Chapter 470: ANBU Head Instructor Muyue

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At three in the afternoon, while Mu Yue was leading his disciples in training, a sudden memory fragment appeared in his mind—it was from the shadow clone he had left at home.

Mu Yue had the shadow clone continue training the disciples, while his main body headed to the Hokage building to meet Sarutobi Hiruzen.

A moment ago, Sarutobi Hiruzen had sent a ninja to find his shadow clone at home, saying there was a mission for Mu Yue and asking him to go to the Hokage's office for the mission details.

Knock, knock.

After reaching the Hokage's office door, Mu Yue quickly knocked on the wooden door.

"Come in."

Receiving Sarutobi Hiruzen's approval, Mu Yue pushed the door open and entered the Hokage's office, greeting, "Lord Third."

Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled and nodded in response.

"The mission is to train the ANBU and Root. The number of people will be a bit more than last time," Sarutobi Hiruzen explained.

Last time, Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't sure what level of instruction Mu Yue could maintain for chunin and jonin, so he only sent a few rookies. This time, Sarutobi Hiruzen planned to pull as many ANBU as possible to hand over to Mu Yue for special training.

The Dark Breathing Method that Mu Yue had developed was indeed effective. Some of the rookie ANBU who had trained in it performed better on missions than some veteran ANBU.

Sarutobi Hiruzen planned to popularize the Dark Breathing Method throughout the entire ANBU—not just the current members, but future ANBU as well would all have to learn it.

However, none of the current ANBU members were yet proficient enough in the Dark Breathing Method to teach others, so Sarutobi Hiruzen could only ask Mu Yue to work a bit harder and train more people.

"I understand. I'll do my best to teach them," Mu Yue nodded in reply.

Shimura Danzo had actually already informed him about this matter, but Danzo's explanation was rather vague, not very specific.

"Mu Yue, I have full confidence in your teaching ability. Whether it's the classes you've led or your disciples, they're all more outstanding than the next," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a smile, stroking his goatee.

What he wished for now was for the war to end quickly and usher in a period of peace, so that a talent like Mu Yue could play an even greater role during peacetime.

If it weren't for the war, Sarutobi Hiruzen would directly dump eighty percent of the ANBU onto Mu Yue for training.

Sarutobi Hiruzen also had another idea: to have Mu Yue teach others how to be teachers, to see if he could improve the overall teaching level of the Ninja Academy instructors and team leaders.

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't expect others to reach Mu Yue's level of teaching—if they could even have half of Mu Yue's ability, no, one third, then after a decade or so of steady development, the comprehensive strength of the entire hidden village might reach an unprecedented peak.

Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha could only make themselves strong, but Mu Yue could make others strong alongside him.

"To facilitate teaching, I've set up a special training squad for you within the ANBU. This training squad outranks an ordinary squad by half a level, but is still below the ANBU captain," Sarutobi Hiruzen briefly introduced the ANBU structure to Mu Yue.

The lowest rank in ANBU is ordinary member, then there is squad leader who can have three subordinates; above squad leader is platoon leader who can have four squad-level subordinates; above platoon leader is company commander who can have four platoons; and above that is vice-captain and captain.

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt that directly giving Mu Yue an ANBU captain rank would be a bit irregular, but since Mu Yue had considerable merit and excelled in many ways, merely giving him an honorary platoon leader title seemed stingy. So Sarutobi Hiruzen ended up creating a special squad that was neither high nor low.

"Right now, this training squad only has you, the squad leader. If you find anyone with teaching talent, you can recruit them."

"Thank you very much, Lord Third," Mu Yue showed an expression that was both shocked and grateful.

Although his internal emotions weren't as intense as his face suggested, Mu Yue was still a bit surprised, because Shimura Danzo hadn't mentioned this matter at all.

"I'm embarrassed to accept your thanks—I've only given you the title of squad leader," Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand.

In reality, he felt he had already given quite generously, but he certainly couldn't say that out loud, or he wouldn't earn goodwill.

After Sarutobi Hiruzen finished briefing him, Mu Yue quickly left the Hokage building and returned to the Southern Border Forest.

"The training squad is basically useless to me," Mu Yue thought on the way back to the Southern Border Forest.

A platoon leader is already considered middle-to-high ranking in the ANBU, and Mu Yue's special squad leader was half a step higher, but these were all nominal, because Mu Yue didn't even have a single subordinate to command.

In Mu Yue's eyes, this squad leader title wasn't even as practical as a Ninja Academy instructor—at least an academy instructor could earn ninjutsu by conducting classes.

A squad leader could only have four squads of subordinates; altogether, that wasn't enough for Mu Yue to trigger the class rewards.

