Chapter 365: Information is Important

Although Muyue already had a basic breathing technique that offered a moderate boost to combat power, he wouldn't teach it to anyone who wasn't a disciple, unless they had earned his trust.

Although the basic breathing technique didn't provide much of an improvement, it could be considered one of the cores of breathing techniques, with immense potential for development. Any other breathing technique Muyue developed would start from the basic one.

To put it in numerical terms, mastering the basic breathing technique to a moderate level would only increase the combat power of the Root and Anbu members by sixty points.

But if a genius on Hiruzen Sarutobi's or Danzo Shimura's side unearthed the potential of the basic breathing technique and developed something similar to Muyue's Rock Breathing or Lightning Breathing, then the upper limit would be greatly increased, potentially resulting in a breathing technique that could boost combat power by five hundred points.

Muyue wouldn't underestimate the ninjas of the ninja world just because he was a transmigrator with a system. Someone as strong as Tobirama Senju had developed a bunch of powerful ninjutsu and forbidden techniques. If given a basic breathing technique, Muyue believed Tobirama Senju could really come up with a new forbidden technique.

If Muyue taught the basic breathing technique to Root and Anbu, and then a genius actually developed an advanced breathing technique, it might end up benefiting his enemies—that wasn't a result he wanted to see.

For now, Muyue had no open conflicts with Konoha's higher-ups like Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura. Root and Anbu weren't his enemies at the moment, but Muyue couldn't say for sure how things would turn out later.

The breathing technique Muyue intended to develop would provide a one-hundred-point increase in combat power once mastered, but that was its limit. It couldn't go any further; there was no path forward.

Teaching something stronger would yield better rewards and also prevent empowering enemies, so Muyue would naturally choose to develop a new breathing technique.

He already had considerable experience developing breathing techniques, and combined with his enlightened state, this wasn't difficult for him.

…………

"Minato-sensei."

On the training ground, Kakashi, Obito, and the others greeted a smiling Minato.

Since Might Guy's life mission had been settled, Muyue's small training session had achieved its purpose, so after a few days, Muyue announced the training was successfully concluded. Everyone except Shisui, who hadn't graduated yet, returned to their respective teams.

"I'm really sorry, as a teacher I haven't been as dedicated as Muyue." Minato said with an apologetic expression.

Although he was their supervising teacher, it was mostly Muyue who helped Obito and the others grow.

"It's different, and besides, Minato-sensei, you go on missions to protect the village too," Obito said, indicating that Minato didn't need to worry about such a small thing.

"Obito's right, Minato-sensei, you don't need to apologize for this," Rin Nohara nodded in agreement.

Normally, she would be studying under Tsunade around this time, but since it had been a while since she last trained with her supervising teacher Minato, Rin Nohara had taken a day off from Tsunade.

"Not taking us on missions is also for our safety," Kakashi said, expressing his understanding of Minato's approach.

In Kakashi's eyes, Minato was also a very reliable ninja.

Hearing what Obito and the others said, Minato broke into a genuine smile. He felt a bit of the joy that came from understanding his teacher.

"Minato-sensei, are we training or doing a mission today?" Obito asked, seeing that Minato was in a better mood.

"Let's train first. I'll test your current strength," Minato replied after thinking for a moment.

Actually, it hadn't been that long, and by normal ninja growth standards, there wouldn't be much change. But Kakashi and Obito clearly didn't fall into the normal category, so he decided to start with a combat training session.

"Do we have to fight you, Minato-sensei?" Obito scratched his head and asked further.

He didn't really want to fight Minato. Fighting Minato was too frustrating—he'd get beaten up without even touching him, making him look stupid.

Minato nodded in affirmation.

"Minato-sensei, can you find us a Jonin from Konoha? I think it's good to fight different ninjas; it trains our adaptability better," Obito suggested.

From the internship period until now, Obito had fought a few Jonin—a Cloud Jonin encountered during a mission with Muyue, a Mist Jonin during the Chunin Exams, and Fubuki Kazahana from the Land of Snow could count as one too. Obito felt he could still look cool against a Jonin.

Minato thought for a moment and felt Obito had a point, so he agreed. He knew quite a few Jonin who were on good terms with him, so finding one wouldn't be difficult.

"Wait a moment, I'll be right back." Leaving that sentence behind, Minato vanished before the three of them.

Minato first went to find Dekai, who was also a member of Jiraiya's team.

