Chapter 151: Unexpected Joy

"Obito, what did you do when you went back yesterday?" Mu Yue asked, looking at the Flame Breathing that had already been learned on Obito's panel.

"Nothing much, just went to hang out with Rin," Obito replied.

"Just you and Rin?" Mu Yue felt Obito might be holding something back.

"There was also this annoying guy," Obito answered honestly, but since he figured Mu Yue didn't know Kakashi either, he didn't bother saying Kakashi's name.

With Obito saying that, Mu Yue knew exactly who it was—one hundred percent Kakashi.

Mu Yue silently gave Kakashi a thumbs-up in his mind. Not only could he help trigger a training mission, but he also spurred Obito's growth. As expected of Obito's future teammate; he was already making an impact before they even became teammates.

"No need for any other practice today. Just get more familiar with the Flame Breathing you've now mastered. You've completed the beginner stage of Breathing training," Mu Yue said with a smile.

"Huh, I learned it?" Obito scratched his head. Having been so absorbed yesterday in battling wits with Kakashi, he hadn't even realized he'd fully mastered the Breathing technique.

"Yes, you've learned it. You're the first one to master Breathing," Mu Yue praised.

"Haha, really? Then Shisui and the others should be learning it soon too, right?" Obito's face lit up with a bright smile.

"The first..." Shisui, who was still training in Breathing, felt a twinge of reluctance. Though he had been working hard, he was still one step behind Obito.

Mu Yue used Appraisal on Shisui and saw his proficiency had reached ninety points—just a little more to go.

The progress of his disciples in mastering Breathing was much faster than he had expected. Even though Shisui was slightly slower than Obito, Mu Yue felt Shisui could finish training before the semester ended.

As for Might Guy, Mu Yue couldn't say for sure, because Guy only had seventy points of proficiency right now.

But Obito and the others had also started to improve rapidly only after beginning combat training. If Might Guy also made rapid progress in combat training, he might catch up to Shisui and Obito's pace.

"Next, Shisui, you'll do sparring training with Guy," Mu Yue said after some thought.

Might Guy had recently completed all his basic training. Mu Yue had previously assigned Obito as Guy's sparring partner, thinking their strength was similar and they could hone each other.

But now Mu Yue felt that to make quick progress in Breathing, one needed to fight stronger enemies and endure more pressure.

"Huh, then what about me?" Obito pointed at himself, asking. He was hoping to show off his newly learned Flame Breathing against Guy and experience that feeling of an undefeated record like Shisui's.

"Go practice getting familiar with Flame Breathing," Mu Yue said, tapping Obito on the head.

Although Might Guy had only just started training, considering the difference between Flame Breathing and Rock Breathing, Mu Yue directly moved to the third phase. That meant Shisui could use all his abilities except the Sharingan, and Might Guy could go all out.

After all, Guy's Rock Breathing purely provided physical power, and Guy didn't know any ninjutsu. If they kept the same rules as before, it would only restrict Shisui's strength.

"Shisui, I'm counting on you!" Might Guy gave Shisui a thumbs up, brimming with fighting spirit.

Shisui was Mu Yue's youngest disciple, yet the strongest—a true genius in Might Guy's eyes, and Guy loved challenging geniuses the most.

"I look forward to it," Shisui replied with a nod.

"Begin the fight!" Mu Yue announced.

The moment Mu Yue's words fell, Might Guy instantly changed his Breathing rhythm, charging forward and kicking with his best taijutsu move.

"Leaf Hurricane!"

An incredibly fast hurricane kick shot toward Shisui.

Shisui hadn't sparred with Might Guy since the summer special training ended and didn't know Guy's exact strength, so he chose to probe first, also using Leaf Hurricane to kick back.

The immense force sent both of them several steps backward; Shisui took quite a few more steps back.

"So much power," Shisui said, somewhat surprised.

The strength Might Guy had unleashed now was even greater than what Obito could achieve after entering Total Concentration Breathing.

"I can't fight Guy head-on in taijutsu," Shisui thought to himself.

To have such terrifying power without even using Total Concentration Breathing—Shisui could imagine how enormous the boost Rock Breathing gave his body. Exchanging taijutsu with Might Guy would clearly be playing to his weakness, which was unwise.

