Chapter 696: Breathing Stream Sage Art (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

After the Enlightenment skill refreshed, Muzuki went to Mount Myōboku to learn Sage Art.

Fukasaku was both happy and pained by Muzuki’s arrival.

He was happy because there would be another delicious feast to eat, but pained because Muzuki’s way of learning Sage Art was unique; he loved to hear all sorts of principles and theories.

Explaining for a while was fine, but explaining for an entire day was truly exhausting, a mental exhaustion that was more tiring than physical fatigue.

The crucial thing was that Muzuki learned quickly; some content he understood with just a hint, and the material Fukasaku had prepared didn’t even last a day.

“Thank you very much,” Muzuki thanked Fukasaku as he left.

The more tired Fukasaku was, the greater Muzuki’s improvement.

In these two days, his Sage Mode proficiency increased by five hundred points. At this rate, he should be able to raise Sage Mode to the master level in about two months.

“It’s no trouble, come again when you’re free,” Fukasaku said with a smile, bidding him farewell.

Although teaching was tiring, seeing Muzuki’s understanding of Sage Mode deepen gradually gave Fukasaku a considerable sense of accomplishment.

“Such astonishing learning ability. If he continues like this, I’m afraid his understanding of Sage Art will catch up to mine in a few years,” Fukasaku sighed in his heart.

He had to admit that humans’ learning ability was much stronger than that of them, the toads. He had cultivated Sage Art for several hundred years, and Muzuki might learn it all in a few years.

Returning to Konoha via the Reverse Summoning Jutsu, Muzuki went back to his study at home to write down and organize what he had gained that day.

Although his memory was excellent now, Muzuki still had the habit of writing down physical notes, finding it convenient for development.

After finishing his notes, Muzuki turned to a fresh page and wrote the bold characters “Breathing Stream Sage Art” on the blank page.

As Muzuki’s understanding of Sage Mode deepened, he increasingly felt that the Mount Myōboku Sage Mode he currently mastered was not quite suitable for teaching his disciples.

Firstly, there was the perennial issue of duration. Even if Mount Myōboku recognized his disciples, only Fukasaku and Shima could perform the Two Great Sages’ technique.

If the disciples all wanted to use Sage Mode in a large-scale battle, at most only two people could enjoy the ‘power bank.’

Naruto’s Shadow Clone refill method was more troublesome and prone to accidents.

Another very important point was that the learning threshold for Sage Mode was very high. Apart from Nagato, who was an outlier, even Obito, who had the most Chakra, was still a considerable distance from the minimum requirements of Sage Mode.

If even Obito was like this, let alone others. Kakashi, even if he trained for another ten years, would not meet the Chakra requirements.

Excluding the Chakra within the Yang Seal, Kakashi’s current Chakra reserves among Muzuki’s disciples were only higher than Rin Nohara’s.

With a high threshold, troublesome learning, dangers during cultivation, and no guarantee of significant effect in battle, Muzuki couldn’t ignore so many drawbacks and quietly wait for his disciples to meet the requirements to teach them Mount Myōboku Sage Art.

“I must first solve the problem of sensing and absorbing natural energy,” Muzuki wrote down the first difficulty to be resolved.

Besides the various shortcomings of Mount Myōboku Sage Art, an unexpected discovery regarding the Breathing Technique during Sage Art training was also why Muzuki proceeded with Sage Art development so quickly.

Even without any modifications to the current Breathing Technique, as long as the Breathing Technique user gained the ability to sense natural energy, the Breathing Technique would improve.

For Muzuki’s disciples, who were proficient in the Breathing Technique, this was undoubtedly great news, akin to enjoying the benefits of a version update.

“I need to develop a method for sensing natural energy that belongs to the Breathing Stream Sage Art.”

The secret technique Mount Myōboku used to sense and absorb natural energy was only applicable to Mount Myōboku Sage Mode, and without sufficient Chakra, using this secret technique would 100% lead to being corroded by natural energy and turning into a stone toad… That night, after dinner, Kakashi sat on the veranda outside his house, carefully examining the gleaming, cold-edged long sword in his hand.

After Muzuki defeated Uchiha Madara, Kakashi collected the shattered White Fang Short Blade and, along with the unbroken part of the White Fang Short Blade, handed it to a renowned Ninja tool blacksmith.

He spent a fortune to have the blacksmith incorporate Chakra metal and other precious metals to reforge the damaged White Fang Short Blade into a long sword.

There was no practical meaning in forging another short blade; a long sword or katana was more suitable for him now.

Kakashi sheathed the new White Fang and walked towards the wooden dummy in the small courtyard.

Swish!

The moment he approached the wooden dummy, Kakashi drew his sword, a flash of silver-white light, and the wooden dummy split into two.

