Chapter 466 Xiao Gang and Lord Mu Yue

Muzuki secretly went to the Root Base as Danzo Shimura had instructed.

He had to admit that Hiruzen Sarutobi was better at handling people; while both wanted to meet, Hiruzen Sarutobi chose to visit Muzuki’s home after work, whereas Danzo Shimura still acted like a leader, making Muzuki come to the Root Base.

Of course, Danzo Shimura might have considered the issue of influence, not wanting Hiruzen Sarutobi to know that Muzuki still had connections with Root.

Muzuki could understand this point, but it didn’t stop him from thinking Danzo Shimura was ineffective.

“Lord Danzo.” Upon entering the Root Base, Muzuki immediately got into character, respectfully addressing Danzo Shimura; his attitude and expression were impeccable.

Sitting in his office chair, Danzo Shimura nodded with slight satisfaction; from Muzuki’s demeanor, he could tell that Muzuki was still the subordinate loyal to Root and loyal to Konoha.

“You did an excellent job on the East Coast Battlefield; you displayed the spirit our Konoha Ninja should possess,” Danzo Shimura praised.

Danzo Shimura rarely praised people, believing that encouragement made people progress more, but Muzuki’s performance on this mission was truly flawless in Danzo Shimura’s eyes.

Most importantly, Muzuki allowed Danzo Shimura to humiliate Hiruzen Sarutobi at the high-level meeting, which was the main reason Danzo Shimura praised Muzuki.

Since the war began, Danzo Shimura had often been annoyed by Hiruzen Sarutobi, and this time he finally got his revenge, letting Hiruzen Sarutobi know about his Danzo Shimura’s foresight.

“This is what I, as a Root Ninja and a Konoha Ninja, should do; I will never show mercy to enemies who dare to wage war against Konoha,” Muzuki replied in a deep voice.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi were standing opposite him, Muzuki would be more modest, downplaying his own achievements and emphasizing the group and the supreme commander, but since Danzo Shimura was in front of him, Muzuki had to respond more hawkishly; this was the so-called adapting to the audience.

“Exactly, you cannot be soft on enemies; if it weren’t for the need to oversee the overall situation, I would personally go to the battlefield and teach those Hidden Mist a lesson!” Danzo Shimura was very satisfied with Muzuki’s reply, and his gaze towards Muzuki grew more appreciative.

If he weren’t still in his prime, he might have trained Muzuki as his successor.

Danzo Shimura believed that cultivating a successor before weakening could lead to problems; his body was fine, so why would he need a successor? It would just be giving away power for no reason.

Then Danzo Shimura gave a glance to the Root Ninja beside him, who quickly brought several scrolls and placed them on Danzo Shimura’s desk.

“I heard you are very interested in Sealing Technique; these scrolls contain a large amount of Uzumaki Clan’s Sealing Technique knowledge and advanced Sealing Technique, which is one of the rewards for your mission,” Danzo Shimura introduced.

Although freeloading off Hiruzen Sarutobi’s training was enjoyable, Danzo Shimura was worried that Muzuki might be subtly influenced by Hiruzen Sarutobi to his side, so he decided to give Muzuki a big reward.

After all, Muzuki was no longer an ordinary Root member; he was a strong individual who could be effective on the battlefield, and even if Muzuki were to leave Root now, Danzo Shimura would have little recourse against him.

However, Danzo Shimura felt that such a thing was impossible; if Muzuki were to inexplicably cut ties with him, it would certainly mean he had developed some ambition, and for Konoha’s safety, Danzo Shimura would thoroughly investigate Muzuki.

“Thank you, Lord Danzo.” Muzuki showed a grateful expression.

What Muzuki learned from Kushina was the most orthodox Vortex Sealing Technique, so what Danzo Shimura was giving him now was a bit late.

However, Danzo Shimura himself had indeed cultivated many Sealing Technique, and the several scrolls should still contain some content Muzuki hadn’t encountered.

“Earlier, I saw your Wind Release demonstration at Hiruzen’s place; while it was decent, it’s still some distance from a true Wind Release master. These are some of my Wind Release cultivation experiences, and they are also a reward for your mission.”

Following that, Danzo Shimura took out another blue scroll and placed it on the table.

Hearing that it was Danzo Shimura’s own Wind Release cultivation experience, Muzuki showed a surprised expression, followed by visible excitement and gratitude.

“I’ve watched you grow up since you were little; when you first joined Root, I knew you were a Ninja useful to Konoha.” Then Danzo Shimura also spoke of Muzuki’s time when he first joined Root.

Muzuki showed a nostalgic expression, but in reality, his heart was unmoved.

Danzo Shimura was quite easy to understand; giving rewards and talking about the past was simply because Muzuki’s strength was growing and his standing in Konoha was rising, so he wanted to solidify his great image in Muzuki’s mind.

