Chapter 638

After the enlightenment skill refreshed, Mu Yue went to Mount Myōboku again to learn senjutsu.

For Mu Yue's arrival, Fukasaku was both happy and pained.

Happy that there was another delicious feast to eat, pained that Mu Yue's way of learning senjutsu was unique—he just loved listening to various principles and theories.

Talking for a short while was fine, but talking for a whole day was truly tiring—a mental fatigue, which is more exhausting than physical fatigue.

The key point was that Mu Yue learned quickly; some content he understood with just a hint, and the content Sage Fukasaku had prepared couldn't even last a day.

"Thank you very much." When leaving, Mu Yue thanked Sage Fukasaku.

The more tired Sage Fukasaku was, the greater Mu Yue's improvement.

Over the past two days, his Sage Mode proficiency increased by 500 points; at this rate, he should be able to raise Sage Mode to the proficient level in about two months.

"It's no trouble, come again when you have time." Sage Fukasaku said goodbye with a smile.

Although teaching was tiring, seeing Mu Yue's understanding of Sage Mode gradually deepen, Sage Fukasaku also felt a considerable sense of accomplishment.

"Such amazing learning ability. If this continues, in a few years his understanding of senjutsu might even catch up to mine." Sage Fukasaku sighed inwardly.

He had to admit that human learning ability was much stronger than that of toads like him; he had cultivated senjutsu for several hundred years, yet Mu Yue might learn it all in a few years.

Returning to Konoha again via the reverse summoning technique, Mu Yue went back to his home study and wrote down today's gains to organize them.

Although his memory was very good now, Mu Yue still had the habit of writing on paper, feeling that it was convenient for development.

After writing down the gains, Mu Yue turned to a new page and wrote the large characters "Breathing Style Senjutsu" on the blank page.

As Mu Yue's understanding of Sage Mode deepened, he increasingly felt that the Mount Myōboku Sage Mode he currently mastered was not suitable to teach to his disciples.

First was the oft-mentioned issue of duration; even if Mount Myōboku recognized his disciples, only Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima could perform the Two-Way Summoning Technique.

If all his disciples wanted to use Sage Mode in a chaotic battle, at most only two people could enjoy the "power bank."

Naruto's Shadow Clone refill method was troublesome and prone to accidents.

Another important point was that the learning threshold for Sage Mode was very high; aside from Nagato who was an outlier, even Obito, who had the most chakra, still had a considerable gap from the minimum requirement for Sage Mode.

Even Obito was like this, let alone others; even if Kakashi trained for another ten years, his chakra amount wouldn't meet the requirement.

Without counting the chakra in the Yang Seal, Kakashi's current chakra amount was only higher than Rin Nohara's among Mu Yue's disciples.

The high threshold, troublesome learning, danger during cultivation, and not necessarily playing a significant role in battle—Mu Yue couldn't ignore so many drawbacks and quietly wait for his disciples to meet the requirements to teach them Mount Myōboku senjutsu.

"We must first solve the problem of sensing and absorbing natural energy." Mu Yue wrote down the first difficulty to be solved.

Besides the various shortcomings of Mount Myōboku senjutsu, the unexpected discovery in the breathing method during senjutsu training was also the reason Mu Yue started developing senjutsu so quickly.

Even if no changes were made to the current breathing method, as long as the breathing method user gained the ability to sense natural energy, the breathing method could be enhanced.

For Mu Yue's disciples who were proficient in the breathing method, this was undoubtedly a great thing, equivalent to reaping the benefits of a version update.

"We need to develop a method for Breathing Style Senjutsu to sense natural energy."

The secret method used by Mount Myōboku to sense and absorb natural energy was only applicable to Mount Myōboku Sage Mode, and without sufficient chakra, using this secret method would one hundred percent result in being eroded by natural energy and turning into a stone toad.

……

At night, after eating, Kakashi sat on the veranda outside the house, carefully examining the tachi in his hand that emitted a cold, chilling gleam.

After Mu Yue defeated Uchiha Madara, Kakashi collected the shattered White Fang short sword and, together with the unbroken part of the White Fang short sword, gave them to a renowned ninja tool smith.

Spending a large sum, he asked the smith to add chakra metal and other precious metals to recast the broken White Fang short sword into a tachi.

Remaking a short sword had no practical meaning; a tachi or ōdachi was more suitable for him now.