Kakashi nodded in satisfaction. Although the new White Fang was still not as good as Enma, it was much more comfortable to use than the previous White Fang Short Blade.

He decided that he would use the White Fang for enemies that weren’t too strong and switch to Enma when facing formidable foes.

Enma was strong, but its usage consumed a lot of energy. For example, using Enma against ordinary Jonin was completely unnecessary.

Just as Kakashi was about to return to his room to maintain his new sword, a familiar voice rang out from outside the courtyard.

“Kakashi, are you home?” Obito shouted.

“No.”

“I can see you, and you say you’re not here!”

Obito glared at Kakashi in dissatisfaction, annoyed that he was being so dismissive.

“Since you already saw me, why did you still ask?” Kakashi retorted.

“Isn’t it because I’m polite?” Obito chuckled awkwardly.

If he didn’t need a favor, Obito really didn’t want to come.

He had won first place in the disciple’s internal competition, and this naturally evil, detestable white-haired guy must be secretly jealous of his excellence and wanting to harm him.

Kakashi offered no comment, opened the door to let Obito in, and asked, “If you need help with something, just say it quickly.”

Obito coming to see him alone at this time surely meant he needed help with something, not to play.

Usually, only when Obito and Rin Nohara came together was it possible they were inviting him to play.

“How can you be so sure I’m here for help? I’m the strongest Ninja among the disciples!” Seeing Kakashi’s attitude, Obito couldn’t help but emphasize his status.

Perhaps Kakashi had been strong for a long time in the past, but sorry, the past was the past and now was now, and the reality was that he was stronger now.

“Then there’s nothing, I suppose. I’ll continue my training; make yourself at home.”

Kakashi said indifferently, his expression unchanged by Obito’s words.

“Alright, you guessed right, I do need your help with something.”

Helpless, Obito quickly grabbed Kakashi.

No choice. Although he, Uchiha Obito, was Muzuki’s strongest disciple, even the strongest disciple couldn’t teach others Ninjutsu he didn’t know.

He was still a long way from becoming Obito Sage.

“Speak, what is it? But I’ll tell you in advance, I might not agree,” Kakashi warned.

Given Obito’s somewhat unusual way of thinking, he might ask him to do something strange.

“Nothing much, I just hope you can give some pointers to my squad member on Lightning Release,” Obito said.

The reward he promised was to teach each person a corresponding elemental Ninjutsu, but among the three, only Anko was Fire Release, Kotetsu Hagane was Lightning Release, and Izumo Kamizuki was Water Release.

The strongest Lightning Release Ninja Obito knew was Muzuki, but Muzuki was now the Hokage, so he couldn’t possibly ask Muzuki to teach Kotetsu Hagane.

Aside from Muzuki, Kakashi was the strongest Lightning Release Ninja Obito knew.

Although finding other Jonin would be enough to teach Kotetsu Hagane, Obito felt that if he was going to give, he should give the best, even if it meant losing a bit of face with Kakashi.

“Oh.”

Kakashi responded, but didn’t give a definite answer.

“Kakashi, are you agreeing or not? Give me a clear answer.”

Obito scratched his head, feeling he had sacrificed too much for his teammates.

“What’s in it for me if I agree? They’re your teammates, not mine. Why shouldn’t I use that time to train my own Lightning Release more?” Kakashi asked.

“Uh…”

Obito fell into deep thought. Kakashi asking for benefits wasn’t an excessive request; it was a Ninja truth that one should pay for work.

However, he truly hadn’t considered what benefits to give Kakashi.

“How about I teach you a Fire Release too, or you can let me teach someone else,” Obito said weakly.

Thinking about it carefully, he really didn’t have anything to give Kakashi. Kakashi wasn’t short on money, so that certainly wouldn’t move him.

Kakashi, holding the White Fang, turned to leave.

“Kakashi, stop right there! Don’t make me beg you!” Obito shouted.

Begging was one thing, but he couldn’t lose his status as the strongest disciple.

Kakashi turned back, speechless. From that tone, one might think Obito was about to fight him.

“One hundred thousand ryo. If you’re willing to pay, tell me the time,” Kakashi said.

Actually, Kakashi wasn’t averse to teaching. There’s a saying, ‘teaching and learning complement each other’; teaching others can also lead to one’s own improvement.

The main reason was that Obito was too arrogant. If he agreed immediately, it would be giving Obito too much face.

Obito was dumbfounded. So, Kakashi could be swayed by money! If he had known it was this simple, he would have just said, ‘I want to buy your time’ as soon as he walked in.

“It’s a deal! Tomorrow morning at Training Ground Two,” Obito quickly agreed, worried Kakashi might change his mind.