Boom!

Sensing danger, Shisui used Shave to instantly leave his spot. The next moment, the tree he had been standing near was directly kicked down by Might Guy, snapping and falling.

The intensity of Might Guy's taijutsu didn't panic Shisui. Mere level like this was not enough to make him lose in front of Mu Yue.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" Shisui quickly formed hand signs and spat out a huge fireball toward Might Guy. At the same time, he threw shuriken to predict Guy's evasive paths, and finally used the Body Flicker Technique to move toward an area that hadn't been blocked.

Might Guy hadn't expected Shisui to think of so much while using a single jutsu. When Guy dodged aside, Shisui thrust out his palm, spraying flames toward Might Guy.

"「Rock Breathing, Total Concentration Breathing! 」 With no way to avoid it, Might Guy had no choice but to use Total Concentration Breathing to strengthen his body."

Training in Rock Breathing, which greatly enhances physical abilities, also strengthens body defense.

If Muyue had opened the Marks, Shisui's small flames wouldn't even break through his defense, but Might Guy's breathing technique was still at the beginner stage, so it could only reduce the damage he took. The high temperature of the flames still made Might Guy uncomfortable.

With his physical abilities enhanced again, Might Guy burst out chakra and quickly kicked at Shisui.

Shisui had also considered that Rock Breathing's Total Concentration Breathing would have a strong body-enhancing effect, so he had no intention of pressing the advantage. After swinging his palm down, he directly used the Body Flicker Technique to leave, causing Might Guy's attack to miss again.

""As expected, he's strong." Shisui thought to himself as he looked at the small crater in the ground that Might Guy had kicked."

The following battle made Might Guy feel extremely frustrated; except for the very beginning, he hadn't even touched Shisui once.

""Got you!" Just as Might Guy used all his strength to activate Total Concentration Breathing for the second time and hit Shisui, suddenly his foot passed through Shisui's body."

""An illusion?" Might Guy was stunned."

At that very moment, a flaming kunai flew past Might Guy.

""It's over." Shisui said. He could have thrown it directly at Might Guy while he was under the genjutsu, but since they weren't enemies, there was no need."

""What a youth-filled battle!" Might Guy admitted his defeat and laughed while giving Shisui a thumbs up."

""Now, Shisui has no rivals among his peers. Even Kakashi, who is two years older, wouldn't be a match for Shisui." Muyue judged in his heart."

Even if Kakashi has more chakra, Muyue didn't think Kakashi would be a match for Shisui. Without Shisui using his Sharingan, the two might be evenly matched because Kakashi has more combat experience, but once he uses the Sharingan, Kakashi is definitely no match for Shisui.

Muyue felt that he was slowly raising Shisui into a boss. If it were the original Shisui, he couldn't have such strength at this age.

Having awakened the Sharingan early, his mental abilities surged, and with the breathing technique training his physique, Shisui would become more and more extraordinary.

""You're both doing well. Rest a bit and then continue training." Muyue said with a gentle smile."

While letting his disciples rest, Muyue began to plan how to increase Might Guy's trust level on his birthday.

Today was already December 10th, only twenty-one days until Might Guy's birthday.

Based on observing the students' expressions and actions, Muyue confirmed that when he celebrated Shisui's birthday, the other disciples should have also gained some trust, so now Might Guy's trust level should be quite a bit higher than Shisui's before his birthday.

However, Muyue didn't know the exact degree of this hint. Trust levels cannot be identified, nor can the increase be seen, so Muyue could only infer based on the students' behavior.

To be safe, Muyue strived to do his best, trying to raise Might Guy's mood as high as possible to break through to Trust Level 4 in one go.

However, Might Guy's case was more difficult. Unlike Shisui, who had been an orphan for a long time, Might Guy, despite not having a mother, had his father to take care of him, and had a good relationship with his father, so he didn't lack fatherly love.

Giving ninja tools would be pointless since Might Guy rarely uses them. Moreover, Shisui had just been given some, so giving the same to the second disciple would seem somewhat perfunctory.

In fact, Muyue had been planning a big explosion for a long time, but he really couldn't think of a good method for Might Guy.