Compared to the squad leader position, the teaching mission Sarutobi Hiruzen assigned to Mu Yue was actually decent. The ANBU ninjas all had a certain level of strength, which could trigger the intermediate class reward. If he could get an S-rank evaluation every day, the total gains would be considerable—teaching nature transformation or even increasing proficiency in bloodline limits like Ice Release.

"I wonder when I'll be able to trigger the advanced class reward," Mu Yue thought. He believed there should be a higher tier of class rewards, but the trigger conditions were very strict, requiring students with extremely high strength.

After returning to the Southern Border Forest, Mu Yue temporarily stopped thinking about these miscellaneous matters and focused on instructing his disciples. He only started preparing the training plan when he went home.

The training wouldn't start right away, because pulling enough ANBU required many adjustments and changes to fixed schedules, which would take considerable time. Mu Yue had plenty of time to prepare the ANBU training plan.

Around ten o'clock at night, Mu Yue, who was developing and perfecting the Yang Seal, heard the door of the neighboring house suddenly open.

Mu Yue curiously activated her Byakugan and glanced toward the neighboring house.

Next door was the Namikaze Minato residence, which had been unoccupied for some time.

As the walls in her line of sight gradually faded, a familiar figure came into Mu Yue’s view.

"Back early, huh." Mu Yue deactivated her Byakugan and turned her attention back to the manuscripts on the table.

Although Minato had mentioned in his letters that it might take several months before he could return, with Orochimaru actively volunteering for combat, the battlefield in the Land of Springs no longer needed Minato as urgently, so his break time naturally came earlier.

A minute later, a knock sounded at Mu Yue’s door.

Mu Yue quickly gathered her manuscripts and hurried downstairs to open the door.

"Mu Yue, long time no see." Minato greeted her with a sincere smile.

Orochimaru’s support had come just in time. Normally, after completing a major battle, one would need some time to rest. But Orochimaru quickly reinforced Namikaze Minato, allowing the long-fighting Minato to directly score a vacation opportunity.

At the time, when the higher-ups asked Namikaze Minato if he needed time to rest and recuperate, Minato didn’t hesitate at all and immediately requested leave.

Now, with no fighting expected in the Land of Springs for a while, staying together with Orochimaru didn’t make much sense and would actually waste combat power.

"Minato, long time no see." Mu Yue smiled warmly and invited Namikaze Minato inside.

"Sorry for bothering you so late, Mu Yue. Maybe we can talk tomorrow instead?" Namikaze Minato hesitated for a moment before saying.

In truth, Namikaze Minato had rushed back at full speed, hoping to arrive early enough to catch Mu Yue’s dinner.

After all, Minato was in another country, and due to timing issues, even with his best efforts at full speed, he was still quite late.

It was now close to bedtime, and Namikaze Minato didn’t want to trouble Mu Yue too much.

Mu Yue herself had only recently come off the battlefield, and the fighting on the Eastern Shore battlefield was much more intense than in the Land of Springs. Ever since the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki incident, the Land of Springs battlefield had become relatively calm.

"No, you’ve arrived just in time. I was about to make a late-night snack anyway. Let’s eat and talk." Mu Yue smiled, uttering words Namikaze Minato could not refuse.

Namikaze Minato was torn. He felt that Mu Yue might be saying this deliberately for his sake, but he really did want to eat her late-night snack.

"I’ll help you make it." In the end, Namikaze Minato chose to assist Mu Yue in the kitchen to ease his sense of guilt.

Mu Yue nodded in agreement, then casually asked, "Ramen okay, or is there something else you’d like to eat?"

Namikaze Minato recalled the ramen Mu Yue had made in Loulan and quickly nodded. That was more than okay.

Next, Mu Yue kneaded the dough while Minato cut some side dishes. The two worked together in the kitchen.

While making the late-night snack, they chatted about what had happened to each of them during the time they hadn’t seen each other.

"Everyone’s pretty distressed about the current shinobi world situation. Jiraiya-sensei said he doesn’t even have time to write anymore." Namikaze Minato shared Jiraiya’s battlefield complaints with Mu Yue.

"Then Obito’s trouble is a bit similar to Jiraiya-sama’s, except he feels he has no time to look at the girls." Mu Yue said with a smile.

During the time on the Eastern Shore battlefield, Obito was busy all day with missions and training, and the rest of his time was basically spent sleeping—he really didn’t have much time for entertainment.

"That sounds like something Obito would say. But it would probably earn him a lecture from Kakashi." Namikaze Minato smiled as something came to mind.

