innocent, she had believed them more than once, only to end up staring at her own scores in quiet despair.
"Anko, you don't understand," Kotetsu said, shaking his head with tragic seriousness. "Once you've scored a hundred, even a ninety five feels like regression."
"Besides, after you hit a hundred, you lose the joy of improving your score. I sincerely hope you never experience this kind of suffering."
My fists are hard. My fists are hard.
"I really envy you, Anko," Izumo added, twisting the knife with a smile. "You have so much room to improve. You've never taken first place in either theory or practical combat."
That one landed.
Always being second in practical combat was Anko's eternal wound. Shisui was an immovable mountain that blocked her path to first place.
Bang. Bang.
Anko used the Body Flicker Technique with all her strength, appearing beside them in a blur, then drove her fists into them.
Kotetsu and Izumo tried to dodge, but their speed was nothing compared to Anko's. In the end, neither escaped her devilish punches.
After venting, Anko immediately felt better. A smile returned to her face.
"Anko, you're a girl. How can you just go around punching people?" Kotetsu advised, rubbing his head. "Besides, we were only telling the truth."
Teasing Anko was fun, but getting punched once was not worth it. At the very least, he should have been allowed to say a few more words to make it worthwhile.
Knowing she could not win with words, Anko swung her small fists twice more.
Kotetsu and Izumo swallowed the rest of what they were about to say on the spot.
"The weather today is really nice," Kotetsu said quickly.
"Indeed," Izumo agreed at once. "To have sun like this in December."
The two activated their emergency weather deck and forcibly changed the topic.
"I wonder if this holiday special training will be taught by Teacher Mugetsu or someone else," Kotetsu said, suddenly remembering the selection. "If it's not Teacher Mugetsu, I'm refusing."
"Me too," Anko said without hesitation. "If Teacher Mugetsu isn't teaching, I'd rather play the whole holiday. At least I'd actually have fun."
A month of training would improve her, sure, but she did not think that small improvement was worth sacrificing a holiday.
"I think the chances are low," Izumo said, staying pessimistic.
"Why?" Anko asked, puzzled. "Teacher Mugetsu hasn't said anything, so how do you know?"
"Because the second semester holiday special training overlaps with the graduates' internships," Izumo explained. "Starting last year, the Ninja Academy began selecting a group of excellent graduates for internships, so they can familiarize themselves with ninja work early. Last year, Teacher Mugetsu was busy with interns, so he didn't have time to lead the holiday special training."
The holiday special training existed to strengthen graduates, and the interns were the most outstanding among them. If Izumo were running the Academy, he would also assign Mugetsu to the strongest students.
"Then why don't we apply to Teacher Mugetsu and become intern ninja too?" Kotetsu said, eyes lighting up.
"We've beaten fourth year students before. If they can intern, there's no reason we can't."
In his mind, it was perfectly logical. Ninja speak with strength. If you are strong enough, you can apply for early graduation even without finishing your first year.
"Everyone, open your books and prepare for class," Mugetsu said as he walked in.
The three immediately sat up straight, pulled out their textbooks, then exchanged a quick look.
After school. Together.
Time moved fast when you listened properly. Before they knew it, the dismissal bell rang.
"See you this afternoon, everyone," Mugetsu's shadow clone said with a warm smile. He waved, then walked out.
Originally, Hiruzen's side had planned to assign a substitute teacher for Mugetsu, but Mugetsu refused and used a shadow clone instead.
Even without the teaching skill buff, the clone still carried Mugetsu's knowledge and teaching ability, which ordinary instructors simply could not match.
"Teacher Mugetsu, wait a moment," Anko called as she and the other two rushed outside.
"Teacher Mugetsu, we want to become intern ninja too," Anko said directly, wasting no words. She looked at him with bright expectation.
"Participate in an internship…" Mugetsu paused, thoughtful.
