Chapter 572: You Look Like the Fourth Hokage

"Huh?!"

When Sarutobi Hiruzen clearly heard Muyue's words, his dissatisfied expression turned to shock. Ignoring the fact that Muyue hadn't knocked on the door, he stood up directly and asked:

"What do you mean by 'seems to have developed Wood Release'? Success is success, failure is failure."

Wood Release is different from ordinary Kekkei Genkai; it is a Kekkei Genkai that has only appeared in the God of Shinobi, carrying special significance.

If Muyue really had developed Wood Release, Sarutobi Hiruzen would have to overturn his previous arrangements for Muyue.

Muyue silently formed hand seals to gather Wood Release chakra, and a tender green sprout suddenly emerged from the edge of the wooden desk in Sarutobi Hiruzen's office.

The moment the sprout appeared, Sarutobi Hiruzen's pupils dilated sharply, and he couldn't help leaning in to carefully examine the green branch.

Although it was unscientific for a wooden desk that had been turned into an office table to sprout branches, this was very shinobi-like.

Looking at this seemingly vibrant branch, Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart surged with great waves.

"He actually succeeded!" Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't believe it.

Even though Muyue's display of genius had already surpassed him, Sarutobi Hiruzen was still extremely astonished.

Because this was Wood Release, the unique Kekkei Genkai of the God of Shinobi. Not only had it not appeared in the decades since the God of Shinobi, but even looking back several hundred years in history, there was still no trace of Wood Release.

No matter how talented Muyue was, could he really be compared to Hashirama Senju, who was without precedent and without successor?

But the fact that Muyue had successfully developed Wood Release was right before his eyes. Now Sarutobi Hiruzen had to consider a possibility: why couldn't Muyue be the next Hashirama Senju?

Hashirama Senju had Wood Release, now Muyue also had it. When Hashirama Senju was young, he was a powerful figure who shook the shinobi world. Now Muyue was the famous "Blazing Sun Muyue" of the shinobi world. So why couldn't Muyue be the next Hashirama Senju?

Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart was stirred. With Muyue's current performance, even if he could not become the second Hashirama Senju, there was a high probability that he would become a powerhouse surpassing him.

To surpass his peak self in the current era would mean being unrivaled under heaven, after all, this era did not have Uchiha Madara.

"This should be Wood Release, right?" Muyue canceled his hand seals and said.

"Yes, this is Wood Release!" Sarutobi Hiruzen said decisively.

As he spoke, a hint of kindness appeared in Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression, and his eyes looking at Muyue showed unprecedented gentleness.

Those eyes, that nose, that hair—the more Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Muyue, the more he resembled the Fourth Hokage.

"Although I had confidence in you, Muyue, I am still surprised to see that you have actually developed Wood Release. Your talent has already surpassed mine and is approaching that of the First Hokage," Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed.

In order to have another Wood Release user, not only did the descendants of the Senju clan work hard to train and attempt to awaken Wood Release, but the Leaf Village also spent a great deal of manpower and resources researching Hashirama's cells, trying to uncover the secret of the First Hokage's Wood Release. Unfortunately, all efforts were in vain, with no results.

Yet Muyue, merely relying on the materials left by Hashirama Senju, had developed Wood Release on his own.

It could only be said that planned efforts yield nothing, while unplanned efforts bear fruit.

"Not at all, I just happened to catch a flash of inspiration and luckily grasped Wood Release," Muyue said, shaking his head slightly.

Sarutobi Hiruzen saying that Muyue had surpassed him was praise, but Muyue could not directly accept it, as that would be somewhat disrespectful.

Saying it oneself and having others say it are quite different.

"Was mastering Ice Release also by luck?" Sarutobi Hiruzen said in a joking tone.

"Probably my inspiration is a little more than ordinary people's."

"Haha, then isn't that your special talent?" Sarutobi Hiruzen stroked his beard and sat down, laughing cheerfully.

After speaking, Sarutobi Hiruzen remembered something and asked:

"How is the work of the training team recently?"

"The teaching is going smoothly. Preliminary results should be visible in two months," Muyue replied.

"Hmm, with you, Muyue, as the captain of the training team, I am very relieved. However, don't overwork yourself. It's also important to keep some time for improving yourself," Sarutobi Hiruzen said kindly.

If the Leaf Village could produce another Hashirama Senju, that would be far more meaningful than having a Root or an enhanced Root. So now Sarutobi Hiruzen hoped that Muyue would spend more time improving himself.

"I will," Muyue nodded.