Although he knew many Jonin, Minato would naturally prioritize those with whom he had a better relationship.

Minato was lucky; Dekai was at home and hadn't gone out on a mission or to have fun.

"Helping you test your disciples' strength? Leave it to me," Dekai agreed immediately after hearing Minato's request.

"My disciples are all quite capable; you don't need to hold back too much," Minato recalled something and reminded him.

He remembered that Dekai seemed to be out on a mission during the Chunin Exams, so he hadn't come to watch.

"After all, they're your disciples, Minato." Dekai grinned, lightly punching Minato's chest, not taking it too seriously.

In his view, although Minato was strong, his disciples had only just graduated this year. Even if they were talented, they couldn't be that strong.

Although he couldn't compare to a true genius like Minato, Dekai was still strong among jonin. He didn't think a few recently graduated ninja would cause him any trouble.

"Then I'll leave it to you." Minato smiled in thanks, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Dekai back to the training ground.

"Senior Dekai." Upon seeing Dekai, Obito and Kakashi greeted him.

They weren't strangers to Dekai; they had even shared the Myoboku Mountain sage's insect dish together on the Grass Country battlefield.

Dekai laughed heartily and patted Obito and Kakashi on the shoulders.

"Obito, not bad at all—you became a chunin so quickly." Looking at Obito's chunin vest, Dekai was a bit impressed.

Counting the time, Obito had become a chunin only a few months after becoming a ninja.

"It's fine, the chunin exams weren't that hard." Obito replied with a grin.

Even Asuma, whom he had defeated, had become a chunin, so Obito really didn't think it was difficult.

"Then I'll have to put a bit more effort in later." Dekai noticed that the unfamiliar Rin Nohara was also a chunin—this was a chunin squad.

"Senior Dekai is someone we met on the battlefield." Seeing Rin's confusion, Obito explained.

Rin nodded thoughtfully, thinking it must have happened during their time as trainee ninja.

After some chatting, it was time for training.

"I specialize in Lightning Release ninja body techniques, which are quite powerful. If any of you feel you can't handle it, just drop out, or you'll get hurt." Dekai said before the fight officially began.

"Senior Dekai, don't worry—Rin's medical ninjutsu is amazing. Even if we get hurt, she can heal us." Obito said proudly.

"If you think my healing is so great, then don't be stubborn when you're injured." Rin retorted helplessly.

"Th-that's because I really wasn't hurt." Obito stammered, his cheeks flushing.

He wanted to show Rin his coolest side, so sometimes he wouldn't admit he was injured.

"So innocent." Dekai looked from Obito to Rin, reminiscing about his own lost youth.

What? He'd never had a close female classmate growing up—so never mind.

"Training begins!" Minato called out once both sides were ready.

"Flame Breathing, Total Concentration!"

"Lightning Breathing, Total Concentration!"

Kakashi and Obito immediately focused their breathing intensely.

Kakashi had never seen Dekai go all out—when he sparred with Might Guy, he clearly held back a lot. But since Dekai was Minato's teammate and Jiraiya's disciple, Kakashi figured he couldn't be weak.

Because Rin was studying medical ninjutsu under Tsunade, Obito had rarely seen her lately. To look cool in front of Rin, Obito went all out from the start.

"Flame Breathing Chakra Mode!"

Obito focused his breathing to its peak, his entire chakra stirring, and his aura skyrocketed.

As a jonin facing a group of juniors under ten years old, Dekai naturally didn't strike first to seize the initiative.

As Obito entered Flame Breathing Chakra Mode, Dekai sensed something was off.

Sensing the scorching aura not far from him, Dekai wore a puzzled expression—was this a ninja who'd graduated less than a year ago?

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Obito formed hand seals rapidly, converting a large amount of chakra into fire-natured chakra and spewing it all out at once.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The fiercely burning orange-red flame quickly accumulated, eventually forming a massive fireball that hurtled toward Dekai.

Dekai reflected on his own ninja career and felt that a Great Fireball of such power simply shouldn't have been unleashed by a ninja who had just become a chunin.

For a moment, he even wondered if the person standing across from him wasn't Uchiha Obito, but a Konoha jonin using the Transformation Technique—one specializing in Fire Release.

Though he could take it, Dekai had no interest in intercepting a technique he could easily dodge. He gathered chakra on the soles of his feet to evade.

"Flash!"