Their talent was strong. With his teaching, their strength had already surpassed most fourth year students. Anko especially. With her level, she could enter the fourth year grade practical exam and still place well.
"I'll add you to the list," Mugetsu said. "The final results will be announced at the end of the semester."
"Yes!" Anko cheered, raising both hands. "Teacher Mugetsu is the best!"
Kotetsu and Izumo were just as thrilled. "Interning as second year students," Kotetsu said, grinning. "We're practically making history."
It was not an exaggeration. The intern ninja program had only been proposed by Mugetsu last year.
…
On a secluded training ground, Root and ANBU stood straight as spears, eyes forward, bodies tight with readiness.
Today was the final day of training, which meant it was test day.
If it were a normal test, they would still take it seriously, but they would not look like they were about to march into a battlefield.
The reason for their posture was simple.
Hiruzen and Danzo were both observing nearby.
With the village's highest leaders present, no one wanted to perform poorly.
"Sarutobi Shinji versus Shimon Kadoe," Mugetsu said after glancing at the list, announcing the first match.
The best way to display a ninja's strength was combat. Considering they were all elite, Mugetsu did not restrict them to a ring.
Sarutobi Shinji stepped out immediately. Shimon Kadoe followed at once.
They formed the confrontation seal, then stared at each other in silence, waiting.
"Begin!" Mugetsu shouted after confirming they were ready.
The moment his voice fell, both of them exploded into motion, chakra surging as they charged.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
To seize the initiative, both used Shunpo's multiple burst acceleration, stacking bursts to spike their speed.
"They're fortunate to have a training instructor like you, Mugetsu," Hiruzen said with a faint smile, stroking his beard. "Shunpo really is an excellent Body Flicker Technique."
As Hokage, Hiruzen could not know the exact level of every ANBU, but Sarutobi Shinji was both an ANBU and a Sarutobi clan jonin. Hiruzen understood him better than most.
He could clearly feel how much Shinji's Body Flicker had improved compared to before.
"The ninja trained by my Root are naturally excellent," Danzo cut in abruptly, forcing Root's contribution into the moment.
"Danzo," Hiruzen said evenly, expression unchanged, "have you forgotten? There has never been a ninja named Hayate Mugetsu in Root."
It was a warning.
Hiruzen was reminding Danzo not to target Mugetsu again. Mugetsu had been trained by Danzo in violation of regulations. Hiruzen had erased those records and denied Mugetsu's status as a Root member.
Hiruzen glanced toward Mugetsu and saw Mugetsu's conflicted look, faintly self reproachful.
If only I had discovered Mugetsu earlier, Hiruzen sighed inwardly.
With the personality Mugetsu displayed, it was impossible for him to have spent so long in Root without forming feelings for it.
Hiruzen was not belittling Danzo. He simply believed Danzo was not suitable for Mugetsu. Danzo would lead him down the wrong path.
"Hmph," Danzo snorted and said nothing more. He did not have the moral high ground here.
Besides, Danzo was not truly trying to drag Mugetsu back into Root. Mugetsu was doing well outside. He could still take missions for Danzo, and he could also draw resources from Hiruzen's side to grow stronger.
Danzo's words were meant to send a message to Hiruzen.
Let Root expand. It is the correct path.
Seeing the two no longer at each other's throats, Mugetsu looked relieved and refocused on the match.
At that moment, he could only think, life really is a stage, and everything depends on acting.
In Hiruzen's eyes, he had to be a genius ninja who inherited the Will of Fire.
In Danzo's heart, he had to be a fiercely loyal Root ninja.
Bang.
In the end, Sarutobi Shinji, with stronger chakra and better Shunpo mastery, seized the advantage. One punch drove Shimon Kadoe back several meters.
Shinji did not let up. He pressed forward, trying to widen the gap.
"Darkness Breathing Technique, Total Concentration Breathing!"
As the disadvantage grew, Shimon Kadoe pushed his breathing to the limit. Chakra surged from his body.