Just as Muyue was about to say goodbye to Sarutobi Hiruzen and leave the Hokage's office, he stopped and turned around, saying apologetically:

"Sorry, Lord Third Hokage. Because I was too excited, I forgot to knock just now."

Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and shook his head, indicating he didn't mind.

If Mu Yue really could become the next Hashirama Senju, then even if from now on he never knocked before entering the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi could accept it.

But he felt that Mu Yue definitely wouldn't do that, after all, Mu Yue wasn't Danzo.

"A second Wood Style user…" Watching Mu Yue walk away, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help recalling the immense power of Hashirama Senju who, with a single clap of his hands, could instantly create a vast forest.

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's view, the news of Mu Yue developing Wood Style was even more important than the war intelligence Minato Namikaze had sent back.

The deterrent force of a second Hashirama Senju was far greater than any Tailed Beast Jinchūriki.

After walking out of the Hokage Building, Mu Yue returned home.

Usually, Mu Yue would go directly to the training team, but since Minato Namikaze now needed to learn Wind Breathing, Mu Yue had to carve out some free time for teaching.

First, Mu Yue spent an hour explaining theory in his living room with Minato Namikaze, then made lunch. After eating, he took Minato Namikaze to the training ground to practice.

Minato Namikaze had good talent for breathing techniques, and had already trained the basic breathing method to the constant midstage. With an excellent foundation, he picked it up quickly.

Moreover, Mu Yue's teaching efficiency soared as he clarified doubts, and Minato soon successfully mastered Wind Breathing, continuing to improve rapidly.

"This is truly an incredible secret technique. Maybe, Mu Yue, you'll leave a bold mark in the history of ninjutsu because of it." Minato Namikaze said with a smile.

In Minato Namikaze's view, Mu Yue had created a whole new category of secret techniques. Each breathing method had its own characteristics and was extremely powerful—at a level that any ninja clan could treat as a hereditary secret technique.

"Sometimes leaving too many marks isn't a good thing." Mu Yue thought of some gacha games from his previous life that feminized historical figures.

Not to mention people—even ships would be feminized and put into the card pool.

Although he had played games in his past life, the thought that he might become one of the characters made Mu Yue a bit uncomfortable.

If it was something like "No way, Lieyang Mu Yue, you're still shady?" that type, then he could barely accept it.

"That probably won't happen." Minato Namikaze was a bit confused.

He felt that as long as it wasn't a legacy like Uchiha Madara defecting and inexplicably trying to destroy Konoha, it should be pretty good.

Mu Yue didn't explain; he just smiled and continued teaching.

Trying to explain a gacha mobile game to someone who'd never played an electronic game was way too difficult.

However, based on the current technological level in Naruto, Mu Yue felt that smartphones and such should be able to develop within a hundred years.

It was so close to his own era that no one would probably put him into a game; beyond that, he couldn't say.

Since he didn't need to teach ordinary members that afternoon—only needed to go in the evening to teach the training team members at squad leader rank and above—Mu Yue taught all the way until dinnertime.

Finally, he had dinner together with Minato Namikaze before heading to the training team.

Finding that Shisui was still at the training team, Mu Yue called Shisui to the captain's office.

"Shisui, you don't have to attend the Dark Breathing class in the evenings anymore. It's a bit of a waste of time for you." Mu Yue said.

After all, Shisui had been practicing breathing techniques for several years and had already mastered Flame Breathing to the expert level. Learning a degraded version like Dark Breathing was too easy for him.

"Wouldn't it look bad if only I don't attend?" Shisui voiced his concern.

Shisui worried that his behavior might affect Mu Yue's reputation—everyone else attending while he didn't.

"No, I'll explain the situation. If anyone reaches the standard for Dark Breathing, then they don't have to come either." Mu Yue explained.

His evening classes for these squad leaders and platoon leaders were precisely meant to rapidly improve their Dark Breathing level. If they reached the required level, what was the point of class?

"Don't overthink it—it'll only add unnecessary pressure." Mu Yue patted Shisui's head and said.

He felt that Obito and Shisui could balance each other out; that way things would be even.

"Thank you, Teacher Mu Yue." Shisui nodded in thanks.

Saving this time would be good whether for reading to enrich himself or for other training.

After returning home, Shisui thought for a moment and eventually went to Fugaku Uchiha's house.

Not to see Fugaku Uchiha, but to see Itachi Uchiha.

Lately he had been busy with training team matters and hadn't visited Itachi Uchiha for a while.

In order to ensure that Itachi Uchiha would be influenced with good values through osmosis, Shisui set a rule for himself to see Itachi at least once every two weeks.