Kakashi sheathed the new White Fang and walked toward the wooden dummy in the small courtyard.

Shwoosh!

The moment he approached the wooden dummy, Kakashi drew his sword, a silver-white flash of blade light passed, and the wooden dummy was split in two.

Kakashi nodded with satisfaction. Although the new White Fang was still inferior to Enma, it was much more comfortable to use than the previous White Fang short sword.

He decided to use White Fang for enemies that were not too strong, and switch to Enma when encountering strong opponents.

Enma was strong, but it consumed a lot; for dealing with ordinary jōnin, using Enma was unnecessary.

Just as Kakashi was about to return to his room to maintain his new sword, a familiar voice sounded outside the yard.

"Kakashi, are you home?" Obito shouted loudly.

"Not home."

"I can see you, and you still say you're not home!"

Obito glared at Kakashi angrily for fooling him like that.

"Since you already saw me, why did you ask?" Kakashi retorted.

"Isn't it because I'm being polite?" Obito said with an embarrassed smile.

If he didn't need to ask for a favor, Obito really didn't want to come.

His disciple had won first place in the internal competition. This inherently evil, detestable white-haired guy must be secretly jealous of his excellence and trying to screw him over.

Kakashi didn't comment. He opened the door to let Obito in and asked, "If there's something you need help with, just say it quickly."

Obito coming to find him alone at this time definitely meant he had something to ask for, not to hang out.

Usually, only when Obito and Rin came together was it likely an invitation to go play.

"How can you be so sure I came to ask for help? I'm the strongest ninja among the disciples!" Seeing Kakashi's attitude, Obito couldn't help but assert his status.

Maybe Kakashi was strong for a long time before, but sorry, the past is the past, the present is the present. The reality is that now he's stronger.

"Then there's nothing, right? Then I'll continue training. Make yourself at home."

Kakashi said blandly, his facial expression unchanged by Obito's words.

"Alright, you guessed right. There really is something I need your help with."

Helpless, Obito quickly grabbed Kakashi.

No way. Although he, Uchiha Obito, was Mu Yue's strongest disciple, even the strongest disciple couldn't teach someone a jutsu he didn't know himself.

He still had a long way to go before becoming the Obito Sage.

"Go ahead, what is it? But let me say in advance, I might not agree." Kakashi warned.

With Obito's somewhat abnormal train of thought, he might ask him to do something weird.

"Nothing much, just hoping you could give some pointers on Lightning Release to a member of my squad." Obito said.

His promised reward was to teach each person a ninjutsu of their corresponding nature, but among the three, only Anko was Fire, Kotetsu was Lightning, and Izumo was Water.

The strongest Lightning Release user Obito knew was Mu Yue, but Mu Yue was the Hokage now; he couldn't possibly go ask Mu Yue to teach Kotetsu.

Besides Mu Yue, Kakashi was the strongest Lightning Release user Obito knew.

Although finding another jonin to teach Kotetsu would also suffice, Obito felt that if he was going to give something, it should be the best. At worst, he'd just lose some face in front of Kakashi.

"Oh."

Kakashi responded, but didn't give a definite reply.

"Kakashi, say yes or no, give me a straight answer."

Obito scratched his head, feeling he had sacrificed too much for his team members.

"What benefit do I get if I agree? They're your team members, not mine. Why should I use that time to practice Lightning Release on my own instead?" Kakashi asked.

"Uh..."

Obito fell into deep thought. Kakashi asking for a benefit wasn't unreasonable; it was the truth of ninja affairs that one should pay a commission fee for asking someone to work.

But what benefit to give Kakashi, he really hadn't thought about it.

"How about I also teach you a Fire Release, or you could let me teach someone else." Obito said weakly.

Thinking carefully, he really didn't have anything to give Kakashi. Kakashi wasn't short on money, so that definitely wouldn't move him.

Kakashi hugged White Fang and turned to leave.

"Kakashi, stop! Don't force me to beg you!" Obito shouted.

Begging was begging, but he couldn't lose the dignity of the strongest disciple.

Kakashi turned around wordlessly. From his tone, you'd think Obito wanted to pick a fight with him.

"One hundred thousand ryō. If you're willing to pay, tell me the time," Kakashi said.

Actually, Kakashi didn't mind teaching. There's a saying: teaching and learning promote each other. Teaching can also help oneself improve.

The main point was that Obito was too arrogant. If he agreed directly, it would be giving Obito too much face.