"That’s just as well—spares you the worry that one day he’ll get too engrossed and lead the team into danger." Mu Yue nodded, paraphrasing Kakashi’s words.

The smile on Namikaze Minato’s face grew warmer; he could already picture the scene in his mind.

Obito, holding a book, complains about shinobi; Kakashi, with a calm expression, scolds him; while Nohara Rin covers her mouth and giggles at the two.

"When it comes to being a teacher, I have a lot to learn from you, Mu Yue." Thinking of his long-unseen disciples, Namikaze Minato let out a soft sigh.

Namikaze Minato genuinely felt that as a teacher, he was far inferior to Mu Yue.

Not just in teaching techniques, but in every aspect, Mu Yue surpassed him.

If someday Obito and the others became renowned shinobi, and people praised Namikaze Minato for his teaching because of them, Minato would truly feel ashamed.

Because Obito and the others’ strength had little to do with Namikaze Minato; the credit mostly went to Mu Yue. Minato had only taught them some taijutsu and mission experience.

"No one is born knowing how to be a teacher. And Minato, you’ve actually done quite well. Obito and the others are very satisfied with you." Mu Yue said while putting the finishing touches on the ramen.

He wasn’t just comforting Minato. Given that Minato had Mu Yue as a teacher himself, it was already impressive that Obito and the others thought Minato was a good teacher.

To be fair, after being taught by Mu Yue, Obito would complain about one chunin instructor today and another tomorrow—Mu Yue was the only teacher he was satisfied with.

"Since I’ve earned your recognition, Mu Yue, I suppose I can’t say I’m terrible." Namikaze Minato made a rare joke.

As the ramen was completed step by step, Namikaze Minato became more and more expectant. He had rushed back to Konoha with all his might just to get an early taste of this meal.

After the ramen was done, Mu Yue handed one of the steaming bowls to Namikaze Minato.

Smelling the enticing aroma, Namikaze Minato almost wanted to grab chopsticks right in the kitchen and wolf it down.

More than half a year—heaven knows how he had endured these past six months.

But Minato had strong self-control. He forcibly suppressed his urge, carried the ramen to the dining table, sat down, and waited for Mu Yue to sit down before officially starting to eat.

At this moment, Namikaze Minato could no longer hold back. Without saying "I'll start eating," he picked up his chopsticks, directly grabbed a bundle of noodles, and stuffed it into his mouth.

When that familiar, astonishing sensation surged through his heart again, Minato felt an immediate burst of exhilaration, and a sense of happiness welled up.

Then Minato didn't stop. He first stuffed a piece of chashu into his mouth, then picked up another bundle of noodles, and after chewing, he took a sip of the ramen broth.

It was worth it. Minato only felt it was worth it. Even if he had to travel another Fire Country's distance, it would still be worth it.

After finishing his immersive midnight snack, Minato only then remembered that he had remained silent the whole time after starting to eat, so he quickly expressed his gratitude to Mu Yue.

"It's nothing, just a small favor," Mu Yue said with a smile, shaking his head.

For him, who possessed the chef skill, it was no trouble at all. On the contrary, Minato and Kushina had really helped him a lot since he had crossed over.

"Mu Yue, how is your training on the Flying Thunder God Technique? Do you need me to explain it again?" Minato felt he should repay Mu Yue.

Minato's most outstanding skill was the Flying Thunder God Technique. Coincidentally, Mu Yue was also training in it, so Minato thought he could take this opportunity to help Mu Yue improve his Flying Thunder God Technique.

"Progress has been quite smooth, but explanations aren't necessary," Mu Yue politely declined Minato's kindness.

Mu Yue understood that his time-space talent was entirely the little bit that came with the system's skill reward. His Master-level Flying Thunder God Technique was also forcibly raised using a Mastery Scroll.

Minato explaining it to him would be a complete waste of both their time. Mu Yue couldn't learn anything in that way.

"If you have time, Minato, I'd like to have a practice match with you tomorrow to feel the difference between our Flying Thunder God Techniques," Mu Yue then proposed.

Mu Yue's proficiency in the Flying Thunder God Technique was much lower than Minato's, but Mu Yue had other abilities. He wanted to test his ability to handle a ninja like Minato.

"As for the practice match, either tonight or in a few days. I might be a bit busy lately," Minato said after thinking.

He had just come down from the battlefield, so there would be many things to take care of in the next few days. After all, he had been a battlefield commander for a while.

"It's fine, I'm not in a hurry. Just call me when you're free," Mu Yue said as he stood up to clear the dishes and chopsticks.

Mu Yue considered that Minato was physically and mentally exhausted from traveling, and besides, it was indeed too late now. He felt that tonight was not a good time.