""Maybe I can start from Kai's father." Muyue suddenly thought of something, feeling that his previous thinking was too narrow."

To increase a disciple's trust level, maybe you don't have to focus solely on the disciple themselves; you can expand a bit.

There was still more than half a month, so Muyue was in no hurry to finalize the plan.

In the afternoon, because it was Sunday, Muyue went to Asuma's house to tutor.

""Teacher Muyue, how is your Wind Release learning going?" Asuma asked curiously during a break."

""Although I didn't become the Wind Release genius you imagined, it seems not too bad either." Muyue replied with a smile."

""Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" Muyue quickly formed hand signs and performed Wind Release, spitting a gale at a large tree."

"Rustle rustle!!"

Under the gale, although the tree didn't break immediately, it was bent over by the wind, and the leaves rustled constantly.

""It's still far worse than Fire Release and Water Release." Looking at the tree that was only slightly bent, Muyue sighed."

To build his persona, Muyue prepared thoroughly. Not only did he borrow many materials on Wind Release from the library, but he also consulted Minato, acting like a Wind Release beginner.

""That's already strong, Teacher Muyue. You've only been learning for a little over a month." Asuma felt that his own Wind Release might be saved."

""You also need to work hard on training your Fire Release. Don't let me finish learning Wind Release before you've fully mastered the training content." Muyue patted Asuma's head and said with a smile."

""Of course not. I've been feeling that my Fire Release has gotten much stronger lately." Asuma indicated that he wouldn't let Muyue down."

After sending Asuma home, Muyue found Sarutobi Hiruzen smoking in the classroom.

"Third Hokage-sama." Muyue greeted.

"Training is complete, good work." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and said with a smile.

As Muyue was about to leave, Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered something and called him back.

"Muyue, have you decided on the candidates for that internship program?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked. Not long ago, he had finalized Muyue's revised internship program and appointed Muyue as the person in charge.

"Yes, it's done. The groups and supervising instructors have all been confirmed." Muyue nodded. There were only ten days left until the Ninja Academy's break, so of course he couldn't put it off until the last minute.

"The list should include Might Guy and Obito Uchiha, right?" Hiruzen Sarutobi continued.

"Yes, they are the top two of the last fourth-year exam at the Ninja Academy." Muyue replied.

"Then I'll trouble you this time, Muyue. Please revise the list—remove one person or add two more. I have a graduated ninja who needs your guidance. Put him in the same team as Might Guy and Obito Uchiha, and you will act as their supervising instructor." Hiruzen Sarutobi stated his arrangement.

Looking at Muyue, Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered Kakashi, who currently had no team to join.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't want Kakashi to continue wallowing in self-destruction. Obito and Might Guy were among the few people Kakashi still cared about, and Muyue was an excellent teacher with outstanding educational abilities in Hiruzen's opinion.

One month of vacation plus three months of the third semester internship made a total of four months. Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't expect those four months to completely pull Kakashi out of his shadow, but at least he could improve from his current state.

"Isn't it a bit inappropriate for a graduated student to participate in the internship?" Muyue said, listening to Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, and he had a rough guess about who was about to be inserted.

Having the chance to become Kakashi's supervising instructor was an unexpected bonus, but Muyue had to play along first.

"Normally, yes, but this is a last resort." Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and told Muyue about Kakashi's experiences.

From a super genius who graduated early and became a chunin under the spotlight, to now someone who can't even find a supervising instructor.

"So he is the child of White Fang-sama." Muyue showed an expression of surprise and regret, as if worried about Kakashi.

"Third Hokage-sama, rest assured. Leave Kakashi to me. I will definitely work hard to help him emerge from the shadows and reclaim his life." Muyue said seriously.

"White Fang-sama is a ninja I deeply respect. I cannot allow his child to remain trapped in the shadows forever." Muyue continued.

"With your words, Muyue, I feel relieved." Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a chuckle.

That Muyue was also a fan of White Fang was an unexpected bonus.

After returning, Muyue revised the internship plan. Originally, he had planned to put Rin Nohara, Obito, and Might Guy in one team. Since the Third wanted to insert Kakashi in, Muyue directly removed Rin Nohara from the internship plan.

Following those chunin instructors on missions was no better than studying under his shadow clone for four months.