At that moment, Kakashi drew his White Light Chakra Sabre, converted all the chakra gathered in his legs into lightning-natured chakra to strengthen his body, and charged at Dekai.

Nowadays, achieving this level of coordination requires no communication between them; just a single glance is enough.

If Obito's powerful aura surprised Dekayi, then Kakashi's speed truly shocked him.

Staring at the bloodstains appearing on his arm, Dekayi was immensely shocked.

Although it was a joint attack, he was still considered strong among Konoha's jōnin, yet he was injured by a child less than ten years old.

Just now, when he dodged the Fireball Jutsu, Kakashi suddenly charged out. He hadn't expected Kakashi to be so fast, and caught off guard, he failed to dodge successfully.

Dekayi cast aside his contempt. Though he didn't know what was going on, Minato's three disciples were far from ordinary. If he didn't take them seriously, he might lose.

He didn't want to lose. If he really lost, and Shangshan Shuping found out, he would be laughed to death.

Dekayi's eyes flickered as he swept his gaze over the three, quickly formulating a battle plan. Then he burst with chakra and charged toward Obito.

With Lightning Release chakra activating his body, even Dekayi's somewhat round figure displayed incredible speed.

Seeing this, Obito activated his Sharingan to enhance his dynamic vision, while Kakashi silently gathered chakra, ready to help Obito alleviate the assault.

But just as Dekayi was about to close in on Obito, Obito had already gathered a massive amount of flames in his hand, and Kakashi released lightning toward the area in front of Obito.

However, at that instant, Dekayi suddenly braked and slammed a lightning-enhanced fist fiercely into the ground.

Boom!

An explosion sounded. The terrifying force blasted the ground apart, sending mud and stones flying. Immediately after, Dekayi dashed toward Rin Nohara, who was at the side, and swung a heavy fist at her.

At the very beginning, Obito had mentioned that Rin Nohara was a medical ninja. Moreover, she hadn't taken any action in the previous attacks. Dekayi concluded that Rin's role in the team was healing, and her direct combat ability was poor. Therefore, Dekayi did not use Lightning Release chakra to strengthen his body.

Obito's Sharingan clearly saw Dekayi's movement, but when he saw Dekayi punching at Rin without using anything, Obito did not act and silently mourned for Dekayi for a second.

"Monster Strength Fist!"

Rin Nohara gathered a large amount of chakra into her fist and then suddenly punched out, colliding with Dekayi's fist.

Bang!

The expression on Dekayi's face twisted slightly. He felt as if Rin's slender body had erupted with a monstrous, terrifying strength.

Relying on his tough physique, Dekayi held on for a short moment before being sent flying backward by the powerful impact.

Flying back, Dekayi cast a resentful glance at Minato, who was watching from the side. This was what he called "acceptable"?

"Why would he be so reckless? He didn't even use chakra and went to trade punches with Little Rin." Obito recalled the sight of Rin punching through a thick tree and couldn't help but shudder.

How painful it would be to take such a punch to the body!

Although it was a training exercise, it was still a battle. Kakashi and Obito immediately seized the opportunity to attack.

Obito consumed a large amount of chakra and spat out a huge wave of flames, surrounding Dekayi from multiple angles.

Kakashi entered the Transparent World state, converted a large amount of chakra into Lightning Release chakra to strengthen his body, poured all his strength into the White Fang Short Blade, and locked onto Dekayi.

"Ahem, training is over." Minato coughed lightly and ended the training early.

"I know, it's because you lacked intel." Minato spoke up to console him.

Dekayi:...

Indeed, if he had known earlier that Obito and Kakashi had such strength, he would have gone all out from the start. If he had known that Rin possessed such terrifying strength, he definitely wouldn't have chosen to trade punches with her without using chakra.

Although what Minato said was true, Dekayi still felt a faint melancholy.

He had actually lost to three children under the age of ten, and they were also his good friend's disciples.

Dekayi left, leaving Minato and the others a forlorn silhouette.

"If you need help next time, remember to notify me. I'll bring Shuping along." Dekayi suddenly stopped and said.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. In a normal fight, it was almost impossible for him to lose. But he lost because of contempt and lack of intel. So Dekayi decided to let his good friend experience the same feeling.

Minato smiled and nodded.

Shangshan Shuping was also a member of Jiraiya's squad, with strength similar to Dekayi.

Because Dekayi's battle ended too quickly and the training goal was not achieved, Minato ended up taking the field himself.

There will be another chapter later.