After all, Muzuki was completely different from ordinary Root members now; not only in terms of strength, but Muzuki and Danzo Shimura rarely saw each other more than a few times a year, making it difficult for Danzo Shimura to even attempt to manipulate Muzuki.

“Strength is very important, but planning and strategy are equally important, Muzuki; when you encounter problems, you must not forget Root, and do not forget me.” Danzo Shimura belittled Muzuki’s strategy, indicating that he should rely more on Root.

What else could Muzuki say but to agree, agree, agree?

After playing a scene with Danzo Shimura, Muzuki returned home, took a bath, and then began to read the Sealing Technique scrolls Danzo Shimura had given him.

For Muzuki, Danzo Shimura and Root were actually more of an asset now.

He only needed to occasionally play along with Danzo Shimura to leverage Root’s power through Danzo Shimura, while also obtaining some resources.

If Danzo Shimura were to go crazy and try to harm Muzuki, Muzuki wouldn’t mind turning against him directly; he was no longer the Chunin teacher who had just entered the Ninja Academy back then. Now, Muzuki was one of Konoha’s strongest Ninja of the new era, Raging Sun Mu Yue, a name as famous as Yellow Flash.

…

The next day.

Since he had agreed with Hiruzen Sarutobi to guide Asuma’s training today, Muzuki only sent a Shadow Clone to the South Border Forest, while his main body went to the agreed location to meet Asuma.

Asuma arrived very early; Muzuki had set out ten minutes early, but when he arrived, he found that Asuma was already at the Training Ground.

“Teacher Muzuki, good morning.” Asuma waved and greeted Muzuki upon seeing him, then jogged over to Muzuki’s side.

“Hmm, good morning.” Muzuki responded with a smile, giving Asuma an appraisal.

【Name: Asuma Sarutobi】

【Chakra: 4800】

【Skills: Wind Release Chakra Nature Transformation (Proficient: 2200/3000), Fire Release Chakra Nature Transformation (Proficient: 1700/3000), Wind Breathing (Beginner: 497/500)…】

By Chunin standards, Asuma’s stats looked quite good, but due to various circumstances, Asuma had fallen quite a bit behind Kakashi and the others.

“Teacher Muzuki, I knew you would become famous in the Ninja World one day; sure enough, as soon as you had a stage to show yourself, you instantly became famous,” Asuma said with a proud look.

From a long time ago, when Muzuki was still tutoring him, Asuma had felt that Muzuki would become a powerful figure renowned throughout the Ninja World.

Asuma didn’t know how to describe it; he just felt that Muzuki was his ideal perfect Ninja.

Humble, gentle, good at teaching, powerful, exceptionally talented… Muzuki seemed to be full of virtues from head to toe.

“If you ask me, Teacher Muzuki, you should be the Hokage; you would definitely surpass all previous Hokage and become the greatest Hokage in Konoha’s history,” Asuma said, making a bold statement.

Muzuki chuckled, Asuma was still the same, speaking words that could make his old father’s blood pressure skyrocket.

“You can say that freely in front of me, but don’t say it in front of Lord Sandaime,” Muzuki reminded him.

“But I’m just stating facts, the old man has so many bad habits; if he were smart, he’d retire early and let someone more capable take over,” Asuma said, pouting as he thought of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

“Alright, let’s not talk about anything else for now; today is mainly for training,” Muzuki began to talk about the main topic of the day.

Asuma nodded and said nothing more.

“Shadow Clone Technique!”

Muzuki formed a hand seal and created a Shadow Clone.

“Next, you will fight my Shadow Clone with all your might; I want to see your current specific strength,” Muzuki said.

Appraisal combined with actual combat could yield the most perfect conclusions, and then an appropriate training plan could be made.

Asuma held nothing back, utilizing all his abilities to the fullest in his fight against Muzuki’s Shadow Clone.

He knew Muzuki’s strength was immense, and even Muzuki’s Shadow Clone would be difficult for him to harm.

After the battle, Muzuki let Asuma rest for a while, while Muzuki used that time to create Asuma’s upcoming training plan.

“The current training focus is Wind Breathing; master the ‘Constant State’ of Wind Breathing, and then refine your Wind Release Chakra Nature Transformation…” After writing, Muzuki gave the plan to Asuma and explained.

Muzuki believed that in the early stages, a Ninja should specialize in one Nature Transformation, first mastering one type of Nature Transformation to the proficient level.

Of course, super geniuses were an exception; as long as their talent was sufficient, they could advance simultaneously.

Besides Asuma, Muzuki also arranged special training for Rin Nohara.

Although Rin Nohara did not directly get promoted to Jonin like Obito, she did receive a promotion opportunity; she could be promoted to official Jonin if she passed the assessment.