With entry level Darkness Breathing boosting him, Shimon's physical abilities rose sharply, and he managed to halt Shinji's momentum.
"Darkness Breathing Technique, Total Concentration Breathing!"
Shinji activated it too, refusing to fall behind.
The fight returned to its earlier rhythm. But with his overall strength still superior, Shinji brought Shimon down in four minutes.
"Is Shinji particularly suited to Darkness Breathing?" Hiruzen watched the entire fight and fell into thought.
Shinji did not feel like someone who had only trained two and a half months. That level of improvement usually took years.
Hiruzen formed two guesses.
Either Shinji was exceptionally compatible with Darkness Breathing, or Darkness Breathing itself was far stronger than Hiruzen had initially believed.
"Such a big improvement in less than three months…" Danzo also felt surprised.
Shimon Kadoe was his subordinate, a newer member who had only recently joined Root. Danzo knew exactly how strong Shimon had been before the training.
Shimon lasted four minutes today.
In Danzo's judgment, the old Shimon lasting two and a half minutes would already have been considered respectable.
Is it Shunpo and Darkness Breathing?
Danzo's mind turned cold and efficient.
Once the results were confirmed, Root would learn both techniques.
"Hiten Shinzō versus Sanrun Ryotai," Mugetsu announced quickly, calling the next match.
Hiruzen and Danzo both focused, eyes landing on the two about to fight.
To them, battles at this level were like watching children scuffle, but the data mattered. They wanted to know whether the improvement they had just seen was a special case, or a common result.
Feeling the gaze of both leaders, Hiten Shinzō and Sanrun Ryotai exchanged a glance, pressure settling on them like weight.
They had trained together for two and a half months. They knew each other's strengths.
Even Sanrun , who knew he was weaker than Hiten, hardened his resolve. If he could not win, then he would at least lose cleanly.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Bang. Boom.
Their figures flickered through the dense forest, and the power reinforced by Breathing Techniques toppled one thick tree after another.
Only when Sanrun ran completely out of strength did he finally collapse, unwilling but unable to continue.
Hiruzen and Danzo watched in silence.
Three matches, four matches, five matches.
After the first round of fights, both of them were genuinely shocked.
Because the improvement was not isolated.
Every ninja in the training had made major progress. Those with greater talent, like Hiten Shinzō and Sarutobi Shinji, simply improved even more.
"Even though it is only rated A rank in difficulty, the actual effect of this Darkness Breathing Technique is not comparable to ordinary A rank taijutsu," Hiruzen realized.
He had underestimated it.
Such a sweeping improvement came not only from Mugetsu's teaching ability, but also from how exceptional Shunpo and Darkness Breathing were.
"All Root members must learn these two taijutsu," Danzo decided instantly, regret prickling his thoughts.
If he had not sent Mugetsu to the Ninja Academy, even if Mugetsu trained only Root, Root's strength would have skyrocketed.
From Danzo's perspective, this level of improvement was not unimaginable. Hiruzen had improved even faster in his youth.
But that was one person.
A group improving like this was a different kind of frightening.
"Mugetsu, you've given me a major surprise," Hiruzen said, smiling with benevolent warmth. "To see results like this in less than three months."
"Lord Sandaime, you flatter me," Mugetsu replied humbly. "Everyone trained seriously. This improvement is what they earned."
"You have extraordinary talent in jutsu development," Hiruzen continued. "I have some experience notes from the Second Hokage's jutsu development work. If you are interested, I can have someone deliver them to you."
Mugetsu's eyes lit up at once. He quickly expressed his thanks, joy obvious on his face.
Danzo watched from the side, displeasure pressing behind his calm.
He had already lost the right to recruit Mugetsu openly.
Hiruzen, you are too late, Danzo told himself. No matter how much you try to win Mugetsu over now, it is useless. He will always be a Root ninja.
Hiruzen might gain Mugetsu.
But Mugetsu's heart would remain with Root.
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