Politely greeting Fugaku Uchiha and his wife, Shisui walked over to Itachi Uchiha.

"Shisui." Uchiha Itachi greeted Shisui with some happiness.

Although Shisui hadn't sought him out recently, they had no fixed meetings anyway, so Itachi's joy at seeing Shisui outweighed any dissatisfaction.

"I've been busy with work, only free today." Shisui explained.

"What work?"

"It's confidential work that I can't talk about."

"Can you tell me a story then? That shouldn't require secrecy."

"Sure, where did I leave off last time?"

"You were at the part about going on a mission to subdue mountain bandits."

Water Country, Mizukage Building.

"The Cloud forces and the Leaf ninja forces are having a big battle in the Land of Hot Water." The Third Mizukage looked at the latest intelligence on the Leaf, a hint of a smile appearing on his face.

At this moment he just wanted to say, it had to be Cloud — as soon as they acted, they caused a big incident, first breaking through the Land of Fire's defense line, then directly engaging the Leaf border forces.

Not like Stone, which was dawdling and hadn't even broken through the Land of Fire's defense line.

"In that case, can I let Yagura move directly?" The Third Mizukage showed a thoughtful expression.

Originally he wanted to wait and see for a while longer, but on second thought, if Mist made a move now, it might make Cloud increase their efforts, or attract other great ninja villages to join in.

The Third Mizukage closed his eyes, and after a deep deliberation, picked up a pen and began writing orders.

It was very difficult for Mist to defeat Leaf in a one-on-one fight, so they had to seize the opportunity.

Moreover, this surprise attack carried risks, but the risks were small compared to the gains, giving it high cost-performance.

Other great ninja villages might fear having their homes stolen by other watching villages, but the Hidden Mist Village did not have that worry.

Because other ninja villages would have to travel by ship for a long time to attack Mist, and the inland great villages were not good at naval warfare, making it hard to invade the Land of Water.

Even if Mist miscalculated and lost again, they would only lose some ninjas killed on the battlefield.

The Third Mizukage's order quickly reached the hands of Yagura, who had recently arrived at the Land of Waves.

Yagura held the secret letter from the Third Mizukage in his right hand, his left fist clenched tightly, and a flash of excitement crossed his face.

The opportunity came faster than he had imagined; he thought he would have to stay in the Land of Waves for two or three months.

"Hanyu Muyue, this time I will definitely not be as pathetic as last time." Yagura silently said in his heart.

Last time during the Mist's night raid, just when they seemed to have the advantage, Muyue first used a jutsu that turned night into day and suppressed water release, then killed the Mist strong on the battlefield, turning the tide.

This time, Yagura specially looked up Mist's secret scrolls and found a technique that could use chakra to create a rainy environment.

If Muyue used that blazing sun jutsu again, Yagura would activate the secret technique to change the weather to overcast and rainy.

Even if he couldn't completely erase the opponent's jutsu, he could neutralize its effects to some extent.

"Assemble the troops, prepare to invade the Land of Fire!" Yagura gathered the jonin of the unit, explained the attack plan, and finally shouted seriously.

"Yes, Lord Yagura!" The jonin nodded in unison, and after leaving the meeting room, quickly began giving orders to their respective subordinates.

Soon, ships carrying the ninja forces sailed in a grand procession toward the Land of Fire.

The people of the Land of Waves, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Mist was going to fight in their country.

They were already a poor small island nation with few resources; if they were caught in the flames of war, life would really be impossible.

Last time Yagura chose to land on the southern east coast; the southeast was an underdeveloped area of the Land of Fire, not heavily guarded, with fewer defensive forces.

This time, Yagura chose to land in the northeastern coastal area.

This related to the core reason why the Third Mizukage chose to dispatch troops at this time.

The Third Mizukage did not intend to hit the Leaf's home territory in a single surprise attack; he wanted everyone to see a Leaf that was gradually weakening.

A short distance further up from Yagura's landing point was the battlefield between Cloud and Leaf in the Land of Hot Water.

To prevent their own ninja forces from being attacked from behind, Leaf would inevitably anxiously dispatch troops to block them.

At that time, the Mist forces would not fight head-on with Leaf, but would engage in guerrilla warfare to stall.

The main goal is to exhaust Leaf's energy and attract other ninja villages into the fray.

Fighting Leaf together is best, but fighting others is also not out of the question. None of it is bad for Hidden Mist—after all, the murkier the waters of the continent, the more chaotic the situation, and the more intense the fighting, the more advantageous it is for Hidden Mist.: 92xs