Unlike Might Guy and Obito, Rin Nohara’s theoretical knowledge was actually quite good, but her practical combat ability was somewhat lacking.

To ensure Rin Nohara’s combat skills and Medical Ninjutsu improved simultaneously, Muzuki specifically invited Lady Tsunade to serve as a consultant for the special training plan, assisting Muzuki in Rin Nohara’s Jonin promotion special training.

“Three months of dinner plus twenty Ninja Killer character cards; I won’t do it for anything less,” Lady Tsunade said firmly.

Lady Tsunade hadn’t eaten Muzuki’s cooking for a long time because Muzuki was on the battlefield, and the Ninja Killer cards hadn’t been updated for a long time either.

“Firstly, I might not be able to stay in Konoha for three full months, and secondly, twenty character cards are far too many; there aren’t even twenty Ninja Killer character cards combined right now,” Muzuki argued, bargaining logically.

Although for him, creating a character card was just recalling memories from his past life, he couldn’t make it seem too easy; the easier something was to obtain, the less it would be cherished, so he had to keep her wanting more.

“You make a good point then, let’s change the character cards to ten,” Lady Tsunade thought for a moment and replied.

After all, this required thought, conceiving skills based on the character’s life story, and also considering balance, which was quite complex; doing too many at once would be mentally exhausting and prone to shoddy work.

“But the dinners cannot be reduced; if you leave for a mission before three months are up, then you’ll make up for it when you return,” Lady Tsunade added.

She hadn’t eaten it for too long, and Lady Tsunade wanted to enjoy it thoroughly, continuously every day.

“Lady Tsunade, your demands have changed too much all of a sudden; it used to only be a few meals,” Shizune couldn’t help but complain.

Shizune also missed Muzuki’s cooking very much, but Shizune didn’t really want to trouble Muzuki specifically; after all, Muzuki already gave her the feeling of being similar to the young Sannin.

Troubling a strong individual of that caliber just for food seemed like making a mountain out of a molehill.

“Because before, this kid Muzuki was sensible and would come over to cook himself, and now I haven’t eaten it in a long time,” Lady Tsunade said self-righteously, as if this was Muzuki’s fault to bear.

“Five character cards, dinner frequency unchanged,” Muzuki cut the number of character cards drastically again.

Muzuki knew Lady Tsunade’s core goal; as long as the dinner frequency remained unchanged, everything was negotiable.

“No!” Lady Tsunade crossed her arms, looking very firm.

“Then I won’t bother Lady Tsunade any longer.” Muzuki turned, seemingly about to leave.

Lady Tsunade panicked, unleashing Chakra in a Body Flicker Technique to reach Muzuki’s side and grab his arm.

“Why are you so stingy, kid? Seven is fine, right?” Lady Tsunade stood with one hand on her hip, looking somewhat displeased.

Muzuki smiled faintly and didn’t reply, continuing to walk forward. Only then did Lady Tsunade realize that Muzuki was quite strong; she couldn’t hold him back with one hand.

“Fine, I give up, five it is. But tonight’s dinner must be lavish; roasted chicken, beggar’s chicken, all of it must be there.”

Lady Tsunade had no choice but to agree to Muzuki’s proposal, but to compensate herself, she made a small request.

“Then I’ll trouble Lady Tsunade from now on,” Muzuki stopped, turned, and said with a faint smile.

Lady Tsunade waved her hand, “No, don’t call me Lady Tsunade. You are Lord Mu Yue. From now on, just call me Tsunade-chan.”

Lady Tsunade finally understood Muzuki; he called her Lady Tsunade respectfully, but in reality, it was completely different.

Lady Tsunade carefully recalled her memories since meeting Muzuki and realized that she had truly been manipulated by Muzuki.

Not only had she taught Muzuki a lot of Medical Ninjutsu knowledge, but she had also helped Muzuki take in a disciple; she truly taught Rin Nohara as her own disciple.

Then Lady Tsunade was also helping Muzuki perfect the Yang Seal, having to set aside time every day for research, even though she was supposed to be happily slacking off.

Thinking this, Lady Tsunade felt that three months of dinner was too little; Muzuki should at least cover her breakfast, lunch, and dinner for five years.

“Lady Tsunade, what are you talking about? You have always been the Medical Ninja I admire the most.” Muzuki created a Shadow Clone to buy groceries and then said.

Muzuki wasn’t lying; in terms of Medical Ninja, he genuinely admired Lady Tsunade the most, because there weren’t many Medical Ninja with famous names in Hokage to begin with.

And Lady Tsunade was just teasing; if Muzuki really called Lady Tsunade “Tsunade-chan,” then in the next instant, Lady Tsunade’s fist would probably accidentally connect with him.

PS: I’ve been staying up late writing recently and my neck is a bit uncomfortable. I’ll rest early today to see if it gets better. If it does, I’ll write more tomorrow.