Kakashi nodded calmly.

Obito breathed a sigh of relief, waved his hand, said goodbye to Kakashi, and quickly ran towards Rin Nohara’s house.

He didn’t know many Water Release Ninjas. While Rin Nohara’s Water Release level wasn’t as good as Kakashi’s Lightning Release, there truly wasn’t a better option.

Unlike when he was at Kakashi’s house, just thinking of Rin Nohara’s adorable little face made Obito, who was on his way, unable to help but smile.

He had deliberately arranged his schedule this way: find Kakashi first, then Rin Nohara—bitter first, then sweet.

Moreover, it could somewhat prevent Rin Nohara from finding out Kakashi was also on the teaching shortlist and going to see Kakashi with him.

Obito didn’t want Rin Nohara to see him begging Kakashi.

When Obito arrived near Rin Nohara’s house, Rin Nohara was taking an after-dinner stroll with her parents.

Seeing the warm scene of Rin Nohara and her family of three, Obito involuntarily stopped in his tracks.

As an orphan, this was an experience Obito had never had.

“Obito, good evening!” Rin Nohara spotted Obito and greeted him with a smile.

Obito’s mind was still lingering on that warm scene, and he just nodded blankly in response.

Rin Nohara jogged to Obito’s front, looked directly into his eyes with her two big eyes, and asked, “Obito, why are you spacing out?”

Snapping back to reality, Obito subconsciously looked closely, finding Rin Nohara’s eyes so clear and pure, making his heart flutter.

“Ah, haha,” Obito took a step back and let out an awkward laugh.

He didn’t know how to answer, so he could only cover it up with laughter.

“That hateful Kakashi, if he could also use Water Release, this wouldn’t be necessary,” Obito fiercely condemned Kakashi in his heart.

“Rin, we’ll head back now,” Rin Nohara’s parents said.

“Okay.”

Rin Nohara turned and waved goodbye. She sensed Obito had something to talk about.

“Auntie and Uncle, goodbye,” Obito also quickly said goodbye.

He was a polite, well-behaved Ninja.

“Obito, are you looking for me for something?” Rin Nohara turned to Obito and asked with a smile.

“Yes, Rin, you’re so smart,” Obito said, scratching his head a bit shyly, secretly delighted and feeling that Rin Nohara understood him very well, just as he understood Rin Nohara.

“I recently became a captain, and one of my team members has a Water Release affinity, so I’d like to ask you to teach him Water Release,” Obito briefly explained.

“I won’t let you come for nothing, Rin; I’ll give you one hundred thousand ryo as a hardship fee,” Obito added.

Since he gave it to Kakashi, he certainly couldn’t give less to Rin Nohara.

“So, in Obito’s eyes, I’m that kind of mercenary person,” Rin Nohara said, lowering her head slightly, seemingly a little sad.

Obito was dumbfounded. Was giving money wrong now?

“That hateful Kakashi!” Obito once again vehemently denounced Kakashi in his heart.

Although Kakashi’s request for a commission was reasonable, Kakashi indirectly affected his relationship with Rin Nohara, which was an unforgivable crime.

“It’s not what you think, Rin. I just felt I couldn’t let you work for nothing,” Obito explained, looking nervous.

The next moment, Rin Nohara’s expression made him freeze again.

Rin Nohara let out a giggle, a sly smile gently curving her lips, beautiful like cherry blossoms just opening in spring.

“Obito, you’re too easy to trick! I know you’re not that kind of person,” Rin Nohara said, covering her mouth with a light laugh.

Teasing Obito once in a while was very fun; Muzuki and Kakashi both enjoyed doing it.

“I’ll agree whether there’s a reward or not, after all, it’s your request, Obito.”

Obito had helped Rin Nohara a lot. During missions, Obito often protected Rin Nohara from behind, and Rin Nohara remembered all of this.

“Uh… Uh, then it’s settled. To… tomorrow morning at Training Ground Two.”

“Rin… Rin, I have an urgent matter, so I’ll be leaving now. See you tomorrow.”

After stammering out his words, Obito, with a slightly flushed face, fled like a scared rabbit towards the Uchiha Clan Compound.

After running several kilometers, Obito’s rapidly beating heart gradually returned to normal, and he slowly calmed down.

“Rin is still the best,” Obito inwardly gave Rin Nohara a thumbs-up and Kakashi a thumbs-down.

Walking home, Obito thought a lot.

He wondered if Rin Nohara’s kindness towards him was what he imagined, or something different.

Obito didn’t dare to ask Rin Nohara for confirmation; if it wasn’t the answer in his heart, he would be very upset.

PS: First update, this chapter is 4k. Requesting monthly tickets. The time for the second update is undecided; I recommend checking tomorrow.