Obito was stunned. So money could handle Kakashi? If he had known it was that simple, he would have just said from the moment he walked in, "I want to buy your time."

"It's a deal! Meet at Training Ground No. 2 tomorrow morning." Obito agreed quickly, afraid Kakashi might change his mind.

Kakashi nodded calmly.

Relieved inside, Obito waved goodbye to Kakashi and quickly ran toward Rin's house.

He didn't know many Water Release users. Although Rin's water release wasn't as good as Kakashi's Lightning Release, there really was no better option.

Unlike when he was at Kakashi's house, just thinking about Rin's cute face made Obito's smile break out as he hurried along.

He had deliberately arranged it this way: first Kakashi, then Rin—bitter first, then sweet.

And it could somewhat prevent Rin from learning that Kakashi was also on the shortlist of teachers and going with him to see Kakashi.

Obito really didn't want Rin to see him begging Kakashi.

When Obito arrived near Rin's house, Rin was taking an after-dinner walk with her parents.

Seeing the warm family scene of Rin and her parents, Obito couldn't help but stop in his tracks.

As an orphan, this was an experience Obito had never had.

"Obito, good evening!" Rin spotted Obito and smiled in greeting.

Obito's mind was still on that warm scene; he just nodded dumbly in response.

Rin trotted up to Obito, her big eyes looking directly into his, and asked, "Obito, what are you spacing out about?"

Snapping out of it, Obito subconsciously looked closely and found that Rin's eyes were so sparkling and clear that they made his heart race.

"Ahaha." Obito took a step back, letting out an awkward laugh.

He didn't know how to answer, so he just covered it with laughter.

"Damn Kakashi. If he also knew Water Release, I wouldn't have to go through this." Obito harshly condemned Kakashi in his heart.

"Rin, we'll head back first," Rin's parents said.

"Mm."

Rin turned and waved goodbye. She felt that Obito had something to ask her.

"Goodbye, Uncle and Aunt," Obito quickly said in farewell.

He was a polite model ninja.

"Obito, did you need something from me?" Rin turned to look at Obito and asked with a smile.

"Yeah, Rin, you're really smart."

Obito scratched his head sheepishly, secretly pleased that Rin understood him so well, just as he understood her.

"I recently became a captain, and one of my team members has a water affinity, so I wanted to ask you to teach him Water Release," Obito explained briefly.

"I won't let you go to any trouble for nothing. I'll give you one hundred thousand ryō as a compensation for your effort," Obito added.

Since he was already paying Kakashi, he certainly couldn't pay Rin less.

"So in your eyes, Obito, I'm that kind of profit-seeking person," Rin said, lowering her head slightly, seeming a little hurt.

Obito was stunned. Was giving money wrong now?

"Damn Kakashi!" Obito cursed Kakashi again in his heart.

Although it was reasonable for Kakashi to ask for a commission fee, Kakashi had indirectly affected his relationship with Rin, which was simply unforgivable.

"That's not what I meant, Rin. I just thought I shouldn't let you work for free," Obito explained nervously.

The next moment, Rin's expression stunned him again.

Then Nohara Rin chuckled, a sly smile lightly curving at the corner of her mouth, as beautiful as cherry blossoms blooming for the first time in spring.

"Obito, you're too easy to fool. I know you're not that kind of person." Nohara Rin covered her mouth and giggled.

Teasing Obito once in a while was very fun; both Muyue and Kakashi liked to do it.

"I'll agree whether there's a reward or not, after all, this is a request from you, Obito."

Obito had helped Nohara Rin a lot; during missions, he often shielded Rin behind him, and she remembered all of it.

"Mm… mm, then it's settled. To… tomorrow morning at Training Ground No. 2."

"Rin… Rin-chan, I still have something urgent, so I'll go now. See you tomorrow."

After stammering out these words, Obito, his face slightly red, fled like he was escaping toward the Uchiha compound.

After running several kilometers away, Obito's rapidly pounding heart gradually returned to normal speed, and he slowly calmed down.

"Rin-chan is still the best." In his heart, Obito gave a thumbs up to Nohara Rin and a thumbs down to Kakashi.

Walking home, Obito thought about many things.

He wondered if Nohara Rin's kindness toward him was what he imagined it to be, or something different.

Obito didn't dare to go confirm with Nohara Rin; if it wasn't the answer he had in his heart, he would be very upset.

PS: First update, this chapter is 4k.